Ahead of the Game: Hicks To Miss Arsenal Tie
HICKS TO MISS ARSENAL TIE
The Liverpool co-owner will be in America to watch his Texas Rangers side compete in the first match of the baseball season while Liverpool play Arsenal in the Champions League. “Opening day in baseball is like a national holiday,” Hicks said. “But I will have the Liverpool game on my TV.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3705705.ece
LIVE COMMENTARY: ARSENAL V LIVERPOOL
Can’t make it to a TV? Then follow all the action from Anfield with our rolling report, which will include updates from Chelsea v Fenerbahce. Those on the move can access the commentary via their mobiles by texting Times to 86626. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/sports_commentary/football/index.html
WENGER INSISTS GUNNERS WILL WIN
The Arsenal manager has tipped his faltering side to beat Liverpool tonight, Manchester United on Sunday and to win the Premier League and the Champions League. One reporter dared to suggest the Frenchman was whistling to keep his spirits up. “I take by your question that you do not believe as I do,” he replied. Dead right we don’t.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3702013.ece
CECH AND ESSIEN INJURED
Avram Grant's preparations for the biggest match of his career have been interrupted by an horrific facial injury to Petr Cech that has ended the goalkeeper's season. Michael Essien is a doubt for this evening’s game after hurting his back in training. “Every player injured does not make me happy,” Grant said. Thank heavens for that.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3702029.ece
FERGIE HOPEFUL OVER FERDINAND
The Manchester United manager has played down the extent of Rio Ferdinand’s foot injury and is confident the defender will be able to play in their second leg against Roma tomorrow. “His scan was clear, which was good news,” Fergie said. ”We hope we can get him fit."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3706810.ece
TADDEI: ROMA MUST DIG DEEP
The Roma midfield player admits it will require an extraordinary effort to turn around their tie with United. “We have to try to give not 100 per cent but 200 per cent in order to progress,” he said. That mathematically tricky task was made more difficult by the withdrawal of Francesco Totti, the talismanic Roma forward.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3704569.ece
ROEDER CHARGED WITH IMPROPER CONDUCT
The Norwich manager has been charged with improper conduct after the 2-1 defeat by Bristol City in March. Lee Clark, Roeder’s assistant, was also charged after the pair complained to referee Andy D’Urso about a contentious free kick.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3705833.ece
AGENT: RONALDINHO IS STAYING PUT
Roberto Assis, the brother and agent of Ronaldinho, has played down reports that the Brazilian could leave Barcelona in the summer. Assis was spotted having dinner with Milan technical director Adriano Galliani and was a guest of Manchester City at the weekend. “It is normal for me to travel to speak with certain people about personal matters,” Assis said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3706049.ece
LIVERPOOL YOUTH IN CRITICAL CONDITION
A star of Liverpool's youth academy remains critically ill after being involved in a road crash that killed two of his friends. Sean Highdale, who has played for England Under-16s and Liverpool Under-18s, suffered critical injuries in the collision on Sunday.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3706742.ece
McLEISH PLEA TO FANS
The Birmingham manager reckons the club's supporters have a key role to play in their bid to avoid relegation. “The players get a lift and an energy when the supporters are right behind them,” McLeish said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/birmingham/article3704447.ece
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Champions League game away from home in which Arsenal have failed to score this season. The solitary shutout was a goalless draw with Slavia Prague.
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If you’ve got another couple of minutes
RIJKAARD ON THE RACK
While Wenger attempts to talk up Arsenal’s unravelling season, Rafa works amid unceasing uncertainty about his and Liverpool’s future and Grant prepares for a game that could cost him his job, spare a thought for Frank Rijkaard. The repeatedly maligned Dutchman has led Barcelona to second place in La Liga and to the brink of the Champions League semi-finals yet has become the proverbial walking deceased at the Nou Camp. The situation reached crisis point after a goalless draw with Getafe on Sunday when fans waved white handkerchiefs, the ultimate insult to Barcelona players. In response, a day before their critical match against Schalke 04, the newspaper Marca has launched a poll asking who should replace poor Frank in the summer – that he is on his way seems a given. Arsenal fans might be relieved to hear that Wenger is only third on the list, having received fewer votes than Jose Mourinho and first-placed Pep Guardiola. Click here for the latest results:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.marca.com/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmarca%26hl%3Den%26pwst%3D1
GAMBLE ON BENITEZ
Times tipster Rob Wright has made Liverpool to win his bet of the day. Wright is confident that Arsenal’s difficulties and the away goal Liverpool scored at the Emirates makes them worth backing at 11-8 with Bet365. For those who fancy Wenger’s side, our man finds them best priced with VC Bet at 12-20.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/sports_book/2008/04/liverpool-to-sp.html
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A quickie before you go, sir?
FANS ON THE PITCH, THEY KNEW IT WASN’T ALL OVER…
AOTG was among the many Britons who ducked beneath their duvets at the sight of a carpet of snow on Sunday morning, but hardy Estonians showed no such timidity when their national side needed them during the recent round of international friendlies. Fearful that heavy snowfall was about to force the abandonment of the match against Canada in Tallinn, the authorities sent out a plea for fans to arrive early to strip the pitch of its icy cover. Not only did several dozen turn up to complete the job but, at the behest of the stadium announcer, did so again at half-time to ensure Estonia completed a 2-0 victory. “We thank everybody who helped us to clear the stadium," said Aivar Pohlak, the president of the Estonian FA, who was not too proud to get his shoes wet and pitched in with the task, too.
Click on the first link for a snippet of the patriotic labourers and on the second for a clip from the match that features three comedy slips by players struggling with the surface.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1nsbYVwLY0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzp3pWnH8rY
BOYD SHOWS HIS CHARACTER
Kris Boyd provides a late and quite formidable contender for dive of the season. Pursuing a lost cause against Dundee United at the weekend, and hardly within touching distance of an opponent, the Rangers forward collapsed as if shot by a phantom sniper close to the corner flag. Better still, when he eventually rose to his feet, he demanded to know why the linesman failed to raise his flag. Has there been a better piece of on-pitch acting this campaign? Post suggestions to sport@timesonline.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWqMrkTyeTg
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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Fabio is a mummy’s boy . . . says his mama – The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Fabio Capello may act like a schoolmaster with his players but he’s really a mummy’s boy at heart. 2) The England manager’s mama, Evelina, revealed that he rings her every day. 3) Recalling the Italian as a boy, she said: “He is tender like a mimosa flower. He would always run to hug me when I was returning home from work.” 4) She added that nasty journalists should go easy on her little darling: “I can’t understand why the press would attack Fabio after losing only one match.”
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In TheGame
Tony Mowbray is the special guest on the podcast. The West Brom manager discusses the pain of his side’s FA Cup defeat, his belief that you can win promotion to the Premier League playing good football and the emphasis he places on player development. Plus, the BBC’s Mark Chapman joins the team to discuss the title race.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/podcasts/thegame/article3686255.ece
In the Podcast debate, several of you agree with Gabriele Marcotti that Mowbray makes for an intelligent and honest interviewee though not everybody concurs that Arsenal have faltered due to a lack of a Plan B. One reader also suggests Roy Keane signs only those players with a smaller ego than his. What do you think?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/boing-boing-ton.html#comments
In his debate, Martin Samuel asks which players Capello has overlooked. The most popular suggestions so far include Michael Carrick (even though he made the Italian’s first squad), James Milner and Stephen Warnock, but the reader who canvassed for Leon Osman remains out on his own. There’s a surprise.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/debate-which-ne.html#comments
Tom Dart has crunched the numbers and found statistical proof that, contrary to what many have suggested, Paul Jewell is far from being one of England’s best managers. “Not that it’s all his fault,” Dart writes. “We're merely pointing out that next time Jewell rants about Derby's failures, he deserves a bit of sympathy. With his record, it's hard to be a good loser.”
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/frown-jewells.html
In Fanzine Fanzone, our Derby expert laments the decline of his side’s promising young players and says that no aspiring Premier League team should shop in the Championship, while his dejected Fulham counterpart explains why impending relegation is similar to being dumped (theoretically) by Jennifer Lopez. “Fine, because I despise her and all she stands for,” he writes. “But, well, there were certain shallow perks that might occasionally be missed.”
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/
Bill Edgar has posted his daily trivia question: “What links Portsmouth’s path to this season’s FA Cup Final to the routes taken by Aston Villa, Arsenal and Manchester United to the Finals of 2000, 1998 and 1990 respectively?” Edgar has also revealed the answer to yesterday’s teaser.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/bill-edgars-tue.html
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Benitez out to explode myth of Wenger’s team building – The Independent
Benitez refuses to contemplate European loss – The Daily Telegraph
Grant: We have to make history … or I’m history – Daily Mirror
Reina reigns supreme but Almunia only catches flak – The Guardian
Cech out! – The Sun
Pique chance as Rio is ruled out – Daily Mail
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Joe Bloggs’ Soapbox
“My mates and I have a long-standing dispute on the merits of the fantasy leagues available online. I think they are bad for football and rob fans of true passion for the game and competitive rivalry. How can you support rival teams just because they have a player who is on your fantasy team?
I am a diehard Liverpool fan and hate it when my mate who is a Man U fan cheers for Liverpool because he has Stevie G on his fantasy team, while also cheering for about ten other teams (including Arsenal and Chelsea) because he wants maximum points. How can you honestly support your team with 110 per cent passion when your loyalties are changing week after week? When I watch Man U, Chelsea or Arsenal, I wholeheartedly want them to lose, regardless of who they are playing. My mates think I need to get a life. What are your opinions?”
Seeing as you asked, Razorman, AOTG likes fantasy football for two reasons. It gives you a vested interested in more than one game each weekend, while also providing an alternative source of good (football) news if your ‘true’ team loses. Maybe we should get a life, too…
“Actors to play Wenger [yesterday’s AOTG]: how about Alf?”
Thanks, James Valance. That’s cruel but quite good.
“Why are you even asking the question [Do you care who wins the FA Cup?] other than to perpetuate the myth that less fashionable clubs reaching the Final is bad for the competition? Like the majority of football supporters in this country, I don't support one of the big four, and couldn't care less which of them wins in a normal year. As to this year, I'm just glad the winners will regard it as the pinnacle of their careers, rather than as a consolation prize.”
Huw takes umbrage with our poll.
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Tomorrow’s news today
- Martin Samuel on Liverpool v Arsenal
- Matt Hughes on Chelsea v Fenerbahce
- Oliver Kay previews United v Roma
- Psychologist says calm on pitch can cut crime
And expect. . .
Evelina to receive a phone call asking her to stop speaking to those sneaky journalists.
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