Casillas tips Cole to join Real

Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas believes Chelsea defender Ashley Cole will join him at Real Madrid next season.

Full-back Cole has been linked with a £30million move to the Spanish giants this summer.

The England international would be reunited with former Blues boss Jose Mourinho following his own move from Internazionale to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Casillas, who captained Spain to World Cup glory in South Africa, believes a fresh start in Madrid is exactly what Cole needs.

The 29-year-old is currently in the middle of divorce proceedings following the break-up of his marriage to pop star Cheryl Tweedy.

"From what I am hearing the signs look good," Casillas told The Sun."I have only briefly spoken to people at the club but I am confident that he can be a Real Madrid player next year.

"I think it will be the right move for him both professionally and personally.

"A clean break from England is hopefully something he is very interested in.

"It will be his last big contract and who better to sign for than his old coach Mourinho at Real.

"He will know better than anybody this club will be successful under Jose.

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"Jose has proved he buys players and makes them the very best in the world in their position.

"With Ashley he doesn't need to do that because he's already the best left-back in the world.

"Jose knows all about him and it comes as no surprise to me he is very much on Madrid's radar."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Black Cats close in on Angeleri

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has confirmed that Argentinian full-back Marcos Angeleri is on the verge of completing his transfer to the Stadium of Light.

The former Estudiantes player has been unable to take part in the Black Cats' pre-season games because of delays in getting an Italian passport which would allow him to play in Europe.

However, Angeleri has finally been handed a passport and could feature in the forthcoming friendlies against Hull City or Benfica.

Bruce told the Sunderland Echo:"It's good news and it's great for him because he needs to work with us as quickly as possible.

"It has been a bit of a culture shock for him coming over and seeing what English football is all about but he is a top-quality player and he will adjust.

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"The reports we've had on him from Argentina were all outstanding and he is a player who will bring something extra to our squad."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Rio Ferdinand still four weeks away from comeback

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes Rio Ferdinand is still a month away from returning to first-team action.

Ferdinand is currently recovering from the knee ligament injury which forced him to miss the World Cup finals.

The 31-year-old defender was injured on the eve of the tournament in South Africa.

Initial injury assessments suggested Ferdinand could be fit for the start of the new Premier League season.

However, speaking ahead of Monday's opener against Newcastle United, Ferguson has revealed that the injury-plagued central defender is still four weeks away from making his latest comeback.

"Rio is nowhere near. He's doing little bits of jogging and things like that but I think he's a month away," he explained.

"We always anticipated it would take time. It's a knee ligament and, although it wasn't what you'd call a serious one, it was a hard one. You have to take time with knee ligaments.

"Rio has had a bad 12 months and we hope it gets better for him.

"You hope the break over the summer with missing the World Cup will help him.

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"The back injury seemed to sort itself out as the season went on, then he had the groin injury.

"He's had a succession of these things and you don't want to see that when a player is in his thirties."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Aston Villa look for experienced manager

Aston Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner has confirmed that his club are looking for an experienced Premier League manager to take up the Villa Park hotseat.

Kevin MacDonald is currently acting as caretaker boss following the departure of Martin O'Neill, with Villa taking their time over a long-term replacement.

A statement from Faulkner on the club's official website read:"Following the departure of our manager on August 9, the club was left with very little time to react and to prepare for our opening fixtures.

"Our first order of business, looking immediately ahead to our games against West Ham, Rapid Vienna, Newcastle and Everton, was to ask Kevin MacDonald to step in as caretaker manager.

"Kevin has been with Villa for a period stretching back over 15 years, has thorough knowledge of our first team, reserves and youth Academy players, as well as strong and well-established working relationships with other key members of our coaching staff.

"As such, we felt he would provide a critical degree of stability and continuity in a turbulent period and give the team the best opportunity to succeed in these early games.

"Kevin, Tony McAndrew and many other long-serving members of our Club have stepped up selflessly and without hesitation to the task at hand and for this we owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

"We are conscious that we have steered clear of openly communicating our thoughts on the search for a permanent manager until this time, as we felt that to do so would undermine both Kevin's and the players' efforts to focus on preparing for these games.

"To date, we have immersed ourselves in the process of appointing a new manager and clearly identifying the key criteria this person must meet.

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"Two of the traits we believe are of crucial importance are that candidates have experience of managing in the Premier League and a strategy for building on the existing strengths in our current squad.

"We have thoroughly researched potential candidates and have reached out to a variety of contacts we have within the game for advice and guidance, as well as keeping key staff at Villa Park informed and focused.

"We will now start the process of interviewing candidates we believe meet the key criteria required to manage Aston Villa with a view to making an appointment in the near future."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Wolves ace Adlene Guedioura suffers broken leg

Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Adlene Guedioura faces a long spell out of action after suffering a broken leg in the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend.

The 24-year-old Algeria international was injured by a challenge from Steve Sidwell and taken to hospital for x-rays, which showed up serious damage.

Manager Mick McCarthy told the club's official website: "It's desperately disappointing news both for Adlene and the club. Everyone wishes him all the best in his recovery."

Steve Kemp, head of the club's medical department added:"It is going to be a lengthy absence, but on the plus side the consultant has told us it's an uncomplicated fracture.

"In these situations that's as good as it gets.

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"Adlene will be in a full leg non weight-bearing cast for four weeks before progressing to a partial weight-bearing cast after that."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Owen Coyle to manage Chung-Yong Lee’s workload

Bolton Wanderers boss Owen Coyle is hoping to get the best out of Chung-Yong Lee by managing the workload of the South Korea international.

The 22-year-old forward made 44 appearances in his first season in the Premier League last term before heading off to South Africa for the World Cup finals.

He has played in all seven of the club's league games this season despite a prolonged summer rest and Coyle is keen to monitor the form of the FC Seoul winger.

"I think he has done very well for his first season and will continue to get better," Coyle told the Bolton News after picking up the north-west player of the year award on behalf of Lee, who was away on international duty.

"But we have got to be very careful with him because he has played virtually for two years without a break.

"I gave him three-and-a-half weeks/four weeks off after the World Cup but it wasn't much when you consider he played for two years solidly.

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"It's been a tough ask for him. But all credit. He is a young player who I believe is getting better and better."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Football League Tickets Giveaway

After the success of our last Football League competition here at FootballFanCast.com we have teamed up with npower again to give away yet more Football League tickets. We are giving away a pair of tickets to lucky home team supporters to the following matches that are taking place on Saturday 30th October:

Cardiff City v. Norwich City Ipswich Town v. Millwall Reading v. Doncaster Rovers Charlton Athletic v. Sheffield Wednesday Dagenham & Redbridge v. Hartlepool United Leyton Orient v. Rochdale Notts. County v. Southampton Tranmere Rovers v. Milton Keynes Dons Northampton Town v. Gillingham Shrewsbury Town v. Barnet Torquay United v. Morecambe Wycombe Wanderers v. Lincoln City

*

All you have to do is answer the following question:

Which club were the Football League Champions last season?

A) West Bromwich Albion

B) Blackpool

C) Newcastle United

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Email your answer along with the game you would like to watch to [email protected].

The competition closes on Tuesday 26th October so make sure you get your answers in now!

Who’s between the sticks in Arsenal’s Ultimate XI?

The first stop in establishing Arsenal’s Ultimate XI? Establishing Arsenal’s greatest goalkeeper. Nowadays Arsenal fans have to contend with the consistently calamitous Fabianski and Almunia, but things weren’t always this way. Whilst two or three names may jump immediately to mind, it’s difficult to assess who deserves the number one slot over the others. Below is a gallery of my shortlist of the 5 players I consider to be the Greatest Arsenal goalkeepers yet. If you disagree or agree with my choices, feel free to let me know. We’ll start with the player I consider to be the 5th greatest Arsenal goalkeeper of all time.

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Click on image below to view the contenders between the sticks:

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If you’re interested and want to hear more feel free to follow me on Twitter.

Ancelotti laughs off Guardiola rumours

Carlo Ancelotti has laughed off speculation suggesting his time at Chelsea is coming to an end and that current Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is being lined up to replace him.

Speculation over the weekend claimed that Blues owner Roman Abramovich had identified Guardiola as the former AC Milan boss' successor.

But speaking after Sunday's 1-1 draw at Newcastle United, a result that knocked Chelsea off the top of the table, Ancelotti said:"I have heard of Pep Guardiola, to be frank.

"But you don't have to ask me – the coach is always the last to know. Don't ask me. We focus on our training and our matches."

Of his side's display at St James' Park, Ancelotti added:"I'm happy with the performance. We didn't start so well and conceded too easily and, for this reason, our game was more difficult.

"But the reaction was good and by the end of the first half, we had total control. We created a lot of chances, but needed to convert more to win the game.

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"The reason for this result is the same – at the moment, we are unable to convert our chances."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Samir Nasri sends Arsenal top

Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League table thanks to a 2-1 victory at home to Fulham, while Chelsea had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Everton at Stamford Bridge.

Samir Nasri put the Gunners in front on 14 minutes but they were pegged back on the half-hour mark when Diomansy Kamara levelled matters for the visitors.

Nasri grabbed his second goal of the game 15 minutes from time to take Arsene Wenger's men above Manchester United and into top spot.

Chelsea looked to be on their way to three points thanks to Didier Drogba's 41st-minute penalty but Jermaine Beckford struck five minutes from time to earn David Moyes' men a deserved point.

Manchester City remain in the title hunt as Carlos Tevez's 10th goal of the season helped them to a narrow 1-0 win over Bolton at Eastlands.

Tottenham's run of four straight Premier League wins came to an end as they drew 1-1 at Birmingham. Sebastien Bassong put Spurs in front but a late header from Craig Gardner salvaged a point for the Blues.

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Elsewhere, Blackburn bounced back from their 7-1 defeat at Manchester United to send Wolves bottom with a 3-0 win. David Dunn, Brett Emerton and Ryan Nelsen got the goals.

Wigan fought out a 2-2 draw at home to Stoke with all the goals coming in the first half.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

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