In the second part of his close season pondering, Stephen Goldsmith considers the defensive options of MON and (never short …
Stephen Goldsmith has been lying awake at night pondering the possibilities that face Martin O’Neill and considering the role that Seb Larsson, may or not play in the manager’s thinking.
Colin Randall explains a much more pressing reason than close-season for his absence from these pages in recent days …
Stephen Goldsmith refuses to be unduly gloomy about the state of the England national side but believes a more modern approach to coaching and training would raise standards of play at all ages …
In the latest edition of Gambles’ Rambles, our regular contributor Ken Gambles pondered the worthy title ‘a reflective narrative on the role of altruism in a capitalist hegemony’ before deciding: ‘Nah, just a memory of Quinny’s testimonial.’ Monsieur Salut remembers it, too, as the game for which he bought a ticket knowing he had no hope of being there (remember those non-attendance tickets that boosted the proceeds?). He missed a great occasion, which special connections made greater still for Ken …
Spain stutters through to the final, France ponders the rights and wrongs of stripping surly players of their bonuses and, once again, the national side leaves a major competition, outplayed and outclassed. John McCormick, on furlough in Westmorland, reflects upon the words of his wife and asks “where’s the flair?”…
Monsieur Salut writes: it began, so far as Salut! Sunderland was concerned, as a straightforward defence of James McClean’s decision to make himself available for Republic of Ireland selection and not Northern Ireland. It provoked the longest and most animated discussion thread in months. As a gesture of goodwill, I have removed an anecdote from the original article; it dealt with lowlife sectarianism but although the incident occurred at Windsor Park, home of NI football, it concerned a club, not international, game. Otherwise, I stand by the thrust of my article. But I did invite Andrew Rodgers, easily the most rational of my critics from the other side of the Irish Sea, to set out his own views …
Late news: big debate brewing in France on whether certain players – the suspects, by and large and overlooking the squad’s surly return to French soil, are identified below – should receive their €100,000-a-man bonuses for reaching the last eight …
The first thing to say is that Euro 2012 seems to have whittled down the competing nations to the four that logically merit a presence in the semi-finals.
While Andrew Flintoff questions Mike Atherton’s credentials as a television pundit Stephen Goldsmith sees a parallel in the terrestrial coverage …
If Pete Sixsmith only knew how few people would bother to stray here, he might not have delayed his departure for the Stadium of Light and Bruce Springsteen long enough to rattle off some thoughts on his developing fondness for the Euros. But I am glad he did …
Image: NASA Goddard
Image: Gene Hunt