It's easy to see why so many people are becoming more and more disillusioned with the game of football, or rather its "stars". No longer are many players wanting to play for the love of the game, it seems, or even for the love of the club. Of course, we will always have the Steven Gerrards, John Terrys, Gary Nevilles, Ryan Giggses and Jamie Carraghers of the world, but all it takes is one to make the average football fan's heart sink.
Emmanuel Adebayor and Ashley Cole both left a club that seemed to have treated them quite well, to both fire a barrage of abuse back at it. Cole, when he left Arsenal, seemed to have forgotten that they had helped nurture him towards becoming one of the best full-backs in the word. Adebayor left the Emirates, and spent more time goading the Arsenal players and fans than winning over the Manchester City faithful.
It would be foolish to hope that all players are faithful servants to their club, and only move on for the right reasons, but isn't there some sort of etiquette any more? An etiquette that Luis Figo, Sol Campbell, Michael Owen or Kenny Miller (twice) could have had a lesson in? Is it just me, though, or did those players seem to do it with a bit of dignity, albeit the slightest bit of dignity?
And then there was Wayne Rooney, who seemed to take it to new levels. I don't want to go over all that again - I've already had my tuppence worth - but it was a wholly depressing scenario; Wayne Rooney holding one of the world's biggest football clubs to ransom. Manchester United have only Sir Alex Ferguson to thank for somehow managing to keep him at the club whilst completely belittling his approach to the transfer talks.
If you're not already aware of why I'm so frustrated and annoyed on this crisp (I think, I haven't been out to check), December, Sunday afternoon, check a paper, go to your favourite sports website, or just type 'Carlos Tevez' into Google. And your heart will sink - well, if you can put aside any allegiances you have and think of it as a purely football matter.
At Manchester United, Tevez felt as though he was bigger than the club - a la Rooney? - and he duly succumbed to the money on the table over at Eastlands. Tevez isn't in it for the money, obviously. Just ask West Ham! But off he went, leaving behind the fans who absolutely adored him ("Fergie, sign him up" etc.). And without a second thought, signed for their newly-loaded city rivals.
Manchester City didn't exactly cover themselves in glory either, acting like one of those snotty families who come into money, leave the council estate, and act as though they always belongs in the upper echelons. And the fickle finger of football was quickly pointed at City fans. But who can blame them, Tevez has scored almost 40 goals in 60 games for the club - a phenomenal return.
Although it's been his conduct which leaves a lot to be desired. Who can forget the taunting of United when he scored against his old team? Straight out of the Adebayor book of idiocy, it was another case of wondering why he didn't celebrate with his fans and his team-mates. Had he, like Adebayor, signed for City only to prove a point to his former employers? And if not, what better way to prove the sceptics wrong than to see out the five year contract you've signed?
Or just a year and a half of it.
There were signs of unrest only a week or so ago, when he was substituted against West Brom. This has clearly set a good example for players such as Mario Balotelli. And now poor Carlos is homesick and wants to leave. It really isn't surprising that there has been so much disharmony and petulance at City this season. Tevez is club captain!
It's a despicable transfer request. Regardless of whether he really is just homesick or not, it's an appalling lack of respect to Manchester City and their fans. And it serves to increase the worrying trend that players can now just pick and choose wherever they want to be, when they want to play, and when they fancy chucking the toys out.
City have rejected the request. But even with the billions in reserve, they cannot keep Tevez in Manchester if he doesn't want to be there. And perhaps that is the most worrying thing of all.
Sunday 12 December 2010
Tuesday 7 December 2010
England stuff Aussie turkeys
So, all the pre-series hype is living up to expectation. The Australian team had been roundly dismissed, and over the course of the opening two Tests, there has been little to dispel these dismissals. Australia, for the most part, have been woeful. England, for the most part, have been superb. As a result, even the Aussie media have turned on Punter & Co.
At Brisbane, on a pretty flat track, England got off to a rather precarious start. A superb hat-trick from Peter Siddle had the Gabba absolutely rocking, albeit with some wafting help from Matt Prior. Over the next two days, Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin did everything they could do dispel the notion that Australia are at their weakest for decades.
Step forward much-maligned Alistair Cook.
Cook was under a lot of pressure coming into this series. Criticised, damned even, in many quarters, the English media would have been sensing (and baying for) blood when England began their second innings. 428 balls, 235 runs, 630 minutes and 27 boundaries later, no less with a glorious * against his name, Cook left Brisbane on top of the world.
Much has been said of the Aussie attack and the generosity of the Gabba pitch, but you can only beat what is presented to you. And beat them Cook did, with all manner of sticks. It was as satisfying for Cook as it was demoralising for a nation (no, not you England – he actually is a good player). Add to that the importance of the situation – first Ashes Test, away from home, staring down the barrel, and facing a mountainous struggle to bounce back – and the significance of that innings should be realised. If it wasn’t realised then, it certainly was after the second Test in Adelaide.
Credit must be handed also to Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott. Whilst Cook deservedly took the plaudits in Brisbane, without Strauss and Trott as support, his record-breaking task would have been all the more difficult.
Adelaide was as one-sided a victory as England could ever have dreamt of – Australia’s first innings defeat at home since 1993. Dominant with bat, ball and in the field, England took a justified 1-0 lead in the series. And not even Alistair Cook – and Nasser Hussain’s incessant moaning on Sky Sports about his records tumbling – could detract from what was a barnstorming return to cricket’s top table from Kevin Pietersen.
Assured, confident, stylish and cocky – Pietersen really was on fire. His career-best 227 was the highlight of another stunning England batting performance after the bowlers had made surprisingly short work of Australia – except Mike Hussey. But it was in the final over before close of play on day four when Pietersen produced the match-winning swing of momentum – with the ball.
Calling himself “the original pie-chucker”, KP ‘chucked’ one which pitched in the rough, beat the dangerous and returning-to-form Michael Clarke all ends up, and was snaffled by Alistair Cook (is there a trend here?). The only thing more astonishing was that it had to be referred. Clarke later apologised for not walking, perhaps rightly so. But it was a massive wicket, and the scenes of jubilation when England walked off were mirrored the following day as Graeme Swann cleaned up.
On pitches not entirely suited for spin, Swann has to be on top form to be a success in this series. Hussey rightly punished the uncharacteristic short stuff in Brisbane, but the spell which blew away Australia’s tail (and the notable scalps of Ponting and Katich), will live long in England fans’ memories. Clinical, accurate and, at times, unplayable, and set against the backdrop of the delirious Barmy Army’s rendition of a Joy Division classic, Swann did tear them apart. Again.
Next stop, Western Australian Cricket Association ground in Perth. Personally, this is a nightmare for me. Watching the opening session of each day’s play live until lunch (2am), going to bed, spending the next working day avoiding any details in order to get home and watch the extended highlights was difficult enough when play began at midnight. Play in Perth begins at 2:30am, and apart from late Saturday/early Sunday, it looks like more highlights for me.
By the time the third Test begins, Australia will have dropped two of their pace men and probably their spinner, will have lost an opening batsman to injury, and Marcus North’s international career is hanging by a feathered edge. England, conversely, have a team that picks itself. Stuart Broad will miss the rest of the tour, which is a blow, but England have three reliable seamers to choose from as a replacement; Chris Tremlett the most like-for-like.
Australia face a huge task to claw back the famous urn. One more win will do it for England. The signs from the first two Tests are that an England win is almost a foregone conclusion.
Mike Ashley: the joke is (on) you.
Finally, a word on the furore at St. James’ Park, where Mike Ashley has come out of hiding to again stamp his ridiculous mark on Newcastle United. Not content with overseeing the club’s relegation, while he tried his best to offload the club, he has now gone and sacked the man who admirably steered the Toon Army back into the top flight.
I’ve read in a few places the wonderful depiction of the situation as the 'Cartoon Army of Sid James’ Park', and it is something that the fans do not deserve. Generally regarded as among the best around, the fans are suffering the ludicrous rule of a guy who seemingly wants nothing more than having his Sports Direct brand beamed into space from the Gallowgate End.
OK, Newcastle have had a couple of terrible results recently, not least the feeble defeat at West Brom. But you can’t sack a man who has just tanked your fiercest rivals 5-1, or who won the Championship with 102 points. There seems to be little doubt that Mike Ashley has been waiting for any moment to get rid of Chris Hughton, and has again emerged into the spotlight of the fans and players wrath alike.
Martin Jol has been installed as favourite, even though Alan Pardew had been odds-on. I’m not sure if Jol would want to take the job from his assistant at Spurs, but with the disgrace that was his contract "negotiation" at Ajax during the Summer, I wouldn’t be overly surprised. Either way, another period of instability looms for Newcastle, and Ashley, and relegation would be nothing more befitting for Ashley in particular. Shame he is going to tear those fans apart. Again.
At Brisbane, on a pretty flat track, England got off to a rather precarious start. A superb hat-trick from Peter Siddle had the Gabba absolutely rocking, albeit with some wafting help from Matt Prior. Over the next two days, Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin did everything they could do dispel the notion that Australia are at their weakest for decades.
Step forward much-maligned Alistair Cook.
Cook was under a lot of pressure coming into this series. Criticised, damned even, in many quarters, the English media would have been sensing (and baying for) blood when England began their second innings. 428 balls, 235 runs, 630 minutes and 27 boundaries later, no less with a glorious * against his name, Cook left Brisbane on top of the world.
Much has been said of the Aussie attack and the generosity of the Gabba pitch, but you can only beat what is presented to you. And beat them Cook did, with all manner of sticks. It was as satisfying for Cook as it was demoralising for a nation (no, not you England – he actually is a good player). Add to that the importance of the situation – first Ashes Test, away from home, staring down the barrel, and facing a mountainous struggle to bounce back – and the significance of that innings should be realised. If it wasn’t realised then, it certainly was after the second Test in Adelaide.
Credit must be handed also to Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott. Whilst Cook deservedly took the plaudits in Brisbane, without Strauss and Trott as support, his record-breaking task would have been all the more difficult.
Adelaide was as one-sided a victory as England could ever have dreamt of – Australia’s first innings defeat at home since 1993. Dominant with bat, ball and in the field, England took a justified 1-0 lead in the series. And not even Alistair Cook – and Nasser Hussain’s incessant moaning on Sky Sports about his records tumbling – could detract from what was a barnstorming return to cricket’s top table from Kevin Pietersen.
Assured, confident, stylish and cocky – Pietersen really was on fire. His career-best 227 was the highlight of another stunning England batting performance after the bowlers had made surprisingly short work of Australia – except Mike Hussey. But it was in the final over before close of play on day four when Pietersen produced the match-winning swing of momentum – with the ball.
Calling himself “the original pie-chucker”, KP ‘chucked’ one which pitched in the rough, beat the dangerous and returning-to-form Michael Clarke all ends up, and was snaffled by Alistair Cook (is there a trend here?). The only thing more astonishing was that it had to be referred. Clarke later apologised for not walking, perhaps rightly so. But it was a massive wicket, and the scenes of jubilation when England walked off were mirrored the following day as Graeme Swann cleaned up.
On pitches not entirely suited for spin, Swann has to be on top form to be a success in this series. Hussey rightly punished the uncharacteristic short stuff in Brisbane, but the spell which blew away Australia’s tail (and the notable scalps of Ponting and Katich), will live long in England fans’ memories. Clinical, accurate and, at times, unplayable, and set against the backdrop of the delirious Barmy Army’s rendition of a Joy Division classic, Swann did tear them apart. Again.
Next stop, Western Australian Cricket Association ground in Perth. Personally, this is a nightmare for me. Watching the opening session of each day’s play live until lunch (2am), going to bed, spending the next working day avoiding any details in order to get home and watch the extended highlights was difficult enough when play began at midnight. Play in Perth begins at 2:30am, and apart from late Saturday/early Sunday, it looks like more highlights for me.
By the time the third Test begins, Australia will have dropped two of their pace men and probably their spinner, will have lost an opening batsman to injury, and Marcus North’s international career is hanging by a feathered edge. England, conversely, have a team that picks itself. Stuart Broad will miss the rest of the tour, which is a blow, but England have three reliable seamers to choose from as a replacement; Chris Tremlett the most like-for-like.
Australia face a huge task to claw back the famous urn. One more win will do it for England. The signs from the first two Tests are that an England win is almost a foregone conclusion.
Mike Ashley: the joke is (on) you.
Finally, a word on the furore at St. James’ Park, where Mike Ashley has come out of hiding to again stamp his ridiculous mark on Newcastle United. Not content with overseeing the club’s relegation, while he tried his best to offload the club, he has now gone and sacked the man who admirably steered the Toon Army back into the top flight.
I’ve read in a few places the wonderful depiction of the situation as the 'Cartoon Army of Sid James’ Park', and it is something that the fans do not deserve. Generally regarded as among the best around, the fans are suffering the ludicrous rule of a guy who seemingly wants nothing more than having his Sports Direct brand beamed into space from the Gallowgate End.
OK, Newcastle have had a couple of terrible results recently, not least the feeble defeat at West Brom. But you can’t sack a man who has just tanked your fiercest rivals 5-1, or who won the Championship with 102 points. There seems to be little doubt that Mike Ashley has been waiting for any moment to get rid of Chris Hughton, and has again emerged into the spotlight of the fans and players wrath alike.
Martin Jol has been installed as favourite, even though Alan Pardew had been odds-on. I’m not sure if Jol would want to take the job from his assistant at Spurs, but with the disgrace that was his contract "negotiation" at Ajax during the Summer, I wouldn’t be overly surprised. Either way, another period of instability looms for Newcastle, and Ashley, and relegation would be nothing more befitting for Ashley in particular. Shame he is going to tear those fans apart. Again.
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