1961-03-14 — Page 9

THE CHINA. MAIL,

TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1961.

ON THE BALL

with Bill Slater

SPARE A THOUGHT FOR THE MANAGER!

What is the most insecure job in the world of sport? Without doubt it is a manager's posi- tion in the English League-and now is the time of year when the livelihood of many managers is in greatest jeopardy.

Now's the time when the axe falls

Why? financial

U.S. TENNIS

SPURS, WEDNESDAY, VILLA CLIMBED 'BACK TO GLORY,“ WHY NOT US?

RANKINGS I'm not

UNREALISTIC

By JOHN COTTRELL

Have you ever heard of Nancy Richey, Dillie Jenn Moffit, or perhaps Donna Floyd? Probably not-unless you happen to be a very keen fol-

lower of lawn tennis.

Yet these girls

are ranked third, fourth and th

respec-

tively in the Untied States list. Last year none of them appear- ed in the top ten.

quitting at 46 -even should Blackpool go down

Says STANLEY MATTHEWS

Blackpool-and Stanley Matthews-for the Second Division! The pessi- mists are shouting the odds already, but we hope to prove them wrong. At least we are doing our best as our win against Wolves

recently shows.

Even if we fail, it isn't the end of the world or of my, football career.

I have not played Division Iswer. Bids for Tommy Docher- twice had special training sen-

Bertie

It marks the big reshuffle at football since 1933 when i was ty (then Arsenul), Dick Neal, sions at Buxion, but our fällures the top of American

with Stoke City, but the thought (Birmingham), tennis whichi

of it does not alter my plans in (Celtic), and Brian

(then Burnley) were all turned been off form at the same time. any way.

down.

wohen's has experienced Its leanest year since the

war and Its worst - Wimbledon since Suzanne Lengien reigned supreme in the 1920's.

HOPES

such

WIMBLEDON who are i

say that always be directors Some will

wards have some-over-impatient for success. Buil the manager's by

The majority of clubs have reached that stage when they can abandon all hope of success this season. They are out of the Cup anding to do with it. Most main struggling in the League. Gates are falling agers get between £1,000 and lush cuttld be made easles

£2,000 a year, and a few out-

und £4,000,

and, above all, they are haunted by the possi-standing men between £3,000 bility of relegation.

and temperament It's me for drustic action, different Clubs may reshuffle their team,, background into a team and the make a last-mintite bld to buy courage both to stand up to criticism and to make their way out of trouble-ned, severe

He needs As a fail, desperate resort sack ruthless decisions.

the tactical know-how, to out- the mangeT.

wit the opposition, discernment i in buying-and a fair share of luck regarding injuries, Illness and the run of the ball,

Five managers have already been sarked or have resten in the phat two months. Be sure that the axe will fall on more before the season is over,

Such is the astonishing in- security of this position that there have been more than 410 managerial moves among, the 92 League clubs sluce the war. Moreover. only ong manager Bil Anderson of Lincoln remains in the job He held back in 1946.

None is safe

Always a queue

He must be something of If psychologist, comforter, accoun

ani, public relations expert and tactical genius. And, above all, if he is to be successful, he needs strength of character and thorough knowledge of the game to be respected (not necessarily liked) by both his players and directors.

A

Next season when the new One club has employed as system of wage negotiations be- many as nine different managers teen players and their clubs since the war. And not even comes inte operation, he is going managers with successes in the to have to be something of a recent past have remained safe. business man, tou. Of the 12 men who have had

Yet, despite all teams in the past six FA Cup!

the hazard, Finals, five have since moved. į heartbreaks and heavy respon

sibilities, there is always a long queue of applicants whenever a managerial post becomes vocant,

They say that newspaper reporter is only as good as his Last story. In the highly com- petitive world of modern soccer, most club menagers seam te be considered only as good as their club's current position in the League.

The high premium placed on success is uhdistaùtedly the eher reason for the astonishingly high casualty ante in football menagement. For no manager, however brillinn, en guarantee a sudden miracle to transform a struggling team into chamn- pionship muterisl.

Voy occasionally-and with a degree of lucka drutatle change may result from inspired buying of new players. - Bul generally a successful team can only he built by long-term pleuning.

Not so easy

It all fakes time-the thing so many managers seem to be denied. Some directors Just will not sit back patiently while the manager methodically layn a solid foundation for team-building. They want re- sults and quickly.

Another reason for the high turn-over rate is that the Job looka KO decentively easy. Fundamentally, soccer IN simple game and it can create the false Allusion that football management is equally simple,

Most fans at some time or other are convinced that they can pick a more successful team than the recognised experts, Iu reality, they would And that team selection is much involved than choosing the best eleven players. Few sporting jobs are so complex and ore fraught with such anxieties and hazards.

mara

The emelent nonuger needs the ability to blend players of

CHESS

By LEONARD BARDEN

59545

An easy one for a change: In this position, render M. H Fartridge of Edgbaston, Birm- mgham (White.

to dove)

foreed mate in two. How ?

London Fabrice Service.

the

But that, surely, is not moin reason why so many come back for more punish- chair, ment in the inanagerial It does not explain why a man like Joe Mercer exchanged a prosperous

Krocery business for the anxieties of the mana- or why n man ger's hot-sent; like Don Welsh sacked from struggling Bourile mouth) returned to soccer ofler having retired (o run public house.

reason

some cases

giving him greater freedom.

I believe the manager and have a completely free hand in matters pertaining to play on the playing held-toum selection, policy, coaching and tactics.

Haphazard affair

The casualty rate might so be slightly reduced If more players could be specially groomed Jor managorship. Play- ers and relerces (recently

are carefully selected and trained. get the development of the manager the most important ngure in the League club-is a haphazari affair.

15

That

Blackpool is my club, and I'll play my heart out in the all-out effort. whatever divi- klon they are in.

чест

Auld boil down to the same common Pilkington factor too many

of us have

Bad support

50

chance... son

It is not very often that a whole team plays on peak, but in our case there have been We need encouragement long black spells when not one, desperately, but our support at If we do go down, there will but several players, have been Bloomfeld-road has been bad be another immediate target -- Out of the top ten go

off form together,

this reason. to get back again. well-known players as Mimi

I do not feel lon old at 46 set of

Confidence is the greatest as- Yet there is so much the fans Arnok, Sally Moore, Dorothy had no intention of reticling balter, as I know so well. But picture of a missed

the professional foot- never get. They have just tho Knode and Karol Fageres (now this season and Blackpool's bod come sach run has not changed anything.

ours has been badly shaken. We "My three-month-old professional). In

Gwyn

always to be meeting could have tapped that in," they little-known players

It has strengthened my deter- Thomas (No.

teams who strike top form. 7), Vicki Palmermination. I could

rant...but they never see the not pack in (No. 8), Kathy Chabot

Our (No. 9) when the club

efforts have not been rut or pothole that brings an might need all and Carol Hanks (No. 10).

smoothly geared. When the awkward bounce at just the the loyalty it can command.

defence has played brilliantly wrong moment to ruin the shot- With the retirement

Relegation is not the calunity the forwards have missed goals, timing, from tournament play of top-ranked some pepole make V16, and when the goal chances have Beverly Baker Feitz, Darlene Wednesday and Bettenhen have been taken the defence has con- Hard, U.S. Notional champion, all climbed back to glory after ecdel more gouls. takes over the No. I spot, Ameri relegation. can hopes at Wimbledon this year will depend chiefly on Miss Hard and the so promising loen- ager Karen Hantze, now ranked second.

re-

Once again, these American rankings are highly misleading because of the committee's fusal to be guided by overseas form. Such globe-trotting stars as Dottie Knode and Sally Moore, are penslised for showing the

Struggling

What has gone wrong with Blackpool... What is it like to play in a struggling side...?

The real they are dedicated men with He is virtually thrown In the| soccer in their blood. Arthur deep end to sink or swim. And Rowt, manager Crystal he is the ane man who often

chester of Palace who quit specer and has no time to le.m by his then returned, summed

upistakes.

| flag abroad and unranked be-

the feelings of most managers I would never choose to be-

Is come a manager myself simply cause of "Insufficient data." when he said: "Football

because I do not feel I have all my life."

Free hand needed And Joe Mercer, inspirationaf force behind Aston Villa, hos called his work: "The most im- partout and satisfying job in my life."

the necessary qualities. But fr

1 did want such a job, I would Denmark through

start studying the techniques of management now, while still a player.

It is not without signifleange that outstanding managers like Harry Potts,

in Thomas Cup

London, Mar. 13.

took 21

Yes, things are blacker now at Blackpool than at any time during my service with thin club, but footballers aro you

iimists, and they never give

It Is curious that when are struggling, lucky breaks and the run of the ball are denied уби.

The Blackpool players are Beliher depressed' nor dispirit- ed, but the desperate, snatch- ing game which our present worries force upon us had ruined the rhythm until the Wolves match.

These are the questiona everyone asks me these days, ..No team can have mitless Buccess, Newcastle, Bolton, Man- City, and Preston are

Don't get the idea that there all famous post-war Cup Learns.

is an atmosphere of gloom at But loot ni them now. They Blackpool. Travelling with our are in the same plight as Block- team you would at times think pool.

that we were at the top of the League. But the strain is there.

Lonely

Blackpool, and that includes me, have had a wonderful spell with three Cup Finals-one stic- cessful in the past 3 years.

Those are the noments 10 For myself. I find the week- remember, the moments that ends dismally lonely. Through- can balster our fight.

out the week there is the com- the dressing-room Players like Harry Johnston, radeship of Denmark Stan Cullis, Billy

winning Stan Mortensen. and George and the hope that the run of Nicholson and Arthur Rowe all 5-0 lead over England to win Farm-the men who brought luck Is just ahead. What can be done to give the served an auprenticeships before

European final of the success-have gone. They are It is after defeat that the manager greater security? - Sojtaking on the manager's job. Thomas Cup Badminton Inter-not easily replaced.

moment of deßation comes, with much Importance is attached to

rational Tournament in South- The cheque book, as Black-high hopes crushed again. results that I suppose there will (All Rights Reserved).

end, Essex, tonight.-AFF. pool know, is not always an an- What should we have done ... would such and such a niove have made any difference ... was that footled pass really so vital?

Four D. Jones OUR HEROES BY MADDOCKS.

LEAVE THE RAIN- MAKER WITH THE JUJU DOCTOR AND TAKE THEIR

IN DESPAIR

FERDINAND

NANCY

THIS MOVIE WAS ABOUT ATOMIC WAVES--

{THEY TRAVEL THROUGH WHAT IS NOW SUN

THE ATOMIC

WAVES TURNED

ALL THE ANIMALS INTO GIANTS

BRICK BRADFORD

BRICKI DO

SOMETHING!

I'LL BLAST THE TRUNK OF THA PLANTI

MY

UNCLE BELIEVES

IN THAT GOOFY STUFF

BY JOVE,

WE COULD DO WITH A DROP

OF RAIN, EVERY

THING IS

DRIED UP

"NAND'S

GETTING

HE'S

READY

IT'S CLOSING IN ON YOU, BRICK! LOOK

OUT!

thu

AND BACK IN THE TREE-DWELLERS'

•VY COUNTRY....

ף ידי *

I HOPE THE CHIEF GETS BACK WITH THAT RAINMAKER SOON. OUR TREES ARE WILTING

By Mik

By Ernie Bushmiller

-ZANIE BUSHMILLE.

By Paul Norris

THIS 19 WORSE THAN

FIGHTING CRAB GRASS! IT WONT

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ILFORD

Body

Such thoughts chose through your mind as mistakes, however trival, stand out.

You think not of lost bonus money, but of squandered op- portunities.

I have had a gloriously happy run of 20 years in top Soccer- and I still Воре for several more.

The bad times have got to come, but that does not make their acceptance any easter for player, manager or direc- tor.

We all get the same "nie- gles," the same infuriating ad- vice, and the same half-hearted messages of encouragement, from the know-alls.

As I look back on the sea- sor, I know that we have train- ed as hard as ever. We have

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