Ahead of the game: Barnsley face Chelsea in FA Cup

The news in 60 seconds

FA CUP: BARNSLEY FACE CHELSEA
Barnsley's reward for beating Liverpool in the FA Cup is a home quarter-final against the holders, while Manchester United will play Portsmouth at Old Trafford. In the other ties, Bristol Rovers face West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City travel to Sheffield United or Middlesbrough. We've got all the news and reaction.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3390634.ece

BECKENBAUER'S WARNING
Franz Beckenbauer has warned England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup could be in jeopardy if the Premier League tries to stage matches abroad. "I wouldn't be so cocky to go against Fifa," he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3391507.ece

CAPELLO BACKS HART
Fabio Capello has suggested Joe Hart could be the long-term solution to England's goalkeeping problem. "I have had to reinstate a 37-year-old goalkeeper but I have spotted one in the Under-21s who is very interesting," he told Italian radio. So, Paul Robinson won't be getting a reprieve any time soon.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3391541.ece?token=-1055637153

COLEMAN FOR COVENTRY
Chris Coleman will be named the new manager of Coventry City within 24 hours, according to reports. The former Fulham manager quit Real Sociedad last month and Coventry chairman Ray Ranson sees him as the man to replace the "old-fashioned" Iain Dowie.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3390805.ece

INTER 'IMPROVED'
Inter Milan forward Julio Cruz insists his side have learned from being knocked out of the past two Champions Leagues in the quarter-finals. Liverpool play the Italian giants at Anfield tomorrow night. Let's hope Benitez's men learned a more recent lesson.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3390025.ece

BLATTER TALKS TOUGH ... AGAIN
Sepp Blatter says Spain could be banned from international competition if their government tries to intervene in the election process of the Spanish FA. "It would only take six hours to call an emergency committee meeting to decide upon Spain's exclusion," the Fifa president said. Why call a committee if he knows what it's going to decide?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3390992.ece?token=-298164392

BENITEZ ON THE BRINK
Regardless of what happens at Anfield, it seems Rafael Benitez's number could be up. Not only did his side suffer that awful defeat at the weekend but, according to reports, the Arab investment group considering buying the club would review the managerial position, while the players have lost confidence in him. The perfect time, then, to face the runaway leaders of Serie A.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3386918.ece

REDKNAPP BACKS JAMES
Capello may fancy Hart but Harry Redknapp reckons David James will be able to play in the 2010 World Cup even though he will be only a few weeks shy of his 40th birthday by then.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3386756.ece

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If you've got another couple of minutes

As a short snippet of television, an FA Cup draw usually makes for viewing as uncomfortable as an experimental Channel 4 short film or a James Nesbitt advert, so AOTG was relieved to see that Sky Sports News enlivened coverage of today's big event in Soho Square by posting cameras at Bristol Rovers and Barnsley. That meant that we were able to see the response among the lower league sides as the fixtures were set for the quarter-finals. At Barnsley, they set up a live feed to what resembled a training ground Portakabin while Rovers assembled in what looked like a club suite, rolling out the club mascot for effect. Either that or Scrumpy the Robin is spending too much time by the Memorial Ground bar.

The responses were intriguing. As Rovers were handed a relatively easy home tie against West Brom, the players oohed and aahed in appreciation. Scrumpy, though, curiously held his head in hands - perhaps the magnitude of the occasion got to the big softy, though AOTG suspects he fancied a date with Stamford the Lion. That honour instead fell to Barnsley, whose players cheered and clapped at the news that their unlikely run will almost certainly end at the next stage. Which brings AOTG to its point: why do players still think in this way? Statistics show that the big three don't lose to lower tier opposition in the FA Cup anymore yet small sides delight in the old cliché of favouring such a draw.

Explain it to us if you can: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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0
League matches Inter Milan have lost this season

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A quickie before you go, sir?

Nani infuriated Arsenal players with his juggling performance at Old Trafford but showboating has long been a part of football. Nobody ever criticised George Best for the moment he removed his boot before executing a pass or for the cheek with which Rodney Marsh once tackled the Belfast genius even though they were playing for the same Fulham side. You can relive each here, via the second and third links, and also enjoy a compilation of showboating clips that includes David Beckham playing keepy-uppy by the touchline and Gennaro Gattuso balancing the ball on his head. To begin, though, watch the first clip for Nani's cheeky cameo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm4unXaoih0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYU0KsGLuxE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz2l-xUQmc0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VyTpDVb39s

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Red End Street - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Wayne Rooney could soon have two team-mates as neighbours. 2) Wes Brown has bought a house on the millionaires' row and Owen Hargreaves hopes to join them. 3) Estate agents in Prestbury, Cheshire, can't believe their luck. 4) It's possible the players have taken into account the recent interest-rate cut and the introduction of Home Information Packs, which some say has buttressed a declining housing market, but AOTG suspects they just wanted to live near their mates.

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Flog it: Ashley tries to sell Toon - The Sun
Win it or Kop it - Daily Mirror
We will not blow up vows Gilberto - Daily Express
'I won't let Arsenal ruin my dream' says Kaka - Daily Mail
Mr Perfect bids 'arrivederci Milan' - The Daily Telegraph
Kalac injury adds to Milan's goalkeeping headaches - The Guardian

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In TheGame

TheGame Podcast is live from 6pm and features an exclusive interview with Gianluca Vialli and Frank Lampard in which they discuss why every player must worry about his performance off the pitch, the critical difference between football in Italy and England and the reason why neither would want to be a modern manager. They also pinpoint the problem Fabio Capello must surmount to be a success. Plus, Radio Five Live's Mark Pougatch puts forward his case for the FA Cup and Guillem Balague reveals that the Anfield hierarchy have made no decision on Benitez's future.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/
Talking of which, today's poll asks what Benitez must achieve to keep his job. When AOTG went to press, the voting showed you think he should go now. It's not too late to make a difference, though.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/02/is-rafa-still-r.html
In his debate, Martin Samuel argues that Nani showed Arsenal all the respect they deserved with his ball-juggling act. Our poll shows that most of you agree. Voting is still open.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/02/nani-showman-or.html
The Middlesbrough loyalist in Fanzine Fanzone laments the "greed" that prompted Alan Smith, Mark Viduka and Geremi to snub his club for Newcastle United. For them, our expert writes, the "meaning of ambition means a strong desire for mediocrity, to not win anything, being past it and acquiring personal wealth".
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/02/what-is-the-mea.html
Larry Lloyd, the former Liverpool and Nottingham Forest hero, is the QA interviewee. One of the original hard men, Lloyd reckons Benitez's rotation policy has been his undoing. Apparently, Lloyd's attitude was: "I'm fit enough to play football twice a week and I want to. I don't want to sit on my a***."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/
Bill Edgar has racked his considerable brain and delivered another perplexing trivia question: Leeds United have played 16 away matches in League One this season. How many clubs have recorded their highest home league attendance of the campaign when facing Leeds?" Edgar has also posted the answers to his fiendish Friday quiz.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/02/bill-edgars-m-1.html

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"In terms of choosing your ideal Sinclair to replace Mark Clattenburg, would you consider Frank or Trevor [Friday's AOTG]? They were both regularly used to seeing the ball cross their goalline - something which Clattenburg could do with (ask Pedro Mendes if you're not sure). Also, I don't know exactly how football works in Australia, but if John Aloisi is able to perform in a marquee ('Central Coast Mariners are attempting to sign John Aloisi as their marquee player for next season' [Friday's AOTG]), he should be in demand for after-dinner entertainment events."
Kiran Raichura proves AOTG is not the only fan of the painfully laboured pun.

"Fair play to Nani. If you have the skill, why not display it? It's funny that professional footballers get bent out of shape when opponents show a bit of skill yet, on the school playground or on amateur football pitches, such class is encouraged and appreciated. Maybe if Arsenal's players had been as motivated to win as they were to chop down Nani after a bit of ball juggling, they might not have been so outclassed."
Claire wonders why there was so much fuss over Nani's elaborate ball control.

"Who to blame for Liverpool's situation? It's easy to blame the Americans as their treatment of Rafa was a disgrace. It damaged the confidence of the players and the manager. It was bad management. However, they have come up with substantial money for new players at a time when things are going badly. It's tough to do as an appreciative supporter but you have to look at Rafa. He doesn't seem to be able to inspire players. Then there are his tactics. So many changes don't foster fluidity and consistency. The clincher for me though was the loss of Paco Ayesteran, Benitez's former No 2. Apparently, his relationship with the players was fantastic. We started to drop and play badly when we lost him. In four years, we haven't moved up the table and we have spent a fortune. He has to go."
AOTG suspects Declan may not have to wait too long to get his wish - even if the decision hasn't been made yet.

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Tomorrow's news today

- Defiant Benitez issues call to arms
- Exclusive Fernando Torres interview
- FA Cup draw: full analysis

And expect...

The Times to emerge as favourites from the short-list for the Sports Coverage of the Year category in the Sports Industry Awards 2008. If you've got the skills, why not show off?

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Anonymous tips, suggestions, funnies, fan mail and complaints: sport@timesonline.co.uk
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BY ROBERT DINEEN