With this season’s player of the year voting looking as open as it’s been in a decade, many names have been put forward for the much sought-after prize.

The likes of Ashley Young and Nemanja Vidic are seen by many as genuine contenders in a year where there is seemingly no standout candidate for the award.

However, in the last month a new name has emerged.

At 35 years old, Ryan Giggs was expected by many to be a bit-part player in Manchester United’s quest for honours this season, having begun both the Champions League final and the Premier League title decider at Wigan last May on the substitutes’ bench.

This wasn’t a surprise to many, who felt his best days were behind him after a series of poor performances in the previous campaign.

However, after strong showings against the likes of Chelsea and West Ham in the last month, it appears that Giggs is no longer past it, but as good as ever.

And in the process, the Welshman has emerged as many people’s favourite for the coveted crown.

A worthy contender, perhaps? Or is this just an act of nostalgia?

There’s no doubting Giggs’ undoubted quality and consistency during his 19 year tenure at Old Trafford. After all, he’s notched up 147 goals in 687 starts and 101 substitute appearances, and has managed to score in 19 consecutive league seasons.

It’s testament to his ability and how he’s looked after himself throughout his career that he can still perform at the highest level, and that Sir Alex Ferguson still trusts him in the big games for his experience and know-how.

But with only nine Premiership starts and a solitary goal to his name, the choice of Giggs as footballer of the year would be no more than a sentimental one.

Recent performances have certainly been special, as he has rolled back the years with a series of quality displays in a variety of positions.

However, it has to be said other players have been more consistent throughout the season, with Vidic in particular a key ingredient in United’s recent success.

The Serbian has been outstanding in a United side seemingly intent on breaking defensive records as they go along, and with 23 appearances to his name, he’s been a model of consistency for his side as they continue to strive for success on all fronts.

In a campaign where clean sheets have formed the basis of United’s success, he has been a key factor. His importance cannot be understated, and the accolade would be richly deserved in an award where defenders are largely ignored in favour of attacking players.

Indeed, Vidic has shown the true form that is required from the footballer of the year. Even Giggs himself would testify to that.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

“Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are the longest-serving managers, and that’s no coincidence. When they had difficult times – and both did – they were given time to get it right and bed things down. Yet at other clubs, the manager leaves straight away, because he isn’t given any control.”

“I’ve been here six years, and that makes me the third longest-serving manager, and in a way, that’s some sort of success.”

– David Moyes, Everton manager (2002-present)

As things stand, 29 managers have been relieved of their duties already this season in the top four divisions — and it’s only January!

For some, past glories have meant precious little. Take the recent scandalous sacking of Martin Ling at Leyton Orient for instance. Yes, the O’s currently find themselves embroiled in a scrap at the foot of the table in League One, but are by no means cut adrift. But, after over five years of good service at Brisbane Road, including a successful promotion campaign in 2006, he was dispensed of as soon as the going got tough. The irony of the decision? Ling was linked with the Swindon Town job a matter of weeks ago, a club where he has strong links from his playing days. However, Ling, who was the sixth longest serving manager in the league, stayed loyal to his present employers and look where that got him.

And what about Aidy Boothroyd at Watford? He massively overachieved in his first season in charge by guiding his side to the Premiership. However, following relegation, he had a number of players sold under his nose and received no money for new signings in return, making progress a near impossible task. Working as well as he could with what he had, Boothroyd was also dismissed. How the Hornets could do with his fighting qualities now, with the club embroiled in a relegation battle at the bottom of the Championship.

Unreasonable expectations from the fans and board alike also appear to be a factor. Earlier in the season, Alan Curbishley walked out on West Ham citing a “breach of trust and confidence” as his reasons for leaving Upton Park. But in reality, he had one of the most thankless tasks in football. West Ham fans not only want success, but good, attacking football. A big ask in the Premier League these days without big resources. Curbishley never truly endeared himself to the West Ham faithful, and his departure was inevitable.

It’s the same in the lower leagues too. Danny Wilson was ridiculously sacked from his post at Hartlepool after seeing his side slip into the bottom half of the table in League One. Hardly a crisis, is it? But the Pools board certainly thought so, and the experienced Wilson was sent packing.

Some dismissals were warranted, however. The departures of Glenn Roeder at Norwich City and Alan Pardew at Charlton Athletic were more than justified, with both teams struggling for confidence and form. However, with both clubs appointing their replacements from within, it seems the cheap option is preferred as the two clubs strive to stay in the Championship.

There are exceptions to the rule, though. Despite Middlesborough’s precarious position in the Premier League, Gareth Southgate will be given plenty of time to turn things round at the Riverside Stadium. In Steve Gibson he has one of the most patient chairmen in football, and the emphasis on English youth has been refreshing to see at Boro.

Mick McCarthy at Wolves is another example of a manager being given time to turn things round. Last season saw McCarthy spend lots of money, only to see his Wolves side fail to make the play-offs. But, he was backed by his chairman, Steve Morgan, and his Wolves side are now reaping the rewards, sitting pretty at the top of the table and playing some fabulous football to boot.

Of course, football is a results business, and no more so than in today’s cut throat industry. The price of success and failure is all too much to bear these days. Managers have to learn from their mistakes, and those who have made mistakes must be given time to do so. Chopping and changing constantly is not the key to success, and a glance at the top of the longest serving managers list will tell you that.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

2009 is set to be a fine year indeed for football fans. And no less so for these ten players; ten players who all have the potential to excite audiences across the country.

Big moves could well beckon for these young stars in 2009:

Jamie Ward — Chesterfield

The diminutive striker has notched 14 goals in 22 starts for Chesterfield this season, and is attracting the interest of a number of Championship clubs. Pacy and with an eye for goal, The Northern Ireland U21 international may be due a big move sooner rather than later with his current contract due to run out in June.

However, a summer move could be the more likely option, with Ward looking increasingly likely to review his options at the end of the season.

Tommy Rowe — Stockport County

With five goals already this season, Rowe is a big part of the Hatters second successive push for promotion, with the 20 year old left winger having all the physical and technical attributes to make an impact in the higher echelons of English Football. Rowe is one of many young starlets attracting interest at Edgeley Park, with the likes of Kevin Pilkington and Jimmy McNulty also being monitored by scouts across the country. Manager Jim Gannon will certainly have a job keeping his young side together over January to maintain their playoff charge.

Joe Lewis — Peterborough

England have already come calling, what next for the Peterborough goalkeeper? Everton and QPR have expressed an interest in the past for the 6’6 keeper, who commands his area well and can pull off spectacular saves when required. The Posh won’t let him go easily though, and have the financial clout and big ambition to convince Lewis to stay at London Road.

Victor Moses — Crystal Palace

The sky is the limit for Moses, who has bags of pace and ability. A regular for England’s Under 19 squad, Moses is equally at home on either wing, and after bursting onto the scene so successfully last season, the winger was the subject of much transfer speculation, with the likes of Arsenal expressing an interest in the player. However, after signing a 4 year deal with Crystal Palace, it appears Moses has committed his future to Palace — for now at least.

John-Joe O’Toole — Watford

Watford’s fans haven’t had much to cheer about this season, but in O’Toole they have a proper player. The midfielder has come through the ranks at Vicarage Road, and at 6’2 is a great athlete as well as a great passer of the ball, with eight goals to his name already this season — not a bad return for a 20 year old in only his second season as a professional. With international football at senior level for the Republic of Ireland surely beckoning, will Watford be tempted to cash in on another of their assets when the big clubs undoubtedly come crawling?

Scott Davies — Reading (on loan at Aldershot)

After leaving his mark on the Blue Square Premier, the on loan Reading youngster is now setting his sights on the Football League, and Gary Waddock’s Aldershot are once again reaping the benefits of the winger’s services. A player with a great work rate and accurate delivery, Davies is also quite capable of producing the spectacular. However, it remains to be seen whether the 20 year old will be given the chance to show off his obvious talents at his parent club, Reading. If not, other clubs will be sure to express an interest in the midfielder.

Sam Baldock —Milton Keynes Dons

Born and bred in Milton Keynes, the emergence of Sam Baldock from promising youngster to first team regular has surprised almost everyone at Stadium: MK. A player with great pace and movement; Baldock is also very composed in front of goal, as his 9 goals in 21 starts this season would testify to. Celtic are rumoured to be interested in the 19 year old hitman, but MK will want to keep hold of their sole home grown talent as long as possible.

Kyle Naughton — Sheffield United

A product of The Blades youth academy, Naughton has made the right-back spot at Sheffield United his own this season. A player comfortable in defence but just as adept going forward to support the attack — Naughton is a fine player, with blistering pace and skill to boot — not traits you’d necessarily associate with a defender. A lifelong Blades fan, Naughton will be hoping to take his hometown club back to the Premiership this season — before the Premiership comes to him.

Scott Dann — Coventry City

Strong, brave and good in the air, The 21 year old has shown maturity beyond his tender years for Coventry during this campaign as captain as one of the youngest backlines in the Championship. After making a successful into the England Under-21s set up, the future certainly looks bright for the young centre-back, who has played at every level in the Football League pyramid so far.

Will Buckley – Rochdale

Premier League scouts have been flocking to Spotland to watch this exciting winger for quite some time now, and the 19 year old has duly obliged with some splendid performances. With six goals to his name already this season, it seems like a matter of time before Buckley moves on to pastures new. But after losing top stars such as Grant Holt, Glenn Murray and Rickie Lambert over the years, Rochdale will be determined to hang on to their man for a while yet as they strive for promotion from League Two.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

In light of the two management roles made vacant at Premiership sides Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers, many managers were considered. Some candidates had Premiership experience, some had experience abroad, and some had little or no coaching experience at all. However, one manager was ignored altogether, and when looking at his record and undoubted pedigree, it’s hard to see why Gary Johnson wasn’t considered for either role.

He’s served his apprenticeship in all of the lower leagues, with success stories at Cambridge United, Yeovil Town and more recently, Bristol City to speak of. And he’s managed at international level with Latvia. His CV is one that many managers would envy.

Yet, when it comes to the big jobs, Johnson is constantly ignored.

Is it because he isn’t seen as a big name? It’s a common thought that the best players don’t necessarily make the best managers, and that could well be true in Johnson’s case, where his playing career was modest to say the least. It’s through hard work and endeavour that he has got to where he is today.

His record compares favourably with that of Paul Ince, yet it was the former England midfielder who got the call to take the Blackburn job in the summer. Six months later, Ince unceremoniously got the boot at Ewood Park. Who’s to say Johnson couldn’t have done a better job?

After all, he has all the tools to succeed. Johnson is seen as a great man-manager who can get the best out of people. Players work hard for him, and more importantly, enjoy working for him. Who expected Bristol City to be in the promotion mix last season? To be 90 minutes away from The Premiership was beyond all Robins fans dreams.

And his manner with the media is something to admire. In front of the cameras, the Londoner is confident and perceptive. It’s to his credit that he has appeared on Match Of The Day, a place where managers from the lower leagues are largely ignored.

The football? Like the best managers, Johnson adapts to the conditions accordingly, and isn’t afraid to instruct his team to go direct when adverse weather conditions make a crisp passing style difficult. But on their day, The Robins are as attractive to watch as anyone in the Championship.

Johnson’s approach was no more evident than at Yeovil — where the Glovers stormed the Conference and Divison Three titles with displays of scintillating, attacking football. It was a joy to watch, and it was this success that saw him get the call at Ashton Gate.

So, has he taken Bristol City as far as he can? Quite possibly. City currently lie in 15th place in the Championship — nine points away from the playoff spots. A fresh challenge may be required if Johnson is to fulfil his undoubted management potential.

But as times go by, it seems Premiership clubs are becoming increasingly reluctant to take a punt on managers from the lower leagues. Foreign appointments are seen as a better option.

The last success story to come from the lower leagues was a certain David Moyes, who after impressing with Preston North End was taken from Deepdale to Goodison Park in 2002.

And he hasn’t done too badly, has he?

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The 24th of July, 2007.

A day that will go down in folklore for Brighton fans, as it marks the day that planning permission for their new home in Falmer, East Sussex was finally granted, after over ten years of temporary homes.

Finally, Brighton have the luxury of home comforts, the luxury of a stadium to call their own. A luxury most football fans take for granted.

It’s been a struggle to get this far, however. Many obstacles have stood in Brighton’s way, and much money has been lost.

It all began in 1997, with Brighton’s financial situation looking precarious and bankruptcy becoming increasingly likely.

In an attempt to generate money and pay off the mounting debts that were crippling the club, a controversial decision was made, a decision that to this day has hampered the club’s progress.

The Goldstone ground was sold without the fans consent by the club’s directors, and the land surrounding the stadium was sold to property developers.

Brighton had been left homeless, and almost penniless.

In the club’s final season at the Goldstone ground, with only two games remaining, Brighton were staring at relegation from the Football League to the Conference flat in the face.

Brighton beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0 in the final match at the Goldstone, setting up what was billed as a winner takes all match against the team directly below them, Hereford, on the final day of the season. Brighton had to draw or win to stay up, and despite an early set back, The Seagulls managed to draw 1-1 and send Hereford down in the process.

After ground sharing with Gillingham for the 1997/98 season, Brighton moved into their temporary home, the Withdean stadium, a stadium they reside in to this day. The ground is primarily used as an athletics track, and only holds 8,500 people.

Suffice to say, this was not the long term solution that Seagulls fans craved.

Of course, the move to Falmer was always the long term objective, but that seemed far away at this point.

However, despite this turmoil Brighton prospered, on the pitch at least.

After a few turbulent years at the wrong end of the table, Micky Adams stabilized the club, and delivered promotion from the old Division Three, with the Seagulls going up as champions in 2001. It proved to be Brighton’s most successful season in 13 years.

The momentum continued during the following season, despite the loss of Adams to Leicester, who gave the lack of a permanent stadium and facilities as his reasons for why he traded the Second Division title race for the Premiership relegation dogfight.

Peter Taylor replaced Adams in the hot seat, and Taylor maintained the Seagulls momentum. Brighton ended the season as Division Two champions, and back to back promotions had been achieved.

Suddenly, after the threat of extinction and non league football, Brighton were now only a division away from the promised land of the Premier League.

It had been quite the turn around.

Life in Division One wasn’t quite so plain sailing, however. Taylor left The Seagulls to take on the Hull City job, a club who were below Albion in the footballing pyramid, but well ahead in ambition and facilities.

Once again, Brighton had lost a talented manager, and the lack of good facilities at the club was hampering their progress on the field.

Martin Hinshelwood was promoted from youth team manager and charged with the job of keeping Brighton in the division. Hinshelwood struggled, proceeding over an 11 match winless streak, and was eventually relieved of his duties, with Steve Coppell taking over.

Coppell improved the club’s fortunes, but couldn’t do enough to stop the inevitability of relegation.

Coppell eventually left Brighton for Reading, a club who were once again well ahead in terms of infrastructure, and was replaced by Mark McGhee, who took the Seagulls back up at the first attempt through the playoffs. McGhee even managed to keep the club in the division during the following campaign, with Brighton finishing in 20th position, in what was their highest league position in 14 years.

No small feat with such small crowds, and you felt a new ground was the final piece of the jigsaw to exploit Brighton’s undoubted potential. Afterall, managers were departing because of this, and the club would always struggle with such low income streams.

And sure enough, problems began to arise.

While Brighton City Council approved the stadium plans for Falmer, Lewes District Council fought valiantly against it, believing “the stadium will erode the important gap of open countryside between the built up area of Brighton and Falmer village.”

However, on the 28th October 2005 , the plans for Falmer were finally approved, and the city of Brighton could finally rejoice. The hard work had paid off.

Or so we thought.

Lewes council appealed the decision, citing problems with where the stadium is located within the boundary of the built up area of Brighton. Due to this, the plans were withdrawn, and The Albion were back to square one.

And on the field, the Seagulls were once again struggling. Brighton had been relegated from the Championship, and the following season began with uncertainty.

McGhee was eventually received of his duties, with the inexperienced Dean Wilkins given the chance to revive the club’s fortunes.

And while he did so with moderate success, achieving successive mid-table finishes with a relatively young squad, off the field was where the real success story came.

On Tuesday the 24th of July, 2007, The Secretary of State said yes to Falmer once again, subject to appeal within a 6 week period.

And to the relief of all those concerned, Lewes District Council announced that they would not appeal against the decision.

Relief all round for the city of Brighton, who had fought valiantly for this. All the marches to Falmer and petitions to the MP had now been worth it.

The Brighton faithful had a place to call home, eleven years after their previous home had been taken away from them so cruelly.

So now we come to today. Micky Adams is now back at the helm at Brighton, the very man who kick-started this whole success story on the pitch.

Still relatively young in management terms at 47, Adams could well be the man to provide success for the Albion faithful. With the club hovering just over the relegation zone though, there is work to be done.

And work is due to begin on the Falmer project later this month, which looks ambitious to say the least. The project is due to finish in August 2011, and the new state of the art stadium should hold 22,000 fans.

Some have called these plans overly ambitious, but with the potential of the Sussex area and the size of The Seagulls fan base, which has been shown by their large Wembley followings, Brighton should finally prosper and establish themselves in the Championship.

After many false dawns, exciting times could lie ahead for the city of Brighton and their long suffering fans.

And after ten years of frustration, who could begrudge them that?

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Prior to Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against title rivals Arsenal, ‘Big’ Phil Scolari had avoided controversy during the opening six months of his reign as Chelsea manager. Scolari let his Chelsea team do their talking on the pitch, and with some fabulous football along with some good results, the Brazilian had adapted to life in England well.

There were no mind games, and no criticising referees. Scolari just seemed to go about his job nicely —a stark contrast to the days of The Special One, that’s for sure.

Dare I say it; people were starting to respect Chelsea, if not necessarily like them. People admired their football. They were gracious in defeat, as shown when beaten by Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, a defeat that ended Chelsea’s record breaking home record, where they didn’t lose for 86 games.

However, the pressure cooked environment of the title race has finally got to Big Phil, with yesterday’s defeat prompting an outburst more reminiscent of Jose Mourinho’s days at the Bridge.

And there was nothing “likeable” about it.

Scolari accused Mike Dean, the referee in yesterday’s encounter, of “killing” his Chelsea team, and even hinted at conspiracy theories, after Dean’s assistant failed to spot Robin Van Persie was offside for Arsenal’s first goal.

All quite ludicrous really, and with the club’s four and a half year unbeaten home record now an all too distant memory, maybe it’s all starting to get to Big Phil? Has he shown the first signs of cracking under the pressure?

Because although it’s clear Van Persie was indeed offside for Arsenal’s opener yesterday, there was still half an hour of football to play after that incident. And in that period, Chelsea conceded another goal not too shortly after, and in reply, failed to seriously test the Arsenal goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia.

And that isn’t down to the officials, that is down to Scolari and his Chelsea team.

The fact is, Chelsea don’t have a plan B, and the rest of the Premiership seems to have worked this out. Much like Newcastle and Liverpool did so successfully, Arsenal stopped the Chelsea full-backs from marauding forward, and therefore negated Chelsea’s threat down the flanks.

And by stopping John Obi Mikel and Deco from starting attacks from deep, Chelsea struggle to get going, and look slow and sluggish.

Chelsea’s recent results would indicate that the Premiership has realized this, with poor results against Liverpool, Newcastle, and now Arsenal halting Chelsea’s early momentum. But Scolari continues to persist with his tactics, refusing to deviate from what he knows.

And though it’s far from a crisis on the domestic front, in the Champions League Chelsea qualification is still not confirmed, with victory needed in the final group game at home against Romanian Champions CFR Cluj to ensure qualification.

Furthermore, without Ricardo Carvalho at the heart of the back line, Chelsea’s defence looks desperately exposed. The lack of strength of depth in the Blues squad is all too evident, and with Chelsea needing a goal yesterday to equalize, there was little firepower on the bench for the Chelsea boss to call upon. The failure to sign Robinho in August increasingly looks like a missed opportunity.

It seems Scolari may well be facing his first signs of adversity as manager, though this won’t be anything new. It’s the nature of the beast, as they say, and Big Phil is indeed big enough to deal with any pressure that may come his way.

But instead of blaming match officials for his team’s failings, Scolari may be better advised to look closer to home.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

It’s been an entertaining start to the Premiership season, and no more so than at the bottom of the table.

Two of the newly promoted teams from the Championship, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, faced off at the weekend—two teams that have contrasting styles and fortunes on the pitch.

First, let’s look at Stoke City. They’re direct, uncompromising, and as we know, they like to launch the ball long from the back, and play for set-pieces and Rory Delap’s now famous throw-ins.

It may not be pretty, but it’s effective, with some strong home form at the Britannia Stadium keeping the Potters’ heads above water for now.

Then you have West Brom, a team who look easy on the eye with some neat, passing football, but are ultimately losing games and struggling in the relegation zone.

Now, both managers have had plenty of time at their respective clubs to make their mark and blend their team into the style of their choosing, and as a result both sides spent a fair amount of money in the summer to try and keep their sides in the Premier League, but took different approaches with the signings they made.

Tony Pulis at Stoke went for players to compliment the direct style that had served his side so well previously, with the likes of Dave Kitson and Seyi Olofinjana bolstering the ranks.

Stoke fans knew what kind of players they were getting, and you have to say it’s been a pretty successful policy so far, with the Potters sitting outside of the drop zone.

On the contrary, West Brom went abroad and drafted in the likes of Borja Valero and Ryan Donk to play their own more cultured style.

And with West Brom rooted to the bottom of the table, one would argue it’s a policy that hasn’t worked thus far, though their bold style of play has won them many fans across the country.

For me, this is bad management on Tony Mowbray’s part. Though their approach to the game is indeed admirable, football is first and foremost a results business, and West Brom just aren’t cutting it at the moment.

Mowbray’s reluctance to change things could prove costly for the Baggies, and may well cost them their Premiership status.

Of course, there are some exceptions. Fulham managed to stay up last season playing some attractive football, but that’s more the exception to the rule.

Generally, you need grit and discipline, something which Stoke have in abundance, and which West Brom undoubtedly lack. And in the Premiership, you need to be able to battle with the best of them.

You don’t win extra points for shots outside the area, nor do you for smart passing moves. You do win matches by scoring goals and it doesn’t matter how they go in, be it a long throw or a long ball launched from the back.

But what about the likes of Stoke and Bolton? Two sides that are perfectly capable of playing good football themselves, and a look at the weekend’s action will show you just that.

Stoke’s goal came from a swift one-two and cross in the box, and Matt Taylor’s goal against Middlesborough for Bolton came from a great passing move.

Yet for these teams their reputations precede them, and their good football is largely ignored.

Of course, Mowbray himself has refused to abandon his footballing principles, and West Brom will continue to play their way, no matter what the consequences.

Some would call this honorable and applaud his decision.

I wonder if West Brom fans will feel the same come May, with Championship football to look forward to once again?

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

It’s no real surprise to see Darlington topping the League Two table at this early stage of this season. After all, we’ve been here before — a promising start only to see the Quakers fall at the final hurdle in such frustrating fashion.

But could it be different this time? Could this be the year Darlington validate everyone’s faith in them and achieve promotion?

Darlington seem to have become part of the furniture in League Two, with only Rochdale inhabiting the division for a longer period of time. The Quakers themselves have been in the bottom tier since 1992, after a brief stay in the depths of Non-League, when Brian Little rescued the club and delivered back-to-back promotions before moving on to pastures new. But that’s not to say it’s been dull for the North East side. Darlington have had their fair share of dramas over the years, and one man was at the forefront of them.

Enter George Reynolds.

The outspoken and controversial Reynolds came in as Chairman in 2000, and promised big ideas and even bigger names. But the talk of Faustino Asprilla and Paul Gascoigne arriving at Darlington was exactly that — just talk.

Reynolds certainly left his mark in the North East. Premiership football was the dream, but massive debts and a 25,000 stadium that Darlington clearly couldn’t fill nor afford was the harsh reality of Reynolds’ reign.

Administration followed in 2003, with the club facing a claim of £15m from their former owner. Reynolds eventually resigned, but not before an outrageous outburst from his wife, in which she accused the squad of throwing a game. This was indeed the final straw, and Reynolds left the club second from bottom in the table and staring relegation flat in the face.

Local favorite David Hodgson was given the task of reviving the Quakers fortunes, and he did so successfully, saving the club from relegation in what looked like dark times indeed for the Quakers.

And with Reynolds gone and Hodgson taking the managerial reigns for a third time, promotion was now on the agenda for Darlington, in what seemed like a new era, a fresh start even.

Many players were brought in to the North East, with the likes of Craig Hignett and Alun Armstrong drafted in to provide some much needed Premiership experience.

But as much as Hodgson tried, despite his undoubted love for the club, and despite the obvious funds at his disposal, he just couldn’t deliver, with the Quakers finishing 8th two seasons in a row — agonisingly close to the playoffs.

And after allegations of an approach from then League One side Bournemouth, and a poor start to the season to boot, Hodgson was soon on his way.

And that’s where Dave Penney comes in.

The former Doncaster manager knows exactly what it takes to gain promotion at this level after a productive spell at Doncaster, taking the club from the Conference to League One.

And Penney wasted no time in making his mark.

Almost straight away Penney sorted out the defence, knowing fine well that most successes at this level are built from the back, and getting the basics right. Defenders Stephen Foster and Neil Austin came in to shore things up defensively, and Pawel Abbott was drafted in to supply the goals at the other end.

In the lower leagues, if you can get it right in both boxes, you’re always in with a chance, and Penney realised this.

And only last season, Penney took Darlington into the playoffs, only for the Quakers to lose out to Rochdale on penalties at the semi-final stage.

It was a cruel way to lose, especially with a trip to Wembley at stake.

And now we come to this season. With the team’s budget being cut significantly, Darlington are ‘moneybags’ no more. So the astute Penney turned to the loan market to strengthen this squad, taking a leaf out of Graham Turner’s book at Hereford.

Out of favour at their parent clubs, strikers Liam Hatch and Billy Clarke were drafted in from Peterborough and Ipswich respectively, and the pairing have struck up a formidable strike partnership, with Hatch’s strength and aerial prowess complimenting Clarke’s pace and movement well. It’s a classic big man, small man partnership, and it’s paying dividends for the Quakers.

And they’re keeping it tight at the back too. Alan White and Stephen Foster in the centre of defence have plenty of experience and know how, and even in the midfield there’s balance, with Ricky Ravenhill providing the grit and Jason Kennedy providing the flair in the middle of the park.

It’s a winning formula as things stand in November, with Darlington sitting pretty at the top of League Two. But titles aren’t awarded in November, and Quakers fans know that all too well.

So, can Dave Penney’s boys last the pace, or will it be another case of so close, yet so far?

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Sitting comfortably in mid-table, after two wins and clean sheets in a row, you’d think Bolton fans would be fairly content with their team’s form, and their manager Gary Megson.

After all, Megson kept Bolton up in remarkable circumstances last year, after Sammy Lee’s disastarious tenure in charge. And there was even a decent UEFA Cup run to boot, with memorable results against the likes of Bayern Munich and Red Star Belgrade something to savour.

Yet there are still rumblings of discontent from the Wanderers faithful. The football is too negative, apparantly, with Bolton more concerned about keeping a clean sheet than actually going and scoring at the other end.

But there lies the problem. Because football, first and foremost, is a results business. There’s just too much money involved for teams to go out and attack these days. The risk is simply too much, with the money in the Premiership so vital, especially for teams like Bolton. Relegation would be disastarous. A healthy dose of realism is required, and Megson realises this.

Taking a step back to last season, and after the departure of Sam Allardyce, Bolton decided to change things. Sammy Lee attempted to get Wanderers playing a more expansive brand of football after the direct style of Allardyce, but ultimately failed, with only five points from their opening ten games a poor return. The experiment went wrong, and could so easily have cost Bolton their Premiership status.

So Gartside went back to basics, and went back to what he knew. Lee was given the boot after a matter of months, and to the dismay of many, Megson was appointed. Fans at the Reebok Stadium were outraged, so much so that only 1.7 per cent of fans were in favour of his appointment, according to a website poll.

Talk about starting on the wrong foot.

Then again, this is nothing new for Megson. He’s never been a popular manager, with his pragmatic style of play never endearing him to fans, who prefer to see attractive, attacking football. And who doesnt? But pretty football doesnt get you out of a relegation battle, does it? It’s about rolling your sleeves up, working hard, and getting the basics right.

So Megson got to work, and got Bolton doing the basics properly again. Of course, it took time, but slowly but surely, the Trotters began to get results. They were hard working, organised, defensively sound, and strong from set-pieces. The old Bolton Wanderers were back, doing what they did best, playing to their strengths, and doing what they needed to do to stay up. It wasnt about winning popularity contests, it was about achieving results, however way they could.

What’s more, the loss of influential striker Nicolas Anelka in January was seen to be the last straw by many, with the goals supply surely drying up. He was seen as the only bit of genuine quality in an otherwise mediocre side. Without Anelka, there were no goals, and seemingly no hope.

But Megson didn’t panic, and strenghened elsewhere in the squad. Matt Taylor, Gary Cahill, and Gretar Steinsson were all drafted in, amongst others. Once again, they weren’t signings to get the fans pulses racing, but they were hard working and committed players who would give their all for the cause. And the new signings certainly had the desired effect, as the likes of Cahill and Taylor all played their part in keeping Bolton in the Premiership.

And so Bolton did stay up, in what was quite frankly a remarkable achievement. At one stage, Megson’s side looked dead and buried, and some journalists had wrote them off completely, condemning the team to relegation. But in the end, we were all proved wrong, as The Trotters pulled off what was in my eyes one of the greatest turnarounds in recent history.

There was even the added bonus of a profitable run in the UEFA Cup, though the competition eventually proved to be too much of a distraction, as Megson put the club’s domestic campaign first. Once again, Megson was criticised for not giving the competition enough respect, but in the end his decision proved to be vindicated.

Megson was hired to save the team from relegation, nothing more, nothing less. A European adventure just wasn’t in the job description.

Moving onto this season, and it’s been more of the same from Bolton and Megson, and the fans don’t like it. Sure, it’s been an inconsistent start, and results havent always been good. And suprise suprise, the style of play hasn’t changed.

But given the way Megson turned things round last season, you’d think Bolton fans would be more patient towards the man who kept them up against the odds last season.

The abuse that Megson suffered at the hands of his own fans away at Tottenham was nothing short of ridiculous, and in my opinion completely undeserved.

Then again, football fans have notoriously short memories, don’t they? Megson out? Be careful what you wish for…

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Ah, the FA Cup. The greatest cup competition in the world, or an unwanted distraction? It totally depends on who you ask really, with some managers putting their league campaigns first, and others looking for that bit of cup magic to spark life into their season.

Personally, I love the FA cup, but it seems others are slowly falling out of love with the competition, with league position taking precedence in today’s money orientated footballing world. And that’s a great shame, with some of my greatest footballing memories coming from the FA Cup..and some of my worst too. But that’s just it, it’s a competition where the part-timers get their 90 minutes of fame, where the minnows get to mix it with the big boys.

And sometimes, miracles happen, and the big boys get embarrassed. And that’s the magic of the cup. Heroes can, and will be made.

Anyhow, I digress. The First Round proper kicks off this weekend, and there’s some rather tasty looking ties indeed.

So, where are the potential banana skins? Where will the magic come from?

Histon vs Swindon Town

With Histon going so well in the Blue Square Premier currently, and Swindon looking so inconsistent in League One, this one could have cupset written all over it. Under the stewardship of John Beck, who will have his Histon side up for this I’m sure, you just know The Stutes will be hard to play against, and will pull out all the stops to get a result. Throw in the tight non-league ground factor – something Swindon wont be accustomed to, and it could be Histon’s day.

Carlisle United vs Grays Athletic

Two sides in complete turmoil, but for very different reasons. Either way, this game should provide a welcome distraction for both sides.

For Carlisle it’s all change, with John Ward leaving the club earlier in the week and Greg Abbott taking temporary charge of team affairs for the second time. A chance for Abbott to stake a claim for the permanent job, you’d have to think, though he has a job on his hands rejuvinating this Carlisle side, with only one point from their last 27.

It’s not all rosy at Grays howver, far from it in fact. Sat firmly in the relegation zone in the Blue Square Premier, with the squad asked to take a 50% paycut, their problems really put things in perspective at Carlisle. But a cup run might be just what the Essex club needs, and with nothing to lose and the squad no doubt all pulling together in their current plight, I fancy Grays to pile on the misery for Carlisle at Brunton Park.

Kettering Town vs Lincoln City

Sure, Kettering have bigger fish to fry, with promotion on the agenda (and who could have predicted that?) but winning breeds confidence, and at the moment Kettering Town are flying. The Blue Square Premier table toppers will no doubt fancy their chances against a frustratingly inconsistent Lincoln side, who just havent got going this season in League Two.

Team Bath vs Forest Green

What on earth has happened at Forest Green? So effective and easy on the eye last season, this season they look a different proposition altogether, with Jim Harvey’s side languishing in the relegation places. On the other hand, Team Bath are going strong in the Blue Square South, and the passionate home support at Twerton Park could well guide them past a Rovers side looking desperately short of confidence.

Torquay United vs Evesham

No upset here folks (wow, how much could I regret saying that?), but a chance for the Gulls to stretch their unbeaten record to 13 games in all competitions. The club record of 16 games unbeaten is within sight, as Paul Buckle and his Torquay squad look to make history. Let’s just hope Evesham dont spoil the party.

So, there we have it. Contrary to popular belief, the FA Cup doesnt start in Round 3 when the Premiership teams join in, and plenty of heroes will be made this weekend alone. Could Havant and Waterlooville upset the odds again against high flying Brentford? Could Hornchurch bring big spending Peterborough back down to earth? Or better yet, how about AFC Wimbledon getting one over on Peter Taylor’s Wycombe Wanderers?

AFC Wimbledon vs Milton Keynes Dons in Round Two anyone? Now wouldn’t that be something.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News