Netflix CEO vows to take on Sky in bids for premium film rights August 19, 2012 NETFLIX will attempt to wrestle Sky’s grip on premium movie rights away from it, a move that could provide a serious challenge to the broadcaster’s film dominance. Reed Hastings, the chief executive of the US film streaming service, has outlined his intentions to bid for exclusive rights to films from the six leading Hollywood studios, [...]
Mancini focuses on Aguero after City begin with win August 19, 2012 MANCHESTER CITY (3) vs SOUTHAMPTON (2) MANCHESTER City manager Roberto Mancini revealed that the apparent injury to Sergio Aguero remained his greatest concern after his side began their Premier League title defence with a challenging 3-2 victory over Southampton. Argentina’s Aguero was removed on a stretcher in only the 13th minute after clutching his knee [...]
Hazard lights up Chelsea procession August 19, 2012 WIGAN ATHLETIC (0) vs CHELSEA (2) CHELSEA boss Roberto Di Matteo hailed Eden Hazard as the man to rejuvenate the Blues after the £32m summer signing inspired the west Londoners to a comfortable victory in their Premier League opener. Playmaker Hazard released full-back Branislav Ivanovic to open the scoring after just two minutes and then [...]
Arsenal line up Sahin as Song joins Barca August 19, 2012 ARSENAL are poised to complete the loan signing of Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin today as they prepare to finalise the £15m sale of Alex Song to Barcelona. Germany-born Turkey international Sahin, 23, is understood to have chosen the Gunners over Premier League rivals Liverpool for the season-long switch. The left-footed star of Borussia Dortmund’s [...]
Pietersen left red faced after being bowled out for a golden duck August 19, 2012 ENGLAND rebel Kevin Pietersen endured a humiliating afternoon yesterday, after being bowled out first ball in a limited overs game for Surrey. In his first competitive outing since being dropped from the England squad, Pietersen was subjected to some booing from the crowd at the Ageas Bowl near Southampton. And after taking to the crease, [...]
Van Persie set for United debut August 19, 2012 Manchester United’s £24m summer signing Robin van Persie is set to make his debut for the club tonight. Last season’s runners up begin their Premier League campaign against Everton at Goodison Park. Nemanja Vidic is also expected to return to the United side after nine months out with a cruciate ligament injury suffered last December.
Can London halt rise of Manchester? August 16, 2012 THE crucial question this season surrounds whether the two Manchester clubs, United and the champions City, can truly be challenged. It’s difficult to see that happening, but I am very interested in seeing how Chelsea evolve. Before it became clear that Robin van Persie was going to leave Arsenal, they would have been rivals too, [...]
Manchester rivals set to dominate title race again August 16, 2012 THE 2011/12 Premier League season will go down in history as one of the most dramatic ever. It was like a heavyweight title fight where both contenders dusted themselves off from a ‘nine-count’ to floor their opponent in the next round, until Sergio Aguero landed the knockout blow in the 94th minute against QPR at [...]
Magpies and Spurs to cancel each other out August 16, 2012 NOT even the most passionate of Newcastle fans would have predicted 12 months ago that their side would end the season in fifth place. It was a magnificent effort from everyone at the club and Alan Pardew must take special credit as he wasn’t the most popular appointment back in December 2010. Demba Ba was [...]
It can’t come soon enough. Welcome to the new season August 16, 2012 There’s been too much written since the end of the Olympics comparing the (admittedly inspiring) event with the oncoming football season, most of which maintained that football stars are poor role models, football fans are foul-mouthed and more generally that football pales in comparison with the great sporting drama that we witnessed early this month [...]