Hopefully at the side on this page you will see that my blog pages have increased to three: Boanerges (this one and the original), Bench Hamlet 2008 and PompeyCorrigan47.
The last one is the result of my two daughters complaining that they preferred this blog page not to get clogged up with Pompey Gossip, I didn't want to give up my Pompey Gossip so have assigned it to the new page. The new page is named after my Pompey shirt and I hope to get my profile picture on that page to reflect that fact.
The Bench Hamlet 2008 page will still be used for drafts of my Benchpress articles, my Bench and Cloak&Dagger activities, my storytelling, reviews of films and plays and generally reflect my interest in the theatrical world.
This page will be devoted to my general ramblings on the world at large and my political thoughts on Localism. I will probably cover the film extra work on Bench Hamlet 2008 but will inform you here if anything juicy turns up.
For reasons of our own, despite living only 10 minutes from the Portsmouth ferryport, we decided to travel down to Plymouth to cross overnight to Roscoff as we were camping in Brittany. We had started when I got the following message from my agent: RU free for a shoot this afternoon approx 5 hrs. in London (Barbican) to play a Beefeater. I received the message at 10.16 and needed to reply before 1045. I would have loved to play a Beefeater but I also like the fact that on any other day I could easily have made the job as I am available and flexible. I am about to enter a short period of approximately 14 days as "Road" goes into performance when I will not be available but otherwise I can respond to most calls most of the time.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Oversight
Blow me down! All that thinking and planning and note taking and drafting and I still managed to miss Younes Kaboul out of my Pompey defence wish list. I would certainly want to retain him and Sylvain Distin as my two main centre halves. All the other suggestions would be reinforcements for these two.
I am not sure how it works but the reserve team would be all the players in the squad who are not actually in the first team. They might be on the substitute bench for the first team but someone else is pencilled in for their position. By playing exactly the same system and style in the reserves as in the first team (a style of play consist throughout the club, including the Academy), the reserve matches would allow the reserve team players to maintain their match sharpness. They would then be able to substitute or replace easily when called upon to so do.
If my dream of a Croatian and an Argentine midfield trio happened, imagine the impact on the reserve team! Although I suppose there might be star feelings and egos to massage or to consider.
I am not sure how it works but the reserve team would be all the players in the squad who are not actually in the first team. They might be on the substitute bench for the first team but someone else is pencilled in for their position. By playing exactly the same system and style in the reserves as in the first team (a style of play consist throughout the club, including the Academy), the reserve matches would allow the reserve team players to maintain their match sharpness. They would then be able to substitute or replace easily when called upon to so do.
If my dream of a Croatian and an Argentine midfield trio happened, imagine the impact on the reserve team! Although I suppose there might be star feelings and egos to massage or to consider.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Midfield Wish List
This is the area of the team which I believe was grossly under manned last season after the departure of Muntari, Mendes and Diarra.
The present midfield of Davis, Mullins, Hughes, Diop (back from injury in pre-season?) and Bassinas are all defensive midfielders or stoppers. That is a bit unfair on Bassinas, who I believe is correctly termed a central midfield and is after all the Greek national captain. He wasn't ever used correctly and his rare appearances (was it 2 or 3?) showed he was a ball passer. Davis and Diop would be my main stoppers (if the latter can recover and return to his status as the Wardrobe). The former is a worker and wants to get in amongst the action but he isn't what I call a ball carrier or a creative midfield player. In Kranjcar we have got a ball carrier and a creative player but he lacks the killer pace to keep up with the strikers or even on occasion to get into the box ahead of them. However he is the sort of player we should be thinking of building a team around and possibly with the arrival of Bilic (Croatia manager) as prospective Pompey boss this could happen.
We do need a handful of ball carrying, creative midfield players who can carry the game to the opposition. If you count the defence and the two stoppers, we have a defensive unit of six plus goalkeeper. We need an offensive unit willing and able to take the attack to the opposition as I believe offence is the best form of defence. I also believe that when you have got the ball you need players who can keep it and who can use it accurately and with deadly effect. These players don't have to be huge like the Wardrobe they can be nippy small players like the Barca trio (I was so impressed by them as you might tell from this and previous posts). I would like to play a trio in midfield with a single striker, knowing that these four players can interchange at will. This would maintain the nominal formation of 4 - 5 - 1 as used by Hart and Kidd last season but would be a much more potent force in attack as well as defence. The defence and stoppers would know that their job once the ball was won would be to get it to one of the ball carriers. Once the offensive unit had it, the idea would be to keep the ball and yet anyone of the quartet would be able to inflict damage on the opposition goal. In order to have tactical variation, it might be necessary to have a second striker on the bench to replace one of the trio of midfield carriers in order to press home an advantage and go 4-4-2. In my wish list for the strike force I have also included wide players as right and/or left wingers so that the team can be 4-3-3 and that this formation can also be more offensive minded by replacing a stopper with either a ball carrier or a wide player or a second striker.
Enough of tactics for the moment, who are the players we could be thinking about purchasing? There are four from Spurs who could do a job for us. Huddlestone (wanted by half a dozen teams and priced at £7 million), Bentley (wanted by Villa and priced at £10 million),Jenas and Modric. The last two are doubtful because I think the Spurs manager will probably want to build his revamped team around them whereas the former two seem to have lost his favour. However Modric is a Croatian and with Bilic as a possible Pompey boss might be persuaded to team up with his countryman, Kranjcar. Modric is the ideal ball carrying player I envisaged in the previous paragraph.
Lawrence (Stoke) and Nolan (Newcastle) are not in the same mould as described above for Modric but both are very experienced PL players and could do a worthwhile job for the squad. Two Everton players, Cahill and Arteta, would fit the mould but I cannot see them being allowed to leave a very successful and resourceful Everton team. Young and Sidwell of Villa would both be very useful additions, and the former almost falls into the wide player role as well. Johnson and Gelson Fernandes of Manchester City also fall into this category. Except for Nolan most of these are in their early or mid twenties and so could be the backbone of the team for some time.
These would be the players I would be looking at this summer. I am sorry but I wouldn't be able to offer a return berth to Gary O'Neil or Matt Taylor. I loved what these players did for the club but we need to look forward not back. If I failed in my purchases elsewhere I might be tempted but they are not the way of the future.
In the longer term I would be looking at Argentinians either playing now in Europe or in South America. I believe Argentinians are better suited to the demands and rigours of the PL without losing the technique or silky skills or the ability to hold on to the ball. My prize buy this summer would be Tevez of Manchester United and I would be tempted to add his compatriot, Mascheranas, from Liverpool. I love Brazilian players but for me they lack the steel of the Argentine. In the future I would also hope to see Pompey working with other feeder clubs in Europe to provide experience and acclimatisation for South American players before joining us in the PL.
The two stoppers (Davis and Diop - leaving Hughes as a squad player and probably selling Mullins at a knock-down price), the Greek skipper (Bassinas), the two Croatians (Kranjcar and Modric - this is probably what the Spurs manager has in mind but we've got more money now so yah boo!) and the two Argentinians (Tevez and Mascheranas) would certainly provide a mouth watering midfield for the new Pompey Squad of 2009/2010.
If we could match them up with sufficient strikers (see my upcoming wish list) of power and pace plus right and left wingers, Pompey would truly be a force to be reckoned with and that would be without the Kaka, Ronaldo, Robinho, Messi and other superstars. We would have a team and squad to get us into the top 10 easily and to lay down the foundations for a footballing style of the future.
The present midfield of Davis, Mullins, Hughes, Diop (back from injury in pre-season?) and Bassinas are all defensive midfielders or stoppers. That is a bit unfair on Bassinas, who I believe is correctly termed a central midfield and is after all the Greek national captain. He wasn't ever used correctly and his rare appearances (was it 2 or 3?) showed he was a ball passer. Davis and Diop would be my main stoppers (if the latter can recover and return to his status as the Wardrobe). The former is a worker and wants to get in amongst the action but he isn't what I call a ball carrier or a creative midfield player. In Kranjcar we have got a ball carrier and a creative player but he lacks the killer pace to keep up with the strikers or even on occasion to get into the box ahead of them. However he is the sort of player we should be thinking of building a team around and possibly with the arrival of Bilic (Croatia manager) as prospective Pompey boss this could happen.
We do need a handful of ball carrying, creative midfield players who can carry the game to the opposition. If you count the defence and the two stoppers, we have a defensive unit of six plus goalkeeper. We need an offensive unit willing and able to take the attack to the opposition as I believe offence is the best form of defence. I also believe that when you have got the ball you need players who can keep it and who can use it accurately and with deadly effect. These players don't have to be huge like the Wardrobe they can be nippy small players like the Barca trio (I was so impressed by them as you might tell from this and previous posts). I would like to play a trio in midfield with a single striker, knowing that these four players can interchange at will. This would maintain the nominal formation of 4 - 5 - 1 as used by Hart and Kidd last season but would be a much more potent force in attack as well as defence. The defence and stoppers would know that their job once the ball was won would be to get it to one of the ball carriers. Once the offensive unit had it, the idea would be to keep the ball and yet anyone of the quartet would be able to inflict damage on the opposition goal. In order to have tactical variation, it might be necessary to have a second striker on the bench to replace one of the trio of midfield carriers in order to press home an advantage and go 4-4-2. In my wish list for the strike force I have also included wide players as right and/or left wingers so that the team can be 4-3-3 and that this formation can also be more offensive minded by replacing a stopper with either a ball carrier or a wide player or a second striker.
Enough of tactics for the moment, who are the players we could be thinking about purchasing? There are four from Spurs who could do a job for us. Huddlestone (wanted by half a dozen teams and priced at £7 million), Bentley (wanted by Villa and priced at £10 million),Jenas and Modric. The last two are doubtful because I think the Spurs manager will probably want to build his revamped team around them whereas the former two seem to have lost his favour. However Modric is a Croatian and with Bilic as a possible Pompey boss might be persuaded to team up with his countryman, Kranjcar. Modric is the ideal ball carrying player I envisaged in the previous paragraph.
Lawrence (Stoke) and Nolan (Newcastle) are not in the same mould as described above for Modric but both are very experienced PL players and could do a worthwhile job for the squad. Two Everton players, Cahill and Arteta, would fit the mould but I cannot see them being allowed to leave a very successful and resourceful Everton team. Young and Sidwell of Villa would both be very useful additions, and the former almost falls into the wide player role as well. Johnson and Gelson Fernandes of Manchester City also fall into this category. Except for Nolan most of these are in their early or mid twenties and so could be the backbone of the team for some time.
These would be the players I would be looking at this summer. I am sorry but I wouldn't be able to offer a return berth to Gary O'Neil or Matt Taylor. I loved what these players did for the club but we need to look forward not back. If I failed in my purchases elsewhere I might be tempted but they are not the way of the future.
In the longer term I would be looking at Argentinians either playing now in Europe or in South America. I believe Argentinians are better suited to the demands and rigours of the PL without losing the technique or silky skills or the ability to hold on to the ball. My prize buy this summer would be Tevez of Manchester United and I would be tempted to add his compatriot, Mascheranas, from Liverpool. I love Brazilian players but for me they lack the steel of the Argentine. In the future I would also hope to see Pompey working with other feeder clubs in Europe to provide experience and acclimatisation for South American players before joining us in the PL.
The two stoppers (Davis and Diop - leaving Hughes as a squad player and probably selling Mullins at a knock-down price), the Greek skipper (Bassinas), the two Croatians (Kranjcar and Modric - this is probably what the Spurs manager has in mind but we've got more money now so yah boo!) and the two Argentinians (Tevez and Mascheranas) would certainly provide a mouth watering midfield for the new Pompey Squad of 2009/2010.
If we could match them up with sufficient strikers (see my upcoming wish list) of power and pace plus right and left wingers, Pompey would truly be a force to be reckoned with and that would be without the Kaka, Ronaldo, Robinho, Messi and other superstars. We would have a team and squad to get us into the top 10 easily and to lay down the foundations for a footballing style of the future.
Left Back
Add Paul Robinson of West Bromwich Albion to the list of wanted left backs in the previous post but one about my wish list for the Pompey defence. His fee would be £1.5 million and he certainly could do a job for us, if only as a squad player. Bolton are also interested in him, which is a good sign, and of course WBA were relegated this season.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Post code lottery or choice?
We have often heard the expression "post code lottery" - as if any variation in a public service was not democracy working but a sin against the constitution. If you change the word "lottery" to "choice", there is a less pejorative sound about it. It also implies that the post code area has decided where its priorities lie and acted accordingly. One would hope that this decision making process and the necessary consultation would be predicated upon a strong electoral basis on a small intimate and geographically small neighbourhood. "Central government had denied the electors the freedom to choose better local services by taxing themselves as in every other country in Europe" (Simon Jenkins Thatcher and Sons) In an earlier post I suggested that most inhabitants of an English borough would be unable to name their mayor. I know some people will find my following suggestion a total anathema because it over-rides an English tradition of Mayoral selection and offers a Gallic alternative.
The English tradition is to pick a committee or council and then for the elected body to decide who should be its leader or chairman or mayor. Often of course the leader is actually someone else and the mayor is an office used as reward for service to the elected body and as a figurehead. This works pretty well as a ceremonial post but it does mean the English public do not know who is in charge of their local affairs. We still get bogged down in party politics and the poor old elector has no idea who is the person in charge. This always smells too much of cigar smoke filled committee rooms and "City Hall". It heightens the class divisions and seems determined to cast an opaque smog over what is happening at the seat of power. The mayor of London is an elected one and although there is still a strong reek of party politics, everyone knows who the mayor of London is even if they are not Londoners. I believe central government had plans for other cities or unitary authorities to follow suit and perhaps that should warn me off the idea as part of my thesis is that anything that suits central government doesn't necessarily prove beneficial to the local elector.
What is my alternative? You've guessed it. I want elected mayors. A named person who stands for the post with a manifesto and at the end of four years is judged by the electorate on their record. I don't expect this will do away with party politics but it might lessen their hold slightly. The mayor of course will need to build an elected body of officers around him or her and will probably in the first instance rely upon a party machine to help provide those people. However as the elected mayoral system progresses mayors might find it best for their chances of re-election to appoint the best people for the job, whatever their political allegiance, as this may ensure the mayor is returned at the next election. The mayor will be a controversial figure rather than someone carrying out a civic timetable of ceremonial duties. Only the English equate controversy with bad - it can stimulate, it can innovate and it is rarely dull. Yes the mayor will have to be seen to do things that are vote catching and especially no doubt in an election year. But where is that any different from what happens now and it would be a lot more obvious under my new system than under the present one. The present Hampshire County Council is Tory run and decides where the road improvements take place. The County Council is applauded for the excellence of its road improvement and that only a minority of roads fall below the standards set overall. Being of a paranoid frame of mind, I wonder how many of the councillors who are not Tory find their wards fall in that minority. The subliminal message is clear but only if you can see beyond the party political hedge.
I suggested above that we look at the Gallic alternative knowing full well that this will send a number of people into apoplexy. The idea that we should learn from and copy the Europeans is appalling enough (as why else would UKIP exist) but to suggest that the French would have anything to offer us is doubly aggravating. However I am not suggesting the French commune system (and commune is a word also designed to raise English blood pressure)is perfect but it does offer a model worth looking at. Also after decades of visiting France (and I know that is different from living there and I hope my friends in the Lot valley are reading this and will send me their comments) I am impressed by the community pride and sense of belonging expressed in these communes and have been impressed by the many mayors I have met.
There are 37000 communes in France. Some are as large as Paris but 80% have fewer than 1000 inhabitants. Mayors are powerful and perhaps the British have a problem with power residing officially in the hands of one person. However Simon Jenkins (see above) says " Mayoral elections are often bitterly fought and the turnouts are high" He goes on: "The result is a civic pride visible in every French municipality". The idea of a high turnout is what attracts me having attended a recent local election where the turnout was 28%. I believe that having a named mayor will bring people out. It would be good to have feelings about elections that can be expressed at the ballot box or in the street. There will be no apathy about withholding one's vote because if one did that then the mayor you hate will get in again. We go on constantly about our lack of civic pride. Well the French example shows that this can be rekindled and an elected mayor is one step in the right direction.
We would need to look at the powers and responsibilities of the elected mayor and see how this could be dovetailed into a system of local government with which every citizen can feel involved.
One of the tricks that central government has achieved is the community tax being collected by the local borough council. In my local area only 13% of this tax goes to the borough, who have to pass on 70% to the county and 10% to the Police Authority. However the electors at public forums are always haranguing the borough council for roads (responsibility of County) and crime (responsibility of Police Authority). This is an anomaly that needs to be clarified if we are ever to have elected mayors otherwise the latter are going to be lynched for matters beyond their control.
I also feel a need to review how local taxation is determined. Patrick Jenkins, the new environment secretary in 1983, declared, in his White Paper that "rates were well understood, cheap to collect and very difficult to evade." Subsequent environment secretaries, and the turnover in that post is quite incredible, pushed for reform but don't seem to have improved the situation one bit and seem to be determined to muddy the waters of local finance in order to maintain control from the centre. "Thatcher seemed determined to punish local government, Tory as well as Labour, if only for being right" (page 139,(Simon Jenkins Thatcher and Sons) The New Labour governments that have followed have continued to punish local government rather than redress the situation.
The English tradition is to pick a committee or council and then for the elected body to decide who should be its leader or chairman or mayor. Often of course the leader is actually someone else and the mayor is an office used as reward for service to the elected body and as a figurehead. This works pretty well as a ceremonial post but it does mean the English public do not know who is in charge of their local affairs. We still get bogged down in party politics and the poor old elector has no idea who is the person in charge. This always smells too much of cigar smoke filled committee rooms and "City Hall". It heightens the class divisions and seems determined to cast an opaque smog over what is happening at the seat of power. The mayor of London is an elected one and although there is still a strong reek of party politics, everyone knows who the mayor of London is even if they are not Londoners. I believe central government had plans for other cities or unitary authorities to follow suit and perhaps that should warn me off the idea as part of my thesis is that anything that suits central government doesn't necessarily prove beneficial to the local elector.
What is my alternative? You've guessed it. I want elected mayors. A named person who stands for the post with a manifesto and at the end of four years is judged by the electorate on their record. I don't expect this will do away with party politics but it might lessen their hold slightly. The mayor of course will need to build an elected body of officers around him or her and will probably in the first instance rely upon a party machine to help provide those people. However as the elected mayoral system progresses mayors might find it best for their chances of re-election to appoint the best people for the job, whatever their political allegiance, as this may ensure the mayor is returned at the next election. The mayor will be a controversial figure rather than someone carrying out a civic timetable of ceremonial duties. Only the English equate controversy with bad - it can stimulate, it can innovate and it is rarely dull. Yes the mayor will have to be seen to do things that are vote catching and especially no doubt in an election year. But where is that any different from what happens now and it would be a lot more obvious under my new system than under the present one. The present Hampshire County Council is Tory run and decides where the road improvements take place. The County Council is applauded for the excellence of its road improvement and that only a minority of roads fall below the standards set overall. Being of a paranoid frame of mind, I wonder how many of the councillors who are not Tory find their wards fall in that minority. The subliminal message is clear but only if you can see beyond the party political hedge.
I suggested above that we look at the Gallic alternative knowing full well that this will send a number of people into apoplexy. The idea that we should learn from and copy the Europeans is appalling enough (as why else would UKIP exist) but to suggest that the French would have anything to offer us is doubly aggravating. However I am not suggesting the French commune system (and commune is a word also designed to raise English blood pressure)is perfect but it does offer a model worth looking at. Also after decades of visiting France (and I know that is different from living there and I hope my friends in the Lot valley are reading this and will send me their comments) I am impressed by the community pride and sense of belonging expressed in these communes and have been impressed by the many mayors I have met.
There are 37000 communes in France. Some are as large as Paris but 80% have fewer than 1000 inhabitants. Mayors are powerful and perhaps the British have a problem with power residing officially in the hands of one person. However Simon Jenkins (see above) says " Mayoral elections are often bitterly fought and the turnouts are high" He goes on: "The result is a civic pride visible in every French municipality". The idea of a high turnout is what attracts me having attended a recent local election where the turnout was 28%. I believe that having a named mayor will bring people out. It would be good to have feelings about elections that can be expressed at the ballot box or in the street. There will be no apathy about withholding one's vote because if one did that then the mayor you hate will get in again. We go on constantly about our lack of civic pride. Well the French example shows that this can be rekindled and an elected mayor is one step in the right direction.
We would need to look at the powers and responsibilities of the elected mayor and see how this could be dovetailed into a system of local government with which every citizen can feel involved.
One of the tricks that central government has achieved is the community tax being collected by the local borough council. In my local area only 13% of this tax goes to the borough, who have to pass on 70% to the county and 10% to the Police Authority. However the electors at public forums are always haranguing the borough council for roads (responsibility of County) and crime (responsibility of Police Authority). This is an anomaly that needs to be clarified if we are ever to have elected mayors otherwise the latter are going to be lynched for matters beyond their control.
I also feel a need to review how local taxation is determined. Patrick Jenkins, the new environment secretary in 1983, declared, in his White Paper that "rates were well understood, cheap to collect and very difficult to evade." Subsequent environment secretaries, and the turnover in that post is quite incredible, pushed for reform but don't seem to have improved the situation one bit and seem to be determined to muddy the waters of local finance in order to maintain control from the centre. "Thatcher seemed determined to punish local government, Tory as well as Labour, if only for being right" (page 139,(Simon Jenkins Thatcher and Sons) The New Labour governments that have followed have continued to punish local government rather than redress the situation.
Pompey Defence
I will return to my political thesis in my next posting but want to put in two or three posts about the possible Pompey team after the summer spending. This is in the realm of fanciful and wishful thinking but it is entirely due to the arrival of Dr, Sulaiman Al Fahim (if he completes signing the papers this month).
At right back I would try to keep hold of Glen Johnson despite the reputed bid of £17 million by Chelsea and the interest shown by Liverpool. Glen himself must be flattered by the attention but the England full back should be made to feel that he could be in at the ground floor of a great footballing revolution here at Pompey. He is definitely the sort of player on which we want to build a team and a team ethos. I don't want quick fire success as my previous post showed. I want to build up a team and a system or style of playing that will carry us forward into the future. Glen Johnson is young enough and good enough to help us lay down the foundations to do that. I would want to back him up with another right back and for the moment I would be tempted to go with Angel Rangel (Swansea) and Mendy (Hull).
At left back I would let Hreidarrson go to Gers and thank him hugely for helping keep us in the Premier League. He will always be a Pompey hero. I am unsure about Belhadj as a left back but would probably want to keep him as a squad player - his unpredictability sometimes unsettles his own team but can have the same effect on the opposition. I would go for established PL players such as Shorey (Villa), Clichy (Arsenal)and Garrido (Manchester City).
At centre back I would make every effort to retain Sylvain Distin as a player and as club captain. Certainly he would not be allowed to leave for the £4 million that have been suggested. I would be tempted to keep Sol as a totem of intent but would probably let him go to Basle or a European club, but not another PL club. So my search would be for a player to work alongside Distin in the centre of defence and probably one or two other centre backs as squad players. I know Lescott (Everton) has attracted a great deal of attention from other clubs, especially after the Cup Final. I am not sure why Everton and David Moyes would want to let him go but he would certainly be one of my targets. Hangeland (Fulham),Taylor (Newcastle), Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea),Cuellar (Villa), Bassong (Newcastle) and Johnson (Cardiff) would be the players I would be chasing this July and probably in the order stated.
I would also make sure that my reserve team was one of the strongest around and that the players there were confident that the style or system they were using would enable them to step straight up into the first team as and when needed. I would also ensure that the Academy were playing the style that ultimately would inform the whole club approach as at Barcelona and the great Dutch clubs. Also the Academy youngsters would be "bloodied" and used at reserve and first team levels as and when thought appropriate to encourage the individual and deepen the squad ethos.
I will break off and look back at localism in politics for the next post or two before returning to my dream midfield and strike force for the bright Pompey of the near future. I hasten to add that all this speculation is for the short and medium term. The new manager should be empowered and entrusted to develop a club that will be renowned as much for its style of play as for its success. I would hope this would be with training facilities and a new stadium the equal of any other in this country if not Europe. I would hope that those promised links with South America (and in my opinion with Argentina) are part of the new manager's remit.
At right back I would try to keep hold of Glen Johnson despite the reputed bid of £17 million by Chelsea and the interest shown by Liverpool. Glen himself must be flattered by the attention but the England full back should be made to feel that he could be in at the ground floor of a great footballing revolution here at Pompey. He is definitely the sort of player on which we want to build a team and a team ethos. I don't want quick fire success as my previous post showed. I want to build up a team and a system or style of playing that will carry us forward into the future. Glen Johnson is young enough and good enough to help us lay down the foundations to do that. I would want to back him up with another right back and for the moment I would be tempted to go with Angel Rangel (Swansea) and Mendy (Hull).
At left back I would let Hreidarrson go to Gers and thank him hugely for helping keep us in the Premier League. He will always be a Pompey hero. I am unsure about Belhadj as a left back but would probably want to keep him as a squad player - his unpredictability sometimes unsettles his own team but can have the same effect on the opposition. I would go for established PL players such as Shorey (Villa), Clichy (Arsenal)and Garrido (Manchester City).
At centre back I would make every effort to retain Sylvain Distin as a player and as club captain. Certainly he would not be allowed to leave for the £4 million that have been suggested. I would be tempted to keep Sol as a totem of intent but would probably let him go to Basle or a European club, but not another PL club. So my search would be for a player to work alongside Distin in the centre of defence and probably one or two other centre backs as squad players. I know Lescott (Everton) has attracted a great deal of attention from other clubs, especially after the Cup Final. I am not sure why Everton and David Moyes would want to let him go but he would certainly be one of my targets. Hangeland (Fulham),Taylor (Newcastle), Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea),Cuellar (Villa), Bassong (Newcastle) and Johnson (Cardiff) would be the players I would be chasing this July and probably in the order stated.
I would also make sure that my reserve team was one of the strongest around and that the players there were confident that the style or system they were using would enable them to step straight up into the first team as and when needed. I would also ensure that the Academy were playing the style that ultimately would inform the whole club approach as at Barcelona and the great Dutch clubs. Also the Academy youngsters would be "bloodied" and used at reserve and first team levels as and when thought appropriate to encourage the individual and deepen the squad ethos.
I will break off and look back at localism in politics for the next post or two before returning to my dream midfield and strike force for the bright Pompey of the near future. I hasten to add that all this speculation is for the short and medium term. The new manager should be empowered and entrusted to develop a club that will be renowned as much for its style of play as for its success. I would hope this would be with training facilities and a new stadium the equal of any other in this country if not Europe. I would hope that those promised links with South America (and in my opinion with Argentina) are part of the new manager's remit.
The previous manager but two
I think the previous manager but two did embellish the history of Pompey football club and for that we are rightly grateful. However I don't see him as a great manager. He is not the man to build up a great team, an ethos and style of playing that will bring us respect as well as success. He will doubtless bring us short term success but surely we should be looking for someone to lay down the infrastructure for a great club for the future not just for now. We want someone who will not bring in old established players at exorbitant salaries. We want someone who will encourage the Academy to seek out the best talent and to develop a style of playing similar to that seen at Barca. We want someone with more than a knowledge of what is here and now but who can develop the links with South America and Argentina in particular. We want someone who doesn't think Spuds are "a bigger club with better fans" but who realises Pompey are a great club with the best fans anywhere. Thanks to the Doctor, we can look beyond the recent past and create a marvellous future.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Pompey Gossip
http://www.pompeygossip.co.uk/
I have recently joined this website as one of my Facebook groups. I am thoroughly enjoying being a member and especially at this auspicious time when we are so nearly in the hands of a new owner, Dr Sulaiman al Fahim. The new owner has promised to build up the infrastructure of the club rather than go for short term splashing of cash on star players. I hope this means we get the new training grounds and facilities completed this autumn as they have been long in the planning and perhaps might even be upgraded. As this is where the team spend most of their working lives, the training facilities are incredibly important for their morale, keeping them injury free and encouraging new players to join us.
I also believe the training grounds are the home of the Academy and this must also get more substantial support from the new owner. I hope that Paul Hart will be asked to resume his post as director of the Academy to continue to develop the Pompey youngsters. I hope the new owner's wealth will be used to compete with other clubs to bring in the brightest young footballers and to find the best local talent. I hope the promised links with South America will show first in the Academy and that we develop a steady stream of South American youngsters especially Argentinians coming to us. I would also hope that the Academy concentrates on midfield play and players. Like everyone else, I was mightily impressed by the Barcelona midfield trio and the fact that the ball seemed tied to their boot laces. It also was stated that the Barcelona academy and training concentrated all the time on this approach to passing and football skills. That is what I would like to see become of the Pompey Academy.
In the medium term I believe the new owner is intent on continuing the development of Fratton Park as suggested by the previous owner and administration. This might be able to go ahead this coming season as the new owner does not need the backing of a supermarket to make the project happen (the supermarket was also that made planning permission more unlikely). But while Fratton Park is being developed next season I hope the new owner does not take his eye off the design and planning of a new stadium. I still think Horsea Island would make a spectacular location with Portchester Castle across the harbour and the chalk of Portsdown Hill behind. The development of an infrastructure of roads, bridges and transport links would be necessary first hence the redevelopment of Fratton Park in the medium term and the new stadium to be ready in the longer term. However it would be good if the new stadium could be part of the 2018 English bid to host the World Cup. It would be good if the new owner could dispense with the need to build shops as these would compete with other areas of the city. I would love to see an entertainment arena built alongside the new stadium to compete with the likes of the O2 dome to make Pompey an outstanding venue for other popular art forms.
I would like to see the gradual development of a club and a team ethos that intends to play football as it should be played with players who love the club and area and who love to play with the ball. I don't want the sudden influx of mercenary star players who are here to see how much they can earn from the new owner and the club before they move on to earn more money elsewhere. I don't want a quick fix to get us into the top 4 and to grab armfuls of silverware next season or the season after. I would like us to build a team and a club slowly gathering momentum - perhaps a top 10 finish next year with another crack at the Carling or FA Cup. I would like to see those links with South America plainly reflected in the team make up and style of playing - I am more of an Argentinian fan than the silky skills of Brazil as I think the former adapt better to European football than the latter. In succeeding years we will take our place among the clubs playing for European competition and then perhaps join the top 4 or 5 clubs as a right.
These are wonderful pipe dreams inspired by the arrival of the new owner. However there are also early indications that things have to happen in the short term. There is the matter of a new manager rather than the retention of the current one (see Paul Hart and the Academy above). There is the small matter of keeping our star players that we already have and producing a squad of sufficient depth and quality to take us into that top 10 next season.
For the die hard fan, this is the part of the season where we love speculating and I being no exception to that rule and with the help of the website posted at the top of this posting I intend devoting some postings to who these players could be as if I had an influence with the club. I am also still working on my political thesis by reading "Bring Home the Revolution:The Case for a British Republic" by Jonathan Friedland.
Other aspects of my interests such as film extra work, plays and productions, and storytelling I will cover in my sister blog "Bench Hamlet 2008". Thanks for indulging me!
I have recently joined this website as one of my Facebook groups. I am thoroughly enjoying being a member and especially at this auspicious time when we are so nearly in the hands of a new owner, Dr Sulaiman al Fahim. The new owner has promised to build up the infrastructure of the club rather than go for short term splashing of cash on star players. I hope this means we get the new training grounds and facilities completed this autumn as they have been long in the planning and perhaps might even be upgraded. As this is where the team spend most of their working lives, the training facilities are incredibly important for their morale, keeping them injury free and encouraging new players to join us.
I also believe the training grounds are the home of the Academy and this must also get more substantial support from the new owner. I hope that Paul Hart will be asked to resume his post as director of the Academy to continue to develop the Pompey youngsters. I hope the new owner's wealth will be used to compete with other clubs to bring in the brightest young footballers and to find the best local talent. I hope the promised links with South America will show first in the Academy and that we develop a steady stream of South American youngsters especially Argentinians coming to us. I would also hope that the Academy concentrates on midfield play and players. Like everyone else, I was mightily impressed by the Barcelona midfield trio and the fact that the ball seemed tied to their boot laces. It also was stated that the Barcelona academy and training concentrated all the time on this approach to passing and football skills. That is what I would like to see become of the Pompey Academy.
In the medium term I believe the new owner is intent on continuing the development of Fratton Park as suggested by the previous owner and administration. This might be able to go ahead this coming season as the new owner does not need the backing of a supermarket to make the project happen (the supermarket was also that made planning permission more unlikely). But while Fratton Park is being developed next season I hope the new owner does not take his eye off the design and planning of a new stadium. I still think Horsea Island would make a spectacular location with Portchester Castle across the harbour and the chalk of Portsdown Hill behind. The development of an infrastructure of roads, bridges and transport links would be necessary first hence the redevelopment of Fratton Park in the medium term and the new stadium to be ready in the longer term. However it would be good if the new stadium could be part of the 2018 English bid to host the World Cup. It would be good if the new owner could dispense with the need to build shops as these would compete with other areas of the city. I would love to see an entertainment arena built alongside the new stadium to compete with the likes of the O2 dome to make Pompey an outstanding venue for other popular art forms.
I would like to see the gradual development of a club and a team ethos that intends to play football as it should be played with players who love the club and area and who love to play with the ball. I don't want the sudden influx of mercenary star players who are here to see how much they can earn from the new owner and the club before they move on to earn more money elsewhere. I don't want a quick fix to get us into the top 4 and to grab armfuls of silverware next season or the season after. I would like us to build a team and a club slowly gathering momentum - perhaps a top 10 finish next year with another crack at the Carling or FA Cup. I would like to see those links with South America plainly reflected in the team make up and style of playing - I am more of an Argentinian fan than the silky skills of Brazil as I think the former adapt better to European football than the latter. In succeeding years we will take our place among the clubs playing for European competition and then perhaps join the top 4 or 5 clubs as a right.
These are wonderful pipe dreams inspired by the arrival of the new owner. However there are also early indications that things have to happen in the short term. There is the matter of a new manager rather than the retention of the current one (see Paul Hart and the Academy above). There is the small matter of keeping our star players that we already have and producing a squad of sufficient depth and quality to take us into that top 10 next season.
For the die hard fan, this is the part of the season where we love speculating and I being no exception to that rule and with the help of the website posted at the top of this posting I intend devoting some postings to who these players could be as if I had an influence with the club. I am also still working on my political thesis by reading "Bring Home the Revolution:The Case for a British Republic" by Jonathan Friedland.
Other aspects of my interests such as film extra work, plays and productions, and storytelling I will cover in my sister blog "Bench Hamlet 2008". Thanks for indulging me!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
A friend replies and adds to my knowledge
A friend writes:I agree with you wholeheartedly. The political apathy in this country distresses me immensely,particularly when people were prepared to die because they believed in democracy so strongly.
However, I would like to make 2 points: The American system of government was borne out of a tension between the smaller and larger states, when the constitution was being codified. The smaller states felt that if all federal government bodies were elected by size or population of state, their interests would be completely ignored or overruled - hence the two-chamber system, whereby one house, (the Senate) sees each state elect the same number of Senators, regardless of size, population, etc. The other house - the House of Representatives sees each state return a different number of representatives dependent upon, (if I remember correctly) their population. (When this was being debated in the late 18th Century, states which had large populations of slaves were also worried they would lose out as they had fewer
'voting' members of the population, which led to the despicable '2/3rds' idea.)
Voting, and the civic activity that surrounds this, is something that is embedded in Americans - they vote for many, many local civic positions - I think some towns even vote for their dog-catcher. This is not something we do in this country.
Local politics in the UK also has something of an image problem - people do not know what powers their local or county councils hold, and do not know where to find out. It's also perceived as an area that only 'local busybodies' get on their high horse about - or care enough to stand. People are not aware of the day-to-day impact of local councils etc, so are often unwilling to vote. These are not my feels, but issues we discussed at great length during my degree studies. Admittedly, this is going back 7 or 8 years, so may be out of date. However, I fear the apathy has just got worse.
A parting shot: perhaps it is the 'winner takes all' nature of our 'first past the post' electoral system that puts people off: If you live in an area that is dominated by one particular party, which you don't want to represent you, does your vote for a candidate who stands so little chance of winner, actually count or make any kind of difference? Should we change our electoral system?
This was written as a comment by a young friend but sent to me elsewhere. I reproduce it here because it adds to my argument re Civic activity, which I intend expanding in the next few postings.
However, I would like to make 2 points: The American system of government was borne out of a tension between the smaller and larger states, when the constitution was being codified. The smaller states felt that if all federal government bodies were elected by size or population of state, their interests would be completely ignored or overruled - hence the two-chamber system, whereby one house, (the Senate) sees each state elect the same number of Senators, regardless of size, population, etc. The other house - the House of Representatives sees each state return a different number of representatives dependent upon, (if I remember correctly) their population. (When this was being debated in the late 18th Century, states which had large populations of slaves were also worried they would lose out as they had fewer
'voting' members of the population, which led to the despicable '2/3rds' idea.)
Voting, and the civic activity that surrounds this, is something that is embedded in Americans - they vote for many, many local civic positions - I think some towns even vote for their dog-catcher. This is not something we do in this country.
Local politics in the UK also has something of an image problem - people do not know what powers their local or county councils hold, and do not know where to find out. It's also perceived as an area that only 'local busybodies' get on their high horse about - or care enough to stand. People are not aware of the day-to-day impact of local councils etc, so are often unwilling to vote. These are not my feels, but issues we discussed at great length during my degree studies. Admittedly, this is going back 7 or 8 years, so may be out of date. However, I fear the apathy has just got worse.
A parting shot: perhaps it is the 'winner takes all' nature of our 'first past the post' electoral system that puts people off: If you live in an area that is dominated by one particular party, which you don't want to represent you, does your vote for a candidate who stands so little chance of winner, actually count or make any kind of difference? Should we change our electoral system?
This was written as a comment by a young friend but sent to me elsewhere. I reproduce it here because it adds to my argument re Civic activity, which I intend expanding in the next few postings.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Localism
A friend commented on my previous posting about reducing the number of MPs to 430 by saying that the USA number is underpinned by a whole system of federalism and therefore my suggestion might not be workable in our situation.
My reply is slow in coming as it has been bubbling away in my head for some considerable time. It is still at the incomplete fermenting stage but it is supported by reading "Thatcher & Sons: A Revolution in Three Acts" (winner, Channel 4 political book of the year 2007) by Simon Jenkins (published by Penguin).Simon Jenkins writes twice weekly for the Guardian and weekly for the Sunday Times. He has been editor of both The Times and the Evening Standard. In 1995 he chaired the Commission on Local Democracy and published "Accountable to None:The Tory Nationalisation of Britain".
In "Thatcher & Sons: A Revolution in Three Acts" he looks at the political legacy of Margaret Thatcher and her "true heirs", John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He argues that they have utterly transformed Britain in the process to leave us where we are now "prosperous but perplexed, spoilt for 'Choice' but less and less equal, infantilized by targets, drowning in bureaucracy and bombarded by spin."
In the book he states my principal mantra and creed, "Localism is the stuff of politics" (page 306). I am against centralism and the view that Britain is a "unitary welfare state, politically monolithic and administratively homogeneous" (page 307). I believe centralism has brought about the collapse of British public life and is one of the prime reasons for the British apathy at the polling booth. I cringe when I read in the newspaper of voters threatening to withhold their vote at the coming elections because of the MP expenses scandal. It seems to me that this puts the protester with the majority who don't vote anyway and therefore negates their protest completely. I believe less than 40% actually vote and that figure might even be optimistic.
My call for the reduction in the number of MPs has therefore to be reconciled with my belief that the whole business of government needs decentralising and we need to return to "localism" to re-empower the voter. We need to look at other societies for some ideas of how to recapture local government from the grasp of central government. "A citizen of a typical American suburb or small town might expect to devote a night a week to some civic activity" and "80% of Germans can name their local mayor." (Jenkins, page 308). Both these ideas, "Civic activity" and "name the mayor", would stump the local voter here in my own area. I will return to both ideas in later postings as both are key planks in my own small but persistent political awakening.
My reply is slow in coming as it has been bubbling away in my head for some considerable time. It is still at the incomplete fermenting stage but it is supported by reading "Thatcher & Sons: A Revolution in Three Acts" (winner, Channel 4 political book of the year 2007) by Simon Jenkins (published by Penguin).Simon Jenkins writes twice weekly for the Guardian and weekly for the Sunday Times. He has been editor of both The Times and the Evening Standard. In 1995 he chaired the Commission on Local Democracy and published "Accountable to None:The Tory Nationalisation of Britain".
In "Thatcher & Sons: A Revolution in Three Acts" he looks at the political legacy of Margaret Thatcher and her "true heirs", John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He argues that they have utterly transformed Britain in the process to leave us where we are now "prosperous but perplexed, spoilt for 'Choice' but less and less equal, infantilized by targets, drowning in bureaucracy and bombarded by spin."
In the book he states my principal mantra and creed, "Localism is the stuff of politics" (page 306). I am against centralism and the view that Britain is a "unitary welfare state, politically monolithic and administratively homogeneous" (page 307). I believe centralism has brought about the collapse of British public life and is one of the prime reasons for the British apathy at the polling booth. I cringe when I read in the newspaper of voters threatening to withhold their vote at the coming elections because of the MP expenses scandal. It seems to me that this puts the protester with the majority who don't vote anyway and therefore negates their protest completely. I believe less than 40% actually vote and that figure might even be optimistic.
My call for the reduction in the number of MPs has therefore to be reconciled with my belief that the whole business of government needs decentralising and we need to return to "localism" to re-empower the voter. We need to look at other societies for some ideas of how to recapture local government from the grasp of central government. "A citizen of a typical American suburb or small town might expect to devote a night a week to some civic activity" and "80% of Germans can name their local mayor." (Jenkins, page 308). Both these ideas, "Civic activity" and "name the mayor", would stump the local voter here in my own area. I will return to both ideas in later postings as both are key planks in my own small but persistent political awakening.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Victory for the Gurkhas
At midday today, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith made the announcement to the House of Commons that all ex-Gurkhas who have served more than 4 years in the British Army will have the right to settle in the UK if they wish.This is what the Gurkha Justice Campaign have been fighting for for years.
After such a long fight, with huge ups and downs, this is a superb announcement.
We simply would not have won this fight without the massive, overwhelming support of all those who have supported our campaign. To the hundreds of thousands of people who have signed Gurkha Justice petitions, lobbied their MP, campaigned, attended rallies and marches - thank you so much to you all. This is your victory. It would not have happened without you.
The Government has now responded to that campaign after court cases, votes in Parliament, a huge media campaign and, most importantly, massive public support. I am delighted, and humbled, at what has been achieved by our remarkable team.
The whole campaign has been based on the belief that those who have fought and been prepared to die for our country should have the the right to live in our country. We owe them a debt of honour - a debt that will now be paid.
I received this from Joanna Lumley today.
After such a long fight, with huge ups and downs, this is a superb announcement.
We simply would not have won this fight without the massive, overwhelming support of all those who have supported our campaign. To the hundreds of thousands of people who have signed Gurkha Justice petitions, lobbied their MP, campaigned, attended rallies and marches - thank you so much to you all. This is your victory. It would not have happened without you.
The Government has now responded to that campaign after court cases, votes in Parliament, a huge media campaign and, most importantly, massive public support. I am delighted, and humbled, at what has been achieved by our remarkable team.
The whole campaign has been based on the belief that those who have fought and been prepared to die for our country should have the the right to live in our country. We owe them a debt of honour - a debt that will now be paid.
I received this from Joanna Lumley today.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
FA Cup Reorganised
Again this isn't an original idea of mine but rather one that I would like to throw what little petulant force I have behind it.
The FA Cup is a great British tradition of allowing the minnows to take on the giants. I followed with pride and great emotion the progress of the Havant and Waterlooville Hawks in last year's campaign and especially that wonderful match at Anfield. In many ways that summed up the magic of the FA Cup. Indeed Portsmouth, not exactly a minnow but not exactly a giant, went on to win the cup!
However this year the FA Cup has been tarnished by some of the big clubs fielding reserve sides in the competition as their priorities are winning the Premiership or the European Championship or one of the other minor Cup tournaments. This devalues the FA Cup and the following proposal is an attempt to redress that situation. It is also an idea that might boost the chances of English footballers and ultimately the England team.
The proposal is that the FA Cup is seen as a British or English competition. I am not being insular here as I realise that lots of foreign players come here for the opportunity to play in the FA Cup, however I think they are well recompensed by the size of their fees and salaries. The Football Association must insist that all teams entered in the competition must field teams that consist of at least seven or eight English or British players. I realise that will create some fun as to who will qualify as what (see recent international qualification arguments for individual players and countries) but that wouldn't be a major concern. It would also leave a little leeway for those foreign players mentioned above. It would also give the FA a more hands on approach to their own major competition.
Most of the minnows already would qualify for the above proportion of English players to foreign (although sadly even here this situation is in decline - foreign players are cheaper!). Most of the giants could do it using the size of their squads and including their reserves and academies. This is the sort of approach they take now if they want to throw the match in the later stages of the contest when reassessing their priorities.However they wouldn't be doing it for their own purposes but because the rules of the competition require them to so do. It would also put all the giants in the same position rather than one choosing to lose to another. It would also level the playing field a little more for the minnows.
I can imagine the cries of horror that will go up from the giants as they will claim that the public will be horrified that such and such a star will not be able to appear. However all they have to do is carefully choose which of their stars will appear and will be cup=tied. I believe that after a general bit of upheaval and kerfuffle the public will like the more level playing field provided by the new rules, will like the breaking of the monopoly held by the top half dozen clubs, and will like the rise of new and upcoming English or British stars.
These English or British players will also experience the spotlight thrown upon them by such a prestigious competition and will be able to make a bid for places in the international squads. After all the European Cup and the World Cup are more akin to the FA Cup than they are to attrition of a over long Premiership campaign. I also believe national sponsors will be more than willing to support such a competition and of course the voracious monster that is television will equally devour the new aspects of the competition.
The FA Cup for the British!
The FA Cup is a great British tradition of allowing the minnows to take on the giants. I followed with pride and great emotion the progress of the Havant and Waterlooville Hawks in last year's campaign and especially that wonderful match at Anfield. In many ways that summed up the magic of the FA Cup. Indeed Portsmouth, not exactly a minnow but not exactly a giant, went on to win the cup!
However this year the FA Cup has been tarnished by some of the big clubs fielding reserve sides in the competition as their priorities are winning the Premiership or the European Championship or one of the other minor Cup tournaments. This devalues the FA Cup and the following proposal is an attempt to redress that situation. It is also an idea that might boost the chances of English footballers and ultimately the England team.
The proposal is that the FA Cup is seen as a British or English competition. I am not being insular here as I realise that lots of foreign players come here for the opportunity to play in the FA Cup, however I think they are well recompensed by the size of their fees and salaries. The Football Association must insist that all teams entered in the competition must field teams that consist of at least seven or eight English or British players. I realise that will create some fun as to who will qualify as what (see recent international qualification arguments for individual players and countries) but that wouldn't be a major concern. It would also leave a little leeway for those foreign players mentioned above. It would also give the FA a more hands on approach to their own major competition.
Most of the minnows already would qualify for the above proportion of English players to foreign (although sadly even here this situation is in decline - foreign players are cheaper!). Most of the giants could do it using the size of their squads and including their reserves and academies. This is the sort of approach they take now if they want to throw the match in the later stages of the contest when reassessing their priorities.However they wouldn't be doing it for their own purposes but because the rules of the competition require them to so do. It would also put all the giants in the same position rather than one choosing to lose to another. It would also level the playing field a little more for the minnows.
I can imagine the cries of horror that will go up from the giants as they will claim that the public will be horrified that such and such a star will not be able to appear. However all they have to do is carefully choose which of their stars will appear and will be cup=tied. I believe that after a general bit of upheaval and kerfuffle the public will like the more level playing field provided by the new rules, will like the breaking of the monopoly held by the top half dozen clubs, and will like the rise of new and upcoming English or British stars.
These English or British players will also experience the spotlight thrown upon them by such a prestigious competition and will be able to make a bid for places in the international squads. After all the European Cup and the World Cup are more akin to the FA Cup than they are to attrition of a over long Premiership campaign. I also believe national sponsors will be more than willing to support such a competition and of course the voracious monster that is television will equally devour the new aspects of the competition.
The FA Cup for the British!
Pay Them More!
This isn't entirely original but one way of avoiding the MPs' expenses farce or debacle is to pay them more so they don't need to put in expenses' claims. By so doing we accept that the role they play in our parliamentary democracy is of great importance and that we downplay it at our peril. Newspapers love to dig up dirt about our representatives and then to cluck in disapproval. The parliamentary expenses system seems to offer them easy targets. I don't like the idea that the system is being misused but I don't like the ammunition it provides for newspaper proprietors and editors to lay into our admittedly imperfect system, and its too human participants, to make us doubt our own democracy. What would they propose we replace our democracy with?
Don't get me wrong here. I am pissed off with my parliamentary representatives as much as the next man as I think they are in danger of devaluing our system by providing such easy targets for the newspapers and media. I do think part of the problem is the ability of prime ministers to hang on to power until they judge the moment is propitious for a general election. I believe we should insist on exact terms or periods of office - so if a government is elected on the 7th May one year, we all know that the next general election is the 7th May five years hence. This would prevent or at least limit the media attacks on a "dying duck" government in an attempt to bring pressure on a prime minister to call an election. It seems to me that the pressure must have the reverse effect.
I am also pissed off with the "presidential" nature of our government. I don't think our prime minister should be the all powerful "president" of our government but rather the head of a coherent cabinet of like minded and strong individuals. The government should not stand or fall by the likes of Gordon Brown or David Cameron. There is too much trying to make them the equal of Obama for goodness sake, but the Americans run a different democratic system to us. Their system was built upon the hopes and dreams of disenfranchised Englishmen ( and I do believe there is a case to be argued to bring the American revolution back home but that is a different issue from the one being argued here). We mustn't boost the role of the prime minister so he can go and talk on equal status with the USA President. Rather he goes as the representative of a strong and independent nation of some 60 million plus. This brings me back to the status of our other parliamentary representatives and the raising of their salaries to end any reliance upon expense claims or daily attendance allowances or whatever other rot is proposed instead.
Now I know I am going to be asked how can this be paid for? I do have an answer but I would first like to remind readers we are a strong, independent and incredibly wealthy nation. Even in a recession, when those three adjectives come under attack, we still qualify as all three.
I am pissed off (today's expression I fear) about our treatment of the Gurkhas and feel we as a nation have a debt of honour. To hear Phil Woolas trying to mealy-mouth (is that a verb?) his way out of any agreements by saying we must look at the financial costs and implications annoys me. A government that can find billions and billions of funding when they need it can spare a few millions of our money in a matter of national honour and pride.
How will I pay for the increase in salary to our MPs? At the moment we have 646 MPs or one MP for every 92000 people or 68000 electors: 529 for the English (population 50 million), and 117 for the Britons (population 9.75 million). One also needs to add in the fact that the Britons all have their devolved assemblies of their own. I admit the powers to those assemblies are restricted by Westminster but still those assemblies do exist.These numbers will change slightly in 2010, when 4 more English MPs will come into existence while the Britons stay the same, but all that does is increase the total number to 650.
My proposal would be to reduce the number of parliamentary representatives not to increase them as seems the current trend. My suggestion would be reduce the number to 430, thereby cutting 220. This cut would go some way to financing the raise in salary for the new number. The 430 would consist of 360 English MPs and 70 Britons. This would slightly increase the English representation from 81.8% to 83.7%.
In order to do this each MP would have to represent 138967 people or approx 102715 electors. This would mean the end to some historical constituencies and I do love tradition. It would also reduce the Labour strongholds in Briton and possibly enhance the Conservative ones. There are drawbacks to my proposal and I haven't been able to think through them all but doggone it I think it's worth a thought or two!
Don't get me wrong here. I am pissed off with my parliamentary representatives as much as the next man as I think they are in danger of devaluing our system by providing such easy targets for the newspapers and media. I do think part of the problem is the ability of prime ministers to hang on to power until they judge the moment is propitious for a general election. I believe we should insist on exact terms or periods of office - so if a government is elected on the 7th May one year, we all know that the next general election is the 7th May five years hence. This would prevent or at least limit the media attacks on a "dying duck" government in an attempt to bring pressure on a prime minister to call an election. It seems to me that the pressure must have the reverse effect.
I am also pissed off with the "presidential" nature of our government. I don't think our prime minister should be the all powerful "president" of our government but rather the head of a coherent cabinet of like minded and strong individuals. The government should not stand or fall by the likes of Gordon Brown or David Cameron. There is too much trying to make them the equal of Obama for goodness sake, but the Americans run a different democratic system to us. Their system was built upon the hopes and dreams of disenfranchised Englishmen ( and I do believe there is a case to be argued to bring the American revolution back home but that is a different issue from the one being argued here). We mustn't boost the role of the prime minister so he can go and talk on equal status with the USA President. Rather he goes as the representative of a strong and independent nation of some 60 million plus. This brings me back to the status of our other parliamentary representatives and the raising of their salaries to end any reliance upon expense claims or daily attendance allowances or whatever other rot is proposed instead.
Now I know I am going to be asked how can this be paid for? I do have an answer but I would first like to remind readers we are a strong, independent and incredibly wealthy nation. Even in a recession, when those three adjectives come under attack, we still qualify as all three.
I am pissed off (today's expression I fear) about our treatment of the Gurkhas and feel we as a nation have a debt of honour. To hear Phil Woolas trying to mealy-mouth (is that a verb?) his way out of any agreements by saying we must look at the financial costs and implications annoys me. A government that can find billions and billions of funding when they need it can spare a few millions of our money in a matter of national honour and pride.
How will I pay for the increase in salary to our MPs? At the moment we have 646 MPs or one MP for every 92000 people or 68000 electors: 529 for the English (population 50 million), and 117 for the Britons (population 9.75 million). One also needs to add in the fact that the Britons all have their devolved assemblies of their own. I admit the powers to those assemblies are restricted by Westminster but still those assemblies do exist.These numbers will change slightly in 2010, when 4 more English MPs will come into existence while the Britons stay the same, but all that does is increase the total number to 650.
My proposal would be to reduce the number of parliamentary representatives not to increase them as seems the current trend. My suggestion would be reduce the number to 430, thereby cutting 220. This cut would go some way to financing the raise in salary for the new number. The 430 would consist of 360 English MPs and 70 Britons. This would slightly increase the English representation from 81.8% to 83.7%.
In order to do this each MP would have to represent 138967 people or approx 102715 electors. This would mean the end to some historical constituencies and I do love tradition. It would also reduce the Labour strongholds in Briton and possibly enhance the Conservative ones. There are drawbacks to my proposal and I haven't been able to think through them all but doggone it I think it's worth a thought or two!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Paternal Pride!
Below is the link to the News review of "Closer", in which the reviewer refers in glowing terms to the performance of Alice Corrigan as Anna:
"http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/entertainment/Review-Closer.5202520.jp"
Please forgive a father's pride in his younger daughter but the review says everything about the performance that I and her mother saw last night and were unable to express. Comic timing allied with purity of characterisation and emotional depth contributes to a stunning performance! Well done, Kitten!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7174256@N03/sets/72157617196543832/
link to some stunning rehearsal photos by Finchy!
"http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/entertainment/Review-Closer.5202520.jp"
Please forgive a father's pride in his younger daughter but the review says everything about the performance that I and her mother saw last night and were unable to express. Comic timing allied with purity of characterisation and emotional depth contributes to a stunning performance! Well done, Kitten!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7174256@N03/sets/72157617196543832/
link to some stunning rehearsal photos by Finchy!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Welcome to Pompey, Theofanis Gekas
Gekas had a very quiet game, in last night's reserve game (only Primus known name) against West Ham, at West Leigh, as he got very poor service. The wingers (Nlundulu and Alors) weren't up to the task and didn't get enough decent crosses in. He isn't a big bloke but got to some headers he shouldn't have. The midfield (Hurst and Mahoto) seemed to prefer to shoot wildly, rather than pass into the box. He really had very few chances until the 93rd minute when he took a long punt out of defence (Wilkinson continues to impress), swivelled, took it through three defenders to the edge of the box and hit a rasping volley diagonally into the top far corner of the net past a desperately diving goalkeeper. It was a clean and impeccable goal. It was a chance he made personally and took really well. In my opinion he should be played up alongside Crouch and drop Nugent. He won't put in the work of Nugent but he is no slacker and given the sniff of a chance is likely to bury the ball. With some of the chances Nugent as had recently this bloke wouldn't have missed.He looks balanced and difficult to knock off the ball - he is more Maradonna than Henry!
Without Kranjcar and Kaboul, Pompey will have to revert to Johnson and Pennant on right and Herminator and Belhadj on left. With Davis and Basinas in middle, Gekas could be the man supporting Crouch or Kanu to snatch the all important single goal. It doesn't look like he will be playing at Old Trafford, unless last night was to shake off the cobwebs, but against Newcastle and other rivals in relegation battle, he could be the deciding factor and well worth the trial!
Without Kranjcar and Kaboul, Pompey will have to revert to Johnson and Pennant on right and Herminator and Belhadj on left. With Davis and Basinas in middle, Gekas could be the man supporting Crouch or Kanu to snatch the all important single goal. It doesn't look like he will be playing at Old Trafford, unless last night was to shake off the cobwebs, but against Newcastle and other rivals in relegation battle, he could be the deciding factor and well worth the trial!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
We Won!
No not a cry of joy that Pompey sneaked a one goal victory over close rivals Bolton but that the Bench theatre won the quarter finals of the Southern Division of the All England Theatre Festival. Further details can be found on my sister page, Bench Hamlet 2008 (See link to the Right).
Friday, April 10, 2009
The distance in metres?
The Firstborn finally got me on the first of our monthly walks around Hampshire as part of my training for the Great France walk. Trying to fit them in on Sundays around the plethora of family events and rehearsals for a huge range of different productions is no mean feat!
However we settled on a circular walk from Hambledon to the Bat and Ball pub, the cradle of cricket. This is officially a walk of six miles, which distance both the Firstborn and I can do easily enough. The terrain is easy going and the weather was lovely, indeed perfect for walking. We had the Hampshire version of a topo-guide with a description of the walk and points of interest. We also had a Pathfinder map, which I had used on previous occasions to mark in other circular walks recommended by the News columnist, John Price. We set off confidently and well, but had one hiccup finding the footpath across a field to a stile just before Hermitage Farm. We managed to find the stile and the farm, but, having passed the farm, we made our major bloomer. This doesn't presage well for the 1800 kilometres of the Great France Walk but I have no idea mentally or physically what 800 metres feels or looks like!
i am about to digress here for a moment, before returning to the problem we encountered on the walk. I visit B& Q on Wednesdays quite frequently these days, as I have a senior discount card, which gives me 10% off. It also seems the entire elderly or retired population of most of Hampshire do the same. This particular Wednesday I went to buy fence panels. I have already replaced the easily accessible ones to the east of my property, but have decided that the west could do with replacement as well, and hopefully in time for the 60th birthday celebrations of the Best Beloved in the first May weekend. Despite her reservations I went for the whole number in one go with a delivery date giving me two weeks to put the fence panels up. I measured up the task carefully: I needed them all to have the same width but three different heights of 1.2 metres, 1.5 metres and 1.8 metres. This took some mental arithmetic and careful measuring I can tell you but armed with my piece of paper I arrived at B&Q ready for the task. There were insufficient numbers of fence panels on display but I had needed to waylay a young assistant anyway to put my order in. He talked about the number of 6 x 4 I needed, and one 6 x 5, and one 6 x 6. You, intelligent reader, are probably already ahead of me on this one, but I really had difficulty equating what he was saying with my piece of paper. In the end, as we were finalising the order and delivery date, I asked him what measurements was he using. He replied, of course, that he was using imperial - 6ft by 4ft, etc, and instantly I could see the fence panel dimensions in my head and see how the three different sizes correlated. I asked him why he was using imperial when I had spent a lifetime and several tough minutes calculating this particular order in metric. His reply was simple - this was senior Wednesday and most of the clients felt easier with imperial. The moral of my tale is that I could visualise six feet so much easier than its metric equivalent.
Back to the walk. The Firstborn and I were looking for a path to the north, or on our left, at approximately 800 metres after Hermitage Farm. We had travelled 200 metres when we saw a couple of walkers coming down a path to our left and decided quite erroneously that this was the path we sought. We then discovered ourselves at odds with the topo-guide, which promised us a whole series of stiles, which of course we couldn't find, because we were some 600 metres to the west of them. Others might have turned back and retraced their steps, but there is a stubborn Corrigan streak, that at times can be a virtue, but at other times is less so. We eventually found tracks and paths northwards, even though they bore no comforting footpath signposts. My suggestion to cut across fields eastwards, in what I knew was the direction of the pub, were quite correctly turned down by the Firstborn ( she seems to have inherited her mother's quality of common sense and the ability to ignore my inarticulate grumblings). However our sojourn north finally brought us to HMS Mercury, which is some considerable distance north west of the Bat and Ball pub! When we finally arrived at the pub, I calculated the distance we had covered so far on our walk, by using the Pathfinder map. We had intended to do a six mile walk in total, but had already covered seven and a half miles, and had another four miles to get us back to the car at Hambledon! The lunch at the Bat and Ball, and the meeting with Peter Brown and his lovely wife (also having lunch at the pub after a stroll up from Horndean), did not really recompense for the doubling of the walk.
At this rate of misguided navigation, I am more likely to hit the Adriatic than the Mediterranean on the Great France walk.
However we settled on a circular walk from Hambledon to the Bat and Ball pub, the cradle of cricket. This is officially a walk of six miles, which distance both the Firstborn and I can do easily enough. The terrain is easy going and the weather was lovely, indeed perfect for walking. We had the Hampshire version of a topo-guide with a description of the walk and points of interest. We also had a Pathfinder map, which I had used on previous occasions to mark in other circular walks recommended by the News columnist, John Price. We set off confidently and well, but had one hiccup finding the footpath across a field to a stile just before Hermitage Farm. We managed to find the stile and the farm, but, having passed the farm, we made our major bloomer. This doesn't presage well for the 1800 kilometres of the Great France Walk but I have no idea mentally or physically what 800 metres feels or looks like!
i am about to digress here for a moment, before returning to the problem we encountered on the walk. I visit B& Q on Wednesdays quite frequently these days, as I have a senior discount card, which gives me 10% off. It also seems the entire elderly or retired population of most of Hampshire do the same. This particular Wednesday I went to buy fence panels. I have already replaced the easily accessible ones to the east of my property, but have decided that the west could do with replacement as well, and hopefully in time for the 60th birthday celebrations of the Best Beloved in the first May weekend. Despite her reservations I went for the whole number in one go with a delivery date giving me two weeks to put the fence panels up. I measured up the task carefully: I needed them all to have the same width but three different heights of 1.2 metres, 1.5 metres and 1.8 metres. This took some mental arithmetic and careful measuring I can tell you but armed with my piece of paper I arrived at B&Q ready for the task. There were insufficient numbers of fence panels on display but I had needed to waylay a young assistant anyway to put my order in. He talked about the number of 6 x 4 I needed, and one 6 x 5, and one 6 x 6. You, intelligent reader, are probably already ahead of me on this one, but I really had difficulty equating what he was saying with my piece of paper. In the end, as we were finalising the order and delivery date, I asked him what measurements was he using. He replied, of course, that he was using imperial - 6ft by 4ft, etc, and instantly I could see the fence panel dimensions in my head and see how the three different sizes correlated. I asked him why he was using imperial when I had spent a lifetime and several tough minutes calculating this particular order in metric. His reply was simple - this was senior Wednesday and most of the clients felt easier with imperial. The moral of my tale is that I could visualise six feet so much easier than its metric equivalent.
Back to the walk. The Firstborn and I were looking for a path to the north, or on our left, at approximately 800 metres after Hermitage Farm. We had travelled 200 metres when we saw a couple of walkers coming down a path to our left and decided quite erroneously that this was the path we sought. We then discovered ourselves at odds with the topo-guide, which promised us a whole series of stiles, which of course we couldn't find, because we were some 600 metres to the west of them. Others might have turned back and retraced their steps, but there is a stubborn Corrigan streak, that at times can be a virtue, but at other times is less so. We eventually found tracks and paths northwards, even though they bore no comforting footpath signposts. My suggestion to cut across fields eastwards, in what I knew was the direction of the pub, were quite correctly turned down by the Firstborn ( she seems to have inherited her mother's quality of common sense and the ability to ignore my inarticulate grumblings). However our sojourn north finally brought us to HMS Mercury, which is some considerable distance north west of the Bat and Ball pub! When we finally arrived at the pub, I calculated the distance we had covered so far on our walk, by using the Pathfinder map. We had intended to do a six mile walk in total, but had already covered seven and a half miles, and had another four miles to get us back to the car at Hambledon! The lunch at the Bat and Ball, and the meeting with Peter Brown and his lovely wife (also having lunch at the pub after a stroll up from Horndean), did not really recompense for the doubling of the walk.
At this rate of misguided navigation, I am more likely to hit the Adriatic than the Mediterranean on the Great France walk.
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Grand France Walk
I am delighted to say I have already had the offer of one walking companion - cheers. Pedthered! The offers may increase as my plans are made clearer in this blog. I don't seem to have posted for ages and can only really blame the sunshine. Weak and pale it might be and the wind can be freezing at times but oh how pleased I am to see the sun. So much pleased to see the sun that I have been working in the garden!
Besides working in the garden I have been sitting in the garden sheltered from the wind and reading "And Did Those Feet" by Charley Connelly. This is a wonderfully satisfying and witty book about Charley doing several long distance walks in the UK along trails taken by famous historical characters, Boadicea, Saxon Harald, Mary Queen of Scots, to name but three. This is a marvellous intertwining of history and walking.
In the light of my planned Grand France Walk (see previous postings - 1100 miles from the Channel coast to the Mediterranean cote)I am fascinated by the whole book but particularly by his early chapters on walking itself. This quote is from page 8:
There can surely be no better way to ease your way to a healthier mind and body than by walking. It's leisurely. it's good for you, it's easy. You don't need any special equipment*; you don't meed any particular skills or training. Walking is a scandalously under-rated and ill-appreciated human trait. (C) Charley Connelly.
The asterisk * is my addition to the quaote because by page 15 Charley does adjust that statement to: you do need "the right equipment" and he cites "chafing" as been one of the main reasons. My own personal painful experience backs up this comment.
Charley quotes other great minds who equate walking with thinking. Many was the time I was trapped in meetings with colleagues or with the head teacher and I had to excuse myself to get up and start pacing up and down. My brain felt waterlogged with ideas, concepts and decisions. The only way I could get my brain to function more effectively was to be up on my feet. I also found that I taught better if up on my feet and prowling the classroom. The subject matter and the delivery may have been boring but the pupils never knew where I was going to end up next.
Charley also relates that his early walks exhausted him (page 15) and now I have started walking everywhere in the local vicinity - I even walk to my exercise classes at Langstone and at Hilsea - I know what he means. I also know what he means by moisture wicking clothing. Being a large man incline to perspire freely, I have found the need for moisture wicking underwear and T shirts an imperative acquisition. He also recommends light cotton walking trousers of which I have already a few pairs as I have found them invaluable in the past for camping and walking. I have waterproof over-trousers but need to find a much lighter weight pair. I have no need yet of fleeces, socks of different thicknesses and base layers but figure I may have to invest carefully when I begin the Grand France Walk for real.
I have a pair of good quality walking boots which I have had for a number of years now. I suspect that they may need replacing more than once on the 1100 mile trek across France. I am using Google Earth at the moment to way mark the journey across France and have so far reached Chinon. I am interested in seeing the topography of the walk as I know that the challenge of mountain walking will be presented to me several times and I have expressed my fear of heights many times in previous posts. I am also working on the logistics of how to achieve the walk and the problems of overnight accommodation. I do have a number of viable options already and may take a leaf out of the best beloved's flexibility manual and try a variety on the journey. I would remind regular readers that the journey will be in small sections in spring and autumn over about four years - 150 miles per section or 300 miles per year should see the enterprise achieved.
The Firstborn has already got me to agree to monthly Sunday walks with her. We will probably begin at the five mile length and build up. I hope to do the Wayfarers Walk and parts of the South Downs Walk as preparation or rehearsal for the Grand France Walk. However I am hoping I will be able to persuade the Best Beloved that we can begin in autumn 2009 and walk the first section from Ouistreham to Saint Denis sur Sarthon or 128 miles on the Grande Randonnee (GR)36. This is eight days' worth of walking but could be spread over two weeks of camping in late September and/or early October with rest days interspersed amongst the walking.
Besides working in the garden I have been sitting in the garden sheltered from the wind and reading "And Did Those Feet" by Charley Connelly. This is a wonderfully satisfying and witty book about Charley doing several long distance walks in the UK along trails taken by famous historical characters, Boadicea, Saxon Harald, Mary Queen of Scots, to name but three. This is a marvellous intertwining of history and walking.
In the light of my planned Grand France Walk (see previous postings - 1100 miles from the Channel coast to the Mediterranean cote)I am fascinated by the whole book but particularly by his early chapters on walking itself. This quote is from page 8:
There can surely be no better way to ease your way to a healthier mind and body than by walking. It's leisurely. it's good for you, it's easy. You don't need any special equipment*; you don't meed any particular skills or training. Walking is a scandalously under-rated and ill-appreciated human trait. (C) Charley Connelly.
The asterisk * is my addition to the quaote because by page 15 Charley does adjust that statement to: you do need "the right equipment" and he cites "chafing" as been one of the main reasons. My own personal painful experience backs up this comment.
Charley quotes other great minds who equate walking with thinking. Many was the time I was trapped in meetings with colleagues or with the head teacher and I had to excuse myself to get up and start pacing up and down. My brain felt waterlogged with ideas, concepts and decisions. The only way I could get my brain to function more effectively was to be up on my feet. I also found that I taught better if up on my feet and prowling the classroom. The subject matter and the delivery may have been boring but the pupils never knew where I was going to end up next.
Charley also relates that his early walks exhausted him (page 15) and now I have started walking everywhere in the local vicinity - I even walk to my exercise classes at Langstone and at Hilsea - I know what he means. I also know what he means by moisture wicking clothing. Being a large man incline to perspire freely, I have found the need for moisture wicking underwear and T shirts an imperative acquisition. He also recommends light cotton walking trousers of which I have already a few pairs as I have found them invaluable in the past for camping and walking. I have waterproof over-trousers but need to find a much lighter weight pair. I have no need yet of fleeces, socks of different thicknesses and base layers but figure I may have to invest carefully when I begin the Grand France Walk for real.
I have a pair of good quality walking boots which I have had for a number of years now. I suspect that they may need replacing more than once on the 1100 mile trek across France. I am using Google Earth at the moment to way mark the journey across France and have so far reached Chinon. I am interested in seeing the topography of the walk as I know that the challenge of mountain walking will be presented to me several times and I have expressed my fear of heights many times in previous posts. I am also working on the logistics of how to achieve the walk and the problems of overnight accommodation. I do have a number of viable options already and may take a leaf out of the best beloved's flexibility manual and try a variety on the journey. I would remind regular readers that the journey will be in small sections in spring and autumn over about four years - 150 miles per section or 300 miles per year should see the enterprise achieved.
The Firstborn has already got me to agree to monthly Sunday walks with her. We will probably begin at the five mile length and build up. I hope to do the Wayfarers Walk and parts of the South Downs Walk as preparation or rehearsal for the Grand France Walk. However I am hoping I will be able to persuade the Best Beloved that we can begin in autumn 2009 and walk the first section from Ouistreham to Saint Denis sur Sarthon or 128 miles on the Grande Randonnee (GR)36. This is eight days' worth of walking but could be spread over two weeks of camping in late September and/or early October with rest days interspersed amongst the walking.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Pompey - further thoughts on a theme
George Egglestone was complaining about the turgidity of the first half against Stoke. I must admit Pompey first halves are normally chronic affairs but the gaining of points is all that matters at this moment in time. George sits in the south stand and I sit in the north stand. We exchange thoughts, ideas and feelings on Pompey more regularly now we have joined the ranks of grumpy old men.
Pompey are excused duty this weekend because hopefully Manchester United are screwing the chances of the previous manager but one to win the Carling Cup. However I have no real objections to him winning this trophy as long as he ends up below us in the league table and perhaps drops down to the Championship even.
Next Tuesday Pompey play Chelsea at home and the Scolari Chelsea might have been in our sights but the rejuvenated Chelsea should be too strong for us on paper but perhaps a surprise draw might still be on the cards. That is an awfully long sentence but I was holding my breath and disbelief while I wrote it!
However we need twelve points to reach the magic number of 40. We must beat Middlesbrough away, WBA, Sunderland and Bolton at home. If we can force draws with Everton here at home, Hull and Newcastle away we will give ourselves a buffer zone of three extra points. These 15 points will also help to keep other teams below us and in the relegation zone.
We are playing better defensively and we were robbed by a rotten referee decision for a penalty at Stoke. However if I see Distin or Campbell with their hand up and an opposing forward looping a header into our net yet again (Beattie at Stoke and Torres at Fratton) rather than getting between the player and goal I shall do myself a mischief! Hreidarrson should have continued off the field after chasing the winger but didn't and so kept Beattie onside so what game was Distin watching to claim offside?
I don't think Crouch is our best striker when it comes to speedy counter attacking. He works really hard at winning the ball coming out of defence and he works really hard as the first line of defence. I don't think Kranjcar is strong enough to be the main playmaker in the hole behind the striker(s). Basinas played a really tight passing game for his first two games but looked a bit bewildered by what was expected of him at Stoke - too many lofted balls. He is a neat passer along the ground and needs better outlets provided.
I am seriously tempted by the double ranks of four in defence and four in midfield, especially in away games, with a variation in home games. I have problems with the attack in either version.
Four in defence are Johnson, Campbell, Distin and Hreidarrson. I would use Kaboul if the opposing attackers are more mobile and Pamarot would be my defensive substitute.
Four in midfield are Little, Davis, Basinas and Hughes. I think the middle two are forming a partnership worth cultivating. I know the latter two have been out of the picture with injuries but I would stick them both in front of the full backs with instructions to hold their ground. I wouldn't expect either to come marauding forward.
The variation at home would be to replace either Little with Pennant or Hughes with Belhadj. Traore would be my substitute. Kranjcar could also be used as the player in the hole if I wanted a further tactical change.
Up front is a real problem. I would like to see the Greek Gekas given a run out but he is a complete unknown quantity to the fans. He is a shoulder of the last defender sort of guy who does his best work in the 12 yard box. He is not a lone striker and therefore needs to be working in a partnership but with whom? I have expressed my reservations about Crouch but he can be used in the looser formation at home when Pennant or Belhadj are playing but needs to be encouraged to go for goal himself rather than laying off for non-existent support. He needs to get into the box more.
Nugent is a willing war horse but lacks the cutting edge and skills needed to worry Premiership defences. Utaka has the pace but lacks the cutting edge and skills needed to worry Premiership defences. Kanu is a slower version of Crouch. Both these players need pacy support men.
Up front away from home I would use a pace merchant like Utaka in the centre prompted and supported by another trickier striker or midfield player. Both these players would be expected to be knackered by the second half or the hour mark and therefore to be substituted by a similar pairing or a pair offering something slightly different. Perhaps away from home Pennant, Traore or Belhadj could be that trickier player playing in the hole behind or beside the lone striker. Perhaps young Pele might also find a role here or at least as one of the substituting pair. Nugent could form one of the substituting pair as well. As you can see I have real problems with the attacking options using the players we have got. I still think we needed a powerful playmaker in that hole and a stronger forward. I am glad we didn't buy Jimmy Bullard in the end (turned out too expensive by far) but he and Nolan were the sort of players I had in mind. Someone in the shape of an Emile Heskey, Darren Bent, Marlon Harewood or even Carlton Cole was the sort of forward I had thought about. Play Up Pompey! I am not depressed and think we are in with a real chance of escaping relegation with Hart and Kidd in charge but the view from the South and North Stands is going to be of pretty dire football at times. However Pompey goals scored and Pompey points gained are all the game is about for the rest of this season. Then we can build for next season in the summer.
I wish the owner would sell the club and let us all move forward on the new stadium. I saw a new Fratton Park of 40000 capacity as part of a dream scenario for the World Cup bid. I also see that an entertainment arena as part of the new stadium would add real benefit to the scene on the South Coast. I appreciate what the owner has done but he has now become something of a block and needs to make way for a new investment of money, energy or ideas.
Pompey are excused duty this weekend because hopefully Manchester United are screwing the chances of the previous manager but one to win the Carling Cup. However I have no real objections to him winning this trophy as long as he ends up below us in the league table and perhaps drops down to the Championship even.
Next Tuesday Pompey play Chelsea at home and the Scolari Chelsea might have been in our sights but the rejuvenated Chelsea should be too strong for us on paper but perhaps a surprise draw might still be on the cards. That is an awfully long sentence but I was holding my breath and disbelief while I wrote it!
However we need twelve points to reach the magic number of 40. We must beat Middlesbrough away, WBA, Sunderland and Bolton at home. If we can force draws with Everton here at home, Hull and Newcastle away we will give ourselves a buffer zone of three extra points. These 15 points will also help to keep other teams below us and in the relegation zone.
We are playing better defensively and we were robbed by a rotten referee decision for a penalty at Stoke. However if I see Distin or Campbell with their hand up and an opposing forward looping a header into our net yet again (Beattie at Stoke and Torres at Fratton) rather than getting between the player and goal I shall do myself a mischief! Hreidarrson should have continued off the field after chasing the winger but didn't and so kept Beattie onside so what game was Distin watching to claim offside?
I don't think Crouch is our best striker when it comes to speedy counter attacking. He works really hard at winning the ball coming out of defence and he works really hard as the first line of defence. I don't think Kranjcar is strong enough to be the main playmaker in the hole behind the striker(s). Basinas played a really tight passing game for his first two games but looked a bit bewildered by what was expected of him at Stoke - too many lofted balls. He is a neat passer along the ground and needs better outlets provided.
I am seriously tempted by the double ranks of four in defence and four in midfield, especially in away games, with a variation in home games. I have problems with the attack in either version.
Four in defence are Johnson, Campbell, Distin and Hreidarrson. I would use Kaboul if the opposing attackers are more mobile and Pamarot would be my defensive substitute.
Four in midfield are Little, Davis, Basinas and Hughes. I think the middle two are forming a partnership worth cultivating. I know the latter two have been out of the picture with injuries but I would stick them both in front of the full backs with instructions to hold their ground. I wouldn't expect either to come marauding forward.
The variation at home would be to replace either Little with Pennant or Hughes with Belhadj. Traore would be my substitute. Kranjcar could also be used as the player in the hole if I wanted a further tactical change.
Up front is a real problem. I would like to see the Greek Gekas given a run out but he is a complete unknown quantity to the fans. He is a shoulder of the last defender sort of guy who does his best work in the 12 yard box. He is not a lone striker and therefore needs to be working in a partnership but with whom? I have expressed my reservations about Crouch but he can be used in the looser formation at home when Pennant or Belhadj are playing but needs to be encouraged to go for goal himself rather than laying off for non-existent support. He needs to get into the box more.
Nugent is a willing war horse but lacks the cutting edge and skills needed to worry Premiership defences. Utaka has the pace but lacks the cutting edge and skills needed to worry Premiership defences. Kanu is a slower version of Crouch. Both these players need pacy support men.
Up front away from home I would use a pace merchant like Utaka in the centre prompted and supported by another trickier striker or midfield player. Both these players would be expected to be knackered by the second half or the hour mark and therefore to be substituted by a similar pairing or a pair offering something slightly different. Perhaps away from home Pennant, Traore or Belhadj could be that trickier player playing in the hole behind or beside the lone striker. Perhaps young Pele might also find a role here or at least as one of the substituting pair. Nugent could form one of the substituting pair as well. As you can see I have real problems with the attacking options using the players we have got. I still think we needed a powerful playmaker in that hole and a stronger forward. I am glad we didn't buy Jimmy Bullard in the end (turned out too expensive by far) but he and Nolan were the sort of players I had in mind. Someone in the shape of an Emile Heskey, Darren Bent, Marlon Harewood or even Carlton Cole was the sort of forward I had thought about. Play Up Pompey! I am not depressed and think we are in with a real chance of escaping relegation with Hart and Kidd in charge but the view from the South and North Stands is going to be of pretty dire football at times. However Pompey goals scored and Pompey points gained are all the game is about for the rest of this season. Then we can build for next season in the summer.
I wish the owner would sell the club and let us all move forward on the new stadium. I saw a new Fratton Park of 40000 capacity as part of a dream scenario for the World Cup bid. I also see that an entertainment arena as part of the new stadium would add real benefit to the scene on the South Coast. I appreciate what the owner has done but he has now become something of a block and needs to make way for a new investment of money, energy or ideas.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
How to eat an elephant?
The idea is to walk 1800 kilometres or 1100 miles from Caen on the Channel to Marseilles on the Mediterranean. The idea is not mine but is taken from the website, France on Foot.
My own suggestion would be to bring the walk down into bite size chunks, a week here or a fortnight there, rather than attempting to do the whole walk in one. How do you eat an elephant? One mouthful at a time is the answer.
The fact that someone has done the trip before me and written extensively about the experience deters me not a jot. I feel that attempting the task and the effort/determination to complete it will be beneficial to me as a person. I am not a trailblazer or put off by walking in others’ footsteps. I am not trying to claim credit for the idea but am rather setting myself a challenge that perhaps would have been impossible at any other stage of my life. I will need to plan and prepare to a degree that I have rarely needed to do. I will also need the assistance of the best beloved in the matter of helping with the logistics. On occasion I hope to welcome her as a walking companion but don’t intend insisting on her walking all the way with me. I hope others will join me on occasions and in sections of the walk. I could also see if people were willing to sponsor me for some or the entire walk and give the money raised to charity. But the aim is the walk itself!
I am writing about it in my blog to publish my intentions and to stiffen my resolve. I don’t want the idea to remain a pipe dream. This is something I have thought about and dreamed of during the last few years of my teaching career. When asked what I was going to do on my retirement, I would often say that my ambition was to walk one of the grand randonnees in France without giving too much thought to how or when.
I believe my physical health and well being is now good enough to sustain the endeavour if done over sufficient time. Thanks to the lovely Debbie Hobbs (Cardiac Rehab IV), I am fitter now than I have been for some years. I am overweight. If, however, I wait until I have lost weight I won’t start. Instead by setting myself the goal and getting into training for the event I will actually motivate myself to lose weight, thus achieving both aims. I will also check with my doctor and cardiologist to make sure I am doing nothing untoward. The sufficient time though depends on whether I do one or two sessions per year. I would want to walk in spring or autumn rather than in the summer. I could therefore in theory do both a spring and autumn expedition in one year if I chose or was able.
In the walk described at France on Foot, the account is only of the first 494 miles or just under half of the trip. This half takes 32 days in 4 instalments of about 127 miles each. If I did one instalment a year, it would take me four years but if I could manage two instalments a year I could do the whole walk in four years, which would see me to 2013 or my 66th year.
In the walk described at France on Foot, the first section is 128 miles long over 8 days. This is approximately 11.5 miles per day. (There are 1.6 kilometres in a mile.) I had expected to do days of walking interspersed with rest days and may have to revert to this plan after I have reviewed my training. I need to build up my walking gradually in terms of energy levels and distance covered. There is the local Wayfarers Walk and, of course, the South Downs Walk on which to practise. In the past I have mainly done circular walks, which are still valid exercise, but are not extending enough in their own right.
I already have the maps on which to plan the route. I have thought about this plan before but it has returned to me with a new determination. I need to think about equipment especially boots and clothing. I will also need to think about the logistics as my initial plan is to move from camp-site to camp-site along the randonnee. Rather than carrying my tent, though, I have a different plan, which involves the best beloved closely. She is not adverse to the plan I have sketched for her but is interested in the detail almost as much as I am. This post is obviously one I shall return to frequently as the idea takes more concrete shape in my head. For now it is back to the funding applications I am putting in for the Havant Literary Festival.
My own suggestion would be to bring the walk down into bite size chunks, a week here or a fortnight there, rather than attempting to do the whole walk in one. How do you eat an elephant? One mouthful at a time is the answer.
The fact that someone has done the trip before me and written extensively about the experience deters me not a jot. I feel that attempting the task and the effort/determination to complete it will be beneficial to me as a person. I am not a trailblazer or put off by walking in others’ footsteps. I am not trying to claim credit for the idea but am rather setting myself a challenge that perhaps would have been impossible at any other stage of my life. I will need to plan and prepare to a degree that I have rarely needed to do. I will also need the assistance of the best beloved in the matter of helping with the logistics. On occasion I hope to welcome her as a walking companion but don’t intend insisting on her walking all the way with me. I hope others will join me on occasions and in sections of the walk. I could also see if people were willing to sponsor me for some or the entire walk and give the money raised to charity. But the aim is the walk itself!
I am writing about it in my blog to publish my intentions and to stiffen my resolve. I don’t want the idea to remain a pipe dream. This is something I have thought about and dreamed of during the last few years of my teaching career. When asked what I was going to do on my retirement, I would often say that my ambition was to walk one of the grand randonnees in France without giving too much thought to how or when.
I believe my physical health and well being is now good enough to sustain the endeavour if done over sufficient time. Thanks to the lovely Debbie Hobbs (Cardiac Rehab IV), I am fitter now than I have been for some years. I am overweight. If, however, I wait until I have lost weight I won’t start. Instead by setting myself the goal and getting into training for the event I will actually motivate myself to lose weight, thus achieving both aims. I will also check with my doctor and cardiologist to make sure I am doing nothing untoward. The sufficient time though depends on whether I do one or two sessions per year. I would want to walk in spring or autumn rather than in the summer. I could therefore in theory do both a spring and autumn expedition in one year if I chose or was able.
In the walk described at France on Foot, the account is only of the first 494 miles or just under half of the trip. This half takes 32 days in 4 instalments of about 127 miles each. If I did one instalment a year, it would take me four years but if I could manage two instalments a year I could do the whole walk in four years, which would see me to 2013 or my 66th year.
In the walk described at France on Foot, the first section is 128 miles long over 8 days. This is approximately 11.5 miles per day. (There are 1.6 kilometres in a mile.) I had expected to do days of walking interspersed with rest days and may have to revert to this plan after I have reviewed my training. I need to build up my walking gradually in terms of energy levels and distance covered. There is the local Wayfarers Walk and, of course, the South Downs Walk on which to practise. In the past I have mainly done circular walks, which are still valid exercise, but are not extending enough in their own right.
I already have the maps on which to plan the route. I have thought about this plan before but it has returned to me with a new determination. I need to think about equipment especially boots and clothing. I will also need to think about the logistics as my initial plan is to move from camp-site to camp-site along the randonnee. Rather than carrying my tent, though, I have a different plan, which involves the best beloved closely. She is not adverse to the plan I have sketched for her but is interested in the detail almost as much as I am. This post is obviously one I shall return to frequently as the idea takes more concrete shape in my head. For now it is back to the funding applications I am putting in for the Havant Literary Festival.
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