{"id":309462,"date":"2017-04-10T11:32:12","date_gmt":"2017-04-10T11:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=309462"},"modified":"2017-04-10T11:32:12","modified_gmt":"2017-04-10T11:32:12","slug":"quaos-monday-moanings-kotoko-pulls-trigger-on-luga-epl-cat-and-mouse-triple-double-westbrook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/04\/quaos-monday-moanings-kotoko-pulls-trigger-on-luga-epl-cat-and-mouse-triple-double-westbrook\/","title":{"rendered":"QUAO\u2019s Monday Moanings: Kotoko pulls trigger on Luga, EPL cat and mouse, Triple double Westbrook"},"content":{"rendered":"
Citi Sports<\/strong> editor Nathan Quao returns with his column and this week, he takes a quizzical look at Asante Kotoko axing of head coach Zdravko Lugarusic, Chelsea and Spurs\u2019 contest in the Premier League and new triple double king of the NBA, Russell Westbrook.<\/p>\n Lugarusic \u2018guillotined\u2019 by Kotoko<\/strong><\/p>\n After playing 11 matches in the Ghana Premier League and placing second place on the league table, Asante Kotoko decided it was time for the \u2018union\u2019 with Croat coach Zdravko Lugarusic to come to an end.<\/p>\n I was stunned but at the same time, I was not surprised at all. The Porcupine Warriors enjoy reprising roles as a team which loves chaos. It may sound harsh and uncharitable but if these things have happened consistently over the last three seasons, one can safely say that it is part of the team\u2019s character.<\/p>\n The latest episode played out in very similar fashion to the ones from years gone by.<\/p>\n Fan unhappiness, training disruptions, a bad match and the plug is pulled.<\/p>\n Of course, fans have every right to ask for good results and good performances. They pay to watch the team and so, they need to be satisfied, but what happened to supporting the coach and the people who have trusted with your team?<\/p>\n Do they not deserve to be given time to diagnose the problems and then proceed to find a cure?<\/p>\n Masud Dramani, David Duncan, and Michael Osei were jettisoned because the fans were unhappy and now, Lugarusic is the latest name to that \u2018roll of honour\u2019.<\/p>\n So who is to blame? Everyone.<\/p>\n The fans are guilty of not being patient with the coach who was employed just before the league season started.<\/p>\n The results were not good but instead of looking for daggers to draw at the coach, it was perhaps time to pause and ask if the team was really that good and whether the rest of the league had improved.<\/p>\n The management is culpable for not letting fans know that there was no need to have very lofty expectations. The gaffer had just been brought in and he and the players would have to find chemistry. Some will say eleven games are enough to get a coach to see where his team is headed but sometimes, teams need\u00a0longer periods to gel.<\/p>\n Maybe Lugarusic was to be given some more time to chart his path.<\/p>\n Lugarusic himself set up this divorce and he has paid the ultimate price.<\/p>\n I wonder why he did not often set the team to play on the front foot in their matches. How were they ever going to win games when the unit had 7 defenders starting?<\/p>\n In football, teams make their own luck and the Porcupine Warriors had every right to go and win matches. They had a very experienced forward in Yakubu Mohammed and so, there was the need to play to his strengths.<\/p>\n He could have guided the team to play well even when the results were absent and with time, the chips would have fallen for them but he chose to do things differently and he is now jobless.<\/p>\n It is all gone now and the team will have to find a new substantive head coach and maybe go on this roller coaster again.<\/p>\n War of London for Premier League glory<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n After following the weekend\u2019s Premier League coverage (which was live on Citi 97.3 FM), I was really impressed with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.<\/p>\n The teams have a championship winning vibes about them and they showed it in their respective matches.<\/p>\n Spurs made their own luck against Watford and they were brilliant at it. They did not show any sign of weaknesses in Harry Kane\u2019s absence (he was on the bench after returning from an ankle injury). Dele Alli was very good on the day and in fact, for a large part of the season but my takeaway was Son Heung Min\u2019s display.<\/p>\n His running was good but his hunger for goals is very remarkable. He got two goals and he was visibly disappointed when he had to exit the game without adding more goals.<\/p>\n