Neville keen on Everton job
Phil Neville: Would welcome the chance to replace David Moyes Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Phil Neville admits it is flattering to be linked with the manager’s job at Everton and believes he has the experience.
Neville, who has called time on his Toffees playing career, is one of the names in the frame to replace David Moyes at Goodison Park now that the Scot has moved on to Manchester United.
And the former England international believes the set-up at Everton is such that there is no reason for the man who replaces Moyes to struggle.
“It is flattering to be linked with the Everton job,” said Neville, quoted in The Times .
“There is a structure in place where the new man who comes in will not have that much to do.
“I have had a lot of experience, studying coaching practices.
I have been away with England Under-21s.
I’m half-prepared for what I’m going into.” Phil Neville “I am at the end of my career and I am looking to get into coaching and management.
It’s just whatever direction the club want to take.
“It would be a good job.
But I know there are players who have gone into jobs and failed.
I have prepared.
I have prepared for the last five seasons and I have some nice decisions to make.
“I have had a lot of experience, studying coaching practices.
I have been away with England Under-21s.
I’m half-prepared for what I’m going into.” Backing Moyes has moved to a club that Neville knows well having played nearly 400 games for United and the 36-year-old is backing his old boss for a lengthy stay at Old Trafford.
“He is probably going to be there for the rest of his career,” added Neville.
“It is that kind of club.
“They invest in a certain kind of manager and that is why he is the best man for the job.
There is no one else they could have invested in who would offer the same longevity.
“The pressure will always be there and he will have to win games and win trophies.
He will do that.
“People talk about Jose Mourinho being the Special One but the gaffer has something special about him in his own way.
“Every season at Everton, people would say the club is going to finish in the bottom half but that never happens.
He sucks everything out of everyone.
That shows he’s got something.
“People ask me about Sir Alex and David Moyes, and hard work, determination and drive are the key things, not unbelievably special sessions, just hard work.
No one works harder.”
Clarke ready for Ashes battle
Michael Clarke: Australia skipper says farewell in Sydney Australia captain Michael Clarke has promised to do everything he can to win the Ashes series in England this summer.
Clarke admitted his side were the underdogs at a ceremony ahead of the squad’s departure from Sydney airport, but is ready to battle hard to bring the coveted urn back home.
“England have a lot of experience.
A lot of the guys have been involved in Ashes series before and they’re playing some really good cricket,” he said.
“Our recent series in India wasn’t nearly as good as we would have liked so I accept that we are the underdogs but we’ll be doing everything in our power to have success.
“Our goal is to win the series, we know it’s going to be tough, but we’re going to have a red-hot crack at hopefully winning the Ashes for the Australian people.” Australia, who lost the last Ashes series 3-1, were hammered 4-0 by India and Clarke admits they need to improve.
“The batters know we didn’t perform as well as we needed, we didn’t make enough runs and we are certainly accountable for our performances,” he said.
“We know that if we can bat well as a unit, that will give our young, talented fast bowlers every opportunity to take 20 wickets.”
O’Brien on the mend
Sean O’Brien: Leinster flanker could face Ulster at the weekend Leinster flanker Sean O’Brien is making rapid progress in his recovery from a knee injury and could feature in Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 final against Ulster.
O’Brien, who has been named in the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour to Australia, was expected to be out for two weeks after incurring bone bruising in last weekend’s Amlin Challenge Cup final victory over Stade Francais.
But the injury is not as bad as first feared and the 26-year-old Ireland back row may be in contention for selection against Ulster at the RDS.
“It’s up to Sean and Leinster whether he plays, but he’s a lot better than first thought,” said Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree.
“Back row is Sean’s best position – he can play in all three positions.
He’ll be a good impact player and is an exceptional talent.” O’Brien will miss out on the Lions’ opening fixture against the Barbarians in Hong Kong on June 1 even if he does face Ulster, but he could then face Western Force four days later.
Hanlon confident for Hampden
Paul Hanlon (top) in action during Hibernian’s victory over Falkirk in the Scottish Cup semi-final Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Hibernian defender Paul Hanlon believes the team have come on leaps and bounds in the last 12 months.
Hibs are preparing for their second successive Scottish Cup final, where they hope to deny Celtic a domestic double at Hampden Park on Sunday.
The Easter Road men were beaten 5-1 by bitter rivals Hearts in last season’s showpiece, but a remarkable comeback against Falkirk in this year’s semi-final has given the Hibernian players confidence going into the match with Celtic.
Trailing 3-0 to Falkirk at half-time, Hibs rallied to claim a memorable 4-3 victory after extra-time and save their season.
Hanlon said: “The team is a lot stronger mentally this year.
When we have gone a goal down in games, we have not folded.
“We have stayed in games and that has meant we’ve been able to come back and get a point or even win games.
“In the Falkirk game we went three down and came back to win.
That proves our mental strength is tougher and that’s a massive thing to have.
If you are going to go to Hampden and beat Celtic, that is a vital asset to have.
“Celtic are going to try and start the game well and if they do get an early goal, we can’t let it go the way it did against Falkirk because against Celtic, there will be no way back.”
Garcia sorry for Woods remark
Sergio Garcia: Spaniard on stage at the European Tour’s awards ceremony Sergio Garcia has apologised for what could be construed as a racist remark about Tiger Woods at the European Tour’s annual awards ceremony.
Garcia, who has been involved in a row with Woods since an incident during the third round of the Players Championships at Sawgrass earlier this month, was on stage for a question and answer session with the rest of the European Ryder Cup team.
The Spaniard was asked if he would have Woods around for dinner one night during the forthcoming US Open and replied: “We will have him round every night.
We will serve fried chicken.” Garcia later issued a statement through the European Tour, saying: “I apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my comment on stage during The European Tour Players’ Awards dinner.
“I answered a question that was clearly made towards me as a joke with a silly remark, but in no way was the comment meant in a racist manner.” Garcia’s remark was similar to one made in 1997 by Fuzzy Zoeller to Woods after he had won the Masters which entitled him to choose the champions’ dinner menu for the following year.
Zoeller said: “You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not to serve fried chicken next year.
Got it? Or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve.” Zoeller later apologised and said he had been misconstrued.
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O’Connell praised by Rowntree
Paul O’Connell and Sam Warburton: Lions team-mates on tour of Australia British and Irish Lions forwards coach Graham Rowntree believes the presence of Paul O’Connell on the tour to Australia will be of great benefit to skipper Sam Warburton.
Wales openside flanker Warburton is the youngest player to captain the Lions for 58 years at the age of 24 after succeeding O’Connell in the position.
And Rowntree believes that in Ireland and Munster lock O’Connell, Warburton has a team-mate of the highest calibre.
“Paul is a class player.
I’ve played with him and coached him.
He’s what I would call a proven warrior at the highest end of the game,” said Rowntree.
“A Lions series is the highest end of the game.
He’s been out for a while with injury but his recent performances put him right in the reckoning for selection.
“He’s playing well, is a big man, has experience and is very good at giving to other players.
He’s spoken highly of Sam and will help him.”
McIlroy – Personalities clash
Rory McIlroy: Doesn’t believe there is any real animosity between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia World No 2 Rory McIlroy has played down the on-going row between Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia.
Woods and Garcia had a public fall out at the Players’ Championship when the Spaniard accused the world No 1 of gamesmanship during the third round.
Garcia said at the time that the pair “don’t like each other”, while he escalated the dispute by claiming Woods is “not the nicest guy on tour”.
Woods, himself, has refused to apologise for his actions at Sawgrass – with the America preparing for his own shot from the trees on the second hole while Garcia was taking his own shot.
However McIlroy believes that the falling out is nothing more than two different personalities clashing.
Competitive He told Sky Sports: “Personalities clash.
It happens in all walks of life, not just the golf course but in the work place, or school or where.
“Some people’s personalities just don’t match up and I think Tiger and Sergio are a bit like that.
“I don’t think there is any real animosity, it is just that they don’t really spend much time together or talk to each other.
There are a lot of guys on tour I don’t talk to either, it is just the way it is.
“It is competitive out here and you just want to beat the guy you are playing against.
“I think everyone has a few close friends on tour and you sort of keep it that way.
I guess it just isn’t made as public as the Tiger-Sergio thing as it has been over the last couple of weeks.”
Nasri is backing Pellegrini
Samir Nasri: Praise for Manuel Pellegrini and his style of play Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Samir Nasri has backed the potential arrival of Manuel Pellegrini as the new boss at Manchester City.
The Malaga coach is expected to replace Roberto Mancini and Nasri has been impressed by the job that the experienced Argentine has done in Spain.
The France international midfielder told Sky Sports News : “I think he is a great manager.
“He proved himself with Villarreal.
At Real Madrid as well, even though he didn’t win the title, they finished with 96 points.
And at Malaga too.
“All his teams play attractive football and I think that’s what people want to see.
“You pay for a ticket to go to football to see something great and he’s the kind of manager who can do it.” Mancini was sacked by Manchester City last week after losing the FA Cup final to Wigan and failing to retain the Premier League title.
Jose Mourinho leaves Real Madrid
It takes a lot to push Barcelona’s eternal pursuit of Neymar off the front pages of the city’s papers but the demise of the man hired to topple them dominated news stands in Catalonia on Tuesday.
El Mundo Deportivo said it was like another trophy for the club, Diario Sport counted the days of his reign 1,085 and all of them best forgotten .
One of Barcelona’s vice-presidents Carles Vilarubi said Mourinho had been a blight on Spanish football and Catalan sports paper El 9 declared an end to the looney tunes in the Spanish capital with a That’s all folks front page.
That’s all folks: El 9 (left) and Mundo (right) were scathing of outgoing Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho Over and out: Jose Mourinho will leave his post at Real Madrid after three seasons at the Bernabeu In Madrid, Marca called it The Special End and Diario AS said the venture had cost Real ‘ 50million in wages to Mourinho and ‘ 162m in players signed.
Marca also said that 62 per cent of the 90,000 people who had responded to a poll said the out-going coach had fallen short of expectations, though El Pais already seemed nostalgic as they listed his more memorable quotes.
The Special End: Marca (left) and Diario AS (right) both dubbed the Chelsea-bound Mourinho as a failure Turning sour: Mourinho celebrates winning the Copa Del Rey with Real back in 2011
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