5 to Watch – but first, England...
It is difficult watching England at the best of times but the World Cup can hardly have produced such a clueless performance than the one against Algeria.
It is tempting to blame the players but the players have to be good enough in the first place to represent the cream of English football.
Emile Heskey isn’t the cream...sadly, he isn’t even the full, blue top – more like that insipid red-topped skimmed stuff that looks like water, tastes like water and probably does you a lot less good than water.
Shaun Wright-Phillips runs about a lot. Well done. He occasionally scores a goal. Great. In an England shirt he does the former, never the latter and contributes even less.
Fabio Capello, please listen to the fans and the more intelligent pundits.
Play Wayne Rooney up front on his own with Steven Gerrard supporting. That’s the way to go. Then we bring in Joe Cole in midfield instead of Lennon.
Like the meerkats say – “Simples!”
• On to the weekend sport and the England rugby team looks just as stuttering as their football counterparts. Martin Johnson once again is struggling with allowing his players the freedom to express themselves. They take on Australia in the Second Test in Sydney and expect another thumping.
• New Zealand v Wales looks an easy call. Wales have never won in Kiwi land – and they won’t this time either unless the home side pick a team so new and experimental that they give it away. But that’s not the All Black style.
• Phil Mickelson is ominously poised to win the US Open golf despite Graeme McDowell holding a two-shot lead at half way in Pebble Beach. Mickelson is free of the Tiger Woods threat and should win it. Open championships are always wide open but the leftie is my favourite.
• So, back to South Africa and the World Cup. The Aussies were so poor against Germany that I expect them to do better against Ghana. But Ghana have the incentive of qualification. I take the Africans to send the Roos home.
• Holland may be the dark horses now that all the favourites seem to be falling over themselves to lose or stumble. The Dutch should have Arjen Robben back and they should be too good for Japan.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Sunday, 13 June 2010
If only England were Germany
If only England were Germany - There is something almost surreal about Germany when it comes to big football competitions, especially the World Cup. All the stories of doom and disfavour, disputes and disaster fade as the natural spirit of competitiveness galvanises their players into a smooth fighting unit.
I exaggerate. But not by much. And so our 5 to Watch again took a pasting.
As England stumbled to a 1-1 draw with the USA, thanks to Rob Green’s howler and, let’s not forget, Emile Heskey’s inability to score when clean through, the Germans were hammering Australia 4-0.
Yes Tim Cahill was ludicrously sent off but even so it was mildly impressive.
Elsewhere in our 5 the Aussies turned the tables on England in the rugby union Test. Martin Johnson may have wished for a win but he was denied by a Wallabies side who just refused to be beaten.
The predicted World Cup dark horses Argentina also came good against Nigeria but they made heavy weather of it. Maradona was good value on the touchline, his roly poly posture adding to the general merriment.
Mark Webber let us down at the Canadian Grand Prix but it was great to see Lewis Hamilton finally standing on top of the podium and Jenson Button just below him.
Now all we need is for Michael Schumacher to start firing again...
I exaggerate. But not by much. And so our 5 to Watch again took a pasting.
As England stumbled to a 1-1 draw with the USA, thanks to Rob Green’s howler and, let’s not forget, Emile Heskey’s inability to score when clean through, the Germans were hammering Australia 4-0.
Yes Tim Cahill was ludicrously sent off but even so it was mildly impressive.
Elsewhere in our 5 the Aussies turned the tables on England in the rugby union Test. Martin Johnson may have wished for a win but he was denied by a Wallabies side who just refused to be beaten.
The predicted World Cup dark horses Argentina also came good against Nigeria but they made heavy weather of it. Maradona was good value on the touchline, his roly poly posture adding to the general merriment.
Mark Webber let us down at the Canadian Grand Prix but it was great to see Lewis Hamilton finally standing on top of the podium and Jenson Button just below him.
Now all we need is for Michael Schumacher to start firing again...
Friday, 11 June 2010
World Cup 5 to Watch
World Cup 5 to Watch
Well, we are under way and the manner in which host nation South Africa managed to scramble a 1-1 draw with Mexico in the opening match suggests there may be a few surprises along the way in the 2010 World Cup. 5 to Watch this week has a fairly heavy World Cup bias.
The home nation hardly deserved the point but maybe they have already scored one of the best goals of the tournament.
England take their bow against the USA with the usual jittery nation at home thinking we’re already doomed because we had a dodgy warm-up game against the Platinum Stars.
• Be bold! Man-for-man England should be too strong for the Americans even though they will chase and harry the lads all over the pitch. We must go for England.
• Argentina play Nigeria on the same day and again the form horse is Diego Maradona’s men. Doctors say Lionel Messi is tired after a gruelling season but he should shine anyway. Argentina easily.
• Germany v Australia on Sunday again should be an easy one to call even though the Germans have injury worries and the Aussies can’t seem to score anymore. Germany at a canter.
• In rugby union, Australia provide the opposition for Martin Johnson’s England with Johnners saying his side has a real chanced of an upset. The Wallabies have injury worries but they are on home soil and nothing fires up a man from down under like a Pom in a white rugby shirt. Aussies again!
• It’s another Grand Prix weekend and this time the “action” switches to Canada. It’s usually a three horse race between Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. The form horse is Webber and I take him to win again despite a weather forecast that looks more like a wet weekend in Manchester.
Well, we are under way and the manner in which host nation South Africa managed to scramble a 1-1 draw with Mexico in the opening match suggests there may be a few surprises along the way in the 2010 World Cup. 5 to Watch this week has a fairly heavy World Cup bias.
The home nation hardly deserved the point but maybe they have already scored one of the best goals of the tournament.
England take their bow against the USA with the usual jittery nation at home thinking we’re already doomed because we had a dodgy warm-up game against the Platinum Stars.
• Be bold! Man-for-man England should be too strong for the Americans even though they will chase and harry the lads all over the pitch. We must go for England.
• Argentina play Nigeria on the same day and again the form horse is Diego Maradona’s men. Doctors say Lionel Messi is tired after a gruelling season but he should shine anyway. Argentina easily.
• Germany v Australia on Sunday again should be an easy one to call even though the Germans have injury worries and the Aussies can’t seem to score anymore. Germany at a canter.
• In rugby union, Australia provide the opposition for Martin Johnson’s England with Johnners saying his side has a real chanced of an upset. The Wallabies have injury worries but they are on home soil and nothing fires up a man from down under like a Pom in a white rugby shirt. Aussies again!
• It’s another Grand Prix weekend and this time the “action” switches to Canada. It’s usually a three horse race between Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. The form horse is Webber and I take him to win again despite a weather forecast that looks more like a wet weekend in Manchester.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Gordon Bennett, stop swearing!
Gordon Bennett, stop swearing! When I was quite small, I remember my mum overhearing me swear. It wasn’t a hair-raising, mouth-open-in-astonishment filthy word that we would all be ashamed of, even today. No, it was something fairly innocuous. But my mum heard it so she looked me in the eye, wagged her finger and spoke in no uncertain terms.
“If you say that again I’ll wash your mouth out with soap”.
I said: “No you won’t,” and said the word again.
When she caught me after she chased me round the house, Daz soap powder in hand, she pinned me on the floor, held my nose and when my mouth opened to take that all important breath, in went the Daz.
It was a valuable lesson because even now I never swear in front of my mother, who is in her 80s.
Wayne Rooney has a similar background to mine and I only wish his mum had washed his mouth out with soap powder when he was a lad.
Swearing in football is almost a required pastime. The “F” word is used liberally to celebrate, complain, admonish and question everything.
But, and it’s a big but, it is not acceptable to swear at officials. That’s not because they are too sensitive but because it represents a lack of respect for authority. That lack of respect carries on into the playground, Sunday football field and the classroom.
It sets a precedent for every hard-done-by 10 to 17 year old to have a go at the man, or woman, in black.
The FA and the Premier League have a Respect campaign which emphasises good behaviour but it’s useless if it is not adhered to and followed up with punishment for transgressors.
I don’t want Rooney sent off in the World Cup. I want England to win. But if our best player doesn’t respect the officials, amateur or not, then what chance have the rest of us have who are looking after young footballers up and down the land.
“If you say that again I’ll wash your mouth out with soap”.
I said: “No you won’t,” and said the word again.
When she caught me after she chased me round the house, Daz soap powder in hand, she pinned me on the floor, held my nose and when my mouth opened to take that all important breath, in went the Daz.
It was a valuable lesson because even now I never swear in front of my mother, who is in her 80s.
Wayne Rooney has a similar background to mine and I only wish his mum had washed his mouth out with soap powder when he was a lad.
Swearing in football is almost a required pastime. The “F” word is used liberally to celebrate, complain, admonish and question everything.
But, and it’s a big but, it is not acceptable to swear at officials. That’s not because they are too sensitive but because it represents a lack of respect for authority. That lack of respect carries on into the playground, Sunday football field and the classroom.
It sets a precedent for every hard-done-by 10 to 17 year old to have a go at the man, or woman, in black.
The FA and the Premier League have a Respect campaign which emphasises good behaviour but it’s useless if it is not adhered to and followed up with punishment for transgressors.
I don’t want Rooney sent off in the World Cup. I want England to win. But if our best player doesn’t respect the officials, amateur or not, then what chance have the rest of us have who are looking after young footballers up and down the land.
Monday, 7 June 2010
Rafa rescues 5 to Watch
Rafa rescues 5 to Watch - The phenomenon that is Rafa Nadal was the rescuer of the 5 to Watch this weekend after his triumph for the fifth time in his career at Roland Garros, overcoming Robin Soderling in straight sets to take the French Open tennis title.
Elsewhere it was a pretty crummy effort.
I know South Africa, the world rugby champions, were in Cardiff to play Wales and they won. But the 34-31 victory was too close to gain much satisfaction from it. Still, we’ll take the win.
Two wins is about it. Rafa rescues 5 to Watch
Bradley Dredge was more drudge in the Welsh Open at Celtic Manor where a final round of 63 gave England’s Graeme McDowell the title.
There was another shock in the women’s tennis at the French Open when Francesca Schiavone overcame Aussie Samantha Stosur in straight sets to claim a Grand Slam first for Italian women.
And our Derby tip, Henry Cecil’s Bullet Train, didn’t feature in a race won in record time by another great man of racing Sir Michael Stoute with Workforce.
It's the World Cup next week. Back to footie!
Elsewhere it was a pretty crummy effort.
I know South Africa, the world rugby champions, were in Cardiff to play Wales and they won. But the 34-31 victory was too close to gain much satisfaction from it. Still, we’ll take the win.
Two wins is about it. Rafa rescues 5 to Watch
Bradley Dredge was more drudge in the Welsh Open at Celtic Manor where a final round of 63 gave England’s Graeme McDowell the title.
There was another shock in the women’s tennis at the French Open when Francesca Schiavone overcame Aussie Samantha Stosur in straight sets to claim a Grand Slam first for Italian women.
And our Derby tip, Henry Cecil’s Bullet Train, didn’t feature in a race won in record time by another great man of racing Sir Michael Stoute with Workforce.
It's the World Cup next week. Back to footie!
Friday, 4 June 2010
The Summer of 5 to Watch
The summer of 5 to Watch
A week before the World Cup starts and it’s time to abandon football – can we take the withdrawal symptoms? The shakes will start probably by next Tuesday, then we’ll only have three days before the next fix.
In the meantime, thoughts turn to summer. Last week we had a touch of March but now the sun is out and we’re buzzing.
• Let’s kick-off (pathetic pun) with the French Open tennis. Federer’s gone, Murray failed again and Djokavic stumbled so who can stop Nadal? No-one, so let’s go for a semi and final double win for the Spaniard.
• The women’s final is a surprise. With no Grand Slam winner among the last four it’s left to an Australian, Samantha Stosur, and Italy’s Francesca Schiavone, to fight out the decider. The momentum is with Stosur, having beaten Justine Henin and Serena Williams on the way to the final. C'mon Aussie - Stosur to shine.
• The domestic rugby season gives way to the international matches as England head to the Southern Hemisphere and South Africa arrive in Britain to take on Wales on Saturday. The Welsh have spirit, fight and no little talent but they can’t match the world champions. Springboks by 10 points.
• The Derby is one of those horse races for the connoisseur. It’s the prancing, preening showcase of the thoroughbred elite. The Usain Bolt (!) of the horse world as opposed to the Geoff Capes version that is the Grand National. I’m no racing man except to say that Henry Cecil is a fellow to be reckoned with when it comes to training – he has four Derby wins under his saddle. So let’s have a look at one of his runners, Bullet Train, to triumph.
• The splendidly named Bradley Dredge is a golfer I’ve admired for a while. No matter that his moniker sounds like an Aussie rap star, he’s a Welshman competing in the Welsh Open and hoping – as are many -0 that a good performance may get him a Ryder Cup call. He started well on day one, a shot off the lead, and I’m taking him to go a little better and win at Celtic Manor, venue for the annual GB and Europe v USA battle in the autumn.
A week before the World Cup starts and it’s time to abandon football – can we take the withdrawal symptoms? The shakes will start probably by next Tuesday, then we’ll only have three days before the next fix.
In the meantime, thoughts turn to summer. Last week we had a touch of March but now the sun is out and we’re buzzing.
• Let’s kick-off (pathetic pun) with the French Open tennis. Federer’s gone, Murray failed again and Djokavic stumbled so who can stop Nadal? No-one, so let’s go for a semi and final double win for the Spaniard.
• The women’s final is a surprise. With no Grand Slam winner among the last four it’s left to an Australian, Samantha Stosur, and Italy’s Francesca Schiavone, to fight out the decider. The momentum is with Stosur, having beaten Justine Henin and Serena Williams on the way to the final. C'mon Aussie - Stosur to shine.
• The domestic rugby season gives way to the international matches as England head to the Southern Hemisphere and South Africa arrive in Britain to take on Wales on Saturday. The Welsh have spirit, fight and no little talent but they can’t match the world champions. Springboks by 10 points.
• The Derby is one of those horse races for the connoisseur. It’s the prancing, preening showcase of the thoroughbred elite. The Usain Bolt (!) of the horse world as opposed to the Geoff Capes version that is the Grand National. I’m no racing man except to say that Henry Cecil is a fellow to be reckoned with when it comes to training – he has four Derby wins under his saddle. So let’s have a look at one of his runners, Bullet Train, to triumph.
• The splendidly named Bradley Dredge is a golfer I’ve admired for a while. No matter that his moniker sounds like an Aussie rap star, he’s a Welshman competing in the Welsh Open and hoping – as are many -0 that a good performance may get him a Ryder Cup call. He started well on day one, a shot off the lead, and I’m taking him to go a little better and win at Celtic Manor, venue for the annual GB and Europe v USA battle in the autumn.
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