Mediaboss Marketing

THURSDAYS BIG STORIES My cup runneth over

Dear Claudio,

You dont know me, but I have an idea that could improve Leicesters performances between now and the end of the season. Just follow this five-point plan:

(1) Tear down the fixture lists at the training ground and blacklist all websites containing the same information on the clubs wifi network.

(2) Every weekend, before you play, tell your players you want them to be at their best for this VERY IMPORTANT CUP MATCH, which DEFINITELY ISNT JUST A PREMIER LEAGUE GAME despite the branding on their shirts and the claims of the guy who reads the teams out. Thats all just one big clerical error, for this is a KNOCKOUT GAME.

(Optional) If Riyad Mahrez is playing, tell him its a European match and Real Madrid scouts are in the crowd.

Leicester City's Andy King scores their first goalReuters

(3) If someone starts to question why youre playing your ninth cup match in a row, mumble something about the Intertoto Cup or the Fairs Cup or the Cup Winners Cup, maybe with the odd dilly-ding, dilly-dong thrown in for old times sake. That should put them off the scent.

(4) If it doesnt, sell them. Even if its Wes Morgan or Kasper Schmeichel. In fact, especially if its Kasper Schmeichel.

(5) Watch the points roll in.

Thats it. Let me know your thoughts.

Regards,

The Warm-Up

Video - Ranieri: Cup win important for confidence

00:35

The Daily Mirror report that Arsenals players held a team meeting earlier this week in an attempt to clear the air in the wake of their recent downturn in form. The Gunners were stunned by Watford a week ago and then predictably annihilated at the weekend by Chelsea, a team who cravenly cheated by actually having a midfield.

Thanks to a remarkable journalistic effort that definitely extended beyond the confines of our wild imaginations, The Warm-Up can exclusively reveal the list of topics that were discussed in the meeting:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger thinks rivals Chelsea are "super-favourites" for the Premier League titlePA Sport

Gabriels teeth are they too white? Double-barrel names: the official power rankings Whats your favourite flavour of crisp? Hectors facial hair and possible solutions Things we can do to stop Alexis hating us. The worrying decline in the number of dressing-room selfies since May. Institutional crisis or just forgetfulness?

Will these talks be enough to propel Arsenal back into the title race in the weeks ahead? Probably not, to be honest.

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez shows his frustrationReuters

Hearty congratulations to Deportivo Alaves, who are through to the final of the Copa del Rey for the first time in their history. Their two-legged tie with Celta Vigo wasnt exactly a classic, but a late goal from Edgar in Wednesdays second leg was enough for El Glorioso (solid nickname game there).

Theyll play Barcelona in the decider, but even getting there counts as a major success for the Basque side, whose fans were certainly in jovial mood at the end of the game.

West Ham fans will doubtless be pleased to know that Dimitri Payet has wasted little time finding his feet back in France. He marked his first start since returning to Marseille with a goal in the comfortable win over Guingamp a result that lifted them to sixth in Ligue 1.

Its worth noting the number of empty seats visible in the clip below, which will surely have come as a disappointment to Payet. He thought his days of playing in a hushed Olympique stadium were behind him.

The Rossoneri had lost four games on the spin before Tuesdays trip to Bologna and looked doomed again when both undisputed Liverpool legend Gabriel Paletta and midfielder Juraj Kucka were sent off before the hour mark at Stadio Renato DallAra.

But Vincenzo Montellas men found some previously-untapped reserve of grit, clinging on to their clean sheet and snatching maximum points at the death thanks to a goal from Chelsea loanee Mario Pasalic. Theyre still lagging behind in the race for the European places, but hats off for a gutsy display.

2017, Gerard Deulofeu, Domenico Maietta, Bologna-Milan, AFPAFP

Adam Lallana. A llama. Yeah, that might have been funny for, oh, six seconds in your head, but Jesus Christ, youre going to have to explain this literally every time you sunbathe/go for a swim/have intimate relations with someone.

Kevin-Prince Boateng has been around the block a few times, so its little surprise that his interview with The Guardians Sid Lowe is a compelling read, touching on his difficult upbringing, Jurgen Klopp, Nelson Mandela and plenty more besides.

Erm well this is awkward. Theres pretty much nothing on the schedule. A good day to do some life admin or phone your parents. Say hi from us!

Tom Adams is due back from the tattoo parlour just in time to pen Fridays Warm-Up. Expect a llarge number of llaughs.

Read the original:
The Warm-Up: A foolproof plan for saving Leicester's season - Eurosport.com