Red Rose Football Blog (Number 54)

Red Rose Football Blog Edition 54

October 31st 2017

 

Red Rose County Player of the Week

Antonio Valencia;

Manchester United

A good quiz question would be, “how many Ecuadorian footballers can you name?” Two guys called Valencia, one at Manchester United and an ex-West Ham and Everton striker was my best shot. Apparently Jefferson Montero, who played at Swansea City, is also from the South American country, but he is out on loan in Spain so from my albeit scanty research, the Old Trafford Valencia is the only Ecuadorian playing in English football. Antonio Valencia was signed by Wigan Athletic from La Liga’s Villarreal which he had joined as a 20 year old. The Latics spotted him out on loan at Recreativo and brought him over, initially on loan. He finally signed a full time contract at the DW Stadium where for 4 years he gained valuable Premier League experience. Sir Alex Ferguson then paid £16million for him in 2009 and he moved to Old Trafford as an attacking right-sided wide man. Since then he has played 303 games for the Reds in all competitions, winning medals for 2 Premier League titles, an FA Cup, 2 League Cups and of course a Europa Cup winning medal. From 2014 onwards, he has generally been selected as a right back and there are those in the know who claim him to be the best in the league in that position. He knows how to defend, can move forward with pace and he has the ability to make telling crosses. Of late he has been given the ultimate accolade at the club; captain of Manchester United and because of his consistently outstanding displays is a worthy winner of the Player of the Week award. 

The Premier League

Either Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur had to apply pressure on the league leaders’ in Saturday’s early Premier League game. Potentially, a draw was of no use to either side and fortunately the Londoners, without Harry Kane, just did not have enough to trouble United. With the prospect of the draw looming, Lukaku rose above Alderweireld, flicked the ball into the space and Anthony Martial, in spite of wearing gloves in October, sped past the ball-watching Eric Dier to knock it past Loris and into the Spurs’ net. A wonderfully well taken goal; one which keeps the “Reds” in the race for the title following this 1-0 home victory.  Jose Mourinho’s side relaxed somewhat on Tuesday night when Benfica were the visitors, defeating the under-performing Portuguese 2-0 in the group stage of the Champions’ League. United now have to concentrate on the fireworks which are bound to ensue when they travel to Stamford Bridge to test their title credentials against Chelsea on November 5^th. It was just as well that the Frenchman was on hand because Manchester City stretched their unbeaten run for the season to 10 games, including 8 consecutive wins, by winning 3-2 at West Brom after a typically tough Hawthorns battle. It was that young man Leroy Sane, again man of the match, who scored a peach of an opener and although the Baggies quickly equalised, Fernandinho immediately put the “Sky Blues” back in front. After Raheem Sterling once again scored after coming off the bench, City had to survive a fightback from Tony Pulis’ side which included a late goal, before gaining the victory to retain a 5 point lead at the head of proceedings. In contrast to their neighbours, City have a difficult away Champions’ League encounter. Napoli gave them plenty of problems in the home leg, with Pep Guardiola’s side edging through 2-1 and a visit to the San Paolo Stadium, often compared to a Bear Pit, is always an arduous engagement. There is a definite possibility that the Manchester club’s unbeaten voyage through the season could flounder on the rocks of the Bay of Naples. On Saturday, it is Arsenal at home. The Gunners have an even better home record than City but their away form is diametrically in the opposite direction. The Manchester blues could be 8 points clear following Sunday’s action. Liverpool continued to be unpredictable when dismantling the Huddersfield Town side which had caused United so many problems last week. It was an opportunity for Juergen Klopp to put one over on the best man at his wedding, Huddersfield boss David Wagner. Daniel Sturridge (pictured)

made a rare start as part of an attacking three alongside Salah and Firmino and he scored the opener which was followed by goals from Firmino and Wijnaldum. The 3-0 victory keeps the Reds in touch of the Champions’ League places and takes some pressure off the under-fire manager. Wednesday night brings the return meeting with NK Maribor and the Kop will be roaring for 10 goals this time following the 7 scored in Slovenia. That is probably unlikely but, with rivals Sevilla and Spartak Moscow meeting at the same time, the Reds could be clear at the top of Group E by 10.00. Less than 72 hours later, they travel to the Olympic Stadium to take on the troubled West Ham United. Slaven Bilic seems to have received a temporary reprieve after the last two games, but with neither side being safe bets at the moment, this game could go either way. I mentioned the other week that the poorer Premier League relations can often make a decent start to a season and then fall away quickly. Burnley caused the shock of the season’s opening day, winning at champions Chelsea, but this is turning out to be no flash in the pan. With over a quarter of the season completed, the Clarets are nestling in 7^th place,  level with big hitters Liverpool and only 3 points adrift of the final Champions’ League spot. Their Monday night home fixture against Newcastle United was a close run thing but as before this season, Sean Dyche’s men often pull out that extra something to settle evenly balanced 

games. They defend brilliantly from the front and it was this harrying of the ball by Jack Cork (pictured), such an inspired buy from Swansea City and the son of the former Wimbledon star Alan Cork of course, that caused a Newcastle mistake enabling Jeff Hendrick to net the winner. The Turf Moor side travel to Southampton on Saturday; another game that they could win. Would that cause some of our big name teams to start to look apprehensively over their shoulders?  There are reasons why Sean Dyche should take the Everton job. The money will, I suspect, be on a different level altogether and there is no doubt that the Toffees feature far higher in the pantheon of English football than the Claret and Blues. There are however far more reasons in my opinion why he should stay at Turf Moor. He has created a side in his own image, one that knows how to follow his instructions; one that is eminently successful playing the Dyche way. The Goodison Park outfit are currently playing together as strangers in spite of the £140million that the previous manager splashed out. With only the youngster Pickford in goal and possibly Wayne Rooney playing well enough to guarantee a starting place, this rag, tag and bobtail group are locked into the relegation places. I have long since forgiven David Unsworth for scoring a 30 yard thunderbolt some 29 years ago to prevent my school U/15 side winning the Lancashire Schools’ Cup and I desperately hope he can hold on to the job as manager. Please don’t let it be a member of the continental glitterati. As a last resort I could stomach a Dyche, even an Allardyce but not another Spanish speaking manager. Much will depend on the results this week. The Blues were well beaten at Leicester City over the weekend and a daunting trip to Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday (they currently prop up the table in Group E) followed by a home game against an at times formidable Watford side will test Unsworth’s ability to the full. I hope that the ex-Chorley Parklands schoolboy can turn things around at this once great club.

The Championship

It is a case of tiny footsteps in the right direction for Bolton Wanderers as they attempt to claw themselves away from the bottom of the Championship league table. They battled their hearts out at Fulham, leading from a well-engineered goal from Sammy Ameobi, their first on their travels since the second game of the season. They then defended magnificently until the ex-Blackburn Rovers star Tom Cairney equalised in the 94^th minute. This 1-1 draw makes it 3 games unbeaten on the spin, but they still occupy the bottom spot with a 4 point gap to safety. This weekend will once again test Phil Parkinson’s side, entertaining the useful East Anglian side Norwich City on Saturday. The season is in danger of unfolding for Preston North End as they made it four consecutive games without a win, losing 3-2 to a much improved Brentford side at Deepdale. North End have no problems in scoring and Sean Maguire and Tom Barkhuizen (pictured) were on target on Saturday but with 9 goals conceded in the last four games, there have to be serious questions answered by Alex Neil.

PNE were never in front, twice coming back to equalise and although it was an extremely even game, it is goals which win matches of course. Ninth place is acceptable position at this stage of the season, particularly as they are only 2 points behind the 5^th placed Leeds United, but they must defend far better at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday and at Ipswich Town on Saturday.

League One  

It was scheduled as the match of the day in League 1 and what a battle it was on yet another wild and windy Lancashire afternoon. Although goal opportunities were limited, they were shared equally until the 58^th minute when Elliott Bennett, the Blackburn Rovers midfield player who had already received a yellow card, was booked for simulation. He was faced with the long trudge to the dressing room and the dynamic of the game changed from that moment. Wigan Athletic swept forward and became encamped in the Rovers half, the visitors giving a passable re-creation of Davy Crockett at the Alamo. The Latics failed to turn their possession into goals and missed an opportunity to go top after Shrewsbury lost away at Peterborough United. Paul Cook’s men are next in action in the FA Cup 1^st Round at home to Crawley Town on Saturday in what ought to be a routine win against lowly League 2 opposition. As for Blackburn, in the circumstances it was an exceptional result and although they have dropped a place to 7^th, a Play-Off place appears to be comfortably within their compass. Life should be easier in the FA Cup on Saturday when League 2 relegation candidates Barnet arrive at Ewood Park. Rochdale, who scrap for points like ducks for thrown pieces of bread, were a goal down within a minute at Plymouth but battled back to equalise through Matt Done’s second goal in a week and were somewhat unlucky not to return north with all 3 points after a 1-1 draw. They are now unbeaten in their last 4 league games, albeit 3 have been draws. They next turn out against National league side Bromley in the FA Cup. The Londoners are competitive at their own level but a good cup run works wonders for the morale as well as the bank balance, so a win on Saturday is paramount. Fleetwood Town will be pleased with a 2-0 victory over the always competitive Oxford United. It had been tight and goalless at Highbury until Bobby Grant (pictured), playing his 100^th game for the Cod Army, took control for the final 5 minutes.

He cleverly curled home a shot in the 88^th minute and in time added, he set up substitute Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila to put the result beyond doubt. Uwe Rosler’s side is now back in the top ten, on equal points with Blackburn Rovers and they are also involved in the most romantic FA Cup tie of the round, waiting until Monday evening to travel to Chorley. The game is televised live on BT Sport and it would be nice for the Magpies to win but common sense says that the Cod Army will be in the next round. There was no joy for Blackpool who went down 1-0 at Northampton Town in a game described by manager Gary Bowyer as one of the worst he has witnessed in a long time. I have been pleasantly surprised by the start they have made to the season following promotion through the Play-Offs but with only one win in their last five games, the “Tangerines” need a confidence boost. This could come from a long FA Cup trip to Hertfordshire to meet the National League’s Borehamwood. Bury lost for the 4^th straight time, going down 1-0 at home to Doncaster Rovers, the winner coming with 12 minutes to play. The Shakers were not helped by having centre-back Eoghan O’Connell sent off on the stroke of half time and they will have to wait until Sunday to play their FA Cup tie. They journey to Surrey to meet the National League side Woking; a banana skin in the making. The Shakers and their beleaguered manager Lee Clark desperately need to win this one. Finally Oldham Athletic also missed out last weekend, losing for the first time under newly appointed manager Richie Wellens. Scunthorpe United, always difficult opposition, came up to Boundary Park and after going two up in the first 10 minutes, the Iron appeared to have thrown away a point as they were hit by goals from Peter Clarke and Craig Davies. Sadly the Latics conceded late on to lose 3-2 and are now only 3 points clear of the drop zone. They have a trip to the far north to take on League 2 Carlisle United, an FA Cup game Oldham ought to win.

League 2

In 1960, Accrington Stanley finished bottom of the Football League Division 3 and that was the last occasion on which they have appeared in the 3^rd Tier. The decline following that unfortunate season was swift and brutish. Two years later they were expelled from the Football League because of mounting debts and by 1966 they ceased to exist. The journey back has been far slower but suddenly, there is a feeling that “Stanley” can once more grace the pitches of what is now League 1. The 4-1 thumping of Barnet on Saturday has pushed them up into 2^nd place and they sit one point behind leaders Notts County. Billy Kee was on target once again, as was skipper Sean McConville and the “Reds” now face a trip across the Pennines to meet struggling National League side Guiseley in the 1^st Round of the FA Cup on Sunday. It cannot be easy being a Morecambe supporter this season. With further friction in the Board Room, it must be difficult for Jim Bentley and his players to concentrate on their game, particularly when there is always the chance that this month’s pay cheque may be delayed or have to be paid belatedly by the PFA. On Saturday, they had an opportunity to create daylight between themselves and the bottom two when travelling to Forest Green Rovers. The Shrimps started well but once goalkeeper Barry Roche had been stretchered off following a collision with a goal post, it was downhill all the way and they returned up the M5 on the back of a 2-0 defeat. They now occupy 23^rd spot in the league and a return to non-league football is becoming a distinct possibility. On Saturday, they entertain Hartlepool United who suffered the same fate last season. The Durham side has begun to find some form and an FA Cup defeat here will cause further heartache at the Globe Arena.  

The Non-League Scene

Barrow has appointed the former Gillingham boss Ady Pennock as their third boss of the season and he was able to watch a heartening 3-1 victory over title chasing Aldershot Town at Holker Street. Adi Yussuf, signed from Grimsby Town in the summer, scored a hat-trick but the “Bluebirds” still find themselves in the National League relegation places. AFC Fylde on the other hand have pulled themselves clear of danger for the moment, helped by a 4-0 win at bottom club Solihull Moors. The “Coasters” now occupy 16^th spot, 6 points clear of the drop zone and face a home tie against Kidderminster Harriers from the league below in the FA Cup. FC United of Manchester achieved a rare but welcome win, defeating Nuneaton Town 2-1, but they still have relegation worries however in the National League North. Salford City came from behind at Bradford Park Avenue to win 2-1, keeping the pressure on leaders Harrogate Town whom they trail by 2 points with a game in hand. The Northern Premier League teams were involved in FA Trophy action and Ashton United, Warrington Town, Lancaster City, Marine, Atherton Collieries and Droylsden have all moved into the next round. It was Ramsbottom United however who created the greatest upset, defeating Northern Prem leaders Shaw Lane after a draw in Yorkshire and a completely unexpected 4-1 extra time victory in the replay, Jerome Wright helping himself to a memorable double.

Quiz of the Week (Answers at the foot of the Blog)

All the questions this week concern the leading career goal scorers at one or other of our clubs

1                    Who is this leading goal scorer, pictured below in the colours of his club which he adorned with pride? 

2                    He was born in North Wales in 1961 and his 229 league goals are a record for which Premier League club?

3                    Nicknamed the Lion of Vienna, who scored a record 255 goals for his club between 1946 and 1960?

4                    Who is Manchester United’s all-time leading goal scorer in all competitions?

5                    This footballing knight (pictured below) scored 187 goals in his  career for which football club?

6                    George Beel played for this Lancashire club from 1923-1932. During that period, they were in the old 1^st Division for the first 6 years and then were relegated to Division 2. He scored 178 goals, a record for which club?

7                    At this moment in time, who is the joint record goal scorer for Manchester City along with Eric Brook?

8                    Roger Palmer (pictured below) started his career with Manchester City but became the leading goal scorer for which Greater Manchester club with 141 league goals between 1980 and 1992?

9                    Who is the phenomenal goal scoring legend who scored 349 league goals for Everton between 1925 and 1937?

10                Andy Liddell with 70 league goals holds the all-time record for which Red Rose County club?

Post Weekend Musings

It is rare for a manager to hold a post for 12 years, even rarer when it is his first managerial role, so it somehow makes it so much sadder when, whether by mutual consent or not, he leaves his post. This is the story of Karl Margison, boss at that most unique of clubs FC United of Manchester since its inception in 2005; formed as a revolt against the Glazer’s takeover at Old Trafford. For a number of years Margison was able to blaze a trail across the firmament of non-league football, winning everything in sight and packing grounds to their rafters wherever they played. Of late the club’s progress has steadied at Tier 6 and they have shown serious signs of struggling in the National League North this season. In fact they are now ensconced in the relegation places and not unreasonably, questions have been asked of the manager. There will be sadness at his departure, having lost only 100 of 460 games but unless you happen to be called Wenger, all good things come to an end.

In the 1931-32 season, Arsenal, the most successful 1930s side, beat Darwen 11-1 in the 3^rd Round of the FA Cup. In the Arsenal side was Welsh international Bob John, English international David Jack and Scottish international Alex James. My mother, possibly because there was a Darwen link or the symmetry of their surnames and that they sounded like three of Jesus’ disciples, was somewhat obsessed by this quirky statistic. She knew nothing about football, but 20 years on as I was beginning my life-long obsession with the game, she would regularly regale me with this story and tell me that it would never happen again. Fast forward 60 years to last Saturday and the Glasgow Rangers side against Heart of Midlothian contained a Declan John and a Ryan Jack. Now if they can only sign Matty James in the January transfer window from Leicester City, I might start to believe that my mother has been reincarnated.   

News that Sunderland have sacked Simon Grayson will have shocked no-one. There is no doubt that the ex-Preston North End manager has failed to arrest the decline at this extremely well supported club. I do draw the line at referring to them as one of the country’s great clubs because apart from an FA Cup win in 1973, they have won nothing since 1936. Grayson was granted just 15 league games to turn the club round and there is something ironic in that his final opponents were Bolton Wanderers, the only club beneath the Wearsiders in the Championship. Now logic says that because the North West club has made an even worse start than Sunderland, they should have sacked manager Phil Parkinson, but no such sounds have emanated from the Macron Stadium. They have given their manager time in spite of just 2 points gained from their first 11 games. Suddenly the Wanderers are unbeaten in their last 4 games and the supporters’ spirits are being lifted; relegation may not be a certainty after all. But Sunderland are looking for their 9^th manager in 6 years so the question needs asking. Are their problems due to a long list of failed managers or Ellis Short and the Board of Directors?

Quiz Answers:  1 Simon Garner, 2 Ian Rush, 3 Nat Lofthouse 4 Wayne Rooney, 5 Preston North End, 6 Burnley, 7 Sergio Aguero, 8 Oldham Athletic, 9 Dixie Dean, 10 Wigan Athletic.