Ahead of the game: Capello Warns Inter
The news in 60 seconds
CAPELLO WARNS INTER
Fabio Capello has told the Italian club to beware Liverpool’s ability on the counterattack when they meet in the Champions League tonight. “When Liverpool are given space, they are lethal,” the England manager said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3530762.ece
LIVE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Liverpool will take to the San Siro aiming to protect a 2-0 first-leg lead. You can follow all the action live with our rolling commentary from 7.45pm.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/sports_commentary/football/index.html
HICKS ENDS BUYOUT TALKS
In case you missed this story this morning, Rafael Benitez’s preparations for tonight’s match have been overshadowed by the latest twist in the saga over Liverpool’s future. According to co-owner Tom Hicks, he has terminated negotiations with prospective buyers Dubai International Capital because they planned to run the club by committee.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3526105.ece
FERGIE TOLD TO EXPLAIN OUTBURST
The FA have asked Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlos Queiroz to explain their comments after Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Portsmouth. Ferguson claimed referee Martin Atkinson’s display was “unacceptable” and accused referees’ chief Keith Hackett of “not doing his job properly”.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3530318.ece
THAKSIN ALLOWED TO LEAVE THAILAND
Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has been granted permission to fly back from Thailand to England despite a pending corruption case against him. He says City need his “urgent attention” after winning only twice in 12 league games.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article3528351.ece
OWEN PUTS NEWCASTLE FIRST
Michael Owen says he has not started negotiations over a new contract because he wants to concentrate on helping Newcastle United to avoid relegation. The goal-shy forward’s current deal runs out at the end of next season.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3530176.ece
UEFA CUP AND PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEWS
Robbie Savage could return to captain Derby County against Chelsea, while Lee Carsley is available to Everton for their match with Fiorentina, plus all the other team news before tomorrow night’s fixtures.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3528834.ece
ROBSON IN LINE FOR UNITED ROLE
Bryan Robson will be offered an ambassadorial role with Manchester United similar to the one that Sir Bobby Charlton holds. Robbo is out of work after being sacked by Sheffield United last month.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3529639.ece
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you’ve got another couple of minutes
FECK! ITALIANS LOSE!
Could there be better evidence that Ireland is fully behind Giovanni Trapattoni? Last week, the organisers of the Craggy World Cup invited a Sicily team to take part in the football competition that is part of TedFest, the annual celebration of the sitcom Father Ted.
Staged on the island of Inishmore and billed as the biggest football tournament in the country, the Craggy World Cup is open only to islands off the coast of Ireland, but an exception was made to celebrate Trapattoni’s appointment as manager of the national team. Asked to explain the decision, one organiser sagely noted that Sicily is an island off the coast of Ireland. Just 1472 miles off.
To their credit, the Sicilians did not take the event lightly, sending the Olympic swimmer Andrea Beccari to lead a crack five-a-side team against the hardy athletes of Inishbofin, Clare Island, the Aran Islands and a handful of others. “We plan to bring the trophy home with us,” said Bruno Martinetto, the bold Sicily coach.
The bookies agreed, chalking Martinetto’s side up as 10/11 favourites, so it came as a shock when they ran aground against modest Inisheer, losing on penalties before a crowd that included aspirant Mrs Doyles, unlikely looking priests and hairy milkmen (series three, episode three).
As happens after a result that stuns football, many looked for a reason for the Italians’ demise and identified a possible one in the difficulty they had understanding the local brogue, but AOTG reckons there is a more likely explanation. Our very own Tony Cascarino was on hand to provide local teams with tactical advice.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Bed card – The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Cheryl Cole has slapped Ashley with a six-month sex ban. 2) The singer has taken her cheating hubby back but cannot bear to touch him after his sordid affair with a hairdresser. 3) A pal of the couple said: “He’s a red-blooded fella and it’s not going to be easy.” 4) The story finished with a gag about ball control so poor that even AOTG cannot repeat it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A quickie before you go, sir?
BENT’S REPLACEMENT?
Word on the rumour mill is that Juande Ramos plans to replace Darren Bent with Diego Milito, the £10 million-rated Real Zaragoza forward. Spurs fans might be concerned to know that the Argentinian’s career to date is uncannily similar to Bent’s before he moved to White Hart Lane: a prodigious goal-scoring record with relatively small teams, a handful of international appearances and a game based on strength, pace and ability in the air. This montage of Milito goals, however, shows he also has a more subtle touch than the player he could usurp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhWQMh5qTd8
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.7
Average number of goals Inter have scored in league fixtures at the San Siro this season
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In TheGame
In TheGame Podcast, Steve McClaren joins our team in the studio to discuss the FA Cup, English hopes in the Champions League and his time as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson. Plus, he says he’ll return a better manager for his time in charge of England.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/article3497416.ece
Martin Samuel’s debate has provoked some impassioned response. Martin reckons that Avram Grant’s reign as Chelsea manager has made the Jose Mourinho years look sane. You’re still arguing over whether he’s right.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/the-debate-gran.html
Our debate asking whether this year’s FA Cup is the greatest ever has also split opinion. One reader, for example, suspects the 2008 final could be the most exciting in years but another fears it will gain the smallest audience in television history. What do you think?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/debate-is-this.html
In Fanzine Fanzone, Portsmouth fans have responded with glee to our Pompey loyalist’s reflection upon the victory at Old Trafford. “The referee was atrocious?” our contributor writes. “Well, he didn't give United the mandatory 85% of the fouls. How will he sleep at night?”
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/03/we-were-robbed.html
Bill Edgar has posted his daily trivia question: What did Bradford City players accuse Joe Ross, the referee, of doing to them several times during a 4-0 defeat by Luton Town three seasons ago? Our stats guru has also revealed the answer to yesterday’s poser.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/03/bill-edgars-t-1.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
That’s yer tot: Alonso faces Anfield axe - The Sun
Gerrard warns Inter: Hitman Nando is after you – Daily Mirror
Did Italian job rob Shankly? - The Independent
Wembley exerts magnetic pull on the provinces – The Daily Telegraph
Hammers back Curbs (for now) – Daily Mail
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Bloggs’ Soapbox
“Forget Martin Atkinson. After watching Rob Styles this season, it’s clear he must never be allowed near a pitch again. He literally wastes 20 minutes a game with his 'friendly' chats with players. He probably would have given Ronaldo that pen, but he would have followed that up by explaining to Distin why he'd given it, telling Ronaldo about how he doesn't appreciate diving, then getting James and the penalty-taker together for a run-through of the rules. In this time, Atkinson had allowed a good ten minutes of football to go on. Bad refereeing is far more entertaining than over refereeing.”
Unlike Sir Alex, Joe from Birmingham will not have to answer to the authorities. But is it really possible for a referee to be too diplomatic?
“Portsmouth would be out already were it not for the criminally inept refereeing of Mark Halsey, who sent off Liam Trotter [of Ipswich Town] for making what, at worst, was a mistimed tackle with minimal contact on Pedro Mendes. Ipswich were all over them at that indomitable fortress, Portman Road. Sol Campbell, ‘Arry Redknapp, my aunt’s dog ... everyone said a booking at worst, except Halsey. Magic of the Cup ... pah! This was supposed to be our year!
Darryl Hood, of Cardiff, is still bitter about a decision made in the FA Cup third round. AOTG senses a pattern developing here.
“Waj Smith could not believe that Wigan got away with providing a pitch in such bad condition [yesterday’s AOTG]. Why not? The FA got away with the very same thing, even down to the markings, after the Yankee gridiron odd-ballers turned Wembley into a ploughed field.”
Granville Hall from Halifax is clearly no fan of American football.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow’s news today
How Juande Ramos plans to keep Spurs in the Uefa Cup
David Moyes: this is my biggest test yet as a manager
Martin Samuel and Oliver Kay on Inter Milan v Liverpool
And expect…
The FA to inquire about the possibility of entering a team in the 2009 Craggy World Cup. It could end 43 years of hurt.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anonymous tips, suggestions, funnies, fan mail and complaints: sport@timesonline.co.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments