Ahead of the Game: Eriksson's Capello insight

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, December 13, 2007. 1600 BST
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The news in 60 seconds

ERIKSSON'S CAPELLO INSIGHT
Sven-Goran Eriksson says Fabio Capello would make an excellent England manager and that the language barrier wasn't a problem when they spoke - but then they did converse in Italian. Thanks Sven, as helpful as ever. 
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3046233.ece

BARWICK GETS HIS MAN
The board of the Football Association was due to give the green light to Capello's appointment today after Brian Barwick's negotiations with the Italian went smoothly yesterday. Capello left his legal team in London to conclude the deal.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3042881.ece

RAUL'S A FABIO FAN
Is there nobody with a bad word to say about FA's new man? Now Raul has added his voice to the chorus of approval and promised England fans that the former Real Madrid head coach will turn the national team into a winning force.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3042877.ece

EGG MAN STEPS DOWN
Eggert Magnusson is to resign as executive chairman of West Ham United. He will, however, retain his stake in the club and stay involved behind the scenes.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/west_ham/article2484347.ece

ROMA 'DESERVE BAN'
The head of a police authority in England wants AS Roma thrown out of European football after five Manchester United fans were stabbed in the Italian capital last night. None of the injuries were said to be serious.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3045704.ece

NO BID FOR OWEN
Sam Allardyce claims that Manchester City have promised him they will not bid for Michael Owen in the January transfer window. Apparently, he called them to check.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3046856.ece

ROONEY'S EXCITED
Wayne Rooney reckons Manchester United's trip to Liverpool on Sunday is their most important away fixture of the season. But, then, he's an Evertonian.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3046963.ece

BOY DUNNE GOOD
Sven has made another headline by saying that Richard Dunne deserves a pay rise. He thinks the defender is like a "big brother" to Manchester City's young players.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article3046910.ece

MILAN MARCH ON
AC Milan reached the final of the World Club Cup after Clarence Seedorf scored the only goal in a victory over Urawa Red Diamonds. They'll play Boca Juniors in the decider on Sunday.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3046750.ece

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>FANTASY FOOTBALL WITH BRAINS<<<<<
* Register today for PlayTheGame, more bewitching than Capello in a tutu
* 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

ENGLISH LESSONS
To judge by your contributions to our comment pages, the only problem with Capello's imminent appointment is his limited grasp of English. So, to lend the Italian a helping hand, AOTG has decided to compile a glossary of basic phrases that will get the next England manager through those tricky first few press conferences. So far, we've got, "I haven't closed the door on David Beckham", "Sir Alex Ferguson assures me the player's injured", and "Chill out, Garth, it was only a friendly." What other stock phrases should Capello have on the tip of his tongue? Email sport@timesonline.co.uk

A MAN OF LETTERS
Tom Dart, The Times football writer, has compiled the definitive A-Z guide to English football's man of the moment. Capello's more memorable moments include asking Ronaldo if he was embarrassed at being fat and raising a middle finger to Real Madrid fans who dared to heckle him. A renaissance figure, he also has a £10 million art collection and wears designer glasses that, the manufacturer claims, "match the drive and sporting vitality that epitomise him". As Tom notes, Timmy Mallett he is not.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3042876.ece


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7
Premier League clubs have not won away from home this season. Only four clubs in the Football League have failed to do so.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A quickie before you go, sir?

FABIO'S FURY
England managers express their touchline anger in contrasting ways. Sven hardly blinked, McClaren simply reddened, and Capello? Well, judging by this clip of him reacting to a wasteful David Beckham free kick, he throws a theatrical hissy fit. (Incidentally, have you noticed his resemblance to Bo Selecta's Craig David?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2KCEYApgRA

WHEATER'S PLEA
Yesterday, AOTG reported that Middlesbrough sent a video message to 25,000 fans, urging them to boost flagging ticket sales at the Riverside Stadium, and now you can watch the unusual marketing ploy. Filmed in moody black and white, it features David Wheater, the young defender, made up to look as if he has been in a mud bath.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiPPoaXRbAw

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Why they're all very proud in Fabio's village - Daily Mail
Fabio: I'll be a shrink - The Sun
Terry facing fight to keep captaincy - The Daily Telegraph

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In TheGame

Tony Cascarino , the in-house agony uncle, has answered your pressing football problems, including advice on how to improve at five-a-side, coming back from serious injury and how to become a top football journalist. And, no, Tony wasn't addressing your trusty afternoon football email.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/bullies-becomin.html#more
Support grows for the England manager-in-waiting. As AOTG prepared to hit your inbox, the Game poll found that 80 per cent of you think Capello is the right man for the job. We're still taking votes - and comments - so have your say while you can.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/is-fabio-capell.html
In the Game Podcast, Guillem Balague has predicted Capello's preferred England team. It features only three defenders and David James in goal - is that really the way forward? Guillem has also responded to your comments on the podcast. He says southerners love to bitch about Liverpool. Surely not? Have your say in the Podcast Debate .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/the-kid-the-kin.html
Martin Samuel has replied to your contributions to his Game Debate . Our Chief Football Correspondent says the Scottish Premier League made a grave mistake in postponing Rangers' match with Gretna. Some of you had the temerity to disagree.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2007/12/the-debate-ma-1.html#more
In the Fanzine Fanzone , our Middlesbrough devotee has recovered from the shock of beating Arsenal - and presumably of receiving that eerie video message - to pen his thoughts on the win. He warns Gareth Southgate's side that they cannot let standards slip against Derby County this weekend. When, in truth, they probably can.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL <<<<<
Dopey Fabio - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Capello took a performance-enhancing drug as a player. 2) The stimulant, Micoren, was legal at the time but has since been banned, due to its potential side effects. 3) Capello claims most of the Italy team took it in 1970s. 5) AOTG reckons someone might have spiked our beer with Micoren at last night's Christmas party, such is our hot flush and nausea

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"Some will doubtless bemoan the appointment of a foreigner. The fact is there simply aren't that many suitable homegrown candidates for the job of England manager. I look forward to seeing what a cultivated and competent man can do with this new challenge - rather than having to endure the sort of embarrassing debacle we witnessed against Croatia, as organised by one of my hapless countrymen. England have gone soft. The players need to be shaken out of their lethargy. Only their total commitment is acceptable. It may seem a shame that a foreign taskmaster is needed to teach these virtues, but it's our only chance for footballing redemption."
Peter Koeb , from Geneva, is confident Capello can save us.

"Will we see the results of Barwick's root and branch inquiry? Will we see the FA realise the recommendations they made in reports a few years ago? Or will Barwick and [Trevor] Brooking attempt to distract us with this shiny new manager?"
Owen, in London, is unmoved by the hoopla at Soho Square.

"One thing that hasn't been mentioned is: suppose Fabio hates it here? He might not like living here, the players, the culture, the media, it's all new to him. Plus, how will a clever man like Fabio cope with the half-wits he'll be working for, the quarter-wits in the team and the eighth-wits in our press (er, present company excluded)?
Thank you, Kit. That's the nicest compliment AOTG has had for, oh, hours.

Sometimes you just say it better than we do, which is why we've dedicated a small corner of this e-mail to your views and boos. Feel free to send us your opinions on anything from Capello's art collection to Rafa's latest whinge: sport@timesonline.co.uk

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tomorrow's news today

- How England will play under Capello
- Simon Barnes on why the England team matters more than anything else in football
- Tony Cascarino analyses Capello's backroom staff.

And expect . . .

Capello to give Garth Crooks the V-sign when asked a question he didn't understand at an FA press conference to confirm his appointment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anonymous tips, suggestions, funnies, fan mail and complaints: sport@timesonline.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We are currently redeveloping our registration service so our unsubscribe process will take longer than normal. Sorry for the inconvenience. If you no longer wish to receive this e-mail, please send an e-mail to a Customer Services representative at info@newsint.co.uk or call 0207 860 1133.

You have received this e-mail from a member of the News International Group. 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.