When Stale Solbakken took over as manager of Wolves in the summer there was the usual tub thumping press releases from the club which always follow this sort of thing.We were promised that the club would have it's playing style revolutionised from top to bottom.To a point that's true if revolution means having a playing style that is static to the point of Catatonia,a formation as narrow as the narrowest of narrow boats and so little fight that even Audley Harrison would blush from embarrassment.
I have been watching Wolves for many a year now and apart from our darkest days of the mid 80's i can say without fear of contradiction that this is one of the poorest teams i have ever seen down at Molineux.But we all know it should'nt be....
In the mid 80's---when we plummeted from top division to bottom division in successive seasons---the club at least had an excuse.They were flat broke,playing in a decrepit stadium to crowds of 5,000 and the players were recruited from local non league teams.They were basically playing way above their skill level in an effort just to keep the club alive.
This time it's different.
This time we have a core of players who should at least be among the best in the division---though most are plainly not premiership quality---Playing in a beautiful stadium infront of decent crowds.However something is rotten in the club.
When the season began we won a few games without playing well.Us fans were relatively happy and consoled ourselves with the thought that once the players got on board with what was being asked of them performances would improve and results get even better.Performances have not improved---They have got worse---The results have gotten worse and frankly if things don't change quickly we will be in a relegation dogfight...
I don't believe the current crop of players have the stomach for another relegation scrap...
Although it's a truism that we are "In the results business"---A mindset that i despise by the way----What's worrying me more than the lack of wins is the way we're being asked to play by the boss.The style is moribund to say the least.Nothing wrong in playing ball to feet but it helps if those feet are attached to a body that's either finding,or looking for,space.Our players seem rooted to the spot.Movement is the basic requirement in football,if you stand still even a pub team on Hackney Marshes will pick you off easily...
We have just played--and lost---two of the worst teams in the division without making one worthwhile chance,indeed this season we have made less chances than i can ever remember.Even when we were getting humped weekly in the Premiership we still created goalscoring opportunities...
Another problem is the players.Or should i say their seeming lack of fight for the cause.As soon as we went a goal down to both P'Boro & Ipswich that was it.We never looked like getting back into either game.This against the worst defences in the division remember...Over the last few years our one redeeming quality was our fight in the face of adversity.That appears to have disappeared.If i did'nt know better i'd think the players are trying to get rid of the manager...
Personally i am beginning to think a change is needed at the top.Either Solbakken needs to be replaced or he himself has to alter his basic footballing beliefs and allow the players to stretch the game by using all the pitch and get the buggers to start moving into space again...Otherwise the South Bank's jokey song "Whatever will be will be we're going to Shrewsbury" may well come true...
Sunday 30 December 2012
Tuesday 4 December 2012
The 2012 sporting awards...
It's that time of year again.A time for navel gazing and making drunken advances on Janice from 4th floor accounts at the firm's Xmas party...
My 2012 sporting awards:
The Martin Luther King I have a dream commemorative Rosa Parks bus seat to John Terry & Serbian football fans.
The Jurassic Park tethered goat blindfold to Rafa Benitez.
The what the Dickens Great Expectations it was'nt as good as i'd hoped Toby Jug goes to Man City's Champions League campaign.
The Abu Hamza Prodigal son integration back into society Union Jack flag to Kevin Pietersen .
The Montgomery Burns Boss of the year 22 carat gold statue to Roman Abramovitch.
The Dick Van Dyke Cor Lummee guv'nor Rosetta Stone CD set to Joey Barton.
The Lord Lucan disappeared without trace Sat Nav to Joe Cole.
The Nye Bevan NHS gurney to Danny Boyle for his stupendous Olympic opening ceremony.
The Max Clifford no such thing as bad publicity Gold plated cheque book to West Brom's Liam Ridgewell for the photo of him wiping his arse with £20 notes.
The inaugural Read my lips top Tweet to QPR's Tony Fernandes for Tweeting " for the Millionth time i'm not sacking Hughes" He fired him a few days later...
The Donald Trump embossed Green card to the incomparable Mo Farah
The Made in Chelsea for the love of God get these stupid feckers off my TV mounted remote control to ITV's football coverage.
The Jody Craddock he used to be shite but now he's alright Golden wand to Gary Neville.
The Kenneth Williams Infamy infamy they've all got it infamy Groucho Marx moustache & glasses to Steve Kean.
...And finally.
The Empire strikes back stiff upper lip trophy to the British fans at the Olympics & ParaOlympics...
Merry Xmas to all readers...Now where's Janice...
My 2012 sporting awards:
The Martin Luther King I have a dream commemorative Rosa Parks bus seat to John Terry & Serbian football fans.
The Jurassic Park tethered goat blindfold to Rafa Benitez.
The what the Dickens Great Expectations it was'nt as good as i'd hoped Toby Jug goes to Man City's Champions League campaign.
The Abu Hamza Prodigal son integration back into society Union Jack flag to Kevin Pietersen .
The Montgomery Burns Boss of the year 22 carat gold statue to Roman Abramovitch.
The Dick Van Dyke Cor Lummee guv'nor Rosetta Stone CD set to Joey Barton.
The Lord Lucan disappeared without trace Sat Nav to Joe Cole.
The Nye Bevan NHS gurney to Danny Boyle for his stupendous Olympic opening ceremony.
The Max Clifford no such thing as bad publicity Gold plated cheque book to West Brom's Liam Ridgewell for the photo of him wiping his arse with £20 notes.
The inaugural Read my lips top Tweet to QPR's Tony Fernandes for Tweeting " for the Millionth time i'm not sacking Hughes" He fired him a few days later...
The Donald Trump embossed Green card to the incomparable Mo Farah
The Made in Chelsea for the love of God get these stupid feckers off my TV mounted remote control to ITV's football coverage.
The Jody Craddock he used to be shite but now he's alright Golden wand to Gary Neville.
The Kenneth Williams Infamy infamy they've all got it infamy Groucho Marx moustache & glasses to Steve Kean.
...And finally.
The Empire strikes back stiff upper lip trophy to the British fans at the Olympics & ParaOlympics...
Merry Xmas to all readers...Now where's Janice...
Wednesday 28 November 2012
Don't Panic! What else is there to do?
When a club suffers relegation many fans fall under the belief that they were unlucky and that the core of the squad that failed will miraculously hit the ground running the next season in a lower division and secure promotion fairly easily.This rarely happens but since when did football fans have realistic expectations of their clubs ability?
This season Wolves began well results wise with many fans---me included---recognising that even though we were'nt playing well when we did eventually gain some coherent form results would get even better.Sadly the opposite has happened.Whilst our form has got even worse the results have gone South,and how...
We're now near the bottom of Division One having not won for nine games.The players are not responding to the new coaching regime,overall fitness seems to be very poor----We normally start games well,indeed we have taken the lead in many of the last nine games but fade alarmingly within sixty minutes,sometimes sooner----Confidence is at a very low level and the natives are getting restless.If this downward spiral is'nt addressed toot suite then another relegation is a very real possibility...
The truth is the rump of the squad is'nt good enough and has'nt been for a couple of seasons now.That momentous day when we saved ourselves from relegation with a last gasp goal at home to Blackburn eighteen months ago papered over a lot of cracks within the playing squad.We did'nt rebuild when we were in a position of relative strength.Since then the spiral has been down down down...
In the summer Boss Morgan and his CEO Moxey drafted in Stale Solbakken with the remit to totally change the ethos of the club's playing style from top to bottom.This is an admiral aim but takes time and also means that many of the current squad will need replacing asap.They're either not good enough or not willing to partake in the revolution.
However will Morgan & Moxey back their hunch by backing Solbakken? If so they have to make funds available for him to buy the players he needs.
Or will they crumble in front of ever increasing pressure to sack Solbakken and start all over again.If they decide to go down this route they had better act quickly and not repeat the laughable debacle of last season when sacking McCarthy a day after the transfer window closed.Then they compounded this total balls up with their badly thought out search for a replacement.We became a joke club in the eyes of many.A feeling it was hard not to argue with.
Can they be trusted to make the correct decision this time round? Only time will tell but the prognosis is'nt good...Let's hope it's only the fans who panic cos' when leaders do there's only one outcome...
Monday 12 November 2012
10 man Wolves make positive moves...
Last saturday's home 3-3 draw against Brighton may well prove to be something of a catalyst for the club this season.On paper two points dropped and a further drop down the table may seem an odd starting point for a revival in fortunes but the circumstances of the draw showed the spirit within the club is on an upward curve...
There has been a feeling of unrest lately.Poor results coupled with equally poor results have started a bit of a groundswell of unease amongst the fans.This game was generally seen as a "Must win" If only to quell the fans ire for a little while and also give the squad a much needed confidence boost approaching the end of the year.
Summer signing Bakary Sako grabbed the opening goal firing into the bottom corner after a stunning four man move.Sako is quickly becoming a fans favourite.He has a wonderful left foot and usually hits the target be it the goal or another teamate from a dead ball situation.This makes him one of the most dangerous midfielders in this division in my opinion.My only worry is that occasionally he loses concentration and gives the ball away cheaply in his own half as was the case for Brighton's equaliser.
Up until that moment the game was drifting along to half time in a serene manner however straight after that goal Karl Henry decided to lunge at a Brighton player which resulted in a red card.From my vantage point of queueing at the North Bank bar glancing at the TV it did'nt look a bad challenge but on reflection i maybe did'nt have the best view...Manager Stale Solbakken later said it was deserved and the hole he punched out of the dug out roof probably tells his feelings of Henry's challenge at the time...
Brighton are a good team who move the ball around well.Not many Wolves fans were feeling confident that the second half would see anything other than a backs-to-the-wall display resulting with inevitable defeat.The ineffective Ebanks-Blake was sacrificed upfront to shore up the midfield .
However Brighton appeared not to really know how to best play against a depleated Wolves team and we grew in confidence making sporadic forays into their half.In the 61st minute there was a bad challenge on a Wolves player near the centre circle--It was easily as bad as Karl Henry's---Luckily the ball fell to sub Doumbia and the ref played advantage as he strode on to bury a cracker into the bottom corner.
This was the first goal Wolves have scored at the North Bank end this season but for a while we all thought the ref had pulled it back to give the original foul---I fear had he done that there may have been a riot and Solbakken would have demolished the dug out!---However the ref should have gone back and red carded the player who chopped down our player.
Brighton came alive now and put us under pressure and unfortunately we conceded shortly after.Everybody in our section could see Buckley making his run to receive the through pass.The defenders did'nt see the run though and he slotted passed an exposed Ikeme...
To be fair to our defence we coped well after that apart from one header off the bar and a great Ikeme save.Then in the last minute the ref made a monumental cock up...
The ball was just outside our area and a Brighton player back heeled it into the area.Ward was barely two feet away with his arms at his side and the ball hit his left arm.When a penalty is awarded,especially a potential winner in the 89th minute,the ref has to be sure it was deliberate.There's no way on this earth that was a deliberate action.A disgraceful decision...
So 2-3 to Brighton in injury time with Wolves down to ten men and visibly knackered .They thought they'd won and their braying fans were mocking us to that effect...How sweet then to equalise deep into added time...
We had already gone close to equalising twice in those last four minutes before Roger Johnson's downward header nestled into the bottom corner of the net...Cue mayhem and a very boisterous drunken train trip home...
Only time will tell if this game is the catalyst that kick starts our season.We all hope so...
There has been a feeling of unrest lately.Poor results coupled with equally poor results have started a bit of a groundswell of unease amongst the fans.This game was generally seen as a "Must win" If only to quell the fans ire for a little while and also give the squad a much needed confidence boost approaching the end of the year.
Summer signing Bakary Sako grabbed the opening goal firing into the bottom corner after a stunning four man move.Sako is quickly becoming a fans favourite.He has a wonderful left foot and usually hits the target be it the goal or another teamate from a dead ball situation.This makes him one of the most dangerous midfielders in this division in my opinion.My only worry is that occasionally he loses concentration and gives the ball away cheaply in his own half as was the case for Brighton's equaliser.
Up until that moment the game was drifting along to half time in a serene manner however straight after that goal Karl Henry decided to lunge at a Brighton player which resulted in a red card.From my vantage point of queueing at the North Bank bar glancing at the TV it did'nt look a bad challenge but on reflection i maybe did'nt have the best view...Manager Stale Solbakken later said it was deserved and the hole he punched out of the dug out roof probably tells his feelings of Henry's challenge at the time...
Brighton are a good team who move the ball around well.Not many Wolves fans were feeling confident that the second half would see anything other than a backs-to-the-wall display resulting with inevitable defeat.The ineffective Ebanks-Blake was sacrificed upfront to shore up the midfield .
However Brighton appeared not to really know how to best play against a depleated Wolves team and we grew in confidence making sporadic forays into their half.In the 61st minute there was a bad challenge on a Wolves player near the centre circle--It was easily as bad as Karl Henry's---Luckily the ball fell to sub Doumbia and the ref played advantage as he strode on to bury a cracker into the bottom corner.
This was the first goal Wolves have scored at the North Bank end this season but for a while we all thought the ref had pulled it back to give the original foul---I fear had he done that there may have been a riot and Solbakken would have demolished the dug out!---However the ref should have gone back and red carded the player who chopped down our player.
Brighton came alive now and put us under pressure and unfortunately we conceded shortly after.Everybody in our section could see Buckley making his run to receive the through pass.The defenders did'nt see the run though and he slotted passed an exposed Ikeme...
To be fair to our defence we coped well after that apart from one header off the bar and a great Ikeme save.Then in the last minute the ref made a monumental cock up...
The ball was just outside our area and a Brighton player back heeled it into the area.Ward was barely two feet away with his arms at his side and the ball hit his left arm.When a penalty is awarded,especially a potential winner in the 89th minute,the ref has to be sure it was deliberate.There's no way on this earth that was a deliberate action.A disgraceful decision...
So 2-3 to Brighton in injury time with Wolves down to ten men and visibly knackered .They thought they'd won and their braying fans were mocking us to that effect...How sweet then to equalise deep into added time...
We had already gone close to equalising twice in those last four minutes before Roger Johnson's downward header nestled into the bottom corner of the net...Cue mayhem and a very boisterous drunken train trip home...
Only time will tell if this game is the catalyst that kick starts our season.We all hope so...
Saturday 13 October 2012
We've had our fun...Now it's payback time...
It seems like an age ago does'nt it?
What does?
The feelgood factor surrounding the Olympics/ParaOlympics...It's with a heavy heart i look back to those distant far off days of August when our world was full of laughter and optimism.Folk seemingly strolling around without a care in the world,happy to discuss Mo's latest conquest with strangers on public transport.Cartoon smiles were the order of the day...There was much talk of a nation finally becoming more outward looking,embracing what we see as other nationalities Joie de vivre.Failing to comprehend that people from other lands are as insular and suspicious as us Brits but probably hide it better...Still here we all were at the dawn of a new era of openness and confidence.A very British Glasnost if you like...
It could never last of course.Real life has a habit of tweaking the nose of those that dare to defy the machinations of day to day drudgery.Despite a notable sporting double on American soil of Andy Murray winning the US singles final and the European Ryder cup team grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat real life was waiting to grab us by the nuts...and how.
Those were essentially a last Hurrah on a sporting summer that delighted all Brits---Well apart from a few xenophobe Tory MP's and reactionary pen pushers---Sporty or not.
Since then the news has been unremittingly bad.Much as murderous Hell's Angels firmly closed the book on the freewheeling 60's at the Stones Altamont gig in 1969 so the breaking Jimmy Savile story ended the fun in the UK.It was time to get serious...
For those not au fait with British pop culture Savile was---he died last year aged 85--a 60's DJ,at a time when radio DJ's were huge stars.He also became a massive TV star with a very successful light entertainment progamme called "Jim'll Fix it" in which he granted achievable wishes to children who wrote in.As a by product he also raised about £40 Million pounds for charities.He was basically untouchable,which is how he was able to get away with being a predatory paedophile for all these years without question...
There were plenty of rumours---i myself heard somesuch about 15 years ago---but he had powerful friends for protection if anyone got too close to revealing the truth.So nobody did.Some are saying his crimes are somehow deflected by his charity work,totally missing the point that it was his very charity work that gained him access to the children he abused.I'm an Atheist but in this instance i hope there's a Hell and Sir Jimmy Savile spends eternity with a red hot poker up his jacksey...
Talking of religion; Those lovable scamps The Taliban decided that the might of their bullying ideology was under threat from a 14 year old Pakistani schoolgirl who had the gall to want an education.A basic right you may think.But not to these self righteous bully boys who don't want any women educated lest they point out that their beliefs are pure hokum.
So what did the brave foot soliders of The Taliban do? They shot her in the head then bragged about it.She's 14 and she stood up to these tyrants.Luckily she survived but is still in a critical condition.I am in awe at her bravery.Her name is MalalaYousufzai.Remember that name because hopefully you'll be hearing a lot from her in the future...
Of course we're still in the throes of the longest recession i can recall.From what i can gather all due to international Bankers trying to prove who has the biggest dick---Or was it who IS the biggest dick? I forget now---But what the hell eh? the only people who have to pay for their abject lack of morals and terminal stupidity is us working classes of the world...In the UK we constantly have our government of Tory toffs,along with their Lib Dem sychophants,telling us we have to bear the brunt of this with rising prices,service cuts combined with a barely concealed contempt for the people they're supposed to be serving...All the while they're still taking credit for a successful Olympic Games.Conveniently forgetting it was US,the People, that made it the greatest event Britain has ever held.Not them...
So i finish were i began.The Olympics...However i am not really confident we have taken the spirit of joyfulness to heart.You only have to see some of the abuse dished out to folk on Twitter from random strangers to realise this summer was nothing more than a wonderful aberration...
Sorry to be on a downer.I don't like to end on a sour note so here's what i'm listening to as i write this to cheer everyone up...i hope.
What does?
The feelgood factor surrounding the Olympics/ParaOlympics...It's with a heavy heart i look back to those distant far off days of August when our world was full of laughter and optimism.Folk seemingly strolling around without a care in the world,happy to discuss Mo's latest conquest with strangers on public transport.Cartoon smiles were the order of the day...There was much talk of a nation finally becoming more outward looking,embracing what we see as other nationalities Joie de vivre.Failing to comprehend that people from other lands are as insular and suspicious as us Brits but probably hide it better...Still here we all were at the dawn of a new era of openness and confidence.A very British Glasnost if you like...
It could never last of course.Real life has a habit of tweaking the nose of those that dare to defy the machinations of day to day drudgery.Despite a notable sporting double on American soil of Andy Murray winning the US singles final and the European Ryder cup team grabbing victory from the jaws of defeat real life was waiting to grab us by the nuts...and how.
Those were essentially a last Hurrah on a sporting summer that delighted all Brits---Well apart from a few xenophobe Tory MP's and reactionary pen pushers---Sporty or not.
Since then the news has been unremittingly bad.Much as murderous Hell's Angels firmly closed the book on the freewheeling 60's at the Stones Altamont gig in 1969 so the breaking Jimmy Savile story ended the fun in the UK.It was time to get serious...
For those not au fait with British pop culture Savile was---he died last year aged 85--a 60's DJ,at a time when radio DJ's were huge stars.He also became a massive TV star with a very successful light entertainment progamme called "Jim'll Fix it" in which he granted achievable wishes to children who wrote in.As a by product he also raised about £40 Million pounds for charities.He was basically untouchable,which is how he was able to get away with being a predatory paedophile for all these years without question...
There were plenty of rumours---i myself heard somesuch about 15 years ago---but he had powerful friends for protection if anyone got too close to revealing the truth.So nobody did.Some are saying his crimes are somehow deflected by his charity work,totally missing the point that it was his very charity work that gained him access to the children he abused.I'm an Atheist but in this instance i hope there's a Hell and Sir Jimmy Savile spends eternity with a red hot poker up his jacksey...
Talking of religion; Those lovable scamps The Taliban decided that the might of their bullying ideology was under threat from a 14 year old Pakistani schoolgirl who had the gall to want an education.A basic right you may think.But not to these self righteous bully boys who don't want any women educated lest they point out that their beliefs are pure hokum.
So what did the brave foot soliders of The Taliban do? They shot her in the head then bragged about it.She's 14 and she stood up to these tyrants.Luckily she survived but is still in a critical condition.I am in awe at her bravery.Her name is MalalaYousufzai.Remember that name because hopefully you'll be hearing a lot from her in the future...
Of course we're still in the throes of the longest recession i can recall.From what i can gather all due to international Bankers trying to prove who has the biggest dick---Or was it who IS the biggest dick? I forget now---But what the hell eh? the only people who have to pay for their abject lack of morals and terminal stupidity is us working classes of the world...In the UK we constantly have our government of Tory toffs,along with their Lib Dem sychophants,telling us we have to bear the brunt of this with rising prices,service cuts combined with a barely concealed contempt for the people they're supposed to be serving...All the while they're still taking credit for a successful Olympic Games.Conveniently forgetting it was US,the People, that made it the greatest event Britain has ever held.Not them...
So i finish were i began.The Olympics...However i am not really confident we have taken the spirit of joyfulness to heart.You only have to see some of the abuse dished out to folk on Twitter from random strangers to realise this summer was nothing more than a wonderful aberration...
Sorry to be on a downer.I don't like to end on a sour note so here's what i'm listening to as i write this to cheer everyone up...i hope.
Saturday 6 October 2012
McWolves...Jings crivens...
Wolves sold star striker Stephen Fletcher a few weeks ago to Sunderland for the not inconsiderable sum of 15 Million of your English pounds Sterling.Many Sunderland fans baulked at the price but all Wolves fans knew what a great goalscorer they'd secured.Five goals from five chances in four games proves a point i feel...
This got me thinking about how many Scottish players i had seen play for my team---Even though Fletcher is regarded as a Scot he was infact born in Shrewsbury about 25 miles west of Wolverhampton---I have a particular interest in our Scottish players as i have many friends who're Scots and it's good to have some ammunition when they start...
So here's my McWolves team comprised of Scots i have seen play for us;
1)Evan Willams; Did'nt play many games for Wolves and even when he did everyone just assumed he was Welsh! Ended up playing in the 1970 European Cup Final for Celtic so was probably a decent keeper...
2)Jackie McNamara ;Classy full back who only played 29 games for Wolves after a 10 year career at Celtic.Unfortunately he suffered a bad injury and left after only one season.If the rumours are to be believed he was one for the ladies and who knows there may be some budding young full backs in the Wolverhampton area in a few years time...
5)Frank Munro; One of the best and coolest defenders i have ever seen at Wolves.Initially bought as an Inside Right after impressing against us for Aberdeen in a pre season tour of the USA in the mid 60's.Played nearly 400 league & cup games for Wolves before leaving for Celtic in 1977.
6)Ally Robertson; His influence at Wolves in our darkest days is largely overlooked however he was club captain for four years helping Wolves to win back to back promotions and also a prized Wembley win when it seemed all of Wolverhampton turned up on that day.Played over 100 games for us after a wonderful career at hated rivals West Brom.
3)Charlie Mulgrew; We never got the best out of Charlie after we signed him from Celtic.However since moving back up North with first Aberdeen and latterly Celtic has gone from strength to strength.His skill at dead ball's is as good as anyone in the UK.Also gets into the team for not hitting a group of us who gently took the piss out of him in a pre season game at Grays a few years back!
7)Jim McCalliog; The North Bank used to sing the Supremes "Jimmy Mack" to this fella back in the day.Great passer with great vision.Played in nearly 200 games for Wolves he also had an eye for goal.Was part of the UEFA Cup finalist team along with Frank Munro.Probably most famous for the pass that led to Southampton beating Manchester United in the 1977 FA Cup final.
8)Colin Cameron:One of my favourite Wolves players of recent times.A real box to box workhorse who also got his fair share of goals.My mates reckon i only liked him cos' he was a short arse like me!Left the club far too early and was treated in a very shabby manner by the then manager Glenn Hoddle.
4)Alex Rae; "He's got no hair but we don't care Alex Alex Rae" Had problems during his playing days with drink etc.but never let it affect his perfomances on the pitch.Another short arse Scot who was as hard as nails aswell as very skillful.Scored one of the best volley's i have ever seen...
11) Danny Cranie;Another ex Celtic player. A total waster.Loved Booze,birds & bookies.Football came a distant fourth.So why include him? Simple.In 1983 we had gone the first 19 games of the season without a win.Rock bottom when we went up the road to West Brom and hammered them 3-1.Crannie getting a brace.
9)Andy Gray; When we bought Gray he was the current footballer of the year and cost a record fee.It would be like us buying Van Persie today,Unthinkable.I can still recall the excitement and expectation and for a time it was being fulfilled.We finished 6th and won the league cup...The future was bright.Within five years we were in the bottom division...Still none of this was Gray's fault.
10)Stephen Fletcher. No need to say anything.Just watch the video...
So here's the line up;
Williams
McNamara Munro Robertson Mulgrew
McCalliog Cameron Rae Crannie
Gray Fletcher
Subs) Hughie Curran
Chris Iwelumo
Tom Bennett
Kenny Miller
Jim Melrose
Christophe Berra
Wille Carr
This got me thinking about how many Scottish players i had seen play for my team---Even though Fletcher is regarded as a Scot he was infact born in Shrewsbury about 25 miles west of Wolverhampton---I have a particular interest in our Scottish players as i have many friends who're Scots and it's good to have some ammunition when they start...
So here's my McWolves team comprised of Scots i have seen play for us;
1)Evan Willams; Did'nt play many games for Wolves and even when he did everyone just assumed he was Welsh! Ended up playing in the 1970 European Cup Final for Celtic so was probably a decent keeper...
2)Jackie McNamara ;Classy full back who only played 29 games for Wolves after a 10 year career at Celtic.Unfortunately he suffered a bad injury and left after only one season.If the rumours are to be believed he was one for the ladies and who knows there may be some budding young full backs in the Wolverhampton area in a few years time...
5)Frank Munro; One of the best and coolest defenders i have ever seen at Wolves.Initially bought as an Inside Right after impressing against us for Aberdeen in a pre season tour of the USA in the mid 60's.Played nearly 400 league & cup games for Wolves before leaving for Celtic in 1977.
6)Ally Robertson; His influence at Wolves in our darkest days is largely overlooked however he was club captain for four years helping Wolves to win back to back promotions and also a prized Wembley win when it seemed all of Wolverhampton turned up on that day.Played over 100 games for us after a wonderful career at hated rivals West Brom.
3)Charlie Mulgrew; We never got the best out of Charlie after we signed him from Celtic.However since moving back up North with first Aberdeen and latterly Celtic has gone from strength to strength.His skill at dead ball's is as good as anyone in the UK.Also gets into the team for not hitting a group of us who gently took the piss out of him in a pre season game at Grays a few years back!
7)Jim McCalliog; The North Bank used to sing the Supremes "Jimmy Mack" to this fella back in the day.Great passer with great vision.Played in nearly 200 games for Wolves he also had an eye for goal.Was part of the UEFA Cup finalist team along with Frank Munro.Probably most famous for the pass that led to Southampton beating Manchester United in the 1977 FA Cup final.
8)Colin Cameron:One of my favourite Wolves players of recent times.A real box to box workhorse who also got his fair share of goals.My mates reckon i only liked him cos' he was a short arse like me!Left the club far too early and was treated in a very shabby manner by the then manager Glenn Hoddle.
4)Alex Rae; "He's got no hair but we don't care Alex Alex Rae" Had problems during his playing days with drink etc.but never let it affect his perfomances on the pitch.Another short arse Scot who was as hard as nails aswell as very skillful.Scored one of the best volley's i have ever seen...
11) Danny Cranie;Another ex Celtic player. A total waster.Loved Booze,birds & bookies.Football came a distant fourth.So why include him? Simple.In 1983 we had gone the first 19 games of the season without a win.Rock bottom when we went up the road to West Brom and hammered them 3-1.Crannie getting a brace.
9)Andy Gray; When we bought Gray he was the current footballer of the year and cost a record fee.It would be like us buying Van Persie today,Unthinkable.I can still recall the excitement and expectation and for a time it was being fulfilled.We finished 6th and won the league cup...The future was bright.Within five years we were in the bottom division...Still none of this was Gray's fault.
So here's the line up;
Williams
McNamara Munro Robertson Mulgrew
McCalliog Cameron Rae Crannie
Gray Fletcher
Subs) Hughie Curran
Chris Iwelumo
Tom Bennett
Kenny Miller
Jim Melrose
Christophe Berra
Wille Carr
Tuesday 25 September 2012
Lung Busters...The World smokers XI.
OK i admit it,i'm a smoker...Yes i know it's unhealthy.Yes i know many are disgusted by my habit.Yes i know Smokers are now seen as desirable as a Leper at the Buffet counter...
Smokers are now so marginalised that we have to show off our addiction to the world by huddling outside buildings coughing in unison...The sweet music of the habitual smoker...
In Britain especially we downtrodden smokers are subjected to so much added tax to fund our habit that were we to quit en masse the country would lose revenue to the tune of billions of pounds per annum...
So in saying that it always surprises me when i find out about sportsmen who indulge in the habit of firing up dried leaves,inhaling deep into their precious lungs then exhaling the Carbon Dioxide into perfect photo opportunity smoke rings...
Footballers are always being snapped both at work and leisure.Mostly nothing troubling about that but occasionally they're caught with their pants down,or worse for the Puritanical viewer,with a cig on the go...You'd think any player who smoked,or indulges in the weed on occasions,would be far down the ladder in the game but far from it.I would bet my Smokers XI against any other team ever in world football...
Every player in this team has either been a well known smoker or has been snapped with a beautiful thin white stick dangling from their lips...
Goalkeeper) Gianlugi Buffon(Italy) Suspected of having very dodgy Right Wing leanings politically but without doubt the best goalie in the world over the last ten to fifteen years.
Right Back)Alessandro Nesta(Italy) Buffon's international team mate and usually seen at centre back with the impeccable Fabio Cannavaro.These two were the best Centre Back partnership in world football for many a year.Nesta is such a good player he would easily fill in at Full Back.
Centre Back)Slaven Bilic(Croatia) Well known in England for his time at West Ham and for being partly responsible for Steve McClaren losing his job as England manager when boss of Croatia.A rock at the back.Hard as (Coffin)nails too...
Centre Back)Jack Charlton(England) Big Jack! No nonsense defender of the much hated Leeds team of the 70's.Also would'nt hold back in the dressing room.
Left Back) Ashley Cole(England) Infamous for many off the field shenanigans so being snapped with a smoke was very low down on the list of shocks...probably the best left back in world football at the moment.
Midfield) Gerson(Brazil) Never received the recognition he deserved as a true great of the Brazil 1970 team but he was the engine room that allowed more feted players to perform.A sort of South American Karl Henry...
Midfield) Zinedine Zidane(France) Grew up in and around the mean housing projects of Marseille,where smoking is not only encouraged,it's demanded.What chance did Zizi have?One of the greatest midfielders the world has seen and tough as old boots too.It's widely assumed his head butt on Materazzi in the World Cup Final was the result of an insult to his dear old mum whereas in reality Mazza had stolen his last snout...
Midfield) Johan Cruyff (Holland) Come on.If there's going to be a smokers eleven there has to be at least one Dutchman,and who better than Cruyff? At the peak of his powers was regarded as the worlds best player,especially as Pele was playing for the circus that was New York Cosmos,which obviously did'nt count as real football.A Prestigious 40 a day man in his prime.Truly world class smoking there...His son Jordi was also a pro footballer but never came close to his old man's powers...Jordi never smoked...Coincidence?
Midfield) Socrates (Brazil) Named after the Greek Philosopher---Stitch that one Joey Barton---Socrates was not only a sublime player but a registered Doctor. A Footballing Doctor who smoked? Got to be in the team.Not only that but he's my Captain too...
Forward) Ronaldo (Brazil) The REAL Ronaldo in my book...If only because he liked a drag on a Malboro Lite before rounding the keeper and popping in another goal...
Forward) Maradona (Argentina) Cocaine,Hookers,Firearms,Mafia ties...Yet the most shocking thing about the mighty midget is that he liked a cig with his coffee...Always remembered in England for THAT goal "scored" with nicotine stained fingernails...
Subs) David James(England) Erudite Tina Turner look-a-like and all round good egg.
Teddy Sheringham(England) One of the most intelligent footballers ever produced in England.Can now mostly be seen in the car park of Chinawhite nightclub with a cigarette in one hand and a page three stunna in the other.
Ossie Ardiles(Argentina) Diminutive midfielder and Lawyer...He's a smoking Lawyer.Friends with both Chas & Dave.No wonder he needs to escape outside for a smoke...
David Ginola(France) Purveyor of hair products and heartthrob to many women of a certain age...The Sacha Distel of by-line crosses...
Gianluca Viali(Italy) Sometimes World class goalscorer and former Watford manager.These days mostly seen as a TV pundit when either Chelsea or Italy feature...
Wayne Rooney(England) Supposedly a World class player but yet to prove it on the international stage oddly.Makes the bench as he can get his hands on some Capstan's Full strength from the Darby & Jones club...
Dimitar Berbatov(Bulgaria) Look up "Languid" in the dictionary and you'll get a picture of Berbatov.Born too late to star in the "Strand" advert campaign.Shame as his haunted Balkan looks would be perfect drawing on a tab in the pouring Soho rain...
Manager) This team really does'nt need a boss but if they had to employ one there's only one candidate,Argentina's Cesar Menotti.In the 1978 World he was always shown hunched forward in the dugout surrounded by a fug of smoke as he nervously drew on another cigarette.No great surprise as he was only one defeat away from being dragged off by the military junta never to be seen again...
There's my Smokers XI.Probably the best team in the World...*Cough*
Midfield) Gerson(Brazil) Never received the recognition he deserved as a true great of the Brazil 1970 team but he was the engine room that allowed more feted players to perform.A sort of South American Karl Henry...
Midfield) Zinedine Zidane(France) Grew up in and around the mean housing projects of Marseille,where smoking is not only encouraged,it's demanded.What chance did Zizi have?One of the greatest midfielders the world has seen and tough as old boots too.It's widely assumed his head butt on Materazzi in the World Cup Final was the result of an insult to his dear old mum whereas in reality Mazza had stolen his last snout...
Midfield) Johan Cruyff (Holland) Come on.If there's going to be a smokers eleven there has to be at least one Dutchman,and who better than Cruyff? At the peak of his powers was regarded as the worlds best player,especially as Pele was playing for the circus that was New York Cosmos,which obviously did'nt count as real football.A Prestigious 40 a day man in his prime.Truly world class smoking there...His son Jordi was also a pro footballer but never came close to his old man's powers...Jordi never smoked...Coincidence?
Midfield) Socrates (Brazil) Named after the Greek Philosopher---Stitch that one Joey Barton---Socrates was not only a sublime player but a registered Doctor. A Footballing Doctor who smoked? Got to be in the team.Not only that but he's my Captain too...
Forward) Ronaldo (Brazil) The REAL Ronaldo in my book...If only because he liked a drag on a Malboro Lite before rounding the keeper and popping in another goal...
Forward) Maradona (Argentina) Cocaine,Hookers,Firearms,Mafia ties...Yet the most shocking thing about the mighty midget is that he liked a cig with his coffee...Always remembered in England for THAT goal "scored" with nicotine stained fingernails...
Subs) David James(England) Erudite Tina Turner look-a-like and all round good egg.
Teddy Sheringham(England) One of the most intelligent footballers ever produced in England.Can now mostly be seen in the car park of Chinawhite nightclub with a cigarette in one hand and a page three stunna in the other.
Ossie Ardiles(Argentina) Diminutive midfielder and Lawyer...He's a smoking Lawyer.Friends with both Chas & Dave.No wonder he needs to escape outside for a smoke...
David Ginola(France) Purveyor of hair products and heartthrob to many women of a certain age...The Sacha Distel of by-line crosses...
Gianluca Viali(Italy) Sometimes World class goalscorer and former Watford manager.These days mostly seen as a TV pundit when either Chelsea or Italy feature...
Wayne Rooney(England) Supposedly a World class player but yet to prove it on the international stage oddly.Makes the bench as he can get his hands on some Capstan's Full strength from the Darby & Jones club...
Dimitar Berbatov(Bulgaria) Look up "Languid" in the dictionary and you'll get a picture of Berbatov.Born too late to star in the "Strand" advert campaign.Shame as his haunted Balkan looks would be perfect drawing on a tab in the pouring Soho rain...
Manager) This team really does'nt need a boss but if they had to employ one there's only one candidate,Argentina's Cesar Menotti.In the 1978 World he was always shown hunched forward in the dugout surrounded by a fug of smoke as he nervously drew on another cigarette.No great surprise as he was only one defeat away from being dragged off by the military junta never to be seen again...
There's my Smokers XI.Probably the best team in the World...*Cough*
Monday 17 September 2012
We need to talk about Kevin...And Wolves.
At 11-30 last night i was strolling home through the back streets of North London happily singing a few Dexys songs having just seen them play at the Barbican.I was a bit drunk...
Fifteen hours earlier i was on the train leaving London for Wolves home game against Leicester City.The fledgling table saw us last but one and although at this stage of the season that means absolutely nothing some of the locals were getting twitchy.When Wolves fans get twitchy invariably the players do too...
Leicester are one of the favourites to win this league and it's easy to see why.Quick intelligent passing means they'll always create chances in this division however if they continue to concede sloppy goals from set pieces as they did at Molineux they may find the top two beyond them.
Within twenty minutes Wolves had raced into a two goal lead.Firstly a rejuvenated Sylvan Ebanks Blake lost his marker superbly to head in Sako's brilliant free kick,SEB held the line well yesterday.There have been signs this season that he's coming back to the form that made him a fans favourite.I can see him grabbing twenty goals...
Wolves second goal was from a corner.Sako again provided the ball,flicked on to Right Back Richard Stearman who blasted a volley into the ground giving the keeper no chance as it hit the roof of the net.Of all the players left behind by Mick McCarthy Stearman ---Along with Roger Johnson---seems to be the most improved.
As it turned out we needed that second goal.Leicester hit back in the second half and a 30 yard cracker from Konchesky got them back in it.From then it was anybody's game but luckily Wolves hung on...
It was an excellent game with both teams going all out for the win.The players are still getting used to each other but the curve appears to be travelling upwards.So far the fans have still to be convinced but a few more wins will see a better more positive attitude hopefully...
...A few happy pints in the pub afterwards followed by a few more drinks on the train back to London then it was off to The Barbican to see Dexys...It may surprise many that Dexys are still going strong after thirty odd years,especially with Kevin Rowlands well documented "Difficult"personality.Indeed they have split up many times over the years but seem to have a settled band at the moment.
Despite Rowlands occasional lapse into "Diva" mode nobody can argue that he and his band don't produce the goods and as a fellow Wolves fan i'm prepared to forgive him the odd peccadillo whilst striving for perfection.
Much of the first half was taken up with tracks from the latest Album--are they still called that?---Then it was onto the crowd favourites including a fifteen minute version of that wedding reception staple "Come on Eileen" Why would Rowlands do a fifteen minute version of a song he has claimed to hate and be embarrassed about in the past? Well he loves the overblown statement and knowing his Black Country roots i'd suggest he's taking the piss...
They played for the best part of two hours with two encores.We all got our money's worth and there were some very satisfied punters coming out at the end including myself...Walking home through North London streets singing Dexys tunes...A bit drunk...
Fifteen hours earlier i was on the train leaving London for Wolves home game against Leicester City.The fledgling table saw us last but one and although at this stage of the season that means absolutely nothing some of the locals were getting twitchy.When Wolves fans get twitchy invariably the players do too...
Leicester are one of the favourites to win this league and it's easy to see why.Quick intelligent passing means they'll always create chances in this division however if they continue to concede sloppy goals from set pieces as they did at Molineux they may find the top two beyond them.
Within twenty minutes Wolves had raced into a two goal lead.Firstly a rejuvenated Sylvan Ebanks Blake lost his marker superbly to head in Sako's brilliant free kick,SEB held the line well yesterday.There have been signs this season that he's coming back to the form that made him a fans favourite.I can see him grabbing twenty goals...
Wolves second goal was from a corner.Sako again provided the ball,flicked on to Right Back Richard Stearman who blasted a volley into the ground giving the keeper no chance as it hit the roof of the net.Of all the players left behind by Mick McCarthy Stearman ---Along with Roger Johnson---seems to be the most improved.
As it turned out we needed that second goal.Leicester hit back in the second half and a 30 yard cracker from Konchesky got them back in it.From then it was anybody's game but luckily Wolves hung on...
It was an excellent game with both teams going all out for the win.The players are still getting used to each other but the curve appears to be travelling upwards.So far the fans have still to be convinced but a few more wins will see a better more positive attitude hopefully...
...A few happy pints in the pub afterwards followed by a few more drinks on the train back to London then it was off to The Barbican to see Dexys...It may surprise many that Dexys are still going strong after thirty odd years,especially with Kevin Rowlands well documented "Difficult"personality.Indeed they have split up many times over the years but seem to have a settled band at the moment.
Despite Rowlands occasional lapse into "Diva" mode nobody can argue that he and his band don't produce the goods and as a fellow Wolves fan i'm prepared to forgive him the odd peccadillo whilst striving for perfection.
Much of the first half was taken up with tracks from the latest Album--are they still called that?---Then it was onto the crowd favourites including a fifteen minute version of that wedding reception staple "Come on Eileen" Why would Rowlands do a fifteen minute version of a song he has claimed to hate and be embarrassed about in the past? Well he loves the overblown statement and knowing his Black Country roots i'd suggest he's taking the piss...
They played for the best part of two hours with two encores.We all got our money's worth and there were some very satisfied punters coming out at the end including myself...Walking home through North London streets singing Dexys tunes...A bit drunk...
Thursday 30 August 2012
Ten Years Gone...My Wolves team 2002-2012
As Wolves enter a new exciting era in time honoured fashion i decided to clog together what i feel would be our best team to represent us over the last ten years.This allows me to become all misty eyed nostalgic for the recent past and also allows me to pad out this Blog with lots of cool You Tube footage...
Goalkeeper) Matt Murray: I have been watching Wolves since i was eight and have seen many goalkeepers turn out for my team.Some excellent, like Stowell,Parkes & Hennessey.Some absolutely bloody terrible.like Boswell,Lange & Hansbury but Murray is not only the best i have seen for Wolves but quite possibly one of the best i have ever seen.There's no denying that had he remained injury free he'd have been England's first choice for many a year.Like Buffon but without the dodgy political ideology.Retired far too young.Unfortunately his body just gave up on his career.
Right Back)Kevin Foley: To be honest the full back positions have been a problem for Wolves for many a year and there's a paucity of stand out choices,especially at Right Back.So Irishman Foley wins the spot just for being consistent and also can fill in at Right Midfield if needed.
Centre Back) Ludovic Pollet; The French defender quickly became a favourite of the Wolves fans with his classy displays and bravery.I can't actually recall a game where he was'nt being patched up after yet another brave defensive challenge.He should have started each game with his head bandaged to save time...
Centre Back)Joleon Lescott:No prizes for guessing who partners Ludo in the centre of defence.Like Murray he came through the youth ranks at Wolves.Like Murray was unfit for all of our debut Premiership season in 03/04.Many feel had they been fit Wolves may well have survived and the recent history of the club would have been very different.Has since gone on to win the Title & FA Cup with Man City as well as 20 England caps.
Left Back) Denis Irwin; Like the Right Back position there are'nt many decent candidates for this spot.However even if there was it's doubtful if any of them would match Denis Irwin for sheer class and Professionalism.After a career of winning everything at Old Trafford it was an honour to see him at Molineux.He only played 75 games for us.God how i wish we had a Left Back half as good now...
Right Midfield)Michael Kightly; This was a close call between Kights and Scotsman Alex Rae.However Kightly is a genuine two footed player who gives better and more varied options,be it taking on the full back and getting to the by-line or cutting inside to unleash a left footer into the top corner.Even though he left the club under a cloud recently i think once the dust has settled many Wolves fans will remember him fondly.Not bad for a player plucked from obscurity for £25,000.
Centre Midfield)Karl Henry: Many people will probably argue that Henry does'nt deserve a place but i believe every team needs a good destructive defensive midfielder and Henry is just that man.Only ever realise how much he brings to the team when not playing.Although he does do some stupid things at times...
Centre Midfield)Paul Ince; Karl Henry would normally be first choice captain but not with this fella anywhere near the team.Ince was magnificent for Wolves.A natural leader and driving force who always gave his all and expected nothing less from everyone else around him.Even when he could barely walk his talent shone through.It was an honour to see him play for my team.
Left Midfield)Matty Jarvis; Another player plucked from the lower leagues for a small sum who grew into a fine player at Wolves.Before his departure he was probably Wolves most consistent player for five years.A constant threat on the wing who assisted in many of the goals scored,plus getting a fair few himself.Jarvis was also not adverse to doing the unglamorous side of the game by tracking back to help the defence.Supplied many of the crosses for fletcher...
Forward)Stephen Fletcher; Just been sold to Sunderland for £14/15 Million.Goalscorers are hard to come by hence the inflated fee.In three seasons he's grabbed over 34 goals in teams that were struggling.An Impressive haul.Especially as many were against the top teams in England.Not especially tall but brilliant with his head...
Forward)George Ndah: Probably a bit of a surprise choice but for six glorious injury free months was one of the most exciting players i have seen in Wolves colours for many a year.He could pick the ball up from deep and run at defenders with speed allayed with skill thus making space for his team mates.Would be an ideal foil for a player such as Fletcher much as he was for Kenny Miller.
So that's my Wolves team from 2002 to 2012;
Murray
Foley Pollet Lescott Irwin
Kightly Henry Ince(Capt) Jarvis
Fletcher Ndah
Subs) Hennesey Craddock Rae Cameron Kennedy Miller Ebanks Blake
Manager) Me of course!
Goalkeeper) Matt Murray: I have been watching Wolves since i was eight and have seen many goalkeepers turn out for my team.Some excellent, like Stowell,Parkes & Hennessey.Some absolutely bloody terrible.like Boswell,Lange & Hansbury but Murray is not only the best i have seen for Wolves but quite possibly one of the best i have ever seen.There's no denying that had he remained injury free he'd have been England's first choice for many a year.Like Buffon but without the dodgy political ideology.Retired far too young.Unfortunately his body just gave up on his career.
Right Back)Kevin Foley: To be honest the full back positions have been a problem for Wolves for many a year and there's a paucity of stand out choices,especially at Right Back.So Irishman Foley wins the spot just for being consistent and also can fill in at Right Midfield if needed.
Centre Back) Ludovic Pollet; The French defender quickly became a favourite of the Wolves fans with his classy displays and bravery.I can't actually recall a game where he was'nt being patched up after yet another brave defensive challenge.He should have started each game with his head bandaged to save time...
Centre Back)Joleon Lescott:No prizes for guessing who partners Ludo in the centre of defence.Like Murray he came through the youth ranks at Wolves.Like Murray was unfit for all of our debut Premiership season in 03/04.Many feel had they been fit Wolves may well have survived and the recent history of the club would have been very different.Has since gone on to win the Title & FA Cup with Man City as well as 20 England caps.
Left Back) Denis Irwin; Like the Right Back position there are'nt many decent candidates for this spot.However even if there was it's doubtful if any of them would match Denis Irwin for sheer class and Professionalism.After a career of winning everything at Old Trafford it was an honour to see him at Molineux.He only played 75 games for us.God how i wish we had a Left Back half as good now...
Right Midfield)Michael Kightly; This was a close call between Kights and Scotsman Alex Rae.However Kightly is a genuine two footed player who gives better and more varied options,be it taking on the full back and getting to the by-line or cutting inside to unleash a left footer into the top corner.Even though he left the club under a cloud recently i think once the dust has settled many Wolves fans will remember him fondly.Not bad for a player plucked from obscurity for £25,000.
Centre Midfield)Karl Henry: Many people will probably argue that Henry does'nt deserve a place but i believe every team needs a good destructive defensive midfielder and Henry is just that man.Only ever realise how much he brings to the team when not playing.Although he does do some stupid things at times...
Centre Midfield)Paul Ince; Karl Henry would normally be first choice captain but not with this fella anywhere near the team.Ince was magnificent for Wolves.A natural leader and driving force who always gave his all and expected nothing less from everyone else around him.Even when he could barely walk his talent shone through.It was an honour to see him play for my team.
Left Midfield)Matty Jarvis; Another player plucked from the lower leagues for a small sum who grew into a fine player at Wolves.Before his departure he was probably Wolves most consistent player for five years.A constant threat on the wing who assisted in many of the goals scored,plus getting a fair few himself.Jarvis was also not adverse to doing the unglamorous side of the game by tracking back to help the defence.Supplied many of the crosses for fletcher...
Forward)Stephen Fletcher; Just been sold to Sunderland for £14/15 Million.Goalscorers are hard to come by hence the inflated fee.In three seasons he's grabbed over 34 goals in teams that were struggling.An Impressive haul.Especially as many were against the top teams in England.Not especially tall but brilliant with his head...
Forward)George Ndah: Probably a bit of a surprise choice but for six glorious injury free months was one of the most exciting players i have seen in Wolves colours for many a year.He could pick the ball up from deep and run at defenders with speed allayed with skill thus making space for his team mates.Would be an ideal foil for a player such as Fletcher much as he was for Kenny Miller.
So that's my Wolves team from 2002 to 2012;
Murray
Foley Pollet Lescott Irwin
Kightly Henry Ince(Capt) Jarvis
Fletcher Ndah
Subs) Hennesey Craddock Rae Cameron Kennedy Miller Ebanks Blake
Manager) Me of course!
Tuesday 28 August 2012
Wolves join the International Brigade...
Over the last twenty years it has become de rigueur for British clubs to employ footballers from all over the World with varying decrees of success...Before that our arrogance allayed with myopic insularity fostered the belief that British players were the best and therefore we had no need to look abroad for talent.
The change was'nt due to a mind opening realisation that we were wrong all along but one of economics.Clubs discovered that players of equal,or better standard were about three times cheaper abroad ---As is the case today---and as a bonus were also better prepared for a life in the game by not eating rubbish as well as not boozing like a sailor on shore leave...Basically they were usually better Professionals than their homegrown counterparts...
At Wolves we have had our fair share of foreign imports and it's safe to say many have been an abject failure...I don't think they have been particularly bad players but have been bought in by a bevvy of different managers who did'nt know how to blend them into the team once they had arrived.
The usual scenario would consist of a big fanfare for an exciting talent coming to the club.The fans would normally become thrilled at the prospect whilst asking how the hell their name is pronounced before giving up and settling for calling them "The---------* fella"...*Insert Nationality here.
Usually we have'nt seen them in the team for months after joining.The only glimpse being them warming up from the subs bench only to be sat down after twenty minutes exercise.The usual reason given by the manager was that they were having trouble settling in...In reality i think it was more of a case of the manager having trouble knowing what to do with them...
Then they would invariably disappear from the club never to be seen again...I have lost count of how many of our foreign players have made less than ten appearances for Wolves before succumbing to the Bermuda Triangle that is Wolverhampton...
I even learned how to pronounce some of their names...
Over all the years i can only think of two players from outside of these Isles who've been successful at the club.French Centre back Ludovic Pollet and American Keeper Marcus Hahnemann---From exotic Le Harve & Seattle respectively---There might be more.I stand to be corrected.
There have been a few i had high hopes for who never made it for whatever reason...Nenad Milijas and Fernando Gomez are two that stand out.Classy midfielders who it's my belief have not fitted in because once here the coaching team have'nt know how to utilise their talent properly...
Under previous boss Mick McCarthy the vast majority of the squad were British & Irish.I think MM felt more comfortable working with a more "Local" bunch of players to be honest.Nothing wrong with that per se.MM had his critics but nobody can argue that on his leaving the club was in a better position than when he joined.
But now we have Stale Solbakken in charge,our first manager not from these shores.With it not only has he been given the task of creating a new playing style throughout Molineux but he's also been given Carte Blanc to bring in his own players.This naturally means we're now more than likely to be getting in players from the Continent who he knows well...
So far we have invested in five non British/Irish players;Tongo Doumbia,Slawomir Peszko,Bjorn Sigurdsson,Razak Boukari & Georg Margreitter...With many more to add i presume...
Only time will tell whether these imports are successful or not.The big wish is that our abject record of assimilating foreign players into the club is a thing of the past.At least we now have a manager who understands what's needed to get the best out of them...Hopefully.
So to our new players:
Bienvenue
Willkommen
Velkominn
Mile Widziany
Welcome.
The change was'nt due to a mind opening realisation that we were wrong all along but one of economics.Clubs discovered that players of equal,or better standard were about three times cheaper abroad ---As is the case today---and as a bonus were also better prepared for a life in the game by not eating rubbish as well as not boozing like a sailor on shore leave...Basically they were usually better Professionals than their homegrown counterparts...
At Wolves we have had our fair share of foreign imports and it's safe to say many have been an abject failure...I don't think they have been particularly bad players but have been bought in by a bevvy of different managers who did'nt know how to blend them into the team once they had arrived.
The usual scenario would consist of a big fanfare for an exciting talent coming to the club.The fans would normally become thrilled at the prospect whilst asking how the hell their name is pronounced before giving up and settling for calling them "The---------* fella"...*Insert Nationality here.
Usually we have'nt seen them in the team for months after joining.The only glimpse being them warming up from the subs bench only to be sat down after twenty minutes exercise.The usual reason given by the manager was that they were having trouble settling in...In reality i think it was more of a case of the manager having trouble knowing what to do with them...
Then they would invariably disappear from the club never to be seen again...I have lost count of how many of our foreign players have made less than ten appearances for Wolves before succumbing to the Bermuda Triangle that is Wolverhampton...
I even learned how to pronounce some of their names...
Over all the years i can only think of two players from outside of these Isles who've been successful at the club.French Centre back Ludovic Pollet and American Keeper Marcus Hahnemann---From exotic Le Harve & Seattle respectively---There might be more.I stand to be corrected.
There have been a few i had high hopes for who never made it for whatever reason...Nenad Milijas and Fernando Gomez are two that stand out.Classy midfielders who it's my belief have not fitted in because once here the coaching team have'nt know how to utilise their talent properly...
Under previous boss Mick McCarthy the vast majority of the squad were British & Irish.I think MM felt more comfortable working with a more "Local" bunch of players to be honest.Nothing wrong with that per se.MM had his critics but nobody can argue that on his leaving the club was in a better position than when he joined.
But now we have Stale Solbakken in charge,our first manager not from these shores.With it not only has he been given the task of creating a new playing style throughout Molineux but he's also been given Carte Blanc to bring in his own players.This naturally means we're now more than likely to be getting in players from the Continent who he knows well...
So far we have invested in five non British/Irish players;Tongo Doumbia,Slawomir Peszko,Bjorn Sigurdsson,Razak Boukari & Georg Margreitter...With many more to add i presume...
Only time will tell whether these imports are successful or not.The big wish is that our abject record of assimilating foreign players into the club is a thing of the past.At least we now have a manager who understands what's needed to get the best out of them...Hopefully.
So to our new players:
Bienvenue
Willkommen
Velkominn
Mile Widziany
Welcome.
Friday 17 August 2012
New season.Wolves shuffle the pack...
The coming season is just over one day away and Wolves are in a state of flux...The much vaunted tight dressing room appears to be a thing of the past.Unrest seems to rule at the moment within a squad relegated from the Premiership last term...Ironically this may not be a bad thing for new manager Stale Solbakken. As he has the remit to change the whole club's playing style and ethos this will be more easily achieved by bringing in his own players rather than attempt to re-programme existing incumbents schooled in the previous managers image...
Partly this will be by design and partly by necessity.SS(As he'll have to be know despite the unfortunate connotation those letters have) Has already placed the popular but largely ineffective Hammil & Guedioura on the list with Guedioura leaving for Nottingham Forest.He's also put ex Serbian Captain Nenad Milijas on the transfer list...
I'm sad Milijas will be leaving as i think he's the most naturally gifted player at the club.His ability to spot a pass and also execute said pass is second to none.Also superb from set pieces.Unfortunately he has been used wrongly since being here,being asked to track back and tackle--He's useless at tackling---He should have had others win the ball,give it to him and let him do his stuff.Personally i would have built the team around him.I hope he goes abroad and not to another English club...
Top goalscorer Stephen Fletcher and winger Matt Jarvis have put in transfer requests.These two are our most saleable assets and many Wolves fans knew they'd move but what sticks in the craw is them leaving it very late in the day to make their desire to leave official.There have been bids for both but neither reach the club's valuation...
We're lucky at Wolves that we can play hardball with any prospective buyers of our players---Our CEO Jez Moxey comes in for a lot of abuse but nobody gets the better of him when it comes to negotiation---We are a well run club who're in the black financially.That gives us the luxury of dictating the terms of an outgoing transfer.Nobody pushes us around on that front...
Scottish centre back Christophe Berra has also put in a transfer request,citing his desire to play in a higher league.As yet there have been no offers,not even from WWF where his grappling skills would seem more appropriate...
Probably the biggest talking point so far has been the sale of Michael Kightly to local rivals Stoke City.He has just come back from two years injury and was our best player near the end of last season and even stated he wanted to stay to help the club after relegation, but he went up the road last week.Many Wolves fans were understandably upset at this but if we take a step back and see it from the point of SS the sale makes sense...
What SS will have seen is a player who'd spent two years on the treatment table who had only a year to go on his contract.He was also the previous manager's golden boy,which may not be important but could've lead to divided loyalty...SS was offered £3Million for a player that cost £25,000.He also had a ready made replacement waiting in the wings once the deal was done...When it's put that way it's not a bad bit of business...
So who's coming in?
The first two players bought were a bit of a surprise. Jamie Tank, a young defender from Walsall who i imagine our scouts had been tracking for a while.Nothing is known about him apart from him being a local lad with a great name...
Frank Nouble is a striker we got from West Ham.Again this was a bit left field but he's made himself popular with the fans already both on the pitch and via his Twitter account.He spent five years at Chelsea before going East to join the Hammers.He never really got much of a run there so hopefully he'll do better at Wolves.Still only about twenty two so got time to learn too...
Bjorn Sigurdsson. This was the longest protected incoming transfer so far of the season for us.SS clearly made Sigurdsson his first priority.We had to fight off some higher placed clubs to secure his services.Looks like SS has pulled off a bit of a coup with this one...
Tongo Doumbia. Potentially another great signing.An all action box to box midfielder.A sort of Karl Henry with knobs on...Could be our hit of the season,even sweeter that he turned down a move to hated rivals WBA barely a week before joining us...
Slawomir "Hey" Peszko. A Polish winger and the immediate replacement for Kightly.Supposedly very fast with good ability.Also his surname is a sub editors dream...
I doubt if that is the end of the coming and going as SS tries to make his mark on the club.Hopefully a few of the youth team players will also get a better chance to shine too...
As for the season ahead a lot of fans are now having a reality check after all the upheaval at the club and many are thinking securing a Play Off place would be a good showing...I can't argue with that assessment...
Up The Wolves!
/\_/\ /\_/\
Partly this will be by design and partly by necessity.SS(As he'll have to be know despite the unfortunate connotation those letters have) Has already placed the popular but largely ineffective Hammil & Guedioura on the list with Guedioura leaving for Nottingham Forest.He's also put ex Serbian Captain Nenad Milijas on the transfer list...
I'm sad Milijas will be leaving as i think he's the most naturally gifted player at the club.His ability to spot a pass and also execute said pass is second to none.Also superb from set pieces.Unfortunately he has been used wrongly since being here,being asked to track back and tackle--He's useless at tackling---He should have had others win the ball,give it to him and let him do his stuff.Personally i would have built the team around him.I hope he goes abroad and not to another English club...
Top goalscorer Stephen Fletcher and winger Matt Jarvis have put in transfer requests.These two are our most saleable assets and many Wolves fans knew they'd move but what sticks in the craw is them leaving it very late in the day to make their desire to leave official.There have been bids for both but neither reach the club's valuation...
We're lucky at Wolves that we can play hardball with any prospective buyers of our players---Our CEO Jez Moxey comes in for a lot of abuse but nobody gets the better of him when it comes to negotiation---We are a well run club who're in the black financially.That gives us the luxury of dictating the terms of an outgoing transfer.Nobody pushes us around on that front...
Scottish centre back Christophe Berra has also put in a transfer request,citing his desire to play in a higher league.As yet there have been no offers,not even from WWF where his grappling skills would seem more appropriate...
Probably the biggest talking point so far has been the sale of Michael Kightly to local rivals Stoke City.He has just come back from two years injury and was our best player near the end of last season and even stated he wanted to stay to help the club after relegation, but he went up the road last week.Many Wolves fans were understandably upset at this but if we take a step back and see it from the point of SS the sale makes sense...
What SS will have seen is a player who'd spent two years on the treatment table who had only a year to go on his contract.He was also the previous manager's golden boy,which may not be important but could've lead to divided loyalty...SS was offered £3Million for a player that cost £25,000.He also had a ready made replacement waiting in the wings once the deal was done...When it's put that way it's not a bad bit of business...
So who's coming in?
The first two players bought were a bit of a surprise. Jamie Tank, a young defender from Walsall who i imagine our scouts had been tracking for a while.Nothing is known about him apart from him being a local lad with a great name...
Frank Nouble is a striker we got from West Ham.Again this was a bit left field but he's made himself popular with the fans already both on the pitch and via his Twitter account.He spent five years at Chelsea before going East to join the Hammers.He never really got much of a run there so hopefully he'll do better at Wolves.Still only about twenty two so got time to learn too...
Bjorn Sigurdsson. This was the longest protected incoming transfer so far of the season for us.SS clearly made Sigurdsson his first priority.We had to fight off some higher placed clubs to secure his services.Looks like SS has pulled off a bit of a coup with this one...
Tongo Doumbia. Potentially another great signing.An all action box to box midfielder.A sort of Karl Henry with knobs on...Could be our hit of the season,even sweeter that he turned down a move to hated rivals WBA barely a week before joining us...
Slawomir "Hey" Peszko. A Polish winger and the immediate replacement for Kightly.Supposedly very fast with good ability.Also his surname is a sub editors dream...
I doubt if that is the end of the coming and going as SS tries to make his mark on the club.Hopefully a few of the youth team players will also get a better chance to shine too...
As for the season ahead a lot of fans are now having a reality check after all the upheaval at the club and many are thinking securing a Play Off place would be a good showing...I can't argue with that assessment...
Up The Wolves!
/\_/\ /\_/\
Tuesday 14 August 2012
The Olympic bandwagon leaves town...Time to reflect.
Back to life...Back to reality...
...But...What a glorious two weeks we have had in my adopted city.Like the most exciting,liberating holiday romance imaginable...Of course like all holiday romances it had to end.Despite heartfelt promises to stay in touch both parties know that two weeks is enough and it's best just to have all those wonderful memories...
These games have gone better than anyone dared hoped.Pre games all the talk was of security failure,traffic chaos and trouble with ticket allocation.Even Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney got in on the act saying we were nowhere near ready to host the Olympics...Well Mr Romney,not only were we ready but we delivered arguably the greatest Olympics ever seen...
I don't normally do jingoism but in this case i feel it's entirely justified.Right from the magnificently irreverent opening ceremony we sort of knew we were on the cusp of something special.That set the tone and the (mostly British) spectators took their cue from that and carried the baton forward--Unlike the GB 4x100 relay team---with merry abandon...Seeing us Brits lose their inhibitions without having a belly full of beer may well have surprised the rest of the World more than anything.
Of course it helped that the GB Olympians had such a glorious Games with regards medalling---sorry but we have all started making up new verbs these last two weeks."Do you think she'll podium?" Don't worry this mangling of the English language will fade with time.Hopefully---Did the crowd spur on the Olympians to ever greater deeds or was it the Olympians who ignited such fervent support? Who knows? It was probably a happy combination of both.
There can be no doubt that for the two weeks of these Games the reality of everyday life was put on the back burner for many Brits.Talk was'nt of the Economy,War,the neighbours dogs etc but of Farah,Bolt and whether Charlotte Dujardin's horse would preform a medal winning Piaffe in the Dressage.It did...
Yes it's escapism,yes no matter how good the Olympics are your own personal problems don't automatically dissolve into the ether...But they gave the entire nation a much needed lift in morale.There's no way of measuring the benefits of such an uplift in national mood but in general being upbeat is better than the opposite...The Olympics made us feel good about ourselves and there's nothing wrong with that.
There were many memorable moments,not just for the locals but for many other nations too; Michael Phelps becoming the most medalled(Urrgghh)Olympian ever in the pool.The GB cycling team destroying all and sundry in the sauna like Velodrome.David Rudisha breaking the 800m World record with consummate ease,The two 4x100 World records set by Jamaica & USA women respectively---Loved their interview where they said all they wanted to do was "Get the stick round"---The Saudi women being left far behind in her race but getting one of the biggest cheers on her lonesome trawl down the final straight long after her fellow competitors had showered and changed.
Indeed this was the Games where Women's sport came out of the shadows.For many years in Britain Womens sport has been derided somewhat and largely not given due respect.However that has hopefully changed now with their fantastic showing in these games.It's probably the same worldwide too...
As for the much talked about legacy of the games it seems to me that the main benefit could well be that my country is viewed in a more positive light by the rest of the world.There's talk of turning the stadium into a football ground for one of the local clubs but i can't see why it can't be kept as an International Athletics venue in the heart of London.Just a thought...
Personal highlights for me were these; Mo Farah winning two long distant Golds in the 10,000 & 5,000 m .Not only is he a tremendous Athlete but comes across as a decent fella.To win these races in normal circumstances is hard enough but Mo--as we all know him now---also had his heavily pregnant wife in the stand watching.Surely that must've been in the back of his mind too?
Jessica Ennis in the Heptathlon;For a number of years Ennis had been the poster image of the Games and her event was one of the first up.Imagine the pressure on her to preform and win? but not only did she come though,she smashed her opponents into the ground.
Usain Bolt; I honestly thought he may get bettered by his training partner Blake---who i feel a little sorry for,at any other time he'd be the sprint king but alas he's in Bolt's era---But he came to the fore...
Finally the real reason these games were such a success was not the Olympians,not the (thankfully) security problems but i feel the main reason was the superb support from the British public to the Games & the 70,000 volunteers who helped these Games go so smoothly...We can all be proud to have played our part in the greatest Olympics ever...
So the wonderful two weeks holiday romance has come to an end as they all must.We will all have our happy memories...As it is though now it's...
...Back to life...Back to reality.
...But...What a glorious two weeks we have had in my adopted city.Like the most exciting,liberating holiday romance imaginable...Of course like all holiday romances it had to end.Despite heartfelt promises to stay in touch both parties know that two weeks is enough and it's best just to have all those wonderful memories...
These games have gone better than anyone dared hoped.Pre games all the talk was of security failure,traffic chaos and trouble with ticket allocation.Even Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney got in on the act saying we were nowhere near ready to host the Olympics...Well Mr Romney,not only were we ready but we delivered arguably the greatest Olympics ever seen...
I don't normally do jingoism but in this case i feel it's entirely justified.Right from the magnificently irreverent opening ceremony we sort of knew we were on the cusp of something special.That set the tone and the (mostly British) spectators took their cue from that and carried the baton forward--Unlike the GB 4x100 relay team---with merry abandon...Seeing us Brits lose their inhibitions without having a belly full of beer may well have surprised the rest of the World more than anything.
Of course it helped that the GB Olympians had such a glorious Games with regards medalling---sorry but we have all started making up new verbs these last two weeks."Do you think she'll podium?" Don't worry this mangling of the English language will fade with time.Hopefully---Did the crowd spur on the Olympians to ever greater deeds or was it the Olympians who ignited such fervent support? Who knows? It was probably a happy combination of both.
There can be no doubt that for the two weeks of these Games the reality of everyday life was put on the back burner for many Brits.Talk was'nt of the Economy,War,the neighbours dogs etc but of Farah,Bolt and whether Charlotte Dujardin's horse would preform a medal winning Piaffe in the Dressage.It did...
Yes it's escapism,yes no matter how good the Olympics are your own personal problems don't automatically dissolve into the ether...But they gave the entire nation a much needed lift in morale.There's no way of measuring the benefits of such an uplift in national mood but in general being upbeat is better than the opposite...The Olympics made us feel good about ourselves and there's nothing wrong with that.
There were many memorable moments,not just for the locals but for many other nations too; Michael Phelps becoming the most medalled(Urrgghh)Olympian ever in the pool.The GB cycling team destroying all and sundry in the sauna like Velodrome.David Rudisha breaking the 800m World record with consummate ease,The two 4x100 World records set by Jamaica & USA women respectively---Loved their interview where they said all they wanted to do was "Get the stick round"---The Saudi women being left far behind in her race but getting one of the biggest cheers on her lonesome trawl down the final straight long after her fellow competitors had showered and changed.
Indeed this was the Games where Women's sport came out of the shadows.For many years in Britain Womens sport has been derided somewhat and largely not given due respect.However that has hopefully changed now with their fantastic showing in these games.It's probably the same worldwide too...
As for the much talked about legacy of the games it seems to me that the main benefit could well be that my country is viewed in a more positive light by the rest of the world.There's talk of turning the stadium into a football ground for one of the local clubs but i can't see why it can't be kept as an International Athletics venue in the heart of London.Just a thought...
Personal highlights for me were these; Mo Farah winning two long distant Golds in the 10,000 & 5,000 m .Not only is he a tremendous Athlete but comes across as a decent fella.To win these races in normal circumstances is hard enough but Mo--as we all know him now---also had his heavily pregnant wife in the stand watching.Surely that must've been in the back of his mind too?
Jessica Ennis in the Heptathlon;For a number of years Ennis had been the poster image of the Games and her event was one of the first up.Imagine the pressure on her to preform and win? but not only did she come though,she smashed her opponents into the ground.
Usain Bolt; I honestly thought he may get bettered by his training partner Blake---who i feel a little sorry for,at any other time he'd be the sprint king but alas he's in Bolt's era---But he came to the fore...
Finally the real reason these games were such a success was not the Olympians,not the (thankfully) security problems but i feel the main reason was the superb support from the British public to the Games & the 70,000 volunteers who helped these Games go so smoothly...We can all be proud to have played our part in the greatest Olympics ever...
So the wonderful two weeks holiday romance has come to an end as they all must.We will all have our happy memories...As it is though now it's...
...Back to life...Back to reality.
Tuesday 7 August 2012
Olympicland...A land like no other...
I was lucky enough to nab a ticket for the Women's Hockey yesterday--Japan V China & Korea V Belgium---I am not a big Hockey fan but to gain access to the Olympic Park a ticket for an event happening in the park is required...Hell i'd have gone to watch snail racing to get the "Olympic Vibe"
My ticket was £35 which included a free travel pass to and from the Games.An excellent idea which not only saves the ticket holder money but also means no elongated queues of folk not au fait with the vagaries of London travel...Saving them time but also saving them the chagrin of fellow travellers not going to Olympicland...
As i live a short bus ride away from St Pancras station i decided to take the Javelin Train direct to Stratford International.A journey that usually takes between half hour & forty five minutes was reduced to seven minutes...I arrived at Stratford at 8-10am,by 8-20am i was through security and in the Olympic Park...Incredibly efficient...
The day in Olympicland is cut into three distinct phases,Morning,Afternoon and Evening sessions.Each ticket gives access to one session of whichever event you're going to.Meaning that at the end of both morning and afternoon sessions the sell out crowds at each event have to be replaced by another sell out crowd.This is done within an hour.Remarkable...
However any ticket holder is welcome to stay within the confines of Olympicland from opening to closing and many do( I was there for over eight hours) which means that as the day wears on the attendance within the park grows steadily...Probably between 250,000/500,000 people daily.
From the moment you get to the Javelin train there are livery clad volunteers there to point you the way,This continues all the way to Olympicland and beyond.They are helpful and cheery.Normally i baulk at this kind of herding and forced holiday camp bonhomie but 1) i had no reason to explore Stratford having lived in the area in my early days in London 2)I really wanted to get to the Olympic site with speed and little fuss.
Although security is understandably tight it is'nt notably intrusive.As it's airport like security there's no need to open up every individual bag which speeds things up no end...as you walk through Olympicland opens up before you and the first noticeable thing is the sheer size.The site is 2.5 square Kilometers comprising of eight separate venues...It's takes a little while to familiarise yourself with the layout but you get there eventually.
Other things that hit you pretty quickly in Olympicland is the reaction of the largely British crowd to being corralled into what is essentially a very large fenced in camp.Albeit a very well appointed one...As i said in another blog we're basically a cynical people who love nothing more than a good old moan.Frankly the thought of spending a whole day with thousands of my fellow Brits whining filled me with dread.But all day i only overheard one minor whinge...surely a World record?
Infact the crowd showed signs of a very un-British metamorphosis into a mass of unbridled joie de vivre...I would'nt say it was like a revivalist religious convention as such Outside of the sporting stadiums.More like a contented hum of folk who've paid off their mortgage and have a decent pension...However once they are inside we have all witnessed the passion they(we?) have shown in supporting our Olympians.TV Evangelists Worldwide must be looking on in a jealous rage...
The Water sports venues...Gloriana in the foreground.
The Velodrome(aka the Pringle) Where British Cyclists have dominated winning countless medals and breaking several world records.
@bbc5Live Nicky Campbell with British long jump gold medalist Greg Ruderford.
The Basketball Arena.Site of my former abode.Looks a bit different now...
Looks like my taxi's arrived...
So that was my day in Olympicland...A wonderful experience all round.One final word must go to the thousands of volunteers who are helping out with cheerful abandon and also keeping the place amazingly clean & tidy...
The reason i headlined this blog the way i did was coming out of Olympicland everyone was still on a happy high...I got on a bus at Kings Cross and a row broke out between two commuters.After a day of being in the company of thousands of well mannered,polite and thoughtful people it came as a shock to realise things are different outside of Olympicland...
Saturday 4 August 2012
@London2012...Welcome to the Twitter Olympics.
There is something distinctly different about these Olympics than any others that have preceded it...
It's not just that these will be the best supported Games ever in terms of attendance---despite misgivings about some empty seats,blamed on either corporate sponsors not taking up their allocation or the "Olympic Family" not doing so---To see stadiums full to the brim on qualifying days makes me very proud of my fellow Brits.It's easy to pitch up when gold medals are at stake but we are filling up every event before that,and making noise...
Boy are we making some noise! Every competitor in every event,from the Swimming to the Rowing,to the Hockey,Cycling,Gymnastics,Boxing and Athletics has remarked on the support given by the crowd.Even Andy Murray, who has played in some of the biggest Tennis games on Earth, has remarked on this being the best atmosphere he's encountered.
The World view of the British as a coldly reserved people may have to be revised...
But this is also the first Olympics where social media outlets--most notably Twitter & Facebook---have taken on a prominent role.Yes these were around during the Bejing games but it's safe to say the popularity of them,especially Twitter,has risen tenfold since then...
Suddenly we all have instant access to what is happening and we can all put our tupp'ence worth in too.It's as if we are all now an integral part of the games...Many of Britain's top athletes have been Tweeting,thereby giving us a direct route to them without having to wait for official press interviews...Obviously they have been advised not to say anything outrageous but that would be the same with a mic stuck in their face.
I know that BBC radio & tv Olympic presenters all have Twitter as i am following many of them.This is where you get the real feel for the games both good and bad.Indeed the power of Twitter was evident yesterday when the wonderful Claire Balding issued and apology on air from the swimming pool when she made slightly disparaging remarks about Becky Adlington missing out on gold...Personally i had no problem with what she said as it was an honest assessment from a journalist.But she felt the need to issue a statement on air after her Twitter account exploded with indignation from many who follow her...
Twitter/Facebook also gives us in the UK a chance to see how the rest of the world are reacting to our efforts in hosting the games.Not just from worldwide media outlets but form normal sports fans who're on Twitter/Facebook.We all like to see how the rest of the world see us,especially if it's favourable!
There's also outlets like Instagram where we can instantly view punters pics from inside stadiums.
Now that the Pandora's box of social media outlets has been opened it cannot be closed,it will just continue to grow and with it the relationship between these massive worldwide events and the world of Twitter will become much more important.Bring it on i say...
As for the Olympics themselves highlights for me so far have been..In no particular order---The British Cycling team who've not only won numerous golds but smashed many world records.
Gabby Douglas the Afro-American Gymnast who won gold.Her displays have been amazing.Also the British Gymnastic team have surpassed expectation...
Katarina Johnson Thompson in the Heptathlon.She's understudy to Jessica Ennis but for me stole the show.Before her opening discipline she looked around the full and very noisy Olympic stadium and mouthed "Oh my god wow!" she went on to record three personal best's...A massive star in the making.
Michael Phelps.The swimmer supreme.21 medals now in Olympics and also comes across as professional and likeable...
Chad's Dad...If you're not aware of this fella look him up on You Tube.He's the dad of South African swimmer & gold medalist Chad Le Clos.Got interviewed by BBC and became an instant cult hero...
Finally the biggest highlight ha been the British crowd...One word; Awesome!
It's not just that these will be the best supported Games ever in terms of attendance---despite misgivings about some empty seats,blamed on either corporate sponsors not taking up their allocation or the "Olympic Family" not doing so---To see stadiums full to the brim on qualifying days makes me very proud of my fellow Brits.It's easy to pitch up when gold medals are at stake but we are filling up every event before that,and making noise...
Boy are we making some noise! Every competitor in every event,from the Swimming to the Rowing,to the Hockey,Cycling,Gymnastics,Boxing and Athletics has remarked on the support given by the crowd.Even Andy Murray, who has played in some of the biggest Tennis games on Earth, has remarked on this being the best atmosphere he's encountered.
The World view of the British as a coldly reserved people may have to be revised...
But this is also the first Olympics where social media outlets--most notably Twitter & Facebook---have taken on a prominent role.Yes these were around during the Bejing games but it's safe to say the popularity of them,especially Twitter,has risen tenfold since then...
Suddenly we all have instant access to what is happening and we can all put our tupp'ence worth in too.It's as if we are all now an integral part of the games...Many of Britain's top athletes have been Tweeting,thereby giving us a direct route to them without having to wait for official press interviews...Obviously they have been advised not to say anything outrageous but that would be the same with a mic stuck in their face.
I know that BBC radio & tv Olympic presenters all have Twitter as i am following many of them.This is where you get the real feel for the games both good and bad.Indeed the power of Twitter was evident yesterday when the wonderful Claire Balding issued and apology on air from the swimming pool when she made slightly disparaging remarks about Becky Adlington missing out on gold...Personally i had no problem with what she said as it was an honest assessment from a journalist.But she felt the need to issue a statement on air after her Twitter account exploded with indignation from many who follow her...
Twitter/Facebook also gives us in the UK a chance to see how the rest of the world are reacting to our efforts in hosting the games.Not just from worldwide media outlets but form normal sports fans who're on Twitter/Facebook.We all like to see how the rest of the world see us,especially if it's favourable!
There's also outlets like Instagram where we can instantly view punters pics from inside stadiums.
Now that the Pandora's box of social media outlets has been opened it cannot be closed,it will just continue to grow and with it the relationship between these massive worldwide events and the world of Twitter will become much more important.Bring it on i say...
As for the Olympics themselves highlights for me so far have been..In no particular order---The British Cycling team who've not only won numerous golds but smashed many world records.
Gabby Douglas the Afro-American Gymnast who won gold.Her displays have been amazing.Also the British Gymnastic team have surpassed expectation...
Katarina Johnson Thompson in the Heptathlon.She's understudy to Jessica Ennis but for me stole the show.Before her opening discipline she looked around the full and very noisy Olympic stadium and mouthed "Oh my god wow!" she went on to record three personal best's...A massive star in the making.
Michael Phelps.The swimmer supreme.21 medals now in Olympics and also comes across as professional and likeable...
Chad's Dad...If you're not aware of this fella look him up on You Tube.He's the dad of South African swimmer & gold medalist Chad Le Clos.Got interviewed by BBC and became an instant cult hero...
Finally the biggest highlight ha been the British crowd...One word; Awesome!
Tuesday 31 July 2012
Crash! Bang! Wallop! The peoples Olympics opens...
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Immediately after the Chinese opening ceremony had finished four years ago the first thought in many Brits heads was'nt "Where's our first medal coming from?" but rather "How the hell are we going to compete with that?"
The Chinese had put on a faultless spectacular.But it was essentially a statement from China to the Western World proclaiming they were no longer a rural backwater but a force to be reckoned with and we'd better watch out...Yes it was wonderful but like all state run operations it was a show of strength that lacked heart...
The decision to make Danny Boyle the brains behind the London 2012 opening ceremony was inspired, allowing him to get on with it without interference showed balls.the result was a magnificent kaleidoscope of Britain's history and institutions,combining spectacular sets with lashings of Humour...The fact that much of the watching world did'nt get it was neither here or there...It was a case of sit back and enjoy the ride...
Surprising then that it all began in predictable fashion with a flypast by The Red Arrows to open the ceremony.In the UK it's easy to become nonchalant whenever they make an appearance but in truth they can still make the hairs stand on end...Barely ten seconds after whizzing past the Olympic Stadium they were rattling my windows...
That was about as predictable as the show got...Danny Boyle is a story teller so knows how to build a narrative....
So we began slowly with a nod to our rural past and an idyllic that probably never existed.Comely buxom wenches watching ruddy faced yeomen playing cricket on a village green with ne'er a care in the world...
But wait! who's this? why it's Isambard Kingdom Brunel! in the guise of Kenneth Branagh.Complete with stove hat and cigar---Unlit as per smoking at work regulations--By the way American readers,if a character turns up in stove hat and britches do not immediately assume it's Abraham Lincoln,as many did...IKB issued forth the Industrial Revolution.
This was very spectacular as GB's green and pleasant land was transformed into a visual embodiment of Blake's Jerusalem complete with dark Satanic mills...After a slow start the show was now beginning to really cook...
By this stage i was gripped...twitter was going nuts too,it was hard to keep up with both but hell we gave it a good go!
The next stage of the show bought forth the most controversy.After a nod to the Suffragettes we got a full on tip of the hat and bow of respect to the National Health Service---The UK's shining light in my humble opinion---Complete with extra large beds,each containing a happy bouncing child and dancing nurse---these were not actors/dancers either but real nurses---The spectre of a Government intent on destroying our most cherished of institutions was realised by a huge evil Lord Voldemort hovering with malevolent intent over the innocent children...
Ok it was as subtle as a flying hammer,but the point was made to the whole world.Much to the chagrin of some Tory MP's and horrible little rags like the Daily Mail,who also complained that the show was "Too ethnic" I would'nt advise The Mail watch the 100 meters final then lest it bring on a collective Aneurysm among it's rabid reactionary hacks...
By this time my Twitter/Facebook timeline was indicating that many outside the UK were totally confused by the references.So Boyle's masterstroke was to add well known worldwide British exports Mr Bean,James Bond & The Queen to reel in those who may have been giving up on it...Rowan Atkinson(aka Mr Bean) did a comic turn to Chariots of Fire--Nice Olympic juxtaposition there.
...Ah the wonders of the modern World eh?
But the real thrill was the Bond/Queen skit...When the Video of Daniel Craig(aka James Bond) began of him walking through Buck House nobody could know what was to come next...Everyone thought it would be a look-a-like Queen he spoke to.But no,it was Queenie herself! even hardened Republicans of my acquaintance were beside themselves.you could almost hear the whole country shouting "Bloody hell it's the Queen!"
I don't know who Boyle's agent is but he deserves a hell of a raise...
There was also a fine musical montage running through the proceedings,there were some fine choices seemingly chosen from Boyle's MP3...Indeed within seconds of the finish ITunes had released an album of the ceremony!
On and on the show went,we'd all run out of superlatives by now.It was just a case of gawping open mouthed at the spectacle in front of us...Among the celebrations there was a poignant memorial to the victims of the 7/7 terrorist attacks.In America NBC chose to cut this out of their broadcast.
The Olympians had their customary alphabetical flag bearing walk through into the stadium.Although this was a long winded affair it was jolly.The athletes obviously relishing the relaxed atmosphere of the show.The Czechs showed a good sense of humour aligned with a familiarity with British weather by donning Wellingtons and umbrellas...GB came out to Bowie's "Heroes" Pure class...
For weeks there had been speculation on who would light the flame.Beckham? Redgrave? Old Mother Hubbard?
Again there was a surprise;Beckham sped down the Thames on a speedboat with the torch,handed over to Steve Redgrave...Ah so it was Redgrave all along? But no,seven aspiring teenage Athletes who'd been nominated by established British Athletes were waiting with a torch each to light the flame...The torch had also been given a guard of honour by 500 builders who'd worked on the Olympic Stadium.Good old Danny...
So that was the show.Did we come through?
Hell Yea!
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