AHEAD OF THE GAME
Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail
--------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, October 23, 2007. 1600 BST
--------------------------------------------------------
The news in 60 seconds
RAFA UNAPOLOGETIC
Rafael Benitez has said he would substitute Stevie G again if necessary in Liverpool's Champions League tie against Besiktas tomorrow. He denied, though, that he had a row with his captain after withdrawing him at the weekend.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article2725148.ece
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Tonight's Champions League matches feature Manchester United at Dynamo Kiev, Arsenal at home to Slavia Prague and a potential classic between Rangers and Barcelona at Ibrox. You can follow them all with our live match tracker.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/
GALLAS PUTS BOOT IN
Never one to miss an opportunity to criticise Chelsea, William Gallas has said Arsenal play more entertaining football than his former club. Worryingly for Slavia Prague, Arsenal's Champions League opponents tonight, Arsene Wenger has promised that his side can get even better.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2719606.ece
MAKS ATTACK
Perhaps you've heard of Maksim Shatskikh. A hero in his native Uzbekistan and recently the scorer of five goals against Taiwan, Shatskikh is Dynamo Kiev's key man and will front their attack against Manchester United tonIght. Sir Alex Ferguson is still confident of victory, though. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article2719600.ece
LYONS WANT DROGBA
Jean-Micheal Aulas, the Lyons president, has admitted he would love to sign Didier Drogba, whose fragile heart was broken by the departure of Jose Mourinho. "Everything is possible in football," the scheming Aulas said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2719760.ece
SKY BLUES EMBARGOED
Coventry City have had a transfer embargo placed on them by the Football League after a proposed club takeover collapsed. What difference it will make is unclear. In debt to the tune of £28million, the cheques at Iain Dowie's club had a certain bouncebackability anyway.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article2723819.ece
SOUNESS RULES OUT BOLTON
Graeme Souness is no longer in the running to become the new Bolton Wanderers manager. Apparently Souness had a chat with Phil Gartside, the Bolton chief executive, and decided he'd rather spend time in the Sky Sports studio.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/bolton/article2724059.ece
DIMITAR DISOBEYS
Martin Jol described Tottenham Hotspur's defending as disastrous against Newcastle United last night. Dimitar Berbatov wasn't happy either, refusing to warm up as a replacement and then cold-shouldering his manager at the final whistle.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2709564.ece
NEVILLE STILL POSITIVE
Phil Neville believes that Israel will get a result against Russia and allow England to qualify for Euro 2008. Fair play to Neville. After almost a decade of being trumped by younger full-backs, he still says good things about the national team.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2723984.ece
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame, and don't sign Dimitar Berbatov
* 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
While other British managers fall in line with the so-called continental approach to match preparation, AotG was delighted to hear that Alex McLeish has stayed true to Glasgow's singular culinary traditions during his side's Euro 2008 qualification campaign. Untroubled by the gastric possibilities of a good vindaloo, the Scotland manager has taken his squad to Mr Singh's India, a curry house in Glasgow, before each of their home games. McLeish became familiar with Mr Singh's during his time as Rangers manager, partly because Mr Singh is a huge fan of his former club. Presumably McLeish will book a table before the critical qualifier against Italy next month. Our suggestion? Go for the Madras, lads, and add fire to your belly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3
Number of wins achieved by Fulham in their past 30 league matches
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A quickie before you go, sir?
Watch Newcastle push Martin Jol closer to the dole queue with our televised highlights from their handsome victory over Tottenham last night. You'll also find the best action from all the weekend's matches.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>> THE TABLOID SCANDAL <<<<<
Some might spray - The Sun
What's the story: 1.) Noel Gallagher upset Colleen McLoughlin by not taking seriously a birthday request for Wayne Rooney. 2.) The Manchester City-supporting singer signed a guitar that Colleen bought for Wayne with the message "Happy Birthday Fatboy" and sprayed it light blue. 3.) It's an old gag - Noel once signed much worse on a guitar for Gary Neville
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What's in The Game
In the Game Podcast, Tony Cascarino sits down with sports psychologist Dr Jim Golby and asks if the England players' mental approach is holding them back. In a fiery debate with Guillem Balague , Tony also says Rafael Benitez was right to substitute Steven Gerrard against Everton. Neither shrinks from the argument.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/article2709966.ece
In the Fanzine Fanzone Gareth Harrison has valiantly resisted the effects of (another) long hangover and posted a tribute to a suddenly solid Newcastle defence and a formation - get this - that doesn't favour the Allardyce long ball. http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2007/10/hangovers-on-a-.html
In the Game Debate , Tony has sparked some impassioned reponse by suggesting that the FA consider Harry Redknapp for the England job. Most of you agree, though a few dismiss Harry as cheque-book manager. Imagine.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/the-debate-redk.html
Worried that David Moyes might spontaneously combust if he is the victim of another contentious referee's decision, Tom Dart reckons that the Premier League should start importing the best officials from abroad.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/mark-clattered.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>> THE RIVALS <<<<<
Fergie: Rooney and Tevez are my new Cole and Yorke - Daily Mirror
Theo sets benchmark for Arsene contenders - Daily Mail
Come and join us, Ipswich tell Beckham - The Daily Telegraph
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
"Having recently been to Naples I feel that the fine imposed upon Inter is a little harsh. Had they [Inter fans] displayed a banner reading 'Naples, the sewer of Europe' they may well have avoided financial penalties." The banner said Naples was the "sewer of Italy". Thanks to Matt Keeler for the qualification.
"The Tottenham board have to take action. The director of football has done nothing to help. Comolli is just as culpable as Jol and Hughton. He has recruited the wrong sort of players over the summer and the coaching staff have done little to work on the areas needed. It is clear Spurs need to practise defending. The midfield is lightweight. Jenas, Zokora and Malbranque lack both the competitive edge to dominate games and have no ideas or creativity. Jol needs to play Boateng, Huddlestone, Taarabt and Lennon when fit. They cannot do any worse. Spurs have no direction or leadership and cannot rely on King being fit. Jermain Defoe must start as at least he displays a love for the club." Anthony Graham, from London, wants an overhaul at White Hart Lane.
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow's news today
- Unrivalled coverage from tonight's Champion League matches
- Gary Jacob examines the crisis at White Hart Lane
- The fallout from the FAI's emergency meeting
And expect . . .
Attempting to explain a naan-flat performance at Ibrox, Barcelona question the motivations of the oddly hospitable local restaurateur they visited the night before.
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
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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