A Different League

West Ham allow Cole to leave

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:33:02 GMT

West Ham United have decided to release striker Carlton Cole, BBC Sport confirms.

The former Chelsea youngster has had a difficult season at Upton Park, scoring only twice in the last campaign. His last strike came in the defeat to Everton before Christmas, and Sam Allardyce has decided the attacker does not fit into his future plans.

He said: “Carlton’s need at his age is to be playing football as often as he can. We felt it better he found pastures new.”

Cole had loan spells with Charlton

Sanogo looking forward to Arsenal switch

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:29:46 GMT

Auxerre striker Yaya Sanogo is keen to get his move to Arsenal completed, according to ESPN.

Sanogo told Sky Sports: “Arsenal could be a great club for me. I scored nine goals this season with Auxerre and they think I can improve my level in England. I am pleased to be following in the footsteps of Abou Diaby who came through from Auxerre. There are many teams interested in me, but Arsenal is my choice.”

The 20-year-old is highly rated by many, and has had scouts from Italian clubs as well as Arsenal watching his pr

PSG approach former Chelsea boss Benitez

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:24:50 GMT

French champions Paris Saint-Germain have made an approach to speak to outgoing Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez, reports French sources.

ESPN reports claims from L’Equipe which indicate Benitez’s advisers are talking to sporting director Leonardo over the possibility of succeeding Carlo Ancelotti, who wants to leave the club and take over at Real Madrid.

Benitez’s reputation has been restored in testing climes at Chelsea. He guided the club to a top three Premier League finish and Europa League glory despite

Nasri backs Pellegrini for Man City vacancy

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:19:15 GMT

Manuel Pellegrini has received more backing on his likely appointment as Manchester City manager, with the support coming from Citizens midfielder Samir Nasri, who has spoken on the club’s American post-season tour of his admiration for Pellegrini’s managerial abilities.

The French international told Sky Sports News: “I think he is a great manager. He proved himself with Villarreal. At Real Madrid as well, even though he didn’t win the title, they finished with 96 points and at Malaga too.

“All his teams play attrac

Luiz set to be offloaded by Mourinho after Chelsea return

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:15:03 GMT

With Jose Mourinho expected to be finally confirmed as the manager at Chelsea in the coming days, talk has begun on who he might let leave west London, and the Daily Mail indicates David Luiz is set to be one of the big casualties.

The 26-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge from Benfica in January 2011 for £21m, but hasn’t always looked convincing in his regular central defensive role. A move from Rafael Benitez into a defensive midfield position seemed to suit him better, and his form improved as the season progressed. However, Mourinho i

Hodgson slams Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham post-season tours

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:11:18 GMT

England manager Roy Hodgson has hit out at Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham for arranging post-season tours after the domestic season has finished.

England have two friendlies to play in the next fortnight against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley, before travelling to Rio to face 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil for the second time in the calendar year.

The FA brought the dates of these friendlies forward to allow players to have an extended summer break. However, the lucrative tours of the three domestic clubs h

Fulham ready to land Boateng

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:08:03 GMT

Martin Jol is ready to shake up his Fulham squad, and looks set to make his first move in the transfer market. The Independent understands that will be for Dnipro midfielder Derek Boateng.

The Ghanaian midfielder has been a long-term target for Jol, but contract disputes between the west Londoners and the Ukrainian side have got in the way of a transfer taking place. However, a deal is close to being finalised between the two clubs for the 30-year-old, who moved to Dnipro in 2011 from Getafe.

Boateng has been well-t

Fiorentina holding out for hefty Jovetic price tag amid Arsenal interest

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:04:43 GMT

The Daily Mirror has reported that Fiorentina have told Arsenal that if they want their prized asset Stevan Jovetic, they will have to meet their hefty price tag.

Jovetic is Arsenal’s number one target and Arsene Wenger has already indicated he will spend money after Champions League qualification was secured for the 16th successive campaign at the weekend.

However the Florence outfit, who narrowly missed out on playing in the Champions League next season to Milan on Sunday, have said Jovetic will not be made availa

Man City link up with Nike after announcing MLS franchise

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:57:36 GMT

American sportswear giant Nike have bounced back from losing their contract with Arsenal, by signing a £72m kit deal with Manchester City, says Football365.

The deal was announced on Tuesday at a media event in New York, where the club are on a post-season tour, before two friendlies in St. Louis and New York with Chelsea. The 2012 Premier League champions announced last year that there were going to move away from former suppliers Umbro, who were previously owned by Nike.

The club’s commercial and operating officer

Why time was up for Tony Pulis at Stoke

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:16:57 GMT

With a heavy heart, Rob Doolan of Stoke blog Chief Delilah looks at why Tony Pulis’ reign had to end.

Tony Pulis’ sacking by Stoke City has come as a surprise to many. This is the man who led the Potters from the mid-table quagmire of the Championship to Premier League respectability, a first-ever FA Cup final and, dizzyingly, the latter stages of the Europa League. With Stoke finishing the season in 13th - one place higher than 2012/13 - what is going through Peter Coates’ mind?

The truth is that, as marvellous a j

Neville wants to succeed Moyes at Everton

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:06:31 GMT

Phil Neville believes David Moyes is a perfect replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United - and wants the chance to prove he can be likewise for Moyes at Everton, the Guardian has reported.

Neville played under Ferguson until moving to Goodison Park in the summer of 2005, then spent eight years as a Moyes player, leaving Everton at the end of the season after his contract expired. Neville has not yet decided if he is to retire or seek a chance to continue playing, but is said to have told Everton owner Bill Kenwright he would li

Shaw to reject Chelsea interest in favour of Southampton stay

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:56:28 GMT

Luke Shaw will ignore interest from Chelsea to remain at Southampton and sign his first professional contract with the club this summer, the Daily Telegraph has reported.

Shaw, 17, impressed in his debut season in the Premier League as first Nigel Adkins and then Mauricio Pochettino guided the Saints to mid-table safety upon their return to the top flight after years spent in the second and third tiers.

Chelsea had identified Shaw as a possible long-term replacement for England regular Ashley Cole but Shaw is unders

Stoke seek new direction after Pulis departure

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:48:38 GMT

Tony Pulis was sacked by Stoke City chairman Peter Coates on Tuesday, the Daily Telegraph has claimed, with the Potters looking for a young, fresh manager to take the team forward.

Pulis was intending to speak with Coates about the club’s summer transfer budget and other preparations for the new season but was instead told his time at the Britannia Ground was at an end, following speculation Pulis would be on the move that was never dismissed by Coates.

The chairman had only said he did not want to discuss the manag

Suarez happy at Liverpool, insists Rodgers

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:35:38 GMT

Brendan Rodgers believes Luis Suarez will be happy to remain at Liverpool this summer, despite expected interest from clubs across Europe, in part because the Reds have remained loyal to the Uruguayan during his repeated incidents of wrong-doing, according to the Daily Mirror.

Suarez is currently in the middle of a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in a match at Anfield towards the end of the season, little over a year after Suarez was suspended for eight games for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

Mancini had the sack coming, says Man City defender Clichy

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:24:35 GMT

Gael Clichy believes Roberto Mancini is in no position to complain about being sacked by Manchester City, the Daily Mirror has reported, after City ended the season without a trophy, missing out in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Mancini was sacked a year to the day after taking City to their first title win in more than 40 years the season before, removed by the City hierarchy after giving up the crown to Manchester United with barely a fight and failing to win a game in the Champions League, finishing bottom of the group

Dembele aiming for Premier League title challenge with Tottenham

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:16:13 GMT

Mousa Dembele believes Tottenham Hotspur can challenge for the Premier League title next season, Sky Sports has reported, but only if Andre Villas-Boas’ side sign the players they need this summer and cut out sloppy performances against the lower-ranked teams in the division.

Spurs ended the season in fifth place, missing out on Champions League football by a point against local rivals Arsenal, and were 17 points back on champions Manchester United - that’s despite being one of only three teams - Manchester City and Chelsea the others - to

Rooney denies issuing Man Utd transfer request

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:07:27 GMT

Wayne Rooney is said to be concerned he is being forced out of Manchester United by claims he told Sir Alex Ferguson he wanted to leave the club, the Daily Mirror has reported, as Ferguson explored the possibility of tempting Manchester City into swapping Rooney for goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Rooney has admitted speaking with Ferguson and seeking clarification over his future but he denies ever formally asking to leave the Premier League champions. Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Arsenal Chelsea and Manchester City have all been linked with the form

Carroll ruled out for four months as West Ham and Liverpool agree fee

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:56:11 GMT

Andy Carroll’s proposed permanent move from Liverpool to West Ham has been thrown into doubt after the striker was forced to pull out of the England squad with a heel injury that could keep him out of action for four months, the Daily Mirror has reported.

The two clubs had only just agreed a fee for the former Newcastle centre-forward, said to be in the region of £15m, after Carroll spent the season on loan at Upton Park when he was deemed surplus to requirements by new Reds boss Brendan Rodgers. Carroll only moved to Anfield from Newcastle

Lampard believes Benitez was a success at Chelsea

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:45:31 GMT

Rafael Benitez can look back on his time as interim Chelsea manager and consider himself a success, Frank Lampard believes, after the Spaniard’s temporary spell at Stamford Bridge ended with Champions League qualification and Europa League success, Sky Sports has reported.

Benitez was not made to feel welcome by a large section of the Blues’ faithful when he replaced Roberto Di Matteo in November 2012, as supporters remembered critical comments he made about Chelsea when Liverpool manager and were unhappy with the treatment of Di Matteo, a

Pulis leaves Stoke after seven years

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:14:17 GMT

The Independent has reported the departure of Tony Pulis as manager of Stoke City.

The Welshman has parted company with the club after guiding them through seven years of highs at the Britannia Stadium, taking them from perennial Championship strugglers to a solid mid-table Premier League side.

The 55-year-old guided the Potters to the top flight in 2008, and has taken them to an FA Cup final in his second spell with the club, as well as the last 32 of the Europa League in 2012.

He also has

Man Utd boss Ferguson voted LMA manager of the year

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:58:04 GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson has bowed out at the top and as the the Independent has reported, he has won another award. The retiring Scot was named on Monday night as the LMA’s Premier League manager of the year, holding off competition from Steve Clarke, Michael Laudrup and his successor at Manchester United, David Moyes, for the award.

It is the fourth time Ferguson has won this honour since it was introduced in 1994, also winning the prize in 1999, 2008 and 2011.

When collecting the award at the dinner in London, Ferguson

Martinez to decide Wigan future next week

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:53:20 GMT

In-demand manager Roberto Martinez will hold talks with his chairman Dave Whelan next week, before deciding on his future with Wigan Athletic.

According to Sky Sports, Whelan is still keen to hold onto his Spanish manager, despite their eight-year stay in the top flight ending last week with defeat at Arsenal.

Under Martinez, Wigan earned a spot in Europe through their FA Cup triumph at Wembley against Manchester City, and despite the crushing blow of relegation, the players and the manager paraded the cup around Wi

Wrist injury rounds off Bendtner's loan at Juventus from Arsenal

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:49:47 GMT

BBC Sport has confirmed Nicklas Bendtner has undergone an operation on a broken wrist which has completed his disappointing loan spell at Serie A champions Juventus from Arsenal.

The Dane joined the Italians from the Gunners in August, but only featured 11 times due to injury and Antonio Conte’s other striking options. He failed to score for the club. The 25-year-old collected the injury as a second-half substitute in Juve’s final day defeat to Sampdoria. However, they comfortably retained the title, ahead of Napoli and Milan.

Rodwell added to England squad

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:41:56 GMT

Despite a troubled first season with injury at Manchester City, Jack Rodwell has earned a call-up to the England squad for next week’s friendlies with the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

The Daily Express has revealed Roy Hodgson’s desire to bring Rodwell back into the international set-up, although he wasn’t included in the initial party when the squad for these internationals was first revealed late last week.

Rodwell has figured twice for the Three Lions before in his Everton days, but not since November 2011 whe

Italian ref Rizzoli awarded Champions League final duty

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:37:23 GMT

The Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli has been appointed to the biggest club game in the world, the Champions League final, confirms Goal.com. UEFA has announced the Bologna-born official will take charge of this Saturday’s showpiece at Wembley between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

The 41-year-old has been a Serie A referee for 11 years, and has shown five red cards and 83 yellow cards in his 17 matches this season.

He was appointed to the UEFA list in 2007, and has taken charge of five Champions League encounte

Di Canio after Sunderland striking boost

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:33:11 GMT

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio is already turning his thoughts to next season, and ITV Sport understands priority number one is to acquire a new striker for the club.

The Wearsiders scored only 41 goals in the Premier League all campaign, with Steven Fletcher bagging 11 of those efforts. Only Stoke City and relegated Queens Park Rangers scored fewer throughout the entire campaign.

The goals noticeably were missing when injury ended Fletcher’s season prematurely in March, and in his absence, neither youngster Conn

Carroll thankful for West Ham opportunity

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:26:26 GMT

After being made surplus to requirements at Liverpool, Andy Carroll has admitted he is thankful to West Ham for the opportunities he has received in his loan period with the club.

Speaking to Teamtalk.com, the tall striker has impressed when he has stayed clear of injury in east London, and gave the Hammers a different option in attack.

He said: “I have enjoyed every minute of being here. I have just tried to play my best in every match, score goals and keep myself fit once I got back from the injuries I had and the

Wilshere dreaming of Arsenal and England captaincy

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:22:40 GMT

Arsenal and England’s influential midfielder Jack Wilshere has revealed his ambitions in the long-term are to captain both his club and the Three Lions, according to Sky Sports.

He said: “I want to captain Arsenal and I want to captain England. That definitely appeals to me. It’s my ultimate dream.

“People say players are no longer bothered about wearing the England shirt. But for me it’s the pinnacle of my job because club rivalries go out of the window and the entire nation comes together behind you - it’s the bes

League 2 review - AFC Wimbledon

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:22:23 GMT

A 1-0 opening day win in League Two saw the perfect start for Terry Brown’s side, but the optimism from that result quickly evaporated after an embarrassing four days in August.

6-2 and 5-1 away defeats to Burton Albion and Bradford City respectively started a painful time in the clubs history.

With The Don’s struggling to recover from those results, the club lost four out of his next five games and following a 1-0 home defeat long serving manager Terry Brown was relieved of his duties.

Form

Dortmund boss Klopp disappointed by Kagawa's bit-part role at Man Utd

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:43:54 GMT

Borussia Dortmund Coach Jurgen Klopp has revealed he is disappointed to see his former charge Shinji Kagawa playing only sporadically and usually out of position at Manchester United, according to the Daily Mail.

Kagawa left Dortmund for United last summer and made 26 appearances in all competitions as United won the Premier League title and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but was often restricted to substitute appearances or left-wing berths, rather than starting in what Klopp believes is his preferred central midfield

Man City captain Kompany wanted by Barcelona

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:29:28 GMT

Manchester City could face a fight to keep hold of captain Vincent Kompany after Barcelona turned to the Belgium international when their interest in Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva was rebuffed, the Daily Mirror has reported.

The Catalan club are willing to pay £20m to take Kompany away from the Etihad Stadium, hopeful of capitalising on any unhappiness the skipper holds over the sacking of Roberto Mancini. Incoming Coach Manuel Pellegrini is understood to want to keep Kompany at City but City could be in for a struggle after Barca made

Sunderland players go to PFA over Di Canio criticism and fine

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:18:44 GMT

A number of Sunderland players are in contact with the PFA over their next step after they were fined two weeks’ wages for indiscipline and publically criticised by manager Paolo Di Canio, the Daily Mirror has reported.

Seven of the Black Cats’ squad - including Phil Bardsley, pictured recently lying on the floor in a casino covered in £50 notes - have been in touch with the players’ union, with Bardsley said to be insistent that he had not broken any club rules during the team night out earlier in May.

Di Canio how

Liverpool closing in on Man City defender Toure

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:07:00 GMT

Liverpool have moved to sure up their defence following the retirement of Jamie Carragher by approaching experienced Manchester City defender Kolo Toure about a switch to Anfield, the Guardian has reported.

Toure’s contract with the former Premier League champions expires this summer and the 32-year-old has not been offered fresh terms, having fallen out of favour under former manager Roberto Mancini. Toure is keen to remain in English football - having joined Arsenal in 2002 - and, following his move to City in 2009, wants to stay in the N

Parker, Dempsey and Adebayor face Tottenham exit after missing Champions League

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:00:51 GMT

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to make room in their squad for players who can take them into the Champions League next season, with the likes of Scott Parker, Clint Dempsey and Emmanuel Adebayor all to be made available, the Daily Mirror has reported.

Spurs missed out on a place in the Premier League’s top four by a single point, falling behind Arsenal despite beating the Gunners in early March. In an effort to surpass Arsene Wenger’s side next season, Tottenham will seek bigger name players to compliment Gareth Bale and try to return to th

Moyes to tell Rooney he wants him at Man Utd

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:48:09 GMT

David Moyes is keen to keep Wayne Rooney at Manchester United, the Guardian has reported, and now wants to convince his former Everton protégé that he has a future at Old Trafford.

Moyes visited United’s Carrington training ground on Monday, beginning work as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor, with the future of Rooney one of the biggest issues facing the incoming boss. Rooney told Ferguson last month that he wished to leave the club in the summer if he could not be sure of playing every week.

Ferguson however announced

Wenger to break Arsenal transfer record in move for Madrid’s Higuain

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:35:53 GMT

Arsene Wenger will break the Arsenal transfer record to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, the Daily Telegraph has reported, with the Gunners expecting a busy summer of transfers as Wenger spends the £70m made available by the board.

Wenger was first keen on signing Higuain while the Argentina international was still a River Plate player, before he moved to Madrid in 2007, and feels he can sign the forward this summer for a fee of £19m, breaking the Gunners’ transfer record in the process.

Higuain could be pr

Bale close to new Tottenham contract

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:27:17 GMT

Gareth Bale is close to signing a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur, the Guardian has reported, despite Spurs’ failure to qualify for the Champions League. However, the winger’s terms are said to include a clause that would allow Bale to speak with clubs offering £50m or more to Tottenham from the end of next season.

The newspaper adds that signing Bale to a contract worth £150,000 per week is a message from chairman Daniel Levy that Spurs can pay top dollar and are intent on keeping their best players, despite interest in Bale from Real

Mourinho free to join Chelsea after Madrid exit

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:17:09 GMT

Jose Mourinho has moved a step closer to a reunion with Chelsea after it was confirmed the Portuguese was free to leave Real Madrid, the Guardian has reported.

The move means Chelsea will not have to pay compensation to prise Mourinho from the Santiago Bernabeu, a possible saving of almost £17m according to the newspaper. Instead, Madrid president Florentino Perez confirmed in a press conference on Monday evening that Mourinho was to leave the club by mutual consent, paving the way for a return to Stamford Bridge.

Tevez shows interest in move to Ligue 1

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:55:38 GMT

With uncertainty about his long-term future at Manchester City, striker Carlos Tevez has hinted interest in a potential move to a competitive Ligue 1 in France.

The French league was won by Paris Saint-Germain a fortnight ago, but they became the fifth successive different winners of the championship since Lyon’s domination ended in 2009.

In a story reported by ESPN, the Argentine has indicated of his interest in joining the new domestic champions, and also revealed he held talks with them previously.

Laudrup backs Bale and Van Persie as star performers

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:49:25 GMT

Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup has been speaking to Yahoo about his choice for player of the year.

The awards were cleaned up last month by Tottenham’s Gareth Bale, who scored 31 goals in the season for club and country.

Along with the Welsh winger, Laudrup feels Robin van Persie was key in helping Manchester United to a 13th Premier League title in Sir Alex Ferguson’s swansong.

The Dutchman finished as the winner of the Golden Boot for the second season running, scoring 26 goals.

Swansea skipper Williams remaining tight-lipped on future

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:37 GMT

Swansea City defender Ashley Williams is keeping his cards close to his chest, as speculation over his club future intensifies, but Teamtalk.com reports the Wales skipper expects to remain at the Liberty Stadium next season, yet could be tempted away with Arsenal and Liverpool fond admirers of the centre-back.

Speaking after Swansea’s heavy 3-0 home defeat on the final day of the season to Fulham, the 28-year-old claims he knows nothing about a transfer to one of the bigger Premier League heavyweights.

He said: “As

Ancelotti backs Beckham for management

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:54:45 GMT

Paris Saint-Germain manager Carlo Ancelotti has backed David Beckham for a career in management according to the ESPN website.

Beckham bade an emotional farewell to his playing career after Paris' 3-1 Ligue 1 victory over Brest in the French capital on Saturday. In a career which has spanned 20 years Beckham spent 11 seasons at Manchester United, making appearances in six Premier League title winning seasons at Old Trafford.

He then went on to play for Real Madrid, LA Galaxy and Paris St-Germain and enjoyed two loa

West Ham to ask Chelsea for Lukaku loan

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:47:45 GMT

After securing an impressive top 10 finish on their return to the Premier League, West Ham United and Sam Allardyce have identified Belgian hotshot Romelu Lukaku as a target to improve their squad next season, according to the Daily Mail.

Lukaku has had a magnificent campaign on-loan at West Brom from Chelsea, and completed his temporary spell at the Hawthorns with a stunning second-half hat-trick in Albion’s extraordinary 5-5 draw with Manchester United on Sunday.

The 20-year-old scored 17 goals this season in the

Stoke boss Pulis lavishes praise on Owen after retirement

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:43:21 GMT

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has told Eurosport of his praise for striker Michael Owen. The former goal king has struggled with injuries in the second half of his career, and announced his retirement from football in March.

The 33-year-old made his final appearance on Sunday, making a brief cameo from the bench in the Potters 1-1 draw with Southampton.

He was given a standing ovation by the whole crowd at St Mary’s, and despite not making as much of an impact as he would have liked since joining from Manchester United i

Kenwright closing in on Moyes’ Everton successor

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:39:26 GMT

ESPN believes Everton chairman Bill Kenwright is closing in on a successor to take over from the departing David Moyes.

After 11 years with the Toffees, Moyes will succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager next season. He doesn’t start officially in Manchester until the start of July, but has received permission from Everton to travel to United’s training ground at Carrington on Monday to have his first meeting with his new squad.

In the meantime, Kenwright is lining up a potential successor, with the s

Jol hopeful Schwarzer stays at Fulham

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:34:47 GMT

Martin Jol is keen to keep Mark Schwarzer at Fulham after another impressive display on the final day of the Premier League season.

Clubcall understands the 40-year-old is out of contract in the summer, but his Dutch manager wants him to stay at Craven Cottage, despite pursuing compatriot and Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.

The Australian pulled off several impressive stops in the Cottagers 3-0 away victory over Swansea, lifting them to a final finish of 12th in the Premier League, following a worrying run of

Disappointing season for Man City, admits caretaker boss Kidd

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:28:50 GMT

Brian Kidd has acknowledged that Manchester City have failed this season to kick on from last season's Premier League title success, reports ESPN. Kidd took over as caretaker manager for the final two matches of the season, following Roberto Mancini's dismissal.

City finished the league season 11 points behind city rivals Manchester United, suffered a hugely disappointing Champions League exit at the group stage and also lost the FA Cup final to Wigan two days before Mancini's sacking.

Kidd was frank in admitting

Moutinho linked with Tottenham switch

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:23:15 GMT

After their Champions League qualification near-miss on Sunday, Tottenham Coach Andre Villas-Boas is already working on his squad for next season, Metro understands. And the newspaper claims his number one target is the Porto midfielder Joao Moutinho, who nearly joined Spurs last summer.

Moutinho looked set to head to north London on transfer deadline day last summer, but a deal fell through at the last minute, and the club ultimately beat Liverpool to the cheaper option of Clint Dempsey.

However, the dynamic midfie

Sunderland boss Di Canio hits out at behaviour of Bardsley and Kilgallon

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:16:24 GMT

Sunderland manager Paolo di Canio has lashed out at two of his defenders after they were caught in some late night antics as full-back Phil Bardsley and central defender Matthew Kilgallon were picture covered in a heap of £50 notes in a casino after the Black Cats’ Premier League safety was guaranteed following Wigan’s relegation last Tuesday.

Neither player was considered for the Wearsiders’ final match of the season, ending in a 1-0 defeat at Tottenham which completes their worst top flight campaign since returning to the Premier League i

Clichy signs new Man City contract

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:12:04 GMT

Gael Clichy has extended his contract with Manchester City, the Daily Mail has learned.

The Frenchman moved to the club from Arsenal at the start of last season, and has become an integral part of the Citizens backline, displacing Aleksander Kolarov to be regular first choice left- back. He has now committed his future to City until the end of the 2016-17 campaign, despite not winning any silverware with the club this season.

Clichy told the club’s official website: “I’m really happy to have agreed a new deal with C

Wenger praises Arsenal team spirit

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:40:14 GMT

Arsene Wenger was full of praise for his Arsenal side, saluting their team spirit and resolve after they secured a top four place ahead of Tottenham on the last weekend of the season, reports the Daily Mirror.

Wenger's side ended their fantastic run-in with a 1-0 victory at Newcastle, rendering North London rivals Tottenham's win by the same scoreline over Sunderland meaningless in the race for the final Champions League spot.

And Wenger was resolute in hailing his team's focus. “I've had many groups in my life an

Man Utd Focus - Should Manchester United sell Wayne Rooney?

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:35:31 GMT

As Manchester United closed their season with that enthralling 5-5 draw at the Hawthorns, the issue of Wayne Rooney's future continues to command headlines. The idea of Sir Alex Ferguson standing down and David Moyes taking over has begun to embed itself with the club's supporters, whereas the debate over whether the Premier League champions should sell Rooney continues to rage.

The England international's absence from United's final two games seems poignant, although there are still rumours that the matter will not be resolved until there

Ibe confident after Liverpool debut

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:13:19 GMT

Liverpool's teenage winger Jordan Ibe is hoping Sunday’s first team debut will spur him to establishing a successful career with the Anfield club, reports Sky Sports.

The 17-year-old made his senior team bow against Queens Park Rangers at Anfield in the Reds' final game of the season, playing 64 minutes of the match. And it was an impressive start for Ibe, who made the assist for Philipe Coutinho's winner in the 1-0 victory which saw Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher make his 737th and final appearance for the club.

Everton Focus - Hard work of replacing Moyes begins in earnest after Chelsea trip

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:46:48 GMT

With the final game of the David Moyes era at Everton done and dusted, a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea on Sunday, the Toffees can really begin the hard task of appointing a successor to the departing, Manchester United bound manager.

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright said he would not rush into replacing Moyes, with an approach for the board’s favoured candidate always unlikely while the season was still on-going. We can expect then moves to gather pace this week, now the final game of the campaign has been completed and the dust has settled on

Liverpool Focus - Rodgers facing tough questions as Reds see the back of Carragher

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:14:40 GMT

Jamie Carragher’s remarkable Liverpool career came to a pleasant end with a characteristic clean-sheet and a routine win over relegated Queens Park Rangers at Anfield on Sunday.

In-form attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho - the £8m January signing from Italian giants Inter - broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, collecting a ball from the impressive 17-year-old debutant Jordon Ibe before placing a 25-yard strike past Robert Green. The creative Brazilian, who has put in some superb performances since his switch to Anfield, tried his bes

Fulham Focus - Cottagers find form to seal impressive final-day win at Swansea

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:09:52 GMT

In a result few saw coming, Fulham thrashed Capital One Cup winners Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

The 3-0 win not only emphatically brought to an end a worrying run of five consecutive defeats but also lifted the Cottagers up to a 12th-place finish in the 2012-13 Premier League. That still marks a regression of three places and nine points from last season for Martin Jol’s men, while the Dutchman will wonder just how the likes of Norwich, West Ham, Swansea and West Brom, sides of admirable quality but not of the sort that Fulham’s squad c

Tottenham Focus - Champions League lost but hope for future remains

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:05:49 GMT

Fans may have lost count of the number of wonder strikes Gareth Bale has scored this season, - he could arguably have his own goal of the season competition - but yet another in the 89th minute took all three points against a stubborn and lucky Sunderland team. However, the victory wasn’t enough and Tottenham end their season in fifth with 72 points, the highest ever points total achieved without qualifying for Champions League football, but unfortunately for Spurs, a point behind rivals Arsenal.

Such is Tottenham’s continued final day misf

Arsenal Focus - Job done for Wenger's men yet again

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:57:31 GMT

Arsene Wenger was left biting his nails down to their cuticles. If Steve Bould had any hair left, he'd have been pulling it out. But in the end, there were sighs of relief and wide smiles across Arsenal as the Gunners edged into the final Champions League qualification spot.

Laurent Koscielny's strike in the early exchanges of the second-half was enough to earn Arsenal a 1-0 win over Newcastle at St James' Park. That made Tottenham Hotspur's result at home to Sunderland irrelevant; and it was a good job that it was because yet another late

Sunderland Focus - Paolo Di Canio has a big job ahead of him

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:43:00 GMT

With another season now in the rear view mirror, Sunderland’s manager Paolo Di Canio has a massive task ahead of him this summer.

After taking over from Martin O’Neil at the end of March, Sunderland’s results have been mixed, with two wins, two draws and three losses. Despite another hugely disappointing season, there are some that believe Di Canio is the right man to revive the fading hopes of Sunderland fans. His task is no easy one however, as Sunderland supporters are hungry for success after two poor seasons.

Mourinho unlikely to bring Ronaldo with him from Real Madrid to Chelsea

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:34:44 GMT

Jose Mourinho is expected to be confirmed as the new Chelsea manager this week, the Daily Mirror has reported, but it is not though Cristiano Ronaldo will be joining him in leaving Real Madrid for a return to the Premier League.

With Rafael Benitez’s time as interim boss at an end, the Blues are seeking a new full-time figure in the dugout, and Mourinho - who twice won the Premier League title in his last spell at the club between 2004 and 2007 - has been heavily linked with a return.

The newspaper adds that Mourinh

Stoke Focus - Rare Crouch goal seals respectable Potters finish

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:31:37 GMT

Ultimately, despite the criticism that has surrounded Stoke City and Tony Pulis since the turn of the year, the Potters managed to secure a 13th-placed finish following their final-day 1-1 draw at Southampton.

It is an end-game that everyone at the club should be commended for; particularly when just a few matches ago there were appeared to be the very serious possibility of relegation back into the Championship.

However, had the Potters managed to hold onto the lead given to them in the 47th minute by Peter Crouch

Aston Villa Focus - Lambert’s entertaining team still needs to improve

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:25:00 GMT

The season has now come to an end for Aston Villa with a competitive 2-2 draw away to Wigan Athletic in a match which could have carried far greater significance.

As it was, the relegated Latics still exposed defensive vulnerabilities with a headed goal by Emmerson Boyce while Nathan Baker’s own goal cancelled out Darren Bent’s opener on a rare start for the striker. Ron Vlaar’s excellent half-volley secured the point, but in all honesty Villa were relieved to be playing this game with no real pressure.

Attention n

Moyes begins work as Man Utd boss but maintains Everton role too

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:21:41 GMT

David Moyes has started work as Manchester United manager, the Daily Telegraph has reported, despite not officially finishing up as Everton boss until the beginning of July.

Moyes took charge of his final game as Everton boss on Sunday, a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea, and admitted he would be assuming his new duties on Monday, meaning he will be effectively managing two Premier League teams for the moment.

Everton do not have a successor to Moyes, who spent 11 years at Goodison Park, in place, but Moyes revealed he wo

Liverpool must sell before they buy Tottenham utility man Rose

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:13:43 GMT

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to sign Sunderland’s on-loan Tottenham Hotspur wide player Danny Rose, the Daily Mail has reported, but has to clear space in the squad before making any moves this summer.

Rose has spent the season at the Stadium of Light and been impressive, the newspaper claims, despite the Black Cats’ struggling at the lower end of the table for most of the campaign. The Mail claims Paolo Di Canio is keen to sign the 22-year-old on a full-time deal but faces competition from Rodgers, who has twice attempted to b

Luiz thanks outgoing Chelsea boss Benitez

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:04:35 GMT

David Luiz has thanked soon-to-be-ex Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez for his help during his time at Stamford Bridge, Sky Sports has reported.

Benitez was appointed as the Blues’ interim boss in November 2012 and went on to guide Chelsea into third place in the Premier League and to victory in the Europa League, as well as the latter stages of both domestic cup competitions.

The former Liverpool manager was not universally welcomed at Chelsea by the club’s supporters, having had a tetchy relationship with Chelsea and

Man Utd ready to move on after Ferguson retirement, says Carrick

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:49:33 GMT

Manchester United will waste no time in preparing for the future under David Moyes, Michael Carrick has said, with the midfielder insisting they are ready for life after Sir Alex Ferguson, BBC Sport has reported.

Ferguson brought the curtain down on his long and illustrious career after the final game of the Premier League season, a 5-5 draw with West Bromwich Albion in which Carrick captained the side in the absence of the team’s regular skippers. Carrick revealed that having had a few weeks to come to terms with the idea of someone other

Liverpool stalwart Carragher bows out after Anfield farewell

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:43:23 GMT

Jamie Carragher has thanked the Anfield crowd after playing his final game for Liverpool, BBC Sport has reported, retiring following the Reds’ 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers in the final Premier League game of the season.

A Philippe Coutinho goal gave Liverpool the victory but Carragher was nearly on the score sheet as well, striking the post with a long-range effort, having scored on his home debut against Aston Villa in January 1997. He said: “ I scored on my debut 16 years ago and it would have been nice to finish that way, but it wasn

Tottenham will be stronger next season, insists Villas-Boas

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:27:11 GMT

Tottenham Hotspur Head Coach Andre Villas-Boas has insisted his side will be stronger next season after missing out of a place in the top four of the Premier League and with it, qualification for the Champions League, BBC Sport has reported.

Spurs beat Sunderland at White Hart Lane on the final day of the season but were reliant on Arsenal dropping points against Newcastle United, but a Laurent Koscielny goal ensured the Gunners picked up the maximum haul from St James’ Park.

Villas-Boas said: “We felt we did enoug

Wenger pleased after Arsenal seal crucial Champions League place

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:17:20 GMT

Arsene Wenger believes it was crucial to Arsenal’s future that the club was able to claim a spot in the Champions League, BBC Sport has reported, after the Gunners beat Tottenham Hotspur to fourth place in the Premier League on the final day of the season.

A Laurent Koscielny goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 win over Newcastle at St James’ Park, with Spurs beating Sunderland by the same score at White Hart Lane. The victory over the Magpies confirmed Arsenal in fourth and marked the second successive final day of the campaign in which Koscielny has

Benitez believes Chelsea successor can win Premier League title next season

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:05:04 GMT

Departing Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez believes that whoever replaces him in the Stamford Bridge dugout should be looking to win the Premier League title next season with the squad he is leaving behind, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Benitez replaced Roberto Di Matteo in November and guided the Blues to third place in the table, the FA Cup semi-final, the League Cup semi-final and victory in the Europa League, and he said following his final match in charge - a 2-1 victory over Everton - that he feels he has left the team in a better s

West Ham v Reading - Match preview and team news

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:10:33 GMT

Reading will close out their year-long stint in the Premier League with a trip to Upton Park to take on a West Ham side aiming to secure a top-half finish.

The two sides have had contrasting fortunes this season after both coming up from the Championship last season, where ironically it was relegated Reading who came up as champions while the Hammers, who had to make it through the play-offs, have survived far more comfortably under the stewardship of Sam Allardyce.

That success has brought the former Bolton, Newca

Tottenham v Sunderland - Match preview and team news

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:06:49 GMT

Tottenham know that the fight for Champions League football is not in their hands as they prepare for their final-day clash with a Sunderland side that have already secured their Premier League safety.

The Lilywhites were seven points ahead of North London rivals Arsenal after defeating them 2-1 at White Hart Lane in early March but a poor run of form in April allowed the Gunners to overtake them and despite an upturn in results in May, with victories coming over Swansea, Manchester City, Southampton and Stoke, Andre Villas-Boas’ men know t

Newcastle v Arsenal - Match preview and team news

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:01:31 GMT

Arsenal’s wonderful end to the season has left them in need of only three more points to secure Champions League football ahead of North London rivals Tottenham.

The Gunners fell seven points behind Spurs after a 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane in early March but seven wins and two draws in the nine matches played since then has lifted them to the brink of the top four.

Indeed, third place may not be out of the question either, either outright should third-placed Chelsea draw with Everton and Arsenal beat Newcastle b

Wigan v Aston Villa - Match preview and team news

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:58:24 GMT

This should have provided a barnstorming end to the relegation battle where a Wigan victory would have kept them up and sent Aston Villa down at their expense.

However, despite their miraculous and deserved FA Cup win over Manchester City last Saturday, Premier League defeats to Swansea and then more comprehensively at Arsenal have Tuesday sealed the Latics’ fall into the Championship eight seasons in the top flight.

Roberto Martinez now faces speculation over his future as he weighs up whether to remain at the clu

Man City v Norwich - Match preview and team news

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:55:34 GMT

Managerless Manchester City are playing for pride as they welcome Norwich City to the Etihad Stadium for the final game of the season having already secured second place in the Premier League with their comfortable 2-0 win at Reading on Tuesday.

The Citizens will still be smarting from their devastating FA Cup final defeat to Wigan last Saturday, a result which proved the final nail in the coffin for boss Roberto Mancini, who was giving his marching orders by the club’s board on Monday evening.

The Italian’s assista

Liverpool v QPR - Match preview and team news

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:52:35 GMT

Anfield will be the venue for a season-ending match of very little consequence for both teams, though it will provide the setting for a very special occasion for Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who will captain the side in his final game for the club after 16 years at the club.

While he may have been awarded the captaincy as a fitting reward for his years of service, the decision was also hastened by the absence of regular skipper Steven Gerrard, who is missing after undergoing shoulder surgery. Luis Suarez and Daniel Agger will also mi

Chelsea v Everton - Match preview and team news

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:49:54 GMT

Chelsea will welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge as Europa League winners following their dramatic late victory in Amsterdam over Benfica on Wednesday night.

The Blues have already played 68 matches in this most gruelling of seasons yet remarkably, despite having already secured Champions League football next season, this 69th match could not even be the final one for Rafael Benitez to take charge of before he leaves his post as interim manager.

Indeed, a 0-0 draw against the Toffees, coupled with a 2-1 Arsenal victo

West Brom v Man Utd - Match preview and team news

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:45:30 GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson travels to the Hawthorns for his 1,500th and final game as Manchester United manager desperate to win as ever before.

The legendary Scot made an emotional farewell from Old Trafford last week with victory against Swansea but it is West Brom who will have the privilege of saying the very final farewell.

Should United take victory over a distinctly out-of-form West Brom side, they will equal their record Premier League points total of 91 as well as a set a club record of 29 league wins in the Premier

Villas-Boas plans Spurs revolution this summer

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:09:51 GMT

Andre Villas-Boas is planning a revolution at White Hart Lane this summer, which could see both playing staff and back of house faces appearing very different come next season, reports The Mirror.

The North London club are set to draft in former England No. 2 Franco Baldini as technical director, and Villas-Boas is planning early transfer window raids to tempt some of his top targets that their futures will only be improved by playing alongside a player of Gareth Bale’s caliber.

Villas-Boas is also set to step up hi

Pardew to stay on as Newcastle manager following Ashley talks

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:59:06 GMT

Alan Pardew insists there is no longer any doubt over his future as Newcastle manager, and believes he will still be at the club next season, according to Sky Sports.

Pardew had previously indicated that he was unsure whether or not he would remain in his position ahead of talks with club owner Mike Ashley, claiming that both he as manager and Ashley as owner had underachieved this season.

However, following the discussions, Pardew now feels confident in planning for next season at St. James’ Park.

Cortest to stay on at Southampton

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:51:10 GMT

Nicola Cortese will continue in his role as Southampton’s executive chairman after having his plans signed off by the club’s owners, reports Sky Sports.

Cortese had been considering his future at the club over differences with the trust which owns holding rights to Southampton, and manager Mauricio Pochettino revealed earlier this week that he would also leave if Cortese departed.

A meeting on Friday with owner Katherina Liebherr went well, however, and plans for the club to continue in the Premier League and improv

Ferguson to let Moyes deal with Wayne

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:28:14 GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson is happy to leave the dilemma of what to do with Wayne Rooney and his tenure at Old Trafford to new United chief David Moyes, reports Sky Sports.

Rooney issued a transfer request to the club recently, and United were understood to have turned it down. However, Moyes has made discussing Rooney’s future with the 27-year-old a top priority when he arrives at Old Trafford, and will not let their history affect how things are now.

Moyes gave Rooney his debut as a 16-year-old at Everton, but the youngste

QPR's Cesar sets sights on Arsenal move

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:18:50 GMT

The Mirror is reporting that QPR keeper Julio Cesar appears to have a move to fellow Londoners Arsenal in his sights this summer.

The stopper has impressed critics this season despite QPR’s relegation from the Premier League, and AC Milan are also thought to be keen to take the Brazilian back to Serie A, where he has previously played for Inter Milan.

Cesar’s representatives reportedly sounded Arsenal out about his availability shortly before he moved to Loftus Road, but with QPR now facing Championship football nex

Villa Park to host potential Chelsea v Arsenal playoff

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:10:39 GMT

Villa Park has been penciled in as the destination of a potential third place playoff between Chelsea and Arsenal on May 26, reports The Guardian.

If Chelsea were to draw their final game of the season against Everton at Stamford Bridge, and Arsenal won by a single goal having scored two more than Chelsea, the season would result in a dead heat between the two London clubs.

The playoff would be required if both clubs finished level on points, goal difference and goals scored as third place guarantees automatic quali

League 2 season review - Accrington Stanley

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:17:44 GMT

It was a very strange season at Accrington Stanley, after a successful 13-year period under John Coleman; the club has now seen two managers leave in the past nine months.

Paul Cook started the season as manager but answered Chesterfield’s call in October 2012 and left the club, leaving Leam Richardson in charge of first team affairs.

On the pitch, the club had a good start to the season and at one point were just one win away from the playoffs at the end of October.

But by the end of 2012,

Bayern vs Dortmund - Champions League Trivia

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:35:07 GMT

Wembley plays host to the first all-German Champions League Final on 25th May, when Bayern Munich do battle against Bundesliga compatriots Borussia Dortmund.

The two sides, who will finish the current domestic season as champions and runners-up respectively, have attracted plaudits from around Europe for their impressive displays in the tournament this season.

Dortmund were able to see off the challenge of Spaniards Real Madrid emphatically, while Bayern defeated Catalan club Barcelona 3-0 in Spain to round off a thrilling set of semi-final

Stoke Focus - Where do the club need to strengthen for the next campaign?

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:31:14 GMT

With survival in the Premier League now secured for another season, attention at Stoke City has turned towards the next campaign. While speculation is still rife that long-serving manager Tony Pulis could choose to leave the Britannia at the end of the season, it is accepted that the playing squad must undergo changes if the Potters are to avoid a repeat of this year’s degeneration into a relegation battle.

However, though it is easy to make such a statement, what will be of greater difficulty is analysing just where the Potters can afford

What can Man City expect from Manuel Pellegrini?

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:30:04 GMT

With Manuel Pellegrini in pole position for the Manchester City job, Blues fans may wonder just what they will be getting if the Chilean does finally decide to take the hot seat at the Etihad Stadium.

If they are expecting a manager in the style of previous boss Roberto Mancini then they will be sorely disappointed, as Pellegrini could not be further removed from the Italian. Not for him any touchline histrionics or outward displays of emotion. Think Sven Goran-Eriksson and you get the picture, but even then he makes the Swede look more lik

Liverpool Focus - Carragher bows out after glittering and gutsy career

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:21:08 GMT

Jamie Carragher - 737 appearances, Champions League, UEFA Cup, (twice) UEFA Super Cup, (twice) FA Cup and (three-time) League Cup winner. The tough-tackling Liverpool centre-half has an impressive CV and should have no problem finding a five-a-side team to join after he hangs up his boots on Sunday. However, all those dazzling trophies, medals and cups tell only half of Carragher’s amazing Liverpool story.

For when you ask a Liverpool supporter to think of their favourite moment of Carragher’s illustrious career, an image of the 35-year-ol

Tottenham Focus - David Villa: A class apart or class dismissed

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:16:00 GMT

Tottenham are being heavily linked with David Villa, the Barcelona and Spain striker. There may be a reasonable likelihood of the move happening considering Barcelona’s apparent desire to offload the player, coupled with Spurs Coach André Villas-Boas’ reputed high regard on the Iberian Peninsula.

The prospect of seeing Villa in the Lilywhite shirt next season maybe an enticing one for many fans. This is after all a World Cup winner, a European Championship winner, a Champions League and La Liga winner as well claimant of as numerous other t

Arsenal Focus - All-or-nothing against Newcastle in Champions League slog

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:06:35 GMT

After 37 matches of varying quality, Arsenal's entire campaign will come down to just 90 minutes. The next hour and a half of play, against Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday afternoon, will define whether this season's performance can be judged as either solid, if unspectacular, or a total disaster.

It really is all or nothing. Should the Gunners slip up in the north east, Tottenham Hotspur can leapfrog them into fourth place, and consign Arsene Wenger's men to the Europa League in what would be the ultimate form of one-upmanship

Wigan Focus - Life after the Premier League beckons

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:01:43 GMT

After eight brave and successful seasons in the Premier League, Wigan’s stay in the top flight came to a shattering end on Tuesday night in driving rain at the Emirates Stadium. The 4-1 defeat at Arsenal finally confirmed the inevitable for Roberto Martinez’s side, as they haven’t been able to produce the regular end of season surge this time around to protect their status among the elite.

Wigan supporters have been through a rollercoaster of emotions over the last week. The club produced the biggest FA Cup final upset in 25 years at Wemble

Fulham Focus - Speculation over Jol future continues to rise

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:55:36 GMT

He has generally looked an unhappy man all season long and following Fulham’s fifth straight league defeat, comfortably so at the hands of Liverpool last Sunday, the odds have tumbled and speculation has grown that Martin Jol is set to depart Craven Cottage at the end of the season, with Brighton manager Gus Poyet coming in to replace the Dutchman.

Such stories have never been far from the surface throughout the season. Since the departures of Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey, Jol has rarely looked a manager truly satisfied with life at Cra

Arsenal boss Wenger believes Cazorla is underrated in Premier League

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:43:21 GMT

Arsene Wenger has revealed his belief that Arsenal playmaker Santi Cazorla is underappreciated in the Premier League, claiming that the Spain international should have been part of the division’s team of the year, ESPN has reported.

Cazorla enjoyed a strong start to his career in English football and while his form has dipped in the latter part of the season, ESPN claims, Wenger insists the former Malaga player deserves more praise than he has received thus far.

“I think he is a bit of an under-rated player in the P

Vieira appointed as Man City development squad boss

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:35:09 GMT

Patrick Vieira has been named as manager of the Manchester City elite development squad, having survived the backroom clear-out that followed the sacking of Roberto Mancini as manager, the Daily Mail has reported.

Vieira had been working as football development executive at City since calling an end to his playing days in 2011, seeing out his career under Mancini at the Etihad Stadium. Formerly of Arsenal and Juventus, Vieira also played under Mancini at Inter prior to the pair heading for Manchester.

Atillio Lombar

Lampard admits he feared Chelsea exit

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:25:30 GMT

Frank Lampard has revealed he thought his Chelsea days were coming to an end when the club initially hesitated over offering him a new contract, the Daily Mirror has reported.

Lampard this week put pen to paper on a new deal to remain at Stamford Bridge, signing fresh terms the day after Chelsea won the Europa League in a 2-1 victory against Benfica and less than a week after he became the club’s all-time top scorer with a brace of goals against Aston Villa, also in a 2-1 win, this time guaranteeing Champions League football for the club ne

Poyet suspended by Brighton amid Everton talk

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:10:32 GMT

Gus Poyet has been suspended as manager of Brighton and Hove Albion after comments made earlier this week, the Daily Mirror has reported, but speculation is growing that the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder is in line to replace David Moyes at Everton.

Poyet is alleged to have told the Brighton squad he is leaving the club this summer, having seen the Seagulls knocked out of the Championship play-offs by rivals Crystal Palace earlier this week. The Brighton board is said to have suspended Poyet and his assistants, Mauricio Ta

Nasri sorry to see Mancini leave Man City but stops short of offering his sympathy

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:01:07 GMT

Samir Nasri has revealed he was sad to see Roberto Mancini sacked as Manchester City manager, the Daily Mail has reported, but the newspaper adds that the midfielder did not offer any sympathy towards his old boss, with none of the City players speaking kindly about the Italian.

Nasri was criticised by Mancini earlier in the season for a perceived lack of effort, one of a number of public spats between player and manager that marked City’s unhappy season. Not only did the Blues hand back the Premier League title to Manchester United, but th

Arsenal considering bid for disgruntled Man Utd striker Rooney

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:50:58 GMT

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is considering using part of the £70m transfer kitty he will be given this summer on bringing Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to the Gunners, the Daily Mail has reported.

It was confirmed by outgoing United manager Sir Alex Ferguson that Rooney recently handed in a transfer request - one that was rejected by the club - but the England international’s future at Old Trafford remains unclear. Rooney’s former Everton boss David Moyes is replacing Ferguson at the helm but he and Rooney have had a storied past

Beckham must remain in football after retirement, insists England boss Hodgson

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:37:09 GMT

England manager Roy Hodgson believes David Beckham has a lot to offer football post-retirement, and has called on the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder to stay involved in the game once he hangs up his boots, the Daily Mirror has reported.

Beckham announced on Thursday that he was calling an end to his playing career following PSG’s final game of the season, against Lorient on Sunday, and Hodgson hopes to see the former England captain play some role in football for the foreseeable future.

Hodgson said: “I wish him wel