Ahead of the game: Senderos Hails Ugly Arsenal

The news in 60 seconds

SENDEROS HAILS UGLY ARSENAL
Philippe Senderos says Arsenal have prospered this season by adding an ugly edge to their beautiful game. And we thought it was because they played consistently spellbinding football.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article3358284.ece

BARTON AND BOWYER NOT GUILTY
Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton will face no action from the FA over his clash with Aston Villa's Shaun Maloney. Lee Bowyer, meanwhile, has escaped a three-match ban after having the red card he received during West Ham United's 1-1 draw with Birmingham rescinded on appeal. Couldn’t happen to nicer guys.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3358245.ece

HUNT FORGIVES CARSLEY
Reading's Stephen Hunt has forgiven his Republic of Ireland team-mate Lee Carsley for the challenge that crocked him on Saturday. The Everton midfielder whacked the fiery winger just above the knee. Which, if nothing else, is impossibly brave.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/reading/article3358455.ece

NUGENT REPRIEVE
Portsmouth’s striker David Nugent could get yet another chance to prove he is not a monumental waste of £6 million by starting against his old side Preston North End in the FA Cup this weekend.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3358244.ece

FRANK KEEN ON TRAP
Ex-Ireland striker Frank Stapleton reckons that the impending appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni as his country’s new manager is “very positive'”. Not least, no doubt, because Billy Davies or Lawrie Sanchez were also up for the job.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3358387.ece

DOUR DOWIE
Ray Ranson, the Coventry City owner, says he terminated Iain Dowie's contract because his football was ugly and old fashioned. Had he never watched Crystal Palace play under their former manager?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3358479.ece

FANS ANGER AT AUCTION
Angry fans are trying to sabotage the auction of mementoes handed out as a goodwill gesture by Manchester United in tribute to those killed in the Munich air crash. It’s not just the Premier League authorities that are greedy, then.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3353240.ece

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Capello’s got a fab new flat – The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Fabio Capello has moved into a plush new central London apartment – and set up a 56-inch TV inside to watch football. 2) The England boss is renting the two-bedroom pad for £4,500 a week. 3) Some of England’s richest people live in the block. 4.) One neighbour said he didn’t recognise the Italian 5) But, no, we’re fairly sure it wasn’t John Terry.

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If you’ve got another couple of minutes

THE BIG-MOUTH BLATTER QUIZ
Sepp Blatter has casually announced that the 2010 World Cup in South Africa could be staged on artificial pitches because it’s hard to maintain natural surfaces in the country’s heat.
It doesn’t seem to concern the Fifa president that this could affect the preparations of all the nations hoping to compete in the finals. Nor does it bother him that by making the remark now he makes his organisation look dreadfully amateurish.
Okay, he was prompted by the poor condition of the pitches at the African Cup of Nations, but Fifa awarded the tournament to South Africa almost four years ago and has had plenty of time to check the pitches are okay. After all, South Africa has had few hot spells in the past.
But perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised at this latest Blatter remark. This is a man who has had some of the daftest ideas of any leading figure in football in living memory. Test your knowledge of them with our quiz:

1. How did Blatter think women’s football could be improved?
A. By investing in the grass roots of the game and promoting it among schools
B. By improving the marketing campaigns of women’s leagues
C. By staging double-headers involving the best men and women’s games, thus introducing the latter to a wider audience
D. By making the girls make wear tighter shorts

2. Which of the following changes did Blatter think could be introduced fairly easily?
A. Amending the offside rule to include those players who are not interfering with play
B. Penalising players for contesting a referee’s decision
C. Banning goalkeepers from sprinting the length of the penalty area with the ball in hand
D. Abolishing draws

3. Which of these ideas did Blatter reckon would make football more entertaining?
A. Insisting youngsters hone their technique on small-size pitches
B. Awarding bonus points for goals scored
C. Reducing the fixture list to allow players to recover
D. Making goalposts bigger. Everywhere

4. How did Blatter want the build-up to international matches changed?
A. By increasing security checks on supporters.
B. By clamping down on illegal ticket touts outside grounds.
C. By stopping the sale of alcohol at stadiums.
D. By banning National Anthems because some people occasionally boo during them.

5. How did Blatter attempt to dampen the row that followed Italy’s win over Australia in the 2006 World Cup – when the Italians were awarded a contentious penalty?
A. By claiming that he thought the referee made the right decision.
B. By insisting that ultimately no team deserved to lose.
C. By refusing to pass comment on the official’s decision.
D. By agreeing with the Australian media that their side had been cheated out of victory – thus infuriating the Italians.

6. What was unusual about Blatter’s role in the presentation ceremony after the 2006 World Cup final?
A. He was overcome with emotion and started to cry.
B. He gave an impromptu speech congratulating Italy, France and their supporters for a wonderful spectacle.
C. He warmly embraced Fabio Cannavaro before handing over the trophy.
D. He didn’t turn up.

Answers at the bottom of the e-mail.

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5
Big-four defeats at home to teams outside the big four in the past 250 league or cup matches

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A quickie before you go, sir?

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
The best of the action from Arsenal’s win against Blackburn last night is live now alongside highlights from all of the weekend’s Premier League games.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece

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In TheGame

Ryan Giggs reckons Manchester United cannot afford to drop another point if they are to retain the title. Steven Gerrard has (again) given up hope of Liverpool challenging for it and Chelsea have let their gap that separates them from Arsenal slip to eight points. Did the title race swing decisively with recent results? Let us know via our poll.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/02/was-last-weeken.html
In the podcast debate, Gabriele Marcotti wants your thoughts on the main talking points from the latest show, which features Martin Samuel as a special guest. Topics under consideration include the rejuvenation of Sven-Goran Eriksson, a new problem with Frank Lampard and the reason for Manchester United’s failure at the weekend.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/02/all-aboard-the.html
In the Fanzine Fanzone, our sharp-witted Manchester City devotee makes the brilliant point that, while City fans behaved impeccably in observing the minute’s silence at Old Trafford, their United counterparts managed to stay quiet for the full 90 minutes. His Tottenham Hotspur counterpart writes that the win over Derby County could prove one of their most important this season.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Test your football knowledge with Bill Edgar’s daily trivia question: Which English club faced Scottish opponents in three successive rounds en route to winning a European trophy? Bill has also published the answer to yesterday’s teaser.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/02/tuesday-trivi-1.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Fergie’s £40m Lyon raid – The Sun
It’s sweet FA; mandarins at Soho Square against Scudamore’s daft plan – Daily Mail
Ferguson sees red at Gill over Prem leak – Daily Mirror
Whelan breaks ranks; global plans raise doubts – Daily Express
Title race wide open as Ferguson’s words rebound– The Guardian
America deals blow to Scudamore’s global plan – The Independent

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Joe Bloggs’ Soapbox

“Yep, I wanna see them too [ Premier League games abroad]. Here in Canada we have to watch the games on telly, and, if we don't pay for the premium channels we have to go to the pub to watch them while swilling quantities of expensive imported British beer (such hardship!). We would even pay to watch Derby v Wigan if it was in Toronto.”
Marcel Villeneuve is in favour of the Premier League plan to export games abroad, although we’re not sure if he realises beer is banned in stadium seats.

“I refer to yesterday’s AOTG bulletin: “Tony Mowbray, the West Brom manager, has signed a new contract keeping him at the club until 2011. Three more years in Birmingham. Fun.” As a loyal Times reader and proud Brummie I find this offensive.  When will the media industry realise there are vibrant UK cities outside of London and Manchester? The view is extremely outdated and patronising. I estimate a significant proportion of the Times readership lives in the Midlands, perhaps it would consider treating this customer base in a more appropriate manner.”
Jim Stoddard makes a fine and reasonable point. Please accept our apologies, Jim. You could probably have added "hackneyed" and "unfunny" to your complaint and we'd still have taken it on the chin.      

“Re: the letter from Fergus Sira-Lexon published yesterday in AOTG. It appears to be quite similiar to Binky Dawkins’s post on a rival paper's site. Unless Fergus Sira-Lexon and Binky Dawkins are one and the same in which case there isn't an issue.”
Eagle-eyed Arfan Mohammed supplied a link with this message and it showed that Arfan was right. The posts were identical and for that we can only apologise. Fergus/Binky, we’re watching you.
“Thought this was worthy of inclusion in your brilliant Ahead of the Game email bulletin. It’s a great quote from the legend, and Coventry fan, Tim Flowers, Iain Dowie’s assistant who was also sacked yesterday. ‘I don't know what the future holds for me. I don't know if Iain and I will stay together. All I know is that my missus has got me down for a bit of gardening this week." Source: Coventry Telegraph.”
Andrew Dubock is “a bemused Coventry fan” of impeccable taste.

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Tomorrow’s news today

- Ferguson leads campaign against 39th game
- Adebayor: my debt to Henry

And expect…

Capello to relay the communal gardens at his plush new pad with Astrotruf.

BIG MOUTH BLATTER QUIZ
Answers: ‘D’ - all six of ‘em.

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