They do things a little different in the US and often their athletes are a whole lot crazier than ours.
Take Ron Artest who plays for the current NBA champions the LA Lakers:
http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/article/2009-12-02/sn-conversation-ron-artest-i-was-head-case
The money quote:
"I used to drink Hennessy … at halftime," Artest says in the interview, which hits newsstands this week. "I (kept it) in my locker. I'd just walk to the liquor store (near the stadium) and get it."
The best thing is that Artest is so crazy that no one is even suprised by this interview! We are talking about a man once suspended for 73 (yes seventy-three) games for brawling into the stands with fans when he played for Indiana. Legend.
Oh yes, let's not forget the time that he emailed one of the Laker fans to tell him he should "Suck a cock."
Why do we have to listen to Michael Owen-esque post-match interviews over and over again but they get a guy like this?
Unfair
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Friday, 13 November 2009
Mike Carlson
It's time for that irregular feature here a FJM, a positive post!
Often my friends acuse me of not liking anyone on TV, saying I hate everyone and everything in sports broadcasting. Mostly that is true but there are exceptions.
Mike Carlson is the best pundit working on British TV today. You can read his work at NFLUK.com where he writes a weekly column, and check out his facebook appreciation society where he often comments. But most of all I suggest you tune in, or record Channel Five every Sunday night where Carlson does his thing. I haved watched a lot of NFL over the last few years and the constant adverts on Sky's coverage render it unwatchable unless you have recorded and can fast forward, or are doing something else at the same time. Five's studio show is perfectly done with just enough insight to humour ratio. Carlson's ability to analyse proves you don't have to be an ex-player to be a great pundit.
I beg you to give it a go because he deserves it
Often my friends acuse me of not liking anyone on TV, saying I hate everyone and everything in sports broadcasting. Mostly that is true but there are exceptions.
Mike Carlson is the best pundit working on British TV today. You can read his work at NFLUK.com where he writes a weekly column, and check out his facebook appreciation society where he often comments. But most of all I suggest you tune in, or record Channel Five every Sunday night where Carlson does his thing. I haved watched a lot of NFL over the last few years and the constant adverts on Sky's coverage render it unwatchable unless you have recorded and can fast forward, or are doing something else at the same time. Five's studio show is perfectly done with just enough insight to humour ratio. Carlson's ability to analyse proves you don't have to be an ex-player to be a great pundit.
I beg you to give it a go because he deserves it
Monday, 2 November 2009
Poor persecuted Fergie
Rowley Birkin rides again
Jeff Powell has had his cage rattled once again, this time it seems by his own colleagues (although it is always difficult to tell with him).
Sir Alex Ferguson lost top spot at Liverpool and is now public enemy No 1 with referees, but let's remember that he is ... STILL THE GREATEST
Snappy title eh?
This 2009-2010 campaign has turned into open season on the laird of Old Trafford. The rest of our national game is waiting for the mightiest of them all to fall.
God I hate Fergie. Let's make it clear from the outset my opinion on him. A truly great football manager who has consistently shown himself to be a tremendous judge of talent and a great man manager. The man who signed Roy Keane, Dennis Irwin, Patrice Evra, Ronaldo etc because he knew what they would bring to his team. I hold him up as an example of how to manage footballers: from old school players like Mark Hughes and Bryan Robson, through to modern day multi-millionaires like Ronaldo and Rooney.
Such a man would normally have my complete respect. Instead I have nothing but contempt for the man. As a man he fails to earn my respect on every level. Bad losers are good winners of course but Fergie takes it to another level.
The ruffling of authority's feathers and the intimidating of opponents are part and parcel of what it takes to be The Greatest. Ask Muhammed Ali.
Comparing him to Ali is interesting. Does Fergie even have any morals? Going to jail for committing no crime, only for an idea? I suppose Powell could be comparing the two as both are huge figures, dominating their sports with force of personality.
I think however, there is a slight difference between making a rude comment about a referee and refusing to go to war as a matter of principle when you know that you will lose your liberty as a result. Fergie's worst punishment is probably a week's wages rather than a loss of his livelihood at the peak of his career.
Ali was a horrible person a well I guess but I'm sure that's not what Powell means.
Whatever happened, gentlemen, to the freedom of speech which we profess to defend? Where would the stories come from if the leading players in the game of life were silenced? Yet football, in all its many constituents, is ganging up on the manager who keeps heaping more glory on our national game than most of his peers can begin to imagine.
I find this appalling journalism. Football is not ganging up on Fergie. Powell speaks as if Fergie has done nothing wrong, as if he is being persecuted. There is no glory in the way Sir Alex Ferguson treats people. Physically and verbally abusing his players; not allowing them the freedom which Powell so vociferously defends for Fergie himself; constantly belittling, condescending and undermining officials and opponents.
Ask this man which quality he looks for above all others when he recruits a new batch of kids or signs a £50million superstar and he will give you the answer himself. 'Character,' he will tell you. 'Aye, then it helps if they can play a bit. But first attitude, desire, pride, appetite.'
Berbatov? Nani? Owen? Kleberson?
Yet football, in all its many constituents, is ganging up on the manager who keeps heaping more glory on our national game than most of his peers can begin to imagine.
Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you? Criticising Fergie for talking absolute bollocks about referees, bringing the game into disrepute in the process, is not ganging up at all.
"The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. It is an indictment of our game. You see referees abroad who are as fit as butcher's dogs. He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. It was ridiculous."
"I think Howard Webb has a great chance to be the top referee but today was a big game for him and, at times, he favoured Arsenal. Their second goal came from him not giving a free-kick for a foul on Louis Saha on the far side. It should have been a foul for us."
"Everton knew it was a weak referee and they exploited that to the full. I don’t blame them. Right from the first whistle, there was no protection."
Just a few of Fergie's rants for which he never seems to get more than a slap on the wrist. What a way to 'heap glory' on the game this is.
On Wednesday, we came to the laughable point where one Roberto Martinez complained Ferguson wields too much power. Roberto who? For the benefit of the uninitiated, young Mr Martinez used to be the boss at Swansea and is now in charge at Wigan Athletic
I believe Jeff Powell is now moaning about Martinez expressing his freedom of speech. He's probably forgotten that bit already.
Having reacted with dignity in Rome by acknowledging Barcelona's superiority on the night, just as he did at Liverpool on Sunday, he is using the wisdom of his ages in the game to plot life after Ronaldo.
Cherry picking much? I think we have established that Fergie is bereft of both dignity and wisdom by the bucketful.
Anyway this is followed by lots of fawning over the great Fergie. Typical Powell BS.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
How the media works
There are some basic tenants on which the media are formed, especially with relevance to the tabloid press.
Their favourite is claiming every story as an EXCLUSIVE!!! Another technique which they employ often is to make up a story (generally claiming that the public are outraged about it) and then run with the story as gospel truth in the following days and weeks, usually inventing reactions to the story as well for as long as they think it will sell papers.
I present to you a particularly appalling and un-subtle (even for them) effort from The Sun.
Part 1
Part 2
The first story "We'll sue Man Utd" features zero quotes from any of the clubs involved. In fact on the day of the story being published all 3 of the clubs mentioned categorically denied any intention on their part to sue Man Utd no matter what team they play against Hull. So I think it would be fair to say that this story was a complete fabrication, or to put in simple language for the Sun journos: YOU FUCKING MADE IT UP
You would think at this point that The Sun would just forget about it and move on to a crazy transfer rumour of some sort. Unfortunately they decided to just carry on anyway with "Hull of a U-turn Fergie"
1. Fergie was never quoted or mentioned as wanting to field a weakened team. In fact his only comments have been that Rio Ferdinand would play to prove his fitness. Never has he mentioned anything about any other players being involved, or not as the case may be.
2. How did it take 2 journalists to write a story containing 248 words?
3. Awful, awful punnage in the headline.
SunSport revealed yesterday relegation-haunted Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland are furious at the prospect of United playing a shadow side.
SunSport made up yesterday a load of lies about 3 football clubs suing Man Utd but now they have issued clear denials we are going to pretend we said they were furious instead.
But after a day of talks between Premier League chiefs and the clubs, United have promised they will change their plans for the weekend.
Now we have realised that we are going to look stupid when Fergie plays a reasonably strong team we have decided to make up some more bullshit without any sources quoted whatsoever to cover our own backs.
Boss Alex Ferguson kicked off the compromise by saying Rio Ferdinand must prove his fitness at Hull ahead of the Champions League final three days later.
Can we find some quotes to back this up? Can we fuck, we'll just have to paraphrase something Fergie said earlier in the week and make it sound like he is backing us up.
That is a major shift from Fergie's original plan - which angered the trio of North-East clubs - to play only Fletcher from his normal starting XI.
Quick we haven't lied for the last 2 sentences, throw another one in to confuse them.
Congratulations to The Sun for producing some of the worst journalism I have ever read. And in this country that is saying something.
Their favourite is claiming every story as an EXCLUSIVE!!! Another technique which they employ often is to make up a story (generally claiming that the public are outraged about it) and then run with the story as gospel truth in the following days and weeks, usually inventing reactions to the story as well for as long as they think it will sell papers.
I present to you a particularly appalling and un-subtle (even for them) effort from The Sun.
Part 1
Part 2
The first story "We'll sue Man Utd" features zero quotes from any of the clubs involved. In fact on the day of the story being published all 3 of the clubs mentioned categorically denied any intention on their part to sue Man Utd no matter what team they play against Hull. So I think it would be fair to say that this story was a complete fabrication, or to put in simple language for the Sun journos: YOU FUCKING MADE IT UP
You would think at this point that The Sun would just forget about it and move on to a crazy transfer rumour of some sort. Unfortunately they decided to just carry on anyway with "Hull of a U-turn Fergie"
1. Fergie was never quoted or mentioned as wanting to field a weakened team. In fact his only comments have been that Rio Ferdinand would play to prove his fitness. Never has he mentioned anything about any other players being involved, or not as the case may be.
2. How did it take 2 journalists to write a story containing 248 words?
3. Awful, awful punnage in the headline.
SunSport revealed yesterday relegation-haunted Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland are furious at the prospect of United playing a shadow side.
SunSport made up yesterday a load of lies about 3 football clubs suing Man Utd but now they have issued clear denials we are going to pretend we said they were furious instead.
But after a day of talks between Premier League chiefs and the clubs, United have promised they will change their plans for the weekend.
Now we have realised that we are going to look stupid when Fergie plays a reasonably strong team we have decided to make up some more bullshit without any sources quoted whatsoever to cover our own backs.
Boss Alex Ferguson kicked off the compromise by saying Rio Ferdinand must prove his fitness at Hull ahead of the Champions League final three days later.
Can we find some quotes to back this up? Can we fuck, we'll just have to paraphrase something Fergie said earlier in the week and make it sound like he is backing us up.
That is a major shift from Fergie's original plan - which angered the trio of North-East clubs - to play only Fletcher from his normal starting XI.
Quick we haven't lied for the last 2 sentences, throw another one in to confuse them.
Congratulations to The Sun for producing some of the worst journalism I have ever read. And in this country that is saying something.
Friday, 6 March 2009
Motty from heaven
I fell this should be my War and Peace, my King Lear, my Faust.
I'm not really sure who Brian Viner is I must admit. However I am going to conclude on the basis of this one article, with no further research or effort put in by myself, that Brian Viner is a member of the job's for the boys, don't rock the boat, keep women in the kitchen where they belong club. I made this opinion on the basis of the title and the sub-heading alone. Perhaps this is a little previous of me. Perhaps I ought to give him a chance...
Motson kicks off a long and agreeably well-lubricated lunch at an Italian restaurant just off the Gray's Inn Road in London.
Strike Two?
The very thought of being a fly on the wall at this lunch makes me want to punch someone in the face.
It is the same restaurant, indeed we are at the same table, where in 1996 Motson was wooed by ITV top brass with a view to him succeeding Brian Moore, who had announced his retirement, as ITV's chief football commentator.
At this point I should say something about Motty not being fit to lace Brian Moore's boots, or wipe the spittle off his microphone or something. I must admit however I was never a massive Brian Moore fan at the time. Barry Davies however is another matter entirely.
The book to which he refers is his autobiography, due to be published by Virgin Books in September.
It has taken 4 paragraphs to get to the real reason for this fawning, sychophantic article. We ought to have guessed really. Motty has an autobiography out so he is cosying up to his friends in the business to drum up some publicity for himself. No great crime in itself I suppose but we can do without the creeping articles none the less.
But he [Motson] wants it [the book] to start with the phone call he got in a Manhattan bar in 1994, telling him that Davies would be handed the microphone for the impending World Cup final. He was distraught, and makes no bones about it.
Ah Barry Davies. When football commentators were intelligent, articulate and cared more about the game itself than hearing their own voices, or showing everyone how clever they were.
"I happen to think that it was the right decision, by the way," he adds. "Barry did deserve the World Cup final.
Yes, yes he did. Just a shame the BBC didn't stick with him from then on and spare us years of torture.
But for some unaccountable reason public affection for me grew from that day on.
Utterly, utterly unaccountable. If even Motty himself can't work it out then I'm fucked if I can.
So could it be that next year's World Cup, like none since 1970, will unfold without him? And if so, will the ravens flee the Tower of London?
Please sweet God of love and mercy let it be so.
And Strike 3 for Viner for the Tower of London comment. Twat.
"I don't think I'll be there as a commentator," he says. Would he like to be? "Well, if you ask me, could I do what I did four years ago? Yes I could. I look at Peter O'Sullevan, who did the Grand National when he was 79, and at Richie Benaud
Has no one mentioned to Motty that Peter O'Sullevan and Richie Benaud knew exactly when to shut up, and when something needed to be said they said it. They have distinctive, almost lyrical diction, unique perspectives, and a love and fascination with their sports which they transferred to the audience with an ease and grace. Motson is not fit to be mentioned in the same sentence as those great, great broadcasters and he should not have the arrogance and ego to even compare himself to them.
Let's take the above quote from Motson and compare it to what he said after Euro 2008:
"I am coming to the end of my career, I know that," said Motson. "I'd been thinking about it at the start of the season, but now I've decided I don't want to be tearing around South Africa for the 2010 World Cup at the age of 65. It's physically and mentally challenging."
Changed his mind then? More likely it is still true that it would be too challenging for him but he is too selfish to admit it and let a better, less senile man do it instead.
Let's do another comparison shall we?
Now:
Is he perhaps even better than he was? "I think I am, yeah."
Then:
"Eighteen tournaments is about right for me," he said. "I don't want to go on too long, maybe end up going to South Africa and people say I'm past my best."
So we can add hypocrite to his failings as a commentator. At best it is the inability to keep to his word, or to make a decision and stick to it. I guess the latter is more likely listening to his frequent sitting on the fence, non-commital commentaries.
And I go to an awful lot of football when I'm not working, by the way.
Like all football fans do you mean? You can't possibly be wanting to claim credit for that in all seriousness.
And when I ask whether he is as fired up by football now as he was then, he jumps in before I can reach the end of the question. "Yeah, I am. I prefer to spend my time enthusing about what I saw last week and what I might see next week, than about games I saw years ago. And I'm probably enjoying this season as much as I've enjoyed one for ages."
This is after the entire rest of the article and therefore I presume the "long and agreeably well-lubricated lunch" talking about the long ago past? Do me a favour Motty and cut the crap. Perhaps that is not fair, as I can actually think he may believe what he's saying the old fool.
Oh by the way incase you think I am being a little harsh on him, in Motson's latest commentary he claimed that Robbie Keane was the most complete player in the Premiership. WHAT THE FUCK?! The man is batshit insane my friends.
I'm not really sure who Brian Viner is I must admit. However I am going to conclude on the basis of this one article, with no further research or effort put in by myself, that Brian Viner is a member of the job's for the boys, don't rock the boat, keep women in the kitchen where they belong club. I made this opinion on the basis of the title and the sub-heading alone. Perhaps this is a little previous of me. Perhaps I ought to give him a chance...
Motson kicks off a long and agreeably well-lubricated lunch at an Italian restaurant just off the Gray's Inn Road in London.
Strike Two?
The very thought of being a fly on the wall at this lunch makes me want to punch someone in the face.
It is the same restaurant, indeed we are at the same table, where in 1996 Motson was wooed by ITV top brass with a view to him succeeding Brian Moore, who had announced his retirement, as ITV's chief football commentator.
At this point I should say something about Motty not being fit to lace Brian Moore's boots, or wipe the spittle off his microphone or something. I must admit however I was never a massive Brian Moore fan at the time. Barry Davies however is another matter entirely.
The book to which he refers is his autobiography, due to be published by Virgin Books in September.
It has taken 4 paragraphs to get to the real reason for this fawning, sychophantic article. We ought to have guessed really. Motty has an autobiography out so he is cosying up to his friends in the business to drum up some publicity for himself. No great crime in itself I suppose but we can do without the creeping articles none the less.
But he [Motson] wants it [the book] to start with the phone call he got in a Manhattan bar in 1994, telling him that Davies would be handed the microphone for the impending World Cup final. He was distraught, and makes no bones about it.
Ah Barry Davies. When football commentators were intelligent, articulate and cared more about the game itself than hearing their own voices, or showing everyone how clever they were.
"I happen to think that it was the right decision, by the way," he adds. "Barry did deserve the World Cup final.
Yes, yes he did. Just a shame the BBC didn't stick with him from then on and spare us years of torture.
But for some unaccountable reason public affection for me grew from that day on.
Utterly, utterly unaccountable. If even Motty himself can't work it out then I'm fucked if I can.
So could it be that next year's World Cup, like none since 1970, will unfold without him? And if so, will the ravens flee the Tower of London?
Please sweet God of love and mercy let it be so.
And Strike 3 for Viner for the Tower of London comment. Twat.
"I don't think I'll be there as a commentator," he says. Would he like to be? "Well, if you ask me, could I do what I did four years ago? Yes I could. I look at Peter O'Sullevan, who did the Grand National when he was 79, and at Richie Benaud
Has no one mentioned to Motty that Peter O'Sullevan and Richie Benaud knew exactly when to shut up, and when something needed to be said they said it. They have distinctive, almost lyrical diction, unique perspectives, and a love and fascination with their sports which they transferred to the audience with an ease and grace. Motson is not fit to be mentioned in the same sentence as those great, great broadcasters and he should not have the arrogance and ego to even compare himself to them.
Let's take the above quote from Motson and compare it to what he said after Euro 2008:
"I am coming to the end of my career, I know that," said Motson. "I'd been thinking about it at the start of the season, but now I've decided I don't want to be tearing around South Africa for the 2010 World Cup at the age of 65. It's physically and mentally challenging."
Changed his mind then? More likely it is still true that it would be too challenging for him but he is too selfish to admit it and let a better, less senile man do it instead.
Let's do another comparison shall we?
Now:
Is he perhaps even better than he was? "I think I am, yeah."
Then:
"Eighteen tournaments is about right for me," he said. "I don't want to go on too long, maybe end up going to South Africa and people say I'm past my best."
So we can add hypocrite to his failings as a commentator. At best it is the inability to keep to his word, or to make a decision and stick to it. I guess the latter is more likely listening to his frequent sitting on the fence, non-commital commentaries.
And I go to an awful lot of football when I'm not working, by the way.
Like all football fans do you mean? You can't possibly be wanting to claim credit for that in all seriousness.
And when I ask whether he is as fired up by football now as he was then, he jumps in before I can reach the end of the question. "Yeah, I am. I prefer to spend my time enthusing about what I saw last week and what I might see next week, than about games I saw years ago. And I'm probably enjoying this season as much as I've enjoyed one for ages."
This is after the entire rest of the article and therefore I presume the "long and agreeably well-lubricated lunch" talking about the long ago past? Do me a favour Motty and cut the crap. Perhaps that is not fair, as I can actually think he may believe what he's saying the old fool.
Oh by the way incase you think I am being a little harsh on him, in Motson's latest commentary he claimed that Robbie Keane was the most complete player in the Premiership. WHAT THE FUCK?! The man is batshit insane my friends.
Monday, 2 March 2009
Piers Morgan, look in the mirror.
Piers Morgan. Anyone who has seen him on screen cannot argue that his arrogance and love of himself is matched only by that of Richard Madeley. So it is quite remarkable that he would lambast Rafa Benitez for being very much the same.
There has always been something very irritating about the Spaniard.
There has always been something very irritating about the self-important moral outrage of a filth-monger like Morgan.
The cheap-looking glasses, hideous patterned ties and ill-fitting suits do nothing to counter the general impression of a middle- ranking bank manager. But the most annoying thing about him is that he could be so much more successful if he just managed to find a few seconds in every day to stop thinking about himself and dwell on his team for a moment.
Wow. Really wow.
Valencia:
La Liga Winner: 2001-02, 2003-04
UEFA Cup Winner: 2003-04
Liverpool:
FA Cup Winner: 2006
UEFA Champions League Winner: 2004-05
What a tale of woe for Rafa. He won the Spanish League with fucking VALENCIA. Twice.
Considering the strength of the Premier League you can make a very good case that Liverpool are the 3rd or 4th best side in Europe. Hardly Rafa's fault that there is a Man Utd dynasty going on and Chelsea have limitless amounts of money.
Oh yes he did win the Champions League with Liverpool. Here's a few names for you: Biscan, Baros, Smicer.
This guy has managed teams that have consistently over-achieved.
Morgan's crowning achievement? Not sure but here's a few select highlights:
Achtung! Surrender headline
Insider trading
Iraqi torture hoax pictures
Benitez has to be the most arrogant manager ever to grace the Premier League...
You just know that he wakes up every morning, struts to the bathroom in his purple Noel Coward smoking jacket, takes a long, hard look at himself in the mirror, and smirks: 'Rafa, you is looking the bizzo today!'
Seriously I don't know he has the balls to write this. You've got to admire the bare faced cheek I suppose. Arrogance and self-love oozing out of Piers Morgan's skin. He really is one of the most irritating pieces of shit ever to float to the top of the showbiz pond. At least there is something genuine about Rafa. He is honest, open and interesting, qualities that Morgan can only dream of having.
Liverpool were cruising at the top of the League at the turn of the year. They looked strong in depth and focused and I genuinely thought, if Gerrard and Torres stayed fit, they might go on and win the title. Then came Dossier Day. The moment that Benitez decided to make it all about himself again.
Fernanado Torres number of Premier League games missed this season: 13
But of course this article is all about Benitez. It is true that Rafa lost the plot with Fergie but I very much doubt that had any effect on his players. Another case of the media blowing something out of all proportion, then presuming that the players are effected by it just because they put it in the papers and then reciting it as gospel fact when it is actually all made up by them.
This season was the closest Liverpool have come to winning the Premier League and they almost certainly blew it when they had it in their hands. Because, at the crucial moment, when the players looked to their manager for the kind of supreme Churchillian 'Let us go forward together' speech that might drive them on to victory, he turned it into the Rafa Benitez show.
No one except you, the media, have made it the "Rafa Benitez show" by continuously writing pointless repetitive articles about a slightly interesting press conference rather than focusing on what is happening on the pitch.
As a football fan it has been about the fact that Torres has not been able to stay fit all season and that there have been quite a few teams prepared to try and to leave Anfield with 0-0. Then we look to Rafa's inability to understand how to play away from home in the Premier League.
Question his decisions in who he picks and the instructions he gives them away from Anfield and I will be right there with you.
Drivelling on about personality and issues outside of the football field and I suggest that you are projecting something of your own awful business onto sport where performance on the field is all that matters.
Twat.
There has always been something very irritating about the Spaniard.
There has always been something very irritating about the self-important moral outrage of a filth-monger like Morgan.
The cheap-looking glasses, hideous patterned ties and ill-fitting suits do nothing to counter the general impression of a middle- ranking bank manager. But the most annoying thing about him is that he could be so much more successful if he just managed to find a few seconds in every day to stop thinking about himself and dwell on his team for a moment.
Wow. Really wow.
Valencia:
La Liga Winner: 2001-02, 2003-04
UEFA Cup Winner: 2003-04
Liverpool:
FA Cup Winner: 2006
UEFA Champions League Winner: 2004-05
What a tale of woe for Rafa. He won the Spanish League with fucking VALENCIA. Twice.
Considering the strength of the Premier League you can make a very good case that Liverpool are the 3rd or 4th best side in Europe. Hardly Rafa's fault that there is a Man Utd dynasty going on and Chelsea have limitless amounts of money.
Oh yes he did win the Champions League with Liverpool. Here's a few names for you: Biscan, Baros, Smicer.
This guy has managed teams that have consistently over-achieved.
Morgan's crowning achievement? Not sure but here's a few select highlights:
Achtung! Surrender headline
Insider trading
Iraqi torture hoax pictures
Benitez has to be the most arrogant manager ever to grace the Premier League...
You just know that he wakes up every morning, struts to the bathroom in his purple Noel Coward smoking jacket, takes a long, hard look at himself in the mirror, and smirks: 'Rafa, you is looking the bizzo today!'
Seriously I don't know he has the balls to write this. You've got to admire the bare faced cheek I suppose. Arrogance and self-love oozing out of Piers Morgan's skin. He really is one of the most irritating pieces of shit ever to float to the top of the showbiz pond. At least there is something genuine about Rafa. He is honest, open and interesting, qualities that Morgan can only dream of having.
Liverpool were cruising at the top of the League at the turn of the year. They looked strong in depth and focused and I genuinely thought, if Gerrard and Torres stayed fit, they might go on and win the title. Then came Dossier Day. The moment that Benitez decided to make it all about himself again.
Fernanado Torres number of Premier League games missed this season: 13
But of course this article is all about Benitez. It is true that Rafa lost the plot with Fergie but I very much doubt that had any effect on his players. Another case of the media blowing something out of all proportion, then presuming that the players are effected by it just because they put it in the papers and then reciting it as gospel fact when it is actually all made up by them.
This season was the closest Liverpool have come to winning the Premier League and they almost certainly blew it when they had it in their hands. Because, at the crucial moment, when the players looked to their manager for the kind of supreme Churchillian 'Let us go forward together' speech that might drive them on to victory, he turned it into the Rafa Benitez show.
No one except you, the media, have made it the "Rafa Benitez show" by continuously writing pointless repetitive articles about a slightly interesting press conference rather than focusing on what is happening on the pitch.
As a football fan it has been about the fact that Torres has not been able to stay fit all season and that there have been quite a few teams prepared to try and to leave Anfield with 0-0. Then we look to Rafa's inability to understand how to play away from home in the Premier League.
Question his decisions in who he picks and the instructions he gives them away from Anfield and I will be right there with you.
Drivelling on about personality and issues outside of the football field and I suggest that you are projecting something of your own awful business onto sport where performance on the field is all that matters.
Twat.
Friday, 13 February 2009
Lawro's predictions
I suppose Mark Lawrenson's prediction column for the BBC should really be our JoeChat. However this is the first time I've blogged on it.
First up a couple of quick Lawro tips.
1. When he doesn't know much about a team he makes a generic statement on them. This week we have:
good side
as good a football team as most
tough act at home
they are not a bad team
great footballing team
2. He never predicts a team to score more than 2 goals. This week:
2-0
2-1
1-1
2-1
0-2
1-1
1-1
0-2
2-0
Anyway let's move on to his first effort this week.
Swansea v Fulham (1245 GMT)
Swansea are as good a football team as most in the Championship. They are in form and won't change the way they play.
Fulham are a good side and quite strong away from home, but I'm going for a home win.
You might think with him being a regular MOTD pundit that he would know quite a bit about Fulham. While his assertion that they are a 'good side' is true if vague, the strong away from home comment isn't entirely accurate. It is in fact completely and wildly inaccurate. Fulham's Premier League away record is better than only Stoke's and WBA's and they have not won any games away from home in the league this season.
That would be a good reason to predict a win for in form Swansea. Except Lawro thinks they are strong away from home but still says they will lose 2-0!
Take that logic!
West Ham v Middlesbrough (1500 GMT)
The Hammers are much improved and Boro don't know where their next win is coming from, so I'm going for a draw!
The use of the exclamation mark suggests that even he realises how stupid his prediction is, and yet he makes it anyway. To write this sentence and expect to be taken seriously as a football pundit you need to be a special kind of person. NOT in a good way.
Portsmouth v Man City (1500 GMT)
Following Harry Redknapp was a very difficult job for Tony Adams at Fratton Park and having to sell their best players - but they were unlucky against Liverpool last weekend.
Man City don't have much of a physical presence up front and have to play on the counter-attack, so Pompey have a chance here.
All kinds of (sic) in the first bit. Unlucky or rubbish? Distin and James had a horror show and in fact Distin has been shocking ever since Adams got the job.
Also surely most teams play on the counter-attack away from home anyway? I would say that having incredibly fast skillful front players against Campbell and Distin is a plus not a minus. What he really should mention is City's horrible away form and if the real City will show up or not.
The message is clear Lawro: stick to what you are good at (making fatuous, unfunny remarks to distract everyone from the fact you haven't got a clue how to put together an interesting or insightful analysis of the game).
First up a couple of quick Lawro tips.
1. When he doesn't know much about a team he makes a generic statement on them. This week we have:
good side
as good a football team as most
tough act at home
they are not a bad team
great footballing team
2. He never predicts a team to score more than 2 goals. This week:
2-0
2-1
1-1
2-1
0-2
1-1
1-1
0-2
2-0
Anyway let's move on to his first effort this week.
Swansea v Fulham (1245 GMT)
Swansea are as good a football team as most in the Championship. They are in form and won't change the way they play.
Fulham are a good side and quite strong away from home, but I'm going for a home win.
You might think with him being a regular MOTD pundit that he would know quite a bit about Fulham. While his assertion that they are a 'good side' is true if vague, the strong away from home comment isn't entirely accurate. It is in fact completely and wildly inaccurate. Fulham's Premier League away record is better than only Stoke's and WBA's and they have not won any games away from home in the league this season.
That would be a good reason to predict a win for in form Swansea. Except Lawro thinks they are strong away from home but still says they will lose 2-0!
Take that logic!
West Ham v Middlesbrough (1500 GMT)
The Hammers are much improved and Boro don't know where their next win is coming from, so I'm going for a draw!
The use of the exclamation mark suggests that even he realises how stupid his prediction is, and yet he makes it anyway. To write this sentence and expect to be taken seriously as a football pundit you need to be a special kind of person. NOT in a good way.
Portsmouth v Man City (1500 GMT)
Following Harry Redknapp was a very difficult job for Tony Adams at Fratton Park and having to sell their best players - but they were unlucky against Liverpool last weekend.
Man City don't have much of a physical presence up front and have to play on the counter-attack, so Pompey have a chance here.
All kinds of (sic) in the first bit. Unlucky or rubbish? Distin and James had a horror show and in fact Distin has been shocking ever since Adams got the job.
Also surely most teams play on the counter-attack away from home anyway? I would say that having incredibly fast skillful front players against Campbell and Distin is a plus not a minus. What he really should mention is City's horrible away form and if the real City will show up or not.
The message is clear Lawro: stick to what you are good at (making fatuous, unfunny remarks to distract everyone from the fact you haven't got a clue how to put together an interesting or insightful analysis of the game).
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