FOOTBALL ROUND-UP February 20, 2011 Der Hammer finally set for Irons debut GERMAN midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger will finally make his West Ham debut against Burnley in the FA Cup tonight. The former Aston Villa star joined in the summer from Lazio but has missed the entire season with a thigh injury. Away from the FA Cup, West Ham received a [...]
BARCA WIN IS OUR CATALYST February 17, 2011 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has urged his team to use their watershed victory over Barcelona as the springboard for success in a four-pronged challenge for silverware. The Gunners sent shockwaves throughout Europe by coming from behind on Wednesday night to topple Barca, a team widely regarded as the best in the world. Manager Arsene Wenger [...]
Hearn will fight to block West Ham Olympic Stadium move February 16, 2011 LEYTON ORIENT chairman Barry Hearn has stepped up his campaign to prevent West Ham completing their proposed relocation to the Olympic Stadium, urging Prime Minister David Cameron to block a move he believes could put his club out of business. Hearn (right) has written to Cameron, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and other ministers asking [...]
Impotence of Serie A must rile Gattuso February 16, 2011 SO WHAT really riled AC Milan pitbull Gennaro Gattuso enough to make him pick a fight with Joe Jordan, a man whose missing front teeth are a permanent testament to his grizzled fearlessness? Insults, as the Gattuso camp suggest, perhaps. But this was evidently a man also tormented by defeat, by the humiliation of being [...]
Arsenal put faith in Van Persie February 15, 2011 ARSENAL vs BARCELONA ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has hailed Robin van Persie’s sizzling form and backed the Dutchman to deliver as the Gunners prepare for a Champions League rematch with their conquerors of last season, Barcelona. Van Persie has hit a purple patch since returning from injury, scoring 10 goals in his last eight games, [...]
Chelsea can still win league, insists Cech February 15, 2011 CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech is refusing to give up on the Premier League title despite Monday’s goalless draw with Fulham. The stalemate left the Blues out of the Champions League places in fifth and 12 points off leaders Manchester United. Cech said: “Obviously, we are quite far now because they won their games and we [...]
Newcastle put their Best foot forward February 15, 2011 NEWCASTLE registered their first victory of the post-Andy Carroll era as goals from Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best ensured a comfortable 2-0 Premier League success against Birmingham at St. Andrew’s. Lovenkrands opened the scoring after four minutes and then Best struck early in the second period to wrap up the points for the Magpies.
West Ham value rockets following stadium boost February 15, 2011 WEST HAM’S value has doubled following its successful bid to move into the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games, according to analysts, and could earn owners David Gold and David Sullivan a joint profit of £120m. The Premier League club was worth just £100m a year ago but its success in securing the 60,000-seater [...]
FORLORN FERNANDO February 14, 2011 FULHAM (0) vs CHELSEA(0) Torres subbed again after another limp display Ancelotti defends his record purchase Title gone for good despite Cech penalty save CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti defended another tepid display from Fernando Torres but admitted his side’s hopes of retaining their Premier League crown are over after frittering away two points against their [...]
The £120m question: Will Gold and Sullivan cash in? February 14, 2011 IN THEIR first press conference as majority owners of West Ham on 18 January last year, David Gold and David Sullivan made clear their ambition to move the club into the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games. They knew it had the potential to catapult the debt-laden East End club into the big league; [...]