MATCH ANALYSIS November 21, 2011 KEY MOMENT For a team seemingly sent out to defend, Aston Villa were alarmingly fragile at the back, especially when faced with Gareth Bale. It was his cross in the 40th minute that caused a mix-up, with James Collins allowing Emmanuel Adebayor to tap in the second. ALEX MCLEISH It was a bad night for [...]
De Jong wary as City aim to reach last 16 November 21, 2011 NAPOLI vs MANCHESTER CITY MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Nigel de Jong has warned his team-mates to be prepared for an onslaught tonight from a Napoli side fighting to extend their own Champions League debut. City, making their first appearance in Europe’s top club competition, have recovered from a jittery start to their Group A campaign and [...]
Roman won’t sack me, insists Chelsea boss November 20, 2011 CHELSEA (1) vs LIVERPOOL (2) Chelsea 12 points off the top after Liverpool snatch a late win at Stamford Bridge, but Villas-Boas claims his job is not under threat CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas last night emphatically rejected suggestions the club’s owner Roman Abramovich has already lost faith in his methods after watching Liverpool inflict a [...]
Villas-Boas backed by Dalglish November 20, 2011 LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish leapt to the defence of Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas after condemning them to a third defeat in four Premier League games. Villas-Boas is facing the first troubled patch of his brief tenure at Stamford Bridge, where under-performing managers do not tend to linger. But Dalglish insists the young Portuguese coach retains [...]
MATCH ANALYSIS November 20, 2011 KEY MOMENT Instead of the story centering on Chelsea suffering back-to-back defeats in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2002, it may well have been all about the merits of a spirited second half revival were it not for the reactions and agility of Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Less than [...]
Hurst tips returning Redknapp to be next England manager November 20, 2011 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp is poised to return to the dugout for tonight’s Premier League visit of Aston Villa with an endorsement from World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst ringing in his ears. Redknapp has missed the last two Spurs games after undergoing heart surgery but has been given the all-clear to resume managerial duties [...]
Wenger dreaming of Van Persie stay November 20, 2011 Frenchman may doubt own future at Arsenal but wants that of top scorer resolved ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has vowed to do all he can to persuade top scorer Robin van Persie to sign a new contract at the club, despite the Frenchman hinting at doubts over his own future. Van Persie (right) underlined his [...]
Injury concerns temper QPR’s ascent to top half November 20, 2011 QPR manager Neil Warnock admits his side are running out of fit players as they continue their excellent return to life in the Premier League. Warnock only had five substitutes on the bench for Saturday’s 3-2 win at Stoke, after losing winger Jason Puncheon and goalkeeper Brian Murphy to illness and injury respectively before kick-off. [...]
Mancini: City can rival Barca November 20, 2011 Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes his side must now be ranked as one of Europe’s premier teams. City top the Premier League and will progress to the last 16 of the Champions League if they beat Napoli tomorrow. He said: “I don’t think we are better than Real Madrid or Barcelona, but probably we [...]
Whelan ponders Wigan handover November 20, 2011 Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has admitted he is weighing up whether or not to hand over control of the club to his 21-year-old grandson David. The 74-year-old bought the Latics back in 1995 and has overseen their rise from the depths of the Football League to the Premier League. But Whelan has revealed he may [...]