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.

Tinchy Stryder's Balotelli rap, Arshavin, Dalglish, Hernandez and 10 songs about footballers

Including the one and only 'Niall Quinn's Disco Pants'

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-12-28 16:47:36 from: Talksport

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Why Saint Trap is due an apology and protesting Evertonians are true Blues not traitors

I hope those Irish fans who have given Giovanni ­Trapattoni stick for his style of play will now send him an apology. Taking his squad to a ­European Championship finals is a massive achievement.

Why Saint Trap is due an apology and Evertonians should not turn on their own

I hope those Irish fans who have given Giovanni ­Trapattoni stick for his style of play will now send him an apology. Taking his squad to a ­European Championship finals is a massive achievement.

At last the chance to write about something other than rumour, tittle tattle and economics. And what a game we have today, none of that nerve wrenching, gut mangling, behind the sofa stuff of our last match against the lowlife bottom feeders today we welcome those fine upstanding men from the frozen wasteland of Sunderland, who will be looking to gift us 3 points in their push for relegation.

The International Development Secretary Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has stepped down from his role and will take up a new position in charge of "international development" at the club. Quinn was forced to make the move after the Black Cats failed in their attempts to lure Bono to the Stadium of Light.

By Amy Quinn, writing from Dublin.

The summer of 2011, now nearing its close, will be remembered for many things; Joey Barton losing (or perhaps finding) his marbles on Twitter, Everton failing to make a single signing, André Villas-Boas perplexing English journalists and commentators (it's Veelash-Bowash, apparently), and last but certainly not least, the sudden spurt in clubs that, though exactly traditional super-powers of the sport, are flexing some serious muscle in the transfer market.

Sunderland set to gain a Brucey bonus? We live at a time in which constant improvements are deemed necessities. More reliable cars, faster computers, cheaper travel. And football, as with so many of our national traits, displays these demands palpably. After promotion we expect survival. After survival consolidation.

Sunderland set to gain a Brucey bonus? We live at a time in which constant improvements are deemed necessities. More reliable cars, faster computers, cheaper travel. And football, as with so many of our national traits, displays these demands palpably. After promotion we expect survival. After survival consolidation.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn says the club are hopeful of tying up a deal for Manchester United defender John O'Shea soon, though he revealed discussions about Darron Gibson have some way to go.

Quinn hopeful of bringing in Man Utd man Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has revealed the club are getting closer to signing Manchester United utility man John O'Shea. This is of limited interest to OTP and wouldn't justify a post under ordinary circumstances. But since it gives an opportunity to feature O'Shea's shot against West Ham [.

By Chris Wright

When I first read the rumours this morning that Sunderland had circulated an email around the Premier League to tell all and sundry that striker Asamoah Gyan had been put up for sale, my bullshit meter went into the red and I had an inkling deep down in my waters that it would only be a matter of time before they were comprehensively rubbished.

Robbie Keane fulfilled Niall Quinn's prediction when he completed a half-century of international goals in Macedonia yesterday.
The 30-year-old Ireland skipper struck for the 50th time for his country after just eight minutes and then added a second with 37 minutes played at the Philip II Stadium in Skopje to ease his side to a vital Euro 2012 victory and exorcise the ghosts of their previous two visits.

Ireland captain Robbie Keane has warned players to commit fully to Irelands cause or not play at all.
Keane has been bemused by the high number of players who have pulled out from international duty for the Carling Nations Cup this past week.
Ireland have had plenty of problems with mystery initially surrounding the failure of James McCarthy, Jon Walters and Marc Wilson to report for duty.

Risking being crushed by the relentless stampede of football news, Game Intelligence keeps its ear to the ground so you don't have. Presenting five things that you may have missed this week... 1. Queiroz the man for Iran The Iranian FA have appointed ... Continue reading →

Risking being crushed by the relentless stampede of football news, Game Intelligence keeps its ear to the ground so you don't have. Presenting five things that you may have missed this week... 1. Queiroz the man for Iran The Iranian FA have appointed ... Continue reading →

‘Parliamentary privilege' is fascinating. It essentially means that members of parliament can say what they like in parliament without fear of an action for defamation. And in such a context, the prospect of Ken Bates appearing before the current parliamentary select committee on football governance was enticing in the extreme.

Upon announcing losses of £25.5million – underwritten by owner Ellis Short – Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has gone on the offensive with regard to fans who watch his club's games in the pub or on internet streams at home.
Quinn is concerned about falling attendances this season, despite the club hovering in and around the top six.

In this The Fan In You piece, TSG Photog Extraordinaire Matt Mathai fills us in on how he came about his passion

Death Valley Days "Life nowadays as a DC United fan"

There's only one Matt Mathai. One Matt Mathaaaaaiiii. There's only one Matt Mathai.

Click here to view the embedded video.

As a Goalie, scoring an injury time winner isn't a bad way to prepare for the upcoming season. Tearing your ligaments in your knee, not so good...

FIFA have announced its a summer World Cup in 2022... Caught Offside

Liverpool on a roll for Europe.

With Darren Bent gone and Danny Welbeck out for six to eight weeks with a knee problem the Black Cats face a striker crisis.

It seems like the North-East club will be forced to play Asamoah Gyan upfront on his own unless they can get in a new striker.

So what options does Steve Bruce have?

Darren Bent must know something we don't know. The man has requested to be put on the transfer list to force a move from Sunderland to Aston Villa, with the Black Cats ‘reluctantly' accepting a bid of an initial £18m rising to as much as £24m depending on his performance. Why would a player who has had such success with a squad that is knocking on the door to the European spots want to move to a club who have arguably performed the worst of any side in the Premier League this season relative to their stature?

Defeated Labour leadership contender in line for Prem move Sunderland fans hoping for a big-name signing in the January transfer window may be granted their wish but probably not in the way they expected. For months now the rumour mill has been in full swing over who David Miliband would sign for next.