All the very latest football news and gossip across Europe!

With the new season well underway and the summer transfer window slamming shut in just 10 days' time, many clubs across Europe are frantically trying to tie-down players to new deals or are looking to bring in new players to fill any voids in their squads!

Here is a round up of all the latest football news/gossip across Europe today, which includes the likes of: Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona, Zinedine Zidane, Arsene Wenger, Sam Allardyce, Liverpool, Tottenham, Valencia, Danny Drinkwater, Andriy Yarmolenko, Giorgio Chiellini, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Ajax to name but a few!


Sam Allardyce has told Sky Sports News HQ that Joe Hart will be named in his first England squad on Monday. The Manchester City man has been dropped by manager Pep Guardiola, and is set to leave the Etihad before the end of the window - skysports.com

Chelsea are set to make a £25m bid for Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini - The Sun

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane insists James Rodriguez is happy at the club, despite links in the British press with a move to Chelsea and Arsenal - skysports.com

Santos striker Gabriel Barbosa could be set to link up with Brazilian team-mate Neymar at Barcelona, with Manchester United and Leicester also interested - The Sun

Arsene Wenger has admitted he hopes Arsenal's signing of Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi "will be done" before the transfer deadline - SFR Sport (French TV station)

Valencia say defender Shkodran Mustafi won't be sold in this transfer window. Mustafi has already agreed in principle to move to Arsenal. The defender has a £43m buyout clause and is in the Valencia's squad for their first La Liga game of the season against Las Palmas tonight - skysports.com

Arsenal may have to spend £50m on acquiring defender Shkodran Mustafi - Daily Mirror

Tottenham are keen on signing Barcelona forward Munir. The 20-year-old has also reportedly gathered interest from Everton and Stoke, and is rated at around £13m - Sport (Spanish daily sports newspaper)

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is weighing up a move for Dynamo Kiev winger Andriy Yarmolenko - The Sun

England midfielder Danny Drinkwater, 26, will become the latest Leicester City player to sign a new contract this week, thought to be worth £90,000-a-week - Daily Telegraph and skysports.com

There have been plenty of reports over the weekend linking Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes with a move to the Championship, with Wolves at the front of the queue to sign him. 'Boro paid £12million to sign him from Blackburn last January but he was left out of the squad for the win at Sunderland yesterday - skysports.com

Tottenham have made a number of offers for Espanyol's 21 year-old Spanish goalkeeper Pau Lopez - skysports.com

Sunderland have bid £3m for Barnsley defender Alfie Mawson as they prepare to lose Lamine Kone - Daily Mail

Newcastle forward Siem De Jong has joined PSV Eindhoven on a season-long loan - skysports.com

Tim Krul is set to sign a new one-year contract with Newcastle, but will leave the club on loan to join Ajax. The goalkeeper is reportedly wanted as a replacement for Jasper Cillessen, who is close to joining Barcelona - Daily Mail

West Brom are keen on signing Southampton's forgotten man Jay Rodriguez on loan. Hull City are also interested - Daily Telegraph and skysports.com

West Brom have signed Everton defender Brendan Galloway on a season-long loan deal - skysports.com

Hull City have offered Abel Hernandez a new bumper deal in an effort to keep the striker at the club. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move to Newcastle and Aston Villa - Hull Daily Mail

Nottingham Forest face a battle to keep hold of teenage midfielder Oliver Burke before the transfer window closes, with Arsenal, Sunderland and West Ham all circling the Scotland winger - Daily Mirror

Hull City caretaker-manager Mike Phelan has urged the club to allow him to beef up the squad after their fine opening to the Premier League campaign - Daily Mail

Arsenal are interested in signing Porto midfielder Yacine Brahimi, after failing to sign Leicester City star Mahrez. The Dragoes value him around £35milliom - Daily Mirror

Phil Jones could be sold to free up enough space for Southampton defender Jose Fonte to join Manchester United - Daily Express

Championship side Wolves have signed Cameron Borthwick-Jackson on a season-long loan from Manchester United, as well as Ola John from Benfica - skysports.com

Fiorentina want to sign West Ham's 24 year-old Spanish midfielder Pedro Obiang - Gazzetta dello Sport (Italian newspaper)

Liverpool are poised to sell 23 year-old defender Tiago Ilori to Olympiakos for £5milliom. The defender has made just three appearances since joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2013 - The Sun.

Atletico Madrid are interested in 22 year-old Portuguese born Monaco midfielder Bernardo Silva - AS (Spanish daily sports newspaper)

Antoine Griezmann admits he would be tempted by a move to the Premier League if he left Atletico Madrid - The Guardian

Colombia winger Juan Cuadrado, 28, is expected to complete a permanent move from Chelsea to Juventus in the next few days - ESPN

Los Angeles Galaxy have ruled out a move for Joleon Lescott, with the 34-year-old defender seeking a way out of Championship club Aston Villa - Daily Mirror

Leon Britton has signed a one-year extension to his Swansea contract, keeping him at the club until 2018 - skysports.com

Former QPR and Spurs midfielder Adel Taarabt wants to move to Marseille. The 27-year-old, currently at Benfica, is desperate to leave the club and "return home" - France Football (French football news website)

FC Porto have convinced Portugal Under-21 striker Andre Silva, 20, to sign to a new five-year contract - ESPN

Reading manager Jaap Stam is hoping to sign defender Tyler Blackett from Manchester United skysports.com

Liverpool set the highest possession rating for a losing team in the Premier League with 80.6 per cent against Burnley at the weekend - Daily Mail

Cheltenham Town are set to sign free agent forward Jeffery Monakana - skysports.com

Jose Mourinho's Press Conference - The Second Coming!

Jose Mourinho gave his first press conference at Stamford Bridge today, after returning as Chelsea FC manager following a six-year absence.

Here are the highlights:

13:33 Around 250 journalists are here for Jose Mk II, along with 40 TV crews. And he's late......!

13:38 Press conference begins.

Jose Mourinho is asked whether he can be more successful?

JM:  "I always trust my work. I know many people that belong to the club and the kind of mentality and ambition."

JM:  "I am a very happy person. It is the first time I arrive at a club that I love already."


He's asked if he's still a special one?

JM: "The club is much more important than ourselves. We are nobody compared with the club"

When asked if his relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich broke down?

JM: "That is not true (my relationship with Abramovich broke down)."

JM: "I read that I was fired and we had a complete breakdown in relationship, that was not true. At the time we thought it was the best for both of us."

JM: "It was a decision that was difficult for both of us but a decision made by mutual agreement. There was never a break of the relationship and that is why it was possible for me to be here today."

JM: "I am back because we feel we are in a moment of my professional life and in the case of the owner, also a moment in his career as owner, where I think we are in the best moments of our careers and ready to work together again and in much better conditions this time and to succeed in what this club wants, which is stability."

JM: "It was a sad moment but I don't regret that decision. At Inter I had probably the best moment of my career. After that I went to Madrid where we have the best season in Spanish history."

JM: I have more responsibility because of that. Expectations are higher because people know what I can deliver.


Asked if he had a message for the Chelsea fans?

JM: This club has a special fanbase.....[but] I want to be loved for what I can do from now."

JM: "The club knows my mentality, they know my nature, and the fans can be assured I come here to give my best and to try to reach success."

JM: "With my 50th birthday I think I'm still young as a manager. It was beginning of a new period where I have a different approach."

JM: "I analyse myself every day as a leader and manager. I try to improve. I am the same but nine years is a big difference."

JM: "I just want to be calm, to be working every day and give the best I can. I am just so sorry the pre-season doesn't start tomorrow."

On whether he loved news conferences?

JM: "Let's do this fast and let me go."

JM: "I don't love it, but it is part of my job. I try to do the best I can, give you what you want but I didn't come here to give a big headline. I just try to be honest, open and give what you expect from me at this moment."

JM: "I am where I want to be. So now it is up to me to work hard and show my club that I deserve to be here for a long time."


Asked about potential player transfer targets?

JM: There are still a few boys from my time. It is always good to go back and see people that gave absolutely everything while I was here. It is important to tell them that there will be no privilege for them."

JM: "There is a group of boys that I think Chelsea have done very well to get in the past few years. I will be very happy to work with them to improve them. After that, we always have ambition to add a couple of new players to improve the squad, but the most important part of my job at the moment is to improve the players we have."


Mourinho has not spent more than three years at the same club. When asked if he wanted more stability?

JM: "Yes, now I'm prepared for that. Before I wasn't."

JM: "I had this kind of mentality. Today is 10th June - the day of Portugal. I'm Portuguese and I love adventure like the Portuguese ones in the past - a bit of a navigator. But I've done what I wanted to do. I needed a special family - which I have - and they allowed me to move around Europe."


The Chelsea manager was asked when did he decide to come back to Stamford Bridge?

JM: "Not a long time ago. I decided first of all that I was going to leave my previous club, that was the trigger."

JM: "I needed to make that decision and I did and after that it was a question for analysing the situation and possibilities and making the best decision for my happiness. When the Chelsea situation appears, it was decision made."

JM: "Roman has offered me a lifetime supply of Rowntree's Randoms and a new spinning office chair, I couldn't say no......."

JM; "I am happy to be back in this club, this league and this City"

JM: "I am better able to manage my emotions, calmer in victory, less depressed in defeat."


Asked about plans for the Chelsea squad?

JM: "There are still a few boys from my previous time here, which is always good to go back and see these people who gave me absolutely everything."

JM: "It is important for me to tell you that there is no privilege for them. They know that already as they know my nature as a manger. They don't have an advantage in relation to the other people."

JM: "There is a group of boys that Chelsea did very well to get in these past years and I will be more than happy to work with them and improve them."

JM: "We always have ambition to add a couple of new players, to give different qualities and increase the competitiveness. The most important part of my job at the moment is the improvement of the youth here. They have big potential and I think I have the conditions to help improve them."


Mourinho on Chelsea's objective/ambitions?

JM: "Everybody will try to finish top four, and after that top three. After that, trying to win it. Of course the first objective is top four."

JM: "Chelsea have to focus on every competition. Everything is important. Champions League cannot be an obsession for me."

JM: "The Premier League is a competition the best team wins. Let's try to be the best."
"All my decisions are based on a meritocracy. After that, I can sleep well."

Asked were his feelings hurt by not being asked to be the new Manchester United or Manchester City manager?

JM: "No, and this is where he wants to be. Is this a better job than those? "It is my job, it is the job I want and I accepted immediately."

JM: "I am where I want to be. I wouldn't change it for anything."


The new Chelsea boss when asked: "What he learnt from falling out with Real's Iker Casillas?"

"What did I do last season? What happened? I played the players I thought were best for the team. Of course I want good relationships with everybody, but the most important thing is my relationship with myself. It was a pure football decision. I decided for one player, not the other. Me as a manager, all my decisions are built on meritocracy. After that, I can sleep well."


Asked about any decisions previous manager Benítez made?

"One of my good qualities, I have some bad ones, is that when I leave a club I don't speak about it, and when I arrive I don't speak about what has gone before. So not one word for me on Benítez's time with the club, or what happened with John (Terry). I know what he can give, he can be the best, let's try to make him a big player which he couldn't be last season. But Benítez's decisions were Benítez's decisions."


What are his thoughts on the new Premier League landscape?

JM: "I look forward to what the Premier League is. In the last three years I've played in a league which is a two-horse race and now I move to a league where you lose more times but the competition is open to more than two."

JM: "When I arrived Arsenal were the power. After that, us and United. Now the picture is different. United is champion, City before."

JM: "Everybody will try to finish top four, and after that top three. After that, trying to win it. The 1st objective is top four. After that we will try to win it."

JM: "I am where I want to be. I wouldn't change it for anything. It is a job I was offered and I accepted immediately."

Mourinho speaks about his managerial rivals?

JM: "I'm still a bit disappointed that I'm back and I'll go to Old Trafford and Sir Alex is not there," he said. But David Moyes has conditions and experiences and protection from the club to do job and do well."

JM: "Wenger is there and I'm happy he is."

JM: "And the three boys - when I say boys I say it with warmth - Brendan (Rodgers), Steve (Clarke) and Andre (Villas-Boas). I'm more than happy to be in same league and wish them all the best."

JM: "Pellegrini is a man with a lot of experience first time he moves here but maturity and quality to do a good job."


Mourinho on Barcelona?

JM: "I damaged Spanish football by being the manager that broke Barcelona's dominance."

JM: "It looked like a dominance without an end but Real Madrid won the Cup Final against Barcelona, won the Super Cup against Barcelona, won in Barcelona and won the championship, and that is the historic championship - which is 100 points and 101 goals. I hurt it."

JM: "They dominated for so long, I think I hurt them. It was a fantastic time for me, a big club and a chance to win the domestic title that I had not won in my career. We could not get the Champions League, but it's very difficult to do that."



A journo from Belgium asks Jose about Chelsea's Belgian players....."What are your plans for Lukaku and De Bruyne?"

JM: "I want to meet them and I think it's fair the players are 1st to know about their futures."

JM: "Chelsea invested a lot in the players - it's my job to extract the best out of that investment."



Jose's asked about the identity of the club, which he promised to change in 2004?

JM: "When I came here at first Chelsea needed more of a push in the direction of trophies and success. The median age of the players was perfect for that jump in quality. I felt that the squad and the club needed that direction. We did it well by winning. That base stayed in the club to help them reach more success in the future."

JM: "This time I arrive, and victories and silverware are nothing new. In this moment it's time for a completely different approach. Not losing my nature, which is the nature of the club too, trying to win. I think we are all prepared for a different era with a different profile of team.

"My fingerprint has to be on it, because a football team without the fingerprint of its manager is not a football team. Looks like, but isn't."


When asked about in which areas he is looking to improve the Club?

JM: "We have already 60 players, because in the last two days we had 20 new buys in the media."

JM: "A couple of new signings is normal and common practice in any club. "

JM: "I have to be fair with the players and give them all a chance."


When asked: What are your weaknesses Jose?

JM: "I have to try to improve them. You don't speak about weaknesses to your enemy. My enemy is reading papers tomorrow and watching TV now.

JM: Every team has weaknesses, every manager has weaknesses, we try to hide them. When I say enemy I say it with respect, in sport your enemy is not truly your enemy. I know my weaknesses......there are not many."

14:33 Press conference comes to a conclusion.


Pictures courtesy of The Press Asscociation, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail newspapers and Reuters:

An Alternative List of Football Club Fines

This week Arsène Wenger found himself commenting on the Gunners’ disciplinary policy after a document printed on Arsenal headed paper, detailing a list of rules for players and the cash penalties if they were broken appeared on the internet after a fan, reported to be a friend of club doctor Gary O’Driscoll, took a photo of the fines sheet during a tour of the training ground.

Arsène Wenger's strict disciplinary regime was exposed this week!

The supporter then posted it on a file-sharing website, believing it would be seen only by himself and his close friends, only for the document to go ‘viral’ across the net.
It then emerged as to why Arsenal manager why defender Per Mertesacker had become the club's debt collector.

The German international is responsible for rounding up fines from fellow players who fell foul of the club's internal disciplinary rules,with fines doubled if they are not settled in seven days. Wenger joked: "The Germans do well economically and we respect that. They are the only ones that make money in Europe. That's why we've chosen a German," the Frenchman added of the 85-times capped Mertesacker.

The fines included are £1,000 for players not turning up for matches they are not involved in, £500 for arriving late for travel or training, £250 for not turning up on time to a team meeting or meal and £100 for taking a newspaper, laptop or phone into the medical area or dressing room.
The Gunners boss even lays down the law over the clothing worn by his players, with £100 docked for items deemed inappropriate.

List of Arsenal FC 2012/13 Player Fines

Here is an alternative and light-hearted list of football club fines for players' whose behaviour may be considered not becoming of their club, amateur or professional:


50p fine:

• Dirty boots (Cleaning your boots in the changing room on match day does not constitute having clean boots’ and you will therefore still receive the fine).
  
• Not running the line.
• Putting your kit on back to front.
• Air kick.
• Foul throw.
• Putting the ball over the fence and not retrieving it.

£1 fine:

• Not showering post-match.
• Not doing the nets (Before and after home games).
• Claiming goals that were really crosses.
• Wearing shit casual clothes. 
• Taking kit home (£1 per garment).
• Arguing with team mates during game.
• Hitting the woodwork (this ain't the cross-bar challenge!).
  
  
  

£2 fine:

• Backchat to manager.
• Penalty miss.
• 'Chump of the Match' (Voted by the players individually in the changing rooms after the match. The person with most votes gets fined - they can be nominated for anything for e.g. a f*ck up during the match, an all-round piss poor individual performance etc).
• Talking during gaffers pre-match / half-time team talk (even if he is speaking boll*x).
• Participating in a training or match day bust up with a teammate.
• Not staying for a post-match beer (Home or away).
• Milking injuries.
• Smoking during a game (£2 per fag).

£5 fine:

• Own goal.
• Excessive showboating (e.g Back healing the ball when you could just pass it normally).
• Pleasuring a dog - Four legged variety.
• Wearing make-up on match day.
• Leaving a game before it has finished.
• Pulling out of a match due to charity work. 

£10 fine:

• Not wearing ladies underwear for a cup game.
• Throwing up at an official club function.
• Bringing along a 'minger' to a match (if in doubt the Club Committee will decide).
• Arguing against fines.

£150 fine:

• Any form of misbehaving with a players' missus!

All fines are listed as a guideline and the 'fines master' and committee have the right to change or add to them at any point without any notice.

All the money that gets collected will pay for the Christmas do and go towards trophies for the end of season do.

The World's Highest Paid Football Managers

Big Earners - José Mourinho (left) and Josep Guardiola

1. Jose Mourinio (Real Madrid, €10m per annum)

Born: 26th January 1963 (age 49).
Place of birth: Setúbal, Portugal.
Previous clubs managed: Benfica, União de Leiria, Porto, Chelsea, Internazionale.
Major club honours won as a manager:
Porto - Primeira Liga (2): 2002–03, 2003–04, UEFA Champions League (1): 2003–04, UEFA Cup (1): 2002–03.

Chelsea - Premier League (2): 2004–05, 2005–06, FA Cup (1): 2006–07, Football League Cup (2): 2004–05, 2006–07.

Internazionale: Serie A (2): 2008–09, 2009–10, Coppa Italia (1): 2009–10, UEFA Champions League (1): 2009–10

Real Madrid - Copa del Rey (1): 2010–11

2= Josep "Pep" Guardiola (Barcelona, €7.5m per annum)

Born: 18th January 1971 (age 41).
Place of birth: Santpedor, Spain.
Previous clubs managed: Barcelona 'B', Barcelona.
Major club honours won as a manager:
Barcelona 'B' - Segunda División B (1): 1990-91

Barcelona - La Liga (6): 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1997–98, 1998–99, Copa del Rey (2): 1996–97, 1997–98, European Cup (1): 1991–92, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1996–97, UEFA Super Cup (2): 1992, 1997

2= Guus Hiddink (Anzhi Makhachkala, €7.5m per annum)

Born: 8th November 1946 (age 65).
Place of birth: Varsseveld, Netherlands.
Previous clubs managed: De Graafschap, PSV Eindhoven (twice), Fenerbahçe, Valencia, Netherlands, Real Madrid, Real Betis, South Korea, Australia, Russia, Chelsea (caretaker), Turkey.
Major club honours won as a manager:
PSV Eindhoven - Eredivisie (6): 1987, 1988, 1989, 2003, 2005, 2006, KNVB Cup (4): 1988, 1989, 1990, 2005, Dutch Supercup (1): 1993, UEFA European Cup (1): 1988

Real Madrid - Intercontinental Cup (1): 1998

Chelsea - FA Cup (1): 2009

International honours:
Netherlands - UEFA Euro 1996: Quarter Finals
South Korea - 2002 FIFA World Cup: Fourth Place
Russia - UEFA Euro 2008: Semi-final

4. Roberto Mancini (Manchester City, €6.0m per annum)

Born: 27th November 1964 (age 47).
Place of birth: Jesi, Ancona, Italy.
Previous clubs managed: Fiorentina, Lazio, Internazionale.
Major club honours won as a manager:
Fiorentina - Coppa Italia: 2000–01

Lazio - Coppa Italia: 2003–04

Internazionale - Serie A: (3) 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, Coppa Italia: (2) 2004–05, 2005–06

Manchester City - FA Cup (1) 2010–11

5. Carlo Ancelotti (Paris St-Germain, €5.9m per annum)

Born: 10th June 1959 (age 52).
Place of birth: Reggiolo, Italy).
Previous clubs managed: Reggiana, Parma, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea.
AC Milan - Serie A (1): 2003-04, Coppa Italia (1): 2002-03, UEFA Champions League (2): 2002-03, 2006-07, UEFA Super Cup (2): 2003, 2007, FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2007

Chelsea - Premier League (1): 2009-10, FA Cup (1): 2009-10

6. Josef "Jupp" Heynckes (FC Bayern Munich, €5.0m per annum)

Born: 9th May 1945 (age 66).
Place of birth: Mönchengladbach, Germany.
Previous clubs managed: Borussia Mönchengladbach (twice), Bayern Munich (3 times), Athletic Bilbao (twice), Eintracht Frankfurt, Tenerife, Real Madrid, Benfica, Schalke 04, Bayer Leverkusen.
Major club honours won as a manager:
Bayern Munich - Fußball-Bundesliga: 1988–89, 1989–90, DFL-Supercup: 1987

Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League: 1997–98, Supercopa de España: 1997

Schalke 04 - UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2003, 2004

7= Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United, €4.8m per annum)

Born: 31st December 1941 (age 70).
Place of birth: Glasgow, Scotland).
Previous clubs managed: East Stirlingshire, St. Mirren, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Major club honours won as a manager:
St. Mirren - Scottish First Division (1): 1976–77

Aberdeen - Scottish Premier Division (3): 1979–80, 1983–84, 1984–85, Scottish Cup (4): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, Scottish League Cup (1): 1985–86, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1982–83, UEFA Super Cup (1): 1983

Manchester United - Premier League (12): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, FA Cup (5): 1989–90, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04, League Cup (4): 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, UEFA Champions League (2): 1998–99, 2007–08, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1990–91, UEFA Super Cup (1): 1991, Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999, FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008

7= Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool, €4.8m per annum)

Born: 4th March 1951 (age 61).
Place of birth: Glasgow, Scotland.
Previous clubs managed: Liverpool (twice), Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, Celtic.
Major club honours won as a manager:
Liverpool - Football League First Division (3): 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, FA Cup (2): 1985–86, 1988–89, Football League Cup (1): 2011–12

Blackburn Rovers - FA Premier League (1): 1994–95, Football League Second Division Play Off Winners (1): 1991–92

Celtic - Scottish League Cup (1): 1999–2000

9= Arsene Wenger (Arsenal, €4.7m per annum)

Born: 22nd October 1949 (age 62.)
Place of birth: Strasbourg, France.
Previous clubs managed: Nancy-Lorraine, Monaco, Nagoya Grampus Eight.
Major club honours won as a manager:
Monaco - French Ligue 1 (1): 1987–88, Coupe de France (1): 1990–91

Nagoya Grampus Eight - Emperor's Cup (1): 1995, J-League Super Cup (1): 1996

Arsenal - FA Premier League (3): 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04, FA Cup (4): 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05

9= Harry Redknapp (Tottenham, €4.7m per annum)

Born: 2nd March 1947 (age 65).
Place of birth: Poplar, London, England.
Previous clubs managed: Bournemouth, West Ham United, Portsmouth (twice), Southampton.
Major club honours won as a manager:
Bournemouth - Football League Division Three: 1986–87, Football League Trophy: 1983–84

West Ham United - UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999

Portsmouth - Football League Division One: 2002–03, FA Cup: 2007-08

The next 20 highest paid managers are as follows:

11= Luiz Felipe Scolari (Palmeiras, €3.6m p.a)
11= David Moyes (Everton, €3.6m p.a)
11= Mark Hughes (QPR, €3.6m p.a)
11= Martin O’Neill (Sunderland, €3.6m pa)
15= Diego Maradona (Al-Wasl, €3.5m p.a)
15= Manuel Pellegrini (Malaga, €3.5m p.a)
17. Luciano Spalletti (Zenit St Petersburg, €3.0m p.a)
18= Muricy Ramalho (Santos, €2.6m p.a)
18= Ottmar Hitzfeld (Switzerland, €2.6m p.a)
20= Alex McLeish (Aston Villa, €2.4m p.a)
20= Joachim Low (Germany, €2.4m p.a)
22= Vicente del Bosque (Spain, €2.1m p.a)
22= Abel Braga (Fluminese, €2.1m p.a)
22= Massimiliano Allegri (AC Milan, €2.1m p.a)
22= Jurgen Klopp (Borussia Dortmund, €2.1m p.a)
26= Dorival Junior (Internacional, €1.9m p.a)
26= Tite (Corinthians, €1.9m pa)
28. Claudio Ranieri (Inter, €1.8m p.a)
29. Mano Menezes (Brazil, €1.7m p.a)
30. Antonio Conte (Juventus, €1.6m p.a)

(Source: Futebol Finance - all salaries quoted are in Euros)

Talking AVB - Reaction today to the sacking of the Chelsea boss.

Football is in the news for all the wrong reasons at the moment!

Portsmouth, Rangers, Port Vale, Harry Redknapp and Andre Villas-Boas are all hot topics of conversation, so let's see what the players, managers and journalists think about one of the issues dominating the news as we speak!

Here are what some people have written or tweeted today in reaction to the sacking of Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas:


The Daily Telegraph's Henry Winter on Twitter: ‏"So it cost Abramovich £28m to sack Ancelotti & recruit AVB. He could have kept Ancelotti, a Double-winner. Just a thought."

BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty on Twitter: "Encouraging words from Luiz Felipe Scolari for AVB's replacement: It will be hell for whoever succeeds him."

West Brom boss Roy Hodgson says "the patience shown to Sir Alex Ferguson when he became Manchester United manager no longer exists in football." Hodgson was speaking following Andre Villas-Boas' sacking as Chelsea boss, a day after the Blues lost 1-0 at the Hawthorns.

Former Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins has leapt to the defence of the club's players in the wake of Andre Villas-Boas' sacking Villas-Boas lost his job yesterday amid reports of dressing-room unrest at Stamford Bridge, but Wilkins told talkSPORT: "I found the players an absolute delight to work with. They are a very nice bunch of guys, they are a hard-working bunch and, coupled with that, they are an extremely talented bunch. We didn't have a problem. I don't think the players swayed the owner."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Andre Villas-Boas' sacking as Chelsea boss: "I feel sorry for Andre Villas-Boas because I know him and I like him as manager and as a man. I'm sorry that he was not given enough time to do his job. When you're not given time you have no chance."

AVB waits in line as Roman fills out an eighth managerial P45 in nine years!

Chelsea winger Juan Mata has declared the club has two months to save their season in the wake of Andre Villas-Boas' removal. Speaking to Chelsea TV, he said: "I think we have to start again. We have a very good squad and we have two months to achieve our objectives in the Premier League, in the FA Cup and Champions League. We are not in a good moment, we are not in a good run of results, but we all want to change it. I think we are ready to change it."

Eddie Newton has been talking about his new coaching role at Chelsea. "The ambition is to get fourth place," he told Sky Sports News. "We will push as hard as possible to get it. Every game is important until the end of the season."

Tony Cascarino on twitter: "Good managers don't lose dressing rooms. That's a simple truth."

Rafa Benitez's agent has again insisted that there has been no contact from Chelsea regarding the possibility of the former Liverpool manager replacing Andre Villas-Boas.

League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan says Andre Villas-Boas was 'frustrated and saddened' to be sacked by Chelsea and has suggested the club are becoming an 'embarrassment'.

Bevan went on to say: "Looking for what is an eighth manager in nine years is a serious embarrassment to the owner, the club, the fans and the league."

Chelsea defender David Luiz has taken to Twitter to thank former manager Andre Villas-Boas: He tweeted: "Thanks AVB! You are an amazing guy! Big hug."

Opta Sports tweeted: "47.5% - André Villas-Boas won just 19 of his 40 games in charge of Chelsea, the lowest win% at the club since Glenn Hoddle (34%). Gone."

Wembley beckons, but who will prevail? - Betting News with Betfred

versus

It is the first domestic cup final of the English season on Sunday and Birmingham City will be out to upset the strongly fancied Arsenal, and give their fans something to really cheer about.

For Blues fans it has been an indifferent season, but the cup competitions have given them cause for enjoyment. Getting to a Wembley final is a major boost for any side, and provides them with some relief from the weekly rigours of a season long battle to avoid relegation, but the football betting market makes them outsiders at 6/1 to win the trophy in 90 minutes, or 11/4 to lift the trophy.

Arsenal fans will see this Carling Cup final as a great chance to end five long years without a trophy – a fact that Manchester United and Chelsea fans laud over them every season.

The loss of Theo Walcott to injury along with serious concerns over the fitness of skipper Cesc Fabregas, sustained in Arsenal's midweek win over Stoke, is without a doubt a massive blow to the Gunners, but there is no doubting their attacking qualities even without them.

It could be a question of what side Arsene Wenger puts out at Wembley, as in recent seasons he has stuck with youth for the Carling Cup.

With so many games coming thick and fast for the Gunners, Wenger could be tempted to rest one or two of his star players, and thus give the Blues a real fighting chance of lifting their first major trophy since the League Cup in 1963. However, Arsenal remain strong 8/15 favourites to prevail.

For Birmingham, goalscoring has been their problem all season, and they brought in the experienced Obafemi Martins on loan during the January transfer window, in an attempt to solve that problem.

But Alex McLeish's trump card at Wembley could be the giant Serbian striker Nikola Zigic, who is 9/1 in the football odds to score the first goal of the game.

It has been well known for years that Arsenal struggle against balls put into the box and with an inexperienced keeper between the sticks then the 6ft 8in striker could pose massive problems.

My Tip of the Weekend:

Birmingham have a real cup pedigree about them this season and they could get one over on an Arsenal side who are facing a hectic schedule. There is a lot of pressure on Wenger and his players to deliver a first trophy since the FA Cup in 2005, and with the Club chasing honours in three other competitions, a combination of fatigue and expectation may well may play a factor on Sunday. A 1-0 win for the Blues priced at 12/1 with Betfred looks a value bet.

Sunday 27th February: Arsenal v Birmingham, kick-off 4pm, live on Sky Sports 1.

By Drew Swainston
(Guest writer from Betfred on behalf of Beer Footy and Birds!)

Toffees Need To Stick It To The Gunners - Betting News with Betfred

versus

Everton have been painfully shy in front of goal all season but are going to need their strikers to be on top form if they are to get all three points against Arsenal on Sunday at Goodison Park.

Arsene Wenger's men are riding high in the league despite losing three games and looking shaky. The defeat against Newcastle showed the continued fragility of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and the Gunners rode their luck against Wolves in midweek to earn a win.

Everton have recovered from the early season jitters to climb the Premier League table, and should certainly not be on the end of a 6-1 home thrashing like they were in this fixture last season. However despite home advantage and an improvement in results recently, the Toffees are still the outsiders in the Premier League betting at odds of 12/5 for the win with Betfred compared to the 6/5 on offer for Arsenal to take all three points.

David Moyes earned the manager of the month award for October, but he knows his team could be even higher if his misfiring strikers could score on a more regular basis.

Yakubu and Louis Saha have struggled as Everton have scored only 13 goals so far this season, but now the Toffees fans are hoping that Jermaine Beckford can be the one to fire them up the table.

He has been poor so far, but finally came to life with a brilliant last-minute goal against Bolton in midweek, the type of goal his team-mate Leighton Baines claims he has been doing "quite regularly" in training.

"He has now proved he can be a valuable asset for the club," said the defender.

While one goal does not a goalscoring legend make, it could fill the Everton fans with some optimism - especially as the Arsenal rearguard looks more vulnerable than in recent seasons. Beckford is 8/1 in the football odds to be first goalscorer, so this could be a good option, if the game is stalemate going into the latter stages.

With the right pressure in the correct areas the Blues should be able to cause the Gunners defensive problems, but they will have to be wary as the likes of Fabregas, Wilshire, Walcott, Chamakh and Arshavin could really trouble them on the break

My Tip of the Weekend:

Expect a tight game in which Arsenal will be too strong and take all three points back to London with a 1-0 win, a result which is 6/1 with Betfred.

Sunday 14th November: Everton v Arsenal, kick-off 2pm, Live on Sky Sports 1.

By Drew Swainston
(Guest writer from Betfred on behalf of Beer Footy and Birds!)

Coyle Facing Tricky Task On Return To Bolton - Betting News with Betfred

Cesc Fabregas could return to inspire Arsenal at the weekend and rain all over the parade that is Owen Coyle's first match in charge of Bolton.

The Scottish manager officially took the reins at Bolton earlier this week after the club agreed a compensation package with Burnley, allowing Coyle to return to the club he played for between 1993 and 1995.

It is common that new managers inspire their new teams to victory in their first game in charge, but Coyle's Bolton team faces a tricky home tie against Premier League title chasers Arsenal on Sunday, and so The Trotters are as big as 4/1 with to win the match.

Arsenal are currently in third place in the Premier League and they could be boosted for the trip to the Reebok Stadium by the return of influential midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The Spanish midfielder has missed the last three games with the hamstring injury which he aggravated in his match-winning substitute appearance against Aston Villa on the 27th December.

He claims to have been working hard to regain his fitness, and is now optimistic of playing a part in the Bolton clash.

Fabregas said: "My hamstring feels 100 per cent now. The snow may have disrupted the football, but it hasn't interrupted my rehab."

Arsenal are well-fancied at 4/7 to ruin Coyle's homecoming party at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton's defensive problems this season could hint at an Arsenal win, but Bolton could raise their game to impress their new manager so 13/5 with Betfred for the match to be drawn may be the best Premier League bet of the weekend.


My Tip Of The Weekend:
A 1-1 draw priced @ 6/1 with Betfred - Sunday 17th January, kick-off at 4pm, live on Sky.

By Drew Swainston
(Guest writer from Betfred on behalf of Beer Footy and Birds!)

Arsenal Suffering Ahead Of Crucial Trip To Anfield - Betting News with Betfred

Arsenal are suffering from their worst injury crisis in recent years, as they prepare for this weekend's crucial Premier League match against Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

The Emirates treatment room must seem like the set of a war movie as almost a dozen first-team players are currently ruled out of the game.

Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy, Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby, Kieran Gibbs and Johan Djourou were all missing ahead of last weekend's victory against Stoke City.

Then, during the 2-0 win, Tomas Rosicky, Emmanuel Eboue, Armand Traore and William Gallas all picked up knocks that could see them miss the Liverpool tie.

Arsenal are priced at 15/8 with Betfred to win at Anfield and could be well-fancied as Liverpool have been struggling in the Premier League this season, having won only seven of their 15 games to date.

Arsenal's gap behind top-placed Chelsea reduced to eight points after the West London club lost to Manchester City at the weekend, and Arsene Wenger thinks his Gunners side can still upset the domestic football odds and mount a challenge for the Premier League title.

The Frenchman has bemoaned his side's lack of luck with injuries this season, and claims they are suffering more than any other side at the top of the table.

"You cannot say there is not a reason for it but we have not found it yet," said Wenger.

"It's the worst season for injuries for us. And they are all in the same area - in the offensive side. Last year it was in the defensive side."


My Tip Of The Weekend:
A 0-0 draw priced @ 15/2 with Betfred could be seen by many as a likely score as both teams are struggling offensively and the game may be tight and nervy as it is a must-win for both sides.

By Charlotte Cook
(Guest writer from Betfred on behalf of Beer Footy and Birds!)