It’s post-match after Crystal Palace’s heavy home defeat to Fulham. And manager Ian Holloway looks shell-shocked. Famous for his ebullience and unbridled enthusiasm, the Bristolian looks as if he is running on empty. So it’s no surprise, a few days later that he leaves his job at Selhurst Park. His last words to the press, make interesting viewing. Ollie admits that he could no longer motivate the team. That, his team were no longer playing for him. Or even each other. It’s a frank admission. He took Palace into the Premier League on the back of a strong team-spirit. But […]

Under the knowing leadership of Sam Allardyce, Blackburn Rovers were a settled and stable Premier League club. Never likely to repeat their title-winning feats under Kenny Dalglish, Rovers could be pretty much guaranteed regular top flight football. Then everything changed. New owners came in. The Venkys. Owners not steeped in the history of the game. Owners seeing their investment as a high profile marketing campaign for their international chicken based business. And with new ownership came unsettlement. A mismatch of values occured. A community based football club steeped in the traditions of the English game. Owners with no understanding of […]

Last weekend questions were being asked of David Moyes’s leadership. His Everton team had failed to turn up for their biggest game of the season. With a place at Wembley beckoning, The Toffeemen took Wigan Athletic for granted and paid the price. So could Moyes motivate his team to deliver an Everton-like performance against Manchester City? The answer was evident after only a few minutes. They tore into Manchester City with intensity, passion and desire. And they never let up even with ten men. It was possibly The Premier League performance of the season. It would have been easy for […]

On Monday evening Reading players received a group text message. It was to inform them that their manager and leader, Brian McDermott, had been relieved of his duties. Interesting. So no one in a position of authority, had the presence of mind to gather the players together, and explain this major leadership decision face to face. A decision that would have implications for all of the playing staff. A face to face meeting that would give clarity as to the reason why McDermott was sacked. And then provide an opportunity for the owner Anton Zingarevich, to lift the players mood […]

He is one of the great under-achievers of English football in recent times. Blessed with talent and natural ability, but not a lot to show for it. Yes Im aware that seven England caps sit on the Bentley sideboard. And that is something to be proud of. But why only seven caps. Why not seventy? Why did David Bentley not go on to make a name for himself? Why is his career shrouded in a sense of what might have been? When David Bentley played for England U21’s early in his career, as the teams came out onto the pitch, […]

So Rafa Benitez finally lets off steam. The pressure that had been building on him since first arriving at Stamford Bridge, finally came out at The Riverside. Yes it made great headlines for the tabloids. But was his public frankness wise? All leaders experience pressure and stress. But they generally learn to keep it private. They deal with things quietly in the background, refusing to show signs of weakness or emotional fraility to their team or group. For example, if Benitez didn’t feel a group of Chelsea supporters weren’t getting behind the team, then he should have met with them […]

It’s the Denmark / Portugal Euro 2012 group game, and striker Nicklas Bendtner has pulled a goal back for Denmark. He ‘celebrates’ by showing us his underwear, which is conveniently covered in the name of a bookmakers logo. It’s as tacky a celebration as you could wish to see, and unsurprisingly the Dane has been hauled over the coals by the games governing body. Just what was he thinking of? It matches England wicket-keeper Matt Prior’s behind the stumps mouthing the name of the energy company sponsoring the test cricket at Trent Bridge a few years ago, for lack of […]

In a fitting tribute to the memory of Gary Speed, Leeds United put Nottingham Forest to the sword in a compelling away display at the City Ground. If they can maintain this level of form, then Simon Grayson’s team have every chance of finally returning to the Premiership. For what Leeds United have to fuel their promotion push is a cause. A cause is a powerful force that unites a team or group. It binds them together. The glue that creates unity. In this case the cause is Gary Speed. The former Leeds United’s player’s death can be a unifying […]

It’s four games into the League One season. Southampton have just recorded their first win of the season, smashing Bristol Rovers by four goals to nil, at The Memorial Ground. The Saints are up and running, and ready to build on last seasons excellent effort to overturn a massive points deduction. Then, out of the blue, manager Alan Pardew is sacked. Unless there has been shenanigans behind the scenes, this is a bizarre decision. Last seasons results, clearly indicate that Pardew has what it takes to take the Saints to promotion. He is steeped in the know-how of building a […]

‘This team carried a lot of psychological problems’. The words of West Ham United manager Avram Grant, after his teams edgy win over League Two’s Oxford United in the Carling Cup. What is Avram talking about? This is a team who, over the last year has forgotten how to win. Therefore, the players expect things to go wrong. And they do! There are not enough leaders in the team to overcome challenges. West Ham United now tend to sign players from overseas. Do these players speak good English? If not, are they given a timescale by which they have to? […]