Ahead of the Game: Angry Owen Hits Back

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

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Wednesday, October 10, 2007. 1600 BST
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The news in 60 seconds

ANGRY OWEN HITS BACK
England's Michael Owen, the part-time Newcastle player, has reacted furiously to suggestions that he is putting his country before his club. For good measure, he's also had a pop at Joey Barton after yesterday's veiled dig. "I am sure if he gets called up for England, he won't be saying that," Owen so there-d.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2631674.ece

ALLARDYCE: THERE'S NO ROW
Big Sam has dismissed suggestions of a rift with Steve McClaren, the England head coach. The Newcastle manager said that it's just nasty people trying to get between him and Michael Owen... Let's see what he says when his Northern Crock gets injured scoring the winner against Russia.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2630942.ece

FOUR UP FOR AWARD
Four England players have been nominated for the Fifa World Player of the Year award, but Gareth Barry isn't one of them. Thin-Skinned Frank - Barry's England understudy - Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and John The Lionheart Terry have made the shortlist. Surely some mistake?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2629793.ece

MIDFIELD MINEFIELD
Ever thought Mr McClaren looked more like a teacher than an England head coach? He's been handing out bibs like a physics instructor in temporary charge of the school second XI. Nonetheless, Martin Samuel explains why who wears what could tell us a lot about the starting line-up against Estonia. Green is for go. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2625401.ece

BELLAMY FIGHTING FIT
Craig Bellamy is raring to go after Kwik-Fit surgery. The Wales forward, who had the same operation as Michael Owen, has been passed fit for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Cyprus and San Marino. Big Sam may be interested to know West Ham are happy for him to play.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2631194.ece

HIDDINK LOVE-IN
Guus Hiddink, who definitely doesn't want to be Chelsea coach, has clarified his relationship with Roman Abramovich. "Despite his vast wealth, he doesn't try to abuse his position or status," the Russia manager, who has perhaps not witnessed Abramovich telling Michael Essien where and when and to whom to pass, said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2625401.ece

SYMPATHETIC STAUNTON
Steve Staunton, the Ireland coach, has admitted that Stephen Ireland has "got issues". No $!£% Sherlock! Anyway, he's promised to support the player after he pulled out of the squad yesterday for the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2625411.ece

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If you've got another couple of minutes

SAMUEL'S POSTBAG
[Imagine hearing this through a PA system, if you don't mind]. Wapping wordsmith Martin Samuel, the undefeated Chief Football Correspondent and five-times undisputed Sports Writer of the Year, has thrown in his towel after admitting defeat to the unheralded challenge of Stephen Jenner.
Or something like that... In this week's postbag, Samuel asked whether Arsene Wenger's regime at Arsenal could be considered a failure because of the lack of English players in his squad. As ever, he sparked a febrile debate among readers, but even he admits that some readers, and in particular Jenner, may have a point. So is this the end of Samuel's reign as world champion? Let's just say that if he's lost that title - and we're not entirely sure - he's gone down fighting.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/the-debate-ma-1.html

DROP ROBINSON BEFORE HE DROPS US IN IT!
Ahead of the Game has kept its grubby mitts off the serious issues in recent days, but after Steve McClaren described Paul Robinson as England's answer to Schmeichel, your frivolous afternoon e-mail can't just stand by and watch. Unbelievable though this may seem, the England head coach was comparing the flapping Tottenham keeper with the snarling Manchester United legend, Peter, rather than Kasper.
There is a fine line between loyalty and stupidity and McClaren has crossed it. Robinson was never that good in the first place, which is why none of the big clubs (sorry, Tottenham fans) has ever gone in for him. His kicking is decent, but he's poor coming off his line, particularly dealing with low shots, he's average from crosses and he's got less presence than Alistair Darling. The only thing you could say, until recently, is that he's a safe pair of hands.
But after sprinkling mistakes over recent performances like hundreds and thousands on a big fairy cake, he's not even that. He's more Calamity than James (but without the spectacular saves).
Robinson will probably - and only probably - be fine against Estonia on Saturday, but that's not the question. The issue is whether England should trust him in a tricky away match against Russia, when the pressure is really on.
Previously, Ahead of the Game fell on the side of caution. Given the choice, it would rather have Robbo under a hanging cross than Calamity. But with Scott Carson performing consistently well (and Chris Kirkland avoiding injury to those porcelain limbs), there's scope for change. We may find out that Carson is fazed by the pressure, we may even find out that it's not that hard to impress when your nearest rival is Stuart Taylor. But that's the point, we may find out. We already know Robinson isn't up to it.
Have your say: sport@timesonline.co.uk

WARNOCK WARNING
The worst kept secret in football is set to be confirmed. Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has called a press conference for tomorrow morning at which he will present "Colin" Warnock as the club's new manager. But let's see how long it lasts. Warnock famously turned down the Chelsea job in 1991 after getting stuck in traffic on the M25. "Bloody gridlock both times," he said. "I hate traffic, being still and not being in control of how quickly I can get somewhere. I turned them down and they gave the job to Ian Porterfield."
Colin ain't seen nothing yet. Anyone who has been stuck in the one-way system around Crystal Palace will tell you it makes Fulham Road - let alone the M25 - look like a bus lane. What are the odds that he resigns before he even gets to the press conference?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article2631910.ece

MAN UTD'S DEFINING MOMENTS
In "The Soul of Manchester United in 50 Moments", Times Online's latest must-not-miss list, Bill Edgar takes a look at what made United the club they are today. And no, that doesn't mean a megabucks corporate that has sold out to an American franchise. Edgar is a United fan as well a Times writer, so it's more about how they became one of the biggest clubs in the world. From the stock market flotation of 1991 to a flirtation with third-tier football in 1934, read the first 25 of his top 50 defining moments.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2624171.ece

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555
Number of minutes since Norwich City last scored a goal. Wonder why there has been speculation about Delia selling up to concentrate on her cooking?
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A quickie before you go, sir?

SCHMEICHEL VERSUS ROBINSON
Just to prove an earlier point, here's some highlights of Peter Schmeichel, the red-nosed goalline prancer and dancer, in action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiOVeDNtcNg.
And here's Paul Robinson against Croatia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vROdBK8Ws0A
OK, not exactly a fair and just scientific experiment, but that's just how we do things.

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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
Meanies Utd: rich aces snub £1m fund for nurses - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Mean soccer stars have snubbed an appeal to help poverty-stricken nurses. 2) Despite pledging £750,000 to the fund, the football stars have coughed up only £200,000. 3) No Chelsea players have donated to the fund and just three from Arsenal and two from Manchester United have paid up. 4) But before you tear up your season ticket in disgust, there is some good news. More than 20 players from each of the following clubs have donated to the appeal: Fulham, Reading, West Ham, Blackburn, Bolton and Tottenham. Jermain Defoe, Joey Barton and Craig Bellamy, all familiar names to regular readers of The Tabloid Scandal, have put their hands in their pockets. Good lads.
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In TheGame

In Fanzine Fanzone, Ric, our Manchester City man, admits he is so pessimistic that when he sees half a glass of milk he doesn't just assume it's half empty, he thinks it must be sour too. But even he is a believer now. He says that Elano isn't just the best City player he has seen, he is the best player in the history of the whole world ever. Elsewhere, our Sunderland fan wonders why the club's promising youngsters all turn into pussy cats (rather than Black Cats) after they leave the shelter of the academy.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Gabriele Marcotti kicks off this week's Game Podcast with a discussion about the merits of rugby and its better-than-thou philosophies before Guillem Balague, Bill Edgar and Alyson Rudd help Gab get his eye back on the round ball. Subjects up for discussion include England v Estonia, Little Mo, Rafa's (faltering) Rafalution and an interview with Xabi and Mikel Alonso.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/article2598097.ece
It may be international week, but you can still get your fix of Premier League highlights, free of charge.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Revealed: Owen's two years of hurt - The Sun
* Robinson keeps his shirt - Daily Telegraph
* McClaren to stick with Robinson for Estonia - The Independent
* Stuff England: Barton in rant over Owen's fitness row - Daily Mail
* Spurs No 2 plots £250m takeover - Daily Express
* Robinson gets England vote of confidence - The Guardian
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

Re: yesterday's idea of "throwing the book at Dida". If a gentle pat caused him to get stretchered off, what will throwing a big book like the Uefa rule book do to him?
Probably knock him out cold. Matt C from London.

The 194 countries bit [in our ten reasons why football is better than rugby] is I think, a fraction out. There are 192 countries that are called "member states", ie members of the United Nations. On the other hand, there are 208 countries that are members of Fifa. Ergo, more countries would rather be a member of a footballing community, than a member of the United Nations. Da dahhh.
Dan Wilkinson from Australia and Dubai is a lot smarter than us (for a start he's in two places at once).

Maybe if the England footballers showed as much passion and desire in their Big Tournament quarter-finals as the rugby boys, they'd get similar praise and respect. And if the rugby boys only turn up once every four years, that's still 41 years more frequently than Steve's overpaid pre-Madonna's.
Ben from Sunderland makes a very good point, but then trips over the ball - or is it a forward pass? - by getting a pop icon confused with the first lady. Easy mistake to make.

You should get a match on! Rugby first half, and then you can take the footy lads to hospital in the second half!
Paul Miles has an idea, but sadly we're double-booked that weekend.

This one from, Rhys Denny , is a long one. But stick with it, because it's funny. And it's the last one...

For someone who loves football so much and thinks that rugby is a terrible sport, you bring forward weak arguments:

1. The English Premiership, the Heineken Cup, the Celtic Leagues, the Six Nations. These are just the Northern Hemisphere tournaments that are supported week-in week-out in the UK. Just because the tabloid press decide to jump on the bandwagon every four years doesn't mean that there isn't more to the sport. Just ask your colleague Stephen Jones. Also, the highest attended club game in French sporting history was a rugby match last season. Over 80,000 watched Stade Francais v Toulouse.
2. If you look at the winners of the football World Cup you will see that there have only ever been seven different winners since 1930. Rugby has had four in 24 years.
3. Pointless argument
4. Just because England can't score tries doesn't mean the rest of the World can't.
5. In England mostly. But a lot of state schools are taking the game up and in the rest of the country (and the world) it is a game played in all schools (especially Wales).
6. They respect authority and don't believe they are above the law. They play in a high impact sport where of course tempers will boil over. However, they don't feign injury or moan to the ref. If they are punched, they get on with it because they are men. After the game it is all forgotten and you have a beer, especially at a social level. Is any of that true in football at any level?
7. League is on the wane in the UK, all the best players are now coming to union. I think most people in rugby agree that there are too many confusing rules, but once you get a basic grasp the game becomes far more enjoyable.
8. I can think of only one high profile forward pass this World Cup (France v Kiwis, ha-ha). How many goals are allowed or not given due to them crossing/not crossing the line.
9. My girlfriend wears my Welsh shirt and looks good in it.
10. Rugby is a team game, if I was packing down I would rather a gnarled forward than David Beckham, he might ruin his hair. Footballers are soft.

Just one question, Rhys: why were you even reading this e-mail?

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

- Martin Samuel on how Owen and Rooney must play together
- Owen reveals truth about club versus country row
- Barry pleads his case for inclusion

And expect...

An awful lot of Premier League players to put their hands in their pockets for those nurses.

Spread the word. It's like pyramid selling but without the hassle. 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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