Why football cannot ignore Europe’s new rules December 16, 2012 FOR those who aspire to be the next Sir Alex Ferguson, the Premier League’s fantasy football game offers the chance to build your own squad on a budget of £100m. Each fantasy manager has equally sized pockets, so the playing field is level. Thus, competition is fierce. Compare Premier League reality, where the elite maintain [...]
Mind the gap: AVB urges his team not to blow it again December 16, 2012 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 vs SWANSEA CITY 0 TOTTENHAM boss Andre Villas-Boas has called on his players to cement their position in the top four of the Premier League, after seeing off a stubborn Swansea side at White Hart Lane yesterday. Tottenham blew a 10 point lead over fierce rivals Arsenal last season, and with a [...]
Cahill blasts Corinthians star over red card December 16, 2012 CORINTHIANS 1 vs CHELSEA 0 CHELSEA manager Rafael Benitez insists they will still challenge for four trophies this year despite seeing his side surrender a fourth piece of silverware yesterday in the Club World Cup final. Paolo Guerrero’s 69th-minute header earned Brazil’s Corinthians the title in Yokohama, where a miserable occasion for the Blues was [...]
Allardyce praise for West Ham’s backs to the wall defending December 16, 2012 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0 vs WEST HAM UNITED 0 WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce hailed his team’s resolute defending as yesterday’s goalless draw at the Hawthorns earned the Hammers their first clean sheet in six games. Allardyce’s men had gone a goal behind in each of their previous five Premier League games, yet managed to [...]
Usmanov bids to bring Henry back to Arsenal in director roles December 13, 2012 BILLIONAIRE Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov has reignited the battle for the club with under-fire owner Stan Kroenke by lining up Gunners hero Thierry Henry for a return in a key boardroom role. Usmanov wants record goalscorer Henry to return to Emirates Stadium and take up an off-field role similar to that of former team-mate Patrick [...]
City set to bounce back from derby disaster against shaky Magpies December 13, 2012 NEWCASTLE MANCHESTER CITY Tomorrow 12.45pm IT WAS always going to be difficult for Manchester United fans to wipe the smile off their local rivals’ faces following the dramatic finale to last season. However, they did a pretty good job of it at the Etihad last Sunday with Robin van Persie’s injury-time winner inflicting Manchester City’s [...]
Wenger is still right man for job – Keown December 12, 2012 UNDER-FIRE manager Arsene Wenger is still the right man to revive Arsenal, despite mounting criticism, insists former Gunners defender Martin Keown. Tuesday’s shock Capital One Cup defeat to League Two Bradford compounded Wenger’s worst start to a Premier League season and increased calls for him to quit. Suggestions of a souring of relations between the [...]
Culture lessons plan to prevent Suarez repeat December 11, 2012 FOREIGN footballers playing in England could be asked to take cultural awareness lessons in an attempt to prevent a repeat of the racism controversy that enveloped Liverpool’s Luis Suarez last season. The proposal is part of a response from football authorities to the government’s demands for a crackdown on episodes of discrimination, following a number [...]
Black Cats add to Royals pain December 11, 2012 SUNDERLAND 3 vs READING 0 SUNDERLAND manager Martin O’Neill marked a year in charge of the Black Cats with a crucial win over Reading to haul his side out of the Premier League relegation zone. James McClean gave O’Neill the perfect start, firing in on the turn after only three minutes. Sunderland strengthened their dominance [...]
Clubs back standing in grounds December 11, 2012 FOOTBALL: Thirteen clubs, including Brentford, Crystal Palace and AFC Wimbledon, support the reintroduction of standing in football stadia, says the Football Supporters’ Federation. Standing was outlawed following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 and the Premier League insists that it will not be encouraging a change in the law.