AHEAD OF THE GAME
Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, October 26, 2007. 1600 BST
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The news in 60 seconds
JOLLY GOOD JOB
Maybe it was because he looked like the genetically-modified offspring of Shrek and Tony Soprano. Maybe it was the way he referred to Gabby Logan as "darling" or squared up to Arsene Wenger. Maybe it was those honest post-match appraisals. Who knows? But Ahead of the Game has always had an unflinching affection for Martin Jol and that's why we've dedicated this edition to the former Tottenham manager. All the reaction and analysis.
MARCA CLAIMS DEAL
After thumbing our way through a beginner's guide to Spanish, we can confirm that Juande Ramos is ready to quit Seville (at least that's what we think Marca's website says). He told Seville of his decision after Spurs offered him a €7 million, four-year deal and warned him it was now or never. Seville are having an emergency meeting.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2746395.ece
FERGUSON BEMOANS 'DRIP-DRIP'
Sir Alex Ferguson says that Jol will be relieved to have been relieved of his responsibilities. The Manchester United manager says the "drip,drip, drip" effect has made Jol's position untenable. He bemoans the lack of patience shown by the board.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2746806.ece
HUGHES STAYS PUT
Mark Hughes has ruled out leaving Blackburn Rovers to join the relegation battle at White Hart Lane. He says the rumours are an "inconvenience". Leeds United have denied that anyone has made an approach for assistant manager Gus Poyet.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article2744341.ece
NOW OR NEVER
Tony Cascarino says that Tottenham should tell Ramos to sign straight away or blow him out of the water. "Maybe he wants to turn up at Tottenham once Seville are knocked out [of the Champions League]. If so, Tottenham need to have a bit of self-respect and look elsewhere."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article2742670.ece
WHO IS RAMOS?
For a club who has had four permanent managers in six years, a coach who has had ten clubs in 15 years. That's a combined average of 1.5 years for each appointment. Kaveh Solhekol looks at the man expected to turn things around at Spurs - and discovers that he once made his team play with only ten men.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article2742226.ece
A SUITABLE SEND-OFF
The Tottenham fans did what the players couldn't and ensured that Jolly was given a fitting send-off last night. As news broke out of his departure, the manager occupied his usual position in the technical area - a fitting metaphor for an isolated man - as the fans stood to applaud in a frenzied emotional outpouring. Nice stuff.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article2742227.ece
HOT TROTTER?
Some good news for Tottenham fans: at least Gary Megson is no longer looking for a job. Bolton's new manager was met by a chorus of abuse as he watched his new club draw 1-1 with Braga last night. He said today that he "understands he is not their No 1 choice". No kidding.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/bolton/article2746425.ece
SWP FOR CITY?
Shaun Wright-Phillips could be lured back to Manchester City as Thaksin Shinawatra splashes the cash. Given that Sven-Goran Eriksson left him out of his World Cup squad and that he's shown no inclination to play Subbuteo, it seems unlikely, but you never know. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article2741624.ece
EURO 2009 HERE WE COME
England's Euro 2008 campaign may be about as promising as Pete Doherty's latest trip to rehab, but don't fear: there's always 2009. That's right, England women play Belarus in their latest European Championship qualifier tomorrow.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2746783.ece
LATEST TEAM NEWS
More surprising than Jol's sacking, perma-crock Jeremie Aliadiere could actually be fit to play for Middlesbrough. Xabi Alonso is still out for Liverpool and Birmingham City's Johan Djourou faces a fitness test on his hamstring ... all the team news before tomorrow's Premier League matches.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2744290.ece
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame
* It's free and you can still enter
* Win monthly prizes and tickets to the Euro 2008 final
* http://www.timesonline.co.uk/playthegame
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you've got another couple of minutes
STATEMENT OF INTENT
The thought of Daniel Levy smirking smugly was as depressing as anything in The Earth Audit (see the real newspaper), which is reason enough to dig out this statement from the Spurs chairman back in September. Ahead of the Game promised to run it again should the club sack Martin Jol during the international break and even if they kept us waiting a week - we suspect just to stop us saying we told you so, which it won't - that's good enough for us.
"Normally we only have to remind fans to ignore speculation during transfers windows, and we do that in the best interests of our playing staff and our supporters. Given the level of speculation about Martin and his position at the Club [not our capital letters], we feel it is necessary to do the same thing now ...
"There has been no board meeting, let alone any emergency board meeting, and reports that we have agreed a compensation package with Martin are wholly inaccurate - we have not even discussed the subject and there is no reason to do so. We will not allow ourselves to be side-tracked or undermined by external agendas or media hype. Our focus is on winning games."
Anyways, this isn't just about saying we told you so (oops, we've done it again) but after his latest statement confirming the departure of Jol - assuming it's more accurate than the previous one - we want to know whether Levy will resign.
That may sound about as knee-jerk as Michael Owen's cruciate buckling under a tackle, but don't be fooled. As the man who has appointed many of the recent managers - and the sporting directors - the chairman is responsible for the present White Hart Shambles. And if he wasn't up to the job of appointing the previous managers (or even sacking them properly), what has changed since? They are back in the bottom half of the table, where they were when Jol picked them up.
FANNING THE FLAMES
AOTG will have its internet privileges revoked if the IT department finds out how much time it spends on Facebook. Nonetheless, we're prepared to risk missing out on a Superpoke from an old friend at the detention centre to bring you the latest news on the Jol groups - and despite earlier reports that their numbers have been falling away like Steven Gerrard in the penalty box, the fans have come flooding back. There are 163 new members of "We Love Martin Jol" as supporters come together in their time of need. Interestingly, an alternative group, "Get rid of Daniel Levy", has 112 new members.
NO HABLO ESPANOL
Eager to communicate with his cosmopolitan back four, Shay Given has been taking Spanish lessons. He grabbed the opportunity to try out a few words by giving encouragement to Newcastle United's new Brazilian defender Cacapa during the recent match against Tottenham. "I don't think he was very impressed," Given said. "I'd forgotten they speak Portuguese in Brazil." If only he had been around this morning when we were trying to translate the Marca website for news on Ramos. Anyway, maybe he should just take a leaf out of Sam Allardyce's book. The manager has no problems communicating with his defenders and dropped Steven Taylor after telling him he was "c**p". For Cacapa's benefit - and perhaps Given's - that's "merda".
MEGSON WOE
Booed by fans, besmirched by newspapers, ridiculed by his former chairman, at least Gary Megson could cling to the hope that 1.7 per cent of Bolton fans supported his appointment after a recent poll of fans. Sadly, it turns out the results were as dodgy as a Dubiah Bush ballot box in a Florida marginal. Ben from Leicester has fronted up to trying to rig the election. "One of the votes on the website of The Bolton News in favour of Megson's appointment was mine," he wrote on Times Online. "I'm a Leicester fan though. RESULT!" We suspect he was not alone.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
Number of victories that Jol's Spurs recorded over the big four
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A quickie before you go, sir?
I LOVE MARTIN JOL
... Not a statement of undying affection by AOTG, but a song. "He looks like a mafia hitman for sure/ He'll crush you with a bearhug when we score" and "He's better than Christian Gross/George Graham don't come close" are two of the touching lyrics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj5Mh7raoEM
TALKING TOUGH
Robbie Keane scores for Tottenham in the North London derby as two Arsenal players lay prostrate on the floor after a collision. Hard-man Jol can be heard clearly shouting "play, play, play". Surely that alone was enough to guarantee immortality?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxIegRNNs18
THANKS, DARLING
Jolly gets all tender with Gabby Logan during his post-match interview. He calls her darling three times. Charm as well as brawn, what more could Spurs fans want?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzXXzbV-L5w
TEMPTING FATE
Martin Jol's end-of-season speech. "We were best of the rest again, but we want more. You have to give us time." Sorry, Martin. No such luck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIzvQU-qKek
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
RED WAYNE'S BLUES GUITAR - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Noel Gallagher has daubed a load of Man City graffiti on a guitar after Coleen bought it for Wayne Rooney's birthday. 2) There had already been reports that the Oasis frontman had signed the £2,000 tiger flame, cherry sunburst Gibson Les Paul Classic, but it turns out he did more than that. 3) Cheeky Noel got his mits on a £1.50 bottle of Tippex and scrawled the lyrics to City anthem Blue Moon all over it. 4) Hopefully the guitar will now go to a decent home as Rooney is planning to put it up for charity auction.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In TheGame
Was Jol the most exciting manager at White Hart Lane since Ossie Ardiles or the most overrated coach since Christian Gross? Join the debate .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/jol-departure--.html
For once Sir Alex Ferguson has been too dignified to mention his injury list, so Bill Edgar does it for him. He points out that 18 Manchester United players have missed matches since the start of the season, which makes Chelsea's injury crisis seem more like a grazed knee.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/crocks-of-gold.html
Walter Gammie , our non-League specialist, reports on the Team Bath students who are hoping to pass another examination of their skill.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/students-aim-fo.html
Who are Britain's Top 50 Sporting Losers ? As you can imagine, it took some time to reduce it to half a century...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article2725829.ece
In Fanzine Fanzone , our Spurs fan was already close to the edge before last night's decision, so pity his headache this morning. Our Chelsea man warns Roman Abramovich that he can't afford to lose Didier Drogba.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
How about Roving Ronaldinho? Every team would have the right to play the buck-toothed Brazilian once during the season. Or Mourinho Monday? Every team would have to play at least one match on a Monday and Jose Mourinho pick their side for the game. It may sound far-fetched but Gabby Logan says it's not so unrealistic.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/article2741440.ece
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Jol put out of his misery - Daily Express
* Sacked Jol makes way for Ramos - The Daily Telegraph
* Jol sacked - Daily Mirror
* Jol sacked by Spurs as Ramos waits in wings - The Guardian
* It's over: Ramos and Poyet will take over as Spurs sack Jol - Daily Mail
* EXCLUSIVE: Jol axed, Ramos in - The Sun
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
Matt McGraw [yesterday's Joe Bloggs Soapbox] clearly hasn't looked at the league tables outside the Premier League in a while. His beloved Spurs' London Derby next season will be with Leyton Orient...
James Sneddon rubs salt into today's wound
Au contraire Mr McGraw, whilst you bemoan your defence, your midfield, your manager, your chairman, your rubbish signings, the NHS, the invasion of Iraq and anything else you whingeing Spurs fans can find to moan about, we at QPR are looking forward to a 'big' London derby next year, after all it's been a while since we locked horns
Steve in Bucks also wants to add to the misery
The FA could do a lot worse than giving Martin Jol the England job, once Russia have finally put us out of our McClaren misery.
Matt from Singapore has some good news for Martin
Please, please can we grab Martin Jol quickly for the Republic? I think he is for sure the best candidate out there for us Irish. We would love a fifth place finish in a major championship. And I am a Arsenal fan!
Gus Worth thinks that Jol wants to be saddled with more unreasonable expectations
May I presume that 'Arry Redknapp [yesterday's AOTG] would like Martin Jol to punt Berbatov out of White Hart Lane, and straight down to Fratton Park?
Brian Harvey from St. John's, Newfoundland
Send your opinions to sport@timesonline.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow's news today
- Ramos set to be appointed
- Wenger and Ferguson lead criticism of Jol treatment
- The reinvention of Sven-Goran Eriksson
- Megson takes charge
- Keane slams Ireland
And expect...
Chris Hughton to be appointed Ireland manager.
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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anonymous tips, suggestions, funnies, fan mail and complaints: sport@timesonline.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you no longer wish to receive this e-mail, please click here to unsubscribe (you must be logged in to do so). If you wish to contact our Customer Services team, please send an e-mail to info@newsint.co.uk, or if you wish to speak to a Customer Services representative, please call 0207 860 1133.
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.
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.
没有评论:
发表评论