Ahead of the Game: Ferguson Defends Reaction

The news in 60 seconds

FERGIE DEFENDS REACTION
AOTG was so relieved to have sent this e-mail out that we turned round to readers of a rival bulletin and thrust our fist into the air like we were giving an internal examination to a pregnant cow. Nothing personal, we were just showing our passion for the bulletin. Coincidentally, that’s what Sir Alex says he was doing after Manchester United’s victory over Reading.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3225841.ece

UNITED’S JUST DESERT
As you read this, United players (except Owen Hargreaves, who has presumably already done it) are probably laying out their towels beside a pool in Dubai and sipping on alcohol-free cocktails. Most chief executives would be trying to explain why such a trip isn’t just a jolly, but not David Gill - he’s explaining why it’s all harmless fun. And not just a way of getting his mitts on £1 million.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3221987.ece

JUST ANOTHER HICKS UP FOR LIVERPOOL
The Yankies refuse to wave their white hankies. Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, the Liverpool co-owners, have rejected a £300 million offer for the club from DIC, although the American tycoons are prepared to listen to offers. In the meantime, they are planning to push on with a £350 million refinancing package that will leave them in slightly less debt than Northern Rock.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3221890.ece

CARSLEY STIRS IT UP
As if Liverpool didn’t have enough to grumble about, what with dodging friendly fire from their American co-owners, Lee Carsley has attempted to compound their misery. He says Rafa Benitez’s team should be pushing for the title after spending all that money – but that Everton could pip them for the fourth Champions League place.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/everton/article3226174.ece

PIZARRO DOING BIZ
Claudio Pizarro may be as mobile as Lesley Ash, but he’s hoping he can take advantage of the African Cup of Nations and an injury to Andriy Shevchenko to press for a regular first-team place. “We have five strikers at the moment but most of them are away or with injury so it is important for me to play and I am getting my chance,” the Chelsea forward said. 
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/

KILBANE DEFENDS BRAMBLE
How do you defend the indefensible? Kevin Kilbane has given it a good go, pleading for fans to stick by Titus Bramble, his Wigan Athletic team-mate. “It’s one of those things, although I’m sure he’ll be disappointed from his own point of view,” Kilbane said after the defender’s latest blunder. “We’ll rally round him and lift him.” Let’s hope he’s got a big winch.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/wigan/article3226141.ece

OSMAN AND HIBBERT SIGN ON
What’s this? An English club, with genuine Champions League aspirations, promoting home-grown players? Surely some mistake. Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert have signed contracts that will keep them at Everton until 2012.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/everton/article3225218.ece

DEFOE WON’T GO
It looks as though Jermain Defoe really is the Incredible Hulk. The diminutive striker - who according to one former WAG named his manhood after the superhero - apparently grew like Bruce Banner after he was named captain. “Jermain is only 5ft; he was about 8ft by the start of the game,” Robbie Keane said. That’s why Defoe wants to stay at Tottenham, even if Juande Ramos probably just wants him to sign a new contract. 
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article3221994.ece

BOURNEMOUTH ON BRINK
Bournemouth are the latest club to feel the pinch after the South Coast club, who are believed to be about £4 million in debt, confirmed their intention to go into administration. A club statement read: “Jeff Mostyn [the chairman] has confirmed that a further notice of intention to appoint an administrator has been accepted by the court.” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3225906.ece?token=43932427

CONSTANTINE’S ROUGH GUIDE
Stephen Constantine, the Malawi coach, is as well-travelled as a dog-eared Rough Guide after a round-the-world trip. Which is why - after stints in charge of Nepal and India as well as the African country - he’s perfectly qualified to give us a run down of the contenders for the African Cup of Nations.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3206159.ece

GHANA’S SURFACE TENSION
The African Cup of Nations, where even the laziest of journalistic clichés come true. After only one match, Claude Le Roy has criticised a pitch so poor that even Bolton couldn’t play on it. “In more than 20 years in Africa, it’s the worst pitch I’ve ever seen,” the Ghana coach said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3225382.ece

GOOD SPORTS
Kaveh Solhekol doesn’t ask Stan Collymore and Gary Imlach, the presenters, why Eurosport is covering a tournament that is played in Africa by Africans, but he does ask them whether it’s really worth the hype and hassle, if they should move it to a summer date and whether Ivory Coast are really that good. We’ve got it on video, so you don’t even have to engage the brain. 
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3212902.ece

If you've got another couple of minutes

BRAMBLE'S SHAMBLES
AOTG normally begins work with the kind of enthusiasm Coleen reserves for opening her bank statements. Dare we say it, we dive out of bed like Claudio Pizarro trying to win a penalty. But not this morning. Not on Blue Monday, The Most Miserable Day Of The Year ™.
According to some lab coats in Cardiff, this is the day when your average Joe starts running a warm bath, reaches for the aspirin and a packet of Wilkinson Sword blades and contemplates the worst. Apparently, a combination of the bad weather, broken new year’s resolutions and the sight of Jeremy Paxman in his boxers has deprived us all of our will to live. 
So if you’ve got as far as this part of the e-mail - and not because the previous section was as heavygoing as the JJB Stadium – you’ve done well.
And spare a thought for Titus Shambles, who after his howler yesterday, is no doubt lying in bed, head under a pillow (with Steve Bruce holding it down?), contemplating how he’s already broken his new year’s resolution – look at ball when kicking it – and today’s weather forecast, which should ensure more slips than the M&S underwear department.
So with so much SADness in the world we thought it was our duty to do something to bring joy into the world - which is why we have dug out a succession of slips and trips (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgGMGI6GYFs) by Bramble that belong in a Jackass movie. Which is appropriate, for someone who plays like a donkey.
If that’s not enough, you can even vote to decide whether he’s the most blunder-prone defender in the league.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/titus-shambles.html
Of course, it may seem like we’re kicking a man when he is down, but it’s his fault for going to ground so easily. And in any case, it’s for the greater good. Let’s just hope he isn’t reading this e-mail, though.
Titus shambles: lost cause or cause celebre? sport@timesonline.co.uk

SAMUEL’S DEBATE
“United suffered a loss that day, but England did, too; four players who had been recognised by their country died in Munich and others, such as Eddie Colman, surely would have been. By treating their commemoration as if it is a club matter, the FA has abdicated responsibility. If there was concern that an insensitive section of the crowd may use a silent tribute as an appalling way to insult United, there is the alternative of applause.”
Martin Samuel, our Chief Football Correspondent, on why there should be a minute’s silence before England’s next match, in honour of those who died in the Munich air crash. Join the debate.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-debate-shou.html

THEGAME PODCAST
Woy Hodgson joins this week’s show to talk to Guillem Balague and Gabriele Marcotti about life at Fulham. The former Inter Milan manager speaks about the challenge ahead – and why O-level French didn’t prepare him for the task of coaching in four languages. The gang are also joined by Santiago Solari, the Inter Milan player, to talk about Serie A.
Online from 6pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/

>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
I BLEW IT FOR ENGLAND: Alan Smith’s loo romp on eve of Euro flop – News of the World
What you need to know: 1) A teenage model says she romped with Alan Smith in a toilet at a wild England party the night before the crucial Croatia game (a match which ironically, considering Smith’s earlier performance, was a flop). 2) After getting the brunette’s number, the forward showed he was a genuine fox in the box (or cubicle) by disappearing off to the toilets and bombarding her with texts. 3) She said: “The thing I really remember was that he was still wearing his England kit that he’d trained in a few hours … I couldn’t believe this was an England international on the eve of a big game. Thousands of people would give their right arm to be in his position.” Indeed.

A quickie before you go, sir?

SULLEY SIDE UP
Sulley Muntari gets the African Cup of Nations off to a flyer with a venomous left-footed shot from 25 yards. Highlights from the first match of the tournament.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzIMp4FAcFo

0
Number of matches that Manchester United have lost with Wayne Rooney in the team. He has missed their four defeats so far.

In TheGame

In Fanzine Fanzone, Gareth Harrison, our Newcastle man, reports after Special K’s return to Toon ended in anti-climax. Well, what do you expect from two teams built by Big Sam? Elsewhere, our Wigan man talks about Paul Jewell’s quiet revolution at the JJB Stadium.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/01/it-coulda-been.html
In Tony’s Fiver, Cascarino explains why the FA will have to introduce transfer windows for owners and clubs as short-term investors look to turn a tidy profit.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3221832.ece
Jeff Stelling, the cult Sky Sports presenter, on why he knows less about football than Paul Merson, how he comes up with those one-liners - Jellyman throws a wobbly – and poring over stats at Winchester services like a trainspotter.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/qa-jeff-stellin.html

>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Fergie’s TV ruck: he faces rap over ‘rude’ gestures – The Sun
* Hicks Kop out: I won’t sell – unless the price is right – Daily Mail
* No Kop out: Hicks puts Reds’ future on the line – Daily Express
* Hicks comes out fighting: American blocks talks with Dubai group – The Daily Telegraph
* Liverpool will not be sold to Dubai groups, insists Hicks – The Independent
* Anfield owners holding out for a windfall – The Guardian
* Up yours: Sir Alex hits back at fan complaints of abusive gesture but faces new probe by FA - Daily Mirror

Tomorrow’s news today

- Liverpool fans make statement of intent
- Owen to lead new Newcastle era

And expect…

Defoe to sign a new contract … and Ramos to then stick him on the transfer list. Cynical indeed.

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