I wonder if Mark Hughes is poised to make a swift return to management at Bolton following Gary Megson’s sacking.

Hughes is certain to figure prominently in the thoughts of Bolton chiefs as they look for an experienced candidate to replace Megson.

The former Manchester City and Blackburn boss would probably welcome a chance to remain in the north-west.

It just remains to be seen whether he views Bolton as a club who can match his ambition.

Hughes started the season with hopes of moulding Manchester City into a side capable of at least securing a Champions League place.

He could swap that for a battle against relegation with Bolton.

Former Bolton midfielder Peter Reid, currently assistant-manager at Stoke City, is another possible name in the frame to take charge at the Reebok.

Darren Ferguson’s name is also being linked with any managerial job going at the moment.

Bolton’s 2-2 draw at home to fellow strugglers Hull, after they had led 2-0, proved to be the final straw for Megson.

He was in charge for just over two years but was never a popular figure among Bolton fans.

No doubt Megson’s old foe Neil Warnock will have had a broad smile on his face when he learned of the news.

The pair have never patched up their differences since the infamous ‘Battle of Bramall Lane’ clash between Sheffield United and West Brom back in 2002.

When the match was abandoned due to Warnock’s United having only six players left on the pitch, Megson accused his rival of ordering his players to feign injuries.

Incidentally, I was alarmed to read that Chris Evans is taking care of first-team matters at Bolton alongside Steve Wigley on a caretaker basis.

I would have thought that the task of replacing Sir Terry Wogan as host of the Radio 2 breakfast show was enough without the added pressure of a Premiership
relegation battle.

What next, Jonathan Ross joining the backroom staff at West Ham?!

–Nick Johnson, Red U.K. Editorial Staff

With the new year nearly upon us, here are Red’s top 10 predictions for 2010.

1. Premier League winners
Chelsea are just that little bit stronger than the rest and they will be crowned champions. Manchester United lack that extra spark now that Cristiano Ronaldo has gone.

2. For the drop
It’s hard to envisage the struggles of Portsmouth and Wolves ending in anything other than relegation. Expect Burnley and Hull to go into freefall, with one of them joining the other two in the Championship next term.

3. Kings of Europe
History is against Barcelona as they bid to become the first team to retain the Champions League trophy. Instinct tells me that Real Madrid, with all their expensive superstars, will replace their great rivals as champions of Europe.

4. League Cup winners
Manchester City will defeat United in a mouthwatering semi-final before proving too strong for Aston Villa in the final. It will be City’s first major trophy since winning the League Cup in 1976.

5. FA Cup victors
Their rivals’ title race and Champions League commitments will open the way for Liverpool to earn their first silverware since their 2006 FA Cup triumph.

6. Transfer coup
Fearing a lengthy transfer ban, Chelsea will splash the cash in January. Top of their shopping list will be Sergio Agüero, the outstanding Argentina striker. Agüero’s current club, Atlético Madrid, will want top dollar. Expect a fee of around £50 million.

7. Big debate
Something will happen at the World Cup that will have us all wondering why on earth nothing has been done to help referees and their assistants. As ever, dreams will be ended by poor decisions. FIFA must act.

8. England expects
For once, England approach a World Cup with realistic expectations of coming home with the trophy. The biggest concern for Fabio Capello is a lack of strength in depth. The nation will be praying that Wayne Rooney is fully fit throughout.

9. Golden Boot
I’ve said for some time that Brazil’s Luis Fabiano will be the top scorer at South Africa 2010. At 29, the Sevilla striker is in his zenith–as shown by a marvellous record of 25 goals in his first 36 internationals.

10. World champions
Brazil have everything it takes to win a sixth World Cup. Defensive steel, midfield control, attacking verve and goals galore from the likes of Luis Fabiano. And, perhaps most crucially, Dunga’s outfit boasts impressive strength in depth.

–Rob Wightman, Red U.K. Senior Sports Writer

Top Premiership managers should be worried by news that Jose Mourinho wants to return to English football.

Mourinho made an emotional return to Stamford Bridge to watch his old team beat Fulham and then declared he could even make a Premier League comeback this
summer.

The self-styled ‘Special One’, now in charge of Inter Milan, was on a spying mission ahead of his side’s Champions League game against Chelsea.

When asked about his feelings for English football, Mourinho said: “I have always said the same–I love it here, I love it here, I love it here.”

I think we get the message, Jose.

Mourinho added that he is still in love with Chelsea, so it must have been painful for him to see his former lover with a new partner in Carlo Ancelotti.

On the one hand he wants to see his ex-love happy, but there will also be pangs of regret about what might have been had they not gone their separate ways.

There is always a chance, of course, that Mourinho will rekindle his love affair with Chelsea.

That is a possibility if Chelsea blow their lead at the top of the table and miss out on the title.

If that happens, Ancelotti could find himself dumped in favour of Mourinho.

Title success for Chelsea could see Mourinho run into the arms of another club in this country.

He has been linked with Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.

I think you can safely rule-out United for the time being as Fergie is not ready to stand down just yet.

A move to City could also be a non-starter if Roberto Mancini makes significant progress between now and the end of the season.

That leaves Liverpool as the most likely destination for Mourinho given their disappointing campaign.

If the axe falls on Rafa Benitez, Mourinho could be offered a route back to the Premiership.

The return of the Special One would be a welcome breath of fresh air.

He oozes charisma and is the nearest to the great Brian Clough that English football has ever seen.

Please come back, Jose, you’ve been sadly missed.

–Nick Johnson, Red U.K. Editorial Staff

David James has sent a clear ‘come and get me’ plea to Tottenham in a bid to secure his place as the England No.1 ahead of the World Cup finals.

Saying that he is “flattered” to be linked with a club of such stature, James added that it would be good for his England chances to join “an upwardly mobile club”.

If that isn’t saying that he is desperate to leave Portsmouth when the transfer window opens, I don’t know what is.

James has never made any secret of the fact that he was disillusioned after seeing a number of players leave Pompey last summer.

He now says that the mass exodus from Fratton Park left him feeling “a bit cheated”.

By the sound of it, I think Pompey boss Avram Grant needs to start looking for a new keeper.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has great admiration for James, having worked with him during his time in charge at Portsmouth.

With Carlo Cudicini out of action following a road accident, Redknapp is looking to sign an experienced keeper and James would fit the bill.

A move to White Hart Lane would give James’ World Cup hopes a timely boost, swapping a relegation battle for a tilt at qualification for Europe.

Regarding England, I have to agree with a fellow journalist who, when writing about our chances in South Africa, expressed concerns about the goalkeeper situation.

I must confess that I am not a fan of James as I feel he makes too many errors to be a top international keeper.

The problem is, no-one has staked a strong claim to replace him.

I fancied Ben Foster to take over after starting the season in goal for Manchester United, but a dip in form cost him his place and effectively scuppered his England chances for the time being.

Of the others–Robert Green, Paul Robinson and Joe Hart–there is no stand-out contender.

That means that if he is fit, David James is the favourite to win Fabio Capello’s vote.

Let us hope that the man nicknamed ‘Calamity’ does not let his country down on the biggest stage.

–Nick Johnson, Red U.K Editorial Staff

1. Top player
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi scooped the European Footballer of the Year award. Cristiano Ronaldo smashed goals galore for Manchester United and Real Madrid. But Red’s player of 2009 was Xavi, Barça’s perfect midfield maestro.

2. Best team
Yes, it just has to be the brilliant Barcelona. The Catalan giants won La Liga and the Champions League in Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge. Their attacking play was simply dazzling. Could they be the first team to retain the Champions League trophy?

3. Biggest team flop
2009 was a disaster for Liverpool. They capitulated in the Premier League after Rafa Benítez’s anti-Fergie rant and are very unlikely to this term claim their first title in 20 years. Worse still, they fell at the first in this season’s Champions League.

4. Biggest individual flop
When you spend £31 million on a player, you expect him to command a place in the team for big matches. But Dimitar Berbatov has been so disappointing at United that he was benched for the Champions League semi-final (both legs) and final.

5. Fabulous England
Fabio Capello’s side have been so impressive that the nation’s dream of World Cup glory could next summer become a reality. The Italian has moulded a cohesive unit that qualified in style, confirming their place with the 5-1 rout of Croatia at Wembley.

6. Public enemy
You know someone’s done something really bad when Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, doesn’t win this category. Enter Thierry Henry, the man whose double handball effectively took France to the World Cup at Ireland’s expense.

7. The big debate
Henry’s game of pat-a-cake led to renewed calls for referees to have access to TV replays to help them make the right call. Action must be taken to stamp out cynical transgressions like Henry’s. But, as ever, FIFA will be painfully slow to act.

8. RIP
In July and August, the football world united to mourn the passing of Sir Bobby Robson. The former manager of England, Newcastle and Barcelona died of cancer at the age of 76. He is remembered fondly for his honesty and love of the game.

9. Transfer madness
Real Madrid flexed their financial muscles by splashing out over £220 million in transfer fees. New faces included Cristiano Ronaldo (£80 million), Kaka (£60 million) and Karim Benzema (£30 million). All they need to do now is win silverware.

–Rob Wightman, Red U.K. Senior Sports Writer

I was amused to read in The Sun newspaper that a Premier League manager has been spotted visiting a brothel.

Perhaps the un-named boss, whose identity cannot be revealed due to privacy laws based on the Human Rights Act, was on the look-out for a couple of strikers.

He would no doubt want someone who is useful around the box.

The story reminds me of the then-director of a Premier League club who was caught frequenting a massage parlour some years ago.

The tabloid revelations must have been very embarrassing for him, especially as he was quite a well-known public figure.

The players at his club seized on an opportunity to rib him when he travelled on the team bus to an away match.

When they passed a sign which included the name of the town in which said massage parlour was located, the players shouted out: “Come on Joe, you know the way from here!”

Our friend was left red-faced at the front of the bus, biting his lip as he secretly raged.

By the sound of it, the mystery manager at the centre is scoring more often than some of his players.

Quite why he needed to wear ‘branded soccer training gear’ for his trip to the house of ill-repute is unclear.

Perhaps he had gone straight there from a training session for some rest and recuperation.

That’s a new term for it.

If he was satisfied, perhaps he may consider taking his players there for a team-bonding session.

The staff could take them in hand and show them a few things to work on.

Let’s just hope the manager doesn’t take things too far and start shouting instructions from the sidelines.

–Nick Johnson, Red U.K. Editorial Staff

What a difference a fortnight makes.

When Red last reported on our five Premier League players to watch this season, Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia led the way.

City striker Carlos Tévez had climbed to second, while Arsenal centre-half Thomas Vermaelen had dropped to third.

Liverpool full-back Glen Johnson had slumped to fourth, and Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge was rooted to the bottom.

But in the last two weeks, their fortunes have changed again.

Here’s how they now rank:

1. Carlos Tévez, Manchester City
I’m always saying that the Argentina striker needs to improve his goalscoring rate.

And clearly Tévez has been listening.

He has struck three times in the last three games, with a double in the draw at Bolton and a penalty in the home defeat of Sunderland.

His only blank was in an ineffectual display at Tottenham, when City lost for only the second time this season.

It will be interesting to see how Tévez responds to new manager Roberto Mancini.

2. Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal
It was a bit unfair to drop the excellent Arsenal centre-half two places earlier in the month.

The Belgian is now back where he belongs as a key member of a Gunners defence that is looking increasingly solid.

The 24-year-old has the potential to be one of the Premier League’s top defenders.

3. Antonio Valencia, Manchester United
A mixed bag of performances sees the Ecuadorian winger slip two places.

The 24-year-old struck a peach of a goal in the comfortable defeat of Wolves at Old Trafford.

But Valencia, and the rest of the United attack, fired blanks in the defeats to Aston Villa and Fulham.

Still, 2010 should be a good year for an industrious player.

4. Glen Johnson, Liverpool
A member of the Liverpool defence that conceded two at home to Arsenal, having scored first, and two at Portsmouth last weekend.

Fabio Capello will doubtless be scrutinising the 25-year-old full-back’s reaction to this time of adversity at Anfield.

5. Daniel Sturridge, Chelsea
The young striker’s main claim to fame is that he won a dodgy penalty at West Ham on Sunday, which Frank Lampard converted to earn a point.

Sturridge has yet to start a league game or score a goal since joining from City in the summer.

He will be praying for more opportunities to impress in the new year.

–Rob Wightman, Red U.K. Senior Sports Writer

I don’t know about you but I’m get a little tired of all the stories currently circulating following Mark Hughes’ sacking as Manchester City boss.

Yes, I think Hughes was harshly treated by the City Board.

And yes, he has reason to feel aggrieved at not being given more time.

But can we all now please move on.

Hughes in no longer the man in charge at Eastlands.

He has handed over the baton (or rather had it wrenched from his grasp) to Roberto Mancini.

Nothing is going to change that, so let’s please forget all talk about players like Craig Bellamy and Shay Given threatening to quit the club in protest at the decision.

Apparently, both players feel a strong sense of loyalty towards Hughes.

It’s funny how loyalty has never been an issue for Bellamy in the past when he’s changed clubs on a regular basis.

In any case, I doubt whether Mancini is losing any sleep over the prospect of losing Bellamy and Given.

With an open cheque book at his disposal, I think the new man in charge will hardly view either player as being irreplaceable.

I think the message from Mancini will be something along the lines of: ‘if you’re not happy with the situation, move on’.

Aside from the issue of whether they were right to axe Hughes, I think City chiefs could have handled the situation better.

For a start, Mancini should have been fully briefed ahead of the press conference held to announce his appointment.

The Italian let it slip that he had been in negotiations with City for several weeks.

Oops.

City’s CEO Garry Cook had claimed that talks with Mancini only began last Thursday.

Cook must have been shuffling uncomfortably in his seat when Mancini spilled the beans.

However, as I say, it is time for everyone to put the Hughes sacking to bed and move on.

–Nick Johnson, Red U.K. Editorial Staff

Come on, admit it, were you surprised when it was announced that Mark Hughes had been sacked by Manchester City? No, me neither.

I always felt it was a matter of WHEN and not IF he would be replaced before the end of the campaign.

After being backed with considerable funds in the transfer market, Hughes knew that he had to hit the ground running when the season kicked off.

Time was not on his side and despite the fact that City have lost only twice in the Premiership this term, the axe was swung on Saturday night.

Too many draws proved to be Hughes’ undoing, with City in sixth place at the time of his sacking.

Hughes may be a big name in the English game, but he is not a high-profile figure in world football.

That, in my opinion, was a factor in City’s decision to dispense with his services.

Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink were both considered by the City hierarchy before Roberto Mancini was named as Hughes’ successor.

It turns out that Hughes had effectively been a dead man walking for several weeks with Mancini understood to have accepted the job on 2 December.

Hughes has handled the situation with a lot of dignity and retains much respect in the game.

It will surely not be long before he makes a return to management in the top-flight.

Under-pressure Premiership managers will now be looking over their shoulder, aware that Hughes’ sudden availability could put them out of a job.

What lies ahead for Mancini?

Well, he is not a complete stranger to the Premiership, having played for Leicester City ten years ago.

But managing in the Premiership is a very different proposition and the former Inter Milan coach will have to adapt quickly.

He will have Brian Kidd on hand to help him, the former England coach having been promoted from running the club’s academy.

Mancini takes charge of a City side who have reached the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.

They have not won any silverware since 1976–when they lifted the League Cup–so success in the Carling Cup would help to ease some of the pressure Mancini is
under.

Good luck, Roberto, I think you’re going to need it.

–Nick Johnson, Red U.K. Editorial Staff

Andrew Strauss is today a relieved man after England narrowly avoided defeat in a nailbiting finish at Centurion.

At tea on the final day, the first Test seemed to be drifting towards a draw.

England were three wickets down, with Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott going well.

And it seemed unlikely that they would then lose the seven wickets or score the 195 runs to bring a positive result.

But old habits die hard.

A collapse of almost catastrophic proportions left England teetering on the brink of defeat.

Happily, Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions survived the final 19 deliveries to deny South Africa the one wicket they needed for victory.

But, as South Africa skipper Graeme Smith was quick to point out, the home side dominated the match despite not having played a Test for eight months.

And that doesn’t bode well for England’s hopes of success in the remaining three matches of the series.

Still, Red is determined to see some positives in the Centurion experience.

And here they are:

Middle order
The hapless Ian Bell aside, England are starting to look strong in this department. Pietersen’s return was truly welcome, as was the continuing good form of Trott, and Collingwood played with typical grit.

Wagging tail
In the first innings, an eighth wicket century stand between James Anderson and Graeme Swann kept Strauss’s men in the match. It was heroic stuff.

Classy spinner
Off-spinner Swann again showed he’s a class act, completing a first-innings haul of 5-110 on what was supposed to be a seamer’s paradise.

Fighting spirit
Mistakes were made, but at least England were prepared to battle. Collingwood never looked daunted by his task on the final afternoon. And Onions proved his resilience by surviving, with Collingwood, those difficult final overs.

Never again
England’s seamers failed dramatically to exploit helpful conditions on the first morning. But Red expects them to show more discipline in the second Test at Durban, which starts on Boxing Day.

–Rob Wightman, Red U.K. Senior Sports Writer