Veteran Scholes to continue for another season

Posted on May 15, 2012 by admin

It has been revealed today that Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes is set to continue at the club for one more season.  Manager Alex Ferguson confirmed that the 37 year old will re-join his veteran team-mate Ryan Giggs next season having agreed to extend his deal after coming out of retirement in January.  Scholes announced his retirement in May 2011 after making an incredible 676 appearances for the club and immediately moved into the backroom coaching staff at Old Trafford.  When the club were suffering with injuries after Christmas however Ferguson talked Scholes into pulling on a Manchester United Football Shirt for what most people thought was his final swan-song.  This now appears not to be the case with the announcement today that he will continue on for another year.  Speaking about the situation Ferguson said: ‘I am delighted. He knew he had made a mistake. He now realises if he plays 25 or 30 games next season, they will be of real quality. I think this will be Paul’s last season. We know him very well. We know how to use him.’  Scholes went on to make his second debut for the club against rivals Man City in the FA Cup and in total managed 20 appearances; 14 of which were starts, and despite his four goals in that time United couldn’t quite top their noisy neighbours to the league title which was decided on Sunday.  Speaking briefly about his new contract the midfielder said: ‘I’m delighted the manager feels I can still make a contribution to the team.’  Despite only joining the United squad for half of the season Scholes was even voted third in the Player of the Year awards behind Arsenals Robin Van Persie and United team-mate Wayne Rooney.  There have also been media reports recently that Scholes is not ruling out another surprise comeback with England for the Euro 2012 Championships this Summer should newly appointed manager Roy Hodgson require his services.

So, do you think it’s a good decision for Scholes to stay on?  Will he figure much for United next season?

Does Scholes being in the squad show weaknesses for United, do they need to strengthen in the Summer transfer window?

We would love to hear from you.

At Soccerbox we have a wide range of official football shirts available for kids and adults including the new Euro 2012 England Home Shirt.

 

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Can City close gap back to one point

Posted on March 21, 2012 by admin

The game tonight looks like it could play a pivotal part into which side of Manchester will win this season’s Premier League Title. As we go into the final stages of the season, the pressure is mounting on both club’s. Manchester City face a difficult game at the Etihad Stadium against a recovering Chelsea side after their Champions League victory over Napoli. Manchester City’s title bid could be handed a massive boost tonight with the return of Carlos Tevez after his absent period for the club. Tevez has not featured for Man City since he fell out with Roberto Mancini during a UEFA Champions League clash with Bayern Munich in September. Tevez has spent most of his free time back in Argentina, but has been welcomed back into the squad by the manager and players after working hard on his fitness. Tevez has scored 43 times for City in 65 appearances and after losing against Swansea, Mancini will be hoping that Tevez can form a partnership with Aguero and David Silva to clinch City’s first Premier League title. Manchester City have taken maximum points from their last 19 Premier League home games and will set a new Premier League record if they win tonight. This is City’s catch-up game and Roberto Mancini knows better than anyone it’s absolutely crucial they reduce the gap to a single point by winning it. Chelsea do have a very good away record with only one win in their last seven league games and picking up just seven points during that run. Under the guidance of caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo Chelsea have had four straight victories in all competitions since being appointed on an interim basis following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas’ departure. A victory for Chelsea tonight would take the Blues level on points with Arsenal and keep their hopes of securing that last UEFA Champions League place. On the other hand, a defeat would see Arsenal three points clear. Chelsea go into this game in confident mood, especially with Fernando Torres scoring two goals against Leicester City. Manchester City are expected to name Tevez among their substitutes. City are missing Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany is very doubtful. Pablo Zabaleta and Gareth Barry are fit and may return. John Terry will miss tonight’s game after making his return from knee surgery against Napoli. Roberto Mancini remains convinced that Manchester City will overhaul local rivals Manchester United to win the Premier League title. City lost their lead at the top of the Premier League after losing 1-0 defeat at Swansea City at the same time United were beating West Brom. United beat Wolves 5-0 to create a four point lead. Mancini’s men can reduce that to one point with a victory at home over Chelsea. The derby meeting at the Etihad Stadium on Monday 30th April has been pinpointed as the decisive fixture in determining the destination of the title. He said: “We will win the title, we will win. We will do everything to win the title.” Chelsea have won 10 of their 14 Premier League visits to Manchester City.  Chelsea have won the previous two Premier League games both at Stamford Bridge  and are looking to complete a Premier League double against Robert Mancini’s men for the ninth time.

With the title race looking like it will go down to the wire, can Chelsea put a huge dent in City’s title bid and give United a big advantage going into the final games?

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Man Utd hit 5 to go four points clear

Posted on March 19, 2012 by admin

Manchester United seem to be coming into form at just the right time in the season and extended their lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League to four points over Manchester City with an easy 5-0 win against Wolves at Molineux. United have won their last five league games that included wins over Liverpool and Tottenham. The Red Devils seem to shifting through the gears in their bid for the club’s record breaking 20th league title. This has all come from their amazing fightback against Chelsea in which the game ended 3-3 at Stamford Bridge but despite bing knocked our of Europe, United’s title bid is going from strength to strength. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side barely broke sweat against Wolves and for majority of the game were coasting and always looked in control. Jonny Evans scored his first goal for the club which gave United the lead after 21 minutes. Things could not get worse for Wolves who are bottom of the Premier League when Zubar was sent off for two bookable offenses just before half time. Manchester United quickly put the game beyond reach with two quick goals before the break.  The first was created by Wayne Rooney  who put clear Valencia to slam home,  the goal came from a Wolves corner. The second was a few just minutes later on the stroke of half time when Danny Welbeck comfidently beat Wayne Hennessey to make it 3-0 to United and end the game as a contest. In the second half, United scored at will and played at a canter. Javier Hernandez helped himself to a brace  which made it 5-0. Wolves have now leaked 19 goals in their last five games and 14 in four under care-taker boss Terry Connor which means they have slipped to the bottom beneath Wigan on goal-difference. In this kind of form, Wolves look certain for the drop after three seasons in the Premier League and there must be question marks over whether Connor was the right man to take the job. Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping Antonio Valencia stays fit for the rest of the season as he believes the winger has an important role to play in Manchester United’s title bid. Valencia has recently been sidelined by a hamstring injury and made his first appearance in just over a month in Sunday’s 5-0 win over Wolves. He scored one goal and created two United opened up a four point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. Valencia returned from a long-term injury in the final two months of last season to play a major part in winning a 19th league title. Ferguson is now hoping Valencia can have a similar impact this season: “He could be very important. His form before he got the injury was outstanding. Now he is back we hope he stays back fit. He is such an honest, hardworking player. You get two sides to Antonio. He is prepared to work really hard. He can tackle, he can run, but he can also beat a man. He has got everything really.” said the United manager.

Who will win the Premier League Title? can United silence the blue half of Manchester by securing a record breaking 20th league title?

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Can Chelsea turn over Naopli at the Bridge

Posted on March 14, 2012 by admin

Chelsea face a difficult match tonight against Napoli at Stamford Bridge for a place in the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League. Chelsea will aim to succeed where Arsenal failed by overturning a first-leg deficit against Italian opposition. Chelsea had a first leg to forget in Naples as goals from Cavani and Lavezzi secured a 3-1 aggregate lead which Napoli bring to the Bridge but on the positive side, Juan Mata did score a vital away goal which could prove to be priceless as Chelsea go looking for a 2-0 win. Roberto Di Matteo takes charge of his first UEFA Champions League game and it could proe pivitol in shaping the rest of Chelsea’s season. Andre Villas-boas was sacked as manager after sa string of bad results. He got harsh criticism for his decision to leave Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Michael Essien out of his starting line-up for the game in Naples after claims his relationship with the squad had broken down. With suggestions player power was the reason for AVB’s sacking. In the build-up for tonight’s game, John Terry has said player power was not behind the removal of Villas-Boas. He said: “We win and lose together at this club, we’re all responsible for the results we have. As for the senior players running this football club, that’s nonsense. That’s just the perception from outside. Roman and the board make the decisions. On the football pitch, that can affect what happens upstairs of course. If we don’t win matches, the board step in. People speculating from various different clubs or previous managers, that’s complete nonsense.” Chelsea were not in very form in Villas-Boas but the installation of Roberto Di Matteo has seen the blues win both of his games in charge and without conceding a goal. Chelsea are the only Premier League left in the Champions League and will be hoping to make it as far as possible with their Premier League title ambitions all but over for this season. However, Chelsea have not won any of their past five home Champions League knockout matches. The Blues will face a tricky game tonight, as Napoli are a very dangerous team with pace and power. They can score at any time with the likes of Hamsik, Cavanni and Lavezzi all fit for tonight’s game. John Terry is expected to return and he could continue to partner Gary Cahill. Raul Meireles is suspended for the game, so Essien, John Obi Mikel, Ramires and Fran Lampard are fighting for the starting places in midfield. Daniel Sturridge and Mata will provide any width, while Drogba should start up-front after scoring the winner against Stoke. Napoli have travelled to Stamford Bridge on the back of a six-game winning run and fresh from a 6-3 victory over Cagliari.The club were also handed a boost when coach Walter Mazzarri was given the green light to sit on the bench after the Court of Arbitration for Sport agreed to study an appeal into his two-match touchline ban. Mazzarri has a virtually fully-fit squad to select from, with Miguel Britos and Gianluca Grava included after missing the win over Cagliari due to injury.

Can Chelsea make it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League? or will Napoli inflict Roberto Di Matteo’s fiest defeat as Chelsea manager?

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217th Merseyside derby – 10 years at Everton for David Moyes

Posted on March 13, 2012 by admin

Tonight’s game between Liverpool and Everton is the 271th Merseyside derby. Liverpool are not in very good form of late and have lost the last three Premier League games which sees them now seventh in the table. Everton however are celebrating David Moyes’ ten year anniversary as manager of the club. The Blue side of Liverpool have been on a good run picking up wins against Tottenham and Chelsea along the way. Victory tonight would be great present for David Moyes and see his club leapfrog their merseyside neighbours into seventh position. Moyes celebrates a decade in charge of Everton, during which time the club have seen many highs, but one thing he has not yet achieved is a highly prized win at Anfield. He boasts a decent record of five draws from nine away ,matches with Liverpool but how he and the Toffees fans would love to take those elusive three points back across Stanley Park. Everton have not won at Anfield since 1999. Liverpool have achieved one of their ambitions for the season after lifting the Carling Cup last month which brought to an end a six-year trophy drought but their league form has been very inconsistent but Kenny Dalglish insists progress is being made by the club. Liverpool’s Carling Cup win seems to have given Kenny Dalglish something positive to pick out from this season, however the table does not lie. Liverpool are 28 points behind leaders Manchester United and are 13 points adrift of Arsenal in fourth place. The Reds’ mini-slump looks to have all but ended any Champions League qualification hopes with Arsenal, one of the sides to beat them during this period, now well clear of them. Liverpool’s third straight league defeat at Sunderland left Liverpool on 39 points from 27 games and with a return of 30 goals which captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that it is not good enough for a club of Liverpool’s stature and history. Liverpool will be hoping another trip to Wembley in the FA Cup would put some gloss on a pretty poor season. They face Stoke in the Quarter Final at the weekend and with a win tonight could generate some much needed confidence throughout the squad. Victory would leave Liverpool ten points behind Arsenal and keep every Liverpool praying they could somehow reach fourth and that elusive UEFA Champions League place. Everton have enjoyed a fine run of form recently and are also in the FA Cup quarter finals and climbing to ninth in the league on the back of a seven game unbeaten run. A 1-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday put Everton within touching distance of Liverpool and everyone at the club will be determined to provide Moyes with an early anniversary present. David Moyes took charge at Everton on 14th March 2002 and has received alot of praise for the job he has done over the past decade. Everton manager David Moyes has revealed his desire to win a trophy with Everton. He has worked on a much tighter budget than their city rivals. “I’m the first person to say I’ve not won anything so I don’t need other people to tell me. I am ambitious and still drive to try to succeed and as long as I have got that will try to do it. I don’t think anyone will have a greater ambition than me. I am desperate to win trophies and cups but I’d like that to be at Everton and my focus and loyalty is to make sure I succeed.” said Moyes. David Moyes has been praised by his fellow managers including Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp. Redknapp said: “I like to see people stay at clubs long-term like that, it’s great for the game. David could manage anywhere, there’s no doubt about it.” This game is usually full of confrontation and incident especially since twenty players have been sent off in 39 Premier League matches played between Liverpool and Everton. Tonight’s game will be tense and tight with Everton yet to win away at a side higher than them in the table and Liverpool only picking up 10 points from the last 33 available in the Premier League. Steven Gerrard is set to return to the starting line-up for Liverpool after coming off the bench in the weekend defeat at Sunderland after recovering from a hamstring problem. Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing are pushing for recalls. Glen Johnson has missed the last two matches but will be assessed before the game while Daniel Agger is still out. Steven Pienaar is available again for the trip to Anfield and he could come straight back into the side. Jack Rodwell and Phil Jagielka made their first-team comebacks from injury as substitutes in that game and could be in line for recalls. Darron Gibson has still not recovered from a knee injury and misses out.

Who will grab the bragging rights of Merseyside? can Liverpool end their poor recent form or will David Moyes’ Everton snatch his first victory at Anfield?

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Posted in Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur | Leave a comment

Arsenal face Newcastle at the Emirates

Posted on March 12, 2012 by admin

Arsenal have had an indifferent season, with highs and lows and not proved to be able to perform to the level that manager Arsene Wenger expects on a consistently. Recently they have performed alot better and have been getting results at the same time. Arsenal have come from The Gunners have come from behind to win in their last three Premier League matches against Sunderland, Tottenham and Liverpool. Also, in the Champions League in midweek, they nearly pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history when they went 3-0 up against AC Milan before half time and were unlucky no to overturn a 4-0 first-leg deficit. Arsenal’s latest league form has seen them back on course to book a spot in next season’s European elite club competition  something that looked very unlikely before Christmas, they now sit fourth, level on points with Chelsea but with tonight’s game in hand against Newcastle United. Arsenal are looking for a fifth consecutive Premier League victory but they will be wary of Newcastle, who have surpassed expectations this season. Should Arsenal pick up a fifth straight victory tonight, it will all but end Newcastle’s hopes of pipping them to a UEFA Champions League place and bring them to within a point of Tottenham. Arsene Wenger wants his side to finish in third spot in the Premier League this season as a worst-case scenario. The Gunners are well adrift in the title race, leaving the club’s focus on finishing as high up the table as possible. With rivals Tottenham losing to Everton, Arsenal can close to within a point of third with victory over Newcastle “I am scared to answer questions about what we have and what we can achieve but finishing with a place in Europe this season, after what we have been through, would be right up there. I am ready to fight and fight we will. It has not been easy for us but I always believed. The team believed. We want Champions League football next season. At the worst I want third place. At the moment third place is still in Tottenham’s hands but it is down to consistency. We have difficult games, they have difficult games. There are eleven games left to play and so much can happen during that time. We need to keep up our momentum.” said Wenger. Arsenal are in good home form winning nine of their last 12 games and losing only one. Robin van Persie has provided the inspiration all season, he has scored 21 times in his last 20 games at the Emirates. He has also scored four times in his last five games with Newcastle. Newcastle are without a win in three games, but snatched a last-gasp draw in the Tyne-Wear derby last weekend and will go into tonight’s game full of confidence after winning at the Emirates last season. In the reverse fixture last season, Newcastle were 4-0 down but then scored four goals in 19 minutes to earn a draw, hopefully tonight’s game will be as exciting and frantic. Newcastle have struggled away from home this 21 times in their last eight games. Brazilian full-back Andre Santos could return to the Arsenal squad after recovering from a broken ankle. Mikel Arteta is available having been rested for last week’s Champions League win over AC Milan after suffering a blow to the head at Liverpool, while Wales captain Aaron Ramsey could be involved. Yossi Benayoun has been out with a virus. Abou Diaby,Francis Coquelin, Per Mertesacker and midfielder Jack Wilshere remain absent. Peter Lovenkrands could miss the rest of the season after he suffered a suspected ruptured thigh muscle. Shola Ameobi has recovered from the bout of illness. Long-term absentees Leon Best, Sammy Ameobi, Steven Taylor and Sylvain Marveaux are all still missing.

Can talisman Robin Van Persie help Arsenal to pip their North London rivals to third place? or will Newcastle carry on their fantastic season and make it two successive wins at the Emirates making fourth place still up for grabs?

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Lionel Messi – Greatest modern day footballer?

Posted on March 8, 2012 by admin

Lionel Messi became the first player to score five goals in a UEFA Champions League match, helping defending champions Barcelona humilate Bayer Leverkusen 7-1 to advance to the quarter-finals with a 10-2 aggregate win. The three time World Player of the Year turned was in an unstoppable mood, finding the net twice before hal time and three times in the second half with substitute Cristian Tello bagging also scoring two. Bayer Leverkusen scored a late consolation through Karim Bellarabi’s stunning long range strike, but the game, the praise and the match ball belonged to Messi.  Bayer Leverkusen had travelled to the Nou Camp in confident mood after winning their third succerssive Bundesliga game. A 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich has boosted the club’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League again next season. Barca took the lead in the 25th minute as Xavi played through Messi who lobbed the keeper. Messi scored a solo second three minutes before half time, easily dribbling his way inside the are after receiving Andres Iniesta’s pass before producing a left-footed finish to make it 2-0. The second half began as the first ended. Fabregas put Messi through again before he lofted the ball over perfectly over Leno for a second time in the 49th minute. Substitute Tello then made it 4-0 in the 55th minute as he was put through on the left by Fabregas before slotting home right-footed. Three minutes later Messi got his fourth. Tello got his second just after the hour mark before Messi made history with his fifth of the night five minutes from time, becoming the first player to score that many in a single game as he bent home a left-footed strike with alarming simplicity to make it 12 goals in seven European appearances this season.

Is Messi the greatest ever? is he even better than the great Maradona? Comparisons with Diego Maradona are inevitable. Maradona was brilliant and many Argentine players have share comparison including Pablo Aimar and Juan Roman Riquelme have failed to live up to the tag of becoming the next Maradona. Messi appears to be the only player who could possibly be the next Maradona. His skill, stature and low centre of gravity, also scoring great individual goals, that are similar to Maradona’s moment of brilliance against England at the 1986 World Cup. Wednesday’s game against Bayer Leverkusen was the first time Messi scored five goals in a game in his career. With 49 goals in 64 games, Messi is the fourth top scorer in the history of the Champions League. “He’s the best ever, there is no other like him. We’ll never see a player like him again. The throne belongs to him and only he will decide when he wants to relinquish it.” said FC Barcelona Pep Guardiola. “I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentinian football and his name is Messi” said Diego Maradona.

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Posted in AC Milan, Argentia, Arsenal, Atheltic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Napoli, Newcastle United, Paris Saint Germain, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers, Rayo Vallecano, Real Betis, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Spain, Valencia | Leave a comment

Can Arsenal turn around 4-0 deficit

Posted on March 6, 2012 by admin

Can Arsenal overturn a 4-0 first leg thrashing they suffered at the hands of Italian giants AC Milan. The Gunners are aiming to pull off one of the greatest European comebacks of all time when they welcome AC Milan to the Emirates for the second leg of their last-16 UEFA Champions League tie. Arsenal were completely outclassed in the first leg and found themselves 4-0 down after suffering their heaviest defeat in European competition in Italy last month. Arsenal go into the game full of confidence after beating rivals Tottenham in which the gunners came back from 2-0 down to win 5-2 and Liverpool in a game in which they were also behind and Wenger has vowed to go for it against Milan as they go in search of goals. Arsenal will have to defensively sound as Zlatan Ibrahimovic in is very good form and was instrumental in the first leg. Ibrahimovic bagged a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Palermo at the weekend which sent the champions clear at the top of Serie A.  No team has overturned a four-goal margin in the Champions League era, although in 2004 Deportivo La Coruna beat AC Milan 4-0 after losing the first leg in Italy 4-1. Striker Robin van Persie is in form and has scored 31 goals in all competitions this season, but Milan will also be confident of scoring. Arsenal have a number of selection problems to contend with as they are short of midfielders for tonight’s game. Mikel Arteta has been left out as a precaution after suffering a blow to his head following a collision with Jordan Henderson during Saturday’s 2-1 win at Anfield. Abou Diaby is also missing having suffered a hamstring problem after making his long-awaited return. Aaron Ramsey is still missing with an ankle injury, while Yossi Benayoun and Tomas Rosicky both face late fitness tests. Kieran Gibbs is expected to return, but Per Mertesacker, Andre Santos and Francis Coquelin remain out. Milan are sweating over the fitness of midfield duo Kevin-Prince Boateng and Clarence Seedorf before finalising their side. Stephan El Shaarawy is line for a rare start if Boateng fails to recover.

Can Arsenal produce one of the greatest ever UEFA Champions League comebacks? or will AC Milan continue where they left off against Arsenal and make the scoreline embarrassing for the gunners?

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Posted in AC Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea, Napoli | 1 Comment

Andre Villas-Boas sacked by Chelsea

Posted on March 5, 2012 by admin

Chelsea have sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas has been sacked and that making a change was the club’s only option. He has been sacked by Chelsea after less than a year in charge at Stamford Bridge. Villas-Boas took charge in June last summer following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti. He arrived in West London with a reputation as one of the brightest managerial talents in world football but was to stamp his authority on the squad after falling out out with senior players in the Chelsea dressing room, who have seemed to have turned against him resulting in AVB being sacked. There have been many rumours of rifts between Villas-Boas and several senior players in the dressing room over the past couple of months. Chelsea have been on a bad run as of late which has seen them slide out of the Premier League title race and down to fifth in the table in recent weeks, while qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League is also in doubt. Chelsea are 3-1 down to Napoli from the first leg of their last-16 clash. The 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday proved to be the final straw for ruthless owner Roman Abramovich and Roberto Di Matteo has now been placed in charge until the end of the season. A club statement read: “Andre Villas-Boas has parted company with Chelsea Football Club today. The board would like to record our gratitude for his work and express our disappointment that the relationship has ended so early. Unfortunately the results and performances of the team have not been good enough and were showing no signs of improving at a key time in the season.”
Former Chelsea midfielder Eddie Newton has rejoined Chelsea to form part of Roberto Di Matteo’s backroom staff for the rest of the season.Di Matteo has been placed in temporary charge of the first-team for the remainder of the season. Eddie Newton is hoping to help Chelsea enjoy a strong finish to the season. Their main focus will be on securing UEFA Champions League qualification for next season, although Newton also hopes to progress in Europe this season and go further in the FA Cup. He said: “The ambition is to get into fourth place and we will push as hard as possible. Every game is very important between now and the end of the season.” The sacking of Andre Villas-Boas is not a massive shock but it very harsh on the young manager. Roman Abramovich seems to always work min the short-term and he is eventually going to have to appoint a permanent manager and give him time to make changes to this ever ageing Chelsea squad. AVB was brought to Chelsea on a three year deal in which he should of been able to make changes to a squad, that have had the most succesful period in the club’s history. There are a few players that need to be moved on and at the same time bring through the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Mata who are the future of Chelsea and keep winning things at the same time. This is not possible, there is always a transition of change at any football club and Abramovich needs to understand this and change his philosophy very quickly or Chelsea Football Club will become less attractive to other managers willing to take the job, as they will be fearful of losing their job. Roman Abramovich called together the dressing-room dissenters and blamed them directly for the dismissal of Andre Villas-Boas. Villas-Boas fell out with reserve-team coach Dermot Drummy, criticising him for failing to accelerate players into the first team and then kicking them out of the main training building. In the dressing-room the players grew tired of his timekeeping, fed up of AVB monitoring their arrival some days from the balcony of his first-floor office. AVB was fired after an emergency two-hour board meeting. Abramovich personally told the players they were responsible for his demise and warned them there will be massive changes at Chelsea in the summer. The sacking will cost Abramovich around £9million in compensation.

That is now five managers in 5 years for Chelsea – Avram Grant, Luiz Scolari, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti and Andre Villas-Boas. Who is the best man for the Chelsea job?

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Robben double sinks England

Posted on March 1, 2012 by admin

A new era for the England team started with defeat against the Netherlands on Wednesday night when Stuart Pearce took charge of his first international friendly before the Euro 2012 Finals. Pearce chose Scott Parker to be captain ahead of Steven Gerrard who was thought to be favourite to take the armband. Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar did the damage in the second half for the 2010 World Cup finalists, who let England back into the game after leading 2-0 to grab a last minute winner. England had levelled the gmae at 2-2 after Gary Cahill and Ashley Young scored in the last five minutes but they were unable to hold on for a draw. England more than matched the Dutch in the first half despite having a relatively inexperienced side against a Holland side which was full of experience from Van Persie to Captain Mark Van Bommel. Holland raised the tempo of their play in the second half and hit England twice on the break within a couple of minutes to leave England staring at defeat. First Arjen Robben broke clear and carried the ball to the edge of the box before dispatching a low shot past Joe Hart. The second came from some more Dutch possesion, with Dirk Kuyt crossing for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to head home. Huntelaar braving resulted in him clashing heads with Chris Smalling and led to both men being forced from the field. England lost their way for a period after the goals, but hit back through Cahill on 85 minutes as he beat the offside trap and calmly slotted home. Young then brought the game level after he latched onto Phil Jones’ through ball in the first minute of time added on time to neatly dink the ball over the onrushing Maarten Stekelenburg. England looked to have snatched a draw, which you could argue they deserved but for the classy Robben to bend the ball around Leighton Baines and past Joe Hart in the final minute to grab the win for a Holland side that looks like they could all the way in Euro Finals.

Can England exceed expectations and make it all the way to the Euro 2012 Final? or even go one better and win the competition? oer could it finally be the Dutch’s turn to reclaim the European Trophy?

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Posted in Arsenal, Chelsea, England, Holland, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United | Leave a comment