news and gossip
Frank Lampard agrees Manchester City loan extension handing champions New Year boost
Fat Frank
Frank Lampard is set to hand Manchester City a New Year year boost by extending his loan spell.
Although City boss Manuel Pellegrini claimed no decision had been made on Lampard's future, it is understood the midfielder has agreed to stay on with the champions.
With Yaya Toure on African Nations Cup duty for up to five weeks at the start of January, Pellegrini has told the City hierarchy of the need to hold on to Lampard for longer.
Former Chelsea midfielder Lampard, 36, has scored six goals in 15 games for City since joining on loan deal from their MLS franchise New York City FC back in August.
Although Lampard's loan deal runs out on New Year's Eve, an agreement is in place for him to stay with City until at least mid-February, with the new MLS season not starting until March.
ha! ms_geekette and myself were just talking about this guy
Chatter from the sidelines
- Jose Mourinho admits his dig at Sam Allardyce last season was "stupid and silly" West Ham be snatching wigs left and right, oooh!
- UEFA marks 100th anniversary of World War One truce embed disabled by request so you have to watch the video at source
- Pep Guardiola's tactics described in some detail. Good to read when you're in a queue, waiting in the car, etc put it in your pocket app
- Championship: Vincent Tan will ignore fan protests and says Cardiff will stay red Cardiff is a team that used to play in the PL, got relegated to Championship, they needed a cash injection and Tan was like okay, but I'm going to change the kit colour from blue to red. Cardiff is drama at this point, they were connected to Makay and those racist texts
Tan wearing red Cardiff strip - African Cup of Nations - Cameroon drop Alex Song from Nations Cup squad good idea or bad idea?
- Manchester City Lining Up Sensational Swoop For La Liga StrikerAtletico hide your players!
- While Europe rests, EPL's lack of winter break puts players at risk I wish they could break in January, tbh
- Guardiola keeps Bayern Muninch sharp says Mullerread more
- Juventus Transfer News: Xherdan Shaqiri Seeking Minutes, Bianconeri Seriously Interested read more
- The Belgian League also have matches over the holiday period website here
- Juninho defends under-fire PSG defender David Luiz oy
- Criticism of Klopp is embarrassing - Watzke more
- Reus should join Real Madrid says former Bayern Munich manager
- Ramos not bothered about talks, has two years left on contracthe and Flo talk often, he says
- Manchester United news and transfers: Gareth Bale 'will be sold if Real Madrid secure Marco Reus' where's that Mourinho laughing gif when you need it
Videos and other media
OP: if these fan videos are beyond the remit of this post and comm, tell me, and I'll remove them. If you enjoy them, please leave comments at the source of the videos! Thank you
Click to viewFan video of van Gaal
The throwback
Guess who? Answers on a postcard
Christmas Greetings
Marcello and Poldi
Isco and El Shawwry
Kaka and co
More Christmas Greetings
Chelsea players getting into that spirit
Willian and family
Pictures: Training Day
OP: van Gaal gave his players Christmas Day off, other players from other clubs weren't so lucky
Mario Balotelli rocks the coolest gear. His snood and gloves are from his line. I hope he starts scoring goals soon. It would be nice. Puma must be having a sh*t fit over himself and Reus
Agüero back in the gym, looking to terrorise your teams
OP:sorry about the truncated post, my internet is shaky, bless. I hope to have a post with a round up of the matches played today tomorrow. As usual, any broken links, news missed, etc, please tell me!