Early Doors - Your morning briefing blog

Beleaguered Newcastle fans can rest easy following the news that Terry Venables has been in talks over becoming manager of the club. This being El Tel - and, for that matter, Newcastle - there is a catch. That catch being that he's only been approached to take over as 'interim'...More

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Arsenal have revealed their youth policy for the future - education, education, education.Prime Minister Gordon Brown droned on at the Labour Party conference about his plans to open new and improved academies for the nation's children, and he need only look at Gunners boss Arsene Wenger for the way to give...More

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Early Doors cannot say it is particularly impressed by the 'motivational' handout given to the Arsenal team before Saturday's game against Bolton.It is a triumph of modern business speak, uses the word 'team' 12 times and doesn't mention Kevin Davies's flying elbows at all.Early Doors has two questions:What is the...More

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A week ago, a major satellite broadcaster was full of the importance of Liverpool versus Manchester United. It argued, with apparent sincerity, that the fixture's history and rivalry made it the biggest game in English football.So Early Doors was confused when it saw Chelsea versus Manchester billed as "the biggest...More

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The race for the Premier League title is a marathon, not a sprint. But if Manchester United lose against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday there will already be a nine-point gap between the two.Even over 26.2 miles, nine points is a big gap. Somewhere equivalent to United drinking too...More

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"When I play again the fans will love me again."What Cristiano Ronaldo lacks in humility, he more than makes up in his ability to read the mood of Manchester United fans.The Madeiran Messiah uttered the above phrase last weekend when collecting the Golden Boot award, also claiming "I changed football"...More

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- - Needy football club (130) in north-west seeks fabulously wealthy Arab businessman for fun and frolics. Must have means to cater to expensive tastes. Millions (preferably billions!) needed for new talent - don't expect to see any of it back! Good sense of humour a must. - - Football...More

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The Eurovision Song Contest is to bring back juries in a desperate bid to salvage the competition's credibility. It seems the European public can no longer be trusted with the massive responsibility of judging a singing competition because of so-called political voting.Basically, Britain always comes last (something to do with...More

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Of all the spectacular and unbelievable weekends in the history St James' Park, the one we've just seen surely ranks up there as the most outrageous of them all. Those who were glued to this here website on Friday night instead of chugging down bright neon-coloured alcopops at the local...More

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Few things in football are as eagerly-anticipated or as reliably unrewarding as the unveiling of a new manager.The term 'unveiling' rather oddly suggests that said boss has hitherto been kept under a thin sheet, although in the case of Gianfranco Zola (pictured, actual size), you'd probably only need a hankie.So,...More

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