Week 8

Stu · Cult Status

Week 8

evertonian · Cult Status

Recreativo Huelva pre-match press conference

Visiting manager Rob McFawn spoke to the waiting press at the Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium ahead of Match 2 in the Champions Cup group stage.

A re-run of last year's Spanish Cup Final tonight Rob. How will you approach the match?

Well I must admit that we won't be full strength tonight. Of course it is fantastic for a club like ours to be involved in this competition but I think that we need lots more progress in the playing staff to be able to compete in Europe. At the moment we don't have sufficient players to see out a complete season on three fronts. I made the decision at the start of the season that our league games must be the priority for us, and hopefully in the next few seasons we will be proper competitors in Europe.

Two of your major foreign transfer targets will be sitting on the Sevilla bench tonight. Why did the two players fail to join the club?

Unfortunately there was an admin error with making bids for players. There was no wrongdoing from either of the players or from Sevilla FC, it was totally our fault. We have now learned from this mistake and are actively scouting more players in the hope of securing new talent.

There have been rumours leaked to us over recent weeks that there are several clubs interested in Fernando Vaz. Will he be leaving the club?

No. Fernando has met with myself and the chairman and we have discussed our plans for the future. Fernando knows if he continues to progress that we believe he will become a world class player and he wants to be a world class player for Recreativo. No bid could take him away from this club at the moment, we have absolutely no need or desire to sell him.

Stu · Cult Status

You must be delighted with that win?

"We went out there and the players I picked gave it their very best. This is why I dont ignore my full squad. Every player wants to win that plays here. 8-0 is a record win since I took over and Im sorry it had to be against Rob but it puts us in a strong position now in the group."

Your thoughts on the opposition?

"They fielded a weakened team too. They dont have the depth that we can call on and obviously tonight it told. The most we can do now is try to beat Barcelona and hope Rob can guide his team to a final game victory and sneak through as one of the best third placed teams. It would be nice to give him a taste of the knock out round."

Why Kerzhakov seemed to turn it on tonight after not performing well this season?

"Aleksandr hasnt scored the goals or made them this season but his contribution has still been important. As I keep trying to stress with this team it is about the strength of a group and not the strength of individuals. Some big teams can be explosive when all the individuals pull in the same direction but I hope Sevilla can be constantly successful and I have to aim to get them all pulling the same way under my leadership."

You have Atletico Madrid this week in the league so how will you prepare for this high profile match?

"The rivalry between their departed manager and I will be missed and hopefully it can be rekindled in Europe next season. They are a strong team still and we have to be wary of them but I think what we know for sure is both of us play attacking football so for neutrals it should be very entertaining."

Football Academy · Cult Status

FA suggest changes are needed.

A member of the FA today made it clear of his disappointment with the European Cup competition this season. This weeks games saw a large number of very weak sides put out as managers clearly conserved resources for what they would call more important games.

"The European Cup is the flagship competition of the world of FA. It is for the elites, a competition where the best play the best for the enjoyment of fans all around FA. This week we feel let down by the sheer lack of commitment shown by some clubs towards the competition. If managers cant take it seriously, they shouldnt be there.

Tonight was an embarrassment for us and well now be looking over the set up of the competition and reassessing qualification criteria. Obviously we need to think harder about sifting the wheat from the chaff. If this means introducing an elite Cup and a smaller competition for the less able teams then we may well have to do this. Some teams out there were very close to conceding into double figures, and they are supposed to be able to call themselves elite!"

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

-- Edited by Spartikus47 at 00:44, 2008-08-12

madhibee · Cult Status

Barcelona manager John Brady expressed his thoughts on an unusual night in the European Cup following his team's narrow defeat at Old Trafford.

"I have to say I am not suprised some teams do not play at full strength in this competition. No offence is intended but the likes of Newcastle United and Recrativo probably shouldn't be in the competition at the moment. The only reason they are here is due to them being defeated by an already qualified team in their respective country's cup final. Perhaps the FA should consider scrapping that rule and only allowing the cup winners into the competition"

"If the cup winners have already qualified via the league then the next placed team in that league should be awarded the place. After all, I feel that doing well in the league, were there are far more games played, should be rewarded ahead of having a good cup run. The teams mentioned, and perhaps some others, are not at fault though and should take the opportunity to enjoy the competition. However, it cannot be good for the club, players and fans morale to be defeated so heavily. Either only allow cup winners to enter or introduce a UEFA cup style tournament for the teams less likely to qualify for the European Cup and allow them to enjoy european competition without getting a hammering"

evertonian · Cult Status

Recreativo manager Rob McFawn tonight responded to the FA statement regarding the 8-0 defeat to Sevilla earlier in the evening.

"To be honest I don't at all accept or appreciate any of the comments made this evening. Myself and my team battled hard last season to get to the Cup Final and European qualification this season is our reward for that. I am employed by this club to manage the team and make decisions with the backing of the board that are in the best interests of the club and the squad. I believe that I have done this."

"My decisions regarding team selection do not in any way question the credibility of the tournament or the opponents. In no way where the players selected told to play poorly, they all wanted to do well and stake their claim for a regular starting place. I made the decision purely for the good of my team over a long season, similarly to how other managers who have already qualified for the knockout rounds may decide to rest key players in Game 3."

"In my opinion the European Cup setup is perfect as it is. The chance for a smaller club to qualify for Europe through the Cup Final is a fantastic opportunity - it means that the domestic cups are not underestimated and if the smaller clubs can grasp that chance like we did, then it guarantees the extra revenue and marketing that Europe brings. It is then the decision of the manager on how he or she approaches the games."

"We have a 12 teams in each of the top leagues. If people are talking about adding another European competition then we might as well just play all the teams in Europe? Its a crazy idea. The tournament is fine as it is."

Steve · Cult Status

I'm with Rob on this one. It takes a lot more skill to manage a squad limited in numbers or stats than it does to run a large squad full of high stat players who you just roll out each week to out gun the opposition. If clubs have earned the right to be in the competition then they should be there. If they chose to concentrate on one competition rather than another then that is also up to them. Squad management is an important skill - watch the teams who ignore this in the last quarter of the season!

Managing is about doing the best you can with the resources you have available - that includes football management. Good run in Europe and relegation = happy fans? Don't think so.

Steve
Juventus

PS Following the FA logic does that mean Chelsea will be dropped from the FA Cup this year and made to play in a new Carling Cup competition for teams who don't try hard enough (as they fielded a weakened team and lost to Watford in the FA Cup last year)?

-- Edited by Steve at 21:16, 2008-08-12

evertonian · Cult Status

Thankyou Steve!

I noticed that Mark's comments have disappeared....

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Indeed they have. But that was because when i edited the spelling i pressed delete by accident and undo didn't work, and really couldn't be bothered posting it again.

Anyway I was backing you up Rob???

Turney · Cult Status

We are good enough to stay up claims Newcastle Manager

Martin Turney the Newcastle Manager today claimed that Newcastle would be good enough to stay up despite having yet to claim a point this season.

The Newcastle Manager said that although they had a bad start this was mainly down to having played many of the top sides in the league now and that you would now see Newcastle climbing up the table with 3 out of the next 4 games being against teams in the bottom 4.

"We have Wigan, Everton and Fulham to play before the halfway mark in the season and if we can win all 3 of these games or even just 2 wins and a draw then our season will have a totally different outlook"

Martin Turney also hit back at the statement made by FA regarding the European Cup and said that making european qualification just based on league placing would damage the domestic cup competition and also in the long run make the big clubs bigger and the smaller clubs even smaller.

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

"We must get back on track soon" - Davies-Evans

Steve Davies-Evans today gave a frank and honest interview to "notizie di football" on the eve of his sides trip to Napoli.

NDF - Steve, You haven't picked up a win since the Torino game - What will you do to start picking up 3 points this week?

SDE - We're up against a really good team this week and no question that Napoli will be favourites for this clash but my players have worked hard all week and we will continue to push for this win".

NDF - Would it be fair to say that if you don't win this week, you will be out of the Promotion hunt?

SDE - I think that would be a little bit drmatic to be honest. I think that we are assebling a great squad here and we will keep going until we either have that playoff spot or it's mathmatically impossible for us.

NDF - Has it been harder in Italy than you expected?

SDE - I never expected to be easy but this first half of the season has been all about building a team. We are in a much stronger position now than we were when I took over and it's been hard for the team to settle as we've had to bring in so many players but I feel we are getting there and I expect us to start picking up the results we need over the next few weeks.

NDF - Do you have anymore players coming in this week?

SDE - Yes, we have a very good Attacking Midfielder coming in that I have worked with before and a centre half on loan that again I have worked with before. Both players will add real depth to this team and hopefully help us to create some chances whilst keeping the others out at the other end.

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Coy Coventry maintain media shy week

There has been nothing more than a squeak out of the usual media friendly halls of The Ricoh Arena this week. High profile manager Mark Rollings suggested after the good win against Middlesbrough last week that he would severely limiting his media conveyence ahead of his sides much anticipated clash with Watford, instead choosing to focus his mind on the task in hand. Indeed the press have been largely frustrated in their attempts to access either Rollings, or opposition manager Jamie Walker, as the two usually outspoken bosses clearly seem unwilling to get embroiled into media controversy.

As per usual however, Rollings did attend the customary pre-match press conference, before boarding the coach to their Hertfordshire hotel base, choosing a few select words for gathered journalists.

As I stated earlier this week I am unwilling to get drawn into press slander. As a club we made the decision to show the respect to Watford and Jamie. As I am sure most are aware, we have a tense past, and my through my upbringing I was always told me to say nothing at all if I had nothing nice to say. But tomorrows game is not about me, it is about Coventry City and Watford and I didnt want to retract from that fact and make the fixture something its not. We have, and will be, showing Watford, and Jamie the respect their football deserves. But they are just another side in this division, and we pay them no more or less attention than anyone else.

A few obligatory questions were fired at Rollings about his fiery relationship with Watford and Mr Walker, but Rollings would answer no further questions on the matter. As the topic choice moved away from their Championship rivals however, the Sky Blues boss opened up once again.

We possibly dont have the options available within our squad that they do. I am pretty sure they will revert to a tried and tested 3-5-2 formation so we are planning accordingly. I evaluated the option of bringing in the pace of Wahab to test their defence, or go man for man up top with Ruben Castro joining my front two from the previous weeks. However, things have been working well recently so I am loathe to change anything. 4-4-2 has given us a great balance and has seen us creating lots of chances by utilising our creative wingers. I think that is our best chance of hurting them.

Refusing further questions Coventry City brought a brief press conference to a disappointing end as far as the waiting journalists were concerned, who would have been hoping for something a lot less tepid from Rollings.

-- Edited by Spartikus47 at 00:09, 2008-08-18

messiah · Cult Status

Walker wishes more silent treatment

"I saw we are being given the silent treatment by Coventry. I wish they had shown a bit more of it. Rollings puts down his chances of beating us as if he is a League One team and we are from the Premier League. He forgets we were both very close teams last season and are getting similar results this season. Coventry have a much better squad on paper but we think our youth can even up against their big names. A draw would be sufficient for our season to continue in its excellent form."

Walker continued in the interview to point out Rollings' admiration for Watford.

"He respects us a lot. You can see that from the changes he has made. He has tried to base his team on us and our fans should take this as a compliment that people want to play like us. Mingo is in the mould of DeZeeuw. He has Ambrose and Rivera to match D'Agostino and Barry. Kitson is very like Chevanton. He even has some young players out on loan who look like they were based on the Watford youths.

To look at Coventry on their own you might credit the manager for assembling a respectable group of players but next to Watford it is like looking into a mirror. He might say that we have copied him but we are higher and we have always been above them under my management. I have no reason or desire to copy what is below us. This team is moving up and only up."

A draw for Watford would mark a brilliant start to the season for both managers but Watford aim for a point to keep a Play Off chance in their own hands and dent that of Coventry's.

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Jovial Rollings maintains subdued stance

After hearing the predictably provocative words from Watford manager Jamie Walker, Sky Blues boss Mark Rollings responded in a surprisingly tepid manner. Speaking to journalists outside their Championship rivals ground, ahead of the sides head-to-head Rollings suggested such controversy was healthy for his club and represented the progress Coventry had made over the past seasons.

'Of course we expected it sooner or later from Jamie, I dont think anyone was surprised! It was actually starting to concern me that he hadnt spoken out before now. But its great for our column inches and it helps us fill our sponsors proposals every year. Put it this way our PR department are delighted! Relative to what happens on the pitch, it is not, but it certainly raises our profile off it. We have been in heavy discussions with shirt sponsors for next year and it does us know harm getting our name banded around in the media. Im glad Jamie has suggested that a point maybe a satisfactory result, because I would be absolutely delighted too.'

It seemed Rollings was at ease with the sniping comments from his rival and unwilling to respond in kind, the young welsh manager had some wholesome words for his opponent.

'We have set out to show Watford the respect their football and hierarchy deserve. From the start we outlined a media plan which illustrated that fact. We never expected the same in return, and are not surprised in its ultimate absence. My opinions of the opposition manager or team are immaterial, as are those conveyed towards us.'

To be fair Rollings can claim justification in his comments. Walkers words seem to have only inspired his Coventry troops since the beginning of their long running saga.

'I remember Jamie inaccurately suggesting we were way off the pace last seaons, and we got ourselves up via the play offs. He then followed that with his slightly wayward pre season predictions,(and I quote);

"Any result in week one against West Bromwich Albion will be a big shock. Week eight we have Coventry and I would like nothing more than to relegate them." (Walker, week 1)

'Lets hope Jamie's clairvoyance improves however, because that draw he is predicting would be a fantastic result for Coventry City.'

Journalists we're also left somewhat confused by Mr Walkers apparant straw clutching with regards to the relevant managers transfer policies. The over-stated boss claimed his counterpart was "copying" his squad development. However, of the players forementioned in comparison, Mingo signed for the Sky Blues the same day as Arjen De Zeuww, while Alberto Rivera signed a full 3 weeks prior to Barry's arrival at Watford, seemingly undermining Walker's fundamental arguements.

-- Edited by Spartikus47 at 09:55, 2008-08-19