Why did we send in the Marines for fourth-form disco?

Posted on October 14, 2012 by adminsports

Why did we send in the Marines for fourth-form disco

UPDATED:

21:00 GMT, 13 October 2012

A World Cup evening at Wembley and the questions came crowding in. Why did the FA declare the match a sell-out when there were empty seats all over the stadium What was the point of that

And why was kick-off delayed so that a Royal Marine could abseil from the roof with the match ball What was that all about Year upon year, we become a little more like the Americans in our obsession with the military. With the greatest respect to the armed forces, there are times when Wembley feels like the Royal Tournament.

Obsession: A Royal Marine hands the ball to referee Gediminas Mazeika

And why did they hire that match announcer, the DJ from the fourth-form disco 'Gooooal, Waaaayne Roooneeeyyy! … Englaaaaaand!' Shouldn't a World Cup qualifier be above that kind of naffness And another thing: why do they continue to admit that unspeakable band The tuneless rabble from Sheffield who slaughter The Great Escape and Rule Britannia at depressingly frequent intervals. The Ukrainians got it right at the Euros when they confiscated their instruments in Donetsk. Why can't the FA follow this civilised example

So much to discover, so many questions; we're bound to leave something out. Ah yes, the match. England v San Marino. The kindest thing to say is that it is easily forgotten. I have been shuffling along to Wembley for a good many years, and I cannot recall another game which left me convinced that the England coaching staff could have beaten the opposition.

True, at the age of 56, Ray Lewington has lost some of his mobility, and while Sir Trevor Brooking may be 64, he didn't have too much pace to lose. But with young Gary Neville (37) doing most of their running, you would still back them to overcome the San Marinese. And, since the opposition was selected from a population of just 32,000, their impotence was inevitable.

England could not be criticised, since the circumstances were so unnatural. San Marino's defence was 11-strong, and relied upon bodies, bodies and more bodies. The strategy might have won an approving nod from Field Marshal Douglas Haig, but it seemed oddly out of place in modern international competition.

Premier League players expect opponents to react predictably to certain situations. San Marino did not oblige, they spoke a different language, marched to a different drum, did their very best to get in the way, and hoped the time would quickly pass. They resembled those 'opponents' that promoters import to face the latest British boxing hope; awkward, unorthodox, totally devoid of ambition yet capable, from time to time, of making the golden boy look foolish.

This they managed for 34 minutes and 24 seconds, when Waaaayne Roooneeeyyy scored his penalty. Events then took their course. England scored five goals, and departed feeling that they'd had a fairly indifferent night.

San Marino conceded five and proceeded to order a grand parade and an open-top bus. And, with glorious disregard for the mood, the fourth-form DJ played 'Football's Coming Home'.

Funny old night. Funny old game.

Arsene Wenger can see no invincibles

Posted on September 23, 2012 by adminsports

Wenger can see no invincibles but admits Arsenal have a strong squad

UPDATED:

21:51 GMT, 22 September 2012

Arsene Wenger feels he has assembled his strongest Arsenal squad for some time but maintains no team in the Barclays Premier League has looked unbeatable.

The Gunners boss moved to offset the 24million sale of captain Robin van Persie to Manchester United with the addition of experienced internationals Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski.

Podolski scored his third goal in as many games in the midweek Champions League away win over Montpellier.

Strong squad: Wenger sees plenty of talent sidelined

It marked a shift in policy from Wenger, who has long championed the potential of youth.

Now, though, the French manager believes he has the balance just right for a long-overdue sustained title assault.

'In terms of quality and numbers in midfield, yes, for sure (the squad is the strongest),' Wenger said.

'When you think at the moment we have (Jack) Wilshere who is not playing, (Tomas) Rosicky who is not playing and was very important for us last year, (Emmanuel) Frimpong is not playing, (Francis) Coquelin is not playing, (Aaron) Ramsey too, so we have exceptional choice.'

Missing: Gunners are still without Jack Wilshere

Wenger, whose 2003/04 team finished the league season unbeaten and were branded 'The Invincibles', cannot see any team ready to dominate the title race this term.

'I feel it is very unpredictable at the moment,' he said. 'You have no team who gives out the strength that make you think they are unbeatable – none of the teams I have seen gave me that impression.'

Cazorla, 27, has caught the eye with a string of cavalier displays at the heart of Arsenal's unbeaten start, and while he makes frequent appearances for Spain he cannot hold down a regular position and is often used off the bench.

Wenger believes the former Malaga man would walk into most international teams.

Wenger said: 'Cazorla is a good link between midfield and the final third. He gives you availability always to turn the game forward and an exceptional technical level.

'You would think Cazorla or (Mikel) Arteta would play in many other countries, but with Spain they don't because they have (Andres) Iniesta, (Sergi) Busquets and Xavi. Players like Cazorla and Arteta, even (Cesc) Fabregas is not always playing.

'They are all technical high-level, gifted players. It is not a coincidence, it is down to the way they educate their players [in Spain]. This is a concentration on technique.'

Wenger sees similar qualities in his squad.

'Here at Arsenal, we are starting to have a little generation of players from England who are similar,' he said.

'(Alex Oxlade) Chamberlain, Wilshere, (Kieran) Gibbs has good technical level, and we have some young players behind who are similar.

'I think we will see even more and more because the whole world tries to produce these types of players.'

Derek Lawrenson: Portrush is the place to be

Posted on June 26, 2012 by adminsports

Portrush is the place to be for the party of the year

UPDATED:

22:28 GMT, 25 June 2012

What event do you look forward to the most Alongside ‘What’s Tiger Woods really like’ – a closed book I haven’t got near to opening – and ‘Can I fit in your suitcase’ – trust me, you don’t want to go in there – that might be the most frequent question I get asked.

No need to dance around the houses this year and wonder whether to plump for the Masters, The Open, or a number of other 72-hole goodies.

No 1, by a Frankel-like margin, is this week’s momentous Irish Open at Royal Portrush. Praise to the Stormont politicians for stumping up the funds and giving Rory, Darren and G-Mac the homecoming their major championship exploits deserved.

Let the party commence: Portrush hosts the Irish Open

This will be the first time the event has been staged in the province since 1953 and what an occasion it promises to be. For the first time in European Tour history the sold-out notices have been posted. So many tickets were purchased in advance, they didn’t want to risk being mobbed at the weekend by people turning up at the gate.

As it is, more than 100,000 spectators will flock to one of the world’s great courses and no prizes for guessing who most of them will be watching. Welcome to Northern Ireland’s very own Big Three.

As if the air of celebration was not thick enough, local resident Alan Dunbar returned home from Royal Troon on Saturday with the Amateur Championship. Portrush member Stephanie Meadow sank the winning putt at the recent Curtis Cup. How about another Northern Irishman, Michael Hoey, who can’t get a look in but just happens to have won three times on the European Tour in little more than a year No wonder they say success breeds success.

One day, they hope The Open itself will return to these parts for the first time since 1951. Officials from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club will be in town this week and not because their two biggest trophies are in residence. If the event goes well, who knows what might happen ‘Can’t wait for Portrush,’ tweeted Rory McIlroy at the weekend. Neither can I.
It is going to be totally manic. And utterly marvellous.

The big three: McIlroy, McDowell and Clarke all return to play

The big three: McIlroy, McDowell and Clarke all return to play
Quote of the week

‘I’ve got this wrong. I’ve done something bad. I wish it hadn’t happened.’
Jose Manuel Lara’s hapless caddie Mathias Vinson was certainly right on all three counts. But what possessed the Argentine to think he could cover up the mistake of having one club too many in Lara’s bag last week by getting rid of it in a bush, for heaven’s sake Unlike the club, it is safe to assume Vinson will now disappear.

Willett has found his calling

While enjoying immensely the achievements of all these top English golfers in their thirties, there have been some nervous looks in the rear-view mirror wondering who will follow in their footsteps.

That’s one reason the victory of 24-year-old Danny Willett in the BMW International in Germany on Sunday was so welcome. Maybe you would expect the son of a preacher to have a good Christian work ethic, but when combined with God-given talent, it was hardly surprising to see his peers lining up on Twitter to predict this victory as the first of many.

Man of the hour: Willett (in bunker) celebrates his win in Germany

Brendan Rodgers links to Tottenham were to blame for Swansea slump – Huw Jenkins

Posted on May 3, 2012 by adminsports

Rodgers' Spurs links were to blame for Swansea slump, insists Jenkins

UPDATED:

18:42 GMT, 2 May 2012

Growing reputation: Brendan Rodgers was touted as a possible replacement for Harry Redknapp

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has blamed the England managerial saga for his club's recent dip in form.

Brendan Rodgers' side went on a four-match losing run in March and April – their worst sequence of results for eight years – amid frequent reports that the Northern Irishman was due to fill Harry Redknapp's position at Tottenham.

Rodgers insisted the uncertainty had no bearing on Swansea's performances, but Jenkins told the South Wales Evening Post: 'When you look back now, that speculation did our club harm, and I don't think it has done Tottenham any good either.

Clipped wings: Swansea went on a run of four defeats in March and April

'To me that highlights the need to play things down in football and to keep a level head to make sure people do not run away with press speculation.

'Nobody is to blame – I fully understand that the Premier League is a massive league which is covered by every TV channel and paper that exists and that they are going to speculate about things.

'I just think everybody needs to take the speculation for what it is and not let it affect what they are doing.'

Sunderland want Junior Hoilett from Blackburn

Posted on April 27, 2012 by adminsports

Sunderland face competition from Bayern and Marseille for Blackburn ace Hoilett

UPDATED:

21:00 GMT, 26 April 2012

Sunderland are hoping they can entice Junior Hoilett to stay in the Barclays Premier League if Blackburn Rovers are relegated next month.

But manager Martin O'Neill faces stiff competition from Champions League finalists Bayern Munich and Marseille to land the talented forward.

Wanted: Blackburn forward Junior Hoilett (centre) has admirers across Europe

Both European giants have been frequent visitors to Ewood Park this season and Canadian Hoilett, who joined Blackburn's academy at the age of 13, impressed O'Neill in their meeting earlier in the season.

Chief scout Brian 'Pop' Robson has since joined the regular observers at Blackburn matches.

Stevenage boss Gary Smith won"t duck Tottenham challenge

Posted on February 18, 2012 by adminsports

It's huge, but I won't duck this challenge, says Stevenage boss Smith ahead of Spurs clash

It is the technicolour variety of the FA Cup which endures and comes full circle with delicious regularity. Take Stevenage manager Gary Smith. On the face of it, he had an unremarkable playing career blighted by frequent injuries.

Delve a little deeper, though, and you discover he was an Aylesbury Duck – and everyone remembers them, the green-and-white-hoop-shirted Aylesbury United players on their knees waddling along to celebrate a goal and many an FA Cup upset.

And that wasn’t the end of it. The
non-League club were invited to send a flush of ducks on to the TV
sports show They Think It’s All Over for the round in which the
panellists are blindfolded and have to guess the sports personalities
by touch alone.

Big date: Stevenage boss Gary Smith is looking forward to taking on Spurs

‘I wanted to be at the front but I was right at the back when we went on, so I only got about two waddles on my knees,’ said Smith with the dry humour which has already won over a tight-knit Stevenage dressing room since he succeeded Graham Westley three weeks ago.

Smith led the Colorado Rapids to the MLS Cup in 2010, the franchise’s first major trophy, but has now returned for a tilt at management in this country. A perfect record of two wins from two games will be tested in the extreme tomorrow when the League One club take on Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham at their intimate Lamex Stadium.

Smith realises as much, having taken in Tottenham’s 5-0 demolition of Newcastle at White Hart Lane last weekend with his assistant Mark Newson.

He said: ‘I kept nudging News, saying, “What are we going to do there, or there” The first 45 minutes of football were inspiring, a wonderful performance, as good as I’ve seen live for a long, long time. It will be different here on this pitch because it gives us our best chance of performing. It won’t affect Tottenham. Their players can perform anywhere.’

Another coincidence pops up with Newson, who was made Bournemouth captain when the Spurs boss was in charge at the beginning of his managerial career. And Redknapp’s genius with players was evident even then. Newson said: ‘Harry picked me out of the Conference at Maidstone so I’ll forever be grateful. He did a lot more on the training field then, but he already had the man management skills.

‘He knew how to work with players, how to make you feel like a million dollars. And not just certain individuals but as a team. In the year we got promotion, we went out there every game feeling that we couldn’t get beaten.’

That leaves Stevenage right back Ronnie Henry and one of the greatest Cup connections of all. The 28-year-old’s grandfather Ron was a regular member of the Tottenham side which won the Double in 1961.

Wembley wonders: Ron Henry is carried aloft by Spurs team-mates John White, Cliff Jones and Dave Mackay after winning the FA Cup in 1962. His grandson Ronnie (below) can only dream

Football League blog

Ron was present in 2007 when Ronnie,
then Stevenage captain in their FA Trophy triumph, became the first man
to hold aloft a trophy at the new Wembley.

Sadly Ron is now unwell, but his grandson, a former Tottenham trainee, has seen the footage and knows all of the tales.

Henry said: ‘He wouldn’t let me not see him in action. He’s made me sit down and watch videos of him playing. He was a very good player. He was a left back, I’m a right back. A lot of people spoke very highly of him.

‘I was very aware of what he achieved from a very young age. Going to his house, seeing his trophies, his shirts, the medals he won. I’ve managed to win a couple of promotions at Stevenage and get a few medals to give back to him, to show him. He was very proud.’

Darren Fletcher diagnosed with bowel condition

Posted on December 14, 2011 by adminsports

Fears over Fletcher as Man United midfielder is forced to take break from football as serious illness is revealed

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is facing a fight to save his career at the age of 27.

United announced that the Scotland captain had been forced to take an indefinite break from playing after succumbing to a debilitating bowel condition.

Fletcher missed a large chunk of last season with a so-called “virus” and then sat out much of pre-season when the problem resurfaced.

Out of action: Darren Fletcher will take a prolonged break from football due to serious health reasons

Out of action: Darren Fletcher will take a prolonged break from football

However, the Barclays Premier League champions have revealed that Fletcher has actually been suffering from aproblem known as “ulcerative colitis”.

It is considered unlikely that Fletcher will be back before next season, and there is now a large question mark over his career.

Whether the midfielder can return will depend on the severity of the condition. Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave won gold medals at five consecutive Olympics, despite being diagnosed in 1992, while England rugby star Lewis Moody also suffers from it.

Time out: Fletcher has taken a break from the game to improve his health and will be sorely missed by United boss Sir Alex (below)

Time out: Fletcher will try to improve his healthbut the Scotland midfielder will be sorely missed by Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson (below right)

Time out: Fletcher has taken a break from the game to improve his health

What is ulcerative colitis

According to the NHS, it is a chronic condition that affects the colon.

Symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain, frequent need to go to the toilet and weight loss. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and can flare up and disappear for months or even years.

The condition causes the colon to become inflamed and in severe cases, ulcers can form on the lining of the colon.

At its most severe, the entire colon can become inflamed (known as pancolitis). This form of ulcerative colitis is particularly challenging to treat.

It is estimated that there are 10 new cases a year out of every 100,000 people. Around 100,000 people in England are affected, with people usually initially affected between the ages of 15 and 30.

One in five people have severe symptoms often respond less well to medication. In these cases,surgery may be required to remove the colon.

A United statement said: “On behalf of Darren Fletcher, Manchester United wishes to announce that he is taking an extended break from football for health reasons.

“Over the past year he has had several absence periods which we have attributed to a viral illness in order to respect his right to medical confidentiality.

“Darren has, in fact, been sufferingfrom ulcerative colitis (a chronic inflammatory bowel condition) for some time preceding this. While he was able to maintain remission of symptoms for a considerable period, this has proved more difficult recently and Darren”s continued desire to play, and his loyalty to both club and country, has probably compromised the chances of optimising his own health and fitness.

“He has therefore accepted medical advice to take an extended break from the demands of training and playing in order to afford the best chance possible of achieving full remission once again.”

The news was greeted with dismay by United followers and the football community as a whole. Not only is Fletcher considered an integral part of Sir Alex Ferguson”s first-choiceteam, he is also one of the club”s most popular players.

Fletcher”s domestic season didn”t begin until the September 18 victory against Chelsea and although he enjoyed a run after that he has not made an appearance since the November 22 Old Trafford draw with Benfica.

Last week he remained an unused substitute in Basle as United crashed out of the Champions League, and it is understood he has not been at the training ground since.

Team-mates Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen expressed their support on Twitter, as did former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.

Huge blow: Scotland will also feel Fletcher

Huge blow: Scotland will also feel Fletcher”s absence

What remains to be seen now is whether Ferguson goes back on his vow not to sign new players in January. Having lost captain Nemanja Vidic to a season-ending knee injury last week and already without a host of other injured players, Ferguson will be under pressure to prove that United do have cash for new recruits.

Fletcher”s condition can be managed in some cases by drugs, diet and lifestyle changes. In other instances, though, it can”t. Some of the drugs available to him may also figure on the banned substances list.

In his autobiography, rugby star Moody explained about the difficulties of living with a similar illness. He wrote: “The condition will never go away completely. I am resigned to taking a minimum of four tablets a day for the rest of my life. On bad days it is eight tablets.

Attempted comeback: Fletcher had already missed games due to the illness

“I have special permission under the laws of the game – a therapeutic use exemption – which allows me to take them.

“I watch my diet – no more curries, red meat (especially lamb), brown bread (surprisingly), caffeine… evenalcohol has to be taken in moderation. It is a life sentence.”

Fletcher does at least have some financial security. He was given a new four-year contract in March that takes him up to the summer of 2015, something that now seems odd given how long his struggle with this illness has clearly been going on.

Darren Fletcher: Factfile

1984: Born February 1 in Dalkeith, Scotland.

2000: Begins traineeship at Manchester United.

2001: February – signs first professional contract with United.

2003: March 12 – Makes United debut in 1-1 draw against Swiss side FC Basle in the Champions League.

August 20 – Makes Scotland debut as a substitute in the goalless friendly against Norway.

October 11 – Scores first Scotland goal in 1-0 Euro 2004 qualifier win over Lithuania, securing a play-off berth. The Scots later lose the play-off 6-1 on aggregate to Holland.

2004: May 22 – Starts as United beat Millwall 3-0 in the FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium.

May 26 – Captains Scotland to a 1-0 win against Estonia in Tallinn, at the age of 20, becoming Scotland”s youngest captain for 118 years.

2005: January 1 – Scores first goal of his United career in 2-0 league victory at Middlesbrough.

November 6 – Fletcher”s headed goal proves enough for United to end Chelsea”s 40-match unbeaten league record, and comes in the wake of criticism aimed at the midfielder by Roy Keane in an interview which was never aired by MUTV.

2006: February 26 – Misses out on United matchday squad for League Cup final against Wigan. United win 4-0.

2007: May 6 – Wins first Premier League title with United, having made 40 appearances over the course of the season.

2008: October 3 – Signs a three-year extension to his contract with United, keeping him at the club until 2012.

October 7 – Named Scotland captain for the World Cup qualifier against Norway in the absence of Barry Ferguson and Stephen McManus.

2009: May 5 – Ruled out of the Champions League final after being sent off against Arsenal in the semi-final.

May 11 – Sees an appeal against the card dismissed by UEFA.

2011: March 6 – Plays against Liverpool after which he is ruled out with what the club describe as a virus which caused severe weight loss.

August 15 – Returns in a reserve match against Arsenal, after missing United”s pre-season tour of the United States to work on his fitness.

October 5 – Announces he is ruled out of Scotland”s Euro 2012 qualifier against Liechtenstein with tonsilitis.

October 7 – Makes late dash to Caduz and the following night plays in the 1-0 victory.

December 13 – Takes an extended break from football after being revealing he has been suffering from ulcerative colitis.

Darren Fletcher fighting to save career over bowel illness

Posted on December 14, 2011 by adminsports

Illness puts Fletcher”s career in jeopardy as United midfielder forced to take break