Ahead of the Game: Ronaldo Begging For It

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

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Tuesday, October 2, 2007. 1600 BST
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The news in 60 seconds

RONALDO BEGGING FOR IT
Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester United winker, has taunted the Roma defenders before tonight's Champions League match. Talking about United's 7-1 victory over the Italians last season, he said: "We were already winning 6-0. 'Don't do any more dribbles, you are already winning by six,' said one of them, almost begging." Ronaldo wouldn't tell us who said it, but we suspect the answer will be in his first 50/50 tonight.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article2570480.ece

WENGER'S QUEST FOR BEAUTY
Arsene Wenger has gone all misty eyed about Arsenal's chic football. He says that the team are beginning to marry efficiency with aesthetic appeal before tonight's match against Steaua Bucharest. He's even admitted to being embarrassed by his team's disciplinary record.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2570481.ece

McCLAREN'S BARRY HINT
Steve McClaren has dropped the biggest hint yet that Gareth Barry, England's answer to Makelele, could keep his place for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia. The head coach has been talking about his friendship with Steven Gerrard, saying, "They are good together." He also says England need a national centre of excellence, for what it's worth.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2575759.ece

OFFICIAL BACKING
Brian Barwick is supporting a scheme to teach players to treat grassroots referees with respect. The FA gimmicks (sorry, initiatives) involve a roped-off area for unruly parents, allowing only the captain to abuse (sorry, talk to) the official and a "memorandum of understanding". Premier League players will be allowed to continue insulting officials at will.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2573826.ece

BECKHAM GROUNDED
David Beckham has ruled out the possibility of the inconceivable. A spokesperson for the transatlantic crock said "there will be no loan moves or short-term contracts" during LA Galaxy's off-season - meaning that there will be no reunion with Roy Keane at Sunderland.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/us_sport/article2573674.ece

KANU CAN
'Arry Redknapp is hanging out that contract carrot for Kanu again. The Portsmouth manager says that he is sure the Nigeria player will make 20 appearances this season to activate an automatic extension, but warns that if "he doesn't, he doesn't deserve another year".
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article2574584.ece

NO GUTS, NO GLORY
Ahead of the Game is running out of words with which to sarcastically praise the courage/ bravery/valour/pluck/heroism/fearlessness of John Terry. The Chelsea defender is ready to risk serious injury by playing against Valencia tomorrow in a funny face mask.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2570570.ece

ROBINSON'S UNLIKELY SPUR?
Robbie Keane says that Tottenham's second-half comeback shows how much the Tottenham team want Martin Jol to stay. Does that mean that Paul Robinson, who dropped two clangers in goal, was trying to get Jolly the sack? A bit harsh, but you can't have it both ways.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2571165.ece

DARCHEVILLE IN SQUAD
Jean-Claude Darcheville is in the Rangers squad to face Lyons despite a hamstring strain, Robin van Persie faces a late fitness test for Arsenal, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has been ruled out of the Celtic squad and Owen Hargreaves is in line to make his Champions League debut for Manchester United. All the latest Champions League team news, as it breaks.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2568217.ece

LIVE MATCH TRACKER
Keep up to date with all tonight's European and Football League action with our live match tracker, including teams and goal updates as they go in.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/

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>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame, more forthright than Brian Barwick
* 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

GERRARD PLAYS HOLDING ROLE
Only Steven Gerrard could run over a child in a £175,000 Bentley and still end up looking like a decent, down-to-earth bloke. The 27-year-old, who was in Birkdale, Merseyside to see a mate, hit the 10-year-old after he reportedly dashed into the road. The kid broke his leg in the accident, but the midfield ace didn't bomb off (like he does when he's playing alongside Frank Lampard). Instead, the tearful star - who was said to have been driving slowly - stayed with the stricken boy for 20 minutes, holding his hand while he waited for the ambulance. The England star then went to the police station to give a statement and will no doubt be pictured signing the kid's cast any day now ...

JOL LOSING FACE
Some good news for Martin Jol. After last night's stunning comeback (and comedy goalkeeping), the two biggest Facebook groups championing the cause of the Tottenham manager - We Love Martin Jol and Don't Sack Martin Jol - recorded 11 and 14 more members respectively. The groups each have about 3,000 members.
But be warned: the worm is turning. Jol Out has 146 members, up by five - including one "Tom Huddlestone". However, it should be added that said "Huddlestone" lists JS Bach and Pudsey the Bear as his friends. No sign of Daniel Levy ... yet.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2317079336

BARTON TO FACE DABO
Joey Barton could come face-to-face with Ousmane Dabo, his former Manchester City team-mate, when the midfield player returns to action for Newcastle United's reserves against Manchester City tonight. The last time the two met on a pitch led to an incident that will see Barton contest assault charges in court next month.

QUEUDRUE SLAMS PREHISTORIC FULHAM
Franck Queudrue didn't want to work with Lawrie Sanchez because the Fulham manager was taking the club back to the Stone Age. "He wanted us to play like Neanderthals," the left back, who plays for Steve Bruce's Birmingham Palaeolithic, said. "But I am not a Neanderthal man. I told him I could not continue."
Ahead of the Game wonders whether Sanchez's unsophisticated instructions - presumably including such things as "When in doubt, or Cristiano Ronaldo is bearing down on you 15 yards from your own goal, boot it out" - went through his head as he dawdled on the ball before allowing the Manchester United winger to score the winner on Saturday.

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0
Goals scored by Wayne Rooney this season.
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A quickie before you go, sir?

THEGAME PODCAST
Nigel Winterburn joins Gabriele Marcotti on this week's Game Podcast. The former Arsenal defender explains how even the sophisticated Arsene Wenger is not beyond a little innocent bribery and describes who he'd rather be stuck on a desert island with: Jens Lehmann or Paolo Di Canio. The team discuss the merits of 11-goal thrillers and ask whether Chelsea are following the Leeds United road to ruin.
Kevin Day, Tony Cascarino and resident genius Bill Edgar complete the all-star line-up.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/

FREE PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS
Watch Paul Robinson's blunders and Younes Kaboul's last-minute equaliser as Tottenham Hotspur snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat in last night's thriller against Aston Villa. Premier League highlights from all the weekend's matches, free of charge.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece

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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
Sven's up for cuppa! He joins old folk for tea dances - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Footie boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is usually seen with glamorous beauties - now he's smoothing old ladies at tea dances. 2) Svennis said: "I have never been to a tea dance before. I got kisses from the ladies, too." 3) We always feared that Nancy Dell'Olio was older than she let on.
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In TheGame

Ric from Blue Moon says that Elano Ralph Blumer may sound like a Lancastrian name but the playmaker is as Brazilian as they come - and he cost Manchester City £500,000 less than Aston Villa paid for Nigel Reo-Coker. Elsewhere in Fanzine Fanzone, Colin Farmery, our Portsmouth man, says that his team's victory over Reading was no freak, while our Chelsea fan says Roman Abramovich is a stranger in his own club.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Martin Samue l says that Roman Abramovich has more money than sense if he thinks he can solve Chelsea's problems by splashing out on another ageing superstar like Ronaldinho. What do you think? Is the Brazil star the answer to Chelsea's problems or is he another Andriy Shevchenko waiting to happen?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/09/abramovichs-tra.html
Walter Gammie , our authority on all things non-league, gets to the bottom of the cheating, rancour and general skulduggery in the FA Vase.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/10/whats-in-a-name.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* My saviours: Jol thanks his plucky stars - Daily Mail
* Ka-pow: Kaboul seals Spurs comeback ... and may save Jol's job - Daily Mirror
* Jump for Jol: Spurs leave it late to save boss - Daily Express
* Spurs party after amazing revival but Jol still on brink - The Independent
* Keane's late leveller keeps Jol in Spurs job - The Guardian
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Tomorrow's news today

- Reports and reaction from Manchester United, Arsenal and Rangers in the Champions League
- Chelsea prepare to tackle Valencia, Liverpool ready for Djibril Cisse's worst and Celtic welcome AC Milan

And expect...

A cast from a broken leg, signed by Stevie Gerrard, to appear on eBay.

Spread the word. It's like pyramid selling, but without the hassle and it won't make you a penny. 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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