TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Birmingham City v Chelsea: match preview Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Birmingham City and Chelsea at St Andrew's on Saturday Dec 26 2009, kick-off 12.45 GMT. telegraph.co.uk |
Birmingham stretch streak to 11 Birmingham City extended their unbeaten run to 11 Barclays Premier League matches as Cameron Jerome's second-half strike clinched a 1-0 win over Stoke City. foxsports.com.au |
Ten-man United drop more points Alex McLeish came desperately close to inflicting a defeat upon former manager Sir Alex Ferguson as Birmingham City drew 1-1 at home to English champions Manchester United. foxsports.com.au |
Barcelona ousted from Copa del Rey Barcelona exited its first competition under coach Pep Guardiola when the defending champions dropped out of the Copa del Rey despite beating Sevilla 1-0 on Wednesday in Madrid. cbc.ca |
Adkins works wonders at Scunthorpe The Scunthorpe manager who rose from the physio's role has rewarded the faith shown by a prudent chairmanTHOUGHT FOR THE WEEKHats off to Scunthorpe United and Nigel AdkinsThere was something surreal about watching Scunthorpe United's gallant 4-2 FA Cup home defeat by Manchester City on Sunday and realising that two clubs occupying parallel universes actually share something rare in common.For very different reasons Scunthorpe and City are two of a handful of Championship and Premier League sides to be debt -free.Scunthorpe's achievement is all the more remarkable when you realise they are holding their own in the Championship while paying Nigel Adkins's squad the lowest average salaries in the division – indeed, many players with League One clubs earn significantly more.Generally where a team finish in the league table bears an uncanny correlation to the size of its wage bill and transfer budget – not for nothing did Brian Laws remind his prospective new employers at Burnley that a Deloitte survey had highlighted him as boasting the best results/budget ratio during his superficially underwhelming time in charge of Sheffield Wednesday.Under Adkins – and Laws before him – Scunthorpe have done their very best to buck that trend. The degree of difficulty involved explains why Scunthorpe did not sack Adkins when a relegation came sandwiched between the two promotions he has achieved at Glanford Park.The club also defied conventional wisdom in promoting Adkins from his former role as Scunthorpe's physiotherapist to become manager when Laws defected to Wednesday four years ago.It has proved an extremely smart move – not least because the 45-year-old is a highly intelligent manager. There is currently much debate about the actual worth of academic qualifications and football-related diplomas, not to mention formal coaching badges, but it is true that European managers tend to be considerably better educated than their British counterparts.Adkins, a former Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic goalkeeper whose playing career was effectively ended by a double spinal fracture suffered at just 23, had always wanted to be a manager. Indeed he took charge of a Sunday League side at the age of 16 before taking over at Bangor City on retiring from playing.Yet he recognised he needed a fall-back option – not just in case things went wrong management-wise – to broaden his mind. Adkins duly began accumulating degrees and diplomas. As if a business studies degree was not enough he completed courses in psychology, finance and applied football managment while also qualifying as a chartered physiotherapist.This proved vital when, after the birth of their second son, his wife was struck down with a serious illness and Adkins needed a part-time, stable job, which would enable him to run the home and care for his family.Happily, his wife was gradually restored to full health and, when Laws left, he was in a position to say "yes" to what at first glance looked an extraordinary promotion.It has proved inspired not least perhaps because of the man-management knowhow Adkins learned while serving as a physio. As he has said: "A lot of players in my room weren't really injured but they wanted to be out of the firing line. Or they were drinking. Or they were frustrated. I learned the importance of manager's communicating with players."And partly as Adkins's knowledge of business and finance has left him happy to sing from the same hymn sheet as Steve Wharton, Scunthorpe's chairman and majority shareholder."If we weren't prudent we'd be in bad shape," says Wharton, who presides over a club where the average player earns around £160,000 a year, by Championship standards a modest sum. "I know some fans would like us to have a real fling at it but it's never been my intention to allow us to get into trouble. We've always believed in spending within our means."To be competing at the level we are at is amazing, but then we've only had two managers in the last 13 years."How heartening to see loyalty, intelligence, prudence – and a slightly leftfield managerial appointment – so well rewarded. Men like Adkins and Wharton restore your faith.GOALS OF THE WEEKENDPaul Hayes's technically difficult volley for Scunthorpe in the 4-2 home FA Cup fourth-round defeat by Manchester City. The strike may have been offside but it was still wonderful.Darren Ambrose's splendid free-kick for Crystal Palace in the 2-2 FA Cup fourth- round draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.Ben Davies's free-kick in Notts County's 2-2 FA Cup draw at home to Wigan.ONES TO WATCH OUT FORAlan Pardew's Southampton: Pardew has always appeared to like himself rather too much for some tastes but the former Reading and West Ham United manager deserves considerable credit right now. Things are finally looking up on the south coast where Pardew is proving he is a good manager after all. Not content with helping Southampton overcome their 10-point League One deduction, the team – now a respectable 15th in that division – are looking forward to an FA Cup fifth-round home tie against fierce rivals Portsmouth in the wake of beating Championship side Ipswich Town on Saturday. Moreover, they are just one game away from Wembley after winning the first leg of their Johnstone's Paint Trophy against MK Dons. Maybe Leeds United are not the only club to show that there can be life after financial implosion.GAMES TO LOOK FORWARD TOTonight: Championship: Peterborough United v Preston North EndDarren Ferguson makes a swift return to London Road, hoping to show Peterborough why they were wrong to sack him – while also registering his first win as Preston's manager.Wednesday: Championship: Newcastle United v Crystal PalaceAn injury to Steven Taylor will deprive Chris Hughton's side of their best defender for around two months – can Newcastle cope? After drawing too many games of late might the Championship leaders have a hit a wall?Saturday: Championship: Derby County v Nottingham ForestForest fans will be streaming across Brian Clough Way to see whether their team, currently seemingly unstoppable under Billy Davies, can inflict yet more pain on Nigel Clough and his Derby side. An East Midlands derby not to be missed.Saturday: Championship: Middlesbrough v Bristol CityWill it be yet another record low attendance at The Riverside? Will things continue unravelling under Gordon Strachan?Saturday: League One: Leeds United v Colchester UnitedAway from their Cup heroics Leeds – and Jermaine Beckford – have been a bit wobbly on League duty recently and may not find it easy up against Aidy Boothroyd's Colchester.Saturday: League One: Norwich City v Hartlepool UnitedWill Paul Lambert's Norwich keep Leeds off the top of the table? What is the true state of the Carrow Road finances?ChampionshipScunthorpeCrystal PalaceNotts CountySouthamptonPreston North EndLeague OneLeague TwoLouise Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |