Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta remains confident coach Pep Guardiola will continue his successful spell at the helm.

However, he has confirmed the club have drawn up contingency plans should Guardiola decide to leave the Nou Camp.

Zubizarreta is optimistic it will not come to that despite the Catalans, who visit Osasuna on Saturday, trailing arch-rivals Real Madrid by seven points in the La Liga title race.

Arsenal smashed Blackburn Rovers on the weekend. Scoring several goals, dominating the match and appearing genuinely impressive for the first time in a long time Arsenal looked like Arsenal used to look like. In the eyes of Arsenal fans Arsenal played like Arsenal should always be playing. In the eyes of neutrals Arsenal got their old swagger back.

Philadelphia Union and Faryd Mondragon confirmed Monday that the veteran goalkeeper will leave to sign with Colombian club Deportivo Cali.

Mondragon, 40, will return to his hometown to play for the team he made his professional debut for more than 20 years ago.

"For family reasons, I have requested the club to allow me the opportunity to finish my career where it started," Mondragon said in a statement released Monday afternoon by the Union.

While the New England Revolution has added experienced players to both the backline and midfield since Jay Heaps took over as head coach, one area that has gone largely unaddressed is striker. Since the Revs declined options on Argentinean striker Milton Caraglio and Danish forward Rajko Lekic, no proven replacements have signed on.

Very interesting reports emerging that are linking Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with Mourinho's job at Real Madrid. Though very flattering the possibilities of Wenger leaving Arsenal any time soon are almost zero!

However, the same cannot be said of Jose Mourinho. The 'special one' once again had a negative result against arch rivals Barcelona, this time going down 4-3 on aggregate after pulling 2 goals back to level the scoreline in their Copa Del Rey quarter final return fixture at the Nou Camp.

The January friendlies are usually for the hardest of die hards. Being held outside of a FIFA sanctioned window means that player pool is reduced for both sides, and tonight's game isn't against the highest profile of opponents. Venezuela is decent, currently ranked 31st and slightly ahead of the United States by ESPN's Soccer Power Index.

West London giants Chelsea have finally completed the signing of England centre back Gary Cahill from fellow Premier League side Bolton Wanderers after a protracted transfer negotiation with the player over personal terms. Having completed a medical examination at the weekend, Cahill now joins Chelsea's star studded squad as they look to get their title challenge back on track - and at just 26 may be viewed by the club as a long term replacement for fellow England defender John Terry at Stamford Bridge.

Nine years ago Swansea were bottom of the table of league football. Rock soild bottom. Next stop non-league oblivion. Yesterday they were flying high and should be rightly proud of themselves for turning the Arsenal over in royal fashion. They displayed hunger, desire, fight and unity in abundance and deserved the victory.

Manchester City 0
Liverpool 1 Steven Gerrard 13′ (pk)

A week after falling 3-0 to Manchester City in the league, a Liverpool side without two of their top players returned to face a City side missing three of their best for the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals.

Liverpool is looking into the possibility of loaning Inter Milan forward Mauro Zarate, according to The National.
However, for any deal to happen, Inter would have to release Zarate back to his parent club Lazio because the 24-year-old is currently on a temporary contract at the San Siro until June.

While watching Liverpool take on Oldham last night, I couldn't help but notice a much bigger deal (footballwise) going on in the media world a leaked copy of tomorrow's front page of the Independent, claiming that Wayne Rooney might be on his way out of Manchester United that had somehow found itself causing a big stir on Twitter.

Liverpool are reportedly contemplating a January move for Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal.
The Israel international has impressed all and sundry since his move to Parkhead from Maccabi Haifa in the summer of 2010, and has made 55 appearances for the Hoops.
According to the Daily Mail, Kayal is a target for Liverpool as Kenny Dalglish considers bolstering his midfield during the transfer window.

I shook my head in disbelief when I read an interview with Florent Malouda featured in The Telegraph. Malouda, who has struggled to reach anywhere his best form for two seasons now is quoted as saying:

"I'm not getting enough playing time, It's too limited for the ambitions I have.

By Chris Wright

Chelsea held an open training session in aid of the 'Help A Capital Child' charity at The Bridge yesterday afternoon ahead of their midweek trip to Tottenham and we've got photographic proof people...

The West Stand at Stamford Bridge in all it's glory

The replacements for David Luiz and Alex are wheeled out

"These gloves smell of.

Is that a tangerine in your stocking or are you just pleased to see me? Through the great SPL Advent calendar window today: Dundee United.
Consistency, as Motherwell's progress this season has shown, can work wonders in the SPL.
But it eludes three quarters of the league.

Is that a tangerine in your stocking or are you just pleased to see me? Through the great SPL Advent calendar window today: Dundee United.
Consistency, as Motherwell's progress this season has shown, can work wonders in the SPL.
But it eludes three quarters of the league.

Demba Ba has given a good interview to the local press this morning, and he seems to have hit the nail on the head about Newcastle's performance on Saturday. Tamas Kadar is this player not better than Simspon or Perch? Ba has said that we were missing our two center-backs and if the replacements had been big and massive and could [.

Whilst the eyes of most of the football world were focussed upon the likes of Stamford Bridge and the Nou Camp last night, an altogether more prosaic battle was playing out at Nene Park in Irthlingborough. The Blue Square Premier has had something of a flustered look about its lower reaches all season, with newly-relegated Lincoln City and Stockport County both finding life below the Football League tougher than they might have expected, but for existence-threatening financial difficulties, Kettering Town and Darlington beat all others hands down.

A year removed from winning MLS Cup, the Colorado Rapids are undergoing major changes to their staff and front office.

With Gary Smith already out as head coach, managing director Jeff Plush became the latest to leave the club, doing so after six years on the job, according to a team release.

As we all know AVB is planning a clear out starting in January and continuing next summer after the club confirmed that transfer requests have been accepted from Alex and Nico Anelka. Over the weekend stories also broke that AVB is prepared to listen to offers for Drogba, Kalou, Bosingwa and Ferreira.

Breaking news today on Official Chelsea. Nicolas Anelka and Alex have handed in transfer requests to the club and these have both been accepted!
To be honest it comes as no surprise as both players have been the subject of rumour and speculation lately.
Alex has been talking of moving to Italy since back in the summer and hasn't featured a great deal this season so far.

The last time we reported from Kettering Town, the club was at the point of being on its knees. With the whole team having been put on the transfer list, they lost five players on loan deadline day, only to see three replacements having their transfers to the club cancelled after the club was placed under a transfer embargo.

Some interesting news coming out of Andre Villas-Boas' press conference post-Newcastle. The Portuguese confirmed that the club has received transfer requests from both Nicolas Anelka and Alex, and that both have been accepted. Cue more January transfer window speculation.

No more of this then.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has tried to lessen the significance of the loss of midfielder Lucas Leiva by insisting all his players have crucial roles to play.
The Scot has to contend with being without his defensive midfielder for the rest of the season. And while the Brazil international has been key to most of what has been good about the side this season - and last - Dalglish is confident the quality of the team will absorb the loss.

Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva will miss the rest of the season through injury, and there have been suggestions that the club will have to buy someone in January as direct cover for the Brazilian. However, according to Kenny Dalglish, spending money on a Lucas replacement is not a realistic option.

Jadson, Fer, Tiote, Gonalons and Britton: 10 replacements for Lucas at Liverpool

10 midfielders who could fill Lucas Leiva's boots at Anfield in the new year

View the full story here: Talksport

A news article on 2011-12-02 15:15:55 from: Talksport

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

Eden Hazard is leaving Lille at the end of the season and that means clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid are lining up to inquire about his services.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder won't come cheap, especially since Barcelona and Liverpool have been added to the mix of suitors too.

By Alan Duffy

Belgian wing-wizard Eden Hazard has been linked with pretty much every big club in Europe over the last year, and now his club, Lille, have decided that the attacker is up for sale, albeit at a rather high price.

£43million will get you the services of the fleet-footed 20-year-old, a figure which will probably put Arsenal, who have been consistently linked with the player, out of the running.

Sulk and you are out, Kenny Dalglish tells Liverpool's expensive bench

• Carroll, Downing and Henderson were substitutes at Chelsea • Manager wants united squad whether players start or not Kenny Dalglish has warned his out-of-favour Liverpool players that he will not be afraid to buy replacements if their attitude to being dropped alters.

Morning all.

We'll turn our attentions to the Champions League shortly with a huge game against Borrussia Dortmund to come tomorrow but first, if you haven't seen it already, you can find the full transcript of Arsene Wenger's L'Equipe interview over on Arseblog News. It provides some context to the selected quotes which first appeared and is a fantastic read overall.

Morning all.

We'll turn our attentions to the Champions League shortly with a huge game against Borussia Dortmund to come tomorrow but first, if you haven't seen it already, you can find the full transcript of Arsene Wenger's L'Equipe interview over on Arseblog News. It provides some context to the selected quotes which first appeared and is a fantastic read overall.

• Kop That: England v Spain: The making of Spanish gold http://t.co/z26eEjom 23:58:21, 2011-11-07
• Kop That: Exclusive: Downing determined to be a key man at Euros http://t.co/aDsKFzcu 23:08:53, 2011-11-07
• Kop That: England's Euros base only available thanks to stripping female fans http://t.

They may have suffered eight defeats on the bounce before – on two occasions in fact – but this latest nightmare run could prove terminal for Wigan's Premier League hopes.
Their latest defeat, at Wolves on Sunday, left them bottom of the Premier League without a win since August. Yes, it is only November, with plenty of football still to be played, and Wigan have always being among the favourites in the relegation betting in their seven year stay in the top flight to date, but the options available to boss Roberto Martinez and chairman Dave Whelan appear limited.

Pearce calls up three replacements for the England U21s squad

Boro defender Joe Bennett, Manchester United's Will Keane and Newcastle forward Sammy Ameobi

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-11-07 20:15:22 from: The Mirror

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

Andy Carroll believes Liverpool have the squad to cope without the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
The club's long-serving duo were absent for Saturday's Premier League clash with West Brom, a game the Reds won 2-0.
Carroll scored Liverpool's second on the stroke of half time and he admitted that it was tough without Carrgher (calf) and Gerrard (ankle).

I was just catching up on the news from the last few days and I came across Tottenham's Benoît Assou-Ekotto issuing a plea for his club to do whatever it takes to hang on to their top stars and bringing in new ones... or risk becoming another Aston Villa.

Ouch!
The way things stand at the moment, it's not hard to at least partially agree with him and his message will definitely resonate with a fair number of Villa fans disgruntled by the recent austerity measures.

12:30pm ET, live in the US on FSC
Last four head-to-head:
1-2 West Brom (a) 04.02.11
1-0 Liverpool (h) 08.29.10
2-0 Liverpool (a) 05.17.09
3-0 Liverpool (h) 11.08.08
Last three matches:
Liverpool: 2-1 Stoke (a); 1-1 Norwich (h); 1-1 United (h)
West Brom: 2-1 Villa (a); 2-0 Wolves (h); 2-2 Sunderland (a)
Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Suarez 4; Adam, Bellamy, Carroll, Gerrard, Henderson, Skrtel 1
West Brom: Long 3; Odemwingie 2; Brunt, Morrison, Olsson, Scharner 1
Referee: Lee Mason
Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique
Henderson Gerrard Lucas Downing
Carroll Suarez
How much of Wednesday's line-up will Liverpool replicate?

I'm certainly not the first one to look at possible replacements for Steve Nicol since his departure two days ago. Several of our fellow Revs outlets (most of which are listed on our blogroll to the left) have already put some names out there, some good, some bad, and some baffling.

I'll get to that.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Philadelphia Union manager Peter Nowak can prove Sunday just how good a manager he really is.

It will happen when the starting lineup is announced.

Outsiders may think Nowak's a potential coach of the year, but those who follow the Union closely know he's been a better executive than a chooser of starting lineups.

Fabio Aurelio is always injured and Liverpool will never have a fit and talented left back. At least that's how it began to seem as year after year the Brazilian would struggle through countless injuries while a revolving door spat out failed would-be replacements. Right back, on the other hand, always seemed fairly settled, and with the acquisition of Glen Johnson and the emergence of Martin Kelly in recent seasons, the question most often asked was how the club was going to manage to fit in two players who would be safe bets to start week in and week out for most other Premier League sides.