Ahead of the Game: England special

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

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Thursday, October 18, 2007. 1600 BST
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The news in 60 seconds

DROGBA WANTS OUT
Moments after AotG billed today's round-up as an England special, news emerged that Didier Drogba wants to leave Chelsea. Apparently, Jose Mourinho's departure has shattered morale at the club and the forward can't put up with it any longer. At least one Russian won't be happy today, then.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article2688311.ece

McCLAREN'S VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
Just when it seemed Steve McClaren's plight couldn't get any worse, Brian Barwick, the FA chief executive, has given the England manager his Full Support. We all know what that means.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2686953.ece

STRAWMAN FEELS THE HEAT
Clutching at the only straw left, Steve McClaren claims the pressure is on Russia because they have to win in Israel. No, Steve, the pressure is on you. Lots of it.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2681797.ece

BULLIES BEATEN
Martin Samuel says that, like most bullies, England are not so brave when the battle is beyond home turf. He is disappointed that McClaren used the lamest excuse of all, a dodgy decision. Nothing to do with naivety, panic or poor tactics, then?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2681804.ece

SCOTLAND POST-MORTEM
The Scotland manager insists his side can make it to Euro 2008 despite defeat by Georgia's kids. He could be right. Qualification is in THEIR hands.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article2682213.ece

BRUCE TO WANDER?
Bolton Wanderers want to speak to Steve Bruce about becoming their new manager. They suspect he is unhappy in Birmingham. Surely not.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/bolton/article2686670.ece

CHAIRMAN WENGER?
Peter Hill-Wood reckons Arsene Wenger would make the perfect successor to him as Arsenal chairman. He would also make a good successor to you-know-who.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2685722.ece

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>>>>> FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS <<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame - Guus would
* It's free and you can still enter
* Win monthly prizes and tickets to the Euro 2008 final
* http://www.timesonline.co.uk/playthegame
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If you've got another couple of minutes

UNDER THE HAMMER
Rio Ferdinand was taken to the cleaners even before he touched down in Moscow. The England defender has signed a pink mop that a breast cancer charity has put up for auction on ebay. When AotG looked, £34 was the highest bid, which is almost half the price of a ticket for last night's match. A bargain, then.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Signed-Vileda-Pink-Mop-by-Footballer-Rio-Ferdinand_W0QQitemZ110181152746QQihZ001QQcategoryZ11702QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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1,021
Minutes that Ferdinand went without conceding a goal with Manchester United or England. His next spell lasted four minutes.
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A quickie before you go, sir?

VIDEO NASTIES
Choosing the most excrutiating moments of McClaren's regime as England manager is no easy task but AotG thinks it has found the appropriate footage. Click on the first link - if you dare - to relive the tragicomedy of Paul Robinson's air-kick in Croatia. Watch the second for a reminder of the state-of-the-art primary school that McClaren used in preparation for Moscow and run the third - it'll make you smile - for The Times' view of the whole debacle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSwcKZTXpZY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN_V38pUeS4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFfA29ZlfaE

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>>>>> THE TABLOID SCANDAL <<<<<
Speedy ace: Car to blame - The Sun
What you need to know: 1.) Andrew Taylor told a court that he crashed through the speed limit because his Audi does not feel fast. 2.) A lawyer for the Boro and England U-21 left-back said: "With a vehicle of this kind you can just drift away." 3.) Taylor was banned from driving for 56 days - his second speeding ban this year. 4.) It's funny that an England defender should lose concentration at important moments.
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In TheGame
Tom Dart demands that the phrase "mutual consent" is sent the way of the tackle from behind and Ron Atkinson and exorcised from the game.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/the-feelings-mu.html
In his responses to your contributions to The Game Debate, Martin Samuel wonders why Sven-Goran Eriksson never managed to get England playing like Manchester City. A fair point, but at least he didn't get them playing like Middlesbrough.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/the-debate-ma-2.html
Bill Edgar has sparked some lively discussion with his choice of the 50 most significant moments in Manchester United's history. You want to know why there is no mention of Duncan Edwards or David Beckham. Nobody, though, complains about the omission of a certain former assistant manager. . .
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2624171.ece
Bill has also crunched the stats and found that Sam Allardyce was Bolton manager 31 times longer than Sammy Lee. He's twice as tall, too.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/successors-lack.html
The Game Podcast features two brilliant new guests, Tim Lovejoy and Andy Zaltzman, star of The Times' biting new satirical podcast The Bugle.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/article2645945.ece

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Gerro: I'm to blame - The Sun
* McLeish: We're still in the hunt - Daily Mail
* FA must appoint true leader - Daily Telegraph
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"I don't know why people are surprised about this result, every Boro fan could have told you that Mac's luck would run out. He was found out at Boro, he isn't a good coach, but he is at times lucky, that's all. The man is all flimflam, he believes his own publicity, he tells you are seeing magnificent performances when you are seeing dross. Beckham saved this fool with one cross. If Beckham had refused to play for him, Mac would not have been in the job yesterday. When the FA sack Mac, they must appoint a good manager, not someone who will cow-tow to them. England needs a manager who is his own man, not a puppet of the FA."
Patti, from Middlesbrough, has long run out of patience.

"I didn't watch TV because I was sure that we had no chances in this game. What a surprise. Anyway don't be upset, we will lose to Andorra and Israel - it's a common scenario for our team -}. Great goal from Rooney!"
Bazil from Moscow tries to lift our spirits. With little success. (Is that bracket a Russian moustache?)

"Yesterday's story [in AotG] about Irish fans taking their grandmothers with them to get free admission to a game: any idea if Stephen Ireland went?" Matt C, from London , wins our prize-free email of the day award.

Tomorrow's news today

- The leading candidate who doesn't want the England job
- Myths that McClaren's replacement must dispel

And expect...

AotG to embrace Prozac, at last, and reinvent itself as Ahead of the Oval Ball Game and for us to talk about rugby and only rugby.

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

ROBERT DINEEN

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