Browsing: boss

“I have seen enough fashionistas come in and out of this division,” says new Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche. “You’ve got to win the games, it’s as simple as that.”

The 54-year-old might not class himself as a football fashionista but as coaches place increasing emphasis on set-pieces and ‘going long’ he may find himself in vogue.

Ange Postecoglou lasted just 39 days at Forest after being brought in to win trophies and play more expansive, attacking football having replaced Nuno Espirito Santo on 9 September.

He lost six and drew two of his eight games in charge as the squad struggled to adapt quickly enough to the new manager’s demands.

Soon after Dyche walked down the stairs of the club’s museum in the Trent End as Forest’s third manager of the season, he outlined his philosophy and style, having been criticised at Burnley and Everton.

“I did a podcast with Tony Pulis and Mick McCarthy, Tony’s now being lauded for long throws when before he was getting hammered [as manager of Stoke],” said Dyche, who has signed a deal until the summer of 2027.

“It’s the fashion of football, it changes all the time and I’m not pontificating one way or the other but the bit I like is when you win.

“The Forest fans accepted a different way of working than in the history of this club last season which was very successful. They are more open-minded now.

“The players are aware of it. I took a lot of feedback from the players. They are very proud of what they did last season. That is no problem for me because I agree with them. Now can we mould it slightly differently but keep that winning mentality?

“Long ball, short ball? You’ve just got to play effective football. That will never go out of fashion.”

Source link

Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon brought up a number of unwanted milestones for the Premier League champions.

The victory was the Red Devils’ first at Anfield for almost a decade, while the four-match losing streak that Arne Slot’s men currently find themselves in is their worst run of form since November 2014, back when Brendan Rodgers was manager.

This latest setback has seen Liverpool slip to fourth place in the Premier League table, four points behind early leaders Arsenal, with the club facing a daunting run of fixtures that sees them play six times across three competitions over the next 20 days.

After leading the club to the Premier League title in his first season, it is clear that Slot has plenty of credit in the bank, but after being backed to the tune of £420 million in the transfer market this summer, the Dutchman will know that he must get his side’s title campaign back on track sooner rather than later.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, the Reds board ‘demands that Arne Slot stabilise the performance before the continuity of the project is endangered’.

Salah has not scored for seven games (Image credit: Getty Images)

The report cites a number of challenges that Slot will be looking to get on top of, primarily integrating his summer signings, including £116m playmaker Florian Wirtz and £125m striker Alexander Isak.

Should that pair start firing, then the club’s offensive struggles will quickly become a thing of the past, while another issue mentioned is vulnerability from set-pieces.

The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.

Also raised in this dispatch is the reduction of Andy Robertson’s role and changes to the team’s system in what they describe as ‘the most complicated moment of his career at Liverpool’.

Slot will look to get his side back to winning ways on Wednesday evening, when he takes his side to Germany to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.

Florian Wirtz is yet to meet expecations (Image credit: Getty Images)

In FourFourTwo’s view, this report hinting at dissatisfaction from the Reds board seems premature at the very least, as the club is not known for its kneejerk reactions.

Given the amount of squad turnover this summer, it’s hardly surprising that time is needed to bed in these new players. And while, yes, a defeat at home to this current Manchester United side is a huge blot on Slot’s copybook, the Dutchman should be confident he has the ability to turn things around at speed.

Source link

The due diligence already completed towards Postecoglou’s possible replacement provides a clear indication of the jeopardy the Australian faces.

It would be hard for any manager to change the direction of travel in these circumstances.

Of course, Postecoglou will back himself to turn it around. That’s his nature.

Speaking in his pre-match news conference on Friday, he said: “Some look at the weeds but I look at what is growing. I am really excited as I have a group of young players willing to change.

“I just don’t fit, not here, just in general. If you look at it through the prism of ‘I’m a failed manager who’s lucky to get this job’ then of course this first five weeks looks like ‘this guy’s under pressure’. There is an alternative story that you could look at it.”

Owner Marinakis wants him to succeed, having backed Postecoglou’s track record of winning silverware as one of the key factors in why he appointed him in the first place.

Indeed, prior to their previous Premier League outing against Newcastle – that resulted in a 2-0 loss – well-placed sources told BBC Sport Postecoglou still maintained the immediate backing of the Forest owner.

There was, though, recognition that the result and manner of performance at St James’ Park would have a key influence on how Marinakis viewed his manager’s future.

Likewise, there is a feeling Postecoglou has not been helped by refereeing decisions.

For instance, during the Europa League defeat by FC Midtjylland – during which supporters turned on Postecoglou – earlier this month, there was a feeling as many as 14 key decisions went against Forest.

But with that said, the internal scrutiny on Postecoglou is intense.

Victory over Chelsea could mean he takes the first step towards what appears an unlikely road to recovery at Forest.

Lose the game, and the writing is already on the wall.

Source link

Nottingham Forest are without a win since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo with Australian manager Ange Postecoglou.

Amid reports that owner Evangelos Marinakis is considering making a second managerial change of the season just seven games into Postecoglou’s tenure, the Forest boss has spoken out on his future.

This weekend, the team host Chelsea in the early kick-off at the City Ground, live on TNT Sports.

Failure to win for an eighth successive match could spell the end for Postecoglou, just months on from his Europa League triumph and subsequent sacking by Tottenham Hotspur.

“Just look at the last five or six team sheets of last season to see what I prioritised [the Europa League], and who was on the bench. And the last game against Brighton, the players were out partying for two days, which I sanctioned because I felt they deserved to. So yes we finished 17th. But if people think that’s a reflection of me and my coaching then again, I think they are looking at it through the prism of I just don’t fit.”

Source link

Kevin Muscat is “probably” the type of character Rangers need, says interim manager Steven Smith.

The Australian is close to agreeing a deal to replacing the sacked Russell Martin at Ibrox.

While the club wait for the 52-year-old, who is currently in charge of Shanghai Port, under-19s coach Smith will lead the team.

Muscat played for Rangers in 2002-2003 season, winning the treble under then boss Alex McLeish, with Smith having just signed his first professional contract.

Asked if Muscat was the right man to take Rangers forward, Smith replied: “Probably. It’s an interesting question.

“Obviously in the past four or five years we’ve had different types of managers, there is no guarantee of success anywhere, and it’s really difficult to guarantee success when you’re at a club where the expectation is to win all the time.

“That’s never going to happen. But we’ve experienced different managers, whether it be managers that have played here, managers deemed head coach types that are more tactical.

“So we’ve had every type of manager, but the priority is always to win.

“I was a young player [during Muscat’s time at Ibrox], so I only came across him a few times. My job used to be to clean Alex McLeish and the coaching staff’s boots, so I used to pass him in the corridor and, as a person, he was really pleasant.”

Source link

Wales’ World Cup qualifier at home to Belgium on Monday already had the feel of a big game. Now, it has the makings of a defining night.

That is because Wales’ fate is back in their own hands, thanks to Belgium’s goalless draw at home to North Macedonia on Friday.

If Craig Bellamy’s side win their three remaining games, they will qualify for next summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

That, though, is quite a big if.

The most imposing hurdle to clear is arguably their next one.

This might not be the Belgium that finished third at the 2018 World Cup or the team that topped the world rankings just three years ago, but they are still formidable opponents with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku among their phalanx of attacking talent.

Not that Wales are intimidated, not with a head coach as single-minded – and optimistic – as Bellamy.

“I believe there’s always a special moment coming,” he said.

“Players have been in this situation so many times over the last 10 years, especially Cardiff nights. When we’ve managed to qualify, it’s been here. The crowd is used to this environment and these moments.

“You just have to embrace it. Embrace it and enjoy it. Tomorrow night we’re home, full stadium, just enjoy every second of it.”

Source link

However, it is clear that Gerrard, who has major backing from many supporters, is now emerging as one of the leading contenders for the position.

Gerrard was in charge of Rangers between 2018 and 2021, eventually leading the club to the domestic title – the Glasgow club’s first in 10 years.

Rangers have not been champions since Gerrard decided to leave for Aston Villa in November 2021.

After a 14th-placed finish in his first season in charge of the Premier League club, he was dismissed 12 games into the following campaign.

Gerrard became manager of Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq in July 2023 but left by mutual consent in January and was subsequently linked with the Rangers job before Martin was appointed in June.

In an interview with former England team-mate Rio Ferdinand, Gerrard this week spoke of his desire to return to management but said he wanted “to be at a team that’s going to compete to win, because I think that suits me better”.

Martin won just five of his 17 matches in charge, leaving Rangers eighth in the table – 11 points adrift of leaders Heart of Midlothian.

Gerrard told the Rio Ferdinand Presents Podcast there had been “five or six really interesting phone calls” since he left Saudi Arabia but said the timing had not been right.

Source link

“There’s a lot of talk about schedules and player health, but this all seems truly absurd. It’s crazy to travel so many miles for a match between two Italian teams in Australia. We have to adapt, as always,” the 30-year-old said.

Asked about Rabiot’s comments at a Serie A assembly meeting in Rome, De Siervo said: “He’s right, but Rabiot forgets, like all footballers who earn millions of euros, that they are paid to carry out an activity, to play football.

“He should have respect for the money he earns, complying with the wishes of his employer, Milan, who accepted and pushed for this match to be played abroad.”

On Monday Uefa confirmed it had “reluctantly” approved two European league matches to be played abroad.

Aleksander Ceferin doubled down on Uefa’s opposition on Wednesday, with the Uefa president saying Europe’s top clubs risk “breaking” football if league games are moved overseas.

“Football is not just about balance sheets. It’s not just entertainment. It’s life in our communities, the streets, the clubs and the fans which shape it. If we pull it too far away from those roots we risk breaking it,” Ceferin told club officials at the European Football Clubs’ (formerly the European Club Association) general assembly in Rome.

“In uncertain times football is our anchor and gives us a common ground, a joy we can share. In good times and in bad, football is always there, reliable lasting – always there.

“When Europe faces great political, economic and social challenges we need something which holds us together. Football has that power and we must preserve it.

“I believe it will prosper and inspire. It will do so because we are strong.”

Uefa said it consulted stakeholders and found “widespread lack of support” for league matches to be played abroad, echoing concerns raised by fans, other leagues, clubs, players and European institutions.

But it said world governing body Fifa’s regulatory framework is “not clear and detailed enough” for it to block the plans.

Fifa set up a working group last year to look at the impact of playing competitive domestic matches overseas.

Source link

Ange Postecoglou came out fighting as speculation over his future at Nottingham Forest intensified after a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Newcastle.

The Forest boss has won none of his first seven games since taking over the City Ground hotseat and rumours suggest he could face showdown talks with owner Evangelos Marinakis just weeks into his reign.

However, Postecoglou was in defiant mood as he faced the media at St James’ Park.

Asked if his self-belief had been dented by a difficult start at Forest, he said: “I started in Australia when I was 32 years old in semi-professional football and I’m here in the Premier League at the age of 60. Do you reckon I lack self-belief or don’t like a fight?

Ange Postecoglou has failed to win any of his first seven matches in charge at Nottingham Forest. Stu Forster/Getty Images

“I didn’t get here because of my connections. In fact, I’ve picked fights. I have, even in the schoolyard. I’ve picked fights with people who I knew would beat me up. That’s the kind of person I am, so that’s fine.”

He added: “If people want to make an assessment of me after three and a half weeks in which I’ve had six or seven games, there’s nothing I can do about that.

– Arsenal’s Ødegaard suffers MCL injury
– Late Grealish goal ends Palace’s 19-game unbeaten run
– Rodri’s injury woes continue with early exit

“But at the same time, there’s nothing wrong with things being tough. That’s okay. I’ll say it a million times, I did have an option. I could have been sitting on the couch watching the game today and not be in the middle of it.

“I love a fight. So it’s a fight, so it’s a struggle — so what? That’s ok. Now, if people outside don’t think I’m the right person, or even internally don’t think I am, it makes no difference for me.”

Forest were commendably well-organised on Tyneside and frustrated the hosts until 13 minutes into the second half when Bruno Guimarães fired past Matz Sels from distance with the visitors appealing in vain for a foul on Morgan Gibbs-White by Dan Burn in the run-up.

Postecoglou said: “Look, I think it’s just the world we’ve created where referees I just don’t think are going to make those decisions anymore, particularly against the home side. They’re going to let it run and let VAR pick the slack up.”

Thereafter, the Magpies threatened to add to their tally at regular intervals, but had to wait until six minutes from time for Nick Woltemade to extend their advantage from the penalty spot.

Nick Woltemade scored from the spot to give Newcastle a 2-0 lead. Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

Head coach Eddie Howe was delighted with his side’s performance and the result after Wednesday night’s 4-0 Champions League victory at Union St.-Gilloise.

Howe said: “[It was] a huge win for us, huge, huge. The players have done really well this week to recover from the Arsenal game in the way that they have and the speed to put that game to the back of our minds and to re-focus on two hugely important games.

“In the Champions League to get our season going in that competition and then the importance of the Premier League, it’s such an important competition for us.

“We maintained very good standards the last few years. We needed to maintain them, so at home I thought it was vital we won today.”

Source link

Referee Michael Salisbury had only just blown the full-time whistle to confirm Everton’s dramatic late win over Crystal Palace when the Toffees updated the bio on their X account.

Underneath the club’s famous badge appeared three words: Grealish for England., external

It is almost a year since Jack Grealish last wore a Three Lions shirt in a 3-1 Nations League win over Finland in Helsinki under interim manager Lee Carsley.

And it will be while longer before the 30-year-old gets the chance to represent his country again after being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s latest squad for a friendly against Wales next Thursday, followed by a World Cup qualifier in Latvia on 14 October.

But one thing remains crystal clear: Grealish is doing everything he can to force his way into Tuchel’s plans for next summer’s World Cup.

After providing four assists in his first six Premier League appearances for Everton, Grealish scored the 93rd-minute winner to seal his team’s comeback victory after Dean Henderson had denied Beto from point-blank range.

Timed at 92 minutes and 21 seconds, it was Everton’s latest home Premier League winning goal since March 2022 against Newcastle – 98 minutes and 20 seconds.

“Do you know what’s mad?” said Grealish, speaking to Sky Sports after the game.

“The last games we’ve played here we’ve been drawing and I’ve said to myself in the 85th minute, ‘come on Jack, go and score. Imagine if you scored now’.

“I said it against Aston Villa, and I didn’t score. I said it against West Ham and I didn’t score.

“Today, I actually said the same thing again and I scored. I ran to where my mum and dad were, so it was nice.”

Source link