This season’s climax- the most exciting one in recent history?
March 31, 2008
As the weather seems to be getting better (don’t say this to Chester fans!), it is clear we are edging towards the season’s climax and the most exciting part of the campaign. If you look across all four divisions, there are a lot of intriguing stories that are yet to be concluded.
In a rare occurrence, the race for the Premier League title and the coveted 4th place is still being hotly contested, with many of the teams involved yet to play each other. The Championship promotion chase is even more alluring, with teams often surrendering top spot within days of claiming it- the estimated £30 million prize money being tossed around with reckless abandon. In League One, it would seem the Swans will be Read more
Australian Grand Prix - 4 Hours To Go!
March 16, 2008
I’ve just walked in the door from a hard day at work. I’m shattered, and I want to go to bed. But, I’m not! Instead, I’m drinking strong coffee to keep me awake (thankfully I have no work tomorrow!).
Why?
The first race of the Formula 1 season is due to start in a little over 4 hours and for some reason Read more
Life begins at 40? Not if you’re an English football manager…
March 12, 2008
Paul Simpson’s appointment as Shrewsbury Town’s new manager got me thinking about young English managers this afternoon. No disrespect to Shrewsbury, but despite the broad grin on the face of Simpson as he held up a replica shirt at his unveiling, I would imagine he would rather be managing at a higher level. Simpson guided Carlisle to successive promotions despite numerous off the field problems and was building a burgeoning reputation. The Carlisle-born man was only recently named manager of the year, achieving a better points average over the season than Sir Alex Ferguson.
He then made a jump to a bigger club in the form of Preston, where after an initial honeymoon period in which his side topped the Championship, they finished one place off the play-offs. The club were forced to sell David Nugent and didn’t spend much in rebuilding the squad. Only 3 early season wins meant he was sacked in November.
So, after one poor start to a season, a 41 year old English manager is sacked and forced to rebuild his career at the bottom Read more
My first, my last, my everything…
March 7, 2008
It’s 1.15 am on the morning of my 23rd birthday. I’m lying on the sofa in the living room watching the third day of New Zealand versus England. My girlfriend is lying partially across me, sleeping soundly. I’m watching my favourite sport in it’s best format (test match) but I find myself channel flicking. I’ve become strangely hypnotised by a rundown of ‘the greatest pop disasters’ on a music channel, with that Howard fella from the Halifax ad’s singing a Barry White cover. Our log fire has finally fizzled out and it’s becoming cold in the room, and Howard has made way for the Cheeky girls on holiday. Normally my attention span towards cricket is pretty good but this is an exception- it’s dull.
A benign pitch, a slow run-rate (just scratching over 2 an over), and Bob Willis on the mic combine to nullify any entertainment.
Even some of the players look Read more
England’s striking options- cause for concern?
March 6, 2008
If you were Fabio Capello, firstly you must be delighted at the message that greets you at your local cash point, but when you watch the current group of English strikers at your disposal- would you still be happy?
In the first 30 man provisional squad that Capello picked to play against Switzerland, five strikers were selected. Between these five (Heskey, Owen, Rooney, Agbonlahor and Crouch), they have, at the time of writing, scored 22 league goals this season. Most teams have played 28 games this campaign, and though obviously some players have had injuries- Owen and Heskey for example, this seems a very poor return. There isn’t an English player in the top 10 goal scorers this season- Steven Gerrard is at number 12 with 8 league goals. Cause for concern?
Jermain Defoe was drafted Read more
