EPL Managers 2008-09

[The Coon Dog]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

Allardyce named Blackburn manager

Blackburn Rovers have appointed Sam Allardyce as their new manager on a three-year contract.

He is the 8th managerial change already this season.

[Twodogs]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

Tony Adams confirmed as Pompey boss.

Was it Tony Adams who was the Arsenal captain in 91/92? He managed to captain Arsenal to the championship and spend time in jail in the same season!

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

Was it Tony Adams who was the Arsenal captain in 91/92? He managed to captain Arsenal to the championship and spend time in jail in the same season!

And never sobered up the entire time.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

Sbragia appointed Sunderland boss

Sunderland have appointed caretaker boss Ricky Sbragia as their new manager on an 18-month contract.

The Scot, 52, has been handed the job after an impressive spell which saw Sunderland win two games, draw once and lose just once to Manchester United.

Sbragia succeeds Roy Keane, who resigned on 4 December with the club in the bottom three of the Premier League.


* Ricky who?

[Twodogs]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

* Ricky who?

And how long have the Scots been spelling their surnames with a string of three consonants running together?

[The Coon Dog]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

Another one bites the dust!


Portsmouth confirm Adams sacking

Portsmouth have sacked manager Tony Adams and first-team coach John Metgod following a run of poor results.

A Portsmouth statement confirmed: "This has been a difficult decision and Tony has worked tirelessly to arrest the slump in form."

Portsmouth have won only two of their 16 Premier League matches since Adams, 42, took charge back on 28 October.

Former West Ham manager Alan Curbishley and ex-Chelsea boss Avram Grant have been touted as possible replacements.

Director of youth operations Paul Hart will take over as caretaker manager.

On Saturday, Pompey were beaten at home by Liverpool despite leading 2-1 with only five minutes to go.

Prior to the defeat by Liverpool - their seventh loss in eight games - Adams had insisted he had the backing of the club chiefs.

Portsmouth are currently 16th in the table, one point above the relegation zone, with 14 games to play.

The club's statement added: "The owner and the board feel they have been as supportive as they can during a period when results have been poor.

"The team has played well but too many points have been dropped from winning positions.

"The priority for the club is to remain in the top flight and we feel the appointment of a new manager will give us the best opportunity to enable us to do this."

Adams was appointed at the end of October when Harry Redknapp, who guided Pompey to FA Cup glory last season, decided to take the Tottenham job.

The former Arsenal and England captain was named as Redknapp's number two in 2006, after an ill-fated spell in charge of Wycombe and coaching jobs in the Netherlands with Feyenoord and Utrecht.

At Wycombe, the Gunners legend won only 12 of his 53 games in charge, losing 20

[The Coon Dog]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

And another one's gone!


Scolari sacked as Chelsea manager


Chelsea have sensationally sacked manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The club's website revealed the dramatic move had been made "to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for".

World Cup winner Scolari had only been in the job since June 2008, when he became Chelsea's third boss in a year.

Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League but remain in the Champions League and FA Cup, with Ray Wilkins in charge until a successor is appointed.

"Luiz Felipe Scolari has been dismissed as manager of Chelsea Football Club with immediate effect," read the statement.

"The Chelsea board would like to place on record our gratitude for his time as manager."

Scolari's spokesman Acaz Felleger said it was Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich who had run out of patience with the Brazilian coach.

"It seems that Abramovich made the decision," Felleger told Lance newspaper's website.

"Scolari was not in a comfortable situation despite having the support of the squad and Peter Kenyon."

Felleger added that Scolari had paid the price for not being given the backing to refresh the aging Chelsea squad.

"The Chelsea squad are old. Felipe tried to rejuvenate it, but unsuccessfully. He asked (the board) to sign Deco and Robinho, but they only brought Deco."

Scolari indicated he would give his version of events in the near future.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked for Chelsea and in English football," Scolari said.

"It was a very valuable experience. I am sorry that my time with everyone could not last longer. I wish Chelsea luck in the three competitions they are participating in.

"I want to take the opportunity to inform that I will keep living in London. I will respond to the media soon."

Scolari's former team travel to Watford in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

The tie at Vicarage Road is the start of a vital 11 days for Chelsea, with a crucial Premier League clash with third-placed Aston Villa on 21 February, followed by the visit of Juventus to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League four days later.

Chelsea's official statement indicated that the club were eager to get a new man in charge for that run of games.

"Felipe has brought many positives to the club since he joined and we all feel a sense of sadness that our relationship has ended so soon," read the statement.

"Unfortunately the results and performances of the team appeared to be deteriorating at a key time in the season.

"In order to maintain a challenge for the trophies we are still competing for we felt the only option was to make the change now.

"The search for a new manager has already started and we hope to have someone in place as soon as possible."

Scolari won the World Cup as manager of his home country, Brazil, in 2002. He arrived at Chelsea following a six-year spell in charge of Portugal, who he led to the final of Euro 2004 and the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup.

The 60-year-old made an impressive start but results deteriorated and of his 36 games in charge, 20 were won, five lost and 11 drawn.

Chelsea, who were unbeaten in the league at home for 86 matches until Liverpool's 1-0 win in October 2008, have lost two home league matches and drawn on five occasions this season, and were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Burnley on penalties.

Their record against the so-called big four this season is poor - they drew 1-1 at home with Manchester United and lost 3-0 away, were beaten 2-1 at home by Arsenal, and home and away by Liverpool.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has now overseen the departure of four managers since his arrival in 2003.

Claudio Ranieri was sacked in 2004, Jose Mourinho in September 2007 and Grant in May 2008.

A banner unfurled during Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Hull at Stamford Bridge on Saturday called for the return of former Blues favourites Gianfranco Zola, currently in charge at West Ham, and Roberto Di Matteo, the MK Dons boss.

Chelsea were booed off the field at the final whistle and sections of the crowd could be heard chanting "you don't know what you're doing" at Scolari.

But a senior West Ham boardroom member told BBC Sport the club has had no contact from Chelsea regarding Zola or his assistant, former Chelsea coach Steve Clarke.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09


Chelsea close in on Hiddink deal


Chelsea hope to appoint Russia boss Guus Hiddink as their new manager until the end of the season, and are keen to finalise a deal before Saturday.

The Russian Football Association gave Chelsea permission to talk to the Dutchman on Tuesday on the basis that Hiddink could combine both roles.

And Hiddink has hinted that a temporary move to Stamford Bridge would suit him.

"If it was any other club my answer would be a straight 'no', but Chelsea is different," said the 62-year-old.

"I have good relations with the owner [Roman Abramovich]. I would like to help them if I could.

"This would only be for the next two or three months until the end of the season. I will not leave my job with the Russian national team. It's out of the question.

[LostDoggy]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

Chelsea are a disgrace. I don't agree with salary caps entirly, but there has to be a threshold where it becomes a joke. Chelsea are essentially an organ through which Roman keeps pumping money. There's no care for profits. It's a joke! He'll sell Chelsea for a song down the track and leave it with wages bills that cripple the club.

[Remi Moses]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

Chelsea will be back to getting 12,000 to home games ala mid 90's. gotta agree Sportsman getting 120,000 a week is an utter travesity. When is it all going to end?

[The Coon Dog]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09


Chelsea confirm Hiddink as coach

Chelsea have announced that Guus Hiddink will take over as temporary coach until the end of the season.

The Premier League club have also revealed that the 62-year-old Dutchman will meet the players later this week.

"The club would like to take this opportunity to thank the Russian Football Union for their understanding and cooperation," said a statement.

Hiddink, who will continue to coach the Russian national side, replaces Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was axed on Monday.

The Blues currently lie fourth in the table, seven points adrift of leaders Manchester United, who have a game in hand.

Hiddink said before his appointment that he only intended to help out until the end of the season.

"It's a favour for a friend," said the former Netherlands, South Korea and Australia coach, who has close ties to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

"Abramovich does so much for Russian football that I wanted to give something pack. he called me personally."

[GVGjr]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

Has the EPL lured Hiddink before?
Given his reputation I would have thought he would have been well in demand.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

Has the EPL lured Hiddink before?
Given his reputation I would have thought he would have been well in demand.

No, here is who he's managed:

1982–1984 - De Graafschap
1984–1987 - PSV Eindhoven (assistant)
1987–1990 - PSV Eindhoven
1990–1991 - Fenerbahçe
1991–1994 - Valencia
1995–1998 - Netherlands
1998–1999 - Real Madrid
1999–2000 - Real Betis
2000–2002 - South Korea
2002–2006 - PSV Eindhoven
2005–2006 - Australia
2006– Russia
2009– Chelsea

[GVGjr]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

No, here is who he's managed:

1982–1984 - De Graafschap
1984–1987 - PSV Eindhoven (assistant)
1987–1990 - PSV Eindhoven
1990–1991 - Fenerbahçe
1991–1994 - Valencia
1995–1998 - Netherlands
1998–1999 - Real Madrid
1999–2000 - Real Betis
2000–2002 - South Korea
2002–2006 - PSV Eindhoven
2005–2006 - Australia
2006– Russia
2009– Chelsea

How did he do at Real Madrid?

I heard Tim Watson have a crack at him this because he has been hawking his talents to the highest bidder and all those brief stops sort of support that theory a bit.

[LostDoggy]

Re: EPL Managers 2008-09

How did he do at Real Madrid?

I heard Tim Watson have a crack at him this because he has been hawking his talents to the highest bidder and all those brief stops sort of support that theory a bit.

Sorry Gary but what does Tim Watson know about football(soccer)? F all.
Hiddink is like most other managers, no doubt he is very good, but he knows when its time to get out.
He was no good at Real Madrid, but its a nightmare place to coach(Capello won the Primera and still got sacked), probably worse than Chelsea is. He is certainly not stupid and only taken a short term contract at Chelsea.