Big Sam Backtracks on “Managing Worlds Top Clubs” Claims

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has today backtracked on his somewhat outrageous claims made earlier this week that he would be fit to manage any of the worlds top clubs and “would win the double or the league every time”. Big Sam has however claimed that his somewhat amusing comments had been purely meant as a tongue in cheek way of expressing his personal desire and driving ambition to improve as a manager and ultimately drive his managerial career to the highest levels in world football.

Blackburn have enjoyed a solid start to the new Premier League season under Allardyce and remain unbeaten so far, but his claims that his combative and often direct “long ball” style of football under which his teams tend to operate would be welcome at the likes of Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Manchester United has been a source of great banter and debate by English football fans and the media alike this week. However, as ever Big Sam remains unperturbed and will look to drive his Blackburn side forward when they face Aston Villa in tonight’s League Cup 3rd round clash at Villa Park.

A Feast of Festive Football Awaits!

Fans of the English game relish the packed fixture list of the festive period, with the boxing day fixtures having a long tradition of drawing some of the biggest crowds of the season for football clubs across the country. This year is of course no exception, with some mouth watering fixtures to fill you with festive cheer. For me, the pick of this year's boxing day action has to be Arsenal's trip to Villa Park set to kick off at 5:15 this afternoon. Arsene Wenger's side have been under ongoing scrutiny this season and with the recent long term loss of captain Fabregas to injury it seems as though there may be more rocky roads ahead for the Gunners. Aston Villa meanwhile have been on an absolute high of late, enjoying their best start to the season for some time and unquestionably boasting some young and exciting English talent in players such as Young, Milner and Agbonlahor. Villa manager Martin O' Neill will no doubt see todays game as a chance to prove to the wider footballing world that his side now truely have the potential to displace England's "big four" and qualify for next season's champions league. Wenger however will perhaps feel the greater pressure following a season of uncertainty.

Young Shines in Villa Triumph

Sunday's clash between Everton and Villa was surely pick of the Premier League action this weekend, with the Villains snatching a late victory in a five goal thriller just seconds after Everton's injury time leveller. Everton's England hopeful defender Julian Lescott - incidentally a lifelong Villa fan - had barely caught his breath after bagging a spectacular acrobatic volley to put the Toffees on level terms in the 91st minute, only to see Villa winger Ashley Young burst beyond him to coolly slot home his second of the game less than a minute later. Young's brace gave Villa the points in a clash that may go some way to determining which of these two big city clubs will play European football next season, and another superb individual display by Ashley Young can surely not have gone unnoticed by Mr Capello. The former Watford man has devastating pace to frighten any full back, and a more regular run in the national side must surely now beckon.