This was not immediately apparent at Goodison Park on Saturday. In the same way as some films become celebrated for their ineptitude, Everton and Tottenham produced a match which was so awful it became entertaining. After watching PSV play sweet passing football with an emphasis on attacking wing play, returning to this thud-and-blunder was like following Casablanca with Spice Girls – The Movie.
While it had seemed premature to call this a relegation battle after just two matches the fare, and the raw approach of both players and supporters, suggested the billing was accurate. Scotland are in Lithuania, Northern Ireland in Turkey and the Republic of Ireland meet Croatia at home.
No Premiership today, but in the Nationwide League First Division Sunderland are at Crewe and Wolves away to Ipswich. Games involving Bolton, Crystal Palace and Norwich, among others, are postponed.. IN EINDHOVEN last week the Dutch press were bemoaning Wim Jonk’s departure from PSV, a genuine European power, to Sheffield Wednesday, a moderate English club. Tomorrow: More Nationwide League – Bournemouth, second in the Second Division, are at home to Blackpool.
Wednesday: Manchester City, not exactly pulling up trees yet even in the Second Division, are home to Walsall.Friday: Opening European Under-21 championship matches include Sweden v England (4.30) and Wales v Italy (5.0) at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham.Saturday: First exchanges in the senior European Championship: Sweden meet England in Solna (5.0) and Wales v Italy (Anfield, 7.45). Today: In a busy Nationwide League programme, Wolves bid to make it five wins out of five at home to Stockport County and return to the top of the First Division, having been displaced by Sunderland. In the Second Division, Stoke – 100 per cent under Brian Little – seek a fifth win in five away to Colchester, while Third Division leaders Rotherham are at home to Mansfield. A member of the Leeds reserve side that won the Pontins League title last year, Woodgate is said to have something of the young Tony Adams about himAfter seeing Michael Owen apparently land a role in Emmerdale, someone looking remarkable like David Beckham has been spotted playing Nick Tilsley in Coronation Street Well, it helps him stop pining for Posh….
George Graham’s preference for Robert Molenaar and Lucas Radebe in the Leeds back four seems to have pushed the loyal Wetherall so far into the fringes that he is lucky to make the substitutes’ bench.Jonathan WoodgateLeeds UnitedOne of those who might benefit if Wetherall does not play himself back into contention, the 18-year-old Woodgate, from Middlesbrough, is one of the Leeds youngsters George Graham raves about most. David Wetherall
Leeds United
An automatic choice and sometimes captain last season, the 28- year-old centre back’s stock appears to have fallen sharply during the summer. “Fabian certainly paid Bruce back well for his recommendation,” Smith said. “When I was considering making a move for him I contacted Bruce and he told me I would be foolish not to take him on the books.”Smith snapped up De Freitas on a free transfer from the Spanish club Osasuna as one of several interesting summer signings that could turn his team into Premiership contenders. He also recruited two Italians, Mario Bortolazzi and Enzo Maresca.After taking 10 points from their opening four matches, Albion fans are beginning to wonder if the notion of a return to the top flight is gaining credibility, after 12 years in the wilderness..
11
The number of goals scored by Tottenham’s Les Ferdinand in his 12 matches against Everton.
The number of cautions received by Everton players in three Premiership gamers so far.37The number of yellow cards issued in the Premiership on Saturday.300The number of goals scored by Southampton in the Premiership following Matt Le Tissier’s late penalty against Forest.. `The secret is that we know a lot about them they know very little about us.”
Charlton manager Alan Curbishley, before his team held Arsenal at Highbury to stay among the Premiership leaders.. CO-OPERATION AMONG managers is all well and good, but Bruce Rioch had immediate cause for regretting one bit of advice dispensed to the West Bromwich Albion manager, Denis Smith, after Norwich crashed to a 2-0 defeat at The Hawthorns on Saturday. Both goals came from the Dutch striker Fabian de Freitas – signed by Smith on the Norwich manager’s recommendation after spending a season under Rioch at Bolton.
The 26-year-old, making his first appearance for Albion in the First Division, came off the bench after 59 minutes and had put Smith’s side ahead within 60 seconds before adding the second goal 13 minutes later, sending Norwich to their first league loss of the season.
Substitutes not used: McKenzie, Horn.Bookings: Kilmarnock: Mahood. Hearts: Fulton, Hamilton.Referee: W Young (Clarkston).Man of the match: McCoist.Attendance: 10,376.. MICHAEL KNIGHTON is on the verge of declaring that his dream of turning Carlisle United into a Premiership force is finally over. Even before Saturday’s defeat at Exeter left the Cumbrians next to bottom of the Third Division, the controversial former Manchester United director confirmed he was ready to sell his club interest, reportedly for pounds 4m.
He is said to blame abuse from supporters “affecting my family life and my children” for pushing him to the point of abandoning his once- grandiose ambitions. Knight-on, who acquired notoriety from his attempt to buy out Martin Edwards at Manchester United, took over the then-ailing club in 1992. He boldly proclaimed that Carl-isle would be in the top flight “within 10 years”, a prediction only reinforced when the team won the Third Division title in 1995, when he said that they “could be as big as Blackburn Rovers,” that season’s Premiership winners.But Carlisle were relegated the following season They again won promotion in 1997 but lasted a season. Among Knighton’s other dreams was the establishment of a youth academy “to rival Auxerre or Ajax”, but serious questions about his mental state were asked when he disclosed a conversation with aliens after spotting a UFO near the M62.Last season, he engaged in a furious battle with the local News and Star newspaper, accusing their reporters of inciting fans to boycott match- es, stage sit-ins or walk-outs and chant vindictive abuse.The paper responded by carrying the results of a poll that showed 91 per cent of supporters blame Knighton for Carlisle’s predicament.Even now, Knighton still has not abandoned his ideas, revealing he was trying to assemble a “dream team” coaching partnership of Mick Wadsworth, the manager of Scarborough and Peter Beardsley Now that idea looks set to go the way of all the others..