At first expectation as I entered the Guildhall was anticipation as to what I were to behold in the coming hours. This wasn't my first council meeting ever, however it had been a while since I stepped into the shoes of a watchful public citizen, surveying how our city was being run.
The entire hall stood at a halt for the entrance of Winchester's very own mayor, which was shortly followed by the announcement of the purpose of this meeting: To agree a budget. This was soon followed up with announcements, in which the City council won an award and the landlord service passed a survey. Next were apologies for any absences which is practically a standard routine for any meeting as previous experiences at cricket AGM's had told me.
The next half hour though was one of major significance. It was perhaps the most enthralling yet most confusing thirty minutes of my entire career as a human. One major topic of this period was housing. One question raised to the main table was whether preparation for banding issues over housing was sufficient, a question to which our Mayor dismissed and quickly replied: "I think we're entering dangerous ground over equality issues".
I thought my house was controversial but after attending this meeting made my household more than respectable. One councillor accused leader Councillor Beckett of having memory loss regarding to a previous meeting around four years ago, an accusation which Beckett himself responded that a change in government will see a change in housing trajectory, such as providing the number of the houses that people actually need.
This topic of housing continued with Councillor Thomson enquired as to the poor quality outside of new properties, a problem which Thomson deemed a matter of urgency. Councillor Coates answered this statement, saying that there is an aim to improve the service of housing officers, along with spending money on current properties rather than new ones, before revealing that there had been the opening of 67-69 social houses last year.
As time went on, my attention and certainly some of my fellow Journalism students' attentions began to wander. Yet it was not us who seemed lost by the topic of conversation after seeing several unnamed Councillors 'playing' on their mobile phones and 'tucking' into sweets. Time told and soon after our exit took haste. Not my greatest experience since joining university to say the least, however such is life!
G-Man
Assistant Producer for beIN SPORTS based in Doha, Qatar. Editor of www.laliganews.tv and former Sports Editor of Winchester News Online
Friday, 19 February 2010
Thursday, 18 February 2010
HCJ Lecture One Mary Wollstonecraft
Apologies to my readers for the extremely delayed HCJ blog. For some reason my account has constantly refused to log me in the past week or so, but I return, at the turn of the tide to tell you stories of Mary Wollestonecraft and her views on women's rights.
She experienced a difficult early life with a drunken father along with her family's social standing declining. This meant she was forced to work as a governess to a wealthy family in Ireland, however in 1787 she became obsessed with education. Wollstonecraft argued that the education given to women was superficial, promoting an obsession with appearance and superficial accomplishments like sewing did not equip women with independence of thought or judgement.
The philiosophy of empricist John Locke was very attractive to Wollstonecraft. The idea that the mind can be shaped by education and experience, and for Wollstonecraft, she believed that people could then be changed through Reason and that if you could educate people properly, then you can make them rational, responsible citizens. Along with Locke, she was also fascinated with Rousseau, finding him inspirational and aggravating. She liked his anti-elitism and his attack on modern manners as well as his egalitarianism.
Edmund Burke was a critic of the French Revolution because he believed that societies were built on tradition and to attempt to rip all that up and begin again was a recipe for disaster. The French Revolution was known for change, and it's belief that 'ripping' it apart and beginning society again would work. Burke hated this. In response to his criticism, Wollstonecraft wrote a book, "The Vindication on the Rights of Men" and in it she claimed ideas of aristocracy and hereditary power were mistaken.
One of her other pieces of text, and probably her most signifcant was "The Vindication of the Rights of Women". This book does not actually have much to say on the civil rights of women, or other issues such as voting, however it was given a warm response. Her life started drastically moving downhill again as she had a failed affair and then in Paris 1792 was the beginning of the Terror when she was abandoned by Imlay and has several suicide attempts.
However, despite her mixed life, she is still seen today as the champion of Women's Rights and her idea was that men and women should just be human beings, and the woman should not be part of a man but respected as a human being.
Another person we looked at in the lecture and the seminar was John Stuart Mill. He believed strongly in the liberty of people and wrote a book called "On Liberty". Liberty as we understand though, began as an attempt to limit the powers of government through bills of rights and the extension of the franchise. It also located authority to the individual, just like Locke's idea of inalienable rights. Liberals believe in a Laissez Faire attitude to economics-favouring private property and free trade, the same view taken my the founder of economics, Adam Smith. They prize freedom over equality and favour equality of opportunity over egalitrianism. Socialists say equality of opportunity should be entitled to everybody and not the minority of self-righteous people.
John Stuart Mill had a very early education learning Greek and Latin at very early ages. However at 17, he was thrown in jail for distirbuting literature on contraception. Along with this, he was threatened with death over his prosecution of Governer Eyre, and introduced the first bill to give women the vote then, three years later he suffered a nervous breakdown. Mill dismisses the social contract (which was supported by Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau) but he does admit individuals must follow societies' rules and if actions affect society then the state can enforce certain behaviour. He argues that the state should not interfere with people's "choices of pleasure", as long as no one else is harmed, but he does feel the state can interfere in certain situations, for example, involving children.
Many Thanks for reading.
G-Man
She experienced a difficult early life with a drunken father along with her family's social standing declining. This meant she was forced to work as a governess to a wealthy family in Ireland, however in 1787 she became obsessed with education. Wollstonecraft argued that the education given to women was superficial, promoting an obsession with appearance and superficial accomplishments like sewing did not equip women with independence of thought or judgement.
The philiosophy of empricist John Locke was very attractive to Wollstonecraft. The idea that the mind can be shaped by education and experience, and for Wollstonecraft, she believed that people could then be changed through Reason and that if you could educate people properly, then you can make them rational, responsible citizens. Along with Locke, she was also fascinated with Rousseau, finding him inspirational and aggravating. She liked his anti-elitism and his attack on modern manners as well as his egalitarianism.
Edmund Burke was a critic of the French Revolution because he believed that societies were built on tradition and to attempt to rip all that up and begin again was a recipe for disaster. The French Revolution was known for change, and it's belief that 'ripping' it apart and beginning society again would work. Burke hated this. In response to his criticism, Wollstonecraft wrote a book, "The Vindication on the Rights of Men" and in it she claimed ideas of aristocracy and hereditary power were mistaken.
One of her other pieces of text, and probably her most signifcant was "The Vindication of the Rights of Women". This book does not actually have much to say on the civil rights of women, or other issues such as voting, however it was given a warm response. Her life started drastically moving downhill again as she had a failed affair and then in Paris 1792 was the beginning of the Terror when she was abandoned by Imlay and has several suicide attempts.
However, despite her mixed life, she is still seen today as the champion of Women's Rights and her idea was that men and women should just be human beings, and the woman should not be part of a man but respected as a human being.
Another person we looked at in the lecture and the seminar was John Stuart Mill. He believed strongly in the liberty of people and wrote a book called "On Liberty". Liberty as we understand though, began as an attempt to limit the powers of government through bills of rights and the extension of the franchise. It also located authority to the individual, just like Locke's idea of inalienable rights. Liberals believe in a Laissez Faire attitude to economics-favouring private property and free trade, the same view taken my the founder of economics, Adam Smith. They prize freedom over equality and favour equality of opportunity over egalitrianism. Socialists say equality of opportunity should be entitled to everybody and not the minority of self-righteous people.
John Stuart Mill had a very early education learning Greek and Latin at very early ages. However at 17, he was thrown in jail for distirbuting literature on contraception. Along with this, he was threatened with death over his prosecution of Governer Eyre, and introduced the first bill to give women the vote then, three years later he suffered a nervous breakdown. Mill dismisses the social contract (which was supported by Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau) but he does admit individuals must follow societies' rules and if actions affect society then the state can enforce certain behaviour. He argues that the state should not interfere with people's "choices of pleasure", as long as no one else is harmed, but he does feel the state can interfere in certain situations, for example, involving children.
Many Thanks for reading.
G-Man
Saturday, 13 February 2010
How deep is your love?
Another year has passed and I see myself in a familiar position, staring at a blank canvas with the same thought in my head as years have gone by, "What a load of old shit!"
I, of course refer to arguably the worst day of the year to many a man of this self-described beautiful and sacred planet. Why is that we commit this one day to sharing our love, and asking ourselves, "Do I love my other half?". February 14th is, as many know, Valentines Day, and is quite frankly one of the worst days on my personal calendar. Isn't it ironic (thank you Finn) that the next most significant day on the calendar day is pancake day, a day in which I seem to eagerly anticipate more than the most over-rated day in history. The irony here is that I actually despise pancakes, and to an extent the word pancake. Why you ask? Well my answer is simple, to suggest the 'glorified' food based on its preparation is puzzling. Yes you do have a pan but it isn't a cake. It is a combination of milk, yeast and eggs. Why can't it be called "Pan-food" or "Pan-day"?
Besides the point, it is pancake day, and we love it just because it brings joy to the many single humans inhabiting this earthly vessel. It is what I call the recovery process from the depressing demise of two days before, and to "turn that frown upside down". To dedicate just one day of love and affection to your intimate companion is laughable. Surely, if in a loving and caring relationship, love and affection should be present at all times, so why feel the need to celebrate it, and waste 24 hours of my life, and millions of people's lives boasting about how great or poor your lives are with your other half by your side. In deep conversation with my dear friend and flatmate, Mr Finn Nickells, he questionned the relevance of a place such as Tesco in Winchester as to why a gentle and social stroll to the supermarket should be turned into the gloomiest experience of the year? Seeing lovehearts, bears, red or pink cards, along with many other pathetic little features sprawled along the first aisle along entering the shop annoys him. To a huge extent, I can do nothing but agree.
I guess the point is Valentines day is a load of over-grown folly. I know many people who claim to "love and adore" their partners, but they don't. I know they don't, and any of your reading this now know you do not. I know for sure that any girls from my course reading will be thinking, "He's getting a slap on Monday", yet some of the lads will be thinking, "This man is a complete genius!"
To the girls, I respond with "Bring it", and to the lads I reply, "Well it's true though"
My inspiration to summon the power of this blog post didn't really take much convincing. In fact at the point of decision-making, I was consuming an apple and reminiscing over a particular event which lightly humoured me just hours before. Wandering the streets of Winchester like a lost sheep, an elderly man slowly bristled up to a flower stall browsing roses for tomorrow's event. He enquired as to the price of this bunch of roses, and when given the stern response of £25 he quickly turned and exited the 'playing field' along with saying, "£25?! She's not worth that at all!"
What a man! A man who has most probably been married the majority of his lifetime does not see his other half as an expensive item. If there is no hope in that, then what hope is there for the young people of our society believing they are in love after one week, and when the going gets tough, they don't know who to turn to.
When it comes to relationships, I'm hardly one for experience, however I manage to offer the reality check they need. Without sounding too big-headed, quite a lot of people at university and back home have come to me for 'relationship or emotional advice'. To which I reply: "Why me?" or "So the cracks are showing then?"
It's more expectation for me. People know I talk sense which is why they come and talk to me, yet when everything is running smoothly, shall we say I'm not number one priority in their, morelike (in the words of singer Daisy Dares You), I am "Number One Enemy", yes this is a reference to you Mr Nickells.
Despite my negative attitude to the belief of Valentines Day, I am never horrible and I do offer great advice, because regardless of how irrelevant I think Valentines and the whole relationship concept is, I wouldn't want to see the happiness of my friends or family thwarted for anything. I offer what I feel is right for their current situation.
The question. Why should our 'never-ending love' for our soul mate be celebrated on one day? If love is so convincing, then why is celebrated and remembered on just one day of the year, and why not 365 days of the year? The answer. Love is an over-used word. Couples who claim to be in love usually are not, use it for effect and use it to convince themselves that they are happy because they are afraid of changing or making the change themselves.
If I was to ask men now on the street, without the presence of their couples, along with single men, "Would you prefer to be playing Fifa/Call of Duty on Valentines Day, or spending it with your Missus?", the majority would have to resort to the PS3 controllers. What happens then? The girls banish them for their bad attitude to the relationship, or ignore it and declare their love for their boyfriend who quite frankly doesn't give a toss.
Valentines Day is a day for couple, and within all my power I can do nothing to stop it. It's for you to do as you choose, one small favour I ask in return is that you don't rub it in the noses of the single people you know well, because when worst comes to the worst and trouble begins in paradise who is it the taken people resort to for emotional support. My point exactly. If Valentines Day is about giving, taking and sharing affection and care, then give us our time as single creatures, the way we give you your time expressing your affection for the one you 'love'.
Am I bitter? Am I jealous? Certainly not. I question the day's relevance to life, and I am often confused by the attitude of people in relationships to the their 'single' friends who are always there. People change when in relationships, and on Valentines Day, the people who care about you most, become nothing but a bit of dust in an empty turtle shell.
Many Thanks for reading
G-Man
I, of course refer to arguably the worst day of the year to many a man of this self-described beautiful and sacred planet. Why is that we commit this one day to sharing our love, and asking ourselves, "Do I love my other half?". February 14th is, as many know, Valentines Day, and is quite frankly one of the worst days on my personal calendar. Isn't it ironic (thank you Finn) that the next most significant day on the calendar day is pancake day, a day in which I seem to eagerly anticipate more than the most over-rated day in history. The irony here is that I actually despise pancakes, and to an extent the word pancake. Why you ask? Well my answer is simple, to suggest the 'glorified' food based on its preparation is puzzling. Yes you do have a pan but it isn't a cake. It is a combination of milk, yeast and eggs. Why can't it be called "Pan-food" or "Pan-day"?
Besides the point, it is pancake day, and we love it just because it brings joy to the many single humans inhabiting this earthly vessel. It is what I call the recovery process from the depressing demise of two days before, and to "turn that frown upside down". To dedicate just one day of love and affection to your intimate companion is laughable. Surely, if in a loving and caring relationship, love and affection should be present at all times, so why feel the need to celebrate it, and waste 24 hours of my life, and millions of people's lives boasting about how great or poor your lives are with your other half by your side. In deep conversation with my dear friend and flatmate, Mr Finn Nickells, he questionned the relevance of a place such as Tesco in Winchester as to why a gentle and social stroll to the supermarket should be turned into the gloomiest experience of the year? Seeing lovehearts, bears, red or pink cards, along with many other pathetic little features sprawled along the first aisle along entering the shop annoys him. To a huge extent, I can do nothing but agree.
I guess the point is Valentines day is a load of over-grown folly. I know many people who claim to "love and adore" their partners, but they don't. I know they don't, and any of your reading this now know you do not. I know for sure that any girls from my course reading will be thinking, "He's getting a slap on Monday", yet some of the lads will be thinking, "This man is a complete genius!"
To the girls, I respond with "Bring it", and to the lads I reply, "Well it's true though"
My inspiration to summon the power of this blog post didn't really take much convincing. In fact at the point of decision-making, I was consuming an apple and reminiscing over a particular event which lightly humoured me just hours before. Wandering the streets of Winchester like a lost sheep, an elderly man slowly bristled up to a flower stall browsing roses for tomorrow's event. He enquired as to the price of this bunch of roses, and when given the stern response of £25 he quickly turned and exited the 'playing field' along with saying, "£25?! She's not worth that at all!"
What a man! A man who has most probably been married the majority of his lifetime does not see his other half as an expensive item. If there is no hope in that, then what hope is there for the young people of our society believing they are in love after one week, and when the going gets tough, they don't know who to turn to.
When it comes to relationships, I'm hardly one for experience, however I manage to offer the reality check they need. Without sounding too big-headed, quite a lot of people at university and back home have come to me for 'relationship or emotional advice'. To which I reply: "Why me?" or "So the cracks are showing then?"
It's more expectation for me. People know I talk sense which is why they come and talk to me, yet when everything is running smoothly, shall we say I'm not number one priority in their, morelike (in the words of singer Daisy Dares You), I am "Number One Enemy", yes this is a reference to you Mr Nickells.
Despite my negative attitude to the belief of Valentines Day, I am never horrible and I do offer great advice, because regardless of how irrelevant I think Valentines and the whole relationship concept is, I wouldn't want to see the happiness of my friends or family thwarted for anything. I offer what I feel is right for their current situation.
The question. Why should our 'never-ending love' for our soul mate be celebrated on one day? If love is so convincing, then why is celebrated and remembered on just one day of the year, and why not 365 days of the year? The answer. Love is an over-used word. Couples who claim to be in love usually are not, use it for effect and use it to convince themselves that they are happy because they are afraid of changing or making the change themselves.
If I was to ask men now on the street, without the presence of their couples, along with single men, "Would you prefer to be playing Fifa/Call of Duty on Valentines Day, or spending it with your Missus?", the majority would have to resort to the PS3 controllers. What happens then? The girls banish them for their bad attitude to the relationship, or ignore it and declare their love for their boyfriend who quite frankly doesn't give a toss.
Valentines Day is a day for couple, and within all my power I can do nothing to stop it. It's for you to do as you choose, one small favour I ask in return is that you don't rub it in the noses of the single people you know well, because when worst comes to the worst and trouble begins in paradise who is it the taken people resort to for emotional support. My point exactly. If Valentines Day is about giving, taking and sharing affection and care, then give us our time as single creatures, the way we give you your time expressing your affection for the one you 'love'.
Am I bitter? Am I jealous? Certainly not. I question the day's relevance to life, and I am often confused by the attitude of people in relationships to the their 'single' friends who are always there. People change when in relationships, and on Valentines Day, the people who care about you most, become nothing but a bit of dust in an empty turtle shell.
Many Thanks for reading
G-Man
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Terry's damaged reputation heads Chelsea four points clear
There was no doubt that John Terry's head was in the clouds during today's match against Burnley. That was until the 82nd minute when the under-fire Chelsea captain popped up to convert a Frank Lampard corner past the despairing Brian Jensen, and to give his team all 3 points in a somewhat disappointing performance.
Reports in the newspapers today suggest that John Terry has had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of former Chelsea teammate Wayne Bridge. The consequences are severe. Calls for JT to be stripped of the England captaincy have been made ever so clear, and it is rumoured that Bridge has expressed no desire to play in the same team as his former friend. Yes, I am a Chelsea supporter, and I would be lying if I said I was not disappointed or shocked by Terry's antics, in fact a player I used to and still do idolise has gone significantly down in my favourite players list. However, does an off-field and private incident mean that John deserves to lose his dignity and self-respect on the field? I believe not.
The man is without doubt, our country's best defender. So to consider sacking him from the squad completely is one ridiculous claim. Many others across the land have called for him to stripped of the England captaincy, and I again have to disagree with this. Why you ask? Well it would seem close to idiocy to change captains right before a World Cup, one which we are one of the favourites to win, and we are in this situation because of the leadership of Fabio Capello and a certain John Terry. Regardless of what the man has done off the pitch, to sack him as skipper before a major tournament and cause even more unrest between a squad, who may have to adapt to a new captain in time for June seems to lack any sense. Even neutrals and some John Terry "haters" would have to understand this point. Besides we have no suitable replacement. Frank Lampard is a great vice captain but to have him as captain, I feel would bare too much on his shoulders. Steven Gerrard, a suitable candidate given his captaincy experience at Liverpool, but without a Liverpool shirt on, Gerrard's performances prove inconsistent, lacking the heart which he gives for the Kop, and at times just a shadow of the player he should be for England. Many people may disagree with my last suggestion, but after having watched him captain the side against Brazil, Wayne Rooney showed the maturity and flair, and despite defeat I was overall pleased with his performance and attitude. Captaincy could be the making of him, but his inexperience makes him unsuitable to take the reins at such an important time. That leaves only John Terry. He must be captain in South Africa for the sake of our fans travelling to the tournament, and if Capello had to really consider his position concerning this disastrous incident, then it should be considered after the World Cup.
I watched today's match against Burnley and I can truly say Terry was not his normal self. His first half booking, and 'wandering' into referee Phil Dowd at a corner emphasised his lack of concentration. I've always admired his fight, his character and his spirit to do well for Chelsea but his first half looked lost in a team he should be leading, and a team which he has been in since 2001. The Burnley fans didn't help his cause either. Booing from the first minute until the last seemed something he had to accept, and it was only an incident involving Ashley Cole in the second half which saw the boos diverted for a brief moment, and a moment for Terry to gather his thoughts and concentrate on the game at hand.
No man on this planet can criticise Terry's on-field displays. They show heart, passion and a determination to be the best he can be. There is no argument that Terry's reputation off the field will be shattered for the rest of his life, and has already lost him one friend, and probably will more. However, on the field of play he is one of the most respected players of the past five years.
His character to come back today and score the winner in a somewhat lacklustre display by Chelsea proved his worth on the field. Chelsea started brightly and took a first half lead through Nicolas Anelka, a goal which took 11 seconds to leave the hands of Petr Cech via Joe Cole and Florent Malouda before hitting the back of the Burnley net. Burnley livened up dramatically in the second half and a cutting ball from Robbie Blake, combined with an unbearable mistake from Alex saw Steven Fletcher cast home an equalise. For reasons unknown Alex stormed off the pitch after the final whistle, but his personal performances must have seen me shout some frustrating abuse at the television numerous times throughout the 90 minutes.
After holding Arsenal to a draw and defeating Manchester United at Turf Moor, Burnley looked like they were going to produce another shock result and come away with a point. However, in the 82nd minute a lovely turn and cross from lively substitute Daniel Sturridge forced Jensen to pary it out for a corner. A corner which combined Chelsea's two greats in Lampard and JT. Lampard's corner was perfectly executed, and saw John Terry powerfully header home to give his side all 3 points. He created the twist of all twists in a day which saw him go from making the headlines for all the wrong reasons, to making the headlines for the right reasons. Carlo Ancelotti said: "The professionalism of John Terry improves the image of the club". How right he is.
One thing I noticed during these, quite frankly, frantic last moments was Terry's celebration. For a player so passionate, he was secluded in his celebration. A simple jog to Frank Lampard followed by a stroll back to his defensive line showed pleasure at the goal, but dismay at other things. Every on field Chelsea player gathered to show their support for their captain, whose on-field quality had just put them ahead, but Terry's face told the whole story. It was one of regret at what he had done to his once good friend Wayne Bridge, and of course his family. Yet, on the other hand, it showed a matter of respect for the situation his private life was in, and probably even more importantly his reputation. He definitely silenced the Burnley fans, fans which I called "boring" in the 66th minute for their constant abuse towards our leader.
Do not get me wrong, what JT has done is not good enough, especially with the girlfriend of our former left back Wayne Bridge. Many men and women have affairs, but this one burdens increased severity. The fact that Terry and Bridge were once best friends, and that they could both be travelling to South Africa in June together causes tension. Footballers may seem robotic, but they are humans. They are programmed to put their personal problems aside whilst focusing on their jobs, however their human sides will come out, and I think Terry's came out today.
He knows he has done wrong, and part of me believes he is sorry for the pain he's caused. It's up to him to either fix or soften the problem. There may be a time where all is forgotten, and Terry and Bridge become respectful of each other again. One thing needs to raised again though. We all make mistakes. We're all human. Terry is in a long list of names to make a mistake, but his football career does not deserve to be punished for his antics. Without Terry, England have no leadership and certainly no backbone in defence. Capello knows this. JT's career hangs in the hands of one Italian man. But is it an Italian man willing to let his captain's football do the talking, or an Italian man who insists on listening to the demands of our so-called supportive English fans, fans who may never actually know the whole story?
When asked about the Chelsea squad's response to the allegations about John Terry, Carlo Ancelotti added: "The players will never lose their trust in him". Maybe Mr Capello should look to his Italian counterpart Ancelotti for some much needed words of wisdom.
Reports in the newspapers today suggest that John Terry has had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of former Chelsea teammate Wayne Bridge. The consequences are severe. Calls for JT to be stripped of the England captaincy have been made ever so clear, and it is rumoured that Bridge has expressed no desire to play in the same team as his former friend. Yes, I am a Chelsea supporter, and I would be lying if I said I was not disappointed or shocked by Terry's antics, in fact a player I used to and still do idolise has gone significantly down in my favourite players list. However, does an off-field and private incident mean that John deserves to lose his dignity and self-respect on the field? I believe not.
The man is without doubt, our country's best defender. So to consider sacking him from the squad completely is one ridiculous claim. Many others across the land have called for him to stripped of the England captaincy, and I again have to disagree with this. Why you ask? Well it would seem close to idiocy to change captains right before a World Cup, one which we are one of the favourites to win, and we are in this situation because of the leadership of Fabio Capello and a certain John Terry. Regardless of what the man has done off the pitch, to sack him as skipper before a major tournament and cause even more unrest between a squad, who may have to adapt to a new captain in time for June seems to lack any sense. Even neutrals and some John Terry "haters" would have to understand this point. Besides we have no suitable replacement. Frank Lampard is a great vice captain but to have him as captain, I feel would bare too much on his shoulders. Steven Gerrard, a suitable candidate given his captaincy experience at Liverpool, but without a Liverpool shirt on, Gerrard's performances prove inconsistent, lacking the heart which he gives for the Kop, and at times just a shadow of the player he should be for England. Many people may disagree with my last suggestion, but after having watched him captain the side against Brazil, Wayne Rooney showed the maturity and flair, and despite defeat I was overall pleased with his performance and attitude. Captaincy could be the making of him, but his inexperience makes him unsuitable to take the reins at such an important time. That leaves only John Terry. He must be captain in South Africa for the sake of our fans travelling to the tournament, and if Capello had to really consider his position concerning this disastrous incident, then it should be considered after the World Cup.
I watched today's match against Burnley and I can truly say Terry was not his normal self. His first half booking, and 'wandering' into referee Phil Dowd at a corner emphasised his lack of concentration. I've always admired his fight, his character and his spirit to do well for Chelsea but his first half looked lost in a team he should be leading, and a team which he has been in since 2001. The Burnley fans didn't help his cause either. Booing from the first minute until the last seemed something he had to accept, and it was only an incident involving Ashley Cole in the second half which saw the boos diverted for a brief moment, and a moment for Terry to gather his thoughts and concentrate on the game at hand.
No man on this planet can criticise Terry's on-field displays. They show heart, passion and a determination to be the best he can be. There is no argument that Terry's reputation off the field will be shattered for the rest of his life, and has already lost him one friend, and probably will more. However, on the field of play he is one of the most respected players of the past five years.
His character to come back today and score the winner in a somewhat lacklustre display by Chelsea proved his worth on the field. Chelsea started brightly and took a first half lead through Nicolas Anelka, a goal which took 11 seconds to leave the hands of Petr Cech via Joe Cole and Florent Malouda before hitting the back of the Burnley net. Burnley livened up dramatically in the second half and a cutting ball from Robbie Blake, combined with an unbearable mistake from Alex saw Steven Fletcher cast home an equalise. For reasons unknown Alex stormed off the pitch after the final whistle, but his personal performances must have seen me shout some frustrating abuse at the television numerous times throughout the 90 minutes.
After holding Arsenal to a draw and defeating Manchester United at Turf Moor, Burnley looked like they were going to produce another shock result and come away with a point. However, in the 82nd minute a lovely turn and cross from lively substitute Daniel Sturridge forced Jensen to pary it out for a corner. A corner which combined Chelsea's two greats in Lampard and JT. Lampard's corner was perfectly executed, and saw John Terry powerfully header home to give his side all 3 points. He created the twist of all twists in a day which saw him go from making the headlines for all the wrong reasons, to making the headlines for the right reasons. Carlo Ancelotti said: "The professionalism of John Terry improves the image of the club". How right he is.
One thing I noticed during these, quite frankly, frantic last moments was Terry's celebration. For a player so passionate, he was secluded in his celebration. A simple jog to Frank Lampard followed by a stroll back to his defensive line showed pleasure at the goal, but dismay at other things. Every on field Chelsea player gathered to show their support for their captain, whose on-field quality had just put them ahead, but Terry's face told the whole story. It was one of regret at what he had done to his once good friend Wayne Bridge, and of course his family. Yet, on the other hand, it showed a matter of respect for the situation his private life was in, and probably even more importantly his reputation. He definitely silenced the Burnley fans, fans which I called "boring" in the 66th minute for their constant abuse towards our leader.
Do not get me wrong, what JT has done is not good enough, especially with the girlfriend of our former left back Wayne Bridge. Many men and women have affairs, but this one burdens increased severity. The fact that Terry and Bridge were once best friends, and that they could both be travelling to South Africa in June together causes tension. Footballers may seem robotic, but they are humans. They are programmed to put their personal problems aside whilst focusing on their jobs, however their human sides will come out, and I think Terry's came out today.
He knows he has done wrong, and part of me believes he is sorry for the pain he's caused. It's up to him to either fix or soften the problem. There may be a time where all is forgotten, and Terry and Bridge become respectful of each other again. One thing needs to raised again though. We all make mistakes. We're all human. Terry is in a long list of names to make a mistake, but his football career does not deserve to be punished for his antics. Without Terry, England have no leadership and certainly no backbone in defence. Capello knows this. JT's career hangs in the hands of one Italian man. But is it an Italian man willing to let his captain's football do the talking, or an Italian man who insists on listening to the demands of our so-called supportive English fans, fans who may never actually know the whole story?
When asked about the Chelsea squad's response to the allegations about John Terry, Carlo Ancelotti added: "The players will never lose their trust in him". Maybe Mr Capello should look to his Italian counterpart Ancelotti for some much needed words of wisdom.
Monday, 25 January 2010
Teenage Mutant Ninja...Striker?
Now I may be very mistaken in believing that Romelu Lukaku is a mutant or a ninja, however he is certainly a teenager, and he is one of the hottest strikers in Belgium. On first view, many people claim he is pushing twenty years of age, well take four away from that and you have Lukaku's age.
Sixteen years old, and already the Belgian has ploughed his way to 10 senior goals for Belgian giants Anderlecht in a small amount of 18 games. A sensational record for what many people would consider a minor, and at an age in which I referee football matches. It is amazing for any young player to experience just a minor success in professional football, but to have repetitive successes at the highest level of the greatest sport on the planet is a highlight worth emphasising.
Lukaku's youth career is one of the most successful I have ever seen from any footballer. Not many players can ever say they scored more goals than they played in their career, but the Anderlecht 'boy' defied the odds to prove a threat to every youth team possible. A record of 68 goals in as many games for Brussels, and then 121 goals in 88 matches for Anderlecht is beyond belief. Inisde these goals, 26 of them were scored in 17 games, against players four and five years older than Lukaku himself, an unbelievable effort from a player yet to physically and mentally peak in football, and as a human being.
On the 24th May 2009, Lukaku came on as a substitue to make his first senior appearance against Standard Liege, and he scored his first senior goal in the 89th minute against Zulte Waregem. Since then he has become the third youngest player to compete in a UEFA competition after coming on as a substitute against Ajax in December in this year's Europa Cup.
Along with this, Lukaku already had four caps for Belgium Under-21s side, scoring on his debut against Slovenia including plenty of players who are 5 years Lukaku's senior.
Despite mainly entering matches as a substitute, Lukaku has attracted major interest from many european giants, including Chelsea, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Manchester United, Arsenal and Barcelona. Only weeks ago there were reports in Belgium that Chelsea had offered close to £10 million and a one-year loan back agreement with the Belgian outfit, however no more on that suspected offer has been revealed from either party. It is claimed the English club see Lukaku as an ideal replacement for Didier Drogba in his ability to score goals on regular occasions, and his out and out strength. At 6 ft 2, and weighing close to 14 stone, he certainly has the physicality which has made Drogba a worldwide hit, and friends close to Lukaku state that the striker's favourite player is in fact the 31-year-old Ivorian. He wouldn't be the first young player in the world to idolise a Chelsea star with Russian playmaker Alan Dzagoev seeing Frank Lampard as his admiration.
This begs the question if Chelsea's squad quality is too hot to handle for the greatest clubs worldwide. Their mixture of priceless experience and promising youngsters makes them a force in which the greats fear. Yet, it also makes them a star attraction for many futures of football. John Terry is living proof of this. Rejecting an offer from Huddersfield in his younger days, to stay and fight for a Chelsea place has seen him become arguably the best defender on the planet along with captaining both club and country.
One argument I will make for Lukaku. I do not think he is ready for the big time. Despite his outstanding record, the youngster is still developing as a person and as a footballer. I believe it is everybody's best interests that he stays in Belgium working on improving and perfecting the insane ability that he already has in his power. I'm not the only one to think that, Lukaku's father believes that his son should finish school and at least stay in Brussels until he reaches 18. Romelu's contract runs out in May 2012, by which time he will be 19, and even though he has the option to review another two years with arguably Belgium's most successful side, it would make perfect sense for Lukaku to move on, but for now, to stay would be the right decision.
Anderlecht's manager Ariel Jacobs, when asked by Sportsmail if Lukaku would stay at the club until he was 18, he replied: "It's maybe not realistic, but the thought is". Nevertheless, despite being one of the most promising prizes to climb the youth ladder, Jacobs says that Lukaku has to be treated like any other young player in order for him to progress naturally, and this includes cleaning the boots of the older players after matches. Respect to Jacobs from myself, he knows when a player is spoilt and when a player's reputation is never bigger than the club itself. He probably knows this but in case he doesn't, Lukaku still has masses to learn. At 16, I was spending the majority of my Sunday afternoons occupying the right back position...of the subs bench. I would occasionally start against the lower league sides, but on most days I'd have to wait 75 minutes to gain my five minutes of pitch glory. Lukaku is parading along the greatest stage of them all, professional football.
I could say I envy him, but I would be lying. Any new footballer to grace a huge reputation is no foe of mine. His introduction only prolongs the death of my beloved sport another twenty years.
Lukaku's brilliance has pressured Belgium's team manager Dick Advocaat to contemplate calling the young man up to the squad for the next European qualifying campaign. Again, this may be a step too far for a boy who still occupies his school classrooms. Advocaat may make the decision to not choose him, however clubs around Europe may not wait too long to sign the young man up, and with some of Europe's finest involved in the chase, Anderlecht may have to give in to the prospect of millions of pounds entering the club's bank account.
Many Thanks for reading
(Despite this post being about Lukaku, I will take a small time out to wish Paraguayan striker and recent Sunderland target Salvador Cabanas the very best on his recovery after he was shot in the head after a bar fight in Mexico City earlier today. The latest is that he is in intensive care, but reports he is brain dead were denied by a spokesperson. Get well soon Salvador Cabanas!)
G.M
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
From Russia with Love
Nineteen year old Alan Dzagoev first grabbed my attention last year during the Europa Cup in which his CSKA Moscow side faced off against England's very own Aston Villa. However. despite his age, the youngster plays like he has been in the game the same length of time as Ryan Giggs.
Some of his greatest attributes overwhelm players that have years of experience. His ability to dribble, take players on with confidence and create plenty of chances for his team-mates are important skills for any footballer, however the way in which Dzagoev plays suggests that it is of a routine for him, rather than seizing random opportunities.
Dzagoev has already had an active childhood. After his parents moved from Georgia to Beslan, Alan attended a school in the town. Many readers may not recall the events of 2004 when a Beslan school was taken hostage by rebels demanding an end to a then-war. In all the confusion, it was reported that Dzagoev's school was the one attacked, so his father rushed to the school only to find that it was a false alarm and it was in fact another school which had come under attack. Nevertheless, his father took him home at fear of another attack on other schools.
This next part of his story encouraged myself to mainly write about him. At the age of 16 he was spotted by coach Yuri Oskin at an academy funded by Chelsea Roman Abramovich. Ironically Dzagoev has claimed one of his footballing idols is in fact Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard because of the way he plays suits the style of Dzagoev. Recent links with giants Real Madrid have forced the young attacking midfielder to ponder his near future at CSKA, however he has expressed a desire to move to Chelsea after claiming he has always been a fan of them. But, with manager Carlo Ancelotti suggesting that he has no plans to make any signings in the January transfer window, Dzagoev may have to continue to ply his trade in Russia gaining valuable experience before making the expected move to a great western European club. Yet, a recent injury to holding midfielder Michael Essien may force Ancelotti into signing the Russian hot prospect sooner than expected.
Performances of quality have earned him admirers across the planet, and he is gaining a fast-growing reputation between managers, fans and players alike. At 19, the prospect of having Dzagoev in at the tip of professional football for at least another 15 years seems unbelievable, but the reality is he has the potential to play until he is 34, and perhaps even longer at the highest level professional football can provide. One significant performance that caught my eye this season was CSKA's Champions' League visit to Old Trafford which ended in a 3-3 draw. Dzagoev scored one of the goals and provided the assist for another which put CSKA into an important 3-1 lead, however after 70 minutes the young Russian play-maker was substituted, one which proved to be a mistake as Manchester United pulled the game back to earn a point and progress to the Champions' League knock-out stages. Just that match proves what a huge impact Dzagoev has on the Moscow team, and the creativity that he is capable of. Some of the greatest teams in the world have gone to Old Trafford and failed to score more than one goal, Inter Milan and Barcelona just to name a couple, so for a Russian side to go and score three is a fantastic achievement and without doubt would not have been done without the presence of Dzagoev.
Born on 17th June 1990, Dzagoev shares the same birthday as Winchester University's very own Journalism student, Jake Gable. However, Mr Gable would need some form of miracle to share a similar comparison on the football pitch as the Russian 'wiz-kid'. Played primarily in an attacking midfield role, one which his idol Frank Lampard occupies at Chelsea, Dzagoev thrives supporting the strikers with his powerful runs, combined with his mental toughness and passion make him a threat for any opponent.
Alan made his international debut against Germany in 2008, after Guus Hiddink called him up to the squad. He came on as a substitute which made him the youngest ever outfield player to play in the Russian shirt at 18 years and 116 days old. Hiddink described Dzagoev after the game as a "really clever player", however Dzagoev described his performance as a "flop" after experiencing defeat. This can show two sides of any footballers: the sulky, embarrassed player; or the player who is determined to show more. In Dzagoev's case, it doesn't just highlight, it emphatically emphasises his will and determination to be the best he can and knows he can be. That is why the young man is so well admired by many great clubs across Europe. It is also this attitude which has seen him 15 goals in 47 Russian Leagues, and almost doubled that in assists.
I like this man a lot. I am a huge fan of the young Russian, and what attracts me to him more is his desire to join my beloved Chelsea Football Club. Let's hope Mr Ancelotti does the deed, before any one of our rivals takes one of football's biggest talents in the current world.
Anyone wanting to see a bit of Dzagoev in action, here is a link to a video I found on youtube of him playing for CSKA Moscow last season ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phWhL-l75ns&feature=related )
Many Thanks for reading
G.M
Some of his greatest attributes overwhelm players that have years of experience. His ability to dribble, take players on with confidence and create plenty of chances for his team-mates are important skills for any footballer, however the way in which Dzagoev plays suggests that it is of a routine for him, rather than seizing random opportunities.
Dzagoev has already had an active childhood. After his parents moved from Georgia to Beslan, Alan attended a school in the town. Many readers may not recall the events of 2004 when a Beslan school was taken hostage by rebels demanding an end to a then-war. In all the confusion, it was reported that Dzagoev's school was the one attacked, so his father rushed to the school only to find that it was a false alarm and it was in fact another school which had come under attack. Nevertheless, his father took him home at fear of another attack on other schools.
This next part of his story encouraged myself to mainly write about him. At the age of 16 he was spotted by coach Yuri Oskin at an academy funded by Chelsea Roman Abramovich. Ironically Dzagoev has claimed one of his footballing idols is in fact Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard because of the way he plays suits the style of Dzagoev. Recent links with giants Real Madrid have forced the young attacking midfielder to ponder his near future at CSKA, however he has expressed a desire to move to Chelsea after claiming he has always been a fan of them. But, with manager Carlo Ancelotti suggesting that he has no plans to make any signings in the January transfer window, Dzagoev may have to continue to ply his trade in Russia gaining valuable experience before making the expected move to a great western European club. Yet, a recent injury to holding midfielder Michael Essien may force Ancelotti into signing the Russian hot prospect sooner than expected.
Performances of quality have earned him admirers across the planet, and he is gaining a fast-growing reputation between managers, fans and players alike. At 19, the prospect of having Dzagoev in at the tip of professional football for at least another 15 years seems unbelievable, but the reality is he has the potential to play until he is 34, and perhaps even longer at the highest level professional football can provide. One significant performance that caught my eye this season was CSKA's Champions' League visit to Old Trafford which ended in a 3-3 draw. Dzagoev scored one of the goals and provided the assist for another which put CSKA into an important 3-1 lead, however after 70 minutes the young Russian play-maker was substituted, one which proved to be a mistake as Manchester United pulled the game back to earn a point and progress to the Champions' League knock-out stages. Just that match proves what a huge impact Dzagoev has on the Moscow team, and the creativity that he is capable of. Some of the greatest teams in the world have gone to Old Trafford and failed to score more than one goal, Inter Milan and Barcelona just to name a couple, so for a Russian side to go and score three is a fantastic achievement and without doubt would not have been done without the presence of Dzagoev.
Born on 17th June 1990, Dzagoev shares the same birthday as Winchester University's very own Journalism student, Jake Gable. However, Mr Gable would need some form of miracle to share a similar comparison on the football pitch as the Russian 'wiz-kid'. Played primarily in an attacking midfield role, one which his idol Frank Lampard occupies at Chelsea, Dzagoev thrives supporting the strikers with his powerful runs, combined with his mental toughness and passion make him a threat for any opponent.
Alan made his international debut against Germany in 2008, after Guus Hiddink called him up to the squad. He came on as a substitute which made him the youngest ever outfield player to play in the Russian shirt at 18 years and 116 days old. Hiddink described Dzagoev after the game as a "really clever player", however Dzagoev described his performance as a "flop" after experiencing defeat. This can show two sides of any footballers: the sulky, embarrassed player; or the player who is determined to show more. In Dzagoev's case, it doesn't just highlight, it emphatically emphasises his will and determination to be the best he can and knows he can be. That is why the young man is so well admired by many great clubs across Europe. It is also this attitude which has seen him 15 goals in 47 Russian Leagues, and almost doubled that in assists.
I like this man a lot. I am a huge fan of the young Russian, and what attracts me to him more is his desire to join my beloved Chelsea Football Club. Let's hope Mr Ancelotti does the deed, before any one of our rivals takes one of football's biggest talents in the current world.
Anyone wanting to see a bit of Dzagoev in action, here is a link to a video I found on youtube of him playing for CSKA Moscow last season ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phWhL-l75ns&feature=related )
Many Thanks for reading
G.M
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Make Sunday a fun-day?
This isn't the most active of days I've had. Actually, there have been too many Sundays over the previous four months where I have been so bored, I have had to resort to playing cricket shots in the garden in preparation for a season that begins in May.
Many people have their jobs, or even studies to occupy their time, and my so-called 'job' has not been available for a little while. I am a referee and sadly in this weather, matches are not coming around too often. My one chance to earn that extra bit of cash needed for social events has been thwarted by this angel and demon we call snow. Before university, I relied solely on the income of refereeing, and most weekends I was earning £50-75 officiating games from U7s to U15s. Now my Sundays are filled with the depressing boredom of sitting around waiting for Monday's antics to show up to relieve me of my pain.
Despite previously stating today wasn't as active as I'd like it to be, I did have a change in routine for once. Staying at my dad's, I was immediately given the task of helping him take down his thousands of Christmas lights from the house. Yes, I have over-exaggerated with the thousands, but let's just call them a fair few for the time being. After labouring for a good hour and a half, we completed the deed and then headed to the event which I had prepared myself for with anticipation and focus-Darts at my grandparents' house! There was money on the line, something I wasn't going to let slip my grasp. In previous three-way ties between my granddad, dad and I, my dad was usually the lucky man to come away with the coins. How differently today would unfold. The first two games I played there was no money up for grabs, but it enabled me to gain some early form before going into what I call the 'crunch' matches. I slaved away to victory against my dad, thundering the darts into the board in what I can only describe as a Jelle Klaasen style of dart throwing. Next was my toughest test. Against the father of the father. The man I see as a genius dart thrower, the odds of me staying on the board and retaining my form looked limited.
I started fantastically, hitting consecutive 100s forcing my granddad into an early state of shock at the quality I was portraying, quality which forced my dad into claiming: "He's been practising in the pubs at uni hasn't he?". Again his judgement was wrong. It was my typical form after a long stay away from throwing the mini javelins. I knew that to have any chance of winning the last two games and claiming the designated prize, I had to carry my form with me into the next hour of darts.
One hour and twenty-six minutes later, and my record of two wins out of two had been turnd into two wins out of five. I had three disastrous final pre-money matches which saw me struggle to find the 20 on too many occasions, so my opponents thrived on my mis-fortune to obtain vital momentum heading into the crunch clashes. The time soon arrived where we all put our pound coins in and the game commenced. Simple rules, start on a double and finish on a double. I immediately found my touch by hitting my favourite double 6 then hitting 20 with the next two darts. My dad on the other hand, despite scoring well throughout the day, struggled to hit that important double to enable him to score. By the time our two games of darts for the grand prize had finished, both my dad and I had finished £2 poorer, and my granddad, with a grin on his face, managed to flourish an extra £4 to what he had at the start of the day.
Many reading this will find it impossible to believe how I can talk so long about a game of darts, but there's a moral behind this post. My darts performance today is a perfect example of how a usual Sunday entails. It starts off well, enjoying the occasion and another day of living, but as the hours pass, the quality of the Sunday heavily decreases, into a state of the unknown or to an extent a sense of disbelief at how atrocious they can sometimes be. My darts display began with a flourish, only to end like a 0-0 draw at a football match you have paid £50 for-a shambles!
Today was different. I enjoyed myself, and in the winter it is little things like this that make Sundays was they should truly be. Sundays should be a fun day, one which doesn't follow the stereotypical view that just because it is religious, we shouldn't enjoy our day. For now I will find new ideas of creativity to entertain me on these dismal days, but it is only three months until my Sundays become one of the most important days for me. In three months, the cricket season starts and every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday, my day will be filled with nothing but cricket.
Many Thanks for reading
G.M
Many people have their jobs, or even studies to occupy their time, and my so-called 'job' has not been available for a little while. I am a referee and sadly in this weather, matches are not coming around too often. My one chance to earn that extra bit of cash needed for social events has been thwarted by this angel and demon we call snow. Before university, I relied solely on the income of refereeing, and most weekends I was earning £50-75 officiating games from U7s to U15s. Now my Sundays are filled with the depressing boredom of sitting around waiting for Monday's antics to show up to relieve me of my pain.
Despite previously stating today wasn't as active as I'd like it to be, I did have a change in routine for once. Staying at my dad's, I was immediately given the task of helping him take down his thousands of Christmas lights from the house. Yes, I have over-exaggerated with the thousands, but let's just call them a fair few for the time being. After labouring for a good hour and a half, we completed the deed and then headed to the event which I had prepared myself for with anticipation and focus-Darts at my grandparents' house! There was money on the line, something I wasn't going to let slip my grasp. In previous three-way ties between my granddad, dad and I, my dad was usually the lucky man to come away with the coins. How differently today would unfold. The first two games I played there was no money up for grabs, but it enabled me to gain some early form before going into what I call the 'crunch' matches. I slaved away to victory against my dad, thundering the darts into the board in what I can only describe as a Jelle Klaasen style of dart throwing. Next was my toughest test. Against the father of the father. The man I see as a genius dart thrower, the odds of me staying on the board and retaining my form looked limited.
I started fantastically, hitting consecutive 100s forcing my granddad into an early state of shock at the quality I was portraying, quality which forced my dad into claiming: "He's been practising in the pubs at uni hasn't he?". Again his judgement was wrong. It was my typical form after a long stay away from throwing the mini javelins. I knew that to have any chance of winning the last two games and claiming the designated prize, I had to carry my form with me into the next hour of darts.
One hour and twenty-six minutes later, and my record of two wins out of two had been turnd into two wins out of five. I had three disastrous final pre-money matches which saw me struggle to find the 20 on too many occasions, so my opponents thrived on my mis-fortune to obtain vital momentum heading into the crunch clashes. The time soon arrived where we all put our pound coins in and the game commenced. Simple rules, start on a double and finish on a double. I immediately found my touch by hitting my favourite double 6 then hitting 20 with the next two darts. My dad on the other hand, despite scoring well throughout the day, struggled to hit that important double to enable him to score. By the time our two games of darts for the grand prize had finished, both my dad and I had finished £2 poorer, and my granddad, with a grin on his face, managed to flourish an extra £4 to what he had at the start of the day.
Many reading this will find it impossible to believe how I can talk so long about a game of darts, but there's a moral behind this post. My darts performance today is a perfect example of how a usual Sunday entails. It starts off well, enjoying the occasion and another day of living, but as the hours pass, the quality of the Sunday heavily decreases, into a state of the unknown or to an extent a sense of disbelief at how atrocious they can sometimes be. My darts display began with a flourish, only to end like a 0-0 draw at a football match you have paid £50 for-a shambles!
Today was different. I enjoyed myself, and in the winter it is little things like this that make Sundays was they should truly be. Sundays should be a fun day, one which doesn't follow the stereotypical view that just because it is religious, we shouldn't enjoy our day. For now I will find new ideas of creativity to entertain me on these dismal days, but it is only three months until my Sundays become one of the most important days for me. In three months, the cricket season starts and every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday, my day will be filled with nothing but cricket.
Many Thanks for reading
G.M
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)