T-Rex faster than Professional Footballer

"Tyrannosaurus rex would have been able to outrun a footballer, according to computer models used to estimate running speeds of dinosaurs" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6956867.stm).

Well that seems like a worth while investigation.

Next week... who's faster... Theo Walcott or a B-52 Stealth Bomber.

Sam Allardyce

This picture summises everything I am about to write about Sam Allardyce. If you don't have time to read, just appreciate the photo. Pictures really do paint a thousand words...

On the dawn of another England game at which even the most patriotic fans are struggling for enthusiasm, I thought I'd throw the spotlight onto a failed candidate for the England Manager's role, Sam Allardyce.

When Allardyce was turned down for the England job, it was no great surprise. Firstly he'd only managed one club, and a small club at that, achieving moderate success... which translates as turning a club with a small budget into regular mid-table obscurity.

The accompanying reason for Allardyce not truly being considered for the most prized position in English football, and the reason I never wanted him in charge of England's greatest talent, is because Bolton played boring football. Allardyce, the man who made 4-3-3 a defensive formation.

Allardyce's arrival at St. James' Park is his great opportunity to prove that he was, and is, the right man to lead the England team. Newcastle are considered to be one of the biggest club's in the Premiership, with a large fan base that demands entertainment. If he gets it right here... he will be the strong favourite to replace the less than impressive McLaren. However, a quote from Allardyce following his team's boring 0-0 draw with Aston Villa this weekend fuels my doubts over his ability and willingness to entertain,

"If you're keeping a clean sheet, you're in a position to win a game by capitalising on one mistake by the opposition. In this division more goals are scored by punishing teams for mistakes than creative play".

That's all well and good Sam, but I can't see Newcastle fans eagerly anticipating a clean sheet every weekend...

And England? We'd be out on penalties from our first game against a half decent defence.

No change there then.

Human Error

The talking point from this weekend has undoubtedly been the performances of Rob Styles (the Referee at Anfield) and Ian Gosling (the Referee's Ass. at Craven Cottage), after they made incorrect decisions that affected the outcomes of both matches.

Styles, to the astonishment of Steve Finnan and Jamie Carragher (pictured), awarded a penalty when Florent Malouda 'fell' and handed Chelsea a point. Gosling failed to see that David Healy's last ditch effort actually crossed the line and Fulham were robbed of a point. Both Officials have been punished with a week's suspension.

Inevitably there have been calls for "goal-line technology" and "instant video evidence".

I have never been interested in either of these things... and so here we begin my list of 'What Makes Football Great'. Number One: Human Error.

Human error is imperative to football. Imagine this weekend's football where every contentious decision had been given correctly. What would we be talking about?

Controversy inspires discussion.

It incites emotion.

It makes football what it is today... the fact that one day you can be awarded a goal for a shot that never crossed the line... and two years later... you can be conceding penalties to diving French wingers.

That's the other great aspect of human error. What goes around, comes around. Liverpool suffered to a penalty that should never have been given this weekend, but they benefited in the Champions League Semi-Final in 2005 for a goal that never crossed the line. Can Liverpool fans really be that disappointed after an Official made a bad decision? Sure they can - but the cycle will come round again, when they will get a decision in their favour and it will be their turn to say 'I thought the referee did well'.

We live in a blame culture, and so losing sides have a tendency to blame Referees for their loss. However in truth, it is not one moment in a game, it is not one split second of a decision, that decides the outcome of a football match... but there are 90 minutes with which to decide the outcome of the match for yourself.

Alan Hansen

Recently, I defended Alan Hansen, stating that I had always respected his opinion, and felt his comments insightful.

Was I ever that young and naive?

In all fairness, I still believe that Hansen is a man worth listening to... but his comment on last night's Match of the Day has certainly damaged the respect I have for his opinion.

In reference to Stephen Hunt, the hard working Reading midfielder, Hansen said the player had "great touch and technique".

For any of you that haven't seen Stephen Hunt play football... don't worry... it's not worth it. A comment like "great touch and technique" should be reserved for... unsurprisingly... players with great touch and technique. If you're going to throw around compliments and superlatives to average players... how do you describe players that actually possess a great touch and technique... like Lio Messi... Kaka... Cristiano Ronaldo?

We're lead to a situation where a commentator or analyst has nothing left to say but... "There are no words to describe how good that is". Well actually... there are the words... you just wasted them on Stephen Hunt.

WAGGs (Wives and Girlfriends/Gays)

When Roy Keane singled out the 'prawn sandwich' fans at Old Trafford for not being real fans, he was saying exactly what everybody else had been thinking.

When Roy Keane went on MUTV and slated some of the club's lesser players, like Darren Fletcher and Kieron Richardson, for not putting in 100% effort, he was saying exactly what everybody else had been thinking.

Now, Roy Keane has commented on the effect that WAGGs (second G added for comical effect) are having on players' careers. Tell me... is he not saying what everybody else has been thinking?

"These so-called big stars are people we are supposed to be looking up to. Well, they are weak and soft.

"If they don't want to come because their wife wants to go shopping in London, it's a sad state of affairs."

His comments were not in the same scale as those of his Old Trafford era. Keane was merely making a point of how difficult it is to attract players to Sunderland. Let's be fair... who wants to move to Sunderland? Wigan have had the same problems. A northern club with ambition, plenty of money to support that ambition, but nobody wants to live up north. It's cold.

Keane's comments were clearly not against WAGGs wanting to live in London (although the media have seemed to hype this part up, even to the extent of the story appearing on The Friday Night Project). His frustration is with players not taking up the challenge of turning Sunderland into a dominant force, in favour of keeping their wives happy.

No-one is looking to break up families... but Keane is looking for players with the same kind of passion and ambition that he had when he was a player looking to turn Manchester United into a dominant force.

Less Skill More Passion

The picture of me to the right is from my holiday to Barcelona in Spring 2006. Whilst I was there I had the pleasure of watching Lio Messi training outside the Nou Camp by himself whilst he attempted to recover from the injury that put him out of the Champions League Semi-Final with Chelsea. It was clear then, and he has continued to prove, that he is an exceptional talent that screams 'class'.

The irony to this story is that I am wearing an L.S.M.P. T-shirt.

L.S.M.P. - Less Skill More Passion.

Having watched football over the last fifteen years, it cannot be denied that the beautiful game, whilst maintaining a glorious standard of pulsating football, is sadly missing the passion that turns average players into good players, and good players into great players.

Examples that stand out? Joey Barton, Alan Smith... these are average players... but their passion raises their game. Their desire to not be beaten is what has placed £6m price tags on their heads.

What can passion do to an already good player?

Roy Keane's performance and goal in Turin in 1999.
Steven Gerrard's last minute volley against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup Final.
Zinedine Zidane's headbutt against Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup Final.

Alright, so passion isn't always great.

But a team without passion...? Sven's England 2001 - 2006.

Blog Virginity

This is day one of this newly developed blog site.

I've been strongly encouraged to get my thoughts down, so that the wonderful world wide web can feast upon my ideas and critiques of society at large.

There are many things I'd like to say about the many things my mind encounters, but in truth I cannot comprehend why you guys would want to read about my opinion. I'm just a regular guy... albeit with irregular ideas.

I'll make assurances to you now, that I won't let my blog space get out of hand.

This will be entirely dedicated to improving the opinions of those that feel ignorant to current affairs... where those current affairs have derived from football. Perhaps occasionally with some non-footall related spouts of emotionally incited rants about the good old days. For the record I'm only 22, but I'm still allowed to remember the good old days.