 |
| Gimme. Big. Shiny. Bouncy. Thing. NOW. Image Credit Flickr User Intangible Arts |
Showing posts with label Soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soccer. Show all posts
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
The Dogs of Soccer
Monday, 8 November 2010
The Ultimate Opportunity to Make Your Dad Proud
By Matt Scott Paul Ince, the newly appointed Notts County manager, has recently signed his son, Tom, on loan from Liverpool.
The young midfielder can now join an exclusive list of players, who have experienced the pleasure, or quite possibly the pain, of working for their father.
Fast forward a few years and Harry had hit the managerial big time, with stints in charge of South Coast rivals, Portsmouth and Southampton. Jamie, was given the daunting task of facing these sides, managed by his dad, during his time at both Liverpool and Tottenham. The pair were days apart from being reunited again at Southampton during their struggle to stay in The Championship, but Harry had resigned in order to return to Portsmouth.
There have been rumours that Harry has asked Jamie to come in and help with coaching at his current club, Tottenham, ironically an ex-club of Jamie’s. Jamie is rather hesitant to enter the world of management, given the reputation his father has managed created for himself. He is enjoying his work as a pundit for the time being.
During a loan spell at Bolton in 2010, Vladimir Jnr was still unable to force his way into the starting line up on a permanent basis, making only 13 appearances. Despite this, his father still called him up to the Slovakian squad for the World Cup in South Africa. People began to see what Vladimir Snr saw in his son, he impressed in the three appearances he made for the national side during the World Cup, as Slovakia made history and qualified for the last 16 after beating Italy.
The manager at the time when he was coming through the ranks was Harry Redknapp, who was his uncle. Harry gave Frank Jnr his big break and allowed him to establish himself as a key member of the London side.
Alex was unable to force his way into the first team. He ended up being sent out on loan to three different clubs, Oldham, Sheffield Wednesday and Tranmere, during 2005. In total, Alex only made six appearances for Birmingham and the combination of relegation to the Championship and accusations of nepotism led to the pair deciding it would be best if they parted ways.
Having made 15 appearances that season, he also qualified to receive a League winners medal after Manchester United claimed the title. He was very much a squad player throughout his time at United and after four years with the club, he was transferred to Wolves, in search of first team action. Immediately after hanging up his boots Darren decided to go into management.
If there wasn’t already enough pressure on players to produce a certain level of performance for their club, then the added fear of disappointing your dad can’t help matters. Some players could be cursing their luck for having to play under their dad, having to take orders from him at home and at work, but most of the examples listed here have been given a big break by their dad, the chance to impress that has gone on to kick-start their career. It remains to be seen what impact Tom can make at MK Dons under the watchful eye of his father.
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
Savage Justification?
By Matt Scott The on-going debate, which surrounds footballers and their huge pay packets has managed to find its way back into the media spotlight after one of the UK’s most outspoken players, Robbie Savage, had his say on the matter.
The 36-year-old Welshman said, ‘We get hammered a lot, so I’m on there (twitter) giving a footballer’s viewpoint. The most common complaint is footballers earn too much. Nonsense. I defy anyone who gets offered it to say no, no matter what job you do.
"We’re lucky to earn good money and we work hard for it. It is not our fault that we were good enough to play football and get handsomely paid for it.
"I do work hard for it. The rewards are there if you do, so don’t tell me I haven’t worked hard for it. I would say every player I have played with has earned his money. Why is it always footballers who get criticised for the money they earn?
"A top darts player can earn £1m a year. A cricketer £1m for two months, a golfer £7.4m for one tournament, a rubbish boxer £3m for one fight, a sprinter £400,000 for an appearance, a tennis player £800,000 for one week. But it’s always footballers who get criticised."
The Derby County midfielder’s rant was a response to criticism from some supporters, who were venting their frustration over the news that John O’Shea had put pen to paper on a £80,000 a week contract extension at Manchester United.
Savage’s comments suggest he feels strongly that the revenue he generates for his club as well as the public scrutiny he has to face, more than entitle him and his fellow professionals to the rewards they receive.
It is often forgotten that the majority of sporting professionals have very short career spans, which can be ended in an instant if an injury occurs. It also has to be said that some bankers and online entrepreneurs earn similar amounts without working half as hard or entertaining the public.
 |
| Robbie Savage in calmer mood - Image Credit Flickr User Matlock-Photo |
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Has the Premier League Already been Decided?
 |
| Is this already inevitable for another year? Image Credit Flickr User sonyds |
By Matt Scott Chelsea are holding strong at the top of the table, 5 points clear of Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City, who at this stage of the season seem to be the only realistic title contenders.
But credit where credit is due. This is down to Chelsea’s performances this season. A 6-0 thrashing of West Brom on the opening day at Stamford Bridge, followed by another 6-0 hammering, this time away at Wigan. Chelsea have been scoring goals for fun, two against Stoke at home, three away to West Ham, four at home to Blackpool. Their only set back has been a 0-0 against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
 |
| Chelsea v Arsenal, Feb 7th 2010.In the wake of the media bitzkrieg over Terry's alleged affair with Vanessa Perroncel, fans at Stamford ridge show their support for their captain. |
 |
| Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United centre back gives a thumbs up at their match against West Brom, Oct 16 |
Then, two weeks later, two injury time goals, one from Cahill and the other from Arteta erased a 3-1 lead at Goodison Park against Everton. Chelsea were now four points ahead and the United team looked even more uncertain on the ball.
After a vital 3-2 win over Liverpool, the team travelled to the Reebok Stadium to play Bolton. Sir Alex’s side were 2-1 down with less than 25 minutes left to play, so they began throwing everything forward and luckily, Michael Owen managed to find the back of the net, with only 10 minutes remaining. The majority of fans argue that Manchester United should have gone on to win the game.
Finally and most recently, a 2-0 home advantage at half time against West Brom was over turned by two goals in 5 minutes from the visiting side. United unable to score a third in the last 35 minutes of the game, in fact, they were extremely lucky not to lose the game in the end, with West Brom going close on several occasion.
The combination of this, increasingly inconsistent defending and unexpected errors have snowballed and increased the pressure on Manchester United in a vicious and ongoing circle. This is seriously damaging the clubs title challenge and if they are to stand any chance of gaining on Chelsea it needs to be resolved, fast.
Yet, one good thing to come out of this is that, for the neutrals, Manchester United games are now the more likely games to impress and entertain. It’s doubtful that Sir Alex will see it that way though.
Image Credits
Chelsea Badge - Flickr User TheTruthAbout
Terry V Arsenal - Wikimedia
Rio Ferdinand West Brom gordonflood.com
Javier Hernandez - Gordonflood.com
Man United Logo
Friday, 29 October 2010
Maradona Turns 50: 50 Facts for Diego's Birthday
To help celebrate this occasion we would like to present you with fify facts and quotes about the famous (and infamous in equal measure) Argentinean soccer player.
Happy birthday Maradona!
1 - Diego Armando Maradona was born on 30 October 1960, three days after Muhammad Ali won his first professional boxing fight.
2 - There has always been a rivalry between Maradona and Pele. Talking about Pele’s award for ‘Best Ever Player, Diego said "Pele should go back to the museum."
3 - Maradona’s first name has its origins in Greek and Hebrew despite being used largely in Italian and Spanish these days. It means either a supplanter or a teacher.
4 - Maradona has two children – legally. In a slightly ambivalent attitude towards fatherhood he once said: "My legitimate kids are Dalma and Giannina. The rest are a product of my money and mistakes."
5 - Maradona’s middle name is Armando – it means man in the army. Perhaps if we take it as a metaphor for his soccer career, it is quite appropriate.
6 - He represented his country, Argentina 91 times (though to his opponents it must have seemed much more than that).
7 - During that time he scored 34 goals for Argentina.
8 - He represented Argentina in four World Cups, 82, 86, 90 and 94.
9 - He played for Boca Juniors, being instrumental in their rise to the League Championship in 1982 before he moved to Barcelona.
10 - In 1985 he left Barcelona for Napoli where he contributed greatly to their winning two Series A titles – their only such title to date.
11 - Maradona was skipper for Argentina sixteen times – this is the world record for the most appearances as skipper for a country in tat tournament.
12 - Maradona was only 15 when he started his professional career, making his debut for Argentinos Juniors on March
13 - He has really been in 5 World Cups. He represented Argentina in their youth squad in 1979, winning the Youth World Cup in Japan. The team won 3-1 against the Soviet Union.
14 - At 16 he made his international debut. This was at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The match was against Hungary
15 - Che Guevara is one of his heroes. He has a tattoo of the revolutionary on his right arm. He is also best mates with Fidel Castro.
16 - Diego was a consistent target for dirty tricks in his international career. During the 1986 World Cup in Mexico alone there were 53 fouls against him.
17 - 1986 was a good year for Maradona. He captained his country to World Cup victory against West Germany, beating them three goals to two in the final.
18 - The same tournament gave England fans his most notorious moment. In an infamous moment he scored against the English team in the quarter final – using his hand. After the incident, which he would not live down in the English press for many a year, he said: “The goal was scored a little bit by the hand of God, a little by the head of Maradona.”
19 - After smashing a photographer’s camera for being intrusive, Diego said "I did it with the hand of reason."
20 - Maradona had a problem in the USA at the 1994 World Cup. He played only two games ad scored only a single goal (against Greece). The reason? He failed a dope test and was sent home with his tail between his legs. In 1991 Maradona also left Napoli after he had failed a test for cocaine.
21 - Maradona and Claudia Villafane married on November 7 1989. They were married for fifteen years, divorcing in 2004.
22 - He left owing Napoli a little bit of money to the Italian tax man. Officials said in 2009 that Maradona owed them €37 million. However, more than half of this is interest on the original debt.
23 - Despite their rivalry, when Maradona became a chat show host on Argentinian television in 2004, Pele was his very first guest.
24 - Maradona became manager of the Argentina’s international squad two years ago, in October 2008.
25 - The next month saw his team get off to a great start – beating Scotland 1-0 on 19 November.
26 - It hasn’t always been a bed of roses since then. During the World Cup qualifiers the team lost by an astounding six goals to one against Bolivia.
27 - Despite this terrible defeat the team managed to get through to the tournament. To his critics (who were legion) Maradona retorted. "To those who did not believe: now suck my d**k - I'm sorry ladies for my words - and keep on sucking it. I am either white or black. I will never be grey in my life. You treated me as you did. Now keep on sucking d**ks. I am grateful to my players and to the Argentinean people. I thank no one but them. The rest, keep on sucking d**ks.” Not one for revenge then.
28 - FIFA weren’t terribly happy about this foul mouthed outburst. They slapped a two month ban on him.
29 - Maradona got his own verbal revenge against FIFA when he complained vociferously about the new ball to be used in the 2010 World Cup tournament in South Africa. "I would ask all Fifa directors to stop talking about me and to start working on having a proper football. This ball is useless. It's impossible to control."
30 - Back in 1998 he said, about the World Cup of that year. "The players have all got square feet. They are like Robocops, they have more need of lubricant than massage. I don't believe the tournament could be worse."
32 - Yet some will stick the knife in. A former team mate, Valdano, said of him. “He is someone many people want to emulate, a controversial figure, loved, hated, who stirs great upheaval, especially in Argentina... Stressing his personal life is a mistake. Maradona has no peers inside the pitch, but he has turned his life into a show, and is now living a personal ordeal that should not be imitated.”
33 - Such is his following back home, the Argentine Football Association asked FIFA to put his famous No 10 shirt in to retirement, in his honor. Unsurprisingly, FIFA said, “No, niet, non”.
34 - Maradona has a stadium named after him – the team Argentinos Juniors honored him by naming their ground Estadio Diego Armando Maradona.
35 - Politics are something upon which Maradona has been more than willing to comment. After the 1986 Hand of God incident he said about England: “It was as if we had beaten a country, more than just a football team." The two countries had been at war for real only four years previously.
36 - Maradona has had his own personal problems with drugs. Interviewed in 1996 he said: "I was, I am and I always will be a drug addict. A person who gets involved in drugs has to fight it every day."
37 - The new millennium came and FIFA in their wisdom decided to award a player of the century title. They couldn’t make their minds up and in the end awarded it to Maradona and Pele jointly. Maradona said: "The people voted for me. Now they want me to share the prize with Pele. I'm not going to share the prize with anybody."
38 - In 1990 he was held in such high esteem that when asked which players he was putting on the pitch the Argentinean Manager Carlos Billardo famously replied: “Maradona – and ten others.”
39 - Although Maradona has not done a Cantona and acted in movies he was the subject of a documentary by the Serbian Filmmaker Kusturica. It made its world premier at Cannes in 2008.
40 - Sir Bobby Robson said of the player in 1986: "With Maradona, Arsenal could have won the World Cup." Bob Wilson said of Maradona: “a flawed genius who has now become a genius who is flawed.”
42 - In 2006 at the World Cup in Germany Maradona fell out of his pram about Pele – again. He refused to go to the tournament’s opening ceremony, saying "I'm not here to look at bloody Pele walking around."
43 - Pele got his own back. This year, reflecting on Maradona’s tenure as Manager of the Argentinean National Squad, Pele said: “But it isn't Maradona's fault. It is the fault of whoever put him in charge.”
44 - Maradona’s average goal-per-game in domestic club competitions is 0.526
45 - After only Batistuta and Crespo he is the third highest goal scorer for Argentina – ever.
46 - Ever since 1986, it is common for Argentines abroad to hear Maradona's name as a token of recognition, even in remote places.
47 - Psychologists have even got in to the scramble to say things about the famous player. Pyschologist Gustavo Bernstein has said: “Maradona is our maximum term of reference. No one embodies our essence better. No one bears our emblem more nobly. To no other, in the last twenty years, have we offered up so much passion. Argentina is Maradona, Maradona is Argentina.”
48 - Maradona’s fans are famous for being the ultimate devotees. In 1998 they started the Church of Maradona in Argentina. So this 2- October this year is actually 50 DD (Despues de Diego or After Diego).
49 - For all his ups and downs, Maradona remains one of the best player the world has ever seen.
50 - There is little doubt that everyone wishes him another very happy fifty years!
Thursday, 28 October 2010
The Taylor Report and its Effect on Football
 |
| Image Credit Wikimedia |
By Billy Adams
The Taylor report was the final report written in January 1990 by the Rt Hon Lord Justice Taylor about his inquiry after the Hillsborough stadium disaster which claimed 96 lives and caused over 700 injuries. The report deals with many subjects such as, the cause of the disaster, how to prevent future disasters and hooligans which to be very clear was not the cause of this disaster.
The effect this report has had on football and other sports over the last twenty years is immense. The big effect is that all major sports grounds must be all seater stadiums, is means that the old fashioned football terraces had to be abolished by 1994. One reason for this was so that a game could never oversell again and also that each fan had a bit of room to move. By taking such actions it would also cut down on hooligans who as a general rule were in the terraces largely due to the fact that they were the cheapest area in the stadium.
It’s clear to see that hooliganism has died down long since the 80’s and this could be linked to decline of standing areas. There are little or no acts of hooliganism in modern domestic football, with the exemption of major rival games such as the example recently shown at West Ham v Millwall in 2009.
Other notable areas that are blooming since the 90’s also include major sponsorship of football although this could be more down to the forming of the EPL. Football has also became more corporate and most stadiums now offer directors boxes. Reasons for this could again linked to the decline of hooliganism, as football of late has very little negativity by comparison making it favourable for advertising. For example a company who sponsor a stadium such as Fly Emirates (Arsenal’s Emirates stadium) would rather have their name mentioned in a headline such as, “Arsenal win in flying style at the Emirates” as opposed to one such as “Fight breaks out at the Emirates”.
A copy of the Taylor report can be found HERE
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
John O’Shea Must Think He’s Dreaming
By Matt Scott
The Sun recently revealed that Republic of Ireland international John O’Shea has signed a new £16.5million contract.
Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to tie down the remaining Manchester United players whose contracts are running out. This news comes off the back of Wayne Rooney’s new, reported, £250,000 a week contract. Patrice Evra, who has been an ever present in the United side this season, has also just recently signed a new long term £100,000 a week contract.
29-year-old O’Shea, who won’t argue against the fact that he isn’t as integral to the team as Evra or Rooney, will no doubt be delighted with his £80,000 a week deal. O’Shea, who defines the term versatile, has played all across the back four and midfield as well as a brief appearance as an emergency goalkeeper during his 12 year career at Old Trafford.
 |
| John O'Shea, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick - Image Credit Wikimedia |
The new contracts that are being offered to players are a statement of intent from the club, to let that fans know that they can still compete on a financial level with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City. David Gill, the Manchester United Chief executive said, ‘we have a policy that wages should be 50per cent or less of our turnover. We believe that we can do that and still retain and attract the starts that we need. This is a sensible model.’
It has also been suggested that Brazilian midfielder Anderson, who is yet to justify his hefty price tag, will be offered a new deal. This may come as a surprise to some fans that have seen much speculation linking Anderson with move away from Manchester. The likes of Portuguese Giants Porto and Greek side Panathinaikos have been mentioned as potential destinations.
Friday, 22 October 2010
Wayne Rooney Gets Back on the Old Trafford Bus
Then he was sent to the naughty step. Well, not really but following this week’s events which would rival many a northern soap opera for their sheer ups and downs (hesitation, rancour, soul searching followed ultimately by compromise and resolution) Rooney should perhaps spend a minute or two there.
As U-turns go this was a fairly major one and now he is back on the Old Trafford Bus he can expect to earn £160K a week with incentives of probably another £40 or so at least. We don’t expect he will be receiving Child Benefit for the kids when it becomes mean tested in a few years but if it was behaviour tested his mum would still be getting it.
At least Rooney, then, has something to celebrate on his 25th birthday on Sunday. You can just imagine the metaphorical birthday feast. Colleen forcing a smile, her parents clenching their fists and a group of fans like Tiny Tim (or at least a very fed up one) at the butcher boys window. Not heard that one? The police had to be called on Thursday to remove angry fans from outside chez Wayne. To say he has one or two bridges to rebuild is to put it lightly.
Ian Holloway, the Manger of Blackpool certainly had something to say about football's authorities for allowing Wayne Rooney to manufacture his exit from the club.
If his contract is extended to 2015 you can only hope that the bruised feelings and hurt he has caused this week can heal before that.
Image Credit Flickr User dullhunk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
