All hail Rafa Benítez, conqueror of Europe and vanquisher of Real Madrid. Liverpool has developed a reputation as masters of the Champions League tie, punching well above their weight in cup competitions compared to their performances in the Premiership. To date Benítez has delivered an FA Cup, one Community Shield, the European Super Cup and of course [.

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- RODNEY MARSH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Rodney Marsh Answers Some Questions.

It's been a tough 12 months for the boys at Upton Park. A row between the board and manager over the sales of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney to Sunderland lead to the resignation of Alan Curbishley. That was followed by major sponsors 'XL' going bust, and then an ex-Chelsea player taking over as manager.

It's Sunday again, and time for some ridiculous reports in the Sunday gossip press, and they have hardly disappointed us this week, with their stories, which always seem to lack any sense or facts picky picky. Alan Curbishley is Ashley going to appoint this man as manager? The News Of The World, which seems to [.

After 15 years of heartache, success and a little more success, Charlton Athletic Chairmen Richard Murray announced to a stadium of Addict fans in 2006 that legendary boss Alan Curbishley would be leaving his post at the end of the season. The announcement, made on the April 29th before a Premier League fixture, stunned thousands of [.

Who is to blame? In the Premiership years, Charlton Athletic were seen as the model for any clubs gaining promotion to join the elite. So what went so wrong at The Valley that saw the Addicks fall to the depths of the wrong end of the Championship. As they stare League One football in the face, Charlton's recent history leaves behind a sad tale of a football club that was just too ambitious at the wrong time.

Ok I give up, I can't find one.

I've tried to find a football fan that has a strong disliking for Gianfranco Zola and failed miserably – the guy is just too darn nice!

Even those who aren't fond of Chelsea – the club he played for so successfully - can't help but respect and admire not just his skills as a footballer but his attitude and professionalism both on and off the field.

Why now?

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Middlesbrough have announced that manager Gareth Southgate has been 'relieved of his duties'.

Boro have endured an in-different start to the Championship season following relegation from the Premier League last term.

West Ham

Position: 19th, 1-2-5 (5 points, -3 goal differential)

Recent Form: LLLDL

Away Form: 0-1-2

Last Meeting: Arsenal 0-West Ham 0 (1/31/09)

London derby match against West Ham tomorrow.

Betting has been suspended on Phil Brown being the next Premier League manager to be sacked, this is following speculation today that Brown is on the verge of leaving Hull City. There are rumours that he may have already left but the club are refusing to comment. Brown has been under pressure following a poor start [.

Getting the sack as a football coach isn't really the worst thing that could happen to you and to Jürgen Klinsmann. Except for the banking sector there probably isn't a job on this planet where screwing up pays you so much in golden handshakes. Looking at it this way, this season's best places in Europe to make a quick buck for just a couple of months of work and media/fan abuse are:

1.

Leeds, Charlton, Southampton, and Norwich have something in common. During the last decade all four of they have been in the greatest league in the world, the Barclays Premier League. Next year they might have something else in common, playing in League One, the third division of English football.
The lure of the Premier League is great but dropping out of the League can almost drive a team off a cliff.

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Will this be how young Newcastle fans react after this Sunday or will it be all night celebration of preserving Premier League status? Whatever the outcome may be, expect a passionate and committed brand of football against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

Since some of us are about to experience the highs and lows of Survival Sunday, let's take a look at some of the most dramatic relegation escapes in EPL history.

The only thing that surprised me about Ricky Sbragia's resignation was the timing of it, coming just 20 or 30 minutes after the final whistle. It was odd to watch Niall Quinn speaking about his manager not wanting to take up the option of another year as manager, whilst Sbragia stood there impassively.

A great man (Alan Curbishley) once said "don't let the highs be too high, or the lows too low", but it would take a hard man not to forgive Charlton fans for wearing a cautious, toothy grin at present.

Following a treacherous three seasons, a 100% record at this stage was not on even the most optimistic Addick's radar.

After a succession of bad managerial choices, Steve Gibson appears to finally about to get it right!

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In a shock move, Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson gave Gareth Southgate his marching orders last night just hours after a 2-0 home win over Derby County which took Middlesbrough to fourth in the Coca-Cola Championship and within a point of the Championship summit.

It's been a strange but heartwarming Premier League season so far in that no manager has been sacked, at least not quite yet. But when was the last time a manager was sacked so late in the season?

According to the record books, the 2009/2010 Premier League season is on course to have the fewest managers sacked before November for several years.

The Clock is Ticking!

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Bookies have suspended betting on the next Premier League manager to be sacked following speculation Phil Brown is on the verge of leaving Hull City.

At the beginning of season 08-09, I think you could have had very good odds on Carlton Cole scoring 5 Premiership goals or more, becoming the fulcrum of the West Ham team and then breaking in to the England squad. 15 months is a long time ago and in that time Carlton Cole has morphed from a clumsy, well-built support striker who weighed in with the odd goal to a feared centre forward, capable of giving the very best defenders a real working over.

It's hard to believe that a classic West Ham United team featuring legends such as Trevor Brooking, Alan Curbishley, Frank Lampard Sr., Billy Bonds and a young Alvin Martin were staring down the face of relegation on the last day of the 1977-1978 season. But they were, and they needed a win to try to stay up.

Jonathan Ross, Russell Brand, Mr. Blobby & Gary Megson. Who is the odd one out? At first glance you'd probably say Mr. Blobby, but the answer is in fact, Gary Megson, the other three have a personality.

Megson, 50, has been on the managerial death row since he first took over as Bolton Boss in October 2007.

An unexpected treat in today's Sun comes in the form of a detailed interview with Hammers legend Tony Carr...
Super Carr Drives The Hammers
By Charlie Wyett
West Ham fans are never slow to remind everyone that their club helped England win the World Cup in 1966.
But Hammers heroes Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore and Martin Peters not only brought glory to club and country, they left the East Enders with a legacy for generations to come.

The economic meltdown has taken many victims around the world, including some that hit close to home for football fans (Southampton and Gretna FC come to mind). It has forced many clubs to rethink their spending habits and cut back. However, some continue to carry on, blithely unaware of the dangers that lurk for football clubs that can't control their cash flow.

Newcastle United have today denied the ridiculous News Of The World story yesterday, about appointing Alan Curbishley ahead of Alan Shearer as the interim manager. Alan Curbishley - we already knew he wasn't coming Not only that, but the NOTW argued that Ashley wanted Curbishley installed as manager only days before an American consortium could buy the club, because [.

Following Alan Curbishley's rather harsh dismissal from West Ham early last

Much done, more to do

term, Gianfranco Zola came in to take over. The little Italian's previous managerial experience amounted to collecting the cones after training for Italy's U-21 side, but he has done a fine job at Upton Park.

Just over half a dozen games in and the Premier League is beginning to take shape. There have already been some heavyweight clashes with the newly oil rich Man City upsetting Big 4 stalwarts Arsenal while Spurs' flying start was kept in check by Manchester United and Chelsea. With the electric Fernando Torres leading the line Liverpool have steadied the ship after a nervy start and last year's pretenders, Aston Villa, have picked up useful points despite not fully hitting top form yet.

Following Paul Hart's departure from Fratton Park earlier this week it appears opinion is divided on whether or not the manager was to blame. (See story and comments on homepage). However, the search is now on for the next boss with Avram Grant widely tipped to take the hotseat. Is former Chelsea manager Grant the man to keep Portsmouth in the league or should Pompey be looking elsewhere?

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- Ainsworth Back at QPR
- Tabloid says QPR and another club were interested in Nottingham Forest manager Davies.

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- QPR vs Sheffield United: Compilation of Match Reports and Managerial Comments
News of The World/Neil Ashton - CURBISHLEY IS QPR'S PRIORITY TARGET
- ALAN CURBISHLEY is the man QPR want as their next permanent manager.