Europa League: Premier League hopes damaged by competition

By Luke Reddy BBC Sport

No-one wants to play in the Europa League, right?

Common theory paints the competition as a hindrance, but does it actually harm a club's Premier League hopes?

As Everton, Tottenham and Liverpool prepare for ties in the last-32 on Thursday, BBC Sport has studied 10 seasons since the Europa League introduced group stages to find exactly what impact a campaign has on league performance.

We crunched every season-on-season position change and analysed each league result which followed a Europa League fixture and found the following:

Liverpool excelled domestically when void of Europa distraction last season, Manchester United's league form has improved without any European action this, so is the Europa League worth the hassle?

BBC Sport spoke finance, routine and strategy with former Everton captain Phil Neville, Preston striker Kevin Davies, who played in two campaigns for Bolton, West Brom boss Tony Pulis, manager of Stoke in the competition in 2011-12, and Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, following their involvement last season.

Thursday to Sunday: Breaking the routine

Phil Neville: "A totally different feeling'

"Thursday nights, Channel 5" was a taunt directed by fans at clubs forced to 'slum it' in the Europa League, while former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole reputedly almost provoked a fight in the Stamford Bridge tunnel when he shouted it at Manchester City players after they were knocked out of the Champions League in 2011.

Footballers often cite they are a breed which "loves routine", but since the tournament began moving fixtures to Thursdays in 2006-07, those involved have been afforded anything but.

And that will not change as Uefa has told BBC Sport the Europa League matchday will not change anytime soon, with schedules set until 2018.

"Playing on a Thursday and then on a Sunday is a totally different feeling to playing on a Wednesday and a Saturday," says Neville.

"The fact you get home on a Friday, then you're in a hotel on the weekend for the Sunday game so your weekend is gone, that plays a part psychologically."

• BBC Sport's study of 33 club campaigns from 2004-05 shows an average 2.3 place league fall when balancing Europa League demands.

But Sunday fixtures in the aftermath of Thursday commitments are not the root cause of a troubled season.

• Sides average 1.41 points in matches immediately following a European game, compared to 1.43 in their other league games in the same season - a miniscule difference.

Such findings suggest a decline in league fortunes is not down to games which follow a European fixture, but fatigue amassed over an entire season could be the cause.

"The recovery process is much harder," adds Neville. "Normally you get a Sunday off, but your recovery from the Sunday game knocks into the following week and has a cumulative effect. That builds up. The first couple you're fine but it's the third, fourth, fifth game in the group stage that hits you hard.

"It doesn't just affect players but staff members and managers."

How do managers view it - a hindrance?

Tony Pulis: "It has to be looked at..."

The intrinsic planning that goes into a Premier League fixture calls for time on the training ground.

But extra fixtures starve meticulous managers of time.

• The average Europa League run for an English side since 2004 lasts nine games.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has suggested the Premier League moves domestic fixtures to a Monday night to allow for an additional recovery day.

"If the Premier League is serious about English clubs doing well, I really think they need to do something about it," Pulis told BBC Sport. "It has to be looked at. A Monday game would help massively."

But the Premier League is keen for all 20 of its teams to abide by a schedule which gives no side an advantage.

Add in the fact the league has just sold over £5bn of television rights - all split into pre-determined time slots until 2018-19 - and ad-hoc Monday fixtures look about as likely as the FA Cup final being held on Mars.

BBC Sport's study suggests the competition hinders a side trying to break through the glass ceiling that exists in trying to reach the Premier League's top four.

• Only two sides, Manchester City in 2010-11 and Tottenham a year later, have competed in the Europa League while ending a season in the coveted Champions League qualification places.

• Sides finishing fourth to seventh in the table have fallen an average 3.2 places the following season with the additional Europa workload.

Pulis's Stoke side in 2011 - in the Europa League thanks to an FA Cup final defeat - dropped just one league place but encountered long league trips to Norwich after a flight home from Switzerland and Sunderland after visiting Ukraine.

"I usually pick my team on a Tuesday so the lack of preparation was a real disadvantage," added Pulis, who guided Stoke into Europe for the first time in 37 years. "You can't get lads out on the training field to do what you need.

"At Stoke I thought our lads enjoyed the freshness of the competition a lot because we were new to it. Some Premier League games after it, I almost got the sense we were on a downer, the league game was devalued."

So what's the best approach?

Kevin Davies: Play, sleep, train, fly

A tonic of meticulous preparation and a full-blooded commitment to the Europa League are needed to balance a push for European success with progress at home.

Newcastle are a side who have seemingly struggled with the balancing act, falling nine, six and 11 places in the league respectively in the last three seasons they were involved in the Europa League - called the Uefa Cup until 2009.

"When the game was a few hours away rather than a short flight, we stayed over after it, did a recovery session in the morning and then flew home. I think that really worked," said Davies.

"I think there can be a mental fatigue, but it is a different story when you're winning, games come thick and fast but you can't wait for them."

Fatigue - physical or mental - can be managed with "skilful rotation" by a manager according to Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins, who is conscious of players being sucked into a negativity surrounding the Europa League.

"If there is an excuse why you don't play well, people are quick to focus and that has crept into football," Jenkins told BBC Sport.

"Everybody talks about the downside of the Europa League before you kick a ball. Yet to play regularly in the Champions League, players are doing the same thing and it's never discussed."

Neville added: "I think I saw Roberto Martinez in a study once say managers get back from Europe and change the team for the next game, when actually you should change your team the game before Europe, then pick a team for the Europa game and keep it the game afterwards.

"He has done that a lot this year and what I guess he is trying to say is look, don't use this as an excuse.

"It annoys me you may work for nine months, get into Europe, celebrate and then come back for pre-season and the Europa League has become a noose around the neck. We embraced the competition at Everton and that is what you have to do."

Is it worth it financially? Can you make a profit?

Swansea chairman: "Most clubs will profit"

The Europa League hands out prize money in every round, not to mention ticket-sale revenue, so the competition offers a fresh income stream.

"In general, it's highly likely that most clubs would make a profit," added Swans chairman Jenkins.

The Welsh side reached the round of 32 in 2013-14, a feat which would net £1.2m this season without accounting for ticket sales or the financial rewards earned per win (£148,000) and draw (£74,000) in the group stage.

Prize money comparison
Revenue stream	Europa League	Champions League
Prize for reaching group stage	£958,000	£6.3m
Prize for a win	£148,000	£737,000
Prize for draw	£74,000	£369,000
Prize for reaching last 16	£258,000	£2.6m

The competition's winners will generate over £7m throughout the tournament in prize money alone. Throw in the bounty generated from a full home stadium in each fixture, new sponsorship opportunities and this competition is far from a place for Europe's paupers.

And with tournament victory offering a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds for the first time, a second pot of gold could await the winners.

"The important one is to maximise the income with the home games," added Jenkins, who said Swansea profited financially from participating.

"The players had a share of what profit we made. That makes sure there is incentive there so they can share in any success."

Jenkins estimates sending a team to a fixture abroad runs up an average bill of £150,000 in travel and additional costs.

So surely this is a financial no-brainer? Get stuck in. But a drop of one Premier League place in 2013-14 cost £1.2m in prize money. Swansea fell three.

Like every other team analysed, their Europa League involvement may not have been the cause of a league demise, football is rich in variables after all.

But in an era of growing rewards in the domestic game - fuelled by increasing television deals - maybe your team could do without those trips to the far corners of Europe after all.

Club	Europa League games played in season	Change in league position (places)	Season
Newcastle	14	-11	2012-13
Newcastle	12	-9	2004-05
Bolton	10	-9	2007-08
Everton	2	-7	2005-06
Middlesbrough	15	-7	2005-06
West Ham	2	-6	2006-07
Newcastle	12	-6	2006-07
Tottenham	10	-6	2007-08
Portsmouth	6	-6	2008-09
Fulham	19	-5	2009-10
Blackburn	8	-4	2006-07
Everton	10	-3	2009-10
Swansea	12	-3	2013-14
Aston Villa	2	-3	2010-11
Bolton	8	-2	2005-06
Manchester City	16	-1	2008-09
Fulham	14	-1	2011-12
Stoke	12	-1	2011-12
Tottenham	12	-1	2012-13
Millwall	2	0	2004-05
Tottenham	10	0	2006-07
Everton	2	0	2008-09
Aston Villa	10	0	2008-09
Aston Villa	2	0	2009-10
Everton	10	1	2007-08
Liverpool	14	1	2010-11
Tottenham	8	1	2011-12
Liverpool	12	1	2012-13
Manchester City	12	2	2010-11
Blackburn Rovers	4	3	2007-08
Tottenham	8	3	2008-09
Middlesbrough	10	4	2004-05

* Wigan and Birmingham have not been included in calculation for averages as they competed in a lower league than in the previous season alongside Europa League competition.

** Teams studied played in Europa League qualifiers or first round proper. Those entering the Europa League after playing in the Champions League group stages are not included.

***All prize money sums calculated as of exchange rate on 12 February.

Source : bbc[dot]com

post from sitemap

PSG 1-1 Chelsea: Five things we learned at Parc des Princes

Chelsea's draw with Paris St-Germain leaves the Champions League last-16 tie finely poised ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge on 11 March.

But what have we learned about Jose Mourinho and his team from the 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes?

Thibaut Courtois is pure class

PSG had 14 shots on goal, seven of which were on target but only Edinson Cavani's second-half header was enough to beat Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian was preferred to Petr Cech and rewarded his manager by producing fine saves to deny Zlatan Ibrahimovic on three occasions as well as keeping out headers from Blaise Matuidi and Cavani in the first half.

Jose Mourinho: "I try to read the situation. I try to predict the profile of the game, the reality is that it is easy, they are both phenomenal goalkeepers. If football was nine players plus two goalkeepers we would be on the moon."

Branislav Ivanovic: "Thibaut Courtois made amazing saves. At the moment we don't know which of our goalkeepers [is the best] - they are both fantastic and it is a great feeling to have someone who is doing something special."

David Luiz: "Without their goalkeeper, we would have won this game. He was great."

John Terry: "He was different class. When you look at Petr in the week, he made two great saves from [Everton's Romelu] Lukaku to win us three points. Thibaut came back in and the competition is great and it is fierce among the squad. That's what is needed."

John Terry made two clearances against PSG, while Gary Cahill made four

Cahill feeling pressure from Kurt Zouma

Gary Cahill was chosen to partner John Terry instead of Kurt Zouma and, while Cahill and Terry combined to set up Branislav Ivanovic's opening goal, their marking was questionable for Cavani's equaliser.

BBC pundit and Former England defender Phil Neville on Radio 5 live: "I'm a fan of Gary Cahill and he's the best centre-back in the England team - but he's been left out for recent high-profile games against Manchester City and Liverpool and there was hesitancy and doubt in his mind. There were moments when a confident Cahill would have won the ball. He's feeling the pressure of Kurt Zouma, because John Terry's form is not dropping.

"It's between Cahill and Zouma as to who will partner Terry.

"I think Cahill will start the return leg. Kurt Zouma has been playing well but he's not the finished article. Mourinho will pick games for Zouma and I don't think the Champions League quarter-final is the right game to blood a young centre-back.

"I've been a senior player with youngsters coming in, and you can definitely feel the pressure. These youngsters aren't getting level, they're rising above you and getting better. It's difficult to deal with - you feel secure in the team and then all of a sudden you have to raise your game and find a way to improve your own performance."

Oscar replaced Cesc Fabregas in the 83rd minute - despite Jose Mourinho saying neither was fully fit

Mourinho prefers to rely on his old faithfuls

Despite having Didier Drogba, Loic Remy and £23.3m signing Juan Cuadrado available, Mourinho chose to start four of five players he said were not fully fit. Willian, Ivanovic, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas all made the starting line-up while Oscar came on as late substitute despite the Portuguese coach claiming they had not trained.

Mourinho said: "Sometimes people speak about the players when they are injured and do not play. There are injured players who play, they don't train to play. I had five players in this game who did not train since Everton. We felt that a little."

Branislav Ivanovic moved to Stamford Bridge from Lokomotiv Moscow in January 2008

Ivanovic is a big-game player

Ivanovic's goal was his first in Europe since the Europa League final over Benfica in 2013.

He has 29 goals in 298 Chelsea games in all competitions since joining from Lokomotiv Moscow in January 2008.

He scored the winner in their League Cup semi-final win over Liverpool and in their Premier League triumph at Aston Villa on 7 February.

He now has five goals this season but his most prolific campaign was in 2012-13 when he scored nine.

Chelsea captain John Terry said: "Branislav Ivanovic has been different class defensively this year and always has been. Attacking he always poses a great threat."

Mourinho said: "It's good to have two or three players who are not expected to score. He chooses the right moment to do it."

Blaise Matuidi completed 86.4% of the 59 passes he attempted against Chelsea

Matuidi could have been at United

With David Luiz anchoring midfield, Blaise Matuidi was free to stride forward and the France international caused Chelsea a host of problems. Matuidi saw a header saved by Courtois in the first half before providing the assist for Cavani's goal. Matuidi created four chances in the match - more than any other player.

Former Manchester United coach Phil Neville, who worked as a coach under previous manager David Moyes, said: "Our reports were that we wanted to sign him.

"He had a contract situation at PSG, we heard that his contract was maybe running out and we were really interested in him. Then he signed a contract with PSG, which was not something we were happy with.

"We were looking for something to inject a bit of energy, Matuidi runs from box to box, he carried the team forward against Chelsea, purely with his energy.

"Last January we had heard his contract was running out and wanted to leave. I think what he wanted was a big contract and he got that."

Source : bbc[dot]com

post from sitemap

Trevor Sinclair: Players do not plan to dive before a match

By James McMath & Luke Reddy BBC Sport

Wayne Rooney's tumble to win a penalty in Manchester United's 3-1 win over Preston on Monday night has reignited the debate over diving.

Are players right to take evasive action? Can diving ever be condoned or is it simply cheating?

Former England winger Trevor Sinclair, 41, tells BBC Sport he believes no player plans to dive but argues that hitting the deck is sometimes the only option.

Ex-Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton striker Gordon Watson, 43, was widely criticised for a dive during a 6-1 defeat by Leeds when he was at the Owls in 1992. He says the controversy that followed the incident set his career back by a year.

And BBC Sport pundit Kevin Kilbane, 38, who began his career with Preston, believes Rooney was focused only on gaining an advantage for his team.

What do players really think about it?

Sinclair: "I've got quite firm views about diving. If there's no contact and it's not a case of a player taking evasive action, then certainly I'm all for that being stamped out.

"But if you're an offensive player and a defender comes flying in at 100 miles per hour and that causes you to lose momentum, then I think players are entitled to go down.

Tom Daley rates famous football dives

"People are naïve if they think players are going to stay on their feet. A player has a right to go down, football is not this Walt Disney world a lot of people think it is."

Watson: "No one in my dressing room battered me for the dive. I was the baby of the squad.

"Not once in my career did I see a player take stick for diving. You are looking to win a game and that may sound cut-throat but it's win at all costs. That's what players think."

"It's not Diego Maradona handballing the ball into the net. It's still the referee's decision at the end of the day, he doesn't have to give a penalty."

Kilbane: "All Rooney was thinking was 'can I gain an advantage for my team?' The worst that could happen was he would have been booked and it came at a key time because it killed the game for Preston.

"I don't imagine it was spoken about in the dressing room after the game. If it was, it would probably just be as a laugh between team-mates."

Gordon Watson joined Southampton from Sheffield Wednesday in 1995

Do players practise diving in training or is it instinctive?

Sinclair: "No. Some players might get into a situation on the pitch, perhaps when they get into the box, and have it in the back of their mind that they will go down but I do not believe that any player goes into a match planning to dive.

"For some players, it's a choice between taking evasive action or spending a few weeks on the medical table."

Watson: "A lot of players invite it. The one I don't like which has come into the game in recent seasons is when a player dangles his leg into a defender to get tangled up. That is gamesmanship.

"Sometimes they look like a dive but it's not. Players are travelling at such speed these days and they may go over someone but they haven't dived. If we look at replays of the same incident in slow motion we are not looking at the same thing."

Kilbane: "It's definitely instinctive. It's ingrained more in some players than others and that's why it happens more with some than others but I don't believe any player goes out thinking 'I'm going to win a penalty today'."

Do managers or coaches tell players to dive?

Sinclair: "I don't think so. A lot of it is about better defending. They need to stay on their feet and defend properly and then the referee would not have a decision to make. I'm a coach at Lancaster City. One of our main messages to our players is to stay on their feet and be disciplined."

Watson: "Trevor Francis was my manager and he'd not encourage it but he always told us, if you get clipped in the box, go down. He used to say that all the time."

Kilbane: "You might get a manager asking a player why he didn't go down in the area after a match but I don't think a manager would tell a player before a match to go down."

Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj was booked for diving against West Ham in December 2013

What happens when a player earns a reputation as a diver?

Sinclair: "If you get a reputation for diving, it's probably because you have been diving. If decisions start going against you because of it then it's something you need to put right by not going down as easily and possibly taking a few whacks.

"It's not cheating. It's almost an unwritten rule that if you get your body between the defender and the ball then he can't touch you.

"He can't slide down the side and he can't tackle you from behind. If you feel contact, you go down."

Watson: "Saint and Greavsie (TV pundits Ian St John and Jimmy Greaves) battered me. It was on the back page of The Sun and they called me a cheat.

"That put me back about 12 months. My confidence was shot, every ground I went to I was slaughtered. I had to grow up pretty quickly.

"These days there are 15 games a week on TV and it's very different. Diving was in its infancy when I did it and it made the reaction a bit different."

Kilbane: "We've seen it recently with certain players getting a reputation and increasingly it is not just players from overseas. Diving used to be known as the 'foreign disease' but Premier League players of all nationalities have been accused of diving.

"This is not the first time Wayne Rooney has faced criticism - he was accused of diving against Arsenal to end their unbeaten run in 2004-05."

Chelsea midfielder Oscar was booked for diving against Southampton in January 2014

Did you ever dive?

Sinclair: "I was too honest and too dumb. I was from an era in the late 1980s and early 1990s when offensive players did not get a lot of protection from referees. I wish I'd played when referees protected offensive players better because I'm sure I would have played more matches.

Watson: "It's the most disgraceful dive you'll ever see. My son still batters me for it. Live on TV, 19 million people watching as it was the only game on TV that week.

"We were playing Leeds, a local derby, we lost 6-1 and I remember Chris Whyte clipping the back of my ankle, I took a step and went down.

"I had players screaming in my face and I had no idea why but when I watched it back I thought it was unbelievably bad. It was the fact I took a step before going down, I over-egged it."

Kilbane: "I genuinely don't think I did. I'm sure someone will correct me on this but, hand on heart, I don't think I ever dived."

Source : bbc[dot]com

post from sitemap

Radamel Falcao: Is his time at Manchester United running out?

By Chris Bevan BBC Sport at Deepdale

 

It was the Preston fans who chanted "what a waste of money" at Radamel Falcao on Monday night.

But you could not really blame Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal if he thought the same after the expensive striker's latest ineffective display.

Time is running out for the £6m loan signing from Monaco, who has until the end of the season to persuade Van Gaal to fork out £43.5m to make his deal a permanent one.

Right now, the chances of that happening look minimal, at best.

Far from justifying his £265,000-a-week wages, Falcao has scored just four goals in 19 games for United, and has completed 90 minutes a mere four times in five and a half months at Old Trafford.

FA Cup highlights: Preston 1-3 United

Are United better off without him? They were against League One side North End, who led until Van Gaal hauled off the Colombian after an hour and saw his reshaped team fight back to win 3-1 and reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.

And with only 13 Premier League games and the rest of United's FA Cup campaign left of the season, maybe the real question now is how many more chances will Falcao get?

"Another night of nothing from Falcao," pondered BBC co-commentator Martin Keown as the 29-year-disappeared from the Deepdale pitch.

"You wonder if you will see him again in a Manchester United shirt. I don't think he has offered much at all."

Tamed by a League One defence

Falcao certainly did not offer any shots against Preston, either on or off target. It was the same story in United's last Premier League game against Burnley as well.

The worry for United, but maybe especially for the player himself, is just how easily he was marshalled by a League One defence.

For a player who has starred for Colombia and been a leading light in Portugal, La Liga and Ligue 1, his movement was poor, and too easily tracked by Preston's three central defenders.

When partnered with Robin van Persie, as he has been recently, that lack of raw speed has left United looking blunt up front, and he fared little better on Tuesday night when leading the line on his own.

Falcao at Manchester United
Appearances: 19	Minutes played: 1,148
Goals: 4	Minutes per goal: 287
Assists: 4	Bookings: 2

Lack of service at Deepdale was a factor in his failure to shine again.

He was rarely involved and had only 26 touches, but he looked slow on the ball when he came looking for it outside the box and did not react quickly enough when he was inside it either.

"He just did not have the pace to get away from the Preston defence," said Keown.

"Is he fit enough? He's trying to prove he should be here in the long term but it's just not coming off for him."

United have an option to activate a £40m buy-out clause for Falcao (left) who earns £265,000 a week

Still chasing full fitness

Falcao missed last summer's World Cup because of a serious knee injury and the more you see of him, the more you wonder how much of a toll that is still taking.

He has been hampered by a calf injury in recent months but even when injury free, that long lay-off means he is still chasing full fitness.

More than any other position, strikers need sharpness but Falcao seems short of that, and has done since his arrival.

Van Gaal questioned his fitness in December when he declared his deadline day signing was only able to play for 20 minutes at a time.

At the time he was using him only as a substitute, and the situation did not seem to improve when he left him out of his squad completely for United's 1-0 home defeat by Southampton on 11 January, then said he preferred 19-year-old James Wilson up front against Stoke the following week.

Falcao has found the net since then, in a 3-1 home win over Leicester, but his overall contribution will have done little to convince Van Gaal that he is a part of his team's long-term future.

Van Gaal's other options

If Wilson has the pace that Falcao currently lacks, United's other striking options have other attributes the Colombian is also without.

Van Persie has greater guile in the area; Wayne Rooney is a better passer and harder worker outside it.

Both look more of a goal threat than Falcao, which makes it even more inexplicable that Van Gaal seemingly prefers the latter to operate in midfield.

Marouane Fellaini is only an emergency alternative but, as he showed against Preston, he has the aerial power to make a difference when needed.

Where Falcao fits into all of this is unclear.

An uncertain future

The suggestion from Falcao's agent Jorge Mendes at the start of the year that his client may not be at Old Trafford at the start of next season is looking even more likely with each passing week.

Mendes's assertion that Falcao "will play in one of the very best clubs in the world next season whether that is United or not" does not look quite so nailed on.

For more than £40m, let alone his weekly salary, you would presume there will be few takers based on what we have seen so far on these shores.

 

Source : bbc[dot]com

post from sitemap

World Richest golfers

The world's wealthiest golfer is also the world's richest athlete, according to a July report by Wealth-X.

 

The U.S. claims three spots among the top five richest active PGA golfers, based on prize money, endorsement deals, corporate outings and licensing fees.  sour umathurman.org

 

Tiger Woods

 

Phil Mickelson

Vijay SinghNext

 

Ernie Els

Ronald Koeman: What's the secret behind his Southampton success?

By Ben Dirs BBC Sport

The Dutch like mayonnaise with their chips. I've seen them do it, they drown them in that stuff. But as a budding professional, Ronald Koeman liked mayonnaise with his chips so much it became a matter of principle.

"The first time I saw Ronald he was this plump kid with white hair and freckles on his face," says former Hull City and Newcastle United striker Rob McDonald, who joined Koeman at FC Groningen in 1982. "But he had this arrogance about him, a certain authority, even when he was 19.

"We were at an away game once, having our pre-match meal. Our coach, Theo Verlangen, would go mad if he saw mayonnaise on our table. But this time he wasn't paying attention when the waiter put some down in front of us.

"Ronald took a couple of chips, slapped them in the mayonnaise and just as he was about to eat them, Verlangen said: 'Koeman! If you eat those, that's a 500 guilder fine!' Ronald stuffed them in his mouth and said: 'Make it a thousand.'"

A thread runs all the way from that cute tale of quiet assurance to the moment he was dropped for Barcelona by the great Johan Cruyff for a European Cup tie in 1993. "Boss," said Koeman. "This is the first time and also the last time." And so it was. Koeman has always been a steely soul who usually gets his way.

It was this quiet confidence that led to him accepting the manager's job at Southampton when many thought they were nailed on for relegation from the Premier League. Where others saw imminent disaster, Koeman saw a long-term challenge.

Koeman (right) won 78 caps, played in two World Cups and won the 1988 European Championship

Having lost a gaggle of key players, Koeman was confident equivalents could be found. He brought in winger Dusan Tadic from FC Twente and striker Graziano Pelle, whom he had worked with at Feyenoord, for a total of £19m. He also rebuilt at the back, signing goalkeeper Fraser Forster from Celtic and adding defenders Toby Alderweireld and Ryan Bertrand, both on loan deals.

But perhaps the best indication of his abilities as a manager is how those players who were already at St Mary's when he arrived in the summer of 2014 - the likes of defenders Jose Fonte and Nathaniel Clyne, midfielders Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama - have flourished under his leadership.

"He was an amazing player who played for big clubs, so he's got this experience inside him," says Schneiderlin, who joined Southampton from Strasbourg in 2008. "He can read the game and can identify a good player. But what I like about him is that he's a calm person and good with human beings.

"The new signings didn't take too long to adapt, after a month it felt like they'd been here two or three years. Some football clubs make a lot of changes and they can't adapt. We made changes and the club's mentality stayed the same."

Midfielder Schneiderlin (left) has been a key figure in the Saints' rise into the Premier League's top four

Those who knew Koeman in his previous incarnation - as one of the world's most dynamic defenders, who won two European Cups and a European Championship with the Netherlands - are surprised by the start he has made at Southampton, steering them to fourth in the table. But not all that surprised.

"They lost so many great players and integrating new players usually takes half a year or longer," says Ronald de Boer, a former international team-mate of Koeman's who was at Barcelona when Koeman was Louis van Gaal's assistant.

"That they're already there says something about the players but also about the manager and his understanding of his players. He could always express himself very well - as a captain and coach he chose his words very carefully and was always very clear. So I always saw him as a manager.

"I think the Dutch national team made a mistake not appointing him when they had the chance [Guus Huddink was appointed Van Gaal's successor after the 2014 World Cup]. It was time for a younger manager and Koeman wanted it badly. Southampton should be very thankful to the Dutch federation."

Life and times: Ronald Koeman
The player	The manager
Groningen (1980-83) ,Ajax (1983-86), PSV Eindhoven (1986-89), Barcelona (1989-95), Feyenoord (1995-97), Netherlands (1982-94).	Vitesse Arnhem (2000-01), Ajax (2001-05), Benfica (2005-06), PSV (2006-07), Valencia (2007-08), AZ(2009), Feyenoord (2011-14), Southampton (2014-).
Honours: 4 Dutch titles, 3 Dutch Cups, 4 Spanish titles, 1 Spanish Cup, 2 European Cups, 1 Super Cup, 1 European Championship.	Honours: 3 Dutch titles, 1 Dutch Cup, 1 Spanish Cup
Total games: 695. Total goals: 239.	Total games: 544. Win percentage: 55.88.

It hasn't all been plain sailing for Koeman. After an early-season, 10-game run that included eight wins and only one defeat, the Saints ran out of wind, losing four successive Premier League matches. Some observers thought the honeymoon was over. Koeman, supremely confident in his own methods, knew different.

"Ronald does everything he can to win," says former Netherlands goalkeeper Hans van Breukelen, also a team-mate of Koeman's at PSV Eindhoven. "He's almost obsessive about it. But he also has an accepting side.

"I can't remember ever seeing him nervous, not even when he first came into the national team as a 19 year old. That's because he believed in himself and his skills and opinions. If you believe in yourself, why would you be nervous?

"He knows he's put everything into every game, he knows his teams prepare properly for every game, but he also knows his teams won't win every game."

David Endt is a journalist who was Ajax general manager when Koeman was boss at the Dutch giants between 2001 and 2005, winning the Eredivisie twice.

Endt remembers Koeman as a gentle, reserved man, in marked contrast to Manchester United boss Van Gaal. But Endt believes Koeman's serene demeanour cloaks a man who is every bit as driven as his Premier League rival.

"They don't differ much in their football philosophies but they are very different personalities," says Endt, who was Van Gaal's press officer at Ajax between 1993 and 1997.

"Van Gaal is blunt, says what he thinks. Sometimes he would explode if things were done wrong, he could be very fierce. Koeman was very nice to work with, could be very easy-going. But you could feel his ambition.

"That's one of the beautiful things about football, there isn't one law, one truth. Maybe Koeman has the capacity to achieve similar things to Van Gaal, but in a different way. "

Koeman lasted just 24 matches as boss of AZ Alkmaar, a time when Steve McClaren was at FC Twente

Koeman might be single-minded, but he has also learned that one of the keys to successful leadership is surrounding yourself with the right people. With this in mind, he installed older brother Erwin, by all accounts a more outgoing personality, as his assistant manager. Liverpool legend Sammy Lee, one of the most respected and infectious coaches in English football, is also on board.

And while outsiders thought Koeman was joining a club in crisis, Koeman's risk was a calculated one, because he had done his homework and knew he was actually joining one of the best-run clubs in England.

He trusted Southampton's scouting system and the ability of its academy to produce players good enough to replace those who will inevitably leave for 'bigger' clubs, as Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers did last summer. And in the club's forward-thinking director of football Les Reed, he saw a kindred spirit.

"Southampton have got a Dutch scenario in place," says McDonald, who now recruits professional coaches in the Netherlands. "The way Southampton bring players through their youth system is pretty normal in Holland.

"And he was smart enough to go in there, see how they had been trained and accept that Mauricio Pochettino [who joined Tottenham last summer] had done a great job before him. Therefore it was just a case of adding his little nuances."

It is doubtful Southampton's state-of-the-art training centre, opened last November, serves mayonnaise in its canteen. But the odd dollop never did Koeman any harm. Memo to Les Reed: mayo at away games (maybe just once a week).

Source : bbc[dot]com

post from sitemap

Harry Redknapp: Has former QPR boss lost his sparkle?

By Phil McNulty Chief football writer

Harry Redknapp's 05.30 GMT phone call to Queens Park Rangers owner Tony Fernandes on Tuesday ended the latest chapter in the managerial career of one of the game's most enduring figures.

Just a few hours after the latest deadline day had ended, Redknapp was telling the man who gave him a vote of confidence as recently as a fortnight ago that it was over.

The 67-year-old cited knee replacement surgery as the reason for quitting but he had looked a little jaded after failing to make any signings to assist a side struggling in 19th place in the Premier League.

So have we seen the last of Redknapp in the dugout, or will he pop up again to talk transfers through the window of his car?

Three years of decline

Redknapp turned Spurs into one of Europe's most attacking teams

On 8 February, 2012, it looked like Redknapp was going to walk from the steps of Southwark Crown Court and straight into the England manager's job after being cleared of tax evasion on the day Fabio Capello quit as boss of the national team.

He admitted later that he would have taken the England job had it been offered. But the offer never came.

Instead, Roy Hodgson, who had rebuilt his career with West Bromwich Albion after a damaging spell at Liverpool, was the surprise choice of the Football Association.

Worse was to come for Redknapp. As Hodgson led England into Euro 2012, he was sacked by Spurs.

The London club had finished fourth in the Premier League, seemingly securing Champions League football.

But Chelsea's unlikely win over Bayern Munich in the final of Europe's top club competition just a few weeks later denied Tottenham their place among the elite and cost Redknapp his job.

Did deadline day signal the end?

Redknapp's Premier League win ratio at QPR was just 18.75%

Redknapp is adamant QPR's failure to do any business on deadline day, when he usually works the markets for a restorative effect on his teams, did not contribute to his departure.

There is no question, however, that he looked deflated when he conducted his traditional late-night interview with the waiting media with nothing other than disappointment to reflect on.

Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor had no desire to rejoin him at QPR, neither did Adebayor's club-mate Aaron Lennon, who preferred a loan move to Everton.

He attempted to sign West Ham's Matt Jarvis but was blocked because Rangers had already had taken Mauro Zarate on loan from the club.

Significantly, Fernandes had indicated - a little ominously for Redknapp - that it would not be a deadline day to remember for QPR fans.

Writing on his Twitter account, he posted the message:  "No more cheque book. We have good players. Bought all the players manager asked for in the summer. Our players not mercenaries. Good guys."

Conspiracy theorists understandably drew the conclusion that Fernandes was telling Redknapp it was time to work with what he had.

Whatever the motive, it was a deadline day to forget for Redknapp.

Losing his touch?

Redknapp's Premier League record
		Wins	Draws	Losses	Win %
QPR, 2012-2015		9	13	26	18.75
Tottenham, 2008-2012		71	37	36	49.31
Portsmouth, 2005-2008		42	26	39	39.25
Southampton, 2004-2005		4	8	10	18.18
Portsmouth, 2002-2004		16	12	23	31.37
West Ham, 1994-2001		94	71	104	34.94

QPR offered Redknapp a way back in November 2012 following the sacking of Mark Hughes, but he could not stop the London club from sliding into the Championship.

Rangers bounced back immediately, securing promotion to the Premier League via a Wembley play-off win over Derby County, but the top flight remained dodgy territory.

Just five wins all season - and an horrendous run of 11 straight league defeats away from Loftus Road - tell the story.

Redknapp was forced to deny claims he was one defeat from the sack when they entertained Manchester United last month.

QPR were beaten 2-0 by United but Redknapp remained defiant and Fernandes backed him publicly.

By the time he quit, Redknapp had lost 26 of 48 Premier League games in charge, winning just nine. That's a miserly win ratio of 18.75%.

Contrast this with his fine spell at Spurs, where he won 71 of 144 games.

More than a wheeler-dealer

Redknapp brought Peter Crouch to Portsmouth in 2008

It's a phrase Redknapp hates more than any other when used to describe him. It is true he can work the markets but this should not diminish his work on the training ground.

A fierce advocate of attacking football, he boasts man-management skills that make big-name stars with big egos happy to play for him.

During his time at Portsmouth, starting with a first spell as manager in March 2002, he took them up to the Premier League before quitting in 2004 following a disagreement with owner Milan Mandaric.

An ill-fated spell at bitter rivals Southampton ended in relegation, but a return to Portsmouth resulted in a trophy, the FA Cup in 2008.

The side was built on the back of some big spending from owner Alexandre Gaydamak and boasted the likes of David James, Glen Johnson, Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin.

Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe were also convinced to move to Fratton Park during Redknapp's reign there.

At Tottenham, Redknapp was at his best, succeeding Juande Ramos in October 2008 with Spurs adrift at the bottom of the Premier League with two points from eight matches.

He kept them up and the following season made history by taking them into the Champions League for the first time.

Spurs swept into the last eight, beating Inter Milan 3-1 on a thunderous night at White Hart Lane, as well as beating AC Milan 1-0 in the San Siro. Their run was ended by Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid.

So will he return?

Redknapp often did battle against Sir Alex Ferguson

At 67, it must surely get increasingly hard for a manager at this stage of his career to find the fire for a relegation fight.

But Redknapp sounded up for the battle until the very end, cursing his fortunes and criticising individual errors after Saturday's defeat at Stoke.

Redknapp is one of the last of a dying breed of the old school of managers, past pensionable age but still working in the Premier League until Tuesday.

He insists he will be looking for work once his knees are back to full working order - and there may just be a club out there looking for an experienced hand to take the tiller.

Will he one day return to Bournemouth, where he is still revered? Not on the agenda now Eddie Howe is doing so magnificently and the Cherries are in the frame for automatic promotion from the Championship.

Still, the word from Redknapp is that he is not finished yet.

Source : bbc[dot]com

post from sitemap

Gareth Bale: Is Real Madrid star in midst of his first crisis at the club?

By Andy West Spanish football writer

'Disaster'. 'Irrelevant'. 'Listless'. The Spanish Sunday papers did not make happy reading for Gareth Bale.

Real Madrid were hammered 4-0 by rampant local rivals Atletico on Saturday afternoon, and it was one of those occasions when they were lucky to get nil.

The performance of Bale and the rest of his colleagues will go down in infamy alongside an embarrassing 5-0 loss against Barcelona in November 2010.

After such an abysmal display even the usually-loyal Madrid media are on the attack despite the side remaining top of La Liga. Bale, signed from Tottenham for a world record £85m in September 2013, is one of their targets.

'He's just watching….a spectator'

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti was unsparing in his criticism of his team after their heaviest derby defeat since a 5-0 loss in 1947.

"It was bad. Very bad," he admitted. "Atletico deserved to win in every aspect: desire, quality, organisation, second balls, aerial balls. We didn't have a single player who had a good game."

That damning verdict was universally shared by fans and pundits after an embarrassingly one-sided encounter. The Champions League holders failed to register a single shot on target until the 81st minute.

Bale won the Champions League and Spanish Cup in his first season.

Bale received more than his share of the blame, with former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland striker Michael Robinson, who is now Spain's foremost television pundit, strongly criticising the Welshman after his opposing full-back Guilherme Siqueira set up Atletico's second goal.

"He's just watching….a spectator," lamented Robinson as the replays showed Bale ambling back while Siqueira skipped to the byeline without a care in the world and delivered a cross for Saul to acrobatically volley home.

To suggest his performance was ineffective would be an understatement. Bale had 44 touches of the ball, completed only 22 passes and had no shots on target. He made just one successful cross, conceded three free-kicks and - crucially against a combative team like Atletico - did not make any successful tackles.

He was described as 'a defensive disaster' by tabloid newspaper AS, who also said the Welshman was 'irrelevant'. Its writers could not bring themselves to hand him a rating in their match report. Only Toni Kroos, Fabio Coentrao and Nacho Fernandez were given the distinction of 1 out of 3, with every other player was simply left blank.

Another paper, Marca, was slightly more generous, giving Bale 4.5 out of 10 - making him the team's joint 'best' player alongside Kroos and Dani Carvajal. However Marca's writers also described him as 'listless' and left little doubt that this game did nothing to bolster Bale's reputation in Spain, which is currently somewhat in need of a boost.

Accusations of selfishness

More worryingly for Bale, this is not the first time in recent weeks that he has faced criticism.

The former Tottenham and Southampton man has been accused of selfishness on several occasions so far this calendar year after getting into good positions but failing to pass to colleagues.

Most noticeably, Cristiano Ronaldo showed his displeasure on the pitch after Bale shot wide when he could have teed up his teammate with an open goal during the latter stages of a home win over Espanyol in January.

Ronaldo has urged supporters to be "nice" to his Welsh team-mate.

That came a week after Bale's failure to pass to Karim Benzema was highlighted as a key moment during his team's loss against Valencia. He was similarly criticised for electing to shoot rather than pass in meetings with Sevilla and Real Sociedad.

A small section of Bernabeu fans whistled and jeered Bale following those incidents - although that is nothing unusual from a famously demanding and fickle set of fans. Former Real star Manuel Sanchis this week told Marca: "Bale has a lot of qualities but he sometimes loses credit because of his individualism."

Bale also missed an opportunity to stamp his authority on the team during Ronaldo's two-game suspension following a sending-off at Cordoba.

The absence of the Portuguese star was touted as a chance for the Welshman to step into the limelight and shine as the team's key figure. That scenario did not materialise as he delivered subdued performances against Sociedad and Sevilla, although manager Ancelotti strongly defended his record signing.

Short-term reprieve

La Liga stats this season
	Bale	Lionel Messi	Neymar	Ronaldo
Games	19	21	18	19
Goals	10	22	15	28
Assists	5	10	4	9
Shooting accuracy	51.72%	64.56%	58.54%	71.08%
Touches	924	1,787	1,050	1,041
Times substituted	5	0	5	2
Stats courtesy of Opta

Fortunately for Bale, he is not the main man in the firing line following his team's derby day humiliation.

Long-serving goalkeeper Iker Casillas committed a terrible error for Atletico's opening goal, allowing a shot from former Chelsea midfielder Tiago to squirm through his grasp. This re-opened the debate over whether he should be replaced by Costa Rican international back-up Keylor Navas .

Perennial poster boy Ronaldo, who was subjected to merciless mocking whistles from the home fans throughout the encounter, has also been subjected to fierce analysis after another anonymous display.

Despite 28 goals in 19 league games this season, the Portuguese star has scored in one of his last four outings. He did not invoke sympathy after going ahead with his birthday celebrations despite the loss to Atletico on Saturday night. He was photographed cheerily singing with Colombian pop star Kevin Roldan in a Madrid nightclub.

Plenty of attention is also focussing on the defence which yielded four goals and many more chances against Atletico, with the absence of injured first-choice central defenders Sergio Ramos and Pepe a major cause of concern.

Bale's place in the team is further protected following an injury to Colombian star James Rodriguez, who is set for a two-month spell on the sidelines after breaking a metatarsal bone in his foot during the midweek victory over Sevilla.

Ancelotti has regularly insisted - most recently after Saturday's loss - that his 'BBC' frontline of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano will always start when they are all fit, and there is no suggestion that Bale is close to losing his spot in the starting line-up.

Longer-term danger

Bale earned himself plenty of credit during a strong first season in Madrid, notably with a sensational match-winner against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final and a headed goal to give his team an extra time lead in the Champions League final against Atletico.

However, any voyage aboard the wild ship Bernabeu is unforgiving and unpredictable. The fact that even a national icon such as Casillas (nicknamed Saint Iker) is coming under heavy fire will alert Bale to the fact that nobody is immune to harsh criticism.

For now, Bale's place in the team is secure and he will continue to be relied upon by Ancelotti as Los Blancos attempt to bounce back from their derby day disaster - starting with next weekend's home game against in-form Deportivo La Coruna.

But there have been repeated reports that Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus is on the radar of Real president Florentino Perez, and nothing can be taken for granted beyond the end of this season.

Sunday's Spanish sports paper front pages were dominated by the defeat.

As Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil have discovered in the last two summers, Perez is always prepared to dispense with superstars when he believes they have become surplus to requirements - irrespective of whether the incumbent coach shares that opinion. Bale is seen as a commercially less important commodity than teammates such as James and Ronaldo.

It would be an overreaction to suggest that Bale's immediate future at the Bernabeu is in jeopardy, but there's no doubt that storm clouds have been gathering for some time.

He needs a big performance - and he needs it soon.

Source : bbc[dot]com

post from sitemap

Garth Crooks's team of the week: Terry, Ibe, Willian & Kane

By Garth Crooks Football Analyst

Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points after nearest challengers Manchester City failed to match their victory at Aston Villa.

City, who face a tricky game at Stoke on Wednesday, failed to win for the third straight game at home after being held by struggling Hull, although it would have been a defeat for the champions but for James Milner's late free-kick.

Manchester United also needed a late leveller, with Daley Blind scoring in added time to earn them a 1-1 draw at West Ham, West Brom came back from two-goals down to draw at Burnley and Alan Pardew guided Crystal Palace to another win at bottom-club Leicester.

In the weekend's two big derby games, Tottenham got the better of Arsenal and their was a 0-0 stalemate at Goodison Park between Everton and Liverpool.

Take a look at my team of the week and see if you agree with my choices.

GOALKEEPER - Fraser Forster (Southampton)

Fraser Forster has kept more clean sheets than any other Premier League goalkeeper this season (11)

When strikers score goals they invariably get the headlines, but it is goalkeepers that win matches. Such was the case when Fraser Forster made the most amazing save from a Joey Barton shot that was deflected by Charlie Austin en route to goal. How Forster kept the ball out of the net I will never know.

DEFENDER - Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea)

Branislav Ivanovic now has 19 Premier League goals

What a glorious strike by the Serb. To catch a volley so sweetly requires some technique but to do it with your weaker foot tells you all you need to know about the quality of this player. He reminds me of Liverpool legend Graeme Souness, who could also pass it, control it, score the occasional goal and out-battle his opponent all at the same time. Now that's what I call world class.

DEFENDER - Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham)

Cheikhou Kouyate has scored two goals in his last three appearances for West Ham

Another player back from the Africa Cup of Nations and into the fray. He's not a natural centre-back but Cheikhou Kouyate handled Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie as though he had played there all his life. The highlight of the game was undoubtedly the three wonderful touches the Senegalese international took to finish a superb goal. Pure class.

DEFENDER - John Terry (Chelsea)

John Terry is one of only five defenders to play every minute of every game in the Premier League this season

This is the second time this season I have selected John Terry in my Team of the Week. He might not be my favourite player in the country but he's certainly one of the best. The centre-back is playing better than I've seen him play for years. No fuss or histrionics - just quietly getting on with his job. If he carries on playing like this he could end up winning the footballer of the year. I don't think I could bear it!

DEFENDER - Alex Bruce (Hull)

All 38 Premier League games Alex Bruce has featured in have been in teams managed by his father

What a tremendous block by Alex Bruce on Samir Nasri's effort on goal. OK, the defender got away with the clumsy push on Sergio Aguero in the box in the second half but Hull deserved a bit of luck the way they played. The Tigers totally frustrated Manchester City throughout the 90 minutes, leaving Pablo Zabaleta and Vincent Kompany arguing with each other at one stage. Hull can take a lot of inspiration from their team performance, while City will have to wait until Yaya Toure returns from his victorious Africa Cup of Nations to find theirs.

MIDFIELDER - Jordon Ibe (Liverpool)

Jordon Ibe assisted a goal in his first ever Premier League appearance for Liverpool back in 2012-13

What a masterstroke by Brendan Rodgers. The Liverpool manager clearly took great care with easing Daniel Sturridge into the Merseyside derby but had no qualms about sticking in rookie Jordon Ibe with practically no Premier League experience. Did it work? You bet it did… the lad was amazing. If Brendan can develop Ibe in the same way he has Raheem Sterling then Liverpool could have unearthed another gem.

MIDFIELDER - Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)

Christian Eriksen has covered more distance than any other Premier League player so far in 2014-15

In the big games you need players with a cool head and Christian Eriksen is one of those players. The Danish international ran the show for Spurs in the second half against a very dangerous and in-form Arsenal. A player with an enormous amount of talent and lots of composure.

MIDFIELDER - Willian (Chelsea)

Willian's assist against Aston Villa was his first in 18 Premier League appearances

What a wonderful through-ball Willian provided for Eden Hazard to put Chelsea into the lead at Villa Park. I originally questioned the departure of Andre Schurrle to Wolfsburg but it is clear to Jose Mourinho the Brazilian has so much more to his game. The way he controlled the fixture against Aston Villa, particularly in the absence of Cesc Fabregas, was impressive. He's starting to control games in the same way he did for Shakhtar Donetsk. I suppose that's precisely why Chelsea bought him.

STRIKER - Sadio Mane (Southampton)

Sadio Mane has scored four goals in his last five appearances for Southampton

Interim QPR manager Chris Ramsey's heart must have sank when he heard Sadio Mane had returned from the Africa Cup of Nations to Premier League action earlier than anticipated. The Senegalese striker promptly catapulted the Saints back into a Champions League position with a super turn and finish, much to the delight of manager Ronald Koeman and the Southampton bench.

STRIKER - Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Since 14 December Harry Kane has scored 11 goals in 14 appearances for Tottenham

If you had told me at the beginning of the season that Spurs would beat Chelsea and Arsenal in the same season and an unknown lad from their academy would destroy both London rivals I would have said you were delusional. Harry Kane is the best striker in the country at the moment and England are in desperate need of someone with his desire and goalscoring pedigree. My only message to Roy Hodgson is when he does invite Kane to represent his country, please wrap him in cotton wool and send him back to Tottenham in one piece. Their season depends on it.

STRIKER - Danny Ings (Burnley)

Danny Ings has four goals and two assists in his last six Premier League appearances

Another excellent performance by Danny Ings against West Brom, particularly in the first half. It is quite clear listening to Sean Dyce talk about his striker in his post-match interview that he's managed to get the player to focus once again on keeping Burnley in the Premier League. It's sound advice because whatever happens to the Clarets over the next 15 games, Danny Ings has a very bright future.

Source : bbc[dot]com

post from sitemap

The slopes - track your edge: monitor the implementation of winter sports

 

Tracks: monitor the implementation of winter sports who won Startup Weekend is now live

Statistics application records and route maps. It also works for offline

 

Built for winter sports addicts activity raises snowboarding and skiing.

This getslopes application, which won first place at the beginning of May weekend saves your stats and route maps. It also works for offline when the service is lost in the mountains.