Last weekend confirmed Man Utd as firm favourites to retain their PL crown, with Chelsea emerging as their closet challengers. The Gunners have lost their way in recent weeks boasting one of the worst recent form records in the league. Fergie’s men swept aside a Liverpool team - overcome by the size of their task - with relative ease winning 3-0. The game was marred by the sending off of the over-zealous Mascherano, but in truth Fergie had already got this match tied up, with his simple yet effective long ball tactics. This ensured his team bi-passed a Liverpool midfield crammed with talent, leaving a defence devoid of any real pace; vulnerable to the speed of Rooney, Ronaldo & later Nani. This was another example where Fergie’s experience & guile were simply too good for his competitors.
Chelsea showed their usual strength to shove aside a wilting Arsenal side, who are starting to look frail as we approach the end of what has been an enthralling season. They had to come from behind at the Bridge with 2 typically taken Drogba strikes. This victory means they have emerged as Man Utd’s closet rivals for the title. It’s not over just yet - but almost.
Elsewhere, Sunderland & Reading recorded important wins. Everton drew a game they really should’ve won & Birmingham subsequently moved closer to the drop zone. But there was great news for Geordies & Kevin Keegan as he recorded his first win since his well-publicised return to Tyneside.
This weekend sees Chelsea play a Middlesborough team who’ve performed surprising well on their travels (just ask Arsenal & Pompey), Arsenal face a tricky fixture away to bogey team Bolton (a few Big Sam 1-0 nil victories spring to mind), & Manchester United have the chance to get one hand on their trophy, if they defeat Villa at Old Trafford. Fergie will fancy his chances against O’Neil after out-foxing Benitez last Sunday, esp. since Villa’s good mid-seaon form has faded somewhat of late.
At the bottom, Sunderland & Birmingham have crucial home games against West Ham & Man City respectively, and Fulham have a must-win away trip to downsy Derby. Reading will fancy themselves at home to Blackburn but Wigan won’t be relishing the trip way south to Pompey.
But the one everyone is waiting for is the Merseyside derby at Anfield; as the two Liverpool clubs battle it out for that all-important fourth place.
This will be the 177th league meeting between the two bitter rivals from opposite side of Stanley Park, with Liverpool just edging out the Toffees. But every encounter is a tight tempestuous clash, packed full of drama & emotion. This Sunday will be no different. In fact considering its significance, with what’s at stake & it being so close to the end of the season, this could well be even more charged then usual. Only two points separate the two clubs from this great football City & it promises to be a belter!
Remember to catch all the scores across the world as they happen on live scores, & check out all the odds for all the matches on Betbrain. Why not even get all the tips from our very own resident tipster Ian Buckley, who is never far away from the money. Good luck.
As always watch all the weekends goals below on V-player.
Stoke City remain leaders of The Championship after they drew at home to Blackpool. They had the chances to win the delayed fixture in front of a vibrant crowd at the Britannia. But with all their other rivals slipping up, they remain in top spot going into this weekend’s vital game against Sheff Wednesday who are fighting for for their Championship survival. No games are easy in this league. Hull City are the dark horses in this division after another emphatic victory last week, moving up into third. This weekend promises to be a cracker.
Remember to catch all the scores across the world as they happen on live scores, & check out all the odds for all the matches on Betbrain. Why not even get all the tips from our very own resident tipster Ian Buckley, who is never far away from the money. Good luck.
See all the goals, from all the lower leagues, above on V-player.
In Italy,the Old Lady reared her ugly head heaping more misery on leaders Inter, who have been going through a torrid time of late. Davide Trezeguet was among the goals for the team of veterans. With the Romans victorious once more, the title has been thrown in the balance. Check all this weekends fixtures above.
Likewise, In Spain the title race is back on once again after Barca won 4-1 & Madrid dramatically lost 3-2 to a rejuvenated Valencia side. Starlet Bojan helped himself to a brace for the Catalans & despite two emphatic Raul finishes, Valencia equalised through Villa from the spot & his team completed the comeback just three minutes from time. With Madrid facing an Sevilla this weekend, La Liga is wide open. Keep watching
I expect this will be a low scoring affair, with a leaning towards a home win. Liverpool have won 7 on the bounce since being dumped out of the cup by Barnsley, while United have won 8 from the last 10. The two sides have conceded the least goals in the league, United with 15 and Liverpool with 21. Therefore the under 2.5 goals looks a wise bet.
Under 2.5 = 13-20 @ Bet365
Long shot = 1-0 Ronaldo 20-1 @ Bet 365
Chelsea v Arsenal
The Gunners have spluttered of late with 4 consecutive draws, due to a lack of firepower. While Chelsea have been slowly creeping closer to the top 2, winning nine and drawing four of the last 13, since losing 1-0, away to Arsenal. Chelsea have won only once in this fixture in the last 11 outings, Arsenal winning 4 and drawing 6. Last seasons fixture was 1-1 and its a sound bet this time around
Under 2.5 = 4-7 @ Bet365
Correct score 1-1 = 11-2 @ Bet365
Both games to finish 1-1 = 42-1
Other games
Scott McDonald (Celtic) to score anytime v Gretna = 4-6 @ Bet365
Is due a goal after going 5 without and Gretna have a depleted side due to not paying the players.
Spaniels possess a great share of intelligence, affection, and obedience, which qualities, combined with much beauty, make them highly prized as companions. The name comes from the word for Spanish (Español).
When I was three or four, I got knocked into a lake by a Spaniel. I have a tendency to over dramatise this event, but its effect on me was huge. I can recall seeing the brown and white thing running towards me, and the impact of the cold water as I fell in. And before my dad pulled me out (thanks dad if you’re reading) I will always remember an England’s Glory matchbox amidst the stones on the bottom. Anyway, I was always dubious of Spanish things after that. I despised the people, for no real reason. Chose to do Latin instead of Spanish at school. I also hated Spain during Championships, luckily they weren’t a great side in that period, though I did have soft spots for Miguel and Emilio ‘The Vulture’ Butragueno (pictured below) until I found out their nationalities. My opinion of the country changed somewhat after a first visit to Salou/Barcelona, so much so that I returned for a longer stay a couple of years later. I have embraced Spanish cooking and wine, and celebrated their art history and films (Open Your Eyes is much better than Vanilla Sky). Then they came to Merseyside.
Let’s go back a bit though. I have read and heard much about the Real Madrid teams of the Fifties and Sixties, and am currently enjoying Barca: A People’s Passion by Jimmy Burns which goes into great detail about the real people’s club. I just never ‘got’ the essence of Spanish futbol.
I suppose, when we were growing up, Barcelona were of course a great team, with Maradona, Schuster, then later Romario, Stoichkov et al (do go on You Tube and search for ‘Barca top ten goals’, in the words of another European great Herr Lipp, it’s a real good treat) but Italian football was where it was at. Italia 90 was enough, but on top you had the real stars in Serie A, and the excitement of James Richardson on a Sunday afternoon treating us to Sampdoria Parma and Guiseppe Giannini etc.
Nowadays, although Channel 5 is doing its bit for calcio, Spain’s La Liga is seen as the other best league in the world, and some of the dirge the Premiership offers, suggests it can claim bragging rights.
Recent years have seen Spanish footballers and coaches influence heavily what we see and do. In European competition, Valencia, Villareal and Sevilla have impressed, Real’s Galacticos are gone and even though Barcelona are currently in a dip of form (Guillame Balague says it’s a crisis) still have tons of world class talent. Whenever I’m at my girlfriend’s on a Sunday night, I try to catch some of whatever game is on, and I’m normally impressed. Not that that’s the only reason I go, of course.
But there is something special about the goals, the strips, the fans, Gerry Armstrong or Roberto Martinez in the studio…
I was lucky enough to go to a Barcelona match a couple of years ago. It was a pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich. The atmosphere and build-up was incredible, and Carles Puyol blessed the club in Catalan before kick-off. Ronaldinho, Eto’o (2) and Saviola scored and some of the play was breathtaking. Lionel Messi was the real draw though, and probably the best nicknamed footballer in the world played some of the best football I’ve ever seen. I’d recommend anyone on holiday in Spain to try to get to a game and compare the differences.
But this article isn’t just a discussion of Spanish football, or dogs with fleas attacking small children. There is a link between the two…
Fernando Torres is amazing. There, I’ve said it.
Mikel Arteta is still the best little Spaniard we know, but even despite his outstanding goal in the Fiorentina match, only Torres can lay claim to being the best Spaniard, perhaps player, around right now. Many scoffed at his price tag but his current run is so impressive that you can see him overtaking Ronaldo in the scoring charts and being the new Rush in the eyes of ‘the Kop’ (out of interest, how could Gillette or Hicks, could be either I can’t tell the ‘Muppet yanks’ (my friend’s words when interviewed on ITV, not mine) apart, describe a stand as a person who has opinions? I digress) which in his first season would be an awesome achievement.
His recent goal against Newcastle when he dummied the keeper and slotted calmly was pure class, and I’m sure there have been many others, I normally cover my eyes. He’s also good looking and seems quite genuine, if it wasn’t for his meff hairdo he’d be a frontrunner for most stylish footballer too.
The whole point of this is that it’ll be because of him, not Gerrard or Benitez or Alonso (sample quote when I met him earlier in the season - “I f**king hate you, but you’re brilliant” tho now I like him as his decision to stand by his pregnant girl was admirable) that Liverpool win fourth spot this season, and maybe even the Champions League once more. If only we can find a way to stop him in the derby, or it might be Everton that sink after meeting a Spaniel, twenty four years on from my unfortunate happening.
Spaniels possess a great share of intelligence, affection, and obedience, which qualities, combined with much beauty, make them highly prized as companions. It’s clear that Torres, and to a lesser extent Arteta, are highly prized companions, I hope we can both keep them if the season proves to be a failure. My legendary girlfriend has just come in and told me she’s always wanted a Spaniel. I’ll get a towel.
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In May, the most prestigious European Cup will get an English winner. For the 11th time. You mark my words…
Has English club football ever been better? Perhaps in the late seventies and early eighties, but probably not. Four English teams out of the eight quarter finalists, and unless Fenerbache can pull off TWO major shocks, we are more or less guaranteed at least one English team in the Champion’s league final. No country has ever had four representatives in the quarter-finals of Europe’s top club competition before. England (2000/01 and 2006/07), Germany (1997/98), Italy (2004/05 and 2005/06) and Spain (1999/2000, 2000/01, 20001/02 and 2002/03) have all had three in the past.
In the nineties Serie A dominated the European cups, so far this millennium the Spanish league has done the same. But there seems to be a shift in power now. It probably has happened already, with the Premiership having taken over the mantle. Last season England had three teams in the semis. That could very well happen this season as well.
Some have argued that the Spanish league still holds the lead. That the Premiership is all about the might and financial muscle of the so called big four. Or is it just that the money in football now means that in all the big leagues the top clubs are just in a different league compared to the lesser lights? After all, for Bolton and Wigan in England, read Murcia and Levante in Spain, or Catania and Siena in Italy.
I think it all boils down to this…
The top dogs in the three biggest leagues, England, Spain and Italy, are so powerful that they basically can buy whoever they want, that they can offer their players salaries that others only can dream of, and off course as they are so regular Champion’s League contenders, they have a pulling power that other clubs cannot compete with.
Manchester City and Aston Villa for instance, have enough Thai bath and American dollars, to buy and pay top players, but will they win a tug of war over a player if the competition is called Manchester United, Real Madrid or Inter? Probably not.
A chasm has opened up in the top leagues. Basically you have three divisions within the Premiership, Serie A and La Liga. The Champion’s League regulars at the top, the UEFA Cup hunters behind them, and the relegation candidates at the bottom. And it is difficult to see teams breaking out of these groups in the long run. (more…)
These are testing times in football as we approach the business end of the season. With nervy title races, gritty relegation scraps, tempestuous fights for promotion & the Champions League still to be decided, we face an exciting finale to what has already been a memorable season. Despite Liverpool progressing in Europe, thus ending any doubt they are a club in crisis, it was Stoke City’s return to form which I found particularly gratifying. After 2 demoralising defeats, Stoke bounced back with a 1-0 win at Norwich on Tuesday, to move back within a point of the league leaders.
With both Stoke & Liverpool seemingly rejuvenated (their penance surely served?), my confidence has been fully restored & I am hoping 2008 will materialize into the year of the underdog. Hold onto your oatcakes, we’re in for a pulsating end to the season.
Firstly, let us assimilate the events of the last fortnight…
After a sojourn stint as league leaders, Stoke suffered 2 defeats culminating in a crushing loss at QPR. The degradation of this 3-0 thumping had emanated from the disappointment of Preston, with the presence of the Sky cameras rubbing more salt into Potters’ wounds. This maudlin feeling distended until the 91st minute against Burnley when Lenny Lawrence (aka Golden Balls) coolly dispatched that penalty, via keeper & post, to salvage a vital draw for the Potters. Memories of England V Greece came flooding back. Which brings us to the events of last Tuesday when Stoke recaptured their form by grabbing a slender 1-0 win at Norwich. It was a crucial victory & puts Stoke right back in the promotion race.
If Lawrence was an expected hero against Burnley (grabbing his 14th goal of the campaign), Tuesday’s match-winner Mama Sidibe then was possibly the unlikeliest of suspects, after scoring only his 2nd goal of the season. For me though, the real match winner was again Rory Delap, the genuine unsung hero of our incredible season. Again, it was his lethal long-throw which set-up Mama’s goal, whom even with his woeful scoring record would’ve found it difficult to fluff. A friend of mine suggested Sidibe reminded him of John Fashanu (of Gladiator fame). Now I prefer to think of him as a poor man’s Heskey, but it did get me thinking there is a strong resemblance between the spirit of ‘The Crazy Gang’ & that of this mighty Stoke team. I’m not getting at Sidibe mind; He does give this team something with his admirable work-rate & attitude, especially away from home. Nonetheless, Sidibe is to ‘Premier League Striker’ what Lilly Allen is to ‘Ghetto Princess’.
Now, we are having a wonderful season, so it is hard to cast aspersions, or blame anyone in particular for our sudden collapse. But hey what the heck? Salif Diao’s form has been woeful since he returned to City & results when he has started games have reflected this. In contrast, games Delap has started have ended well for the Potters, & it’s not purely because of his dangerous throws (though they do help!). What stands out most in his absence is the extra time & space given to our opposition. This indicates the shift he puts in & workrate, which at present, in this department Diao is found wanting. At QPR, minus Delap, we looked exposed, as Diao failed to close down their midfielders; & two goals were a direct result of this. The third was obviously down to Griffin’s scandalous dismissal as they took advantage of their extra man. Despite Griffin being a euphemism for ‘Premier League Reject’, he is a vital component of this Stoke team, & when he is not palying, he is sorely missed.
Admittedly, I was one who called for Daio’s inclusion at QPR, but I now realise this was just wishful thinking. And with Whelan returning from suspension against Watford, he surely has to come in alongside Rory.
Let me bore you with the statistics. We’ve scored 61 goals in games that Delap has appeared in & conceded just 49. We’ve scored 12 goals Diao has appeared in & conceded 15. For minutes they have been on the field we’ve conceded an average of 0.7 goals per game that Delap has been involved in; comparing to 2.3 goals per game for games involving Diao, & we have to remember Delap has been involved in the majority of games until recently. Make of these stats what you will, but IMO Rory Delap is a major factor in our success & without him we look far more vulnerable. Bear in mind that both played together at Norwich & played well, but it wasn’t until Diao left the field that we went on to score.
Watching Liverpool last Tuesday (with the Stoke commentary blaring through my PC speakers) I drew huge encouragement from the Reds performance, which pervaded from their miraculous turnaround of late. Yes, they may well only finish fourth in the PL, remain a rasher short of the full fry-up, but victory in Europe is far from beyond the realm of possibility; & their performances since the owners/manager confrontation have improved enormously. Likewise, Stoke seem to have turned things around on Tuesday night after seemingly losing their way in their bid for automatic promotion.
Two weekends ago it was an altogether different story, as I enjoyed a deserved break in wonderful Killarney (Co. Kerry). And it went something a little like this… (This is my attempt at a blog for those of you who are interested. Those who are not please feel free to skip the italics & move onto rest of article)
The road to Killarney was a treacherous one, insinuating caution up ahead. The wind whistled hostilely, the rain blew boisterously on the wind, as I left the sharp rocky undulations of Galway in the West, for the green, luscious & rolling hills of Kerry in the South. However, as I revelled in the charms of the place they call ‘The Kingdom’, I couldn’t help but think – not only about Stoke’s game on Sunday – but that it was well worth the journey. For Stoke it was a different story.
Killarney itself - sleepy by day yet a bastion of activity in the evening - was both warmly friendly & infectiously relaxed. The surrounding landscapes of Kerry were nothing short of breathtaking; & the dreamy green meadows, grandiose mountains, calm soothing lakes & picturesque waterfalls, made for a most memorable weekend. I even had the novelty of visiting one of the world’s most spectacular golf courses, coincidently sharing its name with my surname (now that’s identity for you?).
It was the journey back however, which stands out most for me, as I desperately searched for a venue to witness Stoke’s televised trip South against QPR.
With Liverpool playing at a similar time on Setanta, especially considering their huge popularity in Ireland, my chances of finding a pub playing the Stoke game were slim to none at all. So, when I stumbled upon The Queens Hotel, in the historical town of Ennis (Co. Clare) whom – in having the benefit of two separate systems - agreed to put the game on a small screen in the corner, I was obviously delighted. Randomly this “delightful” establishment, featured in James Joyce’s masterpiece ‘Ulysses’. However, it was the maelstrom created by the abnormality of these two particular games being played simultaneously, which made for an altogether surreal & testing scenario.
For those of you who don’t know by now, I am also a massive Liverpool supporter. This affection owes much to the three enjoyable years I spent on Merseyside, & the eternal bond I will forever hold with Scousers. Nevertheless, however dilettante my support of Stoke City has been over the years, & pleasure Liverpool have given me, I have always stressed, if I had to choose, then Stoke City would undoubtedly come first. On mothering Sunday though, my allegiances & integrity were well & truly tested.
It would turn out to be an afternoon of bittersweet emotion. Afraid the game may be switched-over, I watched unobtrusively in the corner, sound turned off, as the Liverpool-Bolton match blared out from the big screen. Determined not to let the Liverpool match distract me - despite Stoke’s 3-0 capitulation & the sheer noise levels of Liverpool’s brogue relations - I kept my eyes firmly on the Stoke match until the final whistle. In doing so, I proved to myself (if to no one else) that it is the Stoke fraternity where my heart truly belongs, & ultimately whose promotion to the PL would mean that much more to me. The road from Killarney was not a conversion as such, more like a strengthening of a faith that needed confirming.THE END
The clash of the Stoke & Liverpool matches that Sunday resulted in galvanising my fraternity for the team I have supported since childhood, & may well have cured a very mild identity crisis. It has been a similar situation for Rafa at Liverpool. Benitez, judiciously it now seems, decided to test the metal of Liverpool’s Yankee owners, calling their bluff to see how serious they were about Liverpool FC. It seemed risky at the time, but Benitez knew he had the backing of the fans as a safety net, & in-turn he received the assurances he was looking for. Moreover, His team look stronger as a consequence of this conflict & he too looks to be in a much stronger position, despite his many doubters outside the club. Deep down, I - like Benitez - knew the loyalty was always there; it just needed to be tested to confirm what I had always suspected.
So, I am hoping both clubs will put their indignations behind them & the fortitude displayed of late continues to shine until the end of the season. I have been mightily impressed by the resolve of both Benitez & Pulis this season, especially the way they are not afraid to make changes when things are simply not working. Pragmatic as Pulis is; He like Benitez has a ruthless streak, & IMO this is required for the current circumstances at Stoke. Pulis surprised many when he stuck with Sidibe at Norwich in favour of top scorer Ricardo Fuller. But while this decision raised many eyebrows, it came off for our Tone, as Sidibe grabbed the winner. As I mentioned earlier, Sidibe works his socks off, & this is a huge asset away from home. Fuller, despite his goal threat, is an individual & can at times go missing & appear lazy. Furthermore, Pulis has shown his strength in the loan market again, acquiring the services of Chris Riggott from Derby, who has steadied our recently shaky defence. Ryan Shawcross, for all his potential, is still only young remember, & although he has been a colossus this season, it was right he was dropped after QPR. And didn’t this decision pay dividends?
Nevertheless, I feel Pulis has to delve into the transfer market one last time if we are to achieve promotion. A catalyst in attack is needed to get us across the finish line, akin to Sheringham’s move to West Ham or (dare I say it?) Merson’s move to Portsmouth. There are rumours of Nugent coming & he certainly fits this criteria. However, IMHO I would opt for more experience in our current situation (viz. Brian McBride or Jason Roberts). But I suppose Jay Bothroyd will just have to make-do!
Tomorrows game at Watford will provide our biggest test yet - & of course is the quintessential 6-pointer. But if Whelan comes in alongside Delap in midfield & Riggott continues his impressive contribution to the cause, I have every confidence it’s a game we can overcome. And wouldn’t it be great if Liverpool triumphed in Europe again, wiping the smug smiles off the faces of first Arsenal, then Chelsea & possibly United in the final. But, regardless of the events of the close season, nothing will ever change the way I feel about Stoke City, successful in their quest or not. But, wouldn’t it be the proudest moment of a whole new generation of Stokies, if we were to reach the Promised Land? And my ties with Liverpool FC would be finally severed. (Everybody!) I’m City till I die…
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We’re again focusing on the bizarre goings on in Division 2 this weekend, as the fixtures have fell nicely again to suggest there will at least be 4 or 5 away wins at nice prices. Also, the top 5 are all on their travels which is again favourable to us.
The teams we’re backing @ BET 365
Hereford @ 6-5 go to Accrington who have last 3 of their last 5 at home. The Bulls are 11-3-3 on the road this season.
Peterborough @ Evens - Posh journey to Dagenham having won the last 5 away from home.
Rochdale @ 7-5 , the Dale have won 4 of their last 5 on the road
Barnet @15-8 face Notts County who have lost 9 home games this season.
Rotherham @ 31-20 go to Shrewsbury, who have 7 home losses.
Darlington @ 8-5 get the coach to Wycombe with 10 away victories under their belt.
Wrexham @ 21-10 - who travel to Chester who have lost the last 5 at home.
Perm in 5 folds and upwards. Therefore a 50p 5 fold on the above bets would total £10.50 with the minimum return being £39 on the shortest odds teams.
In his autobiography, ‘Walking on Water’, Brian Clough recalls his feelings on the day he was interviewed for the vacant England manager’s job: “When I sit at home, busy doing nothing at all, and think back again to that day I bowled into Lancaster Gate as if I already owned the place, I remain unshakeable in my belief that the whole interviewing process was a charade.” This recollection provides an indication of Clough’s brash self-confidence and an insight into how a conservative FA had already earmarked ‘their man’, Ron Greenwood, for the top job. Despite a strong shortlist consisting of such luminaries as Bobby Robson and Lawrie McMenemy alongside the lesser known Allen Wade and Charles Hughes, many football aficionados agreed that Clough was the best qualified for the job. Moreover, most football fans in the East Midlands still regard Brian Clough as the greatest manager of modern times – his achievements unmatched in the British game when you consider that he was only able to flex relatively meagre financial muscles.
Manchester United supporters and a brown-nosed media might wax lyrical about Alex Ferguson being the best thing since sliced bread, but Clough himself summed it up best when he said, “For all his horses, knighthoods and championships, he hasn’t got two of what I’ve got. And I don’t mean balls.”
Clough’s European pedigree was exemplary: two European Cups in consecutive seasons in 1979 and 1980 were the ultimate prizes for a man who also won the Super Cup in 1980 and who featured in the European Cup semi-final with Derby County in 1973. Would Alex have matched those feats with the same team and resources? As well as this fine record in Europe, Clough also captured the league title with both Derby and Forest and won four League Cups while in charge at the City Ground. During his tenure as manager, Forest went on a run of 42 games unbeaten, only seven games less than Arsenal’s 49-game run which unsurprisingly drew hyperbolic headlines such as ‘Invincibles’ and ‘The Best Ever…’ from a sensationalist London press. Clough was universally seen as a hard but fair manager, who insisted on clean play from his players and who suffered no fools when communicating with the media.
Clough was a man of principle and high standards and was never afraid to offer his advice to player or pressman. When Trevor Francis (pictured above) found himself with the honour of receving an award from the great man, Clough told him in no uncertain terms to “Take your hands out of your pockets!” On England goalkeeper David Seaman, Clough observed, “That Seaman is a handsome young man but he spends too much time looking in his mirror rather than at the ball. You can’t keep goal with hair like that.” He was famous for insisting on being called ‘Mr Clough’ and earned great respect from his peers for his ability to turn a game to his and his team’s advantage.
While his outspoken and humorous comments enthralled many fans across the country, there were times when his acerbic wit and sharp tongue got him into trouble. One such situation he later lived to regret. After being knocked out of the European Cup semi-final by Juventus as Derby County manager, Clough accused The Old Lady of being ‘cheating bastards’ and questioned the Italian nation’s courage in the war. His argument with with the Derby board led to Clough walking out on the club, a move which would have Derby’s fans demanding the board’s resignation. After a brief stint managing Third Division Brighton and Hove Albion, Clough was famously sacked after just 44 days by Leeds United after upsetting several star players. Most poignant was the break-down of his relationship with one-time right hand man and close friend, Peter Taylor. Taylor had been Clough’s assistant at Hartlepool, Brighton Derby, and Forest, and had retired in 1982, only to then come out of retirement to manage Derby County. Taylor arranged the transfer of Forest’s John Robertson without Clough’s consent, leading to an irreconcilable breakdown in the pair’s relationship. The two men had not put aside their grievances when Taylor died in 1990. Clough regretted his stubbornness and continued to drink excessively.
Some people believe that Brian Clough was the greatest England manager never to have got the job. I myself would tend to agree with this. First and foremost, Clough was a good northerner who spoke his mind and called a spade a spade. What you saw was what you got. He was also fairly conventional in his approach to handling his squad; he demanded that players were ultra-professional off the field as well as on it and insisted that his players upheld on a clean image and were well-presented with neat haircuts and smart suits. He also insisted on shirts being tucked inside their shorts and always played with their socks rolled up. This cleancut appearance was also reflected in his teams’ behaviour on the pitch as he was adamant that his players should behave honourably and never argue with the referee. His tactics and methods demonstrated a desire to play the game in the right way by keeping the ball on the ground and not resorting to Route One football which was employed by so many other teams in England at the time. He was an inventive coach and used left wingers like John Robertson at Forest and Alan Hinton at Derby to particularly good effect. Like Alf Ramsay at Ipswich, Clough moulded together a group of lesser-known players and turned them into a really effective crushing machine, where the onus was on collective responsibility and the team playing for each other rather than relying on Fancy Dans who were out for themselves. Although Clough himself signed Teddy Sheringham, it is rumoured that Clough didn’t really care for him and thought he was another flash and cocky Londoner. This feeling is perhaps typified in the way that Clough constantly referred to him as ‘Edward’.
When Clough speaks about the interviewing process being a charade it is because the FA were never in a million years going to appoint a man of Clough’s outpoken nature. In Walking on Water he says: “They (the interviewing panel) could have saved us all a lot of time and bother because Greenwood seemed merely to be rubber-stamped. They would have gone home and boasted to their golf-club cronies that they had appointed the nice Ron Greenwood, a first class diplomat as well as a fine coach, and they had given the bum’s rush to that objectionable braggart from Nottingham Forest.” Whatever the reasons the power-men had when deciding not to make Clough manager, it surely was to England’s loss.
Looking back on his success, his record stands alongside any of the top managers in the English game. Clough himself says, “Who thought Derby County could be turned into League champions; that any manager could bounce back from getting the bullet after 44 days with a great club and go on to prove himself among the best managers of all time; that what was done at Derby could be repeated at Forest; that after winning one European Cup, we could retain it; that a brash, self-opinionated young footballer, cut down by injury in his prime, would go on to achieve more impressive fame as a brash, highly successful manager?” To paraphrase a famous Clough quote, he may not have been the best manager in the business, but he certainly was the top one.
Another profitable weekend for the column with both bets selected coming in. The double of Man Utd HT -FT and Everton outright win returned £35 on a £10 stake. Our guest punter was unlucky, with only Man City letting him down in his 4 timer.
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On to this midweek……
Side stepping the main event of the Champions League, I have cast my eye upon the less glamorous clubs of the Championship for the main bet. It is the FA Cup Quarter Finals at the weekend and there are four non prem teams in left in, with all 4 playing midweek. Taking that into account, I am of the belief that the players for these teams will not want to get injured for the big games they have on Saturday or Sunday, and therefore will not be going all out this Tuesday or Wednesday night. Hence i have taken……
Blackpool to beat Barnsley = 5-6 @ William Hills
The Seasides are in form at the moment, unbeaten in 6 at home in the league (4-2-0), while Saturdays win at Norwich was a further confidence booster. The form of the re-born Paul Dickov has played a huge part, the diminutive Scot has 5 in 5 and is set to return after a bout of sickness at the weekend. Barnsley meanwhile haven’t won in 5 league games and are goalless in the last 4. Previous to their trip to Anfield they were soundly beaten 3-0 at Plymouth in the midweek (though they were down to 10 from the 4th minute). These two sides met in the the FA Cup 3rd round where The Tykes won 2-1, the same scoreline as the league game, but i think the scores will be reversed at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday due to the impending Chelsea fixture.
Crystal Palace to beat Cardiff 11-10 @ William Hills
The Eagles have hit the wall of late, but manager Neil Warnock described their win at Preston as one of their best performances of the season. They face a Cardiff side who will have one eye on the potential scalp of ‘Boro in the cup on Sunday, and whom are win-less in 5; can anyone see a pattern here? Dave Jones has warned against his side doing exactly what were expecting them, and by going public, he knows that it could well happen. Palace can jump back into play-off contention here and i expect it to happen.
The Double is 2.85-1
N.B Look out for Doncaster and Sheff Wed’s results who face Bristol Rovers and West Brom respectively. A bit more risky, but they could well come in.
Top up the bet with Barca, Man Utd and Chelsea at home in the Champions League for a 7-1 five timer.
Despite being inebriehated while writing this, I am sound of mind and I can assure all my readers (yes thats you Dave from Wincester) that I have placed the bets myself earlier today… so … if your’e still reading… i will go ahead………
Saturday sees the big three in England kicking off at 3 o’clock…I honestlty can’t tell you the last time that happened (probably last week then -Ed) .
United To Increase the Heat
United travel to Fulham on Saturday on a high after last weekends results. Despite having a important Europen Game against Lyon in midweek, Ferguson will be making sure that this game is won by the 60 minute mark. So i expect them to be going out all guns first half so Rooney, Ronaldo et al can be withdrawn.
Take United to be winning at HT and FT at 10-11 PP, SJ and Bet Direct.
Get Stuck Into the Toffees
I was at Eastlands on Monday Night to see first hand the job David Moyes charges did on Sven’s XI, and i couldn’t fail to be impressed. The defence was superb and the workrate was second to none. The 4-5 generally available is a steal imo.
Everton to Win 4-5 @ Genreally available
Special Guest Punter
Everyweek we will be featuring one of the readers tips …this week it’s Paul Latham from Manchester aged 28. He has chosen a Four Timer of:
Man United
Man City
Mk Dons
Peterborough
The Four Fold pays 3.8-1 at Ladbrokes, which is stumbling distance for this young man from The North. (Good Luck Lad)
Last weekend confirmed Man Utd as firm favourites to retain their PL crown, with Chelsea emerging as their closet challengers. The Gunners have lost their way in recent weeks boasting one of the worst recent form records in the league. Fergie’s men swept aside a Liverpool team - overcome by the size of their task - with relative ease winning 3-0. The game was marred by the sending off of the over-zealous Mascherano, but in truth Fergie had already got this match tied up, with his simple yet effective long ball tactics. This ensured his team bi-passed a Liverpool midfield crammed with talent, leaving a defence devoid of any real pace; vulnerable to the speed of Rooney, Ronaldo & later Nani. This was another example where Fergie’s experience & guile were simply too good for his competitors.
But the one everyone is waiting for is the Merseyside derby at Anfield; as the two Liverpool clubs battle it out for that all-important fourth place.
Chelsea v Arsenal
When I was three or four, I got knocked into a lake by a Spaniel. I have a tendency to over dramatise this event, but its effect on me was huge. I can recall seeing the brown and white thing running towards me, and the impact of the cold water as I fell in. And before my dad pulled me out (thanks dad if you’re reading) I will always remember an England’s Glory matchbox amidst the stones on the bottom. Anyway, I was always dubious of Spanish things after that. I despised the people, for no real reason. Chose to do Latin instead of Spanish at school. I also hated Spain during Championships, luckily they weren’t a great side in that period, though I did have soft spots for Miguel and Emilio ‘The Vulture’ Butragueno (pictured below) until I found out their nationalities. My opinion of the country changed somewhat after a first visit to Salou/Barcelona, so much so that I returned for a longer stay a couple of years later. I have embraced Spanish cooking and wine, and celebrated their art history and films (Open Your Eyes is much better than Vanilla Sky). Then they came to Merseyside.
Let’s go back a bit though. I have read and heard much about the Real Madrid teams of the Fifties and Sixties, and am currently enjoying Barca: A People’s Passion by Jimmy Burns which goes into great detail about the real people’s club. I just never ‘got’ the essence of Spanish futbol.
I was lucky enough to go to a Barcelona match a couple of years ago. It was a pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich. The atmosphere and build-up was incredible, and Carles Puyol blessed the club in Catalan before kick-off. Ronaldinho, Eto’o (2) and Saviola scored and some of the play was breathtaking. Lionel Messi was the real draw though, and probably the best nicknamed footballer in the world played some of the best football I’ve ever seen. I’d recommend anyone on holiday in Spain to try to get to a game and compare the differences.
Has English club football ever been better? Perhaps in the late seventies and early eighties, but probably not. Four English teams out of the eight quarter finalists, and unless Fenerbache can pull off TWO major shocks, we are more or less guaranteed at least one English team in the Champion’s league final. No country has ever had four representatives in the quarter-finals of Europe’s top club competition before. England (2000/01 and 2006/07), Germany (1997/98), Italy (2004/05 and 2005/06) and Spain (1999/2000, 2000/01, 20001/02 and 2002/03) have all had three in the past.
If Lawrence was an expected hero against Burnley (grabbing his 14th goal of the campaign), Tuesday’s match-winner Mama Sidibe then was possibly the unlikeliest of suspects, after scoring only his 2nd goal of the season. For me though, the real match winner was again Rory Delap, the genuine unsung hero of our incredible season. Again, it was his lethal long-throw which set-up Mama’s goal, whom even with his woeful scoring record would’ve found it difficult to fluff. A friend of mine suggested Sidibe reminded him of John Fashanu (of Gladiator fame). Now I prefer to think of him as a poor man’s Heskey, but it did get me thinking there is a strong resemblance between the spirit of ‘The Crazy Gang’ & that of this mighty Stoke team. I’m not getting at Sidibe mind; He does give this team something with his admirable work-rate & attitude, especially away from home. Nonetheless, Sidibe is to ‘Premier League Striker’ what Lilly Allen is to ‘Ghetto Princess’. 
Now, we are having a wonderful season, so it is hard to cast aspersions, or blame anyone in particular for our sudden collapse. But hey what the heck? Salif Diao’s form has been woeful since he returned to City & results when he has started games have reflected this. In contrast, games Delap has started have ended well for the Potters, & it’s not purely because of his dangerous throws (though they do help!). What stands out most in his absence is the extra time & space given to our opposition. This indicates the shift he puts in & workrate, which at present, in this department Diao is found wanting. At QPR, minus Delap, we looked exposed, as Diao failed to close down their midfielders; & two goals were a direct result of this. The third was obviously down to Griffin’s scandalous dismissal as they took advantage of their extra man. Despite Griffin being a euphemism for ‘Premier League Reject’, he is a vital component of this Stoke team, & when he is not palying, he is sorely missed.
Let me bore you with the statistics. We’ve scored 61 goals in games that Delap has appeared in & conceded just 49. We’ve scored 12 goals Diao has appeared in & conceded 15. For minutes they have been on the field we’ve conceded an average of 0.7 goals per game that Delap has been involved in; comparing to 2.3 goals per game for games involving Diao, & we have to remember Delap has been involved in the majority of games until recently. Make of these stats what you will, but IMO Rory Delap is a major factor in our success & without him we look far more vulnerable. Bear in mind that both played together at Norwich & played well, but it wasn’t until Diao left the field that we went on to score. 
Killarney itself - sleepy by day yet a bastion of activity in the evening - was both warmly friendly & infectiously relaxed. The surrounding landscapes of Kerry were nothing short of breathtaking; & the dreamy green meadows, grandiose mountains, calm soothing lakes & picturesque waterfalls, made for a most memorable weekend. I even had the novelty of visiting one of the world’s most spectacular golf courses, coincidently sharing its name with my surname (now that’s identity for you?). 
With Liverpool playing at a similar time on Setanta, especially considering their huge popularity in Ireland, my chances of finding a pub playing the Stoke game were slim to none at all. So, when I stumbled upon The Queens Hotel, in the historical town of Ennis (Co. Clare) whom – in having the benefit of two separate systems - agreed to put the game on a small screen in the corner, I was obviously delighted. Randomly this “delightful” establishment, featured in James Joyce’s masterpiece ‘Ulysses’. However, it was the maelstrom created by the abnormality of these two particular games being played simultaneously, which made for an altogether surreal & testing scenario. 
The clash of the Stoke & Liverpool matches that Sunday resulted in galvanising my fraternity for the team I have supported since childhood, & may well have cured a very mild identity crisis. It has been a similar situation for Rafa at Liverpool. Benitez, judiciously it now seems, decided to test the metal of Liverpool’s Yankee owners, calling their bluff to see how serious they were about Liverpool FC. It seemed risky at the time, but Benitez knew he had the backing of the fans as a safety net, & in-turn he received the assurances he was looking for. Moreover, His team look stronger as a consequence of this conflict & he too looks to be in a much stronger position, despite his many doubters outside the club. Deep down, I - like Benitez - knew the loyalty was always there; it just needed to be tested to confirm what I had always suspected.
scorer Ricardo Fuller. But while this decision raised many eyebrows, it came off for our Tone, as Sidibe grabbed the winner. As I mentioned earlier, Sidibe works his socks off, & this is a huge asset away from home. Fuller, despite his goal threat, is an individual & can at times go missing & appear lazy. Furthermore, Pulis has shown his strength in the loan market again, acquiring the services of Chris Riggott from Derby, who has steadied our recently shaky defence. Ryan Shawcross, for all his potential, is still only young remember, & although he has been a colossus this season, it was right he was dropped after QPR. And didn’t this decision pay dividends?
Nevertheless, I feel Pulis has to delve into the transfer market one last time if we are to achieve promotion. A catalyst in attack is needed to get us across the finish line, akin to Sheringham’s move to West Ham or (dare I say it?) Merson’s move to Portsmouth. There are rumours of Nugent coming & he certainly fits this criteria. However, IMHO I would opt for more experience in our current situation (viz. Brian McBride or Jason Roberts). But I suppose Jay Bothroyd will just have to make-do!
In his autobiography, ‘Walking on Water’, Brian Clough recalls his feelings on the day he was interviewed for the vacant England manager’s job: “When I sit at home, busy doing nothing at all, and think back again to that day I bowled into Lancaster Gate as if I already owned the place, I remain unshakeable in my belief that the whole interviewing process was a charade.” This recollection provides an indication of Clough’s brash self-confidence and an insight into how a conservative FA had already earmarked ‘their man’, Ron Greenwood, for the top job. Despite a strong shortlist consisting of such luminaries as Bobby Robson and Lawrie McMenemy alongside the lesser known Allen Wade and Charles Hughes, many football aficionados agreed that Clough was the best qualified for the job. Moreover, most football fans in the East Midlands still regard Brian Clough as the greatest manager of modern times – his achievements unmatched in the British game when you consider that he was only able to flex relatively meagre financial muscles. 
Clough was a man of principle and high standards and was never afraid to offer his advice to player or pressman. When Trevor Francis (pictured above) found himself with the honour of receving an award from the great man, Clough told him in no uncertain terms to “Take your hands out of your pockets!” On England goalkeeper David Seaman, Clough observed, “That Seaman is a handsome young man but he spends too much time looking in his mirror rather than at the ball. You can’t keep goal with hair like that.” He was famous for insisting on being called ‘Mr Clough’ and earned great respect from his peers for his ability to turn a game to his and his team’s advantage. 
Some people believe that Brian Clough was the greatest England manager never to have got the job. I myself would tend to agree with this. First and foremost, Clough was a good northerner who spoke his mind and called a spade a spade. What you saw was what you got. He was also fairly conventional in his approach to handling his squad; he demanded that players were ultra-professional off the field as well as on it and insisted that his players upheld on a clean image and were well-presented with neat haircuts and smart suits. He also insisted on shirts being tucked inside their shorts and always played with their socks rolled up. This cleancut appearance was also reflected in his teams’ behaviour on the pitch as he was adamant that his players should behave honourably and never argue with the referee. His tactics and methods demonstrated a desire to play the game in the right way by keeping the ball on the ground and not resorting to Route One football which was employed by so many other teams in England at the time. He was an inventive coach and used left wingers like John Robertson at Forest and Alan Hinton at Derby to particularly good effect. Like Alf Ramsay at Ipswich, Clough moulded together a group of lesser-known players and turned them into a really effective crushing machine, where the onus was on collective responsibility and the team playing for each other rather than relying on Fancy Dans who were out for themselves. Although Clough himself signed Teddy Sheringham, it is rumoured that Clough didn’t really care for him and thought he was another flash and cocky Londoner. This feeling is perhaps typified in the way that Clough constantly referred to him as ‘Edward’.
When Clough speaks about the interviewing process being a charade it is because the FA were never in a million years going to appoint a man of Clough’s outpoken nature. In Walking on Water he says: “They (the interviewing panel) could have saved us all a lot of time and bother because Greenwood seemed merely to be rubber-stamped. They would have gone home and boasted to their golf-club cronies that they had appointed the nice Ron Greenwood, a first class diplomat as well as a fine coach, and they had given the bum’s rush to that objectionable braggart from Nottingham Forest.” Whatever the reasons the power-men had when deciding not to make Clough manager, it surely was to England’s loss. 
The Eagles have hit the wall of late, but manager Neil Warnock described their win at Preston as one of their best performances of the season. They face a Cardiff side who will have one eye on the potential scalp of ‘Boro in the cup on Sunday, and whom are win-less in 5; can anyone see a pattern here? Dave Jones has warned against his side doing exactly what were expecting them, and by going public, he knows that it could well happen. Palace can jump back into play-off contention here and i expect it to happen.
