QPR close to Barton deal as Fernandes cuts ticket prices August 24, 2011 QPR’S new owner Tony Fernandes handed fans a double boost yesterday by slashing ticket prices and closing in on the signing of Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton. Barton looks set to join the Loftus Road club after undergoing a medical last night. The 28-year-old is available on a free transfer after falling out with the Newcastle [...]
Mata: Torres sold Chelsea move to me August 24, 2011 CHELSEA’S newest recruit Juan Mata has cited Spain team-mate Fernando Torres as a major influence on his decision to move to England. The 23-year-old has signed a five-year deal at Stamford Bridge after joining from Valencia for £23.5m to become Andre Villas-Boas’ fourth summer signing, following the arrivals of Oriol Romeu, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut [...]
Hammers fall to Shots in Cup August 24, 2011 FOOTBALL: West Ham crashed out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle at the hands of League Two Aldershot as Sam Allardyce saw his side throw away a lead for the second home game in a row. Callum McNaughton put West Ham in front on 16 minutes but Luke Guttridge and a last minute goal [...]
WENGER’S £40M WORRY August 23, 2011 UDINESE (0) vs ARSENAL (1) Arsenal boss fears high-profile departures could derail his team ahead of match that will define his budget and campaign EMBATTLED Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger goes into tonight’s £40m Champions League play-off with Udinese admitting he fears the departures of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas could inflict psychological wounds on his [...]
QPR crash on bad night for big guns August 23, 2011 QPR lost 2-0 at home to Rochdale as all three Premier League newcomers crashed out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle last night. Norwich were thumped 4-0 at home by MK Dons and Swansea lost 3-1 at Shrewsbury, while Sunderland were the other top-flight casualties in the second round, going down 1-0 at [...]
United DHL contract to trigger copycat deals August 23, 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED’S groundbreaking £40m training kit sponsorship with logistics company DHL will spark a stampede among their rivals to secure copycat deals, experts predicted last night. But they warned most will struggle to rake in anything like the £10m a season attracted by United, who can boast truly global reach and have developed the “blueprint” [...]
Redknapp promises to keep Modric after United defeat August 22, 2011 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp insists unsettled midfielder Luka Modric will definitely not be sold after Spurs lost their opening Premier League fixture 3-0 to a youthful Manchester United. Modric was left out of the side amid interest from Chelsea as second-half goals from Danny Welbeck, Anderson and Wayne Rooney downed the north Londoners and swept [...]
Welbeck the star as green United leave Spurs blue August 22, 2011 MANCHESTER UTD (3) vs TOTTENHAM (0) MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson has long since obliterated the notion that, to paraphrase pundit Alan Hansen, kids don’t win trophies. However, he seems determined to prove that point all over again, having assembled a young team that swept Tottenham aside last night and who should not fear [...]
Banned Wenger set to miss Udinese showdown August 22, 2011 EMBATTLED Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s miserable start to the season continued yesterday when he was handed a further two-match touchline ban by European chiefs. Uefa found Wenger guilty of breaking the rules of his original suspension, which applied to last week’s Champions League clash with Udinese. The Frenchman communicated with the bench via coach Boro [...]
Mancini lays down law to Arsenal over Nasri deal August 21, 2011 BOLTON (2) vs MANCHESTER CITY (3) MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini has warned Arsenal he could pull the plug on a £25m move for Samir Nasri if Arsene Wenger plays him in the Champions League against Udinese this week. Mancini saw his team go top of the Premier League with a 3-2 win at Bolton [...]