Free scoring sides set to light up the Bridge October 24, 2013 BEN CLEMINSON AND BILL ESDAILE WITH THE BEST FOOTBALL AND RACING BETS THIS WEEKEND SUCCESS in the Champions League is of paramount importance to both Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini, but clearly neither manager would turn their nose up at lifting the Premier League trophy in May. The bookmakers still have Manchester City as favourites, [...]
Holloway departs and tells Palace to hire pricier boss October 23, 2013 OUTGOING manager Ian Holloway has urged Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish to appoint a new boss with greater Premier League experience in order to reignite the squad’s desire to avoid relegation. Holloway parted company with Palace by mutual consent yesterday after less than a year in charge, though took the team to the top flight [...]
QPR swoop for USA defender October 23, 2013 UNITED States centre-back Oguchi Onyewu has vowed to drag QPR back into the Premier League after signing for the club on a free transfer. Journeyman Onyewu, who had a loan spell at Newcastle in 2007, had been training with Harry Redknapp’s Championship high-fliers after his contract at Sporting Lisbon expired in the summer. “QPR have [...]
Champions League: Mourinho admits to pleasant Torres surprise October 22, 2013 SCHALKE 04 0 vs CHELSEA 3 CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho praised the professionalism of Fernando Torres after the striker marked his 100th Blues start with a brace in Germany last night. The Spain striker, who Chelsea paid Liverpool £50m to sign in 2011, has often found goals hard to come by during an indifferent period [...]
Arsenal are a different side now, Wenger warns Klopp October 21, 2013 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has hailed his current team as far better than the Gunners side that beat Borussia Dortmund two years ago, as they prepare to renew hostilities this evening. Wenger’s men took four points from their Champions League group matches against the Germans in 2011, including a 2-1 win at Emirates Stadium, where [...]
Premier League: Kasami wonder goal has Jol purring and Holloway fearing for his future October 21, 2013 CRYSTAL PALACE 1 FULHAM 4 FULHAM manager Martin Jol paid tribute to midfielder Pajtim Kasami’s goal of the season contender that piled the pressure on Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway last night. Palace took an early lead through Adrian Mariappa, but Kasami levelled with a spectacular volley, before goals from Steve Sidwell, Dimitar Berbatov and [...]
Becker raises doubts over Federer’s Olympic ambition October 21, 2013 LONDON 2012 silver medallist Roger Federer hopes to play at the Rio Olympics in 2016, but former world No1 Boris Becker believes that ambition is “far fetched”. Federer reached the Swiss Indoors second round yesterday to maintain his charge towards the World Tour finals at the O2 Arena. But after a forgettable year for the [...]
Tottenham winger Townsend our new Bale, says Vertonghen October 21, 2013 TOTTENHAM winger Andros Townsend can emulate the world’s most expensive player and former team-mate Gareth Bale, according to defender Jan Vertonghen. Townsend followed up his back-to-back eye catching displays with England to net his first Premier League goal for Spurs in their 2-0 win at Aston Villa on Sunday. The 22-year-old was last week rewarded [...]
Premier League: First win in three has Villas-Boas jumping for joy October 20, 2013 ASTON VILLA 0 vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 TRIUMPHANT Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas was delighted to see his side back among the Premier League pacesetters after their victory at Villa Park yesterday. Spurs had failed to win their previous two league matches, both at White Hart Lane, following a draw with Chelsea and defeat to West [...]
Cech insists referee was correct to allow controversial equaliser October 20, 2013 CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech has insisted that the Blues’ controversial equaliser against Cardiff City on the weekend was valid, despite complaints that referee Anthony Taylor should have disallowed the goal. With the visitors leading 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, Samuel Eto’o stole the ball from David Marshall as the goalkeeper was bouncing it. The resulting goal [...]