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Week 24 Football


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Saturday, 22 January 2011Barclays Premier LeagueWolverhampton v Liverpool, 12:45

ss2.gifArsenal v Wigan, 15:00Blackpool v Sunderland, 15:00Everton v West Ham, 15:00Fulham v Stoke, 15:00Man Utd v Birmingham, 15:00Newcastle v Tottenham, 15:00Aston Villa v Man City, 17:30 broadcast_ESPN.gifLa LigaBarcelona v Racing (7.00pm) ssx.gifValencia v Malaga (9.00pm) ssx.gifSunday, 23 January 2011Barclays Premier LeagueBlackburn v West Brom, 16:00 ss1.gifLa LigaReal Madrid v Mallorca (6.00pm on red button) ss1.gifVillarreal v Real Sociedad (8PM) ss1.gifMonday, 24 January 2011Barclays Premier LeagueBolton v Chelsea, 20:00 ss1.gifTuesday, 25 January 2011Barclays Premier LeagueBlackpool v Man Utd, 19:30 broadcast_ESPN.gifWigan v Aston Villa, 19:45Carling CupArsenal v Ipswich, (agg 0-1), SF, L2, 19:45 bbc-icon.pngWednesday, 26 January 2011Barclays Premier LeagueLiverpool v Fulham, 20:00Carling CupBirmingham v West Ham, (agg 1-2), SF, L2, 19:45 ss1.gif

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Gerard Houllier is looking for Darren Bent to make an immediate impact when Aston Villa tackle Manchester City on a packed Saturday of Premier League action.New Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish continues his quest for a first victory since his return to the Anfield hotseat when the Reds travel to Wolves, while Avram Grant takes his West Ham team to Everton following his recent stay of execution.The title race continues apace with leaders Manchester United putting their unbeaten record on the line against Birmingham at Old Trafford as Arsenal play host to Wigan and Tottenham make the trip to Newcastle.Sunderland begin life without Bent as they travel to Blackpool, Fulham welcome Stoke to Craven Cottage and Blackburn play host to West Brom on Sunday.ProlificAston Villa boss Houllier joked at the press conference to introduce the club's new £18million record signing that he was hoping for Bent to open his account against Roberto Mancini's title hopefuls on Saturday evening. The England international has a decent debut record, netting for both Charlton and Sunderland to prelude prolific periods for both parties. Manchester City's recent defensive lapses will give Villa cause for optimism and Mancini concern, with the Eastlands outfit having shipped three at home to Wolves and two against Leicester in the FA Cup, although they found the net four times themselves in both games.Earlier on Saturday in the Midlands, Wolves welcome Liverpool to Molineux in front of the Sky Sports cameras aiming for a memorable double over the Anfield outfit, whose anticipated resurgence following the return of the King is yet to emerge. The Reds have, in truth, improved since Dalglish replaced Roy Hodgson, but as the Fulham boss found to his cost, this is a results business. The 1-0 defeat to Mick McCarthy's troops at Anfield at the end of 2010 helped usher Hodgson out of the door and Dalglish will not want to be associated with any further Wolves woe having already played his part in Blackpool's six-point haul against the 18-time English champions.The message from the West Ham boardroom ahead of their trip to Everton is that they are "100 per cent behind" Grant. Unfortunately, this touching show of support is diluted somewhat by the preceding four days of feverish speculation over the Israeli's future, sparked by an anticipation that Martin O'Neill was about to parachuted in as his replacement. Whether Grant has been out in the East End in a bid to reclaim the scarf he threw into the Upton Park crowd following the 3-0 defeat by Arsenal is yet to be confirmed, but the stark reality is the club remain bottom of the table under the stewardship of a man who has a less-than-healthy relationship with the club's hierarchy.Birmingham are the latest club in Manchester United's firing line as Sir Alex Ferguson's league leaders look to maintain their position at the top of the pile and their impressive unbeaten record. Talk of emulating Arsenal's 2003/04 'Invincibles' has already started to surface, and while that remains fanciful with only just over half of the season gone, it is hard to see beyond a home win this weekend given the Red Devils have won 10 of 11 in front of their own fans. Alex McLeish's men can take some heart from their 1-1 draw at St Andrews earlier in the season, but the loss of key centre-back Scott Dann for the season through injury is a major blow.Arsenal are just two points adrift of United, albeit having played a game more, as they welcome struggling Wigan to Emirates Stadium. Further squad rotation can be expected from Gunners boss Arsene Wenger with the North London side chasing silverware on four fronts as they aim to end their six-year trophy drought. Two points were dropped from the recent trip to the DW Stadium and Wenger will be wary of further setbacks in front of their own fans with defeats to Newcastle, West Brom and Tottenham still too fresh in the memory. One note for fans who like to leave early is that five goals have been scored in the 89th minute or later in the last four Premier League meetings between these two.HangdogFollowing days of debate over David Beckham and breaking news about his blisters, Tottenham completed the signing of a midfielder this week with Steven Pienaar making the switch to White Hart Lane. While the South Africa international's arrival did not provoke such a media scrum, it is a much more worthwhile swoop from Harry Redknapp and the former Everton man could feature at Newcastle. The Magpies came within a whisker of a derby double over Sunderland last weekend, but injuries are beginning to bite Alan Pardew's squad with Andy Carroll still out and Alan Smith now set to miss the remainder of the season.Any elation Steve Bruce felt following Asamoah Gyan's late leveller against Newcastle was swiftly erased as the Sunderland boss discovered Bent's intention to quit the Stadium of Light. Bruce cannot afford the hangdog expression he has adopted for this week's press conference to enter the dressing room ahead of Saturday's trip to Blackpool. The ever effervescent Ian Holloway, who continues to bat away bids for key man Charlie Adam, will be plotting a double over the Black Cats after their 2-0 success on Wearside in December, and this season's top-flight surprise package remain the only team to have triumphed in Premier League action in the North East.Blackburn continue to chase a marquee signing craved by club owners Venky's, with Juan Roman Riquelme the latest to be linked with Rovers as Steve Kean's side prepare to tackle West Brom on Sunday in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Roque Santa Cruz has a first chance to impress on his return to Ewood Park and the midweek arrival of Jermaine Jones was a decent piece of business. Roberto Di Matteo's Baggies snapped their worrying six-game losing run last time out, but suffered a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Rovers in the midst of a sorry spell which has seen them tumble into the bottom half of the table.Stoke, who have landed Villa striker John Carew from under the noses of West Brom, will be out for revenge when they travel to Craven Cottage to tackle Fulham. Mark Hughes' men claimed an all-too-rare victory on their travels when they triumphed 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium last month courtesy of Chris Baird's unexpected brace. But the Cottagers are still perched perilously just a point above the bottom three, with a mere six points separating Everton in 12th and West Ham at the foot of the table. Statistics fans will have already noted that Fulham are the top flight's draw specialists with 11, while Stoke (three) are at the other end of the spectrum.
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Steven Pienaar goes straight into the squad for Saturday's trip to Newcastle United.The midfielder, signed from Everton earlier this week, trained with his new team-mates for the first time today (Friday, January 21) and travels to St James Park.Harry Redknapp reported that Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Wilson Palacios were doubts for the trip to the north-east."Benoit and Wilson both have knee injuries," said Harry on Friday morning. "Wilson is coming out to have a loosener (in training) and we'll wait and see on both of them."Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Ledley King (groin) remain sidelined.
looks like bale to LB and pienaar starts on the left.
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Steven Pienaar goes straight into the squad for Saturday's trip to Newcastle United.The midfielder, signed from Everton earlier this week, trained with his new team-mates for the first time today (Friday, January 21) and travels to St James Park.Harry Redknapp reported that Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Wilson Palacios were doubts for the trip to the north-east."Benoit and Wilson both have knee injuries," said Harry on Friday morning. "Wilson is coming out to have a loosener (in training) and we'll wait and see on both of them."Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Ledley King (groin) remain sidelined.
looks like bale to LB and pienaar starts on the left.
Was asking my boy where the hell Pienaar is gonna fit into your team and he said that's the likely long term option?Said I prefer Bale at LM
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Harry has always said Bale will be a LBPienaar is a fantastic footballer but Bale offers more of a goal threat from LW Bale from LB can still get worked into deep offensive positions and every1 saw how fruitful Pienaar's understanding with Baines wasPienaar is more of a central player anyways, he shudda gone Chelsea, Harry will deffo favour starting with the more direct and pacey Lennon & Bale over Pienaar.. hence why class players like Gio and Niko cant get in

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Niko could go to any top 4 club in Europe, hes not that far off Modric, hes slow but will score more than ModricI honestly believe Wenger should be looking at Gio, he will fit in perfectly, can play on either flank and in the hole plus hes young..Gio is miles ahead of Vela & Hernandez in terms of ability, im sure we cud snap him up for abt £2m / £3m, depending if Barca have a percentage of the next sale clauseWho ever does land Gio will be getting a great deal, the world cup proved the lad has geunine ability

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bale isnt a LB no matter what harry see's long term... maybe when hes hitting late 20 and the pace starts to go....but we dont have any other options there bar bassong, but i doubt harry will stick him in there/harry has been an absolute c*ck with niko... never played him in a full strength team this season and i dont understand when VDV was out he didnt do a like for like swap and let him play in the hole.... he would be a beast there, would prob score more than VDV

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^ ^Niko would score more than VDV?!? Someone holds Niko in veeery high regards.
lol nah, but in the hole he wouldn't be far off at all, nikos tekkers and shooting >>>>>
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