Ahead of the Game: Keegan Out To Finish Job

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

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Thursday, January 17, 2008. 1600 GMT
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The news in 60 seconds

KEEGAN OUT TO FINISH JOB
Of all the days to send the pesky e-mail on time, AOTG chose yesterday. We won't be doing that again, trust us. Still, the return of King Kev at 4.17pm yesterday may have taken us by surprise, but there's nothing shocking about what Keegan has said today: he's pledged to bring back the glory days. Admittedly, you wouldn't believe it if it was a plotline in Echo Beach, but we're all for it ... and it'll be a damn sight more entertaining than anything Jason Donovan and Martine McCutcheon can manage.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3203399.ece

LONG LIVE THE KING!
The great and the good from the Keegan era have been queueing up to laud the new Newcastle manager. That's right: David Ginola, Peter Beardsley, Nicolas Anelka ... and Steve Howey have all been giving their verdict on the biggest comeback since the Spice Girls.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3205447.ece

BUT PREPARE FOR A BUMPY RIDE
"OK, it could all end in tears again. That's Newcastle for you, that's the way it is on Tyneside. Either way, it will be emotional. Keegan wears his heart on his sleeve like few others. But even if it turns out to be another rollercoaster, it will be a great ride." Tony Cascarino on the return of Kegs.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3199692.ece

DRUNK ON SUCCESS
If nothing else, Keegan has already done wonders for the sale of Newcastle Brown Ale. The fans were out in force last night and the bars and businesses in the North East are just as excited about the return of the prodigal son.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3200861.ece

DIARRA WANTS TO LEAVE. ALREADY
"Good morning. Hi. My name's Lassana Diarra. I'll be your new signing at Portsmouth. Just to let you know, I won't be here for very long because I don't rate this club and I'm too good for you. Still, I hope you take me to your hearts." That's not word for word, but it's pretty much how the former Arsenal and Chelsea bit-part player greeted his transfer to Portsmouth. Is he the first person to use his opening press conference to put in a transfer request?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article3204079.ece

TAYLOR JOINS BOLTON
If 'Arry is so short of players, how comes he can afford to let Matthew Taylor go? The left-sided player has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Bolton Wanderers. "He has attracted interest from a number of clubs and I am delighted that we have managed to bring him to the Reebok Stadium," The Ginger Mourinho said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/bolton/article3204916.ece

McFADDEN FEE AGREED
Life just isn't fair. One minute James McFadden is scoring sensational individual goals to take Scotland to the brink of Euro 2008 qualification, the next he'll be lining up at St Andrews in a relegation dogfight. Birmingham City have agreed a fee for the Everton forward, who has started only five league matches this season.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3205580.ece

HAVANT WE DONE WELL
Havant & Waterlooville could earn about £800,000 from their FA Cup fourth-round tie with Liverpool. The Blue Square South club are all set for the massive payday after beating Swansea City last night, which on any other day would have counted as a big shock.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3205479.ece

SAHA'S DEBT TO FERGIE
Louis Saha, who [AOTG puts in a quick check call to Old Trafford to make sure nothing has changed] is still fit after injury, has thanked Sir Alex Ferguson for keeping faith in him. "I'm definitely getting there," Saha said proudly. "I played two full games in a row over Christmas and that was the first time I'd done that for a while."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3205314.ece

UNITED MOVE FOR BRAZILIAN TWINS
Manchester United are close to signing Brazil's answer to the Neville brothers, although Fabio and Rafael Silva are meant to be able to play a bit as well. The 17-year-old identical twins are scheduled to arrive in Manchester on Monday as part of a £5.2 million deal from Fluminense.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3200669.ece

CHELSEA FINED £40,000
Roman Abramovich will be rummaging around his sock draw for some lose change again after Chelsea were fined £40,000 for the fracas at Derby County that followed Michael Essien's sending off. As you read this, John Terry will no doubt be rousing the troops to swarm around Soho Square in protest.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article3204561.ece

LAURSEN SIGNS ON
Martin Laursen has signed a new contract at Aston Villa that will keep him at the club until 2010. "It is not a secret that I really like it here at Villa. I have been saying all along that I would like to stay at Villa and I am glad this has all been agreed," the defender said, boringly.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/aston_villa/article3204192.ece

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If you've got another couple of minutes

THE CIRCUS HAS COME TO TOWN
News that King Kev has packed his bags and said goodbye to the Soccer Circus - "the world's first ever fully interactive football attraction!" - has been met with the hoots of derision and incredulity normally reserved for a children's entertainer in red braces, wearing a funny wig and big shoes (or Leslie Ash's £5 million payout, but that's a different issue).
Nonetheless, we at AOTG are open to innovative ideas. That's why we've asked our old friend Coco to take off his red nose, put down his balloons and examine how life as a top-class circus performer may have prepared Keegan for one of the biggest jobs in football.
Coco has looked at five crucial disciplines for the modern clown, all of which he believes will help the Newcastle manager come to terms with the demands of his new job. (And this isn't just a cheap excuse to make a gag about how Keegan's old perm looked like a clown's wig.)

High wire act - the Newcastle job is a high-risk proposition, right up there with standing 30 feet above the ground on a thread as thin as Keegan's skin with a load of screaming children watching. But the Geordie legend has had previous of falling from great heights and has shown more bouncebackability than a rubber ball. After years struggling to keep his balance as the England manager, Keegan was brought to earth with a bump - but he got back up again. The high-wire act should also have taught him how to balance great expectations.
Sword swallowing - Keegan has plenty of unpalatable realities to stomach at a club at the sharp end, but anyone who can take five feet of steel to the hilt should be able to handle this. Judging by the way he swallowed his pride to admit he wasn't up to the England job, he already has it in him to handle the indigestible. Let's just hope he's got over the habit of choking, because that could be really painful.
Lion taming - Alan Shearer's mane may have receded the way of his job chances, but the former Newcastle No 9 still has a fierce roar. Keegan will know from his training in the Big Top that it's best to feed the cat a few tasty morsels before going out in front of a live audience with nothing but a dining chair to protect you. A post as an assistant coach - carrying out cones - should help keep his hunger at bay and his paws off the top job.
Snake charmer - Keegan may need to call on all his old magic if he is to get the best out of Michael Owen. It's a bit harsh to compare the whiter-than-white England forward with a reptile, but the only venom in Owen's autobiography was reserved for Keegan, who he said had "scarred" him. Keegan may discover that it's hard to shed an old skin.
Fire-breathing - little more than a party trick for a man who fans the flames of the Geordie nation. Should help him cauterise the wounds of previous regimes and breathe some life into underperforming stars such as Mark Viduka. Either that or he'll just go down in flames.

Coco is available for children's parties and small family gatherings at a cost of £35.

Which circus trick do you think will have most prepared Keegan for his return to the Tyne? Send your suggestions to sport@timesonline.co.uk

MIKE ASHLEY - BONKERS OR A CANNY LAD?
It's either the most inspired decision since Portsmouth decided to reappoint 'Arry Redknapp or it's more certain to end in tears than a night out with Britney Spears. AOTG has its suspicions, but we'll leave you to decide. Is Mike Ashley completely mad? Or not?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/poll-are-newcas.html

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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
M1 kip is ref's fault, says ace - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) A sizzled soccer star who parked in the middle of the M1 and fell asleep blamed a REFEREE yesterday. 2) Rob Malcolm, 27, on loan to QPR at the time, had played in a defeat by Plymouth the day before and said: "I was very upset and frustrated with the poor performance of the referee." 3) Malcolm appeared before Chesterfield JPs accused of being more than twice the drink-drive limit. He was bailed until later this month.
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A quickie before you go, sir?

THE GREAT ENTERTAINERS
This is no time for cold-hearted reasoning (or defending) in this section. Let's just celebrate the good ol' days when goals were splashed about at St James' Park as liberally as Kristal champagne at a Manchester United Christmas party. All hail King Kev. Let the party commence.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/thats-entertain.html

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863
Estimated number of articles in today's newspapers about "The Messiah" that included the phrase: "I'd love it..."
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In TheGame

Back in the 1970s, when people still listened to the wireless, TVs were black and white, bell bottoms were in fashion and players sported stylish perms, Tony Evans used to wait outside Liverpool's training ground like a teenage stalker in the hope of getting autographs. He once got Kevin Keegan's signature - as well as a Freudian insight into one man's desperate need to be loved.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/keegan-high-wir.html
Our hard-nosed, pragmatic, credible Newcastle man - Gareth Harrison - has left the building. Instead, he's been replaced by a naïve, enthusiastic scamp of a fan for today's post in Fanzine Fanzone . That's what the return of King Kev does to Geordies.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/01/back-to-the-fut.html
Martin Samuel replies to your comments in TheGame Debate after he questioned the recent spate of studs-up challenges from foreign players - and wonders whether the Premier League simply brings out the worst in them.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-debate-ma-1.html
Walter Gammie , our non-League expert, joins Braintree Town as they travel the length and breadth of the country for a second round FA Trophy match.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/mammoth-trip-pr.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Tyneside celebrates as Keegan leaves his circus for Newcastle - The Independent
* Keegan anointed as Newcastle's saviour - The Guardian
* The third coming: 11 years after he quit, Keegan roars back to Tyneside - Daily Express
* They love it! ... and the new Toon boss says: 'It's great to be back' - Daily Mail
* 'I'm home' ... the restoration of 'King Kev' - The Daily Telegraph
* God on the Tyne ... Kev back after 4,025 days - The Sun
* God on the Tyne ... Keegan's stunning return lights up the Toon - Daily Mirror
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The transfer wrap

Jermain Defoe, the Tottenham Hotspur striker, has held talks with Martin O'Neill, the Aston Villa manager, about a move to the Midlands club.
The unsettled Defoe, who has been told by Juande Ramos, the Tottenham manager, that he can leave White Hart Lane, is reported to have spoken with O'Neill at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training ground yesterday. O'Neill has been a long time admirer of the £10 million-rated England striker and was linked with signing him during the summer. (PA)
Portsmouth have been told they can sign Defoe on a permanent deal only and that there is no chance of a loan. (The Independent )
Tottenham are closing in on Lyons striker Fred but have had no takers for Darren Bent, whom they are prepared to sell at a loss, despite having signed him only last summer. (Independent )
Tottenham's attempt to sign Daniel Jarque from Espanyol is being delayed by the defender's toe injury. (Daily Express )
Chelsea will demand Barcelona's Lionel Messi or AC Milan's Kaka if they want to sign Didier Drogba in the summer. (Daily Mirror )
Bolton Wanderers could make a surprise move for Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg with the proceeds from Nicolas Anelka's switch to Chelsea. (Daily Mirror )
Fulham will make Eddie Johnson, the Kansas City Wizards striker, the club's fifth American signing (The Sun ).
Darren Fletcher, the Manchester United midfielder, has admitted he may have to leave Old Trafford in search of first-team football. (Daily Mirror )
Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, is keen to snap up Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Matt Glennon after he helped knock them out of the FA Cup third round. (Daily Mirror )
Real Madrid have warned Manchester United they will "just have to keep working" on their bid to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. (The Sun )

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

Last night's FA Cup action meant that West Brom's 2 leading strikers have a-goal-a-game strike-rate: Kevin Phillips with 16 goals in 16 starts and Roman Bednar with 9 goals in 9 starts. Whilst this may happen on rare occasions in the early weeks of a season, it must be a very long time since a team playing at this level had this kind of double ratio halfway through January, and Super Kev missed 6 weeks through injury.
The Blonde , who surely should be off having fun.

So Capello (allegedly) has a dodgy tax history ...
But Capello says not and the rest of what Matt from London wrote was of dubious taste, so we smiled, sighed and held our finger on delete. Sorry.

Sometimes you just say it better than we do, which is why we've dedicated a corner of this e-mail to your views and boos: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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Tomorrow's news today

- Glenn Hoddle talks exclusively to Matthew Syed
- Meet the backroom boys - the men tasked with adding substance to Keegan's style
- "Most of all, it's about enjoyment." Who is Kevin kidding? Simon Barnes gives his take on the St James' Park folly

And expect...

AOTG to be deliberately late. Just in case a big story breaks at 4.17pm. Shortly after we press send, Keegan to storm out of St James' Park in a huff, claiming he's not up to the job, leaving us scratching our heads wondering why we bother. Or something like that.

Spread the word. It's like pyramid selling, but without the hassle or the money. Click on the following link if you (or your friends) want to subscribe to this newsletter.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/subscriptions/e-mail_bulletins/

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Ahead of the Game: Capello Assures FA Over Tax Probe

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

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Wednesday, January 16, 2008. 1600 GMT
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The news in 60 seconds

CAPELLO ASSURES FA OVER TAX PROBE
Controversy continues to stalk England managers with the kind of relentless dedication the paparazzi normally reserves for Britney. Fewer than ten days since starting his new job, Fabio Capello has become the latest in a long line of England bosses to have his name put through the ringer. His tax affairs are being investigated, although he's reassured the FA that it's nothing to worry about.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3196373.ece

BLACKWELL SHOWN THE DOOR
If AOTG had used yesterday's e-mail to launch a diatribe against its employers - and it has no reason to do so, for they are the most blessed and benevolent benefactors in the ether - we wouldn't expect to be sitting here typing today. Sadly, the same thing applies to Kevin Blackwell, the Luton Town manager, who has had his contract terminated by the club's administrators after criticising their management of the club.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3197154.ece

STORRIE HITS BACK AT SOL
Peter Storrie has launched an attack so stunning that it probably breaches Sol Campbell's human rights. The Portsmouth chief executive has hit back at criticism of the club's transfer record. "How can someone like Sol go around and keep saying these things?" Storrie asked. "We are one of the top spenders in the Premier League. We are puzzled as to why he keeps making these statements and comments." He should be used to it by now.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article3198545.ece

FA TO HONOUR MUNICH VICTIMS
The FA has denied reports that it has cancelled plans for a minute's silence before Ingerrlund's friendly with Switzerland in honour of the victims of the Munich air crash. It had been suggested the governing body was scared that fans could not be trusted to go 60 seconds without hurling abuse at someone.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3198280.ece

BORO'S ALVES WRANGLE
We've no idea whether Afonso Alves is worth all the hassle, but the fact he's playing in the Dutch league and is considering a move to Middlesbrough suggests he isn't. Nevertheless, the Teesside club face a legal wrangle after AZ Alkmaar claimed he had signed a pre-contract agreement with them.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/middlesbrough/article3198574.ece

SHEARER WANTS NEWCASTLE JOB
"If they want ... someone with experience then I'm not that man," Alan Shearer said today, revealing that he's been told he won't be the next Newcastle United manager. He went on to say some other stuff about why he thinks he can do the job, but as far as we're concerned, that quote just about covers it.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3195172.ece

DESCHAMPS THE FAVOURITE
Newcastle have been in contact with Didier Deschamps, a man whose managerial CV makes Big Sam look like Sir Alex, about taking over at St James' Park. Still, a player dubbed The Water Carrier for his ability to do the unglamorous tasks should be right at home with a squad of undiluted mediocrity. Harsh? Perhaps.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3193298.ece

HICKSVILLE, MERSEYSIDE
"Liverpool's lurch from champions of Europe to Hicksville, USA, is another chapter in the book called 'How Not to Run a Football Club', which started off as a slender paperback but must now stretch to the size of a full set of Encyclopaedia Britannica." Martin Samuel explains how Liverpool's American owners have got it wrong. Again.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article3193659.ece

BRAZEN BILIC
Slaven Bilic earns only £45,000 a year. Admittedly, that's more than nurses, teachers, firemen and AOTG - but it wouldn't cover Fabio Capello's designer glasses or one of Rio Ferdinand's parties. The Croatia manager explains why it is worth working "almost for free" just to ruin English summers. The good news is he may already have jumped ship for a pay rise before England next meet Croatia.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3193305.ece

FA CUP TEAM NEWS
Nicky Butt and Alan Smith are suspended, so Nigel Pearson, the Newcastle caretaker-manager, won't have to worry about which one (both?) to drop for tonight's FA Cup third-round replay against Stoke City. Julien Faubert could start for West Ham United against Manchester City.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3186344.ece

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If you've got another couple of minutes

WHAT'S WRONG WITH HOULLIER?
Liverpool fans were out in force at Anfield last night, waving anti-American banners with the self-satisfied justification of Amnesty International demonstrators at a Stop The War demo in Trafalgar Square.
As if it's not bad enough that the Yanks come over here with their ideas about profit and money, now they want to sack Rafael Benitez, the man who took the club from the depths of fourth in the league to the nose-bleeding, vertigo-causing heights of three places off the top. Have they got no ambition? How dare they undermine a man who can achieve such spell-binding statistical consistency despite spending the GDP of a small Eastern European country?
Meanwhile, Newcastle fans are up in arms after the club - previous managers Big Sam, Glenn Roeder, Graeme Souness - were linked with a former France manager whose previous team (Lyons) won back-to-back league titles. Before that, he had taken an underachieving club on Merseyside to victory in the Uefa Cup, FA Cup and League Cup. He even turned them into Premier League challengers, albeit for one season only.
Anyway ... Gerard Houllier lost his job, in the end, because like Rafa, he failed to close the gap with the top two. So why is it that everyone loves Rafa and yet ridicules Houllier? Admittedly, Benitez has won the European Cup, which is no small feat (or small fluke, depending on how you look at a team that finished fifth in the league that season but came from 3-0 down in the final to win on penalties against palpably superior opposition).
Indeed, for every criticism of Houllier, Benitez receives praise for the same thing. The Frenchman is dismissed as the man who masterminded the Mickey Mouse Treble; the Bearded One is lauded as the most discerning tactician since Rommel - because he won a cup competition. Houllier is mocked as that bloke with the dodgy ticker who sent pulses racing with all those duff French players like Bruno Cheyrou and Anthony Le Tallec; Benitez is revered as the bloke with the dodgy beard who signed Josemi, Antonio Nunez, Mark Gonzalez and Andriy Voronin.
So we thought we'd try something controversial and judge the two managers by their results. Just for good measure, we thought we'd include Liverpool's league positions under Roy Evans, too.

Rafa Benitez
2008 (so far): fourth - 12 points off the top
2007 - third - 21 points off top
2006 - third - 9 points off top
2005 - fifth - 37 points off top

Gerard Houllier
2004 - fourth - 30 points off top
2003 - fifth - 19 points off top
2002 - second - 7 points off top
2001 - third - 11 points off top
2000 - fourth - 24 points off top

Houllier and Roy Evans
1999 - seventh - 25 points off the top

Evans
1998 - third - 13 points off top
1997 - fourth - 7 points off top
1996 - third - 11 points off top
1995 - fourth - 15 points off top.

Aside from proving that AOTG has nothing to do during the long dark January evenings except surf soccerbase, what do these statistics prove? For a start, that Tom Hicks (and Mike Ashley) could do worse than sound out Roy Evans - because he got closer to breaking into the big two than either of his much-vaunted successors.

SAMUEL'S DEBATE
Martin Samuel went in studs first on two-footed tackles in this week's Debate and our Chief Football Correspondent wants to know whether the Premier League is bringing out the worst from its imported talents. Unsurprisingly, John Obi Mikel is not the only one to see red over the issue - although Samuel is dangerously close to diplomatic as he replies to your comments.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-debate-ma-1.html

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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
Ron: I love tarts - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Cristiano Ronaldo admits he's hooked on tarts ... the edible variety, of course. 2) The Manchester United winker - who allegedly invited five hookers back to his Cheshire mansion for "an orgy" last year - loves tucking into the treats on his way home from training. 3) "I like the English cake shop - with the cream cakes," he said. "I must confess that sometimes, after a tough session of training I weaken and have something that is very bad for me." 4) And we thought the diving so-and-so was more partial to a roll or two.
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A quickie before you go, sir?

PERFECT PATO
Alexandre Pato, the latest South American sensation, scoring for AC Milan on his debut. He signed in August last year but hadn't been seen until Sunday. Let's hope he hasn't spent all six months working on that celebration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORfOd4v_WEE

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500
It was almost forgotten among last night's banners at Anfield. Jamie Carragher made his 500th appearance for the club.
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In TheGame

In Fanzine Fanzone , our Chelsea man asks what it takes to be a flop if Steve Sidwell, Lassana Diarra and Tal Ben Haim can all claims to be stars. Maybe Mateja Kezman?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Gabriele Marcotti and Guillem Balague are poised like Michael Owen in the six-yard box, ready to pounce on your comments about TheGame Podcast . Have your say on Alex McLeish, Big Sam and the Africa Cup of Nations.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/rapping-with--1.html
Is it time for Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr to disappear like a bungalow in a West Country flood plain? The Americans have undermined their manager, the foundations for the new stadium are sinking into the ground and the fans are fed up with bailing the club out every other day. Have your say on the water torture.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/rapping-with--1.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Deschamps' Newcastle ambition - The Daily Telegraph
* High fives for Benitez - The Independent
* Look who's talking: Houllier in frame with Keegan ... but Shearer ruled out - Daily Express
* That's for you, Rafa: Cup spree is ideal response - Daily Mail
* Shearer: Toon want experience. I respect that but ... I could do it! - The Sun
* Benitez plays it straight after Gerrard hat-trick - The Guardian
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The transfer wrap

Fred will meet Tottenham Hotspur today to discuss a move from Lyons. The Brazilian forward has already had advanced talks with Paris Saint Germain, with reports in the French media claiming the club are confident of signing him. (L'Equipe )
Middlesbrough have joined the pursuit of Matt Taylor and are prepared to meet Portsmouth's £4.5 million valuation. Gareth Southgate, the Middlesbrough manager, will offer Gary O'Neil in part-exchange. (Daily Mail )
Monaco are planning a £3 million bid for Fabio Rochemback, of Middlesbrough, and are monitoring Mohamed Sissoko's situation at Liverpool. Middlesbrough are targeting Afonso Alves, of Heerenveen, and Motherwell's Ross McCormack. (Daily Mail )
Manchester City have been linked with a £12 million bid for Lukas Podolski, the Bayern Munich forward. Podolski has been dropped from the Bayern first team. (Daily Mail )
Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, will try to sign Ludovic Magnin, the Stuttgart left back, if he fails with a third bid for David Murphy of Hibernian. (Daily Mail )
Didier Drogba has confirmed that he wants to team up with Samuel Eto'o at Barcelona. The Chelsea forward has threatened to quit the club in the summer. (The Sun )
Wigan Athletic have rejected a £3 million bid from Fulham for Paul Scharner, the Austria defender. Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, is considering bids for Maynor Figueroa, the Honduran left back, and Erik Edman, the Swedish left back. (The Sun )
Steven Sidwell will turn down a loan move from Chelsea to Sunderland. The midfielder could still joined Everton or Portsmouth. (The Sun )
Jason Roberts has become a £3 million target for Bolton Wanderers. Roberts has slipped to third in the pecking order of Blackburn Rovers forwards. (Daily Mirror )
Alan Pardew, the Charlton Athletic manager, has had a £1 million-plus offer for Andy Gray turned down by Burnley. Ipswich are preparing a player-plus-cash bid and are ready to improve their £600,000 offer for Gareth McAuley, Leicester City's unsettled centre half. (Daily Mirror )

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

Re: Andy Neil's suggestion... no, players are not motivated by the thought of medals. In general (and it is a broad generalisation - there are exceptions), they are motivated by money. How about trying the reverse? Clubs can get as many winners medals as they want, but can only pay the 20 most deserving players. This would stop money-grabbing players signing for clubs, just so they can sit on the bench and pick up their pay packet at the end of each month. Albert Luque anyone?
We like the cut of Ben Graham' s jib.

Am I the only one who's had enough of this manager clap trap? It's the men on the pitch who should be the real news. Which is why I think someone should introduce a PFA Olympiad where they all (the players) get to race, throw, jump, dive and perhaps some sort of competitive spitting against each other.
It would still be a side show but it would be entertaining.
Do I have your support?
Adoni Patrikios , start the petition and we will sign it. Although your competition seems to favour El Hadji Diouf, so the rules might need some changing.

Your opening paragraph of Friday 11/01/2008 - comparing Anelka's arrival at Stamford Bridge to that of Veron... What?! Surely as "The only useful football email", you are even slightly knowledgeable in the field of football?
C'mon lads, there really is no excuse for lazy comparisons; Anelka is a proven performer in the Premier League, Veron wasn't.
Was it because it was Friday and you wanted to head to the pub? Or was that another tea-timely email I may have read? Oh.
Lazy? Us? You only replied to the e-mail yesterday. Anyway, Ben Durrant, we were taking you seriously until that last sentence...

Sometimes you just say it better than we do, which is why we've dedicated a corner of this e-mail to your views and boos: sport@timesonline.co.uk

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tomorrow's news today

- George Caulkin reports from St James' Park
- Hicks and Gillett under fire from unlikely source
- Barton back before court

And expect...

Sol Campbell to ring the Today programme, with Kevin Blackwell on the other line, asking why players aren't allowed to go about their business of criticising the people who pay their wages without having their human rights infringed.

Spread the word. It's like pyramid selling, but without the hassle or the money. Click on the following link if you (or your friends) want to subscribe to this newsletter.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/subscriptions/e-mail_bulletins/

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Anonymous tips, suggestions, funnies, fan mail and complaints: sport@timesonline.co.uk
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Ahead of the Game: Houllier latest Toon target

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

Tuesday, January 14. 1600 BST

The news in 60 seconds

HOULLIER LATEST TOON TARGET
The former Liverpool manager is the newest name to be touted for the vacant post at Newcastle United. Local sources claim the Frenchman will form a dream team with Alan Shearer at St James' Park. Somewhere on Merseyside, Roy Evans spits out his tea.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3191476.ece
 
SUPPORTERS WANT SHEARER...
Twenty-nine per cent of Newcastle fans polled on the city's streets yesterday said they would like the former England striker as their next manager. More wanted Shearer in the role, but to be accompanied by a wiser head. Kevin Keegan, Peter Beardsley and Rob Lee were the names to emerge.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3187725.ece

... BUT ASHLEY PREFERS HUGHES
Mike Ashley's list of candidates is not restricted to British managers, although speaking English is a must. So no Geordies have been considered. Mark Hughes is on the wanted list, but Blackburn claim they have received no approach for the Welshman.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3187732.ece

DISTIN'S DEMAND
Sylvain Distin says Portsmouth need to strengthen their squad in the transfer window. As if Harry would miss an opportunity to flash his chequebook.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article3191923.ece

TRANSFER TALK: POMPEY KEEN ON KEZMAN
Talking of which, Portsmouth are showing an interest in Mateja Kezman, the 28-year-old former Chelsea striker, currently at Turkish side Fenerbahce. The Serbian forward could be available for a knock-down fee. Which is fair, when you think about it.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3190002.ece 

 

FA CUP THIRD-ROUND REPLAYS
Barnet's third-round replay with Swindon Town has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Underhill. Paul Robinson will be hoping the same happens at the Madejski Stadium so he doesn't suffer the embarrassment of being left on Tottenham's bench again against Reading tonight.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3186344.ece 

BROOKING OPTIMISTIC
Sir Trevor Brooking reckons the England players will take an instant liking to Fabio Capello. They will if they want to play for him.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3191954.ece

CAPELLO LEARNS FROM HISTORY
It pays to have a poker face. The new England coach secured a favourable 2010 World Cup qualifying fixture list as delegations from England, Croatia, Ukraine, Andorra, Belarus and Kazakhstan haggled over who plays where and when on the road to South Africa. Croatian sources suggested there was one element of compromise from Capello as they ran off looking over their shoulders.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3187775.ece

BROWN AMBITION
Wes Brown is determined to win a place in Capello's first England squad. The defender first needs to fix his club situation - he has refused a new contract at Manchester United.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3191861.ece

ANELKA TO SPARK
Pat Nevin reckons Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba could become one of the best forward partnerships in the Premier League once the latter returns from the Africa Cup of Nations. Will Anelka stay at the club that long?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article3191812.ece

LE SULK WANTED ARSENAL MOVE
Arsene Wenger has said that the well-travelled French striker would rather be playing for Arsenal instead of Chelsea. The Gunners boss said he considered re-signing Anelka last summer when Thierry Henry left the club but didn't go through with it. Revenge is a dish best served cold.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3187717.ece

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If you've got another couple of minutes

SUPPORTING THE KOP
AOTG had planned to occupy this tranche of cyberspace by attempting discerning comment on Liverpool fans' planned protest against the club's ownership during tonight's FA Cup replay against Luton. Just as we put finger to keyboard, however, news reached us that Tony Evans, Deputy Football Editor of The Times and child of the Kop, has already completed said task in TheGame blog, and far more eloquently than AOTG's usual standards.

In an impassioned post, Tony begins by writing, "Listen carefully tonight if you are watching the televised FA Cup replay between Liverpool and Luton Town. You've seen Anfield bounce, you've seen it protest - a year ago, the magnificent six-minute demonstration about the lingering lies that surround Hillsborough overshadowed the FA Cup tie against Arsenal. But, it's unlikely you will have seen it as angry as it will be tonight . . . Hicks and Gillett Jr will find out what it's like to get on the wrong side of the 'twelfth man'." He continues by persuasively arguing the case for Rafael Benitez, acclaiming Jurgen Klinsmann and introducing his readership to a groundbreaking new fanzine that reads like the "house magazine of a gritty, exciting real-life Scouse culture". Click here to enjoy the article in full:
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/americans-to-fe.html#more

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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
'Romp' jibe has Fergie in Rage - The Sun
What you need to know: 1.) Sir Alex Ferguson believes Jonathan Pearce made a sick reference on Match of the Day to Manchester United's Christmas party. 2.) After United scored their fourth goal in the 6-0 victory of Newcastle, the commentator cried, "It's a Manchester United romp - and they're all getting in on the act." 3.) This followed wholly unsubstantiated reports from the festive bash that the players indulged in group sex. 4.) The BBC insists that Pearce made the remark innocently.

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A quickie before you go, sir? 

PRAISE AL
Underhand chairmen, illegal tackles and clumsy commentary. There has not been much good news for AOTG to report of late. Best then to celebrate fully the uplifting announcement that Al Bangura, the Watford forward, has been granted a work permit and will not have to return to Sierra Leone, a fate that could have put his life in danger. First, enjoy the support that the Vicarage Road faithful showed their charge and then watch one of his goals. There should be plenty more to come.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yToxa7Fd7ZA
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GBI0351TW1o

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14
The number of goals scored in the two games involving Reading and Tottenham Hotspur this season. The club re-open their floodgates this evening in a FA Cup third-round replay. Follow the action on our live match tracker: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/

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In TheGame
What do you think about the shambles at Liverpool? Did Tom Hicks's admission that he met Jurgen Klinsmann prove that the American has lost the plot? Maybe they didn't even know what they were doing in the first place? After all, they took out a loan to buy the club, made promises about a grand new stadium that now look depressingly far-fetched and have made a lame duck of the manager. Contribute to our latest debate:
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-debate-do-t.html

In the Fanzine Fanzone , a reinvigorated James Henderson has posted a new missive analysing Sunderland's victory over Portsmouth on Sunday. James is delighted that Anthony Stokes and Daryl Murphy finally showed their hitherto concealed talent, that Paul McShane has been relegated to the bench and that Kieran Richardson has found his form. Our Stadium of Light stalwart is bemused, though, by Dwight Yorke's continued presence in the first team. http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/01/an-encouraging.html

In TheGame Podcast, Alex McLeish explains his plan to turn Birmingham City into Premier League heavyweights, outlines the problems he's faced in the January transfer window and considers the suggestion from Gabriele Marcotti that the City manager could have won the World Cup for Scotland. On a more serious note, Gabriele chairs a debate on the expediency of sacking Big Sam. Alyson Rudd and George Caulkin, our man in the North East, contribute, while George also offers his insider guide to Newcastle's hunt for a new manager. In a packed show, Gabriele and Guillem Balague also speak to John Udoh , the optimistic Nigeria international who expects the Super Eagles to thrive on the chaos that has marred their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations. http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/rapping-with--1.html

Tom Dart has received a press release from Wigan Athletic announcing that Steve Bruce is about to call all 10,000 of the club's season ticket-holders asking them to attend the FA Cup tie against Chelsea. The club will send a recorded message rather than get Bruce ring each fan individually. Disappointed by this, Tom suggests how they might better use the same technology. http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/hi-its-steve-he.html

The deadline is fast approaching for you to contribute to Martin Samuel's Debate . Our Chief Football Correspondent suggested that foreign players might tackle more recklessly than their English counterparts because they find it hard to adapt to the physical nature of Premier League. Some have argued the contrary, citing most frequently Paul "couldn't tackle a fishing line" Scholes as proof that homegrown talents hack just as dangerously as their imported counterparts. Say your piece while you can: http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-debate-do-f.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* This Toon ain't big enough for the both of us! Shearer and Keegan won't work together - Daily Mirror
* Houllier: Newcastle just have to call me - Daily Express
* Writing's on the wall, Rafa - The Sun
* Benitez: I will not resign - Daily Mail
* Benitez sees red - The Daily Telegraph
* Bitter blow for Benitez after Liverpool talk to Klinsmann - The Independent
* Capello sends warning to Terry and Beckham - The Guardian

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

Tom Hicks should have gone with an explanation Rafa Benitez would understand: "I was trying to add to the options available to the club which would have allowed us to operate a rotation system. A spell on the bench may help keep our managers hungry for success."
Amar Purohit suggests an alibi for Hicks's meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann that is only marginally more unlikely than the one given.

As a Reds fan, I used to love it when the back pages were full of Fergie v Wenger or Mourinho v anyone. It left the rest of the Premier League clubs to concentrate on bridging the gulf between the top three and us. Now Fergie and Wenger maintain their relatively dignified distance, Mourinho has gone and suddenly Hicks and Gillett decide to put on the LFC Christmas panto a month late. Thank goodness for Newcastle, otherwise we'd be the laughing stock of every newspaper.
Ah, so it's actually a panto. Thanks, Steven Ives. Presumably, then, Rafa is the forlorn Cinderella figure who toils day and night to little recognition. Jurgen Klinsmann is an adored stepsister who happily courts invitations to the ball and Hicks is Baron Hardup, Cinderella's father and a spineless chap worried about his outstanding debts. AOTG can see how that works, but where is the Fairy Godmother who will conjure for Benitez an unlikely happy ending?

As has been said, limiting squad numbers and salary caps is the straightforward answer [to the request in Friday's AOTG for suggestions on how to limit the power of the big four] but clubs won't agree to that for obvious reasons. What about this alternative? Clubs can have as many players as they like and pay them whatever they like, but they will only be given a limited number of winners' medals for each competition. You can have a squad of 50, but only 20 winners' medals. Sure, you can sign for one of the big four and make £100,000 per week but if you were only good enough to play less than, say, 15 times a season you might not get a medal. It would mean the clubs decide who has merited the award, so if it's deemed someone played a blinder for ten games and then got injured, fair enough. But it will stop glory-hunting players earning winners' medals for being a bit-part player! This would also mean no thorny "restraint of trade" legal issues for the FA to deal with.
Fair argument, Andy Neil. What do you think? Would today's multi-millionaire footballers really be motivated by the thought of losing out on a medal? Email sport@timesonline.co.uk

Sometimes you just say it better than we do, which is why we've dedicated a corner of this e-mail to your views and boos: sport@timesonline.co.uk

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tomorrow's news today

Martin Samuel interviews Slaven Bilic - and finds out how he ended
England's Euro 2008 hopes Reports and analysis on tonight's FA Cup replays All the latest news from the dramas at Anfield and St James' Park

And expect...

The Kop to stand up, sing loud and tell the Americans to respect "the Liverpool way" and Alan Shearer to say he does not want to play Buttons to Gerard Houllier's Cinders in the Premier League's other on-going panto.

Spread the word. It's like pyramid selling, but without the hassle or the money. Click on the following link if you (or your friends) want to subscribe to this newsletter.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/subscriptions/e-mail_bulletins/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anonymous tips, suggestions, funnies, fan mail and complaints: sport@timesonline.co.uk
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If you no longer wish to receive the Ahead of the Game Bulletin, please click here to unsubscribe. If you wish to speak to a Customer Services Repesentative, please call 020 7860 1133.

You have received this e-mail from a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia Street, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International Group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.

Times Newspapers Ltd is a member of the Direct Marketing Association and registered under the Data Protection Act 1998. To see our privacy policy, click here.

Ahead of the Game: Liverpool 'Sounded Out' Klinsmann

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, January 14, 2008. 1600 GMT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The news in 60 seconds

LIVERPOOL 'SOUNDED OUT' KLINSMANN
Rafael Benitez is on the brink after Tom Hicks, the Liverpool co-owner, admitted that he asked Jurgen Klinsmann about taking over at Anfield. He claims he only did it as a "precaution" - more of which later - but the revelation further undermines the precarious position of The Bearded One, whose team are 12 points off the top.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3184873.ece

KEEGAN DROPS NEWCASTLE HINT...
Kevin Keegan has refused to rule himself in or out of the running for the Newcastle job after being linked with a return to St James' Park. "I really don't know, you're asking a lot of questions I can't really answer," he said. "I'm not ruling myself out or in or anything." So why give an interview to Sky Sports then?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3184098.ece

... AND HUGHES IS JUST AS BAD
Mark Hughes has said as much as is possible to say about his future without saying anything at all. Asked about the Newcastle job, he said: "It's a hypothetical question and I don't answer hypothetical questions." Blackburn Rovers fans can sleep easy, then.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3182549.ece

A SICK REALITY SHOW
"Go into Dragons' Den with a business plan like that and they'll laugh." Martin Samuel on why the soap opera at St James' Park is becoming more like car-crash TV for Mike Ashley after 'Arry turned his nose up at the club's lucrative offer.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article3181956.ece

EVERTON REJECT McFADDEN BID
Proving that it wasn't just a passing fad (ahem), Birmingham are expected to come back in with another bid for James McFadden, the Everton forward, after their second approach was rejected. Birmingham had offered £3 million for the Scotland forward.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/birmingham/article3185437.ece

FRED ADMITS TOTTENHAM TALKS
As if Tottenham don't have enough stroppy forwards already. Fred, Lyons's Brazilian forward, has said that the North London club want to buy him, although he doesn't sound that keen about joining Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and the other one.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article3185510.ece

LITA ON HIS WAY
Leroy Lita's days at Reading could be numbered. The forward has had a pop at Steve Coppell after the manager left him out of the FA Cup team last week. "I said to him if I am going to move on he might as well play the lads who are here because otherwise I will be cup-tied," Lita said. "I didn't say I didn't want to play."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/reading/article3182170.ece

DOWNING DOWNER
Tottenham are still hoping to lure Stewart Downing away from Middlesbrough with a £12 million bid although Gareth Southgate says that he has yet to receive a firm bid for a player who is more left wing than Tony Benn.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3182163.ece

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If you've got another couple of minutes

JUST ANOTHER HICKS UP
We've been there before. Caught in flagrante by Mrs AOTG, hand on beer-goggled beauty's knee, slobbering into what's left of our eighth pint and thumbing number of said midnight mistress into contacts book of Red Bull-smeared mobile phone. Brain throbbing like a strobe light under the stern gaze of now irate (and possibly former) Mrs AOTG, the mind goes blanker than Mike Ashley's list of potential Newcastle managers.
What to say? With the other half calculating a pay-off settlement that would make Steve McClaren blanche, AOTG needs a fire alarm or an epiphany.
We get neither. So what do we do? Simple, we take a leaf out of Tom Hicks's book of Cunning Excuses When Cornered (available from the Liverpool club bookshop and all major retailers) and explain that it was just a sign of our deep love for and dependence on her.
"I was attempting to negotiate an option with her as an insurance policy ... if you left for Raul Madrid or any of the other men that were rumoured in the press," we paraphrased Hicks hopefully. "Or in case our communication spiralled out of control for some reason."
Sadly, the good lady wasn't born on Sunday, January 13, which is why we still flinch whenever she moves for the remote control.
Which brings us to the point of this self-indulgent parody. We'd bet a fair amount of our earnings (what's left after the settlement, obviously) that, if the above was true, it would be the last we ever saw of Mrs AOTG.
So now that Rafa knows his bosses are playing away - and he should be asking himself why they have decided to make their infidelity public - he has only one option. Leave. Martin Jol made the dire mistake of allowing himself to be undermined when Tottenham Hotspur courted Juande Ramos and it ruined both his team and his reputation.
If Rafa goes now, he maintains his self-respect (even if he loses some of his pay-off). If he doesn't, the club's co-owners can treat him like a doormat.
What do you think? Should Rafa walk alone - or try to win back his club? sport@timesonline.co.uk

THEGAME DEBATE
Some of us were brought up on the Hackney Marshes to believe that two-footed tackles are as British as three-and-in, jumpers for goalposts and monkey rush goalies. It's a man's game, after all, ref. But apparently not. Phil Neville suggested recently that the studs-up tackle is a foreign thing, brought into the country along with diving, nice coffees with frothy milk and bird flu.
But before you splutter your latte over your mouse mat, Martin Samuel has been looking at the recent culprits. With the notable exception of Peter Crouch, most of the red cards for violent tackles this season have come from overseas players. He wants to know whether you agree that home-grown players commit fewer two-footed tackles. Or is it just further proof that there are no British players left in the league?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-debate-do-f.html

A CRAZY MAN FOR A CRAZY JOB
"When you do that with managers like what the media said about Harry Redknapp; and when you do things like that about a man like Alan Shearer. I, I, I've kept really quiet, but I'll tell you something - Kevin Keegan has not ruled himself out of the running - I would not resort to that. And I'll tell ya, you can tell Mike Ashley now, he'll be reading this - Newcastle are still looking for a manager, they're still fighting for a top name and I've got to go to Newcastle and get something, and ... and I'll tell you honestly, the Geordies will love it if I say yes - LOVE IT!"
Is Kevin Keegan really the right man for the job?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-debate-woul.html

BIG 'ECK EXCLUSIVE - THEGAME PODCAST
Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, joins Gabriele Marcotti and Guillem Balague to discuss the Premier League pressure cooker. The former Scotland manager explains why he rarely plays with a target man, how he plans to turn Birmingham City into Premier League regulars and why he feels like an outsider.
Elsewhere, it's had more name changes than Andrew Cole, but that doesn't stop the gang from taking the Africa Cup of Nations seriously. Or whatever it's called this time.
Online from 6pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/

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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
Wash & goals - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Superstitious Cristiano Ronaldo got his "lucky" barnet seen to hours before sinking the hat-trick that kept up his hair-raising goals tally. 2) The United winker always goes to Flanagan's barbers in Wilmslow, Cheshire and thinks his run of scoring could come to an end if he breaks the habit. 3) It's the final proof that he is George Best's hair apparent...
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A quickie before you go, sir?

KING KEV
For old time's sake. Kevin Keegan at his finger-jabbing best as he tells Sky TV that he'd love it, just love it ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW8p8xppxwA&feature=related

FREE PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS
Watch as Fernando Torres comes to Liverpool's rescue (again), Dean Ashton maintains his prolific scoring streak for West Ham and Emmanuel Adebayor tries to hide from a corner as Birmingham equalise. The best of the weekend's Premier League action.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece

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47
Reading have conceded as many goals as Derby County this season.
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In TheGame

In Fanzine Fanzone , our Newcastle fan explains why the club is becoming more and more like an episode of Shameless.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Some may think that Derby don't have enough players, but in the Weekend In Numbers , Peter Lansley proves that it's not quantity they lack. It's quality.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/weekend-in-nu-1.html
David Bentley, David Unsworth, Kieran Richardson and Nigel Reo-Coker. That may read like a who's who of unfulfilled talent but it's actually a list of the Greatest Winter Window Signings .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-greatestwin.html
OK, you read it here first (or second, if you've already seen Tony's Fiver ). Cascarino says Aston Villa will be playing in the Uefa Cup next season - and the Champions League soon after.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/tonys-fiver-1.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Hughes leaves way clear for Newcastle talks - The Guardian
* Rovers braced for Hughes approach by Newcastle - The Independent
* Now Newcastle target Hughes - The Daily Telegraph
* Oui Aye Man: Toon turn to Houllier and role also to be offered to Shearer - Daily Express
* St James' Sparky: Hughes to hold Toon job talks this week - Daily Mirror
* Sparky to light up Toon - The Sun
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The transfer wrap

Portsmouth are set to sign Tiago, the Portugal midfielder, from Juventus for £8 million. (The Sun )
Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, is also interested in Jermain Defoe and is prepared to sell Matt Taylor to raise the necessary funds. (Daily Mirror )
Afonso Alves is ready to join Middlesbrough in a £12 million move from Heerenveen, of Holland. But the Brazilian forward could struggle to get a work permit because he has won only one international cap. (Daily Mirror )
Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, is lining up a £4 million bid for Gary Cahill, the Aston Villa defender. McLeish is also preparing an improved offer for James McFadden, the Everton forward, after a £2.5 million bid was rejected. (Daily Mail )
Blackburn Rovers hope to sign Amdy Faye, the Senegalese midfielder currently on loan to Rangers from Charlton Athletic. They are also targeting Jason Koumas, the Wigan Athletic midfielder. (Daily Mirror )
Roy Keane, the Sunderland manager, will finally land Stephen Hunt after making an improved £5 million bid. Keane has had offers of £3.5 million and £4 million rejected. (Daily Mirror )
Erik Edman, Rennes 's Sweden international, could return to the Premier League after his club said "two or three" English clubs have inquired about him. Reading and Birmingham City have been linked with the former Tottenham Hotspur left back. (Agencies)
David Murphy, the Hibernian defender, is set to complete a move to Birmingham City in the next 48 hours. The former Middlesbrough trainee was also wanted by Celtic and Rangers. (Daily Mirror )
Bolton Wanderers have confirmed that Gerald Cid, the French defender, has completed a move to Nice . The 24-year-old joined Bolton from Bordeaux last summer but made only seven Premier League appearances. (Agencies)
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

A limit of 20 first team players would be great [Friday's AOTG] but how would you enforce it? Are you saying that any players that clubs buy will be automatically classed as first-team squad members? If not ... what's to stop one of the "big four" splashing out £20m on a player like Anelka, and then declaring them a reserve team player? Oh sorry ... that's what happens now isn't it...
Fair point, from Colin Barber . You do need to work out what constitutes a first-team player, which may be tricky (aged 18 or over?), although enforcing it won't be hard. You just tell clubs they're not allowed to do it. It's a bit like when you tell them they can play only 11 players at any one time.

From an outsider's perspective I watch with some incredulity what goes on in the Premier League. In Australian Football we have two mechanisms that aim to bring evenness to the competition. The salary cap ensures that richer clubs can't go out and buy a title by buying up players from the less-well off clubs and the national draft gives the worst-performed team of the season first choice of the best uncontracted young players coming through the system.
I understand that these sort of measures are virtually impossible to initiate in an international sport but surely something - like the ideas proposed in this article - has to be done.
In recent years I have been stunned to see players who are their teams' best, or close to it, transferring to big clubs where they have played peripheral roles. (e.g. Carrick from Tottenham to Man Utd; Sidwell from Reading to Chelsea; Wright-Phillips from Man City to Chelsea.) I don't want to appear disingenuous but aren't these teams competing for the same title as the big four and don't the players want to compete in the competition?
Not only do I not believe you have 'just gone off on one' but I can't believe this dialogue doesn't dominate football punditry throughout the season. After all, what is a perennial EPL competitor like Middlesbrough actually competing for? To come tenth? Or eleventh? Or fourteenth? The competition becomes all but meaningless as anything other than a commercial venture when 75 per cent of the teams have no chance of winning. The fans certainly don't seem interested judging by the half-empty stands.
Gavin Butler 's point raises another one. If everyone thinks it's an OK idea, why does no one seriously consider it? Because the Premier League has become a commercial venture, perhaps?

As an expatriate now living in Canada, I'd just like to point out that big clubs buying up all the talent to stave off competition is not unheard of. Many years ago in the National Hockey League (NHL) there were five "Big" teams. These were the only franchises for years that would win the league title and/or the Stanley Cup. The strategy was to buy up any and all talent & bench them, rather than have them lace-up for their competition - sound familiar...? Unless, as you mentioned in your article, a cap is put on the number of players allowed in a squad, the "Big" clubs will continue to dominate. And really, does a team need 20 full-time paid professionals for a game which fields 11 players?!
I should also probably mention that yes, they do use a salary cap to eliminate 20 Ronaldo's wearing the same shirt ... As a Spurs supporter, it sickens me that a talent such as Berbagod wants to move to one of the big 4, but under the current model can we blame him? Not really. He's a foreigner trying to make the best of his career. No allegiance to any one club, just a professional plying his trade.
Which leads to the point around the foreign contingent in the English game, which gets bigger every year. There was an interesting article in the Economist (http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10186049 ) which outlines why our boys are falling behind in the Beautiful Game and protectionism isn't the answer! The average amount of hours that kids in other nations spend learning the basics is almost double. Not time played in games but pure practice with skills, tactics, strategies - effectively learning their trade! Unfortunately we are in desperate need of solid apprenticeship programs & academies (God bless Goldenballs for his efforts) that cater to this need. So rather than poaching overseas talent that have these programs in place, how about growing our own?
Matt McGraw . Do any other AOTG readers peruse the Economist?

In response to Alex's letter in yesterday's AOTG, stating that Fat Sam need never work again because he's rich enough. How, then, do you explain the likes of Alan Hansen trying to get his gas bill paid by a company he did a photo-shoot for? Without going fully into the details of a capitalist society, there is, essentially, no such thing as being rich enough. No matter how much money Mr Allardyce has, I'm sure he wouldn't turn down the opportunity for more.
You could also say that he hasn't really been working for the last eight months anyway.
And we (fans of two-touch, pass-and-move, attacking football) can hope that he won't work for the next eight months, either. Thanks to Paul Hemmings .

Sometimes you just say it better than we do, which is why we've dedicated a corner of this e-mail to your views and boos: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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Tomorrow's news today

- Our survey says ... what the people of Newcastle really think
- Tony Cascarino gives £5m reasons why Premier League managers have it easy

And expect...

An ashen-faced Rafael Benitez to say that he'll take Hicks back, so long as it doesn't happen again, because he knows deep down he didn't mean it.

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Ahead of the Game: Anelka's £15m Deal

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

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Friday, January 11, 2008. 1600 GMT
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The news in 60 seconds

ANELKA'S £15M DEAL
Le Sulk has become the most expensive footballer in history after joining Chelsea in a £15 million deal that takes the combined total of his career transfer fees to £85 million. That puts Anelka ahead of Juan Sebastian Veron, who also arrived at Stamford Bridge with a massive reputation, transfer fee and high expectations...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3171652.ece

JOB ON THE TYNE FOR 'ARRY
It looks like 'Arry Redknapp will be packing his bags (not the ones under his eyes, that would take too long) and heading for the North East. The Portsmouth manager blanked today's press conference with reports suggesting he has been given permission to speak to Newcastle.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3170792.ece

REDKNAPP DODGES PRESSER
As Redknapp disappeared out the back door, desperate reporters rushed off in search of a glimpse of the manager (hopefully boarding a plane). The hacks were disappointed, but not half as much as those who hoped Joe Jordan could shed some light on events. Nick Szczepanik was in Portsmouth to watch the latest episode of Carry On Pompey.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article3172170.ece

SKRTEL JOINS LIVERPOOL
Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Martin Skrtel, the Zenit St Petersburg defender who has fewer vowels in his name than is entirely natural. He's signed a four-and-a-half year contract with the Merseyside club, but we're just glad we don't have to try and pronounce it.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3172920.ece

SPURS WANT NEW NO 1, SAYS CERNY
Radek Cerny may have replaced Paul Robinson in goal for the club's most important match of the season, but he still thinks he's on his way. He's admitted the club want someone decent. "I know that the club are looking for a new goalkeeper and everyday new names appear," Cerny said. It doesn't take Jermain Defoe to work out what that means for Robbo.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article3173087.ece

SAVIOUR RETURNS TO OLD CLUB
A club legend and former world-class centre forward with no experience as a club manager is returning to his former club to help revive the sleeping giant. No, don't worry, Newcastle fans, it's not Alan Shearer. Jurgen Klinsmann has been confirmed as the new Bayern Munich manager.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3170580.ece

UNITED ON BORROWED TIME
If you're struggling to meet the repayments on your credit cards after that colossal Christmas spending spree, don't worry: you are not alone. Manchester United have announced profits of £59.6 million - but £42 million of that has gone on paying the interest on the debts racked up by the Glazers' refinancing. It makes the APR on AOTG's Egg card seem like a sound long-term investment.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3168706.ece

RONALDO GOING NOWHERE
Manchester United have issued a hands-off warning over Cristiano Ronaldo. They say the midfield player is not for sale at any price - not even to pay off the interest on that credit card. "We're a buying club, not a selling club," David Gill, the United chief executive, said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3168710.ece

McCLAREN TO OPEN SHOP
The bad news: Steve McClaren wants to return to work as a manager. The good news: it's more likely to be of an umbrella shop than of a top-flight club. "I've got hundreds of them, enough to start a shop," the former England manager said in his first interview since being found out. He tells Matt Dickinson why he sported that brolly, why he can get back to the top of his profession and even why he would take the England job again. Deluded just about covers it.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3168429.ece

PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWS
Paul Jewell is likely to hand a debut to Robbie Savage among others as Derby County attempt the greatest escape since Houdini, Philippe Ponderous is a doubt for Arsenal and Middlesbrough may be forced to reshuffle their midfield. All the team news for the weekend's matches.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3153198.ece

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If you've got another couple of minutes

ANELKA SIGNING IS ONE TOO MANY
It's a statement containing fewer words than Chelsea have players in their squad, but it's more disturbing than news that the Wally with the Brolly wants to make a comeback, the fact 'Arry's prepared to sell up on the Sarf Carst and the possibility that Robbie Williams will go on strike (every cloud...)
"Chelsea Football Club and Bolton Wanderers can confirm that terms have been agreed between the clubs for the transfer of Nicolas Anelka."
Admittedly, it's to surprise what Anelka is to club loyalty, but in 22 words, the West London club have proved what AOTG has been thinking for too long. The Premier League is about as competitive as school sports day, the SPL and a tennis tournament sponsored by the Russian mafia rolled into one.
As soon as a player starts to perform well, one of the big clubs signs him. It happened with Carlos Tevez last season, with Manchester United (and the player) treating his stay at West Ham like a glorified trial at a feeder club.
That's why the Champions League is becoming like an old boys' club for the big four: the top teams just buy all the competition with the dosh they got from the previous year's TV/appearance money, hence ensuring they qualify for the cash cow again.
At least in the SPL, third and fourth are up for grabs, even if the top two are as fiercely contested as a drop ball.
And because clubs get a £20 million windfall (minimum) for their participation in the competition, they can afford to give players four-and-a-half year contracts even though they only need them for a month while someone's away on African Cup of Nations duty.
In this case, a team that plays one up front now boasts a squad including two of the best strikers in Europe and Andriy Shevchenko and Claudio Pizarro - meaning that one of the best forwards in Europe and Shevchenko and Pizarro won't be playing every week.
So three world-class (that's a different debate, OK) stars won't be playing, week-in, week-out.
What's worse, all of them will be taking hefty sums out of the game without putting anything back in.
Chelsea have 25 established players in their squad. Manchester United have 23 (including Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick, Anderson, Paul Scholes, John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher all fighting for centre midfield places). Arsenal have a lot, too. We think 26, although it's hard to decide who's a kid and who's a proper player with Arsene Wenger's creative recruitment policy. Rafa would buy up most of South America just to tend his garden if he had his way (and different owners).
So what's to be done about it? Wage caps won't wash with the EU, so we're not going down that route. But what about squad limits? If clubs were restricted to a maximum of 20 first-team players then clubs such as Chelsea would only be able to sign stars such as Anelka if they sacrificed five others first. And the money wouldn't be going out of the game faster than two-footed tackles and sportsmanship.
It would have a number of other benefits too. United wouldn't be able to hoard midfielders, so Carrick and Hargreaves (and Fletcher if you're Scottish) could be getting some games rather than warming the bench, hence improving Fabio Capello's options.
In the event of an injury crisis or glut of suspensions, clubs would be forced to rely on their youth players. Not only would players such as Theo Walcott and Scott Sinclair get more games, but clubs would also invest (even) more in their kids.
Some will moan that this would affect English clubs in the Champions League, but with requirements on the number of home-grown players coming into force soon, it would actually dovetail nicely.
What's more, maybe the league wouldn't be such a closed shop, so the likes of Everton could seriously challenge the establishment, with their squads bolstered by players such as Fletcher and Carrick.
And besides, who cares if English clubs (without English players, in any case) don't dominate in Europe - there's no evidence that success in the Champions League does anything other than bring money into the top four. Just look at the national team...
But what do you think? Have we just gone off on one? E-mail sport@timesonline.co.uk

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>>>>>THE TABLOID EXPOSE<<<<<
MERSON GAMBLES AWAY 300K HOME - Daily Mirror
What you need to know: 1) Paul Merson is having a torrid. The "troubled football idol" is homeless after gambling away the roof over his head. 2) The former Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder turned TV word-mangler has had to move back into his parents' house after failing to pay the mortgage on his £300,000 flat. 3) Who'd have bet on things going from bad to worse for Merse?
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A quickie before you go, sir?

RONALDO IS A DRAG STAR
It's on a rival's website, but that won't stop us showing it. Cristiano Ronaldo races a Bugatti (it's the fastest road car in the world) and wins. He cheats, but heh ... it helps explain why United won't flog him.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article673900.ece

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6
Successive league matches in which Portsmouth have failed to score at home. Bet that would go down well at St James' Park.
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In TheGame

Understanding what a Newcastle fan really wants is more confusing than trying to read the mind of the fairer sex after you've been caught sneaking in through the back door at 2am with a kebab in your hand on your anniversary (OK, we probably should have seen that one coming). Anyway, we're going to try and get to grips with the Novocastrian psyche. What do they really want? Exciting football, Alan Shearer - or just a sensitive, empathetic man who understands the modern world.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/debate-what-do.html
In Fanzine Fanzone , Wyart Lane, our Spurs fan, on why he's keeping the champagne from his manager of the month award on ice. Elsewhere, our Fulham man explains why Diomansy Kamara was never going to live up to his £6 million price tag and Gareth Harrison, of Newcastle, says that Mike Ashley may have been right to sack Big Sam. It's called blind faith, it's the voice of the terraces and it demands to be heard.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/

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The Transfer Wrap

Manchester United are preparing a £12 million offer for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the Ajax forward. (The Sun)
Blackburn Rovers hope to sign Jason Koumas from Wigan Athletic in a £3.5 million deal. Ajax are chasing his team-mate, Denny Landzaat, but Wigan are reluctant to sell. (Daily Mail)
Sven-Goran Eriksson has been told he has only £10 million to spend in the transfer window and must offload players to raise extra funds. (The Sun)
Fredi Kanoute has said he would consider a return to Tottenham Hotspur from Seville. (The Sun)
Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, is expected to make an improved offer for Marlon King after Watford rejected a bid of £3.5 million. He is also chasing Stephane Henchoz, Jean-Alain Boumsong, of Juventus, and Leyrielton, the Brazilian full back. (Daily Mail)
Gary Cahill will snub a Premier League switch to either Birmingham City or Sunderland in favour of a second loan spell at Sheffield United. (The Sun)
Dietmar Hamann will be offered a new one-year deal to keep him at Manchester City. (The Sun)
Newcastle United are likely to call off a move for Lassana Diarra after he demanded wages of £90,000 a week. Newcastle had agreed a £5.5 million fee with Arsenal for the midfielder. (The Sun)
Derby County have accepted an offer from Leicester City for Matt Oakley. The player has to agree personal terms. (Agencies) Derby hope to finalise an 18-month deal for Mile Sterjovski, 28, the Australia international at Genclerbirligi, Greece. (Daily Mail)

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Redknapp remains top target for Newcastle - The Independent
* £9m: the cost of sacking Allardyce and recruiting Redknapp - The Daily Telegraph
* Fly me to the Toon: Newcastle offer private plane if Harry hops on board - Daily Express
* Harry's in Toon turmoil: Redknapp offered £20m transfer kitty but fans still call for Shearer - Daily Mail
* I'm torn: Harry is 60-40 in favour of taking on the biggest challenge of his career at Newcastle - Daily Mirror
* Here's the deal 'Arry ... £20m PLUS return flights home PLUS You can go for Chimbonda PLUS £3m compo for Pompey - The Sun
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

With regards to the Ipswich fans views regarding Liam Trotter's sending off & FA's upholding of it - the FA upheld Wayne Rooney's sending off in the Amsterdam Tournament against Porto in 2006, where he got a red card for, well, being fouled by the centre half basically. ANY red card since that unbelievable decision CANNOT POSSIBLY be overturned, other than for mistaken identity. Which is why Everton didn't bother appealing Arteta's red card when his arm lightly brushed Fabregas's face.
It's about time some independent ex-footballers were on this judgment panel, rather than men in suits who have never kicked a football in anger.
If you're looking for ex-footballers, Bill in Doncaster, we gather Alan Shearer's touting himself around.

Sam Allardyce is a way better coach than any of those names [yesterday's AOTG]. He was just given (and accepted) a stupid job: Newcastle sucks, it's a known fact, and they probably always will. Look what Allardyce did at Bolton? By the way, he should've stayed, I believe he could have had them in Europe by next year; how many times did Bolton beat or draw with Arsenal in his years there? Many.
Also, LA Galaxy IS top-flight, I know it's hard to accept, and I understand the virtual impossibility of that notion for you, but just watch.
Rob , to take your points and wrap them up in one ball of fun, being good at Bolton is like being a top-flight side in MLS.

In response to Joe Fairs' letter in yesterday's AOTG. Whilst everyone and their mum may agree that Liam Trotter did not deserve to get sent off for the tackle, not everyone will agree that it didn't even deserve a yellow. People are very quick to complain, but the rules state that a card cannot be downgraded - it is either a sending off or nothing. As the challenge may have been a foul (albeit not a very dirty one), this means that the FA cannot completely rescind the card, therefore it must stand and it must stand as a red. Most feel that this is a stupid rule, but if it wasn't there, every decision made by a referee during a game would come under intense scrutiny and be questioned, therefore removing what little authority the referees still have and undermining every one of their decisions. Hard luck, but that's life.
A fair point from Paul Hemmings. But why does the FA bother with the charade of a video panel?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in reference to Joe Fairs' rant in Thursday's soapbox, is football not supposed to be a non-contact sport already. I was always taught that was the case, supported by the fact you tackle the ball, not the man. You're thinking of egg-chasing, old pal. Perhaps this English focus on the physical approach is why our players are considered technically inferior to our continental counterparts. Yours, fed up with hearing how Newcastle are a big club,
While we'd agree with Stuart that Newcastle are about as big as Big Sam ... what about the old-fashioned, common-all-garden, it's-a-man's-game-ref shoulder barge? We think football's a contact sport - and suspect Stuart must be a closet Arsenal fan.

Shame on you, AOTG, resorting to the tired-hack cliche that Sam Allardyce has joined the dole queue. He is an extremely rich man, with enough money to avoid work for the rest of his life if he so wishes, and even if there still was such a thing as a dole queue, he would not be allowed to join it.
Alex in Bristol ... expect to be very busy if you write in every time we use a tired cliché [see The News in 60 Seconds, If You've Got Time ... etc]. But then, judging by your detailed knowledge of procedures for claiming unemployment benefits, is it fair to guess you have a bit of time on your hands at the moment? Cheap shot, we know...

"But why not just make it a testimonial, replace the national anthems with a Spice Girls hit [yesterday's AOTG about Becks' 100th cap]" - Do we really need to make England friendlies less palatable?
Good man . Amar Purohit.

Re Beckham's 100th cap and what the magic number means:
Two reasons he deserves it: first, Greece and, secondly, 'cos he actually wants it (unlike Shearer, Scholes, Carragher) - possibly the same reason actually.
Two reasons why he doesn't: he is maybe third in line on merit (mainly 'cos of his dead balls) and Fabio should build for the future, as others have said - DB's footie career is on the downhill.
Overall: as someone said, why not give him a few minutes at the end of a meaningless friendly that we are winning 2-0?
Significance: he'd be the fifth (I think) player to reach his England century but, nowadays cap numbers do not mean very much as many players gain a hatful from (often late) substitutions, distorting the cap count and, for those who manage it, the goal ratio.
Statistics: so the challenge is for AOTG to publish a league table of minutes played for England (limited, I suggest, to 90 plus any genuine extra time, not added on time) and the goals per minute on the pitch - and compare the top 20 capped players and top 10 goalscorers under the two methodologies, plus list the players who have taken most caps to amass 90 minutes.
Over to you - and, by the way, David Moyes is surely far too intelligent to even consider Newcastle: he could far more easily become a great by staying with Everton
It's like pass the parcel. Peter Gartenberg challenges us, so we challenge you ... You can double dare us if you like.

David Beckham - Don't get me wrong here, he is not the future of our national team, but the flippant remarks annoy me and I think he deserves his 100th cap not for sentiment, but because he still has something to offer. Are the remarks because he happens to be married to Posh (although not really 'posh', only Ginger lived up to her name in the Spice Girls) and has been marketed rather well and become mega-rich?
One tends to forget, that whilst he has never been the greatest footballer in the world, he has been dedicated and on occasions pulled out moments of sheer genius, e.g. remember against Greece at Old Trafford and off we went to the World Cup? He has done what he can do brilliantly.
Now you can say this is all a long time ago, but I was at Wembley for the debacle against Croatia. When Beckham was brought into the fray his energy, enthusiasm and yes, leadership, lifted the rudderless team, and who put the ball across for Crouch to score? Maybe once we were level, should the manager have sorted out the midfield - Hargreaves to hold at the expense of the ineffectual (in that game) Lampard or Gerrard?
If you look at the amount of opportunities and goals he has created for England it is unsurpassed. McClaren chose to mount a campaign without him, but changed his mind, I think too late. I believe Beckham should have been in the squad from the start for his experience and ability - there were other ways to get rid of the Wags. I don't say he should have started every game, but we missed someone to change a game with a perfect cross or free kick.
As Beckham showed he could bring still bring some influence to the Croatia game despite playing for LA, I believe he should be used by Capello for a few months at least until someone can take over that role.
Granville Hall , the latest person to prove that AOTG was wider of the mark than a Jermain Defoe tap-in when it suggested no one cared about DB's latest milestone...

Sometimes you just say it better than we do, which is why we've dedicated a corner of this e-mail to your views and boos: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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Tomorrow's news today

- Graham Taylor on Fabio Capello
- The Fink Tank on why Newcastle acted rashly

And expect...

'Arry to appoint Alan Shearer as a coach at Newcastle. Just to keep the fans quiet.

Spread the word. It's like pyramid selling, but without the hassle or the money. Click on the following link if you (or your friends) want to subscribe to this newsletter.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/subscriptions/e-mail_bulletins/

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Anonymous tips, suggestions, funnies, fan mail and complaints: sport@timesonline.co.uk
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