AHEAD OF THE GAME
Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, November 12, 2007. 1600 BST
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The news in 60 seconds
LEHMANN LEAVING?
Calamity Jens has admitted he may have to leave Arsenal. The goalkeeper was 38 on Saturday but Arsene Wenger has refused to play goalkeeping pass-the-parcel. He's sticking with Manuel Almunia against Reading tonight and Lehmann admits he may leave in January.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article2857048.ece
BEAUTIFUL JOHNSON
Glen Johnson is too handsome for his own good, at least according to his manager. 'Arry Redknapp has backed the Portsmouth right back to play for England and dismissed talk of laziness. "For me, he's never had a bad attitude," 'Arry said. "He can't help being good-looking - he was born like it."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2857803.ece
RICHARDS IN MIDDLE
Steve McClaren believes Micah Richards could be the solution to the muddle in the middle. With Rio Ferdinand suspended and John Terry injured, the England head coach would have no hesitation in using the Manchester City defender as a centre back against Croatia.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2858051.ece
BENAYOUN BLOW
Not even Steven Gerrard can convince Yossi Benayoun to risk his health by playing for Israel against Russia. "Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch have been driving me crazy in the last few weeks," Benayoun said. "But my health is more important than England's needs." Honestly Yossi, it's not.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2855467.ece
McCLAREN'S MARCHING ORDERS
The head coach should be given more than just the summer off if England fail to reach Euro 2008, according to Martin Samuel. Our Chief Football Correspondent says his position would be untenable and warns the FA it has nothing but pain to gain from standing by its man.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article2852725.ece
RIOTS IN ITALY
Football fans rampaged in Rome yesterday after a policeman accidentally shot dead a Lazio supporter while trying to break up a fight at a service station. The death of Gabriele Sandri, 26, a clothes shop manager and part-time disc jockey, has plunged Italian football into fresh turmoil.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2852774.ece
PETROV PLEDGE
Stiliyan Petrov is confident that he can avoid being labelled as just another overhyped, overpriced flop from the SPL. The Aston Villa midfield player returned to form in the Second City derby and says he is ready to show his best form at last.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/aston_villa/article2857947.ece
BARMY BARTON
Big Sam says the only reason the FA is scrutinising the vicious waist-high, studs-up tackle by Joey Barton on Dickson Etuhu is the player's bad boy reputation. As his reputation is built on just those kind of challenges, Allardyce probably has a point, but not the one he intended.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article2852932.ece
BEST UNITED EVER
Sir Alex Ferguson says he has his best ever Manchester United squad. The pumice-faced manager has been bragging about his club's latest crop of talent after their eighth win in nine matches put them top of the table.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2853061.ece
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame, the hottest ticket since the Tyne-Wear derby
* 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
COLEMAN'S SOAP OPERA
Some serious embarrassment for Chris Coleman this weekend after he got in a spin about a washing machine. The Real Sociedad manager rocked up to a press briefing an hour and a half late and tried to fob off the irate media with a story about plumbing problems flooding his flat. Unfortunately, it turns out that the former Fulham man was just trying to avoid washing his dirty linen in public after a night on a different type of tile. Coleman had been spotted partying in a local taverna until 5am, so the Welshman realised his excuse just wouldn't, erm, wash. He claimed he was trying to "take the pressure off the club" by doing a Stephen Ireland (lying, not getting a hair job or flashing his pants) and that he would ask "for forgiveness from the fans and everyone connected with the club". Still, we're sure it was all just good clean fun.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2852967.ece
AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS - THE DEBATE
There will be more holes in the Chelsea midfield than Coleman's excuses when the African Cup of Nations kicks off in January. The event, which has existed since 1957, has apparently taken Chelsea boss Avram Grant by surprise. He's wondering how he will cope when John Obi Mikel, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba disappear in January. In contrast, Martin Samuel is wondering why Chelsea couldn't see this coming. It's not like the players have changed nationality overnight. Join the debate - have managers got the right to moan about the absence of their African stars?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/the-debate-our-.html
SHOOTING FROM THE HIP
Marcus Hahnemann isn't just a bit of a loose cannon, he also owns some. Reading's red-neck goalkeeper has been boasting that he owns "about 17" guns - including a couple of AR15s (whatever they are), semi-autos, compact 45s and old style Western revolvers. "I even make my own bullets," he warned. Ahead of the Game is not the kind of e-mail to taunt anyone who confuses Arsenal with a cupboard full of guns, but fortunately we didn't do the interview. Kaveh Solhekol risks getting a cap in the seat of his Armani suit by asking why Hahnemann drives a dodgy white Porsche and listens to Slipknot.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/qa-marcus-hahne.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11
League goals Portsmouth have scored at home this season. That sounds OK, until you realise seven of them came against Reading at the end of September, since when they have not scored at home.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A quickie before you go, sir?
LIVE PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS
Tim Cahill is head over heels after his spectacular equaliser against Chelsea, Joe Hart keeps Portsmouth at bay on the South Coast, Gabriel Agbonlahor hands Birmingham City defeat in the Second City derby and Fernando Torres reminds us all why Liverpool paid £20 million for him. Highlights from all the weekend's Premier League matches, free of charge.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece
WELL HEELED
A bit of harmless skill. No studs up, no moaning at the referee, no all-night benders: just a nice backheel that leaves the goalie groping at thin air.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAiy_vQJKRY
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
WINE ROONEY - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney really is a vintage pro - he's become a wine connoisseur. 2) Everyone is used to the forward seeing red, but it turns out his favourite tipple is sauvignon blanc. 3) And cynics who reckon Rooney thinks sauvignon is the brother of Laurent, the former United centre back, are not so far off the mark. Wine buff Fergie teases Wayne about not knowing the difference between wine and vinegar. 4) There is a joke about the forward liking a more mature vintage, but we won't make it. She was corked.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In TheGame
Gareth Harrison, our Newcastle man, describes what it's like to share a stand with a billionaire, maintain a 27-year unbeaten record and escape from Sunderland with a point. In contrast, James Henderson, our Black Cat, explains why close was not close enough in the Tyne-Wear derby. Fanzine Fanzone : it's the fans' voice and it demands to be heard.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed what's on his iPod and his reward is a place on the topical barometer . Alan Carr says his choices - which include the likes of Ricky Martin, Christina and Leona Lewis - are camper than a VW van.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/alan-carrs-to-1.html
In Tony's Fiver , Cascarino says Middlesbrough should hold fire over Gareth Southgate - it's players they need, not a new manager.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/tony-cascarin-2.html
Tim Cahill's equaliser may have come out of the blue, but the smart money was always on a 1-1 draw. Bill Edgar tells you why as he crunches the weekend in numbers.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/weekend-in-numb.html
Pongo Waring scores all four goals, Andy Gray helps the Villains to smash five past Liverpool and Peter Withe nets the winning goal against Bayern Munich in the European Cup final - all in The Greatest Aston Villa Games .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/the-greatest-as.html
The best of your letters to TheGame . Whether you want to start an argument, join the debate or put us right on any of the above, we're happy to oblige.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/talking-to-the-.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Cesc: I'll stay for life - The Sun
* 21 RON SALUTE: Fergie says Ronaldo and Co are my best ever side - Daily Mirror
* Ferguson: this is the best squad I've ever had - The Daily Telegraph
* Ronaldo's double top - Daily Express
* My Invincibles: Fergie hails best ever United squad - Daily Mail
* Ronaldo rolls over Rovers in drive to the top - The Guardian
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow's news today
- Martin Samuel watches Arsenal try to reclaim top spot
- Playing for keeps: Ramos gets defensive over Robinson
- Svennis gives England his backing
And expect...
Chris Coleman to claim that he was at his grandmother's wake.
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