The Red Rose Football Blog Number 13

           Number 13                                                                                         January 16 2017

“Possession is nine tenths of the law”.

 Lies, damned lies and football statistics

There is now a plethora of companies producing football data which I presume is accurate but as I have written before, the only two vital statistics in football are the result and the league table. Sky Sports News, the BBC Sports web site and the sports pages of the daily newspapers use statistics to pad out programmes and columns. They are eye-catching in tabulated form and easy for the reader to follow. The pundits make a great deal of the “possession stat” yet Blackburn beat Newcastle earlier this month with 33% possession. On Super Sunday this weekend, Everton (with 29% possession) stuffed Manchester City 4-0. Southampton outplayed Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final with a mere possession percentage of 32. And if you think these are exceptions to the rule, what about Leicester City in 2015-16. They had 40.9% possession over the season and won the title by 10 points. They simply played on the break. To balance the argument however, Manchester United’s cakewalk against a timid Hull City in the League Cup resulted in an easy 2-0 victory for the Reds, winning the possession battle 64%-36%. Chelsea, 4-1 cup winners against Peterborough, had exactly the same possession as United and Tottenham destroyed West Brom on Saturday, dominating the game to such an extent that the Albion’s possession count was down at 27%. This is the statistic that one would traditionally expect from a one-sided score line and I am sure there are goalkeepers amongst you who have scrambled to be first in the shower, freezing cold on a miserable wet day because you have scarcely touched the ball as your team racked up an easy victory. So does majority possession lead to regular wins? Saturday’s results tell us nothing as 3 of the 7 winning sides dominated the ball whilst 4 did not. I suppose the answer to the question is “only sometimes…...when you use the possession productively”. It is slowly dawning on me that I am using statistics to prove that statistics don’t work, particularly in modern football when there are different ways of winning a game. But was it not ever thus? How many of you remember England v Poland in 73 when Brian Clough, sitting on the ITV panel, repeatedly told us that the Polish keeper was a “clown in gloves”? The Poles hardly touched the ball, Hunter gave the ball away on the half-way line and they drew 1-1. Farewell the sacked Sir Alf Ramsey, good-bye World Cup.

Manchester United FC: their Finest Hour

When a club has won 40 major trophies in its history, it is not easy finding its finest hour but it had to be at the end of the Millennium. Ferguson’s Reds dominated the 90s and by August 1998 they had won 4 Premier League Titles, 3 FA Cups, and I League Cup during the decade. The elusive jewel in the crown was the Champion’s League Trophy of course but the granite hard Scot longed to “do the impossible”; win the genuine treble. The FA Cup/League double had been won 8 times in 110 years including twice by Ferguson’s team. Since 1956 it had been possible to win the treble as the European Cup brought a new dimension to English football. Even though Liverpool won this particular trophy on 4 occasions in the 70s and 80s, they never quite achieved the ultimate although they were a whisker away when they fell short in the final of the 1977 FA Cup. Their treble denying victors at Wembley were none other than Tommy Docherty’s Manchester United, 2-1 winners courtesy of goals from strikers Stuart Pearson and Jimmy Greenhoff. Back to the 1998-99 season, United had to wait until the very last game to clinch the League, beating Spurs 2-1 at Old Trafford. The highlight had been an 8-1 away win against Nottingham Forest when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, coming on as a substitute, scored 4 times in 10 minutes. Six days later they clinched the double beating Newcastle United at Wembley although it is Giggs’ stupendous dribble and shot in the semi-final that everyone remembers. He left the whole of Arsenal’s formidable back 4 floundering on their backsides from where they watched the ball fly past Seaman into the roof of the net. Four days later the eyes of the football world were on Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium as Manchester took on Munich in the Champion’s League Final. The teams had qualified from the same group, both matches resulting in draws. For the majority of the game, Bayern were in control, scoring direct from a Basler free kick after 6 minutes, the woodwork and Peter Schmeichel preventing further goals. Without the suspended duo of Keane and Scholes, the English side struggled to find a toe-hold in the game and Ferguson took off Yorke and Cole, replacing them with Sheringham and Solskjaer.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer; the baby faced assassin

As the clock ticked towards the final minute of time added on, a Sheringham scuffed shot from a Beckham corner found its way into the Bayern net and within seconds of the re-start Beckham launched another corner. Again there was a scramble and Ole Gunnar toe poked the ball into the roof of the net. United’s first Champions’ League victory since 68 had been secured, as was of course the elusive treble. You will surely remember where you were on that historic night. I was meeting our new Head Teacher at school for the first time and missed the whole game. Hopefully the rest of you saw Manchester United’s finest hour.

 Performances of the last week

Preston North End 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 (EFL Championship)

Unbeaten in all games for 4 months, Brighton were a difficult obstacle for PNE on Saturday but goals by Huntington and Robinson gave them a comfortable victory against the table toppers. The centre back’s header came from yet another inch perfect free kick from Paul Gallagher and Robinson was able to latch on to a defence-splitting pass from the impressive debutant Daryl Horgan, signed last week from League of Ireland side Dundalk. There is still a 6 point gap to the play-off places but North End is edging closer and closer.

Bury 5 Peterborough United 1

Without a win in 20 games, it seemed a case of déjà vu when Peterborough opened the scoring after 4 minutes. However within 27 minutes, Bury were 4-1 up, all scored by James Vaughan. The club from the black pudding capital is currently trembling above the trap door but further similar performances will ensure that it remains closed and relegation is averted. As for Vaughan, (pictured below) he now has 14 league goals to his credit this season.

                                                                     James Vaughan;  

Everton 4 Manchester City 0 (Premier league)

City were favourites for this one so what a stunning result. There have to be deep seated problems at the Etihad and Guardiola looks a caricature of the man who once bestrode the world of football, his body language heralding an imminent nervous breakdown. City had 71% possession and 13 shots to their opponent’s 6, so they have problems at either end of the pitch. Everton however, with home grown youngsters to the fore, were a revelation. Still bit players in the race for Europe, but an uplifting afternoon for the Gwladys Street end.

 Manchester United 1 Liverpool 1 (Premier League)

The attention of the football world was on the North West this weekend but it turned out to be a “Super Sunday” for London. All 3 of the Red Rose County clubs dropped points as the Capital’s teams motored on. The Old Trafford game was certainly exciting, but yet another stalemate. It will now take a Herculean effort from United to win the title whereas Liverpool is still in the race..…just. Ibrahimovic however is definitely the king of the penalty area.

Games to look forward to this week

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League), Saturday January 21, 17.30.

The big games keep on coming for City but in Premier League terms, this may be the last chance saloon. Spurs are currently the darlings of the predominantly London-based media with Kane and Alli in magnificent form. There is excitement whenever Walker and Rose race down the flanks and Lloris in goal oozes competence. They will need to defend strongly if Aguero, Silva, De Bruyne and Sterling can find their form, but if it comes down to who is safest at the back, there is only one loser. Hopefully City can dig deep into their memory bank, remember what they do better than anyone else and give Tottenham the run around.

Aston Villa v Preston North End (EFL Championship), Saturday January 21, 15.00.

These two teams first met at Villa Park in 1889, the then unbeatable North End winning 2-0. There was only 1 league position between them that year, Preston finishing 1^st, Villa having to be content with the runners-up slot. Now 128 years later, there is little to separate them again, but unfortunately it is in mid-table and sadly, one Tier lower down the pyramid. The press are still suggesting that Steve Bruce’s side can reach the play-offs so an in-form Preston definitely can. Saturday’s result will certainly influence those final placings.

Shrewsbury Town v Oldham Athletic (EFL Division 1) Saturday January 21, 15.00.

The relegation battle is beginning to look like any 4 from 5 with 3 points separating Shrewsbury (21^st) and the Latics (23^rd). Prior to Saturday, Oldham’s last league victory was on October 18th against table topping Scunthorpe United. If they are to escape the drop, they need to continue winning. Where better to begin than away to their fellow rivals in distress.

FC United of Manchester v Harrogate T (National League 1 North) Saturday Jan 21, 15.00.

When FCUM broke away from Old Trafford in 2005, comparisons were rife with AFC Wimbledon (now in the EFL League 1). This democratically run club was a sensation from the off, swamping tiny grounds with their huge following as they soared up the pyramid of non-league football. Since reaching Tier 6, progress has slowed and attendances have dipped, although they are still the fifth best supported club below the Football League. They are no longer nomads, having their own ground in North Manchester and Saturday’s game against mid table opposition could be a springboard to a late assault on the play-off places.

Stourbridge v Marine (Northern Premier League) Saturday January 21, 15.00

Stourbridge, the season’s giant killers, finally exited the FA Cup in Round 3 at Wycombe. It is now back to the bread and butter of league football and it may just be an opportunity for an inconsistent and sometimes misfiring Marine side to catch them on the rebound and grab the points. The Crosby side last tasted league defeat over 2 months ago and a victory against a headline-making side will look good on manager Sean Hassey’s “CV”.

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

All of the answers have Red Rose County connections

      1           What nationality is Morgan Schneiderlin who has just signed for Everton?

                                  Morgan Schneiderlin; pictured in a Manchester United shirt

2                    Who was manager of Bolton Wanderers when they dropped into the EFL 1^st Division last May?

3                    Which current Manchester United player is Wigan Athletic’s record transfer sale?

4                    With which club did Kevin De Bruyne sign for on a permanent basis between playing for Chelsea and Manchester City?

                    

                                       Kevin De Bruyne; flop at Chelsea, fabulous at City

5                    The name of which Manchester Premier League club  describes the exact geographical location of a Premier League club?

6                    The ex-England Assistant manager Derek Fazackerley holds the record for most appearances at which Red Rose county club?

7                    Which Englishman with Red Rose County connections was voted European Player of the Year in 1978 and 1979?

8                    Morecambe have scored 4 goals in only 1 league game this season. This was on January 7 against which team from the bottom 4 of Division 2?

9                    Aaron Burns has scored 22 goals this season in the Northern Premier League 1 North for which Red Rose County club?

10                Who in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final in Istanbul, missed a second half penalty for Liverpool but scored from the rebound?

Post Weekend Musings

Liverpool is asking a fee of £20million for Mamadou Sakho. Good luck if they can get it but I am amazed that they believe anyone will pay that amount for a French international with a poor off the field disciplinary record. He was briefly suspended by UEFA for taking a banned substance (a fat burner) and has only played 56 first team games in 3 and a half years. The ex-PSG hard man is a strong defender and accurately passes the ball. He was a cult figure in France where he was nicknamed “la bete” – beast, but you have to ask questions if he cannot find a spot in Liverpool’s sometimes leaky defence. £20million…..seriously? But what do I know, because Everton has just bought Morgan Schneiderlin who has only featured briefly in 3 Premier League games at Old Trafford this season. The fee is £22million. Crazy!!

                                                  Mamadou Sakho; Liverpool obviously “want rid”.

The Checkatrade (EFL) Trophy has proved to be a disappointment for the Red Rose County clubs as its last 2 representatives, Blackpool and Oldham Athletic, went out in the last 16. Only 766 fans turned up at Bloomfield Road as the Seasiders went out on penalties to Wycombe Wanderers and Oldham, supported by 149 travelling fans, lost 2-0 at Mansfield Town. The League needs a rethink about next year’s competition because the inclusion of 16 Tier 1 and 2 U/21 sides (only Swansea City remain) has not attracted the crowds.

Twelve days into 2017, the Red Rose County has its first managerial sacking. Stephen Robinson has left Oldham Athletic with the club bottom of EFL Division 1. Having scored just 12 goals in 24 games, there was no surprise in his departure. John Sheridan, who resigned at Oldham in June to go to Notts County where he was sacked a week ago, returns to replace him. Confused? It’s the old managerial merry-go-round, turning, turning, turning.

So Burnley made a profit of €40million for 2015, a year which began with relegation from the Premier League and ended with Sean Dyche preparing the team to challenge for and ultimately achieve a return to the top division in the following May. It’s a good financial performance from a club which for years has kept its feet firmly on the ground, enabling it to remain stable in the tumultuously crazy world of professional football. The standout statistic however is that their profit margin was the fifth highest for the whole of Europe. And still on Burnley, Joey Barton comes back to Turf Moor, comes on as sub and scores the winner against Southampton. I wonder what odds the bookies gave him on that bet.

There was encouraging Red Rose County news from the non-league world on Saturday, starting with Barrow defeating Matlock Town 3-2 to reach the last 16 of the FA Trophy. In the Northern Premier League 1 North, Burscough beat Brighouse 2-1, their second victory on the bounce to harbour hopes that they may complete the great escape from the foot of the table. Lancaster City is now 6 points clear at the top following a 3-1 win at Scarborough Athletic. Colne won 2-1 at 2^nd placed Ossett Town with an injury time winner to move up to 8^th in the league and Prescot Cables hammered Ossett Albion 5-0 to move away from the relegation zone. In the North West Counties Premier Division, Red Rose clubs Bootle and Atherton Collieries are now 1^st and 2^nd, with the Wigan side slight favourites for promotion. Finally in the West Cheshire League, Liverpool side Mossley Hill are now the league leaders.

Tier 11 Club of the Week

Royton Town; more entertaining than Manchester United?

Lying between Oldham and Rochdale in the foothills of the Pennines, Royton is an ex-cotton mill town with a population of around 20,000. Their football team was promoted to the Manchester Premier League in 2002 and it has been champions once and runners-up once - last season. The good form has continued, particularly when playing at home on the 4G pitch at Oldham Academy North in Royton. They are currently in fourth place behind Wythenshawe Amateurs, Springhead and Rochdale Sacred Heart, having a 2-0 victory over RSH during their current unbeaten 8 game run. In September, when his former club was going through a sticky patch, The Daily Mail reported that the legend that is Paul Scholes said, “I get more satisfaction from watching Royton Town than Manchester United”.

                     Oldham Academy North; in the shadow of Royton’s industrial heritage.

Quiz Answers

1        French, 2 Neil Lennon, 3 Antonio Valencia, 4 Wolfsburg, 5 East Manchester, 

6    Blackburn Rovers, 7 Kevin Keegan, 8 Notts County, 9 Trafford, 10 Xabi Alonso,

Number 12                                                                                         January 9th 2017

Claustrophobic; does that describe North West football

It is not inconceivable that both AFC Fylde and Chorley could be promoted to the National League at the end of this season. This is the 5^th Tier of English football, a professional league where costs rocket. Both have reasonable support at the moment, but to succeed in the National League, they will each probably need another 1000 supporters. This is where the problem lies. Putting it simply, there are too many professional clubs in this area, too many chasing too few spectators. For example, the Lancaster/Morecambe catchment area has traditionally been poached by North End. This club will also take fans from Chorley and the Fylde, and will compete for potential fans against Blackpool to the west, Blackburn to the east plus Wigan and Bolton to the south. This fails to take into account the support for the two Merseyside and the two Manchester clubs because both United and Liverpool in particular have a strong cohort of fans throughout the area. This is not just a Central Lancashire problem. Wherever you look in this Red Rose area, the giants are hoovering up the floating spectators, the  middle range clubs (those that have tasted Premier League football in the recent past) are fighting to hold on to their traditional fans and the likes of Rochdale, Oldham, Bury, Accrington, Morecambe and Fleetwood are picking up the scraps. It has its advantages of course in that there are a number of local derbies with supporters able to travel short distances to watch their favourites. But with approximately a third of a million football mad spectators currently watching locally, it begs the question. Where can two extra clubs find new fans in the claustrophobic footballing areas of the North West?

Same “claustrophobic problem” but it is on a smaller scale. The Borough of Tameside has no professional team but it has 6 well-established and well-supported clubs. (See below)

Curzon Ashton	478	Stalybridge Celtic	655	Ashton United	171
Hyde United	296	Droylsden	167	Mossley	141

With 2000 watching local football in the Borough, would an amalgamated Tameside United survive in the EFL Division 2 (Accrington has for 11 seasons on less)? I suspect not because traditions die hard in the North West; folks do not easily change their alliegances.

THIS was their Finest Hour

Bolton Wanderers FC

There were tears, it was a day to remember absent friends and never has “Abide with me” been sung with so much sincerity. It was a game where the thoughts of a nation were on one club and one club only, a phoenix literally rising from the ashes. Bolton Wanderers, their players and fans were the supporting cast, the nation rooting solidly for Manchester United. It was understandable because the 1958 FA Cup Final was being played less than 3 months after the Munich disaster. The air crash had taken the lives of 8 Manchester United stars and had brought premature retirement to several others. Only 4 of their large pre-Munich squad started the Wembley final. It was a miracle that the patched up Red Devils had made it to Wembley but their manager Sir Matt Busby was still too ill to attend. United had an inexperienced side fielding just 3 internationals. There was the Northern Ireland goalkeeper Harry Gregg and two England Internationals, Dennis Violet and the new golden boy of English football, Bobby Charlton. They were a far cry from the Busby Babes, a team crowned champions in the 2 previous seasons which had played and entertained with so much charisma. Bolton in comparison were a team of artisans. Amazingly, every player had come through the ranks, costing just £110, the sum of 11 signing-on fees. They had England’s goalkeeper Eddie Hopkinson and leading the line was Nat Lofthouse. He would have been their “poster boy” if such a term had existed in those days. Nicknamed the “Lion of Vienna” for his exploits in an England shirt, he was perhaps the finest centre forward in the land. The game itself was somewhat one sided. The renowned Bolton defence lived up to its reputation for toughness and United could not handle Lofthouse. He scored early in each half, the second one being controversial even by the standards of the day when a shoulder charge against a goalkeeper was permitted. Holden floated over a cross, Harry Gregg caught it and before his feet could return to terra firma, Nat barged him over the line. It was shoulder versus chest and should not have counted, but the Wanderers were deserving winners. Millions mourned the result across the country but United would return to their former glories. For Bolton, it was their finest hour and sadly their last major trophy.

Charlton finds no way past the resolute Tommy Banks. Would this be a red card today?

Top performances from last weekend

West Ham United 0 Manchester City 5 (FA Cup Round 3)

Who would have predicted this score line? The Hammers hammered and City keeping a clean sheet. The last time the Sky Blues scored more in the FA Cup was a 6-0 thrashing of Norwich City back in 1981, the year they reached the final. But West Ham was so poor, neither playing the required pressing game nor knocking in crosses. As a result, City dominated the game as they always will when Silva and de Bruyne are given time and space to play. It was nice to see a smile on the manager’s face but as for it being the sea change with regard to future results, the jury is still out until tougher opposition is in town.

Accrington Stanley 2 Luton Town 1 (FA Cup Round 3)

A fog bound Accrington but this did not prevent Stanley from seeing off the 1959 finalists and banking £67000 from the FA Cup bonus pot. There was nothing between the sides but Sean McConville’s 25 yard screamer put the hosts one up, only for the play-off candidates to equalise early in the second half. The Reds pushed on, Omar Beckles nodding home a McConville cross and Accrington held on to clinch victory. It was what the doctor ordered for John Coleman’s ailing side who can now dream about potential round 4 opposition.

       Sean McConville’s goal plus an assist help Stanley reach round 4 for only the second time

Salford City 3 Kidderminster Harriers 0 (National League 1 North)

Such a tremendous performance from the “Ammies”. Kidderminster, second in the league and AFC Fylde’s main rivals, were bulldozed in the second half by a goal-hungry Salford side who scored through Josh Hine twice and Jordan Hulme. The club has moved up to fourth and although it would take a massive collapse for Fylde to be caught, the opportunity is there for another promotion through the play-offs for the team owned by the class of 92.

Shildon 1 Atherton Collieries 4 (FA Vase Round 4)

Performance of the week. Shildon, reigning Northern League champions and competition favourites took the lead 10 minutes into the second half but were then hit by an avalanche of Atherton goals as Ben Hardcastle, Mark Battersby, Daniel Lafferty and Jordan Cover each scored in a 27 minute period. The Wigan side had taken their never say die spirit up to Durham and now Round 5 (Last 16) awaits; another stepping stone on the road to Wembley.

Games to look forward to next weekend

Manchester United v Liverpool (Premier League) Sunday January 15, 16.00

The constructions of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway, Manchester Ship Canal and the East Lancs Road were all massive events in English history which linked the 2 great cities. The most discussed link nowadays however is the twice yearly football confrontation between these two clubs. Their previous encounter was a dour goalless draw at Anfield. Mourinho was struggling to find a permutation that worked and Klopp was concerned about being caught on the break. United are now flying and perhaps Liverpool will adopt snatch and grab tactics, so there could be goals. This game is as important as any in the past. Chelsea hinted at vulnerability mid-week and it is a game which both clubs are desperate to win.

Burton Albion v Wigan Athletic (EFL Championship) Saturday January 14, 15.00

Manager Warren Joyce needs to start winning league games if his fledgling career is to have any longevity at Wigan. A visit to the Midlands beer capital can provide the catalyst. Nigel Clough has over achieved at this tiny club but they are just above the relegation zone. So if the Latics are to stay up, they need to repeat last weekend’s FA Cup display v Notts Forest, a team coincidentally managed by the young Clough's great father.

 Cambridge United v Blackpool (EFL Division 2) Saturday January 14, 15.00

Like their neighbours Preston North End, Blackpool win a couple then come unstuck. Although in different divisions, they both need consistency if they are to reach the play-offs. A disastrous home defeat to lowly Mansfield Town followed by a stirring FA Cup performance against a decent Tier 2 side in Barnsley sums up Gary Bowyer’s season. He has players who can perform at this level although like the Tangerines, Cambridge have reached Round 3 of the FA Cup. A win is the order of the day for the Seasiders.

Southport v Wealdstone (FA Trophy Round 2) Saturday January 14, 15.00

It is the turn of the senior non-league clubs to think about Wembley. This is the round of the last 32 and the Southport Board have set plans in motion for promotion to the Football League by 2019. As perennial strugglers at this level, much will have to change for their plans to reach fulfilment, although the cash from a good cup run will help. They ought to beat Wealdstone, a so-so National League South (Tier 6) club from London, but will they? 

Ossett Town v Colne (Northern Premier League Division 1) Saturday January 14, 15.00

Whisper it not too loudly, but Colne FC is one of this season’s success stories. They were promoted from the NWCFL last May and have settled comfortably in mid-table. There is stability at Board level, Management level and on the pitch where they have put together a 5 match unbeaten run. Currently 10^th, they have a difficult task at 2^nd placed Ossett Town, but tricky Trans-Pennine trips always give the players a chance to prove themselves.

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

Each question has a Red Rose County connection

1             Jermaine Defoe converted 2 penalties last week. Against which opponents?

2             Two Manchester United icons feature in the all-time top 4 list of players who have captained England on the most occasions.  David Beckham and who else?

3             From which club did Burnley sign George Boyd in 2014?

                                   George Boyd, training at Gawthorpe

4             In December 2007, Wigan Athletic beat Blackburn Rovers 5-3. Roque Santa Cruz scored all 3 of the Rovers goals but who scored a hat-trick for Wigan?

5             Which Everton goalkeeper kept 15 clean sheets in the 2013-14 season?

6             Who is Bury’s leading goal scorer this season who is more famous for scoring in the Premier League at the age of 16 years and 271 days in 2005 for Everton?

      7             From which Eastern European club did Manchester City sign Fernandinho in 2013?

                  Fernandinho, having a great season, suspensions apart

8             Josh Windass was sold to Glasgow Rangers in July and has made 11 appearances thus far. From which Red Rose County EFL Division 2 side was he bought?

9             This Red Rose County club play in the National League North at a new stadium called Mill Farm. Their average gate is 1888. Who are they?

10         Dennis Tuart scored a spectacular overhead kick to win the 1976 Football League Cup for which Red Rose County team?

Post Weekend Musings

I felt sorry for Mike Phelan, the ex-United defender and later Assistant Manager who was unceremoniously sacked as manager of Hull City last week. This position was truly a poisoned chalice but did we seriously expect anything better from a sulking owner who then handed over to a son with no experience of running a football club? The reason? He was prevented from changing the name of the club to “Hull Tigers”. Phelan, born in Nelson and an ex-Lancashire Schools’ U/15 player prior to becoming an apprentice at Burnley, was given zilch to spend in the transfer window. The newly promoted team did not have 11 signed players after Steve Bruce, having seen the writing on the wall, suddenly quit. Phelan behaved with great dignity throughout but the club has delivered yet another kick in the privates to English football. It has appointed a Portuguese with no experience of the Premier League on the say so of a super-agent. I have nothing against Hull, its people or players, but I will shed no tears if they go straight back down. This is yet another example of the chaos that foreign owners have brought to our great game. English football  deserves better.

I do not altogether understand the reasons why Bailey Wright has left Preston North End for Bristol City. The Australian international defender played over 200 games at Deepdale in 6 years and appears to have been well thought of by management and fans alike. On the face of it, not a particularly positive career move, but he certainly wanted to leave. Hopefully Simon Grayson can replace him and their good form will continue.

                                     Bailey Wright; The PNE Socceroo is off to pastures new

Well done Wayne Rooney! To equal Sir Bobby Charlton’s record haul of goals for the club is a great achievement; one that I am sure he will go on to beat. Wayne has not always had the best press coverage but I believe that he has matured into a much respected and responsible individual, carrying the burden of massive expectations with great dignity. History will show that this ordinary lad from Croxteth was not only the best British player of his generation but that he was an outstanding ambassador for the game of football.

Red Rose County clubs in the draw for Round 4 of the FA Cup are Manchester City, Manchester United, Accrington Stanley, Rochdale, Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic. Those needing a replay are Blackpool, Bolton, Liverpool, Fleetwood and Burnley.

There are 2 applicants from Tier 11 to the North West Counties League (subject to meeting ground criteria), Wythenshawe Town from the Cheshire League and Abbey Hulton United from the Staffordshire County League. If they are successful, it could mean relegation from NWC Division 1 for Ashton Town and possibly AFC Blackpool or Atherton LR.

I had a stark reminder of the strength of some Premier League squads when I looked at the Manchester United FA Cup side. Nine changes from the West Ham game (only Carrick and Rojo retained), but the team still contained 11 internationals with a keeper who played in the last World Cup Final. The bench included 5 internationals, Pogba, Ibrahimovic and Mkhitaryan being most prominent plus a World Cup winner in Bastian Schweinsteiger. If Sean Dyche, manager at Burnley pondered on this too long, he would wave the white flag.

Tier 11 Club of the Week

Turton FC; - The original but no longer the greatest

Turton, tucked away to the north of Bolton, has always been a small village but for Lancastrians, this is where football began. Shrouded back in the mists of time, the club was founded in 1871; probably the first in the county. It was certainly where the Lancashire Football Association was formed in 1878 and it reached the 3^rd round of the FA Cup in 1880-81, losing to (Sheffield) Wednesday. Their original ground, Tower Street in the adjacent hamlet of Chapeltown, is still regularly used by Old Boltonians in the Lancashire Amateur League. It is probably the oldest still-functioning football ground in the world. As professionalism flourished in the 1880s, Turton soon ceased to be an important club. Twice it has folded and the side playing in the West Lancashire Premier League is the third incarnation. The club won promotion from Division 1 last summer and under the guidance of manager Neil Hart, a mid-table position is being maintained. So just an average Tier 11 side now……..but with a history worthy of being remembered in perpetuity.

                                       Turton FC; Lancashire Junior Cup Winners 1901-02

Quiz Answers

1 Liverpool, 2 Bryan Robson, 3 Hull City, 4 Marcus Bent, 5 Tim Howard, 6 James Vaughan,   
7 Shackhtar Donetsk, 8 Accrington Stanley, 9 AFC Fylde, 10 Manchester City,

The Red Rose Football Blog (Number 11)

Number 11                                                                                         January 3^rd 2017

The magic of the FA Cup

It is FA Cup weekend, the round of the last 64. At one time they called it the “1^st Round proper” because no sides were exempt. The Red Rose County has a fine tradition in what is the oldest football competition in the world, emerging as winners on 47 occasions. This is the 137^th staging of an event which started in 1871-72 and Arsenal and Manchester United share top billing with 12 wins apiece. Other winners from this area are Liverpool 8, Blackburn Rovers 6, Everton and Manchester City 5, Bolton Wanderers 4, Preston North End and Bury 2, Burnley, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic 1. There is a strong representation this weekend also, 14 clubs being in the draw. Manchester United who defeated Crystal Palace in extra time last year will be attempting their first double and at the other end of the scale is Barrow from Tier 5. The Bluebirds have reached this stage on 12 occasions but have yet to win a 3^rd Round game.

The ties concerning our clubs are West Ham v Manchester City, Manchester United v Reading (h), Accrington Stanley v Luton Town (h), Barrow v Rochdale, Blackpool v Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers v Crystal Palace, Bristol City v Fleetwood Town, Everton v Leicester City, Queen’s Park Rangers v Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland v Burnley, Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest, Preston North End v Arsenal, Liverpool v Plymouth Argyle

Do we need to change the rules of football?

I have always believed that Football is much superior game to Rugby Union, but I have to confess that we can learn a great deal from the disciplinary codes of both the 13 and 15 a side games. Over the last couple of years, I have had this feeling that the result of too many matches has been decided by the referee and his team. They are not; repeat not corrupt or biased and I know from personal experience (if only at schools’ level) that it is a most difficult job, no matter how honest one tries to be. But we used to say that the best referees were the ones we never noticed. Not any longer; they have become centre stage. The rule book ought to be friendlier to the man in the middle and this is where football needs to copy the rugby protocol. Without ado, the legislators need to ensure that the referee can only be spoken to by the captains and that there is an exclusion zone around him. Secondly, the introduction of technology at the start of next season for all professional games is a must. These are quick fixes which need no further discussion. They also need to look more carefully at dismissals. The eleven v ten scenario is one of football’s major problems. A 15/20 minute spell in the sin bin will add another layer of excitement, the crowd counting down to when the player can return. It will mitigate to some extent against Mike Dean’s sending offs which ruin the contests that spectators have paid to see. And what about rugby’s penalty try? For shots being handled on the line or deliberate fouls when it is massively odds on that an opponent will score, just give the goal with no dismissal required. Finally, the rule makers have to “get tough” with persistent offenders. The Five bookings prior to a one game suspension is too lenient. It is two in the World Cup finals so why not three at the most in the league. Add to that an obligatory fine of one week’s wages for a one match ban, written into all contracts worldwide and we would see the end of the deliberate trips and obstructions (the “taking one for the team”) which blight the game. I know it is asking far too much of the National and International bodies whose inactions make the fiddling Emperor Nero seem decisive, but we would have a much cleaner and fairer game; one played almost all of the time by eleven players on each side. Will it happen? No chance!  

Mike Dean; 5 red cards already this season

Top performances from the New Year games

Liverpool 1 Manchester City 0 (Premier League)

We were promised champagne and canapés but they served beer and a packet of crisps; not that the red half of Liverpool was complaining. It was dull, lacking in action but Georginio Wijnaldum became the toast of the city when he headed home an Adam Lallana cross and even with the draw at Sunderland, second spot is momentarily secure. Pep Guardiola could soon be watering down his New Year wish list, but will simply having Manchester’s bragging rights (no longer a given) satiate the appetites of the owners from Dubai?  

Blackburn Rovers 1 Newcastle United 0 (EFL Championship)

Charlie Mulgrew, possibly the Rovers’ best signing of the Venky’s reign, scored the winner against Newcastle for the second time in 6 weeks as the Rovers completed a most unexpected double. And they silenced the 7000 visiting supporters in the process.

Bolton Wanderers 2 Scunthorpe United 1 (EFL League 1)

Beating and changing places with the league leaders is not a bad way to bring in the New Year and this is what the Wanderers achieved on the last day of December. Scunthorpe has been the surprise package in Division 1 this season and over 17,000 supporters witnessed a stuttering performance from the home side, but an injury-time winner from substitute James Henry adding to Josh Vela’s first half volley was sufficient to clinch a fortunate victory.  

Josh Vela, Bolton Wanderers’ goal scorer

Runcorn Town 1 Squires Gate 1 (North West Counties Premier League)

Twice in a fortnight, Squires Gate have travelled to a quality side and upset the apple cart. Table toppers Runcorn Town must have expected 3 points from the visit of their 15^th placed opponents, but a last minute equaliser from Brett Dawson gave the Blackpool side a point, opening the gate for Bootle and Atherton to catch the league leaders from Cheshire.

Trafford 2 Radcliffe Borough 1 (Northern Premier league Division 1)

Trafford came from a goal behind and made themselves a touch more comfortable in the play-off spots in this Greater Manchester derby with goals from Ashley Woods and an o.g.

Games to look forward to next weekend

West Ham United v Manchester City (FA Cup 3^rd Round) January 6, 19.45

One of only 3 all Premier League ties, this is yet another banana skin for the Sky Blues. If Andy Carroll is fit for the Hammers, there could be carnage a plenty on set pieces around Claudio Rayna’s goal. Whichever combination of defenders is selected, they will not be able to combat an aerial bombardment. West Ham have improved recently so could there be a Friday night upset brewing in the new East End? But please Mr Referee, no sending-offs.

Bolton Wanderers v Crystal Palace (FA Cup 3^rd Round) January 7, 15.00

Sam Allardyce took no prisoners as a rugged centre half for the Wanderers in the seventies, he steered them to several top ten Premier League finishes as manager 20 years on and now brings his latest club to Bolton. It will be one of the stories of the round and Sam returning south, tail between his legs is not an implausible scenario. Bolton are flying in Division 1, Allardyce will no doubt save Palace from relegation, but this tie may have come just too soon for his new club who of course almost won last year’s final at Wembley.

Preston North End v Arsenal (FA Cup 3^rd Round) January 7, 17.30

“When I was younger so much younger than today” (apologies to Lennon and McCartney), this would have been the day’s top match. With Finney at his peak, PNE would probably have mastered the aristocrats of English football but have been absent from the Top Tier of English football since relegation in 1961. The “Gooners” have continued their “blue blooded” lineage and will be favourites. Wenger however sometimes experiments with his cup line-ups and there is something tiger like in this Simon Grayson side, so who knows?

Glossop North End v Lancaster City (Northern Premier League 1 North) January 7, 15.00

This ultra-competitive league continues to throw up fascinating fixtures and City visit the lower slopes of the Peak District to protect their first place against the third in the Division. Glossop has lost just once at home this season with Lancaster losing only three times on their travels. Manager Paul Brown has orchestrated the “Dolly Blue’s” first serious attempt to return to their former glories so weather permitting, this will be an encounter to savour.

Shildon v Atherton Collieries (FA Vase 4^th Round) January 7, 15.00

Wembley is on the horizon, but still 4 more dragons to be slain. The “Collieries” could not have picked tougher opposition than the reigning Northern League champions. This league has dominated the competition in recent years, unbelievably carrying away the trophy on 7 of the previous 8 occasions. The last North West Counties winner was Kirkham & Wesham (now AFC Fylde) in 2008, but the league has had a dreadful 2016-17 with Atherton the only club to reach this stage of the competition. Can it at least carry the flag for one more round?

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

Each question has a Red Rose County connection

1             Andy Cole won European, Premier League and FA Cup winning medals whilst at Old Trafford but with whom did he win a Football League Cup winners medal?

Andy Cole; one of English football’s most prolific scorer at the Millennium’s end

2             In the summer of 2014, Liverpool bought two internationals from Southampton, Adam Lallana and which other player?

Adam Lallana; bought by Brendan Rogers after the Rio World Cup

3             Which current Burnley player was born, raised and started his professional career in Scotland but represents Canada at full international level?

4             Which Red Rose County club was managed by ex-Scotland boss Craig Brown, Alan Irvine and Darren Ferguson (son of Alex) between 2002 and 2010?

5             Steven Davies with 10 league and cup goals is the leading scorer this season for which Red Rose County League 1 club?

6             From 1980-1989 inclusive, one or both of the two Merseyside giants appeared in an FA or Football League Cup Final at Wembley every year, except which one?

7             The tough Red Rose County centre back Peter Clarke has won 8 Player of the Year awards at clubs such as Blackpool, Bury and Huddersfield. Where is he now?

8             Who is the only current Manchester United player who has previously been managed by Jose Mourinho at another club?

9             Which Lancashire club won the North West Counties Premier League last season to gain promotion to the Northern Premier League North Division?

10         Which current Everton player was a FA Cup winner with Manchester City in 2011?

Post Weekend Musings

Could a manager have signed two Shearers? Now that would have been really something, but Kenny Dalglish did….in 1992. There was immense pressure on the Scot to achieve promotion in his first season at Ewood Park. He had Jack Walker’s money to splash around so he bought Swindon Town’s goal-hungry Scottish striker Duncan Shearer in early 92 for £800,000. He had scored plenty of goals wherever he played but was only given 6 games (scoring once) at Ewood Park before being sold to Aberdeen for £500,000. Dalglish then used that money plus another £3 million to buy his namesake from Southampton in the summer; the rest as they say is history. Sadly the two never played together at Blackburn  

There is no Best Ever XI this week; it returns in Number 12. There were comments about Dave Price’s Bolton side, agreeing about the club’s difficulties in retaining star players since the Lofthouse era. Kevin Davies, John McGinley, Kevin Nolan, Gary Cahill, Nicholas Anelka and Alan Stubbs were all given a mention but no-one was really pushing any to the exclusion of a Dave selection. I wondered about Francis Lee and Freddie Hill from the 60s.

Twenty three points by year’s end; Burnley fans would have taken that in August. They have won their winnable home games, taking 22 out of the 23 at Turf Moor. There are questions about the club’s away form but this is a small town, low budget club so along with Eddie Howe, should Sean Dyche not be worth a mention in the race to be Manager of the Year?

Andre Gray; hat-trick hero v Sunderland at the weekend

“Win at home, draw away” has long been a mantra associated with successful clubs and managers. Even if you are at the wrong end of the table, away draws can be a vital ingredient in any safety package. So well done to those Red Rose strugglers who gained a point on their travels on Saturday, all against sides with promotion on their mind. I am referring to Blackburn at Huddersfield, Wigan at Derby County and Bury at Bradford City.

Devante Cole, a striker like his father Andy, scored Fleetwood’s winner at Shrewsbury; the Cod Army stretching its unbeaten run to 8 league games and seriously threatening the play-off spots. Glasses need to be lifted to toast Uwe Rosler’s over-performing side, a rationale based on their attendances which are the lowest in the league.

Notable non-league results.

National League: - Southport, bobbing in and out of the relegation zone like a cork at sea, defeated Wrexham 3-2 with goals from Nolan (2) and Brewster to bob back out again.

National League 1 North: - AFC Fylde gained revenge for a Boxing Day home defeat by Chorley with a 3-1 win at Victory Park; normal service resuming at the top of the table.

North West Counties Premier League: - AFC Darwen, fighting tooth and nail to avoid the bottom three, edged closer to safety when coming from behind to draw 2-2 at Maine Road.

North West Counties Division 1:- City of Liverpool smashed Stockport Town 10-0 away to stay right behind the leaders.

Tier 11 Club of the Week

Aigburth People’s Hall; top dogs in Merseyside

The undoubted top team in the Liverpool County Premier League over the last 4 years has been Aigburth People’s Hall. They have been members of the league since its inception in 2006, having previously played in the Liverpool County Combination. The club has won the title on 5 occasions, including the last 3 seasons. They play at the Liverpool Soccer Centre and are currently topping the league; two points clear of Lower Breck but with two games in hand. Lower Breck is the only team to have beaten them in this campaign. In fact over the last three and a half seasons, they have lost on just 10 occasions; a most impressive record.

 

Aigburth People’s Hall; double winners 2015-16

Quiz Answers

1 Blackburn Rovers, 2 Dejan Lovren, 3 Scott Arfield, 4 Preston North End, 5 Rochdale,                        6 1980, 7 Oldham Athletic, 8 Juan Mata, 9 Colne, 10 Gareth Barry,