Friday 28 December 2012

Hey FIFA! Leave our Xmas alone!

At Christmas mainland Europe puts it’s feet up. Footballers, managers, coaches and fans all take a breather, go on holiday and recharge the batteries. All while casting an inquisitive and confused eye across the sea at Britain.


Here Christmas Day is just another workday for those in the game, albeit one with a slightly bigger dinner than usual. Training while others are opening presents and opening the sherry. It has been called an archaic remnant, one from bygone days which should probably be cast aside in this enlightened era of modern football. It causes debate and splits opinion. Should English football have a winter break? It’s a topic which has been around for many years and shows no sign of going away.

The arguments and reasoning are many and on the whole, fairly compelling. Players play too much these days, the speed of the modern game means constant fixtures are detrimental to players health, the stress and tiredness it causes hinders our national team in summer competitions.


And there are plenty more and they are all good arguments. They are however all poppycock!


Players haven’t yet mad their opinions crystal clear although there have been plenty of sound bites that indicate should they be asked they would vote for a break. Kyle Walker of Tottenham tweeted yesterday about having a rest on the sofa as “games come thick and fast”. Rio Ferdinand talked about being “in the midst of a tough schedule”. And that is just the British players. One can only imagine what some of the foreign imports to our league make of it all.


And there is also no denying that it will take it’s toll mentally and physically. However as for saying it hinders the national team then I can’t agree there. Last season Cristiano Ronaldo played as many games if not more than any Englishman. Same goes for Messi and the Germans. And that is a statistic that has been borne out over the last few years.


Players probably play roughly the same number of games as previously as well. Or certainly not a lot less and while yes the game is quicker these days, the pitches, boots, balls and strips are all of a better and lighter quality too so there is a balance of sorts.


International players probably play as much as before also. While there are more international games and friendlies these days, there is no home championship and a lot of the players from the big clubs tend not to play in all the friendlies anyway. Again there is a balance.


Cup competitions see roughly same number of fixtures as in days gone by. Maybe slightly more in European games, but nationally there’s actually less and as a lot of the ‘top’ players don’t play in all rounds of the cup, in some instances a lot less.


But the point amount Christmas fixtures is there not about players, clubs, governing bodies or even the almighty dollar provided by TV. They are and always have been about the fans.


Fans follow their team week in, week out, up and down the country. Sometimes having to leave at ridiculous times or arriving back at an equally outrageous hour. All this is done while juggling working lives and family commitments. And all for an extortionate price.


At Christmas the majority of people have time off, time to spend with family and not worry about work or other such worries. Also have time to go to football, sometimes with children, who can’t make it on other occasions. Even if you don’t go to a game, you’re more likely to go to a pub and watch it there rather than stay in the house because you’ve got work in the morning.


To deprive fans of this would be yet another slap in the face and would rubbish the comment that without fans the game will be nothing. Don’t be surprised though if this debate gets an official airing at some point in the future!

Tuesday 27 November 2012

The Y Word

On Sunday the swagger returned to White Hart Lane. Spurs dispatched West Ham in the style of seasons past. Quick movement on and off the ball, controlled passing and decisive strikes in front of goal, the good old days could be well be on their way back for Tottenham and their manager Andre Villas-Boas.


Sadly though it wasn’t just this positive part of nostalgia and history which reappeared on Sunday. The vile, racist and abusive chants emanating from the West Ham fans were a sickening reminder of the bad old days, the seventies and eighties when the hooligan ruled the terraces.


The chants themselves have been well documented and don’t need repeating here but we are now facing the recrimination and aftermath. Questions like why did they happen and what can be done by the authorities to tackle them.


People like Peter Herbert from The Society of Black Lawyers and David Baddiel are very clear in their opinions of why. The use of the ‘Y word’ by Tottenham fans is wrong, leads to the legitimising of the word which in turn leads to it’s use by opposition fans. Their view is that it is a racist term and should not be used in any context by any person or group.


Let me get this out in the open straight away. If David Baddiel, a Jew himself says that the word is racist, I believe him. If he says that it’s use should be banned or eradicated I believe him. I also believe that the cause of the SOBL is a noble one. I even think that somewhere down the line the chant of ‘Yid Army’ will disappear from Tottenham fans’ repertoire.


I don’t however believe that the use of the Y word instigated and heightened the problem on Sunday. Anti-Semitic abuse existed long before Tottenham fans ‘reclaimed’ the word and used it as a badge of honour. Chants by their neighbours have regularly referenced their Jewish heritage, despite that fact that, as Baddiel argues, Spurs don’t have many more Jewish fans than other clubs.


This chanting has continued throughout the intervening years although not to the severity or viciousness of what was witnessed on Sunday. And at this point it is worth noting that it isn’t just West Ham fans who target Tottenham, other clubs supporters have too. And it is also worth noting that it is not all fans of a club we are talking about.


But it was the sheer scale of the chanting and the actual chants used on Sunday that was shocking. The attacks on Spurs fans in Rome just 4 days earlier, that look to have been more racially motivated rather than football related, are a definite catalyst but the sheer fact the anti-Semitic chanting is now in the news also plays a part.


Putting it in the media spotlight has merely reminded some of the idiots that go to football matches that it exists. Spurs fans chanting ‘Yid Army’ certainly didn’t do that, certainly didn’t warrant mention of Hitler or gassing noises. And even if Spurs dispense with the phrase, others will still refer to them as the ‘Jewish club’.


Mind you, the SOBL and David Baddiel might say that the ends justify the means. Having the debate in the public arena was their first goal. How the FA deal with the issue will be interesting and will define how their second goal is seen. They have in the past only sporadically penalised teams for offensive chanting by their fans. But perhaps now is the time for the footballing authorities to make a stand and tackle the issue head on.


As mentioned previously I believe the use of ‘Yid’ by Tottenham fans will probably disappear, but whether it’s replacement is any better remains to be seen. ‘Jew Army’ might be seen as equally provoking whereas ‘White Army’ opens up as whole different can of worms.


Whatever happens it does seem that we are at a crossroads. The issue is now out in the open. If it is dealt with effectively it could signify the first steps on the road to removing racism from football.


Otherwise the bad old days may be here once more.

Saturday 24 November 2012

Football’s Week – My View (week ending Friday 23rd November 2012)

Managers feature a lot this week, the football itself doesn’t so much. Which says a lot about our national game at the minute.

Chelsea & Roberto Di Matteo

I think even Dougal and Zebedee with all of their experiences of roundabouts would struggle with the speed of the revolving managerial door at Stamford Bridge. The sacking of Roberto Di Matteo was sadly not a huge surprise even if the timing was. With the appointment of Rafa Benitez Chelsea can now boast their 6th manager in a little over 5 seasons and with Roman Abramovich seemingly playing his own private game of Football Manager, who would be surprised with Rafa getting his marching orders sooner rather than later. To be fair RDM despite his Champions League and FA Cup successes was probably never right for the job but that does beg the question why was he backed in the summer with a new permanent contract? How much backing will Benitez get? He has a contract until the end of the season but does that mean a great deal with Abramovich pulling the strings? And just how much was the selection, or not in this case, of Fernando Torres a nail in RDM’s coffin? Time will tell but it’s a fairly safe bet this would be the last time you hear stories from Chelsea this season.

Chelsea & Mark Clattenburg

The FA this week told Mark Clattenburg that he was going to avoid charges for racial comments. In the same breath they charged John Obi-Mikel with “threatening and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour”. This story just goes on and on. How much of an influence it had on Di Matteo’s sacking is uncertain but I’m guessing the Chelsea press officer has been a touch busy recently! If Mikel is found guilty of these charges it does make you question the validity of the original claim against Clattenburg. It could well have been as was originally reported, a simple misunderstanding over language but in my mind there’s a sinister and murky undertone to it all which leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Racism

Last time Lazio played Tottenham they were fined for their fans making racist noises towards Tottenham’s black players. The return match was also marred by ‘alleged’ racist chanting. What UEFA do to combat this, if anything, will be interesting as another fine seems pointless. However coming on the back of a lot of recent racist allegations and counter allegations we seem to be hurtling back in time towards the 70’s and 80’s. If we’re not careful we’ll miss the point entirely and fail to deal effectively with the issue at hand. People like the Society of Black Lawyers have a place in the battle against racism but at the moment they are just muddying the waters and appear to be lacking direction.

Hooliganism

Sadly racism isn’t the only throwback creeping back into the game, at least on mainland Europe anyway. The cowardly attack on Tottenham fans in Rome on Wednesday night was a reminder that it is not always safe to go and watch your team play. While latest reports suggest this was race related and not football related the fact that it has even happen is cause for concern. Thoughts go out to those involved and I hope for their speedy recovery. However the heavy handedness of the police is also a worry. Reports from Spurs fans in the Olympic Stadium say the local bobbies were very handy with batons on Thursday night. While UEFA cannot do anything about the attacks in the bar the night before, they do have authority and jurisdiction to deal with the police within the stadium. We awaiting their intervention with bated breath!

Man City in Europe. Or not as the case might be!

Man City failed to make it out of the group stages of the Champions League this week and that has to go down as a failure. Yes it was a tough group but with the calibre of players available to Roberto Mancini and the financial backing you would have at least expected their chances of progression to last until game 6. Depending on how their league campaign goes and who they sign in January, Mancini might be staring down the barrel of a gun come February.

Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes has already stared down the barrel of a gun and has seen it go off. Again this wasn’t a total surprise. With QPR sitting bottom of the league and still searching for their first win of the year after 14 games Hughes knew he was on borrowed time after last weekend’s home defeat to Southampton. He must have thought he escaped at least for one more week though and so again timing becomes the issue here. Why now? Don’t feel too sorry for Hughes though. He will appear elsewhere and still has the potential to do a good job. I would say a team in the championship might be his new destination but if/when the next premier league boss goes, expect his name to be in the mix.

Harry

If rumours/twitter/the media are to be believed Harry Redknapp will be installed as the new boss in time for Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford. And this might explain the timing. Long touted as Hughes’ successor Harry’s agent came out in the week to say he was interested in the Ukraine job. It seemed highly unlikely given Redknapp did not want to travel to Newcastle for a job, but now seems to have been a ploy to force QPR’s hand. And it seems to have worked. Redknapp’s time at White Hart Lane began in similar circumstances and proved to be the starting point for a good few years. If history repeats itself, Tony Fernandes’ move will appear to have been a bold and clever move. If not well there’s always Caterham F1. Oh....

Shirts, Shorts & Tradition

Football strips used to follow such simple rules once upon a time. Last week’s North London derby should have been one of those occasions. Arsenal red shirts, white shorts, red socks. Tottenham white shirts, navy shorts, white/navy socks. Sounds simple doesn’t it, the way it’s always been and certainly no need for an away shirt or alternative kit there. Yet Tottenham lined up their 3rd choice kit of silver and black halved shirts. Don’t get me wrong, I actually like that kit but the only clash was both teams home kit has white shorts. It wouldn’t have been a hardship for Tottenham to switch to their traditional navy shorts like they did at Manchester United. Sadly marketing and brand management is now having a bigger say on strips for a weekend than common sense.

I’ll also include England rugby team’s ludicrous decision to wear purple or maroon or whatever colour it’s supposed to be against Australia in this. A change kit for England is only necessary when they play Fiji and at an absolute push, Argentina. I can feel a rant coming on so I’ll leave it there.

Let’s see what next week brings!

Thursday 25 October 2012

Tour de France 2013 - As it happened (possibly!)

2013 will see the 100th edition of the Tour de France. Yesterday the route was officially announced and what a beauty it is!

Starting in Corsica, the first time the island has welcomed ‘le Grand Boucle’, the course winds it ‘s way around France in a roughly clockwise direction. One team time trial, two individual tests against the clock, 6 mountain stages with 4 summit finishes, including one at the top of the Province giant Mont Ventoux and 2 ascents of the legendary Alpe d’Huez on the same day, it appears to have something for everyone. And the finish in Paris will see two ‘firsts’. Firstly this will take place at dusk with the presentations taking place under floodlight, and will be followed by a celebratory fireworks display. Second first will be the race going around the Arc de Triomphe on each of the finishing laps, instead of turning just in front of it.

Britain’s Bradley Wiggins is the reigning champion and while the sight of cycling’s ‘Modfather’ will be seen in the peloton, his aspirations may not be the same as this time 12 months ago. Rumours abound of a possible tilt at the Giro d’Italia, a course which while hillier does seem to suit the time trialling abilities of Wiggins more. The 2013 Tour route while not being totally in favour of the specialised climbers does give them the advantage. It may also give Wiggins’ Team Sky team-mate Chris Froome an edge.

Froome has already indicated he wants to give the Tour a good go, or at the very least be team leader and base his season around one of the Grand Tours. He won’t be the only one who will look at the course solicitously. Alberto Contador is the early pre-race favourite for good reason but the likes of Ryder Hesjedal, Joachim Rodriguez, Vincenzo Nibali and Tejay Van Garderen will also think they have a chance. And previous ‘winner’ Andy Schleck will want to put a disappointing 2012 behind him.

Britain’s other cycling superstar will also like the look of this parcours. Having recently moved from Team Sky, Mark Cavendish will head into the tour as Omega Pharma Quickstep’s team leader and as such will have the benefit of a full team behind him in his advance on another green jersey. And after missing out last year due to team commitments, few would bet against the Manxman achieving this.

I thought it might be fun to have a look at each stage in turn and see whether we can predict stage winners and how the shape of the race for the maillot jaune might go. I don’t know the profile of each and every stage just yet so apologies if you’re reading this in July 2013 and my guesses are way out! But anyway lets have a pop. So to Corsica:

Stage 1 – Porto Vecchio to Bastia – 212km

A bunch sprint awaits at the end of this stage, giving the winner the first yellow jersey of 2013. It is the one jersey which has so far eluded Cavendish so expect his hunger to be off the scale for this one. The problem here is the inevitable early tour crashes will be massively magnified. GC riders and sprinters alike will want to stay out of trouble but some big names will be caught up. Cav is favourite for the stage but winners here could be the survivors!

Stage 2 – Bastia to Ajaccio – 154km

Across some lumpier sections of the island, this should still come down to a bunch sprint. The pure sprinters may not make it with the lead group but Peter Sagan should have a chance here as well as John Degenkolb, Matt Goss or Edvald Boassen-Hagen.

Stage 3 – Ajaccio to Calvi – 154km

Final day in Corsica and at 3.3km long with an average gradient of 8.1% expect the Col de Marosolino with just 13km to go to the finish to jettison a few of the big sprinters. Classics riders to figure strongly here, Philippe Gilbert, Fabian Cancellara etc. as well as the 4 sprinters mentioned in stage 2.

Stage 4 – Nice to Nice (Team Time Trial) – 25km

Expect the big guns to feature here. Team Sky, Garmin Sharp, BMC should all be up there at the sharp end. With the previous stages expected to be tight affairs, whoever wins will likely take the yellow jersey as well.

Stage 5 – Cagnes-sur-Mer to Marseille – 219km

The Gineste climb towards the end of the day may aid breakaway riders but will more than likely just weed a few riders out of the peloton. Bunch sprint probable.

Stage 6 – Aix-en-Provence to Montpellier – 176km

Another day Cav will have marked in the diary. Crashes will figure again but aside from the Brit look for Marcel Kittel and Andre Griepel for the win.

Stage 7 – Montpelier to Albi – 205km

The last stage before the Pyrenees and the sprinters will want their day. The number of crashes should hopefully have reduced by now so expect Cav to be up their for the win.

Stage 8 – Castres to Ax 3 Domaines – 194km

The first mountain stage and first summit finish. Will Sky want to take the stage by the scruff of the neck as they did with the stage to La Planche-du-Belle-Filles last year? Or will we see Contador attack continuously as he did in the Vuelta a Espana? Probably a bit of both to be fair with many of variations thrown into the mix. Either way, expect a new leader come sundown.

Stage 9 – Saint-Girons to Bagneres-de-Bigorre – 165km

With 30km from the final climb to the finish and most of that downhill expect Vincenzo Nibali to be at the head of affairs today. Whether he makes it to the finish is a different matter. Stage winner could come from a break but don’t expect much change overall.

Stage 10 – Saint-Gildas-des-Bois to Saint-Malo – 193km

A typical Brittany stage, hard, rugged with the wind bound to be a factor at some point. Breakaway followed by a chase and bunch sprint though is still more than likely.

Stage 11 – Avranches to Mont-St-Michel (Individual Time Trial) – 33km

The first ITT of the tour will see the usual suspects at the head of the leaderboard. Wiggins, Cancellara and Tony Martin will mix it with GC contenders Contador, Froome and van Garderen. Could well be a day the yellow jersey changes hands.

Stage 12 – Fougeres to Tours – 218km

The GC contenders will be quiet for a few days so bunch sprints and breakaways are the order of the day here. All those usually involved in the Paris-Tours classic will be on show again today.

Stage 13 – Tours to Saint-Amand-Montrond – 173km

Same again I think. With nothing in the profile to worry the bunch, breakaway, chase and group sprint again.

Stage 14 – Saint-Pourcain-sur-Sioule to Lyon – 191km

Could be a good stage to watch. Punchy riders like Gilbert, Sagan, Simon Gerrans, Sylvain Chavanel as well as Louis Leon Sanchez will be looking to this one. But don’t count out Nibali or Joachim Rodriguez giving it a go as they try to haul back some time.

Stage 15 – Givors to Mont Ventoux – 242km

Bastille Day and the longest stage of this years tour so expect plenty of Frenchmen in the break. The heads of state in this years tour will definitely flex their muscles on the Ventoux but I would still expect a French victory. Pierre Rolland, Thomas Voeckler and last year’s sensation Thibault Pinot will be ones to watch out for.

Stage 16 – Vaison-la-Romaine to Gap – 168km

This could be one for the breakaway. Will need a strong rider to carry it off but depending how the tour is going, certain teams will be looking at this stage to bring glory. Expect the likes of Alejandro Valverde and Voeckler to be in amongst it

Stage 17 – Embrun to Chorges (Individual Time Trial) – 32km

Shortish TT compared to last year but with far lumpier terrain. The strength men like Cancellara and Martin may not have things all their own way here. Wiggins may be tired if he’s already done the Giro and with tomorrows stage looming, may want to conserve energy. Look to Contador, Froome and Van Garderen to be there or thereabouts.

Stage 18 – Gap to L’Alpe d’Huez – 168km

The queen stage in my eyes! The crowds are crazy on the Alp at the best of times and with two ascents of the tour legend this could be the craziest year yet. Hopefully they will not spoil what should be a huge spectacle. GC riders will be out for glory today with those who lost time yesterday determined to bounce back. But with the big men looking out for each other it could be a day for a breakaway, like it was last time with Rolland taking the win. Laurens ten Dam or Robert Gesink will look for victory on the ‘Dutch mountain’.

Stage 19 – Bourg d’Oisans to Le Grand-Bornard – 204km

5 climbs today including the Glandon and Madeleine but with 12km of descent from the final climb of the Col de la Croix Fry, this stage should see Nibali prominent but don’t rule out Cadel Evans here.

Stage 20 – Annecy to Annecy-Semenoz – 125km

The final chance to influence the overall standings and with the stage being a short one, expect fireworks from the off. A lumpy opening will see breaks trying to get away but it is whether the leader’s team are happy to let them go. If they try and keep it together to the Revard they risk sapping all their energy early. Stage winner should come from a break but the fight for yellow could go down to the last climb.

Stage 21 – Versailles to Paris Champs-Elysees – 118km

Paris at night. Should be a sensational finish to what looks like being a sensational race. The winner for the last 4 years has been the Manx Missile. If he’s made it this far, expect win number 5.

Of course by the time July rolls around there will be injuries, loss of form, as well as new names to throw into the melting point. In terms of the final jerseys however, I wouldn’t expect too many surprises.

Jersey Classifications:

Yellow - Alberto Contador
Green - Mark Cavendish
Mountains - Thomas Voeckler
White - Tejay Van Garderen

But what do I know? Only that 2013 has the potential to remove a lot of stigma from the Tour and cycling and on paper anyway, promises to be a gripping, exciting and sensational

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Vanilla Ice - The solution to problems with governing bodies?

“Alright, stop! Collaborate and listen”. So said Vanilla Ice at the start of his No1 hit, Ice Ice Baby. While nobody could say the Miami rapper was a philosopher, there is a message in these words that the heads of sporting governing bodies across the world would do well to heed.


Yesterday the UCI held a press conference to respond to the USADA report concerning Lance Armstrong and doping. It’s chief, Pat McQuaid, started strongly saying that “Lance Armstrong had no place in cycling”. He went on to say that the UCI was to uphold USADA’s decision to strip Armstrong of his 7 Tour de France titles. A positive start then but it wasn’t going to last long.


The Lance Armstrong affair has raised certain misgivings about UCI’s handling of the case, both at the time and subsequently. In 2001 Armstrong presented ‘suspicious data’ relating to EPO tests. Mr McQuaid, although not president at the time, admitted he did know about the results of these tests. However whether more aggressive follow up testing of Armstrong and others happened is at best open to interpretation. More worrying was McQuaid’s acknowledgement that a payment accepted by the UCI from Armstrong, allegedly to cover up a positive result, something he strenuosly denied, was probably a mistake. However this would not stop him from accepting further payments from current riders.


“We are not an agency or organisation that has unlimited funds. We are not FIFA with billions in the bank. We spend all our money on the development of the sport and when we can get sources of funding we will do so.”


“It would have been best if we had not done it (taken LA’s money) but if we do it in the future it will be done in a different way. If any riders came to UCI now and wanted to contribute to the development of the sport or ant-doping or training programmes then the UCI would accept that money. But we would accept it differently and announce it differently than before”.


When pushed on whether he thought this was a conflict of interests Mr McQuaid appeared to get angrier and the tone of his replies became more aggressive. Later one on one interviews would show this tension remained close to the surface, as he called whistleblowers Floyd Landis and Tyler Hamilton ‘scumbags’.


Cycling though isn’t the only sport whose chiefs have adopted an ostrich, head in the sand, style defence. This summer’s European Championships in Football was clouded with worries over racism and hooliganism. FIFA showed a reluctance to deal with this head on but were far more proactive, and quicker on the trigger, when it came to fining Denmark’s Nicholas Bendtner over his display of a sponsor’s logo on his underpants.


Racism and football have been in the news nationally over the last weekend and beyond. High profile cases such as Louis Saurez and John Terry have brought the issue back into sharp focus. This weekend saw the start of the Kick it Out campaign’s annual highlighting of the issue. Players from all clubs were to wear t-shirts bearing the Kick it Out logo. However the apparent lack of action by the FA and other governing bodies to tackle racism prompted certain players, most notably Rio Ferdinand, to choose not to wear them as a mark of protest.


The problem is rather than highlight the problem of racism and to allow all parties to come together to discuss potential solutions, the focus has switched to Sir Alex Ferguson’s disapproval of Ferdinand’s actions.


This is the same with the UCI. Following on from the USADA report, the focus has moved from where in reality it needs to be. There are important issues and questions that need answered, whether it be the way forward for the UCI and their management of cycling of what actions the FA and other governing bodies are now going to take in regards to racism in football. Unfortunately all the sideshows and other stories that have spawned from these have taken the spotlight away. Unless governing bodies stand up and face these problems and questions head on, these issues will never go away.


‘Alright, stop! Collaborate and listen’? Wise words indeed Mr Ice.

Monday 1 October 2012

U18's Match Report

Tottenham U18's v Newcastle U18's - Report, Thoughts & Ratings

A thoroughly entertaining game & well deserved win for Tottenham's young guns on Saturday morning which unfortunately was not a sign of things to come later in the day.

It took 5 mins or so for the Spurs lads to settle into the rhythm of the game but once they did they started to cause Newcastle many problems. And it was Spurs who fashioned the first chance of the game. Newcastle gave the ball away in the middle of the park and it was quickly moved out to Darren McQueen on the right. He whipped a great ball in, finding the unmarked Kenny McEvoy at the back post, who unfortunately couldn't keep his shot down.

But it wasn't long before we took the lead. A foul inside the 'D' on the edge of the area gave us a good attacking free kick. With both Laste Dombaxe and Harry Winks stood over the ball it was Dombaxe who took his time to compose himself, before curling an effort into the keeper's left hand corner.

Dombaxe thought he had scored again 5 minutes later out muscling the centre half before rounding the keeper and scoring. However the linesman had flagged to indicate a shirt pull in the build up, a decision which looked slightly harsh.

Spurs continued to press and create chances. McEvoy had another chance after being well found by Winks but while his shot beat the keeper, it also beat the far post, rolling just wide. A wonderful flowing move brought another chance. Slick one touch passing in the midfield gave Shaq Coulthirst his first sight of goal and he brought a fine save by the Newcastle keeper.

But Coulthirst wasn't to be denied a goal for much longer. Minutes later Dominic Ball, with a great through ball, found him 12 yards out and he made no mistake.

Spurs finished the half strong & McEvoy had another chance, this time the keeper getting a hand on it to tip it round the post.

But his goal finally came minutes into the second half. Another great ball through found him behind the defence yet again and this time he slotted home between the keeper's legs.

Newcastle, who up to this point had only created one chance of note, started to come back into the game and were awarded a penalty on the hour mark, Tom Gardiner adjudged to have brought the winger down. For a moment it looked as though he may receive his marching orders, so there was relief when only a yellow was produced. And there was then relief when Luke McGee pulled off a brilliant save, diving low to his right to smother the ball.

Newcastle continued to have more possession without really testing McGee again and indeed we nearly scored again when Rueben Lameires fired just wide after a strong surging run by Alex McQueen found him on the edge of the box.

But the scoring was not finished and with only a few minutes left on the watch, Darren McQueen took advantage of a slip in the Newcastle defence to race clear and score at the second attempt.

Final Score : Newcastle U18's 0  Tottenham U18's 4

My first ever view of Spurs at this level and a really enjoyable one it was too. Of the starting line up I only really knew of Shaq Coulthirst and the McQueen cousins prior to kick off. However there was so many strong performances across the entire team that I don't think it will be too long before some of these guys are pushing for a place in the U21's.

The formation used fluctuated between 3-4-3, 4-3-3 and 4-3-2-1 and it was in the first half when it was basically 3-4-3 that we had our best moments.

Ratings:

Luke McGee - 7 - Confident keeper, safe when called upon & good stop for penalty. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet and not afraid to come out and play as a 'sweeper keeper' when needed.

Alex McQueen  - 6 -  Didn't get forward that much, being asked to stay and cover more. But the one time he did come out he produced a strong and powerful run and created a good chance.

Sam Smith - 6 - As with Alex he didn't get forward much as he was asked to cover. Wasn't tested a great deal but solid when he was. Very no nonsense.

Laste Dombaxe - 8 - Great goal but it was his presence and general midfield play that impressed. Played just in front of the defence but produced strong forward runs and big tackles when needed. Very good prospect.

Tom Gardiner - 6 - Give away penalty which looked to shake his confidence for a bit but either side of that looked comfortable with what Newcastle threw at him.

Dominic Ball - 6 - Seemed to move between Centre Half & a Defensive Midfield role. Again not tested but solid when needed and a great through ball for the second goal.

Darren McQueen - 7 - Played wide right in an attacking role and was prominent a few times going forward. Great cross early, looked quick and dangerous.

Ruben Lamieres - 7 - Worked hard in midfield without the ball and produced some great passes to split the defence on a number of occasions.

Shaq Coulthirst - 7 - Strong, led the line well and took his goal with aplomb. Looked very confident in his ability and caused problems all day for the defence.

Harry Winks - 7 - Always wanted the ball, which was great to see, and dropped deep to get it on a number of occasions. Passing sometimes went astray but never lost confidence in his ability. Real potential.

Kenny McEvoy - 9 - Playing left wing, constantly got behind the defence and his pace and dribbling were always a threat. Probably needs to work on his shooting as could've had a hat trick but exceptionally good game.





Jarrovians RUFC - A Diamond in the Rough


‘It doesn’t get more grass roots than Jarrovians RUFC’ read a piece on the internet when describing north east clubs. This statement has always sounded a little harsh but can be understood somewhat if you don’t know the full story and history of the team.


The fact that a rugby club even exists in Jarrow may come as a surprise to most. A shipbuilding town known primarily for the 1936 march, musician Alan Price of The Animals and world champion athlete and now BBC commentator Steve Cram, rugby has never made a major impact on the consciousness of the town. Indeed there still remains some within South Tyneside who are blissfully unaware of the clubs existence. But exist they do and what a club they are.


Formed in 1978 when a few players from Hebburn Technical College decided to start their own team, Jarrovians has had an almost rollercoaster existence. From its creation the club quickly grew to two teams and had moderate success during the 80’s. It’s most successful period came in the early 90’s. Now running a total of three teams and a colts side, Jarrovians gained promotion in 1991 only to have that taken away from them when the leagues were restructured that summer. Promotion would be gained again later in the decade but amazingly the same outcome would befall the club.


The club’s fortunes would start to dwindle as the century closed. Three teams would become two and the new century did not alter the downward spiral. Jarrovians were now struggling to fulfil two fixtures and with league games being some of these games to be cancelled, eventually the painful decision to withdraw from league competitions was taken.


After one season out of league competition the club attempted a return. It was an attempt which ended within a couple of months, injuries and the loss of key players on the eve of the new season, coupled with close but demoralising defeats proved too much and the club took the decision to once again drop out of the league, this time however vowing not to return for at least three seasons. It was a decision that would prove genius.

At this point the playing staff of the club was made up of a lot of experienced players, most of whom were heading to the end of their playing careers. However the following summer would see an influx of a few, young, talented players join the club and the following season saw the club compete, and compete well, in the Durham Junior ‘Second Team’ League. On top of this the club ‘inherited’ two teams at the Midi/Junior level, creating the club’s first ever Junior section.


The colts side that existed during the 91 season existed for just a few years. It was followed 6 years later by another side, which again lasted for just a few years. So the introduction of a youth setup was a new and exciting venture, one which the members of the club have risen to with their usual determination and good humour. It hasn’t always gone smoothly. With most having no knowledge of the youth side of the game a lot of what followed was trial and error, and the loss of one of the ‘inherited’ sides due to loss of players and the problem of guaranteeing games was a significant blow. But it did not dampen spirits and much like the senior arm of the club, newer players at various age groups started to slowly appear.


Off the field the club had finally, for the first time in their history, secured a clubhouse of their own. After match entertainment had always been held at various pubs around Jarrow and Hebburn up to this point so the coming of a small, yet comfortable, permanent base of operations was a massive feather in the cap. It allowed the club to grow, attracting new players and members, bringing a small but steady flow of income into the club and providing a safe environment for the Juniors and has continued to do so.


Back on the field the club continued to grow and improve. As vowed they didn’t look to re-entering official RFU competition and continued to look at improving and recruiting. Two further seasons of challenging for honours in the Second Team League however and this decision could not be ignored any longer. And so in 2011-2012 it was with a great sense of optimism and excitement that Jarrovians RUFC re-took their place in Durham and Northumberland Division 3.


The season that followed saw Jarrovians confound the critics and finish 6th out of the 12 teams. Along the way they played some great stuff, culminating in a great victory over already promoted Seaham. The Junior Section also continued to grow with numbers reaching just below 50, the highest level since its formation. Games took place at three different age groups, a first for the club, and in another first the club fielded two girls in a game. Further firsts saw the club host the U9 County Cup as well as their own Sevens tournament.


This season sees the club hoping to consolidate it’s position in the league while at the same time continuing their growth and improvement in both Senior and Junior sections. As normal with Jarrovians it won’t be easy but the members will strive to achieve this with their usual good humour and friendly demeanour. Anyone wanting to be part of this exciting era is always more than welcome. Training sessions for Seniors take place at their Luke Lanes base every Thursday night at 6.30 with games on a Saturday afternoon. The Juniors take to the field every Sunday at 10am with all age groups from U6 up to U17 training and playing in a safe, fun environment.


Grass roots they may be but if you search among that grass you’ll come across a small gem, a shining light of North East rugby who encompass everything that is good and great in the game, a real diamond in the rough!

(Article originally appeared in the Newcastle Falcons v Leeds Carneige programme - Friday 28th September 2012)

Tuesday 25 September 2012

Sunderland & Martin O'Neill - A Match Made in Heaven?

(originally written in December 2011)

Much to the deep disappointment of most Newcastle fans, ‘Agent’ Steve Bruce was shown the door at Sunderland last week.  In much as the same way ‘Agent’ Lawrie McMenenmy did back in the mid 80′s, they felt Bruce was taking Sunderland where they wanted them to go, down!

And that is slightly harsh.  Granted the form over the last few months of last season and the beginning of this wasn’t brilliant but having lost Darren Bent last January they were always going to have a fight on their hands to replace him.  They thought they already had at least one striker on the books who was more than capable, record signing Asamoah Gyan had proven a the recent world cup a good goalscorer.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it, the Ghanain departed after the window had closed preventing Bruce from bringing anyone else in.

So eventually his tenure ended and in fairly quick order, Martin O’Neill was named as the new boss.  Can he succeed where so many other big names have failed?

It’s worth saying I’m not a Sunderland fan but I can appreciate that their is massive potential for big things at the Stadium of Light.  They have the ground, in Ellis Short they have a fairly wealthy owner who has got the club on a fairly even footing financially and who is willing to back his manager with transfer funds.  They also have the support, while not selling out at home every week, the fanbase is definitely there.  You only have to look at their away following to realise that.

So can O’Neill bring success to Wearside?  The signs would appear good.  He has been linked with the post on a number of occassions over the last 5 years, his childhood support of the club became public knowledge in the North East some time ago and helped fuel these rumours.  If you look at his previous clubs he has had some moderate success with clubs in a similar or slightly worse position than Sunderland.  Leicester became Premier League mainstays and perenniel League Cup challengers, winning the trophy in 1997 and 2000.  His most recent job at Aston Villa saw them achieve back to back to back 6th place positions along with another League Cup Final appearance and a trip to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

His style of football isn’t for most but has proved to be effective.  Dogged defence, usually with a couple of big centre halves, coupled with hard working midfielders and a single target man, usually supplied with a direct ball.  And effective is probably what Sunderland need right now.

And he’s also got some decent players at the club. Kieran Westwood is a solid keeper, in John O’Shea and Wes Brown they have vastly experienced defenders and Sebastian Larsson is a quality midfielder.  So everything seems in place, all that is missing is that spark.  O’Neill might just be the catalyst.

But as I’ve said previously hindsight is a wonderful thing and only time will tell whether O’Neill can bring the success of Peter Reid back to the club or whether he will go the same way as Roy Keane, Mick McCarthy and Steve Bruce.  One thing is for certain, Newcastle fans will be unlikely to be calling him ‘Agent’ O’Neill.

Brazil 1982 - Just WOW!

(originally written in December 2011)

Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, or Socrates as he was more commonly known, died last Sunday at the age of 57.  He had been battling illness for some  time.

In 1981 I sat down to watch the FA Cup Final and delighted in Tottenham’s 3-2 victory over Manchester City.  It’s the first game of any kind I can remember seeing on the TV and was the reason I started supporting Spurs.  In 1982 I watched a Glenn Hoddle penalty defeat QPR, again in the FA Cup Final.  For this reason Hoddle became my footballing hero.  But I truly fell in love with football a few months later, as a colourful, wonderful and slightly bewildering concept to an 8 year old boy, filled our screens.

Espana 82 was the first World Cup Finals I remember and I through myself headlong into it.  The sticker book purchased I set about collecting as many of the stickers as I could, all with bizarre and strange names.  A few of these names stood out, Rachid Harkouk being one, the Algerian centre forward who was at Notts County at the time.  The rest all belonged to Brazillians.

Junior, Falcao, Eder, Zico and Socrates.  Even now these names fell easily off my tongue.  Zico was the main man, there was always an excitible buzz whenever his name was mentioned.  And rightly so, watching him throughout the tournament would prove that.  But it was Socrates who stood out from them all.  Tall, bearded (therefore the connection to one of my early Tottenham heroes, Ricky Villa, was an easy one to make) he didn’t look like your typical footballer.  But he strode around the pitch like a collossus and had a deft touch and deceptive turn of pace.

Following news of his death I went onto YouTube to look for clips of him and Brazil that tournament.  The memories soon came flooding back, one memory in particular providing an audible gasp of delight from yours truly.  Eder was a sensational player who always seemed under-rated compared to his team-mates but that goal against the USSR was a sheer delight.  And the chip against Scotland wasn’t bad either!

The game against Italy is still one of my all time favourite games.  It had everything and this game alone made my fall in love with football. Twice Italy led, twice Brazil came back.  15 minutes from time Paulo Rossi bagged his and Italy’s third to end the Brazillian dream.  But it had been an adventure and one which was littered with great skills, wonderful goals and a masterclass in attacking football.

I implore all of you to get on the web and have a look at some of the action.  Some teams have come close but none in my opinion have bettered them.  I stil drool with excitement when I see them and can only imagine how good they would have been if they’d had a fit Careca.  And I dare any of you not to gasp in amazement!

RIP Socrates and thanks for the memories.

Tottenham & The Europa League

(originally written in November 2011)

There’s been a lot of debate about our elimination from the Europe League at the group stage.  Lots of people happier for it and lots of people who feel disappointed.  I’m one of the latter.

A lot of the pro camp will say we had no intention of winning it and now we can concentrate on the league and they’ve got a point.  But the counter arguement here is there wasn’t many of the first choice starting XI who actually played in the competition.  VDV for example wasn’t even registered.  Harry exercised his right to give the squad players and emerging talent a chance, a decision I actually agree with and despite our exit, I believe it proved beneficial.

Players like Tom Carroll, Ryan Fredericks, Harry Kane were thrust into the minds of Tottenham fans, many of whom had never heard of them or had never seen them in action.  Again I fall into the latter.  And like me, many were impressed by what they saw.  Tom Carroll is a slip of a lad but looked very composed on the ball and a very usefull passer.  Harry Kane a big strong, almost old fashioned centre forward who actually possesses a decent touch. Ryan Fredericks, quick and versatile, will have been disappointed to have missed a few games with injury.

Some of the younger brigade have been around for a little bit longer, Andros Townsend and Jake Livermore for example.  Townsend was played in a variety of positions but was at his best when wide left.  He looks the type of player who will cause fullbacks sleepless nights and is able to create chances.  At the moment very much a squad player who could be used as an impact sub if so required.  Livermore as well remains a squad player in the big picture.

The Europa league also gave some of the more senior players a chance to shine.  Some grasped it, some didn’t.  Steven Pienaar while not setting the world alight did show some glimpses af quality and might still prove to be a useful player for the club.  Others like Giovani dos Santos and Roman Pavlyuchenko, while both getting on the scoresheet, didn’t really thrust themselves back into contention for a league start.
The main positive was getting these players gametime.  Nobody wants to sit around on the bench or out of the frame on a Saturday.  The Europe League provided a competitive environment for them to get games.  Now that we’re out what happens now?

Well it’s a good question.  The likes of Sandro, Kranjcar and Pienaar might not be happy with lack of games and benchwarming in league fixtures.  And if we lose our squad players it will affect our league campaign should injuries and suspensions take their toll.

Of the youngsters some will go out on loan most proabably.  Caroll for example would be a great addition to a side like Brighton or Southampton in the Championship.  Others like Kane may not be allowed to leave, depending on how important our involvement in the Next Gen Series is seen.  Townsend would be a one to keep for the reasons stated above.  And of course there will be those departing the club for the last time, Gomes, Corluka, Bassong and Pav falling most possibly into this category.

And for those thinking a good FA Cup run will allow these youngsters and squad players games I disagree.  FA Cup games are played instead of league matches so there’s no problem in playing more or less your strongest side here.  They still get a week to recover before the next game.  And I for one would love to win a trophy!

And I think therin lies the crux of the arguement.  We all want to see the club be successful and winning trophies helps us achieve this.  We all remember the league cup final a few years ago.  And in the upcoming book ‘The Glory Glory Game’, written by the Spurs Writers Club, I talk about the sheer enjoyment of winning the 1984 Uefa Cup.

Therefore I  think it is a shame we are out of the Europa League.  And January might be an interesting time for goings.

Memories & The Future

(originally written in Feburary 2012)

Google Earth is a wonderful thing and show just how far technology has come in a short space of time. From the comfort of your own home you can now be transported to anywhere in the world in just a few clicks, although bizarrely the first place everyone usually goes to is their own home! There or somewhere from their past.

That’s what happened to me the other day. I found myself looking at Hull, a place I know from my university days back in the early to mid 90’s. A great city to be a student in and also a very sporting city. One of my big regrets from my time there was never making it to The Boulevard for a Hull rugby league game and especially not making it to a Hull v Hull KR derby match. The passion that I saw from both sets of supporters was equal to anything I have seen in football and I would have loved to have seen it at first hand.

After a few minutes of flitting about the city, my eyes were drawn to The Boulevard. Now no longer used following Hull FC’s move to the KC Stadium I was struck by the sadness of a now crumbling stadium, still standing in the photos, but now looking eerily quiet and deserted. I could only imagine what it feels like for a supporter, someone who had gone week in, week out, handed over their hard earned money to support their heroes, to look upon such a sight. All of this made more difficult to comprehend by not having been there myself. I had however been to Boothferry Park.

The sight that greeted me at the former home of Hull City FC was even more shocking and heartbreaking. The basic shape of the ground was still there but the stands have gone. All that remains is the ‘supermarket’ end and a few bits of terracing. Street view allows you to see between the houses into the overgrown wilderness that once saw football league matches played out. It’s a strange feeling looking onto such a scene and set me off on a trip down memory lane.

From Hull I moved on. The Goldstone Ground, Brighton. The Dell, Southampton. Elm Park, Reading. The Manor Ground, Oxford. Highfield Road, Coventry. Maine Road, Manchester. Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough and finally Roker Park, Sunderland. Some are now just housing estates or industrial estates, any signs of their past now erased. Others are still there on the aerial shots in various states of decay or redevelopment. Street view which is a little bit later shows houses appearing on some sites. Roker Park holds a special place in my memory as it was the first ground I went to as a child. It is now totally gone. If you didn’t know where to look you’d probably miss it. I’ve actually only been past it once since it made way for the Stadium of Light and I nearly did but the internet being a wonderful thing, pictures of the old Clock Stand where I sat for that first game can still be seen and memories can linger on.

All this nostalgia though was well timed as only a few days later news filtered through about the NDP moving a step closer, thanks to the injection of money from Haringey council and The Mayor of London, money that will enable the town of Tottenham and the surrounding areas of the ground to be redeveloped. This news though also comes with a tinge of sadness and regret as it hastens the end of White Hart Lane as we know it.

The move to new stadiums is the right thing to do for some clubs, Darlington FC being the obvious and current exception. I understand all the arguments and reasoning coming out of Tottenham and I agree wholeheartedly with them all. It is vital for the club to move forward and start to realise its full and true potential. However as with any step forward, human nature says a part of you will always miss what was there before. WHL holds precious memories to all of us who are proud to call Tottenham Hotspur our team. The arrival of *insert name here* stadium won’t diminish those memories, in fact it will probably make them even more cherished. But it will still be a sad time when the Park Lane end finally leaves this world.

I for one am sad that grounds such as Boothferry Park, Highfield Road and Roker Park are no longer with us. The current young generation are already ignorant of the joy and fun that standing on the terraces at these grounds brought. Soon future generations will be ignorant of just how ramshackle football grounds used to be as well. Maybe that’s a good thing but then again when the newer grounds start to be replaced, maybe they’ll have their memories to warm them.