A letter from a Member of the Toon army

i sent in a article on the 606 web site at the BBC . It was about the revolting behaviour of Dennis Wise and many other so called Directors of football and how they line their pockets and screw everything up and shot off rather like what the city men are doing on the world markets today (scary truth).
I read the letter this person had left as a comment and I thought I'd like to share it with you to see how a fan can be de moralised. There is a wee bit of Geordie dialect.

An Open Letter To Mike Ashley

Mr Ashley,

I never thought I would see this day, my Dad has just been on the phone saying that while he will always support Newcastle, as long as yourself, Wise et al are at the club not one more penny of his money will go to the club. I totally understand his feelings.

Take a look at the clubs that did well last season and beyond, not just winning things but progressing and improving. Man Utd, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Blackburn. They have a board/owner who appoints a manager and backs him. Let him choose who he buys and who he sells. The managers of these clubs are football men who understand the game and can judge player ability and how they fit in with how the team plays. Look at the clubs that are performing poorly against expectations, Spurs, Liverpool, West Ham, Man City. They have managers who are not in control. None football people,agents, business men, interfering in transfers buying players that the manager doesn't want, selling those he does. It breeds disharmony and poor results.

You appoint a manager, let him run the football side. He knows what he is coaching them how they are going to play. He knows what players will fit in with the system and hence should be bought. If his buys and the way he coaches does not work then replace him. At least the manager can be judged on his players and his tactics. You had chosen the right man Mr Ashley, he knew this club, the fans he understood Newcastle. His transfer record has always been excellent, his style of play a joy to watch. Yes he had failings, mainly in how he developed young players and ran the non-first team side of things. I supported you when you brought in Wise, thinking he would run the academy and take the weight of non first team issues from Keegan. Letting him do what he does best.

I feel sadly let down. The club is run from London and Keegan was reduced to merely the role a first team coach.

I plead with you now Mr Ashley, not as an irrational emotional Geordie irate that his Messiah is no more, but as a calm supporter seeing your long term strategy condemning his beloved side to failure. Look at the teams that succeed and those that fail. and see which ones employ your model. Please, I beg of you, sell the club, make all the profit you desire. Take that money and return to London. Leave our club in someone else's hands, you are not welcome in our town.

Surely you must see that you and Mr Wise will never be able to show your faces at St James' Park again. I'm sure you may enjoy the extra time in London but the people of the North East will make sure their voices are heard. The thousands of fans, the corporate sponsors.

Newcastle United like every other team is a football club not a traditional business. Your manager has to have your full confidence, trust and backing. Who will want to manage Newcastle now. Wise and Poyet? Not even you and Mr Llambias could possibly consider that? Marcelinho, will he be happy with no control of transfers?

I would be very interested to know what exactly made you believe that Dennis Wise, Llambias, Vettiere and the others had a greater footballing knowledge than Keegan. Wise was a manager at a lower league club, many saying Poyet was the reason for his success. What does he know of managing a Premier League team and judging a players ability. None of them have the record Keegan has. None of them can judge a player like Keegan and more importantly know how they will fit in with the current squad and the tactical patterns. You have a scout to tell a manager of players he should look at. Not make the important decisions.

You have made catastrophic errors of judgement in your strategy and staffing Mr Ashley. Sadly these errors will not have costs for you. You will surely be able to sell the club on. It is the fans, your customers who will pay. I fear our best players will not want to be at our club, and any decent player will certainly not entertain a move to your circus. I really fear for our Premiership status.

I will always support Newcastle, but I promise to you. You and your companies (including NUFC) will not see any more of my money. You have no goodwill from me and I would daresay the rest of Newcastle feel the same.

This day is a dark day in the history of Newcastle United. Your name will forever go down as the man who sank Newcastle's reputation and standing even lower than Freddie Shepherd was capable of.

I hope I am wrong but I believe you have torn the heart and soul from our City, and the only way is down from here on in.

Please give us some hope, sell our club and move on.

Yours,
A lost customer.

Lightning does strike twice

This weekend we have witnessed 2 very bad calls for penalties the first at Old Trafford and then at Wigan.
There has been call for a video technology to be introduced to the game for years.
With so much riding on results these days its high time we did introduce the "instant video replay system".
Its not a ref but it gives every one a chance to see what really happened.
I can hear all the wingers al ready saying "oh well whats going happen to the real ref and it'll ruin the flow of the game?"
Well in actual fact already used in the States the video replay dosnt ruin the flow and give a fairer result on a game which is worth alot not just the points but the revenue, millions , if you dont believe me ask West Ham how much its worth, (doh)
If you are working your socks off and playing and the ref call a penalty when a clearly isn't it losses all faith you have for Refs.
Rob Styles should have been out of the job a long time ago as it has been proved that over the space of a year he made 4 very bad calls and all within spitting distance of view.
it made me laugh when the Scottish SPL refs where sponsored by Specsaver at one time I don't know if they still are.
Refs like Styles ruin the reputation of the referee and lets face it its a thankless job any way and the few good refs that there are are all tarred with the same brush because of one numpty like Styles.
Bring the video replay in now.

Premier league results for 28th Sept 2008

Portsmouth	2-0 (HT 1-0)	Tottenham
Defoe (pen) 34 Crouch 68
Bookings: Diarra 38 Belhadj 57 Crouch 80 Hughes 84		Bookings: Woodgate 26 O'Hara 32 Lennon 90+4
Sent off: Diarra 88

Portsmouth showed a good command through the game. Glen Little had a good game and proved well. A stupid late challenge by Diarra cost him a red card.

Former Spurs striker Jermain Defoe put Pompey ahead when he drove in a penalty after Jermaine Jenas needlessly handled a Glen Little free-kick.

Spurs lacked a goal threat but were denied a penalty after an Aaron Lennon cross struck Lassana Diarra's arm.

Peter Crouch nodded in Pompey's second before Diarra was sent-off late on for two bookable offences.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Little (Utaka 61), Diarra, Hughes, Armand Traore, Crouch, Defoe (Kaboul 89).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Pamarot, Mvuemba, Kanu.

Sent Off: Diarra (88).

Booked: Diarra, Belhadj, Crouch, Hughes.

Goals: Defoe 34 pen, Crouch 68.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Jenas, Zokora (Giovani 58), O'Hara, Gilberto (Lennon 46), Pavlyuchenko (Bent 73).
Subs Not Used: Cesar, Huddlestone, Modric, Gunter.

Booked: Woodgate, O'Hara, Lennon.

Att: 20,352

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral)

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Wigan	2-1 (HT 2-1)	Man City
Valencia 16 Zaki (pen) 34		Kompany 22
Bookings: Valencia 26 Brown 57 Melchiot 72		Bookings: Kompany 33 Robinho 33 Richards 70

Following Manchester United's dubious penalty on Saturday, Steve Bennett harshly adjudged City's Javier Garrido to have brought down Wilson Palacios.

Amr Zaki calmly scored the penalty to ensure Wigan grabbed all three points as they moved up to 10th position.

Luis Antonio Valencia had given Wigan the lead with a fine strike, before Vincent Kompany equalised soon after.

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Figueroa, Valencia, Palacios, Cattermole (Brown 53), Kapo, Heskey, Zaki.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Scharner, Kilbane, De Ridder, Camara, Koumas.

Booked: Valencia, Brown, Melchiot.

Goals: Valencia 16, Zaki 34 pen.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Kompany (Fernandes 90), Elano (Sturridge 84), Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Robinho, Jo (Evans 74).
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Michael Ball, Ben-Haim, Hamann.

Booked: Kompany, Robinho, Richards.

Goals: Kompany 22.

Att: 18,214

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Premier League Fixture list and TV showings for Oct 2008

Sunday, 28 September 2008

Portsmouth v Tottenham, 13:30 1.00pm

Wigan v Man City, 16:00 3.30pm

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Saturday, 4 October 2008

Blackburn v Man Utd, 17:30 Setanta 1 17.30

Sunderland v Arsenal, 15:00

West Brom v Fulham, 15:00

Wigan v Middlesbrough, 15:00

Sunderland v Arsenal, 15:00

West Brom v Fulham, 15:00

Wigan v Middlesbrough, 15:00

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Sunday 5th October 2008

West Ham v Bolton, 13:30 1.00pm

Chelsea v Aston Villa, 15:00

Everton v Newcastle, 16:00 3.30pm

Man City v Liverpool, 15:00

Portsmouth v Stoke, 15:00

Tottenham v Hull, 15:00

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Saturday, 18 October 2008

Arsenal v Everton, 15:00

Aston Villa v Portsmouth, 15:00

Bolton v Blackburn, 15:00

Fulham v Sunderland, 15:00

Liverpool v Wigan, 15:00

Man Utd v West Brom, 17:30 Setanta 1 17.30

Middlesbrough v Chelsea, 12:45 12.30pm

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Sunday, 19 October 2008

Hull v West Ham, 15:00

Stoke v Tottenham, 16:00 3.30pm

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Monday, 20 October 2008

Newcastle v Man City, 20:00 Setanta 1 20.00

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Saturday, 25 October 2008

Blackburn v Middlesbrough, 17:30 Setanta 1 17.30

Everton v Man Utd, 12:00

Portsmouth v Fulham, 15:00

Sunderland v Newcastle, 12:45 Sky sports 1 and HD1 12.30

Tottenham v Bolton, 15:00

West Brom v Hull, 15:00

Wigan v Aston Villa, 15:00

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Sunday, 26 October 2008

Chelsea v Liverpool, 13:30 Sky sports 1 and HD1

Man City v Stoke, 15:00

West Ham v Arsenal, 16:00 Sky Sports 1 and HD1

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Tuesday, 28 October 2008

Bolton v Everton, 20:00

Middlesbrough v Man City, 20:00

Newcastle v West Brom, 19:45

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Wednesday, 29 October 2008

Arsenal v Tottenham, 20:00 Sky Sports 2 and HD2

Aston Villa v Blackburn, 19:45

Fulham v Wigan, 20:00

Hull v Chelsea, 19:45

Liverpool v Portsmouth, 20:00

Man Utd v West Ham, 20:00

Stoke v Sunderland, 19:45

Premier Leauge results for 27th Sept 2008

Aston Villa	2-1 (HT 2-1)	Sunderland
Young 18 Carew 33		Cisse 10
Bookings: Petrov 86		Bookings: McCartney 90+5

Goals from Ashley Young and John Carew helped Aston Villa secure a third successive Premier League victory at the expense of Sunderland.

The visitors took the lead when Steed Malbranque's pass was converted by Djibril Cisse on nine minutes.

But Young equalised with a free-kick from 20-yards nine minutes later before Carew scored the winner with a smart flick from Stiliyan Petrov's cross.

An Andy Reid 30-yard free-kick went just wide for Sunderland on 87 minutes.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Davies, Laursen, Shorey (Milner 70), Reo-Coker, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew (Cuellar 90).
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Harewood, Knight, Salifou, Gardner.

Booked: Petrov.

Goals: Ashley Young 18, Carew 33.

Sunderland: Gordon, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Richardson (Stokes 79), Miller (Reid 59), Cisse, Diouf (Murphy 59).
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Chopra, Healy, Henderson.

Booked: McCartney.

Goals: Cisse 10.

Att: 38,706

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).

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Everton	0-2 (HT 0-0)	Liverpool
		Torres 59 Torres 62
Bookings: Fellaini 9 Yakubu 48 Neville 64		Bookings: Alonso 39 Torres 50 Arbeloa 77
Sent off: Cahill 80

Fernando Torres struck twice in three minutes as Liverpool comfortably eased past Everton in the Merseyside derby.

Torres slid home Robbie Keane's cross after 59 minutes then pounced on a loose ball to score from close range after Phil Jagielka tackled Dirk Kuyt.

Tim Cahill had Everton's best chance after 13 minutes but mis-kicked from Mikel Arteta's corner.

Everton's misery was complete when referee Mike Riley sent Cahill off for fouling Xabi Alonso after 80 minutes.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert (Saha 63), Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Neville, Fellaini, Osman, Cahill, Yakubu.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Baines, Castillo, Vaughan, Nuno Valente, Rodwell.

Sent Off: Cahill (80).

Booked: Fellaini, Yakubu, Neville.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Dossena, Kuyt, Alonso (Leiva Lucas 86), Gerrard, Riera (Aurelio 67), Torres, Keane (Pennant 86).
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Agger, Babel.

Booked: Alonso, Torres, Arbeloa.

Goals: Torres 59, 62.

Att: 39,574

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

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Fulham	1-2 (HT 0-2)	West Ham
Murphy (pen) 59		Cole 43 Etherington 45+1
Bookings: Johnson 20 Konchesky 39 Murphy 45+2 Hangeland 88		Bookings: Parker 68
Sent off: Johnson 45+6

Goals from Carlton Cole and Matthew Etherington secured victory for West Ham at Fulham, who were also reduced to 10 men in an awful three-minute spell.

Cole opened the scoring, tapping the ball into an empty net on 43 minutes following Etherington's low cross.

Etherington made it 2-0 two minutes later, latching onto Mark Noble's pass.

And Fulham's Andy Johnson was then sent off in first-half injury-time, before Danny Murphy pulled one back from the penalty spot on the hour mark.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Gera, Murphy, Bullard, Davies, Johnson, Zamora.

Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Ki-Hyeon, Nevland, Dempsey,Andreasen, Kallio, Baird.

Sent Off: Johnson (45).

Booked: Johnson, Konchesky, Murphy, Hangeland.

Goals: Murphy 59 pen.

West Ham: Green, Faubert, Neill, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker (Boa Morte 90), Noble, Etherington (Mullins 80), Cole, Di Michele (Bellamy 74).

Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Davenport, Sears.

Booked: Parker.

Goals: Cole 43, Etherington 45.

Att: 23,946

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

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Man Utd	2-0 (HT 0-0)	Bolton
Ronaldo (pen) 60 Rooney 77
		Bookings: Elmander 22 McCann 27 Davies 38

A controversial penalty scored by Cristiano Ronaldo set Manchester United on their way to victory over Bolton.

Ronaldo put United ahead after referee Rob Styles awarded United a penalty even though Jlloyd Samuel's tackle on the Portuguese winger was a fair one.

The incident proved decisive because up until then United had been thwarted by Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Wayne Rooney curled in United's second after a Ronaldo back-flick as Bolton were left seething over the penalty.

The incident could spark renewed debate about video technology but in all honesty the official should never have given a penalty.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo (Nani 80), Fletcher, Anderson (Scholes 71), Park, Tevez (Rooney 71), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Amos, Giggs, O'Shea, Evans.

Goals: Ronaldo 60 pen, Rooney 77.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Davies, Nolan, McCann, Muamba, Gardner (Smolarek 73), Elmander (Vaz Te 66).
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Taylor, Joey O'Brien, Riga, Shittu.

Booked: Elmander, McCann, Davies.

Att: 75,484.

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

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Middlesbrough	0-1 (HT 0-0)	West Brom
		Olsson 53
Bookings: Taylor 34 Mido 58		Bookings: Greening 10 MacDonald 36 Olsson 54 Bednar 70

Jonas Olsson's scrappy second-half strike handed West Brom their first away win of the season.

It was a happy return to Boro for West Brom boss Tony Mowbray, who played for the club for nine years.

The hosts were not without chances, with Afonso Alves hitting the bar and a David Wheater header also going close.

The winner came from a Jonathan Greening corner, and after Ishmael Miller hooked the ball back in, Sweden's Olsson poked the ball home.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Hoyte, Huth, Wheater, Taylor, Aliadiere (Adam Johnson 60), O'Neil, Shawky (Digard 60), Downing, Alves, Mido.

Subs Not Used: Jones, Riggott, Emnes, Bennett, Walker.

Booked: Taylor, Mido.

West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Donk, Olsson, Robinson, Borja Valero, Morrison (Cech 76), Koren, Greening, Kim (MacDonald 4), Bednar, MacDonald (Miller 46).

Subs Not Used: Kiely, Barnett, Moore, Pele.

Booked: Greening, MacDonald, Olsson, Bednar.

Goals: Olsson 53.

Att: 26,248

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

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Newcastle	1-2 (HT 0-2)	Blackburn
Owen (pen) 51		Samba 31 Santa Cruz 41
		Bookings: Emerton 24 Warnock 37 Nelsen 65 Roberts 90+2

First-half goals from Christopher Samba and Roque Santa Cruz saw Blackburn inflict a fifth successive defeat on a beleaguered Newcastle.

Defender Samba headed in Carlos Villanueva's free-kick from close range to give Blackburn a deserved lead.

And Cruz doubled the score when he headed home Brett Emerton's cross.

Newcastle produced a spirited fightback after the break and scored through a Michael Owen penalty but Geremi missed a great chance to equalise.

Newcastle: Given, Bassong, Taylor, Coloccini, Cacapa, Geremi (Ameobi 71), Butt, Duff, N'Zogbia (Edgar 82), Xisco, Owen.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Tozer, Doninger, Donaldson, Ranger.

Goals: Owen 51 pen.

Blackburn: Brown, Simpson, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Emerton, Olsson, Kerimoglu, Derbyshire (Ooijer 84), Roque Santa Cruz (Roberts 84), Villanueva (Fowler 62).
Subs Not Used: Bunn, Pedersen, Andrews, Treacy.

Booked: Emerton, Warnock, Nelsen, Roberts.

Goals: Samba 31, Roque Santa Cruz 41.

Att: 44,935

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

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Stoke	0-2 (HT 0-1)	Chelsea
		Bosingwa 36 Anelka 76
Bookings: Griffin 56 Cresswell 67		Bookings: Malouda 56

Chelsea saw off Stoke to rack up their sixth Premier League away win in a row and return to the top of the table.

The visitors dominated the first half and Jose Bosingwa latched onto a fine Frank Lampard pass to crash the ball in via Danny Griffin for the opener.

A spirited Stoke side rallied after the break and Leon Cort had a towering header cleared off the line.

But Chelsea wrapped up the win when Nicolas Anelka fired home after a terrible blunder by Cort.

Deprived of the considerable goal threat of Rory Delap's long throws because of a hamstring injury, Stoke were outclassed for most of the first half but until Anelka's late strike they were always a threat from set-pieces.

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Cort, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Lawrence (Tonge 65), Diao, Olofinjana, Cresswell, Kitson (Fuller 52), Sidibe (Amdy Faye 81).
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Whelan, Soares, Sonko.

Booked: Griffin, Cresswell.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Obi, Kalou (Anelka 46), Ballack (Ferreira 89), Lampard, Malouda, Drogba (Belletti 73).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Sinclair, Bridge.

Booked: Malouda.

Goals: Bosingwa 36, Anelka 76.

Att: 27,500.

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

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Premier League gossip and transfer news

Sat 27th Sept

Joe Kinnear claims he is keeping the Newcastle manager's seat warm for the dream team of Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer, once a Nigerian consortium takes over at St James' Park. (Various)

Friends of Shearer say the Newcastle legend is "in the dark" about any plans for a return to the club. (Guardian)

Paul Ince says offering the job to Terry Venables on a short-term contract was an "insult" to the former England manager. (Various)

Several Newcastle players had to be told who Kinnear is on hearing of his appointment. (Sun)

In a bid to end suggestions of a "Cockney mafia" at Newcastle, Kinnear has reminded fans of his proud Dublin roots. (Daily Telegraph)

Thierry Henry, unhappy at Barcelona, is in line for a return to the Premier League in January. (Daily Mirror)

West Ham are tracking Blackburn's out-of-favour Georgian defender Zurab Khizanishvili. (Daily Mirror)

Portsmouth will attempt to sign Jermaine Pennant from Liverpool for £3.5m when the transfer window re-opens. (Daily Express)

Keith Gillespie will leave Sheffield United following a row with manager Kevin Blackwell after their 1-0 defeat to Norwich. (Daily Mirror)

Several Sheffield United players are considering suing West Ham for loss of earnings over the Tevez affair. (Daily Mail)

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola says their Premier League survival cannot be put down just to Tevez's efforts. (Daily Mirror)

Everton and Sunderland are both interested in Reading's Stephen Hunt. (Daily Mirror)

The agent of Sao Paolo defender Aislan says he expects Liverpool to make an offer for him when the transfer window opens. (Guardian).

Ellis Short, a Dallas-based Irish-American, has become Sunderland's majority shareholder. (Telegraph)

Ryan Giggs says he wants to become Sir Alex Ferguson's next managerial protege when he retires. (Daily Mirror)

Cesc Fabregas says he knows Arsenal's youngsters are gunning for his place in the team but he is happy with the competition. (Daily Express)

Kinnear interim boss

Newcastle have named former Wimbledon and Luton manager Joe Kinnear as their interim boss until the end of October in a shock new twist at St James' Park.

The Magpies have been without a manager since Kevin Keegan quit on 4 September, slumping to three straight defeats.

But Kinnear, 61, believes Keegan, and possibly Alan Shearer, could take over once the club is sold to new owners.

Premier League transfer news and gossip

24th Sept 2008

New West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola could be forced to sell some of his star players like Dean Ashton and Rob Green to pay Sheffield United compensation over the Carlos Tevez affair. (Daily Star)

West Ham insist Zola will not have to sell players in the January transfer window to raise funds to pay the Blades. (Daily Express)

The Hammers may have to pay out as much as £30m but the two clubs are likely to thrash out a compromise deal in the region of £15m. (Daily Star)

West Ham will approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) about appealing against the Football Association arbitration panel's ruling on the Tevez affair. (The Times)

The East London club are actively considering appeals to Fifa or Cas over the ruling. (Independent)

Hammers owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson will not walk away from the club and intends to pay the bill for the dispute with Sheffield United. (The Times)

Newcastle put finding a new manager on hold last week while the club's owner Mike Ashley was in the Middle East attempting to find new investors. (The Times)

Speculation in banking circles suggests there is fresh interest in Newcastle from China and the United States. (The Independent)

Magpies striker Michael Owen says a successor to ex-boss Kevin Keegan must be appointed as soon as possible to end the club's problems. (The Sun)_

Kevin Keegan is ready to return as Newcastle boss if a Nigerian group succeed in taking over at St James' Park. (The Sun)

Former Magpies boss Kenny Dalglish has ruled himself out of a return to the North East. (Daily Telegraph)

Newcastle's director of football Dennis Wise has not been in contact with the club's players in the fortnight since Keegan left. (Daily Star)

Arsenal and Chelsea are locked in a battle over 14-year-old Barcelona boy wonder Gerard Deulofeu. (Daily Mirror)

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is confident of signing Zenit St Petersburg forward Andrei Arshavin in a £15m deal in the January transfer window. (Daily Mirror)

Blackburn boss Paul Ince has until January to decide whether to spend £5m to sign on-loan Chile midfielder Carlos Villanueva on a permananent basis from Audax Italiano. (Daily Mail)
_____________________________________________________________

Want-away Newcastle owner Mike Ashley is lining up a sensational return for former manager Kenny Dalglish. The ex-Scotland and Liverpool striker took charge at St James' Park after Kevin Keegan left the club for the first time back in 1997. (Daily Star)

Ashley's "week from hell" continued when he lost £300m after a gamble on faltering HBOS shares went wrong. (Daily Telegraph)

Defender Steven Taylor is the latest player looking for an exit at St James's Park in protest at the treatment of former boss Keegan. (The Sun)

Michael Owen, Alan Smith, Joey Barton, Shay Given, Nicky Butt, Damien Duff, Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins, Charles N'Zogbia and Shola Ameobi all want to leave as well. (Sun)

A Nigerian businessman says he is leading a bid to buy Newcastle United. "The consortium has raised £350m," said the chief executive of NVA Management Chris Nathaniel. (The Times)

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City's multi-billionaire new owners - who will formally complete their takeover on Tuesday - have pencilled Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez and Lyon's Karim Benzema on their dream shopping list. (Daily Star)

Hull are in talks with Stelios. The Greece midfielder is a free agent after being released by Bolton. (Sun)

Birmingham could take out-of-favour midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng off Tottenham's hands on a loan spell. (Daily Mirror)

Premier league results for 21st Sept 2008

Chelsea	1-1 (HT 0-1)	Man Utd
Kalou 80		Park 18
Bookings: Obi 67		Bookings: Scholes 35 Ferdinand 41 Neville 58 Berbatov 59 Rooney 79 Evra 86 Ronaldo 90+2

Salomon Kalou's late equaliser preserved Chelsea's long unbeaten home league record and earned a deserved point against Manchester United.

Ji-Sung Park put United ahead in the 18th minute after Chelsea keeper Petr Cech fumbled Dimitar Berbatov's shot.

United lost keeper Edwin van der Sar to injury in the first half and Chelsea took control of a disjointed game.

Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka wasted great chances before substitute Kalou headed in with 10 minutes left
A game ruined by far to many bookings 7 in all for Man Utd crazy .

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho (Alex 12), Terry, Ashley Cole, Obi, Joe Cole, Ballack (Kalou 74), Lampard, Malouda (Drogba 46), Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bridge, Belletti, Ferreira.

Booked: Obi.

Goals: Kalou 80.

Man Utd: Van der Sar (Kuszczak 32), Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Scholes (Ronaldo 55), Park (O'Shea 75), Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Giggs, Nani, Tevez.

Booked: Scholes, Ferdinand, Neville, Berbatov, Rooney, Evra, Ronaldo.

Goals: Park 18.

Att: 41,760

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

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Hull	2-2 (HT 1-0)	Everton
Turner 18 Neville o.g. 50		Cahill 73 Osman 78
		Bookings: Fellaini 86

Everton earned a deserved point after a superb second half comeback at Hull.

Hull's goals both came from Dean Marney corners with Michael Turner heading the first and the second flying in off Everton's Phil Neville and Tim Howard.

Hull deserved their lead but Everton battled back and Tim Cahill gave them hope when his shot bounced down off the bar and over the line.

And Leon Osman secured the draw when he scored from close range from Yakubu's cross after good work by Louis Saha.

Hull: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson, Mendy (Garcia 77), Ashbee, Marney, Halmosi, Cousin (Folan 69), King (Boateng 81).
Subs Not Used: Duke, Geovanni, Hughes, Ricketts.

Goals: Turner 18, Neville 50 og.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Yobo, Baines (Lescott 46), Osman, Fellaini, Arteta, Castillo (Saha 46), Cahill,Yakubu (Vaughan 87).
Subs Not Used: Nash, Nuno Valente, Rodwell, Baxter.

Booked: Fellaini.

Goals: Cahill 73, Osman 78.

Att: 24,845

Ref: Lee Mason (Lancashire).

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Man City	6-0 (HT 2-0)	Portsmouth
Jo 13 Dunne 20 Robinho 57 Wright-Phillips 68 Evans 78 Gelson 83
		Bookings: Diarra 90

Swaggering Manchester City turned on the style with a devastating display of attacking football to crush Portsmouth at a buoyant Eastlands.

Jo slotted City into the lead before Richard Dunne bundled in the second.

Influential Stephen Ireland made two superb passes to set up clinical strikes for Robinho and a rejuvenated Shaun Wright-Phillips after half-time.

Substitute Ched Evans finished off a great team move for the fifth before Gelson Fernandes completed the rout.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Garrido, Kompany, Wright-Phillips, Ireland (Gelson 77), Elano, Robinho (Sturridge 85), Jo (Evans 71).

Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Michael Ball, Hamann, Ben-Haim.

Goals: Jo 13, Dunne 20, Robinho 57, Wright-Phillips 68, Evans 78, Gelson 83.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson (Pamarot 82), Distin, Campbell, Belhadj, Diarra, Davis (Diop 33), Kaboul (Utaka 46), Armand Traore, Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Mvuemba, Kanu.

Booked: Diarra.

Att: 40,238

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

____________________________________________________________________

Tottenham	0-0 (HT 0-0)	Wigan
Bookings: Corluka 43 O'Hara 51		Bookings: Boyce 29 Palacios 63

Tottenham remain bottom of the Premier League table after they were held to a goalless draw at home by Wigan.

After a largely incident-free and forgettable first half, the second-half introduction of Aaron Lennon and Fraizer Campbell lifted the home side.

With 17 minutes to go Lennon had their best chance, an off-target half-volley from Campbell's knock-down.

Olivier Kapo and Emile Heskey had late chances to snatch victory for Wigan but they seemed happy to take a point.
ottenham: Gomes, Zokora, Woodgate, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley (Lennon 64), Jenas, O'Hara, Bale (Huddlestone 80), Bent, Pavlyuchenko (Campbell 46). Subs Not Used: Cesar, Gilberto, Gunter, Giovani.

Booked: Corluka, O'Hara.

Wigan: Kirkland, Figueroa, Boyce, Bramble, Melchiot, Valencia, Scharner, Palacios, Koumas (Kapo 72), Zaki (Camara 82), Heskey. Subs Not Used: Kingson, Pollitt, Taylor, Kilbane, De Ridder.

Booked: Boyce, Palacios.

Att: 35,808

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

____________________________________________________________________

West Brom	1-2 (HT 1-2)	Aston Villa
Morrison 34		Carew 27 Agbonlahor 29
Bookings: Morrison 36 Robinson 38 Borja Valero 52		Bookings: Young 68 Carew 75 Young 88

First-half goals from John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Aston Villa victory in the West Midlands derby.

Carew headed home Ashley Young's free-kick and Agbonlahor netted only a minute later after Leon Barnett failed to clear Young's long ball.

James Morrison pulled a goal back for West Brom by pouncing to score after goalkeeper Brad Friedel spilled Robert Koren's 25-yard shot.

Carew hit the post with a right-foot shot and a header in the second half.

Albion, who have not beaten Villa since 1985, were forced to make a change to their starting line-up just before kick-off.

West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Barnett, Olsson, Robinson, Borja Valero (Moore 56), Morrison, Koren, Greening, Brunt (Kim 20), Bednar (Miller 56).
Subs Not Used: Kiely, Hoefkens, Cech, Donk.

Goal: Morrison 33

Booked: Morrision 36, Robinson 37, Valero 52.

Aston Villa: Friedel, L Young, Davies, Laursen, Shorey (Milner 73), Reo-Coker, Petrov (Gardner 82), Barry, A Young, Carew (Cuellar 88), Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Harewood, Knight, Salifou.

Goals: Carew 27, Agnonlahor 28.

Booked: L Young 67, Carew 75, A Young 87.

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Premier League results for 20th Sept 2008

Blackburn	1-0 (HT 0-0)	Fulham
Derbyshire 84
Bookings: Andrews 26 Emerton 32

Blackburn snatched a late winner after boss Paul Ince made a series of attacking substitutions in a bruising encounter with Fulham at Ewood Park.

With the game looking like it was drifting towards a draw, Roque Santa Cruz nodded into the path of substitute Matt Derbyshire in the 84th minute.

And Derbyshire met the header with a crisp finish to seal all three points.

Blackburn: Robinson, Simpson, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Andrews, Pedersen (Kerimoglu 60), Treacy (Derbyshire 75), Roque Santa Cruz, Roberts (Villanueva 65).

Subs Not Used: Brown, Ooijer, Mokoena, Fowler.

Booked: Andrews, Emerton.

Goals: Derbyshire 84.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Bullard, Murphy, Gera, Johnson, Zamora.

Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Ki-Hyeon, Nevland, Stoor, Dempsey, Andreasen, Kallio.

Att: 19,398

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

____________________________________________________________________

Bolton	1-3 (HT 1-2)	Arsenal
Davies 14		Eboue 26 Bendtner 27 Denilson 87
Bookings: Davies 45+2 Muamba 62		Bookings: Song Billong 76 Fabregas 89

Arsenal came from a goal behind to record a well-earned victory at Bolton, and climb to the top of the Premier League table.

Kevin Davies had given Bolton an early lead when he headed home Joey O'Brien's corner from six yards out.

Arsenal responded well with Emmanuel Eboue equalising from close range, before Nicklas Bendtner bundled home Denilson's cross a minute later.

Denilson sealed the win, side-footing Emmanuel Adebayor's low cross.
____________________________________________________________________

Liverpool	0-0 (HT 0-0)	Stoke
Bookings: Skrtel 85		Bookings: Fuller 90+1

Liverpool were left lamenting a second-minute disallowed goal after they were held to a goalless draw at home by newly promoted Stoke.

Steven Gerrard had the ball in the back of the net after 76 seconds from a free-kick - only for the goal to be controversially ruled out for offside.

Stoke continued to frustrate the home side as Thomas Sorensen saved Robbie Keane's 51st-minute strike

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Dossena, Kuyt, Gerrard, Alonso, Riera (Babel 65), Keane (Benayoun 73), Torres. Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Agger, Mascherano, Leiva Lucas, Degen.

Booked: Skrtel.

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Sonko (Cort 22), Higginbotham, Lawrence (Cresswell 66), Olofinjana, Diao, Delap, Kitson (Fuller 78), Sidibe. Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Whelan, Tonge, Wilkinson.

Booked: Fuller.

Att: 43,931

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
____________________________________________________________________

Sunderland	2-0 (HT 0-0)	Middlesbrough
Chopra 81 Chopra 90+2
Bookings: Richardson 71 Chopra 83		Bookings: O'Neil 63 Shawky 77 Huth 80

Substitute Michael Chopra celebrated his first appearance of the season by scoring two late goals to give Sunderland victory in a frantic derby.

Chopra ran on to Kieran Richardson's through-ball and slid the ball past Ross Turnbull for the opener.

And he tapped home the second in injury-time to seal the win.

Sunderland: Gordon, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Tainio (Chopra 45), Richardson, Cisse (Murphy 69), Diouf (Reid 68).
Subs Not Used: Fulop, Bardsley, Collins, Leadbitter.

Booked: Richardson, Chopra.

Goals: Chopra 81, 90.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, Taylor, Aliadiere, O'Neil, Digard (Shawky 68), Downing, Adam Johnson (Hoyte 68), Alves.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Riggott, Arca, Walker.

Booked: O'Neil, Shawky, Huth.

Att: 38,388.

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

____________________________________________________________________

West Ham	3-1 (HT 2-0)	Newcastle
Di Michele 8 Di Michele 37 Etherington 53		Owen 67
Bookings: Neill 51		Bookings: Taylor 80 N'Zogbia 85

Gianfranco Zola's reign as West Ham manager got off to a good start thanks to two goals from David di Michele.

His first was deflected off Steven Taylor and the second was a follow-up after Shay Given blocked his shot.

West Ham eased off after di Michele set up a third for Matthew Etherington and they were soon made to pay for it.

Robert Green was beaten by Michael Owen and then had to make two point-blank saves as Newcastle rallied but West Ham held on to keep their 100% home record.

West Ham: Green, Behrami, Upson, Neill, Ilunga, Faubert, Noble, Parker (Mullins 72), Etherington (Boa Morte 73), Di Michele, Cole (Sears 87). Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Davenport, Reid.

Booked: Neill.

Goals: Di Michele 8, 37, Etherington 53.

Newcastle: Given, Edgar (Bassong 59), Taylor, Coloccini, N'Zogbia, Geremi, Cacapa (Gonzalez 81), Butt, Duff, Owen, Xisco. Subs Not Used: Harper, Ameobi, Tozer, Doninger, Donaldson.

Booked: Taylor, N'Zogbia.

Goals: Owen 67.

Att: 34,743

Ref: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire).

Fatso Ashley puts Newcastle up for sale

The fans won the war and got rid of the horrible fat pig Ashley who gave the game a bad name. The Toon deserves better than that and hopefully they will get a rich owner who will take them up the table. Keegan leaving was a massive blow for the club but he didn't have the powers that a manager should have like who he buys and who he plays all that was the poisoned little dwarf Wise who has been busy filling his pockets for him self and Mike Ashley .

Premier League results for 14th and 15th Sept 2008

Stoke	2-3 (HT 0-1)	Everton
Olofinjana 55 Jagielka o.g. 63		Yakubu 41 Anichebe 51 Cahill 77
Bookings: Fuller 64 Faye 68		Bookings: Arteta 82

Everton fended off a determined Stoke fightback to earn a win courtesy of Tim Cahill's header.

Yakubu had clinically sidefooted the visitors ahead before Victor Anichebe's glanced header added a second.

But two Rory Delap long throws were not dealt with by Everton and Stoke drew level through a Seyi Olofinjana volley and Phil Jagielka's headed own goal.

Everton boss David Moyes was sent to the stands after his side were denied a penalty before Cahill headed in.

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Sonko, Cort, Higginbotham, Lawrence (Cresswell 86), Abdoulaye Faye (Tonge 81), Olofinjana, Delap, Kitson (Sidibe 81), Fuller.
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Whelan, Shawcross, Wilkinson.

Booked: Fuller, Abdoulaye Faye.

Goals: Olofinjana 55, Jagielka 63 og.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Fellaini, Anichebe (Vaughan 90), Cahill (Rodwell 81), Castillo, Arteta, Yakubu.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Baines, Nuno Valente, Kissock, Baxter.

Booked: Arteta.

Goals: Yakubu 41, Anichebe 51, Cahill 77.

Att: 27,415

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

____________________________________________________________________

Tottenham	1-2 (HT 0-1)	Aston Villa
Bent 87		Reo-Coker 5 Young 54
Bookings: Dawson 60		Bookings: Shorey 21 Carew 51 Agbonlahor 83 Young 90+4

Aston Villa condemned Tottenham to their worst start to a Premier League campaign with a victory that leaves Spurs winless and bottom of the table.

Villa took the lead after just four minutes as Tottenham failed to cut out a Gabriel Agbonlahor cross which Nigel Reo-Coker converted with ease.

Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes inexplicably let Ashley Young's weak 54th-minute shot slip under his body.

Darren Bent's late goal was little consolation for angry Spurs fans.

While the two Uefa Cup participants, who drew 4-4 in last season's pulsating corresponding fixture, spent heavily in the s

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, Dawson (Giovani 62), Bale, Lennon, Zokora (Bentley 46), Huddlestone, Modric (Jenas 29), Pavlyuchenko, Bent.
Subs Not Used: Cesar, Gilberto, Campbell, O'Hara.

Booked: Dawson.

Goals: Bent 87.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Luke Young, Laursen, Davies, Shorey (Gardner 88), Ashley Young, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Barry, Agbonlahor (Harewood 84), Carew (Milner 63).
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Knight, Routledge, Cuellar.

Booked: Shorey, Carew, Agbonlahor, Ashley Young.

Goals: Reo-Coker 5, Ashley Young 54.

Att: 36,075

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

ummer, they have made distinctly contrasting starts to the season.

Premier League Results for 13th Sept 2008

Blackburn	0-4 (HT 0-2)	Arsenal
		Van Persie 8 Adebayor 45+1 Adebayor (pen) 81 Adebayor 90+2
Bookings: Warnock 80		Bookings: Denilson 60

Emmanuel Adebayor scored a hat-trick as Arsenal strolled to a comfortable victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park.

The Togo striker benefited from a fine Gunners passing display, aided by an impressive showing from Theo Walcott, who set up Robin van Persie's opener.

Roque Santa Cruz was wayward with the hosts' best chances before Adebayor headed in Denilson's cross unmarked.

He made it three from the spot after Emmanuel Eboue had been felled, and rounded the keeper to wrap up the win.

Blackburn: Robinson, Simpson (Derbyshire 73), Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Reid, Andrews, Pedersen (Treacy 69), Roberts (McCarthy 69), Roque Santa Cruz.
Subs Not Used: Kerimoglu, Brown, Mokoena, Villanueva.

Booked: Warnock.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Ramsey 82), Fabregas, Denilson, Walcott (Song Billong 64), Adebayor, Van Persie (Wilshere 84).
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Djourou, Bendtner, Gibbs.

Booked: Denilson.

Goals: Van Persie 8, Adebayor 45, 81 pen, 90.

Att: 23,041

Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).

____________________________________________________________________

Fulham	2-1 (HT 2-0)	Bolton
Gera 15 Zamora 41		Davies 82
Bookings: Ki-Hyeon 89		Bookings: Nolan 52

Goals from Zoltan Gera and Bobby Zamora helped steer an impressive Fulham to victory over Bolton at Craven Cottage.

Hungary international Gera put the home side in front as he swept home a half-volley from the edge of the area.

Zamora had a goal ruled out for a foul on Jussi Jaaskelainen, but he made it 2-0 as he turned smartly before burying the ball in for his first Fulham goal.

Gera hit the bar as Fulham looked to be cruising to victory, but Kevin Davies headed in late on for the visitors.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Bullard, Gera, Zamora (Nevland 84), Johnson (Ki-Hyeon 75).
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Teymourian, Stoor, Dempsey, Kallio.

Booked: Ki-Hyeon.

Goals: Gera 15, Zamora 41.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson (Helguson 64), Shittu, Andrew O'Brien, Samuel, Gardner, Muamba, Nolan, McCann (Riga 51), Joey O'Brien, Davies.
Subs Not Used: Al Habsi, Hunt, Vaz Te, Cohen, Fojut.

Booked: Nolan.

Goals: Davies 82.

Att: 23,656

Ref: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

____________________________________________________________________

Liverpool	2-1 (HT 1-1)	Man Utd
Brown o.g. 27 Babel 77		Tevez 3
		Bookings: Tevez 21 Nani 81 Vidic 78
		Sent off: Vidic 90

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez earned his first Premier League win over Manchester United courtesy of Ryan Babel's deserved late winner.

Carlos Tevez had stunned the Reds after three minutes by expertly sidefooting in a Dimitar Berbatov pull back.

United keeper Edwin Van der Sar palmed a clearance against Wes Brown and saw it roll into his net for the equaliser.

The Reds started to dominate and Babel scuffed in a shot for the winner before United's Nemanja Vidic was sent off.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Benayoun (Gerrard 68), Alonso, Mascherano (Hyypia 87), Riera (Babel 71), Kuyt, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Torres, Ngog.

Goals: Brown 27 og, Babel 77.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Rooney, Scholes (Hargreaves 66), Carrick (Giggs 46), Anderson (Nani 78), Tevez, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Evans, O'Shea, Fletcher.

Sent Off: Vidic (90).

Booked: Tevez, Vidic, Nani.

Goals: Tevez 3.

Att: 44,192

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).

____________________________________________________________________

Man City	1-3 (HT 1-1)	Chelsea
Robinho 13		Carvalho 16 Lampard 53 Anelka 69
		Bookings: Obi 45
		Sent off: Terry 77

Robinho marked his Manchester City debut with a goal - but Chelsea spoiled the party with an impressive win to stay top of the Premier League.

The £32.5m Brazilian put City ahead with a 20-yard free-kick after 13 minutes, but Ricardo Carvalho levelled for Chelsea three minutes later.

Frank Lampard's superb strike put Chelsea ahead after 53 minutes and Nicolas Anelka slid in a third.

Chelsea's only disappointment was a red card for John Terry for a foul on Jo.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Richards, Dunne, Michael Ball (Sturridge 84), Wright-Phillips, Hamann (Gelson 61), Kompany, Ireland, Robinho, Jo.
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Elano, Garrido, Evans, Ben-Haim.

Goals: Robinho 13.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Obi, Lampard, Deco, Joe Cole (Belletti 70), Anelka (Alex 79), Malouda (Drogba 70).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ivanovic, Bridge, Kalou.

Sent Off: Terry (77).

Booked: Obi.

Goals: Carvalho 16, Lampard 53, Anelka 69.

Att: 47,331

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

____________________________________________________________________

Newcastle	1-2 (HT 0-1)	Hull
Xisco 82		King (pen) 34 King 55
		Bookings: Halmosi 90+4 Folan 82
Sent off: Guthrie 90+6

Hull deservedly defeated Newcastle on an afternoon of passionate protest from Magpies supporters still reeling after the departure of manager Kevin Keegan.

Marlon King scored his first goal for Hull from the penalty spot after Nicky Butt needlessly fouled Peter Halmosi.

King doubled the Tigers' advantage from 16 yards with a precise finish, while Xisco struck for the Magpies after a Charles N'Zogbia shot hit the post.

Newcastle: Given, Edgar (Bassong 68), Taylor, Coloccini, N'Zogbia, Geremi, Butt, Guthrie, Xisco, Owen, Ameobi (Gonzalez 61).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Cacapa, Danquah, Doninger, Donaldson.

Sent Off: Guthrie (90).

Goals: Xisco 82.

Hull: Myhill, McShane, Turner, Gardner, Dawson, Mendy (Folan 73), Marney (Hughes 78), Ashbee, Halmosi, King (Zayatte 83), Fagan.
Subs Not Used: Duke, Windass, Geovanni, Ricketts.

Booked: Folan, Halmosi.

Goals: King 34 pen, 55.

Att: 50,242

Ref: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

____________________________________________________________________

Portsmouth	2-1 (HT 0-1)	Middlesbrough
Defoe 59 Defoe 86		Mido 24
Bookings: Defoe 28 Johnson 74		Bookings: Mido 74

Striker Jermain Defoe starred for Portsmouth as they came back from a goal down to beat Middlesbrough.

Boro had taken the lead when Mido was found by striker partner Afonso Alves and drove in a low shot.

Pompey bounced back in determined fashion and the impressive Defoe lashed in a shot after Peter Crouch's pass.

Boro were denied a penalty after Nadir Belhadj appeared to push Stewart Downing and Defoe secured the win when he volleyed in.

Portsmouth: James, Kaboul (Belhadj 46), Campbell, Distin, Johnson, Diop (Utaka 46), Davis, Diarra, Armand Traore (Hreidarsson 84), Crouch, Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Nugent, Pamarot, Mvuemba.

Booked: Defoe, Johnson.

Goals: Defoe 59, 86.

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Hoyte, Huth, Riggott, Pogatetz, Aliadiere, O'Neil, Digard (Taylor 70), Downing, Alves, Mido (Adam Johnson 84).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Wheater, Porritt, Walker, Craddock.

Booked: Mido.

Goals: Mido 24.

Att: 19,425

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

____________________________________________________________________

West Brom	3-2 (HT 2-2)	West Ham
Morrison 3 Bednar (pen) 37 Brunt 83		Noble 29 Neill 35
Bookings: Kim 71		Bookings: Di Michele 74

West Brom won for the first time this season and left new West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola with lots to analyse after he had watched from the stands.

James Morrison headed the Baggies in front before Mark Noble tapped in a rebound from David Di Michele's header.

West Ham took the lead when Lucas Neill volleyed in from close-range before Roman Bednar levelled with a penalty.

A draw looked likely but Chris Brunt scored a late winner to hand Zola an unfriendly welcome to club management.

West Brom: Carson, Hoefkens, Barnett, Olsson, Robinson, Morrison (Kim 64), Koren, Greening, Brunt, Borja Valero (Moore 64), Bednar (Cech 86).
Subs Not Used: Kiely, Beattie, MacDonald, Donk.

Booked: Kim.

Goals: Morrison 3, Bednar 37 pen, Brunt 83.

West Ham: Green, Neill, Davenport, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami (Faubert 65), Parker, Noble, Boa Morte (Etherington 79), Ashton (Di Michele 19), Cole.
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Bellamy, Mullins, Tomkins.

Booked: Di Michele.

Goals: Noble 29, Neill 35.

Att: 26,213

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

____________________________________________________________________

Wigan	1-1 (HT 0-1)	Sunderland
Zaki 78		Bramble o.g. 15
Bookings: Cattermole 53		Bookings: Diouf 44
Sent off: Cattermole 86

Determined Wigan earned a deserved draw against Sunderland after Amr Zaki's late equaliser cancelled out Titus Bramble's early own goal.

At a rowdy JJB Stadium, Bramble inadvertently nodded home from a Steed Malbranque cross in the 15th minute.

But Wigan stayed calm to push forward and continually test Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon in an end-to-end game.

They got their reward on 77 minutes when Zaki rammed Maynor Figueroa's awkward cross in from 10 yards.

Wigan: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Cattermole, Palacios (Kapo 64), Kilbane (Koumas 56), Zaki (Scharner 90), Heskey. Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Brown, De Ridder, Camara.

Sent Off: Cattermole (86).

Booked: Cattermole.

Goals: Zaki 78.

Sunderland: Gordon, Chimbonda, Nosworthy, Ferdinand, McCartney, Malbranque (Murphy 76), Whitehead, Tainio, Richardson, Cisse, Diouf. Subs Not Used: Fulop, Bardsley, Collins, Leadbitter, Reid, Healy.

Booked: Diouf.

Goals: Bramble 15 og.

Att: 18,015

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).

Premier League back today

Well after a break for international duty the Premier league returns as does the Championship as well. there has'nt been a great deal to talk about in the last 2 weeks.
Zola has taken the job as manger at West Ham and says he'll be in charge of transfer decisions not the money men.
Arsene Wenger said that money is destroying the game referring to the new owners on Man City and the amount they intend on spending is crazy, I kind of agree with him.
But the best part about today will be Man Utd vs Liverpool and Man City vs Chelsea as this will be the first games for Robinho and Berbatov at their new clubs.

Prmier League Gossip and tranfer news

Monday 8th Sept 2008

Indian tycoon Anil Ambani will fly into the UK on Monday with his sights set on taking over a Premier League club. Newcastle are top of his hit list but he will have to see off competition from a branch of the Abu Dhabi royal family. (Daily Express)

Owner Mike Ashley said in an interview with Newcastle's official magazine in August that only players with Kevin Keegan's approval would be bought - contradicting the club's recent statement about their ex-manager. (Various)

Real Zaragoza coach Marcelino Toral has ruled himself out of the running to succeed Keegan. (Daily Mirror)

Newcastle want Gianfranco Zola as their new coach, despite the former Chelsea striker being one of the frontrunners for the West Ham job. (Guardian)

Newcastle have also put another West Ham contender, Slaven Bilic, top of their list. (Independent)

West Ham remain keen on Croatia coach Slaven Bilic as their new manager but they have yet to interview him. (Daily Express)

Bilic says he is "not going anywhere" and has ruled out becoming manager of either West Ham or Newcastle. (The Sun)

The Croatian Football Federation has threatened legal action if West Ham try to speak to Bilic before the game against England on Wednesday. (Daily Mirror)

The Hammers will interview Dane Michael Laudrup on Monday but Gianfranco Zola and Roberto Donadoni are the frontrunners. (Sun)

Hammers director of football Gianluca Nani is keen for Zola to be given the job because he fears he would be forced out if Bilic is appointed. (Daily Mail)

Cardiff are keen to sign Ched Evans if the Manchester City striker finds himself out in the cold after the change of ownership at Eastlands. (Daily Mirror)

Birmingham will sign Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng on a three-month loan deal on Monday. (Daily Mail)

Plymouth are keen to seal a loan deal for Stoke midfielder Glen Whelan. (Daily Mail)

Keegan resigns

This has been a bad week for Premier League football as we have witnessed the resignation of 2 managers none of which I expected to go, well certainly not so soon.
Kevin Keegan has handed in his resignation as the good old directors have messed it up again. I cant believe that clubs let this go on the directors are governing so much that the managers have no say in the transfers and big decisions that effect the clubs. I don't blame him as that little toad Wise sold himself out to become a penny pinching director for Newcastle. I have no respect for any so called Director 's of football as they all seem to be driven by their own agenda to line their pockets as quickly as possible and have been given the over riding authority above the manager's, Christ I remember when a chairman would say to a manager here you are here's XYZ to spend this summer, on you go. There is no trust and if this has happened twice this week I think we haven't seen the last , I very very surprised Coppell didn't leave with all that crap he got from Nicky Hammond (another stupid so called Director)

Curbishley quits as West Ham boss

Alan Curbishley has quit West Ham. The transfer window was the last straw having lost Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney both players Curbishley didn't want to go.
Im not a West Ham supporter but I admired Curbishley as he really turned the team around but these good managers all have one common enemy the Directors of football.
Once again the idiots that are appointed that call themselves "Directors of football" screw every thing up and don't care about the after effect just how much money it'll make and to hell with the consequence, just look at Nicky Hammond and what he did to Reading, that one fool was responsible for holding the purse strings back to impress John Madjeski so Hammond could get his huge bonus for money saving (Im not lying) and then they end up getting relegated but Hammond was happy and still employed and got a huge bonus for and that's what these money men want. They don't give a toss about football just how quick they can line their pockets and Im talking a lot of money. Even Dennis Wise is at it, as Kevin Keegan has been restricted by this stupid role of the Director of Football that has become more and more trendy but it is a cancer in the Premier League thing
Well to hell with the Directors, the manager has the best knowledge of the team and he should be able to work with the chairman direct knowing what purse he has to spend and not go begging cap in hand to some idiot who is holding the money back for the chairman so they all get a massive bonus.
Lets see the end of the Directors of Football it has no place in the game and its destroying everything.
If the F.A. had any balls they would ban them.

We where first to tell the world

It was Ted Premier Blog that told the world that Berbatov had signed . By 23.45hrs it had been confirmed and we let the world know. Septic didnt believe it but we got it first. Other massive signing was Robinho to Man City for the block buster signing of £32.5m an all time record for a british club

Berbatov transfer news as at 22.45 1st Sept 2008

Man Utd really look favourites now to clich deal by midnight as they have not only matched the offer made by City but put in a player to swap to sweeten the deal. Unconfirmed reports suggest that it could be Campbell could be in White Hart Lane, Utd have played their cards close to their chest tonight and made no official statements as yet

Latest Berbatov transfer news

As at 19.50 tonight it looks like Man Utd will put forward a winning bid to gazump Man city. The deal is believed to be the asking price and worth more than City's offer.
This is the preferred move for the player as he had made his intention known earlier this season about a move to Utd . But Utd wont stroll through transfer as Man City are hot on their heels so as I said earlier right to the wire with this one keep a look out at around 10 pm tonight as all should be done and dusted (then again?)

Man Utd and Man City battle it out to sign Berbatov by tonight

Its going to be down to the wire if Man Utd Man City sign Berbatov by tonight. City have made a £30m bid but the whole deal is worth up to £35m where as Man Utd are believed to have stuck to a bid of around £25m, either way tomorrow morning Berbatov will be wearing blue or red my money is on blue .
Spurs have accepted the £30m bid from city but Berbatov is reported as still wanting to go to Man Utd.

Premier League transfer news and gossip

Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov could finally get his wish to join Manchester United, with the Old Trafford club putting together a package that could reach £30m. (Daily Telegraph)

Striker Frazier Campbell could be used as a make-weight in the deal, but Hull City have launched a £7m bid for the 20-year-old. (Various)

Robinho's move to Chelsea is in severe doubt after Real Madrid angrily hit out at the Stamford Bridge club's transfer tactics, despite the 24-year-old reiterating his desire to join the Blues. (Various)

Newcastle have launched a bid to sign Wigan and England striker Emile Heskey, 30, but any move is dependant on the Latics signing 25-year-old Middlesbrough striker Mido. (Daily Star)

The Magpies have also targeted Wigan's Olivier Kapo, who only arrived at the JJB Stadium in July. (Various)

Kevin Keegan has tabled an £8m bid to bring Chelsea winger Florent Malouda, 28, to St James' Park. (Daily Telegraph)

Jermaine Pennant has been warned by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez that he will be left in the reserves if he does not join Stoke City for £5m. (Daily Mail)

Everton and Tottenham are locked in a battle to sign 20-year-old Standard Liege midfielder Marouane Fellani for £11.2m. (The Sun)

The Toffees also hope to complete a £3m deal to sign 27-year-old Newcastle striker Alan Smith. (Various)

Tottenham are still tracking Manchester City defender Vedran Coluka and hope to sign the 22-year-old for £8m. (Various)

Swedish striker Henrik Larsson has rejected a move back to the Premier League after being linked with Everton and West Ham, despite his club Helsingborg placing the 36-year-old on the transfer list. (Various)

Reading striker Kevin Doyle, 24, could be on his way to Aston Villa for £7.5m. (Daily Mail)

Arsene Wenger is hoping to bring 24-year-old Switzerland midfielder Gokhan Inler to Arsenal. (Daily Mirror)

Wigan hope sign Portsmouth striker David Nugent, 23, on loan for the rest of the season with a view to a £3m permanent move. (Daily Mirror)

Blackburn defender Andre Ooijer, 34, is a target for AZ Alkmaar who want to use the defender in a swap deal with 24-year-old Australian winger Brett Holman. (Daily Mirror)

West Ham hope to bolster their attacking options before the end of tonight's transfer window and are linked with Torino striker David Di Michele, 32, and 21-year-old Palermo striker Edison Cavani. (The Times)

The Hammers have rejected a £5m bid from Sunderland for 24-year-old striker Carlton Cole. (The Independent)

Alan Curbishley also wants to sign Lazio defender Guglielmo Stendardo, 27, on loan. (Daily Mail)

Hull are interested in signing Fulham winger Seol Ki Hyeon, 29. (The Times)

If Hull fail in their bid to sign Campbell from Man Utd, then manager Phil Brown will turn his attentions towards 27-year-old Benfica striker Ariza Makukula. (Daily Mail)

Rangers striker Daniel Cousin is expected to complete a move to Hull today. (Various)

Newcastle are set to take 26-year-old Valencia midfielder Ignacio Gonzalez on a season-long loan. (Various)

Cardiff hope to sign Fulham midfielder Alexei Smertin, 33, on a free transfer. (Various)