Carlos Queiroz's move home from Manchester United has not gone well. Phil Town reports on a national team suddenly in crisis

Despite a series of nearly-got-theres during five years as Portugal coach, by the summer of 2008 Luiz Felipe Scolari had overstayed his welcome and wanted out to lusher pastures. Perhaps seduced by his two successive World Cup wins at Under-20 level (1989 and ’91) and by his association with Manchester United’s successes in recent years, but apparently ignoring his indifferent previous spell as national coach (ten wins from 23 games between 1991 and ’93), the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) put their faith in the Mozambique-born Carlos ­Queiroz, at the time a popular choice. 

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There's a new man at the helm at Arsenal, and he's all the way from the US of A. Ian Plenderleith checks out Ivan Gazidis

Those questioning the appointment of Arsenal’s new chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who comes directly to the club from his post as Major League Soccer’s deputy commissioner, may see it as a risky move from a small-time league on a tight budget into the big-time world of football’s rich elite. Those who have seen Gazidis at work over the past decade will take the more generous view that Arsenal have landed an intelligent and articulate man largely responsible for steering MLS from near-bankruptcy to being an expanding, viable concern. With Arsenal at a crucial juncture both as a football club and a sports business, the steadily radical Gazidis could be the perfect fit.

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Some retired footballers go into management, but for many lazing on the cosy pundits' sofa is irresistible. Harry Pearson observes

Back in the 1960s, commentators such as Kenneth Wolstenholme and Huw Johns effectively spent 90 minutes on Saturday afternoon talking to themselves: “Now I wonder what United can come up with in response to that?” They would probe, before replying, after a brief pause: “This boy Brown looks like he may have half an idea!”

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In May, St Andrew’s and the Madejski were cloaked in relegation doom. Now the hope of automatic promotion – with the play-off anxiety that accompanies that prospect – suffuses the meeting between the teams second and third in the Championship. Are they about to swap places? Roger Titford was there

Only an idiot or a football manager would say this was just another game, just another three points.  It stands like a giant sign post, the opening game of the second half of the Championship season, a potential turning point.  Birmingham City have occupied one of the automatic promotion spots from the off but they are beginning to splutter, trailing Wolves by six points. Reading are now only one behind the Blues. Both clubs were relegated from the Premier League last season and both are desperate to get back up before the parachute money runs out and they fall to parsimonious ignominy with a dull thud. It is second versus third in a three-horse race where only the first two get decent prizes and it is being run at an exceptional pace. We’re all off to witness and feel “momentum shift”. If I just wanted to see what happens I’d be better off at home watching it on Sky with my cough. But I’m making a rare away trip, despite Sky, because Reading will need every voice and body we can get in the stadium.

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Clubs such as Plymouth need new fans to grow, but regulars don't always welcome them. Josh Widdicombe reports on the divisions a Cup tie caused

Like any fan of a club that has no chance of winning the FA Cup would be, I was delighted when Plymouth Argyle were drawn away to Arsenal in the third round this season. While no one more than me enjoys saying they have little time for the Big Four and their smug world of Super Sunday’s and big European nights, I was soon getting excited about visiting the Emirates, with all its leg room and upper-circle views. It felt like being asked out on a date by someone unspeakably annoying but unbelievably attractive; you know it is wrong but you just can’t help but be delighted.

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