Ahead of TheGame: Chelsea await decision
The news in 60 seconds
CHELSEA AWAIT DECISION
Malaysia may relax their ban on Israeli citizens entering the country to allow Chelsea's mini Asian tour in July to go ahead. "Chelsea are not my team but it's definitely good for local football," Najib Tun Razak, the deputy prime minister, said. "I'm not sure what the decision should be yet but it would be a pity if politics got in the way of sports." Avram Grant and Tal Ben Haim must be feeling very privileged.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article3652939.ece
GOLD EXPLAINS BRUCE EXIT
David Gold, the Birmingham City chairman admits that Steve Bruce would still be the club's manager but for Carson Yeung's failed takeover bid. "Once Yeung's interest was made known, the takeover panel said that we could not alter any contracts of the existing staff," Gold said. "The most important one of those of course was Steve's."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/birmingham/article3653047.ece
LERNER GETS MILITARY BACKING
The Aston Villa owner is still committed to bank-rolling Martin O'Neill's transfer targets according to his right-hand man. "There are people questioning whether Randy Lerner is really willing to spend money to improve the team," General Charles Krulak said. "I can assure you that he is." Sir, yes, sir!
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/aston_villa/article3653165.ece
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEWS: LACK OF TOTTI
The Roma forward will miss the first leg against Manchester United with a thigh injury. Never mind, there's still Cristiano Ronaldo to drool over and AOTG is just referring to his ball skills. Edwin van der Sar is expected to return in goal for United after recovering from a groin strain.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3651331.ece
MANSFIELD NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL SLAMMED
John Batchelor is in takeover talks with the 111-year-old club and is proposing to rename them Harchester United after a fictional side in the Sky One television series, Dream Team. "The people of the town would be devastated ... it is just absolutely ridiculous to think about changing the name as it distances the club from the fans, who aren't at all interested in changing the club's name," Tony Egginton, Mansfield's new non-executive chairman, said. They'll be winning the Johnstone's Paint Trophy next.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3653929.ece
SCOTLAND TO TACKLE DIVING
Gordon Smith, the SFA chief executive, insists "blatant" acts of cheating will result in disciplinary action next season. "We'll be introducing a system that will allow us to retrospectively punish instances of simulation when the evidence allows us to do so," Smith said. But what if someone cheated to win a penalty that decides a match, then what? A big can of worms is about to be opened.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article3653016.ece
VOGTS TAKES AZERBAIJAN JOB
OK, so it's a step up from the Scotland job, but generally the German's career has tailed off since working with and later succeeding Franz Beckenbauer as Germany's national coach. AOTG gives credit to "Der Terrier" for not putting his feet up. He must love the game.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3653626.ece
BECKHAM BROUGHT DOWN TO EARTH
LA Galaxy got thumped 4-0 at the Colorado Rapids as the new MLS season got under way, despite the inclusion of England's latest 100-cap winner. "It is always going to be tough when you travel when you have got international games," David Beckham said. "But I felt OK for most of the match. Maybe not at my sharpest and the altitude might have had something to do with that." Stop whinging, Fifa's altitude ban kicks in at 2,750 metres above sea level.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article3649046.ece
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If you've got another couple of minutes
As the FA Cup semi-finals loom this weekend, Martin Samuel's latest debate asks just how much do the football-watching public love an underdog?
What are your plans next weekend? Do you still have the frisson of excitement that was felt around the country as favourites tumbled in the quarter-finals? Have you continued to declare it the greatest FA Cup competition in history? And will you be in front of the television or heading to the pub, eagerly wondering whether West Bromwich Albion can overcome Portsmouth and set up the first Wembley Cup final to be played out between teams from beyond the top division?
Or has reality bitten? Is it now apparent that, on Sunday, Barnsley will be playing Cardiff City, an inferior match between inferior teams? Is giant-killing amusing only in the early rounds? By this stage, do we not want to see the best teams, the greatest players, in the country going at it hammer and tongs? Shouldn't this be about Cristiano Ronaldo versus Cesc Fàbregas, not Brian Howard versus Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink?
Is this the best FA Cup ever, or has it been devalued by the absence of any of the so-called "Big Four" clubs?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/this-is-a-freak.html
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>>>>>THE TABLOID SCANDAL<<<<<
Plane crazy - Daily Star
What you need to know: 1) The England football team flew an empty jet plane 26 miles so they could avoid a half-hour coach journey. 2) Rather than get the bus from their hotel in St Albans to Stansted airport for a flight to Paris ahead of the friendly with France, the England squad got the plane to meet them at Luton airport. 3) The cost to the FA was £25,000. 4) "We are eco-aware, but there is a security risk to consider," an FA spokesman said. "At Luton we can drive straight on to the tarmac and on to the plane." 5) That sounds far more dangerous than pootling from Hertfordshire to Essex.
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A quickie before you go, sir?
Watch Ronaldo's outrageous flick, Abou Diaby's reckless challenge and Craig Gordon's wonder save in our Premier League and Football League highlights package.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece
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6
Consecutive home league matches in which Fernando Torres has scored for Liverpool, equalling the club record.
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In TheGame
Rafael Benitez tells TheGame Podcast about the impact Fernando Torres has made at Anfield, his tactics to keep the team fresh and the Champions League tie with Arsenal. Plus, Alan Curbishley on a testing season at West Ham. Listen from 6pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/
Tommy Smith, the Liverpool legend, is the QA interviewee. He admits he would have fancied his chances against Cristiano Ronaldo: "I played with Pelé in the United States, so I wouldn't lose any sleep over it ... He wouldn't be rolling around on the pitch after I'd finished with him."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/qa-tommy-smith.html
In Non-League Central, Walter Gammie takes in a match as important to local coach companies as it is to the clubs themselves. That's right, it's Kirkham & Wesham v Needham Market in the FA Vase semi-finals. Find out who is heading to Wembley.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/wembley-date-ca.html
Bill Edgar sets another mind-mashing question in his daily quiz: Nottingham Forest were the last team to win the English league title in the first season after gaining promotion to the top flight (they were champions in 1978). Who were the last team to finish in the top three the season after promotion?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/bill-edgars-m-4.html
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Gerro silences vile taunts - The Sun
What a fix - Daily Mirror
The only way is up for Keegan - The Daily Telegraph
Torres leaves Everton feeling blue - The Independent
Cool Torres steers Liverpool towards fourth - The Guardian
Owen earns his Spurs - Daily Express
Heads we win - Daily Mail
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
"Middlesbrough's revival was not sparked by David Wheater but by Avram Grant's ridiculous substitution of Michael Ballack, just as he did at Sunderland a couple of weeks back. Then, as in yesterday's game, the middle of the park was surrendered and the opposition allowed to get at Chelsea."
Mark from London makes a lunge for the little consolation that Gareth Southgate left Stamford Bridge with.
"Ban him, ban him for life!"
Nin in Yorkshire gives his opinion on Diaby's tackle on Gretar Steinsson. AOTG expects Nin to retract the statement tomorrow.
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Tomorrow's news today
- "We're Europe's form team," says Sir Alex Ferguson
- YouTube threats put Chelsea on alert in Istanbul
- Juande Ramos ready to swing the axe at Spurs
And expect...
Berti Vogts to take the Derby job before the end of the season.
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