Tag Archives: infancy

Blackburn Rovers wants experienced manager to replace Henning Berg

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Blackburn advisor Singh insists new boss will be 'very experienced' as he rules out move for Comical Ali

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UPDATED:

23:00 GMT, 29 December 2012

Blackburn's global advisor Shebby Singh has revealed he is in discussions with some experienced candidates to fill the managerial vacancy at Ewood Park.

On Thursday, Singh sacked Henning Berg only 57 days and 10 games after appointing the former Rovers crowd favourite.

And on Friday, Singh was forced to dispel rumours that untested amateur and youth coach Judan Ali was set to take up a role on Blackburn's coaching staff having taken first-team training alongside Singh in the wake of Berg's departure.

Plenty to ponder: Shebby Singh watches Blackburn as they win at Barnsley

Plenty to ponder: Shebby Singh watches Blackburn as they win at Barnsley

Berg's record of one win during this period came on the back of Steve Kean's deeply unpopular spell in charge that saw the club relegated to the npower Championship in May.

Despite winning at Barnsley on Saturday, Blackburn lie 15th in the table – eight points shy of the play-off places.

Speaking to BBC Radio Five Live's 606 programme, Singh hinted he may be ready to grant the wishes of large sections of the club's support by appointing a candidate with a proven track record but offered no guarantees.

'Most certainly, that (experience) is something that we are looking at,' he said.

'I am in conversation with a couple of very, very experienced managers.

'But again we have to accept there's no secret formula. There's always the one who didn't work out.'

Three and easy: Rovers celebrate as Jordan Rhodes nets their third goal

Three and easy: Rovers celebrate as Jordan Rhodes nets their third goal

One that certainly did not work out was Berg and Singh accepted responsibility for getting that decision wrong, while standing by the call to terminate the 43-year-old's reign in its infancy.

'Hindsight is very good but at the end of the day, all decisions whether right or wrong will only be proven in due time,' he said.

'Unfortunately our results were not very encouraging, performances were not the best and you've got to decide how long can you put up with that.

'When you make a decision you always think you make the right decision but things sometimes don't work out so there's nothing out of the ordinary.

'It was 10 games, let's look at it that way from a football angle. Ten games is a lifetime, it can decide the future of a club for many, many years.

'I'll put up my my hands and say if I got it wrong, I got it wrong. But it's not the end of the world. You still have to think there are aspects of the club which have progressed.'

Denial: Singh says Judan Ali will not be joining the club's coaching staff

Denial: Singh says Judan Ali will not be joining the club's coaching staff

He repeated his stance on Ali on Saturday evening but did not rule the bookmakers favourite, former Aston Villa assistant manager Kevin MacDonald, out of the running for the post.

'It is really stupid for anyone to think that – it's down right stupidity for anyone to suggest that,' he added.

'I was at the training ground but when it comes to being on the pitch I've got no involvement.

'So you can hear it now from the horses' mouth – I did not take training.

'Those two names (Ali and MacDonald) were never mentioned by me but I will defend Kevin MacDonald.

'He's a great coach, he's done extremely well with Aston Villa. I would like to be friends with him.'

David Beckham: Next move for the former Manchester United star

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Ageing icon for hire… but where will former England captain Beckham land next

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UPDATED:

00:29 GMT, 21 November 2012

David Beckham's announcement that the Major League Soccer Cup final on December 1 will be his last match for LA Galaxy created headlines around the globe.

Even after his five-and-a-half years in the States playing 'soccer' in a developing league, the world sat up and wondered what a 37-year-old footballer does to 'experience one last challenge'.

Clubs in Russia, China, Australia, South Africa and Brazil are hankering for his signature, as are Paris Saint-Germain, who have expressed interest before.

Centre of attention: Beckham will play his final game for LA Galaxy next month

Centre of attention: Beckham will play his final game for LA Galaxy next month

Centre of attention: Beckham will play his final game for LA Galaxy next month

Beckham is still box-office. Did he worry the big three – American football, basketball and baseball Definitely not. But he brought increased credibility and profile to a league still in its infancy.

As Tim Leiweke, chairman of entertainment giants AEG, who own Galaxy, said last year: 'David's brought a lot of heat, attention and buzz back to this organisation. There aren't many players in this sport who can do that.'

Brand Beckham: The former England captain announced his decision to leave LA Galaxy on Monday

Brand Beckham: The former England captain announced his decision to leave LA Galaxy on Monday

BECKHAM'S IMPACT ON THE MLS

In 2006 — the year before Becks joined — the MLS total attendance was 2.98million. , this had more than doubled to 6.07m. In his first season, the average away attendance for LA Galaxy games jumped from 19,929 to 28,035. Their strip was adidas’s most popular shirt of 2007, with more than 300,000 sold.

Arguably, there is nobody else who could have done it. There are better, younger players, but nobody bar Beckham could have brought such attention.

When the former England captain jetted off into the footballing wilderness at 31 in 2007, he said he wanted to 'grow the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own'.

Followers of the 'world's most popular game', it's fair to say, laughed, wondering quite what it was about Beckham's 20million, five-year contract that had attracted him to the States.

Time's up: Beckham wants to 'experience one last challenge' before hanging up his boots

Time's up: Beckham wants to 'experience one last challenge' before hanging up his boots

Where next for Becks

Australia

The A-League are desperate for more high-profile signings to follow the likes of Emile Heskey and Alessandro Del Piero. Seven of the 10 top-flight clubs have been linked with the midfielder.

Brazil

The Becks factor would be a massive PR boost in the run-up to the 2014 World Cup finals and the 2016 Olympic Games.

China

Another country looking to promote their domestic competition. The signings of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba show they mean business.

Paris St Germain

The money-bags French club thought they had signed Beckham 12 months ago after agreeing to pay him 670,000 a month but the deal was never signed.

so his wife can pursue her fashion career Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2227502/David-Victoria-Beckham-ready-quit-LA-New-York-pursue-fashion-career.html#ixzz2CkRDlDPH
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook so his wife can pursue her fashion career Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2227502/David-Victoria-Beckham-ready-quit-LA-New-York-pursue-fashion-career.html#ixzz2CkRDlDPH
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Leyton Orient

Could his last challenge be to try and take his hometown club to the Premier League

But Beckham's timing was significant.
He wasn't a washed-up old has-been: he was on his way to winning the
Spanish title with Real Madrid. There were two loan spells at AC Milan
and much flirtation with leaving Galaxy before winning his first MLS Cup
- his eighth league title in three countries – last November, but he
extended his deal for 12 months.

Beckham
will leave a legacy if players move to the MLS in their 20s rather than
towards the end of their careers. Thierry Henry and Robbie Keane have
made the move and Frank Lampard still could with Galaxy having expressed
serious interest in the Chelsea midfielder.

MLS
commissioner Don Garber said: 'There is no doubt that MLS is far more
popular and important here and abroad than it was when David arrived. He
will always be an important part of our history.'

Attendances
are increasing, with an average 18,807 fans at each game, but they come
from white, well-heeled families and Hispanic communities. This may
explain why the burgeoning popularity of soccer has not been translated
to TV.

Galaxy agreed a
43m, 10-year deal to show their games on English and Spanish cable
channels in California but they are watched in only around 16,000 homes -
less than one per cent of the available audience.

The suggestion Beckham has achieved 'great things' on the field is an
exaggeration. He has been picked three times in the MLS All-Star XI and
could sign off with a second league title next weekend, but injuries and
loan spells have left him with insufficient playing time for it to be
considered 'great'.

Landmark signing: Beckham has enjoyed five seasons with the LA Galaxy celebrating the MLS Cup in 2011 (below)

Landmark arrival: Beckham has enjoyed five seasons with then Galaxy celebrating the MLS Cup in 2011 (below)

Landmark signing: Beckham has enjoyed five seasons with the LA Galaxy celebrating the MLS Cup in 2011 (below)

American Dream: Beckham has helped change the face of the MLS

American Dream: Beckham has helped change the face of the MLS

Famous faces: The former England skipper meets US president Barack Obama

Famous faces: The former England skipper meets US president Barack Obama

Proving
people wrong has been as much a part of Beckham's DNA as changing his
hairstyle and he looks set to do it again with one final 'challenge'.

'Retirement is not something I'm thinking of yet. I still feel I have
something left in me. I'd like to take on another challenge but what
that will be, I don't know,' said Beckham.

'Right now my focus is on the final. Once that's out of the way, we have an (exhibition) tour to deal with, and then it's Christmas, which we always spend in London, so I'll be there and I'll make the decision then.'

Start of it all: Beckham on loan at Preston North End in 1995

Start of it all: Beckham on loan at Preston North End in 1995

National service: Beckham made his England debut in 1996

National service: Beckham made his England debut in 1996

Talent: Beckham was PFA's young player of the year in 1997

Talent: Beckham was PFA's Young Player of the Year in 1997

Infamous: David Beckham sent off against Argentina at 1998 World Cup

Infamous: David Beckham sent off against Argentina at 1998 World Cup

Beckham wasn't specific about where
he might end up next, deflecting questions about every destination from
Australia and China to France and England.

While discussing his future in the most oblique terms, Beckham only confirmed he won't move to New York or any other MLS team.

Sportsmail understands,
however, that the 'challenge' will not be in Australia, despite the
interest of five A-League clubs. 'If David goes to Australia it will
only be on his holidays,' said a source close to the player.

But,
whichever corner of the globe Brand Beckham lands in, the midfielder
will sign off in the States after playing a significant role in the
growth of soccer. After all, we're still talking about it.

Real deal: Beckham signing announced in Madrid in 2003

Real deal: Beckham joined the Spanish giants in 2003

Champion: Beckham has won titles in England, Spain and America

Champion: Beckham has won titles in England, Spain and America

Italian job: Beckham had two stints on loan at AC Milan

Italian job: Beckham had two stints on loan at AC Milan

Family guy: Beckham with wife Victoria Beckham and sons (L-R) Cruz, Romeo and Brooklyn

Family guy: Beckham with wife Victoria Beckham and sons (L-R) Cruz, Romeo and Brooklyn

London 2012 Olympics: Tunisia 34 Great Britain 17 – hosts out of handball

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Tunisia 34 Great Britain 17: Hosts mauled as handball team bows out

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UPDATED:

10:49 GMT, 4 August 2012

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LIVE RESULTS |
EVENT SCHEDULE |
MEDALS TABLE

Great Britain's men endured another torrid outing in the Copper Box as Tunisia handed out a beating in their Group A clash that sent the host nation crashing out.

Although Dragan Djukic's side have played their part in thrusting handball upon an unsuspecting British public, this loss follows hot on the heels of thrashings at the hands of reigning Olympic champions France, three-time silver medallists Sweden and Pan-American champions Argentina.

Given their infancy as a handballing nation, it is no surprise that Team GB have had such a hard time of it against teams who were winning medals long before they were even formed.

Down and out: GB handball team are out of the Olympics

Down and out: GB handball team are out of the Olympics

And the gulf in class was clear to seen this morning, though the way GB fought until the end deserves some credit and a flourish in the final throes of the first half gives optimism for the future.

Five goals from Sebastian Edgar and the continued form of goalkeeper Jesper Parker were other bright spots for the hosts.

After publicly targeting a win against Argentina in their last outing, Djukic was keen to rein his side's expectations back in before the match and the reason was evident from early on as Tunisia took a 4-1 lead after eight minutes.

That need not have been the case, though, as Chris McDermott, who received two two-minute suspensions in the first six minutes, opened the scoring and a host of early Team GB efforts were missed when they should have been scored.

Indeed, they only converted two of their first nine efforts on goal and that allowed Tunisia to take advantage with three back-to-back strikes, earning a 7-2 lead just before the midway point of the first half.

John Pearce ended that run with a nice finish from the wing, but three more goals from the Africans sent them 10-3 up and even at that early stage, that cushion was always going to be unassailable.

Thanks for the memories: The players acknowledge the fans at the Copperbox

Thanks for the memories: The players acknowledge the fans at the Copperbox

While a long morning was looking on the cards, goals from Sebastian Prieto and Gawain Vincent gave the home crowd something to cheer about and formed part of a four-minute spell that saw Team GB score four out of the next five goals, to bring their deficit down to 14-8 at the break.

However, that energy could not be renewed after the interval, and after Prieto missed a penalty, Tunisia scored five of the next seven goals to snuff out any hopes of a comeback.

In fact, a golden spell for the Africans put an unpleasant look on the scoreboard as a host of fast breaks and five unanswered goals gave them a 13-goal cushion, undoing all the good work from Team GB at the end of the first period.

One thing that cannot be levelled at Djukic's side is a lack of desire or fight, though, and despite Tunisia continuing to enjoy free reign in attack, Steven Larsson threw in a seven-metre effort which received a cheer as loud as the first from the unwavering home support.

Other goals from Edgar and Martin Hare went in as Team GB battled bravely, but they just could not compete with a strong Tunisia, who put themselves in with the chance of a quarter-final spot, thanks largely to 10 goals from Aymen Toumi.

Team GB complete their Group A campaign against reigning silver medallists Iceland on Monday, while they can take pride in the way they have helped spread the handball word over the last week.

Jonny Howson: I"m no Andres Iniesta but I"ll keep trying for Norwich

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I'm no Iniesta but I'll keep trying, says Howson after Norwich boss' praise

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UPDATED:

13:54 GMT, 8 April 2012

Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson is determined to keep his feet firmly planted on the ground despite being compared to Andres Iniesta by Canaries boss Paul Lambert.

Many had worried Howson would struggle to make the step up from the npower Championship when he swapped Leeds for Norwich in January, but the 23-year-old has slotted straight in to Lambert's starting XI and opened his scoring account for the Norfolk club in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Everton.

In truth, he could have hardly wished for an easier chance to score his maiden Norwich goal – Tim Howard was stranded when Howson tapped home Wes Hoolahan's cross from six yards – but it was his passing and link-up play with Grant Holt that made Lambert liken the youngster to Barca and Spain star Iniesta.

High praise: Howson was compared to barcelona star Iniesta after his goals against Everton

High praise: Howson was compared to barcelona star Iniesta after his goals against Everton

The midfielder knows his top-flight career is only in its infancy, however, and is determined not to get carried away despite the high praise he received yesterday evening.

'It's obviously very nice when you hear comments like that, but it's just one game,' Howson said.

'It's not a case of getting carried away.

'It's a quick turnaround now with us playing Tottenham on Monday and I will just focus on that game for now.

'This league is very tough. Every game is hard because it's a high standard.

'I am fairly pleased with how it's gone up to now.

'I may have had some decent performances but I have to keep working hard and when you have got quality players around you it does make it easier for yourself.'

Norwich passed the 40-point yardstick usually associated with Barclays Premier League safety thanks to Saturday's draw against the Toffees.

Nikica Jelavic's double was cancelled out by Howson's goal and Holt's 13th top-flight strike of the campaign.

Holt was a bustling thorn in Everton's side all afternoon, with his huge physical frame proving to be a problem for seasoned campaigner Sylvain Distin, who endured a bruising 90 minutes up against the former Nottingham Forest striker.

Holt is only second to Wayne Rooney in the list of English Premier League top scorers, and has been tipped to break in to the England squad – something Howson thinks his team-mate merits.

National service: Howson believes in-form team-mate Grant Holt deserves an England call-up

National service: Howson believes in-form team-mate Grant Holt deserves an England call-up

'I think he deserves it,' Howson added.

'If he is the second-highest English scorer in the league behind Rooney, and if you are choosing players on form, he should be picked.

'With the work he puts in, he is only going to add to any side. He puts himself about, he is non-stop.

'He is getting the credit he deserves for the goals he is chipping in with.

'Even in the short time I have been here you can see why he is getting the praise he deserves.

'It's very good to play with him.'

Lambert's men have a quick turnaround from Saturday's game, with a trip to Champions League chasers Tottenham in store on Monday afternoon.
Lambert is likely to make a few changes to his starting XI, which could mean the likes of Anthony Pilkington, Andrew Crofts and Simeon Jackson are brought in to the team.