I wondered being honest, how long it would take until we heard from either Nico Anelka or Alex after their departures from Chelsea back in last month's transfer window and it hasn't taken long.
The Sun over here in the UK leads with an interview Anelka has given about the end of his Chelsea career and claims he was left to rot with the reserves.

And so the roulette wheel continues to spin.

Paris St.-Germain have pulled out of talks with Manchester City to sign striker Carlos Tevez. The Ligue 1 leaders were considered the front-runners after talks with AC Milan broke down last week. PSG's sporting director Leonardo and new manager Carlo Ancelotti met with Tevez's advisers but couldn't come to terms

"There was an opportunity, we have studied it, we made a good offer but failed to agree a deal," Leonardo told L'Equipe.

Usually, after a defeat like the one we experienced against United, and one in which the main talking point wasn't the football itself, there's a tendency for the club to go into lock-down mode.

Not this time though. We've got a reaction from various players to what's gone on, not least of which is Robin van Persie's exclusive in The Sun (why there and not the official site?

The Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie was yet again the goalscorer for the Gunners yesterday, but for the FIFTH time this season the Dutchman has scored but Arsenal have gone on to lose the game. Arsenal have now lost three games in a row and Van Persie has been the one player that has held [...]

By Alan Duffy

Undoubtedly one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League over the past few years, Christopher Samba has finally decided to leave Blackburn Rovers, handing in a transfer request at the struggling club.

Now 27-years-old, the goal-scoring centre-back is in his prime and no doubt wants to escape the negativity pervading Ewood Park.

It is being reported in France that the Arsenal outcast defender Sebastien Squillaci is being given an escape route by Monaco, where he spent eight happy years before being snapped up by Lyon, where he won a Ligue 1 trophy. He then moved to Spain with Sevilla for two years before arriving in London with [.

Blackburn captain Christopher Samba has handed in a transfer request with Tottenham, QPR and PSG looking for his signature. Samba thanked fan's for their support but why didn't he thank them by staying till the end of the season and try keep them up?

Samba's statement read:
‘I have today officially requested a transfer from Blackburn Rovers Football Club.

Blackburn captain Christopher Samba has handed in a transfer request with Tottenham, QPR and PSG looking for his signature. Samba thanked fan's for their support but why didn't he thank them by staying till the end of the season and try keep them up?

Samba's statement read:
‘I have today officially requested a transfer from Blackburn Rovers Football Club.

Nico Anelka, speaking ahead of his "new adventure" in China has taken the time out to release a statement thanking the Chelsea fans for their support in "four wonderful years" at the club. The statement in full says:

"I want to thank you all for the support you have always provided.

It's safe to say Alex has not enjoyed the new year thus far. After Andre Villas-Boas kicked the bold, bald Brazilian to the Cobham curb earlier in the winter, he was left to fend for himself on just £50k per week. Just really, really terrible.

Thankfully for Alex, the nightmare looks to be coming to an end.

AVB has spoken to the press ahead of this weeks game coming up against Sunderland. Putting the game to one side, there are important transfer dealings that were addressed by AVB putting the record straight regarding the situation with a number of players, and this is what I want to focus on right now.

So AVB speaks of Cahill and one possible other signing, dependant on value for money in this window which leads me to ask "Who is the second signing?".
You do have to wonder who it would be coming into the club as we have to consider the players who are due to be leaving or reported as doing so as early as this month or the end of the season when their contracts expire.

Neil Warnock's sacking at QPR could have some implications for Spurs' winter transfer plans if the new Loftus Road manager is given a transfer kitty worth up to £20m. Last week, Rangers are reported to have offered £5m for Christopher Samba while Warnock was still at the club and it's thought that the Congolese centre half remains a priority.

This afternoon Portsmouth travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea in the FA Cup third round. Can you believe that just over a year and a half ago, both sides fought out a tight encounter in the FA Cup final at Wembley!?.
Since then, both sides have had their dramas. We as Chelsea fans think we've had it bad but for Portsmouth fans, they had to face the reality of their football club being wound up, court cases, liquidators and contemplating life without their club anymore!

News has broken this morning as the now the transfer window is open, that Alex will speak to QPR about a possible move to Loftus Road as early as today.
Some people have questioned with all our injury problems lately, as to why Alex has been frozen out and not called back into the squad but you have to give credit to AVB for sticking to his guns.

It's common knowledge that firstly, Alex handed in a transfer request that has been accepted by Chelsea and he is expected to leave next month. Secondly, Florent Malouda has spoken out about leaving the club if he doesn't play more football and finally, Carlo Ancelotti will be named the new PSG manager this afternoon.

Stewart Downing has brushed off being booed upon his return to Aston Villa and believes Liverpool's 2-0 win justified his decision to move clubs in the summer.
The England winger quit Villa for a £20million switch to Anfield after handing in a transfer request following two seasons in the Midlands.

Kenny Dalglish satisfied that Stewart Downing is proving his worth

The £20m winger returns to Villa Park still waiting for his first Liverpool goal or assist but his manager is not concerned The focus on Andy Carroll irritates Kenny Dalglish immensely but it will not appease the Liverpool manager that questions about value for money at Anfield go further than the £35m signing from Newcastle United.

Chelsea have finally confirmed the status of their veteran French bomber, Nicolas Anelka, after revealing at the club's official site that they have agreed in selling the striker to Chinese outfit, Shanghai Shenhua.

Despite confirming Anelka's departure in the upcoming January transfer window, the Blues apparently didn't revealed any more financial details which both clubs being agreed upon, although rumors claimed that Shanghai is offering wages around 175,000 a week for Anelka.

Monday night can't come soon enough for me as we take on high flyers Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have picked up their form in the last couple of games and will see this one as a big opportunity to close the gap and to get their first win over our main rivals this season.
Both sides come into the game suffering mixed emotions this week with Chelsea topping their group and qualifying for the next round of the Champions League and City, despite having 10 points which would normally easily be enough to qualify, find themselves in the Europa League alongside "neighbours" Man United.

I love Nico Anelka as I think the bloke is class. I have said it before time and time again on here and posted my tribute to him and his time at Chelsea the other week.
Since then, we obviously heard the news that he handed in a transfer request last week that has been accepted by the club and is now training away from the first team and will not be involved anymore.

Headline featured in todays SUN
If the report is to believed in The Sun today, AVB apparently criticised all of the players at the training ground after the defeats to Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool in the Carling Cup a week ago. The report in the article quotes "A Chelsea insider" as saying:

"It was unbelievable.

It looks like our continued overhaul may get started a little early. A host of outlets, including BBC Sport, are reporting that Nicolas Anelka could agree a move to Shanghai Shenhua within the next week.

A sight not to be seen again

As you are well aware, Anelka will not be hanging around Cobham for much longer.

Rumours have been rife that Italian giants Juventus are looking to sign Alex from us. Alex himself talked up a move last summer but no deal could be agreed. As a result he stayed here but has hardly featured and as a result handed in a transfer request last week that has been accepted.
It's now believed that Juventus are looking to offer Chelsea £2m for Alex in January knowing that his contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

The Philadelphia Union have been linked to Michael Thurk again, this time with the team being listed as one of the German's two front runners for his services. Thurk's agent, Klaus Gerster, said that Thurk will make a decision this week, with both the Union and fellow MLS team the Vancouver Whitecaps as the forward's favored destinations.

The Writing is on the wall for Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas. Win tomorrow's match against Valencia and hang on as Chelsea coach for a couple more weeks. Lose, and either face the sack or quit.

Tomorrow's match at Stamford Bridge will be crucial in all aspects for he Blues as the fate of their entire season hangs on the result of the match.

The Montreal Impact have made quite the splash since kicking off their inaugural MLS preseason, but the club reportedly has a potential move in the works that would top everything it's done thus far in building its roster.

According to Fox Soccer, the Montreal Impact have had extensive talks with Nicolas Anelka about bringing the Chelsea striker to MLS.

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 [...]

It's official, Anelka and Alex will be leaving Chelsea in January. The Duo have become srplus to needs at Stamford Bridge and Coach Villas-Boas has confirmed that the club had received their offers to leave the club in January.

I would not quite call this a loss for Chelsea, but rather a step in the right direction as both players are indeed past their prime.

25 years ago Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards introduced Sir Alex Ferguson as United manager and boy o boy was it the best signing United ever made though it wasn't all plain sailing. Here's a look at some of Fergie's now famous rants and mind games:

1. 'I can't understand the Leeds players.

Gems of the Lower Leagues: Charlie Austin is a post from: Just Football

by Ally Poole

Charlie Austin has made a meteoric leap from being a bricklayer playing for part-time Poole Town as late as September 2009 to free-scoring striker for Burnley in the Championship.

By Alan Duffy

Having apparently missed out on another footballing bad boy in the shape of El Hadji Diouf, Doncaster Rovers boss Dean Saunders has now snapped up former Spurs defender Pascal Chimbonda.

The 32-year-old Frenchman, a free agent since leaving QPR in April, was part of Les Bleus' squad at the 2006 World Cup Finals and has also had spells at Wigan, Sunderland and Blackburn.

Carlos Tevez Mancini Dzeko Bayern Munich Video- Tevez Refuses to Play Substitute Bench Row Champions League is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Carlos Tevez Mancini Dzeko Bayern Munich Video- Tevez Refuses to Play Substitute Bench Row Champions League is a post from Soccer Blogger.

Got Not Got Extract 2: When Bowles made 34 requests but didn't get a transfer

New book Got Not Got: The A-Z Of Lost Football Cultures, Treasures And Pleasures, by MirrorFootball contributors Derek Hammond and Gary Silke, is released later this month. Here's an exclusive extract ** The case of Bowles vs.

Michael Owen scored twice last night as a Manchester United second string easily disposed of Leeds United to reach the fourth round of the Carling Cup. It was a comfortable victory for United and one which highlights the depth of the squad and the quality that is coming through the youth ranks at Old Trafford once again.

Liverpool's Stewart Downing has revealed he was close to joining Tottenham from Middlesbrough in 2008, but the London club was unsuccessful with transfer bids and ultimately missed out on the England international.
Downing instead joined Aston Villa for £12 million, where he enjoyed two seasons before being lured to Anfield by Kenny Dalglish.

Liverpool's Stewart Downing has revealed he was close to joining Tottenham from Middlesbrough in 2008, but the London club was unsuccessful with transfer bids and ultimately missed out on the England international.
Downing instead joined Aston Villa for £12 million, where he enjoyed two seasons before being lured to Anfield by Kenny Dalglish.

After an excellent debut season, Raul Meirelles – who was recently voted Fan's player of the Year - inexplicably left for Chelsea on transfer deadline day. The reasons behind the move have never been 100% clear but now Meirelles himself and Damien Commolli have made public statements about the transfer.

Director of football Damien Comolli has insists Liverpool did not want to sell Raul Meireles but had little choice after he handed in a transfer request and told the club he wanted to leave.
Meireles joined Chelsea in the final minutes of the transfer deadline day last month in a reported £12million move, a switch that angered many Reds supporters.

There was a full moon last night, which might go some way to explaining why every former Liverpool player within shouting distance of two turntables and a microphone decided it was time to talk about their former club. Either that or they turned into to werewolves—I have a hard time keeping stuff like that straight.