Ahead of theGame: Lee returning to Liverpool

The news in 60 seconds

LEE RETURNING TO LIVERPOOL
The Anfield club is in talks with the former Bolton boss about him becoming Rafael Benitez's assistant manager. Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, met Lee yesterday and further talks are expected to take place today. The move has been approved by estranged co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. So, the Americans have finally managed to agree on something.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3932240.ece

O'NEILL BEGINS BARRY TALKS
The Aston Villa manager has tried to persuade his captain to stay at the club, although Rafael Benitez remains hopeful that he can tempt Barry with Champions League football. "We've spoken to Gareth and our situation remains the same - that everyone at Aston Villa Football Club wishes very strongly that he will stay." The word "wish" doesn't exactly inspire confidence, Martin.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3931076.ece

DOWIE NAMED QPR BOSS
The former Northern Ireland striker has replaced Luigi Di Canio as first team coach at Loftus Road. Dowie, who signed a two-year contract, said: "This is a very exciting long-term project. I'm very privileged to have been given the opportunity under the new ownership to return to the club where I served my managerial apprenticeship." You can almost smell the disappointment in West London. One day Zindane, the next ... you know the rest.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3930605.ece

FERGUSON TO COACH OLYMPIC TEAM
Lord Coe has called for the Manchester United manager to lead the Great Britain football team at the 2012 Olympics. The head of the organising commitee has held informal discussions with the Scot but didn't reveal whether he was interested in the post. "I would love to see Alex coach the team," Coe said. "I can't think of anybody that frankly [more] deserves at the end of a stunning career to be in charge of young players here." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article3931630.ece

ERIKSSON REMAINS SILENT ON FUTURE
The Swede is refusing to comment on when, or indeed if, he will meet Thaksin Shinawatra after arriving in Thailand. The Manchester City squad landed in Bangkok at the start of the club's Far East tour and when Eriksson was asked if he would be meeting with the club's controversial owner, he offered a predictable, "no comment."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article3931441.ece

LIVE COMMENTARY: RANGERS V ZENIT ST PETERSBURG
Will there be hoards of Scottish fans dancing in the streets of Manchester? Or will Dick Advocaat get one over his old club? Follow the Uefa Cup final with us from 7.45pm. The coverage is also available free on your mobile phone by texting Times to 86626.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/sports_commentary/football/index.html

YAYA TOURE KEEN ON FAMILY REUNION
The Barcelona midfielder says he would love to join his older brother, Kolo, at Arsenal next season. The 25-year-old was one of the few players to shine in a disappointing campaign at the Nou Camp. "I can't say anything for the moment, but it's true that it would be great to play for a big club with my brother. That would be fantastic, but you never know," he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article3931456.ece

DIANE TEMPTED BY NEWCASTLE
The Paris St Germain forward admits he would jump at the chance to join Newcastle. Kevin Keegan was at the Parc des Princes on Saturday to watch PSG play St Etienne. "I know that there is contact between the two clubs," Diane said. "If they come to an agreement, I would go."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article3931440.ece

LUTON HIT BY 15-POINT PENALTY
The club's new owners have confirmed they are close to exiting administration but will start life in League Two with a 15-point penalty. Luton went into administration in November and despite LTFC2020 agreeing to buy them in January, the process had been held up by Leeds' appeal over their penalty.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3931748.ece

WE MUST PROTECT RECORD, SAYS RUSH
The Liverpool legend has called on the current generation to "fight" to retain their place as the most successful club in English football. They haven't won a league title since 1990 and Manchester United are now just one behind their record of 18. "That record has been built up over decades of hard work and doing things the right way and it has to be preserved," Rush said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article3930886.ece

EVERTON WEIGH UP FERNANDES DEAL
David Moyes is considering a third loan move for the Portuguese midfielder. The Scot is ruling out a permanent move for the Valencia player, but hopes to recruit him for next season. "We are going to assess his situation over the coming weeks, I have got a few ideas of what I want to do with him. It will happen in time," Moyes said. So they like you Manuel, but just not enough to buy you.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/everton/article3930791.ece
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If you've got another couple of minutes

FOWLER'S GREATEST HITS
In a season in which the FA Cup has thrown up surprise after surprise, would any of us be shocked if Robbie Fowler scores the winner for Cardiff at Wembley? Now in the twilight of his career, the 33-year-old might have thought his trophy-winning days had passed. He might have lost a yard, or three, of pace, but a quick glimpse into the not-too-distant past is enough to remind us that when Fowler gets a sniff of goal, he rarely refuses the invitation. Here's our tribute to his greatest hits... God, he was good.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/05/bill-edgars-w-2.html

DAMNED UNITED: THE MOVIE
Brian Clough's infamous 44-day stint at Leeds in 1974 is being translated from David Peace's novel into a £10 million film. The main roles have been filled but the producers are looking for non-league players to resemble Allan Clarke, Joe Jordan and the rest, and bring a dose of realism to football scenes. Simon Clifford, the man who took Socrates to Garforth Town, will be auditioning players. "These are non-speaking parts," he said. "I am looking for lads who have played at Northern Counties East, UniBond League level or higher." That should certainly raise it above Sly Stallone's level in Escape to Victory. So this is your chance to say "Tonight Matthew, I am going to be Billy Bremner". Could you could fit the bill?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3927165.ece

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>>>>> THE TABLOID TALE <<<<<
'Ace gives boot boy his Merc' - The Sun
1) Birmingham's Olivier Kapo has given one of the club's apprentices his £30,000 car as a thank you for polishing his boots. 2) The Frenchman threw the keys to James McPike and insisted on paying for a year's insurance when the trainee said he wouldn't be able to afford it. 3) James had asked the first-teamer for his boots as a souvenir. "Kapo had taken them home, but James perked up when he got the keys," a club source said. 4) With scrubbing brush and polish at the ready, AOTG wants to know where it signs up.
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A quickie before you go, sir?

Maybe the only silver lining on England failing to qualify for Euro 2008, is that we have been spared the inevitable flurry of football songs. But we can report with glee that fans in Croatia haven't. In fact Slaven Bilic has taken it to a whole new level. The national team boss and his hairy rock band Rawbau have penned the Croatia's official anthem Vatreno Ludilo (that's Fiery Madness to you and me). The lyrics go something like: Fieeery Madness, when it starts, Fieeery. When we beat Japan, Holland, Romania, Germany." It was rejected as their Eurovision entry.
http://croatia.worldcupblog.org/croatia/fiery-madness-video-kicks-off.html

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1
Number of European finals between Russian and Scottish teams. It saw Rangers beat Dynamo Moscow 3-0 at the Nou Camp to take the 1972 Cup Winners' Cup. A lucky omen maybe...

9
Number of goals scored by Pavel Pogrebnyak, the suspended Zenit St Petersburg striker, in this season's Uefa Cup. He has scored almost half of the club's 20 goals en route to the final.

2
Number of teams that have won the Uefa Cup after dropping out of the Champions League. Rangers are attempting to follow in the footsteps of Feyenoord (2002) and CSKA Moscow (2005).

422
Number of minutes since Rangers last conceded a goal in this season's Uefa Cup, dating back to a strike by Diego in a 1-0 defeat to Werder Bremen in Germany on March 13.

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In TheGame

Martin Samuel has responded to your comments on his debate asking whether you thought Jose Mourinho was still the "Special One". He reflects on the alternative view of the Portuguese as a coach of "boring football" and covers every angle from Al Pacino to Arsene Wenger.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/05/martin-samuel-1.html
We all know the Reading manager has been considering jumping ship following relegation, but chairman John Madejski says he won't sack him and 300 fans gathered outside the stadium last night to plead for him to stay. But are they right? Does he have the qualities to lead the team back into the top flight? Or is his time with the Royals up?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/05/steve-coppell-s.html
In Fanzine Fanzone, our Everton expert lets rip, reflecting on the continuing domination of the big four, while putting his fellow Toffees in their place. "In American sport-speak, second place is "first loser", in the Premier League that dubious accolade is reserved for fifth place...Everton have a paddling pool of a squad - at Old Trafford they have the Prawn Sandwich Brigade - but at Goodison there is a growing band of spoiled brats; the Verruca Salt Brigade who somehow think that fifth place, and a hearty run in the UEFA Cup is nothing."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/05/nineteen-eighty.html
If that's not enough, then our Chelsea specialist bemoans the inevitable comings and goings at Stamford Bridge, but admits he won't be upset to see the back of some of the squad.
"Sorry, Steve Sidwell, but that attempt to show the world that you were as good a player as Michael Essien seems to have reached its inevitable conclusion."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/05/please-please-p.html
Bill Edgar has posted his daily trivia question: Who were the last team to reach a double-figure goal tally in Europe's senior club competition? You'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out the answer.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/05/bill-edgars-w-2.html

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>>>>>THE RIVALS<<<<<
AC Didi - The Sun
Fergie will Kop the lot - Daily Mirror
Owen move could start merry-go-round - The Daily Telegraph
Kroenke may come on board as Arsenal close in on Ben Arfa - The Independent
FA drops charge against agents over Luton transfer allegations - The Guardian
Drogba: We threw title away - Daily Express
Hart and Robinson in keeper swap deal - Daily Mail
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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

We asked you whether Seville's Luis Fabiano was the man to strengthen Sir Alex Ferguson's attacking options. Here's what you had to say:

"33 goals in 38 games for £8.4 million - I'd say it's worth the risk. It's not like Fergie doesn't know how to handle firecrackers (would Keano have lasted that long at any other club?)"
Thanks for that Louise , but I'm sure there was also a certain Frenchman whose name escapes me ... an occasional exponent of martial-arts and trawler fishing ... no it's gone. But I suppose even he was pretty good.

"He's a goal poacher, a little like van Nistelrooy and personally I think the best poacher available is Huntelaar. Plus all Dutch players seem to find the net in England"
Erik Meijer, Marco Boogers and Jeroen Boere really wish that was the case, Sam.

You haven't held back on Walter Smith, after we asked if he deserved to rub shoulders with Shankly, Stein and Busby as one of the great Scottish bosses.

"It beggars belief to compare Smith to the great Scottish managers. Stein, Busby, Fergie and Shankly all had their teams playing wonderful flowing football with the ball mostly on the deck and their teams attacking opponents ruthlessly. Smith's Rangers are dire, turgid and bereft of any ideas whatsoever."

"1 - Stein, 2 - Busby, 3 - Ferguson, 4 - McLean, 5 - O'Neill."
Thanks Tony , but you seem to be struggling a little bit here. Stein, Busby, Ferguson, McLean...fair enough. It's just the Northern Irishness of Mr O'Neill that worries us.
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Tomorrow's news today

- Benfica ready to give up pursuit of Eriksson
- Munich burden will weigh heavy on United in Moscow, says Charlton
- Parry keen to make most of his second chance at Wembley

And expect...

James McPike to give Kapo a lift to the JJB Stadium in his new wheels.

by Ben Smith