Hardliner or headbanger?

The football world is littered with the shattered egos of former players. Many move on with their lives after their careers are over, some move into coaching, but soon realise that the adoration is reserved for the lads on the pitch. 

Paolo Di Canio is a man who conducted himself as if he were still the main focus of everyone’s attention long after he had graced the game with his skill and talent.

At Swindon he probably was still the 'main man'. Many of the players in Leagues One and Two are trying their hardest to just make sure they cover the mortgage and feed the kids. It’s a job they are desperate to keep in an increasingly cut-throat industry where thousands of decent footballers find themselves out of work each summer. Like the rest of us, they need to bite their tongues when the boss behaves like a prat. Those that didn’t at the County Ground soon found themselves taking part in Di Canio’s “revolving door transfer policy” as one victim told me.

Sunderland’s Premier League players are a different breed. They are at the top of their profession and many of them can afford to buy a house outright on less than one season’s wages, let alone worry about a mortgage. If the manger is foolish enough to cross them, they can certainly afford to bide their time until he’s history. And they have.

I have questioned Di Canio’s style on these pages before now. His political hero is the fascist dictator Mussolini (by his own admission) and while his chin jutting performance in front of the Sunderland fans at the weekend might just have been a request for the supporters  to keep theirs  up, it was also uncannily reminiscent of the Italian despot’s style.

When you are managing individuals you need to take the time and effort to work out what makes each one tick and then get them to buy in to your philosophy.

It's true that some people react well to a kick up the backside, but their are many others that need to be encouraged or to be shown explicitly what their roles are in the overall picture.

Di Canio seemed to believe that his word was all that counted - very much a dictatorial approach.

Listening to Di Canio’s post-match analysis was often torture for the media. He would ramble on and on without actually saying much that made sense - and this had nothing to do with his broken English. His mind seemed to wander and while he would be addressing one point, he would suddenly go off in another direction. Forget the poor sods in the Press Room, the players can’t have found this easy on the training ground either.

His passion for what he wanted to achieve at both clubs can’t be questioned, merely his ability to manage individuals, set his ego to one side and massage those of others for the greater good of the club.

I suspect that this isn’t the last we will have seen of Di Canio.  It’s Arrivederci for now, but don’t put it past him to dazzle some other unsuspecting Chairman into giving him another chance in English football.

Oxford United 0 Chesterfield 1

Ritchie Humphreys opened his account for leaders Chesterfield to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

My piece from yesterday's paper

Veteran full back Humphreys, 35, was released by Hartlepool in the summer, but showed he still has what it takes when he struck on the half hour as the Spireites chalked up seven wins in eight games

Striker Eoin Doyle cut the ball back from the left and Humphreys ghosted into the box to volley home from twelve yards as Chesterfield dominated."

Humphreys goal

Humphreys had left the delivery room to deliver the goods for his a side. He explained:

"He arrived at about 9:30 and so I spent the whole day at the hospital before going home for a good night's sleep. My wife gave me the nod and so my best mate drove me to Oxford on Saturday morning.

"I've never dedicated a goal to anyone before, but this one's for my whole family."

Humphreys was released by Pool after 499 appearances and admitted he now feels like a born-again player after being given a one year deal by manager Paul Cook. He revealed:

"Chesterfield let me train with them while I was looking for a club in the summer. Paul must have seen something he liked.

"I thought it might be all over as some people put a number against you because of your age and think you may not be able to do it. I know I was very lucky to get to 30 in football and every year after that is a bonus, but I love what I do for a living - I'm privileged and I don't want it to stop."

It was Oxford's first league defeat and skipper Andy Whing did his team no favours when he was shown a straight red card in the 67th minute.

Chesterfield broke from their own area and Whing scythed down Doyle on half way to leave referee Trevor Kettle with little choice.

Whing's red card offence

But Oxford boss Chris Wilder said:

"It was a yellow at best. I thought the referee made a quick decision. Mind you it takes nothing away from the fact that we didn't deserve anything from the game. Having him missing three games now is more important. That's a big blow to us. Chesterfield are probably the best side we've played by a million miles."

Keeper Ryan Clarke kept Oxford in the game with excellent point blank saves from lively winger Tendayi Darikwa, midfielder Gary Roberts and Doyle.

And striker Deane Smalley blew two great chances to net for Oxford in the first half.

In the eighteenth minute Smalley nodded a cross from winger Alfie Potter wide from close range and just before the break the former Spireites loanee lashed a shot wide from fourteen yards.

Chesterfield goal keeping coach Eric Nixon was delighted and gushed:

"They played really, really well against a good side and we could have had a few more, but their keeper played very well.

"The work rate was good throughout the side, but even though we're top of the league, we're not getting carried away. We've got a great system and the football we play is pleasing on the eye."

... and today's edition

Bristol City 0 Peterborough United 3

My clipping from Sunday's paper

Britt Assombalonga joked that the Posh boys are ignoring boss Darren Ferguson in their push for promotion.

Hit man Assombalonga, 20, took his tally to seven goals in nine starts with two second half goals and then explained:

"No-one wants to stop training. We're out there and all of a sudden the gaffer says 'stop', but everyone's thinking 'let's carry on' - so we do.

"Sometimes the coaches aren't around and we'll just use our own experiences to help each other in groups. The defenders work with the defenders, the midfielders work together and so do the strikers."

And Assombalonga also revealed that the friendly competition to see who would end up as top marksman is already hotting up.

Tyronne Barnett opened the scoring to take his total to six while fellow striker Lee Tomlin blew the opportunity to draw level with Assombalonga when he missed a first half penalty.

But Congo-born Assombalonga said:

"As soon as we got back to the dressing room we talk about it. We're urging each other on. Once one of us scores, it gives the others the determination to get one.

Hit man Assombalonga turned down a loan deal to Ashton Gate in the summer in favour of a move to Peterborough and delighted boss Darren Ferguson gushed:

"His first goal was special and as soon as he hit it we knew it was in. He showed great determination for the last goal and the work ethic of our front two really gets us going.

"It was a really solid performance - perfect really with three goals and a clean sheet."

Assombalonga grabbed the first of his brace in the 51st minute.

The former Watford striker picked up a short pass from midfielder Danny Swanson and let rip with a scorcher from just outside the right angle of the box that flew into the far top corner.

In the 88th minute Assombalonga added his second when he shrugged off two City defenders to race in on goal from half way before lifting the ball over keeper Frank Fielding for his seventh of the season.

Fielding was at fault for Peterborough's opener in the 23rd minute.

Full back Craig Alcock took a low pot shot from 22 yards and Fielding beat the ball back into the path of striker Tyrone Barnett who gratefully tapped in his fifth of the season from eight yards.

But Fielding redeemed himself less than four minutes later.

Assombalonga cut into the box from the right wing and was felled by central defender James O'connor, but Fielding brilliantly saved Lee Tomlin's spot kick at full stretch.


The result left pre-season promotion favourites City in the drop zone and Posh closing in on the top spot.

"It's good to be top scorer now, but I'm warning them I'm not stopping there. But at the end of the day a goal's a goal and we're scoring them for the team to help guide us to victory."

City boss Sean O'Driscoll watched his side slide into the drop zone, but remained positive. He said:

"We felt we were on top in the first half against a very good, free-flowing Peterborough team, and I thought we disrupted the way they wanted to play. We still tried to do the right things."

And Sean O'Driscoll admitted Assombalonga was the big difference and said:

"They paid £1.2 million and he was someone we were interested in. Not to buy, but on loan. So we knew what a good young player his is."

... and this morning's edition

Cheltenham Town 2 Portsmouth 2

Jermaine McGlashan had the last word in a battle of the banter.

Winger McGlashan shrugged off a challenge from defender Danny East to net his second goal of the game in the 92nd minute.

He then revealed that the goal was payback for East's constant sledging during the game. McGlashan, 25, explained:

"It was good natured stuff, but he was trying to get inside my head. He could see I wanted the ball, but wasn't getting enough of it and would say things like, 'I feel your pain mate, he should have given it to you,' if one of the lads didn't pass me the ball. Or 'This must be so frustrating for you.'

"I clocked on quite early to what he was doing and sought him out at the end to shake his hand and told him i was happy to take two goals and not see much of the ball the rest of the time."

My piece from this morning's paper

Steve Elliott had been at fault for letting Patrick Agyemang nip in for Pompey's opener in the fifth minute.

McGlashan's pulled Cheltenham level in the 36th minute, but he praised central defender Elliott for the clever pass that led to his dramatic late equaliser. He joked:

"He chested it down, put me through and thinks he's our number ten now. I didn't know he had that in his locker."

Portsmouth's Austrian skipper Johannes Ertl put his side ahead just before the break, but said:

"We created so many chances, but just couldn't kill the game off. We are so close our first away win, it's frustrating."

Robins boss Mark Yates said:

"We are not playing free-flowing football, but we showed a lot of fight. We can't keep conceding goals and then digging ourselves out. At this moment in time I must be the most boring man in the world as I have to keep repeating myself."

Portsmouth manager Guy Whittingham admitted:

"In the second half it was backs to the wall and we didn't keep the ball well enough with their pressure eventually telling. There seems to be something at the moment stopping us playing the football we're capable of.""

... and yesterday's edition

Oxford United 1 Rochdale 1

Matt Lund grabbed a point for Dale and knocked unbeaten Oxford off top spot.

Full back Rhys Bennett set up Rochdale for the equaliser in the 51st minute - his first appearance following three cruciate and ligament knee injuries in March.

Bennett crossed the ball over from the right and midfielder Lund opened his season's account by nodding in from two yards at the far post.

Bennett ruined the Dale physio's summer break, but the sacrifice made by both men is paying off.

Bennett returned to the team for his first game since March and celebrated his 22nd birthday one day early by setting up Matt Lund for a 51st minute equaliser. He revealed:

"I did my posterior cruciate and medial ligaments and my lateral meniscus. I've been working hard with our physio, Andy Thorpe, since and he gave up his own summer to help me. I was always positive I'd make it back, but I guess I owe him a beer now!"

Rochdale boss Keith Hill was delighted with his team and said:

"I think the points will take care of themselves if we play like that. We could've gone under when we conceded, but the lads adjusted well."

And Hill hopes to bring in two more players before the transfer window shuts today . He said:

"I'm sure of one. The other one is teasing me by text messages. I've been putting lots of hugs and kisses at the end of mine, so we'll see what happens."

Oxford hitman James Constable opened the scoring when he blasted in his second goal of the season from six yards in the 24th minute.

Winger Asa Hall nodded down a deep cross from defender David Hunt and keeper Josh Lillis did brilliantly to block Danny Rose's snap-shot, but Constable pounced to bury the rebound.

Beano's goal

Constable, 28, dedicated his 24th minute opener to ten day old baby daughter Amelia-Rose. He explained:

"She's been great so far and my girlfriend Laura has been doing the night shifts to let me get some sleep."

But Constable wants the Us to wake up after the break in games. He explained:

"For the last two or three years we seem to have a hangover from the first half. We don't start well, concede and then come out firing and get back on top. We need to try and kill teams off."

Oxford chief Chris Wilder was satisfied with the point given the build up to he game. He revealed:


"We had our top scorer Deane Smalley unavailable, and then I was woken at 7am by our physio telling me Dave Kitson was unwell with sickness and diarrhoea. But credit to Dave, he gave it a go for an hour and did well."

"I'm not angry. It was an entertaining game of football. You can't be angry after only five games. On reflection a draw was a fair result. The important thing is to keep the unbeaten run going."

In the 78th minute Lillis and skipper Olly Lancashire teamed up to shut out Oxford as they pressed for the winner.

Lillis blocked a ten yard effort from substitute Tyronne Marsh and central defender Lancashire hooked Constable's follow up shot off the line.

Striker George Donnelly came closest for Dale before the break, but keeper Ryan Clarke did well to get down and save his 25 yard strike.

Constable nearly broke the deadlock in the twelfth minute when he out-muscled two Rochdale defenders for a Rose corner before putting his shot into the side-netting from a tight angle.

My piece from this morning's paper

... and yesterday's edition