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Looks like Figo won’t be joining QPR

QPR co-owner Formula1 team owner and all round lucky model-shagging get Flavio Briatore has insisted that the Loftus road club will not be going down the Chelsea route - splashing cash and winning titles - but will snake their way towards the Premier League their own way - with prudent spending and mediocre players. The Italian also pointed out that, no, QPR will not be buying Figo.
Coach Luigi De Canio will be given £10 million to splurge on players in the summer, and according to Briatore, if all goes according to plan QPR will have moved grounds and be playing Champions League football in five years time…We can see it now; QPR playing Barcelona off the park in a glorious European victory, a far cry from Danny Shittu!
Italian Briatore was curiously sensible during his press conference, declaring:

“We don’t want fantasy players, we need players who will work hard and players who share the same motivations as the shareholders of the club.
“It is completely wrong to compare QPR with Chelsea; Chelsea are Chelsea and QPR are QPR. We will not be throwing our money away.”

We give them until the end of next season before Briatore and his mates succumb to the lure of dipping into their vast oceans of cash and buying some bloody good mercenaries - Abramovich style.

Transfer Rumour Frenzy: Part 2

Part two today plumbs new depths in search of a decent transfer tidbit…

Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Andrei Arshavin has said that he’d quite like to play in England sparking a mass scramble from a host of clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton and Newcastle. (Sky Sports)

Portsmouth are still sniffing around Lyon striker Milan Baros and will try their best to bring the former Liverpool and Villa man to Fratton Park. (Daily Mail)

QPR quite fancy taking Tottenham likely lads Radek Cerny and Tomas Pekhart on loan. (Various)

Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is set to offer a deal to Swedish goalkeeper Abbas Hassan after a successful trial. (The Sun)
…And Sven could also try and bag Bayern Munich’s Lukas Podolski after the Germans made him available for loan. (Various)

Wigan will only cough up Jason Koumas if they receive Blackburn’s Steven Reid in exchange. (The Daily Mirror)

Newcastle and West Ham are in a feral mouth-frothing sprint to sign Reading’s Nicky Shorey (Various)

Watch Chelsea live online

Watch Portsmouth live online

Saturday’s Big Transfer Rumours

A steaming pile of weekend transfer rumours courtesy of Sportingo…

Liverpool’s lanky paperclip of a striker has had enough of the transfer guff being spoken about him and he has reiterated his desire to stay at the club. This will come as a disappointment to Sven Goran Eriksson, who was said to be monitoring events at Anfield. (Various)

Despite Jurgen Klinsmann’s declaration that he doesn’t want Daniel Van Buyten to leave Bayern Munich, clubs are still lining up to “have a word” with the defender. The latest club to make a move for the Beligian international is Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle. (The Sun)

A long queue of admirers for midfielder Oliver Kapo is forming outside St Andrews but Portsmouth are trying to leap ahead of frontrunners Sunderland and Wigan with a £3m bid. (Mirror)

Young Manchester United defender Ryan Shawcross has “disappointed” The Lord of the Ferg by signing for Stoke in a package worth £2million. (The Sun)

Tottenham are pondering opening up their massive transfer wallet and pulling out £9m to sign Juventus’ ex-Chelsea midfielder Tiago. (Sun)
…And Tottenham are sniffing around Udinese’s 26 year-old Andrea Dossena who can play at either left-back or left wing. (Times)
…Whilst 23-year-old winger Wayne Routledge thinks that Tottenham want too much dosh for him and that is scaring off potential suitors like QPR, Crystal Palace and Watford. Routledge said: “I’m valued at a price by Spurs and clubs aren’t willing to pay that. I need a compromise.” (The Sun)

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is after Werder Bremen midfielder Leon Andreason, the word on the street is that the Dane has been spied at the Cottagers’ training ground. (Times)
…And Fulham are also trailing Lazio defender Guglielmo Stendardo, but will have to beat away interest from Birmingham. (Daily Mirror)
…But Hodgson’s £5m move for Watford’s Marlon King could be scuppered because of the gnarly state of King’s right knee. (Mirror)

Portsmouth boss ‘Arry Redknapp has moeved to take French defender Lucien Aubrey on loan from Lens with a view to a permanent move. (Express)

Roy Keane has sanctioned the shipping out of Stephen Wright on loan to Hull for six months. (Mirror)

Watch Liverpool live online

Watch Birmingham live online

Transfer Rumours: Part 2

The second slice of steaming transfer scheming…

Despite Manchester United’s firm denial that they will be bringing anyone in over the January transfer window, they are being linked with a swoop for Hertha Berlin’s left-back Gilberto who could be used as back-up for Patrice Evra. (Daily Mail)

Bolton gaffer Gary Megson will bring in AZ Alkmaar’s Icelandic defender Gretar Steinsson for £4m. (The Mirror)
Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko isn’t going to Juventus after all, he will instead be heading to Spain and the attacking jamboree that is Atletico Madrid. (The Mirror)

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is at the ‘endgame’ stage with Crystal Palace defender Lee Hills who he has offered £1.5m for. (The Sun)
…And Portsmouth are also after ex-Chelsea hitman Mateja Kezman who is currently plying his trade with Fenerbache. (Daily Mail)

Fulham’s Roy Hodgson is having a hearty sniff around Kansas City Wizards Eddie Johnson, and are looking to take him away from the footballing tundra that is the MLS. (The Guardian)

Everton, Celtic, and Sunderland are all tracking the loan signing of Bayern Munich defender Daniel van Buyten. (The Sun)

Turkish club Galatasaray are sniffing around Celtic midfielder Thomas Gravesen, currently on loan and on the bench at Everton. (Daily Mail)

Tottenham are set to offload Wayne Routledge, who has been deemed deadwood by manager Juande Ramos, QPR are waiting patiently to bid £1.8m for the winger. (The Sun)

West Ham are also after a winger, and are trailing Ipswich’s Danny Haynes, Alan Curbishly is ready to splurge as much as £3m for his services. (The Sun)

Derby boss Paul Jewell is cooing over Wigan’s full-back Emmerson Boyce and wants to whisk him away to Pride Park. (The Guardian)

Roy Keane has £2m and isn’t afraid to use it, the Sunderland manager is leading a valiant charge to try and capture Blackburn’s Jason Roberts from the evil clutches of Mark Hughes. (The Mirror)

Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City, Wigan and Sunderland are all salivating over the prospect of nabbing Aston Villa’s defender Gary Cahill. (Daily Mail)

Ashley Cole rightfully stripped of captaincy?

The Sun’s very own Ian McGarry is today crowing over the fact that Ashley Cole was yesterday thrown into a rage of unbridled disgust comparable to the incident when he nearly crashed his car at the derisory wages Arsenal were offering him…
Cole was given the capitain’s armband against QPR for the first time, but was summarily stripped of the honor after just an hour, which apparently left Cole feeling outraged and embarrassed as manager Grant then foisted the armband on Didier Drogba. Grant said of this decision:

“Drogba is a leader. Many players who are leaders here did not play against QPR, so we gave it to Ashley.

“I think he is a good example for all the others, always giving 100 per cent, always happy.

“I like Ashley, so he deserved to be captain. But there are other options for leaders in the team.”

And somewhat predictably the Sun thinks this means that Ashley Cole could be looking for a move sometime soon.

Watch Chelsea live online

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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

Just who are QPR targeting with Mittal’s money?

An unprecedented shopping spree is expected to hit Loftus Road next month, as Queens Park Rangers make use of the influx of cash courtesy of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. QPR, currently 21st in the 24-team Coca Cola Championship, clearly need the help. But just who are they pursuing?

Watford midfielder Gavin Mahon, West Ham striker Hogan Ephraim and Sunderland forward Darryl Murphy, for starters, according to the Mirror. The paper reports the trio’s arrival as a done deal worth a total £2.5million and adds that Rowan Vine’s loan from Birmingham will also be made permanent.

Fitz Hall is said to be on his way from Wigan, with Sky Sports reporting that Latics have accepted an offer for the unsettled defender. While Sky does not confirm QPR as the winning bidder, Rangers have been reported as the front-runners for Hall’s signature, ahead of Coventry City and Norwich City.

What do you think of these moves? How much will they help QPR?

Watch West Ham live online

Watch Sunderland live online

Transfer Rumour Frenzy: Part 1

The first part of our joyous Christmas transfer rumours bundle…

Arsene Wenger quite fancies a bit of Tottenham’s Dimitar Berbatov, and isn’t afraid to mount an audacious bid. Wenger said that Berbatov’s performance in the weekend’s North London derby was excellent, and apparently this means he’ll fight tooth and nail to gobble him up in January. (Daily Mail)

Rejoice! Arsenal’s loon keeper Jens Lehmann may finally leave the Gunners and move to Wolfsburg. (Guardian)

…Meanwhile Derby are after Nigeria’s Patrick Ogunsoto , the striker who currently plies his trade in Belgium, is a top target for manager Paul Jewell. (The Sun)

Sunderland’s Daryl Murphy could be moving to moneybags club QPR. (The Sun)

Bolton’s Gary Speed, 38, is set to join Sheffield United on loan in January with a view to making the arrangement permanent. (The Sun)

Aston Villa’s Olof Mellberg has turned his back on the near-constant rumours linking him with a move to Juventus and will stay with Aston Villa for the duration of his contract. (Independent)

Terry Venables is apparently very interested in taking the reigns at Fulham. (Independent)

Blackburn’s Mark Hughes is after Djurgardens’ South Africa international Lance Davids, and is ready to shell out half a million quid for his services. (Mail)

Word on the street is that Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard is set to be kicked into touch for performing the ultimate Catalan no-no, losing to Real Madrid at the Camp Nou (only the second time they have done so in nearly a quarter of a century). (Mail)

Watch Aston Villa live online

Watch Bolton live online

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Read more Arsenal transfer rumours on the Arsenal section.

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Queens Park Rangers continue their sign up Chelsea starlets

Loans, loans, loans. That’s all the transfer news we have these days. But until someone prises open the transfer window, much like the man who books the advertising on Challenge TV, we don’t have anything but loans.

But here is one that might boost a few flagging spirits, it’s the thinking man’s Theo Walcott, Scott Sinclair and a loan move to QPR. You know them, the ones that like to fill their team with Chelsea loanees, Michael Mancienne and Ben Sahar be the most recent two. Anyway, let’s just get it confirmed by the Beeb:

QPR have signed Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair on loan until 15 December.

There we go, consider it confirmed. But what does young Scotty have to say about it all:

“I’m excited to be joining QPR. I spoke to the other Chelsea boys here and they told me it’s a very exciting time to be at QPR,”

Very illuminating. For our money the most interesting thing aout this whole move is that it is another example of the lack of chances being given to young British players in the Premier League, where is Fergie to complain when you need him?

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?

Queens Park Rangers appoint De Canio, but not the cool one

After courting half of Italy, QPR have finally got themselves a new manager, Luigi De Canio. Who’s he? Well…

“The 50-year-old has led Udinese, Napoli, Reggina, Genoa and more recently Siena”

And he is a very happy man:

“I am very excited at this fantastic opportunity. It will be an honour,” De Canio told QPR’s website.”

He said, before adding with slightly less enthusiasm:

“I am looking forward to getting to work with the players in preparation for our game against Hull on Saturday.”

So, is this the start of something beautiful at QPR? Or is Luigi destined to become about as popular as his namesake Paulo’s political views.

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

Alessandro Del Piero to Queens Park Rangers. No really…

What does it take to get a team out of the Championship these days? Flavio Briatore reckons about £20m, one of Italy’s top managers and Alessandro Del Piero. While the first two of those seem rather predictable, let’s just confirm that third one for all the Doubting Thomases:

QPR’s new boss Francesco Guidolin has been given a £20million transfer war chest - and will launch an audacious bid to bring Alessandro Del Piero to Shepherd’s Bush.

Says The Mirror, and they wouldn’t lie to arrest falling circulation figures would they? I mean, look at the evidence:

Former Palermo boss Guidolin, 52, has already made moves to bring in ex-Juventus chief scout Franco Ceravelo - and that link could prove influential.

Hmm…

If this story wants to get any more unlikely then let’s throw in some competition for hyper-active MLS side New York Red Bulls and we have ourselves a career on the slide. COS predicts a safe move to a lower Serie A side for old Alessandro, and QPR to sign a load of nameless Italians till they reach the Premiership.

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