Football could learn a lot from cricket
Time is precious, or so the saying goes, yet as we all know there seems to be very little afforded in football these days.
You don’t have to wait very long in any season now for owners to get nervous and take drastic measures and this is something which I think is really damaging the sport.
It would probably be going too far to say the football is being overshadowed by boardroom dramas but it would not unreasonable.
The media’s recent interest in Man City, Preston or Bolton for example is not because of their team’s captivating football but because of the changes at the helm. And like many footie fans this lack of patience granted to managers is something which, as Peter Griffin might say, really grinds my gears.
Clearly the reason owners continue to panic is because of money. Football is not just football anymore, it is a business.
I know nothing about business and nothing about owning or managing a club but I do know what it’s like to be a sports fan.
I love all sports, especially football, and I know what it’s like to be frustrated with the bureaucracy behind the scenes.
Personally I think football could do much worse than to take a leaf out of cricket’s book and be patient with its employees.
Admittedly cricket is an entirely different sport but like football it is still in the business of getting results for its fans. Yet the way it goes about this business is far more conducive in my view to being successful.
How many times have we seen an out-of-form batsman under fire for his lack of runs suddenly pull a really important innings out of the bag? Just look at Alistair Cook and Ian Bell in the second test in South Africa. Both faced calls to be axed but the England management kept faith and as a result, both provided the team with the platform to go on a win the match and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
It is impossible to say whether this season’s 52 dismissed managers would have been able to turn their club’s fortunes around but one thing which is clear is that they were not all given a chance.
Time evidently is precious and if given, can be very rewarding. Take note Hicks and Gillett.
Thomas’ coming out can break the homosexuality taboo
The reaction to Gareth Thomas’ revelation he is gay can only be positive for rugby and sport in general.
The fact Thomas has come away from his announcement with so much respect and dignity proves how ready the macho world of sport is to break the gay stereotype.
It must have been one of the hardest decisions Thomas had ever made in his life but it is arguably the most important one.
On the pitch the former Wales and Lions captain optimises the manliness of rugby. He was strong, muscular and virile and he was not afraid of confrontation.
And giving the response to his coming out this image hasn’t changed.
As a result Thomas has opened the door to many young sportsmen (and sportswomen) to be open about their sexuality. For if someone who has become their country’s most capped player to be able be honest, yet still be held in the same high esteem, just shows that being gay is no longer a burden.
It will be interesting now to see whether other sports stars follow suit and come out.
I have a feeling though that while some may take Thomas’ lead it will take a while for the taboo of homosexuality in sport to be completely forgotten.
The irony is Mancini will need time to do better than Hughes
While it may not have been a total shock to see Manchester City sack manager Mark Hughes at some point this season, the way they went about it was certainly surprising and disappointing.
In most people’s eyes Hughes had done very little wrong. Currently lying sixth in the Premier League, six points behind the champions league places but with a game in hand, it looked as if Hughes was on track to fulfil the owners’ ambitious targets.
The Eastlands club have lost just two games in the league this season, fewer than any other team, and have also reached the Carling Cup semi-final. Yet this was clearly not enough.
Hughes may well be seen as one of Britain’s most promising managers but he evidently paid the price for the lack of silverware on his CV.
He was also not the box-office name the owners want and as a result he was afforded very little time to really prove his worth.
The key question now for many City fans is whether his dismissal was the correct decision for the long-term future of the club?
I personally think in the short-term at least the club has shot itself in both feet.
There are already rumours about a player’s rebellion, something which could be extremely detrimental to the club’s form, and Mancini will need to get to know both English football and his players.
If Mancini is given the luxury of the rest of the season (time after all is rare in management these days) will he be able to achieve what his boss’s grave – a top four finish? I doubt it.
Man City may have the talent but they don’t have the experience, consistency or backroom stability to challenge for a champions league berth even with Liverpool’s dire form.
The irony here is Mancini will need time – something Hughes was not given. Instant success is rare and even when it happens (take Rafa Benitez’s 2005 Champions League win for example) it does not always mean prolonged success.
Time, that word again, will tell whether Hughes’s abrupt sacking is a good move but one thing which is certain now it that Hughes’s reputation has not suffered at all.
Is Lance Armstrong really the second greatest athlete of the past decade?
How on earth has Lance Armstrong been voted the second greatest athlete of the decade ahead of Roger Federer?
It’s an absolute joke.
How can a man who only participated in his sport for half of the last 10 years come close to the number one ranked Tiger Woods, and how can he finish above the tennis legend that is Federer?
Admittedly Armstrong ruled the cycling world for the first few years of the 21st century but can he really be classed as the best during the whole decade?
Evidently the fact that the poll in question was carried out by US sports editors worked in his favour – had it been Swiss editors then maybe Rog would have a broader smile on his face.
A point reinforced by the fact New England quarterback Tom Brady (who?) came in fifth above Jamaican phenomenon Usain Bolt.
Nonetheless there can’t be many who would question Tiger’s position as the greatest athlete of the decade (even with his recent troubles) given the man has single handedly dominated his sport since his emergence 13 years ago.
But I bet there are many non-Americans like myself, who feel Armstrong does not deserve to be recognised as the second greatest athlete of the decade. Am I right?
Who has been the best player of the season so far?
It is far too early in the season to guess who will eventually win the plaudits from both players and writers alike but here are my top five performers of the campaign so far.
5.) Richard Dunne (Aston Villa) – Man City were absolutely crazy to let such an influential figure go. After establishing himself as an icon at the club he would have brought some much need direction to a talented yet nervy back line. Dunne has already become a firm fans favourite at Villa Park and it’s not hard to see why. His steady no-nonsense approach to the game has meant he has more than adequately filled the void left by Martin Laursen. He is one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League and chips in with a few goals too.
Verdict – A brilliant summer acquisition who has already proved his worth.
4.) Darren Bent (Sunderland) – Those who questioned his £16.65million price tag when he moved from Charlton to Spurs probably felt vindicated when he struggled to even get in the starting line-up. Yet despite never really being given a chance the tweetaholic still scored 18 goals in 60 appearances during his two years at White Hart Lane. Since his switch up north though Bent has demonstrated he will always score goals in any team – already scoring nine in 15 this season. He will probably not get anywhere near winning the PFA or writers player of the year award but he stands a good chance of the golden boot.
Verdict – Not the most glamorous striker but an effective one nonetheless.
3.) James Milner (Aston Villa) – Another brilliant signing by Martin O’Neil. The young Englishman has really developed this season and thoroughly deserves his place on the plane to South Africa. He has shown he has a great all-round game with the ability to really attack defences, deliver a cracking ball and is more than willing to track back to do his bit for the team.
Verdict – May not have the flair of Wright-Phillips or Lennon but is definitely more consistent.
2.) Didier Drogba (Chelsea) – Clearly one of the best strikers in the world he has at times been absolutely unplayable this season. No other striker has the same kind of impact on the game as Drogba does and the stats back this up. With eight assists and 11 goals in 14 league games he has been pivotal to Chelsea’s excellent form which sees them sitting top of the table. Many may point to the fantastic support he gets and while it certainly helps it has been his impeccable form which has brought him so much success this season.
Verdict – Has been head and shoulders above the Premiership’s other world-class strikers and will be sorely missed when he takes part in the African Cup of Nations.
1.) Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) – Without him and Van Persie Arsenal are nothing. Once again he has been the driving force behind everything they do and is completely irreplaceable. His intelligence and skill has allowed him to control games like no-one else and with six goals and 11 assists he is top of every fantasy football league.
Verdict – Has been indispensible to Arsenal and has been far more influential than either Lampard or Gerrard.
Others worth a mention include Van Persie, Terry, Giggs, Lennon, Defoe, Reina, Reid, Dunn, Given and Sorensen.
Is there an innate tribalism among football fans and does it damage the sport?
Which sport has the best set of fans? Football or rugby? Which are more passionate, more loyal, more knowledgeable and which generate the more infectious atmospheres?
I recently got into a heated discussion about the merits and flaws of each set of fans and which I would rather sit amongst.
Ignoring the fact football is my prefered sport I did not have to think for very long before coming up with several reasons to back up my stance.
Indeed soon after playing what I thought was the aces of all trumps I was rocking back in my chair and rejoicing in the kind of satisfaction which only comes when you know you’re right.
Surely the chilling half-time rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone which saw Liverpool come back from the dead in the 2005 Champions League final was an unquestionable and unprecedented example of how footie fans are clearly better?
My learned adversary on the other hand was not in the least bit convinced.
“Hasn’t the very presence of football’s innate tribalism provoked an environment of conflict which damages what is so often called the ‘beautiful game’?
“Isn’t it a sad reflection on the game that fans are still divided by class and can’t even sit side-by-side?”
After some form of expression had returned to my face I stepped back in the ring and engaged in another round of verbal warfare.
I pointed out that the segregation of fans in football stadiums is what makes the mood so enjoyable. It creates a feeling of togetherness and unity which just doesn’t exist when fans are sat apart.
He pointed to the darker episodes of football fandom and the fact beer is increasingly banned from stadiums – something which does not happen in rugby.
He even had the cheek to refer to Nottingham Forest’s pioneering attempt to open up part of the Brian Clough stand at the City Ground to families from home and away fans.
“The fact Forest’s trial with Doncaster fans was described as historic, brave and commendable just goes to show how far behind rugby fans they are,” he said.
“Playing happy families for one afternoon does not hide the fact football fans cannot always be trusted to enjoy the game in the right spirit – just look at the West Ham Millwall game earlier this season.”
At this I point I admitted being a football fan offered more lows than rugby but I maintained that it also offered more highs.
It may not be feasible in modern day football to allow fans to mingle in the stands but that is not a bad thing.
Tribalism may be innate but it’s what generates the passion, fervour and support which makes being a fan of any sort worthwhile.
He was still not convinced. On this occasion we had to agree to disagree.
England get potlucky in World Cup draw
Four year’s ago Sven’s England were hailed as the ‘Golden Generation’. Yet despite all the hype and expectation they crashed out on penalties at the hands of the winker’s Portugal.
Two years later they suffered the embarrassment of not qualifying for Euro 2008 – leaving many to believe the so-called generation would never live up to expectations.
But, with a different man at the helm, and many of the same personnel which promised so much in Germany, they finally look able to regain the sheen needed to emulate the World Cup winning side of ’66.
Tonight’s draw will have given many the belief England can go far in South Africa as they avoided the likes of France, Ivory Coast and Portugal and instead sit comfortably among the USA, Algeria and Slovenia.
So what of Fabio Capello’s opponents?
USA
Uncle Sam’s boys are not to be underestimated. Having beaten Spain in last year’s Confederation Cup they have proven they are a team to be reckoned with. They are well-organised under Bob Bradley and have Premiership pedigree in Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard and Brad Friedel. A strong showing in qualifying saw them take top spot ahead of Mexico and Honduras.
Key player: Landon Donovan
aquestionofsport prediction: England win 2-0
Algeria
Making their first appearance at a World Cup for 24 years they are not a very experienced side. The North African side made it to South Africa after defeating Egypt in a highly competitive play-off. They have a large number of European based players including Portsmouth’s Nadir Belhadj and Lazio midfielder Mourad Meghni and could pose more of a threat to England than many might think.
Key player: Faouzi Chaouchi
aquestionofsport prediction: England win 3-0
Slovenia
Surprise conquerors of Guss Hiddink’s Russia, Slovenia are not to be taken lightly. They may not exactly have many household names and their world ranking of 33 may suggest they are one of the weakest of the 32 teams in the competition but they are tough to break down. The Slovenians lack a serious threat in the final third and conceding against them is unlikely. England should prove too strong for the team playing in only their second finals and should secure a safe passage into the last 16.
Key player: Milivoje Novakovic
aquestionofsport prediction: England win 2-0
Barring any injuries to key players such as Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, England will expect to qualify comfortably for the knock-out stages of the tournament.
It may be premature to start making predictions but after such a kind draw it would be one spectacular failure if they did not progress to the last 16.
England really do have a great chance of living up to their label and with it becoming the first European team to win the World Cup in a foreign continent.
What is the truth behind Tiger Woods’ mysterious crash?
Is there really anything to the conspiracy theories surrounding Tiger Woods’ mysterious car crash and subsequent withdrawal from the Chevron World Challenge?
For what at first appeared to be an incident with minimal newsworthiness, has turned into a frenzy of speculation and conjecture.
The 33-year-old 14-time major winner has categorically denied any truth to the “unfounded rumours” surrounding his wife Elin Nordegren’s involvement in the crash but has so far done little to disperse them.
He has a kept a seriously low profile since being released from hospital were he was treated for cuts to his face, and has declined a number of requests to talk to police.
Speculation surrounds Tiger Woods after his much publicised car crash
The most pressing question for me is how exactly did Woods manage to crash so dramatically (he was left semi-conscious and apparently needed Elin to smash the windows to help him out) right outside his house?
I wonder whether we will ever know the full truth.
Collingwood reminds England ODI centuries are the only way to win
English sports fans will be pleased overall with the weekend’s performance of its nations heroes despite Martin Johnson’s men proving its rugby team are very much still in a state of flux.
In a thoroughly satisfactory couple of days of sporting entertainment Lee Westwood won the race to Dubai, Andy Murray got off to a flyer in the ATP World Tour Finals and England’s cricket team produced a rare ODI victory to take the lead in the series with South Africa.
Yet while England’s defeat at Twickenham and Westwood and Murray’s triumphs were not that surprising, the success of the cricket team, for me came completely out of the blue.
Luring the entire nation into believing they were going to be royally humiliated was such a cruel thing for Andrew Strauss et al to do.
Having given the impression they were struggling with injuries with the likes of Alistair Cook, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad all out injured, it very much looked to be a case of damage limitation.
Instead England fans were treated to an unusual display of brilliance as they casually knocked off the 251 target set by their hosts.
Where exactly have they been hiding such a composed innings? Usually fans are left biting their finger nails or drowning their sorrows such has been the lamentable performance of England in the short forms of the game.
It has been a long time since an English batsman last scored an ODI century and it just goes to show how important one is to winning a game.
