AHEAD OF THE GAME
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Wednesday, December 10, 2008. 1600 GMT
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News in 60 seconds
KEANE: I'M STAYING AT ANFIELD
The Liverpool forward has dismissed reports that he could leave the club in the transfer window. Keane returned to the starting line-up for the 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven last night, but has suffered a difficult start to his career at Anfield and has been linked with a return to Tottenham. "If people want to create something that's not there it's up to them but I will be a Liverpool player for a long time," he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5319248.ece
SCOLARI WILL NOT DROP ANELKA
The Chelsea manager praised Didier Drogba for his goal-scoring substitute appearance in the 2-1 victory over CFR Cluj but insisted that the Frenchman remains as important to the side. "We are second in the Champions League group and second in the Premier League because our top scorer is Nicolas Anelka," he said. "It is my job to put the two players together."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article5319416.ece
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE VIDEO PREVIEWS: ARSENAL REST FABREGAS
Arsene Wenger will not pick his captain for the match at home to Porto this evening as the Premier League side have already qualified for the knockout stage. Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to play for Manchester United at home to Aalborg due to a hip injury. Plus, all the other news on tonight's big games.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article5306802.ece
BORO UPSET WITH MIDO FAN VERDICT
Middlesbrough and the FA have expressed their disappointment after a Newcastle fan who racially abused at Mido was not banned from football matches. Barry Hutchinson was fined £270 with £45 costs at Teesside Magistrates' Court. "It makes it very difficult for football clubs to have a robust anti-racism policy without the support of the courts," a Middlesbrough spokesman said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/middlesbrough/article5319676.ece
BABEL GIVEN NO GUARANTEES
The Dutch forward has admitted that Rafael Benitez rejected his request for a loan move to Ajax, although the Liverpool manager offered no assurances about his place in the side. "Rafa has said no," Babel said. "He did not promise me anything for the rest of the season. There were no conditions and I have to accept this."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5319102.ece
POYET WOULD REJECT REAL
The former Tottenham assistant manager has played down suggestions that he could follow Juande Ramos to Real Madrid. "It would be a big decision and would put me in a situation," Poyet said. "But I'm pleased in England, I'm in London and love everything here so I am hoping to start working here."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article5319647.ece
HUDDERSFIELD SET TO APPOINT CLARK
Lee Clark, the Norwich assistant manager, is in advanced talks with the Yorkshire League One side about becoming their new boss. "I knew from when I appointed Lee as reserve-team coach at Newcastle how ambitious he was," Glenn Roeder, the Norwich manager, said. "So he goes with my best wishes and big thanks for the part he played last year in helping the club to secure its Championship status."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5319248.ece
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FREE MOBILE SERVICE TRIAL
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If you've got another couple of minutes
Is Drogba the best striker in Europe?
The Chelsea forward played only the final half-hour of the Champions League 2-1 victory over CFR Cluj but his performance was good enough for Martin Samuel to write that, on his day, Drogba is the best striker in Europe on his day. Do you agree?
Last night, he certainly stood out among Chelsea's expensively assembled line-up, bringing to their attack a penetrative physical power and goal-scoring threat that was missing during his recent three-match suspension.
Most impressive was the sublime goal he scored after only seven minutes of his arrival, when he expertly controlled a Joe Cole chip and sent a stunning shot past Nuno Claro, the CRF Cluj goalkeeper, in one seamless move.
In response, a booming voice said through a loudspeaker: "Welcome back, we've missed you" and though Nicolas Anelka, Drogba's deputy in his absence, may not have been pleased to hear that, it surely captured the mood at Stamford Bridge.
As Samuel writes, Drogba has not had the best year - sent off in the Champions League final, injured, banned for throwing a coin into the crowd against Burnley and fingered for allowing his agent to meet representatives from Inter. But he confirmed last night that his presence in the Chelsea team is crucial to their chances of winning the best silverware this season. Right?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/is-drogba-the-b.html
Read Samuel's match report:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article5315798.ece
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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Gazza facing his demons with horse therapy - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Paul Gascoigne is tackling his problems by talking to horses at the Stepps rehab centre. 2) Equine Assisted Psychotherapy helps addicts who struggle to deal with other people. 3.) New Age therapists have also taken away Gascoigne's mobile and banned him from reading newspapers.
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In TheGame
Can Benitez be compared to Paisley?
Liverpool's victory over PSV Eindhoven meant that Rafael Benitez surpassed Bob Paisley's club record of 39 victories in Europe's premier club competition.
What can we read into that? Does that put Benitez in the same bracket as the three-time European Cup winner? Or does it confirm that records have become meaningless in the competition since it opened up to sides who had not won their domestic league?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/can-rafael-beni.html
Who is England's No 1 goalkeeper? Martin Samuel responds
Our Chief Football Correspondent has responded to your contributions in his debate asking who is the best England keeper. He says that Joe Hart is still too young to displace David James, reiterates his argument that, on form, Robert Green, is the best available to Fabio Capello and has taken issue with the reader who suggested that most English keepers have been overrated.
"You've led with your chin on Seaman, haven't you mate?" Samuel writes. "Or did you forget that penalty save against Gary McAllister at Wembley? Seaman was a fantastic goalkeeper, he just stayed on a year too long. Had he been Scottish, he would be recalled as the greatest in your history." Which, he might have added, is hardly the greatest compliment.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/martin-samuel-1.html
Bill Edgar's daily trivia
Today's poser: "Who would have appeared in the final of each of the first four European Championships but for the toss of the coin?" Edgar has also revealed the answer to the question he set yesterday.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/bill-edgars-w-1.html
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6
Clubs in the Premier League with more wins away than at home. They are Aston Villa, Bolton, Chelsea, Everton, Hull and Liverpool.
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
I've had enough boos! - Daily Mirror
Emmanuel Eboue is on the brink of quitting Arsenal after his barracking from their fans.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/most-popular/2008/12/10/champions-league-arsenal-defender-emmanuel-eboue-wants-to-quit-the-club-115875-20959681/
Hansen-backed player fund falls foul of Premier League rules - The Guardian
The Premier League will ban an investment fund set up to make money from young footballers, whose paid advisers include Alan Hansen, because it breaks rules on "third-party ownership" of players.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/dec/10/premierleague1
Harry's keen on Hammers - Daily Mail
The Spurs manager is planning a £16m bid for Robert Green and Matthew Upson in the transfer window.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1093326/Redknapp-planning-16m-West-Ham-swoop-bring-Green-Upson-Spurs.html
Ramos blasts Spurs stars - Daily Express
The new Real Madrid manager blamed Tottenham players for his failure at White Hart Lane.
http://www.express.co.uk/football
Players 'afraid' of Roy - The Sun
Tobias Hysen, the former Sunderland winger, says Roy Keane told the squad they were "worth nothing".
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2021085.ece
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
Nogbad T. Bad posted on Matt Dickinson's article naming the top five imports to English football:
"It seems to have been forgotten, but bringing Ricky Villa and Osvaldo Ardiles to this country was a big deal at a time when such transfers were uncommon. Ardiles, especially, was a fantastic player who came here at the peak of his career. He deserves an honourable mention in this debate."
Ross took issue with one of Samuel's responses on his goalkeeper debate:
"With regards to your comment about Andy Goram, pray tell, what exactly did he do wrong for the Paul Gascoigne goal at Euro 96? One of the greatest goals of all time, and quite frankly, unsaveable. In the 12 years since, not once have I heard anyone put forward the theory that Goram was at fault. Goram was one of, if not the best, shot-stoppers I have ever seen."
What do you think? Watch a clip of the goal here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0NT6aUwN8c
Sean, from Northampton, read Samuel's column in which he criticised Michel Platini on two fronts, firstly for his imminent reforms of the Champions League and when he analysed the Frenchman's decision not to back his home nation's plan for a super-regulator of European football:
"Martin, when can we look forward to a face-to-face interview between yourself and Mr Platini? There are thousands of decent football fans in this country who are dying to hear his answers on the points you raise so well. I won't hold my breath."
Read Samuel's article:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/martin_samuel/article5304254.ece
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And expect...
Platini to make his best decision in a long time and deny that request for an interview with Martin Samuel.
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