England – The Quarters – Euro 2012

After surprising everyone by coming top of their group, England found themselves with a potentially winnable game against a par Italian team. This could get them to their first semi final in a major tournament since 1996, and only their 3rd since winning the World Cup in 1966.

This should be reason enough, shouldn’t it ?

Roy set out exactly the same team as the previous game, which means, that both James Milner and Ashley Young played, which raised a few eyebrows, especially in my front room !

The game started quite open with Joe Hart pulling of a great save and Glen Johnson with a good chance on goal in the first 10 minutes. Then it all got a bit predictable, with England playing well for 25 mins, and Italy getting stronger and stronger as the half came to close.

The second half was all one way traffic which may sound harsh, but England looked knackered, and Pirlo was pulling all the strings. England staggered to a nil nil draw and extra time beckoned. For all England fans the rest becomes the usual. Tight for 30 mins, and lose on penalties. And that’s what happened. As bloody usual.

So what happened? The inquest will state that players who dazzle every week in the prem, stuck to their positions with no invention. Ashley Cole, although one of the better players, stayed put. Glen Johnson forgot how to defend and lost all comprehension of the offside rule. Rooney was not fit, and it showed. Next time you have a load of time off, trying hitting the gym rather than Las Vegas. Ashley Young should thank Roy for keeping his England career going, as I would of dropped him after the first game. Also Ash, rule one on taking penalties is the goal is in front of you not on the floor. Why was he staring at the floor for so long before hitting it against the bar.

Gerrard and Parker aquitted themselves well, but i fear Scott Parker needs more than grit and determination to perform at this level.

Terry played some of his best games in an England shirt, but just because you don’t have the armband doesn’t mean you stop bollocking and organising. This, I feel was linked with Joe Hart looking nervous at times, and coming out for balls at the wrong time, and staying on his line at other (wrong) times.

Andy Carroll will get better at this level, and Danny Wellbeck needs to get more involved and not rely on Rooney to always run around for him. Lescott seem comfortable, and Milner was industrious.

For Roy to be successful, he needs to bring on Walcott, and the Ox. Milner becomes a squad player tops, and Jack Wilsher will have the hopes of the nation landed on his shoulders. If he does ever play, maybe Ravel Morrison will fullfil his promise. Adam Johnson has the skills, but needs the application to get a regular game at Man City. The individuals are there, and Roy needs to make a team. But if he continues with the negative style, tickets at Wembley will be available on the day, every game.

All in all, not a bad shout for the chaps at the Euros, but not good enough. Germany expect to win, Italy expect to be in the semis, Even Portugal expect a final four berth. As we have allegedly the best league in the world, shouldn’t we expect to be challenging at every competition, at every level ?

Best tweet of the week:

“England lose on penalties. For all other English culture and tradition info, http://www.visitengland.com”

englandpens — Which way from here to the airport ?

England – The Group Stages – Euro 2012

Over the last week and a half, the strangest thing has been happening. England are in a competitive football competition, and our press are behaving for a change. But today, they broke ranks, and we have loads of nonsense about “Rooney the Saviour”. Lets not forget the only reason he has been out for two games is the fact that he let is petulant behaviour take over on the pitch, a bit like his fellow scouser, one Mr Barton (incidentally, one of the greatest and worst twitter users in history).

I have started this article prior to the Ukraine game, and will publish afterwards.

So first up was the big game, and the old rivalry was renewed with our mates from just past dover, the French. This game was a good test of new manager Roy’s skills, and to be fair he came out well. Nice and compact, not to adventurous, and a defender comes up to nod one in. Then old England raised it head, and the panic set in. Within a few minutes it was one all, and we then shut up shop. I’ll take a point in our first game (Spain did !).

Lescott opens the scoring in the England France game

Onto the next game, and a battle with a team who we had never beaten in a competitive game, Sweden. I watched the Swedes earlier in the year at Wembley, and they weren’t all that. Once again England went ahead, after a towering header from Andy Carroll, and this time they held firm. The second half was just crazy, with neither team really having a record for attacking football, turning into a mid 90’s Man United (evening Col !). They both got two, and the game ended 3-2 for Roy. I say Roy as he made the sub to change it all, the forgotten boy of the last world cup squad, one Theo Walcott. He was on for about 4 mins when he equalised from 25 yards, he then proceded to cut Sweden apart, and provided the run through and cross for Danny Wellbeck’s winner.

Carroll opens his account against Sweden

Now what happens? We need a draw to go through, and apparently Rooney has to start? I sugget Young gets dropped as he was useless in the last game. I would keep Milner on for this game ,as Ukraine like to attack the flanks. Walcott needs to come on in the second half as a sub, and we will win 2-0 (Wellbeck, Rooney).

What really happened was the following: Ashley Young was given a stay of execution and the only change was Carroll out for Rooney. England started quietly and remained that way for most of the first half. Ukraine had the best chances, but Rooney missed a sitter to go one up. England started the second half organised as well, and Gerrard was magnificent with a range of passing not seen since his heyday. Then after a deflected cross from Gerrard, who springs up? Mr Rooney, back post, one nil.

Then the retribution for Germany in the World Cup. Ukraine had a ball clearly over the line that the linesman, who was about 5 yards away, missed !! Laughable. Thanks for the extra officials, Sepp and Michel !

Drama over, England hold on to one nil ,and set up a meeting with Italy in the Quarters.

One thing i did notice was that Roy seems to have drilled the centre backs to drop in behind Hart if there is a remote issue, and this definitely saved us once, and maybe more with some half chances in the first half for the Ukrainians. Ashley Young really needs to be dropped, if we are to improve. JT needs to drop a yard, as his lack of pace is being exploited.

We will need to be more expansive against Italy, but they won’t exactly be charging us down either. Another one nil will do me !

Microsoft Surface- The unknown—–

So last night Steve Ballmer launched what he hopes is a new paradigm in the mobile computing market. The Microsoft Surface.

This piece of kit is interesting for all the right reasons:

New technology utilising a brand new OS. Up till now, Windows 8 was getting the sort of press that Vista enjoyed, and we all know how that worked out.

The case that doubles as a keyboard, and in built stand. Not content with going after the ipad market, looks like Redmond want to take a chop at the Macbook air / Ultrabook market.

Timing. One week after the major announcements of the new Macbook lines, they have almost now been made obsolete, if MS lives up to it’s promises.

That last sentence is key, as some of us remember the now dead Zunes and Kin phones that are littering bargain buckets and ebay penny sales.

So onto the unknown. This is the stuff that can really change the game if they happen, so heres my wishlist.

RT to be fully supported. It seems an age since MS released windows CE. This OS looked and felt like windows, but never really cut it as manufacturers and devs didn’t really get behind it. If MS is serious, it will need more than onboard MS office to derive value from this stream. It also needs to be corp ready and not some Windows XP home type effort with limited business use.

Mobile connectivity. Despite some world appearing to exist where all hardware manufacturers seem to think wireless is everywhere, we do need 3G/ 4G to enable our laptops to find homes as door stops and table stays.

The pen. Much is being made of the 600dpi pen, but for the modern user, switching between touch and pen can be a pain. The pen should only be used for freehand, and digital signatures. Everything else should be touch only, ala ipad. For real creation, people will crack out the keyboard. Talking of which….

The keyboard. The fact that an alternative keyboard is available already, and no one has been allowed to touch the one supplied, suggest a possible downer on the supplied cover. Hopefully this isn’t the case.

Display port. This has to extend the desktop and not just replicate if its to be serious in business.

So in short, deliver and you win, fail and you lose a generation to IOS.

I’m hoping to get my hands on one ASAP, and the i;ll do a more in depth review.

Me, playing at West Ham

Earlier this (now last, lazy me !) week, i got an invite out of the blue to play at Upton Park, for a friend of a friend’s stag day. Who was I to say no ! We arrived late in the afternoon, and had exclusive use of the pitch and stadium for 5 hours, from 5 till 10, before retiring to the bar for refreshments.

The rest of the guys turned up in a coach in suits, like it was the FA Cup final, which was amusing, apart from the heat, which affected the suits greatly.

First off i was in the home dressing rooms, which were OK, but about what you would expect. Numbered lockers, and quite big, and relatively modern (no pictures as lads were changing, etc). After a few minutes we were ushered out to the pitch, for introductions with the refs, and explanation of the rules. We were split into 6 5-a-side teams, and then we were to play 5 games each in a standard league format.

P1060584 — This is my seat. There are many like it, but this one is mine. View from the pitch.

My team were moved to the away dressing room. Now as a premier league club i would expect better. Size was OK, but it was an empty room with a bench around the outside, a small “Home of the Hammers” sign, some posters taped to the walls, and only 10 showers. How many people in a football team ?

Anyway, onto the football. We played 4 games straight, winning 3 and losing one. I had about 5 goals by then. We were joint top going into our last game, but it wasn’t to be. We lost 3-1 (another for me) to get second place. One thing that surprised me was how close my seat looked from the pitch, when from the seat the half way line looks miles away.

P1060585 — Me, surveying the opposition for weakness.

P1060589 — Another defence splitting pass !

Post presentations and photos, we were led back down the tunnel, as we lined up for the big one, the full pitch. We were lined up in the traditional 14 a side formation, and to the strains of bubbles we walked onto the pitch.

This was the first time I had played a non 5-a-side game for 6 years, and the scale of the pitch threw me. We were two nil down at half time, due to some shocking defending. The size of the pitch means i will never slag the midfield again, for at least a couple of weeks.

In the second half i felt a lot better, especially after raking through a 30 yrd pass for our first reply. We then pulled it back to 2-2 after i earned us a corner (bad shot) and one of our team headed in the cross.

Then it all happened very slowly. The cross from the left midfielder cleared the first centre back, and i left the other centre back. I flicked it on the angle with the chest, and lined up for the volley. I could already hear the whole Bobby Moore end rising as one, screaming themselves hoarse, and I hit the ball clean as a whistle, and it went goal bound, from about 15 yrds out.

Straight to the goalkeeper !

Then we took the lead but left another in to go to 3-3 as the end drew in. One of the midfielders put a beauty through, i a beat both centres to the ball, and then scuff an easy chance wide. What a pratt !. Suffice to say i was reminded of this several times in the bar afterwards. So we ended up 3-3, a fair result all round.

So after 4 hours of football, my legs are on fire today, and feel heavier than oak trees themselves !

P1060604 — The Tunnel, from the dressing room end.

Great day , would buy again A+++++

5 MrBens

Blackpool vs West Ham United Championship playoff final. 19/05/2012

People have said the future is orange. WHU proved this to be incorrect yesterday.

I have to say that i dont really remember much of the game as it seemed to fly by and i was physically and mentally knackered by the end. What i do know is Blackpool outplayed us, and but for some snatched finishing in the first half, could of gone in two one up. If Kevin Phillips rather than Ince’s boy had those chances he would of put at least one away.

So instead, i’ll concentrate on the day. We met at Liverpool Street, at around 10:30 in the morning. With about 10,000 other Hammers. We managed to get a pub, that didn’t have thousands in, for a spot of breakfast and some morning refreshment. After a tube ride in which i saw about 30 Blackpool fans, we arrived at Wembley, where as usual everything becomes a Q. So we queued to get in , and queued and then walked on the broken escalator, and then queued for a beer (4.70 ? Really ?), and then we geared up for the main event. Sam had picked what he considers to be his best team, so it was up to us to keep our part of the bargain.

Our support, as usual, was top draw, BUT, the guy behind me was an arse, and just kept slagging of all of our players, constantly. This resulted in me having a word, which led to his brother literally trying to kick my head off. So, after this got sorted, we scored, and life was good, especially for me as plank boy behind had focused on CC for most of his ire. At half time, the brother wants to buy me drink. Mad times indeed !

One of our group had tickets in the Blackpool end , and had to retire to the pub at half time, as the Blackpool fans dont play well with others it would appear.

The second half we did play a little better, but i really thought we were going for extra time after the young boy Ince equalised. Then as the game was almost settled into a draw, up pops Ricardo Vaz Te to “score when he wants” to net the winner. The 4 mins of extra time was too long for me, and i had to sit down, exhausted.

Post the celebration was got back to Liverpool street, to a have some more refreshments, and watch the Chelski game. As you can imagine, seeing Mr Lampard lift the trophy, brought a tear to the eye of everyone in the pub.

Then off home, for a well deserved rest. MOTM: My liver

Some photos of the day.

The obligatory Aussie John with Copper on a big game shot !

Wembley, Wembley, we are the famous West Ham and we’re going to Wembley.

Bex, Aussie John, Richard, Mossy, Gordon, Angry John

Hammers get what they came for and go home.

Edinburgh May 2012

It had been six years since we had last been to the capital city of Scotland, and last time we were a little younger and spent most of the time in pubs and clubs, so this pre play off final weekend away was a more cultured experience and i have to say turned out highly enjoyable.

We travelled from Kent to Edinburgh in style, by rail, using the fast track from Ebbsfleet, and then a first class seat from Kings X to Edinburgh. This was quicker and definitely less stressful than fannying around to Gatwick and hanging out in airports for delayed budget flights to Scotland !

The seats in East Coast FC were great (shame about the passengers opposite, but you cannot have everything). Once we got to Edinburgh, it was a short trip to the Hilton Grovesnor in the heart of the West End. The room was an old high ceilinged affair as befits the city, but modern amenities meant it was more than fit for purpose for two days.

We dropped our bags and headed off to the main event for Friday, the Pandas in Edinburgh Zoo. Being a weekday and a wet one, it was a perfect time to visit the Zoo, as we nearly had the whole place to ourselves.

The Pandas do not disappoint, so if you are in area, do pop in and say hello (just remember to book !). The small monkey enclosure with Squirrel monkeys and the like was another highlight.

That evening we went to a restaurant we found online after perusing some reviews, called Chop Chop. This place was a chinese cafe type affair, but the dim sum was to die for. I also tried some fried beef, which i had to fight for after the other half tasted it. We met the manager, who was a lovely lady, who tells me they have a factory making and exporting the dumplings, and i dont doubt her for a minute. This place is a must for any fan of Chinese food in the area.

Next day was spend doing a little bit of shopping, and then onto the bus out to Ocean Terminal. Last time i was here, there were 3 porta cabins, and an ISDN line. Things have moved on since then, into a mid sized shopping centre, fancy flats and the The Royal Yacht Britannia. Leith has certainly moved on !

The Yacht was amazing, and different to how i imagined. Smaller for one, and elegantly furnished rather elegant than elaborate. You can see attention to detail everywhere, especially the engine room, which sparkles like new, and has done since day one.

Back the hotel for a rest and onto another highlight, dinner at the Witchery. This place gets the ravest reviews and does not disappoint. A starter of asparagus, main course of double sirloin (500 g !), was amazing. The cheese i have to say was a bit of a let down, too much on the unusual, and not enough on the cheese in my opinion. Service was fantastic and so was the Chilean White we had to go with the meal.

The next morning pre our train back south, was a breakfast affair with friends in a great bar / day cafe in the Mercat bar on Waitland Street.

The train back takes a little longer as its a Sunday with more stops, but those big chairs make up for it !

Come the hour and all that. Here we are at the end of the season, with West Ham having failed in their quest for automatic promotion, only to meet their start of the season conquerers Cardiff City, in a game that ‘dif fans are delighted about having sneaked in the top six on the last day for their third consecutive play off campaign. Normally the team with momentum win out, but it’s been a long season for both teams, and now the slate is clean. The punters are saying West Ham with their squad and money (!), but Cardiff have the experience of this situation. Once again this game finds me on the sofa, for a bit of live blogging. Having read the last one, i apologise up front for mixed tenses.

West Ham lined up with a nearly unchanged team from the win against Hull, with Collinson coming in for Lansbury.

Cariff nearly get a sneaky of the bat with Whittingham putting one just over the bar after 1 minute, the Rob Green made a save from Miller after 2 minutes. All in all a shaky start from WHU. Nerves ?

Obviously not, after withstanding the early pressure, Jack gets on the end of a quality Vaz Te cross to go one nil up in the 9th. Get in. Nice work chaps.

WHU seem to settle, after this but not without some continued pressure from Cardiff. The game then went a bit tit for tat niggly, which seems to suit Cardiff better. By half an hour the game appeared to be going flat but the Hammers seem to have most of the possession. By 35 Cardiff were back on top after a dismissed penalty claim, and a near miss ranger from Miller. It also appeared that CC had taken a knock, as he slowed dramatically. Then after 40 minutes, WHU doubled their lead against the run of play, as Jack again got the second from distance (with some help from a defensive deflection). Great save from Marshall to deny CC a goal just on the stroke of half time.

Cardiff started off like a train in the second half, with several chances in the first 10 minutes. WHU appeared unsettled with James Tompkins getting a card for losing the plot with the ref. And then Noble gets a yellow for half a tackle just after the hour mark, about 30 seconds before Miller fires another ball over. Then Nolan get a card for diving in on the ‘dif keeper. In amongst all this McCartney came on for Vaz Te, who did seem quiet.

With 70 mins gone, WHU seemed to be back in control, of tempers and the ball. Nolan could of put the game beyond doubt when he put a clear header wide from an excellent Taylor cross (one of few tonight). At 74 Faubert replaced an improving Guy Demel.

With 2 mins to go McCartney nearly gave away a penalty, luckily the ref didn’t agree. But he did find 5 mins of ET from somewhere.

The game ended as the last game here for the Hammers, in a 2-0 victory. A professional victory but not an easy one. The first half hour on Monday will tell where this tie is going.