iblog » Steve Robinson

Allardyce leaves Newcastle in latest manager change

Steve Robinson — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:13:13 +0000

When Sam Allardyce parted company with Newcastle United on Wednesday he became the eighth Premier League manager to lose their job in just five months of the current season. His removal has prompted outcries from the media and fellow managers alike that managers at Premier League clubs are under far too much pressure to produce results.

The trend began in earnest in September when legend Jose Mourinho shocked English football by leaving high-fliers Chelsea, with the media touting poor relations between the club’s owner Roman Abramovich to blame. In the following months, Tottenham parted company with Martin Jol, Billy Davies left struggling Derby, and Birmingham, Bolton, Fulham Wigan all lost their managers. This latest management change has left many fans wondering how many more displacements there might be in this turbulent season.

“If you were put into a job in the city, the first thing you would ask for is time. It takes a while to gel.
“In Sam’s few months at Newcastle he might not have even found out the correct strength of the reserve side. He might have players injured that he doesn’t know much about.
“But with football, it’s absolutely out of hand. It’s so crazy now.”

Martin O’Neil, Aston Villa Manager, speaking to BBC Sport

Many have asked why football managers have been under so much pressure this year. With a massive surge in money from advertising and TV revenue this season, Premier League clubs are all keen to avoid relegation and continue to reap the benefits of the extra cash. Unfortunately, this added competitiveness has meant that teams are under extra pressure to perform. Inevitably, pressure builds on the manager, with whom the buck stops, it appears.

Allardyce took over from previous boss Glenn Roeder in May 2007, but saw a new regime in place within a month, as new owner Mike Ashley upped his stake and Freddy Shepherd stood down as Chairman. From then Allardyce was constantly under pressure from a new boss and from expectant Newcastle fans. However, Allardyce’s departure is a classic example of the lack of time now given to managers to settle into the role and develop the team. Allardyce was in charge for just 8 months and oversaw just 24 games, taking Newcastle to 11th in the division. Surely 8 months is not enough time to judge a manager?

The departure leaves Newcastle searching for their seventh manager in 11 years. Many toon fans will hope that former Newcastle player Alan Shearer gets the role, although he is reported to be happy with his job at Match of the Day. Whoever gets the nod, it will be a tall order to impress a club with such lofty expectations. Whether we have seen the last management casuality of the Premier League 2007/8 season, however, remains to be seen.

For those who are interested in football and need a sports grant then a new scheme called Cash 4 Clubs may be of some use.

Image: Wikipedia

Vomiting Disease Sweeps Across UK

Steve Robinson — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:56:51 +0000

A stomach virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea is currently infecting more than 100,000 people in the UK each week, doctors have warned. They have urged infected people to remain at home for at least 48 hours after the symptoms of the illness – often called winter vomiting disease – have disappeared, in an attempt to stem the rate of new infections.

The illness is caused by an infectious agent called a norovirus (or Norwalk Virus). Infection causes sudden and acute diarrhoea within just 12 hours, along with projectile vomiting. Flu-like symptoms can also occur, hence its nickname ‘Stomach Flu’. It is estimated that around a million people are infected with the stomach bug each year, but the Health Protection Agency have confirmed that the current wave of infections sweeping the nation is at its highest since 2002.

“Surgeries and hospitals have been swamped with people wanting advice. Wash your hands regularly so you don’t infect anyone else and stay at home two days after the symptoms have gone.

Professor Steve Field, Royal College of GPs
Quote: BBC News

The virus can be contracted by being in contact with infected people, surfaces, food or drink. Outbreaks are difficult to contain due to the low-level of immunity that the body establishes and the only form of containment is to disinfect surfaces and wash your hands regularly. Doctors have advised that, although the disease is not dangerous, sufferers should drink plenty of water to keep themselves hydrated, wash their hands to stop the disease spreading to others, and not return to work until 48 hours after symptoms have eased, as individuals may still infect others.

Although official figures have suggested that 100,000 new cases are appearing each week – and that number may even rise further – it is likely that the real number of infections is far higher still, as most people do not report their illness. With potentially millions of people infected with this virus, the message that sufferers should stay at home seems like good advice, otherwise this will spread around offices even quicker. Although the condition is not serious, there is no real treatment apart from letting the illness take its course. Thankfully, if you are unlucky enough to catch the bug, it should relent within a day or so.

Image: MorgueFile

A Capello will be sweet music for England

Steve Robinson — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:47:38 +0000

Fabio Capello was made England manager yesterday, a move that should give England fans a renewed sense of hope following the disappointing failure to qualify for Euro 2008. The former Real Madrid manager has signed a four-and-a-half year deal, with an option to terminate after the 2010 World Cup.

“I am delighted that Fabio Capello has agreed to become England Manager. When we set out to recruit the new manager, we said we were committed to appointing a world-class candidate. In Fabio Capello we have that man.

Brian Barwick, FA Chief Executive

Capello had been touted as firm favourite since Mourino ruled himself out last week. The FA were keen to stress however that Capello was their number one choice, and the appointment was unanimously agreed by the FA Board on Thursday. The appointment comes only three weeks after Steve McClaren’s reign came to an end with the defeat at Wembley to Croatia. The new manager begins work on Monday 7 January with his first game scheduled for 6 February, a home friendly against Euro 2008 hosts Switzerland.

Capello has an impressive CV. The Italian started his playing career with SPAL before moving to Roma, Juventus and AC Milan. He was part of the Italian national side for four years, gaining 32 caps and scoring 8 goals. In 1991 he became coach at AC Milan, with whom he won Serie A four years out of five, culminating in the UEFA Champions League victory over Barcelona in 1994. He later coached Roma and Juventus, winning the league with both, before returning to Real Madrid where he again won the Spanish league title. Although he has never coached at international level, Capello has worked with the top players in Europe, as well as being a former international player himself, and so is well qualified to lead England forward.

The FA announced they would scour the world for contenders, and take as long as they deemed necessary to find the right man, given the next competitive game is not until September 2008. Yet, England were without a manager for just three weeks, a move that has been rightly called into question. However, the FA singled out their man and went for him, a decisive trait they lacked when searching for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s replacement. In Capello, the FA have found an extremely capable manager. Put simply, the FA deserves praise, despite their previous failings, and England fans should look forward to the future.

To read more about this and other Footballing stories – go to TalkFootball.co.uk

Image: Flixya.com

British troops to withdraw from Basra

Steve Robinson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:14:14 +0000

In the latest efforts to bring stability to Iraq, Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced yesterday that British troops would begin withdrawing from the Basra region within the next two weeks. The move is the first step to reducing the UK presence in the area to just 2,500 troops by spring 2008, and will be the first time that Iraq’s second city will be without foreign soldiers since the conflict began in 2003. Brown also praised soldiers for their efforts during his unannounced visit to Basra, saying the British people were proud of them, according to BBC News.

“I have just talked to Prime Minister [of Iraq] Maliki and he asked me to pass on his thanks to you for what you have done to help rebuild the democracy of Iraq.

“I know many of you will not be home for Christmas, but I do appreciate the spirit of service that means you are serving here the national interest at Christmas time.”

Gordon Brown speaking at a Basra airbase yesterday
Source: BBC News

The decision comes amid concerns that, despite the PM’s reassurances that the 30,000 Iraqi armed forces and police can provide effective provincial control, the situation in Iraq could easily worsen following the withdrawal of troops. Only in August, following the initial stages of handing Basra back to the Iraqi authorities, violence broke out over political control and oil resources in the region amongst Shiite militias. Furthermore, last week the Commons Defence Committee – the body of MPs that monitors the Ministry of Defence – warned that removing troops could lead to insecurity in the area. They questioned the allegiances of police officers, saying that the British troops may have made “significant progress” in the region but that it still relied on British soldiers to function (Source: Sky News).

Though this staggered withdrawal from the region is a positive move for Iraq, culminating presumably in the complete removal of British troops over the next year or so, the apparent successes of the British in Basra could be undermined by instability caused by infighting or criminal activity, which could well rise after the withdrawal. However, if the Iraqi forces are able to maintain order in the region, then the New Year will be a cause for celebration in Basra, as the whole country looks forward to an important year ahead.

Image: The White House

Vista Compatibility Issues May Cause Leopard Delay

Steve Robinson — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 22:27:20 +0000

Recent reports suggest that Apple’s new operating system OS 10.5 – known as Leopard – may well slip to as late as October this year, with compatibility issues with Windows Vista cited as the probable cause. The key addition of BootCamp in Leopard – a program which allows users to run Windows natively on a Mac – seems to have caused the problem, and so the postulated March release date now seems unlikely.

The new OS – originally thought to be launching in Spring 2007 – is seen by Apple as a key incentive in their attempt to entice PC users to switch to Apple Macs instead of upgrading to Windows Vista. As the Apple website declares: “Why upgrade to Vista when you can upgrade past it?… Why go through all that hassle when you can just get a Mac.” Whilst the hope is that Windows users feel they can still run Windows-only programs using the BootCamp software, Apple conveniently negates to mention on this page that this would involve the purchase of the Windows Vista operating system as well, increasing the overall price. Now, somewhat ironically, it seems the release of Apple’s own upgrade has been put back due to compatibility issues with the Vista software.

However, some analysts believe this to be a minor setback -since this is a slow time for PC sales anyway – and believe that a few more months achieving compatibility with Windows will help ensure Apple a larger market share when Leopard finally ships. Still, this is yet more time for Windows Vista to cement itself in place of the aging XP system. The real battle will come when Leopard finally squares up to Vista on the shop floor, though when that will be is not yet clear.

The PS3 Arrives Tomorrow

Steve Robinson — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 15:22:18 +0000

The long-awaited PlayStation 3 is set to hit the UK at midnight tonight after suffering delays stretching back to 2006. The console was released on 17th November 2006 in the US, but Sony announced in September of last year that the next-generation gaming device would release later in Europe, blaming problems with the mass-production of the Blu-Ray disc drive. The shift to a Spring 2007 European release was seen as a blow to Sony’s market share, as it fell further behind Microsoft’s XBox 360 and Nintendo’s new Wii system. Many fans are excited however that the day has finally come when they can get their hands on the machine many consider to be the true ‘next generation’ console.

Issues still remain about price however, with many consumers unhappy that Sony decided to only release the more expensive, 60gb version for a pricey £425. Not only is the smaller, 20gb model (which retails for $499 in the US, roughly £255) not available at launch, but the 60gb option retailed for $599 – roughly £300 – at launch. With a four-month delay and a model-restricted supply at launch, how can Sony justify charging a massive £125 more in Europe than in America?
Though hardcore fans will not be deterred by the pricetag, industry experts believe the balance of power in the console industry may well shift in the coming months due to Sony’s hard line pricing strategy. With the cheaper, arguably more fun-filled Nintendo Wii available for a paltry £179, and the Xbox 360 celebrating a recent price reduction, it may well be tough going for the new kid on the block.

Apple’s Vista-Rivalling Leopard Unleashed in March?

Steve Robinson — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:19:40 +0000

Rumours amongst Mac devotees have been ripe over the past week that Apple is set to announce a March release date for their latest operating system, OS 10.5 – otherwise known as ‘Leopard‘. Though the latest update to the Macintosh system was expected some time during Q2 (read: spring), a march release is certainly a surprise since Leopard was only unveiled for the first time last year. New features are set to include Time Machine, where the computer automatically stores copies of your files for instant retrospective access, improved email and video conferencing applications, and Spaces – the inclusion of multiple ‘virtual desktops’ – to name a few. Microsoft released their ‘next generation’ operating system at the end of January, and an earlier-than-expected release from Apple would signal an intent to win over Windows users who are undecided about switching from XP. The proclaimed ‘Vista-killer’ could well be in shops by this time next month, according to the word on the street, so watch this space…

Source: T3

Image: Softpedia

iPhone Exclusive to Vodafone Customers?

Steve Robinson — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:30:11 +0000

Mobile phone company Vodafone have recently tied up a deal to provide Google Maps on handheld devices, including PDAs and Mobiles. The service allows customers to use Google’s location-specific searches on the go, effectively rivalling more advanced GPRS software (as long as you know where you are). More interesting still is that the recently announced iPhone from Apple will feature Google Earth as standard. In the ‘States, Apple made an exclusive deal with Cingular for the rights to sell the iPhone on their network alone. It is expected that a similar deal will be struck in the UK with one of the major network operators (though not 3, since the iPhone is not 3G-compatible). So, the question is, with Vodafone supplying Google Map services to mobiles, and iPhone yet to announce a network partner for their Google Earth-enabled phone, will these two giants set to broker a deal in the coming months? A deal seems highly likely anyway, with Vodafone as the most ubiquitous operator in the country, but perhaps this is the first hint that an agreement might have already been made.

LG Prada Phone on the Way

Steve Robinson — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 19:02:58 +0000

It seems that the electronics maker LG has teamed up with the fashion company Prada to create an exclusive, touch-sensitive offering for the mobile market. The device is set to feature a full-face touch screen, doing away with the standard button layout on most mobile phones. The news comes as the next chapter in a recent spate of limited edition ‘fashion’ phones, such as the gold-plated Nokia 8800 released last year (for a pricey £350) and the Product(RED) Motorola L6 released earlier in 2006. How much this latest offering will cost is anyone’s guess, however, as both companies are keeping their lips closed on specifics. However, expect a very distinctive design, with an even more distinctive pricetag.

The LG Prada Phone is expected to go on sale early 2008, price TBC.

Give the dog an iBone

Steve Robinson — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:13:41 +0000

It’s been a long time since Apple first hinted that their minimalist technological stylings would at last be cast upon the world of phones. The Apple faithful were looking forward to the New Year and an announcment at Macworld in January which would finally shed light on the project. Unfortunately, Cisco have gone and spoilt the New Years party by announcing the release of their own Linksys ‘iPhone’ VoIP range of devices. You see, Cisco have actually owned the much-coined name since the early 1990’s, and so Apple will presumably have to find a new name for their product. There is a chance that Apple could still purchase the name from Cisco, though perhaps a recent failure to reach an agreed price may explain the delay in using the name. The loss of the instantly recognisable iProduct name is a blow to the launch, but knowing Apple’s natural aptitude for marketing, I think it’ll be the quality of the product that speaks volumes, not how it’s identified.