I read in amazement that so many respected pundits and journalists suggested that England had no chance of regaining the Ashes without Andrew Flintoff.
Amazed largely because of how dramatically England's bowling attack has improved without Freddie, since he pulled up in Antigua during the winter.
In Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graham Onions, England have three genuine match winning fast bowlers. Add Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar, England have two spinners who are both considering more threatening than Nathan Hauritz, Australia's only real spin option.
And Tim Bresnan cannot be written off either. He showed at Chester-le-Street what he can do.
Clearly a fit Flintoff is a fantastic weapon. But to say we have no chance without him is absurd indeed.
Monday 25 May 2009
Ollie ole ole ole
While gutted for Tony Parkes, the journalist in me is delighted that the new Blackpool manager is Ian Holloway. A dream of a person to interview and a man who adds so much colour to football.
The first time I ever covered a match from the press box was Holloway's QPR at Leeds a few years ago for London paper, The Ealing Times.
QPR had lost 2-0 but included six loanees. When asked for his opinion of his side's performance, Holloway replied "I'm proud of my Queens Park Strangers".
Welcome back Ollie!
The first time I ever covered a match from the press box was Holloway's QPR at Leeds a few years ago for London paper, The Ealing Times.
QPR had lost 2-0 but included six loanees. When asked for his opinion of his side's performance, Holloway replied "I'm proud of my Queens Park Strangers".
Welcome back Ollie!
Shear lunacy
I won't say much about Newcastle other than to point out how ridiculous it proved appointing Alan Shearer as caretaker manager.
Shearer may well have been regarded as a "Messiah" (just like Keegan, and Ant and Dec according to a banner at Villa Park yesterday) but on a reported £250,000 a game he represented hopeless value for money. Mike Ashley is known for blowing money - he has lost millions on trips to casinos. But he will have lost even more, thanks to his biggest gamble of them all.
It takes years for people to be top class managers. Martin O'Neill, whose Villa side ultimately relegated Newcastle, spent eight years managing Grantham Town, Shepshed Charterhouse and Wycombe Wanderers before getting his first "big" job at Norwich City in 1995.
You can't stick in an unknown at such a crucial change. Ashley and Newcastle have paid a massive price for living in a fairytale world.
Shearer may well have been regarded as a "Messiah" (just like Keegan, and Ant and Dec according to a banner at Villa Park yesterday) but on a reported £250,000 a game he represented hopeless value for money. Mike Ashley is known for blowing money - he has lost millions on trips to casinos. But he will have lost even more, thanks to his biggest gamble of them all.
It takes years for people to be top class managers. Martin O'Neill, whose Villa side ultimately relegated Newcastle, spent eight years managing Grantham Town, Shepshed Charterhouse and Wycombe Wanderers before getting his first "big" job at Norwich City in 1995.
You can't stick in an unknown at such a crucial change. Ashley and Newcastle have paid a massive price for living in a fairytale world.
Thursday 21 May 2009
Ful marks
14 months ago Fulham seemed certainties for the drop down to the Championship. Roy "Woy" Hodgson had come in but made little difference to the West London club's fortunes.
Hodgson was so desperate that he even cried at a press conference. But then things clicked. A fantastic win at Reading kick-started their season, and wins against Man City, Birmingham and Portsmouth gave Fulham an unlikely escape.
Now, Fulham only need to beat Everton at Craven Cottage on Sunday to guarantee a spot in the new Europa League.
Hodgson has re-built Fulham with a strong emphasis on defence. And you get the impression (with his international pedigree), he will treat Europe seriously.
I may sound mad saying this but I believe Hodgson would make a fantastic future manager of England.
Hodgson was so desperate that he even cried at a press conference. But then things clicked. A fantastic win at Reading kick-started their season, and wins against Man City, Birmingham and Portsmouth gave Fulham an unlikely escape.
Now, Fulham only need to beat Everton at Craven Cottage on Sunday to guarantee a spot in the new Europa League.
Hodgson has re-built Fulham with a strong emphasis on defence. And you get the impression (with his international pedigree), he will treat Europe seriously.
I may sound mad saying this but I believe Hodgson would make a fantastic future manager of England.
Special K
Well done to Anne Keothavong who has become the first British woman since Jo Durie in 1983 (the year of my birth!) to reach a WTA clay court semi-final.
For years an also ran, Keothavong's improvement has been dramatic over the last 18 months. She ended 2007, as the world no 122 but has made a massive jump. She will return to the World's top 50 after this success.
Suddenly things are starting to look more rosy for British tennis.
For years an also ran, Keothavong's improvement has been dramatic over the last 18 months. She ended 2007, as the world no 122 but has made a massive jump. She will return to the World's top 50 after this success.
Suddenly things are starting to look more rosy for British tennis.
Wednesday 20 May 2009
No place like Rome
English football fans seem to always experience problems when travelling to Rome.
I can remember back to 1997 when England played Italy in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Trouble in the ground, attacks by police. Problems have continued throughout the years of Champions League football, particularly involving Manchester United and Arsenal.
It has prompted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to issue warnings and suggest "no-go" areas for United fans when they visit Rome for the Champions League final with Barcelona next Wednesday.
Just a thought but if a Western-city like Rome is so unsafe, what on earth are Uefa doing holding the final there?
I can remember back to 1997 when England played Italy in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Trouble in the ground, attacks by police. Problems have continued throughout the years of Champions League football, particularly involving Manchester United and Arsenal.
It has prompted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to issue warnings and suggest "no-go" areas for United fans when they visit Rome for the Champions League final with Barcelona next Wednesday.
Just a thought but if a Western-city like Rome is so unsafe, what on earth are Uefa doing holding the final there?
Born Lew-sor
As former cricketer Chris Lewis starts a 13-year jail sentence today for smuggling cocaine, the IPL is about to come to close for another year and the Twenty20 World Cup about to start in England.
Lewis' style of bowling and batting would have been ideal for Twenty20. By today's standards the rewards Lewis got financially during his career were limited. One possible (inexcusable) reason for turning to crime.
With cricketers earning £100,000 a week in some circumstances, I bet Lewis wishes he was born 10 or 15 years later.
A sad state of affairs.
Lewis' style of bowling and batting would have been ideal for Twenty20. By today's standards the rewards Lewis got financially during his career were limited. One possible (inexcusable) reason for turning to crime.
With cricketers earning £100,000 a week in some circumstances, I bet Lewis wishes he was born 10 or 15 years later.
A sad state of affairs.
Tuesday 19 May 2009
Jim fixes it
I was at Chester-le-Street for the final day of the second test with the West Indies yesterday and despite the match being over in a flash (just 22 overs), I thoroughly enjoyed some absorbing cricket.
With all the talk about how Twenty20 cricket would take over, I witnessed some fantastic test match swing bowling, particularly from Jimmy Anderson. The Burnley Express has really come on of late, swinging the ball both ways, and he is part of a much improved bowling attack that gives England every chance in the Ashes.
And another thought. Many of my Sunday press colleagues talked about how test cricket is dying. I cannot see that happening.
One of the joys of cricket is the battle between bat and ball. Twenty20 cricket is purely about scoring runs, not taking wickets. And sooner or later, the novelty will wear off.
With all the talk about how Twenty20 cricket would take over, I witnessed some fantastic test match swing bowling, particularly from Jimmy Anderson. The Burnley Express has really come on of late, swinging the ball both ways, and he is part of a much improved bowling attack that gives England every chance in the Ashes.
And another thought. Many of my Sunday press colleagues talked about how test cricket is dying. I cannot see that happening.
One of the joys of cricket is the battle between bat and ball. Twenty20 cricket is purely about scoring runs, not taking wickets. And sooner or later, the novelty will wear off.
Gutted for Tony
Tony Parkes became a caretaker manager for the seventh time in his career when he took charge at Blackpool in December. After leading the Seasiders to safety, he seemed sure to at last get full time responsibility for the first time.
But Parkes, six times caretaker boss at his beloved Blackburn Rovers, has left Bloomfield Road to spend more time with his family. One feels there may be more to it than that with reported disagreements with his board.
I am genuinely disappointed that Parkes is not staying on. It has been a pleasure interviewing him this season - he is one of the nicest men in the game and football deserves more people like him.
But Parkes, six times caretaker boss at his beloved Blackburn Rovers, has left Bloomfield Road to spend more time with his family. One feels there may be more to it than that with reported disagreements with his board.
I am genuinely disappointed that Parkes is not staying on. It has been a pleasure interviewing him this season - he is one of the nicest men in the game and football deserves more people like him.
Wednesday 13 May 2009
The real manager of the year
On 16 August 2008, Burnley were soundly beaten 3-0 at home by Ipswich Town. It was only the second Saturday of the season and already the Clarets were in freefall (unlike the parachutist who caused that game to be delayed by an hour after he landed on the away end roof delivering the matchball).
Burnley were an accident waiting to happen that day. Lacking ideas in attack and looking schoolboy at times at the back, Owen Coyle's side seemed certainties in my mind for a long season of struggle.
But quite incredibly, Burnley are one game away from the Premier League after one of the greatest seasons in the their history.
The comprehensive 3-0 aggregate win over Reading in the Championship play-off semi-final was fully deserved. It followed a devastatingly late moment of anguish against Tottenham in the Carling Cup after Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal had been beaten in earlier rounds (Arsenal were to get their revenge in the FA Cup ending another heroic cup run).
Most significantly, Coyle has shown a trust in his side. He has used just 23 players all season. It is a side full of team players. There are no real standout men, but a set of lads determined to do well for themselves with the resources at their disposal.
Interestingly, 10 of the 11 Burnley players who started against Ipswich, featured in the second leg with Reading. Only the injured Stephen Jordan missed out.
While Manager of the Year contenders Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez and Guus Hiddink enjoy the rotation policy, it is clear that a settled side has worked wonders for Coyle, who has arguably achieved far more.
These Premier League managers will wax lyrical about how too many games is damaging for their sides. Yet, the play-off final against Sheffield United will be Burnley's 61st match of the campaign.
And what fitting reward it would be, if Coyle's hard-working side can get their chance to take on Fergie, Rafa et al in the Premier League next season.
Burnley were an accident waiting to happen that day. Lacking ideas in attack and looking schoolboy at times at the back, Owen Coyle's side seemed certainties in my mind for a long season of struggle.
But quite incredibly, Burnley are one game away from the Premier League after one of the greatest seasons in the their history.
The comprehensive 3-0 aggregate win over Reading in the Championship play-off semi-final was fully deserved. It followed a devastatingly late moment of anguish against Tottenham in the Carling Cup after Fulham, Chelsea and Arsenal had been beaten in earlier rounds (Arsenal were to get their revenge in the FA Cup ending another heroic cup run).
Most significantly, Coyle has shown a trust in his side. He has used just 23 players all season. It is a side full of team players. There are no real standout men, but a set of lads determined to do well for themselves with the resources at their disposal.
Interestingly, 10 of the 11 Burnley players who started against Ipswich, featured in the second leg with Reading. Only the injured Stephen Jordan missed out.
While Manager of the Year contenders Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez and Guus Hiddink enjoy the rotation policy, it is clear that a settled side has worked wonders for Coyle, who has arguably achieved far more.
These Premier League managers will wax lyrical about how too many games is damaging for their sides. Yet, the play-off final against Sheffield United will be Burnley's 61st match of the campaign.
And what fitting reward it would be, if Coyle's hard-working side can get their chance to take on Fergie, Rafa et al in the Premier League next season.
Tuesday 12 May 2009
What a plonker
Given they hail from Only Fools and Horses country, it seems fitting that Millwall Football Club are behaving like a right bunch of wallies.
Saturday's match between their great friends Leeds United was a recipe for trouble. And trouble was exactly what they got.
The press coverage seemed fair enough from the snippets and TV footage I saw. Monday's Daily Express even had a picture of a Millwall fan on the pitch throwing a cigarette lighter. As you do.
So it amused me no end to see this press release on the Millwall Official Website. It was a rant at "the highly sensationalised reportage of Saturday's game" from sections of the media. The final line reminding us "journalists and the media have a duty to play their part by reporting factually and responsibily" actually made me laugh out loud.
Why? Because the plonker that had written it had said earlier: "There was no pitch invasion, as has been reported in some newspapers."
Coverage on YouTube begs to differ. They really don't help themselves at times.
Saturday's match between their great friends Leeds United was a recipe for trouble. And trouble was exactly what they got.
The press coverage seemed fair enough from the snippets and TV footage I saw. Monday's Daily Express even had a picture of a Millwall fan on the pitch throwing a cigarette lighter. As you do.
So it amused me no end to see this press release on the Millwall Official Website. It was a rant at "the highly sensationalised reportage of Saturday's game" from sections of the media. The final line reminding us "journalists and the media have a duty to play their part by reporting factually and responsibily" actually made me laugh out loud.
Why? Because the plonker that had written it had said earlier: "There was no pitch invasion, as has been reported in some newspapers."
Coverage on YouTube begs to differ. They really don't help themselves at times.
Monday 11 May 2009
There's more to life than the Premier League
Those of you who know me will realise I'm a bit of a traditionalist. I also care very much about the way football is portrayed.
And I am sick and tired with the Premier League dominance over the rest. The Premier League was formed in 1992 as a breakaway from the old traditional Football League structure. Greedy clubs wanted more money. They have certainly got that - at the expense of the rest.
Things have really come to a head now. Sky and Setanta's petty rivalry has also become a Football League v Premier League war. Sky screen Football League matches at the same time as Setanta's coverage of Premier League matches. To most neutral fans, there really is no choice over which game to watch - and once again the Football League becomes marginalised.
Things got worse this week. Sky's coverage of the "title race" (even thought it was already won in February, Paddy Power told me) meant that they clashed the Manchester derby and Bury v Shrewsbury in the League Two play-off semi-final. It would be interesting to note the viewing figures.
Tonight sees Newcastle v Middlesbrough in a pivotal Premier League relegation battle on Setanta, while Sheffield United v Preston on Sky is of similar importance at the top of the Championship (or Football League Division Two in old money). Living in Preston, I expect most pubs to show the Tyne-Tees derbv ahead of coverage of their local team. Which just about sums up the way the Premier League has completely changed the football landscape.
The ludicrous talk about forming a second Premier League, muted by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, is also utterly bizarre. Why not have a four division Football League, splitting TV money more fairly and more organised?
And as pointed out by my former lecturer Charlie Lambert, historical records about players are being forgotten about. Charlie says: "Before last Saturday's match between Everton and Tottenham we were all informed that if the current Everton keeper, Tim Howard, kept a clean sheet he would set a new Premier League record of 16 shut-outs in one season for the
club."
Like Charlie, I couldn't care less about that statistic. Football existed long before Sky and the Premier League and will continue long after Premier League fans get bored with their matches every week (I can count the number of genuinely exciting PL matches I've seen this season on one hand).
The best league in the world? Do me a favour.
And I am sick and tired with the Premier League dominance over the rest. The Premier League was formed in 1992 as a breakaway from the old traditional Football League structure. Greedy clubs wanted more money. They have certainly got that - at the expense of the rest.
Things have really come to a head now. Sky and Setanta's petty rivalry has also become a Football League v Premier League war. Sky screen Football League matches at the same time as Setanta's coverage of Premier League matches. To most neutral fans, there really is no choice over which game to watch - and once again the Football League becomes marginalised.
Things got worse this week. Sky's coverage of the "title race" (even thought it was already won in February, Paddy Power told me) meant that they clashed the Manchester derby and Bury v Shrewsbury in the League Two play-off semi-final. It would be interesting to note the viewing figures.
Tonight sees Newcastle v Middlesbrough in a pivotal Premier League relegation battle on Setanta, while Sheffield United v Preston on Sky is of similar importance at the top of the Championship (or Football League Division Two in old money). Living in Preston, I expect most pubs to show the Tyne-Tees derbv ahead of coverage of their local team. Which just about sums up the way the Premier League has completely changed the football landscape.
The ludicrous talk about forming a second Premier League, muted by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, is also utterly bizarre. Why not have a four division Football League, splitting TV money more fairly and more organised?
And as pointed out by my former lecturer Charlie Lambert, historical records about players are being forgotten about. Charlie says: "Before last Saturday's match between Everton and Tottenham we were all informed that if the current Everton keeper, Tim Howard, kept a clean sheet he would set a new Premier League record of 16 shut-outs in one season for the
club."
Like Charlie, I couldn't care less about that statistic. Football existed long before Sky and the Premier League and will continue long after Premier League fans get bored with their matches every week (I can count the number of genuinely exciting PL matches I've seen this season on one hand).
The best league in the world? Do me a favour.
Wednesday 6 May 2009
What a shocker
I rarely defend any of the big four but it is a total disgrace that Darren Fletcher will miss the Champions League final.
Uefa have confirmed that teams cannot appeal against sending offs so Fletcher's red card for winning the ball off Cesc Fabregas in last night's match against Arsenal stands.
So a ludicrous decision has been made worse by the failure of the authorities to admit a mistake has been made and rectify it accordingly?
Darren Fletcher must be absolutely gutted.
Uefa have confirmed that teams cannot appeal against sending offs so Fletcher's red card for winning the ball off Cesc Fabregas in last night's match against Arsenal stands.
So a ludicrous decision has been made worse by the failure of the authorities to admit a mistake has been made and rectify it accordingly?
Darren Fletcher must be absolutely gutted.
Tuesday 5 May 2009
Roll on the summer
When I was a kid, I used to hate the first week in May. It meant no more proper football for three months and a summer of wondering what to do with myself.
But having attended close to 100 matches again this season (most in a working capacity), I feel the end of the season has come at just the right time.
Yes, football is pretty much the be all and end all of the UK sports media. But too much = overkill. And just as I was this time last year, I'm drained by the very mention of it.
So what will I be doing over the summer? I will be at Wimbledon again for the Official Wimbledon Website and pitching for other work on cricket and tennis.
And maybe getting a little bit of rest. Because the pre-season friendlies start second week in July!
But having attended close to 100 matches again this season (most in a working capacity), I feel the end of the season has come at just the right time.
Yes, football is pretty much the be all and end all of the UK sports media. But too much = overkill. And just as I was this time last year, I'm drained by the very mention of it.
So what will I be doing over the summer? I will be at Wimbledon again for the Official Wimbledon Website and pitching for other work on cricket and tennis.
And maybe getting a little bit of rest. Because the pre-season friendlies start second week in July!
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