Barclays Premier League Season 2011/2012

[David Luiz]

Former Arsenal star Robert Pires hoping for Chinese or Indian move
The former France international admits he wants to follow Nicolas Anelka's lead and move to China, while he also revealed India could be an option

Harry Redknapp hails the return of Michael Dawson as Tottenham go joint-second in Premier League after Everton win
The Spurs boss praised his defender and expressed delight with a win which sees his side go level on points with second-placed Manchester United in the Premier League

Everton's Royston Drenthe keen to rejoin Feyenoord before end of career
The Toffees winger has endured a frustrating loan spell on Merseyside and insists that he would be keen on returning to the club with whom he started his career

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard dismisses suggestions that Glen Johnson should have seen red in Manchester City win
The 31-year-old's penalty gave the Reds a valuable 1-0 first-leg lead in the League Cup semi-final but he was forced to defend his team-mate after Roberto Mancini's criticism

Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish insists there is 'no foundation' to reports Andy Carroll could rejoin Newcastle United
The Reds boss was delighted after his side's 1-0 win over Manchester City in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final, but quashed rumours linking the striker with a move away

AC Milan's Adriano Galliani to fly to Manchester to hold talks with City over Carlos Tevez - report
The Rossoneri are unwilling to wait any longer for the Premier League club's answer and have dispatched their top official to negotiate with them in person

Manchester City 0-1 Liverpool: Steven Gerrard strikes from penalty spot to give visitors goal advantage ahead of second-leg
The Reds take a narrow lead back to Anfield after Roberto Mancini's side produced a disappointing performance and had little to show for their second-half improvement

Tottenham 2-0 Everton: Aaron Lennon & Benoit Assou-Ekotto on target as Spurs tighten grip on third in Premier League
Victory at White Hart Lane sees Harry Redknapp's side draw level on points with second-place Manchester United, as David Moyes' men once again fail to threaten

Robert Pires keen to carry on playing after training with Arsenal
The former Gunners midfielder has been training with the club, who this week re-signed Thierry Henry, and insists he is not ready to call time on his career just yet

Chelsea's John Terry praises team effort despite recent run of goal-line clearances
The England skipper refuses to take sole credit for four crucial interventions since the beginning of December, including a vital interception during Sunday's FA Cup victory

Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge keen ‘to make history’ with Team GB in Olympics
The 22-year-old forward confesses that he would love to play alongside the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale in this summer's Games in what he sees as a rare opportunity

Tadanari Lee set for Southampton move after successful appeal over rejected work permit
The Japan international has been granted the opportunity to play for the Saints after his initial application was turned down by the British Embassy

Arsenal must not sell Robin van Persie, says Gervinho
The Dutch striker's contract has just 18 months left, causing some to speculate on a summer sale, but the Ivorian winger feels it is vital that the skipper stays at the Emirates

Arsenal youngster Ignasi Miquel beginning to enjoy left-back role amid injury crisis
With several of the club's first-choice full-backs missing, the young Spanish centre-back has had to provide cover, a role the 19-year-old admits he initially found challenging

Manchester United’s Ravel Morrison denies reports of negotiation breakdown
The 18-year-old midfielder had been reported to have suffered a setback in talks with the club over a new deal, but he insists that no discussions have taken place

Newcastle United keeping tabs on Dutch trio Luuk de Jong, Siem de Jong and Ricky van Wolfswinkel, says agent
The Magpies' hierarchy has contacted the representative of the three players, who have all recently been capped, with a view to potentially bringing them to Tyneside

Mark Hughes eyes long-term QPR stay & looks to invest in January transfer window
The ex-Manchester City boss is confident the club's ambitions match his own, and is keen to ensure a lengthy tenure at Loftus Road, but refused to be drawn on possible targets

USA international Robbie Rogers agrees deal with Leeds United pending work permit
The 24-year-old winger has been on trial at Elland Road throughout the MLS winter break, even joining the squad for Monday's 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates

Dijon confirm loan signing of Chelsea's Gael Kakuta until end of season
The 20-year-old winger has agreed a temporary move back to his homeland as he seeks to gain first-team experience, following unsuccessful recent spells with Fulham and Bolton

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick not focusing on possible England place at Euro 2012
The 30-year-old has not featured for the Three Lions since before World Cup 2010 and is refusing to hang his hopes on a recall despite being praised for his club form

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta: Experiencing the toughness of Scottish football with Rangers prepared me for the Premier League
The Spaniard spent two years at Ibrox as a youngster and believes that the physicality of the game north of the border taught him a lot ahead of his move to England in 2005

Liverpool defender Jose Enrique: League Cup semi-final against Manchester City will have a European atmosphere
Kenny Dalglish's men travel to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday for the first-leg, with the Spanish left-back eagerly anticipating the return clash at Anfield two weeks later

Alex McLeish warns goalkeeper Shay Given he is no longer guaranteed Aston Villa starting spot on return to fitness
In the absence of the Irishman, Brad Guzan has impressed the manager to the extent the Scot has told the 35-year-old he is no longer the club's definitive No.1 stopper

‘What is the point of changing a winning team?’ – Emmanuel Adebayor urges Harry Redknapp to stick with Tottenham’s best XI
The on-loan Manchester City striker believes consistency is important in selection, while his boss agrees that no game can be taken for granted if Spurs are to maintain title push

Tony Adams: Per Mertesacker could be a big hit for Arsenal in the Premier League
The former Gunner has claimed that the German defender has the potential to be a success at the Emirates, as he continues to strike up a strong partnership with Thomas Vermaelen

Former France boss Raymond Domenech tells Manchester City's Samir Nasri to stop talking and focus on football
The coach repeatedly overlooked the midfielder during his time at the helm of the national side and has now suggested that the player was too outspoken for his tastes

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany issues response to failed appeal against FA Cup red card against United
The defender was sent off for a challenge on Nani after 12 minutes on Sunday but, having had his appeal turned down, wonders whether a wave of needless suspensions may now follow

Tony Fernandes admits Carlos Tevez’s rumoured move to QPR from Manchester City is ‘unlikely’
The club's chairman and owner has conceded that the speculated transfer of the unsettled Argentine is not on the cards because the player’s wage demands would be too high

Chelsea's Bertrand Traore the stand-out name in Burkina Faso's final squad for 2012 Afcon
Stallions coach Paulo Duarte has named his final 23-man roster for participation at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations

Harry Redknapp would 'love' to have David Beckham at Tottenham
The former England captain trained with the north Londoners last season and has been told he is welcome back, although the Spurs boss admits signing him could be difficult

Blackburn fans to hold 24-hour protest outside Ewood Park against Steve Kean and Venky’s ownership ahead of Fulham clash
After a seven game hiatus, the demonstrations are set to resume, with the club's supporters raising grievances not only towards the 44-year-old boss but also their Indian owners

Mark Hughes offered £1m bonus as incentive to keep QPR in Premier League - report
The new manager is apparently also earning £3 million a year, with owner Tony Fernandes claiming he will back him financially as he thinks he can keep his club up

Laurent Koscielny hails impact of Thierry Henry on Arsenal youngsters in training & says they should look up to him to improve
The Gunners striker scored on his return to the club and has spoken about enjoying every moment of his second spell at the club where he is the all-time record goalscorer

Liverpool assistant manager Steve Clarke praises the contribution of Craig Bellamy and calls on side to raise their game against Manchester City
The Welsh forward was named the club’s player of the month for December and will be crucial for the Reds when they head to the Etihad for the League Cup semi-final first leg

'Gareth Bale probably the best left winger in the Premier League if not in Europe' - Everton's Phil Neville on the Tottenham star
The veteran has hailed the Welshman for developing his game, while both he and manager David Moyes say Spurs are genuine title contenders thanks to Harry Redknapp

Manchester United could lose Ravel Morrison after break down in contract talks – report
The 18-year-old is tipped as one of the finest prospects to have emerged from the academy in recent years, but he has yet to start for the first team and could be set to leave

Roma co-owner James Pallotta: We'll push hard to keep Daniele De Rossi at the club
The midfielder has been linked with a move to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, but the Roman outfit are determined to hold on to the Italy international

Newcastle United striker Demba Ba distances himself from Manchester United reports
A man pretending to represent the Toon forward said the champions had made contact about a possible transfer but the Senegalese has denied on Twitter that he is his agent

Why selling Loic Remy to Tottenham this month would be a disaster for Marseille
The 24-year-old striker is wanted at White Hart Lane, but he is simply too valuable to the Provence outfit to allow him to leave for anything short of an astronomical sum

Feyenoord's Martin van Geel: Everton's Royston Drenthe would be more than welcome to return
The Netherlands international recently revealed his intention to move to De Kuip before 2015, and the club's sporting director would welcome him with open arms

Real Madrid's Miguel Pardeza: We do not want to sell Angel Di Maria
The Spanish table-toppers have stressed that they are not interested in selling the Argentine, who has allegedly attracted a €42m offer from a club in the Premier League

Inter lining up Werder Bremen's Marko Marin as alternative to Carlos Tevez - report
The controversial Manchester City striker is wanted by the Nerazzurri but if they miss out on him they may make a move for the Germany international

 

[David Luiz]

Mark Hughes offered £1m bonus as incentive to keep QPR in Premier League - report

The new manager is apparently also earning £3 million a year, with owner Tony Fernandes claiming he will back him financially as he thinks he can keep his club up

Jan 11, 2012 1:38:00 PM

Newly appointed QPR manager Mark Hughes has been offered a £1 million bonus if he keeps the club inthe Premier League, according to The Daily Mirror.

The former Fulham boss is already reported to be one of the highest earners in the top flight, earning a reported £3 million a year, just short of the salaries earned by Arsene Wenger, Roberto Mancini and Sir Alex Ferguson. Along with a hefty salary and bonuses, owner Tony Fernandes has also promised to back Hughes in the transfer market.

Hughes is said to have £30 million at his disposal to prevent the Hoops from making a swift return to the Championship, however, a clear out is expected at Loftus Road. The likes of Clint Hill and Fitz Hall are said to be on their way out of the club, with Hughes thought to be targeting a move for Aston Villa and England striker Darren Bent. Hughes, who will be officially unveiled as the new boss on Wednesday, says he is well aware of the task put before him and is excited about the future of the club.

"I'm fully aware of the challenge in the short and long term and I am genuinely excited about the ambition of the owners," he told reporters.

"Nobody can doubt the history of this great football club and the passion of its fantastically loyal supporters.

"Now the immediate priority is to consolidate our place in the Barclays Premier League, but beyond that, the future is very bright and fills me with great enthusiasm."

Owner Fernandes is also excited at the prospect of Hughes’ arrival at the club, claiming his experience at managerial level will be a huge asset.

"Mark has a proven track record in the Premier League, bringing a wealth of experience at both club and international level," he said.

"He has a great passion to achieve as a manager and has already been hugely successful in his career.

"His ambitions match those of the board and we are delighted to have him at the helm."

 

[The Philistine]

Mark Hughes offered £1m bonus as incentive to keep QPR in Premier League - report

The new manager is apparently also earning £3 million a year, with owner Tony Fernandes claiming he will back him financially as he thinks he can keep his club up

Jan 11, 2012 1:38:00 PM

Newly appointed QPR manager Mark Hughes has been offered a £1 million bonus if he keeps the club inthe Premier League, according to The Daily Mirror.

The former Fulham boss is already reported to be one of the highest earners in the top flight, earning a reported £3 million a year, just short of the salaries earned by Arsene Wenger, Roberto Mancini and Sir Alex Ferguson. Along with a hefty salary and bonuses, owner Tony Fernandes has also promised to back Hughes in the transfer market.

Hughes is said to have £30 million at his disposal to prevent the Hoops from making a swift return to the Championship, however, a clear out is expected at Loftus Road. The likes of Clint Hill and Fitz Hall are said to be on their way out of the club, with Hughes thought to be targeting a move for Aston Villa and England striker Darren Bent. Hughes, who will be officially unveiled as the new boss on Wednesday, says he is well aware of the task put before him and is excited about the future of the club.

"I'm fully aware of the challenge in the short and long term and I am genuinely excited about the ambition of the owners," he told reporters.

"Nobody can doubt the history of this great football club and the passion of its fantastically loyal supporters.

"Now the immediate priority is to consolidate our place in the Barclays Premier League, but beyond that, the future is very bright and fills me with great enthusiasm."

Owner Fernandes is also excited at the prospect of Hughes’ arrival at the club, claiming his experience at managerial level will be a huge asset.

"Mark has a proven track record in the Premier League, bringing a wealth of experience at both club and international level," he said.

"He has a great passion to achieve as a manager and has already been hugely successful in his career.

"His ambitions match those of the board and we are delighted to have him at the helm."

Tony Fernandes is a very good businessman but he does not know how to manage a football club. Watch the overpaid Mark Hughes take QPR to the Championship.

 

[David Luiz]

White hot but can it last? Why Tottenham are title contenders... and why they're not
Harry Redknapp's team have most of the ingredients to go all the way with the two Manchester clubs in the race for the Premier League crown but are likely to eventually fall short

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is 'too big' to return to Serie A with Inter or AC Milan, claims agent
The controversial Italian's representative, Mino Raiola, suggests the forward could extend his contract at the Etihad Stadium and insists he is worth up to £60 million

Aston Villa complete loan signing of LA Galaxy striker Robbie Keane
The Republic of Ireland international has agreed a deal that will run until February 25, subject to Fifa clearance, sealing his return to the Premier League from the USA

Glen Johnson's tackle on Joleon Lescott was worse than Vincent Kompany's against Manchester United, complains City manager Robert Mancini
The Italian boss clashed with Reds captain Steven Gerrard over the incident and dismissed the England midfielder's criticism of him after the League Cup semi-final first leg

Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller: Bundesliga is 'a stronger competition' than La Liga & Premier League
The young attacker has voiced his opinion that the English and Spanish competitions lack the quality in depth of the German top flight, which he reasoned is "more balanced"

Feeling the pressure? League Cup defeat to Liverpool further exposes cracks in Manchester City's path to silverware
Roberto Mancini's side are on a rocky patch of form and lost 1-0 in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final against Kenny Dalglish's men on Wednesday night

'Pressure is on Manchester City,' claims Harry Redknapp as Tottenham move within three points of the league leaders
Goals from Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto secured a 2-0 victory over Everton to keep Spurs "hanging in there" at the top as they draw level with Manchester United

Manchester United and Tottenham the big winners as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are hit by Africa Cup of Nations departures
Both the second and third-placed Premier League sides will be at full strength as their rivals at the top each lose at least one first-team player to winter tournament

Everton planning £2.5m move for Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson - report
The 24-year-old Republic of Ireland international has made just one Premier League appearance this season and Sir Alex Ferguson is apparently ready to let him leave

'Ganso has the potential to become one of the greatest players on the planet' - why Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp should get to know the Santos man
The Spurs boss quelled rumours of a transfer, claiming he had no idea who the Brazilian midfielder was, but may wish to reconsider his view on one of the most sought after starlets

Tottenham offered €18m Brazil star Ganso and could make summer move for the Santos midfielder
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp not keen on January deal for 22-year-old playmaker but chairman Daniel Levy interested in transfer after holding talks with player’s representatives

Shanghai Shenhua owner Zhu Jun cryptic on status of reported move for Chelsea's Didier Drogba
An English report this week claimed the Chinese outfit were set to offer the Ivory Coast striker a massive deal, and their colourful owner has added more on the situation

 

[David Luiz]

Why selling Loic Remy to Tottenham this month would be a disaster for Marseille

The 24-year-old striker is wanted at White Hart Lane, but he is simply too valuable to the Provence outfit to allow him to leave for anything short of an astronomical sum

Jan 11, 2012 12:00:00 PM

​

By Robin Bairner | French Football Editor

Loic Remy might not have been entirely to the fore as Olympique de Marseille destroyed Caen 3-0 in the Coupe de la Ligue Tuesday night, but he showed enough striking instinct to get himself on the scoresheet against the ramshackle Normandy side.

While Mathieu Valbuena grabbed a brace and along with it the headlines, it was Remy’s contribution midway through the first half that effectively killed the game off as a contest, as he made the score 2-0 in remarkably simple circumstances. Morgan Amalfitano’s pass did the hard work, and the poor positioning of rookie home goalkeeper Thomas Bosmel allowed the France striker a simple chance to power the ball home.

REMY'S CONTRIBUTION TO MARSEILLE 2011-12
	LIGUE 1
vs. Brest (H) 1-1
vs. Nancy (A) 3-1
	CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
vs. Dortmund (H) 3-0
vs. Dortmund (A) 3-2
	COUPE DE LA LIGUE
vs. Lens (H) 4-0
vs. Caen (A) 3-0
	TROPHEE DES CHAMPIONS
vs. Lille (N) 5-4

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[TD="bgcolor: #eeeeee"]

[/TD]

[TD="width: 20%, bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Aug 6
[/TD]
[TD="width: 80%"]

vs. Sochaux (H) 2-2
[/TD]

[TD="width: 20%, bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Aug 14
[/TD]
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vs. Auxerre (A) 2-2 [/TD]

[TD="width: 20%, bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Sep 21
[/TD]
[TD="width: 80%"]

vs. Evian (H) 2-0
[/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Oct 2 [/TD]

[TD="width: 20%, bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Oct 29
[/TD]
[TD="width: 80%"]

vs. Dijon (A) 3-2
[/TD]

[TD="width: 20%, bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Nov 6
[/TD]
[TD="width: 80%"]

vs. Nice (H) 2-0 [/TD]

[TD="width: 20%, bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Nov 27
[/TD]
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vs. PSG (H) 3-0 [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Dec 20 [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Sep 28 [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Dec 6 [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Oct 25 [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Jan 10 [/TD]

[TD="bgcolor: #eeeeee"] Jul 27 [/TD]

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The former Olympique Lyonnais youth showed few signs of being disturbed by the revelation made only hours earlier by Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp that he’d love to take him to White Hart Late.

“He's a good player,” Redknapp said. “He's a player we like and there's interest there.”

The Spurs boss was keen to stress, however, that there was nothing more to the story than that.

Perhaps this was why Remy was able to play to his usual standard at the Stade Michel-d’Ornano, but more likely it is because he knows there is little chance of him leaving his port-city home this January.

A multi-dimensional striker, the 24-year-old has been central to the revival in Marseille’s fortunes since a woeful start to the campaign left them rock bottom after six matches. Not only is he quick and has a keen eye for goal, drawing comparisons with Thierry Henry for his willingness to drift into wide areas, but he has also proven himself a superb threat in the air, greedily finishing a number of crosses presented to him by Mathieu Valbuena.

At times he has carried OM’s goal-scoring threat alone, and now the Stade Velodrome club simply cannot afford to release him.

Beyond Remy, Marseille have no reliable striking option. Brandao is set to return from his loan spell in Brazil, but for all the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk player’s industry, he is hopelessly erratic in front of goal. Additionally, Andre-Pierre Gignac, last season's big-money flop signing from Toulouse, is presently injured and not expected to return until February, while Andre and Jordan Ayew are both on Africa Cup of Nations duty for the next month, and though both are talented, they are young and prone to bouts of inconsistency.

Rather than deplete their offensive panel, les Phoceens need to add to it. That was certainly the plan in the summer, when they plotted to reinvest the transfer fee gained by selling Lucho Gonzalez in an additional centre forward. The Argentine, however, could not be sold, and no striker arrived.

REMY V PAVLYUCHENKO SINCE 2009-10

<tbody>
</tbody>

<tbody>
</tbody>

95	LEAGUE APPS.	48
37
0.39	GOALS PER GAME	0.31

<tbody>
[TD="width: 33%"] LEAGUE GOALS
[/TD]
[TD="width: 33%"] 15 [/TD]

</tbody>

Even if Roman Pavlyuchenko did join OM in a part-exchange deal, as has been rumoured, Marseille would be taking a gamble with the odds stacked against them; the Russian may have been prolific in his homeland, but he does not even boast a record of scoring one-in-three in the Premier League. Remy, meanwhile, is proven in Ligue 1, and boasts a better scoring ratio, despite only regularly being deployed in a central position this season.

The stakes are high for Marseille; it could be the difference between Champions League football – a surge has seen them rise to within five points of the top three – and being forced to slog it out in the Europa League.

As a result, no gamble is likely unless Spurs should place a simply irresistible offer in front of the Provence side’s board. However, the English outfit may well be able to try their luck with more success in the summer, hoping that Remy does not enjoy the explosive Euro 2012 that he is certainly capable of.

 

[David Luiz]

White hot but can it last? Why Tottenham are title contenders... and why they're not

Harry Redknapp's team have most of the ingredients to go all the way with the two Manchester clubs in the race for the Premier League crown but are likely to eventually fall short

Jan 12, 2012 10:30:00 AM

By Wayne Veysey at White Hart Lane

Everton visited White Hart Lane five months later than scheduled but for Tottenham and their satisfied followers it was worth the wait.As the club’s ‘glory, glory’ anthem played on the tannoy afterwards, Spurs fans rejoiced in the delicious notion that they are the only capital club threatening the Manchester title duopoly.

“Are you watching Arsenal?” sang the fans after Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s thunderous 35-yarder via Tim Cahill’s backside clinched a convincing victory and delivered the game’s champagne moment. Chelsea’s Premier League bid has long bit the dust, Arsenal’s fell apart even before we turned on our central heating, which leaves only Harry’s hot Spurs as owners of a London postcode and a genuine title challenge.​

The problem is, deep down, do the players and staff really believe that they can go nose-to-nose with Sir Alex Ferguson’s serial winners and Roberto Mancini’s marginal favourites? When bums begin to squeak, do they have the reserves of resilience, willpower, star quality and strength in depth to edge over the line time and again and be more than a fun diversion to the northern lights?

Even their manager is not sure. You can bet the players, many of whom will be getting vertigo at having reached such dizzy heights, haven’t a clue either. Redknapp’s recent strategy has been to talk down his team’s chances and give his chairman a none-too-subtle nudge about how a marquee signing or two could provide some added horsepower to an already powerful vehicle.

After watching his side eventually wear down David Moyes’ well-drilled Everton with dynamism and craft, he tried to take the pressure off his own players by highlighting the advantages that the pace-setters have. “I think the pressure is on Man City,” observed Redknapp, no doubt with one eye on the clubs’ forthcoming clash at Etihad Stadium on Sunday week. “You look at the money they’ve been able to spend – on wages and fees for the likes of [Sergio] Aguero and [Edin] Dzeko and [Samir] Nasri – and they’re going to be expected to be there and win the championship.

“Certainly they or Man United are the hot favourites. We’re just hanging in there. We’re keeping the players bright, keeping the players enjoying it, we’re playing with smiles on our faces.” He makes it sounds like a joust for bragging rights in the local Sunday league. You sense that man-manager master Redknapp is speaking to his players, trying to put the lid on their emotions. Being the underdogs in the three-horse race will suit Tottenham. But can they last the course?

Certainly, they have thoroughbreds dotted throughout their squad. Watching Gareth Bale gallop away from opponents, Luka Modric effortlessly control games and Rafael van der Vaart thrive in the pockets defenders least like are some of the most stimulating sights in world football, never mind British.

Pressure cooker | Redknapp has said it is Man City's title race to lose

Few midfield anchormen are as accomplished as Scott Parker, full-backs Kyle Walker and Assou-Ekotto have been models of consistency this season, while Aaron Lennon, Emmanuel Adebayor and Sandro have made significant contributions to Spurs’ remarkable run of 45 points out of a possible 54 since the early season thrashings at the hands of the two Manchester clubs.​

They have had to chop and change in central defence out of necessity, mainly because fit-again Michael Dawson was out for nearly five months. Younes Kaboul has bested centre-forwards at times with his power but Spurs fall short in this department because of Ledley King’s well chronicled difficulties. Whenever their comfort blanket plays, and whoever slots in alongside him, Tottenham instantly look more relaxed and sure of themselves.

In goal, Brad Freidel is an experienced pair of hands, but he falls short in comparison to the likes of Joe Hart, Pepe Reina and Tim Krul. There are also doubts about Adebayor’s effectiveness over a whole campaign and the back-up to the on-loan forward. Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko pale in comparison to second and third choices Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko at City, and Javier Hernandez and Danny Welbeck at United, never mind Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov.

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[TD="colspan: 2"] IN THE RIGHT LANE
[/TD]

[TD="colspan: 2"]

​

[/TD]

[TD="colspan: 2"] PREMIER LEAGUE WINNERS' POINTS
AFTER 20 GAMES
[/TD]

[TD="width: 80%"] MANCHESTER UNITED (2010-11)
CHELSEA (2009-10)
MANCHESTER UNITED (2008-09)
MANCHESTER UNITED (2007-08)
MANCHESTER UNITED (2006-07)
[/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"] 44
45
45
45
50
[/TD]

</tbody>

The feeling is that Spurs have most of the ingredients to win the league. But they won’t. Chairman Daniel Levy is too sensible to mortgage his club’s future in the push for glory this season. He will only try and prise Junior Hoilett from Blackburn Rovers if he can first shift Steven Pienaar off the wage bill.Redknapp also wants a centre-half to provide more of an insurance policy at the back but Spurs have not gone in for Gary Cahill this month and remain a long way off signing Christopher Samba, another proven centre-half targeted by the manager.

Perhaps the most compelling evidence of the trials ahead for Spurs is the fixture list. It is unarguable that the biggest hurdles are still to be jumped. Spurs have been outstanding on the road this season, chalking up six victories at Wolves, Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers, Fulham, West Brom and Norwich City, drawing at Newcastle United and Swansea City and being defeated only once at Old Trafford in August, when Modric was on unofficial strike and pre-Adebayor and Parker.

However, the club’s next five league trips are to Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea, games which could break their title challenge. Get 10 points from that little lot and anything is surely possible. Whatever happens, Spurs deserve all the credit they are now getting for their white-hot streak, which has lifted them to a points haul one ahead of holders United at the 20-match stage last season.

Only a horrible dip in form can ruin their prospects of Champions League qualification. But, for supporters getting excited about the here and now, that is now regarded as the minimum objective. It has been a five-decade wait for real glory. That is too long for such a distinguished club, yet the standard at the top is higher this season even than last. When reality checks, it will in all likelihood cause Spurs to fall short.

 

[David Luiz]

Shanghai Shenhua owner Zhu Jun cryptic on status of reported move for Chelsea's Didier Drogba

An English report this week claimed the Chinese outfit were set to offer the Ivory Coast striker a massive deal, and their colourful owner has added more on the situation

Jan 12, 2012 4:58:00 AM

By Ben Somerford

​

Shanghai Shenhua owner Zhu Jun has cryptically left everyone guessing whether he's close to an agreement with Didier Drogba following an English report which claimed he'll offer the Chelsea striker a contract worth €360,000 per week.

The Mirror reported on Wednesday that the Chinese club, who recently signed Nicolas Anelka from the Blues, were closing in on the 33-year-old Ivory Coast forward with a lucrative two-and-a-half year deal.

According to the report, Shenhua want Drogba to sign a pre-contract agreement, allowing him to join them on a free transfer when his current deal with Chelsea expires at the end of the current season.​

The colourful Shenhua owner, who made his fortune through video games, took to the Chinese version of Twitter, Weibo, where he cryptically alluded to signing Drogba.

Zhu Jun said: "The grandson of my old leader sent me a New Year's card printed with Anelka and Drogba. He said 'Uncle Zhu, will both of them come to China to play? Could I have a football with their autographs?' Yes, yes! What can I say facing the high expectations? But you know my difficulties?"

He also later added: “An agent told me to sign Drogba would be harder than buying a country’s president. No matter if you believe that or not, I believe it."

The Shenhua owner's recent transfer splurge comes in the context of his company, The9, recently winning the exclusive East Asian rights to distribute the highly-anticipated online game FireFall.

Anelka's image has been attached to various advertisements for FireFall but Zhu Jun's latest message on Weibo hinted Drogba could become the official ambassador for the game.

"We have spent 100 million dollars on the game Firefall, the game shows like another Avatar. But who will we hire as the best ambassador? All employees in China, Korea and Europe agreed him （Drogba). My God."

 

[David Luiz]

Thursday 12th January 2012

Mancini, Gerrard clash in tunnel

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was involved in an angry tunnel exchange with Liverpool's Steven Gerrard after the 1-0 Carling Cup defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

The pair clashed twice, the second particularly fractious, with Gerrard annoyed at Mancini's response to a late tackle by Glen Johnson on Joleon Lescott. However, after Mancini had completed a round of interviews, they had a further, more cordial discussion, although the City chief was clearly not a happy man.

"Steven Gerrard can say what he wants," said Mancini. "I said what I think. That is what I am used to doing. "It is not important what Steven Gerrard or the other players have said."

Mancini is still annoyed at the four-match ban skipper Vincent Kompany must serve following his controversial dismissal against Manchester United at the weekend. The City manager was adamant his captain would succeed in his appeal, claiming that, in 30 years in the game, he had never seen anyone get sent off for the kind of tackle on Nani referee Chris Foy deemed worthy of a red card.

And Mancini felt an even greater sense of injustice on Wedensday evening as he felt Johnson's tackle on Lescott was even more questionable.

"It was worse," he said. "This tackle was worse. Gerrard came to me and said I said something. "It was not for Johnson. It is for the tackle. This tackle was worse than Vinny's. Everyone can see it." Gerrard was quick to respond, saying on BBC1: "It surprises me because he had a go at Wayne Rooney. "Now he's had a go at one of ours."

The incident completed a bad night for Mancini and his team, who suffered back-to-back home defeats for the first time since February 2008. Kompany's stand-in Stefan Savic had a particularly difficult time, struggling to contain Liverpool forward Andy Carroll and conceding the penalty that allowed Gerrard to ram home the winner when he caught Daniel Agger.

That Savic is expected to retain his place for the Premier League trip to Wigan next Monday hardly inspires confidence, although Mancini is looking on the bright side. "Savic needs to get experience," he said. "It is normal. He is young. Against a striker like Carroll maybe he could have some difficulties. But in the second half it went better."

Mancini confirmed he expects to know within the next 48 hours the extent of the ankle injuries that kept David Silva out and forced Mario Balotelli off towards the end of the first half. After losing three times in their last four games, City are in their toughest period of the season and with Tottenham to face before the end of the month, in addition to the decisive semi-final at Anfield just afterwards, it is not getting any easier, with both Yaya and Kolo Toure absent on African Nations Cup duty with the Ivory Coast.

"We have just played two difficult games," he said. "I knew this before, when I said that January will be an important month for us because we lose three or four important players."
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[David Luiz]

Jake Livermore eyes continued first-team role at Tottenham after Everton victory
Whilst the 22-year-old is aware of the competition from Scott Parker and Luka Modric at White Hart Lane, he is hoping to build on the 23 appearances has made so far this season

Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas hopeful of completing deal for Bolton’s Gary Cahill this week
The west London club have agreed a fee in the region of £7 million for the defender, but the 26-year-old's wage demands have proved a stumbling block to the Stamford Bridge move

Chelsea, Real Madrid & Bayern Munich interested in River Plate's Lucas Ocampos - report
The European giants have all shown interest in the 17-year-old wonderkid, although the club's reluctance to sell means a spectacular offer would be needed

Inter's Massimo Moratti conceding defeat in bid to sign Carlos Tevez with AC Milan having matched offer for Manchester City striker
The Nerazzurri president had hoped to beat the Rossoneri to the signing of the Argentine international but he believes that the player is now bound for Massimiliano Allegri's side

Ajax, Borussia Dortmund & Liverpool keen on Danish wonderkid Lucas Andersen - report
The Aalborg youngster has attracted the interest of several European giants and could be on the move in the near future, despite his tender years

Chelsea preparing €30m bid for Lille's Eden Hazard - report
The Premier League giants are eager to bring the highly-rated Belgium international to Stamford Bridge in January, and have opened negotiations with his current club

QPR boss Mark Hughes keen to bolster backline by signing Chelsea defender Alex
The new manager is keen to add fresh faces to the team in the January transfer window and has already targeted the Brazilian centre-back as a solution to a problem area

David Beckham not interested in Manchester United return as LA Galaxy talks continue - report
The former England captain visited his home country to take in two FA Cup ties on Sunday and Monday but is not considering making a short-term comeback at Old Trafford

Chelsea running out of patience as Bolton defender Gary Cahill continues to stall on £22m contract offer - report
Andre Villas-Boas will look elsewhere, it is claimed, if the former Aston Villa man fails to make a decision on a five-and-a-half year deal put on the table in the next 24 hours

 

[David Luiz]

David Silva dismisses Manchester City 'crisis' talk but urges team-mates to treat every game like a final to avoid disappointment
Spanish playmaker bemoans recent poor form that has seen team drop out of the FA Cup and fail to build on big lead at the top, but does not think setbacks have been too significant

'I don't think Xavi deserves a Ballon d'Or' - Paolo Maldini named as the greatest player never to win the Ballon d'Or
In the aftermath of Lionel Messi picking up his third successive Fifa Ballon d'Or prize, readers voted for the best players never to have won the accolade

'Our success is not down to money' - Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp takes a swipe at Manchester City & Chelsea's spending
The Spurs boss believes the two big spenders are only competitive because of the cash invested by their owners, and says his club's backers have invested wisely over the years

Chelsea will struggle to sign Luka Modric now Tottenham have overtaken them, says Robbie Keane
The new on-loan Aston Villa striker suggested the Blues will not be able tempt the Croatian playmaker away from White Hart Lane and stated they are genuine title contenders

Kenny Dalglish praises Andy Carroll's work-rate in Liverpool's League Cup victory over Manchester City
The Scot has heaped praise on the £35 million man and said if the team are to head in the right direction, they will have to put in as much effort as the striker does

'World-class Paul Scholes can lead Manchester United to Premier League title' - former Old Trafford coach Eric Harrison
Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to bring midfielder out of retirement has been likened to signing of Henrik Larsson as a mid-season 'masterstroke' by the Scot

Official: Everton complete signing of Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson
The Republic of Ireland international had fallen out of favour at Old Trafford this season and has moved to Merseyside, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal at Goodison Park

Giovane Elber: Manchester City's Edin Dzeko would be perfect for Bayern Munich
The former FCB attacker has voiced his opinion that the Bosnia & Herzegovina international would be a great signing for the Bavarians, who are looking for a new striker

Why Aston Villa striker Darren Bent could be the answer to Liverpool's scoring problems
The Merseyside outfit are believed to be interested in the £25m-rated England international, as they look for the goals to boost their bid for a top four finish this season

Carlos Tevez deal is not a dead duck - Why AC Milan were right in their attempts to sell Alexandre Pato to Paris Saint-Germain
The Brazilian nails his colours to the Rossoneri mast on Thursday, but there are many reasons to believe that the two transfers could still be pushed through before January is out

A chance to get their title challenge back on track & five things Manchester United can achieve against Bolton
The Red Devils face the Trotters at Old Trafford fresh from their high-profile victory over local rivals City in the FA Cup - what can they get out of a winnable home fixture?

Chelsea's Florent Malouda offer to Palmeiras rejected
The French ace is actively seeking a move to Brazil but he will have to look elsewhere after the Sao Paulo-based club declined the offer to sign the 31-year-old

Official: Tadanari Lee completes transfer from Sanfrecce Hiroshima to Southampton
The Samurai Blue striker is expected to make his debut in England later this month following a successful appeal by the club over his work visa this week

Andre Villas-Boas: Frank Lampard is staying at Chelsea
The Portuguese is also optimistic that Ivorian duo Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou will be at Stamford Bridge at the end of the transfer window after being linked with moves away

Bolton Wanderers' Owen Coyle rubbishes reports that Kevin Davies is set to move to West Ham
The Scot has denied having any conversation with Sam Allardyce about the influential striker and has said the 34-year-old still has an important role to play at the club

Ryan Giggs maintains incredible Premier League scoring record as dubious goals panel award strike against Fulham to Manchester United veteran
The former Wales international is the only player to have scored in every season of the competition after being awarded his side's third goal in the 5-0 win at Craven Cottage

Tottenham's Harry Redknapp would have to 'really consider' offer to manage England
With reports continuing to link the Spurs manager with the Three Lions job when it becomes vacant in the summer, he is not ruling out the possibility of succeeding Fabio Capello

Arsenal-owned attacker Wellington joins Alcoyano on loan
The Liga club were unwilling to retain the Brazilian youngster in their ranks and asked the Gunners if they could send him to the other Valencia-based side

AC Milan's Adriano Galliani rules out signing Manchester City's Carlos Tevez
The Italian champions will not move for the Argentine striker after Pato committed his future to the club, with Galliani remaining tight-lipped on the Man City man's next move

Steven Gerrard is the best player England have produced in 20 years, says Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli
The club captain signed a 'long-term' contract extension at Anfield on Thursday, with boss Kenny Dalglish also hailing the 31-year-old's recent return from injury

I can replace Vincent Kompany, says Manchester City's Stefan Savic
The Montenegrin international conceded the penalty that handed Liverpool a 1-0 advantage in the League Cup semi-final, but is still confident of reaching Wembley in February

Kieran Gibbs: Thierry Henry's arrival has already boosted atmosphere at Arsenal
England under-21 international believes the Frenchman is having a positive effect on the Gunners squad already after joining last week from the New York Red Bulls

Manchester City's Roberto Mancini and Steven Gerrard involved in tunnel row following Liverpool’s League Cup victory
The Italian manager and Anfield captain exchanged words as the former Inter coach conducted a TV interview, in which he criticised Glen Johnson's tackle on Joleon Lescott

Arsenal's Thierry Henry hails 'amazing' Swansea ahead of Sunday's clash
The French striker is set to return to Premier League action at the Liberty Stadium following his match-winning FA Cup cameo, although Wenger admits he may not start

Antonio Valencia: Wayne Rooney is on top form for Manchester United
The Ecuadorian believes his team-mate has had a good season so far, despite his recent bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson, and is glad himself to be back in his usual right-wing slot

There is still time for Arsenal to mount a Premier League title charge – Lukasz Fabianski
Despite being 12 points adrift of leaders Manchester City, the Polish goalkeeper insists the Gunners can still catch the top three, and is glad of a less-congested January

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey eager for Jack Wilshere return
The Welsh international has yet to have a string of games alongside the 20-year-old, who has been sidelined since the beginning of the season due to an ankle injury

Steven Gerrard signs contract extension with Liverpool
The club captain has committed his 'long-term' future to the Anfield side, and has also been handed an ambassador role which the 31-year-old will take up when he retires

Man City to receive Silva boost

Manchester City assistant manager David Platt has confirmed he expects David Silva to be fit for Monday's trip to Wigan.

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Fulham plan to expand Cottage
Fulham on Thursday submitted a planning application to increase Craven Cottage's capacity to 30,000.

 

[David Luiz]

Steven Gerrard in pictures: The making of a Liverpool legend

The talismanic club captain signed a new contract at Anfield on Thursday, after adding a penalty against Manchester City to his long list of heroic career moments

Jan 12, 2012 8:06:00 PM

Getty Images​

By Jamie Dunn

Steven Gerrard followed up his match-winning penalty against Manchester City in the League Cup semi-final first leg with the announcement that he had signed a new contract with Liverpool, which will surely see him finish his career with the Anfield club.

"This is the club I love and is the club I have supported sinceI was a young boy," he said. "I am living the dream as the captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world.

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"I love coming to work every day and the experiences I have had since I was eight years of age and first signed for the club, I wouldn't change them for the world. To extend that and to hopefully have some more good times in a red shirt is what I want.

Gerrard has not struggled for good times in a red shirt since making his debut on November 29, 1998, and we have compiled just a handful of the Anfield captain's most illustrious career moments...

November 29, 1998 - Gerrard makes debut

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Fresh face | Local boy becomes Anfield regular after sub appearance against Blackburn

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February 25, 2001 - First trophy in the bag

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Up for the Cup | Liverpool beat Birmingham City on penalties as Gerrard wins first silverware​

March 31, 2001 - United stunned by wonderstrike

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Cream of the Kop | The youngster scores one of many against rivals from all of 30 yards​

September 15, 2001 - Goal sparks derby comeback

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Goodison rocked | Gerrard nets as Liverpool turn one-goal deficit into 3-1 win over Everton​

March 2, 2003 - Another cup classic

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United downed again | Gerrard on target against rivals to lift League Cup once more​

December 8, 2004 - Scorcher keeps European dream alive

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'You beauty!' | A late thunderbolt against Olympiakos keeps the Reds in Champions League​

May 25, 2005 - Milan fightback seals European dream

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Turkish delight | Gerrard is on target again as Reds come from 3-0 down to win on penalties​

April 23, 2006 - Gerrard receives PFA crown

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Top honours | The midfielder is handed the PFA Player of the Year award in 2006​

May 13, 2006 - Hammers nailed in dramatic final

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Leaving it late | Another stunning strike forces penalties in FA Cup victory over West Ham​

March 15, 2009 - United thrashed at Old Trafford

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Title race back on | Gerrard scores in 4-1 win and kisses a camera in celebration​

January 11, 2012 - One foot in the final

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On the spot | Gerrard scores crucial penalty before signing new contract on Thursday​

 

[David Luiz]

Carlos Tevez deal is not a dead duck - Why AC Milan were right in their attempts to sell Alexandre Pato to Paris Saint-Germain

The Brazilian nails his colours to the Rossoneri mast on Thursday, but there are many reasons to believe that the two transfers could still be pushed through before January is out

Jan 13, 2012 8:00:00 AM

By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Editor

It was off, then on, then off again, and all this in one afternoon. Welcome to the January transfer window!
Alexandre Pato’s decision to snub Paris Saint-Germain and stay at AC Milan has also put the kibosh on his club’s carefully laid out plan to bring Carlos Tevez to Italy, leaving everyone back at square one with 19 days of the market still to negotiate. But to rule out the deal still going ahead may be foolish.

Often, the most frantic days are those in which nothing actually happens in the end, but to say we ended with a zero sum after Thursday afternoon’s dramatic to-and-fro would be to underestimate the desire of the Rossoneri. We've seen it before with Milan - we need only look at Kaka's final days in Italy - that a declaration of love from the player is merely used to soften the blow of the eventual departure. And let us not forget what got us to this point in the first place.
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On the one hand we have Pato, the 22-year-old ‘star of the future’, ‘jewel in Milan’s crown’, and all of the other monikers he has been given since signing for €22 million from Internacional in the summer of 2007. With a little under a goal every two games, the Brazilian has built a platform from which most strikers of his age and talent would be expected to take off.

In the blue corner there is Tevez, the 27-year-old who has been labelled as a disruptive influence and a self-centred so-and-so thanks to his conduct at Manchester City which has seen him go three months without making a single appearance. His career seemingly going nowhere at the moment, he is desperate for a move in order to get things back on track.

Pato and Ancelotti | Is there still a chance they could be reunited?​

It’s easy to see why many Milan fans were opposed to the deal, and why Twitter and various Calcio message boards were a virtual whitewash when news of the collapse broke yesterday. But CEO Adriano Galliani and the Rossoneri board knew all this before the window opened and yet went ahead fully intent on making the deal happen, and they did so with good reason.

There is clearly a concern at Via Turati that Pato’s one outstanding quality – his pace – is being compromised by the constant injury issues he has endured over the past few years. Since making 36 appearances in the 2008-09 season - his last under PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti, incidentally - he has missed far too many games with injuries, with muscle tears and similar leg troubles becoming the norm.

And these are the types of concerns which come back to haunt players all too often. With great pace comes great fragility, and the worry is that by the age of 25 Pato will need to become a very different kind of striker. Constant leg muscle injuries can only lead to an early slowdown, and Milan’s pursuit of Tevez as a replacement surely proves that this has crossed the hierarchy’s mind.

"If Pato wants to remain, then we hope he will do well with Milan ... Will we call Manchester City again? We'll see"- Adriano Galliani

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Can they trust Pato to become a more consistent poacher ala Filippo Inzaghi? Do they believe he can become a domineering bully like Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Clearly not, hence the Argentine became their target. They had given up on Pato. And even when Galliani announced the collapse of the deal yesterday, he was rather dismissive of his No.7.“If Pato wants to remain, then we hope he will do well with Milan,” said Galliani, and when he later added, “I am very happy in any case that Pato has made this decision,” he quickly followed up by hinting the Tevez operation may not be dead. “Will we call Manchester City again? We’ll see.”

"With Pato, these things are going forward. There are possibilities, but not yet an agreement"- Leonardo

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His words are hardly a ringing endorsement of Pato. After this month, they may never again receive a €35m offer like the one submitted by PSG for the striker. Milan wanted Tevez, a player who is already around his peak. For around €25m they knew exactly what they would be getting. But for now they still possess the player they tried to sell in order to sign the Argentine. And with Inter being the other interested party in their target, there will be an extra incentive to reopen negotiations in a bid to stop their great rivals pouncing.

Meanwhile, PSG wanted the Brazilian, and will not give up. Ancelotti and Leonardo are known admirers from their days at San Siro, and Leo’s insistence on Thursday that “things are going forward” in relation to Pato suggests that he sees this as just another twist in the road. The will is there for this deal to go ahead. If Thursday had been January 30, it may have been costly. Instead it was January 12. And with 19 whole days of business still to go, this is likely to be one transfer merry-go-round we haven’t heard the last of yet.

 

[David Luiz]

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[David Luiz]

Barbara Belusconi sticks with Pato & kicks Carlos Tevez to the curb

The club president's daughter made sure the buck-toothed Argentine doesn't arrive by hanging on to the better-looking Brazilian

Jan 13, 2012 1:00:00 PM

It seemed like the transfer saga that would never end. Will Carlos Tevez finally get his wish and swap Manchester City for AC Milan? Will Paris Saint-Germain get their trophy-signing and bring Alexandre Pato to Parc des Princes?

It appeared salvation had finally arrived on Thursday. Reports emerged that PSG had agreed a fee for Pato and the Italian champions had already lined up a ready-made replacement in the form of Tevez.

But then it all fell apart. Pato announced that he had no intention of leaving his 'home' in Milan, and any move Massimiliano Allegri would make for Tevez had stalled.

The powers that be stepped in. Barbara Belusconi, AC Milan board member and the daughter of Italy's mercurial politician, put the kibosh on any deal, unwilling to lose her boyfriend to Tevez, a less aesthetically pleasing alternative.

I guess we have her to blame for an inevitable 18 further days of speculation ...

Not on my watch...

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[David Luiz]

Neville cautions against Spurs hype

14 January 2012

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Everton captain Phil Neville has cast doubt on the suggestion that Tottenham are contenders for the Premier League title this season.

Spurs entertain Wolves at White Hart Lane on Saturday, before Harry Redknapp's team travel to Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all before March in what will be a decisive set of games.

Neville won six Premier League titles during his time at Manchester United, and insists that the north London side have yet to be truly tested this season.

"The biggest test will come in March," he told The Sun."That's when everyone drops points.

Whether they can grind out results then, that's the real question."

Tottenham have lost just once in their past 18 games, and are currently level on points with United, who sit in second place in the league table.

 

[David Luiz]

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Redknapp: Ade must take pay cut
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp concedes Emmanuel Adebayor will have to take a huge pay-cut if he is to stay at White Hart Lane next season.

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David Luiz: Chelsea can still win title
Chelsea defender David Luiz can stun their Manchester rivals by ending up Barclays Premier League champions this season.

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Suarez rules out Arsenal move
Anderlecht striker Matias Suarez insists he is not ready to leave the Belgian club and join Premier League giants Arsenal.

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Jerome Anderson seeks legal advice
Steve Kean's agent Jerome Anderson has sought legal advice over "abusive messages and threats" which he alleges have been directed at him and his family by some Blackburn fans.

Everton defend transfer policy
Everton chief executive Robert Elstone has launched a staunch defence of the club's transfer activity over the last five years, insisting there has been a net spend on new players of £35million.

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Wenger out to sign full-back
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has indicated that he is seeking a full-back to reinforce his squad during the January transfer window.

Hodgson unconcerned by goal drought
West Brom boss Roy Hodgson insists he is not worried about his team's lack of goals, despite them failing to find the net in their last three Barclays Premier League matches.

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Barton believes in new boss Hughes
Joey Barton has broken his silence on Mark Hughes' appointment as QPR manager, urging his team-mates to "buy into" the new regime at Loftus Road.

Redknapp admits struggle to keep stars
Tottenham's strict wage structure means the club will always struggle to hang on to their top players, according to manager Harry Redknapp.

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Wenger unfazed by Spurs emergence
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists he is not worried by the emergence of Tottenham as a genuine Barclays Premier League title contender.

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Catania: Fulham's Lopez bid too low
Catania have rejected an offer for star striker Maxi Lopez from Fulham after it was deemed unacceptable.

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Fergie: Title win more difficult than ever
Manchester United must prepare themselves to reach a points total in the high 80s if they want to retain their Barclays Premier League title.

Elber: Dzeko would be perfect for Bayern
Former Bayern Munich hitman Giovane Elber believes the club should look into signing Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko.

Partizan hire ex-Chelsea boss Grant

Partizan Belgrade have named Avram Grant as their new coach after sacking Aleksandra Stanojevic over a dispute with the club's board.​

 

[David Luiz]

What a difference a year makes - how Chelsea & Sunderland have changed for better & worse since Black Cats' 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge
Both clubs have seen upheaval on and off the pitch since Nedum Onuoha, Asamoah Gyan & Danny Welbeck secured a famous win for the Wearsiders in west London last season

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp: Jermain Defoe is going nowhere
The 29-year-old striker feels he needs more game time to boost his Euro 2012 prospects and is being urged by his agent to consider a move elsewhere, according to the Spurs manager

Agent: Lille's Eden Hazard would welcome move to Manchester United or Chelsea
The Belgian playmaker is one of the most sought-after young players in the world and despite interest from Madrid and Barcelona he would be interested in a Premier League move

Bolton's Gary Cahill set to complete Chelsea medical ahead of £7 million move
The centre-back is reportedly in London to put the finishing touches to a move to Stamford Bridge, to end a long protracted saga that saw a bid accepted two weeks ago

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger rules out move for Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou
French boss has been linked with the Cote d'Ivoire forward but was quick to play down any chance of a bid and denies Marouane Chamakh could be on his way out in January

Didier Drogba, Guti & Robert Pires - Seven European stars who could follow Nicolas Anelka to China's Super League
Following the Frenchman's unprecedented transfer to Shanghai Shenhua, speculation has run riot over who could be next to move east.

Paris Saint-Germain set to offer Carlos Tevez €10 million-a-year wages after missing out on AC Milan's Alexandre Pato - report
The Ligue 1 outfit were handed a blow in their transfer strategy after the Brazilian opted to stay in Italy, but are willing to offer a huge salary to the Manchester City forward

AC Milan's Urby Emanuelson, Barcelona's Ibrahim Afellay & Liverpool's Luis Suarez - How the former Eredivisie stars have fared since their 2011 January transfer
The trio all said farewell to the Dutch top flight for greener pastures one year ago, and have since enjoyed mixed fortunes in England, Italy and Spain

'Tottenham look great but I'd still go for Manchester United to be champions' - former Spurs star Chris Waddle
Former White Hart Lane winger hails Harry Redknapp's managerial skills but believes reigning champions will withstand threat from nearest rivals to win 13th Premier League crown

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger defends ‘gambler’ Andrey Arshavin claiming he is efficient
Frenchman feels criticism of the Russian playmaker is unfair, claiming that although he is low on confidence his stats prove he is still making a valuable contribution to the team

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew says former Inter starlet Davide Santon can shine in England
Magpies boss lauds Italian defender as he settles into his new surroundings and backs the 21-year-old to resurrect his international career after impressive displays

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson 'would have no problem' selecting Patrice Evra for FA Cup clash with Liverpool
The managerial veteran sees no reason not to pick the French left-back for his side's potentially controversial FA Cup clash with the Merseysiders at the end of the month

The Sweeper: Carlos Tevez willing to take a 40 per cent pay cut to £120,000-a-week to force through transfer this month
Fulham are reluctant to sell strike pair Zamora and Johnson to ex-boss Mark Hughes and where Darren Bent would really like to move in this window

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie have a good understanding and they can play together
The Gunners manager is adamant that the New York Red Bulls star can make an impact alongside the Dutchman, or out wide, and suggested Tottenham are title contenders

Japan international Tadanari Lee admits Southampton switch is a 'gamble'
The Samurai Blue striker says he could've stayed in the J-League but wanted to improve his own game as Japan aims for a top four finish at the 2014 Fifa World Cup

Socceroo Rhys Williams content at Middlesbrough despite reports linking him with Liverpool and West Bromwich
The promising Australian says he's committed to the promotion-chasing Championship club for this season, but is reluctant to look beyond the 2011-12 campaign

Shanghai Shenhua's Nicolas Anelka: I loved it at Chelsea but all good things come to an end and it's time for a new adventure
The Frenchman admits he enjoyed his time in London although he is looking forward to a "new adventure" in China and reveals that he is "impatient" to discover his new environment

Corinthians director Duilio Alves: We want to sign Manchester City's Carlos Tevez on loan
The Brazilian club have not given up on landing the striker but they have assured they will only do so on a temporary basis

Everton striker Louis Saha asks Manchester United: After signing Darron Gibson can we have Mame Diouf and Paul Pogba too?!
The Toffees frontman jokingly posted suggesting the Red Devils should allow another two fringe players to quit after the Republic of Ireland international left the club

Bolton's Gary Cahill on verge of completing Chelsea move after accepting £80,000-a-week contract offer - report
The defender reportedly undertook the first part of his medical on Friday with the Blues hopeful of parading the 26-year-old in front of their fans prior to the Sunderland match

Sao Paulo starlet Henrique to join QPR on loan - report
The Brazil Under-20 star is reportedly set to join the London club for an initial £400,000, with the option to buy for £5 million, in a temporary move for a year and a half

Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand rubbishes rumours Ravel Morrison stole his watch & urges youngster to 'stay focused'
The England star jumped to the defence of the 18-year-old, who has been the subject of a rejected bid from Newcastle United, after reports of a theft at the club's training ground

Rio Ferdinand insists FA Cup victory over Manchester City has not handed United any advantage in the title race
The defender suggests the 3-2 win at Eastlands will not affect the Premier League, but believes the Red Devils should use the success to build momentum in their own form

Chelsea youngster Josh McEachran confirms Swansea City loan move
The promising England Under-21 midfielder will join the Swans on Monday as he aims to gain vital first-team experience, and help cement the Welsh side's Premier League status

The best player of the Premier League era is ‘without question’ from Manchester United – Sir Alex Ferguson
The coach spoke of his admiration for former Scotland international Denis Law, as well as discussing the Old Trafford greats he has managed in his 25 years with the Red Devils

Sao Paulo's Lucas Moura Inter's 'Plan B' should Carlos Tevez transfer fail - report
After receiving a boost in their quest to sign the Manchester City player, Inter could bet on the Brazilian teenager should their efforts to sign 'Carlitos' be in vain

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger believes football has ‘sold its soul’ to TV
The Frenchman believes that broadcasters have too much control over fixture schedules and that the governing bodies need to intervene despite the large revenue coverage brings

Wayne Rooney convinced me to join Everton from Manchester United, says Darron Gibson
The Irish midfielder has revealed the England striker talked him into joining his boyhood club, and also suggested he hoped to boost his Euro 2012 hopes at Goodison Park

Manchester City's David Platt insists Harry Redknapp ‘should be proud’ of Tottenham title challenge
The Etihad Stadium first-team coach believes the Spurs manager should be applauded for keeping pace with fellow Premier League hopefuls Manchester United & Roberto Mancini’s Blues

‘Stranger things have happened’ – David Platt reveals Carlos Tevez could stay at Manchester City in January
Roberto Mancini's assistant has noted that the 27-year-old could be in line for a surprise stay at Eastlands, while David Silva may return from injury against Wigan

Kenny Dalglish: Steven Gerrard could be Liverpool’s ‘greatest ever player’
The Scottish boss has hailed the club captain following his decision to sign a new contract, insisting that the 31-year-old should be commended for his work on and off the field

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger hoping for quick injury turnaround to avoid January loan signing
The Frenchman insists players of a suitable standard will not be available on short-term deals in the current window, but is hopeful of a number returns from injury soon

Inter's Massimo Moratti puts Manchester City talks over Carlos Tevez transfer on hold until after Milan derby
The Nerazzurri supremo claims that he will resume talks with the Premier League leaders next week because he is currently focused on this weekend's meeting with their city rivals

Sir Alex Ferguson confirms Manchester United have rejected second bid from Newcastle for Ravel Morrison
The Scottish manager also revealed the midfielder's contract demands are "unrealistic" for the Old Trafford club as player's agent works to find his client another team

Younes Kaboul: 'Tottenham have the same chance of winning the Premier League as Manchester United & City'
The Frenchman has been pivotal to the defensive solidity that has helped the north London club climb the table and entertain thoughts of a first title since 1961

Liverpool make opening move for £10m-rated Crystal Palace hotshot Wilfried Zaha - report
The 19-year-old has attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs but Kenny Dalglish is rumoured to have made the first steps toward poaching the Eagles striker

Loic Remy's agent says Marseille star would find it hard to turn down move to Tottenham
The France international's representative admits his client would be interested in switch to Spurs and "dreams" of playing in England - but no move is expected this month

Manchester United reject second bid from Newcastle for Ravel Morrison - report
Midfielder apparently wanted by Alan Pardew as he looks to continue Magpies' policy of signing young players with lots of potential, with Old Trafford prospect's contract expiring

Andre Villas-Boas suggests Frank Lampard may never regain automatic starting spot at Chelsea
Portuguese manager confirms he will continue to use the England midfielder when he sees fit but acknowledges the player's contributions to the club, both past and present

'Liverpool should be winning trophies' – Charlie Adam aiming for glory after League Cup semi-final win over Manchester City
The summer signing from Blackpool played a part in the win after replacing the injured Jay Spearing at the Etihad Stadium, leaving Kenny Dalglish's side 90 minutes from Wembley

Manchester City star Mario Balotelli stuns students by stopping at college to use toilet
Italian surprised pupils and teachers alike after parking his Bentley up at Xaverian College for a bathroom break before taking a tour of the establishment followed by fans

Paris Saint-Germain's Diego Lugano: Liverpool's Luis Suarez is the victim of hypocrisy
The Uruguay skipper has taken the time to defend his compatriot in the wake of the racism row involving Patrice Evra, insisting that "racism doesn't exist in South America"

 

[David Luiz]

Manchester City star Mario Balotelli stuns students by stopping at college to use toilet

Italian surprised pupils and teachers alike after parking his Bentley up at Xaverian College for a bathroom break before taking a tour of the establishment followed by fans

Jan 13, 2012 12:12:00 PM

By Matt Scott

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Mario Balotelli has once again caused a stir after the Manchester City striker took a tour of a local college after asking to use the toilet there.

Students and teachers alike were taken aback as the Italian pulled up to the school in his Bentley, relieved himself and then looked around the staff room and classrooms.

Most students were in the canteen when Balotelli arrived, including Edward Gasson, 18. He told the Manchester Evening News: “Balotelli parked his Bentley outside then came in and was asking where the toilets were, then he went to the teachers' staff room. “After that he was just walking round campus like he owned the place and everyone was following him around.

“It was amazing to see him but it was a bit ridiculous for him to come here – you would never expect it to happen.” Many pupils also took to Twitter to inform people of Balotelli's impromptu visit to the establishment located near to Manchester City's former home, Maine Road. Another student, Josh Keogh said: “When he was walking around all the City fans were cheering him.​

“He just seemed proper chilled. It was really weird to see him at our college but pretty amazing.” A spokesperson for the college added: "Xaverian was delighted to receive a surprise visit from Mario, who chatted to some of the students at one of Manchester’s most successful colleges. “We weren’t able to enrol him on any courses, but he is welcome back any time.”

Some of Balotelli's alleged past antics include driving into a women's prison to have a look around and having his house set on fire after a friend let off fireworks from his bathroom.

 

[David Luiz]

Saturday 14th January 2012

Premier League Weekend Team News

Tottenham will be looking to move joint-top of the Barclays Premier League on Saturday when they take on Wolves at White Hart Lane. Spurs are currently level with second-placed Manchester United, and with leaders Manchester City not in action will Monday, a win against Wolves could see Harry Redknapp's men move to the top of the Premier League, albeit probably still behind the Citizens on goal difference.

United could also go level at the Premier League summit if they manage to see off the challenge of Bolton at Old Trafford, while Chelsea entertain Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Liverpool, buoyed by Wednesday's 1-0 Carling Cup semi-final first leg win over City, will be hoping to pick up three points at home to Stoke, while the Reds' local rivals Everton are on the road against Aston Villa.

Struggling Blackburn will be desperate for a win at home to Fulham, while Norwich travel to West Brom. In Sunday's matches, Arsenal travel to the Liberty Stadium to play Swansea, while Newcastle host QPR.
Ahead of the weekend's action, we take a look at all the news from the selection table.

Saturday's Premier League Fixtures

Chelsea vs Sunderland

Florent Malouda is doubtful for Chelsea's Barclays Premier League game against Sunderland on Saturday. The winger picked up a knock in Sunday's FA Cup win over Portsmouth and failed to train on Wednesday or Thursday. Daniel Sturridge and John Terry have both been passed fit but the game comes a week too soon for Michael Essien (knee), Branislav Ivanovic and John Obi Mikel (both hamstring), while Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are on African Nations Cup duty.

Nicklas Bendtner could return to the Sunderland squad. The Denmark international missed the FA Cup third-round victory over Peterborough because of a knee injury, but is expected to be available for the game at Stamford Bridge. If so, he will be joined in the squad by fellow frontman Fraizer Campbell, who is available for the first time since August 2010 after recovering from a second serious knee problem, but Jack Colback (ankle), Wes Brown (groin) and Titus Bramble (calf/Achilles) remain on the casualty list.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Bosingwa, Ferreira, Terry, Luiz, Hutchinson, Cole, Romeu, Lampard, Ramires, McEachran, Mata, Malouda, Meireles, Torres, Sturridge, Lukaku, Turnbull.
Sunderland (from): Mignolet, Westwood, Carson, Bardsley, O'Shea, Kilgallon, Turner, Laing, Cattermole, Richardson, Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson, Colback, Elmohamady, McClean, Meyler, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Wickham, Ji, Campbell, Noble.

Man United vs Bolton

Sir Alex Ferguson will take a check on a trio of minor knocks before finalising his Manchester United line-up to face Bolton at Old Trafford on Saturday. Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have taken time to get over problems they sustained in a collision during last Sunday's FA Cup win over Manchester City, while Anderson took a blow in training this week. Ferguson must also decide whether Paul Scholes is fit enough to take a starting berth after his shock retirement U-turn last weekend.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle is ready to play Gary Cahill if his proposed move to Chelsea does not go through. But as the Blues expect to sign Cahill before the weekend, Zat Knight is likely to partner David Wheater in central defence. Coyle will make a late check on goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who is nearing full fitness after a thigh strain.

Manchester United (from): De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos, Rafael, Ferdinand, Evra, Jones, Fryers, Cole, Carrick, Valencia, Park, Anderson, Nani, Giggs, Rooney, Welbeck, Berbatov, Hernandez, Diouf, Keane.
Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Bogdan, Wheater, Cahill, Boyata, Knight, Eagles, Robinson, Muamba, Petrov, K Davies, Klasnic, Tuncay, M Davies, Pratley, Ngog, Blake, Reo-Coker, Steinsson, Ricketts, Riley, O'Halloran, Lynch.

Tottenham vs Wolves

Wolves midfielder Nenad Milijas is available after completing a three-match ban for his red card against Arsenal for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Skipper Roger Johnson is expected to recover from the ankle knock which forced him to be substituted during the FA Cup third-round draw at Birmingham last weekend. Midfielder Dave Edwards should also be available again after recovering from tightness in his groin. Former captain Karl Henry will make his 200th league appearance for Wolves if selected.

Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker (knee) remains a doubt. Defender Ledley King (hamstring) is not fit, Aaron Lennon could be rested as part of his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury, while defender William Gallas and midfielder Sandro are out with calf strains. Tom Huddlestone has returned to light training following his long-term ankle injury layoff but will not figure on Saturday.

Tottenham (from): Friedel, Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, Kaboul, Walker, Bassong, Bale, Modric, Van der Vaart, Parker, Livermore, Kranjcar, Adebayor, Defoe, Rose, Dos Santos, Cudicini, Pavlyuchenko, Lennon, Pienaar, Dawson.
Wolves (from): Hennessey, De Vries, Stearman, Foley, Doherty, Craddock, Johnson, Berra, Ward, Elokobi, Hammill, Hunt, Henry, Edwards, Guedioura, Jarvis, Forde, Kightly, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher, Frimpong, Jonsson, Milijas.

Liverpool vs Stoke

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has concerns over a number of players ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield. Defenders Jonathan Woodgate, Marc Wilson and Ryan Shotton are all nursing what Pulis describes as "niggles" and will be assessed. Andy Wilkinson could return at the back having overcome his recent knee injury, while the likes of goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, winger Matthew Etherington and striker Peter Crouch are set to be restored to the team after they were rested for last weekend's FA Cup victory at Gillingham.

Defender Jose Enrique is set to return to Liverpool's starting line-up. The Spaniard was left out for tactical reasons in the Carling Cup semi-final first-leg win over Manchester City but is likely to return. Midfielder Jay Spearing sustained a minor hamstring injury in midweek and that is likely to allow Charlie Adam to regain his place.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique, Adam, Gerrard, Kuyt, Henderson, Downing, Carroll, Doni, Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Shelvey, Rodriguez, Bellamy.
Stoke (from): Sorensen, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Pennant, Delap, Palacios, Etherington, Crouch, Walters, Begovic, Shotton, Upson, Diao, Jones, Whitehead, Whelan, Woodgate, Fuller, Higginbotham, Jerome.

West Brom vs Norwich

West Brom head coach Roy Hodgson will check on the fitness of six first-team regulars before naming his side for Saturday's home Barclays Premier League clash with Norwich. Hodgson has to assess the chances of centre-backs Gareth McAuley and Jonas Olsson (both calf), winger Jerome Thomas (groin), midfielders Paul Scharner (Achilles) and Youssouf Mulumbu (groin) plus striker Shane Long (back) being available.

Skipper Chris Brunt (fractured ankle), fellow midfielder Zoltan Gera (knee) and defender Steven Reid (ankle and knee) are definitely ruled out. Goalkeeper John Ruddy returns to the Norwich squad after missing the FA Cup win against Burnley after his partner gave birth to a daughter. Full-back Marc Tierney is back in training after recovering from a groin injury. On-loan Manchester United defender Ritchie De Laet (back) is still out. Centre-forward James Vaughan and defender Elliott Ward (both knee) are still several weeks from returning.

West Brom (from): Foster, Fulop, Jones, Jara-Reyes, Olsson, McAuley, Dawson, Tamas, Mattock, Shorey, Mulumbu, Morrison, Scharner, Thorne, Dorrans, Thomas, Tchoyi, Cox, Fortune, Odemwingie, Long, Bednar.
Norwich (from): Ruddy, Martin, Whitbread, Ayala, Drury, Fox, Tierney, Naughton, Crofts, Surman, Hoolahan, Bennett, Holt, Wilbraham, Jackson, Morison, Steer, Johnson, Lappin, Barnett, Rudd.

Aston Villa vs Everton

Striker Robbie Keane is in contention to make his Aston Villa debut - subject to obtaining international clearance - in Saturday's home Barclays Premier League clash with Everton. The Los Angeles Galaxy player, who has joined Villa on a two-month loan, will replace Achilles injury victim Emile Heskey - sidelined for a month - in the squad. Goalkeeper Shay Given is available after a six week lay-off with a hamstring problem but defender Carlos Cuellar (thigh) and midfielder Chris Herd (ankle) are still ruled out.

New signing Darron Gibson goes straight into Everton's squad. The midfielder was registered in time to be eligible after his move from Manchester United. A hamstring injury to Sylvain Distin leaves manager David Moyes with more problems at centre-back as Phil Jagielka is still sidelined by a knee problem, which could mean a start for Shane Duffy, who only made his first league appearance as a substitute in the midweek defeat at Tottenham.

Aston Villa (from): Guzan, Given, Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Clark, Warnock, Delph, Bannan, Petrov, Ireland, Albrighton, Bent, Keane, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, N'Zogbia, Weimann, Marshall, Johnson, Gardner, Stevens.
Everton (from): Howard, Baines, Heitinga, Duffy, Neville, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Fellaini, Saha, Donovan, Anichebe, Mucha, Drenthe, Gibson, Stracqualursi, McFadden, Gueye, Vellios.

Blackburn vs Fulham

Fulham will welcome back Andrew Johnson and Simon Davies for Saturday's trip to Blackburn. The former has missed recent matches with a groin complaint but will return at Ewood Park, while Davies is in contention after a back injury. Fellow midfielder Dickson Etuhu will be assessed ahead of the match, while goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (spine) is making steady progress and should return in the next couple of weeks.

Blackburn are set to have several key players back available. Goalkeeper Paul Robinson (calf), winger Junior Hoilett and central midfielder David Dunn (both hamstring) could all make their returns from injury having been in full training this week, along with defender and club captain Christopher Samba, who sat out the FA Cup defeat at Newcastle last weekend due to an ankle knock and tight hamstring. Fellow centre-half Scott Dann is not yet ready for first-team action again after his groin problem, but manager Steve Kean is optimistic he may feature a week on Saturday when Blackburn travel to Everton.

Blackburn (from): Robinson, Bunn, Samba, Lowe, Hanley, Givet, Nzonzi, Rochina, Pedersen, Petrovic, Dunn, Hoilett, Olsson, Yakubu, Goodwillie, Formica, Vukcevic, Slew, Blackman, Henley, Morris.
Fulham (from): Stockdale, Etheridge, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise, Kelly, Frei, Sidwell, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Ruiz, Davies, Dembele, Sa, Duff, Hughes, Baird, Kasami, Zamora, Johnson.

Sunday's Premier League Fixtures

Newcastle vs QPR

Mark Hughes will be unable to call on several of his biggest names for his first game in charge of QPR at Newcastle on Sunday. Captain Joey Barton remains suspended for the Barclays Premier League trip to his former club, while Adel Taarabt and Armand Traore are on African Nations Cup duty. Alejandro Faurlin (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of the season and goalkeeper Paddy Kenny is keeping his fingers crossed he does not suffer a recurrence of the hip problem that has dogged him recently.

Midfielder Danny Guthrie has returned to the Newcastle squad for Sunday's game. Guthrie has been sidelined by a groin injury since the beginning of December and will provide manager Alan Pardew with a fresh option in the wake of Cheick Tiote's departure for the African Nations Cup. However, striker Peter Lovenkrands (calf) is unlikely to make the game, and Sammy Ameobi (knee) has joined fellow midfielder Sylvain Marveaux (groin) and defender Steve Taylor (Achilles) on the list of long-term absentees.

Newcastle (from): Krul, Elliot, Harper, Simpson, R. Taylor, Santon, Ferguson, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Kadar, Cabaye, Obertan, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Gosling, Abeid, Vuckic, Best, Shola Ameobi.
QPR (from): Kenny, Cerny, Murphy, Gabbidon, Connolly, Hill, Bothroyd, Orr, Derry, Buzsaky, Young, Smith, Mackie, Helguson, Wright-Phillips, Hulse, Campbell, Macheda.

Swansea vs Arsenal

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has almost a full squad to select from ahead of Sunday's Liberty Stadium meeting with Arsenal. Rodgers is set to make changes from the side that beat Barnsley in the FA Cup with the likes of Michel Vorm, Joe Allen, Steven Caulker and Scott Sinclair likely to return to the starting line-up, while Gylfi Sigurdsson could be handed a full debut in midfield. Long-term absentee Alan Tate is on the comeback trail after featuring for the reserves in midweek, four months after suffering a broken leg, but is a few weeks away from a return to first-team action.

Arsenal captain Robin van Persie will return following an extended break. Thierry Henry, on loan from the New York Red Bulls, will again be in contention having come off the bench to score in the FA Cup win over Leeds, while defender Johan Djourou is available after suspension. Midfielder Tomas Rosicky and centre-back Per Mertesacker are battling to overcome a virus. Strikers Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho are away at the African Nations Cup. Defenders Francis Coquelin (hamstring), Thomas Vermaelen (calf), Kieran Gibbs (groin), Bacary Sagna (ankle), Carl Jenkinson (back) and Andre Santos (ankle) are all still out, along with midfielders Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (ankle).

Swansea (from): Vorm, Williams, Taylor, Caulker, Britton, Orlandi, Graham, Sinclair, Dyer, Dobbie, Routledge, Monk, Lita, Moore, Bessone, Rangel, Allen, Tremmel, Agustien, Gower, Richards, Alfei, Donnelly, Sigurdsson, Situ.
Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Koscielny, Djourou, Mertesacker, Miquel, Song, Ramsey, Arteta, Walcott, Van Persie, Henry, Almunia, Rosicky, Arshavin, Squillaci, Benayoun, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park.

Monday's Premier League Fixtures

Wigan vs Man City

Manchester City are set to welcome David Silva back for Monday's trip to Wigan. Silva missed Tuesday's Carling Cup defeat by Liverpool with an ankle injury but he is expected to train on Saturday and should be fit. Mario Balotelli (ankle) is doubtful, whilst Vincent Kompany serves the second game of a four-match ban.

Winger Albert Crusat meanwhile is back in contention for Wigan. Crusat has been missing with a back injury but is in line to return, while young striker Callum McManaman could be on the bench after impressing Roberto Martinez in the otherwise disappointing FA Cup defeat at Swindon. Midfielder Mohamed Diame is on African Nations Cup duty with Senegal.

Wigan (from): Al Habsi, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Watson, Boyce, Caldwell, Moses, Gomez, McCarthy, Di Santo, Jones, Stam, McArthur, Lopez, Thomas, Sammon, Maloney, Crusat, Gohouri, Rodallega, McManaman, Pollitt, Kirkland.
Man City (from): Hart, Pantilimon, Richards, Zabaleta, Savic, Onuoha, Clichy, Kolarov, Lescott, Johnson, De Jong, Milner, Barry, Hargreaves, Nasri, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero, Balotelli.
​

 

[David Luiz]

​

Arsenal to trial Oman international Saad Al Mukhaini
The 24-year-old Omani will have a two-day trial with the Gunners after being recommended to Arsene Wenger by fellow Frenchman Paul Le Guen

Patrice Evra confident Manchester United will win Premier League when injured players return to action
The Frenchman says the Red Devils will have the strength in depth to kick on and pip rivals Manchester City to the title when all their players return to full fitness

Newcastle United's Davide Santon hails influence of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho during time at Inter
The Italy international has praised his former boss for helping him develop as a player, revealing it was the former Chelsea manager who made him change position as a youngster

Aston Villa's Robbie Keane rules out permanent return to Premier League from LA Galaxy
The Republic of Ireland international is on loan at Villa Park on a short-term deal but insists he has no plans on leaving the MLS to return to England on a permanent basis

Manchester United's Patrice Evra hails Antonio Valencia's performance in win over Bolton Wanderers
The defender has praised the Ecuadorian after his stunning display in his preferred position in midfield, while Michael Carrick says the winger must be difficult to play against

Frank Lampard claims Chelsea can still win Premier League title this season
After scoring the only goal of the game against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, the midfielder says he wants his side to aim higher than finishing in the top four

Tottenham target Mathieu Valbuena will stay at Marseille, asserts agent
The 27-year-old's representative has assured fans of OM that his client will not be departing the club before the end of the season despite links with the north London outfit

Stoke City's Tony Pulis: Liverpool's penalty claims were out of 'desperation'
Potters boss delighted to have taken four points off the Reds this season, describing the results as a "great achievement" for his club

'I've never said to anybody we're going to win the league' - Harry Redknapp adjusts his expectations after Wolves hold Tottenham
Spurs boss now feels finishing in the top four would be a "great season" and denies he is interested in signing Blackburn defender Christopher Samba

Bolton manager Owen Coyle disappointed to lose Gary Cahill to Chelsea but praises 'terrific' replacement Tim Ream
Wanderers boss also praised goalkeeper Adam Bogdan after his side slipped to 19th in the Premier League with 3-0 defeat away at Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson hails returning Paul Scholes after veteran netted in Manchester United's win over Bolton
The 37-year-old made his first start and scored his first goal on his Old Trafford return following his retirement last summer

Andre Villas-Boas: The Chelsea fans and players are behind Fernando Torres and he is getting closer to scoring all the time
The Stamford Bridge manager also said he expected Gary Cahill's transfer to be completed on Sunday and insisted that the Blues had not yet agreed to sell Alex to QPR

'The responsibility is on us to be more imaginative' - Kenny Dalglish refuses to criticise Stoke approach after Liverpool draw
Scot admits his side did not take their chances as they were held at home once again but praised the Reds' defensive display

Paul Scholes' return has boosted Manchester United, says Michael Carrick
Midfielder is delighted to have the 37-year-old back but believes the champions were wasteful against Bolton at Old Trafford

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger confident Aaron Ramsey will make a great Wales captain
The Frenchman urges people to be patient with the youngster and admits he is looking forward to seeing him partner Jack Wilshere in midfield for the Gunners

Gary Cahill to complete move from Bolton to Chelsea 'in next 48 hours'
The centre-back is in London to watch his new employers take on Sunderland but the protracted deal to take him from the Reebok Stadium is still not quite finalised

Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish plans to offer Jamie Carragher ambassador role at the club
Former Blackburn boss wants to give defender a similar deal to that handed to Steven Gerrard recently despite currently being unable to force his way into the Reds' starting XI

Chelsea's Andre Villas-Boas hits back at Alan Hansen following the pundit’s criticism of Jose Bosingwa and David Luiz
The former Porto manager has re-ignited a war-of-words with the media after previously reacting to Gary Neville’s analysis of his side's defending

Harry Redknapp insists Steven Pienaar has a future at Tottenham
Spurs boss reveals he has no intention of letting the out-of-favour midfielder leave the club claiming the South African could have a role to play in the run-in

Liverpool interested in Joe Cole - Moussa Sow swap deal with Lille - report
The two clubs are said to be considering a deal where the English playmaker would stay in France on a permanent basis, with last season's Ligue 1 top scorer moving to England

From pretenders to contenders - the real cost of transforming Tottenham
Harry Redknapp's swipe at the riches of rivals Manchester City and Chelsea belies the vast outlay it has taken for the sleeping giants of north London to awaken

Carlos Tevez's representative Kia Joorabchian claims Manchester City and AC Milan will meet again over possible transfer
The Scudetto holders' vice-president, Adriano Galliani, stated that a deal was dead, but the 40-year-old thinks otherwise, and feels that a move to San Siro could still happen

Arsene Wenger praises 'fearless' Swansea ahead of Arsenal's first league trip to the club since 1983
The French boss faces the newly promoted Welsh side in Sunday's Premier League clash and has been complimentary about the playing style implemented by counterpart Brendan Rodgers