http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVcSH_wiTQo&feature=related
(P.S. Sadly, this footage is from 2007 and Tommy Clarke passed away in 2009 at the tender age of 89.)
Wednesday 16 March 2011
Tommy Clarke, Legend
After a little bit of referee bashing in the last couple of weeks, this 87 year old ref is a great example of passion for the game. What a legend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVcSH_wiTQo&feature=related
(P.S. Sadly, this footage is from 2007 and Tommy Clarke passed away in 2009 at the tender age of 89.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVcSH_wiTQo&feature=related
(P.S. Sadly, this footage is from 2007 and Tommy Clarke passed away in 2009 at the tender age of 89.)
viva st pauli 2
For all three of you who are interested, HERE is a quality video courtesy of the Guardian profiling FC St Pauli. Well worth a watch...
9 years and counting...
I was at Goodison Park in 2002 to watch David Moyes first game in charge of Everton, and when David Unsworth scored after a mere 30 seconds, there was a real feeling amongst the fans that this was the start of a new era. After years of under-performing, a solitary FA Cup final victory in 1995 serving only as a distraction from perennial relegation dog-fights, maybe David Moyes was the man to finally restore pride at this famous old giant of a club.
Now, after nine years in charge, it is difficult to say whether that has been achieved. Although no longer fighting relegation year after year, and with names like Mikel Arteta, Maroune Fellaini, Tim Chaill, and Leighton Baines replacing the likes of Mark Pembridge, Scot Gemmill, and Jesper Blomqvist, Moyes has yet to add to the extensive trophy cabinet at Goodison Park.
An FA Cup final appearance and a fourth place finish in the Premier League are impressive achievements given the inadequate financial resources Moyes has had at his disposal during his reign. However, for a club like Everton, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. Birmingham, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, and Tottenham have all enjoyed trophy parades in the years following David Moyes appointment, yet Everton remain the nearly men of the Premier League era, never relegated and never serious contenders for the league title. The squad is undoubtedly stronger than it was nine years ago and, despite the heckling from the London based press, is no longer a candidate for relegation. This small mercy will not satisfy the lust of Everton fans who yearn for the success of yesteryear.
Clearly, there is a problem in the boardroom and without investment, success is unlikely to materialise. Kenwright can claim he is doing the responsible thing, and to be fair, it is wise to be wary of selling out to Billionaires with no idea about football, as Blackburn have done. The sacking of Allardyce epitomised the dangers of novices in the boardroom and could yet cost Blackburn their Premier League status. At the same time, money isn't everything and Everton fans are well within their rights to point to Birmingham's recent League Cup triumph and ask, if Alex Mcleish can do it, why can't David Moyes?
Now, after nine years in charge, it is difficult to say whether that has been achieved. Although no longer fighting relegation year after year, and with names like Mikel Arteta, Maroune Fellaini, Tim Chaill, and Leighton Baines replacing the likes of Mark Pembridge, Scot Gemmill, and Jesper Blomqvist, Moyes has yet to add to the extensive trophy cabinet at Goodison Park.
An FA Cup final appearance and a fourth place finish in the Premier League are impressive achievements given the inadequate financial resources Moyes has had at his disposal during his reign. However, for a club like Everton, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum. Birmingham, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, and Tottenham have all enjoyed trophy parades in the years following David Moyes appointment, yet Everton remain the nearly men of the Premier League era, never relegated and never serious contenders for the league title. The squad is undoubtedly stronger than it was nine years ago and, despite the heckling from the London based press, is no longer a candidate for relegation. This small mercy will not satisfy the lust of Everton fans who yearn for the success of yesteryear.
Clearly, there is a problem in the boardroom and without investment, success is unlikely to materialise. Kenwright can claim he is doing the responsible thing, and to be fair, it is wise to be wary of selling out to Billionaires with no idea about football, as Blackburn have done. The sacking of Allardyce epitomised the dangers of novices in the boardroom and could yet cost Blackburn their Premier League status. At the same time, money isn't everything and Everton fans are well within their rights to point to Birmingham's recent League Cup triumph and ask, if Alex Mcleish can do it, why can't David Moyes?
Thursday 10 March 2011
are you sure ref??
Speaking of dodgy officials, here is a video of poor Dorchester Town player/manager Ashley Vickers being sent off for 'violent conduct'. Again, it would be nice to see a bit more common sense from referees, especially since Vickers is doing everyone at the game a massive favour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUtiCXQNJks&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUtiCXQNJks&feature=player_embedded
breaking news...
FIFA have opened disciplinary action against six match officials charged with match fixing in international friendlies. Full details of these proceedings have not yet been released, however any investigation into match-fixing in football is bound to be very high profile and we can expect to see this story, and very probably further allegations against other officials and even players, unfold over the coming weeks.
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