AHEAD OF THE GAME
Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail
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Monday, September 24, 2007. 1600 BST
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The news in 60 seconds
WENGER'S WAR CHEST
Arsene Wenger will be given £70 million to spend on players after Arsenal announced a huge increase in turnover. The club, who brought in more than £200 million last year, are second only to Real Madrid in terms of turnover. Who needs an Uzbek billionaire?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2520179.ece
THIERRY HENRY INTERVIEW
After Emmanuel Adebayor's hat-trick on Saturday, Thierry Henry is probably missing Arsenal more than the North London club are missing him. The Barcelona forward talks exclusively to Guillem Balague and TheGame Podcast about swapping North London for Spain and the rise and rise of Cesc Fabregas. Online from 5pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/article2520529.ece
DESPERATE SOUTHGATE
Gareth Southgate has admitted to suffering sleepless nights as he tries to solve Middlesbrough's injury crisis. Julio Arca has been ruled out for two months after suffering a knee injury while Tuncay Sanli and Mido, the forwards, have joined Jeremie Aliadiere on the treatment table.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/middlesbrough/article2523311.ece
AGBONLAHOR WANTS CALL-UP
Gabriel Agbonlahor is hoping to earn a call-up to the full England squad after another impressive performance for Aston Villa. The forward wants to follow the examples of Gareth Barry and Ashley Young, so let's hope he keeps his mobile phone on this time.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/aston_villa/article2523342.ece
NEW MANAGER, OLD HABITS
Jose Mourinho may have left Stamford Bridge, but his successor has started where the Special One left off - by blaming the referee. After the defeat by Manchester United, Avram Grant said: "If the referee was normal, the result would be different."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2518208.ece
OWEN FACES SECOND SCAN
Michael Owen may face surgery after he was pulled off early for the second game in succession. The Newcastle United forward will have another scan on his groin injury and he could miss England's Euro 2008 qualifiers next month. Gulp.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2517901.ece
JOL ON DODGY GROUND
Martin Jol has explained the decision to leave Jermain Defoe out of the squad to face Bolton by saying he picked Gareth Bale instead because he's "someone that even if you leave out as the seventeenth man, he's still a joy to have around". The only thing less convincing was Jol's protestation that Daniel Levy is backing him.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2518158.ece
BITTER BLOW FOR BIRMINGHAM
An unlucky 13 minutes for Borja Oubina. The Birmingham City midfield player, on loan from Celta Vigo, will be out for at least six months after a scan confirmed he damaged a cruciate ligament just minutes into his debut against Liverpool on Saturday. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2522861.ece
CARLING CUP PREVIEWS
Michael Owen is just one of many worries for Newcastle before their Carling Cup match with Arsenal tomorrow, while 'Arry Redknapp is set to ring the changes for Portsmouth's match against Burnley. No prizes for guessing that Rafa is planning to rotate the Liverpool side.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2521748.ece
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>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame, more special than Avram Grant
* It's free and you can still enter
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* http://www.timesonline.co.uk/playthegame
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If you've got another couple of minutes
CHELSEA HAVE GOT NO HISTORY
It seems like Martin Samuel has prodded a hornet's nest in his debate this week. Our Chief Football Correspondent contends that Chelsea are not a big club, at least compared to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. It's fair to say that it's stirred up a fierce debate. http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/09/the-debate-are-.html
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£34,444
The amount of money Arsenal pick up for every minute played at the Emirates Stadium. They pull in about £3.1 million every match.
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A quickie before you go, sir?
ACTION REPLAY
Catch up on all the big debating points from the weekend's Premier League action. John Obi Mikel's dodgy sending off, Arsenal's five-star display and Manchester City's six-goal thriller with Fulham. We've even tried to find some highlights from Liverpool's dire draw with Birmingham City. All the action, free of charge.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece
HOW TO STOP THE 'SEAL'
Gabriele Marcotti says that if you haven't seen Kerlon, the 19-year-old Cruzeiro striker who has been dubbed the "Little Seal" because of his unique juggling skills, you are either living under a rock or over the age of 30. Dribbling the ball down the touchline like he's just escaped from a sea life park, it's easy to see why defenders are using equally unconventional methods of stopping Kerlon. And no, they haven't been clubbing him to a halt. Here's another chance to see him in action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYlqql38XkY&mode=related&search=
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* The Caretaker One: Chelsea supporters turn on Grant - Daily Telegraph
* Jose could not do it any better: Jol insists he's Special One - Daily Mirror
* Roman ruin: Tevez wrecks Grant's big day - Daily Mail
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In TheGame
In Fanzine Fanzone, our Chelsea man has this to say about Avram Grant's new era: Bland. Unimaginative. One-dimensional. Dull. And that's only in the introduction. Elsewhere, Gareth Harrison, our Newcastle man, says it's time to call off the dogs: the panic is over at St James' Park. Ric from Man City talks about the "sweet and pleasant hooligan" that is Joey Barton.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Arjan de Zeeuw has been lauded by Tony Blair, he's a successful footballer and he's halfway to becoming a doctor. So why isn't he more arrogant? He reveals all to QA
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/09/qa-arjan-de-zee.html
The £23.5 million question. Rafa Benitez's decision to leave summer signing Fernando Torres on the bench has left Tony Evans scratching his head - so what do the club's directors think?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/09/rested-torres-i.html
Alan Carr explains why he can't feel sorry for the Special One and his fate at the hands of the playground bullies as he gives his unique take on the weekend's action with his topical barometer.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/09/alan-carrs-to-3.html
Bill Edgar on why you shouldn't cheer if your team scores first against Fulham as he looks at the weekend's numerical oddities.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/09/the-weekend-i-2.html
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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL <<<<<
So low, Lita - News of the World
What you need to know: 1) Football star Leroy Lita played dirty when he filmed himself getting it on with a mystery girl. 2) The Reading forward obviously thought he was giving a man-of-the-match performance because he sent the sordid video to team-mates. 3) The film lasts only one minute 53 seconds, which is nearly as much as he's played all season.
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
Chelsea should have had two players sent off and United should have had two penalties, so Chelsea should count themselves lucky rather than moan about the ref doing United a load of favours.
Fergus Sira-Lexon from London tries to even the balance
It's true that a 5-0 win over Derby isn't anything to get too excited about, but were it not for Lehmann's howler at Blackburn, Arsenal would have a 100 per cent start. The difference this year as opposed to last is that we're beating the smaller teams comfortably.
Rob Franklin from Mumbai thinks Arsenal are ready to challenge for the title
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 on anything from why Gareth Bale is such joyous company to how Arsene Wenger should spend all that money. sport@timesonline.co.uk
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Tomorrow's news today
- Quids in: Arsenal setting pace in rich league
- Owen and McClaren await results of scan
And expect...
Expect Martin Jol to name Chris Hughton in the squad for Tottenham's next match. He's a very nice man, you know.
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/sport/football/article2187217.ece
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