Ahead of TheGame: Gallas planning Arsenal exit

The news in 60 seconds

GALLAS PLANNING ARSENAL EXIT
The Gunners captain has intensified speculation that he could leave the Emirates by revealing that he wants to play in France. "It's true that I'd like to return for one or perhaps two seasons to finish my career," he said. "But if I go, it won't be to just anywhere. I'd go to a big club or nowhere at all."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article5206870.ece

RANIERI DENIES BUFFON MOVE TO MANCHESTER CITY
The Juventus head coach has dismissed rumours that the Italy goalkeeper is set for a £63 million move to Eastlands. "Manchester City's offer for Buffon? Well, if we wait a bit maybe the number of millions will reach 100," the former Chelsea manager said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article5206959.ece

KINNEAR TARGETS TWO IN JANUARY
The Newcastle United interim manager has shrugged off the uncertainty surrounding his and the club's future by making plans to sign two players in the transfer window. "One is with Roma and he is not in the team at the moment," he said. "The other is a player who has already scored against us this season." You can narrow the suspects down yourselves.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/newcastle/article5206432.ece

ADAMS PRAISES KABOUL'S PROGRESS
The Portsmouth manager is working closely with the 22-year-old and sees him as the natural heir to Sol Campbell at the heart of the team's defence. "Younes has got it all, he's an athlete and a young footballer learning his trade from people like Sol," he said. "That's wise and I'm glad he's learning and listening and that he's here. He could be the future of the football club."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/portsmouth/article5206981.ece

GERRARD TO MISS FULHAM MATCH
The Liverpool captain has failed to overcome the groin injury that kept him out of England's friendly against Germany. He trained on his own today and is considered doubtful for Wednesday's Champions League match with Marseille at Anfield.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/liverpool/article5205518.ece

PREMIER LEAGUE VIDEO PREVIEWS: OWEN TO START
The Newcastle striker, who came off the bench to score his sixth goal of the season against Wigan, appears to have finally recovered from a groin problem and is expected to play against Chelsea tomorrow. "I would say he's close to 100 per cent now," Kinnear said. "Michael is frustrated because he feels he is almost there, but he's getting better and better and sharper and sharper."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article5199312.ece

LIVE COMMENTARY ON ALL PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES
Follow every top flight match this week with our live text coverage, plus keep track of all the action from the Football League and Europe with our scores and stats service.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/

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FREE MOBILE SERVICE TRIAL
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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

Should Gallas be stripped of the captaincy?
The Arsenal defender breached the sanctity of the Gunners dressing-room yesterday by criticising team-mates and disclosing details of in-fighting. Has he gone too far this time?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/11/has-william-gal.html

And if you think he has, who should the new skipper be? Vote in our poll.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/11/who-should-be-t.html

Tango and cash
Betfair are offering £10,000 to the first Premier League player who celebrates a goal tomorrow by doing a dance that will promote their TaiKai prediction game. The three-step move starts with a crane stance, followed by a forward kick and finally some karate chops. Do own goals count?

Cap trap
Peter Crouch made England history with the shortest ever appearance for the national team. The Portsmouth striker won his 30th cap for 28 seconds' work. Don Howe wants Fifa to change the rules so that time-wasting substitutions are not rewarded in this way, but his suggestion that a fringe player could win 100 caps in this manner seems a little far-fetched.

Long throws are dangerous
Not only do they upset the purist but the tactic can have a serious effect on a player's health. Watch the following video (and turn the sound up) to find out why:
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/11/video-long-thro.html

E-mail: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALES<<<<<

You cheeky hod - The Sun
1) A Birmingham City fan got one over Midlands rivals Wolverhampton by paving his team's nickname outside their stadium. 2) The unknown builder spelt 'Blues' in dark coloured bricks on a walkway just yards from turnstiles. 3) The stunt went unnoticed for four years. 4) Wolves have replaced the brickwork and a spokesman said: "It won't be any surprise to any of our fans that we have walked over the opposition at Molineux". 5) We wonder how long it took him to think of that.

Ace Rio backing Brit flick - The Sun
1) Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole are teaming up to produce a film. 2) British gangland drama Dead Man Running will star 50 Cent. 3) Ferdinand is a friend of the rapper after performing on stage with him three years ago. 4) Three words for them: straight to video.
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>>>>>OUR RIVALS<<<<<

Ronaldo a 'malicious bigmouth' - The Sun
Tiago Silva, the Brazil defender, claims the Manchester United winger tried to break his leg during Portugal's 6-2 defeat in Brasilia.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1955250.ece

Capello wants stars six weeks before World Cup - Daily Mirror
The England manager wants an early start to the Premier League next season so he has more time to prepare for the finals in South Africa.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/11/21/fabio-capello-wants-england-stars-for-six-weeks-ahead-of-world-cup-115875-20912019/

Two more City rebels rock Hughes - Daily Mail
Dietmar Hamann and Michael Ball were ordered to play for Manchester City's reserves after ignoring instructions to prepare to come on as substitutes at Hull.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1088091/EXCLUSIVE-Furious-Hughes-punishes-rebels-Ball-Hamann-latest-mutiny.html

Shearer has picked his staff already - Daily Express
Newcastle were on a state of high alert as it emerged that their former striker has a backroom team in place should he be offered the manager’s job.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/72164/Shearer-has-picked-his-Toon-staff-already

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27
Number of players Manchester United have used in the Premier League this season, the most of any team. Tomorrow they travel to Aston Villa, who have have used just 17 players this season, the least of any team in the league.

11
Consecutive victories for Manchester United over Villa.

0
Fulham victories at Anfield, they go for their first tomorrow.
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In TheGame

Tony Cascarino column: Terry showed why he was handed the armband
Our football analyst says the England captain has turned his nightmare in the Champions League final into a source of inspiration and that his performance in the victory over Germany proved it. "John is the man to bring out that extra 10 or 15 per cent in his team-mates, a bit like Roy Keane did when he and I played together for Ireland," he writes.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/11/tony-cascarino.html

Matt Hughes column: in favour of the international friendly
Our man in London thinks the Arsenal manager is alone in his view that international football is an unwanted inconvenience. "ITV and Setanta have paid £425 million for the right to televise England matches for the next four years, which suggests that somebody must be interested."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/11/arsene-wenger-m.html

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"I reckon the medal has landed in the hands of a day tripper who is there for the 'match day experience' - it can't be a proper fan. They've probably just started to support Chelsea since they became successful. As a season ticket holder at Arsenal for the past 20 years, if I had been in that position and caught Arsene's medal I would never sell it for all the money in the world. That's the difference between a real fan and a plastic fan."
Lee Armitt is horrified at a supporter's decision to sell Jose Mourinho's Premier League winner's medal at auction. Looking on the bright side, it's unlikely he'll ever need to make the same choice.

"How about that any club that nurtures a young talent to international level through their youth scheme can dictate whether the player can play in any given international match? But if a player was bought by the club, they have no say in the matter and only international team doctors/physios can declare a player injured?"
Russell Hutton enters the club-v-country debate with an interesting proposal. Does that mean we'll never see Jack Wilshere in an England jersey?

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And expect...

AOTG to pay tuppence-ha'penny to the first Premier League goalscorer to emulate the John Sergeant shuffle and then get sent off.