Last Wednesday was probably the worst night in Scott Carson’s young career. Thrown in at the deep end, he conceded a goal that altered the momentum of the European Qualifier. A goal from a shot he would normally have saved easily. Like Peter Enckleman, when he conceded a soft goal from a throw-in, in the Birmingham derby, there is no hiding place for the keeper who makes the big match error. Yet since Wembley, Scott Carson has kept two clean sheets. Clearly this is man who has put Black Wednesday behind him. So what can a goal-keeper do to move […]

After sixteen games in the Championship, Ipswich Town have won seven home games out of seven. Fortress Portman Road. Away from home they have yet to register a single away win. It’s a problem that could well make the difference between automatic promotion and the lottery of the end of season play-offs. So how does a team resolve such a dilemma. How do you develop a winning mindset away from home? Clubs often try to change their routine when they encounter away form blues. For example, travelling down on the day of the game rather than an overnight hotel. Invariably […]

So England fail to get the draw necessary to guarantee qualification to the 2008 European Championships. Technically they lost to a superior team. But what about the mentality of the England team? Early on in the game, the English defence had opportunities to give debutant Scott Carson an early touch of the ball. Get him into the game. Make him feel involved. Those opportunities were declined. Instead, in their anxiety, the English defence moved the ball forward. Away from the nervous keeper. Carson subsequently had a first-half to forget. This was not a team that was thinking clearly. Or thinking […]

When Sir Clive Woodward took England to Rugby World Cup glory in 2003 a stop situation was broken. England, as a sporting nation, had, at long last, a triumph to match their capability. Years of under achievement had been exorcised. Then Duncan Fletcher followed up by taking the Ashes from the Australians in 2005. England started to believe in itself as a sporting nation. We could be the best in the world. The situation was set up for Sven Goran Eriksson at the 2006 World Cup. Surely this would be the tournament when the golden generation of footballers would deliver. […]

It’s a week after Burnley and Steve Cotterill have parted company and the Clarets have approached Sheffield Wednesday to speak to manager Brian Laws. It’s surprising that Burnley should approach Laws given that he has only been at Hillsborough a year and The Owls had such a shaky start to the season. But maybe it’s not that surprising. On the same day, Wigan wait for approval from Birmingham City to speak to Steve Bruce. Their former manager. And we learn that Steve Cotterill is in the running for the vacant Preston North End job. Laws: Bruce; Cotterill. All managers with […]

So Stephen Ireland drops his shorts. A few weeks after informing the FAI his grandmother had passed away, when in fact she hadn’t, we shouldn’t be too surprised by this development. But why would Ireland do such a thing? Surely, after recent shenanigans, he should be keeping his head down, not his shorts? The chances are the shorts-dropping caper was a bet. A bet from the dressing room, daring the impressionable Irishman. A bet he wanted to win to curry favour with his team-mates. To feel one of the lads. An act to get easy laughs. To feel wanted. Either […]

So Chris Hutchings and Wigan part company. After a mere twelve games at the helm. On a downward spiral after a promising start, Dave Whelan has been ruthless. He has seen the Championship trap door and acted. And once more it highlights the challenge that comes with making the Number Two into the Number One. Sammy Lee. Peter Grant. Now Chris Hutchings. All excellent Number Two’s. All failed to make the step up this season. In fact there are very few good Number Two’s who make the successful transition. Geraint Williams at Colchester. Phil Brown at Hull City. Steve McClaren of course. […]