Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill admits that the Black Cats will have their hands full when they entertain Arsenal at the Stadium of Light today, particularly given the dexterity of Gunners youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The teenage sensation has quickly become a fan favorite at Arsenal, setting up Robin van Persie's equalizer in the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United and then displaying his scoring abilities by netting twice in last weekend's 7-1 destruction of Blackburn.

It will be a hostile atmosphere when United take on arch rivals Liverpool this weekend, and Sir Alex's side are slightly odds-on at 1.91 with Paddy Power to come out on top in what promises to be a real hard fought battle.

The game sees Patrice Evra come face to face with Luis Suarez for the first time since the Liverpool striker was banned for eight games after racially abusing the United defender and the role of referee Phil Dowd will be crucial.

Fabio Capello resigns as England coach- Italian gaffer quits before Euro 2012 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Fabio Capello resigns as England coach- Italian gaffer quits before Euro 2012 is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter England manager Fabio Capello has put in his papers months before the team travels to Poland and Ukraine for the 2012 European Championships.

So another transfer window comes to a close. This unlike many others was surprisingly quiet, mainly due to clubs now having to take into account UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Another reason for the quiet was our gaffer's appearances in court seriously restricting his ability to go on Sky Sports News every five minutes and tell the world which 'top top players' he was looking at.

Being forced to sell his captain during the January and consequently losing matches heavily did for Simon Grayson. While OTP feels slightly sorry for the recently sacked Grayson, we won't be dwelling on his departure for too long because there are some exciting prospects in contention to be the new boss at Elland [.

The saga is finally over, but it unfortunately is not the result that Philadelphia Union fans were hoping it to be.

Sebastien Le Toux's trade to the Vancouver Whitecaps is now official, a source close to the situation told the Brotherly Game. The source did not know of the details of what the trade would involve, other than Le Toux heading to Canada.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has urged the Stamford Bridge crowd to seek inspiration from the club's traveling support at Loftus Road on Saturday to change the anxious vibe at the Blues' home ground.

The West Londoners were nearly unbeatable at home not too long ago but have appeared extremely vulnerable under Villas-Boas, who is hoping that the recent return to form improves the atmosphere at the Bridge.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has alleviated concerns about Arsenal's perennially high injury list, stating that it is about to shorten in the coming days.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski made a long-awaited return in the goal during yesterday evening's 3-2 FA Cup win at home to Aston Villa and Wenger believes that midfielders Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshere are also recovering better than expected.

Ireland striker Robbie Keane has already become Aston Villa's in-game gaffer by shouting out pitch instructions to his short-term colleagues.
Keane has ingratiated himself to team-mates and fans alike with his brilliant double in the 3-2 victory at Wolves last Weekend and it capped an amazing full Villa start for the 31-year-old Irish captain who is currently on loan from LA Galaxy.

What a rough week I have had. My week was similar to Arsenals current form, depressing. Well screw all that, we still had a great week of football. So let me give you a slightly over the top review of the week that wasn't:

Arsenal

It was another dramatic week for the Gunners.

Welp, it's done.

Baguettes & Brioche

After months of exile, Alex is once again on the verge of relevance. His protracted transfer saga has come to a close, with PSG concluding a deal to acquire the defender for 4 million quid. After turning down the chance to ply his trade at QPR, that massive club, he elected to reunite with former gaffer Carlo Ancelotti and take his talents to the Champs Elysses.

Most Spurs fans will be grateful for an early weekend kick off as a chance to get back to the football after a mixed week at the club. Watford will host us in our fourth round FA Cup tie and one player almost certain to feature is the versatile Jake Livermore.

Jake has appeared regularly in the cup competitions, even filling in at right back against Cheltenham and has therefore underlined his potential to the club in more than one area of the pitch.

Norwich City have completed the signing of Jonny Howson from Leeds United. A fee was agreed last week, but the Canaries have now confirmed the transfer after the midfielder completed his medical at Carrow Road.

Those who assess in play betting strategy note how the signing is one of many Norwich have made from outside of the Premier League as they build a strong squad to continue the success Paul Lambert has already brought to the club.

Arsene Wenger has issued a wake-up call literally to his players, urging them to stay focused throughout the 90 minutes of Sunday's home clash with Manchester United.

While the Gunners emerged 1-0 winners through an Aaron Ramsey goal when the Red Devils last visited the Emirates nearly eight months ago, they were thrashed 8-2 by the reigning Premier League champions at Old Trafford in August.

... Lukas Magera We can name Swindon Town boss Paolo Di Canio as our latest Shakespeare of the teamsheet. The Italian gaffer wisely paired up: Joe Devera, Lukas Magera Thanks to OTP reader Ian Hunter for the suggestion. More Rhyming Team-Mates

Good signing for Everton today as they picked up midfielder Darron Gibson from Manchester United for a reported £1million with a further £1million in appearance-related bonuses.

David Moyes gets a 24-year-old international who made 60 appearances for United, but never was able to grab a regular starting position.

Following their terrific performance to knock City out of the FA Cup it's back to Premier League business this weekend for United who are a top priced 1.16 to beat Bolton at Old Trafford and keep the pressure on Mancini's men. The performance put in by Wayne Rooney and Co to beat City 3-2 at the Eithad would have delighted Sir Alex, as they looked sharp and threatening and a different side to the one that got hammered 3-0 at St James'.

Central Coast Mariners showed the true qualities needed from a team capable of winning the league – the ability to win ugly. An Oliver Bozanic goal in the opening 10 minutes was enough to earn the league leader a narrow 1-0 victory against a lacklustre Sydney FC – who slumped to their third straight defeat in the process.

Twitter (Follow me on @_Wrighty7) and the interweb is buzzing like a bumble bee today that Chelsea man Salomon Kalou could be on the move to Arsenal.
Now I believe this is the sort of deal that will be like Marmite to Gooners. Some will like it, and some will hate it.
I happen to think that Kalou would be a very good signing for the club.

Being realistic the FA Cup is the last throw of the dice for Arsenal to win silverware this season.
We have as much chance of winning the league as Frank Lampard trying Diet Coke, are out of the pint of Carling Cup and the way Barcelona are playing UEFA may as well hand them the Champions League trophy now.

United are 3.5 shots to gain their revenge on City in this weekend's derby clash at the Etihad and claim a place in the fourth fourth round of the FA Cup. Sir Alex Ferguson's side will be keen to banish the memory of their meeting in the league earlier in the season at Old Trafford which saw City register a 6-1 victory.

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- Bushman Photos & Various Programme Notes from QPR's 1960-1961 Season!
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- Throughout the day, the QPR Report Messageboard has news updates, comments and perspectives - even links to other board comments of interest re QPR matters (on and off the field) along with football (and ONLY football) topics in general.

We're just catching up with this after the festive interruptions. Befuddled old man Roberto Mancini is certain that he's been mugged by Sunderland before, he just can't quite place the date. Cue an entertaining Match of the Day interview as the Manchester City gaffer spends most of the time correcting and re-correcting himself on whether [.

Arsene Wenger has been known to scrutinize the officiating in the Premier League, particularly when it is against his Arsenal side.

Hence, it comes as no surprise that the Frenchman has once again questioned why some of the key decisions in recent matches have gone against the Gunners.

Despite being 1-0 up with 12 minutes to go at Fulham, Wenger's men completely lost control of matters following the dismissal of defender Johan Djourou for a second bookable offence.

"Fact Or Fiction" is a weekly segment on EPL Talk. In today's column, an assertion will be made regarding an impacting topic in the Premier League. EPL Talk writers Matt Hackenmiller and Earl Reed (and sometimes The Gaffer) each offer ...
This is a content summary. Visit http://www.epltalk.

Highlights of the game. As usual, I will update them when some longer ones are available. UTD111′s NUFC Blog match report Post match interviews Alan Pardew extols the virtue of patience. Trotters gaffer Owen Coyle rues "self inflicted" defeat. Teams, match stats etc Bolton Wanderers (4-4-2): Jussi Jaaskelainen (G), Dedryck Boyata, Zat Knight, Gary Cahill, [.

In an EPL Talk Special we speak with the creator of the Talk Network – Christopher Harris, a.k.a. The Gaffer. We discuss the season so far and who he thinks deserve a special commendation in 2011. We also look at ...
This is a content summary. Visit http://www.epltalk.com to read the entire article

...because we feel like it.

A visit from Saint Meredith

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
United socks hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

...because we feel like it.

A visit from Saint Meredith

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
United socks hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey feels sorry for his team-mates who have suffered injury or suspension, but he is ready to step up as a replacement.
The £1.7million signing from Charlton in May 2010 was at the beginning of December recalled from a loan at Blackpool by boss Kenny Dalglish after Lucas Leiva's season was ended by knee surgery.

Former Derry City winger James McClean made an impressive debut last weekend after new Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill gave the 22 year rold his chance to shine at the stadium of light, and the Irish international hopeful duly obliged by delighting the Wearside faithful with a stunning impact performance after entering as a second-half substitute.

Does celebrating with the opposition goalkeeper and not your manager indicate problems in the dressing room. We wouldn't like to speculate. Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images Europe.

Once upon a time, taking a team to the knockout stages of the Champions League as group winners and beating the league leaders would be sufficient to cement a manager's credibility.

Okay, Cup Final. You're the manager. This is the biggest game of your career. You've been exchanging emails with Capello and reading Zonal Marking endlessly, searching for the answers that will bring home the silverware. You've made a list of things to tell you players. Then you made another list.

Manchester United have endured a catastrophic week, crashing out of the Champions League and then losing Vidic for the rest of the season due a knee ligament injury. They need to bounce back, and the visit of Wolves to Old Trafford this weekend gives them a glorious opportunity of doing just that. Bookmakers make than a best priced 1.

Patrice Evra has expressed the feelings of many of the fans, claiming that it is embarrassing that Manchester United will now have to play in the Europa League. After failing to make it out of the group stages, United will now join the final 32 in the secondary European competetion.

Whilst Evra has always been a great speaker, his form over the last eighteen months has been poor, and he is certainly one of the players who needs to take a look at his contribution, or lack of, to United's recent performances.

Amidst all the hoopla and hilarity of the season's first managerial sacking in the Premiership - Steve Bruce by Sunderland FC - it's easy to lose sight of the fact that it typically doesn't help to sack the manager. To be sure: there often seems to be a bounce-back in results for teams that appoint a new manager; but statistically speaking, the bounce-back is likely to occur in any case, with or without sacking the gaffer.

I keep seeing these rumours Arsenal are in the hunt for Lukas Podolski and I have to admit that it excites me a little.
Of course, they are only rumours, but if there was some truth in the talk around town, then he would be an ideal acquisition to the squad.
He has plenty of experience at the top-level in football and can play as striker or as a wide player.

United may not have had the best of weeks but the bookmakers make them a top priced 1.73 to bounce back and notch an away victory over Aston Villa and the stats suggest they will do just that.

Sir Alex Ferguson's young guns were frustrated in their 1-1 draw with Newcastle last weekend, as Javier Hernandez's opener was cancelled out by Demba Ba following a controversial penalty decision that the gaffer described as "shocking".

Matt Lawrence's diary of a lower-league footballer: Parking tickets, chicken dinners and nil-nils

Matt Lawrence has played for seven league clubs including Fulham, Crystal Palace and Millwall, for whom he appeared in the 2004 FA Cup final during his 16-year career.

Ahead of returning to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving for Newcastle, Gabriel Obertan has claimed his friend and former team mate, Patrice Evra, is going to be in for a difficult afternoon.

"You always want to go back to your old club and prove to the gaffer that you are a better player," Obertan said.