Van Persie facing six weeks out with injury November 15, 2009 ARSENAL striker Robin van Persie last night calmed fears over his torn ankle ligaments by insisting he expects to be sidelined for no more than six weeks. The in-form Dutchman, whose eight goals in 11 outings have propelled the Gunners to second in the Premier League, was injured in Saturday’s friendly with Italy. Van Persie, [...]
‘No means no’, Scudamore dismisses Old Firm pair November 12, 2009 PREMIER League chief executive Richard Scudamore last night told Celtic and Rangers they will never be allowed to join the English top-flight. A proposal from Bolton chairman Phil Gartside to include the Old Firm pair in a new two-tier structure was overwhelmingly rejected by club chiefs yesterday. And Scudamore moved to finally bring the on-running [...]
Pavlyuchenko demands exit from Spurs November 11, 2009 TOTTENHAM striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is plotting his route out of White Hart Lane after telling boss Harry Redknapp he wants to leave the club in January. The Russian is yet to start a Premier League game for Spurs this season and now fears for his place in Russia’s World Cup squad if he doesn’t play [...]
Bosingwa out for three months after knee op November 11, 2009 PREMIER League leaders Chelsea have been dealt a hammer blow with the news that Jose Bosingwa could be out for up to three months after undergoing knee surgery. The Portuguese international, who signed in a £16.3m deal from Porto in May 2008, has been out since mid-October with the problem and may have to wait [...]
Spurs tighten purse strings despite gains November 10, 2009 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp has been warned there will be no January spending spree despite the club announcing record profits yesterday. Spurs made a pre-tax gain of £33.4m for the year ending 30 June 2009 – a figure driven by profits on the sale of players, such as £23m striker Dimitar Berbatov. With Redknapp’s men [...]
Benitez forced to revise Reds’ targets as dismal run continues November 10, 2009 RAFAEL BENITEZ has played down Liverpool’s title credentials for the first time – insisting fans need to be “realistic” as to the club’s ambitions. Benitez’s side have won only one of their last nine matches in all competitions and lie 11 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea after being held to a 2-2 home draw [...]
Full-back Johnson out of Brazil friendly November 10, 2009 ENGLAND suffered an injury blow ahead of Saturday’s clash with Brazil when defender Glen Johnson pulled out of the squad. Liverpool right-back Johnson withdrew yesterday after hurting his calf during Monday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Birmingham. It leaves England head coach Fabio Capello short of options for the weekend friendly in Doha, Qatar, but [...]
Vermaelen: Free-scoring Arsenal are in title hunt November 9, 2009 ARSENAL defender Thomas Vermaelen has warned their Premier League rivals that they are capable of mounting a sustained title challenge this year. The Gunners have not won the league since 2004, and last season rarely looked likely to trouble front-runners Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. But Saturday’s 4-1 win at Wolves continued their impressive start [...]
Zola keeps the faith with his Hammers November 8, 2009 BOSS Gianfranco Zola insisted he wasn’t concerned about his side’s lowly league position after the Hammers slipped to another defeat. Goals in each half from Louis Saha and Dan Gosling subjected Zola’s men to a third home loss of the season despite a Tony Hibbert own goal setting up a rousing finale. With Hull beating [...]
Last-gasp win earns boss Phil a stay of execution November 8, 2009 A LAST-MINUTE winner from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink earned Hull only a third Premier League victory in 33 matches – and probably saved his manager’s job. Reports suggested boss Phil Brown would have been showed the door by new chairman Adam Pearson had the Tigers failed to beat Tony Pulis’ Stoke. Matthew Etherington must have [...]