Noble sparks Hammers rally October 27, 2010 WEST HAM UTD3 VS STOKE CITY1 WEST HAM flirted with Carling Cup defeat for a second time this season before another late goal from captain Scott Parker prompted a stirring comeback. The Hammers looked to be facing a fourth-round elimination when Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones headed the visitors in front at Upton Park after just [...]
Ignore Premier League doom merchants October 27, 2010 SO the Premier League is going down the pan because only three of its players made the shortlist for the Fifa Ballon d’Or? Nonsense. Reports of its demise have been greatly exaggerated. The argument goes that the 23-man Ballon d’Or selection is an accurate measurement of the health of the English top flight. I would [...]
Is that it? Indians to give Rovers £5m transfer fund October 27, 2010 BLACKBURN’S owner-in-waiting has moved quickly to smother any expectation that it may seek to restore Rovers to the peak of the top flight. Venkateshwara Hatcheries, which is poised to complete a £46m takeover within days, says it does not expect to bother the Premier League’s elite. The Indian poultry conglomerate added that it would provide [...]
Khumalo capture will bolster Redknapp’s defensive options October 26, 2010 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp has moved to ease his side’s defensive concerns by recruiting South Africa international Bongani Khumalo. The 23-year-old will arrive in January from SuperSport United, subject to a work permit being granted, having signed a pre-contract agreement. The transfer fee is thought to be around £1.5m. Tottenham’s rearguard has been beset by [...]
Premier League Ballon burst by Fifa nominations October 26, 2010 THE NOMINATIONS for this year’s Fifa Ballon d’Or award, announced yesterday, provided more ammunition for those critics who claim the Premier League’s stock is on the slide. Of the 23 players nominated for the prestigious title – which has now merged with the Fifa World Player of the Year award – only three came from [...]
Brave Brentford’s cup run over after penalty heartache October 26, 2010 BIRMINGHAM’S veteran striker Kevin Phillips prevented League One Brentford from claiming another sizeable Premier League scalp in the Carling Cup. Andy Scott’s Bees, who edged out Everton in the previous round, were moments away from causing another upset before 37-year-old Phillips pounced in injury time to cancel out Sam Wood’s 68th minute effort. The sides [...]
Indian chicken giant hatches £46m Rovers deal October 26, 2010 OIL billions may have transformed Chelsea and Manchester City into global superpowers but Blackburn believe they have found a saviour in an altogether less glamorous industry: chicken. Indian poultry giant Venkateshwara Hatcheries Group, or Venky’s as it is often known, expects to complete a £46m takeover of the top flight strugglers next month. It would [...]
We can still lure world’s best to Man Utd, says Gill October 25, 2010 Man City’s wage bill may have overtaken United’s but chief executive insists they’ll go on competing MANCHESTER UNITED chief executive David Gill is adamant they can still attract and keep the world’s top players despite refusing to spend as much on wages as Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City. United’s wage policy was thrust [...]
Owners ‘as impotent as a room full of eunuchs’ October 25, 2010 CLUB owners were labelled “as impotent as a room of eunuchs” yesterday as MPs urged the government to step in and take control away from “incapable” bodies such as the Football Association and the Premier League. Politicians from all three major parties called for action from sports minister Hugh Robertson, who is holding a consultation [...]
Fed-up Fabregas bans talk of title challenge after City win October 25, 2010 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has poured scorn on endless assessments of the Gunners’ chances of winning a first Premier League title since 2004. The north Londoners delivered a powerful statement of intent with a 3-0 win at Manchester City on Sunday, ending a run of defeats against fellow title hopefuls. The victory propelled Arsenal into [...]