Titles aren’t won during the congested holiday programme but the period sets the tone for the second half of the season while the arrival of the January transfer window can prove a tipping point in determining the futures of individual managers and players. Here are five questions that could be answered during the next few days.

A new initiative to encourage more London blue plaques for notable black and Asian figures has been launched.

A group of elderly women travel to Amsterdam to try marijuana in A Granny’s Guide To The Modern World on Wednesday at 11pm on Channel 4.

It is not often you see grown men cry, particularly the sort of shaven-headed burly blokes with tattooed knuckles that tend to follow West Ham, but there are plenty of tears being shed as the Hammers leave Upton Park after 112 years.

Thanks Newcastle, for a minute there we might have begun enjoying ourselves.

Slaven Bilic is hoping Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney does not make his long-awaited comeback against West Ham tonight after labelling the striker the best England player of his era.

Britain’s New Year’s Honour list 2016 sees a total of 1,196 people receive an award, more than three-quarters of whom are recognised for community work, either in a voluntary or paid capacity.

For Dalymount Park, the fervent hope must be that we can soon be calling it the once and future home of Irish football.

Andy Townsend might struggle to remember Ireland’s 3-3 draw away to Poland in 1991 – the last competitive meeting between the two countries – but it’s a game which is lodged firmly in your humble correspondent’s memory banks.

EURO 2016 QUALIFIER GROUP E:

For almost 50 years BBC’s Grandstand show defined Saturday afternoons in the UK and it came to do something similar here in Ireland for many of us once the signal for the British channels began to be picked up beyond the east coast.

Having rocked them in the Dáil, as the Sawdoctors had it, Michael D certainly rocked them in the Guildhall, and beyond, when he announced during his visit to London that he would be supporting England at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

While the bulk of attention has been on the fight for the Premier League title and qualification for Europe next season, we can’t overlook what is shaping up to be the most exciting relegation battle in a long time, with every team in the bottom half still vulnerable and their respective boardrooms dreading the financial implications of playing in the Championship next season.

England boss Roy Hodgson has every belief his side can claim the prized scalp of Germany in tonight’s friendly at Wembley.

The 50th anniversary of George Best’s debut for Manchester United — as a 17-year-old against West Brom on September 14, 1963 — has been marked by the publication of yet another biography of the Belfast legend.

First indication of the direction the week might take came early in last Sunday’s Anfield skirmishes when Tom Cleverley propelled himself into the shins of Philippe Coutinho.

At his best he was virtually unplayable as perhaps the single best crosser of the ball the game has seen.

Andre Villas-Boas thinks a meeting that he held with Gareth Bale earlier this season may have been the spark that ignited the Tottenham forward’s devastating campaign.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas sent a warning to other Barclays Premier League clubs that winger Gareth Bale can only continue improving after the Welshman scored a fantastic double to seal a 3-2 win over West Ham.

West Ham 2 Tottenham 3

West Ham 2 Tottenham 3

Mousa Dembele insists Tottenham have no reason to fear anyone as they prepare to face West Ham in tonight’s London derby at Upton Park.

West Ham 1 Swansea 0

Following his death at the age of 86, numerous tributes have been paid to Malcolm Brodie, the veteran Belfast Telegraph football writer who covered every World Cup from 1954 to 2006.

Ashley Cole is set to become the latest member of England’s 100-club next week - but there is likely to be more interest in Roy Hodgson’s midfield department when he names his squad to face Brazil tomorrow.

Michael O’Neill is desperate to end his wait for a first victory as Northern Ireland manager against Azerbaijan tonight.

Leon Osman believes Steven Gerrard thoroughly deserves to join England’s exclusive 100 club.

What’s not to love about Fulham Football Club? There’s the location, location, location for a start.

CON HOULIHAN, the Castleisland colossus, cast such a gigantic shadow that it once temporarily obscured one of the most revered figures in English football history.

Tottenham failed in an audacious bid to sign Manchester City maverick Carlos Tevez in January, Harry Redknapp has confirmed.

Tottenham failed in an audacious bid to sign Manchester City maverick Carlos Tevez in January, Harry Redknapp has confirmed.

Former Brookside actress Jennifer Ellison was left bloodied and in shock after kicking the back of her head with a skate during 'Dancing On Ice'.

Five-and-a-half hours.

John Terry has suffered the humiliation of being stripped of the England captaincy for a second time, and he may yet be forced by circumstances to rule himself out of representing his country at Euro 2012.

PJ O’Rourke, writer, 64;

Northern Ireland’s most capped player, Pat Jennings, is to be honoured by UEFA.

Sunderland have wasted little time in attempting to bolster their squad in anticipation of Jordan Henderson’s imminent departure after submitting a triple bid to Manchester United.