Chelsea eye Guardiola & Rijkaard to replace Carlo, Grant still set for the West Ham chop, Man United target keepers & Villa want forwards

Comment & analysis round-up

Quote of the day: This wont be an easy one for us to forget. We were completely outplayed and have just gone under. Berbatov gets a lot of criticism but he has great ability and is a quality finisher. It is unfortunate for him that he has a laid-back attitude. But for me he has always been top quality. Sam Allardyce.

Runner-up: It has been a privilege and an honour for me to work for such a big club with so many great people. After six wonderful years I have decided to seek a new challenge when my contract expires at the end of this season. It has been a tremendous journey and I would like to thank everyone at Chelsea, especially Roman [Abramovich], for giving me the incredible opportunity to help build on the clubs academy and youth system along with our greatly talented academy and scouting staff. We are now seeing the fruits of that labour as our stated aim was to get one player from the academy into the first team each year from 2010. We have a great crop of young players now coming through, and I feel its the right time for me to start looking towards a new challenge. The past two years Ive worked more closely with the first team as sporting director, and it has been a joy to work alongside (manager) Carlo Ancelotti and this exceptionally talented squad and staff. It is always difficult to take big decisions like this, but it is entirely my decision. Frank Arnesen.

Slap-down on the day: I havent seen the newspapers, but somebody rang me and said an article said that Id had a go at the fans. I would never have a go at the fans. I have had such great support from everybody at the club, so I said I never take any notice of internet bloggers, radio phone-ins, or anything else. I said I think anybody who writes on one or rings in to one are numpties. What I do like are ! all thos e out there [the fans at Molineux], who have been brilliant. Mick McCarthy.

Todays overview: There are a multitude of topics on offer this Sunday after a busy Saturday in the Premier League.

Paul Wilson and Rory Smith both look to play down Manchester Uniteds big Blackburn win, while Ian Whittell and Joe Bernstein take the opposite approach as they blow bucketloads of smoke up Berbatov. Similar schisms appears in other post-match conclusions; Stuart James (negative) and Ian Ridley (positive) reflect on Arsenals win at Villa Park, while Paul Doyle and Alan Nixon take the wind out of West hams sails.

Other Premier League articles include Tim Richs mocking of Everton, Paul Wilsons superb comparison of Spurs and Liverpools current fortunes ahead of their Sunday clash in the Premier League, and the ongoing management problems at Chelsea are heavily thumbed over as a new manager candidate falls into focus.

Sid Lowe brings up El Clasico as he delves into Jose Mourinhos achievements since arriving at the Bernbeau. King Kenny Dalglish, however, takes up the baton for the opposition against the Special One as the Liverpool legend compares Mourinho to Marmite.

While Henry Winter and Andrew Warshaw prepare for the worst ahead of the Panorama show set to torpedo Englands hosting chances for the 2018 World Cup, the rest of the news is spent on transfer gossip with United linked with a slew of keepers and a German midfielder, Arsenal are linked with a defender, and Villa are looking to boost their attacking options.

Seven High United: After Manchester United, and Dimitar Berbatov in particular, sparkled in the 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn the scribes are queuing up to have their say on what transpired at Old Trafford.

Paul Wilson remarked no easy games in the Premier League? Step this way, inspector. Manchester ! United w ent top of the table for the first time this season courtesy of what can only be described as an early Christmas present from Blackburn United played well, putting together some intricate passing moves, but mainly because Blackburn allowed them to. Even when they won the ball the visitors gave it away again quickly and cheaply. It was hard to say United made a statement to make Chelsea sit up and take notice; they simply took advantage of a poor side and they will not be able to play Blackburn every week.

A replica position was held up by Rory Smith. While this victory will be rightly heralded as a signal that United unbeaten but unimpressive so far this season are rapidly returning to their imperious best, in truth Sir Alex Fergusons side could hardly have hoped for more pliant opposition.

Changing the tide,Ian Whittell allows himself to get wrapped up in Uniteds massive victory and excitedly wonders if this is what Berbatov is like when mired in a crisis, what could he and a United team now back into first place in the League table at least until Chelseas visit to Newcastle this afternoon be like if he really finds his form?

Going a step too far, though, was Joe Bernstein who brown-nosed the Bulgarian with over-the-top praise. The Old Trafford faithful who turned up hoping to see Wayne Rooney score his long-awaited first goal of the season from open play left eulogising instead about his 31million partner one of the most talented, if slightly work-shy, players to ever wear a United shirt.

Arsenal Upturn?: Arsenal won 4-2 at Aston Villa but Stuart James remains unconvinced about the mental fortitude of Arsene Wengers men. It is the time of year for giving, but Arsenals generosity knows no bounds. For the second time in eight days Arsne Wengers side conspired to make a twogoal lead at half-time look like the most vulnerable position to be in Arsenal ultimately prevailed as Jack Wilshere registered his first Premier League goal! for the club with a close-range header in injury time, but it was ridiculous that the visitors were forced to wait until the closing seconds to kill off the game.

Sidestepping the Arsenal nit-picking, Ian Ridley was far happier lauding Arsenals away win. The latest Gunners crisis is on ice It was a day when Arsenals big players even if they are diminutive in stature stood up, responding to the loss of Cesc Fabregas through injury by filling the creative void For Arsenal, the side with the best away record in the Premier League, the challenge now is to start winning at home.

Rather than picking on the Gunners, Steve Tongue revealed some home truths to Aston Villa. The manager has now won only two of his 10 games in charge. With Gabriel Agbonlahor and Marc Albrighton joining the sick and lame last week, Villa need the remaining senior players to perform at their best, but Carew achieved nothing and the centre-halves, Richard Dunne and James Collins, were vulnerable throughout.

Sticky Toffee: Getting spanked 4-1 at home to West Brom was never going to go down well in the papers for Everton. And so it hasnt.

A sarcastic Tim Rich latched upon Saturdays rumours linking Goldenballs with Everton to splutter this might actually be a result that encourages David Beckham to come to Merseyside rather than send him running to the Hollywood hills. Beckham has long seen himself as a footballing white knight and Everton, two points off a relegation place and desperately short of money, are an institution in need of rescue However, David Moyes requires rather more than an ageing dead ball specialist who has Hello! magazine on speed dial.

West Ham: Facing a save our season match against Wigan, West Ham hit the ball out the park with a resounding 3-1 win. Nevertheles! s, a sou r Paul Doyle refused to offer the Eastenders too much praise. Was this a renaissance or a stay of execution? There was enough evidence to support either theory. Perhaps the only certainty that can be taken from this game is that Wigan, too, have cause to worry.

Alan Nixon takes things a step further barking that Grant is still set for the chop. Avram Grant is a dead manager walking with Cardiff boss Dave Jones the new name on the West Ham hit list. Hammers chiefs are believed to be compiling a list of candidates to replace Grant, despite yesterdays 3-1 win over Wigan. Glenn Hoddle is on that list, along with Jones, but one man now off the radar is QPR boss Neil Warnock.

Spurs vs Scousers: An excellent insight into to opposing fortunes of Tottenham and Liverpool are raised by Paul Wilson ahead of Sundays clash in the Premier League. Liverpool would dearly love to be where todays opponents, Spurs, are: rampaging through the Champions League group stage, coming back from two goals down against Arsenal, keeping in touch with the league leaders and worrying their manager might leave for England. They should, though, consider where Spurs have been these past 49 years: not winning the league; nowhere near the European Cup; not even an FA Cup final since Gazza was a lad. Spurs have had to be endlessly patient and for that reason it is hard to begrudge them their success. Exactly the opposite applies to Liverpool and their hard-to-please fans ought to realise it.

Retiring Pensioners: Does anyone have a clue what is going on behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge?

Not usual ones for gossiping, the Telegraph splash with Duncan Whites rumour that Chelsea have targeted Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola as a possible replacement for Carlo Ancelotti, if the Italian leaves his post at the end of the season. Telegraph Sport can reveal that the club are seeking to replace Sporting Director Frank Arnesen with Barcelonas former Director of Football! Txik i Begiristain and hope that he can persuade Guardiola, whose contract expires at the end of the season, to come with him to Stamford Bridge.

Next, Duncan White explores the impact of Frank Arnesens resignation from Chelsea. Another week and Ancelotti loses another close ally. Frank Arnesen, the sporting director, has resigned and will leave at the end of the season While Arnesen has grown tired of the clubs internal politics and the criticism of his work in the media, his departure is a surprise in that he had formed a very strong professional partnership with Ancelotti The loss of Arnesen will only add to Ancelottis concerns about his own future.

The Sunday Expresss John Richardson flags up the personality clashes in the Chelsea management hierarchy. Ancelotti has told friends that he has been undermined by Abramovichs hands-on approach, something which has increased the pressure on a man who won the Double in his first season in charge at Stamford Bridge. For now he is prepared to battle on but friends wonder for how long? Also on Abramovichs radar is Guardiolas predecessor at Barcelona, Frank Rijkaard, who is currently out of work after leaving Galatasaray.

El Clasico: Sid Lowe combs through some of the changes at Real Madrid since the arrival of Jose Mourinho in the hotseat. There is a collective faith about Madrid: watching Angel di Mara, the expression of Mourinhos methods on the pitch, is to witness sacrifice and unity. Mourinho has built team spirit. He has beaten it into some: Pedro Len was left out for two games, Karim Benzema castigated for arriving late, Sergio Canales dismissed with a simple: I didnt like him. Defensively, they are sound. They play with pace and precision, devastating on counterattacks launched from Xabi Alonso. They are enjoying more possession ! than his previous teams ever did, too, with quick interchanges led by Di Mara, Cristiano Ronaldo and the deceptively simple Mesut Ozil.

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish offers a different perspective on the Special One. Mourinho is like Marmite, you either love or hate him. He has won too many times for it to be a coincidence and I think his trick is to get the players onside from the start. He gets them to believe in what hes doing and they are then desperate to try to make it happen. Some players might be irritated by his desire to be in the limelight but more will be glad that hes a distraction when they have a bad result. Attention to the most miniscule detail is another Mourinho strength but it has backfired on him this time because that manipulation of yellow cards has been exposed.

Panorama-gate: By now you know the story. England want to host the 2018 World Cup, but the bid is teetering after the British media exposed voting problems with the Fifa set-up. Now the BBC are set to broadcast a Panorama show on Monday night on the voting scandal and its a case of preparing for the worst in the fifth estate.

Henry Winter transmits his angle in his headline (FAs television hell for England bid: El Clasico followed by BBC Panorama drama) before adding the Panorama issue is simple. If the BBC producers have evidence of wrongdoing they should apply usual journalistic practice and get the story out there instantly on the BBC News Channel (the clues in the name). Corruption needs to be rooted out immediately. By holding on until the week of the bid, Panorama give Prince William, Beckham and Cameron no time to repair the inevitable damage. No wonder the Spanish are privately so delighted.

The big headlines continue with Andrew Warshaw who goes with Football may not be coming home again. If collusion doesnt scupper Englands last chance to host the tournament for the best part of 20 years, then the recent allegations of corruption withi! n Fifas inner sanctum might. World footballs governing body is an austere and tight-knit grouping who dont take kindly to seeing any of their own hung out to dry Tomorrows BBC Panorama programme, expected to heap even more embarrassment on Fifa, is awaited with trepidation.

Refereeing Solutions: Ian Holloway delves into the Scottish refereeing debacle to argue that video technology needs to be introduced. I dont blame the refs for not turning up for work. They are getting hammered every week and the problem isnt pressure from managers but pressure from the wider audience The way refereeing performances are analysed by the media has moved on so much in the last 10 years. TV companies cover games using every camera angle you can think of. Yet none of this is made available to the ref.

The Transfers: The Mail on Sunday link Arsenal with a 10m bid for Boltons Gary Cahill, while the Mirror say Bastian Schweinsteiger is a 12m Manchester United target. Staying in the red-top we learn that Danny Welbeck will not be allowed to move to Sunderland permanently, and that Carlo Ancelotti has insisted he wont be spending a penny this winter.

According to Paul Hetherington, Manchester United remain in the hunt for a new goalkeeper to replace Edwin van der Sar despite forking out 3.5million for Anders Lindegaard United are ready to step up their chase for their top target, Atletico Madrids David De Gea Also in the frame to take over are Germanys Manuel Neuer, 24, at Schalke and Ajax and Holland keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, 28. Shay Given is also being linked with United but agreeing a deal with neighbours Manchester City would be difficult.

The People gas a band of unlikely transfer stories. Blackbur! n are li nked with Birminghams Sebastien Larsson and Boros Gary ONeil, West Ham are prepared to sell Carlton Cole and Danny Gabbidon this winter so that ensure Scott Parker does not leave, Arsenal are eyeing Boro keeper Jason Steele, Liverpool are set to bid 5m for Hamburgs Jonathan Pitroipa, Manchester City are ready to beat Chelsea for Feyenoords highly-rated defender Nathan Ake, while Aston Villa are closing in on Cluj forward Lacina Traore as well as Tottenham midfielder David Bentley.

The Smut: The Sunday Mirror report that the Beckhams will be invited to Prince Williams Royal wedding.

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