Ahead of the Game: Liverpool 'Sounded Out' Klinsmann

AHEAD OF THE GAME

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Monday, January 14, 2008. 1600 GMT
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The news in 60 seconds

LIVERPOOL 'SOUNDED OUT' KLINSMANN
Rafael Benitez is on the brink after Tom Hicks, the Liverpool co-owner, admitted that he asked Jurgen Klinsmann about taking over at Anfield. He claims he only did it as a "precaution" - more of which later - but the revelation further undermines the precarious position of The Bearded One, whose team are 12 points off the top.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3184873.ece

KEEGAN DROPS NEWCASTLE HINT...
Kevin Keegan has refused to rule himself in or out of the running for the Newcastle job after being linked with a return to St James' Park. "I really don't know, you're asking a lot of questions I can't really answer," he said. "I'm not ruling myself out or in or anything." So why give an interview to Sky Sports then?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3184098.ece

... AND HUGHES IS JUST AS BAD
Mark Hughes has said as much as is possible to say about his future without saying anything at all. Asked about the Newcastle job, he said: "It's a hypothetical question and I don't answer hypothetical questions." Blackburn Rovers fans can sleep easy, then.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3182549.ece

A SICK REALITY SHOW
"Go into Dragons' Den with a business plan like that and they'll laugh." Martin Samuel on why the soap opera at St James' Park is becoming more like car-crash TV for Mike Ashley after 'Arry turned his nose up at the club's lucrative offer.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article3181956.ece

EVERTON REJECT McFADDEN BID
Proving that it wasn't just a passing fad (ahem), Birmingham are expected to come back in with another bid for James McFadden, the Everton forward, after their second approach was rejected. Birmingham had offered £3 million for the Scotland forward.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/birmingham/article3185437.ece

FRED ADMITS TOTTENHAM TALKS
As if Tottenham don't have enough stroppy forwards already. Fred, Lyons's Brazilian forward, has said that the North London club want to buy him, although he doesn't sound that keen about joining Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and the other one.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article3185510.ece

LITA ON HIS WAY
Leroy Lita's days at Reading could be numbered. The forward has had a pop at Steve Coppell after the manager left him out of the FA Cup team last week. "I said to him if I am going to move on he might as well play the lads who are here because otherwise I will be cup-tied," Lita said. "I didn't say I didn't want to play."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/reading/article3182170.ece

DOWNING DOWNER
Tottenham are still hoping to lure Stewart Downing away from Middlesbrough with a £12 million bid although Gareth Southgate says that he has yet to receive a firm bid for a player who is more left wing than Tony Benn.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3182163.ece

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If you've got another couple of minutes

JUST ANOTHER HICKS UP
We've been there before. Caught in flagrante by Mrs AOTG, hand on beer-goggled beauty's knee, slobbering into what's left of our eighth pint and thumbing number of said midnight mistress into contacts book of Red Bull-smeared mobile phone. Brain throbbing like a strobe light under the stern gaze of now irate (and possibly former) Mrs AOTG, the mind goes blanker than Mike Ashley's list of potential Newcastle managers.
What to say? With the other half calculating a pay-off settlement that would make Steve McClaren blanche, AOTG needs a fire alarm or an epiphany.
We get neither. So what do we do? Simple, we take a leaf out of Tom Hicks's book of Cunning Excuses When Cornered (available from the Liverpool club bookshop and all major retailers) and explain that it was just a sign of our deep love for and dependence on her.
"I was attempting to negotiate an option with her as an insurance policy ... if you left for Raul Madrid or any of the other men that were rumoured in the press," we paraphrased Hicks hopefully. "Or in case our communication spiralled out of control for some reason."
Sadly, the good lady wasn't born on Sunday, January 13, which is why we still flinch whenever she moves for the remote control.
Which brings us to the point of this self-indulgent parody. We'd bet a fair amount of our earnings (what's left after the settlement, obviously) that, if the above was true, it would be the last we ever saw of Mrs AOTG.
So now that Rafa knows his bosses are playing away - and he should be asking himself why they have decided to make their infidelity public - he has only one option. Leave. Martin Jol made the dire mistake of allowing himself to be undermined when Tottenham Hotspur courted Juande Ramos and it ruined both his team and his reputation.
If Rafa goes now, he maintains his self-respect (even if he loses some of his pay-off). If he doesn't, the club's co-owners can treat him like a doormat.
What do you think? Should Rafa walk alone - or try to win back his club? sport@timesonline.co.uk

THEGAME DEBATE
Some of us were brought up on the Hackney Marshes to believe that two-footed tackles are as British as three-and-in, jumpers for goalposts and monkey rush goalies. It's a man's game, after all, ref. But apparently not. Phil Neville suggested recently that the studs-up tackle is a foreign thing, brought into the country along with diving, nice coffees with frothy milk and bird flu.
But before you splutter your latte over your mouse mat, Martin Samuel has been looking at the recent culprits. With the notable exception of Peter Crouch, most of the red cards for violent tackles this season have come from overseas players. He wants to know whether you agree that home-grown players commit fewer two-footed tackles. Or is it just further proof that there are no British players left in the league?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-debate-do-f.html

A CRAZY MAN FOR A CRAZY JOB
"When you do that with managers like what the media said about Harry Redknapp; and when you do things like that about a man like Alan Shearer. I, I, I've kept really quiet, but I'll tell you something - Kevin Keegan has not ruled himself out of the running - I would not resort to that. And I'll tell ya, you can tell Mike Ashley now, he'll be reading this - Newcastle are still looking for a manager, they're still fighting for a top name and I've got to go to Newcastle and get something, and ... and I'll tell you honestly, the Geordies will love it if I say yes - LOVE IT!"
Is Kevin Keegan really the right man for the job?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-debate-woul.html

BIG 'ECK EXCLUSIVE - THEGAME PODCAST
Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, joins Gabriele Marcotti and Guillem Balague to discuss the Premier League pressure cooker. The former Scotland manager explains why he rarely plays with a target man, how he plans to turn Birmingham City into Premier League regulars and why he feels like an outsider.
Elsewhere, it's had more name changes than Andrew Cole, but that doesn't stop the gang from taking the Africa Cup of Nations seriously. Or whatever it's called this time.
Online from 6pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/

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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
Wash & goals - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Superstitious Cristiano Ronaldo got his "lucky" barnet seen to hours before sinking the hat-trick that kept up his hair-raising goals tally. 2) The United winker always goes to Flanagan's barbers in Wilmslow, Cheshire and thinks his run of scoring could come to an end if he breaks the habit. 3) It's the final proof that he is George Best's hair apparent...
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A quickie before you go, sir?

KING KEV
For old time's sake. Kevin Keegan at his finger-jabbing best as he tells Sky TV that he'd love it, just love it ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW8p8xppxwA&feature=related

FREE PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS
Watch as Fernando Torres comes to Liverpool's rescue (again), Dean Ashton maintains his prolific scoring streak for West Ham and Emmanuel Adebayor tries to hide from a corner as Birmingham equalise. The best of the weekend's Premier League action.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece

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47
Reading have conceded as many goals as Derby County this season.
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In TheGame

In Fanzine Fanzone , our Newcastle fan explains why the club is becoming more and more like an episode of Shameless.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Some may think that Derby don't have enough players, but in the Weekend In Numbers , Peter Lansley proves that it's not quantity they lack. It's quality.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/weekend-in-nu-1.html
David Bentley, David Unsworth, Kieran Richardson and Nigel Reo-Coker. That may read like a who's who of unfulfilled talent but it's actually a list of the Greatest Winter Window Signings .
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-greatestwin.html
OK, you read it here first (or second, if you've already seen Tony's Fiver ). Cascarino says Aston Villa will be playing in the Uefa Cup next season - and the Champions League soon after.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/tonys-fiver-1.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Hughes leaves way clear for Newcastle talks - The Guardian
* Rovers braced for Hughes approach by Newcastle - The Independent
* Now Newcastle target Hughes - The Daily Telegraph
* Oui Aye Man: Toon turn to Houllier and role also to be offered to Shearer - Daily Express
* St James' Sparky: Hughes to hold Toon job talks this week - Daily Mirror
* Sparky to light up Toon - The Sun
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The transfer wrap

Portsmouth are set to sign Tiago, the Portugal midfielder, from Juventus for £8 million. (The Sun )
Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, is also interested in Jermain Defoe and is prepared to sell Matt Taylor to raise the necessary funds. (Daily Mirror )
Afonso Alves is ready to join Middlesbrough in a £12 million move from Heerenveen, of Holland. But the Brazilian forward could struggle to get a work permit because he has won only one international cap. (Daily Mirror )
Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, is lining up a £4 million bid for Gary Cahill, the Aston Villa defender. McLeish is also preparing an improved offer for James McFadden, the Everton forward, after a £2.5 million bid was rejected. (Daily Mail )
Blackburn Rovers hope to sign Amdy Faye, the Senegalese midfielder currently on loan to Rangers from Charlton Athletic. They are also targeting Jason Koumas, the Wigan Athletic midfielder. (Daily Mirror )
Roy Keane, the Sunderland manager, will finally land Stephen Hunt after making an improved £5 million bid. Keane has had offers of £3.5 million and £4 million rejected. (Daily Mirror )
Erik Edman, Rennes 's Sweden international, could return to the Premier League after his club said "two or three" English clubs have inquired about him. Reading and Birmingham City have been linked with the former Tottenham Hotspur left back. (Agencies)
David Murphy, the Hibernian defender, is set to complete a move to Birmingham City in the next 48 hours. The former Middlesbrough trainee was also wanted by Celtic and Rangers. (Daily Mirror )
Bolton Wanderers have confirmed that Gerald Cid, the French defender, has completed a move to Nice . The 24-year-old joined Bolton from Bordeaux last summer but made only seven Premier League appearances. (Agencies)
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

A limit of 20 first team players would be great [Friday's AOTG] but how would you enforce it? Are you saying that any players that clubs buy will be automatically classed as first-team squad members? If not ... what's to stop one of the "big four" splashing out £20m on a player like Anelka, and then declaring them a reserve team player? Oh sorry ... that's what happens now isn't it...
Fair point, from Colin Barber . You do need to work out what constitutes a first-team player, which may be tricky (aged 18 or over?), although enforcing it won't be hard. You just tell clubs they're not allowed to do it. It's a bit like when you tell them they can play only 11 players at any one time.

From an outsider's perspective I watch with some incredulity what goes on in the Premier League. In Australian Football we have two mechanisms that aim to bring evenness to the competition. The salary cap ensures that richer clubs can't go out and buy a title by buying up players from the less-well off clubs and the national draft gives the worst-performed team of the season first choice of the best uncontracted young players coming through the system.
I understand that these sort of measures are virtually impossible to initiate in an international sport but surely something - like the ideas proposed in this article - has to be done.
In recent years I have been stunned to see players who are their teams' best, or close to it, transferring to big clubs where they have played peripheral roles. (e.g. Carrick from Tottenham to Man Utd; Sidwell from Reading to Chelsea; Wright-Phillips from Man City to Chelsea.) I don't want to appear disingenuous but aren't these teams competing for the same title as the big four and don't the players want to compete in the competition?
Not only do I not believe you have 'just gone off on one' but I can't believe this dialogue doesn't dominate football punditry throughout the season. After all, what is a perennial EPL competitor like Middlesbrough actually competing for? To come tenth? Or eleventh? Or fourteenth? The competition becomes all but meaningless as anything other than a commercial venture when 75 per cent of the teams have no chance of winning. The fans certainly don't seem interested judging by the half-empty stands.
Gavin Butler 's point raises another one. If everyone thinks it's an OK idea, why does no one seriously consider it? Because the Premier League has become a commercial venture, perhaps?

As an expatriate now living in Canada, I'd just like to point out that big clubs buying up all the talent to stave off competition is not unheard of. Many years ago in the National Hockey League (NHL) there were five "Big" teams. These were the only franchises for years that would win the league title and/or the Stanley Cup. The strategy was to buy up any and all talent & bench them, rather than have them lace-up for their competition - sound familiar...? Unless, as you mentioned in your article, a cap is put on the number of players allowed in a squad, the "Big" clubs will continue to dominate. And really, does a team need 20 full-time paid professionals for a game which fields 11 players?!
I should also probably mention that yes, they do use a salary cap to eliminate 20 Ronaldo's wearing the same shirt ... As a Spurs supporter, it sickens me that a talent such as Berbagod wants to move to one of the big 4, but under the current model can we blame him? Not really. He's a foreigner trying to make the best of his career. No allegiance to any one club, just a professional plying his trade.
Which leads to the point around the foreign contingent in the English game, which gets bigger every year. There was an interesting article in the Economist (http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10186049 ) which outlines why our boys are falling behind in the Beautiful Game and protectionism isn't the answer! The average amount of hours that kids in other nations spend learning the basics is almost double. Not time played in games but pure practice with skills, tactics, strategies - effectively learning their trade! Unfortunately we are in desperate need of solid apprenticeship programs & academies (God bless Goldenballs for his efforts) that cater to this need. So rather than poaching overseas talent that have these programs in place, how about growing our own?
Matt McGraw . Do any other AOTG readers peruse the Economist?

In response to Alex's letter in yesterday's AOTG, stating that Fat Sam need never work again because he's rich enough. How, then, do you explain the likes of Alan Hansen trying to get his gas bill paid by a company he did a photo-shoot for? Without going fully into the details of a capitalist society, there is, essentially, no such thing as being rich enough. No matter how much money Mr Allardyce has, I'm sure he wouldn't turn down the opportunity for more.
You could also say that he hasn't really been working for the last eight months anyway.
And we (fans of two-touch, pass-and-move, attacking football) can hope that he won't work for the next eight months, either. Thanks to Paul Hemmings .

Sometimes you just say it better than we do, which is why we've dedicated a corner of this e-mail to your views and boos: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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Tomorrow's news today

- Our survey says ... what the people of Newcastle really think
- Tony Cascarino gives £5m reasons why Premier League managers have it easy

And expect...

An ashen-faced Rafael Benitez to say that he'll take Hicks back, so long as it doesn't happen again, because he knows deep down he didn't mean it.

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