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Tuesday, December 4, 2007. 1600 GMT
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The news in 60 seconds
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR BIG SAM
You know you're in trouble when it's the players who are giving you a vote of confidence. Shay Given and Steve Harper, the Newcastle United goalkeepers, have released a statement denying that senior players want rid of Big Sam. "Sam Allardyce has the full backing and support of every Newcastle United player and we are all working together as one to bring success." Working together? They should trying telling their defence.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article2997400.ece
KEANE APPEAL REJECTED
Robbie Keane's appeal over his red card against Birmingham City has been dismissed. The forward had hoped to have the decision rescinded after it appeared Phil Dowd, the referee, had sought clarification from the fourth official.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article2999523.ece
GIGGS STANDS UP FOR RONALDO
Ryan Giggs has given his backing to Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester United winker was accused of diving in last night's match against Fulham. Giggs says his team-mate is suffering from his bad reputation.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article2999440.ece
CARSON IN A FLAP
Let's hope Scott Carson's Aston Villa career doesn't slip through his fingers like a long-range shot on a wet night at Wembley. The Liverpool goalkeeper is on a season-long loan with the Midlands club and Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, says his future is still up in the air. "There is no agreement on a fee - it is as simple as that," O'Neill said. "The rest of it is hearsay."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2998008.ece
CELTIC OUT TO PROVE POINT
Gordon Strachan is out to restore the reputation of carrot-topped managers tonight. Celtic need only a point against AC Milan tonight to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League. For those of you who are wondering, the match is taking place this evening because of Milan's participation in the World Club Championship in Japan next week.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article2994809.ece
HUGHES LAUGHING NOW
Mark Hughes, the Blackburn Rovers manager, has stolen Big Sam's policy of self-promotion by self-deprecation - and it seems like he's having a pop at the Newcastle manager, too. "While some others are shouting about what they do and telling everything about the make-up of their club, we just try and get on with our business and if we've got a competitive advantage by something we do in training we try to keep it to ourselves," Hughes said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/blackburn/article2999183.ece
PORTSMOUTH TO FIGHT EARLY CALL-UPS
The South Coast can be a bit cut off, so maybe 'Arry Redknapp has been out of the loop. The Portsmouth manager has suddenly realised that half his squad is about to fly out to the African Cup of Nations and he's getting in a strop. The club are up in arms about a plan by Nigeria to call up Kanu and John Utaka for a 14-day training camp.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article2999373.ece
McLEISH WANTS DJOUROU
Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, hopes the club can keep Johan Djourou for the entire season. "I know Arsene is mindful of the fact [Kolo] Toure is needed for the African Nations Cup. But if we can't do that, we will have to try and look for someone else because we are a little bit light in that department of the team." We'd suggest he starts looking now.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/birmingham/article2999404.ece
ENGLAND FRIENDLY
If England cannot go to the mountains, the mountains must come to England. After we failed to qualify for Euro 2008 in Switzerland and Austria next summer, the FA has confirmed the Swiss team will play a friendly at Wembley in February. Then we can show 'em who's boss.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2998586.ece
KENDALL FOR IRELAND
Howard Kendall, the former Everton manager in case you've forgotten, has put himself forward for the Ireland job. "I am in touch with the modern game, I write a column in the local newspaper and I go and watch Premier League football every week" he said, simultaneously confirming AOTG's belief that it too could do the job.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2999296.ece
MOURINHO FOR ENGLAND
That's right: The Special One is still ready to consider an offer from the FA. Jose Mourinho's adviser has dismissed suggestions that he's using England to flush out interest from AC Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid or any other big club - as if? - and invited the governing body to come and get him. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2994839.ece
FERGUSON TO SHORE-UP DEFENCE
Good news for Manchester United, yet more bad news for England (and another bad pun from AOTG). Sir Alex Ferguson wants to snap up another of the country's top young talents to strengthen his bench. The United manager is pondering a move for Nicky Shorey, the Reading defender, as cover for Patrice Evra. When Mikael Silvestre recovers from injury in March, Shorey could be the club's third choice left back - but at least he'd get a pay rise.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article2994832.ece
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If you've got another couple of minutes
MALOUDA TAKES GLOVES OFF
It's always the bloody immigrants (or at least it often seems to be in the Daily Mail ). Coming over here with their skilled trades and their hard-working attitude, taking our jobs - and they've even got the cheek to moan about it. That's right: squeezed between stories about fat women putting the lives of their children at risk, two lesbians taking a man for £5,000 a year, a "dumbed down blonde to run BBC1" and a column by Richard Littlejohn was today's exclusive about how Florent Malouda has criticised our poor diet, brainless players, atrocious traffic and "terrible" Christmas. Admittedly, the French player's rant about life in London is not as insulting as Georgi Hristov saying all girls in Barnsley are ugly and drink too much beer. Neither does it compare to Ian Rush saying that moving to Juventus was "like living in a foreign country" or Paul Gascoigne moaning about media intrusion when he was at Lazio, but the poor little lamb has certainly got a bad case of the bleats.
"Chelsea don't help me with anything," he baaaed through the window of his Ferrari F430 Spider. "When I first arrived, I went to see the club official in charge of the players' accommodation to ask him to help me find a house to rent.
"He dialled the number of a lettings agency he knew and handed me the receiver. That was job done for him.
"I was still trying to have satellite TV and the internet installed in my house in November. I have only just had a phone line put in.
"Things are not so simple over here as they are in France. You can't just go to a shop and they come round the next day to install your equipment. I have ended up watching DVDs in English.
"In a way I quite enjoy getting myself out of the s*** by myself, as I have often had to do in my life."
Renting your own flat? Watching DVDs in English? Where will it end? Being forced to go to the toilet unaccompanied?
"The traffic in London goes at a snail's pace at times, so sometimes I take the Tube," he said to gasps of awe from astonished readers who didn't know footballers had it so tough. "If I don't want to spend my life stuck behind the wheel in traffic jams, I phone for a taxi to get me something to eat or whatever.
"Or else I'll hire a big chauffeur-driven car so I can take my kids out for a walk."
And he's not done yet. His last - and most worrying revelation - is that grown men (alright, footballers) are allowed to eat what they want. "The people at Chelsea don't control what the players eat," he said. "You can help yourself to whatever you like, drink Coke or anything, and it is up to you to prove yourself on the pitch.
"It is a good job that I have only come over here at the age of 27 and so haven't been following the same diet as the rest of the club's players."
If he thinks drinking a couple of cans of Coke is bad, he should have been at Shaun Wright-Phillips' birthday bash. Anyway, just in case there was anyone who was feeling sorry for Malouda, he also complained that the nasty players tackle him hard in training and that he has to work over Christmas. "I have been warned about the Christmas period in English football," he said. "They sound terrible." We bet he wears gloves, too.
OK, we're hypocrites - mocking the Mail and then openly enjoying one of its stories. But it just helps us to sleep easier.
WHEN FOULERS CHEAT
AOTG doesn't want to come across like 606 or a Steve Bruce press conference (let alone bleat like a £55,000-a-week French winger), but after Manchester United's victory over Fulham last night, there's something that we need to get off our chest. Not so long ago, The Times ran an admirable campaign aimed at driving out diving from the English game. While this seems to have had an effect on some of the prancing prima donnas, it's also unleashed a new beast: cheating foulers. Now that may seem like a tautology of the worst kind, but bear with us. Not content with hacking a player down, your average Premier League hatchet man now accuses his stricken opponent of diving. So having fouled, he then tries to cheat the ref.
Worryingly, and like players who kick the ball into row Z and then immediately hold up their hand to claim the throw-in (Gary Neville, are you reading this?), it's becoming a reflex reaction.
Step forward Antti Niemi. Not content with bringing Cristiano Ronaldo down when through on goal, he then appears to accuse the winker of diving - hence applying pressure on the official. As Sir Alex Ferguson said (and it hurts to agree with someone so disagreeable): "In fairness to the referee, though, the goalkeeper conned him. He claimed straight away that Ronaldo dived; they all do it."
Now AOTG accepts that even Malouda probably has his fingers closer to the pulse of the general public than your afternoon (or should that be early evening?) e-mail, but we think this ranks up there alongside players brandishing imaginary yellow cards. Just as the game has almost got to grips with one type of unsporting behaviour, another is born that is even more difficult to detect. It's like trying to crack down on drug cheats - they're always one step ahead. Has anyone else noticed this? And what do you want done about it? E-mail: sport@timesonline.co.uk
THEGAME PODCAST
On TheGame Podcast this week, Gabriele Marcotti is a lone voice of support for Sam Allardyce (compared to the rest of the team, anyway) as the Newcastle United manager nears the brink. The gang wonder whether it's just poor form or whether it's the sign of a small-club manager out of his depth. Also, Tony Barrett, respected correspondent for the Liverpool Echo, gives his take on reports about the end of Liverpool's Rafalution. He says reports of the Spaniard's demise appear to have been greatly exaggerated - but not everyone agrees.
Plus, in the second part of an exclusive interview, 'Arry Redknapp explains how as a 15-year-old he had to teach his coaches about overlapping full backs and why managers aren't really that important. The team also discuss the investigations into corruption and ask whether 'Arry's been the victim of a PR stunt.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/
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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
GOOGLE NATION: Top UK search of 2007 is ... 'I hate Ronaldo' - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) One of the most popular phrases searched for on Google is "I hate Ronaldo". 2) The Manchester United winker topped the hate poll, ahead of even "I hate men" and "I hate school". 3) A spokesperson from Google said: "You can really get a sense of what's caught the public imagination in 2007." 4) And yet there is no mention of "I hate Gary Neville". 5) But then our OCD has been relatively quiet this year.
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A quickie before you go, sir?
ANELKA'S MISS
Is this the reason that Sir Alex Ferguson has decided not to pursue a new striker in the transfer window? The Manchester United manager already has Carlos Tevez, so he probably doesn't need another striker to miss gilt-edged chances from inside the box. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE_mVzRTpus
LIVE PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS
Cristiano Ronaldo's brace helps Manchester United to victory over Fulham last night - but the classy volley and poacher's header are overshadowed by the moment when Antti Niemi stops Tevez's shot with his chops. Plus highlights from every other Premier League match.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece
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0
Leyton Orient's goal difference. They are second in Fizzy-Pop League One.
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In TheGame
In Fanzine Fanzone , our Manchester City man has been hob-nobbing with the rich and famous at the club's training ground - well, Sven and Richard Dunne anyway - and explains what it's like to finally breach City's inner sanctum. Elsewhere, our Chelsea man brings his usual acerbic wit and class to the blog - like Jose Mourinho, but without the ego and small dog - as he describes his team's visit to West Ham United. "You can see a little microcosm of England over at Upton Park. Marvellous history. Statues and memories. Done sod-all for years and years and years."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2007/12/slide-away.html
In this week's debate, Martin Samuel argues that Big Sam's problems at Newcastle United stem from the fact he's treating Newcastle like a poor man's version of Bolton. Fans want ambition, not nonsense about five-year plans. But what do you think? Samuel will reply to your comments tomorrow.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/031207-the-deba.html
Too fat to track back? Worried about your team's policy on rehydration? Or just fed up with doing all the leg work for inferior players (you know who you are)? Send your questions to Tony Cascarino , football's first agony uncle.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/11/footballs-first.html
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Mourinho told to wait by FA - The Daily Telegraph
* United cruise but Ronaldo's double clouded by dive storm - The Independent
* Ronaldo fuels United's charge - The Guardian
* Christmas is cancelled: Allardyce to hold Toon bonding session - Daily Express
* Stay out of Toon, Shearer: defiant Allardyce tells star - Daily Mail
* Fall guy: fuming Fergie says Niemi conned ref into booking Ronaldo for diving - Daily Mirror
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
I have no problem with foreign coaches in charge of England but surely they have to know the English game and the English players? When Martin Samuel encourages the FA to get in touch with Fabio Capello [HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO, yesterday's AOTG], he isn't allowing for the fact that at least half of the current English team won't (or certainly don't deserve to) be playing in our next big competition, World Cup 2010, so the team needs to be rebuilt NOW. Therefore it makes sense for the next manager to have a comprehensive knowledge of the manpower currently available to him, which immediately rules out Capello, Houllier, Hiddink and Klinsmann. So you are left with Wenger, Benitez and Mourinho. Wenger is totally committed to Arsenal, Benitez would select on the eeny-meeny-miney-mo principle that he uses with Liverpool 30 minutes before kick-off and select only English players that could speak Spanish. Which leaves us with Jose, and why not? He has obviously become an Anglophile and that puts him five steps ahead of any English manager - imagine, a manager of England with a PASSION for winning! Awesome. Case closed!
And a very impressive case it is too, from Alan Peake in Jo'burg. But without wishing to sound like a broken record, AOTG refers him to our previous point: Mourinho would be unbearable if he actually won anything - and if he didn't, why pay him £6 million a year?
Send your mail to: sport@timesonline.co.uk
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Tomorrow's news today
- John Terry talks exclusively to Matt Dickinson
- Big Sam's future hangs in the balance as Arsenal come calling
- Martin Samuel on Joey Barton
And expect...
Florent Malouda to say his true feelings were lost in translation.
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