TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Levein dumps friendlies to restore pride • New Scotland manager has a big rebuilding job• Friendly matches will be kept to a minimumOn the basis that managerial positions only fall vacant because a team is in trouble, remedial work is invariably the first duty of the new appointee. Few teams are as troubled as Scotland at present, but it is encouraging that Craig Levein, nominated as successor to the discredited George Burley last week, has already identified the most pressing problem and formulated an appropriate course of action.In fact, Levein has to confront a situation uncomfortably similar to the one faced by Walter Smith when he followed Berti Vogts in December 2004. Then, as now, the national team under desperately unconvincing management had lost so much credibility that many players considered a call to the colours with the same trepidation they would a summons to court.Like Smith five years ago, Levein now considers his first priority to be the need to recreate a climate in which players once again want to turn up for international duty. Observers could sense that the desire had been all but extinguished among a number of players by the time Burley was dismissed last month, with the abysmal record of three victories from 14 games.While the reluctant Rangers striker Kris Boyd deserves no sympathy - he withdrew his services for no other reason than going into the huff over not being picked - it had become obvious early in Burley's tenure that he lacked the persuasiveness and authority that draws a positive response from players.Even Gordon Smith, the Scottish FA's chief executive who championed Burley at the time of his appointment, admitted the other day that the former Ipswich, Hearts and Southampton manager had been something of a worry from the opening match of what proved to be an abortive World Cup qualifying campaign."I think a lot of damage was done to George's reputation in that opening defeat by Macedonia in Skopje," said Smith. "And it wasn't really undone by our victory in Iceland immediately after. And when that was followed by the scoreless draw against Norway in our first home match, it was clear then that a lot of people weren't very happy."The drinking session involving another two Rangers players, the midfielder and captain Barry Ferguson and goalkeeper Allan McGregor, at the team's hotel on their return from a 3-0 whipping by Holland in Amsterdam in March also undermined Burley's credibility.There was clearly nothing novel about Scottish players indulging to excess, but it was difficult to understand how a manager on top of his job could fail to know that two of his players, having been up all night, were still at the bar and making attention-grabbing noises as families were arriving for Sunday lunch.Levein immediately confirmed that a general pardon had been issued and that all eligible players would be considered for future selection. He also intimated that friendly matches would be kept to an absolute minimum as he sought to establish co-operation with club managers."I'm only interested in one thing," said Levein. "That is, when the big games come around, I'll have the best players available. I don't understand what friendlies do for you. It's different having one or two to prepare you for a tournament, but not at other times."Whether we win a friendly or lose one isn't important. My focus has to be on getting the best players to turn up when we play important games. I think Walter recognised the need for that when he started in this job and I think the need to make the national team worth playing for again applies now as well."I'll be telling club managers I won't be taking players away for unnecessary friendly matches where there's a risk of injury. I've been in their position and I didn't like it when it happened to me. For example, we've been offered a trip to Australia and New Zealand just before the World Cup, but we won't be going, because it would be counter-productive."ScotlandCraig LeveinGlenn Gibbonsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Squad sheets: Arsenal v Everton Arsenal's midweek postponement deprived them of an opportunity to move to within a point of the leaders, but they will be intent upon maintaining recent momentum against an Everton team who are steadily recovering their form. The Merseysiders' heavy home defeat to Arsenal on the opening day of the season set a troubling tone that has left them marooned in the lower reaches, yet they arrive at the Emirates unbeaten in five league games – albeit with only one of those won – and apparently upwardly mobile again. Their hosts, even without Cesc Fábregas for another week, will test that newfound resilience. Dominic FifieldVenue Emirates StadiumTickets Sold outLast season Arsenal 3 Everton 1Referee P WaltonThis season's matches 12 Y28, R2, 2.50 cards per gamesportingbet odds Arsenal 4-11 Everton 13-2 Draw 16-5ArsenalSubs from Fabianski, Mannone, Szczesny, Silvestre, Rosicky, Mérida, Vela, Barazite, Eastmond, Watt, Randall, BartleyDoubtful NoneInjured Fábregas (hamstring, 17 Jan), Senderos (foot, 17 Jan), Walcott (back, 17 Jan), Clichy (back, 23 Jan), Bendtner (groin, 27 Jan), Wilshere (hamstring, 23 Jan), Gibbs (ankle, Mar), Djourou (knee, Apr), Van Persie (ankle, May)Suspended NoneUnavailable Eboué, Song (Africa Cup of Nations)Form guide WWWDWWDisciplinary record Y27 R0Leading scorer Fábregas 9EvertonSubs from Nash, Osman, Donovan, Duffy, Mustafi, Coleman, Agard, Baxter, Wallace, Akpan, Vaughan, GoslingDoubtful Hibbert (groin), Saha (hamstring)Injured Rodwell (hamstring, 16 Jan), Distin (hamstring, 23 Jan), Anichebe (knee, Feb), Jagielka (knee, Feb), Arteta (knee, unknown)Unavailable Jô (club suspension), Yakubu, Yobo (Africa Cup of Nations)Suspended NoneForm guide WDDDDLDisciplinary record Y31 R1Leading scorer Saha 10Match pointers• Arsenal have scored more goals against Everton (73) than any team have netted against any opponent in the Premier League• Everton have lost 13 of their 14 visits to Arsenal in all competitions since their last win in north London (2-1 in January 1996)• Arsenal have scored 31% of their goals from outside the box this season, the highest proportion in the division• The 7-0 defeat at Highbury and the 6-1 loss at Goodison earlier this season represent Everton's biggest away and home defeats respectively in the Premier LeagueArsenalEvertonPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Kilmarnock turn to Tommy McLean in their hour of need • Veteran leaves Scotland Under-17s training for Rugby Park• Chairman to meet possible investor to raise crucial £200,000Tommy McLean will be confirmed as the interim manager of Kilmarnock as supporters of the troubled Scottish Premier League side continue to express their fears over the club's future.Kilmarnock, who have dwindling crowds and debts of £9m, parted company with their manager, Jim Jefferies, on Monday. Jefferies had grown increasingly frustrated by cost-cutting, which has seen the team doctor and video analyst depart already, a matter which led to a serious decline in his relationship with Michael Johnston, the chairman.The arrival of McLean, who could be in place until the end of the season, is noteworthy given he has not managed a club since leaving Dundee United in 1998. Jimmy Calderwood, the former Aberdeen manager, is thought to be among 20 others who have expressed provisional interest in the post.Fears over the financial position of Scotland's oldest professional club refuse to subside, however. Johnston, the sole director at Kilmarnock, was accused by Barry Richmond, the chairman of the supporters' trust, yesterday of presiding over "death by a thousand cuts" at Rugby Park.In a dramatic turn of events, Johnston arrived unannounced at a supporters' meeting on Monday to inform them of Jefferies's departure. That pleased a section of the audience – Kilmarnock are second bottom of the SPL – who believe Jefferies had outstayed his welcome in Ayrshire after an eight-year tenure.Yet Johnston has also been the subject of scathing criticism owing to his inability to attract meaningful and fresh investment into Kilmarnock. Half of the club's debt can be explained by the construction of a hotel adjacent to Rugby Park, which was built with the intention of at least partly offsetting the expenses incurred by the football club.As things stand, the sale of that hotel may be the only reasonable way to ease short-term burdens. The chairman, who took control of 91% of Kilmarnock for a token sum, has admitted that relegation would potentially be ruinous."Until some multimillionaire comes forward wanting to invest in Kilmarnock football club, I will keep doing my best to keep the business going," Johnston said.Johnston told supporters that he has a meeting arranged for Friday with someone who could offer financial assistance. That could be Kenny Alexander, the London-based chief executive of an internet gambling company and lifelong Kilmarnock supporter. Those close to the club believe Alexander could provide the £200,000 guarantee to the Lloyds Banking Group which is required to write off a £1.8m soft loan from the former chairman Jamie Moffat, before gaining outright control. However, no concrete offer has so far been forthcoming.The onset of Kilmarnock's financial troubles can be traced back to the death of Moffat's father, Jim, in 1998. He had bankrolled the club from his own pocket, including the contribution of major funding to oversee the development of Rugby Park into an all-seat stadium and the purchase of the £340,000 record signing, Paul Wright, without any return.The appearance and words of Bill Costley, another former Kilmarnock chairman, at Monday's meeting are also potentially significant. The successful hotelier claimed that Jefferies had earlier offered to undersign £50,000 towards that £200,000 guarantee if Costley and two others would do likewise.McLean was last night making his return from Malta, where he was part of the coaching staff of the Scotland Under-17 team's winter training camp. A member of the Kilmarnock team during their finest hour, when they became champions of Scotland's top division in 1965, the 62-year-old will promptly discover that he is starring in an altogether different movie.KilmarnockScottish Premier LeagueBusinessEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Manchester City set to unload Robinho at last with loan move to Santos Big money flop could make final Man City appearance in FA Cup tie at Scunthorpe before moving to Brazilian club on loan. telegraph.co.uk |
United must ignore Manchester derby distractions, says Ryan Giggs • Players and fans must focus on Wembley, says Giggs• 'We're the holders and we want to defend our trophy'Ryan Giggs says Manchester United's players and fans must forget the distractions around tonight's Carling Cup second leg derby match and focus on reaching Wembley.Giggs, speaking ahead of what could be a volatile match given the events on and off the field during the first leg – which today led police to make more arrests – said fans should focus on the bigger picture."Of course, it's a derby but it's also a cup semi-final with a place at Wembley at stake and a trophy at the end of it. We're the holders and we want to defend our trophy."City take a 2-1 lead into the match, and Giggs believes home fans have a key role to play in turning the deficit round."They are going to play a massive part. It was a great atmosphere at Eastlands and we need them to get behind us again because it really does make a difference. It's not often you play City in a night game – it'll be like a European match in some respects which is obviously something we're used to and something which we usually thrive on."Ryan GiggsManchester UnitedManchester CityPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |