Ahead of TheGame: Benitez and Parry hold peace talks

The news in 60 seconds

BENITEZ AND PARRY HOLD PEACE TALKS
The Liverpool manager and chief executive have settled their differences over who is to blame for the failure to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa. "Clear the air talks have taken place," Benitez said. "It was a positive discussion and we will now move forward together." Parry added: "I can confirm that we had a friendly and positive meeting." Case closed. For now.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article4580583.ece

ROONEY PREDICTS ENGLAND IMPROVEMENT
The Manchester United forward was pleased to get some match fitness against the Czech Republic and he believes that performances will be better for the World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra and Croatia. "There is more to come, but we are always confident we can beat any team if we play at our best and we feel we can get it right in those games ahead," he said. Actions speak louder than words.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article4580546.ece

CAPELLO'S HONEYMOON IS OVER
The media have been scathing in their criticism of England's performance at Wembley last night. One tabloid called the players 'wasters' and the coach 'the wally without a brolly'. The other dailys were no less brutal in their assessments.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article4579535.ece

HUGHES GETS KOMPANY
Manchester City have agreed a fee to sign the Belgium defender from Hamburg. The former Anderlecht player represented his country in the Olympic football tournament before being recalled by the Bundesliga club for their opening match against Bayern Munich. "We wish Vincent all the best for his future," Dietmar Beiersdorfer, the club's director of football, said. Sounds pretty final.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article4581319.ece

HEALY CLOSE TO SUNDERLAND SWITCH
The Northern Ireland striker has been given the green light to leave Fulham according to Roy Hodgson. "If David has been spotted at Sunderland he didn't wear that disguise I told him to," he said. "It's no secret that Sunderland admire David and have talked about a transfer. He's up there for a medical today." Take the false beard and glasses off, Healy, your cover's blown.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article4580910.ece

BRADY ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL
The Republic of Ireland assistant manager was taken to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin after feeling ill on his return from the team's friendly against Norway in Oslo. "He was feeling a bit unwell this morning - and as a precautionary measure he went into hospital where he is in a stable condition and lucid," a hospital spokeswoman said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article4580780.ece

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FANTASY FOOTBALL - TWO GREAT GAMES
The game you love is back, and this year it's double the fun. We've got two top games for you to play - the classic Times Fantasy Football with £100,000 in prizes, and the more advanced management experience of PlayTheGame. So who are you: Fabio Capello or Alf Ramsey? Click on the url below to find out more.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/fantasy_football/

FREE MOBILE SERVICE TRIAL
Try our football alerts service free of charge for 14 days and get match-day team sheet, goal alerts, half-time updates, full-time results and league position for your team.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tools_and_services/mobile_times/article4541324.ece
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If you've got another couple of minutes

Debate: is Redknapp right to criticise Capello?
The Portsmouth manager was furious after watching England's 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic. "That was one of the worst performances I have seen from an England team," he said.

Redknapp was particularly annoyed at Steven Gerrard's deployment on the left of midfield and a lack of progress since Steve McClaren was sacked. "We change the manager, but pick the same players," he said. "I've not seen Fabio Capello teams play worse than that."

Capello didn't agree with the comments and insisted that England will improve, but what do you think? Did you blow a gasket like Harry or do think that progress is being made with the national team? Have your say.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/08/the-debate-is-h.html

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
Dimi signs for United - The Sun
1) Dimitar Berbatov has been snapped autographing a Manchester United shirt at Sofia airport in Bulgaria. 2) The Tottenham forward was en route to an international friendly when the moment was captured. 3) "I was gobsmacked when he took the shirt and signed it," an onlooker said. "He didn't have any problems with it at all." 4) What do you expect? He is a Premier League footballer. They think loyalties are what Waddle and Hoddle get paid everytime Magic FM plays Diamond Lights .
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>>>>>OUR RIVALS: THE TOP FIVE<<<<<

Wasters - The Sun
Fabio Capello has a bad night at Wembley and is offered a true dream team to replace his pampered stars.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1586084.ece

Barwick is booted out - Daily Express
The FA chief executive lost his job in an "acrimonious" showdown last night, but is convinced he has left English football in a better state.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/57765/Barwick-is-booted-out-by-FA

Rooney pours his heart out, but in the wrong places - The Guardian
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that he has not helped the striker's development by asking him to play in too many positions.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/08/21/rooney_pours_his_heart_out_but.html

Silvestre heads for Arsenal in search of new challenge - The Independent
The French defender's move is the first piece of transfer business conducted between Arsene Wenger and Ferguson.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/silvestre-heads-for-arsenal-in-search-of-new-challenge-904211.html

Victor flies high as Super Eagles reach Bird's Nest - Daily Mirror
The Everton striker has been captivated by the Olympic Games after helping Nigeria reach the football final against Argentina.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/olympics/2008/08/21/victor-flies-high-as-super-eagles-reach-bird-s-nest-115875-20705922/

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12
Years since Scotland have won a friendly at Hampden Park. They drew 0-0 with Northern Ireland last night. And we thought England fans had it bad.

34
Gap in years since Manchester United sold a player to Arsenal. Brian Kidd was the last to make the move until the Gunners snapped up Mikael Silvestre yesterday for an undisclosed fee.
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In TheGame

Matt Hughes column: Capello's experimental period over
Our main man in London says that the England coach needs to resolve the team's on-field problems, but admits that "given the dearth of English talent playing regularly in the Premier League there are no obvious alternatives, though £6 million-a-year was never meant to be easy money. The least he could do is offer something different."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/08/fabio-capello-n.html

David Gold: intelligent signings pay early dividends
The Birmingham City chairman is delighted with the impact of new boys Kevin Phillips and Lee Carsley as the club sit joint-top of the Championship after two wins. He is flattered at the interest in James McFadden and offers advice to Sebastian Larsson on the best way to return to the top flight again: "Score lots of goals and get back us into the Premier League."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/08/david-gold-kevi.html

Thursday's transfer gossip: Chelsea hope to clinch Robinho deal
A round-up of today's rumours, including Peter Kenyon's trip to Madrid to finalise a deal for the Brazilian winger, the latest team hoping to pin their Premier League hopes on Roque Santa Cruz, and Bolton's desire to land chirpy cockney Jimmy Bullard.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/08/thursdays-tra-2.html

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"Wes Brown isn't a full-back, however good a player he may be. Neither he nor Ashley Cole show good positional sense. A distracted Gareth Barry, a silent John Terry, a lumpen Frank Lampard and an aimless Wayne Rooney. Plus, no penetration down the flanks. England looked clueless. And I still think Slaven Bilic should be our coach!"
Graham Brack in Truro encapsulates his thoughts on England's tepid performance against the Czechs and ends up with a plan to destabilise Croatian hopes - steal their manager.

"An interesting response from Reuben Anderson [yesterday's AOTG] at JT being named as the permanent England captain under Fabio Capello. His championing of Stevie Me for the role is very intriguing indeed considering he was the leader for most of the matches where England dropped points in the European Championship qualifiers, including the debacle at Wembley when England lost against Croatia. He goes on to say, 'If you're playing away to Russia on a plastic pitch in a crucial European Championship qualifier, and you concede an equaliser, you need your captain to settle and organise the team to prevent a second'. Absolutely spot on except for the fact that the leader in that particular match who failed to do this was Stevie Me. The only moment where Reuben got his facts right was when he referred himself as 'a daydreaming Spurs fan'...."
A Syed is not a Gerrard fan. That's agreed. What we would like to know is who he would award the captain's armband to?

"What is with our sportsman. The more they are paid the more useless they seem to be. Consider all our cycling and sailing Olympic gold medalists, many of them amateurs and paid peanuts. Most of the current England team set up would not get into some of the teams I once played for."
Will Steer from Tiverton gives a big shout out to medal-winning hobbyists. OK, so Graham Obree made his bike out of an old washing machine, but sailing is not a cheap sport and never will be. We assume the teams that Will once played for were not football teams.

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And expect...

Redknapp to be back to his philosophical best after Pompey are thrashed by Manchester United on Monday night.