City can bounce back after their first defeat December 15, 2011 IT has been a tough couple of weeks for Manchester City after being dumped out of the Champions League by Napoli and then tasting defeat for the first time in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Monday night. They didn’t perform badly in either game, though, and Roberto Mancini will be desperate for his [...]
England talk won’t distract Harry from Spurs project December 14, 2011 SHAMROCK ROVERS vs TOTTENHAM TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp insists he is fully focused on ensuring Champions League football returns to White Hart Lane next season and will not be distracted by ongoing talk of him succeeding Fabio Capello as England head coach. Redknapp, who has turned Spurs from relegation candidates into Champions League quarter finalists [...]
I’ve got no problem with Zamora, says Fulham boss December 13, 2011 FULHAM vs ODENSE BK FULHAM manager Martin Jol insists star striker Bobby Zamora still has a future at the club and has played down suggestions he has fallen out with the England international ahead of tonight’s must-win Europa League fixture against Odense. Reports of a rift between the two first surfaced in August and were [...]
Spurs won’t sell Modric in January, pledges Levy December 13, 2011 TOTTENHAM chairman Daniel Levy has handed the club’s Premier League charge a boost by confirming none of their stars will be sold in January, as revealed by City A.M. last month. Spurs sit fourth after a start to the season that has exceeded expectations, but are bracing themselves for bids next month for playmaker Luka [...]
Mata backs Lampard to regain place December 13, 2011 CHELSEA forward Juan Mata insists veteran midfielder Frank Lampard will play an integral role his side’s quest for honours this season despite having lost his place in the side. Lampard struck the winner from the penalty spot in Monday’s 2-1 win over Manchester City, which ended the Premier League leaders’ unbeaten start to the season. [...]
Lampard ignites race for title December 12, 2011 By FRANK DALLERES AT STAMFORD BRIDGE Late penalty from Chelsea super-sub ends City’s unbeaten run and catapults Villas-Boas’ side back into the top four CHELSEA 2 vs MANCHESTER CITY 1 CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas declared his team’s faltering Premier League title challenge back on track after Frank Lampard climbed off the bench to puncture leaders [...]
MATCH ANALYSIS December 12, 2011 KEY MOMENT Manchester City’s early dominance was hardly reflected by a 1-0 scoreline handed to them by Mario Balotelli’s second minute strike and a famous Chelsea comeback may never have materialised had referee Mark Clattenburg spotted Jose Bosingwa’s trip on David Silva inside the penalty area in the 14th minute. Only after super-slow-motion replays was [...]
Arsenal to conquer new frontier with pre-season tour of Nigeria December 12, 2011 ARSENAL chiefs are planning to take the club into new territory next summer by embarking on a pre-season tour to Africa. The Gunners are in talks about playing a number of matches in Nigeria next summer, before the 2012-13 campaign gets underway. Other tours are also being discussed and it is understood Arsenal could schedule [...]
Defeat City and we’re back in the race, says Cech December 11, 2011 CHELSEA vs MANCHESTER CITY CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech insists victory over Manchester City in this evening’s heavyweight Premier League clash will catapult his side back into title contention. City have set a ferocious early season pace and have failed to win just two of their 14 league games, but Wednesday’s demoralising elimination from the Champions [...]
Mancini sets a new trophy target for City December 8, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini admits his side will need to end the season with two trophies if they are to compensate for the shattering blow of exiting the Champions League on Wednesday night. Having invested heavily over the summer in experienced Champions League campaigners such as Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri, City [...]