Dear WSC
I am glad that Leeds’ 15-point deduction has been upheld, but not because I am “too busy taking pleasure from their fall from grace to give it a moment’s thought” as claimed by Neil Rose in WSC 256. I actually like Leeds, having watched them frequently in the Revie days when they were the object of much opprobrium from the London press despite producing great football, and so I understand why Leeds fans think everybody is against them. Yes, the number of points deducted is arbitrary, but I think everyone agrees that it is wrong for a club to climb the table by spending other people’s money and then being allowed to write off their debts yet not suffer in terms of league position. But that is precisely what Ken Bates tried to do. He was ready to put Leeds into administration at any time, but waited until the club were effectively relegated anyway and then did it instantly, knowing that the automatic ten-point deduction would make no difference to their season. It’s not often I hear myself saying this, but I think the League were perfectly right in their reaction. What they in effect said was: “Yes, you get the automatic points deduction but, as it hasn’t made any difference to you, we will take it off you next season as well and we will take another five off you for trying to manipulate the rules.” If Ken had put the club into administration a week earlier than he did, I suspect this wouldn’t have happened. And you are not “better off going into administration in the Premier League (nine points docked) than in the Football League (ten)”. Nine points in a 38-game season means you have to make up the difference at a rate of 0.237 points per game, while ten points in a 46-game season is a comparatively trivial handicap of only 0.217. It would have been nothing to Leeds if Ken Bates hadn’t made it worse by trying to play the rules.
Mick Blakeman, Wolverhampton
Search: ' coaching'
Stories
French speaking Belgium has been eclipsed politically thanks to industrial collapse, and the rise of the country's Flemish half has been reflected in football, too – until now, reports John Chapman
On Sunday April 20, Standard Liège defeated Anderlecht 2-0 to become Belgian champions for the first time in 25 years. Standard’s coach, the former national-team goalkeeper Michel Preud’homme, was given the keys to the city and politicians queued up to talk about the rebirth of Wallonia.
Liam Brady recently caused a stir on Irish TV, jumping to the defence of Arsène Wenger, but ultimately creating a rift in the studio, writes Paul Doyle
An amusing side-effect of Arsenal’s devotion to playing football “the right way” is that they tend to equate defeats with defacing the Mona Lisa. There is something in the righteous grieving of Arsène Wenger that implies we should all mourn with him when the Gunners are downed – as if sport itself, not just his team, has come up short. The last thing anyone associated with Arsenal wants at such sombre moments is for some mischievous boor to break his arse laughing. Last month on RTE, then, Liam Brady was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
What are the expectations for the team?
Generally lower than they should be given the quality of the players available. The Selecção had a bumpy ride in what looked at the outset to be a perfectly accessible qualifying group. Since then, in the warm-up games against Italy (13) and Greece (1-2), they were outclassed. Asked about the team’s chances, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been loath to commit himself: “There are 16 teams and we have the same 6.2 per cent chance as the others. After that, we’ll have a 12.4 per cent chance, and so on.” Cristiano Ronaldo is more confident: “We have every chance,” he told Spanish magazine Don Balón.
Are there any players who have appeared in TV commercials or other advertising?
As might be expected, Ronaldo is ubiquitous. One recent campaign for the bank BES has him floating wispily out of a football: “I am the Genie of the Ball and I grant you three wishes.” The supermarket chain Modelo, another official sponsor, has gathered players from five generations: a portly Eusébio, Fernando Chalana, Paulo Futre, Rui Costa and Ronaldo: “Live the dream of generations and support Portugal” (by, among other things, buying a scarf at the supermarket for €1).
Is the coach popular?
Opinion is split. Fans seem to be generally happy with him, especially since he’s overseen the most successful period in the Selecção’s history, and his urging people to hang Portugal flags out of their windows and get behind the team met with a good response in the last two tournaments. Most journalists, on the other hand, believe that he should have done even more with the players at his disposal. He is also disliked for his somewhat arrogant, prickly manner at press conferences. Portugal had just qualified with a nervous 0-0 draw against Finland at Porto’s Estádio do Dragão and, in a steadily escalating huff at some uncomfortable questions, he exploded with the now celebrated “I’m a donkey?! I’m a terrible coach?!” before storming out.
Which players are good interviewees and who are the worst?
Ricardo Quaresma is fascinating for his tics (including a trademark nose-scratch). Ricardo and Simão always look like they’ve just been told a great joke and will burst out laughing at any moment. As for what any of them say, it’s generally very non-committal stuff that toes the party line.
Are there any players with unusual hobbies or business interests?
Goalkeeper Ricardo keeps Doberman Pinschers. Midfielder Raúl Meireles has a set of tattoos that wouldn’t look out of place on Prison Break. Ronaldo and Quaresma apparently collect bling.
Do any of the players have famous girlfriends or wives?
The “pink press” makes sure that Cristiano Ronaldo’s girlfriends achieve immediate fame by association. He was with the B-list television presenter Merche Romero, eight years his senior, when he was in Portugal, and she’s still milking the reflected fame. On his arm at the time of writing is Spanish model Nereida Gallardo, who has apparently got as far as meeting the family.
Will there be any rehearsed goal celebrations?
If they make the cut, Nani will be doing his broken-neck-defying somersaults, while catwalk model and occasional footballer Miguel Veloso will be positioning himself strategically at the celebratory huddle to allow photographers to get the best shot of him.
Will any former players be involved in media coverage?
Among the pundits currently working for state channel RTP are Jorge Costa and Paulo Sousa, dour being the order of the day in both cases. Costa was sacked from his first coaching job at Sporting Braga this season because it appeared that he barely had a clue. Sousa’s contract with the Portugal Under-16 Selecção was not renewed last summer, presumably for the same reason.
What will the coverage be like ?
Portuguese TV commentators are notoriously low-key; even when a game is boiling with action and drama, tactics and statistics will be at the forefront. In contrast, radio coverage is always good for breathless enthusiasm and wacky “Goooooooooooooolo!” celebrations. In the press, one of the curiosities will be to see how many different reasons columnists, notably Miguel Sousa Tavares ( a diehard Porto-lover and Scolari-hater), can find to criticise the national coach.
Phil Town
Here are some football-related (and other) websites we like, and also links to some of our advertisers. If you would like your site to be listed here, or you have a site you would like to recommend to us, please drop us a line and we’ll have a look at it.
General football sites
A Football Report Colourful insight on the game
A2Z Soccer Irish soccer news and fixtures
Better Football Coaching blog with technique, tactics, drills and games for grassroots coaches
Better Soccer Coaching Free soccer coaching tips and advice newsletter
Danger Here Humorous Irish football site
Early Bath Football soaps for fans of almost every team
Elcentrocampista A fresh perspective on the game in Spain
Elephants Online All the news and info on Ivory Coast
European Football Statistics Figures (including attendances) from across the continent
Flashscore Live scores and results from 500 leagues
Football books News and reviews
Football Crests Their history and meaning
Football Fans.eu Logging and sharing your match and stadium visits
Football Filter Only the best football sources
Football Management Commentary on the management of clubs by Dr John Beech
Footballness Trivia quizes every week
Football Pakistan Coverage and development of the game in Pakistan
Football Perspectives Analyses of issues surrounding the game on and off the pitch
Football Portugal Daily-updated review of the Portugese football scene
Football Programmes Lots of stuff for collectors
Football Squads Statsfeast for squad news junkies
Football Target News on all the big leagues
Goalkeepers are Different Interesting custodian-based fact site
Golazo Argentino Concentrating on Argentinian football
Groundtastic Everything you could possibly wish to know about football grounds
Hasta El Gol Siempre All about the game in Argentina
In Bed With Maradona The Home Of World Football
Inside Left Scottish football, not just the Old Firm
Junk Archive Liberate your loft and leave a legacy
La Celeste Blog The only English-speaking blog for the Uruguay national team
Les Rosbifs English players abroad, at every level
Must Read Soccer The day’s best soccer writing
Nigel’s Webspace Galleries of English Football Cards 1965/66 – 1979/80
90:00 Soccer Magazine The first magazine of its kind in the US
Nordic Football News The game in northern Europe
Old Football Games Almost 200 nostalgic football games
Peter Upton’s Subbuteo Tribute Website Nostalgia, news and comment
Pitch Invasion Football culture around the world
Played in Britain Retrospectives of Charles Buchan’s Football Monthly and more
Roy of the Rovers Roy, Blackie, Tubbie, the other bloke – all your faves are here
Political Economy of Football Insights into matters of business
Soccerbase Comprehensive facts, figure, data and information about football
Soccerphile.com News and opinions
Sporting Life UK football news, betting info and live match updates
Sportingly better Predictions and fantasy football tips
Sports Books Direct Online sports book shop
Sports Pubs Useful little site with reviews of TV sports pubs in the London area
Statto.com A major internet resource for the football statistician and betting enthusiast
Subbuteo World The online home of table football
Terrace Bint Attempting to address some of the issues of girls and women who go to football
Twohundredpercent Daily insight, particulatly strong on the lower leagues
The Soccer Observer American soccer leagues and the US national teams
The Swiss Ramble Detailed breakdowns of football and finance
The Two Unfortunates The non-partisan blog for everything to do with the English second tier
Voetbalblog Dutch and international football news site
Welsh Football The independent voice of Welsh soccer
Clubs
AFC Bournemouth Court Offside
AFC Wimbledon WISA, SW19’s army
Aberdeen Aberdeen Mad
Accrington Stanley Vital Stanley, Stanley Mad
Airdrie Utd The Stomp
Ajax Ajax Showtime
Albion Rovers AlbionRovers.com
Aldershot Town Shotsweb
Alloa Athletic The Duffle
Annan Athletic Official Website
Arbroath Official Website
Argentinos Juniors The Hand Of Dan
Arsenal The Gooner
Aston Villa Heroes & Villains, VillaTalk
Ayr Utd The Honest Men Trust
Barnet Barnet Mad, BFCSA
Barnsley Barnsleyfc.org.uk
Berwick Rangers Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust
Birmingham City Small Heath Alliance, Keep Right On
Bishop Auckland Bishop AFC
Blackburn Rovers BRFCS
Blackburn Utd Blackburn United FC
Blackpool AVFTT
Bolton Wanderers The Wanderer
Borussia Dortmund BVB09
Bournemouth Court Offside
Bradford City City Gent
Brechin City Official Website
Brentford Griffin Park Grapevine
Brighton & Hove Albion North Stand Chat, The Plight of the Seagull
Bristol City BCST
Bristol Rovers BRSC
Burnley Clarets Mad
Bury The Shakers
Cardiff City Bob Bank Hero
Carlisle Utd CUFC Online
Celtic TalkCeltic.net
Charlton Athletic Addicks Championship Diary, Charlton Life, Addickted
Chelsea CFCnet, Chelsea 2D
Cheltenham Town Cheltenhamshire
Chester City Deva Chat, Chester City
Chesterfield Official Forum, Chesterfield
Clyde Official Website
Colchester Utd The U’sual
Coventry City Gary Mabbutt’s Knee
Cowdenbeath Cowdenbeath.net
Crewe Alexandra Crewe Mad
Crystal Palace The Holmesdale Online, The BBS
Dagenham & Redbridge D&R Forum
Darlington Quakers Mad
Derby County The Rams
Djurgårdens Djurgårdens
Doncaster Rovers Viva Rovers, Unofficial Website
Dumbarton On The Rocks
Dundee The Dees
Dundee Utd TheArabian.co.uk
Dunfermline Athletic Pars Fans
East Fife Away From The Numbers
East Stirlingshire Shire Shout
Elgin City Elgin City Mad
Exeter City Exeweb
Falkirk Falkirk Mad
Forfar Athletic Forfar Athletic Mad
Fulham Fulham Web
Gillingham Brian Moore’s Head
Greenock Morton Greenock Morton Supporters’ Trust
Grimsby Town GTST, Cod Almighty
Halesowen Town Bright Golden Haze
Hamilton Academical Hoops Apocalypse, Accies Mad
Hartlepool Utd The Poolie Bunker
Heart of Midlothian Jambos Kickback
Hereford Utd Bulls News, Bulls Banter
Heriot-Watt University FC HWUFC
Hibernian Easter Road
Huddersfield Town This Is The Barmy Army, Terrier Bytes
Hull City Amber Nectar
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Caley Thistle Online
Ipswich Town TWTD, Pride of Anglia
Kilmarnock Killie FC
Leeds Utd Marching On Together, LUFC talk
Leicester City Foxes Talk, Talking Balls
Leyton Orient Official Forum
Lincoln City The Forgotten Imp
Liverpool Well Red Magazine, Red and White Kop, This Is Anfield
Livingston Livi Lions
Luton Town Luton Outlaws
Macclesfield Town Maccfans
Manchester City Blue Moon
Manchester Utd IMUSA, Red News, Red Cafe
Mansfield Town StagsNet
Merthyr Tydfil Martyrs To The Cause
Middlesbrough ComeOnBoro, Miniboro
Millwall House of Fun, MISA
Montrose Montrose Mad
Morecambe Morecambe Supporters’ Club
Motherwell Steelmen Online
Newcastle Utd Talk of the Tyne
Northampton Town Cobblers Mad
Norwich City CarrowRoad.net
Nottingham Forest Forest Forum
Notts County Up the Maggies, Notts County Mad
Oldham Athletic Latics Mad
Oxford Utd Rage Online, Minchery Farm Web
Partick Thistle One Team in Glasgow
Peterhead Peterhead Mad
Peterborough Utd London Road
Plymouth Argyle PASOTI, Greens On Screen
Port Vale One Vale Fan
Portsmouth Pompey Fans
Prescot Cables The Sons of Slacky Brow
Preston North End Lilywhite Magic
Queen of the South The Only Team in the Bible
Queen’s Park Queen’s Park Spiders
Queens Park Rangers Independent R’s, QPRNet
Raith Rovers Raith Rovers Mad
Rangers Follow Follow
Reading Hob Nob Anyone?
Rochdale RochdaleAFC.com, May Contain Football
Ross County The Jailender
Rotherham Utd RUST
Scunthorpe Utd Irn-Bru.net
Sheffield Utd The Crossed Blades
Sheffield Wednesday Owlstalk
Shrewsbury Town Amber and Blue
Southampton Saints Web
Southend Utd ShrimperZone
Spartans spartansfc.com
St Johnstone St Johnstone Mad
St Mirren Black & White Army
Stenhousemuir Stenhousemuir Mad
Stirling Albion stirlingalbion.com
Stockport County Yellow Board
Stoke City The Oatcake , Stoke City Blog
Stranraer Stair Park Online
Sunderland Salut! Sunderland, Ready To Go, A Love Supreme
Swansea City SCFC.co.uk
Swindon Town The Washbag, Swindon Town Forum
Tottenham Hotspur Come On You Spurs, TheSpursWeb
Tranmere Rovers White Review
Tring Athletic TAFC
Walsall Up The Saddlers
Watford BHaPPY, Glory Horns
West Bromwich Albion Boing Boing Baggies
West Ham Utd Knees Up Mother Brown
Wigan Athletic Wiganer
Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolves Blog, Wolves Web Fan Club
Wrexham ONTTSS
Wycombe Wanderers Chairboys
Yeovil Town Ciderspace, The Green Room
Other stuff we like
Al Jazeera 24 hour news coverage from around the world
The Avengers Everything there is to know about the one of the best British TV series
Book Scans US pulp paperback covers of the 1950s and 60s
Classic Cafes A celebration of London’s vintage formica cafes
Framley Examiner The UK’s top local newspaper since 1978
Garageband Stick your song up and let the world review it
I Like Part of the industry of human happiness
Internet Movie Database Find that Anna Karina filmography
J-List All manner of products to be bought from Japan
Kennedy Assassination Home Page Lone nut or conspiracy?
London Review of Books The UK’s leading literary magazine
The Mausoleum Club Forums packed with information and opinion on classic TV
Naomi Klein Anti-capitalist books and articles
Nice Cup of Tea And A Sit Down Essential biscuit reviews
The Onion America’s finest news source
OTA Berlin Berlin blog and serviced apartments
Popbitch Who did what to whom
PopCult Mag Taking emphemera seriously
Red Meat Surreal cartoons drawn by monkeys
Republic The campaign for an elected head of state
Sexy Execs Meet the silver-foxes and their lovely lady friends who rule our corporate world
Smoke A small, peculiar, magazine about London life
The Straight Dope Essential information
Things Magazine An online journal about objects and meanings
Trash Fiction Reviews of paperbacks covering horror, sex, music, film and TV tie-ins, Sherlock Holmes pastiches and lots more
Trash Palace Your one-stop shop for genre films from around the world
TV Cream Resurrecting long-dead British TV classics
Advertisers
BetVictor offer the best odds on Premier League football and have a great range of markets, specials and offers
The Soccer Store Authorised seller of Samba Football Goals