AHEAD OF THE GAME
Alpha mail. The only truly useful football e-mail
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Tuesday, December 9, 2008. 1600 GMT
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The news in 60 seconds
REAL MADRID APPOINT RAMOS
The former Tottenham manager has replaced Bernd Schuster at the Bernabeu. Pedrag Mijatovic, the club's sporting director, confirmed the news at a press conference this afternoon. "I would like to thank the board for their confidence," Ramos said. "I face this job with excitement. It's everybody's dream."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article5312689.ece
LIVERPOOL REJECT BABEL LOAN
The Dutch winger's agent says his client has failed to secure a short-term switch to Ajax. "Rafael Benitez finds Ryan too important," Winnie Haatrecht said. "Hopefully, we will see that in more playing time. Let's be clear: Ryan feels great at Liverpool, but for him to develop further he needs to play."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5312347.ece
MILLER BLOW FOR WEST BROM
A cruciate ligament injury will force Ishmael Miller to miss the rest of the season, increasing the pressure on Tony Mowbray to bring in reinforcements during the transfer window. "It is a blow because, while Ishmael is only 21, he is a threat to most teams he plays against with his size, power and strength," the manager said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/west_brom/article5312515.ece
SIR BOBBY ROBSON HONOURED
The former England manager was described as a as "a great man and a local hero" as he was made an Honorary Freeman of the City of Durham yesterday. The 75-year-old, who is battling cancer for the fifth time, was given a standing ovation as the mayor Grenville Holland told him: "You are one of our own. We are proud to have you in our midst."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article5312047.ece
RONALDO ON STANDBY FOR AALBORG
The winger could be involved in Manchester United's Champions League match tomorrow as he has returned to training after limping out of Saturday's 1-0 victory over Sunderland with a hip injury.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5312399.ece
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE VIDEO PREVIEWS: LAMPARD ABSENT
The Chelsea midfielder is suspended for his side's final Champions League group match, against FC Cluj. Florent Malouda is also doubtful but Joe Cole is fit again. Didier Drogba could partner Nicolas Anelka in attack. Liverpool are resting Dirk Kuyt for their game against PSV Eindhoven. Fernando Torres (hamstring) and Fabio Aurelio (calf) are missing through injury.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article5306802.ece
LIVE MATCH TRACKER
It's a busy night not only in Europe but on the domestic front as well with three FA Cup second-round ties, including Tranmere v Peterbrough, and nine matches in the Championship. Follow all the action from this evening's games with our live scores and stats service.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/
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FREE MOBILE SERVICE TRIAL
Try our football alerts service free of charge for 14 days and get match-day team sheet, goal alerts, half-time updates, full-time results and league position for your team.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/mobile_times/article4541324.ece
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If you've got another couple of minutes
Debate: is Ronaldo one of our top five imports?
The Portugal winger is expected to become the first Barclays Premier League player to win the Fifa World Player 2008 award this month, but when asked to rank the best overseas signings, Matt Dickinson, our Chief Sports Correspondent, finds the United forward does not make his top five.
"Crucially, the judgement went beyond skills and trophies and came down to those players who loved to be here as much as we loved to have them, and Dennis Bergkamp, Gianfranco Zola, Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel and Thierry Henry all made us feel like this was the only stage to play on, that English football was the best in the world," he writes.
"In Ronaldo we have a footballer who sees better things beyond the Premier League, in Spain with Real Madrid most probably. That is his entitlement, but it is a slap in the face for us, his hosts. We keep telling ourselves that this is the best league in the world, but Ronaldo's itchy feet will force us to wonder if, truly, it is."
Have your say.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/debate-is-crist.html
Video: beating the drop
Sometimes things can get a little too much for the loyal football supporter. After Vasco Da Gama's relegation from Brazil's top-flight, one fan decided he had had enough and threatened to throw himself off the stadium roof. It's nail-biting to watch, but eventually he is saved by the emergency services. Particuarly heart-warming is the sight of his fellow fans waiting below with a banner-cum-safety net to catch him.
http://www.lesdessousdusport.fr/video-sport/une-relegation-difficile-a-supporter-303
E-mail: sport@timesonline.co.uk
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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Vinnie: I had 48 stitches - The Sun
1) Vinnie Jones revealed that he needed 48 stitches to his face after being hit with a beer glass in a US bar [see yesterday's AOTG]. 2) The former football hardman claims he was attacked as he posed for photographs with other drinkers. 3) "It was like a car crash," he said. "It all seemed to happen so quickly." 4) Asked about CCTV footage showing him punching a customer after the incident, Jones said: "Would you not be p***** off if someone tried to blind you for life?"
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>>>>>OUR RIVALS<<<<<
City £60m Villa talks - The Sun
The agent of Valencia striker David Villa has flown to the UK for talks over the Spanish international's proposed £60m move to Manchester City.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2017444.ece
Johnson's City future in doubt - Daily Mail
Michael Johnson's future at Manchester City is under threat, with Mark Hughes confident of signing Lassana Diarra, Roque Santa Cruz and possibly Thierry Henry.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1092984/Big-time-Johnsons-future-Manchester-City-placed-doubt.html
Heskey's after Villa riches in the summer - Daily Mirror
The Wigan striker is keen to link up with Martin O'Neill - who he played under at Leicester - but remains determined to see out his contract at the JJB Stadium.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/09/aston-villa-keen-on-snapping-up-emile-heskey-115875-20957513/
Ferguson looks for a helping hand from Arsenal - The Daily Telegraph
The United manager says Arsene Wenger's team hold the key to the holders' title hopes as the Gunners have still to play Liverpool and Chelsea at the Emirates.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/3684637/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-looks-for-a-helping-hand-from-Arsene-Wengers-Arsenal-in-title-race-Football.html
Short favours a big name from abroad - The Guardian
Ellis Short, Sunderland's biggest shareholder, is believed to favour a well-known foreign name as the new manager while Niall Quinn, the chairman, would rather go for a homegrown boss.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/dec/08/sunderland-roy-keane-new-manager
Kinnear set for transfer talks - The Independent
The interim Newcastle manager will meet the club's managing director on Tuesday to discuss his January transfer targets after being told he has £12m to spend.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/kinnear-faces-spell-in-stands-as-charges-mount-up-1058058.html
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42
Years since Liverpool lost to a Dutch team, a 5-1 defeat by Ajax in 1966.
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In TheGame
Oliver Kay: Eboue booing comes from bitterness
Our football writer is concerned that fans' tolerance and indulgence of poor performances are going to diminish. "The relationship between players and supporters has been in decline for years, the inevitable result of the distance - initially in financial and ultimately in emotional terms - that has built up between those on the pitch and those on the terraces," he writes.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/supporters-can.html
Graham Spiers: Ferguson tapping into populist feeling
Our man north of the border is surprised at the United manager's support for reviving the England v Scotland fixture. "In retirement, whenever that comes, he can happily campaign for it to be restored," he writes. "But as long as he remains in charge at Old Trafford he may find his enthusiasm waning for his players' summer holidays being cut short."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/sir-alex-fergus.html
Video highlights: West Ham 0 Tottenham 2
Harry Redknapp's side leap-frogged his former club into fifteenth place in the Premier League after eventually overcoming a stubborn defensive effort from the home team. Watch Ledley King's headed goal from a sweeping Aaron Lennon cross and Jamie O'Hara's precise 20-yard drive that sealed the three points.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece
Bill Edgar's daily trivia question
Which two English clubs met three times in one season in the 1980s but not on either of their home grounds?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/bill-edgars-t-1.html
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
Faithy thinks Paul Ince has little reason for complaint:
"If ex-players put in the effort to get qualified for a manager's job and were fired then I might have some sympathy. Instead, they are appointed on the strength of their name, given 'special dispensation' to get qualified when they get round to it and, when they are out of their depth, are fired and jack it in. The football league should make the pro-licence mandatory for all managers. Let's raise the bar and then we would have more world-class English managers."
D. Heath, from London, was incensed at West Ham's tactics against Spurs and distraught at their lack of attacking prowess:
"Heurelho Gomez - he's suspect at set-pieces and liable to flap and parry the ball when under pressure. West Ham are the only team in the league to give the Brazilian all the time and space he needed to feel completely comfortable. How much homework does Zola do?
"It was possibly the worst second-half performance by a West Ham team ever. To see David Di Michele tying his boots up, two minutes after he'd come on, as the ball rolled past him in the box just about said it all. West Ham cannot score and never really looked like trying."
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And expect...
Vinnie Jones to miss out on several top movie roles after losing his good looks.
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