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West Brom and Stoke - any chance of staying in the Premier League?

They’ll be dancing in the streets of Hanley and Newcastle-under-Lyme after Stoke City bagged themselves the second automatic promotion spot on Sunday. The Potters have done magnificently this season, coming from behind on several occasions to land wins or draws against Championship opponents and it’s hard to argue that they don’t deserve their place in the Premier League next season.

Quite whether they’ll stay there for longer than a season is another matter. Many have commented that this season’s Championship has been bereft of quality, with West Brom winning the league with the lowest points total for over two decades. Not that the Baggies or Stoke care at this particular moment in time, with the BBC reporting Tony Pulis, the manager of the latter, in a bullish mood.

“I have to say a special ‘thank you’ to the chairman. Peter showed a lot of character to buy this club and spent a lot of money on it.

“This is a great day for this club and an opportunity for us to build and push on for next year.”

However, the fun starts next week when Pulis and Coates have to start planning for next season. With just eleven points on the board this season, Derby County have demonstrated how promotion to the top flight can go terribly wrong and while the Rams will be much richer for their season in the big time, it’s obvious that the promoted three will be desperate not to disgrace themselves in such a manner.

The new boys will take heart from Sunderland’s efforts this season, a team who were floundering in mid-table of the Championship when Roy Keane took over and have now completed a successful season of consolidation in the Premier League. Birmingham too have shown that the gulf between the teams at the bottom of the top flight and the top of the second division isn’t that great, while the Baggies and Potters will also be confident of finishing above at least one other team - the one who is promoted through the play-offs and has less time to prepare for the new campaign.

Watch West Ham live online

Watch Birmingham live online

Liverpool line up another young star

If Scott Carson can’t even get a game at Anfield, what’s the point in them buying another goalkeeper called Scott?

Rafa Benitez is apparently looking to the future and attempting to beat a host of clubs to the signature of Watford’s up-and-coming goalkeeper Scott Loach (various).

But Liverpool face stiff competition from Newcastle for the 19-year-old who is currently on loan to League Two side Bradford, making him the youngest first-team keeper in the country.

Stuart Pearce is also said to be interested in calling him up for the England Under-21 squad.

Liverpool obviously have a history of great goalkeepers and in Pepe Reina they have a sound first-choice stopper. Obviously, things didn’t work at Anfield for Chris Kirkland, who was similarly impressive at a young age,

Scott Carson – on loan at Aston Villa – looks set to leave Merseyside also. One thing is for sure, Anfield reserve keeper Charles Itandje hasn’t impressed many with his uncertain displays. Clearly one for the future, Loach would be a good addition to the growing crop of young stars being accumulated by Benitez.

Sunday’s Transfer Rumour Frenzy! Part 1

If Didier Drogba leaves Chelsea, Avram Grant will try and nab Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o and are rumoured to be willing to pay up to £40m. (Sunday Express)
…And Drogba’s Ivorian teammate Yaya Toure has let the cat out of the bag, saying that the striker fancies a move to Barcelona, AC Milan or Real Madrid. (Mail on Sunday)

Both Man Utd and Newcastle are leading the charge to buy Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov. (Mirror on Sunday)
…While Kevin Keegan is looking at an £18m swoop for Man Utd midfielder Michael Carrick. (Daily Star Sunday)
…And Keegan is also looking to bring in Spurs’ professional whiner and part time footballer Pascal Chimbonda. (The People)
…And if Chimbonda does leave it will encourage Spurs to again try their luck with a bid for Rangers full back Alan Hutton. And this time Tottenham will offer Hutton obscenely lucrative wages. (The People)
…Although Juande Ramos is also rumoured to be looking at Valencia’s right back Miguel. (Observer)

Birmingham boss Alex Mcleish could soon have a new-look strikeforce, having just bagged James McFadden, the Brum manager is poised to launch a £2.5m bid for Man City forward Georgios Samaras. (News of the World)

Arsenal’s Teutonic loon ‘keeper Jens Lehmann has hinted that he could fancy a summer move to Bayern Munich after recently turning his nose up at a move to Borussia Dortmund. (Various)

Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko is being stalked by Monaco and Inter Milan. (News of the World)

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson claims that his move for Watford’s Marlon King is going swimmingly despite the miasma of rumours surrounding King’s knackered knee. (Various)

Watch Liverpool live online

Watch Birmingham 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

Fulham pin tenuous survival hopes on King

The Cottagers have been woefully short of firepower this season and it’s no surprise to see them snapping up Watford’s Marlon King for £5 million. Sky Sports report that the striker is keen to face Arsenal on Saturday, hopefully adding to the eleven goals he’s already scored for the Hornets this season.

When asked if he would face the title contenders, King told Sky Sports News: “I’m hoping so, I’ve just got to get myself on the training ground, get familiar with the boys and kick on from there.”

Some might say this is a slightly odd move, with Fulham and Watford likely to swap places at the end of the season. The former are five points adrift of safety in the Premier League, the latter are three points off the top of the Championship. King managed just four goals for Hornets in the top flight last season, being injured throughout the winter months, has he the quality to help keep Roy Hodgson’s men afloat?

Watch Fulham live online

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)

Fulham still chasing Watford’s Marlon King

Fulham are struggling at just one from bottom in the English Premier League and are in desperate requirement of reinforcement. Sky Sports had earlier reported that Watford had rejected their bid for striker Marlon King but have now reported that the Londoners have stepped up the transfer fee.

Sky Sports reports that Fulham’s new manager Roy Hodgson is so keen on the striker that he is ready to splash out £4.5 million and also present Watford with a list of players for them to pick out any one.

Watford had earlier rejected a £ 4 million bid for King from Fulham and have reiterated that they are in no desperation to sell the player. Yet Fulham are persistent But would King be a good addition to this poor Fulham side? Would Hodgson be able to pull off the coup by keeping Fulham in the Premiership for at least one more season?

Watch Fulham live online

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Read more Arsenal news on the Arsenal section.

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 Caughtoffside.com - Sports blog offering Sports news & Sports articles

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

Watford Midfielder’s Deportation Dilemma

There’s a very trendy belief that there are too many foreigners in the English game but wotcha gonna do about it? Complain to your friends in the pub like Harry Enfield’s self-righteous brothers? Boo any player who doesn’t produce a UK passport when he runs onto the pitch? Or nothing?

Well, while most people have chosen the final option the Home Office have an idea all of their own. Deport them. Or at least one of them - Watford midfielder Al Bangura. He’s not very happy about it though, and he’s not alone.

Bangura’s appeal against deportation to Sierra Leone has been backed by the world representative organisation for professional players. The 19-year-old is contesting the decision and has been supported by Stephane Burchkalter, secretary general of FIFpro’s African division.

He told Watford’s website: “Football must play its part as an engine of integration and we back their appeal. We expect the government to favour the spirit of the law.”

And he has a point. Look what has happened to Al:

Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, he fled the country upon the death of his father. His father was a member of the Poro Secret Society, and tradition stated that his son must join upon his death. Not wanting to, he went to Guinea where he met a Frenchman, who took him to France and intended to make Bangura a male prostitute. When the man took him to England, he sought asylum.

Coming over here, avoiding death and prostitution, being a good midfielder. It makes you sick; these foreigners think they can get away with anything. Well, we’ve had enough, let’s get rid of them all and then we can get on with winning the World Cup. That’s the theory, right?

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?

West Brom fans come up with best chant of the weekend against Watford

“I recently saw a busker playing Dancing Queen on the didgereedoo, I thought ‘that’s Aboriginal’”, there are very few lines as good as that one from the puntastic stand-up Tim Vine, and none of them have ever been in football chants. An art-form that is uniformly unfunny and usually just a way of swearing and feeling big about it.

So it is with glee that we report West Brom fans came up with a genuinely amusing chant for the Watford fans at the weekend as their slick passing team desroyed bully-boys Watford. Over to Mike Adamson of the Guardian:

“Three-nil to the football team,” the West Bromwich Albion fans goaded their Watford counterparts.

Well, we liked it considering Aidy Boothroyd’s little rant earlier in the week. Have you heard any better?

Aidy unhappy that people don’t realise Watford play like Brazil

Being successful and unpopular is a horrible cross to bear, just ask referees, who get to the top of their profession only to be booed by all and sundry every week. Another person you might like to ask is Aidy Boothroyd, who is mighty annoyed that Watford aren’t the most popular team in the land. As the Guardian were told:

Aidy Boothroyd is fed up with his Watford side being described as “cavemen” as, relegated from the Premier League last season, the Hornets are now top of the Championship after 13 matches and pushing for bounce-back. And, according to their manager, doing it with an increasing amount of style.

Presumably in their play, not their flashy new kits.

“It’s lazy to associate a team with one style of play, we’ve not got to the top of the league by being a team of cavemen,” he said. “There’s more to us, we’re evolving and working very hard at being more flexible, more bright. In the last few months we’ve started to adapt what we do.”

Well, you will get to decide for yourselves today as Watford face off against Championship pleasers West Brom - although we know who we’d prefer to watch.

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?

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

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