Weekday Preview

Tony Mowbray looks rather upset because he's part of a bookend match, as top side Man U takes on bottom side West Brom. Man U have a number of injuries, but they should still be able to take care of the Baggies. New signing Emile Heskey could be unveiled for Villa's match against Portsmouth. Stoke and Tottenham face off in a classic six-pointer, while Fulham begin the post-Jimmy Bullard era at Sunderland.

Tuesday

Fulham at Sunderland- Fulham got some good money for Jimmy Bullard, but they now have a large void in their midfield. They have relied on their defense for results, they lead the league in draws, but they might have some problems with Sunderland. Kenwyne Jones, if he isn't sold in the morning, will trouble the Mighty Whites with his size. And Cisse's pace will cause them problems if they choose to play a high line. This match could get a little choppy, and I think Sunderland might squeak one out. Sunderland 1-0

Man U at West Brom- Man U could field an injured XI, but even they would have a good chance of beating the Baggies. West Brom is dealing with their own injury problems, with four central defenders currently out. United should make sure that the ball is in West Brom's half for most of the game, so their second string back line shouldn't be as tested. If the Baggies can keep it close until late, they might be able to grab something, but I wouldn't bet on it. Man U 2-0

Aston Villa at Portsmouth- After their defeat to Swansea, Portsmouth are starting to look like a team that have sold all their good players, are coached by a nutter, and haven't gotten an ounce of confidence. With Young still suspended, look for Heskey, Agbonlahor and Milner to lead the line. Villa have had to cobble together a back line, but they have a confidence that seems to overcome any amount of mistakes. Villa 2-1

Stoke at Tottenham- Both teams are stuck on 21 points, with Tottenham enjoying the superior goal differential. Tottenham seemed to lose their confidence quickly once Man U scored, and their new signings could be hurting the confidence of the rest of the squad. There's no doubt that even with all their injuries and 'Arry drama, Spurs have the much more talented side. They have had problems giving up late goals, and they'll have to be wary of Stoke's set pieces. Tottenham 1-0

The FA Cup

Any competition that gets us more 'Ansome 'Arry 'Oudini, I will support(Do you hear that Big Brother?). As this picture proves, Redknapp is the defending champion, with his former club. And the fact that Tottenham played Manchester United was quite enjoyable(especially since they're playing in the Carling Cup Final as well). During the week Redknapp repeatedly insinuated that the players in his squad were not his choice, and Tottenham's bidding on every fit attacking player belies the point. With the game at Old Trafford, and Gareth Bale starting, the Red Devils were heavy favorites. So it was rather a shock when Roman Pavlyuchenko headed Spurs in front in the fifth minute. 

The Russian(who Redknapp doesn't seem to rate highly) took advantage of Man U's defensive problems. For anybody who doesn't know, Man U has twin Brazilian wingbacks, Fabio and Rafael. Rafael(like Ferdinand, Brown, Evra and Johnny Evans) is currently injured, but Fabio started at left back and spent a good deal of the game in Tottenham's half. Vidic and Neville settled down after their early failure to mark Pavlyuchenko, and the United back line and Ben Foster looked a lot more comfortable as the game progressed. At the other end of the pitch, Michael Carrick(former Spur) controlled the game wonderfully. Thanks to his pass and a heavy deflection, Scholes leveled in the 35th minute. Less than a minute later he floated one in to Berbatov(former Spur) and United won the day 2-1. 

There weren't many upsets over the weekend, but a couple of draws. Defending champions Portsmouth were knocked out by Swansea City, 2-0. Doncaster held Aston Villa to a 0-0 draw, in a game where the goal posts earned their keep. Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw thanks to some impressive goal keeping. For the second time in a week, Everton held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield. Liverpool refuses to mark Tim Cahill, which is rather foolish. This means that Fellaini will actually get a chance to play against Liverpool for the first time this season, unless he gets another suspension in the mean time(I wouldn't be surprised). The other big news was Hull's 2-0 defeat of Millwall, with the Millwall fans rioting. They tore up seats, pelted the Hull supporters, and destroyed lavatories and concession stands. It's rather shocking to see this behavior in this day and age, and the police and FA are both getting involved.

Weekend Preview

Another exciting weekend in the Prem. Man U could be top of the tape by Saturday night, Chelsea have a chance to do a thrashing of their own, and on Monday the battle between the Red half and the Blue half of Mersey resumes.

Saturday

Newcastle United at Blackburn - Big Sam faces his old club, and he really wants this one. Don't be surprised if Roque Santa Cruz is suddenly fit, to help Sam get all three points, and to fetch a higher price for Blackburn. Newcastle have a host of injuries(surprise), and predicting this game is like predicting the wind(can you predict the wind?). Tie 1-1

Man U at Bolton - Man U has a chance to go top of the table if they win this game. Bolton beat them last year, and United have Rooney, Evra and Rio out for this match. Bolton will rely on set pieces, but with Nolan and Elmander out they'll have their own problems. Look for a bit of class from Berbatov, Tevez and Ronaldo to make the difference in this match. Man U 2-0

Stoke at Chelsea - This is the kind of game you would circle as a gimme, but due to Chelsea's current form and their home problems, things may not be so simple. Drogba is supposed to come back, but Joe Cole is injured and Deco has fortuitously picked up a calf injury. With Malouda fit, it will be interesting to see who starts, and who comes off the bench for Chelsea. James Beattie will start for Stoke, while Fuller is still suspended for hitting Andy Griffin. Stoke will want to play physical, and take advantage of throw ins and free kicks. Last week's loss was bad, but anything less than three points from this match would be apocalyptic. Chelsea 3-0

Wigan at Man City - Wigan are the in form team, and they travel to a Man City team that is having all sorts of problems. Kaka, Bellamy and the rest of the world have been linked with the club, so their is probably a lack of confidence in the side. Wigan played a tight game with Man U, and as long as Valencia is still in their side they should be confident. Robinho is fit, but Ireland is out and Wright-Phillips has a knock. If Wigan's defense can hold, they should grab a point. Tie 1-1

Aston Villa at Sunderland - Villa are unbeaten in their last nine, and there's no reason they shouldn't make this ten. Carew and Bouma are both close to coming back, but expect Agbonlahor, Young and Milner to lead the line. Malbranque is suspended, while McCartney and Gordon are still injured. Villa have been as lucky as they have been good, and they'll need that luck against a physical Sunderland side. Villa 2-1

Middlesbrough at West Brom - Middlesbrough have looked the opposite of confident(unconfident?), while West Brom are playing with the house's money(definitely not a sponsor's). Morrison is injured for the Baggies, while Teixeira could start and loan signing Fortune could factor. Gareth Southgate is relying on the class of Downing, Alves and Mido to push Boro through. West Brom have gotten four of their five wins at home, and will be hoping for another, and this one could go either way. Tie 1-1

Arsenal at Hull - Hull defeated Arsenal at the Emirates to begin the Gunners slide, and they'll be wanting revenge. Hull have looked a shell of their former selves, but new signings Kilbane and Manucho could start. Arsenal are still dealing with injuries, and have Gallas and Silvestre on the short term list. This should be similar to their game against Bolton, and Arsenal will be relying on some brilliance to put them ahead. RVP or Nasri should supply it. Arsenal 2-1

Sunday

Fulham at West Ham - A London derby, with both teams doing pretty well. Fulham's defense has become one of the league's best, while Bellamy and Cole have been pouring it in for the Hammers. A number of West Ham players are linked with moves away, while Bullard could shortly leave the Mighty Whites. If Bullard is fit, this could be a good battle of the Hammers counter attack versus the back to front build up of Fulham. Tie 1-1

Portsmouth at Tottenham - Harry's revenge, or is it Pomepy's revenge? It will be a battle of former strike partners, as Defoe leads his line against Peter Crouch. Each will want to prove their supremacy, and 'Ansome 'Arry 'Oudini will want to show why he was worth all that money. Tottenham have been struggling late, and if Portsmouth can hold it tight, they might be able to nick one. Tottenham 2-1

Monday

Everton at Liverpool - Everton have been playing a 4-6-0(Cahill isn't really a striker), and will be without Fellaini this game. That should really hurt them, as Torres and Alonso are both expected to start, and Kuyt will be able to use his aerial ability. Liverpool will know what they need to be in first place at this point, and if Man U wins, three points is all that will suffice. Liverpool 2-0

Red Devils in Striking Distance

Manchester United defeated Wigan 1-0, and now sit only two points back of Liverpool with a game in hand. Wayne Rooney banged in a cross from Ronaldo in the first minute, and that was all the Red Devils needed for all three points. There was bad news, as Rooney had to come off early with a hamstring injury that will see him miss three weeks. It was also interesting to see the changes Ferguson made from the side that defeated Chelsea. Ronaldo was the only midfield holdover, as Nani, Carrick and Scholes all started. This game was really a showcase of the depth that Man U have, with youngsters and veterans combining for the win. Their game in hand is against Fulham, and while the Mighty Whites are having their best spell in years, that game in hand should translate to three points. Liverpool have a Mersey derby, and then play Chelsea in a couple of weeks, so Man U could be sitting in first by February.

What has been most impressive about United's surge up the table is their defense. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Man City have all scored more goals than United. However, United have conceded the fewest goals all season with only 10 goals allowed in 20 matches. This has really showcased their depth at the back, as they have dealt with a number of injuries. Gary Neville has been battling injuries for the past two years, and even when he is healthy it looks like Rafael is the preferred choice. Neville did start the Chelsea match, but Rafael has more starts than the United skipper this year. He is extremely dangerous going forward, and a perfect compliment to Evra on the left. Evra has missed games through suspension and injury, and in his stead John O'Shea has played brilliantly. While not gifted with Evra's pace or ball control, his size and strength make up for it. Along with youngster Jonathan Evans, they have deputized for Rio Ferdinand during his injuries. Vidic has played almost every minute, and his goals against Sunderland and Chelsea were huge morale boosters. It's easy to forget that West Brown will be coming back from injury shortly, and explains why Silvestre was sold in the summer. United have an understudy for every player on their backline, which explains why they are still challenging for four trophies and won the FIFA World Club Championship in Japan.

There were also a couple of FA Cup games today, and judging by his selection it looks like Scolari reads my blog. He dropped Deco and Drogba, and instead had Anelka, Kalou and Joe Cole leading the line. Sherlock Holmes would have had dropping finding any evidence in the fog that plagued the game, and Southend was able to take advantage of Chelsea's woeful defending of set pieces. Ballack fired home a loose ball in the box right before halftime to boost the morale. Chelsea then turned it up a notch, with Kalou, Anelka and Lampard all scoring in the second half. After this win, Scolari will be hardpressed to feature Drogba against Stoke. Hull defeated Newcastle in their replay, while Crystal Palace defeated Leicester in a lower league matchup.

One Liners

• Kaka rejects £100 million move to Man City, I guess money can't buy everything
• Bolton makes bid for Bullard, but he probably has too much hair for the Reebok
• Hammers reject another Bellamy bid, why?
• Chelsea unsure of Joe Cole injury, hope that magic spray can work its magic

Weekend Review

There are decisive wins, and then there are decisive wins. Manchester United's 3-0 victory over Chelsea was an emphatic declaration of their title intent. Cold weather caused two games to be postponed, but this could be the start of a week where Man U show that they're interested in a 3-peat.

Aston Villa defeated West Brom 2-1, in a game that was a lot more lopsided than the score suggests. Curtis Davies opened the scoring against his former club(and had the class to not celebrate), and then Gabby Agbonlahor(who apparently had the flu) fired one at Scott Carson, who did his best impersonation of Swiss cheese. Morrison grabbed one back in the second, and the Baggies had some chances, but Villa showed that the Big 4 should be concerned. Everton defeated Hull 2-0, as they continue to play without a recognized striker. Fellaini used that big afro to score the opener(he later picked up his tenth yellow card in only 17 games), with Arteta's perfect free kick giving them some cushion. Hull looked impotent, and look like they'll soon be in a relegation battle.

Middlesbrough and Sunderland drew 1-1, thanks to a late equalizer from Kenwyne Jones. Stewart Downing and Afonso Alves combined well for the opener, and Southgate will need to keep the young England winger if they have any hope of staying up. Newcastle and West Ham drew 2-2, as Michael Owen continues his audition for a bigger club. After Owen's opener, it was Bellamy and Carlton Cole who scored for the Hammers, before Andy Carroll secured the point for Newcastle. Neither team looked very impressive, and with only eight points separating 9th and last place, they will have to keep their eyes on the rear view mirror.

Arsenal defeated Bolton 1-0, in a match where they looked like they'd be held to a draw. Bolton only managed two shots the entire game, and had possession for less than a quarter of the match. RVP had a number of chances, but it was the one that he created for Nicklas Bendtner that made the difference. Bolton only named four players to their bench, due to injuries and suspension, and will feel hard done by to lose a point in the final six minutes. Liverpool drew with Stoke 0-0, meaning the Potters come away with two points from their two matches against the leaders. Stoke parked a whole caravan in front of goal, and while Liverpool dominated possession they couldn't seem to penetrate the final third. Torres looked dangerous in the thirty minutes he played, but the decision to leave Robbie Keane on the bench must be questioned. New signing Matthew Etherington shone for the Potters, and looks to win them a lot of throw ins(which Stoke have gotten nearly half their goals from).

Manchester United defeated Chelsea 3-0, in a game that saw Chelsea look as uninspired as Liverpool. The trio of Deco, Ballack and Lampard could not create any chances, so Drogba and Cole were left out to dry. Malouda's injury means Chelsea are lacking width, and replacing the ineffectual Deco with Kalou seems like a good solution. Vidic's header right before halftime opened up the scoring, while Rooney and Berbatov piled on the humiliation. Ryan Giggs did a great job stifling Bosingwa and controlling the game, with Fletcher mopping up in the midfield. There was a lot of class on the pitch, but Chelsea seem like they've forgotten how to score. Whether this is a confidence issue, a tactics issue or something else, they are drastically under performing. Wigan defeated Tottenham 1-0 in injury time, as 'Ansome 'Arry 'Oudini seems to have lost his magical touch. Wigan used none of their substitutions, while 'Arry tried a Defoe-Bent combination in the second half that looked lost. The Spurs have been giving up too many late goals, and while they are better than at the start of the season, there is still seem to lose their head over the course of a game.

One Liners

• Ronaldo wins top award, accepts award and says they like me, they really really like
• Beckham impresses in Italy, Posh reportedly eats a carb
• Stoke wrap up signing of James Beattie, which I will preemptively call the worse signing of the Winter transfer window
• Man City bid on Bellamy, Mark Hughes getting desperate
• Klinsmann saddened by Podolski's desire to leave club, Podolski saddened by shortage of strudel
  

We're back

Much like the Bundesliga, yours truly likes to take a little winter break every year. But you didn't think I would leave you without an update before the Man U-Chelsea game(if you did think that, you were almost right)? The reason the handsome mug of the Special One is gracing the top of this post is because Jose Mourinho will be the Special Guest of Manchester United(a little strange because Inter Milan face Man U in the Champions League). Abramovich is out of town, so there won't be any awkward hugs, but it will be Mourinho's first appearance at a Premiership game.

Saturday

WBA at Aston Villa- This would seem a simple game, except for Villa's poor home form this season. Villa also have a number of injuries, with Laursen, Cuellar and Carew out, while Gareth Barry and Luke Young missed their FA Cup match. The Baggies have Zuiverloorn, Morrison and Teixeira struggling to be fit, as they try to grab their second road win. It's a bit of a surprise that neither team has done much business in the transfer market, but it has been quiet so far. Expect a wide open game, and Villa's attack should be too much for the West Brom defense. Villa 3-1

Hull at Everton- The wheels have come off Phil Brown's bus, and Hull are beginning their descent down the table. Hull fans will not be comforted by the news that they are targeting Luis Boa Morte, as Phil Brown tries to find more players his age. Everton look to have regained the defensive form that propelled them last season, and Cahill may continue to lead the line even with Anichebe fit. Everton 1-0

Blackburn at Fulham- Which team has allowed the fourth fewest goals in the Premiership? That would be the Mighty Whites of Fulham, whose defense has pushed them to ninth in the league. Sam's club(clever) will have a tough time playing long ball, with the size of Fulham's back line. Bullard is likely to miss out, while Davies and Gera hope to feature. Santa Cruz will probably never play a game for Big Sam, so this game could be a bit toothless. Draw 0-0

Sunderland at Middlesbrough- After a strong start, Boro are again flirting with the drop, while Sunderland are only a couple points clear of the drop as well. Boro are desperately trying to keep hold of Stewart Downing, while Sunderland are doing the same with Kenwyne Jones. With Aliadiere out, Mido and Alves will need to pour in the goals in the second half of the season if they want to stay up. Draw 1-1

West Ham at Newcastle- These teams may be a little higher up the table, but this is another six-pointer. Zola's team has lacked any consistency, and just about every player on the roster has been linked with a move away. Newcastle will want to forget about their 5-1 demolition at the hands of Liverpool, but they've also had a number of players linked with moves away. Martins is out for Newcastle, but this is Michael Owen's chance to sell himself for a move away. Newcastle 2-1

Manchester City at Portsmouth- City are a point behind Pompey, even though they've scored 17 more goals. With Defoe leaving, a number of other players being linked with moves away, and the club for sale, the confidence of Portsmouth players will be at an all-time low. Mark Hughes will have Wayne Bridge to bolster his back line, but with Robinho and Ireland likely to be out, the Welshman knows he is hanging on by a thread. City 2-1

Bolton at Arsenal- With Gallas and Silvestre out, this is just the kind of team the Gunners did not want to be facing. Fabregas, Walcott and Rosicky are all out for a while, so this will look like a Carling Cup team. This will be a chance for those young players to prove they should be playing, before Monsieur Wenger brings in some replacements. Bolton are without Kevin Nolan and Gretar Steinsson, but they might fancy themselves a point. RVP and Adebayor will be the key, and if they get any decent service they should win this game for the Gunners by themselves. Arsenal 2-1

Liverpool at Stoke- Stoke nicked a draw at Anfield earlier in the season, but this is a much different side. Fuller is still serving a ban for hitting a teammate, but its unlikely that they'll end their slide against the Reds. With Chelsea and Man U facing off, Liverpool will want to try and create some distance between themselves and the rest Big 4. Torres will probably play, but not start for the Reds. Liverpool 3-0

Sunday

Tottenham at Wigan- Wigan have quietly got themselves up to seventh in the league, which has led to some of their players being linked to Real Madrid(a lesson to all those teams that hope to do well). Tottenham have just seen 100% inflation on Defoe, and it will be interesting if he partners with Pavlyuchenko up front. Jenas and King should be back for Tottenham, but Spurs are dealing with a number of other injuries. Draw 1-1

Chelsea at Man U- The camera men will be busy, and expect a number of closeups of Ferguson, Scolari and Mourinho. Ferdinand and Evra should be back for United, while Terry is back for Chelsea. After their draw in the FA Cup, the pressure is on Chelsea and they'll want to show that they are still in the title race. Draw 1-1

Chelsea Continue to Struggle

Chelsea knew that a win would put them in first place for Christmas, they had won all eight of their road games, while Everton have a single home win. But none of this mattered, as Chelsea and Everton drew 0-0. Things started going wrong for the Blues early one, when John Terry was sent off in the 35th minute for a tackle of Leon Osman. Scolari tried to reshuffle at halftime, when Drogba and Ivanovic came on for Anelka and Joe Cole. That didn't work, and Chelsea were lucky to come away with a draw. Arteta, Fellaini and Cahill all tested the keeper, and Pienaar's goal at the end was disallowed when the ref said Cech had control of the ball.

This result is typical of this Premiership season. Each of the top teams has stumbled, and just when it looks like they might break away, they find another way to stumble. Neither Chelsea nor Liverpool look like they want the title this season. When one draws, the other follows suit, and neither has been able to put together a good run to create some distance. United have had their own problems, and maybe being World Champions will give them a confidence boost. They have two games in hand due to their travels, and winning both would see them tied with Chelsea. Arsenal has been ruled out by many, but they have two wins and a draw against the Big 4, and are only eight points back of Liverpool. Their squad seems a little thin, but if they put together a run while the other teams stumbled they could be in contention. The seriousness of Fabregas' injury will determine a lot, but Arsene has a lot of money available to him and January. He doesn't usually spend it, but a couple of big signings might close that gap. Aston Villa are the only other team I can see challenging for the title. They are only five points back of Liverpool, and have some of best talent in the Prem. The question is whether they can keep hold of their players, and if they have the depth to compete in the Prem and UEFA Cup.

One Liners

• Owen delays contract decision until end of season, when Newcastle won't be able to get a transfer fee for him
• Diarra competes Real Madrid move, somewhere Wenger is drinking in a dark room
• Juve say they won't sign anyone in January, but we already knew that because their phones are tapped
• Keane frustrated that people are saying he'll move, he usually waits at least a season
• Hughes looking to make a number of January transfers, may buy Valencia's entire roster

Weekend Review

Ah yes, another exciting weekend in the Prem, but isn't it always(rhetorical). There was a pitched battle in North London, Big Sam made a big return, and there's a new power in West London.

Blackburn defeated Stoke 3-0 at Ewood Park. The Rovers dominated from the start, with McCarthy and Roberts partnered due to Roque Santa Cruz's injury. McCarthy buried a pk in the 9th minute, Roberts buried the second in the 18th minutes, and nine minutes later McCarthy got his brace. The pair had a number of chances to increase the margin, and both sides hit a few posts. Big Sam is off to a flying start, and it's a match made in heaven. Bolton defeated Portsmouth 2-1 at the Reebok, as Big Sam's former team moves up the table. Bolton scored both their goals in the opening two and a half minutes, as Portsmouth forgot to show up for the first few minutes. Bolton could have had more, but Peter Crouch's header in the 20th minute was the game's final goal. Portsmouth should have made Bolton for their failure to pull away, but this looks like a team without confidence. The sale of Diarra to Real Madrid and the constant speculation about players, coach and club have made for a team that seems lost. They need a sense of stability, ironically through the sale of the club or some other answer. Fulham defeated Middlesbrough 3-0 at Craven Cottage, to continue their run of results. Bullard latched onto a rebound in the 40th minute, and Danny Murphy buried a penalty in the 53rd. When Clint Dempsey was given time six minutes later, he plac

ed the shot in the bottom left corner and the points were secured for Fulham. The club sit in eighth, and Hodgson has them playing like a unit. They may be doing too well for their own good, and might sell a number of players in January.

Aston Villa defeated West Ham 1-0, as Lucas Neil was in the wrong place at the wrong time. James Milner deflected a shot off his leg that looped over Green and into the goal. The Hammers had more chances, but Brad Friedel saved everything that came his way, as Cole and Bellamy couldn't finish some golden chances. Villa are not playing their best, and it's obvious they miss Carew leading the line. However they have so much talent, that they can quickly counter and score at any moment. Zola will feel hard done by not to get a result, but the win sees Villa move into third place. Sunderland defeated Hull 4-1 in a big road win. Malbranqe scored early for Sunderland, but Barmby

 answered for Hull. It then took until the 78th minute for Kieran Richardson to grab the second with the help of a serious deflection. Jones and Cisse scored after that, and it's going to be hard to get Ricky Sbragia out of there. The win moves the Black Cats out of the drop zone, while Hull continue to float in sixth.

Arsenal drew at home  to Liverpool 1-1, as the Reds started the game without Rafa and the Gunners finished it without Adebayor. Rafa is recovering from kidney stones, while Adebyor received a couple of yellows and took no part in the last half hour. There were a number of cards, with Arsenal's high line and Liverpool's clogging of the center that made for a chippy contest. Both sides had a number of chances, but it was a bit of class from RVP and Robbie Keane's clinical finish of a long ball that brought the goals. Arsenal were rocked when Fabregas went off with a knee problem, and will await the diagnosis. This is Liverpool's fourth draw in five games, and there is a lot of squandering at the top of the table. West Brom defeated Man City 2-1, as Mark Hughes' side are officially in the drop zone. Luke Moore scored late in the second, and just when it looked like a lucky carom would give City a share of the spoils, a Roman Bednar injury time header gave the Baggies their first win in ages. Robinho was injured, and this team looks lost. This means the bottom of the table gets even tighter. Newcastle defeated Tottenham 2-1, in a rather ugly game. N'Zogbia showed off some skill and determination, when he picked himself up and put the opener past the keeper. A terrible offsides trap saw Modric go into the Newcastle goal undefended, but Duff's winner at the end was another bit of individual class. Redknapp has run into some struggles, and I think both these clubs will have a busy January.

Weekend Preview

It's another exciting weekend in the Prem, as Sam Allardyce gets a visit from Stoke in his first game, Arsenal get a chance for an early season Big 4 sweep, and the European champions get the week off as they play in Japan in an attempt to become World Champions.

Saturday

Stoke at Blackburn- Paul Ince was fired because this is a must win(as much as a game in the first half of the season can be) game for Rovers. It will be interested to see if Allardyce makes any changes to the side, and if the players come out charging for the new gaffer. Liam Lawrence and Sidibe are out for Stoke, while Delap, Griffin, Diao and Cort all have knocks(minor injuries). Pulis is up against the master of long-ball football(soccer), and Big Sam will want to show him who's boss. Blackburn 2-1

Portsmouth at Bolton- Despite their loss to Chelsea, Bolton are one of the hottest teams in the league. Elmander, Davie, Noland and Taylor are finally providing the goals that Gary Megson's side needed. Portsmouth will be tired from their midweek match, and have not impressed on the road. This could be a stale(mate). Tie 1-1

Middlesbrough at Fulham- Fulham have quietly compiled the fourth best defensive record in the Prem, and this could definitely be a chance for a clean sheet. It's also a chance for a win, after a number of recent draws. Boro are getting Wheater, Andrew Taylor and Mido back, and will press for goals. Fulham 1-0

Sunderland at Hull- The current front runner for the Sunderland job is Slavan Bilic, but if they keep playing well Ricky Sbragia might keep the job. Gordon and McCartney are both out, while Paul McShane's loan deal means he can't play against the Black Cats, and Fagan, Folan and Gardner are all out for Hull. Sunderland know that a draw would probably get them out of the drop zone, and they'll try to get it. Tie 2-2

Aston Villa at West Ham- With Arsenal playing Liverpool, and Man U not playing, Villa have a golden opportunity to move into third place. Villa have done well on the road, and a number of their players didn't even travel for their UEFA Cup match. John Carew is still out, so look for the Young/Agbonlahor/Milner combo. West Ham have been playing better recently, and their draw at Chelsea was a moral victory. But a weak defense and injured offense mean they're in trouble. Villa 3-1

Sunday

Man City at West Brom- Two struggling teams, you have to imagine one of them will come away with a victory. City have been terrible on their travels, and Robinho is still not fully fit. My heart's telling me West Brom, but my mind is going with City. City 2-1

Tottenham at Newcastle- Two teams tied on 19 points, that need to go forward if they don't want to get sucked into the relegation battle. Obafemi Martins is struggling with a groin injury, but Jenas, Woodgate, King, Bent, Lennon and Modric are all dealing with injuries for Spurs. Michael Owen is having the football(soccer) version of a contract year(last year of your current deal and trying to get a big new one). I wouldn't be surprised if he continues his scoring ways. Tie 1-1

Liverpool at Arsenal- Arsenal has performed in all their big games this season, while Liverpool have been unable to extend their lead on Chelsea. Nasri should be back, while Toure is out for the Gunners, but Liverpool are still missing Torres. It will be interesting to see if Keane gets a start. It's a good matchup with a weak Liverpool offense and weak Gunners defense, and strong Gunners offense and strong Liverpool defense. I think this game is up to Gerrard, and if Arsenal can shackle him they'll get the points. Arsenal 2-1

Monday

Chelsea at Everton- Chelsea on the road and Everton at home? Chelsea 2-0

One Liners

• Calderon says Ronaldo deal is dead, surprise
• Kinnear 60% sure Owen will stay, I'm 95% sure he's full of it
• Eboue understand why Arsenal fans boo him, so does anybody who watches him play
• Magnusson sues West Ham, not a good time to be from Iceland

Champions League Draw

The Champions League Draw came out today, and a number of old rivalries are being rekindled.

Manchester United v. Inter Milan- Inter had the fewest number of points of any qualifier, while Man U didn't lose a single match in the group stage. United will be home for the second leg, and Ferguson will want revenge for FC Porto's come from behind victory at Old Trafford in 2004, when Mourinho led them to the Champions League title. Mourinho is great at cup play, and if his side can keep a low scoreline in the first leg, they'll have a good chance. United are probably tournament favorites right now, and look to be in a much better position to repeat than in '99.

Juventus v. Chelsea- Another great rivalry, with Claudio Rainieri taking on his former team. Chelsea have not looked convincing in the Champions League, and given their home form will be happy to be away in the second leg. A lot will depend on injuries and new signings, and it's likely Chelsea will add another offensive threat in January. If Drogba is fully fit, Juventus' defense will be no match for the Chelsea attack.

Liverpool v. Real Madrid- Rafa Benitez has been linked with the Real job, and it would be a big deal for the Spanish coach to been THE Spanish club. This is a matchup of two great cup coaches, with Juande Ramos a two-time winner of the UEFA Cup with Sevilla, while Rafa has been to two Champions League Finals with Liverpool. Real are likely to bring in a whole host of players during the January transfer window, and there are rumors that Keane and Pennant might leave Liverpool. It will be interesting to see what changes are made, but with Liverpool playing at home in the second leg, I would take King Rafa over the King's club.

Roma v. Arsenal- It's hard to know what you'll get out of Arsenal, but the same can be said of Roma. Eduardo is close to fit, and a lot will depend on what other Gunners are healthy. Wenger hasn't spent a lot of money, and it will be interesting to see if he is forced into a panic buy in January if the club are out of the top four in England. Roma has been making their way up the table, and their defeat of Chelsea and strong finish in Group A show that they are no pushover. Given that the Final will be played in Roma, they will have an added incentive to win.

Barcelona v. Lyon- Barcelona are the hottest club in Europe, while Lyon are consistently knocked out at this stage. It's hard to see anything changing, with Barcelona's depth too much for Lyon. If Lyon can keep the score line close, or win their first leg at home, the second match could be interesting. Barcelona can score, but when pushing forward for those goals they leave themselves exposed at the back. Barca will probably be bolstered by some January acquisitions, as they'll want to stay ahead of Real domestically.

Panathinaikos v. Villareal- A great draw for Villareal, as Panathinaikos have to be the weakest of the group winners. Villareal have looked great, and playing Man U to scorless draws in both their matches. They don't have the depth of some of the other clubs, but I think they should progress easily, and expect some goals.

Porto v. Atletico Madrid- This should be a very good matchup, and much will depend on whether the clubs do any selling in January. If both hold onto their players, the Madrilenos should be favorites to progress. Aguerro and Forlan have been a great scoring duo, and Atletico went through the group stages without a loss. Porto are always strong in the competition, but I think this is as far as they'll make it. If Lisandro Lopez can bang in some goals, the second leg in Portugal will be very interesting.

Bayern Munich v. Sporting Lisbon- Sporting have also been linked with selling players, while Bayern have been linked with bringing some in. Bayern have not made a good run in the Champions League in a while, and will want to show that German football(soccer) still has a place in Europe. They will need the often injured Ribery to be healthy, but if he is and they can add or hold onto all their players in January then they should be fine.

Ronaldo to Real?

I know I said I would stay away from rumor and speculation(I lied), but there are reports linking Ronaldo with a summer move to Real Madrid. This is not surprising to anybody that knows Real Madrid, and who has been watching Ronaldo this season. Real have the money to sign any player in the world, and given their current form they will need to sign a bunch. There are already rumors about them unloading Van der Vaart, and Ramos will probably stop the Dutch imports, and sign some more Iberians(Spanish and Portuguese). Ronaldo made it very clear that he wanted to leave Man U over the summer, and it doesn't look like that has changed. He has won all the badges and personal trophies with the Red Devils. And we all know about the differences in weather, style of play and women(tan vs. pasty). He has seemed increasingly petulant, kicking out at players, sarcastically clapping at refs, and taking himself out of games for minor knocks. This has always been a when, rather than if situation. It now looks like the when is next summer.

Big Sam's Back

No word yet if he's going to bring the mustache and glasses with him, but Sam Allardyce is Blackburn's new manager. Allardyce had been courting the Sunderland job pretty heavily. He was a former Sunderland player, and he also had his terrible stint at rivals Newcastle working for him. However, it was made clear that nobody at Sunderland wanted Big Sam. At Blackburn things are quite different, and his name was on everyone's lips as soon as Ince got the sack(fired).

The appointment shows that Big Sam knows he can't get a job at a "big club." This is a big change from a little more than a year ago, when he left Bolton. He had been at the club for eight seasons, and helped them get promoted to the Premiership. During the 2004-05 season he led the club to sixth place, equal on points with Champions League winners Liverpool, and qualified them for the UEFA Cup for the first time in history. He followed with consecutive top eight finishes, and UEFA Cup appearances. His sixth place finish was the best by an English manager in recent times, and it was rumored that he might become England manager. However he was involved in a "bungs"(kickback) scandal during that summer, and the FA chose another English manager, Steve McClaren. He left for Newcastle in the summer of 2007, but on January 9th 2008, Big Sam left through mutual consent.

Sam Allardyce's contract may be a good move for Blackburn. Big Sam does not play pretty football(soccer), but teams in relegation battles don't care much about that. His style will be very similar to the one Mark Hughes brought to the club. There will be a lot of physical play, focus on set pieces, and a stingy defense. His time at Bolton was marked by signing former stars, and milking them for a couple more seasons. There is no doubt that he was promised some money in January, because it will be a struggle with his current squad. It's also a good investment for the Blackburn owners, who know that spending a few million now is preferable to being relegated and losing the tv money from the Prem. Neutrals may not be thrilled, but there is no doubt that he is more experienced and better prepared for the Premiership than Ince.

Ince Gets the Sack

Paul Ince was sacked today, putting an end to the inevitable. This makes Blackburn the sixth team to change managers this season, and we haven't even reached the halfway point. After three wins from their first six, Blackburn have only secured three points from their last eleven games. Saturday's home match against Stoke is a must win, and the board didn't have confidence in Ince to deliver that.

Ince's appointment startled many in the footballing(soccering) world. He had been the player-manager of League Two Macclesfield for a season, and it was only in the last game of the 2006-07 season that they survived relegation. The next season he went to MK Dons, where he impressed. MK Dons won the Football League Trophy, and were champions of League Two, gaining promotion to League One. A number of clubs had expressed interest in Ince, and many thought he might get a job with a top club in the Championship. But in June of 2008 it was announced that he would be taking over at Blackburn.

The Blackburn club that Ince inherited was not the same as Mark Hughes had managed. Hughes had done well to guide them to seventh, and his reward was the top job at Man City, which was flush with money(though the baht has changed to dinars). Hughes created a physical side, that defended well, scored on free kicked, and relied on crosses from Pedersen and Bentley. Hughes has had his own problems at City, and that may show there was a certain degree of luck in their seventh place finish. Blackburn's goal differential was only +2 in the 2007-08 season, which meant a lot of close wins. Friedel's departure was a big blow to the club defensively, and Paul Robinson is anything but consistent. Bentley was not a fan of Ince's training methods and left the club for Tottenham, while Santa Cruz has been fighting injuries and struggling to repeat last season's form. And while Blackburn were getting worse, all the teams around them were getting better. Tottenham, Newcastle, Manchester City, Sunderland, Bolton and Fulham all spent millions. Their success has varied, but they all sit above Blackburn in the table.

It would be unfair to lay the blame completely on Ince. He had done well in the lower leagues, but just like it's difficult for a player to jump from League Two to the Premiership, it's not easy for a coach. It's easy to look at their results this season, and see how if luck had gone their way a few times, Ince would still have a job. There have been a lot of questions about who will fill the Sunderland job, and I have a feeling that there will be a lot more coaches queing(lining) up for that position than Rovers. Unless there's another billionaire looking for a team, it looks like it's going to be a season long battle to stay in the Prem.

One Liners

• Jol says Aston Villa are better than Arsenal, I feel like Arsene Wenger's birthday parties must be very small
• Lord Triesman proclaims "respect" campaign a success, in other news Lord Triesman's head has been found up his arse
• Rafa out with kidney stones, meaning this week's Rafa Rotation will be literal
• Fergie sets sight on conquering the world, Leonardo Dicaprio says he already did that
• United accept Evra suspension, but the real loss is the Stamford Bridge groundscrew who will be shorthanded when it needs all the help it can get

Weekend Review

I hope nobody is gambling based on my weekend previews. If you are, it's likely that you are now reading this blog on a computer at the public library, since you've had to pawn your computer to cover the losses. The Big 4 all tied this weekend, and this is turning into one of the tightest tables in recent memory. Everyone has dismissed Arsenal, even though the seven points they trail Liverpool by is the difference between 14th and 20th at the bottom. There's no frontrunner right now, just a whole bunch of inconsistent teams.

Arsenal and Middlesbrough drew 1-1 at the Riverside. Adebayor knocked in the first goal, before Jeremie Aliadiere equalized against his former club(his makeout session with the Boro badge was some unsightly PDA). RVP blew a number of chances for Arsenal, who just lack that ability to close out a game. Stoke and Fulham drew at Britannia 0-0. This game was as ugly as promised, as Creswell's early chance only put the fans behind the goal in danger. Without DeLap Stoke looked toothless. Fulham had the majority of possession, but their two shots on goal were rather poor. Sunderland clobbered West Brom 4-0 at the Stadium of Light. Ricky Sbragia is making a case to be bumped up to the fulltime position. Kenwyne Jones starred against a terrible Baggie defense, netting a brace and nearly grabbing the hat trick. Andy Reid used his head for the third, and Cisse drilled a penalty right down the middle for the fourth. Sunderland could have added to their tally, but this game showed that WBA have a lot of work to do if they want to stay up. Aston Villa defeated Bolton 4-2 at Villa Park. Elmander continued his fine form, and put Bolton ahead early. Agbonlahor hit a brace, and along with Ashley Young who scored the fourth, looks destined for a big part in the England squad. Kevin Davies scored an own goal in the first half, and one for Bolton in the second. Bolton did put up a fight, but Aston Villa leapfrogged over Arsenal to take fourth place, and if the top sides keep slipping up they could go even higher.

Liverpool had to come back at Anfield to draw 2-2 with Hull. Paul McShane scored the opener, before a Jamie Carragher own goal put them two goals up. It then took Captain Steven Gerrard only eight minutes to net a brace, and secure Liverpool a point. Liverpool had a number of chances to grab all 3, but again they were unable to pull away from the pack. Everton defeated Manchester City 1-0 at City of Manchester Stadium. The advantage was really to Everton, who like Chelsea, play much better on the road. Everton had the better share of the chances, and Fellaini squandered a number of those. Robinho, Benjani and Jo were all rather anonymous, while Sean Wright-Phillips and Steven Ireland impressed, but couldn't find the back of the net. It was in the first minute of added time that Tim Cahill climbed the highest and headed home the winner. City are now only out of the drop zone based on goal differential, and Hughes may not last much longer. Manchester United and Tottenham drew 0-0 at White Hart Lane. United were more impressive, but Gomes had an incredible game in goal. Berbatov was booed heartily, but it was clear that United were missing Rooney and the pace of Evra on the left side. Giggs and Scholes were brought on for the final 20 minutes, but even their class couldn't create a goal. Wigan defeated Blackburn 3-0 at the JJB. The Blackburn fans seem like they are done with Paul Ince, and it's only a matter of time before the board agrees with them. Wigan were up two goals after only twelve minutes, and Blackburn didn't look that threatening.

Chelsea and West Ham tied 1-1 at Stamford Bridge. It was a nice return for Zola, who was rather reserved when Bellamy scored the equalizer. Robert Green had a good game overall, though he looked lost on a couple of play. Drogba's introduction at the start of the second half sparked some life into the club, and helped set up Anelka for Chelsea's only goal. Deco played horrible, and it seems clear that when he plays with Ballack and Lampard that the club is lacking the width. They have already dropped fourteen points at home, which is unacceptable for a club with title ambitions. Newcastle hammered Portsmouth 3-0 at Fratton Park. Owen scored the opener in the 51st minute, before Obafemi Martins and Danny Guthrie added to Portsmouth's misery. It was a toothless performance from Pompey, and in their current state it's hard to see them making it into Europe again.

One Liners

• Benitez says Liverpool have 80% chance of winning title if they lead after the holidays, but that slips to 46.7% if they're tied and 23.2% if they're behind
• Scolari can't understand problems at Stamford Bridge, may I suggest starting Drogba
• Real Madrid want to sign Ashley Young, O'Neill praying he prefers rain to sunshine
• Redknapp says Arsenal have no hope at title, but says his own club are well short of a top four finish

Weekend Preview

Another exciting weekend in the Prem(aren't they all) with some classic bogie(upset) matches in the offing(making). It's a battle of wits between Fergie and 'Ansome 'Arry 'Oudini, while Everton will try to fight off the challenge of Man City(shekel).

Saturday

Arsenal at Middlesbrough- After being humbled by Porto in midweek, we can probably expect the Dr. Jekyll version of the Gunners to show up. That's if their healthy, as Toure and Nasri are out, while Fabregas, Clichy, RVP and Adebayor are all fighting knocks that kept them out of the Porto game. Gareth Southgate might have to get a kit(jersey), with Wheater suspended and Huth, Hoyte, Taylor and Riggott all dealing with injuries. Arsenal have already lost three on the road, and can't afford a fourth. Arsenal 3-1

Fulham at Stoke- Fulham have gotten a result from eight of their last nine fixtures, during which they've allowed five goals. They have yet to win on the road, and will need offense if they want to grab their first. Rory DeLap is dealing with an arm injury(how often do you hear that mentioned in football(soccer)), so the long throw might be off the menu. This could be an ol' English classic(snoozer). Tie 0-0

WBA at Sunderland- After grabbing a point last weekend(hey had one from eight matches going in), West Brom will attempt to build on that. They have lost Ishmael Miller for the season(Bednar should fill in), but the coachless Black Cats are just the team to face. Sunderland put on an impressive performance against Man U last weekend, but were devastated after Vidic's injury time winner. This is a battle of the drop zone, and a win would do wonders for either side. Tie 1-1

Bolton at Aston Villa- It's a case of homefield disadvantage for Villa, as Bolton's strong road form and Villa's weak home record clash. Though they've only lost once, Villa have collected three fewer points at home, while Bolton has four more points on the road. Carew is still out for Villa, so it will be their pace against the size of Bolton. Villa might suffer at set pieces again like they did against Everton, and November's manager of the month(Gary Megson) will try his best. Tie 1-1

Hull at Liverpool- Rafa has brought back his rotation policy, which can only mean that the Reds Premiership form will suffer. His comments that Liverpool can only win if the other teams slip up was telling, and it might take a new contract to rekindle his interest in the Prem. Torres is still out, and Marlon King is out on bail, which means he's in. Phil Brown's club has been lucky so far, but they'll need to find a valley of 4-leaf clovers to have a chance. Liverpool 2-0

Everton at Manchester City- Last week's loss against Villa was painful for Everton, and they seem to be going through their own Jekyll and Hyde problems. With Anichebe dealing with his own injury, they may be forced to play without a striker. Mark Hughes has been dealing with his own problems, as Robinho deals with an ankle injury, and the losses start to mount. Depending on which version of these teams show up, this could be an exciting matchup. I think Everton will be Hyde and City Jekyll. City 2-1

Blackburn at Wigan- The rumors are that if Rovers lose this game, Ince loses his job. While the league is very tight, Blackburn has slowly descended the table to 19th place. Blackburn have done better away from home, but they will need Santa Cruz, Derbyshire and whoever else they throw on to score some goals. Wigan have played well, and will be a tough nut to crack. Boyce is out, and Palacios is serving a ban. Zaki looked good last weekend, but will probably come off the bench. Tie 1-1

Manchester United at Tottenham- 'Ansome 'Arry 'Oudini seems to have caught the Champions at the right time. The red devils are looking towards the Club World Championships in Japan, and have Evra and Rooney suspended. while Ferdinand and Berbatov are doubts. With Campbell not allowed to play against United, 'Arry might play it safe with only one striker. Four days rest may not be enough for King, so the magician might have to shuffle the deck. Tie 2-2

Sunday

Newcastle at Portsmouth- The clubs are only separated by seven points, but that's ten places at this point in the season. At their best, Newcastle have looked like a club that might escape relegation. At their best, Portsmouth have looked like a club that might make it into Europe. As both are up for sale, their future is uncertain, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of January selling. Owen has scored of late, but the intent might have been to alert possible suitors to his presence, rather than help Newcastle. The Crouch-Defoe partnership looks strong, and Pompey fans can only hope it's still there when the transfer window closes. Portsmouth 2-1

West Ham at Chelsea- Zola is coming back to the Bridge, but Blues fans will be most excited to see his lackluster squad. West Ham is still cursed with injuries, and while the wide-counter-attacking style that Zola plays should be fun, Chelsea should show him how it's really done. Drogba will be able to play, and after his performance against Cluj he should see some minutes. The only questions is whether the optimistic Italian will still be smiling after the game. Chelsea 3-0

One Liners

• Buffon wants £250,00 a week deal to move to City, better hope oil prices go up
• Fifa release shortlist for World Player of the Year, otherwise known as the Cristiano Ronaldo award
• Van Der Sar signs new one year deal, if Maldini can still play than why not him
• Kinnear fears Owen will leave club in January, along with every other player who can
• Transfer window date moved to February 2nd at 5pm, so don't expect to get any work done that Monday

Champions League Draw(Knockout Edition)

We know the sixteen teams who will advance to the knockout round, and now the fun begins. The teams are now divided into two pools: That of the group winners and then the second place finishers.

Pool One

AS Roma, Panathinaikos, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, FC Porto and Juventus.

Pool Two

Chelsea, Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid, Villareal, Lyon, Arsenal and Real Madrid.

In a perfect world, you would pull a team out of Pool One, and another out of Pool Two and they would play each other. But this isn't a perfect world. There are certain rules to maintain the excitement of the Champions League. The first is that you can't play a team that was in your group. So Chelsea cannot play Roma, because they were both in Group A. The second is that you can't play a team from the same country. So Roma can't play Inter because they're both from Serie A. As you can see, this limits the second round matchups. In an emphasis on brevity, and preference to English speaking countries, I'll just do the possible matchups for the Premiership clubs.

Chelsea: Panathinaikos, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, FC Porto, Juventus

Arsenal: Roma, Panathinaikos, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus

Liverpool: Inter, Sporting Lisbon, Villareal, Lyon, Real Madrid

Manchester United: Inter, Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid, Lyon, Real Madrid

Barcelona is the hottest team in the competition, and teams would surely want to avoid them in the next round. Real Madrid will grow stronger in the coming months(one would assume, but assumptions and Real Madrid don't always mix) as players get healthy and Ramos gets to know them better. Inter are coached by Mourinho, the cup master, and will be a tough draw. Juventus are also a tough team, having done the double over Real Madrid. Bayern are good, but I'm not sure they're in the same class as the rest. We will know the draw next week, but it will be interesting to see the teams. With the January transfer window coming up, some clubs might add a player or two with an eye towards their Champions League opponent.

Champions League Matchday Six(Part 2) Preview

All the places for the knockout round are clinched. Why not read a book, see a movie, or do something else tonight(this afternoon)?

Champions League Matchday Six(Part 1) Results

Chelsea defeated Cluj 2-1 to advance to the knockout round in the Champions League. While Chelsea dominated possession and had the majority of the chances, they looked timid. Kalou scored the opener on a scrum in the Cluj box, but Yssouf(seems like there's a vowel missing at the start) Kone headed in the equalizer. Things changed when Drogba was subbed in for Kalou in the 65th minute. On a counter attack, Joe Cole chipped the ball in to Drogba who touched it down and then poked it in the back of the net for the win. Roma defeated Bordeaux 2-0 to win Group A. Brighi and Totti put in the second half goals, and Bordeaux will go into the UEFA Cup.

Panathinaikos defeated Anorthosis Famagusta 1-0 to win Group B. Giorgias Karagounis' shot squirmed by keeper Arian Begaj, and that was all the Greeks needed. Famagusta was unable to muster a shot on goal, and because of the group's other result are out of Europe. Werder Bremen defeated Inter 2-1, and grabbed the UEFA Cup parachute. Claudio Pizarro and Markus Rosenberg scored for Bremen, with Ibrahimovic netting for Inter. This means that Inter will now be matched with a group winner.

Sporting Lisbon defeated Basel 1-0 in a meaningless and boring game. Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Barcelona 3-2 in a meaningless, yet exciting game. Barca played their youngsters in front of only 19,000 fans, and while they had more chances, the kids were unable to get a result. They went down early thanks to an Olexandr Gladkiy brace, before Sylvinho netted a response. Fernandinho restored a two goal cushion for Shakhtar, before sub Eidur Gudjohnsen found Busquets to cut it to one again. Barca still won the group, Sporting in second and Shakhtar in the UEFA Cup.

Liverpool defeated PSV Eindhoven 3-1 to win Group D. The Dutch opened the scoring, but the Dutchman Babel responded with an equalizer right befor the half. Riera put a wonderful strike into the top corner, and Ngog netted the insurance. Marseille and Atletico Madrid drew 0-0, in a result that suited both teams. Madrid had only one shot, and will go through to the knockout round, while the point secured Marseille's place in the UEFA Cup. This is a big disappointment for PSV, who had made some deep runs into the Champions League recently.

Schuster and Real Madrid Part Ways

Real Madrid disclosed that Bern Schuster has left the club by mutual consent. After a bad run of form there had been speculation that Schuster's job might be in trouble, but the announcement today still came as a shock. The even bigger news is that former Tottenham coach Juande Ramos has been given a six-month contract with the Spanish giants.

Schuster's appointment to the Real job was always a bit strange. Schuster played most of his club career are Barcelona, though he did play a couple of seasons at Real after that, and then a few season at Atletico Madrid. His forays into coaching were not always successful. He managed at Fortuna Koln in Germany, but when he moved on to FC Koln he was unable to get the side promoted and quit. He coached Xerex CD in Spain, but was unable to get the team promoted to the Primera Division. He then had stints at Shakhtar Donetsk and Levante, but was fired from both. He joined Getafe, a small club in Madrid, in the summer of 2005. Getafe were a young club, having been reformed in 1983. Many thought they would be dragged into a relegation battle, but Schuster led them to consecutive 9th place finishes. In the 2006/07 season their appearance the final of the Copa Del Rey(which they qualified for thanks to a 4-0 second leg demolition of Barcelona, but lost to to Sevilla 1-0) saw them earn a place in the UEFA Cup, and Getafe tied for the fewest goals allowed with 33. Despite leading the club into the knockout round of the Champions League, Real have been knocked out of the Copa Del Rey and after losing 3 of 4 they are nine points behind Barca. They play at Barcelona this weekend, and Schuster had said "right now it's not possible to win at the Nou Camp."


Juande Ramos' appointment makes him the eleventh Real Madrid manager in the last ten seasons. It's an impressive list that includes Guus Hiddink(current Russia manager), John Toshack(current Wales manager), Carlos Quieroz(current Portugal manager) and Fabio Capello(current England manager). Looking at that list, Schuster should be managing a national team shortly. Ramos has had varying success, but has a wealth of experience in La Liga. He is a cup specialist, having led Sevilla to consecutive UEFA Cup victories, a Copa Del Rey, and won Tottenham's only silverware in recent history by leading them to the Carling Cup. Considering the distance between Barca and Real, this may show that they are focusing on the Champions League. He will have to deal with a number of injuries as Mahamadou Diarra, Wesley Sneijder, Pepe, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Ruben De La Red are all injured. They may be shorthanded defensively, but Ramos is known for his attacking style. Given the number of dutch players in the squad(and Klaas-Jan Huntelar is coming in January), this could be a good fit. He will push Marcelo and Ramos up the pitch, Drenthe and Robben will provide width, while Gago and Guti should work well to start counter attacks. In hiring Ramos, Real Madrid are looking to match the effect that Tottenham had in firing him. They hope that he will change the mood at the club, instill a confidence and belief that will see them turn it around. Given that his first domestic match in charge will be 'el clasico,' we'll know pretty quickly if it worked.

Champions League Matchday Six(Part One) Preview

This week sees the last round of fixture in the group stage. There are still a number of places in the knockout round and UEFA Cup up for grabs, so we could see a cagey final day of fixtures.

In Group A, Cluj play at Chelsea. Chelsea currently sit second in the group, while Cluj are in last. Cluj have no shot at the knockout round, but a Cluj victory and Bordeaux loss would see them grab a UEFA Cup place. Didier Drogba was injured against Cluj in Romania, and it will be interesting to see if he is given a place in the starting XI. Lampard is suspended after receiving two yellows against Bordeaux, but looked sharp over the weekend and should fill in well. Scolari has said that if Chelsea lose this game he will back to Brazil, and while it's much more beautiful in Sao Paulo than London this time of year, I think he will get a result and lead the club on. Bordeaux are at Roma, with both teams able to secure a spot in the knockout stage with a win. Roma can win the group with a victory and still get through with a tie, while Bordeaux need all three points in order to qualify. Roma have been hot as of late, and will hope that their top scorer in the competition, Mirko Vucinic, is fit. The Italians should park a couple buses in front of goal(heavy on the defense), and find their way in the next round.

In Group B, it's a battle of top and bottom with Inter away to Werder Bremen. Inter have already clinched a place in the knockout round, and Mourinho has said that he is more concerned with their opponent in the round of 16 than with this match. Bremen will want to save face, and know that victory is their only shot at a UEFA Cup place. The big battle will be between Cyprus and Greece, as Anorthosis Famagusta are away to Panathinaikos. If Panathinaikos win and Inter lose, then they will top the group.  A tie would see them qualify for the knockout round, so look for the home side to try and dominate possession and try not to concede. Famagusta is competing in the group stages of the Champions League for the first time ever, and it would be a major upset if they were to make it into the next round. They won the corresponding home fixture 3-1, and were it not for defensive lapses that have let in some late goals, they would have already punched their ticket for the next round. The crowd will be deafening in Athens, but even a UEFA Cup spot would be huge for the Cypriot minnows and that's probably what they'll end up with.

Group C is already wrapped up, and expect to see a lot of second string players. Sporting Lisbon are at FC Basel, having already clinched second place in the group. Basel are the worst team in the tournament, with one point and a -13 goal differential. Sporting could play their reserves and still expect a win. Shakhtar Donetsk are at Barcelona, with the Spanish side looking to finish the top point getters in group competition. Shakhtar have qualified for the UEFA Cup, and were unlucky not to come away from the corresponding home fixture with a point. Their task won't be easy, as the second-string of Barca will be looking to play themselves into a greater role.

Things are still interesting in Group D, with two teams tied on 11 points and two teams tied on 3 points. Liverpool will be in the Netherlands to play PSV Eindhoven, and the Reds will likely rest some players having assured themselves of knockout round football(soccer). PSV has a number of injuries, but still have a chance at the UEFA Cup. Marseille have a better head to head record, so the Dutch side needs to better the result of the French side in order to progress. Atletico Madrid will be away to Marseille, and it will be interesting to see this match after the corresponding fixture in Madrid led to violence and the ban on Vicente Calderon Stadium. With Madrid warning their fans not to travel, their should be a raucous crowd at the Stade Velodrome and Marseille should get a result.

One Liners

• 'Ansome 'Arry 'Oudini wins 2-0 in grudge match against West Ham, Leslie King scores goal and then shatters into a million little pieces
• Roy Keane says he will coach again, will step in when Fergie takes the place of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
• Kinnear hit with another charge over comments to ref, that man spends most of his time coaching from the stands
• Rosicky out until March, that guy spends more time in the stands than Kinnear
• Benitez upset over claims that he wants massive pay raise, Liverpool owners contemplate saving through coach rotating system