Journo’s Friday thoughts
Bertrand’s a berk
After Ashley Cole’s Twitter rant what happens next? Ryan Bertrand goes off on one and also has to say “sorry”. Will these players, especially those from Chelsea, ever learn? It’s pathetic.
Taxi for Trapattoni?
I’m getting the feeling that the Italian’s Ireland gig is unravelling. A pitiful Euro 2012, retirements of leading players, a glut of injuries. Is the venerable Italian running out of ideas as well as luck?
Conference calling
I took a dip into the fifth tier last weekend – what I still call the Conference – and a great experience it was, too. A fine match, 1,000-plus vociferous fans and I was even invited into the boardroom.
Coyle sprung
Owen Coyle axed after just 11 matches this season, with Bolton six points off the play-offs. Chairmen are – in no particular order – wealthy, bonkers, power-crazed, bonkers, ignorant about football … and bonkers.
I agree this is a bit harsh about Coyle – I would say the majority of people (Burnley fans aside!) wanted him to succeed, but the performances have been abysmal for a few weeks now, and he just never seems to have had the players all that motivated. A new face might just help fix that and at least get the players looking like they care about the club – which is all most fans really want.
Clearly haven’t watched any bolton in the past 18 or so months. As nice a guy as coyle is he hasn’t looked up to the job. We all wanted him to succeed but being relegated and looking pretty clueless tactics wise at this level has led him to deserving to go. I was at Millwall, his last game, was truly awful, they are poor but we managed to be worse. The whole ground could see what was wrong with our tactics yet he never changed it. All the best for the future Owen but it just wasn’t working here!
You’re right. Nice guy, Coyle. And one of the most truthful and trustworthy managers I’ve ever met. He is a rare breed. However, I’ve always favoured mid to late November as the start of the sacking season, when managers have had a fair crack. Eleven matches is just not enough.
While I usually agree with the majority of what is on here I can’t help but feel you are being a bit harsh on Ryan Bertrand. The lad got frustrated on twitter because people/journalists were saying he pulled out of the England squad because of a sore throat, and being a proud Englishman he was insulted and didn’t want people thinking he would so easily flake out of his national team’s squad.
While I accept the genuine motives behind Bertrand’s mini-rant, why did he feel the need to have to swear? As if he hadn’t learned any lesson from his foul-mouthed team-mate Ashley Cole. Ryan could have made his point, clarified his illness … and everyone would have been happy.
Pathetic is the life spent following successful people like the Chelsea footballers & trying to bring them down.
Chelsea footballers bring themselves down. Don’t need any help from me or my colleagues. It’s all out there on a plate for us. That’s pathetic.