Bleacher Report - Articles by Steven Woodgate

To Refer Or Not To Refer?

Steven Woodgate — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:56:44 -0400

To refer or not to refer? That is one question that is causing much debating in the Cricket circuit and on recent evidence there do not seem a point.

When you throw your mind back, umpires used to the best judges and the standard of umpiring has been diminishing since the inclusion of TV replays and this referral nonsense.

Before TV replays umpires had to make the difficult choice, their own eyes and initiative where there only point of protocol and on a whole, decisions were better assessed if though may have not been the correct one. Players respected the decision and there was not point in disputing the decision.

The decision was solely on them, they had to make the hard decision, as there was no other way. It was down to them, now with the influx of technology they don’t have to make that difficult decision. Technology should be embraced nevertheless but it needs a clear and defined system in place that works and that can be implemented in all forms of professional cricket.

The inclusion of TV replays has certainly helped to make more right decisions, even though it causes minor disruptions and delays. The third umpire is only there just to make sure that the decision was fully correct or if the umpire missed a close decision.

But this referral fiasco has hindered the flow of cricket and has caused more talking points than anything.

The referral system works particularly well in Tennis, as there is a key indication that the ball is either in or out, there is no two ways about it. Cricket has too many factors for it to be as clear as that.

On reflexion on the West Indies test it is something that the game really could do without. Fortunately for all cricket lovers, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is to assess the controversial new system in May but who knows what that will bring.

Big names in cricket including South African Captain Graeme Smith and Australia Captain Ricky Pointing have both declared their dismay for the system as both would like to see the idea of eradicating really bad decisions but the current system in place leaves a lot to be desired.

The current system of two challenges per innings are allowed as the TV official can use pictures and some of the available Hawkeye Technology.

There was a half-hearted attempt to use the referral system in the Friends Provident Trophy and it was frankly embarrassing. In the end, the captains agreed not to make referrals, and the umpires alike shook hands to protect their fraternity.

No doubt it will be back in county cricket sooner or later, and as much as the cricket purists wishes the system will not be going away.

International Test cricket is pinnacle of cricket and the exposure of the system should have not been highlighted in such an awkward way. It should have went through extensive tests in county cricket before it was inflicted on the main arena but the eagerness of the ICC to make cricket more fashionable prevented common sense as teething problems will always be apparent.

This evidently will be a vital part of the future in cricket but at the moment the future looks a little hazy.

Fire Burnley-Ed Out?

Steven Woodgate — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:26:20 -0400

Burnley may have played just a few games too many as their season could be dwindling in front of their very own devious eyes.

Being in only seventh spot is not a massive concern, but if the tenuous extra rounds of Carling Cup and FA Cup football weren’t played, Burnley may have cemented their place in the anxious playoffs a lot sooner.

Games against a string of the best clubs in the country would be pleasing on any eager fan’s eyes—Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Fulham have all played and been outwitted by The Clarets at some stage and that’s a true testament to manager Owen Coyle’s desire to the cause, that they not only matched their opponents but beat them conveniently.

Nevertheless, it would take noticeable bearing on Burnley’s rather small, depleted squad. The lack of players will mean that some will play up to or surpassing 60 games, and for any professional footballer that would be painstakingly difficult.

In hindsight, the success in the Carling Cup and FA Cup could be all in vain if the club were not to reach the playoffs.

The most recent highlighted game against Arsenal finished in a 3-0 reverse to the Premier League side as Burnley were knocked out of the FA Cup and now it is smash, bang back to reality of the doldrums of Championship football.

Just Championship football.

Burnley haven’t always been able to adjust to the football that is played in England’s second division after playing such prestigious teams. The stunning 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur (even though it prevented them from a Carling Cup Final) was followed by an impressive FA Cup tie draw against fellow Premier League side West Brom before a crushing defeat to lowly Watford in the bread and butter of the Championship.

As we enter the pinnacle moment of a lasting season, freshness is often the deciding factor between many tight encounters. Clubs around Burnley have much bigger squads to choose and that may be the difference.

Burnley have 10 games to make this season one to remember. Not every team have the luxury beating so many Premier League teams in one season but evidently it could be all for sweet FA.

Coyle and his staff have their work cut out to find a decent training regime to keep Burnley’s small squad fresh and be ready for the next vital games. The play-off picture looks a firm possibility and we will have to wait in anticipation to see whether the players' legs can hold the last few steps and extend their season to a few more games.

David Ngog for All!

Steven Woodgate — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:46:01 -0500

Oh my Ngog! Liverpool may not be in a worse position than they were last season.

Before this season, if Fernando Torres was injured, the Reds could always turn to Peter Crouch to play up front. But Crouch left for Portsmouth, so Liverpool brought in exuberant striker Robbie Keane to enhance their title credentials, and we all know what happened next.

The premature departure of Keane back to Tottenham Hotspur in January was baffling to say the least, and Liverpool was in danger of finishing worse than their fourth-place finish last term.

But with David Ngog's first Premier League goal, it appears that Rafael Benitez is not barmy after all, and that sending Keane to Tottenahm Hotspur will not irrevocably damage the club.

Before the Sunderland game, Ngog looked nothing more than a hopeless Ryan Babel, and Babel is quite hopeless. However, his starting berth gave the young striker a fantastic showcase to show his worth and he duly delivered.

He was majestic and played light years ahead of his own age to supply Liverpool with a real option up front.

He conjured up some superb flicks and brought many of the midfielders into play. Even Javier Mascherano looked like an attacking threat from his unfavoured right back position, as he was able to make use of Ngog’s ability to create space to blast a few shots wide (What else did you expect?).

Ngog’s side-footed goal lifted a great deal of expectation and fear of dropping out of the title race off Liverpool’s batted shoulders. More importantly, it gave breathing room between them and party smashers Aston Villa to make sure they secure those desperate Champions League places.

Ngog has always been prolific in youth football and has taken the first steps of becoming a real star on Merseyside.

Keane’s departure may look less ridiculous now. Benitez may know what he is doing? I still doubt that very much.

Carr Driven at Birmingham City

Steven Woodgate — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:03:48 -0500

Birmingham City have plucked a real stunning capture as they have coax Stephen Carr out of retirement to sign an initial one-month deal after being on trial.

The right back had been without a club since his release from Newcastle but will now look to resurrect his career in the Championship.

Carr made 44 appearances for the Republic of Ireland and is still at a relatively young age of 32 to make a real difference.

It is surprising that no club gambled on Carr as he has plenty to offer. A wealth of Premier League experience and a winning League Cup medal as well as playing alongside many big names surely he would have been an asset to any team.

Birmingham have added a determined right back to their ranks, one that can offer good defensive cover as well as attacking options.

He is known for his long-range efforts; most notably the screamer he scored passed Manchester United will come to the mind of many.

Carr went through the ranks at Tottenham before joining Newcastle for £2 million back in 2004 signing for then, boss Sir Bobby Robson.

Kevin Keegan decided against renewing his contract at the end of last season as injuries, like many other professionals, have been Carr’s downfall but if he can get match fit and playing regularly, he would be one of the better right backs in the Championships.

Birmingham have themselves a potential gem of a player.

No Pleasure at Blackpool Beaches

Steven Woodgate — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:57:42 -0500

Blackpool sit elegantly on the profoundly known ‘pleasure beach’, but down the road at Bloomfield Road the football team is anything but pleasurable. Inconsistency is a virtue and frankly, Blackpool have none.

A poor February has caused the Seasiders to freefall into a relegation scrap and they face the prospect of playing some very difficult teams soon.

Caretaker boss Tony Parkes can’t be happy with the current state of affairs as he tries to rebuild the team’s spirit and confidence in what will be a very difficult last third of the season.

The surprise departure of previous manager Simon Grayson to Leeds United caused results to be akin to the roller coaster on the town’s pleasure beach.

The ups and downs of results include two wins, three draws and five defeats in their last ten games leaves a lot to the imagination. More worryingly for Blackpool, it has been three defeats in the last three games—the latter coming at home to Watford, who sits agonisingly below them.

This season results have varied from a comfortable and re-insuring 2-0 win over promotion chasing Birmingham City to a measly 1-0 defeat to Torquay United in the FA cup. Huge dips and dives.

Goals have been hard to come by as Ben Burgess have topped scored with six and the only other notable goal scorers have come in the form of Alan Gow and Gareth Taylor-Fletcher with five apiece. Hardly thrilling stuff.

The board don’t seem to be much bothered in recruiting a new manager as they have looked like they have gave Parkes the burden of keeping Blackpool in the Championship.

It must be essential to recruit a manager sooner rather than later as Parkes is hardly considered as a long-term fixture.

Obviously Blackpool are a team with limited funds and have a stadium capacity of only 9,650 (expansion and construction is pending) so it’s hardly appealing for many who are unemployed out there.

Big-time managers wouldn’t look favourably on accepting a job of this calibre, Mickey Adams and Glenn Roeder are currently unattached and would possibly be interested.

Simon Grayson did wonders and proved to be a very good young manager, perhaps Blackpool are looking for the next young spark to relight the ‘pleasure’ at Bloomfield Road.

Gimme Gimme Gimme an Arshavin After Midnight

Steven Woodgate — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:19:05 -0500

On the night of the transfer window, Arsene Wenger must have been all wrapped up from the snow listening to his beloved Abba records. Then suddenly he heard a song that changed his mind set, his train of thought, as he realised he had to sign a player to get rid of those potential shadows that have been following him in Aston Villa shirts.

Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight

Won’t somebody help me chase the shadows away

Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight

Take me through the darkness to the break of the day

Wenger signed Arshavin a long way past midnight in his quest for the fourth spot and their objective for the rest of the season must be to win just enough games to get that ever-challenging Champions League position.

Wenger’s persistence must be running thin, when will he realise that signing the players of the calibre of Arshavin will not symbolise success or guarantee European football.

The Arsenal manager must be hoping that this season will be finishing pretty quickly to get ready to prepare for next season, the break of the day. It has been plainly obvious that this season's debacle was caused by not replacing Mathieu Flamini.

The Arshavin purchase only replaces the void left by Alexander Hleb. Wasn’t that void replaced when Arsenal signed Samir Nasri?

The Russian has an extraordinary wealth of talent and fits the mould of player that Wenger and Arsenal fans love. He’s mobile, skilful, and very good technically, but the underlying problem is that protection of the back four.

Claude Makelele was brought in to Chelsea to support the wealth of attacking presence at the clubs disposal and they subsequently won trophies. Javier Mascherano has given Liverpool that protection in front of that back four to give them a realistic title challenge.

Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves, alike, were brought in at Manchester United. Even Aston Villa have the talented Gareth Barry protecting their defence.

Wenger should have looked for a more commanding midfield player as his previous teams were built around such individuals. The Gilberto Silva’s, the Patrick Vieira’s, and the Emmanuel Petit’s were the cornerstone of Arsenal’s success and now they are left wanting.

Arshavin was brought in to please those newly found Arsenal fans that demand success every season.

Once again, Arsenal are in transition and this signing would be a welcomed success in a season that will not bring any trophies.

Arshavin maybe that player to get fourth but that won’t keep the shadows at bay for next season. A no nonsense midfielder is a must.

Steve Coppell Looking to Make Premier League Promotion History

Steven Woodgate — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 15:25:23 -0500

In a time that all current trigger-happy chairmen are stuck in a persistent routine of dismissing managers at their whim, it remains remarkable—astonishing, even—that Steve Coppell remains the only man that has a realistic opportunity of achieving a hat-trick of promotions to the Premier League.

Normally with relegation the manager, more often or not, receive their P45. It’s a testament to Reading for keeping utter faith in Coppell; well the Royals would have been foolish to get rid of their most successful manager in history.

While with Crystal Palace Coppell won promotion in 1997, steering the Eagles through the playoffs for his first promotion. He then masterminded the historic Reading record-breaking season in 2005 to give the club their first taste of top-flight football for his second. Now he has the opportunity to make history once again with his current Reading team for his third.

Obviously, being constantly in the top flight would be the much greater reward but having the audacity to rebuild and supply a team that can obtain promotion time after time is a talent in itself. Losing key players then having the knowledge to replace those players with better ones is not a task for the lighthearted.

At present, Coppell is in a select group of managers that have achieved two Premier League promotions but unfortunately, some of these managers’ potential and reward have never materialised. Some of these men find it difficult to warrant a job and find it harder getting one, Reading kept faith in Coppell and that has paid dividends this term but for other clubs this has not been the case.

Bryan Robson won promotion twice with Middlesbrough in 1994-95 and 1997-98 where the directors kept much deserving faith in the ex-Manchester United captain. Ironically, he wouldn’t have to win back promotion in 97-98 if Middlesbrough had not suffered that three-point deduction for cancelling a fixture at late notice but he suffered the fate of relegation.

But as Middlesbrough have kept their top flight status, Robson hasn’t. He could have achieved a third promotion with West Brom, but he wrecked their chances with bad buys and bad form, he soon left by "mutual consent" after just eight games of which three he won.

Robson’s ill-fate spell with Sheffield United did nothing to help his cause. He has been since chucked into managerial wilderness.

Kevin Keegan had the habit of taking big clubs back to the top and he duly delivered this with Newcastle United and Manchester City in 92-93 and 01-02 respectively as they both saw a return of top flight football. He could have easily made it a third if it was not for the public demand for him to get the England job. He succeeded Glenn Hoddle back in 1999 and Fulham, whom he managed and built the foundations for, were promoted two seasons later under the guidance of Jean Tigana.

Peter Reid won promotion twice with his beloved Black Cats. Sunderland reached the top flight in 95-96 and 98-99 and Reid was so close to making it three in the 97-98 season only for Michael Gray’s saved penalty to result in Charlton Athletic winning the penalty shootout and gaining promotion, but Reid and Sunderland bounced back to win the division with a then record of 105 points. He was soon sacked and spells at Leeds United and Coventry City never promised much.

Alan Curbishley twice steered Charlton Athletic to the Premier League, one with that famous penalty shootout win against Reid’s Sunderland and one in 99-00. Curbishley will have to look for a Championship club if you were to make it three after leaving West Ham United as finding a job in the top division has been difficult. Surely, there are making takers in the Championship.

Gary Megson took West Brom back to the top league on more than one occasion; his first full season saw a defeat in the semifinal stage of the playoffs at the hands of Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers, but Megson bounced back and won promotion in 01-02.

After being relegated the following season, Megson and West Brom soon returned to the Premier League for the 04-05 season with the help of newly installed Jeremy Peace’s financial prudence. Megson is currently doing a good job at Bolton, after poor spell times at Nottingham Forest and Leicester City, but doesn’t look like adding to his two promotions any time soon.

Steve Bruce took Birmingham City up twice in 01-02 and 06-07. Birmingham beat his old club Norwich City on penalties in the playoff final to win promotion in 2002 and lasted until their relegation in 2006. Bruce soon took his team back up in sluggish fashion as they finished second place to Sunderland after Derby County’s defeat against Crystal Palace in 2007.

Paul Jewell remains the last name on this list. He famously won promotion with Bradford City back in 1999 before leading Wigan Athletic to the top flight for the ever first time in their history in 2005. His third attempt with Derby County did not go quite to plan as the team struggled immensely throughout this season, Jewell was eventually replaced by Nigel Clough to postpone his search of a "hat-trick" of promotions.

This season Mick McCarthy (Wolves), Dave Jones (Cardiff) and Neil Warnock (Crystal Palace) all look to join this select group of men that have achieved promotion twice.

Nevertheless, it leaves Steve Coppell to become the first manager who can claim a third promotion to the promised land. No mean feat indeed.

Where To Accommodate Robbie Keane?

Steven Woodgate — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:50:28 -0500

Robbie Keane exclusion from the Liverpool Squad seems bemusing for many fans and critics alike. Against Chelsea, his presence wasn’t necessarily needed, and it seems that he would have taken up a valuable place on the bench.

Many fanatics, me included, thought Keane was brought in to support Fernando Torres up top, but as time wore on, it became obviously recognisable that he could not fit into the Liverpool "offensive structure".

Well, Torres was always going to have that starting berth upfront ahead of Keane. Torres is practically irreplaceable. Keane was brought in. not to replace him, but to support him as one of the attacking three midfielders as he finds it difficult to lead the line. He doesn’t have the discipline or the tolerance to wait for the ball to come to him; he needs to be involved in play. He is endlessly dropping back deep to receive the ball, virtually becoming a part of the midfield. That is not necessarily a criticism, his youthful exuberance is a joy to watch, but his style does not suit the lone role up-front where Torres excels.

If Steven Gerrard were to be injured, it would be expected that Keane would slot into his position as both players use similar areas to receive the ball and create space. Keane is not the player Gerrard is by any means, but it seems that Keane was brought in as an overpriced spare man to play in the absence of his captain. In a 4-4-2, formation with Gerrard on the right side of midfield might ideally work for Keane, but that is not getting the most out of Liverpool’s prodigal son.

Where else could Keane play?

The hard crafting Dirk Kuyt has made the right attacking midfield position his own though his sheer hard work. He is one of Rafa Benitez’s favourites, and the stunning performances of newcomer Albert Riera certainly adds character to that left side, a position that was troublesome last year. Therefore, these positions are a no-go.

Understandably, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun are ahead of Keane on the subs bench for the left and right midfield positions. Benitez is more likely to substitute Kuyt or Riera so that is why Babel and Benayoun would be on the bench ahead of Keane.

The highly talented David Ngog has been given the substitute striker position on the bench where the manager believes that the young Frenchman can play the lone striker role better than Keane. It doesn’t justify Liverpool paying £20.3 million in the first place.

Keane realistically cannot play to his full capacity out on the wings, and it would be difficult, almost damn near impossible to surpass Gerrard in that central role. Yes, he did replace the captain at the game at Wigan, but that is very much a rarity. Benitez probably thought Liverpool would win the game early and give Gerrard a much-needed rest.

Keane will play regularly if Gerrard is ruled out for injury or suspension, but no fan nor football supporter alike would like that (well, expect Manchester United fans). Keane was not dropped from the squad on bad form; Benitez simply didn’t include him as it made sense. Gerrard was needed for the whole game against Chelsea and Everton, simple as that.

Steve Harmison Is Back in the Promised Land To Relive Past Glories

Steven Woodgate — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:09:24 -0500

West Indies will forever be ecstasy for Steve Harmison; the Promised Land—it is the spiritual home for any fast bowler.

And it was five years ago, that Harmison was at his peak on the hardest and fastest pitches in the Caribbean, collecting 23 wickets in four tests at 14 runs apiece. In that series, there was the ruthless spell of 7-12 as the West Indies were all out for 47 at Sabina Park.

Frustratingly, he has never recaptured that form.

After that tour in 2004, Harmison had everything going for him—ranked as the No. 1 fast bowler in the world—and he even had the ludicrous premature comparisons to West Indies legend Curtly Ambrose but it was all in blind faith.

Now he has been through the motion. Inconsistent to say the least, too often or not he has been found wandering, as he is the most frustrating English bowler to observe.

He could be on the grasp of greatest with one delivery and with the next one—he could be on the brink of suicide.

Many speak about how devastating Harmison can be; a fit and happy Harmison is one of the world’s best according to his teammates.

Well if that’s the case, he should be exploding with happy pills and covered head to toe in bubble wrap.

If Jamaica was the benchmark, he has fallen dramatically. Brisbane 2006 was his low point as the opening ball in the Ashes went straight to good mate Andrew Flintoff at second slip.

Other times have been a constraint of injuries, homesickness and Newcastle United. Three things that can’t be good for anyone.

A notable 2005 Ashes performance and figures of 6-19 and 5-67 in one test against Pakistan in 2006 was other glimpses of his potential that has failed to flourish.

His has credentials to bowl 90mph consistently and it’s bemusing why we have not seen that Harmison for a long time. His return to the test team last year was for what he could do rather than what he has been doing. Matthew Hoggard probably wishes the selectors were just as forgiving.

His inclusion in the One-day Internationals came about after good friend Kevin Pietersen asked to come out retirement but he has not done anything off worth. With Andrew Strauss at the realm, will he commandingly have a spot in the starting eleven?

It is anything part from a love story with Harmison.

Hopeful the up and coming tour of West Indies, where he performed wonders, will spark the Durham man back into life and reignite his desire for England’s main attack bowler to reclaim former glories.

Colin Montgomerie Is the Great Pick for Ryder Cup

Steven Woodgate — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:53:19 -0500

Thankfully, Colin Montgomerie has been handed the captaincy to lead Europe at the 2010 Ryder Cup.

A crushing defeat by Americans in last year’s Ryder Cup was only inevitable in a competition that has been dominated by Europe recently. Montgomerie can head to Celtic Manor in a fantastic position to defeat the new breed of US talent with his own initative.

Nick Faldo was appointed and he tried his best; he had the extremely difficult task to follow Iain Woosnam, Bernhard Langer, and Sam Torrance in regaining the trophy, ultimately he failed. His long-term rivalry with Paul Azinger was his downfall as his persistence and his alter egoism prevented him overturning the Americans.

A new regime was needed; Faldo was a player always in the spotlight, and it was always about him. Monty, on the other hand, tries to live the quiet life and his appointment would refuel some much-needed optimism for European golf.

He is loved by all golf fans and he will get them concentrating on the golf on show rather than the ordeals off the course.

Monty has already said that he will have a good back room staff in place to assist him. Faldo relied solely on Jose Maria Olazabal when Paul McGinley opted to compete for a place in the team rather than work under Faldo. it was a fatal mistake.

Olazabal would have been the 2010 captain if his health could have been trusted; it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were brought back to be a vice captain once again.

Darren Clarke would be another that would be a good vice captain under Monty, as he would add more sentiment to the team. Sandy Lyle wouldn’t come in to work under Monty; he’s rather disappointed that he was overlooked this time around; it does seem that his time has passed to captain the team.

Europe needed Monty as his record speaks volumes on how much he loves this competition. His record of 20-9-7 accumulated 23.5 points is fantastic, he sits only 1.5 points behind the all time record held by Faldo.

It was one legend replaced by another as Monty duly swept in and took the role with no complaints. His attention to detail and preparation is amongst the best in the golfing circle. Hence, Montgomerie’s demand for more captain picks to make the players he has at his disposal.

He wants only the players there who want to be there and make sure they are playing their best golf.

Monty will be able to pick the team he wants, craft a group that will be united rather than the Valhalla fiasco, where the team didn’t reach the unity of 2006.

In Kentucky, there was no conviction that there was unity. Faldo choose individuals he wanted. Ian Poulter played brilliantly, way above expectations, but he relied on a captain pick when he pulled out of the Johnnie Walker Championship and the chance to earn an automatic place in the Ryder Cup team. Monty wouldn’t have this, commitment, loyalty, and teamwork will be the main theme of his reign.

Montgomerie is a theorist, sparking his ideas and philosophy into action and backing them up with stats and evidence. Every one of his golfers he would know inside and out, their strengths, weaknesses, and Monty will know what to expect. He would have a plan to defeat each one of those Americans in the opposite colours the next time around.

The Scotsman is a known fan of Torrance leadership in 2002, and when Torrance provided a memorable patriotic and inspiring speech before the 2002 event, he put Europe one up mentality before a ball being struck. Monty will want to do this and without doubt, he will revert to his fellow Scot at some time for some insight and inspiration.

Corey Pavin will be the US captain and will be eager to carry on Azinger good work. For one thing, the US team will be there asking questions about the temperament of Monty. Pavin can always revert to his solitary US Open win and remind Monty where was his Major win?

Can Mark Davies Really Save Bolton Wanderers from the Drop?

Steven Woodgate — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:06:14 -0500

Most teams are throwing away countless amounts of money on stopgaps to make sure on Premier League survival, Bolton Wanderers, on the other hand, are looking towards the future.

Their recent acquisition of talented youngster Mark Davies shows intent of moving the club forward in years to come whether that is in the Premier League or the Championship.

The highly rated midfielder moves from top topping Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee and is tipped for big things.

He broke into the Wolves first team at the tender age of 17 shows how determined Davies is and he would not be phrased by moving into the Premier League.

Recently he has been playing for League One side Leicester City in order to regain full match fitness and has been ever impressive, even scoring a few goals on the way.

Davies has been with his injuries; he suffered cartilage troubles that caused him to miss almost two years of professional football. Sometimes with these injuries at such a young age can put a huge element of doubt in a player’s mentality, Davies, at the moment, proves otherwise.

Gary Megson must have done his research and have full faith in his ability in carrying out important duties for his side.

Davies has already captained the England under 17 team and is a proud product of the ever improving Wolves youth academy. The man who brought him through at Wolves, Chris Evans, is now on the coaching staff at Bolton and must have mentioned his deep inner thoughts on Davies.

Bolton currently sit in 14th position and is only two points from the relegation places but is the youngster Davies be enough to secure survival?

It doesn’t seem a signing that will make noticeable impact; it won’t influence the team a great deal this season especially. Other players are needed if Bolton are looking to escape from a torrid relegation battle.

Jimmy Bullard: What a Bargain!

Steven Woodgate — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:12:57 -0500

What would be the most shocking revelation this transfer window bring?

Jermain Defoe to Tottenham Hotspur, a mesmerizing return.

Kaka to Manchester City, the ridiculous over the top transfer. Unfortunately, it never happened.

Nigel de Jong to Manchester City, an expensive acquisition to say the least.

Craig Bellamy to Manchester City, the village bike of the Premier League.

Emile Heskey to Aston Villa, a romantic story for England’s main target man.

Mido to Wigan, why?

But none have surprised like Jimmy Bullard heading for the KC Stadium.

He has left Fulham for Hull City; the logic has completely gone out of the window.

Fulham are flying (well for Fulham), playing in midfield with Danny Murphy has been good for Bullard’s game. The call-up to the England squad was no accident, he is a class player, and a team in the top ten must have wanted him.

The Middlesbrough’s, Wigan’s, and West Ham’s of this world are bidding for players like Ben Watson, while Bullard was available for a very modest £5 million. Compared to the transfers above this is a real bargain.

Arsenal need centre midfielders, would he not have fitted the bill? Eligible for Europe and a craft eye for the pass, he would have fitted in perfectly. A real engine in their team, bring back the passion and the hunger to fight for that top four spot.

Although being 30-years-old shows he is no spring chicken, he still has the energy to dominate a midfield and perform heroics on the field. His career has had its gaps though persistent crucial injuries, he has never been able to flourish in the manner he could.

When he signed for Wigan, he played brilliant in securing promotions through all the divisions, never once looked out of his depth.

Hull City have got themselves a pin-up, an icon, and a fantastic addition to their squad. A four–and-a-half year contract decided Bullard’s fate in the end. He will do wonders, where finances and transfer fees are spiralling out of control; it’s absurd that a player of Bullard’s ability was snapped up so modestly.

Lowe Point For Southampton

Steven Woodgate — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:27:16 -0500

Hurry, hurry, everything must go.

The players, the coaches, the board, the chefs, the stewards, the car park attendants, the groundsmen, the sweepers, the kids, the balls, the kits, the training ground, the reverses, the specialist academy—all of it must go.

Southampton Football Club are in dire straits and the recent resignation of Head Coach Jan Poortvliet has certainly helped their cause for playing League One football.

Stability is everything and continuity is pinnacle. The Dutchman’s departure came as no surprise in this trigger-happy age but that fact he walked is bemusing. It’s properly a matter of jumping before initially being pushed.

He took over from Nigel Pearson in the summer, and was introduced by idiotic chairman Rupert Lowe, as a new wave of continental coaching that would use the excellent academy that Southampton can boost, to fast-track these youngsters into the first team.

To an extent Poortvliet did that, no big fancy or experienced loan players were brought in, he used the youth and still managed some notable performances. Two particular games against high flying Reading were the high points where the Royals were completely outplayed.

However, the solitary win at home, a 2-0 win over Norwich City, is the only highlight at St Mary’s this season.

The club lie second from bottom and will have a difficult task on their hands. Financially, they make the British economy look secure, administration is a certainty and they are at the point of no return.

Any decent player will be sold instantly in an attempt to balance books, the likes of Andrew Surman, Adam Lallana, and David McGoldrick will be flying out the door without a choice.

Hurry, Hurry, everything must go.

Michael Wilde and Lowe will have their work cut out; they will feel the full brunt of Saints fans as the protest is proposed to be before the next home game against Swansea City. These fans have every right to be disgruntled and the incompetent running can only infuriate the club.

In a silly step, they have installed Poortlviet assistant Mark Wotte as the man to save them for the doldrums of League One.

Fair enough, cut costing measures are in place but they need a proper manager, with a proper know how to save them from this mess.

Graham Taylor Back at Watford

Steven Woodgate — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:33:03 -0500

In another life, Graham Taylor may have been a yellow coloured Yo-yo constantly heading back towards the hand of Watford. His immediate return to Watford hasn’t come as a big surprise; he has flung back in aid of his beloved club.

The 64 year old has been appointed as a non-executive director on the club’s new-look board as Watford looked to escape from the dangers of a relegation battle.

Taylor’s return will be one for the purist, a typically justified old head that will give the Hornets a wealth of footballing experience in taking the club forward.

He was brought in, not to be involved with Brendan Rodgers, but for his depth of knowledge regarding Watford as a club that will support Chairman Andy Wilson to get to grips with the state that the last regime left the club in.

Graham Simpson angered Honorary Life President Sir Elton John so much, so that he quit his post; Simpson incidentally left the club after he appointed Rodgers.

Taylor joins fellow veteran Frank Lampard Senior (Football Consultant) in attempting to restore structure and stability at Vicarage Road.

Graham Taylor is and always will be remembered fondly and has the upmost of respect at the club, fans idolised him and it is a return of a legend. He finds himself in a different capacity that what he is used to, but he will let the new management get on with the job in hand.

Brendan Rodgers would not be intimidated by Taylor’s presence. Instead, he will welcome his advice. No doubt, Taylor will voice his thoughts and worries and Rodgers will take that aboard, he is still a student of the game with much to learn.

This will help Rodgers develop as a manager and a coach as well.

Watford find themselves in a very delicate situation, championship football next season must be the priority. After a terrible start and the departure of Aidy Boothroyd, Watford began to look steady.

Boothroyd was not popular with the Watford faithful and they blame him for the current crop of players at Rodgers disposal. The new manager is always pursuing his own players and his own squad.

This will take time as money resources are not currently available. Watford fans will support Rodgers and having Taylor back on hand will reaffirm their support.

Reading Calling the (Jay) Tabb

Steven Woodgate — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:48:35 -0500

The Irish contingent continues at Reading with Jay Tabb joining Kevin Doyle, Shane Long, Stephen Hunt, and Noel Hunt at the Madejski Stadium.

Tabb joins on an undisclosed fee from Coventry City and he will add more flair and balance to the flourishing Reading side. Coventry will miss the midfielder as their side are urgently losing much creativity; he was the Sky Blues player of the year last season.

Tabb had played for Steve Coppell before, giving him a chance at a youthful 17 years of age. However, he made more of an impression when Wally Downes was at the helm at Brentford becoming a huge cult figure a Griffin Park.

Being a modest 5’7” in height will not give him the powerhouse affect but he has the craft and cunning ability to find that through pass. He has already played at the Madejski this term and was on the end of 3-1 defeat.

He will find it difficult to break into the first team at Reading as the midfield is brimming with talent. Tabb will have to get through the competition of Hunt, James Harper, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Marek Matejovsky, Kalifa Ciise, Jem Karacan, Bobby Convey, and Jimmy Kebe.

Being a versatile midfielder will obviously aid his cause. However, the signing of a midfielder where the competition is fierce signals a departure.

Coppell must have a big offer coming in for one of his players, Hunt has been linked with a host of clubs and Harper has been touted by Middlesbrough.

Despite the defeat at Swansea City, Reading look on course to an immediate return to the Premier League and adding a player of Tabb’s ability will only be an asset to the squad.

Kieren Westwood Aiming High

Steven Woodgate — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:12:21 -0500

Keiren Westwood never gets the praise and the credit he deserves. He is, at present, the best goalkeeper playing in the Championship.

This is a league with some very good goalkeepers—Marcus Hahnemann, Kelvin Davis, and Adriano Basso to name a few, but Westwood is sensational and is the next up-and-coming goalkeeper. He will be the next name on the list of transfer targets for Premier League teams that need a decent goalkeeper.

He has been called up to the Republic of Ireland squad recently and on current form Ireland looks like they have found their replacement for Shay Given when he finally hangs up his gloves. A worthy replacement when the inevitable happens.

However, Westwood’s first inclusion caused much controversy with some Irish fans as many thought he was not a worthy choice. He even foolishly claimed, “I’m not Irish as such, but I’m a Catholic boy.” Lessons have been learnt.

For his club side, Westwood is proving to be a key player at Coventry City, after his £450,000 move in the summer from Carlisle, he has been pinnacle to their mid-table "success".

For Carlisle he was he stand out player and was easily voted the League One’s Goalkeeper of the year with a string of brilliant performances to propel the northern club into the play off places.

He has great reflexes, very dominant in the air and is one of the most agile in the game. The Irishman will have to make the step up to continue his development, he will not become the best at Coventry City but fortunately, for the Sky Blues, he has plenty of time on his side.

Being 23-years old seems a long way until a goalkeeper reaches his peak. If he progresses as quickly has he had done, he will be playing with the elite in no time.

Goodbye Glenn Roeder, and This Time Could Be It!

Steven Woodgate — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:50:23 -0500

A long time ago there was this skilful technique called the “Roeder Shuffle” that was ultimately a smart step over and was used to extricate from numerous tight spots. Well Glenn Roeder may have been its creator but he has not performed that perfection for a while now.

His sacking as the Norwich City Manager came as no surprise, these trigger happy chairmen and executives demand perfection instantly. Roeder couldn’t get out of that tight spot.

He paid the ultimate price as he watched his depleted side being knocked out of the FA Cup by Charlton Athletic. It was Charlton's first win in 20 games, quite a sad state of play.

In the league, they have not fended much better either, with the only goal difference separating them from the relegation zone, as they have not won in five games.

A massive lack of depth in the squad as well as quality key areas cost are the reason they are playing poorly. When Reading striker Leroy Lita came in on loan, the team looked like a threat offensively but still remained vulnerable defensively.

Roeder didn’t find the right players in the summer and had to rely on the loan market, he has done a bad job, and he had to go. He lost a massive sledge of his popularity when he decided to release fan favourite Darren Huckerby and it went spiraling down from there.

The football he tried to produce was not pretty and he always spoke of the 5-2 win over Wolves, where Lita scored a hat trick, as a reason to look hopeful. Sorry but you simply can’t rest on your laurels. Even a 2-0 win over Ipswich in the ‘Old Farm’ derby could not restore respect.

Roeder did an average job at West Ham United and did a reasonably good job at Newcastle United before his initial move to Norwich. It’s just a shame his reputation has been tarnished and dragged through the mud as this failure may have just put him in managerial wilderness.

No Way Back for Charlton Athletic

Steven Woodgate — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:08:56 -0500

Let’s face it, being five points adrift at the bottom of the Championship is not the most ideal position to start giving up hope, especially with so much riding on it. Newly installed Charlton Athletic manager Phil Parkinson gives his somewhat subdued rally cry to his players and fans, “Once we get that first win we’ll go on to get several very quickly.”

I’ve heard more sense coming out of Gordon Brown. It’s quite the ordeal.

Charlton are rooted to the bottom, scoring 28 goals so far this season, as their defence has more holes than a colander, shipping an awful 47 goals. It’s a cause without hope.

Parkinson has dug deep and somehow managed to conquer the loan signing of Reading’s captain Graeme Murty, in all honesty it was probably not for his defensive ability but more for his bottle and character; A leader, something that Charlton have desperately missed.

It’s a matter of too little too late.

Their latest defeat to another relegation candidate, Nottingham Forest, left nothing to the imagination, Charlton are stuck in a rut.

They have passed the point of no return and as ex-Premier League clubs shown previously, Charlton should be preparing for a massive clear out and establish themselves once again, even if that is in League One.

Leicester City and Notts Forest are the inspiration to aspire to, but these are two massively supported clubs unlike Charlton. They really are going struggle whatever the outcome at the end of this season.

Leeds United have been struggling to get back. Swindon Town and Bradford City have gone through the whole cycle all the way down to League Two. Southampton are so far in debt their playing their under 14s and still are doing a lot better than the Addicks.

There is a genuine chance of Charlton going out of business (Takeover must be immediate), and a sensible plan should be put in place to guarantee the future of the club rather than rely on Championship football next season. There should be no gung-ho.

Let’s remember this team was a whisker of a playoff last term and were even candidates for European football a couple of years back.

This club have fallen quicker than the government’s popularity and fans must be worried. They must start saving their pennies, especially in the time of recession, to fund the luxurious trips to Carlisle, Brighton and Yeovil.

Ebanks-Blake Can Fire Wolves to Premier League

Steven Woodgate — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:04:34 -0500

Wolverhampton Wanderers missed out on a playoff place last season due to a pure lack of firepower. This season, they are finding no such problem.

For much of last season, goals were as rare as Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane sharing pleasantries. The 53 goals scored in 46 games was excessively laughable.

Last Christmas was not generous, as Wolves only picked up 4 points from a possible 21 over the festive period, despite having a strong finish they fell agonisingly short. A mere two goals was the difference between sixth and seventh spot.

The "goals for" tally was the second worst in the top 16 of The Cola-Cola Championship, even the team known for its pedestrian sideways pass and punt up field, Bristol City, conjured up an extra goal.

Rock Bottom Colchester United somehow scored nine more goals as they were condemned to hell (League One, well, Leeds United do reside there).

However, in January 2008, they made a shrewd signing of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, and the club's fortune swiftly changed. The undisclosed fee was truly worth it.

The Ex-Manchester United youth player became a pinnacle to the Wolves side, scoring 12 goals in 20 games and becoming their top goal scorer. Ironically, he remained Plymouth Argyles top goal scorer for the season as well.

This season, McCarthy’s team have taken the Championship by storm, the end of last season form carried on into this one. Ebanks-Blake continued his prolific streak and been fundamental in his team’s success, as they have scored 55 goals this term already with 19 games still left to play.

McCarthy kicked out the untainted waste in the summer: the mediocre strikers Freddy Eastwood and Jay Boothroyd, as they could not find water from a boat.

The Yorkshire man replaced them with experienced Charlton Athletic forward Chris Iwelumo and Bournemouth’s youngster Sam Vokes to freshen up the attack.

With the new forwards, Wolves embarked on the club's strongest start since 1949. Ebanks-Blake (16) and Iwelumo (13) have scored 29 goals between them already this season to fire Wolves to the top spot.

McCarthy won’t be counting his chickens quite yet, there is still a massive job to do. Ebanks-Blake will need to be fit and on form to fire Wolves a return to the top flight.

As last season proves, goals come at quite a price, but Ebanks-Blake looks quite the bargain.

Terry Paine Has Concerns Of The Legacy Of The 2010 South African World Cup

Steven Woodgate — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:28:57 -0500

Terry Paine has instigated his worries about the impact of the 2010 World Cup will have for his beloved South Africa in the years following the event.

Paine, the current Southampton all time appearance record holder, feels that the legacy from South Africa World Cup is “questionable.”

He is concerned that the grassroots will suffer and the county will abstract a mammoth debt.

He said, “I do have my worries about the 2010 World Cup. I fear that there would be escalating debts that the country would not be able to handle.

“I fear the legacy may not be as successful as they would have liked.”

Paine was an ambassador for the 2006 and 2010 bid and conceded that the failure to land the 2006 World Cup was “a blessing in disguise.”

The 69-year-old said, “Germany winning the bid gave South Africa another four years to get ready. Fortunately, this allowed them to have extra time to upgrade and build better stadiums.

“The authorities and federation had adopted new measures, FIFA have been especially helpful in contributing to finances.

“South Africa even beat England to the 2006 bid because of hotel rooms. England has planned sport events running throughout the summer, so that could not guarantee enough rooms for visitors.

“The extra four years gave South Africa a less of margin for error; however it is questionable whether there will be a legacy left behind.”

The nine new conformed stadiums have helped the country to get more prodigious. Brand new stadiums are under construction at Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth and at Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane. Where Limpopo will be rebuilt, as will King Senzangakhona Stadium in Durban.

Five of the current football stadiums will undergo renovations for 2010 - Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the Royal Bafokeng stadium, and the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Kings Park and Green Point stadium in Cape Town will become completely new multi-sport facilities, Green Point complete with a retractable dome to protect fans and players from the Cape’s unpredictable winter weather.

These stadiums need to be ready and that is the main factor why South Africa will be debt ridden. The world demands the best and the best comes at a price. We will have to wait and see if that price will be justified.

Paine feels with a successful campaign in 2010, the World Cup will return to Africa in the near future.

He said, “There is no reason why the World Cup cannot return to Africa, South Africa will showcase the continent’s intent and perhaps in the none too distance future the event will return.

“It is vital that it runs smoothly. I cannot wait.”

The ex-England international believes a good performance is needed from the South African National Team at the World Cup but is worried about how the team may perform.

He said, “The quality of South African football is not at the highest because any half decent players venture abroad. Out of the national squad, only three play in the Premier League regularly.

“The national team’s target must surely be the second round knockout phase, if the country is going achieve any sense of credibility they need to perform well and make the people proud.”

With successful Rugby and Cricket teams, Paine still claims that football is the biggest sport in South Africa.

He said, “Rugby and Cricket are merely modest compared to the popularity of football. Football is by far the biggest and most participated sport in South Africa. Rugby and Cricket seems only important for the richer parts of the country, where football appeals to the masses.

“I just hope that FIFA do not deprive those local communities of a chance to watch World Cup matches. With the intake of visitors I can see the ticket prices will become unaffordable for the locals.”

Paine’s love affair with South Africa began early on his career. Much of the 1980s were spent in Johannesburg where he went on to coach Wits University Football Club, but he returned briefly in 1988 to work at Coventry City with his ex-Hereford United manager John Sillett.

He soon returned to South Africa and began work as a football presenter on digital satellite TV sports channel Supersport. He often appears alongside former Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey, and normally presents English Premier League and UFEA Champions League matches.

Brendan Rodgers Is the New Manager at Watford

Steven Woodgate — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:15:37 -0500

Chelsea reserve team coach Brendan Rodgers has been named the new Watford manager.

Rodgers takes over, following Aidy Boothroyd’s recent departure, as the Hornets are one spot above the relegation places in the Championship.

Caketaker boss Malky Mackay will stay on as a first team coach as his experience of the club will be vital if Rodgers is to turn the club's fortunes around.

There is potential at the club as Mackay led the Hornets to a hugely impressive 3-0 win over promotion contenders Queens Park Rangers at the weekend. The ex-Watford captain looked firm favourite to take over the hot seat on a permanent basis before the appointment of Rodgers.

In an impressive step, the former West Ham United player and assistant manger Frank Lampard Snr has joined as a football consultant to help matters. His experience will be valuable for Rodgers to succeed, as this will be his first time managing at first team level.

Rodgers told Watford’s website: “Frank is someone I have known for a little while now—he has great experience.

“He is a football man, an honest man and a loyal man. When you are a young manager, those are the key qualities you want in someone who is your mentor.”

Watford fans will remember Boothroyd taking over in similar circumstances and in a similar position. He, remarkably, led the club into the Premier League after defeating Leeds United 3-0 in the Play Off final back in 2006.

The Vicarage Road outfit may be hoping for parallel success.

Rodgers, who is originally from Northern Ireland, was a successful youth academy director at Reading before Chelsea swooped in. He took up an important role in the development of Chelsea’s youth before being promoted to reserve team coach.

Now, Rodgers has taken another step in his career. It is impressive that he has worked his way up the ladder and has now taken over a big Championship team, who are placed at the wrong end of the table. He will certainly have his work cut out.

Alan Pardew Finally Gets the Chop From Charlton Athletic

Steven Woodgate — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:02:04 -0500

For a first time in a long while Alan Pardew will get to eat his Christmas Turkey stress free as he and Charlton Athletic have parted company by "mutual consent".

Following Charlton’s 5-2 defeat by Sheffield United at The Valley, the Addicks had no other choice but to relief Pardew off his duties as they plunged into the relegation zone. Phil Parkinson looks likely to be in temporary charge for the game against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday, as more than 300 fans protested against Pardew’s position.

The ex-West Ham manager took over from Les Reid nearly two years ago but could not help Charlton from avoiding the drop that season.

Now in the Championship, Pardew has struggled to rekindle any of the form that saw them finish well last term. They narrowly finished in ninth place, on the brink of a play off place.

This current season they have lost 10 games already and it was no surprise that Pardew left and the club would be pleased to see the back of his high wages. The club's finances have struggled to come to terms without the Premier League money as the position they find themselves in is concerning, relegation would pretty much destroy the infrastructure of the club and send them into further financial trouble.

The major fact to Pardew’s dismissal was the 31 goals leaked in just 18 games, the defence simply were not playing their part. The 21 goal in return is also not good enough. The whole round team performances have been woeful.

Andy Gray has been the only notable player this term scoring six goals, as his closest rival has been midfielder Nick Bailey who has chipped in with three.

Luke Varney, who Pardew paid an astonishing £2 million for, has not made the impact he should have. The two goals he has scored from the 16 games he has played this season have been pitiful. He was signed from Crewe Alexandra where he was not the most prolific, so it seemed that Pardew spent most of his budget on a player that did not guarantee goals.

That was probably the beginning of his downfall. It got considerably worse after that.

The speculation regarding the foreign ownership of the Addicks was altogether distracting with regards to the clubs financial vulnerability. This did not allow Pardew to improve his much depleted squad.

Charlton received an indicative offer from a Dubai-based diversified investment company but that eventually fell through. The club is heading into dire straits and Pardew had to go, he had lost the dressing room and new blood is required immediately to save them from going under.

It would seem that there is a ready made replacement out there to save them free falling further down the divisions, fans favourite Alan Curbishley.

A return might be unlikely but a manager that knows the club and can work within a shoe string budget is required.

Swansea City Star Ferrie Bodde Ruled Out For The Season

Steven Woodgate — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:41:16 -0500

The Championship, and more importantly, Swansea Citywill be deprived one of the most creative midfielders in the division as Ferrie Bodde was stretchered off in the 3-2 defeat by Birmingham City and looks likely to be ruled out of the whole season.

Scans revealed that Bodde had suffered anterior cruciate knee ligament damage and torn cartilage in his left knee.

He was incidentally the second player from the club to be ruled out for the entire campaign with the similar injury as defender Marcos Painter suffered the same faint last month.

Swansea’s top goal scorer will sorely be missed as he is pinnacle in everything the Welsh club do.

Manager Roberto Martinez told the BBC, “Ferrie is a big player for us as he is important in the way we do certain things. The way we play, we rely on Ferrie’s distribution.”

Martinez may have no option but to dip into the loan market to try to find someone who is worthy of taking Bodde’s place. No doubt Swansea will have to adjust the way they play and he will be solely missed by his team mates and by the Swans faithful.

The Dutchman was touted for a move to a Premier League club last summer, some even believing his value was worth in the region of £4 million.

Recently, Bodde committed himself to the Liberty Stadium after seeing Derby County having three bids turned down, subsequently Bodde handed in a transfer request before retracting it to show his worth to the club who brought him for a mere £85,000 from ADO Den Haag.

He has had an impressive start so far this season and unfortunately he will not be able to finish what he had started.

Everyone would hope Bodde a speedy recovery as his skill and craft of finding that killer pass will be sorely missed.

Paulo Sousa the New Man at the Helm for QPR

Steven Woodgate — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:28:11 -0500

The funfair continues at Loftus Road as the Queens Park Rangers have appointed Paulo Sousa as their new first-team coach. He takes over from caretaker Gareth Ainsworth.

Flavio Briatore placed player/coach Ainsworth at the helm following the surprise sacking of Iain Dowie. Briatore had a major say in team affairs under Ainsworth, which is why many big-named English managers chose to stay out of the running because of the involvement of the board.

Ainsworth was the initial favorite to get the job before QPRs victory over Burnley last Saturday leaving them a disappointing tenth in the league.

Sousa had a very successful club-playing career, when he had spells with Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, Inter Milan, Parma, and Borussia Dortmund. He won consecutive Champions League trophies in 1996 and 1997 with Juventus and Dortmund respectively.

The 38-year-old was one of the most celebrated and highly regarded Portuguese footballers in the modern game. He was a classic defensive midfielder, hunting down every ball and possessing the ability to provide precision passes for the rest of his teammates to take the glory.

Sousa played 51 times for his country without scoring. The Rangers hope he can take his organization qualities and motivation skills into management.

He has very limited experience as a coach, with only a small stint as assistant coach of the national side to his name; he will have his work cut out in the Championship.

Briatore decided to act and instantly installed Sousa to carry the club forward. He described Sousa's appointment as "very good for this football club".

Briatore added "He has great experience after working with the Portuguese national team and he is part of the new generation of coach."

Sousa was the assistant coach for the Portuguese national side before accepting the role. He told QPR's website “It is an honor to be part of this project."

“I have always wanted to work for a big club and I am very excited about the opportunity to work for Queens Park Rangers."

“I have great belief in my ideas and my coaching ability and I firmly believe I can achieve the objectives set by the management."

“I believe in playing positive, attacking football and am looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”

Sousa first got to know Briatore from his time in Italy where they struck up a close bond. Now, Sousa takes over and has already drafted in Bolton Wanderers striker Heidar Helguson on loan to supply another attacking threat.

The QPR faithful will be excited at the thought of flair and an attack minded philosophy that has been promised. They may be worried about Sousa’s lack of experience and knowledge of the English game, but it is another new start for QPR.

Those fans just hope they can see a manager stay around long enough to impart their ideas upon the club.

Lleyton Hewitt: Please Come Back

Steven Woodgate — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:35:16 -0500

I remember when I was a tad younger and a little more naive. I watched, what I thought at the time, a tennis legend being born.

The year was 2002 and I was 15 years old. I have not taken much interest in tennis before, so I began to play it at secondary school and became reasonably average. Our tennis club then went on an annual schedule trip to Wimbledon where I grazed my eyes upon Lleyton Hewitt and became an instant fan.

His aggression, his competitiveness, and his willingness to battle for everything was truly remarkable and won me over. And I haven't even mentioned his highly skilled footwork.

Hewitt is classed as a defensive baseline counterpuncher, meaning he holds back and very rarely ventures forward. I saw all that, being a fan of the big hitters; it was great seeing a man take on experienced men and succeed. He represented youth and was an Andy Murray of his time.

His ability to return serves is first class and he would always get involved in instant rallies, too much delight of the crowd. He provided much enjoyment, his passion always ran riot and played havoc with umpires. It was known he was disliked in the pro circuit.

He won Wimbledon in 2002 as I eagerly watched it on the tele with my mum when he defeated David Nalbandian in the final. It was a tennis moment that has always stuck with me; Hewitt won easily, a flawless 6-1 6-3 6-2 victory.

Hewitt became the first man since Andre Agassi to win the grass court championship by playing as a baseliner. Traditional serve and volley players normally triumph, but that was the days before tennis became a duopoly with main competitors Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer conquering the last six finals.

He started to turn heads the year before in 2001 when Hewitt beat Pete Sampras in straight sets in the U.S. Open. He was the new kid on the block.

That is why I took to him and began to follow his career.

Unfortunately, he never reached those heights again. Only an appearance in the Australian Open in 2005 has been an accomplishment of note.

He has now dropped to a disappointing 70th in the world rankings. Remember this was the man who became the youngster ever man to become the male No. 1 ranked in the world. His career has spiraled. The emergence of arguably the best two players to have ever graced the game may have had something to do with that.

His 70th position is not warranted though as his fall down the ranks have been solely down to the amount of injuries he has been suffering. A hip injury he acquired in March 2008 has been put down to his underlying injury problems.

Despite his ongoing hip trouble, he was able to make moderate success this season. However, after a disappointing Olympics campaign where he furthered damaged his hip he understandably chose to opt out the rest of the season.

Hewitt is a player down on his luck, I am hoping for an epic return of a man who feed my passion and enthusiasm for tennis. Still only 27 years old, he may make that comeback yet.

Will Jenson Button Ever Make Good Again?

Steven Woodgate — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:29:01 -0500

Will Jenson Button ever recapture his form? Inevitably, the answer I see is "no."

I remember watching Button complete 96 laps on a testing day at Silverstone earlier this summer, and he failed to impress me. I saw the Brit trying to push his Honda as hard as he could, but he achieved nothing. He completed the most laps of the field, and still he remained the second slowest.

This season he has not done anything of note; it's been another wasted season. The Brit that promised so much has let down so many. If it were not for the emergence of fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton taking his thunder, the British public would have been left to ponder more disappointment.

Button’s 2008 car simply had to run its course. Maybe the newly installed Team Principal Ross Brawn will be able to set a flamethrower to it, destroy any remains, and bury them deep into the ground. Concentration on next season must be the key.

Once again, Button saw out another season in which he faded massively. His car was "complained" about as the reason, but you have to start questioning his ability.

His solitary win at Hungary in August 2006 seems a distant memory. It took him 113 races to win just one and it will probably take another 113 for him to come even close again. This season he failed to better his 15 podiums and that may always be the case.

Button’s 2008 teammate Rubens Barrichello has been achieving the better results—a third place finish at Silverstone was majestic—and it was with the same car. Again, Button remained disappointing.

His next contract extension for Honda Racing is a question mark. His current deal expires at the end of next season. Will another disappointing campaign mean the end of his love affair with Honda?

Nigel Mansell came out to criticise Button especially as the preeminent British drive in F1 was taken by newbie Lewis Hamilton. Mansell claimed, “He (Button) had the opportunity and he didn’t take it—there won’t be any more.”

I believe that is the case also. His time in the sun is well and truly over. I am not even convinced that Honda will offer him a drive after next season. His high wages and failure to reach his potential have come under scrutiny.

When Button joined Williams Formula One team in 2000 at age 20, he wowed fans with electrifying driving and scored points all season. Unlike Hamilton, Button did not win a race in his season.

However, he was the youngest man ever to score points in Formula One when he finished sixth at the Brazilian Grand Prix before Sebastian Vettel took that title off him with an eighth placed finish at the United States Grand Prix.

From then on Button spent several seasons in eclipse, before rising briefly to score a few podiums and a race victory. He has now disappeared once again. And who knows when he may rise again?

Race of Champions: Chris Hoy vs. Lewis Hamilton at Wembley Stadium

Steven Woodgate — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:47:13 -0500

What an intriguing thought.
Man against machine.
Nature versus Nature.
The youngest ever world Formula 1 driver champion will take on a four-time gold medallist.
Two of the most prodigious and best sportsmen to grace our nation will go head to head.
This is Lewis Hamilton vs. Chris Hoy.
Sounds bizarre? I know.
With the Race of Champions happening at Wembley Stadium on the Dec. 14, this will surely be a contest that cannot be missed.
On a parallel track, Hamilton will be driving in the seat of a Mercedes-Benz road car, whilst Hoy will take to a saddle of a bike.
Hoy believes he may have the advantage as he can take the tight, twisting corners much easier. Whilst Hamilton’s pace may choose to differ.
The two are leading contenders for BBC Sports personality of the year and no doubt the banter between the two will continue in the evening. The awards ceremony is held in Liverpool later that day.

Hamilton last grasp heroic win in the Brazilian Grand Prix have captured many viewers, he looks admirably excited for the battle.

Hoy jumped on the scene when he won three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in this summer's games.This will certainly be the pinnacle event for a worthy year of racing. The Race of Champions brings together the best bunch of racers around the world albeit if its F1 stars, superbike champions, NASCAR racers or rally aces.Now you add a man with an advance pushbike trying to take on the most technically gifted cars on the planet.
I cannot wait to witness and join the great debate.
The 80,000 that will fill Wembley who certainly see something special.
This is the ultimate end-of-season racing celebration.

Sheffield United Look to ex-Premier League Players to Shine

Steven Woodgate — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 05:25:50 -0500

Premiership class in the Championship may be overrated. Many of the players that have made the transition, or "step down" have struggled to keep up with the pace and power of Championship football.

Whilst the massive players like James Beattie and Kevin Phillips have certainly flourished in the league, many others end up struggling.

Andy Cole was a prime example as he announced his retirement from Nottingham Forest. He found it difficult to adapt and Colin Calderwood simply chose not to select him.

No club has quite recaptured the form of the players like Sheffield United have. They have many ex-Premier League stars turning out for them each week, and they have been performing well.

So far this season The Blades have not been doing so bad; sitting a healthy fifth position firmly in the promotion picture.

Kevin Blackwell assembled his squad with his tried and tested notion and it has been the pinnacle of his success.

The relegation in 2007 hit them hard, huge controversy surrounded the saga. Famously West Ham stayed up through a Carlos Tevez winner at Old Trafford. Last season was a year of transition and it is encouraging to see a good club like Sheffield United looking admirable again.

Last season they finished ninth but never looked like the side that achieved promotion with Reading and Watford in 2006.

Ex-Premier League talent came pouring in and soon it became the norm at Bramall Lane, high calibre players reaching the twilight of their careers were putting on the red and white strips.

Blackwell made a shrewd move bringing in these players; it may have been deemed that they may not be up to the task. However so far this season they have defied that belief.

The most prodigious one must be James Beattie. He has been scoring goals for fun since his £4 million move in the summer of 2007. The expensive price tag was justified as he supplied 22 goals last term and seven so far this term.

Beattie came with bags of Premier League, and scoring, known how. He scored plenty of goals for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, and Everton before deciding to take a step down to rediscover his touch.

Sun Jihai was a regular right back at Manchester City before joining the Blades, apart from his straight red card against Coventry City he has been performing well.

Gary Naysmith joined from Everton and is still good enough to be playing for a Premier League club. His £1 million pound transfer has been worthwhile as he has really tightened up the left side of defence.

Gary Speed has performed superbly at every club he has represented and it is no surprise that he has been doing the same at United. He currently holds the esteemed honour of racking up more Premier League appearances than any other player. After joining in January 2008, Speed has been vital in United’s recent success.

Keith Gillespie was another Premier League star who was touted for big things, unfortunately he never really reached those expectations. Neil Warnock signed him in 2005 to add experience and flair to his midfield, but times have been difficult and he is often found fighting for a spot on the bench.

Ugo Ehiogu is another experienced Premier League campaigner; he joined from Rangers also in January 2008. He certainly adds experience and much steel to the defence. Once costing £8 million, he has been the lynchpin at the back and has formed a good partnership with Chris Morgan.

These players have dropped down to the league and have done a good job, Blackwell must have been trying to preserve these players and prolong their careers. So far, he has been able to do that.

With more foreign influences invading the Premier League, the Championship may even be the next port of call for a new breed of English talent.

Fabio Capello Loses Big Guns for Friendly to the Delight of Ferguson and Benitez

Steven Woodgate — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:57:12 -0500

I do find it ironic that with a mid-season England friendly coming up, the so-called big guns of the squad have already pulled out. Liverpool’s captain Steven Gerrard leads the absentees, with Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney also missing out.

Rafael Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson are obviously playing the game. This just shows me that Capello has not overpowered the most dominating managers in the Premier League as of yet. I am sure that Martin O’Neill, Tony Adams, and Mark Hughes would want their most influential players at their club training this upcoming week.

To their players, however, a call-up means more.

Not being a "powerhouse" in the league is a hindrance rather than a benefit, as it does seem that the big managers do have their own ways.

Gerrard has occurred a mystery torn leg muscle injury that I am sure if was wearing Liverpool’s red he would be playing. I am certain he will be playing for the Reds next weekend.

Ferguson clearly left out Ferdinand and Rooney to protect them further injury and with the England game on Wednesday it was only convenient that they happened to miss the Stoke City game as well. They were not missed as Manchester United hit Stoke for five, as the Red Devil's depth of talent was too much for the Potters.

The matter of it only being a "friendly" does come into the situation.

I am sure if it was a competitive international Fabio Capello would have shown more urgency in forcing those players to join the squad, much to the annoyance of Ferguson and Benitez.

John Terry is also struggling but you see no signs of him pulling out. You would see Terry playing centre half if he had two broken legs, impaired vision, and severely bruised nipples.

He would still perform better than the Arsenal joke of a defence at present.

The person who I feel much sorrow for is Manchester City’s Joe Hart. He was possibly in line to make an appearance, unfortunately, the former England No. 1 Paul Robinson has taken his place, and I bet Tottenham still wished they had him.

Emile Heskey will not be able to carry on his good run of form for the Three Lions as injury has robbed Capello of his main striker. Even with Rooney and Heskey missing, Capello has overlooked Michael Owen once again.

Owen has only been making cameo appearances for Newcastle United at present, so it is understandable that the lack of match practice and sharpness should be in question.

Chelsea’s Ashley and Joe Cole are going to miss out and Manchester United’s Wes Brown will also be missing.

However, this may be Capello’s chance to oversee his fringe and future players. Not really a full strength squad to play one of best teams in the future then.

Uncapped Aston Villa pair Curtis Davies and Gabriel Agbonlahor may have the chance to shine, as will the surprise inclusion Michael Mancienne.

The Chelsea youngster has been rewarded for his fine performances in the U-21s. The defender is currently on loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers and performing well.

Without the big players, England versus Germany loses significance. Although it was not Capello’s choice, next year's friendlies against Slovakia and Slovenia have been touted so England can play morale-boosting games, rather than money-spinning ones.

I am sure that these problems of withdrawing players will still be in effect next year. Capello needs to make some ground and assess these players for himself, especially if it is in a competitive fixture.

With new players involved in the squad it will be interesting—but I am sure Capello would prefer his strongest at his disposal.

Laura Robson Gets Her Foot Through the Door in Tennis

Steven Woodgate — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:41:58 -0500

As Andy Murray grips the wide spread plaudits that follow him around the world, back home in Britain there is a somewhat unknown talent that could conquer the world.

Laura Robson, at a tender age of 14, has won the Wimbledon Girls title this year to propel herself onto the international tennis scene, and since then, she has rarely looked back. Embracing tennis with her youthful charms and charisma, this is one "Briton" that the world cannot dislike.

As a fellow Briton, I cannot claim the country that she represents was the birth place of her talents. Robson lived in Australia for the first 18 months of her life before moving to Singapore until she was six.

Well the good old "nature versus nurture" debate could conclude that her natural talents initially came from her Australian parents. Robson simply became a British Citizen a mere four months before winning the Wimbledon’s girls titles.

It is always useful to see another member of the commonwealth helping their fellow nation out.

Many critics have labelled this as a poor excuse to grab extra earnings in the future. Being the Female British No.1 would be more financially rewarding as opposed to being a small fish in a large pond in comparison in the female Australian tennis circuit.

Before winning at Wimbledon, she has previously won four junior tennis titles as an Australian. Being a patriotic Englishman, I regard Andy Murray as British rather than Scottish (unless he loses) and I regard Robson as British as Only Fools and Horses, Fish and Chips, and the Queen.

So before Australians jump on her back, let them remember she is British. Therefore, Britain fortunately have a massive prospect in the future of the female game.

Her asset is her serve and putting her opponent on the back foot straight from the off. Reaching speeds of 100 mph is not rare.

Throughout her Wimbledon win, she had served a total of 31 aces in just six matches, although her second serve did not match up as she did suffer 39 double faults in the same space of time.

Her aggressive nature gets a sealed approval from the fans as she always aims for match winning strokes. A few times these shots do not come off, and she does concede quite a few unforced errors.

Being a bit unpredictable and unreliable is common with some so young and so new. It will take a few years for Robson to find herself. Expectations should remain minimal, and anything she does achieve should be appreciated.

We should not demand too much and not to crowd her with unwanted media attention and escalating amounts of pressure that the British public constantly demands.

Her first appearance of the Women tour inevitably ended in defeat in three sets to Iveta Benesova. It was the case of the number 549th in the world playing the 42nd-ranked player in female tennis. A difficult match but Robson never looked out of her debt, which is very encouraging.

Excuse me for the cliché, but every journey begins with a single step. At least, Robson has now started her professional career.