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Warnock Wants Charlton Help On Sinclair Deal

Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock has an eye on taking Chelsea starlet Scott Sinclair on loan to help aid the Eagle’s promotion push.

However, this idea hits a snag. Sinclair is already on loan at play-off chasing rivals Charlton.

Warnock is arguing, as per usual, that Sinclair has hardly played at all at The Valley, making the loan pointless, whereas he says he would have played “every game” at Selhurst Park:

I did speak to him before he went there, told him he could play every game with us, but obviously they thought Charlton was a bigger fish and - I suppose in the position they were in - they were a bigger fish.

But he hasn’t played much has he? And that’s what he went out for - games. It’s a shame when I see that because he could have played every game for us.

Palace have to bank on a favour from London neighbours Charlton to terminate the loan as the month-long deal finishes on March 28th - Championship loan deadline day. That’s something Warnock isn’t getting his hopes up for:

Normally you sign for three months but [Chelsea] can have a 24 hour recall, in case they get an injury, or I think they can mutually call him back after 28 days if all three parties are in agreement. But that’s the only chance we’ve got of having him - so I don’t expect any help before Thursday.

Wigan turn down Coventry offer

Sky Sports reports that Premiership strugglers Wigan Athletic have turned down Championship strugglers Coventry City’s offer to sign their assistant manager Eric Black. Coventry are threatened with relegation from the Championship this season and sacked Iain Dowe earlier this week and approached Wigan for Black as a possible replacement for the former Charlton Athletic manager in a managerial role.

Black says:

I was aware of Coventry’s interest but I’m more than happy with the job I’m doing with Steve (Bruce). One day I might want to return to management - I don’t know if that will happen - but there’s a big challenge here first.

So where does the Coventry board go now in search of a new manager?

Thursday’s Tabloid Transfer Round-Up

Transfer malarkey and all that jazz…

Arsenal’s bench warming midfield elder statesman Gilberto has signalled that he may be off soon after declaring that he doesn’t have a future at the North London club. (Various)

Chelsea will bag Ghana midfielder Anthony Annan for the cheap as chips price of £1m in the summer. (The Sun)

Manchester United have revealed the signing of the 18 year old Brazilian holding midfielder Rodrigo Possebon from Sport Club Internacional only now. (Various)
…While United’s wonder winger Christiano Ronaldo is angling for a fat Old Trafford pay rise after claiming that he’d like to play in Spain one day, thus wetting Real Madrid’s appetite. (Guardian)

It wasn’t long ago that there was a bit of a scramble for David Nugent, and the winners of that scramble, Portsmouth, now cannot give him away! Preston North End boss Alan Irvine is now looking to take him back on loan. (Various)

Arsenal’s Swiss defender Johan Djourou is being trailed by FC Zurich who want to bag a loan deal for the player. (Daily Star)

Aston Villa’s geek-chic gaffer Martin O’Neill hasn’t given up on American ‘keeper Brad Guzan, and will try to nab him again this summer. O’Neill is reportedly willing to splurge around £2m. (Daily Mirror)

Blackburn are sniffing around Charlton’s Ivorian striker Kissi Richmond. (Daily Mirror)

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is set to move for Senegal’s captain Lamin Diatta, and want to get the defender on loan for the remainder of the season. (Daily Mirror)

Watch Blackburn live online

Watch Aston Villa live online

Transfer Rumours!

Tottenham boss Juande Ramos is trying to slide under the closing transfer window with Sevilla winger Diego Capel. (Mirror)

Arsenal striker Theo Walcott doesn’t want to be fobbed off with a loan deal and is going to stay and fight like a man for his place in the team. (Mirror)

Portsmouth gaffer Harry Redknapp is so desperate to get his hands on Real Mallorca winger Jonas Gutierrez that he is set to offer £5m and Lauren in order to bag his man. (Various)
…And if Benjani does a runner to Man City then Harry Redknapp will try and lure Jermain Defoe to Pompey. (Times)

Middlesbrough, frankly desperate for someone who can stick the ball in the back of the net, are trying to bag Inter Milan forward Goran Slavkovski on loan. (Times)

Aston Villa are interested in taking Spurs midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng to Villa Park to rescue the German from his tepid Spurs career. (Times)

Both Norwich and Coventry are scrambling to secure the signature of Birmingham defender Martin Taylor. (Times)

Newcastle gaffer Kevin Keegan’s move for Levante’s Brazilian defender Alvaro has run aground. (Times)

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson reckons that if he ignores the fact that FIFA have blocked his deal for Rangers striker Daniel Cousin, he’ll be able to sign him anyway. (Mirror)

Charlton will only cough up Andy Reid if Sunderland give them Greg Halford and are ready to test Sunderland’s resolve by asking for cash plus Greg Halford in exchange for Andy Reid. (Star)

Wednesday’s Transfer Rumour Frenzy! - Part 2

Everton’s ginger supremo David Moyes remains confident that Joleon Lescott will sign a new Everton deal despite being linked in the ‘mee-ja’ with a move to Arsenal or Manchester United. (Various)

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has managed to nab Aston Villa defender Gary Cahill , beating Boltonto his signature. (Daily Mirror)

…And Bolton could drown their sorrows at missing out on Gary Cahill by stepping up their interest in Real Betis’ Croatian defender Marko Babic; upping their original £2.2m offer. (Daily Mirror)

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill is desperate to bag Spurs’ recalcitrant full back Pascal Chimbonda before the transfer window slams shut. (Various)

…And Villa boss Martin O’Neill is also after a grab bag of last minute signings including Leicester full back Richard Stearman and Crystal Palace striker Sean Scannell. (Daily Mirror)

Sunderland boss Roy Keane is ready swoop for Charlton midfielder Andy Reid, in a player (Greg Halford) plus cash (£2.5m) deal. (Various)

Middlesbrough Chairman Steve Gibson has slammed Stewart Downing’s agent for his Machiavellian scheming. Gibson - contrary to what agent Elliott thinks - claims that he has offered the winger a sparkling new contract. (Daily Mail)

Watch Birmingham live online

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Wednesday’s Transfer Rumours: Part 2!

The second swig from Caught Offside’s potent daily transfer pint…

Chelsea’s powerhouse Ivorian striker Didier Drogba has admitted that he would love to team up with Samuel Eto’o at Barcelona next season. (Various)

Fulham gaffer Roy Hodgson wants to snap up Teemu Tainio after Spurs boss Juande Ramos told the Finnish midfielder that he was finished as a Tottenham player. (Various)

Bolton gaffer Gary Megson is chewing his gum even faster than usual at the prospect of signing AZ Alkmaar defender Gretar Steinsson for £3m. (Daily Mail)

New Bayern Munich manager Jurgen Klinsmann doesn’t want Daniel van Buyten to leave the club, abruptly stopping Everton and Man City’s pursuit of the defender. (Daily Record)

Watford want to nab Arsenal nipper Armand Traore, they want to take the 18 year-old left back on loan. (Daily Star)

Russian midfield skillster Andrei Arshavin has indicated a desire to leave Russian champs Zenit St Petersburg and could be plying his trade in the Premier League very soon. Arshavin has a stark choice to make though, as Arsenal and Tottenham are after him. (The Independent)

Glasgow Rangers are stroking their collective chins and pondering a swoop for Sunderland’s Welsh Wonder, goalkeeper Darren Ward. (Daily Express)

Monaco want to steal away Middlesbrough’s Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback. (The Independent)

The transfer of Senegalese midfielder Amdy Faye to Blackburn is hitting a snag because he has played for too many clubs, he currently plays for Rangers but is on loan from Charlton. Sparky Hughes will have a good chin wag with FIFA which should hopefully resolve the matter. (Various)

Wigan coach Steve Bruce has leapt ahead of Man City and Fulham and is set to snap up ex-Spurs left back, super Swede Erik Edman from Rennes. (Daily Mail)

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill fully believes that Martin Laursen put pen to paper on a new deal with the club. (The Guardian)

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is poised to sign Argentina’s youth international Mauro Zarate. McLeish will initially land the young scamp on loan from Qatari club Al-Sadd. (The Sun)
…And Birmingham have also put in a final bid of £2.5m to Hibernian for defender David Murphy. (Daily Record)

What was the biggest FA Cup shock of the day?

Upsets left right and centre in today’s FA Cup action. But what was the biggest shock?Coventry somehow managed to obliterate Blackburn 4-1, whilst League One Huddersfield beat Birmingham 2-1. Special mention should also go to Sheffield United who booted out Bolton with a 1-0 win lowly and injury ravaged Oldham, who beat Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park.

So what was your upset of the day?

Here are today’s 3rd round results in full:

Barnsley 2-1 Blackpool
Blackburn 1-4 Coventry
Bolton 0-1 Sheff Utd
Brighton 1-2 Mansfield
Bristol City 1-2 Middlesbrough
Charlton 1-1 West Brom
Chasetown 1-3 Cardiff
Chelsea 1-0 QPR
Colchester 1-3 Peterborough
Everton 0-1 Oldham
Huddersfield 2-1 Birmingham
Ipswich 0-1 Portsmouth
Norwich 1-1 Bury
Plymouth 3-2 Hull
Preston 1-0 Scunthorpe
Southampton 2-0 Leicester
Southend 5-2 Dag & Red
Sunderland 0-3 Wigan
Swansea 1-1 Havant and W
Swindon 1-1 Barnet
Tottenham 2-2 Reading
Tranmere 2-2 Hereford
Walsall 0-0 Millwall
Watford 2-0 Crystal Palace
West Ham 0-0 Man City
Wolverhampton 2-1 Cambridge Utd
Manchester United LATE KICK OFF Aston Villa

Watch Blackburn live online

Watch Aston Villa live online

Wigan star desperate to stay

Wigan’s Marcus Bent has announced that he is perfectly happy there and that he wants the loan deal from Charlton to be turned into a permanent one. Bent said:

“I have come to Wigan to play in the Premier League, try to score goals, and do well for the club and myself, it’s up to Charlton and Wigan to sort out a deal.

“I would be happy to stay - the people on and off the pitch have been very good to me.”

Bent has been a consistently strong performer for Wigan Athletic, but would Charlton fans be happy with this deal being made permanent, it could provide some useful extra transfer funds for January? Or would they prefer Bent back at the Valley?

Watch Wigan live online

From Barnsley to West Brom, via Hull City: BBC to broacast Football League matches

It’s not been a great year for Auntie, what with losing a load of funding, being found out to be dirty rotten cheats ripping of quiz contestants and Gary Lineker still smirking at the camera. So it with a smile on our face that we bring you better news from White City, the Beeb will be broadcasting Football League matches from 2009. Well, it worked for ITV Digital.

So, what are the details?

The BBC will show Football League and Carling Cup matches from the 2009 to 2012 seasons after winning the contract in a joint bid with Sky.

Oh yeah, the Carling Cup too, we forgot that.

It means Championship matches will be screened live on the BBC for the first time, with 10 first-choice games per season exclusively live on the BBC.

And what’s more…

The Carling Cup final will be simulcast live with Sky, and two semi-final legs shown exclusively live on the BBC.

No, we don’t know what that means either. So, is this a step forward for the Championship or just another sign that BBC sport ain’t what it used to be?

Who is the best player outside the Premiership?

For a while it was Kevin Phillips, for ages it was Jason Koumas, there was even some rubbish talked about Robert Earnshaw at some point. But who is currently the best player outside the Premiership? Well, here are some options, but feel free to pick your own?

Kevin Phillips (West Brom) - Is he past it? Probably, but a bit of expeience never hurt anyone.

Darius Henderson (Watford) - Scores a shed load of goal, but is he just a flash in the pan?

Zolton Gera (West Brom) - Top class midfielder, who really should be playing in Premiership soon.

Robbie Fowler (Cardiff) - Stop laughing at the back, he used to be the next Jimmy Greaves, that’s got to be worth something.

Jimbo Beattie (Sheff United) - The only good thing about Bryan Robson’s reign?

Peter Halmosi (Plymouth) - An outsider for the title, this Hungarian winger is leading Ollie’s Argyle revolution.

Any better suggestions?

Leeds finally sign former Leciester and Charlton midfielder

Quite a few Leeds fans have appeared out of the woodwork this season, adopting a Yorkshire accent and claiming to be ‘back from ‘t pit’ when in fact they have spent the last few years following the Premier League and distancing themselves from Yorkshire’s third best team. And it is not just fans that are queuing up to jump on the Leeds bandwagon, it’s players too.

The Yorkshire Post report:

“RADOSTIN KISHISHEV has returned to Leeds United on loan. The 33-year-old Leicester City midfielder has joined Leeds on an initial one-month loan deal after falling out of favour at the Walkers Stadium.”

All good news for Leeds and a sign of how much more attractive they have become to players in the last few months, you see:

“The Bulgarian international spent the final two months on loan at Elland Road from Charlton Athletic last season and made a huge impression despite United being relegated. United wanted to sign the midfielder in the summer, but the lure of Championship football proved too great.”

We’re fans of the genuine passion of lower league football but we’ve never heard anyone reference the “lure of the Championship”.

Three Things You Learned From The Weekend’s Championship Matches?

It was back to the rat-race for Championship players at the weekend and they looked more than happy about it; turning in some great performances.

Sheffield Wednesday continued to get their season back on track with a impressive win at Stoke while Watford continued to steamroll their way to the Premiership as Marlon King grabbed another goal against Hull. Meanwhile, Neil Warnock almost got off to a winning start before Palace returned to their usual form and Man Utd’s Lee Martin proved to be a wise loan signing for Plymouth with a man of the match performance.

But here’s your chance to tell everyone what you learned from the weekend’s Championship results, and to see what others thought as well. Sort of a lower-league love-in, only not quit as disgusting.

Barnsley 1-1 Burnley

Blackpool 1-1 Palace

Colchester 3-2 West Brom

Norwich 1-3 Bristol City

Plymouth 1-0 Coventry

Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Ipswich

Scunthorpe 0-0 Leicester

Sheffield United 1-1 Preston North End

Stoke 2-4 Sheffield Wednesday

Watford 1-0 Hull

Wolves 2-0 Charlton

Championship Prediction Mania

Like the first day back at school after half-term, domestic football returns tomorrow and it doesn’t look too appealing. But wait, don’t run off to MFI to buy that decking for garden just yet, their are some appealing fixtures in the Championship. How about Neil warnock’s first game in charge of Crystal Palace? Then, of course, there is the battle of the B-ley teams at Oakwell (ok, we’re stretching it here). What will happen is anyone’s guess, but why not show your guess is better than ours by challenging our predictions, below:

Cut and paste into the comments with your own predictions, or just put down a few thoughts:

Barnsley v Burnley - away win

Blackpool v Crystal Palace - draw

Colchester v West Brom - home win

Norwich v Bristol City - home win

Plymouth v Coventry - draw

QPR v Ipswich - home win

Scunthorpe v Leicester - away win

Sheff Utd v Preston - draw

Stoke v Sheff Wed - home win

Watford v Hull - home win

Wolves v Charlton - draw

Southampton v Cardiff - away win

Charlton vs Hull Punch Up: Alan ‘Nutter’ Pardew Does It Again

In the gold trunks, with a record of ten fights (all against relegation) and no knockouts… It’s Hull City!

In the red trunks, with a record five fights (mainly against Simon Jordan) and three knockouts… It’s Charlton Athletic!

Seconds out, round one.

At last night’s game it was a split decision, with an almighty brawl leading to one red card a piece. ‘Doesn’t sound that bad’, I hear you say. Well, it did involve players, subs, coaching staff and Alan ‘Arsene Killer’ Pardew. While it lit up a rather dull evening at the KC (Charlton predictably won 2-1), Pardew took time to point out he didn’t want to cause any trouble:

“I went on to the pitch just to get in between Dean Windass and Jon Fortune because I could see them squaring up.”

Sure you did Alan, just like you went over to Wenger to offer him a piece of your Mars Bar. The FA will decide on those motives when they file some sort of humourless report on it in about 6 months when we’ve all forgotten about it.

Midweek Championship Predictions: Charlton, Southampton, Hull, Cardiff Cit and more

With a full programme of Championship games this week, it is time for punters to show that they know their stuff outside the Premiership by beating Caughtoffside at our predictions game. Simply go for a home win, away win or draw.

Here are the fixtures, check out our picks and cut and paste into the comments to show your own:

Barnsley v Bristol City - draw

Burnley v Ipswich - home win

Coventry v Blackpool - home win

Hull v Charlton - draw

Leicester v Wolves - away win

Norwich v Scunthorpe - home win

Plymouth v Crystal Palace - draw

Preston v Southampton - away win

Sheff Utd v Cardiff - draw

Watford v Sheff Wed - home win

The winner will get a pat on the back and a firm handshake. And maybe some crisps… but probably not.

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