EPL Talk » Tony Pulis

Rafa Benitez Fallout and Wenger’s Reaction to Fourth Nil Draw

Johnathan Starling — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 06:04:28 +0000

The two big stories this weekend not related to Manchester United’s getting the first leg of the quadruple would have to be events that transpired at the Riverside and at the Emirates Stadium.

We’ll start with Liverpool because after such a great result midweek against Real Madrid, their loss at the Riverside defied belief. And the papers were quick to fill column inches with their own post match thoughts. Sam Wallace compares the Liverpool situation to that of Nigel Clough’s power struggle at Derby County. Personally I don’t see that much of a comparison as Rafa and Hicks for the moment appear to have formed a loose partnership. Piers Morgan heads down the character assassination route calling Rafa the most arrogant manager in the history of the Premier League. That’s just harsh. Patrick Barclay sneaks the line in his column about Rick Parry that Rafa is the one who has to answer for the results, not Parry himself. Don’t expect that anytime soon. This Independent column pretty much states what Rafa is confirming Sunday, the title race is all over.

It’s almost become a recording at the Emirates, a Premier League nil draw. The results are something that just baffle any mind and after the result against Roma midweek, you would think confidence would have reigned supreme against Fulham. However after Saturday’s result, all Wenger could come up with is “Maybe is is partly psychological. We are getting in good positions but not taking the chances.”

Maybe? Is that the best you could come up with? At this point it is completely psychological. When week in and week out your side can’t finish in front of goal, it becomes a mental thing. Wenger can praise your keeper all you want, and keep the faith in Arsenal’s stars, but you simply have to motivate your players to get goals. That is simply something Wenger hasn’t been able to do. Maybe Theo Walcott’s return to training can be the boost that Arsenal sorely need.

Other Stories
The other big result this weekend was Aston Villa blowing a two goal lead to Stoke City at home. That didn’t stop Tony Pulis hoping pre-match that Villa finished in the top four. Post match it was Martin O’Neill not happy at the arrogant and over confident nature Villa had after going two goals up.

In other Villa news, Martin O’Neill has responded to disgruntled Villa fans who decided to fly out to Moscow just to see the Aston Villa ‘c’ side lose to CSKA Moscow. His offer, dinner with himself and the players. I guess that works, but I was thinking more a reimbursement check for expenses after having to endure that game.

The cracks are starting to show at the KC Stadium. After Geovanni’s ridiculous antics after being subbed, Phil Brown gave him the verbal hair dryer treatment. I expect that one to get much more heated before it cools off.

Speaking of hair dryer treatments, Rio Ferdinand is still sacred of Sir Alex’s.

Tony Mowbray continues to say he will not stand down from his footballing philosophy. That’s even after another defeat.

Bolton fans probably aren’t happy after Gary Megson has agreed to a new rolling contract at the Reebok Stadium.

Florent Malouda says the lack of first team action could cause him to consider his Chelsea future. I say take a hike. You were a good player for France, but the English game is not your brand of football.

And finally, if the News of the World is to be believed (and I normally don’t unless they have the video to prove it), Manchester United is going to throw 200,000 a week at Cristiano Ronaldo to stay.

Just one more thing before I go. Has anyone noticed how many clubs are now within three points of the drop?

Carlos Tevez Uncertainty and is Stewart Downing This Winter’s Berbatov?

Johnathan Starling — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:47:03 +0000

Well the rumblings of yesterday have come to fruition today, on two counts. The first happening in South America, the other happening at the Riverside.

I can understand Carlos Tevez wanting his future sorted. But the situation with Manchester United seems to get crazier by the day. After firing back at Ferguson’s claims of rejecting a contract offer and saying he nor his agent had seen a contract, Tevez fired what I think could be the fatal jab when he admitted that he’s going to start hearing offers from other clubs.

In my mind, Carlos Tevez is skating on ultra thin ice right now. You’re not an out and out starter at Manchester United and I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you’re wanting mega pounds to stay. However to more or less say you’re ready to leave Manchester United and (while I’ll admit this comment is off handed), saying he’d love to play for Real Madrid, the corner that is being back into is not an easy one to walk out of.

Tevez needs to understand that being a squad player means you are not going to make what you think you’re worth at Manchester United. Only the week in and week out players guaranteed in the starting eleven will. If you think you’re bigger than the club, do yourself a favor and simply go ahead and leave. Ferguson won’t deal with the headache.

The other story from last night that came home to roost was the formal transfer request Stewart Downing made to Middlesbrough. It appears clear that Downing wants to continue his career under the wing of Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, but not only was Downing’s formal transfer request denied, Tottenham’s 12 million pound bid was also denied.

This situation reads to me very similar to the situation we saw last year with one Dimitar Berbatov. Downing seems to be doing everything possible to get ouf of the club, be damned about the relationships made and the respect of the fans you have. While I understand we haven’t hit the sulk level yet, I expect that to happen in short order. The intentions have been made clear, and the impression I get is that Downing isn’t going to stop until he’s out of the Riverside for the comforts of North London.

Steve Gibson is in a tight spot. While I agree with him for making a player honor a contact, how much more of this nonsense will he tolerate. Gibson though saying ‘I repeat: none of our senior players will be leaving the Riverside Stadium this month’ tells me that he’s ready for the long haul that this January window will bring. But one thing Gibson should realize is Daniel Levy has very recently been in Gibson’s shoes, and knows what the final outcome ultimately will be.

Other Stories
Add Arsene Wenger to the back of Sir Alex Ferguson in saying the fixture list is ‘unfair’. Where to do I get my tissues? You’re supposed to be top four sides. Quit crying about who you have to face and when you have to face them.

Joe Cole seems a tad bit unhappy about being replaced for the 13th match in a row and is wanting to meet with Scolari about why that is the case. Just another fire for Scolari to put out. It’s funny though all these little fires are growing into one big inferno.

Wayne Bridge promises that his best is yet to come. As one Manchester City fan put it to me ‘that is until he gets injured’.

Tony Pulis thinks that bringing in players will lift the mood around the Stoke City squad. That is until they decide to take pop shots at each other during a match.

A Column to go Home By
Peter Bills questions if Chelsea have the stomach to fight for the title, FA Cup, and Champions League. I’ve been asking that same question as a Chelsea fan since the second week of the season.

Reviewing the Rookie Managers of the English Premier League

James Harris — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:03:57 +0000

The English Premier League provides the biggest stage in the world for players, managers, and coaches alike to showcase their various skills and talents. Audiences in the millions around the world watch teams and players, as fans tune into whatever TV or Internet coverage is available on a daily basis. An EPL managerial position is one of the most sought after jobs in football.

The successful veteran managers are well known and leaders like Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have become iconic symbols of their respective clubs. In addition, other EPL battle hardened leaders with several years in the English top flight to add to their CVs include coaches such as Rafa Benitez, Martin O’Neill, Harry Redknapp, Mark Hughes, and Steve Bruce.

With the astronomically high stakes and the pressure cooker that is the managerial hot seat of an EPL team, we’re going to take a look at the newcomers – the EPL “rookie” managers. Seven of the 20 teams are coached by managers in their first year of leading an English club in the top flight. For the most part, they are certainly not cutting their teeth in their first managerial assignment but to qualify for the list they must be in their first year as an EPL manager. Club expectations vary quite dramatically in this group, from survival to Champions League glory, but it’s interesting to review how the new leaders are faring and what we might expect as the season progresses.

Blackburn Rovers: Paul Ince

Previous Managerial Positions: Macclesfield Town (2006); MK Dons (2007)

Appointment Background: After Mark Hughes was recruited to lead the renovation at Manchester City, Ince became somewhat of a surprise candidate to take over at Ewood Park. Blackburn have enjoyed an extensive run in the Premier league and in recent seasons have challenged for a European qualifying spot, developing into a solid Premiership outfit under the guidance of Hughes. Ince took a huge step up from the lower leagues and despite success in 2007 with the MK Dons, he has to quickly come to terms with learning the managerial trade at the highest level.

Expectations: Sustain Blackburn’s status as a top 10 team and continue to push for Euro qualification.

Progress: Right now not good. Rovers had some early success bagging a first win under Ince over Everton on the opening day of the season. Since then form has dipped and Blackburn sit second from bottom in the league with just 10 more points acquired since that initial victory.

Looking Forward: Attendances seem down – at least the games I’ve seen and there doesn’t appear to be much optimism. The squad is probably too good to be sucked into a relegation battle but it’s already been brought up enough to make Ince address the relegation issue with the media. Ince will need to get this team to at least mid-table if he hopes to make this a long-term assignment.

Chelsea: Phil Scolari

Previous Managerial Positions: Numerous clubs in the Middle East, Brazil, and Asia in early career managing 15 teams in 15 years from 1982-1997, including the Kuwait national team in 1991; Palmeiros (1997); Cruzeiro (2000); Brazil (2001); Portugal (2003)

Appointment Background: Avram Grant was never considered the replacement for Jose Mourinho and, despite a decent 2007 season in which Chelsea finished second in both the EPL and the Champions League, the search for his successor was on well before John Terry hit the post. Big Phil was named Chelsea boss during Euro 2008.

Expectations: Win just about everything with an exciting and attacking brand of football.

Progress: As expected, Solari has adjusted to life in the Stamford Bridge cauldron with ease. He is popular with the fans and press alike, and appears to have a genuine rapport with the players. Chelsea are playing with attacking flair and style, leading the way at the top of the league. Despite a setback in their last European Champions League match, they are in good shape to progress.

Looking Forward: They will win something this year or at least come very close. They are a solid team and even if Roman does not break out the cash again in January, Phil has more than he needs to work with to be successful. Chances are he will be around for a long while as Chelsea campaign for silverware on all fronts.

Hull City: Phil Brown

Previous Managerial Positions: Derby (2005)

Appointment Background: Took over in December, 2006 with Hull 22nd in the Championship. Successfully fought off relegation and subsequently, the following season, led the Tigers to top-flight football for the first time in their history.

Expectations: Avoid Relegation.

Progress: The amount of material already generated on the accomplishments of Hull City and Phil Brown since starting their inaugural season speaks volumes. They are everybody’s favorite ‘other’ team (except for maybe Grimsby fans). They have already collected over half of the 40 points usually deemed necessary to survive and have recorded some impressive wins notably at the Emirates and White Hart Lane. It’s not all been rosy but they are the ‘feel-good’ story of the season so far.

Looking Forward: They probably will not be able to maintain their initial early form but a solid mid-table position is more than reachable for Brown’s team. Even if they do fall from grace, Phil Brown has established himself as a top tier managerial candidate for a few years.

Portsmouth: Tony Adams

Previous Managerial Positions: Wycombe (2003)

Appointment Background: Harry wanted to go to Spurs-Spurs paid Portsmouth 5 mil-Big Tone was promoted.

Expectations: Tough to gauge so it would be good to hear from some Pompey fans. Portsmouth have been continuously improving over the past couple of seasons and enter the 08-09 season as FA Cup holders. At the very least Adams will need to maintain a consistent and capable Premiership team.

Progress: Too early to tell although Adams has been on the coaching stuff during the renaissance at Fratton Park and can be credited to contributing to their recent success.

Looking Forward: If Adams can keep the squad around mid-table or better he should be fine for another year or two. January could be a key month in terms of either building or dismantling the team, especially if ‘Arry comes calling with his checkbook.

Stoke City: Tony Pulis

Previous Managerial Positions: Bournemouth (1992); Gillingham (1995); Bristol City (1999); Portsmouth (2000); Stoke (2002); Plymouth (2005)

Appointment Background: Returned to Stoke for his second stint after new ownership at the Britannia Stadium in 2006. Achieved promotion in his second season back at the club to give the Potters their first top flight football in 23 years.

Expectations: Avoid relegation.

Progress: City are hovering around the relegation zone in a tightly packed mid to lower table clutch of clubs. Stoke are playing a very direct style of football that has seem them record decent wins against Villa, Spurs, and Arsenal in addition to earning a very respectable draw at Anfield. If they can avoid a spiral of successive defeats, they have a good shot at securing a second EPL season.

Looking Forward: Fans seem happy and the players seem happy. Unless the team go into a big slide Pulis is probably safe in his job. Continued dedication and consistency could garner him a second season in the Premier League.

West Bromich Albion: Tony Mowbray

Previous Managerial Positions: Ipswich (Caretaker 2002), Hibernian (2004)

Appointment Background: Replaced Bryan Robson in 2006 after West Brom had been relegated. Achieved promotion back to the Premiership at the second attempt and guided the team to the FA Cup Semi-Final last season.

Expectations: Avoid relegation

Progress: Early returns were promising for WBA as they secured their best ever start to a Premier League campaign. Form has since plummeted and the Baggies have just 1 point from their past 7 games while being outscored 17-3, and they currently sit at the foot of the table.

Looking forward: If there is a bright spot, it is that the Premier is so tight this year. A couple of wins on the trot can see any bottom club climb to mid-table. Nevertheless, the current run of results is alarming and Mowbray will need to turn it around quickly if he wants a second Premier term to establish his top-flight managerial credentials.

West Ham United: Gianfranco Zola

Previous Managerial Positions: None (assistant coach for Italy U-21s in 2006)

Appointment Background: An early season replacement for Alan Curbishly, who despite a decent record with the Hammers, fell out with ownership over transfer funds and seemed to be distanced from fans with high expectations. The only manager with no prior experience.

Expectations: Secure top half finish and develop a team capable of qualifying for Europe and challenging for domestic cups.

Progress: Zola has had a bit more time than Tony Adams and it is probably still too early to see how the team will respond to the former Chelsea playmaker. The Hammers secured their first victory in 8 games at Sunderland this past weekend, with their previous EPL victory coming in Zola’s second game in charge against Fulham on Sep. 27th. Form does not appear to be very consistent and he still hasn’t been able to get them to fix that dodgy patch on the front of their shirts!

Looking Forward: His current West Ham team look more like Championship material than the top 6-10 that their fans expect. It could be a case of a champagne taste on a beer budget at Upton Park with the financial situation not likely to aid Zola in strengthening his squad. His induction into football management could end up in disaster unless the performances improve quickly. Zola, however, is a class act and undoubtedly a popular figure in Premiership football. Regardless of how his first term concludes, I think we are likely to see Gianfranco around top-flight English football for a while.

How do you think the managers new to the Premier League are performing? Are you a fan of any of the seven teams discussed and if so what is the general feeling? Of the seven coaches who has impressed you the most?

Cheers!