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The protest at the weekend against Steve Kean at Blackburn after only four games of the new season demonstrates the instantaneous demands of football supporters. I don’t for one minute believe that Kean is the best manager in the league but it still appears harsh to protest against a manager who is trying doing his best for the club and who actually kept them up last season. Shouldn’t the blame instead be placed on the Venky’s who appointed him on a long-term deal especially after sacking Allardyce who would have surely ensured survival?

This growth of foreign investment in English football has made owners increasingly impatient for results and has consequently increased the threat of managers losing their jobs. Managers are made scapegoats for the bad management of a football club with the unfounded belief that a change in management will reverse the fortunes of the club in question.

On Monday, League Two side Plymouth Argyle announced that Peter Reid had been dismissed as manager despite giving everything to the club. Pilgrims chairman Peter Ridsdale still thought it was right to sack Reid after a poor start to the season, all Reid has done for club off the pitch was forgotten to the general disgust of football fans everywhere.

There is no doubt that the business of football is an volatile industry and this season has seen a high number of dismissals before teams have even played games and the average tenure of manager reached an all-time low last season with managers being given less and less time to deliver success on the pitch.

Undoubtedly there will be a large number of sackings in the next few months as football owner convince themselves that the current underachievement can only be resolved by changing the man in charge. With the transfer window closed until January, club owners are unable to radically change their squad and they cannot blame themselves for egotistical and self-preservation and so find a scapegoat in a manager.

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In football the desire for results set against a backdrop of intense media scrutiny creates an extremely challenging working environment. It seems that many of those controlling our football clubs have forgotten that not every team can play in the Premier League and not every club can avoid relegation. While there will always be a point where a manager can instil confidence in his players or display any sign that things can improve, a system where nearly half of clubs change manager cannot be sustainable particularly when there is a large settlement has to been paid out for each one.

It is clearly the decision of club chairmen whom they hire and fire, and when, but the statistics show that a club is likely to end up worse off when the manager is sacked and they are often significantly out of pocket due to compensation and paying off contracts. As a result clubs in the lower leagues in England cannot not afford to keep sacking managers. Not only is it expensive but it is hugely destabilising to a club and its staff, and a new manager wishing to stamp his own mark on the playing squad brings with him the additional cost of the transfer budget needed to do so.

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However there is the argument that if you don’t do your job properly then you should be fired and no member of staff should be exempt from this. A football manager should be given time to improve things but where it is clearly causing a downward and relegating threatening trend, a board has to take the decision to change things. In which other business could a manager who is sacked for consistently failing to deliver results walk straight into another managerial post, often equally well-paid while still continuing to be paid by the organisation he had failed. If you are willing to accept that is will probably be a short term position where you will be constantly be under threat of losing your job, there are financial benefits of being a football manager, as long as you don’t mind traveling around the country for a new opportunity.

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Lazio coach Edy Reja was left to rue a single costly mistake after his side drew 1-1 at home to Chievo on Sunday.

The hosts led through Hernanes’ goal in the 45th minute at the Stadio Olimpico but despite enjoying the bulk of the possession they failed to find a second goal.

Bostjan Cesar made them pay with an equaliser from one of Chievo’s few chances in the 64th minute.

“Chievo did well to press the ball for the entire 90 minutes and this made it difficult to create numerous goal-scoring chances,” Reja said.

“My side did everything they could to search for victory and unfortunately we conceded on a corner. We need to work harder to avoid these momentary lapses in concentration.”

“They only had one chance on goal and scored and when this is the case it is always hard to stomach the result.”

Lazio, who have drawn twice and lost twice in their last five games, are now seven points off the lead in Serie A, leading to unrest among the club’s expectant supporters.

But despite failing to secure the win, Reja is confident his team are beginning to move in the right direction.

“I thought we deserved victory this afternoon but this is football,” Reja said.

“We are improving in terms of intensity and level of performance and this is important at this stage of the season.”

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Chievo boss Stefano Pioli praised his players for gaining a hard-fought draw at the home of one of the title challengers.

“Lazio forced us to defend, but we managed to hold on tight,” Pioli said.

“In terms of spirit of sacrifice and quality, my players deserved the point.”

Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has stated that the north London club will recover even if Robin van Persie leaves this summer.

The Netherlands international has confessed his will to leave the Emirates Stadium, and with an expiring contract the Gunners are considering selling their attacking maestro.

With Manchester United, City and Juventus circling, a departure for Van Persie has been touted, but Henry feels that Arsene Wenger’s men will be ok even if the PFA Player of the Year leaves.

“We hope he stays and that’s the way it is,” the Frenchman is quoted as saying in The Telegraph.

”I don’t know exactly what is happening but as an Arsenal fan I want him to stay. He is still an Arsenal player and the boss has to deal with it.

”I just want Arsenal to do well. Robin will do what he will do and we’ll see.

”When I left, everybody cried, but then the year after they went on a run of being eight points ahead. Everyone comes and goes,” he admitted.

Meanwhile Henry feels the return of injured Jack Wilshere will be a huge boost to the team.

“You want Jack Wilshere around. He reminds me of when I first arrived when the old guard was there.

”He’s an Arsenal fan in the first place and you need this type of player around in the dressing room.

”It’s not only that he’s an Arsenal fan, and not only an Englishman, but he’s a good player, it’s as simple as that.

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”What a shame that he stopped a bit because he was on his way.

”I just wish him all the best that he can come back quick and wear the shirt he loves so much,” Henry concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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On the 15th December 1995 Jean-Marc Bosman changed the face of football for the worse. The Belgian footballer fought for and eventually won the right to move from one club to another for nothing once their contracts had expired. Labelled the ‘Bosman Ruling’ it effectively shifted the power that football clubs once held over players putting them in the driving seat when it came to transfer dealings and contract negotiations. Player power has grown exponentially over the last 15 years and is continuing on a rapid incline towards an absurd level. But will this increase ruin the game we all know and love?

Looking at the transfer window that has just passed there were a number of cases that caught the eye and gave weight to the notion that player power is actually ruining the game. A couple of examples spring to mind with Samir Nasri, Jose Enrique and Charles N’Zogbia the obvious ones that come to the fore. Last season Wayne Rooney demanded to leave his club, leveraging his position to see his demands for a salary increase granted by Manchester United to prevent him from leaving Old Trafford. Quite frankly it’s disgusting that players now have the mind-set that they are bigger than the club, the owner and the fans. What makes them think they can bully the club into a corner and demand more money or dictate what they will do after their contract has expired?

The Rooney fiasco really did make my blood boil considering he is already paid handsomely by the club, is worshipped by those in the stands and is the poster boy of English football that many a young child look up to in awe of his footballing ability. If only they knew the truth about how greedy and conniving footballers are becoming. Rooney knew Man Utd would do everything in their power to keep him at the club and used that to grind them into submission. How can he accuse the most successful side in English football of lacking ambition? It was a paper-thin ruse that didn’t fool fans or the media alike. But it worked and he eventually got his pay rise because Man Utd were simply too afraid that they would lose him to a rival team.

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This trend is becoming all the more common in football with players in the final years of their contracts now more aware of the fact that they can hold a club to ransom by saying they’ll leave the following year for nothing unless they get an improved deal. This will either lead to a club selling the player on for a reduced fee (although on deadline day fees can soar) or giving into their demands and bumping their wage up to meet their requirements. Enrique left Newcastle for £6 million this summer despite being worth more than double that fee. But with the Spaniard refusing to sign a new deal and hankering for a move to Liverpool the Magpies had to sell otherwise they’d have an unhappy player on their hands that would be free to leave in 12 months time for absolutely nothing. It’s a dirty tactic but it works. Nasri is another example, refusing to sign a new contract and forcing Arsenal to sell him to Man City.

But who are real losers in all of this? The fans! They are the ones who are hit hard in the pocket when these players decide they want a pay rise or a move elsewhere. Whether a player pockets more zeroes on their weekly wage or decide to leave on a free causing their club to shell out money on a replacement, fans will be the ones left covering the cost. Ticket prices, merchandise and food has slowly risen in tandem with transfer fees and wages that players are now commanding and it’s having a serious effect on attendances. With the economy in the perilous position the clamour for players to earn the highest wage possible is sucking money out of clubs and the pockets of fans.

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These players are simply tearing the heart right out of football forcing more and more fans away from stadiums and into their armchairs or local pubs. Their selfish approach to earning money is killing football slowly but surely and ruining a game that was once built on respect and principles. If this problem isn’t nipped in the bud and rectified quickly, football will eventually cease to be as these players will become too powerful and too expensive to maintain.

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri believes his side, and not fierce rivals Inter Milan, should have advanced to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.

The Azzurri had several chances to score during the match but eventually bowed out at the quarter-final stage after a heartbreaking 5-4 penalty shootout loss on Wednesday.

“All one needs to do is look at the amount of shots on goal by Napoli to see how wrong this result is,” Mazzarri said.

“I also have some serious doubts over some of the refereeing decisions. There was a handball against [Hugo] Campagnaro which wasn’t awarded. As for the offside goal, it was offside, but only by a few millimetres.”

“These are situations that a coach cannot control, therefore it is useless to speak about them. I am disappointed how the match went, but not with my players. I have nothing to tell them off for, but we did deserve to win.”

Inter boss Leonardo admitted his team had struggled at times but was thrilled to set up a last-four clash against either Juventus or Roma.

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“I am very satisfied with the performance of my team, on several occasions they coped with being on the back foot. I think our win on penalties is highly deserved,” he said.

“I saw a very even game. At certain points Napoli tried to win the game as they were playing at home. It’s true, at one point we were struggling in the middle of the field but I didn’t see a big difference between the sides.”

With the 19 match unbeaten run left on a cliff hanger by the spectacular day at Wembley in late May, the two-month lull between seasons will be characterised by the eagerness of Crewe fans waiting desperately to try their newly resilient hand at the stronger proposition of League One.

The gap from the 2-0 win over Cheltenham in the sun to a home date with Notts County on the 18th August coming a week after a Carling Cup assignment at home to Hartlepool, will be infested with a growing sense of the usual excitement and optimism that will have tailed off from the back end of the extraordinary last season to a feeling that this time such fanfare will not be false.

This is a new, vibrant Crewe waiting with desperate anxiousness to put the validity of the Steve Davis resurrection on the line in the bustle of the third tier.

It will be done of course without the influence of the talismanic precociousness of Nick Powell who has left for Manchester United on the basis of last season’s heroics, but just like the departures of Dean Ashton, Rob Hulse, Danny Murphy, Luke Varney as well as countless others that epitomised Crewe Alexandra as a selling club, it will not prevent the natural progression of a club that values youthful evolution over dramatic revolution like no other club in the Football League pyramid.

The 17-year-old Max Clayton lurks in the shadows to seize the Powell beacon on the promise that he displayed in numerous cameos last season, and Davis’ enthusiasm for youth will see no qualms with the potential of the youngster partnering the impressive Ajay Leitch-Smith without drafting in the lower-league stereotype of the big-man striker that so many managers see as the natural route.

The attack-line has been bolstered with an unexpected move for Wrexham’s Mathias Pogba, scorer of 12 goals in last season’s Conference, but he is more adept at playing between the lines with a nature to provide. There can also be a temptation to forget Shaun Miller who has seemingly lost his way since his bourgeoning potential, a run of 6 goals in 9 games, threatened his coming of age at the start of last year. Clubs have registered an interest, but there will be a reluctance to abandon the talent that tallied 19 goals the season before he slipped into a pain-staking indifference, it will be an inviting test for club and player to rediscover his form.

Davis’ main priority however, has been to initiate the preparation from the back, possibly indicative of the age of pragmatism that has been a transient feature of the Steve Davis/ Neil Baker era. Rather unforgivingly, out went play-off winning captain David Artell together with the notion that sentimentality will play no part in future plans, and firstly, in came Torquay’s Mark Ellis, eight years Artell’s junior, to promise more mobility and speed alongside Adam Dugdale at centre half.

The club has also managed to realise once more the need for a natural left-back in signing Chesterfield’s Gregor Robertson, which will bring to a pleasant conclusion the numerous use of stop-gaps in the position, plus some valuable experience with the Scot standing at the ripe age of 28. Behind them, goalkeeper Steve Phillips will have pleased supporters by extending his deal having solidified the number one jersey after a year littered with some strong performances.

There will still be some lingering anxiety in the defensive positions as the club awaits Kelvin Mellor’s verdict over a new one-year deal amidst speculation linking him with a move to Derby County following an impressive breakthrough year which ended on being entrusted with a starting position in the Wembley crescendo in just the 21 year old’s 17th appearance. The manager’s so Harry will remain to provide cover whilst the management team see enough promise in teenagers George Ray, Andy White and Oliver Turton to be handed professional terms ahead of the upcoming campaign, the versatile Mellor has proven himself to be a deputy of the utmost reliability in marked surprise given his inexperience and it is hoped he continues his progression in the familiar setting of Gresty Road.

Transfer plans will also hinge heavily on the decision Byron Moore faces over his future. Offered a fresh 2 year deal in the aftermath of an impressive season in which he answered a few dissenting voices about his commitment following his indecision over a new deal last summer. The winger has been linked with a variety of clubs north of the border in Scotland but Davis remains hopeful on agreeing a new deal for his dynamic right-sided creative talent. After the club narrowly missed out to Torquay on the signature of last season’s loanee Billy Bodin, a slight concern over the wide berths have been nullified by a move for Ebbsfleet’s winger Michael West who comes with impressive reference from a productive talent stream that have churned out Joel Byrom, Michael Bostwick and Stacy Long, who al now reside in League One. Davis will be desperate however, to avoid having to address the right-flank by tying down Moore, with a hope that the enthusiasm he displayed in the final months of last season being indicative of his approval of this bright new era, to the immediate future with reasonable haste.

Davis has gone to lengths to allay some fears over the futures of Mellor and Moore by saying that he expects them to sign after lengthy discussions with the duo over the past week, but some discontent will remain until they give concrete committal. With the squad beginning to take shape, assuming that Moore and Mellor do pledge their future to the promise of a new-look ambitious Crewe, Davis’ last assignment of the summer will be to address a void in the central-midfield positions left exposed somewhat, by the release of Lee Bell. Fears over a medical problem have seen the club renege on a two-year deal for Jamie Lowry who has deviated to Plymouth, so an active alternative comes in the form of former Northampton defensive-midfielder Abdul Osman who will be handed a trial in the first two games of pre-season, starting this coming weekend. The management team have been enthusiastic over Osman as a result of his past links with the club and an athletic ball-winner sounds an exciting proposition and again, a further indication of the more solid approach that the club is now adopting.

There may be some value in likening the Alex’s transfer dealings this summer to the new pragmatic edge that Davis has brought to the table in his eight months in charge, it was after all, a rather salient characteristic of the enduring unbeaten run the new tightening up at the back and it has been further shown by a willingness to build on the defensive areas rather than sign up to the chase for the flair signing that Powell’s exit may have necessitated. Ellis and Robertson in so far,  it hasn’t been the most blasé of transfer activity from Davis and Baker, but it’s just the settled way they would want it as they build up to the ever-looming visit of Notts County in the middle of August.

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No panic, just a quiet assurance that has underlined the unbeaten run to date, one that remains in suspension until the big kick-off on the 18th. Crewe fans wait with eager anticipation to League One for a chance to negotiate the next chapter of this bright new era with what is shaping to be a well-rounded, sensible squad.

You can follow me on Twitter @AdamGray1250

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With the new Premier League campaign lurking around the corner, the inevitable discussions as to where ones club will finish come May have begun, with the red half of Manchester sure to be confident that the league is once more theirs to lose. United won a record 19th league title last season, overtaking the previous 18 set by Liverpool in 1990. Since taking over in 1986 Ferguson has won 12 of the 19 titles at Old Trafford, and while Liverpool have gradually fallen away from the top of the league, the United boss has created team after team of league winners and will undoubtedly be looking to do the same again this season. United have already been installed as favourites to be crowned champions, but with fierce competition expected from the usual suspects of Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as Manchester City and a rejuvenated Liverpool looking to make their mark on the league, this season looks set to be one of the toughest and tightest for years.

United have been relatively busy in the transfer market so far, and have brought in the likes of Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David De Gea to strengthen the side. Speculation over the signing of Wesley Sneijder continues to dominate the headlines, with the retirement of Paul Scholes is expected to leave a void in the midfield that cannot be filled sufficiently by the current crop. Should the Dutchman complete a move to Old Trafford then this United side would certainly be more of a force to be reckoned with however, as they are, the strength of their midfield has rightly been brought into question. Whilst the likes of Carrick, Anderson, and Gibson can all fulfill a role at United, they are not the kind of players that are going to score and create goals in the way that Sneijder would, or that Scholes did.

Liverpool on the other hand have spent over £40m on midfielders, acquiring the services of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing. This season will certainly be an interesting one at Anfield, and should these signings replicate the kind of form they demonstrated last season, then Liverpool could well be pushing into the top four again come the end of May. Whilst a number of optimistic fans will be talking of bringing the league title back to Merseyside, I feel this Liverpool side may take some time to adjust, and do not look particularly convincing at the back. In four pre-season games, Dalglish’s side have conceded 12 goals and will need to eliminate such defensive frailties if they are to break in to the top four – winning the league however, is almost certainly a bridge to far this season.

Arsenal have now gone six years without a trophy, winning the league last back in 2004. Questions over Arsene Wenger’s reluctance to spend large sums in transfer windows have intensified since then, and his side seem to have adopted an unfortunate habit of spending much of the season competing for the top spot, only to finish in 3rd or 4th place come May. Again Wenger has failed to spend significant sums this summer, bringing in the Ivorian forward Gervinho when most fans would have liked to have seen a new centre half or goalkeeper at the club. Similarly to Liverpool, I feel the league is out of reach again for Arsenal, and it seems their season could rely upon the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri – should the two leave the club and not be replace sufficiently then this Arsenal side could struggle to break in to the top four for the first time in years. Should they both stay, then again, we can expect them to be there or thereabouts for much of the season, but without improvements at the back, we can also expect Wenger’s side to falter at the final hurdle once more.

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United’s biggest challenge may well come from the other side of Manchester, with Mancini’s side now a ‘top four’ club looking to improve on last seasons achievements. The signings of both Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic indicate Mancini’s desire to strengthen his defensive options, and the £38m capture of Sergio Aguero should take some of the goal scoring pressure off Carlos Tevez, though his future at the club is yet to be determined. City have built a squad over the last two years that have learned to play together, and though many disapprove of their playing style at times, it works. Having qualified for the Champions League, Mancini must find a balance between the league and European football and hope he can keep his key players fit for the best part of the season. Should City cope with the demands of European football, then I can see them mounting a genuine challenge for the league title, and what better incentive than to knock your arch rivals off of their perch at the top of the league.

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Finally, we come to Chelsea, last year’s runners-up and United’s biggest challengers in recent seasons. The Blues new manager Andre Villas-Boas has promised attacking football at Stamford Bridge, and whilst Champions League glory is believed to be top of the agenda, we can certainly expect his side to be challenging for the league throughout the campaign. Chelsea have been quiet so far in the transfer window, having only brought in 19-year-old Oriol Romeu to bolster their midfield options up until now. The Blues have also made no secret of their desire to bring in Luka Modric from Spurs and should they do so, would boast one of the strongest midfields in the division. Villas-Boas’ biggest task will be to find a formation that suits both the midfield and his forwards, with Drogba, Anelka, Torres and now Sturridge all likely to be fighting for a place in the starting eleven. If Villas-Boas can get both his £50m Spaniard finding the net, and a partnership alongside Didier Drogba working, then this would certainly be a strike force to be reckoned with. However, it seems probable that a 4-3-3 formation will be favoured by the new boss, and so long as his forwards can find the net, competition for places up front can only be a positive dilemma to have. Chelsea will be looking to rectify the failures of last season and, similarly to City, will need to be careful to not focus too heavily on their European commitments. If they can, I think that once again the Blues will be favourites to give United a run for their money, and may well be crowned champions of England by the end of the season.

Manchester United look favourites to win the Premier League in 2011 after climbing to the top of the table with games in hand and having gone the first half of the season unbeaten. Without a doubt it has been a superb turnaround from Sir Alex Ferguson and his men. Many wrote them off after their form in the first few weeks of the season and even more so after Wayne Rooney’s transfer request in October. However, there is something not quite right with this Manchester United squad. They are a team that have continued to go through the motions this seasons, and if they were to win the Premier League, could they ever be classed as a top side?

That is what this article is all about. The way the Premier League has gone this season, there is no reason why Manchester United could not win the league, but would that be because Arsenal or Chelsea have thrown it away at some point? If we look back three years, at what Manchester United had, and what they have now; the strike force consisted of the world’s best player, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney. Manchester United had a fit Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence and Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes were three years younger. The squad has changed considerably in terms of players leaving, but has the quality come through the Old Trafford gates? In terms of promising youngsters it has, but Manchester United didn’t lose promising youngsters. They lost world class players.

In terms of whether this Manchester United side would be the most average side to win the Premier League, I have to lean on the side that it would be. You can’t compare sides from 1995 to now. That is unfair and there is simply no measurement to be accurate. The best way to examine such is to look at the squads of the time. When Blackburn won the Premier League title, Liverpool and Manchester United didn’t have the quality that was on show at Ewood Park. Blackburn had the best players that season, boasting Alan Shearer, Chris Sutton, Tim Flowers and Colin Hendry. All four players would have got into the starting line ups of Liverpool and Manchester United at the time. If we move onto this season, things are much the same. Manchester United do not have the best squad in the Premier League and how many of Manchester United’s players would Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City take above what they have? A fit, on fire Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic I expect.

There is no divine right that Manchester United should have the best squad or win the Premier League. Over the years clubs have caught them up, and that is only good for the Premier League. The point is this. If this Manchester United side, a side that hasn’t hit anything like a hot spell so far this season, wins the Premier League then Arsenal and Chelsea will only have themselves to blame. Manchester United have experience on their side, but Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti boast the better players. A midfield three of Anderson, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher or Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien. I know what trio I would pick.

One thing that should not be taken away from this Manchester United side is their resolve. They have fought back from a lot already this season and they have a spirit that Manchester United fans expect from their players. They have gone unbeaten, and what a fantastic achievement that has been especially this season. People said it about the Arsenal invincible team. They hadn’t played well in the first half, but were unbeaten. Manchester United could kick on in the second half of the season and win the Premier League at a canter.

The away form mixed with the qualities of both their squad and squads around them suggest that won’t happen. If Manchester United win the Premier League they will deserve it, but the clubs fighting with them will see it as a massive opportunity missed come May.

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Arsene Wenger insists Robin van Persie will remain at Arsenal this summer and cannot understand why the forward would want to join Juventus.

The Dutchman is entering the final year of his contract and Wenger was keen to resolve the future of his captain before Euro 2012 amidst speculation that the striker could be leaving the Emirates Stadium this summer.

In the end Van Persie jetted off to Poland and Ukraine with his Netherlands team mates without committing himself to the club and speculation remains over his future with continued interest from Manchester City.

According to Sky Sports News the Premier League champions are one of a number of teams to have been linked with the prolific forward, but the father of the 28-year-old has claimed it’s ‘impossible’ that his son will join one of Arsenal’s domestic rivals.

There’s rumoured interested from clubs across Europe but Serie A champions Juventus are eager to sign the player. Reports claim the Italians want to add a big name striker to their ranks but Wenger doesn’t believe Van Persie will end up in Turin. The French manager told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica:

“He will stay at Arsenal.

“There is no reason why a top player, a big champion would want a move to Serie A – in terms of the prestige of the league, the level of play or financial considerations.

“If he moves there, I will buy you a caramello.”

La Liga heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for the striker.

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By Alex Churcher

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Having been part of the club’s relegation, new manager Matias Almeyda wants to return River Plate to the Argentinean Primera Division.Almeyda was handed the role on June 28 as a replacement for Juan Jose Lopez, who had resigned in the wake of River’s relegation.

Three days before his appointment, Almeyda, 37, had started the first leg of the aggregate loss to Belgrano that sent River to Nacional B for the first time in their 110-year existence.

The playoff loss sparked chaotic scenes at River’s Monumental, with incensed fans damaging the stadium and more than 70 people needing hospitalisation.

Guiding the club – where he began and finished his 20-year career – back to the top-flight is Almeyda’s first goal.

“I am convinced we can turn things around and I am looking forward to the prospect of leading River back into the top flight,” the former Argentina midfielder said.

“I am new to the job and only time will tell if I am able to transmit my belief to the players.”

“I want a team that is strong, fast and combative, but I also want a team that plays football, because in recent times River have struggled to play good football.”

Almeyda has already begun the rebuilding, enticing former duo Alejandro Dominguez and Fernando Cavenaghi back to the club.

With attacking midfielder Erik Lamela having been sold to Serie A club Roma and Diego Buonanotte departing for Malaga in La Liga, the two signings will bolster Almeyda’s attacking options.

Almeyda knows the challenges that stretch before him, with River’s financial concerns – at a reported debt of 33 million pounds – hardly helped by the drop in divisions.

But he believes the timing is right for the step into management.

“I am happy to be the coach of River,” he said.

“I think as a player I was suffering. I played my last games with a fracture in a rib and a pulled abductor, and once you start to have these kinds of problems I think that’s it.”

“As a player I think I’d given my all. I couldn’t give anymore and today what I want has left the player (in me) behind.