Paper Talk
Under-fire Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will not be shown the door yet by Mike Ashley, after surviving a fan protest during the home game with Hull on Saturday. Pardew has time things to turn things around, despite the mood on the terraces.
Manchester City and Manchester United are among the Barclays Premier League club keeping tabs on 17-year-old Fulham forward Patrick Roberts.
Cardiff have asked for permission to speak to Leyton Orient manager Russell Slade.
Wigan striker Marc-Antoine Fortune is wanted on loan by Blackpool.
Manuel Pellegrini insisted Frank Lampard was kicked out of Chelsea as the Manchester City manager engaged in another fiery exchange with Jose Mourinho at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has urged his side to prove they can cope with the pressure of being back among Europe's elite.
Alan Pardew's job has never been under threat this season, according to Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.
Manuel Pellegrini labelled Chelsea a small team after Frank Lampard came back to haunt Jose Mourinho at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester United will tear up their loan deal for Radamel Falcao and send the Colombian back to Monaco if he suffers a recurrence of his knee problems.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino accused his players of showing "a lack of passion" during their 1-0 Premier League defeat by West Bromwich Albion.
QPR boss Harry Redknapp wanted to sign Stoke striker Peter Crouch for a fifth time on transfer deadline day but Potters boss Mark Hughes vetoed the move.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has urged striker Danny Welbeck, 23, to use former Gunners forward Thierry Henry as his inspiration to succeed at the club.
BBC
TRANSFER GOSSIP
Liverpool have emerged as potential suitors for Joe Hart, with the 27-year-old England goalkeeper reportedly fearing for his Manchester City future after revealing the club have not spoken to him about a new contract. (Metro)
Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, 27, in the January transfer window for £11m. (Caughtoffside.com)
Manchester United will tear up their loan deal for Radamel Falcao and send the 28-year-old Colombia striker back to Monaco if he suffers a recurrence of his knee problems. (Daily Express)
QPR boss Harry Redknapp wanted to sign Stoke striker Peter Crouch, 33, for a fifth time on transfer deadline day but Potters boss Mark Hughes vetoed the move. (Guardian)
Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United could be set for a transfer battle as they are all monitoring Fulham forward Patrick Roberts, 17. (Daily Mirror)
OTHER GOSSIP
Frank Lampard admitted he was "lost for words" when he scored Manchester City's equaliser against his former club Chelsea in their 1-1 Premier League draw. (Daily Mail)
Leicester City midfielder and big summer signing Esteban Cambiasso says he used to hide before football training as a youngster - because he wanted to become a basketball player . (Daily Mirror)
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher criticised Manchester United for not signing a top defender in the transfer window after watching their 5-3 defeat by Leicester City on Sunday. (Daily Mail)
Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan will step up moves to secure Russell Slade as the club's new manager while Chris Hughton and Steve Clarke are also leading candidates. (Western Mail)
Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon has criticised current boss Ronny Deila for questioning the fitness of the team he left behind. (Daily Record)
Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has promised to give Alan Pardew time to turn the club's fortunes around. (Sun - subscription required)
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino accused his players of showing "a lack of passion" during their 1-0 Premier League defeat by West Bromwich Albion. (Daily Express)
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has urged striker Danny Welbeck, 23, to use former Gunners forward Thierry Henry as his inspiration to succeed at the club. (Daily Telegraph)
BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta, 29, tweeted to apologise to fans after his sending-off for two yellow cards against Chelsea, but also posted a picture of Diego Costa grabbing him around the neck to express his disbelief at how the Spanish striker avoided a red card.
Leicester City supporters were equally as stunned by the manner of their 5-3 win over Manchester United on Sunday as they were by left-back Paul Konchesky, 33, no longer having a shaved head. Many fans took to Twitter to debate what he now looks like.
AND FINALLY
A stag party in London on Saturday dressed up as Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan - complete with replica shirts and sunglasses. (Metro)
Guardian Rumour Mill
Jacob Steinberg
Arsène Wenger is a visionary. The inventor of broccoli, passing and spectacular, unrivalled bottle-jobbery, he has already worked out what Arsenal need to do in the next transfer window, three months before it opens. It therefore comes as no surprise to learn that Wenger has moved with trademark sharpness to identify the areas of weakness in his squad and has decided that Arsenal will try to sign a defender and a defensive midfielder in January, with Manchester United’s Chris Smalling and Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira at the top of his shopping list. That’s why he gets paid the big bucks: only an elite football genius could have come to those conclusions so quickly.
Elsewhere Brendan Rodgers has already gone off Simon ‘Safe Hands’ Mignolet and wants to replace him with Joe ‘Hart’ Hartdog, who fears that he could be for the chop at Manchester City given their reluctance to offer him a new contract. That is not very decent on their part. Poor Hartdog.
Some big Premier League clubs would like to sign some children, stick them in the reserves, forget all about them, stunt their development and then moan about a lack of available British talent. Arsenal and United are keeping tabs on Fulham’s Patrick Roberts, City and Liverpool want Real Madrid’s Jack Harper.
United want to bring top centre-back Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford. But they don’t want to come off too desperate about a reunion, having been led on by their former flame in the past. As such, they’re playing it cool, keeping their distance, sometimes pretending they can’t remember his name or what he does for a living; Ed Woodward has this one in the bag.
Mark Hughes says he is braced for bids for Peter Crouch. QPR are interested in the Stoke striker and also want Leicester’s Ritchie De Laet, which seems like a suitable place to bring yet another rip-roaring edition of The Rumour Mill to a fascinating end.
OS
Manager on Monday
Sam Allardyce has praised Stewart Downing's contribution to West Ham United's promising start to the season
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce hailed Stewart Downing's early-season form after the attacking midfielder was instrumental in Saturday's 3-1 win against his former side Liverpool.
Downing was again deployed at the tip of Big Sam's attacking diamond formation and he rewarded his manager by playing a key role in two of the Hammers' three goals. His free-kick from the right led to Winston Reid's opener and then he neatly fed Morgan Amalfitano in the dying minutes to complete the hosts' scoring.
"Stewart's been outstanding this season," Allardyce said. "Playing him in the middle has really worked. His talent is clear for everyone to see. The ball for Amalfitano's goal was superb. He gets more touches in the centre, I'm sure he's enjoying it."
While the manager insisted that everyone should savour the victory he was careful to add a note of caution that another stern test awaits on Saturday when West Ham travel to Manchester United. After two consecutive attacking displays that have delivered five goals and four points, he does not want his side to get ahead of themselves.
"Monday is another day, we could enjoy the result on Saturday but we need to make sure on Monday we get ready for Old Trafford, because that is a massive game.
"We can't dwell on the victory for too long. We can definitely enjoy it, but on Monday we'll get our feet back on the ground, and see what we can do at Old Trafford."
The Hammers started last Saturday's game emphatically as they raced to a two goal lead as Reid and Diafra Sakho scored inside the first seven minutes. Liverpool starlet Raheem Sterling lashed in a shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 at half-time, yet the first home win of the season was secured as Downing released Amalfitano to slot home.
"We couldn't have asked for a better start. We played a high pressing game today which is why we dominated Liverpool in the first half," Big Sam added.
"To score two goals in that early period really stunned the Liverpool players. We really played outstandingly well, and we deserved everything we've got today."
Sakho was also one of the standout performers as he scored an audacious lob from a tight angle. There were some questions post-match about whether the summer signing from Metz had meant to shoot, but Big Sam explained he was in no doubt it was a deliberate shot:
"Sakho definitely meant to score. He was ballistic when the Hull goal was given as an own goal. When the Dubious Goals Panel changed their minds you couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
"He loves scoring goals. For me he's gone under the radar because we signed Enner Valencia. But he scored 20 goals for Metz last year."
Mail
Diafra Sakho has been an instant hit at West Ham... who is the Hammers' new hero?
Diafra Sakho scored in West Ham's 3-1 win over Liverpool at Upton Park
Hammers new signing has now scored three goals in four games
Senegal international arrived from Metz, although deal almost fell through
By Sami Mokbel
West Ham new-boy Diafra Sakho has made an instant impact at Upton Park, scoring three goals in four games, for the Hammers.
Here Sportsmail takes a look at Upton Park's current hero.
There wasn't a big song and dance about him signing was there?
No, he slipped under the radar somewhat. He arrived from Metz for just £3.5million. If he carries on the way he'll prove one of the bargains of the season.
Diafra Sakho celebrates after scoring his third goal of the season in West Ham's 3-1 win over Liverpool
What are his attributes?
Certainly his pace. The forward's rapidness caused Liverpool's defence major problems on Saturday and West Ham's rivals can expect more of the same. His versatility and directness will be key for the Hammers, with the Senegal international able to play anywhere across the forward line.
Did he have any other summer suitors?
Newcastle, with their strong knowledge of French football, were interested in the Sakho, but Sam Allardyce beat his former club to the punch.
Sakho competes with his namesake Mamadou during the Premier League clash at Upton Park
The deal nearly fell through, however, when the Hammers tried to change the structure of the deal, forcing Metz to release this strongly worded statement:
'The English club unilaterally decided to propose a loan deal with an option to purchase instead of a permanent deal, which does not correspond to FC Metz's expectations and contradicts all the terms that had been agreed last week between the two clubs.
'FC Metz regret this clear lack of respect, which is unacceptable, from West Ham towards FC Metz and also the player. As a result, FC Metz reserve the right to approach the international sport court and assert their rights and defender their interests.
Sakho's goal against Liverpool came from a beautifully floated cross-shot into the corner
'FC Metz had released Diafra Sakho from his professional duties during matchday 1 of the Ligue 1 championship by giving him leave to take a medical in England to complete the last stage of the deal.'
Three in four is a good return, what's his goal record like?
Not bad, he's scored 40 goals for Metz in his previous two seasons. They were all out of the French top-flight, though.
Daily Gazette
Moncur loving life under Humes
by Jonathan Waldron
George Moncur says he is enjoying life under new Colchester United manager Tony Humes.
And the U’s loanee is determined to repay him by continuing his impressive form on a consistent basis and helping the club climb up the League One table.
Moncur claimed another man-of-the-match award in Colchester’s 0-0 draw with Bradford City and has been one of their star performers since joining them on loan from West Ham United.
The 21-year-old says he is relishing the chance to play regularly for the U’s under Humes.
Moncur said: “I’m really enjoying playing under the new manager.
“He gets us back in defensively and also gets us playing as well, so I really like playing under Tony and Richard (Hall).
“I’ve got a lot of time and gratitude for Joe (Dunne), because he was the one who brought me in.
“I really wish him the best for the future but it’s great that the new manager is playing me every week.
“Hopefully, I can repay him by showing the same kind of form throughout the whole of the season and keep doing well.
“I’ve tried to add goals to my game too and it’s paying off a bit.
“Hopefully I can get a few more and I just have to keep playing well.”
