By Alan Duffy
Sunderland 1-1 Middlesbrough FA Cup 29th January 2012
Frazier Campbell made a goalscoring return from injury at the Stadium of Light on Sunday,
netting the Black Cats' equaliser after 18 months out of action.
The tripartite nature of footballing rivalry in the north-east of England means that this
afternoons FA Cup Fourth Round match between Sunderland and Middlesbrough has a hint of being a
local derby about it without fully appearing to be the real thing.
Still, supporters of both of these clubs have cause to give a wry smile this afternoon.
Liverpool Whilst success in the Carling Cup provided KK with a degree of respite after last week's
shambles at the Reebok Stadium, will (or perhaps more pertinently should) Liverpool fans be happy
with the poorest domestic trophy and a top four finish? One suspects so, but with Liverpool six
points of the Promised Land of [.
Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray has moved to clear up speculation linking his Australian defender
Rhys Williams with a move away from the club following links with a series of Premier League
outfits.
The likes of Liverpool, West Bromwich, Newcastle and Bolton have all been reported to be keen on
the 23-year-old Socceroo but Mowbray insisted they weren't pondering letting him go.
Hibs welcome Pat Fenlon as their new manager.
His task, which he's chosen to accept, involves performing miracles with a squad of Highland
dancers.
He's the fifth non-Scottish manager of Hibs.
Following in the footsteps of Mixu Paatelainen, Tony Mowbray and Franck Sauzee.
By Alan Duffy
Gary Parkinson had enjoyed a long football career, making over 450 league appearances with
Middlesbrough, Burnley and Preston amongst others. When his playing days ended, the defender moved
into coaching and a job at head of youth development at Blackpool.
Versatility in a player is a very valuable attribute in today's game with so many managers now
looking for young, strong and technically gifted players to strengthen their team. The prime
example of a player with extreme versatility in the Premier League at the present moment must be
the emergence of Manchester United youngster, Phil Jones.
Four games in the SPL today.
But I'm distracted by Sir Alex Ferguson's upcoming 25th anniversary as manager of Manchester
United. A phenomena. From Govan.
The SPL didn't even exist 25 years ago. We must have had football though, whatever they try and
tell us.
Must have had it because I'm sure Alex Ferguson left a top flight Scottish club to take over a top
flight English club 25 years ago.
Okay, if the next England manager has to be English, who do we choose? Here are some of the
English manager currently employed as football managers (seems like a good filter), in order of
preference (some rational, some not):
Alan Pardew hmmmmmmmmmmm.
Lee Clark knows how to win, was a good player, should be a dark horse, but ideally would have
managed and succeeded in the Premiership.
Hey Arsène, how many big pots are we going to win this
season?
Why we need to stick to the Wenger Revolution
(And why it is necessary to keep reminding us of
this)
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest;
Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the
bitterest.
According to reports Bolton Wanderers face competition for Middlesbrough defender Rhys
Williams.
The Daily Mail claims Premier League giants Liverpool are monitoring the player's situation at
Middlesbrough with a view to a possible move.
The Australia international is a confirmed target for Wanderers boss Owen Coyle, who worked with
Williams when he was at the helm at Burnley.
As this season draws to a close Tony Mowbray will be looking to build on Boro's recent success
in the npower Championship by getting stuck into the summer transfer market and also developing
players on the training ground. Off the pitch/training ground, the kit designers are busy making
their final choices before mass production of our new 2011/12 football strip commences ready for
release in the coming weeks.
As this season draws to a close Tony Mowbray will be looking to build on Boro's recent success
in the npower Championship by getting stuck into the summer transfer market and also developing
players on the training ground. Off the pitch/training ground, the kit designers are busy making
their final choices before mass production of our new 2011/12 football strip commences ready for
release in the coming weeks.
Manager of the season? As per usual, Eddie Howe is a strong candidate; this year for
establishing AFC Bournemouth in League One and for re-energising Burnley's stuttering promotion
play-off bid in the Championship. Some would choose Stoke's Tony Pulis. Not only because of the
startling events at Wembley last Sunday but also because his side passed the ball a couple of times
last October.
For Tony Mowbray, it must be frustrating to see Kris Boyd and Scott McDonald fail to live up to
their reputations of once free-scoring SPL strikers at their previous clubs Rangers and Celtic
respectively. It just shows that the transition from Scottish football to English football is much
harder than first thought especially from the Scottish Premier League to the Championship.
For Tony Mowbray, it must be frustrating to see Kris Boyd and Scott McDonald fail to live up to
their reputations of once free-scoring SPL strikers at their previous clubs Rangers and Celtic
respectively. It just shows that the transition from Scottish football to English football is much
harder than first thought especially from the Scottish Premier League to the Championship.
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QPR Playing at the White City in 1962/63-Enlarged Photo
QPR Assess Their White City Failure (Enlarged to Make it Readable!)
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