Running the Game

The differences in the way American Football and Association Football (soccer) are run never ceases to amaze me.

One shares its resources out reasonably equally amongst all the clubs and does its best to try and create a league where all teams are competitive. The other is a financial free for all where the amount of money you have is the predominating factor in success.

What always surprises me is that the American version adopts, what is to me, the "fairest" system and the best for the public.

Under the American system a rich owner and a big fashionable team will not guarantee you success. For instance away teams get 34% of all gate revenue from away games. The team finishing bottom in a season gets the first choice of the new college talent the next season. The NFL insists that the TV rights go to where everyone can see the games. As one NFL owner put it if the kids can't see their heroes play they won't be inspired to play ( I wonder if the ECB paid attention to this? of course not). This means that, in theory, all clubs are in with a chance with success.

In "our" game your chances of success are determined by one factor, money. If you don't have a good youth policy that's ok get your cheque book out. Team struggling? wave your cheque book. Wages alone can amount to 70% of revenue. We sell TV rights to the highest bidder and it doesn't matter who can or cannot watch.

All players, coaches and Managers MUST make themselves available. No hissy fits allowed here.

To my mind the Americans have got it right.

Mr Beckham Again

I see the England Football Manager has recalled David Beckham to save us. I know this because every clip Radio 5 plays seems to feature him.

Now its not Beckham's fault and he played ok on Saturday. Much as he always did really, good dead ball delivery but not beating anyone. I don't really see the point of recalling someone who is going to playing in a minor league like the one in North America whilst ignoring a talented young player like Bentley.

McClaren played the same midfield that singularly failed in the World Cup so why does he think its going to work this time? When did Lampard and Gerrard combine well?

There is talk that Kieron Dyer will play at Full Back, not long ago he was playing off a forward. You have to cry don't you.

Oh he played Shorey of Reading which was nice to see but we desperately need a left footed midfielder.

Humble Pie Time

So after my many rants about Michael Vaughan what does he do? Gets a hundred. I still maintain he should never have been selected BUT well done to the man for sticking two fingers up at us doubters.

That took character.

Selection Headaches Again

I'm confused again. We've called up Ryan Sidebottom.

Now I have nothing against Ryan but that was slightly left field. Then again can he do any worse than Steve "where's my radar" Harmisson? The bowling does look slightly anaemic, Monty aside. The batting did well, admittedly not against much, but you can hardly blame the batsman.

This presents a problem if Vaughan and Freddie are fit who gets dropped? Surely the centurions pick themselves? Surely they can't play four bowlers given Flintoff's injury problems? How do they fit both Vaughan and Flintoff in? So do they drop Strauss? I'd drop Vaughan as he hasn't scored any runs for ages. But the selectors think he is a tactical genius on a par with Alexander the Great.

All very odd.

The Big Fight

Boxing is by all accounts in trouble. The recent "superfight" between Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya was meant to help change this.

I put the word superfight in quotes because one of the reasons for calling this a superfight was the fact it was the richest outside of the heavyweight division. To me it was a fight beween an aging great (De La Hoya) and a man at the height of his powers (Mayweather).

The decision was a surprising split decision.

Anyway why is boxing in a state? well there are two many champions. How can you have 4 champions at each weight? I became a fan of boxing when there were no more than two champions and genuine superfights took place. Titles were unified. As it was boxing has just disapated into alphabet soup.

Fighters nowadays count themselves great based on how many weights they have won and how many defences they have made. But can a fighter like Calzaghe be great if there are 2 or 3 other fighters at his weight who have as legitimate claim to the title? Mayweather is undoubtedly a super fighter but he has made his way through the decisions beating good fighters but not dominating a division.

To me boxing has to unify the titles or at least great reduce the number of belts. It also has to be on terrestial tv, people need to follow a career.

The World Cup is over

And so Australia duly one. They are easily the best nad most consistent team. The fact that the final descended into chaos shows that the ICC really don't know what they are doing.

Secondly it was WAY too long. They need to cut it down significantly and cut the elapsed time. How about not 8 teams going straight to knock out with the group winners affectively winning the toss in the quarters? Less games means less money so it will never happen.

Ratings

Ok my ratings for the English players in the Cricket world cup. Yes I know we still have the windies to go but we are out

Vaughan - 1
well he scored absolutely nothing.

Joyce - 4
ok he wasn't outstanding but his record was Bradmanesque compared to Vaughan

Bell - 4
occasional glimpse of class. flattered to deceive though.

Strauss - 5
not a chance to make an impact really.

Pieterson - 7
easily Englands top scorer. Not outstanding but he did nothing wrong.

Collingwood - 7
never got the big score but did ok

Flintoff - 3
his bowling was more than fine but he is an all-rounder and his batting was awful

Bopara - 6
did ok. Not brilliant but did ok

Dalrymple - 3
few chances but didn't grab what he had.

Nixon - 7
eat your words blogger he did well.

Plunkett - 5
sorry but why was he dropped for Mahmood???

Mahmood - 3
when the going got tough against South Africa he went to bits.

Panesar - 4
didn't have a great tournament

Anderson - 5
had his moments but they were moments.