Carling Cup

Since Sir Alex revealed he’ll send same youngsters to the clash against Spurs as he did vs. Besiktas, odds have been raising for a home win. 2.15 currently! Bookies forget Tottenham haven’t won at Trafford for 20 years, “Arry” will also give a chance to fringe players and those United’s youngsters are not too bad. However, I’m tempted to try with a gamble on home handicap win. That, or…

Pompey will host Villa in the second game. Good draw sent the hosts in quarter-final. Today will be without few key players and goalie David James. It is ridiculous to say after 1-4 home defeat, but Portsmouth actually didn’t look bad in the first half against United. They always create a lots of chances at home, but don’t score too much (little remind on Ipswich Town). I’m very close to back Portsmouth. But, visitors are the mystery. Martin O’Neill has been saying they’ll try to win competition, strong eleven will play… But, such talks usually means opposite. Tony Pulis, for example, talked about his wish to win the cup, the same day when he sent the reserve squad against Portsmouth (also there) and was easily demolished 0-4. 

Two gambles, same level of risk. Choose which you like. 

Two more games are tomorrow. I have one pick on my mind and maybe another gamble. 
Be aware I’m always informed about English football, if you have any questions or need info use chat-box or email.

Cheers, Dule

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Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to throw Manchester United into turmoil and demand a move out of Old Trafford. The 24-year-old forward is a £50m target for Real Madrid. (The Sun) 
Although Ronaldo will go on holiday before making a decision on his United future. (Daily Telegraph) 
However the prospect of Ronaldo joining Real Madrid may have receded with the Spanish side opting for the £40m signature of Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery. (Independent) 
In fact, Real Madrid will reject Ronaldo this summer as club president elect Florentino Perez has targeted Milan forward Kaka and Ribery instead.(Daily Express) 
Ribery was Chelsea boss-in-waiting Carlo Ancelotti's first-choice summer signing but the Blues have lost out to Real Madrid. Ancelotti may look to CSKA Moscow's Russian left-back Yuri Zhirkov. (The Times) 
Chelsea have been told they will need to put up £20m for AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo. Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen to take the 30-year-old to Stamford Bridge when he is named Chelsea boss next week. (Daily Telegraph) 
If Manchester United do not complete the permanent signing of Argentine striker Carlos Tevez this summer they will turn their attentions to Lyon striker Karim Benzema and Wigan's Antonio Valencia. (Daily Express) 
Manchester City and Liverpool are among five clubs who are willing to meet the £25m price tag for Tevez.(The Times) 
Tevez said a tearful goodbye to his Manchester United team-mates before leaving Rome alone after the Champions League final. (The Sun) 
Paul Scholes must decide if the Champions League final is to be his final game for Manchester United. Stoke want the 34-year-old midfielder as a player-coach. (Daily Mail) 
Sir Alex Ferguson may ditch Nani and Ji-Sung Park as the Manchester United boss reshapes his squad while Polish goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak will also leave this summer. (Daily Mirror)
Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry is holding out for a summer move to Arsenal. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is considering a £12m bid for the 28-year-old. (Daily Star) 
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson will try to bolster his defence by moving for AC Milan defender Digao, the younger brother of Brazilian forward Kaka. The 23-year-old has been on loan at Standard Liege. (Daily Mirror)
Bolton are lining up a £6m bid for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso. (Daily Mail) 
Portsmouth defender Djimi Traore hopes to make his loan move to Birmingham permanent. (Daily Star)
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has lined up a £2m bid for 20-year-old Manchester City striker Ched Evans. (Daily Express) 
Portuguese defender Nuno Valente will leave Everton this summer but the 34-year-old will play on for another year elsewhere.(The Times) 
Greek side Panathinaikos have bid £1.5m for Sunderland keeper Marton Fulop. (Daily Star) 
Birmingham will step up their pursuit of Middelsbrough's David Wheater, 22, after the £6m-rated defender successfully came through a knee operation. (Daily Star)
Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins is being linked with an £8m move to Italian side Fiorentina. (Independent) 
The Magpies have warned the clubs chasing defender Sebastien Bassong that they will not take anything less than £15m for him. (The Sun) 
Sheffield United have rejected a £2m bid from Aston Villa for defender Kyle Naughton. The Blades have put a £6m price tag on the full-back. (Daily Express) 
Leeds have joined West Brom, Celtic and Leicester in the battle for Swindon striker Simon Cox. (Daily Star)

OTHER GOSSIP

Former England and Mexico boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is favourite to become the new Portsmouth manager.(The Times) 
Alan Shearer is expected to discover today if he will become the permanent manager of Newcastle United.(The Times) 
Wigan manager Steve Bruce will be named Sunderland boss in the next 48 hours. (Guardian) 
The Premier League will test out its strengthened fit-and-proper-persons rules on Portsmouth's new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim. (Guardian) 
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic wants to be considered for the vacant managerial post at Sunderland. (Daily Star)

AND FINALLY 

Everton's Marouane Fellaini believes his lucky hairstyle will help the Toffees defeat Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
The 21-year-old, who cost Everton £15m from Standard Liege last summer, has scored nine goals this season and he's hoping that his Afro-style hair will inspire him to add to that tally on Saturday at Wembley. (Daily Mail)
www.bbc.co.uk

Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will increase the acrimony with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson by trying to sign Carlos Tevez, whose loan at Old Trafford ends at the end of the season. (The Times)  
Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho wants to go back to his former club Chelsea in order to sign midfielder Deco. (Daily Mirror) 
Wigan boss Steve Bruce has his sights set on defender Nathaniel Clyne from ex-club Crystal Palace. (Daily Express) 
Birmingham are keen on bringing Manchester City keeper Joe Hart to the club on loan if they are promoted. (Daily Mirror) 
Stoke boss Tony Pulis will join Sunderland and Blackburn in the battle to sign Liverpool centre-back Sami Hyypia. (The Sun) 
West Brom boss Tony Mowbray will increase his efforts to sign Swindon striker Simon Cox, who is also a target for Derby, Leicester and QPR. (The Sun) 
The Baggies also want Plymouth striker Ashley Barnes but face competition from Fulham. (Daily Star) 
Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc could become a £7 million target for German club Bayern Munich. (Daily Record)  

OTHER GOSSIP 

Chelsea have succeeded in their attempts to bring in AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti as their next manager after he agreed to join the Stamford Bridge club. (Daily Star) 
Liverpool boss Benitez says Manchester United boss Ferguson "can see that we are the better side" as he insisted he would continue to stand up to his rival manager. (Various) 
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola and his assistant Steve Clarke will sign new four-year deals with the club. (Daily Telegraph) 
Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has issued a "don't leave us" plea to team-mate Tevez. (The Sun)
Roy Keane has wasted no time courting controversy in his new job as Ipswich boss as he has said former team-mates and now Premier League managers Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes have "potential" but are not "successful managers" yet. (Various) 
Southampton will appeal against the decision to dock them 10 points by the Football League. (Various) 
Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist believes the club's captain Barry Ferguson still has a future at the Ibrox. (Various) 
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson wants at least £1m for midfielder Andy Dorman. (Various) 
Hamilton goalkeeper Tomas Cerny, who is on loan from Sigma Olomouc, has agreed personal terms on a permanent deal with the Scottish Premier League club. (Various) 

AND FINALLY 

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will be at Anfield on Sunday cheering on Oyster Martyrs - a team managed by his Uncle Richie and including his younger brother Graham as well as cousin Tommy - in the FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup final against Scot Grey. (Daily Mirror)
www.bbc.co.uk