Alan Padrew survives again.

Newcastle lost 1-0 to Stoke on Monday night, but Alan Pardew has survived until morning as owner Mike Ashley has yet to swing his axe.

Pardew's record in 2014 reads thus:L,L,L,W,D,L,L,L,W,W,L,W,L,L,L,L,L,L,W,L,L,D,W,D,L,D,L,L (P28, W6, D4, L18)but he is still in charge at St James'.

"I think we'll have some serious conversations before Saturday because he doesn't want to lose and nor do I," Pardew said after the match. "I think it's important I show to the team that I'm here to lead the team. I've never really been in this situation before. It's a bit unique, but I'm a professional football manager, that's what I do and that's what I'll continue to do."

Why Did Wenger bench Alexis Sanchez against Totteham?

Arsenal's disappointing draw with rivals Tottenham has left fans with several burning questions they'd love to put to Arsene Wenger. Firstly, in the light of Mathieu Flamini's critical error, does he regret the decision not to recruit a world-class holding midfielder? Secondly, why is he seemingly so reluctant to deploy Mesut Ozil in his preferred central role? And lastly, above and beyond all else, why was Alexis Sanchez not in the starting XI?

It's a valid query. Alexis has enjoyed a terrific start to the season. He's notched four times in his nascent Arsenal career and is the club's top goal scorer. There have already been some magical moments: he got the goal that saw Arsenal qualify for the Champions League, and side-footed home a beautiful volley against champions Manchester City. Throughout an underwhelming start to the campaign, the Chilean's performances have been an undoubted highlight.

- Wenger: Injury crisis baffles me
- Oxlade-Chamberlain: We must tighten up

After Alexis scored a breathtaking free kick against Southampton in midweek, there was understandable excitement about the prospect of seeing him start his first north London derby. Even the players seemed enthused by the idea. In the build-up to the game, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain eulogised about his colleague's remarkable work ethic in training. He said: "Alexis and Jack [Wilshere] played 90 minutes the other day, and they're usually on second-day recovery. But today Alexis really wanted to train, and people had to tell him to take it easy."

It seems Alexis shared the fans' excitement about pitting his talents against Tottenham. Instead, he spent the majority of the match on the substitutes' bench. It is difficult to discern Wenger's thinking.

His mistrust of Alexis might herald from the one quality that has seen him fall immediately for Danny Welbeck, and that is ball retention. After Arsenal's convincing win away to Aston Villa, Wenger was quick to praise Welbeck's star performance. However, he did not focus on the emphatic finish past Brad Guzan, nor the inch-perfect through ball to create a goal for Mesut Ozil. Instead, he drew attention to Welbeck's ability to keep the ball -- the England international completed a remarkable 97 percent of his attempted passes at Villa Park. Welbeck can't match Alexis' talent, but he offers greater continuity in the final third.

For all his gifts, Alexis is prone to giving the ball away. It's an inevitable consequence of his playing style as he attempts the improbable on a regular basis. Whether it's embarking on a mazy dribble or threading a perilous pass, he is not inclined to keep it simple. That maverick style is arguably what prevented him from ever quite fitting in at Barcelona as his risk-taking interrupted the hypnotic flow of tiki-taka.

However, that tendency to turn over possession is not enough to warrant Alexis' exclusion from the XI. To accuse him of carelessness is to misunderstand his game. He's not selfish -- he's a soloist. When Arsenal's passing game fails to function, he can still produce a magical moment to transform a draw to a win. Furthermore if he does lose the ball, few players will work quite so hard to win it back.

Alexis calculates that his drag-backs and dribbles are a chance worth taking. In future, Wenger must show similar courage in his team selections. Next week, he faces league leaders Chelsea. You can be certain that Jose Mourinho would be relieved to see Sanchez among the subs again.

Wenger must not give him the satisfaction. The time has come to rely on Alexis' unpredictability.

In Keshi we Trust!

There has being purported stories of Nigeria getting a foreign coach or changing coach....even Siasia has declared an interest in the job saying, "I have been there before and I did my best. Yes, I am always ready to come back and continue from where I stopped,” Siasia was quoted by DailyNewsWatch. Nigeria should not get carried away by the likes of the Republic of Congo and Cameroon, who have impressed under foreign mangers. 

Here are three reasons why Nigeria should stick with Stephen Keshi: 

1. Nigeria is a troubled ship 

The current situation is a clear case of a ship on troubled waters; and in such situations, one result is highly likely: a disruption of reliable frameworks, which curtails any form of progress. 

Is it then any surprise that since the Nigeria Football Federation—the masterminds behind the framework—fell into shambles with internal power jostling leading to international embarrassment the Super Eagles have not made progress? 

It would be naïve to think that the administrative arm of the team (the NFF) play no part whatsoever in the team’s overall preparations and envisaged success. 

The current wranglings, which includes unresolved contract talks with the technical crew, have not created a suitable atmosphere for the team to flourish, and might be no different under a foreigner. 

2. Patience is a Virtue

Joachim Low, who led Germany to a fourth World Cup title this summer, had been in charge since 2006 without lifting a single trophy; that’s eight years of shuffling, and changing, and developing and believing. 

Why can’t Nigeria show such faith and patience for a manager, who within three years won the AFCON trophy that had eluded Nigeria for almost two decades, qualified the team for the World Cup with swagger and also reached the last-16 of the tournament?  

In fact, now that Keshi has equaled the records set by erstwhile coach Clemens Westerhof, it should be interesting to see how he does as he attempts to better the records he set himself.  

3. Keshi is Naija-made 

Goal’s Lolade Adewuyi, in three simple words, summarised the persona of the ex defender: Troublemaker, Path-maker and Legend.  

It wouldn’t be wrong to state that coaching a country like Nigeria would require one to be, at least, two of those things in order to cope in such territory—and Keshi is all three. 

Having the nous for Nigerian football is essential to coaching a football-crazed nation such this.  

How else do explain the rise of a player like Sunday Mba? 

In Keshi, a former captain himself, Nigeria has a man with rapt knowledge of naija football, with eyes and ears in the diaspora as well as the local league.  

In Keshi we trust.When it comes to quality, nationality really should not matter. 

Of course, that will not stop those who wish to see Keshi continue from continuing in their jingoistic crusade. So let us examine some facts. 

Keshi has won one game in his last 11. To someone who might say win records are not as important in international football so long as the team win 'crucial' matches, I ask: has only one of the last 11 internationals been crucial? 

The truth is that there is a level of ability and experience (and also emotional detachment) that is needed to handle a national team. The Big Boss has not done enough to convince that he can judge situations dispassionately, leaving aside his own ego. 

Keshi also does not possess the level of tactical expertise required at the highest level. Instances of this are legion; only once has he successfully impacted a game via a smart tactical switch or clever substitution: away to Ethiopia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier. This is not solely about Keshi, however. It is about the capability of Nigerian coaches to handle the national team at international level. With the erstwhile Super Eagles gaffer out of contract, who would be a reasonable appointment for the position? Austin Eguavoen has shown himself to be out of his depth; Samson Siasia was sacked upon failing to qualify for the 2012 Afcon; and…and… 

Well, that’s it really. There are no options. The popular clamour for Sunday Oliseh is amusing, to put it mildly. Even stretching to someone like Manu Garba, you have to acknowledge that coaching at U-17 level is nothing to compare with the big time. 

The only way to go is to appoint a foreigner. It is the pragmatic thing to do. The ideal is to have a Nigerian coaching the Nigerian national team, but for now it remains just that. To pretend otherwise is to ignore the present situation of our football. 

Another common refrain is to ask whether a foreign manager can work with the NFF as currently constituted, warts and all. Well, we have had foreign coaches before, have we not? The most successful to this day is Clemens Westerhof, a Dutchman who lived in and learnt to love this country, warts and all. 

All that is required is a little honesty. Let them know what they are getting into, what they will be up against, but also how great the rewards can be. Nigeria is a country brimming with talent at all levels. Anyone with a genuine love for the game will relish the challenge. 

Keshi came in Nigeria’s darkest hour. In that sense, I liken him, not to Joachim Low, but to Jurgen Klinsmann. The current USA manager brought Germany out of a dark time, but knew he was not the man for the next level. Perhaps it is time for Keshi, and the horde of nationalist praise-singers, to realize the same. 

Is Rooney struggling with pressure of captaincy?

The United and England captain must now serve a three-game ban - but the good news for manager Louis van Gaal is that his 10 men held on for a crucial win against West Ham United to ease some of the wounds from the 5-3 collapse to Leicester City.

This was among a number of key talking points from Saturday's games. Here, we look at Rooney's conduct and some of the day's other significant incidents.While Rooney's reckless lash out at Stewart Downing was irresponsible and put Manchester United under pressure as they tried to protect an important lead, it is an offence that should be placed in context.

This was Rooney's first red card for United in five years and comes at the end of a long spell when he has seemingly curbed his more aggressive instincts - even to the point where some suggested it had taken the edge off his game.

So to suggest Rooney, who believes his best years are yet to come,has suddenly reverted to bad old ways is premature and ignores much of the recent evidence that has seen him much cooler than the hot-tempered earlier days of his career.

One factor has been introduced into Rooney's life recently, however - his appointment as permanent captain of both club and country.

And this may be an area of concern for those who want this wonderfully talented player to continue to have a clean record.

As a personality whose default position is to take complete responsibility for all aspects of his team's display, it was clear how furious Rooney was with his United team-mates when they cast aside a 3-1 lead at Leicester City. He was visibly angry at the manner in which they conceded their advantage.

And it may be an area Van Gaal feels he needs to address after he followed this up so swiftly with that wild kick out at Downing that earned him a deserved straight red card.

Rooney's performance and effort levels do not need lifting by the award of the status of captain - his desire and determination will be the same whether he has the armband or not.

But there is no doubt Van Gaal and England manager Roy Hodgson will be watching for vital signs that the cares and responsibilities of captaincy do not lead to Rooney placing increased pressure on himself and leading to the sort of incident witnessed at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville on Match of the Day: "When Rooney made the foul I thought United must have been in trouble at the back but United were four against two and all the defenders were in good positions. It was just a reckless tackle. There's no need to make the foul because of the position the United defenders were in."

Ex-Wales striker John Hartson on Final Score: "Rooney kicked out at Downing cynically and caught him in the thigh area for no reason whatsoever. And you just ask yourself 'why?' Only he himself will be able to answer that."

Former Chelsea and Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit on Match of the Day: "He could have just tripped him but he just lashes out. Sometimes he gets these moments in his career."

JB on text: Watching Man Utd is the most thrilling part of my week now. It doesn't matter how many they score as we know they can concede twice as many! Always praying as soon as the ball goes over the halfway line that it doesn't end up in the back of the net!

Bobby in Newcastle on text: Awful conduct from Wayne Rooney. The Man Utd and England captain should know better than that!

A weekend of drama

Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick and Gareth Bale's brace helped Real Madrid thrash Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga which is termed as the biggest win ever..... this is coming after they defeated Basel 5:1 midweek.

Man united also suffered a heavy loss a week after van gaal looked forward to attempting to win the premier league. 

He has being termed has worst than Moyes considering statistics.

And also former chelsea boy scores a crucial goal against his beloved team.

Man city vs Chelsea......clash of the titans

Manchester City midfielder David Silva acknowledges that his side cannot afford to lose to Premier Leagueleaders Chelsea on Sunday."It is a very important game," he told the press on Thursday. "They are first in the league and have more points than us. We can't lose on Sunday and let that gap get any bigger so it is a very important game.

"It is early in this stage, it's still a long way to go in the Premier League and anything can happen [but] yes, we need to win on Sunday because otherwise the gap will start to get too big.

"I think Chelsea have made fantastic signings this year ... but we are a strong team. We've got a big team so as always we've got to go out there and win the game."

Nevertheless, Mourinho believes Chelsea have the ability to beat their Premier League title rivals, insisting they are confident in their own ability as they head into the clash with Manuel Pellegrini's side.

"It's always a good time to play against big teams because it makes my job easy," said the 51-year-old.

"We respect City totally because they deserve it, but we believe in ourselves.

"The perfect situation is to score a lot of goals and not concede, and we have to chase that perfection."

Gerrard speaks out on missing champions league

"There has almost been a jealousy and an envy that we weren't involved," said Gerrard, who won the competition with the Reds in 2005."I've been craving it. Everyone is looking forward to hearing that music."

Chelsea have won the Champions League and Manchester United have finished runners-up since Liverpool last appeared in Europe's elite club competition five years ago.

"Watching the likes of Chelsea and Man United in it when we were finishing outside the top four was tough," added Gerrard, who captained his side to second place in the Premier League last season."I'm just glad it's finally here. It's reward for all the hard work last season.

"We need to enjoy it but we're not in it to make the numbers up. We want to do as well as we can."

Five-time European champions Liverpool are in the same group as holders Real Madrid and FC Basel.

Is Van Gaal dreaming

Just one win out of and he is already dreaming of winning the premier league....please can somebody wake him up. This is the premier league!

Its QPR he beat oh! So what will he say if he drew Man city like Wenger?

sloppy Real maldrid

What a way to start the season for sloppy Real maldrid...that makes it 2 defeat in 2 games. Casillas and his team mates appeared to be the target of jeers from some Madrid fans during Madrid’s 2-1 loss Saturday to crosstown rival Atletico Madrid.

The jeers started after Madrid had conceded a goal to Atletico midfielder Tiago Cardoso from a corner kick, when Casillas failed to attack a tight cross.

What do you think is wrong with Real maldrid, is it because Zidane is absent on the side lines or because Ancelotti is clueless? Ancelotti blames it on the intensity of the team. My take in all of this for the European defending champions is that you don't make big changes in a team and expect instant impact....its not magic. it takes time for team cohesion to happen. Lets wait and see what happens in the next few weeks.

Jorge Valdano, Ex-Player, Manager and General Manager of Real Madrid has launched a scathing attack on Jose Mourinho in his new book. As we have seen, the manager is not shy in responding to incidents such as these in the past, so expect fireworks tomorrow!

The great thing about Football is that everyone has an opinion. That's what makes websites such as mine of interest to people as I give my take on things and people will either agree or disagree.

However, on some occasions, some people give an opinion that turns into a personal attack and crosses the line. In this instance, Valdano has done exactly that and I cannot see Jose Mourinho just taking it lying down. Expect a similar response to that directed at Arsene Wenger last season, in his pre match press conference ahead of Swansea, tomorrow.

Valdano has said:

"He's a figure who is perfectly suited to these bombastic, shallow times. I couldn't understand him because he is in the antithesis of my sensitivity. Intelligence and ego are enemies. And when they collide, the ego wins.

If Guardiola is Mozart, that makes Mourinho [Italian composer Antonio] Salieri. He would have been a great musician if Mozart had never existed.

I've never heard him say a single thing about football worth remembering, whether in public or in private.

He had one of the best squads in the history of Real Madrid.

He always remained just outside the door of the Champions League. That was the big challenge which he did not manage to succeed at."

There are certain people that can rub people up the wrong way and everyone understands that but to have sat and watched Real Madrid fail in the Champions League but to win La Liga with a record points total and score the most goals over a Barcelona side, deemed to be the greatest of all time, deserves some sort of recognition.

As for his comment stating that he has never heard him say a single thing worth remembering? Well I beg to differ. Despite your allegiances, when Jose Mourinho talks, you listen because he is box office!

Jose Mourinho's record in football management speaks for itself and expect a Wenger type response when questioned about this tomorrow.