Gareth Bale has had a stunning 2010 and the Welsh winger rounded it off with a stunning goal against Newcastle United on December 28, 2010. Tottenham, down to ten men in the game, attacked on the counter, and an excellent finish from Bale put paid to Newcastle's ambitions of getting anything from the game.

David Beckham: Before Victoria, Madrid, Armani and LA

Tonight, David Beckham will receive a lifetime achievement award from the BBC. There are few people that would argue that David Beckham has not achieved a lot in his lifetime. Both on and off the field, he has left a dent not only on the game but he has also helped to shape the broader cultural context surrounding the sport.

Sam Allardyce has been sacked by the new owners of Blackburn, and the respected manager has already revealed his surprise at the decision. Big Sam had been at Ewood Park since 2008, and his managerial duties will temporarily be placed in the hands of first team coach Steve Kean.

Blackburn Rovers' official website said: "The Venky's Group, owners of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, has today confirmed the departure of manager Sam Allardyce and assistant manager Neil McDonald with immediate effect.

A statement on the Blackburn website read: ''The Venky's Group, owners of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, has today [Monday] confirmed the departure of manager Sam Allardyce and assistant manager Neil McDonald with immediate effect. ''We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club.

That is the question that is being asked on our Barcelona fan site as there have been various reports this week that Manchester City are poised to make a monster bid for Andres Iniesta next month.

Iniesta is expected to be recognized as the best player in the world when the FIFA Ballon d'Or is handed out in Zurich on January 10 and the question is will he be a Barca player or a Man City player?

That is the question that is being asked on our Barcelona fan site as there have been various reports this week that Manchester City are poised to make a monster bid for Andres Iniesta next month.

Iniesta is expected to be recognized as the best player in the world when the FIFA Ballon d'Or is handed out in Zurich on January 10 and the question is will he be a Barca player or a Man City player?

Berbatov to Blackburn: "Talk to the Hand"

Amid all the pre- and post-El Clasico hype, we'd be remiss to mention that the Quiet Bulgarian, Dimitar Berbatov, scored una manita himself over the weekend, in a 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn. The NYT's Rob Hughes devoted his "On Soccer" column on Monday titled "Through Feast of Goals, Stealthy Genius Is Revealed" to Berbatov and his performance:

Teamwork wins matches, but one man's performance transcended all others Saturday.

Colombia There were a couple of shock results in group A over the weekend, with the bottom two both keeping their faint title ambitions alive with home wins against the top two. Atlético Huila managed a 1-0 win against the leaders Santa Fe, their goal was an excellent turn and strike from Rafael Castillo after only three minutes.

Nani and Patrice Evra share a lot of similarities. Both are Red Devils (not of the variety Javier Mascherano described). Both possess great technique operating on the left flank. Both have also had their differences with Arsenal in the past.

However, one matter where they appear to be as different as chalk and cheese is their perception of Manchester United's true title rival this season.

After another round of Premiership fixtures things couldn't be tighter at the top and bottom. Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all vying for first place as the season approaches the Christmas period. At the bottom, Avram Grant seems to have taken West Ham as far as he humanly can while Wolves, Wigan and Fulham could be following the Hammers south a division.

Rovers part company with Big Sam Blackburn have confirmed their manager Sam Allardyce has been sacked. The club's new owners Venky's have sacked Allardyce saying he is not the right man for the job. A statement released by the club said: "We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for [.

Rovers part company with Big Sam Blackburn have confirmed their manager Sam Allardyce has been sacked. The club's new owners Venky's have sacked Allardyce saying he is not the right man for the job. A statement released by the club said: "We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for [.

By Ollie Irish

This man needs a job headsets and silk ties aren't cheap you know

Blackburn Rovers have announced they have sacked manager Sam Allardyce. Wowsa, I didn't see that coming at all.

"We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club," Rovers said.

Blackburn Rovers have sacked manager Sam Allardyce today with immediate effect.

In a prepared statement by the club, they said that:

"The Venky's Group, owners of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, has today confirmed the departure of manager Sam Allardyce and assistant manager Neil McDonald with immediate effect.

In the past week the Premier League has witnessed two managerial sackings. Chris Hughton's widely publicised and criticised dismissal was quickly followed by the departure of Sam Allardyce this Monday.

Both were sacked with brutal public statements.

Blackburn Rovers' official website went with the line ‘We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club'; while Newcastle United preferred a critical approach: ‘Regrettably the board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward.

BLACKBURN, England — A "shocked" Sam Allardyce was sacked as manager of Blackburn Rovers with immediate effect on Monday after nearly two years in charge, the English Premier League club announced on their official website. Also on the way out of Ewood Park was Allardyce's assistant, Neil McDonald, with first team coach Steve Kean placed [.

In a major surprise, Blackburn Rovers have fired Sam Allardyce, even though Blackburn are five points clear of the relegation zone and in no obvious danger of relegation.

A statement on the Blackburn web site read:

"The Venky's Group, owners of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, has today confirmed the departure of manager Sam Allardyce and assistant manager Neil McDonald withimmediate effect.

In a major surprise, Blackburn Rovers have fired Sam Allardyce, even though Blackburn are five points clear of the relegation zone and in no obvious danger of relegation.

A statement on the Blackburn web site read:

"The Venky's Group, owners of Blackburn Rovers Football Club, has today confirmed the departure of manager Sam Allardyce and assistant manager Neil McDonald withimmediate effect.

Management is not an easy business.

For a start you get paid less than the players and you take all the flack. When you're a manager at a club with new owners, you find yourself riding a bucking Bronco... You know you're going to get thrown off, you just don't know when.

Part of a press release issued today on the official Blackburn Rovers website, referring to the sacking of Sam Allardyce says: "We have taken this decision as part of our wider plans and ambitions for the club".

That is the question that is being asked on our Barcelona fan site as there have been various reports this week that Manchester City are poised to make a monster bid for Andres Iniesta next month.

Iniesta is expected to be recognized as the best player in the world when the FIFA Ballon d'Or is handed out in Zurich on January 10 and the question is will he be a Barca player or a Man City player?

One of the words on the street is that Houllier and Randy Lerner are meeting today to flesh out finances for player acquisitions. Then again, that was also one of the words a couple of weeks back, so who knows?

However, it seems self evident that there's plenty to discuss and that they'll be getting together at some point.

One of the words on the street is that Houllier and Randy Lerner are meeting today to flesh out finances for player acquisitions. Then again, that was also one of the words a couple of weeks back, so who knows?

However, it seems self evident that there's plenty to discuss and that they'll be getting together at some point.

FIFA awarding the World Cup to Qatar in 2022 has certainly caught the imagination of the footballing public. For the first time ever the competition will make its way to the Middle East, where a vast untapped footballing community awaits with baited breath.

Jon Sinigaglia was Project Director for the FIFA pre-qualification bid inspection of Qatar and was an integral member of their winning bid team.

Roy Hodgson insists Liverpool fans cannot expect him to wave a magic wand and fix his side's problems.
The Reds, whose Boxing Day clash against Blackpool has been postponed due to the cold snap, currently sit mid-table having struggled in the Premier League this season, winning six out of their 17 games played so far.

Liverpool target David Trezeguet has ruled out a move to England in the transfer window.
The French striker has reignited his career at Hercules in La Liga after falling out of favour at Italian club Juventus.
Liverpool had reportedly been linked with a move for the striker but, in an interview with Argentinean newspaper La Nacion, he has distanced himself from a move to the Premier League.