Bolton face Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend and you have the opportunity to see the Trotters in action! We have teamed up with 188BET to give away a pair of tickets to the match at Anfield on Saturday. You can see Owen Coyle’s men in action against Kenny Dalglish’s in form Liverpool side this weekend.
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Former England goalkeeper Scott Carson has gone to Turkey to play for Bursaspor. West Brom manager Roy Hodgson was in no mood to keep Carson at the Hawthorns and this represents a rapid fall from grace for the goalkeeper.
Carson, who is clearly still affected by ‘that’ night four years ago when he effectively ended his international career, has decided to opt for a fresh start away from England. However, Carson can take heart from the career of David James who was much maligned during his early days and made numerous high profile blunders at national level but later matured and emerged as England’s No.1 keeper.
If he can find his feet in a new country there is no reason why a fresh start cannot led to him rediscover his mislaid potential away from the intense media spotlight and pressure that was on always on him in the UK. Realising this lost potential could let him return to England as an experienced and improved goalkeeper and may even give him another chance to redeem himself at national level. Only this will banish any memories of his Wembley nightmare four years ago.
Here’s everything you need to know about Bursaspor…
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QPR continued their superb start to the season with a comprehensive win over Wolves at Molineux to send Neil Warnocks side up to ninth in the Premier League.
Skipper Joey Barton opened his account for the R’s with a goal in the eight minute which was quickly followed by a strike by Alejandro Faurlin leaving the Wolves fans speechless.
DJ Campbell completed the scoring after half time to put a smile on manager Neil Warnocks face as his side made it four points in six days after Monday’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle.
The visitors were quick out of the blocks with Shaun Wright-Phillips clearly relishing his new role at the club. He was afforded room to run at the Wolves defence all afternoon and was heavily involved in the opening goal.
As the home side’s defence backed off he laid the ball into Barton’s path and the former Newcastle midfielder had no hesitation in lashing the ball past Wayne Hennessey from the edge of the area.
Faurlin doubled that lead two minutes lated crashing a 20-yard effort into the top corner with Hennessey unable to keep it despite getting a hand to the ball.
Mick McCarthy’s side responded well and captain Karl Henry struck the post amid protest for a penalty whilst Stephen Ward went close after he found some space in the Rangers area.
But they never managed to make the breakthrough and a Barton inspired away side as DJ Campbell wrapped up victory with three minutes left.
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The goals are flying in around the Football League today and it took no fewer than 10 minutes for the six Goaldash numbers to come flying in.
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Are you in the money? Have you won a Million? Check the Goaldash numbers below:
Sky Sports commented recently on Newcastle United’s occupation of 4th place in the Premier League and belittled the unbeaten North East side along with the majority of the top-flight, by suggesting the Magpies had not really played anybody yet. Nice to know, what Sky Sports thinks of Tottenham and Arsenal, who both have travelled to St James’ Park this season and returned to the capital, with just a point apiece.
Now if I work on the same premise as Sky, then surely it is Chelsea, who have flattered to deceive this term. The Blues only having played the one somebody in their eyes in Manchester United. A game the Stamford Bridge outfit lost! Level on points with Newcastle, Chelsea have had wins against newly-promoted Swansea and Norwich along with West Brom, Sunderland, Bolton and Everton. Drawn against Stoke and lost to Queens Park Rangers in last Sunday’s ill-disciplined affair. A performance, which sees Andre Villas-Boas’ team stranded at the bottom of the Fair-Play League or as I prefer to see it, firm favourites for the Foul-Play League.
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It is no secret, that integral parts of the Chelsea team are starting to get on a bit. Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba probably being the two most noticeable in terms of age. However, Frank is the Blues’ top scorer in the league and Drogba gets my vote over Fernando Torres on any day that ends in Y. Summer signing Juan Mata looks a quality player and Ramires has been outstanding this season. Daniel Sturridge is showing real promise, while January arrival David Luiz is a central defender I really like the look of.
Chelsea have not become a bad team, but I can’t help thinking, that based on Sky’s definition of a nobody team, AVB’s boys have much sterner tests to come. Starting with their next fixture against a confident and rejuvenated Arsenal this weekend, who they will face without their tormenter-in-chief against the Gunners, Drogba. Jose Boswinga, will miss the Arsenal clash also, while Ashley Cole is already just a booking away from suspension and could quite probably miss the game with Liverpool should he see yellow in the near future.
A defeat to Arsenal and any sort of slip up against Kenny Daglish’s men could see Chelsea falling right off the pace at the summit of the Premier League. So what I would say to Sky is just perhaps reserve your judgement on Newcastle and we might all have a better idea of who are the pretenders and impostors come December 3rd, when Chelsea travel North to have a go at Alan Pardew’s side. On a final note, it’s strange how Sky, who have almost complete saturation of a league they describe as the best in the world, can dismiss the majority of it as rubbish. The fans pay your wages you imbeciles!!!!
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The FA have charged Liverpool striker Luis Suarez after investigating claims that he racially abused Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in the 1-1 draw between the sides at Anfield back in October.
The Uruguay international has pleaded his innocence since the French full backk made the claims over a month ago, and the English governing body have been reviewing the evidence.
The FA have revealed that Suarez has a case to answer, with a disciplinary sanction set to be handed down.
“The FA has today charged Liverpool’s Luis Suarez following an incident that occurred during the Liverpool versus Manchester United fixture at Anfield on 15 October 2011,” an official statement reads.
“It is alleged that Suarez used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Manchester United’s Patrice Evra contrary to FA rules.
“It is further alleged that this included a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Patrice Evra.
“The FA will issue no further comment at this time,” it states.
Liverpool have been quick to issue a statement of acknowledgment on behalf of the South American, who is currently returning from international duty.
“The club this afternoon received notification from the Football Association of their decision to charge Luis Suarez and will take time to properly review the documentation which has been sent to us,” reads a statement from Anfield.
“We will discuss the matter fully with him when he returns from international duty, but he will plead not guilty to the charge and we expect him to request a personal hearing.
“Luis remains determined to clear his name of the allegation made against him by Patrice Evra. The club remain fully supportive of Luis in this matter,” it concludes.
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Suarez’s incident was the first claim of racism in a month where a number of other cases in Premier League football have arose.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has stated that referee Chris Foy got a few major decisions wrong in his side’s 2-1 defeat against Stoke on Sunday, which ultimately led to the home team’s win.
A Matthew Etherington brace gave The Potters a 2-0 half-time lead, before Emmanuel Adebayor pulled one back for Spurs from the penalty spot.
There were a number of contentious decisions during the game; Peter Crouch appeared to handle the ball for the Britannia Stadium outfit’s opener, Adebayor had a goal ruled out for offside in the second half when he was clearly onside, and Ryan Shawcross cleared a Spurs effort off the goal-line with his elbow.
Younes Kaboul was also sent off for two questionable yellow cards in the fixture; Redknapp was not happy with Foy’s performance.
“Adebayor was a yard, two yards onside,” the visiting manager told Sky Sports.
“Younes Kaboul got a yellow for saying to the referee he had handballed it and he didn’t deserve a yellow for the second.
“We certainly deserved to get something from the game.
“When you see the replays, how the referee gave Adebayor offside and how he didn’t see the handball – in fact there were two handballs – I don’t know.
“I told him. I never go and talk to referees after a game, I accept defeat. I never complain about referees’ decisions – I have not done it in 30 years of management, never. But today, I’m afraid, he got some badly wrong.
“He hadn’t seen them, but when he goes home tonight and watches them, he’ll realise he got a couple badly wrong, and the linesman…
“When someone’s two yards onside, like Adebayor was, how’s the linesman not seen it?
“To be honest, from the start of the game, I felt like Chris Foy wasn’t going to give us much today. I just felt like he was quite enjoying not giving us anything.
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“He’s not made mistakes because he meant to, he is an honest guy, but today I just felt he had a bad day, and so did the linesman who missed Adebayor being two yards onside,” he concluded.
The defeat ends the White Hart Lane team’s run of 11 undefeated games, and Spurs must pick themselves up as they play Sunderland at home next weekend.
Every football club has ‘the one that got away.’ The one player whom we all believe held the key to our aspirations and dreams for our football club – if only he had signed on the dotted line.
Harry Redknapp admitted before this weekend’s game that he had decided against bringing Luis Suarez to White Hart Lane after mistakenly thinking he was too like what they already had. Although Suarez had a quiet game yesterday he will has still been a fantastic signing by Liverpool and he looks like being a world-class player in the future. Spurs could regret missing out on the Uruguayan forward for many years to come. This isn’t the first time a mistake has been made and throughout football history there have been players that got away.
These are the signings that could have changed the course of history for your club but instead never happened and if you’re a Sheffield United fan you’ll be forever ruing the day your club let one of the best players of all time slip through the net.
Click on Gazza to see the top 10 transfers that got away
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Compiled by Aidan McCartney
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Liverpool host Rovers on Boxing Day in the hope of closing the gap on the top four. Gerard Houllier believes that the Reds are certainly good enough to take one of the Champions League spots but feels it is too soon into Kenny’s Anfield revolution to challenge for the title this season.
At FFC this week it’s there has been plenty of Liverpool blogs that include a leaner and meaner Reds team; transfer activity at Anfield, while Luis Suarez delivers the perfect response.
We also look at other Liverpool articles from around the Web:
Is the old Fernando lost forever?
Does the Liverpool situation call for more accountability?
Two summer signings that Liverpool fans can be thankful for
Fast becoming the most important role in football
Luis Suarez’s perfect response
Transfer activity at Anfield?
When do football fans say enough is enough?
A potential transfer coup by Liverpool?
Kenny and Harry’s transfer battle for Silkmen
The £100k solution to Liverpool’s problems?
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Best of WEB
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A Letter to Fernando Torres – Live4Liverpool
Wigan frustration just another case of déjà vu – This is Anfield
Suarez ‘Is Not A Racist’ –Tomkins Times
Meet The €11M Man Lined Up To Replace Lucas Leiva – Transfer Tavern
Do Liverpool need to buy anyone this January? – Anfield Index
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Click on Wayne Bridge’s current lady below to unveil our WAG XI of the season
Take a quick glance at the League 1 table and you’d be forgiven for thinking that most followers of Chesterfield FC would be down-in-the-dumps right now. After all, Derbyshire folk are hardly known for their happy-go-lucky nature (just ask the Bournemouth fans whose coach got bricked after a game at the B2Net last week that the Spireites had won!).
Go back to the 7th of January and you’d be spot on with that gloomy assessment.
Following a 0-2 home reverse against Exeter City there were calls for the manager, John Sheridan, to resign, people in the ‘popular end’ were questioning the club’s owners and their commitment to the cause and quite a few, previously heralded players, midfielder Danny Whitaker included, were getting all manner of unwarranted abuse.
Exactly four weeks later and things suddenly look a lot brighter. Chesterfield are no longer bottom of the league, they’ve won four games on the bounce, they’re off to Wembley in March for the Johnstone Paint’s Trophy final and, wonder of all wonders, they’ve signed a striker. It’s a remarkable turnaround and much of it is down to the impact of the transfer window. While the big clubs only spent £60m on players, smaller ones, like Chesterfield, were bringing in players on loan that could potentially turn their whole season around.
This is why.
During a deeply unpleasant 17 match run where the Spireites didn’t win a single game of football, several things were lacking: energy and tenacity in midfield, full backs that could get forward with purpose, a strong, regular centre half pairing and, most pressing of all, someone who could regularly put the ball in the back of the net.
The transfer window couldn’t have come soon enough. And when it did, fortunately, Mr Sheridan proved to be exactly what most people had hoped he was: a half decent football manager. He filled the gaps accordingly. But whereas in pre-season he had opted for players with League 1 experience he, instead, sought out quality from higher divisions.
David Davis from Wolves has instilled some steel and voracity into the midfield. Young West Brom defender James Hurst has brought pace, enthusiasm and attacking intent – not to mention decent delivery – to right back. And Josh Thompson, a Celtic player previously, has brought speed, power and big match experience to a central defence that now includes the revitalized (and fully fit) Neal Trotman.
All of sudden Chesterfield look like they can compete at this level. They’ve kept a couple of clean sheets, they’ve won football matches and they’re playing with pride. It might not be pretty at times but at least they’re fighting. The only thing lacking is a striker.
True they have the ‘Old warhorse’ Jack Lester (copyright Sky co-commentator Garry Birtles) who is one of the best players to ever have pulled on a CFC shirt. But while he still has brilliant touch, a neat trick and an eye for goal (not to mention some wiley ways) he lacks pace and cannot play every week. They also have the young but raw Jordan Bowery who ‘looks the part’ one minute but seems destined for Matlock Town or Stavely Miners Welfare the next. And there is Scott Boden who has his talents. But between them there are not enough goals there to keep Chesterfield up.
In hindsight the Spireites have sorely missed last season’s top scorer Craig Davies, a player now plying his trade down the road at Barnsley. A contract was offered but terms were not agreed. Perceived wisdom suggests that just a few pennies more would have kept him at the club and much of the pre-Christmas mess could’ve been avoided. To fill the void early in the season Sheridan took a chance on Swindon’s Leon Clarke after he fell out with his own manager Paulo Di Canio. It paid off with nine goals. But his wage demands were said to be too high for that loan to go any further.
In the end Chesterfield have signed young Nicky Ajose from Peterborough, a former Manchester United player who was as brilliant at Bury last season as he was anonymous at Scunthorpe this. He’s not a big name but he’s the kind of forward that is required. Quick, lithe and with a decent scoring record. A younger Craig Davies (it is hoped). Whilst on loan at Bury last season he tore the eventual League 2 Champions to shreds at the B2Net. This alone probably makes him a good signing.
It’s only a loan deal, as are the agreements for Curtis, Davis and Thompson. But as they’re all young, keen players from higher divisions who are (based purely on several recent tweets) ‘up for the challenge’ they’ve provided great dollops of enthusiasm for followers of the team currently 23rd in League 1.
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For once, weather permitting, a 330 mile round trip to Carlisle (the next league opponents) seems like an alluring prospect.
You’ve got to love the transfer window.
By Will Strauss. As well as writing about his first love, Chesterfield FC, he is currently coming up with cooker spares articles for the Leeds-based appliances company ASD.
Roberto Mancini has stated that Manchester City have concluded a difficult run of fixtures, and is glad that his side are still top of the Premier League.
City have been struck down with injuries and suspensions, and have had a month of tricky domestic fixtures.
Despite this, the Italian coach feels that his team have come out of the period unscathed, and are ready to progress and challenge for honours.
“It’s important to be at the top at the moment,” Mancini is quoted as saying in Mirror Football.
“During the season, we know there are difficult moments.
“I don’t think we had a bad month in January, but we had a difficult month because this can happen with injuries, players away and players banned.
“If you have these problems, maybe it’s clear that you can’t always play very well,” he concluded.
City are two points ahead of Manchester United at the top, and face Aston Villa on Sunday.
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