Woods considers his future

Football Academy · Cult Status

Week 7

Football Academy · Cult Status

English Cup upsets

The second round of the English Cup saw the Premiership teams not involved in Europe enter the prestigious competition. On a rainy day in the UK many of the bigger teams struggled to make it through to the third round.

Niko Kranjcar scored the winner for Bolton as they came from behind to knock out a below par Newcastle team who will no doubt concentrate on their Premiership survival now. Kranjcar said he was 'overjoyed' at the effort and was looking forward to the away tie against Spurs in round three.

Goals from Capel and Ramsey helped League One Cardiff to victory over their Championship opponents. High flying Bristol City never really showed up and were behind after just 2 minutes. Cardiff now have a difficult home game against West Ham.

Sheffield Wednesday caused a big upset knocking newly promoted Premiership side Coventry out of the cup in a thrilling 3-2 match. Striker Jose Mari was instrumental with 2 goals and an assist against their higher opposition to set up another Premiership match against Portsmouth.

Ecclestone delight at cup win

Billionaire owner Bernie Ecclestone announced his delight at seeing his Sheffield Wednesday side dump Premiership Coventry out of the English Cup. Ecclestone has put in excess of £30 million into the club in two seasons there but the team failed to reach the heights he demanded last season.

"It was a joy to watch. I have put good money into the club off the pitch and the fans pay their money to watch on the pitch. It was great to have a night to remember that will have fans talking in pubs across Sheffield for years to come."

Ecclestone added that he hoped Davies-Evans could take this and build a good run in the league off the positivity.

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Davies-Evans delighted with Cup win but knows the league is the priority.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Steve Davies-Evans has replied to reports that chairman Bernie Ecclestone was delighted with the cup win.

"I had a meeting with Mr Ecclestone yesterday and he told me that he enjoyed the game and long may it continue. There is no question that we are having fun in the cup but we know that League 1 is where we need to set our targets high in.

We have won two on the bounce and that is starting to breed a winning mentality which is vital in this league. Winning can become just as much of a habbit as losing and hopefully we can take that into a big game we have this wek against a very good Sunderland side. My players showed what ability they have against Coventry and due to that win, my players now fear nobody!

We have already spoken in length this week about how good Sunderland are but we have also identified a number of weaknesses and we are very confident that we have the right players to exploit those weaknesses. We don't kid ourselves, this is gonna be a hugely tough game for us as Jonathan (Petty) has assembled a great team there and they are where they are on merit but we are now the ones to watch I feel and I think that there is a real good buzz around the club."

When asked if he felt his team was now ready to compete for promotion, Davies-Evans was confident in where his team is going.

"I don't want to dwell on the Coventry victory too much but we showed in that game that on our day, we can beat whoever is put infront of us so yes I think we can compete with any team in this league but we are far from the finished article. Hopefully, we can keep building and making strides on the pitch and take this club to where we want to be. There are many good teams in this league with some fantastic managers so it will never be easy but as for Sheffield Wednesday, why not? We have the personell to compete and hopefully we will only get stronger."

So, Davies-Evans is in bullish mood ahead of his match with Sunderland, with promotion a real aim this season, Davies-Evans will target games against his main rivals as a chance to send out a message to the rest of the league that they are not ready to give up on their quest for automatic promotion.

Fletch · Cult Status

Sheffield United Manager Comments of Performance of his Previous Club.

At some point this was going to come up but manager of the Blades, Andy Fletcher has seen his old club reach 2nd position in the Segunda Division.

"I'm delighted for them, I always look for their results after I look at the current league position of Sheffield United.

Theres a bit of money there now, wether by sales of promising youngsters or chairmans cash but the nucleous of the squad is the same. One of my best ever buys, Sisi is doing really well and has improved greatly this year. I would love to have him here at Bramall Lane.

Makakula and the guys up front are doing a superb job up front but if they gain promotion I would think they need to bring in some new blood at that level.

It seems a lifetime ago with the great weather but I'm ultimately much happier back in the UK, I know its icy and freezing cold but I wouldnt have it any other way. League games cant come round quick enough.

Our aim at the moment is to stay in touching distance of the play off places and with the group hopefully open up a gap. We all know that if we are in the play offs at the end of the season then form goes out of the window, play off games can be unpredictable so thats our goal.

Travelling doesnt look like a major issue if thats the case, perhaps the 3rd place will be decided between 3 yorkshire clubs ???"

-- Edited by Fletch at 09:26, 2009-01-15

richj363 · Cult Status

SPURS TARGET JEFFERIES

Rumours are sweeping Spain tonight that Real Zaragoza manager Richard Jefferies has been targeted by Spurs to become their new manager.

Jefferies is understood to be meeting with his chairman in the next few hours to clarify his position.

Watch this space.

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Ameobi delighted with Davies-Evans link up again

Journeyman Shola Ameobi has today told press that he is extremley happy to be working under manager Steve Davies-Evans again. The two worked with eachother whilst at Leicester and Ameobi remembers that he was sad to leave the Walkers Stadium when he did.

"It's great to be back in England again and more importantly working with the Gaffa again. I enjoyed my time at Leicester and in the few games I played for them, I think the gaffa really got the best out of me so I had no hesitation in signing when the offer of a contract was there. I never wanted to leave Leicester so I am more that determined to make this move work for me."

Many have praised Davies-Evans for signing a player like Ameobi on a free transfer and the Welshman is more than pleased with his aquisition.

"We moved quite quickly for Shola when we were aware that he was without a club. He's a very good player that will add something to this team. If we are going to be promoted this season, we need a squad and not just a first team and with Shola coming in, it's added a really competition to the other strikers. Shola knows that he won't go straight into the team and that he will have to work very hard in order to get in there but he is an attack minded player that will get in the box and score goals when called upon".

-- Edited by Bluebird99 at 13:27, 2009-01-17

jackieyeo · Top Flight Player

Portsmouth Manager shocked the chairman and fans

After a successful spell at Fulham before becoming Portsmouth manager this season, Jackie submitted his resignation to the board on Sunday. The successive defeats in the league prompt the manager that it is time for him to go. Despite the support from the chairman and the fans, Jackie insisted that it was in the club's best interests for him to leave.

Portsmouth is 11th in the 12-team Premier League and fighting relegation following four straight league defeats.

"I would like to thank my staff, players, the chairman and in particular the fans for their support during my time at Portsmouth and I would like to wish the club every success in the future," Jackie said in a statement on Portsmouth's Web site.

Some pundits suggested that Jackie maybe moving away to Spain or Italy to look for a new job.

-- Edited by jackieyeo at 07:36, 2009-01-18

richj363 · Cult Status

JEFFERIES RESIGNS AT REAL ZARAGOZA

Real Zaragoza have just announced that their manager Richard Jefferies has resigned to take over at Spurs.

Jefferies has said his time in Spain has been wonderful and wasn't considering leaving but when the approach was made from Spurs it was too good to turn down.

Zaragoza chairman Eduardo Bandres had been appoached fron Daniel Levy and had reluctantly agreed to let his manager go. Bandres said " Richard has done a fantastic job here and we are sorry to see him go, but understand why he wants to"

tonymdf · Cult Status

Woods considers his future

In light of recent events over the last 2 weeks it appears that Ex Valencia Manager Tony Woods is pondering his future,

The recently Sacked manager had rejected approaches from Coventry, Lazio, Almeria and Gimnastic to submit an application for the vacant position at struggling Spurs, only to find out that 4 days after his application the board decided to approach a manager under contract!

The most disappointing thing was that I received no communication from the Board at Spurs so to find out via the Press is a disgusting way to treat an applicant.

Woods now without a club for almost 3 weeks seems reluctant to accept the first job offer that comes along he was recently approached by a freelance journalist who spotted him watching the top of the table clash Galatasaray vs Fenerbahçe in the SuperLig Woods was quoted as saying I am enjoying taking a bit of time out and enjoying a family holiday, I will see what the future brings but have nothing planned at the moment any job offers have to be right for myself and my family, I would like to thank the Boards of the clubs that approached me but have no regrets over rejecting the offers.

With criticism flying at woods from all directions it would appear there is nowhere left for Woods to go. Apart from Turkey and an extended unexpected holiday

-- Edited by tonymdf at 23:58, 2009-01-18