Ahead of TheGame: United to file report
The news in 60 seconds
UNITED TO FILE REPORT
The FA have asked Manchester United to provide details on the post-match flare-up that took place at Stamford Bridge after their Premier League defeat to Chelsea. The governing body are thought to be examining CCTV footage as they attempt to uncover what sparked the row. "We are very happy with that, we are delighted with that," Sir Alex Ferguson said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3833745.ece
LAMPARD COULD FACE LIVERPOOL
The Chelsea midfielder has returned to training following the death of his mother and is expected to confirm his availability for the Champions League semi-final, second-leg against Liverpool on Wednesday. The club have not put Lampard under any pressure to play but it is thought he wants to take some part in the match.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3831655.ece
RONALDO TAKES TOP HONOUR
The Manchester United star has been awarded the PFA Player of the Year for the second successive season. "I feel very happy," he said. "When you work all season to play good, to do something for the team, to do your contribution for the team and then at the end of the season the PFA give you this award, it is a great moment, it is an honour, a pleasure." The FA might as well let him keep it at his rate of progress.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/why-cristiano-r.html
GEREMI PLANS TO STOP CHELSEA
The Newcastle midfielder is hoping to put a dent in his former club's title chase when the teams meet next Monday. "I'm sorry for Chelsea but that's football," the Cameroon midfielder said. "We are not going to let them come to win. We have to give them a good game and enjoy it." It sounds like he already knows the result. He just can't come out and say it.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3833293.ece
CARSON MADE TO WAIT
The goalkeeper's future will not be sorted out until the end of the season, according to Martin O'Neill. "With all the hullabaloo surrounding Liverpool at the moment, I would have been surprised if they [the board] were sitting down to have a discussion [about Carson]," the Aston Villa manager said. "At the end of the season we will decide - all of us."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3832606.ece
HASLAM TO SEE SALE THROUGH
The Mansfield Town owner insists the assault on him by a supporter following the defeat by Rotherham will not have any bearing on the protracted takeover at the Coca-Cola League Two club. "I am not excluding anyone from talking about buying the club, but at the moment it is a question of who is out there," he said. "As before, people have got to be able to show what they can do. I know this has been a long saga, but so far people have not been able to fulfil their commitments."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3832743.ece
MORATTI BELIEVES HIS HYPE
The Inter Milan president says his team's derby match with AC Milan this Sunday is bigger than the Champions League final. "In a way it's worth more because this match is vital for both teams to achieve their objectives," Moratti said. "All derbies are great matches and each one has it's own importance because there is an issue of revenge from the previous one or because the fans care more about it. But this one has a special significance and it's difficult to find a similar match in history." Keep banging the drum, pal.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article3833465.ece
LIVE MATCHTRACKER FROM 7.45PM
West Brom can secure automatic promotion to the Premier League if they can avoid defeat at home to Southampton. However, the Saints are in desperate straits. They sit third from bottom in the Championship with two games to save their skin. Will they be playing Derby next season? The Rams host Arsenal and the Gunners will be planning on keeping ahead of Liverpool in the top division.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/
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If you've got another couple of minutes
Have United lost the plot?
A 2-1 defeat to Chelsea has left the Premier League title race wide open. Manchester United may still top the table, courtesy of their superior goal difference, but it appears the tide has turned. Sir Alex Ferguson was furious at the late penalty decision given against Michael Carrick which offered Avram Grant's side the win. Then after the match, Rio Ferdinand kicked a female steward when he was actually aiming for a wall (in frustration) and several of his team-mates got involved in an unseemly scuffle with Stamford Bridge groundstaff who wanted them off the pitch while they were warming down.
So has the pressure got to them? Do Chelsea now have the upper hand? Did Ferguson's decision to start with Ronaldo on the bench explode in his face? Let us know your views.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/have-manchester.html
Hahnemann undressed
The Reading goalkeeper was furious to find a lack of piping hot water at the JJB Stadium on Saturday. The American stopper walked into the corridor with just a towel wrapped around him to let everybody know of his dissatisfaction with Wigan's showers.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3828285.ece
You might call him a big baby for his outburst, but AOTG has discovered why Hahnemann was so upset. His daily superstition of enjoying a morning hot tub has reduced his body's resistance to cold water:
http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-5935-exclusive-video-at-home-with-reading-goalkeeper-marcus-hahnemann/
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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Kaka: yours for £55m - Daily Mirror
What you need to know: 1) Chelsea's chances of bringing the Brazilian superstar to Stamford Bridge have had a major boost. 2) AC Milan are willing to sell the forward in order to balance their books. 3) The Italian club are expected to have a summer overhaul and would like to sign Barcelona's Ronaldinho and Didier Drogba. 4) If 2+2=5, then here comes a juicy swap deal.
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A quickie before you go, sir?
Here's today's far-fetched conspiracy theory: Ricardo Carvalho deliberately played a feeble back-pass into Wayne Rooney's path knowing that the striker would excitedly gallop towards goal and aggravate his troublesome hip. Watch our free Premier League and Football League highlights package and make up your own mind.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2236741.ece
The video games world is beside itself with anticipation at the release of Grand Theft Auto IV. So is AOTG after seeing that Roy Keane has been chosen to play lead character, Niko Bellic. Everyday can be an Alf Inge Haaland day in Liberty City:
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/gadgets_and_gaming/article3801380.ece
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4
Number of winning goals for Sunderland in stoppage time at home in the league this season. Read more of Bill Edgar's amazing stats: http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/bill-edgars-w-5.html
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In TheGame
Alan Curbishley tells Gabriele Marcotti in TheGame Podcast about West Ham’s bid to derail Manchester United’s title charge and his plans for the future at Upton Park, plus Mark Bright and Mark Pougatch look ahead to a huge week for English clubs in Europe. Listen from 6pm.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/
In Martin Samuel's debate, The Times Chief Football Correspondent is struggling to understand the mentality of match officials. He says it is no wonder that referees often get the big calls wrong: their thoughts are taken up with so much trivia. Are there any nit-picking rules that drive you nuts?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/debate-are-ther.html
Tony Cascarino on the Premier League's desire for Croats, Didier Drogba's strengths and weaknesses and Radhi Jaidi's star-jumping antics.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/tony-cascarin-4.html
Miss England, or Georgia Horsley as she is sometimes known, is the QA interviewee. The York City fan loves her food and has never been out with a footballer, especially not Teddy Sheringham.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/qa-georgia-hors.html
Bill Edgar will have you kicking yourself (take note, Rio) with his daily quiz: which team were beaten to the Scottish league title on goal average when they would have triumphed had goal difference been used to split teams level on points, and then, 21 years later, lost the title on goal difference when they would have prevailed had goal average been the tie-breaker?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/04/bill-edgars-m-3.html
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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
Bridge racism storm - The Sun
Race row - Daily Mirror
Stand-off in battle at the Bridge - The Daily Telegraph
Evra faces FA investigation over Stamford Bridge brawl - The Independent
Hamilton terrified by team-mate's spectacular 145mph crash - The Guardian
Double trouble - Daily Express
Fighting talk - Daily Mail
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox
Today, AOTG gets a pitchfork up the backside during an extended warm down from last week's topics:
"Liverpool also won a treble of European Cup, League and League Cup in 1984."
Tom Murphy informs us that five, not four, teams have won the treble of domestic league, cup and European Cup. The others are Celtic, Ajax, PSV and Manchester United. We also said that Celtic claimed a quadruple in 1967 by winning the Scottish League Cup as well. Were we correct?
"Celtic won FIVE trophies in 1967, not the measly four you swines claimed."
We think Paul Larkin is referring to the Glasgow Cup win over Partick Thistle. But it's a little unfair to label us hogs - surely it's a term more suitable for Jock Stein's silverware-snaffling team.
"When are you journalists going to get it right, it's Dinamo Zagreb, not Dynamo Zagreb - also it's pronounced Dee-namo not Die-namo. Other than that rant, Luka Modric is a top signing for Spurs - I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict a top four finish next season if he and Berbatov are playing together."
Sorry, Maniak in Sydney, but Times style anglicises team names. However, we promise to pronounce it correctly from now on.
What's this, another complaint:
"The quality of corner kicks seems to me to be very poor. I thought that unless you were playing short for flick-ons the best ball was across the penalty spot where it could be attacked. Is it that they all think they are David Beckhams. So many finish up being nothing balls. What do you think?"
Well, Peter Grant, we think you should have thought about this when you were Norwich manager.
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Tomorrow's news today
- Niall Quinn on the next step for Sunderland
- Modric to move in with Eduardo
And expect...
Marcus Hahnemann to invite Manchester United players to warm down in his hot tub.
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