AHEAD OF THE GAME
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Thursday, December 11, 2008. 1600 GMT
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The news in 60 seconds
UEFA TO INVESTIGATE ROONEY CHALLENGE
Europe's governing body will study video evidence before deciding whether to charge the Manchester United striker with violent conduct after he was accused of stamping on an opponent during the 2-2 Champions League draw with Aalborg. "We are aware of the incident and the disciplinary panel will study the footage and newspaper reports before deciding whether to take action," a spokesman said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5325281.ece
AVRAM GRANT CRITICISES CHELSEA STARS
The ex-Chelsea manager has accused his former charges of being spoilt. "The level of performance at Chelsea is very high, the players perform at a high level and so are their salaries - but some of the players there have problems that you can't find at a children's team."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article5325139.ece
RAMOS PLEASED WITH OPENING VICTORY
The former Tottenham manager got off to a winning start in charge of Real Madrid after their 3-0 Champions League victory against Zenit St Petersburg. "To obtain a victory, in a match where the points aren't important, is very positive," he said. "I'm very happy with the performance of my players. This victory will be very good for improving the team's morale." Bernabeu regulars should be aware that it is matches where the points are very important that he doesn't do quite so well.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article5325348.ece
RANIERI WANTS TO AVOID CHELSEA
The Juventus coach would prefer to avoid his former club in the knockout stages of the Champions League, but is still confident of the Serie A side's chances of progressing if they are drawn together. "If we have to face them at some stage we might as well eliminate them at once," he said. "It depends on you how you are at the time. If you are in form and your opponents are not having chances to win, names don't matter." Well, at least he understands the format at this stage of the competition.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article5325248.ece
NUGENT STAYING AT PORTSMOUTH, SAYS ADAMS
The Portsmouth manager has denied reports that the striker is considering a move to Everton. "At the moment chances are limited for him but he's reacting really well in training and working hard," he said. "He's part of my squad and there will be opportunities for him."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article5325219.ece
WALKER LEAVES BOLTON
Gary Megson has the explained the club's decision to pay up the remainder of the former England goalkeeper's contract. "The emergence of Ali Al Habsi was terrific last season so we have come to an agreement with Ian over his contract and we wish him well," he said. Walker has been linked with a move to the MLS in America.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/bolton/article5325022.ece
If you've got another couple of minutes
Will Rooney ever grow up?
England's best striker was at it again last night. No, we don't mean the Manchester United star finding the back of the net against Aalborg, the Danish minnows, in the Champions League. Instead, we are referring to the succession of X-rated challenges - kung-fu-style kicks, stamps, flailing elbows - that the 22-year-old performed on his opponents at Old Trafford. By our calculations he missed out on two straight red cards and a booking.
See for yourself: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6mqhVlN2YAA
We remember when such antics were put down to mere youthful exuberance, but that no longer works as an excuse. Will he ever grow out of it and, if not, what's to be done about Rooney and by whom?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/watch-wayne-roo.html
Benitez v Paisley
Liverpool's 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven means that Rafael Benitez has surpassed Bob Paisley's club record of 39 victories in European club football's top competition. Does that put the Spaniard in the same bracket as the Englishman? Or does it confirm that records have become meaningless in the European Cup since it opened up to sides who had not won their domestic league? After all, it is not the first club record that Benitez has recently broken at Liverpool. The 1-0 victory over Marseilles last month allowed him to move past Bill Shankly's total of 65 European Cup games in charge of the club.
Paisley won three European Cups in nine years, while Benitez has won it once and finished second on another occasion. Similarly, Shankly enjoyed unprecedented success over 15 years at Liverpool, Benitez has been in charge since 2004. Can Rafa compare yet? If not, what does he need to achieve in order to join the pantheon of great Liverpool managers? Win the Premier League, perhaps?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/can-rafael-beni.html
Drawing a line on encroachment
From next season the Argentine Football Association is planning to introduce an aerosol spray to mark the required ten-yard distance that opposition players must stand at free-kicks. The spray is meant to disappear after 30 seconds. The idea has clearly been inspired by squirty cream, which disappears before you've got the spoon in your mouth.
E-mail: sport@timesonline.co.uk
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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Terry turns karaoke king at Christmas party - Daily Mirror
1) The Chelsea captain led the festivities at his club's end of year bash as he sang numbers by Luther Vandross, Biggie Smalls and Soulja Boy at Funky Buddha in London's Mayfair. 2) Terry then joined team-mates to throw shapes on the dancefloor. 3) At 3.30am he was ushered out of the back door by security. An insider said: "It was the wildest night of their year by far. Terry had everyone in stitches." 4) The behind-enemy-lines work of the 3am Girls is remarkable. They put war correspondents to shame.
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Scolari sets sights on £6m Zaki - The Independent
The Chelsea manager is urging his board to make a move for the Egyptian striker who has made a real impact during his loan to Wigan Athletic from Zamalek.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/scolari-calls-for-1636m-raid-to-bring-zaki-to-chelsea-1061087.html
Alex quit shock - The Sun
AC Milan and Seville wait in the wings as fed-up Brazilian defender demands a move from Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window to pursue regular first-team football.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2024714.ece
Ramos tempts Zakora - Daily Express
The new Real Madrid manager is planning an £8 million bid for the Ivory Coast defensive midfielder after Mahamadou Diarra was ruled out with injury for the rest of the season.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/75183/Ramos-tempts-Zokora-from-Spurs
Sparky targets Bellamy - Daily Mirror
West Ham's financial problems mean that the Manchester City manager may swoop for the striker with whom he had a successful relationship at Blackburn and Wales.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/11/manchester-city-interested-in-west-ham-star-craig-bellamy-with-fernando-torres-still-on-radar-115875-20961328/
Criticism of Ince has been excessive - Winterburn - The Guardian
The defensive coach at Blackburn is amazed at the savaging that the former MK Dons manager is receiving in the press and is convinced the team's results will improve.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/dec/10/nigel-winterburn-paul-ince-blackburn-rovers
==============================
700
Number of matches Arsene Wenger has been in charge of Arsenal.
19
Matches that Manchester United have remained unbeaten in the Champions League. A record for the competition.
27
Years since Charlton Athletic, bottom of the Championship, were in the third tier.
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In TheGame
Matt Hughes: young managers face high-wire act
Our football writer believes the Premier League's inevitable emphasis on short-term survival and maximising revenue rather than long-term planning is bad news for Paul Ince."Young managers like him cannot have it both ways, begging for an opportunity to test themselves at the highest level and then complaining when they are sacked after failing to deliver the goods," he writes.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/young-managers.html
Gabriele Marcotti: memo to Premier League chairmen
Our European football expert tells English clubs that they do not need to be held hostage by greedy managers who demand multi-year deals and multi-million pound wages, and he cites the six-month deal given to Juande Ramos at Real Madrid as an example."There's no reason Premier League clubs in search of a new manager - like, say, Newcastle or Sunderland - can't operate in the same way," he says. "The fact of the matter is that there are many more managers than there are jobs."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/usual-suspects.html
Burridge AFC Fanzone: dogged defeatism
Our Drew Smith Group Southampton League Senior Division follower says his team are committed to trying something different this season. "We can all sit back consolidating on years of playing experience, by going on a long unbeaten run that culminates in an inevitable promotion, but that's been done to death by so many other teams in recent years it's become totally passé," he writes. "People are tired of that old schtick, they want to see something new and that's just what Burridge are doing."
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
"Clubs have always expected loyalty but now they fleece the common man for everything he has whilst offering no platform for his complaints. They want to have the best of both worlds but all they've done is cheat the fans. Resentment for that was bound to grow and now we are seeing the effects."
Rich backs Oliver Kay's claim that the relationship between clubs and supporters has been in decline for years [see Tuesday's AOTG].
"I went to a game at Stamford Bridge in the 1980s. On hearing a late change to the Chelsea team over the PA system, the bloke next to me announced that 'I ain't paid three quid to watch ____' and threw his programme on the ground, turned around and marched out before the game had even kicked-off. These days, after paying £40-50 plus, you are inclined to at least hang around until half-time."
Peter remembers an era when the supporter held all the aces. But who could the mystery player have been?
"It is quite unbelievable that he is asking for a pay rise. If I was as bad as he is, and earned £70k a week, I would keep my mouth shut and wonder how on earth I'm getting away with daylight robbery."
Philip Darby in Billericay is flabbergasted at Lucas Neill's request for a pay rise as the West Ham captain looks to extend his contract at Upton Park.
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And expect...
Laurent Duhamel to be recruited by the Ultimate Fighting Championship after his handling of the Wayne Rooney bout against Aalborg.
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