Ahead of TheGame: FA ban Barton for 12 matches

The news in 60 seconds

FA BAN BARTON FOR 12 MATCHES
The Newcastle midfielder will serve a minimum ban of six matches with six suspended and has been fined £25,000 after pleading guilty to a charge of violent conduct following his training ground assault on Ousmane Dabo, a former Manchester City team-mate, in May 2007.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article4682035.ece

BROOKING FEARS FOR HOME-GROWN TALENT
The FA's director of football development is concerned that the huge amount of money flooding into the Premier League will have an adverse effect on the national team. "Manchester City have probably got one of the better academies and with the sort of money they now have available the challenge is going to be where are English players going to get their opportunities?" he said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article4682079.ece

MOYES A CANDIDATE FOR NEWCASTLE JOB
The Everton manager, who is yet to sign a new contract on Merseyside, has been linked with the vacancy at St James' Park. He endured a frustrating summer in the transfer market during which a number of high-profile transfer deals fell through. It sounds like just the move for the Scotsman.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article4681637.ece

BILIC TARGETS WORLD CUP
The Croatia coach has distanced himself from the vacant manager's job at West Ham United, insisting he intends to see out his contract in charge of the national team. "I always said West Ham will be my choice when I return to England," he said. "However, my contract with the Croatian FA expires in 2010 and I am intending to lead them in this period."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/west_ham/article4681136.ece

WENGER EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE IN CAPELLO
The Arsenal manager believes England will make a good start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. "They have a relatively soft start against Andorra but the real test will be Croatia," he said. "So get three points first [on Saturday] and then they have nothing to lose in the next game." Nothing to lose? He couldn't have read the papers after the draw with the Czech Republic.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article4683841.ece

LIVE MATCH COMMENTARY: ANDORRA V ENGLAND
Now that Setanta have bundled television coverage away to a satellite backwater and Alan Green continues to whine on Five Live like a Toon fan with a toothache, we suggest you follow England with our real-time updates tomorrow evening. Follow all the World Cup qualifying matches with our live scores and statistics service.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/

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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: Kevin Keegan or Dennis Wise? 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

Causing a ripple or a splash?
One Newcastle supporter was so incensed by the crisis at St James' Park that he threw his replica shirt and £543 season ticket into the River Tyne. "I am furious - I'm foaming at the mouth," he said. "It's the best protest I can make."

Well, he could have cooled off by throwing himself in and then deciding afterwards to get a refund on his ticket and never ever buying anything that puts money into the club, including official apparel, programmes, Sky Sports subscriptions and over-priced food and drink from refreshment counters in the ground (if he does sneak back in).

We want to know what futile gestures you have made or firm action you have taken relating to your club and the results? E-mail: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALES<<<<<
Who does Joey Barton think he is? - Daily Mirror
1) The Newcastle midfielder jumped a red light and drove down bus lanes in order to make an appointment with his probation officer 2) A motorist who saw his driving said: "I couldn't believe the arrogance ... He deserves to lose his licence. 3) Barton's driving was filmed from the front passenger seat of another vehicle. 4) Police said they may take action once they have seen the footage. 5) Willie McKay, the player's agent, said when contacted: "I can't comment. I am driving."

Hatton's blues at City slip - The Sun
1) The boxer is gutted over his decision to give up his corporate box at Manchester City - suddenly the world's richest club. 2) The 29-year-old didn't renew it as he was convinced City would struggle this season. 3) A friend of Hatton says the light-welterweight "hasn't even got a normal season ticket." 4) We are going to be very brave and declare that the Hitman is a fair-weather fan. Unlike the thousands who will follow him to Las Vegas for his title fight with Paulie Malignaggi in November.
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>>>>>OUR RIVALS<<<<<

Now City can be bigger than the Big Four, warns Hughes - The Guardian
Mark Hughes is confident that he can bring in the players that will challenge for major honours.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/sep/05/manchestercity.premierleague1

Scolari denies Chelsea rift over Robinho - The Daily Telegraph
The Brazilian coach does not believe that the people around the winger were ever serious about him going to Stamford Bridge.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/chelsea/2684848/Luiz-Felipe-Scolari-has-denies-any-regret-at-failing-to-secure-Robinho---Football.html

Keeping Circus on the road cut manager's room for manoeuvre - The Independent
Kevin Keegan's need to finance his football theme park in Glasgow could be why he acceded to the set-up at St James' Park on rejoining the club.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/keeping-circus-on-the-road-cut-managers-room-for-manoeuvre-919395.html

Villa line up Barton for Barry - Daily Mirror
Martin O'Neill sees the controversial Newcastle midfielder as a long-term replacement for the England star.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/2008/09/05/villa-line-up-barton-for-barry-115875-20724544/

I'll give Roo another kicking - The Sun
Wayne Rooney has been told to expect another physical battle from Oscar Sonajee, Andorra's 'enforcer'.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1649591.ece

Capello's new regime for England ... a game of golf - Daily Mail
The Italian has lightened his strict restrictions on the squad to try something new after disappointing performances.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1052591/Capellos-new-training-regime-England-players----round-golf.html

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1
Victories recorded by Andorra this century. Albania were the hapless losers going down 2-0 in front of 250 supporters in 2002. The principality have also recorded four 0-0 draws since then. England beware.
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In TheGame

Tony Cascarino column: the craziest week I can remember
Our football analyst sees the level of investment in the Premier League snowballing: "Imagine this: Abramovich decides to sell Chelsea. He's taken them as far as he can: he's looking for someone richer to invest in order to keep up with Manchester City."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/09/cascarinos-frid.html

England Fanzone: it's time for stars to stand tall
Our national loyalist says that the players need to start showing domestic form if they are to take six points from Andorra and Croatia. "Players like Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard, who play like fuel-injected lions for their clubs, are merely castrated Chihuahuas for the national side."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/09/england---our-u.html

The soul of Aston Villa in 50 moments
Richard Whitehead selects the events that have shaped the Midlands club, including Dalian Atkinson's wonder goal, Private Pike's famous scarf and the end of the Doug Ellis era thanks to Randy Lerner.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/aston_villa/article4652386.ece

Bill Edgar's weekend quiz
Here's something to keep your chin up as the rain lashes against your patio doors. Your wet play-time starter for ten: In which of the following years did the FA Cup winners play all their seven matches in London? 1950, 1961 or 1967.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/09/bill-edgars-fri.html

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"He may have won the battle, but he certainly has not won the war. We, the Geordie public, will see to that."
And we thought World War III was going to start in South Ossetia. Thanks for the tip-off, Chris.

"I don't envy Dennis Wise and the next full-time manager. They will become hate figures on Tyneside, regardless of who's to blame."
No kidding, Thornell in Sisslehurst [shouldn't that be Sissinghurst?]. But if anyone has ever been envious of Dennis Wise we want to hear your story.

"Out with the old, in with the new. It's a continental style of management on and off the field from now on and West Ham and all English clubs might as well embrace this new trend. It's a global game and a global market. Let's learn from the past but look to the future."
What is wrong with fine English traditions, Stuart Read from Bures? What should we shed next - car boot sales, hoodie gangs and reality TV?

Mal Collier responds to Bill in Doncaster's assertion that Liverpool and Manchester United have not bought trophies [yesterday's AOTG]:

"... have been able to buy good players by having a loyal and wide fan base, high attendances and stability at their clubs..." - Yes, that means you have the money to buy the players you have needed to win trophies. City do now, and have had a loyal fan base with high attendances to rival all but our neighbours over in the swamp and perhaps another one or two on a good day. Even in the Championship and League One our attendances didn't diminish. What we haven't had is the hundreds of thousands of fans outside of Manchester buying shirts and bolstering the coffers. I suppose it depends on your definition of 'buying'.

We hope this will become a long-running tete-a-tete between the two that we can all sit back and enjoy.

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And expect...

Joey Barton to learn his lesson and never get in trouble again.