Steer clear of bland autobiographies!
November 18, 2008
With Christmas well and truly on the way, our thoughts will turn to what presents we can get our nearest and dearest . One popular gift idea is books and the football industry certainly produces enough of these for you to be able to find just the right one for you.
Yet on closer inspection, it would seem that the market is flooded with autobiographies by players who really must be short of time. The way I see it is that if players who have reached the top of the national game feel the need to document their memoirs for public consumption then this is all well and good. In fact I have read some wonderfully poignant and entertaining books by the likes of Booby Charlton, Gordon Banks and Paul Ince over recent weeks.
However, there is a growing trend for players to write the autobiographies whilst they are still playing and in some cases before they really have the substance to make such a project viable. Wayne Rooney produced his autobiography a year or two ago, as has Steven Gerrand and his Liverpool team mate Jamie Carragher his blazing his way through the bestsellers list as we speak.
For a purely trivial insight into these players, these sort of works are pretty good, but for an entertaining read which does not regurgitate the same sort of plot over and over again then you are best to avoid them.
No doubt financial factors are the main reasoning behind the autobiographies of current players, but with the literary restraint which the must show in producing it, the actual quality of the discourse is painfully mundane.
So if you are looking for an entertaining read this Christmas, then I would suggest that you focus on the autobiographies of former players rather than those of today.
Liverpool keep up the pressure at the top
November 17, 2008
Thanks to headed goals for Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard, Liverpool went back to the top of the Premiership on Saturday, if only for two hours. The reds put on a powerful display of control and power to steam roller Bolton 2-0 at the Reebok, despite almost throwing away their advantage.
Liverpool struck midway through the first half when Dirk Kuyt netted a powerful header from ten yards, due to some awful Bolton marking. This spurred Liverpool on to apply constant pressure to the home side, and should have doubled their lead when Robbie Keane had an open goal, but somehow went with his right when she should have gone with his left.
His miss almost cost Liverpool when Bolton had an equaliser disallowed due to a foul by Nolan on Reina. After the break the home side pressed hard, but Liverpool’s dominance proved enough when Fernando Torres came off the bench to produce a moment of magic, flicking a cross with the outside of his foot, for Gerrard to throw himself onto.
In truth it could have been more, as both Torres and Kuyt hit the woodwork, and Lucas missed an open goal when it seemed impossible to header wide.
You either watch football or your dont!
November 12, 2008
Over the last couple of year or so, Sky Sports have received a strong competitor for live football and that comes in the form of Setanta Sports. For some people, Setatanta is a cost effective way to watch top class football for a fraction of the price of Sky and the deal seems like a remarkably good one.
However, others have taken less kindly to Setanta , pointing to the fact that they have trod on the BBC’s toes when it comes to England matches. A couple of months ago, this was highlighted when England fans chanted anti Setanta songs during a match, and there was a great deal of upset and disappointed when the fantastic win in Croatia was only made available to subscribers.
The facts of the matter are that Setanta outbid the BBC or certain England matches as well as FA Cup coverage, therefore they are entitled to show them to their members. This is the reality and sadly for some, it is not about to change any time soon.
In terms of whether or not this should be allowed – of course it should, they paid the money for it so why should they refuse to show it? Football is big business now and this is just a small part of it.
In my opinion those England fans who are kicking off about not wanting to pay £12 or so a month to watch top quality football and plenty of it are causing a fuss about nothing. If you want to watch it, you pay for it, if you don’t then buy yourself a CD instead.
Do you agree with me?
Leave me your comments!
The magic of the FA Cup is back!
November 8, 2008
The FA Cup returns to the forefront of the footballing radar this weekend when the competition steps up a gear and the First Round matches are played.
This is renowned for non league teams looking to pit their wits against the lower Football League clubs in the hope that they can create a small piece of history for themselves and maybe a decent pay cheque for good measure.
None of the League clubs will be wanting to fall at the first hurdle of course, as they set their sights on progressing to the coveted Third Round and the potential for a glamour tie against one of the countries elite.
Amongst the potential shock ties this weekend are last years cup heroes Havant and Waterlooville who face League Two side Brentford. Havant secured their place within the hearts of the nation last season when they gallantly bowed out against Liverpool after taking the lead at Anfield. Without doubt this is one of the ties of the round, and the eyes of the country will be on Havant yet again as the match will be screened live on ITV.
Other League clubs who are facing a potential banana skin are League Two leaders Darlington who entertain Droylsden, Lincoln who travel to Kettering and Macclesfield who travel to Ryman League side Harlow.
Wenger bemoans Stoke “cowards”
November 3, 2008
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hit back at his side’s critics after the weekend defeat at the hands of newly promoted Stoke City. The Frenchman has been aroused by claims that his side did not show the kind of passion and desire needed to claim maximum points in the Premier League.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon Wenger pointed to the amount of injries which Arsenal have suffered as a result of what he termed “deliberate” tackles. Not only did the Gunners supremo bring up long term injury victim Eduardo and Diaby, he also pinpointed numerous challenges made by the Potters,which he believes had the sole intention of taking out one of his plays.
In particular, Wenger was incensed by tackles from Rory Delap and Ryan Shawcross whom he labelled as “cowards”. Theo Walcott fell victim to one of these tackles and was stretched from the pitch, however to claim that the Stoke team were trying to deliberately hurt the Arsenal players is senseless and inaccurate.
Looking at the video replays, many of the tackles which Arsene uses in his defence are genuine attempts to play the ball. Some were late, yes, but malicious no – and it is patently obvious that Wenger’s unnecessary attack on the Potters is a weak attempt to deflect his own side’s quite visible deficiencies.
