sports news
BURLEY?S THE MAN TO GET SCOTS TO WORLD CUP
27th January 2008
When George Burley was unveiled as Scotland manager on Thursday it came as quite a shock. Mark McGhee, Graeme Souness and Tommy Burns had dominated the back-page predictions in previous weeks but it was Burley who eventually became the chosen candidate of the SFA.
Burley does have an impressive record in management and could have just the right credentials for the Scots job. At Ipswich he achieved promotion to the Premiership via the play-offs. The following season he guided the Tractor Boys to fifth position in the league and a place in the UEFA Cup. At Derby County he steered another previously struggling side to the play-offs. He enjoyed a remarkable start to the season with Hearts who were top after their first ten games. Who knows where the Tynecastle club would have finished if he had not resigned by mutual consent following his well-documented problems with Vladimir Romanov?
Burley has stated that his dream is to get Scotland to the next World Cup. It is ten years since we last participated in the glamour and excitement of the supreme international tournament. If he can achieve qualification for us then George Burley will truly cement his place in Scottish footballing history.
WILL BUS TAKE DONS TO HAMPDEN?
With the recent departures of Clark and Hart, Dons fans welcomed the news that De Graafschap defender Dave Bus will be on loan at Pittodrie until the end of the season. The Dutch defender didn?t start playing full-time football until he was 25 however the tough tackling defender may be just what the Dons need as they prepare for the biggest matches of their season.
The Bayern Munich tie is only a couple of weeks away but the match on Tuesday night against Dundee United in the CIS Cup semi-final is just as important. If the Dons win then it would be their first final at Hampden for eight years. Jimmy Calderwood?s troops will need to perform better than they did against Hearts on Saturday if they want to make a long overdue return to Hampden.
HAVANT THEY DONE WELL
Full marks to Havant and Waterlooville for their brave display against Liverpool on Saturday. For a non-league side to go ahead twice at Anfield must have been beyond their wildest dreams. Before the match the odds of the part-timers winning were 80/1 and there must have been a few worried bookmakers across the country when Alfie Potter put Havant 2-1 ahead. However Liverpool?s class finally told as they eased to a 5-2 victory in the second half but not before their supporters had suffered one almighty scare.
TALKING A GOOD GAME
?I would love it, love it if we beat them on Saturday.?
Sheffield Wednesday boss Brian Laws does a ?Keegan? before last week?s Sheffield derby.
?Mr Smith, you?re wife has gone into labour. You don?t have to leave if you don?t want to.?
Stadium announcement during Cardiff v Sheffield Wednesday.
?We?re not relegated yet and there?ll be no throwing in of the white flag.?
Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins gets lost in the world of clichés.
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