Union

MLSSoccer.com says of Freddy Adu, "there is one club in particular that would make the best fit and give him a real chance at success: the Philadelphia Union." As of this writing, 75% of of those who participated on a poll on the topic agree.

FC Nürnberg midfielder Marek Mintal responds to reports that the Union are interested in him on this German website, "I know of the interest.

An exquisite volley goal from James Morrison for West Brom against Manchester United on New Years' Eve 2011. January 1, 2011 at the Hawthorns. This stunning 25 yard effort from Morrison was the equaliser for West Bromwich Albion after Man United had taken the lead through Wayne Rooney. James Morrison goal against Manchester United West [.

By Ainsley Jacobs, writing in London

Even in a stadium filled with 35,000 people, Avram Grant must have felt like the loneliest man in the world last Saturday. Watching his team getting ripped apart by Arsenal, his head must have been a whirl with rumours of his impending departure from Upton Park.

A class apart... 1. However ugly the journey, and however mishandled the situation, the end result is correct. Grant's time has come. By the time you are reading this he will probably already have gone. Grant's winning percentage in the Premier League since leaving Chelsea is just 19%. It's just not good enough.

Seriously, does anyone even have the slightest sliver of an inkling?

Roughly six hours before the first-string were about to kick-off against Arsenal, word broke from somewhere inside the West Ham camp via the BBC's diligent Sport team that former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was duly waiting in the wings to take over from beleaguered incumbent Avram Grant at the Upton Park helm completely regardless of the result against the Gunners.

After joining the likes of Serie A and La Liga, putting our feet up in front of the telly and enjoying the mid-winter break, Footy Factor is back and looking forward to another scintillating year of footy. Up next, who will be the first Premiership manager in the New Year to get the chop?

By Ollie Irish

Number one, bitches

The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), which sounds like a tremendously fun place to work, has voted Arsene Wenger the No.1 football coach of the last decade. Wenger > Fergie, Mourinho, Allardyce, Megson, Brown et al.

Thank your lucky scarves Avram Grant has revealed the secret behind West Ham's stunning turnaround over the Christmas period a lucky scarf. The charmed neckwear was first sported by Grant in his side's unlikely 4-0 Carling Cup triumph over Manchester United. He foolishly ditched the scarf for the defeats to Sunderland and Manchester City, [.

Ireland striker Shane Long has pledged his immediate future to Reading after another match winning performance by the in-form .
Long took his tally to six goals in his last five games with a brace in the 2-1 win over Burnley last weekend.
The Tipperary born Irish international assured Royals fans that he has no plans to leave during the January transfer window, despite strong rumours that West Ham boss Avram Grant is keen on bringing Long to Upton Park to help secure the Hammers Premiership position.

After yesterday's Premier League results it would take a lucky man or a fool to bet on the next Premier League manager to lose his job. Avram Grant, Carlo Ancelotti and Roy Hodgson's days are surely numbered after Blackburn Rovers thrashed Liverpool 3-1, West Ham was humiliated by Newcastle United 5-0 and Chelsea were embarrassed [.

Didier Deschamps has ruled himself out of the running to succeed Roy Hodgson as the under-fire Liverpool manager clings on to his job by his fingernails.
Hodgson spent four hours at the training ground yesterday in the wake of a damaging 3-1 defeat by Blackburn as the owners, the Fenway Sports Group, deliberated over his position ahead of Sunday's FA Cup tie at Manchester United.

By Kirsten Schlewitz / Senior West Coast Beer and Aston Villa Correspondent
2011 football was not supposed to start out this way. A new coach should have brought a fresh approach. We were meant to be climbing into the Champions League spots, not sliding into the relegation zone. Instead, our top players aren't performing, there are training ground bust ups, and people are placing bets on when the manager packs his bags.

Manchester United vs Liverpool FC Old Trafford, Manchester- January 2011 Kenny Dalglish did not enjoy a successful start to his second stint as Liverpool manager but there were several positives to take out for the Reds from the defeat against Manchester United. An early penalty from Ryan Giggs sealed the issue, with Steven Gerrard also [.

In the sporting world a W usually indicates a win, a victory. In this article it is the basis of those teams hovering around the relegation trapdoor in the Premier League: West Ham United, Wigan Athletic, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion. Aside from a very lacklustre Aston Villa these are the teams staring the drop in the face.

There may have been am element of luck involved but Carlton Cole's 78th minute winner must have given manager Avram Grant some much needed breathing space as rumours continue to circulate concerning the future of the Israeli and his job as West Ham manager. A hard working display from The Hammers who played out the last 30 minutes with ten men after Victor Obinna red card saw them pick up a 2-1 victory over another team flirting with relegation, Birmingham City, whilst giving them the advantage going into the second leg of The Carling Cup and a potential trip to Wembley on February 27th.

By Ollie Irish

Avram Grant was in fighting mood for once after West Ham's slightly jammy win against Birmingham in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final. Speculation that Grant is not long for Upton Park is still rife, prompting Grant to counter: "We're one point from Wigan, Fulham and other teams but with them everything is quiet.

West Ham manager Avram Grant has finally had enough of Karen Brady and the constant speculation about his job. After seeing his side beat Birmingham, a win that put the Hammers 90 minutes from Wembley and a place in Europe next season Grant said:

"We're one point from Wigan, Fulham and other teams but with them everything is quiet.

Forget all the controversy with Julian Asange, every football club seems to have one or two individuals who are happy to wash their dirty laundry in public. For instance, where have the rumblings about the precarious nature of Avram Grant's job come from? Or is it just chicken and egg? Has his poor perfromance brought about the groundswell, or has someone tipped the media the wink.

Back in the 2006/07 season West Ham found themselves in a similar position in the run up to Christmas as they did this season. They were lingering down at the wrong end of the table and if truth be told the spirit within the squad had evaporated. The season had started full of hope, after the agonising defeat in the FA Cup to Liverpool in the final in the previous May West Ham fans were looking for the club to push on and upwards.

West Ham

Position: 20th, 4-8-10 (20 points, -16 goal differential)

Home Form: 3-4-4 (-2 goal differential)

Recent Form: DWDWL

Last Meeting: Arsenal 1 West Ham 0 (October 30, 2010)

We haven't won a match in two weeks, despite playing at home twice and against lower division opposition twice.

Arsenal are having a serious blip in their season having failed to score a goal from open play in their last three games, including two against Championship sides. But Arsene Wenger will point to the fact that he has rotated the team and tomorrow he will have all his big guns fresh, rested, and back [.

Relegation Special Who's for the drop?

This week Charlie, Dexy and the Bear discuss the action at the wrong end of the Premier League table and look forward to the amazing line-up of local derbies this weekend.

Martin O'Neill is still being touted as the man to replace the unlucky Avram Grant at the helm of West Ham United. The former Aston Villa manager is reported to be mulling over the possibility of being the Irons' new manager.
Avram Grant has always been unlucky in the English Premier League.

West Ham are reportedly ready to ditch current boss Avram Grant and replace him with former Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neil.

Sources have told Sky Sports News that Hammers boss Avram Grant will take charge of his last match at Upton Park in Saturday's late kick-off at home to third place Arsenal.

Manchester City clung on to beat Wolves 4-3 and move to the top of the Premier League, while struggling champions Chelsea beat Blackburn and Arsenal beat West Ham's.

After Kolo Toure canceled out Nenad Milijas' opener for Wolves, City went 4-1 ahead in the second half through Carlos Tevez's double and Yaya Toure's strike.

Manchester City clung on to beat Wolves 4-3 and move to the top of the Premier League, while struggling champions Chelsea beat Blackburn and Arsenal beat West Ham's.

After Kolo Toure canceled out Nenad Milijas' opener for Wolves, City went 4-1 ahead in the second half through Carlos Tevez's double and Yaya Toure's strike.

Martin O'Neill has quashed the rumours linking him to the managerial hot seat at West Ham. However, it appears O'Neill had been spoken to, and was interested in the role, but he is unhappy at the way it has been handled. It appears someone can't keeep their mouth shut at West Ham since Gold, Sullivan and Brady came to the club and the media informant is doing more harm than good at Upton Park.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher backstreet turtle dealer The Off The Post Podcast is much like Avram Grant. It lacks any real sense, is hardly what you'd call inspiring, and isn't listened to by Karren Brady, but people seem just about happy to persevere with it for now. On this week's show we'll be prematurely revelling in poor [.

Time for a change in managers' contracts? Rafa Benitez's record at Inter Milan does not make for pleasant reading. In 39 games either side of his term, the club lost just three games. In his reign of 23 games, they lost seven times. The Spaniard was forced out of the club, presumably with hurt pride.

‘It's disgraceful,' came the calls.
‘The law needs to be changed,' yelled others.
Nope, not the laws that allow an innocent man be persecuted by the national media because he likes art and stuff and used to have blue hair, but Frederic Piquionne's sending off against Everton at the weekend.

West Ham boss Avram Grant will this week attempt to secure the services of Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole on a loan deal to aid the club's fight against relegation. The former Hammer is barely part of the Anfield side's first team plans and may well be interested in a return to his former stamping ground not least as it would help give him the chance of regular first team football.

Jonathan Spector was in the starting lineup for West Ham yet again, but he couldn't duplicate his past Carling Cup magic as the Hammers lost to Birmingham, 3-1, in overtime of their second leg at St. Andrews on Wednesday. The loss sent Birmingham to the Carling Cup Final.

West Ham came in with a 2-1 lead on aggregate, but Birmingham forced extra time with its own 2-1 regulation scoreline and clinched the victory at home courtesy of a Craig Gardner goal.

I FEEL a bit sorry for Avram Grant. I have done ever since he came to these shores in 2006.
It's amazing to think what the Israeli has been through in just five years in this country.
His appointments as Technical Director at Portsmouth and later Director of Football at Chelsea caused murmurs of discontent at both clubs among staff and fans.