On Tuesday night in the serene surroundings of Canada Water, 12 bloggers (myself included), one Sunday League team and decorated former England international Ray Wilkins descended upon Bacon’s College as part of Nivea’s enterprising ‘The Great Football Experiment’ campaign.

The event itself comprised a host of engaging activities, including FA coach-led skill sessions, fervently-contested seven-a-side contests, a mock press conference and the opportunity to quiz Wilkins himself.

Wilkins admitted that he would relish the prospect of working with former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti again.

The pair worked together at Stamford Bridge for 17 months before Wilkins was sacked in November 2010.

Ancelotti has recently been linked with a return to management in London, with Arsenal and Tottenham mooted as potential destinations.

“If he wanted me to back with him yes I would. He’s an excellent coach and a good human being – a nice fellow to work with,” he said.

“He’s already living in England so he hasn’t had to come back too far! He wants to work in England – he’s desperate to, but I wouldn’t know where.”

Wilkins also feels that his former side can challenge the two Manchester clubs for the Premier League title this season.

“Absolutely. They’re just coming up on the rails aren’t they?

“It’s vitally important that they beat Manchester United once, Manchester City once and Tottenham once.”

The former Blues coach believes that Frank Lampard, whose role at club and country level has come under scrutiny, provided the perfect riposte to those who had doubted him. Speaking after Lampard scored a hat-trick in Chelsea’s 5-1 defeat of Bolton, Wilkins said:

“I think he’s just being what he is, and that’s a top professional. He hasn’t got anything to prove, it was a kneejerk reaction to give him grief, saying he was finished.

“It was his way at the weekend of telling everybody, ‘I am still about, alive and kicking.’”

Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/zarifrasul

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Wayne Rooney has admitted that he was devastated by the three match ban handed down by Uefa after his red card against Montenegro, and would understand if Fabio Capello left him out of England’s Euro 2012 squad.

The Manchester United striker kicked out at Miodrag Dzudovic in The Three Lions final qualifying fixture in Podgorica, and the governing body punished the attacker with the maximum possible suspension.

With Rooney set to miss the entire group stage of the tournament in Ukraine and Poland next year, the FA has not yet decided whether to appeal Uefa’s decision, and Capello is tossing up whether to bring him to the competition.

“I am disappointed with it,” Rooney told The Guardian.

“I’ve got no excuse but I still feel the punishment is a bit harsh. All the details we have been waiting for came through so we will be making a decision as to whether we will be appealing.

“Obviously that is my own fault so I can’t really complain. It will be a bonus if it is cut by one game. And I thank the Montenegro player [Dzudovic] who has sent an email to Uefa saying that he felt the punishment was too harsh. He didn’t have to do that.

“It was stupid. I regretted it as soon as I did it. I honestly don’t know why I did it. It was one of those moments which I live to regret now. There was no tackle on me beforehand, so it wasn’t retaliation.

“I didn’t set out to ‘beat’ him; it just happened. I just can’t explain it but, obviously, it’s devastating for me,” he stated.

A national debate has ensued whether or not Rooney should be included in the European Championships squad, with opinion split down the middle. If he was omitted from the travelling party, Rooney would understand due to his three match ineligibility.

“I will understand if I am not in the squad because I’ll be missing out on those first three games at the minute and he has to look at other players – it is as simple as that. I want to play but I understand if I don’t,” he concluded.

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Fabio Capello is set to leave Rooney out of the international friendlies against Spain and Sweden, as the striker’s selection for Euro 2012 hangs in the balance.

By Gareth McKnight

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Player power is ever increasing in football and the situation is only becoming more unbalanced. As the Carlos Tevez saga rumbles on like some boring omnibus that climaxed weeks ago yet continues to run we are left wondering what Man City’s real options are? Don’t confuse my disdain for Tevez as sympathy for City, of which I have none, but it seems to me that Man City’s rights are not really protected here. What can they really do to punish a player they paid around £40m for who now refuses to play?

Suspension

Yes they can suspend Tevez, they have already done this and whilst they don’t necessarily have to pay him during this time is this punishment enough? The player is refusing to come back and train at City long after his suspension has finished therefore it appears that this punishment carries little actual threat to the Argentine striker.

Fines

They can fine him. They’ve done this too, but what does it matter to a man that earns a reported £200,000 a week if he is fined half a million, or a million, or more? Before the year is out he will have regained all of that money so it makes little difference to him. Monetary threats to footballers are not really threats at all. They will always make the money back from the person who is normally fining them. It is a farce.

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Sacking

They can sack Tevez which alleviates the problem of having to pay the ungrateful culprit and then they no longer have to deal with the problems he presents. However again Tevez doesn’t even want to be at City. Being sacked is exactly what he does want then he would be free to go and ply his trade wherever he saw fit. Probably back in Argentina. Moreover they would never recover any of the hefty price tag which they paid for him. They can sue him if they were to dismiss the forward but reports suggest that they would only receive about £17m which would be less than half of the asking price they have set for the striker.

So…

So then what are their real options? Incorporating him back in to the team or selling him. Because of the relatively small amount of compensation that would be involved in sacking Tevez then selling him makes for a better option but with such a high price tag and huge wage demands there are few likely candidates around to purchase the South American. And the other option, bringing him back in to the fold, has already been attempted by Mancini who said that if Carlos apologised there was still a place for him in Manchester. However the player’s latest antics are sure to have scuppered any chance of that ever happening.

So now City are in a position whereby unless they drop their asking price dramatically there is little chance of selling him and they have exhausted their other options. FIFA must watch this episode carefully because precedents are set easily in football as Jean-Marc Bosman proved. If the right solution to this problem is not reached then it will be another huge step towards diminished power f football clubs. If Man City with all their financial clout cannot control and punish their players then what chance do the clubs that need money stand?

FIFA can step in and solve this problem. They can perhaps threaten to impose a worldwide ban on Tevez if he refuses to cooperate. This would do two things: firstly it would show players that even if they think they are bigger than their club they are not bigger than football. It will make an example of Tevez and even though he may not wish to play football for the next year or two other players will. This will act as a huge deterrent for other trouble-making players who think they are bigger than their employers. Secondly it could force Tevez to play ball with City. If he is sacked, sued and then cannot play football which would provide a source of income for him then he would have to rethink his position.

At the moment Tevez holds all the cards and it is the responsibility of FIFA to help out his parent club. Not just for City but for all clubs who may experience similar issues in the future. If Tevez gets away with his actions this time then what is top stop any player simply refusing to play next time he wants to move clubs or doesn’t get on with his manager. FIFA are often in the news for the wrong reasons, it’s time for a change.

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Follow me on Twitter @H_Mackay

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Ever since the Bosman ruling came in to effect the possibility for clubs to snap up players for a bargain price has been a reality. Summer transfers like Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri proved the power of players to force a move to other clubs and arguably for a cheaper price than expected. As we approach the January transfer window there are a number of players in either the last six or eighteen months of their contract who could be available for transfer. Whether it is because they no longer wish to continue with their current club or the club no longer sees their services as necessary varies from player to player but one thing that doesn’t is the potential for a few million pounds to be knocked off their asking price. For many of the clubs they know it is the last chance saloon to either sell these players in January, persuade them to sign a new contract or risk losing them for nothing at the end of the season. For most clubs the only real option will be facilitate the sale of these players for as much as being sports clubs they are also businesses.

Click on Junior Hoilett to unveil the top 10

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Chelsea defender Ashley Cole did not taunt Manchester City players in the Stamford Bridge tunnel after his side’s victory between the teams on Monday, according to the London club.

Goals from Raul Meireles and Frank Lampard cancelled out Mario Balotelli’s opener to keep The Blues in the hunt for the Premier League title, and close the gap between themselves and the leaders to seven points.

Etihad Stadium boss Roberto Mancini had suggested that the England full back was ungracious in victory on Monday night, and may have teased the defeated team straight after the game, causing a fracas in the tunnel.

Despite the Italian coach’s comments, Chelsea have released a statement defending Cole.

“Contrary to reports, Ashley Cole did not say anything to the opposition in the tunnel after Monday’s game,” Chelsea’s official website states.

“Ashley has huge respect for the players and staff at Manchester City, many of whom he knows personally and calls friends.”

Chelsea travel to take on Wigan at the DW Stadium on Saturday, and will look to build on their win over City earlier in the week.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Manchester City are getting tough with Carlos Tevez and have informed the Argentine that he will only be leaving the Etihad Stadium on their terms and not his. Tevez has two and half years left on his contract and City have suggested they will not budge on their asking price and will continue to discipline the striker if he fails to fulfil his contractual obligations. It is reported that his dispute with City has cost in the region of £9.3m to date; fines that Carlos Tevez is looking to appeal.

Carlos Tevez’s standoff with Manchester City has reportedly cost him a staggering £9.3m in the past few months. The Argentine apparently has until the end of the month to appeal against the fining with the Premier League – Guardian

Chelsea and QPR will issue statements ahead of their cup clash at the weekend in an attempt to defuse a potential volatile situation – Guardian

Fabio Capello is set to call-up Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain into his next England squad. The Italian was in the crowd at the Emirates on Sunday and was impressed with what he saw in the Arsenal winger – Guardian

Steven Gerrard believes there needs to be a change in attitude within the Liverpool squad. The Reds captain feels those underperforming need to take a long hard look at themselves to ensure that Liverpool can turn their fortunes around – Daily Telegraph

Mario Balotelli will be driven out of English football by referees, according to his agent. Mino Raiola has suggested that while his client is content in England, he may look to move to another country if referees continue to victimise him – Independent

Paul Lambert believes that Jonny Howson has all the ingredients to be a ‘great’ for Norwich City. The Canaries boss feels his latest signing from Leeds United has all the attributes to be a top class Premier League performer – Independent

Arsene Wenger is reportedly part of a two man shortlist to replace Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. The Portuguese manager told a press conference that he is unsure whether he will still be at the Bernabeu at the end of the season, which may see Madrid renew their interest in the Arsenal boss – Daily Mail

Liverpool are reportedly keen on Udinese’s Chilean international Mauricio Isla, as Kenny Dalglish looks to freshen up the Reds squad in the January window – Daily Star

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Chelsea have opened talks to sign Genk winger Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgium youngster is one of the country’s hot young prospects and the Blues are keen to tie him down to a deal that will initially see the player be loaned back to Genk for the rest of the season – Sun

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Last weekend was a family affair at Wembley as Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool went up against his cousin Anthony Gerrard’s Cardiff City in the League Cup final. While one family member was going to be pleased and one disappointed, it turned out that Anthony would be absolutely distraught.

The match itself was an enthralling one as both sides held a lead at one point (Cardiff in the first half and Liverpool in the second half of extra time). But the sides couldn’t be separated and so a penalty shootout would decide the winner as both Gerrards stepped up to the spot.

Steven Gerrard took the very first penalty, which was brilliantly saved by Cardiff goalkeeper Tom Heaton, but by the time Anthony stepped up as the 10th penalty taker, he needed to score to keep the Bluebirds in it.

In what was heartbreak for Anthony, he missed and handed the victory to Liverpool. Here’s Steven Gerrard consoling his cousin after the match, but what is Stevie G saying to Anthony?

Leave your suggestions below…

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Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has stated that he still has the backing of Roman Abramovich, and wants to lead the team to success in coming seasons.

The Portuguese coach has come under scrutiny due to the fact that The Blues are not in the race for the Premier League title, but Villas Boas is eager to fulfil the club’s objectives this term.

“We have two competitions where we look better, and another competition where we have to dilute the damage and try to finish fourth, at least, which is not a very honourable position for the dimension of this club,” he stated in a press conference, which is documented by The Telegraph.

“I think when we set up with this team, we believed that the team was ready for four trophies.

“We had a transfer window open when we didn’t do any market activity, apart from Gary [Cahill].

“So we are confident on playing still to reach the objectives that we have for this season with this team, and then eventually move on to what is next year.

“The reality is that in the last years there was a pattern of managers shifting. In the end, you have to agree that from 2004 Chelsea has been massively successful. It has been the best period of Chelsea’s history.

“And hopefully we can progress that within the three-year range with me here,” he commented.

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Chelsea face Everton on Saturday and will look to close the gap on London rivals Tottenham in the position above them.

By Gareth McKnight

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Swindon Town’s defeat at Wembley last Sunday to Chesterfield would have been a hard pill to swallow if it was not for the fact that they are four points clear at the summit of League 2.

Also, the extra cushion of having 2 games in hand will sit nicely with the Wiltshire side. Paolo Di Canio will be looking for Swindon to bounce back with a ‘warrior’ like attitude and performance. Captain Paul Caddis is still out injured and this is a major blow to the Robins as he has been an influential figure this season. Striker Paul Benson is doubtful for the weekend’s game due to a slight neck injury.

Lowly-Season…

Bristol Rovers visit the County Ground on Saturday after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Aldershot on Tuesday Night. Rovers may feel aggrieved by this loss but 1 shot on target is not the sign of a team on form. The Gas have under achieved this season lying in 14th place with nothing notable to play for. With 1st Round, 2nd Round and 3rd Round defeats in JPT, League cup and FA Cup respectively, this has come as somewhat of a consolation for the fans during a poor season. Rovers will need to vastly improve their performances if want to keep key players in the summer. This season Rovers have had severe defensive issues shipping 58 goals in 39 games, which manager Mark McGhee had said ‘this is not what I expect from my players’. This will not deter Rovers from selling out their allocation against their local rivals.

Head-To-Head…

This is the 94th meeting between the teams with Swindon Town leading the way with 43 wins in comparision to Bristol Rovers’s 35. Swindon’s are looking for their 13th straight home win in the league but the form book goes out of the window in derby games.

Earlier This Season…

When the teams met in December they could not be separated. Swindon’s captain Paul Caddis put the Robins into the lead in the 37th minute with a left footed strike from the edge of the box. This effort was cancelled out late into the game by Danny Woodards headed goal. This point for Rovers kept them in touch with 17th place AFC Wimbledon whilst the Robins climbed to 6th, 11 points behind the leaders Crawley.

Trip down memory lane…

Saturday 29th May 2010

Millwall 1 Swindon Town 0

Attendance: 73,108 (32,000 Swindon Fans)

Goals From: Robinson (39’).

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Starting Line-up: Lucas, Sheehan, Jean-Francois, Cuthbert, Amankwaah, Ward, Ferry, Douglas, McGovern, Austin, Paynter.

Why I Remember The Game: This was my first trip to the new Wembley. An awesome stadium and had ever confidence beforehand. One moment will forever be with me and that’s the ‘Bobble’ from Charlie Austin. I suppose with this loss and the relegation that followed the next season we have ended up with the Italian maestro Paolo Di Canio therefore we cannot have any complaints.

You can follow me on Twitter for more discussion about Swindon @engoism.

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Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that full-back Fabio will go out on loan next season to try and get more regular first-team football.

The Brazilian defender has only made five appearances for the Premier League champions this term, and the Scottish coach is hopeful that a temporary deal elsewhere will help the young star.

“I hope that Fabio will develop in the same way as his twin, Rafael,” Ferguson told The Sun.

“To help him, he will go out on loan next season to give him concentrated first-team experience.

“I have already talked to him and he understands the value of playing regularly at a higher level than we can give him at the moment,” he confessed.

Fabio has been a bit-part player at Old Trafford this campaign due to the continued progression of the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling.

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By Gareth McKnight

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