Listen: Richard Keys Explains, Apologizes - And Resigns

Blackburn

Richard Keys apologised today for his part in the sexist comments he made to fellow Sky Sports pundit, Andy Gray. Further videos have been published on YouTube of Keys and Gray talking in a derogatory way about women and Keys used the 15 minute radio slot on Talk Sport to apologise as people are call for his sacking. Keys has since resigned from his anchor role as Sky Sports presenter.

I couldn't wait any longer for this blog to upload the recording of Keys apologising, after all, I left it for over four hours to actually upload. My patience ran out, so listen to his apology here.

Andy Gray, the former Scottish player and now ex-pundit, issued a statement rather than spoken apology which read:

'I am very sorry that certain comments made by me have caused offence. Such comments were made off-air to work colleagues, and were of course never intended to be broadcast.

'I was very upset when the comments were brought to my attention, and it was my intention to apologise on Monday night when I was back on air for the Bolton v Chelsea game.

'Sadly I was unable to do so as I was suspended from the show by Sky Sports and have now been sacked.

'Football is my life and I am devastated by losing the job that I love.

'I am equally upset that third parties have been dragged into this issue. I ask that the media respect their privacy so that they can continue in their roles.

'I have worked for Sky Sports loyally for over 20 years and I do not wish to comment further at this time.'

United's Night as Arsenal, City & Chelsea Fail to Win

Blackburn

Arsenal and Manchester City had the chance tonight to gain valuable ground on the now comfortable leaders at the top of this years very close Premier League, Manchester United. Neither team took their chance, and the game ended in a dull stalemate, mainly thanks to the incredibly negative, defensive performance from Manchester City.

They have one of the best squads in the whole League, with some fantastic attacking players with good strength in depth, yet City manager Roberto Mancini seems reluctant to show his attacking players off. Tevez played up front on his own for the whole game, and had next to no chances. Three defensive midfielders for City too, with Yaya Toure switching from his current attacking form, to slotting in with Barry and De Jong to stop any Arsenal attacks. With their four at the back and three just ahead, even Arsenal's renowned passing ability, could not cut through the opposing defence.

The tale was attack against defence, and it only produced a dull, unimpressive stalemate, with few highlights. Arsenal hit the post a couple of times in the first half, but chances were so few as City got into their defensive mode, that the only exitement worth mentioning was the two sending offs, after Sagna and Zabaleta squared up and pushed against each-others heads with anger. It really summed up the frustration of Arsenal and all in the crowd, although Zabaleta seemed quite pleased with himself.

To Chelsea now, and if there were doubts as to whether they were out of the title race at the start of play, they can probably count themselves out now, bar a complete shambles of a run of results from the top three - which is unlikely to say the least.

An early Boswinga own-goal saw Wolves hang on for the rest of the match to take all three points ahead of supposed title challengers Chelsea. The Chelsea of last season would have at least managed a late equaliser, but it was not to be, and Carlo Ancelotti's job is as unstable as ever at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool lost 3 - 1 to Blackburn. I assume you will have worked out that the result doesn't make Roy Hodgson any more popular than he was before, and it is likely that he may be out of a job very soon. Gerrard got the only Liverpool goal, won a penalty and missed it very late on. It sums up Liverpool's season so far really. I have supported Hodgson as  don't believe he was being judged fairly, with supporters looking for immediate solutions to quite obviously large problems within the club both off the pitch and on it. However, I can't see Hodgson surviving this one - and if he does survive a little longer, he will see his side face Manchester United in the F.A Cup. I imagine a win there still wouldn't save him from the sack but playing as they are, a win is unlikely.

They didn't play, but all this is good news for Manchester United. Now two points clear of City, having played two games less, and four points clear of Arsenal having played one game less. Chelsea are nine points behind United and out of the title race - so is this title United's to lose now?

Ronaldinho's Turned Down England Twice Before - So Why Blackburn?

Blackburn

Now that the new Blackburn owners have confirmed that they have bid £6.2 million for AC Milan star, Ronaldinho, we must think up reasons as to why he would want to join less than glamorous Blackburn Rovers - other than the reported £130,000 a week wages.

The 30 year-old Brazilian has been subject to bids from both Manchester United and Manchester City in his career, and has turned down both of them. He turned a big money United deal down in 2003 when he chose to move to Spain and play for Barcelona, and he turned City down during Thaksin Shinawatra's reign in 2008 after a £25.5million bid - instad choosing a move to Milan. So why Blackburn now?

It would be great to see Ronaldinho playing in the Premier League, and although way past his best would bring a lot of skill and flare to England, just as he has at all the clubs he has been to, but it is understandable that people are a little shocked about Blackburn' interest.

He doesn't seem to suit their playing style, but I think the deal is most probably being done by the owners, and not the manager. The Venkey's have become unpopular among fans after the strange sacking of Sam Allardyce and have admitted that they know nothing about football. There are some names in football however, that everyone has heard because of the universal interest in such good players. Ronaldinho is one of them. Having won prestigious awards such as the FIFA World Player of the Year and the European Player of the Year among so many others, as well as playing for some of the best teams in the world and lighting up the World Cup in 2002 (and winning it), you don't really have to know football to know Ronaldinho.

The signing is one that would potentially bring a wider interest into Blackburn Rovers and one that would make the Venky's a lot more money through shirt sales and merchandise. They see owning Blackburn as a business and nothing more, much like many other owners of football clubs, and are only interested in making money.

Having said that, being the brilliant player he is (or was) will still add more quality to the Blackburn side, and might even attract other players who dream of playing alongside such a footballing legend, and would be a good bit of business - that is if they can persuade him to join over Brazilian club Gremio - the front runners for his signature.

Chris Samba is what Arsenal & Wenger are Looking For

Blackburn

Arsene Wenger's latest comments in relation to the January transfer window seem to strengthen the speculation that Chris Samba of Blackburn may be on his way to the Emirates.

Wenger said:

“As January approaches, I’m often asked about transfers. There is no definite situation either way, but first of all it depends if we find on the market what we think would really give us a plus.

“But I would advise you not to expect miracles in January – a high number of people have played in Europe so wouldn’t be able to help us in the Champions League, while clubs that have good players don’t necessarily want to sell them.

“So it’s highly unlikely that you just find a player you need in January. It’s not about spending money – it’s more about finding the right players to strengthen a squad that, in quality and numbers, is already very strong.”

Who has not played in Europe and is therefore not cup-tied to play against Barcelona? Who is a powerful, strong, athletic defender with vast experience as a natural leader - and a captain in the Premier League? Who has expressed his desire to leave his current club with the club seemingly resigned to letting him go? Yes, Congolese international Christopher Samba. Most of Wenger's issues with the January transfer market do not apply to this defender who would slot in nicely in Arsenal's back line and strengthen their squad depth.

Despite Wenger saying "It's not about spending money", Samba wouldn't cost the Arsenal manager a huge amount, with around £8 million the price being circulated.

There is that other possibility that Arsene Wenger doesn't feel like additions are needed, and after the 3 - 1 mauling of Champions Chelsea on Monday night, it is easy to see why. However, there are still critics who believe strengthening the sometimes suspect defence wouldn't do Arsenal any harm, especially when they will be up against an attacking force which has trampled the Arsenal defence with ease before, and is probably the best in the world. Barcelona.

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“I had never watched a single football match in my life [before buying Blackburn]"

Blackburn

“I had never watched a single football match in my life [before buying Blackburn]". These are the words of new Blackburn owner, Anuradha Desai - said after taking over Blackburn Rovers. Sam Allardyce has been sacked, with no real reason other than they want "good football and Blackburn to be fourth or fifth in the league or even better" - aspirations that are not only ridiculously high for the outgoing manager, but any other manager coming in.

How then, can they decide as to whether the manager - vastly experienced and relatively successful at the clubs he has managed is not good enough, despite only seeing a few games of football with him in charge. Sir Alex Ferguson, a good friend of Allardyce said:

"I've never heard of such a stupid decision in all my life, it's absolutely ridiculous. I don't know what they're doing up there, but deary me. "

That is coming from a man who knows what it is like being a manager, under pressure - but in a job, as he sits in the position of being the longest serving manager currently still managing in the football league, and he is right of course.

Will the new Rovers' owner be one of those owners of a football club? By those I mean another Mike Ashley - recently sacking the excellent, widely supported boss, Chris Hughton. After all, it was the same Anuradha Desai that said of Allardyce after her takeover:

 "He deserves a chance"

and

"To this end the group have promised manager Allardyce funds to spend in the January transfer window."

That is - if he still has the job - which he doesn't, and so it turns out, both are lies on the part of the owners, as they falsely led Big Sam into a sense of security in his job - something that very few managers have these days.

The League Managers association said this:

"When new owners take over a club, sadly the manager's position often hangs by a thread."

If this is what footballing is turning into for managers, then it really isn't a good advert for any young managers wanting to come through and earn their trade. I think that the owners should only interfere when the situation is severe - or it is suggested that the clubs situation is balancing on that. Blackburn weren't, and a man who was being tipped for the England job finds himself out of a job all together thanks to a poor, poor decision.

Watch: Manchester United 7 - 1 Blackburn [Video Goals]

Blackburn

Watch the goals Here

Scoring drought? Not any more. Berbatov scored 5 goals for Manchester United in a game that the now League leaders cruised to a 7 - 1 win. Luis Nani and Ji Sung Park scored the two other goals, but Berbatov claimed the match ball. The Bulgarian may even have been disappointed. Disappointed that he didn't grab six - a double hat-trick and put his name in the record books for the first double hat-trick in the Premier League.

"It was a fantastic achievement," said Ferguson.

"He could have scored six too because Paul Robinson made a fantastic save near the end.

"When strikers are not scoring they don't think they are doing their job right. That has always been the case. Today it came back."

Watch the Goals Here

To see the other Premier League Results Click http://bit.ly/ejw1Bk

Berbatov Grabs 5 in 36 Goal-Packed Premier League Saturday

Blackburn

A record breaking Premier League Saturday - wonder goals were scored, penalties were saved, red cards were brandished and 36 goals rippled the net. It was quite unbelievable.

The early kick off saw Arsenal defeat Aston Villa and the golden oldie and returning Arsenal legend Robert Pires by four goals to two. Arshavin and Nasri lifted Arsenal to a two goal lead in the first half, while Ciaran Clark scored to revive some hope before Marouane Chamakh scored 4 minutes later. Clark then scored again to raise Villa hopes again, but Jack Wilshere finished the game in the 90th minute to temporarily put Arsenal top.
They were probably hoping Blackburn would give United a good fight. If they were, they would havebeen bitterly disappointed. http://bit.ly/hxBxSi (Goals)

Manchester United grabbed 7 goals in a 7 - 1 win against Blackburn in which Dimitar Berbatov - the guy who hadn't scored since his hat-trick against Liverpool, and was said to be preparing to be sold by United in the summer - scored 5 goals. Luis Nani and Ji Sung Park scored the others, but Berbatov grabbed the match ball in delight (or his composed version of it) at the end of the game in a match that shoots his goal tally up to 11 for the season and fires Manchester United up to the top of the Premier League with a dramatically increased goal difference. (Goals) http://bit.ly/hxBxSi

Carlos Tevez announced once again that he was unhappy playing football, but Manchester City hoped to put this aside and roll over Stoke City at the Brittania. They almost won too, as Micah Richards scored from 12 yards out inthe 81st minute. But Matthew Etherington slotted home after a nice move in the ninetirth minute to crush City's hopes and squeeze a point from the game.

The other results today included a win from West Ham against relegation rivals Wigan for a precious three points, a Bolton comeback from two goals down against Blackpool, a Wolves - Sunderland thriller where Ebanks-Blake scored in the 89th minute to take the three points, and a Fulham - Birmingham draw. 2 red cards and 5 goals in the match between Everton and West Brom saw the Toffees lose their cool, and lose Arteta in a 58 minute stamp on Jara.

The full list of results are as follows:

Aston Villa 2 - 4 Arsenal

Bolton 2 - 2 Blackpool

Manchester United 7 - 1 Blackburn

Everton 1 - 4 West Brom

Fulham 1 - 1 Birmingham

Stoke 1 - 1 Manchester City

West Ham 3 - 1 Wigan

Wolves 3 - 2 Sunderland

Mame Biram Diouf Scores A Hat-trick for Blackburn

Blackburn

Manchester United's youth seems to be getting better and better. The promising 22 year old striker Mame Biram Diouf, who was sent by Sir Alex Ferguson out on loan to Blackburn for the season to gain some Premier League experience scored a hat-trick on Tuesday night to help Blackburn beat Norwich 3 - 1 in the Carling Cup.

Sir Alex seems to have an eye for the younger players, after the signings of Chicharito Hernandez, Chris Smalling and Diouf. Either that or United's financial position is forcing Ferguson to go for un-established, young players with potential. Nevertheless, they seem to be slowly proving their worth.

With Chelsea seeming like they could run away with the Premier League title this season with their six goals a week policy, United need all the firepower they need. Diouf may not be with them this season, but he certainly seems to be one for the future after begginning to prove himself as a great goalscorer.