News Headlines

The Secret Footballer: A good agent is the stuff dreams are made of

From sorting out image rights to setting up a household direct debit a player's Mr 15% is worth his weight in taxWith transfer deadline day fallout now nothing more than a smouldering pile of outdated football kit, the focus has shifted to the performances of those multimillion-pound signings. For...

Wolves are more important than Bar??a, says Wenger

??? Premier League is the priority for Arsenal manager this season??? 'Barcelona are maybe better this season but so are we'Ars??ne Wenger has admitted Arsenal showed Barcelona too much respect in last season's Champions League meeting yet he is confident of a different outcome this time, even...

Celebrate diversity with Bar??a and brawn

Arsenal v Barcelona and Birmingham v Stoke epitomise the extremes of the modern football spectrum, but who's to say tippy-tappy is better than hit-and-hope?Last weekend I watched Stoke City versus Sunderland on the TV in a busy lounge area crammed with grizzled, rhino-skinned footballing types, men...

Manchester United v Manchester City

United are unbeaten in their last five league matches with City, but circumstances are awkward this time since injuries have severely affected their defence. That difficulty is particularly problematic since it follows their first Premier League defeat of the season, at Wolves. It remains to be...

Squad sheets: Birmingham City v Stoke City

After four matches unbeaten in all competitions, including a creditable draw with Manchester City, and with a Carling Cup final appearance secured and a vital away win snared against West Ham last time out, Birmingham's fortunes appear to have turned. New arrival Obafemi Martins, having resolved...

Squad sheets: Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Ars??ne Wenger will certainly not forgo the traditional handshake with Mick McCarthy, after Wolves's win over Manchester United lifted the Frenchman and his shell-shocked side out of their sizeable depression following their Newcastle meltdown. Wenger has one eye on Wednesday's visit of Barcelona...

West Ham warned to keep promise over athletics track

??? 'Not a great day for athletics,' says Denise Lewis??? Club investigate plans for retractable seatingWest Ham United have been given stark warnings that they must keep their promise to athletics by retaining the track in the Olympic Stadium for the long term, as they began examining plans to...

Mancini: City will show attacking side

??? 'We are a positive team' insists Italian, despite defensive focus??? ??27m striker Dzeko likely to start on the bench at Old TraffordIt was the final question, when Sir Alex Ferguson was reminded of Manchester City's conservatism in the last derby, that the temptation to bare his teeth a little...