Scotland boss Levein gets scout wish

January 8, 2010

Scotland’s new manager, Craig Levein, will have a scout to assist him after the Scottish Football Association (SFA) announced his former club colleague Michael Oliver had been appointed to the post.

For the past two years Oliver has worked at Scottish Premier League side Dundee United, where Levein was the manager until he was installed as Scotland boss last month in succession to the sacked George Burley.

“Hopefully I can have a good impact on the squad’s preparations and have a real go at creating a good picture for Craig of the teams he will face,” Oliver, who has also scouted for English Premier League sides Birmingham and Wigan, told www.scottishfa.co.uk following Thursday’s announcement by the SFA.

He added: “More often than not I’ll be watching club matches where a percentage of players involved are eligible for an international opponent.

“That is where you’ll see a player perform to their full potential and learn most about them, as opposed to an international friendly where not a lot is at stake,” explained Oliver, likely to be Levein’s only full-time member of staff.

Levein, whose first game in charge is the international friendly against the Czech Republic in March, said: “When I was working at club level I didn’t like it if I sent out my team and the opposition brought on a player who I hadn’t briefed my players about.

“When I was offered the job here I made it clear from the start that I wanted a full-time scout.

“Michael fits the role perfectly,” added Levein, who first met Oliver as a 19-year-old when he played alongside him at Scottish lower league side Cowdenbeath.

“He already has a lot of experience in a similar role, he is used to travelling around Europe watching players, and he has made a lot of good contacts along the way.

“For the past two years he was my scout at Dundee United. For me the most important thing is that Michael always gives me a definitive opinion about a player,” Levein explained.

Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France and Levein’s primary task is to get the team through to the 2012 European Championship finals in Poland and the Ukraine.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Birmingham, colleague, craig levein, czech republic, Dundee, dundee united, English Premier League, Europe, first game, full time, george burley, Glasgow, Michael, michael oliver, opponent, opposition, Poland, scotland, scottish football association, Scottish Premier League, scottishfa, sfa, stake, time scout, travelling around europe, ukraine, Wigan

Big guns return as United face Hammers test

December 5, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson is poised to recall his big guns when Manchester United travel to Upton Park on a mission to keep in touch with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table.

Ferguson fielded a youthful side in the midweek League Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford and was rewarded as the likes of Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson, Federico Macheda, Gabriel Obertan and Ritchie de Laet impressed in United’s comfortable passage to the semi-finals.

The Scot has been full of praise for those who have stepped up to the plate, and critical of those who who have dared to suggest the players in question might not meet the high standards required at Old Trafford.

Yet it is doubtful Ferguson will trust any of them enough to hand them regular exposure to the tough demands of the Premier League, mainly because United’s margin for error in the title race is minimal given the five-point advantage Chelsea currently hold at the top of the table.

The exception could be Gibson, whose two goals in midweek have presented Ferguson with a selection dilemma.

The Ireland midfielder has shown he is ready for a continued run in the team but the problem Ferguson faces is accommodating him in an area of the side where he is spoilt for choice.

The recent form of Anderson and Michael Carrick has dipped and these two could be the most vulnerable should Ferguson decide to hand Gibson another chance to impress in a line-up that will see Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Darren Fletcher and possibly Paul Scholes return.

Veteran defender Gary Neville believes the midweek display against Spurs was proof that United have another golden generation of young stars on their books and he argued that those on the fringes should now be considered an integral part of United’s first team squad.

“I don’t think they’re younger players,” Neville said. “They’re playing for their countries and they deserve to be there by right.

“They’re Premier League players of that quality, although they’re obviously developing.

“It’s going to be difficult to go all the way in the League Cup, but we’re in the semi-finals again and we want to continue to do well this year.”

Having struggled badly earlier in the season, West Ham have moved out of the relegation zone by winning two of their last four matches and, like Ferguson, manager Gianfranco Zola is reaping the benefit of giving homegrown young players their chance.

Few of the Hammers proteges have impressed more than winger Zavon Hines, who is relishing the chance to test himself against the champions.

The Jamaican-born forward is not lacking in confidence and insists he will not be overawed by the reputations of the players he will come up against on Saturday.

“I am looking forward to the game and it doesn’t matter who you play. When Arsenal came here we were really up for it and came back from 2-0 down so I’m happy to take on anyone.

“Every time I come on I feel happy because not a lot of people get into my position. Playing for West Ham is a big thing for me and every time I play I get more confidence.”

Hines is set to start on Saturday with West Ham’s England striker Carlton Cole sidelined by a knee ligament injury. Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami is also out and Zola is sweating on the availability of Matthew Upson, who is struggling with a hamstring problem.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Anderson, big guns, CHELSEA, cup victory, Danny Welbeck, darren fletcher, darron gibson, England, federico macheda, Gabriel Obertan, gary neville, golden generation, Ireland, london, Manchester, matthew upson, Michael, Michael Carrick, Neville, old trafford, Paul, point advantage, ryan giggs, Scot, sir alex ferguson, united travel, upton park, wayne rooney, welbeck, west ham, young stars, youthful side, Zola

ManUnited in search of Rovers´ revival

October 31, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson wants a comprehensive performance from Manchester United against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday to prove they have from last weekend’s loss at Anfield.

Liverpool beat Premier League champions United 2-0 in a thunderous atmosphere on Merseyside to not only keep their own threadbare title ambitions alive but also end their arch-rivals’ 11-match unbeaten run.

A comfortable enough victory at Barnsley during the week put United into the last eight of the League Cup and seemed to prove the Liverpool result has not left any mental hangovers at Old Trafford.

“Part of the challenge is how you react to disappointment,” said Ferguson. “We lost 4-1 to Liverpool at home last season, which was a travesty but the players buckled down and we went on to win the league.”

During last Sunday’s Liverpool encounter, former Anfield star Michael Owen looked United?s most potent force and he also scored in the win at Barnsley.

The England striker may have been a surprise pre-season acquisition by Ferguson but he continues to impress at Old Trafford.

“Michael is always looking and always on the move,” United assistant manager Mike Phelan said. “That is the quality of Michael Owen and those qualities are of benefit to us.

“Michael has come to Manchester United as it a fresh challenge for him and we can use him as and when we need to use him.”

Blackburn will arrive at Old Trafford after one of the most testing weeks for a Premier League football club in recent memory due to the swine-flu problems that have affected their squad in the build-up to this encounter.

Two players missed last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing by Chelsea due to the condition, while a further player and two members of staff have also contracted the illness to disrupt Sam Allardyce’s plans.

The Rovers manager also knows he has significant problems on the pitch because his side is currently incapable of winning on the road, having lost their last nine encounters away from Ewood Park.

Allardyce admitted: “The difference between the team at Ewood and the team away from home is unrecognisable.

“If you beat Aston Villa with 10-men at home you are showing some real quality style, grit and determination.

“But if you then lose 6-2 and 5-0 at Arsenal and Chelsea then you see a team you just can’t recognise.

“It is a baffling problem that I need to resolve immediately before Manchester United.

“I have to resolve it because, if I don’t, it becomes like the ‘yips’ (a nervous and uncertain putting stroke) in golf if you like.

“The ‘yips’ can become a greater and greater problem as time goes on and on and on so we have to resolve it by the time we are at Old Trafford.”

He added: “We need to be organised and resilient enough to make sure that no matter what happens, with 10 minutes to go we are still in with a chance.”

United will be without Park Ji-sung (knee) while Darren Fletcher has yet to play since injuring his foot on international duty with Scotland but could be in contention.

Blackburn defender Christopher Samba is still struggling with swine-flu, but Rovers say they are monitoring the situation day-by-day.

Meanwhile right-back Pascal Chimbonda (calf) and midfielder Vince Grella (thigh) are also doubts.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, ambitions, anfield liverpool, arch rivals, barnsley, CHELSEA, Christopher Samba, darren fletcher, England, Ewood Park, hangovers, last sunday, league champions, league football club, Liverpool, Manchester, manchester united, Merseyside, Michael, michael owen, mike phelan, Pascal Chimbonda, potent force, premier league, premier league football, sam allardyce, scotland, sir alex ferguson, striker, swine flu, vince grella

ManUnited in search of Rovers´ revival

October 31, 2009

Sir Alex Ferguson wants a comprehensive performance from Manchester United against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday to prove they have from last weekend’s loss at Anfield.