AHEAD OF THE GAME
Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, January 7, 2008. 1600 GMT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The news in 60 seconds
LIVERPOOL LIE IN WAIT FOR HAVANT
Havant & Waterlooville, the non-League team, could face a trip to Anfield in the FA Cup - if they beat Swansea City in a replay and, just as unlikely on present form, Liverpool can overcome Luton Town in a replay. There are two definite all-Premier League ties, with Manchester United set to play either Reading or Tottenham and Wigan welcoming Chelsea. The complete fourth round draw.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3146708.ece
BLATTER SURPRISED BY CAPELLO
Sepp Blatter has expressed his surprise at the FA's decision to appoint a foreigner, a month after everyone else was caught off guard by the Italian's appointment and seven years after Sven-Goran Eriksson took up the post. "I would say it is a little surprising that the motherland of football has ignored a sacrosanct law or belief that the national team manager should be from the same country as the players," the Fifa president said, with his finger on the pulse.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3144993.ece
BECKS DESERVES IT, SAYS SVEN
As if Fabio Capello wasn't nervous enough, what with starting a new job and Blatter's criticism, he will be trembling in his designer shoes now. Sven-Goran Eriksson has promised to ring up the Italian and give it to him both barrels if he doesn't pick David Beckham for his 100th cap. "He deserves it," Eriksson said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3142142.ece
BECKS BACKS ITALIAN'S 'FEAR FACTOR'
Beckham is doing his best to get that century. He's compared Capello to Sir Alex Ferguson and praised the Italian for his intimidating presence. "The fear factor with a manager is important," Beckham said. "We had it at Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson, and he had so much success and is still having it."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3146692.ece
PIENAAR STAYS AFTER MOYES PLOYS
A sticky situation for the Toffees. David Moyes has refused to release Steven Pienaar for the African Cup of Nations until after tomorrow's Carling Cup semi-final first leg by invoking his own version of the 14-day rule. "I have spoken to the South Africa manager [Carlos Alberto Parreira] and they are clearly not pleased," Moyes said. "But we have invoked the 14-day rule and intend to use Pienaar against Chelsea."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/everton/article3146775.ece
ANOTHER BERBA-STROP
Dimitar Berbatov, the Tottenham forward, has hit out after speculation linking him with a move to Old Trafford. "It's getting absurd and I'm fed up of seeing my name in the papers all the time," the Bulgaria sulk said. "I wish the press would leave me alone. I just want to play my game."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article3146709.ece
BENITEZ DENIES EXIT TALK
Rafael Benitez is more like dead-man limping than walking after Liverpool's latest dismal result against Luton Town, but the Spaniard insists he has no intention of hobbling off into the sunset. "I love the club, I love the fans, I want to stay," he said. "I have two more years of contract and if I can stay for more I will be happy."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3142752.ece
SOUTHGATE DENIES RIFT
Gareth Southgate has played down reports that George Boateng could be leaving Middlesbrough during the transfer window because of a disagreement between the pair. "He has been disappointed and I understand that, but we all have a job to do and we have to work together and move on," Southgate said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/middlesbrough/article3147330.ece
TOZER SEALS DEAL
Ben Tozer has moved a step closer to going out on loan after completing a deal to join Newcastle United. The 17-year-old, who has made seven first-team appearances for Swindon Town this season, has signed a four-and-a-half year contract but is expected to be loaned out to get more first-team experience.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3147264.ece
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you've got another couple of minutes
CAPELLO'S FIRST DAY
AOTG has spent its first day back in the office after the winter break shuffling pens around the desk, volunteering to make rounds of tea and demonstrating the attention span of a goldfish. Business as usual, then. But as we're not on £6 million a year - unlike one England manager and his backroom staff - and we weren't greeted by a mob of photographers and well-wishers on our return, we're hoping our esteemed bosses will cut us some slack as we find our feet with the kind of aplomb John Arne Riise reserves for a last-ditch clearance in a muddy penalty box. After all, if we're up to speed by the end of the week it'll still have cost (significantly) less than a pair of Fabio Capello's Zerorh+ glasses.
Having said that, the aforementioned Italian mob is on a day rate of £16,438, so it's no surprise that Capello hit the ground running. He's already had a debrief with Stuart Pearce, the England Under-21 manager (maybe he was looking for an electrician) and posed for photos outside his new offices. But we want to know what you think should top Capello's agenda. Should the new England manager have spent the day discussing David Beckham's 100th cap, practising trying to fit square pegs into round holes or simply waiting for that phone call from Sven? Help set the agenda for Capello. E-mail sport@timesonline.co.uk or visit:
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/capello-first-d.html
SHEAR STUPIDITY
In this week's TheGame Debate, Martin Samuel asks whether it's time for Alan Shearer to remove the splinters from the seat of his C&A suit and climb down off the fence. That's not our Chief Football Correspondent's damning verdict of the former Newcastle United forward's mumbling Match of the Day punditry - although it could just as well be - but his take on why Shearer needs to rule himself in or out of the St James' Park hot seat. Samuel says that no manager will be given the time he needs to revitalise the club while Shearer is waiting in the wings - so it's time for the pundit to put up or shut up.
Alan Hansen has already put his BBC colleague forward for the job and Samuel suggests he would have done so only with Shearer's support. Either that or Hansen just wants someone interesting to talk to.
Join the debate.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-debate-is-s.html
THEGAME PODCAST
On this week's podcast, Dietmar Hamann joins the gang to talk about the Manchester City revolution under Sven-Goran Eriksson. He won't talk about the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League - but he's not being rude, he's just following club policy. The players will only discuss a top six finish as they refuse to get carried away with their promising start. Also this week, Times writer Gary Jacob gives his informed verdict on the transfer window and explains the latest twists and turns in the Berbatov transfer saga. Online from 6pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
United playing 4-4-loo - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Rio Ferdinand begged to be subbed during a Man United Premier League game - because he had the runs. 2) The England star was not the only player to be caught short. Patrice Evra also had to be subbed during the 2-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford last month. 3) Brian McClair, the United coach, said: "Both players had upset tummies. If they hadn't run off pretty sharpish, the pitch may have had some unexpected fertiliser."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A quickie before you go, sir?
ROOOOOOONEY
Just a small video to help Capello settle into his new job. Just in case he left Villa Park early, proof that England have one world-class player.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sz4P8zSx2Q
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
£10,959
The amount Fabio Capello and his backroom team have earned in 16 hours since starting their new job (assuming you received this e-mail at about 4pm).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In TheGame
Believe it or not, Newcastle's ill-fated fans can count themselves lucky. Gareth Harrison, our Newcastle man, says the only thing stopping their season going from worse to unthinkable is their good fortune - and that's after a draw against Stoke. Also in Fanzine Fanzone, our Derby County fan says Britney Spears has more chance of winning mum of the year than the club have of avoiding relegation.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
In Tony's Fiver, Cascarino shakes his head in disbelief after Arsene Wenger helps transform another lightweight into a contender. Rafa Benitez has also defied expectations, but that's not such a good thing.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/tonys-fiver.html
Why six was a shocking number in the FA Cup and 13 is unlucky for Aston Villa. Tom Dart on the weekend in numbers .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/tonys-fiver.html
In this week's Topical Barometer, Alan Carr says that QPR fans should be used to a manager with only a tenuous grasp on English. After all, they didn't do too badly under Ian Holloway.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/alan-carrs-topi.html
"Another diet question. Do the readers think I was the world's fattest player?" Tony Cascarino, Times Online's inimitable agony uncle , helps you get back on the straight and narrow after your Christmas excesses.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/new-year-footba.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Play it again Sam - The Independent
* Rafa summit: Parry flies to US for crunch talks on Liverpool boss - Daily Mail
* States of confusion: crunch day for Rafa in the Big Apple - Daily Express
* Luton find pride and payday as Liverpool's dip turns into a slump - The Guardian
* Hats off to Luton - The Daily Telegraph
* Mad as a Hatter: Rafa insists he'll stay, but who'll want him? - The Sun
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow's news today
- First day nerves: Fabio Capello gets new era underway
- Chelsea set sights on first final of the season
- Allardyce fears legal backlash over "dangerous" schedules
- Benitez on the brink
And expect...
Stuart Pearce to be pictured leaving Fabio Capello's office with a lightbulb sticking out of his pocket.
Spread the word. It's like pyramid selling, but without the hassle or the money. Click on the following link if you (or your friends) want to subscribe to this newsletter.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/subscriptions/e-mail_bulletins/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anonymous tips, suggestions, funnies, fan mail and complaints: sport@timesonline.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you no longer wish to receive the Ahead of the Game Bulletin, please click here to unsubscribe. If you wish to speak to a Customer Services Repesentative, please call 020 7860 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. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
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.
没有评论:
发表评论