Following the ill-fated reigns of Zico and Juande Ramos, CSKA Moscow finally believe they have the right man in charge ahead of tonight's game at Old Trafford.
CSKA Moscow go Russian with Leonid Slutsky after foreign experiment fails. Click to continue reading...

Normally the points in this fixture are rather an irrelevance, but this time there is more at stake than just bragging rights. The sides go into the game separated only by goal difference, and the three points up for grabs could prove crucial come May. Ultimately, league position is the gauge, and this season for a change we have a realistic chance of finishing above l'Arse.

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Juande Ramos would be forgiven if he suffers panic attacks close to the fourth week of October every year from now on, as almost a year to the day since his dismissal from Spurs, he was once again relieved of his CSKA duties.

This article highlights some similarities between his CSKA departure and the way his days at Spurs came to an end.

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In partnership with Russian Football Now, EPL Talk presents the eleventh episode of RNF's podcast.

Just as Rubin Kazan's victory at the Nou Camp was fading from headlines, the Russian Premier League was thrust back center stage with the shock departure of Juande Ramos from CSKA Moscow after only 47 days in charge.

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tonight's match really is a great opportunity for slick rick.

What I love about cup games is that you really get to see where the priorities lie for a manager depending on the squad that hits the field. You also get to see the depth of a squad, (if indeed there is any FULHAM). For me personally, I really enjoy watching cup competitions because despite the economic pedestal the league and top-tier european competition look down loftily from, the cup competitions have a certain 'je nais sais quois' that is emblematic of what football is really all about.

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comolli and ramos did *try* to learn the basics.

As a seemingly fitting anniversary present for us and nearly exactly one year since his dismissal as head coach at White Hart Lane, (along with Damien...); Juande Ramos is once again out of a job. Seems that he can't keep one these days for love nor money.

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Just read that CSKA Moscow have sacked Juande Ramos!

He was only there for about 2 months or so.

Anyway, do you fancy leaving any messages for poor old Juande?

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Halloween will arrive in a few days, but for Atlético Madrid, this season has been a complete nightmare from the beginning. Los rojiblancos hit their low point with a dull thud on Saturday when they could not fend off a nine-man Mallorca team and settled for a 1-1 draw at the Vicente Calderón.

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Goals and video highlights from the Sporting Gijon vs Real Madrid La Liga game on Saturday, October 24, 2009. Real were beaten 3-2 by AC Milan in their midweek Champions League game, while Sporting ran out 2-1 winners over Athletic Bilbao in their last La Liga game. Related posts:Real Madrid vs AC Milan goals highlights- October 21 [. Click to continue reading...

The early match of the night saw a lively CSKA (coached by none other than Spurs and Real Madrid castaway Juande Ramos) host a dour and uninterested Manchester United, who once again left it very late in the game to score. Man, I'm so over this United mob and their ... Click to continue reading...

The early match of the night saw a lively CSKA (coached by none other than Spurs and Real Madrid castaway Juande Ramos) host a dour and uninterested Manchester United, who once again left it very late in the game to score. Man, I'm so over this United mob and their ... Click to continue reading...

No Drogba, no problem. Chelsea did what three other British teams couldn't do this week in the Champions League - comfortably beat clearly inferior opposition.
While Liverpool lost to Lyon, Arsenal could only draw with AZ Alkmaar, and Manchester United could only scrape by Juande Ramos' CSKA Moscow 1-0, Chelsea had absolutely no problem disposing of Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge. Click to continue reading...

Manchester United vs CSKA Moscow

I believe there is some drama to be had from Group B and I expect this fixture to provide it. The table at the moment has United with six points and then Wolfsburg and Moscow with three points.

When United visit Russia they will have a difficult task on their hands.

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Minus Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher, Ji Sung Park, and Patrice Evra. All key players. Which should bolster CSKA's chances.

But the one adage after all these years - you count out Man Utd at your own peril. And Juande Ramos will do well to heed this advice. By the way, Ramos has been busy with extracurricular activities, including writing a non-fiction piece aimed at business executives.

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CSKA Moscow v Manchester United
Wednesday 21 October 2009, Luzhniki Stadium
UEFA Champions League
Kick-Off: 19:45 UK (20:45 CET)

With Juande Ramos managing CSKA Moscow and United returning to the scene of their last European triumph, you could be forgiven for thinking that it's 2007/2008 all over again.

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In spite of assuring everyone that Leonardo will finish this season and won't pay for Berlusconi's stinginess and selling of the best player, the Brazilian probably won't stay on the bench if he keeps this up.

We have already written about that he will be the scapegoat and it is hard to tell who will inherit his post.

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With the season starting slightly earlier this year due to the World Cup, most teams in the Premiership have played 8 league games already. Last season, the 8th round of matches was played two weeks later, on the weekend of October 18th/19th. By the end of it, Tottenham were staring up at every other team in the league with a lowly 2 points.

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They Think It's All Over... presents his weekly WDKF Wednesday article which looks at the remarkable turnaround that Tottenham have experienced since this time last year. Click to continue reading...

When Gareth Bale came on as an 86th minute substitute in Tottenham's 5-0 victory over Burnley at the weekend he broke an incredibly inauspicious record that had seen him go 24 Premier League games without tasting victory in a Tottenham shirt. He must have been pretty relieved to break that particular streak, but it's the [. Click to continue reading...

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.

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Zenit St. Petersburg had been competing with Lokomotiv Moscow for the title of hottest team in the league, but with Saturday's convincing 2-0 home win over CSKA Moscow, Zenit now has the table on their side.
True, both Lokomotiv and Spartak Moscow could pass now second place Zenit tomorrow. Click to continue reading...

Great picture find over at The Offside.
Let's get to the other good stuff out there.
The links:

• Jose's story on MLS salaries. [Times]
  
• German women crush England in Euro final. [SI]
  
• Juande Ramos to CSKA Moscow. [BBC]
  
• SI caption gaff.

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The rumors of Zico's imminent demise came fact yesterday when CSKA Moskow, ten points behind league-leading Rubin, fired their Brazilian coach, replacing him with Juande Ramos.
First word that Zico could be replace surfaced two months ago before CSKA had a brief improvement in form, including a win at Rubin Kazan on July 18. Click to continue reading...

Stuff to read while you fly, fly like a bird.... (This is not new, we know.) The sky's the limit with Capello's wizardry on the touches. (Fanhouse) Unfortunately Fabio's financial dealings aren't quite as brilliant. (Blogistuta) The only headline possible: Leo Beensackked-er. (Unprofessional Foul) Teddy Sheringham returneth. Click to continue reading...

Juande Ramos has replaced Brazilian legend Zico as head coach at the russian club, CSKA Moscow. Juande Ramos has been the head coach at great clubs like Seville, and Real Madrid. Click to continue reading...

All the stuff being covered outside the unfriendly confines of the award winning Dirty Tackle...

Is Maradona untouchable as Argentina's manager? [Reuters Blog]

How West Ham persuaded Jermain Defoe to leave Charlton. [The Spoiler]

Sir Alex says everyone is jealous of United.

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He cost how much?

If there has been a better use of £1m by Tottenham Football Club in recent years then I sure as hell can't think of it. Aaron Lennon arrived as a player clearly with a bright future and Martin Jol was more than happy to take advantage of Leeds United financial crisis to nab the England winger on the cheap, something other clubs were gleefully doing with just about every decent player at Elland Road at the time.

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Leonardo set for a Milan exit? (Clearly the image below is of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle with the same name and not of the Brazilian football coach)

He has only been in the job for a few months, but Milan coach Leonardo may start feeling the pressure to provide immediate results.

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Jermain Defoe has had a fantastic start to the new season, with goals for England and Spurs; including his 50th for the club in the 2-1 win at West Ham. His hat trick and all round performance against Hull City was clearly his best performance in a Spurs shirt in either spell. When he rejoined Spurs in January this year, he was welcomed back with open arms as a disastrous season began to show the green shoots of recovery under Harry Redknapp.

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We've linked up with a massive Birmingham blog, Joys & Sorrows. One of their readers off their forum, Nat, wrote a great article in relation to today's game.

In recent times

At the moment, Spurs are enjoying their most productive period since the days of Terry Venables, Lineker and Gazza.

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Time to move on?

Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara is a target for Birmingham City.

The Birmingham Mail says Brum could move for the England U21 international after finding the price for Aston Villa's Craig Gardner too rich.

Blues go to Spurs on Saturday for another tough away test after the Manchester United Old Trafford opener.

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The Dutch double down. I think Robben's celebration is a pointed reminder of how Real treats its Dutch contingent and how unsettled is its future.

The arrival of Kaka, Ronaldo, and Benzema is Real's 2.0 version of the Galacticos necessary to wrest the Liga back from Barca and put Real back as favourites to win the CL but we can also argue that it is a calculated move to undo the club's Dutch policy that has cost them a not insubstantial amount of €120m over three years to ransack players from one country - Van Nistelrooy, Van Der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Huntelaar, and Drenthe for very little gain.

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Last season Pep Guardiola's Barcelona thrilled Europe with their fluid, vivacious, irrepressible brand of football. Led by the combined talents of Xavi, Iniesta, Henry, Messi and Eto'o, Barca surged to an exceptional treble which established the Catalan club as the most formidable on the planet.

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Tottenham over the last few years has been a story of three little Piggies. Martin Jol built what seemed to be a solid platform at White Hart Lane, only for the big bad Wolf, Daniel Levy, to blow it down, much to the fan's discontent. Along came Juande Ramos, but his structure didn't last [...] Click to continue reading...

Bring it on!

Arsene Wenger saw his Arsenal side produce a stunning riposte to doubters with a 6-1 win at Everton and then prepared to spend a portion of the £38million raised in the transfer market after Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart revealed he hopes to move to the Premier League.

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