Magpies sack manager

(07-12-2010) Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has sacked the club’s ever-popular manager manager Chris Hughton. St James Park legend and reserve-team boss Peter Beardsley has been put in charge of first-team affairs. It is alleged that Ashley thought the Magpies players were too powerful and the manager too soft. The newly promoted club currently lie in 12th place in the Premiership. Alan Pardew andMartin Jol appear to be favourites to succeed Hughton. Alan Curbishley and Martin O'Neill have also been linked with the job.

Defensive blow for Gunners

(07-12-2010) Arsenal were hit by the news that star defender Tomas Vermaelen will be out of action until 2011. The Belgian international has been suffering an Achilles injury. "Vermaelen is in a protective boot," said club boss Arsene Wenger on Monday. "We want him back and I hope he will be back soon, but not before January." The 25-year-old was injured during Belgium's Euro 2012 qualifier against Turkey on 7 September. He was initially expected to be out for one week but has not played since. Vermaelen joined the Gunners from Ajax for £10m in 2009 and has been an instant success at the Emirates. Solid in the tackle, powerful in the air and with a good turn of pace, he also poses a threat as a potent goalscorer, in spite of being a central defender.

Berba’s going nowhere – agent

(07-12-2010) Dimitar Berbatov is determined to see out his playing days as a Manchester United player. The moody Bulgarian’s future at Old Trafford has been the source of much speculation in recent months with many suggesting the club could off-load their record signing in January. "I'm pretty sure Dimitar will end his career at United. Alex Ferguson wants him to stay," Emil Dantchev, the player’s agent said on Monday. Bernatov has scored 12 goals this season, including a hat-trick against Liverpool and five against Blackburn, but has still failed to win over the club’s fans. He joined the club for £30.75m from Tottenham in 2008.

Race on to sign Stoke star and other red-hot gossip

(07-12-2010) The race is heating up for the signature of highly-rated Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross. According to reports on Monday, Italian giants Juventus are prepared to offer a £20m package to beat Manchester United and Liverpool to the signature of the tough-tackling defender. Elsehwere, Manchester United are believed to be interested in Shakhtar Donetsk midfield pair Douglas Costa and Willian; Ajax will move for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner if their Uruguayan goal machine Luis Suarez leaves the club; former Arsenal striker Julio Baptista, now with Italian side Roma, has ruled out a move to Tottenham in January; Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson will swoop on former club Fulham with an attempt to sign attacker Clint Dempsey in January; and Tottenham are also edging closer to concluding a deal for Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, who is out of contract in the summer and seems certain to leave Goodison.

Mancini blasts ‘selfish’ stars

(06-12-2010) Roberto Mancini has laid into Manchester City’s “selfish” stars. Speaking after the club’s narrow 1-0 win over Bolton on Saturday, the Italian expressed annoyance at the number of chances his expensively assembled team left begging. "You can say we had some bad luck but we must improve. Sometimes we are too selfish,” commented Mancini. "We had maybe 15 chances to score. When you have a lot of chances you think the game is easy. You shoot when it is better to pass the ball. We must improve this situation. It means you can draw when you should have won by three or four goals.” He added: "It was the same at Stoke where we deserved to win but we drew. When we have a chance we must score. If I had played today I would have scored two or three goals." City lie fourth on the EPL standings.

Prove 'em wrong - Wenger

(06-12-2010) Arsene Wenger is determined to prove England’s bookmakers wrong and guide his Arsenal charges to the EPL title. Acknowledging that the Gunners are "not favourites" to be crowned champions in May, the Frenchman insists they are definitely good enough to do so. "We were five points behind the leaders and we had to go to Wolves and to Everton," the Gunners boss said. "So, three weeks later, to be top shows we have kept going and given it our best shot. We are not favourites but we are where we are." He then added: "Look at the odds! You should have looked at the odds as well for the World Cup..." Arsenal currently top the EPL standings by a single point from Manchester United but have played a game more than their fierce rivals.

Ancelotti feeling the heat

(06-12-2010) Carlo Ancelotti is starting to feel the strain at Chelsea. The Italian has presided over a spectacular collapse by the Blues in recent weeks. Saturday’s draw with Everton means they have taken just five points from a possible 18. It is the Stamford Bridge club’s worst run in 10 years and has seen them drop to third on the standings. Asked how he felt after Saturday’s stalemate with struggling Everton, he replied: "Not good, not good at this moment. I'm not relaxed, I don't sleep well." He then insisted: "The problem is on the field, not the bench. I maintain confidence in my players. I maintain trust but it's not a good moment - not for them or for myself.” He added: "We still have the time to come back and play our football, to be competitive in the league and in the Champions League."