Ahead of TheGame: Birmingham raided by police
The news in 60 seconds
BIRMINGHAM RAIDED BY POLICE
City of London officers executed a search warrant at St Andrew's and left the club with financial documents as part of an investigation into corruption in football. Karren Brady, Birmingham's managing director, said: "We are co-operating fully with the police in their investigation, which is in connection with a third party." The club insist that the inquiries relate to parties unconnected to the club.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3582917.ece
DIEGO NOT FOR SALE
The 23-year-old Werder Bremen midfielder is interesting Chelsea and Real Madrid, but Jurgen Born, the club's president, is adamant the Brazilian will stay at the club. "If someone wants to buy Diego, they have to kill me first," he said. "Diego will only leave Werder over my dead body." Careful of that blood pressure, Jurgen.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3583917.ece
TAYLOR BACKS NAMESAKE
Maik Taylor, the Birmingham goalkeeper, has backed Martin Taylor to be mentally prepared for a return to the team after breaking Eduardo da Silva's leg. "It's great for him to be back," he said. "It's a shame to have heard some of the things that have been said. We all know what Tiny [Taylor] is all about. There is not a malicious bone in his body." There's a little less bone in Eduardo's body as well.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/birmingham/article3583621.ece
CAMPBELL STRUGGLING FOR FITNESS
The Portsmouth captain is expected to miss the match against his former club Spurs on Saturday. The centre back has damaged his knee and although the problem has responded well to treatment he looks unlikely to risk it with an FA Cup semi-final against West Bromwich Albion in a fortnight. Campbell can also do without the attentions of those nasty Spurs fans.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article3583826.ece
GRETNA IN PLEA FOR SUPPORT
The cash-strapped SPL team have urged the 12,000 fans who flocked to Hampden Park when their team were beaten by Hearts in the 2006 Scottish Cup final to turn out again in the club's hour of need. Only 501 attended their last match against Dundee United. Talk about elopement.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3583793.ece
PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEWS: ANELKA OUT
The Chelsea striker will miss tonight's match with Spurs because of a thigh injury. The France international felt some discomfort against Derby and missed the victory away to Sunderland. He should be fit to play against Arsenal and join the France squad to play England.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3574485.ece
LIVE MATCHTRACKER
Forget Grand Slam Sunday, today is Wunderbar Wednesday as Manchester United host Bolton (8pm) and Chelsea travel to Tottenham (8pm) in the Premier League. In Scotland, Rangers continue their quest for the quadruple as they take on Partick in the Scottish Cup. Follow events as they unfold, live from 7.45pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/
TORRES THRIVING IN ENGLAND
Xabi Alonso believes that the Spain striker is flourishing at Anfield because there is less pressure on him than there was at Atlético Madrid. "He has shown he is not afraid of the physical contact here, with defenders trying to put him off, and that is really important," Alonso said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article3578579.ece
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If you've got another couple of minutes
Cristiano Ronaldo is known for tormenting and teasing opposition defenders, but now he risks the wrath of animal rights campaigners after filming a controversial advert depicting him skillfully avoiding the attentions of a bull in an advert for Fuji Xerox.
It doesn't appear that any animals were harmed during filming. In a 'Making of' video, the worst ordeal seems to belong to an actor being turned into an old man by a make-up artist.
But should Ronaldo be seen to glorify a sport that is banned from many countries and causes suffering to animals? Or are we being too sensitive considering the bull is clearly in no danger from the Portuguese star? Watch the videos and send us your comments.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/ole-ole-ole-ole.html
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66
The number of fouls committed by Bolton's Kevin Davies in 24 Premier League matches. And we thought Sir Alex Ferguson was exaggerating about the striker's physicality.
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A quickie before you go, sir?
Here's Luca Toni in his own controversial ad. The Italian striker is plying his trade with Bayern Munich and he is clearly enamoured with all things German. But there are so many things wrong with this video that AOTG asks you to list them. E-mail: sport@timesonline.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9E1sIUOcr0
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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Drink driving in his underwear - Daily Mirror
What you need to know: 1) Glenn Roeder is checking midfielder Matty Pattison into rehab after the player was arrested for drink-driving in his underwear. 2) Pattison, nicknamed Party, is understood to have gone to a nightclub after Norwich's 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United. On the Sunday morning, apparently still drunk, he allegedly woke up and got into his car believing he was late for training. 3) He was pulled up by police outside the club's training ground in just pants and a t-shirt. 4) Pattison will be checking into the Sporting Chance clinic in Hampshire.
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Don't let this hitman stamp on our title - The Sun
Terry's just like Zidane, says Grant - Daily Mirror
England set to call Walcott in from the cold - The Guardian
Time to bring back Johnno - Daily Express
FA demand respect for referees - The Daily Telegraph
Johnson in line for top England job - Daily Mail
Walcott poised for England recall as Capello prepares for French test - The Independent
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In TheGame
Martin Samuel has responded to your comments on his debate asking who you think is the most overrated player in Europe? Our Chief Football Correspondent - who won Sports Writer of the Year for the third time running on Monday - defends Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs, lets the readers fight it out between Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and is gobsmacked at the suggestion that Pele should be regarded as the Brazilian Matt Le Tissier.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/martin-samuel-2.html
Tell us the experiences that you have had as a referee. Have you ever had to flee the pitch, lock yourself in the changing rooms or speed away in a waiting car? Do 12-year-olds abuse you with language strong enough to make Jim Davidson blush? Or maybe the players in your league treat you with the respect you expect and mind their p's and q's. Maybe. How can football clean up its act and look after its custodians?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/is-life-with-th.html
Is the great switch off upon us? Fanzine Fanzone's Newcastle expert has had enough of satellite television changing kick-off times and insists he will use the money instead on train fares for next season when the Wigan away game is switched to 9.30am. In Moscow. On a Tuesday. He doesn't mention whether it will be in the Premier League or Championship.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/03/sky-setanta-and.html
Bill Edgar has posted his daily trivia question: which post-war English champions followed their title-winning campaign by failing to win an away league game the next season?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/bill-edgars-w-2.html
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
"Whilst this is not football or professional sport the best tantrum I ever saw was from my father. He was playing cricket for Chingford 3rd XI versus Chelmsford 3rd XI in the Essex league at Chelmer Park in Chelmsford. Being a 3rd XI fixture and being played in a public park meant that the wicket was not the best and nor was the outfield. He hated playing there and was complaining all the way there. He was batting and was removed without troubling the scorer. He proceeded to walk back to the 'benches'. He started shouting 'I am never [expletive removed] playing at this [2 expletives removed] hole ever again' whilst removing his pads one by one and hurling them on the outfield, followed by his gloves and bat whilst continuing his tirade. It was left to my brother and I (aged about 7 and 9) to run on and collect his equipment looking rather sheepish whilst his team-mates fell about laughing. I am now in my forties but this incident is still told with relish whenever we visit the cricket club. To give him his due my father never did play there again."
Andrew Norgate responds to our request for stories on football tantrums. Ok, so it's about his dad and amateur cricket, but he stepped up to the plate and AOTG is truly grateful. Now, does anyone else recall a footballing tantrum? I CAN'T WAIT MUCH LONGER!
"Poor Avram Grant, Chelsea were down and out in September and no-one expected them to do this well in the league. Yet he's still there fighting and he deserves credit. Let's face it, as far as all four competitions go, Chelsea have got further than any other 'big four' team. It's a great achievement really considering what has happened to them this season, yet the press and fans always give Grant a hard time. I hope he wins!"
Ginny is a true blue. She's prepared to wait for Chelsea to finish empty-handed before turning on the manager.
"Nice to see the BBC spending our licence fee wisely just to keep Gary Lineker employed. Although even with the £10 million a year compensation charge, I can't see the BBC winning in a sport that is all too quick to sell its soul in the interests of capitalism."
Comrade Glenister from Staines reflects on the broadcasting corporation's plans to bid for Champions League rights. The BBC surrenders the rights to show England and FA Cup matches to ITV from next season, but it will need to pay more for European matches than its rivals as it is unlikely to carry sponsors' advertisements as part of the package.
"Please, please, please, please, please, please, please make it a Liverpool win on Sunday!"
AOTG thinks Pete from Marlow intended to send this comment to the Easter bunny. Will a half-eaten creme egg suffice?
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Tomorrow's news today
- Michael Owen confident of more goals and more England caps
- O'Neill: It will be a disaster if Villa don't qualify for Europe
And expect...
Delia Smith to provide the half-time announcements for Gretna's match with Celtic on Sunday.
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