Newcastle welcome Chelsea to St James’ Park looking to build on their 1-1 draw at Manchester United last week by securing three points that will keep them above the West London side in fourth place.

Despite being written off before the game following their defeat in the blue half of Manchester seven days prior Alan Pardew’s side displayed the kind of resilience and passion that has become synonymous with the black and white stripes over the years. The Magpies dominated the first forty five minutes at Old Trafford with a resolute back line quelling the threat of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez. The midfield duo of Yohan Cabaye and Danny Guthrie ran the show whilst Gabriel Obertan put in an accomplished display on his return from a toe injury at his old stomping ground. However it was the stunning performances of Steven Taylor and goalkeeper Tim Krul that shone through as the Geordies hung on for dear life after Jonas Gutierrez was sent off with 12 minutes to go. Everything United threw at Newcastle was repelled with Taylor putting numerous blocks and when the ball did find a way past the defender Krul was there to prevent it from finding the net. It’s a measure of just how far the club has come in the last year or so with Pardew deserving a huge amount of credit for retaining the togetherness in the dressing room and getting his team organised and working for each other. Chelsea will once again prove to be another massive test and they know that a win will give them a four point cushion over the Blues going into the festive period. A run of one win in six against Andre Villas-Boas’ side at St James’ Park puts the omens firmly in the visitors lap but this is a new Newcastle United and one that isn’t to be taken lightly.

That is something Chelsea certainly won’t do despite their poor run of form coming to an end with a 3-0 win against Wolves at Stamford Bridge last Saturday. Pressure was starting to seriously build on the shoulders of Villas-Boas going into the game after two late defeats in the space of a week and a win was the only thing that was going to bring some relief. Luckily his side blew away Wanderer’s in the first period scoring three goals and rolling back the years with a display of attacking intensity. The performance of Juan Mata was a particular highlight with the Spaniard laying on two goals and scoring the third and supporters will be expecting more of the same on the trip to Tyneside. Daniel Sturridge was another player to impress with the young striker bagging yet another goal and giving credence to his calls to be the clubs first choice centre forward. His link up play with Mata and Didier Drogba highlights an intelligent footballer whilst his effort and commitment bring an extra edge to the Chelsea attack. The 22-year-old has scored his seventh goal of the season last weekend which is more than Drogba, Fernando Torres and Nicolas Anelka combined. Defensively Villas-Boas will have been delighted to see his side keep only their third clean sheet of the season and they’ll need build on that going into the game against Newcastle who the hungry Demba Ba searching for his 10th goal of the season. Their record at St James’ Park should stand them in good stead though having won five and drawn the same amount in 17 Premier League meetings.

Newcastle – 4th

Last Five: Drew 1-1 v Manchester United (A), Lost 3-1 v Manchester City (A), Won Everton 2-1 (H), Won 3-1 Stoke (A), Won 1-0 v Wigan (H

Potential Starting X11: 26. T. Krul 5. D. Simpson 2. F. Coloccini [C] 27. S. Taylor* 16. R. Taylor 8. D. Guthrie 4. Yohan Cabaye 24. C. Tiote 25.  G. Obertan 10. H. Ben Arfa 19.D. Ba

Injury News: Leon Best and Sylvain Marveaux remain out and don’t look like returning to action in 2011. Cheick Tiote could finally make his return after missing the last four games with a knee injury.

Key Player: Tim Krul

What a season it has been for the Dutch goalkeeper so far with his stunning performance at Old Trafford last weekend earning him a legion of plaudits once again. Krul pulled off save after remarkable save to deny Manchester United a win with his point blank save from Nemanja Vidic’s header simply astounding. He’ll need to continue the form that has seen him keep four clean sheets this season when Chelsea come to town.

Match Fact: The Magpies have been formidable at St James’ Park so far during the campaign and have yet to taste defeat. They’ll need to maintain that if they are to beat Chelsea at home for the first time since the final day of the 2005/06 season with a Titus Bramble goal gave securing a 1-0 win, seventh position and a place in the Intertoto Cup.

Chelsea – 5th

Last Five: Won 3-0 v Wolves (H), Lost 2-1 v Liverpool (H), Won 1-0 v Blackburn (A), Lost 5-3 v Arsenal (H), Lost 1-0 v QPR (A)

Potential Starting X11: 1. P. Cech 2. B. Ivanovic 26. J. Terry [C] 4. D. Luiz 3. A. Cole 6. O. Romeu 7. Ramires 8. F. Lampard 10. J. Mata 11. D. Drogba 23. D. Sturridge*

Injury News: Villas-Boas has no new injury worries with Michael Essien the only player currently in the Stamford Bridge treatment room.

Key Player: Daniel Sturridge

For the second consecutive week the newly capped England striker proved his worth to the team with another industrious display. Sturridge was a constant menace on Saturday with his desire to run at the Wolves defence and create space for his teammates a joy to watch. Goals are also a big part of his game and he stabbed home a crucial second in West London to effectively kill the game off for Chelsea. He’ll need to keep that up on Saturday against an uncompromising Newcastle back line.

Match Fact: Chelsea enjoy their trips to the North East and have only been beaten once in their last six visits to St James Park. That run includes one win and four draws with their last defeat on Tyneside coming just over five years ago.

Last Time at St James’ Park

Premier League 28 November 2010

Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea

Carroll, 6

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Kalou, 45

Attendance: 46,469

Referee: Andre Marriner

PREDICTION

Newcastle bounced back from their first loss of the season at Manchester City with a superb performance against rivals United at Old Trafford. Despite their goal being firmly in the realms of  controversial the Magpies displayed the never say die attitude that has become the cornerstone of their season to date. They’ll face another stiff test against Chelsea at St James Park who will hoping their win against Wolves will prove to be a turning point in what has been a period of unsettling transition. Manager Villas-Boas has come in for some criticism after his sides insipid displays over the last few weeks with a trip to Tyneside proving to be a potential banana skin. It’s likely the Toon Army will be in full voice and with Newcastle yet to lose at St James’ Park so far it will prove to be a tight encounter.

Score 2-1

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Carlo Ancelotti is expected to be announced as the new manager of Paris Saint Germain on Friday, as the French club have organised an impromptu press conference.

Pressure has mounted on current coach Antoine Kombouare, as the capital city side have lost some of their early season form, and trail Montpellier at the top of Ligue 1.

With the backing of the Qatari Investment Authority, PSG have big ambitions this season and winning their domestic league is a must.

Ex-Chelsea boss Ancelotti has previously spoken of his desire to manage one of England’s biggest clubs again, but with an opportunity at one of the Premier League’s top six not forthcoming in the near future, he may be Paris-bound.

The Telegraph indicate that the Italian tactician’s first move will be to go back to his former employers Chelsea for transfer targets, with out-of-favour duo Florent Malouda and Alex in the crosshairs.

The Brazilian defender has recently handed in a transfer request due to lack of first team opportunities, whilst Malouda has been vocal on his need for additional football with Euro 2012 on the horizon.

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By Gareth McKnight

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There was a question today that was put to me – do managers do more harm than good by making outbursts about various issues to the media, effectively destroying all respect we have to them? In the first half an hour my answer changed more times than Balotelli’s hair do.

My immediate reaction was that yes, of course it does – managers losing self-control will filter down to the players, and questions of if the pressure is finally getting to them will be asked. I then decided that no – in certain situations things must be said, and managers need to protect their players, put pressure on officials and make the fans aware of certain issues.

The I read exactly what Mancini had said in response to the Kompany red card appeal being rejected – no shocker there really – and decided to change my mind yet again – it is my prerogative being a woman after all.

I now think there are certain types of ‘outburst’ that are totally necessary and when all is said and done, actually go a long way to helping the team and gaining respect for the manager. There are also ‘outbursts’ which are totally ill-advised and unnecessary and do little more than make the manager a laughing stock not to mention derail the team’s progress in the meantime.

Let’s start with the latter type. Such outbursts are not only untimely but downright stupid, and the decline of the team in question can be documented easily after such press conferences. The most obvious example of this would be Kevin Keegan’s infamous ‘I’d love it, just love it if we would beat them’ rant at Fergie and United when Newcastle were leading the race for the title. Cue widespread laughter from all corners, a sigh of a job and mind games well done from Old Trafford and the feeling that it was now advantage United in the title race. To no one up and down the country’s surprise, United did go on to win the title that season and Keegan will always be remembered for his total loss of self-control.

Another victory for the master of mind games Fergie was when Rafa Benitez inexplicably lost his cool and reeled a list of typed and bullet pointed – how very Benitez – incidence produced from his pocket of when United has been favoured by the officials and got redder and redder as the list went on, and was criticised for his Keegan like outburst, and credited with losing his team the title and handing yet another victory to Fergie.

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Even Bambi himself AVB showed exactly why he is no Mourinho after his outburst to the media, making a laughing stock of himself and the club, and alienating the few fans he actually had left in the press – the love of the press is vital, and it is something Mourinho had mastered from his very first ‘I am not from the bottle, I am a special one’ conference, and headlines reflected this – it is not a bad thing if your team is in a slump to have favourable stories in the press, and outbursts such as the one by AVB totally negate any chance of this.

There are however incidents when outbursts by managers are entirely necessary, and the one from Mancini in my opinion will not do his team any harm – having four players sent off in six games, they are not getting the rub of the green, especially with regards to the Balotelli and Kompany red’s, and to make the officials aware of this is no bad thing.

The key for Mancini was to keep his cool during the match at the Ethiad, and in doing so, this transferred to his players who lost with their heads held high, and then say what needed to be said after.

Much like how Fergie or Mourinho would put pressure on officials by ‘enlightening’ the media and fans to certain stats or little facts about their side or indeed the official’s track record, Mancini is doing no bad thing with his bemoaning of Chris Foy – I doubt he will be sending another City player off in a hurry.

Just imagine if Fergie had not spent years and years at the start of his tenure at Old Trafford complaining about injury time – had he not terrified the officials, there would be no such thing as ‘Fergie time,’ which is basically as little or much injury time United need to close out the game. Nor would there have been so many dubious penalties or decisions given at Old Trafford down the years.

Certain managers are very adept at playing mind games, and ones which hand the advantage solely to their team. Fergie has proven himself to be a master at this, only really meeting his match in Mourinho, and whether Mancini can come close to this level during his stay in the Premier League remains to be seen, but at the minute, it is advantage City, and everything we have seen from Mancini points to the fact he is more than a match for his neighbours. Even if he is not, lets face it we all love managerial outbursts – what would you rather a Keegan style meltdown or a Wenger esque ‘I didn’t see it?’ I know which is more fun – Newcastle fans however may disagree with me!

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According to some quarters, youth development in England is in crisis. There are certainly problems regarding investment, coaching and facilities, but it appears that the problems with the youth system might actually be further along the line than the grass-roots level. The transition between academy and senior level seems to be stopping a lot of good talent making the jump to professional football successfully, so how can we bridge this gap?

Young English players don’t seem to be given a fair shot at making it professionally, particularly in comparison to their continental counterparts, who are given first team debuts much earlier. In England young players are stuck with Carling Cup and substitute appearances, and often judged on those fleeting appearances. There is simply too big a gap between the youth set-up and senior teams and players aren’t groomed in the right way for the level of professional football. The transition between the ages of 18-21 is the most important time for a young player and it seems that more often than not we are not getting it right.

Part of the problem is the lack of patience in the English game. Players aren’t given the time to develop, and are expected to make an immediate impression. This season alone we have seen young players like Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll be written off by the media, for not making an immediate impact. There is now so much pressure on young players shoulders to impress straight away, and they aren’t given enough time to learn and develop in the game.

This lack of patience runs right through English footballing philosophy, as young English players are not given the time to flourish, with the general lack of opportunity available in the Premier League. There is too much money being thrown around these days, and this has led to a culture where it is now the preference of clubs to go out and buy a cheaper foreign import, than to spend time developing an English kid. These short term solutions are now preferred to long term thinking. There are exceptions, and lately teams like Liverpool and Manchester United have been more than willing to give their young players a chance. However, Kenny Dalglish and Sir Alex Ferguson are in safe positions, with the pressure off their shoulders, so they can afford to give opportunities to the young home-grown talent available, and not be judged for it, unlike many other managers out there.

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There have been significant moves to address the problems regarding the transition from youth to senior football. One of the new additions this season is the Next Gen Series, which is billed as the Champions League of youth football. Sixteen of the worlds best clubs including Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Man City and Celtic are taking part in the exciting knock-out competition. The players are able to pit themselves against world class opposition from the best clubs in Europe, which can only be of benefit in terms of improving standards and also helping to bridge the gap between the youth and senior teams. Players learn vital skills like adapting to an unfamiliar style of play, getting used to travelling, playing two match weeks and playing at a more competitive level than the Regional Premier Leagues, with all their restrictions and constraints. English youngsters don’t really have enough competitive games in order for them to test themselves and develop, so the Next Gen Series is an improvement on this front. Currently youth sides take part in the Regional Premier Leagues, which are split into two northern and two southern leagues, meaning the best sides may only play each other once over the course of a season. The regional leagues lack a competitive edge, and players don’t really gain much from this standard of play. Reserve football is of an equally poor standard for young players to learn their trade, and they gain little if anything from this level of football.

We could improve youth standards in this country through the creation of an Elite Premier Academy League, which would certainly provide better competition, with youngsters playing at a higher standard regularly, and pushing each other to higher levels. However, this has its own problems, as it would widen the gap between the Premier League big clubs and the rest, with the smaller academies likely to lose out. This could force the system into becoming more elitist and have a negative effect on youth development in this country as a whole. Ideas like the Next Gen Series, and the possible forming of an Elite Premier Academy League exclude smaller clubs, who will subsequently find it difficult to improve, or compete in terms of youth development.

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One of the options that works well in Europe is the nursery club. Clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid have B teams playing in the lower Spanish leagues, which provide a higher level of football for their young players to learn their trade. This is a much more competitive option than reserve, or academy football we see in England. It provides a higher standard of football at an earlier age, as well as the option of players staying under the guidance and tutelage of their own clubs. The Barcelona academy players are given the chance to learn and develop at this level before moving on to the first team, where they are given the chance to impress. This is in contrast to players at big clubs in England, who rarely get the opportunity to break into the first team, and often have to go out on loan to gain vital experience. The loan system has proved effective for many English players, but it comes with its own problems. With the loan system, you can’t guarantee young players are going to play and they may return having gained little from the experience. Shipping a youngster out to a strange city, where they don’t know anyone is a tough ask for any young player to handle. Nursery clubs do seem like a good idea, but it is unlikely the FA would sanction any such moves for them in this country. There would need to be vertical integration between nursery and feeder clubs, and the idea also raises issues over the identity of clubs in the lower tiers.

There are many problems with youth development in the country, but one of the biggest is bridging the gap between the youth and the professional game. The whole footballing landscape in England is not conducive to helping young players achieve success, and the focus needs to move from short term results and winning, to placing full long term commitment behind young English players. We can make all the changes at grass-root and academy level that we want, but if access to the first team is closed off then in the end these changes will have little difference.

How do you think we should bridge the gap between academy and senior level? Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or following me on Twitter @LaurenRutter for more comment and debate.

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Scottish giants Rangers have announced that they have appointed administrators to help reduce their debts, and have subsequently been docked ten SPL points due to financial mismanagement.

It was announced on Monday that the Ibrox club were in the process of trying to foot a tax bill that could be as much as £75million, and with no way to pay the amount, administrators Duff and Phelps have come in to help the side fulfil a deadline set by Court of Session in Edinburgh.

The Glasgow-based team had been set a deadline of 3.30pm on Tuesday to officially appoint administrators, as the process of removing the debt begins.

Rangers owner Craig Whyte has stated that the move will benefit the club in the long run, and is the start of a long recovery process.

“This was the best way to take the club forward and end the uncertainty that’s surrounding Rangers at the moment,” he told Sky Sports.

“What we’ve done today is the start of a road to recovery. Rangers will always be around, Rangers will always be here at Ibrox and this is the start of the healing process.

“We will get over this and we will come out fighting and come out stronger, there’s no question about that,” he defied.

The decision as good as hands the Scottish championship to Celtic, who were already four points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of the SPL.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, after picking up a knee injury against QPR.

The Scotland international suffered lateral knee ligament damage at the fixture at Loftus Road a week ago, being replaced shortly after half-time, and will now need to focus on returning for next season, The Guardian reports.

Meanwhile, Spanish full-back Jose Enrique has stated that the players are responsible for the Anfield club’s inconsistent league form, not manager Kenny Dalglish.

Defeats against QPR and Wigan in their last two games see Liverpool down in seventh place, and Enrique has stated that Dalglish should not take the brunt of criticism.

“In the cups we are doing well; in the league I think we deserve more than where we are now. But the truth is we are in seventh position,” he told the club’s official website.

“We have played good football in many games but against Wigan we didn’t deserve to win.

“This team is in production. The owners have signed young players. I think we have a really good squad already but of course we have to improve – everyone.

“The manager takes pressure for us and of course that is good. But the truth is, when we make mistakes or have a bad game, we know where the mistakes come from. Who plays the games? The players. Who has to win them? The players too.

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“The players are frustrated just the same as the fans,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Before the Easter weekend had you asked a Cardiff City supporter if they would take four points from the games against Middlesbrough away and Watford at home most would have happily taken them, however all that changed after the resounding victory against Boro away, thanks in large part to Joe Mason who came on as substitute for Kenny Miller after just three minutes.

Miller was racing onto through-ball, with the Middleborough defence static, goalkeeper Jason Steele raced out of his area and clattered into Miller who had controlled the ball and looked through, Steele made no contact with the ball instead scything Miller down with a two footed tackle that’s contact point was at knee level Miller crumpled into a stricken mess the ball dribbling tantalisingly a few foot in front of him, incredulously referee Kevin Friend turned his back, only to be chased by incensed Cardiff players.

However their protestations were stone walled Malky Mackay berated the fourth official also in vain. Miller was eventually helped from the field of  battle hopping on one leg, the old warriors part in the conflict was done for the day enter; young buck Joe Mason who owned and bossed the park with an authority astonishing for someone of his age at this level. Within minutes of coming on he had the ball over the line although the deflected shot which struck the underside of the crossbar before bouncing out and being hastily scrambled away by a Boro’ defender Justin Hoyte was adjudged not to have not crossed the line.

The score was opened five minutes later by Ben Turner – who came to Cardiff City in the summer from Coventry City along with Aron Gunnerson. Turner rose above everyone to slot home the ball from a Liam Lawrence corner 0-1 Cardiff. Eight minutes later The Bluebirds were two up.. Mason causing all sorts of problems raced into a perfectly flighted early ball down the right from Stephen McPhail before cutting inside into the area, keeping his calm brilliantly to turn his marker first one way, then the other before dispatching the ball under Steele in the ‘Boro goal. City continued to run the show for the first half but failed to find the net again due to Steele who undoubtedly should have no longer even been on the pitch.

The second half Middleborough had more possession. But other than one finger tip save from City keeper David Marshall, didn’t look like getting on the score sheet.

So with the harder of the two fixtures on paper yielding three points, Easter Monday, a sizable crowd braved the cold and the rain at the Cardiff City Stadium, but it was to be one of those matches you left the ground wishing you had stayed at home in the warm and dry. Lacking spark and marred by fussy referee Darren Deadman who handled so many cards (seven) he seemed to think he was Paul Daniels.

The games saving grace from Cardiff City supporters view point was the end for Kenny Miller’s of his run of thirteen appearances without a goal, a drought not brought about by lack of trying it has to be said. But all in all it was extremely disappointing to have only taken one point from a poor and struggling Watford team and in the dying minutes of the game if truth is told City were very lucky to get even that point Watford went that close!

It all had City fans again shaking their heads and wondering what on earth was going on with their team. After all the Easter programme had started so differently wearing the lucky St David’s yellow and black third kit, Cardiff City had been ruthless in their domination of Middlesbrough especially in the first twenty minutes and sealed the fate of the Boro’ who suffered not only defeat but a mass walkout of their fans half an hour before the final whistle. The Mogganaut had been halted! But then came Watford!

That sort of inconsistency, as dogged Cardiff City all season supporters unsure which Cardiff is going to turn up or not as the case may be! The passion some games just is not there from the team..which is a worry because it means many of the current crop of players haven’t connected with the club.

Cardiff fans have a saying “Once a Bluebird always a Bluebird.” Which was demonstrated perfectly by former Cardiff City striker Jay Boothroyd on Wednesday night who when coming on as substitute for QPR against old firm derby rivals Swansea ran onto the field a smirk on his face repeatedly doing the Ayatollah. He’s not the only one to have done this the south Wales rivalry is a powerful one, once you’ve been sucked in, another thing peculiar to the Bluebirds old players when returning to play Cardiff with their new teams is they receive a very warm welcome, the players in turn behave with similar respect. When Michael Chopra scored against us for Ipswich this season at CCS he didn’t celebrate his goal, when he scored again in the return match, caught up in the moment he celebrated his goal after the game he immediately took to twitter to apologise for any offence he may have caused City fans! Other players who will remain nameless simply don’t ‘turn up’ for the team they now play for.

I can’t help but think few of the current squad would be the same. Is that is down to the fact that the team; for the large part came together during the summer under a manager who through no fault of his own had barely got his own feet under the table?

And I have no wish to sound xenophobic, but the squad has only two Welsh players, both are Cardiff lads, lifelong Bluebird supporters and who are regular current Welsh internationals. However, both Robert Earnshaw and Darcy Blake have rarely played a part under Mackay who has surrounded himself with fellow Scots…Now here maybe lays the problem. Ask a Scot; what are you? and the immediate reply will always be I’m Scottish!! Then if you push them for more information you’ll get I’m a builder ect. Ask one of us and you’ll get I’m a Bluebird on being pushed we’ll explain that means we support Cardiff City FC, that we are from Wales but the first answer will always be I am a Bluebird! That pride and passion is missing I’m not saying only welsh players should play for Cardiff City because the aforementioned Boothroyd and Chopra are English as is Peter Whittingham and no one would ever doubt this passion and Bluebirdness.

No too many players had to be drafted into the team in too short a space of time it as resulted in the failure of the integration into the right mindset that’s needed to get what is to be a Bluebird to find that something extra, the never say die spirit epitomised by the likes of Phil Dwyer (A man who died on the pitch having swallowed his tongue after a clash of heads, was revived where he fell and then turned out and had a blinder the next week!) This lack of connection is crippling the squad now that they are tired and understandably emotionally drained following the Carling Cup defeat against Liverpool. (who have also fallen by the wayside following the Carling Cup final!) As much as Mackay’s seemingly blind faith in a handful of his side or even the lack of an out and out striker and pacey winger does.

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Having said all that, results have kept going our way so this you feel must be our year but we all now have to play our part. City supporters have to be that never say die Bluebirds spirit. Now is your time, time for all City supporters to launch the rallying cry, for all Bluebirds to vocally show the passion and pride from the stands keep the songs plain and simple cheer all good touches till you have no voice….

Keeping the faith… in full song raise lets the roof!

With my little pick and shovel I’ll be there!

BLUEBIRDS!

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Well a week has passed since the end of the season and I must admit I am missing it already, as there is nothing like going to watch your team play on a Saturday afternoon.

The off-season brings with it anticipation on who your team are going to sign next season, what current players are going to stay with the club and thoughts already turn to where you are hoping to finish in the league next season.

As for Norhampton’s season it was a bit of a disappointment if I am honest as we were promised so much by then manager Gary Johnson. He had said that all the players he signed were winners and we were going to be up there challenging come May and as he is a man with a good CV so who were we to argue.

He made signings who just a few months later before his demise he transfer listed. Big names like Arron Davies, Paul Turnball, Jake Robinson were signed and have been nothing but a let down this season.

However despite this there were some players that stood out above the rest during the season and I am now going to choose the top three who deserve extra praise for their fines performances this year.

3rd Place: Adebayo Akinfenwa – Big Bayo as we know him has hit 18 goals this season and for  struggling tea that is not a bad return. He is an icon to most Cobblers fans andis a big unit who can take a couple of defenders away with him leaving his strike partner in open space a lot of the time. Considering he has had a lot of different partners this season the one I felt he worked with best was Saido Berahino,they had a great chemistry together & he helped provide a lot of goals for Saido by making defenders deal with him. He spent a spell out of the team when Aidy Boothroyd took over as many of us thought that he was just not Aidy’s cup of tea, but as the season came to close we found out that the club had turned down a six figure sum from a fellow league 2 club believed to be Crawley Town. When Bayo finally got back into the team we had a fitter and more mobile Bayo after he had lost 3 stone to prove to the manager how much he wanted to play for this club. So thanks for the goals Bayo I just hope you are still here at the beginning of next season because with the right strike partner I believe you can lead the charge for the play-offs.

2nd Place: Clarke Carlisle – Clarke joined the club on loan from Burnley in January after Graham Westley had taken over at Preston and terminated Clarke’s season long loan there. Since Clarke has joined the club he has helped to shore up a leaky defence and put his body on the line to block goalbound shots. Clarke was made capatin by Boothroyd as soon as he signed,taking over from John Johnson and to be honest I think this was one of the best moves Aidy could have made as I believe Clarke is a born leader. He says he has found his love for the game again after his loan spell here and that he would love to move to the club on a permanent deal. I just hope we have enough in the budget to afford his wages as I think our defence will be a worse place without him.

1st Place: Michael Jacobs – Michael recently made his 100th appearance for the club in the final game of the season at Rotherham and many of us believe it will be his last. He is being scouted by many championship clubs and the managers of Derby, Peterborough and Bristol City have declared their interest in our 20 year old midfielder. He has had a great season for the club in a midfield that wasn’t really settled until the last day of the transfer window. He is quick and clever on the ball and he can also pick out that killer ball for the strikers to attack. He also showed plenty of passion whilst wearing the claret and white,and whoever he ends up with next season is going to have a player who gives 100% to the team he is playing for. He had a fair few man of the match awards during the season,and he also picked up the clubs player of the year award for the 2nd year in a row. Good luck for the future Crackers,we can dream that you will start the season with us but somehow I think you are on your way to prove your worth at a higher level.

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Up the Cobblers!

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Tottenham have reportedly opened talks with Ajax skipper Jan Vertonghen, and will battle north London rivals Arsenal for his signature, according to The Daily Mail.

Reports from Holland earlier in the week indicated that Arsene Wenger’s men were the frontrunners to land the Belgium international come the summer transfer window, but it is now believed that the White Hart Lane outfit are firmly in the race also.

With the impressive centre back’s contract expiring at the Amsterdam Arena in the summer of 2013, the Eredivisie champions are resigned to losing their key man this summer, with a reported fee of £7 million suffice to bring him to England.

The player’s agent has confirmed that he wants to move to the Premier League, but at this stage has not revealed which clubs are in the running to be his next employer.

“Jan has some dream clubs, which are special for him,” Vertonghen’s agent Mustapha Nakhli told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

“Playing football in the top of the Premier League is something he has always hoped for.”

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By Gareth McKnight

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Following his hugely controversial outburst on the final day of the Premier League season, Joey Barton’s future is to be revealed soon, following an internal investigation at Loftus Road with the outcome expected shortly; reports The Daily Mail.

R’s boss Mark Hughes is expected to strip Barton of the club captaincy, as well as issuing him with a substantial fine in addition to the 12 match ban already inflicted by the Premier League.

The outcome of QPR’s investigation will be announced on Monday, and there is a possibility the 29 year old may even be omitted from their 25 man Premier League squad for the upcoming season.

Barton is no stranger to trouble, but his latest misdemeanour could see the worst punishment he has yet faced within the game. Should he be shown the door at Loftus  Road, he may find it difficult to find another team as his signing would be a risky one given his proven temperament.

The deliberation will come to an end shortly, meaning Barton will know where he stands, and QPR may well have to find a replacement for the 29 year old. If speculation is anything to go by, Mark Hughes is eager to get rid of troublemaker Barton.

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