S1-2A by fasthighlights

Sunderland has always been a tough side to crack and yesterday was no different on a horrible pitch at the Stadium of Blight. The first half was marked by the usual spectacle of Arsenal bossing the ball with little to show. Sunderland known for its strong defending did just that but their counterattacking was laboured.

A genial head-nod to all Arselings out there. Things are usually pretty quiet on the disquiet front after a win, and it has expectedly been all shush-and-silence in the wake of us playing Blackburn like a set of drums last week. But just like the draw at Bolton didn't mean that the team was on a one-way trip to Hades, a rout over ten-man relegation fodder doesn't a summer make.

After spending yesterday not thinking about the England job, Harry Redknapp has now given it some thought and decided that he is "flattered". Meanwhile, the rest of English football's great and not-so-great have been falling over themselves to declare that they have no interest in the vacancy. 1. Arsene Wenger "I have never really been [.

Oh good grief, now this is awkward. I had only just made myself comfortable in readiness for a lengthy period of smugness, gloating and absolutely unbearable braggadocio. And why the devil not – our lot produce the most jaw-dropping eye candy since that lady from the Sean Connery days emerged from the sea to jiggle about in her skimpies in frightfully uncouth manner.

James McClean's Ireland international career has been given the green light by FIFA.
The move clears the way for the Derryman to be included in the Ireland squad to be announced by Giovanni Trapattoni tomorrow for the upcoming friendly against the Czech Republic In Lansdowne Road on February 29th.

By CALEB SONNELAND

Stuart Pearce will take on the seemingly poisoned chalice that is the English national team job — for now.

Following the resignation of former manager Fabio Capello, the country has gone into a frenzy as the Football Association begins its search for a new coach.

After turning down a move to Celtic last summer, playing just 78 minutes of first team football with Man City this season and having his manager suggest that he now spends his Saturdays playing golf, Wayne Bridge has joined Sunderland on loan until the end of the season. Presumably, he will actually play football there.

Gary Cahill's transfer has finally been announced as official. From where I'm standing at £7m Chelsea have just bought themselves an absolute bargain!

I'm sure Owen Coyle will be less than impressed at how long the deal took to eventually go through. Although, saying that, Cahill did help win another couple of points for Bolton at Everton the other week.

Despite a non-sourced story from the Daily Mail stating otherwise, Michael Farfan is not a transfer target of Sunderland per the team's manager.

According to Roker Report, SB Nation's Sunderland site, Martin O'Neill, hired by Sunderland on December 3 in an attempt to save the team's season, addressed a reporter's question about Farfan's and trialist Alieu Darbo's statuses with the team.

This afternoon is a must win game for Chelsea and it really is as simple as that. We cannot afford to drop points over the next few weeks as we need to try and close the gap to the sides above us now in the league.
AVB and his Chelsea players have a job on their hands this afternoon as a rejuvenated Sunderland side under new man-manager Martin O'Neill travel to the Bridge with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The result last night has really put the cat amongst the pigeons with Chelsea now sitting eight points behind Tottenham in the Premier League. The remit for Saturday's game now is simple, we have to win and get the three points and the performance doesn't matter. We have to get on a run of results and keep picking up three points week in, week out and anything else will be a disaster!

The London Press 'linked' Sunderland's Stephane Sessengon with Liverpool last week, (and when I say 'linked', I mean they probably made it up), and new Black Cats manager Martin O'Neill has been forced to address the growing 'speculation' over the the French midfielder's future..In a press conference a few days ago, O'Neill admitted that there was a 'problem' of some kind behind the scenes, but

Wigan forward Victor Moses is being linked with a possible move away from the DW Stadium after the player's agent revealed that he is yet to sign a new contract.
The former Crystal Palace player initially struggled to make the step up to the Premier League but this season has rediscovered his best form and has been one of Wigan's best players.

There was hardly a better way for Derry born James McClean to mark his first start for Sunderland as Ji Dong-won scored a last-minute winner against Manchester City.
The 22-year-old Irish flyer starred on the left wing for Sunderland, who recorded their third win in five games thanks to Dong-won's 93rd-minute goal.

Will Manchester City still top the English league after Christmas?

While the rest of European football shuts down for a well-earned break at Christmas time there is no such luxury in the United Kingdom. It has long been a traditional within the Home Nations to continue over the festive period and this season will should see some interesting action.

1. It was a great night for goals. There were some stunning efforts from Wayne Rooney, Adam Johnson, Demba Ba and Paul Scharner can all take a bow for starters. 2. Adam Johnson must have thought twice before firing in his long-range effort against Stoke though. He usually gets a rollicking from Manchester City boss [.

Injuries and suspension at the centre of defence could force Harry Redknapp to bring back Ledley King for Sunday's game against Martin O'Neill's side. Harry reports that Ledley is struggling but we've been in this position before where the club captain makes an unexpected return to the line up.

It's remarkable how varied soccer teams' attitudes towards possession are. Obviously, no team is more deeply committed to possession in all situations than Barcelona, even though that commitment can cost them, as it did in the recent Clasíco, when Real was handed their early goal via an uncharacteristically dumb and easily-intercepted pass from Víctor Valdés.

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.

By Majid Abdalli, writing from the United Arab Emirates

When Asamoah Gyan arrived at Sunderland for a club record £13 million fee, it seemed like the dawn of a new era for both club and player. However, the new era has become true only in the case of the player, while Sunderland are back where they were under Roy Keane – struggling at the wrong end of the table.

In my two decades as Newcastle fan I have had worse Christmases, tucking into my Turkey in 2008 whilst languishing four points above the relegation zone springs immediately to mind. This was made all the worse by having to bypass drinking my despair away due to a nice early drive to Wigan the next morning.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp is among the last of the Premiership bosses to point the finger at the referee but even he couldn't stay silent after yesterday's display by Chris Foy in the 2-1 defeat at Stoke.

Foy was involved in a number of contentious decisions including the sending off of Younes Kaboul and a crucial offside flag on Emmanuel Adebayor.

1. Arsenal anniversary celebrations like most Arsenal matches would be a duller place without Robin Van Persie. What a sweet goal. 2. If Martin O'Neill continues to bring that level of luck to Sunderland, Black Cats fans will be delighted to have him around the place. 3. Just imagine what Stoke City could [.

The week's daftest football quotes, plus Howard Webb stars in textbook

United launch Phil Jones action figure... or is it Mr Potato Head? Stoke v Spurs was exciting.. but there's no call for that, lino! Congratulations to reader Tom Smith, who spotted Howard Webb (with a hair transplant) in his AQA Politics textbook.

Despite admitting his admiration for new manager Martin O'Neill, Asamoah Gyan has outlined his reluctance to return to Sunderland, perhaps even after his loan spell with Middle Eastern outfit Al Ain has finished.
Ghanaian goalscorer Gyan – who has netted 27 times in 54 matches for the Black Stars – is in the United Arab Emirates as a result of a deal struck back in September and, although rumours to the contrary have circulated this week, the 26 year-old ruled out a return to Wearside this January.

What are the odds Asamoah Gyan plays for Sunderland this season? Derek McGovern's Bets of the Day

After conducting his first training session at Sunderland this week, Martin O'Neill said he was impressed with the squad. He then spent three days trying to bring Asamoah Gyan back from his loan deal in the United Arab Emirates.

photo by Ben Queenborough/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Phil Neville is in favor of manager David Moyes bringing in reinforcements to the club during the winter transfer window in January, but one player the Everton captain doesn't see being brought in is Landon Donovan.

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.

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.

After over 12 months out of the game, Martin O'Neill has returned to Premier League management after signing a three year contract with Sunderland, the team he supported as boy.

For many and certainly for Sunderland fans, it is the perfect appointment, O'Neill has long since been recognised as one of the great football managers of recent times and has always improved the standing of any club he has been in charge of.

1. Mario Balotelli responded to his latest bout of controversy with a typical shrug of the shoulders, but he put it to great effect on this occasion. 2. Feed the Yak some Venky's chicken and he will score. 3. The 'Kean Out' protests are always likely to sound a tad more hollow after a 4-2 [...]

Sunderland may not be in trophy-winning form this season, but their victory in the always-eventful 'sack race' may prove to be a blessing in disguise.

After looking tame and lacking confidence for much of this campaign under Steve Bruce, with a paltry 11 points from 14 matches their return, new club chairman Ellis Short felt the club needed to go in a new direction.

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 2, 2011) US Soccer Players -- If the reports describing Martin O'Neill's move to Sunderland a done deal prove to be true, it's an interesting decision from both parties. O'Neill has been the next great manager for over a decade, the media's regular candidate whenever a high profile job comes open.

It remains to be seen whether the 2022 World Cup will be played in the summer or the winter, but one high-ranking FIFA official has a solution to ensure a winter World Cup gets played without a problem: Move the two biggest competitions in European club soccer.

Ahead of Friday's Euro 2012 draw in the Ukraine, UEFA president Michel Platini said that he is open to moving the UEFA Champions League and Europa League competitions in order to accommodate a winter World Cup in Qatar.

Steve Bruce's tenure at Sunderland has come to an abrupt end.

The Premier League club fired Bruce from his post as manager on Wednesday, cutting his time at the Stadium of Light short in his third season since joining the club from Wigan Athletic -- the 19th-place club to whom Sunderland lost at home last weekend.

Why David Moyes should be a candidate for the next England boss

I appeared on a TV show last week in which one debate was who the FA would turn to should Harry Redknapp — for one reason or another — not be installed as the next England manager. English candidates were thin on the ground.

Whilst they were on the books of Aston Villa, Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor both excelled for the midlands club, leading them to European football and even the brink of the Champions League in an era of success under Martin O'Neill.

However, despite their individual and collective success, both were continually marginalized for their country, overlooked in favor of a multitude of other players.

News today that Leicester City want to ­interview Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark for their managerial vacancy. Lee Clark with Glenn Roeder at Norwich City Former Leicester City manager Martin O'Neill turned down the opportunity to manage at Leicester City again, after former England manager Sven Eriksson had been sacked for poor performance this season.

News today that Leicester City want to ­interview Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark for their managerial vacancy. Lee Clark with Glenn Roeder at Norwich City Former Leicester City manager Martin O'Neill turned down the opportunity to manage at Leicester City again, after former England manager Sven Eriksson had been sacked for poor performance this season.

It cannot be denied that Leicester's current position of 13th is not really good enough for a club that spent in excess of £15million over the summer and has the highest wage bill in the Championship.
But in what remains an immensely truncated division, the Foxes are just three points off fifth place and only a further four off the automatic promotion places.