當《泰晤士報》宣布其電子版要收費，我想也沒有想便訂閱了。那時候，我還住在都柏林，雖然我每天我也會花一塊歐羅買一份。因為它是我最喜歡的一份報紙。

從歐洲回到香港生活，當然更加要靠著電腦才能讀《泰晤士報》。皆因一份《泰晤士報》售價超過五十港幣；皆因報紙檔賣的只是昨天的那份報紙。

因為訂閱了電子版，於是讀到有趣的文章，可以輕鬆地移植過來。正如這一篇一樣。

那是篇關於英國足球國家隊領隊FABIO CAPELLO的文章。作者是SAM MUNNERY。

早陣子，卡比路跟傳媒揚言道，他只需要懂得100個英文字，便可以帶領英國國家隊。於是，SAM MUNNERY便立即猜猜究竟是那一百個英文字。那篇文章是如此：

Fabio Capello says that he needs only 100 words to do the job as England manager, which may explain why the team’s lack of fluency is comparable only to that of his English.

We have already had a stab at guessing which 100 words he has needed to learn to make a stab at the job – you’ll be unsurprised to discover that WAGs, prostitutes, air and pistol all make the cut – but now we want to know what you think is the required lexicon for an England manager.

Clearly, when coaching a team of such luminaries as Wayne Rooney and John Terry, you may feel that 100 words is 75 too many. “Launch it” and “concentrate” should cover tactics, “taking the positives” and “learning from mistakes” will do for press conferences, while “behave yourself”, “no nightclubs”, and “actually, just don’t go out” might be the best advice for off-field activities. And for issues of captaincy, he could need “phone call”, “common courtesy” and “very sorry, Rio”.

That might address the basic issues - but it’s hardly our place to tell the England manager the key words to help him do his job.

No doubt you will have a few ideas of your own. What vocabulary do you feel Capello needs in his locker if he is to make his life easier at the helm of the national side? Could you even deliver tonight’s team talk in just 100 words?

Tell us what you would say to Gareth Barry, Andy Carroll and Co before you send them out to meet Ghana at Wembley. And maybe give Rio a quick call, if you like.

都說英國人尖酸刻薄。這篇文章可見一斑。