http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/etoos-high-wages-set-to-scupper-spurs-hopes-829966.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/etoos-high-wages-set-to-scupper-spurs-hopes-829966.html?r=RSS <p>Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of signing Samuel Eto'o appear doomed to failure as the Barcelona striker is earning &pound;128,000 a week &ndash; after tax. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is prepared to fly out to Spain to try to broker the deal and although the Premier League club believe they can cope with the transfer fee, and hope to negotiate Bar&ccedil;a down from the &pound;27m they are currently demanding, Eto's wages are prohibitive.</p> Premier League Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pennant-on-way-out-as-liverpool-covet-bentley-829969.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/pennant-on-way-out-as-liverpool-covet-bentley-829969.html?r=RSS <p>Jermaine Pennant was officially told by Rafael Benitez yesterday that he can leave Liverpool this summer as the club try to organise their resources to muster a serious bid for the Blackburn Rovers winger David Bentley. Pennant is a long-term target of Newcastle and Benitez is looking, at the very least, to recoup the &pound;6.7m he spent on the player in 2006.</p> Premier League Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/anfield-finance-fears-grow-as-credit-crunch-hits-hicks-829152.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/anfield-finance-fears-grow-as-credit-crunch-hits-hicks-829152.html?r=RSS <p>Concerns among those in day-to-day control at Liverpool about the club's American co-owners' ability to deliver a new stadium were compounded yesterday when Tom Hicks announced that plans for a multi-million dollar stadium development in Dallas were being ditched because of the credit crunch. </p> Premier League Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/summer-sales-transfer-news-and-speculation-829153.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/summer-sales-transfer-news-and-speculation-829153.html?r=RSS <p><b>Deco told by Bar&ccedil;a he can quit Nou Camp</b></p> Premier League Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/eriksson-remains-in-limbo-over-city-role-829154.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/eriksson-remains-in-limbo-over-city-role-829154.html?r=RSS <p>Sven Goran Eriksson, who exchanged courtesies with his chairman Thaksin Shinawatra in Thailand yesterday, appears to have distanced himself from rumours that he may join Barcelona &ndash; with another club believed to be in the wings. Eriksson has still been given no precise date for the meeting with Thaksin which might dictate his future though it seems likely to take place at the weekend. </p> Premier League Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ballack-shows-ruthless-streak-in-freekick-row-829157.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ballack-shows-ruthless-streak-in-freekick-row-829157.html?r=RSS <p>Michael Ballack has revealed his reasons for refusing to back down in his extraordinary on-field row with his team-mate Didier Drogba during last month's League meeting with Manchester United &ndash; and said that Chelsea still suffer from a lack of popular appeal because of "envy" over Roman Abramovich's wealth.</p> Premier League Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ronaldo-opens-door-to-real-as-he-ponders-united-future-829160.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ronaldo-opens-door-to-real-as-he-ponders-united-future-829160.html?r=RSS <p>Cristiano Ronaldo yesterday sparked what is likely to be a summer of feverish speculation over his future when he left the door open to a potential move to Spain, and Real Madrid in particular. Manchester United's 41-goal star of the season announced that he would be considering his future after his club's European Cup final against Chelsea on Wednesday.</p> Premier League Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool-in-talks-with-lee-about-anfield-role-828189.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool-in-talks-with-lee-about-anfield-role-828189.html?r=RSS <p>Liverpool are in talks with their former midfielder Sammy Lee with a view to him becoming Rafael Benitez's assistant manager at Anfield. Lee, sacked as manager at Bolton last October, has held discussions this week with Liverpool chief executive, Rick Parry.</p> Premier League Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wenger-was-never-happy-with-me-says-diarra-828190.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wenger-was-never-happy-with-me-says-diarra-828190.html?r=RSS <p>In one of the more improbable scenarios of this season Lassana Diarra, having left Chelsea in August, then Arsenal in January, could wind up collecting more silverware than his ex-team-mates at either club.</p> Premier League Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/summer-sales-transfer-news-and-speculation-828194.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/summer-sales-transfer-news-and-speculation-828194.html?r=RSS <p><b>Adebayor 'flattered' by Bar&ccedil;a link</b></p> Premier League Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/erikssons-silent-start--as-farewell-tour-hits-bangkok-828196.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/erikssons-silent-start--as-farewell-tour-hits-bangkok-828196.html?r=RSS <p>Sven Goran Eriksson refused to comment on when he will next meet the Manchester City owner, Thaksin Shinawatra, after arriving in Thailand yesterday.</p> Premier League Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/grant-claims-influenced-referees-helped-united-828197.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/grant-claims-influenced-referees-helped-united-828197.html?r=RSS <p>Avram Grant has fired the first shots in the battle of wills before next Wednesday's Champions League final by suggesting that Manchester United were helped by referees in their Premier League triumph this season. In a rare moment of controversy, the Chelsea manager said that some English referees had been subject to "influence" and that he was glad the final in Moscow would be refereed by a foreigner.</p> Premier League Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/kroenke-may-come-on-board-as-arsenal-close-in-on-ben-arfa-827572.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/kroenke-may-come-on-board-as-arsenal-close-in-on-ben-arfa-827572.html?r=RSS <p>Arsenal are considering inviting Stan Kroenke, the American sports tycoon who has a 12 per cent stake in the club, to take a place on the board. At the same time the Premier League club have ruled out appointing a director of football to work alongside manager Ars&egrave;ne Wenger. But Arsenal are reviewing whether or not they need to add more than just one new person to their executive team following the abrupt departure of the managing director, Keith Edelman.</p> Premier League Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/west-ham-attempt-to-tie-down-ashton-827573.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/west-ham-attempt-to-tie-down-ashton-827573.html?r=RSS <p>West Ham United will open talks on Friday with Dean Ashton, their most valuable playing asset, about an extension to his contract, with the striker, who is far from being one of the club's highest earners, hoping for a substantial pay rise. The 24-year-old has two years left on his deal but has been anxious for several months to sort out his future.</p> Premier League Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/benitez-left-in-limbo-after-gilletts-oversight-extends-liverpool-turmoil-827576.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/benitez-left-in-limbo-after-gilletts-oversight-extends-liverpool-turmoil-827576.html?r=RSS <p>Emphasising his dismay at a season without silverware, Steven Gerrard yesterday passed up the opportunity to say he sees himself finishing his career at Anfield. However, the Liverpool captain will be saddened to learn that his manager's hopes of a speedy resolution to the club's boardroom strife appear to have been dashed. </p> Premier League Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/how-was-it-for-you-fanrsquos-eye-view-of-every-premier-league-teamrsquos-season-826853.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/how-was-it-for-you-fanrsquos-eye-view-of-every-premier-league-teamrsquos-season-826853.html?r=RSS <p> How did your lot do? Who was the best player? The worst? And who do you fancy in the summer? A club-by-club guide to the 2007-08 Premier League season by the people in the know: the fans </p> Premier League Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:51 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/spend-like-big-four-or-risk-major-disaster-says-neville-827032.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/spend-like-big-four-or-risk-major-disaster-says-neville-827032.html?r=RSS <p>The captain of Everton, Phil Neville, yesterday said it would be "a major disaster" if Everton did not spend more heavily this summer on players the Premier League's top four clubs aspire to buy. </p> Premier League Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/eriksson-heads-for-thailand-as-swift-resolution-denied-827035.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/eriksson-heads-for-thailand-as-swift-resolution-denied-827035.html?r=RSS <p>Sven Goran Eriksson survived a meeting with Thaksin Shinawatra's senior aide on Sunday evening, but has been denied the prompt resolution he sought on his future and instead left to fly out to Thailand with the first team squad tonight on a 12-day club tour.</p> Premier League Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/villa-must-accept-barrys-exit-says-benitez-827036.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/villa-must-accept-barrys-exit-says-benitez-827036.html?r=RSS <p>Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has risked further upsetting Martin O'Neill by suggesting yesterday that his Aston Villa counterpart should come to terms with the prospect of losing his captain Gareth Barry.</p> Premier League Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ferguson-reveals-bolton-ruse-to-rein-in-chelsea-827040.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ferguson-reveals-bolton-ruse-to-rein-in-chelsea-827040.html?r=RSS <p>Sir Alex Ferguson will just have to hope things do not prove so tight next May because the secrets of his 11th-hour sleights of hand are out in the open. His growls, on Friday, about Bolton Wanderers' survival celebrations and the advantage they might be presenting to Chelsea were, of course, a ruse &ndash; or, as Ferguson put it yesterday, "a little nibble at [Bolton] to keep their minds alert".</p> Premier League Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-rebuilding-starts-with-163161m-capture-of-bosingwa-827041.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-rebuilding-starts-with-163161m-capture-of-bosingwa-827041.html?r=RSS <p>Chelsea will clear out up to eight of their first-team squad this summer in what is expected to be the most radical overhaul yet of a team who could be crowned European champions on 21 May. The club plan on thinning down their first-team squad considerably, with yesterday's new signing Jose Bosingwa one of a maximum of four new names that the manager, Avram Grant, expects to bring to Stamford Bridge.</p> Premier League Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bruce-bought-a-pile-of-rubbish-claims-sullivan-827104.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bruce-bought-a-pile-of-rubbish-claims-sullivan-827104.html?r=RSS <p>The Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan yesterday launched an astonishing attack on the summer signings made by former manager Steve Bruce. </p> Premier League Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ferguson-rewarded-with-cash-to-strengthen-uniteds-squad-827105.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ferguson-rewarded-with-cash-to-strengthen-uniteds-squad-827105.html?r=RSS <p>The Manchester United chief executive, David Gill, yesterday reflected on what last summer's &pound;50m had delivered for the club this season and promised the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, money to build yet again.</p> Premier League Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-set-to-land-pound16m-boswinga-826542.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-set-to-land-pound16m-boswinga-826542.html?r=RSS <p> Chelsea may have lost the title to Manchester United but they may have pipped their rivals to the signing of Portugal international Jose Bosingwa. </p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 12:27:54 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/everton-3-newcastle-united-1-yakubus-double-seals-high-five-for-everton-826312.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/everton-3-newcastle-united-1-yakubus-double-seals-high-five-for-everton-826312.html?r=RSS <p>Kevin Keegan might be resigned to a fate among the also-rans but Everton alone have given the Premier League aristocrats a run for their money this season and they were rewarded for that yesterday with the Uefa Cup place that Aston Villa had threaten to steal.</p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/west-ham-united-2-aston-villa-2-oneill-faces-up-to-task-of-keeping-barry-826313.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/west-ham-united-2-aston-villa-2-oneill-faces-up-to-task-of-keeping-barry-826313.html?r=RSS <p>As it turned out, Everton's victory yesterday ensured Villa could not claim automatic Uefa Cup qualification, and Tottenham's defeat meant West Ham would finish in the top half of the Premier League table whatever. But two sides who were surely aware of the relevant results before they left the pitch nevertheless produced the kind of open, eventful match for which Upton Park has become celebrated over the years.</p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/middlesbrough-8-manchester-city-1-eriksson-demands-urgent-talks-after-mauling-826315.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/middlesbrough-8-manchester-city-1-eriksson-demands-urgent-talks-after-mauling-826315.html?r=RSS <p>In the bizarre mind-set of Thaksin Shinawatra, this demolition of Manchester City will have been vindication of his plans to dismiss Sven Goran Eriksson and the Swede was last night seeking immediate talks with the former Thai prime-minister.</p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/tottenham-hotspur-0-liverpool-2-relentless-torres-helps-benitez-to-win-his-own-numbers-game-826318.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/tottenham-hotspur-0-liverpool-2-relentless-torres-helps-benitez-to-win-his-own-numbers-game-826318.html?r=RSS <p>Statistics clearly mean a lot to Rafael Benitez, especially when, as he sees it, they contradict prevailing perceptions. "We play good football, we try to win every match," the Liverpool manager said. "We have scored 119 goals this season. We have benefited from the goals of Fernando Torres and from the clean sheets of our goalkeeper [Jose Reina], who has won the golden gloves award for the third year running."</p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/birmingham-city-4-blackburn-rovers-1-gold-may-quit-after-fans-post-protest-826319.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/birmingham-city-4-blackburn-rovers-1-gold-may-quit-after-fans-post-protest-826319.html?r=RSS <p>David Gold, the Birmingham chairman, threatened to quit last night after fans turned on him and David Sullivan following the club's relegation. Chants of "the board must go" greeted the final whistle, although Gold said the verbal attack he, Sullivan and his co-owner's two young sons were subjected to in front of the directors' box went far, far further than that.</p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/portsmouth-0-fulham-1-hodgson-keeps-his-cool-as-fulham-sweat-their-way-to-survival-826320.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/portsmouth-0-fulham-1-hodgson-keeps-his-cool-as-fulham-sweat-their-way-to-survival-826320.html?r=RSS <p>When Mark Clattenburg finally blew his whistle to confirm Fulham's remarkable escape, the visitors' dugout erupted in joy, spilling substitutes, coaches and physios across Fratton Park to hug and kiss the players. Several minutes later a 60-year-old man emerged. He shook hands with the officials and went to the Portsmouth players one by one. Eventually, Roy Hodgson walked slowly towards his team as they celebrated in front of the travelling support. </p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/derby-county-0-reading-4-coppell-considers-his-position-after-readings-fall-826321.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/derby-county-0-reading-4-coppell-considers-his-position-after-readings-fall-826321.html?r=RSS <p>Reading romped to their biggest victory of the season but could not preserve their Premier League status after Fulham's win at Portsmouth saved Roy Hodgson's side and condemned Steve Coppell's team to relegation two seasons after winning the Championship title with a record 106 points.</p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sunderland-0-arsenal-1-walcott-winner-adds-further-proof-of-arsenals-year-of-development-826322.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sunderland-0-arsenal-1-walcott-winner-adds-further-proof-of-arsenals-year-of-development-826322.html?r=RSS <p>Fifteen points more than last season, one place higher, more games won, more goals scored and fewer conceded, Arsenal have made progress as 2007 turned into 2008, and as Ars&egrave;ne Wenger departed the Stadium of Light yesterday, he acknowledged a sense of "anti-climax" but "not failure. We have lost a 100 metres by a fraction of a second. Someone has just stuck their chest out, we were on the line with them."</p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/james-lawton-ferguson-kept-from-grand-exit-by-thirst-for-the-fight-826323.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/james-lawton-ferguson-kept-from-grand-exit-by-thirst-for-the-fight-826323.html?r=RSS <p>The question will again be on many lips now that Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed the strength of arguably football's most ferociously realised comeback. With his 19th major title for Manchester United, his 10th annexation of the world's most powerful football league &ndash; and the imminent possibility that in the old Moscow citadel of the oligarch Roman Abramovich he can deliver a final swordstroke to the man who presumed he had the wealth, and the coach, Jose Mourinho, to invade and diminish his empire &ndash; Ferguson will once again be asked if it is not time to take his last and ultimately triumphant hurrah.</p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-1-bolton-wanderers-1-terry-hopes-to-be-fit-for-moscow-after-title-failure-826325.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-1-bolton-wanderers-1-terry-hopes-to-be-fit-for-moscow-after-title-failure-826325.html?r=RSS <p>No Premier League title and no John Terry either. Or so we thought. Just as Chelsea have shown remarkable powers of recovery this season, then so, most of all, has their captain. His reputation for brushing off injury is legendary but when he went down early in the first half, clattered, ironically, by his own goalkeeper Petr Cech, it did not look good.</p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/were-very-proud-it-wasnt-easy-this-season-826327.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/were-very-proud-it-wasnt-easy-this-season-826327.html?r=RSS <p>Avram Grant brushed aside any suggestions of disappointment after his Chelsea side failed to overtake Manchester United at the top on the final day of the Premier League yesterday, preferring instead to look forward to the Champions League final in Moscow on Wednesday week. </p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wigan-athletic-0-manchester-united-2-ferguson-savours-coronation-as-reds-prepare-for-moscow-march-826329.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wigan-athletic-0-manchester-united-2-ferguson-savours-coronation-as-reds-prepare-for-moscow-march-826329.html?r=RSS <p>The big days tend to bring out the giddiness in Sir Alex Ferguson. Witness the jig he essayed down the touchline at the JJB Stadium in the style of a tipsy grandfather at a wedding; the hearty singalong with his club's fans and, finally, the bold statement. Yesterday, as Ferguson savoured his 10th Premier League title, the Manchester United manager said that his team, and not Chelsea, had the momentum to win the Champions League.</p> Premier League Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wigan-0-man-utd-2-manchester-united-retain-premier-title-826176.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wigan-0-man-utd-2-manchester-united-retain-premier-title-826176.html?r=RSS <p> Record-holder Ryan Giggs marked a lifetime's loyalty with the best present possible as he delivered another Premier League title to Manchester United. </p> Premier League Sun, 11 May 2008 17:18:41 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/players-behaviour-is-top-of-fas-hitlist-825862.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/players-behaviour-is-top-of-fas-hitlist-825862.html?r=RSS <p>It is easy to forget that there is far more to the Football Association than how England fare in international competition. So although the obvious headline grabbed from the four-year strategic review published last week concerned a desire to reach "at least" the semi-finals of major competitions by 2012, the FA's chief executive, Brian Barwick, believes that cleaning up the behaviour of players and spectators may be the current regime's greatest legacy.</p> Premier League Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/grant-may-win-title-and-still-go-825870.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/grant-may-win-title-and-still-go-825870.html?r=RSS <p>So, is dismissal really to be the price of victory? Nothing would surprise you about a Premier League increasingly run on the whim of absentee foreign nationals. Yet at the climax of a remarkable season, reminiscent of the time 40 years ago when Matt Busby's Manchester United, locked together on points with their city rivals, capit-ulated on the final day, Avram Grant still cannot escape that question. It comes in various guises, but basically can be condensed down to this: just how long is he for Roman Abram-ovich's impenetrable world?</p> Premier League Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/the-boy-from-the-rockies-ready-to-scale-twin-peaks-825872.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/the-boy-from-the-rockies-ready-to-scale-twin-peaks-825872.html?r=RSS <p> When Manchester United paid Bayern Munich &pound;17 million for Owen Hargreaves last summer, after winning the Premier League but being taken apart by Milan's midfield in the Champions' League semi-finals, the intention seemed clear. As Hargreaves put it in his Welsh-Canadian twang before the season began: &quot;Every player brings his qualities and mine are in the defensive midfield area. Hopefully I can win some tackles and protect the back four to ensure we keep a clean sheet and get the ball to the fantastic offensive players we have.&quot; </p> Premier League Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/alex-mcleish-in-private-i-feel-like-i-want-to-jump-off-a-bridge-825879.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/alex-mcleish-in-private-i-feel-like-i-want-to-jump-off-a-bridge-825879.html?r=RSS <p>It might have been when Aston Villa were parading the European Cup through the streets of the Second City in 1982, or when Johnny Giles's West Bromwich Albion celebrated promotion six years earlier.</p> Premier League Sun, 11 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/uefa-cup-likely-for-city-as-exit-awaits-eriksson-825433.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/uefa-cup-likely-for-city-as-exit-awaits-eriksson-825433.html?r=RSS <p>The most profound irony of an extraordinary week in the history of Manchester City revealed itself half an hour or so after Sven Goran Eriksson had delivered what looked, for all the world, like a last farewell. </p> Premier League Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/coppell-thankful-for-last-chance-to-stay-up-825434.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/coppell-thankful-for-last-chance-to-stay-up-825434.html?r=RSS <p>It was in his trademark dour tone (two octaves lower than Leonard Cohen) that Steve Coppell last night issued his rallying call in Reading's fight for Premier League survival. "Just be grateful that after the season we've had we still have this opportunity to stay up," he declared.</p> Premier League Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/unhappy-home-has-blues-on-the-brink-825436.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/unhappy-home-has-blues-on-the-brink-825436.html?r=RSS <p>Kevin Keegan may have struck a chord when he spoke of the difficulty of breaking into the top four, but it is just as difficult to put down roots among the country's top 20. With Derby County doomed, and Birmingham City poised to be relegated with them, this could be the fourth time in five seasons that two of the promoted three have gone straight back down. </p> Premier League Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/keegan-talks-end-split-at-newcastle-825437.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/keegan-talks-end-split-at-newcastle-825437.html?r=RSS <p>Kevin Keegan emerged from his meeting with the Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley yesterday still in a job. With tension increasing inside St James' Park this week, that was not guaranteed as Keegan made his way to London for an appointment with Ashley and four other members of the new hierarchy at Newcastle. One of them, chairman Chris Mort, described the meeting as "good, productive and constructive". It was held at Mort's legal office on Fleet Street.</p> Premier League Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bruces-record-gives-united-lightweights-reason-to-fret-825438.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bruces-record-gives-united-lightweights-reason-to-fret-825438.html?r=RSS <p>Avram Grant may wish to avert his gaze from Steve Bruce's attempt to define why the manager in the opposition dugout at Wigan tomorrow stands on the threshold of a 10th title. "They will never, ever be able to bottle it up or explain it," said Bruce, whose best stab at doing so dated from one of his first games in a United shirt in 1987, when he asked one of his own full-backs to give him some cover. </p> Premier League Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/extra-police-to-supervise-ticketless-fans-at-wigan-825439.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/extra-police-to-supervise-ticketless-fans-at-wigan-825439.html?r=RSS <p>Extra police will be on duty for Manchester United's decisive Premier League game at Wigan tomorrow.</p> Premier League Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/grant-calls-for-playoff-to-decide-title-if-teams-finish-level-on-points-825441.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/grant-calls-for-playoff-to-decide-title-if-teams-finish-level-on-points-825441.html?r=RSS <p>Should Manchester United beat Wigan by 1-0 tomorrow, Avram Grant's Chelsea team will have to beat Bolton Wanderers 18-0 to overhaul their rivals' superior goal difference and take the Premier League title on goals scored. So, on the brink of the defining weekend, it was no surprise that the Chelsea manager yesterday called for a change to the rules under which the title would be decided by a play-off between the two teams tied on points rather than goal difference.</p> Premier League Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/a-perfect-10-ferguson-questions-bolton-as-race-promises-thrilling-finale-825442.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/a-perfect-10-ferguson-questions-bolton-as-race-promises-thrilling-finale-825442.html?r=RSS <p>It is at moments like this that Sir Alex Ferguson reflects contentedly on the way that his wife told him, a few years back, that he was not to walk away from it all. "It's the only time I've ever been bullied," the Manchester United manager said of Lady Cathy's refusal to let him retire. "I don't know how I would be feeling watching today, sat in the directors' box. It would have been difficult." </p> Premier League Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/hleb-set-to-leave-arsenal-825002.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/hleb-set-to-leave-arsenal-825002.html?r=RSS <p> Arsenal midfielder Aleksandr Hleb looks set to follow Mathieu Flamini out of the Premier League club, according to his agent. </p> Premier League Fri, 09 May 2008 11:54:57 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/david-moyes-keegan-is-right-in-a-lot-of-ways-ndash-but-im-not-going-to-accept-it-824092.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/david-moyes-keegan-is-right-in-a-lot-of-ways-ndash-but-im-not-going-to-accept-it-824092.html?r=RSS <p>Following his team's 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, the Everton manager, David Moyes, and his Arsenal counterpart, Ars&egrave;ne Wenger, had a conversation over a (non-alcoholic) drink. They talked about how their respective seasons had gone. When he looks at Everton, Wenger told Moyes, he sees a club with "momentum". </p> Premier League Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/benfica-confident-eriksson-on-his-way-824093.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/benfica-confident-eriksson-on-his-way-824093.html?r=RSS <p>Benfica are privately extremely confident that they have persuaded the Manchester City manager, Sven Goran Eriksson, to sign for them after their meeting with him in Manchester on Wednesday. Sources in Portugal suggested yesterday that the club's refusal to discuss the meeting owes as much to their reluctance to jeopardise Eriksson's pursuit of severance pay as to an uncertainty about securing his services on an annual salary of &pound;1.8m and they believe that only a counter-offer from a bigger club qualified for next season's Champions League will now dissuade him. </p> European Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/benitez-prices-crouch-at-16315m-in-bid-to-raise-transfer-funds-824094.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/benitez-prices-crouch-at-16315m-in-bid-to-raise-transfer-funds-824094.html?r=RSS <p>Rafael Benitez declared Peter Crouch for sale at a price of &pound;15m yesterday in a move which appears to illustrate how badly he needs sale proceeds to fund new purchases at Anfield.</p> Premier League Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/tottenham-make-plans-for-life-without-striker-berbatov-824095.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/tottenham-make-plans-for-life-without-striker-berbatov-824095.html?r=RSS <p>Tottenham Hotspur's head coach Juande Ramos has started making plans for life without Dimitar Berbatov and admits the striker has made his mind up on his future at White Hart Lane. Ramos wants to keep Berbatov but concedes the 27-year-old Bulgaria international could depart if a club matches Spurs' valuation and the player wants to move.</p> Premier League Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/keegan-heads-south-seeking-to-repair-rift-at-newcastle-824096.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/keegan-heads-south-seeking-to-repair-rift-at-newcastle-824096.html?r=RSS <p>Kevin Keegan travels to London this morning for an 11am meeting with the Newcastle United owner, Mike Ashley, that will define his future at St James' Park and whether he, Ashley and the director of football Dennis Wise have a working relationship acceptable to all three men. </p> Premier League Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/today-in-the-premier-league-824745.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/today-in-the-premier-league-824745.html?r=RSS <p><b>Arsenal</b></p> Premier League Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-have-more-to-say-on-evra-fracas-822661.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/chelsea-have-more-to-say-on-evra-fracas-822661.html?r=RSS <p>The title race is not yet over and the Champions League final is 13 days away, but today the battle over what happened between Manchester United's players and Chelsea's groundstaff on 26 April at Stamford Bridge commences. Chelsea will file their report which, sources at the club say, includes more incidents involving United players than those which have already been reported. </p> Premier League Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/signs-that-wengers-sums-may-not-add-up-822699.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/signs-that-wengers-sums-may-not-add-up-822699.html?r=RSS <p>"Arsene Knows". The banner declaring this simple tenet has been part of the decor at Highbury, then the Emirates Stadium, for the best part of a decade. Now, though, the question is being pondered: Does he? The departure of Mathieu Flamini, the possibility that Alexander Hleb will follow him and the refusal to countenance serious spending on a par with the rest of the "Big Four" has left Arsenal fans feeling like heretics. What if "Le Professeur" has got his calculations wrong?</p> Premier League Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/we-will-buy-a-powerful-centrehalf-says-wenger-822722.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/we-will-buy-a-powerful-centrehalf-says-wenger-822722.html?r=RSS <p>Ars&egrave;ne Wenger has admitted that he needs to make two top-class signings to his Arsenal squad this summer, with a powerful central defender and a "creative player" his priorities.</p> Premier League Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/keane-ready-to-step-up-attempts-to-lure-hunt-from-reading-822898.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/keane-ready-to-step-up-attempts-to-lure-hunt-from-reading-822898.html?r=RSS <p>Sunderland are likely to be the first club to take advantage of Reading's relegation plight by prising Steve Hunt away from the Berkshire club.</p> Premier League Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/eriksson-talks-to-benfica-in-anticipation-of-city-sacking-822922.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/eriksson-talks-to-benfica-in-anticipation-of-city-sacking-822922.html?r=RSS <p>Sven Goran Eriksson met representatives of Benfica yesterday afternoon at the Manchester hotel where the Manchester City owner, Thaksin Shinawatra, reportedly sacked him 10 days ago and has been offered &pound;1.8m a year to sign for the club he has managed twice before. </p> Premier League Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/today-in-the-premier-league-822945.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/today-in-the-premier-league-822945.html?r=RSS <p><b>Arsenal</b></p> Premier League Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mourinho-scorned-as-grant-aims-high-822001.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/mourinho-scorned-as-grant-aims-high-822001.html?r=RSS <p>Avram Grant has sent out a positive message to his Chelsea players ahead of Sunday's climax to the domestic season by the simple expedient of trashing the reputation of his predecessor.</p> Premier League Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/scolari-offered-16332m-to-replace-eriksson-822002.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/scolari-offered-16332m-to-replace-eriksson-822002.html?r=RSS <p>Thaksin Shinawatra has offered Luiz Felipe Scolari &pound;3.25m a year to manage Manchester City and, in a move which has echoes of the Football Association's approach to the Brazilian ahead of the 2006 World Cup, he wants an answer before Scolari leads Portugal into the European Championship next month. </p> Premier League Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/nani-apologetic-after-thoughtless-headbutt-on-neill-822003.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/nani-apologetic-after-thoughtless-headbutt-on-neill-822003.html?r=RSS <p>The Manchester United winger Nani has apologised to his team-mates after getting himself sent off against West Ham on Saturday. The Portuguese midfielder headbutted the West Ham captain Lucas Neill during the Premier League win at Old Trafford, earning himself a three-match ban. He also faces internal disciplinary action, with the United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, saying he will "deal with" the player.</p> Premier League Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/owen-ready-to-commit-to-newcastle-822007.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/owen-ready-to-commit-to-newcastle-822007.html?r=RSS <p>Kevin Keegan's sense of deflation at Newcastle United following Monday's 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea should be eased by the telephone call Michael Owen's representatives are expected to receive from St James' Park within the next 72 hours. Newcastle are to open contract extension discussions with the man Keegan has made captain and while it is six weeks later than Keegan wanted, he has described Owen as the most significant signing Newcastle can make this summer.</p> Premier League Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/lucas-set-to-join-mascherano-on-olympic-break-822009.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/lucas-set-to-join-mascherano-on-olympic-break-822009.html?r=RSS <p>Rafael Benitez's preparations for next season have hit trouble even before the current one is out of the way, as Lucas has joined Javier Mascherano among those who intend to miss the start of the new campaign to play at the Beijing Olympics. </p> Premier League Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/top-flight-in-danger-of-being-dull-says-triesman-822010.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/top-flight-in-danger-of-being-dull-says-triesman-822010.html?r=RSS <p>Lord Triesman, the chairman of the Football Association, yesterday admitted that there was a "danger" that the Premier League could become predictable and boring. Reacting to the claims of Kevin Keegan, the Newcastle United manager, that the league was becoming less competitive because of the dominance of the so-called "big four" clubs, Lord Triesman said: "There is an important point in what Kevin said. Obviously you want every competition to be as open as possible and for sides to emerge and compete and we have seen that this season with the FA Cup. </p> Premier League Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/today-in-the-premier-league-822271.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/today-in-the-premier-league-822271.html?r=RSS <p><b>Arsenal</b></p> Premier League Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/barry-to-reject-record-pay-deal-and-join-benitez-821643.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/barry-to-reject-record-pay-deal-and-join-benitez-821643.html?r=RSS <p>Liverpool are winning the battle to sign Gareth Barry with the player himself having made the decision to sign for Rafael Benitez's club this summer rather than agree a new contract at Aston Villa. Benitez is also close to signing the Birmingham City goalkeeper Maik Taylor as a back-up to Jose Reina.</p> Premier League Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/hleb-wants-to-follow-flamini-out-of-arsenal-821644.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/hleb-wants-to-follow-flamini-out-of-arsenal-821644.html?r=RSS <p>Alexander Hleb remains hopeful that he will follow his team-mate, and friend, Mathieu Flamini in leaving Arsenal this summer with the midfielder, according to sources, privately questioning the club's ambitions and spending power.</p> Premier League Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/newcastle-united-0-chelsea-2-ballack-drives-chelsea-onward-to-set-up-tightest-of-title-finales-821649.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/newcastle-united-0-chelsea-2-ballack-drives-chelsea-onward-to-set-up-tightest-of-title-finales-821649.html?r=RSS <p>They are the shadow across Old Trafford. Their pursuit of Manchester United has been relentless and they will not be flicked aside to accommodate a convenient procession for Sir Alex Ferguson's would-be champions. If Chelsea told us one thing yesterday, it is that United will have to beat Wigan Athletic on Sunday to be sure of the title because these boys in blue are in no mood to capitulate until the very last moment of the season.</p> Premier League Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/i-dont-think-bruce-will-let-united-win-821650.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/i-dont-think-bruce-will-let-united-win-821650.html?r=RSS <p>Avram Grant saluted his players for pushing Manchester United to the final day with their victory at St James' Park yesterday and added that he thinks Wigan's manager, Steve Bruce, "will not give the game to United" on Sunday. </p> Premier League Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/give-me-the-cash-to-compete-says-keegan-821651.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/give-me-the-cash-to-compete-says-keegan-821651.html?r=RSS <p>So the last day matters. Wigan Athletic, in particular, and Bolton Wanderers have more than non-speaking roles on Sunday and the level of excitement will be immense. Just don't tell Kevin Keegan. Heart on sleeve as always, Keegan emerged after seeing his Newcastle United team beaten to leave them trailing Manchester United and Chelsea by 41 points and said: "We are in danger of having the most boring great league in the world."</p> Premier League Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/today-in-the-premier-league-821684.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/today-in-the-premier-league-821684.html?r=RSS Premier League Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/reading-0-tottenham-hotspur-1-coppell-faces-credibility-crunch-with-spent-force-821175.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/reading-0-tottenham-hotspur-1-coppell-faces-credibility-crunch-with-spent-force-821175.html?r=RSS <p>Steve Coppell looked like a beaten man who was beating himself up. "We stood still last summer," the Reading manager said. "Everybody else moved. If you look at the champions, Manchester United, they spent &pound;50m. Maybe I would accuse myself that we stood still. I took the calculated risk not to spend much money. If it doesn't work, it's my fault.</p> Premier League Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-2-birmingham-city-0-hodgson-cautious-as-fulham-edge-away-from-the-trapdoor-821176.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-2-birmingham-city-0-hodgson-cautious-as-fulham-edge-away-from-the-trapdoor-821176.html?r=RSS <p>To some this result, and the probable destiny of these two clubs, may have been decided by either a freak injury or the intervention of one of the game's more charismatic figures. Roy Hodgson, Fulham's manager, was more inclined to ascribe it to the prosaic virtues of good coaching and hard work on the training ground.</p> Premier League Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bolton-wanderers-2-sunderland-0-megson-shepherds-wanderers-back-from-the-brink-821177.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bolton-wanderers-2-sunderland-0-megson-shepherds-wanderers-back-from-the-brink-821177.html?r=RSS <p>The time has come to give Gary Megson his due. Three weeks ago some Bolton supporters held a demonstration demanding his dismissal as manager. They are looking slightly foolish now.</p> Premier League Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/aston-villa-0-wigan-athletic-2-barry-urged-to-take-opportunity-of-a-lifetime-and-move-to-liverpool-821178.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/aston-villa-0-wigan-athletic-2-barry-urged-to-take-opportunity-of-a-lifetime-and-move-to-liverpool-821178.html?r=RSS <p>Frustration. Puzzlement. It was hard to know which was Martin O'Neill's predominant emotion but they were both very strong after a result which effectively ended Aston Villa's hopes of beating Everton to a Uefa Cup spot and ensured Wigan's survival.</p> Premier League Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/middlesbrough-2-portsmouth-0-southgate-vows-to-toughen-up-in-wake-of-boro-survival-821180.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/middlesbrough-2-portsmouth-0-southgate-vows-to-toughen-up-in-wake-of-boro-survival-821180.html?r=RSS <p>Two men, two managers with too much to think about for their lives to be comfortable: Harry Redknapp, 61, and Gareth Southgate, 37, may be at different ends of the managerial spectrum, but as each spoke after a tame game at the Riverside, it was clear that 90 minutes of indifferent action was not the only thing on their minds.</p> Premier League Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/blackburn-tovers-3-derby-county-1-hughes-hitches-a-ride-with-santa-cruzs-rising-star-821181.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/blackburn-tovers-3-derby-county-1-hughes-hitches-a-ride-with-santa-cruzs-rising-star-821181.html?r=RSS <p>It is said a manager has a tendency to shape a team in his own image and for Blackburn that can only be good news. Mark Hughes' side match the hunger and commitment he showed as a player and, crucially, the potency in attack that marked him out as a feared predator at Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea. It takes one to know one and Hughes' record when it comes to purchasing strikers is impressive indeed. Last season Benni McCarthy netted 24 goals in his first campaign following a summer move from Porto, this time Roque Santa Cruz has taken on the mantle and needs one more in Rovers' final match at Birmingham to equal that tally.</p> Premier League Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-4-west-ham-united-1-ferguson-refuses-to-join-lap-of-honour-after-.htmlptive-romp-821182.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-4-west-ham-united-1-ferguson-refuses-to-join-lap-of-honour-after-.htmlptive-romp-821182.html?r=RSS <p>"The dourest and most dependable defender to play for me." That's how Sir Alex Ferguson once summed up Steve Bruce, the man who now stands between him and a 10th League title. </p> Premier League Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-1-everton-0-lehmann-bows-out-as-flamini-joins-milan-821183.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-1-everton-0-lehmann-bows-out-as-flamini-joins-milan-821183.html?r=RSS <p>The future face of Arsenal was present at the Emirates yesterday in the making and execution of the only goal, set up by Armand Traoré and scored by Nicklas Bendtner, while the past was also honoured for it was auf Wiedersehen to Jens Lehmann. The German goalkeeper bade his farewell with a 20-minute appearance before bowing, solo, in the centre circle, to the crowd. Shyness was never the 38-year-old's forte but Ars&egrave;ne Wenger has never been too bothered by that and the Arsenal manager still has some fondness for the man who was a key part of the side who went unbeaten in winning the 2004 Premier League title.</p> Premier League Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool-1-manchester-city-0-city-fans-make-point-as-torres-equals-record-and-earns-three-821184.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpool-1-manchester-city-0-city-fans-make-point-as-torres-equals-record-and-earns-three-821184.html?r=RSS <p>Perhaps every foreign owner should make known his baffling intention to sack the club's much-respected manager at the end of the season &ndash; it at least adds some life to these "dead" games. Rarely has such an irrelevant and inevitable away defeat been played out to such a backing sound of discontent from the visiting section.</p> Premier League Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/grant-looks-to-big-future-as-chelsea-face-title-endgame-821185.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/grant-looks-to-big-future-as-chelsea-face-title-endgame-821185.html?r=RSS <p>Avram Grant, sounding more self-assured than at any time since succeeding Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge last September, leads Chelsea to Tyneside this afternoon for a match Chelsea cannot afford to lose if they are to maintain pressure upon Manchester United and retain the hope of reclaiming the Premier League title. </p> Premier League Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/stoke-move-up-as-leicester-are-relegated-821083.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/stoke-move-up-as-leicester-are-relegated-821083.html?r=RSS <p> Tony Pulis steered his Stoke side to a 0-0 draw against Leicester which secured the Potters promotion to the Barclays Premier League and relegated the Foxes to Coca-Cola League One. </p> Premier League Sun, 04 May 2008 17:04:14 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/blackburn-rovers-3-derby-county-1-its-official-derby-are-the-worst-ever-820786.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/blackburn-rovers-3-derby-county-1-its-official-derby-are-the-worst-ever-820786.html?r=RSS <p>Football's worst-kept secret was finally confirmed yesterday; Derby are the most hopeless team in Premier League history. This defeat left them on 11 points, meaning even victory in their last game at home against Reading would not be enough for them to overhaul Sunderland's tally of 15 set in 2005-6. </p> Premier League Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/taxing-thaksin-has-city-in-fine-mess-820788.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/taxing-thaksin-has-city-in-fine-mess-820788.html?r=RSS <p>By a quirk of the fixture list, allied to the regrettable impatience of one of a new breed of foreign club owners, it appears that the City of Manchester Stadium has already seen the last of Sven Goran Eriksson. Manchester City's final game of the season next Sunday was originally scheduled to be at home to Middlesbrough, but because the Uefa Cup final is being staged at the ground three days later, the two Middlesbrough matches were reversed.</p> Premier League Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bolton-wanderers-2-sunderland-0-dioufs-touch-of-brilliance-has-bolton-celebrating-survival-820789.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/bolton-wanderers-2-sunderland-0-dioufs-touch-of-brilliance-has-bolton-celebrating-survival-820789.html?r=RSS <p>Mathematics might dictate that it is still possible for Bolton Wanderers to be relegated, but it is not going to happen. Only an inconceivable set of results next Sunday will prevent them from playing in the Premier League next season. This win conspired with results elsewhere to give them a three-point gap over Reading and Fulham and as they have a significantly superior goal difference, it is going to take catastrophic defending by Bolton in their final game against Chelsea to condemn them. It could become the Stamford Bridge of sighs, but it is unlikely. </p> Premier League Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/middlesbrough-2-portsmouth-0-riggott-rejoices-in-recall-and-boro-can-breathe-again-820790.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/middlesbrough-2-portsmouth-0-riggott-rejoices-in-recall-and-boro-can-breathe-again-820790.html?r=RSS <p>No matter what or where or for whom, this was always going to be a big weekend in the career of Chris Riggott. On loan at Stoke City, the 27-year-old central defender was on the golf course on Thursday thinking about today's crucial match against Leicester to see if Stoke could seal their return to the top flight when the call came from Gareth Southgate: Riggott was required back at Boro to cover for defensive injuries. When Riggott rose to put Boro ahead yesterday, his first league goal for the club since 2004, that decision by Southgate looked inspired. </p> Premier League Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/reading-0-tottenham-hotspur-1-reading-lack-heart-for-the-fight-as-the-drop-looms-820791.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/reading-0-tottenham-hotspur-1-reading-lack-heart-for-the-fight-as-the-drop-looms-820791.html?r=RSS <p>Steve Coppell said it was like "plaiting spaghetti" but Reading's plight is pasta joke. Booed off at half-time, booed off at full-time, they face a Premier League curtain call next Sunday after slipping into the bottom three with a woeful capitulation to Tottenham Hotspur. Mamma Mia. It isn't over until the fat lady sings, but she's gargling in the wings.</p> Premier League Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/aston-villa-0-wigan-athletic-2-valencia-puts-brake-on-villas-european-plan-820792.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/aston-villa-0-wigan-athletic-2-valencia-puts-brake-on-villas-european-plan-820792.html?r=RSS <p>It is not often that Martin O'Neill is lost for words, but such was the case &ndash; albeit briefly &ndash; in the aftermath of a result that effectively ended his side's chance of overhauling Everton for the last Uefa Cup qualifying place while confirming Wigan's Premier League status for next season.</p> Premier League Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-2-birmingham-city-0-mcbrides-magic-fuels-fulham-hope-of-miracle-as-blues-slump-820793.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-2-birmingham-city-0-mcbrides-magic-fuels-fulham-hope-of-miracle-as-blues-slump-820793.html?r=RSS <p>Joy unconfined down by the Thames. An almost skittish Roy Hodgson, belying his image as an elder statesman of the game, elatedly kicked out at a balloon as some of his players collapsed in a heap of exhaustion and delight. Anyone would think they had preserved their Premier League status. Well, they have not yet, but after this dismissal of a desperately disappointing Birmingham, it is now theirs to lose after a third win in four games &ndash; and their first back-to-back Premier League victories since September 2006 &ndash; propelled them into the safety zone.</p> Premier League Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-utd-4-west-ham-utd-1-ronaldo-puts-united-on-brink-820794.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-utd-4-west-ham-utd-1-ronaldo-puts-united-on-brink-820794.html?r=RSS <p>Chelsea conspiracy theorists may believe what they will. There was never any chance yesterday of West Ham United, with nothing to play for and a dozen players injured, pulling off one of their habitual upsets against a Manchester United side two wins from the title. Boys against champions hardly covered it, even when the latter had Nani rightly sent off after cruising into a 3-1 lead in half an hour. </p> Premier League Sun, 04 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-move-out-of-relegation-zone-as-birmingham-stumble-820628.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/fulham-move-out-of-relegation-zone-as-birmingham-stumble-820628.html?r=RSS <p> Brian McBride and Erik Nevland struck to haul Fulham out of the Barclays Premier League bottom three and leave Birmingham on the brink of relegation. </p> Premier League Sat, 03 May 2008 17:22:43 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wenger-refuses-to-burden-arsenal-with-player-wages-820401.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/wenger-refuses-to-burden-arsenal-with-player-wages-820401.html?r=RSS <p>Ars&egrave;ne Wenger said yesterday that he would not allow Arsenal to "go bust" by caving into the wage demands of players such as Mathieu Flamini &ndash; and, again, hit out at Chelsea's spending by claiming it was "morally not right" to behave in the way they have since Roman Abramovich's takeover.</p> Premier League Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/grant-glee-at-keeping-ferguson-off-the-red-820403.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/grant-glee-at-keeping-ferguson-off-the-red-820403.html?r=RSS <p>By Sam Wallace, Football Correspondent</p> Premier League Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/keegan-hails-input-of-chelsea-coach-820404.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/keegan-hails-input-of-chelsea-coach-820404.html?r=RSS <p>Avram Grant yesterday received one the greatest compliments Kevin Keegan can bestow when the Newcastle United manager likened Grant's tenure at Chelsea this season to that of Bob Paisley's at Liverpool after Bill Shankly had left Anfield. Keegan was also dismissive of the increasing emphasis on a manager's personality, saying of Grant: "He is not a guy who comes in and struts around the place. He is not John Wayne. But he knows football and he has done a great job. That is what he should be judged on."</p> Premier League Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpools-16310m-bid-for-barry-shows-their-limitations-820405.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/liverpools-16310m-bid-for-barry-shows-their-limitations-820405.html?r=RSS <p>Liverpool's &pound;10m bid for Gareth Barry is as ambitious as their spending will get this summer &ndash; a state of affairs which left their manager, Rafael Benitez, in the course of some ruminations on his worst season at Anfield yesterday, to highlight the financial gulf which exists between his own side and the two who will be journeying to Moscow in three weeks time. </p> Premier League Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/scolari-likely-to-resist-lure-of-eastlands-820406.html http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/scolari-likely-to-resist-lure-of-eastlands-820406.html?r=RSS <p>Luiz Felipe Scolari is weighing the Manchester City manager's job but is unwilling to move his family away from Portugal, raising serious questions about his commitment to a club career in the Premier League. </p> Premier League Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:01 +0100