England fans went into the one day series against Sri Lanka with low expectations. We anticipated a hammering, but with England there is always that vain hope that at one day cricket they may finally turn the corner. That corner was not turned in Sri Lanka.
England lost the series 5-2, and the two victories were rain affected. The first victory was a duckworth-lewis inspired win. The 2nd win was a glimpse of how England could bat in sub continent conditions, when they chased down 240 in 50overs.
However the five Sri Lankan wins were thrashings. Sri Lanka rubbed our noses into the dirt, and England were made to look second rate. So what can we read into this series defeat:
1. Alastair Cook should not be in the side
Everyone knows this, it may even be the case that some of the players in the side think this now. His batting is now fraught, and the tension he brings with him to the crease is rubbing off on other players. Mooen Ali normally composed at the crease, has lost his wicket to some awful shots. In the back of Mooen's mind, is that it is up to him to get the run-rate going, as the captain does not have the skills to bat that way in one day cricket.
Also as the captain always has to play, it has led to some of England's best players in the series moving from the positions in which they had given their best performances. In the final game of the series, James Taylor was moved from number 3 to number 5 to ensure that Cook and Hales could play. This also led to Ravi Bopara, consistently England's best one day batsman, inexplicably dropped.
However it is not only Cook's batting which is under question, it is also his negative approach to captaincy in the field. England took early wickets in each game, but once Dilshan and Sangakkara for example, hit a few boundaries then Cook retreated. The key to restricting runs in one day cricket is to keep on taking wickets, and stop partnerships building. Cook's plan is to restrict the runs for the first 35overs, then hopefully pick up a few wickets when the opposition tee off. This plan would never work. It was noticeable in the game Cook missed, and Eoin Morgan was captain, that the fields were more aggressive. Morgan backed his bowlers, they responded, and England won the game.
2. England's back up seamers are not good enough
In the 7 match series England bowled 71 wides. That's 10 wides a match. We were giving the Sri Lankan's 1.4 overs extra a game. For a side as poor as ours, it is giving the opposition an advantage we cannot afford to give.
Whilst Chris Woakes ended up top wicket taker in the series (14), his figures flattered to deceive. He was invariably bowling too short and wide. On the hard bouncy tracks in Australasia he will be taken apart. He needs to learn to pitch the ball up, and give it a chance to swing.
Chris Jordan whilst has undoubted potential, cannot be trusted to bowl an over without giving away a wide or a no-ball.
Steven Finn towards the end of the series was beginning to find the menacing pace and bounce, we know he can deliver. For some reason he was dropped/rested for the last day. Finn should be used as an enforcer in one day cricket. Used in short sharp spells, his job is to un-ruffle settled batsman. However under the current Captain he will never be used like that.
Harry Gurney appears a likeable guy, but he is not international class. He won't be going to the World Cup, but may re-appear in the English summer, as he may offer something in overcast conditions.
Ben Stokes is the conundrum for England. He bowls quick, and bats in an aggressive manner. However he has gone from England's brightest hope at the start of the year, to a shadow of that. His bowling at times was shambolic and embarrassing. Whilst batting he looked completely devoid of confidence. Stokes has that X-Factor however, and I would still take him to the World Cup. England don't have many game changers, Stokes is potentially one of those.
Stuart Broad and James Anderson cannot come back into this one day side quick enough, but you fear if either of those get injured, then England could be chasing some huge totals in the World Cup.
3. Eoin Morgan needs to improve
The vice captain had a terrible series with the bat, and scored 90 runs throughout the 7 games. Not good enough. Interestingly he scored 62 when he captained the side in Cook's absence. Could Morgan thrive with the extra responsibility of captaincy. I am desperate for him to be given a chance. Eoin Morgan will play in the Big Bash league in Australia over Christmas and the New Year, were I fully expect him to find his form, and expect him to come into the World Cup in prime form.
4. Mooen Ali should be the only spinner in the side
Mooen Ali at times turned the ball more in the sub-continent conditions, then the plethora of Sri Lankan spinners (Herath, A Mendis, Senayake, Dilshan). He did not disgrace himself at all, and is more of a wicket taking threat than Tredwell. James Tredwell is a solid citizen, and reliable, but on those flat tracks in Australia, he will be marmalized! His slow loopy bowling will be feasted upon by the likes of Warner, Finch, De Villiers, McCullum (this is turning into a long list!). Mooen has proved that he bowl the odd unplayable delivery, and can be trusted to bowl 10overs if required.
5. Finally James Taylor has been given a chance
Taylor has been batting excellently for a number of years in County Cricket, and once he was finally selected in the 4th One Dayer, he responded with an excellent 90. He dovetailed superbly with Joe Root in the middle order throughout the remaining matches, their positive running between the wickets and artful batting was a delight to behold. He seemed to have made the number 3 position his own in his handful of matches, but a clusterf*ck of a selection in the final game saw him shunted down to number 5. Apart from Joe Root, England's batting was a sorry mess in the last game.
England move onto Australia in the New Year, to build up for the World Cup, and this is the side I would love to see play. However we all know this isn't going to happen.
Mooen Ali
Hales
Taylor
Root
Morgan (c)
Bopara
Buttler
Woakes
Broad
Finn
Anderson
Remaining squad members - Stokes, Tredwell, Jordan, Bell.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Thursday 11 December 2014
Gary Lineker - My hero.
Did you ever know that you’re my hero, you're everything I
wished I could be.
As a young boy I desperately wanted to be Gary Lineker. I
idolised him. This fascination
with Lineker led to the following:
- Wearing a fake wrist support
- Getting my parents to buy Quasar boots. They were terrible.
- Learning to be a penalty box finisher
- Never back-chatting a referee.
The World Cup in 1986 will always be remembered for Diego
Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal, and Maradona’s match-winning performances as he
captained Argentina to World Cup glory.
For me a skinny 10year old kid, it was all about Gary Lineker. I had seen his goal for Everton against
Liverpool in the previous season’s FA Cup final, but the World Cup is where
Lineker captured my attention. To take advantage of the worldwide TV audience, games kicked off at mid-day and 4pm in
Mexico. In England that meant 6pm and 10pm kick offs. The 6pm kick off’s were fine, but the 10pm matches were a
tough ask to swing past Mum on a schoolnight! England were dreadful in their opening two games, they lost
to Portugal and drew with Morocco.
They had to beat Poland in their last group game to qualify for the
knock out stages. This was
Lineker’s moment. He scored a
first half hat-trick as England swept past Poland 3-0.
But wait, what was this he had on his wrist, he must have injured himself in training, as he was wearing a support. I had to have one, it didn’t matter that my wrist didn’t hurt. This was part one in my becoming Gary Lineker. So through the summer playing in the park with my mates, I wore the wrist support. Looking back I probably looked like a pillock, but I didn’t care I was in love with Gary Lineker.
But wait, what was this he had on his wrist, he must have injured himself in training, as he was wearing a support. I had to have one, it didn’t matter that my wrist didn’t hurt. This was part one in my becoming Gary Lineker. So through the summer playing in the park with my mates, I wore the wrist support. Looking back I probably looked like a pillock, but I didn’t care I was in love with Gary Lineker.
After the World Cup in which Lineker became the first
English player to win the top goalscorer award he was signed by Barcelona for
£2.8m from Everton. In his first
season at Barcelona, Lineker scored 21 goals in 41 games, including a hat-trick
away to Real Madrid in a historic 3-2 victory. However that was not Lineker’s best performance at the
Bernabeu stadium that season.
England travelled to play Spain in a friendly on 18th
February 1987. It was my Mum’s
birthday, she could think of no better way than to spend her 32nd
birthday then to watch England play Spain, well that’s at least what my Dad
said. Lineker scored all four
England goals in an impressive 4-2 victory, Gary Lineker was becoming god-like
in my eyes.
During his time at Barcelona, my own footballing season had begun. I had always been a budding centre forward, but never really scored many goals. However I had begun to study how Lineker played. He came alive in the penalty box. He was dynamite. I pestered my parents to buy me a pair of Lineker’s endorsed football boots…Quasar.
They weren’t my dad’s tried and tested Mitre’s. – Dad “You can’t go wrong with Mitre’s, proper football boots.” However if I wanted to become Lineker, I needed his boots. My dad finally relented. So with the Quasar boots and the wrist support, I was ready to show the Under 11 Southend Junior League my Gary Lineker influenced talents. I scored 52 goals that season. I was unstoppable. I didn’t get involved in much of the build up play, but when that ball was in the box, I became alive. Headers, volleys, side footed finishes, tap-ins, I got them all. My manager at the time, wondered where these goals had come from, I had never scored this many before. I knew, it was all down to one man…Gary Lineker.
During his time at Barcelona, my own footballing season had begun. I had always been a budding centre forward, but never really scored many goals. However I had begun to study how Lineker played. He came alive in the penalty box. He was dynamite. I pestered my parents to buy me a pair of Lineker’s endorsed football boots…Quasar.
They weren’t my dad’s tried and tested Mitre’s. – Dad “You can’t go wrong with Mitre’s, proper football boots.” However if I wanted to become Lineker, I needed his boots. My dad finally relented. So with the Quasar boots and the wrist support, I was ready to show the Under 11 Southend Junior League my Gary Lineker influenced talents. I scored 52 goals that season. I was unstoppable. I didn’t get involved in much of the build up play, but when that ball was in the box, I became alive. Headers, volleys, side footed finishes, tap-ins, I got them all. My manager at the time, wondered where these goals had come from, I had never scored this many before. I knew, it was all down to one man…Gary Lineker.
In 1989 it happened, Gary Lineker joined my favourite
team. When playing for Tottenham
Hotspur, Lineker scored 67 goals in 105 games. He finished the 1989-90 season as top league scorer with
24goals, as Spurs finished 3rd. Imagine that Spurs 3rd!
I can look back and say I was there, when Gary Lineker
scored his first goal at White Hart Lane.
It was 30th September 1989 at home to QPR. I was so excited to see my hero in the
flesh. My dad, a massive Chelsea
fan, but not wanting to let his son down, took me to White Hart Lane. Looking back, I’m sure when QPR scored
their goals my dad was standing there with clenched fists!
Watching Lineker’s movement off the ball in a live game, I
could then understand he was not just a penalty box player. His constant movement off the ball and
his running into the channels, meant that he never gave the defence a moments
rest. That is what was remarkable
about Lineker. He put in 100%
effort throughout the match, but he still had the instinct and energy to find
space in the box, to get that all important goal.
Lineker in that game against QPR was not content with one
goal, he scored a hat-trick. Typical Lineker!
Seeing Lineker live, I knew that I had to adapt my game, I couldn’t just be a penalty box player. I needed to make more impact outside of the area. Sadly this is where my game tailed off, I didn’t have the ability to do both. From the ages of 13-16 I could not buy a goal, and ended up playing as a frustrated left back. Looking back my football career peaked at the age of 11.
Seeing Lineker live, I knew that I had to adapt my game, I couldn’t just be a penalty box player. I needed to make more impact outside of the area. Sadly this is where my game tailed off, I didn’t have the ability to do both. From the ages of 13-16 I could not buy a goal, and ended up playing as a frustrated left back. Looking back my football career peaked at the age of 11.
Gary Lineker went to the 1990 World Cup as England’s
spearhead. He scored four goals,
and England through a series of below par performances and narrow victories,
were defeated by West Germany in the semi-finals. Ironically the semi-final defeat was England’s best
performance in the tournament.
England on the night were excellent, and that performance would be in my
top 3 England performances of all time (others Holland Euro 1996 and Argentina
1998 World Cup).
The day of the semi final, we had taken in a new rescue
dog. It was very nervous and timid
dog, it had been beaten by it’s previous owner. When Gary Lineker equalised against the Germans, and I jumped up and celebrated, the dog bit
me on the leg.
England’s exit from the World Cup was painful, but so was my evening. Does Gary Lineker know he was responsible for one of my many tetnis shots. Highly unlikely.
England’s exit from the World Cup was painful, but so was my evening. Does Gary Lineker know he was responsible for one of my many tetnis shots. Highly unlikely.
After the World Cup, Tottenham were the media darlings the
following season. They had
England’s ace marksman Lineker, and the new sensation Paul Gascoigne in their team. These two led Spurs to the FA Cup final
in 1991. They were both excellent
in a semi final victory over arch-rivals Arsenal. While Gascoigne took the glory for his sublime free kick,
Lineker’s two goals, especially his 2nd knocked the stuffing out of
Arsenal. I still remember Barry Davies classic commentary – “Samways to his
left, Lineker uses him by not using him.
Good try. Scores!”
Spurs won the F.A. Cup in 1991 beating Nottingham Forest in the final, despite Gary Lineker missing a penalty. This would not be the last penalty he would miss at Wembley stadium.
Spurs won the F.A. Cup in 1991 beating Nottingham Forest in the final, despite Gary Lineker missing a penalty. This would not be the last penalty he would miss at Wembley stadium.
The following season Gary Lineker was exceptional scoring 28
goals in 35 games, however Spurs struggled in the league and ended up in 15th
place. During the season Lineker
had accepted the opportunity to play in the fledgling J-League, and he joined
Grampus eight after the final game of the 1991-1992 season. I was now getting a little older, and
it was not cool to be in love with footballers at the age of 16. I was getting into grunge music, and
had already decided that I could easily become the next Eddie Vedder. I couldn’t sing, but I was determined
to have the look. However I still loved Lineker, so with my Saturday job wages,
I forked out about £60 for a Grampus eight shirt with Lineker’s name on the
back. Quite possibly being the only person in Essex with this shirt. It led to a lot of my mates saying “You
go to many games?”.
In his final season at Spurs, Lineker scored one of the best team goals, I have seen Spurs score. It was at home to Porto in the now defunct Cup Winners Cup, and he finished off a team move which had about 20 passes. It was a goal, which made you proud to support Spurs.
Gary Lineker should be England’s all time goalscorer, he ended up one short of Bobby Charlton’s 49 goals. He had an excellent chance to equal the record in a friendly against Brazil before Euro 1992, from the penalty spot. Lineker tried a panenka penalty, but the Brazilian keeper Carlos stood his ground and gathered the ball easily. Most fans thought that Lineker would still equal the record in Euro 1992 as his tournament record for England has never been bettered (scoring 10goals in 4 tournaments). England under Graham Taylor were a disaster, and in Euro 1992 they plumbed the depths. They had two disappointing goal-less draws against France and Denmark. It was all down to a must win game against the hosts Sweden. With England chasing the game and needing a goal, the clueless Taylor hauled Lineker off and replaced him with Alan Smith. Lineker was visibly upset, not only that his chance to equal/beat Charlton’s record had gone, but he could no longer help England in their hour of need when he had for so long been their saviour.
In his final season at Spurs, Lineker scored one of the best team goals, I have seen Spurs score. It was at home to Porto in the now defunct Cup Winners Cup, and he finished off a team move which had about 20 passes. It was a goal, which made you proud to support Spurs.
Gary Lineker should be England’s all time goalscorer, he ended up one short of Bobby Charlton’s 49 goals. He had an excellent chance to equal the record in a friendly against Brazil before Euro 1992, from the penalty spot. Lineker tried a panenka penalty, but the Brazilian keeper Carlos stood his ground and gathered the ball easily. Most fans thought that Lineker would still equal the record in Euro 1992 as his tournament record for England has never been bettered (scoring 10goals in 4 tournaments). England under Graham Taylor were a disaster, and in Euro 1992 they plumbed the depths. They had two disappointing goal-less draws against France and Denmark. It was all down to a must win game against the hosts Sweden. With England chasing the game and needing a goal, the clueless Taylor hauled Lineker off and replaced him with Alan Smith. Lineker was visibly upset, not only that his chance to equal/beat Charlton’s record had gone, but he could no longer help England in their hour of need when he had for so long been their saviour.
Gary Lineker retired from International football with 48
goals from 80 games, and he finally retired from professional football in 1994,
after a couple of injury plagued seasons in Japan.
Gary Lineker’s playing career spanned 16 seasons, and not
once did he pick up a yellow or red card. He was an ideal role model on how to conduct yourself and play the game.
I know footballers can’t be all as clean cut as my hero Gary
Lineker, but they are consciously
or sub-consciously inspiring the next generation. Whilst earning vast sums of money, they should never forget
the fact that what they do on a football pitch, will be replicated by kids the
next day across the world.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Thursday 4 December 2014
GERRY FRANCIS KILLED THE FAMOUS FIVE
Tottenham Hotspur had a lot of issues in the 1990s, but fundamental to most of those was pigeon fancier Gerry Francis.
Tottenham began the 1994-1995 season managed by Ossie Ardiles, with a 12 point deduction in the league and had been kicked out of the F.A. Cup. They had also been fined £600,000 for financial irregularities which had taken place in the 1980s. However, chairman Alan Sugar in the autumn of 1994 challenged those sanctions in court, and the points deduction and F.A. Cup ban were revoked. Quite possibly one of the only two decent things Sugar did when he was in charge of the club.
The other was the signing of world footballing superstar Jurgen Klinsmann in the summer of 1994. When news of this transfer appeared on Teletext (page 140) or Ceefax (page 302) depending on your inclination, it shocked me. It shocked everyone. The Jurgen Klinsmann was coming to White Hart Lane, how on earth had Alan Sugar pulled this deal off? For six months at Tottenham, Alan Sugar could do no wrong in the eyes of the Spurs fans...that was not to last.
Jurgen's arrival at Spurs, was quickly followed by the signing of Romanian attacking midfielder Ilie Dumitrescu, who had starred for his country in the World Cup of that summer. Ilie was eventually joined that season, by his countryman Gica Popescu who was equally adept at playing centre back, or centre midfield.
Spurs were the media darlings at the start of the season, Alan Sugar was the cock of the walk, and Ossie Ardiles unveiled his front 5 attacking players, they were dubbed the Famous Five.
Tottenham began the 1994-1995 season managed by Ossie Ardiles, with a 12 point deduction in the league and had been kicked out of the F.A. Cup. They had also been fined £600,000 for financial irregularities which had taken place in the 1980s. However, chairman Alan Sugar in the autumn of 1994 challenged those sanctions in court, and the points deduction and F.A. Cup ban were revoked. Quite possibly one of the only two decent things Sugar did when he was in charge of the club.
The other was the signing of world footballing superstar Jurgen Klinsmann in the summer of 1994. When news of this transfer appeared on Teletext (page 140) or Ceefax (page 302) depending on your inclination, it shocked me. It shocked everyone. The Jurgen Klinsmann was coming to White Hart Lane, how on earth had Alan Sugar pulled this deal off? For six months at Tottenham, Alan Sugar could do no wrong in the eyes of the Spurs fans...that was not to last.
Jurgen's arrival at Spurs, was quickly followed by the signing of Romanian attacking midfielder Ilie Dumitrescu, who had starred for his country in the World Cup of that summer. Ilie was eventually joined that season, by his countryman Gica Popescu who was equally adept at playing centre back, or centre midfield.
Spurs were the media darlings at the start of the season, Alan Sugar was the cock of the walk, and Ossie Ardiles unveiled his front 5 attacking players, they were dubbed the Famous Five.
Spurs lined up on the opening day of the season at Sheffield Wednesday as follows:
Walker
Kerslake Nethercott Campbell Edinburgh
Calderwood
Anderton Dumitrescu
Barmby
Sheringham Klinsmann
It was high risk football, it was certainly entertaining as proved in that opening day at Hillsborough. It was a seven goal roller-coaster, it was showbiz football!
However this brand of football was unsustainable over a long period of time, and despite Teddy Sheringham and Jurgen Klinsmann forming an electric partnership, Ossie Ardiles was sacked. He won only winning four of his first eleven league games, and suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat away to Notts County in the League Cup, with a full strength side.
Gerry Francis had gained himself a respectable reputation at QPR, not necessarily playing attractive football, but it was functional winning football on a budget. For Gerry pragmatism was the key.
Francis's appointment at the time was underwhelming, but the majority of Spurs fans knew that with a bit of tinkering on the training pitch and some tactical nous on match day, the team would steadily climb the league. The attacking talent at the club was too great, it truly was an embarrassment of riches.
The first of the Famous Five to fall was Ilie Dumitrescu. Gerry did not have time for an enigmatic Romanian attacking midfielder, he was replaced in the starting line up by David Howells, who was workmanlike, and put a shift in. His introduction certainly made Spurs harder to beat, this was Gerry's pragmatism in full flow. This wasn't "To Dare is to do", this was "To Draw is to do!"
Ilie Dumitrescu, once he was left out of the side, began to enjoy the bright lights of London. As a rich, single man in London, he let his hair down and partied hard. From World Cup hero to playboy in London within six months, Dumitrescu's journey was complete.
In early December 1994, Spurs were reinstated back into the F.A. Cup, and their points deduction was revoked, it was a boon to the players and the supporters, and they celebrated with one of their best performances of the season beating Kevin Keegan's Newcastle 4-2.
Into the New Year and Spurs were beginning to motor, they were turning in impressive performances beating arch rivals Arsenal, and the eventual Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers. Gerry's defensive organisation and the flair and prowess of the attacking four was reaping dividends. The F.A. Cup run was also beginning to take shape, they hammered Southampton in a replay at the Dell, when footballing buffoon Ronnie Rosenthal slammed in a hat trick in a 6-2 victory. Ronnie couldn't believe he had done it, for most Spurs fans who had seen Rosenthal play, couldn't believe it either.
This victory led to an epic quarter final at Anfield, Spurs fans were beginning to think that their name was on the cup, considering the side weren't even in the competition at the start of the season. Against Liverpool, Sheringham and Klinsmann were outstanding, they scored a goal apiece in a famous 2-1 victory. I remember listening to the game on the radio, and when Jurgen scored in the last minute, I sunk to my knees in the living room, letting out a primal scream!
This was it "Jurgen's going to Wembley, his knees have gone all trembly" only Everton stood in the way of a glamour final against Manchester United. Spurs travelled to Elland Road on 9th April 1995, and were quite frankly horrendous, they lost 4-1 to Everton. They lost every 50/50 challenge, Everton basically wanted it more. Spurs were so bad, they even let Daniel Amokachi score twice. During the game Gerry's tactics of battle hard, and get the ball forward as quick as you can weren't working, but he didn't have the nous to change tactics during the match, he only knew one way to play.
After the cup semi-final defeat the wheels came off Tottenham's season. They won one of the last eight league games, and missed out on qualifying for the UEFA Cup via the league. A player of Jurgen Klinsmann's stature needed to play European football, something Spurs under Gerry Francis could not deliver.
Jurgen Klinsmann was the second of the Famous Five to fall. Klinsmann announced his intention to leave Spurs and join Bayern Munich in May 1995. Alan Sugar was irate and embarrassed himself in a subsequent interview, saying he wouldn't wash his car with Klinsmann's Spurs shirt, and Spurs would not be buying anymore "Carlos Kickaball's". This myopic outlook would hinder Spurs over the coming months and years. All Spurs fans knew that during his spell at the club, Jurgen Klinsmann gave his all, and proved that by scoring 30 goals in all competitions, winning the Player of the Year. It was a privilege to see him play at his peak. He would return to the club in 1998 to help save the club from relegation, whilst under the management of the clutz Christian Gross. It's hard to call Klinsmann a Tottenham legend, as he only played 55 games for the club in total, but his attitude and genuine love for the club, mean he is highly revered by the fans.
Also at the end of the 1994/1995 season, Nick Barmby asked to leave. He had risen through the youth ranks to the first team, and performed so well he had made it into the England squad. Wanting to return to his roots, Barmby upped sticks and went to the big spending Middlesborough in the summer of 1995. Would he have stayed if Spurs had made the UEFA Cup the previous season, it's hard to say. One thing is for sure though, the Famous Five was now down to two; Darren Anderton and Teddy Sheringham.
Leaving the club also that summer was Gica Popescu, a cultured ball playing centre back. Gerry Francis felt that Popescu could not adapt to the hurly burly, rough and tumble of the Premier League. Funny, I remember Popescu giving a man of the match performance at home to Arsenal, in a highly charged local derby, in which Gica scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory. Anyway Popescu was shipped off to a club who would appreciate his talents. Popescu joined Barcelona, in which he was made captain, and led the side to UEFA Cup glory. Nice one Gerry!
Foreign footballers buoyed by the success of Jurgen Klinsmann the previous season, were itching to join the Premier League. However Spurs, hampered by the Chairman's short-sightedness and Gerry Francis's insistence on buying middle of the road players, missed out on the signing of Dennis Bergkamp. Bergkamp was a huge Glen Hoddle and Spurs fan, it was an opportunity missed. Instead Bergkamp went to Arsenal, and became one of their greatest players of all time. Rather than buying Bergkamp, Spurs paid £4.5m a club record at the time, for Crystal Palace forward Chris Armstrong, who the previous season had scored 9 goals and been banned for smoking cannabis. Alan Sugar famously said "Who needs Bergkamp, when we've got Chris Armstrong". Quite.
Spurs also passed up on the opportunity of signing Ruud Gullit on a free transfer, as Gerry Francis did not see the need of signing a sweeper. Gerry Francis did not do thinking outside of the box, it was 4-4-2 or nothing at all.
Whilst players like Bergkamp, Gullit, Juninho, Ginola and Asprilla joined the Premier League during the season of 1995-1996, Gerry Francis brought in; Ruel Fox, Andy Sinton, Chris Armstrong and Clive Wilson. Un-inspirational, dour and workmanlike, the epitome of the manager.
Spurs were incredibly difficult to break down in the 1995-1996 season, only conceding 38 goals ( a goal a game), but they only scored 50 goals. At times, it was mind-numbingly tedious stuff. They finished in eighth place, neither bothering the top sides, nor coming close to relegation. The season was forgettable, albeit for an injury ravaged Spurs side beating Manchester United 4-1 on New Year's Day 1996.
Injuries were becoming a common theme under Gerry Francis, whilst Gerry regularly bemoaned the fact, maybe he should have looked closer to home. Were his training sessions too intense? Was it the fact that he had so few skilful and attacking players at his disposal, that he rushed them back from injury? I certainly think this is the case in respect of Darren Anderton and Chris Armstrong.
The foreign invasion into the Premier League was really taking place in the 1996-1997 season. Arsene Wenger took over at Arsenal, bringing with him Patrick Vieira. Ruud Gullit was managing Chelsea, signing world class players from Serie A, in Roberto Di Matteo, Gianluca Vialli and Gianfranco Zola. Liverpool and Manchester United brought in two of the Czech Republic stars of Euro 96, in Patrik Berger and Karel Poborsky. Even Middlesborough were going for it, when they signed Fabrizio Ravenelli from Juventus. Imagine that Middlesborough signing someone from Juventus. They were was different times! Spurs were getting left behind, and Alan Sugar and Gerry Francis needed to act, they had to join the foreign player bandwagon. They needed players to excite the fans, players who could play the Tottenham way.
Spurs through the course of that season, bought Allan Nielsen, a Danish box-to-box midfielder, whose only redeeming quality was that he wore sweatbands on each wrist. Joining Nielsen, was acne-ridden Steffen Iversen, who could pick up an injury if someone looked at him funny. Iversen was a potential World Class prospect from Norway. He never lived up to that potential. To complete these signings, Spurs bought the Swiss centre back Ramon Vega. Poor old Vega, if you asked 10,000 Spurs fans to name their worst ever Spurs side through history, Vega would appear in 90% of the line ups. These three signings were not even close to the quality of players Middlesboro were bringing to the country, 1996-1997 was gearing up to be another long struggle.
Injuries again played a major part in Spurs's season, as they limped home in 10th place, their lowest finish under Gerry Francis. Spurs used thirty four players that season, as they lost nearly half of their league games (they lost 18 out of 38), and crashed out of both cups in the early rounds. It was insipid football. It was tedious at best. They also got humped 7-1 by Newcastle, a week before Kevin Keegan walked away from the Newcastle job. Even Gerry Francis was taking Kevin Keegan's enjoyment away from football!
Whilst Spurs were floundering, Teddy Sheringham was playing excellently for club and country, and no-one could blame him for wanting to leave and win trophies. Sheringham ended up at Manchester United, where he won every trophy going, famously scoring in the F.A. Cup and European Cup finals, when Manchester United won the treble.
The Famous Five of 1994-1995, had one remaining member, Darren Anderton.
The pressure was fully on Gerry Francis at the start of the 1997-1998 season, he needed to bring in a player he could trust and rely on to replace the excellent Sheringham. Les Ferdinand was signed from Newcastle for £6m. Ferdinand was iconic at Newcastle. At Spurs he was injured. Again was this a result of Francis's training regime, there were too many injuries now for this to co-incidental.
Gerry Francis was finally sacked as Tottenham manager in November 1997, after Liverpool had drubbed Spurs 4-0 at Anfield, in fact it could have been double that. The club had won three of their opening fourteen games that season, and had also crashed out of the League Cup, losing at home to Derby County.
Darren Anderton missed all of the 1995/1996 season through injury, he also missed the beginning of the 1997/1998 season under Francis. Therefore it can be said, that during Gerry Francis's spell as Tottenham manager, through one reason or another, he killed the Famous Five.
Gerry Francis took over an entertaining Spurs side, who played with a swagger. During his period in charge, he slowly turned them into a dour side, reflecting the man himself. The last two seasons when Francis was in charge Spurs featured in no memorable matches, in fact it was painful to watch at times.
This period of dourness did not change until Alan Sugar was removed from the club. ENIC took charge in February 2001, and brought in Tottenham's number one son Glenn Hoddle as manager, unfortunately this did not have a happy ending. Spursy.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Tuesday 2 December 2014
Watcha gonna do when Gullit-mania takes over you!
It was the summer of 1988 that I first saw Ruud Gullit. I was a 12year old living in Essex who
worshipped football, and when I turned on the TV to see Holland play in the
European Championships I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I had never seen someone with a
hairstyle like that, let alone someone play football with that hairstyle…and
boy could he play football.
When Holland won the Euro’s that year, Ruud Gullit was the
captain. He was the driving
force. Was he a forward? Was he an
attacking midfielder? I couldn’t
work it out. All I knew was that
he was immense. I was fixated, I
was mesmerised. Holland had other
great players in that side, Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard and Marco Van Basten,
but for me Ruud was the main man, with his dreads rotating and whiplashing
whenever he headed the ball, it was a sight to behold. Van Basten may get the plaudits for
scoring one of the best goals ever in the final against Russia, but Gullit’s
thunderbolt header in the 1st half was just as good.
Whilst the tournament was going on and England went crashing
out, Holland and especially Gullit were the talk of the school playground. With my hard-earned paper round money,
I saved up and bought this cap.
Looking back I probably looked a complete tit, but at the time I didn’t
care. I had Gullit-mania!
I discovered that he played for AC Milan in Italy, but how
could I get to see Italian league games?
In 1988 there was no internet, so I couldn’t pester my dad into
streaming a game on the computer.
Thinking about it, there were not many things the Spectrum 128K could
do, but it did have a built in tape deck.
Thankfully AC Milan were a supreme side in the late
80s/early 90s and appeared in the later stages of the European Cup which was
shown on ITV late at night, so I would tape Midweek Sports Special, and watch
the games at 630am before doing my paper-round. I was an obsessed child.
They had the watertight defence with Franco Baresi
marshalling a young defence, which included a youthful Paolo Maldini. The midfield starred Albertini,
Donadoni and Gullit’s international team-mate Frank Rijkaard. The flair was added by Ruud Gullit and
the goal power from Marco Van Basten.
There is a strong argument that the AC Milan side of 1987-1992 could be
the greatest club side of all time.
AC Milan’s 5-0 destruction of Real Madrid in the European Cup semi final
of 88/89 season is one of the best performances ever, by any club side.
However this victory saw the beginning of Ruud’s injury
problems, would he make it back in time from an operation to be ready for the
final against Steaua Bucharest. Of
course Ruud would. Not only did he
play, but he scored two goals as AC Milan waltzed past the Romanians in the
final 4-0.
Milan ate humble pie in the summer of 1994, and they re-signed him from Sampdoria, however the return to Milan never really worked out, as injuries had affected his pace, and Gullit was having to play at centre back or sweeper, and by the end of the season, Gullit had been loaned back to Sampdoria. At the end of the season, Gullit needed a change of scenery, and he was being heavily linked to a move to the Premier League.
Then in 1990 it happened. There was a chance I could see Ruud Gullit every week on my TV. British Sky Broadcasting was
introduced, and they had a sports channel which showed live Italian games, week
in week out. My dad was well up
for getting satellite TV, however my mum was a tougher nut to crack, as my dad
and I watched too much sport already.
My dad worked his magic, and in November 1990 the Clark’s got satellite
TV. The first programmes we
watched were the Flintstones and the Dog Olympics, BSB didn’t have many
programmes!!
However I was in heaven, my chance to see Ruud every week,
be it live on a Sunday
afternoon after I had graced the pitches of the Southend & Junior U15
leagues, or the multiple highlights programmes they used to show during the week. However, disaster
was going to strike, not only was Ruud seriously struggling with
ligament trouble, severely limiting his time on the pitch, when he was fit, his
route back to the starting line up, was being blocked by restrictions on the
amount of foreigners Italian sides could pick in their team. Milan being a footballing superpower,
had the choice of selecting three from these guys:- Marcel Desailly, Frank
Rijkaard, Marco Van Basten, Dejan Savicevic, Zvonomir Boban, Jean-Pierre Papin
and finally Gullit.
Ruud was left out of the 1993 Champions League final against
Marseille, and that was the final nail in the coffin for his time at AC Milan,
and he was sold to Sampdoria.
Gullit went there with a point to prove, and when Milan played in Genoa,
Gullit rolled back the years, and turned in a barnstorming performance. He
scored the winner in a 3-2 victory for Sampdoria and led them to an
Italian Cup victory as well. Ruud was such an iconic and influential
figure, his mere presence led his team-mates to greater efforts.
Milan ate humble pie in the summer of 1994, and they re-signed him from Sampdoria, however the return to Milan never really worked out, as injuries had affected his pace, and Gullit was having to play at centre back or sweeper, and by the end of the season, Gullit had been loaned back to Sampdoria. At the end of the season, Gullit needed a change of scenery, and he was being heavily linked to a move to the Premier League.
As a Spurs fan, I was hoping that Spurs would be in for
him. However those hopes were
dashed, as our complete numpty of a manager Gerry Francis, decided he did not
need a new centre back, Christ we had Colin Calderwood and Stuart Nethercott,
why on earth did we need Gullit;-) Gerry definitely did not entertain the idea
of having a sweeper either. The man
was clueless. He ruined Spurs, but
that’s a story for another day.
Ruud swaggered into Chelsea of all places, playing under a
man who knows a good footballer when he sees one, Glen Hoddle. My dad being a
lifelong Chelsea fan was ecstatic, and I had to put up with Spurs lumbering on
under Gerry Francis, with footballers like Andy Sinton, Clive Wilson and Chris
Armstrong. From 1995 to the
present day, my dad has rubbed my nose in it, about Chelsea’s dominance over
Spurs, in fact he’s bloody loved it.
During this period I couldn’t show how much I loved Ruud
Gullit as a footballer, I had to hate him, it was part of the deal of being a
football supporter. But secretly,
I still adored him. He was like a
Rolls Royce, either playing sweeper or centre midfield for Chelsea. The players loved him, the fans loved
him. I hate to say it, but he was the King of the King’s Road.
When Glen Hoddle was made England manager in 1996, there was only one candidate for the Chelsea job, and Ruud Gullit became their manager in the summer of 1996. From that moment in time, Chelsea as a club have not looked back. Gullit was an icon for European footballers, and they were queuing up to join him at Chelsea, Roberto Di Matteo, Frank LeBoeuf and most importantly Gianfranco Zola joined in his first season. Chelsea won the FA Cup in his first season in charge, the club’s first major trophy in 26 years. Gullit became the first non-British manager to win a major trophy in England. Chelsea had arrived. Meanwhile Spurs plodded on.
When Glen Hoddle was made England manager in 1996, there was only one candidate for the Chelsea job, and Ruud Gullit became their manager in the summer of 1996. From that moment in time, Chelsea as a club have not looked back. Gullit was an icon for European footballers, and they were queuing up to join him at Chelsea, Roberto Di Matteo, Frank LeBoeuf and most importantly Gianfranco Zola joined in his first season. Chelsea won the FA Cup in his first season in charge, the club’s first major trophy in 26 years. Gullit became the first non-British manager to win a major trophy in England. Chelsea had arrived. Meanwhile Spurs plodded on.
Ruud Gullit has always been a confident man, some may say
bordering on arrogant, and this may have led to his falling out with Ken Bates
at Chelsea. There was probably a
clash of personalities, however you could probably list on one hand, the amount
of people who get on with Ken Bates, and one of those is Mrs Bates. With Chelsea in 2nd place in
the league, and in the quarter finals of both cups, Gullit was sacked by Bates,
and replaced by Gianluca Vialli.
Spurs at this time, were being managed by Christian Gross, a
completely clueless manager, who was brought in by the Apprentice’s Alan
Sugar. Alan Sugar was a terrible
football chairman, he made one bad managerial decision after another. Could we
hope that Sugar would finally make a wise choice, and appoint Gullit, to play
the sexy football us Spurs fans craved.
Don’t be so ridiculous, we ended up with George ficking Graham, the man
with a marble mural of the Arsenal crest in the entrance to his house. Ruud took his brand of sexy football to
St James Park, but it never really worked out for Gullit at St James Park, I
don’t think his heart was really in it.
He missed Chelsea too much.
He also dropped Alan Shearer in a must win game against Sunderland. Newcastle lost, and Gullit was
sacked. However you have to admire
Gullit’s balls for making a decision like that.
After leaving English football, Gullit flitted around Europe
and the US taking managerial jobs, but he never really settled anywhere. He fell out with owners left, right and
centre. Being a manager wasn’t his
style, he was too much of a maverick.
However the last few years of Gullit’s time in professional
football as a manager, should not cloud what a truly fantastic footballer he
was. It certainly changed the life
of a young boy in Essex, and for that I will always be fond of Ruud Gullit.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Thursday 13 November 2014
Super Stanley Collymore
Stan Collymore at Southend United was a force of nature. Plucked from obscurity by Colin Murphy for £100,000 from Crystal Palace reserves in 1992, he arrived at Southend with no reputation. When he left Southend in June 1993 his reputation was sky high.
So what made Stanley Victor Collymore such a key player for Southend. The man was explosive, he would get the ball with his back to the goal, 30 yards out, turn and strike fear into the opposing defence. With his strength and power he would blast past the defence, and rifle the ball home. In 33 games for Southend in league and cup, he scored 18 goals. This run of form, saved Southend Utd from certain relegation. To say they were a one man team, would be unfair as players like Brett Angell and club legend Steve Tilson chipped in with vital goals, but there was no doubt Stan Collymore was the catalyst.
A further legacy of Stan's Southend career was when he was sold to Nottingham Forest for £2.2m, it enabled Barry Fry the then manager, to re-invest the money into a entirely new team, players such as Ricky Otto, Tommy Mooney, Graham Bressington, Jonathan Hunt, Gary Poole, the list goes on and on. This entirely new side went joint top of the 1st Division(the Championship these days) the following season after a 3-1 away win at Derby County. Who knows what would have happened to that Southend side, if Fry was not tempted away by Birmingham in December of that season.
If you wanted a goal to sum up Stan Collymore at Southend, then his 2nd goal away at Huddersfield in the FA Cup is it. Skill, pace, power and a keen eye for goal.
His three goals in that cup run, against Millwall and Huddersfield, got Southend the plum tie of Sheffield Wednesday away in the 5th round. Collymore had a goal controversially disallowed in the 1st half when the score was 0-0, and he tormented the Sheffield Wednesday defence for 90minutes. This game proved that Collymore was destined for the top.
Southend were battling against the drop all season, and in the last six games of the campaign, Southend had relegation six pointers against Bristol Rovers, Grimsby and Luton. What none of these sides had though, was Stan Collymore. Against Bristol Rovers he scored one of the greatest goals I have ever seen. He picked the ball up 40 yards from goal, ran at the Rovers defence and curled a sublime shot into the top corner. It was a magnificent goal.
Before the Grimsby game I saw David Pleat the then Luton manager, and in my cheeky teenage youth, I asked him why he was at the game, the exchange went as follows:
Me - "David why are you watching the game"
Pleat - "I'm here to sign Collymore"
Me -"Not a f**king chance"
Pleat laughed and said that Collymore was going to be a great player, and on that night against Grimsby on a rain-lashed Roots Hall pitch he proved it again. The man was a maelstrom. He single-handedly carried Southend through that game, and again scored the winning goal.
It all went down to a final day shootout against Luton town. It was fitting maybe that Collymore did not score the goals in that game, but other un-sung members of the Southend side, Andy Sussex and Brett Angell, scored the goals that kept Southend up. Stan's contribution in that game however cannot be understated, he scored one of the greatest goals which had the misfortune of being disallowed in a game. A 20yard shot which went like a tracer bullet. As the final whistle went, I remember running onto the pitch, trying to get close to Stan, but by the time I got there, he was already lofted above the fans shoulders. We knew that season we had seen true footballing genius.
Stan Collymore himself said of his time at Southend "I count keeping Southend in the First Division in my season there as one of my greatest achievements."
I have seen a lot of football in my life, but for that 8months Stanley Victor Collymore was at Roots Hall, he will remain as one of the greatest players I have ever had the pleasure of seeing live.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
So what made Stanley Victor Collymore such a key player for Southend. The man was explosive, he would get the ball with his back to the goal, 30 yards out, turn and strike fear into the opposing defence. With his strength and power he would blast past the defence, and rifle the ball home. In 33 games for Southend in league and cup, he scored 18 goals. This run of form, saved Southend Utd from certain relegation. To say they were a one man team, would be unfair as players like Brett Angell and club legend Steve Tilson chipped in with vital goals, but there was no doubt Stan Collymore was the catalyst.
A further legacy of Stan's Southend career was when he was sold to Nottingham Forest for £2.2m, it enabled Barry Fry the then manager, to re-invest the money into a entirely new team, players such as Ricky Otto, Tommy Mooney, Graham Bressington, Jonathan Hunt, Gary Poole, the list goes on and on. This entirely new side went joint top of the 1st Division(the Championship these days) the following season after a 3-1 away win at Derby County. Who knows what would have happened to that Southend side, if Fry was not tempted away by Birmingham in December of that season.
If you wanted a goal to sum up Stan Collymore at Southend, then his 2nd goal away at Huddersfield in the FA Cup is it. Skill, pace, power and a keen eye for goal.
His three goals in that cup run, against Millwall and Huddersfield, got Southend the plum tie of Sheffield Wednesday away in the 5th round. Collymore had a goal controversially disallowed in the 1st half when the score was 0-0, and he tormented the Sheffield Wednesday defence for 90minutes. This game proved that Collymore was destined for the top.
Southend were battling against the drop all season, and in the last six games of the campaign, Southend had relegation six pointers against Bristol Rovers, Grimsby and Luton. What none of these sides had though, was Stan Collymore. Against Bristol Rovers he scored one of the greatest goals I have ever seen. He picked the ball up 40 yards from goal, ran at the Rovers defence and curled a sublime shot into the top corner. It was a magnificent goal.
Before the Grimsby game I saw David Pleat the then Luton manager, and in my cheeky teenage youth, I asked him why he was at the game, the exchange went as follows:
Me - "David why are you watching the game"
Pleat - "I'm here to sign Collymore"
Me -"Not a f**king chance"
Pleat laughed and said that Collymore was going to be a great player, and on that night against Grimsby on a rain-lashed Roots Hall pitch he proved it again. The man was a maelstrom. He single-handedly carried Southend through that game, and again scored the winning goal.
It all went down to a final day shootout against Luton town. It was fitting maybe that Collymore did not score the goals in that game, but other un-sung members of the Southend side, Andy Sussex and Brett Angell, scored the goals that kept Southend up. Stan's contribution in that game however cannot be understated, he scored one of the greatest goals which had the misfortune of being disallowed in a game. A 20yard shot which went like a tracer bullet. As the final whistle went, I remember running onto the pitch, trying to get close to Stan, but by the time I got there, he was already lofted above the fans shoulders. We knew that season we had seen true footballing genius.
Stan Collymore himself said of his time at Southend "I count keeping Southend in the First Division in my season there as one of my greatest achievements."
I have seen a lot of football in my life, but for that 8months Stanley Victor Collymore was at Roots Hall, he will remain as one of the greatest players I have ever had the pleasure of seeing live.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Wednesday 12 November 2014
Rooney record flatters to deceive
Wayne Rooney will undoubtedly become England's all time international top goalscorer in the near future, however, should he be spoken of in 'legendary' terms, as mentioned this week by Gary Lineker.
Once Rooney breaks the record he should rightly be applauded, but he should not be spoken of in the same terms as Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and Michael Owen. These three players got important goals in vital matches in World Cup and European Championship final tournaments.
Bobby Charlton scored four goals in World Cup finals, in a period where there were fewer games. Bobby scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over Portugal in the semi final of 1966. He also scored in 1962 against Argentina in a 3-1 win, however England were knocked out in the quarter finals by the eventual winners Brazil.
Gary Lineker scored ten, yes ten goals in the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals. He scored a classic Lineker-esque hat-trick in the winner takes all group game against Poland in 1986. He ended up top goalscorer in the 1986 World Cup. No Englishman had been top scorer in a World Cup finals before, and no-one has done it since. In 1990 Gary scored two penalties in the 3-2 victory over Cameroon in the quarter-final, and he memorably scored the equaliser against West Germany in the semi-final. He also buried his penalty in the shoot-out, which England sadly lost.
Michael Owen was the first English player to score in four consecutive major tournaments. Firstly bursting onto the scene at France 1998, with his mesmeric goal against Argentina. What is often forgotten is that he also scored the equalising goal against Romania, after only being on the pitch for 10minutes. In Euro 2000, he kept up his scoring record during a poor tournament for England, and in the World Cup of 2002, he scored in the knock out games against Denmark and Brazil. His goal against Brazil was another fine individual effort. A typical Owen goal.
Owen will always be remembered by England fans for his hat-trick away to Germany in September 2001. It was only cruel and persistent injury problems which curtailed his England career, which surely stopped him from breaking Bobby Charlton's record of 49 goals. He was highly regarded by coaches at club level and internationally, Sven Goran Eriksson said "You know that if he is on the pitch, there is always the chance to win until the last second of the game. There are so many good memories of Michael, but the best must be scoring three goals against Germany, away. I wonder how many players have scored a hat-trick away to Germany, there can't be many"
Does Rooney deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as these three? In my opinion no.
When Rooney burst onto the international scene at Euro 2004, he was sensational, scoring match winning doubles against Switzerland and Croatia, however he got injured in the knock out game against Portugal as England were eliminated.
Rooney appeared at the 2006 World Cup, only just recovering from injury, and never looked fit when he did play. This off the pace, languid style of play was replicated in the following tournaments, 2010 World Cup, 2012 Euro's and the 2014 World Cup in which Rooney and England stank those tournaments out.
Wayne Rooney is a flat track bully of the highest order, he bangs in the goals in qualification games, against the likes of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Slovakia. However what is the best side he has scored a meaningful, competitive, goal against? If you scrutinise his goal record it's not great reading.
Rooney scored the opening goal away to Russia in 2007, in England's doomed qualification for Euro 2008, he also got a tap-in against Uruguay in the World Cup of 2014. That is it, for a player of his ability, it is not good enough.
Compared to Charlton, Lineker and Owen, his actual record does not come close, Rooney's record will be one of longevity over quality.
Whilst Rooney has won every honour at club level and proved to Manchester Utd fans that he can affect and influence games against the best sides, England fans will be left urging - you could have done all that for us as well, Wayne.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Once Rooney breaks the record he should rightly be applauded, but he should not be spoken of in the same terms as Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and Michael Owen. These three players got important goals in vital matches in World Cup and European Championship final tournaments.
Bobby Charlton scored four goals in World Cup finals, in a period where there were fewer games. Bobby scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over Portugal in the semi final of 1966. He also scored in 1962 against Argentina in a 3-1 win, however England were knocked out in the quarter finals by the eventual winners Brazil.
Gary Lineker scored ten, yes ten goals in the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals. He scored a classic Lineker-esque hat-trick in the winner takes all group game against Poland in 1986. He ended up top goalscorer in the 1986 World Cup. No Englishman had been top scorer in a World Cup finals before, and no-one has done it since. In 1990 Gary scored two penalties in the 3-2 victory over Cameroon in the quarter-final, and he memorably scored the equaliser against West Germany in the semi-final. He also buried his penalty in the shoot-out, which England sadly lost.
Michael Owen was the first English player to score in four consecutive major tournaments. Firstly bursting onto the scene at France 1998, with his mesmeric goal against Argentina. What is often forgotten is that he also scored the equalising goal against Romania, after only being on the pitch for 10minutes. In Euro 2000, he kept up his scoring record during a poor tournament for England, and in the World Cup of 2002, he scored in the knock out games against Denmark and Brazil. His goal against Brazil was another fine individual effort. A typical Owen goal.
Owen will always be remembered by England fans for his hat-trick away to Germany in September 2001. It was only cruel and persistent injury problems which curtailed his England career, which surely stopped him from breaking Bobby Charlton's record of 49 goals. He was highly regarded by coaches at club level and internationally, Sven Goran Eriksson said "You know that if he is on the pitch, there is always the chance to win until the last second of the game. There are so many good memories of Michael, but the best must be scoring three goals against Germany, away. I wonder how many players have scored a hat-trick away to Germany, there can't be many"
Does Rooney deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as these three? In my opinion no.
When Rooney burst onto the international scene at Euro 2004, he was sensational, scoring match winning doubles against Switzerland and Croatia, however he got injured in the knock out game against Portugal as England were eliminated.
Rooney appeared at the 2006 World Cup, only just recovering from injury, and never looked fit when he did play. This off the pace, languid style of play was replicated in the following tournaments, 2010 World Cup, 2012 Euro's and the 2014 World Cup in which Rooney and England stank those tournaments out.
Wayne Rooney is a flat track bully of the highest order, he bangs in the goals in qualification games, against the likes of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Slovakia. However what is the best side he has scored a meaningful, competitive, goal against? If you scrutinise his goal record it's not great reading.
Rooney scored the opening goal away to Russia in 2007, in England's doomed qualification for Euro 2008, he also got a tap-in against Uruguay in the World Cup of 2014. That is it, for a player of his ability, it is not good enough.
Compared to Charlton, Lineker and Owen, his actual record does not come close, Rooney's record will be one of longevity over quality.
Whilst Rooney has won every honour at club level and proved to Manchester Utd fans that he can affect and influence games against the best sides, England fans will be left urging - you could have done all that for us as well, Wayne.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Thursday 6 November 2014
A Sri Lankan hammering on the cards for England
England ODI squad - Cook (c), Ali, Bell, Bopara, Buttler, Finn, Gurney, Hales, Jordan, Morgan, Root, Stokes, Taylor, Tredwell, Woakes
7 ODI's - 26th November - 16th December 2014
England head to Sri Lanka for a 7 match ODI series later this month, in preparation for the 2015 World Cup.
It beggars belief why the ECB in their infinite wisdom decided that an England side lacking in confidence should go to Sri Lanka, especially with the spin friendly conditions, in which England have always struggled, and not to mention the oppressive heat. The pitches and conditions will be completely alien to what they will encounter in Australia & New Zealand in January/February 2015. A pointless tour.
I can understand the need for players to get some game time before the World Cup, but due to the conditions in Sri Lanka, players are going to play, who should be nowhere near the side in the World Cup. The idea of warm up games is to find a settled side, it cannot be done in Sri Lanka. James Tredwell will have to play in Sri Lanka, however can you imagine what the likes of Aaron Finch, David Warner, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle and the Indian players will do to his non-threatening off spin in the World Cup, a scary thought!
Personally, there would have been more benefit in playing the South African A side, in South Africa, as these conditions would have allowed you to play your preferred line up, barring the two injured bowlers, Stuart Broad and James Anderson. In a way, it is good news that Anderson is injured for this tour, as playing in tours like this, is doing damage to him prolonging his test career, especially with the Ashes next summer in 2015. We know what Anderson and Broad can do, let them get fit and give them a new ball each in the World Cup, and watch them fire!
Then we move to the conundrum of Alastair Cook's captaincy of this side. Whilst his captaincy is negative and uninspiring, and consistently under scrutiny, in my opinion, his actual place in the side should be under question. Let's have a look at two sides who could play in Sri Lanka, one with Cook, one without:
Cook (c) Root
Hales Hales
Root Ali
Morgan Morgan (c)
Stokes Stokes
Bopara Bopara
Ali Buttler (wk)
Buttler (wk) Woakes
Tredwell Tredwell
Finn Finn
Gurney Gurney
As you can see dropping Cook allows you to bring in another front line bowler, who can bat a bit. Also the side's batting strength is not too severely affected, in fact it allows Mooen Ali to bat in a position more suited to his capabilities rather than crow-barring him into the team at number 7.
Would changing the captain now greatly affect England's World Cup chances? I'd say if anything it would increase England's chances. Under Eoin Morgan's stewardship, he would be more aggressive in the field and his attacking approach would enable us to get early wickets and stop the opposition accelerating to the 300+ scores, which the English side struggles to chase or even post.
A World Cup starting X1 of:
Root
Hales
Ali
Morgan (c)
Stokes
Bopara
Buttler (wk)
Woakes
Broad
Finn
Anderson
Is a vibrant, exciting selection which could beat any side on it's day and in a knock out competition that is all what is required.
But back to the Sri Lankan tour, I wouldn't predict much from this series, apart from a good drubbing. After 5 games, I expect Sri Lanka to lead 4-1. England might pick up a few wins in the dead rubbers, but I except us to move onto Australia as a beaten and dis-spirited side.
Published on www.countrylife.co.uk November 17, 2014
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
7 ODI's - 26th November - 16th December 2014
England head to Sri Lanka for a 7 match ODI series later this month, in preparation for the 2015 World Cup.
It beggars belief why the ECB in their infinite wisdom decided that an England side lacking in confidence should go to Sri Lanka, especially with the spin friendly conditions, in which England have always struggled, and not to mention the oppressive heat. The pitches and conditions will be completely alien to what they will encounter in Australia & New Zealand in January/February 2015. A pointless tour.
I can understand the need for players to get some game time before the World Cup, but due to the conditions in Sri Lanka, players are going to play, who should be nowhere near the side in the World Cup. The idea of warm up games is to find a settled side, it cannot be done in Sri Lanka. James Tredwell will have to play in Sri Lanka, however can you imagine what the likes of Aaron Finch, David Warner, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle and the Indian players will do to his non-threatening off spin in the World Cup, a scary thought!
Personally, there would have been more benefit in playing the South African A side, in South Africa, as these conditions would have allowed you to play your preferred line up, barring the two injured bowlers, Stuart Broad and James Anderson. In a way, it is good news that Anderson is injured for this tour, as playing in tours like this, is doing damage to him prolonging his test career, especially with the Ashes next summer in 2015. We know what Anderson and Broad can do, let them get fit and give them a new ball each in the World Cup, and watch them fire!
Then we move to the conundrum of Alastair Cook's captaincy of this side. Whilst his captaincy is negative and uninspiring, and consistently under scrutiny, in my opinion, his actual place in the side should be under question. Let's have a look at two sides who could play in Sri Lanka, one with Cook, one without:
Cook (c) Root
Hales Hales
Root Ali
Morgan Morgan (c)
Stokes Stokes
Bopara Bopara
Ali Buttler (wk)
Buttler (wk) Woakes
Tredwell Tredwell
Finn Finn
Gurney Gurney
As you can see dropping Cook allows you to bring in another front line bowler, who can bat a bit. Also the side's batting strength is not too severely affected, in fact it allows Mooen Ali to bat in a position more suited to his capabilities rather than crow-barring him into the team at number 7.
Would changing the captain now greatly affect England's World Cup chances? I'd say if anything it would increase England's chances. Under Eoin Morgan's stewardship, he would be more aggressive in the field and his attacking approach would enable us to get early wickets and stop the opposition accelerating to the 300+ scores, which the English side struggles to chase or even post.
A World Cup starting X1 of:
Root
Hales
Ali
Morgan (c)
Stokes
Bopara
Buttler (wk)
Woakes
Broad
Finn
Anderson
Is a vibrant, exciting selection which could beat any side on it's day and in a knock out competition that is all what is required.
But back to the Sri Lankan tour, I wouldn't predict much from this series, apart from a good drubbing. After 5 games, I expect Sri Lanka to lead 4-1. England might pick up a few wins in the dead rubbers, but I except us to move onto Australia as a beaten and dis-spirited side.
Published on www.countrylife.co.uk November 17, 2014
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Monday 18 August 2014
England hammer a dis-interested India
For a Test Match to take place, it requires two teams to contest a game over 5 days. The game at the Oval could not be called a Test Match, India were truly woeful, and the game if anything was a confidence boost for Alastair Cook's resurgent England.
England are cock-a-hoop with confidence, but beating this un-motivated, and dis-interested Indian team, does not paper over the cracks which are still appearing within this England team. England won this Test Match by an innings and 244 runs, I will say that again an innings and 244 runs.
This demolition began once Cook won the toss and inserted the Indians on an overcast Friday morning in London. India's top order were completely abject, and were struggling at 44-6, after exceptional bowling, not just from Anderson and Broad, but finally ably backed up by Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes. This certainly bodes well for England's fast bowling future, when you consider the back up is Liam Plunkett, Steven Finn and Ben Stokes. If it wasn't for MS Dhoni's belligerent 82 from 140 balls, christ knows what the Indian score would have been.
As mentioned in a previous blog, the following players whilst lavished with superstardom in their own country, need to perform away from home if they are to be named in the same light as their predecessors. Virat Kohli, Pujara and Rahane need to concentrate on their technique and application. As the series has progressed, the English quicks have had their plans to bowl to the Indian middle order, and it would appear the Indian batsmen have not studied the English bowling or practiced in the nets. India were finally bundled out for 148, and Cook and Robson handled the tricky overcast conditions with comparative ease to close day 62-0.
Under sunny skies on the Saturday morning, Cook and Robson resumed, and again question marks will be raised against Sam Robson's long term future in the side. He played all round a full length delivery from Aaron, and was cleanly bowled. Robson is fortunate that there is no test cricket until April next year, if there were another test this calendar year, it would be unlikely that he would be opening. England have discarded the two previous openers Michael Carberry and Nick Compton erroneously in my opinion, and I would not be surprised if one of these two is given a go in future test series, quite possibly Compton due to his youth over Carberry. Cook and Ballance again showed the application and desire required in Test Match cricket, and they grinded out 79 and 64 respectively.
England have found a brilliant number 3 in Gary Ballance, and James Whitaker the chief selector should take some credit for giving him his opportunity. Since a slightly wobbly start against Sri Lanka in the summer, he has not looked back since the Indians arrived, and should have the number 3 slot nailed down for the foreseeable future. Joe Root has finally found a permanent position in this England side, and his 149* was a brilliant mixture of sensible batting, and increasing the run rate with techniquely sound aggressive batting. He was ably supported by Jos Buttler with a 45, and he has walked into this England side playing like a man who has been in it for years. Root is genuinely a world class player across all formats of cricket, and players like him should be cherished. They don't come along too often.
Whilst praising the England batting during their innings of 486, the Indian bowling and fielding should be admonished. They played like a side who could not be arsed, and as mentioned in a previous blog, serious questions should be asked about MS Dhoni's captaincy, especially out on the field. He gave an air of a man who would rather be elsewhere, and his motivational skills for his side are non-existent. The sign of a good team is by their fielding, and I have seen school teams field better than this Indian side in the last 3 Test matches. India will probably look to Virat Kohli as their next Test captain, however I feel that would be the wrong decision, he needs work on his technique, he is undoubtedly a fine batsmen, but you cannot play on roads each week when on tour. Murali Vijay would be my choice, he has worked hard to get into this Indian side, and shows great pride when batting, shame some of his team-mates cannot say the same.
After first innings India were 338 runs behind, and whilst nobody expected them to make England bat again, what followed was a procession of wickets, mainly due to a mixture of great bowling from the English pace quartet, and some genuinely lazy couldn't care less shots from the Indian batsmen. They saved their worst till last, and were bundled out for 94 in 29 overs, in little over 2 hours of play. Gautam Gambir played one of the most uncomfortable test innings you're likely to see, and he knew he was suffering, and ended up running himself out to stop the pain!
This series turned in the 3rd Test at the Rose Bowl when Alastair Cook was dropped on 15 by Ravi Jadeja. Since that moment England didn't look back. Who knows what would have happened if Jadeja had held that catch, would Cook have been replaced as captain? I would certainly have been calling for his head. However Cook and England have flourished since that pivotal moment, and I am happy to be proved wrong by the English captain. Long may this run of fine victories continue.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
England are cock-a-hoop with confidence, but beating this un-motivated, and dis-interested Indian team, does not paper over the cracks which are still appearing within this England team. England won this Test Match by an innings and 244 runs, I will say that again an innings and 244 runs.
This demolition began once Cook won the toss and inserted the Indians on an overcast Friday morning in London. India's top order were completely abject, and were struggling at 44-6, after exceptional bowling, not just from Anderson and Broad, but finally ably backed up by Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes. This certainly bodes well for England's fast bowling future, when you consider the back up is Liam Plunkett, Steven Finn and Ben Stokes. If it wasn't for MS Dhoni's belligerent 82 from 140 balls, christ knows what the Indian score would have been.
As mentioned in a previous blog, the following players whilst lavished with superstardom in their own country, need to perform away from home if they are to be named in the same light as their predecessors. Virat Kohli, Pujara and Rahane need to concentrate on their technique and application. As the series has progressed, the English quicks have had their plans to bowl to the Indian middle order, and it would appear the Indian batsmen have not studied the English bowling or practiced in the nets. India were finally bundled out for 148, and Cook and Robson handled the tricky overcast conditions with comparative ease to close day 62-0.
Under sunny skies on the Saturday morning, Cook and Robson resumed, and again question marks will be raised against Sam Robson's long term future in the side. He played all round a full length delivery from Aaron, and was cleanly bowled. Robson is fortunate that there is no test cricket until April next year, if there were another test this calendar year, it would be unlikely that he would be opening. England have discarded the two previous openers Michael Carberry and Nick Compton erroneously in my opinion, and I would not be surprised if one of these two is given a go in future test series, quite possibly Compton due to his youth over Carberry. Cook and Ballance again showed the application and desire required in Test Match cricket, and they grinded out 79 and 64 respectively.
England have found a brilliant number 3 in Gary Ballance, and James Whitaker the chief selector should take some credit for giving him his opportunity. Since a slightly wobbly start against Sri Lanka in the summer, he has not looked back since the Indians arrived, and should have the number 3 slot nailed down for the foreseeable future. Joe Root has finally found a permanent position in this England side, and his 149* was a brilliant mixture of sensible batting, and increasing the run rate with techniquely sound aggressive batting. He was ably supported by Jos Buttler with a 45, and he has walked into this England side playing like a man who has been in it for years. Root is genuinely a world class player across all formats of cricket, and players like him should be cherished. They don't come along too often.
Whilst praising the England batting during their innings of 486, the Indian bowling and fielding should be admonished. They played like a side who could not be arsed, and as mentioned in a previous blog, serious questions should be asked about MS Dhoni's captaincy, especially out on the field. He gave an air of a man who would rather be elsewhere, and his motivational skills for his side are non-existent. The sign of a good team is by their fielding, and I have seen school teams field better than this Indian side in the last 3 Test matches. India will probably look to Virat Kohli as their next Test captain, however I feel that would be the wrong decision, he needs work on his technique, he is undoubtedly a fine batsmen, but you cannot play on roads each week when on tour. Murali Vijay would be my choice, he has worked hard to get into this Indian side, and shows great pride when batting, shame some of his team-mates cannot say the same.
After first innings India were 338 runs behind, and whilst nobody expected them to make England bat again, what followed was a procession of wickets, mainly due to a mixture of great bowling from the English pace quartet, and some genuinely lazy couldn't care less shots from the Indian batsmen. They saved their worst till last, and were bundled out for 94 in 29 overs, in little over 2 hours of play. Gautam Gambir played one of the most uncomfortable test innings you're likely to see, and he knew he was suffering, and ended up running himself out to stop the pain!
This series turned in the 3rd Test at the Rose Bowl when Alastair Cook was dropped on 15 by Ravi Jadeja. Since that moment England didn't look back. Who knows what would have happened if Jadeja had held that catch, would Cook have been replaced as captain? I would certainly have been calling for his head. However Cook and England have flourished since that pivotal moment, and I am happy to be proved wrong by the English captain. Long may this run of fine victories continue.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Saturday 9 August 2014
India fold as England cruise to Old Trafford victory
Pathetic. Spineless. Useless Captain. These phrases have been used to describe England in the past 12 months, but over this Test, India served up a performance which truly plumbed the depths.
From the moment they won the toss, and batted under leaden skies, they were thoroughly outplayed by an enthusiastic and steadily improving England side. Brilliant swing bowling by the English opening bowlers Anderson and Broad, reduced India to a mind-boggling 8-4, and to give some credit, albeit not a lot to the remaining Indian batsmen to get to 152 was a fair effort. Stuart Broad finally this summer being given a pitch that produces pace and bounce, used it to full effect to end up with tremendous figures of 6-25 off of 13 overs.
England's 1st innings started off a little scratchily, and there may be some growing concern about Sam Robson, who appears fidgety and frenetic at the wicket. Opening the batting is a hard task, but he seems to lack a certain composure, and his runs are always hard earned. Oh for the days of a Marcus Trescothick, to complement the doggedness of the captain Cook. After the KP fiasco, which I have spoke about in the past, it seems England now have a settled middle order, with the increasing authority of Gary Ballance at three, the technically flawless Ian Bell at four, and the little Yorkshire fighter Joe Root at five. There's a real glue to the England middle order, and after a period of finding the correct batting position for Root, he seems really settled at five.
One of the question marks over Jos Buttler's inclusion were - could he bat under pressure? When he walked to the wicket on Friday, England were 140-6. His circumspect 70 was an excellent knock in the context of the match, and his 134 run partnership with Joe Root was looking at the final score, a match winning partnership. Buttler should be, barring another youngster coming through, the England wicket-keeper in all 3 formats for the next 5 years at least. It is nice to see a young man break into the England team, and take his opportunity so brilliantly.
If India's 1st innings was shambolic, then their 2nd was spineless. The young men in their middle order, have had to bide their time to get the chance in this Indian test side, whilst they await the legends Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman to retire. It's all well and good getting runs in your home country, but the mark of a real test player is to go overseas and get runs in difficult conditions. Pujara, Kohli and Rahane need to stop reading the praise they get from the Indian press, and knuckle down and grow some balls.
Special praise must again be given to Mooen Ali, whilst he appears to have a problem with quick bowling, his bowling is coming on leaps and bounds, and if he can tie the supposed best players of spin in the world in knots, then it bodes extremely well for the future. In further test matches we may find the batting positions of Ali and Buttler becoming interchangeable, depending on circumstance.
There was no play after 2.15pm on Friday, so England have wrapped up this Test Match in little under 2 and half days. India are playing like a test team who want to get on the next plane home, however they still have a test at the Oval before they can. Alastair Cook must be thanking MS Dhoni, as Dhoni has helped to give England two easy test match wins, with some baffling bowling and field selections during England's recent innings. Dhoni in the field is playing like a man who would rather be elsewhere, I would anticipate that he will call time on his test career after this series.
So England rock on to the Oval cock-a-hoop, India off to lick their wounds. I can only see another comprehensive England victory in the final test of the summer. Who would have thought England would be winning this series 3-1 a month ago. Fair play to England, India however need a long hard look at themselves.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
From the moment they won the toss, and batted under leaden skies, they were thoroughly outplayed by an enthusiastic and steadily improving England side. Brilliant swing bowling by the English opening bowlers Anderson and Broad, reduced India to a mind-boggling 8-4, and to give some credit, albeit not a lot to the remaining Indian batsmen to get to 152 was a fair effort. Stuart Broad finally this summer being given a pitch that produces pace and bounce, used it to full effect to end up with tremendous figures of 6-25 off of 13 overs.
England's 1st innings started off a little scratchily, and there may be some growing concern about Sam Robson, who appears fidgety and frenetic at the wicket. Opening the batting is a hard task, but he seems to lack a certain composure, and his runs are always hard earned. Oh for the days of a Marcus Trescothick, to complement the doggedness of the captain Cook. After the KP fiasco, which I have spoke about in the past, it seems England now have a settled middle order, with the increasing authority of Gary Ballance at three, the technically flawless Ian Bell at four, and the little Yorkshire fighter Joe Root at five. There's a real glue to the England middle order, and after a period of finding the correct batting position for Root, he seems really settled at five.
One of the question marks over Jos Buttler's inclusion were - could he bat under pressure? When he walked to the wicket on Friday, England were 140-6. His circumspect 70 was an excellent knock in the context of the match, and his 134 run partnership with Joe Root was looking at the final score, a match winning partnership. Buttler should be, barring another youngster coming through, the England wicket-keeper in all 3 formats for the next 5 years at least. It is nice to see a young man break into the England team, and take his opportunity so brilliantly.
If India's 1st innings was shambolic, then their 2nd was spineless. The young men in their middle order, have had to bide their time to get the chance in this Indian test side, whilst they await the legends Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman to retire. It's all well and good getting runs in your home country, but the mark of a real test player is to go overseas and get runs in difficult conditions. Pujara, Kohli and Rahane need to stop reading the praise they get from the Indian press, and knuckle down and grow some balls.
Special praise must again be given to Mooen Ali, whilst he appears to have a problem with quick bowling, his bowling is coming on leaps and bounds, and if he can tie the supposed best players of spin in the world in knots, then it bodes extremely well for the future. In further test matches we may find the batting positions of Ali and Buttler becoming interchangeable, depending on circumstance.
There was no play after 2.15pm on Friday, so England have wrapped up this Test Match in little under 2 and half days. India are playing like a test team who want to get on the next plane home, however they still have a test at the Oval before they can. Alastair Cook must be thanking MS Dhoni, as Dhoni has helped to give England two easy test match wins, with some baffling bowling and field selections during England's recent innings. Dhoni in the field is playing like a man who would rather be elsewhere, I would anticipate that he will call time on his test career after this series.
So England rock on to the Oval cock-a-hoop, India off to lick their wounds. I can only see another comprehensive England victory in the final test of the summer. Who would have thought England would be winning this series 3-1 a month ago. Fair play to England, India however need a long hard look at themselves.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Thursday 31 July 2014
Cook and England dominate India to silence the doubters
It all changed on Sunday morning, Alastair Cook tentatively had worked his way to 15 not out, when he offered up a simple slip catch to Ravindra Jadeja, which was not taken. From then on England dominated every session in the 3rd Test against an out-of-sorts India. Who knows what would have happened if Jadeja had managed to hold onto that catch. Cricket, like most sports, is a game of small margins.
England decided to rotate their back-up bowlers, with Ben Stokes being dropped and being made available to play for Durham, in the hope that he finds some form with the bat. Liam Plunkett was rested for this test, despite bowling well in spells at Lords. Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes were called up, and whilst they didn't offer the wicket taking threat of Plunkett, they managed to bowl in a tight and economical manner. Woakes especially will bowl worse and take wickets. Personally I'm not sure about Jordan's ability at Test Match level, I find that he offers too many 4 balls to the batsmen, and it was only India's strange attitude to this test match, that they did not punish some of his wayward spells. For the next test at Old Trafford, I would hope that Plunkett is recalled, in place of Jordan.
This test match finally was the moment for Jos Buttler's debut, after England showed too much loyalty to Matt Prior by selecting him for this summer's earlier test matches. Prior's contribution to English cricket should not be forgotten, and his poor displays this summer both behind the wicket, and with the bat should not overshadow his otherwise stellar England career. Buttler could not have wished for a better time to come to the crease to make his debut, with England cruising along at 420-5. Whilst Jos hit a typically belligerent 85 off 83 balls, it was a chancy innings and should have been out 3 times. On one occasion Dhoni missed an easy stumping, which summed up his test match. It will be interesting to see how Buttler goes when England are under the pump so to speak, and he has to come in when England are 130/5. Nevertheless it was an impressive debut with the bat, and he was tidy and efficient behind the stumps, but it must be said no great improvement on a fit and in form Prior.
It was finally good to see Ian Bell get a score this summer, is there another batsman in world cricket who looks in touch even when they don't get many runs? AB De Villiers is the only one who comes to mind. Bell's innings of 167 in the 1st innings was sublime, and he also increased his own run-rate when England needed quick runs, and gave away his wicket in that chase for runs.
The only concern over England's batting in both innings was the form of Sam Robson, whilst he has great technique and bats in a tidy manner, there is maybe a clamour for somebody with more flair to open the innings, maybe a Hales or dare I say a Carberry, but I feel Michael's race has run. A little unfairly in my opinion. I anticipate that Robson will retain his place for the final two tests of the summer, but with the plethora of one day cricket in the next 8 months, there is a real opportunity for Alex Hales to get himself in the forefront of the selectors minds.
Jimmy Anderson along with Dale Steyn are the best leader's of a bowling attack in world cricket, and in this test, Jimmy bowled as well as he has done all summer, quite possibly even for a whole year. His control of the ball either outswing or inswing was magnificent, and he is only 15 wickets away from breaking Ian Botham's all time English wicket taking record. Once Jimmy breaks that, it will be fully deserved, and a great honour for the Burnley paceman.
When Stuart Broad is on song, and Anderson is performing to his impeccable best, England have a front line pace attack to be feared by most teams in the world. What England hope is that their back up bowlers can chip in with a few wickets, to ease the pressure on Broad and Anderson. Which leads me to Mooen Ali, what a superb bowling performance by the part-time spinner, a tremendous 6-67 in the second innings. Mooen Ali rushed England to a deserved victory, and certainly silenced his doubters, me included. He rattled through the Indian line up which has questionably the best players of spin in the world. Is Mooen Ali the long term answer, I'm not 100% sure, but again after these two tests there is no test cricket for nearly a year. A chance again for a Briggs/Riley to impress, or more time for Ali to perfect his art.
Moving onto India, that was a performance as abject as England's was at Lords. Obviously they were hindered by the injury to Ishant Sharma, but their display in the field in both innings was sloppy and their general demeanour throughout the test gave an impression of half-heartededness. This all stemmed from MS Dhoni's performance as captain, from his initial team selection, in which he packed the team full of batsmen and again did not select Ashwin, to his quite baffling field placing, and his constant bowling changes, it was a poor test by the Indian captain.
Conversely, this was Alastair Cook's most complete performance as England captain, and whilst I have been critical in the past, I am equally magnanimous to applaud him when it is deserved. Everyone wants to see a winning English cricket team. After that drop from Jadeja on Sunday morning, Cook did not look back, and was incredibly unfortunate not to get a deserved century in the 1st innings. Whilst the Indian batsmen let themselves down in their 1st innings, Cook's fields were generally attacking and he showed more confidence in his back-up bowlers than he has done previously in his tenure. England's charge for runs in the 2nd innings was well changed, and they declared at a good time in the day, to allow themselves plenty of time to bowl to India before the close of day 4.
Thinking ahead to Old Trafford, England will be hoping that Jimmy Anderson avoids a ban from his hearing for his alleged altercation with Ravi Jadeja. If Anderson is banned then I expect Jordan to retain his place, with Plunkett coming into the side anyway. India will be crossing their fingers and hoping Anderson is banned, and surely they must consider picking Ashwin for this test.
It's nice to be able to report on a convincing English victory, and let's hope for another one at Old Trafford.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
England decided to rotate their back-up bowlers, with Ben Stokes being dropped and being made available to play for Durham, in the hope that he finds some form with the bat. Liam Plunkett was rested for this test, despite bowling well in spells at Lords. Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes were called up, and whilst they didn't offer the wicket taking threat of Plunkett, they managed to bowl in a tight and economical manner. Woakes especially will bowl worse and take wickets. Personally I'm not sure about Jordan's ability at Test Match level, I find that he offers too many 4 balls to the batsmen, and it was only India's strange attitude to this test match, that they did not punish some of his wayward spells. For the next test at Old Trafford, I would hope that Plunkett is recalled, in place of Jordan.
This test match finally was the moment for Jos Buttler's debut, after England showed too much loyalty to Matt Prior by selecting him for this summer's earlier test matches. Prior's contribution to English cricket should not be forgotten, and his poor displays this summer both behind the wicket, and with the bat should not overshadow his otherwise stellar England career. Buttler could not have wished for a better time to come to the crease to make his debut, with England cruising along at 420-5. Whilst Jos hit a typically belligerent 85 off 83 balls, it was a chancy innings and should have been out 3 times. On one occasion Dhoni missed an easy stumping, which summed up his test match. It will be interesting to see how Buttler goes when England are under the pump so to speak, and he has to come in when England are 130/5. Nevertheless it was an impressive debut with the bat, and he was tidy and efficient behind the stumps, but it must be said no great improvement on a fit and in form Prior.
It was finally good to see Ian Bell get a score this summer, is there another batsman in world cricket who looks in touch even when they don't get many runs? AB De Villiers is the only one who comes to mind. Bell's innings of 167 in the 1st innings was sublime, and he also increased his own run-rate when England needed quick runs, and gave away his wicket in that chase for runs.
The only concern over England's batting in both innings was the form of Sam Robson, whilst he has great technique and bats in a tidy manner, there is maybe a clamour for somebody with more flair to open the innings, maybe a Hales or dare I say a Carberry, but I feel Michael's race has run. A little unfairly in my opinion. I anticipate that Robson will retain his place for the final two tests of the summer, but with the plethora of one day cricket in the next 8 months, there is a real opportunity for Alex Hales to get himself in the forefront of the selectors minds.
Jimmy Anderson along with Dale Steyn are the best leader's of a bowling attack in world cricket, and in this test, Jimmy bowled as well as he has done all summer, quite possibly even for a whole year. His control of the ball either outswing or inswing was magnificent, and he is only 15 wickets away from breaking Ian Botham's all time English wicket taking record. Once Jimmy breaks that, it will be fully deserved, and a great honour for the Burnley paceman.
When Stuart Broad is on song, and Anderson is performing to his impeccable best, England have a front line pace attack to be feared by most teams in the world. What England hope is that their back up bowlers can chip in with a few wickets, to ease the pressure on Broad and Anderson. Which leads me to Mooen Ali, what a superb bowling performance by the part-time spinner, a tremendous 6-67 in the second innings. Mooen Ali rushed England to a deserved victory, and certainly silenced his doubters, me included. He rattled through the Indian line up which has questionably the best players of spin in the world. Is Mooen Ali the long term answer, I'm not 100% sure, but again after these two tests there is no test cricket for nearly a year. A chance again for a Briggs/Riley to impress, or more time for Ali to perfect his art.
Moving onto India, that was a performance as abject as England's was at Lords. Obviously they were hindered by the injury to Ishant Sharma, but their display in the field in both innings was sloppy and their general demeanour throughout the test gave an impression of half-heartededness. This all stemmed from MS Dhoni's performance as captain, from his initial team selection, in which he packed the team full of batsmen and again did not select Ashwin, to his quite baffling field placing, and his constant bowling changes, it was a poor test by the Indian captain.
Conversely, this was Alastair Cook's most complete performance as England captain, and whilst I have been critical in the past, I am equally magnanimous to applaud him when it is deserved. Everyone wants to see a winning English cricket team. After that drop from Jadeja on Sunday morning, Cook did not look back, and was incredibly unfortunate not to get a deserved century in the 1st innings. Whilst the Indian batsmen let themselves down in their 1st innings, Cook's fields were generally attacking and he showed more confidence in his back-up bowlers than he has done previously in his tenure. England's charge for runs in the 2nd innings was well changed, and they declared at a good time in the day, to allow themselves plenty of time to bowl to India before the close of day 4.
Thinking ahead to Old Trafford, England will be hoping that Jimmy Anderson avoids a ban from his hearing for his alleged altercation with Ravi Jadeja. If Anderson is banned then I expect Jordan to retain his place, with Plunkett coming into the side anyway. India will be crossing their fingers and hoping Anderson is banned, and surely they must consider picking Ashwin for this test.
It's nice to be able to report on a convincing English victory, and let's hope for another one at Old Trafford.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
Monday 21 July 2014
Management bury their heads in the sand, as English cricket plummets
Lords, the home of English cricket, was the scene of another pitiful cricketing performance from an increasingly rudderless English team. Whilst much will be made of Alistair Cook's captaincy, which I have previously criticised, fingers should be pointed at the ECB, who are currently sitting in their ivory towers not commenting on the shambles which is going on before us.
The ECB in their infinite judgement, re-employed a coach who has previously shown that he was not up to the task of coaching international class cricketers. With all due respect to the Lancashire team he coached, there is a huge gulf between coaching and motivating honest county players, and high class international cricketers. What cannot be denied about Peter Moores, is his ability to pluck players from county cricket who adapt to Test Cricket immediately, for example Ryan Sidebottom and Graeme Swann in 2007. However does he have the respect of international players, and do they listen and take on his tactical ideas...recent results would suggest they do not necessarily buy into the Moores philosophy.
In my opinion when Andy Flower decided to walk away from coaching the English team, the ECB should have been more forward thinking in the appointment of new coach, and looked at candidates who had excellent track records in coaching international sides. The likes of Tom Moody, Gary Kirsten and Micky Arthur should have, at the very least, been interviewed for the job.
However the ECB appointed a man, who not only failed at his previous attempt, but could not get on or manage England's most talented batsman of the last 20 years (Kevin Pietersen), thereby instantly making the English team weaker than the one he inherited. Baffling decision making on every level.
It would be highly naive of a supporter of any sporting side, to believe that every single player gets on with everyone. However, the role of a coach/manager is to manage a team of individuals, understanding what each person needs to perform to the best of their ability, ie a kick up the backside, or a massaging of their ego. If this is done to an expert level, think Man Utd in their treble season when Sheringham and Cole did not talk to each other, then these things are put to one side for the benefit of the team as a whole.
In all this sorry mess, David Saker's role should be under scrutiny. Some of the English bowling tactics have been mystifying in the last 12 months to say the least. The barrage of short pitched bowling, by bowlers who average about 85mph, is nonsensical, and at times laughable. We have seen one of English cricket's best young bowling prospect's Steven Finn, completely destroyed by the ineptitude of David Saker. Watching Finn bowl towards the end of his spell in the England side, was dispiriting, here was a bowler who could bowl 90mph, taking wickets by bowling short, or pitching it up. But under Saker, they shortened his run-up, the poor guy lost confidence, and will he ever find his way back, it's doubtful.
Finishing with Alistair Cook, now is the time for him to step down. He re-iterates that he is a strong man, however the sign of a strong man would be to admit that he is not cut out for the job, and step down. However, while the ECB bury their heads in the sand and employ a band of yes-men, I cannot see this happening. Cook was all set to break English batting records at Test level, and we must not forget that he is an excellent batsman, but this captaincy spell is seriously damaging his reputation, which he may never recover.
Who can take over the English captaincy if Cook does relinquish it? Analysts say there is a dearth of good candidates, but until they are given the responsibility, you can't know for sure. For years we were told that Cook would be an excellent captain, but he isn't. For me their is an argument for giving the captaincy to any of the following; Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Joe Root, Jimmy Anderson.
English cricket is in a sorry state at present, and whilst the decision makers insist that all will be ok in the future, I just cannot see it without the people in charge, senior management, coach and captain being replaced.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
The ECB in their infinite judgement, re-employed a coach who has previously shown that he was not up to the task of coaching international class cricketers. With all due respect to the Lancashire team he coached, there is a huge gulf between coaching and motivating honest county players, and high class international cricketers. What cannot be denied about Peter Moores, is his ability to pluck players from county cricket who adapt to Test Cricket immediately, for example Ryan Sidebottom and Graeme Swann in 2007. However does he have the respect of international players, and do they listen and take on his tactical ideas...recent results would suggest they do not necessarily buy into the Moores philosophy.
In my opinion when Andy Flower decided to walk away from coaching the English team, the ECB should have been more forward thinking in the appointment of new coach, and looked at candidates who had excellent track records in coaching international sides. The likes of Tom Moody, Gary Kirsten and Micky Arthur should have, at the very least, been interviewed for the job.
However the ECB appointed a man, who not only failed at his previous attempt, but could not get on or manage England's most talented batsman of the last 20 years (Kevin Pietersen), thereby instantly making the English team weaker than the one he inherited. Baffling decision making on every level.
It would be highly naive of a supporter of any sporting side, to believe that every single player gets on with everyone. However, the role of a coach/manager is to manage a team of individuals, understanding what each person needs to perform to the best of their ability, ie a kick up the backside, or a massaging of their ego. If this is done to an expert level, think Man Utd in their treble season when Sheringham and Cole did not talk to each other, then these things are put to one side for the benefit of the team as a whole.
In all this sorry mess, David Saker's role should be under scrutiny. Some of the English bowling tactics have been mystifying in the last 12 months to say the least. The barrage of short pitched bowling, by bowlers who average about 85mph, is nonsensical, and at times laughable. We have seen one of English cricket's best young bowling prospect's Steven Finn, completely destroyed by the ineptitude of David Saker. Watching Finn bowl towards the end of his spell in the England side, was dispiriting, here was a bowler who could bowl 90mph, taking wickets by bowling short, or pitching it up. But under Saker, they shortened his run-up, the poor guy lost confidence, and will he ever find his way back, it's doubtful.
Finishing with Alistair Cook, now is the time for him to step down. He re-iterates that he is a strong man, however the sign of a strong man would be to admit that he is not cut out for the job, and step down. However, while the ECB bury their heads in the sand and employ a band of yes-men, I cannot see this happening. Cook was all set to break English batting records at Test level, and we must not forget that he is an excellent batsman, but this captaincy spell is seriously damaging his reputation, which he may never recover.
Who can take over the English captaincy if Cook does relinquish it? Analysts say there is a dearth of good candidates, but until they are given the responsibility, you can't know for sure. For years we were told that Cook would be an excellent captain, but he isn't. For me their is an argument for giving the captaincy to any of the following; Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Joe Root, Jimmy Anderson.
English cricket is in a sorry state at present, and whilst the decision makers insist that all will be ok in the future, I just cannot see it without the people in charge, senior management, coach and captain being replaced.
Chris Clark © 2014 @Chrisclark1975
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