Setanta shows ITV the way to succeed in commercial TV August 8, 2008 By now there is little more to be said about ITV. The expected bloodbath duly arrived on cue this week and advertising revenue may not recover for 18 months. How different for ITV’s rival Setanta which is broadcasting the FA Cup and England internationals. The Irish pay TV sports broadcaster goes into the new football [...]
Ferguson won’t panic buy despite injury crisis August 7, 2008 Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists he is not desperate to sign anyone despite the club’s injury crisis. At least seven United first-team players are set to miss next week’s Premier League opener against Newcastle, including star duo Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. But Ferguson, who has shown interest in Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov, [...]
At long last it is all over as Ronaldo says: ‘I’m staying August 7, 2008 Winger finally commits his future to Manchester United, ending Real’s chase Cristiano Ronaldo has at long last drawn a line under a summer of transfer speculation by insisting: I’m staying at Manchester United. The Portuguese winger has been a long-running target of Real Madrid, even though United have repeated stood firm, insisting he wasn’t for [...]
…and Terry puts the boot in August 6, 2008 Chelsea captain John Terry has turned the tables on Manchester United by saying they, and not the Blues, are the ones who are past their best. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson sparked a row last month by suggesting Chelsea’s squad was too old to improve on last season, when they finished second to his side [...]
Rooney virus mystery adds to United woe August 6, 2008 Manchester United are facing an injury crisis ahead of the new season after striker Wayne Rooney joined winger Cristiano Ronaldo on the sidelines. Rooney has not trained for more than a week after falling ill with a virus United suspect he contracted during the pre-season trip to Nigeria. The 22-year-old is out of tonight’s friendly [...]
Eight for 2008: The ones to watch as Team GB go for gold in Beijing July 31, 2008 With our Olympians set a target of winning 35 medals, with 10 golds, Jon Couch looks at our most likely successes It’s just over a week before the start of the Beijing Olympics, and already the pressure is building on Team GB as they go in search of the ultimate prize in sport. A total [...]
Benitez dragging his heels in transfer saga July 31, 2008 The statement from Aston Villa insisting Gareth Barry will not be leaving the club does nothing but drag an already tedious situation on and on. I really can’t see why they just don’t get on with it. Villa say they have set a deadline but you can’t tell me that, if Liverpool boss Rafa Bentez [...]
Scolari extends winning run July 30, 2008 Chelsea will head to Russia this week for the latest leg of the pre-season preparations with a 100 per cent record after ending their tour of Asia on a winning note yesterday. Striker Nicolas Anelka and fullback Ashley Cole scored in a 2-0 victory against a Malaysian League Select team as the Blues made it [...]
Levy furious as Reds sign £20m Keane July 29, 2008 Furious Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy hit out last night after being “forced” to sell striker Robbie Keane to Liverpool for a club record £20.3m. Spurs agreed a deal worth a guaranteed £19m, plus £1.3m depending on clauses – almost three times what they paid Leeds for Keane in 2002, and £1.7m more than they earned [...]
Win trophies or I’m off, says Fabregas July 28, 2008 Cesc Fabregas has warned Arsenal he will leave to join Real Madrid if the club go another season without winning a trophy. Reports say Real president Ramon Calderon is preparing a big-money offer for the Spanish international after giving up hope of luring Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United. But while the 21-year-old insists he wants [...]