Who's the best Premier League boss?

Sir Alex Ferguson is the best manager in the Premier League era - and Arsene Wenger has beaten Jose Mourinho to second place, according to a new Sky Sports study.


Former Manchester United boss Ferguson – who won 13 Premier League titles – comfortably saw off his rivals to top our rankings table, while Wenger’s consistency at Arsenal edged him ahead of Chelsea’s Mourinho.
Further down the list, Manchester City title-winners Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini completed the top five, while Roy Evans is the top-ranked English boss in 10th.

To compile the table, we(sky sports) awarded managers points on the following criteria:
– Points-per-game
– Titles won
– Top-four finishes
– Longevity

The manager’s points-per-game record was multiplied by 10, while 50 points were awarded for each title win, 15 for a top-four finish and five for every 100 Premier League games managed.

For every relegation suffered, the manager lost 30 points – meaning Harry Redknapp, despite leading Tottenham to two top-four finishes, just misses out.

Redknapp has a 1.36 points-per-game record from his 641 Premier League games managed and would be placed 14th on the list if it were not for his relegations with Southampton and QPR.

The table only includes managers who have managed at least 50 Premier League games, too, so there is no place for Louis van Gaal or Guus Hiddink.

However, the rankings do not take into account a manager’s success in the transfer market, development of young players, or triumphs in cup competitions.

(Sky sports)

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Cech set to join Arsenal

Petr Cech's move from Chelsea to Arsenal could be completed before this weekend, according to Sky sources.

A transfer fee for the Czech Republic international goalkeeper is expected to be agreed by the two Premier League clubs in the next 48 hours.

It is understood that Cech has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal, but no deal has yet been done as the Gunners continue to negotiate terms with Chelsea.

The transfer will be a cash only deal, with Chelsea's request to receive a home-grown player as part of the proposed transfer no longer being considered.

Cech is said to be grateful to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich for allowing him to move to whatever club he chooses, even though that is now set to be London rivals Arsenal.

The 33-year-old has one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge but has been searching for a new employer after spending much of last season as second choice 'keeper behind Thibaut Courtois.

Chelsea captain John Terry said on Monday that he believes Arsenal will be buying an extra 12-15 points a season if they complete a deal for Cech.

He told radio station Talksport: "There is obviously talk of Arsenal signing Petr and if they do get Pete, that will strengthen them for sure. He will save them 12 to 15 points a season.

"I am sure if he does leave the club, which nobody wants to see, but we understand he wants to play football, he is going to be sorely missed. He will improve whatever side he goes to."

(Skysports)

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Terry: Cech 'worth 15 points'

John Terry says Arsenal will be buying an extra 12-15 points a season if they complete a deal for Petr Cech.

Sky sources understand Cech has agreed personal terms with Chelsea's London rivals after Roman Abramovich ruled the goalkeeper could move to whichever club he wanted.

Arsenal are yet to strike an agreement with Chelsea, though, and it is understood the clubs are not close to reaching a valuation that suits.

But if a deal is done Terry believes Cech is single-handedly capable of wiping out last season's 13-point gap between the champions and Arsene Wenger's third-placed side.

He told radio station Talksport: "There is obviously talk of Arsenal signing Petr and if they do get Pete, that will strengthen them for sure. He will save them 12 to 15 points a season.

"I am sure if he does leave the club, which nobody wants to see, but we understand he wants to play football, he is going to be sorely missed. He will improve whatever side he goes to."

Chelsea were comfortable winners of last season's Premier League and are expected to make signings this summer, with Radamel Falcao close to finalising a season-long loan.

Terry said: "To be top of the league the whole way through the season was an exceptional thing to do, but you can't dwell on that. We have to start concentrating on next season and try to improve on that again.

"When you win the league, you know teams go and spend money to buy the best. Manchester City were a little way off this year and will strengthen. I feel Arsenal and Manchester United are going to be very strong as well.

"We all know once you win it, everyone wants to beat you the following year. It will be even harder for us to win the league again."

(Skysports)

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Harry Kane happy at Tottenham despite reported Man Utd interest

Harry Kane says he is flattered by Manchester United's interest in him but adds that he fully intends to start the new season at Tottenham Hotspur.

England Under-21 striker Kane, 21, has reiterated his desire to stay at White Hart Lane, saying Spurs are one of England's "big clubs".

"I am happy at Spurs and I look forward to the future with Spurs," he said.

"I have seen there is interest but that's all I know. It is flattering for other clubs to maybe be interested."

Kane started for England as they lost 1-0 in their opening European Under-21 Championship match against Portugal on Thursday.

He scored 31 goals for Spurs in all competitions during his breakthrough campaign last season, which ended in him being named as the PFA Young Player of Year.

Kane's impressive year has led to reports that 20-time English champions United are ready to offer up to £40m for him.

When asked if it would be hard to turn down one of the Premier League's "big clubs", Kane said: "Tottenham are one of the big clubs. That is the way people have to see it. I am at a big club."

(BBC)

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PL player released list

Which players have been put on the released list by their Premier League clubs?

Premier League clubs have submitted the list of players that they will be keeping in their squads, and the ones they will be releasing this summer.

It is important to note that although these players are on the released list, it does not neccessarily mean they are heading for the exit door. It may just mean their contract expires on June 30 and has still to be extended.

Abou Diaby, as expected, is on the Arsenal list and it appears his nine-year injury-hit career at the Emirates is over. Ron Vlaar is among those named released by Aston Villa - but the club has offered him a new contract.

Hull have released the most players - 13 - whilst champions Chelsea have just one, Didier Drogba.

Liverpool confirmed the departures of captain Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and goalkeeper Brad Jones.

Gerrard is joining Los Angeles Galaxy next month while the latest club to be linked with Johnson are Besiktas, the side which knocked the Reds out of the Europa League last season.

Arsenal

Abou Diaby, Jack Jebb, Oluwasemilogo Adesewo Ajayi, Austin Lipman, Ryo Miyaichi, Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill, Josh Vickers

Aston Villa

Darren Bent, Graham Burke, Alfie Crooks, Christopher Herd, Craig Hill, Bradley Lewis, Isaac Nehemie, Daniel O'Brien, Enda Stevens, Thomas Strain, Ron Vlaar, Courtney Wildin

Burnley

Cameron Howieson, Steven Reid, Ross Wallace

Chelsea

Didier Drogba

Crystal Palace

Foluwashola Ameobi, Michael Chambers, Kyle De Silva, Stephen Dobbie, Owen Garvan, Brede Hangeland, Lewis Price, Peter Ramage, Ghassimu Sow, Jerome Thomas

Everton

Antolin Alcaraz, Sylvain Distin, George Green, Curtis Langton, John Lundstram, Ben McLaughlin

Hull City

Joseph Cracknell, Leon Dawson, Joseph Dudgeon, Maynor Figueroa, Stephen Harper, John Mahon, Jonathan Margetts, Eoghan McCawl, Paul McShane, Mark Oxley, Liam Rosenior, Yannick Sagbo, Sam Topliss

Leicester

Zoumana Bakayogo, Marcel Barrington, Adam Dawson, Paul Gallagher, Kieran Kennedy, Conrad Logan, Herve Pepe-Ngoma, Louis Rowley, Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Matthew Upson

Liverpool

Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson, Brad Jones, Jordan Lussey, Marc Pelosi

Manchester City

Adam Drury, John Guidetti, Frank Lampard, Greg Leigh, Dominic Oduro, Micah Richards

Manchester United

Ben Amos, Tom Cleverley, Callum Evans, Ryan McConnell, Thomas Thorpe

Newcastle

Jak Alnwick, Adam Campbell, Jonas Gutierrez, Remie Streete, Ryan Taylor

QPR

Bruno Andrade, Joey Barton, Richard Dunne, Rio Ferdinand, Jordan Gibbons, Karl Henry, Aaron Lennox, Brian Murphy, Jamie Sendles-White, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Bobby Zamora

Southampton

Artur Boruc, Cody Cropper, Jos Hooiveld, Christopher Johns, Omar Rowe, Jake Sinclair

Stoke City

Oluwatomisin Adeloye, James Alabi, Samuel Coulson, Alexander Grant, Wilson Palacios, Robbie Parry, Nathan Ricketts-Hopkinson, Thomas Sorensen, Adam Thomas, Charlie Ward, Elliot Wheeler, Andrew Wilkinson

Sunderland

Wes Brown, Peter Burke, Andrew Cartright, Joel Dixon, Thomas McNamee, Anthony Reveillere

Swansea

Thomas Atyeo, David Cornell, Ruaridhri Donnelly, Corey Francis, Giancarlo Gallifuoco, Joseph Jones, Kurtis March, Curtis Obeng, Gareth Owen, Scott Tancock, Alan Tate, Gerhard Tremmel

Tottenham

Jordan Archer, Cristian Ceballos, Brad Friedel, Bongani Khumalo, Aaron McEneff, Alexander McQueen, Jonathan Miles

West Brom

Wesley Atkinson, Chris Baird, Aaron Birch, Jason Davidson, Bradley Garmston, Alexander Jones, Gareth McAuley, Youssouf Mulumbu, Mani O'Sullivan

West Ham

Kieran Bywater, Carlton Cole, Anderson De Carvalho, Guy Demel, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Sean Maguire, Paul McCallum, Daniel Potts

    The information is provided from the Premier League and is correct as of 28 May

(Sky Sports)

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'Carrick will not play again this season'

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick will not play against this season, manager Louis van Gaal has confirmed.

The Reds' vice-captain suffered a calf injury in the closing stages of last month’s win over Manchester City and has subsequently missed the last three matches - all defeats - against Chelsea, Everton and West Brom.

Van Gaal said: "Carrick is not available and it was more heavy than we thought.

"We tried everything but now we have to think about next season. He shall not play anymore this season, it's better now to focus for him on next season and being fit to start."

United's Dutch boss, buoyed by clinching the signing of PSV winger Memphis Depay on Thursday, has once again expressed his concern over an inbalance in midfield and says he will address the issue in the summer transfer window.

"When you see the stats, it's clear that he's very important but that's also because we have only one right-sided holding midfielder," Van Gaal said.

"That's what I have said all season that our selection is not balanced, and I want to restore that in the next transfer period. His career is not ending at 34, but for a professional football player, it's close-by. That's why I have to handle again in that position."

Van Gaal has confirmed that Luke Shaw is available again as United head to Crystal Palace on Saturday

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Wenger: Jose lacks respect

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels Jose Mourinho showed a lack of respect when the Chelsea boss claimed 10 years without winning the title must be "very boring".

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Belgian defender Mertens dies

(Sky Sports) - Young Belgian defender Gregory Mertens has died three days after suffering a heart attack while playing for Lokeren reserves.

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Sport Papers: Bale-Hazard swap?

(Skysports) - All the top stories and transfer talk from the back pages of the national press on Tuesday morning.

THE SUN
Real Madrid could offer Gareth Bale to Chelsea in a straight swap for PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard.

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Jose Mourinho hits back at Arsene Wenger ahead of showdown

(Skysports) - Jose Mourinho has retaliated after Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger questioned Chelsea's defensive approach.

Mourinho's side lead Arsenal by 10 points and could take a significant step to winning the Premier League for the first time in five years with victory in the Super Sunday match at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said defensive coaching was not difficult after Chelsea's snatch-and-grab win at Anfield last season and this week Wenger said: "It is easy to defend."

Mourinho responded: "It's not easy. If it was easy, you wouldn't lose 3-1 at home to Monaco. If he defends well he draws 0-0 against Monaco and wins in Monte Carlo. It's not easy to prepare a team to defend."

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David De Gea issued Manchester United contract ultimatum by boss Louis van Gaal after huge offer

(Daily Mirror) - Louis van Gaal has issued David De Gea with a contract ultimatum after admitting Manchester United have offered him a huge pay-rise to stay.

De Gea, who is wanted by Real Madrid, has one year left on his current deal but has so far refused to commit to a contract extension with United, heightening fears he is off this summer.

United are becoming increasingly resigned to losing the £50million-rated keeper to Real, with Van Gaal admitting they have offered the Spaniard “a lot of money” to stay at Old Trafford.

Despite the offer of a £140,000-a-week deal, which would make him the Premier League’s highest-paid keeper, Van Gaal admitted United are powerless to make De Gea stay put and said the decision is down to the 24-year-old.

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho plays hilarious two minute long prank during press conference

This is the hilarious moment Jose Mourinho decided to troll Chelsea's media officer for being late to his weekly press conference.

The Blues boss arrived almost 90 seconds earlier than Steve Atkins and sat in silence until he arrived, occasionally making joking remarks to waiting journalists.

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Eden Hazard will stay at Chelsea and not move to Real Madrid, says Jose Mourinho

(Skysports) - Jose Mourinho is not concerned about Real Madrid’s interest in Eden Hazard.

Zinedine Zidane has admitted Real Madrid are keeping tabs on the Chelsea forward but Mourinho was dismissive of their chances of prising him away from Stamford Bridge.

Hazard recently signed a new five-and-a-half year deal with Chelsea and is the favourite for the PFA Player of the Year award.

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Press Conference: Arsene Wenger

(Skysports) - Arsene Wenger has played down his previous encounters with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, insisting Sunday's game is all about the players.

Arsenal were thrashed 6-0 at Stamford Bridge in Wenger's 1,000th match in charge last season and he and Mourinho had to be separated when they clashed on the touchline when Chelsea secured a 2-0 victory in the Premier League in
October.

Wenger was branded a "specialist in failure" by Mourinho, but the Gunners boss is keen to stress it will not be all about the men in the dugout this weekend.

"It is not a confrontation (between managers), it is a confrontation of two teams," he said.

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Mesut Ozil: Premier League constantly gives me bruises - but I'm stronger now and can win Ballon d'Or

Mesut Ozil says he is targeting the Ballon d'Or in the next few years after settling into life in the Premier League.

The award has been exclusively won by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi since 2008, with Brazilian midfielder Kaka the last player other than the two Clasico stars to pick up the gong.

The German World Cup winner has struggled with injuries for much of this season, spending three months on the sidelines with knee ligament damage.


He admits the levels of physicality in the Premier League are much higher than in La Liga or the Bundesliga, but that playing in England as made him stronger.

"Should I continue to improve myself and stay healthy, I want to get my hands on the Ballon d'Or in the upcoming years," the Germany international told Sport Bild. "I am convinced that it can work out. I am headed in the right direction.

"I am a world champion and play at a top club in the Premier League. It's far more physical here [England] than in Spain or in the Bundesliga. I constantly have bruises, but it only makes me stronger, and physically I feel better than ever before."

The Arsenal midfielder has also hit back at criticism from Manchester United stalwart Paul Scholes.
Scholes suggested that the German had been 'going through the motions' since his £42.5million switch to the Emirates from Real Madrid.
However, Ozil insists the comments spur him on.

He continued: "He's entitled to say that. He wants to polarise as a pundit on TV. But in the end, such statements only give me an extra push."

Despite romping to World Cup glory in the summer, Germany have only seven points from their opening four qualifiers for Euro 2016.

They host Australia in a friendly tonight, before travelling to Georgia for a qualifier on Sunday.
 
Will Mesut Ozil win the Ballon d'Or?

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Skrtel charged by FA

The Football Association have charged Martin Skrtel with violent conduct following Sunday's game with Manchester United at Anfield.

The charge relates to an incident with David De Gea towards the end of the game where Skrtel appeared to stand on the United keeper’s leg.

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