Squarefootball Diary - Sunday 31 January 2010

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

00:26 Squarefootball Diary: Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter. 23:30 Squaref... bit.ly/aO5lec #sqf #

08:56 sqF Mailbag: i would have Pavla rather then boyd but then again if we can get boyd on a free in the summer and si... bit.ly/cR9wc6 #

09:42 Arsenal v Manchester United: Arsenal are Gunner be a handful for the champions: Aston Villa and the framework ... bit.ly/c9Cfgs #sqf #

14:17 Arsenal vs Manchester United: Today's ultimate team bit.ly/cWA9sD #

14:42 sqF Mailbag: I said at day one Quinn will rue the day he appointed Bruce. Relegation is a very real posibility as ... bit.ly/cpANhW #

14:42 sqF Mailbag: I cant believe the lack of belief for man utd. I think people forget that man utd are where they are ... bit.ly/9F2crD #

14:48 Arsenal vs Manchester United: Today's ultimate team: Third plays second at the Emirates today and with Chelsea... bit.ly/asq0YP #sqf #

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Arsenal vs Manchester United: Today's ultimate team

Third plays second at the Emirates today and with Chelsea in good form will a loser here fall out of title contention? With so many injuries and suspensions to both Arsenal and Manchester United this could make this a game where a mistake gifts the game one way or the other. Still the best combined team between Arsenal and Manchester United is still a cracker.

We have done a number of combined or ultimate teams in the last couple of years - it is interesting to see how they evolve over time.

Goalkeeper
In goal both teams have had injury problems in goal. In league games Almunia has played 18 games, Foster 8 games, Kuszczak 8 games, van der Sar 7 games and Mannone 5 games - which just shows how fractured both teams have been. But Edwin van ser Sar despite only seven league games has demonstrated the calmness and quality that makes him so important to United - he is simply a crucial 2% better than any of the other keepers available for this game.

Left back
Two excellent choices here, together with Ashley Cole at Chelsea the best in the division. But I reckon that Patrice Evra has the big match experience to edge out Gael Clichy. Interestingly left back and right midfield are the only two areas that are difficult picks, I reckon, so the left-backs may well have a serious bearing on today's result.

Centre backs
There are good candidates here but injury and suspension probably decides things. Nemanja Vidic may well command a world record fee for a defender in the summer and is again available. Had Rio Ferdinand been available then it might have been a trickier choice for a partner as he complements Vidic so well, but William Gallas has been outstanding this season and gets a place on merit. Thomas Vermaelen is injured and Jonny Evans is an outstanding prospect - but not yet in the Gallas/Vidic league. As for Sol Campbell, his mobility a worry if Rooney can isolate him.

Right back
With United missing regular right-back, John O'Shea, there is little competition for Bacary Sagna; Rafael da Silva is a teenager with potential and scored in this fixture last season and as he is approaching 40 first team games will soon have the experience to match his precocious running. Wes Brown seems to be going backwards at the moment.

Central midfield
This area of the pitch also picks itself because no pundit with an ounce of neutrality would surely look beyond Cesc Fabregas as the creative force and Darren Fletcher as the destructive option. Fabregas is now moving past Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard as the best goalscoring midfielder in the country; and perhaps only Liverpool's Argentina captain, Javier Mascherano, can challenge United's Scottish stifler when he is at his best. Who would have thought that Fletcher would develop so strongly over the last two or three years? Eboue, Denilson, Nasri, Song, Anderson, Carrick and so on would be the reserve options for me.

Left midfield
If there were stronger options up front, an in-form Berbatov or Owen or a fit van Persie then I would put Andrei Arshavin here - but in the absence of Arsene Wenger's brilliant purchase of exactly a year ago I would put player-of-last-year Ryan Giggs here and push Arshavin forward. Giggs' fitness levels remain astonishing as he demonstrated by popping up in stoppage time at the end of Wednesday's pulsating League Cup semi-final to curl a delicious cross in for Rooney's winner.

Right midfield
This is a difficult choice - probably the most difficult of this line-up. If Theo Walcott was closer to full fitness I would probably pick him, but as an unused substitute in mid-week and only one start in 2010 there must be a doubt hanging over him. I could post the improving Aaron Ramsey here, or Tomas Rosicky (who is also being eased back into action) or even Nani after a couple of good performances. But I'm going with Antonio Valencia who is very consistent for a wideman and shackled Ashley Cole when United played Chelsea

Forwards
As I mentioned earlier I would have to put Andrei Arshavin somewhere and in the absence of van Persie it would probably have to be in attack behind the imperious Wayne Rooney. Rooney is emerging as the best English goalscoring forward since Gary Lineker (a better international goals per game ratio than Michael Owen at his pomp) - as well as a prodigious work ethic and a fair few assists.

*There is my best combined XI of the players available today - who would you change or do I have this right for a change? Let us know!

Arsenal v Manchester United: Arsenal are Gunner be a handful for the champions

Aston Villa and the framework prevented Arsenal from taking all three points in midweek but the Panel firmly believes that nothing will stop the Gunners gain all three points against the champions this afternoon. Nobody, so far, thinks that United, who of course will be on a high following their dramatic Carling Cup win over neighbours City, will be able to stop Cesc Fabregas and co today but that will be music to the ears of Sir Alex Ferguson.

United may not be the same force as what they once were but you cannot argue with the results they have been getting. Critics have labelled them a one-man team (that man of course being the sublime Wayne Rooney) and that they don’t have the same strength in depth as they used to, but they are currently second in the league, in the Carling Cup final and still involved in the Champions League. Just wait until they start playing well!

However, this is a massive game for both clubs. Arsenal and Manchester United were the two most dominate teams in the English game until Roman Abramovich arrived at Chelsea and Arsene began to put more emphasis on youth. But it is still a huge game that will go a long way to determining who will be champions come May. Wenger and Ferguson may have cooled their fiery relationship a long time ago but they will still be itching to get one over on the other.

Arsenal also have a number of points to prove. In August they were all over United at Old Trafford before Rooney scored a penalty and Diaby inexplicably headed into his own net. The Gunners will also be smarting following last season’s Champions League drubbing and Sol Campbell’s possible return to the starting line-up will re-ignite the feud with Rooney when he won a penalty in 2004 to end Arsenal’s long unbeaten run.

The Gunners have only suffered one defeat at home this season (v Chelsea) but United have lost four away from home. They are yet to win at the Emirates in the league and you have to go back five years for their last win on Arsenal territory.

Cesc Fabregas has been in sublime form this season and has driven Arsenal forward at every opportunity. If he is on form then Arsenal will have a great chance of boosting their title aspirations. However, in the other camp, Rooney is having the season of his life and just can’t stop scoring. I believe whoever has the most influence of today’s game will be celebrating come 6pm.

A win for Arsenal will see them close the gap to the leaders Chelsea to just two points, setting up next weekend’s clash at the Bridge nicely. A win for United though will be a huge blow for the Gunners and take United to within a point of Chelsea.

Nemanja Vidic is expected to come in and partner Evans in defence in place of the suspended Rio Ferdinand while Arsene Wenger could be about to give Sol Campbell an unexpected start if Vermaelen doesn’t prove his fitness in time. Nicklas Bendtner could make his first appearance in three months, Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue are available for selection but Eduardo is definitely out due to a hamstring problem.

Arsenal v Manchester United; Kick Off 4pm 31 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 2 - 1
Chris Cox : 2 - 1
Graham Enwright : 2 - 1
Sue Gardener : 2 - 1
Chris Goodwin : 2 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 3 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 1 - 1
Don McMahon : 1 - 1
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 2 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 1
Peter Rendle : 1 - 0
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 2 - 1

Panel Verdict

It looks as though Arsenal will get all three points to set up an interesting clash at the Bridge next weekend.

Home: 10; Draw: 4; Away: 0; TBC: 6.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Manchester City v Portsmouth: City to focus on top four finish

Debt-ridden Portsmouth travel to the multi-billionaires of Manchester City this afternoon looking for a miracle. The south coast club have more problems than Jay Z but it’s their history with City that is the most worrying aspect ahead of today. They haven’t won at City for more than 55 years and the Citizens haven’t lost at home since Fulham turned them over last April. It looks as though it is going to be another depressing trip back to the coast for Avram Grant and co.

Manchester City hearts were broken again at Old Trafford in midweek by yet another goal in Fergie Time. Rooney’s late header prevented City from a day out at Wembley but that hurt and anger should help them kick on in the league and FA Cup.

Birmingham City’s late equaliser against fourth placed Spurs yesterday would have been cheered roundly by the City fans, as that point leaves Tottenham just four points ahead of City, who have three games in hand. A convincing win today – like last season’s 6-0 thrashing – would see City rise above Liverpool into fifth place on goal difference.

But despite all of the doom and gloom around Portsmouth they are only two wins away from escaping the bottom three and they are yet to be beaten in 2010. However, even the most optimistic Pompey fan wouldn’t expect to gain any points here today. They are better organised now under Avram Grant but you have to wonder just what sort of state mentally the players are in after the club was reportedly late paying their wages again.

Portsmouth haven’t won away from home since beating Wolves at the start of October and surprisingly no-one in the Panel can see that changing this afternoon.

Manchester City v Portsmouth; Kick Off 1:30pm 31 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 4 - 0
Chris Cox : 4 - 0
Graham Enwright : 1 - 0
Sue Gardener : 4 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 3 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 3 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 2 - 0
Don McMahon : 2 - 0
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 3 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 2 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 3 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 1
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 3 – 0

Panel Verdict

A convincing home win for City.

Home: 14; Draw: 0; Away: 0; TBC: 6.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Squarefootball Diary - Saturday 30 January 2010

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

23:30 Squarefootball Diary bit.ly/ajPmqW #

00:15 Squarefootball Diary: Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter. 23:30 Squaref... bit.ly/9MM07C #sqf #

08:24 Hull City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers: Roll out the six pointers: With Hull 19th and Wolves in 17th this is cle... bit.ly/cAkEYf #sqf #

09:25 Wigan Athletic v Everton: Everton aim to stretch unbeaten record: Everton go into today’s game on the back of ... bit.ly/da130x #sqf #

10:00 Liverpool target fourth against an improving Bolton bit.ly/9L5ALu #

10:26 Liverpool target fourth against an improving Bolton: Fifth placed Liverpool could move into the coveted fourth... bit.ly/8Xip2L #sqf #

10:30 West Ham United vs Blackburn Rovers: Hammers look for new hope bit.ly/c8mjiJ #

11:28 Birmingham City: Boyd or Pavlyuchenko? You decide!: Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has made no secret of hi... bit.ly/drhjBT #sqf #

13:08 sqF Mailbag: Not overly keen on either. We do need a striker, but although announcing a large transfer budget appe... bit.ly/adgosL #

13:08 sqF Mailbag: I heard last night that Robbie Keane is on his way up the M6 bit.ly/d4ayC3 #

13:08 sqF Mailbag: i say if you cant get boyd then, pay the 13m for pavlyuchenko he will make a diffrence to the team an... bit.ly/b9aJOk #

13:08 sqF Mailbag: Having watched both only on television my money would be on Pavlyuchenko quicker feet,brain the attri... bit.ly/9WQsQi #

13:08 sqF Mailbag: Pavlyuchenko is by far the best player of those two! Go for Pavlyuchnko, have no doubt! bit.ly/axNNKf #

13:30 West Ham United: McCarthy or McDonald? You decide!: West Ham United have been linked with more men this month ... bit.ly/anHJa0 #sqf #

13:39 sqF Mailbag: boyd belongs in glasgow hes going nowhere bit.ly/9PNlMT #

15:52 sqF Mailbag: Pavlyuchenko hed be a hit at Birmingham. Strikers are confidence players, a run of games and a coupl... bit.ly/cjPi0i #

15:52 sqF Mailbag: Niether to be truthfull, we should have Beckford from Leeds, raw talent with a superb eye for goal, 2... bit.ly/a8DCV1 #

15:52 sqF Mailbag: Im a Spurs fan and Pavlyuchenko is just one of many players we have wasted over the years. Harry has ... bit.ly/a6bB5Y #

15:52 sqF Mailbag: McCarthy has signed for Hammers, and has received shirt number 17. Scandinavian Hammers Supporter Clu... bit.ly/cmRxEw #

15:52 sqF Mailbag: Spurs fan here. Pav really has been badly treated by us and he could be a VERY good player in the Pre... bit.ly/dxdGZw #

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West Ham United: McCarthy or McDonald? You decide!

West Ham United have been linked with more men this month than WAG surpemo Danielle Lloyd and following the arrival of Gold and Sullivan at the Boleyn it looks increasingly likely that Zola will have an extra face or two to work with come Tuesday morning. Up front is a particular area of interest for the Hammers and two names that have been in the frame this past week are Benni McCarthy of Blackburn Rovers and Celtic’s Scott McDonald. However, what I want to know is, if you were in Zola’s shoes, who would you rather have at the Boleyn Ground, McCarthy or McDonald?

Benni McCarthy

The South African striker has fallen out with Big Sam at Ewood Park and looks to be on his way to the East End after the two clubs agreed a fee. However, securing a work permit seems to be holding up the deal.

McCarthy has long been linked with a move to West Ham United. In 2006 the former Porto marksman was a target for then West Ham manager Alan Pardew. However, he chose the bright lights of Blackburn instead and took the English game by storm. McCarthy bagged 18 goals in 36 games in the league and his overall total was 24 from 50 appearances.

Unfortunately injuries, a loss of form and changes in management have prevented him from replicating that form.

McCarthy has an eye for goal, is smart in the box and has enough nous in front of goal to succeed. Maybe a change of scenery and a regular run in the first team will see him reproduce the goods. At £2.5 million, McCarthy is a relatively cheap gamble to take. It looks highly likely that a deal for McCarthy will be concluded this Sunday, that is of course unless Spurs are waiting to nab him at the gates of Upton Park, ala Eidur Gudjohnsen.

 

Scott McDonald

The Australian international and Glasgow Celtic is reportedly another target for Gianfranco Zola. McDonald has scored a phenomenal 51 times for Celtic in 88 appearances since joining the club from Motherwell in 2007 and Zola may be willing to give the Australian a chance to prove himself in England.

McDonald may not be the most athletic striker in the game but he is a predator in the box. He can make space for himself in the box, is a willing runner and can score with either foot. At 26, McDonald still has a lot to learn about the game and there is no better teacher than Zola. Just look at how far Carlton Cole’s game has come on under the little Italian.

West Ham also have a great history of buying players who have graced the famous green and white hooped shirts. Frank McAvennie and Paolo Di Canio have both played for both clubs and are absolute legends now in the East End thanks to their scoring exploits. Maybe McDonald could continue that trend. However, the critics will point at his record in the SPL and say that he is only scoring against Sunday League teams.

 

Both McCarthy and McDonald are proven goalscorers with international and European experience. However, if you were Zola and you had the money to spend who would you want to partner Carlton Cole in your forward line? McCarthy or McDonald? I’d love to hear from you.

Birmingham City: Boyd or Pavlyuchenko? You decide!

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has made no secret of his desire to bolster his striking options this month due to injuries to Cameron Jerome and Kevin Phillips and the two main names in the frame this transfer window have been Kris Boyd of Glasgow Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur’s Roman Pavlyuchenko. But, Birmingham fans, if you were in McLeish’s boots who would you rather have at St Andrews?

Kris Boyd

The Rangers marksman has just smashed Henrik Larsson’s goalscoring record in the SPL and has a knack of being in the right place at the right time. He may not be the most athletic striker in the game but he is certainly one of the best finishers.

McLeish knows him well from his time at Ibrox and firmly believes that he has the skills to cut it in the top flight. He would also bed in fairly easily with the help of his former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson, who surprisingly has been a huge hit at St Andrews.

One of the biggest criticism of Boyd is that he fails to score in the big games but even Aston Villa and former Celtic boss Martin O’Neill is keeping tabs on Boyd’s availability so he must have something about him. The Scot is one of those players who may not do a thing in 88 minutes but then pops up with the winner and a player of that ilk is hard to find.

Birmingham reportedly agreed a fee for Boyd this month but the player could not agree personal terms. Interest in Boyd has cooled but could McLeish make a last-ditch bid to get the man he brought to Rangers from Kilmarnock and take him to Birmingham?

Roman Pavlyuchenko

The Russian striker has fallen down the pecking order at White Hart Lane and Eidur Gudjohnsen’s arrival at Spurs means his chances of first-team action will be even more limited. However, Spurs want to recoup as much of the £14 million they paid Spartak Moscow for his services in 2008.

Pavlyuchenko, unlike Boyd, has vital experience of the Premier League although he has only been used sparingly at the Lane. He has also only found the back of the net nine times in a Tottenham shirt.

McLeish is a big admirer of the Russian but his valuation of the player falls way short of Tottenham’s. Can he agree a deal before Monday’s transfer window closes or is he not worth that amount of money?

 

Pavlyuchenko was a scoring machine at Spartak Moscow and maybe Spurs were the wrong club for him. A change of scenery with a manager who has absolute faith in his ability could be just what the Russian needs to make his mark in the Premier League. However, if Birmingham were to pay near £14 million for him it would be a huge gamble given his form for Spurs.

Kris Boyd, who would cost a fraction of that now – or nothing in the summer – would be a far better option in my eyes. He wouldn’t have a huge price tag hanging over his head and would be hungry to prove himself in the top flight. And if it did go all Pete Tong for him at St Andrews then at least he wouldn’t have cost the club an absolute fortune.

Other strikers that Birmingham have been linked with this month include Aruna Dindane, Kenwyne Jones, Kevin Kuranyi, Nikola Zigic, Klass Jan Huntelaar and even Andrei Shevchenko.

But Birmingham fans, tell me, who would you rather have at the club? Boyd or Pavlyuchenko? I’d love to hear from you.

West Ham United vs Blackburn Rovers: Hammers look for new hope

16th placed West Ham take on 11th placed Blackburn with both teams looking to improve on recent encouraging signs.

With the new owners in place the parlous state of finances in English football is obvious when Tony Fernandes, who narrowly missed out on buying West Ham, revealed that within a week he was offered stakes in seven clubs - including three in the Premier League. Fernandes appears to be willing to wait and see how things go for Davids Gold and Sullivan - and with 10,000 Hammers fans having written to him he may get the prize eventually. With towering debts of £110m it may be all that West Ham can do to keep their best players. West Ham have lost just one of the last twelve against Blackburn and after a below par result on Tuesday really need to extend that record.

Blackburn have hit form in recent weeks, beating Wigan 2-1 last time out, scoring 4 in defeat to Villa in the League Cup and a 2-0 win over Fulham immediately before that - a third consecutive league win would thrust Rovers rather surprisingly into the top half of the division ten points clear of danger. Which with 14 games left would all but end any relegation concerns - which sounds a little too easy for comfort!

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 2 - 1
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 1 - 0
Sue Gardener : 2 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 0
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 3 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 2 - 1
Don McMahon : 1 - 1
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 0 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 2 - 1
Peter Rendle : 1 - 2
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : TBC

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting the new owners to go away happy after a 2-1 win.

Home: 7; Draw: 4; Away: 1; TBC: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Liverpool target fourth against an improving Bolton

Fifth placed Liverpool could move into the coveted fourth place with a big win against 15th placed Bolton who look rejuvenated by the arrival of Owen Coyle.

Liverpool's lacklustre draw with Wolves threw up more questions about Alberto Aquilani as Rafa Benitez appeared to suggest that Steven Gerrard and the Italian were fighting for one place; but then again perhaps when Torres returns there will be places for two expansive midfielders given the room that the Spain striker generates. Of more importance is whether the speculation linking Benitez with Juventus will affect his team. This is of interest because Liverpool have closed to within 3 points of fourth place without hitting any kind of stride - this is a bad time to get distracted.

Bolton have given Owen Coyle a win against Burnley and the fighting performance against Arsenal suggests that the Trotters will travel across Lancashire with more than a little hope in their hearts. Coyle has shaken up the personnel with a move for two promising youngsters - Arsenal's Jack Wilshere and Man City's 18th choice (probably, I lost count) striker, Vladimir Weiss. Both may well start on the bench as Bolton will probably look to fight Liverpool all across the pitch and nick one from a set piece. This game is no foregone conclusion.

Liverpool vs Bolton Wanderers; Kick Off 3:00pm 30 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 3 - 0
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 3 - 0
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 2
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 1 - 0
Don McMahon : 2 - 0
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 3 - 1
Peter Rendle : 3 - 0
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 1
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : TBC

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a comfortable 3-0 Liverpool win.

Home: 9; Draw: 1; Away: 1; TBC: 10.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Burnley v Chelsea: Will the leaders slip up at Turf Moor?

Chelsea’s convincing win over Birmingham in midweek sent them back to the top of the table but Burnley’s defeat at Bolton, combined with Wolves’ point against Liverpool, saw the Clarets slip into the bottom three for the first time this season. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been on fire in recent weeks while Brian Laws still seeks his first point as Burnley boss. This could be another blue day for the new manager at Turf Moor.

Burnley’s home form has been their saviour this season. Only Wigan Athletic have left Turf Moor with maximum points but Chelsea are strong favourites to become the second team to do it, despite having failed to win away from home in the league since beating Arsenal in November. Manchester United, Everton and Arsenal have all failed to silence the passionate fans at Turf Moor but they were against Owen Coyle’s team, not Brian Laws’s. Can Brian lay down the law to Lampard and Anelka and co?

With Chelsea’s main rivals squaring up at the Emirates tomorrow, Ancelotti’s men could be four points clear with a game in hand by the end of play tonight. And such is his confidence of victory today, Ancelotti is likely to keep Drogba and Kalou fresh for Tuesday’s trip to Hull City.

This will be Chelsea’s first away game in the league in 2010 and they will be fully aware that they have been caught short three times before on the road – Wigan, Villa and Manchester City. Ancelotti will not want to slip up here. Unsurprisingly, no-one in the Panel can see it happening either.

Burnley v Chelsea; Kick Off 5:30pm 30 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 0 - 3
Chris Cox : 0 - 4
Graham Enwright : 1 - 3
Sue Gardener : 0 - 4
Chris Goodwin : 0 - 3
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 1 - 2
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 0 - 2
Don McMahon : 0 - 3
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 0 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 0 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 0 - 2
Peter Rendle : 0 - 2
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 3
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : TBC

Panel Verdict

Nobody can see anything other than a Chelsea win.

Home: 0; Draw: 0; Away: 13; TBC: 7.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Wigan Athletic v Everton: Everton aim to stretch unbeaten record

Everton go into today’s game on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run that has seen them burst into the top 10 and revive aspirations of finishing in a European place. However, standing in their way is a Wigan side that is hosting its first home league game of 2010 and has lost only once at the DW Stadium since August. Will the Latics thwart the Toffees recent resurgence or will Martinez’s men be dragged further into the relegation dogfight?

The Toffees needed a late Leighton Baines penalty to take all three points from Wigan at Goodison Park back in August but their record against their north west rivals is pretty decent. In 10 previous meetings, Everton have come out on top on six occasions with Wigan only winning two. Unfortunately for Everton, Wigan’s last triumph over them was just last season at the DW Stadium thanks to Henri Camara so they will be confident of making it two in a row.

David Moyes has worked wonders at Goodison Park and deserves great credit for what he has achieved, given his dreadful luck with injuries to key players. However, he must improve on his awful away record which has seen the Blues pick up maximum points just twice this season. Victory here could see them close the gap on Birmingham – who play Spurs today – to one point.

Wigan were pulled closer to the drop zone in midweek following their defeat to Blackburn and just two points now separate them and the bottom three. Their poor goal difference will also not do them any favours in the race to beat the drop. If results go against them this afternoon they could find themselves in the bottom three.

Wigan Athletic v Everton; Kick Off 3pm 30 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 0 - 0
Chris Cox : 0 – 1
Graham Enwright : 1 - 2
Sue Gardener : 1 - 1
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 2
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 1 - 2
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 1 - 1
Don McMahon : 0 - 3
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 2
Peter Rendle : 0 - 1
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 2
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : TBC

Panel Verdict

The Panel believes the Toffees will get something out of this game.

Home: 0; Draw: 5; Away: 8; TBC: 7.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Hull City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers: Roll out the six pointers

With Hull 19th and Wolves in 17th this is clearly a relegation six pointer - and a win for either would be a serious boost ahead of the run-in.

Hull probably can't wait for Jimmy Bullard to return as in his short time fit in November he helped turn the tide tide that was threatening to engulf the Tigers. Although Bullard has played five games the first was as a second half substitute and in the fifth he picked up a serious injury after 20 minutes. In the three full games that he played in Hull results of 2-1, 3-3 and 1-1 offered a significant improvement on the games where he wasn't available - his two goals didn't hurt either. But whilst Bullard has only an outside shot at playing in this game his infectious return to training may well have given Hull a boost this week.

Wolves travel north in serious relegation danger and with form that is as bad as any team you care to mention. That said Wolves did draw against Liverpool last time out - but Liverpool were lacklustre and it became the fourth consecutive game that Wolves have failed to score in - regardless of of the Doyle eulogies. In fact Wolves haven't scored a league goal since Christmas the last goals coming in the 2-0 win against Burnley that followed the much criticised team selection at Old Trafford. With Wolves' scoring record so abject they simply can't afford to lose the ground that defeat here would result in.

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 0 - 0
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 0 - 0
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 1 - 0
Don McMahon : 2 - 2
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 0 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 2 - 2
Peter Rendle : 1 - 1
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : TBC

Panel Verdict
The panel is split with a 1-1 draw the most likely result.

Home: 4; Draw: 6; Away: 1; TBC: 10.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Squarefootball Diary - Friday 29 January 2010

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

23:30 Squarefootball Diary articles.squarefootball.net/squarefootball/2010/01/squarefootball-diary-24.html #

00:01 Squarefootball Diary: Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter. 00:19 Squaref... bit.ly/aAPVOJ #sqf #

08:00 Birmingham City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Has the Blues bubble burst? bit.ly/dlwtNZ #

08:16 Birmingham City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Has the Blues bubble burst?: Eighth placed Birmingham take on fourth pla... bit.ly/bTHUs3 #sqf #

09:18 Fulham vs Aston Villa: Cottagers look to stop slide into danger: Tenth plays seventh in a game that sounds a b... bit.ly/avBWrM #sqf #

11:04 sqF Mailbag: If Birmingham can sign Boyd perhaps youll have that finisher as well. Im a bit mystified by the links... bit.ly/agtR9w #

11:04 sqF Mailbag: I wasnt trying to say that the bubble had burst - I was trying to ask whether it had. As I said some... bit.ly/bx0Ky3 #

11:04 sqF Mailbag: Yes, youre right - I must have mis-read the goal difference. Perhaps I was subconsciously factorin... bit.ly/8YxeDS #

11:04 sqF Mailbag: I am tickled to hear the bubble has burt after losing twice in 17 games - away at Arsenal and Chelsea! LOL bit.ly/9blFB1 #

11:04 sqF Mailbag: so Spurs need to get a result here to stay in the top four. No, we could lose and stay in 4th place... bit.ly/btqOVS #

23:05 sqF Mailbag: this article is true many people express similar views except of course for the die hard united fans,... bit.ly/dpTMq6 #

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Fulham vs Aston Villa: Cottagers look to stop slide into danger

Tenth plays seventh in a game that sounds a bit mid-table - but, in terms of points, Fulham are closer to the relegation zone than they are to Aston Villa.

Fulham need to pull out of their downturn of form or they could start to fall down the division quite quickly as Sunderland have - the Black Cats are only four points worse off than the Cottagers. Fulham haven't won in the league since beating Manchester United and have lost the last four league games. To pep things up Roy Hodgson will make a late transfer move after selling the promising Chris Smalling, who, incidentally, started the losing run by conceding a decisive own-goal against Chelsea in December.

Villa start this game four points behind Tottenham who are in that coveted fourth place - but with a game in hand. So despite a series of lacklustre recent results Villa are still very much in with a shout. Are Villa becoming a cup team? The last two cup outings saw 3-2 and 6-4 wins, yet Villa haven't scored a single goal in the last three league games all of which were at home. Villa always look more comfortable as a counter-attacking side and an away game against a Fulham side that always attack at home may well be a good fixture for the Villans.

Fulham vs Aston Villa; Kick Off 3:00pm 30 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : TBC
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 1 - 1
Sue Gardener : 1 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 2 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 1 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 1 - 1
Don McMahon : 1 - 2
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 0 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 2
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 1
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : TBC

Panel Verdict
The panel is split, the consensus going for a 1-1 draw.

Home: 1; Draw: 6; Away: 4; TBC: 9.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Birmingham City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Has the Blues bubble burst?

Eighth placed Birmingham take on fourth placed Tottenham in what promises to be a very tight match.

The first defeat since October for Birmingham was a fairly comprehensive beating at Stamford Bridge; and there must be a suspicion that after such a long unbeaten run there could be a bad patch at some point. Sunderland were going well in the first half of the season - climbing to seventh - and getting wins against Liverpool and Arsenal as well as drawing at Old Trafford, but suddenly form went and the Black Cats haven't won a league game since beating Arsenal in November. Alex McLeish may well set out to contain this game to make sure that his players get the Chelsea game out of their system.

Tottenham are now three points ahead of Liverpool, although Manchester City are technically better placed also three points adrift but with two games in hand. You would ordinarily expect Liverpool to win at home to Bolton so Spurs need to get a result here to stay in the top four. Harry Redknapp is again in the transfer market and attempting to pay off Pompey's debts by buying even more ex-Portsmouth players but Spurs are so close to a top four finish that a little extra spending now could be very cost effective come May. This is the kind of game that Spurs have been failing to win in recent weeks to allow Liverpool to get so close - a win here would be a definite sign that Spurs can finish fourth.

Birmingham City vs Tottenham Hotspur; Kick Off 3:00pm 30 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : TBC
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 2 - 1
Sue Gardener : 1 - 3
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 1 - 1
Don McMahon : 2 - 1
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 0 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 2
Peter Rendle : 1 - 1
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 1
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : TBC

Panel Verdict
The panel is completely split with a 1-1 draw the consensus.

Home: 4; Draw: 3; Away: 4; TBC: 9.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Squarefootball Diary - Thursday 28January 2010

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

00:19 Squarefootball Diary: Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter. 08:00 Blackbu... bit.ly/cHGD4G #sqf #

12:43 sqF Mailbag: Chris TBH you are talking about Chelsea the team that beat Arsenal 3 0 at home, went 3 0 up against ... bit.ly/chdLMf #

12:43 sqF Mailbag: May i just say: Chris said... 4 and 3 nil to chelsea are ridiculous predictions tbh BWAHAHAHAHAHA.... bit.ly/cxhL1Y #

12:43 sqF Mailbag: 15 unbeaten and have taken on all the top teams already without being outplayed.... 4-0 makes complet... bit.ly/94SASD #

14:37 Tide turning in Manchester even as United beat City bit.ly/atswo0 #

14:44 Tide turning in Manchester even as United beat City: Manchester United beat City with some comfort at a noisy ... bit.ly/c3DJvV #sqf #

22:05 sqF Mailbag: shessshh.....there just is no pleasing you people is there?? First of all we beat city without vidic,... bit.ly/bJP25B #

22:05 sqF Mailbag: your simply deluded idiot. bit.ly/b8OSBc #

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Tide turning in Manchester even as United beat City

Manchester United beat City with some comfort at a noisy and belligerent Old Trafford last night but underlying moves in the transfer market signal that this could be a temporary reprieve from a switch in power bases.

The signing of Chris Smalling from Fulham signals the seemingly inevitable departure of Nemanja Vidic. The £12m fee for Smalling quoted in some papers does seem to be too high for a player with almost no first team experience - so it's probably safe to assume that the price mentioned includes wage costs over the course of his contract as well.

But the £12m number is in itself is indicative of a United side with no real money to spend trying to avoid more speculation over how the Glazers now appear to need a net transfer profit each season to balance the books. By allowing speculation that Smalling will cost £12m in June the Glazers may well hope to quell the violent demonstrations against their ownership. They may also possibly try to foist another ticket rise on fans who are already voting with their feet in large numbers judging from the empty seats clearly visible in large parts of Old Trafford for league games.

Last season £80m was raised by selling Cristiano Ronaldo with the Portuguese replaced by the £17m signing of Antonio Valencia. Before these trades United were heading for a £20m - £25m operating loss. If Vidic is sold in June for £30m and Smalling is his replacement it would represent another step down the road to mediocrity and the desperate debt situation will be truly illuminated. Last season United had, arguably, four world class players in Vidic, Ronaldo, Rooney and Evra - as each one is sold off to be replaced by good but-not-great players simply to pay off the owners debts the mood at Old Trafford can only get uglier.

At Old Trafford I reckon the fans would welcome with open arms a new owner prepared to take 'merely' £25m per season out of the club in return for an investment of around £1bn - which would offer a return of 2.5% as well as the prestige usually associated with one of the few truly global spots clubs.

On the other hand, City have the money, their own Peter Kenyon in Garry Cook and a thirst for success that will not be satisfied quickly. And any speculation about players is almost exclusively the other way round. City have a lot of good players - now they want to upgrade them for great players. For City that won't be a quick transition as the rejection by Kaka demonstrated that the very best players want fairly certain success as well as money if they are to come to Eastlands.

City may well have to resort to more "gesture politics" as The Observer put it at the weekend in reporting that Carlos Tevez actually cost £47m to be prized away from United. But City will get where they want to get to, if not with this manager then with the next one - or the one after that.

City's position will improve as each season sees better and better players arrive and the trophies will inevitably follow; there is little doubt what United's trajectory is if their best players are gradually sold off simply to pay off a rich mans paper debts.

*Are the complaints about Glazer overblown or does he deserve more criticisn - is the City ascent inevitable? Let us know!

Squarefootball Diary - Wednesday 27 January 2010

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

08:00 Blackburn Rovers vs Wigan Athletic: Blackburn look ready to push into the top half bit.ly/dAj73Y #

09:00 Aston Villa vs Arsenal: Too important to lose? bit.ly/cyUCAO #

09:00 Chelsea vs Birmingham City: Are Blues unbeatable? bit.ly/a0CM2D #

11:01 Chelsea vs Birmingham City: Are Blues unbeatable?: Third placed Chelsea face an obdurate eighth placed Birming... bit.ly/cS3n4v #sqf #

11:18 sqF Mailbag: 4 and 3 nil to chelsea are ridiculous predictions tbh bit.ly/bBOb1o #

16:46 Everton vs Sunderland: Toffees on top six charge bit.ly/8Ytz3R #

17:11 Everton vs Sunderland: Toffees on top six charge: Tenth placed Everton play thirteenth placed Sunderland and a... bit.ly/aEhjal #sqf #

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Everton vs Sunderland: Toffees on top six charge

Tenth placed Everton play thirteenth placed Sunderland and a win for either could well see them in the top half of the table tonight.

Everton are on their usual second-half-of-the-season charge to a top six finish accompanied by the usual slow recovery from a debilitating injury list. When people discuss some kind of 'new top seven/eight' they do tend to forget that Everton have been the most consistent finishers, excluding the 'big four' for the past five or six seasons - the majority of which have included finishing fourth or fifth. Mikel Arteta could return tonight and Philippe Senderos may also feature as Everton gear up for a strong run-in. A win for Everton would move them to nine points behind Liverpool with a game in hand.

For Sunderland the return of Lee Cattermole cannot come quickly enough as Sunderland appear to have a very soft centre in his absence. The continued speculation about Kenwyne Jones can't be helping an attack that is over-reliant on Darren Bent. And after a 7-2 drubbing by Arsenal you wonder where the Black Cats next win will come from.

Everton vs Sunderland; Kick Off 8:00pm 27 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 2 - 0
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 2 - 0
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 3 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 3 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 2 - 0
Don McMahon : TBC
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 3 - 0
Peter Rendle : 1 - 1
Dan Taylor : 1 - 0
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 2
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 2 - 0

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a comfortable 2-0 Everton win.

Home: 10; Draw: 2; Away: 0; TBC: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Chelsea vs Birmingham City: Are Blues unbeatable?

Third placed Chelsea face an obdurate eighth placed Birmingham at Stamford Bridge.

I reckon this is the first time that Chelsea have been as low as third since the league table settled down after three or four games, so the early return of Drogba and Kalou could offer the spark that Chelsea need to push past Man United and Arsenal. With Arsenal facing a very tricky trip to Villa Park and Manchester United playing in the League Cup there is a very good chance that a win will put Chelsea top - and given Chelsea's last two home games saw them record a 7-2 win over Sunderland and a 5-0 win over Watford, a win seems likely.

Birmingham remain on the fringes of the top four battle but have the games-in-hand to overhaul Liverpool so should hardly be discounted from a challenge. Especially when Birmingham have not now been beaten in the last 15 games in all competitions - the last reverse being way back on 17 October against Arsenal. So after over three months unbeaten Blues are either unbeatable or are due some bad luck!

Chelsea vs Birmingham City; Kick Off 7:45pm 27 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 4 - 0
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 2 - 1
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 2 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 1 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 3 - 0
Don McMahon : TBC
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 2 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 2 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 0
Dan Taylor : 2 - 0
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 2
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 2 - 1

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a 2-1 Chelsea win

Home: 10; Draw: 2; Away: 0; TBC: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Aston Villa vs Arsenal: Too important to lose?

The big Premier League game of this round is at Villa Park where seventh placed Aston Villa face second placed Arsenal.

With Liverpool drawing on Tuesday Villa must feel that this is a game that will make or break the season. Too often in recent weeks Villa have faced their competitors for a top four finish and failed to win the game and the pressure is certainly being felt if Martin O'Neill is wasting energy on fans bleating behind his dugout. Villa concede fewer home goals than any team above them, but also score significantly fewer - the implication being that Villa need the opposition to attack for their tactics to work. They may get their wish tonight and a win would move Villa back to fifth.

Arsenal were briefly top of the league at the weekend and the feeling that will have given the players will either inspire a maturing side (it can hardly be categorized as merely youthful anymore) or it will make them nervous. Needing to win again to go top of the table may play into Villa's hands - but playing it safe is not really in this sides make-up. This game should be fascinating and will make a sizeable statement about the destination of this Arsenal side.

Aston Villa vs Arsenal; Kick Off 7:45pm 27 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 1 - 1
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 1 - 2
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 2 - 3
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 1 - 3
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 1 - 1
Don McMahon : TBC
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 1
Dan Taylor : 2 - 2
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 1
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 1 - 1

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a 1-1 draw.

Home: 1; Draw: 8; Away: 3; TBC: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Blackburn Rovers vs Wigan Athletic: Blackburn look ready to push into the top half

The second relegation haunted Lancashire derby of the mid-week sees 12th placed Blackburn plays 14th placed Wigan - both a bad week away from the relegation places.

Blackburn's home record is just about as good as the much more lauded Burnley or Stoke home records, so there is little reason to fear Wigan - except that you never know what to expect from Roberto Martinez's team. Blackburn scored four last time out against Villa and beat Fulham 2-0 in the last league game so there is perhaps a turning point being approached - another win will put the likes of Everton, Fulham and Stoke within range and Rovers can start considering pushing into the top half rather than scrabbling to stay out of trouble.

Wigan have strengthened defensively in the transfer window and that will be needed now that the luckless Chris Kirkland has been injured again. Recent results have been promising and the 2-0 win at Wolves could be a defining result - but Wigan have lost every league game after a win so far this season, they will have to be on top of their game to break that record.

Wigan's results in the league game immediately after a league win:
Wolves (h) lost 1-0
Arsenal (a) lost 4-0
Hull (a) lost 2-1
Portsmouth (a) lost 4-0
Birmingham (h) lost 3-2

Blackburn Rovers vs Wigan Athletic; Kick Off 7:45pm 27 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 1 - 0
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 0 - 0
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 2 - 0
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 3 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 2 - 0
Don McMahon : TBC
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 2
Dan Taylor : 0 - 1
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 1
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 1 - 1

Panel Verdict
The panel is split between a narrow home win and a draw, 1-0 or 1-1.

Home: 6; Draw: 5; Away: 1; TBC: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Bolton Wanderers vs Burnley: Heated stalemate?

A Lancashire derby between two teams scrapping to avoid relegation - and one team has just nicked the other teams manager - Bolton vs Burnley will not be a game for the faint-hearted. Bolton start the game a point from safety in 19th place, with Burnley just two points better off in 15th.

Bolton looked a better side in defeat against Arsenal than they have in recent weeks and perhaps the change of manager will improve things, but opening with two games against Arsenal and then this one against Burnley - Owen Coyle really must have been looking at the long-term because that was always going to be a tough introduction. And if Burnley have the worst away record in the division only Portsmouth have a worse home record than the Trotters - could this be a fighting draw?

Burnley's dreadful away record of one point from eleven games will drag the team down if it is not improved upon and where better to improve it at the ground of the team that poached their manager. The Burnley fans will not be in a forgive-and-forget mood for this one but that fighting spirit must translate to a better defensive effort for a team that concedes more than any other on its travels - even Wigan after shipping 9 at White Hart Land and 5 at Old Trafford have not conceded as many as Burnleys 34, which is more than three per game on average.

Bolton Wanderers vs Burnley; Kick Off 8:00pm 26 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 2 - 1
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 2 - 0
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 2
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 3 - 2
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 1 - 0
Don McMahon : TBC
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 2 - 1
Peter Rendle : 1 - 1
Dan Taylor : 3 - 2
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 2
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 2 - 0

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting Owen Coyle's Bolton team to beat Burnley by a single goal.

Home: 8; Draw: 2; Away: 2; TBC: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Portsmouth v West Ham United: A winning start’s on the cards for the Gold-Sullivan era

West Ham United travel to the south coast looking for their first away win since the start of the season and they won’t get a better chance of picking up three points than at debt-ridden Portsmouth.

A few years ago Fratton Park was full of smiles. Now it’s full of anger as the club faces the threat of administration due to mounting debts and relegation looks a definite certainty. You have to feel sorry for the fans in this situation as they watch their club crumble around them but they will have been boosted by their FA Cup fightback against Sunderland on Saturday and excited by the upcoming clash with rivals Southampton. 

West Ham earned a credible draw in the league last time out against Aston Villa, to avoid slipping into the bottom three, and everyone associated with the club has been buoyed by the arrival of David Gold and David Sullivan. With Zola’s position at the club safe, and the former Birmingham duo’s pledge that no-one will be sold against the manager’s will, you firmly believe that the Irons will kick on from here and climb the table sooner rather than later.

The Hammers have won the last two meetings with Portsmouth, scoring six in the process, and with the Portsmouth fans furious about the financial state of their club, and the players reportedly threatening to walk out if they are paid late again, you have to fancy West Ham to take all three points here.

However, you tend to see the real character of people when they are under immense pressure and Portsmouth’s John Utaka – who is reportedly earning £80,000 a week at the club – stepped up to the plate at the weekend to send Sunderland packing out of the FA Cup with a brace. Will that performance inspire the team to beat West Ham and pull themselves back to within two points of safety?

Gianfranco Zola knows that if West Ham are to retain their Premier League status their away form must improve drastically. He will have been pleased with the display at Villa Park last Sunday but collecting just four points since beating Wolves in August is a terrible away record.

The history books can’t split these two sides. In 29 league meetings they have both won 12 times. Unfortunately for Portsmouth, it looks as though the Hammers will make it unlucky 13 tonight and possibly climb two places to get the Gold and Sullivan era off to a winning start.

Portsmouth v West Ham United; Kick Off 7:45pm 26 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 0 - 0
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 1 - 0
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 0 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 1 - 2
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 1 - 1
Don McMahon : TBC
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 0 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 2
Peter Rendle : 1 - 0
Dan Taylor : 1 - 1
Andy Wakeman : 0 - 2
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 1 - 1

Panel Verdict

It’s a close one but West Ham may just edge it.

Home: 3; Draw: 4; Away: 5; TBC: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool: Will Wolves ruin Rafa’s revival?

Rafa Benitez promised Liverpool would finish in the top four this season. After beating rivals Tottenham Hotspur last Wednesday at Anfield, the Spaniard’s vow could well come true. Despite enduring the season from hell, the Reds are just one point off the Champions League places and they know exactly what it takes to see the job through.

Most teams baulk at the thought of entertaining Liverpool but Wolves certainly don’t fall into that category. You have to go back to 1979 for the last time Liverpool won at Molineux and given the Reds’ poor away form this season it wouldn’t be that much of a shock to see Wolves extend that impressive run.

Liverpool have lost five of their 11 away games this season and scored just 12 over that period. They have struggled badly but have managed to grind out enough results to ensure that they remain within touching distance of the top four. Meanwhile, Wolves have lost six of their 11 home games this season and managed to find the net on just nine occasions – the joint lowest in the top flight alongside Birmingham City. But unlike their Midlands’ rivals City, Wolves just aren’t as effective as the Blues defensively, hence why they are in the top half of the table and Wolves are currently hovering over the drop zone.

With Manchester City tied up in Carling Cup action this week, Liverpool could return to fourth spot with victory here combined with a Fulham win over Spurs. However, a win for Wolves would give them a massive boost of confidence and potentially see them climb three places.

However, despite their impressive record against the Reds, the majority of the Panel is going for an away win.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool; Kick Off 7:45pm 26 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 1 - 2
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 0 - 2
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 1 - 2
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 0 - 2
Don McMahon : TBC
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 0 - 2
Peter Rendle : 0 - 1
Dan Taylor : 0 - 1
Andy Wakeman : 0 - 1
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 0 - 2

Panel Verdict

Liverpool are firm favourites to collect all three points.

Home: 0; Draw: 2; Away: 10; TBC: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham: Who will pick up their first three points of 2010?

Spurs missed out on a glorious opportunity to boost their Champions League hopes and kill off one of their main rivals in the process when they lost to Liverpool last Wednesday. Tonight they aim to consolidate their position in fourth place with victory over a Fulham side who they have only defeated once in the league in the past four seasons.

Harry Redknapp welcomes Roy Hodgson’s side to the Lane as Spurs seek their first league win of the calendar year. An inspired Boaz Myhill thwarted Tottenham in their last home league game and Jermaine Beckford’s late penalty denied them victory in a pulsating cup clash on Saturday. Can they record their first league win of 2010 against Fulham?

The Cottagers booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup by overcoming the potential banana skin of Accrington Stanley on Saturday, but, like Spurs, they are still searching for their first league win of the year. Since thrashing the champions at the Cottage in December the Cottagers have picked up just one point from a possible 12. Unfortunately for Spurs that point came against them.

The west London club deserve huge credit for balancing their domestic and European commitments and Roy Hodgson has worked wonders since arriving at the Cottage two years ago. However, their form away from home continues to be a problem. Their only win on the road this season came on the opening day of the campaign against Portsmouth and they have only picked up just four points since.

Tottenham’s home form has been decent enough with only Manchester United, Stoke City and Wolves leaving the capital with all three points but that draw against Hull City could be crucial come May. One thing’s for sure, they can ill afford to drop any more points tonight.

This is a crucial period for Tottenham’s top four aspirations and they will be desperate to get three points on the board before travelling to in-form Birmingham City and then entertaining Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa in the next few weeks.

Tottenham haven’t triumphed over Fulham since thrashing them 5-1 on Boxing Day in 2007, just four days before the Hodgson era began. Braces by Robbie Keane, Tom Huddlestone and a late strike by Jermain Defoe ensured Spurs fans stayed in the festive mood, but since then Hodgson has had the upper hand. Will this be the day though that Redknapp finally gets one over on Hodgson? The Panel certainly thinks so.

Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham; Kick Off 7:45pm 26 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 2 - 0
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 1 - 1
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 2 - 1
Don McMahon : TBC
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 3 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 2 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : TBC
Peter Rendle : 1 - 1
Dan Taylor : 2 - 1
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 1
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 2 - 0

Panel Verdict

The majority is backing a home win.

Home: 7; Draw: 4; Away: 0; TBC: 9.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Robinho exit now little more than a sideshow

It seems that only the details of where Robinho will be playing next month need resolving - the only 'where' that seems certain is that it won't be in Manchester. Santos seems the most likely destination, with Benfica also mentioned in despatches, and in an oddly similar situation to when he arrived.

When City signed Robinho for £32.5m in the summer of 2008 it was to extricate him from a situation in Madrid where Real felt that he was more trouble than he was worth. When a club is so willing to sell a top player and there is no financial imperative then it is never likely to be a smooth ride. At least City wasn't able to double up and buy Dimitar Berbatov at the same time.

Now Manchester City are so rich that allowing the British record signing leave on loan after just 18 months seems to be a sensible footballing decision. Then again signing Jo for £18m before discarding him after 6 league starts means that 'sensible' in football can only be judged in relative terms.

But City are right to let Robinho go on both a footballing and commercial level.

He rarely offers much in away games and Craig Bellamy has simply eclipsed the Brazilian on the left wing, showing aggression and no little skill to make the place his own. Martin Petrov has proved to be a tricky alternative to Bellamy when called on - so there is no footballing loss to the team.

In commercial terms Robinho isn't a Beckham or Ronaldo, he doesn't sell shirts on that kind of level and despite all the expectation when he arrived he hasn't encouraged other big star names to join the club. The most obvious example of this was during the move for Kaka wich really would have been a commercial sensation.

But the nature of Robinho's departure does give a very obvious clue as to City's trajectory. Any club in England that found that their star signing had lost interest would be shocked and weakened as a result. Imagine Man United if Rooney went this way, or Liverpool with Torres or Chelsea with Drogba. The result would be hugely damaging and significant questions would be asked about the manager.

But City are now so powerful that the loss of a £32.5m striker can be shrugged off without any serious comment. It is now clear that City's star is on the rise, a title challenge in 2010/11 now seems a certainty but it will be without the star signing of 2008. City have come a long way in a season and a half.

*Is Robinho a loss to the Premier League, can he yet stay at City or come back next season? Can City win the title in 2010/11? Let us know!

Sunderland: Can Bruce avoid a relegation dog fight?

Every year without fail one club in the Premier League will slide down the table following a bright start to be embroiled in a relegation scrap. Last year it was Hull City, before that it was Reading, but this year there’s a real fear on Wearside that it could be Steve Bruce’s Black Cats.

After beating Liverpool at the Stadium of Light in October many Sunderland fans were dusting off their passports in expectation of a European tour come August. I even wrote an article myself saying they had an excellent chance of finishing in the Europa League spots. However, since that beach ball secured all three points against Rafa’s Reds, the Black Cats’ European dream, just like that beach ball, has popped.

Sunderland’s luck has all but run out. They have managed to pick up just six points from a possible 36, were annihilated at Stamford Bridge last weekend and were knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday by debt-ridden Portsmouth. Bar their cup win over non-league Barrow this month, Sunderland have only picked up one win bonus since beating Liverpool and that was against Arsenal more than two months ago.

Steve Bruce must be scratching his head as injuries, suspension and an inability to win away from home have affected his plans to mount a top 10 finish. The absence of the combative midfielder Lee Cattermole has proved to be a huge blow for the gaffer. The £6 million signing from Wigan was a star performer for the Black Cats before being injured in that game against Liverpool. Cattermole snapped at players’ ankles, never gave them a moment’s piece and allowed the likes of Cana and Reid to play around him. His return to first team action can’t come soon enough for the manager, especially with a number of huge games coming up for the club.

Sunderland, who are just four points off the drop zone, travel to Goodison Park on Wednesday night still searching for their second away win of the season and their first clean sheet in the league since beating Arsenal. But Everton have rediscovered their form in recent weeks and start the game as strong favourites for all three points.

The Black Cats then face a tricky home game against Stoke City. The Potters may not play the prettiest football in the world but they know what it takes to win and Sunderland will have to be braced for a physical game. Then it’s the turn of Bruce’s former employers Wigan Athletic to visit the north east. Roberto Martinez’s men have been blowing hot and cold recently and I’m not even sure the former Swansea manager knows what team is going to show up. However, their cup comeback against Notts County will have pleased the manager no end.

To be fair, Sunderland’s home form has been Bruce’s saving grace. Despite their torrid run of results only Chelsea and Aston Villa have left the Stadium of Light with maximum points, so Bruce will be hoping their home form will steer them clear of any danger. However, after Wigan they face Portsmouth and Arsenal away, Fulham (h), before a crucial March which sees them play Villa (a), Manchester City (h), Birmingham City (h) and Liverpool (a).

Bruce must be hoping that their home form remains strong and praying every single day that nothing bad happens to his star striker Darren Bent. Some people questioned the size of his transfer fee in the summer but the former Spurs striker has more than repaid the £10 million fee. The England international has found the back of the net 15 times in a Sunderland shirt this season and has thrived on the knowledge that he is the main striker at the club.

In the likes of Gordon, Turner, Cana, Cattermole, Reid and Bent, Sunderland have more than their fair share of quality players to avoid the drop but Bruce will be only too aware that you need to play as a team to achieve anything in this game and that until they have 38 to 40 points on the board relegation remains a possibility.

But the big question is; can Sunderland avoid following in the footsteps of their north east rivals Newcastle and retain their Premier League status?

· Calling all Sunderland fans. How confident are you of beating the drop this season? Do you still have faith in Bruce’s ability to secure you a top 10 finish? What does Bruce have to do to record a win away from home? What area of the team would you like to see Bruce strengthen this transfer window? I’d love to hear from you.

West Ham United: Carlton Cole for Robbie Keane? You’re having a laugh!

Carlton Cole used to be the Emile Heskey of the capital. He had it all - the speed, the strength, bags of skill - but he couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo. He was so frustrating to watch. Cole would produce something sublime one minute then fall over in front of goal the next. You wouldn’t even bet on him scoring in a brothel with a £50 note strapped to his head.

However, that seems like an age away now as for the past few seasons Cole has been West Ham’s main goal threat and has realised his potential. He has focused solely on the game and his impressive performances have caught the eye of the England manager Fabio Capello. Cole can score with both feet, is strong in the air, and has matured so much under his former Chelsea team-mate Gianfranco Zola.

Understandably a number of rival clubs have been sniffing around trying to turn the 26-year-old hitman’s head, and if it weren’t for Gold and Sullivan taking over the club there was a strong possibility that the Hammers may have had to offload a few of their star names this month like Cole, Green, Upson and Parker. Luckily for the Irons the new owners insist that they do not have to sell anyone and they are more interested in bringing players in to help Zola beat the drop. However, that doesn’t stop the Press printing transfer gossip.

According to a report in the News of the World this morning, Harry Redknapp wants to lure Cole to White Hart Lane and in return give West Ham their out-of-sorts striker Robbie Keane.

Now Robbie Keane used to be a great player. He had the tricks, he could take people on and, more importantly, he could find the back of the net. However, since returning to Spurs last January, Keane has not been the same player that the Spurs fans knew and loved. He has hardly played a full 90 minutes for Redknapp this season, has scored just six league goals – four coming in one game against Burnley – and must be frustrated by Harry’s rotational policy.

But Keane has vast experience of the game and that may help the Hammers in their fight to survive this season. Keane has good leadership qualities and if you show him that you are wanted he will repay you with goals.

Gold and Sullivan arrived at Upton Park this week promising that they would not have to sell their main men and it would not be a good start to their time at the Boleyn if they agreed to sanction such a move. Cole remains a vital cog in the West Ham team and they are looking to build a team around him, not without him.

Surely there is no way in hell that Zola will let Cole leave Upton Park, especially at this stage of the season, but he is in the hunt for a striker – with the likes of Gudjohnsen and McCarthy being heavily linked – and if Keane was available for a modest fee would you West Ham fans welcome his arrival?

He knows the Premier League inside out, has the skills to get the fans on their feet and has the potential to strike up a great partnership with Cole. The big stumbling bloke is he has history with Spurs and the Hammers are not exactly big mates with their capital rivals.

· Calling all West Ham fans. Would you be happy swapping Carlton Cole for Robbie Keane? How important is it that you keep Cole at the Boleyn? If Keane was available for a modest fee would you like to see him in the famous claret and blue? Or would you rather prefer long-term targets McCarthy or Gudjohnsen finally arrive? I’d love to hear from you.

Sir Alex Ferguson is left with three options - is resignation the worst of them?

There is a strange mood at Old Trafford at the moment. The champions of the last three seasons went top with a 4-0 win on Saturday but the only real subject worth singing about was the owners. Which may seem odd but as it also dominated the manager's thoughts ahead of the game it is clearly newsworthy.

At the last home game a 'Love United Hate Glazer' banner was quickly confiscated with the fans holding it ejected from the ground. Yesterday 'We want Glazer out' was hung for 15 minutes without the stewards moving in - perhaps even the stadium management has realised that this is not a little local difficulty when tens of thousands of fans starting calling for the owners head.

On that point an attendance of under 74,000 for a 3pm Saturday leaue match is the lowest for some years and there are still tickets available for the League Cup semi-final on Wednesday - a situation that would have been unthinkable a couple of years ago. There is real disillusionment in the air.

The manager's programme notes open up without mention of the game today:

"One for all, and all for one… it’s a terrible cliché but nevertheless it does sum up one of the essentials for success in team sport. The family of Manchester United is under pressure as a result of all the issues and controversies surrounding the ownership and financial situation of our club that have been stirred up in the media."

I guess the important part of that statement was the 'stirred up in the media' phrase because there is little other support for the owners in these opening comments and none later on. Sir Alex Ferguson has put a lot of personal faith in the owners and perhaps his enthusiasm for the regime is finally on the wane.

His later comments:

We must remain loyal to the cause of Manchester United. The staff and players should be quite one-eyed about that and stay true to the history of the club and all the work done by Sir Matt Busby and the other managers who have contributed to creating the great club we have at Old Trafford today.

... make no reference to the positive impacts of the current owners. Perhaps Ferguson is simply sick of the situation. Despite his claims that he has £80m to spend but there is no value to be had - with the recession on there is a lot better value available out there that when, say, Berbatov was bought for £30m. Ferguson is not spending money because there is no money - its that simple. And with the x-factor that was Cristiano Ronaldo long gone United are left with a workmanlike side that is only brightened by the world class Wayne Rooney.

If Ferguson now sees that this is not a piece of financial brilliance that the Glazers have engineered - just another example of leveraged asset stripping then perhaps he will consider his options at the end of the season. With regards to the asset stripping it is largely down to the tremendous support down the years that United have Carrington and Old Trafford - facilities that the Glazers now seem keen to sell off and pocket the proceeds. Morally it must be time for the government to step in and stop the kind of leveraged nonsense that has caused so much strife at Man United, Leeds, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Southampton and the rest.

Ferguson may well have come to the conclusion that he has three options:

Firstly he could resign, which is not as laughable as it sounds and is being suggested by a fair number of fans.

Secondly he could preside over a slow decline of a club that will not be able to compete with many top in the transfer market.

Thirdly he could turn the clock back to the early 1990s and believe that he can transplant half the first team with youth players and still turn them seemlessly into champions. The third option could be similar to the way that Arsene Wenger has accepted five years without a trophy to give a young and cheaply compiled team time to build into a title challenging team. But to be fair Ferguson is 68 now and may, quite rightly, not relish a few years in the wilderness whilst a young team grows. To be even fairer, the terms of the £500m bond will probably not be satisfied by such a policy.

Which could mean that Ferguson resigns or faces his legacy being tainted by decline in the final years.

There is of course a fourth option, that involves believing that interest on the £720m of debt loaded onto the club currently running at £68.5m per year (and rising) can continue to be met without affecting the ability to attract and retain top players. This option could also be labelled 'please let this be a dream that I'll wake up from and it won't be true'.

Owners come and go, as do managers and players. The only constant at a football club is the supporters - who sacrifice more than managers will ever know. But Sir Alex Ferguson is the only manager many United fans have known and all will be sad if the best manager of his generation is driven out just when he is on the verge of making United England's most successful domestic club simply because of the financial mess delivered by the owners.

Squarefootball Diary - Saturday 23 January 2010

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

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13:44 Manchester United vs Hull City: United look to go top bit.ly/6Cucfz #

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West Ham United: To move or not to move?

West Ham United have been based at the Boleyn Ground for the past 106 years and the old stadium has been graced by some of the game’s greatest players and witnessed some fantastic matches over the years. However, following the arrival of lifelong West Ham fans David Gold and David Sullivan, there is talk of the Hammers leaving Upton Park for the brand spanking new Olympic Stadium just three miles away.

The former Birmingham duo claim the club has a debt of £110 million and moving away from the Boleyn Ground will not only go a long way to servicing some of that debt but it will also provide the club with some of the best facilities in the country. It may also allow them to reduce the price of tickets, thus allowing more fans through the turnstiles and making home games even more intimidating for the opposition.

But the big question is, West Ham fans, do you want to wave goodbye to your place of worship?

Having frequented the Boleyn on numerous occasions over the past 20 years I can vouch that the ground creates one of the best atmospheres in the country. The fans are right on top of the players, the passion of the crowd fills the East End air and there is a real special feeling about the place, particularly for a midweek game under the lights.

Upton Park has been home to the likes of Sir Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Ray Stewart, Tony Cottee, Julian Dicks, Frank McAvennie, Trevor Brooking and Paolo Di Canio and more over the past century and has witnessed some epic displays on the pitch – and on the terraces. Some fans may have been going to the Boleyn Ground for the past 50 years sitting in the same seat, year in year out, and will not want to disrupt their routine and leave all of that history behind.

Unfortunately, given the current financial situation at the club, it doesn’t make sense to remain at a 35,000-capacity ground when there is the prospect of moving into magnificent stadia that could potentially accommodate 80,000 fans.

Some of the biggest clubs in the country have moved to new stadia in recent years. Arsenal fans loved the closeness of Highbury but they knew they had to move in order to progress as a club. Since moving to the Emirates they have seen another 20,000 plus fans pass through the turnstiles and will remain one of the biggest teams in the country because of it.

Manchester City are another side that turned their back on the history of Maine Road for the plush surroundings of the Olympic Stadium in Manchester. The Citizens upped sticks and the atmosphere at Eastlands was a little subdued to start with but now the fans and the club have gone from strength to strength. It may not have the same feel as Maine Road but City fans are ready to create their own history at Eastlands thanks to their billionaire owners. The same will undoubtedly happen with West Ham United.

The Olympic Stadium has cost the taxpayers’ an absolute fortune and there is a possibility of the 80,000-seater stadium being ripped down after the 2012 Games to hold a capacity of just 25,000. What an absolute waste of our money that would be. Surely the best solution for everyone involved would be for West Ham to lease the ground, keep the capacity at about 50,000 or so and get rid of the running track to make it more appealing to the fans.

In my opinion the running track is the most contentious issue in this whole debate. If Gold and Sullivan are adamant about moving to the Olympic Stadium then they must do everything in their power to make sure that track is not there or that they do something similar to the Stade de France and have retractable seating. No football fan in their right mind wants to be that far away from the action, especially in a crunch game against the likes of Chelsea, Spurs, Millwall or Manchester United.

The possibility of moving away from the Boleyn Ground is not a new talking point at the club. Former chairman Eggert Magnusson spoke of his plans to relocate to the Olympic Stadium when he took over and reportedly there has been talk of the club looking at other areas to develop in the East End. But why waste money when there will be a state-of-the-art stadia crying out for someone to use it?

The Olympic Stadium would give the Hammers an amazing ground, great facilities, fantastic transport links and parking options, and hopefully the financial clout to compete with the big boys.

Some people have questioned whether West Ham would be able to fill a 50,000-seater stadium but that is just nonsense. Considering ticket prices start at £35 upwards at Upton Park, they regularly pull in crowds of 32,000 plus. If Gold and Sullivan went through with their promise of lowering the prices so the ordinary man on the street could comfortably take his family to the game they would have no problem in filling the ground whatsoever.

It’s always a wretch to leave somewhere that you consider to be home and there will be fans dead against this proposal, but in the long run it will put the club in a sound financial position and assist future managers in bringing success to the fans.

In my mind, however sad it may be, I think West Ham have to follow the current trend and relocate. But what do you, the West Ham United fans, think? I’d love to hear from you.

Manchester United vs Hull City: United look to go top

Manchester United start the day in third place a point behind the leaders, Arsenal, with Hull in eighteenth although a win would see them move up four places.

There may be some green and gold in evidence at Old Trafford today as one group of fans have chosen the old Newton Heath colours as a sign of their continued opposition to the Glazer family - especially as anyone unfurling a 'Love United, Hate Glazer' banner is immediately ejected from the ground. Despite being a point off the top of the table there is a simmering undercurrent of discontent at Old Trafford which at timed seeps onto the pitch . This might not be a walk in the park, but as United's defenders start to return from injury there is a possibility that Rio Ferdinand could make a return after a three month layoff.

Hull are yet to win away this season but the recent battling performance at Tottenham does suggest that the Tigers are capable of keeping a clean sheet at Old Trafford - especially as United have won just four of the last nine. But as Hull are without a win in seven league games and are barely troubling the scorers a goal-less draw would be a superb return from a game that most pundits have written them out of.

Manchester United vs Hull City; Kick Off 3:00pm 23 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 4 - 0
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 3 - 0
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 2 - 0
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 3 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 3 - 0
Don McMahon : TBC
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 2 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 3 - 1
Peter Rendle : 3 - 0
Dan Taylor : 3 - 1
Andy Wakeman : 3 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 1 - 0

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a comfortable 3-0 Manchester United win.

Home: 12; Draw: 0; Away: 0; TBC: 8.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Squarefootball Diary

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Tottenham Hotspur transfer diary 4 - 21 January 2010

With Tottenham just an interview with Harry Redknapp away from being down to the 'bare bones' there is always a possibility of some transfer excitement - now then, who have Pompey got left?

Tottenham Hotspur transfer diary 20 - 31 December 2009
Tottenham Hotspur transfer diary 1 - 3 January 2010

Monday 4 January 2010
The Daily Mirror report that forgotten-man, David Bentley, could be off to Atletico Madrid on a loan deal.

Tuesday 5 January 2010
Liverpool and Tottenham are battling to sign Atletico Madrid's Argentine winger Maxi Rodriguez on loan according to the Daily Mirror; but The Daily Mail reckon that Spurs will win through by offering David Bentley as part of the deal.

Wednesday 6 January 2010
The Times report that Spurs are again interested in Sporting midfielder Miguel Veloso - apparently after seeing him score in the Portuguese Cup win over Braga. Was it on the telly?

Thursday 7 January 2010
In a brief lull Harry Redknapp considers different reasons for buying players from Portsmouth. None spring instantly to mind.

Friday 8 January 2010
The Daily Mirror link Tottenham with Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen - but the Sun reckon that Blackburn or even West Ham look more likely to sign him for around £2m. The Daily Mirror link Spurs with Crystal Palace's oft linked forward

Saturday 9 January 2010
The Sun reports that Harry Redknapp has slapped a £50m price tag on Robbie Keane to ward off interest from Aston Villa and Celtic. Man City and Chelsea were not mentioned.

Sunday 10 January 2010
The News of the World reckons that Spartak Moscow and Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa has been telling his friends that he will join Tottenham in the summer. And his friends know people in Wapping?

Monday 11 January 2010
The Daily Mirror report that Wolves would like to sign Jamie O'Hara currently at Spurs after his loan to Portsmouth was revoked - but Fifa permission will be required. At least Pompey won't have him! The Mirror also believe that Manchester City 'super spy' (?!) Jim Cassell is wanted by Tottenham. For reasons of national security I can't say why.

Tuesday 12 January 2010
The Daily Mail dig deep for a 'shock' move and suggest that Spurs will sign former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini from AC Milan. What next Patrick Vieira back in England?

Mooted moved for forwards include Louis Saha from Everton (Daily Mail) although there is competition from Liverpool and Arsenal (as well as some reluctance at Everton) and Benfica forward Javier Saviola whose club have turned down a £5m Spurs bid for "sporting reasons".

Wednesday 13 January 2010
The Daily star reckon that Harry Redknapp has not failed to notice that Joe Cole is available on a free in the summer. But more pertinently The Daily Mirror report that Zenit St Petersburg are prepared to pay £10.2m bid for Sergei Rebrov, I mean Roman Pav.

The Guardian report that Tottenham have agreed personal terms with Internacional's 20-year-old midfielder Sandro and will sign him for £6m.

Thursday 14 January 2010
The MK Dons take Andros Townsend on loan from Tottenham - a player who sounds like he may drive a foreign 'tactics truck'. The Daily Mirror reports that Brazil midfielder Sandro has claimed his £6m move to Tottenham is a "dream come true" - Sandro may stay in South America for the Copa Libertadores campaign.

In another goalkeeping link The Sun believe that Tottenham have been offered Legia Warsaw keeper Jan Mucha, and more reports of interest in Roman Pavlyuchenko, with The Daily Mirror reporting interest from Birmingham.

Friday 15 January 2010
Reports from Brazil cast doubt on Sandro's signing and Spurs are liked with Real Madrid veteran, Guti.

Saturday 16 January 2010
The Times reckon that Sunderland winger Kieran Richardson has been offered to Tottenham amongst others - Spurs would need another winger for what reason?

Sunday 17 January 2010
The Daily Mail report that Tottenham are close to sealing the biggest deal of the January transfer window by holding direct talks with Palermo about £11m defender Simon Kjaer.

Monday 18 January 2010
An uninspired Daily Mirror hack bangs on once more about David James moving to Spurs and The Daily Express go with the equally useful story that Chelsea don't want to lose Joe COle for nothing. No, Chelsea want him to sign another contract so that they can sell him for good money in the summer.Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said:

"I am personally a big fan of Joe Cole and we are in discussions with his agent and hopefully that will be sorted out soon."

Tuesday 19 January 2010
Sam Cox joined Torquay on loan.

The Daily Telegraph report Tottenham interest in a free signing of former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy - presumably his worries about keeping three or four strikers happy are irrelevant as The Guardian reveal that Zenit St Petersburg have pulled out of the race to sign Roman Pavlyuchenko.
Full story: The Guardian

The Telegraph also report interest in Bordeaux defender Mathieu Chalme and disinterest in Alan Hutton - in a kind of swap idea.

Wednesday 20 January 2010
The Mirror also report a three way deal with Hutton off top West Ham with Bordeaux's Mathieu Chalme coming in as his replacement. But The Guardian reckon that Pompey's Younes Kaboul is a more likely defensive recruit.

Yet another striker for Spurs, this time AC Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar according to The Daily Mail - but Liverpool and Arsenal are also interested.

Thursday 21 January 2010
The Daily Mirror report more demand for Jamie O'Hara - this time from Bolton, who face the same problem as Portsmouth and Wolves.

*Will Spurs make the biggest signing of the summer and stiffen up the defence - or are Harry's days of wheeling and dealing over?

Squarefootball Diary

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

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08:00 Wigan Athletic transfer diary 20 December 2009 - 20 January 2010 bit.ly/5VswsD #

08:14 Wigan Athletic transfer diary 20 December 2009 - 20 January 2010: Roberto Martinez has been one of the busiest... bit.ly/6jZAT2 #sqf #

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Wigan Athletic transfer diary 20 December 2009 - 20 January 2010

Roberto Martinez has been one of the busiest managers this month with two players arriving and two players leaving to date; but with ex-manager Steve Bruce linked with a raid on his old club most days who have the tabloids been speculating about concerning Wigan?

Sunday 20 December 2009
The Sunday Mirror makes the frankly astounding prediction that Steve Bruce could buy Titus Bramble from Wigan for £6m - which would be a snatch-your-hand-off price. But Wigan have rejected a Spurs bid for Maynor Figueroa according to the Sunday Express.

Monday 21 December 2009
Roberto Martinez considers new and more subtle ways to describe his, at times, desperate defenders. He turns to business-speak.

Tuesday 22 December 2009
The Daily Mail report on the £5m-rated Crystal Palace forward Victor Moses being wanted by Wigan and Roma, Barcelona, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Sunderland, Fulham, Birmingham and Hoffenheim - which sounds more like an over-enthusiastic agent.

Wednesday 23 December 2009
The Daily Mirror reports that Avram Grant would buy Wigan midfielder Olivier Kapo if the Pompey transfer ban was lifted. He won't and it won't.

Thursday 24 December 2009
Spatially challenged?

Friday 25 December 2009
Differently enabled in a negative attacking sense?

Saturday 26 December 2009
Leveraged assets?

Sunday 27 December 2009
The News of the World reckons that easily upset Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia is an £8m target for Birmingham.

Monday 28 December 2009
We practice high-risk high-yield defending? No that's not right.

Tuesday 29 December 2009
The ROI on our defensive expenditure needs a non-financial metric?

Wednesday 30 December 2009
Our defence is the result of aggressive non-price competition in an oligopolistic marketplace?

Thursday 31 December 2009
The Daily Mirror signal a move for Ivory Coast centre half Steve Gohouri from German side Borussia Monchengladbach.

Friday 1 January 2009
Sunderland (under former Wigan boss Steve Bruce) are linked to Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa in the Daily Mail; which also reports that Wigan are one of a number of clubs interesting in signing Emile Heskey from Villa.

Saturday 2 January 2010
The Daily Mail again links Crystal Palace winger Victor Moses with a host of clubs, claiming that the club need the £3m that he will probably yield 'desperately'.

Sunday 3 January 2010
The News of the World report on a £3m Wigan bid for Leicester striker £3m Matty Fryatt - who spent time with Martinez at Walsall.

Monday 4 January 2010
A non-synergistic centre-half pairing?

Tuesday 5 January 2010
The Daily Mirror report that Wigan are on the trail of Celtic and Australia striker Scott McDonald. And the Sun also agrees that Wigan are poised to bid £3m for Leicester striker Matty Fryatt.

Wednesday 6 January 2010
Sporting Gijon left-back Roberto Canella is going to sign for Wigan according to the Daily Mirror allowing Maynor Figueroa to be sold.

Thursday 7 January 2010
Vladimir Stojkovi arrives on loan at the DW from Sporting Lisbon.

Friday 8 January 2010
Olivier Kapo goes on loan to Boulogne from Wigan.

Saturday 9 January 2010
The Sun put a £4m price tag on Sporting Gijon's Spain Under-21 left-back Roberto Canella and also link him to Aston Villa.

Sunday 10 January 2010
The News of the World reports that Steve Bruce has bagged Maynor Figueroa from Wigan for £6m - which was probably news to everyone involved.

Monday 11 January 2010
The fourth Wigan player linked with a multi-million sale is Hugo Roallega who is worth £10m according to the Daily Mirror - and Stoke are willing to pay it! The Sun report that Wigan will bid £4m bid for Brazilian centre-half Joao Carlos - he is currently at Belgian side Genk.

Tuesday 12 January 2010
Steven Gohouri well trailed arrival from Germany is confirmed.

Steve Bruce denies making a £5m for Chris Kirkland in The Independent - Kirkland being the third Wigan player he is supposed to have bid for in the past week. The Sun reports a £5m Wigan bid for Mallorca forward Aritz Aduriz which could see striker Hugo Rodallega leave the DW Stadium.

Wednesday 13 January 2010
No-nonsense defender Gary Caldwell arrives from Celtic to bolster the defence.

Thursday 14 January 2010
Wigan (as well as Hull, Bolton and Blackburn) are, however unlikely this may sound, prepared to pay £5m for Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker according to The Times.

Friday 15 January 2010
We are looking to break out of a silo approach to defending?

Saturday 16 January 2010
A holistic approach to defending means that the whole team shares the praise and the opposite of praise which is certainly not 'blame'?

Sunday 17 January 2010
Looking to the scrum-master for a lead of the days highlight?

Monday 18 January 2010
We may have to right-size our defensive alignment due to core competency shortfalls?

Tuesday 19 January 2010
The Daily Star is not interested in Steve Bruce's protestation suggesting some sort of human sacrifice - Kieran Richardson being the man led kicking-and-screaming towards the 50 foot wooden effigy - to buy Maynor Figueroa for £7m.

Wednesday 20 January 2010
The last change in the offside law was a paradigm shift too far for Bramble?

*Is there any more transfer business for Martinez, is the defence looking stronger now or are stars about to leave? Let us know

Squarefootball Diary

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

23:30 Squarefootball Diary bit.ly/6xrhyY #

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08:08 Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs aim to dash Rafa’s top four hopes: Tottenham have only beaten Liverpool i... bit.ly/4JpQ59 #sqf #

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15:00 @aliverpoolthing Sol Campbell is owed money by Pompey - HMRC have issued a winding up order so he must ask for it or lose it #

15:02 @paul_tomkins I agree that a manager with a good track record should be allowed a 'blip' season #

15:03 @paul_tomkins ... and I also agree that only consecutive blips really represents decline (a bit like defining an economic recession). #

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Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers: Gunners eye summit special

The Gunners convincingly ruined Owen Coyle’s debut as Bolton manager on Sunday. A similar performance and result tonight will see Wenger’s side move to the top of the Premier League and give their critics a right kick in.

Everyone knows that Arsenal, without a shadow of a doubt, play the best football in the country and that on their day they can destroy anyone. However, the pundits have been lining up to dismiss their title challenge, despite sitting in the top three for most of the season. Victory tonight will see Wenger’s men sit pretty at the top of the table and it will give them a huge lift going into a run of huge games.

However, they must not get carried away as they have to beat Bolton to climb to the summit and do so by two clear goals. Mind you, given Bolton’s recent record at the Emirates it is almost a given that this will be a home win. The Trotters haven’t won in the league in north London since January 1962 and they have only won away twice all season (v Portsmouth and Birmingham).

Bolton fans will be looking for Coyle to motivate the players following the defeat on Sunday but his away record at Burnley was hardly inspiring. He only managed to claim one point on the road (v Manchester City) and suffered some huge losses. Can he spring a miracle at the Emirates to move his side out of the bottom three and put a spanner in Arsenal’s title hopes? It’s highly unlikely.

Arsenal have only lost at home once this season (v Chelsea) and only Everton have recorded a draw at the Emirates. They have also won their past seven meetings with Bolton and are strong favourites to make it eight tonight.

by Colin Illingworth

Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers; Kick Off 7:45pm 20 Oct 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 3 - 0
Chris Cox : TBC
Graham Enwright : 3 - 1
Sue Gardener : TBC
Chris Goodwin : 3 - 0
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : TBC
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : TBC
Don McMahon : TBC
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 3 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 3 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 2 - 1
Peter Rendle : TBC
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 3 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 2 - 0

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a comfortable 3-0 Arsenal win - to take them top of the table.

Home: 8; Draw: 0; Away: 0; TBC: 12.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs aim to dash Rafa’s top four hopes

Tottenham have only beaten Liverpool in the league at Anfield five times in their entire history but they will not get a better chance of chalking up a sensational sixth than tonight. Liverpool are a club in crisis, from the top down, and with their three best players – Gerrard, Torres and Benayoun – watching from the stands this is a game Spurs have to win to prove their Champions League credentials and pile more misery on Rafa’s Reds.

Spurs were held to a goalless draw by Hull at the weekend but it wasn’t for the lack of trying. The north London giants created chance after chance but were thwarted on every occasion by the sensational Boaz Myhill. Tottenham could have played until Monday and they still wouldn’t have found a way past him. Redknapp would have been pleased though with his defence which recorded their sixth clean sheet in a row.

Liverpool were denied a vital win at the Britannia Stadium by a late Robert Huth effort but it didn’t prove too costly in the end with none of their main rivals for fourth spot doing any better. Despite all of their problems, Liverpool are just four points off a Champions League spot and you have to believe that if they avoid defeat here tonight they will use their experience to push on in the final third of the season. But can they avoid defeat here tonight?

Tottenham’s last success at Anfield came in 1998 in the League Cup, which they won 3-1, and before that Jurgen Klinsmann and Teddy Sheringham scored in an epic FA Cup quarter-final win in 1995. However, you have to go back to 1993 for their last league win in Liverpool, again thanks to a brace from Teddy Sheringham. Only Arsenal and Chelsea have sent Spurs home empty handed this season and they will be hoping for a happy trip back to the capital this evening.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have lost only twice at home this season (v Aston Villa and Arsenal) and Rafa will be praying that the fans get right behind the team and get their Champions League hopes back on track.

Spurs did beat Liverpool on the opening day of the season and will be hoping to complete their first double over the Reds since 1987. A win for Spurs will put them firmly in the driving seat for fourth spot, moving them three points clear of Manchester City. A win for Liverpool though will move them to within a point of Spurs and City and put the pressure right back on their rivals.

by Colin Illingworth
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur; Kick Off 8:00pm 20 Oct 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 2 - 1
Chris Cox : 2 - 1
Graham Enwright : 2 - 2
Sue Gardener : 1 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 2 - 1
Don McMahon : 1 - 1
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 0 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 0 - 2
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 2
Peter Rendle : 2 - 1
Dan Taylor : 1 - 0
Andy Wakeman : 0 - 2
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 2 - 1

Panel Verdict
The panel is split, but a significant minority are expecting a 2-1 Liverpool win.

Home: 7; Draw: 4; Away: 4; TBC: 5.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Squarefootball Diary - Tuesday 19 January 2010

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

23:30 Squarefootball Diary bit.ly/5lBKum #

23:38 sqF Mailbag: Benitez has had a bad season, without question. I guess the question is whether several decent seaso... bit.ly/5ChNfi #

23:38 sqF Mailbag: Saturday Morning: 4. Man City 38 points 7. Liverpool 33 points Sunday Night: 4. Tottenham 38 points ... bit.ly/8sFAge #

23:38 sqF Mailbag: i dont think benitez will be laughing on wed 10pm when hes picking up his p45 antony. and liverpool ... bit.ly/8LF1Z3 #

23:39 sqF Mailbag: You could go on and on about dropped points and say that a team seriously wanting to hit 4th should w... bit.ly/7tmw4m #

23:39 sqF Mailbag: what a load of rubbish. Spurs are having a great season and the results again Villa, everton and Fulh... bit.ly/4IWSuT #

23:44 Try telling some people that Liverpool actually closed the gap on 4th place over the the weekend ... sheesh ... bit.ly/8peyKe #

00:09 sqF Mailbag: I agree that Tottenham have a better squad than Liverpool (and possibly Villa and Man City too). But... bit.ly/4ssFXP #

00:31 Squarefootball Diary: Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter. 23:30 Squaref... bit.ly/4qQr72 #sqf #

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Squarefootball Diary - Monday 18 January 2010

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

23:30 Squarefootball Diary bit.ly/6nhdMS #

23:59 Squarefootball Diary: Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter. 23:37 @therea... bit.ly/8PmjDS #sqf #

00:16 Aston Villa transfer diary 2 - 17 January 2010 bit.ly/6idUKv #

08:00 The pretenders for fourth keep coming up short, leaving Liverpool laughing bit.ly/8peyKe #

08:11 The pretenders for fourth keep coming up short, leaving Liverpool laughing: With Liverpool's problems of the l... bit.ly/4zdXbn #sqf #

09:12 Aston Villa transfer diary 2 - 17 January 2010: With recent results not going particularly well for Villa, the... bit.ly/88x2xB #sqf #

10:06 sqF Mailbag: Sorry but: a) Man City were fourth and lost, not Spurs who were fifth and drew to pull level with the... bit.ly/5AJubk #

10:06 sqF Mailbag: Even Liverpools draw at Stoke was enough to move them a point close to fourth place as none of the te... bit.ly/4x7IV8 #

10:06 sqF Mailbag: Who ever put this artical together is a Liverpool fan and an fool bit.ly/4AQUyE #

10:06 sqF Mailbag: You clearly didnt watch the majority of these games bit.ly/6gLRQ0 #

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Aston Villa transfer diary 2 - 17 January 2010

With recent results not going particularly well for Villa, there must be a temptation to bolster the squad in the transfer window. But who have the papers been linking to Villa?

Aston Villa transfer diary 20 December 2009 - 1 January 2010

Saturday 2 January 2010
The Daily Mirror reckon that Birmingham will sign Villa's Craig Gardner for around £3.5m whilst elsewhere reporting that Martin O'Neill insists winger Ashley Young is not a diver.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Sunday 3 January 2010
Continued speculation about Emile Heskey with The Mail on Sunday reporting an imminent £4m bid from Chelsea - or possibly Liverpool. The Sunday Mirror reckon that Villa are looking to build a monopoly of players with the surname 'Downing' by bidding for West Brom's teenage defender Paul.

Monday 4 January 2010
The Daily Mail link Villa and a host of other clubs to Lyon striker Frederic Piquionne, who is currently on loan at Portsmouth. While the Daily Mirror continue to link Craig Gardener to Blues.

Tuesday 5 January 2010
Martin O'Neill continues to ponder reasons why Villa are so poor in March.

Wednesday 6 January 2010
Does the return of 'Gardeners World' distract the players?

Thursday 7 January 2010
Do the players eat mars bars in deference to the the Roman god of war who the month is named after - it would excuse their lethargy?

Friday 8 January 2010
The Sun report that Hull are interested in Marlon Harewood.

Saturday 9 January 2010
The Sun suggest that Robbie Keane is wanted by Villa - but Spurs have slapped a £50m valuation on him - and that Wigan and Villa are interested in Sporting Gijon's Spain Under-21 left-back Roberto Canella who is available for about £4m.

The Daily Star report that West Ham are the latest club linked with a move for Marlon Harewood.

Sunday 10 January 2010
The News of the World oddly reckon that James Milner needs a big pay rise to stop Liverpool from signing him - has his agent been on the phone?

Monday 11 January 2010
St Patrick's Day! There's a possibility.

Tuesday 12 January 2010
Newcastle are considering a permanent deal for Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood if Leeds stall on selling Jermaine Beckford according to The Daily Mirror.

Wednesday 13 January 2010
The Sun now suggest that Marlon Harewood could go to Leeds as a direct replacement for Beckford - he may even score goals in League One.

Thursday 14 January 2010
Four teams are looking at Nigel Reo-Coker according to The Times, with Blackburn, Bolton, Wigan and Hull prepared to pay up to £5m. Bite. Their. Hands. Off. But The Sun reckons that Reo-Coker will reject Blackburn.

Friday 15 January 2010
The final week of Mardi Gras is in March - make note, check for funny outfits and loud music ... scratch that, how will that be any different from normal for footballers.

Saturday 16 January 2010
Perhaps its a mental thing.

Sunday 17 January 2010
Damn it looks like March has started early this year.

*Will Villa be trading or buying in this window, or do they have the players to finish fourth? Let us know!

The pretenders for fourth keep coming up short, leaving Liverpool laughing

With Liverpool's problems of the last three months you would expect that at least one of the three other teams that are in the scrap for fourth would have taken the chance to build up a gap ahead of a predictable improvement in form for Liverpool over the next couple of months. Without a cushion surely Aston Villa, Tottenham or Manchester City will struggle when the big pressure of the final ten games starts to take its toll in March and April?

But despite Liverpool winning just four of the last eleven league games - each of the pretenders have proved equally poor. Even Liverpool's draw at Stoke was enough to move them a point close to fourth place as none of the teams ahead of them could win games against teams in the lower half of the division this weekend. Rafa Benitez does not come across as having much to laugh about at the moment, but a glance at the table shows that Liverpool remain just four points shy of fourth place and the club usually picks up momentum in the second half of the season. Only a small improvement in form for Liverpool will leave Benitez laughing at his many critics.

Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham ended November battering nine past Wigan and looked likely to be the team that would then kick on, but they blow hot and cold - failing to score in three recent games but still averaging two goals a game. The game against Liverpool this week could now make or break the leage season.

Disappointing results in last 10 games:
Hull (h) 0-0 - home draws to Hull are a worry
Fulham (a) 0-0 - looked a decent point at the time, but Fulham have barely picked up a point since
Wolves (h) 0-1 - smash-and-grab home defeat against a team that scores the fewest goals in the division
Everton (a) 2-2 - disappointing point against a team hovering over the dropzone
Aston Villa (a) 1-1 - even the late equalizer failed to cover the lost opportunity

Total cost: 11 points

Manchester City
The succession of draws and suspect defensive work cost Mark Hughes his job and whilst Roberto Mancini has tightened things up, the defeat at Everton was worryingly passionless.

Disappointing results in last 10 games:
Liverpool (a) 2-2 - City lead twice
Hull (h) 1-1 - home draw to relegation candidate
Bolton (a) 3-3 - conceding freely to a relegation candidate
Tottenham (a) 0-3 - crushing defeat to a rival
Everton (a) 0-2 - outplayed by a team in lower mid-table

Total cost: 12 points

Aston Villa
Considering Villa's dreadful run-in record under Martin O'Neill, there is every reason to believe that they won't finish the season strongly. Villa have yet to win a March league game under Martin O'Neill so they more than any of the other contenders needed to build a cushion through the winter months.

Disappointing results in last 10 games:
West Ham (h) 0-0 - too few chances created at home again
Liverpool (h) 0-1 - last minute loss in a game that was there for the taking and could have really knocked Liverpool back
Arsenal (a) 0-3 - beaten comfortably by third placed Arsenal
Tottenham (h) 1-1 - late goal cost Villa the chance to punish rivals
Burnley (a) 1-1 - Burnley are without a win since October

Total cost: 12 points

Squarefootball Diary - Sunday 17 January 2010

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

23:37 @therealfacup Thanks for the link, there are none so blind as those that can't see! #

23:54 Squarefootball Diary: Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter. 23:30 Squaref... bit.ly/8ultit #sqf #

09:05 Aston Villa v West Ham United: Hammers to be left black and blue: Martin O’Neill already has one foot in the L... bit.ly/8PGhd1 #sqf #

12:52 sqF Mailbag: west ham to win 2-0 ,no problem. bit.ly/8C5asO #

12:52 sqF Mailbag: 3-0 to villa today come on you villa boys bit.ly/5RPpNr #

14:32 Blackburn Rovers vs Fulham: Blackburn look to pull away from danger bit.ly/8OCJ5w #

14:33 Squarefootball prediction panel - expecting a 1-1 draw between Blackburn and Fulham bit.ly/65vmAn #

14:39 Blackburn Rovers vs Fulham: Blackburn look to pull away from danger: Two out-of-form teams meet in Lancashire ... bit.ly/4IwGvA #sqf #

15:01 Bolton Wanderers vs Arsenal: Could Coyle spring a surprise on the Gunners? bit.ly/4wP1Sn #

15:41 Bolton Wanderers vs Arsenal: Could Coyle spring a surprise on the Gunners?: 19th placed Bolton could move up f... bit.ly/8I9Mj0 #sqf #

17:47 Is This Finally Stevenage's Year?: The New Year in the Blue Square Premier is noticeable for the number of for... bit.ly/8bRCIl #sqf #

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Is This Finally Stevenage's Year?

The New Year in the Blue Square Premier is noticeable for the number of former League clubs jostling for a return to the Football League- seven of the current top nine have enjoyed League status but the team on top of the pile are striving to make it for the first time.

To say that Stevenage Borough have been 'there and therabouts' when it comes to promotion would be something of an understatement. Their followers have had to put up with disappointments that would drive a nun to blasphemy.

In 2005 they were beaten by Carlisle United in the play-off final. Last season they dipped out in the play-offs again. For three seasons from 2006-2008 they finished sixth, eighth and sixth, just missing the play -offs on each occasion.

Worst of all, in 1995/96 they topped the pile only to be denied promotion to the Football League due to ground issues. The next year they were third but at that time there were no play-offs.

The club lifted the FA Trophy twice- 2007 and 2009- but the real prize would be a chance to play in League Two. 2010 could be the year as Graeme Westley's team have edged ahead of Oxford United, based on an unbeaten home record.

The 'U's are still a major threat with games in hand but Westley is in his second spell at the helm and this time may have the squad to do the job. The Stevenage boss is high profile in this division after his exploits with Farnborough whch ended controversially when he upped sticks to Hertfordshire.

Fourteen clean sheets from twenty-seven games is a formidable defensive record. A single defeat in the last eight league games has maintained their push, although York City in third are a major threat with eight wins on the bounce.

There is still a sense of injustice at Broadhall Way about what happened on 1996 when Torquay United were reprieved. The 2009/10 campaign looks as if it will go all the way to May and all Boro fans will be desperately hoping to avoid the play offs again- but Oxford United and York City are formidable opponents to overcome,

Bolton Wanderers vs Arsenal: Could Coyle spring a surprise on the Gunners?

19th placed Bolton could move up five places with a win today and face 3rd placed Arsenal who need to win to keep in touch with the league leaders.

Bolton welcome new manager Owen Coyle precariously placed in the relegation zone - but with three games in hand over most of their rivals. 18 points from 18 games is not in itself relegation for - so Bolton's position is not nearly as precarious as it could be for a team in the relegation zone. A new manager usually produces an upturn in results - as Burnley's new manager nearly found at Old Trafford yesterday only for wayward finishing to deny the Clarets - so Coyle may lift the Trotter clear of danger in the next few weeks. Bolton have most players available and have a good recent record against Arsenal.

Arsenal have at times this season looked like the only team capable of consisting blowing teams away - rather than merely scratching out wins. Although Chelsea's seven goals yesterday and Spurs nine last month were notable, Arsenal have bagged four or more goals in seven games already this season. As the injuries start to fade, today should see the return of Fabregas and Clichy, the shape of the Arsenal title challenge should take shape - Arsene Wenger will travel more in expectation than hope.

Bolton Wanderers vs Arsenal; Kick Off 4:00pm 17 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 1 - 2
Chris Cox : 0 - 2
Graham Enwright : 1 - 3
Sue Gardener : 1 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 3
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 1 - 3
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 0 - 2
Peter Lee : TBC
Don McMahon : 0 - 2
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 2
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 2
Peter Rendle : 0 - 3
Dan Taylor : 1 - 3
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 3
Isaac Williams : 1 - 2
Mark Williams : 2 - 1

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a 2-1 Arsenal win.

Home: 1; Draw: 1; Away: 14; TBC: 4.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Blackburn Rovers vs Fulham: Blackburn look to pull away from danger

Two out-of-form teams meet in Lancashire with 14th placed Blackburn facing 9th placed Fulham.

Blackburn are without a win in nine Premier League games a sequence that stretches back to a 2-0 win at Bolton in November, shortly after which David Dunn got injured and missed the whole of December. This is his fourth game back and he should now be at full match fitness and able to consider dominating games like he was in November when there were some suggestions of an England call-up. Blackburn must start to get some results to pull away from danger soon - and as Fulham's last away win in the league was on the opening day of the season this is a good game to start a run.

Fulham were in prime form before Christmas beating Liverpool and Manchester United, but Zamora's injury has unbalanced the attack and Fulham are without a win since beating Man United on 19 December - bar a narrow win over Swindon in the cup. Fulham usually get a goal, and only Spurs and Birmingham have kept clean sheets against the Cottagers since September - so against one of the most porous defences in the division you would expect a goal from Fulham - if not necessarily a win - today.

Blackburn Rovers vs Fulham; Kick Off 3:00pm 17 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 0 - 0
Chris Cox : 2 - 1
Graham Enwright : 0 - 2
Sue Gardener : 3 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 2
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 1 - 1
Peter Lee : TBC
Don McMahon : 1 - 3
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 2 - 2
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 2
Dan Taylor : 0 - 1
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 1
Isaac Williams : 1 - 1
Mark Williams : 0 - 1

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a 1-1 draw today.

Home: 4; Draw: 7; Away: 5; TBC: 4.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Aston Villa v West Ham United: Hammers to be left black and blue

Martin O’Neill already has one foot in the League Cup final but a win today will put his side level on points with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur as the fight for fourth spot really hots up. Standing in their way though is a West Ham United side that are hungry for points and desperate to pull themselves away from danger. Which team in claret and blue will leave their opponents hopes and dreams black and blue this afternoon?

West Ham’s Zavon Hines was the toast of the East End in November when these two sides met, popping up deep into injury time to give the Hammers their first home win of the league campaign. That win took the pressure off Gianfranco Zola, who had failed to win since the opening day of the season, and although the Hammers are putting in decent displays they have only managed to pick up eight points from a possible 27.

The Hammers slipped into the bottom three following yesterday’s results but a win, which will be an amazing feat considering all of their recognised strikers look to miss out, will see them climb to 14^th. However, they are up against a Villa side that is well organised, determined and quick to attack, and, with City and Spurs slipping up, they know this is an excellent opportunity for them.

Villa have only lost twice since going down 2-1 at Upton Park in November – against Arsenal and Liverpool – are still in both cup competitions and have no real injury concerns. O’Neill has assembled a good mix of youth and experience at Villa Park and I don’t think they will be allowed to let their Champions League charge go out like it did last season, and I can’t see them losing to West Ham here today.

West Ham have only won at Villa Park twice in the Premier League (their last win coming in 2006) and picked up just seven points on the road this season. In contrast Villa have lost just twice at home and picked up 20 points.

Villa have no fresh injury concerns while West Ham have doubts on midfielders Mark Noble and the influential Scott Parker.

Can the Hammers put a nail in Villa’s Champions League hopes? According to our Panel, the visitors don’t have a chance.

Aston Villa v West Ham United; Kick Off 1:30pm 17 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 2 - 0
Chris Cox : 3 - 1
Graham Enwright : 1 - 1
Sue Gardener : 1 - 0
Chris Goodwin : 2 - 0
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 2 - 1
Peter Lee : TBC
Don McMahon : 2 - 1
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 3 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 2 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 2 - 1
Peter Rendle : 1 - 0
Dan Taylor : 2 - 1
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 0
Isaac Williams : 2 - 1
Mark Williams : TBC

Panel Verdict

It looks like a home win to us.

Home: 14; Draw: 1; Away: 0; TBC: 5.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!

Squarefootball Diary - Saturday 16 January 2010

Squarefootball diary brought via the medium of football tweets on Twitter.

23:30 Squarefootball Diary articles.squarefootball.net/squarefootball/2010/01/squarefootball-diary-14.html #

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11:36 sqF Mailbag: Mohammed Jamiu :3 - 0 bit.ly/5kGYNk #

11:36 sqF Mailbag: 1- 0 bit.ly/5mFcup #

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14:51 sqF Mailbag: I would also predict a Spurs win as I believe they have learnt a valuable lesson from the shock defea... bit.ly/6EZ1ip #

14:51 sqF Mailbag: I think Everton will win this one. They will be very up for it, particuloarly after conceding that la... bit.ly/80Amp2 #

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