I find it so strange that Aquilani does not take the corners and free-kicks. It's ok for Ibra to take the direct ones because he's got a bullet of a shot that could go in at any time. But I don't understand why Robinho for example would take the corners, Aquilani delivers them a lot better, I think Allegri likes to keep him at the edge of the area in case their is a loose ball he can smash in but it would be better to have him delivering the ball from these kinds of situations

EDIT: What's even worse than this is when we use the dreaded short corner, that just irritates me to no end

Arsenal have used it 3-4 times against Fulham to great effect, i would think they practice it in training, therefore there would be a lesser advantage to doing it against them...you would think...

What's it with the Premier League playing every day for the past five days when the rest of the world is on holidays?

Aston Villa are interested in signing Didier Drogba in a move that could pave the way for the shock January exit of Darren Bent, Goal.com has learned.

DON'T MISS
Chelsea in talks with Drogba over contract
The Midlands club have expressed an interest in swooping for the Chelsea veteran, who turns 34 in March.

Drogba is out of contract in the summer and talks over an extension at Stamford Bridge have reached a stalemate, with the Londoners unwilling to exceed the one-year deal currently on the table.

However, Villa have indicated they would be willing to give Drogba the two-year contract that he wants from Chelsea.

Although Villa manager Alex McLeish has admitted he has limited funds to spend in this month’s transfer window, the sale of club-record signing Bent would free up the cash to match Drogba’s current salary of around £120,000-a-week.

Goal.com understands that Villa are expecting a fight this month to hold on to Bent, who is attracting strongly rumoured interest from Liverpool.

The Reds' director of football Damien Comolli is a big admirer of Bent and was influential in taking the player to Tottenham from Charlton Athletic in 2007 when the Frenchman was at White Hart Lane.

Although Villa stress their prize asset is not for sale at any price, one source with knowledge of the situation said: “Villa are steeling themselves for bids for Bent this month. They are preparing for life without him and are seriously considering Drogba as a replacement.”

McLeish is believed to have an uneasy relationship with Bent, despite the striker’s record of a goal every other game since his surprise move from Sunderland 12 months ago.

The 27-year-old has scored a relatively meagre six Premier League goals this season but is gradually establishing himself at international level and is expected to be part of England’s Euro 2012 squad this summer.

Villa paid £18 million rising to £24m for Bent and have privately indicated that they will need to recoup that outlay to justify his sale to their supporters, who watched Stewart Downing and Ashley Young be sold last summer.

Potential replacements with proven Premier League pedigree are thin on the ground but Villa are closely monitoring Drogba’s contract situation.

The Ivory Coast international is currently assessing his options, with strong interest in him from suitors including cash-rich Chinese and Russian clubs, the MLS and Serie A.

He will be available for free in the summer and it is unlikely that Chelsea will ask for more than £3m this month for the player they brought to England from Marseille in 2004.

http://watchhighlightsonline.blogspot.com/...bolton-tim.html

One of the busiest times of the year in English football to be honest, the only reason it's not on this weekend is due to the 3rd round of the FA Cup. The way Christmas/New Year fell this year meant there were going to be a lot of mid-week games.

I think it's his way of finding out who's 'weak' regarding his players Bridge and Tevez has just gone off in a strop and not fought for their place while players like Balotelli have come back stronger for it.

He does too much talking though, I agree there.

Good game especially with that wind. 4 goals, 2 crackers and a penalty save. Only we can be 3-0 up with 5 to go and make it exciting.

Ridiculous decision to send off Kompany just now imo

Nah. Straight red. 2 feet off the ground with studs showing. Well done to Foy for showing some balls and not allowing such dangerous play.

Nah. Straight red. 2 feet off the ground with studs showing. Well done to Foy for showing some balls and not allowing such dangerous play.

The 2 footed tackle is being outlawed, whilst I don't agree with it, you simply can't do it in modern football. You run the risk immediately of going by doing it.

United have had the bigger cutting edge since the 1st minute though.

It's amazing the same people say that was a bad decision, but that Pepe 'foul' last year was bordering on assault

Pepe actually took Alves's leg...

Kompany got the ball completely. The so called experts from what I'm listening to are still calling it a terrible decision.

I personally agree with that. I'm pretty sure neither of you would be saying this had it been the other way round

You still can't tackle with 2 feet off the ground, win the ball or not. It wasn't a lunge, to me it's not a red, though the rules are outlawing this game that's why I can see why he did.

I suppose that wasn't a penalty either

3-0, wonder if this will be 6-1.

That was definately a penalty, and imo that would have been a better opportunity to send someone off rather than the Kompany challenge. Something we see happen regularly and usually get away with yellows or even less

I don't know what to say though, it's stupid, I don't want to see the sport going non-contact but that's the way it's going the best teams in the world (I'm not just talking about 1 or 2) have all made it that way. The modern footballers have made it that way, and the rules have made it that way.

At the end of the day making a 2 footed tackle, winning the ball or not, is always a potential red-card I'm afraid.

I agree, but either be consistant with it or remove it all together.

It just ruined what could have been a great game. United would have never been this dominant and probably would have lost in all honesty. They were handed this game plain and simple.

It just ruined what could have been a great game. United would have never been this dominant and probably would have lost in all honesty. They were handed this game plain and simple.

Kompany ruined the game by doing something stupid. He handed the game, but it was own choice to do something stupid.

So I guess this soft-centre is getting a bit tougher with age

Too bad it only works against 10 men, you know seeing as they lost in humiliating fashion 2 games in a row in the league when they were up against 11