Newcastle United - Nottingham Forest

Nothing much to say about Newcastle. They’re far best team in Championship and will reach direct promotion. However, thankfully to away displays and numberless draws, their points’ advantage has been melted and they have just a single point more than WBA (have two games in hand though). They’re in the run of 9 games without a defeat, six consecutive wins at home, one was with 2 goals margin other with 3 or more. In total at home they have 15 wins and 4 draws and scary goal difference with 46 goals scored and just 9 conceded! Lovenkrands and Smith are returning, defenders Williamson and Hall as well. Newcastle have won three of their last four matches against Forest, scoring nine goals in the process and conceding only two.

 

Forest are third, they’re 9 points far from WBA and direct promotion and also have a game less. So, theoretically it could be 6 points. But while they’re shinning at home, they’re shape on the road is disgusting and should be a shame for one promotion chaser. Six defeats in a row, against the clubs from the bottom and middle of the table (Derby, Coventry, Doncaster, Leicester, Preston and Barnsley) and just 3 (three) goals scored in those 6! They’ll give their maximum against top side and maybe will try to get closer to 2^nd place but the sad true is they look clueless on the road and if start the game with more attacking attitude it would just make the job easier for the Toon. Defenders Perch and Lynch are in doubt and will face a late fitness test. Forest's win at home in October was their first league victory against Newcastle for 21 years.

 

Newcastle will reach the promotion, it’s out of question. But, they’ll surely try to secure first place for their pride and also haven’t forgotten a defeat on the road vs. Forest  (0-1). On the other hand, visitors should be satisfied with a play-off spot. More courage tonight would only mean more balls in the net. My bet is -0.75 ah at 1.95. 

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Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is set to quit the club on a free transfer in the summer. The Blues have reportedly offered him a one-year extension, incorporating a 40% pay-cut, to his current deal which expires at the end of the season.(Daily Star) 
Brazilian midfielder Sandro is preparing himself for a £6m summer move to Tottenham from current club Internacionale by learning English.(Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham are sounding out clubs in Belgium about taking Zambian left-back Emmanuel Mbola on loan after the London club agreed a £1m deal to sign the teenager from Armenian club Yerevan.(Daily Mirror) 
Celtic are keen to recruit Arsenal striker Jay Simpson for next season after watching him in action for QPR, where he is on loan for the season.(Daily Mirror) 
Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery, who is a target for the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid, says he will resolve his future before the summer.(imscouting.com) 
Birmingham City and Wolves are both trailing Crystal Palace full-back Nathaniel Clyne.(Daily Mirror) 
Everton hit man James Vaughan is joining Leicester City's promotion push - to the fury of Championship rivals Derby County, who had the striker on loan earlier this season and had hoped to re-sign him.(Daily Mirror) 
Fulham striker Erik Nevland will leave the club on a free transfer at the end of this season to join his former team Viking Stavanger.(Daily Express) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has challenged striker Wayne Rooney to beat former United winger Cristiano Ronaldo's United goal record of 42 during the 2007/08 season. The England man took his tally to 30 for the season with a brace in United's 4-0 Champions League win over Milan on Wednesday.(The Sun) 
England boss Fabio Capello says Rooney is one of the three best players in the world; putting the striker on a par with Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo.(The Sun) 
Arsenal defender Sol Campbell, who started the season playing for League Two side Notts County, is eyeing a shock re-call to the England side.(The Sun) 
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has called a crisis meeting of his players in an attempt to stamp out the discord that threatens the very fabric of the club. In recent weeks, the Spanish coach has been dismayed by what he sees as "negative body language" from his players as they struggle to keep themselves in the race for a top-four finish.(Daily Mirror) 
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson, who enjoyed managerial spells with Udinese and Inter Milan prior to taking over at Craven Cottage, has admitted he would like to coach again in Italy before the end of his career.(Daily Mirror) 
The backlash towards Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini has begun following the club's Champions League exit at the hands of Lyon on Wednesday. The front page of Madrid based newspaper Marca this morning says "Adio Champions, Adios Pellegrini. Fuera" which translates as "Goodbye Champions [League], Goodbye Pellegrini. Out."(imscouting.com) 
Former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has agreed to manage Ivory Coast at this summer's World Cup in South Africa - providing he can negotiate an early release from his contract as Russia coach, which runs until mid-July. After the World Cup, Hiddink will take over as coach of Turkey.(Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY

Newcastle stars like Alan Smith and Kevin Nolan will be asked to take a pay cut if the Magpies win promotion to the Premier League because they are still on lucrative contracts handed to them prior to the club's relegation from the top flight last season.(Daily Mirror)

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Real Madrid    1 - 1    Lyon

1 - 0 C. Ronaldo  6.min.

1 - 1 M. Pjanic  75.min.

Wednesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

West Ham are considering a move to take out-of-favour striker Jo from Everton. The Brazilian is currently on a season-long loan at Goodison Park from Manchester City. (Daily Post) 
Leeds striker Jermaine Beckford has been linked with a summer move to Everton, who are reported to have agreed a pre-contract with the striker, whose contract expires at the end of the season. However, Whites manager Simon Grayson said: "Pre-contract agreements aren't binding so both parties could pull out at any time. If he bangs in another 20 goals, there might be bigger teams than Everton coming in for him." (Press Association) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

West Ham's new owners could try to lure Fulham striker Bobby Zamora back to Upton Park, 18 months after he left the club.(Daily Mirror) 
And Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton could also be on his way to West Ham, with Bordeaux's Mathieu Chalme his replacement in the Spurs defence.(Daily Mirror) 
Portsmouth defender Younes Kaboul could be in line for a return to Tottenham as Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate's injury troubles continue.(The Guardian) 
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will move for Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy - but only if he can offload misfit Roman Pavlyuchenko.(Daily Mirror) 
Chelsea could be forced to go back on their "no transfer window signings" pledge if midfielder Michael Essien's knee injury rules him out for an extended period of time.(The Independent) 
Manchester United and Chelsea are battling it out to sign 18-year-old Spanish attacking midfielder Sergio Canales, who can leave Racing Santander in the summer when his contract runs out.(Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn want to take Uruguay international midfielder Sebastian Eguren on loan from Spanish club Villarreal, where he has fallen out of favour.(Daily Mirror) 
But striker Benni McCarthy could be heading out of Blackburn, with Turkish side Galatasaray keen to sign him.(Daily Mail)
Galatasaray are also monitoring Ryan Babel's situation at Liverpool after the winger fell out with manager Rafael Benitez.(The Times) 
Liverpool's Fernando Torres has urged Benitez to sign either of the striker's international colleagues David Villa or David Silva from Valencia to partner him in attack.(Daily Mirror) 
Midfielder Mathieu Flamini could become yet another ex-Arsenal player to join Manchester City - on loan from AC Milan.(Daily Mirror) 
AC Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar could also be heading to England in a bid to get regular first-team football ahead of the World Cup, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham likely to be interested.(Daily Mail) 
Fulham and Hull are weighing up former Tottenham striker Mido, who is still officially a Middlesbrough player but is on loan at Zamalek where he has been since last summer.(Daily Mail) 
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has tabled a £4m bid for Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'Neil.(Daily Mail) 
Middlesbrough may use some of that cash to sign striker Leon Best from Coventry.(Daily Mail) 
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has shocked Scott Brown by telling the Scotland midfielder he has no future at the club and will be sold during January. (Daily Record) 
Celtic are locked in a five-way battle with clubs in Italy, Spain and Ukraine to sign 18-year-old Sporting Lisbon attacking midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim. (Daily Express)
Celtic will pay £200,000 in compensation when they sign 19-year-old Norway Under-21 centre-half Thomas Rogne, formerly of Staebek. (Various) 

OTHER GOSSIP

West Ham technical director Gianluca Nani will be sacked on Wednesday, only 24 hours after David Sullivan and David Gold took over the club. (Daily Star)
Portsmouth have 21 days to pay their £7.5m tax and VAT bill or face a winding-up petition in the High Court on February 10. With no new investment in sight the club are likely to have to sell players to raise the money or risk becoming the first Premier League club to go into administration.(The Sun) 
Football Association director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking has warned England does not have enough depth of young talent and he does not know where the next Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard will come from.(Daily Mirror) 
Newcastle midfielder Alan Smith has called on owner Mike Ashley to splash the cash this month to bolster the club's promotion bid.(Daily Star) 
Brazil legend Pele has tipped Spain to win this year's World Cup, saying they are the best team in the world at the moment, and he predicts that Argentina will struggle.(Daily Mail) 
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill says the current crop of players at the club is the best for 20 years.(The Times) 
Plymouth Argyle have ordered Aberdeen and Hearts target Steven MacLean to train with their youths in an attempt to force him out of the club. (Daily Record)
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith has angrily denied claims by his New Zealand counterpart that they had asked for £250,000 to play a friendly, saying that manager Craig Levein did not want the match at all. (Various) 

AND FINALLY

Arsenal new boy Samuel Galindo (on photo) has been caught up in an elaborate spoof, when a Bolivian TV station claimed it had a copy of his passport stating he was 20 years old and not 17 as was said when the midfielder joined the Gunners. (Daily Mirror)

England captain John Terry has secretly put his mansion and his mum's home up for sale, hoping to raise £11.5m to fund his life as a country gent. He is hoping to use the money to buy a country pile.(The Sun)

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Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea will make a £33m bid for Valencia striker David Villa - but the Spain international would prefer a move to Manchester United.(Daily Mirror) 
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has identified Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as the candidate he believes is best qualified to succeed Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford.(Daily Mail) 
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is keen to sign Osasuna's £10m-rated right-back Cesar Azpilicueta. (Daily Mirror) 
City winger Robinho could be on his way to Barcelona after Hughes attended Barca's draw with Osasuna on Saturday and met with club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Tiki Beguiristain.(El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish)) 
Coventry striker Leon Best, whose contract ends next summer, is a target for Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Liverpool midfielder Ronnie Whelan believes Reds manager Rafael Benitez's days at the club "have got to be numbered".(Various) 
Benitez's future at Anfield will be determined over the next three games amid growing concern from potential investors over Liverpool's worst sequence of results for more than 50 years.(Daily Mail) 
Injury problems mean Benitez could be without 12 players for Wednesday's critical Champions League meeting with Lyon. (Daily Express) 
The Football Association are examining the situation of Werder Bremen forward Aaron Hunt, who was born in Germany and has represented them a Under-16, Under-17 and Under-21 level but would qualify to play for England through his English mother.(Daily Mail) 
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is desperate to face former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor, who was banned for three matches after catching the Dutchman with his boot earlier this season, when the Gunners meet Manchester City in the Carling Cup quarter-finals.(The Sun)  
Hull manager Phil Brown will be given 90 minutes to save his job after new chairman Adam Pearson told him he will be in charge for Sunday's match against Stoke. Brown's side are currently third from bottom in the Premier League.(Various) 
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is confident his side can still finish in the Premier League's top four this season despite being brushed aside by Arsenal on Saturday.(The Times) 
Portsmouth have denied a report that the £15m loan provided to the club by Balram Chainrai has effectively given the Hong Kong-based businessman control at Fratton Park.(The Times) 
Crystal Palace players have been left waiting for their wages for the second time in four months. (Daily Star)
Midfielder Alan Smith has revealed how an angry meeting of Newcastle players after the club's pre-season defeat at Leyton Orient, at which want-away stars were told to leave, was "a massive turning point" for the Championship club.(Daily Mirror) 
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson was called to a meeting with his bosses on Sunday night as fears grew that he would be sacked for his side's poor start to the Championship season.(Daily Mirror) 
Dennis Wise is the favourite to replace Russell Slade, who was sacked as Brighton manager on Sunday.(Various) 
But former Reading manager Steve Coppell is understood to be Brighton's top target to replace Slade.(The Times) 

AND FINALLY

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has splashed out on a new car for his girlfriend Melanie Slade's 21st birthday - upgrading her Volkswagen Beetle for a £140,000 Ferrari.(The Sun) 

Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Danny has recovered from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament sustained in May but the club's insurance policy has prevented him from playing. The terms of the policy mean that he is not permitted to play within six months of sustaining his injury.(The Independent)

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Thursday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Notts County looks set to be taken over by a Middle Eastern consortium in a multi-million pound deal. (BBC Sport website) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City believe they are close to the £20m signing of Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o. (Daily Mail) 
City are also battling it out with rivals Manchester United for the signature of Argentine forward Carlos Tevez, who has been on a loan deal at Old Trafford. (Daily Express) 
Tevez will decide in the next seven days where his future lies, after United made a final take-it-or-leave-it offer to the 25-year-old. (Daily Star) 
Chelsea have made a last-ditch £70m offer for AC Milan forward Kaka.(Daily Star) 
The Blues are hopeful that Kaka's personal demands may also price Real Madrid out of the market. (Daily Mirror) 
However, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has admitted that Madrid are favourites to land the Brazil star. (The Independent) 
But new Chelsea manager and former AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti has not given up on signing Kaka and even phoned the Brazilian and begged him not to join Real. (The Sun) 
However, Chelsea have denied making a world record £73.5m bid for the Brazilian but say they still expect to make a major signing this summer. (Daily Telegraph) 
If Chelsea miss out on Kaka then that acquisition could be his AC Milan team-mate Alexandre Pato and will offer £38m for the 19-year-old.(Daily Express) 
However, Chelsea could also go after Samuel Eto'o after he was made available by Barcelona president Joan Laporta.(The Independent) 
The Blues are also targeting Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Valencia forward David Villa. (The Guardian) 
Chelsea have opened talks with Portsmouth to sign right-back Glen Johnson in a deal that could be worth £17m. (Daily Mail) 
Blues midfielder Deco is on the verge of a move to Inter Milan on a free transfer. (Daily Mail) 
Arsenal are closing in on the £10m signing of Ajax centre-half Thomas Vermaelen.(The Sun) 
The Gunners are keen on Juventus and Italy central defender Giorgio Chiellini. (The Times)
But Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor could be on his way to AC Milan with the Italian side set to bid £15m for the Togo international. (The Sun) 
AC Milan and Barcelona are lining up Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic in a £25m deal. (Daily Mail) 
Real Madrid have tabled a £20m bid for unsettled Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso. (Daily Mail) 
Liverpool, meanwhile, are interested in Middlesbrough forward Tuncay. (The Mirror) 
Reds boss Rafael Benitez has also met with Valencia forward David Silva this week and is keen to bring the Spaniard to Anfield. (The Mirror) 
The Merseyside club have also offered Portsmouth £2m for defender Sylvain Distin. (The Times) 
Aston Villa have bid £7m for Atletico Madrid midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado. (The Times) 
Villa are also interested in bringing former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb back to the Premier League from Barcelona in a £10m deal. (Daily Star) 
Newcastle midfielder Kevin Nolan is attracting interest from Bolton, Blackburn and Hull. (The Guardian) 
Tottenham defender Chris Gunter is wanted by Newcastle, Middlesbrough and West Brom. (The Guardian)
Manchester United trio Fraizer Campbell, Danny Simpson and Darron Gibson have been placed on the transfer list at Old Trafford. (Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is to make a fresh £5m bid for Manchester City centre-back Richard Dunne.(Daily Mail) 
Manchester City midfielder Elano has issued a come and get me plea to Serie A champions Inter Milan. (The Sun) 
Defender Lucas Neill has severed his ties with West Ham and is set to link up with old Blackburn boss Mark Hughes at Manchester City. (Daily Express)
Former Manchester United striker Alan Smith is set to sign for Blackburn in a £2.5m deal. (Daily Star) 
Arsenal utility player Emmanuel Eboue says he is unsure whether he will be at the club next season. (Daily Express) 
Birmingham hope to sign Ecuador centre-back Giovanny Espinoza after landing compatriot Christian Benitez in a club record fee. (Daily Mirror) 
Wolves are preparing a £2.6m deal for Red Star Belgrade midfielder Nenad Milijas. (The Sun) 
However, Aston Villa are also interested in Serbian star Milijas.(The Times) 


OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has risked his England future after his late withdrawal through injury ahead of the World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan. (The Mirror) 
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan says Swansea boss Roberto Martinez is his first choice to replace former manager Steve Bruce. (The Sun) 
Stoke manager Tony Pulis hopes to appoint Sheffield United number two Sam Ellis as his deputy at the Britannia Stadium. (Daily Mirror) 
Watford manager Brendan Rodger is on the verge of becoming named as the new boss at Reading. (The Sun) 
West Brom are targeting Preston boss Alan Irvine as their new manager if Tony Mowbray takes over at Celtic. (The Mirror) 
However, West Brom have denied that Celtic have made an approach for Mowbray. (Daily Telegraph) 
Burnley's Owen Coyle and West Brom's Tony Mowbray are in a straight fight for the Celtic manager's job. (The Herald)
Celtic have launched a last-ditch attempt to secure Roberto Martinez, but the Swansea boss is 90% certain to go to Wigan. (Daily Mail) 
Irish billionaire Dermot Desmond will today be urged to finance compensation for Tony Mowbray or Roberto Martinez as manager. (The Sun)


AND FINALLY

Meanwhile United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has vowed that he will play again, despite rumours that he will be forced to retire following a succession of knee injuries. (Daily Mirror)
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Newcastle United - Middlesbrough

I think everybody who loves home side is trying to find the answer on question: How did it happen?! Big club, excellent players (expensive, too), unlimited support by fans… Logic position would be a place that lead to European competition. But, current situation is different, 18th position on the table, three points under the line, last win was 07.02.2009.(WBA on the road)! Club’s owner announced that he will sell the club if relegate. Even club’s legend Alan Shearer, who btw. grab just two points from five games, (also grab a million for a two months job) can’t help. Anyway, everybody talks about very good atmosphere in a dressing room. Hard to imagine. As their current position, however. Good news came from Hull, where hosts lost their game against Stoke, yesterday. It means, with three points the Magpies would skip them. At the last round Newcastle was crashed at Anfield. Big mistakes by defense line were punished with three goals. Things went even worse when Joey Barton got a red card (three games suspension). Rumors say he finished not just a season, but the career at St James. Another good news is injury list, that is decreasing. Just Alan Smith won’t be available, while Jose Enrique is struggling to shake off a hamstring injury. The hosts will be fully motivated, they’re better side than visitors and only thing left is to show it on the pitch.

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If I feel no sorry for home side, then I definitely don’t know what to say about visitors. In the previous season, they bravely avoided relegation. Then instead buying some quality players, they even sold the bests. Wrong strategy by club’s management had a culmination when Gareth Southgate was appointed for a manager. I won’t use hard words, but he simply is not capable to lead one Premier League team. So, different reasons for being under the line, then Newcastle. Bad team, bad manager, they’re fully deserved the relegation. Here is one Gareth’s thought (for BBC): "We are probably closer to survival than we were eight weeks ago because the tally needed to stay up seems to reduce every week." The funny thing is if they somehow win tonight, then they would be one step from avoiding relegation, sending Newcastle in Championship. But, their performances on the road don’t support that scenario. Just two wins (and two draws) from 17 games, with just 9 scored goals and 32 conceded, six competitive defeats in a row and just a single point from last 11 away games! Defender Andrew Taylor returns to the squad, while other two defenders Emanuel Pogatetz (knee) and Chris Riggott (ankle) are out.

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For Newcastle, moving into Championship would be a shame. For Boro, avoiding relegation would be a great achieve. Both sides have the last opportunity. I expect open game from the start where Boro’s defense (more likely than Newcastle’s attack) will decide the game. Over is also very good choice, but I go for a home side. Pinnacle offers 2.06. Home win.

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My second pick for today will be the play-off game in Championship. But, more about that later. Stay tuned.

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