Some call it the “FA Cup” of LEAFA, others the “Johnstone’s Paint Trophy”, some even prefer to refer to it by it’s proper name, however whatever name you use, the Logan Cup will not be finding itself in pieces on the dance floor at Cav come the end of this season as Edinburgh University lost 1-0 against a resilient North Berwick team on Saturday. Burgh had been looking impressive in the last few games yet struggled to make any clear-cut chances after going 1-0 down early on in a very frustrating match for the visitors.
The day was looking good for Uni the sun shone down on an expansive pitch and there was very little wind to contend with, providing idle conditions for some fluent passing football. Support was also on the strong side as the injured Stevie Galloway, his girlfriend and two long-haired dachshunds arrived to cheer on the boys in green. However, the home crowd was vast in numbers, something which potentially proved influential in making up the referee’s mind on issues such as time wasting…
However, the game started brightly. North Berwick tried to play football, which at times made them vulnerable to quick counter-attacking from Edinburgh. A basic error led to Angus Ramsay being place through the middle by Dave Meeham. Ramsay showed great strength to stay on his feet as his shirt was manhandled by the North Berwick centre-half, yet the left-winger got his shot away only for the North Berwick keeper to pull off a fantastic save to keep the scores level.
North Berwick then was on the attack, gaining a free-kick just outside the area due to Edward Senior bundling over their right winger with a clumsy challenge. This time Burgh escaped unharmed, yet they did not learn from their mistakes as minutes later, Alex Maxwell brought down another North Berwick player, just outside the box with a reckless attempt to get the ball. The resulting free kick was perfectly placed to find the bottom right-hand corner, leaving Tom Agnew to simply stand and admire the shot. The underdogs from the league below found themselves 1-0 up after a mere 27 minutes.
Edinburgh still had plenty of time to get back into the match, yet, they never really got over their disappointment from going behind. Burgh did have their chances, Senior produced a driven cross which divided the North Berwick keeper and defence perfectly however Mario Velez could only blaze the ball over the bar from 7 yards.
The pressure continued to mount on North Berwick as Edinburgh pressed for an equaliser. A long throw, found the head of Maxwell, who flicked the ball into the box, however Sime could only watch as the ball agonisingly passed his out-stretched boot before being cleared up the pitch. An Edinburgh corner also found its way through the crowd to Senior but his shot was cleared off the line by the man on the post.
Frustration grew as chances came and went, Erskine letting out his annoyance on lack of quality service with a late challenge which led to handbags on the pitch and the front man earning his first yellow card of the season. But 1-0 too the home side is how it remained until half time.
Edinburgh came out fighting in the second half, within seconds of the restart Maxwell found himself down the right-wing, producing a superb cross across the goal, hanging, waiting to be placed in the back of the North Berwick net, but no Burgh player obliged. However, despite their huffing and puffing and constant pressure this was probably Burgh’s best chance of the second half. Alex Petrie and Kyle O’Neill, who had come on for the quiet Velez and Erskine, had at one point bundled the ball over the goal line, after some good wing play from Petrie, only to find the goal disallowed for already going out of play.
Nick Ghamgosar, Tom Archer, Darren Leslie and Senior coped easily with any attacking threat North Berwick had, although Senior did pick up a yellow card for a cynical, trademark shirt pull.
However, this was not meant to be. Edinburgh grew more and more frustrated, especially with all the blatant time-wasting that North Berwick did from early on. Their increased frustration led to sloppy football and any real chances dried up for the away team. So the Logan cup is once again out of reach for the students, let’s just hope this defeat sticks in the memory of some players, so that next season, they won’t lose the chance to bring home the silverware.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Leeds Annihilate Edinburgh Netball Girls
Edinburgh Netball 1st team stepped out onto court for their first game in the BUCS Netball Premier North Division against Leeds Met on Wednesday. The girls are representing the only team in Scotland to play against English opponents and with many of the girls at Leeds Met playing in the Super League they knew they were in for an uphill struggle. The last time these two teams met the score ended 61-20 to the away side.
However, it was Edinburgh who opened up the scoring, Lindsey Tien and Francesca Grieve putting the home side deservedly 2-0 up. Josie Curtis was providing the energy and movement in the middle of the court to keep the ball out of Leeds’ grasp. Yet, Leeds was just getting warmed-up and after their few early lapses, settled into their winning stride. Leeds’ goal shooter was too quick for Edinburgh’s captain, Kate Cooper, who struggled to match her extremely talented opponent. Leeds’ sharpness and ability to pass the ball with great speed enabled them to open-up the Edinburgh defence with relative ease and by the end of the first quarter the score line read 15-6 to the home side’s opponents.
The second quarter proved to be just unsuccessful. Charlotte Newell started it off from the centre pass, giving the ball straight to the opposition. It was clear that Edinburgh felt the game was getting away from them, yet in their eagerness to move forward more mistakes crept in. Leeds, on the other hand, were going from strength to strength, utilising training ground moves which enabled them to have shooting opportunities after a mere three passes from the centre pass. Tien and Grieve continued to offer some glimmer of hope with some great link-up play providing them with rare chances which they duly dispatched. However, their resistance was blighted by a lack of service and some physical defending which you would not have thought legal in a supposedly non-contact sport. Grieve was even struck in the face by her muscular opponent, one could only hope it was not intentional.
Leeds led into the third quarter 30-13, the game pretty much over so Edinburgh brought on a few changes in an attempt to mix things up. Sophie Carmichael came on to try and help Cooper out with her defensive duties, against a formidable strike-force. The extra height and Cooper’s return to form provided the home side with some strong defending, with some well taken interceptions and rebounds. However, Clare Gaskell, who had replaced Charlotte Newell at centre, was at times careless with her passing and with Leeds’ superb counter-attacking capabilities Cooper and Carmichael found themselves soon overwhelmed. Kari Taylor replaced Grieve, yet her partnership with Tien was not as fluid, with the same being said about her consistency to score. So by the end of the third quarter the lead had stretched further to 32 points, the score being 48-16.
The fourth quarter provided much of the same and the away side ran out comfortable 63-17 winners. However, the girls have much to be proud of. As already mentioned they are the only University in Scotland who are in this league and many of their opponents have the ability to entice in top quality players. This was also the team’s first game this season, so time is needed for them to form greater understanding of their team-mate’s movements, which will eventually enable them to play sharper, more effective netball. Last year, Edinburgh managed to stay in this league with a last second goal by Tien against Newcastle, if the girls are going to remain in this league it is likely the same desire and fighting spirit is going to be needed throughout the rest of the season.
However, it was Edinburgh who opened up the scoring, Lindsey Tien and Francesca Grieve putting the home side deservedly 2-0 up. Josie Curtis was providing the energy and movement in the middle of the court to keep the ball out of Leeds’ grasp. Yet, Leeds was just getting warmed-up and after their few early lapses, settled into their winning stride. Leeds’ goal shooter was too quick for Edinburgh’s captain, Kate Cooper, who struggled to match her extremely talented opponent. Leeds’ sharpness and ability to pass the ball with great speed enabled them to open-up the Edinburgh defence with relative ease and by the end of the first quarter the score line read 15-6 to the home side’s opponents.
The second quarter proved to be just unsuccessful. Charlotte Newell started it off from the centre pass, giving the ball straight to the opposition. It was clear that Edinburgh felt the game was getting away from them, yet in their eagerness to move forward more mistakes crept in. Leeds, on the other hand, were going from strength to strength, utilising training ground moves which enabled them to have shooting opportunities after a mere three passes from the centre pass. Tien and Grieve continued to offer some glimmer of hope with some great link-up play providing them with rare chances which they duly dispatched. However, their resistance was blighted by a lack of service and some physical defending which you would not have thought legal in a supposedly non-contact sport. Grieve was even struck in the face by her muscular opponent, one could only hope it was not intentional.
Leeds led into the third quarter 30-13, the game pretty much over so Edinburgh brought on a few changes in an attempt to mix things up. Sophie Carmichael came on to try and help Cooper out with her defensive duties, against a formidable strike-force. The extra height and Cooper’s return to form provided the home side with some strong defending, with some well taken interceptions and rebounds. However, Clare Gaskell, who had replaced Charlotte Newell at centre, was at times careless with her passing and with Leeds’ superb counter-attacking capabilities Cooper and Carmichael found themselves soon overwhelmed. Kari Taylor replaced Grieve, yet her partnership with Tien was not as fluid, with the same being said about her consistency to score. So by the end of the third quarter the lead had stretched further to 32 points, the score being 48-16.
The fourth quarter provided much of the same and the away side ran out comfortable 63-17 winners. However, the girls have much to be proud of. As already mentioned they are the only University in Scotland who are in this league and many of their opponents have the ability to entice in top quality players. This was also the team’s first game this season, so time is needed for them to form greater understanding of their team-mate’s movements, which will eventually enable them to play sharper, more effective netball. Last year, Edinburgh managed to stay in this league with a last second goal by Tien against Newcastle, if the girls are going to remain in this league it is likely the same desire and fighting spirit is going to be needed throughout the rest of the season.
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Sepp Seeding Scandal
During the summer of 2008, you sit at home watching the rain fall outside your window; the TV is on in the background transmitting football matches from a distant place, where only those who have withstood the task of qualifying have managed to arrive at. Spain beat Germany in the final to be crowned European Champions, yet realistically you do not care. The only thing that keeps you going is that the draw for the World cup qualifiers is just around the corner. The opportunity to join the mighty teams from around the World in the most epic of sporting competitions is upon you.
So you sit and wait, and wait some more, and eventually the time comes for the draw to be made. Jubilation turns to devastation when you discover that England have another easy route to qualification, however hope returns when you remember that they failed to make it to Austria and Switzerland too. Hope becomes nervous tension as your country still has not been drawn and then you see it, your ball being plucked by some FIFA representative, your fate is sealed.
Scotland found themselves looking at a favourable draw; the chance to make it to South Africa 2010 was there for the taking. Netherlands would of course pip them to first spot, but a play-off spot was within reach. Wales was always going to find it hard and getting drawn with Germany and Russia in their group, qualification seemed an unlikely dream. Yet, the same could be said for Northern Ireland, a small country with little chance of progress. However, with only one game to go in the group stages, there is still a slight possibility that their road to South Africa may not have come to a dead end.
For Republic of Ireland the play-offs were definitely a target. Winning the group would be a challenge with Italy among the opponents. Yet, with a world class manager in the name of Giovanni Trapattoni anything was possible. However, although the pushed Italy all the way, they did eventually fail to overcome that rather large obstacle to claim an automatic spot in the draw for the World Cup. But unfortunately for them, other “big” teams were struggling against so called “lesser” nations. France and Portugal both have failed to hit the top spot and even Germany at times looked doomed to a one-on-one match up in November. How could we ever have a tournament though without some of its so-called main players?
Evidentially I was not the only one to jump to such a conclusion as Sepp Blatter announced that the play-off games would be drawn on a seeded basis, leaving Ireland once again, in a bit of a pickle. This new addition now means that Ireland is likely to face another uphill battle to reach South Africa simply because some of the already seeded teams, in other groups, are failing to live up to their seeded reputations. Surely the fact that these teams have all finished in second place, means they are all equal and so deserve no preferential treatment off the pitch for losing on the pitch?
Yet, Sepp feels differently. One is not denying that Irish fans are likely to be feeling similar emotions to what they felt in summer, eagerly anticipating whom they shall face in the play-offs. However, surely they should have earned the right to have just as much chance of playing Bosnia as they do of facing France? Blatter feels otherwise. But then again he is the man who wanted women to wear tighter shorts, so clearly he has a sensible mind when it comes to the games big issues…
So you sit and wait, and wait some more, and eventually the time comes for the draw to be made. Jubilation turns to devastation when you discover that England have another easy route to qualification, however hope returns when you remember that they failed to make it to Austria and Switzerland too. Hope becomes nervous tension as your country still has not been drawn and then you see it, your ball being plucked by some FIFA representative, your fate is sealed.
Scotland found themselves looking at a favourable draw; the chance to make it to South Africa 2010 was there for the taking. Netherlands would of course pip them to first spot, but a play-off spot was within reach. Wales was always going to find it hard and getting drawn with Germany and Russia in their group, qualification seemed an unlikely dream. Yet, the same could be said for Northern Ireland, a small country with little chance of progress. However, with only one game to go in the group stages, there is still a slight possibility that their road to South Africa may not have come to a dead end.
For Republic of Ireland the play-offs were definitely a target. Winning the group would be a challenge with Italy among the opponents. Yet, with a world class manager in the name of Giovanni Trapattoni anything was possible. However, although the pushed Italy all the way, they did eventually fail to overcome that rather large obstacle to claim an automatic spot in the draw for the World Cup. But unfortunately for them, other “big” teams were struggling against so called “lesser” nations. France and Portugal both have failed to hit the top spot and even Germany at times looked doomed to a one-on-one match up in November. How could we ever have a tournament though without some of its so-called main players?
Evidentially I was not the only one to jump to such a conclusion as Sepp Blatter announced that the play-off games would be drawn on a seeded basis, leaving Ireland once again, in a bit of a pickle. This new addition now means that Ireland is likely to face another uphill battle to reach South Africa simply because some of the already seeded teams, in other groups, are failing to live up to their seeded reputations. Surely the fact that these teams have all finished in second place, means they are all equal and so deserve no preferential treatment off the pitch for losing on the pitch?
Yet, Sepp feels differently. One is not denying that Irish fans are likely to be feeling similar emotions to what they felt in summer, eagerly anticipating whom they shall face in the play-offs. However, surely they should have earned the right to have just as much chance of playing Bosnia as they do of facing France? Blatter feels otherwise. But then again he is the man who wanted women to wear tighter shorts, so clearly he has a sensible mind when it comes to the games big issues…
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Senior Strike Starts Second’s Season
Edinburgh University 2s football team started their campaign in the Lothian and Edinburgh AFA Premier Division with a poor 2-0 defeat away at Seaforth Highlanders. A repeat of last week’s performance was not an option, especially for a team that are potential challenges for the league title. However, that was not going to be the case in what turned out to be a comfortable 3-1 victory away at Blackridge.
Blackridge and Burgh met on the opening day of last season, with the University boys running out 4-0 winners on an expansive pitch. Yet, Blackridge’s home ground is cramped in comparison and having drawn on their last visit, Edinburgh knew the game was not going to be easy.
Burgh’s team was slightly changed from the previous week with Sime coming in for the absent Meehan in central midfield. The Irishman had received free tickets to watch Ireland v Italy in the world cup qualifiers. Roberts was also absent, but a fully fit Darren Leslie was available again, ready to slot into his usual centre-half role. Archer also started on the right, which pushed Erskine up front, the injured Galloway the man to miss out.
Yet, the side gelled from the off, playing some great football all over the park. Blackridge at times had little response to the Uni’s quick movement, both on and off the ball. Steve Kenny, on more than one occasion, used nifty footwork to by-pass Blackridge’s stranded right-back, only for his crosses to fail to find a target.
This did not matter however as 21 minutes into the game Edinburgh scored their first LEAFA goal of the season. The ball was out on the right wing with Archer, who simply passed it sideways to Sime, who knocked the ball in front of the galloping Senior. Nobody closed him down, so the left-back shot, and with a little help from a deflection the ball slowly went over the already fallen Blackridge keeper. Senior scored Burgh’s first LEAFA goal last season, also against Blackridge, so this is hopefully a sign of things to come for the university team.
Edinburgh did not let this goal slow them down in any way, but simply continued to play attractive football. And the domination continued when Steve Kenny scored a superb free-kick. Kenny whipped the ball with his left foot over the wall and into the top-right hand corner of the goal, the Blackridge keeper watched, routed to the spot.
Burgh could have had more goals to follow before the end of the half, with both Alex Maxwell and Mario Velez showing sublime close control to ride four or five challenges before both firing on the goal. However, it was the home side who instead, offered some resistance to the onslaught. A long throw into the Edinburgh box was not cleared and Blackridge fired the ball through Agnew’s legs to claw themselves back into the game with their only real opportunity of the half.
Half-time came and went and so too did most of the football. After only 5 minutes Tom Agnew launched the ball forward from a freekick, the Blackridge centre half misread it completely, which let Calum Erskine in to kill the game off with a delicate finish into the net.
With the score at 3-1 the home side really gave up and with 30 minutes to go Edinburgh brought off Erskine and Senior to be replaced by O’Neill and Ramsay. However, most of the impetuous had been taken out of the game with Burgh’s 3rd goal and the last 3rd by-passed with little football. Yet, both sides did have one chance to score, both missing guilt edge chances. Mario Velez kneed the ball over the bar from 4 yards, although he was offside anyway. And Blackridge managed to strike the post from 3 yards, with the goal at their mercy.
Yet 3-1 it remained. The only sour note was seeing centre back Dan Paterson being carried off with a suspected ankle injury, however manager Stuart Robertson came on to steady the ship to the final whistle.
Blackridge and Burgh met on the opening day of last season, with the University boys running out 4-0 winners on an expansive pitch. Yet, Blackridge’s home ground is cramped in comparison and having drawn on their last visit, Edinburgh knew the game was not going to be easy.
Burgh’s team was slightly changed from the previous week with Sime coming in for the absent Meehan in central midfield. The Irishman had received free tickets to watch Ireland v Italy in the world cup qualifiers. Roberts was also absent, but a fully fit Darren Leslie was available again, ready to slot into his usual centre-half role. Archer also started on the right, which pushed Erskine up front, the injured Galloway the man to miss out.
Yet, the side gelled from the off, playing some great football all over the park. Blackridge at times had little response to the Uni’s quick movement, both on and off the ball. Steve Kenny, on more than one occasion, used nifty footwork to by-pass Blackridge’s stranded right-back, only for his crosses to fail to find a target.
This did not matter however as 21 minutes into the game Edinburgh scored their first LEAFA goal of the season. The ball was out on the right wing with Archer, who simply passed it sideways to Sime, who knocked the ball in front of the galloping Senior. Nobody closed him down, so the left-back shot, and with a little help from a deflection the ball slowly went over the already fallen Blackridge keeper. Senior scored Burgh’s first LEAFA goal last season, also against Blackridge, so this is hopefully a sign of things to come for the university team.
Edinburgh did not let this goal slow them down in any way, but simply continued to play attractive football. And the domination continued when Steve Kenny scored a superb free-kick. Kenny whipped the ball with his left foot over the wall and into the top-right hand corner of the goal, the Blackridge keeper watched, routed to the spot.
Burgh could have had more goals to follow before the end of the half, with both Alex Maxwell and Mario Velez showing sublime close control to ride four or five challenges before both firing on the goal. However, it was the home side who instead, offered some resistance to the onslaught. A long throw into the Edinburgh box was not cleared and Blackridge fired the ball through Agnew’s legs to claw themselves back into the game with their only real opportunity of the half.
Half-time came and went and so too did most of the football. After only 5 minutes Tom Agnew launched the ball forward from a freekick, the Blackridge centre half misread it completely, which let Calum Erskine in to kill the game off with a delicate finish into the net.
With the score at 3-1 the home side really gave up and with 30 minutes to go Edinburgh brought off Erskine and Senior to be replaced by O’Neill and Ramsay. However, most of the impetuous had been taken out of the game with Burgh’s 3rd goal and the last 3rd by-passed with little football. Yet, both sides did have one chance to score, both missing guilt edge chances. Mario Velez kneed the ball over the bar from 4 yards, although he was offside anyway. And Blackridge managed to strike the post from 3 yards, with the goal at their mercy.
Yet 3-1 it remained. The only sour note was seeing centre back Dan Paterson being carried off with a suspected ankle injury, however manager Stuart Robertson came on to steady the ship to the final whistle.
Super Mario Bros Smash Napier
Edinburgh University Men’s Football 2s team started off their BUCs campaign with a hard fought victory against newcomers to the league Napier 1s at Peffermill. Edinburgh were undefeated throughout the whole of their university matches last year, winning the league and the cup, denied promotion only by a technicality that only 1st teams can play in the top league. Yet, based on results, this is something that clearly needs to be rectified.
However, Edinburgh was fielding a much changed side from the team that started the good run last October, with only four players remaining in the starting 11. But this did not affect the result as Edinburgh, in the end, gained a comprehensive 5-1 victory over their local rivals.
The match itself was scrappy throughout, by passing Edinburgh’s two talented central midfielders, Alex Maxwell and David Meehan, in what can only be described as an exhibition of route one football. Yet, with 21 minutes on the clock the deadlock was broken when Calum Erskine hit a free kick which swung past the stranded keeper, due mainly to the huge deflection off a player in the wall, putting Edinburgh 1-0 up.
This was how the game remained until half time, with both sides cancelling out any threat with strong defensive displays. Kyle O’Neill was brought on to replace the injured forward Stevie Galloway, who had a suspected dead leg. However, the change by stand-in managers Erskine and Darren Leslie proved to be a good call when O’Neill harassed the Napier keeper into a mistake which led to an easy tap in for the striker.
This appeared to be game, set and match as Edinburgh goalie Tom Agnew had had little to do. However, Napier was given a lifeline when a ball ricocheted unkindly off the ground straight into the arm of Leslie. Despite there being no Napier player around and the handball clearly not being deliberate, a penalty was awarded to the away side. Agnew had saved a penalty in one of his previous two games this season so hope was not all lost, however, Chris MacIntyre, who was probably Napier’s best player, stepped up confidently and powered the ball into the goal, making it 2-1.
Yet, the comeback never materialised, instead Erskine and Leslie brought on Jamie Sime for Steve Kenny and with his first touch of the game, Sime put the home side two goals clear again. Jordan Roberts took a Rory Delap style throw in, Maxwell flicked it on and Sime, with his back to goal, hooked the ball into the bottom right hand corner.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, things got worse for Napier, the defence once again failed in their ability to deal with Agnew’s gigantic kicking. The ball found itself straight from the goal keeper’s boot, in the opposing penalty area at the feet of Tom Archer, who calmly placed the ball past the on-coming keeper to put the victory beyond doubt.
Erskine and Leslie then made their final change, bringing Mario Velez, a commercial law post-grad from Seattle, into his first BUCs game. The striker wasted no time in getting his name onto the score sheet, when a quick break from Burgh put O’Neill away down the right wing, where he placed a good cross into the feet of Valez, who slotted the ball into the net, giving Edinburgh a comfortable 5-1 victory.
The score line probably does not do Napier justice, however, Edinburgh was clinical with their finishing and the defence was strong against a poor attack. And with managerial debuts for Erskine and Leslie, in a match where all three substitutes scored, there was much to celebrate for the 2s team. As for the undefeated status, it looks like it will remain unchanged for a while.
However, Edinburgh was fielding a much changed side from the team that started the good run last October, with only four players remaining in the starting 11. But this did not affect the result as Edinburgh, in the end, gained a comprehensive 5-1 victory over their local rivals.
The match itself was scrappy throughout, by passing Edinburgh’s two talented central midfielders, Alex Maxwell and David Meehan, in what can only be described as an exhibition of route one football. Yet, with 21 minutes on the clock the deadlock was broken when Calum Erskine hit a free kick which swung past the stranded keeper, due mainly to the huge deflection off a player in the wall, putting Edinburgh 1-0 up.
This was how the game remained until half time, with both sides cancelling out any threat with strong defensive displays. Kyle O’Neill was brought on to replace the injured forward Stevie Galloway, who had a suspected dead leg. However, the change by stand-in managers Erskine and Darren Leslie proved to be a good call when O’Neill harassed the Napier keeper into a mistake which led to an easy tap in for the striker.
This appeared to be game, set and match as Edinburgh goalie Tom Agnew had had little to do. However, Napier was given a lifeline when a ball ricocheted unkindly off the ground straight into the arm of Leslie. Despite there being no Napier player around and the handball clearly not being deliberate, a penalty was awarded to the away side. Agnew had saved a penalty in one of his previous two games this season so hope was not all lost, however, Chris MacIntyre, who was probably Napier’s best player, stepped up confidently and powered the ball into the goal, making it 2-1.
Yet, the comeback never materialised, instead Erskine and Leslie brought on Jamie Sime for Steve Kenny and with his first touch of the game, Sime put the home side two goals clear again. Jordan Roberts took a Rory Delap style throw in, Maxwell flicked it on and Sime, with his back to goal, hooked the ball into the bottom right hand corner.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, things got worse for Napier, the defence once again failed in their ability to deal with Agnew’s gigantic kicking. The ball found itself straight from the goal keeper’s boot, in the opposing penalty area at the feet of Tom Archer, who calmly placed the ball past the on-coming keeper to put the victory beyond doubt.
Erskine and Leslie then made their final change, bringing Mario Velez, a commercial law post-grad from Seattle, into his first BUCs game. The striker wasted no time in getting his name onto the score sheet, when a quick break from Burgh put O’Neill away down the right wing, where he placed a good cross into the feet of Valez, who slotted the ball into the net, giving Edinburgh a comfortable 5-1 victory.
The score line probably does not do Napier justice, however, Edinburgh was clinical with their finishing and the defence was strong against a poor attack. And with managerial debuts for Erskine and Leslie, in a match where all three substitutes scored, there was much to celebrate for the 2s team. As for the undefeated status, it looks like it will remain unchanged for a while.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Piquet Peaks Off The Track
So, this weekend saw F1 travel to Singapore. If the scenes from last year are to go by then everyone will have watched a very dramatic, maybe even unpredictable turn of events. Yet, it appears that last year’s race was not so unbelievable, merely a mastermind at work, concocting an unheard of race strategy in the heat of the battle. It is believed that only three men were involved in the decision by Renault to deliberately crash the car driven by Nelson Piquet Jr. presenting teammate Fernando Alonso with opportunity to win the grand prix, which he took gratefully.
Both Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds find themselves facing lengthy bans from the sport, with Briatore taking the brunt with a lifetime ban. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has questioned the verdict, suggesting that it is too severe. Yet, surely he does not believe that the sport, which has been continually updating its proceedings over the last couple of seasons in a vain attempt to attract larger audiences, really needs people who try and succeed in fixing races?
Renault, the team at the heart of the scandal, has tried to distance itself from the allegation, pinning all the blame solely on Briatore, Symonds and Piquet. However, the team has still received a two year suspension from the sport. Sponsors of the team are also cancelling contracts with immediate effect, with Mutua Madrilena and IMG both having their names removed from the vehicles for the remaining races of this season.
However, one player in this debacle seems to be getting away scot-free. Piquet was the man in control of the vehicle when he made a conscience decision to drive his F1 car into the side of the track wall, causing mass debris across the track, requiring a safety car to be deployed. Piquet has benefitted from being a socius criminis. In return for his evidence, which will condemn Briatore and Symonds into F1 obscurity, he has been granted immunity from any charge brought against him. Some may say that Piquet deserves this, as he has brought to light one of the largest scandals in F1 history. I am not one of those people.
If Piquet would have brought this act of insanity to the attention of the FIA before he had been sacked for his abysmal lack of driving ability, people may be more sympathetic to his cause. But the fact is he did not. He only had a “change of heart” after getting the boot. It is simply a matter of revenge, a matter not of remorse or bravery at standing up to his team members, a matter of cowardice.
One can only hope that Piquet, although not receiving a ban of any sort from the sport, will not be seen in years to come in the colours of another team. Not only would teams surely have to be careful about how they treat a man who simply could not be trusted, but they would also be gambling on his driving capabilities.
Both Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds find themselves facing lengthy bans from the sport, with Briatore taking the brunt with a lifetime ban. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has questioned the verdict, suggesting that it is too severe. Yet, surely he does not believe that the sport, which has been continually updating its proceedings over the last couple of seasons in a vain attempt to attract larger audiences, really needs people who try and succeed in fixing races?
Renault, the team at the heart of the scandal, has tried to distance itself from the allegation, pinning all the blame solely on Briatore, Symonds and Piquet. However, the team has still received a two year suspension from the sport. Sponsors of the team are also cancelling contracts with immediate effect, with Mutua Madrilena and IMG both having their names removed from the vehicles for the remaining races of this season.
However, one player in this debacle seems to be getting away scot-free. Piquet was the man in control of the vehicle when he made a conscience decision to drive his F1 car into the side of the track wall, causing mass debris across the track, requiring a safety car to be deployed. Piquet has benefitted from being a socius criminis. In return for his evidence, which will condemn Briatore and Symonds into F1 obscurity, he has been granted immunity from any charge brought against him. Some may say that Piquet deserves this, as he has brought to light one of the largest scandals in F1 history. I am not one of those people.
If Piquet would have brought this act of insanity to the attention of the FIA before he had been sacked for his abysmal lack of driving ability, people may be more sympathetic to his cause. But the fact is he did not. He only had a “change of heart” after getting the boot. It is simply a matter of revenge, a matter not of remorse or bravery at standing up to his team members, a matter of cowardice.
One can only hope that Piquet, although not receiving a ban of any sort from the sport, will not be seen in years to come in the colours of another team. Not only would teams surely have to be careful about how they treat a man who simply could not be trusted, but they would also be gambling on his driving capabilities.
Oh, Sol Lonely
So, Sol Campbell has found his distinguished career to be blemished over these last few years by major disturbances both on and off the field. In a bid to rectify his former glory he did what no right-minded man would do, and moved to the mighty Notts County.
Now, with Portsmouth, his previous club, in what can only be described as financial turmoil, the only prospect being relegation from the Premiership, one could assume that Sol’s decision to vacate Fratton Park was indeed a good move. I myself, am not denying that leaving the club is the best option, it is merely who he moved too that is a matter for ridicule. Notts County, with no disrespect towards the club intended but inevitably given, are rubbish. They play their football in the lowest division of English Football League, not a club that fields too many players with 73 caps for England all too frequently.
Yet, that is the calibre of player that Sol use to be. At the height of his footballing career he played for Arsenal, scoring the only goal in a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League Final. Campbell also had two goals disallowed, controversially, for England. One in extra-time against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup; the other in Euro 2004’s quarter final match against hosts Portugal. Both goals were disallowed due to infringements by other members of the team, yet if memory serves me correct, both were negligible.
However, things for Sol started to go downhill not long after he became the first high profile ‘Bosman transfer’ from Spurs to fierce rivals Arsenal. His plight of personal problems off the pitch led at times to disastrous dips in form, weeks away from the training ground and also a potentially, high profile incident in a toilet...But, whatever made Campbell unhappy in the past should not affect the idea that at Notts County he would be making a new start once more. It may even have sparked some life into him, giving Sol a fresh enthusiasm for the sport he has at times, so wonderfully played. It provided him with the opportunity to become a folk legend, the chance to be part of the reigniting of the oldest professional football league club in the world’s status. And he would be joining not only the new, vastly rich, middle-eastern owners, but also former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
So, Campbell walked out onto the turf at Meadow Lane against the height of Morecombe. Yet despite all of his experience, after playing against some of the best strikers in the world, Campbell could not guide his side even to a point, losing in his first game for the Magpies 2-1. There is a chance that life in League 2 was not going to be so cushy after all. His teammates would not have been up to his higher standard of playing, or thinking, the training facilities would not be up to his physically toned specification either, but then again this was all made up for by his higher wage packet. Yet, not even that could contain him, leading inevitably to his departure from the club after only one game.
So, Sol is once again on the downward spiral towards loneliness. His lack of ability to fit in surely played his part in his decision to end his contract prematurely. Yet, if a fellow player joined my team and was getting paid over four times as much as me, I am not sure I would go out of my way to welcome him either.
Now, with Portsmouth, his previous club, in what can only be described as financial turmoil, the only prospect being relegation from the Premiership, one could assume that Sol’s decision to vacate Fratton Park was indeed a good move. I myself, am not denying that leaving the club is the best option, it is merely who he moved too that is a matter for ridicule. Notts County, with no disrespect towards the club intended but inevitably given, are rubbish. They play their football in the lowest division of English Football League, not a club that fields too many players with 73 caps for England all too frequently.
Yet, that is the calibre of player that Sol use to be. At the height of his footballing career he played for Arsenal, scoring the only goal in a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League Final. Campbell also had two goals disallowed, controversially, for England. One in extra-time against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup; the other in Euro 2004’s quarter final match against hosts Portugal. Both goals were disallowed due to infringements by other members of the team, yet if memory serves me correct, both were negligible.
However, things for Sol started to go downhill not long after he became the first high profile ‘Bosman transfer’ from Spurs to fierce rivals Arsenal. His plight of personal problems off the pitch led at times to disastrous dips in form, weeks away from the training ground and also a potentially, high profile incident in a toilet...But, whatever made Campbell unhappy in the past should not affect the idea that at Notts County he would be making a new start once more. It may even have sparked some life into him, giving Sol a fresh enthusiasm for the sport he has at times, so wonderfully played. It provided him with the opportunity to become a folk legend, the chance to be part of the reigniting of the oldest professional football league club in the world’s status. And he would be joining not only the new, vastly rich, middle-eastern owners, but also former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
So, Campbell walked out onto the turf at Meadow Lane against the height of Morecombe. Yet despite all of his experience, after playing against some of the best strikers in the world, Campbell could not guide his side even to a point, losing in his first game for the Magpies 2-1. There is a chance that life in League 2 was not going to be so cushy after all. His teammates would not have been up to his higher standard of playing, or thinking, the training facilities would not be up to his physically toned specification either, but then again this was all made up for by his higher wage packet. Yet, not even that could contain him, leading inevitably to his departure from the club after only one game.
So, Sol is once again on the downward spiral towards loneliness. His lack of ability to fit in surely played his part in his decision to end his contract prematurely. Yet, if a fellow player joined my team and was getting paid over four times as much as me, I am not sure I would go out of my way to welcome him either.
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