With the title sewn up and Europa League spots too confusing to care about, the eyes of the nation are fixed on this weekend’s intriguing relegation denouement.
Depending on your viewpoint, Sunday’s battle to avoid the drop is either a gladiatorial scrap where only the heroic will survive, or just four insipid teams playing fear inspired football. Either way, Sunday’s matches are impossible to ignore.
Add to the equation rumours that the three relegation-threatened North East clubs could sue Man United for fielding a weakened team against Hull, and it’s been another barking week in high-stakes football. This added spice has made the question of who should go down all the more interesting for the neutral.
So to make things simpler - barring a miracle Middlesborough are going down, and even if they lose against Chelsea, Sunderland should survive. So realistically comes down to one of two - Hull or Newcastle.
If Joey Barton, Dennis Wise and Mike Ashley were not enough to put the neutral off Newcastle already, the murmurings of potential legal action against Man United should tip the scales. Journalists and pundits have already pointed out the obvious holes in this pathetic argument. Firstly, Newcastle have been beyond pitiful all season and only have themselves to blame for their predicament. Secondly, a third string Man United team would give Hull more of a game than most Premier League teams, possibly even more than first-team stars fearful of injury ahead of Rome on Wednesday. All the above are valid points, but there is one thing that has barely been mentioned...
Why now? Why is this an issue when there is still football to be played? It reeks of the last act of a desperate football club. The very fact that the integrity of another club is being called into question prior to a ball being kicked, completely invalidates their own character and integrity.
Newcastle should be concentrating on the last 90 minutes of their season and nothing else. They need a result at Villa before any accusing fingers can be pointed. For this reason I hope they lose. Moreover, I hope Hull lose too and still stay up. That will shut the litigious murmurings up once and for all.
As a post-script, I expect Alan Shearer will stay at Newcastle if they are relegated. Incredibly stubborn as a player, I can’t see him leaving St James Park as an outright failure. However, if by some miracle they do survive, watch him jump back into the cosy confines of the Match of the Day studio like a shot... I would.
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Sunday, 10 May 2009
Managing Talents
It feels like an age since Jose Mourinho declared himself special and followed the boast with six trophies in three years. Back then you would be forgiven for believing that the spirit of Brian Clough had somehow taken up permanent residence in a devilishly handsome Portuguese vessel. Back in 2007 it would be hard to pick out any other young manager as pretender to old big’ed’s throne.
Two years later and it’s difficult to remember what all the fuss was about. Mourinho seems a million miles away in Milan, with his anodyne Inter squad, whilst Ferguson and Wenger currently share more red wine than red mist. As Benitez throws away Liverpool’s best title chance in a decade, it has all gone a bit quiet on the touchline.
So as the recent release of ‘The Damned United’ gets football fans all misty eyed about Cloughie, and Sir Alex creeps reluctantly towards that directors box in the stand; what better time to look at the great British managers who might warm their dugouts twenty years from now?
Like father like son…
And where better to start than with Ferguson? Darren, that is. Although he admirably dismisses the inevitable comparison with his father, back to back promotions with Peterborough United have led to some all too predictable murmurings from the press.
And who would blame Ferguson junior from privately daring to believe he has inherited some magic genetic formula. Just ask central defender James Chester, who days after his first dressing room encounter with Ferguson senior joined Peterborough on loan where he very soon noticed the similarity, “They look the same and the way they deliver their team talks is the same.”
Although a long way from the wisdom, guile and class of the elder Ferguson, what is clear is that Darren bears the mark of a winner. Even if he achieves a fifth of his father’s trophy haul he will be able to consider his career a success – which puts into perspective just how remarkable Sir Alex has been. As he sits on the precipice of a third European Cup, only Bob Paisley can rival him statistically as the greatest British manager of them all.
The romantics will fantasise about Ferguson junior leading out a Premier League Peterborough side at Old Trafford for Sir Alex’s final game in charge. Not likely I’m afraid. As good as Ferguson has been to date, a third consecutive promotion is even beyond him. Instead, don’t be surprised to find Steve Gibson knocking on his door over the next couple of years. Admirably loyal as he is to Gareth Southgate, the Middlesborough chairman would be hard pushed to disagree that the young Ferguson embodies the leadership qualities Southgate is missing. Passion, judgement and the all important fear factor, which is clearly running through his veins.
On the subject of famous siblings, I must spare a mention for Nigel Clough, whose 10 years at Burton Albion makes for a rare apprenticeship in the modern game. As untried franchise footballers have the carpet rolled out for them to take the helm at megaclubs, the sensible learning curve of Clough (and Ferguson) is a much needed reality check. Hopefully, it’s not long before the owners of Premier League clubs look to emerging British managers rather than these marquee names. Wouldn’t Newcastle have had more hope of surviving with the promising Mark Robins or Simon Grayson in charge, rather than the untested tight trousered one?
A playing career littered with honours has never been precursor to managerial success – just ask Wenger, Hiddink, Mourinho or Rafael Benitez.
The Curious Case of Roy Keane
There are genuinely talented home grown managers cutting it just outside of the big four. David Moyes and Martin O’Neill’s achievements on limited resources have made them rightful front runners for the Man United job when Fergie finally calls it a day. However, there is a third name that splits opinion down the middle when added to the mix. The irrepressible Roy Keane.
To his detractors, Keane is far too arrogant and opinionated for a fledgling manager. There is no doubt he has a mouth on him, but how much of a surprise is this given that Clough and Ferguson are the two major influences on his career? Keane combines the self-confidence and eccentricity of his Nottingham Forest mentor with the raw will to win of Ferguson, making him the perfect candidate to replicate their unprecedented successes.
Given the nature of his departure, it would be easy to lose perspective on Keane’s achievements with Sunderland. With no prior management experience, he took the Black Cats from second bottom in the Championship to the Premier League in his first season, and leaves the club significantly better off than when he joined. An embodiment of hard work and professionalism, Keane stamped his authority on the club very quickly, both on the pitch with driving performances and off the pitch with strong discipline. On one occasion a trio of players were late for the coach to Barnsley, Keane simply left them behind in the car park.
In Ipswich Town, Keane has found the perfect club. It would have been all too obvious to walk into a mid-table Premier League outfit at this stage of his career. But the Suffolk club represents immense potential to start over under less pressure and media glare than at Sunderland. Keane himself has admitted that moving his family to the area has already improved his state of mind, and in typical style he has immediately insisted all his players do the same.
It would be a brave man to bet against Ipswich achieving promotion next season. His mere presence at the club was enough to galvanise the team to win convincingly at Cardiff City 3-0 in his first game. As he sets about reshaping the squad by releasing seven players including Ivan Campo, it’s quite clear Ipswich will be a wholly different proposition next season.
At Nottingham Forest and Derby County, Brian Clough achieved something that is now impossible in the modern game. Barring a billion pound injection, no provincial club will ever be taken from the Championship to Premier League champions in the same way. Over the next few seasons, the dream scenario would see Ipswich into tier two in the Premier League, battling it out for a UEFA Cup spot. This would be a tremendous achievement and one that Keane is surely eyeing.
However, Ipswich will not break into the top four without a massive investment, whereas Keane probably will. When the chance comes he will be equipped with the experience and pedigree to win major honours, and only one thing stands in his way – Roy Keane.
In contrast to a Mourhino whose outrageous statements have a psychological function to relieve pressure from his players, when Keane says something he means it. Right or wrong, his exit from the 2002 World Cup was a demonstration of his unbending conviction in his beliefs, whilst prawn sandwich-gate and accusations against underperforming Man United team mates demonstrate the courage to stand behind them.
Keane's perfectionist streak will account for much of his future success, but it could conversely contribute to his own downfall. He has demonstrated with Sunderland and Ireland that he is not afraid of walking away. He will need to get over this if he wants to fulfil his potential, because as Ferguson and Clough have rightly proved, longevity is the key to legendary status.
Let’s hope he does, because British football will be a richer place over the next 20 years with Roy Keane at the very top of the game.
Two years later and it’s difficult to remember what all the fuss was about. Mourinho seems a million miles away in Milan, with his anodyne Inter squad, whilst Ferguson and Wenger currently share more red wine than red mist. As Benitez throws away Liverpool’s best title chance in a decade, it has all gone a bit quiet on the touchline.
So as the recent release of ‘The Damned United’ gets football fans all misty eyed about Cloughie, and Sir Alex creeps reluctantly towards that directors box in the stand; what better time to look at the great British managers who might warm their dugouts twenty years from now?
Like father like son…
And where better to start than with Ferguson? Darren, that is. Although he admirably dismisses the inevitable comparison with his father, back to back promotions with Peterborough United have led to some all too predictable murmurings from the press.
And who would blame Ferguson junior from privately daring to believe he has inherited some magic genetic formula. Just ask central defender James Chester, who days after his first dressing room encounter with Ferguson senior joined Peterborough on loan where he very soon noticed the similarity, “They look the same and the way they deliver their team talks is the same.”
Although a long way from the wisdom, guile and class of the elder Ferguson, what is clear is that Darren bears the mark of a winner. Even if he achieves a fifth of his father’s trophy haul he will be able to consider his career a success – which puts into perspective just how remarkable Sir Alex has been. As he sits on the precipice of a third European Cup, only Bob Paisley can rival him statistically as the greatest British manager of them all.
The romantics will fantasise about Ferguson junior leading out a Premier League Peterborough side at Old Trafford for Sir Alex’s final game in charge. Not likely I’m afraid. As good as Ferguson has been to date, a third consecutive promotion is even beyond him. Instead, don’t be surprised to find Steve Gibson knocking on his door over the next couple of years. Admirably loyal as he is to Gareth Southgate, the Middlesborough chairman would be hard pushed to disagree that the young Ferguson embodies the leadership qualities Southgate is missing. Passion, judgement and the all important fear factor, which is clearly running through his veins.
On the subject of famous siblings, I must spare a mention for Nigel Clough, whose 10 years at Burton Albion makes for a rare apprenticeship in the modern game. As untried franchise footballers have the carpet rolled out for them to take the helm at megaclubs, the sensible learning curve of Clough (and Ferguson) is a much needed reality check. Hopefully, it’s not long before the owners of Premier League clubs look to emerging British managers rather than these marquee names. Wouldn’t Newcastle have had more hope of surviving with the promising Mark Robins or Simon Grayson in charge, rather than the untested tight trousered one?
A playing career littered with honours has never been precursor to managerial success – just ask Wenger, Hiddink, Mourinho or Rafael Benitez.
The Curious Case of Roy Keane
There are genuinely talented home grown managers cutting it just outside of the big four. David Moyes and Martin O’Neill’s achievements on limited resources have made them rightful front runners for the Man United job when Fergie finally calls it a day. However, there is a third name that splits opinion down the middle when added to the mix. The irrepressible Roy Keane.
To his detractors, Keane is far too arrogant and opinionated for a fledgling manager. There is no doubt he has a mouth on him, but how much of a surprise is this given that Clough and Ferguson are the two major influences on his career? Keane combines the self-confidence and eccentricity of his Nottingham Forest mentor with the raw will to win of Ferguson, making him the perfect candidate to replicate their unprecedented successes.
Given the nature of his departure, it would be easy to lose perspective on Keane’s achievements with Sunderland. With no prior management experience, he took the Black Cats from second bottom in the Championship to the Premier League in his first season, and leaves the club significantly better off than when he joined. An embodiment of hard work and professionalism, Keane stamped his authority on the club very quickly, both on the pitch with driving performances and off the pitch with strong discipline. On one occasion a trio of players were late for the coach to Barnsley, Keane simply left them behind in the car park.
In Ipswich Town, Keane has found the perfect club. It would have been all too obvious to walk into a mid-table Premier League outfit at this stage of his career. But the Suffolk club represents immense potential to start over under less pressure and media glare than at Sunderland. Keane himself has admitted that moving his family to the area has already improved his state of mind, and in typical style he has immediately insisted all his players do the same.
It would be a brave man to bet against Ipswich achieving promotion next season. His mere presence at the club was enough to galvanise the team to win convincingly at Cardiff City 3-0 in his first game. As he sets about reshaping the squad by releasing seven players including Ivan Campo, it’s quite clear Ipswich will be a wholly different proposition next season.
At Nottingham Forest and Derby County, Brian Clough achieved something that is now impossible in the modern game. Barring a billion pound injection, no provincial club will ever be taken from the Championship to Premier League champions in the same way. Over the next few seasons, the dream scenario would see Ipswich into tier two in the Premier League, battling it out for a UEFA Cup spot. This would be a tremendous achievement and one that Keane is surely eyeing.
However, Ipswich will not break into the top four without a massive investment, whereas Keane probably will. When the chance comes he will be equipped with the experience and pedigree to win major honours, and only one thing stands in his way – Roy Keane.
In contrast to a Mourhino whose outrageous statements have a psychological function to relieve pressure from his players, when Keane says something he means it. Right or wrong, his exit from the 2002 World Cup was a demonstration of his unbending conviction in his beliefs, whilst prawn sandwich-gate and accusations against underperforming Man United team mates demonstrate the courage to stand behind them.
Keane's perfectionist streak will account for much of his future success, but it could conversely contribute to his own downfall. He has demonstrated with Sunderland and Ireland that he is not afraid of walking away. He will need to get over this if he wants to fulfil his potential, because as Ferguson and Clough have rightly proved, longevity is the key to legendary status.
Let’s hope he does, because British football will be a richer place over the next 20 years with Roy Keane at the very top of the game.
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