Ahead of TheGame: Ronaldo: I'll take next penalty
The news in 60 seconds
RONALDO: I'LL TAKE NEXT PENALTY
The Portuguese forward insists he will have no hesitation in accepting responsibility the next time Manchester United are awarded a spot-kick. "I will try and put things right," Ronaldo said. "I am always confident. I have 38 goals this season. It is not a problem if I miss one or two. I try to do my best in every game."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3809065.ece
RIISE 'DEVASTATED'
The Liverpool defender has revealed his misery at scoring the own goal that threatens to derail Liverpool's Champions League challenge. "I know how strong I am mentally, and what really matters is how you recover," he said. "I've experienced tougher things and I know I will learn from this. I'm disappointed, but I won't go around and hang my head. I have to use this as something positive." Yes, like working on your right foot.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3808515.ece
MODRIC VISITS NEWCASTLE
The much-coveted Croatian playmaker has travelled to Tyneside to discuss a possible move to St James' Park. Modric visited the club's Darsley Park training ground before holding talks with Dennis Wise, Newcastle's executive director. Hopefully, that won't have put him off. Transfer coups of this magnitude are the reason we get excited by Kevin Keegan.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3809165.ece
TOURE IN FOR LONG HAUL
The Ivory Coast international wants to stay at Arsenal for the rest of his career and help the club end its trophy drought. "The best thing for me would be to stay and win the Premiership again and Champions League," he said. "I really want to do that for the club as it has never won it and, to be the first to win the Champions League, you would be heroes." How many years has he got?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article3808222.ece
AURELIO OUT FOR SEASON
The Liverpool left back, who suffered a torn abductor muscle against Chelsea, has been ruled out for at least three weeks. "It will be very difficult for Fabio to play again this season," Rafael Benitez said. "It is very disappointing because he has been doing a good job for the team."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3808348.ece
PSV HOPE TO KEEP CHELSEA YOUNGSTERS
Slobodan Rajkovic and Alcides could spend another season on loan to the Dutch champions. "I cannot say if that is possible, it is difficult to predict, for Alcides especially," Stan Valckx, PSV's technical manager, said. "They [Chelsea] have already loaned him out for four years and I don't know if that is their intention for next season too."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3808432.ece
DERBY TO NAME NEW NO 2
The Rams will announce Paul Jewell's new assistant manager tomorrow following the departure of Stan Ternent to Huddersfield Town. "I am very excited about the future of the coaching staff moving forward, as is Paul Jewell," Adam Pearson, the chairman, said. "The new assistant has a proven pedigree and a top-class record and is someone well known to Paul." It's a stab in the dark, but AOTG predicts it's Chris Hutchings.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/derby/article3808084.ece
LAMPARD'S MOTHER DIES
The Chelsea midfielder's mother has died after suffering from pneumonia. Pat Lampard, 58, had been in intensive care in a London hospital for ten days. His club have given the player compassionate leave to miss the Premier League match against Manchester United on Saturday.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article3808166.ece
LIVE MATCHTRACKER: RANGERS V FIORENTINA
Walter Smith has been pleasantly surprised by his team's progress to the Uefa Cup semi-finals. They will have a tough task at Ibrox against the Italians, who have leap-frogged AC Milan into fourth place in Serie A. Bayern Munich host Zenit St Petersburg in the other first leg. Follow both games live from 7.45pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/
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If you've got another couple of minutes
It was a costly miss, no doubt. Manchester United would have been prohibitive favourites to advance to the Champions League final had Cristiano Ronaldo been able to beat Victor Valdes from the penalty spot in Barcelona. But in case the best player in the world (?) is feeling a little low, AOTG would like to bring a little perspective to proceedings - it was not the most important or the funniest miss we've ever seen. We think we've collected more memorable penalty-kick failures. Add your own favourite.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/does-ronaldos-m.html
Oh, and were people right to laugh?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/your-verdict-so.html
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4
Forget the double, this is the number of teams who have won the treble of domestic league, cup and European Cup. They are Celtic (1966-67), Ajax (1971-72), PSV (1987-88) and Manchester United (1998-99). Celtic claimed a quadruple by winning the Scottish League Cup as well.
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A quickie before you go, sir?
Ain't no crossbar high enough, ain't no goalmouth wide enough to keep you from looking a fool. Don't worry Ronaldo, you're not the only world-class entertainer who's embarrassed themselves from 12 yards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vTGuXUHiFA
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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
McMad - The Sun
What you need to know: 1) Steve McClaren has been signed by the BBC as a pundit for their Euro 2008 coverage. 2) The former England manager will pocket an estimated £5,000 for a month with Radio 5 Live. 3) talkSPORT present Adrian Durham is livid at the decision: "How can the BBC dare to use taxpayers' money to pay McClaren to commentate on matches? He is the reason we are not at the tournament." 4) So we now see how the Beeb has spent Ian Wright's wages.
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In TheGame
Did Sir Alex Ferguson get his tactics wrong against Barcelona? Manchester United failed to score an away goal, but will it matter given the stunning football they can produce at Old Trafford? Share your astute tactical analysis and vote on whether Fergie made a boo-boo.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/did-fergie-make.html
Yawn. Sign. Fidget. Scratch. Sorry, what was that? Tony Cascarino's lesson this week is how to start matches strongly? OK, what does he say? "Before my Gillingham home debut, thinking I would be the 'fourteenth man' at a time when only two substitutes were allowed, I had a double Wimpy, chips and a Knickerbocker Glory. I ended up playing and felt great." Sounds good, but where can you find a Wimpey these days?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/tony-cascarin-3.html
It's that time again when the Fanzine Fanzone Fan of the Month gongs are handed out. Our Manchester City expert triumphed with a great piece on the scheduling of the 138th Manchester derby four days after the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, our Pompey fan won with a fabulous rant and our Everton boffin was another big winner with his heartfelt piece on why he doesn't want the Toffees to be a 'Big Four' club ever again.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/04/fanzine-fanzone.html
Bill Edgar has posted his daily trivia question: Manchester United’s meeting with Barcelona this week has provoked memories of the two 3-3 draws they played out in the 1998-99 season. United also recorded two 3-3 league draws during one season in the 1980s when those opponents went on to win the English league title. Who were their opponents?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/bill-edgars-t-5.html
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Oh Nou .. I fluffed it - The Sun
Own goal villain Riise is 'speechless' with shame - Daily Mirror
It's Cris miss time - Daily Express
Spot of bother - The Daily Telegraph
Boy blunder - Daily Mail
A costly miss? - The Independent
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
"I can add a referee [to officiate matches involving AOTG's holy XI] - currently refereeing in South West London - Bishop Dominic Stockford. As for noise - poor thing - how about Concorde flying directly overhead in the middle of the service every Sunday as we used to have."
Benedict goes one up against Reverend Reed [Tuesday's AOTG] when it comes to having his worship disturbed.
"Bear in mind that Manchester United can have the title wrapped up at Chelsea, removing any extra pressure going into the second leg against Barcelona. Playing our typical attacking game away from home, with the need to keep legs fresh over three season-defining games offers sufficient risk for Fergie to exercise more caution tactically. United are so good at home in Europe; obviously we'll see a more adventurous approach, and that, combined with the knowledge that the starting back four is likely to be back to full fitness, and that Barca will be looking for goals just as much, means United have the edge. Just."
Thom is not at all upset by United's approach in Spain, but what if they don't win at Stamford Bridge?
"With reference to Gerard Hamill's comments [yesterday's AOTG]: 'Much was made of a foul won by Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura from which he scored to win a match against St Mirren (TV pictures showed it was a foul too).'
TV pictures did not show Nakamura was fouled. They showed Nakamura fell over. He then took our player Gary Mason with him and the referee mysteriously gave Celtic a free kick - if it was a foul it was to us, although Nakamura didn't mean to take down Mason. The only bias in refereeing decisions in this country is towards the Old Firm when they come up against a smaller team. The sooner fans of Rangers and Celtic start to acknowledge they get a lot of dodgy decisions when they face the rest of us the better."
Stuart, a St. Mirren fan from Scotland [where else?], proves that having a complex is not exclusive to fans of the country's elite teams.
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Tomorrow's news today
- Benitez builds for Anfield future with signing of Swiss defender
- Keane: "Ramos will be a revelation next year."
And expect...
Mike Phelan to roll out the cow and banjos at Manchester United's Carrington training ground.
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