Saturday, 19 May 2012
Chelsea's unexpected last chance Champions League saloon!
When Carlo Ancelotti's double winners crashed out of last season's Champions League, his fate was sealed as seemingly were those of Drogba, Lampard and Terry. But after an astounding volte face by owner Roman Abramovich, Chelsea stand on the edge of their finest hour:
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Alex McLeish's departure statement
Alex McLeish's left Villa Park after an ill-fated and ill-conceived year at the helm.
But now the dusts settled, I must say Eck never asked fans for sympathy and rarely complained about luck and adversity. He leaves with dignity and his statement via the LMA is respectful to his former club. Good luck Eck - any boss in your position would've taken the Villa job at the time and the conditions of your arrival weren't entirely of your making.
STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE LMA ON BEHALF OF ALEX MCLEISH
The League Managers Association (LMA) has issued the following statement on behalf of Alex McLeish following his departure from Aston Villa Football Club.
Alex McLeish said, “When I accepted the role as manager of Aston Villa Football Club, I was acutely aware of the responsibility I had to find the best way to serve the great traditions of one of the finest clubs in professional football.
“I was truly honoured to have been given the opportunity to manage the club, which plays such an important part in the fabric of the local community and to its worldwide fan base.
“I relished the challenge and, together with my loyal and very capable staff, dedicated all of my efforts into moulding a successful team. My only regret in leaving now is that we weren't able to achieve more for the supporters and their high expectations.
“Finally, I want to take this moment to say that I have nothing but the highest respect for the club and sincerely wish it and the fans great success in the future.”
Click here for the current Top Story Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!
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| Flippin' Eck's dignified statment |
STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE LMA ON BEHALF OF ALEX MCLEISH
The League Managers Association (LMA) has issued the following statement on behalf of Alex McLeish following his departure from Aston Villa Football Club.
Alex McLeish said, “When I accepted the role as manager of Aston Villa Football Club, I was acutely aware of the responsibility I had to find the best way to serve the great traditions of one of the finest clubs in professional football.
“I was truly honoured to have been given the opportunity to manage the club, which plays such an important part in the fabric of the local community and to its worldwide fan base.
“I relished the challenge and, together with my loyal and very capable staff, dedicated all of my efforts into moulding a successful team. My only regret in leaving now is that we weren't able to achieve more for the supporters and their high expectations.
“Finally, I want to take this moment to say that I have nothing but the highest respect for the club and sincerely wish it and the fans great success in the future.”
Click here for the current Top Story Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!
Roy Report: It's Hodgson's choice for the Euros
Expectation is at a non-hysterical all-time low as England aim to end 46 years of hurt in Poland and Ukraine.
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| Roy |
It's probably not a bad thing though. We always come home with our tails between our legs when tipped as the Golden Generation, or some such other tabloid tag.
So while all the pressure's on Spain and Germany, why not dare to dream? Just don't shout about it! Here's my 2-minute podcast on Roy's selections for the European Championship, or Euro 96 as Baddiel and Skinner prefer to call it.
Click here for the current Top Story Soccermongery's all about your feedback, so write away, right away!
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Villa need to act swiftly to appoint a manager this time
Aston Villa's board find themselves in a similar position to twelve months ago, searching for a new boss at the start of the summer.
Back then, indecision, rejection and fudge proved costly as the board were forced to appoint Alex McLeish. Flipping Eck, who crossed the city to Villa was fifth-choice. After weeks of rumour and fruitless negotiation, hundreds of angry fans protested at Villa Park as the man who'd relegated Blues twice was unveiled.
Gerard Houllier quit before the season's end citing recurring heart problems, leaving Gary McAllister to caretake. Villa finished 2010-11 with a flourish: a 2-1 win at Arsenal was followed by a final day 1-nil home win over Liverpool. Window signing Darren Bent's goals helped secure a ninth placed finish after a springtime flirtation with the wrong end of the league. Randy splashed £24m on the Sunderland striker to insure against the unthinkable.
So there was cause for low-level optimism: after all, McLeish was inheriting a better squad than he had at St. Andrews, he could call upon on an enlarged squad crop made possible by Houllier's faith in youth - and he had won Blues some silverware (so ruining Villa fans "one hundred years and won f*** all" Blues tribute song).
Instead the footballing fair all season was lamentable. McLeish had a reputation for setting up defensive teams and he took his confidence-sapping pub-team mentality and placed it upon the shoulders of a good team built by Martin O'Neill.
I deliberately took a seat next to the bench for Villa's home game with Wigan, so I could see how McLeish managed during game time. While clapping the flicks and tricks of Barry Bannan, he seemed to exchange a negative comment immediately afterwards with his coaches. I'd heard talk from another reporter that he didn't think the youth were good enough; a real kick in the face for the likes of Albrighton, Clark, Herd and Delph, who'd figured largely in Houllier's plans.
McLeish never looked assured in the job.
But it could've been all so different if Villa had appointed a boss with less panic and conjecture. No less than five names were in the frame in advance of the surprise link to the Birmingham City manager.
David Moyes was the early rumour. I had it on authority from a former Villa player now connected in the world of agents that the Everton boss had had two meetings with a representative from Villa's board. To the disappointment of many (including me), that's as far as it went; whatever issues Moyes had at Goodison were settled without the story emerging from the shadows.
Then suddenly and without any advance warning, Mark Hughes quit Fulham. The Welshman had just completed an eighth-placed finish at Craven Cottage, a place, a point and a seventeen goal better goal difference than Villa. The betting exchanges took this as a definitive job offer from Villa Park. How wrong that proved: in fact, owner Randy Lerner was said to have been spooked by Sparky's Cottage walkout.
Matters then got a little out of hand: Villa set their sights on Champions League winner, Rafa Benitez. But he gave short shrift to the Villa opportunity and swiftly rejected Randy's overtures.
Former England manager and umbrella model, Steve McClaren was called for interview - within 24 hours, he was told by Paul Faulkner not to bother turning up. No explanation was given and the disappointed McClaren, who wanted a return to England after disappointment at Wolfsburg, had a short-lived spell at Forest.
The spotlight then fell on Wigan's Roberto Martinez: a last day Premier League survivor with a win at Stoke. The Spaniard had cultivated a reputation for playing good football at both Swansea and the DW Stadium. But his special relationship with Dave Whelan put paid to Villa's chances.
Meanwhile, the close-season clock was ticking: other clubs had completed their summer signings, pre-season preparations were well underway. Still, no one was at the helm.
When Alex McLeish's name started circulating on Twitter, I originally thought it was a joke. Birmingham City had already mailed out Season Ticket renewal cards with his picture, autograph and spiel to get behind a promotion push.
Two days and £2million pounds in compensation later, the Blues boss was wearing a claret and blue tie, aiming to placate angry fans and win them over! Frankly, it was a terrible way to kick-off a new regime.
The only relieved people must've been Messrs. Lerner and Faulkner, but even they must have hoped beyond hope to a bit of good fortune: McLeish's arrival was nothing like they'd chosen.
This time, I'm pleading with the board to act quickly, decisively and boldly: let's hire a man who the fans are behind and with a fighting chance in the transfer market, with both time and available finance.
The early names speak of energy, vigour and ambition: Paul Lambert's reawakened Norwich City with talk of commitment and organisation. Villa would represent a step up. But I'm less enamoured wth Roberto Martinez, the idea that he could turn down the chance twice would further demean the hotseat undeservedly. With canny Dave Whelan puppeteering his departure from behind, perhaps Randy and Paul might think twice.
But most of all, let's get someone who believes in Villa's potential and arrives from a place where he couldn't have fulfilled those dreams previously.
Back then, indecision, rejection and fudge proved costly as the board were forced to appoint Alex McLeish. Flipping Eck, who crossed the city to Villa was fifth-choice. After weeks of rumour and fruitless negotiation, hundreds of angry fans protested at Villa Park as the man who'd relegated Blues twice was unveiled.
Gerard Houllier quit before the season's end citing recurring heart problems, leaving Gary McAllister to caretake. Villa finished 2010-11 with a flourish: a 2-1 win at Arsenal was followed by a final day 1-nil home win over Liverpool. Window signing Darren Bent's goals helped secure a ninth placed finish after a springtime flirtation with the wrong end of the league. Randy splashed £24m on the Sunderland striker to insure against the unthinkable.
So there was cause for low-level optimism: after all, McLeish was inheriting a better squad than he had at St. Andrews, he could call upon on an enlarged squad crop made possible by Houllier's faith in youth - and he had won Blues some silverware (so ruining Villa fans "one hundred years and won f*** all" Blues tribute song).
Instead the footballing fair all season was lamentable. McLeish had a reputation for setting up defensive teams and he took his confidence-sapping pub-team mentality and placed it upon the shoulders of a good team built by Martin O'Neill.
I deliberately took a seat next to the bench for Villa's home game with Wigan, so I could see how McLeish managed during game time. While clapping the flicks and tricks of Barry Bannan, he seemed to exchange a negative comment immediately afterwards with his coaches. I'd heard talk from another reporter that he didn't think the youth were good enough; a real kick in the face for the likes of Albrighton, Clark, Herd and Delph, who'd figured largely in Houllier's plans.
McLeish never looked assured in the job.
But it could've been all so different if Villa had appointed a boss with less panic and conjecture. No less than five names were in the frame in advance of the surprise link to the Birmingham City manager.
David Moyes was the early rumour. I had it on authority from a former Villa player now connected in the world of agents that the Everton boss had had two meetings with a representative from Villa's board. To the disappointment of many (including me), that's as far as it went; whatever issues Moyes had at Goodison were settled without the story emerging from the shadows.
Then suddenly and without any advance warning, Mark Hughes quit Fulham. The Welshman had just completed an eighth-placed finish at Craven Cottage, a place, a point and a seventeen goal better goal difference than Villa. The betting exchanges took this as a definitive job offer from Villa Park. How wrong that proved: in fact, owner Randy Lerner was said to have been spooked by Sparky's Cottage walkout.
Matters then got a little out of hand: Villa set their sights on Champions League winner, Rafa Benitez. But he gave short shrift to the Villa opportunity and swiftly rejected Randy's overtures.
Former England manager and umbrella model, Steve McClaren was called for interview - within 24 hours, he was told by Paul Faulkner not to bother turning up. No explanation was given and the disappointed McClaren, who wanted a return to England after disappointment at Wolfsburg, had a short-lived spell at Forest.
The spotlight then fell on Wigan's Roberto Martinez: a last day Premier League survivor with a win at Stoke. The Spaniard had cultivated a reputation for playing good football at both Swansea and the DW Stadium. But his special relationship with Dave Whelan put paid to Villa's chances.
Meanwhile, the close-season clock was ticking: other clubs had completed their summer signings, pre-season preparations were well underway. Still, no one was at the helm.
When Alex McLeish's name started circulating on Twitter, I originally thought it was a joke. Birmingham City had already mailed out Season Ticket renewal cards with his picture, autograph and spiel to get behind a promotion push.
Two days and £2million pounds in compensation later, the Blues boss was wearing a claret and blue tie, aiming to placate angry fans and win them over! Frankly, it was a terrible way to kick-off a new regime.
The only relieved people must've been Messrs. Lerner and Faulkner, but even they must have hoped beyond hope to a bit of good fortune: McLeish's arrival was nothing like they'd chosen.
This time, I'm pleading with the board to act quickly, decisively and boldly: let's hire a man who the fans are behind and with a fighting chance in the transfer market, with both time and available finance.
The early names speak of energy, vigour and ambition: Paul Lambert's reawakened Norwich City with talk of commitment and organisation. Villa would represent a step up. But I'm less enamoured wth Roberto Martinez, the idea that he could turn down the chance twice would further demean the hotseat undeservedly. With canny Dave Whelan puppeteering his departure from behind, perhaps Randy and Paul might think twice.
But most of all, let's get someone who believes in Villa's potential and arrives from a place where he couldn't have fulfilled those dreams previously.
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