The team at Fooyoh.com would like to wish you

Happy New Year!!!

We've had a GREAT run in 2008 and we're thankful to sit back and think of how lucky we are to have readers like you who have supported us till the end of the year. 2009 will be a big year for us as we find ways to improve our system to provide you a great viewing pleasure. We have everything you want; you just have to keep an eye out for fresh things, or scan through our archive for interesting articles.

Our resolution for 2009 is to:

1. Improve system (as mentioned)
2. Give you everything you need
3. Treat you (readers)
4. Be bigger and better for you
5. Hear from you - yes we need feedback sometimes.

There were more resolutions from everyone at Fooyoh.com but I've only listed 5. I hope you have had a good year, and sincerely hope you have enjoyed your time with us, as much as we have enjoyed watching you read us.

As the year ends and we bid farewell to our sorrows and misery (if you have any), lets welcome the new year with new hopes, feelings and a mission to accomplish and be ultra-spectacular! (There's my positive attitude kicking already! Woohoo!)

We look forward to seeing you next year. Party hard but be smart. Don't drink and drive, but have a memorable New Year celebration!

Till next year,
The Editor.

Ricky Sbragia has overcome an unpronounceable surname to become the favourite for the permanent Sunderland manager job. This rousing support from his players will surely do no harm to his future career prospects.

The picture may look like a bad photoshop (the name isn’t even in the middle!), but  Lassana Diarra genuinely paraded his new shirt at a Bernabeu press conference today. To avoid confusion with Real Madrid namesake Mahamadou, the French midfielder will wear the name ‘Lass’ on his back.

It’s quite common for players to put their first name on their shirt in Spain, but something tells us he wouldn’t get away with “Lass” in the Premier League…

Unless your name is Kevin Keegan or Mike Ashley, you’ll probably be aware that Stephen Carr has played for Newcastle since 2004. The under-used Irish defender, however, announced retirement from all forms of football earlier this month, following the Magpies’ decision to release him.

If Newcastle fans were worried that Mike Ashley is out of touch with the day-to-day operations at the club, they can take absolutely no solace from the manner in which Carr was dismissed.

Every summer, footballers usually try and negotiate a pay rise, for the loyalty of having hung around another season. Last summer, Mike Ashley was still very enthusiastic about Newcastle, and was handling everything himself, including contract negotiations. A good friend of The Spoiler recently found out how  Carr’s final conversation with the ‘cockney mafia’ ringleader went down:

Stephen Carr: “Hello Mr Ashley.”
Mike Ashley: “Yes”
SC: “I’ve come to speak to you about the annual pay rise.”
MA: “And who are you and what do you do here.”
SC: “Steven Carr, I’m a defender here, Mr Chairman”
MA: “How many winning games did you play in last season?”
SC: “One boss - opening day at Bolton.”
MA: “Go away - you’re sacked. Never ever come back to my club again.”

They might be nowhere near the top of the table that matters - the Premier League table - but Arsenal lead Liverpool on goals scored in the Big Four head-to-head standings after both beat Manchester United and Chelsea. Our friends at chickendinner are convinced Arsene Wenger’s side will again ruin a rival’s title prospects and have produced six reasons why this will happen:

1. Liverpool have won just one of their last four Premier League games and that was against struggling Blackburn, They have also been beaten on their last two trips to North London by Tottenham.

2. The league leaders have won just three of their last thirteen away games in the capital.

3. Whereas opponents from the North West have been the thorn in Arsenal’s side in recent years, the Gunners have won five of their six league games against teams from that region this season, including all three at home.

4. Rafael Benitez has never been victorious at the Emirates and his Premier League record away to Arsenal reads: P4 W0 D1 L3. The draw came when both sides had little to play for and fielded weakened teams last season.

5. The last season Arsenal looked out of the title race at this stage of the season was two years ago and on that occasion they won the Big Four league. They did the double over Manchester United, took points from both meetings against Chelsea and comfortably beat Liverpool 3-0 at home.

6. As Sir Alex Ferguson has pointed out, the last time Manchester United went away mid-season for the equivalent of the Club World Cup, the team above them failed to take advantage. On that occasion it was Leeds who led but they squandered their chance to extend the gap at the top by losing 2-1 at home to a Villa side that were in the bottom-half. Will history repeat itself?

Currently five points adrift from safety with low morale and an even lower transfer fund, Sam Allardyce has a mountain to climb if he is going to keep Blackburn in the top flight this season. With the exception of a visit to Craven Cottage in January, Big Sam’s first six games in charge will come against teams currently flirting with relegation, giving him the best possible opportunity to turn the club’s fortunes around.