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Gor net Sh8m KPL ticket sales

By GILBERT WANDERA


Gor Mahia expect to raise Sh20million in gate collections next season after announcing a 150 per cent increase in ticket prices.
The club raised more than Sh8million in the just-concluded Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season according to statistics from Ticket Masters.


Yesterday club secretary general Nickanor Arrum said new ticket charges will be Sh500 for the VIP section and Sh200 for the terraces.


He said the new charges were necessary to cover for their increased expenses and improved players’ welfare.


"Our expenses have shot up and the cost of living is also on the rise. The only way to meet this is to increase our gate charges. We also intend to pay our players better and the money will come from the gates," he said, yesterday.


Arrum revealed that the club’s secretariat will move to their new offices beginning January and this is another additional expense that needs to be catered for.


He said plans are still in the pipeline to buy the team bus before the new season kicks off in February.


The club held their first fund-raiser for this project two weeks ago where Sh2.1m against a target of Sh7m was raised.
"We want to assure the fans that the money raised is safe and the executive will make a decision on how best to utilise it," he revealed.


He warned that the club has been a crack-down on the sale of its unauthorized merchandise.
"There are many people cashing in on the popularity of the club to sell merchandise and organise events without our permission. We warn them to stop," he said.


Club coach Zedekiah Otieno said the team starts training on December 27 for a tour of Kisumu and Homa Bay which starts four days later.


"So far we cannot say who is going or whom we have identified because most players are still on contract until the end of this month," he said when asked whether he had identified any players to sign.


Otieno revealed that he will need to sign at least two experienced players to replace Anthony Akumu and George Odhiambo who are expected to join Danish side Randers next season.
 
New football federation to be in place by March

By FEVERPITCH REPORTER 


Kenya will have a new football federation by March, Sports Minister Paul Otuoma has said.


Dr Otuoma stated the new federation will follow an all-inclusive elections of a credible body, which will be recognised by everybody, the Government and world governing body, Fifa.


"Fifa will appoint the electoral body that will oversee the elections, but the Government will facilitate it," Otuoma told reporters yesterday at the Aga Khan Hospital, when he went to see former world marathon record holder, Paul Tergat. Tergat was injured in a road accident near Eldoret on Thursday.


"Kenya is not short of talent, but we all know the problem is with leadership and governance. I have said this and I repeat that a private company must not be allowed to run football," said Otuoma.


He said the national team Harambee Stars' players were not motivated enough to perform well in the ongoing regional Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.


"In the interim, I will appoint a board next week to be in charge of the national team before a new federation is elected. We shall also know a clear road map for the elections next week," said Otuoma.


The Minister warned that only clubs, which have been in existence, would be allowed to take part. "No ghost or brief case clubs will be allowed to take part in the elections," he said.


He said federations must be transparent and accountable if they expect the Government to fund them, adding that the current Sports Bill, which has been ratified by the Cabinet, does not allow that.



He announced that the Treasury has asked his ministry to provide the financial implications of the Sports Bill, which they would do in February.
 
BMT yalia na 'wanaojilipua'


na Samia Mussa


BARAZA la Michezo la Taifa (BMT), limeelezea kuchoshwa na tabia ya baadhi ya wachezaji wanaokwenda kushiriki mashindano mbalimbali ya kimataifa nje ya nchi kuzamia ‘kujilipua' baada ya mashindano kumalizika.
Ofisa Michezo Mwandamizi wa BMT, Mohammed Kiganja, aliyasema hayo jijini Dar es Salaam jana, alipokuwa akikabidhi bendera ya taifa kwa timu ya taifa ya kuogelea inayokwenda kushiriki mashindano ya 10 ya dunia yanayotarajiwa kufanyika Dubai.
Kiganja alisema kuwa mara nyingi wamekuwa wakipokea lawama mbalimbali kuhusu wachezaji wanapopotelea katika mashindano yanayofanyika nchi za nje, hivyo aliwaonya waogeleaji hao kutofanya vitendo hivyo.
"Tumechoshwa na lawama za wachezaji kupotelea nje, hivyo tunawaomba mashindano yanapomalizika tu, mrejee nyumbani sio mnapata vishawishi vya kubaki huko, kiongozi wa msafara hakikisha idadi ya wachezaji wako wote imekamilika," alisema Kiganja.
Mbali na hilo, Kiganja alikipongeza Chama cha Kuogelea Tanzania (TSA), kwa juhudi zake kinachozifanya za kuhakikisha mchezo huo unakua na kuwataka wahakikishe wanapata wachezaji wazalendo wa kuiwakilisha nchi katika michezo ya Afrika itakayofanyika mwaka 2012.
"Tafuteni vijana wadogo ambao wataiwakilisha vizuri nchi, sio watu wazima ambao kila mashindano mnayoyapata washiriki wanakuwa hao hao tu," alisema Kiganja.
Naye Katibu Mkuu wa TSA, Noel Kiunsi, alisema kuwa kutokana na ukata ni wachezaji wanne tu ambao wanatarajiwa kuiwakilisha nchi katika mashindano hayo.
Aliwataja wachezaji hao kuwa ni Hilal Hilal, Adam Kitururu, Mariam Foum na Magdalena Moshi, ambao watakuwa chini ya kocha John Belela ‘JB'.
Kiunsi aliongeza kuwa maandalizi ya safari hiyo yamekamilika na mkuu wa msafara huo atakuwa Mkurugenzi wa Ufundi wa TSA, Marcelino Ngalioma
 
Simba, Yanga kukabidhiwa vifaa


na Dina Ismail


WADHAMINI wakuu wa klabu za Simba na Yanga, kampuni ya bia Tanzania (TBL), wiki ijayo wanatarajiwa kuzikabidhi klabu hizo vifaa vya michezo kwa ajili ya maandalizi yao ya mzunguko wa pili wa Ligi Kuu bara, pamoja na michuano mingine.
Habari zilizopatikana jijini Dar es Salaam jana, TBL itakabidhi vifaa hivyo baada ya kumalizika kwa michuano ya Chalenji ambayo itafikia tamati keshokutwa.
Tayari baadhi ya wachezaji wa timu hizo wameishaanza mazoezi wiki hii, huku wengine wanaozitumikia timu zao za taifa zinazoshiriki michuano ya Chalenji wakitarajiwa kuungana na wenzao wiki ijayo.
Mbali na TBL na kampuni ya Push Mobile kuzidhamini timu hizo, kila timu inawadhamini wengine wanaozisaidia huku kampuni ya simu za mikononi ya Vodacom ikidhamini Ligi Kuu Tanzania Bara ambapo mzunguko wa pili unatarajiwa kuanza Januari 15 mwakani.
Kwa upande wa Simba inadhaminiwa pia na kampuni ya Nsejerre Sports Wear yenye maskani yake nchini Marekani, huku Yanga ikidhaminiwa na Quality Group.
 
Kili Stars asilimia 100 ubingwa Chalenji
• Kaseja adhihirisha ni Tanzania One, Ngassa mwiba mkali

na Andrew Chale


HAKIKA jana Tanzania ilizizima baada ya timu Tanzania Bara ‘Kilimanjaro Stars' kupigana kufa na kupona na kuwaondosha mabingwa watetezi wa CECAFA Tusker Challenge Cup, Uganda ‘The Cranes' na kutinga fainali, ambapo kama kuna mchezaji aliyebeba furaha ya Watanzania basi si mwingine bali ni ‘Tanzania One' kipa Juma Kaseja Juma.
Katika mechi hiyo ya pili ya nusu fainali baada ya ile ya awali ambayo ilishuhudiwa Tembo wa Ivory Coast wakitinga fainali baada ya kuilaza Ethiopia bao 1-0, lakini raha ya Watanzania ilibidi isubiri hadi hatua ya matuta baada ya kushuhudiwa dakika 90 zikimalizika bila kufungana na hata zilipoongezwa 30 mambo bado yalibaki kuwa magumu, hivyo kuongeza hofu miongoni kwa mamilioni ya Watanzania waliokuwa wakifuatilia pambano hilo.
Katika changamoto ya penalti Stars iliibuka mshindi kwa mabao 5-4 huku Juma Kaseja ambaye katika mechi ya jana aliokoa michomo mingi ya hatari, aliweza kudhihirisha kile Watanzania wanachofanya wampende, kwa kupangua mchomo wa penalti hivyo kufanikisha ushindi huo mnono muhimu, ambao umewafanya sasa mashabiki kuamini sasa kombe litabaki nchini na kuvunja rekodi ya kulitwaa kombe hilo kwa mara ya mwisho mwaka 1994 chini ya kocha marehemu Syllersaid Mzirai hivyo kufikisha mara ya nne mwaka huu.
Katika mechi hiyo iliyokuwa na upinzani wa hali ya juu, Kili Stars ilicheza kwa kujituma na kuonyesha matumaini ya kupata bao la mapema, lakini Uganda nao walikuwa wakijibu mapigo kupitia kwa nyota wake Emmanue Okwi ambaye anakipiga kwa mabingwa soka Tanzania Bara, Wekundu wa Msimbazi, Simba, aliyekuwa akiisumbua sana ngome ya Stars akishirikiana na aliyekuwa nyota mwingine wa Azam FC msimu uliopita, Dan Wagaluka, na baadaye alipoingia nyota mwingine wa zamani wa African Lyon, Robert Ssentongo.
Kwa upande wa Stars, Mrisho Ngassa alikuwa mwiba mchungu kwa Uganda ambao walilazimika kumkaba wawili wawili ili asilete madhara, ingawaje aliwasumbua sana na kuwakosa mabao kadhaa ambayo aidha mipira ilitoka sentimita chache au kuchezwa na kipa Robert Odongkara.
Penalti za Stars zilitiwa kimiani na Shabani Nditi, Salum Machaku, Nahodha Shadrack Nsajigwa, Erasto Nyoni na Steven Mwasika huku penalti ya Tony Mawejje ikipanguliwa kiufundi na Kaseja na kuamsha hoi hoi kwa maelfu ya mashabiki waliofurika Dimba la Taifa.
Kwa ushindi huo, Stars sasa itakutana na waalikwa Ivory Coast katika fainali itakayopigwa Jumapili, huku Ethiopia na Uganda zikiwania mshindi wa tatu.
Stars iliwakilishwa na Kaseja, Kelvin Yondani, Idrisa Raja, Nsajigwa, Jabir Aziz, Shabani Nditi, Bocco, Nurdin Bakari, Stephano Mwasika, Ngassa na Juma Nyoso, huku waliongia ni Salum Machaku, Mwaikimba na Erasto Nyoni.




 
Evra slams Arsenal: 'They're a football training centre... There are no trophies, there is nothing'

Published 10:07 10/12/10 By David McDonnell






Patrice Evra has mocked Arsenal ahead of their Premier League showdown with Manchester United by branding them nothing more than a "training centre".
Arsene Wenger's side have not won anything for five years and, despite playing arguably the most attractive football in England, United defender Evra said it ultimately counted for nothing.
United host Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday night and Evra said: "For me, Arsenal is a football training centre. You watch the match, you enjoy it, but are you going to win a title afterwards? That's what people remember.
"It has been five years since they won anything and for a big club like Arsenal, that is a crisis."





 
Wenger fires back after Evra 'disrespect'

Published 14:20 10/12/10 By MirrorFootball






Arsene Wenger believes Manchester United defender Patrice Evra showed a lack of respect by branding Arsenal nothing more than a "training centre" ahead of Monday night's Barclays Premier League showdown at Old Trafford.
The Gunners leapfrogged United to the top of the table last weekend with victory over Fulham as the Red Devils had their match at Blackpool postponed.
Evra turned up the heat ahead of the showdown during an interview with French television , in which he claimed Arsenal offer style but little substance and declaring the club was in "crisis" for not having won a trophy since 2005.
Wenger, however, feels a war of words serves no purpose.
 
Summer signing Fletcher already sick of Wolves

Published 23:00 10/12/10 By James Nursey - Exclusive






Wolves' unhappy joint-record signing Steven Fletcher is ready to quit after just six months.
Mirrorsport revealed on May 28 that Fletcher was joining from Burnley for £6.5m with Chris Iwelumo going the opposite direction.
But the Scotland international striker, 23, has failed to settle at Molineux, despite scoring four goals. Now he is wanted back by the Championship Clarets, and MirrorSport understands he is considering his future.
Fletcher believes he was bought in the summer to replace the in-demand Kevin Doyle, but Doyle ended up staying.

The Scot is now struggling to get a game ahead of Republic of Ireland international Doyle, even though the latter has scored just once in the Premier League.
Fletcher fears boss Mick McCarthy will always pick Doyle, who cost £6.5m from Reading in June 2009, ahead of him. He has become disillusioned with life at Molineux and would welcome a switch to another top-flight team.
Fletcher did not travel to Blackburn for the club's last game due to a reported illness as Wolves lost 3-0. His last start was in the Carling Cup at Manchester United in October - seven games ago.
The star is hoping Wolves sanction a move, just like they did for Jelle Van Damme, who has returned to Belgium after just six months in the old gold.
However, McCarthy's primary concern is taking points off local rivals Birmingham tomorrow (Sunday) to boost his struggling side's survival hopes.
Wanderers are 19th in the table and level on points with bottom club West Ham.
City, unbeaten in five matches, are six points better off and are also into the Carling Cup semi-finals.
"It's a bit more than three points now isn't it," admitted McCarthy.
"Because of local pride and bragging rights we need to get the points at home.
"But Birmingham are hard to beat and break down - they are a tough nut to crack."
Ten defeats in 13 games for Wolves has left McCarthy's side three points from safety.
The under-pressure boss admits victory tomorrow is vital with fans' frustrations growing but McCarthy has a poor record in derbies at Wolves, winning just one out of 13 league clashes against Birmingham, West Brom and Aston Villa.
He has never beaten Blues in six league meetings and knows Alex McLeish's visitors arrive in good form.
McCarthy added: "They've done very well. They've kept clean sheets. I'm not envying them, I just want us to get back to being a bit harder to break down."
Wolves host Brum on the back of a dire 3-0 loss at Blackburn last weekend, but McCarthy said: "Nobody has had an easy game against us - Alex is shrewd enough to know that."
A Black Country derby at West Brom awaits Wolves next weekend.
McCarthy said: "It's not two games we're looking at here, it's one. Let's just concentrate on Birmingham first."


 
Jerome: Let me and Zigic give Wolves big trouble

Published 23:00 10/12/10 By James Nursey






Cameron Jerome wants Brum boss Alex McLeish to unleash his blossoming partnership with Nikola Zigic on Wolves.
Serbian striker Zigic, who is 6ft 7in, endured a slow start to his City career after a £6million summer switch from Valencia.
But he scored Birmingham's Carling Cup quarter-final winner over arch-rivals Aston Villa last week.
He then came off the bench to set-up Craig Gardner's equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Spurs last weekend when Brum played 4-5-1.


And Jerome is hoping McLeish opts for a 4-4-2 formation at Molineux tomorrow with targetman Zigic alongside him.
Jerome said: "When he gets good service, he's shown what he can do.
"It's hard enough getting the ball lumped up to you. I am a striker myself, so I know that.
"Obviously he's got his qualities otherwise we wouldn't have signed him. It's just finding the best way to get it out of him.
"He's been getting a little bit of stick, but I think people have got to be patient with him and let him settle in at his own pace."
Jerome prefers playing with a partner to leading the line. And he believes Zigic is finally getting to grips with the more physical English game after impressing in the last 30 minutes as sub against Spurs.
"When the big man came on, he started to win a couple of flick-ons and it gets us pushing up the park," he added.
"It is something to work off with the big man. Then the wide boys get their territory in their half and they can get the ball up and put in good balls which is where we got the goal from against Spurs."




 
Management's driven me to fags - Di Matteo

Published 23:00 10/12/10 By James Nursey



Roberto Di Matteo hopes to snuff out Aston Villa - and quit smoking.
West Brom travel to struggling Aston Villa today on fire after successive Premier League wins.
New Villa chief Gerard Houllier, back in English football after heart surgery at Liverpool, is already under pressure.
Baggies boss Di Matteo, 40, insists however he is coping fine with the stresses of the top-flight management.

But he admits getting into a habit of smoking a ritual fag after games in his rookie spell at MK Dons from 2008-2009.
"I intend to give up," insisted Di Matteo. "I am just trying to stop. I am not addicted. I go days without, or smoke one.
"I only started two years ago, when I became a manager. I didn't smoke before.
"To be honest, I wouldn't recommend smoking to anyone if it is bad for your health.
"I'm trying to do it less and less but it gives me five minutes where I can collect my thoughts at the end of a game.
"It is not something I really enjoy but it gives me five minutes where I just get away. It is just an excuse really."
Houllier faces a rough ride from home fans today after his gushing behaviour at old club Liverpool on Monday during his side's 3-0 loss.
And Di Matteo recalls coming up against Houllier's Reds team while a player for Chelsea.
"I've played against a side of his before and this is another big game," added Di Matteo.
"I hope it is going to be a good atmosphere and a good game on the pitch for the supporters to enjoy.
"Houllier has only been at Villa a short while and it takes time to implement your ideas and philosophies.
"But it is good we have good managers in the Premier League."




 
Fabregas making last-ditch attempt to make Old Trafford clash

Published 23:00 10/12/10 By John Cross






Cesc Fabregas will step up his training today in a desperate attempt to prove his fitness for Monday's Old Trafford clash.
Arsenal captain Fabregas has done light training sessions this week but has not yet fully tested out his hamstring injury.
But Fabregas will train with the first team group for the first time today and tomorrow before Arsene Wenger decides whether to pick him to face Manchester United.
Arsenal boss Wenger said: "It will be a very late decision to see if Cesc is in the squad or not. We will not take an unreasonable gamble, that is for sure, even if it is a big game.

"We have to assess if it is a risk for him to play, is he ready to play in a very intense game, then I will make a decision."
Wenger is likely to put Fabregas on the bench if the Spanish midfielder proves his fitness.
Meanwhile, Wenger insists he will not follow United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and ban snoods, claiming that they keep players warm and protect them from neck injuries.
Wenger said: "I get advice from the medical team, we had some players with neck problems before the Aston Villa game, Nasri and Chamakh. That's why we decided to let them wear them because they had some medical issues."







 
Why a fit Frank can still win the title for Chelsea


By Robbie Savage
Published 22:57 09/12/10






Chelsea are in free-fall but they could still win the Premier League if they get Frank Lampard fit fast.
Age is beginning to catch up with Carlo Ancelotti's players and though John Terry has been an inspirational skipper whose boots I'm not fit to tie, his declining pace has been exposed with the departure of Ricardo Carvalho. He is now getting dragged out of position with an alarming frequency.
New buy Ramires has not impressed me and while there is a lot of promise in Chelsea's kids, especially Josh McEachran, a struggling team is a bad place to blood youngsters. It can damage their confidence for a long time.
That's why getting Lampard back, maybe against Spurs on Sunday, is so crucial.

He must be the best goalscoring midfielder in Premier League history and I have first-hand experience of how good he can be. He hit four past Derby in a single game during our horrible relegation season and I was supposed to be taking care of him!
He might not look the quickest but he is a genius at running into areas where you can't pick him up.
Get him back and near his peak and Chelsea will soon be back to theirs.


 
Spurs may have the best attack in the league but I'm still backing Chelsea to snatch a point


By Mark Lawrenson
Published 07:00 11/12/10







Harry Redknapp has got the most potent strike force in the Premier League.
Who else has as many options in attack as Tottenham? Maybe Arsenal push them close but Tottenham have players in abundance and different styles.
Peter Crouch is prolific, Rafael van der Vaart has been superb, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko.Plus Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale. It's no wonder Robbie Keane can't get a game.
Little wonder then Tottenham are capable of repeating last season's success and rolling over Chelsea.

Chelsea look short of confidence, vulnerable and even John Terry is below his best. If Frank Lamaprd is anything near fit then he should be thrown in.
Chelsea were exposed by Everton last week and had a miserable experience in Marseille. But despite everything, Chelsea can snatch a draw at Tottenham.

 
Why United have more to prove on Monday than Arsenal, and Tevez has turned City into contenders


By Mark Lawrenson
Published 07:01 11/12/10









The Premier League title crunch on Monday night will leave Manchester United with more to prove than Arsenal.
We know Arsenal have a good away record. We also know they have a few defensive frailties - but they have tended to score more than they've conceded away from home.
That's why it's a test for United. United are hard to beat but a thoroughbred racehorse has the ability to pull away.
For United to do that they must find a spark. Not the 7-1 against Blackburn as Rovers were awful that day. But a spark to beat the contenders around them.


To do that, United must have Ferdinand, Vidic, Nani, Berbatov and Rooney playing 85 per cent of their games.
They're big players and they need to be hitting form in the big games.
*****
Carlos Tevez has been in such great form recently that maybe - just maybe - Manchester City have become genuine title contenders.
Tevez is suspended today for the visit to West Ham, and there's more pressure on Tevez as an individual than any player at any other club.
Sometimes it weighs heavily on his shoulders. He misses his children, family and home and that makes life difficult.
To be fair, he's coping brilliantly at the moment. But as the pressure mounts that is when we will discover just how good he is.



 
Why Gerard Houllier's Liverpool love-in was a massive mistake



By Mark Lawrenson


Published 07:02 11/12/10






Gerard Houllier made a huge mistake this week - and may even be regretting getting back into management.
Houllier did a good job at Liverpool, had nothing to prove and was well liked at the French Football Federation who didn't want to lose him.
So why risk all of that to take the Aston Villa job? It's a strange one because if Houllier thought club management was cut throat when he left Liverpool then it's ten times worse now.
This week has also really turned up the heat on Houllier. Liverpool fans gave him a wonderful reception and, in the build-up to the game at Anfield, Houllier was also happy to take the credit for the 2005 Champions League success.

Houllier deserves the credit too. The majority of the players were signed by him and Houllier's best team would have beaten the team Rafa Benitez created and left behind.
But then to go back, touch the This Is Anfield sign, milk the applause and, worst of all, talk so glowingly about Liverpool after losing was a mistake.
When asked about Liverpool, Houllier should have said: "It's great to come back but I'd like to apologise to the Villa fans who made the trip for this defeat." Simple.
Instead, Houllier succeeded in getting the fans' backs up. It's difficult when you have such affection for a club but fans expect you to be 100 per cent committed to their club. I'm sure Houllier is. But don't give them ammunition.
It has been a difficult start for Houllier, particularly on the back of what's gone before. Villa moved the goalposts in the summer.
Martin O'Neill went, James Milner was sold and Villa condemned themselves to a struggle with no serious investment on new players rather than a push for the Champions League places.
No wonder Villa find themselves in the bottom six and in a scrap. Who will be next to go? Ashley Young? Gabriel Agbonlahor?
Villa have also been hit by injuries which has made it tough. Stiliyan Petrov, Emile Heskey and so on.
That has prompted Houllier to bring in the kids and, at the same time, by making that statement in some ways you are buying yourself time, trying to lower expectations and yet it doesn't appear to be working.
Villa's kids aren't of the grade of Manchester United's golden generation of Scholes, Giggs, Nevilles and Beckham. That's when you can bring in four or five at a time. You can't do it and get results with Villa.
Suddenly, you have Barry Bannon, Jonathan Hogg, Ciaran Clarke and Marc Albrighton playing most weeks. In terms of being a top player, Albrighton is the outstanding prospect. He can play either side, is quick and very effective.
Bannon could be a good player. But few players can get away with being so small. Lionel Messi can. But Bannon will have to improve a lot to make up for his lack of physical strength.
Hogg and Clarke still have to a lot to prove. It's even harder to do that in a struggling team.
It's only going to get harder now for Houllier. Which begs the question why he came back. He did a good job at Liverpool. He didn't need the money, he was busy in France and yet came back to a club in transition. It's odd.
We know that Villa have changed their ambitions. It will be hard for Houllier to match O'Neill's achievements and therefore he's on a bit of a hiding to nothing.
I like Gerard as a person. I don't always agree with his football philosophy which is get men behind the ball, and his view that the glass is always half empty rather than half full.
You don't get time in management now. With Twitter and phone-ins, the fans can be quick off the mark to call for the manager's head.
I think Villa will be fine this season. Houllier will turn it round. But what is alarming is that Villa have become a nice, easy team to play against.
At Birmingham in the Carling Cup, they played some nice football but Birmingham just kept going. Never gave up and in the end found little resistance.
Villa didn't have a grit, determination or a tough underbelly. It was all too easy and Houllier must quickly address that.
He needs new players in January to rebuild and form his own team, squad and vision. The really tough part for Houllier is whether he will be afforded that luxury.
That may be an indicator as to how Houllier's future will pan out at Villa Park. It would be good to see him do well but heartbreaking to see it go badly because that would tarnish some great memories and a very good managerial reputation






 
Martin Lipton's Premier League preview and predictions


By Martin Lipton in Laptop with Martin Lipton
Published 10:58 10/12/10






The Daily Mirror's chief football writer Martin Lipton will be here every Friday lunchtime to preview and predict the outcome of the weekend's Premier League fixtures. And come back the following Monday when Laptop will provide his expert analysis of what unfolded...

The Big Match: Tottenham v Chelsea (Sunday, 4pm)
Carlo Ancelotti does not need telling the heat will be on at White Hart Lane.
But while the pressure affecting Chelsea is immense on the back of the club's worst run in a decade, Tottenham, too, have big questions to answer.

Harry Redknapp's suggestions that Spurs are good enough to mount a title challenge were understandable when the comeback win at Arsenal was backed up by a home victory over Liverpool.
Yet while earning a draw at Birmingham was not be any means a bad result, conceding late on did hint at the weakness that may prove too costly in the longer run.
Sunday's game will be a real battle, with Spurs certain to target the obvious Chelsea deficiencies and Ancelotti having to make some big selection calls.
With Jose Bosingwa out, the likelihood is that Paulo Ferreira will be asked to fill in at right back, with the onerous task of stopping man of the moment Gareth Bale.
Bale tormented the Portuguese defender in the corresponding fixture last term, twisting him inside out before exploding a right footer past Petr Cech and the Tottenham fans will be licking their lips at the prospect of a repeat.
One way of countering that might be to play Michael Essien at right-back - unlikely - or move the Ghana mountain into central defence alongside John Terry, allowing Branislav Ivanovic to take the full-back berth.
Neither seems to be on Ancelotti's agenda but with Frank Lampard not match-fit the Chelsea manager may need to ditch his preferred 4-3-3 for a flat midfield quartet.
If not, Chelsea risk being over-run as Benoit Assou-Ekotto augments Bale's flank thrust, especially with Aaron Lennon likely to keep Ashley Cole busy on the other flank.
Redknapp has selection issues, too, with Michael Dawson desperate to get back after his elongated absence and Jermaine Jenas picking up a knock in Holland but Luka Modric over his bug and ready for action, while Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko - seemingly keen to stay now after hinting at a potential exit for most of the past year - are competing for the two slots up front.
Spurs, for sure, will go for it. It is in their DNA and they will sense Chelsea are more vulnerable now than ever before, justifying John Terry's demand for his colleagues to "stand up" and be counted.
As Ancelotti - not, it must be said, that wisely - pointed out in the aftermath of the defeat in Marseille: "Now everyone thinks we will lose that game."
If they do - and I suspect Didier Drogba may pick this moment to rediscover his goal radar - the Chelsea manager really will be in trouble.
The Best of the Rest
Sunday's showdown is by some distance the pick of the weekend action - if only because Arsenal do not play at Manchester United until Monday night.
But Manchester City know they can really put Chelsea under the hammer if they can see off West Ham at Upton Park.
City will leapfrog Chelsea into third with a win - meaning the Blues will fall to fourth unless they beat Spurs - but West Ham boss Avram Grant will be relieved not to be facing the suspended Carlos Tevez, especially as Roberto Mancini's side have only one won league match in which the Argentine has not scored this season.
Grant's side can guarantee themselves 24 hours off the bottom with a point, as Wolves , in real trouble, host Birmingham in a West Midlands tear-up on Sunday.
The other two Black Country sides also meet, with West Brom seeking to pile on the problems for Gerard Houllier and Aston Villa , while Fulham need to beat Sunderland to assure themselves of not falling into the drop zone.
Darren Bent, Danny Welbeck and Asamoah Gyan will all fancy themselves to feast on the Cottagers and things are getting serious for Mark Hughes, who is crippled by his attacking-player injury list.
Everton , boosted by their impressive display at Chelsea last week, need to show it was not a temporary moment of quality against a Wigan side who would accept a guarantee of 17th now, while Stoke boss Tony Pulis will be expecting three points from the visit of a Blackpool outfit who have had a fortnight off since they last played.
This weekend of derby-days also sees neighbours playing at the Reebok, Blackburn fans will be making the short trip down the "Devil's Highway" as the A666 - a beastly road, I'm sure you would agree - is known, to Bolton , with the home side expecting to bounce back from their narrow defeat at Eastlands.
And, just to add some more spice, Pards is back - in case you didn't know.
The reaction Alan Pardew gets from the Newcastle fans before kick-off will let him know how angry they are about Chris Hughton's scandalous sacking, but a win over a Liverpool side whose away form is still that of a relegation side - five points out of 24 - may give him much-needed breathing space.

Laptop's Premier League predictions in full (all kick-offs 3pm on Saturday, unless stated)
Aston Villa v West Brom: Away win
Bolton v Blackburn (Sunday, 1.30pm): Home win
Everton v Wigan: Home win
Fulham v Sunderland: Away win
Newcastle v Liverpool (Saturday, 5.30pm): Home win
Stoke v Blackpool: Home win
Tottenham v Chelsea (Sunday, 4pm): Draw
West Ham v Manchester City: Away win
Wolves v Birmingham (Sunday, 1.30pm): Home win



 
Why Toon farce shows football managers are the worst blacklegs in the workplace


By Brian Reade
Published 23:02 10/12/10






For a second there seemed to be a glimmer of hope in this grim story about Chris Hughton.
When the man who breezed into his job, Alan Pardew, told us he'd received lots of texts from other managers, I felt this could finally be the moment when one of them unburdened their guilt and disgust over their chosen profession.
By writing: "You are a scab Alan. We are all scabs. It's how we stay on this immoral gravy train. Shame on you for not telling Mike Ashley that you wouldn't work for a thug who treated such a decent person and decent coach so badly. Shame on us all for not having the collective decency to take a stand."
Instead they sent messages wishing their old pal Pards the best of luck, but telling him he must be bonkers to go there.

Shame on them. Football managers are the worst *blacklegs in the workplace.
They put themselves up for positions, and allow *themselves to be tapped up, while their doomed colleagues are still working their socks off to stay in the job they're coveting.
They have a joke of a union called the League Managers' *Association, which puts out *statements of mock disgust when one of their members is sacked but doesn't have the balls to do anything about it.
How easy would it be for these men to take a stand against *bullies like Ashley, by telling him that, for once, they're not playing the game.
How easy to stay united, as every other decent set of trade unionists would, in the face of such a disgraceful sacking as Hughton's, and say none of our members will work for you.
Then get coaches who carry real clout like Alex Ferguson, Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce to say "any non-member who takes Hughton's job will be black-listed and disowned by us all."
Why not? They don't mind taking industrial action when it comes to non co-operation with the BBC do they?
And it's not as if they can't afford to let the odd job pass. I doubt there's any group of workers in the post-50 age group with healthier investment portfolios thanks to all those cushy contracts and pay-offs.
I'm not talking about boycotting every managerial vacancy. I'm talking about doing it when a manager like Hughton, loved by his players and his fans, has become a victim of such an overwhelming injustice, that something has to be done.
The most hypocritical aspect of their blind-eye turning is that they have the gall to lecture players on ethics. Remember them all spewing bile on Wayne Rooney when he stalled on signing a new contract, claiming he'd let his loyal manager down?
Where is Ian Holloway's morality lecture to Alan Pardew today? Nowhere. Just the standard self-deluding excuse all of them trot out *whenever a colleague has been done in: "For the sake of the fans, someone's got to manage that club now, haven't they?"
Pardew says Hughton "did a super job". So why didn't he advise Ashley to let him keep doing that super job instead of taking it off him?
I know Pardew is by no means the worst example in history, and that it goes on all the time. But the sacking of Hughton is so *unwarranted the LMA really did need to do more. And its powerful senior members, instead of whining about the lack of opportunity for young English managers, needed to take action.
Instead they've shown us again that managers would run into a burning office, using their granny as a shield, to grab a contract on a boss's desk.
That they are less loyal to their colleagues than those grasping, self-obsessed wannabes on The Apprentice. Isn't that right Lord Sugar and Mrs Brady?
******
I think we need an inquiry into that poll up at Newcastle, where, when 1,000 people were asked if they thought Alan Pardew was a good appointment, 15 of them said yes.
Fifteen.
You think in the land of Ant and Dec they'd be wary of poll-rigging and keep their eyes out for someone like Mike Ashley being allowed to vote 15 times.
******
As tough a time as Rafa Benitez is having in Italy I hope he's taking solace from the seeing how Jurgen Klinsmann is doing.
The man who was offered his Liverpool job three years ago is watching his reputation fall more dramatically than he did as a player.
As if it wasn't bad enough last month landing the job of football supremo at the mighty Toronto FC, this week he was touted as being Mike Ashley's choice to replace Chris Hughton.
Only for Newcastle's communications department to overturn its policy on not commenting on speculation, to point out: "Now THAT is crazy."
How the mighty have dived.



 
Why van Persie should be careful what he wishes for and Houllier has to start helping himself


By Brian Reade
Published 23:01 10/12/10






Sometimes you read a quote from a player which makes you wonder if a Mickey Finn was slipped in his post-match energy drink.
Like this from Robin van Persie after Arsenal squeezed past Partizan Belgrade into the Champions League last 16: "We can beat anyone now. I'd love to play Barcelona."
That's the same Partizan Belgrade who finished the group with these stats: Won 0, drew 0, lost 6. Who let in 13 and managed to double their goal haul by grabbing one at the Emirates which made Arsenal sweat about qualification until 17 minutes to go.
And the same Barcelona who have only one weakness: Set your team up to stifle them over two legs and you might get lucky.

But if you fancy your chances at taking them on at football they will bury you.
Which probably makes Arsenal their first choice opponents in next week's draw.
Beware what you wish for Robin. You just might get it.
******
I always thought Gerard Houllier's appointment by Aston Villa was a bizarre one which would end in tears.
I just didn't think the fans would turn so quickly. But then I didn't think the following bizarre words would leave his mouth:
"Robert Pires can help our youngsters." On the evidence so far, that would appear to be crossing them over Witton Lane with a huge lollipop.
"I would love to bring Michael Owen here. He would be good for the group." What group? Doctor and The Medics?
"If I have got to lose 3-0 I would prefer it to be Liverpool." That would be the Liverpool you are in a top six fight with, whom had you beaten on Monday would have put you a point above.
When he comes out with being "ten games from greatness" folks, send for the white coats.
 
Why Limpar is right about clubs with nice new stadiums but no trophies and Nasri should button his beak


By Brian Reade
Published 23:00 19/11/10






Anders Limpar asks why Arsenal’s move to the Emirates has been so lauded.
Lovely stadium he notes, but they haven’t won a trophy there. It’s the same with Manchester City, despite all that cash that’s been thrown at them.
Look at the other Premier League clubs who demolished their spiritual homes for a glorious future: Sunderland, Stoke, Bolton and Wigan. Take away the odd Championship success and they haven’t lifted a pot.
Between them they’ve spent 60 years in their new Utopias but picked up no proper trophies. Have the ghosts of fans-past put a curse on the clubs for desertion?


Who knows. But Spurs, West Ham, Liverpool and Everton should take note.
*****
It's been a great season for Sami Nasri, who is undoubtedly the most improved player in the Premier League.
Watching him strut his stuff for Arsenal and France you can see how much he’s learned.
But judging by his comments after Arsenal’s win at Everton he still has a long way to go.
“Is it our title year? It is definitely a case of being optimistic for the future and, maybe, it could be our turn."
Sami, you’ve played 13 games, you’ve lost three of them, you’re not even top, Chelsea are having their blip, Alex Ferguson is yet to get started and you still haven’t got a decent goalie.
Carry on jinxing your team-mates if you want, but if I were you I’d button it.
 
Why Villa signing Pires is directly linked to England being outclassed by France


By Brian Reade
Published 23:02 19/11/10






How would you react if St Etienne took Kevin Phillips on loan in the hope of bringing out the best in their young French players?
Bafflement, laughter, a quick Google to see where the 37-year-old is playing these days? That's how I greeted news that Robert Pires was moving to Aston Villa with a similar brief.
Villa, who were five minutes away from beating Manchester United on Saturday and going joint-fifth in the world's toughest league, feel Pires can help 21-year-olds like Marc Albrighton fulfill their potential. He's "perfect" for the job, said coach Gary McAllister.
Yet he was released by Villarreal, who finished seventh in La Liga. He's been training at Arsenal but Arsene Wenger didn't sign him, and clearly no French teams fancy him or you'd imagine his Gallic wife would have told him, that three years off 40, it's time to move back home.


If you want to know why England were out-classed by France this week, look no further than Pires.
Not that I blame him. Who wouldn't take one last lucrative ride on the Premier League gravy train, even if you claim to be helping young kids progress when you're actually blocking them?
Gerrard Houllier did the same at Liverpool, preferring mediocre Frenchmen to home-grown talent. Indeed his first signing was Jean Michel Ferri, another washed-up French midfielder who couldn't get a game elsewhere.
Houllier's not alone. Alex McLeish has been publicly asking another has-been Alexander Hleb when he's going to try to start justifying his wages. And Eidur Gudjohnsen rots on Stoke's bench on a lucrative one-year deal.
If you want another reason why we were out-classed on Wednesday look at this statistic: There are 41 Frenchmen playing in English football but there are no Englishmen playing in France.
Their sides are packed with their own young prospects gaining valuable experience in one of Europe's top leagues. It means that when Laurent Blanc casts aside World Cup divas like Ribery, Toulalan, Evra and Anelka, he has plenty of technically-gifted alternatives to choose from.
Had England dismissed the core of its World Cup team as punishment for the South African shambles, we'd be choosing from a pool smaller than the dribble off a Liliputian's todger. As witnessed this week when most of the senior players were injured.
You knew after 30 seconds England were in trouble, when ITV's Andy Townsend said: "everyone's looking forward to seeing a real, proper centre-forward tonight" and on cue Joleon Lescott aimed a hoof at Andy Carroll's head winning a free-kick, and much crowd applause. Why?
And why did those same fans who applauded a bit of direct British grit, then have the gall to complain when the French got it on the deck and played us off the park?
Houllier would no doubt ask us to contrast former Villa man James Milner's performance with most of the French side, then tell him how he's worth £28milion? We'd struggle.
He'd also be justified in arguing that you have to look abroad for players when the few home-grown talents around cost three times as much as they should.
Before Wednesday's game Blanc said France no longer had any world-class players. Had England scraped another couple of late goals to snatch victory, certain fans and pundits would no doubt have claimed there's half-a-dozen here
Well looking at this week's evidence we may indeed see world-class players here in a few years time. All speaking French.
And all, along with former world-class players who are old enough to be their dads, stopping English talent blooming.
Vive le difference.
*******
As poor as England were on Wednesday, what was that booing about?
Seven regulars: Hart, Glen Johnson, Terry, Ashley Cole, Rooney, Lampard and Defoe were injured.
Players with a handful of caps like Foster, Adam Johnson and Young and novices like Gibbs, Carroll, Bothroyd, Henderson and Warnock tried their best, only to find their efforts met with abuse.
England fans love to whine about how much they spend following their beloved country and how the players don't deserve them.
It's time we asked if England fans deserve to witness their country's young talent learning the ropes of international football.
*******
What a few weeks Frank Lampard has had.
From looking like he was picking up the inevitable old man's injuries which would herald the end of his top-flight career, he sits on the sidelines watching Chelsea implode and Gareth Barry play like the oldest man in a pub side's veteran team, causing club and country to bemoan his absence.
All while getting paid £150,000-a-week to stay in bed.
With Christine Bleakley.



 
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