Ahead of TheGame: I nearly joined Arsenal, says Ronaldo

The news in 60 seconds

I NEARLY JOINED ARSENAL, SAYS RONALDO
The Portugal winger admits he came "within a whisker" of signing for Arsene Wenger's team before eventually moving to Old Trafford. He met the player three times in a bid to bring him to North London, but was gazumped by a much bigger bid from Manchester United. "That is what happened," Jorge Mendes, the player's agent, said. "Everyone wanted Cristiano."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article5293087.ece

SOUTHGATE NOT SURPRISED BY KEANE RESIGNATION
The Middlesbrough boss believes the Irishman succumbed to the pressures facing all young managers. "Whenever you see them coming into the game you want them to succeed," he said. "But at the same time you know the pitfalls and the pressures that they face. It's a very tough environment and there is a lot of pressure to bring immediate success."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/middlesbrough/article5293488.ece

SCOLARI WARNS MOURINHO OVER ESSIEN MOVE
The Chelsea manager has told Inter Milan to forget about signing the Ghanaian midfielder who is making good progress in his recovery from a ruptured knee ligament. "Inter, AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid all want Essien but he is injured and he is at Chelsea," he said. "If I stay for three years I don't want him out, I want him to stay with me."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article5293091.ece

FERGUSON CONTENT WITH TEVEZ SITUATION
The Manchester United manager understands the striker's frustration at not being a first-team regular, but suggests the Argentinian will get his chance during the club's hectic December schedule. "It is obvious Carlos doesn't enjoy it," he said. "He wants to play. But do I want players who are quite happy to sit in the stand? His performance on Wednesday [in the Carling Cup] gives me a big problem."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5293229.ece

PREMIER LEAGUE VIDEO PREVIEWS: COLE OUT
Chelsea go to Bolton tomorrow without forwards Joe Cole, who is recovering from an ankle knock, and Didier Drogba, who is suspended. Arsenal could welcome back defensive pair Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue for the visit of Wigan and Robinho is a doubt for Manchester City's match against Fulham.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article5291494.ece

LIVE MATCH TRACKER
Follow all the action from across Europe this weekend with our live 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

Oops, I did it again
How experienced do you have to be as a goalkeeper to stop making howlers? Or has David 'Calamity' James proved that cock-ups are an inherent part of the role? The Portsmouth stopper's mistake against Wolsburg last night ended the team's Uefa Cup involvement and overshadowed his role in the team's opening goal and late penalty save. "I've every faith in him and love him to bits," a forgiving Tony Adams said. Should we be as generous?

Biting the hand that feeds you
Herita Ilunga has a few days in which to placate the Upton Park faithful before the match against Tottenham after declaring that the Hammers are a "second-rate club". The left-back, who joined on a season-long loan from Toulouse, has indicated that playing for West Ham is a stepping stone for bigger things. "Once I have proved myself in a team like this, I can hope to make the step up to another club," he said. Not a wise move.

Cheeky chirp
We don't like to stir up a hornets' nest but Ian Gibson, the MP for Norwich North and a season ticket holder at Carrow Road, has criticised the Prince of Wales for wishing Ipswich luck for the 'Old Farm' derby on Sunday during a visit to the Suffolk club to promote community projects. "This just proves that Ipswich Town represent elitism and the old guard," Gibson said. Anyone who has visited Portman Road lately might disagree. Besides, rumour has it that the late Queen Mother was a Canary.

E-mail: sport@timesonline.co.uk

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>>>>>THE TABLOID TALE<<<<<
I'm not the Russian mafia - The Sun
1) Roman Pavlyuchenko is the butt of training ground banter at Spurs because he is a member of Stavropol's local parliament. 2) Team-mates joked his election was successful because of contacts with criminals and not his pledge to improve standards of grass-roots football in his home country. 3) "I don't want to say much about academies and youth coaches in Russia, but it's a disgrace," he said. 4) That should make Sir Trevor Brooking feel a little better.
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>>>>>OUR RIVALS<<<<<

Gallas: I feel humiliated - The Sun
The Arsenal defender has told friends and family that he would welcome a move in January after being stripped of the captain's armband.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2005919.ece

Essien's set for Mour - Daily Mirror
Sully Muntari claims that the Chelsea midfielder will join him at Inter Milan because the lure of working with Jose Mourinho again will be too strong to resist.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/05/michael-essien-to-follow-jose-mourinho-from-chelsea-to-inter-milan-claims-muntari-115875-20947410/

My one big regret is ... saying 'no' to Fergie - The Sun
Darren Anderton, who retires after Bournemouth's match against Chester tomorrow, said he should have joined Manchester United in 1995.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2006425.ece

Dunne pleads for patience - The Daily Telegraph
The Manchester City captain has warned Robinho that he cannot expect Mark Hughes's squad to develop a winning mentality overnight.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/mancity/3550786/Richard-Dunne-warns-Robinho-to-be-patient-for-success-at-Manchester-City-Football.html

Appi 'Arry has eye on Johnson - Daily Mirror
Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham manager, is planning a double transfer swoop for Glen Johnson and Ghana's Stephen Appiah in January.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/12/04/tottenham-to-swoop-for-glen-johnson-and-stephen-appiah-115875-20946719/

Gael: Now we have to blow hot - Daily Express
Arsenal can still win the Premier League but cannot afford any more slip-ups, according to defender Gael Clichy.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/74277/Clichy-s-tip-for-the-top

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11
Number of consecutive Chelsea away victories should they beat Bolton tomorrow. It would be a new top-flight record, breaking the run of ten wins by Bill Nicholson's title-winning Tottenham side of 1960.
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In TheGame

Tony Cascarino: Paul Ince needs wins, and fast
Our expert is concerned that the Blackburn manager is in danger of losing his job as he struggles to get the best out of an underperforming squad. "Ince did well at MK Dons but he had a lot of money to spend there in comparison with his rivals," he writes. "Now, he’s at a club without deep pockets by Premier League standards and he’s pitting his wits against the very best managers, many of them with far more experience. No wonder he’s coming off second-best."
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/paul-ince-next.html

Bill Edgar's weekend quiz
Roy Keane can still keep his eye in this weekend by tackling our fiendish test of football knowledge. Here's something for him to chew on as he takes Triggs the dog on another cross-country walk: In the space of less than four weeks in the early 1980s, which second-tier club won the home leg of a League Cup semi-final, drew an FA Cup quarter-final at home and won a league match 7-1 yet were still relegated to the third level? Bolton, Preston or Burnley?
http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2008/12/bill-edgars-f-1.html

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Joe Bloggs' Soapbox

Our list of the 50 worst famous football fans received a great response from the public and Russell Brand in particular [Monday's AOTG]. The comedian was not at all flattered to be listed in second place behind Adolf Hitler. Therefore we were delighted to be sent the following letter from Schalke 04's head of Media & PR who clearly had a point to make, but took the exercise in the spirit it was intended.

"Your article on 'The 50 worst famous football fans' on November 26 made interesting reading. Until then we didn’t know Adolf Hitler had a soft spot for Schalke 04 let alone was a fan of our club.

We were very curious to find out what made the well respected Times claim this as a fact. So we checked and double-checked whether the club board between 1933 and 1945 had named a stand the “Führer Stand”, for example, and we watched every episode of 'Allo 'Allo in a bid to find a clue. Nothing.

In fact, it turned out he must have been an armchair supporter because he never bothered to turn up at any of our games, even if it was a championship final right on his door step at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Perhaps he was too occupied with his genocidal policies, or… maybe he wasn't a football fan after all.

This is at least what a scientific study commissioned by the club revealed in 2004. The authors analysed the theory that the fact that Schalke won six national championships during the Third Reich was down to the special support of the Nazis. The result was quite clear: the theory is total rubbish. At best, the Nazis tried to bask in the sun of the great popularity of a team that had ranked among the best in the land since 1927.

Hitler himself never did so for two reasons. First, the physiognomy of footballers with their bow legs and knock-knees wasn’t exactly his idea of a superior German race. Second, he did go to a football match once during the Olympic Games in 1936, but Germany lost 2-0 to Norway. Bugger!

To conclude that Hitler was a fan of Schalke 04 because they won most of the titles during his regime must make Margaret Thatcher a Liverpool fan. Funnily enough she didn’t make the list."

Best regards
Gerd Voss
Head of Media & PR

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And expect...

Spirit medium and former footballer Derek Acorah to put an end to rumours surrounding the Führer's club loyalties.