Ahead of TheGame: Keane resigns as Sunderland manager

The news in 60 seconds

KEANE RESIGNS AS SUNDERLAND MANAGER
The club's board accepted the Irishman's decision to leave with immediate effect and Ricky Sbragia, the first-team coach, will take over team affairs on an interim basis. "Roy's decision to stand aside and allow someone else to take charge of the next chapter sums up his desire to always do what is best for the club," Niall Quinn, the Sunderland chairman, said. "Even in his departure he has been more concerned for the welfare of the players and his staff than himself."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/sunderland/article5285753.ece

ANALYSIS: KEANE TOO VOLATILE
George Caulkin, our man in the North East, believes the former midfield enforcer's inability to adapt his management style has brought about his exit from the Stadium of Light: "Working with a personality as unpredictable as his is not straightforward and although he was asked to curb his authoritarian approach in an attempt to get the best out of the players, especially the foreign imports, it seems he wasn't able to do that."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/sunderland/article5286265.ece

MCCARTHY NAMED MANAGER OF THE MONTH
Keane's old nemesis will have rubbed salt into the departing Sunderland manager's wounds this afternoon after being honoured for Wolves' run of five wins and one draw in the Championship during November. What we want to know is who texted who first?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article5287340.ece

MIDO BLAMES FA FOR ANTI-ISLAM ABUSE
The Middlesbrough striker believes that the governing body's failure to punish Newcastle fans for verbally abusing him last season was the reason that it happened again at the Riverside on Saturday. "They kept chanting disgusting, racist words about Islam and unfortunately, this is the second time that the same fans have done this," he said. "It happened again because after the first time the English FA did nothing."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/middlesbrough/article5285600.ece

FAGAN FORGIVES GUTHRIE FOR BREAKING HIS LEG
The Hull forward insists he bears no resentment towards the Newcastle midfielder as he nears a comeback. "I'm not going to be his best mate over it, but I've forgiven him and I just want to get back now," Fagan said. "I wasn't happy about the situation but it's all gone now, it's in the past." He has earmarked the league visit of Sunderland on December 20 for his return.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article5286452.ece

LIVE MATCH TRACKER: UEFA CUP
After travel delays to Germany for their match against Wolfsburg, Tony Adams can expect to hear even more appeals of "Are we there yet?" as his Portsmouth team attempt to win their two remaining group matches to guarantee progession to the knockout stages of the competition. Aston Villa are in a more comfortable position with six points from two games as they host MSK Zilina. Follow all tonight's action from Europe with our live scores and stats service.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/live_match_tracker/

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

Roy Keane: another big let down?
The Sunderland manager has resigned after a run of six defeats in the club's past seven games, leaving the Black Cats in the relegation zone. He publicly questioned his ability to manage the club out of the mire after the defeat by Bolton last weekend and rather than stay and fight has decided to bid the club good luck in their battle to avoid relegation.

Statements from the Irishman and the club's board indicate that there are no hard feelings from either side, but what do you think? Hasn't Keane proved once again that when the going gets tough, he gets going?

It is understood that the board were keen to extend his contract that was due to run out at the end of the season. He may have needed to smoothen his authoritarian style to get the most out of an expensively-assembled dressing-room, but surely that's not too much to ask when everyone's pulling in the same direction?

So, what is your opinion of him now? Let us know your thoughts.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/debate-is-roy-k.html

And let's not forget the Black Cats. Who should fill Keane's shoes? Sam Allardyce, Kevin Keegan, Eamon Dunphy, Steve McClaren? Name your candidates and their qualities.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/who-should-repl.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>THE TABLOID TALES<<<<<
Gerrard Tower is ace pad - The Sun
1) A Dubai apartment block is to be named after the Liverpool midfielder. 2) Gerrard is allowing his name to be used in return for a flat there thought to be worth £1 million. 3) "I am truly privileged," he said. 4) At last, Nelson Mandela gets a run for his money.

Bath alert at Man U - The Sun
1) United have installed a hi-tech noticeboard in the team's dressing room. 2) The device keeps the players updated on important appointments, including training, massages, pedicures, hair care, MUTV interviews and who to instruct to run a bath. 3) This is what happens when you don't sell Ronaldo in the summer, but we expect that nobody will be turning Fergie's hairdryer off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>OUR RIVALS<<<<<

City just not in United Klaas - The Sun
Klaas Jan Huntelaar will join Real Madrid from Ajax for £17m in January after rejecting a £32m summer move to Manchester City.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2001882.ece

Gordon hails Keane's ability - The Daily Telegraph
The Sunderland goalkeeper insists that the Irishman's man-management skills are excellent, despite criticism from the pundit Eamon Dunphy.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/sunderland/3546389/Sunderland-goalkeeper-Craig-Gordon-praises-manager-Roy-Keane-in-face-of-criticism-Football.html

Only a City splurge can save this from being the quietest transfer window ever - The Guardian
Mark Hughes's interest in bringing Lassana Diarra and Roque Santa Cruz to Eastlands is an example of how an ailing market could receive a shot in the arm by Manchester City's financial muscle.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2008/dec/04/manchestercity-premierleague

Ashton will be sold off - Daily Mirror
The striker is one of seven players that West Ham want to offload to alleviate the cash crisis suffered by their Icelandic owners.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/04/west-ham-are-ready-to-sell-striker-dean-ashton-and-six-others-in-january-115875-20944152/

Abramovich contemplates loan deal for Wagner Love - The Independent
The Chelsea owner is considering using his contacts in Russia to take the CSKA Moscow striker on loan and improve the team's attacking options.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/abramovich-contemplates-loan-deal-for-wagner-love-1050395.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8
Seasons since League Cup semi-finals had more than one team from outside the top flight. Derby and Burnley join Manchester United and Spurs in the draw on Saturday.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In TheGame

Matt Hughes: No rush for Ferguson to retire
Our football writer thinks the Scot could stay at Old Trafford indefinitely considering the lack of top class managers waiting in the wings to replace him. "Sir Alex Ferguson gave the strongest hint yet last weekend that he is considering staying at United beyond his 70th birthday, which, given the recent performances of his various protégés, is probably just as well," he writes.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/lack-of-challen.html

Debate: Ince under pressure
Can the Blackburn boss handle management in the top-flight? The cries of "You don’t know what you’re doing" rang out around Old Trafford after his team's 5-3 defeat last night and, tellingly, the former MK Dons refused to appear for the press conference after the game. Ince has complained that without investment in January Blackburn will be in for "a struggle", but is the manager the one to blame for the club's woes? Has it just been a case of too much too soon for someone many thought to be one of English football's brightest managerial prospects? Have your say.
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/debate-does-pau.html

Fanzine Fanzone: Bendtner gets the boot
Our Arsenal loyalist imagines a letter written to the Dane by Nike after his performance against Burnley in the Carling Cup quarter-final on Tuesday: "It is with a deep sense of sadness that we have decided to terminate your association with the Nike Mercurial Vapor Rosa boots..."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/fanzine_fanzone/2008/12/arsenal-a-lette.html

Bill Edgar's daily quiz
Which team won the Uefa Cup this decade after a campaign in which they played twice at home, twice on neutral ground and five times on their opponents' pitch?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/bill-edgars-wed.html

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

Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

"I find it hard to believe that so many fans want to drink in the stadium, where they're confined to a concrete tunnel without any sight of the pitch, watched over by stewards to make sure that none dares step upwards towards the stands. Is it not possible to get through two hours without a beer? Especially when, to get one, you have to leave the first half early to beat the queues before polishing it off in a few minutes if you have any wish to see the seond half. As for those who turn up to a stadium early to drink. GO TO THE PUB!"
Paul from Bermondsey's thoughts are endorsed by AOTG. Support your local, but please drink sensibly.

"I live in Germany and I don't recall Hitler attending too many games recently. Is that why he was voted the worst fan? [See Monday's AOTG] Or was it based on more criteria than attendance? That said, if he did attend, he would only invade the pitch."
If you do see him, K, get a smugshot for us and send it in.

"I share your enjoyment of John Utaka's tools, but I still wouldn't have him in my England squad."
Cheryl agrees with Gabriele Marcotti's endorsement of Portsmouth's Nigerian striker. Read our European Football Correspondent's latest column: http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/.

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

And expect...

Keano's labrador to be waiting on the doorstep, lead in mouth.