Herald

Tuesday, January 04 2011

John Giles

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John Giles: Sam's big mouth takes the biscuit

WHEN the English FA announced a few weeks back that the next manager of their national team would be an Englishman, they brought the day one step closer when Mike Bassett will take over from Fabio Capello.

John Giles: Pool destined for mid-table finish

IT is unfortunate for Roy Hodgson that he should be the manager at Anfield when Liverpool is a club in decline but he is realistic enough to understand that he would never have got the job but for the current circumstances.

John Giles: Holland an affront to Total Football legacy

IMAGINE what might have been if Rinus Michels had been Bert Van Marwijk all those years ago when Barcelona came looking for a coach with a vision.

John Giles: Mourinho and Madrid is a perfect marriage

THE only piece missing from what would be the ideal picture for Spanish football at the moment is the fact that Inter Milan and Bayern Munich will meet in Madrid tomorrow for the Champions League final.

John Giles: Jose’s genius spoiled by his childish streak

ALL the great managers had flaws. From Revie through to Shankly, Paisley and all the rest, human nature dictated that there were elements of their character which didn't reflect well on them.

John Giles: Zola should move on from flawed regime

DAVID Gold is not a football manager. For the past few days, he's been behaving like one and that should confirm everything Gianfranco Zola needs to know about his short-term future.

John Giles: Tight finances force Berbatov on Fergie

THERE'S always an explanation if you dig deep enough. To find the reason why Alex Ferguson is now relying on the dubious temperament of Dimitar Berbatov then look no further than the global recession.

John Giles: City lights perfect to allow José to shine

THERE has never been a better match made in Heaven than José Mourinho and Manchester City. Where else can the full scale of his ego and ability be indulged and what better club to help him take up where he left off at Stamford Bridge?

John Giles: Full credit to Wenger for sticking to his Guns

IT'S a tribute to Arsene Wenger and a slice of humble pie for his critics that Arsenal sit in such an excellent position now and appear to be growing in confidence with every match.

John Giles: Rooney offers respite to Reds’ frail defence

NOT many managers favour Russian roulette as a winning approach to Champions League football, but it worked for Alex Ferguson at San Siro.

John Giles: Fergie laughing his way to title

I'M sure Alex Ferguson must be chuckling to himself at the moment. In a season when he is least equipped to add silverware to his already considerable trophy count, his rivals are falling away one by one.

John Giles: Hughton in quiet Magpie revolution

JUST over a year ago, Newcastle United beat Huddersfield 4-3 in the Carling Cup. In midweek, Chris Hughton took his team to Stamford Bridge and beat Chelsea by the same scoreline. The quietly-spoken Irishman is making serious progress.

John Giles: Rooney giving Fergie his biggest headache

WHEN Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez left Old Trafford at the end of the ’08/’09 season, Alex Ferguson turned to Wayne Rooney to provide him with something special.

John Giles: French meltdown scant consolation for Trap and Irish

THE sight of the French squad imploding in front of our eyes is scant consolation for Irish players watching this World Cup unfold. It was hard enough to lose out the way they did and this only adds insult to injury.

John Giles: Capello well aware of Rooney reliance

FABIO Capello doesn't look like a man who has sleepless nights but if there is one subject capable of keeping him awake into the small hours it's Wayne Rooney.

John Giles: O'Neill's boo boys are the real villains

MARTIN O'NEILL is long enough in the game and has a thick enough skin to be too sensitive when football fans make unreasonable demands, but at the business end of the season when the pressure is on, the good ones feel it more intensely than any.

John Giles: Messi is on march towards greatness

THE only question now is whether Lionel Messi is as good as the man who might just be the reason why Argentina cannot win the World Cup. Maradona is the benchmark for the Prince of Barcelona.

John Giles: Masterful Mourinho has beating of Barca

ONCE again, it's hats off to José Mourinho. This is a man who is on top of his trade like nobody else in the game at the moment with a football brain like a cut diamond.

John Giles: Fergie's worst fears are coming to pass

LURKING in the back of Alex Ferguson's mind right now is the one thought he must have hoped he would never have to confront. Why did he let Carlos Tevez go?

John Giles: Bosses take hit when players fool around

JUST a few months ago, Italian managers seemed to have all the answers but recent days have shown that Capello, Ancelotti and Mancini are subject to the same fundamental rule of football. Anything can happen and often does.

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