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It's a leap year this year, meaning that if this column keeps up all year round then I have to do an extra one compared to every other year. Lucky then there's a lot to get through today...
Chelsea News
Five Fixtures That Could Decide Villas-Boas Fate - Telegraph
The Telegraph take a reasonably sensational look at five games that could decide AvB's fate.
Chelsea Officials Unimpressed With AVB's Interview | Guardian Football
If rumours have it, the hierachy isn't happy with comments by Andre Villas-Boas during his recent interview with Portugese media, particularly when he tells the truth about his job security and the situation with Torres. Given there's no sources named anywhere in the article, it's likely the Guardian is living up to the reputation that is exactly why AVB doesn't give interviews like these often - the English media will speculate and spin whatever they feel like out of anything.
Internationals Update
International Friendlies 2012: Brazil Beat Bosnia-Herzegovina - SBNation.com
Quick David Luiz update from Brazil:
Kevin McCauley: David Luiz got off to a brilliant start for Brazil, dispossessing Edin Dzeko on multiple occasions, but his mistakes led to Bosnia's goal.
More News After the Jump
Premier League review week 25 | News | eircom SportsHub
Miguel Delanley is, in my eyes, an underrated journalist, and in his weekly round up of the EPL action he talks about Chelsea's result from a fresh angle, one that provides a bit of interest given the current debate between AvB's short term results and long term vision. "After so much recent upheaval and uproar, there was a soothing all-inclusive nature to Chelsea’s win over Bolton. In many ways, it was the perfect – and most seamless – combination of the old and new."
Hiddink's Anzhi Challenge - In Bed With Maradona
Hiddink is a Chelsea favourite for his rescue mission from the ruins of Scolari, and he was widely tipped to do the same with AVB's mess, until he took up a job at Anzhi. This article does an excellent job in detailing why his Russian challenge is much more difficult than it appears on the surface...
Arsenal's Chimeric Captaincy Overload, Or Leadership Is As Leadership Does - SBNation.com
Arsenal have had seven players this season who have captained their country. This tells us a little about their countries, a lot about leadership and almost nothing about Arsenal.
Lukas Podolski In 'Provisional Agreement' Over Arsenal Move - Telegraph
And sticking with our friends from up the North, this rumour has been doing the rounds for a while now, but it seems this is the year that this potential transfer will actually end up happening. Podolski's a bit of risk, yeah, but he's an extremely talented and versatile footballer - at 16 million Chelsea could do worse than attempt a steal here.