Ahead of the Game: Benitez wary of PSV threat

News in 60 seconds

BENITEZ WARY OF PSV THREAT
The Liverpool manager has warned that his side face a very different PSV Eindhoven tonight from the side they have beaten three times in three seasons. "They have a different manager and many players since the last time we played them," he said. "That PSV lost their opening group match to Atletico Madrid is also a problem. They have to get something here now." 
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article4859263.ece

SCOLARI: DROGBA FAR FROM HIS BEST
The Chelsea manager expects his forward to put in an improved performance against CFR Cluj but said he will not reach his peak until mid-November. "Didier has not played for two months so it is difficult," Scolari said. "He is not 100 per cent ready. He will need eight or ten more games." The Ivory Coast international has played only two matches since recovering from a knee injury.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article4859320.ece

LIVE: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Follow all the action in tonight's big games with our rolling text commentaries, live scores and stats service.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/ 

SCHOLES TO MISS TEN WEEKS
Manchester United have confirmed that the midfielder damaged his medial ligament last night and will be out for two and a half months. Wayne Rooney was also replaced in the victory over Aalborg but his ankle injury is thought to be not as serious. "We hope it is not ligament trouble," Sir Alex Ferguson said. "But he is doubtful for Saturday."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article4861083.ece

MEGSON FORGIVES STYLES
The Bolton manager has accepted an apology from the referee for his widely criticised decision to award a penalty to Ronaldo at the weekend. "He's a good referee," he said. "He made a mistake and everybody does that." 
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/bolton/article4860038.ece

UEFA CUP: O'NEILL TO MAKE CHANGES
The Aston Villa manager is expected to alter his starting XI for tomorrow's Uefa Cup tie at home to Litex Lovech, with James Milner, Brad Guzan and Carlos Cuellar among those in contention. Villa lead 3-1 from the first leg. Steven Pienaar, meanwhile, has recovered from a broken toe and could make his first appearance of the season for Everton against Standard Liege.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article4860251.ece

AGBONLAHOR NAMED IN UNDER-21S
The Aston Villa forward has been picked for the England Under-21 squad despite rumours he was on the verge of a call-up to the senior side. Micah Richards and Aaron Lennon have also been selected for the Uefa Championship play-off against Wales.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article4861624.ece

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If you've got another couple of minutes

CLUJ'S GIDDY ASCENT
Chelsea face a team owned by Transylvania's equivalent of Roman Abramovich this evening, a tycoon called Arpad Paszkany who has funded the club's stunning rise to the Romanian title.

Click on the first link for the story of their improvement and on the second for highlights of their surprise 2-1 victory away to AS Roma last week, a result that might have shocked English fans more had Spurs not beaten the Italian club 5-0 in pre-season.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article4855810.ece http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqWinFMQBqU&feature=related

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Blues: We'll try the stake - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Chelsea have banned staff at their hotel in Romania from serving them local food before tonight's European tie. 2) They insisted that all meals should be prepared under the supervision of the club chef. 3) A member of staff at the Opera Plaza hotel said: "What do they think we're going to give them? Dracula blood?"

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In TheGame

Martin Samuel's final word on bad tackles 
Our Chief Football Correspondent has given his verdict on readers' contributions to his debate asking what should be done about reckless challenges and found that most of your suggestions make a lot of sense.

In particular, Samuel likes the idea that a manager should receive a touchline ban if his player commits a bad foul and that football would benefit from a citing officer similar to the one employed by rugby union.

He also agrees that recent comments by Kevin Nolan were indefensible but stops short of advocating the use of the courts. "Oh yes, that is what football needs right now," he says, tongue firmly in cheek. "More lawyers."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/10/martin-samuel-r.html

Gabriele Marcotti: Glasnost for referees
Our European Football expert has an intriguing plan to improve the standard of refereeing in England, suggesting the authorities run a league table based on officials' performances, thus ending debates about which of them is not up to his job. 

He also offers Tottenham fans reassurance that Juande Ramos will eventually turn their club around, but is less optimistic about the Nigerian consortium's bid for Newcastle, given that its representative is a player agent. "Won't he be facing some kind of conflict of interest?" Marcotti writes.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/10/referees-league.html 

Podcast: Do Arsenal lack leadership?
Arsene Wenger's side looked impressive against Porto but not everybody on our team is convinced by the captaincy credentials of William Gallas. Phill Jupitus hosts. Gabriele Marcotti, Tony Evans and Alyson Rudd join him in the studio.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/thegame_podcasts/article4833292.ece

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15
Age of Reuben Noble-Lazarus, of Barnsley who became the Football League's youngest-ever player when he came on as a substitute against Ipswich last night, 45 days after celebrating his birthday.

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<

Tottenham close to sale - The Guardian
Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, will sell the club to a billionaire investor from the Far East before the end of the week if they can agree a price.

Kev: I'll re-Toon - The Sun
A South African consortium wants to bring Kevin Keegan back to Newcastle after tabling a bid for the club.

Kinnear under fire - The Guardian
The Newcastle interim manager has rubbished criticism of him for giving the squad a day off on Monday, while reports suggest the club could re-sign Stephen Carr.

Moyes fumes - Daily Mail
The Everton manager held a heated meeting with his players after the defeat by Liverpool, with one senior player asking whether he would still be in charge by the weekend.

Mowbray to bag Trejo for £5m - Daily Mirror
West Brom are ready to make a club record bid for Oscar Trejo, the Real Mallorca striker.

Barry wages worry Villa - Daily Mirror
Randy Lerner, the Aston Villa owner, says the club will have to qualify for the Champions League to meet the defender's wage demands.

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

Paulie, a Goodison Park regular, is unhappy with accusations levelled against his club in our Merseyside derby debate:
"I've attended countless Everton games home and away and I have never heard any Hillsborough song/chant. There is always going to be a few idiots, but to suggest Evertonians mocking the tragedy is a regular occurence is a lie and I would bank on any Blue backing me up on this.

It's far too close to home to be allowed to turn into ammo against our red friends. Maybe some Liverpool fans want to believe it's true as they feel it would give their sick actions some justification, but sorry, it's not."

Nigel, a Spurs fan, wants an interim manager, as if St James' Park was a good place to find ideas on crisis-response:
"It is time for Ramos to go. He's been here almost a year and, apart from the Carling Cup, we've gone backwards. It seems now that he's lost not only the players, who obviously don't listen to him, but the fans as well. Doing nothing is not an option. The board and management structure need to go as well.

Let's hope the mooted takeover by an Asian consortium takes place. If it does, maybe they could appoint Terry Venables as a caretaker manager until the end of the season. Otherwise, we will get relegated and, considering the way the board treated Martin Jol, some might see that as payback."

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And expect...

Cluj to put their sterling performance down to an energy-boosting local brew.