The Secret Footballer: Players play badly on purpose to get a manager sacked all the time – here’s why November 5, 2015 When a football manager is under pressure, he can’t always rely on his squad to give their all to turn it around. In fact, players may even purposefully not perform if they want the manager out. It happens all the time and I've been part of a squad that has done just that. Most [...]
The Secret Footballer: Players play badly on purpose to get a manager sacked all the time – here’s why November 5, 2015 When a football manager is under pressure, he can’t always rely on his squad to give their all to turn it around. In fact, players may even purposefully not perform if they want the manager out. It happens all the time and I've been part of a squad that has done just that. Most [...]
Arsenal on the verge of Champions League exit – but England’s Uefa coefficient lead over Italy has actually improved November 5, 2015 Concerns England could lose a Champions League place have been cooled with England's coefficient position now stronger than it was before the competition began. England, along with Spain and Germany, are allocated four Champions League places thanks to their Uefa coefficient ranking. However, Italy – currently with three places in the competition – gained ground [...]
Arsenal Champions League hopes in tatters, admits Arsene Wenger, after Bayern Munich enjoy five-goal revenge November 4, 2015 Bayern Munich 5, Arsenal 1 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits their Champions League hopes are dangling by a thread after they suffered a record-equalling thrashing at Bayern Munich. Two goals from Thomas Muller and further strikes by Robert Lewandowski, David Alaba and Arjen Robben were just reward for Bayern’s superiority and matched the Gunners’ heaviest [...]
Crucial Champions League victory proves Chelsea have rediscovered their resilience, insists under-pressure Jose Mourinho November 4, 2015 Chelsea 2, Dynamo Kiev 1 Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes his side rediscovered their resilience amid a second-half Dynamo Kiev fightback to record a crucial Champions League victory and relieve the pressure on the under-fire Portuguese. Visiting defender Aleksandar Dragovic atoned for his first-half own goal by levelling as the final 10 minutes approached, only for [...]
Historic run-chase bars England’s bid for victory in must-win final Test against Pakistan November 4, 2015 Seamer James Anderson has backed England to make history and complete their highest ever fourth-innings run-chase in Asia during the final day of the third Test against Pakistan today. The tourists must amass 284 to secure victory and level the series at 1-1 after Pakistan were dismissed for 355 in their second innings. England were [...]
HMRC wins “big tax” case against Rangers November 4, 2015 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has won a judgement ruling that Rangers broke tax rules with its use of Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs) between 2001 and 2010. Three judges at the Court of Session in Edinburgh upheld HMRC's second appeal and ruled that under former owner Sir David Murray Rangers used now-outlawed EBTs to pay [...]
Rangers chairman Dave King defends £7.5m annual loss November 4, 2015 Rangers chairman Dave King insists a £7.5m loss revealed in the club's annual accounts does not reflect improvements made by the consortium that took control in March. The leaders of the Scottish Championship revealed that the company requires "up to £2.5m by way of debt or equity funding" by the end of the season to meet [...]
Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino backs out of deal to sell club to supporters’ group November 4, 2015 Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has reneged on his intention to sell the club to fans, according to supporters' group Leeds Fans United (LFU). Cellino said he would be happy to sell the Championship club to the group last week but backed out after LFU asked him to confirm an offer of exclusivity in writing. [...]
Kyran Bracken: RFU review into England Rugby World Cup shambles an embarrassing whitewash – but whole northern hemisphere needs to do some soul searching November 4, 2015 Northern hemisphere rugby has a lot to worry about because on the basis of this World Cup the Six Nations appears to be a long way off the Rugby Championship. The brilliant final between Australia and New Zealand wasn’t just settled by penalties or drop goals but also included five tries from two of [...]