Cole out – will he be fit in time for the World Cup?

Ashley Cole had the misfortune of damaging his ankle in a 50/50 challenge with Landon Donavon in the game against Everton on Wednesday night.

Capello will now have an interesting dilemma – bring Lescott , Bridge or Leighton Baines into the reckoning. Personally I think Cole is still the best of the 4 but Baines has been in very good form the past 2 months. Time will tell. Watch out for loads more injury scares between now and June. (Please keep Rooney fit!)

Wednesday Night Results

• Arsenal1-0Liverpool
• Aston Villa1-1Man Utd
• Blackburn1-0Hull
• Everton2-1Chelsea
• West Ham2-0Birmingham
• Wolves1-0Tottenham

7 days for Portsmouth to sort it out

Image via Wikipedia

PORTSMOUTH IN CRISIS

May 2009: Club accept takeover bid from Sulaiman Al Fahim
Oct 2009: Al Fahim sells 90% of his shares to Ali Al Faraj
Oct 2009: Premier League issues embargo on Portsmouth registering new players
Dec 2009: Portsmouth fail to play players for a third time
Jan 2010: Premier League confirms it will distribute TV payments directly to Portsmouth’s creditors. Transfer embargo lifted
4 Feb 2010: Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai’s company Portpin takes a controlling interest
9 Feb 2010: Portsmouth fail to agree a deal with HMRC to pay their outstanding tax bill
10 Feb 2010: High Court grants club seven-day stay of execution

Related articles by Zemanta

• Portsmouth seek High Court adjournment to winding-up order (telegraph.co.uk)

Chelsea too good , Birmingham scrap it out

Football was back on the agenda again for John Terry over the weekend. His Chelsea side he captains so well proved to be too powerful for a relatively feeble Arsenal. Once again when the fixture list through up the challenges to Arsenal they have shown how brittle they are ans succumbed to a hard working and powerful Chelsea unit.

John Terry releases some tension at Stamford Bridge vs Arsenal.

Didie Drogba’s second goal was one to watch back a few times on your sky+ box. The amount of power he displayed on the run into the box before putting away his venomous shot was quite breathtaking to watch. The trauma of the Africa Nations Cup seems to be well behind him now.

Meanwhile in the game at St Andrews – Kevin Phillips put on a masterclass – at the venerable age of 36 – and left Wolves supporters despairing in a game which they should have registered at least a point.

The Sunday games gave the following results…

Sunday, 7 February 2010
Birmingham 2 Phillips (80, 85)
(HT 0-1)
Wolverhampton 1 Doyle (42)

Chelsea 2 Drogba (8, 23)
(HT 2-0)
Arsenal 0

Jack Rodwell – profile

Rodwell - Everton's Youth Team policy paying off.

Everton reserve team coach Alan Stubbs says they are seeing the advantages of a strong youth set-up at Goodison Park this season, as many of their youngsters gain first team experience.

The treatment room at Goodison has been a very busy one, manager David Moyes having had to manage without many of the stars that helped their side to the 2009 FA Cup final.

Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta and defender Phil Jagielka have been missing all season and injuries to other influential members of the squad have decimated the Blues.

But these problems have been cured in large part by the growing talent coming trough the youth system, with midfielders Jack Rodwell (18) and Dan Gosling (19) leading the way.

The set up at Finch Farm is fantastic – I have been down to it a few times now and its well worth the millions they spent on it from Wayne Rooney’s transfer fee.

Rodwell will surely be a mainstay for Everton if they can keep the big money of City , United and Chelsea away – Liverpool who are they? Exactly!

Fat Spanish Waiter – Your time is nearly up!

KRAP - Keep Rafa At Pool

I couldn’t have written the script better myself. Reading outplayed Liverpool last night there is no doubt about that.
The equalizing penalty was a bit soft but they deserved their slice of luck.

An extra-time goal from substitute Shane Long capped a stunning comeback for Championship strugglers Reading as they knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup…. Here is the article on BBC

Many in the press will be after Benetiz today – and who can blame them. He has an arrogance about him that still rankles within many Evertonians.

There will be one or 2 of these at Goodison this weekend.

Hicks puts Liverpool stadium plans on hold

Liverpool A-Z edited by a Kopite obviously

Hicks was reported in the Daily Post that he has put the plans of the new stadium build on hold until the economic climate improves.
Many keep scatching their heads over why Everton and Liverpool don’t join forces and go for a ground share like in Milan.

The big problem comes down to heavy usage with both teams in European competition and the fact that factions of both dislike each other. To me it makes economic sense.

Time will tell.

I have a gut feel Everton may finish above Liverpool particularly if Liverpool pick up injuries to one of their two star players.
What odds methinks?

The Pledge

Interestingy assembled ad for the Man Utd Arsenal match up played last weekend with pledges made by various players.

Dunne leaves City and Joins Villa

Aston Villa took their summer spending to £40million after finally confirming the signing of Manchester City skipper Richard Dunne.

Republic of Ireland captain Dunne has ended his nine-year spell with City by making a £6million switch from Eastlands.

The Premier League asked for more time to ratify the deal despite Villa starting to submit the relevant documents before 4pm on deadline day – an hour before the transfer window formally closed.

But Villa were always confident Dunne would become their player after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.

The Football Association were also satisfied with the paperwork presented by Villa but needed the approval of the Premier League.

Dunne was Villa’s second defensive capture after Wales international James Collins signed from West Ham on deadline day for £5million.

Manager Martin O’Neill has been desperate to bolster his back four after skipper Martin Laursen retired and Zat Knight was sold to Bolton.

He said:

“Richard Dunne is the kind of person we are looking for.”

Arsenal Facts

Club Emblem
NICKNAME: Gunners

FOUNDED: 1886

MANAGER: Arsene Wenger (French)

GROUND: Emirates Stadium

LAST SEASON:

League Fourth FA Cup Semi-finals Carling Cup Quarter-finals Champions League Semi-finals

HONOURS:

European Cup Winners’ Cup Winners (1) 1993-94

Fairs Cup Winners (1) 1969-70

Premier League Champions (3) 1997-98, 2001-02, 2003-04

Division One Champions (10) 1930-31, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1937-38, 1947-48, 1952-53, 1970-71, 1988-89, 1990-91

FA Cup Winners (10) 1930, 1936, 1950, 1971, 1979, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005

Double Winners (3) 1970-71, 1997-98, 2001-2002

League Cup Winners (2) 1987, 1993

RECORD VICTORY: League 12-0 v Loughborough T, Division Two, 12-03-1900 Cup 11-1 v Darwen, FA Cup Third Round, 09-01-1932

RECORD DEFEAT: 0-8 v Loughborough T, Division Two, 12-12-1896

RECORD ATTENDANCE: 73,295 v Sunderland, Division One, 09-03-1935

TOP LEAGUE GOALSCORER: Season Ted Drake, 42, 1934-35 All-time Thierry Henry, 164, 1999-2007

MOST LEAGUE APPEARANCES: David O’Leary, 558, 1975-1993