Category Archives: Sunderland AFC

Should “Blizzard Soccer” Be Part of the Sport?

  By O-Posts Team | May 18, 2013 - 21:58 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The World Cup playoff game between the United States and Costa Rica on March 22, 2013 was especially memorable. Played in the middle of a storm in Colorado, the game was the closest thing to blizzard soccer fans had seen in awhile.

For 90 minutes, players had to contend with an increasingly torrential downpour of wet, white flakes. Afterwards, the severity of the conditions had millions of soccer enthusiasts wondering: should play in such treacherous conditions really be allowed?

 

Why Continue?

World Cup games are obviously the most important in the sport and can be difficult to reschedule. When a team and its fans have already traveled thousands of miles for the game, canceling is something to avoid at all costs. In addition, postponing the game may mean players won’t get enough rest before their next round.

In this particular game, it didn’t look like the weather would cooperate any time soon. If the game hadn’t been played that night, it wouldn’t have been for quite awhile.

 

Is It Safe?

In spite of tight tournament schedules and pending forecasts, the safety of the players should be the number one consideration when choosing to continue a game. Looking back, was it really safe to continue a game in the middle of a blizzard?

In defending their decision to continue play, refs saidthe players hadn’t been sliding on the snow very much. While this may be true, any soccer player will tell you injuries don’t necessarily happen during slides.

These players were cold, wet, and covered in so much snow that they could run it through an EDI water purification system and use it to hydrate themselves. In these conditions, even the slightest misstep can cause an injury. If nothing else, the players’ immune systems were lowered by the weather.

 

Who Should Make the Call?

If the game has already started, refs make the final call as to whether it will continue. However, is this fair? Shouldn’t the league, coaches and players have more of a say in whether conditions are safe?

 

Written by Michael Deaven

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Infographic: The Top Paid Football Players Throughout History

  By O-Posts Team | May 18, 2013 - 21:40 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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The argument over how much footballers are paid in the modern era has been going on for years now and shows no sign of stopping. Some of the world’s biggest names are now playing with wage packets that let them take home more in a week than many of us will make in our lifetimes, and all for kicking a ball around – if they even get on the pitch of course!

It hasn’t always been the case that players earned hundreds of thousands each week, however. In actual fact, some players were earning the equivalent of £228 each week back in the 1900s, the same as what many full-time workers in the “real world” earn today.

This infographic, created by equipment retailer The Soccer Store, shows just how times have changed, from the early days of £4 per week right up to the £200,000-a-week contract signed by Carlos Tevez in 2009.

 

 

 

Written and created by Matt Rawlings

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Adam’s Premier League Column: Wigan Athletic Confirm Relegation

  By O-Posts Team | May 17, 2013 - 22:40 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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It’s been coming; we were just too afraid to admit it. After Wigan’s cup heroics at the weekend, there was a possibility that they could perform the ‘Great Escape’ that they have managed on countless occasions, and in fashionable style, too.

It looked like survival was on the cards after some impressive wins and vital draws, although where I think it was lost was after the FA Cup semi-final victory against Millwall. Since that game, they lost to Manchester City, West Ham and Swansea, whilst picking up a point against Tottenham and a win at West Brom. Against Swansea you felt that they were running on pure emotion, and perhaps it was just a season too far for the Latics.

They’ve left a rather big gap in the Barclays Premier League and it is a shame that they’ve dropped down to the Championship after seven years in the top-flight. I reckon that they have the credentials to come back up within their first season, or definitely the second. I do believe however that it all depends on which players decide to stay and of course whether their manager, Roberto Martinez, stays at the DW Stadium.

Since David Moyes has transferred to Old Trafford to replace the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson, who said an emotional goodbye to the club in which he won thirteen league titles, Martinez has been linked with the Everton job. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was lured to Everton and I’m sure he could do a brilliant job there. Martinez will want to remain a Premier League manager, I’m sure of it.

The result that sent them down – a 4-1 loss to Arsenal – ensured that the Gunners can clinch Champions League football if they win on the last day of the season, and Tottenham need a win to clinch the spot, as long as Arsenal draw or lose. It will make for an exciting spectacle on the last day of the season, and these are what makes the Premier League rich in excitement.

Another change in the Premier League has happened at former Premier League Champions Manchester City. On the same date that Sergio ‘Aguerooooo’ scored that infamous injury time winner to steal the title off United, City sacked Roberto Mancini. The decision had been brewing for some time, and I believe that the FA Cup loss to Wigan may have tipped the decision that was eventually made, although I feel that had he won the cup, it still might not have saved his job.

Speculation has been growing as to whom may replace the Italian, with Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini the leading candidate for the notorious job. Whether the former Real Madrid man can lead City to the success that they all crave is another thing. It’s no easy club to manage.

I’d love to see Mourinho take control of the dugout at Etihad, but that may end up just being a distant dream. Time will tell, but it didn’t seem to have an effect on the side as City stormed to a 2-0 victory at relegated Reading with Brian Kidd in charge after Mancini’s assistant, David Platt, stepped down.

David Moyes, whom I mentioned earlier, waved goodbye to the faithful at Goodison Park with the perfect send-off, beating West Ham United 2-0. It was an encouraging performance too.

Norwich ensured survival at the weekend with a telling 4-0 victory against Steve Clark’s West Brom, who have eased off the pace since survival was confirmed. I’m pleased that Norwich haveensured Premier League football for another campaign as they have an English manager in charge. I’ll support any English boss and wish them success.

Newcastle beat lowly QPR to beat the drop when a short Bosingwa ball tricked its way back to ‘keeper Robert Green, and his punt up field found Gouffran who tapped in to hand the three points to the visitors.

Tottenham kept up with Arsenal after Adebayor netted the winner from close-range. Up the other end of the table, Di Canio’s Sunderland drew at home to Southampton, and the Italian has done what was needed to be done. They’ve looked fresher since the change and at times joyous to watch, especially in the Tyne wear derby.

Daniel Sturridge netted an impressive hat-trick, his first in senior football, to beat Martin Jol’s Fulham 3-1 at Craven Cottage. The pick of the bunch was a sublime lob which found the bottom corner, similar to the goal he scored during the 2012 London Olympics for Team GB.

I’m looking forward to what the final day has in store in terms of the Champions League spot. But we all know that there will be far less drama than what we have experienced on the last day before.

 

Written by Adam May

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Adam’s Premier League Column: Villa Spark Revival

  By O-Posts Team | May 7, 2013 - 20:43 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Due to various commitments through school and other means, it’s been a while since I’ve been able to write a column for O-Posts. I’d like to personally congratulate Manchester United on their 13th league title under Sir Alex Ferguson, and it’s a testament to him how well United have bounced back from that stoppage time winner from Sergio Aguero last May. That seems a distant and feint memory now.

 

Norwich 1 Aston Villa 2

Villa reached the magic points tally of 40, although Paul Lambert, Villa’s manager, isn’t sure whether they are safe just yet. What they do know however is that their future is now in their hands after two wins on the bounce, the first a 6-1 drubbing of Sunderland, and the crucial away win at Carrow Road.

Lambert has stuck by his young-guns throughout the campaign, and is being rewarded with some great individual performances of late. I reckon if Villa beat the drop, and it’s looking increasingly likely that they will, and are able to keep the majority of the squad then they could be an impressive team next season. The likes of Lowton, Weimann, Benteke and Agbonlahor have really stood out and improved. And it was the latter who grabbed all three points.

Villa’s first goal came in the second-half when Ashley Westwood set-up Gabriel Agbonlahor who lashed in a superb goal of great quality.

On 72 minutes, youngster Joe Bennett fouled Robert Snodgrass to give referee Kevin Friend no option but to award a penalty, which was only Norwich’s second of the campaign. Grant Holt stepped up and converted, sending Brad Guzan the wrong way.
Villa were only momentarily disheartened, and Villa stole the three points with two minutes of normal time remaining.

Ashley Westwood picked up the ball again and slotted a pin-point pass into the path of the on-running Agbonlahor, who let the ball run across his body before firing a low-shot into the far corner, his ninth league goal of the campaign.

It was a crucial three points for Villa, and Norwich will now be worried as they have two tough games remaining, at home to West Brom then away to Manchester City, to get results from in order to beat the drop.

 

West Brom 2 Wigan 3

This result was a real surprise for me. But then, the more I think about it, is it a surprise? Is it a surprise given the way that the Latics always seem to dig deep and get results when it matters at this time of year? They won this match without playing their best football. In truth, they were rather poor. Their passing play was off colour and scrappy at times. Only Maloney really drove them forward. But it was their shear willpower and wanting to push on and score that got them the result.

The home side, who don’t have anything to play for other than pride, took the lead through Shane Long. However, ten minutes later, Kone struck gold for Wigan with six minutes to play until half-time. They had to come from behind yet again as McAuley put the Baggies 2-1 up. James McArther got on the end of Shaun Maloney’s drilled cross and headed in past goalkeeper Foster to level.

Youngster Callum McManaman then converted from close-range to give Wigan the three points, which took their points total to 35 at the time of writing. This will give them great confidence going into the FA Cup final with 2011 winners Manchester City, especially if they can beat Swansea who have been somewhat off colour of late.

As for West Brom, they will be scratching their heads as to how they didn’t get the three points, and they’ll be looking to bounce back against Manchester City.

 

Tottenham 1 Southampton 0

Gareth Bale haunted his former club at White Hart lane with a strike that we’ve all come to expect from the winger-cum-striker. For those that haven’t seen the strike, he picked the ball up on the right-wing and drifted inside past the helpless Luke Shaw, before unleashing a telling shot that had no back-lift whatsoever, and the ball found the bottom corner with four minutes left to play.

I hope for the sake of English football that Bale stays at Tottenham for a least another season. It would be a real shame to see him move abroad to either Barcelona or Real Madrid, as some reports suggest. I’ve heard that Sir Alex Ferguson is interested in acquiring his services at Old Trafford next season, but I cannot see how the Champions will be able to meet Spurs’ justification of £60million for the Welshman.

Champions League football will be a big decider in where Bale ends up, and this victory may edge him closer to putting pen to paper with the London club. It seems like he’s revelling in playing under AVB who, it seems, has got the best out of Bale this season.

Whilst he may not have had the best of games against the Saints, when you score a winner like he did (and 19 other league goals at the time of writing this season) you can sort of allow for it! Sort of…

 

REMINDER: This was written prior to all midweek fixtures. An overview of the mid-week games will be in the next column.

 

My Team of the Week

 

Written by Adam May

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Fan Memories: Football isn’t what it used To Be

  By O-Posts Team | April 27, 2013 - 20:31 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Football has changed in many ways over the last three decades and not wholly for the better. The big clubs have got stronger, the small clubs weaker and the players are now paid a ludicrous amount of money. Loyalty seems to have gone out of the window and cheating is rife.

Having said that the experience of actually attending a game has improved no end, in fact it is a different world altogether and for that I am grateful.

 

Second Class Citizens

There was a time when football supporters were treated so badly that it is a wonder anyone bothered turning up. I had so many bad experiences involving violence from other fans, poor facilities and being transported like cattle that looking back I can’t believe that it all happened.

I was also unfortunate enough to be present at both the Hillsborough and Heysel Stadium disasters where so many people lost their lives. Both of these terrible tragedies were the result of negligence on the part of the authorities and the police, negligence which certainly had its roots in the prevailing attitude that football fans were worthless.

On one occasion prior to these events I was given a rude reminder of just how poor the attitudes of many police officers actually were.

 

Away Match

I was attending Liverpool’s away match at Stoke City and had failed to obtain a ticket for the special supporters’ train and so had to purchase a full price fare on a normal scheduled service. I didn’t realise it at the time but this train ticket was going to cost me a lot more than it appeared.

The journey to Stoke and the match were uneventful and I left the stadium to walk back to the station expecting a similarly hassle free journey home. As I approached the station a police officer shouted at me to join the queue for the supporters’ train and I explained that I did not have a ticket for that service and need to proceed to the station to take the scheduled service back to Liverpool.

At this point the officer grabbed hold of me and threw me against a wall shouting that I had to join the queue. Unfortunately he threw me head first and I smashed my head on the wall. As I got to my feet there was blood pouring out of my head and I got my bearings just in time to see my friend attack the officer in a rage and get himself arrested! He shouted for me to go home and he would see me later.

I at least had the presence of mind to memorise the officer’s number. I then sat down by some garage doors to recover with blood trickling down my neck.

 

Aftermath

Some fellow fans helped me out and I eventually got home, albeit with a head wound and blood all over my clothes. My friend was released the same day and was not charged with anything. He too had memorised the police officer’s number and his recollection matched mine.

We made a complaint regarding the officer’s conduct only to be told that we were in error as the officer whose number we reported was not working at the match that day. The police had obviously closed ranks and there was nothing we could do about it.

 

Shocking

Looking back it seems crazy that there was a time when football fans were treated so badly and that a police officer could get away with such an assault so easily. I am sure that things like this still happen but it is much rarer now. In those days it was commonplace.

I guess that I should also add that what happened to me on that day in Stoke on Trent was more shocking than it appears as I am a woman and at the time of the assault I was a teenage girl.

 

Byline

Sally Stacey is a keen blogger and football enthusiast who has spent over 30 years visiting football ground across Europe. She is currently writing on behalf of The Plastic Depot.

 

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The Upcoming Football Video Game That Plunges you Into the Seedy World of Match Fixing

  By O-Posts Team | April 26, 2013 - 19:33 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Video games and football have gone hand in hand for decades, with games like FIFA 13, Pro Evolution Soccer and Football Manager hitting the bestseller lists year on year, giving players the chance to play at managing or playing as their favourite teams.

A new game that is currently under development aims to turn the football management game on its head, taking players deep into the sinister underworld of football corruption and allowing them to play as a shady match fixer.

Game Changer – The Football Match Fixing Game is being made for iOS and Android mobile and tablet devices, and will be made available in early 2014 if the developers successfully gain funding with their upcoming campaign on popular crowdfunding site Kickstarter.

In Game Changer, you can bribe players, pay off police and officials, blackmail referees and do all kinds of other interesting and immoral things to try and ensure the results you want, and then make a fortune by betting on your fixed outcomes.

As you grow in influence in the criminal underworld, you can fix games in bigger and more prestigious leagues around the world to gain higher profits, as well as being able to team up with crime boss characters and even your real life friends (thanks to social media integration) to get better results.

The game promises to blend elements of conventional football games and sims with the kind of stories and gameplay you normally see in crime games and RPGs, as well as featuring a sophisticated gambling system that allows you to implement all kinds of interesting strategies to make your fortune.

The developers, Game Changer Games, are also keen to make sure the game contains plenty of dark humour, because match fixing is, after all, a pretty horrible thing.

If you are interested in finding out more about the plans for Game Changer and the Kickstarter campaign that will hopefully make the game possible, you can check out the official website at www.gamechangergame.com or follow the developers’ official Twitter account @gamechangergame.

 

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Fan Culture: England vs Eastern Europe

  By O-Posts Team | April 21, 2013 - 16:49 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Football hooliganism is something which plagues the sport all around the world, but in England, it is something which is hoped to be just about extinguished. Long gone are the terraces which were last seen years ago with the Hillsborough disaster being the trigger for the reform in the English footballing culture , and in their place, are only all seater safe looking stadiums. But the events last Sunday, proved that football hooliganism is long from being diminished.

The Newcastle-Sunderland derby is always a passionate and highly charged affair, as shown by Paolo Di Canio’s vibrant celebrations on the touchline on Sunday, but the behaviour of the Newcastle fans was something which hasn’t been seen in England for sometime. Whether it be throwing bottles at police, or trying in vain to pick fights with rival Sunderland supporters, they have shown that the thug culture in English football is still very much present.

In other countries though, such events wouldn’t even make local news let alone national news. Eastern European football is synonymous with right wing fan groups making trouble, but if it will ever be stamped out, is a question that is surrounded by serious doubt.

An even bigger question though, is what football would be like, without so called ‘ultras’. From their spectacular pre match shows on the stands, which include banners of a high artistic quality, aided with the typically controversial fire crackers, they certainly do add atmosphere. But it isn’t just Eastern Europe that possesses such die hard fans. Well developed footballing countries with rich histories, such as Germany and Italy, haven’t seen their footballing cultures disappear with the success and money that have came their way.

In England though, it’s somewhat a different story. The country may lay claim to having the most popular league in the world, with clubs that consistently perform excellently on the European stage, but it is the only country in Europe, where no fan culture is in existence anywhere. Ever since the Hillsborough incident in 1989, in which 96 fans tragically lost their lives following a crush in the stadium after too many fans were let into the stadium, signalled the end of the English fan movement. Liverpool for example may still have their Kop, but you would be hard-pressed to find any other English club which has anything similar to hardcore fans.

For some though, it’s only a good thing. To be able to go to the stadium with your family to watch a game, and being able to enjoy a family day out while feeling completely safe, is something which you couldn’t do in a country like Russia for example. When I went to an ice hockey in Moscow, a game that was even relatively low key, you couldn’t help by feel intimidated by the police on horses which greeted you around the stadium. It isn’t something that I wouldn’t recommend to parents wishing to take a young child to, but the opposing argument is just as strong.

So called ultras, the right wing hardcore fans, create a fantastic atmosphere at every game, an atmosphere that can seriously intimidate opponents and affect the end result of the game in a serious way. They are just completely non existent in England though, and the closest you will get to an ultra here, is a fan that quite happily join in with the somewhat monotonous and if I’m honest boring chanting, only after their team has scored. If the result isn’t quite going their way though, you shouldn’t be surprised to see the stadium already half empty with 10 minutes still to be played.

It is a problem that is shown up horribly, every time visiting European fans are visiting. Throughout the recent Tottenham-Basel Europa League game in London, you would be hard-pressed to hear any sort of noise that sounded like British and not Swiss voices. It’s hard to know who to point the blame at though, the fans themselves, or the English footballing system which you may say, is preventing any hardcore fans, from making any sort of impact whatsoever.

For me the answer is simple, English fans are too damn lazy to get off their backsides and make an effort, something which is just part of the English culture as whole. While fans in countries such as Russia – and in poorer Eastern bloc countries such as Bosnia and Serbia may be labelled as living in a timewarp with some of their beliefs and actions – no one can doubt, the amount of effort, that they put in to their team week in week out. Something which gives their club – and country as a whole – a real strong identity, an identity that England just doesn’t possess as a result of their own laziness. Any old so called fan can buy a season ticket and sit down at the stadium, but a real fan does more than the bare minimum.

Everything has its positives though, and one of the stand out positives, is that football is a real family game in Britain. Trouble is virtually never seen in the stadium or around it, excluding the odd drunkard that has a few too many. Events on Sunday have shocked everyone somewhat however. Newcastle and Sunderland may be major rivals, but no one predicted, that such behaviour from the Newcastle supporters would have been witnessed. But if you take into account how much alcohol they would have consumed preceding the incident though, and everything starts to appear more and more understandable.

While any behaviour that endangers the safety of other should always be condemned, passion is something that should only be praised. But if anyone calls what was seen on Sunday as footballing passion, then they are just a bit deluded. Young teenagers, who joined in with the incident for the fun of it, don’t deserve the right of being called football supporters.

A more appropriate title, is thugs. Some may argue it was a show of real passion for their club for the Newcastle supporters, but it’s just a shame, that English football passion is more akin to the state of being drunk, than actually being bothered to making an effort.

Eastern Europe may be a few steps behind in terms of infrastructure and commercialism, but are streets ahead with their fans – fans who may be old fashioned – would do anything for their beloved club, something which only deserves to be admired.

 

Written by Shaun Nicolaides

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The Goal-Line Debate: Football’s relationship with technology must stop at the goal-line

  By O-Posts Team | April 19, 2013 - 20:36 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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From Sir Geoff Hurst’s infamous strike versus Germany in the 1966 World Cup final to Frank Lampard’s disallowed lob against the same opposition in the second round of the 2010 event, it has been a debate that has spanned generations. The ball and the goal-line, did it cross it or not?

In the case of Lampard’s effort in the crushing defeat in Bloemfontein, the ball certainly did bounce on the correct side of the line after it beat Manuel Neuer and crashed off the underside of the bar, yet that was a conclusion only reached by television replay. Referee Jorge Larrionda did not have access to such luxury when making his split-second decision and Lampard was denied. Germany went on to win 4-1 when that disputed effort would have clawed England back to 2-2 with half-time approaching.

That incident illustrated the sensitivity of a game that can hinge at anytime via something so unreliable as human error. The FA had been campaigning for years, with backing from the Premier League’s chief executive Richard Scudamore, for the introduction of technology to rule on dubious goal-line calls and Lampard’s disallowed effort proved to be something of a watershed moment. Sepp Blatter, the polemic president of FIFA, became convinced about technologies’ advantages and swung the argument in the favour of the FA.

Four years on and the FA and the Premier League have got their wish. Last week, all 20 top division clubs voted on Hawk-eye to provide goal-line technology from the beginning of the 2013-2014 season. It is likely to banish the miscarriages of justice that have littered football’s recent past in the form of, amongst many others, Pedro Mendes at Old Trafford, QPR’s Clint Hill at Bolton and Crystal Palace’s “goal” at Bristol City that was catastrophically mistaken.

That is nothing other than a huge positive for those interested in the fairness and the values of merit of which the sport is founded, and Scudamore was especially glowing in his approval. “Football is fundamentally a simple game, whichever side scores the most goals wins” he said, “so when on is scored, or indeed not scored, and we have the ability of technology to know…. we should definitely use it”.

It is Scudamore’s global business of the Premier League that has placed gigantic emphasis on financial reward. Clubs desperately compete for prize money, the difference between each place at the end of the last campaign was £800,000, breeding a competitiveness that stretches right down to the finest detail. Now the most intense of meritocracies, a disallowed goal can cost a club thousands and that is why the Premier League have been looking into a more definitive method of ruling the goal-line since 2006.

Hawk-eye, used in cricket and tennis, provided the most compelling case for its technology to be used in the Premier League and will operate a system that will transmit an uninterrupted signal to the referee within a second of an ambiguous call. The company boast of a system that betters FIFA’s margin of error requirement of +/-3cm, it all sounds very appealing to those seeking a quick, unconditional decision on incidents that could have previously bred a debate that spanned for months.

As football moves into the 21st century however, it is important not to forget the foundations of society that the game has been built on. Opinion and debate has become integral to the game, bringing fans together in pubs across the land as talking points in the aftermath of a game thrive. To lose that bind, a sense of community if you will, would be a huge blow to a game that, with rising ticket prices and huge wages, has never been more inaccessible to the everyday supporter. When it comes to disputable goal-line calls, something as unequivocal as Hawk-eye’s technology would eradicate that debate.

Human error has long provided colour to a game that can sometimes be too serious. There is something of a beauty to the game in its natural state where arguments and opinions are exchanged across the land. Was he offside? Was it a red card? Was it a penalty? Those are the disputes that have been part of football’s heritage and should be left alone as the sport embraces modernisation. Traditionalists will accept that goal-line calls are too pivotal and too costly to avoid intervention. The game will be fairer as a result, but the raw emotion of reacting to a bad foul, or a close offside call, should be kept away from the influence of technology and allowed to boil in the true fabric of the sport.

Another potential problem will arise in the centricity of the technology, only being used in the Premier League as Michel Platini remains opposed to its influence, preferring instead to persist with the extra-officials when on the continent. A £2,000 price per game to use the system will also price lower-league clubs out of its use, so Premier League clubs are likely to be alternating from games with the benefit of Hawk-eye to games without it. For those seeking a complete eradication of injustice on the goal-line this will cause some confusion, but it’s hard to argue with its existence in the Premier League, where financial reward has never before been such a serious issue.

It’s difficult to see any negativity in Scuadmore finally having his wish granted to push his product into the era of modern technology, relieving the pressure on referees who previously held masses of prize money at their mercy, but that’s where football’s partnership with technology should end, on the goal-line.

Go any further, and it becomes a joyless, soulless sport where robots flourish and human opinions are marginalised.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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Premier League: The Player and Team of the Year

  By O-Posts Team | April 12, 2013 - 20:42 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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It’s that time of the season when footballers get to vote for their mates or fellow countrymen in the LMA player of the year and young player of the year awards; as well as a team of the year.

So, for what it’s worth, here’s my team and players of the year:

 

Goalkeeper

Asmir Begovic (Stoke City)

Despite Stoke surprisingly slipping toward the threat of relegation, Begovic has been the Premier League’s stand-out keeper. This season he’s shown himself to be a great shot stopper, calm under pressure and not fazed by physical attention.

His consistency has been top drawer and the only question mark is where he’ll be playing next season as a summer offer from a big club surely awaits.

 

Defenders

 

Glen Johnson (Liverpool)

Other than a few bad games, Johnson has been excellent this season. His defending, often much maligned, is better than given credit for. Going forward, he’s been able to show off his impressive technique in a transitional Liverpool side.

 

Ashley Williams (Swansea)

Williams has been a rock at the back in a landmark season for Swansea, showing a high level of consistency. He looks at home in the Premier League, strong in the air, comfortable on the ball and has been the League’s centre back this year.

It doesn’t surprise that the big clubs are beginning to sniff around him, it’s just a shame for him that he’s not 5 years younger.


Pablo Zabaleta (Man City)

In the absence of another stand out centre back over the full course of the season and the fact that Zabaleta was unlucky to lose out to Glen Johnson for the right back slot, I’ve put Zabaleta in alongside Williams.

Whilst Man City have missed the forward runs of the injured Micah Richards, Zabaleta has been the model of consistency and presents City with a dilemma once Richards returns to full fitness.

 

Leighton Baines (Everton)

It will be difficult to find anyone who disputes that Baines has been the outstanding left back in the Premier League this year. Whilst Everton have challenged for a Champions League spot, Baines has been a key man at the back and going forward with a goals and assists record this year that a winger would be happy with.

 

 

Midfielders

 

Juan Mata (Chelsea)

The Spanish playmaker has grown in stature this season and is a contender for player of the year. Whilst he may not make the speedy headline grabbing runs of Gareth Bale, but he more than makes up for it with his technique, guile and awareness.

His goal and assist stats for this season are impressive, but his influence for Chelsea this season has gone beyond stats.

 

Michael Carrick (Man Utd)

Although I’m not a Carrick fan, even I have to concede he’s had his best season since moving to Old Trafford. He’s always been a good passer of the ball, but this season he’s had more influence in attacking play and had probably his best season since his last at Tottenham, leading to a deserved England recall.

 

Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

Devastating on his day, he’s showing more consistency and added goals to his repertoire this year. He’s become so vital to Spurs attacking threat that the team can look a little lost without him on the pitch.

He’s established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League this season and will undoubtedly attract interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs this summer.

 

Forwards

 

Luis Suarez (Liverpool)

May not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the Uruguayan hitman has taken his game to another level this year. His balance, skill, technique and unpredictability make him a nightmare for opposition defenders and his improved finishing that has taken him to the top of the goalscoring charts.

The level of performance and consistency he’s attained have moved him into footballs elite.

 

Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)

An outstanding debut season, not only because of his age, but also because it’s all been in a struggling Aston Villa side. His pace and physical presence naturally help him settle into English football, but his ability, link up play and goals have really grabbed everyone’s attention and the £7m Villa paid for him already looks a bargain.


Robin van Persie (Man Utd)

£24m for a 29 year-old with a questionable injury record, on the face of it, is something of a gamble. However, van Persie’s goals have been key to Man Utd all but securing a 20th League title, especially in the first half of the season, when Utd struggled to keep a clean sheet.

He’s also shown that his goal tally in his final season at Arsenal was no fluke and his class is there for all to see.

 

Honourable mentions also go to Simon Mignolet, Hugo Lloris, Matija Nastasic, Rio Ferdinand, Jan Vertonghen, Moussa Dembele, Andreas Weimann and Michu

 

Player of the year: Luis Suarez (Liverpool)

For me, he’s been the best player in the league this year and not just because he’s scored the most goals. He’s performed week in, week out and deserves the player of the year award, but probably won’t get it because of reputation. He’s one of those players that home fans love, but opposition fans hate.

So, despite him being the player of the year, don’t expect him to get the award his performances have deserved.

 

 

Runner up: Robin van Persie (Man Utd)

His goals put United in pole position to regain the Premier League title and give the club an instant return on their heavy investment.

Gareth Bale will be many people’s favourite for the award and may even get it, but despite putting in some great individual performances, he hasn’t shown the level of consistency that Suarez, van Persie and even Mata have.

 

Young Player of the year: Christian Benteke (Aston Villa)

As I mentioned earlier, a fantastic debut season in English football for the Belgian striker, who at 22, looks to have a bright future ahead of him. His goals and all round play for Villa could be enough to keep them up and helped Villa fans forget about the out of favour Darren Bent.

 

Runner up: Matija Nastasic (Man City)

Has slowly but surely settled into the City side, growing in stature as the season has gone on. Quick, strong and technically gifted, his selection ahead of the more experienced Joleon Lescott is no longer a talking point.

Having just turned 20 and brought in from Fiorentina as part of a swap deal for Savic, he is looking a very astute piece of business from City.

 

Written by Andy Wales

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Adam’s Premier League Column: United’s title party put on hold

  By O-Posts Team | April 9, 2013 - 18:31 | , , , , , , , , , , ,
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It’s been another fruitful weekend of Premier League football for us all to enjoy. It still remains to be seen who will be relegated come the end of the season; however I do feel that Reading are all but gone. I can’t see where they will get points from, as they still have to play Liverpool, Man City and West Ham.

The tie at home to QPR could well change everything on 28 April but it may be a case of too little too late.

Here are my top three games of the week:

 

Manchester United 1 Manchester City 2

With the champions-elect storming to the title, this match was for bragging rights. United wanted no repeat of the 6-1 demolition job that they faced when the Citizens last visited United at The Theatre of Dreams.

The game started off very openly despite chances being few and far between. City were knocking the ball about nicely and Silva was showing his exquisite touches whilst Carlos Tevez was causing Phil Jones and Rio Ferdinand all kinds of problems.

In the second half both teams clunked into another gear, and it was the visitors who took the lead. Ryan Giggs’s attempted back-heel on the right-wing was picked-off by Gareth Barry. Barry’s pass found Samir Nasri who set up Milner’s low drive, which took a slight deflection of youngster Phil Jones to wrong-foot De Gea in the United goal.

Eight minutes later, the home side were given a free-kick from an acute angle after Yaya Touré fouled Rafael. Robin van Persie stepped up and delivered a telling ball into the six-yard box, which Phil Jones’ headed in-off Vincent Kompany to level the scoring.

It was substitute Sergio Agϋero who had the final say, as he rose off the bench to net a truly wonderful goal. He ran at the United defence with pace – in which he brushed aside four players – before unleashing a near-post effort which went high into the roof of the net.

City stood well to some heavy pressure from United, but they simply didn’t have an answer. Meanwhile, City will take plenty of confidence from this victory as they enter their F.A. Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday.

The earliest that Manchester United can now win the league is against Villa on Monday 22 April at Old Trafford, providing that Manchester City do not slip-up against Wigan Athletic.

 

Stoke 1 Aston Villa 3

Stoke are drawing closer and closer to the relegation zone and, during the early stages of the season, very few would have predicted that the Potters would be where they are now. Around November time, they had one of the best defensive records in the league, but have since fallen away.

Without Begovic in goal, I reckon they’d be second from bottom. Whilst that may appear harsh, I believe it to be true. And I’m struggling to put my finger on the lone factor. The trouble is; I don’t think there is one.

Firstly, their forwards simply haven’t performed. Michael Owen has been ineffective due to his long-term injury. At the time of writing, Peter Crouch has only scored 5 league goals, Kenwyne Jones and Cameron Jerome 3. Even their top-scorer, Jon Walters, has only netted on 6 occasions.

And all this puts added pressure on the defence to perform. One of their biggest problems is their away form. They’ve won one, drew six and lost nine, whilst shipping in 21 goals (which is rather good) but only scoring nine goals, level with West Ham.

Onto the match, and it was won that neither team could afford to lose. Villa got off to the best start with Agbonlahor stabbing home on his attempt from close-range on nine minutes, after his initial hit was blocked. From then on, it was a cagey encounter and, with what was at stake, not surprising.

Villa had to be at their defensive best, although with ten minutes of normal time remaining, Michael Kightly slammed in to level. There only looked to be one winner as the home side were continuously pressing and looking the most likely to score.

However, Villa went ahead in unlikely fashion. Villa’s right-back Matthew Lowton cushioned a clearance beautifully on his chest, before dispatching an unbelievable volley into the top corner.
Stoke were bewildered and got caught again.

This time, the ball was lost in the middle which Benteke picked up. He drove at Begovic’s goal and had plenty of time to pick his spot before picking the bottom corner, to hand the visitors a deserved three points.

 

Norwich 2 Swansea City 2

This was a cracker! Swansea got off to a flier when Miguel Michu fired the visitors in front in customary fashion after 35 minutes. The lead didn’t last long though as Robert Snodgrass headed into the net after an inch-perfect cross by Elliott Bennett set-up the Scot.

After the interval, the home-side took the incentive and Michael Turner expertly slid in to stab home past Vorm in the Swansea goal.
Luke Moore, who was given a rare start, spoiled the party at Carrow Road by netting from close-range on 75 minutes.

Both sides won’t be drawn into the relegation scrap that’s taking place, I’m confident of that! Swansea will be the more disappointed, although it’s a great point for Norwich against Michael Laudrup’s well-drilled side.

 

My Team of the Week

 

Written by Adam May

Follow Adam on Twitter @Amay132

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