Wenger puzzled by heavy losses versus big guns March 23, 2014 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has said he is puzzled by his team’s poor record against their big Premier League rivals, after the weekend’s 6-0 drubbing at Chelsea. Half of the league goals the Gunners have conceded this season have come in just three heavy away defeats against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. “We felt we [...]
Stoke romp to first away win since August March 23, 2014 STOKE boss Mark Hughes hailed his team’s change of style after the Potters won their first away game in the Premier League since August. Christian Benteke’s early strike earned Aston Villa the lead yesterday, but goals from Peter Odemwingie, Peter Crouch and Steven Nzonzi put the visitors ahead at half-time before Geoff Cameron’s late effort [...]
Allardyce wary of United despite European ordeal March 20, 2014 WEST Ham boss Sam Allardyce has warned his team not to expect a fatigued Manchester United when the stuttering Premier League champions visit Upton Park tomorrow. United summoned a huge effort to overturn a two-goal deficit and progress past Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but Allardyce insists David Moyes has a deep [...]
Football Comment: True great Wenger merits more milestones March 20, 2014 ARSENE Wenger couldn’t have wished for a much tougher or more momentous fixture than tomorrow’s trip to Premier League leaders Chelsea for the occasion of his 1,000th match as Arsenal manager. By around 2.30pm on Saturday Wenger’s title hopes for another year could be over, if his side fail to inflict the Blues’ first league [...]
Battle at the Bridge to be a war of attrition March 20, 2014 DROPPED points are not an option for Chelsea or Arsenal when the teams meet at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. The four-way title race looks set to go down to the wire and, with almost nothing between the London pair and Liverpool and Manchester City, now is not the time to be losing games. The good news [...]
How Chelsea have outsmarted their Premier League rivals by putting defence before attack March 20, 2014 What’s the most important ingredient for a title-winning team? A dead-eyed 20-goal-a-season marksman, a quicksilver midfield playmaker, or a nimble giant of a goalkeeper? The answer is, perhaps surprisingly, none of those. The Premier League table and data from Kickdex show that a robust, sleeves-up back line goes further than flair in other positions. Take [...]
Champions League: United capable of Euro glory, insists Moyes March 19, 2014 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 OLYMPIACOS 0 (Manchester United win 3-2 on aggregate) MANCHESTER United can win the Champions League, according to manager David Moyes after his team gave the suffering Old Trafford crowd a night to savour by storming through to the quarter-finals. Trailing 2-0 from a disastrous first leg in Greece, striker Robin van Persie [...]
Sherwood hits out at Van Gaal over interest in his Tottenham job March 19, 2014 TOTTENHAM manager Tim Sherwood last night made plain his displeasure at comments from Holland coach Louis van Gaal stating his desire to manage in the Premier League next season. Sherwood signed an 18-month contract in December, but has failed to reinvigorate Spurs’ season since succeeding Andre Villas-Boas and Van Gaal is favourite with the bookmakers [...]
Moyes confident he can deliver glory at United March 18, 2014 DEFIANT Manchester United boss David Moyes does not fear for his future and believes the board back him to return the club to the all-conquering force they were under predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson. Moyes has endured a testing first year in charge of the Premier League champions, who are seventh in the table and on [...]
Drogba to put love for Blues aside and end their cup quest March 17, 2014 FORMER Chelsea favourite Didier Drogba has vowed to put his loyalty aside for 90 minutes tonight and end the Blues’ dream of winning a second Champions League title in three years. Drogba, 36, ended his eight-year stay at Stamford Bridge with a pivotal role in their 2012 Champions League triumph over Bayern Munich, scoring the [...]