Archive for the ‘Opinion’ Category

Splitting Hairs

Posted: September 4, 2015 in Misuse of Words, Opinion
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Is wanting The English language to be spoken and written correctly being pedantic? Am I being over fussy by wanting to hear children pronouncing their “h’s” at the beginning of words, their “g’s” at the end of words and “th” as it is meant to be not as “ff”?

Please feel free to comment if you think I am wrong because I sometimes have my doubts. I occasionally think I take the whole thing a little too seriously and, as the majority of people don’t seem to care, I wonder whether I should or not.

I was brought up to speak correctly. Not the Queen’s English with the plum in the mouth, just to pronounce words as they were intended to be pronounced. My mother would immediately pounce if she heard any dropped “h’s” or missed “g’s”, it wasn’t right in her eyes. (more…)

Tottenham’s Very Own Shakespeare Character (Not Harry Hotspur)

Posted: September 3, 2015 in Football, Opinion, Tottenham Hotspur
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image(James Bond villain and part time undertaker Dastardly Daniel Levy trains his super high powered binoculars-designed-to-look-like-any-old-reading-glasses on Saido Berahino to see if that really is him playing for Jeremy Peace again.)

I like Tottenham. I like them in a way that only someone who isn’t a supporter can like them. I laugh at their little jokes, cry with them in times of sadness and am constantly amazed at how much they think they can achieve, without ever achieving any of it.

Take Emmanuel Adebayor, as I am sure Spurs wish somebody would. He left Arsenal and went to Manchester City, shortly after which he was sent on loan to Real Madrid who, obviously unimpressed, sent him back fairly pronto. City then sent him on loan again, this time to Spurs, who were so impressed that they bought him. Now they don’t want him and he won’t leave. Well, not until he gets a sign from God that it is the right thing to do. Five million pound signs ought to do it.

How about Tactics Tim? He was doing fine at Tottenham and actually seemed to get the best out of Adebayor. He gave Harry Kane his debut, along with other youngsters. Unfortunately, his profile didn’t fit with Dastardly Dan, who wanted immediate success with a bigger name than Sherwood. So goodbye Tim! Aston Villa’s youngsters are now benefitting from Tim’s babysitting skills. (more…)

Would Fergie Have Gambled On This Boy?

Posted: September 2, 2015 in Football, Manchester United, Opinion
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When Sir Alex Ferguson was beaten to the signing of Brazilian wonder kid Lucas Moura he decided the football world had gone mad.

At the time Moura was 19 years old and eventually went to Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of €45 million, which was about £35 million back then. He hasn’t done much since but then he has been injured and he does have time on his side.

This is what Ferguson said: “I find it quite amazing that a club can pay €45m for a 19-year-old boy. When somebody’s paying €45m for a 19-year-old boy you have to say the game’s gone mad.”

Now, unless you have been visiting Mars for the past few days, it won’t have escaped your attention that Manchester United have just paid £36 million for…….wait for it…….a 19 year old boy! (more…)

Director Of Football Required – Apply To Manchester United

Posted: August 30, 2015 in Football, Manchester United, Opinion
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Is this a falsely manufactured position with a fancy title or a required one? At the moment Manchester United should be including Pedro and Otamendi in their matchday line-up. The fact that they are not speaks volumes about one of two things, or possibly both.

The problem could be their transfer policy. They seem to be identifying players and, providing there is little or no competition, they are signing them. Hence the squad now includes Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Romero, Darmian and Depay. The latter actually being there due more to his relationship with van Gaal than anything else. They also got these signings over the line very quickly, consequently leaving very little time for other clubs to react.

It was about this time when United fans thought that Ed Woodward had redeemed himself for the calamitous previous transfer windows. The problems, however were only just beginning. (more…)

The Law Is A Wildebeest

Posted: August 25, 2015 in Opinion, The Law
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When Oscar Pistorius was found guilty of culpable homicide rather than murder, it was thought he would get fifteen years in prison. This is the usual sentence for the offence. When he only got five years there was public outcry. Not only for the sentence, but also for the culpable homicide verdict. The majority watching the trial had already convicted him of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

To add insult to injury, in South Africa, once you have served a sixth of your sentence, providing that sentence is five years or less, you are eligible to be considered for house arrest, meaning that you leave prison for home, with a few rules. In Pistorius’ case, the parole board had made their decision in June, three months before they were required to, an as yet unexplained anomaly. Oscar Pistorius, no doubt, was looking forward to being reunited with his family in more familiar surroundings. (more…)

Morgan, Camille And Adidas

Posted: August 21, 2015 in Football, Manchester United, Opinion
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I recently commented on an article in the Daily Mirror about Camille Sold, the partner of Morgan Schneiderlin, actually going out to work for a living when her other half trousers the best part of £100,000 per week.

I stirred up a bit of a hornet’s nest by suggesting that the Adidas store, where she is employed, would themselves have been better employed had they given the job to somebody who actually needed the money.

Back in March 2015, I pointed out, the Northwest’s unemployed numbered 219,000. When quoting figures such as this, I am aware that there are a great number of people included who don’t want to work, but surely ONE of them would have appreciated the money a lot more. (more…)

Freedom Of The Press, (To Lie)

Posted: August 15, 2015 in Opinion, Press
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Has it ever occurred to anybody how much freedom the press actually have?

Obviously all the press have this freedom but I am thinking particularly of the absolute rubbish, supposition, guesses and downright lies put forward by the football writers in order to bring attention to their particular publication, either for clicks online or to sell their newspaper, without any governing body to moderate their behaviour.

Quite often, the headline used will bear no resemblance to the content of the story.

At the time of writing this a deal for Manchester United to sign Pedro has been “imminent” for nearly two weeks. There have been “done deals” for Otamendi, Gaitan, Ramos and Cillesen. The plain fact of the matter is, again at the time of writing, none of these players have been signed. (more…)

When Football And Medicine Don’t Mix

Posted: August 12, 2015 in Chelsea, Football, Jose Mourinho, Opinion
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When a footballer is genuinely injured he is usually substituted and the game continues with eleven against eleven. When a footballer feigns injury he is usually booked and the game continues with eleven against eleven, (assuming the referee or linesman spots the deception). In between these two extremes is the “ouch, that hurt!” type of injury.

This is a minor injury which is not serious enough to warrant a substitution. It may not even require any attention from the physio but this one is the difficult one to call. If the player is more seriously injured than at first thought, the physio will be in trouble for not immediately attending. If the physio attends and the injury is not serious then the club may suffer as the player will need to leave the pitch until allowed back on by the referee.

All the annoyance and confusion caused by Eden Hazard going down injured against Swansea City towards the end of the game at Stamford Bridge can be summed up in five words. The law is an ass. (more…)

Online Articles And Comments

Posted: August 12, 2015 in Opinion
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imageI have to admit that I enjoy reading the comments posted by people on articles online. From intellectual comments on the Guardian Crossword to total abuse on football fan sites, it is all fascinating stuff.

Also fascinating are the rules on individual sites. There are sites who don’t like you linking to anything third party. This is sometimes reasonable. If they have advertisers paying to be shown on their site and you are pushing smoke free, tobacco free, nicotine free cigarettes by linking at the end of a comment, then expect them to be annoyed. Again, they will delete your links without actually stopping you from commenting, hardly a punishment if you are just a serial commenter. (more…)

The Neglected North

Posted: August 9, 2015 in Opinion
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It has been a feature in many countries for many years. The great North/South divide. Usually about distribution of wealth, occasionally about principles. The first time I was made aware of it, historically at least, was the American Civil War but it stretches far and wide.

Most people will be aware of the split in England which starts, (or finishes), somewhere around Watford according to popular beliefs. Apparently it actually occurs somewhere around the Midlands, which makes more sense.

Politically, it is a divide designed to keep most of the wealth in the South and, to this aim, it has succeeded. Where it becomes distasteful is when sport is involved and you look at the lengths the sporting bodies will go to to make sure any available profit goes South. (more…)

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