Football articles aren't exactly intellectual fodder at the best of times but once in a while, someone comes up with a piece that stimulates the old grey cells.
Here's one of the best I've ever read, discussing how tactics and formations may evolve over the next decade.
The blog accompanying it ain't half bad either.
Enjoy!
Note: I've been having trouble accessing The Guardian's website using Firefox recently. If you're having the same problem, use Internet Explorer to view the link above.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Où vous êtes, Monsieur Platini?
A significant voice that has been prominent only due of its deafening silence in the aftermath of the Henry handball debacle, has been that of Michel Platini, UEFA boss and leading protagonist against the introduction of technology to help referees.
Sports as diverse as cricket, rugby and tennis have benefited from video replays.
Yet, football's stubborn honchos continue to delay the inevitable.
Even a volleyball referee would've picked up Thierry Henry's double-handball as an infringement.
The fact that the football referee and his lineman didn't spot it is not their fault.
Two pair of eyes can't cover everything happening in the penalty area.
All-seeing camera lenses watching from various angles, on the other hand, are unlikely to miss anything.
Time to move into the new millennium, Messrs Platini and Blatter!
Sports as diverse as cricket, rugby and tennis have benefited from video replays.
Yet, football's stubborn honchos continue to delay the inevitable.
Even a volleyball referee would've picked up Thierry Henry's double-handball as an infringement.
The fact that the football referee and his lineman didn't spot it is not their fault.
Two pair of eyes can't cover everything happening in the penalty area.
All-seeing camera lenses watching from various angles, on the other hand, are unlikely to miss anything.
Time to move into the new millennium, Messrs Platini and Blatter!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Leave Andre alone
It could be argued that Andre Agassi brought the publicity upon himself with his revelations about having experimented with drugs and then having lied about it. It certainly won't harm his book sales, the cynics would add.
What has annoyed me, though, is the sanctimonious clap-trap emanating from various sources, including current stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
What Agassi consumed were not performance enhancing drugs.
Sport should restrict itself to testing and penalising its participants for chemical substances that provide them an unfair advantage against their peers.
Leave the rest to the law.
What has annoyed me, though, is the sanctimonious clap-trap emanating from various sources, including current stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
What Agassi consumed were not performance enhancing drugs.
Sport should restrict itself to testing and penalising its participants for chemical substances that provide them an unfair advantage against their peers.
Leave the rest to the law.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
United shame
If it were up to me, I'd insist on the Barnsley authorities - both the football club and the constabulary - naming, shaming and prosecuting those so-called supporters of Manchester United who sullied the name of the most recognised footballing institution in the world.
In this day and age, there is absolutely no excuse for the sort of behaviour that terrified innocent catering folk at Oakwell.
The week didn't start too well with the thoroughly deserved defeat at Anfield but the post-match chaos last night is a much bigger setback.
Come on, United suits! Do your job and ensure that the miscreants are, at the very least, banned for life from The Shrine (aka Old Trafford).
There is no place at the club for pathetic people of that sort.
In this day and age, there is absolutely no excuse for the sort of behaviour that terrified innocent catering folk at Oakwell.
The week didn't start too well with the thoroughly deserved defeat at Anfield but the post-match chaos last night is a much bigger setback.
Come on, United suits! Do your job and ensure that the miscreants are, at the very least, banned for life from The Shrine (aka Old Trafford).
There is no place at the club for pathetic people of that sort.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Overlooked fact about Balloon/Beach-Ball
It's been an interesting couple of days for inflatable objects.
First, there was the identified flying object in Colorado that grabbed the attention of the world media for a couple of hours.
Then, an equally controversial balloon/beach-ball, 'wearing' a Liverpool crest, deflected a Darren Bent shot into the net for the winning goal at the Stadium of Light.
Amidst all the hullaballoo, one particular fact appears to have been overlooked. Having just watched a replay of the opening 15 minutes of the game, it's interesting to note that prior to the goal, the balloon/beach-ball was nestling comfortably in the corner of the Liverpool net.
That's an undeniable fact.
We could speculate on how it got there. TV replay vision indicates that a Liverpool supporter punched it on to the field of play. If that's the case, it's reasonable to think it happened prior to kick-off.
How did it end up nestling in the corner of the net? My guess is that Pepe Reina put it there, as 'keepers are wont to do with towels and other such sundry items. How else could it possibly have got there? Perhaps he felt it would be a good-luck charm. ;)
The balloon/beach-ball then appears to have blown itself into the field of play and taken up a 'defensive' position at the edge of the six-yard box, whereupon it then attempted to block Bent's effort and only succeeded in deflecting it into the net. Alright, I'm being a tad facetious there but I'm amazed that the media hasn't highlighted the FACT that the balloon/beach-ball was in the corner of the Liverpool net prior to the goal.
An unfortunate incident but if anyone's to blame, it's Reina, not the kid who punched it on to the pitch. Perhaps the Liverpool 'keeper should've sent the balloon/beach-ball back into the crowd rather than storing it in his net. Then again, he couldn't have foreseen that it would've floated back into play at an inopportune time.
First, there was the identified flying object in Colorado that grabbed the attention of the world media for a couple of hours.
Then, an equally controversial balloon/beach-ball, 'wearing' a Liverpool crest, deflected a Darren Bent shot into the net for the winning goal at the Stadium of Light.
Amidst all the hullaballoo, one particular fact appears to have been overlooked. Having just watched a replay of the opening 15 minutes of the game, it's interesting to note that prior to the goal, the balloon/beach-ball was nestling comfortably in the corner of the Liverpool net.
That's an undeniable fact.
We could speculate on how it got there. TV replay vision indicates that a Liverpool supporter punched it on to the field of play. If that's the case, it's reasonable to think it happened prior to kick-off.
How did it end up nestling in the corner of the net? My guess is that Pepe Reina put it there, as 'keepers are wont to do with towels and other such sundry items. How else could it possibly have got there? Perhaps he felt it would be a good-luck charm. ;)
The balloon/beach-ball then appears to have blown itself into the field of play and taken up a 'defensive' position at the edge of the six-yard box, whereupon it then attempted to block Bent's effort and only succeeded in deflecting it into the net. Alright, I'm being a tad facetious there but I'm amazed that the media hasn't highlighted the FACT that the balloon/beach-ball was in the corner of the Liverpool net prior to the goal.
An unfortunate incident but if anyone's to blame, it's Reina, not the kid who punched it on to the pitch. Perhaps the Liverpool 'keeper should've sent the balloon/beach-ball back into the crowd rather than storing it in his net. Then again, he couldn't have foreseen that it would've floated back into play at an inopportune time.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Paul Pogba - remember the name
"Talking of debuts, I was at Crewe on Saturday for the U-18s game and Paul Pogba played in central midfield. I don't really want to exaggerate, so will confine myself to saying that he was sensational; built like the side of a house, eats up the ground with huge strides, nearly broke the Crewe crossbar with a free kick, can pass & shoot with either foot and knows how to tackle. Reminiscent of a young Vieira....and he's still only 16."
Andy Cooper - Manchester Evening News blog
The name might ring a bell for those who've been following Le Havre's futile attempt to link his move to Manchester with Chelsea's poaching of Gael Kakuta, which landed the London side an 18-month transfer ban.
There have been some pretty good reports about Pogba from France in the past and the above comment, from someone who watches the reserves and academy teams in action a fair bit, can only whet the appetites of United supporters ...
Can't wait to see him in action - probably for the reserves in one of the MUTV highlights packages on Setanta in the not too distant future.
Andy Cooper - Manchester Evening News blog
The name might ring a bell for those who've been following Le Havre's futile attempt to link his move to Manchester with Chelsea's poaching of Gael Kakuta, which landed the London side an 18-month transfer ban.
There have been some pretty good reports about Pogba from France in the past and the above comment, from someone who watches the reserves and academy teams in action a fair bit, can only whet the appetites of United supporters ...
Can't wait to see him in action - probably for the reserves in one of the MUTV highlights packages on Setanta in the not too distant future.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
A few random thoughts
Juan Martin del Potro: Just might prove to be a bigger and more brutal version of Rafael Nadal, who himself was a bigger and better version of Lleyton Hewitt.
Kim Clijsters: Perhaps the story of the sporting year. Might well go on to to carve out a better tennis career as a mother than anyone else in history.
Roger Federer: Who would've believed that he would lose from a set up and serving at 5-4, 30-0 in the second! Has said he will play on until at least 2012. Five more Grand Slams out of 12 will take his tally to 20. Well within his grasp!
Melanie Oudin: Saw a bit of her during the European summer and there's no doubt that she's the future of American tennis.
UEFA: No surprise that they backed down over the Eduardo video evidence case. What a bunch of duds!
Emmanuel Adebayor: Deserved his three-match ban for his stomp on van Persie but could see nothing wrong with his 90-yard sprint before celebrating in front of the Arsenal faithful. Football fans can get too precious at times. If they're willing to mete out verbal abuse, they ought to be big enough to absorb some retaliatory celebration without whingeing and whining and moaning about it.
Michael Owen: Might well have produced the Macheda moment of the season last Sunday.
EPL: Looks like it'll be between Chelsea and United. I'm backing the relative youth of the champions to be the decisive factor over 38 games.
La Liga: Barca or Real? I'll go for the stability of the champions to prevail.
Serie A: Can't see an ageing Milan making a credible challenge. Inter to beat Juve to the post.
Bundesliga: Probably the most exciting league in Europe - on paper, not in terms of the quality of football - with any from four or five capable of succeeding Wolfsburg.
Gary Ablett Jr: Deserved to finally win the Brownlow.
The Brownlow: Isn't it time to take the votes away from the umpires and let an independent panel of former players do the adjudication over the 22 home-and-away rounds? Surely then we wouldn't have the ridiculous situation of Nick Riewoldt, far and away St Kilda's best and most influential player this season, polling as badly as he did! I've never understood how umpires, who should be concentrating on their job, could determine the best players in any game.
Renault: A mate suggested today that their faux pas could well have been the most unsportsmanlike conduct in the history of sport. Can't argue with that, given the potential risk to lives as a result of the 'planned' accident.
Major League Baseball: October is around the corner. The Yankees have the best record during the regular season. Given that my SF Giants are unlikely to make the play-offs, I'll be donning my ABY (Anyone But Yankees) hat and cheering on any team that plays NYY. Go Red Sox! Go Tigers/Twins! Go Angels! Go Dodgers! Go Phillies! Go Cardinals! Go Rockies!
Kim Clijsters: Perhaps the story of the sporting year. Might well go on to to carve out a better tennis career as a mother than anyone else in history.
Roger Federer: Who would've believed that he would lose from a set up and serving at 5-4, 30-0 in the second! Has said he will play on until at least 2012. Five more Grand Slams out of 12 will take his tally to 20. Well within his grasp!
Melanie Oudin: Saw a bit of her during the European summer and there's no doubt that she's the future of American tennis.
UEFA: No surprise that they backed down over the Eduardo video evidence case. What a bunch of duds!
Emmanuel Adebayor: Deserved his three-match ban for his stomp on van Persie but could see nothing wrong with his 90-yard sprint before celebrating in front of the Arsenal faithful. Football fans can get too precious at times. If they're willing to mete out verbal abuse, they ought to be big enough to absorb some retaliatory celebration without whingeing and whining and moaning about it.
Michael Owen: Might well have produced the Macheda moment of the season last Sunday.
EPL: Looks like it'll be between Chelsea and United. I'm backing the relative youth of the champions to be the decisive factor over 38 games.
La Liga: Barca or Real? I'll go for the stability of the champions to prevail.
Serie A: Can't see an ageing Milan making a credible challenge. Inter to beat Juve to the post.
Bundesliga: Probably the most exciting league in Europe - on paper, not in terms of the quality of football - with any from four or five capable of succeeding Wolfsburg.
Gary Ablett Jr: Deserved to finally win the Brownlow.
The Brownlow: Isn't it time to take the votes away from the umpires and let an independent panel of former players do the adjudication over the 22 home-and-away rounds? Surely then we wouldn't have the ridiculous situation of Nick Riewoldt, far and away St Kilda's best and most influential player this season, polling as badly as he did! I've never understood how umpires, who should be concentrating on their job, could determine the best players in any game.
Renault: A mate suggested today that their faux pas could well have been the most unsportsmanlike conduct in the history of sport. Can't argue with that, given the potential risk to lives as a result of the 'planned' accident.
Major League Baseball: October is around the corner. The Yankees have the best record during the regular season. Given that my SF Giants are unlikely to make the play-offs, I'll be donning my ABY (Anyone But Yankees) hat and cheering on any team that plays NYY. Go Red Sox! Go Tigers/Twins! Go Angels! Go Dodgers! Go Phillies! Go Cardinals! Go Rockies!
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Eduardo Case: Precedent or Poppycock?
As with most football-related topics, there are differing views on the pros and cons of UEFA's decision to impose a two-match ban on Arsenal striker Eduardo for his dive against Celtic.
Most impartial observers are glad that long-overdue retrospective action has finally been taken. Yet, cynics amongst them have quite rightly questioned whether this is just a one-off gesture.
On the other hand, it's not impossible to empathise with Arsene Wenger's anger at the decision. Already, he has - quite rightly! - questioned why other not dissimilar acts that go against the spirit of the game have since gone unpunished.
I found that a moment's reflection on the matter turned into a somewhat longer period of befuddlement. What could have precipitated this bureaucratic bolt from the blue? Did some faceless administrator at UEFA decide to act on little more than a whim? Did anyone in the corridors of power think through the consequences? Isn't this, after all, the same organisation whose president, Michel Platini, has, on several occasions, championed the capability of referees and their assistants ahead of technological aids? Wasn't it only a few days ago that he was talking about having two additional assistants to keep a close 'manual' eye on penalty area incidents at either end? Furthermore, hasn't FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter spoken regularly against the use of video technology, advocating instead that the referee's 'manual' eyesight is more than adequate?
Where do we go from here?
To my mind, there's only one course of action open to UEFA and FIFA. They have to sanction the use of retrospective action against divers and, well, for want of a better better word, cheaters in general.
The Eduardo incident has to become a valid precedent.
Otherwise, most - nay, all - impartial observers might switch back to supporting Arsenal's gripe against the bumbling bureaucrats and the Eduardo case will be seen as yet another another sorry episode in the long line of gaffes that UEFA and FIFA are so good at.
Most impartial observers are glad that long-overdue retrospective action has finally been taken. Yet, cynics amongst them have quite rightly questioned whether this is just a one-off gesture.
On the other hand, it's not impossible to empathise with Arsene Wenger's anger at the decision. Already, he has - quite rightly! - questioned why other not dissimilar acts that go against the spirit of the game have since gone unpunished.
I found that a moment's reflection on the matter turned into a somewhat longer period of befuddlement. What could have precipitated this bureaucratic bolt from the blue? Did some faceless administrator at UEFA decide to act on little more than a whim? Did anyone in the corridors of power think through the consequences? Isn't this, after all, the same organisation whose president, Michel Platini, has, on several occasions, championed the capability of referees and their assistants ahead of technological aids? Wasn't it only a few days ago that he was talking about having two additional assistants to keep a close 'manual' eye on penalty area incidents at either end? Furthermore, hasn't FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter spoken regularly against the use of video technology, advocating instead that the referee's 'manual' eyesight is more than adequate?
Where do we go from here?
To my mind, there's only one course of action open to UEFA and FIFA. They have to sanction the use of retrospective action against divers and, well, for want of a better better word, cheaters in general.
The Eduardo incident has to become a valid precedent.
Otherwise, most - nay, all - impartial observers might switch back to supporting Arsenal's gripe against the bumbling bureaucrats and the Eduardo case will be seen as yet another another sorry episode in the long line of gaffes that UEFA and FIFA are so good at.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
AFL Finals Preview
St Kilda: Had a couple of wobbles in August but am expecting them to be the force that Hawthorn were at this time last year.
Geelong: Like the Bombers of 1999-2001, might go down in history as winning only one flag over a dominant era.
Western Bulldogs: Running into prime form at the right time and may provide the Saints with their biggest test on the last Saturday in September.
Collingwood: Confess to underestimating them all year but still don't think they're good enough. Saints might teach them a footballing lesson on Sunday.
Adelaide: Only side outside Top 4 with any sort of chance. I pick them to beat the Pies next week after yesterday's thrashing of the Bombers.
Brisbane: Injuries might wreck their chances of beating the Blues.
Carlton: Might get lucky with the Lions' injuries but can't see them winning in Week 2.
Essendon: Injuries and suspensions didn't help but doubt that would've mattered in the end against rampant Crows.
Grand Final Prediction: Saints to beat Bulldogs in thriller.
Geelong: Like the Bombers of 1999-2001, might go down in history as winning only one flag over a dominant era.
Western Bulldogs: Running into prime form at the right time and may provide the Saints with their biggest test on the last Saturday in September.
Collingwood: Confess to underestimating them all year but still don't think they're good enough. Saints might teach them a footballing lesson on Sunday.
Adelaide: Only side outside Top 4 with any sort of chance. I pick them to beat the Pies next week after yesterday's thrashing of the Bombers.
Brisbane: Injuries might wreck their chances of beating the Blues.
Carlton: Might get lucky with the Lions' injuries but can't see them winning in Week 2.
Essendon: Injuries and suspensions didn't help but doubt that would've mattered in the end against rampant Crows.
Grand Final Prediction: Saints to beat Bulldogs in thriller.
Monday, August 31, 2009
US Open (mini-)Preview and Ashes note
Has to be a quickie as it's been a pretty busy period at work and home and, to make things a tad worse, I seem to have picked up a touch of the flu at the fag end of (the southern) winter.
Can't see anyone toppling Roger Federer in the men's event at Flushing Meadows. Rafael Nadal, struggling for peak match fitness following his injury lay-off, looks the most vulnerable of the Top 4 as far as semi-final places are concerned. Roger to beat Andy Murray in a repeat of last year's final.
The women's field is wide open. The Williams sisters have looked shaky on the North American hard court circuit over the past few weeks. I'll go for one of two Russians - Dinara Safina or Elena Dementieva - to break their Grand Slam duck. They've both got the talent. The question mark is over their temperament as both have been known to 'choke' at crucial moments. This might be their time.
I was asked by one of our readers to highlight the fact that the English (broadsheet) media complimented Ricky Ponting on his gracious post-match interview(s) at The Oval. That was indeed the case and well done to both Ricky and the English broadsheets!
Now, all we need is to see the Australian broadsheets showing a touch of humility in victory and grace in defeat. I suspect it might be a long wait for either.
Can't see anyone toppling Roger Federer in the men's event at Flushing Meadows. Rafael Nadal, struggling for peak match fitness following his injury lay-off, looks the most vulnerable of the Top 4 as far as semi-final places are concerned. Roger to beat Andy Murray in a repeat of last year's final.
The women's field is wide open. The Williams sisters have looked shaky on the North American hard court circuit over the past few weeks. I'll go for one of two Russians - Dinara Safina or Elena Dementieva - to break their Grand Slam duck. They've both got the talent. The question mark is over their temperament as both have been known to 'choke' at crucial moments. This might be their time.
I was asked by one of our readers to highlight the fact that the English (broadsheet) media complimented Ricky Ponting on his gracious post-match interview(s) at The Oval. That was indeed the case and well done to both Ricky and the English broadsheets!
Now, all we need is to see the Australian broadsheets showing a touch of humility in victory and grace in defeat. I suspect it might be a long wait for either.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Will Barca face a Real challenge?
Some cynics in England have, not completely unjustifiably, labelled La Liga as a glorified version of the Scottish Premier League, with no club outside the Big Two having a realistic chance. That's a somewhat disappointing scenario as it wasn't too long ago when the likes of Valencia and even Deportivo La Coruna were providing sustained challenges to Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Barca were light years ahead of the field last season and whilst it's not unreasonable of Madrid fans to expect big things of their Galacticos Mark II, I suspect they'll find the gulf too big to bridge within a season.
The weak link in the Catalan side could well turn out to be their new signing up front. I was staggered to see Inter receive millions of euros and Samuel Eto'o in exchange for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede did score a fair few in Serie A over the past couple of seasons but Italian defences aren't quite what they used to be. More pertinent is that fact that he has tended to freeze on big European occasions. Nevertheless, I think the brilliant creative prompting of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi will carry Barca to domestic and European success once again this season.
Real Madrid's performances will generate keen interest around the footballing world. For all the brilliance they've bought in attack, they haven't quite addressed their defensive deficiencies and their games could well generate high-scoring score-lines that were commonplace back in the fifties and sixties. As a Barca fan, I'm expecting to experience some - admittedly shameless - schadenfreude when it comes to Real's results during the season.
Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Villareal and Sevilla will probably fight it out for two Champions' League spots. Actually, with David Villa, rated by a lot of Spanish experts as better than Fernando Torres, and David Silva still at the club, Valencia could quite conceivably mount a pretty serious challenge.
There is one thing you can be certain of, though: the standard of football in La Liga will be unrecognisable from that in the SPL.
Barca were light years ahead of the field last season and whilst it's not unreasonable of Madrid fans to expect big things of their Galacticos Mark II, I suspect they'll find the gulf too big to bridge within a season.
The weak link in the Catalan side could well turn out to be their new signing up front. I was staggered to see Inter receive millions of euros and Samuel Eto'o in exchange for Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede did score a fair few in Serie A over the past couple of seasons but Italian defences aren't quite what they used to be. More pertinent is that fact that he has tended to freeze on big European occasions. Nevertheless, I think the brilliant creative prompting of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi will carry Barca to domestic and European success once again this season.
Real Madrid's performances will generate keen interest around the footballing world. For all the brilliance they've bought in attack, they haven't quite addressed their defensive deficiencies and their games could well generate high-scoring score-lines that were commonplace back in the fifties and sixties. As a Barca fan, I'm expecting to experience some - admittedly shameless - schadenfreude when it comes to Real's results during the season.
Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Villareal and Sevilla will probably fight it out for two Champions' League spots. Actually, with David Villa, rated by a lot of Spanish experts as better than Fernando Torres, and David Silva still at the club, Valencia could quite conceivably mount a pretty serious challenge.
There is one thing you can be certain of, though: the standard of football in La Liga will be unrecognisable from that in the SPL.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
9.58s and 19.19s
Nine-point-five-eight and nineteen-point-one-nine. Nine-point-five-eight ... [pause] ... nineteen-point-one-nine.
Now, let's try and get our heads around those astonishing figures. Each of them shaved ... sorry, wrong word ... chopped 0.11 seconds off the old marks. Taking 0.11 seconds off sprint records is unheard of. Well, it was unheard of until Usain Bolt came along.
Bolt turned 23 yesterday (Friday) and sprinters don't usually peak until their late twenties. How much quicker can he go? Can he break 9.5s and 19s? I'll be amazed if he doesn't because he didn't seem to be exerting himself unduly in Berlin.
Where does the Jamaican stand amongst the pantheon of sporting greats? Has he done enough to merit being mentioned in the same breath as Muhammad Ali, Pele, Diego Maradona, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Babe Ruth, Don Bradman, Michael Jordan & Co?
I think he most definitely has. It might be a tad early but I'm going to predict that by the end of his career, he will go down as the greatest sportsman of all time.
If you think that's a rash call, just contemplate those times again: 9.58s for the 100m and 19.19s over 200m. A week ago, I wouldn't have believed it possible. Now, I'm wondering how much lower the great man can go.
Now, let's try and get our heads around those astonishing figures. Each of them shaved ... sorry, wrong word ... chopped 0.11 seconds off the old marks. Taking 0.11 seconds off sprint records is unheard of. Well, it was unheard of until Usain Bolt came along.
Bolt turned 23 yesterday (Friday) and sprinters don't usually peak until their late twenties. How much quicker can he go? Can he break 9.5s and 19s? I'll be amazed if he doesn't because he didn't seem to be exerting himself unduly in Berlin.
Where does the Jamaican stand amongst the pantheon of sporting greats? Has he done enough to merit being mentioned in the same breath as Muhammad Ali, Pele, Diego Maradona, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Babe Ruth, Don Bradman, Michael Jordan & Co?
I think he most definitely has. It might be a tad early but I'm going to predict that by the end of his career, he will go down as the greatest sportsman of all time.
If you think that's a rash call, just contemplate those times again: 9.58s for the 100m and 19.19s over 200m. A week ago, I wouldn't have believed it possible. Now, I'm wondering how much lower the great man can go.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
World Athletics Championships Preview - and where to view it
There's no doubt about which event will be the highlight of the 12th World Athletics Championships, which gets under way in Berlin on Saturday.
Ever since the Beijing Olympics, when Tyson Gay missed the sprint finals due to injury, track and field fans around the globe have looked forward to seeing how he fares against the all-conquering Usain Bolt, who appears to be transcending his sport to the same extent that Roger Federer and Tiger Woods currently are as far as their respective sports are concerned; and the likes of Pele and Michael Jordan did theirs in the past.
On one hand, you have the effervescent, party-loving Jamaican - it must be stressed, though, that when Bolt goes partying, he spends his time dancing rather than drinking - and on the other, the polite, mild-mannered American. Whilst other contenders like Asafa Powell appear to be psyched out by Bolt's confident strut on the start line, Gay's calm temperament is likely to keep him focused on nothing but the lane in front of him.
Let's hope we get an injury-free 100m contest this time. The athletics world deserves it! For what it's worth, I can see Gay leading until Bolt swoops 40m out. It's worth noting, though, that Gay has recorded the fastest time this year: 9.77s.
Gay would appear to have a slightly better chance of upsetting Bolt in the 200m. The American won their last contest over the distance although that was back in 2007. He is also the defending world champion at the distance.
The women's sprints should be a much more open affair. Seven ladies have gone under 11s in the 100m this year. Kerron Stewart, another Jamaican, is the bookies' favourite although countrywoman Shelly-Ann Fraser, the Olympic champion, is in with as good a chance as any. Veronica Campbell-Brown could make it a Jamaican one-two-three. Campbell-Brown and American Allyson Felix will probably fight out the 200m finish.
The Americans should dominate the men's 400m, given the current form of LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner. On the women's front, will Sanya Richards finally break through and win a major title? Her biggest challenger could be young Russian Antonina Krivoshapka.
20-year-old Sudanese sensation Abubaker Kaki and compatriot Ismail Ahmed Ismail should fight it out for the men's 800m gold. The women's 800m could be one of the most open events of the championships with the Russians having a fairly strong group. Mariya Savinova has been the most consistent performer in 2009.
The middle and long-distance events will almost certainly be dominated by the Africans again. Kenyans Augustine Kiprono Choge and Haron Keitany are the men's 1500m favourites. Can anyone challenge Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele in the 5000m? His countryman Adebe Dinkesa has the fastest 10,000m time for the year while Sileshi Sihine, another Ehtiopian, is a strong chance too. The biggest question is whether or not Bekele will back up and run the 10,000m in addition to the 5000m. Another question: will Brimin Kipruto continue the Kenyan domination of the 3,000m steeplechase in recent years?
The women's 1500m could see Bahrain's Maryam Jamal successfully defending her title, although Ethiopia's Gelete Burka may have a say in that. Kenyan and Ethiopian ladies should fight out the 5000m with Tirunesh Dibaba, Meseret Defar and Meselech Melkamu being the names to watch. Expect Ethiopia to continue their domination of the 10,000m too, thanks to Dibaba and Defar.
I'm not even going to try to predict what might happen in the two marathon events, where unpredictability is the name of the game!
A few key dates and times (Australian Eastern Time) for the major finals:
Men's 100m: 05:35 am on Monday, Aug 17
Women's 100m: 05:35 am on Tuesday, Aug 18
Men's 200m: 04:35 am on Friday, Aug 21
Women's 200m: 05:00 am on Saturday, Aug 22
Men's 1500m: 04:25 am on Thursday, Aug 20
Women's 1500m: 03:00 am on Monday, Aug 24
Men's 5000m: 00:25 am on Monday, Aug 24
Women's 5000m: 03:35 am on Sunday, Aug 23
Men's 10,000m: 04:50 am on Tuesday, Aug 18
Women's 10,000m: 03:25 am on Sunday, Aug 16
Men's Marathon: 7:45 pm on Saturday, Aug 22
Women's Marathon: 7:15 pm on Sunday, Aug 23
One of the (very, very few) disadvantages of living in Oz is the obsession the local media has with a minor sport such as swimming, compared to the global world of athletics. Swimming! Pah!! Synchronised swimming can engage my interest for a while - at least there's a bit of art involved there - but watching people trawling up and down water lanes is much more ennui-inducing than observing snails trying to out-race each other!
Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Thankfully for track and field fans in Oz, SBS has come to the rescue again. SBS TWO (Channel 648 on Foxtel) will have extensive coverage from Berlin. Check the Foxtel EPG for details.
If you find swimming fascinating, give the World Athletics Championships a go. You'll soon realise why the rest of the world views it one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar.
Ever since the Beijing Olympics, when Tyson Gay missed the sprint finals due to injury, track and field fans around the globe have looked forward to seeing how he fares against the all-conquering Usain Bolt, who appears to be transcending his sport to the same extent that Roger Federer and Tiger Woods currently are as far as their respective sports are concerned; and the likes of Pele and Michael Jordan did theirs in the past.
On one hand, you have the effervescent, party-loving Jamaican - it must be stressed, though, that when Bolt goes partying, he spends his time dancing rather than drinking - and on the other, the polite, mild-mannered American. Whilst other contenders like Asafa Powell appear to be psyched out by Bolt's confident strut on the start line, Gay's calm temperament is likely to keep him focused on nothing but the lane in front of him.
Let's hope we get an injury-free 100m contest this time. The athletics world deserves it! For what it's worth, I can see Gay leading until Bolt swoops 40m out. It's worth noting, though, that Gay has recorded the fastest time this year: 9.77s.
Gay would appear to have a slightly better chance of upsetting Bolt in the 200m. The American won their last contest over the distance although that was back in 2007. He is also the defending world champion at the distance.
The women's sprints should be a much more open affair. Seven ladies have gone under 11s in the 100m this year. Kerron Stewart, another Jamaican, is the bookies' favourite although countrywoman Shelly-Ann Fraser, the Olympic champion, is in with as good a chance as any. Veronica Campbell-Brown could make it a Jamaican one-two-three. Campbell-Brown and American Allyson Felix will probably fight out the 200m finish.
The Americans should dominate the men's 400m, given the current form of LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner. On the women's front, will Sanya Richards finally break through and win a major title? Her biggest challenger could be young Russian Antonina Krivoshapka.
20-year-old Sudanese sensation Abubaker Kaki and compatriot Ismail Ahmed Ismail should fight it out for the men's 800m gold. The women's 800m could be one of the most open events of the championships with the Russians having a fairly strong group. Mariya Savinova has been the most consistent performer in 2009.
The middle and long-distance events will almost certainly be dominated by the Africans again. Kenyans Augustine Kiprono Choge and Haron Keitany are the men's 1500m favourites. Can anyone challenge Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele in the 5000m? His countryman Adebe Dinkesa has the fastest 10,000m time for the year while Sileshi Sihine, another Ehtiopian, is a strong chance too. The biggest question is whether or not Bekele will back up and run the 10,000m in addition to the 5000m. Another question: will Brimin Kipruto continue the Kenyan domination of the 3,000m steeplechase in recent years?
The women's 1500m could see Bahrain's Maryam Jamal successfully defending her title, although Ethiopia's Gelete Burka may have a say in that. Kenyan and Ethiopian ladies should fight out the 5000m with Tirunesh Dibaba, Meseret Defar and Meselech Melkamu being the names to watch. Expect Ethiopia to continue their domination of the 10,000m too, thanks to Dibaba and Defar.
I'm not even going to try to predict what might happen in the two marathon events, where unpredictability is the name of the game!
A few key dates and times (Australian Eastern Time) for the major finals:
Men's 100m: 05:35 am on Monday, Aug 17
Women's 100m: 05:35 am on Tuesday, Aug 18
Men's 200m: 04:35 am on Friday, Aug 21
Women's 200m: 05:00 am on Saturday, Aug 22
Men's 1500m: 04:25 am on Thursday, Aug 20
Women's 1500m: 03:00 am on Monday, Aug 24
Men's 5000m: 00:25 am on Monday, Aug 24
Women's 5000m: 03:35 am on Sunday, Aug 23
Men's 10,000m: 04:50 am on Tuesday, Aug 18
Women's 10,000m: 03:25 am on Sunday, Aug 16
Men's Marathon: 7:45 pm on Saturday, Aug 22
Women's Marathon: 7:15 pm on Sunday, Aug 23
One of the (very, very few) disadvantages of living in Oz is the obsession the local media has with a minor sport such as swimming, compared to the global world of athletics. Swimming! Pah!! Synchronised swimming can engage my interest for a while - at least there's a bit of art involved there - but watching people trawling up and down water lanes is much more ennui-inducing than observing snails trying to out-race each other!
Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Thankfully for track and field fans in Oz, SBS has come to the rescue again. SBS TWO (Channel 648 on Foxtel) will have extensive coverage from Berlin. Check the Foxtel EPG for details.
If you find swimming fascinating, give the World Athletics Championships a go. You'll soon realise why the rest of the world views it one of the biggest events on the sporting calendar.
EPL Preview
As Manchester United embark upon their quest for an unprecedented four domestic titles in a row, their closest challengers will almost certainly be the side that prevailed over penalties during last Sunday's season-opening Community Shield at Wembley.
Predictably, much has been made by the media of the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and, to a lesser extent, Carlos Tevez, from Old Trafford. Contrary to most expert opinion, I reckon United will actually end up scoring more goals than they did last season. Great player though Ronaldo undoubtedly is - the best in the world, as far as I'm concerned - it was becoming apparent that United's tactics were too predictable towards the end of the season. The Champions' League Final was the perfect example, with Ronaldo, playing as the lone striker, providing the only attacking threat, as Wayne Rooney languished on a wing and Dimitar Berbatov warmed the bench alongside Tevez. I expect Berbatov to have a much better season this time around and Rooney to flourish in his favoured 'No.10' role. The free signing of Michael Owen could turn out to be master-stroke to rival the GBP 1m capture of Eric Cantona all those years ago. Owen's no Cantona but if he stays fit, he'll score plenty of goals from the chances that his new team-mates will undoubtedly create. He looked sharp, if a tad wasteful, in the friendly against Valencia last week that was broadcast by Setanta Sports in Oz.
The main reason I'm backing United for the title, though, is the natural progress that is expected to come from the likes of Federico Macheda, Danny Welbeck, Nani, Anderson, Darron Gibson, Jonny Evans and the Da Silva twins. The current batch of youngsters at The Shrine is the most exciting since Fergie's Fledglings made their mark fourteen seasons ago. Of the other contenders, only Arsenal, full of promising young talent themselves, can be expected to improve as much.
Chelsea's challenge will depend on how they react to Carlo Ancelotti's prompting. The initial signs are good. After being outplayed by United in the first half at Wembley, they reacted very well to some tactical changes after the break and were unlucky not to have won in regulation time. In a one-on-one contest, they'd probably fancy their chances against the champions. The question mark against them is their ability to last the distance, given almost all their top-liners, with the exception of Michael Essien, the best midfielder in the competition, are close to or over the age of 30. Add to that the fact that Essien and Didier Drogba, arguably their two most influential players, will miss a month during the African Nations' Cup in January, and suddenly, the prognosis doesn't look quite as good.
I expect Arsenal to have a much better season despite the loss of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure. If Andrei Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas remain fit, they'll challenge United and Chelsea. Eduardo and Robin van Persie are a pretty good front two and in Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, the Gunners have three highly talented youngsters who could all make a big impression.
Liverpool could face a real battle for fourth spot if Manchester City can get their act together. The Merseysiders over-achieved last season and the loss of Xabi Alonso won't help. Rafael Benitez will be hoping that Javier Mascherano, who has seemed unsettled by rumours of Barcelona coming in for him, is focused come the start of the season, In Fernando Torres, the Reds have the best forward in the league and his partnership with Steven Gerrard will be crucial. All said and done, though, they just don't have the depth to match the top three. If you need any proof of that, just compare their bench with that of the top three.
Manchester City's performances will probably provide the most intriguing aspect of the season. They seem to have signed an awful lot of strikers. Has Mark Hughes got the balance right? We'll know soon enough.
Tottenham, Everton and Villa will keep the contenders honest. Spurs should improve substantially. David Moyes and Martin O'Neill, two of the shrewder managers around, will ensure their sides don't slip too far.
It's much of a muchness after that, with Sunderland being my pick as the most improved team this season. It'll be good to have the likes of Wolves and Birmingham, with their large fan bases, back in the top flight. Burnley last played in the top division back in the mid-seventies, when I'd just started following English football. It's good to see them back too, from a purely nostalgic viewpoint.
Who are in danger of relegation? I can't see Hull City surviving if they maintain their atrocious form from the second half of last season. Beyond them it could be any two from as many as eight. Indeed, the relegation battle should be as engrossing as, if not more than, the fight for the title.
Time for predictions ...
Champions: Manchester United
Runners-up: Chelsea
Champions' League: Arsenal, Manchester City
Relegation: Hull City, Stoke City, Portsmouth
My projected favourite moment of the season: Rooney and Owen, both Evertonians as boys, combining for the former Liverpool striker to score the winner at the Kop End at Anfield.
Predictably, much has been made by the media of the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and, to a lesser extent, Carlos Tevez, from Old Trafford. Contrary to most expert opinion, I reckon United will actually end up scoring more goals than they did last season. Great player though Ronaldo undoubtedly is - the best in the world, as far as I'm concerned - it was becoming apparent that United's tactics were too predictable towards the end of the season. The Champions' League Final was the perfect example, with Ronaldo, playing as the lone striker, providing the only attacking threat, as Wayne Rooney languished on a wing and Dimitar Berbatov warmed the bench alongside Tevez. I expect Berbatov to have a much better season this time around and Rooney to flourish in his favoured 'No.10' role. The free signing of Michael Owen could turn out to be master-stroke to rival the GBP 1m capture of Eric Cantona all those years ago. Owen's no Cantona but if he stays fit, he'll score plenty of goals from the chances that his new team-mates will undoubtedly create. He looked sharp, if a tad wasteful, in the friendly against Valencia last week that was broadcast by Setanta Sports in Oz.
The main reason I'm backing United for the title, though, is the natural progress that is expected to come from the likes of Federico Macheda, Danny Welbeck, Nani, Anderson, Darron Gibson, Jonny Evans and the Da Silva twins. The current batch of youngsters at The Shrine is the most exciting since Fergie's Fledglings made their mark fourteen seasons ago. Of the other contenders, only Arsenal, full of promising young talent themselves, can be expected to improve as much.
Chelsea's challenge will depend on how they react to Carlo Ancelotti's prompting. The initial signs are good. After being outplayed by United in the first half at Wembley, they reacted very well to some tactical changes after the break and were unlucky not to have won in regulation time. In a one-on-one contest, they'd probably fancy their chances against the champions. The question mark against them is their ability to last the distance, given almost all their top-liners, with the exception of Michael Essien, the best midfielder in the competition, are close to or over the age of 30. Add to that the fact that Essien and Didier Drogba, arguably their two most influential players, will miss a month during the African Nations' Cup in January, and suddenly, the prognosis doesn't look quite as good.
I expect Arsenal to have a much better season despite the loss of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure. If Andrei Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas remain fit, they'll challenge United and Chelsea. Eduardo and Robin van Persie are a pretty good front two and in Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, the Gunners have three highly talented youngsters who could all make a big impression.
Liverpool could face a real battle for fourth spot if Manchester City can get their act together. The Merseysiders over-achieved last season and the loss of Xabi Alonso won't help. Rafael Benitez will be hoping that Javier Mascherano, who has seemed unsettled by rumours of Barcelona coming in for him, is focused come the start of the season, In Fernando Torres, the Reds have the best forward in the league and his partnership with Steven Gerrard will be crucial. All said and done, though, they just don't have the depth to match the top three. If you need any proof of that, just compare their bench with that of the top three.
Manchester City's performances will probably provide the most intriguing aspect of the season. They seem to have signed an awful lot of strikers. Has Mark Hughes got the balance right? We'll know soon enough.
Tottenham, Everton and Villa will keep the contenders honest. Spurs should improve substantially. David Moyes and Martin O'Neill, two of the shrewder managers around, will ensure their sides don't slip too far.
It's much of a muchness after that, with Sunderland being my pick as the most improved team this season. It'll be good to have the likes of Wolves and Birmingham, with their large fan bases, back in the top flight. Burnley last played in the top division back in the mid-seventies, when I'd just started following English football. It's good to see them back too, from a purely nostalgic viewpoint.
Who are in danger of relegation? I can't see Hull City surviving if they maintain their atrocious form from the second half of last season. Beyond them it could be any two from as many as eight. Indeed, the relegation battle should be as engrossing as, if not more than, the fight for the title.
Time for predictions ...
Champions: Manchester United
Runners-up: Chelsea
Champions' League: Arsenal, Manchester City
Relegation: Hull City, Stoke City, Portsmouth
My projected favourite moment of the season: Rooney and Owen, both Evertonians as boys, combining for the former Liverpool striker to score the winner at the Kop End at Anfield.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Can City emulate Chelsea?
Before Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea, the London club, situated in one of the trendier spots in the West End, was better known for its fashionable supporters rather than any substantial accumulation of silverware.
The Russian's arrival changed all that, at least on the trophy front. He started off by buying a complete squad full of world-class talent. More importantly, he backed that up by hiring the best young manager in the business in Jose Mourinho, without whose innate tactical nous Chelsea might not have had the success they did from 2004 to '06.
Manchester City appear to be adopting a similar model. With Arabian petrodollars to back them up, they are in a position to - theoretically, at least - outbid every other team in the English Premier League, including Chelsea.
However, despite having all that cash to spend, they haven't yet been able to hire a bona fide top-liner. Rejections from Kaka in January and John Terry in the past week would've hurt. City's biggest challenge over the next season or two would appear to be to do well enough to start attracting the bigger stars who, at this stage, prefer one of the Big Four.
What City do have in Mark Hughes is a good young manager who has the potential to become their long-sought messiah. After successful stints with Wales and Blackburn Rovers, much is expected of 'Sparky' at Eastlands.
The Arab sheikhs have passed the first test of their credibility by resisting the urge to sack Hughes after a relatively disappointing 2008-09 season. Such a knee-jerk reaction would've been more than harmful. If City are to make a sustained attempt to join the Big Boys, managerial stability will be essential. The example of Alex Ferguson's longevity at their cross-town rivals is one they would do well to try and emulate.
Already, City appear to have won the opening battle of wits with United. The well thought out poster of Carlos Tevez, decked in City blue, welcoming visitors to Manchester, has prickled Ferguson. That's a sure-fire sign that the United manager is worried about City, whatever he might say to the contrary. Hughes strikes me as the quiet but intelligent sort of chap who, whilst he might not engage Ferguson in the verbal jousting at which the latter has few equals, might well end up being a more worthy adversary than Rafa Benitez has proven to be in the mind-games stakes. Mancunians are in for some fun in the forthcoming season!
On a more serious note, do City have the cattle to mount a credible challenge and break into the Top Four, for which a Champions' League spot is the enticing reward?
At first glance - and a second and third, for that matter - they appear to have a surfeit of strikers. Tevez might well find, to his consternation, that it'll be more difficult to find a regular starting berth in blue than in red. It's at the back that City appear to be a tad vulnerable. Shay Given is one of the better 'keepers in the EPL but the defence in front of him doesn't inspire too much confidence. Micah Richards' progress has stalled somewhat alarmingly over the past year and Richard Dunne isn't getting any younger. Terry would've been a great acquisition but Kolo Toure, the latest mooted target, will, if he arrives, provide much-needed solidity.
Gareth Barry, a poor man's Claude Makelele, should, nevertheless, provide an adequate shield in front of the back four and there's no lack of creativity further up-field. Stephen Ireland is a busy little player who's still improving and I reckon Shaun-Wright Phillips could have a break-out season if he stays fit. There's no shortage of options up front, of course: Pick two or three from Robinho, Tevez, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Bellamy, Benjani and Bojinov and hope they're all satisfied with the game-time they're getting!
Despite being a lifelong United supporter, I've always had a soft spot for City. Indeed, I'd go as far as to say they'd be my 'second' team. It's no surprise then, that I wish them well and hope they can challenge the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool for a spot in the top four - I don't think they're quite in United's or Chelsea's league just yet.
Good luck, Sparky!
The Russian's arrival changed all that, at least on the trophy front. He started off by buying a complete squad full of world-class talent. More importantly, he backed that up by hiring the best young manager in the business in Jose Mourinho, without whose innate tactical nous Chelsea might not have had the success they did from 2004 to '06.
Manchester City appear to be adopting a similar model. With Arabian petrodollars to back them up, they are in a position to - theoretically, at least - outbid every other team in the English Premier League, including Chelsea.
However, despite having all that cash to spend, they haven't yet been able to hire a bona fide top-liner. Rejections from Kaka in January and John Terry in the past week would've hurt. City's biggest challenge over the next season or two would appear to be to do well enough to start attracting the bigger stars who, at this stage, prefer one of the Big Four.
What City do have in Mark Hughes is a good young manager who has the potential to become their long-sought messiah. After successful stints with Wales and Blackburn Rovers, much is expected of 'Sparky' at Eastlands.
The Arab sheikhs have passed the first test of their credibility by resisting the urge to sack Hughes after a relatively disappointing 2008-09 season. Such a knee-jerk reaction would've been more than harmful. If City are to make a sustained attempt to join the Big Boys, managerial stability will be essential. The example of Alex Ferguson's longevity at their cross-town rivals is one they would do well to try and emulate.
Already, City appear to have won the opening battle of wits with United. The well thought out poster of Carlos Tevez, decked in City blue, welcoming visitors to Manchester, has prickled Ferguson. That's a sure-fire sign that the United manager is worried about City, whatever he might say to the contrary. Hughes strikes me as the quiet but intelligent sort of chap who, whilst he might not engage Ferguson in the verbal jousting at which the latter has few equals, might well end up being a more worthy adversary than Rafa Benitez has proven to be in the mind-games stakes. Mancunians are in for some fun in the forthcoming season!
On a more serious note, do City have the cattle to mount a credible challenge and break into the Top Four, for which a Champions' League spot is the enticing reward?
At first glance - and a second and third, for that matter - they appear to have a surfeit of strikers. Tevez might well find, to his consternation, that it'll be more difficult to find a regular starting berth in blue than in red. It's at the back that City appear to be a tad vulnerable. Shay Given is one of the better 'keepers in the EPL but the defence in front of him doesn't inspire too much confidence. Micah Richards' progress has stalled somewhat alarmingly over the past year and Richard Dunne isn't getting any younger. Terry would've been a great acquisition but Kolo Toure, the latest mooted target, will, if he arrives, provide much-needed solidity.
Gareth Barry, a poor man's Claude Makelele, should, nevertheless, provide an adequate shield in front of the back four and there's no lack of creativity further up-field. Stephen Ireland is a busy little player who's still improving and I reckon Shaun-Wright Phillips could have a break-out season if he stays fit. There's no shortage of options up front, of course: Pick two or three from Robinho, Tevez, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Bellamy, Benjani and Bojinov and hope they're all satisfied with the game-time they're getting!
Despite being a lifelong United supporter, I've always had a soft spot for City. Indeed, I'd go as far as to say they'd be my 'second' team. It's no surprise then, that I wish them well and hope they can challenge the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool for a spot in the top four - I don't think they're quite in United's or Chelsea's league just yet.
Good luck, Sparky!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Freddie and the umps reignite Ashes / Hello Skipper!
It appeared, after Cardiff, that there would be little to pique my interest in this particular Ashes series. All the signs suggested Australia would steam-roll their way to another facile triumph. Instead, the home side's first win in 75 years over the old enemy at Lord's, heartily cheered by neutrals around the cricketing globe, has rekindled interest.
England's search for a worthy successor to Ian Botham had been long and largely fruitless until Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff came along a decade ago. Frequent injuries, often caused by his knees having to bear the brunt and grunt of a naturally large frame that wasn't exactly trimmed by off-field activities, have marred what should have been a far more brilliant career than we've witnessed. Over the past decade, only the now-retired Glenn McGrath has matched the sustained hostility allied with nagging accuracy that Flintoff can consistently produce over a 5-to-6 over spell. There is no more dangerous bowler in the game today. What a pity that this is going to be his last Test series!
Flintoff also has the knack of rising to occasions - the 2006-07 disaster in Oz can be considered an anomaly, albeit a hugely embarrassing one for the then skipper. However well Michael Clarke and batsman-wicketkeeper Brad Haddin had done to revive Aussie hopes on Day 4, the feeling persisted that Freddie would have the final say on the last day. England will be able to cover the loss of his batsmanship, not least due to the presence of another batsman-'keeper in Matt Prior, but who are they going to turn to for that badly-needed breakthrough when they're toiling in the field?
The umpiring at Lord's was quite abysmal. Cricketers can usually accept genuine mistakes but it's hard to fathom the reasoning behind Billy Doctrove's decision to uphold Andrew Strauss' non-catch in the slips from his own vantage point at square-leg. 'Catches' picked up that close to the turf are difficult for even the fielder in question to be completely confident about. With near fool-proof technology on offer as backup, why wouldn't Doctrove avail of it? His performance made the mercifully-retired Darrell Hair look a half-decent umpire, something I thought I'd never ever come close to suggesting!
Having hinted at the fast-diminishing standards of wicket-keeping at Test level, it's worth looking at captaincy levels, which haven't quite been on the rise either.
I'm as big a fan of Ricky Ponting the batsman as anyone else, having 'discovered' him before he made his Test debut back in the mid-nineties. As a skipper, though, he has flattered to deceive. That decision to bowl his part-timers to speed up the over-rate in a Test in India last year, seemingly to prevent the prospect of himself being consequently banned from a home Test against New Zealand, even if it was to be at the cost of the Test he was actually playing at the time, was one of the most perplexing in Test history. Can you imagine the likes of Ian Chappell, Mike Brearley or Clive Lloyd even contemplating something like that in their worst possible nightmares? Whilst Ponting's extremely dubious performance in Nagpur could be explained by the basest instinct of self-preservation, it's hard to fathom why he employed similar tactics towards the end of the Cardiff Test, when all Australia needed was the scalp of either No.10 or No.11. No wonder James Anderson and Monty Panesar were reported to have whooped for joy when they saw Marcus North was going to start turning his arm over!
Ponting isn't quite Crusoe in terms of modern captains, mind you. Apart from Stephen Fleming and Michael Vaughan, whose performance in 2005 was Brearleyesque, I can't think of any Test captain in recent times who would've been fit to lace the boots of Messrs Chappelli, Brearley and Lloyd.
Has the surfeit of limited-overs so-called cricket, with the limited demands it makes on cricketing skill but which is lapped up nevertheless by the modern generation whose calling card appears to be its own limited attention span, succeeded in dulling the antennae of modern captains?
Will we ever see another Test captain possessing the innovative guile of Ian Chappell, the tactical acumen of Mike Brearley or the dignified leadership of Clive Lloyd?
Hello Skipper! Is there anybody out there?
England's search for a worthy successor to Ian Botham had been long and largely fruitless until Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff came along a decade ago. Frequent injuries, often caused by his knees having to bear the brunt and grunt of a naturally large frame that wasn't exactly trimmed by off-field activities, have marred what should have been a far more brilliant career than we've witnessed. Over the past decade, only the now-retired Glenn McGrath has matched the sustained hostility allied with nagging accuracy that Flintoff can consistently produce over a 5-to-6 over spell. There is no more dangerous bowler in the game today. What a pity that this is going to be his last Test series!
Flintoff also has the knack of rising to occasions - the 2006-07 disaster in Oz can be considered an anomaly, albeit a hugely embarrassing one for the then skipper. However well Michael Clarke and batsman-wicketkeeper Brad Haddin had done to revive Aussie hopes on Day 4, the feeling persisted that Freddie would have the final say on the last day. England will be able to cover the loss of his batsmanship, not least due to the presence of another batsman-'keeper in Matt Prior, but who are they going to turn to for that badly-needed breakthrough when they're toiling in the field?
The umpiring at Lord's was quite abysmal. Cricketers can usually accept genuine mistakes but it's hard to fathom the reasoning behind Billy Doctrove's decision to uphold Andrew Strauss' non-catch in the slips from his own vantage point at square-leg. 'Catches' picked up that close to the turf are difficult for even the fielder in question to be completely confident about. With near fool-proof technology on offer as backup, why wouldn't Doctrove avail of it? His performance made the mercifully-retired Darrell Hair look a half-decent umpire, something I thought I'd never ever come close to suggesting!
Having hinted at the fast-diminishing standards of wicket-keeping at Test level, it's worth looking at captaincy levels, which haven't quite been on the rise either.
I'm as big a fan of Ricky Ponting the batsman as anyone else, having 'discovered' him before he made his Test debut back in the mid-nineties. As a skipper, though, he has flattered to deceive. That decision to bowl his part-timers to speed up the over-rate in a Test in India last year, seemingly to prevent the prospect of himself being consequently banned from a home Test against New Zealand, even if it was to be at the cost of the Test he was actually playing at the time, was one of the most perplexing in Test history. Can you imagine the likes of Ian Chappell, Mike Brearley or Clive Lloyd even contemplating something like that in their worst possible nightmares? Whilst Ponting's extremely dubious performance in Nagpur could be explained by the basest instinct of self-preservation, it's hard to fathom why he employed similar tactics towards the end of the Cardiff Test, when all Australia needed was the scalp of either No.10 or No.11. No wonder James Anderson and Monty Panesar were reported to have whooped for joy when they saw Marcus North was going to start turning his arm over!
Ponting isn't quite Crusoe in terms of modern captains, mind you. Apart from Stephen Fleming and Michael Vaughan, whose performance in 2005 was Brearleyesque, I can't think of any Test captain in recent times who would've been fit to lace the boots of Messrs Chappelli, Brearley and Lloyd.
Has the surfeit of limited-overs so-called cricket, with the limited demands it makes on cricketing skill but which is lapped up nevertheless by the modern generation whose calling card appears to be its own limited attention span, succeeded in dulling the antennae of modern captains?
Will we ever see another Test captain possessing the innovative guile of Ian Chappell, the tactical acumen of Mike Brearley or the dignified leadership of Clive Lloyd?
Hello Skipper! Is there anybody out there?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Open: Tiger or field?
If you ask golf followers about their favourite tournament, a substantial majority would be likely to pick The Masters, which is played at Augusta National in April each year.
For me, The (British) Open has always been the one. I got hooked on it during the four years I spent in England back in the eighties and still watch it as earnestly as ever, especially as the time-slot here in Oz is somewhat more hospitable than that for the other three majors that are played in the US.
The most appealing aspect of The Open is the variety of venues on offer. This year, it's the turn of the fabled Ailsa course at Turnberry in Ayrshire. There's nothing like a links course on a windy, rainy day to test the technique and temperament of the best golfers in the world. It should, yet again, make for fascinating viewing.
The most intriguing group to follow over the first two rounds will be the one that includes Tiger Woods, Englishman Lee Westwood and the exciting 17-year-old Japanese prodigy Ryo Ishikawa, whose fan-base in some parts of the world is beginning to rival that of Tiger himself. Another not dissimilar trio will consist of former champion Tom Watson, now the oldest in the field at 59, Sergio Garcia, my personal favourite, and 16-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero, who became the youngest ever to win the British Amateur Championship last month.
In the unfortunate absence of Phil Mickelson, whose wife and mother are both battling breast cancer, the bookies have installed Woods as an almost unbackable favourite. One set of odds I saw yesterday had him at $3.50, with the next best, a group including defending champion Padraig Harrington and Garcia, as far back as $26.
I'm no golf expert and shall be barracking for Garcia to make his long-awaited 'major' breakthrough. However, after scrutinising some analyses elsewhere on the web, these look like value bets for those wishing to having a flutter - might put a pence or three on one or two of them myself (in addition to Sergio, of course):
Jim Furyk (paying around $34): Four top-5 finishes in past Opens; having a very consistent year.
Paul Casey ($34): World No.3 has been practising extensively on links courses recently.
Henrik Stenson ($36): Should be able to use his favourite 3-wood often on this par-70 course.
Ernie Els ($36): Can't believe Ernie has fallen this far; with seven Top 7 finishes in his past eight Opens, he's great value at these odds.
Steve Stricker ($41): Won last week and has Top 10 finishes in his last two links events.
Kenny Perry ($61): Prolific winner - only Tiger can better his 5 wins on PGA tour over last 2 years.
Sean O'Hair ($76): World No.13 is a quality ball-striker and ready to make an impact at a major.
David Toms ($101): Finished second twice in his last four events.
Brian Gay ($101): Two wins on the PGA tour this year; is a very good putter.
Soren Kjeldsen ($101): Missed the cut at three of the last four Opens but is probably the most improved European golfer over the past year.
Soren Hansen ($101): Why are Danes so under-rated? Can't believe his odds are the same as that against Greg Norman, whose chances are about as low as those of New South Wales winning another rugby league State of Origin series against Queensland any time over the next decade.
If you're having a punt on any of the above, it might be best to spread your money and go each-way, combining a Win bet with one for a Top 5 / Top 10 finish.
Good luck and happy viewing!
And Go Sergio!
Here's the official site of The Open: http://www.opengolf.com/ChampionshipGolf/TheOpenChampionship.aspx
For me, The (British) Open has always been the one. I got hooked on it during the four years I spent in England back in the eighties and still watch it as earnestly as ever, especially as the time-slot here in Oz is somewhat more hospitable than that for the other three majors that are played in the US.
The most appealing aspect of The Open is the variety of venues on offer. This year, it's the turn of the fabled Ailsa course at Turnberry in Ayrshire. There's nothing like a links course on a windy, rainy day to test the technique and temperament of the best golfers in the world. It should, yet again, make for fascinating viewing.
The most intriguing group to follow over the first two rounds will be the one that includes Tiger Woods, Englishman Lee Westwood and the exciting 17-year-old Japanese prodigy Ryo Ishikawa, whose fan-base in some parts of the world is beginning to rival that of Tiger himself. Another not dissimilar trio will consist of former champion Tom Watson, now the oldest in the field at 59, Sergio Garcia, my personal favourite, and 16-year-old Italian Matteo Manassero, who became the youngest ever to win the British Amateur Championship last month.
In the unfortunate absence of Phil Mickelson, whose wife and mother are both battling breast cancer, the bookies have installed Woods as an almost unbackable favourite. One set of odds I saw yesterday had him at $3.50, with the next best, a group including defending champion Padraig Harrington and Garcia, as far back as $26.
I'm no golf expert and shall be barracking for Garcia to make his long-awaited 'major' breakthrough. However, after scrutinising some analyses elsewhere on the web, these look like value bets for those wishing to having a flutter - might put a pence or three on one or two of them myself (in addition to Sergio, of course):
Jim Furyk (paying around $34): Four top-5 finishes in past Opens; having a very consistent year.
Paul Casey ($34): World No.3 has been practising extensively on links courses recently.
Henrik Stenson ($36): Should be able to use his favourite 3-wood often on this par-70 course.
Ernie Els ($36): Can't believe Ernie has fallen this far; with seven Top 7 finishes in his past eight Opens, he's great value at these odds.
Steve Stricker ($41): Won last week and has Top 10 finishes in his last two links events.
Kenny Perry ($61): Prolific winner - only Tiger can better his 5 wins on PGA tour over last 2 years.
Sean O'Hair ($76): World No.13 is a quality ball-striker and ready to make an impact at a major.
David Toms ($101): Finished second twice in his last four events.
Brian Gay ($101): Two wins on the PGA tour this year; is a very good putter.
Soren Kjeldsen ($101): Missed the cut at three of the last four Opens but is probably the most improved European golfer over the past year.
Soren Hansen ($101): Why are Danes so under-rated? Can't believe his odds are the same as that against Greg Norman, whose chances are about as low as those of New South Wales winning another rugby league State of Origin series against Queensland any time over the next decade.
If you're having a punt on any of the above, it might be best to spread your money and go each-way, combining a Win bet with one for a Top 5 / Top 10 finish.
Good luck and happy viewing!
And Go Sergio!
Here's the official site of The Open: http://www.opengolf.com/ChampionshipGolf/TheOpenChampionship.aspx
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Spoilt on Sunday
Sports fans in Oz had a treat last Sunday.
To start with, there was the Aussie Rules blockbuster in the afternoon between St Kilda and Geelong, who both went into the game with 13-0 records. For once, the hype was beaten by the occasion itself as the two sides played out a thrilling finale. The Saints made a startling start, piling on the first five goals to romp to a 30-point lead in the first quarter. The Cats then started clawing back and even led briefly in the final term. Scores were locked at 85-85 with just over a minute to go and it seemed we would still have two unbeaten sides after Round 14, only for Michael Gardiner to soar above the pack and haul in a mark just outside the goal-square before kicking what was to be the final scoring shot of a marvellous contest. The ladder-topping Saints are now 14-0. Can they go through the whole season unbeaten? I wouldn't bet against them, although the Cats, who had the gifted Steve Johnson missing for this clash, might be just a tad tougher to beat in September.
A few personal observations on Australian Football for our overseas friends who may not have had the pleasure of watching much of it:
I'll be the first to admit that it's an acquired taste. Indeed, large pockets of New South Wales and Queensland have yet to fully integrate with the rest of Australia, in that they still regard the indigenous football code as somewhat of an anomaly.
It took me a year or two after I settled in Oz back in 1990 to fully appreciate the nuances of the game but I consider myself extremely fortunate that unlike the aforementioned folk from NSW and Qld, I stuck to learning the basics because now, I'd go as far as to suggest that, at its best, a game of Aussie Rules is better to watch than even a hypothetical football spectacular between Barcelona and Brazil at their best.
Other sports stand no comparison. The two rugby codes feature overweight blokes who wear bulky shoulder-cum-chest pads and run into each other under the guise of tackling. The helmeted giants who play American Football - a misnomer if there ever was one; wouldn't American Handball be more apt? - wear even more body armour, while all they seem to do is to make ungainly attempts to block their immediate opponent from making a play.
Aussie Rules footballers, who wear no protective clothing whatsoever, get tackled at high speed from all corners of the compass - not just from in front of them as the rugby and gridiron players usually do. Besides the raw courage that it demands, Aussie Rules also requires all its players to be skilful with both hand and foot. There is no more exhilarating sight in sport than that of Aussie Rules footballers flying high to take pack marks. The sport simply doesn't accommodate unfit, unskilled, near-obese, so-called 'athletes' who appear to find it easy to walk - and walk is the operative word here - into rugby union/league and gridiron sides.
To those who haven't yet discovered the joys of Australian Football, I'd heartily recommend a visit to www.afl.com.au where you'll be able to download highlights of games. Make a start, give it a bit of time and get hooked!
Time to get off the soapbox and look back on the second big event that lit up last Sunday.
So convinced was I that the Wimbledon Men's Singles Final, which started shortly after 11:00 pm on Sunday night (Sydney time), would be a one-sided encounter that I was seriously considering recording it and watching it after work the next day. In the end, I was glad I stayed up to enjoy what turned out to be a pulsating four-and-a-half-hour classic - and sad that I didn't record it!
I've long considered Andy Roddick a bit of a hack - one of the biggest servers in the history of the game but not much chop otherwise. He has certainly proved me wrong over the past fortnight. Take a bow, Larry Stefanki, although I've read elsewhere that Roddick's previous coach, some bloke named Jimmy Connors, might have had something to do too with encouraging him to try and be more aggressive by coming to the net as much as possible - quite interesting because attacking the net wasn't exactly Jimbo's preferred style of play. And where did Roddick's double-handed down-the-line winners come from? It was like watching Marat Safin in disguise! At the end, I felt more than a tinge of sympathy for Roddick. You'd have got astronomical odds against yours truly ever experiencing that emotion about him before Wimbledon 2009.
Roger Federer, the very embodiment of poetry in motion, wasn't to be denied, though, and that record-breaking 15th Grand Slam triumph was duly his in front of the watching - and, dare I say, adoring - McEnroe, Laver, Sampras and Borg.
After enjoying the sight of John McEnroe in action almost two decades ago, I never imagined I'd be lucky enough to watch another tennis player who'd out-do SuperMac in the 'sublime' stakes. Had I been religious, I would've suggested that tennis afficionados have been blessed to have seen two such talents in one lifetime. As I'm not of that persuasion, I prefer to think of it as yet another example of evolution. Each generation gets better than the previous one. The species would die out otherwise, as Charles Darwin theorised with such immaculate vision a century and a half ago.
A St Kilda v Geelong thriller followed by a Roddick v Federer nail-biter. We were well and truly spoilt on Sunday.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The Ashes: Does anyone care?
There was a time when England v Australia stirred the senses. Indeed, my own favourite boyhood cricketing memory is of being tucked up in bed back in India, wireless tuned to Test Match Special, listening to John Arlott, Brian Johnston, Alan McGilvray, Trevor Bailey and Freddie Trueman painting a verbal picture of that marvellous 2-2 series in 1972 when Ian Chappell's young side stood toe-to-toe with Ray Illingworth's more experienced outfit. Bob Massie marked his Test debut at Lord's with a 16-wicket haul that (northern) summer and although he never quite went on bigger and better things, the Lillee-Massie duo proved to be a pretty good appetiser for the Lillee-Thomson main course that was to stun a by-then ageing England side back in Australia in 1974-75. My standout memory of that series is the 40-plus Colin Cowdrey being flown into what would prove a very unequal battle against Lillee and Thomson.
With the onset of Kerry Packer's World Series circus, there were several under-strength series in the late '70s and early '80s but they did see the emergence of Allan Border as a batsman and leader - if not quite a tactician - for Australia and that for England of David Gower and Ian Botham, whose exploits in 1981 were quite extraordinary. England had the upper hand for most of the '80s, not least due to the enforced absence of several first-choice Aussies who had elected to go on a rebel tour of South Africa.
From 1989 onwards, Australia started dominating and, for me, the lustre of the Ashes began diminishing due to the largely one-sided nature of the contests. The Aussies dethroned the Windies as the best Test side in the mid-nineties and, on the back of some all-time greats such as Warne, McGrath, S.Waugh and Gilchrist, went on a near-15-year run that was perhaps the most decorated in Test history, highlighted as it was by some brilliant attacking cricket that proved better to watch than the one-dimensional - as in pace, pace and more pace - Windies strategy in the '70s and '80s.
The 2005 Ashes proved to be an exception to the general rule, providing some nail-biting finishes as the home side, against all odds, stunned the world's best. Hopes were high that the return series in 2006-07 would, at the very least, be competitive. Instead, Ricky Ponting's men thrashed Andrew Flintoff's sorry side 5-0. Whither English cricket? Withering on the vine.
What can we look forward to in 2009? Australia have regrouped impressively since losing the four aforementioned greats and look to be in pole position to hold on to the urn. England have avenged their loss in the Caribbean recently but will, once again, be relying on Flintoff's fitness to provide a serious challenge. The Lancastrian remains the best all-rounder in the game when he's up and running but has had several injury niggles over the past few years. One doubts, though, that Andrew Strauss' side are capable of repeating the heroics of 2005. Indeed, the most interesting aspect of the series might well turn out to be how the pitch holds up at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, the venue for the First Test that starts on Wednesday.
Perhaps I'll go back to listening to the wireless rather than tuning into the largely anodyne coverage one usually gets on the box these days. That might regenerate some interest as it would be much like reading a good book instead of watching its inferior movie equivalent. Alas though, Messrs Arlott, Johnston, McGilvray, Bailey and Trueman aren't with us anymore and even Tim Lane has jumped ship from the ABC to one of the commercial networks here in Oz.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan began their three-Test series at Galle yesterday, with several new players on view on either side. Now, that seems like it might stir the senses.
With the onset of Kerry Packer's World Series circus, there were several under-strength series in the late '70s and early '80s but they did see the emergence of Allan Border as a batsman and leader - if not quite a tactician - for Australia and that for England of David Gower and Ian Botham, whose exploits in 1981 were quite extraordinary. England had the upper hand for most of the '80s, not least due to the enforced absence of several first-choice Aussies who had elected to go on a rebel tour of South Africa.
From 1989 onwards, Australia started dominating and, for me, the lustre of the Ashes began diminishing due to the largely one-sided nature of the contests. The Aussies dethroned the Windies as the best Test side in the mid-nineties and, on the back of some all-time greats such as Warne, McGrath, S.Waugh and Gilchrist, went on a near-15-year run that was perhaps the most decorated in Test history, highlighted as it was by some brilliant attacking cricket that proved better to watch than the one-dimensional - as in pace, pace and more pace - Windies strategy in the '70s and '80s.
The 2005 Ashes proved to be an exception to the general rule, providing some nail-biting finishes as the home side, against all odds, stunned the world's best. Hopes were high that the return series in 2006-07 would, at the very least, be competitive. Instead, Ricky Ponting's men thrashed Andrew Flintoff's sorry side 5-0. Whither English cricket? Withering on the vine.
What can we look forward to in 2009? Australia have regrouped impressively since losing the four aforementioned greats and look to be in pole position to hold on to the urn. England have avenged their loss in the Caribbean recently but will, once again, be relying on Flintoff's fitness to provide a serious challenge. The Lancastrian remains the best all-rounder in the game when he's up and running but has had several injury niggles over the past few years. One doubts, though, that Andrew Strauss' side are capable of repeating the heroics of 2005. Indeed, the most interesting aspect of the series might well turn out to be how the pitch holds up at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, the venue for the First Test that starts on Wednesday.
Perhaps I'll go back to listening to the wireless rather than tuning into the largely anodyne coverage one usually gets on the box these days. That might regenerate some interest as it would be much like reading a good book instead of watching its inferior movie equivalent. Alas though, Messrs Arlott, Johnston, McGilvray, Bailey and Trueman aren't with us anymore and even Tim Lane has jumped ship from the ABC to one of the commercial networks here in Oz.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan began their three-Test series at Galle yesterday, with several new players on view on either side. Now, that seems like it might stir the senses.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Mid-term Aussie Rules brief
Saints: Couldn't see this coming after last year's lame exit from finals but can't argue with 12-0 record. Have looked the goods. Could this finally be their year?
Cats: Another 12-0 team that's rolling nicely along. Look focused to eliminate pain of 2008 Grand Final loss. Will Ablett finally win a Charlie?
Bulldogs: Look the only real threat to the top two at this stage. If Griffen and Cooney can have a big September, they're capable of achieving what Hawthorn did in 2008. Will Minson and Murphy be fit when it matters?
Pies: Back on track after dodgy spell. Need Davis, Didak, Dick, Cloke, Medhurst, Pendlebury, Thomas and Anthony to all be fit and firing to make significant impact at business end of season. Will Malthouse remain as coach next year?
Lions: Doing absolutely brilliantly. Now, can they start winning consistently away from the 'Gabba? How good is Daniel Rich! Voss for Coach of the Year?
Crows: Never quite know where they're at. Can they start performing in non-milestone games?
Blues: Classy midfield but, despite Fevola, lack depth at either end to be serious contenders at this stage. Did Judd join the right Melbourne club?
Bombers: Plenty of exciting youngsters. Contrary to most expert opinion, I'm backing them to be better than Blues in long term. Will Paddy Ryder prove to be as good as Franklin some day?
Hawks: Not a happy team these days. Injuries can't be an excuse any more. Premiership hangover?
Port: The most under-achieving team, with the exception of the Hawks. The end of Choco's reign?
Swans: Need to start turning over ageing stars. Might be spending another year or three in the bottom half. Do they need another marquee signing from Melbourne?
Roos: Have over-achieved for years. With Laidley gone, best news this season might come if they can lure Buckley to Arden Street. Should they have taken up AFL's offer to move to Gold Coast?
Eagles: Were always going to be a tough few years after the loss of Judd and Cousins. Is Naitanui the most exciting talent since Buddy?
Tigers: Five wasted years under Wallace. Can only improve. Right? Do have Cotchin, a superstar in the making. Can they give themselves a huge boost by nabbing Bucks as coach for 2010?
Dockers: Tough to beat at home but clueless when they travel across the continent. What exactly do the hierarchy see in Harvey?
Demons: Going to be a long road back but showing the right amount of grit to keep supporters interested. Will Watts be the saviour?
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Wimbledon: Can anyone stop Roger or Williams?
I've never been a Rafael Nadal fan as such but my respect and admiration for the current World No.1 has increased almost exponentially over the past two Wimbledons. Unlike the vast majority of European and South American clay-courters who suffer from grass allergy, Rafa worked extremely hard to conquer his natural aversion to the surface, reaching a final and then dethroning Roger Federer at the latter's spiritual home.
It is, therefore, a genuine disappointment that Nadal will not be defending his title at SW1 this year. Unfortunately, there have now got to be doubts about his long-term future as a top player. His hustling, retrieve-at-all-costs style of play is brutally punishing on the knees and the onset of tendonitis at such a young age is not a good sign. Let's hope those fears prove unfounded and he can get back to the ATP tour as soon as possible because his rivalry with Federer has given tennis a much-needed shot in the arm. When was the last time the sport had two such thoroughly decent, down-to-earth characters dominating discussion?
Nadal's absence appears to have opened up the top half of the men's singles draw for Andy Murray, who has, despite being Scottish, taken over from Tim Henman as the home-crowd favourite. Murray's a better player than Henman ever was and has a good chance of becoming the first Briton since Lancastrian Fred Perry to win Wimbledon. He should have a relatively untroubled route through to the second week, although Taylor Dent looms as a potentially dangerous third-round opponent if he has recovered fully from the injuries that have blighted his progress over the past couple of years. Murray could then run into Stanislas Wawrinka or Marat Safin in Round 4, either of whom he should be able to get past with relative ease. His quarter-final, probably against Mikhail Youzhny or Nicolas Kiefer, might actually prove to be easier than the previous two rounds.
The top quarter, now devoid of the defending champion, could witness a showdown between Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick, the best-credentialled grass-courters in that section of the draw, with the winner to meet Murray in one semi-final.
Nadal's injury worries put Roger Federer's amazing achievement of reaching 20 successive Grand Slam semi-finals into even sharper context. It's hard to see anyone challenging him in the bottom half. He may have a French Open Final re-match against Robin Soderling in the fourth round, although the Swede might find the serve-and-volley style of Feliciano Lopez - a highly uncommon trait for a Spaniard - too hot to handle in the third round. Federer's quarter-final could be against the exciting Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic or the much-improved Fernando Verdasco of Spain. Looking further, I doubt Novak Djokovic will be Roger's semi-final opponent. It's more likely to be Tommy Haas, James Blake or Mardy Fish.
I'm predicting a Murray v Federer final with the Swiss genius having a tad too much grass-court nous and experience for the Scot.
A few years ago, there were doubts about the commitment the Williams sisters were showing towards the WTA tour. It appeared their off-field interests such as fashion - and even acting in Serena's case - were taking up too much of their time. Instead, they've seen off the now-retired Belgian duo of Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters and have just about quelled the Eastern European uprising as well, at least on grass.
Fortunately, Venus and Serena have been drawn in opposite halves. Is there anyone who can stop their path to the final?
In the top half, Venus' most difficult encounter could be in the fourth-round against Samantha Stosur. The Aussie, with a surprising run to the semis at Roland Garros, is in the form of her life. Having decided to concentrate on her singles career for the moment, her volleying skills, honed during several doubles title wins, will keep her in good stead. If Venus has an off-day, Stosur is more than capable of an upset.
The only player who looks likely to challenge Serena in the bottom half is Maria Sharapova. The US-based Russian has, however, been afflicted with injury this year and may not even get to her projected quarter-final meeting with the World No.2.
I can't see any of the Eastern Europeans mounting a serious challenge. Dinara Safina, the top seed at Wimbledon, was beaten by Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn on grass in Holland last week. Vera Zvonareva might prove to be good enough to get to the semi-final from her quarter of the draw but is unlikely to trouble Serena if she gets there.
I'll take Venus to beat Serena in a repeat of last year's final.
The biggest surprise at this year's Wimbledon might prove to be the weather! It's forecast to be "largely fine and settled" in the first week, which will please the strawberry-and-cream vendors, not to mention the organisers, who will be happy to get through the early rounds on schedule.
Showers and even prolonged rain might dampen the second week but that might not be such bad news, as the main matches will be confined to the show courts by then.
The newly-built retractable roof on Centre Court is likely to be called into action in the latter stages. It'll be interesting to see what effect that has on proceedings.
It is, therefore, a genuine disappointment that Nadal will not be defending his title at SW1 this year. Unfortunately, there have now got to be doubts about his long-term future as a top player. His hustling, retrieve-at-all-costs style of play is brutally punishing on the knees and the onset of tendonitis at such a young age is not a good sign. Let's hope those fears prove unfounded and he can get back to the ATP tour as soon as possible because his rivalry with Federer has given tennis a much-needed shot in the arm. When was the last time the sport had two such thoroughly decent, down-to-earth characters dominating discussion?
Nadal's absence appears to have opened up the top half of the men's singles draw for Andy Murray, who has, despite being Scottish, taken over from Tim Henman as the home-crowd favourite. Murray's a better player than Henman ever was and has a good chance of becoming the first Briton since Lancastrian Fred Perry to win Wimbledon. He should have a relatively untroubled route through to the second week, although Taylor Dent looms as a potentially dangerous third-round opponent if he has recovered fully from the injuries that have blighted his progress over the past couple of years. Murray could then run into Stanislas Wawrinka or Marat Safin in Round 4, either of whom he should be able to get past with relative ease. His quarter-final, probably against Mikhail Youzhny or Nicolas Kiefer, might actually prove to be easier than the previous two rounds.
The top quarter, now devoid of the defending champion, could witness a showdown between Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick, the best-credentialled grass-courters in that section of the draw, with the winner to meet Murray in one semi-final.
Nadal's injury worries put Roger Federer's amazing achievement of reaching 20 successive Grand Slam semi-finals into even sharper context. It's hard to see anyone challenging him in the bottom half. He may have a French Open Final re-match against Robin Soderling in the fourth round, although the Swede might find the serve-and-volley style of Feliciano Lopez - a highly uncommon trait for a Spaniard - too hot to handle in the third round. Federer's quarter-final could be against the exciting Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic or the much-improved Fernando Verdasco of Spain. Looking further, I doubt Novak Djokovic will be Roger's semi-final opponent. It's more likely to be Tommy Haas, James Blake or Mardy Fish.
I'm predicting a Murray v Federer final with the Swiss genius having a tad too much grass-court nous and experience for the Scot.
A few years ago, there were doubts about the commitment the Williams sisters were showing towards the WTA tour. It appeared their off-field interests such as fashion - and even acting in Serena's case - were taking up too much of their time. Instead, they've seen off the now-retired Belgian duo of Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters and have just about quelled the Eastern European uprising as well, at least on grass.
Fortunately, Venus and Serena have been drawn in opposite halves. Is there anyone who can stop their path to the final?
In the top half, Venus' most difficult encounter could be in the fourth-round against Samantha Stosur. The Aussie, with a surprising run to the semis at Roland Garros, is in the form of her life. Having decided to concentrate on her singles career for the moment, her volleying skills, honed during several doubles title wins, will keep her in good stead. If Venus has an off-day, Stosur is more than capable of an upset.
The only player who looks likely to challenge Serena in the bottom half is Maria Sharapova. The US-based Russian has, however, been afflicted with injury this year and may not even get to her projected quarter-final meeting with the World No.2.
I can't see any of the Eastern Europeans mounting a serious challenge. Dinara Safina, the top seed at Wimbledon, was beaten by Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn on grass in Holland last week. Vera Zvonareva might prove to be good enough to get to the semi-final from her quarter of the draw but is unlikely to trouble Serena if she gets there.
I'll take Venus to beat Serena in a repeat of last year's final.
The biggest surprise at this year's Wimbledon might prove to be the weather! It's forecast to be "largely fine and settled" in the first week, which will please the strawberry-and-cream vendors, not to mention the organisers, who will be happy to get through the early rounds on schedule.
Showers and even prolonged rain might dampen the second week but that might not be such bad news, as the main matches will be confined to the show courts by then.
The newly-built retractable roof on Centre Court is likely to be called into action in the latter stages. It'll be interesting to see what effect that has on proceedings.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
How will Ronaldo's departure affect Manchester United?
Am I disappointed that Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to move to Madrid? Yes. Do I think it will hurt United in the short term? Ditto. Does that mean United will slip up next season? That's a completely different question but one that followers of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool appear very keen to link to the first two, leading them to deductions that don't withstand scrutiny when weighed up against the evidence of history.
At the end of the 1994-95 season, Alex Ferguson sold Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis. There was an immediate outcry amongst some of the United faithful, who hadn't quite, at that stage, cemented their belief in the manager's keen eye for talent. Elsewhere, Liverpool legend Alan Hansen went down in history for that famous jibe that went something like: "You'll never win anything with kids." We all know what happened. The kids - Scholes, Beckham, the Nevilles, Butt and even Giggs who was just 22 at the time - played no mean part as United regained the title they had lost to Blackburn a year earlier.
A few seasons later came the departure of Eric Cantona, who had been the catalyst in United's re-emergence amongst the elite after 26 seasons without the league title. The Frenchman had also been the inspiration and guiding light for Fergie's Fledglings (the ones dismissed by Hansen as 'kids'). Again, the naysayers were out in force, predicting United's demise. Not quite. After a brief season-long hiatus during which Arsenal were crowned champions, United went on to capture three Premierships in a row, the first of which formed a third of the treble that included the Champions' League and the FA Cup.
The next 'irreplaceable' player to leave The Shrine was Roy Keane, a living legend whose name continues to be sung with the same gusto as ever at the Stretford End. That was the end of the dynasty, said the doom and gloom merchants. Instead, United went on to complete another hat-trick of Premiership wins, the middle one being embellished with a second Champions' League crown under Ferguson.
Now, the current FIFA World Player of the Year and, as I've said elsewhere, potentially the best player in the world bar none, has left to fulfil the wishes of his late father, whose dream it was to see his son don the Real Madrid shirt. Once more, the ether is filled with exuberant noises from North and West London and the red half of Merseyside.
Will their optimism be justified this time around?
The speed with which United accepted Madrid's bid for Ronaldo - it took less than two hours from offer to acceptance - indicates they were prepared for it. It can also be surmised that their scouting network would've been alerted to the possibility several months earlier.
That network has plucked some gems over the past year or three. The exciting Da Silva brothers look like they'll fill the full-back roles for some time to come. Federico Macheda has looked the goods during his first-team appearances this season, as has Danny Welbeck, whose own debut goal, a thirty-yard scorcher against Stoke, was as special as Macheda's injury-time screamer against Villa. Goran Tosic, the 22-year-old Serbian winger signed in mid-season, is a free-kick specialist. His compatriot Adem Ljajic, 18 in September, is due to move to Manchester next season and is reported to be one of the most talented youngsters in Eastern Europe. Then there's the likes of Davide Petrucci, a creative midfielder signed, when 16, from Roma a year ago, and Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Possebon, who is developing well under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tutelage in the reserves.
United's defence, with Ferdinand and Vidic in the middle, is fairly solid. Jonny Evans will be a star and 17-year-old Corry is said to be more gifted than his brother. Another 17-year-old central defender, a Brazilian named Dodo, is set to sign soon. In goal, Ben Foster could well be the next long-term England No.1.
The media has, quite predictably, been speculating about which big-name player Ferguson will sign to try and replace Ronaldo but what United need most of all is a defensive midfielder of the highest pedigree, given the continuing injury problems that Owen Hargreaves is having to endure. That was the area where United were so brilliantly exposed by the magnificient Barca duo of Iniesta and Xavi in the Champions' League Final in Rome. Personally, I would gladly swap Carlos Tevez for Javier Mascherano. Perhaps Rafa Benitez could be tempted?
Further forward, Ronaldo's departure should finally convince Ferguson to build his attack around Rooney, who has always looked a natural 'No.10' to me, at his best when floating in that dangerous space between the opposing midfield and defence. That's where he has been brilliant for England lately and it's time he was given the the same role for good at United. To partner him, I'm hoping Ferguson will be able to persuade Lyon's Karim Benzema to bring forward his projected departure from Ligue 1 by a year. At 22, he is close to the finished article and has the strength and technique to be the perfect foil for Rooney.
Elsewhere on the transfer front, it's more than likely that the players Ferguson brings in will have been very low, if not nowhere, on the radar of tabloid journalists who dream up transfer tittle-tattle during what is aptly named the silly season. Who picked the capture of the likes of the Da Silva twins, Nani, Anderson, Tosic and Ljajic - or even Ronaldo himself six years ago?
This time around, Brazilian teenager Douglas Costa and Argentine Javier Pastore are reported to have been monitored closely by United's increasingly successful South American scouting network.
So, don't be surprised if Ferguson invests the Madrid money on youth once more.
I'm beginning to wonder whether someone will then be tempted to reprise Hansen's comment from fourteen summers ago.
At the end of the 1994-95 season, Alex Ferguson sold Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis. There was an immediate outcry amongst some of the United faithful, who hadn't quite, at that stage, cemented their belief in the manager's keen eye for talent. Elsewhere, Liverpool legend Alan Hansen went down in history for that famous jibe that went something like: "You'll never win anything with kids." We all know what happened. The kids - Scholes, Beckham, the Nevilles, Butt and even Giggs who was just 22 at the time - played no mean part as United regained the title they had lost to Blackburn a year earlier.
A few seasons later came the departure of Eric Cantona, who had been the catalyst in United's re-emergence amongst the elite after 26 seasons without the league title. The Frenchman had also been the inspiration and guiding light for Fergie's Fledglings (the ones dismissed by Hansen as 'kids'). Again, the naysayers were out in force, predicting United's demise. Not quite. After a brief season-long hiatus during which Arsenal were crowned champions, United went on to capture three Premierships in a row, the first of which formed a third of the treble that included the Champions' League and the FA Cup.
The next 'irreplaceable' player to leave The Shrine was Roy Keane, a living legend whose name continues to be sung with the same gusto as ever at the Stretford End. That was the end of the dynasty, said the doom and gloom merchants. Instead, United went on to complete another hat-trick of Premiership wins, the middle one being embellished with a second Champions' League crown under Ferguson.
Now, the current FIFA World Player of the Year and, as I've said elsewhere, potentially the best player in the world bar none, has left to fulfil the wishes of his late father, whose dream it was to see his son don the Real Madrid shirt. Once more, the ether is filled with exuberant noises from North and West London and the red half of Merseyside.
Will their optimism be justified this time around?
The speed with which United accepted Madrid's bid for Ronaldo - it took less than two hours from offer to acceptance - indicates they were prepared for it. It can also be surmised that their scouting network would've been alerted to the possibility several months earlier.
That network has plucked some gems over the past year or three. The exciting Da Silva brothers look like they'll fill the full-back roles for some time to come. Federico Macheda has looked the goods during his first-team appearances this season, as has Danny Welbeck, whose own debut goal, a thirty-yard scorcher against Stoke, was as special as Macheda's injury-time screamer against Villa. Goran Tosic, the 22-year-old Serbian winger signed in mid-season, is a free-kick specialist. His compatriot Adem Ljajic, 18 in September, is due to move to Manchester next season and is reported to be one of the most talented youngsters in Eastern Europe. Then there's the likes of Davide Petrucci, a creative midfielder signed, when 16, from Roma a year ago, and Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Possebon, who is developing well under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tutelage in the reserves.
United's defence, with Ferdinand and Vidic in the middle, is fairly solid. Jonny Evans will be a star and 17-year-old Corry is said to be more gifted than his brother. Another 17-year-old central defender, a Brazilian named Dodo, is set to sign soon. In goal, Ben Foster could well be the next long-term England No.1.
The media has, quite predictably, been speculating about which big-name player Ferguson will sign to try and replace Ronaldo but what United need most of all is a defensive midfielder of the highest pedigree, given the continuing injury problems that Owen Hargreaves is having to endure. That was the area where United were so brilliantly exposed by the magnificient Barca duo of Iniesta and Xavi in the Champions' League Final in Rome. Personally, I would gladly swap Carlos Tevez for Javier Mascherano. Perhaps Rafa Benitez could be tempted?
Further forward, Ronaldo's departure should finally convince Ferguson to build his attack around Rooney, who has always looked a natural 'No.10' to me, at his best when floating in that dangerous space between the opposing midfield and defence. That's where he has been brilliant for England lately and it's time he was given the the same role for good at United. To partner him, I'm hoping Ferguson will be able to persuade Lyon's Karim Benzema to bring forward his projected departure from Ligue 1 by a year. At 22, he is close to the finished article and has the strength and technique to be the perfect foil for Rooney.
Elsewhere on the transfer front, it's more than likely that the players Ferguson brings in will have been very low, if not nowhere, on the radar of tabloid journalists who dream up transfer tittle-tattle during what is aptly named the silly season. Who picked the capture of the likes of the Da Silva twins, Nani, Anderson, Tosic and Ljajic - or even Ronaldo himself six years ago?
This time around, Brazilian teenager Douglas Costa and Argentine Javier Pastore are reported to have been monitored closely by United's increasingly successful South American scouting network.
So, don't be surprised if Ferguson invests the Madrid money on youth once more.
I'm beginning to wonder whether someone will then be tempted to reprise Hansen's comment from fourteen summers ago.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Kobe finally earns Shaq-less ring
Even as a Clippers fan, I could see it coming a long way out. Kobe Bryant, arguably the best basketballer of the post-Jordan era, has finally won an NBA title without the aid of Shaquille O'Neal.
Congratulations to Kobe and the Lakers! While the marketing men tried to hype up the projected Bryant v LeBron James clash to an oft-ridiculous extent in the lead-up to and even during the play-offs - no wonder Orlando's Dwight Howard felt it was insulting! - there was little doubt that the Lakers were the team to beat. After several years carrying his Shaq-less side on his own, Kobe finally had some quality assistance from the likes of Spain's Pau Gasol, former Clipper Lamar Odom, ever-dependable veteran Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza.
Now, I'm no basketball connoisseur but I can, much as it pains me to say it, see the Lakers being even better next season. That's because, from what I've seen of Andrew Bynum, the 21-year-old centre has the potential to dominate the paint like no other since Shaq in his pomp.
The Lakers for a repeat in 2010? Probably - unless 'King' James can surround himself with better quality, either at the Cavs or elsewhere. There's been talk all year of him moving to the New York Knicks for mega marketing bucks. Wiser counsel might suggest that if he was to leave the Cavs, his priority should be to find a team with a roster good enough to challenge.
James is only 24 and people tend to forget that Jordan was 28 before he won his first NBA ring. So, time may be on James' side. On the other hand, he may have to start winning titles before he can usurp Bryant as the best player since MJ, something that plenty have predicted as his destiny.
Congratulations to Kobe and the Lakers! While the marketing men tried to hype up the projected Bryant v LeBron James clash to an oft-ridiculous extent in the lead-up to and even during the play-offs - no wonder Orlando's Dwight Howard felt it was insulting! - there was little doubt that the Lakers were the team to beat. After several years carrying his Shaq-less side on his own, Kobe finally had some quality assistance from the likes of Spain's Pau Gasol, former Clipper Lamar Odom, ever-dependable veteran Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza.
Now, I'm no basketball connoisseur but I can, much as it pains me to say it, see the Lakers being even better next season. That's because, from what I've seen of Andrew Bynum, the 21-year-old centre has the potential to dominate the paint like no other since Shaq in his pomp.
The Lakers for a repeat in 2010? Probably - unless 'King' James can surround himself with better quality, either at the Cavs or elsewhere. There's been talk all year of him moving to the New York Knicks for mega marketing bucks. Wiser counsel might suggest that if he was to leave the Cavs, his priority should be to find a team with a roster good enough to challenge.
James is only 24 and people tend to forget that Jordan was 28 before he won his first NBA ring. So, time may be on James' side. On the other hand, he may have to start winning titles before he can usurp Bryant as the best player since MJ, something that plenty have predicted as his destiny.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
How will Madrid's Galacticos Mark II fare?
Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo are already in the bag and David Villa looks like being Real Madrid's third big signing as Florentino Perez's second coming continues to send shock waves through the European transfer market.
Global Financial Crisis? Perez probably doesn't know the meaning of the term. El Mundo Deportivo, which is published in Barcelona, has reported that Real's debts have soared beyond 500m Euros. Mind you, it doesn't half help when the prospect of the city's banks calling them in is about as probable as the subject of the latest world-record transfer admitting that he is a tad over-valued.
How will the new batch of Galacticos fare? They're more than likely to do as well, if not better than Zidane, (the original) Ronaldo, Beckham, Figo & Co as far as commercial returns are concerned. The real challenge for the current batch, however, will be to make a significant improvement on the somewhat underwhelming on-field record of their predecessors.
To that end, Madrid supporters whose vision extends beyond the bling will be hoping that Perez will refrain from meddling with the make-up of the squad once the marquee signings have been sewn up.
Informed opinion suggests that it was Perez, during his first stint as Real supremo, who demanded that Claude Makelele be sold because the Frenchman didn't fit in with the Galactico image. Even without the benefit of hindsight, most would concur that was a blunder of the highest order.
Madrid's new coach, Manuel Pellegrini, is respected as a shrewd and down-to-earth character. With Jorge Valdano and Zidane himself entrenched in prominent off-field roles, it can be safely assumed that the three of them know exactly which areas they need to strengthen if Real are to mount a realistic challenge to Barca in La Liga next season.
And those areas are not where Galacticos tend to roam. If Madrid are to get the best out of Kaka, Ronaldo and Villa, they need quality 'water-carriers', the term Eric Cantona once used, as a compliment despite the negative spin put on it by the media, for Didier Deschamps.
The two Diarras - Mahamadou and Lassana - are potentially good enough to perform the role more than adequately. The question is: will they be given the time and patience that will be required?
What of the defence? Sergio Ramos and 'keeper Iker Casillas apart, it doesn't necessarily inspire confidence. A couple of high-quality signings in that area would appear to be essential, much more so than the addition of yet another Galactico. Whether Perez recognises that is the multi-million Euro question.
Food For Thought: The stark contrast between the self-effacing humility of Kaka and the look-at-me-go-on-look-again self-adulation of Cristiano Ronaldo was brought into sharp focus yesterday. The Brazilian said he was "rejoicing" at the prospect of being in the same team as the Portugese. On the other hand, Ronaldo expressed his disappointment that the two would be unveiled jointly as Real signings to the Madrid media, suggesting his own "historic" transfer decreed that he deserved centre-stage to himself. An interesting beginning to the partnership, to say the least!
Global Financial Crisis? Perez probably doesn't know the meaning of the term. El Mundo Deportivo, which is published in Barcelona, has reported that Real's debts have soared beyond 500m Euros. Mind you, it doesn't half help when the prospect of the city's banks calling them in is about as probable as the subject of the latest world-record transfer admitting that he is a tad over-valued.
How will the new batch of Galacticos fare? They're more than likely to do as well, if not better than Zidane, (the original) Ronaldo, Beckham, Figo & Co as far as commercial returns are concerned. The real challenge for the current batch, however, will be to make a significant improvement on the somewhat underwhelming on-field record of their predecessors.
To that end, Madrid supporters whose vision extends beyond the bling will be hoping that Perez will refrain from meddling with the make-up of the squad once the marquee signings have been sewn up.
Informed opinion suggests that it was Perez, during his first stint as Real supremo, who demanded that Claude Makelele be sold because the Frenchman didn't fit in with the Galactico image. Even without the benefit of hindsight, most would concur that was a blunder of the highest order.
Madrid's new coach, Manuel Pellegrini, is respected as a shrewd and down-to-earth character. With Jorge Valdano and Zidane himself entrenched in prominent off-field roles, it can be safely assumed that the three of them know exactly which areas they need to strengthen if Real are to mount a realistic challenge to Barca in La Liga next season.
And those areas are not where Galacticos tend to roam. If Madrid are to get the best out of Kaka, Ronaldo and Villa, they need quality 'water-carriers', the term Eric Cantona once used, as a compliment despite the negative spin put on it by the media, for Didier Deschamps.
The two Diarras - Mahamadou and Lassana - are potentially good enough to perform the role more than adequately. The question is: will they be given the time and patience that will be required?
What of the defence? Sergio Ramos and 'keeper Iker Casillas apart, it doesn't necessarily inspire confidence. A couple of high-quality signings in that area would appear to be essential, much more so than the addition of yet another Galactico. Whether Perez recognises that is the multi-million Euro question.
Food For Thought: The stark contrast between the self-effacing humility of Kaka and the look-at-me-go-on-look-again self-adulation of Cristiano Ronaldo was brought into sharp focus yesterday. The Brazilian said he was "rejoicing" at the prospect of being in the same team as the Portugese. On the other hand, Ronaldo expressed his disappointment that the two would be unveiled jointly as Real signings to the Madrid media, suggesting his own "historic" transfer decreed that he deserved centre-stage to himself. An interesting beginning to the partnership, to say the least!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Cristiano Ronaldo saga kicks off again
It's on again. It would've been a major surprise if it wasn't.
For those who, like yours truly, are mightily sick of the saga, the good news is that, one way or the other, we should get a long-term resolution this (northern) summer.
Ronaldo's current contract with United runs out in three years from now, which means he can, at this time next year, buy out the remaining two years of his contract and sign for any other club. That would leave United with around GBP 12m in the bank but without their star player come June 2010.
To shield themselves from that, United have two options this summer:
a) Sign Ronaldo to a new long-term contract
b) Sell him to Real Madrid for GBP 75m or thereabouts
As a United supporter, I'd prefer the first option because I reckon Ronaldo can still improve as a player. He's quicker than the Argentine marvel Lionel Messi, is much stronger in the air and packs a more powerful punch from long distance. Where Messi is better - and far better too! - is when it comes to the team-oriented things, such as spotting the killer pass and bringing others into play.
Potentially, Ronaldo can be a far better player than Messi. That's not as controversial as it sounds if you give it a bit of thought. It would be relatively easier for Ronaldo to improve on his shortcomings and get to Messi's level on the team-oriented aspects of the game. It would be much more difficult, if not virtually impossible, for Messi to turn into a speedster who could thump in forty-yarders or rise above defenders to head powerfully home.
Whether Ronaldo will ever become team-oriented is, of course, a different question. If Alex Ferguson hasn't been able to inculcate that into his game, I doubt that anyone else will.
Anyway, getting back to the crux of the matter, it would appear that whether or not Madrid get their man depends on one person - Ronaldo himself. He's the one who'll decide whether he'll sign a long-term contract at The Shrine (aka Old Trafford) or move on to sunnier climes.
From a United supporter's viewpoint, the sooner we get a resolution on the matter, the better for all concerned.
For those who, like yours truly, are mightily sick of the saga, the good news is that, one way or the other, we should get a long-term resolution this (northern) summer.
Ronaldo's current contract with United runs out in three years from now, which means he can, at this time next year, buy out the remaining two years of his contract and sign for any other club. That would leave United with around GBP 12m in the bank but without their star player come June 2010.
To shield themselves from that, United have two options this summer:
a) Sign Ronaldo to a new long-term contract
b) Sell him to Real Madrid for GBP 75m or thereabouts
As a United supporter, I'd prefer the first option because I reckon Ronaldo can still improve as a player. He's quicker than the Argentine marvel Lionel Messi, is much stronger in the air and packs a more powerful punch from long distance. Where Messi is better - and far better too! - is when it comes to the team-oriented things, such as spotting the killer pass and bringing others into play.
Potentially, Ronaldo can be a far better player than Messi. That's not as controversial as it sounds if you give it a bit of thought. It would be relatively easier for Ronaldo to improve on his shortcomings and get to Messi's level on the team-oriented aspects of the game. It would be much more difficult, if not virtually impossible, for Messi to turn into a speedster who could thump in forty-yarders or rise above defenders to head powerfully home.
Whether Ronaldo will ever become team-oriented is, of course, a different question. If Alex Ferguson hasn't been able to inculcate that into his game, I doubt that anyone else will.
Anyway, getting back to the crux of the matter, it would appear that whether or not Madrid get their man depends on one person - Ronaldo himself. He's the one who'll decide whether he'll sign a long-term contract at The Shrine (aka Old Trafford) or move on to sunnier climes.
From a United supporter's viewpoint, the sooner we get a resolution on the matter, the better for all concerned.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Background
Hi,
I live in Sydney, Australia and have been running a 'closed-circuit' bulletin board / e-mail covering sporting chatter for nigh on twenty years. Thought it was about time I ventured into cyberspace. :-)
Teams/Players I support:
Association Football: Manchester United (since 1973 - we were relegated in the first season I started following the Red Devils!), Rangers, Barcelona, Lazio, Kaiserslautern, St Etienne, Queensland Roar, FC Brugge, Ajax Amsterdam, FC Porto, Santos, Boca Juniors, East Bengal.
Australian Football: Hawthorn
Cricket: Queensland, Lancashire, Bombay.
Tennis: Roger Federer
Major League Baseball: San Francisco Giants
NBA: Los Angeles Clippers
NFL: San Francisco 49ers
Rugby Union: Queensland Reds
Golf: Sergio Garcia (since Seve retired)
I'm planning to present my views on sport and shall try and keep them as unbiased as I possibly can, while looking forward to comments from sports fans across the globe.
Cheers
Vikram
I live in Sydney, Australia and have been running a 'closed-circuit' bulletin board / e-mail covering sporting chatter for nigh on twenty years. Thought it was about time I ventured into cyberspace. :-)
Teams/Players I support:
Association Football: Manchester United (since 1973 - we were relegated in the first season I started following the Red Devils!), Rangers, Barcelona, Lazio, Kaiserslautern, St Etienne, Queensland Roar, FC Brugge, Ajax Amsterdam, FC Porto, Santos, Boca Juniors, East Bengal.
Australian Football: Hawthorn
Cricket: Queensland, Lancashire, Bombay.
Tennis: Roger Federer
Major League Baseball: San Francisco Giants
NBA: Los Angeles Clippers
NFL: San Francisco 49ers
Rugby Union: Queensland Reds
Golf: Sergio Garcia (since Seve retired)
I'm planning to present my views on sport and shall try and keep them as unbiased as I possibly can, while looking forward to comments from sports fans across the globe.
Cheers
Vikram
Roger conquers Roland Garros - at last!
I first saw Roger Federer play very early in the new century, when he teamed up with Martina Hingis to win the Hopman Cup in Perth. He instantly became my favourite tennis player. Not since John McEnroe in his prime had I seen anyone play with such poise, elegance and sumptuous style. Fortunately, he didn't display - and, indeed, has never displayed - any of Super Mac's infamous on-court tantrums.
I've followed Federer's exploits ever since and, as some would know, tipped him for greatness well before his first Wimbledon victory even though, back in those early days, there were question marks over his temperament and whether he had the mental fortitude to fully realise his undoubted potential.
Now that he has triumphed at Roland Garros and equalled Pete Sampras' tally of 14 major titles, can we finally hail him as the greatest tennis player of all time? I'd say so, primarily because the competition these days is far stronger than it was in the days of Rod Laver, his only real challenger for the accolade.
What next for the great man? Well, how about a 'Roger Slam', i.e. adding Wimbledon, the US Open and the 2010 Oz Open to the French Open crown? Surely then there will be no more room for argument on who the greatest of all time is.
Food for Thought: Too many people forget that Federer went through most of 2008 suffering from the after-effects of the debilitating mononucleosis disease he contracted prior to the Australian Open that year. The fact that he still managed to win the US Open after reaching the semi-final in Melbourne and the final in Paris and at Wimbledon, speaks volumes for his courage, a quality that is not often highlighted.
I've followed Federer's exploits ever since and, as some would know, tipped him for greatness well before his first Wimbledon victory even though, back in those early days, there were question marks over his temperament and whether he had the mental fortitude to fully realise his undoubted potential.
Now that he has triumphed at Roland Garros and equalled Pete Sampras' tally of 14 major titles, can we finally hail him as the greatest tennis player of all time? I'd say so, primarily because the competition these days is far stronger than it was in the days of Rod Laver, his only real challenger for the accolade.
What next for the great man? Well, how about a 'Roger Slam', i.e. adding Wimbledon, the US Open and the 2010 Oz Open to the French Open crown? Surely then there will be no more room for argument on who the greatest of all time is.
Food for Thought: Too many people forget that Federer went through most of 2008 suffering from the after-effects of the debilitating mononucleosis disease he contracted prior to the Australian Open that year. The fact that he still managed to win the US Open after reaching the semi-final in Melbourne and the final in Paris and at Wimbledon, speaks volumes for his courage, a quality that is not often highlighted.
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