tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44385528887185414062024-03-05T23:27:39.060+00:00LIFE ON THE BEE ROADSA blog from the perspective of a Brentford FC fan. All views are my own - make sure to check out my other websites!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-55995445815889877032012-12-05T20:26:00.003+00:002012-12-05T20:26:31.546+00:00Red Bull and Nokia Reporting: Nitro Circus Live<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNNTTc_HuBwEaknSDI2zxRWF2pAbQC0FpZukl-x0Gy644OeGr2fMpf_RYy1IdOe-zmCC2AdjN4zwdqMDtOe2IZvBonk_R9UqFZYaV-sH3zz9XjCwgx4afR9F2ZhjwLMDR2q7EniiaOIZI/s1600/redbull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNNTTc_HuBwEaknSDI2zxRWF2pAbQC0FpZukl-x0Gy644OeGr2fMpf_RYy1IdOe-zmCC2AdjN4zwdqMDtOe2IZvBonk_R9UqFZYaV-sH3zz9XjCwgx4afR9F2ZhjwLMDR2q7EniiaOIZI/s320/redbull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">On Monday December 3<sup>rd</sup> I was
lucky enough to go to the O2 Arena to watch Nitro Circus thanks to Red Bull and
Nokia. As well as seeing some serious high-octane stunts, crashes and enough
fire to last for seven Bonfire Nights I got to test out the camera capabilities
of the Nokia Lumia 920. Yes, the one that is sold out everywhere. I got to test
out how good the photos are in low light and also how well it deals with shaky
hands. Check out some of the photos in this blog and tell me what you think
too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Here’s what I thought of the event: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthqiEZcYMozN0ztBNdH3Ba7fhEr4CAVukKRhyphenhyphenPhTkyi9hqwBI5YW8hzKpYGr51eeO6LViGVVWYEHUbByE4U0VsByd06TtyxKQ6OMuNxeJbizkMbcRSjWxkqYtPFmBXe4itQOrndm2u03c/s1600/WP_20121204_002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthqiEZcYMozN0ztBNdH3Ba7fhEr4CAVukKRhyphenhyphenPhTkyi9hqwBI5YW8hzKpYGr51eeO6LViGVVWYEHUbByE4U0VsByd06TtyxKQ6OMuNxeJbizkMbcRSjWxkqYtPFmBXe4itQOrndm2u03c/s320/WP_20121204_002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mega Ramp - taken with the Lumia 920<br /><a href="http://www.nokia.com/gb-en/products/phone/lumia920/">http://www.nokia.com/gb-en/products/phone/lumia920/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Sitting outside in the freezing cold
waiting to meet with Nokia’s representatives wasn’t what I thought I’d be doing
when I woke up that morning. I thought I’d be in the warm, doing shorthand or
something boring like that. But no, I somehow found myself about to watch the
craziest and bravest extreme athletes I have ever seen hurl themselves, several
tonnes of machinery and audience members through the air whilst attempting to
do Olympic style gymnastic. Oh, did I mention I also got a Nokia Lumia 920 to
play about with too?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And boy, was I glad I was able to do it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The seats were absolutely perfect to not
only capture some great pictures and videos with the Lumia, but also to see the
legendary Travis Pastrana and co entertain a sold-out O2 and myself for the
night. Fire, motorbikes and death-defying stunts: what a perfect way to kill
off those Monday blues! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For those of you that don’t know what Nitro
Circus is, it’s basically the world’s top action sport athletes getting
together and trying to top off one another’s stunts, and when I say stunts, I
mean stunts like back-flipping motorcycles off ramps with two audiences members
on the front and back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I suppose you could say it was like Jackass
on wheels. But rather than perform crazy stunts on one another for pain, they
perform crazy stunts to be the world’s best at what they do. BMX, scooters and
wheelchairs. You name it they threw it down the ramp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7IqsrIo21X1nSCShnAk8ec9gC3FCPgIwbQKmCHJgGsHZdq9T5k2Df_ButDTlHqvm-lTQpi6vPP53BRW5nLHo4jiy7DWx0R2Msupwqd8tli3ja7j2dDbnfYSrD3eSPO9-q0wKK92vAhr7/s1600/WP_20121204_025+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK7IqsrIo21X1nSCShnAk8ec9gC3FCPgIwbQKmCHJgGsHZdq9T5k2Df_ButDTlHqvm-lTQpi6vPP53BRW5nLHo4jiy7DWx0R2Msupwqd8tli3ja7j2dDbnfYSrD3eSPO9-q0wKK92vAhr7/s320/WP_20121204_025+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team GB's representatives at Nitro Circus - Lumia 920<br /><a href="http://www.nokia.com/gb-en/products/phone/lumia920/">http://www.nokia.com/gb-en/products/phone/lumia920/</a><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The show was simply amazing. Yes, there
were some moments shown on the big screens that wanted to make you puke up your
food. And yes, some of the jumps weren’t
landed. But my word, the Nitro Circus crew can keep you entertained. I doubt I
will see another event this year where a fully-grown man flies down a mega ramp
in an ice tub or a woman hurls herself off the ramp in a pink Barbie child’s
car. And I doubt I will ever again, unless I saw Nitro Circus again. Which I
will. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My favourite part of the night had to be
seeing Aaron Fotheringham going down the mega ramp. Why? I hear you asking.
Aaron Fotheringham is disabled and in a wheelchair, but that didn’t stop him
from completing the most insane jumps. He attempted a front flip, in his
wheelchair, twice on the mega ramp. He really was an inspiration and the words:
“nothing is impossible” really springs to mind with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Check out the video too, its Jolene Van
Vugt showing off what Travis taught her. I think she may be the only woman in
the world that can do it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzcSMW7Tk9Pty8lbIIhJwN1BDYGKLmZ2FZTUofjALjsog0mvw6yzEqjc4XV3MNM1IWHmP2laTGlqTM8ijCt1A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">All I have to say is thanks so much to Red
Bull and Nokia for giving me the chance to go to Nitro Circus – it definitely
is something I shall always remember. My advice to you is to get your helmet
on, buckle up and get tickets to see Nitro Circus – you wont regret it!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">If you are interested in becoming a Nokia and Red Bull reporter then click on the link and apply! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.nokia.com/gb-en/red-bull-reporter">http://www.nokia.com/gb-en/red-bull-reporter</a></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0Greenwich, Royal Borough of Greenwich, London SE10 1AY, UK51.48061 0.00121539.3139715 -20.213629 63.647248499999996 20.216058999999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-35103774692797969812012-10-25T19:56:00.001+01:002012-10-25T19:59:41.348+01:00Top Ten Tips to Avoiding International Embarrassment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
A lot of you reading this may not be England fans (luckily for you). Nor may you have ever seen an England match before because our international matches have no interest to you (and I don’t blame you). However, you may have recently seen “the Farce”, as the right honorary and great Adrian Chiles referred to it as, against Poland on the 16th October.</div>
<div style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
Although it wasn’t played on the 16th, because the Polish FA refused to close the roof in order for them to have somewhere to park their nuclear sub for the night. As a result, the Polish FA made fools of themselves and their country in front of the entire world after what was a great Euros.</div>
<div style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
But how does this affect you? I know for a fact that there is no way you want to embarrass yourself when you finally pull on your nation’s colours in the 2014 World Cup, so how do you avoid it?</div>
<div style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
Just stick to these ten simple tips.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<div style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">
<i><a href="http://www.bettingexpert.com/blog/how-to-avoid-international-embarrassment" target="_blank">Read More...</a></i></div>
<div style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>Originally</i></b></span></span><i style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><b> posted for BettingExpert.</b></i></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-82939304205115824262012-09-11T15:05:00.000+01:002012-09-11T15:05:46.615+01:00Top Ten Tips To Qualifying For The 2014 World Cup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
It seems like it was only yesterday that Euro 2012 was finishing, as Spain once again lifted that gleaming trophy above their gelled, slick hairs after conquering the continent.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
It gave us some great talking points too; such as France’s performances being worse than the average X-Factor contestant and Portugal, Germany and Holland proving, once again, that Alan Hansen has no knowledge of football and should never have become a football pundit. Lord Sugar would do a better job.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
Looking back, it makes you miss major international football more than a small child misses it’s mother when she goes on a boozy night out. But dry those tears, open your European road map and start looking at those God-awful Easyjet flights because the World Cup 2014 qualifiers are upon us!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
But just how do you qualify for them? With teams like Kazakhstan, San Marino and Macedonia in the qualifiers, teams are going to need help with defeating the unknown. So where do you find someone who has this knowledge? Read on for some top tips on how to qualify for the Brazil World Cup 2014!</div>
<br />
<div style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
<i><a href="http://www.bettingexpert.com/blog/how-to-qualify-for-the-2014-world-cup" target="_blank">Read more...</a> </i></div>
<div style="color: #686868; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">
<i>Posted on BettingExpert on September 7th 2012. </i></div>
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-6764936114623680012012-06-20T11:43:00.000+01:002012-06-20T11:45:27.857+01:00ROD’s Guide to the Euro’s Quarter Finals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">I bet you can guess what I’ve been doing
the last two weeks, can’t you? It's more than likely the exact same that you’ve
been doing: waiting until 5o’clock came so that you could sit down to watch the
Euros until 10 o’clock. Also, again probably the same as you, I’ve managed to
watch every single game of the competition so far (apart from Matchday 3 games
– that would be impossible unless I was Will Smith in Men in Black Three). All
I can say is thank god that the football is back! After what seems like an
eternity in the sporting wilderness where I was watching beach soccer and
American college basketball it’s only right that the Euros has conjured up some
fantastic games! Who would’ve guessed that Greece would beat Russia in their
final group game to seal a quarter final spot after the Russians seemed like
the Red Army smashing their way through Germany in the Second World War or that
Holland would go home pointless after being tipped by some to paint Poland and
the Ukraine orange! Truly, football is a remarkable game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">But what next? Well, as I’m sure you’ll
know we enter the quarterfinal stage of the competition (which is tomorrow, yet
more football to feast upon!) and as a result of that you will probably need
some information on the teams so you can reel off your knowledge in the pub
with your friends who will pretend to care but really will just want to
throttle you for being a know-it-all. Luckily for you, you seem to have
stumbled upon my little guide to Euro 2012 quarterfinalists with all the
knowledge you need to know for the next four days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><u>Team One: The Czech Republic</u> <u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEbWAhxw_STuZjBmZHCG5ELZg6GIULVRPjbJs3iOGQjA_HMOtURZpD627Ep_-m1Mi0M3pCzdWsaCyFRuXnbeBrGqFx5eh2jm68xI7QYz-hoT8FLg4ZwY3XSY2l_RYwtHlmSyzcOiRzzX5/s1600/czech.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTEbWAhxw_STuZjBmZHCG5ELZg6GIULVRPjbJs3iOGQjA_HMOtURZpD627Ep_-m1Mi0M3pCzdWsaCyFRuXnbeBrGqFx5eh2jm68xI7QYz-hoT8FLg4ZwY3XSY2l_RYwtHlmSyzcOiRzzX5/s200/czech.png" width="200" /></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">When the groups were first announced Group
A was seen by many as the easiest group of them all. Very much an
eastern-European affair with the exception of those intimidating Greeks, it
looked like a walkover for Russia and then a straight out dogfight for second
place between Poland and the Czech Republic. Football is a strange game, and it
didn’t turn out that way. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">After a good old fashioned beating from
Russia, who managed to put 4 past the Czechs and Darth Vader, oh, er, I mean
Petr Cech, it all looked very worrying for the Czechs. But they plucked up the
courage and strength to beat the Greeks in Matchday Two (just) that put them on
the brink of qualification. After a tightly fought neighbour vs neighbour
battle in Wroclaw that had more in common with UFC than football the Czechs
managed to get that win that saw them through into the quarter-finals, in which
now will now face Ronaldo. No wait, I mean Portugal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><span lang="EN-US">What Czech players are the ones to keep an
eye on? Well, Petr Jiracek certainly seems to have lit the eyes of some
managers – mostly those that buy talent based on tournament performances it has
to be said – and he will certainly be one that Portugal have to watch. Another
Czech that seems to have been performing well is </span>Václav
Pilař who has scored twice for the Czechs so far in the tournament, which is
very healthy seeing as the top goal scorer thus far has 3. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">The
Portuguese will have to be on their best form and not allow Ronaldo to get
taken out of the game if they hope to withstand the Czech onslaught and avoid a
massive shock. That said, Portugal are having a bit of trouble with cheques at
the moment aren’t they? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Team Two:
Portugal <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak0Vtfj6EMhrk7jTIbYB6FnGO2tjDjRlJIcCBJJEUqc78Glaa1OwR9H4GIYQ4Zxgdw5e5dQc5z_Z-CZTBBQNeeT9OiLmsEKBtU3HOXoY5DJWwjSWrR48qTyauNgP3nXALBJn57y-g2o-p/s1600/portugal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak0Vtfj6EMhrk7jTIbYB6FnGO2tjDjRlJIcCBJJEUqc78Glaa1OwR9H4GIYQ4Zxgdw5e5dQc5z_Z-CZTBBQNeeT9OiLmsEKBtU3HOXoY5DJWwjSWrR48qTyauNgP3nXALBJn57y-g2o-p/s200/portugal.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Runners-up
in the “Group of Death”, Portugal seem to have come into play at the right time
of the tournament. After being beaten 1-0 by the ruthless Germans and somehow
managing to beat the Danes in a thriller in Lviv, Ronaldo well and truly put
Holland to the sword. I’m sorry, I meant Portugal. I have no idea why I keep
saying Ronaldo in a singular form, as if he makes the Portugal team! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">The
Portuguese will most definitely fancy their chances: the fashion boys of Europe
with their gelled hair and their waxed backs are against the vicious,
long-haired Czechs who care not for looks but want to taste Portuguese blood.
Portugal are most certainly in for a battle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">The players
to watch? Of course, they have Ronaldo, the second-best player in the world
whose step-overs and flip-flaps are a thing of art and should be displayed in
the National Art Gallery. Nani is also another Portuguese star that has all the
usual flair that we come to expect of the Premier League star that I’m sure is
another one to watch on Thursday. <b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-size: 8.5pt; padding: 0cm;"> </span></b>Fábio Coentrão, the Madrid defender, is also another
one to watch. With one assist to his name already, expect many bombardments
down the wing from him against the Czechs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Quarter-Final One Prediction: Czech
Republic 0-2 Portugal <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Team Three: Germany <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TW4-tEZHYNkOxINhyphenhyphen4JVokQlc6zJvKtXrpHFmKRRt6ST8bIs0T0Q9HRlv5-vq8W7SG6OQkWRmFE3x7OkkRLDPqOwP0AHRiTlXZAe8C-WsSQXZu70DBRibWnH3Dx2jjP0VZZvzeIHcSfu/s1600/geramny.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TW4-tEZHYNkOxINhyphenhyphen4JVokQlc6zJvKtXrpHFmKRRt6ST8bIs0T0Q9HRlv5-vq8W7SG6OQkWRmFE3x7OkkRLDPqOwP0AHRiTlXZAe8C-WsSQXZu70DBRibWnH3Dx2jjP0VZZvzeIHcSfu/s200/geramny.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">The Germans. European powerhouse in
both terms of politics and football. They are the only team to have won all
three of their games in the group stages, which is no surprise seeing we all
know how efficient they are. In what was billed as a close game, Germany simply
walked all over Holland (not for the first time) and wouldn’t have conceded if
it weren’t for a bit of magic from Van Persie. Germany were simply brilliant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Now they face up to the Greeks, resilient,
strong, and funnily enough completely at the will of the German government and
Angela Merkel. Although Greece isn’t exactly a major footballing nation, they
have won the Euros before in 2004 and they managed to beat the Russians to get
this far, so the Germans will most certainly be looking to crush any form of
resistance to their plans of securing Euro 2012. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Germany have developed so much fresh
talent in the past few years that it actually frightens me. The main players to
watch out for in this game however? The joint-leading top goal scorer: Mario
Gomez (how un-German does that sound?) is most certainly at the forefront of
the German bombardment. In the past Greece had Alexander the Great. Now they
must face Mario the Conqueror. Another player that the Germans have in their
awesome firepower is Mesut Ozil, the little magician from Gelsenkirchen. Often
compared to Zidane, the Madrid legend, his quick feet and attacking style of
play can cause a problem to any defence, even if the Greeks defend like
Trojans. Certainly, both are ones to watch out for in this quarterfinal match. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Team Four: Greece <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pfGHdHkVLZD0MzRx7qbbbtLcsd8eQdG6_woNs6qh01j5DVLwdtphRmJ59X5rU9gyIDRsmjfpFoM7zyDdFnfEnL-R1sengEC4_-LPkklZ-PUcQP-4eQKhDN9XNkxr_SI8K8l-Uye98_-b/s1600/greece.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pfGHdHkVLZD0MzRx7qbbbtLcsd8eQdG6_woNs6qh01j5DVLwdtphRmJ59X5rU9gyIDRsmjfpFoM7zyDdFnfEnL-R1sengEC4_-LPkklZ-PUcQP-4eQKhDN9XNkxr_SI8K8l-Uye98_-b/s200/greece.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">After being drawn into Group A and
being held to a 1-1 draw with co-hosts Poland in their first game after a
diabolical refereeing decision and then being beaten 2-1 by the Czech Republic
thing looked bleak for Greece. Not as bleak as their politics, but bleak
nonetheless. But then something amazing happened: they beat the Russians. That
shock result put them through in second place behind the Czechs, and into the
siege that will be the quarterfinal against Germany. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Greece have it all to do, but they
have reason to do it. In political terms, the Greeks will have no better
incentive to beat the Germans than to get one over Angela Merkel. After their crisis in the Eurozone, getting
one over the woman that holds all the keys (which could be any woman to be
honest) could be the inspiration they need to create a shock and knock the
Germans out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Giorgos Karagounis is certainly the Greek to look out
for in the coming game – it was his goal that knocked the Russians out in
matchday three. The modern day Achilles,
the Germans will have to be able to put him in their back pockets to have an
easier time in this match. How is it they killed Achilles in the end? A stud to
the ankle? Hmm…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><u>Quarter-Final Two Prediction: Germany 3-0 Greece</u><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Team Five:
Spain <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbf_UgvOHE7jyfMGYW-osor06xftwuNPEWjj7pXLGlbhaLTwdzQWsqlrJaFlj7_10k42Zug0ssVWbiKRMeUILIvRj103uVNuPy9vj09qEuiB16EyneiRb39cyEoQnjB5_YKSjhvOWNdftd/s1600/spain.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbf_UgvOHE7jyfMGYW-osor06xftwuNPEWjj7pXLGlbhaLTwdzQWsqlrJaFlj7_10k42Zug0ssVWbiKRMeUILIvRj103uVNuPy9vj09qEuiB16EyneiRb39cyEoQnjB5_YKSjhvOWNdftd/s200/spain.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Being drawn
into Group C, many expected Spain to have very little, if no problems in
qualifying for the knockout stages. Apart from a blip against Italy, they were
back on form again to knock the stuffing out of an Ireland team that looked
extremely poor, very much like the country itself. Spain only just managed to
beat Croatia in their final group game, with a Jesus Navas goal, which took
some real skill to smash in from two yards in the 88<sup>th</sup> minute
securing them the win. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Spain play
the French in what will surely be a tightly contested match, as both teams are
some of the best at the tournament. Spain are defending their crown (which
hasn’t been done yet) which is the incentive the win here. Spain can of course
take heart from France’s dismal performance against the Swedes last night in
which they were beaten 2-0. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Spain have
so many phenomenal players to look out for, but if I had to pick one which has
outshone the rest in this tournament the it would be little David Silva. So far
he has scored once and set-up three of his teammates in the competition – I
think that’s someone you would definitely call a wingman and would love to have
with you on a night out! Although he didn’t have the best of games in his last
game, I think he will definitely perform against the French. He must perform
should we say? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Team Six:
France<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsgRQsl5gxOxrps43nZ7zoCM6ba9D7GS6siNRDfRf4K5uda_P2Lv0OKLrapJNVRwrgW9kigE3DOx3nuzyEgz5jDhFI_8JRXoYR1tYHYhCSt_tYycjTuS9UBGJoYTTtXvBVtcWY1lDa_hC/s1600/france.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsgRQsl5gxOxrps43nZ7zoCM6ba9D7GS6siNRDfRf4K5uda_P2Lv0OKLrapJNVRwrgW9kigE3DOx3nuzyEgz5jDhFI_8JRXoYR1tYHYhCSt_tYycjTuS9UBGJoYTTtXvBVtcWY1lDa_hC/s200/france.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Les Bleus
were drawn into Group D, which most pundits expected them to qualify from, and
they did. They had a hard fought 1-1
draw with England in the 90 Minute War and then beat the Ukraine 2-0 to pretty
much guarantee qualification. In what can only be seen as a massive blip
against Sweden in their last game, they lost 2-0 in which Ibrahimovic scored a
sensational strike to put France to the guillotine. An England win put France
into second place that means they will now face European and World Champions
Spain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">France will
be pretty confident going into the Spain game, although they had a terrible
performance against the Swedes that reminds you of their performances in South
Africa in 2010. They were unbeaten in 23 matches prior to their demolishment by
Sweden, and they can take plenty of heart from that in their match against the
Spanish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Karim
Benzema and Samir Nasri are by far and away the best players the French have at
the tournament. Benzema hasn’t hit form goal scoring wise yet, but has two
assists to his name, whereas Nasri has one goal: a great strike against England
in their first game. Spain will have their little hands full trying to handle
both of these Frenchmen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Quarter-Final
Three Prediction: Spain 2-1 France<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Team 7:
England <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphEa2GJGMH7vNCYrgh3uwENFJauBMq_fOHA21CB7B0EwN5Xfg8vMZOClg_DM6Yp8LIdApF82TXPW69v1q5NAimWAUfrK7XNMExiZEwRyvxAF_cV6Jw85AEy_jQelz2Ljr5N_q7mYk24cn/s1600/england.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphEa2GJGMH7vNCYrgh3uwENFJauBMq_fOHA21CB7B0EwN5Xfg8vMZOClg_DM6Yp8LIdApF82TXPW69v1q5NAimWAUfrK7XNMExiZEwRyvxAF_cV6Jw85AEy_jQelz2Ljr5N_q7mYk24cn/s200/england.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Pessimism
and doubt seem to have done England the world of good at this tournament, as
they have performed quite well. They haven’t lost a single game yet, winning
two and drawing one, and seem to be a very close-knit unit. The strikers are
scoring goals and seem to be thriving on the weight of no expectations on their
shoulders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">England
face Italy in what will be a game most likely settled by a single goal. Both
teams seem to like to play a defensive game, in other words they like to play
10 men behind the ball and build a wall across their goalmouths. England must
fancy their chances against Italy, who had a less then great warm-up to the
Euros, losing all three games. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Steven
Gerrard has been the best Englishman at the tournament so far, with three
assists in three games. He is simply a colossus in the midfield and if England
have any chance of winning, he must perform like he has done the last three
games. I’m sure, however, if he does one of his crunching tackles he may kill
the Italian players – they go down like they’ve been shot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Team Eight:
Italy <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuanajaq8cv_Zhy9uuZgX9tLSUEF9pIJwiHwfF_iQqC0haLRj6H176li85HWAUl86Whbpo-8CcS29vrO4lYE0Vx2Xu4y4GrYnX4tT467MvrWQcaA_DZoOctx_eiOJlhvEHVlmQYyyu4oVK/s1600/italy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuanajaq8cv_Zhy9uuZgX9tLSUEF9pIJwiHwfF_iQqC0haLRj6H176li85HWAUl86Whbpo-8CcS29vrO4lYE0Vx2Xu4y4GrYnX4tT467MvrWQcaA_DZoOctx_eiOJlhvEHVlmQYyyu4oVK/s200/italy.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">After an
utterly useless warm-up to the tournament, with the team playing worse than the
Faroe Islands and the whole match-fixing scandal, the tournament has gone
extremely well for the Italians. Draws against Spain and Croatia and then an
empathic victory against Ireland has put them in a good position, facing an
England team that I’m sure most of the world would think is well under strength
and with a man who looks as old and grey as Gandalf in charge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Italy will
be confident going into their battle against England on Sunday – The Azzurri
haven’t looked like losing a game yet (maybe because they’ve been bribing
people? It’s just a thought). They may also think that in coming second in
their group they’ve avoided the harder tie of France and so that may give them
some confidence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Although
Italy may think Hodgson is older than Gandalf, Italy seem to have a player who
is older than time itself: Andrea Pirlo. He has definitely been the best
Italian at the tournament so far with one goal and two assists. England will
definitely have to be on their toes at the back in order to cut out his balls
that he very much likes to play. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">Quarter-Final
Four Prediction: England 1-2 Italy <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: white;">There you
have it. My indefinite guide to the quarterfinals at Euro 2012. I hope you put
it to good use and manage to impress (or anger) your friends down the pub. Just
remember, if the predictions are wrong then don’t blame me. Blame the Italians.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com040 Melbury Ave, Southall, Greater London UB2 4HS, UK51.4997028 -0.364179951.4972318 -0.3691154 51.5021738 -0.3592444tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-66709952384678144732012-05-24T11:49:00.000+01:002012-05-24T11:49:34.323+01:00Bees Lose Another Defender<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPh9pqhClQrZcKVRcbzu4k1vGqQwIfMK09Bc3twvzHTioyMwmo3vTAhJRFi26CKWOwQ0afbusdHLLeByowMS_Q_n5dipgAPxcvBYSrfYatR_AR-oDQPVpd1zEEEbpfBydNfdFoQG4sVtQ/s1600/185569_10150327438921280_5829682_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPh9pqhClQrZcKVRcbzu4k1vGqQwIfMK09Bc3twvzHTioyMwmo3vTAhJRFi26CKWOwQ0afbusdHLLeByowMS_Q_n5dipgAPxcvBYSrfYatR_AR-oDQPVpd1zEEEbpfBydNfdFoQG4sVtQ/s200/185569_10150327438921280_5829682_n.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Marcel Eger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, once again in the close season we seem to find ourselves without yet another centre back. After losing Karleigh Osbourne on a free (such a shame) it seems that Marcel Eger has also decided to leave TW8. I thought that after signing Harlee Dean that Marcel would be an ideal partner for him, but it seems not. I'd like to be the first to wish Marcel Eger the very best in his future career - a lovely bloke whose Brentford career ended far too early. <br />
<br />
On a much brighter note, we have signed two stunning young players with a future brighter than the sun. Who are they? None other than Harlee Dean and Adam Forshaw, from Southampton and Everton respectively. Hopefully these great new signings can push Brentford forward to the top of the league next season!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0Tentelow Ln, Southall, Greater London UB2, UK51.4937331 -0.369529951.4838471 -0.38927090000000003 51.5036191 -0.3497889tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-89350526832845752492012-05-21T17:50:00.000+01:002012-05-21T17:52:44.887+01:00Ten Easy Steps To Winning the Euros<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><span lang="EN-US">With the domestic football season coming to a dramatic close in most
European countries (such as Moneybags City looking set to win their first title
and the Juve-mafia taking the Italian crown) there’s normally not much to look
forward to over the summer. Maybe the odd friendly cup tournament, but that’s
about it. Thankfully, every two years
there is an international tournament. The World Cup or The European
Championships. This year, we luckily have the Euros, being held in the
wonderful countries of the Ukraine and Poland. Of course, this is a joyous time
for us fans, as it continues the football season far into our summer holidays.
On the other hand, share a thought for those poor people in the world, who at
this time of year are stressed, anxious and are as near to a mental breakdown
as Charlie Sheen is everyday of his life. That’s right, I’m talking about the
managers. Roy Hodgson, Giovanni Trapattoni, Joachim </span>Löw
etc. Each one of these men has been
charged by their country to win the Euros. But just how do they do that? Well,
don’t despair managers of Europe, I have come up with 10 fool -proof ways to
ensure Euro 2012 victory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14pt;">10. Plan Well in
Advance<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxwMMAG7KtdWynzTFd13W4LuGnF_S2DcY3bWQoYHXMd8U1RNizuVay_wsZO8eOP8ocpSkicIsw2yGswvCMOZFcdy5OAOmqw-e8SPuvm-oMbnm_wcclwqhgXfnBbJYiC8DsGyd1tsxUnjO/s1600/planning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHxwMMAG7KtdWynzTFd13W4LuGnF_S2DcY3bWQoYHXMd8U1RNizuVay_wsZO8eOP8ocpSkicIsw2yGswvCMOZFcdy5OAOmqw-e8SPuvm-oMbnm_wcclwqhgXfnBbJYiC8DsGyd1tsxUnjO/s200/planning.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">This
may sound like common sense, but believe it or not many managers and football
associations overlook this. The planning for the Euros doesn’t start as the
season ends. Oh no. It starts the minute the team qualifies, back in October.
Don’t be a fool and wait until you are on the plane to the Ukraine when you
decide what formations you’re going to play or who’s going to play where. Lets’
face it; you probably aren’t as gifted or as talented as “the special one”, so
this approach most definitely wont work. The planning doesn’t just fall down to
the managers; their football associations have to do their fair share of the
work too. Basically, what I’m trying to get at here is if you decide on your
manager a couple of months before the Euros, things most probably wont go too
well for you. Look at the likes of Germany and Spain, whose manager’s have been
in place for what seems like 4534 years. Perfection takes time, so the planning
is vitally important. If you’re still not convinced about planning well in advance,
just look at Capello’s team selection the day of the World Cup matches in 2010.
I’m sure you don’t want that kind of problems whilst you’re trying to win the
Euros, so plan, plan plan! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14pt;">9. Total Football</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><u style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1dwICD70rK3aV87hc3AAhduCUOWkz2Rs85rj0bmFR5OUpetqyTvNVBC1azu0rO4kGzn1-orzwFLYpSc2xA0MjhlvBYhCJcI7rMa3rsKE9QqDxg-2zhlaKmB80NmYzYQpk0tfRvLEtiuI/s1600/totalfootball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1dwICD70rK3aV87hc3AAhduCUOWkz2Rs85rj0bmFR5OUpetqyTvNVBC1azu0rO4kGzn1-orzwFLYpSc2xA0MjhlvBYhCJcI7rMa3rsKE9QqDxg-2zhlaKmB80NmYzYQpk0tfRvLEtiuI/s200/totalfootball.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">Total football is a simple yet effective way of dominating the
opposition whilst still retaining your shape and discipline. It’s important not
to get total football confused with the Barcelona style of “tiki-taka” – total
football means that every player can play in every position with the exception
of the goalkeeper. Although, if you are manager of England, keep in mind Joe
Hart’s last gasp header against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League, it could
come in handy in some games. Back to total football, and I hear you may be
asking why this would win you the Euros. It requires enormous technical ability
from each player, so having dead wood in your team is a no-no. Also, you may
find that you have a hidden gem on your team, who may be far more comfortable
playing in midfield than attack, or vise-versa. You never know, your 3<sup>rd</sup>
choice goalkeeper may become the top goal-scorer at this year’s Euros as a
result of total football. Obviously, as a result of the immense technical
demand on your players as a result of total football, you may need to start at
this year’s Euros and continue it on until the next one for it to become
effective. Once again, it may take time, but just take a look at that nerdy
girl that used to sit next to you in History. Back then she was an ugly,
acne-infested nerd, and now she’s a supermodel. Good things do take time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14pt;">8. Leave the WAGs
at Home <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><u style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWxbfJtq7n4mfpMRXvWBTfQVZL1ha-bHVAn0jzFW58RWExS2ZYW8L6GQOmYsfTpzHt3gwhTUPDU3JIHyygiDmFjXqY7dQRBE6sM1uHewTlJs-wX2CrEUinbjh5BI2hQceIEg1y6G7mHN8/s1600/wags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWxbfJtq7n4mfpMRXvWBTfQVZL1ha-bHVAn0jzFW58RWExS2ZYW8L6GQOmYsfTpzHt3gwhTUPDU3JIHyygiDmFjXqY7dQRBE6sM1uHewTlJs-wX2CrEUinbjh5BI2hQceIEg1y6G7mHN8/s200/wags.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">A
major problem for most guys is the distraction that females cause. It’s not
their fault, how can you help yourself from being distracted when your wife is
a 4-time winner of Miss. World? However, when it comes to a major footballing
tournament such as the Euros, the WAGs have to stay at home. You really don’t
want a fiasco like the 2006 World Cup with England, where the poor performance
was blamed on the WAGs. It really isn’t worth the hassle. Sure the player’s may
miss them. The media will most definitely miss them. You may even miss not
having them to look at, but at the end of the day Mr. Manager, you are there to
win the Euros, not look at supermodels. What does the term ‘WAGs” actually
stand for? Well, cultural analysts from Uzbekistan suggest that it stands for
“Wives Against Goals”, purely because if your star striker spots his supermodel
girlfriend in the stand, he most definitely wont be aiming at the goal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14pt;">7. Get the
Country Behind You <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><u style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjww5lXtWioj0uKz8oPyaogbR8DJOiFonSJG8GD_B5nSY2Mifg3oYil3C2MVKdjhRYu3YvTJemWmFBeqVw-ad_Ep03aTXYjF3elCI_hx14HHiBaB0RmF4qewQR_Dg4Dj-0rlBak1n8xyg65/s1600/fans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjww5lXtWioj0uKz8oPyaogbR8DJOiFonSJG8GD_B5nSY2Mifg3oYil3C2MVKdjhRYu3YvTJemWmFBeqVw-ad_Ep03aTXYjF3elCI_hx14HHiBaB0RmF4qewQR_Dg4Dj-0rlBak1n8xyg65/s200/fans.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">The
mood in your country before a major tournament is one of the most important
things to sort out before you get on the plane. Your country needs to be
excited, optimistic and 110% behind your boys for you to have any chance of
doing well at the Euros. How are you going to do this? Well, getting on the
good side of the media is probably the most vital thing you can do. The media
controls public opinion. If the media says Britney Spears is a coke addict,
then she’s a coke addict. If the media say that Ched Evans should never play
football again, then he should never play football again. If the media say that
you are the greatest thing since slice bread, then the public will think that. Also,
the amount of fans you have out there following you will greatly affect the
morale of your team. If you are manager of, let’s say Ireland, and your players
walk out into a sea of green in their first game, their morale will be sky
high, and they may go out there and demolish whoever it is they are
playing. Just make sure that’s in a
footballing sense, we don’t want any nasty incidents occurring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14pt;">6. Do a “Suarez” <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><u style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUr0Mt9QYQLy72iMERyzDIQVY-wTlHfjRkTh67SYYP_Ya04km0K-XwbJTG0EKDtbkU2rIZ4MAE23yopUY6og_WP1nhV-hnoS27evk7MbjflZ4xYt9zH6b0LTJS2vbImzy2-wjVnEH8z5cz/s1600/suarez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUr0Mt9QYQLy72iMERyzDIQVY-wTlHfjRkTh67SYYP_Ya04km0K-XwbJTG0EKDtbkU2rIZ4MAE23yopUY6og_WP1nhV-hnoS27evk7MbjflZ4xYt9zH6b0LTJS2vbImzy2-wjVnEH8z5cz/s200/suarez.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">Before
we go any further, no, do not be racist. What I mean, rather, is make your
players so patriotic that they will do anything to win. You need to ensure that
your players will put their bodies on the line in order for you to win, they
need to take the ball in the head, neck or chest. Of course the Suarez incident
in the 2010 World Cup can be seen as cheating, but he is a hero in his country
as a result of it. Wouldn’t you like you or your players to be remembered in
folklore for the next millennia? The players in your squad have to be so
patriotic that they will kiss that badge before they go to bed every night,
otherwise they wont be able to sleep.
Players like Saurez win tournaments, not just for their footballing
skills, but also for their risk taking and their will to do anything to win. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14pt;">5. Don’t do a
“Zidane” <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXB-aFlcXpiAcAOW1vWmBXz8VjRHEQFURIucV5j8hEGMflD_zmTm9e-iIGW-hLh91Ckf_G0QMayZgfTY1k8fWJSIHBKZbQ_0v0kwHD71Jsw-nDRv-JBQFysFJhPvcJZwyaor105W_KqcNf/s1600/zidaneheadbutt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXB-aFlcXpiAcAOW1vWmBXz8VjRHEQFURIucV5j8hEGMflD_zmTm9e-iIGW-hLh91Ckf_G0QMayZgfTY1k8fWJSIHBKZbQ_0v0kwHD71Jsw-nDRv-JBQFysFJhPvcJZwyaor105W_KqcNf/s200/zidaneheadbutt.jpg" width="141" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">Moving on from being a living legend, we get to a “what not to do”
at the Euros. Let’s state the obvious. Don’t get sent off. Don’t get banned for
the final. What else? Oh, that’s right, don’t head-butt the opposition in the
most important game your country has ever been involved in. This would be possibly the most stupid and
foolish thing anyone has ever done, apart from Ashley Cole cheating on Cheryl.
Now that was crazy. But back to the point, getting sent off in the European
Championship finals would put your country in the worst possible position, 11
vs 10. In a game where one goal is easily enough to win, you need all eleven
men on the pitch in order to achieve your ultimate goal, which isn’t
head-butting your opposite number amazingly enough. By all means, be the
football side of Zidane, but for god’s sakes don’t viciously assault the man
that’s marking you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14pt;">4. Have a
Delicate Mix Between Youth and Experience<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><u style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjej23o1_21kZh-nyYOx3AqwMqHK81LZ41MkdxvK2Y0mNRFTNYtIbSNu2xhhOQJjlUuCN9Mz1I2rgpXNcy_98vswT1loMR-DYhT5tt1GXsE7WOUuIjV7KEh4p9C41vlgEf4zOYOGSKPwHg5/s1600/ronaldofigo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjej23o1_21kZh-nyYOx3AqwMqHK81LZ41MkdxvK2Y0mNRFTNYtIbSNu2xhhOQJjlUuCN9Mz1I2rgpXNcy_98vswT1loMR-DYhT5tt1GXsE7WOUuIjV7KEh4p9C41vlgEf4zOYOGSKPwHg5/s200/ronaldofigo.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">Someone
once said “You don’t win anything with youngsters”, and although not ultimately
true you do need some experience mixed in with youngsters. Just like when you
are making a cake, you need to mix the ingredients thoroughly. Now I may sound
a bit like Gordon Ramsey, but my point is simple. The experienced players, the
ones who have been there before, will know how to handle themselves at a major
tournament. For the youngsters, this may be their first ever major tournament,
and for some of them it may be their first ever time away from their mothers
and fathers, and so they will need a father figure there to guide them. Just
make sure they’re all CRB checked, just to be on the safe side. On the football
pitch, this mix will pay off, as you will have the flair of the youngsters as
well as the cool-heads of the experienced players. Hopefully, this will result
in none of the younger players busting into tears when they miss from 0.34
millimeters out, because let’s face it, its bound to happen at some point. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14pt;">3. Don’t Concede<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bNw_NwZtmVmvuW2MPgJ_qRhn75CxqYk3rsHq5ZbgVzWO2X-WG-FRlH0rbBSSSP3csOS1K31ny01uNEQkeSInC-NCQfwif8o_iF4k_y7WUmAVqoG7PE_5IfUjASLeKYNdU2YKhK_LrWP0/s1600/0-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bNw_NwZtmVmvuW2MPgJ_qRhn75CxqYk3rsHq5ZbgVzWO2X-WG-FRlH0rbBSSSP3csOS1K31ny01uNEQkeSInC-NCQfwif8o_iF4k_y7WUmAVqoG7PE_5IfUjASLeKYNdU2YKhK_LrWP0/s200/0-0.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">Easily said, not so easy to do. This may seem obvious to most
people, but it was always going to figure highly on the list. If you don’t
concede, you don’t lose. Simples, hey? A well drilled defence and an acrobatic
goalkeeper who can spring like a kangaroo will most defiantly help the cause,
but everyone needs to chip in. Think about a house: if the foundations aren’t
correct, it will fall down. If the walls aren’t made properly, it will fall
down. If the roof is top-heavy, it will fall down. The same can be said for
your football team. Defence, midfield and attack all need to defend like the
Brits defended Britain in World War Two in order for you to win a tournament.
Especially tournaments like the Euros, where some of the most formidable
attacks in the world are situated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444; font-size: 14pt;">2. Score<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><u style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4dRECmhEQp3S_RydVBO004M8EviI8L3g1Z392ZLQcFfLrUID3xnc7p98j_U2e2cDRI0HfCjjYzL2hZFUSE_IUlpzdruXte_snZvyl02CKRyLYLJj9FMmCcRYC2h7l29ni-cX-MOKAjU9/s1600/6-1-scoreboard.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4dRECmhEQp3S_RydVBO004M8EviI8L3g1Z392ZLQcFfLrUID3xnc7p98j_U2e2cDRI0HfCjjYzL2hZFUSE_IUlpzdruXte_snZvyl02CKRyLYLJj9FMmCcRYC2h7l29ni-cX-MOKAjU9/s200/6-1-scoreboard.jpeg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">If you had half a brain cell, you could probably see this one
coming. Not conceding is only half the battle, you need your team to get up the
other end and bang some in. Goals can come from anywhere; a corner, a free kick
or even a goal kick, so if you have selected the right players then you should
find this part easy. If, however, you have selected someone like Emile Heskey,
then you’ve pretty much had it on the goal-scoring front. You need to score
like you’re back in high school and you are at the prom with the girl of your
dreams. Scoring, in my opinion, is the most important thing you can do at Euro
2012. Apart from the crazy goal celebrations, but I’ll leave that up to the
discretion of your players. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 14.2pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -14.2pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Be Spain <o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 19px;"><u style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></u></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQ3aC9VEORB38VzXfQakGmvam3seOZWE75hEjdy0I5XlvlUMKIs-ChqMyj2P5PhiqD9TpsIYil5l8B14AKeTzUvCueJLSzXEA6eFKWsxJFEgxrRoTz3QP255i3FiLth3DLoM8MAsynqCK/s1600/Spanish+Football+Worold+Cup+team_photos+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQ3aC9VEORB38VzXfQakGmvam3seOZWE75hEjdy0I5XlvlUMKIs-ChqMyj2P5PhiqD9TpsIYil5l8B14AKeTzUvCueJLSzXEA6eFKWsxJFEgxrRoTz3QP255i3FiLth3DLoM8MAsynqCK/s200/Spanish+Football+Worold+Cup+team_photos+.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">Finally, we have reached number one of my ’10 Easy Steps to Winning
the Euros” and to be honest there is one sure way to win the European
Championships. Simply be Spain: the reigning champions. Easier said than done
maybe, but at the end of the day Spain have got to be the favourites for the
tournament, and if any one of you want to win the Euros easily, then being
Spain has got to be top of the list. Their passing style of football will pass
the death out of any team it comes up against, meaning that they wont concede
because they will have 99.99% possession. Also, they have the firepower up
front to score bags of goals, with players like Llorente and Torres. The
country is always well behind the football team, and the players put club
differences behind them when they play for Spain. They most definitely have a
mix between youth and experience, and have been there and done it before. Being
Spain is definitely the most easiest and simple way of winning the Euros. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="background-color: #444444;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: #444444;">So there we are. Your easy guide to winning the Euros is complete,
and now as I’m sure Mr. Hodgson will be reading this he will get to work
implementing my ideas into the England set-up for the upcoming Euros. I
wouldn’t be surprised if the team had to learn Spanish in a vain attempt at
implementing my number one step. At the end of the day, it will be interesting
to see who does come out on top at this summer’s Euros. I just hope they give
credit where credit is due and state this guide as the obvious reason for their
triumph.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u style="background-color: #999999;"><br /></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u><br /></u></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com1Tentelow Ln, Southall, Greater London UB2, UK51.4937331 -0.369529951.4838471 -0.38927090000000003 51.5036191 -0.3497889tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-19780207981258529242012-05-15T20:06:00.001+01:002012-05-16T19:11:19.463+01:00Back on the Blog!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just a quick message to say after a long absence from my blog, I am back! Which, rather ironically, coincides with the end of the season, so there may not be too much Brentford related stuff to blog about. However, seeing as it is 2012, there will be both the Olympics and the European Championships to write about (the latter I may even get to witness, if I somehow win the competition, which you can help me with!) But, nevertheless, a good summer of football awaits you and I, and I hope it doesn't fail to disappoint us!<br />
<br />
I am hoping to blog more regularly on this now that the school year is coming to an end and because I wont have anything to do until the end of September! Apart from laying on a beach in Turkey... and getting burnt to a crisp. But thats for another time, for now, enjoy the previous entries!<br />
<br />
Ryan</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0Norwood Green, Southall, Greater London UB2, UK51.4937331 -0.369529951.4838471 -0.38927090000000003 51.5036191 -0.3497889tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-22130533789601936482012-05-15T19:56:00.003+01:002012-05-16T19:10:41.636+01:00The FA (Fools Anonymous): The Unelected Dictatorship<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">The problem with an unelected governing body (or dictatorship if I
am being politically correct), however large or small, is that it always seems
to be run by clowns that would have more use asking the simple question “would
you like fries with that?” than making rules over something that people hold
very dear to them. Remarkably, I’m not talking about Cameron and his band of
merry men, or Ahmadinejad and his nuclear-obsessed friends, but the FA. The FA,
or Fools Anonymous as it is better known, seems to want to make English
football the laughing stock of the world, and the decisions it has taken this
year proves that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">“What decisions may these be?” I hear you asking. Well, lets cast
our mind back to the start of this topsy-turvy season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">We now find ourselves back at Loftus Road, home of Queen’s Park
Rangers, which is playing host to the QPR vs. Chelsea game. Of course, everyone
knows what happened on this day; the Red Lion regular John Terry racially
abused Anton Ferdinand in front of the Sky cameras for all to see. But yet, the
FA decided to deal with it in July, rather than at the moment. Who on Earth
decided that this was a good idea? The only sane reason I can see for this
would be if the FA got their favourite chimp from London Zoo to flip a
double-sided coin on the matter. In this case, the trial got postponed until
July. In Luis Suarez’ case, he gets a six match ban almost immediately. How
does that work out? From what I can see, both cases are to do with racism, so
both should be dealt in the same way, severely. No matter who you are, or who
you think you may be, racism has no place in the modern game. Suarez, Terry and
Sepp Blatter should all be tied up, possibly as piñatas at children’s birthday
parties, and the children should be allowed to continuously hit them with a
stick. I think that’s a quite minor punishment for something as serious as racism,
but it’s a start. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">I now move onto the recent events of the FA unveiling Mr. Roy
Hodgson as England manager. Firstly, huge congratulations must go to Hodgson on
landing the job, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. I am a big fan of
Hodgson, so I don’t think the FA made a mockery of the English game by
appointing him. Far from it in fact. I do, however, believe the FA made a farce
over how they went about finding an England manager. Let me ask you this, if
you were a manager of a large company and you wanted to find your next employee,
would you only interview one candidate? Does Lord Sugar only interview one
candidate on the Apprentice? In the famous words of Margaret Thatcher, “No, no,
no!” McDonalds doesn’t interview one person, not for the position of “bread
slicer”, not for the position of “chip maker”, and not even for the position of
“cleaner”. So why should the FA?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">It seems that English football is quickly becoming the laughing
stock of the world, with racism not being dealt with, the FA being more
concerned about money than performance and a team that
only-had-three-shots-on-target-and-defended-for-175mins beating the best team
in the world. But how do we solve it? Well, by George I think I got it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">The solution is simple, why not copy Parliament and elect the FA,
and hold referendums on major issues within England, like the appointment of an
England manager?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Before you start calling this a monstrosity and the most stupid idea
since allowing Ray Wilkins to commentate on matches, have a think about it. We
vote for a government who represents our best interests in Parliament. If we
aren’t happy with what they are doing, we simply vote them out in a General
Election. Everyone gets a vote, so everyone gets a say in how the country is
run. Every constituency is represented by an MP who sits in Parliament, so that
MP gets a say on how the country is run, who has in turn been told by his or
hers constituency on how they want the country run. Now think about how this
could be implemented into football. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Every county has an FA. Middlesex has an FA, London has an FA, even
Cumbria has an FA. How many of you actually know who the head of your local FA
is? Why not use these as ‘constituencies’ and vote for a member of the local
FA, just like we do in a by-election. Surely people would be happier with
someone sitting as head of their local FA if they have voted them in? As a
result of this, the candidates would have to go on the election trail, telling
us what they would do if elected. Wouldn’t this mean that we were guaranteed to
get improvements within our local areas, because if we didn’t we would simply
vote them out and get a different candidate in. They would have to
deliver. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">After all the county FA’s have elected members, then a carbon copy
of Parliament could be set up at Wembley, where all the local FA’s come
together to work in the best interests of the country. Not only would this give
everyone a say, but it would make the system a whole load more democratic. At
the moment, I feel the FA is more like Syria than Britain. Why should his Royal
Highness the Duke of Cambridge be President of the FA? What does he know about
the best interests of the common man’s game? Votes on the date of the FA Cup
final, votes on whether England should apply to host the World Cup, votes on
whether Celtic and Rangers should join the Football League. I still find it
hard to believe why there are chief executives of major football clubs, such as
Manchester United sitting on the board of directors at the FA. Wouldn’t this
mean that they would favour things that would help them, rather than the game
as a whole? The general opinion of the country would show through with
democracy, rather than the opinion of a couple of highly paid men who think
they can make a laughing stock of English football. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">This whole system would make the FA answerable to the people. I know
a lot of people have issues and questions over the England manager affair, and
I know that the FA does not wish to answer them. If we had an elected FA, then
they would have to. It could mean that even normal people like you or I would
be able to run for the local FA, and then maybe even work our way up. Local
people like you and I who love football, and would make football the best it
could possibly be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">I know that FIFA have a similar sort of system, but the heads of the
national FA’s are the only ones who vote for the President. That is not
democracy. Surely each individual country should vote for who they wish to be
President, and then all the national FA’s put that person’s name forward for
President, and then the results are tallied up. Also, I’m pretty certain that
more than one person would like to be FIFA President, so I can see no logical
reason why only Sepp Blatter has been running for it. It’s a joke if I’m
honest. Sepp Blatter is the most corrupt, inept and idiotic man to have ever
been involved in football. If democracy were to be incorporated into football,
a man like this would never have a say in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Of course, there may be some problems with this system. For example,
how would every football fan in England be able to register to vote? Well, once
again it can take the same form as the electoral role. Obviously not everyone
in England is a football fan, so it’d be up to the individual to register with
their local FA, which could easily been done by using their websites. Using the
FA’s FAN numbering system could even do this: a simple login that would then
allow the individual to vote online. Sepp Blatter will most definitely be
against this, seeing as it incorporates technology into football. But sod him.
Technology is the way forward, and this would make football a whole lot better.
Wouldn’t is be nice if he fell of a
‘step-ladder’ trying to install goal line technology? How ironic would that be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Another problem may be the length of time it would take the FA
Parliament to make a decision on issues. But it can be said that there is
plenty of time for decisions to be passed through, for example the England
manager only has so many games a year, so the time length taken to appoint one
wouldn’t have to be rushed at all. On other issues, such as the FA Cup final
date, the decision could be taken at the start of the season, well before the
FA Cup was due to take place. I don’t see time being an issue. As a famous
television advert once said, “Good things take time”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Maybe this idea will be as revolutionary as the Arab Spring last
year. Maybe people will look at the idea as fondly as they looked at the topple
of Fascism and Communism. Or maybe the FA will simply ignore it, as they have
ignored many good ideas before. The FA: Fool’s Anonymous. More than likely, I’m
sure they’d like to remain anonymous. That way when things go wrong, the
individual can stay out of the spotlight. It’s a shame that, everyone knows
democracy works best. Unless you are David Bernstein, who obviously thinks
dictatorship is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0Norwood Green, Southall, Greater London UB2, UK51.4937331 -0.369529951.4838471 -0.38927090000000003 51.5036191 -0.3497889tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-72796224605747714542012-05-15T19:44:00.002+01:002012-05-16T19:07:10.383+01:00All Good Things Must Come to an End<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US"> Some say, “All good things
must come to an end”. Whether this be your love affair with your best friend’s
sister, your Sunday league team going from winning 3-0 to being demolished 13-0
or Brentford’s play-off push, its true in all forms of life. But it was fun while it lasted, and now
Brentford can enjoy the last two games and look forward to next season and away
trips to the likes of Portsmouth, Coventry and Swindon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">There’s no point on dwelling on “ifs” and buts”, so I’m not going to
write an article on things that I’ve seen posted around Twitter such as “if we
had beaten Bournemouth” and “if we didn’t have so many loan players”. There’s
no need for it. It’s a bit like saying
that if I looked like Channing Tatum then I could get any girl in the world.
Realistically, that won’t happen. For a team that was aiming for a top ten
finish, Brentford did extremely well to take the fight for a play-off place to
the 3<sup>rd</sup> last game of the season, especially when our season looked
finished after defeats to lower table teams. Overall, I’m very pleased with
what Uwe Rosler has done and I cannot wait for the next season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">I believe that the time is right to release my shortlist for
Brentford’s “Player of the Season”. With two games left, my mind wont change
from what I’ve seen from the season as a whole, and as a result the player I
have in mind has already shown to be a great player week in, week out. So sit back, and enjoy the little review
about the players I have shortlisted for the 2011/2012 “Player of the Season”
for Brentford FC. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Richard Lee<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Brentford’s
number one and last seasons Player of the Season once again proved what an
incredible goalkeeper he is this season with a number of clean sheets between
the sticks. The 4 clean sheets in 4 games (Oldham, Bury, Hartlepool and Notts
County) helped to propel us into the play-off picture. Richard’s top corner and
point blank saves has proved over the course of the season just what a quality
goalkeeper he is, and most certainly one of the best in League One. His most memorable performance for me came at
Griffin Park against Bury, where a string of amazing saves resulted in a clean
sheet for Richard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Sam Saunders <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Sam
Saunders has been given a new lease of life under Uwe Rosler, resulting in him
and his twinkle toes bagging a very healthy 9 goals. The wing play that Sam
Saunders has exhibited this season is nothing short of superb, right up there
with some of the best in League One, which is a far cry from the old Sam under
Andy Scott. Also, because of Sam’s free
kick technique, which he is rumoured to have taught David Beckham, we have
become a serious force from dead ball situations this season. Sam Saunders has
definitely been one of the most consistent players this season. The best of Sam
Saunders’ free kicks came against Leyton Orient, where he whipped the ball into
the top corner, leaving the keeper with absolutely no chance. Simply beautiful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Jonathan Douglas </span></u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Signed
from Swindon in the summer for a free, Jonathan Douglas has proved to be a
midfield general for Brentford this season, playing in every league game so
far. Tenacious in midfield, Douglas may not score many goals but has certainly
put in a fair few thunderous tackles over the course of the season. His ability
to break up the play and spread the ball like a quarterback has been a great
asset to Brentford today, giving us someone we can rely on in the middle of the
park. A comparison to Paul Scholes of Manchester United or Scott Parker of
Tottenham most certainly springs to mind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Shaleum Logan </span></u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Coming
to Brentford from Manchester City can definitely be seen as a shock to the
system, but Shaleum Logan adjusted to life at TW8 very quickly, with a
memorable first appearance at Griffin Park against Yeovil, scoring on his
debut. After injury early in the season, it showed how much Brentford needed
the right back, and ever since his return to the squad he has been
ever-present, putting in big performances over and over again. Although a right
back, Logan has contributed very handily to the overall score tally, and scored
at very important stages in the season.
In conclusion, a very solid first season for the right back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">That’s the shortlist for my “Player of the Season” for 2011/2012.
Unlike the PFA Player of the Year awards, I cannot offer a large trophy or vast
amounts of money, but I can offer a well done. So here it is, well done to all
four of the players I have shortlisted. As a fan, its very satisfying when our
players perform as well as these four have, putting in massive shifts
throughout the season. I’m sure there are many fellow fans out there that will
disagree with my choices, but lets put it this way. These players have
performed admirably throughout the season, and seeing as they are all permanent
players I find it very difficult to argue against naming any of them as “Player
of the Season”. All four of them have been great ambassadors for the football
club, and I cannot wait to see them again next season, hopefully aided by even
more fantastic players. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><u><span lang="EN-US">My “Player of the Season” for Brentford Fc
2011/2012?</span></u></b><span lang="EN-US"> Well, I think that’s simple really.
My “Player of the Season” is Jonathan Douglas: the anchor in midfield. I really
dread to think where our midfield would have been without him this season,
although he hasn’t scored many goals he has broken up countless opposition
attacks as well as spreading the ball for numerous Brentford assaults. I’d say
Douglas is a huge contender for League One’s signing of the season. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Finally, a quite sad and gloomy look towards the end of the season,
with games against Sheffield Wednesday and Chesterfield left. Although it’s
still mathematically possible to get into the play-offs, it is highly unlikely,
so I look forward to a good performance (one hopes) against Wednesday and
hopefully a very enjoyable day out in Chesterfield for our first visit to the
B2Net stadium. It’s a shame the FA have once again overlooked League One and
Two and so we find ourselves playing at the same time as the FA Cup final. As I
find myself writing this paragraph about the coming end of the season games,
the cliché comes to my head again. “All good things must come to an end”. All
that’s left to say is: “Goodbye League One 2011/2012, hello Euros 2012”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0Norwood Green, Southall, Greater London UB2, UK51.4937331 -0.369529951.4838471 -0.38927090000000003 51.5036191 -0.3497889tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-64856019363809647692012-05-15T19:42:00.000+01:002012-05-16T19:05:53.117+01:00The Fabled Five Finals<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The phrase “cup final” is normally thrown
about by football fans without actually thinking what the phrase means. To
some, the FA cup final at Wembley is the ultimate “cup final”. To others, a
last game of the season relegation dogfight at a ground where the pitch is more
sand than grass would be worthy of the title.
But recently, the term has taken on a completely new meaning to the
Brentford faithful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Why’s that? Well, most teams have one cup
final a year if they’re lucky. However, Brentford have had 5 cup finals in a
row this season. 5 games to see us into 6<sup>th</sup> place and fire us into
the play-off picture. Hartlepool, Notts County, Stevenage, Sheffield Wednesday
and Chesterfield. Our cup final won’t be played at Wembley like last season,
but rather at the traditional Griffin Park and the amazing B2Net Stadium. As a fan, this is fine by me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Let me give you a scenario and ask you a
question. It’s May, and your team are in the relegation places in League One
but you had a day out at Wembley for the Johnstone’s Paint trophy final. Would
you consider this a “successful season” simply because of a Wembley appearance?
Or would you rather that you were out of the cup competitions by December, but
had a chance of gatecrashing the play-offs come the end of May because of a
great run of games? Well, the latter is the predicament that Brentford find
themselves in this season, and what a fantastic place to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Normally, a league game lacks excitement,
and it tends to feel like ‘just another game’. Our 5 cup finals has changed
that feeling completely. I don’t tend to get pre-game nerves, at the end of the
day I feel as though we have many games left to gain back the points we may
have dropped. That’s changed in the last few weeks, as every Brentford fan
knows full well that a loss is no longer acceptable, and to be fair a draw
isn’t much good either. Only a win will do. The excitement, thrill and thought
of the unknown just isn’t applicable to most league games, but is to these end
of season match ups, and the atmosphere round Griffin Park couldn’t be better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Which is strange. I recently purchased a
fanzine from outside of Griffin Park entitled “Thorne in the Side” to see how
other fans were writing about the season. What a shock I was in for. Rather
than seeing intelligent discussion about whether Niall McGinn has been fully
utilized or if the new signing Stuart Dallas will be a major coup for us, it
was full of hate and distaste for Uwe Rosler and his Brentford team. This was
not a fanzine. It was as though the most miserable, boring and brainless people
in the world had assembled to simply slag off people that have done better than
them. Or, to me, it seemed as though the “authors” of the fanzine were stuck in
the past, constantly referring to past players who they seemed to think “played
with some heart”. This coming from the people that seem to think the only
player that had done something this season was Kevin O’Connor, even though he
has been injured for most of it. It was neither intelligent nor well thought
out, but the biggest waste of money ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Moving on, I have to once again sing Uwe
Rosler’s praises. As seen in previous articles, Rosler has been up and down
more times that a yo-yo in the views of some Brentford fans, which has been
completely unjust. The signing of Clinton Morrison has been an act of pure
genius, and has coincided with our great run of form. Why may that be? In my
personal opinion, it’s because of the vibe that Morrison brings to the dressing
room. Any one that has seen Clinton Morrison will understand full well when I
say the bloke is a bit of a character. Its because of that, however, that the
dressing room has seemed to pick up after slumps at Orient and Bournemouth and
all of a sudden find themselves in the play-off picture. Its remarkable that
one simple signing can produce fruits like this. If it hadn’t, mind you, I’m
sure the authors at the ‘fanzine’ would be slating him for not scoring yet.
Football is a strange, strange world unfortunately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The Notts County game at the weekend was
one of the best games I have been to all season long. Of course, the crowd had
swelled as a result of it being such a huge game, meaning an increase in the
amount of ‘”floating fans”. This didn’t harm the atmosphere however, but made
it a million times better. For once, all three sides of the ground were singing
in unison, aided by a small army of children in the New Road stand that sang
Brentford songs when no one else was. You could see the benefit of this to the
players on the pitch, who played some very slick football that Barca would most
definitely be proud of. We were the better side for most of the game, and it’s
a huge shame that we came away from that game with a 0-0 score line. How Sam
Saunder’s freekick was cleared off the line by the defender’s head when it
should have nestled in the top corner is beyond me, but nevertheless it was a
thoroughly good game. I just wish the 7000 fans that were there would come
every week; our players seem to love the attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Although this season has been very much up
and down, I believe it is vital that we remember that Brentford is a club in
progress. Rome, or Manchester United in this instance, was not built in a day.
Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t immediately make Man United into the fantastic team
they are now overnight, and its crazy to think Uwe could do that with
Brentford, who have a tiny, minuscular budget, which is smaller than even Shaun
Wright-Phillips. However, with the eye that the management has for talent, I
think next season will most definitely be a fantastic season for all connected
with Brentford Football Club. Let’s hope
that we have a cup final and a promotion to enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0Norwood Green, Southall, Greater London UB2, UK51.4937331 -0.369529951.4838471 -0.38927090000000003 51.5036191 -0.3497889tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-16821980163507290602012-05-15T19:28:00.002+01:002012-05-16T19:05:21.707+01:00Thorpe Park? Forget That; Lets go to Griffin Park Instead!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Rollercoasters. You either love them or hate them. Some would
consider a day out in the gut-splattering, upside-down, teenage haven of Thorpe
Park an ideal day. Others may not. If you are the latter, then I suggest you do
not come to Griffin Park any time soon. We can offer more thrills and spills
than Thorpe Park, Chessington and that mouse’s funfair over the pond combined. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Here’s what I mean: after losing three games on the trot and already
looking as if we had gone on our summer holidays, we’ve turned into the form
team, winning four on the bounce. Thankfully, we’re nearly at the end of the
ride, but I just cant help but think where we would be without the
inconsistencies. At the time of writing we are five points off Carlisle in
sixth, a team that we made look like Beddington Terriers. We also just beat MK
Dons away, and they’re meant to be the 5<sup>th</sup> best team in the division!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Without a doubt some of the football played in the first half last
night against Oldham Athletic was (I’m sorry to use the cliché but there’s
really no other way to describe it) Barcelona-like. The ball was pinged around
from Douglas to Dave like a small man is between the crowds in rush hour on the
Underground. It was magnificent. Why pay £50 at QPR to watch a team of useless,
overpaid, Twitter-holics play rubbish football when you can pay a third of that
to watch the Bees play total football? Shaleum Logan was running down that wing
just like Dani Alves (far better in my opinion, cause the lad can defend too)
and Sammy Saunders was hitting free kicks just like Xavi. We were too much for
Oldham to handle, and that was reflected in the 2-0 score line. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Now we find ourselves at the business end of the season, or if
you’re on a rollercoaster the bit that makes you want to puke your guts up for
the next 4 hours. 6 games left to
ultimately decide whether we end up in the end–of-season-lottery or the rubbish
pile. 6 cup finals if you want. I’m very
sure the team are well aware that we cant really afford to drop points if we
want to be in the play-offs, Clinton Morrison will undoubtedly have already
told them about 45 times, but we can do it. Teams that tend to do well in the
play-offs come into form at about this time in the season and carry that
momentum through with them, and as sure as anything some of our players are
most definitely coming into form. A certain Mr. Clayton Donaldson, who I stood
up for whilst he was going through his rough patch, has proved me right and has
started playing like that striker we bought from Crewe, big and powerful and
able to score bags of goals. Worryingly, it seems that Donaldson and Fernando
Torres mirror one another’s performances, as they are both starting to look
like their former selves. I say worryingly because we all know Torres gets
injured when he plays well, and as much as I don’t like the Spaniard I do not
want to see our man Clayton get injured by mirroring him! With him and Clinton
Morrison up front, I think we have a strike force that can do damage to even
the best defences. That will be tested when Sheffield Wednesday come to visit
on the 28<sup>th</sup> April. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Although I’m going on about our chances in the play-offs, I have to
be realistic and look ahead to the prospect of another season in League One. It
wouldn’t be such a bad thing in all honesty.
Its only Uwe Rosler’s first season at Brentford, let alone in England
and he has proven to be a top class manager, even if some of the grumpy fans at
Brentford call for his head every second game. Our budget is far smaller than
some of the teams in this league, and for us to be able to beat them, and beat
them convincingly is credit to his management. We’ve also gone from playing
Andy Scott football, which for those of you that haven’t had the pleasure of
witnessing this is giving the ball to the goalkeeper who in turn lumps in down
the field for a striker to head down and then score, to playing one touch
football on the ground. It worked for Brighton under Gus Poyet, and it looks
like it’s working for us under Uwe Rosler. I wouldn’t be surprised if Barca
come in for Uwe if Pep </span><span lang="EN-US">Guardiola leaves them
at the end of the season. I’m sure he would stick with us though.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Finally, with the season coming to a 124mph sudden stop that
sends your lungs through your ribcage, it looks to be a very nail-biting time
to be a Brentford fan. But hey, isn’t that what it’s all about? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0Tentelow Ln, Southall, Greater London UB2, UK51.4937331 -0.369529951.4838471 -0.38927090000000003 51.5036191 -0.3497889tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-46118371950929577662012-02-01T14:33:00.000+00:002012-02-01T14:40:51.898+00:00Alexander the Great Conquers Wycombe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve said it many times: Brentford is a club in progression. No more was that apparent than on Saturday afternoon against Wycombe, where some quite simply brilliant football saw us run out 5-2 winners. Yes, I did say 5-2. I was, and still am, delighted with the performance and result, as I’m sure many of the Griffin Park faithful are, but what makes me even happier is the view from Mr. Uwe Rosler. Rosler stated in his post-match interview, <span class="lingoregion">"It was good to get five goals ... there were still some areas where we need to improve massively to stay in that top 10.” This is the stance of a man who purely wants to be the best. I admire him for that. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyNpsj8npeR91yRAMQMauaJo1IdgFf4cggl0Wi-3PcyhZh6SByI1yGneIPTXMnB_6HDuejKBkE9F4ZTfm2DAjPOP_YMWxWu1Z6E11rbJyTGn8Mrpp98Xmc6Z6FdQIw8Jn53Ry3g1rj3XW/s1600/alexander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyNpsj8npeR91yRAMQMauaJo1IdgFf4cggl0Wi-3PcyhZh6SByI1yGneIPTXMnB_6HDuejKBkE9F4ZTfm2DAjPOP_YMWxWu1Z6E11rbJyTGn8Mrpp98Xmc6Z6FdQIw8Jn53Ry3g1rj3XW/s200/alexander.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="lingoregion"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A man that is on fire at the moment, not literally of course, is Gary Alexander. All of this recent talk about finding a striker seems to have pushed Alexander into the form of his life, bagging a hat-trick on Saturday as a result. His 3<sup>rd</sup> strike was one that I’m sure even Messi would be proud of. His partnership with Clayton Donaldson definitely seems to be bearing fruits now, and my goodness do they taste good! Donaldson, although not scoring as regularly as I’m sure he would like, is instrumental in Alexander’s current form. His movement off and on the ball is crucial in taking players out of the game, and judging by the amount of fouls on him by the Wycombe players he’s more than a handful when the brick house is running at the opposition. Hopefully Alexander can hit at least 20 goals and propel us back in the play-off picture. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKSM7cIRlHhhavLDxjZc3sEjWtv4Vi4x1j4-OKKbo2v39nauFQkAeD_5ldiEW74YXDelWQ27N3RvzbqAZwgyNmW7wt2RFSRvrNM4oRieFnguozmyqjqz-DQ9XjDHmzeJSvJjcDsZIyvVm/s1600/richardleee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKSM7cIRlHhhavLDxjZc3sEjWtv4Vi4x1j4-OKKbo2v39nauFQkAeD_5ldiEW74YXDelWQ27N3RvzbqAZwgyNmW7wt2RFSRvrNM4oRieFnguozmyqjqz-DQ9XjDHmzeJSvJjcDsZIyvVm/s200/richardleee.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKSM7cIRlHhhavLDxjZc3sEjWtv4Vi4x1j4-OKKbo2v39nauFQkAeD_5ldiEW74YXDelWQ27N3RvzbqAZwgyNmW7wt2RFSRvrNM4oRieFnguozmyqjqz-DQ9XjDHmzeJSvJjcDsZIyvVm/s1600/richardleee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span class="lingoregion"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only sour point of the game was the fact that Wycombe scored twice against us when they merely did not deserve a single thing based on their performance. A lucky first goal where the assistant referee did not seem to understand what to do when he puts his flag up and a sloppy second goal denied the sensational Richard Lee a clean sheet in a game where he made some stunning saves. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Richard after the game where he signed my copy of ‘Graduation’, and I must say he is a complete and total gentleman and deserves all the praise he is getting at Brentford. A distinctive save he made was a double save from what must have been point blank range, thereby minimising the goal scoring of Wycombe to just their two (lucky) goals. </span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span class="lingoregion"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems to me that Brentford are now coming into their stride. Although we lost the game at Huddersfield last week, the team put in a very good performance, and on another day could easily have walked away from the Galpharm with all three points. The ability to put 5 past a struggling team is something that Brentford have not possessed in recent years, and at this crucial stage in the season it’s important that we are able to score goals as the playoff picture may come down to goal difference. It is that tight around there. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc__qmY2YCJnDjNxOOAVQvHDAv2nCNYNgbdYQHzQQkD9_uGmm2r87H0goBK_crl0y58c7EIB_B23COILIMimHS6-rSNG9peIvvQTPC2NPuO21cF3fprmEqQREZ23OnoXJcIw_ZgQ_dl3t/s1600/antonio+german.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRc__qmY2YCJnDjNxOOAVQvHDAv2nCNYNgbdYQHzQQkD9_uGmm2r87H0goBK_crl0y58c7EIB_B23COILIMimHS6-rSNG9peIvvQTPC2NPuO21cF3fprmEqQREZ23OnoXJcIw_ZgQ_dl3t/s200/antonio+german.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span class="lingoregion"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been putting off writing this article until today, as the legendary transfer deadline has now passed. Of course, being a Brentford supporter it’s not as manic and exciting as it may be for some of the bigger clubs, but I was keen to keep an eye on a couple of coming and goings. Firstly, I am thrilled to see that Karleigh Osborne hasn’t left Griffin Park, and secondly there was no signing of that “oh-so-needed” striker. We did however, sign a goalkeeper in the form of Antoine Gounet and a development squad player who goes by the name of Antonio German, who our friends (and I use that term loosely) from Sheperd’s Bush may recognise. However, I am not entirely sure why we have signed a new goalkeeper, as I can’t see him replacing Richard Lee as first choice keeper, nor can I see him replacing Simon Moore. I’m sure if he does play for us he will prove more than adequate in the goal mouth.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span class="lingoregion"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, a look ahead to the game on Saturday against Preston North End. I hope to see a better performance against them than I did in the reverse tie, which was a 3-1 loss. However, if we play like we have played for the past two games than they will most definitely have their hands full, especially with Donaldson and Alexander on the pitch. It’s safe to say that the team we possess are more than capable of going up to Preston and doing the job required, all I can say is that I hope we keep a clean sheet and smash in a few goals! </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span class="lingoregion"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A special note must go out to my girlfriend, Emma Walsh, who correctly predicted that we would score 5 goals against Wycombe last Saturday. I wish she would predict that every weekend, maybe we’d be the country’s top goal scorers!</span></span></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0Norwood Green51.493073 -0.36832551.4831875 -0.388066 51.502958500000005 -0.348584tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-35921823743504898692012-01-24T10:36:00.000+00:002012-01-24T10:39:14.270+00:00Mr. Bean and Friends do Brentford Proud<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">After a couple of days to calm myself down following the
Brentford – Huddersfield match, I’m afraid I still find myself fuming at what
is in essence a diabolical refereeing performance. It is such a shame when the
man in the middle, who is meant to be both impartial and fair, gives an
advantage to one side following his inability to spot a blatant foul by Alan
Lee on our goalkeeper Richard Lee. What made this even worse was the
unsportsmans-like conduct by A. Lee after the game. It’s simply outrageous when
the biggest talking point after a monumental game is about the referee, the man
who is simply there to officiate the game, nothing more, nothing less.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Right, now I have that sour point out of the way I can
reflect on what I personally thought was one of the best Brentford performances
I have seen in a very long time. In the first half I’m pretty sure that the
team had swapped places with a certain Catalonian team as Brentford ripped
Huddersfield to shreds (up until that diabolical refereeing decision). The midfield
three of Jonathan Douglas, Dave and Marcus Bean was an inspired choice by Uwe
Rosler as they dominated the midfield. It’s quite well known around TW8 that
Douglas enjoys his NFL, and that was plain to see in his quarterback style of
play, spraying balls left and right from just in front of the back four,
causing havoc for the Huddersfield team. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrgDfUBbC8fddjOVkMT1flAHbKECmS_kBXW4ePloAwBaONy3XTKhFOXHzcbNeAjluuWEvLD9Lod1fkpw3PE27nRKf3C14rvfJKHtuN91NAQFX77EwNJNWaofnOb2thxcrPL2212D6_s3E/s1600/bean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrgDfUBbC8fddjOVkMT1flAHbKECmS_kBXW4ePloAwBaONy3XTKhFOXHzcbNeAjluuWEvLD9Lod1fkpw3PE27nRKf3C14rvfJKHtuN91NAQFX77EwNJNWaofnOb2thxcrPL2212D6_s3E/s200/bean.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Now, people that know me will know that I’m not a great fan
of Marcus Bean; sometimes I feel like he’s doing nothing more than running
around like a headless chicken. That said however, I love it when someone
proves me wrong, and live in front of the Sky cameras Mr. Bean did just that,
playing out of his socks and putting in some absolutely stunning tackles that a
certain Roy Keane would most definitely have been proud of. This certain
performance once again brings me back to a sunny Dean Court in Bournemouth in a
League Two clash where Mr. Bean ran the midfield, and ultimately helped us
secure the 1-0 win that put us on the brink of the league. Mr. Bean’s performance
at the Galpharm in that first half was rock solid, pressurising them high up
the field and winning tackles. That’s the type of midfielder I want at
Brentford, someone who will stand up for himself like Britain did to the Nazis
in 1939. Bean is one of those players: a Spitfire to the Brentford artillery. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8WwGFUsbBtg9oD75yBzITjnaW4C0Sw8SErkZXnH5ytP9huUY5joEugnV9wzD9M-WKJ-S0oTkW5xSOKBDEHwZEIkyTskqZTmvtQG6srH8i1I2x4Qxf01rwtEVLOv9J9UfR0lsWv8WPnnL/s1600/gary+alexander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8WwGFUsbBtg9oD75yBzITjnaW4C0Sw8SErkZXnH5ytP9huUY5joEugnV9wzD9M-WKJ-S0oTkW5xSOKBDEHwZEIkyTskqZTmvtQG6srH8i1I2x4Qxf01rwtEVLOv9J9UfR0lsWv8WPnnL/s200/gary+alexander.jpg" width="200" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">I’m pleased to see Gary Alexander is starting to find the net
and fill the void that we have in our strike force. After scoring another
penalty and a great first time finish, Alexander has raised his tally to 9
goals for the season. Although it’s not exactly blistering form, his regular
goal scoring in the past few weeks have been crucial to Brentford’s ability to
take points from games, such as the MK Dons match. His ability in the air is
also a great asset to the team, and his partnership with Clayton Donaldson
seems to be coming along rather nicely, and which will hopefully blossom in the
coming weeks as we get down to the business end of the league. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">After all the praise that I have been heaping upon the
Brentford team in this article, it still has to be said that the current run we
are on is still not good enough. I say this day after day after day, why can’t
we transfer this blistering away form to Griffin Park? If the passing game
isn’t working due to the pitch, or the weather, or because Malvin the Mole has
made too many mole hills on the pitch, then all it takes is a simple change in
play. We have the players to mix it up. We could easily play the running game
with Myles Weston and Niall McGinn, or play the crossing game with Harry
Forrester and Sam Saunders. Either way we have strikers in the team that can
suit both types, the first being Mike Grella and the latter being Gary
Alexander. I just wish that Uwe Rosler would fully utilise the players he has
at his disposal!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">My final note must go to two rather farfetched transfer
rumours that I’ve heard today. The first one goes to a loan out for Clayton
Donaldson, which I found rather amusing. The second goes to the potential
signing of Patrick Agyemang. What kind of people get these crazy ideas? By the way, did you hear where Rooney is off to this winter...?</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0Norwood Green51.493073 -0.36832551.4733005 -0.40780700000000003 51.512845500000005 -0.328843tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-52508364250617690992012-01-19T15:55:00.000+00:002012-01-19T16:10:06.929+00:00A Typical Brentford Week; the Transfer Rollercoaster<span style="font-size: small;">Another poor performance at home, Karleigh Osborne looks like he has packed his bags and is ready to leave, and Peterborough have pulled out of the deal for their striker David Ball. Another week in the life of a Brentford fan I guess.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrDXg5oovmX8FA9hZIjhpG1WlOY8Ui99_2nBpIT516cHbQHSlo4ij9_IfiSz9B5WYFKC74S5a2Jx9F_DcsDNqD-apJm5VIC90iSeczx9ziJ-a0eKcYKEPITqeGj1F7_nYTvqVQqRQKxUl/s1600/leon+legge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrDXg5oovmX8FA9hZIjhpG1WlOY8Ui99_2nBpIT516cHbQHSlo4ij9_IfiSz9B5WYFKC74S5a2Jx9F_DcsDNqD-apJm5VIC90iSeczx9ziJ-a0eKcYKEPITqeGj1F7_nYTvqVQqRQKxUl/s200/leon+legge.jpg" width="153" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The 0-0 draw at home to Walsall was a particular hard blow to take, especially after a blistering start with Marcus Bean denied by a fantastic save from the Walsall stopper. Although a game to forget, we can pick up some huge positives, the first being a star performance from Leon Legge. It is horrible to think that without Legge we would most likely be in the lower half of the table. Without Leon Legge’s towering headers and bone-crunching tackles I’d say we would easily concede far more than we do at the moment. Brentford without Legge is like Adam without Eve. Impossible to contemplate. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8Xwe-qTAPgBKtyEotDzssvAPfIvCcmW6naaTD1nDooltP9DQQVMNa6NQuNz5tQEh9gjruPE-Rjxhe5VwfH4x39oKozLD7RQgq3d3VRnIuYyDe4G-GU5Atp3ppptspv8gnrVqUhuFEgi_/s1600/karleigh+osborne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8Xwe-qTAPgBKtyEotDzssvAPfIvCcmW6naaTD1nDooltP9DQQVMNa6NQuNz5tQEh9gjruPE-Rjxhe5VwfH4x39oKozLD7RQgq3d3VRnIuYyDe4G-GU5Atp3ppptspv8gnrVqUhuFEgi_/s200/karleigh+osborne.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Moving on from Leon Legge, we are at a point in time where it seems that his centre-half partner, Karleigh Osborne, seems set to leave. This is a shame I think, especially seeing as Osborne came up through the ranks of the Brentford youth team, and you would hope that players may have a bit more loyalty than that. Osborne had the speed and strength that made him a superb partner for Legge, although he was vulnerable to the occasional lapse in concentration and fight with his own team mate (Bournemouth 13/4/09). All in all however, I wish Karleigh the best in the future as he is a fantastic player and person, and I am more than sure he will do well at whichever club snaps him up. I just hope to the footballing Gods that it’s not Charlton.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">I fear I have to once again talk about Clayton Donaldson. In my last article you would remember that I announced I had complete faith in Clayton and he proved me right in the 2-2- draw with Tranmere, scoring an absolute screamer into the top corner from 20 yards out. Unfortunately, certain fans at Griffin Park seem to use the poor bloke as a scapegoat for the team’s sometimes dire performances, and although he did miss a good chance he was everywhere against Walsall, and in my personal opinion one of the best performers on the park. Brentford FC is a club in progress, and our players are also progressing, so we need to stick by them and they will come good for us. All good things take time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTLvoSlzSQ7aTs8t2o97yYWiwjvjCEKCbebUdT6HEs0C3H6d7F0DfJsp__zY-7gSGVSeP8KlbKNw03NPJhLuv3jowun313RWV0mQn7bMicEusJJXQ0gBQxU5RPJrve87v9Rif9dTuzi_W/s1600/mikegrella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTLvoSlzSQ7aTs8t2o97yYWiwjvjCEKCbebUdT6HEs0C3H6d7F0DfJsp__zY-7gSGVSeP8KlbKNw03NPJhLuv3jowun313RWV0mQn7bMicEusJJXQ0gBQxU5RPJrve87v9Rif9dTuzi_W/s200/mikegrella.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">The lack of goals however is a concern for me, and it is still a shame to see Mike Grella not making the bench at the very least. We have a player in Grella who would run and run until his legs dropped off and yet we still do not fully utilise his ability. Also, the potential loan singing of David Ball was met with mixed reactions at Griffin Park, and I can see why. Ball may have scored 4 at Rochdale, but that is hardly prolific. I am not one of the dreamers that reckon we can get a player like Jordan Rhodes or Bradley Wright-Phillips but I am one that believes we can get better than David Ball. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">I do hate to do this, but there seems to be a lot of “fans” at Griffin Park that turn up to just boo. If the players are playing badly, they boo. If the ref is having a bad game, they boo. If we’re winning by 3 goals and their seat is cold, they boo. Cut it out. If you’re a fan of the club you would get behind your team instead of booing them. It’s quite simply disgraceful. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;">Looking ahead to a very tough game at the Galpharm on Saturday, which is live on Sky. A very tough game at the best of times, but we have a sensational away record and I hope we can keep that going. Let’s just hope Rhodes doesn’t do what he did the last time he played in front of the Sky cameras! </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4438552888718541406.post-81964226860437524532012-01-04T21:09:00.000+00:002012-01-04T21:09:20.316+00:00Playing at Home this Weekend? Oh Dear.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267"> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style> <![endif]--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0EJ-h36uhzikDtcvFOZmTHgNd9yGCZOYZYUbaXMmzczWMJU_BJHi53eA5eD7YVGCNx6HYmC5pcju84W8k2wCpK6VkFRqlw3TZGd7Xq8QUUgVX1Glb69BA7fk4rlTywqDOc8vZULGxN9u/s1600/Uwe_R%25C3%25B6sler_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0EJ-h36uhzikDtcvFOZmTHgNd9yGCZOYZYUbaXMmzczWMJU_BJHi53eA5eD7YVGCNx6HYmC5pcju84W8k2wCpK6VkFRqlw3TZGd7Xq8QUUgVX1Glb69BA7fk4rlTywqDOc8vZULGxN9u/s200/Uwe_R%25C3%25B6sler_01.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Brentford’s first defeat away from home since August 13th came on Monday after a well battled game against league leaders Charlton, but I can’t help but ask why can’t this form be transferred to Griffin Park?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s easy to blame Uwe Rosler and his tactics, any one brain celled Neanderthal could do that, but I fear it’s far from that. In fact, I think it’s quite the opposite. Uwe and the players have more than proven, on their day, that they can play sensational football, and have also demonstrated that they have players that can run circles round opposing players, bombard the goal and dictate the game. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">However, 1 win in the last 5 games just simply isn’t good enough, especially for a team that is intent on challenging for the play-offs. So where does the blame lie? Well, maybe a lack of confidence about playing in front of our own fans, a small minority of who seem to just turn up to boo the team at half time, might be the answer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVgsNR70enb7aZLmcag1EkuRGA4vmtM78rfavL6wCCyUgTg8XLUNgOtWMYM9wtw-RI1bWSXKETPeBDUv4pMYCxQ_TW8o8gbDskBa-wngIGXS1ZQschJ6CENBXqEKFnDmHaR6V4b2J_BGU/s1600/clayton-donaldson-image-2-203667313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVgsNR70enb7aZLmcag1EkuRGA4vmtM78rfavL6wCCyUgTg8XLUNgOtWMYM9wtw-RI1bWSXKETPeBDUv4pMYCxQ_TW8o8gbDskBa-wngIGXS1ZQschJ6CENBXqEKFnDmHaR6V4b2J_BGU/s200/clayton-donaldson-image-2-203667313.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Clayton Donaldson, or “Donaldinho” to the Griffin Park faithful, has proved at Crewe that he is a mammoth goal scorer, scoring 28 goals last season. Unfortunately, that form just hasn’t transpired at Brentford, and seems even more so at Griffin Park. However, his impact of the bench just cannot be ignored, and despite the goal drought, I’ll bet my hat that we are a better team with him on the pitch then without, and it will only be a matter of time before the man comes good for The Bees. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In terms of youngsters, I thought we had a real gem of a player at the start of the season with Jake Reeves. The 18-year-old was a revelation in pre-season, and although young looked right at home with Jonathon Douglas in the centre of the park. Sadly, in my opinion, it was a shame to see him less and less on the team sheet and more and more in a suit and tie handing out sweets before the game, but hopefully we will see him back on the pitch in the red and white stripes sometime in the future. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course, it’s simple to charge the lack of goals and wins at Griffin Park to a certain Charlie MacDonald, and I’m certain this topic will come up again and again this season. I won’t get bogged down on the issue and will say only this: Charlie is gone, and it’s time to concentrate on Gary Alexander, Clayton Donaldson and Mike Grella and get behind them as much as we did with Charlie MacDonald against MK Dons. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Consistency is a major part of any play-off push, and I’m going to put it bluntly. We simply do not have any. America has more consistent diplomacy missions to North Korea than Brentford have football games. One week the team can play like Barcelona, the next like Accrington Stanley, or dare I say QPR? Consistence is key, and that applies both to the performances and the team selection. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lIvQQYdg-mJ5NzpzUylrp0iR7J_PIorWq_0Dkrba0HqzD0M-XZaIVgK0SLk9_HrE1whc4nYzRilicnYZvDZ-h3YC-D4NKLsrwbc2dtUdkE2yT4eQQ2t-FNVrdrNy1OO2PHeqhyphenhyphenQ5ShiA/s1600/oleyeke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lIvQQYdg-mJ5NzpzUylrp0iR7J_PIorWq_0Dkrba0HqzD0M-XZaIVgK0SLk9_HrE1whc4nYzRilicnYZvDZ-h3YC-D4NKLsrwbc2dtUdkE2yT4eQQ2t-FNVrdrNy1OO2PHeqhyphenhyphenQ5ShiA/s200/oleyeke.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Uwe made a huge mistake selecting Emmanuel Oyeleke in the middle of midfield against a powerful and well disciplined MK Don’s side. He may as well have pressed the large red “self-destruct” button on his office table. I don’t blame Oyeleke with what happened in that first half, but I know he is one for the future and I sure hope that hasn’t destroyed his confidence.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">As a result of all these things, I just can’t see Brentford challenging for the play-offs. We are not strong enough mentally or physically, and I’m just sorry to say we haven’t got the players required for that – this season. I trust that Uwe Rolser was, and still is, the right man for the job at Griffin Park and that will show next season when he has been able to stamp his seal on the club. Until then we’ll have to be contempt for a mid-table or near-play-off finish, and just hope we can give more ‘sure of ourselves’ performance at home. Oh, and we will have to hope that Clayton Donaldson will find his shooting boots and silence his critics, as I’m sure many Griffin Park regulars and I would. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12092743564744657613noreply@blogger.com0