Sport 08/28/2010
Sport 08/14/2010
As the Premier League kicks-off for another season, I'm reminded of my blog immediately prior to the start of the World Cup in South Africa a few weeks ago........ "Barely ten minutes before they kick off their game against the USA, I want to put it on record that I would be a lot more comfortable about England's chances in the tournament if the media had put a little less pressure on the team. Their constant intrusion impeded the players' preparation instead of helping them." Looking back, I'm rather proud of how prescient my remarks may have been. Few would dispute that (at least) one of the reasons for England's poor performance was the aforementioned pressure which the press and media put on the players - not to mention the manager. Furthermore, that point of view could still be applied today - because, in my opinion, sports reporters seem to spend more time expressing an opinion than doing what they're supposed to do - and that is reporting. I know I've asked this question previously - but, if they are so damned clever, why have no journalists put themselves forward to manage football teams. It's true that some of the more informed members of the media (usually former players) have had opportunities to manage. However, perhaps they were not prepared to put up with the entirely unjustified influence the press seem to have and, without wishing to demean them unecessarily (the ex-players, not the press), they may have had the good sense to realise that it's a lot easier to be wise (and be seen to be wise) after the event. Sport 07/16/2010
I've just read what I thought was a thoroughly disgraceful article by a mediocre journalist who - like many of his ilk - is trying to impress elements of the public who don't appreciate Emile Heskey's contribution to English football by pouring scorn of his achievements. Fortunately, thanks to the integrity of people who know a lot more about association football than this reporter (i.e. successive managers of the England team) Heskey's record of unstinting and unselfish endeavour for every team he has ever played for speaks louder - and with more relevance - than anything the press could ever hope to achieve. Sport 06/14/2010
Following my recent remark about the effect they might have on the players prior to The World Cup, I'm reminded that I have, for some time, wondered why no member of the media (in particular, the gutter press) have put themselves forward to be manager of the England team. I'm quite serious about this, by the way, because almost all of them seem to have had the answer to every problem once it has occurred; and that's the point "once it has occurred". Anyone can be wise after the event. Analysis of their forecasting skills, however, reveals that very few of them are much good when it come to giving an accurate prediction. Is it any wonder they are held in such contempt by almost everyone. Sport 06/12/2010
Barely ten minutes before they kick off their game against the USA, I want to put it on record that I would be a lot more comfortable about England's chances in the tournament if the media had put a little less pressure on the team. Their constant intrusion impeded the players' preparation instead of helping them. Sport 05/15/2010
For someone born and, for some time, raised in Liverpool it hasn't been easy to accept that both my sons support Chelsea Football Club. I suppose it could be claimed that there are mitigating circumstances in the fact that, although there are some clubs on the fringes of where they were born in The Peak District, there are no significant teams actually in the region to which they could pledge territorial allegiance. However, declaring affection for a team as far away as the capital (and, in so doing, by the way, ignoring the ancestral claim of my father's side, Tottenham Hotspur) is hard to bear. Anyway, those are the facts and I have to live with them and, if I'm honest, it's hard to deny that the 'glamour boys' of the Chelsea side of the seventies (when my boys were growing up***) did have a certain appeal. Today, Chelsea play Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final and, for my generation, there are elements of the encounter which re-ignite the magic which used to be associated with the occasion - which, by the way, was extremely significant in the past. In the sixties and seventies, for example, Cup Final day was (I believe) the only Saturday of the whole year where BSM driving instructors were allowed to have the day off so they could watch it on TV. So far as today's match is concerned, however, the 'magic' factor is a consequence of the extremes of fortune the two participants have experienced in recent times. Chelsea are one of the richest clubs in the world. Portsmouth, on the other hand, are in the hands of The Receiver and facing bankruptcy. This is quite a sad situation which, to a large extent in my opinion, can be attributed to The Football Association. Since the sport started to become organised, generations ago, the football season - i.e. the matches played throughout the winter months - was administered by The Football League. At the same time, the organisation responsible for selecting the county's international side, The Football Association, operated a knock-out competition which culminated in the Cup Final - at Wembley Stadium, more often than not. However, in the early nineties, by taking (some might say, stealing) what had previously been known as the First Division out of the Football League, The English Premier League was formed - paradoxically, by The Football Association. In the meantime, it has prospered to such an extent that it is considered by many to be the most successful in the world. However, this has not been without cost - as has been demonstrated by Portsmouth FC's current situation. Put in very simplistic terms, professional football has become a commercial operation. Furthermore, from being a national pastime, it has become a global business of mind-blowing proportions. Sadly, this has resulted in significant changes to the game - both on and off the pitch. Insofar as the players are concerned, a combination of the introduction of foreign players and the financial incentives associated with success has led to an increase in practices which border on downright cheating. From the supporters' perspective, meeting the aforementioned financial gains for the players has resulted in enormously increased costs at the turnstiles. As I've mentioned elsewhere in this blog, from a personal point of view, the game has become less attractive than it used to be. In fact, so far as watching it on TV is concerned, given the option of Rugby Union, I'm becoming inclined towards the latter. That said, it is the Cup Final, after all; so, I shall be watching it. Not that this will impress my sons too much; because - apart from a natural reaction to their disloyalty - in the good old British tradition of supporting the under-dog, my sympathies will be with the supporters of the side from the south coast. *** In compiling this blog, I'm reminded that, for each of the boys' ninth birthdays, I drove them down to London to visit the Chelsea football stadium at Stamford Bridge. Apart from a pilgrimage to the ground, one of the reasons for the journey was to spend some time explaining the facts of life to them. My own experience was that I had been pretty badly served in this respect and I was determined the same shouldn't happen to my own sons. After one of the trips, my wife casually asked one of the boys (they know which one) if he learned anything of interest.To which she received the reply, "Oh, it was pretty much what we're taught at school - except that dad made up some pretty revolting stuff." Going on from that story, I recall attending a meeting where parents were being asked for their views on how, what, and whether sexual education would be allowed at that particular school. In particular, I remember that the only objection was from an extremely religious woman who was concerned that none of the 'ladies' in the more explicit drawings were wearing wedding rings. How times have changed! Sport 05/11/2010
STOP PRESS: Sensational rumours are beginning to emerge that Manchester United football club are refusing to relinquish The English Premier League title. In a further development, Arsene Wenge and Pat Rice, of Arsenal (who came a distant third), are reported to have spent the weekend negotiating with Roman Abramovich and Carlo Ancelotti of Chelsea (who actually won most points) with a view to sharing the trophy in return for certain concessions. In the meantime, however, unknown to the Chelsea bosses, Sesc Fabricas, Sol Campbell, and Theo Walcott have been holding secret discussions with Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney about the possibility of forming a rainbow alliance with newly promoted Stevenage Borough FC, Glasgow Rangers, Linfield, and TN Saints (formerly Oswestry Town and Llansantffraid FCs). Sir Alex Ferguson, who revealed the talks in a hastily arranged news conference outside Old Trafford, also announced that (for the good of the beautiful game) he intended to resign his position of team manager. However, in order to allow a successor to be selected, he would remain in office until the start of the next season. In all of these quite extraordinary events, there is no evidence to suggest that a single season-ticket or shareholder has been consulted. Sport 04/16/2010
Sport 04/15/2010
Twenty-one years ago, ninety-six supporters of Liverpool Football Club died at Hiilsborough, Sheffield. Here is a harrowing account of those events and a review of what has happened since..... http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/brian-reade/Hillsborough-Brian-Reade-on-the-day-that-changed-football-forever-article40926.html Sport 03/21/2010
Not for the first time, a comment on Twitter has got me thinking about something which has been simmering at the back of my mind for some time. On this occasion the subject was Association Football - or soccer, as our cousins across the pond call it. When I returned to Liverpool, after WW2, I was surprised to discover that there were actually two major football teams in the city. Throughout the war, I knew I was born in Liverpool; so, I always listened for their result on the wireless each Saturday tea time. However, in much the same way that I didn't know that Arsenal, for example, was in London or that Aston Villa was in Birmingham, I hadn't known where Everton was. Although, in those days it was almost de rigueur to support ones local team, it may come as shock to many of today's fans to learn that in larger cities with more than one team, religion remained a factor in deciding where ones allegiance lay. Conveniently, having been raised by my non-conformist grandparents, Anfield was my spiritual home, anyway. Turning, now, to the earlier Twitter comment. It was about Sir Alex Ferguson referring to today's game at Old Trafford as a 'derby'. Now, this is clearly wrong because, in the same way that Man U's derby should be against Man City, the only derby LFC are ever involved in is with Everton. Interestingly, however - and it's fair to assume that a former Glasgow Rangers player would know this - the same religious divides apply. Anyway, putting that aside, I'm reminded of how intense the rivalry could be on Merseyside during a derby match. At the same, however, it was almost always good-humoured. Hardly surprising really, because Liverpool was renowned for producing comedians - Rob Wilton, Tommy Handley, Ken Dodd, and Jimmy Tarbuck, to mention but a few of the older ones. Somehow, this good-humour seemed to be reflected in the manner in which the rivalry between the two sets of Merseyside fans was manifested. Supporters of whichever side was the more dominant would be far more likely to laugh and make fun of their rivals than demean them unecessarily. Good-humour, however, isn't something which many would associate with the Man U manager. Envy, on the other hand, is - as illustrated in 1986, when he declared his intention of "knocking LFC off their perch." Sadly, these characteristics are reflected in many of those who support his team. Mutual respect seems to be beyond their understanding and, instead of laughter, sneering is a more common method of communicating with opponents. It's quite rare to hear of a Man U fan complimenting a rival team. This is sad. In another Twitter post, yesterday, I alluded to the fact that my interest in Association Football is waning and that Rugby Union is becoming far more attractive. I wonder how much of what I've expressed in the previous few paragraphs have contributed towards these feelings? Having said that, there are other issues about 'the beautiful game' which leave a lot to be desired and, perhaps, I'll get around to mentioning those before too long. | Welcome:Originally a record of a bus and coach delivery driver's experiences, this blog will now attempt to explain the effects of retirement. For example, cataloguing a collection of model vehicles. CategoriesAll |
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