The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| New manager Sherwood meets managerless West Bromwich Posted: 25 Dec 2013 01:10 AM PST Both clubs sacked their managers earlier this month, but Spurs moved quickly and bravely by appointing a man with no previous top-flight experience. Sherwood, 44, has made a name for himself working with the youngsters at Tottenham, but now has a dream opportunity to manage one of the top clubs in Europe. "Opportunities come in different ways, but initially he gives Tottenham some stability and he has some credentials. He is ambitious and a leader," said former Spurs manager David Pleat. "I look back to when he was at Blackburn with Alan Shearer, David Batty, Chris Sutton and Graeme Le Saux - big players. He was the leader and considered the man who spoke for the team. "He is a hard-working guy. He has developed and, along with (assistant coaches) Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey, helped develop some good players who have emerged this season." As interim manager, Sherwood guided his side to an entertaining 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday. Bringing back Emmanuel Adebayor from the wilderness has proved a key decision as the Togolese striker now has three goals in two games under Sherwood following his brace at St Mary's. "Ade scored a fantastic goal to keep us in the game and in the second half we did the job together to get the three points," said goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. "We showed a lot of positive things for the future. It was important to win because now we have two games at home to try to make the difference and try to come back into the top four. We have to continue (this form) and work together because the Christmas period is important." With Andros Townsend (hamstring), Younes Kaboul (thigh) and Jan Vertonghen (ankle) sidelined, Sherwood is missing some first-team players, but by handing 19-year-old midfielder Nabil Bentaleb a debut at Southampton, he showed that he is prepared to place his trust in the club's young players. West Brom caretaker coach Keith Downing believes the mood at his club will improve once a long-term replacement for Steve Clarke is appointed, but says that he is happy to keep things ticking over for as long as necessary. Downing will take charge of his second game at Tottenham, with Albion likely to appoint their new man by the end of the week. "Confidence is the biggest challenge," said Downing, who saw his side draw 1-1 at home to Hull City on Saturday. "Results dictate people's moods, so it has to be an issue. Getting people to change their confidence and get upbeat is all about results. "At the moment the confidence is low and there is uncertainty, which accumulates. But once a manager is appointed, things will settle down quickly. "West Brom have never made a mistake in the five years I have been here. Robbie Di Matteo, Roy Hodgson and Steve Clarke were all good selections. "I wouldn't want them to rush things, but the quicker it is done, in terms of settling everybody down and getting a direction, the better. "It is important they do it soon, but if it means me holding the job for another week, so be it. That's fine, providing they get the right man." Striker Victor Anichebe is West Brom's only injury doubt, as he is struggling with a groin injury. - AFP, December 25, 2013. |
| Brazil’s most expensive World Cup stadium has leaking roof Posted: 24 Dec 2013 11:35 PM PST The most expensive of the 12 stadiums built or revamped for the 2014 World Cup has a leaking roof less than eight months after it was finished, the stadium's operators said yesterday. Secopa, the local government agency that runs the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia, will ask the company that rebuilt it to explain why parts of the roof let in rain during last weekend's women's match between Brazil and Chile. Local media reported that almost the entire lower ring of the stands was soaked although Secopa played down the problem, saying the leaks were not serious and would not affect any of the matches being played there during next year's World Cup. "Because it is a new, grandiose and complex stadium, some small points are still being corrected and tested but there is nothing that compromises the running of the stadium or the holding of events there," Secopa said in a statement. The stadium comes with a five-year guarantee and any repair work will be paid for by the builders, Secopa added. The national stadium in the capital Brasilia cost more than 1.2 billion real (RM1.6 billion). It will stage six World Cup matches including a quarter-final and the third-place playoff. The venue was inaugurated in May and hosted the opening match of the Confederations Cup between Brazil and Japan in June. It has held 17 major events since then, including several first division football matches, stadium officials said. The uproar over the scandal of a leaky roof at the 73,000 seat arena is not the first time construction work at Brazilian stadiums has been called into question. The Joao Havelange stadium in Rio was closed earlier this year, six years after it was built for the Pan American Games. Engineers ruled that the roof was in danger of collapsing in high winds and said repairs taking 18 months must be carried out for the the stadium to be fit to host the 2016 Olympics. At least three of the six World Cup stadiums still to be finished before the tournament kicks off in June will be handed over behind schedule. A total of five people have died while working on the 12 venues, including one man in Brasilia. - Reuters, December 25, 2013. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider : Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan