Iain Dowie has been named as the new manager of Premier League side, Hull City.

Dowie will come in and replace former boss, Phil Brown, who was sacked after a long run in charge of the team. Brown was in charge for all of the time that Hull have struggled in the Premier League.

Dowie has experience of management but not at the highest levels of the game. Hull fans will probably see the news as more of a preparation for going into the Championship as opposed to a bid for Premier League survival.

Adam Pearson, club chairman, said: “We feel that we’ve got a quarter of the season to go with some winnable games within that. It’s not a fixture list that’s packed full of ‘top four’ games, it’s a fixture list with games where we would expect to get some points.”

“We feel that we’re best served by making the change now. That will bring a fresh face in, some new impetus and some new focus to get those 14 or 15 points that we’re going to need.”

The point that Hull fans will make is the fact that Dowie is probably no better than Brown in terms of Premier League management. If any thing it seems like a step back as opposed to a step forward.

The club need to scrap and scrape for every single point they can get their hands on and Dowie is not the sort of boss who is angled towards doing this.

There were a lot of good and high calibre, experienced managers who would have liked a shot at this job. Once again the pressures of Premier League survival have forced a smaller club into making a quick and rash decision.

The fans will be hoping that Dowie can prove all of the doubters wrong and get the club playing some football again. The side are capable of it but strong performances have not appeared for a long time.

Let it not be forgotten that Hull were one of the best sides in the country at the start of last season. They even got wins at the Emirates and White Hart Lane as Brown’s job looked solid for a good period of time.

How fickle football is that little over a year later, many sides have worked out how to play and beat Hull and it has cost Brown his job.

Hull are the perfect example of a club that has come into the Premier League under a good and intelligent manager, not actually been relegated but struggled, and the manager has been shown the exit door.

Dowie has plenty of work to do and it starts straight away. He’ll probably get judged on how Hull perform in the Championship because this move will only send them in one direction and that’s down.

Second season syndrome seems to have struck again and many Hull fans will not see Dowie as their savour and will continue expecting the worst.

Manchester United defender, Darren Fletcher, has said that the current Premier League champions have to be on their guard to see off Liverpool this weekend.

Liverpool make the trip to Old Trafford short on form and with a number of problems in key areas of the side. Although their last run out produced a 4-0 win, the side has not played well for large parts of the season.

United look to be hitting their straps at just the right time and it will be difficult for Liverpool to produce the performance they came up with at the same ground last season when they beat United 4-1.

Fletcher said: “It would be very dangerous to think this is a poor Liverpool side coming to Old Trafford because they are anything but. It would be a huge mistake to think that Liverpool are not a threat. They maybe haven’t had the season we expected after last year but they are still a dangerous side.”

“They are still in the main the same team. We know what they are capable of and pushed us all the way and dished out that defeat here and the one at Anfield this season. They are still fresh in our memories.”

“Liverpool still have a lot to play for because they are battling for fourth spot. They are capable of beating anyone. We have to learn the lessons from last year’s game. The warnings are there. If you are not 100% focused and you make mistakes they will punish you.”

“It is a real surprise to me they haven’t been up with us. But they will still be fired up to win at Old Trafford again.”

United will also want some revenge as they have not beaten Liverpool in the recent past. These were also matches against weakened Liverpool sides so nothing can be taken for granted.

Sir Alex Ferguson has previously called this game as the fiercest rivalry in football. Liverpool always take a lot of fans to Old Trafford and they always make a lot of noise.

It is up to the United players to silence these away fans but it will probably be a lot more difficult than many United fans may think. Liverpool always raise their game for these sorts of occasions.

Manchester United will also hope that Liverpool boss, Rafa Benitez, tinkers with his side a great deal. Many Liverpool fans have said that a lack of tactical awareness is the main reason the side have not been playing well and this is the manager’s responsibility.

The game could go either way but United are the strong favourites at this stage. If Liverpool do not produce a single bit of the quality they’re capable of then they will get played off the park.

It would take a brave person to put money against the Champions at this stage of the season.

Premier League club, Hull City, have confirmed that Phil Brown has been relieved of all duties as the club’s manager.

Brown was struggling to keep Hull in a competitive position in the Premier League table and it seems the time has come for the side to move on in a last bid attempt to try and prevent relegation.

Brown had managed the club for a long period of time and had seen the club survive in the Premier League when many people expected them to go down last time around.

A statement read: “Hull City AFC confirms that Phil Brown has been relieved of his managerial duties at the club and has been placed on gardening leave with immediate effect. Brian Horton and Steve Parkin will take charge of first-team duties until further notice.”

“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Phil for the major success achieved during a period of four seasons in charge at the club and wish him every success for the future.”

“Promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and retention of our status on the last day of the 2009 season are unique events in the history of Hull City AFC and both were achieved under Phil’s stewardship during a period which will never be forgotten by all connected with the club.”

“However, retention of Premier League status is paramount and the board believes that a change in managerial direction is the correct option at this time. The club will complete supporters up-to-date in respect of any managerial appointment but, in the meantime, Brian Horton and Steve Parkin will prepare the team for our important game at Portsmouth next Saturday.”

Hull are a club that has a very big fan base and is unfortunate to be struggling in the Premier League. However, this is just the way of the world as many newly promoted clubs often see off relegation and then get relegated in the very next season. Just ask Reading.

The search for a permanent manager has already started and it may be some time before a new appointment is made. This is because the club want to get the next decision right and they may have already accepted the fact that relegation is a certainty.

This means a new boss may be better served if he comes in after the current season and looks to build Hull back up as a club. A number of players could leave as they have previously said that Brown is the only reason they were there in the first place.

The club just need to sit back for a little bit and then move onto the next manager who should be able to guide them in the right direction. Once they have done this they can come back at the Premier League in a much stronger and exciting fashion, which will impress and deceive many.

Fulham have been left with a huge task after a heavy defeat against Juventus in the first leg of their Europa League encounter.

The teams have been paired together for the last sixteen round of the competition and Juventus have taken a quick lead, going 3-1 up into the second leg in London.

It was not surprising as Fulham have been struggling over recent weeks to find some form, which saw thump jump into the top half of the Premier League table during the first part of the season.

Juventus were just too strong and although they conceded an important away goal, many would back them to come out on top when the sides meet again during the second leg.

Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson, said: “It will be an exciting game and I’m sure our public will enjoy it. To score two goals and not concede any is a difficult task but I’ve certainly seen stranger things happen in my time in football.”

“Getting back to just 2-1 down, I thought we were reasonably placed. It was in our hands then. But to concede again, and in added-on time in the first half, really killed us. It was a bad goal to concede.”

“We have had a lot of games and maybe there was an element of fatigue tonight. Perhaps we weren’t as sprightly as we have been in some of our games. This will certainly be a testing time for our durability but we’re not out of this competition yet. It’s not impossible.”

Juve have a very experienced and talented side and it would take a brave money to bet against them getting through this game. Fulham have to look at the positives and now focus on a league campaign, which could guarantee them European football again next season.

Things do not seem to be getting any easier as they face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. United are going for another title and must win the match in order to stay close to their main rivals.

Fulham quickly need to get over this defeat and switch their intentions back onto league focus. Hodgson is old and wise enough to realise that his side are going to have to consolidate and put their efforts into one thing sooner or later.

It is likely that this focus will be diverted into Premier League format. However, they may as well go all out to try and win the second leg of this match because it does now not really matter if they do not perform.

No one is expecting them to play Juve off the park in the second game and because of this, it will be easier for them to deal with as there will not really be any pressure on the game.

Watch this space but Fulham should now think domestically about their football. It’s been a good European run but the signs are saying that it could be about to come to an end.

Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, says that Gareth Bale has the potential to become the best left back in the entire Premier League.

Bale has managed to hold down a regular first team place in the Spurs side and has managed to create a significant impact. He is now part of the Spurs side and the manager does not see him being dropped for a long time.

Bale is also a regular international for the Wales senior side and is growing in experience and stature all the time. It could mark the start of a realising in potential that everyone has said he has for a long time.

Redknapp said: “Gareth is playing superbly, he’s been in great form. I didn’t want to shift him from the left-back position because he’s been outstanding there but we didn’t have many spare bodies at Fulham.”

“He can play wide left or left-back anyway, he can do both jobs and he was a real threat. He’s in great form and is full of confidence.”

“He’s got bigger and stronger and people forget he’s still only a young lad. He’s toughened up a lot, his attitude is stronger, he’s physically stronger, mentally stronger and he has terrific ability, pace, a great left foot – he’s got everything.”

“I think he will go on to be one of the best left-backs or left-sided players in the modern game.”

Spurs are still fighting on a number of fronts but the thing they will want more than any thing by the end of the season is to hang onto fourth place and break into the Champions League for the first time.

This will be difficult though because there are many teams who are currently trying to achieve this. Bale will play a big role in the run in if Spurs are going to get into fourth place and hold the fort.

What Bale does so well is defend from the first part of the game to the last. He then looks to try and get forward to provide another attacking outlet whenever he can. His form has started to mirror Chelsea’s Ashley Cole when he plays at his best.

Bale also has a deadly left foot, which Spurs have been using to deliver balls from free kicks and set plays. Bale would probably be the first to admit that he does not score enough goals but that will come with time and patience.

Since he made the move from Southampton, a former club of Redknapp, he has grown slowly. It is only recently that he has managed to burst into the side and make big contributions.

Whether or not he can hold this down and continue it over a longer period of time remains to be seen.

He has become a crowd favourite at White Hart Lane and there do not seem to be any signs of Bale’s form stopping just yet. Provided he stays injury free, the future is bright.

Arsene Wenger says he is hoping to draw an English team and get some revenge during the quarter final stage of the Champions League.

His Arsenal side romped to a 5-0 win over Porto last night and showed why they are still the best football side in Europe when they decide to get the ball down and play football.

Niklas Bendtner scored a hat trick as the team did not look as though there were any hang overs from the first leg defeat they suffered on a long and miserable night in the Portuguese city.

Wenger said: “I have a funny feeling that maybe it is good for us to play an English team. We have not done well against Chelsea and not done well against United this year, and it will be a good opportunity to show that we can do it against them.”

“It’s a good opportunity if we get them to show we can do well. If I had a choice I would say yes. If we get them we cannot do worse than we did in the championship, we can only do better.”

“It shows first of all how quickly football changes, but I hope it will not give him too much confidence. I’m happy for him because he had a good game on Saturday but missed chances, and today he had less chances and scored three goals.”

“It’s good for his confidence, but I hope it gives him the desire to work even harder. His confidence level is always stable. He has the size and presence we need. We’re usually a short team, so someone with size is important, offensively and defensively.”

Arsenal are a very difficult side to try and predict when they play in Europe. They are capable of performances like this but they are equally capable of falling short when teams work them out and counter attack their style of play.

Wenger may say that he wants to play an English side but deep down there will probably be a small part of him that hopes to avoid the possibility. For now they will bask in this latest glory.

Bendtner added: “Sometimes it’s one of those days [against Burnley] and today I put it right. I’m happy with my hat-trick, but tomorrow we move on.”

“It will give us a lot of confidence. We want to win the Champions League. It’s something we haven’t done. We scored all our chances today, which is very positive.”

Arsenal are still fighting for glory in the Premier League as well as Europe and there may come a point in the near future where the club have to focus on trying to win just one.

Their squad is not big enough to win both of these competitions and Porto were one of the weaker teams left in the running to lift the Champions League trophy.

Arsenal need to stay grounded after this win because it will be easy to get carried away with the score the way it was.

Things do not appear to be getting any better for Liverpool with a defeat at the hands of Wigan and a brand new controversy for Steven Gerrard.

The Liverpool captain appeared to make an insulting gesture towards referee, Andre Marriner, during the match last night after he was booked for sliding into a challenge a little too late.

Marriner talked to the player and booked him before Gerrard appeared to make a v sign at the referee while he was backing away from the incident.

It is just the thing that Rafa Benitez said recently that he was looking to avoid as he tries to gear up his side for a difficult run in to the current Premier League campaign. Liverpool’s frailties were once again exposed.

Benitez said: “I don’t know, I was too far away. We have to be really disappointed. After a defeat always you cannot be happy, but after a defeat in this way … the first half we didn’t do anything. We gave the ball away, we didn’t win any first or second ball and that is difficult to explain.”

“I think it was a question of attitude in the first half. Sometimes we played too quickly, we were in too much of a hurry. It was a poor half. In the second half there was a much better attitude, but it was not enough.”

“We had some chances but we didn’t play well. If you approach the game in this kind of way you cannot win this kind of game — or maybe any game. Everyone is very low. There are too many things we cannot understand.”

You would have to say that based on this result, Liverpool will not be playing Champions League football next season.

The point is that when big teams play well but do not score too many goals, they always manage to find a way to win the game. This often leads to a number of valuable points by the time the end of the season arrives.

Liverpool simply cannot afford any more mistakes and they will have to rely on the teams above them to make their own. The only problem is that these teams very rarely make such mistakes.

No doubt the club will let the Gerrard row wash over like water off of a duck’s back but the point is that they just do not seem to be going anywhere quickly. The club need to start winning and stay out of the headlines for all of the wrong reasons.

Wigan will be pleased that they managed to battle through a game they would have been expected to lose. Roberto Martinez has been coming under a lot of pressure himself and this will result will go a long way to acting as a pressure release valve.

Wigan need a few more points to maintain their security in the Premier League and they’ll be happy they have bagged another three and stayed out of the limelight.