Bleacher Report - Articles by Shaun Murphy

Fernando Verdasco's Dream Year Shows No Signs of Slowing

Shaun Murphy — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:49:54 -0400

After a fantastic Australian Open campaign that exceeded perhaps all expectations, you could forgive Fernando Verdasco for feeling the pressure.

After all, the Spaniard has gone from "also-ran" to "genuine contender" in a matter of months. People now expect things from him.

Verdasco, however, is showing no signs of buckling under the weight of expectation. In a tight encounter, he defeated his countryman and occasional doubles partner, Feliciano Lopez, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in their third-round matchup in the Sony Ericsson Open.

Fernando is now set up for a fourth-round showdown against Radek Stepanek.

Monday's match was a battle throughout, with neither player truly gaining the upper hand at any point.

It was Lopez who started stronger. An early break gave him the advantage, and he showed his mettle by saving five break points as his opponent strived to get back into the match.

The world's No. 34 player was serving strongly, firing seven aces and winning 80 percent of his first-serve points.

The second set belonged to Verdasco, however. The No. 8 seed broke his compatriot quickly and raced into a 3-0 lead; from there, he never looked back, and began to dominate from the baseline, dropping only four points in five service games.

The momentum was with Verdasco as the third set began, and after an early break and hold, a comfortable win looked a foregone conclusion. Some sloppy tennis allowed Lopez back into the match, however, and at 2-2 in the final set, the match was evenly poised.

Both men held serve until Lopez cracked at 4-4 with a double fault that virtually gifted Verdasco the match, who held and saw the contest off.

Make no mistake about it, Monday's was a match that Verdasco could have lost a year or so ago. Closing out matches has been a big problem for the 25-year-old; he at one time was prone to double-faults and a lack of concentration, particularly at the end of sets.

But in recent months, there’s been a mental transformation to his game.

One could argue that Verdasco’s defining moment came in the Davis Cup. Rafael Nadal’s injury gave him the chance to shine, and he delivered the winning point for Spain in the final against Argentina.

It was a win that gave Verdasco self-belief—since then, he has continued to roll on the crest of a wave.

A semifinal appearance at the Australian Open immediately followed, and he defeated the likes of Jo Wilfred Tsonga and Andy Murray on the way only to lose out to the eventual champion Nadal in a five set thriller.

That bout with Rafa was the longest match in the history of the tournament, and Verdasco had proved he can hang with the big hitters.

Determined to show he’s not a one-hit wonder, Verdasco now finds himself in the last 16 of the Miami Masters. And though his tennis looked disjointed at times against Lopez, he had enough to get the job done and now has a winning mentality.

And his new attitude could take him even further.

Andy Murray Makes Hard Work of it in Miami

Shaun Murphy — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:17:30 -0400

Well, that was far from straight forward, wasn’t it?

In a match which many thought would represent a relatively easy passage to the third round, Andy Murray gave us quite the scare before rediscovering his touch to beat Juan Monaco 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. In the process he sealed his place in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Make no mistake about it, this wasn’t the vintage Murray performance that we’ve become accustomed to. There were actually times where he seemed in real danger against the Argentinean. Fortunately, though, the usual swagger of his performance was missing, there was no shortage of character from the young man.

In fairness to Monaco, he’s no slouch on the tennis courts. The Argentine currently sits at 59th place in the rankings, and only last year was as high as 14^th on the tour—his highest position to date.

And his quality showed, as he comprehensively outplayed an out of sorts Murray in the first set, breaking him in the third game as the Scot struggled to get going.

However, as the match wore on, Murray’s superiority began to tell. He secured a break in the fourth game of the second set, and, in the deciding game of the set, broke the World No. 59 again to level the match.

The force was with Murray at this point, and after raising his game at first, Monaco just couldn’t maintain his level of performance for the whole match. The next set was duly wrapped up by Murray, and he closed out the match comfortably.

Indeed, there’s no doubting Murray made harder work of this match than he should have—in the first set at least. The old Murray might have wilted under such pressure.

But he’s now made of sterner stuff and he deserves credit for coming back into the match, with the Scotsman showing his fighting qualities in the second and third sets.

It was never truly comfortable, however, with Monaco showing stiff resistance throughout. Murray will certainly need to play much better if he is to go far in this tournament and close in on Novak Djokovic’s No. 3 ranking.

On the upside, today’s results have been quite kind to Murray, who has been spared the unenviable prospect of possibly facing David Nalbandian in the fourth round, after the Argentine crashed out at the expense of Viktor Troicki of Serbia, losing 6-1, 6-3.

The powerful Mardy Fish was also eliminated, going down to Nicolas Massú of Chile. And it’s the gutsy Massú next up for Murray.

He won’t be short of match sharpness, that’s for sure.

Rafael Nadal Strives for Back-to-Back Masters Titles

Shaun Murphy — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:08:13 -0400

With one Masters title already in his grasp this season, it appears Rafael Nadal is not done just yet.

Just three days after capturing the BNP Paribas Open title in Indian Wells, the Spaniard is at it again as he sets his sights on the Sony Ericsson Open in Florida.

The event features a field of 96 players—making it one of the biggest events on the tour outside the four grand slams, and with defending champion Nikolay Davydenko unable to compete due to injury, a new champion is guaranteed.

So is a Nadal victory a forgone conclusion?

You can be sure Roger Federer will have something to say about that, as the world number two looks to win his first title of 2009—and in the process silence some of his critics.

The draw has worked out nicely for Federer, who shouldn’t face too many problems on his way to the quarterfinals. An encounter with Andy Roddick seems the most likely scenario here, which would present us with a rematch from last year’s quarterfinal, in which the American ended an 11 match losing streak against Federer. A win here would certainly shut up the doubters, and give him some much needed momentum.

Should Roddick be considered a threat? Some have their doubts about the lack of variety to his game, but his serve is big enough to trouble anyone on tour. A quarterfinal against Federer looks a daunting task for the American, and a repeat performance from last year may be required.

And what about Andy Murray? The British number one was so impressive en route to the final at Indian Wells, only to be blown away, quite literally, by Nadal in the final. The draw hasn’t been kind to Murray—he could meet Mardy Fish as early as the third round, before meeting the always tough David Nalbandian in the fourth round.

Come through that, and Murray could meet the sensation of the Australian Open, Fernando Verdasco, or hard-court specialist Radek Stepenek in the quarterfinals. Murray will need to be at his very best to progress.

Novak Djokovic is a player who will be looking to find some form. The Serb is seemingly a victim of his own early success at the moment, and a good showing in Florida would go some way towards repairing what has been a disappointing start to 2009. He could meet the powerful Jo Wilfred Tsonga in the quarterfinals—a player who has troubled Djokovic in recent meetings.

The aforementioned Radek Stepenek could also spring a surprise. Indeed, the Czech is showing some strong form, and with one trophy to his name already this year, the hardcourt specialist could well ruffle a few feathers in Florida.

Overall though, it’s hard to look past Nadal. The world number one is in imperious form as things stand, and is simply brimming with confidence. Quite simply, it's hard to see anyone stopping the Spaniard.

Maria Sharapova Ready to Return to Woman's Tennis

Shaun Murphy — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:27:06 -0400

In recent months, women’s tennis has heard its fair share of criticism.

While the men’s side of the game has thrived with the competition of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and the emergence of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, the ladies have been accused of being all too predictable, with the "sister act" of Venus and Serena Williams playing at a level that others simply cannot match.

However, that could all change in the coming months.

After seven months away from competitive tennis, Maria Sharapova is back. The Russian took part in a doubles match at Indian Wells last week in what was her first serious match since August last year; she teamed up with fellow Russian Elena Vesnina to face Ekaterina Makarova and Tatiana Poutchek.

And though Sharapova's side lost 6-2, 4-6, 10-7, there can be no doubt that seeing Maria back on court is great news for tennis fans everywhere.

It's undeniable that tennis (and the women’s game in particular) has sorely missed Sharapova. It was all too evident at January’s Australian Open, when the lack of depth in the women’s game was exposed.

In the final, Serena Williams took less than an hour to dispose of Dinara Safina, a good player in her own right, winning comfortably 6-3, 6-0. One could argue Sharapova would have put up much more of a fight.

The first item on the agenda for the Russian will undoubtedly be to regain her No. 1 ranking. For the majority of last season, Sharapova was the best lady in the land, but a shoulder injury unfortunately cut her season short.

Seven months of the Williams sisters dominating the tour later, it seems the Russian can’t come back soon enough. Apparently, no one else can seriously challenge the American duo.

Ana Ivanovic has flattered to deceive since her triumph at Roland Garros last year. Jelena Jankovic has promised much but has yet to win a Grand Slam title. And the aforementioned Safina has lost both major finals she’s been a part of.

That’s where Sharapova comes in. She has the game and the pedigree to challenge Serena and sister Venus; her powerful groundstrokes are able to trouble anyone on the tour.

That’s not to say she doesn’t have her detractors. The Russian’s powerful baseline game has often been accused of being one-dimensional. Some say it lacks variety and finesse.

Doubts remain over her fitness, too. Until she proves that she has overcome the shoulder problem which plagued her serve at both the French Open and Wimbledon last year, the uncertainty over her long-term future will persist.

But she will always draw casual fans to the game. The Russian was the most searched-for athlete on Yahoo! in both 2005 and 2008 and is arguably more known for her interests off-court rather than her work on it.

But unlike another certain Russian, who won nothing apart from endorsement contracts, Sharapova has the titles to back up her extracurricular activities.

And that’s what it comes down to: titles. The Williams sisters’ domination has made the women’s game boring and predictable in many people’s eyes, and healthy competition is required at the top end. The ladies need their own Federer v. Nadal-caliber battle.

The return of Maria Sharapova might bring just the competition the sport requires. She may well be the shot in the arm that women’s tennis needs.

Dwain Chambers Lets Himself Down Once Again

Shaun Murphy — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:14:50 -0500

Much has been said about Dwain Chambers over the last few years. There are those who believe the sprinter has served his sentence, learned from his misdemeanours, and deserves another chance.

He is the best sprinter Britain has to offer when drug-free, after all. On the contrary, there are those who refuse to back the sprinter, saying there is no room in athletics for a convicted drugs cheat.

The only way to beat drugs cheats is to have tough, consistent rules that leave athletes in no doubt what will happen if they break the rules. And that’s exactly what Chambers did.

When testing positive for performance enhancing drugs in 2003, there can be no denying he let himself, his fellow athletes, and his country down.

It was up to Chambers to rebuild those bridges; to repay the faith in those who he had let down. But now, judging by his latest comments, those bridges look to be well and truly burnt.

While there can be no doubting the 31 year old’s talent, he is the equal fastest man in the world this year after all, his PR skills since returning to the track have left a lot to be desired.

First came denial, with the sprinter vigorously denying all the charges against him until the two year ban was actually handed out. His lack of honesty did him no favours.

And even when he finally admitted to his indiscretions, Chambers covered himself in no glory whatsoever.

Appearing on BBC’s Inside Sport two years ago, he showed little remorse for his actions, instead focusing on the advantages that drugs can give an athlete over those who remained clean. When asked whether a clean athlete was likely to beat one using drugs in an Olympic final, Chambers replied: "It's possible, but the person that's taken drugs has to be having a real bad day. That's what I believe."

He was condemned for his comments by the press, and well respected figures in athletics such as Sebastian Coe and Sir Steven Redgrave also showed their disdain. The admission that drug taking in athletics is rife, though perhaps true, antagonized many leaders in athletics.

And now, it appears he is at it again.

The disgraced sprinter's new autobiography, ‘Race Against Time’, sees Chambers admit to his faults, and rightly so. But by using his book to accuse well respected figures such as Coe and Kelly Holmes of hypocrisy for their own oversights, it seems there could be no way back for the sprinter, in the eyes of the public at least.

The saddest thing about this whole saga is that had he kept his decorum in public, and went about his business in the right way, he may well have competed in Beijing.

Indeed, the judge who rejected his appeal to compete at Olympic events said as much, citing that, “the harmony and management of the British team would be upset” if Chambers competed. That in itself said a lot for the regard in which the sprinter was held by the British team.

Chambers had hoped that his book would represent ‘closure’ in regards to his past, but judging by his latest remarks, that doesn’t look like happening any time soon. Though his return to the track has proven to be successful, it seems in terms of his life outside of the track, he has proven himself to be as naïve as ever.

Uncertainty Reigns At Home Park for Plymouth Argyle

Shaun Murphy — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:39:46 -0500

Now, when it comes to under pressure managers, we’ve all heard about them being given the ‘dreaded vote of confidence.’

Similarly, this season alone we’ve seen enough managers ousted from their position, and not being given the backing they needed when they need it most.

However, it’s hard to see where Plymouth Argyle are coming from with their latest statement regarding under fire manager Paul Sturrock.

The statement reads as follows:

"Today, we conducted our regular monthly meeting of the Argyle Board of Directors.

"During the course of the meeting, we held talks with the manager in which the deep concerns of the Board regarding the team's position in the Championship were fully aired.

"The Directors believe that Argyle staying in the top two tiers of the league is paramount for the future of the club and will do all in their power to ensure that situation endures."

Confused? You wouldn’t be the only one. Where exactly does this leave Sturrock? Does he have the board’s backing, or will he be picking up his P45 by the time this article is written?

With one win in 15 league games and Argyle sitting precariously above the drop zone, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Sturrock on his way.

But would this be unfair? Granted, recent form has been poor, but after the exodus at the end of last season, could anymore be expected?

You can’t sell the players they did, not replace them with adequate replacements, and not expect to struggle.

With the limited resources at his disposal, some would argue that ‘Luggy’ is doing a credible job at Plymouth.

And there’s no doubt Plymouth wouldn’t be where they are now if it wasn’t for the Scotsman, who took Argyle from the Third Division to the Championship when the Pilgrims were at their lowest ebb.

But as we know, there is little room for sentiment in football these days, and if results don’t improve Sturrock will soon be on his way, no matter how highly regarded he may be by the Green Army, or how close he is to chairman Paul Stapleton, whom he shares a great working relationship with.

One thing for sure, all of this uncertainty can’t be good for anyone concerned at Home Park—with the fans and players alike seemingly unsure if the manager is coming or going.

Is Ryan Giggs Really Worthy of the Player of the Year Award?

Shaun Murphy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:18:10 -0500

With this season’s Player of the Year voting looking as open as it’s been in a decade, many names have been put forward for the much sought-after prize.

The likes of Ashley Young and Nemanja Vidic are seen by many as genuine contenders in a year where there is seemingly no standout candidate for the award.

However, in the last month a new name has emerged.

At 35-years-old, Ryan Giggs was expected by many to be a bit-part player in Manchester United’s quest for honours this season, having begun both the Champions League final and the Premier League title decider at Wigan last May on the substitutes’ bench.

This wasn’t a surprise to many, who felt his best days were behind him after a series of poor performances in the previous campaign.

However, after strong showings against the likes of Chelsea and West Ham in the last month, it appears that Giggs is no longer past it, but as good as ever.

And in the process, the Welshman has emerged as many people’s favourite for the coveted crown.

A worthy contender, perhaps? Or is this just an act of nostalgia?

There’s no doubting Giggs’ undoubted quality and consistency during his 19-year tenure at Old Trafford. After all, he’s notched up 147 goals in 687 starts and 101 substitute appearances, and has managed to score in 19 consecutive league seasons.

It’s testament to his ability and how he’s looked after himself throughout his career that he can still perform at the highest level, and that Sir Alex Ferguson still trusts him in the big games for his experience and know-how.

But with only nine Premiership starts and a solitary goal to his name, the choice of Giggs as footballer of the year would be no more than a sentimental one.

Recent performances have certainly been special, as he has rolled back the years with a series of quality displays in a variety of positions.

However, it has to be said other players have been more consistent throughout the season, with Vidic in particular a key ingredient in United’s recent success.

The Serbian has been outstanding in a United side seemingly intent on breaking defensive records as they go along, and with 23 appearances to his name, he’s been a model of consistency for his side as they continue to strive for success on all fronts.

In a campaign where clean sheets have formed the basis of United’s success, he has been a key factor. His importance cannot be understated, and the accolade would be richly deserved in an award where defenders are largely ignored in favour of attacking players.

Indeed, Vidic has shown the true form that is required from the footballer of the year. Even Giggs himself would testify to that.

Tony Adams Doomed from the Start

Shaun Murphy — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:28:25 -0500

Sixteen league games into his tenure at Fratton Park, Portsmouth have announced the sacking of Tony Adams.

Portsmouth currently lie in 16th position, just a point away from the relegation zone with 24 games played.

And while the decision doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, you have to wonder about the timing of it all.

After a credible performance against title chasing Liverpool, why sack Adams now? It certainly wasn’t the worst performance of his reign, and with Liverpool chasing the title, it was always a big ask for Portsmouth to get anything from the game.

Furthermore, if he isn’t the right man for the job now, why was he given money to spend in January? Surely giving a new man the chance to make his mark and bring in his own players would have been a better option for the South Coast side.

It’s fair to say the appointment shouldn’t have been made in the first place. Appointing a manager who proved himself to be out of his depth in League One with Wycombe Wanderers was bad enough, but giving him a two-and-a-half year contract bordered on insanity.

And judging by recent performances and results, Adams just hasn’t cut it.

A solitary two wins in the league sealed his fate, though it was poor performances, tactics, and transfer dealings that really led to his demise.

Indeed, Portsmouth only conceded 40 goals in domestic competition last season, and their FA Cup triumph was largely built on defensive discipline and 1-0 wins.

Now, Pompey are leaking far too many goals—and at key moments, too. The defensive discipline from last season has deserted them, and a lack of concentration at the end of matches is all too evident.

4-5-1 formations at home to the likes of Bristol City also didn’t endear Adams to the Pompey faithful. Far too often tactics were confusing and players were played out of position, with David Nugent being shunted to the wing, leaving an isolated Peter Crouch to lead the line on his own.

Being fair to Adams, it was always going to be difficult as soon as the likes of Lassana Diarra and Jermain Defoe were sold for big fees, with very little of the money given back to Adams to spend and rebuild his depleted squad.

But Adams was undeterred, and asked to be judged on his January signings.

And while the signing of Jermaine Pennant made sense, the signings of Hayden Mullins and Angelos Basinas left fans feeling frustrated, with neither signing doing much to excite fans.

So what now for Portsmouth? Names such as Sven Goran Eriksson and Avram Grant have been touted for the job, but in my opinion, they should look no further than Alan Curbishley.

The former Charlton and West Ham man has always been able to get the best out of the limited resources at his disposal, and has previous experience of relegation battles.

His knowledge of the Championship would also prove to be crucial, should Portsmouth not survive the dreaded drop. You would certainly fancy their chances of bouncing straight back with Curbishley at the helm.

Indeed, the next appointment is crucial if Portsmouth are to preserve their Premiership status, or the relegation chimes could indeed reign over Fratton Park.

Torquay United "Gulls" Made To Regret Missed Chances

Shaun Murphy — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:59:05 -0500

Torquay United 0-1 Coventry City

In the world’s oldest cup competition, it was the old adage of taking your chances that cost Torquay United, as they were left to rue their profligacy in front of goal on exiting the FA Cup.

A late Elliott Ward header sent Coventry through to the fifth round, though the Sky Blues can count themselves lucky to be in the last 16 at all after a spirited display from the home side in what was a pulsating cup tie.

For the first 20 minutes, it was Torquay on the back foot and under pressure as the Gulls started the match tentatively, giving Coventry too much time and space on the ball.

Freddy Eastwood spurned an early chance for the Sky Blues, heading over from Clinton Morrison’s cross with three minutes gone.

And after 11 minutes, it was Kevin Nicholson coming to Torquay’s rescue, showing great anticipation to clear Dan Fox’s effort off the line after some great work from the Coventry defender.

It looked like it could be a long afternoon for Torquay, but things started to settle down as the first half drew to a close, and it was The Gulls who came out brighter in the second half.

Matt Green was a thorn in Coventry’s side all afternoon, and the former Cardiff starlet burst clear after 54 minutes, forcing Kieran Westwood into a smart save.

And just minutes later, a Nicholson long throw caused chaos in the Coventry penalty area. With perhaps more time than he realised, Roscoe Dsane snatched at his chance and blazed his shot over.

By now it was Torquay in the ascendancy, with a sold out Plainmoor cheering them on, sensing a famous cup upset could be on the cards.

Coventry could sense it too, and when the usually reliable Westwood’s clearance fell invitingly to Wayne Carlisle with the goal at his mercy on the hour mark, Plainmoor held its breath. But again, Torquay couldn’t capitalize, and Carlisle’s chip sailed harmlessly wide.

There were yet more chances for Torquay. Steve Woods and Tim Sills both missed free headers, and you began to feel a lack of composure in front of goal when it really mattered would be costly.

And so it proved. An inviting Fox corner was met by the towering figure of Elliot Ward, and the centre-back made no mistake from close range. Ecstasy for Coventry, heartbreak for Torquay. One moment of madness had cost them dear.

With much still to play for, Torquay will hope that the players are able to use yesterday’s level of performance as an inspiration for the rest of the season. Based on this performance, a return to the Football League can’t be too far away.

Managerial Merry-Go Round

Shaun Murphy — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:37:49 -0500

"Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are the longest-serving managers, and that's no coincidence. When they had difficult times—and both did—they were given time to get it right and bed things down. Yet at other clubs, the manager leaves straight away, because he isn't given any control.

"I've been here six years, and that makes me the third longest-serving manager, and in a way, that's some sort of success."

David Moyes - Everton manager (2002-present)

As things stand, 29 managers have been relieved of their duties already this season in the top four divisions—and it’s only January!

For some, past glories have meant precious little.

Take the recent scandalous sacking of Martin Ling at Leyton Orient, for instance. Yes, the O’s currently find themselves embroiled in a scrap at the foot of the table in League One, but are by no means cut adrift. But, after over five years of good service at Brisbane Road, including a successful promotion campaign in 2006, Ling was dispensed of as soon as the going got tough.

The irony of the decision? Ling was linked with the Swindon Town job a matter of weeks ago, a club where he has strong links from his playing days. However, Ling, who was the sixth longest-serving manager in the league, stayed loyal to his present employers and look where that got him.

And what about Aidy Boothroyd at Watford? He massively overachieved in his first season in charge by guiding his side to the Premiership. However, following relegation, he had a number of players sold under his nose and received no money for new signings in return, making progress a near-impossible task.

Working as well as he could with what he had, Boothroyd was also dismissed. How the Hornets could do with his fighting qualities now, with the club embroiled in a relegation battle at the bottom of the Championship.

Unreasonable expectations from the fans and board alike also appear to be a factor.

Earlier in the season, Alan Curbishley walked out on West Ham citing a "breach of trust and confidence" as his reasons for leaving Upton Park. But in reality, he had one of the most thankless tasks in football.

West Ham fans not only want success, but good, attacking football—a big ask in the Premier League these days without big resources. Curbishley never truly endeared himself to the West Ham faithful, and his departure was inevitable.

It’s the same in the lower leagues too.

Danny Wilson was ridiculously sacked from his post at Hartlepool after seeing his side slip into the bottom half of the table in League One. Hardly a crisis, is it? But the Pools board certainly thought so, and the experienced Wilson was sent packing.

Some dismissals were warranted, however.

The departures of Glenn Roeder at Norwich City and Alan Pardew at Charlton Athletic were more than justified, with both teams struggling for confidence and form. However, with both clubs appointing their replacements from within, it seems the cheap option is preferred as the two clubs strive to stay in the Championship.

There are exceptions to the rule, though.

Despite Middlesborough’s precarious position in the Premier League, Gareth Southgate will be given plenty of time to turn things round at the Riverside Stadium. In Steve Gibson, he has one of the most patient chairmen in football, and the emphasis on English youth has been refreshing to see at Boro.

Mick McCarthy at Wolves is another example of a manager being given time to turn things round. Last season saw McCarthy spend lots of money, only to see his Wolves side fail to make the play-offs. But, he was backed by his chairman, Steve Morgan, and his Wolves are now reaping the rewards, sitting pretty at the top of the table and playing some fabulous football, to boot.

Of course, football is a results business, and no more so than in today’s cutthroat industry. The price of success and failure is all too much to bear these days. Managers have to learn from their mistakes, and those who have made mistakes must be given time to do so.

Chopping and changing constantly is not the key to success, and a glance at the top of the longest-serving managers list will tell you that.

Novak Djokovic Continues to Slip Under the Radar

Shaun Murphy — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:29:48 -0500

With all the talk about Andy Murray during this year’s Australian Open, you could be forgiven for forgetting just who the defending champion is. Even names such as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have been touted as potential winners before the defending champion, who has barely been mentioned in some quarters.

His name is Novak Djokovic, and the Serb has started his Australian Open campaign in impressive fashion, after comfortably reaching the last 32 with an impressive straight-sets win over Jeremy Chardy.

So, why has Djokovic not been considered as a contender? This is the surface where he feels most comfortable, after all. He proved that with his victory in Melbourne just 12 months ago, where he came from behind to defeat Jo Wilfred Tsonga and become the first Serb to win a grand slam.

Djokovic came out of that final as the newest hot property in men’s tennis.

The first half of his 2008 season was impressive, with semifinal appearances in the French Open, where he lost to the eventual winner and clay-court specialist Nadal, and four of the five Masters events in 2008, with overall victories in Indian Wells and Rome showing his true potential. Things were certainly looking bright.

However, a disappointing showing at Wimbledon followed, with Marit Safin disposing of the Serbian in the second round; a defeat that confirmed Djokovic had a long way to go before dislodging Federer and Nadal at the top of men’s tennis.

The second half of the year was topsy-turvy, with controversy regarding the player’s fitness in the US Open, an incident which led to Djokovic’s criticism of the New York crowd. Third-round defeats in the Madrid and Paris Masters followed and illustrated Djokovic’s lack of form and confidence.

The year did end well for Djokovic though, with victory in the Masters Cup ensuring he ended 2008 on a high.

The emergence of Murray also didn’t help matters. 2008 was a year where the young Scot came of age, and emerged as a true contender for a Slam—in the eyes of the media at least.

But to forget about Djokovic would be foolish. He is, after all, capable of beating the very best on his day, and his talent cannot be denied.

There’s no doubting the credentials of Murray, who looks to be a player in top form, and we know enough about Federer and Nadal. But Djokovic is a top player in his own right, something that many have neglected to mention as the 2009 tennis season begins.

He looks sharp on his return to Australia, that’s for sure. He’s yet to drop a set as things stand, though things are bound to get more difficult as the tournament progresses. The early elimination of David Nalbandian in Djokovic’s section of the draw will help matters though.

With all the talk concerning Murray and others, Djokovic will look to continue to slip under the radar and go about his business. With all the added pressure seemingly affecting his game in 2008, you feel that will suit the defending champion just fine.

Gary Johnson Ready for His Shot at the Bigtime

Shaun Murphy — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:00:40 -0500

In light of the two management roles made vacant at Premiership sides Sunderland and Blackburn, many managers were considered. Some candidates had Premiership experience, some had experience abroad, and some had little or no coaching experience at all.

However, one manager was ignored altogether, and when looking at his record and undoubted pedigree, it’s hard to see why Gary Johnson wasn’t considered for either role.

He’s served his apprenticeship in all of the lower leagues, with success stories at Cambridge United, Yeovil Town, and more recently Bristol City to speak of. And he’s managed at international level with Latvia. His CV is one that many managers would envy.

Yet, when it comes to the big jobs, Johnson is constantly ignored.

Is it because he isn’t seen as a big name? It’s a common thought that the best players don’t necessarily make the best managers, and that could well be true in Johnson’s case, where his playing career was modest to say the least. It’s through hard work and endeavour that he has got to where he is today.

His record compares favourably with that of Paul Ince, yet it was the former England midfielder who got the call to take the Blackburn job in the summer. Six months later, Ince unceremoniously got the boot at Ewood Park. Who’s to say Johnson couldn’t have done a better job?

After all, he has all the tools to succeed. Johnson is seen as a great man-manager who can get the best out of people. Players work hard for him, and more importantly, enjoy working for him. Who expected Bristol City to be in the promotion mix last season? To be 90 minutes away from the Premiership was beyond all Robins fans dreams.

And his manner with the media is something to admire. In front of the cameras, the Londoner is confident and perceptive. It’s to his credit that he has appeared on Match of the Day, a place where managers from the lower leagues are largely ignored.

The football? Like the best managers, Johnson adapts to the conditions accordingly, and isn’t afraid to instruct his team to go direct when adverse weather conditions make a crisp passing style difficult. But on their day, the Robins are as attractive to watch as anyone in the Championship.

Johnson’s approach was no more evident than at Yeovil—where the Glovers stormed the Conference and Division Three titles with displays of scintillating, attacking football. It was a joy to watch, and it was this success that saw him get the call at Ashton Gate.

So, has he taken Bristol City as far as he can? Quite possibly. City currently lie in 15th place in the Championship—nine points away from the playoff spots. A fresh challenge may be required if Johnson is to fulfill his undoubted management potential.

But as time goes by, it seems Premiership clubs are becoming increasingly reluctant to take a punt on managers from the lower leagues. Foreign appointments are seen as better options.

The last success story to come from the lower leagues was a certain David Moyes, who after impressing with Preston North End, was taken from Deepdale to Goodison Park in 2002.

And he hasn’t done too badly, has he?

Tennis Rewind: Ivanisevic Vs. Rafter, The People’s Final

Shaun Murphy — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:19:37 -0500

When browsing the Tennis section on Bleacher Report, I came across the Rewind Feature. And there was one match that came to my mind instantly.

Wimbledon. 2001. The people’s final, and a final like no other.

A final that had it all, from phenomenal tennis play to an electric atmosphere.

Centre Court was captivated by it, and so was I.

It was a final no one could have predicted, with two players in Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Rafter coming to the end of their careers. Despite their advancing years, their hunger and desire to win remained true.

Firstly, Goran Ivanisevic—the man who crushed Tim Henman’s dreams at the semi final stage in a five set thriller.

However, despite crushing the dreams of a nation, there was no doubt who the British public was supporting in this final. The Croatian was the first wild card entry to ever make it to the Wimbledon final, and previous to this match, was a three time losing finalist at SW19.

As many have done before the underdog endeared himself to the British public. We loved his madness, his honesty, and his undoubted flaws. There was something true about Goran. He was the loveable loser, a trait British fans are all too familiar with.

Then there was Rafter. Riding on the crest of an Australian wave in sport, with victories in the Ashes and the Lions Tour, Rafter was looking to avenge his defeat to the legendary Pete Sampras from the previous year.

And with rumblings that the Australian was to retire at the end of the tennis season, both players had laid their claims for victory.

So, with the scene set, the match began—on a Monday no less, for the first time in Wimbledon history.

This gave ordinary folk the chance to see the final, and by god, did it make for a scintillating atmosphere. Duelling chants of “Goran” and “Rafter” were the order of the day, as the atmosphere resembled a football match more than a tennis match.

It was boisterous and loud, and Wimbledon had seen nothing quite like it.

Ivanisevic won the toss and elected to serve, and started the stronger, holding early and breaking Rafter at the first attempt. The Croat’s serve and volley game was looking strong, and the pressure had seemingly got to Rafter early on as the Wild Card wrapped up the first set 6-3.

But Rafter came back strongly in the second set, and asserted himself quickly with an early break of his own, after two uncharacteristic double faults from Ivanisevic. The Australian then held serve, and was beginning to look confident himself as he won the second set 6-3.

The tables had turned, and the match was evenly poised. And as the match wore on, the tennis got better and better.

The third set saw some tremendous tennis—no more so than from Rafter. The Australian produced deft backhands and lunging volleys from seemingly impossible angles.

But it wasn’t enough to stop Ivanisevic, who had the momentum back in his favour. The Croat’s service games were strong and emphatic, and despite Rafter’s best efforts, he couldn’t live with him as another set ended 6-3—this time to the big Croatian.

Serve was becoming crucial for these powerful players, no more so than for Ivanisevic, who was using his powerful serve to full advantage.

But if we saw the very best of Ivanisevic in the third set, in the fourth set we saw him at his very worst.

Facing break point at 2-3, Ivanisevic proceeded to double fault and gift the game to Rafter. Incredulous with rage, The Serb took his frustrations out on his racket, the net, and the umpire.

Crazy Goran had made an appearance, but was he here to stay?

For the rest of the set he certainly was, as the Australian kept his cool and saw the rest of the set out comfortably.

The Croatian had lost his cool, and indeed his grasp on the match.

So it came to this. After four epic sets of tennis, it all rested on the final set. The atmosphere was electric. The stage was set. Who would prevail?

Rafter started the stronger, holding serve with Ivanisevic struggling to regain his composure. But the Croatians serve came to his rescue once again to level the set.

The rest of the set followed the same trend, as things got tenser. Both players showed their determination to win, game after game went by as both players refused to let their serve be broken.

At 3-3, Ivanisevic served his 207th ace of the Championship, and in doing so set a new Wimbledon record.

And at 5-5 we saw a truly remarkable game of tennis. Rafter’s brilliance saw him recover from 15-30 down to 40-30 with two audacious drop shots. And despite double-faulting, the Australian recovered and served the game out at deuce.

At 5-6 to Rafter, all the pressure was on The Croatian. But his trusty serve could be relied upon, and a majestic service game took the set to 6-6, and kept the match alive.

But at 6-7, the enigmatic Croatian was staring at defeat. At 0-30 down, Ivanisevic showed tremendous courage to get back into the game, and eventually won the game with a trademark ace to make it 7-7.

Momentum was now on Ivanisevic’s side, and he took full advantage in the game that followed, as the match took a decisive turn.

A cross court forehand put past a despairing Rafter gave the Croatian the first break of the set, and put Ivanesevic in full control.

But the drama didn’t end there.

Serving for the Wimbledon title, which was now firmly in his grasp, two double faults let Rafter back in to the match. And at the third attempt, a superb lob from the Australian showed that he wasn’t prepared to lie down just yet.

In a fitting finale, it was a trademark serve from Ivanisevic that could only be returned as far as the net by Rafter that sealed the championship.

Overcome by emotion, the Croatian collapsed to the ground. The tears were flowing as Ivanisevic looked to the heavens.

Both players and the crowd alike were exhausted after three hours of sublime tennis. We had seen a classic unfold before our very eyes.

And who could begrudge this victory? After falling short at the brink of victory three times before, at long last, he had achieved greatness.

His serve was powerful, his volleys were crisp, and what’s more, he was the darling of Centre Court.

But more importantly, he showed that even the most outlandish of dreams can come true.

Brighton Dream Finally Becomes a Reality

Shaun Murphy — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:20:58 -0500

The 24 of July, 2007.

A day that will go down in folklore for Brighton fans, as it marks the day that planning permission for their new home in Falmer, East Sussex was finally granted, after over 10 years of temporary homes.

Finally, Brighton have the luxury of home comforts, the luxury of a stadium to call their own. A luxury most football fans take for granted.

It’s been a struggle to get this far, however. Many obstacles have stood in Brighton’s way, and much money has been lost.

It all began in 1997, with Brighton’s financial situation looking precarious and bankruptcy becoming increasingly likely.

In an attempt to generate money and pay off the mounting debts that were crippling the club, a controversial decision was made, a decision that to this day has hampered the club’s progress.

The Goldstone ground was sold without the fans consent by the club’s directors, and the land surrounding the stadium was sold to property developers.

Brighton had been left homeless, and almost penniless.

In the club’s final season at the Goldstone ground, with only two games remaining, Brighton were staring at relegation from the Football League to the Conference flat in the face.

Brighton beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0 in the final match at the Goldstone, setting up what was billed as a winner takes all match against the team directly below them, Hereford, on the final day of the season. Brighton had to draw or win to stay up, and despite an early set back, The Seagulls managed to draw 1-1 and send Hereford down in the process.

After ground sharing with Gillingham for the 1997/98 season, Brighton moved into their temporary home, the Withdean stadium, a stadium they reside in to this day. The ground is primarily used as an athletics track, and only holds 8,500 people.

Suffice to say, this was not the long term solution that Seagulls fans craved.

Of course, the move to Falmer was always the long term objective, but that seemed far away at this point.

However, despite this turmoil Brighton prospered, on the pitch at least.

After a few turbulent years at the wrong end of the table, Micky Adams stabilized the club, and delivered promotion from the old Division Three, with the Seagulls going up as champions in 2001. It proved to be Brighton’s most successful season in 13 years.

The momentum continued the following season, despite the loss of Adams to Leicester, who gave the lack of a permanent stadium and facilities as his reasons for why he traded the Second Division title race for the Premiership relegation dogfight.

Peter Taylor replaced Adams in the hot seat, and Taylor maintained the Seagulls momentum. Brighton ended the season as Division Two champions, and back to back promotions had been achieved.

Suddenly, after the threat of extinction and non league football, Brighton were now only a division away from the promised land of the Premier League. It had been quite the turn around.

Life in Division One wasn’t quite so plain sailing, however. Taylor left The Seagulls to take on the Hull City job, a club who were below Albion in the footballing pyramid, but well ahead in ambition and facilities.

Once again, Brighton had lost a talented manager, and the lack of good facilities at the club was hampering their progress on the field.

Martin Hinshelwood was promoted from youth team manager and charged with the job of keeping Brighton in the division. Hinshelwood struggled, proceeding over an 11 match winless streak, and was eventually relieved of his duties, with Steve Coppell taking over.

Coppell improved the club’s fortunes, but couldn’t do enough to stop the inevitability of relegation.

Coppell eventually left Brighton for Reading, a club who were once again well ahead in terms of infrastructure, and was replaced by Mark McGhee, who took the Seagulls back up at the first attempt through the playoffs.

McGhee even managed to keep the club in the division during the following campaign, with Brighton finishing in 20thposition, in what was their highest league position in 14 years.

No small feat with such small crowds, and you felt a new ground was the final piece of the jigsaw to exploit Brighton’s undoubted potential. Afterall, managers were departing because of this, and the club would always struggle with such low income streams.

And sure enough, problems began to arise.

While Brighton City Council approved the stadium plans for Falmer, Lewes District Council fought valiantly against it, believing “the stadium will erode the important gap of open countryside between the built up area of Brighton and Falmer village.”

However, on the 28th of October, 2005, the plans for Falmer were finally approved, and the city of Brighton could finally rejoice. The hard work had paid off.

Or so we thought.

Lewes council appealed the decision, citing problems with where the stadium is located within the boundary of the built up area of Brighton. Due to this, the plans were withdrawn, and The Albion were back to square one.

And on the field, the Seagulls were once again struggling. Brighton had been relegated from the Championship, and the following season began with uncertainty.

McGhee was eventually received of his duties, with the inexperienced Dean Wilkins given the chance to revive the club’s fortunes.

And while he did so with moderate success, achieving successive mid-table finishes with a relatively young squad, off the field was where the real success story came.

On Tuesday, the 24th of July, 2007, The Secretary of State said yes to Falmer once again, subject to appeal within a six-week period.

And to the relief of all those concerned, Lewes District Council announced that they would not appeal against the decision.

Relief all round for the city of Brighton, who had fought valiantly for this. All the marches to Falmer and petitions to the MP had now been worth it.

Brighton had a place to call home.

So now we come to today. Micky Adams is now back at the helm at Brighton, the very man who kick-started this whole success story on the pitch.

Still relatively young in management terms at 47, Adams could well be the man to provide success for the Albion faithful. With the club hovering just over the relegation zone though, there is work to be done.

And work is due to begin on the Falmer project later this month, which looks ambitious to say the least. The project is due to finish in August 2011, and the new state of the art stadium should hold 22,000 fans.

Some have called these plans overly ambitious, but with the potential of the Sussex area and the size of The Seagulls fanbase, which has been shown by their large Wembley followings, Brighton should finally prosper and establish themselves in the Championship.

After many false dawns, exciting times could lie ahead for the city of Brighton and their long suffering fans.

And after 10 years of frustration, who could begrudge them that?

Luiz Felipe Scolari Begins to Feel the Heat at Chelsea

Shaun Murphy — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:22:33 -0500

Prior to yesterday’s 2-1 defeat against title rivals Arsenal, ‘Big’ Phil Scolari had avoided controversy during the opening six months of his reign as Chelsea manager. Scolari let his Chelsea team do their talking on the pitch, and with some fabulous football along with some good results, the Brazilian had adapted to life in England well.

There were no mind games, and no criticising referees. Scolari just seemed to go about his job nicely—a stark contrast to the days of The Special One, that’s for sure.

Dare I say it; people were starting to respect Chelsea, if not necessarily like them. People admired their football. They were gracious in defeat, as shown when beaten by Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, a defeat that ended Chelsea’s record breaking home record, where they didn't lose for 86 games.

However, the pressure cooked environment of the title race has finally got to Big Phil, with yesterday’s defeat prompting an outburst more reminiscent of Jose Mourinho’s days at the Bridge.

And there was nothing "likeable" about it.

Scolari accused Mike Dean, the referee in yesterday’s encounter, of “killing” his Chelsea team, and even hinted at conspiracy theories, after Dean’s assistant failed to spot Robin Van Persie was offside for Arsenal’s first goal.

All quite ludicrous really, and with the club’s fuor and a half year unbeaten home record now an all too distant memory, maybe it’s all starting to get to Big Phil? Has he shown the first signs of cracking under the pressure?

Because although it’s clear Van Persie was indeed offside for Arsenal’s opener yesterday, there was still half an hour of football to play after that incident. And in that period, Chelsea conceded another goal not too shortly after, and in reply, failed to seriously test the Arsenal goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia.

And that isn’t down to the officials, that is down to Scolari and his Chelsea team.

The fact is, Chelsea don’t have a plan B, and the rest of the Premiership seems to have worked this out. Much like Newcastle and Liverpool did so successfully, Arsenal stopped the Chelsea full-backs from marauding forward, and therefore negated Chelsea’s threat down the flanks.

And by stopping John Obi Mikel and Deco from starting attacks from deep, Chelsea struggle to get going, and look slow and sluggish.

Chelsea’s recent results would indicate that the Premiership has realized this, with poor results against Liverpool, Newcastle, and now Arsenal halting Chelsea’s early momentum. But Scolari continues to persist with his tactics, refusing to deviate from what he knows.

And though it’s far from a crisis on the domestic front, in the Champions League Chelsea qualification is far from guaranteed, with victory needed in the final group game at home against Romanian Champions CFR Cluj to ensure qualification.

Furthermore, without Ricardo Carvalho at the heart of the back line, Chelsea’s defence looks desperately exposed. The lack of strength of depth in the Blues squad is all too evident, and with Chelsea needing a goal yesterday to equalize, there was little firepower on the bench for the Chelsea boss to call upon. The failure to sign Robinho in August looks increasingly like a missed opportunity.

It seems Scolari may well be facing his first signs of adversity as manager, though this won’t be anything new. It’s the nature of the beast, as they say, and Big Phil is indeed big enough to deal with any pressure that may come his way.

But instead of blaming match officials for his teams failings, Scolari may be better advised to look closer to home.

West Brom-Stoke City: Style over Substance?

Shaun Murphy — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:04:06 -0500

It’s been an entertaining start to the Premiership season, and no more so than at the bottom of the table.

Two of the newly promoted teams from the Championship, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, faced off at the weekend—two teams that have contrasting styles and fortunes on the pitch.

First of all, a focus on Stoke City. They’re direct, uncompromising, and as we know, they like to launch the ball long from the back, and play for set-pieces and Rory Delap’s now famous throw-ins.

It may not be pretty, but it’s effective, with some strong home form at the Britannia Stadium keeping the Potters' heads above water for now.

Then you have West Brom, a team who look easy on the eye with some neat, passing football, but are ultimately losing games and struggling in the relegation zone.

Now, both managers have had plenty of time at their respective clubs to make their mark and blend their team into the style of their choosing, and as a result both sides spent a fair amount of money in the summer to try and keep their sides in the Premier League, but took different approaches with the signings they made.

Tony Pulis at Stoke went for players to compliment the direct style that had served his side so well previously, with the likes of Dave Kitson and Seyi Olofinjana arriving at the Britannia Stadium.

Stoke fans knew what kind of players they were getting, and you have it’s been a pretty successful policy so far, with the Potters sitting outside of the drop zone.

On the contrary, West Brom went abroad and drafted in the likes of Borja Valero and Ryan Donk to play their own more cultured style.

And with West Brom rooted to the bottom of the table, one would argue it’s a policy that hasn’t worked thus far, though their bold style of play has won them many fans across the country.

For me, this is bad management on Tony Mowbray’s part. Though their approach to the game is indeed admirable, football is first and foremost a results business, and West Brom just aren’t cutting it at the moment.

Mowbray’s reluctance to change things could prove costly for the Baggies, and may well cost them their Premiership status.

Of course, there are some exceptions. Fulham managed to stay up last season playing some attractive football, but that’s more the exception to the rule.

Generally, you need grit and discipline, something which Stoke have in abundance, and which West Brom undoubtedly lack. And in the Premiership, you need to be able to battle with the best of them.

You don’t win extra points for shots outside the area, nor do you for smart passing moves. You do win matches by scoring goals and it doesn’t matter how they go in, be it a long throw or a long ball launched from the back.

But what about the likes of Stoke and Bolton? Two sides that are perfectly capable of playing good football themselves, and a look at the weekend’s action will show you just that.

Stoke's goal came from a swift one-two and cross in the box, and Matt Taylor's goal against Middlesborough for Bolton came from a great passing move.

Yet, these teams reputations precede them, and their good football is largely ignored.

Of course, Mowbray himself has refused to abandon his footballing principles, and West Brom will continue to play their way, no matter what the consequences.

Some would call this honorable and applaud his decision.

I wonder if West Brom fans will feel the same come May, with Championship football to look forward to once again?

Capello's England Continues To Deliever

Shaun Murphy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:27:25 -0500

Well, I could certainly get used to this new England. A pointless friendly? Try telling that to Fabio Capello and his team.

Sure, it’s wasn’t the 5-1 whitewash from years gone by, but it was something that’s become a rarity from England when it comes to international friendlies over the years: impressive.

And this was only the second string–England’s ‘reserves’, if you will.

Much was made over the various withdrawals in the squad throughout the week, with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney dropping out due to injury.

A disaster, some would say.

As it turned out, it was more like a blessing in disguise, as it gave the second string a chance to stake their claims and gave Capello, a man for whom reputations count for nothing, a big problem for the next game.

And they did just that.

Matthew Upson was solid and composed in the heart of the England defence and managed to get himself a goal.

Michael Carrick was neat and tidy with the ball and disciplined without it.

Stewart Downing provided balance on the left-hand side, and created both goals with two dangerous set-piece deliveries.

And in his first England appearance, Gabriel Agbonlahor caused the Germany defence problems all evening with his raw pace and clever movement.

Capello now has a problem, the kind of problem every manager wants to have. There's healthy competition for places, and that can only be good for England.

Make no mistake about it, bar the Carson debacle (which, to be honest, I’m sick of talking about, Terry and Carson are equally culpable), everything clicked into place for England tonight.

Despite the unfamiliarity of the lineup, England looked more like a team than other England sides from years gone by.

Because every time I see this England team, they look better and better. More comfortable in possession, more compact without the ball, and more like a team. There was balance, shape, and professionalism.

And that’s the key. No longer do England play as a team of individuals. There’s now balance, and unsurprisingly, things are beginning to click into place.

After a slow start in charge, Capello is beginning to make his mark. Long may it continue.

Andy Murray Aiming to End Fantastic Year with a Flourish

Shaun Murphy — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:30:24 -0500

Now then, it’s my first tennis blog on the site, at the risk of sounding boring and predictable, I'm going to talk about Britain's Andy Murray.

Yes, I know, it's a subject being done to death right now, as I’m sure British readers will testify to.

Because as much as the British press wouldn't let you believe it, there is more to tennis than Andy Murray.

But after seeing such accomplished performances like the one I just witnessed, it's hard not to get excited about the young Scot, who's seemingly in the form of his life right now.

Roger Federer is one of the greatest players on the tour, and arguably one of the greatest players to play the game. Say what you like about Federer’s "decline", if you can even call it that, but the man can still deliver when it matters.

And with the world No. 2 needing a win to seal qualification to the Masters Cup semi-finals, this certainly mattered.

But it mattered to Murray too, because losing is an option he refuses to contemplate these days. Sensing the opportunity to knock Federer out of the tournament altogether, the young Scot duly delivered, winning 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5.

Surprised? Not really, and that’s the scary thing. We now expect Murray to trouble the likes of Federer and Nadal, and that shows how far the young man has come in such a short space of time.

It's been a year where Andy Murray has certainly come of age, in more ways than one. His tennis has improved considerably for sure, with Murray now able to give the big boys problems.

His first serve has improved greatly, and Murray is now more aggressive on the court, able to take the game to anyone.

But more importantly, the petulance and attitude problems that plagued Murray’s game for so long have seemingly disappeared.

And Murray looks all the better for it.

For me, Murray's game turned around at Wimbledon, during the epic five-setter against Richard Gasguet.

It was a match where Murray secured his first quarter-final spot in a Grand Slam, but more importantly, the young man from Dunblane finally seemed to win over the Wimbledon crowd, showing true battling qualities to come from two sets down in what was a thrilling encounter.

He showed maturity beyond his years that fateful day at SW19. The old Murray would have cursed and bemoaned his way towards defeat. But this time, he dug in, kept going, and found a second wind.

And since that win, the new and improved Murray has been in scintillating form.

The world No. 4 has reached the US Open final, won his first two Masters Series titles, and reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals of two other Masters events.

An impressive four months to say the least. But how did this rich run of form come around?

A change in Murray’s coaching set up may be the answer, with Brad Gilbert removed from the set-up. At the time it looked like a gamble, but he now has the right people around him, and he seems fitter, more focused, and a more complete player.

Or maybe this has always been coming, and we shouldn’t be so surprised. A junior US Open victory in 2004 should have opened our eyes to his special talents.

It’s sometimes easy to forget that Murray is just 21, and still has his best years ahead of him. Maybe it's just a case of realised potential at last.

However, Murray simply cannot afford to get complacent in 2009. The parallels with Novak Djokovic’s year could become all too apparent, a year where the young Serbian burst onto the scene with a successful Australian Open victory.

Fast forward to the end of the year, and Djokovic has struggled for form and confidence in what has been a fairly patchy year. Let’s hope Murray doesn’t suffer a similar fate and instead maintains his strong momentum.

Murray has made great strides all year, and a Masters Cup title would top off what has been a tremendous year. But you feel that this is only the beginning for the Scot, and a Grand Slam victory is surely on the horizon.

Sunderland's Keane Exempt From Critisism?

Shaun Murphy — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:21:50 -0500

Recently I wrote a blog concerning Gary Megson and the unfair treatment the beleaguered Bolton boss receives.

Suffice to say, I received a fair bit of flak myself, which, to be honest, I fully expected. I like a challenge, you see, and defending Gary Megson is certainly a challenge!

Anyway, with all that being said, there's something else I'd like to get off my chest.

No matter what they do, some managers are seemingly exempt from criticism, and one such man is Roy Keane.

Keane's Sunderland currently lie in 19th position, and occupy one of three relegation spots. but is anything being said about this? Not really. There’s some slight rumblings of discontent from Sunderland fans maybe, but within the media, there's no talk about Keane's position coming under threat, nor is there any real criticism in regards to Sunderland's recent poor form - which has seen the Wearsiders lose four in a row in all competitions.

It seems Keane is being let off the hook, so to speak.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not crying out for Keane to be put under any kind of pressure, far from it. In today's managerial climate, it's refreshing to see teams stick with their manager in times of adversity, if you can even call it that.

There's far too many trigger happy chairmen out there at the moment, happy to sack their manager at the drop of a hat.

But when you look at the likes of Megson, Mark Hughes and before them the recently dismissed Alan Curbishley, three managers that are or were seemingly always under pressure from the fans and media alike, you have to wonder if it's a case of double standards?

Look at the money that's been spent at Sunderland this summer. £30m (though this figure is unconfirmed due to undisclosed fees) is a staggering amount of money for a club of Sunderland's size, and it’s more than most clubs spent in the Premier League this summer.

And it's not just this summer Sunderland have spent big. After achieving promotion from the Championship, Keane spent £37m on the likes of Craig Gordon and Michael Chopra keeping Sunderland in the Premiership.

And with Sunderland currently lying in 19th place, for all Keane's wheeling and dealing, you'd have to think Niall Quinn would want more for his money than a relegation battle on his hands.

So why is Keane excused from any criticism whatsoever? His successful playing career maybe? His outspoken nature? The fact he's young? Or maybe we're all terrified of upsetting him?

Either way, it's something that bemuses me.

Unfashionable Megson Still Not Everyone's Cup of Tea

Shaun Murphy — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:57:32 -0500

Sitting comfortably in mid-table, after two wins and clean sheets in a row, you'd think Bolton fans would be fairly content with their team's form, and their manager Gary Megson.

After all, Megson kept Bolton up in remarkable circumstances last year, after Sammy Lee's disastrous tenure in charge. And there was even a decent UEFA Cup run to boot, with memorable results against the likes of Bayern Munich and Red Star Belgrade something to savour.

Yet there are still rumblings of discontent from the Wanderers faithful. The football is too negative, apparently, with Bolton more concerned about keeping a clean sheet than actually going and scoring at the other end.

They want Megson out.

But there lies the problem. Because football, first and foremost, is a results business. There's just too much money involved for teams to go out and attack these days. The risk is simply too much, with the money in the Premiership so vital, especially for teams like Bolton.

Relegation would be disastrous. A healthy dose of realism is required, and Megson realises this.

Taking a step back to last season, and after the departure of Sam Allardyce, Bolton decided to change things. Sammy Lee attempted to get Wanderers playing a more expansive brand of football after the direct style of Allardyce but ultimately failed, with only five points from their opening ten games a poor return.

The experiment went wrong, and could so easily have cost Bolton their Premiership status.

So Chairman Phil Gartside went back to basics, and went back to what he knew. Lee was given the boot after a matter of months, and to the dismay of many, Megson was appointed. Fans at the Reebok Stadium were outraged, so much so that only 1.7 percent of fans were in favour of his appointment, according to a website poll.

Talk about starting on the wrong foot.

Then again, this is nothing new for Megson. He's never been a popular manager, with his pragmatic style of play never endearing him to fans, who prefer to see attractive, attacking football.

And who doesn't? But pretty football doesn't get you out of a relegation battle, does it? It's about rolling your sleeves up, working hard, and getting the basics right.

So Megson got to work, and got Bolton doing the basics properly again. Of course, it took time, but slowly but surely, the Trotters began to get results. They were hard-working, organised, defensively sound, and strong from set-pieces.

The old Bolton Wanderers were back, doing what they did best, playing to their strengths, and doing what they needed to do to stay up. It wasn't about winning popularity contests, it was about achieving results, whichever way they could.

What's more, the loss of influential striker Nicolas Anelka in January was seen to be the last straw by many, with the goals supply surely drying up. He was seen as the only bit of genuine quality in an otherwise mediocre side.

Without Anelka, there were no goals, and seemingly no hope.

But Megson didn't panic, and strengthened elsewhere in the squad. Matt Taylor, Gary Cahill, and Gretar Steinsson were all drafted in, amongst others. Once again, they weren't signings to get the fans pulses racing, but they were hard-working and committed players who would give their all for the cause. And the new signings certainly had the desired effect, as the likes of Cahill and Taylor all played their part in keeping Bolton in the Premiership.

And so Bolton did stay up, in what was quite frankly a remarkable achievement. At one stage, Megson's side looked dead and buried, and some journalists had written them off completely, condemning the team to relegation.

But in the end, we were all proved wrong, as The Trotters pulled off what was in my eyes one of the greatest turnarounds in recent history.

There was even the added bonus of a profitable run in the UEFA Cup, though the competition eventually proved to be too much of a distraction, as Megson put the club's domestic campaign first. Once again, Megson was criticised for not giving the competition enough respect, but in the end his decision proved to be vindicated.

Megson was hired to save the team from relegation, nothing more, nothing less. A European adventure just wasn't in the job description.

Moving onto this season, and it's been more of the same from Bolton and Megson, and the fans don't like it. Sure, it's been an inconsistent start, and results haven't always been good. And surprise surprise, the style of play hasn't changed.

But given the way Megson turned things round last season, you'd think Bolton fans would be more patient towards the man who kept them up against the odds last season.

The abuse that Megson suffered at the hands of his own fans away at Tottenham was nothing short of ridiculous, and in my opinion completely undeserved.

Then again, football fans have notoriously short memories, don't they?

Megson out? Be careful what you wish for...