Wigan captain Mario Melchiot admits club owner Dave Whelan was right to criticise Latics' under-performing players.
Chris Hutchings' side went down 3-2 at Melchiot's former club Birmingham on Saturday - their fifth loss in a row - as they slumped to 16th place in the table.
And Melchiot claims the squad left St Andrews disappointed with their failure to take anything from the match after twice taking the lead through Marcus Bent.
Referring to Whelan's disquiet with the run of defeats, Melchiot said: "When you are the boss and you own the club you can say what you want because it's your business. As an individual working for him you have to listen to him and get on with it. He shows his emotions and that's normal."
27 October 2007
Who has the loudest fans in the Premier League?
Decibel meter readings taken across home matches for all Premier League teams during August and September, showed that the loudest home crowd was Sunderland.
Average peak volume of the Sunderland crowd at home reaching 129.2 decibels & 150; louder than a rock concert (115 decibels) and almost as loud as an air raid siren/military jet (130 decibels).
As a volume of 110-115 decibels can cause hearing damage after just 15 minutes, football fans are being advised to wear ear protection if they want to hear the referees whistle clearly across their supporting career.
The findings are especially embarrassing for Arsenal and Manchester United, whose grounds dwarf the 49,000-seater Sunderland home ground by 11,000 and 21,000 seats respectively.
Quietest home fans were Fulham who could only muster an average maximum volume of 115.4 decibels at home.
And although not the loudest, Everton fans proved that they have the stamina to keep it up all match. Their chants were the most frequent (one every three minutes on average) and longest (52 seconds each on average) of all teams studied.
The ear-bending research was commissioned by 118118 who are searching for the best and loudest football chants in the country.
NOISE LEAGUE TABLE:
Sunderland
Tottenham Hotspur
Manchester City
Aston Villa
Everton
Chelsea
Middlesbrough
Derby County
Newcastle United
West Ham
Birmingham City
Arsenal
Portsmouth
Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers
Liverpool
Manchester United
Wigan Athletic
Reading
Fulham
23 October 2007
Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is determined to fight for his place at Aston Villa despite admitting he has slipped to third in the pecking order.
The Denmark international suffered a knee injury during the club's pre-season trip to North America and has seen loan signing Scott Carson take over as No.1 with Stuart Taylor acting as his deputy.
But Carson's red card in the 4-1 defeat by Manchester United means he will be suspended for Sunday's Premier League trip to Bolton, throwing the door open for Taylor and Sorensen to replace him.
And the former Sunderland keeper proved his worth with a clean sheet for the reserves as Villa's second string cruised to a 6-0 victory over Chelsea.
Sorensen told the Birmingham Mail: "This is a massive challenge for me now. I'm third in the pecking order, so there's a fair way to go. But I'm a professional. I'll get my head down, work hard and see where that takes me. A lot of things can happen and I have to make sure I prepare as well as I can. If I'm needed, I'll be there. I've said all along that I am here to fight for my place. I will do my absolute best and I think anyone who sees me in training can see that."
And Sorensen is more than happy to turn out for the reserves as it helps keep him fit and provides important match practice should he be called upon by manager Martin O'Neill.
He added: "Anything can happen in football. You just have to be patient and wait for your chance. I'll see what happens. I'm training full pelt and I've been doing that for quite a while now. So, I'll do anything to impress and hopefully I can force my way back in. Playing for the reserves gives me the chance to get back out there, to get my bearings, make a few saves and get important match practice."
Striker Marlon Harewood grabbed a hat-trick for the reserves as he continues to press for a first-team return while Patrik Berger was also back in action after injury.
22 October 2007
Loan Ranger Rowan Vine admits he would rather stay at QPR than return to Birmingham and kick his heels on the sidelines.
The former Luton star has struggled for first-team football since joining Blues in the January transfer window and was shipped out to Loftus Road earlier in the month.
And Vine admits he would be tempted to extend his stay in west London if the possibility arises given the fact QPR are currently without a permanent manager.
"I can't see any reason why not, I just want to play football," said Vine.
"At the moment I'm just taking it as it comes. Premiership football is my ambition and however I get there I'll take it. But I wouldn't want to be sitting around at Birmingham if I don't see any chance of getting a game."
22 October 2007
Wigan boss Chris Hutchings hopes to have both Mario Melchiot and Antonio Valencia back for the trip to Birmingham this weekend.
The Latics duo - along with Emile Heskey - missed last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth but there are hopes they'll ready ready to resume at St Andrews.
Hutchings told the Wigan Evening Post: "Hopefully Melchiot and Valencia will be back when we play at Birmingham this weekend. That would make us a better team. Valencia did a bit of training on Friday after coming back from international duty with Ecuador. But he has got some fluid on the knee which means he hasn't got a full range of movement yet. We have to make sure he is right, otherwise rushing him could set him back another two or three weeks."
19 October 2007
Bolton have had their approach for Leicester manager Gary Megson rejected by the Championship club.
The Premier League club parted company with manager Sammy Lee on Wednesday following a poor start to the season, with Wanderers sitting second from bottom with just one win from nine games.
Bolton have already failed in their attempt to talk to Birmingham boss Steve Bruce and have also approached Real Sociedad about Chris Coleman, according to the former Fulham manager's adviser Alan Smith.
And now they are also interested in Megson, who took over at the Walkers Stadium from Martin Allen in August.
Mandaric said in a statement: "Following widespread speculation in the media regarding Bolton Wanderers' interest in our manager Gary Megson I can confirm the Premier League club approached us early yesterday morning seeking official permission to speak to Gary. That approach has been completely rejected. Such interest and continuing media speculation has inevitably had an unsettling influence and is neither invited or welcome. I have worked tirelessly to bring stability to this club and showed immense faith in Gary to bring him here after a sustained period out of the game. While interest from a Premier League club appears flattering and vindicates my decision to bring Gary to the Walkers Stadium he remains an integral part of my plans to bring top flight football back to this club. I am a great believer in loyalty, trust and integrity. Gary made a commitment to this football club, the supporters and myself and I fully expect him to honour that commitment. I therefore have no doubts in my own mind that Gary will reiterate his commitment when he talks publicly in the next 48 hours. It is also important to point out that contrary to claims today, Gary Megson has not spoken to Bolton Wanderers and furthermore is bound by a legally binding contract at Leicester City Football Club."
Bolton have asked Real Sociedad for permission to speak to Coleman, according to Smith.
He said: It's a very interesting proposition for him to return to the Premier League, but at the same time he is happy in Spain. We have already turned down an inquiry from another English club."
18 October 2007
Bolton have asked Real Sociedad for permission to speak to Chris Coleman regarding the managerial vacancy at The Reebok Stadium.
The news comes on the same day that Birmingham boss Steve Bruce claimed his club were also approached by The Trotters, who are seeking a successor to Sammy Lee following the latter's departure on Wednesday.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has clearly wasted no time in sounding out potential candidates and Coleman's advisor, Alan Smith, admits the chance to return to The Premier League would represent 'a very interesting proposition'.
The former Fulham boss has made a mediocre start at the San Sebastian club, winning four of his first eight league games in charge of the team who started the campaign in Spain's Segunda Division following last season's relegation.
Smith, who was Coleman's former manager at Crystal Palace, said: "Bolton have asked Real Sociedad for permission to speak to Chris.
'It's a very interesting proposition for him to return to The Premier League, but at the same time he is happy in Spain. We have already turned down an enquiry from another English club."
Reports in the North West suggest Paul Jewell is also on Bolton's shortlist to succeed Lee.
13 October 2007
Birmingham City midfielder Medhi Nafti has won high praise from manager Steve Bruce for his performances for the Blues this season.
The 28-year-old Tunisia international has battled back from a career-threatening knee injury to become a regular in the City engine room and Bruce has been very impressed with Nafti's efforts.
He told the Birmingham Post: "He has benefited this summer from having a complete rest in pre-season and he looks a really good player for us at the moment. He did show well in our first year when we took him on loan and then he did his knee ligaments. He then did particularly well to get back for the World Cup last year, but it was too early. I think trying to get back for the World Cup hindered him. I am always a believer that if you are out for a year, which he was, it takes you a year after that to get back into your stride. ut, he's doing very well for us right now."
11 October 2007
Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce has backed Sammy Lee and believes Bolton should stick by their manager.
The Trotters are currently second from bottom in the league, following their 1-0 loss against Bruce's side on Saturday.
The defeat is their fifth in six matches and the pressure is beginning to build on the Bolton chief.
But Bruce believes Lee always faced a tough task in filling Sam Allardyce's shoes, and has pleaded with the board at Bolton not to make a rash decision in sacking their manager.
"It would be difficult for any manager to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal or Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United given the standards they have achieved," Bruce explained.
"Now the same is going to be true of little Sammy in replacing big Sam at Bolton. Let's be fair, big Sam did an outstanding job there for several years. Little Sammy needs a little bit of time to do it his way - and the one thing he's got to have now is time because five or six games in, after a new manager walks through the door, you've got to give him a chance to prove himself. If you look at any successful club - and Bolton are one - they have got continuity. There's going to be bad times. There have been low times for me in my six years at Birmingham but today we're sitting 12th or whatever we are in the Premier League. The club have stood by me and I've repaid them by being loyal, which is what you need. Then you have a chance. If you appoint somebody, then just throw them out, you're never going to be successful. I hope the people at Bolton give their support to little Sammy because it's a tough, tough job, believe me."
10 October 2007
Keith Gillespie has been named in Northern Ireland's squad for the team's Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden on Wednesday.
Gillespie was fined after an altercation with George McCartney prior to the team's flight back from Iceland last month and is named in a 19-man party, despite missing Sheffield United's defeat to Bristol City at the weekend through injury.
Luton midfielder Stephen Robinson has also been included by Nigel Worthington – Robinson won the last of his six caps against Azerbaijan in 2005.
After disappointing back-to-back defeats in Latvia and Iceland last month, the Northern Irish lie third in Group F, three points behind leaders Sweden and Spain.
The full squad:
Maik Taylor (Birmingham), Alan Mannus (Linfield), Michael McGovern (Celtic); Stephen Craigan (Motherwell), Tony Capaldi (Cardiff), George McCartney (West Ham), Aaron Hughes (Fulham), Jonny Evans (Manchester United), Gareth McAuley (Leicester); Keith Gillespie (Sheffield United), Steven Davis (Fulham), Sammy Clingan (Nottingham Forest), Grant McCann (Barnsley), Chris Brunt (West Brom), Stephen Robinson (Luton Town), Steve Jones (Burnley); David Healy (Fulham), Kyle Lafferty (Burnley), Ivan Sproule (Bristol City)
