There must be a word for it.......the phenomenon of being in the right place at the right time. Of course some people will just say that there is a phrase that may sum it up....'time serving' but they may just be the unlucklier ones who had to wait around quite a while. Prince Charles may be someone who falls into this category:)
No, what I am talking about are instances where unplanned events have a possibly life changing effect on what we do. One small example to illustrate would be that of a very bright legally qualified mate of mine....Noel Ross. I was teaching at TAFE part time, some years ago, when Noel came in to cover for me while I went away on holiday. There we stood after I had shown him the college when we overheard two lecturers conversing about Law a few yards from us. Noel overheard them say that they were short of a lecturer for a particular legal course.....bold as brass....up he walks and introduces himself to the two of them. In five minutes he had secured himself the job and taught there for the next year! Right place at the right time!
Another instance for me was when I worked on the Stock Market in London for County Nat West in the late 1980's. We had a bloke called Erol whose job it was to fix a lot of the dealing room computer problems....screens and systems crashing. He was an I.T. man and had no connection with the dealing room other than to be the person we often shouted at as things went wrong. Erol spent more and more time standing behind our Equity Makers.....eventually we included him in on the coffee run....he started to socialise with the team and in busy times a telephone would be thrust into his hand when an additional voice was needed to phone through a deal. Eventually Erol started to sit down with us and would regularly trade for the team. Times were busy...the markets were rising and Erol was eventually given a job he had inadvertantly fallen into! Right place at the right time!
Another example of this I saw was when one of my friends from primary school took over my teaching job when I left for Australia. Let me explain. I was working at Warwick Boys School in Walthamstow teaching History and PE. My old mate Steve Tuvey ...a carpenter and a football / squash coach had been coming in a few afternoons a week at the school to coach sport. He wasn't a teacher. Anyway the Headmaster was panicking when I said I leaving...he had no replacement. Feeling a bit guilty I said 'why don't you employ Steve a bit more than you are doing now....until you get someone?'
To cut a long story short he did. Steve ....who the kids thought was my brother......took over my work life at Warwick. He told them that he few formal qualifications but they said that the most important thing was that the kids thought he was a teacher. He dressed in a track suit...was good at sport and could control the kids. That was in 1992. In 1998 we went back to London for a holiday and while there visited Warwick School. Steve was still teaching there! In the time he has been there he ran Design Technolgy/ Woodwork .....PE....and was Head of Year 9 and 10. He was also responsible for organising the outward bounds trips the kids went away on. He stayed there 15 years altogether but has now moved on to a small private school. In all that time he was just required to to be working towards qualifying. He ended up one of the best teachers I have ever known. Right place at the right time!
This topic of being in the rightplace at the right time comes up a lot nowdays. Some industries...TV...Radio...the Media often run like this. My dad took a temporary job as a scenary shifter at Redifusion in the late sixties and progressed through LWT over 30 years to be producer. How many people would have random stories like this? Of course formal qualifications are important but often it is a case of being in the 'Right place at the right time'......and willing to take the opportunity when you see it.
Monday, 11 June 2012
Sunday, 20 May 2012
This football world we live in..........
So there it is. Over. Season 2011-12 has run it's course and we have the winners........and losers. You will sense that I'm writing this from a slightly personal angle and I feel I'm standing in line with the second group but then it might just be my perception. This was truly a season like no other. An Arsenal friend of mine declared that the EPL last day was the second most exciting / dramatic ending we had seen.....he thought that the Liverpool v Arsenal game in 1989 topped it....I don't think so. Taken as a whole the last premiership day fixtures decided the title, relegation and in some respects the qualifiers for next season ECL.* An alignment of the stars never seen before and unlikely to be repeated any time soon.
Well what has been decided this year? We can start with that pyriah of football competitions the UEFA Cup....seemingly contested by only Iberian sides in the final stages it was taken out by Athletico Madrid beating Athletico Bilbao 3-0 in Bucharest, Romania.
The Carling Cup was taken out by Liverpool on penalties against a Cardiff side who just seem to be 'nearly men' also missing out on making the Championship play-off final to West Ham. The red scousers also made the FA Cup final going down to Chelsea. In years past the supporters of many clubs would have considered that to be a reasonable season. Unfortunately for King Kenny his sides performance in the league was a relative disaster. Not only did they finish behind the blue scousers but their final position was eighth.....37 points behind both Manchesters! Hence the job ads and surveys asking supporters who they would like to see as the new coach. For what it is worth I'd like to see Martinez get the gig. He coaches without fear and empowers his sides to play open attacking football. The EPL needs a Liverpool club that plays good football. The only proviso I have is that Martinez must come to Spurs if Harry gets the boot in the next few days:)
What about the EPL? On a very basic level it is refreshing to see Citeh take out the title. They are a fine side, have come out of their shell and deserve have won the title. An alternative to the old Sky 4 you might say. Unfortunately, the new hierarchy / elite is made up even more of 'money clubs' dependent on billionairres money. Even if you don't believe that Citeh bought the title it is difficult not to conclude that the possible winners of the EPL are a very narrow bunch......United Citeh Chelsea. The new UEFA financial regulations requiring spending to in some way approximate to revenue, will not be seriously pursued.....not for a while anyway. The joy and drama of the last day events hide the reality that we have competitions within competitions in the top division.
Last nights ECL final between Bayern and Chelsea in many ways seems to me a triumph for anti-football. Chelsea have stumbled their way through the last few rounds accounting for probably the best club side we have seen in Barcelona. I would celebrate with the rest if they had played good footaball in their matches but imo they did not....even last night. True they were down on personell yesterday but then the cynical King Terry had only got what his dark behaviour had deserved.
You can see where I'm going here. My own prejudiced view of the world cannot allow me to give Chelsea credit for what they have achieved. Roman Abramovich must have almost been despairing that his $2.8 billion spent on the club would never deliver the ECL.
Mourinho Ranieri
Grant Scholari Hiddink Ancelotti Villas-Boas Di Matteo has delivered the much sought after trophy.....and about time you might say.
Well what has been decided this year? We can start with that pyriah of football competitions the UEFA Cup....seemingly contested by only Iberian sides in the final stages it was taken out by Athletico Madrid beating Athletico Bilbao 3-0 in Bucharest, Romania.
The Carling Cup was taken out by Liverpool on penalties against a Cardiff side who just seem to be 'nearly men' also missing out on making the Championship play-off final to West Ham. The red scousers also made the FA Cup final going down to Chelsea. In years past the supporters of many clubs would have considered that to be a reasonable season. Unfortunately for King Kenny his sides performance in the league was a relative disaster. Not only did they finish behind the blue scousers but their final position was eighth.....37 points behind both Manchesters! Hence the job ads and surveys asking supporters who they would like to see as the new coach. For what it is worth I'd like to see Martinez get the gig. He coaches without fear and empowers his sides to play open attacking football. The EPL needs a Liverpool club that plays good football. The only proviso I have is that Martinez must come to Spurs if Harry gets the boot in the next few days:)
What about the EPL? On a very basic level it is refreshing to see Citeh take out the title. They are a fine side, have come out of their shell and deserve have won the title. An alternative to the old Sky 4 you might say. Unfortunately, the new hierarchy / elite is made up even more of 'money clubs' dependent on billionairres money. Even if you don't believe that Citeh bought the title it is difficult not to conclude that the possible winners of the EPL are a very narrow bunch......United Citeh Chelsea. The new UEFA financial regulations requiring spending to in some way approximate to revenue, will not be seriously pursued.....not for a while anyway. The joy and drama of the last day events hide the reality that we have competitions within competitions in the top division.
Last nights ECL final between Bayern and Chelsea in many ways seems to me a triumph for anti-football. Chelsea have stumbled their way through the last few rounds accounting for probably the best club side we have seen in Barcelona. I would celebrate with the rest if they had played good footaball in their matches but imo they did not....even last night. True they were down on personell yesterday but then the cynical King Terry had only got what his dark behaviour had deserved.
You can see where I'm going here. My own prejudiced view of the world cannot allow me to give Chelsea credit for what they have achieved. Roman Abramovich must have almost been despairing that his $2.8 billion spent on the club would never deliver the ECL.
Can't really finish this seasons final final blog without bemoaning the fate of my own side Tottenham. Oh what a season this might have been. Where can we start? I was one of the few Spurs fans who seem to have believed that moving to and demolishing the new Olympic stadium on Hackney Marshes was a good thing. We ran second in that one. Flying along mid-season ten points clear in third what could go wrong? Our manager the triffic Harry Redknapp got a result when cleared of .....whatever it was. That week was pretty pivotal because Fabio Capello resigned the same week and speculation on his replacement began.......Harry why do you have that glazed look in your eyes...... are you concentrating....Harry! Levy wouldn't let him go for less than 10 million compensation ...hence we ended up with the cheaper Woy at the England helm. Ironically Levy will need to pay Harry to go 2 or 3 million:)
The decline was swift ...the unclosable gap just seemed to close. Wenger was resurrected and Arsenal came over the top of us. Even an FA Cup semi-final was of no help .....losing 5-1 to Chelsea in a shocker. Still we gave ourselves some chance of ECL qualification by winning three of our last four games but the away draw against a very ordinary Villa side killed us for third place and automatic qualification. Always quite tolerant of Harry I finally flipped my lid when he refused to bring on Defoe to try to win the game. Of course that was not the only key moment but it was the main one for me.
So there we were last night. Cheering a German side playing in red. How sad. Our fourth place ECL qualification depending on Bayern downing Chelsea. Leading with three to go....leading on penalties....how could they not win:( Perhaps the saddest thing of all is that money (I backed Chelsea to win as a saver) has distorted the game I spend so much time on. Silverware has taken a back place to the elite ECL competition and the money it generates. Hence King Kenny has been shown the door despite performing well in the cups. Chelsea rightfully take their place in next years competition even though they only finished sixth in the league......it kinda seems logical to me. However, for Spurs to miss out seems harsh as after finishing fourth they expected to go in. Missing out will probably cost Spurs 30 million but much more really because Modric (who will move to United) and Bale (Barcelona) don't fancy appearing on Channel 5 on a Thursday evening. Needing a new stadium and just collecting 60 million selling the aforementioned duo might convince our owner Levy to jack it in. Hope springs eternal. Perhaps we can ground share at the Olympic stadium with that nice family club West Ham who have just returned to the EPL. Anyone know any benevolent Billionairres?
As I tell propective new Spurs fans:
" Welcome but be prepared for a lifetime of nearlyness punctuated by the occasional actuality". COYS!
Saturday, 12 May 2012
Here we are .....it's the last EPL round and everything is still up for grabs!
EPL Planning and Marketing Departments take a bow! Here we are on the last day of the season and everything is still up for grabs. Really don't remember a season conclusion when literally so many outcomes were still to be decided.
I think this is a great strength of the EPL relative to other football competitions and codes. There may still be a narrow range of sides likely to win the thing but almost every club is capable of causing an individual upset agaist the very best. Even more important than that sides are unlikely to roll over when there own safety is ensured and they play someone with something still to resolve. The cynics amongst us will point out that there is a small matter of £756756 per postion gained in the final league table but I think there is a higher integrity about the clubs than just that.
http://www.football-marketing.com/2011/05/24/premier-league-prize-and-tv-payments-for-2010-11/
Some football competions witness of phenomena called 'tanking' where the club gets favourable treatment if it finishes low down in terms of salary cap payments/allowances. We don't see this stuff rewarded in the EPL.
What then is still to be resolved? For a start at the bottom either Bolton or QPR still could go down.
17 QPR 37 -22 37....... 18 Bolton 37 -31 35
Unfortunately for QPR the single point that will probably ensure safety needs come to come from a game against Premiership favourites Manchester City!
Man City v QPR
Stoke v Bolton
Further up the table there is a three way fight for the ECL spots involing Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle.
Even this fight is not as straight forward as things might seem on first glance.
As it sits at present
Arsenal 37 +24 67 Spurs 37 +23 66 Newcastle 37 +7 65
Effectively, the team that finishes third will gain automatic entry into the ECL competition proper next season while the fourth team may gain a place in the qualifying rounds. Unusually this qualification outcome is not certain because Chelsea will be given that final spot if they acually win said ECL against Bayern next week! Fair enough you say and I agree with you. Unfortunately, the fifth side (and Chelsea if they get beaten) will be exiled to the embarrassing Thursday evening drudgery of UEFA Cup Channel 4 TV coverage and discovering a way out of it, without having UEFA investigate your club for seeming match fixing.On this last day a finely balanced series of matches are set
WBA v Arsenal
Spurs v Fulham
Everton v Newcastle
All three clubs can finish as low as fifth and as high as third.
Right at the top it is a question of will Man City hold their nerve. A win for them against QPR will give them the title regardless of what Man Utd do.....any slip up and the red side of Manchester can go past them and secure a record setting twentieth title.Man City v QPR
Sunderland v Man Utd
As suggested earlier the EPL competition enjoys an integrity where no side will just drop off in a key game. Sure, the fans of the different clubs will dress up to celebrate the season end but all the teams will have their game faces on. Just look at the performance of Norwich last week against Arsenal in what was one of the matches of the season.
Midnight tonight is the time it goes on in Oz and all games will be on live tv.....there will be joy and tears.....bring it on!
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Season review...the pointy end...enter Woy stage left
Here we go. Time to see the important things get settled. You might a few weeks back have thought it was all decided but!!!!!!!!! How happy (and relieved) will the EPL and television stations be that Manchester United have seemingly blinked? I wrote earlier in the year that I make a point of not celebrating too soon....it seems that some Reds fans may be feeling a bit embarrassed now for making and showing the 'we've won twenty banners'.
In the same way the relegaton battle is also going to the wire. Only Wolves are down.....any two of Bolton Blackburn QPR Wigan and Villa can still make the drop. Personally I'd like to see Martinez's Wigan stay up....they play good football through his 3 4 3 system in contrast to some pretty awful stuff dished up by the rest.
That sad reality that finishing in the top four seems to bring higher benefit that winning a Cup has given us a four way tussle for Champion League spots....Arsenal Tottenham Newcastle and Chelsea can all still make 3rd or 4th. The twist to it all might be that Chelsea actually win the ECL competition and edge out the others anyway!
Of course nothing is decided yet. May 5th approaches the big one will be decided. Which big one? I hear you ask. The FA Cup Final....Liverpool v Chelsea....years ago this would have been the seasons crescendo...the high point....the game for which the whole world tuned in. Not any more :( It doesn't even get the day to itself in England anymore (we know the Scottish version takes place the same day...I went to their 1980 Old firm final). No, there will be EPL games taking place the same day and that competition runs on to the following week as well. Sad I feel.
Liverpool under happy Kenny have had a mixed bag of a season. They have already won a trophy....the League Cup and here they are back at Wembley again. Regardless of this success their fans will be deeply unsettled to know that not only miss out on Champions League places but they are struggling behind too many sides they regard as inferior...especially the blue side of Merseyside. Liverpool spending 100m on players has not been universally applauded.
'The club spent over £100m to bring nine new players to the club, although that figure is off set by at least £70m being recouped from the sales of Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Raul Meireles among others. Liverpool still struggle to break down sides that set their stall out to defend and admittedly perhaps wobble at the back far too often but that said overall the spending made by Messrs Dalglish and Comolli has on the whole been a success.' Caughtoffside
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2011/12/12/liverpools-2011-spending-analysed-players-rated-and-ranked/
Not sure that I agree with that final line but no traditionalist will deny that bringing home a few pieces of silverware from Wembley still gives the fans a buzz. Of course the red scousers will be glad that United seem to have gone off too early with their '20 EPL titles' rejoicing because they themselves are currently back on 18 League titles.
Chelsea....Liverpool opponents in the FA Cup prove a case in point with regard to that seemingly diminished competition. The FA Cup had been the premier knock out club competition around the world. It is this no longer. The European Champions League now holds that mantel and recognising this the blues will be playing their strongest side possible...ignoring suspensions....and allowing the more peripheral squad members go for FA Cup glory on Saturday.
Chelsea v Bayern Munich promises to be an open thrilling game. Robben facing his old side after so long should make it one with an edge. However, I can't help feeling tha fans around the world will feel they are missing something.....a bit like when you turn up to see a top Broadway Show and discover it is the understudy prforming the lead....yes Barcelona and Madrid will be missed.
Can't finish this end of season blog without commenting on Woy. Look I have always respected him in the sense that he was a trail blazing Englishman doing it in Europe before anyone else. He has coached several International sides previously Finland Switzerland and the UAE the three. My problem is that decades after Brian Clough the FA amateur brigade are still able to fly in the face of public sentiment and appoint someone other than Harry Redknapp. Now Harry is no Brain Clough but he would have been fine for at leats the Euro's...instead we have Woy. Roy Hodgson is just vanilla. Nough said.
That sad reality that finishing in the top four seems to bring higher benefit that winning a Cup has given us a four way tussle for Champion League spots....Arsenal Tottenham Newcastle and Chelsea can all still make 3rd or 4th. The twist to it all might be that Chelsea actually win the ECL competition and edge out the others anyway!
Of course nothing is decided yet. May 5th approaches the big one will be decided. Which big one? I hear you ask. The FA Cup Final....Liverpool v Chelsea....years ago this would have been the seasons crescendo...the high point....the game for which the whole world tuned in. Not any more :( It doesn't even get the day to itself in England anymore (we know the Scottish version takes place the same day...I went to their 1980 Old firm final). No, there will be EPL games taking place the same day and that competition runs on to the following week as well. Sad I feel.
Liverpool under happy Kenny have had a mixed bag of a season. They have already won a trophy....the League Cup and here they are back at Wembley again. Regardless of this success their fans will be deeply unsettled to know that not only miss out on Champions League places but they are struggling behind too many sides they regard as inferior...especially the blue side of Merseyside. Liverpool spending 100m on players has not been universally applauded.
'The club spent over £100m to bring nine new players to the club, although that figure is off set by at least £70m being recouped from the sales of Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Raul Meireles among others. Liverpool still struggle to break down sides that set their stall out to defend and admittedly perhaps wobble at the back far too often but that said overall the spending made by Messrs Dalglish and Comolli has on the whole been a success.' Caughtoffside
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2011/12/12/liverpools-2011-spending-analysed-players-rated-and-ranked/
Not sure that I agree with that final line but no traditionalist will deny that bringing home a few pieces of silverware from Wembley still gives the fans a buzz. Of course the red scousers will be glad that United seem to have gone off too early with their '20 EPL titles' rejoicing because they themselves are currently back on 18 League titles.
Chelsea....Liverpool opponents in the FA Cup prove a case in point with regard to that seemingly diminished competition. The FA Cup had been the premier knock out club competition around the world. It is this no longer. The European Champions League now holds that mantel and recognising this the blues will be playing their strongest side possible...ignoring suspensions....and allowing the more peripheral squad members go for FA Cup glory on Saturday.
Chelsea v Bayern Munich promises to be an open thrilling game. Robben facing his old side after so long should make it one with an edge. However, I can't help feeling tha fans around the world will feel they are missing something.....a bit like when you turn up to see a top Broadway Show and discover it is the understudy prforming the lead....yes Barcelona and Madrid will be missed.
Can't finish this end of season blog without commenting on Woy. Look I have always respected him in the sense that he was a trail blazing Englishman doing it in Europe before anyone else. He has coached several International sides previously Finland Switzerland and the UAE the three. My problem is that decades after Brian Clough the FA amateur brigade are still able to fly in the face of public sentiment and appoint someone other than Harry Redknapp. Now Harry is no Brain Clough but he would have been fine for at leats the Euro's...instead we have Woy. Roy Hodgson is just vanilla. Nough said.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
End game......don't go off too soon!
Must say straight away "How good are they?" Yes I know that phrase can be read in several ways. Here I am talking about Manchester United.
"How good....are they?" Well even at this stage of the season there are many still saying surely not good enough to win the EPL for the 20th occasion.....but then here they are 5 points clear!
"How good are they!" Once again United have won a game late....there is almost an inevitability about it...two late goals and three points it is.
"How good are they?" Probably so good that they deliver SAF his most unlikely EPL title of the lot.
Sure there will be twists and turns to come in the last eight rounds to be played but I think United have it.
What about the rest? The runners up and third spots which deliver direct entry to the ECL .....the fourth spot that leads to a ECL qualifying play off and indeed the relegation spots?
Well I will say straight away in the 900 games I've coached and played, plus 600 odd I've watched live....I have an overarching principle to the way I support/play/coach the game....I don't go off too soon....no I won't celebrate until i see what the assistant referee is doing ....ask my wife she will tell you. Sure, this, in many ways make me miss out on that initial surge of elation....the almost orgasmic release of unbridaled celebration....no I won't go off too soon:)
My real point here is that the supporters of some sides ...mine included don't play the full 90.....they are intent on claiming success way too early....Arsenal fans too may be fealing a bit edgey.....yes there are still eight laps to go boys:) Citeh might also be feeling a bit foolish. Sure they have led for most of the season....you do have to have a moments sorrow for them.....all I can say is it is not over yet. They now need to ask themselves. "How good are they?"
Still to play
Man Utd
QPR H
Wigan A
Villa H
Everton A
Citeh A
Swansea H
Sunderland A
Still to play
Man City
Arsenal A
WBA H
Norwich A
Wolves A
Man Utd H
Newcastle A
QPR H
Still to play
Arsenal
Man City H
Wolves A
Wigan H
Chelsea H
Stoke A
Norwich H
West Brom A
Spurs
Sunderland A
Norwich H
Bolton A
QPR A
Blackburn H
Villa A
Fulham H
Chelsea
Wigan H
Fulham A
Newcastle H
Arsenal A
QPR H
Liverpool A
Blackburn H
Newcastle
Swansea A
Bolton H
Stoke H
Wigan A
Chelsea A
Man City H
Everton A
QPR, Wolves & Wigan Remaining Fixtures – Barclays Premier League 2011-12 Season
"How good....are they?" Well even at this stage of the season there are many still saying surely not good enough to win the EPL for the 20th occasion.....but then here they are 5 points clear!
"How good are they!" Once again United have won a game late....there is almost an inevitability about it...two late goals and three points it is.
"How good are they?" Probably so good that they deliver SAF his most unlikely EPL title of the lot.
Sure there will be twists and turns to come in the last eight rounds to be played but I think United have it.
What about the rest? The runners up and third spots which deliver direct entry to the ECL .....the fourth spot that leads to a ECL qualifying play off and indeed the relegation spots?
Well I will say straight away in the 900 games I've coached and played, plus 600 odd I've watched live....I have an overarching principle to the way I support/play/coach the game....I don't go off too soon....no I won't celebrate until i see what the assistant referee is doing ....ask my wife she will tell you. Sure, this, in many ways make me miss out on that initial surge of elation....the almost orgasmic release of unbridaled celebration....no I won't go off too soon:)
My real point here is that the supporters of some sides ...mine included don't play the full 90.....they are intent on claiming success way too early....Arsenal fans too may be fealing a bit edgey.....yes there are still eight laps to go boys:) Citeh might also be feeling a bit foolish. Sure they have led for most of the season....you do have to have a moments sorrow for them.....all I can say is it is not over yet. They now need to ask themselves. "How good are they?"
Still to play
Man Utd
QPR H
Wigan A
Villa H
Everton A
Citeh A
Swansea H
Sunderland A
Still to play
Man City
Arsenal A
WBA H
Norwich A
Wolves A
Man Utd H
Newcastle A
QPR H
Still to play
Arsenal
Man City H
Wolves A
Wigan H
Chelsea H
Stoke A
Norwich H
West Brom A
Spurs
Sunderland A
Norwich H
Bolton A
QPR A
Blackburn H
Villa A
Fulham H
Chelsea
Wigan H
Fulham A
Newcastle H
Arsenal A
QPR H
Liverpool A
Blackburn H
Newcastle
Swansea A
Bolton H
Stoke H
Wigan A
Chelsea A
Man City H
Everton A
| Relegation Fight Fixtures | Blackburn Rovers Remaining Fixtures | Bolton Wanderers Remaining Fixtures |
|---|---|---|
| Remaining Fixtures 2012 | 2/4: Man Utd (H) 7/4: West Brom (A) 10/4: Liverpool (H) 14/4: Swansea (A) 21/4L Norwich (H) 29/4: Tottenham (A) 6/5: Wigan (H) 13/5: Chelsea (A) | 31/3: Wolves (A) 7/4: Fulham (H) 9/4: Newcastle (A) 15/4: Tottenham (H) 21/4: Swansea (H) 28/4: Sunderland (A) 6/5: West Brom (H) 13/5: Stoke (A) |
QPR, Wolves & Wigan Remaining Fixtures – Barclays Premier League 2011-12 Season
| Relegation Fixtures | QPR Remainiing Fixtures | Wolves Remaining Fixtures | Wigan Remaining Fixtures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remaining Fixtures 2012 | 31/3: Arsenal (H) 8/4: Man Utd (A) 11/4: Swansea (H) 14/4: WBA (A) 21/4: Spurs (H) 29/4: Chelsea (A) 6/5: Stoke (H) 13/5: Man City (A) | 31/3: Bolton (H) 7/4: Stoke (A) 11/4: Arsenal (H) 14/4: S’derland (A) 22/4: Man City (A) 28/4: Swansea (A)6/5: Everton (H) 13/5: Wigan (A) | 31/3: Stoke (H) 7/4: Chelsea (A) 11/4: Man Utd (H) 14/4: Arsenal (A) 21/4: Fulham (A) 28/4: Newcastle (H) 6/5: Blackburn (A) 13/5: Wolves (H) |
Friday, 16 March 2012
FA Cup ....a distraction for some..........
Here we go towards the sharp end of the season in the EPL and woe and behold we have further distractions to the main game...the FA CUP Quarters ...the last eight. Such is the distorting influence of the Europen Champions League nowadays that this oldest and best of cup competitions is considered by some, to be a distraction to the big picture of reaching the top four in the EPL. Why? Because it gives ECL qualification or at least a shot at it.
Indeed much has happened in the past month. Arsenal have emerged as the football equivalent of Born again Christians: Born again Gooners......BAG's - Arsene Wenger now walking upon what he was drowning in very very recently. Chelsea, now in the postRanieri, Mourinho, Grant, Scholari, Ancelotti, AVB era have annoyingly started to win again staging classic European fight backs. They will be wishing the week away because on the following Wednesday they have Citeh away then Spurs on the Saturday...yes the chance they have of fourth will give them a chance at / qualify them for ECL entry in 2013....hold on isn't that the same competition they have just reached the last eight in? Go figure:)
Citeh and United have both recently been thankfully released from the purgatory / shame of playing football on a Thursday evening........on Channel 5. They managed to escape this monthly humiliation by losing on aggregate to Portugese and Spanish clubs hardly worthy of the name......gallent was their exit from the European competition whose name should never be uttered by anyone aspiring to the top four.
In a strange way, Harry Redknapp and his Spurs team / followers are quietly but surely been refocussing on the FA Cup aforementioned (the one they have won eight times)......the GAP is shrinking 11>1 point, so refocuss could be a useful saver. I always said my Spurs were a cup team after all:)
Indeed much has happened in the past month. Arsenal have emerged as the football equivalent of Born again Christians: Born again Gooners......BAG's - Arsene Wenger now walking upon what he was drowning in very very recently. Chelsea, now in the post
Citeh and United have both recently been thankfully released from the purgatory / shame of playing football on a Thursday evening........on Channel 5. They managed to escape this monthly humiliation by losing on aggregate to Portugese and Spanish clubs hardly worthy of the name......gallent was their exit from the European competition whose name should never be uttered by anyone aspiring to the top four.
In a strange way, Harry Redknapp and his Spurs team / followers are quietly but surely been refocussing on the FA Cup aforementioned (the one they have won eight times)......the GAP is shrinking 11>1 point, so refocuss could be a useful saver. I always said my Spurs were a cup team after all:)
| Saturday, March 17, 2012 | |||||
| Time | Home | Away | Stage | Venue | |
| 23:45 EST | Everton | v | Sunderland | Quarter-finals | Goodison Park |
| 04:30 EST | Tottenham Hotspur | v | Bolton Wanderers | Quarter-finals | White Hart Lane |
| Saturday, March 17, 2012 | |||||
| Time | Home | Away | Venue | ||
| 02:00 EST | Fulham | v | Swansea City | Craven Cottage | |
| 02:00 EST | Wigan Athletic | v | West Bromwich Albion | The DW Stadium | |
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Solution for golden point
Much has been said about the 'golden point' and the excitement it provides. Generally it avoids draws which leave both players and supporters flat. My solution would to make each NRL match worth 3 points for a win, not 2. Then if the 80 minute score is a draw they get a point each and then play the extra time to try to gain a second point for the 'golden point' win. This would in my opinion be much fairer and would also provide the golden point excitement.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)