Chris Heathman. I'm a journalism student at UClan. This blog is part of my work as part of my Journalism studies at the University of Central Lancashire. You can contact me at caheathman@aol.com
All the build up in the world would not have prepared us for what happened in the latest El clasico.
Camp Nou, a perfect setting for a near perfect performance. Barcelona delighted its' home crowd once again just over week after their 8-0 win over Almeria. It is amazing how they topped their record equalling away win.
5-0 demlolition over their greatest rivals may sound like a perfect perfomance but it would have been 8 or 9 if it was truly perfect. They out played, out passed, out ran and out shone the "new galacticos", which quite frankly looked pathetic to the great galacticos which included Ronaldo, Zidane and Figo.
In my opinion it was a victory for football, and what football should be. Home grown talent, the perfect brand of football, what every football fan dreams of their team of being, and why football is such a loved sport. Almost the complete opposite to Real Madrid who represent some of the darker sides of what football can be.
Millions upon millions spent on talent not brought through by your own country let alone by the academy. The attitude that the players showed was disgraceful, Cristiano Ronaldo pushing Guardiola was just one huge display of disrespect. Like everyone says El Clasico is a clash of cultures.
Barcelona is the one example in club football of why we love this sport, the one example of youth system and policy that every team should aim to emulate.
A team and performance close to perfection, can and will anything ever come close to this? Only perfection
July, 27 2010, 70th minute in Bloemfontein. Thomas Muellar scores to make it 4-1 to Germany against England. Outclassed, completely humiliated, surely a wake-up call?
I remember Chris Waddle on 5 live. Furious and rightly so, England were obviously technically inept compared to the Germans. Everyone was asking how do the Germans keep coming out with such talent? Well its obvious, their youth development is light years ahead of ours. Chris Waddle, Graham Taylor well... everyone on 5live got it.
Now after such a humiliation you would think the FA would realise we need a new development centre and take after Germany because it works! No nothing happened until now.
November , 17 2010, exactly 5 months after, England are outclassed by France in a 2-1 defeat at Wembley.
Les Bleus, back from world cup shame, turned around by Lauren Blanc showed off the talent they do have. More people were waking up to the reality that our player development and our players are just not up to standard. Finally forcing the FA to approve the National football academy in Burton-on-trent, to start building in January and finished in 2012.
Finally seeing sense, a move 10 years too late, but a step foward at least. Open in 2012... Bring on World cup 2030!!
This weekend of sport has seen a lot of talking points across a number of sports. football, rugby, boxing and F1 all come to mind
We'll start with the highly anticipated fight between David Haye and Audley Harrison in the best of enemies. David wanted to finally shut Audley up and Harrison, well.... he wanted to shut David up.
So much talk before the fight from both and of course the favourite was the Hayemaker. Only one would come good on his promises, and it wasn't the southpaw.
The worst 1st round i've ever seen and of course it was part of both plans. No punches thrown at all, boos rang round the MEN arena. The 2nd round was slightly better from Haye he tried a few more punches, but Audley still no sign of taking a risk.
The 3rd round was more like it from Haye, on the front foot and landing bombs, Harrison offered nothing. He hit the canvas got back up quite bravely, but Haye never let up and a few more shots forced a stoppage.
Haye of course was asked about the Klitchkos. He said it is coming and lets hope so aswell.
Chris Ashton brilliant try
After getting over the initial shock of the result this put a huge smile on my face. Absolutely fantastic performance to crush the aussies at Twickenham.
The video above shows the pick of the tries from Chris Ashton, who was absolutely fantastic and the Captain Lewis Moody lead the team brilliantly.
Definately the best performance under Martin Johnson and his second over the wallabies as manager, England just need to build on that and keep it up with world cup in New Zealand less than a year away.
picture by- inkiboo
The title race was cracked wide open in the premier league in unbelievable fashion and Liverpool were unable to take any momentum from their win over Chelsea
Starting with the early kick-off on Saturday, Manchester United fought back from 2-0 down vs Aston Villa to draw 2-2. Another draw to add to their unbeaten record this season. Vidic was the hero in te 85th minute after Macheda was able to get one goal back.
That same day Liverpool were beaten 2-0 away to stoke, a dreadful performance carrying on the theme from mid-week. Why haven't they been able to push on from such a great result against the champions? Is it now time to turn to the manager? It's hard to see how their season can get up and running.
After United dropped 2 points Arsenal had a chance to take advantage, which they did with a 2-1 win away to Everton. A deserved victory which saw Fabregas grab what would be the winner due to Cahill's consolation in the 89th minute.
Then to Stamford bridge, Sunderland the visitors you'd think a win for Chelsea. With Essien, Lampard and Terry all out it wasn't to be. 3-0 win for the black cats who move to 6th and fantastic performance. If it wasn't for Cech in the Chelsea goal it would have been more.
So what now for the title race? Chelsea are there for the taking again but still no one can sustain the pressure. We'll have to wait untill next weekend to see if more pressure is mounted on the champions.
