World Cup Wonders

So, the final 32 nations have finally confirmed their place in the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa. The months of anticipation are drawing closer to the beginning of the end. Yet, player’s feel the opportunity to impress any invited, watching, national manager is now upon them, as good form now may provide them with that coveted ticket abroad. Fans too are booking their flights and hotels, or are possibly starting a long walk to the southern hemisphere burdened only by a tent and a 24 pack of Tennants.

However, not all fans have as much style and as little dignity as the English, not to mention decorum. Among the other countries finding their way to the depths of Africa are Slovenia, Honduras, New Zealand and, much to Egypt’s dislike, Algeria, exemplifying why this truly is a global phenomenon. France are also packing their white flags after a little handiwork from their talisman. As opposed to Argentina, who are clearly feeling the weight of their supposed iconic managerial figure, after just scraping through to the finals.

Yet, not everyone is venturing south for the summer, not all nations have qualified for the seemingly exclusive event. Scotland, Ireland and Wales are to name but a few of the unfortunate countries who have yet again missed out on the world’s largest party. Their presence shall be missed.

Russia and Sweden also found their paths blocked, yet somehow Switzerland have managed to bag a spot. But, at least that means England have competition when it comes to the “most boring team to watch in the tournament” award.

However, despite the rush of obvious over-inflated excitement that the English media are going to create, generally over what hair cut David Beckham is going to don at the tournament, one has to consider, who will actually make the team? After Jermain Defoe’s 5 sumptuous strikes against Wigan, does he warrant a place in the starting XI? Aaron Lennon also surely can order some shades off Amazon after a truly electrifying start of the season that would give any potential opponent left-backs nightmares before the game, let alone after. Yet, will he get the nod over an aging Beckham?

What about James Milner? Could he be the potential player to make the enigma of left midfield his own, or will Joe Cole recover from injury in such a way that will see his inclusion in the starting team a necessity, even if it is out on the left? Barry, Carrick or Hargreaves could pose the same problem for Capello, yet, their inclusion would certainly be in the centre, moving Gerrard out wide. Unless of course, you decide that England should go for a 3-5-2 formation, or maybe do a Liverpool and play Gerrard as the second striker. Inventive, maybe. Un-English, maybe. World Cup Winning Solution, potentially.

Yet, all that is mere speculation. And speculation it shall remain until the squad is finally announced. Until then, fans all over the World are preparing for the 4th of December, the day Scotland decides which three teams they shall be supporting at South Africa 2010.

Seaforth Snatch Fourth Point

Seaforth Highlanders successfully came away from Peffermill yesterday with another point, having retained all three from the University side on the opening day of the season. The visitors were dominated throughout the entire game, yet snatched a later equaliser leaving the home side demoralised on the final whistle.

However, it was the Highlanders that had the opportunity to take the lead early on, after their attacking winger cut inside of Senior, only to be brought down by a backtracking Kenny inside the Burgh box. A penalty was awarded and all that stood between the striker and a goal was Tom “the bear” Agnew. The keeper had already saved one out of the two penalties taken against him this season so all hope was not lost. The striker fired the ball far towards the left corner of the goal, yet once more Agnew proved his worth, diving right across his goal, producing a save of the highest order to prevent a well taken penalty putting Seaforth 1-0 up.

This not only lifted Burgh’s spirits but made Kenny produce a huge sigh of relief. Edinburgh started to settle down, producing some neat football, whilst Tom Archer headed away anything that came in Agnew’s direction. Maxwell and Meehan were also beginning to dictate the play, in what was a crowded midfield due to Seaforth’s 4-5-1 formation.

Edinburgh eventually won a corner, thanks to a surmountable amount of pressure. The ball got poorly cleared and played back into the box, finding its way to the far post where it got met by a thunderbolt of a strike by the left foot of Kenny, sending it back across goal into the far corner of the net. Kenny had more than atoned for his previous error.

Despite Burgh domination the scoreline still bared the same result come half-time. The match was still there to be taken for Uni, yet the Highlander’s were by no means out of it, especially with such quick counter-attacking capabilities. Yet, the men in green were a solid unit, with Archer’s head still repelling any likelihood of a comeback.

At the other end of the field Edinburgh continued to carve open their opposition, who were definitely tiring, but still they hung on with some fantastic saves being produced by their number 1. Scott Macfarlane, who had come on for Maxwell, looked to have shaped a shot that was destined for the bottom corner, only for Seaforth’s keeper to turn out a fine save.

So the score remained 1-0 to Burgh with only a few minutes left on the clock, until Seaforth gathered the ball on the left wing and drilled a cross into the penalty area. Leslie tried to get boot to ball but unfortunately could only flick it on to the striker who guided it past the helpless Agnew from 5 yards out. The cross was undefendable, providing Seaforth with their one clear chance from open play in the whole game.

However, that is the beauty of football, unless of course you are an Edinburgh University fan. Then it is just sickening to see two, supposedly, already won points leave your grasp. Yet, the Highlander’s will be delighted. Few sides will face Burgh this season and take 4 points out of 6 and hopefully, that’s not just because the Uni boys fail to draw games…

Is Sport Above The Law?

Sport has always been a factor of life that has seemed to escape the grasp of the law. This has been shown throughout the ages, with even Roman law establishing the difference between those that kill with a javelin when practicing the sport, and those that kill with a javelin outwith a designated throwing field. Yet, as times go by, sport and the law are finding themselves increasingly intertwined.

Obviously, the excuse that you were practicing the javelin when it unfortunately got thrown into the person on the other side of the field was never going to last in the modern world, despite what the lex Aquilia may say. The ability to have “a square go” is still not allowed either according to the case Smart v HMA, yet, if you step into the ring, the law is somewhat left aside for everyone’s entertainment. I mean, watching Ricky Hatton fight would be no fun if he was not legally allowed to punch his opponent, even if it may provide him with a better opportunity of at least drawing the bout.

Football has also found the law to be a menace, with European Community intervention becoming necessary to bring the sport into accordance with EC Treaty Article 39, concerning the free movement of workers. Beforehand, all clubs had quotas on how many foreign nationals could play for the club at any one time, a rule which gave Leeds United a lifeline in the European Cup after their opponents Stuttgart won the match but the result became invalid after it was shown the German side had played too many foreigners. European intervention eventually led to the “Bosman” ruling and for quotas being lifted across Europe.

This in itself meant that clubs could now buy all the best players from around Europe, bringing with it the rise in popularity of the new Premiership. This influx of excitement, at the prospect of some of the worlds best players playing on home turf, led to investment into the sport, making it more commercially viable.

Suddenly, some clubs found themselves with more money than they know what to do with, others are finding that the money they thought they had is simply not there, meaning financial instability and uncertainty on, and off, the pitch. The law has once again had to become involved, regulating the rules by which clubs go through administration and then the inevitable liquidation. Leeds United have felt the effect, but have just about survived, Gretna appear to be not so lucky. How Rangers will fair is an increasing topic of conversation…

However, the latest chapter in the law/sport saga has now materialised with the result of the Keegan and Curbishley cases. Alan Curbishley has won his case last Tuesday against West Ham United for constructive dismissal, after West Ham United were believed to have committed a fundamental breach of Curbishley’s employment contract.

West Ham’s chairman reportedly sold two key players, Anton Ferdinand and George McCarthney, to Premier League outfit Sunderland, without the consent of Curbishley, who was the West Ham manager at the time. Despite the fact that Curbishley has a clause in his contract stating that he would be the one who had the final say of who was brought into, and sold out of, the football club. Keegan also faced similar problems with Newcastle and received £2million in damages from the northern side.

So, the law is increasingly part of sport nowadays. It has provided us with the opportunity to watch the best players in the world, whilst also allowing us to watch the demise of some of the biggest clubs in Britain. Whether its intrusive nature is healthy some may claim is debatable, but however you look at it, it still has put Marlon King behind bars…

Below Par Burgh Still Boss RGU

Edinburgh University Football men’s second team found themselves facing their second consecutive away trip to Aberdeen last Wednesday. The side had beaten RGU 1s 2-0 up on the 3G pitch the previous week, so the game against RGU 2s in the BUCS Cup should have been an easier prospect.

Yet, the side was much changed, Dan Paterson returned from injury to partner Darren Leslie at the heart of the Burgh defence and Jamie Sime was moved to right-back to cover for the absent Roberts and Ghamgosar. Benji Antoni and Steve Kenny also came in on either wing to spark some energy into the attack.

However, the team were slow to start, allowing RGU to get far too much time on the ball, especially in central areas of the park. Yet, the home side failed to use the possession they had, and threatened little more than long range efforts that were either comfortably saved by keeper Tom Agnew or thrashed aimlessly wide.

Gradually Edinburgh tried to play their way into the game, showing at times the silky passing movement that has made opponents crumble into non-entities. Yet, this was a rarity and despite a Dave Meehan shot that hit the bar and a Kenny freekick that went inches wide, Burgh looked no more likely to score than Michael Owen.

However, like the wayward frontman, if you give him enough chances he will eventually put one away. Edward Senior picked up a poor clearance on the edge of the RGU penalty area and drove across the face of the box before releasing the ball to Alex Maxwell, who chipped a delicate ball into the feet of Alex Petrie. Petrie swiped at the ball, which merely spun on the floor at his feet, however the striker recovered by blasting it straight through the keeper’s legs to put the away side 1-0 up.

The game remained 1-0 to half time, thanks to some excellent smothering by Agnew. Antoni had picked up a continuing groin injury so was replaced by forward Kyle O’Neill, with Petrie moving out to the right side of midfield for the start of the second half.

Whatever the managers Erskine and Leslie said at half time they had certainly got Edinburgh fired up. Senior fired an early shot on target, testing the RGU keeper who fumbled the ball, setting out Burgh’s intention. Minutes later, Agnew fired a huge goalkick down the pitch, which Erskine ran onto and after muscling a defender off the player, he fired it past the helpless keeper.

This seemed to take all the pressure off Edinburgh and all the frustration that had come with their rather mediocre performance evaporated, allowing them to play more stylish football once more. Senior and Paterson exchanged a couple of one-twos, making the RGU forward run doggies before Senior whipped in a superb cross but Maxwell failed to connect with his header, which drifted wide.

Stevie Galloway was brought on for the hobbling Petrie and soon made an impact, tormenting the RGU defence. Galloway found himself on the left wing and picked out O’Neill on the edge of the area, who looked up and curled a wonderful strike into the top right-hand corner of the goal, beating the outstretched hand of the diving keeper.

The 3-0 score line was a decent result for a Burgh side that never really reached full potential. RGU did at times miss guilt edge chances, yet Edinburgh’s defence was marshalled well by Leslie and Paterson. This leaves the side top of their group with one game remaining, and with a goal difference of plus 9, after a 6-0 thrashing of Abertay 1s, the team are sure to progress to the next stage in the defence of their BUCS Cup title.

Halloween Horror For Liberton

Edinburgh University 2s set about rectifying their “Liverpool” start to the season by actually winning a game of football in the league on Saturday. None of their big names were rested for Wednesday when the side travels to RGU in a bid to keep the chance of winning the BUCS Cup alive, although, this may be because the team lacks big names…Scott Macfarlane however did pick up an injury in the warm-up, meaning that Benji Antoni started his first match of the season on the left of midfield. This change helped Burgh to a comfortable 5-0 thrashing over Liberton, with the pacey winger helping himself too 2 goals.
Burgh started the game with very good possession, yet once more they lacked the final cutting edge when opportunities arose in the final third of the pitch. Liberton, on the other hand, opted for a route one approach, letting the low sun hamper the defenders clearances and hoping to pick up the pieces. Yet, the away side soon got frustrated when the defence stood firm to any attack mounted. Ed Senior however, picked up a knock and had to be replaced by Steve Kenny.
Not long after this Burgh earned their first corner of the game. Calum Erskine swung it in and the ball came out to Jamie ‘the machine’ Sime, who should maybe consider adding ‘goal’ into his nickname somewhere, at the far corner of the box. The right winger didn’t hesitate to smash the ball through the crowd into the left hand side of the goal, giving him his 4th goal of the season and setting Edinburgh on their way.
Edinburgh put themselves into a domineering position 5 minutes later, when Sime rode a challenge on the right, then delivered an inch perfect cross to the far post where Antoni powerfully headed the ball into the top corner, putting Burgh 2-0 up. The goal had come after some wonderful passing football from Edinburgh, enough to torment any side in the LAEFA League.
2-0 it remained until half-time, yet the second half saw the home side come out slowly. Liberton fought hard to try and get back into the game, but the defence easily coped and Dave Meehan, who had an exceptional game, was constantly tenacious in midfield breaking up any mounting attacks.
Stuart Robertson saw fit to make changes to his side and the switches had immediate impacts. Thomas Heemskerk, who replaced Maxwell on the right of midfield, leaving Sime to move into the centre, played a lovely one-two with Nick Ghamgosar on the wing and with his third touch of the ball delivered a driven cross to the front post area, where Antoni grabbed his second and Burgh’s third putting the game out of reach for Liberton.
Edinburgh’s 4th came from Mario Velez. The striker who had replaced Erskine showed unbelievable footwork, driving across the edge of the box, keeping the ball constantly out of reach of each defender he by-passed, before firing the ball low into the left corner of the goal.
Kyle O’Neill later completed the scoring, heading home to put some extra gloss on the score sheet. The striker now has four for the season, joint second in the goal scoring tally behind strike-partner Erskine, who has 5. However, Burgh now has another 3 points on the board and will look to add to their total in order to stake a serious claim for the title.