The news that on Sunday (29th April), the Football Association (FA) made an approach to West Bromich Albion to begin talks with their manager, Roy Hodgson about the vacant position of England manager came as some sort of surprise to many. Even more so when it became knowledge that Hodgson was the only manager that they have approached. This means that the FA will be holding no talks with any other available manager, most prominently Harry Redknapp, the bookmakers favourite and People's Choice for the role this summer at the European Championships.
Hodgson is a vastly experienced manager, in world football and with esteemed clubs across Europe. Hodgson took a limited Switzerland side to the 1994 World Cup in USA where they made the first knockout round, beyond expectations.
It seems that Hodgson works against this brief at every club. Exceed expectations. At Fulham, he took the team to the Europa League final, most notably defeating Juventus 4-1 at home to win on aggregate; before they lost to a very good Atletico Madrid starring Diego Forlan in the final. This came a season after he saved the club with a last day escape at Portsmouth. Yet this journey to that final gave Hodgson some cache and was given the chance at a big club in England, having previously managed Inter Milan in Italy.
Liverpool came a calling and Hodgson understandably jumped at the opportunity, much like he will with the England job, yet Liverpool turned into a poisoned chalice of a job. Hodgson struggled to gain rewards through his tactics and vision, there were chants from the crowds of boring football and a series of bad results ending with a home defeat to Wolves in early January 2011 led to the guillotine being dropped on Roy as he headed for the hills.
During a new takeover of the club by the Fenway group, Roy did not fit the bill as the head coach who installed Kop legend, Kenny Dalglish, as manager for the remainder of the season. The new owners opened their chequebook for Dalglish, something they failed to for Hodgson who signed Joe Cole, a player who failed to impress or fit into the system behind Fernando Torres and in front of Steven Gerrard.
After Hodgson's departure, new signing Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll arrived in the January transfer window; then Jose Enrique, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson in the summer. Hodgson could have benefited from such signings, yet his pedigree deserved longer than 6 months in charge at a big job.
He shortly returned to management landing with the baggies in West Bromich Albion; a team he resuscitated surviving a nervy relegation battle with games to spare. A solid summer signing players who work hard and gaining more out of players has led to a solid season, that will avoid the threat of relegation easily without moving up. That must be a target for the club to break the top 10 next season, of course it would need Hodgson to remain at the Hawthorns, something that looks unlikely.
So why has Hodgson being picked over Redknapp? A lot has been made of Redknapp's trial in early January for tax evasion, for which he was acquited from. Since then and following Fabio Capello's resignation, it was expected that Redknapp would be told the England job was his come the end of the season.
Yet the FA have played the waiting game to see how both managers have fared. In early January, Tottenham were knocking on the door of a title race, and looking assured in 3rd place 11 points clear of Arsenal. Yet a disastrous last hour of the game away at Arsenal, going from 2-0 up to 5-2 down led to defeats against Manchester United, Everton and further dropped points away to Chelsea and Sunderland, and a crippling home defeat to Norwich. Tottenham are battling for 4th now, they are ahead of Newcastle on goal difference, yet have an easier run-in with three winnable games - Bolton (A), Villa (A) and Fulham (H) - compared to the Toon Army who have to travel to Chelsea and play champions elect, Manchester City at home.
Yet the poor run of results for Tottenham following a 5-0 home victory over Newcastle, resulted in one win (Swansea 3-1 at home) in 9 games showed a bit of naivety on Redknapp's behalf. For most of the season, he has an idea of a starting XI who have played or started most of the season. In this day and age of quicker more intense play, the team could have done with squad rotation yet unfortunate injuries to Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone and always niggled Aaron Lennon, has led to few players getting rest when it could have been afforded. Also the requirement to give Ledley King a week off between games has actually been counter-productive for continuity as King has actually looked slower this season than ever before as he fights father time.
Redknapp also let several squad players depart - Vedrun Corluka and Steven Pienaar left on loan to Dortmund and Everton respectively, yet Pienaar would have had a good run following Lennon's hamstring and his form at Everton has helped that side end the season in formidable form, assisting and scoring goals. For Everton, Pienaar replaced Landon Donovan effortlessly.
Redknapp also trusts the starting XI too much failing to make substitutions or leaving them too late for any player to make an impact; also the lack of impact off the bench (sorry Jermain Defoe) might make this a mute point.
He has also not been helped by players such as Luka Modric and Gareth Bale not living up to their own standards or thinking about next season's employment. It goes without saying that if Tottenham fail to get Champions League football, those two players will depart.
Yet Redknapp also has too much of a personality for the job, of course he has a good relationship with the press but can he deal with the pressure of a whole nation. In a knockout tournament, his tactics might get found out quickly, and he has to be able to keep a lot of egos happy in one dressing room. Whilst the players may respect Redknapp, there is a difference between appreciating a man and listening to him.
Hodgson may garner as much respect, but he has a bit more tactical nous about him in relation to how other nations play football; England need a tactical mastermind for the European championships, not a cheerleader.
Showing posts with label WBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WBA. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Sunday, 6 February 2011
West Bromich - YoYo Nation
West Bromich Albion, a team who are in the Premier League, have been in the top division of English football on and off for the best part of 10 years have continued the hypocrisy and idiocy of the urge of English football for quick results and to echo Fernando Torres' comments this week, 'Maybe it is all about business'
A few weeks ago, I blogged about the exclusion of Scott Carson from the WBA starting line-up; mystified that he is being made the scapegoat for a run of five consecutive results. Since then with the inclusion of the 'peerless' Boaz Myhill (previously with last season's relegated Hull City) have now lost a total of 13 out of 18 in all competitions, including elimination from the FA Cup to championship side, Reading.
Now, Jeremy Peace has taken the decision to put his manager, Roberto Di Matteo, on gardening leave with immediate effect, virtually ensuring that he is now unemployed. This latest instalment of the managerial merry-go-round is worse than when Newcastle United sacked Chris Hughton in November of this season. Di Matteo was the man who got the team promoted, playing a brand of football that was a match for Newcastle last season, they were both promoted at a canter and some pundits were genuinely looking forward to seeing West Brom continue to play positive football, and up until there poor run of form they were. Gaining positive results most notably victories at Arsenal and Everton, and a very creditable draw at Old Trafford that could easily had written off United's attempt at invincibility before their Black Country rivals, Wolves did yesterday.
However, it was their home form that has suffered, losses to Blackburn, Bolton and a crippling loss to Man.United that they should really have won due to a mixture of failure to take chances, a poor referring decision and a missed penalty by Peter Odemwingie. A victory over the champions elect would have looked very good on a fledgling CV, now Di Matteo need to get the CV out of the bottom drawer.
It is interesting because before the season they were making all the right noises about staying positive with a brand of football endebted to the Italian manager, and the play of Chris Brunt has been most impressive. Even the signing of Odemwingie, the Nigerian world cup striker was a sign of intent; and his goals have won them games that would have meant they would be in the relegation zone. At this moment, they are 17th (the vital number to stave off execution), but unfortunately Birmingham and West Ham appear resurgent, whilst both Wolves and Wigan won at home yesterday. This is not a decision to save this season, this is a decision for next season too prematurely.
When Hughton was sacked from Newcastle, there were suitors available for hire; who in there right mind would want to go to Baggie-land for the last 3 1/2 months for what is now a relegation party.
West Bromich are the team for whom the term 'yo-yo club' was invented, whilst teams like Blackpool, Stoke and Wigan show the resilience to fight the battle until the end, West Bromich look to have lost their appetite.
A few weeks ago, I blogged about the exclusion of Scott Carson from the WBA starting line-up; mystified that he is being made the scapegoat for a run of five consecutive results. Since then with the inclusion of the 'peerless' Boaz Myhill (previously with last season's relegated Hull City) have now lost a total of 13 out of 18 in all competitions, including elimination from the FA Cup to championship side, Reading.
Now, Jeremy Peace has taken the decision to put his manager, Roberto Di Matteo, on gardening leave with immediate effect, virtually ensuring that he is now unemployed. This latest instalment of the managerial merry-go-round is worse than when Newcastle United sacked Chris Hughton in November of this season. Di Matteo was the man who got the team promoted, playing a brand of football that was a match for Newcastle last season, they were both promoted at a canter and some pundits were genuinely looking forward to seeing West Brom continue to play positive football, and up until there poor run of form they were. Gaining positive results most notably victories at Arsenal and Everton, and a very creditable draw at Old Trafford that could easily had written off United's attempt at invincibility before their Black Country rivals, Wolves did yesterday.
However, it was their home form that has suffered, losses to Blackburn, Bolton and a crippling loss to Man.United that they should really have won due to a mixture of failure to take chances, a poor referring decision and a missed penalty by Peter Odemwingie. A victory over the champions elect would have looked very good on a fledgling CV, now Di Matteo need to get the CV out of the bottom drawer.
It is interesting because before the season they were making all the right noises about staying positive with a brand of football endebted to the Italian manager, and the play of Chris Brunt has been most impressive. Even the signing of Odemwingie, the Nigerian world cup striker was a sign of intent; and his goals have won them games that would have meant they would be in the relegation zone. At this moment, they are 17th (the vital number to stave off execution), but unfortunately Birmingham and West Ham appear resurgent, whilst both Wolves and Wigan won at home yesterday. This is not a decision to save this season, this is a decision for next season too prematurely.
When Hughton was sacked from Newcastle, there were suitors available for hire; who in there right mind would want to go to Baggie-land for the last 3 1/2 months for what is now a relegation party.
West Bromich are the team for whom the term 'yo-yo club' was invented, whilst teams like Blackpool, Stoke and Wigan show the resilience to fight the battle until the end, West Bromich look to have lost their appetite.
Friday, 14 January 2011
The Strange Case of Scott Carson
West Bromich Albion are once again stuck in a relegation scrap, Roberto Di Matteo made sure he did not say fight, as it only becomes a fight once it is mathematically impossible to survive. WBA have history here; the team the term 'yo-yo' club was invented for finally seemed to have reached a level of respectability and sustainability - at the moment there are four worse teams than them in the Premier League, and on the evidence seen in games either as a team or by individuals, the team have shown enough ingenuity and nuance to survive this season. You want to call winning 3-2 at Goodison Park a scrap, go to Upton Park every week. There is a team scrapping for survival. Go and watch Wolves give every team a goal in the first 5 minutes; that is suicidal. WBA have conducted themselves with merit; unfortunately the results over Christmas and the new 2011 have not been kind, five straight defeats extending the run to 6, they have not won since December 6th (3-1 at home to Newcastle, the game that got Chris Hughton the sack) and they are now out of the FA Cup suffering defeat at the hands of Reading of the Championship, maybe not a shock on the scale of Stevenage over Newcastle, but still not anticipated.
And so prompting a change or a shake up, Di Matteo has decided to drop his goalkeeper, and former England No.1, Scott Carson with the excuse, 'he has made a few mistakes over the last few games' one highlighted was a soft header by Simon Davies in the 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage, that gave Fulham the lead. It seems unfortunate, and somewhat knee-jerk to drop Carson from the home game against Blackpool; Carson has made a few mistakes in his career; most notably when he conceded the first goal against Croatia in 2007 that meant England failed to qualify for Euro2008. Like that night, I feel the finger of blame is being hastily pointed at Carson - yes he has had a notable mare, but things have not gelled for WBA for sometime and they have not been taking the opportunities when presented to them.
When they eventually got a penalty against Man.Utd; Peter Odemwingie decided to not even hit the target after sending Kusczak the wrong way - a symbol of how bad things have become, they cannot score when giving the chance. The point is though has Di Matteo thought about dropping his Nigerian striker to the bench as a lesson, or told him to take penalties until he can score with his eyes closed.
This is indicative of the modern day football club - workmanlike professionals seeking perfection mixed in with tinkering managerial styles. Carson is just another of the young England goalkeeping professionals who are in the spotlight and whose mistakes are highlighted to the nth degree by analysis and rolling coverage. Name a recent England keeper and you will remember a mistake; Ben Foster had an almighty mare at Upton Park on Wednesday somehow letting Carlton Cole's most powerful shot in with a mixture of complacency and being wrong footed. Chris Kirkland, for so long the future is now at Leicester after so many injuries, Robert Green, well we all saw it and even Joe Hart fumbled a cross that led to Leicester's equaliser on Sunday night. Even two stalwarts, David(s) James and Seaman are remembered more for their howlers than their long service and determination to seek that perfection. David Seaman's international career ended in Asia, because he fluffed a cross from Ronaldinho that he should have kept out, unfortunately because that was the winning goal he got the blame, people forget about the poor attempted tackle by David Beckham which led to Brazil's equaliser.
I would not mind if Carson was being replaced by a suitable replacement, but does Boaz Myhill fill Baggies fans with confidence; the manager has been clever by doing it for a home game, knowing that the loyal support will be right behind the newly instated no.1 but it could fly up in his face if Blackpool maintain their impressive away form this Saturday. As there are only ever one goalkeeper on a starting XI and teams are defined by their results; if they concede, the goalie gets the brunt of complaints. Being a Tottenham fan, you have to admit Gomes has more mistakes than blinders, even blinding mistakes sometimes.
Most goalkeepers have extreme confidence and self-belief in their ability, however, more and more this intent of placing the blame at their doorstep can only be detrimental to the performance of our young goalkeepers, it is starting earlier. When our U21s lost 4-0 to Germany in 2009, a terrible forewarning to the following summer when the team of Ozil and Muller ran rampant, the blame was placed at Scott Loach, who was undone by a cruel deflection for the first goal. 4-0..must be the goalie's fault I hear you cry. However, maybe Di Matteo should look round the changing room at other under-achieving players, maybe a new purchase in the transfer window will bring results - but to drop a goalkeeper, who has had some fine performances this season, is not so much knee-jerk as naive.
Boaz Myhill
Peter Odemwingie
And so prompting a change or a shake up, Di Matteo has decided to drop his goalkeeper, and former England No.1, Scott Carson with the excuse, 'he has made a few mistakes over the last few games' one highlighted was a soft header by Simon Davies in the 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage, that gave Fulham the lead. It seems unfortunate, and somewhat knee-jerk to drop Carson from the home game against Blackpool; Carson has made a few mistakes in his career; most notably when he conceded the first goal against Croatia in 2007 that meant England failed to qualify for Euro2008. Like that night, I feel the finger of blame is being hastily pointed at Carson - yes he has had a notable mare, but things have not gelled for WBA for sometime and they have not been taking the opportunities when presented to them.
When they eventually got a penalty against Man.Utd; Peter Odemwingie decided to not even hit the target after sending Kusczak the wrong way - a symbol of how bad things have become, they cannot score when giving the chance. The point is though has Di Matteo thought about dropping his Nigerian striker to the bench as a lesson, or told him to take penalties until he can score with his eyes closed.
This is indicative of the modern day football club - workmanlike professionals seeking perfection mixed in with tinkering managerial styles. Carson is just another of the young England goalkeeping professionals who are in the spotlight and whose mistakes are highlighted to the nth degree by analysis and rolling coverage. Name a recent England keeper and you will remember a mistake; Ben Foster had an almighty mare at Upton Park on Wednesday somehow letting Carlton Cole's most powerful shot in with a mixture of complacency and being wrong footed. Chris Kirkland, for so long the future is now at Leicester after so many injuries, Robert Green, well we all saw it and even Joe Hart fumbled a cross that led to Leicester's equaliser on Sunday night. Even two stalwarts, David(s) James and Seaman are remembered more for their howlers than their long service and determination to seek that perfection. David Seaman's international career ended in Asia, because he fluffed a cross from Ronaldinho that he should have kept out, unfortunately because that was the winning goal he got the blame, people forget about the poor attempted tackle by David Beckham which led to Brazil's equaliser.
I would not mind if Carson was being replaced by a suitable replacement, but does Boaz Myhill fill Baggies fans with confidence; the manager has been clever by doing it for a home game, knowing that the loyal support will be right behind the newly instated no.1 but it could fly up in his face if Blackpool maintain their impressive away form this Saturday. As there are only ever one goalkeeper on a starting XI and teams are defined by their results; if they concede, the goalie gets the brunt of complaints. Being a Tottenham fan, you have to admit Gomes has more mistakes than blinders, even blinding mistakes sometimes.
Most goalkeepers have extreme confidence and self-belief in their ability, however, more and more this intent of placing the blame at their doorstep can only be detrimental to the performance of our young goalkeepers, it is starting earlier. When our U21s lost 4-0 to Germany in 2009, a terrible forewarning to the following summer when the team of Ozil and Muller ran rampant, the blame was placed at Scott Loach, who was undone by a cruel deflection for the first goal. 4-0..must be the goalie's fault I hear you cry. However, maybe Di Matteo should look round the changing room at other under-achieving players, maybe a new purchase in the transfer window will bring results - but to drop a goalkeeper, who has had some fine performances this season, is not so much knee-jerk as naive.
Boaz Myhill
Peter Odemwingie
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