Barton Barred and January Ball Gazing Part 1

I was peparing some research into players that should interest the January Transfer market and remind football fans of some others to watch out for in the future. I just happened to flick across the latest football news.

Seems Joey Barton cannot keep himself out of trouble. Nevermind the fact his team are in all sorts of straits. Mr Barton, Esq. is obviously in the wrong sport. Perhaps he should swap with Ricky Hatton. Maybe then Floyd Mayweather would have known what Evander Holyfield felt when Mike Tyson bit his ear off.

Barton once said “It's always nice to be linked with the big boys and always nice to be gazed at from afar and be admired for your football.”

Barton has now shown himself to be a thug, previously on the pitch and at the training ground. His antics have just gone public. He misses two vital games over the packed Christmas/New Year schedule, including one against Chelsea. His "combative spirit" as several of his managers have euphemistically put some of his more over zealous tackles will be missing. When it is most needed. Instead he will be squaring up with the local nick's Mr Big.

Now this may very well come across as sour grapes-seeing as I am not a very well paid footballer such as....Joey Barton. But frankly I hope Newcastle United and the FA do the decent thing. Terminate his contract and give him some sort of ban. The man obviously, despite his constant stream of public piffle, has no idea of how privileged he is. Or the fact he is meant to be a role model. Players who get involved with drugs are given short shrift by some clubs because of this, yet once the drugs take hold there is less control than over somebody's temper. Perhaps Tony Adams should put his arm around Barton and get him to go to Sporting Chance.

Hopefully after a suitably lengthy ban, some help with the issues he seems to have with violence and a brush with losing his mega bucks status, the footballer might re-emerge from the Incredible Hulk Joey Barton seems obsessed with turning into.

Now on to hopefully more heart warming reading, the transfer window is almost upon us and managers will be getting as excited as seven year olds the night before Christmas.

Doing a bit of digging I found some players which might raise interest in January and the next twelve months as well as resurrected some targets which may have been forgotten.

Starting with the goalkeepers:

BIG SHOT STOPPERS:

Roman Weidenfeller:

Actually, it is a shame that Weidenfeller is currently injured otherwise I am sure Arsene Wenger would have liked to use Lehmann in a swap plus cash deal for the German goalkeeper. The irony is rich. Lehmann left Borussia Dortmund after pressure from Weidenfeller forced an argument over who was the true number one. Weidenfeller is also pushing Lehmann in the national team stakes as to the true heir to Oliver Kahn. As it is, Lehmann looks like coming in as cover for Roman Weidenfeller rather than seeing his long time rival being his Emirates replacement. However I have included Weidenfeller because his injury will see him back just in time for the run in and somebody might take the risk. After all, Dortmund are not setting the Bundesliga alight in 10th and a move is surely going to take place, if not now then in the summer. Weidenfeller's pedigree is good with a 78% save percentage, behind a defence which is best described as mainly veteran.

Fabian Carini:

Will this man ever get to the Premiership? Or for that matter get a true first team chance to shine? He has already caught the eye of Arsenal until his wage demands made the Professor think twice and then Manchester United began sniffing around. At Inter, Carini never got a look in with the likes of Toldo and Cesar keeping him out of the side. At the beginning of this season the Uruguayan international left on a free for Real Murcia. Whilst the Spanish side may be looking to have him as a long term replacement for incumbent net custodian Antonio Notaro, Carini surely left for first team football. He has appeared once. Another factor which may help any interested parties is his club. They are currently fifth from bottom in La Liga and are not likely to trouble European competition on a consistent basis. Surely not good enough for an international player? Carini might be a target for Arsenal, although with Almunia and Fabianski as understudy he is more likely to reignite interest at Old Trafford. Carini would be perfect as an intermediate between van der Sar's retirement and Ben Foster's coming of age. Alternatively Tottenham Hotspur might be another destination, particularly with compatriot Gustavo Poyet as Juande Ramos' assistant. However Murcia do have Carini locked into a four year deal and so his calibre will command a transfer fee of at least £7 million which could deter bidders beyond the top four.

Ivan Pelizzoli:

An Italian (oh really?You would never have guessed) goalkeeper who impressed with youthful displays at Atalanta before a disastrous spell with AS Roma. Pelizzoli's spectacular fall from grace has been completed with a 3 million euro move to Lokomotiv Moscow. However, how he ended up at Moscow's third team is still a little hard to believe. With Sven Goran Eriksson still unsure over his fellow Swede Andreas Isaksson and Hart too young, Man City could do worse than pair an ex Serie A manager with an ex Serie A goalkeeper. Reading could be an outside interest, with a desire to find long term cover for Hahnemann with Federici not quite cutting it.

MEDIUM TO LONG SHOTS:


Bruno Fernandes de Souza:

A real outsider and more of a one to watch for the future. A young Brazilian goalkeeper who plays for Flamengo on loan from Atletico Mineiro. He has impressed Flamengo so much he has pushed out once first choice goalkeeper Diego. Helpfully I have managed to find a highlights reel for any prospective scouts to pique their interest:

Bruno Fernandes Das Dores de Souza
Uploaded by UMATLETA

The only problem is he is yet to play for Brazil which could cause problems on the work permit front. Then again he could join the likes of Marcos Senna (Spain) and Deco (Portugal), fellow Brazilians who have played for other countries. In a few years he might be England's new number one!

MISSION IMPOSSIBLES:

Timo Hildebrand:

An unlikely mover as he is seen as Santiago Canizares long term replacement but one to watch out for in the Valencia team and for the German national side. Big money might persuade Valencia to part company.

Luke Steele:

A former Manchester United Trainee like Ben Foster, now at West Bromwich Albion where he is on a season's loan at Coventry. A long term replacement for West Brom or a permanent move to another Championship side? Another prospect to look out for other the next few windows.

Coming soon defenders.

Big B other.....
r

.......AGAIN!

The Government that is obsessed with having our details on databases should stop watching us and watch what it is doing with our data. The turkeys in the Labour Government have been widely reported to have lost more than 3 million learner driver details. This follows on from the 6,000 driver details in Northern Ireland and the 25 million child benefit data losses.

This goes beyond stand in Lib Dem leader Vince Cable's polite description of Gordon Brown as Mr Bean. Frankly this latest round of nonsense makes that an insult....to Mr Bean. The whole Labour Government are now dressed in stripy red and white hats and glasses as the public can now play Where's Wally in the Cabinet.

More seriously, if Government departments are losing our details so wilfully, what's to stop a potential terrorist slipping through the net with devastating consequences? Why did the Government need to keep records of learner drivers for more than a year? Surely after a year of driving, if no incidents have occurred they have proved they were correctly passed. The driver's details should then be merged to one file at the Driving Standards Agency as that of a qualified driver.

The only explanation to the contrary that springs to mind is that of an Orwellian attempt to have a blow by blow account of ordinary people's lives and for what purpose is that serving?

I am surprised we have not been treated to stories of ministerial papers disappearing from Her Majesty's Stationery Office-no that is not a department I made up. With plans to put more of our health records online, how long before several John Smiths of various habitats become worried they have diseases or illnesses of someone else?

With baited breath the public can only wait and shake its head at the farce this government has become. No wonder Tony Blair disappeared so quickly, like a fox in the bushes. David Cameron is certainly not losing any sleep over this. Any more Brown Government balls ups and the public will surely, come election time, tell Labour to GET LOST!

Please note, this post is intended as a semi humourous take on political events and as such in no way suggests members of the cabinet are actually Wally or indeed wallies.

TOYOTA ADD GLOCK TO THEIR ARSENAL

Toyota have confirmed that Timo Glock, current GP2 champion will drive for them next season. He replaces Ralf Schumacher as the team's resident German pilot. There is no doubting Glock's ability to race an F1 car with his BMW testing experience and previous race experience with Jordan. What is a concern is whether Toyota will finally stabilise themselves and start aiming their sights at the opposition rather than themselves and build a car suitable for Glock.

The test at Jerez between the 4th and 6th of December will hopefully give encouraging signs of Toyota's move up the performance ladder but in the meantime here is a quick profile of GP2's latest graduate:

Glock is a charming, humorous 25-year-old German from near Frankfurt. Away from the madding crowd of a race weekend he likes to meet up with his friends at home for drinks at the Nacht café. Glock and his friends also visit the local kart track. This is part of his need to practice as well as have fun, as he cannot totally distance his life from racing. There is the fitness work that is crucial to a modern race driver’s competitive ability, the workouts and bike riding. In this sense motor sport is like football in that twenty to thirty years ago fitness was less highly managed than today.

The German likes Nicolas Cage films and finds Tim Allen amusing-when he has time to watch them that is. He also mentioned he liked John Travolta’s films before going on to say one of his favourite films was Wild Hogs, starring both Allen and Travolta. How much that has to do with the motorbikes he didn’t say although there were a few chuckles as he tried to recall the title, which was released as Born to be Wild in Germany. The episode was one of several where the atmosphere of bonhomie around Glock was generated. Another occurred as he tried to explain his favourite drink. At this point his relationship with his teammate also came across as that of relaxed partners. Timo asked Andreas Zuber how best to describe his choice in English. A brief consideration before the answer came; “Apple juice with soda.” Like most of the drivers in the GP2 paddock Timo Glock is a big fan of pasta, which he might partner with white wine in the evening.

Apart from his friends, his family and his manager of seven years are important to him and he likes to play tennis as well as go karting. His favourite tennis players to watch are Roger Federer because he is clever and Rafael Nadal because he is impressive and aggressive. Timo is a keen sports fan that watches football with his favourite team being a local choice, Frankfurt. He enjoys basketball, supporting the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA who have a German player in their midst, Dirk Nowitzki. Timo also follows his own branch of sport, particularly NASCAR. His childhood racing heroes were Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher; he says, “Both were special, successful and bloody quick. Both made it to F1 the hard way without money, Michael especially.”

An impish grin and an answer that will resonate with school leavers around the world followed when giving his favourite childhood memory, “When I left school.” His favourite music depends, at home whatever is on the radio, MTV, “hip-hop to house” but again Timo could not help but refer to his career. Before a race he listens to some rock, like AC/DC. Talking of races, he thinks race one of Magny-Cours 2007 was one of his strangest while Hockenheim is special to him due to the good races he has there. He still remembers the GP2 race last year when he overtook Jose Maria Lopez on the last lap to win. If Hockenheim is one of his charmed tracks, the German may not miss Magny-Cours after his 2007 weekend. Certainly he doesn’t rate the hotels placing the Première Classe as the worst hotel in the world he has visited. Again, a pause, a chuckle and a half musing, half concerned “Can I say?” There was less hesitation on the best: - the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Foreigners: What have they ever done for us?

Apart from raise the level of the ability of the players we have (more on that later), raise the profile of the Premiership by enticing some of the world's best talent to the League-like Ronaldo and Tevez, as well as overhauling training methods and practices, for example Arsene Wenger's crackdown on the beer and burger mentality at Arsenal. I'd consider all of these improvements.

So let us re-examine the foreign quota will win us the Euros/World Cup argument. First off it will not. Secondly it cannot. Thirdly, do not.

FOREIGN PLAYERS A BLESSING

Foreign players have been a blessing to this country. Their professionalism on the whole(like all groups there are some exceptions) has helped raise the level of fitness and dedication to training in the League. I cannot speak in depth for all clubs but Arsenal are one noted example and Chelsea would be another. England's current captian, albeit injured is John Terry. He is a fantastic defender and would undoubtedly have become a fine footballer regardless. However it is a well received and acknowledged wisdom around Stamford Bridge and by Terry himself that polish to his diamond toughness was supplied by his one on one after training sessions with the Italian maestro Gianfranco Zola. Zola helped him practise defending against wing wizards and twinkle toes across the land and the world. His positional awareness and almost inch perfect tackling were perfected with foreign help.

Another case study is that of Michael Duberry, a good footballer and fantastic compared to the man on the street certainly, but he is my salutory warning to those who would jump on the foreign quota band wagon. Mr Duberry left Chelsea after claims the influx of foreigners drove him out. He rocked up at Leeds where he played 54 times and four sub appearances in six years, his presence mostly confined to the bench. This was the Leeds of Alan Smith, Lee Bowyer, Jonathan Woodgate and a certain Rio Ferdinand. The simple fact is that when compared to the quality of the players coming in, Duberry did not make the grade.

However, Terry was rising through the youth team at the same time Duberry had his fit of pique and ended up taking over from Marcel Desailly (A foreigner) and partnering William Gallas followed by Ricardo Carvalho in defence (both foreigners). Rio Ferdinand partners a foreigner at Man United. Neither have been dropped to make way for another foreigner. Steven Gerrard, despite some bizarre apparent attempts to drop him by his manager, has preven himself indispensable to Liverpool....although Rafa's inept attempt to prove Liverpool can live without Gerrard may have prompted the Liverpool midfielder's comments this week. Joe Cole, Micah Richards, dare I say Frank Lampard, Shaun Wright-Philips, Michael Owen all present playing football. The next generation is appearing, Walcott of Arsenal, Sinclair from Chelsea, Rooney is still only 23, enough for three World Cups! He is one of the pivotal figures at Manchester United in a team with several foreign superstars. The link is clear, if English players are as good or better than the foreigners available they play, if not they don't.

QUOTA INCREASES QUANTITY NOT QUALITY

Surely therefore a quota would make the England team worse by simply increasing the number of good players whilst reducing the ability of good young players to become GREAT players. Test them out at international level and the shortcomings would be even more painful than now. Besides young English players are in demand and potential superstars bought for money over the odds compared to their European counterparts, for example Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale. Both double figure million pound deals. Cesc Fabregas' transfer fee was under ten million pounds. There may be a case to answer for a quota on transfer fees but it does not support the anti foreigner junta.

FATAL FLAW IN ANTI-FOREIGN PLAYER FURY.

The central premise of this preposterous argument is in any case a non sequitur. On the basis that the more foreigners we have in the League the worse our national side becomes there is one stark and painful question in answer to that assumption. Why do we only have one World Cup? From 1966? Won at home. Foreigners did not really start arriving for another twenty odd years. Plenty of time for another international trophy you would think. And then thirty years after our one big international tournament victory, as players such as Zola, Vialli, Bergkamp et al begin to arrive in force England have a splendid Euro 96 at home where our enemy, penalties(and the Germans) foil us again. So here's an idea, England should enter only those international tournaments at home? We obviously don't travel well, no? Perhaps instead of booting out the foreign players we should skim them for travel tips?

No, the argument stinks. It stinks of the same attitude that caused us to get knocked out in our first World Cup foray in 1950 1-0 to the USA. The same attitude that got us thumped home and away by Ferenc Puskas magnificent Magyars; We are England and if you lot would only let us get on with it we'd cream the lot of you. Tosh! Drivel!

On that basis Spain would have won a major international tournament by now, with only 38% of its players being foreign to Spain compared to 59% foreign players in the Premiership. On that basis Italy, the current World Champions are a shoe in for the Euro Championships with only 30% foreign players in their league. No, wait, they haven't even definitely qualified yet, c'est le difference avec les Bleus (34% of French league players are foreign).

BLOOD SWEAT TEARS NOT EXCUSES

It's an excuse. If we want to do anything with the foreign players it is but learn. Adapt to our individual national footballing characteristics certainly but add preparation, dedication and from our national manager to sometimes make a brave call in the heat of the moment to the mix. To drop the ageing superstar or to call up a promising but untested youngster. A manager who looks beyond the big clubs, especially the top four, for his players.

We have the players at our disposal today. Any national squad which includes the likes of Ferdinand, Terry, both Coles, Lampard, Hargreaves, Richards, Wright-Philips, Rooney and that is for starters cannot argue we have had the team affected by foreigners. What we lack is the old British spirit, to go down fighting and a manager willing to make the big calls. Look back at Ince in World Cup 98 qualification, bleeding for the cause. Gazza's tears at missing the World Cup final in 1990 but playing on in one of his best games for his country. Sir Alf Ramsey to Hurst after yet another hat trick; Hurst"see you next game" Ramsey "Perhaps". Ramsey knew no player was sacrosanct.

Finally take yet another lesson from those 'blasted' foreigners. The Greeks. Euro 2004. Unfancied, untipped. They only went and won the bloody thing. How? They played as a team, not as players. So if Gerrard and anyone else wants to open their mouths and whinge about foreign players, let's see if this foreign quota will work. Let's take those less fancied England players like Sidwell, Duberry, Andy Johnson, Green, Woodgate, King, Glen Johnson, Richardson, Defoe, Parker, and build a whole new squad out of the so called players we seem to be lacking for strength in depth . Throw in some Championship players for good measure. After all some of them will become top four club players if they are not already, to fill the gaps left by the quota so we better blood them sooner rather than later. Bring to the boil by letting them know this is their chance to shine as a team, put their illustrious England compatriots to shame and see how we get on. After all if the anti-foreigners are right, which they are not, how can we do any worse?

Ho Hum....

.....Ok I am not going to make any predictions of Lewis' championship fortunes. Instead I shall concentrate on a new member of the grid for Brazil. In a feature I wrote for the Bridgestone e-Reporter contest I suggested that GP2 drivers were queuing up for F1 drives and elder F1 drivers should watch their backs.

I did not imagine that my words were anywhere near close to being prophetic but 2007's GP2 Rookie of the year Kazuki Nakajima has sprung from nowhere to confirm that the GP2 orchestra of speed is in accelerado by replacing F1's Styrian harmonica Alex Wurz at Williams for the final round in Brazil. While Williams have said this is not an evaluation for a 2008 seat the experience will be invaluable for Nakajima.

With the personality that won him the GP2 Drivers personality of the year award added to his electrifying pace-winning him many fastest lap points, he has the perfect opportunity to impress and fulfil his ambition of an F1 seat as early as 2008. Certainly a good qualifying and race pace will calm worries about his consistency and propensity for mistakes. His second half season performance for DAMS suggests he has already begun to challenge such criticism and will add an interesting sub plot to this extraordinary season's final act.

However, the chance has come from Alex Wurz's retirement and without being privy to the exact reasoning behind the early retirement (one race before season's end) this is not yet a full blooded GP2 young gun cull of the big holster slingers of the F1 badlands just yet.

But somewhere, maybe just beyond the last Bridgestone Potenza shod wheel turning in anger through Juncao the well built lady is beginning to wet her tonsils and run through the octaves, just maybe......

LEWIS: A MAN OF ALL ROOKIE SEASONS.

At the start of the season I wondered if Lewis could define his season with a win on his debut but instead he has surpassed everyone's wildest expectations. Short of a catastrophic event Lewis is surely going to be a rookie World Champion and that result could (fingers crossed) be confirmed by tomorrow morning around 9ish. That is remarkable, regardless of which team he drives for he still had to get the car home. Let us not forget Jacques Villeneuve had a similar opportunity in a similarly dominant car and failed to do so.

GP2 connection

Lewis also graduated from the GP2 series as Champion which has solidly proven its Ronseal abilities as a proving ground for would be F1 drivers. Thus dismissing his feat purely because of the car he has under him is to succumb to the most British of instincts, love the underdog, hate the conquering hero. Yes Kovaleinen and Rosberg are fellow GP2 graduates and are not in the championship frame as their cars are not at the standard of the Mclaren. They have though replicated what Hamilton has done; matched their teammates with Rosberg and Kovaleinen beating theirs more often than not. Hamilton's challenge was arguably greater again. His teammate is double World Champion Fernando Alonso. The fact Hamilton got under his skin early in the season and has stayed at the top of the F1 pile should give unqualified indication of his abilities. Another telling factor is that yes, he has had Mclaren backing all through his career.

Ron Vs Red Bull

Ron Dennis though is not some old romantic. He is a phenomenally successful team boss who has seen Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna to world titles. If Lewis did not keep delivering he would have ended up lost in the wilderness between karting and F1 that swallows many drivers. Compare the Hamilton journey with the Red Bull Programme. They have had almost 30 drivers rise through their Junior ranks and hardly any have reached F1 let alone caught the eye spectacularly when they have arrived. The most promising star at the Red Bull stable at the moment is Sebastian Vettel but he also received help from BMW motorsport leaving Scott Speed and Vitantonio Liuzzi as this season's Red Bull F1 graduates. Speed has gone replaced by the aforementioned Vettel while Liuzzi is to be replaced by non Red Bull man Sebastian Bourdais.

The Real Deal

So if Lewis does take the title tomorrow do not let the Spy Scandal, Hungary Qualifying or grumbles about him being parachuted into the best team make the bubbles on the Champagne go flat. Lewis is one of the best F1 drivers on the grid and his performances have shown that. Whether he is the best only time and consistency will show that but this season of 'miracles' certainly has not done his reputation any harm at all.

No Way Jose!

Say it ain't so! Rubbing the sleep from my eyes over BBC breakfast I thought I had been transported to April Fool's day, surely some mistake. Hit the teletext button. Nope in blue and black, no mistake. Chelsea's MOST successful manager, stress that fact, gone. Let there be no doubt and no amnesia setting in just because of his last three results.

A QUICK HISTORY LESSON

Chelsea have only ever won the top league three times. Twice under Mourinho. No other manager in Chelsea's history has done this.

Chelsea won every domestic trophy under Mourinho and came close to the Champions League final twice in his three and a bit seasons. Only Claudio Ranieri his predecessor got to a semifinal and only the once.

Jose Mourinho has not lost a home game for FIVE seasons. There cannot be too many managers who can boast that achievement. In fact his record over five years including at Chelsea is:


Played 305 won 211 lost 35 drawn 59 winning percentage: 69.18%

which meant along the way breaking Liverpool's unbeaten home record. Even when Mourinho does not win trophies he picks up achievements.

IT'S THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STUPID!

Let there be no doubt why Mourinho has left this morning. Nothing to do with Premiership success or lack of. He has won two titles in three seasons which compares nicely to his contemporaries, Wenger who has three but has been allowed to get on with the job-11 years at the helm and a new contract signed. It is unknown but likely that Mourinho would have garnered another league title in the next 8 seasons. Rafa Benitez has yet to win the title but has a Champions league to swap. Then of course the unarguable managerial legend of Sir Alex. 9 titles but he has had 20 years to harvest them. And only one in Mourinho's era at Chelsea. All three have a similar win percentage to Mourinho, perhaps even slightly less.

DACHSHUNDS

So yes Chelsea have trotted out like dachshunds but he was not sacked after defeat to Aston Villa or even the draw at home to Blackburn Rovers. Besides, one goal in the Blackburn game and Chelsea would have been alongside Arsenal at the top of the table. Hardly the need for the Chelsea Duma to crackdown on it's sports minister.

No. Mourinho has gone because Abramovich wants the biggest prize in world club football. The Premiership might be harder to win. 38 games of consistency versus the Casiono Royale of knockout competitions where one bad decision, one mistake can leave you out in the cold. But the Champions league glitters the most. As a Russian billionaire it is the one Abramovich identifies with most strongly. The final this season is in Moscow. His home capital. For his team, which he has funded to Bolshoi Theatre fountain levels, not to be there would be a massive blow to his pride. And the Rosenborg draw at home threatened to do precisely that.

STYLE OVER SUCCESS?

Abramovich also wants to stuff himself with Pashka. He wants to win and win in style. Both would be lovely. There were time last season when a bit of Ronseal running down a fence would have seemed more interesting than Chelsea. But sometimes the two don't go together. Arsenal for example play fantastic football but it is only this season with some rediscovered steel in their armoury they look on course to pick up a trophy. Ranieri built a team with lovely flowing football at Chelsea but won nothing, and for all Gullit's sexy football he only collected the FA cup. The major trophies require times when the win is more important than the manner and Mourinho understood that. No disrespect to Hull City, but when Chelsea visit I don't expect them to sacrifice a chance of victory by leaving their millionaire opponents room to maneuvre simply so there will be stylish football. However good Hull are, they know that would be naive.

AVRAM? WHO THE IS AVRAM?

So who is the wonder man that will fill that managerial coat left by Mourinho? Avram Grant. Who the Telegraph describe as a popular charming man. Well in that case he must be better than Mourinho, who was sometimes arrogant and disrespectful. Mourinho's ruthlessness and arrogance best summed up by his own words: Look, we're not entertaining? I don't care; we win.

Excuse me but Wenger is not always mr sweetness and Kantian enlightenment. On arriving at Arsenal he said he attempted to watch a Tottenham game and fell asleep. Mourinho livened up the weekend with his quotes, winding up opposition fans and giving others something to chuckle about. Lift the veil of black humour and sharp tongue and you had a footballing brain that allowed him to speak his mind.

While Avram Grant has won the Israeli league four times he has not exactly set Europe alight and despite not losing a game in 2006 World Cup qualification failed to squeeze out Switzerland. Look back at Mourinho's record on checking in at Дом Chelsea again. Portugese League winner and Champions league medal still reflecting the Gelsenkirchen floodlights. Grant may well be a fine footballing genius but he is hardly in the same bracket yet. At the age of 52 he is also hardly the man to create a Ferguson style dynasty (Mourinho is 44).

MOSCOW OR BUST?

This is one hell of a gamble by Abramovich and his board. When the dust settles under a Russian sky in Moscow after the Champions League final we will find out if it has paid of and his dream becomes reality. Otherwise my sleepy eyes will not have awaken from the nightmare of the sum of my fears-Abramovich has set sail on his new yacht: SW6 the trophybreaker and from there its anyone's guess which port he will make.

Two thoughts:

First-a moan. It seems that cold calling has entered the twenty first century. I was interrupted in my viewing of F1 Qualifying by a phone call. I picked the phone up, said Hello, Hello, and then a recorded message began trying to give me free calls on my home telephone.

CLICK!

Off goes the phone but for goodness sake I cannot believe I got cold called by a blooming answer machine.
It is bad enough ringing up a company and having to go through the automation service without having automated cold calls!
It is all very T3

Secondly:

Talking of unstoppable forces -Lewis grabs pole for tomorrow's British GP.
On his last lap.
He was behind teammate Alonso and the two Ferrari's whole session. Then he slips in a stellar lap like that. I don't want to add to the hype but oh well, that ability to grab pole at the death of a quali session reminds me of Ayrton Senna.

As to the race tomorrow will we see another Alonso mistake at the start trying to prove a point? He certainly does not look happy in the post quali press conference turning away as Hamilton talks about the fantastic support he is receiving.
Other commentators seem to think the pressure will be on Hamilton. I disagree. Hamilton has wanted to drive for F1 and McLaren all his life, now he is there he is in his element. Everything else is a bonus. He has the speed, his old boss at ART in GP2 Frederic Vasseur confirmed that. He has the support and he is doing well, and that just adds confidence in a positive feedback loop.

For me the pressure is Alonso's. HE is the double World Champion.

HE is 14 points behind his teammate who is a rookie.

And after the qualifying lap like Hamilton's he must be thinking what do I have to do to beat this guy? For a double world champion used to winning, mostly easily, to be on the limit and know it's still not quite enough, is bad enough. Against your teammate in his first season. Well, that is a bitter pill to swallow. Psychologically that is pressure.

Good old Wistful is back.

Reloaded.

Sometimes we all go through periods where something knocks us off balance and we need to withdraw, regroup, recover.

A chrysalis of human design as it were.

To re-emerge stronger, fitter, healthier, more productive.

Am I there yet, not sure. But I do know that going to France, even though I was sort of working reawakened a part of myself I had closed off for a while, I had been on autopilot it seems.

Well now I feel refreshed, renewed, ready for the next challenge.

Time to start blogging again.

And its go go go........

........the new formula one season has revved its engines and the starting grid has already been decided. The season, the first without the presence of seven time world champion Michael Schumacher promises to be an intriguing one. Will Fernando pull off a hat trick despite changing teams? He has a good chance of winning tomorrows race IF Mclaren dont have their so far perennial early season gremlins as he starts on the front row.
Talking of gremlins Ferrari seem to have found some which has put one of my would be title contenders in a difficult position for tomorrow. Felipe Massa as the incumbent driver for the Scuderia must start from 16th after gearbox problems. This leaves the way open for the title race most people were expecting- not exactly dousing the criticism the sport is boring-with Kimi Raikkonen on pole.So Kimi Vs Alonso then.......

...........I hope not. Well not just those two anyway else the battle for third place will have to captivate the unknown factor. And there is lots to lock your eyes on. Britain's Lewis Hamilton starts fourth in a Mclaren and has been on a par with his more illustrious teammate all winter. Unlike Ferrari past, Mclaren has always allowed its drivers to race each other which could leave the door open for Lewis Hamilton to achieve something not even Michael Schumacher recorded: a debut victory. The only person to collect this result to date was Giancarlo Baghetti - 46 years ago.

Heikki Kovaleinen was up for the same feat but his grid position of thirteenth leaves him with it all to do with a Renault which looks likely to be less dominant than previous seasons. A car issue or did Alonso push the previous versions beyond the limit a la Schumacher?

Sneaking up the inside line are BMW Sauber with arguably the rookie of last season Robert Kubica in the team. The speed has been evident in winter testing but like Mclaren question marks abound about reliability. However I do expect to hear the Pole is on pole at some point this season!

As for Honda, they have gone "green" but are relying on the power of dreams once more as the early season shakedown of the car leaves them a disappointing 14th (Jenson) and 17th on the grid. Indeed the team from Brackley have egg on their faces this morning as their customer team Super Aguri out qualified them-Britain's Anthony Davidson lining up 11th on the grid and recording a time at one stage nine tenths off pole! A solid race with some retirements possible could see Davidson earn points on his debut too.

The only consolation for Jenson Button, Britain's once great hope to be world champion after Damon Hill, is he is not the last of the Brits! That dubious honour falls to former Aussie GP winner David Coulthard in the Adrian newey designed RB3. To be fair to DC he encountered some dirt on the track on the final corner of the first session ruining his weekend. Mark Webber in the sister car lines up seventh and will be hoping for a podium in his own backyard.

As for the Championship? One race, particularly the opener with teams still unsure of one or two aspects of their cars, does not a title win -although the winner often becomes champion. A more rounded view is likely to come at the end of the fly away part of the season in May.

I am still routing for the man from Sao Paulo-if Ross Brawn had been around I'd have even more confidence as he would have created some off the cuff strategy to bring him into contention in the latter stages.

The season is currently on five lights...........................

Well they think its all over......

.......it is now. Sort of! okay after the cliched opening allow me to explain. Yesterday Neil, Kate,(fellow journalists) and I went to film a uni football match for a bulletin we are producing tomorrow. And now I know just how hard a sports cameraman has to work to get decent shots of the action! How did I do? Well lets just say my DV cam is no match for the real thing-they have a proper hand tripod I just had my hand! And well, I may have missed a goal and the lead up to another but for a first attempt I'm sure it was ok!

But the match was a thriller with a 5-4 scoreline and the uni team are through to a cup final so the day ended well.

Tomorrow the edit begins!

Crystal musings.....

.....okay I havent blogged for a while but decided to respond to Sir Alex Ferguson's comments that his team and the premiership title race is in "knockdown". In other words games are running out for Chelsea.

Looking at the run in for both teams one would have to agree. For Chelsea to win the League from here assumes the following:

Chelsea do not come unstuck against teams outside the top four: like Portsmouth away in their next premiership match, a team that, although falling down the table after early season promise, is well organised with passionate home support. Bolton are in the mix for both teams as are the relegation threatened sides fighting tooth and nail for their own title-premiership status potential banana skins for both sides. Conversely Man U may need to slip up against these sides.

Chelsea will also have to beat Man U at home to have a chance of winning the title-its where Mourinho himself claims three of the current six point gap will come from. But with the title at stake and the comparative goalscoring form of both teams those three points are not banked-even though Chelsea are unbeaten at home for many a full time whistle a draw could be on the cards-priceless for the current league leaders.

Then there is Chelsea's visit to the Emirates stadium where Arsenal are so far unbeaten.

Many Chelsea fans are looking at Liverpool to do to Man U what they did to the Blues earlier in the season. But if that match is to count on the final day of the season, under the assumption both teams know the importance of not losing to any other opposition, the north london visit is the holders equivalent and a win is a must else the three points "gained" if at all after a Liverpool victory would revert to a two or even three point deficit.

But that only solves one headache for the would be hat trick champions. There is also a 16 goal difference gap between the teams in the Red Devils favour. If all the above does transpire how Chelsea need to-a victory over both top four reds from manchester and london and Liverpool supply a favour at Anfield the points gap will be closed and the goal difference may shrink across those fixtures.

But in the intervening fixtures Chelsea need to apply a new tactic to one Mourinho, great manager that he is, has so far been unwilling to employ.

Mourinho is happy getting the job done and seeing it through. Winning 1-0 and then controlling the game at 1-0 is winning.

But to bring the goal difference back to a title winning position will entail smashing a few teams along the way like Man U have so far this season. This means keeping pressure on a team 1 or 2 nil down to get a third or a fourth.

Much as it may seem like after the fact predicting I do hope my thoughts after Man U's thumping of Fulham at the beginning of the season do not come back to haunt me: Man U to win the league on goal difference.

The week's roundup

whew well the week has flown by and I have enjoyed it immensely.

Wednesday I went on another police day in Stanwell got some audio went home and edited it on my computer with sound forge and it came out really well.

Got up early thursday and despite the snow made it in time to touch up the cues so I hit the day hard having got four pieces from the wednesday gig. This was swifly followed by ringing around trying to get MP's and various other people for interviews. Did a telephone interview. Done a few now.

Cut it and got some cues for the bulletin good stuff.

And I must have written at least seven copy stories.

Today was just hectic. The phone literally didnt stop ringing. I had Four phone interviews which I manged to get three cuts for one with cues that have aired. Two cuts for another that has aired with cues and half cut another one. The other is saved for editing by the team.

also wrote some copy stories and fielded various calls.

But all in all I have enjoyed it the staff are great and I am definitely looking forward to maybe working with the team again in the future if possible!

It was a blast.

Roll on TV.

Whew! What a blinding start to the week!

Well I have not had time to blog yet been busy.

But the second week is certainly nice and jam packed full of stuff what with writing I think ten copy stories maybe 12 in two days, editing several interviews I have done, and various other things I have had to do.

But it has been enjoyable with probably the highlight so far being an interview I did with one of the scientists involved in the Flores island fossil debate-its science ok leave me alone! :-) now if only I had done a hard science degree instead of political science.......

The staff and atmosphere are great and now when doing copy stories I am constantly thinking what would Rod, my editor say about this piece.

Anyway I have another police story to do tomorrow which should be good!

more stories later! :)

End of week report........

..........and I have been helping police with their enquiries........


Well not quite. Unlike the PM I have no peerage scandal to worry about. But I was sent to cover a police initiative to curb antisocial behaviour in Epsom. Wrote the cues and got the cuts from several interviews I did. Hopefully they will be aired early next week.

A piece I wrote earlier in the week and got a cut about elderly healthcare provision online was aired early this morning after a touch up on the writing (not too much just made it tighter-I know I am loose :-) ) by senior Journalist Martin Fletcher.

Hopefully get that from the archive as well as the police stuff before I leave.

Also been reading planning committee agendas-at first I was worried I would never finish it as it was very thick but on closer inspection it was mostly maps of the applications.

and the staple diet of copy stories......

.......so all sorts of fun.

Oh and I have another week, where I am told more outside missions and bulletin practice awaits.

Cannot wait.

And I mean that!

Midweek report....

....well so far today I have written three copy stories, helped research some public civic matters which I cannot go into too much just yet....listen to Jackie to hear more and generally keeping myself busy.

The atmosphere is nice and the editor keeps me busy which is good but hope to get my voice on something at some stage just gotta keep patient.

Equipment issues are non existent quite comfortable was nice to have a big sign on a mic for once maybe Mike should consider making a mythical Harrow FM one for students to use..........

Anyway thats it for today

And another one bites the dust......

.......so another day at Radio Jackie and what fun it was.

Went to a launch nothing celeb driven except local dignitaries but lots of fun and for a worthy cause in healthcare.

Got a cut and hopefully my cue and cut will be used in the near future.

Also wrote some more copy stories and practised bulletins.

Same old problem I seem to forget I have a diaphragm.

Well thats all for now

more news tomorrow!

Okay......

.......it was time to roll today.

My first day of work experience and it was fun!

Iended up making coffee and tea....................but only twice and was part of the general office atmosphere!

Which at Radio Jackie is lovely!

The Editor is great and so far so good!

I wrote two copy stories which may be used at some point then again maybe not but practice practice.

Hey Mike I read the headlines and a Bulletin!

Only joking they were oractice shots but who knows maybe by the end of the week its something to aim for no?!

Also wrote out some questions for a possible interview and went to interview another person but they refused as it is a dispute situation so I wont say too much more at this stage. Hopefully more soon so watch this space!

As for the equipment etc some differences! They use Sky feeds which I am beginning to prefer to IRN. Ooops but as they said in Rome de gustibus non est disputandem!

They also use a non Burli system for play ins which is interesting took a bit of getting used to but there now........I think! no I am!

But they have Cool Edit which I cant wait to have a newsworthy excuse to use!

Also got something to prepare for tomorrow so they are using me which is nice and appreciated and means I am off now. But for a first day I'm happy!

HMM INTERESTING.....

....okay, I'm not usually so excited but this time I think I have found some fun stuff that I thought I'd share and for which I will probably have to claim my geek membership card.

I bring you the picture taking madness of the Transparent Screens:

What you do is take a picture of something behind your screen-Laptop, ipod, PSP or otherwise and then align your Screen so it matches then take a photo. Simple but surprisingly cool!

If done well you don't even need photoshop and at most photoshop is only needed to sort out colour/light matching

Here's some of my favourites:




For more check out Flickr's topic: Transparent Screens

Also check these two out: Screen 1 Screen 2

Have fun!