25 May 2009
by Jerrad Peters
Strachan quits Celtic
Barely 24 hours after losing the Scottish Premier League to Rangers, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan submitted his resignation to chief executive Peter Lawwell.
"I have enjoyed my time immensely at Celtic, and clearly I will be sad to leave this great club," he commented. "As I have said before, Celtic is a special club with special supporters. There is no club like it, and it has been an absolute honour and privilege to be the club's manager for the past four years."
After replacing Martin O'Neill at Parkhead in 2005, Strachan regained the title from Rangers and went on to win three consecutive championships. He also won a trio of domestic cups and guided Celtic to 122 wins in 182 matches.
"Gordon has given everything to the club and worked tirelessly to bring success to Celtic," said Lawwell.
Strachan has already been linked with the top job at Sunderland, where Ricky Spragia resigned following a 3-2 loss at home to Chelsea on Sunday. As for his replacement in Glasgow, each of Mark McGhee (Motherwell), Owen Coyle (Burnley), Tony Mowbray (West Bromwich Albion) and Craig Levin (Dundee United) will be sure to get some attention from the Parkhead brass in the coming weeks.
Newcastle nightmare will produce massive overhaul
It was not a dream. It was, and is, a nightmare.
Players, coaches and supporters of Newcastle United awoke on Monday to the reality that their club will not compete in the Premier League next season. Many of them shot out of bed, having pinched themselves that it wasn't really happening; that the 1-0 loss at Villa Park which relegated the Magpies into The Championship had been a delusion.
Oh, there will be pinching, alright. And finger-pointing and name-calling and angry riots in the streets. That will come later. For now, there is an eerie quiet on Tyneside. It's like a wake after a sudden death, where those in attendance can't believe the deceased is actually dead.
"I'm hurting," said interim manager Alan Shearer on Monday. "Angry is too strong a word. I'm raw inside." He continued, "I can see what it means to the fans, and I am hurting."
So is Damien Duff. The 30-year-old converted left-back deflected Gareth Barry's attempt past goalkeeper Steve Harper just prior to the interval, effectively sealing Newcastle's relegation.
"I'm devastated," he told reporters. "I don't know what words can describe the way I feel."
Duff, who was part of the 1999 Blackburn Rovers squad that was relegated, also stated that Newcastle are "too big" for The Championship, but that Shearer is the right man to bring them back to the top flight.
"If there's one man that can get us back up, it's Alan Shearer," he said, adding, "I'm as loyal as they come. And whether the gaffer stays or goes, I'd love to try to get Newcastle back up.
Neither scenario is likely at this point. Duff, who arrived from Chelsea in 2005, is one of 15 Newcastle players to earn in excess of 50,000 pounds per week. The club will have to shed significant salary ahead of next season, including his. Jose Enrique, Jonas Gutierrez, Alan Smith, Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins, Nicky Butt and Michael Owen will also be expected to exit the club in the coming weeks.
As for Shearer, he has admitted to enjoying management, going so far as to call it an "addictive job." But even his position is not guaranteed. After everything sinks in and a plan for next season is formulated, owner Mike Ashley will have to decide whether Shearer fits into that plan, or whether an entirely new direction is needed.
Shearer, for his part, doesn't see many of the team's current players fitting into any long-term strategy at St. James' Park.
"Players have to go and other players have to come in," he said. "Whoever comes in, there needs to be an overhaul. The sooner it can happen, the better."
Regarding his own future, the 38-year-old would only commit to meeting with the owners and the chairman in the coming days.
"I have not had time to sit down and think whether it's right for the football club for me to stay," he said.
Rangers hold nerve to win title
The Scottish Premier League trophy was awarded at Tannardice for the second time in succession, although Dundee United were once again the lookers-on during the post-match festivities.
Rangers kept their nerve, Sunday, and demolished their hosts to the tune of 3-0 to preserve their lead atop the table. Kyle Lafferty got things rolling after just six minutes, and Pedro Mendes—SPL Player of the Month for August—doubled the spread just prior to the break. Kris Boyd notched his 31st goal of the campaign in the 52nd minute.
The win left Rangers at the top of the pile after 38 matches for the first time since 2005. Their 86 points were four better than arch-rivals Celtic, who drew 0-0 at home to Hearts.
"It was a terrific performance. We had to produce one, and I thought we were terrific here today," remarked Rangers manager Walter Smith after the trophy presentation. "I felt, at the stage in late December when we were well behind Celtic, that we would lose out. But we haven't, and that's fantastic."
In fact, Rangers succeeded in overturning a seven-point deficit after losing to Celtic at Ibrox on December 27. Two weeks earlier they had drawn at Tannadice and seemed destined to be runners-up for the fourth season in a row.
Dominant Wolfsburg win the plate
Wolfsburg struck five goals for the sixth time this season en route to a decisive, 5-1 win at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday. Grafite scored a brace—bringing his domestic tally to 28—while Edin Dzeko and Zujezdan Misimovic also scored for the hosts. Bremen defender Sebastian Prodl added an own-goal in the 26th minute while Diego scored the lone goal for the guests. With the win, Wolves finished the schedule with 69 points and won their first German championship.
It was typical Wolfsburg. Never a side to squander a scoring opportunity, they managed five shots on goalkeeper Tim Wiese, four of which turned into goals. With three between them, Grafite and Dzeko became the first tandem to notch 20 goals apiece for the same side in a single season.
Both were jubilant at the final whistle, although not quite as ecstatic as the 30,300 fans inside Volkswagen Arena. As soon as referee Thorsten Kinhofer blew time, several hundred supporters burst onto the field and mobbed the players. They were quickly cordoned off by security personnel and contained within the 18-yard-box where they continued to celebrate.
Wolfsburg manager Felix Magath, who announced last month that he will coach Schalke next season, called the achievement a "dream come true."
"Before the season I never thought we had a chance to win the championship," he said. "It is hard to be leaving now, obviously."
Dzeko, who scored 30 goals in all competitions and is currently top-scorer in World Cup qualifying for Bosnia and Herzegovina, echoed his manager's remarks.
"It is just insane," he said. "It is a great feeling to be German champions. I did not think it was possible to win it in only my second year in Germany. We are going to do a lot of celebrating."
Champions' League final
Readers are invited to join me and a handful of Winnipeg soccer fans for the big game at Confusion Corner Bar and Grill from 1:30.
Twitter.com/petersjerrad
jerradpeters@gmail.com
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