Gallas in fresh injury blow for Gunners November 26, 2009 ARSENAL have been hit with a major injury blow ahead of Sunday’s derby visit of table-topping Chelsea with the news that William Gallas is still struggling with a swollen eye. The French defender suffered a nasty clash of heads with team-mate Andrey Arshavin during Tuesday night’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Standard Liege, before eventually [...]
Avram’s on a revenge mission November 26, 2009 AVRAM GRANT will be looking to exact revenge on Manchester United this weekend when he returns to management as the new boss of Portsmouth. The former Chelsea chief was announced yesterday as the successor to Paul Hart, who was sacked by the Fratton Park club earlier this week. And the Israeli opens his account with [...]
Aurelio baffled by Liverpool’s collapse November 25, 2009 LIVERPOOL defender Fabio Aurelio admits he is at a loss to explain how their season has unravelled so spectacularly. The Reds crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday night after Fiorentina’s defeat of Lyon rendered their own win over Debrecen futile. It was the latest blow in a dire run of form, which has [...]
Infighting is undermining our World Cup bid, admits Brady November 25, 2009 KARREN BRADY last night revealed the acrimony surrounding England’s 2018 World Cup campaign, insisting the country’s hopes of staging the event is being undermined by “bickering and infighting” at board level. The former Birmingham City director was one of six board members to stand down a fortnight ago, while influential Premier League chairman Sir Dave [...]
Gunners win dampened by injury worry November 24, 2009 ARSENAL (2) Vs STANDARD LIEGE (0) ARSENAL secured top spot in Group H and a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a smooth attacking display, but their satisfaction was soured by a serious injury to full-back Kieran Gibbs. The outstanding Samir Nasri capitalised on a defensive slip to tuck the opening [...]
Ancelotti to rotate squad and rest stars for Porto November 24, 2009 CHELSEA boss Carlo Ancelotti is expected to rest star duo Michael Essien and Didier Drogba tonight against Porto as the Italian keeps one eye on Sunday’s trip to Arsenal. Ancelotti has hinted he will ring the changes for the Champions League Group D clash, with qualification for the knockout stage already guaranteed. Neither midfield powerhouse [...]
Portsmouth lose patience with Hart failure as Grant prepares to take reins November 24, 2009 PORTSMOUTH director of football Avram Grant is expected to take over as manager after the club sacked Paul Hart yesterday. Hart paid the price for a disastrous start to the season that has left them anchored to the bottom of the Premier League after 10 defeats from 13 games. His departure clears the way for [...]
World Cup bid in disarray as Richards quits board November 24, 2009 ENGLAND’S hopes of staging the 2018 World Cup have been dealt another blow after Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards resigned from the bid’s board. The departure of Richards, who joined the bid as vice-chairman for international relations just seven months ago, comes after a restructuring of the board earlier this month. It is the [...]
Humiliated Wigan offer fans a refund November 23, 2009 EMBARRASSED Wigan players have offered refunds to supporters who travelled to their 9-1 drubbing at Tottenham. Latics fans who made the trip witnessed their side suffer the second heaviest defeat in Premier League history, with Spurs striker Jermain Defoe alone scoring five goals. And that yesterday prompted the crestfallen squad’s pledge to reimburse the cost [...]
Reliance aims high with a $12bn offer November 22, 2009 AINDIAN-BASED Reliance Industries has made an initial offer for bankrupt chemical company LyondellBasell. Sources say the cash offer for a controlling interest in the company would be for around $12bn (£7.26 bn), making it one of the largest foreign acquisition by an Indian company to date. LyondellBasell spokesperson David Harpole said Reliance’s offer represented “an [...]