SA Airlines Try To Fix Prices For World Cup

Because of the sheer size of South Africa as a country, internal flights are going to be critical for fans attending the 2010 World Cup Finals.To give a simple example : Cape Town to Johannesburg is a 17 hour drive and let's face it, no one wants to drive for 17 hours when there's football to be watched and drinking to be done.While it's only to be expected that hotels and other businesses will http://bit.ly/bKBVRr

Burnley vs Chelsea Match Preview

Chelsea will be missing Ivorian duo Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou for their visit to Brian Laws’ Burnley.
Both Drogba and Kalou have recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations but Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti won’t consider the pair until the midweek match against Hull City.
As a result, Daniel Sturridge will partner Nicolas Anelka in [...] http://bit.ly/cckMqU

African Cup of Nations : What The Hell Is Going On?

I took time out from my busy schedule of pretending to work on my websites to watch Egypt demolish Algeria in, typically, controversial fashion last night.I also caught the highlight (there was only one) of Ghana's victory over Nigeria.And the conclusion I came to? The only consistent team in the whole competition (Egypt) aren't even going to be at the 2010 World Cup and the others are, well, http://bit.ly/dAvARL

Wigan Athletic v Everton Preview

Vladimir Stojkovic continues in goal for Roberto Martinez’ Wigan Athletic against an Everton side likely to remain unchanged from the one that beat Sunderland 2-0 last time out.
While playmaker Mikel Arteta and striker VIctor Anichebe have both returned from long enforced absences, Everton boss David Moyes will not risk starting either player until they are [...] http://bit.ly/ajefwp

West Ham vs Blackburn Preview

Carlton Cole could make his first start in over two months for West Ham United, while Christopher Samba returns for Sam Allardyce’s Blackburn Rovers.
Samba was missing in midweek through suspension but is set to return to a starting place in the Rovers defence in place of Gael Givet.
Out, however, is fellow defender Lars Jacobsen, who [...] http://bit.ly/cbH4We

Liverpool vs Bolton Wanderers Preview

Bolton will include new loan signing Vladimir Weiss in their squad, while Liverpool welcome club captain Steven Gerrard back from injury.
Gerrard did play against Wolves in midweek and has suffered no ill-effects so will start for Liverpool against Owen Coyle’s Bolton side.
Out, however, for Rafa Benitez is top scorer Fernando Torres and midfielder Yossi Benayoun, [...] http://bit.ly/dnt1Eg

Hull vs Wolves Team Preview

On loan Egypt international Amr Zaki could start for Hull City against a Wolverhampton Wanderers side who welcome new signing Geoffrey Mujangi Bia back from injury.
Mujangi Bia has been unable to train due to a hamstring strain, but Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is confident he will be able to start in midfield.
Back in contention for [...] http://bit.ly/bEdMF7

Fulham vs Aston Villa Match Preview

Aston Villa will once again be without left back Stephen Warnock as they travel to Craven Cottage to play Fulham this weekend.
Warnock has an ankle injury and missed the midweek draw with Arsenal. His place will be taken by Luke Young, with Nicky Shorey - recently recalled from a spell on loan - on the [...] http://bit.ly/doL67t

Birmingham City vs Tottenham Preview

New Birmingham City signing Craig Gardner is in contention to start for Alex McLeish’s side, while Tottenham defender Ledley King misses out.
King will be replaced at centre half by Sebastien Bassong, who will partner Michael Dawson in defence.
Still out for Harry Redknapp’s side is winger Aaron Lennon, but Niko Kranjcar is back in contention after [...] http://bit.ly/clvleW

Gudjohnsen Joins Spurs On Loan

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed the signing of former Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan until the end of the season.
Gudjohnsen, currently playing for Monaco in Ligue 1, had also played for Barcelona.
Redknapp is quoted as saying:
“I just thought he’s a good player and he can play several positions for us, he can [...] http://bit.ly/9HBgJH

Birmingham Transfer Rumours

With new owner Carson Yeung’s money and Birmingham boss Alex McLeish’s stated desire to buy a new striker, the Blues are being linked with pretty much every forward in Europe.
A couple of the latest names are Arune Dindane and Roman Pavlyuchenko.
Dindane has been on loan at Portsmouth this season from French side Lens but the [...] http://bit.ly/9a1DRW

Ferdinand Has Ban Extended

The Football Association have extended Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand’s three match ban after the player lost his appeal.
Ferdinand was charged with violent conduct after he appeared to elbow Hull CIty’s Craig Fagan in the face and the FA committee felt that the appeal was ‘frivolous’.
An FA statement read:
“The Independent Commission felt that the player’s [...] http://bit.ly/9WolIN

Everton vs Sunderland Team Preview

Mikel Arteta is in contention for a place in the Everton squad, while new Sunderland signing Matt Kilgallon could start for Steve Bruce’s side.
Injuries to Michael Turner, Phil Bardsley and Anton Ferdinand mean that Kilgallon could be thrown in against Everton, despite both John Mensah and Nyron Nosworthy returning from injury.
Also back after knee and [...] http://bit.ly/bo9DaF

Blackburn vs Wigan Match Preview

Jason Roberts returns to the Blackburn Rovers squad, while goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is missing for Wigan Athletic.
The return of striker Roberts from injury is timely as fellow forward Benni McCarthy is tying up the details of a move to West Ham United.
Roberts could start in tandem with Nikola Kalinic upfront.
Centre back Christoph Samba is suspended [...] http://bit.ly/9ol9SP

Premiership Reviews (16th-17th Jan)

At the end of a traumatic week, Liverpool players started Saturday’s match at Stoke with a look of solid determination. Any hopes among their supporters that this was the start of a digging in to dig out period will have been disappointed to realise that the looks of determination were just the ones being displayed [...] http://bit.ly/a6I9GX

Aston Villa vs Arsenal Preview

Bacary Sagna is back in contention for Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, while Stephen Warnock is out for Aston Villa.
Warnock picked up a knock in Villa’s FA Cup Tie and is set to be replaced by Luke Young.
Also out for Martin O’Neill’s side are striker John Carew,  who has a knee injury, and midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker. Fellow [...] http://bit.ly/8ZWNTb

Chelsea vs Birmingham City Preview

Joe Cole is set to start in midfield for Chelsea against a Birmingham City side who welcome back striker Cameron Jerome to their starting XI.
Jerome had an ankle injury that kept him out of Birmingham City’s FA Cup tie, but is fit and will start alongside Christian Benitez.
Elsewhere, Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has no new [...] http://bit.ly/aVHTl4

Striker Transfer Rumour Round Up

Let’s face it, we all want to know which strikers are moving where and for how much money.
The latest transfer gossip has it that Spurs and West Ham are both chasing former Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen, according to Sky Sports News. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has said he would take the player on loan but [...] http://bit.ly/a161Rw

Portsmouth Transfer Embargo Removed

The Premier League have lifted the transfer embargo on Portsmouth FC after being satisfied that Portsmouth have resolved all outstanding payment issues related to previous player transfers.
Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie is quoted on the official Portsmouth FC website, saying:
“We are delighted that the transfer embargo for player registrations has been lifted by the Premier [...] http://bit.ly/bgky7F

McCarthy Agrees West Ham Deal

West Ham United and Blackburn Rovers have agreed a fee for 32 year old South Africa international striker Benni McCarthy.
McCarthy had stayed away from training at Ewood Park this week, bringing a stinging rebuke from his current boss Sam Allardyce, who branded him as “selfish” and “unprofessional”.
Personal terms have yet to be agreed with the [...] http://bit.ly/ays0bM

Big Brother Is Watching You!

Regular readers of this blog might know that I like to mock the whole corporate sponsorship culture that surrounds the World Cup Finals.Personally, I don't really care that an Indian IT company wants to pay £32 million to be a World Cup 'sponsor'. It's their money; they can piss it up against whichever wall they choose. And, before the World Cup 2010 starts, I will be mocking the whole concept of http://bit.ly/aR9oTS

Paraguay Striker Shot In The Head

Paraguay international Salvador Cabanas was shot in the head in Mexico in an apparently unprovoked attack.Cabanas, who - as Wikipedia will tell you - has scored shitloads (technical soccer term) of goals in both Paraguay and Mexico, apparently "responded well to questions" but is in a critical condition in a Mexican hospital.There's not a lot of details about this, but what's known is right here. http://bit.ly/8hlVNO

No One Is Actually Going to the 2010 World Cup

Some of Europe's more football loving nations, including Germany and England, have announced figures regarding how many tickets for the 2010 World Cup they have managed to sell so far.The English F.A have said they have had to send back 6,000 of their 29,000 ticket allocation, while the German F.A have apparently sold only 1,916 of 21,000 tickets.Predictably, and - on the surface - understandably http://bit.ly/5EcZAD