MANAGERS GO ROUND & ROUND
THERE has been a massive managerial merry-go-round in this country involving six bosses for the past few years.
Tony Pulis, Alan Pardew, Sam Allardyce, Roy Hodgson, David Moyes and Mark Hughes are the managers in question. And the common denominator is that they are all British. It proves that football club owners in the upper echelons of the game in this country are still prepared to appoint British bosses – MAN CITY’S ★ or at least current derby those with United superiority over experience confined to the – despite isn’t just
League. In the recent the Premier between the
Under-18s meeting common 4-1 with a familiar won perception clubs, City for the the scoresheet that they name on Centre-half Colin are more Blues – Rosler. of ex-City
17, the son interested Rosler, is now striker Uwe who in hiring manager of Fleetwood, foreign headed his side’s coaches. second goal. Eight clubs are involved in the chopping and changing and the breakdown over the last 12 years is – Crystal Palace: Pulis, Pardew, Allardyce, Hodgson.
Hodgson, Pulis, Pardew. West Ham: Pardew, Allardyce, Moyes. Newcastle:
Allardyce, Pardew. Pulis, Hughes.
Moyes, Allardyce. Fulham: Hodgson, Hughes. Sunderland: Allardyce, Moyes.
Hughes, Allardyce.
The links could even be extended to England, with both Hodgson (left) and Allardyce having had that job as well.
Big Sam is top of that managerial moves table having had seven jobs including his brief stay with the Three
Lions and his latest appointment at Goodison Park.
PAUL HETHERINGTON
HALLELUJAH! Christian Benteke finally ended his Premier League goal drought at the time of asking.
FOURTEENTH
And in doing so the much-criticised Belgium striker, who before yesterday’s first-half strike had gone a mind-numbing 1,106 MINUTES without finding the net, helped secure Crystal Palace’s first victory on the road this season.
No wonder the Eagles’ long-suffering traveling brigade were in a festive mood at the final whistle as they sang: “Oh what fun it is to see Palace win away.”
For if tongues were firmly in cheek while belting out that rendition of Jingle Bells, their growing optimism that Roy Hodgson’s men can escape the drop is genuine.
Further goals from Wilfried Zaha and Bakary Sako clinched a thoroughly deserved triumph over disappointing Leicester.
The result stretched Palace’s unbeaten run to seven matches and lifted them out of the drop zone – temporarily at least.
Afterwards a delighted Hodgson hailed his side’s latest convincing display.
The Selhurst Park boss said: “That’s three clean sheets away from home, which is good. And, more importantly, we have killed off the hoodoo that we can’t score and win away from home.
“That’s been a bit surprising because we’ve been creating chances. Today we scored a few of them.”
And the ex-England manager was equally pleased to see Benteke bounce back in such fine fashion from his spot-kick nightmare in last weekend’s draw with Bournemouth.
Despite not being designated penalty-taker, the misfiring Eagles striker had grabbed the ball at thr death – and then missed costing them crucial points.
Benteke said: “I just wanted to show that I’m always involved and I will do everything to get back on form.
“I’ve been really patient, I’ve been through a hard time but I’m a big believer and I really work hard. I just got what I deserved to get. I won’t give up and I will just keep going.”
Hodgson, whose troops moved to 14 points, added: “It’s good for him. He was strong and held up his hands about that penalty. Everyone in the club, including his team-mates, certainly appreciated that.
“We know he’s a quality player. If he keeps getting in those positions, then he’s going to score more.
“He had a ratio of one goal every two games at Aston Villa. That’s what we want from him for the remainder of the season.”
By contrast, Leicester counterpart Claude Puel was suitably unimpressed after his first reverse in nine matches at the King Power helm.
The Foxes, who had birthday boy Wilfred Ndidi sent off in the 61st minute, were a pale shadow of the side that had romped to a 4-1 win at Southampton in midweek.
Puel said: “It was poor performance. We didn’t start well – with any real tenacity or quality. That’s disappointing after our good run.
“We were too slow in the first half and when we tried to react we had a goal disallowed and a player sent off. I thought the red card was harsh.”
Perhaps having won four on the bounce, Leicester felt they merely needed to turn up to make it a fantastic five.
If so, they were badly mistaken as the visitors assumed control from the outset.
Palace had already created several openings when the unmarked Benteke headed in Andros Townsend’s 19th-minute cross.
That was their first goal on the road since April last season.
Five minutes before the break they doubled that tally – and the advantage on the day. This