Plymouth Argyle vs Oldham Athletic - football can be cruel

Oldham Athletic

The Green army were in good voice and Plymouth Argyle knew they had a chance to win it. Going to the game against Oldham I learnt and realised a couple of things.

Firstly how far the game in England has come since even Oldham were in the top flight in just 1992, looking at the stadium now you would never have thought it. And most of all that football can be cruel.

Plymouth only had themselves to blame, N'Gala was sent off after just 5 minutes and Oldham converted the penalty. Just 2 minutes after Noone equalised, I would say that got the fans going but they were already singing like they were winning.

Plymouth looked the better team even with just 10 men but things got worse just before half-time when Arnason was sent off for an elbow. 9-men. Plymouth fans were outraged, and the referee to be fair had a shocker all match.

Second half and i'm not sure any one in the stadium could believe it when Bradley Wright-phillips put Argyle a head with a brilliant finish. 2-1 with 9-men, surely we couldn't hold on.

64 minutes and the constant Oldham pressure paid off 2-2, Oldham fans finally started to sing but that only lasted 5 minutes. For Plymouth the hard work started and Noone could have put the Pilgrims ahead, in front of goal and he hit it straight at the keeper.

They looked like they were going to hold, every player ran themselves out of steam, the Argyle fans never stopped singing (including myself). 93rd and 94th minute 2 goals that broke Argyle hearts. Gutted. The proudest part was the Green Army's support, Still singing at 4-2, still singing at full time. Applauded by the Oldham fans.

Man of the match- think I should say men- Bradley Wright-phillips, Craig Noone and Reda Johnson

Phil Vickery...such a shame

Like many others I was sad to hear that Phil Vickery has been forced to retire because of the consistant neck injury. It is a shame he has been forced to retire with it not being on his own terms.

No doubt a legend for England as a World Cup winner in 2003 and he truly is one of the great England talents to be brought through.

picture by - Hanham Bath

It was a real blow for a man hoping to push his way back into the England set up for the World Cup in New Zealand next year and of course for a player with a true passion for the game of Rugby. He is a much loved legend from Cornwall and will hopefully be seen soon on the screens working for television... of course he won't enjoy just watching the match.

His retirement means there are only 4 remaining starters from that historic match in Sydney back in 2003 are still playing top flight rugby. Steve Thompson, Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Ben Cohen.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/london_wasps/9134492.stm
Very good video on this page from the BBC

Not surprised at all, but who will win?...

Picture by - Якушкин Иван

The 23-man short list for the Ballon D'or world player of the year have been announced. Not one english man on the list and rightfully so. Only three premier league players are on the list, which shows a change in the wind of world football.

World champions Spain dominte the list with 7 players, Iniesta especially is a huge contender for the big prize. Afterall it is usually a World cup winner who clinches it. What about the dark horses?

If the prize is not awarded to a World cup winner then you automatically think of Lionel Messi. However Diego Forlan has had an incredible year, winning the Europa league and being named player of the World cup in South Africa.

Sneijder is also a huge contender. Winning the treble with Inter Milan, being instrumental in the Netherlands journey to the World cup final, even though it ended disappointingly.

In my opinion Andres Iniesta will be awarded the crown of Worlds best player in Zurich. The award for world coach of the year will also be presented. Jose Mourinho is surely the only one who can take that?

World Player of the Year nominees:

Xabi Alonso (Spain), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Julio Cesar (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Maicon (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Carles Puyol (Spain), Arjen Robben (Holland), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Holland), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

World Coach of the Year nominees:

Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (Barcelona), Joachim Low (Germany), Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan/Real Madrid), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay), Louis Van Gaal (Bayern Munich), Bert van Marwijk (Holland) and Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6469282,00.html

Agents are too big an influence...

If anyone was going to talk about agents this week it was going to be Sir Alex Ferguson. There is no doubt that Wayne Rooney was, how Ferguson described, "ill advised". Why are agents such a big influence?

Don't football players have a mind of their own? Can't they think for themselves? Rooney this week its been Nicholas Anelka so many times before. Why can't a player just say no I think you're wrong. These type of players, who are so easily persuaded, maybe a small minority but so many agents are the source of the trouble.

Ferguson said : "Agents live in their pockets nowadays and for some reason they have an influence on the players which I think is a big change in the game..." now not even one of the greatest managers who has ever lived can get his head around it, so i'm going tohave big trouble.

Of course maybe the agents shouldn't get the blame, surely it's the players fault for not thinking for himself. However agents may take advantage of the knowledge that players put so much trust in such professionals when advised they can't ignore it. The relationship between agent and player is effecting the relationship between player and club and even manager.

"...you know the player you don't know his agent." maybe the relationship between the club/manager with agents should be the thing to improve.

To watch the interview go to this link - http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6467559,00.html




Picture by - Gordon Flood

Top four always shifting...

Picture by-Ed Schipul

Before the weekend the top 4 looked quite unusual. Manchester City in 2nd with Tottenham 3rd, Arsenal 4th and Manchester United nowhere to be seen. The contest for the top 4 is wide open and is shifting every week.

Spurs were first up in the early kick-off on Saturday against Everton. Tough game on paper and it turned out that way in reality. Everton managed a draw, leaving Spurs to drop 2 points, maybe their trip to the San Siro earlier in the week was tiring.

Chelsea were at home to Wolves, expecting 3 points, they ran out 2-0 winners to seal their place at the top for another weekend with Man City hot on their tails. It turned out to be a very good weekend for Chelsea.

Manchester United travelled to the Britannia Stadium, always a tough place to win, and win United did. Still the only unbeaten team in the Premier League, after all the recently drawn games 3 points were vital. Even more so after the Wayne Rooney saga in mid-week which is even more ridiculous as he nurses an injured ankle in the sun of Dubai.

A new hero was to make another mark as a United player, Javier Hernandez with 2 very good striker's goals and a very hardworking performance. Almost Tevez like. United took the lead with an unusual finish from Chicarito only to again let the opposition back in it in the 80th minute. It looked to be the same old story for the Red Devil's season so far, until in the 85th minute when the little Mexican strook again to secure all 3 points. Maybe the start of United's season

The big game was at the City of Manchester stadium where the big money spenders took on Arsenal. City were favourites for many to win this tie but the odds stacked against them when Boyata was sent off for a professional foul. Arsenal brilliantly took full advantage of the situation and ran out 3-0 winners thanks to Nasri, Song and Bendtner.

What does this weekend tell us about the race for the top 4? Only that it's going to be a long season and any slip up from any team will be crucial. As for the genuine title contenders, at the moment its Chelsea on their own, no one is able to sustain constant pressure on the table toppers.

Heavyweight division shaken up again!

UFC 121 saw Heavweight champion Brock Lesnar face Cain Valazquez for the heavweight title. What happened shocked many, myself included.

The start was what we expected and what looked to be the theme for the duration of the fight. Lesnar on the attack, asserting his dominance, which looked like it was working as he landed a flying knee.

Cain Valazquez has worked his way to this title shot and he weathered an almighty 265lbs storm. He wasn't about to waste his opportunity.

Valazquez turned the fight around with some great take downs and picking his shots effectively. He had Lesnar stumbling, Cain jumped at the chance to finish the fight and won by TKO in the first round. A shock to all critics who said he was too small and lesnar will be too powerful. I was a critic proved wrong.

This win well and truly shakes up the heavyweight division. Will Lesnar get a rematch? will Carwin have another shot at the title, his first at Cain Valazquez? or Will Frank Mir return from the brink and take his chance at the title whilst Lesnar is off the heavyweight throne?

http://uk.ufc.com/news/Velasquez-Stops-Lesnar-Wins-Heavy-Title