AHEAD OF THE GAME
Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail
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Tuesday, September 25, 2007. 1600 BST
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The news in 60 seconds
MIKEL APPEAL FAILS
John Terry's week goes from bad to worse. As if costing his manager his job was not enough - it's only a joke JT, call off the lawyers - the Chelsea and England skipper is facing an FA rap for trying to grab the referee's card during the defeat by Manchester United. John Obi Mikel's appeal has failed as well, meaning Terry is probably storming off to harangue the official as you read this.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article2529959.ece
MOURINHO IS CRY BABY
Reach for the Kleenex. First Didier Drogba claims he is "depressed" about losing his manager, now Jose Mourinho admits to shedding a tear too. He wants everyone to know that he's still the Special One and that he cried when he left the club. Diddums.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article2527897.ece
DEFOE RECALL SHOCK!
Jermain Defoe could be in line for a Tottenham recall against Middlesbrough tomorrow, which can mean only one thing: it's Carling Cup week. Martin Jol has promised to field a "strong team".
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article2530747.ece
LOONEY ROONEY
Wayne Rooney is so desperate for a game in the Carling Cup tomorrow that he's been driving Sir Alex Ferguson mad. "He wants to play, he wants to be the captain, he wants to take the penalties, the corners, the free kicks, the goal kicks, the lot," Ferguson said. What about throw-ins?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article2529576.ece
JOL'S DAYS ARE NUMBERED
It's the most talked about exit strategy since Afghanistan. Tottenham are ready to cut their losses with Martin Jol and risk the collateral damage. Senior directors met yesterday to discuss how to do it and the manager is seeking legal advice.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article2525615.ece
NEWCASTLE ARE THE NEW BOLTON
Big Sam has finally admitted what we've been saying all along. He wants Newcastle United to play like Bolton Wanderers. He says it's for one night only as he tries to put the wind up Arsenal, but anyone who has watched them this season can confirm that's a fib.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2525621.ece
CAREW OUT FOR SIX WEEKS
Martin O'Neill will be forced to throw a lumbering, non-scoring striker into the fray after one of his other goal-shy forwards was ruled out for six weeks. Aston Villa's John Carew has suffered knee ligament damage, meaning that Marlon Harewood, the poor man's Heskey, is likely to get his chance.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/aston_villa/article2528614.ece
BENITEZ BLAMES ENGLAND
Liverpool are playing badly because Steven Gerrard played twice for England, according to Rafa Benitez. It's got nothing to do with the manager's decision to leave a £23.5million centre forward on the bench or his disorientating rotation policy. Gerrard won't get the blame tonight because he's being rested for the Carling Cup.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2525632.ece
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>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
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* http://www.timesonline.co.uk/playthegame
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If you've got another couple of minutes
WHAT'S WRONG WITH ARSENAL?
Peter Hill-Wood couldn't have sounded more smug if he had dressed up in a grey coat yesterday and danced around the Emirates Stadium declaring: "I am the Special One."
"Money is irrelevant to history and how big your club is," the Arsenal chairman guffawed yesterday, before launching an attack on the "fantasy" and "bull****" behind Chelsea's plans for world domination. With £200 million coming through the tills each year and Arsenal top of the league, Ahead of the Game would need a pin the size of a corner flag to burst the chairman's bubble, so it won't try.
But when Arsenal's next generation of stars take to the field against Newcastle United in the Carling Cup this evening, spare a thought for Steve McClaren. His bubble has already burst. Wenger's 16-man squad is so inexperienced that it contains only three genuine first-team players - Eduardo, Abou Diaby and Philippe Senderos - and yet there will be only three English players. One of them, Theo Walcott, cost a small fortune but has yet to make a place his own, while another, Justin Hoyte, has played more matches on loan than he has in four years for Arsenal.
It may not worry Hill-Wood when Fran Merida - "the next Fabregas" - is running rings around Alan Smith, but it should scare the rest of us. Because while Arsenal are good for the Premier League, it doesn't mean they are good for the English game. Just ask Steve Sidwell and Jermaine Pennant.
MARADONA STILL DIVIDES OPINION
England will get to renew their loathe/hate relationship with Diego Maradona when he comes to Villa Park next month. Terry Butcher says that he'd "rather gnaw my own arm off than share a pitch with the cheating little s***". Matt Dickinson has the story. If nothing else, it's a good excuse to dust down those clips of the Hand of God (again).
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/09/maradonas-comin.html
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386
The combined total of the Arsenal squad numbers for squad for this evening's Carling Cup match.
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A quickie before you go, sir?
THIERRY HENRY ON THEGAME PODCAST
Thierry Henry has been talking to Guillem Balague about his new life in Barcelona. Mr Charisma talks about playing with Ronaldinho and gives the inside line on Cesc Fabregas, his heir to the title of fans' favourite at Arsenal. He says the midfield star has what it takes to turn Arsenal's potential into trophies.
The team are also joined by Matt Dickinson, the first man to speak to Jose Mourinho after his exit from Chelsea. He explains how he tracked the fugitive manager down - and offers some hints to the Americans if they want to find Osama Bin Laden. Bill Edgar and Alyson Rudd join the gang.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/article2520529.ece
FOOTBALL - BENNY HILL-STYLE
If Benny Hill did the choreography for goalmouth scrambles, they would be like this, only with funnier music. More missed chances than an Arsenal match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UItqWiBEol0&feature=dir
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* You'll miss me: Mourinho's parting shot - Daily Express
* Owen operation scare for England - Daily Telegraph
* England woe as Owen faces a month out - The Guardian
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In TheGame
Martin Samuel 's contention that Chelsea aren't a big club even drew the support of the Arsenal chairman yesterday, although Peter Hill-Wood hasn't posted on the website. Do you agree: have Chelsea got no history?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/09/the-debate-are-.html
Our man from Chelsea wants to know if Roman Abramovich is reading Fanzine Fanzone. He tells him that Chelsea fans don't want Kaka, Ronaldinho or Fabregas - they just want Batman (or some peace and quiet). Wyart Lane, from My Eyes Have Seen The Glory, also has a warning for his club's board: leave Jose alone if you can't even handle Jol. Paul Farrington, our Wigan man, has achieved a first: he's praised a referee.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Tom Dart is fretting about the plight of lower league clubs after Norwich City announced profits of only £100,000 - and that was with an £8.4 million parachute payment. That's something for Delia to chew on.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/09/up-the-creek-wi.html
Down to ten men, 5-1 behind and with only half an hour left - is this the greatest comeback ever ? How Charlton Athletic turned the tables on Huddersfield Town.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/09/the-greatest-ev.html
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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
Warne caught out by sex txt - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Cricket bad boy Shane Warne has been getting in a mess with his googlies again. 2) His missus caught the text pest cheating when he sent her a message meant for his lover, inviting her to sneak in through the back door. 3) We're not sure whether he scored, but at least his wife can pick a wrong 'un - she's gone back to Australia.
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
As with Jose Mourinho, it is the chairman's right to hire and fire who he wants. There are ways and means though - Mr Levy has to take a huge amount of any blame for Spurs not achieving this year if they do not finish better than last season, in the same way as messrs Abramovich (and particularly) Kenyon down at the Bridge will have to should results not meet their plans of world domination.
Jeremy from Farnham
When The Emirates contract expires it should be re-named The Wenger Stadium because in truth that is what it is.
Paul Underwood from Middlesex
Sometimes you just say it better than we do, which is why we've dedicated a small corner of this e-mail to your views and boos. Feel free to send us your opinions to sport@timesonline.co.uk
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Tomorrow's news today
- Avram Grant prepares to take on the might of Hull
- All the reports from the Carling Cup
- Will Owen have to go under the knife again?
- Martin Samuel: why England can cope without Heskey and Owen
And expect...
Leroy Lita to score against Liverpool and send a recording of the magic moment to all his friends.
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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2187217.ece
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