Ahead of the Game: Absolutely Fabio

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

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Tuesday, December 11, 2007. 1600 GMT
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The news in 60 seconds

ABSOLUTELY FABIO
Instead of the designer Armani overcoat, the designer glasses. Fabio Capello - who is famed for his cool specs - is expected to be announced as the next England head coach within days after The Special One ruled himself out. Preliminary contact has been made with the Italian and Brian Barwick is expected to meet him this week. Expect sales in Zerorh [his glass manufacturer, apparently] to rocket.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3031373.ece

ZOLA GIVES HIS BACKING
Gianfranco Zola, who is likely to join Capello's coaching staff if the legendary Italian manager gets the England job, has said that Capello is perfect for the position. "Even when Jose Mourinho was in the running I believed that Capello had even more charisma, talent and experience," Zola said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3035829.ece

CAPELLO CAN WALK THE TALK
Supporters may be worried that Capello doesn't speak English, but those close to him say that learning the lingua franca should be straightforward. "Don't worry. He is much brighter than Marcello Lippi or Claudio Ranieri," one journalist said. He already speaks Spanish.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3031371.ece

WINNING UGLY
Kaveh Solhekol warns England fans to expect Jose Mourinho on steroids after studying the methods and madness of Capello. Apparently, the Italian once squared up to Paolo Di Canio and said: "You are an ugly c*** and your face looks like a penis." Wonder what he'll make of Brian Barwick.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3031368.ece

LIVERPOOL'S MOMENT OF RECKONING
It's win or bust for Liverpool. Well, almost. Rafa Benitez's team must beat Marseilles to qualify - unless Besiktas beat Porto in the other group A match. If that happens, it's draw or bust. Still, The Bearded One says he is not feeling the strain. "If you fight to win trophies, you must be under pressure," Benitez said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3031357.ece

EXPECT FIREWORKS TONIGHT
... although fortunately not from the Marseilles players. Tony Cascarino, who used to play for the French club, says that Liverpool will be greeted by a cacophony of noise at the Stade Velodrome tonight - but that the home team are just as likely to be intimidated by the atmosphere.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/article3031359.ece

BANGURA APPLICATION TURNED DOWN
Al Bangura, the Watford midfielder, is facing deportation after he had his application to stay in the UK turned down. The club have confirmed they will launch an appeal, while Bangura says he faces witchcraft and threats to mutilate him if he returns to Sierra Leone.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3033818.ece

GIGGS HONOURED
Ryan Giggs picked up his OBE for services to sport today. The 34-year-old, who has played 736 games for Manchester United and scored his 100th league goal for United in the 4-1 win over Derby County on Saturday, said: "I'm lucky to play for such a great club for such a long time and have a successful career."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3035476.ece

WHO WILL BE NEW FA CHAIRMAN?
A massively important appointment for the future of England, clouded in secrecy and one that the FA will undoubtedly get wrong. And no, it's not another story about the next England head coach. Matt Dickinson says that an equally important decision for the governing body is deciding on its new independent chairman.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/matt_dickinson/article3031358.ece

DROGBA CALLED UP
Didier Drogba has been included in Ivory Coast's 26-man squad for the African Cup of Nations, despite having surgery on a knee three days ago. The Chelsea forward is expected to be back in action for his club in three weeks' time but has been included along with Salomon Kalou.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article3034808.ece

BUTCHER LEAVES BRENTFORD
Just seven months after taking charge of Brentford, Terry Butcher has left the club by mutual consent. Or been sacked, as it used to be called. The club have lost their past five league games, including a 7-0 drubbing away to Peterborough, and have not scored for 520 minutes.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3033661.ece

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAM NEWS
Petr Cech is poised to return for Chelsea against Valencia tonight after a thigh injury while Daniel Agger and Xabi Alonso have not travelled with the Liverpool squad. Wayne Rooney is set to be given the captain's armband for tomorrow's match against Roma.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3032947.ece

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If you've got another couple of minutes

THEGAME PODCAST
It appears that it's not just AOTG claiming world exclusive rights for the "Mourinho Not For England" story. On this week's TheGame Podcast, the gang gloat that they also predicted that The Special One would turn his back on the FA. Still, they do have one up on your afternoon e-mail - they've got the inside line on Mourinho's next move and Gabriele Marcotti has it on good authority that AC Milan aren't interested in him. The gang, this week also including Tony Cascarino, put themselves in the hypothetical shoes of Mourinho, Fabio Capello and Martin O'Neill as they imagine what England team each manager would select - and it looks as though it's bad news for Michael Owen.
The Podcast also has a rapid-fire interview with Kenny Dalglish and Fernando Torres - the King of the Kop and his heir apparent - while Marcotti finds himself in the unusual position of defending Rafa Benitez in the quick hits round.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/article3005727.ece

TALKING PROPER
Yesterday's AOTG bemoaned the fact that England was going to end up with a head coach who don't speak proper English. We're standing by our comments - even if Capello's English is better than we was thinking, as has been suggested today, or if he picks up the lingo faster than a Dutch child at international school.
Still, instead of whining about the situation, it's been pointed out that we should be revelling in it. After all, Capello would be following in a long and proud tradition of England managers who have no more than a foreign exchange student's grasp on the language - a point that was proved when Steve McClaren was given a prize for talking gibberish by the Plain English Campaign today. The Foot in Mouth gong is awarded for a baffling statement made by a public figure - think anything Jamie Redknapp says - and was awarded to McClaren for this description of Wayne Rooney: "He is inexperienced, but he's experienced in terms of what he's been through."
So not content with saying nothing, he even got that wrong. Anyway, he follows in the illustrious footsteps of Glenda Hoddle who won the award in 1999 for this effort. When asked by Trevor McDonald to explain his controversial comments on people with disabilities, he said: "I do not believe that. At this moment in time, if that changes in years to come I don't know, but what happens here today and changes as we go along that is part of life's learning and part of your inner beliefs. But at this moment in time I did not say them things and at the end of the day I want to put that on record because it has hurt people."
It makes Donald Rumsfeld appear concise. Still, we're not saying we didn't say them things about Capello. Just that maybe it doesn't matter as much as was thinking.

POLL POSITION
Speaking of which, AOTG is keeping it simple today (like an England centre half). No exhaustive list of managers to chose from and no witty word play required: we just want to know whether you think Capello is the right man for the England job. Whether AOTG likes it or not - and if for no other reason than he appears to be the only one who wants the job - it appears as though Brian Barwick is preparing to offer the Italian the gig. Capello's got more pedigree than chum - seven league titles and the European Cup with Milan, Roma, Juventus and Real Madrid, for a start - and he won't stand for any big-time Charlies. But are you worried about his reputation for defensive football? Just click on the link and select your answer (you won't have to login or anything silly like that). http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/is-fabio-capell.html
Alternatively, send us an e-mail: sport@timesonline.co.uk
We'll bring you the results in a couple of days.

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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
SWOLLENBALLS: Becks' new ad is pants - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Goldenballs himself has got his tackle out for a photoshoot - and fans are wondering whether he's put some extra padding down his Armanis. 2) The fashion icon and part-time free kick-taker has been pictured reclining in his augmented briefs with a shirt artfully draped across his shoulders so as to reveal his well-toned physique. 3) We're sorry we had to include that lurid description, but in the absence of a picture, we thought it only right. 4) The Sun wants to know what Beckham has put down his pants: John Darwin's canoe, a cash bonus from LA Galaxy or a scientology brochure from Tom Cruise.
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A quickie before you go, sir?

CALDERON ON CAPELLO
Instead of the normal funny(ish) video in this section, an interview with Ramon Calderon, the Real Madrid president, in which he explains the decision to sack Fabio Capello.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6G-Z1Sv3wA

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2
Number of points separating Porto and Besiktas in Liverpool's Champions League group - the smallest difference between top and bottom in the competition. All four teams can go through.
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In TheGame

Rafa Benitez faces showdown talks with Liverpool's American owners later this week. But with the club's Champions League chances hanging on tonight's Must-Win-Unless-Results-Go-Our-Way match, our online poll asks whether the directors should put their faith in The Bearded One win or lose. http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/should-rafael-b.html
In this week's Game Debate , Martin Samuel says the decision to allow Rangers to postpone their match with Gretna is tantamount to admitting that the league doesn't really matter. "Already cursed by predictability, the ramifications for the SPL will be long-lasting. The gap between the favourites and the field just got bigger. And in a two-horse race, that is saying something." Join the debate.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/the-debate-are.html
In Fanzine Fanzone , our Tottenham fan celebrates a reversal of fortunes as the club benefit from Stephen Ireland's rash challenge, while our Newcastle fan celebrates another crisis averted - just.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* THE CAP FITS: England job is Capello's if he wants it ... and he'll bring in Shearer, Pearce and Zola - Daily Mirror
* Now we can say Hello to Capello - Daily Mail
* Capello in pole position after Mourinho says no - The Guardian
* Capello is FA's man: England job talks in next 48 hours - The Sun
* Absolutely Fabio: Capello moves into pole position for England job - Daily Express
* Football Italia: Capello emerges as favourite ahead of Lippi - The Daily Telegraph
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

I've just read yesterday's AOTG at work today! I noticed in an article about Alan Curbishley that you couldn't help yourselves and had a little dig at a certain Glenn Roeder, which is becoming the journalistic equivalent of commentators referring to foreign players and 'a cold Tuesday night in Grimsby' in the same sentence. Now let me tell you, as a Norwich City fan, this man has already attained God-like status in Norfolk, which is only just short of Mourinho-like status. Talking of whom, if The Teasing One doesn't want the England job and the FA want an Englishman...
Mike , the Canary fan from Grimsby, had us until that last sentence.

Capello doesn't speak English? He does actually. Not brilliantly but he's conducted training sessions on Uefa courses in Scotland and Howard Wilkinson says his English was good enough. Besides, he's worked in Spain (hence, he can learn foreign languages) and is a fiercely intelligent man. It's ten months until our next competitive game and I'd place my mortgage on his grasp of our mother tongue being better than most of the natives by then.
We take Aidan Fullwood's point (one that Martin Samuel also makes today) - and admit that Capello's not going to say less than Steve McClaren. But there's a difference between getting by and speaking the language.
How much is your mortgage, by the way?

I won't be the only person to point this out, but today, when you presented the 'lamppost skills' video by saying that "This is about as real as Mourinho's interest in the England job", you were sadly incorrect. This chap is very real, and very impressive. I have seen him in the flesh a few times, and I am certain that there will be many of your other readers who have been to Amsterdam and will be able to tell you the same tale.
We've had another look and it still looks dodgy to us - so we're sticking to our guns in spite of prima facie evidence. If James Norton reckons he saw it, we'd humbly suggest it has more to do with the fact that he was on holiday in Amsterdam. And if that seems unnecessarily defensive, you'll see why...

I hate to be pedantic, and I certainly don't mean to take the shine off the quality and beauty of Ruud van Nistelrooy's recent belter for Real Madrid, but I feel obliged to point out that in his five years at Manchester United Ruud did score a goal from outside the box - against Charlton Athletic on 19 November 2005. You can relive that moment in history by clicking on the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eMB1ZDfifY.
Tosin Aro - thanks for the e-mail and video. A nice point, well made. You'll be pleased to know you were not alone in shattering that myth ... Besides, if you think that was bad, read the next one...

Oh and it was Liverpool and Arsenal that lost last week not Chelsea and Arsenal.
We thank Danny Merritt (and others) for another fair point on an ignominious day for AOTG...

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

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Tomorrow's news today

- Oliver Kay and Martin Samuel bring you the report and reaction after Liverpool's make-or-break match against Marseilles
- Gabriele Marcotti on the real Capello
- Manchester United prepare for rough landing at Roma

And expect...

To discover that Steve McClaren writes AOTG.

You can't spread the word at the moment, so it's not like pyramid selling at all. We're updating our registration system so no one else can sign up for a couple of weeks at least. Consider yourselves members of an exclusive club.

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