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PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
When Peter Crouch was sold by Portsmouth in 2002 Aston Villa paid £5 million for the 6ft 7inch striker's services.
He now returns to Pompey for over double the price but in todays crazy days of big money signings Harry Redknapp knows he's picked up the big hit man at a relatively good price.
Crouch scored 42 goals in all competitions for Liverpool over three seasons at Anfield but after the signing of Fernando Torres last season the England International was always going to struggle to book a regular starting place in the Red's side.
Now Harry Redknapp will hope the England little and large tag team of Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch can help solidify his side's place in the Premiership elite.
And judging by Crouch's strike rate over his career to date clever Harry seems destined to see his plan work.
The 27 year old has in general been consistent throughout his career and fans of Queens Park Rangers, Portsmouth (2001-02), Aston Villa, Norwich City, Southampton and Liverpool will be quick to tell you that he's a massive talent.
Be in no doubt, the appointment of Portugese boss Luiz Felipe Scolari as manager of Chelsea is of massive, massive significance for the future of the Premiership.
With most football eyes fixed on events in Switzerland and Austria this month where the European Championships are being held the big Brazilian's new job did not make the splash one would have expected and thats just how Scolari likes it.
Prior to the misguided appointment of Steve McLaren as English manager in 2006 it was revealed that Scolari had agreed to take the English job but decided against it after a pack of English tabloid reporters and photographers laid seige to his home.
After a dramatic season Manchester United finally lifted the Premier League trophy aloft on Sunday narrowly seeing off the challenge of plucky Chelsea. There were tears in Reading, Birmingham and Derby as the three sides dropped into the Coca-Cola Championship. GRAHAM CLIFFORD looks back on each sides performance in 2007/8 and issues them with the grade he thinks suits them best:
1. Manchester United:
Love him or hate him the achievement of Alex Ferguson in winning his tenth Premiership title is simply outsianding. This season the addition of Tevez, Nani, Hargreaves and Anderson strengthened an already strong side. It goes without saying that Ronaldo was simply amazing and after scoring 31 times from midfield in the Premiership this season he deserves all the accolades that he gets. At the back Ferdinand and Vidic stood out while Evra was once again a massive weapon in Fergie's armory.Stuttered in the closing stages but worthy Champions - GRADE : A-
He was one of Manchester United's most loyal servants but on Sunday at the JJB stadium Steve Bruce can deny his previous club this season's Premiership title.
Should that happen Red Devils supporters will quickly review their thoughts on the 'Rock'.
Should Manchester United defeat Wigan then the Premiership will be theres.
However if they were to draw or lose and Chelsea defeated Bolton then the Premiership trophy would be heading to West London.
Steve Bruce has rejected any suggestion that his side might not give their all in the crucial game saying " Everybody knows me better than that. What am I going to say to the team? Just roll over and let Man United win? That's not going to happen. Make no mistake, we'll be trying our utmost."
Under Bruce the Latics have drawn with Liverpool at Anfield, drawn at home to the Gunners, and held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in April so a suprise may be on the cards though it's unlikley.
Bruce played for Manchester United from 1987 to 1996 playing 309 times and scoring 36 times. However if he hands the league to Chelsea his halo at Old Trafford will be well and truly tarnished.
PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
I'm always amazed by the reaction of some people to the name 'Arsene Wenger'!
Many almost bless themselves when they hear the Arsenal gurus name, others just shake their head and say 'What a man'.
However the lavish praise bestowed on the French purist seems once again to be a little on the OTT side as the Gunners finish their third consecutive season without silverware.
Dumped out of the Champion's League by a Liverpool side who showed more cuteness and resilience their last lingering hopes of getting something from their season were shattered on Sunday by Owen Hargreaves. His exquisite free handing Manchester United a 2-1 win.
Wenger will blame referees, lady luck, the direction of the wind, the texture of the football and the width of the posts but at the end of the day he has to hold his hands up and say he deserves criticism for not strengthening his squad when he could have.
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The buzz surrounding the appointment of Kevin Keegan as Newcastle United Manager has well and truly worn off with the Magpies still looking for their first win of the season under their much celebrated Messiah.
Just when things couldn't get any worse for 13th palced Newcastle United they welcome Manchester United to St. James Park for the evening game on Saturday.
United haven't lost away from home in the league since December 29th when a late Matthew Upson goal handed all three points to West Ham United in a 2-1 win at Upton Park.
While observers in the North of England will be focussing on Keegan's plight Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson will be intent on taking all three points as they attempt to overhaul Arsenal who sit pretty on top of the Premier League table with a 5 point advantage.
The Gunners face a tricky test away to Birmingham City with centre half Kolo Toure out after picking up an injury in Arsenal's mid week 0-0 draw at home to AC Milan. That result means Arsene Wegner's side may only have the Premiership to play for after the return leg at the San Siro.
PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
The managerial career of Rafa Benitez at Anfield has almost gone is reverse. In his first season he won the Champions League with the Reds but three seasons on he's struggling to make any impact and his job hangs by the thinnest of threads.
For most clubs winning a Champions League and FA Cup in three seasons would be a wonderful achievement but Liverpool supporters are crying out for League success on the domestic front.
Sadly for them they haven't been able to close the gap on the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea in recent seasons under Benitez and a recent run of poor results has caused unease on Merseyside.
The Spaniard has a close relationship with the supporters but his excessive rotation policy causes many to wonder if he really understands what it takes to win the most difficult league in the world.
Critics will also point to the fact than Benitez insisted on playing England's most gifted footballer Steven Gerrard out of position for the best part of two seasons only now realising that the Captain needs to slot into the middle of the park.
However while the Liverpool manager has failed to deliver at times any attempts to remove him from his position would be lunacy at this time.
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The crisis at St.James Park is now so deep that supporters are crying out for a man with no proper managerial experience to take control of the side.
True, Alan Shearer may be a legend on Tyneside but surely supporters up north can see the difference between a great player and a gifted manager.
Theres no reason why the Newcastle United record goal scorer cannot become a good coach eventually but at this point in time he is not qualified for one of the toughest jobs in Premiership football.
So far he's wisely decided to distance himself from the job but mounting pressure from both the club and the supporters may force Shearer's hand if no other suitable managerial candidate is located.
Given his 'God-like' status with Newcastle supporters Shearer knows that taking the job now could seriously jeopardise his relationship with those very same fans.
If he fails to deliver the Magpies in the stands will start to voice their disapproval with volume.
Many argue that the likes of Sunderland manager Roy Keane jumped in at the deep end when he took over at Newcastle's biggest rivals but the comparisons are not fair on the Cork man.
PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
Never before has England's top domestic league seen such a ruthless streak by club owners as managers are being sacked on a weekly basis.
Sam Allardyce became the latest victim when Newcastle United confirmed they would be terminating the 53 year old's contract after a string of poor results for the Tyneside club.
Allardyce is the eighth Premiership manager is have lost his job this season with the likes of Raphael Benitez of Liverpool seemingly running on borrowed time.
There could be more P45s dished out in the coming weeks as Newcastle eagerly attempt to put a new manager in place.
Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp and Blackburn Rover's Mark Hughes have been touted as possible candidates for the job.
The nature of the Premiership and the massive financial rewards success brings sees club owners and directors eager for immediate achievemnet on the field.
PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
Arseanal and Manchester United picked up vital wins at the weekend to keep their respective title aspirations alive but who has what it takes to last the pace and be crowned Premier Champions next year?
In any long distance race being perched on the shoulder of the leader is always the favoured position.
That way you know when you have to put your foot down and inject that extra speed to see you cross the line in pole position.
So when Sir Alex Ferguson looks at the Premier League table this morning and sees his side in second place he'll be more than happy.
In beating Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday Manchester United registered their 6th 1-0 win of the Premiership season.
With the likes of Tevez, Ronaldo, Rooney and others in top flow the defending Champions will take some stopping but if any manager can conjur up the magic to spoil Fergie's party then it's Arsene Wegner.
The Frenchman was understandably euphoric at the final whistle of the win over Chelsea at the weekend and said Arsenal are good enough to last the pace until the end of the season.
He said " It is good that we are still top because we put pressure on Manchester United. They have to know that we're there and we'll be there until the end of the season. We know we have to work every game and we will not give up."
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It's Sir Alex Ferguson's birthday on New Year's Eve but he must have thought it came early at the weekend as both Arsenal and Liverpool crashed to unexpected defeats.
To cap it all off Ryan Giggs (left) scored his 100th league goal for United as the Premier League Champions waltzed to a 4-1 win over Paul Jewell's Derby County.
At the Madejski on Saturday Liverpool seemed to have had their minds on other things and when manager Benitez took off Steven Gerrard with 20 minutes remaining Reds fans must have realised the gaffer was interested in this week's Champions League must win game against Marseille and not the three points at Reading.
But the best early birthday present for Ferguson came on Sunday when Middlesbrough suprised all by defeating League leaders Arsenal in convincing fashion.
From the bench a sombre Arsene Wegner sat motionless as Gareth Southgate's side, who had started the day in the bottom three, ran the gunners ragged eventually winning 2-1.
Stewart Downing opened the scoring in the 4th minute for Boro from the penalty spot after former Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere was brought down by Kolo Toure.
A deserved second goal arrived for the home side in the 74th minute when Tuncay Sanli fired to the net from a tight angle to send the Riverside into a celebratory frenzy.
It might only be early December but already the form of the top four means any points dropped gives a distinct advantage to the others.
On Wednesday night at St. James' Park Wegner watched his Premier League leaders stumble to a 1-1 draw with a Newcastle United side who have been poor so far this season.
Remember this is the same Newcastle side who were hammered 3-0 at home two weeks ago when Liverpool picked up all three points in the North East.
Many in the know have questioned the depth in talent of the current squad and believe as the season progresses the gunners will suffer for not having accomplished players to spring from the bench.
For the visit to Middlesbrough on Sunday Arsenal will again be without Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb, Robin Van Persie and Abou Diaby.
Its fair to say that any side would suffer if robbed of such talent and Arsenal seem no different.
With confidence shaken the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea will be hoping the Gunner's impressive start to the season is about to end.
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If Arsenal are to maintain their lead at the top of the Premiership this weekend then they will have to deal with a one 'Gabriel Agbonlahor'.
The 21-year-old Brummie has been in sensational form for Martin O' Neill's men hitting the back of the net six times so far this season.
Though he didn't score in Aston Villa's amazing 4-0 away win to Blackburn Rovers mid week the striker has been crucial to his side's cause this season.
The England U-21 International who came through the Academy at Aston Villa scored against title chasers Chelsea earlier in the season and will be aiming to do the same against Arsene Wegner's side on Saturday.
Arsenal lost their first game of the season mid week in the Champion's League against Sevilla and their current form has taken something of a dip.
Wenger rested striker Emmanuel Adebayor and defender William Gallas for that game but they are expected to return for the clash with Villa who are now up to sixth in the table.
Crucially the Gunner's driving source Cesc Fabregas will miss this all important tie for the league leaders.
PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
Nicholas Anelka netted his first goal in the Premiership for Arsenal against Manchester United back in 1997. A decade on the 28-year-old Frenchman was at it again as his early strike against the Red Devils gave Bolton a crucial 1-0 win at the Reebok stadium.
That win lifted Wanderers out of the bottom three and suddenly their future in the Premiership looks a whole lot brighter. They have now lost just one of their last seven games and under new boss Gary Megson seem to have turned the corner.
The suprising result leaves United three points behind leaders Arsenal with Arsene Wegner's side also having a game in hand.
The Gunners were unimpressive in their 2-0 home win over Wigan with William Gallas breaking the deadlock with just seven minutes remaining.
Arsenal are one of just two sides remaining in the Premiership with an unbeaten record - the other being Liverpool.
The league leader's game in hand will be played against Newcastle United on Wednesday, December 5th.
PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
The clash of the weekend will be at St. James' Park as Newcastle United aim to pick up their first Premiership win in four games when they welcome fifth placed Liverpool.
Liverpool who are six points behind table toppers Arsenal can not afford to drop points as they aim to challenge for the one trophy which has escaped them for almost two decades now.
If the Toon Army are to be celebrating on Saturday evening then they will have to sort out their defence. In their last home game Newcastle went down by 4 goals to 1 to Portsmouth.
Fernando Torres is expected to be back in the Liverpool starting line up having overcome a recurring muscle injury.
The Spaniah hitman showed how important he is to the Red's cause this season when he came off the bench to score a vital goal against Fulham in Liverpool's last Premeirship game.
PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL
Today it emerged that Steve Bruce has parted company with Birmingham City and the 46 year old is set to become the manager of Wigan Athletic for the second time in his career.
The last time the former Manchester United centre half called the shots at the JJB stadium the side were in League one.
His spell at Wigan in 2001 lasted for just 7 weeks. He dumped the Latics for Crystal Palace despite enjoying a fantasic bri
ef spell at the club which almost yielded promotion.
Many supporters in Wigan still feel Bruce betrayed them and the new boss will have to work hard to win over the affections of many of the supporters.
The priority for the time being though is picking up points but Bruce's first game as boss could well be the most difficult of his reign in charge.
Playing Arsenal at the Emirates is a difficult task at the best of times but on Saturday Wigan will simply be hoping Bruce can give them a crash course in damage limitation.
The former England star has been Birmingham City manager for nearly six years but there were fears in the midlands that the takeover of the club by Hong Kong business man Carson Yeung would lead to Bruce's sacking.
Ironically Bruce guided Birmingham to a 3-2 win over Wigan at the end of October contributing to the latic's woeful run.
