Part two of the Chelsea Football FanCast World Cup preview show and the boys take a look at all the latest Chelsea news, announce their World Cup show schedule and the nominations for the Chelsea Football FanCast awards.

Still recovering from the banter with wanna be WAG and Glamour Girl, Chenille Steele, in part two of the World Cup preview show, the FanCast boys take a look at the latest Chelsea news. Joe Cole’s contract is discussed whilst Essien’s contract signing is celebrated, along with McEachran and Chalobah’s recent performances in the U17 England cup winning campaign.

The Chelsea FanCast’s World Cup show schedule is announced, hopefully going all the way to the Final, like England! At long last and after much deliberation, the boys have finally declared their hand in the nominations for the Chelsea Football FanCast awards. The categories will be for Player of the Season, Goal of the Season, Guinness Moment of the Season, Celery Moment of the Season and Chant of the Season. All the usual suspects are there, plus a few surprises of course. Get voting people!

Vote right now in the 2010 Chelsea Football FanCast Awards!

We also discuss some exciting news about the website including the forthcoming book and DVD review, and how to buy the boys a beer on-line! To complete the show, Dr Mart answers your Chelsea related questions in “Dear Mart” including what happened to the Peter Osgood statue, Chelsea own goals, players we should never have sold, and Chelsea players who we have met. Chidge then reads out the best posts on the website forum and Facebook group in “You’re on CFFC!”

The Chelsea Football FanCast: Come on England and Chelsea!

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With the purse strings set to be tightened at Manchester United this summer and Sir Alex Ferguson stating that he will only be looking to sign one player, it makes you think what one player do United need the most?

Ferguson will be desperate to get United back on track and achieve even more success with them next season so if he only intends to make one signing he is going to have to carefully look at his team and think what area needs strengthening the most? Firstly with regards to the goalkeepers, Edwin van der Sar is United’s current number one and has performed admirably since joining from Fulham in 2005. However Van Der Sar is going to be turning 40 next season so there may be doubts as to whether he can stay at the same levels. His backup Tomasz Kuszczak is a decent ‘keeper but nothing more so Fergie may want to invest in a world-class goalkeeper and with Gianluigi Buffon being linked with a move it could be a possibility. But will Ferguson be willing to spend all their money on a goalkeeper when outfield areas could probably use more strengthening? The probable outcome is that Fergie will keep faith with Van Der Sar for next season at least and then look for a replacement for the season after.

Although Giorgio Chiellini has been linked, the defence looks quite assured despite the fact that Gary Neville is 35 and Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown have battled with injury problems as of late, it should be good enough to last another season or two. The midfield area seems to be the where United fans want to see the most improvement and they player they most want to sign appears to Xavi from Barcelona. They feel that the team is currently lacking in creativity in the middle of the park and Xavi would be the man who could come in and make the side tick. Although you would expect the deal to be unlikely given that Xavi has been with Barca for his entire career, the chances of it happening are not impossible. The facts are that Xavi is now 30, Barcelona have Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets also in the midfield and with the club publicly declaring that they want to sign Cesc Fabregas someone has to be left out. They also have Seydou Keita and Yaya Toure as well as midfield cover, so given Xavi’s age if they received a big money offer then it wouldn’t be unthinkable that they would consider it.

Other options for the midfield that the fans want to see as alternatives to Xavi are Wesley Sneijder and Mesut Ozil. Sneijder would be a possibility having now won everything with Inter Milan but with Jose Mourinho apparently wanting to re-sign him for Real Madrid, United could face some stiff competition for his signature. As for Ozil he is likely to leave Werder Bremen this summer, but it looks as though he is going to be one of those players who has a good World Cup and sees his price-tag raise by an extra £10m and United won’t want to overpay for his services.

A striker seems to be the next priority for United fans with Karim Benzema and David Silva mentioned as possibilities. Benzema has had a poor first season with Real Madrid managing to score just nine goals in 33 games, however as it is only his first year he is likely to want to prove himself and try to make the grade at Madrid. David Silva has looked a fantastic player in recent seasons and due to Valencia’s financial problems, will likely have to sell him this summer. Competition for his signature is set to be fierce however with several clubs all vying for the young Spaniard. Man United’s attack doesn’t really need too much strengthening as they have Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen will also be coming back and looking to prove himself and they have Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda and Mame Biram Diouf all breaking through.

It remains a mystery who Man United will sign this summer as one thing Ferguson has shown throughout the years is that he is never predictable.

Who do you think Manchester United should sign?

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Click image below to see a gallery of the Brazilian babes at the World Cup

Liverpool are being linked with a move for World Cup star Asamoah Gyan. The Ghanaian striker had a fantastic World Cup for the Black Stars, scoring three goals for his country and working tirelessly upfront. He was rewarded for his efforts by being placed on the 10-man shortlist for the World Cup Golden Ball, however despite this accolade and his impressive tournament Liverpool would be better off looking elsewhere.

The Rennes striker is believed to cost £20m, a fee that has been vastly inflated because of his impressive World Cup by at least double the price. That amount could represent a sizeable chunk of Liverpool’s budget this season, and with the team desperately needing to strengthen a variety of areas they cannot blow it all on one position. Also considering that Fernando Torres was bought for the same amount and he is truly an exceptional, world class striker to spend the same amount of money on a striker who is no more than good at best would be ludicrous.

What makes Gyan such an attractive prospect to managers is the fact that he works so hard upfront and is a big presence, so should he move to Liverpool he could be a good partner for Torres.  However despite his efforts his scoring record really isn’t that great, in two years at Rennes he has managed just 14 goals in 47 appearances. For his previous club Udinese, he managed just 11 goals in 38 games which means that a club level at least he has hardly been prolific. At international level he does have a good record with 22 goals in 44 games, but whilst this is impressive it mustn’t be forgotten that the majority of these goals have come against inferior African opposition in World Cup qualifiers. Therefore should Torres develop another injury, which is a possibility considering he was hampered with a few last season, then Gyan would be relied upon to find the back of the net and given his records he may not be able to provide the necessary firepower.

If he was playing for Liverpool then he would be representing one of the biggest clubs in the world and although he may be a good striker he wouldn’t be up to a side like Liverpool’s standards. There would be a lot of expectation for him to succeed at the club and although it may be a cruel example to use, the fact that he missed a penalty against Uruguay that would have put Ghana through to the World Cup semi-finals could mean that he isn’t very good at handling pressure. To be a successful player at Anfield you need to be able to handle the responsibilities that come with wearing the shirt, and whilst Gyan may work tirelessly for the team it may not be enough.

Take nothing away from him, Gyan is a good player and he had a great World Cup for Ghana and probably could play in the Premiership. However his ability is not up to Liverpool’s standards and a fee of £20m would be a very stupid amount for them to pay. It would be best for both Liverpool and Gyan if they explored alternative options so that Liverpool can get a good enough striker, and Gyan can find a club where there isn’t so much expectation on him.

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Click on image below to see the Argentinean babes at the World Cup

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With the gossip, speculation and downright wishful thinking continuing unabated on the information superhighway, here is my update of the week’s transfer activity from four of the Premiership’s teams.

West Brom

The Baggies have been searching for competition for Scott Carson all summer but have, to their frustration, had a third bid for Preston goalkeeper Andrew Lonergan turned down. North End’s manager Darren Ferguson values the 26-year-old at an incredible £20m forcing the West Midlands’ club to turn their attentions elsewhere – namely Sheffield Wednesday’s £1m-rated ‘keeper Lee Grant.

Midfielder Borja Valero has joined La Liga side Villareal on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal. The 25-year-old had only just returned to West Brom for preseason training following a loan spell at Real Majorca but is desperate for a return to his native Spain citing family reasons. He became Albion’s record signing at £4.7m two years ago after joining from Mallorca but he has struggled to adapt to life in England.

Wolves

Wolves are currently battling alongside West Ham and Blackburn to secure the signature of ex-Man. City striker Benjani who was released by Mancini this summer after failing to make an impact either at Eastlands last season or whilst on loan at Sunderland.

Mick McCarthy has also confirmed that Doncaster have made enquiries over the availability of Republic of Ireland international Andy Keogh. The 24-year-old made 15 appearances in the Premiership last season but is thought to want more regular first team action.

West Ham

Avram Grant has apparently been handed a £25m war chest to ensure that the Londoners avoid the threat of relegation next season but seems to be more concerned with who might leave. The Hammers’ owners announced that the whole squad would be up for sale except for Scott Parker who is now the subject of several reported bids from around the Premiership. Aston Villa and Spurs are keen to entice the influential midfielder away from Upton Park but will have to meet West Ham’s £10m-plus valuation if they are to stand any chance of succeeding.

Meanwhile Mikael Silvestre has emerged as a free transfer target for the Hammers. Avram Grant was thwarted in his bid to sign Ben-Haim from his former club Portsmouth after the Israeli failed his medical and sees the former Arsenal and Man. Utd defender as a perfect replacement. The 32-year-old is of course a free agent following his recent release from the Emirates.

Blackpool

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Ian Holloway is yet to make any signings for the Premiership new boys and says that he wants to retain the spirit that saw the club win promotion at Wembley in May. In other words he’s got bugger all money to spend and wants to save some face by honourably sticking by the XI he had in the Championship last season.

However, the gaffe-prone Bristolian is close to signing Israeli defender Dekel Keinan. The 25-year-old has already undergone a medical at the Seasiders and is now awaiting a work permit to complete his move from Maccabi Haifa. Finally, ex-Arsenal striker Francis Jeffers is training with the club.

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After England’s dismal showing at the World Cup, it was inevitable that questions would be asked of Fabio Capello. The Italian’s disciplinarian style that was once hailed was now labelled as being too strict, his choice of formation and personnel was lambasted. Many in the media were calling for his head, predictably suggesting that Capello should be fired and that an Englishman should be brought into the frame. Fabio Capello has had great success in his career however, winning a host of tophies including eight league titles and a Champions League victory. Capello’s trophy cabinet dwarfs that of any English manager, but a good deal of the media seems desperate for an Englishman to take the job. Rightly or wrongly England have gone down the route of appointing foreign coaches, giving an English manager the top job now is not going to change that fact. Fabio Capello has known very little failure in his managerial career, and he will be as keen as anyone to remove the blot from his copybook that now exists. England’s issues can not be blamed solely on the manager, and there is no guarantee an English coach would fare any better.

Of course there is blame to be laid at Capello’s door. His consistent selection of Emile Heskey was ridiculous, the striker is clearly not cut out for international football but it is not his fault that he is picked. The 4-4-2 that was employed seemed outdated, teams like Germany and Spain made England look like a relic from a bygone era. This criticism of Capello is entirely fair, but a lot of the other accusations bandied at Capello are incredibly fickle. The Italian has ruled with an iron rod during his time as England manager, and during the qualifiers this was considered by much of the media to be something that was highly positive, the preening prima-donnas of English football needed some discipline put back into them. When it came to the World Cup however, Capello was being too severe and he should cut the players some slack; maybe the WAG’s should have been invited after all. Moreover Capello became a popular figure in English football, after a very successful qualifying campaign not many were saying Capello was the wrong man for the job. It must be remembered that this is Capello’s first job in the international arena, and though this is not an excuse for such a poor performance it means he is still learning. Capello would have learnt a lot from the World Cup and the fortunes of the English team will surely improve as a result.

After South Africa, Roy Hodgson and Harry Redknapp became the media’s most popular choices for England manager. But going forward would the England team perform so much better under one of these two? An English manager does not equal success and passion as some in the media might lead us to believe, after all there was virtually none of each during the last English manager’s reign. The FA have already stated that Capello’s successor will be an Englishman, but it is far from certain that he will have more success than the Italian. There were tentative signs of improvement against Hungary, and Capello selected some exciting young players in his squad. Capello would have learnt a great deal from the World Cup and is well qualified to take the team forwards, who knows, another successful qualifying campaign and the media may well be singing his praises again.

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West Ham United have made a miserable start to the new season, conceding six in their first two league games. The Hammers recorded their first competitive victory of the season by narrowly beating Oxford in the League Cup last night. The manager, Avram Grant fielded a relatively strong side and it was left to Scott Parker to spare their blushes as he scored the only goal of the game in the 90th minute. It will therefore come as some consolation that in naming their 25-man squad there should be fewer headaches. Whilst Arsene Wenger and others decry the new ruling, these squad regulations will benefit West Ham. No home-grown players have been bought since the takeover by Gold and Sullivan yet the club retains a strong domestic core. Moreover youngsters from their famed academy of football will find their playing opportunities enhanced.

The Premier League’s new rules on squad limits and home-grown quotas is operational as of 1st September. Clubs are required to name a 25-man squad of whom 8 must be home-grown. This is defined as a player who has spent at least 36 months with an English or Welsh FA club prior to their 21st birthday. No more than 17 senior non home-grown players can be registered. The bonus for West Ham is that an unlimited number of under-21s can be used, regardless of nationality, to bolster the 25-man squad. An under-21 player is one who is under the age of 21 on 1st January in the year in which the season commences. With the bureaucratic lesson over, here is the probable squad.

Senior Home-Grown Players (9)

Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Carlton Cole, Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Jonathan Spector, Kieron Dyer, Zavon Hines, Daniel Gabbidon

Senior Non Home Grown Players (12)

Manuel da Costa, Herita Ilunga, Tal Ben Haim, Winston Reid, Juilen Faubert, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Valon Behrami, Luis Boa Morte, Pablo Barrera, Radoslav Kovac, Frederic Piquionne, Benni McCarthy

Under-21s (Unlimited)

Freddie Sears, James Tomkins, Junior Stanislas, Jordan Spence, Marek Stech, Frank Nouble, Fabio Daprela

Talking Points

Jack Collison and Peter Kurucz are two glaring omissions from the senior squad. Crowd favourite and midfield creator Collison is ruled out until the new year after undergoing knee surgery. The Welsh international will surely return to the squad in January. Clubs are permitted to make changes to the composition of their senior squad during the next transfer window. Hungarian goalkeeper Kurucz is out for the foreseeable future having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in pre-season. Hines is not expected to be fit until October but warrants a place in the squad given his astounding pace.

In this speculative provisional squad there is still room for four more senior players. All of which can be foreign as Grant is reportedly after three new players after Alessandro Diamanti’s departure to newly promoted Brescia. The manager is allegedly looking for an experienced back-up goalkeeper, a goal-scorer and a right full-back. Depending on the scale of the last minute recruitment drive there are a few players who would be expected to make way. Dyer who made his first start since March on Saturday is never far from the treatment table and McCarthy is still grappling with his waistband. Should injuries or suspensions start to bite, there are a number of promising under-21s who could yet step up to the first team. These include Anthony Edgar, Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson, and Cristian Montano.

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Click on image below to see the gallery of Mario Balotelli’s stunning girlfriend

Wigan Athletic winger Charles N’Zogbia has played down rumours linking him with a move back to France in the January transfer window to join Marseille.

The 24-year-old saw a move to Birmingham City fall through on transfer deadline day at the end of August and now wants to re-focus on life with the Latics.

He told reporters:“I do not want to speculate. I am a Wigan player and anybody who wants me needs to speak to Wigan.

“A return to France? Why not. Marseille are a top team and a dream for any French player.

“I am no different, but the Premier League is the best league in the world.”

Meanwhile, Latics boss Roberto Martinez has praised N’Zogbia’s attitude ahead of the clash with Sunderland this weekend.

He told the Evening Post:“I’m confident Charles is fully focused and ready to show the other players that he can still add a lot to the team.

“Obviously he has a lot of people to win over, but he is capable of doing that and more.

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“Charles has been working really hard this week and it’s clear he has a real point to prove to his team-mates. He’s been a positive influence on the group.”

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Roy Hodgson has vowed to fight on as Liverpool manager despite their disappointing start to the season.

Speculation mounted in the build-up to Thursday's goalless Europa League draw with Napoli in Italy that Hodgson was contemplating stepping aside less than four months after taking the Anfield reins.

Liverpool produced a battling display despite being without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres as they secured a well-deserved point from their Group K clash.

Speaking after the match, a defiant Hodgson insisted he would not be walking away from the ailing club.

"You read these ridiculous websites that we have and resignation has never once entered my thought and, what's more, never will," he declared.

"I pride myself on being a bit of a fighter, I pride myself on being able to stand the bad times."

Liverpool are languishing down in 19th place in the Premier League table after winning just one of their first eight games and were dumped out of the Carling Cup by League Two side Northampton Town.

But despite the dismal start to his reign, Hodgson is confident of bringing the good times back to Anfield.

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He continued:"I'm here for the long haul, I'm here to do a good job. I came believing I can help Liverpool rebuild and get going again. The players are very much behind everything we're doing.

"So as far as I'm concerned it's work in progress. It's problematic at the moment because it's work in progress at the wrong end of the table. It's problematic because we're losing and not winning but there's only one thing to do with that – get out and play each week, play better, get the wins, get up the table and then you'll see my smiling face more often than my scowling one."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has offered his support to Belgium international Jelle Van Damme, who has admitted to being homesick just months after signing from Anderlecht.

The 26-year-old wing-back has also struggled with injuries during his short time at Molineux, but McCarthy remains hopeful of being able to help Van Damme through a difficult time.

He told the club's official website:"Jelle is just having a tough time settling in, that's all, away from the club.

"When I was a player, I moved to Lyon and I had all my family with me and it still wasn't easy to settle in and have all the comforts you had in your previous home.

"He's going home every night eating a bowl of pasta on his own. But Jelle is delighted with the club and the football and he likes being here and he wants to play.

"He loves the club, training, the fans, the team.

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"He has had a few injuries and his wife is back home in Belgium having a baby – she won't be back until January.

"Is it that unusual that someone would find that a bit unsettling when all those things are going on? We will help him."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway believes that Everton's David Moyes is the perfect man to eventually succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Holloway was speaking after his side drew 2-2 with the Toffees at Bloomfield Road, talking up Moyes as the right man to take over in the Old Trafford hotseat.

He told The Independent:"David Moyes is one of my favourite managers and he is destined for even bigger things.

"I heard Sir Alex Ferguson talk about David as someone who could replace him when he retires. In all honesty I'd be surprised if anyone other than David becomes Manchester United's next manager.

"He is top drawer. The job he has done at Everton is outstanding and he has done it without the resources that would be in place at United.

"But more important than that, I believe he is a chip off the old Fergie block. He has the character to be the United boss.

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"Sir Alex rates him highly. He must have done because he wanted to take him as his assistant at one point. Who can argue with the main man about who he wants as his successor?

"David ticks all the boxes. It speaks volumes that he has been a Premier League manager at the same club for eight years."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email