Our gift to you... all the Boxing Day team news in one convenient blog post package. After the jump. Young doubtful for Spurs clash - Yahoo! Eurosport: Ashley Young remains a doubt for Aston Villa's Barclays Premier League clash against Tottenham at Villa Park on Boxing Day... Neither he nor Luke Young (groin) have trained with the team this week so remain touch and go.

Sophomore forward Ashley Botts (Beloit) scored both goals in a late 10-minute span, leading defending champion Grand Valley State past Florida Tech 2-0 in an NCAA Division II national semifinal Thursday in Louisville, Kent.

The fifth-ranked Lakers (21-1-2) will face No.

NEWCASTLE, England Fans and former players have reacted angrily to the news that Newcastle United have sacked Chris Hughton with the team sitting in 11th place in the Premier League. Former Toon midfielder Rob Lee was stunned to learn the news. He said: "I'm amazed. It's totally unjust if you consider what he did [.

Unbelievable. Mike "Fat Clown" Ashley has excelled himself yet again, and sacked a manager who has performed better than any of us could have hoped for.

To sack Chris Hughton with Newcastle in 11th place, having won away at Arsenal, drawn with Chelsea only last week, and had some great wins against Villa and Sunderland is nothing short of a joke.

MARSEILLE, France — Chelsea travelled to Marseille here Wednesday seeking an upturn in their fortunes but it wasn't to be as their French hosts came away with a deserved 1-0 win in this concluding 'dead' Champions League Group F encounter. Aside from seeing two decent penalty appeals turned down Chelsea will find it hard to [.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has dampened speculation that AC Milan midfielder Ronaldinho and Ajax striker Luis Suarez are transfer targets.
Hodgson also suggested the club will not be seeking a quick-fix when it comes to the January transfer window.
The former Fulham boss dismissed reports linking him with moves for the duo but did admit that Aston Villa winger Ashley Young has been on his radar.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has admitted that nearly all Premier League managers have considered a move for Aston Villa star Ashley Young, but admits that thinking about signing the midfielder is far different from a formal offer. Hodgson also took time to respond to recent transfer rumors linking the Reds with possible moves for AC Milan's Ronaldinho and Ajax's World Cup sensation Luis Suarez.

An all too typical last minute goal from Paul Scharner set up an extremely nervous four added minutes, but it wasn't enough to cancel out Stewart Downing's first half opener or what turned out to be the winning goal from Emile Heskey 10 minutes earlier. Not a classic performance, but spirited and determined at times, it's an important three points, something to build on and hopefully a threshold game.

An all too typical last minute goal from Paul Scharner set up an extremely nervous four added minutes, but it wasn't enough to cancel out Stewart Downing's first half opener or what turned out to be the winning goal from Emile Heskey 10 minutes earlier. Not a classic performance, but spirited and determined at times, it's an important three points, something to build on and hopefully a threshold game.

After helping Grand Valley State (Mich.) win its second consecutive NCAA Division II women's soccer title, forward Ashley Botts (Beloit) was one of two sophomores named to the first team of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American team.

Botts finished with 14 goals (six game-winners) and eight assists in 19 matches for the Lakers (22-1-2).

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has called on supporters to have patience with him during a time in which he is trying to rebuild the Merseysiders' squad, although he has condeded it may be more of a long-term project.
Hodgson has been linked with January moves for Bolton pair Gary Cahill and Johan Elmander, as well as Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Young, but the former Fulham boss admits it may take more than one transfer window to resurrect the club.

I believe the pre-match press conference ahead of the Boxing Day game against Tottenham is taking place today, so brace yourself for cherry picked Houllier quotes to filter out over the next few days, sending people predisposed to fly in rages into those very rages.

He said WHAT?

I believe the pre-match press conference ahead of the Boxing Day game against Tottenham is taking place today, so brace yourself for cherry picked Houllier quotes to filter out over the next few days, sending people predisposed to fly in rages into those very rages.

He said WHAT?

Roy Hodgson says he will put Liverpool's long-term health before his need for immediate results in next month's transfer window as he admitted the club must learn from their wasteful strategy of recent years.
Next month will provide the first test of New England Sports Ventures' largesse in the transfer market since buying Liverpool for €415 million in October.

Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur ( Marc Albrighton/ Rafael van der Vaart*2) Villa Park, Birmingham, December 26, 2010- Boxing Day Tottenham Hotspur survived the first half dismissal of Jermain Defoe to bag a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Boxing Day. Both the Spurs goals came from Dutch playmaker Rafael van der [.

Newcastle United are in town. Let's send them home with nothing. In fact, while we're at it, we may as well talk business with Ashley and sort Andy Carroll's transfer out here and now.
Having just come off of a massive 10-man victory at Aston Villa, a game in which I saw a Spurs side play the best they have away, under the circumstances, I'd think it not too bad of me to ask that they players put in the same shift against the Toon.

Man City 4-0 Aston Villa ( Mario Balotelli hat trick, Joleon Lescott) December 28, 2010- Tuesday- Eastlands. Manchester City ride on the back of a hat trick from Italian striker Mario Balotelli to beat Gerard Houllier's Aston Villa 4-0. Two of Balotelli's three goals came from the penalty spot. Man City vs Aston Villa 1-0 [.