Making sense of Manchester's madness

It finished on a high for Sir Alex but the story is not over for Mancini

And now breathe. Because one of the craziest weeks in English football is over.

Fittingly it was Alex Ferguson who kicked off the action on Wednesday. After keeping his secret since Christmas, Britain’s most successful football manager announced he was stepping down as Manchester United manager.

Predictably the tributes from fans, players, managers, friends and foes came rolling in – all in agreement that football was losing the irreplaceable. Almost 27 years in the job had seen the Scot win a remarkable 38 trophies – a feat which is going to be near impossible to emulate in modern day football.

Because as this week has also showed – the Premier League is still as ruthless as ever.

From the red half of Manchester, we travel to the blue.

On Monday, as United fans dispersed from a victory parade celebrating their title win and Ferguson’s reign, news was leaking from Man City that they had sacked manager Roberto Mancini.

The timing of their announcement was hardly surprising (and no coincidence). It is often the case with Manchester United and Manchester City that their thirst for the limelight is as unquenchable as their lust for trophies.

And so it came to pass that two of the world's biggest football teams, both based in the northern City, will enter the 2013/2014 season under new leadership. Something very few could have predicted a week ago.

Fans' favourites

City sacked Mancini on the back of their FA Cup final loss to Wigan at Wembley on Saturday.

However, those who follow the game closely knew Mancini’s job was already up for grabs. A season without silverware which saw United run away with the title and another poor display in the Champions League was not good enough for the world’s richest club.

Before the Wigan match, Mancini was seething that his club hadn’t thwarted the rumours – something much more understandable to him now.

We will find out soon enough whether City were right to dispose of Mancini but his sacking does leave fans wondering whether Ferguson’s departure also saw the final symbol of stability desert the game. The benefit of time sometimes needs to be given to managers - after all it took Ferguson four seasons to win his first piece of silverware with United.

Mancini was six months away from the four-year mark and some believe his sacking shows a lack of patience from the City board. The flamboyant Italian won the FA Cup in 2011 and secured City’s first top flight title in 44 years in 2012. One year later - to the day - City sack him. Thankfully, namesake Roberto di Matteo will provide the perfect shoulder to cry on.

These trophies made Mancini popular with the fans who showed their love of the man chanting, ‘He comes from Italy to manage Man City, Mancini, woah, Mancini.’ Although his failure to control players such as Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli meant he has faced his fair share of criticism too.

So when a manager leaves – we inevitably jump to the question of who will replace them. While Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini is being touted for the City job, we already know who is arriving at Old Trafford.

The storm over Fergie’s departure has left Everton in the shade - something the overachieving Premier League club is fairly used to. But Toffee fans now join City fans in mourning the loss of a popular manager.

While David Moyes admitted he did not hesitate over joining Man United, the Everton board is likely to hesitate in choosing a replacement. How can you replace a man who has become to define what the club stands for?

United were lucky they had Moyes already lined up with Alex Ferguson’s full support. Which is more than enough to appease United fans – at least for now. A six-year contract proof United will be patient with Moyes, much like they were with Ferguson in the early 1990s. But what do Everton do?

One manager linked with the job is Wigan manager Roberto Martinez. On Saturday, Martinez achieved the unthinkable with the small club defeating Man City 1-0 to lift their first FA Cup. It was a masterful tactical display from both Wigan’s players and their manager, and achieved with the threat of relegation hanging over their heads.

When rumours surfaced linking Martinez to the Everton job, Wigan owner Dave Whelan said he believed Martinez ‘was too big for Everton’. That could be wishful thinking from the Wigan stalwart. If it is then perhaps Martinez could replace Moyes – although Celtic manager Neil Lennon has become a firm favourite for the job too.

If Whelan is right then perhaps Man City is a better fit for Martinez. However, it is unlikely City would sack Mancini without a replacement – so on this occasion Pellegrini makes more sense.

One thing is for certain, there are still many loose ends to tie up from Ferguson’s and Mancini’s departures. And a manager swap-shop is likely to be set up over the summer break.

The sparks lacking from the title race this season have fortunately been found in one of the most dramatic ends to the Premier League season off the pitch.

The biggest decisions came to fruition this week. The great Ferguson is hanging up his tracksuit, the honeymoon between Man City and Mancini is over and David Moyes has become manager of one of the biggest clubs in the world.

And this is even before we’ve mentioned two more words – Chelsea and Mourinho.

What an interesting time it is to be an English football fan.

This article also featured on AlJazeera.com

Brighton fans tired of homophobic chants

While Brighton fight for promotion, fans fight for respect 

Sitting in the Championship play-off places, the next month will be pivotal for Brighton and Hove Albion football club.

A club that former Chelsea player Gus Poyet lifted to Championship promotion in 2011 are just five wins away from joining the Premier League big-time.

With a new 30,000 seater stadium, an attractive playing style and the highest pie sales in the country (and second best pie – after Arsenal), Brighton look to be on the up.

Could life get any better? Well one group of Brighton supporters think it could.

While Poyet and the boys will be 110% committed to what happens on the pitch, their biggest supporters club – Brighton & Hove Albion Supporters’ Club – is highlighting another battle.

The battle to rid homophobic language from the terraces.

Together with The Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN), the BHASC have been monitoring the homophobic language used against their fans over the 2012/13 season. Their report published in April found Brighton fans were subjected to homophobic abuse by at least 72% of their opponents.

These chants ranged from ‘We can see you holding hands,’ to ‘Do you take it up the a***?’ and ‘You’re just a town full of fag***s.’

Banter or abuse?

While the fight against racism has intensified over the last few years, the battle against homophobia (or more accurately homophobic language) has been far quieter.

"The subject isn’t comfortable. If you took out any word that refers to gay and insert the word that refers to colour, all of a sudden you realise that it’s not actually banter," secretary of the BHASC Sarah Watts told Al Jazeera.

Brighton - a city known for its large lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community - has been on the receiving end of homophobic chants for years.

"The reason we put this report together was because not enough was being done. Our letters to clubs weren’t really getting us anywhere. We don’t want to cure the world’s ills, we just want people to talk about the issue," Watts told me.

But in a Football League which lacks an openly gay footballer, manager or coach – talking about the issue is not just the answer, but the problem.

In fact, while speaking to Brighton’s Chief Executive Paul Barber in his modern office overlooking the AMEX pitch, it turns out the issues raised from the report are extremely complex.

"The emails I’ve received since the report have varied. I’ve had people saying 'I’m gay and I’m offended,' 'I’m gay and not bothered by it', and others who worry it makes Brighton more of a target," Barber told Al Jazeera.

Almost every question I asked Barber was riddled with complexity. Is all homophobic language unacceptable, is it harmless fun, are people overreacting, are people underreacting, how do you stop anti-social behaviour?

Opinions are sure to vary but this hasn’t stopped Brighton and the FA taking a stance against the use of homophobic language. The FA send letters to every team in the league reminding them that homophobic abuse is an offence.

But despite these endeavours the BHASC have found some clubs and their stewards do not take sufficient action against perpetrators.

"Brighton can’t make demands of other clubs but the Sussex police are doing a good job at targeting fans at the AMEX... Quite often our letters to clubs get ignored. And some clubs have bad stewards that don’t respond to the abuse," says Watts.

When I ask Barber if the message could best be made by the Brighton players, he is cautious.

"Footballers have not tended to come out and openly say they are gay. They might be the last bastions of society to feel they can do that. There is a pressure on footballers to lead campaigns, but whether they are gay or not it is hard for a young man to take the weight of that responsibility."

It is an understandable but frustrating answer. With fans worrying Brighton will become a target and footballers fearful of speaking out - the battle against homophobic language is far trickier than Brighton’s current Premier League bid.

Sarah Watts is right, the issue needs to be spoken about. It needs to be discussed and debated - by fans, players and the football authorities. Even if the conclusion is that nothing more can be done or the language is doing no harm.

Brighton’s issue should be publicised. Because if we accept homophobic chants against them in the Championship, will we accept chants against them at a Premier League club? And if we do what kind of message are we sending to the rest of the world when these words are broadcast?

Both Barber and Watts believe education is the solution. But punishment might have its place too.

Blackburn player Colin Kazim-Richards was investigated for allegedly making a homophobic gesture towards Brighton fans during a match in February. The punishment doled out to players and fans found guilty of these actions will send a strong message.

Barber is eager to point out that most football supporters are good people who just love the game - that trouble is usually generated from a small pocket of fans.

"We should balance raising awareness and creating a sense that everyone is doing it. I have watched dozens of football matches and the amount of vile abuse has been minimal – but if you read the papers you would think it was inherent and prevalent all the time."

Indeed we should. But progress doesn’t come from looking at the positives. Progress comes from open discussion.

And when it comes to sexuality and football – this is easier said than done.

This article featured on Al Jazeera English's sport website.

My Sporting Heroes of 2012

Claire Lomas raised over £200,000 for Spinal Research

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards paid tribute to the most successful sportsmen and sportswomen of 2012. With the spotlight on British glory at the Olympics and Paralympics, competition for the honours had never been fiercer.

However, as we celebrated the achievements of Jessica Ennis and Bradley Wiggins, we shouldn’t forget those who made valuable contributions to sport but were not eligible for the award.

Here I look at four personalities who inspired the public in 2012 but for very different reasons.

Claire Lomas: The Bionic Woman

Completing the London marathon in 16 days isn’t usually something to be proud of, but it is if you are Claire Lomas. In May, Lomas — who was left paralysed from the chest down after a horse riding accident — became the first person to complete a marathon in a bionic suit. It was a personal triumph but also a feat that raised over £200,000 for Spinal Research.

"When Claire hit the headlines, we saw a rise in donations, for which we are forever grateful," Jonathan Miall, Chief Executive of Spinal Research, told me.

"Thanks to Claire’s efforts we have been able to recruit additional supporters to all areas of our charity. We have also heard from paralysed people saying how empowered they’ve felt since seeing Claire’s determination to overcome adversity."

While the marathon organisers refused to give Lomas a medal, several members of the public sent her their own.

"Claire absolutely deserves a mention at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards. What most people don’t realise is how hard it is to walk in the suit," says Miall.

Dr. Andrew Deaner: The Fan Who Took Action

Most of us are familiar with Fabrice Muamba’s remarkable story; fewer know of Andrew Deaner’s. On 17 March 2012, Dr. Deaner was a fan cheering on Tottenham with his brothers. A few minutes later, he was battling to save a young Bolton footballer who had suffered a cardiac arrest.

While the response from Tottenham and Bolton’s medical team was exceptional, consultant cardiologist Dr. Deaner decided to leave his seat and fight through the crowds to help. After being told he was not allowed through, he finally convinced a steward to let him pass.

Dr. Deaner played a crucial part in saving Muamba’s life and is believed to be behind the decision to take the footballer to his hospital — the London Heart Hospital — which specialises in cardiac care.

After Muamba regained consciousness, Dr. Deaner whispered, ‘I understand you’re a very good footballer,’ into the ear of a stranger who would soon become his friend. 

‘I try,’ Muamba replied.

Frankel: Uniting a Nation

Frankel would be within his rights to be upset by his exclusion from the BBC Sport Personality of the Year shortlist.

"Frankel’s performances are right up there with the best sporting performances we have witnessed in 2012. Frankel has done so much for the racing community and British sport," Frankel’s jockey Tom Queally told me.

With 14 wins out of 14 races, Frankel was heralded one of the best racehorses of all time before retiring in October. Even those who didn’t follow racing found themselves caught up in his story. It was his ability to unite the British public which made Frankel extraordinary.

Queally was well aware of the horse’s talents and believed Frankel knew he was special.

"Everybody loves a superstar in any walk of life. Everything about Frankel makes me think he is exceptional: his class, his raw ability, his will to win, he is a horse of a lifetime," says Queally.

Clare Balding: The Spirit of the Games

One of the breakthrough sports personalities of 2012 was not found on the athletics track but beside it. During a golden summer, sport lovers sat glued to their televisions listening to a woman who produced a gold standard in presenting.

Clare Balding’s Olympic coverage captured the spirit and passion of the Games and turned her into a national treasure. In December, her presenting skills were acknowledged with an honour at the Women in Film and Television awards.

When the Olympics were over, Balding continued to inspire, becoming a much needed advocate for women’s sport. In October, she appeared alongside Katherine Granger and Tanni Grey-Thompson before an All-Party parliamentary group. At the meeting, she said a three-pronged approach — through ‘imagery, information and investment‘ — was needed to catapult women’s sport into the spotlight.

With women’s sport receiving only 0.5 percent of commercial sponsorship and an inactivity crisis among females, Balding is working hard to ensure Britain’s female Olympic heroes of today are not forgotten tomorrow.

This article featured in the Positive Newspaper.

Brentford tell fans 'Pay What You Can'

The Bees are inviting you into their home for £1

While football clubs do an endless amount of good for their communities, negative stories often hide the more life-affirming nature of the game.

These days Chelsea are never too far from the media spotlight. First, they captured our attention with their treatment of Mark Clattenburg – the referee they mistakenly accused of racism – then the drama continued with the brutal dismissal of Champions League winning coach Roberto Di Matteo. 

However, as one West London club captures negative headlines, another one just around the corner is working hard to create a positive vibe, and a bit of festive cheer.

League One side Brentford are doing something no other team in the Football League has done before by asking their fans to ‘Pay What You Can’ for one match.

"With all the financial and family pressures on people before Christmas we thought that for the Stevenage game on 22nd  December we would need to work harder to get people to the ground," Brentford’s Chief Executive Mark Devlin told me.

"We heard of this being done in the United States but it hasn’t been done in the Football League, as far as we know. We are asking fans to pay what they can, with £1 being the minimum."

Surrounded by three Premier League sides – Chelsea, Fulham and QPR - Brentford have no option but to work hard. With TV companies throwing millions at the top teams in the country, it is easy to forget that bums on seats keep smaller clubs alive.

It is not just fans who will benefit from this promotion. The club’s owner Matthew Benham took the initiative one step further deciding that when more than £5 is paid for a ticket 50% would go to charity Sport Relief. 

While Devlin says many supporters have already snapped up a ticket, usually priced at £21, for £1, there is a great deal of business sense behind Brentford’s decision.

"It will help us fill the stadium, raise money for charity, increase secondary sales inside the ground and also generate goodwill and publicity around the club," says Devlin.

With so much competition in this area of London, Devlin knows his club have to do something different and innovative to raise their profile.

"The feedback has been fantastic, especially from our fans and the Football League. A story like this when a club goes out on a limb to try to engage its community is seen very positively," says Devlin.

Although the promotion is built on a well-thought out business model, it is not foolproof. 

"We are not using a sponsor to cover our shortfall, although there is nothing wrong with doing that. We felt fairly bullish that if we got the message out properly that we would get the numbers in... but there is an element of risk in this," Devlin says.

However, if the initiative helps to raise the club’s profile the risk is likely to pay off.  With plans to move into a new 15,000 seat stadium (perhaps larger) in 2016, the club needs to expand its fan base, and somewhat quickly.

"This initiative will hopefully encourage fans who support other teams to watch Brentford. While I don’t expect them to change their allegiance they can see our club has something different to offer," Devlin says. 

"In the future they might look to come to more games as they realise we value their involvement and can provide a fun, safe and enjoyable environment."

While the future looks bright for Brentford – who are currently flying high in League One –one wonders why these sorts of initiatives aren’t more commonplace in football. Is it a case of football boards not being creative enough? 

"We came up with an idea that Premier League clubs choose not to do. Or do not need to do," says Devlin.

"You need an owner and board who are prepared to take a risk. I am not sure if it is about creativity... maybe it is about not being brave enough to make these decisions."

This article featured in the Positive Newspaper.

Does sport have to be taken so seriously?

During London's Olympic summer, sport lifted a nation

Once upon a time, the United Kingdom shone with stories of sporting greatness.

Once upon a time, Londoners flipped to the back of their newspapers knowing a story would make them smile.

Yes, a lot has changed in the six weeks since the end of London's Olympic summer. The gold of summer has turned to Autumnal dust.

Today, as I pick up a London paper off a subway seat, I flinch. I already know the back sports pages will echo the sadness found at the front.

During the games, it was different. The sports headlines in the UK were crammed full of feel good stories whether this was Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich suprise marathon win, Usain Bolt’s outrageous showmanship or young Ellie Simmonds' determination in the pool.

Sport was being celebrated for what it should be – escapism, fun, exercise, competition.

However, as we waved a sad farewell to the Olympics and Paralympics, the joy of sport decided to hitch a lift to Rio and disappear with his two new friends.

Goodbye Jessica Ennis, hello John Terry! Farewell Michael Phelps, howdy Lance Armstrong! Adios golden summer, welcome back battle against racism!

Carried away?

This negativity is nothing new. This year Terry and Armstrong have simply replaced Luis Suarez and FIFA corruption.

While the media undoubtedly has a public responsibility to reflect wrong doings in sport, it is worth questioning whether sometimes journalists get a little carried away. Because rather than using sport to boost the public, the press, persists in highlighting the depressing, dark and miserable side of their world.

I'm fed up with this type of sports coverage - but guilty of it too.

Of course, as a sports journalist, I have covered many negative stories but it isn't my natural inclination to do so. There is a growing pressure to follow suit. If everyone else is obsessing over racism and doping, should I?

Perhaps not.

Because there are millions of sad tired faces on the streets of the UK's cities and I want sport to cheer them up. Because one of the few refuges we have from life's pressures should be protected and not twisted into news.

Because I want to write about sport. And fun stuff!

Surely there are still people who believe sport news should be uplifting. Filled with stories of greatness like Frankel - the wonder horse who won 14 consecutive races on the weekend. This is news too. The unbeatable stallion retired as one of the greatest horses of all time but the next morning we were already back to John Terry, a Kick it Out armband and racism. How sad.

However serious the fight against racism is, the joy of sport is worth protecting too.

At the start of the week, a number of major online sports publications led with articles on racism along with pieces on Chris Kirkland (the Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper attacked on the pitch by a Leeds fan) and Lance Armstrong. Those on Twitter around the world will be well aware of the constant stream of negative sports commentary.

Does sports coverage really need to be so deep, so hard, so consuming?

More importantly, will positive changes be inspired by such endless negativity?

Or are we being subjected to journalists trying to prove their intellect, morality and importance? Armstrong's story will rumble on and on as commentators continue to one up the next about how disgraceful the whole thing is. He cheated, let's move on.

Let's move on to the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Serena Williams and Lionel Messi, stars that haven't been tainted by lies, cheating and conspiracy. Sport figures who open the door to great news stories.

Yes the balance is rather complex. 'Sport' or 'news'? 'Sports news' or 'news'? 'Sport' or 'sports news'? You could argue for hours over what belongs where but sports editors should ask themselves if they have space for a bit more positivity.

Editors should be producing articles with the weary commuter in mind and not to compete with the news editors on how serious sport can be.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news but when sport turns serious, real serious, it is news. And this gives us the freedom to enjoy it far more than we currently do.

(I extend my apologies for the negativity of this article and for ending on a depressing note... I will now go and write something uplifting)

This article featured in Al Jazeera English

A woman's view of a man's world

A quota system helped Espelund into the Norweigan FA

During my discussion with UEFA's Karen Espelund at the Leaders in Football conference on Thursday October 11th things were getting more complicated as they were getting clearer.

I was trying to understand again why so few women were involved in football.

I had asked UEFA’s first female executive member whether more women needed to be elected by football bodies like UEFA or if women should be encouraged into the game at the grassroots, i.e. by playing.

Espelund said it was a combination of both. It felt like a problematic truth.

Perhaps it is only by grasping the complexity of this issue that we can begin to understand why, in Espelund’s words, "International football is still a man’s world".

The need for changes at both the top and bottom, and perhaps through the middle too, explain why progress has been so slow.

Espelund is one of the only trailblazers for women in football administration. She was lucky enough to be welcomed at grassroot level as a player and then helped at the top. It is undoubtedly a combination few women get to experience.

At the age of 27, Espelund was employed by the Norwegian FA simply because the law dictated a woman should be there.

This was a start – the rest was up to her.

While this is a personal reason for Espelund to back the quota system, there is a more general reason to support it.

"The quota system needs to be used when an institution is conservative. These old fashioned institutions need tools to open up a different type of competence," said Espelund.

Espelund demonstrates the importance of help from the top, but the grassroots level is crucial. For this is where women should be flowing into the game, not getting stuck.

The reason why Espelund entered an intimidating male-dominated world is because she loved playing football and wants to protect a young girl’s right to play.

It is a simple desire.

Almost getting there

The media should play a crucial part to stimulate women’s football at the grassroot level, but it doesn’t always.

And it is important to question why.

After last year’s Leaders in Football conference, I asked event Chairman and former FA exec David Davies why there were no female speakers. He was regretful but said there were few women at the top of the sport.

At this year’s Leaders in Football conference, there were two women speakers. Espelund herself and the first female on the English FA board, personable businesswoman Heather Rabbatts.

It was a small improvement.

There were also more female journalists in attendance and more men speaking of issues that concerned women, whether this was the recent hijab issue or the success of Japan’s team at the last World Cup.

As the media pack gathered around Rabbatts it was clear her views were not being dismissed because of her gender. For once I did not mind being bruised by an aggressive cameramen jostling for the best position.

It is not just in the FA and UEFA where women are finally finding themselves part of the agenda.

After Britain’s new culture secretary Maria Miller wrote a letter directly to the BBC asking them to treat women’s sport more fairly, their coverage has shifted.

BBC Two covered England’s crucial Euro qualifier against Croatia and the BBC Sport website has branched out to cover women stories. Only yesterday young England player Sophie Bradley spoke of how she still had a day job, something Ryan Giggs and the men’s team found hard to come to terms with when they met her.

However, instead of being angry about this inequality, Bradley laughed about it.

Perhaps she is on to something. Maybe resentment only gets women so far.

After all, as Espelund told me, there are more reasons to be positive.

"UEFA have introduced a development programme that includes what clubs, associations and UEFA should be doing. UEFA started by appointing me, as an example to other governing bodies."

"The FIFA Executive Committee (ExCo) have also appointed a woman into referees committee for the first time. Progress is being made".

But what about investing money into the women’s game?

"Over the next four years, we are investing 22 million euros into developing women and girl’s game. Each association will also have 100,000 euros each year for four years but they have to set up a development plan. Also 75% of UEFA association members are focusing on grassroots because that’s where investment works."

Yes, we are back to grassroots, again.

Thankfully, grassroots football has already received a welcome boost from the London Olympic Games.

The GB women’s football team were supported by 70,000 people at Wembley and it is likely the game resulted in more girls signing up to their local clubs.

"We need to build on the momentum from the Olympics," said Espelund.

"But this shouldn’t just be left to the women’s clubs but is something the FA needs to keep pushing."

Heather Rabbatts and Espelund are in the perfect position to ensure this happens. They are two of the few women who have had the balls to succeed in this male-driven world.

And until they are joined by other women, who are encouraged from the top, bottom or both, they are the best shot we have to change the status quo.

But heck, it is not an easy game.

The beating Hart of the Premier League

Joe Hart: the people's footballer

Football has changed an awful lot since the arrival of the Premier League.
In 1992, the sport welcomed premier rights deals and premier TV packages which in turn led to premier salaries, premier hair styles and premier egos.

In a very short space of time, the UK’s love of football had been harnessed to power a big business.

Many have forgiven the ugliness wealth has handed the beautiful game – disloyalty, extortionate tickets, agents, Carlos Tevez – because the quality of English top flight football has never been better. 

However, while the arrival of big salaries and foreign players added goals and drama, it is still important to be reminded of football’s simple roots every now and then.

And few players encapsulate the purity of just playing football like Manchester City’s goalkeeper Joe Hart.

While millions watched his heroic saves against Dortmund on Wednesday, millions more tweeted about them. From every gender, nationality and supporter – an overwhelming amount of love flew around the Twittersphere for a player in the least glamorous position of them all, between the sticks. Yes, the tweets soon became boring but the mass outcry was something to cherish.

Instead of pre-match handshakes capturing the attention, here we were transfixed by a man who just knew how to capture the ball.

Our 'common' hero

Joe Hart puts the common back into the Premier League. Place the prawn sandwiches back in the cooler and leave the Lamborghini on the drive, because Hart strips football back to its basics. As we watch his animalistic determination and single mindedness, we unite as football fans. We simply like to see a player doing a good job for his team.  

It is not the sort of quality represented by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo or Mario Balotelli with all that huffing and puffing and posturing and smirking. Instead it is about a man between the sticks who cares more about stopping the ball than anything else in the world.

After City’s defeat to Real Madrid two weeks ago in the European Champions League, Hart was so distraught about conceding two late goals he could barely speak. Those who watch him week in, week out yelling at his defensive line will have no doubt as to how much he cares. It is there for us all to see. 

Does the huge salary matter to Joe Hart? Maybe not as much as we think. What about the celebrity? Likely to be more a hindrance than a help. Because there is something about Hart that makes you think he doesn’t just want to be a great goalkeeper for City and England but the greatest player of all time. 

For Man City and their fans there must be few things better than knowing that behind Tevez and Balotelli stands Hart. While training to keep balls out of the net, it is likely he also works hard to keep egos on the ground.

But Hart is far more important to football than he is to his club.

He has the looks (yes, they matter), talent, demeanour, ambition and intellect to remind us that in between the obscene salaries and glamorous lifestyles are guys who just love playing football. 

Hart is also doing a fantastic job aspiring young goalkeepers, proving you don’t need to score goals or capture the headlines with controversy to be a star. 

With a crucial role still to play for England and two handy poles to keep his ego in check, one hopes the money-driven Premier League will take heart from this modest and professional goalkeeper.

Because if it does, we know football will be in safe hands.  

Talking on trains

by Joanna Tilley

The summer of '69
Could it have anything on the summer of 2012?
When the rain stopped
And a light golden shower fell over London

When beads of hope  
Fell on the track
Into the pool
Around the crisp of the velodrome

The roar
We should never forget that roar

Has there ever been such a summer?

When a nation shed its self-consciousness
And Union Jacks fluttered with no trace of regret
Just like any other flag

A summer when friendships were made
Black and white
Purple and red

A summer when we turned our attention to Jess, Mo and Brad
And then to each other

Yes, it ended more than just safely
It ended well

With Claire Balding’s smiles
Boris Johnson’s climax
And a silent Queen
Because what more could she say?

Have we been inspired?
Who cares
Sometimes watching sport is enough  

To understand its magic
How it blends all division  

And then came Andy Murray
When we were down
To show us it’s never really over, is it?

Back in the summer of 2012
We all shone

Qatar's women win more than gold

London 2012 was the first time all nations included women in their teams

The last time London hosted the Olympic Games it was 1948 and these words proudly hung over the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony.

The important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part

These words were first spoken by the founder of the modern games Baron de Coubertin. Since then they have been paraphrased by mum and dads across the world when dealing with overly-ambitious children.

But is it really the taking part that counts?

Try telling the most successful Olympian - American swimmer Michael Phelps - this and he would playfully splash water at you. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt’s reaction is likely to be equally amusing.

But perhaps Coubertin's words of encouragement shouldn’t be so quickly mocked.

Because Olympic champions are only made if they are allowed to take part.

On Sunday August 5th, I met three inspiring young women on their way home after being knocked out in the early stages of the Olympics. But there was not a tear of disappointment nor look of resignation between them.

These athletes had already won something more valuable than an Olympic gold, or even eight – the chance to take part.

64 years on from London’s last Olympics, Qatar had sent four female athletes to the Games for the first time. In fact, London 2012 was the first time all nations had included female members.

Baron de Coubertin’s words would not have been out of place at Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony.

While talking to sprinter Noor Al-Malki, swimmer Nada Arakji and table tennis player Aia Mohamed it became clear how important their presence at the Games was.

These three friends – who proudly donned their maroon Qatari tracksuits and spoke of missing the Olympic Village – were the real history makers of the Games.

And by being part of the greatest sporting competition in the world - they are blessed. They have already fulfilled ambitions that were dreams to their mother's and grandmother's generation.

Noor, Nada and Aia symbolise a change in attitude toward’s women competing at the highest levels in their conservative nation. And with only 52 years between them they have their whole sporting careers ahead.

But now their Olympics are over, will they receive the support needed to one day win gold? Or are they just figureheads to appease the IOC and equal rights groups?

Although they wouldn’t be drawn on whether they faced discrimination or barriers during their journey to the Games, one thing they openly shared was a delight at being able to inspire peers and future generations.

“I was so proud at being able to represent my country. It felt great being there and entering the stadium” said 50m freestyle swimmer Nada Arakji.

“Being the first Qatari female swimmer at the Olympics will encourage younger generations to take up the sport.”

Sporting ambition

Quite understandably, at no stage did table tennis player Aia Mohamed feel the Olympics was a right of passage.

“The Olympics was in my heart but I didn’t realise I would be here. It is like a dream come true. I want younger players to live what we have just lived,” Aia said with emotion.

“It is every athletes dream to reach the Olympics and thank god I achieved that dream, and hopefully I will be there in Rio in 2016.”

Qatar - the host of the 2022 Football World Cup – is busy developing itself as a sporting cultural hub.

Despite losing out on the bid for the 2020 Olympics, Qatar will pursue the Games in the future.

“It is really important to host events like the World Cup because people from other countries will come and they will know we can do it. We have all the facilities in place and Qatar will bring lots of new things to the event,” said Aia.

It is hard to argue that Qatar does not have the resources to entertain the world but question marks still hang over their attitude to women pursuing Olympic success.

However, at such times as these criticism is unfair. By bringing women to the Olympics, Qatar, Brunei and Saudi Arabia have taken huge strides forward. They have been working closely with the IOC and there's no reason to believe this conversation will breakdown.

All three athletes I met were vocal (very vocal) about the huge amount of support they receive from friends, family, coaches, teachers, authorities and other athletes.

“Qatar supports us. Qatar is proud of us,” says 100m runner Noor Al-Malki.

So what next for these girls who quietly disappear from the Games without the hysteria that surrounds Michael Phelps, Ye Shiwen or Usain Bolt?

Will they one day stand on the podium celebrating gold instead of wondering whether they will be allowed to take part?

Yes, this small, young crop of female athletes have won their first battle – but the battle on the track, in the pool or by the table tennis table has only just begun.

Winning - that has to be the next step.

The Olympic flame burns brighter than ever

Burn baby burn - the party has arrived in London

“What are we doing here?”

It was a question one woman asked her friend while waiting for a glimpse of the Olympic flame on Friday.

The people of Putney had gathered together on the banks of the Thames to watch the flame meander its way down London’s famous river before reaching its final destination - the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.

During the flame’s 70-day journey around Great Britain, it is a question likely to have been asked a number of times.

But, fortunately, it doesn’t appear to be a question that has stopped the British public going the extra distance to welcome the flame and Olympic Games.

Thousands of people have woken early, braved the crowds or taken sick days from work to see a flame pass their house, local pub or through the park where they take their children to play.

We have all seen flames before – they are yellow, flicker and don’t like rain. But this flame is different.

It arrives with a positivity and atmosphere that is contagious, and has played a major role in lifting the spirits of the Great British people before the biggest sporting spectacle in the world kicks-off.

The London 2012 Games officially get underway in East London tonight where 60,000 people will watch the action inside the Olympic Stadium and over a billion globally on television.

The action hasn’t even begun and yet the sense of occasion in London is palpable.

On my morning run, I was cheered down the road by a crowd of Norwegians waving flags with gusto at me like I was an Olympic hero. There are more people on the streets but more smiles, giggles, ‘excuse me’s’ and ‘I am sorries’ than ever before.

There seems to be a joy attached to being the centre of the world. The world is watching and we are ready.

Hope

The Olympic flame also represents something that is harder to eloquently describe, but one thing that springs to mind is hope.

Whether they hail from our nation or not, we will be living vicariously through these athletes, and it is going to be one rollercoaster of a ride.

You do not have to be a sport lover to appreciate the hard-work, motivation and single mindedness that has driven these people to achieving the most unlikely of goals.

Over the next two weeks, we are going to live it with them. Hope with them. And from their victories, we can take comfort.

If these athletes can fulfil their ambitions at the highest level of international sport, then one day maybe we can achieve our own (even if we do have to make the gold medal ourselves).

Brands such as Adidas, McDonalds and Coca Cola have become synonymous with London 2012 but at the heart of our passion for the Olympics are the athletes themselves. 

There is a purity in the event that branding, marketing and consumerism cannot tarnish completely. 

No, the buzz on the street is not solely down to the amounts of Coca Cola we are drinking. It is pure excitement for sport and living.

So... isn’t it about time to let the Games begin?

Roger Federer and the 2012 time warp

They don't dress as smartly as Federer, but Take That are also legends

In 2005 English pop group Take That launched a comeback after a ten year absence. They were one of many 1990s bands who tried to recapture past glories but the difference with Take That is they succeeded.
 
Despite the extra wrinkles on their faces and rolls of fat on their bellies, Take That returned to number one and into the hearts of the public. We didn’t know we wanted them back, until they came back for good.

The same thing can be said of watching Serena Williams and Roger Federer return to the top of the tennis pops over the weekend. The King and Queen of tennis reigned once more and us loyal subjects couldn’t help but be swept up in a wave of nostalgia. 

At Wimbledon 2012, Serena Williams and Roger Federer joined Take That in launching successful comebacks of their own.  

On Saturday, a 30 year-old Serena Williams put injury and illness behind her to claim her fifth Wimbledon title. A day later, a 30 year-old Roger Federer – who had been written off by many as being over the hill – won his seventh title, equalling Pete Sampras' record at the Championships. The Swiss blazer-wearer also returned to the world number one spot, leapfrogging Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Both Federer and Williams had recaptured the success of their former years, with quality on the court that blew their opponents off it. 

Talent never dies

Williams and Federer were not the only winners of the weekend, 30 year-olds around the world had cause for celebration. “We are not past it”, they could yell, “just look at what Serena and Roger have done.”

In sport (and music) age is nothing but a number. It is talent that matters. And talent can threaten a comeback at any time .

It is not just in tennis where we are seeing the previous generation’s best stretch the present generation.

Sport is becoming less recognised for the new faces coming through and more by the old ones refusing to budge. 

Michael Schumacher – the most successful F1 driver of all time – is threatening a serious comeback at the grand old age of 43. The Mercedes driver returned to the podium at the European Grand Prix, was in the top three qualifying for the British Grand Prix and eventually finished seventh ahead of young upstart Lewis Hamilton.

Despite being in the fast and furious game for over ten years, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso leads the drivers’ championship. The Spaniard’s two world titles were over five years ago but he is arguably the most complete driver on the grid. Intriguingly, he is the magical 30 as well.

Few would bet against Schumacher or Alonso becoming champions again over the next few years, or Tiger Woods for that matter. 

After putting the scandals behind him – the Tiger is on the prowl. The world number four will be a major contender for the upcoming Open Championship in July, much to the frustration of his younger rivals.

It is chiefly in individual sports where time seems unable to get the better of those so accustomed to winning.

While managers of football and cricket teams kick out more experienced players to make space for fresh talent, replacing a superb tennis player, golfer or F1 driver is not so easy.

Winning a competition time and time again, whether it is Wimbledon or The Open Championship, requires a special ingredient – raw talent.

Yes, practice makes perfect, but only if you are pretty perfect to start with. The reason Serena Williams and Roger Federer have not been sent packing is because they are cut from a very rare and fine cloth. 

On Sunday, the difference between Federer and Murray was not aces served or smashes completed – it was a huge gulf in ability. When people talk about Federer they emphasise the way he glides around the court and how his tennis is like poetry... meant to be. He is a joy to watch... Murray isn’t.

While Federer hits winners in his silky stride, Murray has to work for every point. The sad fact (for British fans anyway) is Murray has been crafted into a great player through practice. Federer was always a fantastic tennis player. Like chocolate, it is in his Swiss blood.

That’s why it is so hard to knock the likes of Alonso, Federer and Williams off their perches for long. They possess talent that won’t disappear if they let the practice slide a little.

It is raw talent that saw George Foreman return to the ring after a ten year absence, Steve Redgrave win gold at five consecutive Olympic Games and Martina Navratilova continually overpower her ageing legs. 

Sheer willpower, as Murray sadly found out, will not do the trick. Neither will the support of Centre Court or a belief that it will work out this one time. Federer is not a man that dabbles in probability.

Murray’s defeat was inevitable because he was up against one of the greats.  

And as this weekend (and 2012) has shown, greats don’t grow on trees.
  
Just ask a Take That fan.

The beauty of Italy's 'work of art'

A performance Mona Lisa would've been proud of

Thinking is a footballers worst enemy.

You can talk tactics all you want, you can talk team selection, managers, substitutions if it makes you feel clever. But against Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 2012, what the Italians showed was a lack of thought.

Although the superb Mario Balotelli scored two classy early goals, this was a team display based on passion not a tactician's masterplan.

Italy bewitched and entranced, playing at a level of international football I can't remember last seeing.

When players aren't thinking too hard on the pitch, it shows. For the viewer, it suddenly becomes a lot more enjoyable as there is a natural rhythm and flow to the game. There was something poetic about how the Italians broke through the Germans and caressed the ball effortlessly around the pitch.

But please don’t take my girlish superlatives for granted. Even the ageing but extremely gifted Andrea Pirlo - who has been the player of the tournament for many - described the performance 'a piece of art.'

That is exactly what is was. And like art is shouldn’t be too readily dissected.

Sometimes it is not what you see on the pitch that's important but how it makes you feel.

It was actually a match that made me glad to be a female in a man's world, as few male sports journalists are comfortable writing these corny prose. But this was a match that warrants them.

Italy had the X-Factor, and it wasn't just because Balotelli finally delivered on the big stage. As a band, Simon Cowell would have put them through to the next round.

On this occasion they didn’t need him.

On the same beat

The usually silky smooth Germans looked clumsy and clunky compared to their European rivals.

Italy's victory was also belissima because it wasn't expected.

On Thursday, there was an understanding between a group of players that no number of drills can instill or stats can explain.

It was not just their movement during the match that showed Italy have something special in their camp. For me it came after the final whistle when a large group of players gathered together arm-in-arm. They formed an easy relaxed huddle, jumped to the same rhythm and even stopped on the same nanosecond.

Whether Spain have this telepathic understanding will become clearer on Sunday. And what a prospect the final is!

Unlike other nations at the Euros, Italy crucially lacked self-awareness.

Their relaxed playing style was too much for the Germans, who might have thought before kick-off that through hard work and organisation they could graft away a victory. They were wrong.

They forgot football at its best comes when you forget how to play. That strategy and organisation is not why it is called the beautiful game.

Italy are in the final because the players forgot the world was watching.

A number of times Italy made Germany look clinical and stale. There were some mesmeric passes that dreamily drifted through the air and even more magically reached players able to collect. The defenders were in the right place at the right time but it was more like a dance, a combined shuffle taking them to the places they needed to be.

The Italians were in sync and were not playing like a team with any expectations or pressure on them. They were dancing. Salsa-ing on.

The Dutch, English and Germans have shown in the past that forcing matters on the pitch rarely works.

Grinding out a result doesn’t pay in the long term because it takes away the joy of playing - that's why Chelsea's Champions League victory last season is unlikely to be remembered (except among Chelsea fans).

International winners like Brazil and Spain are nations driven by passion, flair and rhythm. They play on the beach not just to keep warm. They don't think about the result until their last twirl on the dance floor is over.

When it comes to a game like last night - analysing can only get you so far. Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon and Balotelli are only half the story.

The other part is harder to understand.

But my advice to those teams who did not make the final is to drown your woes on the dancefloor. Loosen those hips and dance like nobody is watching.

(Editor's note: If you need a dance partner...)

Goal-line technology should get the green light

A picture of a frog, because goal-line photos are boring

The debate over goal-line technology is not a new one, it has rumbled on for the last few years.

With humans always prone to error, technology created the possibility of not having to rely on them to make every decision on the pitch.

Goal-line technology has forced the old fashioned institution of FIFA to come to grips with a modern dilemma.

So far, it has been the flighty opinions of FIFA president Sepp Blatter that have dictated the decision-making process.

Before the 2010 World Cup, Blatter seemed unconvinced about introducing new technology to the game. However, following Frank Lampard's disallowed goal during England’s 4-1 loss to Germany, he announced FIFA would be looking into the options available.

After Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine were denied an equaliser against England on Tuesday, Blatter strengthened his view saying he saw technology as 'a necessity' rather than an option.

Following years of debate and months of testing, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) will vote on introducing goal-line technology on July 5th. If given the green light it could be in place by the end of 2012.

There are a number of arguments for keeping football and technology apart. What if it ruins the natural rhythm of a game? Will the technology always get it right? It is worth the expense, especially as it will not be needed for most games.

On Thursday, UEFA Referees Committee member Pierluigi Collina pointed to another reason why goal-line technology might not be required: the high accuracy of officials. He reminded fans that assistant referees at the Euros have got 95.7% of decisions right.

So with officials performing so highly at the Euros, is there any need for goal-line technology?

My answer is yes - because goal-line decisions are difficult, and a costly error has already been made at the tournament.

Without the option of goal-line technology, UEFA president Michel Platini introduced two additional assistant referees positioned behind the goal-line for the Euros. As part of a continuing experiment authorised by IFAB, these assistants look at incidents in and around the penalty area.

However, a Ukraine fan might well ask “What were they looking at on Tuesday?”

Despite the presence of a referee, two assistant referees, a fourth official and two additional assistant referees – Marko Devic's second-half effort was wrongly disallowed. While the decision didn’t directly knock Ukraine out, it was a major turning point in the match, and nobody knows what would have happened if the goal had been given.

Ukraine were rightly aggrieved by the nature of their departure from a tournament they worked so hard on to host.

When all these sets of eyeballs fail to make the right decision, surely it’s time for a change.

If either Hawkeye - the camera-based system known in tennis and cricket - or GoalRef - which uses magnetic sensors to detect when the ball crosses the line - are proved highly accurate, I can’t see any reason to vote against goal-line technology in July.

The next big mistake could come in the European Championship final on July 1st.

And what a shame it would be if this great tournament was overshadowed by a dubious call only four days before IFAB cast their vote.

Foreign managers have no place at Euros

You should understand penalties and the English weather to be manager

Any clued up England fan out there is wise enough to know the result against Ukraine could go either way in Group D’s final pool game on Tuesday at Euro 2012.

Just because the Three Lions managed an impressive draw against the French and a fightback against an unimpressive Sweden, we do not have qualification wrapped up.

New England manager Roy Hodgson is gaining plaudits for the way he has handled the Euro 2012 campaign so far. He has steadied a sinking ship and brought with him tactical nous and a calming demeanour.

While managerial skills are all well and good in football this isn’t the only strength about his reign. After all, tactical nous and a calming demeanour are two qualities that could be ascribed to former England managers Fabio Capello and Sven Goran Eriksson.

A more simplistic quality to his leadership is that he hails from England.

Hodgson was born in South London, played out his career in England and, despite spending a lot of time managing abroad, has coached Fulham, Liverpool and West Brom.

When Capello left England in the lurch before the Euros, the English Football Association prescribed an experienced English manager to the flailing team. It was a remarkably sensible act from an organisation more used to less sensible acts. 

Can’t hide it

Although at times we try to hide our sense of national identity, it is virtually impossible to do so during an international football tournament like the Euros.

Despite a couple of unsavoury characters in the England squad, I can’t help but madly, passionately and hopelessly want my nation to knock co-hosts Ukraine out of the competition and make the last eight. English supporters want their team to do well just as much as any other European nation wants success. Like it or not, we belong to our nation – or the one we feel part of.

In a game of nation versus nation, shouldn’t the manager in charge also be fuelled by the same hopeless passion and blinded love as the fans?

Surely it should be the manager more than anyone else clutching at the emblem on their breast, singing the national anthem with pride and burying their head in despair when they concede a goal.

It is not about speaking the same language as your players (although this is an issue); it is about the manager being driven by passion rather than professionalism. Many foreign managers run national teams like businesses, looking for results to make their CVs look pretty. Whatever they protest, their heart remains with their national side, even if it is the team they are plotting to beat.

The incongruous nature of the foreign international football manager is shown when looking at the Republic of Ireland.

At the Euros the Irish fans have been praised for their good nature and ability to cheer on their side when the chips are down. By name and nature, Giovanni Trapattoni is far from Irish. While he is considered one of the most successful coaches in the history of Italy’s Serie A, his leadership of a nation with such a strong sense of national identity just doesn’t add up.

Luckily enough for Trapattoni, Ireland had already been knocked out of the Euros when they came up against Italy in the group stages. It was a game that either way he was a winner and could go home for a celebratory cognac.

Sweating blood

"We know that we're not the best team in the world. But every opponent we have will have to sweat blood to get past us,'' said Greece’s Portuguese coach Fernando Santos following his team’s qualification for the Euro quarter-finals.

While there is truth in his statement, there is something odd about the above sentence.

Although Santos undoubtedly understands the passion of the Greek national team, for me it is the oxymoron of the phrase “Greece’s Portuguese coach” that stands out. It takes a nanosecond to grasp its meaning but much longer to work out if this mix of national identities can ever be good for international football.

The Euros and the World Cup remain the biggest tournaments on the globe because regardless of how much money footballers earn in the English Premier League, it is still special for English players to put on their national kit and represent their country.

The reason it is special is not because they are playing in front of thousands, sponsored by multinational corporations or can sport a new haircut to the world – the reason is because they are proud of being English.

The players are united in heritage, culture, customs, language, education and geography, something a foreign manager will never truly understand and might not even want to.

Before his resignation, Fabio Capello seemed to be building a successful team but one wonders whether a Euro victory with him would be as sweet for fans as it would be with Roy Hodgson.

International football tournaments are meant to be battles between nations and should live up to their name.

While there is a shortage of experienced national coaches in Africa and the Middle East, the nations competing in the Euros do not have this excuse.

One wonders why European nations still appoint foreign managers when Greece are the only team to have won the Euros with one - and no team with a foreign manager has ever won the World Cup. 

Much more often it seems that when a football association imports an expensive foreign coach, the players and fans are left to pay the price.

But what do you think, is there a place for foreign managers at the Euros?

At long last football isn't coming home

Baddiel and Skinner need to come up with less positive track for Euro 2012 

"Three lions on the shirt,
Jules Rimet still gleaming,
30 years of hurt,
Never stopped me dreaming"

Sixteen years and four Euros ago English comedians Frank Skinner and David Baddiel released the song 'Three Lions'.

It was 1996, 30 years after England had won the World Cup, and English fans were hopeful of another international triumph on home soil. With the popular Terry Venables in charge and Paul Gascoigne, David Seaman and Alan Shearer on the team sheet, the hosts had every reason to enter the tournament with a swagger and a song.

But despite the optimism, it was not to be. England were knocked out of Euro ’96 in the cruellest way imaginable losing to Germany during a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals.

Following England’s 1-0 victory over Belgium on Saturday, 'Three Lions' was blasted out at Wembley as the squad did a lap of honour before jetting off to Poland.

Despite the lyrics proving as catchy as ever, this time round the song was not greeted with such warmth from the crowd.

More than anything it felt plain awkward.

Sunday Telegraph’s football correspondent Henry Winter immediately Tweeted, "They never learn. 'Football's Coming Home' blasting out at Wembley. Such triumphalism totally out of keeping with Hodgson's low-key approach."

While the song choices at Wembley are unlikely to affect England’s Euro chances, the return of Skinner and Baddiel’s vocally stretched harmonies reminded fans of the contrast between how the England team entered ’96 and how they enter it now.

Because for once England arrive at an international tournament with only the most enthusiastic patriots propagating that football is coming home. (Assuming that football belongs to England in the first place...)

It has taken a long time (46 years in fact) for England’s fans and media to mature to such levels of non-expectation.  And while time and strong opposition are the biggest indicators as to why England should not expect glory, these factors have again played only the smallest roles.

Instead a negative chain of events releases England from their shackles of over-expectation.

First came the dismal 2010 World Cup campaign (which had nothing to do with Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal), then star striker Wayne Rooney was banned for the first two group matches and to top it off former captain John Terry was embroiled in a racism scandal that led to our manager departing weeks before the tournament.

The recent injuries to Frank Lampard, Gary Cahill and Gareth Barry are small blots on the landscape when looking at the overriding madness that has been England over the last two years.

In fact, if Baddiel and Skinner were to re-release ‘Three Lions’ now, it would be by far their funniest gag.

Calmly calmly

So what now? We wait, that’s what.

After saying arrivederci to Fabio Capello and appointing Roy Hodgson as manager, England enter a competition silently.

The calming Hodgson has steadied the ship with two friendly wins against Belgium and Norway but as Henry Winter rightly says Hodgson has also brought with him a low-key approach.

The noises around the England camp are far quieter than they would have been with Harry Redknapp in charge and what a blessed relief.

The media wolf pack might be rounding on Hodgson following his decision to exclude Rio Ferdinand from the squad but one suspects they are trying to assert some authority with his position safe regardless of the results in Poland and Ukraine.

Euro 2012 does not look like it will be the tournament where England triumph against the odds and it is naive to assume playing like Chelsea will do much good against the likes of Germany and Spain. Neither will it necessarily be the tournament where England grow into a tournament winning side – hopefully we have learnt enough from the failure of the  'golden generation’ to say that.

But with an experienced English manager back in charge, a matured media (well, in some cases) ready to accept they haven’t got a clue what is going to happen and no shortage of passion from the players we should be content rather than expectant.   

Anyway, does it matter if England do well at the Euros? It has taken nearly fifty years but England supporters have gained control of their senses before a major tournament, arguably a far greater victory.

Football doesn't look to be coming home but that shouldn't stop us enjoying the action from the comfort of our own.

The danger of the Formula One lottery

After six races this season we have had six different drivers on the top of the podium.

This wouldn’t be quite so head- shakingly bizarre if it hadn’t followed a season in which we had got used to Sebastian Vettel finishing on pole on Saturday and on the podium on Sunday.

Opinions have been split as to what effect this driver lottery is having on the sport.

McLaren principal Martin Whitmarsh is excited:

"A few years ago people were talking about processional races, and the fact they were so predictable, well, we certainly haven't a predictable season. I think an unpredictable race and an unpredictable season is what fans want."

Triple F1 champion Niki Lauda is concerned:

"If this continues...then we will lose spectators or interest because the main public wants to see the world champions winning."

While McLaren driver Jenson Button is sitting on the fence:

"Everyone is excited about so many different winners, which initially was great for the fans and great for the sport... But there will be a time when the fans will say 'So anyone can win a grand prix, everyone can lose a grand prix like that."

I tend to agree with Button because I am perplexed, and worryingly, even more perplexed about a sport I have always found rather perplexing.

Admittedly no F1 geek - I have done my best to follow the sport and keep up to date with the main developments. Drag reduction systems to one side, what I have always enjoyed about F1 is the driving.

It is the drivers I care about, the adjustable rear wing not so much. 

My immediate response to having six different race winners already was similar to Whitmarsh’s. That it was refreshing and would crucially ensure we didn’t have to see too much of Vettel’s index-finger salute. Surely such diversity would make for a very exciting season...

However, after some reflection I think Niki Lauda is right. We do need to see the world champions winning because the more superficial F1 followers need to make some sense out of the sport.

Comfortable hierarchy

Football relies on fans knowing there are strong teams, so-so teams and not so good teams. Over the years there is little change to this hierarchy, well... unless a billionaire takes over your club and shakes things up a little.

Familiarity is important to sport as it makes fans feel comfortable.

This is why men’s tennis has proved popular over the last year because audiences enjoy watching Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic physically destroy each other in one grand slam final after another.

Would we enjoy football or tennis so much if there were six rivals for the title? I do not believe so because it is rivalry that drives sport and makes it such a fascinating world. And the intensity of a rivalry gets stronger as the competitive pool gets smaller.

Sports fans love nothing better than seeing Manchester United and Manchester City vie for the title or Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna compete for a race victory.

In addition to the multitude of race winners, there is another reason to fear for the future of Formula One – and that is the sport’s increasing complexity. Because after such a strange start to the season the question many will be asking is why? And it is likely the answers will leave them disappointed (if they can be bothered to find the answers in the first place).

While many changes have been made to the car this season, many believe it is the quick degredation of the Pirelli tyres, and thus the need for the right strategy, which has led to the unpredictable nature of the races so far.

F1 races are now being dictated by when a tyre reaches its optimum window of performance...ah the romance!

When such significance is given to tyres, strategy and diffusers, one wonders if there is any need for drivers in the sport at all? Could we not just replace them with robots or aardvarks?

In Canada there will be at least ten drivers on the grid who could cross the chequered flag first. So who are fans going to cheer on? And if strategy means we might as well roll a dice then aren’t drivers just a sideshow. Herein lies a real problem facing F1.

The sport needs to keep a careful equilibrium between the stuff the average sports fan understands (good driver, fast car, smart engineer) and stuff they don’t (diffusers, tyres and strategy). Technological developments made to the car should not become more important than the audience’s fascination with the drivers, because if they do what we have left is a business, not a sport (which some would argue anyway).

I do not believe every F1 fan wants to spend time researching tyre degradation to make sense of what is occurring this season. But that doesn’t mean these fans are not important as they make up a large percentage of TV viewers and spectators.

What many followers do want to see is the top teams and drivers competing against each other. The romantics might like the idea any driver could win but Lauda is quite right to worry about this prolonged lottery.

With the sixth race winner crossing the finishing line last Sunday in Monaco, even the mechanics and team principles were left scratching their heads. When the people who create the sport can’t explain what is happening, one can surmise they’ve taken things a tad too far.

So come on guys, when are we going to get back to the driving?

Dalglish and the Boston Tweet Party

On Tuesday the Twittersphere was full of people prophesising the demise of Kenny Dalglish. After a bitterly disappointing season with Liverpool, rumour was rife that the Reds legend was on his way out of Anfield.

The rumours were sparked by news Dalglish was winging his way to Boston to talk to the club’s American owner John Henry.

With the growing usage of social media, everyone is a football ‘pundit’. Whether it is Joey Barton, my neighbour Bob or the Anfield Cat, online prophets rush to be the first to tell everyone about sporting developments.

We have far too much to say for ourselves when left alone with a keyboard in front of us and the whole world behind the screen eager to know what we think.

The fact everyday thousands of fake stories are broken over Twitter is one thing but another issue is how it is the negative stories that spread like wildfire – whether that's Barton’s ridiculous kung-fu act against Manchester City on Sunday or the sacking of Alex McLeish.

It seems there is no news better than bad news but wouldn't it be lovely if sport was reported on in a more positive and fun way. However serious we believe football is it never will be. Don't we have enough depressing and negative stories at the front of our newspapers?

The self-appointed Twitter sackeratti take far too much enjoyment about spreading news of another football manager’s demise. Andre Villas-Boas is out! Hoorah! Fabio Capello is out! Hoorah! McCarthy! Hoorah! Warnock! Hoorah (that was Joey Barton). You get the picture.

Why is there this obsession with managers who get the sack? Seriously, why? They will just be replaced with another manager who will get the sack. And then another manager who will get the sack. Is it simply a case of enjoying the downfall of someone else or is it to congratulate ourselves because we saw it coming.

But did we really see it coming? Without being party to what is going on behind the scenes, it is the blind that lead the blind on Twitter.

Throughout the day, the absurdity of online commentary was revealed to its full extent as the footballing world pondered the fate of Dalglish.

At any one moment the Liverpool legend found himself in the air and sacked, in America and sacked, at home and sacked, in the sack and sacked, on Twitter and finding out he was sacked, and then that he wasn’t.

One positive to come out of this negative Twitter twaddle is that it strengthens the more traditional forms of news broadcasting. Even though social media has gatecrashed the newsrooms of the world, fact still dominates the agenda. Rumours may be referred to but news isn’t put out there until it is official.

Broadcasters such as Al Jazeera have rules, regulations and a framework to adhere to but it is the Wild West on sites such as Twitter. Al Jazeera also has to protect its reputation and the reputation of the people it represents but individuals on Twitter give up their own credibility to share rumours on the off-chance they might be right.

But so what if you are right? And so what if he has been sacked? This is not what sport should be about.

The English Premier League was so remarkable this season we have run out of adjectives, so why are people interested in the banner Carlos Tevez held up at the parade or where in the world Kenny Dalglish was when he wasn’t/was sacked.

Twitter is a great way for people to communicate but when it comes to football one wishes it wouldn’t take itself so seriously.

The clue is, and always has been, in the title.

Despite the grumbles, the Olympics are coming!

Me chilling out with new best mate Wenlock

Wednesday April 18th 2012 marked 100 days to the London Olympic Games.

The landmark occasion was celebrated in Kew Gardens, a beautiful garden sanctuary in the middle of south-west London.

The media gathered around an Olympic logo display consisting of 20,000 flowers that can be seen as planes fly in to Heathrow.

Before he got his hands dirty planting an oak in the gardens, Chairman of the London Games Organising Committee (LOCOG) Sebastian Coe revealed the motto of London 2012: “Inspire a generation”.

Coe proudly spoke of the progress LOCOG and their volunteers had made since the six months landmark, saying “We have made great strides forward. The city and nation are in great shape to welcome the world in 100 days.”

Alongside Coe sat Chief Executive of LOCOG Paul Deighton, Olympics minister Hugh Robertson and Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Hunt. All four praised the work done to reach the 100-day mark and reiterated that the legacy of the Games was just as important as the main event.

According to the men in charge, inspiring a sporting generation was what the London Games had always stood for.

Fittingly the 100-day mark saw the heavens open. April showers and plummeting temperatures caused Coe to don a brown Mackintosh only a man of his eminence could carry off.

With the weather one of the things Londoners most like to complain about, it was a blessing for the media gathered in a Kew Gardens conservatory. The grumbling did not stop at the weather though.

Reservations 

While the chatter at the press conference revolved around the event, the athletes and legacy, the psyche of the British set the tone.

At present, a common reaction to the biggest sporting event on the planet arriving on our doorstep is a grumbling indifference. The British are not a nation to get overexcited before the event. Rather, we’d like to grumble instead.

The obvious place to start avec grumble is to question why a struggling economy has spent billions on a sporting event only 10 per cent of the UK population will see. The demand for tickets has greatly outweighed availability leaving many British people disappointed and manically tapping refresh on their iPads.

If this isn’t enough to frustrate the host nation, the transport and safety worries of an event of this magnitude brings to these shores is. The grumbles do not stop there though. 

Another area of contention is the legacy promises that supported the London bid.

In 2005, LOCOG identified long-term goals that revolved around the redevelopment of east London and the desire to make the people of Great Britain more active and healthy. However, LOCOG and Sport England have already failed to meet their target of getting one million more people into sport by 2012. 

If you are British, you could make yourself sick with worry about the London Games.

However, all things considered, the British people should feel they are in safe hands with Sebastian Coe and co. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not been able to fault LOCOG’s preparations for the Games and London has been one step ahead at every milestone.

Nine million people are set to welcome the Olympic torch as it tours the UK and two million children are in Olympic education programmes. The effect of the Olympics is reverberating around the nation even if the people of London are yet to feel the excitement.

Questions of whether the event is worth its weight in gold or LOCOG can deliver their legacy promises will not be found out until after the main event. The feel-good factor the Games bring, along with the tourists, has had a positive effect on host cities in the past and there’s no reason it will not boost the economy and spirit of Londoners. This is something that could be deemed priceless.

We shouldn’t complain about transport before we suffocate in a crammed train on the way to work or stress about safety. London will have a stronger transport network in place after the Games and the increase in money being spent to counter terrorism threats could make us a little bit safer in the future.

Grumbling is fun, oh yes it is, but with the clock ticking now is the time to enjoy the build-up to the greatest sporting show on earth.

Unless it rains that is.

Editing of Grand National is unforgivable



Daryl Jacob celebrates victory on winner Neptune Collonges

We watch sport for the good, the bad and the ugly and like it regardless of all these things.

Football is a prime example. Whether it is an exquisite goal, terribly injury, questionable refereeing decision or managerial outburst – we consume football completely and entirely. We want to see every piece of action available to us, often in super slow mo or from a multitude of angles.

Perhaps the reason for this desire is because sport often echoes the highs and lows of life. You win some, you lose some.

The humanity of sport means broadcasters should never cut out the action or hide the truth of an event. There should be no censorship in sport.

As I watched the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday I felt sick. As a kid I remember placing bets with my family and screaming in excitement in front of the TV to see whether my horse could finish in a place.

However, on this occasion, I found myself disgusted by this sporting spectacle.

The sight of horses cracking as they failed to clear early fences and jockeys curled up in balls to escape the power of crunching hooves was not sport in my eyes.

While the finish was as exciting as you are going to get in such a long race, it was rightly heralded a dark day for racing.

Like the 2011 edition, two horses not only failed to make it around the course, but failed to make it all together.

However, if you were watching the event on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) you would have been ignorant of this as the channel neglected to inform us of this minor detail.

The Grand National didn’t annoy me because there were too many horses, because the jumps were too high, the course was too long or that horses and jockeys were injured. Although these are valid reasons against the race in its current form. It made me angry because it was a lie. What we saw on TV was only half the story.

It is the editing of the Grand National that is unforgiveable.

Patronising

As we watch horses out in front getting cheered on by the crowd, horses lay broken around the course waiting for that lethal injection.

The cameras do not for one moment linger on the carnage left on the course - instead they jump to the victorious celebrations that surrounded winning horse Neptune Collonges and trainer Paul Nicholls. We see the smiles around the paddock but do not hear the cries inside the ambulances.

On the BBC people rejoice only a few yards away from where other peoples’ horses lay dead.

For a developed nation, covering a sporting event in this one-sided manner is patronising for the viewer.

If the Grand National is to be taken seriously broadcasters should show us all the action, the truth.

Sport is not reality television! We don’t edit a football match so why should we do it for a horse race?

There are lots of reasons why people are falling out of love with the National. Horse lovers immediately cringe at the dense field and the fact most horses are blinded as they attempt to jump fences with drop landings. People who really cared for horses wouldn’t let them anywhere near the event.

Even commentator and race lover Clare Balding complained about the course and jumps following this year’s race. Before the event, Balding was one of the first people to point out that Synchronised didn’t look up for it. She was more right than she ever would have wanted to be.

The Gold Cup winner had already unseated jockey Tony McCoy and appeared uncomfortable when shown the first fence. Synchronised and According to Pete both suffered falls at the infamous Becher’s Brook and had to be put down.

The Grand National is fascinating because there are as many reasons for the race to continue as they are reasons to exterminate it. It is exciting, historic, colourful – it is greedy, risky and brutal.

While making the race safer is the best we can hope to happen to such an established and profitable event, the lie of the 2012 race is the reason I wouldn’t be upset if it trotted away into the sunset for good.

If celebrations must be had so close to dead horses, at least these fatalities should be revealed to a global audience in an honest and open way.

Even those who think the National is worth the risk to horses should value the truth of an event.

This isn’t Big Brother or Keeping Up with the Kardashians – the Grand National is a competitive spectacle that should be covered in all its gory detail.

And then we’ll see how long it lasts...