Golbox Posts

Hull City's 20/20 vision

Marcus Dysch — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:45:25 +0000

It’s an argument as old as the game itself: who’s our best ever signing? What’s our best ever first XI?

As part of a rather lame advertising initiative, Hull City have put a new spin on the discussion, asking fans to identify the club’s “best” signing in the past 20 years.

Quite what the qualifying criteria are for “best” signing is hard to say, but the majority of players who can rightly be considered among our greats can easily be split into three categories: ability, achievement, and endurance.

Some players score highly in one area (Geovanni may well be the most naturally gifted player to pull on a City shirt, but are two seasons and a couple of absolute scorchers sufficient to make him number one?), while others clearly cross two or more (Andy Dawson’s achievements and length of service are evident).

It’s a tricky game. Should off-field misdemeanours count against ability? Jimmy Bullard, for example, put in one or two sheer quality performances for City, but indeed his antics clearly render him unsuitable for inclusion.

For every Matt Glennon, Christian Sansom and Gavin Gordon in the Nineties, we were compensated a million times over in the Noughties with the likes of Boaz Myhill, Stuart Elliott, Frazier Campbell and so many more. Any “team of two decades” has surely to be heavily weighted in favour of the second half of the period.

Dozens of players have provided short spells of quality performances and briefly enjoyed the status of fans’ favourites: Jon Parkin, Ben Burgess, Stephen Hunt, John Eyre, Richard Peacock, Jimmy Graham, Rob Dewhurst to name but a few. In many of those cases, however, their achievements were brief and personal, rather than history-making or long-lasting.

Many among the current crop will hopefully go on to achieve sufficiently that 10 years from now we may look back on them as legends. Liam Rosenior, James Chester and Robert Koren will clearly long be remembered at the KC.

The magical quartet who appeared in all four divisions trips off the tongue, and Myhill, Dawson, Ian Ashbee and Ryan France will be high up most people’s list. Personally I never saw France, for all his achievements, as more than a fringe player, so he unfortunately misses out in my team, but the other experienced trio will forever be synonymous with the club and are cemented as among the biggest legends City will ever have.

So, how to finally narrow the list down…? Among the players suggested by the club are Theo Whitmore and David Rocastle. Both probably had more ability in their little toes than their 10 team mates possessed collectively at any one time. But as enjoyable as their Boothferry Park performances were, neither could be said to have changed the landscape at City and cannot therefore be considered the club’s best signing in the past 20 years.

While Gary Brabin’s influence may well have saved the Tigers from the ignominy of falling out of the Football League, it seems a touch wrong to promote a former bouncer as our best footballer. But for his achievement – and the pure joy of seeing him regularly clatter opposition midfielders – he is evidently worth a position in any best XI since 1992.

As you will shortly see from my chosen XI, some names stand out as giants in the club’s history. Whittling them down, no pun intended, to one man is almost impossible because of the criteria mentioned above. Each of you will have your own personal favourites. Ask me tomorrow and I might have changed my mind on my top five. But here is my view on City’s top signings – and ultimately number one – of the past 20 years:.

5. Nick Barmby - His influence on and off the pitch has already been immeasurable since he signed from rivals Leeds United in 2004. If he goes on to become half as successful a manager as a player, he could easily become City’s greatest-ever all-round legend.

4. Boaz Myhill - He gave so much and left too soon. I’ll never see a goalkeeping performance to match what he did at White Hart Lane on January 16, 2010. Four promotions make him the stand-out name between the sticks for City in this, or any other, era.

3. Andy Dawson – Arguably something of an unsung hero. He came in without great fanfare and gave little hint of what City would go on to achieve with him in the left-back position. That he made the transition to Premier League standard look seamless, and indeed has now maintained his spot despite age being against him and the challenge of younger men is testament to his determination, ability and quality. A true Tigers hero.

2. Stuart Elliott - What is left to say about the free-scoring Northern Irishman? A superstar in every sense. Brilliant on the field, a gentleman off it. Knowing he could create a goal from nothing at any time was one of the greatest feelings a City fan could ever have. Simply irreplaceable.

1. Ian Ashbee - Captain Fantastic. The journeyman with holes in his bones who should never really have walked again, let alone come back from what would be a career-ending injury for anyone else to lead his team to the promised land. A fearless warrior, Ash’s contribution is head and shoulders above what any other player brought to City in the past 20 years. His premature departure and current plight may slightly diminish those achievements, but even so, he is my choice as Hull City’s number one signing in the past 20 years.

My fantasy Hull City squad from 1992-2012 would be: (4-2-3-1) Myhill; Ricketts, Turner, Whittle, Dawson; Brabin, Ashbee (c); Elliott, Barmby, Geovanni; Windass.
Subs: Carroll, Delaney, Cort, Mann, Boateng, Peacock, Linton Brown, Darby.
Manager: Phil Brown
Assistant manager: Peter Taylor
First team coach: Warren Joyce

Follow Marcus on Twitter.

Defoe ready for Arsenal test

guestblogger — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:32:24 +0000

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is confident his side can claim all three points from this weekend’s north London derby but has warned they will be facing a ‘different Arsenal’ from the one seen in recent weeks. Spurs are in the unusual position of being above their fierce rivals – 10 points clear in fact – as they bid to end the season north London top dogs for the first time since 1996, before current Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger arrived at the Emirates. The Gunners have endured a nightmare few weeks, with their league form faltering, a 4-0 hiding at the hands of AC Milan in the Champions League and defeat in the FA Cup ending their hopes of a first trophy since 2005 - supporters who Watch Football Live at the Emirates are getting restless. Tottenham meanwhile are having a memorable year under Harry Redknapp and are launching their first sustained title bid in more than 20 years. They drew 0-0 with Stevenage in the FA Cup fifth round last weekend but should they win the replay, have a favourable home draw against Leicester waiting in the last eight. For that reason Sours go into the Arsenal game favourites in the soccer betting to take all three points, but Defoe was quick to fire a warning. 'It means more to Arsenal than us. Obviously because of the way things have gone for them this season. 'I think it's been a lot of ups and downs, where at the beginning they didn't start too well, then they picked it up and then they’ve had a little blip again. 'But at the same time I've always said they’re a good team. You can't write Arsenal off. 'It's going to be a difficult game but I'm confident, obviously, with the way we’re playing. 'We've got a really strong squad now and everyone's playing well. Everyone's firing and team spirit is fantastic which I think is always important if you want to try and achieve something. 'We've got a great chance to go there and get three points.'

Rafa expects derby return

guestblogger — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:43:28 +0000

With the highly anticipated north London derby between Arsenal and their arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur coming up on Sunday, Spurs playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart has revealed he expects to be back in training this week. The talented Dutch midfielder has been forced to watch from the sidelines for all three of Tottenham's last outings with a calf injury. People betting on Premier League games should bear this in mind. Spurs currently find themselves in third place in the Premier League table and would take a big step towards securing Champions League football for next season, with a victory at Emirates. The White Hart Lane outfit have been one of the in-form side's in the top flight and will be making the short trip across the capital full of confidence of getting a result this weekend. The best Premier League predictions reflect this. Tottenham will be boosted by the news Van der Vaart will be available for selection, with the 29-year-old hoping to be fit for the derby day. The former Real Madrid star told his official website: "I'm recovering well from my injury. "I expect to be joining the team training next Wednesday after which I will start to focus on the match against Arsenal. I'll be happy to play Arsenal. I can't wait." As for the Gunners they head into this game on a poor run of form, with a heavy 4-0 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League backed up by a 2-0 loss at the hands of Sunderland in the FA Cup. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be looking for a response from his players, as pressure continues to build on the experienced tactician.

Hello world!

mikelufc — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:51:42 +0000

Welcome to common sense Leeds United talk in general and all sorts of stuff additionally, . It is likely few will agree with me but that is not my problem.

Refreshing the page: West Ham top of the League again!

rapidhammer — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:05:55 +0000

Als ich Mittwoch Morgen meinen Computer aufdrehte, war der Internet Explorer noch vom gestrigen Abend geöffnet und zeigte mir die Tabelle der Championship, wie sie vor den Dienstag-Abendspielen ausgesehen hatte (siehe auch mein gestriges Posting "Zurückgefallen"). Also ein kurzer Druck auf den "refresh button" - und schon präsentierte sich die Rangliste der zweiten Liga in ihrer aktuellen Pracht: Im League Table sind die Hammers nach einem 4:1 auswärts gegen Blackpool wieder Nummer 1 !

"72 mins: The cross comes in and Lansbury shouts loudly 'Keeper's!' as he grabs the ball on the penalty spot. Good goalkeeping from the midfielder, if that makes sense!" Blackpool v West Ham as it happened, WHUFC official website

[caption id="attachment_5535" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Stand-in goalkeeper Henri Lansbury: "Are you Ludo in disguise?""][/caption] Wie dieser Sieg am Dienstag Abend in Blackpool zustande kam, das ist unglaublich und zeigt, welches Selbstvertrauen, welchen Kampfgeist und Teamgeist diese Mannschaft hat. Beim Stand von 2:1 für West Ham wurde in der 53. Minute Torhüter Robert Green wegen eines Fouls an Blackpool's durchbrechendem Bednar ausgeschlossen und West Ham hatte keinen Goalkeeper auf der Ersatzbank! Und was passierte? Die Hammers gingen nicht etwa mit 10 Mann ohne gelerntem "shot stopper" unter. Offensivspieler Lansbury stellte sich ins Tor, die Räume wurden noch enger gemacht und statt noch Gegentore zu kassieren, gelangen O'Neil in der 74. Minute und Vaz Te in der 90. Minute mit Kontern zwei Treffer zum unglaublichen 4:1 Endstand! Das sagte ein überglücklicher Manager Sam Allardyce nach dem Spiel:

"The outstanding quality from my players was there in abundance. That was a remarkable achievement, a remarkable performance and a remarkable result. "From the very, very start we controlled the game. We have come out with a huge amount of credit with our display. "Three games on the trot we've now been reduced to 10 men and we've won two and drawn one. It is the unfortunate ruling by the bosses at the league, which I thought was outrageous at the time, to reduce the substitutes from seven to five. "That ridiculous decision has caused a lot of us managers to not put a goalkeeper on the bench. We took the gamble and it paid off because Henri Lansbury was outstanding in goal."

The Warnock factor

lufcjames — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:57:54 +0000

What a difference a few days make. The season was over towards the end of last week and the non-stop speculation over the next Leeds United manager was becoming tiresome, to say the least. All of a sudden, a proven manager is on board and three points are in the bank. There is an unfamiliar air of optimism around the place. Neil Warnock has had a big impact in his few days in charge. He has said all the right things in his interviews and has lifted the spirits of the fans. Is a promotion push beyond us? Anybody who has watched the side regularly this season would say it is. It is no exaggeration to say we haven't put a run of form together all season. We have had our fair share of luck along the way and, if truth be told, our league position flatters us. You just need to take one look at the fixture list to realise we're going to have to do it the hard way. Our season could be over by the time we face West Ham United on March 17, the final game of a run which sees us take on four promotion rivals in a fortnight. Even if we come through that run unscathed, we will still have plenty of work to do. The season ends with trips to Blackpool and Cardiff City and a home clash against Leicester City. You would have to think we would need to be established in the play-off spots by the time we face Blackpool or it's going to be incredibly difficult. If we had a Super League-style margin meter, it would probably tell us we will finish in or below mid-table. Taking our season form into account, as well as the form of the sides above us and our run-in, you would say promotion is a pipe dream. However, one variable that hasn't been introduced until very recently is, of course, Warnock. The 63-year-old has fantastic pedigree at this level and knows exactly what it takes to get out of the Championship. Warnock is relishing the challenge and the excitement in his voice during interviews is palpable. I listened to his interview with Eddie Gray on Yorkshire Radio after the 3-2 win over Doncaster Rovers and couldn't help but smile all the way through. Warnock had me gripped. He spoke candidly about tactics and was more than happy to have a laugh. It was a refreshing interview and whet the appetite for more to come. Having sat through the best and worst of Leeds United on Saturday, he should have a fair idea of the task facing him. You get the sense he isn't overawed, though. He will no doubt have faced bigger challenges during his managerial career and has some decent players to work with. I refuse to believe the players are as bad as we have seen of late. A large part of sport is played in the mind and the players are clearly scared stiff at the moment, particularly at Elland Road. I'm sure Warnock will urge the players to enjoy and express themselves. He will try and take some of the pressure away from them. With a bit of belief and a different philosophy this side could go on a run, I have no doubt about that. You just have to look at Sunderland for an example of a side transformed under a quality manager. A lot will depend on other sides, but Warnock has the ability to turn our season around. If he doesn't manage to perform a minor miracle this season, he will be confident of promotion with a full summer behind him. You would expect him to stamp his authority on the squad, which could signal wholesale changes. This is where Warnock's relationship with Ken Bates will become very interesting. You can't imagine Warnock settling for anything other than his first choice in the transfer market, while Bates has been reluctant to flash the cash in recent years. Was that down to a trust issue with Simon Grayson? Only time will tell. Another area of interest will be the contract situations. I always got the sense Grayson didn't put up a big enough fight to retain his key players. One thing's for sure, if Warnock has a relationship with a player and sees him as a big part of his plans, he won't let him go without an almighty struggle. It will be interesting to see if there is any development on Aidy White's situation in the coming weeks. It all makes for a fascinating last passage of the season and the Warnock era will undoubtedly add to the colourful history of this club. Warnock has come to Leeds to do something special and the early signs tell me he has the belief to achieve it. Perhaps not this season, but definitely next. One thing's for sure - it's going to be one hell of a ride!

Simon Grayson: A Leeds perspective

Charlie Johnson — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:45:02 +0000

I asked the question whether there were any Leeds fans who were willing to write about Simon Grayson for me, to see what we can expect from our new manager. I got incredibly lucky as I was pointed in the direction of the superbly talented writer Jennifer Berry. See her view of the new Town boss below. Just three weeks after his sacking by Leeds United, it was no surprise to see Simon Grayson make an immediate return to football management. After just over three years at Elland Road, Grayson was finally relieved of his duties but despite the circumstances of his sacking, there are few Leeds fans who believe he’ll fail at Huddersfield Town. When it comes down to it, Grayson is capable of getting teams out of League One; he did it with Blackpool on a tiny budget and with only a modest one at Leeds and for Huddersfield, he is the results man they need. The sacking of Lee Clark puts pressure on Grayson to produce an instant result; promotion is a must for the Yorkshire club after three years of failing under Clark in the play offs, the difference for Grayson this time round is that he is much more likely to have a budget unlike anything he has had before. In his last months at Leeds, he was a shadow of the man who took over at Elland Road in December 2008 but there was never any doubt as to his passion and determination to succeed in the job. At Blackpool, he had possibly overachieved on a small budget and a club which didn’t have the same weighty expectations as Leeds fans do of their club. Through Leeds’ darkest and lowest ebbs, Grayson gave the fans a reminder of what the club was, what it was capable of and what it should be. Victory over Manchester United and draws against Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs were momentary escapes from a desolate existence and promotion to the Championship in 2010 will rank among his very proudest achievements. The expectation at Town will be familiar to Grayson and after Leeds, he’ll know how to manage it. In many ways, his immediate future at Leeds was numbered for many reasons, stretching back to the summer of 2011. It was largely felt that the Leeds squad which finished seventh in the Championship was only a few additions short of a promotion winning squad however under the glaring eye of the fans and a chairman whose priorities were away from the team, Grayson – be it his fault or the board’s, failed to improve the squad sufficiently to mount a credible challenge. Even in the January transfer window of 2011, lurking just outside the play offs, Leeds could have mounted a promotion challenge but little was done to fix the problems which most fans found glaringly obvious. With his best players leaving or being sold, mainly due to contracts not being renewed, Grayson’s actions in the summer of 2011 marked the beginning of the end. His management of a very private situation involving Andy O’Brien had the players, allegedly, unhappy his treatment. Going back further and there were allegations of personal relationships which interfered with his players amid more rumours of dressing room unrest. As the season began, Grayson claimed O’Brien had refused to play for the club again, a public statement which was backed at the time by the chairman. Unbeknownst to the club, O’Brien was suffering from depression and his public ostracizing from the club left many players unhappy (allegedly) and the cracks were beginning to show. The Leeds United board were unhappy with the start to the season Leeds had made and were very public in announcing meetings which had taken place to basically find out what was going on and that Grayson’s job was very much under pressure, while several players were clearly unhappy that they were on the very periphery of his squad. Even through the difficulties of the job, Grayson became weighed down by the obstacles in it; his interviews were recycled sound bites week after week and never once did he question publically the morals and direction of the club under the chairman. Many called him a ‘yes man’ but in truth, Grayson was a man tired of being beaten by the same stick, from all angles. He may not have stood up to Ken Bates, but Grayson always tried to conduct himself with dignity, even if his decisions were sometimes off the mark. The timing of Gary Speed’s death galvanised the club, temporarily; pulling together to record back to back wins but the writing was on the wall for Grayson. It seemed that Grayson would be criticised and made a scapegoat in any and every situation, whether there ever was money to spend which he chose not to is anyone’s guess. If he had spent the money which he said was available to him, the chairman would use it as a stick to beat him with, so largely he didn’t spend. As it transpired, the club massively overspent on wages, the blame for which was (unfairly) placed very much at Graysons door. There is however little doubt that Grayson had taken Leeds as far as he possibly could. Since day one, he had been standing over a precipice, blindfolded and with his hands behind his back, in full knowledge that someone would push him over the edge, whether that be tomorrow, next week, or next year. A little drastic that may sound, but arguably, Grayson never had the chance to do his job to his full potential, which was partly down to him it must be said. His personal indiscretions overshadowed a lot of the good work and foundations he had laid at the club which put paid to his time at the club he loved. Further to that, for what little money he did spend, it could be said that the majority of his signings weren’t exactly unbridled successes. 33 loan signings came and went (and some remain) during Grayson’s 37 months, by Ken Bates’ reckoning, nearly £15m was generated from player sales yet the wages (£9.5m) to turnover (£27m) was indicative of the clubs spendthrift nature. Wages were squandered, no doubt, but little of that or the clubs transfer policy can be realistically blamed on Grayson. Much can be said about Grayson relying too much on the wrong people, too. It was often felt that from his backroom staff, to his front line players, Grayson had his favourites whom he often stuck with when the writing should’ve been on the wall. For his faults, Grayson led Leeds out of the darkest period the club has ever been through, and even threw in a few extras on the way and that is what he’ll be fondly remembered for. The majority of Leeds fans thought it was the right time for him to leave but the reaction to his future is a good one, a positive one. It also means Huddersfield will undoubtedly be Leeds’ bogey team for some time to come yet. Jennifer can be followed on Twitter @jenberlufc I strongly recommend that you do so.

Zurückgefallen ...

rapidhammer — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:57:48 +0000

... aber hoffentlich nicht für lange! Durch die Wochenend-Spiele der Championship rutschte das selbst spielfreie West Ham nach beinahe einem Monat an der Tabellenspitze wieder auf den 2. Platz zurück. Die Hammers stehen erst heute Abend gegen Blackpool wieder auf dem Platz. [caption id="attachment_5531" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Double decker tram at Blackpool"][/caption] Die "Tangerines", gemeinsam mit West Ham und Birmingham in der letzten Saison aus der Premier League abgestiegen, sind alles andere als ein einfacher Gegner. Nach einer klaren 0:3-Niederlage am Silvesterabend gegen Birmingham blieb Blackpool im Jänner und Februar des neuen Jahres bisher ungeschlagen - bis zum 0:2 gegen Everton am Samstag in der 4. FA Cuprunde. Das letzte Liga-Heimspiel in Blackpool endete 1:1 gegen das wieder in erheblichen wirtschaftlichen Schwierigkeiten befindliche Portsmouth, und dann gewann man auswärts gegen Doncaster 3:1. Dass der gute Lauf von Blackpool nicht unbemerkt geblieben ist, zeigt auch der "Young Players Award", den Blackpools's Offensivspieler Matt Phillips gestern von der Liga für den Monat Jänner verliehen bekommen hat. Der "winger" hofft, mit seiner Form dem Klub zu helfen, den Abstand zur Spitze in der Championship weiter zu reduzieren und mit im Rennen um die Aufstiegsplätze zu bleiben. Der "Matt" von West Ham fehlt dagegen heute Abend, wenn West Ham an der Bloomfield Road dagegen halten muss: Matt Taylor hat nach seinem Ausschluss wegen Insultierung eines Gegenspielers eine 3-Spiele-Sperre ausgefasst. West Ham überlegte zunächst eine Berufung geegn die "rote Karte" einzulegen, weil die nur ein wenig auf die Seite geschubste Saints-Neuerwebung Sharp gar zu theatralisch gefallen war und Taylor ihm ohnehin nichts Böses gewollt hatte, aber man hat es sich schließlich anders überlegt. So muss West Hams Mittelfeld heute und auch noch am nächsten Samstag gegen Crystal Palace sowohl ohne Kevin Nolan als auch ohne Matt Taylor auskommen. Da ruht der Großteil der Verantwortung also wieder auf dem aktuellen Kapitän Mark Noble, wenn es darum geht, den "best away record in the division" (27 von 45 möglichen Punkten wurden away gemacht) zu verteidigen. Sam Allardyce kehrt übrigens an den Ausgangspunkt seiner Trainerkarriere zurück: in der Küstenstadt mit den grünen Straßenbahnen an der Irischen See hatte "Big Sam" seine erste Trainerstelle (Juli 1994). Aber für Sentimentalitäten ist da heute sicher kein Platz ...

Rassismus-Probleme in der Premier League

rapidhammer — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:05:39 +0000

Beim FA Cupspiel von Liverpool gegen Brighton Hove Albion am Sonntag stand Luis Suarez endlich wieder wegen seiner eigentlichen Qualitäten im Scheinwerferlicht: dem Toreschießen. Zunächst wünschte sich sein Manager Kenny Dalglish ausdrücklich, dass der Uru einen für Liverpool gegebenen Strafstoß schießen sollte, indem er mit den Fingern dessen Nummer "7" signalisierte. Doch Suarez vergab. Wenig später aber netzte der umstrittene Stürmer dann doch ein und verhalf Liverpool zu einem klaren 6:1-Sieg und dem Einzug in die 5. Runde des englischen Cupbewerbs. Trotzdem wird sich Suarez noch längere Zeit mit dem Gespenst des Rassismus herumschlagen müssen. Von André Tuchmann Political Correctness wird von der englischen FA ernst genommen: Liverpools Uru-Stürmer Luis Suarez (Bild links; Wikipedia) wurde im Vorjahr für 8 Spiele gesperrt, weil er seinen französischen Gegenspieler Patrice Evra (Manchester United) auf dem Spielfeld einen Neger ("Negro") genannt hatte. Nach dem Ende seiner Sperre wieder im Einsatz, machte sich Suarez erneut keine Freunde: er verweigerte am vorletzten Wochenende, beim jüngsten Zusammentreffen in der Premier League Manchesters Evra den Handschlag. Der 25-Jährige Uruguayer wird damit zunehmend unsympathisch. Kritik von allen Seiten prasselt auf ihn ein, und das zurecht, denn es handelt sich hierbei um kein kleines Thema auf dem Rasen. Und die Engländer finden das erst recht nicht witzig: rassistische Parolen zu grölen, kann schon mal mit Arrest geahndet werden, und ohne Konsequenzen bleibt ein derartiger impulsiver Ausbruch nie - für vorbildhafte Fußballspieler umso mehr ein Grund, sich zusammen zu reißen, selbst dann, wenn FIFA Präsident Sepp Blatter den Rassismus auf dem Spielfeld für eine “zu vernachlässigende Randerscheinung” hält. Wie wichtig der englischen FA das "No to racism" ist, zeigt auch der Fall Terry: Chelseas John Terry erwartet für die ihm vorgeworfene rassistische Beschimpfung von Ex-West Ham-Back Anton Ferdinand (jetzt QPR) ein staatliches Gerichtsverfahren, was die FA zur Aberkennung der Kapitänswürde der englischen Nationalmannschaft veranlasste. Und diese Konsequenz führte schließlich sogar dazu, dass England nun - vier Monate vor der EURO - ohne Teamchef dasteht. Bekanntlich fühlte sich der Nationaltrainer der Three Lions, Fabio Capello, bei der Entscheidungsfindung übergangen, verwies darauf, dass Terry noch nicht verurteilt sei, und warf als Teamcoach das Handtuch. Das Roulette um die Political Correctness auf dem Rasen dreht sich also weiter: mit welcher Strenge und Härte bewertet wird und was überhaupt an die Öffentlichkeit tritt, sind zwei verschiedene Paar Schuhe. Letztlich sind die Verantwortlichen der Premier League sich offenbar darüber im Klaren, dass das Rassismusproblem noch nicht endgültig aus dem Fußball beseitigt ist - keine unbedingt neue Erkenntnis, aber sie veranlasst die FA nun zu immer härteren Sanktionen, die die öffentliche Aufmerksamkeit auf das Problem lenken. Luis Suarez - bei der letzten Copa America der Spieler des Turniers - ist jenseits von Montevideo und Liverpool sicher kein besonders beliebter Charakter im Fußball. Unmanierlich, rüpelhaft, ein schlechter Schauspieler und dazu auch noch rassistisch: das finden die Leute nicht gut, selbst dann, wenn er Leistung bringt. Unterstützung findet er dennoch: Liverpool-Manager Kenny Dalglish hält ihm - wie man am Sonntag deutlich sehen konnte - noch die Stange. Er deutete auch früher an, dass "Negro" keine übermäßig negative Konnotation für den Uruguayer beinhalte. Die Verweigerung des Handschlages am vorletzten Wochenende wiegt allerdings schwer, enttäuschte wohl alle beim Klub, und Liverpool distanzierte sich enttäuscht. Dennoch: Dalglish freute sich sichtlich, als Suarez im Cupspiel am Sonntag "sein Tor" machte! Trotzdem heißt es, dass das Ende von Suarez' Zeit in England absehbar sei, er wird wohl - ausgerechnet - nach Frankreich wechseln. Rassismusdelikte auf dem Spielfeld: da versteht die Premier League keinen Spaß, der Engländer distanziert sich gerne und Suarez merkt, dass man seine Fans nicht im Online Casino gewinnt, sondern mit Respekt für Spiel und Gegner. Bleibt abzuwarten, ob er die Kurve noch kriegt.

Latest News from the Slovak Football Scene

britskibelasi — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:33:27 +0000

There are two main news items to start the week. The first is Michal Hipp’s first selection as caretaker-coach of the Slovakia national team, for the away game with Turkey on Wednesday February 29th. The squad is listed below : Goalkeepers :Ján Mucha (Everton), Dušan Perniš (Dundee United). Defenders :Peter Pekarík (Kayserispor), Kornel Saláta (FK Rostov), Martin Škrtel (Liverpool) Tomáš Hubo?an (Zenit St Petersburg), Marek ?ech (Trabzonspor), Radoslav Zabavník (FSV Mainz). Midfielders :Michal Breznaník (Slovan Liberec), Kamil Kopúnek (Slovan Bratislava), Juraj Kucka (Genoa), Róbert Jež (Polonia Warsaw), Marek Hamšík (Napoli), Vladimír Weiss (Espanyol), Miroslav Stoch (Fenerbahce). Forwards :Filip Hološko (Besiktas), Marek Bakoš (Viktoria Plze?), Stanislav Šesták (Gaziantepspor) Most striking is the inclusion of two new faces, in Breznaník and Bakoš. The Liberec midfielder’s selection can be taken as evidence of the rehabilitation his career has undergone since Slovan Bratislava effectively ‘sacked’ him following his red card in a Europa League qualifier away to Stuttgart in August 2010. He has since scored 14 goals in 38 games for Liberec, the latest coming in a 3-1 win over Hradec Králové the weekend just gone. Bakoš, meanwhile, is an obvious choice, having impressed in European action for Plze? this season. He too was on the scoresheet in domestic action at the weekend, hitting two goals in Viktoria’s 4-3 defeat of Teplice, and led the line superbly in last Thursday’s Europa League last 32 home leg against Schalke. As Hipp acknowledges, he is currently in better form than either Filip Hološko or Stanislav Šesták and thus must be favourite to start up front in Turkey. It is perhaps worth pointing out that, with the exception of Hubo?an, Saláta and Kopúnek, every member of this squad plays in a country whose domestic league has restarted after the winter break, or in one which doesn’t take a break at all. Match-fitness, therefore, should not be a problem for most. That even goes for Hubo?an, who played in Zenit’s Champions League tie with Benfica last week. Of the omissions, those of Filip Šebo and Ján ?urica could be put down to lack of recent competitive football. The absences of Freiburg pair Karim Guédé and Erik Jendrišek, both of whom featured in their side’s 0-0 draw with Bayern Munich on Saturday, are less easily explained. It is possible, however, that the former may still be settling in at his new club, while Jendrišek, like Hološko and Šesták, has been struggling for goals. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Turkey game will be the way Hipp approaches it. Will he adopt the sort of tactics we would have expected from his predecessor, or encourage the players to show more sense of adventure? Whatever the answer, he doesn’t have a great deal to lose. His team will not be favourites to win the game and his own future is not going to be decided one way or the other by the result. He is highly unlikely to be offered the coach’s job on a permanent basis (and appears not to want it anyway) and the question of the assistant’s position will be decided by factors other than the result of one friendly. Yet he could attract plenty of goodwill from the players if they feel a more relaxed spirit in the camp, and from the media if a decent performance is forthcoming. We now know that the Turkey game will precede the first spring round of Corgo? Liga fixtures, after the matches scheduled for this weekend were unsurprisingly postponed following a meeting of the Union of League Clubs (ULK) on Monday. Even by its own standards, Slovakia has experienced extreme conditions this month. First, there was a spell of freezing weather, with temperatures as low as -20 Celsius several nights in succession in some areas. This was followed by heavy snow, some northern regions recording their worst falls since records began. A thaw is currently underway, especially in the south, but that simply means that waterlogged pitches are now a danger. Of the six clubs due to stage home games this weekend, four (Zlaté Moravce, Nitra, Ružomberok and Banská Bystrica) stated clearly that they were in favour of a postponement, while Košice and Dunajská Streda also said they would have found it difficult to get their pitches ready. The first games of the spring will now take place on the weekend of March 2nd-4th. Tuesday March 27th is the new date for the postponed fixtures. The ULK appear to have taken the only sensible decision on offer here. Yet again, though, I can’t help thinking that the whole episode is just another argument in favour of something that’s never going to happen ; Slovakia’s adoption of a Spring-Autumn (eg March-November) football season. James Baxter

Leeds finally make their move

lufcjames — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:14:49 +0000

Leeds United have confirmed Neil Warnock as the club's new manager until the end of the 2012/2013 season. The 63-year-old will be at today's game against Doncaster Rovers at Elland Road and will officially take the reins on Monday. Warnock said: "I feel I have one big challenge left in me and believe Leeds is a club that should be in the Premier League. I want to be the man who is able to deliver this for a set of fans who never cease to amaze me with their numbers and their loyalty." I am willing to give Warnock a chance. He is the type of character we need at the moment and has vast experience of getting sides over the line in the promotion race. It should be viewed as a positive appointment. However, I can't help but feel it is a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Our promotion hopes were slim when Simon Grayson left, in my opinion, and we have lost twice more since then. The fact is there are better sides in better form ahead of us in the Championship at present. We can take comfort from Reading's end-of-season form last year. At this stage, Reading were ten points off the top six. They, of course, put an incredible run together and made the play-offs with time to spare. It will be difficult for us to replicate that run, particularly with a tough run-in, but it can be done and there is always one side that comes from nowhere. At least we can cling to some small hope with a new man in charge capable of galvanising a side. Whilst it is a good move by the board, it doesn't excuse the way they approached the season and the transfer dealings during. Ken Bates has said the objective was to "appoint a manager who had for a proven track record of getting teams promoted". However, he himself has made the new manager's task infinitely more difficult by selling the club's prize assets and not investing in the team. It's funny how we are now pinning our hopes on a man we have loathed for so long. The way this season has gone, who knows what might happen. As random seasons go this has been right up there, even by Leeds United's standards. Warnock and Bates teaming up to take us to promotion at the end of it would make movie material.

10-men-West Ham vs "12-men-Saints" 1-1

rapidhammer — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:15:53 +0000

West Ham-Coach Sam Allardyce war am letzten Dienstag Abend fuchsteufelswild über die Schiedsrichterleistung, zeigte sich aber angesichts der Umstände auch sehr zufrieden mit West Hams Unentschieden gegen den Tabellenzweiten FC Southampton. Es war das zweite Spiel in Folge, bei dem die „Hammers“ einen Großteil der Spielzeit mit nur zehn Mann spielen mussten, nachdem Matty Taylor in der 18. Minute vom Platz gestellt worden war. Aufgrund des verdienten Remis führt West Ham am kommenden spielfreien Wochenende weiterhin die Tabelle an und fährt am nächsten Dienstag als Tabellenführer zur Partie gegen den aktuellen Vierten nach Blackpool. Laut Fußball Quoten gelten die Hammers nach wie vor als heißester Anwärter auf den Aufstieg in die Premier League. Von Christian Zander „Es war eine unglaubliche Leistung gegen Southampton, zumal es so aussah, als würde alles gegen uns spielen“, sagte "Big Sam" Allardyce nach dem 1:1 am Upton Park zu den anwesenden Vertretern der Fußballnachrichten. Vor allem die Einstellung und wie sehr das Team an sich geglaubt habe, hätten ihn beeindruckt. Man hätte das Gefühl gehabt, dass sich die Spieler selbst einredeten „Wir werden uns nicht geschlagen geben!“ Und das, obwohl beinahe 80 Minuten nur zehn Mann auf dem Platz standen. „Mit dem Publikum im Rücken, das uns fantastisch anfeuerte, zeigte das Team eine unglaubliche Leistung“, sagte Allardyce. Der Schiedsrichter hätte allerdings abgesehen von dem Elfer, den Mark Noble zur 1:0-Führung für West Ham verwertete, noch zwei klare Strafstöße geben müssen, meinte der Manager. Und die "straight red" für Matthew Taylor hätte den Regeln nach nur eine "Gelbe" sein dürfen. In der Tat lieferte West Ham am Dienstag eine tolle Partie ab, spielte Southampton bis zum Ausschluss von Taylor an die Wand und verteidigte danach gut, sodass man dem Tabellenzweiten lange Zeit Paroli bieten konnte. Mark Noble als Kapitän - in Vertretung des nach seinem Ausschluss gegen Millwall gesperrten Kevin Nolan - überzeugte im Mittelfeld, ebenso wie Rob Green im Tor, der immer zur Stelle war. Auch der Franzose Julien Faubert machte mit tollem Einsatz und einigen hervorragenden Aktionen auf sich aufmerksam, um nur einige der "Hammers-Helden" vom Dienstag Abend zu nennen. Allardyce freute sich vor allem über die Tatsache, dass die Mannschaft trotz erneuter Unterzahl wie auch schon gegen Millwall eine hervorragende, kämpferische Vorstellung bot: „Es ist ein unglaublicher Punkt und fühlt sich wie ein Sieg an. Wir spielten gegen das Team, das direkt hinter uns ganz oben mitspielt, aber sie konnten gegen uns nicht gewinnen.“ Von Anfang an hätte es danach ausgesehen, dass das Team heiß auf den Sieg war und unbedingt gewinnen wollte, so Big Sam. Die Mannschaft sei in vollem Fluss gewesen, während Southampton eher den passiven Part einnahm. „Wir werden das Unentschieden als ein außergewöhnliches Ergebnis mit nur zehn Spielern auf dem Platz akzeptieren müssen.“ Seit einem Monat Nummer 1 Mit 57 Punkten belegt West Ham nach dem 31. Spieltag weiterhin den ersten Platz in der Tabelle, gefolgt von Southampton mit 56 Zählern. Seit dem 2:1-Sieg gegen Nottingham Forest am 21. Jänner liegen die "Irons" nun seit beinahe einem Monat an der Tabellenspitze. Bei einem Sieg gegen Blackpool im nächsten Spiel am 21. Februar wären es fünf Runden, die man die Championship Tabelle anführt. Um eine ähnlich gute Serie zu finden, muss man mehr als 20 Jahre, bis in die Saison 1990/91 zurückgehen: damals lag West Ham neun Runden lang - vom 26. Dezember 1990 bis 5. März 1991 - an der Spitze der alten 2nd Division (-> West Ham Statistics). Mit vier Punkten Abstand auf West Ham folgt hinter den "Saints" (56) der derzeitige Dritte Cardiff City (53), während auch der Vierte Blackpool mit 52 Zählern den Anschluss an die ersten Drei hält. Birmingham City und der Reading FC belegen mit jeweils 51 Punkten den fünften und den sechsten Platz, die zur Teilnahme an den Aufstiegs-Play-Offs berechtigen würden.

5 things Huddersfield Town must learn

Charlie Johnson — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:32:05 +0000

How to sack a manager: Huddersfield Town has a history of sacking managers that does not make glorious reading, and if Lee Clark is successful in suing the club for wrongful dismissal then it will just be another in a long line of disastrous moves by the clubs money men. Now you could argue that being sacked in any way is a distressing enough experience so it doesn’t really matter how you do it, but I personally think these things should be done professionally. Sacking Lee Clark over the phone, in a two minute phone call, is pretty low, and really not the way to deal with a man who has worked for the club for over three years. However this isn’t even the worst sacking in our history. Mick Wadsworth was fired, and then the club had to re-hire him after realising they actually couldn’t afford the pay off. To fire someone and then immediately have to say he has the boards full support is about as embarrassing as it gets. Then there was the sacking of his predecessor Lou Macari. Macari who after guiding Town to the play-offs, admittedly playing some of the most soul destroying football ever witnessed, was fired via his answer machine. Prior that you have Peter Jackson being fired after saving the club from relegation and then guiding them to tenth the following year. And then of course the club fired Mick Buxton, one of the clubs best ever managers, at Christmas time. With such an illustrious history of firing managers in the crudest way possible, you’d hope the club can now learn and start from now by calling a manager into the board room, handing him a carriage clock and a picture of a spitfire, thanking him for his service and trying at least to keep it respectable. The importance of the next appointment: With only sixteen games remaining, and sitting in the play-off places, this is a hiring that requires exactly the right manager. Due to the timing issue, it cannot be a manager who requires time to make an impact and impart his philosophies upon the players. It cannot be an underwhelming appointment, as the fans will question why the club sacked Clark in the first place. Also on the face of it, a lot of potential managers might be put off by the fact that if they don’t deliver promotion, they are likely to be fired. It is a minefield now, and the club absolutely have to get this appointment spot on, we must support the chairman on this and trust his decision. It is as tough a decision as the club will have to make as with the club in the position they’re in we cannot afford to throw points away under the stewardship of a caretaker manager. The need to tighten the transfer budget: The profligate spending, that took place under Lee Clark’s tenure has to stop. There are numerous quality players on the books that the new manager will have to get the best out of. There of course will be the need for a few loan signings this season, and if Jordan Rhodes does leave in the summer then of course we will have to find a replacement, but the buying a new squad every season has to end. The fact that so many clubs struggle financially after heavy spending makes cautious and sensible spending the only way to safeguard the future of any club, and it is the model that Huddersfield Town must follow. To look to the future: With the need to cut back on the spending front it is once again important t utilise the clubs academy. The likes of Alex Smithies and Jack Hunt prove there is talent within the club already that can be utilised, and the club should always attempt to use the players at their disposal before searching elsewhere. It is also important that the new manager is not only a man who can guide us out of league one, but they must also be able to keep the team in the Championship and then push towards progress. This really does once again put emphasis how important it is to get this appointment correct. That little changes can make a big difference: I’m a great believer in small changes making a big difference. There is a fantastic squad of players and that a new manger needs to do is play a consistent 11 in the correct positions and I’m certain they will succeed. The fans just need to unite rather than fight and focus on getting behind the team and helping to push the team over the finishing line. We are all too easily perturbed by defeat, and lose faith after we concede a goal that leads to a negative attitude, so we must all remain positive and start creating a positive atmosphere. Overall a few changes at the club right now can make a big difference and hopefully the club can finally start to learn from mistakes of the past and start looking to the future.

The Galpharm Stadium Mystery

Charlie Johnson — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:47:09 +0000

The world of football was in shock yesterday, as Huddersfield Town parted company with Lee Clark. Now in the past when Huddersfield sacked a manager, it barely registered, so why now is there such an outpouring from journalists and footballers alike? Well the advent of Twitter allows opinions on any football matter to be voiced instantly, and the general consensus from those outside the club was shock and an outpouring of general anger. The “football has officially gone mad” comment was the most frequently quoted message on the social networking site. Now to the outside world, the decision to remove a manger who has only lost 3 times in the last 55 games is indeed a ridiculous one. It will make us incredibly unpopular to the outside world, and many will now want the Terriers to fall without a trace, such is the desire for supposed wrongs to be righted by the footballing gods. Having the likes of Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere tweeting their views on the club might seem to be irrelevant to Town fans who have had to witness the football and see the promotion bid falter, but to have so many people questioning the club can only bring negative attention and make our fans look over entitled with delusions of grandeur. So now to the purpose of me writing this, well after the club took a battering on Wednesday I feel that it is about time some balance was added to an argument that seems so one-sided and a sacking that doesn’t seem at all justified. So why was Lee Clark sacked? Now firstly in defence of Lee Clark, based solely on results he should not have been sacked, the oft repeated stat of only losing 3 games in 55 games is a pretty telling, and tells a lot about the sort of team Clark built. You were unlikely to see Huddersfield lose under Lee Clark as seen in the long unbeaten run and without fear he’d step into the transfer market and often unearth a gem. The reported 150 thousand paid for Jordan Rhodes will in all likelihood go down as one of the best pieces of business done in the history of the football club. I have listed Clark’s qualities as a manager elsewhere, and it is worth noting that in terms of stats alone Cark is the most successful post war manager in terms of win percentage. However if we only look at statistics, we ignore an awful lot of context, and it must be said that Clark achieved everything he did at Huddersfield with financial backing that many of his predecessors could only dream of. And despite offering so much early on in terms of football quality, the fight, verve and style had all been replaced by pragmatism, caution and aimless long balls. The Newcastle connection was always made, but unfortunately he arrived as Kevin Keegan and left as Sam Allardyce. Clark had appeared to become gun shy, afraid of taking the sort of chances necessary to see of teams and a man who put caution before taking chances. For me he was like a boxer who was all style and creativity before being knocked cold and never quite being the same again. This in part explains the countless number of draws that kept us as play-off contenders rather than promotion certainties. Sounds like we were asking a lot of manager but with the investment in players it wasn’t totally unreasonable to expect us to compete when it really mattered. It is however all too easy to write Clark off as a chequebook manager based on these facts, as although he spent freely he did at least make the team competitive which isn’t a guarantee even with money, unfortunately despite all this, when it mattered he failed to get the best out of his expensively assembled squad. For an illustration of this see the appallingly flat performance in the play off final, and that two of the three defeats suffered this season were against close rivals who we needed to up our game against. He’d been given an awful lot and although he was constantly close the doubt lingered that he might not be able to push us that extra step and he’d taken the club as far as he could. It was all too easy to assume from people outside the club that the Huddersfield chairman, Dean Hoyle, is trigger happy, and has overreacted to a few loses, despite being in a very healthy position in the league, and still being more than capable of going up automatically. However Dean Hoyle has supported Lee Clark throughout his tenure, and backed him financially at every opportunity. It wasn’t for want of trying on Hoyle’s behalf, as he funded three promotion pushes and backed Clark to the hilt. However something had clearly soured between a chairman and a manager, who had previously had a very close relationship, and rumours of Clark talking to Leeds behind Hoyle’s back have surfaced and suggest that perhaps Clark breached the terms of his contract. Now it is accepted wisdom amongst Huddersfield Town fans that if Clark failed to achieve promotion this season that he would be sacked anyway, so is it such a heinous crime for him to look for work elsewhere? Washe just attempting to escape whilst his stock was high before he was pushed out and had a sacking on his record. Obviously football values loyalty, but conversely how loyal is it to sack a manager of 3 years over the phone? The way the club handled the sacking, or at least how it was reported in the media, was appalling, to do it over the phone is a low blow and to blame it on results appears to be hiding the fact that there is far more to it, and the aforementioned rumours would go some way to explaining quite why the board so swiftly lost faith in a manager they had previously supported so vehemently. To me this is all a handy excuse to remove a manager that the chairman and many of the fans had lost faith in. Nobody had any doubts over whether he could sustain a play-off bid, but there were serious doubts over his ability to actually push a team over the line to promotion. The decision was probably made on the assumption that if we stuck with Lee Clark we would in all likelihood fall away when it really mattered. Now sacking Clark is a gamble and whether the gamble pays off remains to be seen, but if it doesn’t it might prove more costly than anyone could’ve imagined, however if it does pay off Huddersfield will be rewarded for this bold step. As for Lee Clark, well the proof of his managerial credentials will be tested in his next job, he was given everything at Huddersfield, and how he manages when he isn’t afforded all the money he can spend and the ability to rebuild a squad at leisure will be the truer indicator of how good a manager he is. What is obviously the case is that Clark was sacked by a club at its most ambitious led by a chairman at his most ruthless.

Time to boycott

lufcjames — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:36:51 +0000

Leeds United fell to a gut-wrenching defeat for the second time in a matter of days under uninspiring caretaker boss Neil Redfearn. The 2-1 reverse at Coventry City on the back of the Brighton defeat was not wholly unexpected, yet still left me feeling sick to the stomach. The club is a shambles, it's difficult to see a way out of this mess. Redfearn stuck rigidly with the same side which lined up at Elland Road on Saturday and got no response from the players. There was no passion, little fight and we were bereft of quality and ideas. The fact we haven't beaten a team with 11 men since early December speaks volumes. The ambition on the field mirrors the ambition off it. What did we learn last night that we didn't know already? Not much. We still can't defend, are one-dimensional going forward and Redfearn hasn't got what it takes. His substitutions and tactics were baffling, to say the least. I don't blame Redfearn, he was just the nearest and cheapest option at the time of Simon Grayson's dismissal. The buck stops with the chairman. Ken Bates clearly doesn't want promotion, that's the only explanation. He saw we were in with a shot of promotion last season and freed up no funds in January. To avoid the same mistake last summer, he let first-team regulars go for free, sold our best player the day before the transfer window and invested next to nothing. In the space of a couple of months, he had decimated the side which took us to the brink of the play-offs. January comes around again and he sells our captain, then sacks the manager the day after the window closes. An urgent statement is released, only to give the cheapest option within eyeshot the job on a trial basis. All of a sudden, the season is over and Bates can sit comfortably. I may sound like a rambling lunatic (if so, I guess that's what I've been reduced to), but what other explanation could there be for this "plan"? Bates is content to fleece us in the Championship. My gut feeling is Redfearn will get the job full-time. The football side is of secondary importance to Bates, that much is obvious. Redfearn is the cheapest option and I just can't see Bates bringing in a manager with any kind of pedigree. Good manager = £££££££. There is only so much more I can say about Bates, it's all been said, and if I carry on I'll be out of a relationship and spending some time in hospital. My main objective has always been to support the team and I've asked others to do the same. But now, with the season gone (and it is, no-one can convince me otherwise), all my efforts will go into the campaign for change. That has to start with personally boycotting games. Enough is enough. It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I'm 27 and have regularly attended Elland Road since I was a young lad. I just can't keep funding what Bates is doing to our club. I will be back one day, probably one day soon because I'm soft like that. Until then I'll throw my weight behind LUST's campaign for change. They are doing a brilliant job and need all our support. A change is long overdue. The positive atmosphere needs to return to Elland Road soon. If it doesn't, we will have lost a generation of supporters.

Redknapp for England?

sportswritingnovice — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:15:33 +0000

So last week saw the end of the Capello era for England. The Italian tactician resigning after 4 years in charge of the Three Lions. It was the culmination of a hectic and controversial few days for English football. There doesn't appear to be any bad blood between Capello and the FA, and Capello left on his own accord. So England are 4 months away from Euro 2012 and managerless at present. Stuart Pearce, the current England U21 coach, has been placed in charge of the senior national team for the friendly at the end of this month against the Netherlands. This is a short-term fix and the FA will be hoping to find a long-term successor to Fabio Capello in the coming weeks, as to give the Manager as much preparation time as possible for the tournament this summer. The name on most people's lips at the moment is of course Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp. Who can argue with that? He's been outstanding since arriving at White Hart Lane in 2008 following a dismal start to the season under the Spaniard Juande Ramos. He has successfully built a team from the remains of Ramos's tenure and gradually improved the squad to what it is today, and this is without the same budget as many of the top 5 teams. He has a lot going for him at the moment too, his name has been cleared following a lengthy court case into alledged tax evasion, his Spurs side look solid in 3rd place in the league and most importantly, he's English!

Too good to refuse?

Having said this, why would Harry want to leave Spurs now, if indeed he is offered the England job? He's on the brink of getting Spurs their highest league position since the Premier League began, he's also on the brink of Champions League football once more. Leaving this behind would be a hard decision. It's well publicised how highly Redknapp thinks of the England job, referring to it as "the pinnacle of your career" and "hard to turn down". Tottenham would certainly have a fight on their hands to keep him, as the lure of the job could be too much for Harry to refuse. Tottenham i'm sure would be handsomely compensated for any potential loss though. Personally, I think Redknapp is the logical number one choice for the FA. They would like a talented British manager and at present he is the standout British candidate. Of course there are other talented British coaches around, like Sir Alex Ferguson, Martin O'Neill, Brendan Rogers, Sam Allardyce, Alan Pardew. The majority would turn it down I would suspect. The FA are also refusing to rule out another foreign manager, but they've stressed that they would need to have experience with managing English players and a strong knowledge of the Premier League also. For me, that would mean that Jose Mourinho and Arséne Wenger would most certainly be considered and who knows, maybe even Rafael Benitez, following his successful reign as Liverpool boss. I hope Redknapp takes the job, but he wouldn't leave Spurs in the lurch, so I predict he'll become England boss full-time after the Premier League season is over.

Ronlado On Track For More Major Honours In 2012

footythoughts — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:07:11 +0000

When Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Manchester United for £80 million in 2009, many thought the game had gone mad and questioned how any player could be worth that amount of money. However, three years later, few would argue that he has not been worth every penny of that world record transfer fee! The 27 year old Portuguese International was already being tipped for international stardom before he signed for Manchester United in 2003 for a fee of over £12m when just 18 years old and he did nothing but endorse those plaudits during his six years at Old Trafford. Those formative years under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson saw Ronaldo blossom into the best player in the Premier League and arguably one of the best in the world. He made 196 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 84 goals, including 42 goals in all competitions in the 2007-08 season, which won him the Premier League Golden Boo as well as the European Golden Shoe awards. He also went on to win the FIFA World Player of the Year of 2008. During his six years at Old Trafford, Ronaldo won three Premier League Titles, one FA Cup, two League Cup, the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup. His move from United to Real Madrid in 2009 had long been on the cards, however, the fee involved and the subsequent announcement that Ronaldo was to be paid over £1m a month staggered most in football. However, he carried the burden of being the world’s most expensive player extremely well. Settling into life at the Bernabeu quickly, Ronaldo scored a goal in each of his first four appearances breaking the club record, before going on with strike partner Gonzalo Higuain to score 53 goals between them during the 2009/2010 season, becoming Real’s highest scoring league duo in a single season in the club’s history. The 2010-11 season once again saw Ronaldo go from strength to strength and although Real Madrid were in the shadow of Barcelona in La Liga and the Champions League, Ronaldo was still scoring goals for his team with even greater consistency. In October 2010, he scored 11 times in a month and by the time the clocks brought in the New Year of 2011, Ronaldo had scored three hat tricks. By the end of the 2010-11 season Ronaldo had scored 40 league goals in 34 appearances, seven goals in eight Copa Del Rey appearances and six goals in 12 Champions League games; a grand total of 53 goals in 54 matches! The current season has seen him carry on at a similar rate with 34 goals in just 33 games in all competitions, which has brought him a goalscoring tally since his arrival at Real Madrid of an incredible 120 goals in 122 matches including another hat-trick this past weekend against Levante, taking his ratio to very nearly a goal a game. He finished on top of the scoring charts in La Liga last season with 40 goals, 9 clear of his great rival Lionel Messi of Barcelona and is ahead again this season having netted 24 goals in just 21 games. Ronaldo of course still has it all to play for this season and will know that winners medals could be his in both La Liga and the Champions League. Real currently sit ten points clear of Barca in La Liga and embark in to the knock out stage of the Champions League where they will meet CSKA Moscow in the last 16. The 27 year old also has Euro 2012 to look forward to and although his team Portugal have been drawn in the "Group of Death" along with Germany, Holland and Denmark, with Ronaldo in the Portuguese line up, anything is possible and there is no doubt that he will be given the respect and attention that his mercurial skills deserve. Portugal's Euro 2012 odds are currently 20/1 to lift the trophy which is one of the outsiders but if they can progress beyond the group, you have to think they will have done so courtesy of Ronaldo's goals and he can be backed at 14/1 to win the tournament top scorer award

Does Harry Already Have One Eye On the England Job?

guestblogger — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:31:54 +0000

While we all know that Harry Redknapp will one day leave White Hart Lane for the England Job, none of us suspected that we would be talking about it before the end of this season, but now stanjames and the betvictor bet has Harry as odds on to take control of the England squad before the end of the campaign. Redknapp has taken this club a long way since his appointment four years ago and so it is a big concern to us fans that he doesn't get distracted by the England job in the closing stages of our season with the Premier League title in touching distance! Saturday's game with Newcastle exemplified everything that Harry had brought to the club. On the pitch, we played exciting, thrilling, attacking football that saw us score 5 past a strong Newcastle side. Off the pitch Redknapp celebrated every goal like it was a cup final goal as the fans chanted his name throughout the game which could have burst an ear drum it was so loud. Spurs have one of the greatest managers in the clubs history and it will be sad to see him go. It is even more sad to know that Redknapp loves the club so much too and that he will be disappointed to walk away from the project he has built, but you get the feeling that as much as it is going to hurt both parties, their is a mutual understanding that he will take the job. He already seems to be making plans for who he would include in his England squad should he take control of the nation for Euro 2012. Paul Scholes has been in sensational form since coming out of retirement last month and he dominated Saturday's encounter against Liverpool. Something that has not gone unnoticed by Harry: Redknapp said: "You'd love to have Paul Scholes in the Euros this year. "He'd be in your team, he's that good. You'd love him to play. "He plays like a Spaniard - he can play like Xavi, like Iniesta, he doesn't give the ball away." Redknapp says he would also consider appointing his current Spurs midfielder Scott Parker as England skipper should he take over. "Scotty could do it for sure, so could Steven Gerrard," he said. "Scotty is a fantastic boy, he's a family man, he loves his football, he trains well, he plays well, he gets on with the job, he's not a minute's problem. "He's not a Billy big-time. He's just a great boy and that's what you need in your football club if you're going to do anything." It is words like this that send fear into Spurs fans that he might get distracted by the England role, but I am assured by the commitment, passion, loyalty and enthusiasm Redknapp has for the club, and he will do everything he can to bring success to the club. Wouldn't it be nice for his last day at Spurs to be one where he lifts the Premier League title!

Spring Season Corgo? Liga Build-Up

britskibelasi — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:15:25 +0000

With just 11 days to go before the planned resumption of this season’s Corgo? Liga, there must be doubt as to whether the first round of games will actually go ahead. True, the Union of League Clubs (ULK) made a ‘decision’ last Friday not to announce an early postponement of all fixtures due to take place the weekend after next. But, with Slovakia still affected by extremely cold weather (night-time temperatures of -20C have been common in northern areas recently), it is difficult to imagine playing conditions being anywhere near suitable. The ULK are due to meet again on February 20^th, when they will either decide after all to postpone the first round of games or leave the final decisions to individual clubs and match-officials. Union president Dušan Tittel says he is keen to avoid last minute call-offs, but also points out that, since the weather is less severe in some parts of the country than others, it may well be possible for at least some games to go ahead. Representatives of MFK Ružomberok, Dukla Banská Bystrica and Vion Zlaté Moravce, all due to stage home matches in the first round, have already stated that they would prefer postponements. Pitch conditions are one obvious reason - ‘Ruža’ director Milan Baraník says that his club’s surface has a 15cm covering of snow on it – but so too is the well-being of players and spectators. Peter Krej?í, the Czech national team doctor, believes that football should not be played at temperatures of below -12C because of adverse affects on the body. While temperatures next weekend will probably not be quite as low as that, some clubs say they have not been able to train properly because of the weather and that, if games do go ahead as scheduled, players might be at greater risk of injury as a result. At least players get to run around in the cold, an option not afforded to those who pay to watch them. Those of us who follow the German Bundesliga will have noted that recent Friday night fixtures Nuremburg v Dortmund and Wolfsburg v Freiburg were both played in temperatures of around -11C. A remarkable 45,000 turned out for the Nuremburg game and 23,000 for the Wolfsburg match but it’s difficult to envisage even four-figure attendances at Corgo? Liga games if it’s still much below zero. That’s to say nothing of the discomfort involved in sitting or standing for long periods in such conditions. It’s a shame that almost all discussion ahead of the opening ‘spring’ round is about the weather, because the games themselves look interesting. The top four sides are all away ; leaders Žilina face a difficult test at Zlaté Moravce, second-placed Slovan are Ladislav Jurkemík’s first scheduled opponents as Nitra coach, Trnava are at Bystrica and Senica at Ružomberok. The bottom two, Dunajská Streda and Prešov are due to meet in southern Slovakia, and it‘s 10^th v 9^th in the east, where Košice play Tren?ín. Looking back 12 months, last season’s games at this stage gave a fairly sound indication of how the rest of the campaign would go. Žilina’s lead at the top was cut after defeat at Prešov, where conditions were more suitable for ice-skating than football. They never really recovered and ended up finishing third. Slovan, the eventual champions, started their spring charge with an emphatic win at Trnava, while Dubnica, who would finish bottom, missed chance after chance in a 0-0 home draw with Košice. Next week‘s games have a similarly significant look about them, so let’s at least hope they take place in the conditions they deserve. James Baxter

Rudderless Leeds come unstuck

lufcjames — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:00:29 +0000

Neil Redfearn's first home game in charge ended in misery as Brighton inflicted a potentially critical defeat on Leeds United. The afternoon began with a well-organised and vocal protest march, and ended with yet more 'Bates out' chants. The man without a plan is slowly sinking the Elland Road ship. Either Bates is incredibly incompetent, or knows exactly what he is doing and this is something more sinister. At the moment, we have a temporary manager in charge of a team full of temporary players and freebies. What exactly was the plan this season on the playing front? The decision to give Redfearn at least three more games on the back of a win against nine-man opposition was ludicrous, the latest in a long line of mind-boggling decisions. To quote Shaun Harvey again on the day Simon Grayson was sacked: "We have 18 games to go this season and are still within touching distance of the Play-Offs, but felt with the transfer window now closed we needed to make the change at this time in the belief that a new managerial team will be able to get more out of the existing squad of players and make the difference." It will be 14 games before long - will we still be in touch with the top six? A new managerial team might be able to get more out of the players and make a difference, why, then, do we have a bloke with limited experience and no backroom staff in charge? Anyone would think we don't want to get promoted this season. The defeat at the hands of Brighton was tough to take. We actually played well. We passed the ball nicely and showed patience in possession. However, you just can't excuse the elementary mistakes at the back. We started the game brightly, but failed to make our early dominance count and Brighton gained a foothold in the game and ended the first half on top. While there weren't many clear cut chances, both sides certainly wanted to play football. The pace of the match went up a couple of notches after the break and the two sides exchanged chances as the game became stretched. Brighton had probably had the better of the chances before substitute Craig Mackail-Smith scored with one his first touches. The corner was floated in from the right and Mackail-Smith was allowed to tap home from two yards out. The marking was non-existent and questions have to be asked of Andy Lonergan. It was criminal defending all-round. Luciano Becchio hauled us back into the game with a header just minutes later and you got the feeling it could be another one of those days. As time was running out, though, Alan Navarro had a pot shot from range and found a way past Lonergan. It was another questionable piece of goalkeeping and ultimately cost us. For what it's worth, I actually thought Brighton were a decent side. They looked to build from the back and were well-organised defensively. You could tell they were a side full of confidence. That being said, a point apiece would probably have been a fair result. I was encouraged by the way we tried to play football, but at the same time I had the feeling Redfearn was just waiting for something to happen. Gus Poyet was proactive and made all three changes with the game locked at 0-0, whereas Redfearn just reacted to going behind. The braver manager won the day. It could well be down to experience, which brings me back to my original point. We have a man in charge with a modest CV and limited resources. At a crucial stage of the season, we shouldn't be in this situation. We need to get a new manager in as soon as possible - a fresh face to bring the players out of their comfort zone. The season can still be salvaged. To do that, we need some direction and stability on the playing side. I'm not holding my breath.

Its only a matter of time before Redknapp leaves for England!

guestblogger — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:23:55 +0000

It is something that Spurs fans have known was coming for sometime now, but having their manager Harry Redknapp linked with the England job sooner than expected wont sit too comfortably with Spurs fans. Redknapp is the main man for the job as the victor chandler free bets show, but what affect will it have on the rest of the season for Tottenham? The club is at his highest position in the league for many years and the bwin review shows how far he has taken the club since his appointment in 2008. Now he has a huge decision to make. England need a manager for the European Championships and while Redknapp has previously made it pretty cleat that he would find it difficult to turn down the England job, will he be drawn in to taking the role for the Euro's this summer and how will this affect his job at White Hart Lane. He has already hinted that it would be very difficult to do both jobs at the same time, but surely that can be the only answer in the short term? Spurs have shown great support to him over a difficult few years with his court trial, and Redknapp will want to repay the fans and the club that support and will of course want to finish out the season as the title is still not out of the clubs reach. I can't see it being too much of a difficult job to take charge of England games in the run up to the summer. He knows the league and the players inside out and faces the England players as opposition week in week out, I cant imagine it being too demanding to pick the right squad from a far! It seems pretty clear that the FA only have one man on their mind, and I dont suspect they have any back up plan if Harry decides to say no to the post. But on the other hand, I think they will give Harry exactly what he want's to ensure he is eventually the man at the helm of the nation. Whether it is to give him time to think about his decision or whether it is to take the job on a part time role or to wait until after the Euro's, I think it is only a matter of time before Redknapp is in charge. You have to say that it is sad for Spurs fans, but Harry has given the club everything over the last 4 years and we certainly wouldn't be where we are today without him. I don't think he owes the club anything and would respect his decision to manage his country. One thing is for sure, it will certainly be a hell of a lot more exciting watching England with Harry in charge than it has been for a long long time.

Where Are Your Morals?

jrspencer155 — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:48:53 +0000

There have a number of regrettable incidents already this season, but at the present time two hang in the mind more than others. John Terry’s race case still has plenty to run before it’s over, and Luis Suarez’s episode should now be at a close. These two and many more non-race related incidents reflect a growing lack of respect and morality in British football. The way that Liverpool Football Club handled the matter of Luis Suarez’s racial abuse of Manchester United’s Patrice Evra was totally despicable. The line of the club and its manager in particular was that Suarez had done nothing wrong and had nothing to apologise for. But to put it simply, if he had done nothing wrong then he would not have been punished. There was and is seemingly still confusion about what was going on: being a racist or one instance of racist behaviour. I would highly doubt that Luis Suarez is a racist in general, but for whatever reason, in a single moment he was guilty of racial abuse. Suarez claimed cultural ignorance for what he said. But surely it is the responsibility of the individual who chooses to live and work in foreign cultures to learn and respect the ways of those cultures that they now exist in. In the run up to the FA hearing over the incident the club was ready and determined to appeal any decision. After the hearing’s report was released this appeal never materialised. From the report Liverpool knew that there was enough evidence to find Suarez guilty and that a frivolous appeal on their part could have resulted in an extended suspension. The problem here is that the club’s grounds for not appealing were totally flawed. There was no appeal, not because Liverpool accepted that what Suarez did was wrong and deserved to be punished, but because they thought they would not be able to achieve anything by it. It was followed by an initial refusal to apologise, and eventually by an apology that felt very forced. Even then it was only a general apology, aimed at anyone who may have been offended, with no reference to Patrice Evra himself. No remorse it seems, no sense of wrongdoing. I ask: what kind of message do these actions send out, coming from those who, like it or not, are role models in our society? How are young people supposed to learn to take responsibility for their actions when this is what they are looking up to? Patrice Evra, the victim, has been made out to be the villain by many. The way he was treated during United’s trip to Anfield was just awful, dismissed by Liverpool as banter. Booed and whistled at for 90 minutes, and for what? Because he complained to the authorities that someone had had racially insulted him? In a real world scenario you could equate it to someone breaking into your house, you calling the police and having them arrested and jailed, and then their mates coming round to ‘sort you out’. Rio Ferdinand, due to the allegations of John Terry’s racial abuse of his brother Anton, was subjected to similar treatment in United’s recent game at Chelsea. In reality it is quite pathetic that Chelsea fans remembered to boo Rio right to the end of the game when they should have been enjoying a six goal thriller. For manager Liverpool Kenny Dalglish to re-open the matter upon Suarez’s return from the 8 match suspension, by stating “He should never have been out in the first place”, petulant and childish, as if he has to have the last word on the matter. In keeping this attitude ‘King Kenny’ as they call him is doing nothing but damage his own and the club’s reputation. With Liverpool’s upcoming trip to Old Trafford today, Luis Suarez will come face to face with United fans. Patrice Evra is a popular player at United and fans have not taken kindly to the way he has been treated. But this is now a chance for United fans to take a moral high ground, to show a certain class and not sink to the depths of others. I would urge United fans not to boo Luis Suarez but instead offer ironic applause, that I’m sure would unsettle the player a great deal more than boos and demonstrate a level of moral intelligence that could finally draw a line under this incident which has dragged on for far too long. Is football really so tribal and bitter that people are willing to discard any morality they may have? The days of hooligan violence may have mostly been left behind but have we still to reach where we want be? We want a game that ignites passion in players and fans alike. We want good humoured rival banter between supporters. We want to enjoy it, but without falling to inhumane levels.

Game's off

rapidhammer — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:37:52 +0000

The Posh v West Ham - Video (pre-season friendly July 2010)

Aktuelles Wetter für Petersborough, Cambridgeshire: 9h49 Uhr GMT Nebel. Gefühlte Temperatur: -11 °C; Max: -3° Min: -7

"Game postponed because of a frozen pitch"

Bilder aus dem Stadion an der London Road, Peterborough -> http://www.theposh.com/page/Gallery/0,,10427~2607347,00.html

Sam Allardyce: "Best win of my career"

rapidhammer — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:31:30 +0000

West Ham-Trainer Sam Allardyce ist derzeit sehr zufrieden mit seiner Mannschaft. In einem euphorischen Radio-Interview nach dem 2:1-Sieg gegen Millwall sprach er sogar vom "besten Resultat seiner Trainerkarriere". Von Christian Zander [caption id="attachment_5488" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Best win: Sam Allardyce"][/caption] Die Hammers belegen aktuell den ersten Platz in der zweiten englischen Liga mit 4 Punkten Vorsprung und gelten in den Sportwetten als aussichtsreicher Kandidat für den Aufstieg in die Premier League. Aber es heißt, nicht übermütig werden, warnt bei aller Euphorie nach dem Erfolg gegen Erzfeind Millwall West Ham-Manager Sam Allardyce. Obwohl West Ham am Samstag beinahe das gesamte Spiel mit einem Mann weniger auskommen musste (Kevin Nolan wurde nach einem rüden Tackling an Jack Smith früh vom Platz gestellt), siegten die „Hammers“ und bauten mit den drei Punkten ihren Spitzenplatz in der npower Championship weiter aus. Dementsprechend zufrieden ist „Big Sam“ mit seiner Mannschaft: "Wir standen ziemlich unter Druck nach der Niederlage gegen Ipswich, aber wir haben die Erwartungen unserer Fans erfüllt", sagte der Trainer. „Und für uns fühlt sich das wie ein Sechs-Punkte-Gewinn an, nachdem wir 90 Minuten lang mit einem Mann weniger spielen mussten. Er sei sehr stolz, nachdem die Mannschaft trotz der schweren Umstände am Samstag ein „fantastisches Ergebnis“ erzielte und „fantastische drei Punkte“ sicherte. West Ham zeigte Charakter „Wenn irgendjemand unseren Charakter angezweifelt hat, dann haben wir ihm am Samstag die passende Antwort geliefert.“ Dabei überzeugte die Mannschaft vor allem, weil sie das vorherige Liga-Spiel gegen Ipswich katastrophal mit 1:5 verloren hatte. „Ich wusste, es würde hart werden mit zehn Spielern, aber es zeigt einfach jedem, der nur einen kleinen Zweifel an der Mannschaft hatte, dass wir einfach den Willen haben“, so „Big Sam“. Das spielentscheidende Tor erzielte dabei Innenverteidiger Winston Reid, der den Ball unhaltbar per Volleyschuss in das gegnerische Netz zimmerte. „Ich habe noch nie gesehen, dass er so ein Tor im Training geschossen hat“, bewunderte „Big Sam“ den Treffer und fügte hinzu: „Vielleicht hatten wir ein bisschen Glück mit der Schiedsrichterentscheidung. Ich glaube noch immer, dass der Torhüter den Ball hätte fangen können und dass es eigentlich ein Foul gewesen sein könnte.“ In den Online Wetten gilt West Ham inzwischen als sicherer Aufsteiger, doch Allardyce warnt: „Es ist nicht so einfach. Es ist entscheidend, wer am Saisonende ganz oben und wer ganz unten steht.“ Man müsse die richtige Einstellung bewahren und dürfe kein Spiel auf die leichte Schulter nehmen. Auch nicht die kommende Partie am Samstag auswärts gegen Peterborough United. Gegen "The Posh" hat man im Herbst 1:0 gewonnen und in den letzten 12 Spielen hat der von Darren Ferguson trainierte Aufsteiger nur einen Punkt gemacht. Überhaupt hat West Ham gegen die United aus dem ostenglischen Peterborough einen "100% record": alle bislang drei Spiele zwischen den beiden Klubs haben die Hammers für sich entschieden. Aber auch Ipswich, gegen das West Ham vor eineinhalb Wochen mit 1:5 eingegangen ist, hatte vorher schon lange nichts mehr gewonnen ...

The Controversial Man Utd v Liverpool Series Set To Continue At Old Trafford

footythoughts — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:57:15 +0000

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United host Liverpool this Saturday at Old Trafford knowing that anything less than victory would hand neighbours and rivals, Manchester City, a huge boost in the title race. United will be looking towards the attacking flair of Wayne Rooney, Nani and Ashley Young and Hernandez to win the game and go top, which would put the pressure on City to beat Aston Villa on Sunday. United of course lost to Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round just two weeks ago, after Dirk Kuyt scored a very late winner, ending another route to silverware for Fergie's team this season, who are now only left with the Europa League and the Premier League to aim for. Liverpool’s victory was their fifth over United in their last eight encounters between the two, a stat that will give Kenny Dalglish's men a huge confidence boost. For the wrong reasons, the match will have an extra spark to it with Patrice Evra coming face-to-face with Luis Suarez for the first time since the Uruguayan was banned for eight matches for racially abusing the Frenchman. That said, there will be only be scant vocal support for Liverpool who for spurious reasons, were denied a third of their normal ticket allocation. Both teams come to the game having drawn their last match, United deserved the plaudits for the way in which they came from three goals down to Chelsea to draw 3-3, thanks largely to the two penalties awarded that were converted by Rooney. Liverpool meanwhile could not find a way through a disciplined Spurs team at Anfield the other night and had to content themselves with a goalless draw. Nonetheless, Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, will be well pleased how his team is beginning to finally take shape now that he has Steven Gerrard back and Craig Bellamy at the top of his game. Should Suarez carry on where he left off before his ban, then the "Reds" could be a real force for the remainder of this season. Dalglish should also have regular left back Luis Enrique back in defence, which would mean a switch back to the right back position for the excellent Glen Johnson. This game should be won and lost in midfield, with United looking to set a fast pace to the game from the off. Nani and Ashley Young can expect to see plenty of the ball ‘early doors’ which means a busy time for Enrique and Johnson. Rooney is playing with his usual zest and will always be a handful but whether or not the chances he gets are convertible or not remains to be seen. Liverpool with the class of Gerrard in the midfield along with the passing ability of Charlie Adam are capable of unlocking a ‘United’ defence that looked decidedly rocky against Chelsea. With Bellamy and Suarez never far away from the action, at least one goal from Liverpool looks inevitable. However, any Man Utd v Liverpool clash has all the ingredients to go end to end very quickly which should provide plenty of chances for both teams and one has to think it will once again be full of drama. It should be a simple matter of who takes their chances wins the game, although even then it will be hard to separate the two teams. A draw therefore would seem the most obvious outcome.