Costa at the double as Stamford Bridge welcomes prolific hitman August 12, 2014 SPANISH striker Diego Costa introduced himself to the Chelsea faithful with two goals as Jose Mourinho’s side rounded off their pre-season campaign with victory over La Liga side Real Sociedad last night. Costa took his goalscoring tally to four in Chelsea colours since a £32m summer move from Atletico Madrid, with two early strikes ensuring [...]
Hoddle in QPR coaching role August 12, 2014 FORMER England boss Glenn Hoddle has targeted Premier League survival after agreeing to join Harry Redknapp’s coaching staff at top-flight newcomers QPR. Hoddle, who has also led Tottenham, Southampton and Chelsea, has been out of management since quitting Wolves eight years ago but is eager to lend his expertise at Rangers, who begin the new [...]
Premier League 2014-15 Preview: Part two August 12, 2014 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR LAST SEASON The £100m post-Gareth Bale spend resulted in instability and the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas, with straight-talking Tim Sherwood guiding Spurs to sixth despite knowing he was gone irrespective of results TRANSFERS Key ins: Ben Davies, Michel Vorm, Eric Dier. Key outs: Heurelho Gomes, Jake Livermore, Gylfi Sigurdsson BIG [...]
Could the Community Shield go abroad? FA inspired by Manchester United success in USA August 12, 2014 In 2008 Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore announced to the world his plans to introduce “Game 39” into the league’s season – a single fixture to be played between all 20 teams at 10 separate locations around the world. The plan was met with near universal derision with opponents ranging from the Football [...]
Reigning champions City edge towards FFP transfer limit with Mangala capture August 11, 2014 REIGNING Premier League champions Manchester City have taken their net summer spend within range of the maximum stipulated under sanctions imposed by European governing body Uefa after splashing out £32m on defender Eliaquim Mangala from Porto. The 23-year-old has signed a five-year-deal at the Etihad Stadium and joins fellow new recruits Willy Caballero, Fernando, Bacary [...]
Premier League clubs to use Football Manager data to recruit players August 11, 2014 For all of those who have won a Premier League title in their pants or coached a national team from their bedroom on computer game Football Manager, those social life-sapping achievements could soon be all worth it in the real world, after it was revealed that Premier League clubs will use data from the game to [...]
Hope for Arsenal? Does winning the Community Shield mean a successful season? August 11, 2014 Does winning the Community Shield mean anything? Arsenal fans will be hoping it does, after their team beat Manchester City 3-0. But how often does the team that wins the season's curtain raiser go on to win the league? It's the first trophy of the new season, and, other than fans getting excited about their [...]
Community Shield: Wenger issues title warning as Arsenal defeat below par City August 10, 2014 ARSENAL 3 MANCHESTER CITY 0 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger believes the dominance shown by his side in yesterday’s FA Community Shield hammering of Manchester City proves the Gunners can turn the tables on the Premier League’s elite this season. Substitute Olivier Giroud scored the pick of the goals in the second period after Spanish international [...]
Sport Comment: Hail Harry, back in the top flight like a returning Mitchell brother August 10, 2014 IT IS one of the inexplicable inexplicablenesses of modern life that it’s far easier to ask a politician a difficult question about multiple deaths in Gaza or Iraq than it is to ask a Premier League football manager about an injured player or a disappointing performance. They intimidate their inquisitors with steely, dismissive or just [...]
Drogba injury fright as Fabregas ensures Chelsea overturn deficit August 10, 2014 RETURNING striker Didier Drogba limped out of Chelsea’s friendly victory over Hungarian side Ferencvaros in Budapest last night and could be a doubt for the start of the new Premier League season. With Real Sociedad next up for Jose Mourinho’s side on Tuesday ahead of a campaign opener at top-flight new boys Burnley, strikes from [...]