Reports from Craven Cottage are suggesting that Fulham have sold QPR a player who "never existed in the first place."

The extraordinary claims come on the back of Bobby Zamora's mooted £5 million move from Fulham to QPR.

A source from the West Ham grounds staff revealed today that "Bobby Zamora gave up football a long time ago.

Newcastle United pulled off a coup today in the signing of Senegalese striker Papisse Demba Cisse. The former Freiburg striker has nine goals from 15 appearances so far this season, and finished last season as one of the top goalscorers in the Bundesliga with 22 goals to his name.

The striker signs on a 5 and-a-half year deal, and the transfer fee is thought to be in the region of £7.

So, it's that time of the year again when the MLS superstars come back to the Europe. Last season there was talk of Thierry Henry and David Beckham returning to the Premier League but nothing came of it. As for this season, what a treat we have been given!

This blog was originally going to compare who would have the bigger impact between Robbie Keane and Henry during their two months back, but after Monday night's performance from the latter I don't think there's really much of an argument.

So, it's that time of the year again when the MLS superstars come back to the Europe. Last season there was talk of Thierry Henry and David Beckham returning to the Premier League but nothing came of it. As for this season, what a treat we have been given!

This blog was originally going to compare who would have the bigger impact between Robbie Keane and Henry during their two months back, but after Monday night's performance from the latter I don't think there's really much of an argument.

Didier Drogba, Gary Cahill, Andrei Arshavin and Andy Johnson headline the list of Premier League stars who are out of contract at the end of the season according to Goal.com, and could be available on a free transfer this summer.

You could put together a pretty competitive side from this list.

• Kop That: Jamie Redknapp: Arsenal need to re-sign Thierry Henry http://t.co/Fy2YzhvQ 23:39:55, 2011-12-25
• Kop That: Boxing Day can make football smile again after shocking week http://t.co/kPstYng0 23:09:52, 2011-12-25
• Kop That: Referees are picking on Craig Bellamy, says Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish http://t.

Fantastic Emile Heskey pictures: portrait of a football legend

Click on the arrows to see some brilliant snaps of everyone's favourite footballer

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-12-25 09:00:00 from: Talksport

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Could the Spaniard be given less defensive duty?

As is customary during this period of the season, games come thick and fast. Tonight sees us visiting Villa Park and this is the first of 4 games in 13 days. Yet, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. This is as big a test as the Manchester City game.

Liverpool : Bellamy 11′, Skrtel 15′
Aston Villa 0

Like the reverse fixture last season, Liverpool barely get a fight from Aston Villa, easing to victory over an opposition that makes it hard to tell if they're that bad or if Liverpool were really that good.

Aston Villa Liverpool Preview: Reds have lost just once in 13 games in all competitions and have the same record at Villa Park

Stewart Downing, who makes his return to the Midlands, scored the winner in this fixture last year and there could be a reunion for Emile Heskey against Kenny Dalglish's side

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-12-17 07:47:00 from: Goal

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Liverpool head back out on the road, visiting the West Midlands in search of their second consecutive win in league. Success away from Anfield has been easier to come by, with Kenny Dalglish's squad winning more at opposition venues than they have at home. Alex McLeish's squad are level on points with Norwich City in ninth and have earned eleven of their nineteen points at Villa Park despite losing two of their last three.

Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez were very different managers in many ways but one thing they shared was a preference for hard-work and stamina over unpredictable flair and creativity. Players like Dirk Kuyt and Emile Heskey symbolised the footballing philosophy of both managers, and Liverpool legend John Barnes believes that Liverpool are still suffering as a result of prioritising hard-work

Wayne Rooney scored his first league goal since September as Manchester United crushed Wolves 4-1 on Saturday. But with all the analysis and comments that followed an eventful week for Rooney, one quote stood out.

As well as stating that ‘Wayne was brilliant', United defender Phil Jones went on to say, ‘but he still has an influence on the team even when he is not scoring.

With Shay Given out for a month, Brad Guzan gets his first Premier League start, and it's also emerged this week that the American is in contract discussions with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season. Jermaine Jenas is out for the season, and with the club apparently on the hook for his wages the less said about that the better.

Mick McCarthy... bareback Ep.16 Yak Attack by Off The Post on Mixcloud Coming at you like Mick McCarthy riding a stallion bareback across an open field, the Off The Post Podcast is back and ready to gallop through the weekend's Premier League action, hopefully coming out the other side with something vaguely resembling coherent audio.

The rumour in the British press Monday is that Fabio Capello may leave Wayne Rooney out of his Euro' 2012 squad if his three game ban isn't reduced.

I have to think this is a poor attempt at filling column inches. Either that or Capello is suffering from temporary insanity.

England managers have taken a gamble on including injured players in their squads in the past in the hope that the player will be fit for the later stages of a competition.

Emile's rugby tactics Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey celebrated his 500th Premier League appearance in style with this shot against Manchester United. The former England international proved that most of his appearances have been as starts when he was reprimanded by the fourth official for entering the field of play before the electronic substitution board [.

They obviously can't be bothered, so neither can I. It was a positive line-up, but Utd never needed to get out of 1st gear. McLeish must be giving out his instructions in Russian or something because he's managed to make some very capable players look like they haven't the first clue what they're doing.

One of the bigger talking points has been the return of Ashley Young. James Milner showed class by not celebrating at Eastlands recently, expect Ashley Young to do exactly the same today, but preferably because he hasn't scored.

Either way, it's a tough game ahead and I suspect there will be a bigger interest in the manner we McLeish approaches the game than any real expectation in getting much from it.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has played under 5 different managers during his career at Anfield, and although he has great respect for both Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez, Carra argues that both managers set their teams up to play long ball football.
Carra, who is currently being kept out of the Liverpool team by Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel, told The Telegraph:
"Don't give me all this 'It's the fancy dan foreign coaches' who play all the great football, either.

This game will go ahead despite the tragic news that Wales manager, Gary Speed, has apparently taken his own life. Naturally, with the game being in Wales and a number of internationals involved, the game will inevitably be effected in some way. Such sad news.

Alex McLeish has promised a better performance than we were treated to at White Hart Lane and, in all honesty, it would be difficult to be much worse.

What a joy to watch that was. Full of life, effervescence and wonder. It moved, it didn't move, it moved some more; it made the opposition's efforts look like wet spaghetti in comparison. A shining light, a colossal effort. Disco Benny sported one of the finest haircuts in the history of, well, everything on Monday night.

Who's ready for a good old fashioned England-Germany turf war?

With City at the hands of the Footballing Gods after their 1-2 loss to Napoli, United not so good themselves after their 2 Hilarious Mistakes-2 Benfica draw at Old Trafford, and Chelsea sucking right now, it's fair to say that England haven't exactly covered themselves in glory in Europe this season.

Remember the Premier League? Yeah, we're finally back in action tonight for our first league game under the floodlights of 2011/12. Returning to White Hart Lane also happens to be significant for Alex McLeish, but that's not something we wish to dwell on.

Truth is, coming back from North London with a point has generally been a decent result for us in the past, you'll do well to find many Villa fans optimistic about grabbing something tonight.

Pictures: Football's funniest faces including Peter Crouch, Phil Jones, Andrey Arshavin and Emile Heskey!

Click on the arrows to see some funny and some downright freaky faces pulled by footballers

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-11-18 14:46:59 from: Talksport

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Bobby Zamora's England performance won't have changed anyone's mind.

Which is to say: if you thought he was good before, you'd have been pleased to see him doing what he does well, namely holding the ball up, combining well with team-mates, and generally doing his bit to make sure the attacking phase is cohesive.

Ahead of tomorrow's friendly, OTP looks at some of the most memorable events in previous England v Spain meetings. 1. Stuart Pearce's penalty (Euro 96) Spain found themselves on the receiving end as Pyscho buried the ghost of his Italia 90 penalty miss. In the process he performed one of the most iconic sporting celebrations [.

Video: Why Spain fear Emile Heskey and his lethal kung fu finishing

Watch the video below and click on the arrows on the pics to see Heskey giving Pep Guardiola the run around

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-11-10 13:06:14 from: Talksport

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Chris Herd's performances have rightly earned him quite a few headlines in the last couple of weeks. Initially for the wrong reason, but lately for the right ones.

Alex McLeish has said that he's "a manager's dream; the best trainer at the club".

He will train the way he plays on Saturday by giving it absolutely everything.

Chris Herd's performances have rightly earned him quite a few headlines in the last couple of weeks. Initially for the wrong reason, but lately for the right ones.

Alex McLeish has said that he's "a manager's dream; the best trainer at the club".

He will train the way he plays on Saturday by giving it absolutely everything.

Us gals get a bad enough rap when we can't go to the ladies' room without one another, so what's with the hand holding between Chantelle (Emile Heskey's WAG) and Jessica (Stephen Ireland's missus)?

Darren Bent's brace against Norwich on Saturday took his Premier League career goal tally to 96, he's just four short of joining the Ton Up Club.

It's a pretty exclusive club with former Villans Dwight Yorke and Dion Dublin, plus current Villan Emile Heskey, among its 20 members.
Bent's definitely got his eye on getting past the doorman, he told the official site:

I've still got a few things I'd like to achieve, like 100 Premier League goals.

A much improved performance from Villa in a lively game led to a vital three points at home thanks to two goals from Darren Bent, and a goal for the provider of both those goals; man of the match Gabby Agbonlahor. Goals from Anthony Pilkington and Steve Morison bookended the home goals, and set up a nervous final ten minutes.

You have to go all the way back to 2004/05 to find the last time this fixture was played; a 3-0 win under David O'Leary. Alex McLeish could really do with something similar today.

Darren Bent has said that one goal could open the floodgates, and McLeish has "rubbished" silly rumours of a January sale.

Ouch! The sight of blood pouring everywhere over Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet showed that his broken nose was a serious injury. After all, it had been caused by Emile Heskey in Saturday's Premier League draw. But there have been plenty of bizarre breaks and injuries too... here are our top five.

It was so nearly a vital three points for Alex McLeish away from home thanks to goals from Stiliyan Petrov and what should have been a late winner from Richard Dunne to cancel out Conor Wickham's first half leveller.
Unfortunately, the familiar sight of a late goal coming from a set piece returned when 5'7″ Stéphane Sessègnon helped himself to a free header with one minute of normal time left on the clock.

Darren Bent's first return to Wearside since his switch to Aston Villa has dominated the headlines, but Steve Bruce will more concerned with trying to find what would only be his third home win of 2011.

Alex McLeish is coming off the back of two losses; one far from unexpected, the other extremely disappointing.

West Brom come to Villa Park in a fixture we haven't lost since 1979. Our record from the last 10 times we played the Baggies in the league is six wins and four draws.

Roy Hodgson's side picked up their second win of the season last weekend, a 2-0 home victory against the hapless Wolves. We're trying to put a comprehensive loss at the hands of Man City behind us, Alex McLeish threatening to drop any players who put in lacklustre defensive displays.

Emile Heskey gets the Fernando Torres treatment and more in videos of the week

Every Thursday we'll bring you the 10 best videos we've found doing the rounds on the worldwide web. Some stunning, some ridiculous but all here for your enjoyment...

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-10-20 00:01:15 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

This is the new FIFA 12 tribute video to Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey it's not pretty and his skills are as close as ye get to the real thing! But honestly if I was him I wouldn't endorse my name to it after this.