AHEAD OF THE GAME
Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail
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Thursday, October 11, 2007. 1600 BST
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The news in 60 seconds
LAMPARD THE 'BENCHMARK'
Joe Cole has said that Frank Lampard is "the benchmark" for England, which is probably more accurate than he intended it to be. Cole was trying to say his Chelsea team-mate is "invaluable" and "world class", but Lampard is still expected to be a substitute against Estonia.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2639656.ece
ROONEY: I'M NOT ON THE WANE
Wayne Rooney has admitted he's not been at his best for England but promised it's not for lack of effort. He says he's giving "110 per cent", which would do for us, and says he's more determined than ever...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2639410.ece
SOUTHGATE GETS NEEDLE
Gareth Southgate had better hope he doesn't need medical treatment in the next few weeks, because he's got less chance of decent healthcare than Dennis Wise has got of hailing a cab. The Middlesbrough manager has criticised a fundraising campaign for nurses because he says it's using "blackmail" to elicit money from footballers. Brave man, interesting point.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2638251.ece
FORGETFUL, NOT FRADULENT
Tony Cascarino has admitted he was once turned down for an M&S store card, which is reason enough to read this story. The Times columnist wants us to feel sorry for the footballers who have forgotten to stump up cash for the nurses, because they can barely feed themselves, let alone honour promises. Afraid we can't tell you if he's a briefs or boxers man, though.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2633748.ece
WARNOCK: I'M A LOVER NOT A FIGHTER
Who said romance is dead? "Colin" Warnock, that sentimental old fool we all know and love, has been talking about how he took the job at Crystal Palace only after soppy scamp Simon Jordan assured him they would still be friends if it didn't work out. Ahh, bless.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article2638036.ece
FRANK'S COLD SHOULDER
This could hurt Thin-Skinned Frank even more than the time when "Jonathan Creek" said he was a bit of a porker. According to reports in Spain, Chelsea are prepared to sell the midfield player and have been touting him around top European clubs for about £12.5 million.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article2637944.ece
TERRY SCAN
An injury so bad that even The Lionheart can do nothing about it. Tough-as-teak defender John Terry required a scan on a knee injury after training yesterday and could miss both Euro 2008 qualifiers. Sol Campbell is standing by.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2634239.ece
OWEN MUST FIND A WAY
Serious football talk, now. Martin Samuel has been crunching the numbers and they don't make pretty reading. Our Chief Football Correspondent has worked out that Michael Owen scores only once every 201 minutes when he plays with Wayne Rooney - less than half as often as he manages with Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch. The next goal is due in Vienna next November.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2633725.ece
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>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame, with more frills than Cascarino's keks
* 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
DIDDUMS DIDIER
Poor Didier Drogba. Even the bloke from the BT advert - you know the one, used to be in My Family, advertises their wireless technology - got a bigger cheer than the Chelsea forward at the O2 centre last night. In fact, Drogba, who was in South East London to watch the NBA basketball, was booed when his picture was displayed on the big screen. Still, he took it in good humour, smiling ruefully before listening to his iPod for the rest of the match. Drogba was sitting with team-mates Carlo Cudicini and Juliano Belletti, so it looks like Andriy Shevchenko didn't even make the bench this time.
Darren Bent, the Tottenham Hotspur forward, was also there, doing what he does for Tottenham - watching at great expense - while Anton Ferdinand, the West Ham defender, was chumming up to Lewis Hamilton ... Oh dear, AOTG has just turned into Hello!
MERIDA MERRY-GO-ROUND
If Fran Merida is the next Cesc Fabregas, who is the next Fran Merida? It's like Russian dolls at Arsenal. Fabregas is only about 12, but Merida, a 17-year-old Spanish central midfield playmaker, is chasing on his heels.
Anyway, the news is that Merida has been ordered to pay Barcelona £2.2 million after a Spanish court ruled that he had broken an agreement by joining Arsenal. The club will pay the dosh, so it won't bother Merida, but is Ahead of the Game the only one to find this slightly disturbing? The club say he signed a pre-contract agreement when he was 14, which confirmed that he would sign terms two years later. Which as far as we understand it - and regular readers will know AOTG is no Cherie Blair - is a bit like saying he was too young to sign a contract, so we made him sign a contract saying that he would sign a contract when he's old enough. Next time it'll be a 12-year-old signing a pre pre-contract agreement. Which is a bit like Russian dolls again.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2633746.ece
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8-1
Odds on Paul Robinson dropping his first cross against Estonia (Paddy Power)
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A quickie before you go, sir?
YOU PAYS YOUR MONEY
A little taste of what Fran Merida can do, as displayed for Arsenal reserves at Barnet. Just think: he's paid £2.2 million just to play at the Underhill Stadium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxgCeucZrvM&mode=related&search=
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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
Sven and Mrs Skip hire: footie boss romps with waste tycoon - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Randy Sven-Goran Eriksson has got another notch on his bed post - this time with the busty boss of a skip hire firm. 2) Nancy Dell'Olio - who has stuck by the Swede after flings with Ulrika Jonsson, Faria Alam and Jessica Rabbit - said she was too busy to worry about it. "Why don't you focus on me and what I am doing, which is much more important?" Because we don't know what you do, Nancy. 3) Friends of Marisa Cauchi said she has been "bowled over by his famous charm" but are concerned about the Swedish philanderer's intentions. 4) We were going to make a joke about that, but a Man City spokesman did it for us: "I don't think she should be planning any weddings," he said, while twisting the knife.
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In TheGame
Was the secret of Liverpool's stuttering form staring TheGame Podcast in the face all along? They've been pulling out their hair trying to work out the reasons for the team's lost form, but after the boys spoke to Xabi and Mikel Alonso, some of you think it's blindingly obvious why the Merseyside club have lost form: because Xabi hasn't been playing. Gabriele Marcotti and Guillem Balague have been answering your comments on TheGame blog .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/meet-the-alonso.html
In "The Soul of Manchester United in 50 Moments", Times Online's latest must-not-miss list, Bill Edgar has revealed the top 25 reasons why United are the club they are today. From Fergie's U-turn in 2002 to ...? (And yes, they do have a soul.)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2624171.ece
John Relish, the Bath City manager, tells Walter Gammie , our Non-League expert, why he's scared he may have to start wearing a hoodie if his team get turned over in the FA Cup tomorrow.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/facing-a-homeco.html
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 in this week's Game Debate to the unheralded challenge of Stephen Jenner. Well, maybe. It's certainly gone to points...
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/the-debate-ma-1.html
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Owen: I won't say sorry - The Sun
* Blues set to dump rebel Lamps ... and Drogba could go too - Daily Mirror
* McClaren facing loss of Terry for qualifiers - The Independent
* Grant wants £100m Kaka - Daily Express
* Captain crock: new Terry scare as he faces scan on knee - Daily Mail
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
Scott Carson should undoubtedly be given the chance [for England]. In Charlton's desperate and unsuccessful battle to avoid relegation last season he was the only player who performed consistently well. Witness a loan player getting voted player of the year! Plus he's got the shortest run-up for kicking the ball than any keeper I've seen but still sends it miles...Not a particularly essential prerequisite for an England keeper maybe, but what the hell, vote for him anyway.
Sean McGranaghan from South East London, also a fan of the standing jump and one-inch punch, appreciates the finer points of goalkeeping.
There's a certain Mr Green that stands between the sticks for West Ham that you seem to have overlooked during your diatribe regarding the National No 1 jersey. That said, in Robbo's defence (and yes, I am a Spurs supporter), to say he doesn't compare to Calamity with spectacular saves if just plain ignorant. For sure, there have been times when he's handled the ball like a drunk hoopster in the NBA, which probably cost us a respectable place in the table. However, there are times when the Ledley King(less) defence were dug out of the crapper 'cause he stood on his head. Keep it real fellas...
Is Matt McGraw sticking up for the "drunk hoopster" or is he just a big fan of breakbeat lavatory acrobatics? Not sure, but we like the cut of his jib.
Taking considerable interest in English football, I spend as much time as possible to watch any Premier League match. Since a few months Robert Green from West Ham has impressed me a lot. Why isn't Steve McClaren aware of his performance? Even if he's on the payroll of a club which is hardly ever a contender for the title that doesn't mean they don't have outstanding players. Calamity James soon will be too old for international games, Robinson is a disgrace. Anyone else for Robert Green??
Trust us, Dr Ingrid Doneus , you are not alone.
In response to the lad (Rhys) who was campaigning that rugby is better than football, as you rightly pointed out, a football-based email is probably not the best forum for such a perspective. As a football fan, I thought I'd set the record straight(er).
1. Football is more skilful than rugby. Most people will probably think I'm opening a can of worms with this one, but I'd say you could give any human (with arms) on the planet a ball, and say hold this and run over that line and place it on the grass. If you said to them, do some keepy-ups or balance it on your head, only footballers would be able to do it with any degree of skill.
2. There's not really any showboating in rugby. In football, you could watch the Brazilians or Cris Ron kick a ball around all day.
3. This one isn't true of late, but there tend to be far more upsets in football than rugby. Underdogs get results more often in football. With rugby people will cite results like France beating NZ as an upset, but that's a bit more like Liverpool beating Man U, than someone like Coventry beating Man U.
4. Football fans have better songs, and produce better atmosphere. Rugby fans copy football songs or sing lame hymns etc.
5. Football players often do things which are unbelievable, e.g. 30-yard rockets. Rugby "screamers" tend to be someone really big and fast running around lots of people, which I find less impressive.
6. Mistakes in football are funnier, e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96bf03Budpk
7. Rugby is slower and has loads of stoppages.
I'm sure there's a lot more reasons, but my boss is looking at me as if he wants to see what the essay I've been typing away on for the last 5 minutes.
David Evans from Cardiff is an Aston Villa and a Cheltenham Town fan - and he STILL loves football, showing how the game moves in mysterious ways. And there's another reason for you...
John Hopoate played rugby league not union.
So tell us, Mark Attwood of Australia, what's the difference?
The real problem with footie - "the beautiful game...?" - is that so often one goal makes the difference between success and failure... [lots of words in here]... which makes the watching of pro football about as interesting as watching paint dry... as against either Rugby Union or League, as demonstrated in RWC 2007 or the recent Super League competitions.
Paul Southon , explains why he is "now of Villemoustaussou, France". Driven out, we suspect.
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
- Cole feeling vulnerable
- Allardyce hits out
And expect...
Gareth Southgate to go down with Clostridium difficile.
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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