Sunderland boss Roy Keane has admitted he may have to alter his training regime after witnessing a first-half horror show against Fulham in the 1-1 draw on Saturday.
The Black Cats turned in a spectacularly inept first 45 minutes to belie the manager's assertion that they can make a significant impact in the top flight.
What transpired before the break made a second-half fightback look perhaps a little more impressive than it was, and while Keane was happy to see his players secure a reward for their efforts, he is well aware that, to a certain extent, that simply papered over the cracks.
In the wake of a frenetic finish, during which Kenwyne Jones' 86th-minute equaliser set the scene for substitute Anthony Stokes to almost snatch victory in injury-time, the Irishman revealed he had already started to analyse the reasons for a woeful start.
Keane, who has been hampered by injuries from the off this season, said: "We are asking players to keep pushing their bodies. That is well and good at Christmas or Easter, but so early in the season, it is something I don't like doing. As a manager, I have got to ask myself why we were so flat in the first half. Possibly we are training too hard, possibly we are pushing the players, and sometimes you can leave it out on the training pitch. Credit to our players, they train extremely hard. There is always that intensity, there are always tackles flying about. But then I ask myself why have we got a load of injuries? That is down to me as a manager and we have to look at that because in any game in the Premier League, if you start slow, it's not like a light switch, you cannot just switch it on. You have got to start quickly, and it was a long 45 minutes for us. But I am grateful that we got to half-time."
That the Wearsiders walked off with boos ringing in their ears only 1-0 down was something Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez was to live to regret after his side dominated the opening 45 minutes.
Simon Davies' 32nd-minute free-kick did the damage, but the visitors should perhaps already have been in front after the normally lethal David Healy latched on to Danny Higginbotham's suicidal pass across goal, but contrived to fire wide of the empty net from 20 yards.
Sunderland's improvement after the restart was marked, although it was not until the 70th minute that they really threatened with keeper Antti Niemi blocking Grant Leadbitter's shot after the midfielder broke through the cover.
The Finn repeated the feat at the death when confronted one-one-one by Stokes, but by then Jones had climbed highest to power home his fourth goal of the season from a Leadbitter cross to level.
Asked what he had said at half-time, Keane replied with a smile: "Not too much. Half-time came at a good time - I'm not sure for the players, but for me and the staff. It was a chance to make a few points to them, and credit to them, they took it on board. It was certainly a game of two halves. They were unrecognisable from the first half."
The result was all the more creditable after full-back Greg Halford's second dismissal of the season on 67 minutes for two bookable offences, a misdemeanour which will land him a two-match ban.
But if Halford was disappointed with his afternoon's work, his mood was more than matched by that of Sanchez, who has now seen his side go nine Barclays Premier League games without a win.
He said: "I see some results going on in the Premier League, I see sixes and sevens and fours and fives and threes. We had one bad half against Portsmouth and were beaten 2-0, and that's our worst game of the season. We have been in every other game against top teams from Arsenal all the way down to the Derbys of this world when we played with 10 men. We can compete, but what we cannot seem to do at this moment in time is gather three points from one game. We have to gather them from three games, which does make it rather difficult. But if we play like that in 90 per cent of our games, barring the last five minutes, we will be okay."
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
26 October 2007
Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez insists he has not made a renewed attempt to land West Ham United striker Bobby Zamora.
The former Northern Ireland manager tried unsuccessfully to sign the 26-year-old in the summer but was recently rumoured to be lining up a £4million bid for the player.
However, Sanchez said: "There's money still available. Bobby was a player we asked about during the close season and were told no. I've seen that we've been linked with several players all of a sudden. I don't know where that's come from because there's nothing we can do right now. We wouldn't make our interest known earlier because you look foolish if you don't get the player. It alerts other people, too."
Zamora made his name at Brighton, scoring 77 times in 137 appearances for the Seagulls, but his career stalled after a disappointingly brief spell with Spurs.
Since moving to Upton Park in early 2004, Zamora has found the net 39 times in 142 games for the Hammers.
25 October 2007
West Ham United midfielder Scott Parker has suffered another set-back in his bid to recover from a knee injury.
West Ham's former Newcastle captain Scott Parker was due to return from a knee injury against Fulham reserves on Tuesday night but was forced to pull out and is now expected to be out for another two weeks.
Parker, 27, has been plagued by injury since arriving at the Boleyn Ground from Newcastle in a big-money summer transfer.
He has played just two games for the Hammers and has been plagued by the damage to his knee ligament, sustained during a pre-season friendly against Lazio.
Better news for West Ham manager Alan Curbishley was the return of Scotland midfielder Nigel Quashie in Tuesday's reserve team match.
Quashie had been out since March with ankle and foot injuries, but he came through the game without a problem.
22 October 2007
Fulham keeper Kasey Keller is reportedly set for an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a bicep injury.
The summer signing had fought his way into the team in the last month only to pick up the problem ahead of last weekend's 0-0 draw with Derby.
And American veteran Keller is now tipped to miss at least four months of the campaign as a result.
Keller's absence against the Rams saw a recall for Antti Niemi and he now looks set to keep the number one shirt for the time being.
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.
16 October 2007
Portsmouth's £3million midfielder Papa Bouba Diop has put club before country by opting out of an international friendly against Guinea and a Senegal training camp to rest a damaged hamstring.
Diop, signed from Fulham last month and already a big favourite with the Fratton Park fans after playing a key role in a four-match winning run, told Pompey's official website, www.portsmouthfc.co.uk: "I'm just too tired."
The 29-year-old giant, who had to come off early with a tight hamstring during the 2-0 win over his old club at Craven Cottage a week last Sunday, explained: "It is only a small injury and I should be fine for next game against Wigan (on Saturday). But I thought it was good for me, and good for the team to have some time off rather than go away with the national side. I want to be able to give my best for Portsmouth and sometimes you need a rest to be able to do that."
But while Diop looks certain to continue his ever-present run for Pompey at Wigan, striker Kanu and defender Linvoy Primus still look likely to have to wait for their comebacks.
Primus, 33, feared he had a new problem with the knee on which he had surgery in May, but a specialist has cleared him to return to full training next week and Pompey physio Gary Sadler said: "We were concerned Linvoy had aggravated the old injury or picked up a new one but that's not the case. He is in the gym now building up the muscles around the knee in preparation for a return to training next week."
Primus has not been fit enough for the first-team squad all season and Kanu's knee injury has kept him out of the last three games.
The Nigerian went for specialist treatment in France last week and is reported to be making progress - but the Wigan game appears to be coming too early for him.
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)
05 October 2007
Chelsea captain John Terry has declared himself fit for international duty with England, despite fracturing a cheekbone against Fulham last weekend.
It had been feared Terry would miss England's UEFA EURO 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia later this month after his horror injury.
But Terry wore a protective face mask in Chelsea's UEFA Champions League victory at Valencia in midweek.
"I am definitely going to be ready for England. I'm fit now and no excuses," he said. "It was okay playing in the mask. I got used to it in training and didn't have any problems at all. As long as I am wearing my mask in games it is going to fully protect me. I just have to be careful."
Chelsea's victory in Valencia was a repeat of their success in the Mestalla in last year's competition but this time Joe Cole and Didier Drogba scored the goals that mattered.
Cole tapped home Chelsea's equaliser to cancel out David Villa's ninth-minute opener and Drogba struck a second-half winner.
Cole had a particularly outstanding game and he felt that, after all the upheaval, the team was finally back on track for the first time under Grant.
Cole declared: "We felt like we were really back but it is only a start and we are not going to get too excited. We have set the standard now and we have to keep winning. We have never had doubts it would come good but we need to do it again at Bolton on Sunday. I think we found the extra 5-10 percent we needed at Valencia. In bad situations, the worst thing players can do is start pointing fingers at each other. We all took that on board and had to look at ourselves and perform better. Those guts and togetherness are why we have had so much success."
