They say good news does not sell papers, which means that the nation's media moguls should be rubbing their hands with glee in anticipation of Thursday's takings. With Manchester United and Chelsea struggling in the Champions League and Leeds boss Peter Reid waiting for the axe to come down, doom and gloom abounds.
"Double flops" is the headline in the Daily Mail, neatly packaging United's 2-1 defeat in Stuttgart and Chelsea's shock 2-0 loss at home to Besiktas.
"Claudio Ranieri paid heavily for tinkering with his formation last night as Chelsea suffered their first defeat since Roman Abramovich took charge," reports the Mail.
The Daily Express observes that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's fears that defence could prove his side's Achilles heel in Europe this season have been underlined by a "worrying defeat".
 | THE HEADLINES The Times: Reid's fate in hands of Leeds supporters The Daily Telegraph: Leeds fans back Reid but turn on players Daily Express: This is a shambles Daily Mail: Double flops Daily Star: Hands off Souey Daily Mirror: Stut-tut The Sun: Last orders (for Peter Reid) The Independent: Leeds under pressure to show Reid the door The Guardian: Reid's future hangs by a thread |
A picture of Leeds boss Reid sitting in a hotel bar with chairman Professor John McKenzie gives the headline writers plenty to chew on.
The Daily Mirror describes it as the moment Reid went face-to-face with McKenzie "to thrash out the terms for his departure".
"Last orders," declares The Sun, adding: "Peter Reid is drinking in the last-chance saloon after crisis talks with Leeds chairman Professor John McKenzie."
The Daily Star reports that "confused" McKenzie phoned fans' groups to ask if he should sack Reid before deciding to sleep on his decision.
One manager who insists he is going nowhere is Newcastle's Bobby Robson, who according to The Times was "incandescent" at rumours that he had quit his post at St James' Park.
The only other real talking point is the England rugby team's imminent arrival in Australia for the World Cup.
The Guardian reveals that coach Clive Woodward invoked the Henry V spirit before boarding the plane for Perth.
"Too many British teams in the past 30 years have flown out on little more than a wing and a prayer but Woodward's parting shot was to challenge his already prodigious squad to aim even higher than ever," the paper says.
The best picture of the day also comes from Perth, where Zimbabwe's cricketers lined up the maximum nine slips in their opening tour match against the Chairman's XI.
It was belated retaliation, says the Daily Mail, for Australia's disdainful decision to post nine slips for Zimbabwe's tailenders during a one-day international in Harare in 1999.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
