Week 9

bigwave1927 · Cult Status

Week 9

richj363 · Cult Status

Jefferies gutted by loss

Spurs manager Richard Jefferies was shocked and surprised to lose at home to Villa, he said " Apart from their strikers they are not very strong and i thought we would win , unfortunatley my players played like they thought we already had won".

"I can't and wont accept that level of performance from premiership players, we have to go out and be professional in every game and unfortunatley we were not either on Saturday, we will have a good talk this week and if i have to make changes i will do"

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Nottm Forest V Southampton - Preview

Steve Davies-Evans spoke to journalists this morning as the Nottingham Forest manager finished his training session.

Media - Steve, How was training today?

SDE - Yeah excellent, the lads are in great spirits after the draw with Sunderland so there was a good buzz around the place. We felt they deserved the day off yesterday so they have come back in bright and breezy this morning and are looking forward to taking on Southampton this week.

Media - Has Gianluigi Buffon taken part in training this morning?

SDE- Yeah Gianluigi took part in training and it was great to have him here. He's clearly got quality and you can see the likes of Ben Hinchcliffe and Dale Roberts learning alot from him whilst he's here. Hopefully he will continue to impress in training and will be in with a shout of the shirt come the game this weekend.

Media - How tough will Southampton be to play against?

SDE - They will be very tough. They are secondin the league for a reason and have been on a great run of form that has seen them rocket up the league. We will have our hands full again and we will have to be on top form if we are to get a win against them. We are on a decent run ourselves and I believe that we can take a positive result from the game.

Media - Would a draw be a bad result?

SDE - No I wouldnt say it would be a bad result, We will be trying to get a win but a point means that we will still only be one point behind them but we have to expect that all the other teams around us to win so therefor need try and leap-frog Southampton if we can. It is a very tough task but we will give it a very good go.

Media - Now that you are unable to loan anymore players, are you happy with how the squad and team is looking for this next 3 games?

SDE - Yeah I hink we have got a good first team and hopefully we are showing that we are a very tough team to play against. Hopefully that will continue over the next 3 games andwe can put ourselves in a very good position by the mid-season break.

Liam · Cult Status

This afternoon, Aston Villa Manager Liam Riste agreed to take time out of his busy schedule to do an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News.

SSN: How Pleased are you to pick up your first Win of the season?
LR: I was extremely pleased to grab an important 3 points, It moves us out of the relegation zone and takes some pressure off us.

SSN: In wake of the Spurs manager Richard Jeffries comments that your side isn't that good, does that make your win against them that little bit sweeter?
LR: Hah, I was disappointed by his comments but in answer to your question, yes! I think he is bitter and that makes leaving him with nothing feel so much better.

SSN: Jeffries stated that your main strength is your strike force but questioned other areas of your team, is that fair?
LR: I have built a terrifying strike force, however, I think that he has overlooked the quality he have elsewhere. We have a number of big names in other departments like Gattuso, Gallas, Kaladze and the in-form Sorensen. A team is based on eleven players playing well together, which Spurs are not doing.

SSN: What are your feelings towards Mr. Jeffries after his recent comments?
LR: As stated, I think he was just disappointed with his team and has took his frustration out by slating my team! I personally feel he was at fault for the loss and not his players, so he should lay off them as I do believe he played with 3 defenders to cope with Carew, Owen and Villa.

SSN: You have now leap-frogged Spurs out of the relagation zone, can you start moving forward on the back of this win?
LR: Yes I believe we are in the perfect position to rise further; we have Covenrty and Bolton in our next 3 games and if we keep focused, we should take 6 points.

SSN: You have allowed Graig Gardner to leave this week in exchange for a Right Back Hamzar Bencherif, can you explain this deal?
LR: Well... Steve the Nottingham Forest Manager has approached me a number of times. We are good friends and I was after a decent RB to challenge Manolo for his position, and Bencherif was a player with potential and Steve needed a CM; to which Gardner was happy to leave and get first team football I think, so the swap was benefitial to us both.

SNN: Do you have anymore deals lined up this week?
LR: I dont have any confirmed deals and we are taking offers for certain players; however, this doesn't mean players will definitely be leaving, it is just for valuation sake. If we can find suitable cover, then we will look at a few offloads. Although, we do have a maximum amount in our squad so there is a release on the cards this week. However, the player has had talks with me and we both feel it is benefitial to his career to leave soon.

SSN: Ok Liam, thanks for the interview.
LR: No problem. Cheers

richj363 · Cult Status

The Evening Standard caught up with Spurs Manager Richard Jefferies the comments made on Sky Sports News by Mr Rist the Aston Villa Manager.

ES Do you stand by your comments made after Saturdays game

RJ Yes i do, Anyone can see Villa are not that strong, Yes they have some good players bit very old good players who will never last the season. I still see them being in the bottom three come the end of the season. I was amazed by Mr Rists comments but maybe he realises he will be in trouble and is just trying to disguise the fact.

ES Are you worried being back in the relegation zone.

RJ I can't say i'm happy being there, who would but i'm confident we have enough to stay up, my players know i was disappointed with the performance on Saturday and i'm sure things will be much better from now on. A lot of teams around us are full of old players and i can see them all really struggling towards the end of this season.

ES Have you spoken with the Villa manager

RJ No not since after the game at the weekend but i'm sure when we meet again we will have a drink after the game when we surely will have collected 3 points.

ES Thanks for your time

RJ No problem

-- Edited by richj363 on Tuesday 7th of July 2009 09:16:14 AM

Ashley-ccfc16' · Cult Status

Gazzetta- Benvenuto a Turin Robert.

Thanks, I would just like start this Interview off with Thanking Mr. Davies for taking me on loan. My performance so far this season has been disappointing, I have let down Mr. Sinclair, But hopefully I could find my feet here and help the club push even further for points, Im aware of other signings coming in and hopefully if I start some games then we can all combine and bring Torino up the league.

Gazzetta- Voi è stato fatto passare con la vostra prima sessione di addestramento nella fase iniziale, che tipo di tattiche Mr.Davies gradisce usare?

I dont think that would be a good idea telling you his tactics, But I must say he is trying his best to turn this club around, I heard of his previous failing at Cadiz but I will do all my best to help him and my team, As well as myself

Gazzetta- I ringraziamenti per parlare noi oggi, il vostro italiano non sono quel Male neanche tutto il la cosa migliore.

Ha-ha, grazie

-- Edited by Ashley-ccfc16' on Tuesday 7th of July 2009 12:22:22 PM

Liam · Cult Status

'Football Today' caught up with Liam Riste outside Villa Park today to ask a few questions.

SSN: What is your thoughts on Mr. Jefferies' persistent negative attitude towards his home defeat to your side?
LR: Well, at first I was willing to give him the excuse of perhaps being sour at the defeat we inflicted to them at White Hart Lane. But now I just realise that he is worried about the task ahead of him; I mean the fans and Chairman may be patient, but how long will it take until they too begin to worry about their free-falling league position?

SNN: We have heard Mr. Jefferies' take on the 3-2 loss, but you haven't given us the winning view of the game, any comments?
LR: All you have to do is look at the match stats... Everything is pretty much even throughout, so we have matched them at their ground. Our superior attacking power showed as we edged the game 3-2. So for Rich to say that we are poor elsewhere says alot about his Spurs team too. If I was a playing under him and he branded a team 'Poor' who had just matched us across the park and eventually beaten us, I would be losing faith in his managerial abilities!

SNN: You have passed comments on his managerial abilities in the last interview, do you have anything to add?
LR: No not at all. I have given my opinion and he has obviously agreed that his poorly chosen formation was one factor in why he was left pointless and red faced at the end of the game, otherwise we would have been quick to clear his name. He is a decent man and when our sides meet again we will most definitely go into my office and have a friendly chat over the game, and a drink or four may be involved.

SSN: What do you predict for Spurs and Aston Villa in the future?
LR on Spurs: Well their next 3 games are Coventry, who I would think is going to be a big game for Spurs as they both sit inside the relegation zone, but I would have to back the quality of Spurs to show through as long as Mr. Jefferies uses some logic to figure out a decent formation and tactic, aswell as the players still being motivated to play for him. I back him to take 3 points there. Next they have Arsenal... If the true Arsenal spirit shows up in the players, they will win. Although, it could be close if the current Arsenal show up. I think a point would be good for Spurs, but a possible loss if Arsenal actually show up. And their last game is against Chelsea... Say no more... Spurs will be lucky to stay in the game here and I can't see they taking anything away from this match.

LR on Villa: Our next game is Man City, who have a great squad. I would love to take a point but for arguments' sake, would have to predict a worst case scenario where we get nothing. After this, we have Coventry, who I would hope to beat and take a full 3 points from. I think we will have the cutting edge and can win this game. And lastly, we have Bolton, who have had a poor campaign and are suffering heavy defeats. Our reserves knocked them out of the cup and I fully expect nothing less than 3 points from that game.

SSN: So what are you predicting by the end of the season?
LR: If this half of the season is anything like the last half, I can see Spurs in trouble. As predicted, I think Spurs will get a maximum of 4 points from their next 3 games and we are expecting 6 minimum. So I just hope Rich has bought a decent oxygen tank for later on in the campaign as his snorkel will only take him so far...

SSN: Thanks again for your time.
LR: Any time, Cheers.

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Nottm Forest v Southampton - Pre Match Press Conference

Nottingham Forest manager Steve Davies-Evans today spoke to awaiting journalists ahead of his sides cruntch match against Southampton this weekend.

Media - Steve, How will you approach this game this week and do you feel it's a chance to really put yourself in the running for an automatic promotion spot?

SDE - Well we'll go into the game doing the same amount of preperation as we always do. I have studied Southamptons last 3 formations and what tactics I think will be used and we have been working on exploiting their weaknesses. You can always tell a good side when there isn't that many weaknesses and Southampton don't have too many. I think alot of people will say about the auto places but we're just trying to reach a playoff place as soon as possible. As soon as we have done that, and we are still in with a chance of auto promotion then of course we will go for it but one step at a time!

Media - If you do win this game, you will go above them in the table, do you think you will be sat in 2nd place if you do win or do you fancy Sheff Utd to pick up a win too?

SDE - Well I think you have to expect the worst and hope for the best. We always plan that every team will win and then if any drop points then it's just a bonus. We need to make sure we concentrate on doing our bit right and then let the other teams worry about themselves.

Media - Will Craig Gardner make his debut in midfield against Southampton?

SDE - To be honest, that is still up in the air at the moment. Billy Dennehy has been in great form and made the gal for [Antonio] Tomas last weekend but if we believe that Craig will bring something extra to the team then we will play him.

Media - It's been reported that you have a decent relationship with Aston Villa manager Liam Riste, is this so and what did you think about Richard Jeffries's [Spurs manager] comments about his team earlier this week?

SDE - Yeah me and Liam get on well. He's a decent lad that has got good plans for Villa and I think that they will rebuild well under his guidence. As for the comments, I don't really want to stick my nose in to their business but personally, although older, they are a very good team. They have quality in key areas of th pitch and I don't think you can accuse a team of not being too good when they've just turned you over at home. His strikeforce is good but the rest of his team have to create enough chances for his strikers to put three goals away as they did. It will be a long season but I can see Villa avoiding the drop this season.

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Gazetto Del Sport