AHEAD OF THE GAME
Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, November 8, 2007. 1600 BST
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The news in 60 seconds
BERBA NOT OFF
Stroppy Spurs striker Dimitar Berbatov has denied reports that he is unhappy at White Hart Lane, despite appearances. "I want to let everyone know that I am a Tottenham Hotspur player, I love the club and everyone at the club," he told the club's website. He also went on to explain why he always looks so sad, but more of that later.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2830760.ece
SILVA WHINING
Gilberto Silva is the latest player to scotch rumours of a Berba-strop. The Arsenal midfield player has admitted to being a bit narked that he can't get a game but denied that he refused to play at centre back in the Carling Cup. He's even thinking about extending his contract.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2831347.ece
GOOD NEWS FOR RIO
Nemanja Vidic will win headers and 50/50s for Rio Ferdinand until at least 2012 after signing a two-year contract extension. "Playing in this team is a great privilege," Vidic said. "This is such a great club and I am delighted to be able to extend my stay here."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article2832036.ece
'BORED' ROONEY
Wayne Rooney has complained that he felt "bored" during the Champions League match against Dynamo Kiev - and he's not alone. With Arsenal's B team getting a goalless draw, this week's European matches were like the Carling Cup, but without the cheap tickets.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article2828262.ece
BINYA APOLOGISES
Benfica's Augustin Binya has said he will phone Scott Brown to apologise after he was sent off for trying to snap the Celtic player in half like a piece of dried spaghetti. He says it was "a strong challenge" but "I didn't intend to injure him".
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article2830842.ece
GULLIT TO GALAXY
As if LA Galaxy don't have enough sex appeal with David Beckham and Posh smiling and pouting for the cameras, Ruud Gullit is about to be named manager. Gullit, who coined the phrase "sexy football" when he was Chelsea manager, will have his deal confirmed tomorrow.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2827789.ece
OWEN'S TEXT FEST
Kieren Fallon, the jockey at the centre of a race-fixing scandal, has revealed that Michael Owen exchanged daily texts with him about tips.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/racing/article2826825.ece
UEFA CUP ACTION
If the Champions League is like the Carling Cup, does that make the Uefa Cup like the Johnstone's Paint Trophy? Bolton Wanderers take on Bayern Munich, Everton play Nuremberg and Tottenham Hotspur have already started their match against Hapoel Tel-Aviv. Keep up to date with our live match tracker.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame, more unpredictable than the Champions League group stage
* 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
QUOTES FROM UNCLE BULGARIA
It seems the influence of Tony Soprano lives on at White Hart Lane despite the departure of his doppelganger Martin Jol. Dimitar Berbatov is so upset by stories claiming to quote everyone from his brother, dad, auntie, third cousin twice removed and Uncle Bulgaria that he's started behaving like a member of the Mafioso, warning the press off messing with his family.
"The worst thing is when someone starts writing lies and when people see that they start to believe it. That really is the worst thing," he said before warning that the perpetrators would end up sleeping with the fish. "When I see things in the paper with somebody telling lies about my father, how can I be calm? I am disappointed and I don't understand how somebody can write something like that - it is a lie. Bringing my family into it is the biggest sin."
With those sunken features and eyes the colour of a referee's shirt, the Bulgarian looks more like a hitman than we dare to consider. But in any case our source - doff of the hat to one of our esteemed colleagues - would suggest he has a point about the veracity of the quotes, even if he's still going to be out the club quicker than Aaron Lennon (who's not leaving, but is very fast).
Berbatov also took the chance to explain why he has the sourest face since Rafael Benitez was cross-bred with a wet fish. As he told the club's website, he's got plenty of reasons to be grumpy, and not just because he wants to leave. "I don't smile because we are near the bottom of the table and have not been playing well - I have not been playing well either," he said.
Ahead of the Game is prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, although only because it doesn't want to wake up in bed with a horse's head for a foot warmer.
MICAH'S CHEEKY ADMISSION
Stephen Ireland got away with it lightly - and not just because the FA decided not to charge him over his Supergran celebration. Walking around in your pants in front of 40,000 people is pretty embarrassing, but it could have been worse if Micah Richards had carried out his pledge to get his kit off along with his team-mate. Richards, who missed the match, has had a pop at the killjoys who accused Ireland of lowering standards as well as shorts. "It is not as though he was naked or anything and it was not hurting anyone so I do not really see anything wrong with it," he told his online column. "To be honest, I was supposed to do that celebration with him. We both bought the same pants at the same time!"
Leaving aside the image of Micah and Stephen wandering around the Marks & Sparks underwear aisle in search of a pair of matching Y-fronts, it's probably just as well. Given that Ireland is built like Lois Lane to Richards's Superman, he probably doesn't need an inferiority complex to go with all his other alleged psychological problems.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26
Goals in eight Champions League matches last night. Arsenal, the highest scorers in the group stage, didn't get any.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A quickie before you go, sir?
ZLAT'LL DO NICELY
Zlatan Ibrahimovic with a spectacular strike for Inter Milan. He may be more overrated than Facebook but there's no doubting the quality of this goal for Inter Milan last night. He rates it as one of his top five.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT9fx_CVqyM
PHYSIO THERAPY
Can you imagine Gary Lewin doing this? A cheeky goalline clearance with a difference as the physio leaps to the rescue of his goalkeeper to nod the ball clear. He doesn't even look guilty. If you can tell us where and when it happened, e-mail the usual address. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT9fx_CVqyM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE TABLOID ROMANCE<<<<<
GENOA GOOD PLACE WE CAN GET MARRIED? - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Coleen McLoughlin is eyeing up a fairytale Italian castle as the venue for her wedding to soccer sweetheart Wayne Rooney. 2) Coleen has been pictured in an Italian restaurant (that's a restaurant in Italy rather than a posh eaterie selling pizza) looking at locations. 3) She can probably afford it. The couple, who are planning to get married next year, are believed to have signed a £1.5 million deal for the photo rights to the wedding.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In TheGame
Martin Samuel started out by having a go at Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, and finished up getting sour about milkmen, the Gielgud Theatre, the cost of translators at Leeds United and anyone who doesn't understand the basics of market economics. Essential reading.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/the-debate-mart.html
In Fanzine Fanzone, Ric, our Manchester City fan, contemplates the possibility of his club's first semi-final in 26 years - and even after seven straight home victories he's preparing himself for the worst. But if he thinks he's got it bad, imagine how our Sunderland fan feels about it all.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Walter Gammie , our resident non-League expert, on how Sutton United are keeping an even keel despite a rough ride.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/sutton-united-r.html
On TheGame Podcast , Gabriele Marcotti and Guillem Balague debate the hot talking topics in a bumper edition.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/article2792288.ece
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Four-midable: 'Bored' Roo fires United into last 16 - Daily Mirror
* Berbat-off: Ramos will let striker join United - The Sun
* Bored games: Rooney blasts dreary Dynamo - Daily Express
* Ronaldo lights up United's smooth progress - The Independent
* United front: 'Bored' Wayne joins Gunners in the last 16 - Daily Mail
* United show strength with swift progress - The Guardian
* Mission accomplished for United and Arsenal - The Daily Telegraph
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Soapbox
Crouch is an impact player because he is awkward - he is only good for 20-30 mins. Once that is done, teams realise how to defend him. Your maths may be right [after AOTG calculated that Liverpool struggle to score without him], but I think it is coincidence and the lack of form from superior players, such as Torres. Crouch is most effective as a change-up from the bench.
Low Rider
I think Benitez is ruining this team. At the beginning of the season, I thought that with the new players bought in the summer, they would go all the way. Then Benitez started rotating and what happened? Superstars Torres, Benayoun, Pennant, Crouch etc began to display erratic form, play anxiously, pick up injuries. The team lost matches. Benitez brings players back before they have recovered fitness, they get injured again (Alonso and Torres). This is madness. Benitez is not a fool but he is misguided. He must get back to a settled team. Most of all a team built around Crouchy!
Harry Danher (an ex-Scouser, although we're not sure what that is)
Crouch is one of those players who takes time to get the confidence to play well for a team. At Saints he took a while to feel secure and again at Liverpool. Since he started to feel at home I would say he has been one of their better players - and he is not all about goalscoring either. Whenever I see him play he does the workmanlike part of football without much fuss and he hardly ever wastes a pass. Good player and they would be stupid to leave him off the team sheet. Hell. I would have him back at Saints (if we can get back into the Premier) any time.
Rory Coughlan with an offer Crouch can refuse
Send your views to sport@timesonline.co.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow's news today
- All the reports and reaction from tonight's Uefa Cup matches
And expect...
Rafa Benitez and Dimitar Berbatov to be pictured together with big cheesy grins
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