What an unholy mess. Kevin Pietersen resigning, Peter Moores being forced to resign and English cricket imploding on itself - just in time, perfectly, for this years Ashes clash. If things were in a bad state before, they’re even worse now.
You can find out all the in-detail news on this latest fiasco from the Cricinfo experts at http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/385633.html.
Far be it from me to know what is best for English cricket but, in my humble opinion, for Pietersen to demand a change of coach and to declare that he wouldn’t tour the West Indies under the current management is farcical and childish. Moores may not be the world’s best coach but can it really be that difficult to play under him? One can only assume that there is something we are not being told about their relationship.
Where now for England? Back to Andrew Strauss as captain? Will KP play for England again? As always, thoughts and comments are encouraged.
(article for The Corridor (www.cricket.mailliw.com))
7 January 2009
6 January 2009
Mushtaq to work with England spinners
Mushtaq Ahmed has been given clearance to coach England’s spinners this summer. After six years playing for Sussex and plenty of domestic success, Mushtaq will bring a wealth of experience to the table and England fans will be desperately hoping he can coax out that missing magic from Monty Panesar.
Certainly, his expertise could and should be greatly felt by England’s slow bowlers. Adil Rashid, the Yorkshire leg-spinning prodigy, could benefit greatly from the wily Pakistani. Rashid has been included in England’s Test squad for the tour of the West Indies, although it isn’t expected that he’ll be pushing for a starting place. Pundits and former players are desperate for Rashid not to be rushed and, although the experience with the squad shouldn’t do him any harm, surely the arrival of Mushtaq as spin coach will do Rashid the greatest benefit.
Rashid is third in line for the premier England spinners role. Panesar currently holds that role and he will most definately be collaring Mushtaq for all the advice he can give. Panesar’s lack of development in the recent year is an ongoing concern for the England management and with Graeme Swann impressing in India combined with Rashid’s continual development, Panesar must be nervously looking over his shoulder.
Let’s hope the Mushy magic will rub off on Monty and the rest of England’s spinning prodigies.
(article for The Corridor (www.cricket.mailliw.com))
Certainly, his expertise could and should be greatly felt by England’s slow bowlers. Adil Rashid, the Yorkshire leg-spinning prodigy, could benefit greatly from the wily Pakistani. Rashid has been included in England’s Test squad for the tour of the West Indies, although it isn’t expected that he’ll be pushing for a starting place. Pundits and former players are desperate for Rashid not to be rushed and, although the experience with the squad shouldn’t do him any harm, surely the arrival of Mushtaq as spin coach will do Rashid the greatest benefit.
Rashid is third in line for the premier England spinners role. Panesar currently holds that role and he will most definately be collaring Mushtaq for all the advice he can give. Panesar’s lack of development in the recent year is an ongoing concern for the England management and with Graeme Swann impressing in India combined with Rashid’s continual development, Panesar must be nervously looking over his shoulder.
Let’s hope the Mushy magic will rub off on Monty and the rest of England’s spinning prodigies.
(article for The Corridor (www.cricket.mailliw.com))
3 January 2009
Town isn’t big enough for KP and Mooresy
It appears obvious to English fans that Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores just aren’t a winning formula ala Vaughan/Fletcher. Events have been spiced up by KP’s apparent anger over the failure to recall Vaughan for the tour to the West Indies and many feel that the coach and the captain are unable to work together.
If this is so, and Pietersen has demanded face to face talks with the ECB as reported, then which man goes? English cricket desperately needs KP as captain at the moment. That ugly Stanford business and results in India aside, Pietersen has handled himself and his position excellently since his appointment. And there’s his incredible batting form, too.
Moores’ record is less flattering. He has overseen four series defeats out of the seven that England have played under his leadership, lost the once proud unbeaten home record and generally been in charge whilst the side has gone backwards.
Indeed Michael Vaughan found it tougher to work with Moores than the Fletcher days. See the Darren Pattinson debacle for evidence.
If KP is to issue an ultimatum then it is hard to see the ECB siding with the coach over the captain. However, what would that say about Pietersen’s strength and influence as a mere team captain? Having the captain decide who is and who isn’t good enough to be coach would not sit well with cricketing purists and ECB bigwigs.
Rest assured, the fireworks are still to go off on this one.
Mark Tilley is new here. Don’t bite his head off yet
(The Corridor, 2009)
If this is so, and Pietersen has demanded face to face talks with the ECB as reported, then which man goes? English cricket desperately needs KP as captain at the moment. That ugly Stanford business and results in India aside, Pietersen has handled himself and his position excellently since his appointment. And there’s his incredible batting form, too.
Moores’ record is less flattering. He has overseen four series defeats out of the seven that England have played under his leadership, lost the once proud unbeaten home record and generally been in charge whilst the side has gone backwards.
Indeed Michael Vaughan found it tougher to work with Moores than the Fletcher days. See the Darren Pattinson debacle for evidence.
If KP is to issue an ultimatum then it is hard to see the ECB siding with the coach over the captain. However, what would that say about Pietersen’s strength and influence as a mere team captain? Having the captain decide who is and who isn’t good enough to be coach would not sit well with cricketing purists and ECB bigwigs.
Rest assured, the fireworks are still to go off on this one.
Mark Tilley is new here. Don’t bite his head off yet
(The Corridor, 2009)
27 December 2008
Villa's top four mission
Fans and critics alike of the English Premiership often bemoan the lack of competition; ‘big four’ syndrome strikes top divisions all over Europe but none more so, it seems, that the top flight of the home of football. The gulf in class and success between the top four teams in England (namely Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal) and the rest of the league is plain for all to see and no team has breached this elite group for some time now.Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa, however, seem well placed to do so this season. They go into the halfway point of the season sitting in fourth place, above Arsenal, and only just behind Man Utd in third. Talk of a title charge is premature and unrealistic but the whispers around Villa Park of Champions League qualification appear to be much more forthcoming. O’Neill’s side have been quite superb this season, their nucleus of young English players forming a strong team atmosphere that has seen them propel themselves to such heights to which they now find themselves.
How long can it last? O’Neill is thought of by many as a seriously classy manager and he’ll know not to get ahead of himself. He’ll know that the team he has been building over the last three or so years is probably at it’s peak and this will please him no end. Still, a season is not made on where you are in December. Villa have plenty more to prove to themselves and to the rest of the division if they are serious about breaking the elite this year.
Nevertheless, they have been extremely easy on the eye this season. The 2-2 draw on Boxing Day with Arsenal perfectly illustrated their never say die attitude and belief they've had so far this year. They comprehensively outplayed their illustrious opponents in the first half, striking the woodwork on no less than three occasions. Naturally (apologies for the cynicism), Arsenal then took a two goal lead. Most teams would see that as the crippling blow; Dominate the game and then go two down - can anything be more disheartening in this fair game? Apparently, no-one informed Villa of the usual script as they fought back through a Gareth Barry penalty and then, in the dying moments, grabbed a dramatic late equaliser through defender Zat Knight.
A thrilling performance that encapsulated Villa's undoubted technical ability, even if they couldn't get the win they deserved. Nonetheless, Villa had been proverbially throwing down their credentials nearly all season. A draw with Liverpool, a win away at Tottenham, a point with Manchester United and a fantastic victory at Everton, where they conceded an equaliser in the last thirty seconds of play before shocking everyone and scoring almost immediately from kick off with the last kick of the match. Their players are good, very good, and encouragingly, the majority of them are English. Driven from the middle by Gareth Barry, their attacking might revolves around the pace and genius of Ashley Young, the skill and craft of James Milner and the raw goal-scoring talent of Gabriel Agbonlahor. Surely these four players should be England squad regulars by the time the 2010 World Cup arrives?
For fans up and down, the land it is refreshing to see Villa’s challenge upset the big four. Such an occasion is seldom, probably last seen by Martin Jol’s Tottenham in 2006. They occupied the fourth place most of the season before a final day defeat saw them give up that prized space to fierce rivals Arsenal. Tottenham failed to kick on and achieve subsequently and their challenge has since died out. Now it is Villa’s turn and fans all over the country must be hoping for claret and blue success.
It is hard to dislike Villa at present moment (Birmingham fans aside). They’re easy on the eye with their slick football, they have promising, young English players and they pose a genuine threat to the annoying supremacy of the top four. For fans who have long loathed all the preferential treatment from referee’s, the protection from the FA on disciplinary matters and the general boredom of having only four authentic title contenders, Villa’s challenge is a sharp relief and should be supported by neutrals and all fans across the land.
As for Martin O’Neill, next time the FA are looking for an England manager, surely it must be him.
10 December 2008
Swann to ease burden on Panesar?
With England’s test series in India finally due to begin in Chennai, England have named their side in advance. The big news being that the selectors have given a Test debut to spinner Graeme Swann, a regular in the one day squad. Swann, a right arm off-spinner comes in for the injured Stuart Broad and gives England their first all out spin pairing since the last time they visited these shores in 2006, when Panesar himself and Shaun Udal bowled England to victory in Mumbai.
Swann is also a capable batsman, having even opened for his county Nottinghamshire in the past. He therefore fills the number eight void left by Broad but his fans will be hoping he can impress more with the red cherry in hand. His inclusion in the side will be seen as a positive thing as it means that Panesar is not the lone spinning option for captain Kevin Pietersen.
Panesar has been criticised for his lack of progress in the recent year, having made such a impression in the early stages of his career. Shane Warne gave a frank assessment of Panesar saying that he had not played thirty three test matches, rather he had played the same test match thirty three times. One can assume that this was a reference to Panesar’s lack of variation and his samey style of bowling.
He relies greatly on the left arm spinner’s stock ball: curve it in towards the right hander, pitch it on middle or leg stump and spin it away. It can work to devastating effect, as shown by his demolition of New Zealand at Manchester last summer (he took 6-37). However, when the pitch offers little and the batsman are set, he tends to struggle.
Also, he appears to have lost some of his childlike love of the game. Even after pastings at the hands of Australia’s rampant batsman, he still seemed to be enthusiastic about the possibility of a wicket. One can point to tough times at the hands of India, Sri Lanka and South Africa and Monty appears to be less happy with the way his game goes.
Swann could make Monty’s life a whole lot easier. They compliment each other excellently, with the right arm/left arm combination making life difficult for the batsman and forcing him to readjust his thinking. Also, the presence of another spinner will ease the mental burden on Panesar. If your running in, over after over, with two Indian batsman hitting you all over the park, the thought that you’re the only one that can make the ball spin could be an intimidating one.
Swann has shown previous success on Asian conditions, although only in the one day format. His breakthrough in the England side came after a hugely impressive performance in Sri Lanka last year and he impressed to a degree during England’s thrashing by India in the prematurely aborted one day series recently. He has the ability to really spin the ball, possibly more than Panesar does. He’s not going to win the series for England by himself; but his presence in the team will help Panesar and Panesar could be a match winner.
England finally appear to have picked the right balance in their side. Two different styles of spinner and three pace men in Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and James Anderson. It gives the captain options and that is exactly what England will need if they are to achieve anything from this challenging Test series.
(allvoices.com, 2008)
8 December 2008
Being put back into place
Whilst perusing through the mailbox on football365.com this fine evening, I found an interesting little post from a disgruntled Southampton fan. It seems an Arsenal fan had written a post the previous day claiming that no other club were in a worse position than his beloved Gooners. Please, have a look:
Is Any Club In A Worse Position?
Okay, just to give an update on a team no-one cares about (apart from me and Mort Snort that is), which is Southampton. We're currently lying 19th in the Championship, four points above the relegation zone. In our yearly results up to July this year we have lost £4.6m. Our overdraft has risen to ridiculous levels, and our turnover has decreased from £21m to £13m. Attendances have dropped from an average of 22,00 to 15,000 due to splits in the fanbase, lack of home wins and most of all, utter laziness and inability to be proper football fans and back the club with money.
On top of this we have an unproven Dutch manager who has got a team with an average age of just under 21 years of age playing lovely flowing football, but with no end product. This has led to several of our players being potentially whipped away in January by the Premiership big boys, with Lallana off to Spurs (If he could shoot he'd be a world beater), Andrew Surman off to Stoke to join the Saints old boys, and Morgan Schneiderlin off to Arsenal (this boy is something special) where we will have to try and unearth the next superstar from our academy, who'll probably be like eight years old. Add to this the fact that allegedly Rupert Lowe is picking our team week in week out, the fact we need to get rid of Rudi Skacel, Stern John, Grzegorz Rasiak and Jason Euell off the books to give ourselves a chance of staving off administration, and you'll realise what a hole our club is in.
Is there anyone else whose clubs are in a worse position. From the sounds of things there is a team in London who are 4th in the Premiership with a few injuries, whose 60,000 paying fans are booing one of their players. Gosh. I wouldn't want to be them...
Simon Goddard, SFC
Perspective can be a right slap in the face sometimes.
Is Any Club In A Worse Position?
Okay, just to give an update on a team no-one cares about (apart from me and Mort Snort that is), which is Southampton. We're currently lying 19th in the Championship, four points above the relegation zone. In our yearly results up to July this year we have lost £4.6m. Our overdraft has risen to ridiculous levels, and our turnover has decreased from £21m to £13m. Attendances have dropped from an average of 22,00 to 15,000 due to splits in the fanbase, lack of home wins and most of all, utter laziness and inability to be proper football fans and back the club with money.
On top of this we have an unproven Dutch manager who has got a team with an average age of just under 21 years of age playing lovely flowing football, but with no end product. This has led to several of our players being potentially whipped away in January by the Premiership big boys, with Lallana off to Spurs (If he could shoot he'd be a world beater), Andrew Surman off to Stoke to join the Saints old boys, and Morgan Schneiderlin off to Arsenal (this boy is something special) where we will have to try and unearth the next superstar from our academy, who'll probably be like eight years old. Add to this the fact that allegedly Rupert Lowe is picking our team week in week out, the fact we need to get rid of Rudi Skacel, Stern John, Grzegorz Rasiak and Jason Euell off the books to give ourselves a chance of staving off administration, and you'll realise what a hole our club is in.
Is there anyone else whose clubs are in a worse position. From the sounds of things there is a team in London who are 4th in the Premiership with a few injuries, whose 60,000 paying fans are booing one of their players. Gosh. I wouldn't want to be them...
Simon Goddard, SFC
Perspective can be a right slap in the face sometimes.
27 November 2008
Mumbai attacks mean cricket is immaterial
Wednesday’s attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai have left over a hundred people dead and at least three hundred injured. The attackers targeted several sites across the city, notably the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, where a large number of Westerners were staying. The location is significant for the fact that the current touring England cricket team were due to stay there in the coming weeks, as were the Middlesex team, participating in the inaugaral Champions League.Cricket is used to being on the back pages and although it is hardly the centre focus in this story, there is only one option that can be taken - send them home. As much as sport is a healing power in this world, where eastern and western cultures can combine to play a competitive game, there comes a time when safety is premium.
The second a touring party feels there is any danger to their personnel then it is time to send them home. Yes, the contest would be ruined and the sporting attraction would be over but when it comes to human life, there can be no excuses. This event is particularly close to home in that the team were due to stay at the very hotel that was attacked. Have we reached the stage where we send our sportsmen overseas like we send our soldiers to war, praying for their safe return?
This incident is not the first one of cricketing safety. The recent Champions Trophy was postponed as the security climate in the host country Pakistan was deemed unfit by nearly all countries. Australia and West Indies recently declined to tour Pakistan because of the same reason. It seems most countries will see sense and pull out of touring should there be any kind of risk to players.
The England situation is different in that the team is halfway through playing a series. However, there is no sense in risking their lives for a game. Leicestershire wicket keeper Paul Nixon, who is currently in India playing in the ICL, says England should pack up and head home immediately and it is hard to disagree with him. The financial and commercial costs may indeed suffer but safety comes first.
It is not often sport and terrorism are mixed. And that is exactly how it should be. If England extend their stay in India to encompass the scheduled Tests then there is something dramatically wrong with the organisers in the England camp. Do them and their families a favour - bring them home. They’re sportsmen, not soldiers.
23 November 2008
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Blackburn Rovers - Match Report
Tottenham and Blackburn began the afternoon in the bottom three but it was Spurs who came storming out of it by full time as they edged out their opponents on a chilly afternoon at White Hart Lane. Phase one of Harry Redknapp’s plan, to get out of the bottom three, appears completed and the Messiah’s fantastic start as boss continued.
Former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson returned to White Hart Lane for the first time since his departure as the teams took the field with no real surprises in the selection. Ledley King returned to captain the Tottenham side and Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko started a game together for the first time, after former boss Juande Ramos had deemed the pair unfit to play together.
It was Spurs who had the first scare however as the ever worrying Heurelho Gomes contrived to spill a Morten Gamst Pedersen corner, causing mayhem. Tottenham however survived the scare in the best way possible as Aaron Lennon robbed Aaron Mokoena and skipped down the pitch into the Blackburn area to pull back for Pavlyuchenko, who calmly fired into the back of the net. Pavlyuchenko was unlucky not to have a second soon after as his header from David Bentley’s free kick hit the post.
Blackburn responded quite well and could have been level when Brett Emerton looped the ball over the advancing Gomes, only for a desperate headed clearance from Jonathan Woodgate. Minutes later, Benni McCarthy contrived to put a good chance over the bar from six yards out after getting on the end of a Martin Olsson cross.
Spurs continued to look lively, none more so than Lennon who went on several darting runs through the Blackburn half, one of which resulted in a left footed strike which just went past the post. He caused Blackburn more damage when again he sprinted away from Martin Olsson, only to be cynically brought down by Olsson who received his second yellow card and was forced to take an early bath. From the resulting free kick, the ball came to Lennon on the outside of area who’s powerful strike was blocked on the line.
Just before the half time interval came a moment of controversy as Bentley went down on the edge of the box. Tottenham fans and players alike all anticipated an attacking free kick only for referee Howard Webb to give a free kick the other way and show Bentley a yellow card for diving. He may have gone down a touch theatrically but to say he was diving was harsh and the challenge definitely merited a free kick. Nevertheless, Spurs were good value for their half time lead.
Blackburn looked dangerous in the opening exchanges after the break but Spurs continued to create chances, with Tom Huddlestone having a vicious drive deflected over the bar and then another, even better shot from the resulting corner, which curled a touch wide of the post. Spurs continued to press, yet couldn’t find the elusive second goal as Jermaine Jenas and Bentley played an intricate short corner which dropped invitingly for Woodgate, who couldn’t get a clean strike on it.
Tottenham were dominating possession and Blackburn introduced Matt Derbyshire to give a more attacking edge. Spurs brought on Frazier Campbell, who has impressed in recent weeks, for Pavlyuchenko as they looked to close out the game with another goal that their pressure and performance had deserved. The anxiety was growing all around the ground, however, as Blackburn slowly began to get more of the ball, although they hadn’t really threatened Gomes’ goal.
With ten minutes remaining Campbell broke down the left, evading a few tackles and fired the ball across the face of goal only to see Darren Bent’s outstretched foot just fail to make contact. Minutes later, Lennon darted into the box, made room and had a powerful shot saved by Robinson. Then, the best chance of the second half fell to Campbell. Bentley and Lennon worked a short corner, Bentley whipped in an excellent cross and found Campbell in a bit of space, who header was off target.
Spurs replaced Bentley soon after with Jamie O’Hara, a move surely to shore up the midfield and protect the lead. An ugly fracas broke out in the closing minutes between Jenas and Keith Andrews when the Spurs man lashed out after being fouled and then held onto by his opponent. Although the players swarmed the scene, referee Webb had the situation in control and showed yellow cards to both players.
The final whistle came as a massive relief to Tottenham, although in truth Blackburn hardly threatened during the whole game. The man of the match performance from Aaron Lennon will be the most pleasing aspect to Spurs fans, as the winger tormented the Blackburn defence for pretty much the whole game, looking like the player he was when he first burst onto the scene three years ago. The win takes Spurs to the lofty heights of 14th place and with the close proximity of all teams from around 7th place downwards, Tottenham will be hoping to kick on from here and not fall back into the worrying depths of the bottom three.
(fansonline.net/tottenhamhotspur, 2008)
Former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson returned to White Hart Lane for the first time since his departure as the teams took the field with no real surprises in the selection. Ledley King returned to captain the Tottenham side and Darren Bent and Roman Pavlyuchenko started a game together for the first time, after former boss Juande Ramos had deemed the pair unfit to play together.
It was Spurs who had the first scare however as the ever worrying Heurelho Gomes contrived to spill a Morten Gamst Pedersen corner, causing mayhem. Tottenham however survived the scare in the best way possible as Aaron Lennon robbed Aaron Mokoena and skipped down the pitch into the Blackburn area to pull back for Pavlyuchenko, who calmly fired into the back of the net. Pavlyuchenko was unlucky not to have a second soon after as his header from David Bentley’s free kick hit the post.
Blackburn responded quite well and could have been level when Brett Emerton looped the ball over the advancing Gomes, only for a desperate headed clearance from Jonathan Woodgate. Minutes later, Benni McCarthy contrived to put a good chance over the bar from six yards out after getting on the end of a Martin Olsson cross.
Spurs continued to look lively, none more so than Lennon who went on several darting runs through the Blackburn half, one of which resulted in a left footed strike which just went past the post. He caused Blackburn more damage when again he sprinted away from Martin Olsson, only to be cynically brought down by Olsson who received his second yellow card and was forced to take an early bath. From the resulting free kick, the ball came to Lennon on the outside of area who’s powerful strike was blocked on the line.
Just before the half time interval came a moment of controversy as Bentley went down on the edge of the box. Tottenham fans and players alike all anticipated an attacking free kick only for referee Howard Webb to give a free kick the other way and show Bentley a yellow card for diving. He may have gone down a touch theatrically but to say he was diving was harsh and the challenge definitely merited a free kick. Nevertheless, Spurs were good value for their half time lead.
Blackburn looked dangerous in the opening exchanges after the break but Spurs continued to create chances, with Tom Huddlestone having a vicious drive deflected over the bar and then another, even better shot from the resulting corner, which curled a touch wide of the post. Spurs continued to press, yet couldn’t find the elusive second goal as Jermaine Jenas and Bentley played an intricate short corner which dropped invitingly for Woodgate, who couldn’t get a clean strike on it.
Tottenham were dominating possession and Blackburn introduced Matt Derbyshire to give a more attacking edge. Spurs brought on Frazier Campbell, who has impressed in recent weeks, for Pavlyuchenko as they looked to close out the game with another goal that their pressure and performance had deserved. The anxiety was growing all around the ground, however, as Blackburn slowly began to get more of the ball, although they hadn’t really threatened Gomes’ goal.
With ten minutes remaining Campbell broke down the left, evading a few tackles and fired the ball across the face of goal only to see Darren Bent’s outstretched foot just fail to make contact. Minutes later, Lennon darted into the box, made room and had a powerful shot saved by Robinson. Then, the best chance of the second half fell to Campbell. Bentley and Lennon worked a short corner, Bentley whipped in an excellent cross and found Campbell in a bit of space, who header was off target.
Spurs replaced Bentley soon after with Jamie O’Hara, a move surely to shore up the midfield and protect the lead. An ugly fracas broke out in the closing minutes between Jenas and Keith Andrews when the Spurs man lashed out after being fouled and then held onto by his opponent. Although the players swarmed the scene, referee Webb had the situation in control and showed yellow cards to both players.
The final whistle came as a massive relief to Tottenham, although in truth Blackburn hardly threatened during the whole game. The man of the match performance from Aaron Lennon will be the most pleasing aspect to Spurs fans, as the winger tormented the Blackburn defence for pretty much the whole game, looking like the player he was when he first burst onto the scene three years ago. The win takes Spurs to the lofty heights of 14th place and with the close proximity of all teams from around 7th place downwards, Tottenham will be hoping to kick on from here and not fall back into the worrying depths of the bottom three.
(fansonline.net/tottenhamhotspur, 2008)
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