Charles N'Zogbia is in the form of his life and with 2 doubles in GW26 and GW30 this lad could prove incredible value. He has knocked home three goals in the last six games that Wigan have played, and has two double gameweeks coming up in gameweek 26 and gameweek 30. Wigan's runs of fixtures is also appealing, the toughest opposition between now and March being Tottenham at home.

Lots of American transfer updates this morning, so I'm lumping them all together. I'm pulling most of this from the excellent Soccer By Ives...

• In Germany, Kicker is reporting that Ricardo Clark has signed with Eintracht Frankfurt until the end of the season, with the club having the option to extend the deal for another three years.

photo credit: bobbymond

Arsenal is crouched in the shadows just waiting to pounce...

... and is 4 points out of the top of the Premier League table and they've officially made it look like a 3-team race. Earlier it had seemed that Tottenham or Aston Villa would make mighty challengers for Chelsea and ManU but now it is evident that Arsenal intends to stand its ground and not budge out of the Top 3 in order to give last year's finalists a run for their money.

Is this spectacular ground Holden's next home?

View full size photo »

Bolton? Who wanted to play there anyway?

Stuart Holden has apparently left the land of fish and chips for points East.

Arsenal 4 - 2 Bolton Wanderers
Dominic Fifield:
Arshavin takes Arsenal top after fightback
Oliver Kay:
Rosicky inspires amazing comeback
Paul Hayward:
16 games for Arsenal's nerve to hold
Liverpool 2 - 0 Tottenham
Richard Jolly:
Determined Liverpool show signs of revival
Andy Hunter:
Kuyt scores twice to sink Spurs
Harry Harris:
Anfield remains epicentre of surprises
Overall Home Away
RK
TEAMPWDLGSGAWDLGSGAWDLGSGAGDPts1 Arsenal 22 15 3 4 59 25 9 1 1 34 11 6 2 3 25 14 34 48 2 Chelsea 21 15 3 3 52 18 10 1 0 34 8 5 2 3 18 10 34 48 3 Manchester United 22 15 2 5 49 19 9 1 1 27 8 6 1 4 22 11 30 47 4 Tottenham Hotspur 22 11 5 6 42 24 7 1 3 26 8 4 4 3 16 16 18 38 5 Manchester City 21 10 8 3 42 30 7 3 0 26 14 3 5 3 16 16 12 38 6 Liverpool 22 11 4 7 40 26 7 2 2 28 11 4 2 5 12 15 14 37 7 Aston Villa 21 10 6 5 29 18 6 3 2 17 7 4 3 3 12 11 11 36 8 Birmingham 21 9 6 6 21 19 5 4 2 9 6 4 2 4 12 13 2 33 9 Fulham 21 7 6 8 26 24 6 2 2 15 6 1 4 6 11 18 2 27 10 Everton 21 6 8 7 30 34 4 5 2 16 15 2 3 5 14 19 -4 26

Stuart Holden is on his way to Bolton. (Getty Images)

The day has some for those Houston Dynamo fans, their club no now longer has Stuart Holden. Bolton manager Owen Coyle has confirmed that the club will sign Holden as one of two winter acquisitions.

Holden joins former Dynamo teammate Ricardo Clark, who has signed with Eintracht Frankfurt, as Americans to make major transfer moves from MLS this winter.

From Kickette.com

Taken from an interview with Guillem Balague not too long ago, this is what Cesc Fabregas said,

I don't like to give specific instructions, but sometimes you see something clearly, like a teammate who isn't making a pass because he wants to do it on his own.

Photo by ISIphotos.com

Stuart Holden's trial with Bolton is going well, and manager Owen Coyle has revealed that he is considering offering Holden a contract.

Coyle wouldn't say anything definite about a contract, but he did state that Holden was doing well during his trial.

1-0 Cesc Fabregas

Fran Merida 2-0

If you plan on kidnapping any WAGS, I'm gonna have to go ahead and warn against it. Not just for the moral and legal problems such an activity would present, but also because now they have this panic alarm disguised as an iPod that sounds like it would thoroughly ruin any WAG-napping plans.

"Stuart has been training with us and he has done well," Bolton manager Owen Coyle said. "He has a great energy and desire, and he wants to show that he can play in the best league in the world, so he is a young man with a point to prove."

Discussion will now turn to when the fixture can be rescheduled. There are few available midweek slots in a season that will finish early, to allow England extra time to prepare for the World Cup. As neither club has an FA Cup replay next week, Tuesday or Wednesday night may be an option. Coincidentally, Bolton are due to play Arsenal in the Premier League at the Reebok Stadium a week on Sunday.

As a number of you have commented in the gameweek preview, some Premier League matches have already been postponed due to icy weather conditions. They are:

• Burnley v. Stoke
• Fulham v. Portsmouth
• Sunderland v. Bolton
• Hull v. Chelsea
• Liverpool v. Tottenham

For those of you who wait until last minute to make transfers, it may be wise to keep procrastinating.

Over at No Short Corners, a post with Stuart Holden at Bolton -- Yep, Holden's with Bolton

Perhaps not putting pen to paper - or is that cursor to screen, keyboard to 'new post' - has been useful for me when it comes to looking at the Everton match, which was a staggering ten days ago.
Because whenever you score late, in the aftermath of the match, the result secured takes on a special glow which casts its light far and wide.

Stuart Holden went to England with the hopes of landing a contract. It looks as though he will have to move elsewhere in Europe to find a deal.

According to the UK-based Mirror, Bolton has passed on signing Holden, and now the U.S. national team midfielder is heading to Portugal to sign with Sporting Braga.

Hot action from the Reebok Premier League penalty box action or gay p0rn for the visually impaired? Only Match of the Day commentator Simon Brotherton can truly answer that question.

Yesterday I mentioned some of the trialists that were in or coming to KC. Today Thad at The Back Post went out to practice to see what was going on with the biggest of the names on that list, Vincenzo Bernardo, and found that there were about 30 players there for an invitee tryout. Along with some of the players I mentioned, there were some other players there that Wizards fans or soccer fans in general may recognize.

Firstly at least one person from Bolton, Owen Coyle their manager, has seen sense and realised that his initial words were over the top regarding the Gallas tackle. The clear media bias can be seen in this Star article as the tackle is called a 'horror' tackle. In reality it was just a foul with studs up and nothing more sensational, as can be seen on video and from the photo above Gallas had his

Arsenal host Manchester United on Sunday in the weekend's big clash. Also on Sunday Pompey go to Manchester City. On Saturday, Burnley host Chelsea, Wigan welcome Everton, West Ham welcome Blackburn, Bolton go to Liverpool, Hull host Wolves, Fulham host Villa and Spurs go up to Birmingham.
Preview I
Preview II
Lawro's Predictions
Not participating on Sunday.

Which FA Cup matches will most likely feature a shock result?(polls)

It's one of my favorite weekends of the year the third round of the FA Cup when there's always an upset result. The question is, which Premier League is going to suffer a shock defeat against a team from the lower leagues?

It might be the biggest January deal of the season. Burnley have announced that manager Owen Coyle has left the club to take over Bolton.

This is a great move for Bolton and will ensure that they avoid relegation this year. For Burnley, who they get to replace Coyle will have a huge impact on whether they stay up or not.

Tomorrow's game in hand against Bolton may not even go ahead, but we're still here to give you our team predictions ahead of the vital league clash at Emirates Stadium. With heavy snowfall expected, doubts over whether the match will be played have occurred although there is no confirmation at the moment (we'll let you know [.

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By Walter Broeckx The starting line up was Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Traore, Denilson, Diaby, Ramsey, Nasri, Arshavin and Eduardo. Bolton kick off and launch a rocket at the Arsenal goal. The ball hits Almunia (who is still waving at the crowd behind his goal) on the back of his head and it goes out for a [.

According to Suzanne Geldard at the Lancashire Telegraph, Burnley are considering going after Stoke City assistant manager Peter Reid if current manager Owen Coyle joins Bolton.

Arsenal's most anticipated game of the season with Bolton was canceled due to severe weather conditions, a game which fans looked forward to because it is the crucial game in hand. Three points from this game ...

Arsenal's most anticipated game of the season with Bolton was canceled due to severe weather conditions, a game which fans looked forward to because it is the crucial game in hand. Three points from this game ...

Arsene Wenger has confessed he may need to sign a new striker to boost Arsenal's Premier League Title odds this season.
The French manager indicated it could depend on the situation with Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner that sways his mind whether or not to bring a new forward to the Emirates during the transfer window.

Like many, I was bitterly disappointed to see the Bolton match called off, a game which will have to be rescheduled for a second time. Part of the reason was that I was very confident ...

UPDATE: According to Bolton's official website, Owen Coyle was official appointed manager of Bolton.

January 4th, 2010 Burnely's official website is reporting that a decision on whether Owen Coyle will leave will not be made in the next 24 hours.

Like you, we were shocked when we first heard reports that Togo's team bus had been ambushed by gunmen on its way to its home base for the upcoming African Nations Cup. As of this writing, the details of the shooting remain murky and the number of injured and dead is up in the air.

Lots of news has occured lately, and with a weekend of action coming up, five Premiership matches were postponed, here is a list of the matches postponed:
Hull City - Chelsea
Burnley - Stoke City
Sunderland - Bolton
Fulham - Portsmouth
Liverpool - Tottenham
Togo National Team Attacked on way to ANC Cup


The Togo National team bus was attacked by gunmen on their way to the African Nations Cup, the driver was killed, and two players were hit by bullets, goalkeeper Obilale Kossi, and Serge Akakpo.

Where goes Owen Coyle, so (reportedly) follows Stuart Holden; after initially being extended a trial invitation by Burnley, the American midfielder may now headed to Bolton, where Coyle was recently...

According to Alan Nixon at MirrorFootball, Bolton are looking to sign Manchester City winger Vladimir Weiss.

It is also reported that Owen Coyle will reconsider going after Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere on loan once again.

Word is he's getting a trial at Bolton.
This after Burnley manager Owen Coyle -- who had been interested in Holden after a trial -- left for the Wanderers, and brought the interest with him.
Holden could be a real wild card for the USMNT come World Cup time, considering the team has no established wingers.

No trophies this year for Gerrard but at least a double gameweek
Some very important news today for those of you getting ready to set your Fantasy Premier League lineups this coming weekend...
We have been handed the new news that the Arsenal - Bolton and Liverpool - Tottenham matches that were snowed out a week ago will be played next week - thus handing all four of those teams a brand new double gameweek.

Mornin all, it's been a while. I've really just been enjoying the season lately, and didn't feel the need to write about how splendidly it's been going for us so far (Knock on wood.) There is a news story worth mentioning though, and so here I am to get on with the mention. Sol Campbell has rejoined Arsenal, and I have to say I'm thrilled to have him back in the fold.

This is what football looked like in 1872.

There have been talks about an English-Scotland friendly being bopped about for a while now, but yesterday the Scottish Football Association said:

"We are, as always, willing to engage in open dialogue with our English counterparts.

I'm sure most of you saw an article on Sport.co.uk claiming Arsenal "could remove their trademark white sleeves from their home kit as they celebrate the 125th anniversary of the club in 2011 by replicating shirts worn by the club's founding fathers." With not much going on news-wise ahead of the Bolton match, except, of course, Cesc's return from injury, I figured I would take this pre-match Friday to gauge my readers' opinions on the kits.