Hoof it! Head it! Smash it!
Blackburn and Sam Allardyce are a team of derision for most football fans due to their direct approach. On the opening day of the season Blackburn were not too quick to dispel football fans thoughts. Everton could not find a shape to counter Blackburn’s style of play; Louis Saha was isolated and had one attempt from 15 yards which he skied.
Blackburn’s main success in the game was not allowing Mario Fellani to dictate the pace of the game, constantly under pressure from N’Zonzi (who replaced an injured David Dunn in the 8th minute) and El Hadji Diouf. Only in the second half did Stephan Pienaar and Tim Cahill come out of their shell and start to remotely threaten Christopher Samba and Ryan Nelson in defence.
Phil Jones. Michael Salgado and El Hadji Diouf were certainly Blackburn’s strongest players, Jones cutting up every Everton attack, Salgado playing well placed and intelligent passes to the midfield area which started interesting attacks and Diouf creating time and space on the right flank. Jermaine Beckford’s Premier League debut was unspectacular, a miss hit over head kick in the 89 minute which went straight into the hands of Paul Robinson.
Robinson had little to do throughout the game, but made 2 key saves when he was called upon, but throughout the majority of the game he was playing panto with Blackburn fans who were shouting ‘England’s number one’, but replying that he was in fact Blackburn’s number one. Sorry James Brown.
Everton lacked attacking options and were unable to break down Blackburn, a main problem was due to the lack of overlapping wingers, Baines made no impact all the way through the game and Neville spent the majority of his side just lurking on the right wing, with little movement and delivering weak passes into the box.
Finally, the 14th minute goal by Klasnic will not be in Andy Gray’s Xmas 100 Greatest Goals alongside Teddy Sheringham’s 1992 Nottingham Forest strike against Luton Town, but it was still a sound finish. Howard made a bizarre mistake, considering he was under no immediate pressure. Klasnic’s replacement M.B. Diouf certainly looks one to watch for the league, he intimidated Distin and held the ball beautifully and should be a handful when he builds confidence to communicate with team mates.
Official Man of the Match: Mortem Gamst Pederson
Heath’s Man of the Match: Miguel Salgado
14/08/2010
11/08/2010
Grinderman 2
The video for Grinderman's new single, Heathen Child, rates among the best. Nick Cave dressed as a Roman and God amongst other strange outfits. Just watch it for yourself.
10/08/2010
The Absurd Rise of the Most Important Man in Football
Barney Ronay’s account of the rise of the ‘most important man in football’ is interesting, entertaining and frustrating. Ronay’s book is useful as introduction to football managers such as; Herbert Chapman and Major Buckley, but it does not lay down solid foundations of the football manager.
We are told that the football manager is used as the scapegoat for the direction of the club when it is going wrong, however, this is the most in-depth comment made on power structures in the football club, despite a brief mention of the Bosman Ruling of 1995. To conclude that the football manager is the most important man in football surely his power relationship would have to be analysed – instead we are told of the old school socialist managers who based football ‘supergroups’ based on community – Busby, Stein, Paisley and nothing further is really discussed.
During the book, it is insightful, in a novelty fashion, but there are major issues in the fact that it is only English and Scottish (mainly Celtic and Aberdeen) football discussed – leaving a huge gulf of football nations left out of the argument. The largest discussion on the foreign manager is Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, as well as a few paragraphs on the early foreign influx of managers in the English leagues.
This book is fun and enjoyable, but at times it would be interesting to see a more insightful and committed argument, as the chapter on Don Revie is the most interesting and well written piece in the book, and maybe with a little more discipline the entire book could have been lifted.
We are told that the football manager is used as the scapegoat for the direction of the club when it is going wrong, however, this is the most in-depth comment made on power structures in the football club, despite a brief mention of the Bosman Ruling of 1995. To conclude that the football manager is the most important man in football surely his power relationship would have to be analysed – instead we are told of the old school socialist managers who based football ‘supergroups’ based on community – Busby, Stein, Paisley and nothing further is really discussed.
During the book, it is insightful, in a novelty fashion, but there are major issues in the fact that it is only English and Scottish (mainly Celtic and Aberdeen) football discussed – leaving a huge gulf of football nations left out of the argument. The largest discussion on the foreign manager is Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, as well as a few paragraphs on the early foreign influx of managers in the English leagues.
This book is fun and enjoyable, but at times it would be interesting to see a more insightful and committed argument, as the chapter on Don Revie is the most interesting and well written piece in the book, and maybe with a little more discipline the entire book could have been lifted.
Music is a persistent problem in my life
Music is a persistent problem in my life
It is always the same issue with me and music, it is not a love-hate relationship, barely no hate apart from the destruction of my ipod due to copious illegal downloads and the snapping in half of my Quadrophenia soundtrack in my mum’s car CD player.
No, the problem is that for months at a time I neglect finding new music and fail to incorporate it into my daily life. I can find two hours a day to read about football…even when I’m shitting I read about football, and not just any football, how Scotland lost the 1978 World Cup. But I cannot put aside one hour to listen to a brand new album.
An activity which would not even have to take my undivided attention, something I could do whilst I bully 10 year olds into submission on FIFA.
Instead I now have 16 albums, which I have on good grounds are interesting albums for the year of 2010 – this is all bad news for Devo who have had my undivided attention on my ipod for the past month. It is also bad news for people on public transport who will fall victim to my very loud Sony headphones.
I have not listened to anything new since Crystal Castles II and have not bought a new album since The Fall released YFOC and Madlib’s Medicine Show #4 – Jamaica (both excellent may I add).
The list of albums I have the displeasure of listening to are:
Sleigh Bells
Passion Pit
Mt. Saint Helens Vietnam Band
Django Django
Kid Congo Powers
Local Natives
Fang Island
Zola Jesus
Pocahaunted
Harlem
Exit Calm
Morning Benders
New Young Pony Club
Emancipator
Chrome Hoof
I may be falling head first into a barrel of tripe, but at least I won’t be hungry.
It is always the same issue with me and music, it is not a love-hate relationship, barely no hate apart from the destruction of my ipod due to copious illegal downloads and the snapping in half of my Quadrophenia soundtrack in my mum’s car CD player.
No, the problem is that for months at a time I neglect finding new music and fail to incorporate it into my daily life. I can find two hours a day to read about football…even when I’m shitting I read about football, and not just any football, how Scotland lost the 1978 World Cup. But I cannot put aside one hour to listen to a brand new album.
An activity which would not even have to take my undivided attention, something I could do whilst I bully 10 year olds into submission on FIFA.
Instead I now have 16 albums, which I have on good grounds are interesting albums for the year of 2010 – this is all bad news for Devo who have had my undivided attention on my ipod for the past month. It is also bad news for people on public transport who will fall victim to my very loud Sony headphones.
I have not listened to anything new since Crystal Castles II and have not bought a new album since The Fall released YFOC and Madlib’s Medicine Show #4 – Jamaica (both excellent may I add).
The list of albums I have the displeasure of listening to are:
Sleigh Bells
Passion Pit
Mt. Saint Helens Vietnam Band
Django Django
Kid Congo Powers
Local Natives
Fang Island
Zola Jesus
Pocahaunted
Harlem
Exit Calm
Morning Benders
New Young Pony Club
Emancipator
Chrome Hoof
I may be falling head first into a barrel of tripe, but at least I won’t be hungry.
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