Angry Allardyce rounds on McCarthy

January 27, 2010

South Africa striker Benni McCarthy received a furious farewell from Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce after the club confirmed Tuesday they have agreed a fee for his transfer with West Ham.

McCarthy has missed training sessions this week, in what has been seen as a bid to force through a move away from Ewood Park, but his controversial action may not have been necessary after the Premier League clubs agreed a fee reported to be 2.25 million pounds.

The 32-year-old striker has grown disillusioned with his lack of first-team starts under Allardyce and has been seeking a move to ensure regular football in the run-up to the World Cup finals in his home country in June and July.

But Allardyce said there was no excuse for McCarthy not turning up at training, branding his conduct “unprofessional” and saying it was symptomatic of too many players in the modern game.

“What he’s done is unprofessional. It shows you that the only loyalty a player has got is to himself,” Allardyce said.

“This is what we deal with today in football, there’s not such a thing as loyalty as there used to be in the older days when I was a player.

“It’s a selfish attitude they have and that’s not just about Benni, that’s all players today. If they want something they do anything to try and get it.”

Allardyce added: “If he is trying to manipulate a move by staying away it’s not the right thing to do.

“Sometimes players will get advised wrongly and I think whoever is advising him to stay away is very wrong as he’s done himself no favours.”

The Hammers are only presently above the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference while Blackburn are five points clear of the bottom three.

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)

Tags: benni mccarthy, controversial action, England, Ewood Park, excuse, farewell, five points, goal difference, loyalty, premier league, premier league clubs, relegation zone, Sam, sam allardyce, sessions, South Africa, striker, west ham, world cup finals

Coyle’s Bolton move is another footballing mystery – or is it?

January 6, 2010

One day perhaps we’ll understand how Wes Brown has amassed 21 England caps and maybe someone will eventually explain how Robinho is worth 35 million pounds but I don’t think I’ll ever comprehend the reason for Owen Coyle planning to ditch Burnley and go to Bolton Wanderers.

Coyle turned down the Celtic job last year because he wanted to go with Burnley into the Premier League and said only last week that he was “privileged to be building something special” at the club.

Yet within a heartbeat of Bolton sacking Gary Megson, wheels began turning to get Coyle in as his replacement.

As a former striker with Bolton in the early 1990s he said the club has a “special place in my heart” but it seems a bizarre move.

Both clubs are likely to spend the rest of the season fighting against relegation and while Bolton have probably got the deeper resources on and off the pitch, they are hardly Manchester United.

Coyle has built a reputation as an intelligent manager who develops passing teams who play the game “in the right way” and it was always unlikely to be too long before one of the league’s “bigger clubs” came calling.

Whether Bolton fit that bill is another matter – Burnley fans certainly don’t think so.

However, having said all that, if Bolton are offering Coyle a monster pay rise that Burnley – and even Celtic – can’t match, then who is to tell him to turn it down.

I’d wager the vast majority of fans who happily condemn players and managers for their lack of loyalty would switch their own jobs in an instant if a rival firm offered to double or triple their salary.

PHOTO: Burnley coach Owen Coyle reacts after their English Premier League soccer match against Everton in Burnley August 23, 2009. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

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Tags: bolton wanderers, burnley, ditch, early 1990s, England, england caps, English Premier League, english premier league soccer, everton, gary megson, intelligent manager, loyalty, Nigel Roddis, Owen Coyle, place in my heart, premier league, relegation, reuters, rival firm, striker, wes brown

Ferguson lays into City over Hughes sacking

December 24, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson has slammed neighbours Manchester City for the way in which they handled the sacking of his former player Mark Hughes this week.

City have been widely pilloried in the football community for the manner in which the highly-respected Hughes was forced to take control of his team in last Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Sunderland before being sacked and replaced by Italian Roberto Mancini immediately after the game.

Now the Manchester United manager, an influential figure at the League Managers’ Association, has added his voice to the general condemnation of City’s behaviour while praising the actions of Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, a former team-mate of Hughes’ at United in the 1990’s.

“That is one thing I do not need to discuss, it is so obvious, that kind of behaviour is unacceptable,” said Ferguson when asked for his reaction to Hughes’ treatment last Saturday.

“It doesn’t matter whether you have lost 20 games or, as in the case of Mark Hughes, two games. There is a way to treat people, surely.

“But Christmas time seems to bring the worst out of directors. Sitting there throughout the game, knowing something was going on, must have been terrible. Brucey felt that himself, the rumour mill was working overtime.

“Mark had obviously realised it was his last game, it must have been a terrible position to be in. I think everyone was shocked, obviously. I spoke to Mark the next day and I could tell he was suffering.

“I was talking to him about Steve Bruce and Brucey was fantastic. In the game of football you have disputes with managers from time to time, as they had had, but what Steve Bruce did was defend an old team- mate.

“They were part of our team in ‘94 that stood by each other and fought like the devil together and what Steve Bruce said was, ?That’s my team mate you’re talking about.’

“I was really proud of Steve Bruce and I know Mark appreciated that. He really appreciated that kind of loyalty, which he didn’t get at City, from an old team mate.”

Ferguson, who had traded veiled jibes on occasion with Hughes this season, also backed the Welshman to bounce back from his 18-month City experience.

“Of course he will,” said Ferguson. “He did a great job with Wales, which is not an easy job, a great job with Blackburn and he was the right man for Manchester City at the time.”

Meanwhile, Ferguson had a kinder view of the other major managerial appointment this week, which saw Craig Levein take over from George Burley as manager of the Scotland national team.

“If it was going to be a Scotsman, he was the obvious candidate,” said Ferguson.

“He did a good job with Dundee United and, hopefully, he does really well. Being Scottish, you want to see our team in the European Championships next time, see them qualify.”

Senegal’s Mame Biram Diouf has officially joined the club after the forward, signed from Norwegian club Molde earlier this year, received his work permit.

However, United admit his international clearance will not come through until after the third round FA Cup tie with Leeds on January 2.

“Hopefully, we will get his international clearance by the (Manchester) City (Carling Cup) semi-final,” said Ferguson.

“I don’t want him to start that game, it will be too early for him but he has been terrific in training with us.”

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: Carling Cup, christmas time, condemnation, craig levein, Dundee, Ferguson, football community, former team, game of football, george burley, Hughes, last game, last saturday, league managers association, LEEDS, loyalty, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, Mark, Mark Hughes, neighbours, roberto mancini, Rumour Mill, scotland, Senegal, sir alex ferguson, Sunderland, team mate, two games, Wales

Van der Vaart pledges his loyalty to Real

December 21, 2009

Rafael van der Vaart has been a regular starter at Real Madrid for the last few matches and that has changed his situation at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Dutch midfielder will only leave Real if the club tells him to go.

His recent performances for Los Merengues have strengthened Van der Vaart’s confidence. The attacking midfielder has rejected any possible move in January.

“My intention is to finish the season here and see out the contract that I have with Real Madrid,” Van der Vaart told Dutch paper De Telegraaf. “I am very happy and believe I am playing very well at the moment.

“I’ve been a starter for the last four matches, we played well and we won them all.

“Only if I’m forced to leave, I will go,” added the former Hamburger SV midfielder. “But the club have insisted that they don’t want to sell me.”

Tags: confidence, de telegraaf, dutch paper, hamburger sv, intention, loyalty, MADRID, midfielder, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, real madrid, Santiago, santiago bernabeu, Van der

New deals for Giggs and Scholes

December 12, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Manchester United are about to offer their veteran duo Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs a one-year contract extension.

Both players have played their whole career at Old Trafford and are set to sign new deals to underline their loyalty for The Red Devils.

Giggs is the reigning PFA Player of the Year and is the latest Premier League player to score 100 goals.

Meanwhile Scholes has also built a legacy at Manchester United and he still has quality in his game despite his age passing 35.

“Ryan will be offered a new contract for next season, which is an indication of what we think of him coming up to 37 next season, and Paul knows he will be offered one as well,” Ferguson said.

“Ryan is an example to young people,” said Ferguson.

“He has humility and he has never changed and I think he is having his best years now.

“He has retained that amazing quality in his game and also an enthusiasm to play.”

Fergie added, “I spoke to Paul and he said he didn’t actually say he was thinking of his future.

“When you get to that age every player starts to think about what the future holds for him.

“But when you see Paul’s performances at West Ham and in Wolfsburg last week there is no reason to think he can’t do it again next year again.

“Maybe he thinks he should be playing every game. That’s fine, but I know that’s not fair.

“We want the quality. We want to see Scholes perform like he did on Tuesday and the best way of doing that is to gauge the games we know he is going to dominate.”

Tags: alex ferguson, contract extension, game, games, humility, legacy, loyalty, Manchester, manchester united, new contract, old trafford, Paul, paul scholes, pfa player of the year, premier league, red devils, Ryan, ryan giggs, sir alex ferguson, west ham

Wigan refund fans who witnessed Spurs massacre

November 24, 2009

Wigan’s shell-shocked players on Monday offered to refund supporters who travelled to London to watch their side being thrashed 9-1 by Tottenham.

The Latics crashed to the second worst defeat in Premier League history as they conceded eight second-half goals at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Defender Mario Melchiot admitted the result was embarrassing and, along with the rest of his team-mates, will pay away fans the cost of their tickets.

Melchiot told the club’s website, www.wiganlatics.co.uk: “We feel that as a group of players we badly let down our supporters yesterday, and this is a gesture we have to make and pay them back for their tremendous loyalty.

“There is not a lot else to say, just that as a group of professionals we were embarrassed by the way we performed, we feel it was below our standards and this is something we feel we owe to the fans.

“Now we have to draw a line under the game, focus completely on training this week and bounce back on Saturday.

“We are professionals, we will take it on the chin and move on but it’s important that we do not take our supporters for granted.”

Wigan return to action when they host Sunderland this weekend and the club’s owner, Dave Whelan, has insisted that manager Roberto Martinez’s job is safe, despite the humiliation at Spurs.

“9-1 is a serious, serious defeat and we have got to get our heads up and I am sure Roberto will be working on the lads now to get them going again and get their heads back in the air and get some pride back in Wigan Athletic,” Whelan said.

“He is Wigan’s manager and I have complete faith in him and I know the supporters have.

“I am absolutely 100 percent behind Roberto, he’s a great manager and he will pull this team around.”

WIGAN (AFP)

Tags: dave whelan, faith, gesture, humiliation, lads, latics, loyalty, Mario Melchiot, premier league history, pride, roberto martinez, shell, spurs, tottenham, website www, white hart lane, wigan athletic, wiganlatics

No Milan for Dzeko after contract extension

August 2, 2009

Edin Dzeko has pledged his loyalty to VfL Wolfsburg, as the player signed a contract extension with the German champions.

The Bosnian’s future was a popular topic of speculation in recent weeks. Italian giants AC Milan reportedly had a big rejected for the striker.

“I am delighted that we managed to agree terms before the start of the Bundesliga season,” Dzeko said. “I’m looking forward to playing in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League.”

Dzeko, who is now set to remain at the club until 2013, joined Wolfsburg from Teplice in 2007 and was a key player in the VfL team that won the Bundesliga last season.

The contract extension is announced a day after the signing of Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins from Newcastle United.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: ac milan, bosnian, Bundesliga, champions league, contract extension, german champions, giants, loyalty, Milan, NEWCASTLE, newcastle united, obafemi martins, roorda, speculation, striker, Teplice, Wolfsburg

Share your memories of Sir Bobby Robson

July 31, 2009

The death of Sir Bobby Robson, England’s most successful manager after Sir Alf Ramsey, had been expected given his long battle with cancer, but his passing still jolts.

The son of a miner, Robson’s career was characterised by dignity, loyalty and hard graft and no little success.

As a player he won 20 England caps, but it was as an innovative manager that he will be best remembered, notably his success in guiding England to a World Cup semi-final in 1990, when his side came agonisingly close to reaching the final.

Before his stint with the national team, Robson managed Ipswich for 13 years, guiding the Suffolk club to FA and UEFA Cup success and twice led the Portman Road side to the runners-up spot in the old First Division.

At Ipswich, Robson brought in two Dutch players — Arnold Muhren and Franz Thijssen — who helped forge Ipswich’s reputation as a passing side playing attractive and enterprising football.

After stepping down as England manager in 1990, Robson then went to Holland, where he managed PSV Eindhoven, before going on to coach Sporting Lisbon and Porto in Portugal and then Barcelona in Spain.

While he was at Barca he helped

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Tags: 13 years, arnold muhren, cup success, dignity, Eindhoven, England, england caps, england manager, Franz Thijssen, graft, Holland, jolts, Lisbon, loyalty, Portman Road, PORTO, porto in portugal, portugal, reputation, Robson, runners, share your memories, sir alf ramsey, Sir Bobby, sir bobby robson, Spain, sporting lisbon, stint, Suffolk, World Cup

Ribery is using Bayern for career, says Beckenbauer

July 27, 2009

European giants Bayern Munich’s club president Franz Beckenbauer has launched a vicious attack on the club’s French player Franck Ribery, claiming that he is just using the club to further his own career.

A World Cup medal winner as a player and manager, Beckenbauer has questioned the Frenchman’s loyalty to Bayern after he was strongly linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena this summer.

Spanish giants Real Madrid pursued the 26-year-old, who has made it clear that he would have preferred to leave this summer.

“Ribery only came here to make a name for himself,” Beckenbauer was quoted by the Bild newspaper as saying at a benefit evening on Saturday night.

“He doesn’t give a damn about Munich.”

While, Bayern have resisted the temptation to sell Ribery to Madrid, they could lose him for a reduced fee next summer due to FIFA article 17 which allows a player under the age of 28 to walk away from a club after three years of his contract.

Ribery signed a four-year contract when he arrived in Munich from Marseille two years ago and Beckenbauer believes the midfielder was aware of this rule when he signed that deal.

“Why would I sign a four-year contract if I only want to stay for three?” he said.

However, Ribery is a doubt for the start of the new Bundesliga season due to a knee injury which has kept him out of training for the last week.

Tags: allianz arena, Arena, Bayern, bayern munich, benefit evening, bild newspaper, club president, franz beckenbauer, frenchman, giants, knee injury, loyalty, MADRID, Marseille, medal, midfielder, Munich, saturday night, vicious attack, World Cup

Footballer Gerrard not guilty over bar brawl

July 25, 2009

Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard was found not guilty Friday over an alleged assault on a businessman during a bar brawl.

The player voiced relief at the ruling, in a case which has hung over him since the incident last December.

“I’d like to put this case behind me. I’m really looking forward to the season ahead and concentrating on football,” he said in a brief statement outside court.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez hailed Gerrard Saturday voicing confidence that his captain would be mentally ready for the new season.

“We are really, really pleased with the news which means he can now play football and focus on football,” said Benitez.

“But the plan is to rest him and he will start again next week.”

Gerrard was accused of being part of a group that injured Marcus McGee, 34, at the Lounge Inn nightclub in Southport near Liverpool, northwest England, on December 29 last year.

The Liverpool captain was celebrating his club’s 5-1 win at Newcastle United at the time. He denied the charge of affray. An initial charge of assault was dropped at a court hearing in March.

The jury took only 70 minutes to reach their verdict Friday. Gerrard showed no emotion when it was read out.

Judge Henry Globe told Gerrard: “The verdict is a credible verdict on the full facts of this case, and you walk away from this court with your reputation intact.”

Before sending the jury out to consider their verdict, the judge had told them to set aside “any football loyalty” in making their decision, and described the incident as an “explosion of violence.”

Giving evidence at the trial Thursday, the 29-year-old midfielder had insisted he punched McGee only in self-defence after an argument about what music was being played.

But he said he was sorry about what he did, adding: “Obviously I am upset about how the whole thing turned out.”

The row erupted after Gerrard tried to choose a few songs from a list of tracks being played on a CD player, but was prevented by McGee.

On Wednesday, McGee claimed that Gerrard attacked him “with a succession of well-aimed uppercut punches delivered with the style and speed of a professional boxer rather than a professional footballer.”

At one point Thursday Gerrard — who estimated that he was seven out of 10 on a drunkenness scale — was asked to demonstrate an upper cut punch, and he did so.

When asked if he was “sickened” by what he did, he said: “I’m certainly sorry.”

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez welcomed the verdict Friday. “We are really pleased… He is very important for us and he can now focus just on football,” he said.

“We are all pleased at the club and over here at the training camp,” said Benitez, speaking from Singapore, where Liverpool are currently as part of a regional tour.

“We have been supporting him all the time and were just waiting for the decision. Now he can concentrate just on football and hopefully play at the same level as last year,” he said.

Gerrard’s absence from the Liverpool squad has put a dampener on the club’s current much-hyped Asian swing.

His British court date was set before the trip to Asia was announced, although Gerrard featured in promotional adverts aired on television in the region.

Gerrard had faced trial at Liverpool Crown Court alone after five co-defendants admitted affray and one admitted a lesser charge of threatening behaviour.

The other five were Accrington Stanley players Robert Grant, 19, and Ian Dunbavin, 28, as well as Ian Gerrard Smith, 19, Paul McGrattan, 31 and John McGrattan.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)