Owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have shown remarkable patience with Rafa Benitez (or rather his five-year contract), but even they are starting to get fed up. And the Yanks have earmarked Birmingham's Alex McLeish as a possible successor.

There is no doubt about the grit and organisation of McLeish's sides, with Birmingham having already virtually guaranteed their Premier League survival.

But Big Eck is nobody's idea of a football purist, and the question is whether the Anfield faithful would accept an era of attritional effectiveness in lieu of the current mess. The answer" Of course they would. For a while, anyway. (Daily Mirror)

Peter Storrie might have left Portsmouth, but the negative headlines about the former Pompey chief exec continues.

Today's Sun publishes an email reportedly sent to solicitors asking them to guarantee an £86,000 payment to a top agent, even though he appears aware it will fall foul of the FA's 'third party' rule.

As alleged transgressions go, it is hardly the gravest ever committed, but it will hardly make for comfortable reading as Storrie ponders life after Pompey.

Since joining Manchester City, Roque Santa Cruz has had all the impact of a cheese sledgehammer, but that hasn't put City off Paraguayan strikers.

Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo shares a national team dressing room with Santa Cruz, and is in some if you believe his agent - and what possible reason might an agent have to embellish the truth"

One Pedro Aldave said: "Benfica may sell but for the best price, which is normal. If he goes, then it will be to a big club. I've had interest from all over Europe, but Spain or England is most likely."

Was he referring to City" Surely they are a "massive" club, not merely "big"" (Daily Mirror)

Everybody has thought it, and now Frank Lampard has said it. If your country's World Cup hopes were at stake, you'd do a Thierry Henry, wouldn't you"

Lamps would: "I think it's probably easier to own up after the game. At least you're through then! That is probably the wrong thing to say, isn't it" But if I did own up and it cost us the game, I would probably be lynched when I got back to England." (The Sun)

Bobby Zamora rates his chances of breaking into England's World Cup squad so highly, he has already booked a holiday in Las Vegas during the tournament. Sensible lad. (Daily Telegraph)

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