My consumption of sport is changing because with age I tolerate failure less but equally abhor ultra professionalism. My loyalties and interests built up over decades remain and in some instances are just as strong as they have always been but as discussed when marking the arrival of 3D Cinema and 3D TV in the home, the development enables the ability to become a more active observer in comfort and at considerably less expense, for me and anyone or a fixed or limited income.
The best development since my last report is that Sunderland beat Arsenal at the Stadium of Light to reach the quarterfinals of the Football Association Cup and in the subsequent draw were the last club out of the bag, so to speak, and therefore playing away to Everton. This immediately brought back a cold Winter‘s evening when I journeyed over the snow covered Pennines by coach to watch Sunderland lose at Everton in the FA Cup and then found the coach, among a convoy of 100 or so vehicles, being stoned as we slowly moved out of Liverpool northward towards the M6 up to Carlisle and across to Newcastle along the Northern route to arrive back in the early hours disappointed and also shaken by the experience. The stones were small or clumps of earth thrown by small groups of children and some adolescents from behind garden walls or street corners, but in some number, disabling some coaches whom had to stop in order to attend to the damaged window and presumably report the matter to the local police who were not immediately evidence. Since then the operation has become professional with police escorts and organisation of brief road closure and traffic light switching to enable the fast movement of away support coaches away from venue grounds.
I was able to watch the game against Arsenal live in the home comfort before large screen HD, and it was evident that a large number of other supporters had followed suit as there were only 26000 out of 50000 seats occupied. There are various reasons for this change which was evident in several other televised matches at the weekend and in other matches recently. The most obvious being that Sunderland had lost to Arsenal the previous weekend in the Premier League and with Arsenal being thrashed out of the European Cup the worst was feared. The match was being televised on one of the main home terrestrial channel/freeview digital channels and the weather was forecast cold although not as cold as it has been and cold has not in the past prevented North East Young males from appearing bare-chested at such events. I believe that financial restrictions and job insecurity may have been the dominant factor for many here in the North East.
It is also possible that support for the game in general is diminishing and the failure of North East Clubs to win trophies or show any likelihood of winning the top league is also having its effect. Given that the social behaviour of players at North East clubs have hit the media over the past decade or two recent events with accusations of racism between players has probably had less impact in the North East than elsewhere, while the salaries, bonus and life style of bankers has been declared open season for attack, the way Footballers, Managers, the agents and clubs manipulate payments to attract and keep players, avoid taxation has not really affected the paying public although I suspect the campaign for Harry Rednap of Tottenham to become the next England Manager may have been derailed, or perhaps the FA do not want to make the connection between the finding of not guilty and the departure of Capello too obvious. Meanwhile Stuart Pearce will care take as before and I would like to see him given the opportunity to manage the first team one day. I am not a cockney Harry fan or of Tottenham for that matter. It is noteworthy that the FA are reported not have officially spoken to anyone about the vacant position yet.
This therefore is the longest preamble to a short play notice ever. I thought the two teams were well matched and that the game turned a defensive mistake which allowed Kieran Richardson time to take a long range shot at a severe angle across the goal keeper inside the far side netting. He is famed for his long range fast and accurate strikes and this was one of his best, intended and impossible to stop by the goal keeper.
I have been impressed by Sunderland’s front man Stephane Sessagnon because of his exciting skill on the ball and 90 minutes exertions on behalf of the team. He is not a prima donna player and it was his work with the ball which enabled a close quarter goal mouth scramble strike by Larsson to secure the win by two goals to none. Well done the lads.
Unfortunately they went and destroyed the glow of success on Wearside by a terrible performance away at the Midland Club West Bromwich Albion who had not won at home since November whereas Sunderland’s rise up the table away from the relegation zone has been built by five wins in the previous six away games. This match stood form on its head. West Brom scored their first of four goals within minutes (3) of the start and a second and third either side of half time with the fourth coming as the game ended. It was not good preparation for Sundays 12 noon start away at Newcastle. O’Neill knows that he will become a legend if he can secure a win although I fancy a draw at best.
Newcastle it has to be said have faltered for after good wins 2.0 away at Blackburn and 2.1 at home to Aston Villa they were humbled 5.0 at a rampant Tottenham and then could only manage a 2.2 draw at home against Wolves after going two up in the first half. There is now a 3 point gap between them and the teams in 4th and 5th places and while they are ahead still of Liverpool they have a game in hand and are looking more consistent in their Premier League form. Sunday’s game is therefore important for short and longer term reasons for both clubs and is available on television to watch live
Yesterday evening, Wednesday the 29th February there were two friendly internationals which merited watching and therefore I keep an eyen on both switching between digital freeview for the game between England and Holland and the game between Wales and Costa Rica which was arranged to mark the death of the former Manager Garry Speed. It was indeed a moving occasion in which the football would inevitably become second best.
Bryn Terfel with a Welsh male voice choir sang Bread of Heaven and then Speed’s two boys led out the team with Craig Bellamy. Craig is another of the footballers who found North East night life such that he became of interest to the tabloid personality pages in addition to his temperamental footballing skills although since then his play and his behaviour off the pitch has become exemplary and along with Robert Savage, Alan Sharer and Shane Given have been along those who have held the name of Speed up high and given support to his parents and sons.
Chris Coleman who has also had his off playing field moments was clearly emotional as he stood with the parents of Garry. I was watching England during the half time at Cardiff and therefore missed the role of honour as a number of former Welsh Internationals took to the pitch to show their solidarity with the occasion.
The game was inevitably going to be of less consequence although after having won their three previous internationals Wales had more than one incentive to win the game. It was some fifty years since they had won four internationals back to back. In the event from what I saw of the game their performance was good but affected by the emotions of the situations and it was Costa Rica who won the game 1.0 despite several near successful attempts to gain a draw which would have reflected the overall play of the two teams. It has to be said that Costa Rica has proved consistently one of the better South American teams so defeat was no disgrace rather a major disappointment for the 23000 fans hat were present and the hundreds of thousands of other’s watching at home and in the pubs and clubs. Wales has a young side of relatively unknowns to me with only Rickets and Gabbidon on the bench familiar to me in addition to Bellamy.
There was similar off field attention surrounding England’s friendly against Holland at Wembley.The football media and most managers and footballers have placed their weight behind the the proposed apppointment of Harry Rednap as England’s manager to replace Capello. The story so far is that after the failure of the team in the World Cup Capella had wanted to resign but was persuaded to remain until the outcome of the criminal proceedings against Rednap and his financial advisers for failing to pay appropriate income tax were completed. Both men were acquitted and from what I read in the paper it appears that rough diamond geezer as Rednap likes to portray himself suffers from ahd eye coordination problems which make his handwriting indecipherable and an aversion and ability to keep records, write letters or use technology.
It is rightly argued that such disabilities should not prevent someone from heading their chosen occupation. I share the anxiety of others in the Football Assoication who have their doubts. After all has Harry won the English Premier League NO! Has he won any form of International competition NO. So why should we think he will do better for England that think whose records at least indicate they have the experience?
If I was in the position to chose I would give serious consideration to Stuart Pearce who like Harry is not the most articulate of front men but has now amassed a substantial record of achievement with the under 21 squad many of whom were on show at Wembley on Wednesday eveing. It was my hope that the team would do well against a side the national teams has always struggle.
The other off field problem surrounding this match is the decision fo the FA to insist that Frank Lampard should be removed from the captaincy and possibly his place in the England team until the outcome of the prosecution against him for alleging having made racist remarks against a player in an opposing team. Frank’s lawyers had succesfuly got the trial delayed until after the end of the Football season so he could continue with his lucrative occupation, something which your average fan if prosecuted would not be able to do. The Football Association was right and should have been fully supported in their decision to remove the captaincy from Lampard and Capello was an idiot, something which I would not have said of him before, for criticiscing the decision, albeit in the Italian Press. One suspects that he wanted a get out before the European Championship which the national team is unlikely to win, although could reach the finals in the Queen’s 60th reign year celebrations and the holding of the Olympic games in London.
The interesting decision was that instead of appointing Gerrard as Captain Pearce chose in inform Scott Parker from Tottenham, which in turn could indicate who would be Harry’s choice.
I thought the the team played with great skill and promise matching that of the Dutch. For once there was excellent passing and clever movement especially from your wide man forward Danny Welbeck whose performances on loan at Sunderland from Manchester United brought him to national attention and where his undoubted abilities have also now been shown as a regular in the United first team.
It has to be said that while Stephen Gerrard had proved to be the most consistent quality player for Liverpool, and without him Liverpool have always faltered, his skills have not always come to the fore when playing for England and the long running saga of the inability of Gerrard to accept the leadership of Lampard when they both played together, or as it seemed to us outsiders is well documented.
There is also the bad taste lingering over the decision of Gerrard and his team, together with Dalgliesh over their support for the disgraced Suarez who was give an eight match ban for his racist comments against a Manchester United player. Frankly this was a disgrace. Dalgleish has said that he and the rest off the management were unaware that Suarez was not going to shake the hand of his victim when they met in the recent FA Cup game and I share those of the opinion that the sooner the young man is traded out of the UK the better. Meanwhile Gerard, Dalgliesh and the rest of the team have significantly damaged the reputation of the club which is extraordinary after the goodwill which had remerged when consideration of the behaviour of the Sun and other Murdoch papers in Parliamnent recently.
And the game? Well Holland scored two great goals in a matter of seconds and looked well in control after that but Engand were convincing in their fight back to level the game 2.2 and which again would have been a fair outcome. Unfortunately Holland scored a third in extra time to win the match and the result could be said to have dented the chance of Pearce being offered the job permanently, something which he says he is not ready for. Gerrard who looked out of salts was substituted at 33 mins walking off straight to the dressing rooms, I am not clear if his fitness was suspect why he was played.
I watched the League Cup Final on Sunday (3D) with mixed feelings as although I wanted Cardiff to beat Liverpool for reasons just explained but Cardiff is not one of my favourite teams given their appalling record for violence by spectators in the ground where their record in the worst in UK with 125 banning orders imposed in one recent year and outside ground behaviour equally notorious.
I have to admit it was good match with Cardiff taking a good first half lead at 1.0 and then 1.1 at full time, Liverpool appearing to take the game with a goal in extra time but then Cardiff equalised taking the game to penalties and this was just as exciting with Gerrard first and then Adam for Liverpool missing and then after a first miss Cardiff took the lead 1.0 Cardiff then missed the third but both teams getting the 4th so that they went into the 5th round each with 2 goals. Liverpool scored theirs and Gerrard’s cousin Anthony, missing his to give Liverpool their first trophy in years. Bah!
I will leave cricket where there is so much to report until after doing my first Module 2 Leveson update but mention here the disaster of relegation facing the Newcastle Falcons Rugby Union game as they are now 6 pints adrift at the bottom of the league with only 3 wins from their 16 games of 22 in the season and a position from which I cannot see them retrieve. As the games are shown on ESPN rather than Sky I am yet to see a performance. They appear tonight at home against Harlequins.
The end of the Rugby League season was a disaster for the best Premiership Team Warrington. They failed to make the final of the challenge cup at Wembley which they had won for two years in succession and then although finishing the league table top they failed to make the championship final at Manchester, the first time the top team has failed to do this
This season they appeared to stutter with a draw at bottom of the league Hull (I cannot remember if it was Hull KR or Hull) with both teams in the bottom places and with one of the Hull teams having removed from Gateshead on Tyneside a few years ago. However three good wins since, one which I did see on TV and they head the table once more by a point with Wigan, Huddersfield and the Catalan Dragons the one point behind. Leeds the eventual champions in in 6th position but with a game in hand after one defeat.
The best development since my last report is that Sunderland beat Arsenal at the Stadium of Light to reach the quarterfinals of the Football Association Cup and in the subsequent draw were the last club out of the bag, so to speak, and therefore playing away to Everton. This immediately brought back a cold Winter‘s evening when I journeyed over the snow covered Pennines by coach to watch Sunderland lose at Everton in the FA Cup and then found the coach, among a convoy of 100 or so vehicles, being stoned as we slowly moved out of Liverpool northward towards the M6 up to Carlisle and across to Newcastle along the Northern route to arrive back in the early hours disappointed and also shaken by the experience. The stones were small or clumps of earth thrown by small groups of children and some adolescents from behind garden walls or street corners, but in some number, disabling some coaches whom had to stop in order to attend to the damaged window and presumably report the matter to the local police who were not immediately evidence. Since then the operation has become professional with police escorts and organisation of brief road closure and traffic light switching to enable the fast movement of away support coaches away from venue grounds.
I was able to watch the game against Arsenal live in the home comfort before large screen HD, and it was evident that a large number of other supporters had followed suit as there were only 26000 out of 50000 seats occupied. There are various reasons for this change which was evident in several other televised matches at the weekend and in other matches recently. The most obvious being that Sunderland had lost to Arsenal the previous weekend in the Premier League and with Arsenal being thrashed out of the European Cup the worst was feared. The match was being televised on one of the main home terrestrial channel/freeview digital channels and the weather was forecast cold although not as cold as it has been and cold has not in the past prevented North East Young males from appearing bare-chested at such events. I believe that financial restrictions and job insecurity may have been the dominant factor for many here in the North East.
It is also possible that support for the game in general is diminishing and the failure of North East Clubs to win trophies or show any likelihood of winning the top league is also having its effect. Given that the social behaviour of players at North East clubs have hit the media over the past decade or two recent events with accusations of racism between players has probably had less impact in the North East than elsewhere, while the salaries, bonus and life style of bankers has been declared open season for attack, the way Footballers, Managers, the agents and clubs manipulate payments to attract and keep players, avoid taxation has not really affected the paying public although I suspect the campaign for Harry Rednap of Tottenham to become the next England Manager may have been derailed, or perhaps the FA do not want to make the connection between the finding of not guilty and the departure of Capello too obvious. Meanwhile Stuart Pearce will care take as before and I would like to see him given the opportunity to manage the first team one day. I am not a cockney Harry fan or of Tottenham for that matter. It is noteworthy that the FA are reported not have officially spoken to anyone about the vacant position yet.
This therefore is the longest preamble to a short play notice ever. I thought the two teams were well matched and that the game turned a defensive mistake which allowed Kieran Richardson time to take a long range shot at a severe angle across the goal keeper inside the far side netting. He is famed for his long range fast and accurate strikes and this was one of his best, intended and impossible to stop by the goal keeper.
I have been impressed by Sunderland’s front man Stephane Sessagnon because of his exciting skill on the ball and 90 minutes exertions on behalf of the team. He is not a prima donna player and it was his work with the ball which enabled a close quarter goal mouth scramble strike by Larsson to secure the win by two goals to none. Well done the lads.
Unfortunately they went and destroyed the glow of success on Wearside by a terrible performance away at the Midland Club West Bromwich Albion who had not won at home since November whereas Sunderland’s rise up the table away from the relegation zone has been built by five wins in the previous six away games. This match stood form on its head. West Brom scored their first of four goals within minutes (3) of the start and a second and third either side of half time with the fourth coming as the game ended. It was not good preparation for Sundays 12 noon start away at Newcastle. O’Neill knows that he will become a legend if he can secure a win although I fancy a draw at best.
Newcastle it has to be said have faltered for after good wins 2.0 away at Blackburn and 2.1 at home to Aston Villa they were humbled 5.0 at a rampant Tottenham and then could only manage a 2.2 draw at home against Wolves after going two up in the first half. There is now a 3 point gap between them and the teams in 4th and 5th places and while they are ahead still of Liverpool they have a game in hand and are looking more consistent in their Premier League form. Sunday’s game is therefore important for short and longer term reasons for both clubs and is available on television to watch live
Yesterday evening, Wednesday the 29th February there were two friendly internationals which merited watching and therefore I keep an eyen on both switching between digital freeview for the game between England and Holland and the game between Wales and Costa Rica which was arranged to mark the death of the former Manager Garry Speed. It was indeed a moving occasion in which the football would inevitably become second best.
Bryn Terfel with a Welsh male voice choir sang Bread of Heaven and then Speed’s two boys led out the team with Craig Bellamy. Craig is another of the footballers who found North East night life such that he became of interest to the tabloid personality pages in addition to his temperamental footballing skills although since then his play and his behaviour off the pitch has become exemplary and along with Robert Savage, Alan Sharer and Shane Given have been along those who have held the name of Speed up high and given support to his parents and sons.
Chris Coleman who has also had his off playing field moments was clearly emotional as he stood with the parents of Garry. I was watching England during the half time at Cardiff and therefore missed the role of honour as a number of former Welsh Internationals took to the pitch to show their solidarity with the occasion.
The game was inevitably going to be of less consequence although after having won their three previous internationals Wales had more than one incentive to win the game. It was some fifty years since they had won four internationals back to back. In the event from what I saw of the game their performance was good but affected by the emotions of the situations and it was Costa Rica who won the game 1.0 despite several near successful attempts to gain a draw which would have reflected the overall play of the two teams. It has to be said that Costa Rica has proved consistently one of the better South American teams so defeat was no disgrace rather a major disappointment for the 23000 fans hat were present and the hundreds of thousands of other’s watching at home and in the pubs and clubs. Wales has a young side of relatively unknowns to me with only Rickets and Gabbidon on the bench familiar to me in addition to Bellamy.
There was similar off field attention surrounding England’s friendly against Holland at Wembley.The football media and most managers and footballers have placed their weight behind the the proposed apppointment of Harry Rednap as England’s manager to replace Capello. The story so far is that after the failure of the team in the World Cup Capella had wanted to resign but was persuaded to remain until the outcome of the criminal proceedings against Rednap and his financial advisers for failing to pay appropriate income tax were completed. Both men were acquitted and from what I read in the paper it appears that rough diamond geezer as Rednap likes to portray himself suffers from ahd eye coordination problems which make his handwriting indecipherable and an aversion and ability to keep records, write letters or use technology.
It is rightly argued that such disabilities should not prevent someone from heading their chosen occupation. I share the anxiety of others in the Football Assoication who have their doubts. After all has Harry won the English Premier League NO! Has he won any form of International competition NO. So why should we think he will do better for England that think whose records at least indicate they have the experience?
If I was in the position to chose I would give serious consideration to Stuart Pearce who like Harry is not the most articulate of front men but has now amassed a substantial record of achievement with the under 21 squad many of whom were on show at Wembley on Wednesday eveing. It was my hope that the team would do well against a side the national teams has always struggle.
The other off field problem surrounding this match is the decision fo the FA to insist that Frank Lampard should be removed from the captaincy and possibly his place in the England team until the outcome of the prosecution against him for alleging having made racist remarks against a player in an opposing team. Frank’s lawyers had succesfuly got the trial delayed until after the end of the Football season so he could continue with his lucrative occupation, something which your average fan if prosecuted would not be able to do. The Football Association was right and should have been fully supported in their decision to remove the captaincy from Lampard and Capello was an idiot, something which I would not have said of him before, for criticiscing the decision, albeit in the Italian Press. One suspects that he wanted a get out before the European Championship which the national team is unlikely to win, although could reach the finals in the Queen’s 60th reign year celebrations and the holding of the Olympic games in London.
The interesting decision was that instead of appointing Gerrard as Captain Pearce chose in inform Scott Parker from Tottenham, which in turn could indicate who would be Harry’s choice.
I thought the the team played with great skill and promise matching that of the Dutch. For once there was excellent passing and clever movement especially from your wide man forward Danny Welbeck whose performances on loan at Sunderland from Manchester United brought him to national attention and where his undoubted abilities have also now been shown as a regular in the United first team.
It has to be said that while Stephen Gerrard had proved to be the most consistent quality player for Liverpool, and without him Liverpool have always faltered, his skills have not always come to the fore when playing for England and the long running saga of the inability of Gerrard to accept the leadership of Lampard when they both played together, or as it seemed to us outsiders is well documented.
There is also the bad taste lingering over the decision of Gerrard and his team, together with Dalgliesh over their support for the disgraced Suarez who was give an eight match ban for his racist comments against a Manchester United player. Frankly this was a disgrace. Dalgleish has said that he and the rest off the management were unaware that Suarez was not going to shake the hand of his victim when they met in the recent FA Cup game and I share those of the opinion that the sooner the young man is traded out of the UK the better. Meanwhile Gerard, Dalgliesh and the rest of the team have significantly damaged the reputation of the club which is extraordinary after the goodwill which had remerged when consideration of the behaviour of the Sun and other Murdoch papers in Parliamnent recently.
And the game? Well Holland scored two great goals in a matter of seconds and looked well in control after that but Engand were convincing in their fight back to level the game 2.2 and which again would have been a fair outcome. Unfortunately Holland scored a third in extra time to win the match and the result could be said to have dented the chance of Pearce being offered the job permanently, something which he says he is not ready for. Gerrard who looked out of salts was substituted at 33 mins walking off straight to the dressing rooms, I am not clear if his fitness was suspect why he was played.
I watched the League Cup Final on Sunday (3D) with mixed feelings as although I wanted Cardiff to beat Liverpool for reasons just explained but Cardiff is not one of my favourite teams given their appalling record for violence by spectators in the ground where their record in the worst in UK with 125 banning orders imposed in one recent year and outside ground behaviour equally notorious.
I have to admit it was good match with Cardiff taking a good first half lead at 1.0 and then 1.1 at full time, Liverpool appearing to take the game with a goal in extra time but then Cardiff equalised taking the game to penalties and this was just as exciting with Gerrard first and then Adam for Liverpool missing and then after a first miss Cardiff took the lead 1.0 Cardiff then missed the third but both teams getting the 4th so that they went into the 5th round each with 2 goals. Liverpool scored theirs and Gerrard’s cousin Anthony, missing his to give Liverpool their first trophy in years. Bah!
I will leave cricket where there is so much to report until after doing my first Module 2 Leveson update but mention here the disaster of relegation facing the Newcastle Falcons Rugby Union game as they are now 6 pints adrift at the bottom of the league with only 3 wins from their 16 games of 22 in the season and a position from which I cannot see them retrieve. As the games are shown on ESPN rather than Sky I am yet to see a performance. They appear tonight at home against Harlequins.
The end of the Rugby League season was a disaster for the best Premiership Team Warrington. They failed to make the final of the challenge cup at Wembley which they had won for two years in succession and then although finishing the league table top they failed to make the championship final at Manchester, the first time the top team has failed to do this
This season they appeared to stutter with a draw at bottom of the league Hull (I cannot remember if it was Hull KR or Hull) with both teams in the bottom places and with one of the Hull teams having removed from Gateshead on Tyneside a few years ago. However three good wins since, one which I did see on TV and they head the table once more by a point with Wigan, Huddersfield and the Catalan Dragons the one point behind. Leeds the eventual champions in in 6th position but with a game in hand after one defeat.
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