Houston's own Stuart Holden, a former midfielder with the Houston Dynamo, scored today's winning goal for Bolton in its match with Blackburn Rovers. Holden, who was coming off an injury, scored the goal while Bolton was down to 10 men.

Houston's own Stuart Holden, a former midfielder with the Houston Dynamo, scored today's winning goal for Bolton in its match with Blackburn Rovers. Holden, who was coming off an injury, scored the goal while Bolton was down to 10 men.

With Manchester United ascending to the top of the English Premier League table following last weekend's 7-1 dismantling of Blackburn Rovers, the battle of 2010/11 league title may be one of the most exciting in years with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City also in the mix. Now ESPN's December 2010 English Premier League schedule for the [.

Dec 29 League Liverpool v. Wolverhampton
Jan 1 League Liverpool v. Bolton
Jan 5 League Blackburn v. Liverpool
Jan 9 FA Cup United v. Liverpool
Jan 12 League Blackpool v. Liverpool
Jan 16 League Liverpool v.

News today that three Premier League clubs have been contacted to see if they are interested in taking Barcelona's 19 year old defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu on loan. The clubs contacted are said to be Newcastle United (of course), Everton and Blackburn Rovers, and the news is being broadcast by Spanish station Com Radio.

The what now? Behind the goal at the Reebok Stadium yesterday was one of the more controversial advertising hoardings you are likely to see at a Premier League game. The advert for the Nipple Shop promises "Total Lubrication Supplies". By the end of the match, Blackburn boss Big Sam Allardyce must have been wondering if [.

Arsenal must break this habit of losing two in a row. I realize that it doesn't happen all the time but we've seen successive losses far too often for any fan's liking. This time however, I do feel we should be able to bust the trend on Saturday.

Stoke. What can one say about the Potters? I fell asleep thinking about their game and then woke up with a start due to a nightmare in which another Arsenal player had been Shawcrossed or perhaps more generally, Stoked/Pulised; couldn't see the details as it was a hazy vision and thank God for that!

In the Europa League last night Adam Johnson was excellent; again. Ask anyone who has watched the Prem this season what City lack and they'll say spark and creativity. Johnson is all spark and creativity, and not only that, he tracks back and harries far more than most wingers do.

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway admits to be awaiting the visit of Manchester United on Saturday with a degree of trepidation after having watched the demolition of Blackburn Rovers last weekend but...
Continue to the full story

George got 4 results right and 2 perfect scores last week.
Sat 4th December 2010
Arsenal 3 v Fulham 0
Birmingham 1 v Tottenham 2
Blackburn 1 v Wolves 1
Chelsea 2 v Everton 0
Manchester City 3 v Bolton 1
Wigan Athletic 0 v Stoke City 2
Blackpool 1 v Man Utd 3
Sun 5 December 2010
WBA 1 v Newcastle 2
Sunderland 2 v West Ham Utd 1
Mon 6 December 2010
Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0
Previous week's George Predictions
Tags
World Cup Pens
World Cup Posters
Premiership football predictions

The big freeze and the dismal failure of England's 2018 World Cup bid will not stop the Premier League from rolling on. Its game week 16, time to forget the disappointment, put the heating on and enjoy another weekend of Football.

Spurs enjoyed a much needed rest midweek and will be hoping to capitalise on any signs of a Birmingham hangover following their Carling Cup exploits.

Today's video features Manchester United players in an ad for a popular vodka. Poor Rio barely gets a touch though. Thanks to Off The Post for the good find.

Here's the links:

• Ray Wilkins speaks [Vital Football]
• Everton secure young midfielder [Guardian]
• Pardew leads manager race [Soccer News]
• Mike Ashley's Pardew checklist [Transfer Tavern]
• True form of EPL teams [Bleacher Report]
• Weekly gossip [Sinnacle]
• 10 most underwhelming managers [Telegraph]
• The Hawthorns [Stadium Journey]
• Fantasy home vs.

George got 4 results right and no perfect scores last week.
Sat 11th December 2010
Aston Villa 1 v WBA 1
Everton 2 v Wigan Athletic 0
Fulham 0 v Sunderland 2
Stoke City 1 v Blackpool 1
West Ham Utd 0 v Manchester City 3
Newcastle 0 v Liverpool 1
Sun 12 December 2010
Bolton 2 v Blackburn 0
Wolves 1 v Birmingham 0
Tottenham 2 v Chelsea 1
Mon 13 December 2010
Man Utd 2 v Arsenal 0
Previous week's George Predictions
Tags
World Cup Pens
World Cup Posters
Premiership football predictions

Four of the top five battle it out with each other this week while Man City travel to bottom of the table West Ham. Arsenal could end gameweek 17 in fourth position, having started it Top of the table. Chances are it will be as you were. It has been such an unpredictable season that this has to be the weekend where the top five match each other and pick up a point a piece.

Just like the sacking of Chris Hughton at Newcastle United last week, the news that Big Sam Allardyce has been given the boot from Blackburn Rovers beggars belief. It appears that the new Indian owners at Blackburn want to put their mark on the club with immediate effect and despite promises of funds to spend in [.

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.

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.

If there is one thing that the internet has brought us, it has been instant public opinion. However right or wrong, well informed or otherwise it may be, it's there, in our faces within a few minutes of a news story breaking. This has a value in itself, of sorts. The more people there are commenting on specific story, the closer we can get to something approaching the way the wind is blowing in terms of general opinion.

Strange as it may seem to us on the outside, but the latest fad sweeping through the boardrooms of the Premier League appears to be the practice of unexpectedly sacking otherwise comfortable managers that have done absolutely nothing wrong then, to put the icing on the proverbial dog turd, you publicly cite 'shifting club ambitions' for the given individual's dismissal.

Strange as it may seem to us on the outside, but the latest fad sweeping through the boardrooms of the Premier League appears to be the practice of unexpectedly sacking otherwise comfortable managers that have done absolutely nothing wrong then, to put the icing on the proverbial dog turd, you publicly cite 'shifting club ambitions' for the given individual's dismissal.

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.

I haven't had the chance to look at the United game again or to even study the chalkboards and there is plenty of chat on the internet about that, most of which is just zero-value noise, so I thought it's best to leave that game aside for a day or two. I do want to discuss how Manchester United have a much better organized collective defensive system (best in the League if not the best in the world) but it'll take some work.

I was surely not alone in thinking "Ha-ha-ha" when hearing of "Big" Sam Allardyce's Blackburn departure. But unless there has been a master plan in place since day one (and Maradona's unexpected appearance in England a few weeks back now has a new explanation), the decision appears the latest example of Venky's – and in particular Anuradha Desai's – utter ignorance of English club football, which is no laughing matter.

After yet another defeat away from home Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has come out fighting, stating his firm belief that no-one else could do better given the circumstances surrounding the Merseyside club.
Despite pre-season expectations of a top four spot the Reds currently lie ninth in the Premier League - nine points off the Champions League places - and have won just one game away from home, the fourth worst record in the division.

According to the London Evening Standard, Arsenal are prepared to sell goalkeeper Manual Almunia for around £1.5million next month. It is reported that Malaga and Atletico Madrid are both interested.

Readers who viewed this page, also viewed:

• David De Gea Would Be Open To Man United Move
• Official: Blackburn Sack Managers Allardyce & McDonald
• Powered by Where did they go from here?

Welcome to Fergie Time, a roundup/newsletter type deal that delivers news, opinion and links directly to your screen. As the name suggests, there will be some exaggeration, nsfw moments, canceled press conferences (oh, who are we kidding) and late, late, late scoring of points. You'll like it, trust me.

By Ollie Irish

West Ham striker Carlton Cole sees the funny side as he tumbles into snow on the sidelines at Ewood Park.

The Irons drew 1-1 at managerless Blackburn Rovers in one of the few matches in England that was not a victim of the cold weather.

By Ollie Irish

West Ham striker Carlton Cole sees the funny side as he tumbles into snow on the sidelines at Ewood Park.

The Irons drew 1-1 at managerless Blackburn Rovers in one of the few matches in England that was not a victim of the cold weather.

BLACKBURN, England Steve Kean is on his way back from India having had a summit with Blackburn's new owners to confirm his position as the club's manager and he will be handed a transfer budget to bring in four new players in January. Kean is to be installed until the end of the season [...]

Tweet

Time to give Chelsea the blues!

It's that time of the week again when I attempt to predict the outcome of this weekend's Premier League games. Last week was a bit of a wash out, as only three of the 10 games were played, and I ended up with one correct outcome and two incorrect.

Liverpool 0-1 Wolves ( Stephen Ward 56′) December 29, 2010- Anfield, Liverpool. Stephen Ward's first ever Premiership goal for Wolves gives them their first win at Anfield in over 26 years. Another disappointing display from Liverpool under Roy Hodgson, but great result for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the last Premiership game of 2010.

Once again, it's the English Premier League with most of our weekend options, though La Liga also returns on Sunday. Saturday ESPN2 has WBA - Manchester United at 7:30am. On Fox Soccer Channel, Manchester City - Blackburn is at 10am, Birmingham City - Arsenal starts at 12:30pm, and Spurs hosts the Americans at Fulham at 2:30pm.

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.

By Chris Wright

Blackburn have told loyal stalwart and bona fide club legend Pascal Chimbonda that he can leave in January after deciding not to renew his contract, which expires at the end of the season.

Rover's manager Sam Allardyce told the PA:

"We are not going to renew Pascal's contract.

Fulham

Position: 17th, 2-9-4 (15 points, -3 goal differential)

Away Form: 0-5-2 (-2 goal differential)

Recent Form: DLDLD

Last Meeting: Arsenal 4 Fulham 0 (May 9, 2010)

Back in league action tomorrow against Fulham, and this is a match we could very easily lose points from.

Today's video features the reaction to the World Cup going to Russia in 2018. A sad day for both England and the United States who thought their chances of hosting were real.

Here's the links:

• EPL preview and predictions [SB Nation]
• Sir Alex's five goalkeeper options [Back Page Football]
• Baggie bird makeover [Who Ate All The Pies]
• Nine wins to survive [Daily Star]
• John Terry returns [Chelsea FC]
• No United players for fantasy?

Just as Manchester United reclaimed pole position in the Premier League for the first time in nine months, they look likely to be forced into playing catch up football once again after their...
Continue to the full story

At first I thought that this pre-match article was to focus on the injuries of Blackburn and our chances to get points of them away because of that, but right now I'm not so sure anymore. Both team will be crippled, for sure. Latest news from Wolves says that David Jones will be out because [...]

One top player for Newcastle who will return at West Brom tomorrow afternoon is Joey Barton. Joey Barton - should return tomorrow Joey got into an altercation with Morten Pedersen in the second half of the game against Blackburn at St. James' Park, and it was caught on the TV cameras when he punched the [.

The Premiership, probably at the moment, is the most open league for anyone to win since its introduction in 1992. The emergence of teams like Bolton and Sunderland is making them competitors worthy of testing the best in the league. The league in my mind has stretched across a different range altogether, watching a resurgent Newcastle United side under Chris Hughton and a spirited Blackpool side under Ian Holloway, who in their own way have silenced critics that wrote them off even before the season kicked off.