Football Corner

Scott Parker may miss the rest of the league season with Newcastle according to caretaker boss Glen Roder who says that he suspects he is suffering from glandular fever. If the tests confirm the illness Parker will definetly not play for the Magpies again this season and he has now ended his chances of playing in the World Cup for England.

"Glandular fever is what we are expecting. We think he's had this for a month or more," said Roeder. "That sums up everything you need to know about Scott Parker." The news will come as a blow to the Magpies, who have seen the former Charlton player thrive since his £6.5m summer move from Chelsea to St James' Park.

I actually thought that with the form Parker has been in that he would of been a good bet to make the England World Cup squad. He has played extremly well for Newcastle when he has played this season because he had a injury during the campaign. I wish Parker the best of luck with his recovery and hopefully he will be in the England squad for Euro 2008.

Now if you haven't already heard about Didier Drogba's antics on Saturday then let me just refresh your memory. During Chelsea's Premiership clash with Manchester City on Saturday Drogba was been his same old self, throwing himself around the ground and moaning at every decsion. At around about half three on Saturday he scored a good goal past City's keeper David James to put his side ahead but what happened only a few minutes after has been brought into dispute.

Drogba appeared to of handled the ball after a cross came in from the right and he then placed it in the net. Now you would say the ref or the linesman would have to of seen it because it was so so clear and with the City players protesting how could he of not of seen it. In City's protest two players were booked including captain Sylvain Distin and he was latter sent off for arguing the case at half-time. For that incident I would probably have to blame the ref mostly but Drogba has to get a bit of the blame as well.

In the post-match interview Drogba admitted handling the ball,"Yes, it was handball, but that's part of the game. "If City had done it, nobody would have mentioned it, but everyone is out to make a big mess about Chelsea." Drogba was then forced to quickly make a retraction in his post-match interview after admitting he dived. "Sometimes I dive, sometimes I stand," he said, before adding: "No, I don't dive."

You could say that he was very honest in addmitting that he handballed it or you could say that he is a cheat for doing it in the first place but on his second comment, there is no doubt that he does dive and that he does it far too often and he would be better of staying on his feet. I think he is a cheat for doing this and I am sure now that the FA will keep a close eye on him in the next couple of games.

What do you think? Leave a comment?

Well another Saturday in the Premiership and yet another Chelsea victory and all they need now to clinch their second league title in a row is four more wins. Liverpool came out the better of the the Mersey side derby today but it wasn't all plain sailing for Rafa's red army. Portsmouths match against Arsenal was posponded due to a waterlogged pitch. Here is a brief report of all of todays games in the Premiership:

Two goals in three first-half minutes from Didier Drogba were enough for Chelsea to post a comfortable victory over depleted Manchester City. Drogba took his season's tally to 13 after he latched onto a throughball from Eidur Gudjohnsen. He fired home a second from six yards, despite complaints from City defenders he brought the ball down with his arm. City skipper Sylvain Distin continued his arguments at half-time and was sent off for a second booking. Final Score: Chelsea 2-0 Man City.

Liverpool overcame the early dismissal of Steven Gerrard to beat Everton in an incident-packed Merseyside derby. Gerrard earned two quickfire yellow cards - for kicking the ball away and then a bad challenge on Kevin Kilbane. Liverpool then scored twice in three minutes through a Phil Neville own goal and a clinical finish from Luis Garcia. Tim Cahill headed one back but Everton had substitute Andy van der Meyde sent off after 72 minutes for an elbow and Harry Kewell's fine strike sealed it. Final Score: Liverpool 3-1 Everton.

Blackburn kept up their charge for a Champions League spot by getting the better of a spirited Sunderland side. An individual goal from Steven Reid on 15 minutes proved the match-winner with the midfielder firing home after running half the length of the pitch. Bottom-placed Sunderland, without a home win in the league this season, showed plenty of heart after the break. Final Score: Sunderland 0-1 Blackburn.

West Ham came from behind to snatch a last-gasp victory thanks to skipper Nigel Reo-Coker's close-range tap-in. Wigan had taken the lead just before the break with a stunning long-range drive from Lee McCullough. But Paul Scharner's weak header back to Wigan keeper Mike Pollitt dropped short allowing Harewood to round the substitute keeper and tap in to level. The game looked to be heading for a draw before Teddy Sheringham crossed for Reo-Coker who cooly slotted home. Final Score: Wigan 1-2 West Ham.

Aston Villa and Fulham remain bogged down in the lower reaches of the Premiership table after playing out a drab and uneventful draw. Lee Hendrie had Villa's best chance in the first half, sending a right-foot volley narrowly over the top. For Fulham, Steed Malbranque volleyed just wide when well-placed in the opening seconds of the second half. Aston Villa 0-0 Fulham.

Just to say well done to Reading who have clinched promotion to the Premiership today with a 1-1 draw at Leicster and I looked forward to seeing them fight it out in the Premiership next season.

Guus Hiddink has announced today that he will leave Dutch giants PSV at the end of the season increasing speculation that he will take over the England hot seat in replace of Sven Goran Eriksson. The Dutchman has promised to reveal his plans at the end of March, but he added: "There's nothing concrete now, let alone anything signed." Hiddink, who has coached Australia alongside PSV duties, will be in charge of the Socceroos at the World Cup.

Under Hiddink's guidance, Australia qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time in 32 years. However, Football Federation Australia has admitted it does not expect Hiddink to stay on after the World Cup. On Thursday, Hiddink said he had already decided on his next move.

This very very interesting news regarding the England job and I think he will indeed take over the job in the summer. Hiddink is a very very experienced coach both at international level and club level and that's why I think he would be the ideal sucsesor to Sven Goran Eriksson.