Coyle Right To Walk Out On Burnley?
Owen Coyle has now been officially confirmed as the new Bolton Wanderers manager, although we all knew it was going to happen anyway. After Gary Megson was sacked by Bolton, they immediately targeted the former Burnley boss as their new man to take the helm.But did we expect Coyle to leave? On the face of it there is not much difference between Burnley and Bolton, geographically, in terms of fan base and indeed league points. In fact Coyle has moved down the table to his new job.
However, Coyle spent two years as a player at Bolton during the 90s and although he played for many clubs during his career Bolton were the only English one. But was 55 appearances in two years really enough for Coyle to turn his back on Burnley, where he was worshipped for the amazing job he did at Turf Moor?
Bolton Wanderers are an established Premier League club with a bigger player budget and maybe Coyle feels he can attract a better calibre of player to The Reebok. But he is by no means certain of being a Premier League manager next season. Bolton currently sit in the bottom three, though they do have two games in hand over most of their rivals.
But he steps into an unfamiliar atmosphere. He will have to impress quickly, or the fans may turn, as they did on Megson. There was less pressure on Coyle at Burnley, they were the underdogs and not many expected them to stay up. He is used to being loved, he will have to win his new fans over again.
I am somewhat surprised that Coyle left Burnley in their first Premier League season, to near neighbours and relegation rivals. But maybe you can argue that he has earnt the right to do what he likes after the magnificent achievements with Burnley.
It is quite sad that many Burnley fans now label Coyle as a 'Judas' after leaving for close rivals, the only bigger insult would have been to leave for Blackburn. There might just have been riots in Burnley if that had happened! In their opinion he's ditched them, and for a club in no better position than theirs. I think they need to remember the position that he has brought them to and left them in. Indeed they have as much if not better chance of staying up as Bolton do.
One thing is for certain though, the relegation battle has just got a little more personal in Lancashire. It will give Burnley fans even more satisfaction to see their side survive at the expense of Bolton.
And they won't have to wait long to renew acquaintances. Bolton meet Burnley at The Reebok in two weeks time. It promises to be as tasty as a Lancashire hot pot.
Leeds Prove Magic Of The Cup Is Still Alive
Decline. Fall from grace. This is how you would describe the last ten years in Leeds United's history. But it would appear that they are on the rise again after knocking out a strong Manchester United side out of the FA Cup in what is the biggest shock in years.After a Saturday of 3rd round action that saw no real surprises and dwindling attendances, it seemed that the nation may have fallen out of love with the famous old competition. Not today. Manchester United were desperate not to be beaten by their opponents from League One, but while they were not at their best, you could see the frustration on the faces of their players and how much they wanted to win. Those Manchester United fans did not want to be beaten by their old rivals because no team, no matter how big likes being knocked out of the FA Cup, as could be seen by Sir Alex Ferguson's obvious frustration on the touchline.
Indeed Leeds could have won it more comfortably, having more chances late in the game as Manchester United pressed for a way back into the game and credit to manager Simon Grayson who was not afraid to come out and have a go. At the end of the game you did not feel that Leeds weren't value for their victory. Maybe if some more Premier League sides approached a trip to Old Trafford in the same way they might get a result.
What we have seen this weekend though is that the bigger teams still want to win the FA Cup. Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham all played reasonably strong sides and while it may not be priority number one for the 'big four' it is still a major trophy they all want to win.
So what will this result do for Leeds? Well for a start they've been handed another plum tie as they will visit Tottenham in round 4 in what will be another reminder to where Leeds want to return to playing week in, week out. But more importantly they currently sit eight points clear at the top of League One as they look to escape the third tier at the third time of asking. And if they are successful, they will surely feel they have the squad for a Championship promotion push, as sides such as Nottingham Forest and Leicester are doing after returning from the third tier.
So for the first time for years, things are starting to look positive for a Leeds United fan, and they will be hoping that it won't be too long before they can return to Old Trafford in the Premier League.
Hughes Leaves City With Head Held High
It is unusual for a sacked manager to get so much sympathy from the media like Mark Hughes has done this week. He is the only man connected with Manchester City to come out with any credit after he was thrown on the scrap heap by the money men at Eastlands.So was his dismissal fair? Probably not. According to Hughes it was agreed between the owners, Chief Executive, Gary Cook and the manager that a top six finish would be acceptable for this season. And where do City currently sit in the league table? That's right, sixth after just two defeats all season. There have been eight draws from 17 games though, but City remain only six points behind fourth spot with a game in hand and above one of the 'big four', -Liverpool - in the table.
Okay, so you might point to the millions that Hughes has spent on the likes of Robinho, Adebayor, Tevez, Lescott et al, but it takes more than a season for players to gel and become potential title challengers. The heavyweights of the Premier League will not be just pushed aside in one false swoop.
There is also the argument that the Premier League has tightened up more this year. Champions Manchester United have already lost five games, Liverpool seven whilst Chelsea have been stumbling of late too.
What angered the football world the most though was not particularly the sacking of Hughes - we've seen big clubs dump bosses before such as Chelsea with Phil Scolari - it was the deceit. The fact that it leaked out that Hughes was going during a game of football, one that Hughes won too. Apparently it did not matter though, as he was replaced a couple of weeks earlier according to reports.
The truth is that Manchester City's owners are not fans, they are businessmen. They want Champions League football this season, a title challenge next and then to win them both. It is a difficult job for 'big name' Italian Roberto Mancini and I'll be very surprised if City finish in the top four.
What would City fans make of the whole situation though? Perhaps a bit of regret at the way Hughes was treated maybe, but with Mancini coming in with money to spend at will they may just be licking their lips with anticipation. The sad thing is the only way we are ever going to see the dominance of the big four challenged is this way, by money.
Mark Hughes shouldn't be too worried though, it won't be long before the offers come flying in from other clubs, hopefully clubs that will give him the time he deserves.
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To show that the Premier League is not all doom and gloom on the managerial front, I'd like to give a special mention to a man who is often overlooked to what a magnificent job he has done.
After arriving at Craven Cottage in December 2007, Roy Hodgson walked straight into a relegation battle. A man who had only managed in the Premier League for a short time at Blackburn during the 90's, little was known of what to expect. He had a good reputation abroad and at international level, but would he be able to handle a relatively small Premier League outfit with limited funding?
The answer soon became clear. After keeping the Cottagers up on the final day of the 2007-08 after a miraculous escape, even better was to come the following season. Seventh place and European football, Fulham's highest top-flight finish in their history.
And it was no fluke. In a season where the Premier League has seemed to become the 'big four' and the 'next three', Fulham currently sit ninth, one place behind Liverpool and just three points behind Manchester City in sixth with a game in hand and have qualified for the knock-out stages of the Europa League from a group that contained Roma and Basle. And things just keep getting better after, quite frankly, a 3-0 demolition of champions Manchester United on Saturday.
A simply brilliant job done by a superb manager. It's a shame then that Roy Hodgson will never get a chance to manage a side in the top four. He is often overlooked as people talk of O'Neill and Redknapp and Moyes -who have also done good jobs-but he is left out.
The next time the England job becomes available though, I would look no further.
Champions League Draw Throws Up Double Reunion
Yesterday's draw for the last 16 of the Champions League brought about an intriguing Anglo-Italian duel, where England's big two clash with the giants of Milan. Manchester United will take on AC Milan, whilst Chelsea take on Inter.Tasty enough you might think but when you throw in the double return of Jose Mourinho to Stamford Bridge and David Beckham to Old Trafford, the pinnacle of European football will be eagerly anticipated after the winter break.
Both Chelsea and Manchester United will be expected to progress into the quarter finals, especially with the second legs being played in England, highlighting the importance of topping the group.
For both of these men, it will be their first competitive return to their former clubs since leaving the Premier League. Chelsea have never quite been the same since the 'special one' left in 2007, and are now only returning to the sort of form displayed under him, though they have been shaky of late.
As for Beckham, this is perhaps the most interesting. Since leaving Old Trafford in 2003, it's very much the opinion that his career has gone downwards. After some success at Real Madrid, he was eventually forced out and chose America to play his football. Maybe he realised his mistake and he didn't want to admit it or he was just being loyal to LA Galaxy who he had promised so much to, but he returned to Europe last year to have an impressive spell on loan at AC Milan, where he has since returned again as the MLS season is over.Of course, Beckham can also cite his claims for a place in England's World Cup squad, where I think he should still be. While some of the pace has gone, the quality still undoubtedly remains. His ability to pick out the perfect pass, or a fantastic delivery from a set piece is still there. He showed in performances in qualifying that he will never let England down and will always there when called upon. There are many by now who would have called it a day.
Of Chelsea and Manchester United's chances, they know that they can beat anybody at home so as long as they avoid a hammering in the San Siro they should have enough. But with Beckham and Mourinho adding an extra spice they will need to be on their guard.
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Less than a month after being sacked by Portsmouth, Paul Hart has already stepped back into management as the new manager of Queens Park Rangers. After the incident between Jim Magilton and Akos Buzsacky that was reported in this column last week, it was decided that Magilton wouldn't be continuing as boss.
So in comes Hart, and you would have thought he'd have had enough of uncertainties in the boardroom at Portsmouth only to step into a club which is probably even more uncertain.
You've got to give it to him though, he won't be deterred and is determined to get his managerial career back on track at Loftus Road. You sense he will have to be quick in getting results though. Hart is now the fifth permanent manager since October 2007, which is absolutely ridiculous.
The moguls that run QPR expect instant success, but how can they achieve that if a manger is given no time to get his own team together. All I can say Paul Hart is good luck because you're going to need it.
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Finally, of those Tottenham Hotspur players going to have their secret knees-up in Dublin behind Harry Redknapp's back. How on earth did they think they were going to get away with it?
Premier League footballers out on the town after their manager Harry Redknapp had publicly stated there would be no Christmas party in case of an incident that could potentially derail their season... kind of back fired then I guess.
Perhaps the most alarming thing of all though is the possibilty they didn't care if they were caught. But if there are players deliberately disobeying the manager's orders then there's only one thing for it - get them out. I suppose it depends who those players were which of yet we do not know.
Spurs have to quickly get this out of their system though and hope that it's not the secret Christmas party rather than the dodgy lasagne that derails their Champions League prospects.
McCarthy Gives United Early Christmas Gift
As a Wolves supporter myself, I try to keep them out of this column as much as possible as it is my aim to be strictly neutral. However, as my team are all over the national press today I'm going to give my honest view on last night's events that have divided the Wolves community.How quickly the mood at a club can change. Saturday evening was the greatest victory for Wolves for a long time. A fantastic 1-0 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane and a good performance to boot. Then last night came Mick McCarthy's shocking decision to make ten changes to that team, every outfield player as only Marcus Hahnemann remained between the sticks.
Now, I can understand the reasons why this was done as Wolves go into a crucial six pointer at home to Burnley on Sunday, but to change all the outfield players was puzzling to say the least. After the victory over Spurs there was a sense that Wolves might be able to get something from the game, whether this was true or not we'll never know.
Manchester United were hardly at their best, and it was a poor game in truth. I bet Alex Ferguson was rubbing his hands with glee as he saw the Wolves team. This would surely be a chance to get back to winning ways after Saturday's surprise defeat to Aston Villa.
Let's get real for a moment though. This is Old Trafford and Manchester United we are talking about. It was likely that any Wolves team that went out there were going to be turned over last night, and maybe this was McCarthy's thinking. But this is so unlike him, this is Mick McCarthy, the tough, straight talking former defender who it seems hates to lose at anything. For him to be so seemingly defeatist is what amazed me.
Could McCarthy not have just rested players who he thought needed it, Kevin Doyle for example? I understand that Wolves did a lot of running without the ball on Saturday and were always going to last night. These are professional footballers though who should be able to handle three games in a week. I shall be expecting to see Burnley dead on their feet then at Molineux on Sunday as they tackle Arsenal tonight. They will be playing three games in a week, I expect at full strength. The pressure is now on McCarthy and his team to pick up three points on Sunday.
There is the argument that there were eleven professionals out there representing Wolverhampton Wanderers who could have got the job done and to be fair to them they caused some problems early on, but once Wayne Rooney expertly converted the opening goal from the penalty spot, that was that. I wonder what Carlo Ancelotti made of McCarthy's decision? Had Wolves affected the title race? I doubt Ancelotti would've expected much from Wolves anyway.
From a personal opinion it was disappointing to see the heroes from Saturday evening dropped for such a game, but Burnley is crucial. Three points on Sunday and all is forgiven. What is irking Wolves fans the most though is that a ticket for the game cost £42, and extra add ons for travel. If some knew they'd be watching largely second string players they wouldn't have bothered. It was Manchester United who set those ridiculous prices though and Mick McCarthy's job is to pick the team and get results - ultimately keeping Wolves in the Premier League. It sounds harsh but it's not up to him to care about the fans. He didn't do it out of spite, he did it for Wolves.
But there can be no complaints from Wolverhampton now should Man Utd or Chelsea play a weakened side against one of their relegation rivals. Wolves have to now move on from this episode to the one that really matters - Burnley on Sunday.
Big Two Falter As Villa Make Their Move
What an unpredictable day it was in the Premier League yesterday. Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham all slipped up in apparent 'home bankers'. Spurs were toppled by my team Wolves, while United lost to Aston Villa and Chelsea were held to a 3-3 draw by Everton at Stamford Bridge.So while it seems nobody wants to take the title race by the scruff of the neck it looks as if Spurs are determined to stuff up their chances of Champions League football - they have not won since that 9-1 drubbing of Wigan. We also saw more of Manchester City's leaky defence and ruthless attack in another goal glut at Bolton, another 3-3 thriller.
So it seems it all worked out perfectly for Aston Villa. Not only did they notch up their first win at Old Trafford since 1983, with their main rivals slipping up they found themselves sitting in the top four. While it has been Tottenham and Manchester City thumping their chests and talking up their chances of breaking into the top four, it's Aston Villa quietly going about their business on the pitch.
Incredibly Villa have now won at Anfield and Old Trafford this season while beating Chelsea on their own patch - that's championship winning form! In fact, the only thing keeping them out of the title race are the defeats against the likes of Wigan, West Ham and Blackburn.
But it's a carbon copy of last season. A blistering start to the season including a win at The Emirates saw Martin O'Neill's men firmly placed in the top four, they were the only side who were going to do it. However, they faded dramatically after Christmas as Arsenal clawed them back to comfortably finish above them in the end as Villa finished sixth.
So O'Neill will be hoping that Villa have come into form at just the right time to have a real go at securing Champions League football. With no Europa League football this time around, Villa can focus firmly on the League, depending whether O'Neill fancies a crack at the FA Cup, but this wouldn't be too demanding.
Looking over their shoulders, you would expect the firmest challenge to come from Liverpool, who will surely return to top form at some stage, especially with the return to fitness of Fernando Torres. Though O'Neill may take comfort from the fact that the Reds will have to travel across Europe some Thursdays before returning to League action on the Sunday.
One thing's for sure, an interesting battle lies ahead for fourth spot just as for first. For now though, I'm sure Villa supporters are revelling in their fabulous victory and trying not to look too far ahead.
