The new chairman of Manchester City with his back up of millions came to take his place and to watch his team perform for the fist time and he was given one of the greatest ever exhibitions of what football can be as Robinho was dazzling showing skills I have never seen before used in a competitive game. His approach and style to this game was infectious and was taken up by Shawn Wright Phillips with back flicks and goal passing and shots which will be remembered for many a day. Then whole team responded and they gave a good Portsmouth side a thrashing they will long remember. It was performance of great significance, albeit I only saw the highlights and but I cannot wait to see an extended version of the game on Monday morning at 9am to see if this reflected the whole game and ensure that I have not been carried away. . I shall also look at their fixture programme and Travel lodge offers for Winter time to visit a game or two such is the impression that has been made. It underlined the failure of Mike Ashley at Newcastle when the club did not respond to enquiries from the Manchester City new owners.
Newcastle lost to West Ham United on Saturday afternoon. I listened the match on the radio switching between local commentators and BBC Digital Five Live and while both described aspects of the performance as shambles in some respects former Newcastle Captain Bobby Moncur and team were more critical of what was happening than those on the BBC. I also felt they were all over critical when I saw the full game on Sky in the evening as had one or more of the chances which the team created been converted to goals then the result could have been different. The team is small, with some key players injured or not presently available and it is evident the players are affected by the situation. On Sunday I listened to the discussion programme on Sky missing he opening of the programme which was on earlier than usual but in time to hear the main part of the conversation about the situation at Newcastle. The discussion was excellent informed and making several points I have made in this Blog and on line to the Daily Mail, BBC Sports, the regional Evening Chronicle and other national papers. This together with other snippets of new confirmed that up to eight Manager have so far have indicate. One of the journalists from the region flew to London on the same plane and Newcastle's Managing Director who said they had been very close to getting Kevin Keegan back as manager on the Friday meeting before the Hull game. The point was made about the response of the fans and complicity of stadium staff who allowed the banner message to be carried round the stadium without intervention. This journalist also made the point that football supporters in general should welcome the action taken by Newcastle fans as reminding all owners of their responsibility and duties towards the welfare and interests of their customers. Theer was also concern expressed about the arrival of the new money into Manchester City because of the implications for other teams as wages and transfer fees would escalate and the impact of this on the traditional nature of the game and the work undertaken in clubs such as City to produced home grown and young talent through is Academy. However the die is cast as they say and far from feeling concern every club within the Premiership who already as a great stadium will be looking to attract new owners or partners with money. It will be interesting to see whether the media interest and work on looking at Mr Ashley continues. The most worrying story is that he gambled tens of millions of pounds on the HBOS bank shares losing a sum greater than he is reported to lose if he sells Newcastle for less than the present asking price.
I continued to debate overnight going to the Sunderland the home game against the Boro which commenced at 12.45 but decided I wanted to listen to the Newcastle game immediately after, as well as keeping abreast with the cricket and golf. I listened to match on local radio and then saw extended highlights in the evening. Roy has significant changed the team he inherited on arrival two season ago with only two or three players remaining and he has now has a large squad for 48 players with six out on loan, but still over three players for each position in the team. Theer was general agreement which I shared that while Jibiril Cisse has great speed his passing and finishing leaves a lot to be desired and while he had played with El Jadji Diouf two have so far failed to have the kind of impact required. On Saturday Boro appeared to have control of the game and the team most likely to score and this was confirmed when a penalty was given but fortunately the Boro player blasted the ball high over the goal and this prompted the best period of play from Sunderland with troubled Michael Chopra scoring two goals in the last twenty minutes with the consequence that Sunderland are in the top half in eight position with Newcastle second from bottom. Other note worthy result was the draw by Manchester United at Chelsea leaving them 15th in the table and five points and the draw by Spurs which leaves them bottom.
I had mixed feeling about watching Tess of the D'Urbervilles which led to concluding that Thomas Hardy has much in common with Catherine Cookson in that at one level all the stories are similar, usually featuring wronged women when girls who become strong although in hardy there is usually tragedy while in Cookson there is some romantic and just outcome. There is so much predictable in Tess with no surprises to-date and nothing to make this a definite or striking adaptation so far. It does not immediately become priority viewing for next Sunday.
I very much enjoyed the Antiques Roadshow coming from Chester City where I worked for three years and lived for under one before moving to Boxborough in the Wirral. The programme was held in the Cathedral where many family treasures was brought to the show but also one serious collector who produced three times with a combined value of over £15000 but who gave the impression of having paid half as much.
What can be said about the Ryder Cup? I did not get switched on to this year/s event as from the outset it was evident the USA had become more focussed and determined despite the better performance of the Europeans in the majors. Although Europe gained on point back on the second day it was quickly evident that the tactic of putting the weaker players in with the stronger USA players was not going to work. It was not that the Europeans played badly overall but the USA players were brilliant and rode their luck where as nothing came off when it matters for the Europeans so the Americans ended strong winners by 5 clear points sixteen and a half to eleven and a half. Although I purchased the pack of six cartridges for the Epsom RX640 from the computer ship in town for £6 compared to £69 in Smiths I lefty until Sunday evening to see if they worked after the Epsom 900 suddenly stopped working suggesting it needs a service £25 to use up a similar value of cartridges. I will try the other 900 first before deciding what to do in the morning but I fear I am going to have a problem getting going again.
I commenced yesterday's writing with the issue of the power of the mind over matter and the overcoming of adversity. I need apply what I know and believe to my own life.
Newcastle lost to West Ham United on Saturday afternoon. I listened the match on the radio switching between local commentators and BBC Digital Five Live and while both described aspects of the performance as shambles in some respects former Newcastle Captain Bobby Moncur and team were more critical of what was happening than those on the BBC. I also felt they were all over critical when I saw the full game on Sky in the evening as had one or more of the chances which the team created been converted to goals then the result could have been different. The team is small, with some key players injured or not presently available and it is evident the players are affected by the situation. On Sunday I listened to the discussion programme on Sky missing he opening of the programme which was on earlier than usual but in time to hear the main part of the conversation about the situation at Newcastle. The discussion was excellent informed and making several points I have made in this Blog and on line to the Daily Mail, BBC Sports, the regional Evening Chronicle and other national papers. This together with other snippets of new confirmed that up to eight Manager have so far have indicate. One of the journalists from the region flew to London on the same plane and Newcastle's Managing Director who said they had been very close to getting Kevin Keegan back as manager on the Friday meeting before the Hull game. The point was made about the response of the fans and complicity of stadium staff who allowed the banner message to be carried round the stadium without intervention. This journalist also made the point that football supporters in general should welcome the action taken by Newcastle fans as reminding all owners of their responsibility and duties towards the welfare and interests of their customers. Theer was also concern expressed about the arrival of the new money into Manchester City because of the implications for other teams as wages and transfer fees would escalate and the impact of this on the traditional nature of the game and the work undertaken in clubs such as City to produced home grown and young talent through is Academy. However the die is cast as they say and far from feeling concern every club within the Premiership who already as a great stadium will be looking to attract new owners or partners with money. It will be interesting to see whether the media interest and work on looking at Mr Ashley continues. The most worrying story is that he gambled tens of millions of pounds on the HBOS bank shares losing a sum greater than he is reported to lose if he sells Newcastle for less than the present asking price.
I continued to debate overnight going to the Sunderland the home game against the Boro which commenced at 12.45 but decided I wanted to listen to the Newcastle game immediately after, as well as keeping abreast with the cricket and golf. I listened to match on local radio and then saw extended highlights in the evening. Roy has significant changed the team he inherited on arrival two season ago with only two or three players remaining and he has now has a large squad for 48 players with six out on loan, but still over three players for each position in the team. Theer was general agreement which I shared that while Jibiril Cisse has great speed his passing and finishing leaves a lot to be desired and while he had played with El Jadji Diouf two have so far failed to have the kind of impact required. On Saturday Boro appeared to have control of the game and the team most likely to score and this was confirmed when a penalty was given but fortunately the Boro player blasted the ball high over the goal and this prompted the best period of play from Sunderland with troubled Michael Chopra scoring two goals in the last twenty minutes with the consequence that Sunderland are in the top half in eight position with Newcastle second from bottom. Other note worthy result was the draw by Manchester United at Chelsea leaving them 15th in the table and five points and the draw by Spurs which leaves them bottom.
I had mixed feeling about watching Tess of the D'Urbervilles which led to concluding that Thomas Hardy has much in common with Catherine Cookson in that at one level all the stories are similar, usually featuring wronged women when girls who become strong although in hardy there is usually tragedy while in Cookson there is some romantic and just outcome. There is so much predictable in Tess with no surprises to-date and nothing to make this a definite or striking adaptation so far. It does not immediately become priority viewing for next Sunday.
I very much enjoyed the Antiques Roadshow coming from Chester City where I worked for three years and lived for under one before moving to Boxborough in the Wirral. The programme was held in the Cathedral where many family treasures was brought to the show but also one serious collector who produced three times with a combined value of over £15000 but who gave the impression of having paid half as much.
What can be said about the Ryder Cup? I did not get switched on to this year/s event as from the outset it was evident the USA had become more focussed and determined despite the better performance of the Europeans in the majors. Although Europe gained on point back on the second day it was quickly evident that the tactic of putting the weaker players in with the stronger USA players was not going to work. It was not that the Europeans played badly overall but the USA players were brilliant and rode their luck where as nothing came off when it matters for the Europeans so the Americans ended strong winners by 5 clear points sixteen and a half to eleven and a half. Although I purchased the pack of six cartridges for the Epsom RX640 from the computer ship in town for £6 compared to £69 in Smiths I lefty until Sunday evening to see if they worked after the Epsom 900 suddenly stopped working suggesting it needs a service £25 to use up a similar value of cartridges. I will try the other 900 first before deciding what to do in the morning but I fear I am going to have a problem getting going again.
I commenced yesterday's writing with the issue of the power of the mind over matter and the overcoming of adversity. I need apply what I know and believe to my own life.
You might like Book Drum’s illustrated profile of Tess, which incorporates maps, music, video, pictures and background information to bring the book alive for modern readers:
ReplyDeleteTess of the D’Urbervilles on Book Drum
All the best
Hector