Rumours aplenty this Premiership weekend. One of them is that Mick McCarthy, the current Wolves manager, is set to be sacked if Wolves lose against Aston Villa on the weekend. This is despite utterances to the opposite from the Wolves chairman. Who ought to be believed? The rumour mongerers or the chairman of the club who will make such a decision?

Roberto Di Matteo took centre stage on Friday in the pre match press conference in place of Andre Villas-Boas and took questions about the possible deal for Gary Cahill, rumours of Frank Lampard's future and responded to Sir Alex Ferguson ruling Chelsea out of the title race.
Your thoughts?

Chelsea seek to avenge the Barclays Premier League defeat to Liverpool when the two sides take on each other in a Carling Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is set to make changes to his team for the game – with Fernando Torres expected to be handed a start against his former side after sitting on the bench the last time the two sides met.

Andre Villas-Boas is up for the Cup

Roberto Di Matteo believes winning the Carling Cup could kick-start Andre Villas-Boas' career as Chelsea boss. The League Cup was the first trophy won by Gianluca Vialli and Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-11-28 22:49:03 from: The Mail

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

Speaking to the media today, Roberto Di Matteo explained the significance of the League Cup and just how important it can be before our quarter final clash with Liverpool tomorrow night. Back in the day, a certain Jose Mourinho, after winning the title in his first season, explained just how much of a part winning the league cup played in giving the side confidence.

Match Preview: West Brom vs Liverpool

Liverpool return to league action on Saturday hoping to both extend their unbeaten run to five games, and record a win after consecutive 1-1 draws. The Reds slipped to 6th place after last weekend's frustrating draw against Norwich while, if extra motivation were needed, they will also be looking to avenge last season's 2-1 defeat at the Hawthorns.

Interesting stuff in the Mail. Well not interesting in any real sense, diverting perhaps. Anyway, football managers polled as to who they'd like to have dinner with:

Harry Redknapp Muhammad Ali, Vincent O'Brien, Bobby Moore
Paul Ince – Wife, John F Kennedy, Tiger Woods
Paul Lambert Elvis Presley, George Bush, George Best
Roberto Di Matteo Julius Caesar, Claudia Schiffer, Robert De Niro
Sam Allardyce Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Sir Alex Ferguson
Sven Goran Eriksson Nelson Mandela, Pope John Paul, Barack Obama
Chris Coleman John F Kennedy, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix
Tony Adams Jesus, Sir Alf Ramsey, Scarlett Johansson
Simon Grayson Geoffrey Boycott, Bono, Don Revie
Roberto Mancini Paolo Mantovani, The Pope, Sheikh Mansour
Rafa Benitez Julius Caesar, Al Pacino, Napoleon
David Moyes Mother, Tommy Burns, Kylie Minogue
Gustavo Poyet Fernando Morena, Michael Jordan, Wife
Neil Warnock – Queen, Barbara Streisand, Brian Clough
Steve McClaren Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Sir Alex Ferguson
Alex McLeish - Robert Di Niro, John Lennon, Muhammad Ali
Alan Pardew Muhammad Ali, Barrack Obama, Spike Milligan
Peter Reid Elvis Presley, Jesus Christ, Angelina Jolie
Chris Hughton Martin Luther King, Muhammad Ali, Bill Shankly
Gianfranco Zola Father, wife, Diego Maradona

Shame no Roy, Jol or SAF.

By Chris Wright

On behalf of Yahoo and the League Manager's Association, a 20-strong phalanx of managers have been quizzed over their ideal dinner dates.

All the usual suspects were present, with Elvis, De Niro, Pacino et al all rearing their ugly heads though it was floaty/stingy boxer Muhammad Ali who picked up the most nods, with five managers (Redknapp, Allardyce, McLeish, Pardew and Hughton) plumping for the pugilist.

The Premier League is back and this afternoon it's the first game of the season at Stamford Bridge. AVB takes control of his first home game and he will want to do well today.
Roberto Di Matteo also makes his return to the Bridge but in very different circumstances to when he was last here.

Players returned to Cobham for preseason training today. Say it with me: Finally.

The boys met with the new coaching staff, then got to work. After the jump, check out some assorted pics of the session. It looks like it went well very well indeed.

El jefe

Twenty-four players surfaced for our first training season of the preseason, after some 44 days of vacation.

We got places all over the place

Does the above pic of our new, improved, and fantastically dressed, coaching staff remind anyone else of that infamous opening shot from Reservoir Dogs? Maybe I'm reaching, but, fuck it, I can see it. Continue on below, and judge for yourself.

The Group One makes his debut in front of the world's media. Thanks to YouTube user Artinho8 for uploading the press conference in full. What follows is in six parts. Enjoy.

By Chris Wright

Chelsea have officially unveiled Andre Villas-Boas as their new manager at Stamford Bridge this morning with the poor sod having to face the English press for the first time in his new capacity and, as you'll be fairly unsurprised to know, it didn't take long until questions about a certain fellow Portuguese dreamboat began to fart forth.

Well I have to say sitting watching the AVB press conference this morning, that I am well pleased with the fact that Roberto Di Matteo has come back to the club as AVB's Assistant First Team Coach.
Bobby is part and parcel of our history and after his career was cut short by that horrific injury he suffered, he made a real go of a his aim to become a successful manager.

Roberto Di Matteo poised to become assistant to Andre Villas-Boas? This does not make me unhappy, not one bit.

Hell, just bring them both on

Several outlets are reporting that the Chelsea legend and former West Bromwich Albion manager will be installed today when Villas-Boas, as well as his backroom staff, is officially unveiled by the club.

By Chris Wright

"He's not turned into a decent manager overnight Gary"

Saints be praised! Dr Alan Shearer will still be proffering forth his studious Alan-alysis to the nation from the Match of the Day settee next season after holding what he described as 'unsuccessful' talks (despite somehow becoming the bookies' favourite to land the job) with Cardiff about taking over as manager of the Welsh club.

With all the FIFA shenanigns last week, and now Hughes leaving us high and dry, my passion if not sheer interest in the sport is seriously being tested. But thankfully I have all you guys and gals.

But it should be said I'm not surprised Hughes left. Frustrated, but not shocked. It makes sense: we came to him late, he added the one-year-get-out clause because he had the leverage, managed a successful season all things considered, and is now gone for another "challenge".

What do Martin O'Neill, Alan Curbishley, Avram Grant, Roberto Di Matteo and Steve McClaren have in common? They're all football managers who are looking for a new team to manage. But as is often the case, their names are bandied about with several...
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By Chris Wright

Wait...what? Says here in the Guardian that Craig Bellamy (yes, that Craig Bellamy) has been installed as the bookies' favourite to take over at Cardiff after Dave Jones was axed yesterday for failing to navigate the play-off quagmire for the second year running.

West Bromwich Albion have really had a season of two halves and could finish it on a high with a Premier League top ten finish, according to Jonas Olsson.
The Swede has been a stand-out performer for the Baggies this season as they successfully achieved their number one goal of avoiding Premier League relegation in their first season back in the top flight.

Odds are not even someone who's logged over 1,000 hours on "Championship Manager," owns a different soccer shirt for every day of the month, or rearranges their schedule around live game action from around the globe -- aka a genuine soccer nerd -- raised an eyebrow when then-West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto di Matteo signed Peter Odemwingie in August from Lokomotiv Moscow for a little under

All eyes will be on Roy Hodgson as he invites former club Liverpool to face his West Brom side.
After a shaky start Kenny Dalglish's men are gaining momentum, winning four of their last six in the league as they look to continue their push for a Europa League place.
In contrast Hodgson and the Baggies are desperate to keep their heads above water in a crowded bottom half, sitting 16th and just a single point off the drop zone.

West Brom

Position: 16th, 8-8-13 (32 points, -15 goal differential)

Home Form: 5-5-4 (-1 goal differential)

Recent Form: LDDDW

Last Meeting: Arsenal 2 West Brom 3 (September 25, 2010)

So, time for a few scary stats.

BIRMINGHAM, England — Carlos Vela saved Roy Hodgson from defeat in his first match as West Bromwich Albion manager as the Mexican striker's last-gasp goal earned a 1-1 draw against local rivals Wolves on Sunday. Hodgson was moments away from opening his reign at the Hawthorns in the worst possible manner as Albion trailed to [.

Photo by nicksarebi

West Bromwich Albion seemed to be turning a corner during the first few months of this Premier League season. In previous top flight years they'd been known as entertainers who had been punished for trying to play the right way and as a team whose attacking style left them too open at the back.

With Everton being dragged into a relegation battle, Chelsea faltering in defense of their Premier League crown, and West Ham struggling for any sort of consistency it is surely only a matter of time before the next Premier League manager is sacked.

In terms of patience shown towards managers this has been a relatively good season for those occupying the Premier League dugouts.

LONDON, England — Former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has been appointed head coach of West Brom, the Premier League club confirmed Friday. West Brom, who fired Roberto Di Matteo earlier this week, hired Hodgson just over a month after he was sacked by Liverpool. Hodgson, 63, was voted English football's manager of the year last [.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

A mere five days after sacking Roberto Di Matteo, West Bromwich Albion hired former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson as manager of the relegation-threatened club.

Hodgson, 63, takes over a West Brom club that has plummeted in the Premier League table after a promising start and now sits 17th, kept out of the relegation zone by goal difference alone.

Photo by nicksarebi

West Bromwich Albion have appointed manager Roy Hodgson to replace Roberto Di Matteo.

Caretaker manager Michael Appleton will remain in charge of the West Brom team in their match tomorrow against West Ham United.

Whether the appointment of Hodgson will be enough to keep West Brom in the Premier League by the end of the season, we'll have to wait and see.

By Chris Wright

Word reaching Pies this morning is that West Brom are all but set to swear in Chris Hughton as Roberto Di Matteo's replacement later today, after the former Newcastle boss held talks with the Baggies' board last night.

The Birmingham Mail are also reporting that an unidentified 'hitch' brought a premature halt to the negotiations, but that all parties are hopeful of ironing out any kinks by this evening.

There is news that WBA, who sacked their manager Roberto Di Matteo earlier this week, are close to appointing former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton as their new manager. Chris Hughton while manager at Newcastle United West Brom are expected to announce 52 year-old Chris Hughton as their new manager today, after holding talks with [.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

After a reign of only eight months, Steve McClaren's time at Wolfsburg is over.

McClaren was let go by Wolfsburg on Monday after the former England manager has struggled at the helm of the 2009 champion, who is now fighting a relegation battle near the bottom of the Bundesliga table.

Sam Allardyce has said thanks but thanks to West Brom as he is not interested in replacing Roberto Di Matteo as Baggies manager.

Allardyce, who is a former West Brom player, coach and assistant manager was reported to top of the wanted list at the Hawthorns.

Albion operate with a system in which the head coach works under a sporting and technical director, Dan Ashworth, a hierachy that Allardyce does not like as be the manager should have the final say on all footballing matters.

Former England manager Steve McClaren has been sacked by German side Wolfsburg after just 8 months in charge. Former Wolfsburg decided to part company with McClaren after seen him only register 5 wins in 21 Bundesliga matches. He could be in line to make a swift return to management after West Brom sacked Roberto Di Matteo yesterday.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Juan Carlos Osorio was all set to coach the Honduran national team, and looked primed for a return to the United States this summer in charge of a new team, but Osorio is still in Colombia and Honduras is still searching for a manager after a dispute over Osorio's arrival date led the former New York Red Bulls head coach to pass on his first national team job.

West Brom have sacked Roberto Di Matteo after just 19 months at the club; further proving that football has gone mad...

The board released this statement: "Our poor sequence of results stretches back more than three months and there has been little sign of it coming to an end".

West Brom have sacked Roberto Di Matteo after just 19 months at the club; further proving that football has gone mad...

The board released this statement: "Our poor sequence of results stretches back more than three months and there has been little sign of it coming to an end".

West Brom have fired manager Roberto Di Matteo as the Baggies battles against relegation from the Premier League.

A 3-0 loss to Manchester City yesterday was West Brom's 13th loss in its last 18 games, leaving the team only two points above the drop zone.

"This has been a tough decision but we, as a board, believe it is the right one to give the club the best possible chance of remaining in the Premier League," West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace said in a statement.

Roberto Di Matteo has been sacked by West Brom after Manchester City beat them 3-0 yesterday.

.Di Matteo leaves the club in 16th position in the EPL, 2 points above the relegation zone.

First team coach Michael Appleton will take the reigns until a suitable replacement is appointed.

Roberto Di Matteo has been sacked by West Brom after Manchester City beat them 3-0 yesterday.

.Di Matteo leaves the club in 16th position in the EPL, 2 points above the relegation zone.

First team coach Michael Appleton will take the reigns until a suitable replacement is appointed.