Blues stuck in a crisis, admits Cech February 22, 2012 Chelsea keeper says players to blame for Napoli defeat that threatens manager Villas-Boas CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech admits the club is in the midst of a crisis and says “silly mistakes” were to blame for the defeat to Napoli that has nudged manager Andre Villas-Boas ever closer to the sack. Tuesday’s 3-1 reverse in Italy [...]
Rampant City to welcome Tevez back into the fold February 22, 2012 MANCHESTER CITY 4 vs PORTO 0 MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini is ready to integrate Carlos Tevez back into his first team squad, but the Argentina striker faces an uphill struggle to win back his place on the evidence of last night’s crushing Europa League victory over Porto. The Premier League leaders stormed into the [...]
Villas-Boas on brink as Blues sunk in Naples February 21, 2012 NAPOLI 3 vs CHELSEA 1 CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas lurched closer towards the Stamford Bridge exit door last night but defiantly insisted he would still be at the helm by the time Napoli arrive in west London in three weeks’ time hoping to terminate his side’s remote hopes of Champions League glory. The 34-year-old’s decision [...]
Terry England KO helps Pearce avoid dilemma February 21, 2012 CHELSEA captain John Terry has been ruled out of next week’s England friendly against Holland – sparing caretaker manager Stuart Pearce and the Football Association an awkward decision. Terry had hoped to return from injury in last night’s Champions League clash against Napoli, but woke with pain in his knee and will have surgery today [...]
CSR spree is music to the ears of the City February 20, 2012 SHARES in wireless technology firm CSR, which makes chips for use in the Beats headphones loved by Premier League footballers, soared yesterday after it pledged a stock buyback of up to $50m (£31.5m), raised its dividend and said it would cut costs quickly. CSR shares closed up 20.77 per cent at 275p last night, making [...]
Big guns kept apart as Spurs held by Stevenage February 19, 2012 A HIGH-PROFILE FA Cup final line-up moved a step closer yesterday when the competition’s biggest hitters were kept apart and handed home ties in the quarter-final draw. Chelsea, who were held at home by Birmingham on Saturday, will host more Championship opposition in Leicester City, who beat Norwich at the weekend, if they win their [...]
Stevenage bring Spurs down to earth February 19, 2012 STEVENAGE (0) vs TOTTENHAM (0) TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp blamed an unpredictable League One pitch after his top-flight high-fliers were forced to a replay by Stevenage in the FA Cup fifth round. January signing Louis Saha had the ball in the net for Spurs but his second-half tap-in was disallowed because it ricocheted in via [...]
Chelsea will bounce back at Napoli, says Villas-Boas February 19, 2012 CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas insists his side’s struggle to salvage an FA Cup replay against Birmingham will not dent morale ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League trip to Napoli. The west Londoners needed a second-half equaliser from Daniel Sturridge to avoid a major fifth-round shock against the Championship promotion hopefuls at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. That [...]
Stoke avoid Crawley slip-up February 19, 2012 Stoke recovered from an early red card to end Crawley Town’s FA Cup run and book their own quarter-final place against Liverpool. Rory Delap was dismissed in the 17th minute for a tackle on David Hunt, but goals either side of half-time from Jon Walters, a penalty, and Peter Crouch prevented the League Two side [...]
Chelsea at odds over Villas-Boas February 16, 2012 Manager admits squad is divided over his approach as Blues battle to finish in top four UNDER-FIRE Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas admits he is battling a divided dressing room – but insists owner Roman Abramovich still has faith in him. Villas-Boas is under increasing pressure, with the Blues on course to miss out on Champions [...]