Pro Eleven Headline News
FA Cup Preview: Watford - Chelsea
It must be hard for Chelsea fans to know precisely how to feel.
On the one hand, supporters' calls for "Scolari out," on various flags and banners during and after the goal-less home tie against Hull City, have been answered.
Owner Roman Abramovich had been criticised in the past for allegedly falling out of love with the club, and rumours persisted that the credit crunch in Russia had affected the multi-billionaire's pockets so deeply that he might have been forced to sell either his £250,000,000 Pelorus yacht, or the Stamford Bridge outfit.
However, by the time Luiz Felipe Scolari's departure was announced, Abramovich could not have acted more swiftly in securing the signature of his ally Guus Hiddink. It took a day. Twenty-four hours. How's that for re-affirming your commitment?
Then again, on the other hand, the Blues fans had long braced themselves for an inactive winter window; in un-stereotypically Chelsea fashion the cheque-book remained untouched, and only Ricardo Quaresma was brought in, albeit on as temporary a basis as Hiddink's appointment could prove to be. The reason being? Well, according to Chelsea sources, namely Abramovich, more so Peter Kenyon, the club did not have the funds available.
A strange admission. Especially when one considers that the cost of relieving the Brazilian from his managerial duties, together with the wages that will have to be paid into Hiddink's laughing bank, run to what is reported to be 10 million of Britain's finest nicker.
Hiddink has an arduous task on his hands. There are notable problems all over the park that may or may not be remedied with the tools - or players - within the existing squad; there are dressing room factions - pro-Scolari/ pro-Hiddink/ some even still sniffling over a post-Mourinho era - and to top it all off their form has been less than satisfactory.
The golden goose (Guus) will be in attendance for Saturday's trip to nearby Hertfordshire to take on Championship side Watford, but it is thought assistant manager Ray Wilkins will command the vessel for this one. No one will be hoping more than he that the tides are kind.
These two sides met in the fourth round of the same competition in 1987. Chelsea fielded Steve Clarke. Oh how they could still do with him now. But alas, time moves on, and so do Chelsea. That day 22 years ago, Watford won the game by a solitary goal to nothing, and ended up progressing all the way to the semi-final.
In an attempt to help propel Watford - who are loitering precariously below the relegation line - up the league ladder, the club brought in some young, fresh, and eager legs.
Gavin Hoyte - whom you may remember from Arsenal's Carling Cup team - joined the Hornets on loan in December, and was followed by - ironically - Chelsea's young Englishman Jack Cork.
Both have made four first team appearances, but only the former will likely start Saturday's tie despite the latter getting himself on the scoresheet in the thrilling 4-3 fourth-round win over Crystal Palace, (see below).
Could Watford inflict further capital punishment, this time onto a lion that has forgotton how to roar?
TEAM NEWS
Watford
Watford's on loan Chelsea youngster Jack Cork is ineligible to face his parent club.
Squad: TBA
Last Starting XI (v Wolves): Loach, Hoyte, Mariappa, Mike Williamson, Doyley, Smith, Cork, Jenkins, McAnuff, Priskin, Hoskins.
Chelsea
John Terry is suspended. Ricardo Carvalho is out (hamstring). Michael Essien has returned to training, but will still not feature. Petr Cech may return following his back problems.
Squad: TBA
Last Starting XI (v Hull): Hilario, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Quaresma, Ballack, Lampard, Kalou, Anelka. Goal
Kaka holding out hope for Milan derby
AC Milan star Kaka is not ruling himself out for Sunday's Milan derby with Inter Milan after suffering a foot injury in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Reggina.
The Brazilian was initially ruled out for two weeks after the Reggina contest, but he is making a quicker-than-expected recovery and could possibly be named in Carlo Ancelotti's squad.
"We will see if he can recover for the derby, at least for the bench. It is too early to say now," Milan doctor Jean-Pierre Meersseman told reporters.
With or without Kaka, Milan is in a must-win situation as they trail leaders Inter by eight points.
A loss would drop the Rossoneri 11 points back of the defending champions with 14 games to play, effectively ending their title hopes, but it would also put them in a battle to remain in the top four with Fiorentina, Genoa and Roma closing in fast.
Ancelotti has been rumored to be a target of Chelsea after the firing of Luiz Felipe Scolari this past week, and those rumors have grown even louder with the appointment of Guus Hiddink only until the end of the current season.
However, Ancelotti will only be focused on repeating the team's result against Inter from September, when a Ronaldinho goal gave Milan a 1-0 win over Inter, one of only two losses the Nerazzurri has suffered this season.
Milan defender Alessandro Nesta is hoping to make his return to the lineup after missing time because of injury, while Inter will welcome back striker Adriano after he finished up serving a three-match ban.
Since losing 3-1 to Atalanta in January, Inter has rebounded to take 10 of a possible 12 points from its last four games, and a win on Sunday would put them well on their way to another Scudetto.
Second-place Juventus snapped a two-game losing skid with a 2-1 win at Cagliari last time out, and they will go for a second successive victory on Sunday at home against Sampdoria.
Fiorentina is only four points behind AC Milan and will be hoping to close that gap with a win at fifth-place Genoa, while Roma brings a seven-match unbeaten streak into its game at Atalanta.
Lazio hosts third-from-the-bottom Torino on Saturday, while the day's other contest features eighth-place Napoli at home against a Bologna side that has lost two straight.
Chievo is in 19th and three points from safety, but they are unbeaten in their last six matches and will look to extend that streak at home against Catania, while Cagliari hosts Lecce, Palermo invades last-place Reggina, and Siena plays host to Udinese. Sports Network
Beckham to return to LA Galaxy
David Beckham will be back with the LA Galaxy after AC Milan failed to meet a Friday deadline to make the Major League Soccer club an acceptable offer for the England midfielder, the Los Angeles Times reported.
In an article posted on its website Friday, Tim Leiweke, chief executive of Galaxy owners AEG, told the newspaper that the Italian club had not met the deadline set by Major League Soccer and that no late offer would be considered.
Beckham is on loan to AC Milan until March 8.
"He will be back here on March 9 and we don't want to entertain any more conversations now," Leiweke told the Times.
"It is a distraction to (Galaxy Coach) Bruce Arena, the team and the fans and we move on. That's the last we're going to talk about this."
Reports in Europe on Friday had indicated that negotiations would go on through the weekend.
Leiweke said he wouldn't be surprised if AC Milan came back with an offer over the weekend or next week, but said the Galaxy didn't intend to negotiate further.
"They'll come back. Sure they will ... That's not fair. We owe it to Bruce and we owe it to the rest of the team. We're a month away from our season."
Leiweke told the Times that AC Milan had "never been in the ballpark" in terms of offering what Beckham is worth.
The former England captain is gearing up for the big Italian derby against rivals Inter Milan this weekend.
The 33-year-old equaled Bobby Moore's England record of 108 caps for an outfield player when he featured against Spain on Wednesday and a stay in Europe would no doubt help extend his international career.
"I would like to stay there, I?ve already said that," Beckham said this week. "I?ve nothing against Galaxy, I?ve had two great years there and there are some great players and great people there. But I'm really enjoying my football at Milan," he said.
But Leiweke told the Times that the Galaxy's focus now would be to "get David excited about the team we're building here and coming back."
Beckham joined LA Galaxy amid great fanfare in 2007 on a five-year deal reportedly worth 250 million dollars (183 million euros). However, he does have a provision in his contract that would allow him to leave after the 2009 MLS season. AFP
