It’s the period just before the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea. Rafael Benitez has silenced the critics, as his settled side produce their best form of the campaign. All is looking good for a cracking end of season. Then along comes Tom Hicks. Firstly, the American co-owner makes his displeasure of Rick Parry’s performance in marketing the club, public. Then a war of words breaks out between Hicks and fellow co-owner George Gillett. Whatever Tom Hicks’s views are, he should be keeping them to himself. Opening up a public debate about boardroom matters, is naive and unprofessional. And disruptive. For […]

“It is so easy, I could have 50 to 100 bets a day no problem. I was betting on anything. It starts off from pounds, then it’s a hundred, then it’s thousands. I was addicted to betting on everything. I would wake up and the first thing I would think about would be to have a bet rather than play football”. David Bentley speaking frankly about his gambling addiction. Happily, he is not longer subject to this problem. But when a footballer becomes consumed by gambling, it can have a serious impact on their form. What happens is, when a […]

Only one shot on goal. Disgruntled fans chanting for the managers head. Another bleak night for Nottingham Forest as they go down to a single goal defeat at The Keepmoat Stadium. With automatic promotion out of the question, and even the play-offs by no means certain, it’s make or break time for Colin Calderwood. Following last season’s dramatic play-off choke to Yeovil Town, the Forest board showed loyalty and patience by giving Calderwood another season to deliver promotion. It would be hard to imagine them showing similar faith, if Forest fail this time around. Which means the pressure is definitely […]

It’s perfect timing. With six games to go, Hull City have come on the rails. Three points behind the Championship leaders. Bang in form. And, they have momentum. Up till now, expectations will have been fairly easy to manage for Tigers boss Phil Brown. But from this point on, everything changes. Suddenly the focus will be on Hull City. Can they do it? Are they ready for the Premier League? What will promotion mean to the city? Now, they are no longer just another team vying for a play-off spot. The media spotlight will be on them. So how does […]

It is one of the best goals scored at the New Wembley. Blackpool’s Keigan Parker chipping Yeovil keeper Steve Mildenhall, from the edge of the box to put Blackpool into the Championship. It was widely thought that this would be Parker’s season. Blessed with pace to burn; an ability to turn a man; and an eye for goal. Surely he would be able to make the step up into the Championship. Yet with seven games to go, Keigan Parker has scored precisely no Championship goals. And in the transfer window he turned down a move to Barnsley! On the grounds […]

“It’s a crazy, crazy thing. We’ve got the same players here. Definitely it’s the mental approach that’s the problem.” The words of Plymouth Argyle manager, Paul Sturrock after an unexpected 1-0 reverse at Scunthorpe. No wonder Sturrock is perplexed. A few games ago his team were the division’s form team. Not anymore. Three defeats in four have cast doubts on the Pilgrim’s ability to make the play-offs. So what’s gone wrong? It is not an uncommon occurrence for a team to hit a reversal of form when they are in sight of a goal or target. In the Pilgrim’s case, a coveted […]

”Managers get sacked because of things like that and he’s going to referee a game next week.” Sir Alex Ferguson, bemoaning the fact that Martin Atkinson failed to award United a penalty after Ronaldo was challenged by Distin. For many seasons, visiting teams to Old Trafford, rarely received the benefit of a penalty award. Whilst, United, on the other hand, have usually been generously served by the officials. So for Martin Atkinson to turn down a United penalty claim, takes courage. It means that he wasn’t swayed by the crowd; the United players; or by the United manager. He made his mind […]

So Gary Peters is sacked as manager of Shrewsbury Town. After a season that began so optimistically. Fresh from a Wembley play-off appearance. Beginning life in a brand new stadium. Everything augured well for another crack at promotion. So what went wrong? Shrewsbury Town would not be the first team to suffer a comedown after a play-off final defeat. In fact, few teams are able to rally themselves for another assault on the summit, after tasting defeat at Wembley or the Millenium Stadium. But why is this? With the play-offs coming at the end of the season, players have to dig […]

‘The game against Blackburn this Saturday, is one you look at and think Newcastle at home should be getting something out of it. If we can do that, we can get a bit of confidence. We then play Liverpool, and after that we have got a few games that are winnable’. The words of Newcastle United striker Michael Owen. Owen’s thoughts reveal the lack of confidence that is undermining Newcastle’s season. Like a gambler on a losing run, the belief is ‘one-win and all will be well’. It’s a mind-set of hope. But hope is not enough. Hope lacks the […]

“I’m in charge. Please, you need to respect my professionalism. You didn’t behave too nicely. Now I don’t respect you too much because we lost one game and you’ve taken it too far. I don’t like it. You hurt my players, you hurt the club and this is not the right way.” The words of Chelsea manager Avram Grant at today’s press conference. Whilst Avram’s frustration is understandable, this may not be the best way for him to proceed. If your feelings are hurt, don’t show it. Keep your emotions back to share privately with those who understand you. If […]