I’ve never seen a player work so hard

I’ve never seen a player work so hard.”For Akinbiyi, the effort is worth it. “When I first arrived here I came off the training pitch with a smile on my face,” he said. “Even the international players like Tim Flowers [who was named as the Premiership Player of the Month this week] made you feel like you were their equal.”For Taylor, such team spirit is everything. “We’ve got a set of honest, hard-working players with good ability,” the manager said “It’s a real team effort, no doubt. Following Martin [O'Neill] is not an easy task, but it’s lovely for the players what’s happened so far.”Watch the players train, with Taylor in their midst, and you understand – from his encouragement during crossing practice to his players’ almost grateful acceptance of a set of press-ups at the end of the session – why his name is high on the list as a potential England manager. And why, despite having known him just a few months, Akinbiyi already rates Taylor as one of the most influential people in his career.”A lot of managers are very serious characters, 24-7, but he’s a lot more laid back,” Akinbiyi said. “He believes in me and now he’s going to get the best out of me.”.

Liverpool have agreed a deal with Dynamo Zagreb for the Croatian international Igor Biscan. The 22-year-old midfielder was impressive as a second-half substitute in the 1-1 draw with Scotland on Wednesday and the Anfield club’s manager, Gÿrard Houllier, is delighted to have clinched a deal for the £7m-rated player. Liverpool have agreed a deal with Dynamo Zagreb for the Croatian international Igor Biscan. The 22-year-old midfielder was impressive as a second-half substitute in the 1-1 draw with Scotland on Wednesday and the Anfield club’s manager, Gÿrard Houllier, is delighted to have clinched a deal for the £7m-rated player.
Biscan will arrive at Anfield in December, during the mid-winter break in the Croatian season. Liverpool have beaten off several top European clubs to persuade Biscan to move to Anfield, and Houllier is pleased with his latest piece of transfer business.”I am delighted to say things have now moved on significantly,” Houllier said “We’ve reached an agreement with his club. We now hope he will join us at the end of his current season with Zagreb which is in December. We will be delighted to have him, especially as so many other top European clubs were interested.

We’ve been watching him for a long time.”He is a versatile footballer as he showed against Scotland when he played on the right side of midfield. But I see him as a defensive midfielder.”Across Stanley Park, the former England Under-21 captain Michael Ball is ready to follow Richard Dunne out of Everton, with the Coventry manager, Gordon Strachan, attempting to sign him. Ball is out of favour at Goodison Park after a series of fall-outs with Walter Smith and Strachan is prepared to offer £2m.Ball and Dunne upset Smith after the Worthington Cup defeat at Bristol Rovers, accusing them of “joking” on the coach after the match. Ball is out of Everton’s plans with the Scotland left-back Gary Naysmith joining them from Hearts in a 1.7m deal. He underwent a medical yesterday.Dunne is meanwhile being linked with a £3m move to Manchester City, although Charlton are also bidding. Dunne is keen to stay in the North-west but Charlton could yet offer him better personal terms. However, City remain confident of securing the deal.Everton won the right to bring the Israeli winger Idan Tal into the Premiership when his work permit was finally granted yesterday.Tal, from Maccabi Petah Tikva, had his first application for a work permit turned down after Everton’s interest began six months ago.