Ahead of TheGame: Curbishley rubbishes Bellamy rumours

The news in 60 seconds

CURBISHLEY RUBBISHES BELLAMY RUMOURS
The West Ham manager is convinced that the Welsh striker will not be joining Manchester City. "It is nonsense," he said. "I don't think anybody else will be going. Craig Bellamy is in full training today."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/west_ham/article4611317.ece

FERDINAND NEARS SUNDERLAND MOVE
The West Ham defender is on Wearside for a medical as he looks to complete an £8million transfer. "I will be delighted if I can get him and another one and then we can concentrate on the season," Roy Keane, the Sunderland manager, said. Another one? It's like the Jarrow march but in reverse.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/sunderland/article4610673.ece

WENGER EXPLAINS SENDEROS DEPARTURE
The Arsenal manager says an abundance of centre-halves allowed him to send the Swiss international on loan to AC Milan. "We have [Johan] Djourou, we have Kolo [Toure], we have Senderos, we have [Alex] Song, [William] Gallas and [Mikael] Silvestre now who can play centre-back so we have a congestion there." Did they decide via a round of musical chairs?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article4612946.ece

COPPELL HOLDING ON TO DOYLE
The Reading manager has made it clear that he has received no offers for the Irish striker. "There's been nothing about Doyle, I've heard nothing for weeks," he said. "Do I expect Kevin Doyle to leave? No."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article4612306.ece

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PREVIEW: FABREGAS FIT
The Arsenal midfielder will play against FC Twente tomorrow, but Mikael Silvestre is out with a thigh strain. Liverpool have a clean bill of health for their home tie with Standard Liege, although Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva are rested after returning from Olympic duty.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article4611207.ece

LIVE MATCH TRACKER: CARLING CUP SECOND ROUND
It's the trophy that gives meaning to Tuesday nights until the Champions League elbows it out of the way. Highlights include Newcastle's visit to Coventry and an East Anglian derby of sorts as Colchester visit Ipswich. Follow all the action with our live scores and statistics service.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: Jim Magilton or Mick McCarthy? 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you've got another couple of minutes

Board the window
Is the summer transfer window ruining your enjoyment of the start of the season? Can you concentrate on the August action knowing that your favourite player might still be sold? Or are you worried that your manager is spending too much time chasing signings rather than concentrating on winning games with the players he has? Have your say. E-mail: sport@timesonline.co.uk.

It's something like a phenomenon
Chris, a Brentford fan, noticed a peculiarity at Barnet on Saturday: double white lines. Have you seen anything similar?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/08/barnets-grounds.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
£5m a goal - The Sun
1) Andriy Shevchenko is possibly the worst transfer of all time. 2) Chelsea have spent a total outlay of £45.62m on the striker who scored just nine Premier League goals in two seasons. 3) The club will not get a penny back on the Ukrainian who is rejoining AC Milan on a season-long loan with with a view to a permanent move. 4) Even if Sheva had been awesome, it was still too much money.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>OUR RIVALS: THE TOP FIVE<<<<<

No more egos any more - Daily Mirror
Luis Felipe Scolari has outlined his philosophy to Chelsea's players by telling them that no-one is more important than the club.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/08/26/luiz-felipe-scolari-says-chelsea-is-now-an-ego-free-zone-115875-20712148/

Ince ready for hot reception - The Daily Telegraph
The Blackburn boss insists he is ready to face a hostile West Ham crowd when he returns to Upton Park for the first time as a manager.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/blackburn/2620855/Paul-Ince-ready-for-a-frosty-reception-when-he-returns-to-West-Ham-with-Blackburn-Rovers---Football.html

'Thaksin has 10-year plan for City,' says chairman - The Independent
The former Thai Prime Minister has no intention of selling Manchester City according to Garry Cook, the executive chairman.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/thaksin-has-10year-plan-for-city-says-chairman-908511.html

Santa's loyalty is a gift back to Rovers - Daily Mail
Roque Santa Cruz reveals that he signed a new four-year deal at Ewood Park because he owed it to them for rescuing his career.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1049110/As-demand-Santas-loyalty-refreshing-gift-Rovers.html

Our special one - Daily Express
Shay Given has urged Newcastle to offer Michael Owen a new contract and give everyone at the club a lift.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/58448/Michael-Owen-Our-special-one

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27
League matches without a win for Derby's Paul Jewell, the longest losing run in English managerial history.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In TheGame

Oliver Kay - Serie A suffering
Our football writer recalls when the first Italian imports began to flock to England (Vialli, Di Matteo and Zola to Chelsea and Ravanelli to Middlesbrough). Their compatriots would dismiss the Premier League as a retirement home for ageing stars or a get-rich-quick scheme for those who lacked ambition. But how things have changed. "Italian football badly needs a pick-me-up - and it remains to be seen whether Shevchenko and Ronaldinho, or for that matter Senderos or John Arne Riise, can provide it."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/08/serie-a-the-ret.html

TheGame Podcast
Oliver Kay, Nick Szczepanik and Gabriele Marcotti join Phill Jupitus to discuss why Manchester City are in deep trouble despite their terrific result against West Ham and analyse Rafa Benitez's latest tactical tinkering. Listen to it now.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/08/thegame-podca-2.html

Bill Edgar's daily trivia question
Which player helped Manchester United win four Premier League titles having also been a member of an English title-winning squad more than a decade before the Premier League's formation in 1992 (he did not play any games for that team in that season)?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/08/bill-edgars-tue.html

Tuesday's transfer gossip - Chelsea close in on Arshavin
The Russian wizard will fill the gap should Chelsea fail to land Robinho, but Shaun Wright-Phillips can leave Stamford Bridge, alerting Everton and Manchester City. David Moyes is also interested in Liverpool target, Albert Riera.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/08/tuesdays-tran-3.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"Roy Keane has surrounded himself with a gang of irresponsible deadbeats. It will all end in tears. It always does."
Callkan from Liverpool fears for Sunderland after their summer splurge. With such a gloomy appraisal, he must be talking from experience.

"I've never been one to champion spending money for the sake of it, but with the potential we have why not splash £30million on a decent midfielder and a centre half. What's Arsene Wenger afraid of? We're way too lightweight to compete."
Arsenal fan Neil Dodimead is letting his heart rule his head. It's amazing what a 1-0 defeat to Fulham can do.

"Wenger and the Board are in the process of securing the long term financial security of the club. If this means a few years without trophies, then I for one as a lifelong fan am prepared to accept this policy. We do not want to be another Leeds United."
Simon in Melbourne continues to show admirable patience, despite the club's failure to win anything for three years (just like Leeds).

"Perhaps the Manchester United-biased press and Sky Sports' so-called experts will get off our backs now and realise that this club is on the up!"
Graham Sandiford lets out all of his frustration after Manchester City's mauling of the mighty West Ham. Now if they can see off Brighton in the Carling Cup we really will be eating our hats.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And expect...

Roy Keane to toss a coin on his next transfer target: heads it's Bellamy, tails it's Doyle.