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Should Chelsea manager be surprised that his massive squad of world-class players are challenging for title?

After all, the Blues have quality all over the park. Chelsea’s second string would probably finish sixth or seventh in the Premier League, so why have Avram Grant’s expectations been exceeded by his team’s strong finish to the season, which could mean a domestic-European double this season?

Look at the players he has at his disposal! Perhaps Arsene Wenger should be the man that is making the below sort of quotes, considering the smaller squad and the terrible luck with injuries that Arsenal have experienced in the past few months. To hear Grant speak (through the medium of Sky Sports), anyone would think he was manager of Aston Villa or Everton.

“From day one our target was to be in the Champions League final and to improve our game,” he said.

“We’ve done more than I even expected, so we want to believe the season will end well and we will fight to the last minute.

“United have had a fantastic season. They’ve been champions many times before but this year we have given them a good battle and it is not finished yet.

“Even if they win the title on goal difference you must give my team respect.”

Hmmm, can’t see many neutrals ‘respecting’ Chelsea for their achievements, particularly as their success is down to a Russian billionaire deciding to pick them as his pet project and investing hundreds of millions to ensure that they become one of the world’s leading clubs and brands. Surely, Everton, Villa, Portsmouth and Sunderland deserve more respect for having decent seasons, while Stoke and West Brom should also be praised for scrambling out of the Championship without having a bottomless pit of cash.

Watch Chelsea live online

Watch Everton live online

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

Fulham, Birmingham, Bolton and Reading - who are your picks to ‘go down with the Derby’

There’s an almighty scrap at the top of the Championship to determine who will be playing Premier League football next season, which teams will the likes of West Brom and Stoke City be replacing? The bookmakers still don’t give Fulham much of a chance, despite their heroic comeback at Manchester City last weekend. A victory against fellow-strugglers Birmingham on Saturday would mean that their top flight safety could potentially be in their own hands!

Surely Reading fans are a touch on the concerned side, considering their team’s inability to score, let alone win a game. OK, so they managed a creditable 0-0 draw at Wigan last weekend, although the decision to bring back Leroy Lita from his loan spell at Charlton smacked of desperation, while the Daily Mirror report tension in the camp ahead of Saturday’s game against Spurs. The Royals record signing won’t play for his ’stupid team’ anymore apparently.

“It is not clever at all to suspend your own players, it is stupid,” said the 24-year-old. “The sanction is heavy - two weeks!

“I cannot understand their attitude. I refused to play with the reserves and they said: ‘Okay let us meet on Thursday’.

“But in the meantime I received a letter saying I am axed.

“They are not courageous enough to tell me things in the eyes, man to man, in five minutes.

“I am an adult, I can recognise when I make mistakes. I can also admit to people when I am wrong. The team needs all their players for the last two games.

“For sure my future is not with Reading.”

Not exactly what you need when you’re teetering on the edge of the drop zone, although perhaps this will galvanise the rest of the Reading squad, who face a last-day trip to Derby after the weekend game against Spurs. Bolton are in action at home to Sunderland and will at least have the comfort of the Black Cats having nothing to play for after their 3-2 win over Middlesbrough last weekend.

Watch Fulham live online

Watch Birmingham live online

Spurs teen star on the move: I very much doubt it!

Surely this is a joke?

Spurs youngster Adel Taarabt is a target of West Brom (The Sun)

At first I thought this was in relation to possible loan move, but it appears that Tony Mowbray is interested in bringing in the teenager permanently, but surely Adel is out of the Baggies range? Are Spurs fans keen to see more of Adel? He is still yet to get a start under his belt and is a player thought of highly by White Hart Lane supporters, can he make an impact next season?

Watch Tottenham live online

Can Robins Premiership Dream Still Fly?

Everyones favourite little overachievers Bristol City are in danger of running out of steam before the finishing line. The previous Championship toppers have finally fallen into the play-off spots. With 2 games to go, 4 points between them and automatic promotion and their horendous playoff record, the Robins look set to miss out on the big time and spend another year in Championship. West Brom and Stoke are leading the way and Hull are sitting in 3rd blocking City’s path. All three are looking like they have come into form just at the right time, just as the Robins fall on hard times.

However, although they have only won once in the last nine games, it is not all doom and gloom at Ashton Gate. Last year they were in the League One, trapped in a division they should have escaped on several occasions over a 7 year period. Will fans be dissapointed if City fail to reach the ‘promised land’ or will they simply reflect on the outstanding achievement of a newly-promoted team, seemingly lacking in goalscorers? (City have a goal difference of -1)

I personally think Gary Johnson has done amazingly well to get City out of League One, let alone challenge for promotion to the Premiership. I think next season will be more of a reality check for Robins fans. Yet, not everyone agrees with me. Defender Bradley Orr seems to think promotion is still possible.

I’m not going to say ‘we can’t', we’ll go right to the end and see what happens. We’ve just got to go and do the job that we can do, affect the games we can and hope other people do us favours. We’ll go right to the end and see where it takes us.

The last two games are going to be exciting and we’ve got to get over this disappointment [Losing to rivals Stoke] and go again.

Thoughts?

Wolves v West Brom: The REAL player ratings!

Yes, it was a crucial derby encounter as Wolverhampton Wanderers searched for the points to keep up with a play-off push and West Bromwich Albion looked for points to take top spot. Now it’s your turn to say it as you saw it! Who had a ‘mare’ and who was on the money? You decide with our lovely cut and paste thingy!

Check the line-ups below, then simply give your personal rating for each player and cut and paste the whole thing into the comments box. Then see how your fellow fans scored the game.

Wolves

Hennessey
Foley
(Kyle)
Neill Collins
Craddock
Elokobi
Jarvis
Olofinjana
Gibson
Gray
(Eastwood)
Keogh
Ebanks-Blake

West Brom

Kiely
Hoefkens
Barnett
Clement
Robinson
Gera
Koren
Greening
Morrison
Miller
(Bednar)
Phillips
(Pele)

Spurs get closer to ridding themselves of a right donkey! They might even get £2m for him!

Anthony Gardner is by no means the worst player in the Premier League but fans at White Hart Lane might suggest he is far too poor to be considered as anything other than fifth or sixth choice for a Tottenham berth.

West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City are interested in 2m rated Tottenham defender Anthony Gardner, currently on loan at Everton from Spurs, he has failed to make an appearance for the Merseyside outfit. (various)

I guess the proof, if it was needed, that Gardner was not up to scratch in north London is the fact that his suitors are playing at Championship level? Can you believe he got an England cap, A dog will fly an unmanned spaceship into the heart of the sun whilst eating jaffa cakes before he wins a second England call-up!

Watch Tottenham live online

Injured Baggies defender still bound for Aston Villa

The Times have reported that Curtis Davies is still likely to sign permanently for Aston Villa at the end of the season, despite rupturing his Achilles tendon against Arsenal at the weekend. The central defender has been in superlative form for the Villans in the past few weeks, leading to him being called up in Fabio Capello’s provisional England squad.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray has praised the player’s qualities and sees no reason why Davies won’t still sign for Villa.

“Is the Curtis Davies deal affected in any way by his injury? No,” said Mowbray. “Curtis is a top player and at this moment rightly playing in the Premier League and doing very well for a club that is doing well. We wish him all the best and his character belies his age. I am sure he has got the strength to overcome this setback.

“I am sure we will see him laughing and smiling in the next few weeks, getting his head around the situation, and being totally focused on getting fit. If anyone can work through a bad injury, it will be someone of Curtis’ personality and determination.”

Indeed, even if the Baggies get promoted this season, they will be very much focused on staving off relegation, compared to Villa’s European aspirations.

Watch Aston Villa live online

Wednesday’s Transfer Rumour Frenzy!

A hearty 5 course dinner of transfer twaddle, piping hot, and ready for your consumption…

Manchester City’s - formerly porky, now svelte - Irish defender Richard Dunne could buy out the last 12 months of his contract, leave Eastlands and skip over to St James’ Park in the summer. (Mirror)
…But while the Toon Army may welcome Dunne in the summer, Charles N’Zogbia is getting miffed with life at struggling Newcastle, and new gaffer Kevin Keegan will have to turn on the charm to keep him at St James’ Park. (The Times)

Chelsea’s Ivorian striker Didier Drogba has his heart set on a move to Barcelona, and could join the Catalan giants for a whopping £25m in the summer. (Star)
…While Chelsea’s full back Wayne Bridge has warned that if he isn’t selected in the team for the Carling Cup final against Spurs, he will look to move somewhere else. (Daily Mail)
…And a Norwegian court investigation into the murky John Obi Mikel three way transfer scramble has revealed that the Nigerian was in love with the idea of playing for Man Utd, and he wept when he realized his dream might fall through. (Various)
…Frank Lampard could also be waddling towards the Stamford Bridge exit door as Juventus have started sniffing around the porcine midfielder. (Guardian)

Liverpool are circling Nigerian attacker Peter Odemwingie, Tashkent’s finest son (he’s half Russian) is currently plying his trade with Lokomotiv Moscow. (Daily Mail)
…And Fulham are having a hearty sniff around Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia, and may make a move to the Finnish legend. (Mirror)

Derby striker Kenny Miller has put the veritable cat amongst the pigeons by refusing to rule out a move to Rangers. (The Times)

Aston Villa keeper Thomas Sorensen could be shipped off to Barnsley, the emergency loan should be completed in time for the goalie to play for Barnsley against Liverpool in the FA Cup. (The Times)
…While West Brom want to bag Aston Villa’s Luke Moore on a loan deal, and Villa will probably let him go. (Various)

Watch Liverpool live online

Watch Manchester City live online

Tuesday’s Transfer Rumours Part 2

A second slice of transfer cake…

Blackburn are trailing midfielder Claudio Maldonado, and the Chile captain, who currently plays for Brazilian side Santos, will jet in to Lancashire for a chin-wag over a £1m transfer. (Daily Mirror)

Rangers boss Walter Smith thinks that swapping Derby keeper Lewis Price with Roy Carroll is a good idea. (Daily Mirror)

Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has demanded a whopping £120,000 a week contract which could present a roadblock to any contract negotiations. (Daily Mirror)

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing is not interested in staying at the Riverside, and if manager Gareth Southgate doesn’t sell him he will simply see out his contract. (The Sun)
…However it isn’t all bad news at Middlesbrough – Gareth Southgate reckons Brazilian striker Afonso Alves’ signing is imminent. (Various)
…And Gareth Southgate has also head a good sniff around Motherwell forward Ross McCormack and could pounce soon. (Sky Sports)

Ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is ready to return from the wilderness and take on a management job with Valencia. (The Sun)

Celtic are the latest club to express an interest in signing Manchester City’s Greek striker Georgios Samaras, and the Parkhead outfit want a loan deal. (The Guardian)

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has cancelled any interest in snagging West Brom defender Neil Clement. (Daily Star)

Watch Chelsea live online

Watch Middlesbrough live online

Monday’s Transfer Rumours Part 1

Part one of today’s batch…

Tottenham are attempting to tighten up their porous defence by signing both Rangers’ Alan Hutton and Boro defender Jonathan Woodgate for £16.25m. (Various)
…But Spurs may face competition from Arsenal for for Woody. (Setanta Sports)
…And Juande Ramos is also trailing Tiago, having agreed a £9.3m fee for him with Juventus; however, Atletico Madrid are also trailing the Portuguese midfielder. (The Sun)
…And Ramos isn’t finished there, he also wants to bring Hertha Berlin left-back Gilberto to the Lane. (Various)
…But one person who feels very left out is Middlesbrough w(h)inger Stewart Downing who is upset that Spurs are now no longer interested in him (The Sun)

And for anybody wondering, Middlesbrough are STILL in talks with Brazil striker Afonso Alves, having agreed a whopper of a fee with Heerenveen that is ‘in excess of £12m.’ (Various)

Bolton’s gum chewing head honcho Gary Megson wants to bring Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen back to his old stomping ground. (Mirror)
…And Megson is also trailing Aston Villa defender Gary Cahill and hopes to bag the 22-year-old in a £4.5m deal. (Various)

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is ready to sign up West Brom defender Neil Clement on a loan deal that will last for the remainder of the season. (The Sun)
…While West Brom are ready to snap up Viktoria Plzen’s goalie Michal Danek on loan. (The Sun)

Watch Bolton live online

Watch Aston Villa live online

Sunday’s Transfer Rumour Frenzy! Part 2

Liverpool gaffer Rafa Benitez is set to celebrate his new transfer kitty by splurging on Argentine skillster Pablo Aimar from Real Zaragoza. (News of the World)

When Fabio Capello announces his first England squad there will be one major surprise; Reading’s ginger strike sensation Paul Kitson will be included. (Various)
…And Reading are sniffing around West Brom midfielder Chris Brunt and are ready to spend £4m on him. (News of the World)

Money-grabbing rogue Tottenham full-back Pascal Chimbonda could soon be swanning of to Spain after Sevilla expressed an interest in paying him extortionate amounts of money. (Various)

Birmingham and Everton are hunting ex-Rangers forward Peter Løvenkrands, who is currently playing at Shalke 04. (Various)

Celtic are ready to swoop for Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia and give him a contract north of the border. (Various)

Watch Liverpool live online

Watch Everton live online

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

West Brom are the Championship Arsenal. No, Honestly they are.

On the night Arsenal went to Reading played their sparkling football all the way to three easy away points, a very similar scenario was occurring at the Ricoh Arena as West Brom sliced through Coventry time and again (well, four times to nil to be precise). And they went second in the Championship in the process. Let’ have a quick summing up of how it happened shall we, you know, before we start going on about how brilliant West Brom are.

Michael Mifsud was sent off on 10 minutes for leading with his elbow in an aerial duel with Carl Hoefkens.

West Brom were unable to make their numerical advantage pay until the 56th minute when Paul Robinson’s classy chip put them ahead after a flowing move.

Andrade Filipe Teixeira swept home the second goal after a defensive mix-up and he got another after a solo run, with Robert Koren tapping in late on.

Doesn’t really do it justice, in fact, if anything, it is a little disparaging. That’ll be the anti-Midlands bias of the London based media. For it should have actually read:

West Brom are the best team in the Championship, in fact they may be the best team ever. And we don’t even support them, we think Adrian Chiles is quite annoying. Oh, and they beat Coventry 4-0.

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?

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