Did Football Finally Come Home This Summer?

As thousands of beer and tear soaked pubs emptied across England and the jubilant Croatian fans -who had just witnessed their team reach their first World Cup final - eventually filtered out into the Moscow night; the person in charge of the PA system at the Luzhniki Stadium captured the mood of the defiant England fans, still causing a din in Russia’s national stadium. It wasn’t ‘Three Lions 96’ – a song which has doubled up as a national anthem and standard greeting in the past two weeks – that was blasting out of the stadiums speakers, but another iconic song from that golden summer of 1996; ‘Don’t look back in Anger’ by Mancunian band Oasis.

An ‘utterly choked’ Gary Linekar was pitch side and captured the 10,000 England fans on video fighting back tears and belting out the cathartic lyrics within the otherwise empty stadium. Whoever the stadium DJ was encapsulated the mood perfectly; no regrets, no anger and look forward to a bright future. But there was a more ironic undertone to the use of the song - whether deliberately deployed or not – because too many times England supporters have looked back in anger at previous failings in tournaments.

Sven Goran Erikson’s complete refusal to adjust a system to suit his players in 2006, Steve McLaren (and his Umbrella’s) inability to navigate his way through an average European Championship qualifying group in 2007, the borefest of South Africa in 2010 under Fabio Capello where England’s midfield completely collapsed in Bloemfontaine against Germany, the debacle in Brazil in 2014 when England were out of the World Cup so quickly that the beer chuckers In Boxpark were still queuing to get their first round in and Iceland - oh Iceland- at Euro 2016. That night in Nice was the nadir for modern English football, where anger and apathy ruled the day and many decided that enough was enough. We’d had 50 years of hurt, but pain and sheer embarrassment are two contrasting emotions. 

A few short months later Sam Allardyce was tasked as the man to heal the wounds of the ill fated Roy Hodgson era and no quicker was he masqueraded in front of the worlds media, he was gone. Big Sam and his pint of wine were consigned to English footballs Room 101 of things we would rather eradicate from memory. And perhaps it was fitting that Allardyce was the last man to fill the England managers hot seat before the winds of change began to whisper. Not that Allardyce is a bad manager, his track record proves how good he is at overachieving with lesser clubs but he represents pretty much everything from English football that we would rather leave in the past. Arrogance, a sense of entitlement - anyone who heard his bizarre claim he should get the Real Madrid job would adhere to that- the willingness to try and bend the rules and a style of football that while effective; does not inspire and is the antithesis of how all elite clubs and countries now play the game. 

So who were the FA going to go for? Wenger? Pochetinno? Joachim Low perhaps? Gareth Southgate! Surely not Gareth Southgate, that nice bloke who once got Middlesbrough relegated?

I imagine most England fans, pundits and maybe even a few senior players reacted in that way when Southgate finally took the job and I will include myself in that. Southgate was meant to be an FA yes man; effectively a competition winner that may be lucky enough to navigate England through choppy waters in Russia, but would then be thrown onto the scrap heap of failure so the traditional root and branch review could then begin in earnest. We were wrong. So spectacularly wrong in fact that the initial derision at Southgate’s appointment seems like a strange, otherworldly dream. 

The reality is that Gareth Southgate has proven to be the bravest England manager in modern history. Yes, the qualifying campaign was pretty inauspicious, but Southgate himself briefed at the beginning of his tenure that his first priority was just to get the team to Russia and once that was achieved a proper long term plan would begin to evolve. In the friendlies against Brazil and Germany last autumn he made it clear that the systemEngland would implement in Russia would be 3-5-2 and having Steve Holland on board - who was Antonio Conte’s assistant during Chelsea’s Premier League winning campaign where they played three at the back 2016/17- certainly helped. Two 0-0 draws with a relatively inexperienced squad followed and it was refreshing to see an England manager try something a little bit different and have faith in some of the younger players rather than going back to the same old faces. In subsequent friendlies Kyle Walker was drafted in as a right centre back - not a call that the majority people would have made - which showed Southgate was prepared to take risks.

Senior professionals such as Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney were eventually ushered into the background with some semblance of dignity remaining, specialist striker coach Allan Russell and Psychologist Dr. Pippa Grange were drafted in to supplement the master plan for Russia and Southgate encouraged the players to be frank and honest with the media, the public but also themselves. 

However that would all count for nothing if England were to fail at another tournament. Another notch on a decaying, neglected bed post. But this time, from when the first whistle sounded in England’s opening game in Volgograd against Tunisia, this wasn’t the same old dreary football we had become accustomed to at major tournaments. It was bold, it was brave it was beatifically different. England were actually playing progressive, exciting football. It may have taken a late stooping Harry Kane header to see off their North African opponents, but already before then people were engaged, they were watching an England team attempting to throw off the shackles of the past and daring to be different.

A pummelling of Panama followed and then even a 1-0 loss between England and Belgiums reserve sides perversely seemed like a victory, as it meant England would enter the easier side of the draw after finishing second in Group G. Columbia were next in Moscow and finally - FINALLY - the tapestry of misery that England have experienced in penalty shootouts at World Cups finally had a positive illustration to add to it; England had won on penalties! Cue mad celebrations across the land; from Croydon too Croxteth, Manchester to Middlehurst, an outpouring of celebration and emotion not experienced following an England game since David Platts late winner against Belgium caused bedlam at Italia 90. 

Sweden were then swatted aside with alarming ease in a searing Saturday afternoon in Samara and all of a sudden a strange dream seemed like it was becoming a reality. England were in a World Cup semi final against Croatia, a technically sublime team yes, but one who had been pushed to penalties by Denmark and Russia in their two previous games and certainly not a side to be cowed by. 

England’s date with destiny started like a dream in Moscow and they monstered Croatia in an exhilarating first half. Kieran Trippier - surely England’s player of the tournament - curled a sublime free kick passed Daniel Subasic and subsequently Harry Kane and Jesse Lingard squandered golden chances to kill the game as a contest and render the second half to just one big party. England were in dreamland; blissful and overcome with happiness. But that is the problem with dreams isn’t it. One moment you are reaching a World Cup final, the next it’s 7am, the alarms gone off, it’s a Monday and you have to attend an emergency staff meeting about who took Daves Tuna salad out of the fridge on Friday.

As the clock ticked towards 68 minutes in Moscow Ivan Perisic stuck out a boot following a superb Sime Vrsaljko cross and all of a sudden reality began to dawn on England as this balmy summers evening progressed. Croatia nagged and probed; Perisic hit a post and then lifted a simple looking chance over Jordan Pickford’s gaping goal. England did recover some poise at the beginning of extra time, John Stone’s thumping header was cleared off the line by the excellent Vrsaljko. But then the killer the blow, a single second that seemed to last an eternity to play out. Perisic rose above a now wilting Trippier and Stones - who has proven he can be one of the worlds premier centre backs at this tournament - hesitated for a split second and Mario Mandzukic was there to pounce and reduce England’s dream to dust. Gareth Southgates side had nothing left to give but everything to be proud of.

The ride of a lifetime was now at an end but this was not a defeat to look back in anger on; far from it. Croatia had a little bit too much experience, a little bit too much a class, a little bit too much nous and that eventually told in this semi-final. There was not a gulf in quality but finite margins decided this tie and in elite sport that’s often what separates winners and the defeated. 

So football, this time, is not coming home. Or is it? The notion that football is merely about victory and that nothing else matters apart from winning is completely wrong. If that were the case everyone would support Real Madrid and lower league football would have been a phenomena of the prehistoric age.  Football is about the pain, the joy, the suffering, the ecstasy and the heartache; those emotions sometimes congregating together within a single 90 minute match. Football is about hugging random topless men when your team score, its about spending £5 on a pint then launching it into the air when the ball bulges the back of the net. Football is about feeling like you are in a dream then waking up in a nightmare. Football is an Eric Dier penalty, its an M&S waistcoat, it’s a maddening half naked Ross Kemp accentuating how much this all means to us, it’s hot summer afternoons in the sun and it’s falling asleep on your lunch break while suffering from a catastrophic hangover. Football is a monkey from friends dancing to a mid-nineties football song, it’s a raucous night out with friends, its bonding with strangers and it’s the feeling of unity between people that are so often divided. Football is the feeling that you finally have your football team back after years in the wilderness and constantly feeling let down. That is why football did come home (Just don’t tell Luka Modric).

Let's just get on with the game

As we roll ever deeper into October, the blissful sporting summer of 2012 now seems to be fading into the distant past. The heady days of Mo Farah winning his two Gold medals, Chris Hoy becoming our greatest ever Olympian and George Michael mercilessly plugging his new single during the Olympic closing ceremony are now only memories, which I am sure we will all treasure forever. But now the London 2012 banners and merchandise have been taken down and have inevitably been banished into some time capsule in the Blue Peter garden; football, the ugly sister of British sport, is now taking centre stage once again. And once again, it is making headlines for all the wrong reasons.  

The John Terry/Anton Ferdinand row is fast becoming the never ending story, as a new thread seems to emerge on this sorry episode week by week. The latest plot twist involves John Terry’s fellow media pariah Ashley Cole, who landed himself in hot water by branding the FA a ‘#BUNCHOFTWATS’ via his twitter account after the governing body called into question the evidence he gave during their investigation of Terry, who has been charged with racially abusing Ferdinand.  Yes, Cole was foolish for responding to the FA’s reaction in that way, as he must have known the ‘twitterverse’ would have been going apoplectic with rage at his latest outburst. Yet, unlike some of the Rottweiler’s in the media who are thirsty for Cole’s blood, I feel sorry for him.

 Despite the controversies that has followed the left back throughout his career, the majority of people agree that he is one of England’s genuine world class players. This  in-turn makes him one of the countries leading black footballers and a role model for youngsters in the black community. So why on earth would he defend John Terry if he knew that a serious case of racial abuse had occurred, but chose to fabricate his evidence? I think and I hope it wouldn't be out of some misguided loyalty to his club. If you ask me it is borderline offensive. The FA have effectively condemned Cole as a liar and for someone who has been racially abused numerous times on international duty with England, and who has fought racism through the Kick It Out campaign, you can understand why he took such umbrage with the FA Independent Commission's report. The Chelsea left back had actually acted with great dignity prior to his much maligned twitter ‘meltdown’ on Friday afternoon. When Rio Ferdinand retweeted a message labeling Cole a ‘choc ice’ after he gave evidence on behalf of Terry at Westminster Magistrates court in July, he made no complaint. In-fact, he actually made a statement saying that he hoped Ferdinand would not be charged and that it was probably just a misunderstanding. But Cole did not receive any plaudits for responding to the insult in such a manner and Ferdinand was given a fairly easy ride by the press, not that I feel he should have been put in the stocks anyway. However, if the shoe was on the other foot, I imagine it would be a lot different.

So, despite the fact that the press try to convince us all that they are even handed, they are clearly not. I am not saying they have helped themselves over their careers but John Terry, Ashley Cole and Joey Barton easily bare the brunt of most of the media's venom. Why was Rio Ferdinand given an easy ride (well compared to what the above three would have had) by the press in the wake of his choc ice comment? Ryan Giggs, the golden boy of the Premier League era, hasn't escaped controversy. He had a Super injunction taken out to stop the press reporting on his affair with model Imogen Thomas and it was later revealed that he had an eight year affair with his brothers wife. Yet, that blot from Giggs career seems to have been wiped from the memory, but the same cannot be said of Cole and Terry's extra marital trysts. I am personally glad for Giggs that the public and media have let that storm pass and instead choose to talk about his glittering career, yet it also reeks of double standards. But this isn't an article driven out of club loyalty attempting to further ignite the tribal rivalry that so often tarnishes the beautiful game. To be frank, I love football, I don’t care about the garbage littered around the media. When I phone up a plumber to come and fix my boiler, I pay for his services because he is good at his job. I don’t care whether he is having an affair with Sheila from down his local. By the same token, I pay to watch Ashley Cole as he is a great footballer, I don’t give a proverbial monkeys if he has played away from home. The only reason we care, is that his ex wife is somehow seen as the modern day Lady Diana, so because of that we should all tut and shake our head at Ashley as he has wronged our ‘national treasure’. In general terms football has a problem and we in the media play a part in it.

Many journalists wax lyrical about how footballers are role models to our children and should be upstanding citizens in society. Yet they are the same ones who crave the controversy and go out of their way to ensure that certain footballers are caught with their pants halfway down their trousers. Why do they think we care? These people are the ones that put footballers on a pedestal as national role models yet they are also the same people who would go out of their way to break them so they can get a front page story. As a lover of football, it leaves me baffled. Of course footballers should not be absolved of blame. Ashley Cole and Joey Barton among others have not always covered themselves in glory, but they are humans, they are going to make mistakes, just the same as actors and musicians do. I want to talk about Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney for the fine footballers they are, not for what they get up to at Manchester United's Christmas party. You won't find the tabloids newspapers saying how disgusted they are when someone from The Only Way Is Essex goes out on a drunken escapade. But if it's a footballer, specifically an England player, well Stop the press! 

So what can we do about these out of control footballers? Well, for starters how about we leave them alone? Wouldnt  it be refreshing if the only time we heard Ashley Cole's name was on a Saturday afternoon. Of course some matters like the John Terry racism trial transcend football, but it is a thought. Maybe if we did take away the cameras and dim the spotlight, footballers would be less inclined to behave 'inappropriately'. Maybe, when the only thing they need to focus on is playing football and not the glare of the media, they can truly be role models.  Of course this will never happen, the papers need column inches to fill and we are now so entrenched in this vulgar celebrity culture that an escape is futile. But if you ask your everyday football fan, I am sure they care more about their teams result on a Saturday afternoon than who their left back is sleeping with.

Didier, it's been emotional!

Enigmatic, powerful, dramatic, frustrating, graceful and brilliant. Pretty much any adjective that you will find In the Oxford dictionary could describe outgoing Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. An irresistible force yet also an immovable object, and as we all know, part time drama queen. The Ivorian epitomise's the win at all costs mentality that Chelsea have become synonymous with since Jose Mourinho rolled into Stamford Bridge in 2004. That steely determination was back on display when Chelsea, against all odds, triumphed in Munich on Saturday night. On the greatest night in the clubs history, Drogba once again stepped up when all others lost hope. Thomas Mullers 83rd minute header looked to have given Bayern their fifth European Cup, sending thousands of Bavarians ballistic. For a team whose nickname is FC Hollywood, this seemed like the perfect ending. But little did the army of red know that Chelsea's very own War Horse would come charging in to tear up their fariytale script. Leaping through the warm German summer air, Drogba crashed an unstoppable header passed a helpless Manuel Neuer. Petr Cech then out psyched former team mate Arjen Robben to save his tame extra time penalty, and after both Ivica Olic and Bastian Schweinsteiger fluffed their lines in a usually routine German penalty shootout win, Drogba had to score with only one kick, to provide a mammoth twist to this absorbing tale which after 83 minutes seemed unthinkable. Sure enough, with one swipe of his dynamic right foot, Drogba finally delivered the trophy his team coveted most, and with that, the mercurial forward took his final bow in front of 17,000 adoring Chelsea fans. How those supporters will miss him. In the eight trophy laden years he spent with the blues, Drogba won ten trophies, and in the ten finals he played, only failed to find the net once. That being in his darkest hour in Moscow, when he was sent off with minutes remaining and had he stayed on the pitch that night, Drogba would have taken that infamous fifth penalty which John Terry missed in Chelsea's shootout loss to Manchester United. How the footballing gods move in mysterious ways. Drogba finally had his moment of redemption in Munich and no player deserves it more.

But as well as being a fabulous player, Didier Drogba is also a giant of a man. Much of his income goes towards the many hospitals he is building in his native Ivory Coast through his charity 'the Didier Drogba Foundation'. When Civil War was growing increasingly bloody in his homeland, Drogba used his god like status in the country to call for a cease fire from all parties. As if commanded from above, the violence stopped. Many lives owe a debt of gratitude to the proud Ivorian, for he almost single handedly prevented the deaths of thousands of innocent people. In an age when professional footballers use their status to soley enrich their own lives, Drogba goes against that grain. Maybe, in the future, we may even see a President Didier of the Cote De Voir popping into Downing Street for a spot of tea.

But back to professional matters, what next for Drogba? What next for Chelsea? Drogbas Likely destination seems to be up and coming Chinese club, Shanghai Shenua, where he would link up with former Chelsea teammate Nicolas Anelka. The 34 year old stated that he owes 'too much allegiance' to Chelsea and would never play for another English club. That is a welcomed and understandable sentiment, but Drogba in many people's mind, including mine, is still way to good to be slumming  it in the Chinese premier league despite the financial wealth that would come with the move. The one thing that Drogba has always relished is the big occasions. Due to his infatuation with scoring at Wembley, some Chelsea fans claim the famous arch towering over the fabled pitch should be named after the man himself. Yes, the man affectionately known as the 'Drog' will not miss a wet, windy Wednesday night in Wigan all that much, but will his insatiable appetite for the big matches leave a void in his life? Considering the hunger and drive  he seems to exude when it comes to the big occasion, one suspects it might do. There is no question that Chelsea will miss him and they will now need to find a way to cope in Drogba's absence. For now, it seems the club are willing to persevere with Fernando Torres. Despite being one of the worlds most accomplished strikers a few years back, the Spaniard has suffered 'the worst moments of his career' at Stamford Bridge, partly because the three managers he played under trusted Drogba significantly more to deliver when it mattered most. Perhaps, now that Torres knows he will no longer have to play second fiddle to Drogba, he will be liberated and we will see him back to his best. But on the flip side, Torres will be expected by the fans and hierachy to deliver in the big moments just as Drogba has over the past eight years and that could prove as big a weight on his shoulders as that £50 million price tag. 

When Didier Drogba first arrived on these shores, not many were convinced about his ability to cut it in the big time and his amateur dramatics at times made him a figure  of hate for many. But the striker, over the years, redeemed himself and Frank Lampard said Drogba will leave a 'massive hole' at the club. He may not have been included in the best striker category in the'20 seasons of the Premier League' awards, but there is no doubt Drogba is one of the finest centre forwards to have graced the competition. Thank you and goodbye Didier Drogba, you will be sorely missed (not by any Premier League defenders though!)  

The Growing Importance of Social Media

As we enter 2012 it seems strange to think that only a few years ago; social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter were merely just a flickering idea in a budding entrepreneurs mind. Both of these mediums are now so vital to people’s everyday lives that they are the first thing people check when they wake up and the last thing they look at before they go to bed. Begrudgingly, I admit that I am one of these people. But as well as being useful for organising ones social life and checking out the latest dramas filling the enviable lives of many talent-less celebrities; social media has become vital in breaking and making news stories.

Facebook was first set up in February 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and three of his fellow students while they attended Harvard University. After initially limiting usage to only students attending Havard; Facebook was then made available to other Universities in America before moving onto high schools. From September 2006 it became available worldwide; and as of 2011 there are an estimated 800 million users and Facebook is reportedly worth over $15 billion.

In 2007; Barack Obama used the power of Facebook to help him to victory in the 2008 presidential election. A relatively unknown entity; Obama drummed up support and encouraged members of the public to help fund his successful campaign. This allowed him to reach out to millions of people across America and gave him the opportunity to deliver his policies before his fellow candidates had time to even think about theirs. A new superpower was born; and it wasn’t Obama.

Twitter was the brainchild of an American by the name of Jack Dorsey: and it went live to the public in March 2006. After becoming popular among celebrities such as Stephen Fry; the micro-blogging site was seen as a direct competitor to Facebook. But in truth; Twitter and Facebook are vastly different. Whereas Facebook is seen more as a tool for the wider public to communicate with each other on a social basis; Twitter is seen as a suitable medium from which celebrities, politicians, buisness’s and journalists can share their thoughts with us (the general public). This is one of the reasons Twitter has gained such a vast following. Facebook is technically more sophisticated and offers perhaps more entertaining applications which people can use; but Twitter offers something that the general public greatly desire; access to both interesting information and the lives of people that they inspire to live themselves.

Many moons ago (well, only about three years), television news networks such as Sky News and BBC News 24 were seen as the main gateways to breaking news. But thanks to the advent of social media that is no longer the case. People can now tweet breaking news stories as they unfold via smart phones or portable laptops. With the use of hash-tagging; the tweet can then be picked up by anyone across the world. A recent example of social media being solely responsible for the development of a story was after a video was posted on the internet called “My Tram Experience”. The video showed an intoxicated white woman racially abusing a tram carriage full of black people. This caused shock and outrage amongst the public; and soon enough the story and video spread all over Twitter. Public figures such as Piers Morgan even picked up on the story and there was a public outcry for something to be done. The following day the woman was arrested.

Twitter has become a prime avenue for journalists to break developing stories. More often than not, journalists such as Dan Roan (BBC’s Sports Correspondent) will tweet the ongoing developments of a story and then guide his “followers” to watch his full report on the BBC News channel. It is an extremely effective way for journalists and news outlets to direct traffic to their websites and news channels. People will now pick up the strands of a news story on Twitter and then go onto websites such as BBC News for further information.

However, the breaking of stories via Twitter has begun to cause murmurings of discontent in some news agencies. The Associated Press (AP) recently reprimanded a number of their journalists for breaking news stories via Twitter before putting it on the wire. News agencies such as the AP feel that Twitter can at times be inaccurate and is devaluing the traditional methods of delivering breaking news. The AP policy on the use of social media by their journalists reads as follows; "If you have a piece of information, a photo or a video that is compelling, exclusive and/or urgent enough to be considered breaking news, you should file it to the wire, and photo and video points before you consider putting it out on social media." There was also a strongly worded email sent to all AP journalists by Managing Editor Lou Ferrara saying employees “first duty was to the agency; and not Twitter.” It is evident that agencies such as AP feel they are increasingly being undermined by the rising importance of Twitter to breaking news.

Facebook and Twitter has been accused of becoming “dangerous”; in some circles. Recently, a man who was sentenced to death in America had his sentence overturned due to a member of the jury tweeting during court proceedings. The trial was declared invalid after Randy Franco posted a series of tweets including one which read; “Choices to be made. Hearts to be broken. We each define the great line.”

During the summer riots in the UK; Twitter and Facebook became a platform for people to plan the terrible events that saw towns and shops being destroyed. In some quarters, people called for Facebook and Twitter to be shut down temporarily in order to stop people from being able to plan which areas would be targeted. One man posted a picture of himself on Facebook holding a bag of Tesco’s value basmati rice that he had stolen; and the social media sites seemed to be taken over by opportunistic criminals laughing in the face of justice by bragging about their misdemeanours. This, by many, was seen as the dark side of social media.

Over the last five years, social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have come to define the lives of many people. They are viewed by many as an opportunity to share their thoughts with the world and a chance to learn more about the world around them. They are now a source from which news stories can be broken and they have come to define modern day technology.

So at the end of this article I ask myself the question; what has come to define the beginning of the 21st century? Could it be the War on Terror? Could it be the continuing economic difficulties facing us? Or could it be the year long “Who shot Phil Mitchell” plot line from Eastender’s which gripped the nation in 2001; (a close second I think)? But despite the significance of all of these events; the birth of social media is what has defined and will continue to define us this century.

Roo Are A Disgrace

For many people,including myself, football is one of the few things that can lift my spirits regardless of what obstacles life is throwing me. loyal football fans up and down the country have been struggling over the last decade to be able to afford to go and watch their beloved team play. Over 500,000 hard working men and women will lose their jobs it was announced this week, so it is inevitable that the average football supporter will drift away from the game yet further due to the crippling financial constraints they will face. So it is in times like these that we turn to our idols, our heroes,the people who can provide us with some joy, despite the looming cloud of despair that blows our way. However, a certain Wayne Rooney, has effectively spat in the face of every hard working man and woman in Britain (not to mention football fans).

Many a Manchester United fan will declare the fact that Rooney has signed a new megabucks deal as a victory for football. They will digress that the ever domineering Sir Alex Ferguson has again triumphed over a rebellious footballer, and now that the saga is over, we can all pretend it never happened and that this week has purely been an elaborate work of fiction. I for one, think this is the worst possible outcome.

The money motivated 24 year old declared on Wednesday evening that the reason he wanted to leave Old Trafford was because the board had not given him assurances about the clubs future and that their ability to win trophies had severely waned. And he did have a point. The 3 time European champions are not the juggernaut they once were, highlighted by the average at best trio of Michael Carrick, Ji-Sung Park and John O'Shea being first team regulars. But what could have changed Rooney's mind over the past two days? Has Rooney been told of the "immenent" signings of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi? definatly not. Did a ropey 1-0 victory over European minnows Bursaspor convince Wayne that United are destined for a trophy laden season? Well unless there has been some funny substances in those ciggerettes we have seen him smoking recently, most probably not. There is only one thing that motivated Wayne Rooney and his distasteful agent Paul Stretford, and that was the astronomical amount of money David Gill presented them with.

The man who once exclaimed "Once a blue always a blue" while at Everton, has treated Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson and the fans with utter contempt. He has swindled a club who are riddled with debt into making him the highest paid footballer in the country, while also undermining the credentials of his fellow teammates. Exemplary professionals such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes must feel disgusted at the way Rooney has taken their beloved club for a ride.

The boy who grew up in working class Liverppol has forgotten his roots, and given a two fingered salute to the hundreds and thousands of men and women across the country who will not be in a job this time next year. And in an age when footballers are lambasted for being greedy and self indulgent, Wayne Rooney has proved that theory right. Quite frankly Mr. Rooney, you are a disgrace.

Suspicious Minds

Show business can be extremely fickle and at times very cut-throat. One minute you are the best thing since sliced bread, the next you are yesterday’s news. It has happened to me in the past, and yesterday Over the Rainbow hopeful Stephanie Davis learnt that cruel lesson as well. The 17 year old from Liverpool found herself in the bottom two along with Steph Fearon, but Andrew Lloyd Webber elected to give Stephanie the chop. But without sounding like just another conspiracy theorist, the circumstances surrounding Stephanie’s departure do raise suspicion.

It has emerged that some people who were attempting to ring in and vote for Stephanie were unable to get through, sparking claims that the result was fixed. But that is not the only thing that is puzzling about this result. Every week Stephanie received rave reviews from the panel and Andrew Lloyd Webber, resulting in her becoming the bookies favorite to win the show. So it seems strange that all of a sudden John Partridge and Sheila Hancock did not think that Stephanie was fit to become Dorothy. The Song that Stephanie was given to perform, Mr.Bojangles, has a reputation for suiting a male vocal and being extremely tough for female singers to get to grips with. That was a sentiment that all of the panel echoed after Stephanie’s performance, so it is baffling as to why she was given that song in the first place.

Every week Andrew Lloyd Webber has to decide which girl to save out of the bottom two, but his reason for saving Steph this week was farcical. The Lord was taking into account the fact that Dorothy is supposed to be an orphan, and because Steph is mixed race, he deemed that she would somehow give the role of an orphan more credibility. This was despite previously airing doubts as to whether Steph had the ability to play Dorothy, and also praising Stephanie for being a complete performer. So his decision did seem rather odd, and basing who to eliminate on the grounds of race sets a very dangerous precedent.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s verdict also raises the question of elitism in show business. Steph Fearon and her family have fairly substantial backgrounds in the world of entertainment, with both of her parents being successful recording artists, and Steph herself starring in “My Parents are Aliens” and “As If”. So some may believe that she was saved purely because of her showbiz connections. But before people begin to say that what I am saying is nonsensical, I know for a fact that it does happen as I have been a victim of it. I myself applied to audition for the role of Ron Weasley in Harry Potter, having gained the backing of my stage school, but was subsequently told by the production company that they were not looking to cast an English actor. Low and behold, Rupert Grint (an English actor) got the part, and his parents are both film producers and extremely well connected in the industry. Read into that what you will.

But in the cold light of day, the result cannot be altered, and unfortunately Stephanie is out of the competition. In my opinion, she was one of the strongest contenders to become Dorothy as she could sing, act and dance, and I had backed her to win. However, you do not always get what you deserve, but the key to achieving success in an industry such as show business is to keep on fighting and never giving up. As long as Stephanie stays focused and determined, I am sure that she can fly higher than the rainbow.

“Magic” Mayweather Has “Sugar” Shane Spellbound

The eyes of the boxing world were on the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday night, and to say we got treated to something magic was an understatement. Many pundits and top fighters, including Heavyweight champion David Haye, thought that this would be the night where “Pretty Boy” Floyd’s pristine record would become tarnished. After all, he was fighting Shane Mosley, one of the greatest boxers in modern history and a certain future hall of famer. Yet Mayweather managed to make Mosley look pedestrian.

The 38 year old former welter-weight champion seemed mezmirised by the speed and unerring accuracy of Mayweather’s punches, and there was a constant look of utter dejection on his face whenever he was sat in his corner. Meanwhile, Mayweather was looking so relaxed he must have been wandering what the fuss was all about. Only once did Mosley appear to rock Mayweather, landing two hefty right hooks on the undefeated champion, sending the crowd into raptures. But Mayweather showed the grit that many thought he lacked, and weathered the storm in spectacular style.

The brash boxer used his lightning fast jab and unbelievable movement to negate any threat that Mosley posed, and once again his counter punching was impeccable. Mayweather has been criticized in the past for not showing enough aggression in the ring and being overly cautious. However, such an accusation could not have been leveled against him on Saturday night. He was determined to prove a point to his many fans, and also his critics, and he consequently produced one of the best displays of boxing I have ever seen. If he wasn’t one already, this was the fight that cemented Mayweather as one of the greats of the sport, and it was fitting that Muhammad Ali was at ringside to witness it.

The final round of the fight was one of the most surreal that I have witnessed. Both Mosley and Nazim Richardson (Mosley’s trainer) sat in their corner knowing that this was a bridge to far for “Sugar” Shane. There was nothing left in the tank, while Mayweather looked as though he could go on for another twelve rounds. But both Mosley and most importantly Richardson, who had earlier threatened to pull him out, knew that this would be the former three weight world champion’s last hurrah, and to throw in the towel so late would seem an undignified way for a proud fighter like Mosley to take his final bow. And despite still outclassing his opponent, Mayweather seemed reluctant to go for the knockout. Maybe it was because he had too much respect for Mosley, and saw it fitting that the veteran fighter should at least have his record of not being stopped in tact. But that is something we will never know for sure. But what I do know is that Mayweather, who has now firmly cemented himself as the pound for pound best in the world, will be itching to take on Manny Pacquiao in one of the most eagerly anticipated bouts in boxing history. If Mayweather emerges victorious, it will be hard to argue against him being the greatest boxer of all time.