ScorecardAustralia, who surprisingly missed out on a Super League spot, took out their frustrations on a shell-shocked Scotland side, bundling them out for a measly 22 and winning well before lunch at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong. Six of the Scots made ducks in the procession, and the highest contribution was Mr Extras, with 10. Of the batsmen, the highest scores were 5 by the opener Ian Young – who hit the only boundary of the innings – and Sean Weeeraratna, who at least resisted for 44 balls. It was the Aussie new-ball attack that did the damage: Gary Putland grabbed 4 for 9 in nine overs, and Man of the Match Cameron Huckett 4 for 7 in eight. Stephen O’Keefe mopped up the last two wickets to finish with 2 for 1. The Australian openers needed only 3.5 overs to knock off the runs and win a match which lasted only 26.2 overs in all.Willie Morton, Scotland’s coach, was dismayed with his side’s performance. "Australia are a strong team but we can’t accept results as poor as that,” he said. “I am very disappointed with the way we played today.”Australia’s coach Bennett King, meanwhile, said that his team would be going all out to win the Plate Championship. "We came here expecting to be playing in the Super League, but we didn’t beat Zimbabwe," he said. "Now we are in the Plate Championship and it must now be our target to win that instead, and we will field the same players in our next match." ScorecardNepal defeated Papua New Guinea in today’s other Plate Competition match, at the Chittagong Divisional Stadium. PNG laboured to 168 for 9 in their 50 overs: seven of their batsmen reached double figures, but the highest score was only 35, by Vivian Kila. Chris Amini, PNG’s captain, made 34, while slow left-armer Lakpa Lama took 4 for 51 from his ten overs. Nepal’s opener Kanishka Chaugai started well, and although Basanta Regmi made only 8 and skipper Babu Gauchan a duck, Nepal already had 60 on the board by then. Chaugai added 85 with Sharad Vesawkar (36), and finished with 90 not out as Nepal completed victory with 10.4 overs to spare.Chaugai was named Man of the Match, and earned praise from his team manager TB Shah. "Chaugai batted very well today on a good pitch," said Shah. "After a hiccup at the start where we dropped a couple of catches the game went well for us. We do not have any long-term targets for the tournament, we are taking each game as it comes."
CAPE TOWN, Feb 7 AFP – England will decide on Sunday whether or not it will go ahead with its controversial opening World Cup clash against Zimbabwe in Harare after it failed in its final, desperate bid to have the game switched to South Africa.Justice Albie Sachs today rejected England’s last gasp attempt to have next Thursday’s match relocated on safety grounds.Following a briefing from World Cup security chief Patrick Ronan, England players and officials were locked in marathon talks over their next move in the long-running saga.They face two possibilities – either go ahead with the February 13 clash as scheduled or withdraw and be docked four World Cup points, as well as risk a substantial fine imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaking its contractual obligations.The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has no right of appeal against the decision made by South African judge Sachs.Earlier today, Nasser Hussain’s men met with ICC’s Australian chief executive Malcolm Speed to discuss a report the world governing body had commissioned from American security firm Kroll.This concluded it was safe for the six World Cup matches due to take place in Zimbabwe and two in Kenya to go ahead as scheduled.Speed praised the ECB’s handling of the situation but said he hoped Sachs’ ruling was the end of the matter.”The ECB has acted properly throughout,” Speed said.”It has exercised its rights under the contract and I expect they would continue to do so.”There have been suggestions that the ICC might fly England in and out of Harare on the day of the match itself in a bid to minimise safety risks to players and spectators alike.ECB director of corporate affairs John Read said: “The issue is whether we play the match or not.”Travel arrangements are not irrelevant because there are questions about preparation and acclimatisation but they are not directly relevant to this issue,” Read told AFP.England was always meant to be in Cape Town today ahead of taking part in Saturday’s tournament opening ceremony at the city’s Newlands ground.Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) president Peter Chingoka insisted there was “no bad blood” between the teams despite his outright hostility towards England’s relocation bid.”It’s important for the tournament to proceed without interruption,” Chingoka said.”But there is no bad blood between ourselves and the ECB.”We’re looking forward to welcoming England with African hospitality.”Sachs warned Zimbabwe that, despite his ruling, it now carried the “enormous responsibility” of ensuring the safety of everyone at Thursday’s match.”Serious political and economic issues have arisen in Zimbabwe, to which it would be wrong to turn a blind eye,” Sachs insisted 24 hours after the World Cup event technical committee turned down England’s first formal appeal.”Not only must the players be protected, but also the spectators.”Sachs’ decision is set to have implications for all the six World Cup matches due to be staged in Zimbabwe and possibly the two fixtures in Kenya where New Zealand has refused to travel on safety grounds following terror attacks in the East African state.South Africa is due to stage the other 46 games in the February 8 to March 23 tournament.
After Sunday afternoon’s marathon meeting at the PCB’s headquarters, there were changes galore in the set-up. Ostensibly, for this is the official line, these changes have been rung to bring the organisation in line with the working of the ICC. In effect it is a tacit admission that all was far from well in the PCB at various administrative levels. And also, that the entire system needed an overhaul as radical as this one was, to kick the indolence and inefficiency out.So the ‘five wise men’ – yes, there were as many till as recently as last April – advising the Chairman, have now been replaced with five committees!One can only hope, that belated as it is, this attempt at some dispassionate soul-searching and stocktaking augurs well for the game in Pakistan.The good thing about the changes is that every committee has a well-defined job assignment, instead of the vagueness that was prevalent in the times of the now-defunct, Advisory Council. So, for instance, now we would know if there is something wrong with the functioning of academies, or there is a marketing problem, and so on, everybody including the media would know who is to blame instantly.This may have some effect on diligence levels, for, to some extent, it introduces real-time, public accountability.So massive is the scale of changes – "a major restructuring of the PCB to streamline the working of the Board", said the official press release – that only two members of the dissolved Advisory Council have been retained, in Rameez Raja and Javed Miandad, the former for practical and the latter, perhaps for sentimental reasons. The selection committee – the replacements yet to be named, perhaps because one of the prime candidates is abroad these days – too has been given the much-deserved sack, and too late in the day.Though this reorganisation was known, one has learnt, to the Chairman’s confidants for some time, the all-powerful Advisory Council had little or no clue. The result was that two of its members, former cricketer Waqar Hasan and Wasim Azhar, have been sent packing while the fifth member in Yawar Saeed had already been eased out, to do duty as the national team’s manager about three months ago.The question is whether this is a harbinger of more changes? As a logical corollary they should be forthcoming too, and soon. For howsoever good the newly-formed committees might be, if the administrative support staff – which the Chairman says were not put in by him but by his predecessors, the inference being that he is either unable or unwilling to defend their performance any longer – are not overhauled as well.Now a look at the Committees, in terms of responsibilities and scope, as head of Development Committee, Raja still ends up with the largest share of the pie. His domain remains extensive, covering infrastructure development, academies, nurseries, coaching centres, grassroots cricket and also the National Coaching Council. Considering that most of these programmes are in their embryonic stage and even a bit of cavalier handling could do serious damage to the very concepts, whether he can find time to deal effectively with all this while committing himself extensively with his commentary assignments and his job in a bank, is a point of conjecture.In this context, he would have to delegate, and heavily so and who would be assisting him where, would assume greater importance. The committee has yet to be named, which means Raja is still looking for right options. Though one of his former mentors, none other than the redoubtable Majid Khan, is anything but satisfied with his work so far, but one would like to hold judgement on this for the moment.Miandad is the chairman, with Iqbal Qasim to serve as his deputy, in the management committee. This committee would deal with domestic cricket, national umpiring council, rules and discipline. Well, one has been a great admirer of Miandad, and it is a great travesty that for various reasons in his last six years, between 1990 and 1996, he could only take part in 22 Tests.That said his very name does not really go down well with the concept of management. So, apparently, the PCB Chairman didn’t have the heart to tell him to pack off. Or maybe, it is deemed, as one member of the now dissolved Advisory Council had confided in this writer not long ago, it is more prudent to have Miandad on board than put up with the vitriol he is capable of sending the PCB’s way from time to time.Appointment of a treasurer is a mundane affair and Finance and Marketing Committee too doesn’t have any new faces. But the Review Committee is important in the context that PCB still faces quite a bit of pressure from the ICC on the match-fixing issue. Also the likelihood of some of the players continuing to be involved, as has been alleged off and on in recent times, is something that needs constant probe and vigilance. The retired High Court judge to head the committee has still to be appointed. It would be in the fitness of things, if Justice Qayyum, whose landmark judgement on match-fixing had won universal acclaim, and who would be available after his resignation is accepted, is offered the job. At least for the short term, for he is familiar with the lay of the land like no one else.The last paragraph of the press release was most significant in its import, for it promises the appointment of a legal advisor to review the PCB’s constitution, followed by elections of the associations "to keep them in line with the new national administrative structure".This is a great development indeed, provided it comes through, for it pledges return to democratic order – in as far as it could be in an organisation where the government of the day can appoint the top man. And also from the point of view, that the actions of Chairman and the five committees, would be accountable to the Council. That too, if hoping that the previous constitution does not see a change in this regard.But one problem here is that there aren’t many credible elected or electable faces around. They weren’t there even when the so-called PCB Council was ruling the roost, taking turns on foreign trips and bleeding whatever little resources were generated in those pre-satellite television times, when the revenues were precious little to go by. Since then, that is from the early to mid ’90s onwards, they have been mostly irrelevant, dependent on the crumbs that were thrown their way.So the problem is not merely the absence of democratic order. To quote Majid Khan on the issue again, "the country’s educated elite have washed their hands off Pakistan’s sports". Cricket is no exception to this rather sweeping statement, which unfortunately is true. That is one reason why quality leadership – such as like Jagmohan Dalmiya, Madhavrao Scindia, Raj Singh Dungarpur, and I.S. Bindra across the border – is not being thrown up to manage the affairs of the game in this country. And till such time, it doesn’t happen; we would remain dependent on the good or bad decisions of a very limited coterie.Sad as it may sound, but a fact.
Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United’s get out of jail free card.
How often, with the Red Devils seeking a moment of inspiration, a moment of magic, does the Portuguese genius pull a rabbit out of the hat, having come to the aid of a succession of managers in his almost six-year stay at Old Trafford.
As captain, the 31-year-old has managed to keep this sinking ship afloat in recent seasons, notably ending 2024/25 with 38 goals and assists in all competitions, having looked a man possessed under compatriot Ruben Amorim.
Even in a deep-lying role this time around under the ex-Sporting CP, Fernandes is still at the centre of everything good about this current United side – but for how much longer?
What Bruno Fernandes said about his Man Utd future
The United skipper produced one of his finest moments of the campaign in the 4-4 thriller with Bournemouth last week, rifling home a free-kick to drag the hosts back level in that topsy-turvy contest at the Theatre of Dreams.
Even while ultimately left to settle for a point, there was an air of positivity in the aftermath of that game, with Amorim appearing to have finally taken the handbrake off following a subtle switch to a 4-3-3 set-up.
As is the way in the modern Manchester United era, however, the balloon was burst somewhat soon after, with comments from Fernandes’ prior interview with Canal11 filtering through.
Having previously spoken openly about coming close to joining Saudi side Al Hilal over the summer, ahead of his 300th United appearance, the midfielder was far more explosive with his latest comments, accusing the club of wanting him to sell him, but lacking the “courage” to do so.
The £300k-per-week playmaker – who also hinted at having received offers to leave in 2024 – then flirted with the idea of winning titles in Spain, alongside revealing a possible desire to return to Italy, having previously played in Serie A with Udinese.
With just 18 months left on his contract, Fernandes’ future will be a major talking point now heading into 2026. If he does depart, a suitable replacement needs to be found.
Man Utd could turn to the new 'Keane & Scholes' to replace Fernandes
Even without the uncertainty over Fernandes, the midfield unit has been a real priority for INEOS regardless, with the club having been linked with a move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba over the summer.
Carlos Baleba alternatives
The suggestion is that the Seagulls star remains a target heading into the new year, although he has since been joined by England and Nottingham Forest sensation, Elliot Anderson, with the ex-Newcastle United man now attracting notable interest.
Valued at potentially somewhere in the region of £100m, the 22-year-old wouldn’t come cheap, although he could represent the perfect, long-term successor to Fernandes in that deeper midfield role.
His quality has been on show in the early months of this season, in particular, with Anderson appearing to nail down a starting role alongside Declan Rice at international level, ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
This is no safe and steady Jordan Henderson or Conor Gallagher style partner for Rice, however, with the Geordie superstar looking like a player of all-round brilliance, both in and out of possession.
Indeed, in the Premier League this season, the one-time Bristol Rovers loanee ranks in the top 4% of midfielders for progressive passes and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, highlighting how he can both pick out a pass, while also gliding his way up the pitch at will.
There is steel to match the silk, however, with the £100m man also ranking in the top 18% for tackles and the top 7% for blocks made, with those traits having been on the show as he dazzled in the 2-2 draw with United at the City Ground not too long ago.
Anderson vs Man Utd (01/11/25)
Stat
Record
Minutes
90
Touches
84
Pass accuracy
75%
Key passes
3
Possession lost
25
Dribbles
2/2
Tackles won
1/1
Recoveries
14
Total duels won
7/14
Stats via Sofascore
Comparisons to figures of the past might be cheap and unhelpful, but glowing reports are now flooding in regarding the discarded Newcastle man, with talkSPORT’s Max Scott even going as far as to suggest that he is “a bit of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane all rolled into one”.
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Whether he has the real match-winning, game-changing quality is another matter, although with United now boasting an array of forwards who have somewhat lifted the burden on Fernandes, there is no expectation for Anderson to directly fill the shoes of the Portuguese talisman.
Instead, the fleet-footed Englishman could provide greater balance and control in Amorim’s midfield department, with there only so long that the club can go on relying on agent of chaos, Fernandes, to bail them out of trouble.
He'd be unplayable with Cunha: "Unstoppable" PL star open to joining Man Utd
Manchester United’s hunt for new additions is on, heading into the January window.
With Euro 2012 fast approaching, attention shifts toward the latest prestigious tournament to grace International football. As it stands there is a major competition every two years but the qualifying campaigns for both the UEFA European Championships and the FIFA World Cup have become dreary and predicable.Given the World Cup allows a select number of Europe’s finest to compete alongside others from Africa, South America, Asia and Oceania, surely the most appropriate format for the Euros would be to allow every region of Europe to be represented in the same way?Currently the top ranked nations are rarely drawn together because UEFA seeds qualification to ensure the better teams are present for its summer showpiece. Occasionally two end up together, as is allowed, but they still compete against other lesser nations and usually qualify through a fairly uncompetitive group.It’s time UEFA revamped the Euros to create a regional qualifying campaign that would not only freshen up the current format but also mean every region from Great Britain to Eastern Europe is represented. Some nations may differ but in theory it would look something like this:[divider]ABCDEFGHEnglandSwedenGermanyItalyRussiaBosnia HerzegovinaTurkeySpainFranceDenmarkNetherlandsCzech RepublicUkraineRomaniaGreecePortugalRepublic of IrelandNorwayBelgiumCroatiaBelarusSerbiaBulgariaSwitzerlandNorthern IrelandFinlandPolandSlovakiaLatviaMontenegroIsraelAustriaScotlandFaroe IslandsLithuaniaSloveniaKazakhstanHungaryCyprusLiechtensteinWalesIcelandLuxembourgMaltaGeorgiaAlbaniaFYR MacedoniaAndorraEstoniaSan MarinoAzerbaijanMoldovaArmenia
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Already fans can see a number of potentially eye catching fixtures but there are other positives to come from this new set up. For starters, it would limit the amount of tedious fixtures like Wales v Georgia or Scotland v Kazakhstan to every four years (only during FIFA World Cup qualifying) and in the meantime allow for more appealing matches like Wales v Scotland and Georgia v Kazakhstan which would promote local interest. This trend would be echoed across Europe as matches like Spain v Portugal and Germany v Netherlands would become more regular and fans wouldn’t have to travel as far leading to cheaper journeys for supporters. Not only would spectators be more encouraged to travel but top players may be more inclined to shake off injuries and play in the more significant fixtures rather than save themselves for domestic action. Finally less travel leads to a greener Europe which is perhaps not the be all and end all but still means fans Carbon foot print is decreased by fewer long haul flights, trains, ferries etc.
So lots of positives but naturally there are concerns as well. More frequent derby style fixtures could lead to heightened security fears and an increase in hooliganism, especially if political rivalries are reignited which could overshadow the football. Further, if a new setup was implemented then these problems would return every four years but considering it’s possible for situations like this to occur regardless of design, it shouldn’t be used as a definitive reason not to refresh the format. After all Armenia and Azerbaijan were drawn together for the Euro 2004 campaign but found a suitable resolution and not every match will require a neutral stadium to avoid conflict. The risk of increased hooliganism was one of the reasons Britain’s Home Nations matches were abandoned nearly 30 years ago but authorities are now better equipped to deal with modern day violence, especially high profile International matches. One theoretical concern is while only a handful of Scotland fans might travel to Kazakhstan, many more Russia fans would cross the border for the same fixture so while it would lead to greater attendances it may also intensify of the risk of crowd trouble. Still if more fans choose to travel the shorter journey, the increase in attendances and therefore matchday income far outweighs any potential violence that can ultimately be policed.
Clearly there would be a few kinks to iron out but controversial fixtures are already a possibility with the current system. Given the need for more excitement in International football, a new format would bring about an era of competitive rivalries and national pride that would add spice to an often tedious campaign. Bearing in mind the appeal such a renovation would offer fans across Europe, it seems strange UEFA would persist with a format that repeats itself every two years. A new layout may not stop the best nations qualifying but it would excite fans, fill stadiums and draw more attention to lesser known fixtures. Anyone missing the old regime could still take pleasure in World Cup qualifiers while the rest of Europe enjoy their very own ‘Home Nations’.
Since the current format is lacklustre and repetitive, surely UEFA must revamp the qualifiers otherwise more and more fans will lose patience with International football.
Should UEFA change the qualification system for Euro 2016? Would a Home Nations format improve International football? Do you agree with the selections or would you place certain nations in different groups?
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Chelsea have produced a strong performance in a 4-0 hammering of a Thailand All-Stars XI in their friendly clash in Bangkok on Sunday.Having recorded an unconvincing 1-0 victory over a Malaysia XI last time out, Andre Villas-Boas’ side were more comfortable this time around thanks to goals from Frank Lampard, Jose Bosingwa, Branislav Ivanovic and Florent Malouda.
It took 37 minutes for them to find their breakthrough, with Lampard firing home from the edge of the area.
Having made 11 changes against Malaysia XI at the interval, Villas-Boas was content with just one in Bangkok, with Cech being replaced by Hilario, as a tepid performance from Fernando Torres was prolonged into the second half.
It was not long before the Stamford Bridge side accelerated into a three-goal lead with a quick-fire double within seven minutes of the restart.
Bosingwa, having been denied in the first half, saw his luck change as his 30-yard effort was diverted off the post after a lapse in concentration from the All-Stars’ keeper.
Chelsea had a third on 52 minutes as a deft exchange of passing between Josh McEachran and Ivanovic saw the Serbian apply the finish.
Mikel, impressing in the middle of the park, found substitute Malouda’s darting run and the Nigerian’s inch-perfect pass allowed the winger to rifle home on 72 minutes.
Premier League action returns as the second round of Christmas fixtures kicks-off this afternoon. Tottenham v Newcastle and Man City v Aston Villa are arguably the pick of the games and both the home sides will be hoping for 3pts to strengthen their title challenges.
In the papers this morning there has been a mixed bag of stories which includes Pardew confident at Carroll staying; Wenger reveals Cesc concern and Avram Grant praises youth policy.
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Moyes has no money – Sky Sports
Ancelotti tells Chelsea to ‘wake up’ after another trying night – Guardian
Foster: I’d never go back to killjoy United – Mirror
Liverpool officially table €12.5m bid for Gervinho – IMScouting
Wenger reveals Cesc concern – Sky Sports
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Giggs: We won’t get carried away – Sun
Grant praises youth policy – Daily Telegraph
Spurs playing like the Dutch, says Van der Vaart – Guardian
It appears that the omens are against Manchester United as they head into the final day of the season still grappling with rivals City for the Premier League title. The last time their noisy neighbours won a top division championship was back in 1968. Eerily both sides were level on points and United needed to beat Sunderland in their last game to clinch the trophy only to lose and hand it to City. Surely lightning can’t strike twice, can it? Sir Alex Ferguson will certainly hope it doesn’t as aims to add a 20th championship to his Old Trafford collection but is aware that the Red Devil’s fate rests in the hands of a former player. Ferguson will be willing Mark Hughes’ QPR to take points away from City and leave the door open for United to sneak in grasp the trophy under the nose of Roberto Mancini. The 70-year-old will be urging his players to give it their all in the North East and go down fighting with pride should their efforts prove to be in vain.
This week on FFC does Ferguson need flex United’s financial muscle to stay competitive with City and who is the Old Trafford chief targeting with a £10 million bid?
[divider]
Best of FFC
Why Fergie needs them to go that extra mile in the transfer market
The last chance saloon for big transfer spending?
The TEN ‘La Liga gems’ that Premier League clubs should take a punt on
Should Rooney have been given the nod?
When Did Play-acting Become Fashionable in football?
Manchester United looking to snatch north London target
Arsenal looking to pip United with £5m move
United ready to test the water with £10m bid
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Best of WEB
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The £57 Million United NEED To Spend This Summer – Red Flag Flying High
One Of The First Areas Sir Alex Will Have To Sort This Summer – The Busby Way
Fergie loses sight of financial reality… and title – United Rant
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
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Death, Taxes & Manchester City: Five Things United Need To Do – Red Flag Flying High
“He’s worked very hard over the last couple of years to develop his talent.” – The Busby Way
Why The Time Is Right For Leighton Baines To Make A Move – Transfer Tavern
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Quote of the Week
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“Do you know what I was doing 29 years ago today ? I took a wee team called Aberdeen to beat Real Madrid in a European final.”That’s QPR’s challenge – to do an Aberdeen. Of course the odds are stacked against them. City are in good form and are at home, but it won’t be easy for them because the pressure is on.“On the face of it, though, you expect City to win and so do I. But as long as human beings are human beings you never know. You hope something stupid happens.” Sir Alex Ferguson hopes QPR can ‘do an Aberdeen’ and beat Manchester City on Sunday to hand United the title
Manchester City and Arsenal haven’t had the best of relationships of late. Defender Gael Clichy has switched allegiance from Arsenal to City, Arsene Wenger has had a pop at City’s lucrative sponsorship deal and now the Arsenal boss has attacked City manager Roberto Mancini over comments about Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri.
Manchester City have done little to hide the fact they want Nasri. The Arsenal midfielder is an in-demand asset with City one of many teams reportedly interested in acquiring his services. But with Arsenal insisting the player will not be leaving the Emirates this summer, Mancini admitted that he hoped to sign Nasri “by the end of the month”.
Mancini’s claims obviously didn’t go down well with Arsenal or Wenger. Wenger claimed that the comments “were not allowed” and against “the basic rules of football”. But with penalties or punishment for such practice very rare, should Wenger stop complaining and speak out himself about who he wants to sign?
Tapping up is a complicated yet ever-present problem in football. A quick search of the term on the internet will bring a long list of cases where clubs are reportedly at fault for tapping up in their pursuit of a player. Arsenal themselves have been at the centre of such storms in the past, including their pursuit of Marouane Chamakh back in 2009. Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud then criticised Wenger for reportedly declaring his interest in the player. Whether cases like Nasri’s would be deemed tapping up would be up to investigators if the matter was reported but the culture of expressing an interest in a player is commonplace. In a summer where Cesc Fabregas’ transfer saga to Barcelona continues (with now Barcelona players weighing in with their own public comments), Arsenal may have to resort to playing dirty themselves to really compete.
Mancini’s comments obviously didn’t help the strained relationship between Arsenal and City. Whilst he did mention that Nasri is under contract, he probably shouldn’t have come out and sounded so confident or assured of signing a player under contract with another club within a certain time-frame. A club or manager publically expressing their interest in signing someone can easily unsettle that player but with the risk of punishment so small, making your transfer interests public may be the best way to get a potential transfer moving.
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In his criticism of Mancini, Wenger was insistent that Arsenal “don’t make any comments on players who are under contract in other clubs”. That is a fine moral stance from a well-respected figure in football but if Arsenal are keen to compete for the best players in the world they may have to start making their voices heard in a competitive and tough transfer market.
If you want to read more of my bite size, 160 character views and thoughts follow me on Twitter @jennyk5
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Alan Sunderland made a name for himself when he broke into the Wolves first team at the age of 17. He scored 30 goals in his six years at Molineux before securing a move to Arsenal, and it was there where he wrote himself into FA Cup folklore.
In the 1979 ‘Five minute’ FA Cup Final, Sunderland converted a last minute Graham Rix cross to clinch a dramatic 3-2 win over Manchester United. Arsenal had been 2-0 up with five minutes to play when United pulled back two goals in as many minutes to seemingly steer the tie towards extra-time, but Sunderland, equipped with moustache and curly perm, stretched out his leg to net a last-gasp winner. But what happened to the Arsenal number eight after his Cup Final heroics?
Sunderland remained with the Gunners for a further five years and was their top scorer in the 1979/80 and 1981/82 seasons. He was a member of the Arsenal side that lost two cup finals in four days in 1980, the FA Cup Final to West Ham followed by Cup Winners Cup Final to Valencia on penalties. He also won his only England cap in 1980, playing 85 minutes in a 1-2 win over Australia in Sydney.
Alan joined Ipswich on loan in February 1984 after a run of unfortunate injuries and the arrival of Charlie Nicholas at Highbury. During his loan spell at Portman Road, Sunderland scored three goals in 15 games and helped Ipswich avoid relegation. He joined the Tractor Boys permanently in the summer of ‘84 and remained there for two years. Ipswich though were a team in decline and after league positions of 12th in 1984 and 17th in 1985, they were finally relegated from the top division in 1986. During these two years Sunderland scored eight goals in 43 appearances. After Ipswich, Sunderland had a very brief stint at Derry City before finally retiring from football in 1986.
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After retiring, Alan became a publican in Ipswich. After four years behind the bar Sunderland decided that he needed a change, in 2005 he said: “I was drinking myself to death, I needed to get away.” And get away he did.
Sunderland, now 57, moved to Malta in 1995 to, in his own words: “enjoy the climate and the fact there are no traffic jams”. He continues to stay active by playing tennis and golf and has spent some time coaching local football team Burkirkara FC. He has “plenty of contact” with ‘Malta Wolves’, the Molineux side’s Malta fanclub, and attends functions held by the group.
Speaking three years ago, he said of his famous FA Cup goal: “The day seems to belong in a different lifetime when I watch the highlights now, either that or it’s someone else scoring!”
To refresh your memory of the goal, here’s a video of his special moment:
[youtube rDUwYqPj1YE]
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