Jets fume at Van Egmond in Poker Online Indonesia defection

 

 

You have to think that Gary van Egmond had endured enough turmoil in his 32-month stint at the helm of the Newcastle Jets.

 

To some, it was no huge surprise when Van Egmond, an affable 44-year-old and former A-League coach of the year, this week handed in his resignation to outspoken Jets owner Con Constantine.

 

Any brownie points his side had earned from reaching the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League had evaporated in Pohang as the Steelers Poker Online Indonesia ran out 6-0 victors last week, eliminating them from the competition.

 

Such a heavy defeat would often be enough to prompt many trigger-happy chairmen to act or noncommittal managers to walk away – notwithstanding Van Egmond had recently penned a contract extension tying him to the Jets until 2013.

 

But revelations since that Korean nightmare have revealed Van Egmond’s hasty resignation wasn’t prompted solely by his under-prepared team’s ACL humiliation.

 

He already had his eye on exiting the club he helped transform from cellar dwellers to champions and had formally applied for a coaching position within Football Federation Australia, the game’s governing body.

 

As the application process proceeded, it became clear Van Egmond was the outstanding candidate for the role of working with some of the country’s finest rising stars, as Australian under-17 assistant coach and with a remit to guide the youngsters at the Australian Institute of Sport.

 

But whatever the ramifications of bringing Van Egmond into the FFA stable with an eye on his long-term coaching development within the national body, from the outside it appears unusual to move from a head coach’s position in the A-League to the lower ranks of the national side.

 

Van Egmond has been earmarked for a larger job since making an immediate splash when he took over at Newcastle in October 2006. The man known to all as ‘Dutchy’ led the Jets from the basement to the championship within 18 months and was labelled the brightest young manager in the Australian game.

 

But Newcastle’s title defence was a disaster. They finished bottom, yet sympathy was shown for Van Egmond’s position as his championship side was ripped apart by a combination of dubious incoming and outgoing transfers.

 

The coach would have tired of the revolving door at the Jets, particularly when it was clear a number of those coming and going did so against his wishes.

 

Newcastle have endured the biggest turnover of players of all eight foundation clubs with Van Egmond this season facing the prospect of managing without full internationals Jade North, James Holland, Joel Griffiths, Adam Griffiths, goalkeeper Ante Covic and Mark Milligan.

 

The Jets hierarchy brought in only journeymen and youngsters as replacements.

 

Still, Constantine had little sympathy for Van Egmond on his controversial departure, saying he blamed the defector more than the FFA, who he claimed poached his employee behind the club’s back.

 

“He forgets that if it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t be where he is now. He was selling Pepsi to me eight years ago. He pleaded then to help him get involved in coaching in the game,” Constantine told The Australian.

 

He added: “If the FFA want to fine me (for his public condemnation of their actions), well, it would be like fining Jesus Christ because of the treachery of Judas.”

 

Branko Culina, Van Egmond’s replacement, is seen by the Jets movers and shakers as Newcastle’s saviour.

 

Culina, a former Sydney FC coach, became the Jets’ technical director earlier this year, a kind of guiding hand for Van Egmond.

 

He had said that his axing by Sydney in 2007 had left a bad taste, but the TV pundit couldn’t resist another crack at frontline coaching after Constantine asked him to fill the breach, certainly for the medium term.

 

Culina signed a two-year deal, immediately jetting off to Europe to scout a pair of imports to change the Jets’ fortunes this forthcoming season.

 

“I think that Branko is the best man for the job,” trumpeted CEO John Tsatsimas. “He has been here since February and he has seen the club, he knows the players first-hand. He is an experienced coach, he is a very technical coach as is (assistant) Mark Jones and we believe that they will work well together. We also believe that it will provide the foundation for rectifying us results-wise and it will lead us into the finals.”

 

 

 

Premier League bemoan African festival of Dominoqq football

 

 

As the African Cup of Nations gets underway in Ghana this Saturday, objecting voices over the tournament’s timing are coming thick and fast from the English Premier League. No fewer than thirty-four players have left UK shores for the competition, which runs until February 10. Between now and then three full weekends of Premiership fixtures, in addition to fourth round FA Cup ties and Carling Cup Semi-Final second legs, are to be played.

 

Aston Villa, Derby County, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic are the only clubs not to have a representative in Ghana, while other teams are Dominoqq facing up to reality of losing between three and four first team players. Only time will tell if the African Cup of Nations is to have any serious ramifications in the championship race, relegation dog fight or battle for European qualification places. One thing is for sure though, the league’s managers will refuse to hide their distain for the international competition until each and every one of their African stars are back in England, fit and ready to put on their club jerseys.

 

One of the strongest objectors to the African Cup of Nations being played in its current calendar spot is Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. The French manager has lost three key first team players to the tournament, at a crucial time when the Gunners find themselves level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table. Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue are to represent the Ivory Coast while Alex Song will be playing for Cameroon. Their departure will leave a major gap in the north London side’s defence as they prepare for a weekend trip to Fulham and Tuesday’s Carling Cup Semi Final, second leg against rivals Tottenham. Arsenal’s only relief is that top goal scorer Emmanuel Adebayor will be staying in London as his Togo side failed to qualify for the tournament.

 

Wenger has called for the African Cup of Nations to be held just once every four years, rather than biennially and that it should be played in the summer instead of winter. He has also gone on record as stating that if the tournament’s timing is not changed, it could mean that English clubs no longer look to buy African players. “(Organisers) know more and more players play in Europe for the big clubs, and the big clubs don’t want to pay the price,” Wenger recently told the BBC. “That means it will be detrimental to the African players because the big clubs will not give them a chance any more.”

 

The Arsenal boss commented this week that he thinks his Gunners side along with Chelsea and Portsmouth will be the Premiership clubs most effected by the African Cup of Nations. That seems a fair assessment looking at the list of players who have left for Ghana. Chelsea have lost Michael Essien (Ghana), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast) and John Obi Mikel (Nigeria). The shock waves of those departures should be eased by the Blues’ January signings of striker Nicolas Anelka and defender Branislav Ivanovic however.

 

Portsmouth are to be without Sulley Muntari (Nigeria), Geremi (Cameroon), Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye (both Senegal). Like Arsenal, Pompey boss Harry Redknapp can at least draw comfort in the fact their most prolific hit man this season, Benjani, wont be required in the competition, as Zimbabwe also missed out on qualification. The Fratton Park club have been quick to seek cover for their departing players, adding the 22-year-old French international defender Lassana Diarra to their squad this week.

 

The Premiership and other top European leagues will gain encouragement from FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s view that the African Cup of Nations should be moved to June and July sooner rather than later. He has set the Confederation Football Africain (CAF) the challenge of moving the tournament to the summer months by 2016. That’s despite CAF’s insistence they want to keep the biennial competition in its original calendar position, claiming the weather in Africa is better for football then. Some signs of a compromise with football’s world governing body have been evident this week though, when CAF announced the African Cup of Nations will kick off ten days earlier in Angola in 2010. This will ensure players return to their clubs in good time ahead of Champions League and UEFA Cup matches.

 

The inconvenience felt by the Premiership’s high and mighty over the African Cup of Nations is set to run long after the February 10 final. Given the Premier League’s profile and power, it will be interesting to see just how long CAF can continue to frustrate England’s elite clubs with their defiance over a January tournament in the future.

 

 

 

 

The bra has been raised in Togel Singapore

 

 

 

There are two things in life that I’ll never really understand; bigamy, and the mechanics of a bra. The wife finds my ineptness hilarious, she was rolling on the floor last night as I struggled with a multitude of hooks; I should really have passed her the valium.

 

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For me, that was the least amusing moment of my life, and I’ve met Tim Lovejoy.

 

Whenever I feel depressed, I find the quotes of Ian Holloway are always therapeutic. The great man has been responsible for more quality lines than Pete Doherty.

 

The Plymouth manager’s mirth masks an underlying intelligence, like a beauty queen dying her hair ginger to fend off an unwanted suitor for Togel Singapore. I refuse to underestimate the modern day Socrates; I’m piling into Plymouth at 17/10 to knock out Watford.

 

The last time Middlesbrough met Manchester United, Gareth Southgate was quick to condemn Ronaldo’s propensity to greet the turf like a long lost relative.

 

Sir Alex was equally unequivocal in his counter, labelling the novice manager ‘naïve’, which as far as I’m aware, is not even a real word. There are an abundance of words that adequately sum up the 3/4 for another Manchester United win, I’ve settled for ‘pulchritudinous’.

 

It would not surprise me in the slightest if the contentious Ronaldo opened the scoring at 7/1. The orange winger is currently so hot; it would take a whole tub of Canesten to cool him down.

 

Chelsea’s grip on the Premiership has been loosened by the often maligned John O’Shea. Frank Lampard found it particularly ironic, as most of his goals have been assisted by John’s lesser known brother, Rick.

 

I’ve had a pop at Lamps in the past, but I must praise him for defending Adebayor in the aftermath of the Carling Cup. I’m not sure I believe his claim that he was never smacked; something must have given him the munchies. I’ll be taking the family out for a slap-up meal if Chelsea beat Tottenham at 4/9; they can even ‘go large’.

 

Jose Mourinho should steer clear of the card tables. The Special One looked completely bewildered as Shevchenko missed another sitter last week; the only way the Chelsea manager would ever win at poker is if he played the West Ham lads. A bet on Lampard to net the opener at 13/2 is the equivalent of getting your hands on a big pair.

 

Blackburn host Manchester City in a tie that has ‘home win’ written all over it. The Rovers have already hammered Psycho’s gang twice this season; the odds of 19/20 would need to be lying seductively on a couch wearing a Velcro brassiere to be any more appealing.

 

Manchester City’s strike-force is so lightweight, wafer-thin model Kate Moss would be a clear favourite if they were ever to meet in a ruck. Blackburn are 6/5 to keep a clean sheet, dig in.

 

I’m often asked why I appear reluctant to share my expertise on the Scottish football scene. I can assure you it’s not a result of xenophobia; some of my best friends know Scottish people.

 

Celtic are on a six match unbeaten run against Rangers; they look a cracking investment at 21/20 to continue their recent outright ownership. There’s a real lesson to be learned here, money earned from an FA Cup match is equal to money gained from park football.

 

The weekend accer is so inspiring; it makes me believe that one day all men will be free from discrimination, injustice and persecution for trying to lift a bra over a lady’s head. Chelsea, Blackburn, Plymouth and Celtic are the selections, the payout is an ample 12/1.