Ahead of TheGame: From playmaker to pen pusher
The news in 60 seconds
FROM PLAYMAKER TO PEN PUSHER
Newcastle United have confirmed Dennis Wise will be executive director of the club. That's right, the former midfield agitator and forthright manager gets an office job. At this rate, Alan Shearer's proposed role will be running the club shop.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3270907.ece
IRAQI FOOTBALLER REFUSED WORK PERMIT
Nashat Akram's dream move to Manchester City looks over after the Home Office rejected the midfielder's work permit application because Iraq are outside the top 70 in Fifa's rankings. As a unifying figure in his home country, this is a diplomatic own goal.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article3270139.ece
SAMARAS TO CROSS THE BORDER
There is some joy at Eastlands after Celtic agreed to take Georgios Samaras on loan for the rest of the season. The 22-year-old Greece striker has scored just eight goals in 55 appearances since arriving in 2006 in a £6 million move.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article3270396.ece
SHEVCHENKO HAPPY AT CHELSEA
The Ukrainian striker has ruled out a return to AC Milan after insisting he is committed to his current club. "I am at a big club and the team is doing well," he said. Yes Sheva, but imagine how good it will be when you pull your finger out.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article3269903.ece
CARSON SEEKS CHANCE FOR REDEMPTION
With the state of English goalkeeping as it is, some of us would be prepared to see John "Budgie" Burridge pull on the national team jersey. Fabio Capello is likely to recall Scott Carson. The Aston Villa No 1 talks about life after his nightmare against Croatia.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/matt_dickinson/article3267218.ece
RICHARDS: DEAL OR NO DEAL?
The Manchester City defender is stalling on signing a new contract despite being offered a deal worth £47,000 a week. Is he greedy? What if you were offered a pay deal to match your peers and you were as good at your job? That's right, you'd turn it down out of principle because of the nurses and teachers.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article3267314.ece
DERBY OWNERS MAKE FAN PLEDGE
The new American owners of Derby County have vowed to ensure that they do not alienate supporters or drag the club into debt. However, they "believe there's no reason why we can't make Derby County an iconic worldwide brand." They don't have a clue, do they?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/derby/article3267354.ece
PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEWS
Tottenham Hotspur look set to hand new signing Jonathan Woodgate his debut against Everton and Paul Scholes is pushing for a place in the Manchester United starting line-up for the home match against Portsmouth tomorrow evening.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3263431.ece
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If you've got another couple of minutes
TIME FOR CAPELLO TO ENTER FANTASY WORLD
There's no need for the Italian to spend his days groundhopping in the cold because PlayTheGame has done the hard work for him. We've used mountains of data from our innovative fantasy game to come up with a real-life best England squad and XI based on player performance in the league this season. Get your coat, Becks. The dream is over.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/the-playthegame.html
BETTER THAN BEST?
At the age of 22, Cristiano Ronaldo is still probably several years from his prime, but many believe he is already the equal of George Best. We want to know who you believe to be Manchester United's greatest player by voting in our poll. I won't try and influence the outcome by suggesting that Ronaldo falls over in the slightest breeze whereas Best had the self-correcting balance of a weeble. What would be the point?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/poll-who-is-the.html
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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
I don't need to use a condom, they check me out at Chelsea - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Glamour model Brooke Healey claims that Ashley Cole didn't wear a condom in another alleged romp involving the Chelsea defender. 2) Cole dismissed the need for one with the excuse that "Chelsea give us check-ups". Rather than think about what this doesn't mean, Healey says she took a gamble on not getting pregnant. 3) The 23-year-old blonde alleges she was visited by Cole's post-romp team to check she wasn't in the family way. 4) She then signed a document denying the night of passion in exchange for £6,000. 5) Clearly, the contract wasn't worth the paper it was written on.
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A quickie before you go, sir?
Perhaps work permit application's should be dependent on the quality of a player's first touch. Iraq's Nashat Akram shows his credentials with goals against Qatar...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn2MZuQFFK0
... and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZf13PaMem4&NR=1
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1
The number of Accrington Stanley players appearing in today's African Cup of Nations group B match between Benin and Nigeria. Romauld Boco should line up against a Nigeria team that boasted six English-based players in their starting XI against Mali. Follow the action on our live match tracker: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/
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In TheGame
Bill Edgar is keen to test your football knowledge with his daily trivia question. Today's brain twanger is what linked the manager of one of the clubs promoted from the second division in 1973-74 with one of the managers who suffered relegation from that division in the same season? Have a think, take a guess (phone your Dad if you have to) and then click on the following link to find out the answer: http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/tuesday-trivia.html
In TheGame Podcast, David Moyes continues the cerebral theme by revealing that brains are the single most important quality for a holding midfielder (Lee Carsley or Phil Neville anybody?). The Everton manager also reveals he's far more laid back than he once was and when Gabriele Mar cotti tries to wind him up by talking about how Everton look rather defensive against the big clubs, he doesn't mind a bit. In fact, Moyes reveals that when you play big clubs, you simply have less of the ball and that is why Everton look a lot less attacking. Talk about damning your team with faint praise. Anyway, there is plenty more from Moyes in this week's podcast.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/01/david-moyes-dis.html#more
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
* Keegan nonplussed as Wise joins Magpies - The Guardian
* Wise guy: from the Crazy Gang to the Newcastle boardroom - The Daily Telegraph
* Yes! I'm off to Arsenal (oh no you're not, Woody!) - Daily Mirror
* Mr Fix-it: shock as Wise quits Leeds - Daily Express
* Kev's Wise guy - Newcastle snap up Leeds boss - Daily Mail
* Wise up Kev! - Keegan asks for £100m... all he gets is Den - The Sun
* Newcastle make Wise move to aid Keegan - The Independent'
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The transfer wrap
Alan Hutton, the Rangers defender, is expected to join Tottenham Hotspur in a £9 million deal. Hutton decided late on Monday night that Tottenham's latest offer, which will treble his wages, was too good to turn down. If the deal goes through the 23-year-old will become the most expensive Scottish outfield player of all time. (Daily Record )
Fulham should complete the signing of former Manchester United youth player Erik Nevland today. The 30-year-old FC Gronigen striker underwent a medical last night and will sign for an initial fee of £1.85m. (The Guardian )
Blackburn Rovers have been given permission to hold talks with Chile captain Claudio Maldonado over a £1m move to Ewood Park. The 28-year-old Santos midfielder has won 39 international caps. (Daily Mail )
Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, admits he is running out of time in his bid to sign AIK Solna midfielder Dulee Johnson. A deal looked to have collapsed when Solna wanted a sizeable fee to make Johnson's loan move permanent but McLeish has hinted a deal for the Liberian could be revived. (PA)
Kevin Keegan is ready to make Derby County winger Giles Barnes his first signing. The Newcastle United manager is hoping to complete a £2m deal for the 19-year-old. (Daily Mirror )
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3270255.ece
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
"As a Leeds fan, this is a big result. Newcastle got the wrong man. Dennis Wise has got all the praise for turning Leeds around - but look at his record since Poyet left, and look at Tottenham's record since Poyet joined. Has Wise had enough of management? Rubbish. He's been found out. But what a financial package - Wise trebles his salary so that he can sit at home in Buckinghamshire and watch football. Come to think of it, why didn't the FA do the same for McClaren at England?"
Dennis was rubbing his hands with glee until NRC, a Leeds fan from Lancashire, offered Chris Mort, the Newcastle chairman, these words to the wise.
"What would be wrong in Capello picking Beckham and saying quite clearly that this is a reward for his attitude and effort towards wearing an England shirt? The attitude and determination Beckham shows being a commodity in all too short supply these days. I also believe Beckham to be a powerful figure in the dressing room and as far as I know, the only player to have played under Capello. Capello can then achieve two goals - early popularity and setting out his authority."
Mark from Ipswich seems to forget that previously playing for a manager can be as problematic as it is helpful.
"Anyone who wants or claims to need more than £45,000 a week is simply greedy. Micah Richards's heart is not truly at Manchester City if he is looking for more, and we'd be better off without him."
Get real, Dominic. You fail to understand how much it costs to run a Bentley these days.
"I think that Richards should definitely hold out. He is now an established international and developing into a brand in his own right. City will pay more, they would be absolutely crazy not to keep their talent happy. Who could they get in for that wage with that talent at that age? £55,000 a week is a snip."
Now, Jimbob seems to have fully embraced the horrors of modern football. Developing into a brand? Help me back into my chair.
Sometimes you just say it better than we do, which is why we've dedicated a corner of this e-mail to your views and boos: sport@timesonline.co.uk
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Tomorrow's news today
- David Beckham tells The Times he is desperate to walk out at Wembley to face Switzerland
- Avram Grant backs Ashley Cole to put his marriage problems aside and face Reading
- Ryan Giggs says the team that holds their nerve will win the Premier League
- Rafael Benitez admits the spotlight is now on him to deliver at Liverpool
And expect...
- Kevin Keegan to leave Newcastle United after Dennis Wise forgets to reorder Post-it notes
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