Latest news with #NigelReo-Coker
Daily Record
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic dominance isn't just due to Rangers failings as ex Premier League star throws down gauntlet
Nigel Reo-Coker believes the Premiership's other 10 clubs are not pulling their weight Scotland's other 10 top-flight teams need to take the pressure off Rangers by shouldering more responsibility to try and halt Celtic's dominance in the Premiership. That's the view of former English Premier League captain Nigel Reo-Coker, who reckons that the rest of the league are not pulling their weight when it comes to facing the Hoops. Besides Steven Gerrard 's Premiership triumph with Gers in the 2020/21 season behind closed doors, the Hoops have won every title since 2011, with the last team outside of Glasgow's big two to lift the title coming with Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen in 1985. And while the Dons caused a huge upset to lift the Scottish Cup for the first time in 35 years when they edged out Celtic on penalties back in May, Reo Coker - who starred for West Ham, Aston Villa and Bolton in England's top-flight - firmly believes that the other clubs that make up the Premiership should be making the league 'more competitive'. Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, he said: "Common sense will tell you that Celtic should be the favourites, Brendan Rodgers is a very accomplished manager who knows what he is doing. "For the manager that he is, I expect Celtic to go and win the title again. "When you look at Rangers and talk about Russell Martin coming in as the new manager, he was very stubborn in his time at Southampton and didn't want to change his style of play. "It is going to take a while to implement the style of play he wants at Rangers. A great signing they have made is Mikey Moore, a young lad on loan from Tottenham. "I think it's going to be so beneficial to that young talented player to get that first team experience playing week-in, week-out. "We always talk about it being on Rangers to beat Celtic. But I think it's on all the teams in the Scottish Premiership to be more competitive. "You talk about the last time a different team that wasn't Celtic or Rangers to win the Scottish Premiership was Aberdeen under Sir Alex Ferguson. "Since then, there has been 40 title winners and it's been shared between Celtic and Rangers. I think the bigger conversation is a lot more competitiveness from other teams, really trying to push Celtic and Rangers to make it more entertaining." However, ex Leeds United and MLS winger Mike Grella then quickly pointed out to Reo-Coker the reality that faces the rest of Scotland's top-flight. He replied: "It's difficult because of the following that Celtic and Rangers have and also (because of) their history, how much they've won and the money they make from European competitions. "They are very marketable so as far as the other teams being able to compete over a period of time, Celtic have really dominated over the last 10 years."
Wales Online
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Ex-Premier League ace eats his words on live TV as Wrexham star makes Ryan Reynolds vow
Ex-Premier League ace eats his words on live TV as Wrexham star makes Ryan Reynolds vow Wrexham have won a third successive promotion by finishing second in League One, and one of the Red Dragons' players has had the last laugh over a TV pundit's pre-season prediction Wrexham star Ollie Palmer made Nigel Reo-Coker eat his words (Image:) A former Premier League footballer has apologised on live TV for underestimating Wrexham's potential to escape from League One. Ex-Aston Villa and West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker shared scepticism about Phil Parkinson's team securing a remarkable third consecutive promotion at the beginning of the 2024-25 season. The CBS Sports pundit was later left red-faced as Wrexham clinched automatic promotion to the Championship in April. Reo-Coker has now extended his apologies to the club's supporters after the Red Dragons finished second in League One. Wrexham striker Ollie Palmer urged the 41-year-old to make amends during the American networks' broadcast of the League Two play-off final between AFC Wimbledon and Walsall. Reo-Coker said: "I didn't think Wrexham would get promoted again. I didn't think it would be a [case of] back-to-back-to-back. I apologise Wrexham fans. Yes, you proved me wrong." Despite external doubts, Palmer disclosed that Wrexham's higher-ups held a quiet confidence about gaining promotion from League One before the season. However, their optimism was not broadly publicised as they aimed to handle expectations. Palmer said: "I think a lot of people didn't expect us to do it. I think we were tipped to be around mid-table. I get that, but that's the beauty of football. We achieved something really special, and it was a privilege to be a part of it. Article continues below Nigel Reo-Coker has apologised to Wrexham fans after doubting their chances of promotion (Image: CBS Sports ) "A lot's changed at the football club. The gaffer kept it in house and said that if we can keep doing what we're doing, he would accept nothing less than automatics. That was the demand he put on us, and we kept that quiet. "But as it came to the end of the season, that was the only option. We did it, and we created history. It was an amazing moment." Wrexham co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have reiterated their ambition to take the club to the Premier League following their recent promotion. Watch Welcome to Wrexham season 4 on Disney+ This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £4.99 Disney+ Get Disney+ here Product Description Welcome to Wrexham is back on Disney+ for a fourth season. Fans can watch the series with a £4.99 monthly plan, or get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront. But Reo-Coker believes that reaching such heights next season is premature, labelling the Championship as "different gravy" compared to League One. Palmer, however, isn't dismissing the prospect of a remarkable fourth consecutive promotion, drawing attention to the precedent set by Luton and Ipswich. Both teams have previously managed successive promotions from League One to the Premier League. The 33-year-old is also confident that Reynolds and McElhenney will invest the necessary funds to ensure Wrexham are contenders in the next division during the summer transfer window. Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year. Sign up for Wrexham is the Game here Article continues below "I know doing four is ridiculous and I'm not saying that," Palmer said. "But if you look at Luton, did they do that? Didn't they go back-to-back? We've got backing where the club wants to go again. "I'm not trying to put pressure on the lads and I should probably stop talking, but all I'm trying to say is, we could take inspiration from Luton and Ipswich. "The gaffer and the owners are going to invest and improve the squad, there's no doubt about that. If you say that you're riding the wave then maybe [it could happen]."
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Evanilson 'a fantastic signing for Bournemouth'
Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker was full of praise for Evanilson after the Bournemouth striker scored the winner against Arsenal on Saturday. He told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast the Brazilian has been a fantastic signing. Advertisement "I've been a fan of Evanilson since he was at Porto so I saw the quality striker that he was," he said. "When I saw he was coming to Bournemouth, I thought that was a fantastic signing. "He is a top class striker. He knows where the back of the net is and is going to get goals. Great movement in the box, a great natural finisher and old-school striker. He's just gone from strength to strength since coming to Bournemouth. "He really is a great player and he has got the luxury of playing with Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier. He has been sensational and it's great recruiting on their part." Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Evanilson 'a fantastic signing for Bournemouth'
Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker was full of praise for Evanilson after the Bournemouth striker scored the winner against Arsenal on told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast the Brazilian has been a fantastic signing."I've been a fan of Evanilson since he was at Porto so I saw the quality striker that he was," he said. "When I saw he was coming to Bournemouth, I thought that was a fantastic signing."He is a top class striker. He knows where the back of the net is and is going to get goals. Great movement in the box, a great natural finisher and old-school striker. He's just gone from strength to strength since coming to Bournemouth."He really is a great player and he has got the luxury of playing with Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier. He has been sensational and it's great recruiting on their part."Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'They were probably thinking about the Champions League game'
Former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker says Arsenal have lost momentum at a crucial time of the season with the game against Paris St-Germain looming on Wednesday."You want your players to go into a game confident with that winning feeling," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "When you look at how Arsenal lost to Bournemouth, they are going to be very disappointed. It was not a heavily rotated team - it was a strong a team as Arsenal could put out."I think they were probably thinking about the Champions League game during this game. There was too much of that in the back of their mind, which probably caused them to lose to Bournemouth. They have made it difficult for themselves."Former striker Clinton Morrison added: "Arsenal have been poor. I thought this was the greatest opportunity this season for Arsenal to challenge Liverpool because the other teams will be back and competing next season."Mikel Arteta definitely had one eye on PSG but he wanted to win the game for confidence. They didn't perform. They went 1-0 up and they didn't put the ball in the back of the net. There were opportunities to shoot - they want to score the perfect goal. It probably frustrates the Arsenal fans as well. They are frustrating to watch."At the end of the season, if they end up finishing third and get knocked out by PSG, what is that season? That means they have gone basically gone backwards."Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
