Abramovich’s watching brief won’t distract AVB February 9, 2012 CHELSEA boss Andre Villas-Boas insists the presence of owner Roman Abramovich at the club’s training complex this week should not be treated as a sign that the Russian is contemplating condemning him to the Stamford Bridge managerial scrapheap. Abramovich hired Villas-Boas in the summer, his sixth managerial appointment since he assumed control of the west [...]
Red alert: shortage of fire power to give Dalglish a headache February 9, 2012 MANCHESTER UNITED vs LIVERPOOL Tomorrow – 12.45pm Sky Sports 1 EXTRA motivation isn’t normally required in this north west derby, but the additional carrot for Manchester United tomorrow is that victory will take them top of the Premier League, until Sunday evening at least. However, Old Trafford hasn’t been the fortress it was last season [...]
Sessegnon sets up FA Cup tie with Arsenal February 8, 2012 ARSENAL face a testing trip to the Stadium of Light in the FA Cup fifth round after Sunderland beat local rivals Middlesbrough 2-1 following extra time in a tense fourth round replay last night. Lukas Jutkiewicz’s equaliser, his first Middlesbrough goal, cancelled out Jack Colback’s superb first-half opener for the in-form Premier League side, but [...]
London nets football cash capital title February 8, 2012 MANCHESTER clubs might currently be bullying their southern rivals in the Premier League, but London has been pronounced the undisputed football finance capital of the world. London boasts three teams – Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham – among Europe’s richest 11 clubs, with two more – West Ham and Fulham – inside the top 40, according [...]
Parker backed for England captain’s job February 7, 2012 Capello urged to hand Tottenham midfielder the armband as managers unite to back Italian in simmering row with FA EMBATTLED England manager Fabio Capello has been urged to make the best of his dispute with the Football Association by appointing Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker as his new captain. Capello, at loggerheads with Wembley chiefs over [...]
Capello warned as FA mull Italian’s future February 6, 2012 ENGLAND manager Fabio Capello has been accused of undermining the future captain of the national side before he has even begun the task of determining a suitable replacement for John Terry. Capello is set for crisis talks with the Football Association later this week after he publically criticised the governing body’s decision to relieve Terry [...]
Parker: We want our Harry back February 6, 2012 LIVERPOOL 0 vs TOTTENHAM 0 TOTTENHAM midfielder Scott Parker admits the absence of manager Harry Redknapp is damaging his side’s push for the Premier League title. Redknapp was unable to be with his team at Anfield last night after spending the day at Southwark Crown Court, where over the course of the last fortnight he [...]
Capello war with England chiefs over Terry snub February 5, 2012 ENGLAND head coach Fabio Capello last night declared war on his paymasters, the Football Association, over their decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy because of his ongoing trial for alleged racial abuse. In an extraordinary public outburst that reveals the divisions within the game’s powerbrokers over a highly sensitive issue, Capello said he [...]
AVB blasts referee after United stage comeback February 5, 2012 CHELSEA (3) vs MANCHESTER UNITED (3) CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas admitted he was baffled by the performance of referee Howard Webb after two contentious penalty decisions helped Manchester United retrieve a three-goal deficit and keep their Premier League title hopes alive. The Blues led 3-0 just six minutes into the second half courtesy of a [...]
Salvage act not enough for Ferguson February 5, 2012 CHELSEA (3) vs MANCHESTER UNITED (3) MANCHESTER UNITED staged a trademark act of escapology, coming from 3-0 down to rescue a draw – but their manager Alex Ferguson insisted it still felt like two points dropped as his side failed to keep pace with rivals and Premier League leaders Manchester City. Unlucky to be trailing [...]