Sourced from Daily Star article
JEREMY CROSS COLUMN: Les Reed goes from zero to hero, Murray worry, Bolt buries hatchet
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When Reed looks down from the stands it will be one of the highlights of his long career in football. That’s because there have been more lowlights in truth for someone once branded the ‘worst manager of all time’. The infamous tag relates to his ill-fated stint as Charlton boss in 2006. He replaced Iain Dowie but lasted just six miserable weeks. In that time his side managed just one win and were knocked out of the League Cup by League Two minnows Wycombe. He became a figure of fun and was labelled ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Santa Clueless’ due to the close proximity to Christmas of his staggering failings. With his stock at an all-time low, Reed went on to accept a voluntary role as assistant boss of non-league Bishop’s Stortford in 2008. But the kicks just kept on coming.
In his autobiography, England and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard demolished Reed’s reputation even more. Reed was part of the England coaching set-up under Kevin Keegan but Gerrard revealed he had no respect for the man - and never would do - after accusing him of treating him like “s**t”. But Gerrard might want to consider swallowing his pride and changing his mind about Reed as he embarks on his own coaching role at Anfield. That’s because somehow Reed has come back from the dead to re-establish himself as one of the most respected figures in the English game. The ‘worst manager of all time’ has a new nickname in the shape of ‘Lazarus Les’. Lesser men would have turned their back on the game and chosen another profession, but Reed couldn’t. Then in 2010 came the break he’d been waiting for when the Saints appointed him ‘Head of Football Development and Support’
Since then Reed has gone on to become one of the most influential figures at one of the best run clubs in Europe, let alone the Premier League, while Charlton have become an utter shambles. Perhaps there was some method to Keegan’s madness after all when he allowed Reed to answer all tactical questions in the wake of England’s defeat to Portugal at Euro 2000. It turns out Reed has talent after all. Some of the credit for the Saints’ sustained success and incredible production line goes to Nicola Cortese, who put the wheels in motion before leaving in 2014. But since then Reed has stepped up to the plate to keep servicing a well-oiled machine that should be the blueprint for other clubs to follow. Reed oversees the youth academy, scouting and recruitment, sports medicine and science and even the kit and equipment. He’s impressed the club owners so much that he is now an Executive Director and one of four members of the board. Reed embodies the old adage ‘fail to prepare then prepare to fail’.
The Saints are not scared of change. Managers continue to come and go and products of the youth system are sold for enormous profit. But advance plans are put in place to minimise the damage. The show goes on and Reed is the ringmaster. Changes could be afoot following news that Chinese firm ‘Lander Sports Development’ want to buy a stake in the club, but if this happens then the new people in town would be mad to tinker with this model of success and overlook the quiet man making all the noise from the background. ANDY MURRAY has a couple of skeletons in his cupboard - and both of them have burst out of it to haunt him again. Failing to win the Australian Open isn’t the most concerning aspect of events in Melbourne for Murray. It is the fact that ghosts from the past - in the shape of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - are back in his rear view mirror. The duo have taken us on a nostalgic trip back in time by reaching another Grand Slam final to provide a brilliant reminder that they are true tennis royalty. Both of them are also Murray’s nemesis in Grand Slam finals.
So just when Murray thought he had things cracked after becoming world No.1, the British ace could well have more than just the familiar face of Novak Djokovic to worry about this season. SOME footballers aren’t the brightest of specimens - but Alfie Barker has taken standards of moronic behaviour to a whole new level. The ex-Hitchin Town player has admitted an FA charge relating to sick tweets he sent to Bournemouth’s Harry Arter about the tragic death of his baby daughter. The Cherries lost a 3-0 lead to draw with Arsenal in the Premier League at the start of this month. Barker, who has since been sacked by Hitchin, posted on Twitter: “Big hype just for a disappointment like the nine months leading up to your child’s birth.” The teenager claims to have received death threats, but has made his own bed and now has to lie in it. I’m surprised Barker has made it to a decent level, because he doesn’t appear to have enough wit to put his boots on the right feet.
But the FA should take those boots away from him. A season-long ban might just make him realise what a cretin he’s been - but don’t hold your breath. WE ALL know what a class act Usain Bolt is, but he’s just reminded us of the fact without having to even pull his spikes on. Bolt has been forced to hand back one of his nine Olympic gold medals after his relay team-mate Nesta Carter emerged as a cheat. Carter, who was part of the Jamaican quartet that won the 4x100m in Beijing in 2008, tested positive for a banned substance to bring shame on the team. Despite the fact an irrelevance like Carter stands no chance of tarnishing Bolt’s reputation and legacy as the greatest athlete of all time, the man himself could have been forgiven for feeling bitter. But not Bolt, who insists he doesn’t hold a grudge against Carter. Talk about taking bad news in your stride.
After a disastrous week Liverpool’s season could rest on Tuesday night’s showdown with Chelsea. With Jurgen Klopp looking to avoid a fourth Anfield defeat in a row the last team he would have wanted to face would be the runaway leaders with the best away record in the Premier League. A win and Liverpool’s 12/1 title odds will be slashed, defeat and the title race will be all but over. Liverpool are actually the favourites with 188BET at 8/5 for the three points to keep their Premier League race alive whilst the draw is 23/10 and Chelsea can put one hand on the trophy with victory at around 2/1. Liverpool will take confidence in their 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge earlier in the season and a repeat of that scoreline is 9/1 while Chelsea to come away winners by the same score is 10/1. The most likely correct score according to the bookies though is the 1-1 draw at 5/1. The on pitch atmosphere could be tense with so much at stake and if there is a red card in the game 188BET will refund losing match, correct score, first/any time scorer, both teams to score and HT/FT bets up to £25 as a free bet.
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