Chelsea manager Andre Villas Boas has stated that he will not change his tactics despite being beaten 5-3 by Arsenal at home on Saturday, and will continue with his attacking mentality.

The Stamford Bridge club were guilty of some very substandard defending in the defeat, but regardless of this the Portuguese coach has vowed to send people forward in coming games.

“The philosophy is a personal value and a club value,” the ex-Porto trainer told Sky Sports.

“It is something that makes us all proud and we will stick to this philosophy throughout this league. It is our way of playing, we are proud of the way we play and we just have to correct things to get a positive result.”

Chelsea battled back to 3-3 before two late Gunners goals broke the home side’s hearts, but Villas Boas has stood up for his defenders in the wake of the defeat.

“We fought hard to get to 3-3, the emotions were behind us and it could have gone either way. If we can recall, there was a 3-1 result at Old Trafford, Man United thought they could swing it and they lost 6-1. We were punished in that sense.

“You have to take the last two goals out of the situation, because one is a slip from a player [John Terry] to leave the other player [Robin van Persie] one against one so is nothing to do with defensive organisation and the other is when you are trying to do something with three minutes on the clock.

“Before this we were one of the three best defences in the Premier League. We committed mistakes that we will try to evolve and maybe we can improve them for the game against Blackburn,” he concluded.

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Chelsea face Belgian champions Racing Genk in Europe on Tuesday at the Cristal Arena, and will look to get back to winning ways after back-to-back defeats.

By Gareth McKnight

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AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has admitted that if the Serie A giants do make a move for Carlos Tevez in January it will only be on loan.

The Manchester City striker’s time in England seems to be drawing to a close after repeated indiscretions and disciplinary proceedings, with the South American returning to Argentina recently without permission of the club.

The Etihad Stadium outfit are thought to be looking for a January buyer for the attacker, and the Scudetto holders were earmarked as a potential suitor.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men are thought to be in the market for a forward due to Antonio Cassano’s health problems, and a £25 million move in the new year has been speculated in the British press.

Despite this, the Giuseppe Meazza chief has stated that the Italian side are only interested in a temporary deal.

“Whoever comes to Milan in January will be on loan for free, with an option to make that stay permanent,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Tevez? We will see, there’s time. Probably if we had not had [Antonio] Cassano’s situation, we would remain as we are.”

The news will come to a blow for City, as potential destinations for Tevez are becoming limited; Juventus recently ruled themselves out of a move for him come the new year.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Sir Alex Ferguson says Luis Suarez’s eight-game ban was the right decision and feels Liverpool should just accept the punishment and move on. The United manager cited a similar situation faced them a few years back when Evra was banned for four games based on the testimony of a groundsman at Stamford Bridge and Fergie believes that there was little point in contesting it, given the potential ramifications of it and the extending the ban.

Elsewhere in the news Wenger considers Henry return; King hails Spurs side, while Wayne Bridge confesses his need to quit Manchester City.

Ferguson says Suárez’s eight-game ban was ‘right decision’ – Guardian

Wenger considers Henry return – Guardian

Dalglish demands FA protection for Suarez – Daily Telegraph

Yakubu: ‘Shocking’ fan abuse is hurting us – Independent

Chelsea set to beat Spurs to Cahill signing – Mirror

King: this is best Spurs team I’ve been in – Daily Telegraph

Wayne Bridge: ‘I have to get out of City’ – Independent

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Aston Villa manager McLeish gets shirty with goal celebrations – Daily Mail

Sunderland prepare raid for Villa defender – Mirror

Everton outbid Swans for Rory – Sky Sports

Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye’s appeal against the FA charge of violent conduct has been dismissed, and he will now serve a three-match ban.

The France international appeared to catch Brighton defender Adam El-Abd in the face with a boot in the Tyneside club’s 1-0 exit from the FA Cup on Saturday, but referee Lee Probert missed the incident.

The FA heard Cabaye’s appeal against their charge on Wednesday, but ruled against him, with the news confirmed on the governing body’s official website.

“At a Regulatory Commission hearing today, Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye was given a three-match suspension for violent conduct,” the statement reads.

“Cabaye was charged following an incident in Newcastle’s FA Cup Fourth Round tie against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday 28 January.

“The suspension will commence with immediate effect.”

Cabaye sat out Newcastle’s game against Blackburn on Wednesday night, and is also now set to miss Premier League games against Aston Villa and Tottenham.

His unavailability will be a frustration to Alan Pardew, who is already without midfield enforcer Cheik Tiote due to Ivory Coast’s progression in the African Cup of Nations.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Since his dismissal as Chelsea assistant manager, Ray Wilkins has joined the Sky Sports team.  Love him or hate him, he’s on your telly most weekends and he’s got a few commentary habits that you can’t help but notice.  Here are a few of our favourites, translated to help you fully understand Ray the next time you’re watching the football and he just won’t stop talking:

“My Word”

Ray’s most common catchphrase and his number one choice for verbal exclamation.  Any piece of skill, powerful shot, big tackle or sharp reaction save is likely to be met in the commentators box by the immediate cry of “My word!”  It’s not difficult to imagine Ray sitting at home, watching a particularly exciting game of football on the telly, rocking back and forth in his chair and muttering “my word” repeatedly for 90 minutes.  Still, I suppose it’s better than him using a phrase like “F*****g hell” and getting kicked off our screens altogether.  Or is it?

“Very Pleasant”

This is Ray’s preferred phrase when describing a bit of football that was easy on the eye.  Examples may include, “Some of City’s play today has been very pleasant”, “Van Persie’s shooting technique is very pleasant” or even, “In those shorts Frank’s arse is very pleasant”.  The latter is a combination of this Wilkins-ism and his affinity with the Chelsea squad and insistence on referring to them by their first names, just in case we forgot he knows them all personally.

“Well done young fella”

Ray is a big fan of congratulating a particularly pleasant piece of football by referring to the player in question as a “young fella”.  It appears as though there are no real age restrictions on being a “young fella”, as Ray is happy to attribute the nickname to just about anyone.  I wouldn’t be surprised if a heroic save by the 40-year old Brad Friedel was met by Ray with a shout of “well done young fella!”

“Pull the trigger”

Not exclusively a Wilkins cliché, but one he uses in abundance nonetheless.  The common definition of “pull the trigger” in a footballing circumstance is “take a shot at goal” and Ray doesn’t use it any differently.  You just feel as though he might occasionally actually use the words “shoot” or “shot at goal”, as opposed to constantly urging players to “pull the trigger”.

“You’d have to say”

This is Ray’s ingenious way of convincing people his opinions are correct.  In a very Derren Brown-esque way, Ray will put forward a particular opinion, preceded by the words “you’d have to say” in the hope that those who disagree with his judgement may be mind controlled into thinking otherwise.  For example, “You’d have to say, Fernando has been an excellent signing for Chelsea”.  Judging by public opinion on Twitter during Sunday’s game at Loftus Road, the technique isn’t really working.

 “Stay on your feet”

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Possibly Ray’s most famous catchphrase.  In a world full of divers and cheats (Seb Larsson, Hamit Altintop and Luis Suarez to name a few), Ray won’t stand for it and can be heard constantly urging a young fella to “stay on your feet”.  You’d have to say, football would be a very pleasant game to watch if players would stay on their feet; they’d probably even create more chances to pull the trigger.  My word…

Read more of my articles at The Coin Toss

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The task of replacing Britain’s greatest ever manager is daunting enough for anybody, but would having Sir Alex still at the club, make that task a little bit more impossible?

In theory, the idea of having Sir Alex working at the club after he retires from management is a nice idea. Sir Alex is Manchester United, and perhaps if Sir Alex had groomed a younger manager to be his replacement then it would work. In reality, a new manager will want to be seen as boss, but with Sir Alex around the training ground and at Old Trafford on match days, who do you think the players will go to when they have a problem?

In his first BBC interview since 2004, Sir Alex said: “I will remain active. I think there will be a role for me at United after I finish,

“I think you always want to go out on a winning note. Hopefully we can do that. I don’t know how long I can last now but if my health stays up I don’t think another two or three years would harm me.”

It’s happened in the past when great managers have cast a shadow on their clubs after they left, the greatest English manager England never had in Brian Clough lasted only 44 days at Leeds United before the ghost of Don Revie forced him out of Eland Road. Chelsea have had little success since Jose Mourinho left the club and his untouchables are still reportedly in contact with the special one, undermining current manager Andre Villas-Boas.

It’s Mourinho who is widely tipped to take over at Old Trafford, would Mourinho, the biggest ego in world football be happy with Sir Alex still being in constant contact with his players? It would end in complete disaster, and with Manchester City getting stronger year after year, United can’t afford to give them an inch in the title race.

You can just imagine it happening, Sir Alex bowing out with the Premier League or Champions League title, then the new manager comes in and United find themselves, out of the cups and a million miles away from neighbours City. How long would it take until United fans are calling for Sir Alex to return to the Old Trafford dug out? I think we know the answer.

Have your say by leaving a comment or tweet me @deanmears.

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Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs has admitted that his side’s derby fixture against title rivals Manchester City on April 30th may well decide who becomes champions this season.

The Red Devils hold a three-point advantage over Roberto Mancini’s men with eight games left to play, but still have to travel to the Etihad Stadium, where City are unbeaten this season.

The veteran has stated that the game between the two may well be decisive, due to the teams being neck-and-neck.

“We have the experience but City have the hunger. If we both keeping going like this, everything will be decided in the derby,” he stated to Gazzetta dello Sport, translated to English by Sky Sports.

The 38-year-old bypassed the 900 appearance mark for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side earlier in the season, and has admitted that he is not ready to retire from the game just yet.

“For now, I just want to play football but I’m prepared for my life after retirement.

“Becoming manager of Manchester United? We’ll see, for now I just want to enjoy the moment.

“My goal as a youngster was to play one game for Manchester United. I achieved that dream, which I’m continuing to live at 38. I could not ask for more,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Wigan boss Roberto Martinez feels that Chelsea will struggle against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals.

The Blues overcame Benfica in the quarter-finals to set up a mouth-watering clash with the reigning champions, with the first leg to be played at Stamford Bridge.

Martinez, who takes his relegation-threatened Wigan side to west London this weekend, feels that his countrymen may be too strong for Roberto Di Matteo’s team.

“If the second game had been at their place, Chelsea would have had an advantage,” he told The Sun.

“They need to take at least a two-goal lead to Barcelona to win. Ninety minutes in the Nou Camp is a long period to address things and put them right.

“Barcelona did that against AC Milan the other night. If the second leg had been at the Bridge, Chelsea would be favourites,” he opined.

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By Gareth McKnight

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With striker Darius Henderson facing a court case in June, the Lions could face the new season without their leading goal scorer from 2010/2011 season, I will be looking at who would be left to lead the Lions attack.

John Marquis- This is Marquis’s first full season in the first team, and he has found it a struggle to adapt to Championship standards, with only one goal scored this season, and that came on the opening day at Reading.

Marquis looks a strong player who likes to put himself around the field, a Neil Harris-esq mould of player if you will, but so far he hasn’t produced, plus a twitter rant after losing to rivals Crystal Palace at The Den won’t help his cause with the fans. Can marquis score goals at this level? Maybe, after a loan or two in the lower leagues but not now, he’s nowhere near the answer.

Josh Mcquoid- The Lions faithful have seen little of Josh since his arrival in January 2010.  An injury kept Mcquoid out when he first arrived but the South Londoners did get too see a glimpse of what he could do, a magnificent strike against Preston which won the clubs goal of the season award.

Since then certain rumours of a fall out with Kenny Jackett came out in the open. He only played 11 games before going on loan to Burnley where he impressed at Turf Moor the playing majority of his games on left wing. He played 17 games scoring just one goal before returning to The Den. He could be the new goal scorer at The Den but KJ may have him in plans for left midfield.

Sean Batt- Batt will just be happy to be playing football again after suffering a horrific injury in pre season of 2010, missing the whole of 10/11 campaign.

He started to make his comeback in January 2012, including two games against his old club Dagenham & Redbridge. He was sent to League Two promotion winners Crawley Town where he played only six games. He was then brought back to The Den for a string of sub appearances, including the final game against Blackpool. With an awkward body to play against and his blistering pace, BATTman, a unknown quantity, could be the answer Jackett is looking for.

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Last but nowhere least is Andy Keogh – Keogh was brought in on transfer deadline day from now relegated Wolves and his first few lions games were played on the wing but Kenny Jackett soon pushed him to a striker. With 10 goals in 19 games since January he’s gone from being in the reserves at Wolves, to being a top, on-form Championship striker and on the fringes of Ireland’s Euro 2012 squad,  another gem found by KJ.

By looking at this the only real quality striker The Lions have is Andy Keogh, so surely another striker to accompany Keogh leading the strike force should be priority for this summer.

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