Barclays Premier League Season 2011/2012

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Gael Kakuta: I had to move
Bolton loan signing Gael Kakuta admits he had no option but to look for first-team football elsewhere because of the long list of talent ahead of him in the Chelsea ranks.

Pulis admits failure in Parker swoop
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has revealed he failed in a bid to sign England midfielder Scott Parker from West Ham.

Carver: Alan Pardew going nowhere
Newcastle assistant boss John Carver has branded speculation that manager Alan Pardew could walk away "absurd".

McLeish to give Bent every chance
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is hoping Darren Bent can make a rapid recovery from a groin injury.

Chelsea handed Petr Cech boost
Chelsea enjoyed a major boost ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Sunderland when Petr Cech returned to full training.

Ferguson vows: I'm not retiring
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has once again reiterated he has no plans to retire as he celebrates his 70th birthday later this year.

Thomas Vermaelen undergoes surgery
Thomas Vermaelen's father expects his son to be out for up to six weeks after revealing that the Arsenal defender underwent surgery on an Achilles injury.

Liverpool look to Uruguay for talent
Liverpool's director of football Damien Comolli is looking to tap into the talent emerging from Uruguay with two internationals now at the club.

QPR dismiss Beckham rumours
QPR have dismissed rumours linking them with a move for David Beckham.

Dunne happy with Houllier's departure
Defender Richard Dunne has revealed he would probably have quit Aston Villa had Gerard Houllier remained as manager.

David Luiz wants Neymar at Chelsea
Chelsea defender David Luiz has revealed he is trying to persuade Brazil team-mate Neymar to join him at Stamford Bridge.

 

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Report: Vermaelen out for two months
Arsenal could be without vice-captain Thomas Vermaelen for up to two months, if reports from England are to be believed.

Liverpool happy with start to season
Liverpool coach Steve Clarke has revealed the team are happy with their start to the Barclays Premier League season so far.

Yobo returns to Fenerbahce on loan
Everton defender Joseph Yobo has rejoined Fenerbahce on a season-long loan.

Anichebe injury add to Everton woes
Everton striker Victor Anichebe has returned to the club after suffering a groin injury on international duty with Nigeria.

Arshavin rues sale of Arsenal duo
Andrey Arshavin admits that Arsenal losing Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas has been catastrophic for the club.

"Nasri can reach new level at City"
France coach Laurent Blanc believes Samir Nasri is yet to fulfil his potential and could reach "a new level" at Manchester City.

McFadden linked with Wolves move
Striker James McFadden has emerged as a target for Wolves following his release by Birmingham.

Nani tired of Ronaldo comparisons
Nani has moved to distance himself from comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo and feels he still has a lot more to offer at Manchester United.

Gyan quiet on Galatasaray link
Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan has refused to be drawn on reports that Galatasaray are looking to sign him.

Coyle: No good Gary Cahill bids
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has revealed no club made a bid for defender Gary Cahill which was even worth considering in the closing days of the transfer window.

Kelly: I'll get my England breakthrough
Liverpool defender Martin Kelly is working hard to overcome his injury frustration and win an eagerly-awaited England senior call-up.

Gerrard: I didn't want Bellamy to leave
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard expressed his delight at the return of Craig Bellamy and insisted he never wanted the striker to leave.

Man City chief in email controversy
Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook is at the centre of more unwanted controversy.

Fofana was close to Man City move
Gueida Fofana has revealed he came close to joining Manchester City before completing a move to Lyon.

Rennes give Gunners M'Vila hope
Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti has conceded that highly-rated midfielder Yann M'Vila is likely to move on next summer.

Drenthe to prove his point at Everton
Everton loan signing Royston Drenthe is looking to kick-start his career at the club after admitting he is finished with Real Madrid.

Spurs' Sandro denies Roma talks
Tottenham midfielder Sandro has denied he had any contact with Roma during the transfer window.

 

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Palacios desperate to face Liverpool
Wilson Palacios is eyeing out a potential Stoke City debut against Liverpool this Saturday.

Bruce backs Bendtner to prove worth
Steve Bruce is confident loan signing Nicklas Bendtner will showcase his 'terrific ability' during his time with Sunderland.

Swansea given Bessone go-ahead
Swansea have confirmed they have received international clearance from FIFA over the transfer deadline day signing of Federico Bessone from Leeds.

Thompson hails Liverpool dealings
Former Liverpool player Phil Thompson hails the impressive signings over the summer and believes that 'something big is happening' at the club.

Ferguson: Six teams in title race
Sir Alex Ferguson admits winning the Premier League will be as tough as ever this season, with as many as six teams in the running.

Ramsey: We'll be back this Saturday
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey says that the team is determined to put things right against Swansea this Saturday following their Old Trafford defeat.

Sir Alex wary of Chelsea threat
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson still considers Chelsea as a title threat despite their aging team.

Hodgson glad to keep key players
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson believes the most important thing the club has did over the transfer window was to retain the services of key players.

Hargreaves a 'calculated risk'
Manchester City tactical coach David Platt feels that the signing of Owen Hargreaves on deadline day was a risk that could potentially pay off.

Sutton: Unlucky Torres needs break
Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton is convinced Fernando Torres will do what he failed to do and prove a big hit in west London.

Hill-Wood: Wenger is not leaving
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has rubbished suggestions that Arsene Wenger's job is in doubt.

Everton new boy confident of success
New Everton signing Denis Stracqualursi is confident he can deliver goals and does not feel any extra pressure as one of only two front-line strikers at the club.

Luiz happy with Meireles signing
Chelsea's centre back David Luiz revealed on Tuesday his excitement at the club's transfer deadline capture of Portuguese and Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles.

Arteta raring to make Arsenal impact
New Arsenal signing Mikel Arteta has revealed he absolutely cannot wait to get started at the Emirates Stadium after completing a deadline day move last week.

Rooney relishes Hernandez reunion
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is ready to renew his deadly partnership with Javier Hernandez against Bolton this weekend.

Mertesacker set for London
Germany defender Per Mertesacker is both nervous and excited about joining Arsenal after saying farewell to family, friends and neighbours in Bremen.

 

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Walcott escapes Arsenal injury jinx
After suffering a rash of injuries to their first team squad, Arsenal will be relieved that Theo Walcott should still be able to face Swansea this weekend.

Arsenal new boys face BPL debuts
After Arsenal's summer spending spree, their new boys will face the acid test against Swansea in the Barclays Premier League.

Coyle pleased with Holden return
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has backed Stuart Holden to make a strong return for club and country.

McLeish: Jenas will show quality
Alex McLeish has backed Jermaine Jenas to make up for lost time after joining Aston Villa on a season-long loan deal.

Suarez still energetic for Liverpool
Luis Suarez has insisted he feels ready to play in every game for Liverpool despite barely having had a break all summer.

Coyle: Bolton not rushed over Cahill
Owen Coyle has insisted he is in no rush to speak to Gary Cahill about extending the defender's contract at Bolton.

Dalglish defends Carroll from Capello
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has defended striker Andy Carroll in the wake of criticism from England coach Fabio Capello.

Citizens relief after Nasri diagnosis
Manchester City were left worried after Samir Nasri suffered a hand injury while playing for France in their Euro 2012 qualifier against Romania.

Jonny Evans fears Man United exit
Jonny Evans has admitted he must improve at Manchester United this season or face the probability of it being his last.

Warnock: Beckham move still possible
QPR manager Neil Warnock has refused to rule out a move for David Beckham as "anything is possible".

Mancini: Rules led to Hargreaves move
Roberto Mancini has revealed bringing Manchester City in line with UEFA's financial fair play regulations was the reason for the acquisition of Owen Hargreaves.

Downing: Liverpool can finish top four
Liverpool winger Stewart Downing believes his side have got "a hell of a chance" in finishing in the top four.

Smalling wants to be at United for life
Defender Chris Smalling has set sights on staying at Manchester United for the rest of his career.

Ngog aims to emulate Torres
New Bolton striker David Ngog hopes the years spent as understudy to Fernando Torres at Liverpool will stand him in good stead.

keeps soft spot for Newcastle
Joey Barton has insisted he would never say a bad word about Newcastle as he prepares to make his QPR debut against the club he left under a cloud last month.

Fergie calls for patience with De Gea
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists that summer signing David de Gea needs time to adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League.

Adebayor backed to succeed at Spurs
Benoit Assou-Ekotto is sure Tottenham fans will give their backing to new signing Emmanuel Adebayor despite his previous spell at bitter rivals Arsenal.

Ruiz wants to prove Fulham worth
New Fulham striker Bryan Ruiz has vowed to prove he is worth the money Martin Jol paid for him on deadline day.

Meireles denies forcing Chelsea move
Raul Meireles has insisted he never wanted to leave Liverpool but admitted he jumped at the chance to join Chelsea when it became clear he would be sold.

Ferdinand: Sunderland rejected me
Anton Ferdinand says he had no plans to leave Sunderland but once he had met with QPR boss Neil Warnock, he felt a move to Loftus Road was the correct choice.

 

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Wenger pillored in fans survey
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been slammed by his club's own supporters in a poll conducted in England.

Fans call for Kean's head in open letter
Blackburn Rovers fans have written an open letter to club owners Venky's, urging them to reconsider manager Steve Kean's employment.

New signings set for Arsenal bows
Arsene Wenger could unleash all of Arsenal's five deadline signings for the visit of Swansea on Saturday.

Redknapp: I would welcome Beckham
Harry Redknapp says former England captain David Beckham would be welcome back at Tottenham with "open arms".

Nasri home bow likely despite injury
Manchester City are optimistic Samir Nasri's broken finger will not prevent the midfielder making his Etihad Stadium bow when they play Wigan on Saturday.

AVB warns Torres over poor form
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has told misfiring striker Fernando Torres to buck up as he will not compromise the team for the Spaniard.

Wigan keen to tie down Moses
Wigan have opened contract talks with youngster Victor Moses and several other leading players.

McLeish pragmatic on financial future
Alex McLeish admits Aston Villa and the majority of the Barclays Premier League cannot compete with the growing new breed of "super clubs."

Warnock hits out at pointless friendlies
QPR manager Neil Warnock has called for an end to the "meaningless" and "pathetic" international fixtures that pepper the footballing calendar.

Pardew moves on from striker woes
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will put his transfer deadline day frustration behind him as he seeks to maintain the club's fine start to the season.

Elstone defends Everton board
Everton chief executive Robert Elstone has attempted to quell a planned fans' protest by stressing the club's commitment to finding new investment.

No easy street stroll for O'Shea
John O'Shea has insisted he did not head for Sunderland to coast in towards the end of his career after a trophy-laden spell at Manchester United.

Mertesacker aims to emulate Adams
Per Mertesacker hopes he can cement a place in Arsenal folklore like "legend" Tony Adams as the big German centre-back prepares to make his debut against Swansea.

AVB: Torres, Lampard will fire again
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas vowed to help Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres get back to their best after each had an international break to forget.

De Gea: I will improve for United
David De Gea insists the media had the right to criticise him after the mistakes that have blighted the early part of his Manchester United career.

Drogba racing to make United clash
Didier Drogba is facing a race against time to be fit for Chelsea's Barclays Premier League game at Manchester United.

Chelsea go cold on Luka Modric
Andre Villas-Boas does not expect Chelsea to make another bid for Luka Modric in January after failing to land the Tottenham midfielder this summer.

Sandro signs new Tottenham deal
Sandro has committed his future to Tottenham by signing a new five-year contract, the Barclays Premier League club announced this afternoon.

 

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Gyan likely to make Sunderland exit
Asamoah Gyan's career at Sunderland appears to be over after his shock departure for the United Arab Emirates on a season-long loan deal.

Carragher left admiring Stoke defence
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admitted he was impressed with Stoke's defence after losing 1-0 at the Britannia.

Wenger: Arshavin back to his best
After Andrey Arshavin's match-winning strike against Swansea, Arsena manager Arsene Wenger believes the Russian is back to his best.

Fernandes: Beckham not a pipe dream
QPR owner Tony Fernandes believes he can offer David Beckham the "love, care and attention" he requires.

Ferguson fury over Cleverley injury
Sir Alex Ferguson has condemned the tackle that left Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley with a possible broken foot.

Rooney and Aguero inspire easy wins
Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero hit hat-tricks as Manchester United and Manchester City once again set the standard in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.

Mancini sees room for improvement
Roberto Mancini insisted his Manchester City side still need to improve - despite easing to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Wigan.

Moyes pleased with Everton response
Everton boss David Moyes felt his players lifted the mood at Goodison Park with a rousing performance on Saturday.

Redknapp backs Ade to be Spurs hero
Harry Redknapp believes Emmanuel Adebayor can become "a big hero" at Tottenham after he netted on his debut in the 2-0 win at Wolves.

Wenger relief at narrow Swansea win
Arsene Wenger was a relieved man after Arsenal finally got their Barclays Premier League campaign up and running with a narrow 1-0 win over Swansea at Emirates Stadium.

Dalglish to consult owners on refs
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will consult the club's owners before deciding on how to deal with issues regarding refereeing decisions.

AVB turns focus on Abramovich obsession
Andre Villas-Boas turned his attention to the Champions League after watching Chelsea turn in their best performance of the season to date at Sunderland.

Tamas takes heart from fight
Defender Gabriel Tamas insists West Brom's confidence has not been dented by their winless start to the season and claimed "there is no team we cannot beat."

Barton first on Warnock's teamsheet
QPR manager Neil Warnock says Joey Barton will be the first name on the teamsheet and believes his experience can help the west Londoners flourish.

Redknapp: King needs to earn extension
Harry Redknapp has told defender Ledley King that is he does not play enough this season, it will be his last year at Tottenham.

Mike Ashley not planning to sell
Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias has insisted Mike Ashley has no intention of selling the club - unless he is made an offer he cannot refuse.

Jol still keen on Gignac deal
Fulham boss Martin Jol has not ruled out another move for Marseille marksman Andre-Pierre Gignac when the transfer window reopens in January.

Kean wants swift Hoilett conclusion
Blackburn boss Steve Kean wants a swift conclusion to Junior Hoilett's ongoing contract negotiations.

Moyes: Arteta sale my decision
Everton boss David Moyes is adamant the sale of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal was his decision.

Sunderland 'agree Gyan loan'
Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is set to make a shock season-long loan move to the United Arab Emirates after months of speculation over his future.

Coyle: Cahill has long England future
Bolton manager Owen Coyle can see Gary Cahill playing for England for the next decade.

Fergie: Smalling switch not permanent
Sir Alex Ferguson has assured Chris Smalling his switch to right-back will not be permanent.

Man City search for Cook's replacement
Manchester City are beginning the search for a new chief executive after Garry Cook paid the price for an "error of judgement".

Reus reveals Arsenal admiration
Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marco Reus has spoken of his admiration for Arsenal, and has not ruled out joining the Gunners in the future.

Ronaldo: Mourinho best in the world
Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo believes his coach Jose Mourinho is currently the best in the business.

Jol happy with Fulham squad
Fulham manager Martin Jol has declared himself pleased with the Cottagers' summer transfer activity.

Torres excited by Mata, Sturridge
Fernando Torres has declared the arrival of good friend Juan Mata and the return of Daniel Sturridge will finally see him justify his £50million price tag at Chelsea.

Mancini confirms Kompany will lead
Carlos Tevez will not captain Manchester City this season, after manager Roberto Mancini confirmed Vincent Kompany will take the armband permanently.

Norwich to play rookie against West Brom
Norwich manager Paul Lambert has "no fear" about throwing rookie goalkeeper Declan Rudd into Barclays Premier League action against West Brom on Sunday.

Pardew: Newcastle counting on Best
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is hoping Leon Best can help ease the disappointment of the club's failure to land its big striking targets this summer.

Hodgson: West Brom won't panic
Roy Hodgson is refusing to press the panic button after West Brom's winless start to the campaign but admits "losing with valour doesn't get you points".

Coyle: De Gea is good goalkeeper
Bolton boss Owen Coyle does not view goalkeeper David de Gea as a potential weak spot in Sir Alex Ferguson's team.

Moyes: Everton short of strikers
Everton manager David Moyes knows he has left himself a little bit short up front after his transfer window dealings saw two strikers leave and only one arrive.

"QPR season starts with Newcastle"
Neil Warnock does not believe much can be read into QPR's Premier League performances so far and pinpointed Monday night's clash with Newcastle as the start of their season.

Mancini upset with Balotelli attention
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini claims he is more frustrated with the media attention on Mario Balotelli than the striker's behaviour.

Parker pleased with Tottenham switch
Scott Parker has insisted he did not hesitate to join Tottenham from West Ham despite attracting interest from elsewhere.

Pulis: Stoke happy with new signings
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has declared himself "pleased as punch" with the club's new signings and is confident none of them will disrupt their unity.

Citizens to make Bridge available
Manchester City will make former England defender Wayne Bridge available for loan to npower Championship clubs.

Welbeck close to Man United return
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that England striker Danny Welbeck should return to training next week.

Kean: Blackburn fans must be patient
Blackburn boss Steve Kean has brushed off any implications of a letter from fans sent to the club's owners asking them to consider his position.

Ferguson: Reduce international games
Sir Alex Ferguson has backed the call for a reduction in the number of internationals.

Bruce: Parasites turned Gyan's head
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce claims "parasites" turned Asamoah Gyan's head with talk of joining one of European football's biggest clubs.

Redknapp in the dark about Beckham
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has "no idea" whether David Beckham will return to the club this winter.

Garry Cook resigns as Man City CEO
Garry Cook has resigned as chief executive of Manchester City, the club have announced.

Mancini: Hargreaves not ready yet
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini does not expect Owen Hargreaves to be ready for action for another fortnight.

Ferguson: Evra helped Young at United
Sir Alex Ferguson credits Patrice Evra for being the unsung hero behind Ashley Young's remarkable introduction to life at Manchester United.

Martinez: Wigan has pressures like City
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez may not face the same challenges as Manchester City counterpart Roberto Mancini, but he feels the weight of expectation all the same.

Dalglish positive about Bellamy impact
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will focus only on the positives when it comes to new striker Craig Bellamy.

AVB unbothered by Manchester starts
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has shrugged off Manchester United and Manchester City's blistering starts to the season.

 

[ballsathome]

Sunday's Fixtures

Norwich vs West Brom

West Brom midfielder Zoltan Gera is in contention to make his first appearance since rejoining the club in Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash at Norwich. The Hungary international was suspended for the opening three games while also recovering from ankle surgery. Albion are optimistic striker Peter Odemwingie will be available after his recent ankle setback but his strike partner Shane Long is rated only 50-50 to recover from a calf injury by Baggies head coach Roy Hodgson who is seeking a first league win of the campaign.

Norwich youngster Declan Rudd will deputise for suspended goalkeeper John Ruddy. Centre-half Zak Whitbread (hamstring) is a doubt, but striker James Vaughan, a summer signing from Everton, could make his debut after recovering from a knee injury. However, defenders Daniel Ayala and Elliot Ward (knee) remain out.

Norwich (from): Rudd, Tierney, de Laet, Barnett, Naughton, Pilkington, Crofts, Johnson, Hoolahan, Morison, Holt, Matthews, C Martin, Bennett, R Martin, D Fox, S Jackson, Whitbread, Vaughan.
West Brom (from): Foster, Fulop, Reid, Dawson, Tamas, Jara, Olsson, Shorey, Mattock, Scharner, Mulumbu, Thorne, Thomas, Morrison, Dorrans, Brunt, Gera, Odemwingie, Long, Tchoyi, Cox, Fortune.

Fulham vs Blackburn

New signings Yakubu, Scott Dann, Simon Vukcevic and Jordan Slew are all in the Blackburn squad for their visit to Fulham on Sunday. Morten Gamst Pedersen (hamstring) is out however, while David Dunn is doubtful, also with a hamstring problem. Ryan Nelsen will be assessed to see if he has recovered from his knee injury. Bryan Ruiz could make his Fulham debut.

The 26-year-old signed for the Cottagers in a £10.6million from FC Twente and could be joined in the squad by fellow deadline day signings Zdenek Grygera and Orlando Sa. Fulham manager Martin Jol has confirmed his international players have returned from duty unscathed, while Bobby Zamora, Bjorn Helge Riise and Matthew Briggs have overcome knocks.

Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Somogyi, Baird, Hangeland, Hughes, Senderos, Kelly, Grygera, JA Riise, BH Riise, Duff, Sidwell, Dembele, Dempsey, Etuhu, Gecov, Murphy, Sa, Zamora, Johnson, Ruiz
Blackburn (from): Robinson, Salgado, Samba, Givet, Dann, Hanley, Olsson, Hoilett, Nzonzi, Petrovic, Grella, Lowe, Vukcevic, Formica, Rochina, Roberts, Goodwillie, Yakubu, Slew, Blackman.

Monday's Fixtures

QPR vs Newcastle

New signing Joey Barton is set to make his QPR debut in Monday night's Barclays Premier League clash against former club Newcastle. The 28-year-old could be joined by five other debutants, with fellow recent signings Anton Ferdinand, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jason Puncheon, Luke Young and Armand Traore also vying for starts. QPR manager Neil Warnock admits several players have niggles but can call upon Clint Hill after suspension and DJ Campbell, who has recovered from a virus. Newcastle new-boy Davide Santon is unlikely to go straight into the starting XI.

The former Inter Milan full-back headed off on international duty with Italy's Under-21s after completing his move to St James' Park and, as a result, has had little time to be integrated into the Magpies squad and is set to feature from the bench at best at Loftus Road. Steve Harper (knee), Danny Guthrie (ankle) and Shola Ameobi (hip) have returned to training after missing the 2-1 win over Fulham last time out, a game in which Haris Vuckic broke his hand, while Mehdi Abeid (knee) has also joined Mike Williamson (broken arm) and Hatem Ben Arfa (ankle) on the injured list, although the latter has resumed light training.

QPR (from): Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry, Hall, Gabbidon, Taarabt, Dyer, Campbell, Bothroyd, Faurlin, Traore, Buzsaky, Perone, Connolly, Barton, Young, Smith, Helguson, Murphy, Wright-Phillips, Ferdinand, Puncheon
Newcastle (from): Krul, Harper, Simpson, R. Taylor, Santon, Ferguson, Coloccini, S. Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Marveaux, Obertan, Gosling, Smith, Ba, Shola Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Best, Sammy Ameobi.

 

[ballsathome]

Trotters trial for Chilean starlet
Chilean starlet Stefano Magnasco has confirmed that he is travelling to England to undergo a trial with Bolton.

Cahill calls for unity at Everton
Everton talisman Tim Cahill has called for all supporters to unite fully behind everyone at the troubled club.

Pardew: It's difficult at Newcastle
Alan Pardew admits Mike Ashley's relationship with the Newcastle fans makes life difficult for him.

Plastic surgeon treats Vaughan
James Vaughan received treatment from a plastic surgeon for a facial injury after Norwich lost 1-0 at home to West Brom on Sunday.

Cleverley ruled out for four weeks
Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley suffered ligament damage in his foot, but no break, his club have said.

Sturridge delighted with wonder goal
Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge feared Wes Brown would rob him of his wonder goal at Sunderland.

Aguero: Team comes before me
Sergio Aguero insists the team's success comes before personal glory despite hitting his first hat-trick in English football.

Suarez desperate for Liverpool glory
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez believes there is a real desire within the dressing room to restore the club to former glories.

Capello: Ashley Young a revelation
England manager Fabio Capello feels that Ashley Young's summer move to Manchester United has revitalised the star and England's hopes at Euro 2012.

Ruiz happy to snub Newcastle
Fulham's deadline-day signing Bryan Ruiz says he never considered accepting Newcastle's last-minute move for him.

Van der Vaart set for Spurs return
Rafael van der Vaart could be in contention to play in Tottenham's next Premier League match against Liverpool following a rapid recovery.

Evra: Man United have energy to burn
Patrice Evra has warned Chelsea what Manchester United lack in experience they make up for in energy.

 

[ballsathome]

AVB warns Torres over poor form

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has told misfiring striker Fernando Torres to buck up as he will not compromise the team for the Spaniard.

Torres has received much criticism after scoring only one goal in 21 appearances for the Blues since arriving in January for £50 million. Villas-Boas started the 27-year-old in Chelsea's three Premier League matches but he is still waiting to see Torres' first competitive goal since he took over.

This does not bode well for Torres, who was dropped from the Spain squad that beat Liechtenstein 6-0 on Tuesday due to his poor club form.

Villas-Boas believes that Torres will return to form after regaining confidence, though the former Porto manager will not compromise Chelsea's title challenge for the sake of the striker.

He told the Daily Mirror: "He didn't lose his talent talent because he's played 21 games and only scored one goal. The talent is there and the question is regaining confidence.

"That comes from training and from time and finding the back of the net, so we have to persist. "But it can't compromise the team. The moment it compromises the team it has to come to an end."

"I don't make a first choice team, just the choice for the next game. "Fernando started the first three games and Didier came off the bench. We make choices regarding what we see. I have no problem dropping players."

Torres will have two more matches to repay his boss' faith in him as Didier Drogba recovers from his concussion injury after being knocked out by Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy.

"Didier has to be authorised to make a full return to training," said the Blues boss. "The first days after the incident he was in tremendous pain and while he's had complete support since we have to make sure he's fully recovered before he comes back to training because they are the right requirements neurologically.

"We will push it to limit to get him available for Manchester United, although he will miss Sunderland and probably Bayer Leverkusen."

Torres will lead Chelsea's frontline out against Sunderland on Saturday at the Stadium of Light. (which he failed to score again )

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Monday 12th September 2011

Double trouble for misfiring Torres

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas could axe Fernando Torres from Tuesday's UEFA Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen and Sunday's trip to Manchester United.

According to the Sun, AVB will keep faith with striker Daniel Sturridge for both crunch clashes after the youngster scored a sublime back-heeled goal in the Blues' 2-1 win over Sunderland at the weekend.

Villas-Boas said: "We had a lot of teams calling Daniel to take him on loan during the transfer window but it was never going to happen.

"The technical staff and I all had the feeling we should bring him in. We have an outstanding player." Torres was relegated to the bench at the Stadium of Light after failing to find the net in the first three games of the season. The Sun claims there may be no recall for Torres this week.

"It is a very important week ahead for us and we really need to focus now on the next game which is of the utmost importance," Villas-Boas said.

"Everybody wants to start well in the Champions League with three points - especially in a home game - and even more so because it comes before Manchester United.

"It is a vital week for us but we have a very good squad in all sectors and we will have to rest a few of the players in order to be able to respond.

"The Champions League requires a certain level, but at least we have a good four days before the Manchester United game."

The 27-year-old came on as a 74th-minute sub for the Blues at the weekend and has only managed one goal since his record-breaking £50million move to Stamford Bridge in January.

 

[CheesePie]

Chelsea probe Torres ´old and slow´ claims
12 September 2011

​

Chelsea will investigate comments from striker Fernando Torres allegedly describing his team-mates as "old and slow". The centre-forward was interviewed for the official website of the Spanish Primera Liga last week, and an English translation appeared on Torres' personal website, in which the former Liverpool man described Chelsea's "older" players as "very slow".

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed the west London club will look into the matter in greater detail. "We are going in-depth to regain the tape of that interview," Villas-Boas said. "We'll see if things play exactly as they are in that interview." When asked what action would be taken if Torres was deemed to have made the critical remarks, Villas-Boas said: "We'd just talk. Just talk. To share opinion. If it was unauthorised, I'd fine him. Of course."

"Anyhow, it's one player's perspective. I don't think it's a perspective that the manager shares." "I don't have to share my players' ideas sometimes. I think we have competence, apart from the 'age problem', which for me is not a problem." "Maybe we just have to speak about that situation and he has to see our view as well."

Torres joined Chelsea from Liverpool for a record British transfer fee of 50 million pounds in January 2010, but has failed to find the net with any regularity since arriving at Stamford Bridge. The 27-year-old was left out of the team for Chelsea's 2-1 victory away to Sunderland in the English Premier League on Saturday.

 

[ballsathome]

Redknapp expects Modric talks
Harry Redknapp expects Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy to sit down with Luka Modric and offer the midfielder a new contract.

Mertesacker: I had goosebumps
Defender Per Mertesacker admitted his Arsenal debut gave him goosebumps.

Meireles: Liverpool broke their promise
Raul Meireles has accused Liverpool of a broken promise and claimed he was forced to submit a transfer request once they had decided to sell him to Chelsea.

Quinn explains Gyan loan move
Chairman Niall Quinn outlined the five reasons which prompted Sunderland to accept a loan offer from Al-Ain for striker Asamoah Gyan.

Tamas charged with violent conduct
West Brom defender Gabriel Tamas was charged with violent conduct over the clash which left Norwich's James Vaughan needing hospital treatment.

Ramsey injury blow for Arsenal
Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out of Arsenal's UEFA Champions League clash at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday through injury.

Mancini: Silva is one of world's best
Roberto Mancini has hailed David Silva as one of the best players in the world - and is grateful that Spain's loss is Manchester City's gain.

QPR seal sponsorship deal
QPR have announced a multi-million pound shirt sponsorship deal with Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia.

Hodgson: More to come from strikers
West Brom manager Roy Hodgson is confident there is more to come from strike pairing Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long.

Injured Dawson faces two months out
Tottenham defender Michael Dawson is set to be sidelined for at least two months due to an Achilles injury.

Kean dismisses sacking rumours
Blackburn manager Steve Kean insists he is not interested in speculation over his future and instead backed Rovers to flourish.

Bramble: Players are behind Bruce
Titus Bramble insists Sunderland boss Steve Bruce retains the support of the players following the club's difficult start to the season.

Islam Feruz to join Chelsea
Highly-rated Celtic starlet Islam Feruz has agreed to join Chelsea.

Redknapp ready to let Gomes go
Harry Redknapp admits Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes could be on his way out of Tottenham during the January transfer window.

 

[ballsathome]

Swansea wait on Halliche, Situ
Swansea have revealed they are still waiting to find out when they will be cleared to play new signings Rafik Halliche and Darnel Situ.

Moyes happy with Everton youngsters
Everton manager David Moyes admits he is having to construct a new side from resources within the cash-strapped club but is pleased with the way it is shaping up.

New Arsenal deal for Lansbury
Henri Lansbury has signed a contract extension with Arsenal.

Liverpool chief hails Dalglish impact
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has backed Reds boss Kenny Dalglish to lead the club back to glory.

FA defend anti-doping policies
The Football Association have defended their anti-doping rules after Channel 4's Dispatches programme revealed names of several players who have failed drugs tests.

Warnock: Barton as skipper was logical
QPR manager Neil Warnock is confident that Joey Barton will prove to be a successful skipper.

Vorm not haunted by Arsenal howler
Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm insists his howler at Arsenal will not haunt him for the rest of the season.

"Bolton shamed by Man United defeat"
Nigel Reo-Coker believes Bolton let themselves down in the 5-0 hammering by Manchester United at the Reebok on Saturday.

Warnock: Squad competition helps QPR
QPR manager Neil Warnock believes the recent increased competition at the club can prove a catalyst in their survival bid.

Glen Johnson suffers hamstring injury
Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has revealed suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday's 1-0 defeat against Stoke.

Kean: I can revive Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn manager Steve Kean insists he is not interested in speculation over his future and instead backed Rovers to flourish.

"Liverpool didn't want to sell Meireles"
Director of football Damien Comolli insists Liverpool did not want to sell Raul Meireles but had little choice after he handed in a transfer request.

Drogba likely to miss United clash
Chelsea have failed in their bid to rush Didier Drogba back to fitness to face Manchester United next weekend.

Cocaine revelations rock English football
Ex-Birmingham City striker Garry O'Connor was revealed to be the Barclays Premier League player to fail a drugs test for cocaine.

 

[ballsathome]

Rochina: Blackburn can beat Arsenal
Blackburn Rovers striker Ruben Rochina believes his side have what it takes to beat Arsenal at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Kuszczak raging at United hierarchy
Tomasz Kuszczak says he is 'angry and disappointed' at the way he has been treated by Manchester United after failing to secure a summer move.

Fergie: Rooney, Hernandez to score 25
Sir Alex Ferguson is backing Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez to each hit the 25-goal mark this season.

"Liverpool's Bellamy buy of the summer"
Liverpool legend John Aldridge believes that Craig Bellamy could prove to be the bargain buy of the summer.

Defoe relishing Adebayor link-up
Jermain Defoe believes he and Emmanuel Adebayor can form a strong strike partnership that will help Tottenham avoid the goalscoring problems that troubled them last season.

Jenkins praises 'special' Rodgers
Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has described manager Brendan Rodgers as "special" as the Northern Irishman prepares to return to work following the death of his father.

Phil Bardsley hit with FA charge
Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association following an incident during the Black Cats' game with Chelsea on Saturday.

Villas-Boas: No more Torres issue
Andre Villas-Boas maintained there was no longer an issue with critical comments from Fernando Torres after Chelsea's 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

FA still in drug testing stalemate
A stalemate over the drug testing of England's top players has still to be resolved - more than three years after the FA started talks with testing authorities.

Tamas accepts three-match ban
West Brom defender Gabriel Tamas will serve a three-match ban after the Football Association confirmed he had accepted a charge of violent conduct.

Comolli eyes 'complete' Liverpool squad
Liverpool's director of football Damien Comolli believes the current squad is so "complete" there are not currently areas under review for improvement.

Pulis hails age blend in defence
Stoke manager Tony Pulis believes the addition of experience to an already talented but young defence has made his side even more formidable at the back.

 

[ballsathome]

Ferguson: De Gea will face Chelsea
Sir Alex Ferguson praised Anders Lindegaard's performance in the 1-1 draw with Benfica, while questioning perceived criticism of his fellow goalkeeper David De Gea.

Redknapp plays down England talks
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has denied he has held talks with a view to becoming the next England boss.

Ivanovic unfazed by high-flying United
Branislav Ivanovic is undaunted by Manchester United's start to the season, pointing out Chelsea's similar start last term which ended up empty-handed.

Dalglish grateful for referee dialogue
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish believes there is great benefit to be gained from more regular discussions between managers and match officials.

Carson Yeung denied UK trip
Birmingham owner Carson Yeung has failed in his bid for a one-off return to the United Kingdom as he fights money-laundering charges in his native Hong Kong.

Martinez sees benefit from rotation
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez insists his fringe players have given him plenty to think about ahead of Saturday's trip to Everton.

Bardsley handed four-match ban
Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley will serve a four-match ban after the club decided not to contest a Football Association charge of violent conduct.

Giggs: Scholes cannot be replaced
Ryan Giggs wishes his old mate Paul Scholes had not quit in the summer - because he knows Manchester United will never find another like him.

Brunt injury worry for West Brom
West Bromwich Albion winger Chris Brunt is an injury concern ahead of Saturday's Premier League game away to promoted Swansea City.

Blackburn fans call for Kean's removal
Blackburn fans are planning a 1000-strong march on Saturday to ask for the removal of Steve Kean as manager.

Tate signs new Swansea deal
Swansea defender Alan Tate has signed a new four-year contract with the Liberty Stadium club.

 

[ballsathome]

Agger: Liverpool belief sky-high
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger admits the belief within the squad is "miles apart" from what it was this time last season.

Gomes' future with Spurs assured
Heurelho Gomes has been assured that he does have a future at Tottenham despite Brad Friedel taking over as Harry Redknapp's No.1.

More Brazilian twins for Man United
Manchester United are keeping their eye on Alex and Andre Santos, Brazil's latest twin talents.

Benayoun: I was calm on deadline day
Yossi Benayoun says he always expected his future to be decided on the final day of the transfer window.

Blackburn owners call for support
Blackburn's owners have urged supporters to get behind the team ahead of Saturday's home game with Arsenal.

Ferguson: Berbatov will get games
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has promised Dimitar Berbatov he will get games this season despite being left on the bench for Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Benfica.

Redknapp: England job is poisonous
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admits he is still as keen as ever to become England manager, despite admitting the job is a "poisoned chalice".

Arteta relishing trophy challenge
Recent signing Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal have the quality to end their trophy drought sooner rather than later.

Mancini: City players were nervous
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted nerves played a huge role in his side's 1-1 draw against Napoli in the Champions League.

Carlos Tevez trial adjourned
The trial of Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez on driving matters has been adjourned for a week.

Gueye ready for Everton action
Everton forward Magaye Gueye has given manager David Moyes a boost by declaring himself fit and ready for first-team duty.

Matt Jarvis fit to face QPR
Matt Jarvis has offered a timely boost to Wolves manager Mick McCarthy by declaring himself fit for Saturday's match with QPR.

Villa lose Heskey for three weeks
Emile Heskey could miss up to three weeks after pulling his hamstring against Everton on Saturday.

Jol regrets starting Bryan Ruiz
Martin Jol has admitted he made a mistake starting record signing Bryan Ruiz in Fulham's disappointing Barclays Premier League draw with Blackburn.

 

[ballsathome]

Coyle defends Davies for Cleverley tackle
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has defended captain Kevin Davies for the challenge which injured Manchester United's Tom Cleverley.

Benayoun picked Arsenal over Liverpool
Yossi Benayoun has revealed he held talks with former club Liverpool before joining Arsenal on loan.

Warnock: Taarabt, wait for pay hike
Neil Warnock has told Adel Taarabt that if he wants a better contract at QPR, he should join the queue - behind him.

Mata: I'm not here just for Torres
Juan Mata insisted he was not bought solely to get Fernando Torres scoring but confirmed the misfiring striker did plead with him to join Chelsea this summer.

Fabregas: Arsenal can't win trophies
Cesc Fabregas claims it is "hard to see" Arsenal winning the Barclays Premier League or Champions League "in the near future".

Dalglish won't rush Gerrard back
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists the club are taking a common sense approach to Steven Gerrard's long-awaited return from injury.

Wenger: Stop the critics by winning
Arsene Wenger has a simple solution to stop the critics rounding on Arsenal - win games.

Swansea hoping for FIFA U-turn
Swansea have announced FIFA have initially denied international clearance for the signings of Darnel Situ and Rafik Halliche.

Evans: United away wins are difficult
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans believes the difficulty of winning away from home in Europe is not properly recognised.

Chelsea look to stop United momentum
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is aware that his side will face a Manchester United team at the top of their game on Sunday.

 

[ballsathome]

Fletcher: Never write off Chelsea
Darren Fletcher has warned his Manchester United team-mates to beware a Chelsea side nursing a bruised ego at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Chelsea must issue Torres ultimatum
Former Wales international Robbie Savage believes Chelsea must give Fernando Torres every opportunity to succeed at the club before the next transfer window opens.

Twitter abuse for Davies and wife
Bolton Wanderers skipper Kevin Davies and his wife Emma have been attacked on Twitter for the striker's tackle that caused Tom Cleverley's injury last Saturday.

Rodgers hopes for win to honour father
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has vowed to pick up a first win of the season against West Brom on Saturday to honour the memory of his father.

Campbell blasts shameful Premier League
Former England international Sol Campbell says it is embarrassing that the Barclays Premier League has so few black managers.

Ferdinand set to fulfil potential at QPR
Anton Ferdinand admitted on Thursday that his bust-ups with Steve Bruce at Sunderland had turned him from a boy into a man as he vowed to fulfil his true potential at QPR.

Fulham keen to sign Halliche
Reports in the UK indicate that Fulham have applied to the Premier League for special dispensation to add Rafik Halliche to their squad.

Taylor hits back at PFA critics
Players' chief Gordon Taylor has hit back at criticism of the Professional Footballers' Association as well as refuting calls for player wages to be cut.

Martinez protective of Maloney
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez feels it would be wrong to expect new signing Shaun Maloney to fill the match-winning void left by Charles N'Zogbia.

Fletcher still flummoxed by virus
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has admitted he never found out the cause of a virus that ended up ruling him out for almost six months.

Kean disappointed by fan protest
Under-fire Blackburn boss Steve Kean has dismissed calls for his sacking by telling disgruntled fans he can arrest the club's slide.

Fabregas: I didn't criticise Arsenal
Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas has denied saying it was "hard to see" former club Arsenal winning the Premier League or Champions League "in the near future".

Lindegaard chafing for United spot
Anders Lindegaard has reiterated he is not at Manchester United to 'pick his nose' after enjoying his UEFA Champions League debut against Benfica.

Gardner: Sunderland criticism ridiculous
Sunderland midfielder Craig Gardner has branded criticism of the club's start to the season "ridiculous".

Warnock: SWP must focus on QPR
Neil Warnock has urged Shaun Wright-Phillips to put thoughts of an England recall to one side in order to focus on his Queens Park Rangers career.

Gervinho can't wait for Arsenal return
Arsenal new boy Gervinho says he cannot wait to get back to Premier League action after completing a three-match ban.

Pardew: Look at Taylor, Capello
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has urged England counterpart Fabio Capello to take a look at Steven Taylor after his fine start to the new season.

Moyes: Arteta sale sends wrong message
Everton manager David Moyes admits his last-minute sale of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal may have sent out the wrong signals.

 

[ballsathome]

"Norwich must stop soft penalties"
Paul Lambert maintains Norwich cannot continue paying the penalty if they are to get a foothold in the Barclays Premier League.

Ferguson: AVB has made good start
Sir Alex Ferguson believes new Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has made a promising start to his Stamford Bridge career.

Ferguson wary of lurking Chelsea
Sir Alex Ferguson expects Chelsea to be in the thick of the Premier League title battle, even though the Londoners have been overlooked so far.

Arsenal, Roma fight for "new Messi"
Both Arsenal and Roma are in fierce competition to try to sign Dinamo Zagreb's highly-rated youngster Mateo Kovacic.

"Fergie pleased with keeping options"
Ex-Manchester United custodian Mark Bosnich believes that Sir Alex Ferguson will be pleased with his options in goal.

Agbonlahor criticises Houllier
Gabriel Agbonlahor has revealed that he may have left Aston Villa if Gerard Houllier had stayed on as manager.

Mata hails impressive Giggs
Juan Mata could face one of his idols this weekend when Chelsea travel to Old Trafford for their crunch Premier League showdown at Manchester United.

Benayoun permanent transfer possible
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is in no doubt Yossi Benayoun can fit in at the Emirates Stadium - and has not ruled out moving the Israeli midfielder permanently.

Dalglish: We can bounce back at Spurs
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has urged his side to put behind their disappointment at Stoke with a good result against Tottenham on Sunday.

Agbonlahor slams Houllier's Villa reign
Gabriel Agbonlahor has launched a scathing attack on former Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier.

King: I've still got more years to go
Ledley King is confident that this season will not be his last at Tottenham Hotspur.

AVB plays down battle with Fergie
Andre Villas-Boas insists that the players and not the managers will be the ones to watch when Chelsea travel to Manchester United.

Mancini: City must be like United
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes his free-scoring side need to be even more ruthless in front of goal - like Manchester United.

Dalglish hails versatile Martin Skrtel
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has no concerns about continuing to play Martin Skrtel out of position.

Ferdinand: I turned down Dnipro move
Anton Ferdinand has revealed he turned down a lucrative move to Dnipro in favour of a switch to Queens Park Rangers.

 

[ballsathome]

Jerome to fight for Stoke spot
Cameron Jerome is ready to battle for a regular starting spot in the Stoke side after marking his debut.

Kompany: City captaincy won't change me
Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany insists inheriting the captaincy from fans' idol Carlos Tevez will not change him as a person or a player.

Redknapp laments Suarez failure
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp regrets not beating Liverpool to the signing of Luis Suarez.

Wenger not giving up on youth policy
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels the club are now at the start of a new cycle.

Rooney: My best start to season ever
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney admits his start to the current season has been his best

Dalglish to pick team based on form
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has warned captain Steven Gerrard not to expect an immediate recall ahead of his anticipated return from injury.

Gervinho: Cheating is not in my game
Arsenal summer signing Gervinho is adamant he did not dive to win a penalty for the club in his Barclays Premier League debut against Newcastle.

AVB unfazed by Fergie mind games
Andre Villas-Boas has vowed not to become the latest victim of Sir Alex Ferguson's mind games.

"Kirkland not going out on loan"
Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez has no plans to send out-of-favour goalkeeper Chris Kirkland out on loan.

Bendtner happy with Sunderland move
Nicklas Bendtner admits that life in Sunderland is a world away from the bright lights of London but insisted that he needed to move from Arsenal.

Mick McCarthy praises QPR's Warnock
Mick McCarthy has praised the managerial skills of fellow Yorkshireman Neil Warnock ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash between Wolves and QPR.

 

[ballsathome]

Robson never doubted Rooney's form
Manchester United and England legend Bryan Robson never had any doubt Wayne Rooney would eventually discover his top form again.

AVB ready for Old Trafford challenge
Andre Villas-Boas has insisted Chelsea are as determined to blood youngsters as Manchester United but they will have to wait to take on United's young team.

Mancini wants killer mentality
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini wants his team to develop the winning mentality of Europe's top clubs.

Carrick: City not the only threat
Michael Carrick has dismissed the notion that the Premier League is already a two-horse race.

Adam not resting on his laurels
Midfielder Charlie Adam is satisfied with the start to his Liverpool career but knows he has to keep on improving to maintain his place in the side.

Fergie glad that experience counts
Sir Alex Ferguson goes head to head with the Premier League's youngest manager on Sunday, delighted the value of experience is no longer being ignored.

AVB: Anelka looks likely to leave
Manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted Nicolas Anelka looks certain to leave Chelsea at the end of the season.

Rodgers: We deserve the win
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers hailed a "very complete" performance as his side claimed a first Premier League win with a 3-0 victory over West Brom at the Liberty Stadium.

Pardew buoyed by impressive displayAlan Pardew saluted the performance of Newcastle striker Leon Best after his goal rescued a point in a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.

Wigan suffer Rodallega injury blow
Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after he suffered a suspected knee ligament rupture against Everton.