Ahead of the Game

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

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Monday, November 19, 2007. 1600 GMT
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The news in 60 seconds

BRUCE GETS WIGAN GIG
Steve Bruce will be sticking his big broken nose into affairs at the JJB Stadium after he was named the new Wigan Athletic manager. Dave Whelan has described Bruce as "one of the best young managers in the land", which is probably the most comprehensive vote of confidence Steve McClaren has ever had. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2900722.ece

JEWELL FAVOURITE
It could only happen in football. Paul Jewell is favourite to replace Steve Bruce as manager of Birmingham City. The former Wigan boss, who declined the chance to go back to the JJB, is 5-1 to jump on to the managerial merry-go-round.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/betting/article2901897.ece

BENITEZ ON BOARD
The Bearded One has pledged his future to Liverpool, despite reports that he is being courted by Bayern Munich. "Even if I was approached I would tell whichever club it was that I am really happy with my club," Benitez said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article2901965.ece

LAY OFF THE BOOS, SAYS COLE
Joe Cole says that his mate Frank Lampard has taken his game to a new level and urged fans not to boo him. "When you buy that match ticket, and you come and support your country, you've got a job to do in supporting your country and there is no point coming and booing players," Cole said. "It don't help no one."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2902073.ece

CROUCH TO BE LONE STAR
Peter Crouch says he is happy to play up front on his own in England's Must-Not-Lose qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday. "I've done it before and I've done it for England," he said. Sadly he didn't add that playing up front on his own was a bit like playing alongside Jermain Defoe anyway. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2902049.ece

BILIC BACKING
Slaven Bilic, the Croatia coach and former West Ham United defender, says Steve McClaren is a good manager and should stay on as England head coach (yes, that's the same Slaven Bilic who mocked McClaren after his experiment with 3-5-2 in October). He says England have been unlucky with injuries.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2900316.ece

BECKHAM'S LAST WALTZ
If Friday's friendly in Vienna proved one thing - and not just that it shouldn't have been played - it was that David Beckham is in no fit shape to play for England. Martin Samuel says that the England head coach must face up to the reality and bring back Shaun Wright-Phillips.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article2896661.ece

NO PRESSURE NOW, THEN
Israel's victory over Russia could mean as much as £1 billion to the English economy - that's if England avoid defeat against Croatia on Wednesday, of course. So no pressure, lads, just play with the freedom of a man with nothing to lose but a nation's solvency.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2896755.ece

BIG SCALPS IN ALPS
Complacent, moi? The Times is so overconfident about Wednesday that it has printed a guide to next summer's tournament in Austria and Switzerland, complete with advice on the draw, tickets and the Wankdorf Stadium. Sadly we fear you'll be burning it on Thursday morning.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2896705.ece

BROKENHEARTS
Scotland have been doing a passable impression of the English as they bemoan the referee, linesman and anyone else in shouting distance after defeat by Italy. Their brave campaign was ended after a controversial refereeing decision allowed the Italians to snatch a winner (but don't mention Scotland's dodgy equaliser and the fact Italy had a perfectly good goal disallowed for a non-existent offside).
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/euro_2008/article2897035.ece

MARRIED TO THE JOB
Liam Daish, the Webbsfleet ISDN manager, thought answering to 20,000 fans was bad - that was before he discovered his wife had spent her £35 and was now demanding a say in team tactics as well. Walter Gammie, our non-League expert, witnessed the club's first match since the takeover.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article2896386.ece

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>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame, it helps wile away the hours during international week
* 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

IT WAS TIMES ONLINE WOT WON IT!
Now, some of you may think that Steve McClaren should be thanking Israel for saving his job. The rest of you are probably thanking Dmitry Sychev, or the post that kept his shot out, for keeping our Euro 2008 chances alive (if not for keeping the head coach in his job). But like The Sun on the morning after an election, AOTG knows just where to look when the laurels are being handed out. And that's in the mirror.
We want to take our share of the credit for Israel's remarkable victory over Russia. After all, if it wasn't for the messages of support that we sent to Israel - and the angry e-mails we received from Cyril Cyrillic and his Russian friends - they might never have taken the match seriously.
AOTG would also like to point out that, after receiving about 822 messages of abuse from our Russian friends, our inbox is at present quieter than a linesman on a night out in Glasgow.
Anyway, today we are inviting you to send your messages of thanks to Omer Golan, Tal Ben Haim, Elyaniv Barda and the rest of the Israel team. After all, it is thanks to their integrity and commitment that we are still dreaming of big scalps in the Alps.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/send-your-messa.html

CARRAGHER ON THEGAME PODCAST
We've heard what the Minister for Sport thinks about the foreign influx, we know what Arsene Wenger believes - now it's time for the players' verdict. On TheGame Podcast this week, Jamie Carragher talks about the flood of international players and admits that he would never have made it at Liverpool if he was coming through the ranks today. But before you worry, the Liverpool centre back is not whingeing like Alex McLeish - he offers a stark reminder of what football was like in the 1970s and 80s, when England were also struggling to qualify for big tournaments. Elsewhere, Matt Dickinson reveals himself as a closet Steve McClaren fan, while Gabriele Marcotti ponders the wisdom of risking Michael Owen in a pointless match. Online from 6pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/
On our EuroGame Podcast, catch up with the news and analysis from around Europe. Guillem Balague explains how Villarreal are mounting a surprise title challenge on the back of South American flair, a superb youth system and a Manchester United reject, while the team look at why cheap ticket prices and packed stadiums mean German fans have never had it so good (so long as they don't want to win in Europe).
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/article2878699.ece

JOIN THE DEBATE
Martin Samuel wants to know whether there is something fundamentally wrong with English football fans. Our Chief Football Correspondent's latest beef is terrace segregation. Why do we have such a big problem with fans mixing in football grounds? Shouldn't they be allowed to mix and match - or are we more concerned with providing a breeding ground for small-minded prejudices?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/the-debate-weve.html

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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
WHAT OI VEY TO TREAT A HERO - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) The man who saved England's Euro 2008 hopes cannot claim a Mercedes prize for his winning goal. 2) Omer Golan scored in the last minute of Israel's victory over Russia, but killjoy Israeli officials refused to let him collect the car, pledged to him by BetFred. 3) But don't fear - the artful bookie has guaranteed himself a couple more days of publicity by promising to fight the ban. "I said I'd give a Mercedes to the Israel player who scored the winning goal and I want the boy to have it," Fred Done said. 4) If that fails, AOTG will take it off his hands (provided someone pays the insurance for us).
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A quickie before you go, sir?

SLAYING A DRAGON
David Beckham discussing his role as Prince Charming for a Walt Disney shoot. Worth watching, just to hear the immortal line: "I'm the Prince, and I'm slaying a dragon, which is something I have never done before." A suitable metaphor for someone who can no longer tell the difference between a fairytale end to his career and a Mickey Mouse publicity stunt?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry7ZCFU7TSQ

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10
Croatia's world ranking. England are No 11.
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In TheGame

England may have been handed a lifeline, but after punching the numbers, doing the equations and calculating the odds, Bill Edgar shows it's nothing to be proud of. The weekend in numbers.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/weekend-in-nu-1.html
"Hi ho, hi ho! No, it's not the sound of a Premier League footballer chatting up a hooker, it's the rumours that Disney is set to take over Derby." Alan Carr on the this week's Topical Barometer .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/alan-carrs-to-2.html
Shockjock Jon Gaunt tells QA why football is in danger of eating itself, why Gordon Brown would give a rubbish half-time team talk and why he'd never waste his money on Coventry City.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/jon-gaunt---sho.html
In Tony's Fiver , Cascarino explains why putting your international shirt on is a decent excuse to put your feet up.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/tony-cascarin-3.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Looser to winner: Mac locked in toilet as Israel give us lifeline - The Sun
* McClaren flushed with hope as Terry fights for fitness - The Independent
* Loo-ser to winner: McClaren locked himself in the toilet - Daily Mirror
* Now let's finish the job, says McClaren - The Daily Telegraph
* No hiding place: McClaren warns England after admitting he could not watch - Daily Express
* The game of our lives: Gerrard rallies his lucky stars - Daily Mail
* We must fear the unthinkable, warns McClaren - The Guardian
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

How about so bleeding obvious that the WHOLE COUNTRY can see - and have been able to for AGES [that Lampard and Gerrard can't play together] - so WHY THE F... can't the boss?
If we could answer Daniel Rickard 's question, we would.

David Bentley's last three games have been against Liverpool, Man Utd and Spurs. Shaun Wright-Phillips' were against Everton, Wigan and Man City. Two games ago and Beckham was playing against the guitarist from Def Leppard!!!
Is Davster having a pop at Everton, Wigan and Man City as well as the bloke from Def Leppard?

Beckham's placement of free kicks means that he is always an extreme threat to the opposition. When he is on the field the opposition has to play a strategy of not giving away any free kicks which in turn can lead to them probably being hesitant about making crucial tackles. If only used for his pinpoint kicking and the disruption to the opposition game plan, Beckham is still a more than valuable player in the England line-up.
Someone had to stick up for Beckham, so we thought we'd let George Brink do it

While going over the various interviews for the upcoming games involving Scotland and England, I noticed a potentially fascinating contrast.
Overachiever Alex McLeish - who must become known as 'Sir Eck' if we qualify - is quoted as saying: "We may not win the game, but I tell you the players won't bottle it, that's for sure." Very nice. And then there is Steve McClown. He has been involved with the England team for how many years? And how long is it since England have overachieved? Anyway, his quotation is: "I fully expect us to have qualified for the campaign." How incredibly arrogant is that? He expects qualification? The difference between the two campaigns is precisely that: the England team expect to qualify, while the Scots deserve to.
Sadly, Allan Gillespie has learnt that life ain't fair. Our commiserations

Send your mail to: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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Tomorrow's news today

- Martin Samuel on why Crouch needs to break new ground and score against a good team
- Under starter's orders: who plays and who misses out in Wednesday's match
- Tony Cascarino on the manager's future

And expect...

Paul Jewell to move to Birmingham ... it's gotta happen

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http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2187217.ece

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