Or so it seems - see here for details on the weak response to the abuse Mido is facing.

"I tried for two years to keep as much pressure off him as possible, but obviously the Premier League is the Premier League and I guess it came to the point where Roy thought he had reached the end of that journey. Reluctantly, I accepted that. It was not the easiest thing to do, but I think it was the best thing to do in the circumstances at that point."

Roy Keane has parted ways with Sunderland.

Details here.

Open thread

Strong side out this time

Pava up front with JJ in midfield and Woodgate at the back - spine looks v. good

1-0 down - dodgy defending - Daws to blame?

Watford have the edge at the mo

Lennon playing well for us - seems lively

PENALTY -- JJ fouled.

PAVA GOAL 1-1

Half time

Second half

er Guardian blog it is Zokora

48 min: Didier Zakora gifts the ball to Jobi McAnuiff in midfield and Watford go on the attack. Zakora then obstructs Adrian Mariappa and Watford have a free-kick about five yards outside the Tottenham penalty area, well right of centre.

Well done lad, well done:

Cristiano Ronaldo was today confirmed as the winner of the 2008 Ballon d'Or, beating competition from Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. The prestigious award was confirmed in Paris this morning by France Football magazine, who present the trophy based on a poll of 96 top journalists.

Details here.

Peter Kenyon wants to get Chelski off the Roman money train soon and believes that they can make real progress by next summer before finally completing the task in 2011 or so:

"The long-term plan here was always that we needed to be profitable, non-loss-making and self-funding. In terms of breaking even, I think it will be 2010-11 but, this year, we're very clear about achieving no-funding targets from the owner. It's a process we believe can be achieved by the end of this season. I think we'll be growing revenue. All that these difficult financial times have made us do is look at ways to accelerate things. Roman remains absolutely committed and absolutely passionate about the club, but he's also a very good businessman, which is why he had enough money to put £600m into the club in the first place. What we're doing here is the right and prudent thing to do to make sure Chelsea is in the right position."

I hope they can pull this off - it will be good for the game.

Open thread for this top of the table game where Chelsea will want to ensure they keep a lead against Utd and Arsenal will want a win to restore confidence that they can win the title. 

Man Utd won the Manchester derby 1-0 as they powered further up the table in the early game. They will now sit back and hope that either Arsenal can win against Chelsea or perhaps even better the game finishes in a draw. It is interesting that Utd, despite their indifferent start are moving steadily up the table - their depth of squad will be crucial over the winter months in particular. City will learn and get better - particularly after the Jan window. I wonder what the Chelsea brain trust will take away from this game?