Planet Soccer

Try, try and try again

THERE WERE high emotions at the Robert L McNulty Memorial Soccer Field on Saturday when the New Jersey City University women's team beat Rutgers-Newark 5-1 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game.

"The girls worked hard and the athletic department believed in the programme and when you have all those components working together towards the same goal, anything is possible," said a jubilant Robert Bielan, the coach.

"Today everything came together," he beamed.

Why so emotional? Well, it was the team's first win since October 1994 - and first "non-defeat" since 1995.

The victory ended a 111-game NJAC winless streak. So, let that be a lesson to you: if at first you don't succeed, try 110 more times.

Conte ends the famine in Atalanta

REMEMBER ANTONIO Conte, the former Juventus and Italy player? Well, he was appointed manager of Serie A side Atalanta last week after his predecessor was sacked following four consecutive defeats at the start of the season. Conte began the job well, a 0-0 draw with Catania giving Atalanta their first point of the campaign.

His arrival, then, has given the place a lift, and given the local press something tasty to chew on. "It is difficult to adapt to a diet of bread and salami when you are accustomed to caviar," he told them during the week.

"In the last three seasons Atalanta have been a class act, but we need to adapt fast or we risk starving to death. Maybe some day soon we can return to dining like nobility." Well, the diet is improving - they got another point yesterday from their 1-1 draw away to Chievo Verona.

Quotes of the week

"ARSENE'S DONE a great job, I think he's a great manager, but the trouble is if you ever make a valid point about him and the club, it's like criticising the Pope. Everybody gets up in arms." - Arsenal legend Frank McLintock on the infallible Wenger.

"I'm never quite sure how far to go with praise for young kids - next thing you'll see him driving a Mercedes or having his socks over his knees, or he'll have about four earrings in and a Walt Disney hat." - Norwich manager Paul Lambert fearing the consequences if he praises 18-year-old midfielder Korey Smith.

"I believe Owen Coyle's been great for Burnley Football Club but equally Burnley has been fantastic for Owen Coyle." - Eh, Owen Coyle.

"I would love to tell you now that I'm getting back into it this afternoon but as I say if the right job comes along, David O'Leary would love to take it." - Yep, David O'Leary.

"When Danny Murphy came off the pitch he shook my hand and said 'I really hope you stay up'. I nearly said 'I hope you stay up too', but bit my lip." - Mick McCarthy, who probably came close to biting the Fulham man's lip, never mind his own.

More quotes of the week

"I REMEMBER getting beaten at Bolton last year and looking at the bench. I think two of them were asleep with hats pulled down and blankets over them. I said 'I'm sorry to drag you up here, I know it's ****ing cold and you could be at home with the missus with a cup of tea. It's hard for 30 grand a week to watch a game'." - Harry Redknapp pays tribute to the dedication of your average modern pro.

"I am used to players who are very focused, very concentrated, so when I came to England it was a big surprise to hear music in our dressingroom . . . and it is not even good music. Bad music, s**t music, rap music . . . but I decided I must have an open mind." - Carlo Ancelotti, wearing ear plugs to work this weather.

"In Honduras they call him 'The Doctor' because of his tackling ability. I think it is because he has such precision in the tackle, like a doctor performing surgery. It's not that he puts people in hospital." - Wigan manager Roberto Martinez on Hendry Thomas and how he's been, eh, operating quite well in midfield this season.

He said what?

WHEN ASKED last week what Craig Bellamy had said to Jake Clarke, the pitch-invading Manchester United fan he slapped during the derby City, assistant manager Mark Bowen replied: "Obviously I can't quote exactly what he said, but it was something like 'Get off the pitch'."

Jake? "He shouted at me, "Get off the ****ing pitch you ****ing knobhead"."

Rude, certainly, but you have to admit, Bellamy had a point.