Walcott and England’s Waste of Pace

During England vs. Moldova Theo Walcott cut a frustrated figure due to the lack of service he was receiving from his midfield colleagues.  Time and time again Walcott made runs into the space behind the Moldovan right back Bordiyan only to be missed by Lampard, Gerrard and his partner on the right wing Kyle Walker.  When the correct pass was spotted, normally by Wilshere, it was lacking the correct level of accuracy to put him through.  This seems to be an ongoing trend when Walcott plays for England, which often leads to him being criticised for being ineffective when playing for the Three Lions.  If England can harness Walcott’s blistering pace, movement and improved finishing ability then he can become a pivotal weapon in the attacking contingent of the national side.   

Walcott is used to the supreme service provided by the Arsenal midfield which allows him to play on the shoulder and spin into space knowing that one of his colleagues will be looking to play him in at the first opportunity.  This gives him the best chance to work the space and use his terrifying speed to bully a beleaguered left back opponent to draw a yellow card, or head straight to goal leaving the defence in his dust.  Lampard and Gerrard are more than capable of hitting a quality through ball, it just seems not be their first option when in possession which allows the defender the extra half-second to cut out the intended pass when it is played.  This in turn has a negative impact on Walcott who has to delay his runs to avoid the offside trap and second-guess his teammates when the ball will be delivered.  

Against Moldova there wasn’t much space in behind for Theo to utilise on the counter.  Moldova were playing a largely defensive game limiting the numbers of players they threw forward in attack when in possession.  Walcott is at his most lethal at the point of transition between defence and attack and he has plenty of room to manoeuvre.  There are not many in world football who can rival his speed on the break. 

There did appear to be glimpses of a partnership forming between Lambert and Walcott.  With Lambert dropping deep, holding up the ball and engaging the centre backs further up the pitch he created the space before trying to thread through a pass for Theo to get on the end of.  I was thoroughly impressed by Lambert’s all around link-up play and vision, especially when servicing Welbeck and Walcott whilst preoccupying the centre backs.

Ukraine however will provide a much sterner test than Moldova. With Welbeck suspended for the pivotal encounter it is likely that Hodgson will lean towards the more defensive-minded Milner as his replacement, which in turn will heap more responsibility on Walcott to support Lambert and provide the emphasis of the attacking threat.

Last season at Arsenal Theo started acting more as a leader and became far more vocal on the pitch.  He can now be seen berating his teammates when he does not receive the ball as he wanted it, and hopefully he can start replicating this attitude in England colours to let his midfield know exactly how he needs the ball played to be effective. 

Unbelievably Walcott is still only 24 and has plenty left to give for the Three Lions.  The future is looking bright for Theo; with Wilshere looking likely to nail down a consistent starting position in the midfield he will provide the type of quality service that Walcott can feed off.  Utilising his pace will provide a significant advantage over any opponent and could be the key for success against Ukraine, who themselves will be looking for a decisive lead to win the game and top the group leaving them susceptible to the counter attack.  Walcott could provide the main cutting edge against Ukraine, and if utilised properly he can do so for the national side for many years to come.

Gareth Bale; a Real Conundrum

The 1^st of September will go down in history as the day that a Welshman became the world’s most expensive player, a snip at £85.3 Million.  Since the transfer has been completed there have been plenty of rumours of unrest within the Real camp, as Ozil’s departure has deeply shocked his former team-mates.  Bale will have plenty to do to convince his new colleagues that he is a capable replacement for the creative Ozil whilst adjusting to a new league, a new language, and a new life in Spain.

You only need to look at Bale’s record last season to see the impact he can have on a game.  In 2012-13 Bale scored 21 goals and created 7 assists, which led him to win PFA Players' Player of the Year, the Young Player of the Year and the FWA (Football Writer's Association) Player of the Year Award.  It is clear to see what attracted Real’s president Florentino Pérez, to the acquisition of such a prize, but there doesn't seem to have been much thought in how Gareth would fit into the system and work in unison with Ronaldo.  Ancelotti has quite a task on his hands; fitting a wealth of talent into a fully functioning system and unifying a dressing room clearly upset with Ozil’s departure.  Gareth Bale has done his best to sooth Ronaldo’s ego by referring to him as the boss, and it will be interesting to see how the two can work in tandem and how Ronaldo will react on and off the pitch to Bale’s heftier price tag and higher wages. 

One of Bale’s great strengths is his ability to cross the ball which could prove fruitful for Ronaldo due his prowess in the air, though Bale may find it difficult to deliver as well from the right than from his preferred role on the left.  Bale was used in a variety of positions by Villas Boas last year, on the left and the right and the free-roaming role, though you may doubt he will be allowed the same level of freedom with the depth of attacking talent on display at Madrid.  Real did experiment by playing Ronaldo upfront in pre-season though he did not seem comfortable with the switch and you don’t want to mess with anything that affects such a dependable goal scorer.  Benzema looks nailed on to retain his place as the main striker, as does Khedira at the base of the midfield and Xabi Alonso alongside when fit.  Isco the other expensive summer addition will be filling the attacking midfielder spot vacated by Ozil which leaves Gareth on the right of the front three.  Bale will have to prove his versatility as he can only cut inside on to his favoured left boot so many times before defenders will start to lead him down the flank to deliver a cross with his weaker right.  Robben at Bayern is a master of evading this tactic; he somehow manages to cut in on his stronger left and get a shot off when all defenders try and lead him down the line and Gareth may be able to learn a thing or 2 from this wily customer.

Bale will hope that he can hit the ground running and put these misgivings to one side, though this may be difficult as he was unable to complete a pre-season and his fitness may be in question.  Madrid have purchased one of the best players in the world, only behind Messi and Ronaldo in the pecking order.  He is a special player and I have no doubt that he can adapt to his new position and it’s more of a question of when and not if.  Bale will have to get used to playing second fiddle to Ronaldo, though if these 2 can create a good partnership the speed and incisiveness on the counter-attack will be a terrifying weapon in the Madrid armoury and a sight to behold for any football fan.  Like many of his predecessors Ancelotti now faces the enviable task of fitting the wonderful array of talent into the jigsaw of a fully functional balanced team.  Still, I’m sure it is a conundrum that many a manager would love to face.        

Peering through the Glass of the Transfer Window

Twice a year, whilst it’s open I wake up every morning with the excitement and anticipation of a child waiting for Christmas.  I reach over to my phone, go on the BBC Sport Transfer Gossip and scan through the news anxiously wondering which spurious source is linking my team with which wonder player they can’t afford.  Transfer window is the right word.  I sit with my nose and hands pressed up against the grubby glass looking on with jealousy whilst teams pick up ridiculously overpriced players they can adore until they move on in a couple of years to the next highest bidder.  The marquee signing – it’s very IN this season.  Neymar to Barcelona, Falcao to Monaco, potentially Bale to Real Madrid.  It’s all go isn't it?  I think it’s just a way of clubs and rich owners showing off.  Arsene Wenger made the valid point that this is supposed to be the year the financial fair play rule comes in, and some of the figures being bandied about make a joke of it. 

My favourite part of the window is the Sky Sports News coverage of absolutely no movement whatsoever.  If I hear Gareth Bale’s name one more time I think I may explode.  Well that or make a voodoo doll of Jim White and stuff his mouth with cotton wool.  The Rooney saga is no better with multiple clips of Wayne getting in and out of cars, walking along corridors etc etc, it’s fascinating stuff.  I sometimes wish we could fast forward all of the talk until the season starts or the player has actually signed for the club.  At least this time we shouldn't see too much of Harry hanging out of his car window giving interview after interview about his transfer targets hoping that he may one day get his hand on the England job thanks to the backing of the media.

Don’t get me wrong I love the final 24 hours and all the last minute action.  This year I hope to see Darren Bent parachuting into a clubs training ground with 5 minutes to go until the window slams shut.  I want to see Gareth Bale completing his medical on a speedboat blasting his way to Madrid.  Or Ibrahimovic on the Eurostar racing to London frantically looking for a pen to complete the signing of the legal documents whilst the countdown music is playing.  How about Balotelli piloting a camouflage helicopter to the centre of Paris, getting on the back of a moped and making it to PSG whilst the Mission Impossible theme tune is playing?  Or Mourinho collecting Rooney from the helipad on the back of quad bike and racing to Stamford Bridge just beating the chimes of Big Ben?  These are all sights I would love to witness, all backed by the dependable narration of the excitable Jim White. 

Who cares about a marquee signing anyway?  My club is going to make a Big Top signing to trump them all.                 

The Spark Australia Needed to Rise from the Ashes?

With the result settled by the rain at Old Trafford England retained the Ashes, but at what cost?

The rain in Manchester was responsible for helping England retain the Ashes, Graeme Swann even took to Twitter to praise the weather but what kind of message does this send out to the Australian team who thoroughly outplayed England for the entirety of this Test?  Much like in 2005 when Australia famously celebrated the drawn result at this ground it exposed a weakness to the opposition that can be used to spur on the Aussies and make them realise that they are more than capable of competing with England, who themselves will be relieved to escape the sticky situation Australia had put them in. 

With the little play possible on the final day Australia’s seam attack once again preyed on England’s top order and the psychological one-upmanship has been established, with Cook and Trott especially looking out of sorts and susceptible to the wily craft of Harris, Siddle and co.  Cook himself may be feeling the pressure of captaining during the Ashes series, and his review for a blatant LBW decision had a sniff of desperation about it which wouldn't have gone unnoticed in the Australian dressing room.  Joe Root has also looked rather timid in the last two innings, and his tortuously slow run-rate let the Australian bowlers get on top of him.  I for one have no problem with Root playing himself in and facing a number of dot balls but it seems to me that he plays his best cricket when he has a more positive mind set and plays a few shots rotating the strike and forcing Clarke to spread the field.  The continued good form of Ian Bell has provided England a get out of jail card in a number of innings to date, with Pietersen providing the added impetus in this test to mask the frailties of the England Top 3.

Australia on the other hand must be commended for the spirit and fight they showed throughout this match.  The skipper was in fine fettle and scored a majestic 187; his use of feet when facing Swann was an absolute joy to watch.  Question marks still remain over the rest of the batting line-up but Chris Rogers contributed a handy 84 getting Australia off to the perfect start and showed what kind of player he can be without scoreboard pressure affecting his batting.  

It must be said that it was a benign pitch and it was a great toss to win though Australia still had to turn up and do the business, which they did wholeheartedly.  Everyone has a different opinion about the batting line-up but I personally feel that the combative Warner should be moved up to open with Rogers, with Watson slipping down to 3 and Clarke the linchpin staying at 4 giving him more time to make an impact on the innings.  Once again it was the imperious innings of Clarke that catapulted Australia into such a commanding position, and the rest of the batsmen need to wade in with some hefty scores to lighten some of the burden on the captain’s shoulders. 

Australia’s seam attack put England to shame in this test, with particularly the leader Harris and Siddle looking a far more threatening prospect than the England quick’s.  They managed to extract more out of this pitch in both innings than the English lads, and showed better body language throughout with Broad and Anderson looking a bit whingey at times both with the foot holes and at the umpires. 

The one problem for the Aussies is the spinner.  Nathan Lyon showed glimpses in the first innings of what he can do and you feel that if he had got Cook with the dropped catch his confidence would have been given a much needed boost, and he may even have provided a few wickets for Clarke.  Pietersen and Bell put paid to that in one foul swoop and smashed Lyon out of the attack destroying any of the fragile confidence he had gained. Agar on the other hand was given the starting position ahead of Lyon at the beginning of the series making 98 on debut with the bat, though perhaps was never given the opportunity to make an impact with the ball.  With no scorecard pressure exerted on England in either of the tests he featured in, this made taking wickets a difficult prospect for the young spinner.  

The guile of Swann has been the major difference between the bowling attacks, and his ability to take wickets has provided a significant advantage to England throughout the series.  Australia need to make a decision on the spinner berth and stick with it, as this current situation is undermining the confidence of both players and giving neither a fair crack of the whip.

There is still plenty to play for; England will be happy that the Ashes have now be retained, and may relax and start to play with a greater sense of freedom.  Their next target will be to win the series, and to keep Australia down with the ruthless efficiency so often displayed by their opponents against the England teams of the past.  Australia on the other hand will take great heart from their performance at Old Trafford and will hope to exploit some of the cracks that showed in the England line-up to stop the rot, to potentially draw the series or at least take a win back Down Under to boost their confidence for the home winter Ashes.  

The rain put a dampener on Australia's hopes of winning the last test, and with it their chances of capturing the Ashes went up in smoke.  Australia should use the momentum and like the proverbial phoenix rise from the Ashes to be resurrected in this series and beyond.

My Top 3 Sporting Movie Villains

I was watching cricket the other day and found myself truly terrified by the presence of the 7 foot Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Irfan.  This got me thinking of other sportsman who remind me of movie villains, and here are my top 3 dick-dastardly characters from sport who are planning to take over the world in retirement.

When talking about villainous characters it’s quite hard to look past Joey Barton. This nefarious footballer has even picked up a dodgy French accent whilst playing for Marseille, so could be cast in a Bond film without a second thought.  Whereas with Irfan his look is intimidating, I think Monsieur Barton could do you some real damage on a physical level, and certainly one to avoid at all costs!  On a lighter note, Joey is in touch with his sensitive side so once he had beaten you up he would play you the Smiths and you could bond on a deeper emotional level.

Lance Armstrong would certainly be on the podium for this one, with his naughty deeds reminiscent of Sean Bean’s character in Goldeneye Alec Trevelyan.  You think he’s the hero of the piece, and then his true colours are revealed to make him nothing more than a duplicitous cheat.  Once the darling of a nation, Lance’s fall from grace has been mighty.  It’s only a matter of time before he hatches his plan of revenge and world domination.  Perhaps he’ll use EPO to create a genetically enhanced army of super soldiers capable of running the world on bikes?  Lord help us all.

Finally it is time for the terminator Novak Djokovic.  I have a feeling that beneath that layer of skin lies a technologically advanced killing device capable of inflicting devastation upon his enemies.  Have you ever seen a normal human bend like that?  He defies the normal laws of physics.  I have to say I can’t imagine Arnie feigning an injury whilst his opponent is about to serve for the match, though I never saw him play tennis so who knows what level that Artificial Intelligence would stoop to!

All in all I think the world could be in some serious trouble if these three ever meet, let alone me so I'll leave it there in fear of my own safety. Remember, you heard it here first!

For Andy Murray the Grass is always greener than the clay

With the grass court season getting under way at Queens this week the interest of a nation swings round to the one Grand Slam that seemingly exists in the British consciousness.  The Great British hope has been struggling recently with disappointing performances on the clay and a restrictive back injury culminating in a four-week lay-off and him missing the French Open.  Now Murray has a chance to put the clay court season behind him and get back to more familiar surroundings.  How will he fare on the grass in the upcoming weeks?

The most pressing concern for Murray at present must be his back injury.  At 100% Murray can match any of the top opponents for the title, though if his movement, power or stamina is restricted in any way you feel his chances are slim against the big dogs.  Queens should give us a good look at the state of Murray before Wimbledon, and hopefully he will come through it unscathed firing on all cylinders and with some much needed grass court match practice under his belt.

The main rivals for the title are predictable, and few.  Djokovic is always the man to beat, and his ability to step-up his play when he needs it the most is truly impressive.  Question marks remain over Nadal, with his knee proving untested on any surface apart from clay since his comeback he must be hoping that his body can keep up with the intense pressure he puts on it in every game and that he can maintain his rich vein of form from the clay court season.  Federer is more than capable of producing one last hoorah on the grass, and he has the potential to take out any of the top guys on any given day.  Stamina could be an issue if he is taken to 5 sets though, and I expect him to fall at the semi-finals.  The effervescent Tsonga could prove a handful for anyone, straight off the back of his best-ever performance at the French Open he will be full of confidence and like Murray able to use his serve to great effect on this surface.  Berdych could also spring a surprise as he has all the weapons to succeed on grass, though his form of late has been poor so his mental state could let him down at the key moments.  Expect to see Mr Consistent Ferrer in the final stages as well, however his record against the top 4 suggests he may fall short at the semis or quarters.   

With Murray it is never a question of talent, it is temperament which is the decisive factor in how he performs.  He has a tendency to revert to a passive game when times are getting tough, putting the ball in court and waiting for his opponent to make a mistake.  This is fine against the lower-ranked opposition he faces, but could prove his downfall against the top seeds willing to take the ball on.  When Murray is positive and aggressive he can beat anyone, and especially with his serve firing on the grass courts he can pick up plenty of easy points.  He is one of the fittest players on tour so capable of going the distance over 5 sets with Djokovic or Nadal, and if Murray can maintain this positive approach he could win Wimbledon this year.

Let’s not forget that this was the venue where Murray triumphed during the Olympics, and he will have the vast majority of the crowd right behind him cheering him on.  However this could prove to be a double-edged sword with the anxiety of the crowd adding pressure upon him to perform.  The expectation of a nation must be a heavy burden for one man’s shoulders.    

If Murray is fully fit then I expect him to reach the final at his favourite tournament and think he will face either Nadal or Djokovic for the crown.  With a packed Wimbledon crowd willing him on this might just be Murray’s year, and the chance to prove that, to him, the grass is always greener than the clay.  

The most anticipated season of all time?

Times are a changing in the Premier League; with the three top clubs appointing new managers there is plenty of speculation, optimism and excitement for the fans and neutrals alike to get their teeth into, but who will rise to the top next season?

The Main Contenders

Man United

The current champions are going through their biggest upheaval in the past 25 years with the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, but with David Moyes taking over the realm and a squad littered with up-and-coming talent it is hard to imagine Man United not challenging for the top spot next year.  David Moyes who is also famed for his non-nonsense approach, may have to deal with squad unrest and many players may want to test the boundaries under their new leader.  With the future of Wayne Rooney still unclear Moyes may decide to cash-in on the want away star who could do with a change of scenery to revitalise his career and would add significant funds to the transfer kitty.  Moyes will want to bring in some stellar signings to stamp his personality on the pitch, and it seems hard to imagine Fellaini and Baines not following their manager to Old Trafford.  The future looks bright, but if the season starts badly for Moyes questions will soon be asked by the media and the pressure will soon be on.  I expect Man United to challenge for the title but just fall short this year.

Man City

The sacking of Mancini proved to be an unpopular decision among the City faithful who made it clear that they thought he deserved more time.  If the rumours emanating from the Etihad since his departure are true, it seems that Mancini had problems controlling a dressing room chock-a-block with talent and ego in equal measure.  With many of the stars failing to shine this season a squad which cost so much to build seemed alarmingly short when the chips were down.  There is also the issue of the transfer policy at City, and how much control the new manager will have to bring in the players who have not only the talent, but the right attitude and desire needed in the Premier League.  If Pellegrini is appointed to the role he will have a real battle on his hands to unify a dressing room, provide attractive football and 5 trophies in 5 years.  Easy right?  Like United I think City may struggle to implement all of this in a season and may again loose out this year.

Chelsea

The perennial hirers and firers of the Premier League may just have hit the jackpot this year.  With a squad so used to Managers changing like the seasons they have a decisive advantage over their rivals.  The arrival of the special one has long been craved by the Chelsea supporters, and it can only be assumed that Mourinhos' return will be dependent on a huge cash injection to renovate the squad.  The special one will certainly match any ego in the dressing room, and will take the spotlight and pressure away from his team to be serenaded by the adoring English press.  One thing Mourinho has always displayed in abundance is tactical nous, and plenty of points will be gathered even if at the detriment of beautiful football.  With plenty of talent already at Stamford Bridge a couple of superstar additions (a striker is a must) could propel Chelsea right to the top of the League.  Like a summer romance I expect Mourinho to win the League this season, but like all flings reality will soon hit home and I expect old wounds to be re-opened with the owner in the foreseeable future leading to a swift boot out of the door. 

Arsenal

With so much change on the cards at their rivals could Arsene steal a march on his opponents and catapult Arsenal to the top of the pile?  The centre back paring of Koscielny and Mertesacker proved fruitful last season under the influence of Steve Bould, and the tactical awareness and discipline of Arteta led to a defensive solidity rarely seen by the fans in the past few seasons.  Gazidis has been very vocal in his support of Arsene with talks of a new contract, and his comments regarding the size of the transfer kitty and available funds for wages suggest a possible change of attitude at the Emirates.  The real question is how much money is Wenger prepared to spend?  Giroud is the only out-and-out centre forward currently at the club and experiments with Walcott, Podolski and Gervinho proving unsuccessful a striker seems essential.  If a big investment is made in this department Arsenal could go from top-four stalwarts to realistic title contenders in one swift move.  I expect big things from Arsenal this season. 

In reality it is neigh on impossible to call the winner yet.  Until the summer spending has been completed and the squads finalised there is certainly a fair amount of optimism for all.  One thing is for sure: this season is set to be one of the most fascinating of all time, and I for one can’t wait for it to begin.