AHEAD OF THE GAME
Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail
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Monday, December 17, 2007. 1600 GMT
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The news in 60 seconds
CAPELLO'S ENGLAND VOWS
Fabio Capello's translator has promised to return England to the top of the game. "It's a job that everybody wants and everybody knows there are great expectations with the job and I will work to achieve these with the FA," the translator told a packed press conference.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3063054.ece
SOLID START FOR DON FABIO
At the very least, England will be difficult to beat if they give away as little as their new manager, says Matt Hughes. Capello is determined to keep his squad (and David Beckham) sweating as he weighs up his options before his first match in February.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3063985.ece
TOKEN ENGLISHMAN
As a symbolic gesture, the appointment of an Englishman to Capello's backroom staff would be about as meaningful as the poppy Sven-Goran Eriksson wore at his first press conference. Martin Samuel on why an English coach would be little more than a hanger-on.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article3060426.ece
EBOUE APOLOGISES
Emmanuel Eboue has apologised for the tackle that injured Chelsea captain John Terry, according to his Ivory Coast team-mate Salomon Kalou. "He didn't mean to do it, but to apologise was a nice thing to do," Kalou said. Terry could be out until the new year.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3063234.ece
BENITEZ PEACE
AOTG is focusing on training and coaching, so we can't bring you news about The Bearded One's much-hyped meeting with Liverpool's new owners. All we know is that the club issued a statement saying the "the discussions were amicable and constructive", which sounds disappointingly low key.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3060158.ece
HUGHES SEES RED
Mark Hughes says that the big clubs get it easy. "I watched the [Arsenal v Chelsea] game yesterday and some of the tackles that were flying in were tackles that, maybe if Blackburn Rovers players were making similar tackles, then there would have been red cards involved," he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/blackburn/article3064091.ece
'ARRY'S GOT A SMALL ONE
'Arry Redknapp wants it known that his squad is down to the bare bones, again. The Portsmouth manager says he's got no money to spend and will have to try and wheel and deal if he's going to bring anyone in.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article3064187.ece
NERY EXPENSIVE
Manchester City have been told they will have to pay £3.5 million just to sign Nery Castillo, the Shakhtar Donetsk forward, on a year's loan. "A one-year loan - five million euros and there will be no options, meaning a right to buy [Castillo]," Rinat Akhmetov, the club's owner, said. Rolando Bianchi says he wants to stay and fight for his place.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article3062509.ece
ADIEU MATHIEU?
Mathieu Flamini, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is exploring his new-found negotiating power after becoming a first team regular at Arsenal. "I have been talking a bit with the club," Flamini said. "I am happy here, but I am a free agent in January."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article3063268.ece
LUTON DENY CHARGES
Luton Town have pleaded not guilty to all 1,217 charges alleging breach of regulations regarding payments to agents. We've already had one slap on the wrists from the lawyers, so we're not going to say anything apart from good luck to them.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3062952.ece
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>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame and we won't throw a golf ball at you
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* http://www.timesonline.co.uk/playthegame
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If you've got another couple of minutes
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FABIO'S PRESS CONFERENCE
Flashes going off like a strobe light at a disco, journalists (and Brian Barwick) salivating like they'd just seen a piping-hot plate of chicken wings pulled out of the deep-fat frier and TV reporters jostling over the microphone like Newcastle players fight over a penalty ... that's right, Don Fabio was finally presented to the ravenous press corps today.
Admittedly, the Italian was nowhere near as revealing as David Beckham's latest poster campaign, but he did give us a few hints about what we can expect over the next four and a half years. Here's a brief synopsis of the salient points.
* So much for speaking better English than expected. Don Fabio is still at the point where he rhymes honoured with red and says quaint things such as "at this moment my English is not so well, but I prefer to answer in Italian". Still, it's a start - he understood a number of questions put to him in English and he reckons he'll be able to learn the lingo in a month. If he can teach Joe Cole the language, that'll be real progress.
* Half-time will have to be expanded from 15 minutes to 45 if he is going to use the same interpreter. Capello actually achieved a first by saying less than Steve McClaren in twice the time. He managed not to answer a variety of questions in Italian, such as who he would support if it was England against Italy, whether David Beckham would get his 100th cap and why the FA had appointed a foreigner.
* He did, however, manage something his predecessor couldn't do in more than two years -provide a laugh that wasn't laced with bitterness. Capello was asked if it was true that he had punched Paolo Di Canio. He said he didn't ... but after a brief pause ... added in an ominous tone that he was there when it happened.
* He has always wanted to be the England manager, ever since he was growing up in San Canzian d'Isonzo, Italy, and even when he was playing for his country. He didn't say whether he regretted scoring that goal at Wembley in 1973.
* He wants to have an Englishman - or at least someone who knows the league - involved in his set-up. He didn't say who.
* It's only a part-time job, so Capello says he may have to be less of an authoritarian. He's even promised to sit the wee lambs down and find out why they don't feel loved. "Wearing the England shirt should be a matter of pride," he said, showing that clichés are the same in any language.
* There was no umbrella in sight.
* He dismissed suggestions that he had never signed any English players. "When I was a scout I brought Ray Wilkins and Mark Hateley to AC Milan and as you know I worked with David Beckham," he said. No one pointed out that Hateley and Wilkins played in Italy more than 20 years ago.
* He says the style England adopt will depend on the players available. He added that it's important to be flexible, in case anyone was wondering what sort of tactical acumen they got for their £4.8 million a year.
THEGAME DEBATE
Liverpool are not one of the big clubs in the Champions League, at least according to Martin Samuel (so don't send your irate letters to us). Despite reaching the final twice in recent years and lifting the European Cup in 2005, our Chief Football Correspondent says the yardstick for big clubs is still domestic dominance - and Rafa Benitez has yet to prove that his team's success in Europe is more than an anomaly.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/the-debate-live.html
FOSTER IN DEMAND
England's goalkeeping predicament is so dire that 21.3 per cent of Times Online readers (at the last count) want Fabio Capello to pick a goalkeeper who isn't even available. Ben Foster hasn't played since May because of a knee injury and probably won't be fit when England play in February, but that hasn't stopped a fifth of you from voting for him instead of Calamity James, Frank Carson and Paul Robinson. You probably have a point.
The biggest surprise, though, is in midfield. In another crushing blow to Thin-Skinned Frank's ego, 87 per cent of you want Stevie Me in midfield while 75 per cent of you want Owen Hargreaves alongside him. Less than 30 per cent want poor Lampard.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/forget-capello.html
THEGAME PODCAST
Simon Barnes, Chief Sports Writer on The Times, joins Gabriele Marcotti and Guillem Balague to discuss what the appointment of Capello means to English football. Is the legendary Italian the man to lead England to glory? The team discuss how an injury to Petr Cech may have caused him to flap at that cross and also report on a confidentiality agreement between Rafa Benitez and the Liverpool co-owners. Online from 6pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/
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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
MAN UTD TURN TO THE BIBLE - Sunday Mirror
What you need to know: 1) Manchester United's Red Devils are being delivered from the evil of defeat by Bible readings. 2) Players such as Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo are hearing the word of God during training in the hope that it will give them extra motivation. 3) They are claiming that the word of God worked a miracle for Rooney, whose right ankle has healed from a bad training injury much faster than expected.
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A quickie before you go, sir?
PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS
Check out William Gallas's dodgy Mohican (and that winning goal), make your own mind up whether Torres's miss was worse than Rooney's, witness Darius Vassell scoring (really), plus the best of the goals from the JJB Stadium. Free Premier League highlights.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece
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4
Manchester United equalled Everton's 97-year record as the only side to keep four successive clean sheets at Anfield in the league.
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In TheGame
There were eight obvious reasons why the JJB Stadium was the place to be on Saturday, but Bill Edgar, the biggest brain in football, has found a couple more. Edgar also explains why hat-tricks are back in fashion and details Liverpool's losing trend against Manchester United. The weekend in numbers .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/tony-cascarin-1.html
In Tony's Fiver , Cascarino wonders why Cesc Fabregas was so keen to clatter Ashley Cole and explains why another victory for Manchester City has forced him to chew on a large slice of humble pie.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/tony-cascarin-1.html
Alan Carr has a rummage around in Goldenballs' Armani pants and finds out what's making him swell with pride. The Topical Barometer .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/alan-carrs-to-1.html
In QA, Barry Davies tells Kaveh Solhekol why fans are unlikely to hear his commentary on Match of the Day any time soon - despite an internet campaign to get him back where he belongs.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/qa-barry-davies.html
With only one win so far this season, some festive cheer for Derby County fans. Smashing eight past Tottenham, turning over Real Madrid and winning the FA Cup ... just three of The Greatest Derby County Games .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/the-greatest--1.html
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* CHARGE! V-sign Cole is facing FA rap ... Fergie: Ain't no stoppin' us now - The Sun
* In the clear: Gallas strikes to keep Arsenal top; Tevez makes sure United are on their tail - Daily Mail
* Then there were TWO ... Fergie: We're the favourites ... Gallas fires top Gunners - Daily Mirror
* COLE IN V-SIGN ROW - Daily Express
* Sign of frustration: Chelsea and Liverpool lose ground in title race - The Daily Telegraph
* Gunners defend high ground - The Independent
* Wenger hails 'winner' Gallas as Chelsea crash - The Guardian
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
It's amazing how someone who wouldn't even be able to get a job in McDonald's (a working grasp of the English language is a pre-requisite) can waltz into one of the top jobs in the country and get paid £6 million a year for it!
Alex Thompson from London must be talking about Fabio Capello . Gordon Brown doesn't get paid that much...
Send your mail to: sport@timesonline.co.uk
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Tomorrow's news today
- No one is safe under Capello
- Crossing the language barrier: why the Italian must tread carefully
- Prognosis looking bleak for Captain Courageous
And expect...
To see Don Fabio flicking through English language phrase books in WHSmith.
The new registration process is up and running, so it's like pyramid selling once again. Spread the word.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/subscriptions/e-mail_bulletins/
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