Get Ahead of the Game

My Ahead of the Game Email just dropped from Times Online, reminding me how excellent it is.

Here is the main body, in full – you can sign up on the Times Website…

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail

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Thursday, September 25. 1600 BST
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The news in 60 seconds

CROATIA FINED OVER HESKEY ABUSE
Fifa have fined the Croatian Football Federation £14,920 after their fans racially taunted the England striker during the World Cup qualifier in Zagreb. Though whether that represents apt punishment is a moot point.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article4825556.ece

BOOTHROYD CHARGED WITH REFEREE ABUSE
Adrian Boothroyd has been hit with a FA charge of aiming abusive and/or insulting words towards referee Stuart Attwell.Surely the Watford manager should have been permitted a few expletives after the official allowed Reading’s ‘phantom goal’ last weekend? http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article4825793.ece

FERGUSON WARNS CITY OVER FINANCES
The manager of the famously skint Manchester United tells city rivals there’s more to football than having wadfuls of cash. “You can buy 11 Robinhos but it wouldn’t be a team would it?” he claims.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article4823997.ece

KEANE: GIVE US TIME TO GEL
After being on the receiving end of flak from unhappy Sunderland fans, Roy Keane has asked for more time to let his new look side settle.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/sunderland/article4826072.ece

MOOD OF DESPAIR DEEPENS AT NEWCASTLE
“God the last few seasons have been so pointless.” Not even the prospective sight of Terry Venables arriving on the scene like Red Adair can lift the air of depression on the Newcastle fans message boards.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article4824481.ece

CARLTON COLE ARRESTED
West Ham’s thoroughly miserable week continued after their forward was picked up by police on suspicion of drink driving.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/west_ham/article4824746.ece

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If you’ve got another couple of minutes

Debate: Who would be the right choice as Newcastle manager?
Newcastle have reportedly approached Terry Venables to make like Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction and clean up the sorry mess at St James’ Park. But what of the other famously out-of-work former England coach Glenn Hoddle – could he be the answer to Geordie fans’ prayers? You decide.

http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/09/who-would-be-th.html

Is Arsenal wonder kid Jack Wilshere as good as everyone is saying? Check out this footage of him playing for the Gunners second string and judge for yourselves. Is there a hidden gem in the youth team at your club? Let us know at sport@timesonline.co.uk

http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/09/video-watch-jac.html

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<< ———————————————————————————– Home and away for United fans – Daily Star 1) A new study suggests Manchester United have the least amount of local fans (22 per cent), swiftly followed by Liverpool. 2) Premier League new boys Hull City top the list with an impressive 88 per cent. 3) Can’t imagine many Tigers fans travelling up from Cornwall to the KC Stadium. ———————————————————————————– >>>>>OUR RIVALS: THE TOP FIVE<<<<<<
Duxbury to carry can for Hammers’ Tevez deception – The Guardian
West Ham United’s chief executive is expected to lose his job in wake of the Carlos Tevez affair, even though the East London club will not face any further charges.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/25/1

I won’t tolerate abuse from the fans, says Keane – Daily Mail
The Sunderland manager did not enjoy being on the sharp end of comments from home supporters during the Carling Cup match with Northampton. “In football, everyone has short memories,” he said. “We’ve got some bloody brilliant supporters but you always remember the idiots.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1061298/I-wont-tolerate-abuse-fans-says-Keane-dark-night-Stadium-Light.html

I’ll say sorry, says Mad Pog – Daily Express
Emmanuel Pogatetz, the Middlesbrough defender, apologises for his dangerous challenge on Manchester United debutant Rodrigo Possebon. “I am going to speak to Rodrigo by telephone but I apologise for hurting him,” he said. “I hope that he will make a quick recovery.”

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/63059/I-ll-say-sorry-promises-Mad-Pog-

Liverpool to line up move for Gareth Bale – Daily Telegraph
The Wales international has found himself relegated to the bench at White Hart Lane and Rafa Benitez could be ready with an £8m bid.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/3077743/Liverpool-to-line-up-move-for-Tottenham-defender-Gareth-Bale—Football.html

Manchester City to bid for Atletico Madrid’s Aguero – Daily Mirror
The club’s new owners are set to flex their considerable financial muscle by splashing out £48m on the 20-year-old Argentina star.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/09/24/manchester-city-to-bid-for-atletico-madrid-s-argentine-star-aguero-115875-20751301/

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6 – The number of Premier League games kicking off at 3pm on Saturday. Must be a record.
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In TheGame

Oliver Kay: Arsenal are the poor man’s Manchester City
In condemning Mark Hughes’ side for turning football into a supermarket recently, Arsene Wenger is ignoring the fact that his own club operate in a similar fashion, our football correspondent claims.

http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/09/wenger-ignores.html

Martin Samuel’s debate replies: can Lampard and Gerrard play together?
Our Chief Football Correspondent tackles the thorny issue on whether Fabio Capello can find room in his team for two of England’s highest paid midfielders.

http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/09/martin-samuel-4.html

Tony Cascarino: we can’t judge tackles on whether or not people end up in hospital
“The Pogatetz tackle doesn’t merit a three-month or 12-match ban or anything like it. It deserved a three-match ban, which is what it got,” our football analyst says.

http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/09/tony-cascarino.html

Bill Edgar’s daily trivia question
At which club were Partridge, Peacock, Eagles and Weaver team-mates in 2005-06?

http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/09/bill-edgars-t-6.html

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Joe Bloggs’ Soapbox

“Wenger’s greatest achievement was to oversee the building of the Emirates Stadium, while keeping Arsenal in the Champions League and securing a crop of talented young players that can challenge for major honours.”
In response to Oliver Kay, Steve E suggests the Arsenal manager’s best work is happening off the pitch.

“No one should be tackling like that, there is no good outcome from a tackle like that, and there is no need for a player to go in like that in order to win a ball.”
Piers is unequivocal about Pogatetz’s challenge on Possebon, mistimed or not.

“How about Gandalf? He’s based in similar fantasy to Newcastle fans who believe they deserve success just for going topless in the winter (respect though – it is cold up there), and is used to dealing with small people (for Wise read hobbits), beer drinkers like Ashley (hobbits), and encouraging people to find their inner calling (for Strider/Aragorn read Owen, Martins, Smith, NUFC squad). Failing that, he could make them all disappear and start again. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me.”
One thinks that Dave N isn’t taking our debate on the Newcastle job too seriously. Or maybe that’s a genius idea.

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And expect…

Glenn Hoddle to wonder what he did in a past life to be linked with the Newcastle job.

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