On This Day (3rd August 2002): Sunderland Linked With French International Midfielder

On this day back in 2002, Peter Reid took a quick break from Sunderland's training camp to scout a French international midfielder, with the hope of bringing him to Wearside.

Reid ended up in Amsterdam to take in the four-team tournament involving Ajax, Barcelona, United, and Parma, while keeping a particular eye on Parma's French midfielder Johan Micoud.

Advertisement

Reports in the Italian press said that Sunderland had enquired about the then 29-year-old midfielder, who was said to be looking for a move to England or Spain. West Ham and Fulham were also linked with the player, as were Bordeaux, who Micoud joined in 1996 and helped win the French championship in 1999.

Micoud played in the World Cup that summer, replacing the injured Zinedine Zidane in the first two games of France's dismal attempt at defending the World Cup, but the midfielder spoke about any possible move:

I still don't know where I'll be next season. I hope to decide my future in the next few days. I must speak with Parma but I hope to play in another championship. Even England or Spain.

In the tournament, Reid took in Parma's 4-2 defeat to Barcelona and Manchester United's loss to Ajax in the other game. He would be back in Belgium the following day for Sunderland's final match of the tour, against KAA Gent. The previous week saw his Sunderland side beat Saint-Truiden 1-0 before struggling to a draw with Royal Antwerp in midweek – where the Black Cats' sluggish first half display had earned the wrath of the travelling fans.

Advertisement

But Reid was confident going into the season ahead:

I'm happy with the games we've got lined up for the players even though they're not easy matches. Gent should be the hardest opposition we've faced yet and then we have Sevilla ahead as next week. But we've taken the decision that this is the best way forward for the players.

There are two schools of thought on pre-season games and both viewpoints are equally as valid. You can go out and play really weak opposition and roll them over five and six nil, and there's nothing wrong with that – it builds confidence and the players still get good run-outs.

Or you can face tougher opponents and really test yourselves, although it means not necessarily winning matches. Against Amiens in France we were facing a side much fitter than we were in terms of fitness and we went into the game on the back of six days where we'd been training three times a day.

In Belgium we've lined up games against three sides who play in the First Division. I've watched a lot of Belgian football and they play to a good standard so again they are demanding games.

You face a decision when it comes to lining up these games and there's nothing wrong with playing opponents that you're always going to win against – we've done it ourselves in the past. But we just thought that this time, this was the right way to go about it, playing teams who can really push us.

In other news…

Phillips has injury scare…

Kevin Phillips suffered an injury scare before the pre-season friendly against KAA Gent on this day in 2002. The record-breaking striker was taken off after only 27 minutes during the previous game against Royal Antwerp with a twinge in his groin. But Peter Reid stressed after that match that the substitution was a case of being safe rather than sorry and that the injury was not regarded as serious:

I'm going to leave it up to Kevin whether he wants to play this evening. He's come through training fine and it's just a question of if he decides he wants to play or chooses to rest. I can understand people being a bit worried from the outside with him coming off so early in a game, but there's nothing seriously wrong. He's been OK in the sessions since the game and he could play against Gent if he wants too.

Certainly, if he decides he wants to be involved, I've got no problem with that. He's an experienced professional and I can rely on him not to overdo it or cause himself problems.

New signing Thomas Myhre was also suffering from injury as he was looking to make his first team debut in the Jules Otten Stadium:

Thomas is coming on all the time and I thought he had a good chance of playing on Wednesday. But he wanted to make sure that he wasn't taking a risk and so he didn't play. Hopefully though, he'll come through now and I expect him to be available for the Gent game. He's certainly looked sharp enough in training.

Kyle in hunt for goals…

Kevin Kyle went into the game against KAA Gent on this day in 2002 desperate for the goal which would cap off a fine pre-season. The Scottish striker had impressed Sunderland's coaching team with his application and his improvement since returning to training. But the 21-year-old says only a goal will make him feel satisfied with his work over the summer:

Things have gone well for me so far but as a striker you judge yourself on goals. I'm really pleased the manager has given me a chance in pre-season in all the games so far and I think I've done OK but I really want a goal and hopefully it will come against Gent.

Kyle finished as top scorer for the Reserves during the previous season and had several substitute appearances for the first team.

Advertisement

His qualities were noted by Scottish manager Berti Vogts and in the weeks leading up to Sunderland's pre-season tour, summer Kyle became a full international. Which was something, considering not only that he had not made a first team start for Sunderland but that two years ago he was still playing amateur football. But Kyle wanted to kick on:

I think everyone realises that there are going to be new signings coming in to strengthen us up front and there's every chance that they'll already be established and successful players. I know that it's only a matter of time before they come in and that's going to make competition for places very hard again up front.

So this really is the time when I've got to show to the gaffer that I should stay in his plans and that I can do a job for the club. I feel as though I'm getting stronger and sharper all the time but what I really want to do now is get a goal or two in the weeks ahead because it is goals at the end of the day which will get you noticed. I'd love nothing better than to get on the scoresheet tonight.

Adams says no to US…

Former England captain Tony Adams turned down the chance to extend his playing career in America and has instead decided to take some time out of football. The ex-Arsenal defender was offered a 12-month deal with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in the Major Soccer League. But Adams turned the approach down, according to adviser Steve Kutner:

I was approached by a representative of the American club about the possibility of Tony playing there for a season, but it's not an offer which he will be taking up In the short term. Tony is taking time out to spend with his children, which was always something he wanted to do after he stopped playing.

He then plans to do some travelling to places he hasn't been in the course of his career, but the ultimate aim for Tony is to get back into the game when the right opportunity arises.

Delgado still a missing Saint…

The saga of Ecuador striker Agustin Delgado rolled on to its next chapter as he said on this day in 2002 that he would arrive at Southampton in the following days, apparently fully recovered from his knee injury. Southampton placed Delgado on the transfer list when he failed to show up for the beginning of pre-season training, but he claimed he'd be back:

There's no problem now. I believe I will fly over and show up there on Monday. I'm ready to play in any team. I will show them all the documents that prove I wasn't on holidays. I was doing a recovery treatment to be in the best condition. I think everything will be set when they see that.

McClaren's desire persuaded Juninho…

Juninho revealed on this day in 2002 that Steve McClaren's desire to make Middlesbrough Premiership contenders helped persuade him to return "home". Twenty-four hours earlier, Juninho had been granted a work permit on appeal, and George Boateng revealed he had agreed personal terms with the Riverside club.

Advertisement

Juninho's initial application was rejected by the Department of Employment on the grounds he had not played in enough of his country's competitive internationals over the last two years.

However, a delegation from Middlesbrough, led by manager Steve McClaren and chief executive Keith Lamb, attended a hearing in Sheffield, which accepted their argument that his proven quality was sufficient grounds for appeal and found in the club's favour.

Then, later in the day, Dutch international Boateng announced he had concluded his protracted negotiations with Boro to seal his switch from Premiership rivals Aston Villa. It was a busy summer for McClaren, having already signed Franck Queudrue, striker Massimo Maccarone and Geremi, the Cameroon international who joined on a season's loan from Real Madrid.

Boro announced they had clinched a deal to bring 29-year-old Juninho, who will cost in excess of £5m from Atletico Madrid, and the mercurial midfielder admitted McClaren had played a major factor in his desire to return to Boro:

Everyone says that Steve McClaren is a winner – that is important for me. Mr McClaren spoke to me and my father during the World Cup and again last week. He told me how ambitious he is. He wants to win and knows how to win. That is one of the main reasons why I want to come back to Middlesbrough.

At the World Cup, he said he wanted me to come to Middlesbrough and I said 'Okay'. I don't know a lot about Middlesbrough now. English football is not shown on Brazilian TV very much – but I know that they have a very good team, better than when I was there. I don't know too much about Massimo Maccarone, but I have heard a lot of good things about him, so I look forward to playing with him.

I am very happy. I think the club is capable now of doing better than ever before. I believe in Middlesbrough, it's like I am coming home.

A Wise appeal…?

Dennis Wise was considering on this day in 2002 whether or not to appeal against Leicester City's decision to sack him over an incident on the club's pre-season tour of Finland. Wise was dismissed by the club 24 hours earlier for gross misconduct after the incident in which team-mate Callum Davidson suffered a fractured cheekbone.

Advertisement

Wise has been in contact with the Professional Footballers' Association and deputy chief executive Mick McGuire said he expected the former Wimbledon and Chelsea midfielder to appeal against the club's decision to terminate his contract.

Meanwhile, former Leicester striker Stan Collymore believes the incident which resulted in Wise's sacking by the club was "a good opportunity" for them to get him off their wage bill.

Collymore, who was fined two weeks' wages and warned about his future conduct by City in 2000 after setting off a fire extinguisher on a training camp in Spain, believes financial considerations played a part in the Foxes' decision.

To ease their financial concerns, Leicester had been forced to sell midfielder Robbie Savage to Birmingham and had transfer-listed captain Matt Elliott as they balanced the books following relegation.

Click here to read article