I wonder if Steve Bennett will be more careful with who he talk to in regards to his job.

Now I’ll be honest with everyone. When Jeffrey Hash linked me to this story earlier Sunday morning, I simply went “It’s the News of the World…why should I care?” What I read woke me up.

His revelations that players have asked to be booked so they could miss games I’ll admit I was shocked. However it did make me wonder who these people are? Who was the ‘top international Premier League player’ who wanted to go on a family vacation? Who was the player who wanted Christmas off? Who didn’t want to travel to a ground they didn’t like? Who was the ‘ace’ as the article says that Bennett calls ‘a cheating bastard’? It almost makes me want to go back through all the games and bookings he made to see if I could narrow down possible candidates, but that could take a while.

While the Premier League needs to have Steve Bennett identify these players (I’m sure the News of the World would love to make that video available to the Premier League), one does have to question why Bennett would take the bait so easily when told. Now yes this was at the bar after midnight at a UEFA referee’s course, but Graham Poll’s right. If you are involved in sport in England, you have to be careful of anything you say to anyone you don’t know all that well. There is always the strong possibility that who you are talking to is looking to do exactly what was done in this article. With that said though, I’m bet we start taking a closer look at cards because I don’t think this article will leave our consciousness for a while…if ever.

In the end, let’s hope this doesn’t kill Steve Bennett’s career.

Joe Kinnear’s weekend visit to hospital was not a distraction Newcastle United needed, even with the 3-2 away win against West Bromwich Albion. We all know of his prior health problems and a manager heading off to see the doctor instead of the match is not my idea of spending a Saturday. But credit to the grand kid for the commentary (why didn’t he just use the radio…beats me) and the players for responding in such a positive way.

Yea Joe checked out okay, but it does make you wonder if Kinnear is still cut out for the pressures of management, as the Independent questions. Newcastle United isn’t exactly the easiest of jobs due to the club’s location and the demanding expectations of the supporters. Joe hasn’t exactly set the world alight, but Newcastle seem determined to let Kinnear sink or swim with the side this season. Unlike what happened at Portsmouth, Newcastle should be commended for that. Even if it appears to be for money reasons.

Here’s to Kinnear getting well soon.

Other Stories
Few quick fire Manchester United stories. First off congrats to Edwin Van der Sar for breaking the British record for not conceding a goal. At least he’s right about the defense giving him a lot of help in that. Secondly, Carlos Tevez had his Bentley impounded because he didn’t have a full license. That sucks. And finally, Manchester United have had to warn youth clubs about a man pretending to be a Manchester United scout who happens to be a pedophile. I hope they catch that bastard and he gets what’s coming to him.

I wonder if Chelsea fans want Avram Grant back after pulling out the same tricks they did to the manager from last season? Chelsea fans listen up…YOU’RE NOT GETTING JOSE BACK! And it’s nice to see Ray Wilkins take a page out of the Gary Megson playbook.

Giofranco Zola with the manager speak saying he wouldn’t leave West Ham for Chelsea. He’s right, I don’t think Chelsea would take him and frankly it’s too eerily similar to the whole Alan Shearer situation from last season for my own tastes.

And finally, Gareth Southgate vows to fight on as Middlesbrough manager and says he won’t quit. That maybe true, but with Adams sacking, could we see a couple more rash sackings between clubs at the bottom? I honestly hope not.

Related posts:

1. Good For You, Steve Bennett
2. Joe Kinnear’s Newcastle United Press Conference: Audio
3. Breaking News: Joe Kinnear Named Newcastle Interim Manager

They’re the men in black that you love to hate, but someone has to do the job. Here’s EPL Talk’s guide to the Premier League referees for the 2008/2009 season (click on the referee’s name to view his photograph):

Martin Atkinson. Premier League ref since 2005. Age 37. On August 13, 2006 he took charge of the FA Community Shield match at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Liverpool and Chelsea.

Stuart Attwell. Premier League ref since 2008/2009 season. Youngest ever Premier League referee at 25 years of age.

Steve Bennett. Premier League referee since 1999. Age 47. Bennett was involved in some controversy when he refereed the Manchester United versus Liverpool Premier League encounter on March 23, 2008. He sent off Liverpool’s Argentine Midfielder Javier Mascherano for a second bookable offence.

Mark Clattenburg. Premier League ref since 2004. Age 33. He became a FIFA referee in 2006, at the age of only thirty, reaching this distinction earlier than any English referee in living memory.

Michael Dean. Premier League ref since 2000. Age 40. He was originally appointed to referee the 2006 FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium on May 13, 2006, but the Football Association took the unusual step of replacing him with Alan Wiley after concerns were raised about his ability to be impartial towards Liverpool, who are based near Dean’s home town in the Wirral.

Phil Dowd. Premier League ref since 2001. Age 45. He was heavily criticised by Wigan’s then manager, Paul Jewell, and their owner, Dave Whelan, following his performance in the club’s Premiership match with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on February 11, 2007.

Chris Foy. Premier League ref since 2001. Age 45. On February 3, 2008, Foy removed the Fulham mascot, Billy the Badger, from the playing area for breakdancing on it during their 2-1 home win over Aston Villa.

Mark Halsey. Premier League referee since 1999. Age 47. His first match in the EPL was the 1-1 draw between Wimbledon and Coventry City on August 14, 1999.

Michael Jones. Premier League ref since 2008/2009 season. Age 40.

Andre Marriner. Premier League ref since 2005. Age 37. He was given his first Premiership match on 13 November 2004 – the 4-0 home win by Charlton Athletic over Norwich City.

Lee Mason. Premier League ref since 2006. Age 36. His first ever match in that league as man-in-the-middle came on 4 February 2006, when Middlesbrough lost 4-0 at home to Aston Villa,

Mike Riley. Premier League ref since 1996. Age 43. During the first half of the home match against Newcastle on 30 April 2007 Kingsley Royal, the Reading club mascot, was sent from the field by the referee for standing too close to the pitch.      

Keith Stroud. Premier League ref since 2007. Age 38. He was ‘trialed’ for the Premier League, being given the match on March 17, 2007 between Middlesbrough and Manchester City at the Riverside Stadium.

Rob Styles. Premier League ref since 2000. Age 44. On August 19, 2007, Styles refereed the Premier League game between Liverpool and Chelsea, where a controversial penalty was awarded by him to Chelsea Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez was quoted as saying that the decision was ‘unbelievable’. “That decision is impossible to explain, it was the invisible penalty” said Benítez after the 1–1 draw.

Steve Tanner. Premier League referee since 2007. Age 37. On January 1 2008 he was added to the FIFA list of referees, replacing Graham Poll, allowing him to referee in international and continental competitions.

Peter Walton. Premier League ref since 2003. Age 48. His first ever Premiership match in charge was the 4-3 home win by Wolverhampton Wanderers over Leicester City at Molineux on 25 October 2003.

Howard Webb. Premier League referee since 2003. Age 37. Refereed at Euro 2008 but was not selected to referee the knock-out stages.

Alan Wiley. Premier League since 1999. Age 48. He took charge of the FA Cup Final on May 13, 2006 when Liverpool played West Ham United at Wembley.

Related posts:

1. Ideas Sought For 2008/2009 Premier League Guide
2. One Wish For The 2008/2009 Premier League Season
3. 2008/2009 Premier League Fixtures As Predictable As League Itself