Rafa Benitez Is The First Manager To Be....

... Admit it, you thought this was going to say sacked!

That's how the news readers were leading in on this story last night, and I thought that Rafa had got the chop.

Nope, turns out he is the first to be warned about his conduct under new FA powers.

I can't remember a Premier League season where we had had no managerial sackings by October.

Tevez Deal Reached

It looks like West Ham and Sheffield United have reached a deal over compensation for Sheffield United relegation viz Carlos Tevez's time at West Ham. The price is £25m with £15m of that up front.

In a joint statement, West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury and Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe said:

"Both clubs are pleased to announce that a satisfactory settlement for compensation has been reached which brings the dispute between Sheffield United and West Ham United to an end. The tribunal will not be resuming."

Hopefully this protracted drama can now come to an end. I personally feel that West Ham have already paid well over the odds for Carlos Tevez, if his registration was not valid, the FA and Premier League should have acted much sooner. Their failure to enforce their own transfer rules seems to have passed without scrutiny or compensation.

Tevez could prove to be the most expensive player in world football history. West Ham have already paid one compensation to Sheffield United (my memory fails to how much) and will need to pay another, add on the reputed £20m loan fee Man Utd have paid for a two-year loan and they will need in excess of another £20m to make his stay at Man Utd permanent.

New FA Chief Executive Named

The Times is reporting that Ian Watmore has been named the FA's new Chief Executive, taking over from Brian Barwick in June this year.

Watmore is a lifelong Arsenal fan, and has recent experience of national government, serving as Permanent Secretary for the Development of Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Top priorities will be England's 2018 World Cup bid and The National Football Centre in Burton.

Barwick, who left his role on 31st December 2008 will be remembered for his very public and very embarrassing failed attempt to secure Luiz Felipe Scolari as Sven Goran Erikssons replacement. He attempted to move past this calamity by hiring Steve McClaren as England Manager. History may redeem Barwick if Fabio Capello can bring that long sought after success that England Fans demand.

++ Breaking News ++ Christiano Ronaldo Named World Player of the Year by Fifa

So after little speculation, very uncontroversially Christiano Ronaldo has been named FIFA World Player of the Year for 2008. Wikipedia is already updated with the news.

After winning the English Premier League, the Champions League and the Club World Cup with and scoring an unbelievable 43 goals along the way in the 2007/08 season the boy from Madeira has reached the pinnacle of the world game at just 23 years of age.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Christiano Ronaldo has been the outstanding player of the last two years, and it is encouraging to finally see a player from the English Premier League handed the accolade, after having some notable near-misses.

A quick look back the winners since the award began in 1991 reveals perhaps the final hurdle for the Premier League. If they want the reputation for being the globes top league, then there will need to be more winners from the English Clubs. There has never been a winner of English Nationality, David Beckham came second twice (1999 & 2001), and Frank Lampard once (2005). Alan Shearer got third (1996) as did Gary Lineker (1991).

No doubt the award will not have escaped the attention of Real Madrid, who will undoubtedly be talking to the press regarding Christiano in the coming days.

FIFA World Player of the Year winners:
2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) Manchester United
2007: Kaka (BRA) AC Milan
2006: Fabio Cannavaro (ITA) Real Madrid
2005: Ronaldinho (BRA) Barcelona
2004: Ronaldinho (BRA) Barcelona
2003: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Real Madrid
2002: Ronaldo (BRA) Real Madrid
2001: Luis Figo (POR) Real Madrid
2000: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Juventus
1999: Rivaldo (BRA) Barcelona
1998: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Juventus
1997: Ronaldo (BRA) Inter Milan
1996: Ronaldo (BRA) Barcelona
1995: George Weah (LBR) AC Milan
1994: Romario (BRA) Barcelona
1993: Roberto Baggio (ITA) Juventus
1992: Marco van Basten (NED) AC Milan
1991: Lothar Matthaus (GER) Bayern Munich