April 2011
1 post
Death of the PS3?
Some of you may have heard the news about the PlayStation Network being down due to ‘external intrusion’ and the following Network blackout that ensued over the Easter Weekend. Some blamed ‘Anonymous’ for the treatment of the hacker GeoHot (Link Here) or that Sony had taken it done for mandatory updates. The truth of the situation was far, far worse.
The face of a...
October 2010
2 posts
8 tags
Five Rooney Replacements
The major sporting news at the moment is the news that Wayne Rooney has announced he’s going to leave Manchester United. Yet another major player to leave Old Trafford in recent years. Many will ask the question - Who could replace Rooney upfront at Manchester United?
Well here’s a list of the five guys I think could do the job:
The Full-Package
Luis Fabiano – 29 - Sevilla –...
The Liverpool Situation
To be a Liverpool fan at the moment is kind of parallel to being Bambi.
The once brave, strong and loving parent you know has been shot by cruel American hunters and the state of decline is getting ever worse - the only difference is that Liverpool isn’t dead yet unlike Bambi’s mother.
However, if the Royal Bank of Scotland do decide to proceed with their October 15th deadline then...
September 2010
3 posts
6 tags
Why NFL won't go global
My argument is that the NFL won’t successfully be able to go ‘Global’ for a sustained period of time. Why? Well for one - the name. Two - lack of interest in key areas. Three - foreigners just don’t get it. I hear the ‘it’s stop start nonsense’ and ‘whats happening? Why are they kicking it to them now?’ that places emphasis on point three. The...
7 tags
2010 NFL Sleeper Pick
The start of the NFL season is just round the corner and with that you get everybody and their uncle predicting what will happen. Whether it is Superbowl champion to MVP or from sleeper team to NFC East champions, you can guarantee that someone will have an idea as to who will be these very things… I’m no different and here I’ll be offering who I think is my ‘sleeper...
8 tags
Best & Worst Premiership Team Transfers v2.0
Just before the start of the season I wrote a piece about the transfers that had been made and how they’ll affect their teams (http://tinyurl.com/33j7rbg). Now this was written nearly two weeks before the close of the transfer window, and since then things have changed. My criteria is still the same:
Based on where the teams finished last year, how these signings will help, who they’ve...
August 2010
4 posts
3 tags
Unfair Treatment
Everyone knows that Fabio Capello has a slight problem behind him, one that affects his ability to do his job properly - the British media is against him. Ever since the World Cup I’ve had a hard time reading any article to do with English football that doesn’t mention Capello and the overall tone of the article be negative. “He doesn’t know what he’s doing”,...
5 tags
The Reality of the Situation
It’s no hidden fact that despite football’s massive effect on the country - there’s a problem. A problem that ends up effecting the fans of every team. Debt. Out of the 92 teams that play in professional leagues - it’s very difficult to say that any of those teams are well off. People buy into the money marks. People like Ambramovich, Middle Eastern funding of Man City and...
Best & Worst Premiership Team Transfers
This summer has seen the sporting press been dominated by the World Cup and ever since then it’s been whoever moneybags, Man City are linked with buying next. While they have made some good, but high expensive signings, they’ve not been the best compared to others.
NOTE: My opinions are based on where the teams finished last year, how these signings will help, who they’ve...
Blue Shell of Doom
If you’re confused by the title then you’ve clearly never played any of Mario Kart series games. Alongside Princess Peach, no other item/character has caused players to rage over at it’s annoyance. Although Peach has been toned down in the recent games (and she’s been outdone by her comparison - Daisy) the Blue Shell’s annoyance is persistent but this is just a...
July 2010
10 posts
Toy Story 3
I previously had a blog about my expectations for Toy Story 3 (link - http://newc868.tumblr.com/post/794547525/pixar-perfection) and I wasn’t wrong. From start to finish it was perfect. It’s no overstatement to say that this is the greatest CGI and Pixar film ever. It’s rare you find a sequel that is better than the original… it’s even rarer to find a 3rd film that is...
...
Basically, I can’t think of nothing to write about atm so this whole thing goes on hiatus until some sporting news becomes relevant. I’m not one to particularly engage in ridiculous transfer talk and speculation so that leaves football an empty shell… plus, the NBA and NFL are in off season and the only sport I’m watching is the Tour de France…
So yeah. Toy Story 3...
A dream in a dream... in a dream movie.
That’s the concept behind Inception. It seems cliché and like every other ‘psychological’ film… but it isn’t and could be described as an 150 minute head turner that leaves you pondering about that nights sleep.
A thrilling tale of one man’s struggle to return to normality and to find out the mysteries behind the man. It starts with an untold story. A rugged...
FIFA World Cup Final
Football chess. BBC have often referred to this match as just that - football chess. You’d be hard pressed to disagree with such a sentiment. Spain and Holland have played great football. Nothing substantial but a masterclass in patient build play with hints of counter attacking via the Dutch. Chances have been few and far between but Arjen Robben should’ve displaced Johan Cryuff and...
Pixar Perfection?
On my stroll to ASDA earlier - I realised something. I realised just how awesome Pixar are as film makers. This is probably obvious to many who’ve seen their films but I ran through my head the previous 11 films that have been made by them, I couldn’t dislike a single one of them and then I realised what this meant for my future self in 2 weeks. That realisation was - Toy Story 3 is...
Viva la Bundesliga!
Germany. One of the European superpowers of football. A history so rich with glory and magnificent players. A national league that is still finds itself not suffering the effects from the over-influx of foreign players or mega-money. Germany - the best footballing nation in the world… Ok so the start of this may sound absolutely ridiculous to most people as they will believe entirely that...
It's better... but not that great... Twilight...
Time to review Twilight Saga: Eclipse… yes this isn’t based around sports but instead it is solely based on the “movie phenomenon of Summer…” … … I’m not believing it either - that’s going to be Toy Story 3 without a doubt anyways moving on the review.
Key - Sparkle = Edward Cullen/Robert Pattinson, Moody = Bella Swan/Kristen Stewart and...
Surprise! Controversy! Domination! David Villa!...
Germany vs Argentina. Both teams favourites to qualify from their group stage and eventually meet in the quarters. Disappointed we were not. After their destruction of England in the 2nd round, Germany were looking like serious contenders - a term that hadn’t been used much to describe them so far during the tournament. Argentina had beat Mexico in the 2nd round but with the lack of goals...
Surprise! Controversy! Domination! David Villa!...
5 words. Only 5 words. That could sum up the 2010 FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals. However, I’ve got more to add on this. It’s difficult where to start… but I think I’ll start with Luis Suarez and Uruguay vs Ghana.
What was promising to be an interesting game has probably become the biggest talking point of the World Cup. Muntari had scored for Ghana. Forlan with a great...
Wimbledon to fill the void... plus 2 eras ending?
Ok so the World Cup hasn’t been occurring the past two days (expect that to change tomorrow) and it’s allowed for a break in international football and attention has been drawn to SW19. It’s Wimbledon. Strawberries and Cream all-round.
We’ve seen the longest match in history. We’ve seen champions fall. We’ve seen stars emerge. We’re at the Semi-finals...
June 2010
19 posts
Brazil and Spain look unstoppable
Brazil smashed Chile 3-0 last night and looked absolutely lethal. Spain tonight have systematically taken apart Portugal. Holland defeat Slovakia 2-1. Paraguay beat Japan on penalties - which couldn’t save the match from being absolutely woeful.
And so we have our Quarter Final matches - Uruguay vs Ghana and Brazil vs Netherlands on one side of the draw. Germany vs Argentina and Spain vs...
Capello's Choices or Pierce's Picks?
I don’t want Capello to leave. I would like an explanation but I don’t want him to leave. There’s only so much you can hope for. I anticipate seeing the headlines tomorrow - The Daily Mail saying half the German team were foreigners, The Express relating it to the death of Princes Diana but most of all The Sun over dramatise this as our worst performance in a while. To which I...
(Quarter) Finally for some!
Uruguay and Ghana is the first quarter-final lined up after both sides won 2-1. Two Luis Suarez goals saw Uruguay top perennial underdogs South Korea whose mix of maturity and youth saw them look impressive but it’s hard to see them doing better than there 2002 Semi-Final appearance. Uruguay however look like this could be there best World Cup with a wealth of talent up front and the defence...
2nd Round begins tomorrow
So Spain, Chile, Brazil and Portugal wrapped up qualification into the 2nd round today and that completes the Group Stage of competition. The number of teams has been cut in half from 32 to 16 - we say farewell to hosts South Africa, 2006 finalists France and Italy, Australia, New Zealand, North Korea, Serbia, Algeria, Slovakia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Switzerland, Honduras, Nigeria, Greece and...
More games
Yeah so Germany, Ghana, Paraguay, Slovakia, Holland and Japan went through. Great for them. Hope they enjoy it blah blah blah they worked so hard blah blah blah played a good game blah blah deserved winners blah blah blah.
Serbia, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Denmark and Cameroon went out. They didn’t play well. They sucked (except from New Zealand) I hope they enjoy being out blah blah...
Now the real test begins...
The be all and end all is that we won. We’re through. England are in the 2nd round after two bad displays. Yes. However, Landon Donovan means that we finish 2nd in the group… in a dreaded position considering where it drops us in the knockout stage draw.
People have been looking at the wall charts - does this mean Germany, Argentina and Spain before the final? Yes it may do but nothing...
Park Ji-Sung + Papa Smurf into 2nd Round
Well other than the fact that they faced an 11 men in the box type defence it was all easy for Argentina, a third win, 2-0 over Greece and sets up an interesting draw with Mexico. The goals coming from Martin Demichellis and the 36 year old Martin Palermo - who is actually the second oldest scorer at this World Cup - saw them top the Greeks who turned up at the World Cup looking like they’d...
Goodbye Bafana Bafana and Les Bleus
Well there finishes Group A. Uruguay on top and now looking to face Group B runners-up (most likely South Korea) and Mexico finishing second due to South Africa not scoring enough goals against the woeful France. It’s all neatly poised now as we wait this evenings games.
France have only themselves to blame. 1-nil and 1 man down after 20 minutes meant that it was always going to be a...
Interesting World Cup this...
The French are in turmoil. Italy are limping. England are almost as bad as the French. Half the top seeds aren’t even through to the next round yet - or look favourites to. Switzerland are now the best defensive side in World Cup history. Portugal the top goalscorers. Almost all of the host continent teams are on their way out and South America looks stronger than ever before - Welcome to...
Brazil truimph, Italy faulter
Well well Brazil have played a blinder tonight and have certainly looked probably the most in-form side in this World Cup… especially in the top seeds. This brings me to Italy.
They were consistently denied another goal earlier by the All Whites of New Zealand and now face the same situation as England do - win or go home. They seemed laxidasical and half-hearted at points but this is not...
World Cup Days 9 & 10 - Group D/E/F
Yesterdays stuff mixed in with some of today’s action:
In Group D, Australia made Ghana’s position to qualify ever the more difficult as they held them to a 1-1 draw. Australia made the early braek through and in a game where strikers weren’t the most prominent it was another penalty for Ghana that got the goal for them. Australia this time saw Harry Kewell sent off for a...
World Cup Days 7 & 8 - Group A/B/C/D
I’m a bit behind on these so this will be short group overviews:
France = fail and are being dragged through the exit door. Mexico and Uruguay only need to draw to both go through for certain but maybe the prospect of Argentina in the 2nd round frightens one - so expect something of a good game.
Argentina = through to the 2nd round and will most likely finish top. They face Greece next,...
World Cup Day 6 - Group H/A
Day 6 and we come back again to the Group A… after the earlier games of Group H that is. Now Day 6 is so far probably the most memorable day of the World Cup as we’ve seen classy football, a massive upset, a momentous goal and a heartbreaking red card. So with that - let’s begin.
It’s hard to choose which game to make my feature piece but I’ll give it to the home...
World Cup Day 5 - Group F/G
Late post from yesterday due to Match of the Day problems.
Brazil started their campaign in a less than convincing performance by beating North Korea 2-1. It was a lacklustre affair for the Brazilians, especially in the first half, and if wasn’t for a brilliant goal from Maicon (intended or not) and then an amazing pass from Robinho finding Elano then they would’ve limped to a draw or...
World Cup Day 4 - Group E/F
Day 4 and we get two favourites starting their tournaments today - Holland and Italy. The teams have a contrasting factor in that many perceive this to be Holland’s build up to a successful run in Euro 2012 and Brazil 2014 whereas Italy many perceive this to be their final chance for the World Cup for a while. Now onto the games:
Holland are the seeded team in Group E and they started their...
World Cup Day 3 - Group C/D
Another day… another 3 games… and another 3 red cards. That makes 4 reds in 8 games… yep card happy refs are at it again causing a casualty in every game and every team who had a player sent off then lost… anyways onto the performances.
Germany were the seeded team playing today against the ‘Asian’ side of Australia and they promptly dismantled them 4-0....
World Cup Day 2 - Group B/C
Ok so the tournament started yesterday but for the English it was tonight. Earlier in the day we were treated to some mediocre performances from Greece and Argentina but we only cared for the 7.30pm kick off on ITV and we can’t feel disappointed only disheartened.
As you’ll know by now we drew 1-1 with USA. It wasn’t a great performance but wasn’t the worst tbh - just...
World Cup Day 1 - Group A
So it begins… although the better ceremony was held on the previous night, the one ahead of the South Africa - Mexico game did nothing but help remind us of how much this event means to not only South Africa but the whole continent. Many will find it sub-par in comparison to the Olympics but unlike China this was 100% real.
Now we move onto the footballing side of matters. South Africa and...
World Cup World Cup World Cup World Cup
World Cup rawr rawr rawr rawr arawejfangmfnbuenb!
It’s almost time again for that magical month that comes once every four years. To quote David Mitchell - It’s football! Football! Football!
I for one am very excited not only for the event itself but because this will be England’s best chance for years to come. We may say that everytime and its soon becoming cliche but it is a...
May 2010
4 posts
Red Bull gives you wings... ones with aerodynamics...
Taking a step away from football, I plan to show diversity in the topics that I talk about in this here bloggity.
Now the first port of call is my address to the teams currently in Formula One - please stop Red Bull at all costs. I can’t watch a qualifying session without the knowledge that I’m going to have to listen to Legard and Brundle shout about the challenger of the week to the...
Chiles, Carlos, Capello, Crouch and Champions...
Note: As I write this I’m sat watching ITV coverage of England vs Mexico in World Cup warm-up game.
A couple of weeks ago the BBC cocked up. They practically handed their rivals the most underrated weapon in television - Adrian Chiles. In a move similar to Carlos Tevez jumping ship from Manchester United to Manchester City - failure to secure a long term deal has cost the BBC and Manchester...
Olympic Mascots, The Daily Fail and Cesc
Well a couple of things have been revealed in the past week that just maintain the ridiculousness of the sporting world today.
Firstly we had the Daily Mail effectively wipe out any chance of the 2018 FIFA World Cup because they decided to out Lord Triesman in order to sell a few extra copies of the paper. Cue national backlash not only from the other media and the public but also from Gary...
My first bloggity
Hello… I don’t know who the hell will be reading this… unless it’s someone I link to. Anyways I shall be using this things to blog about general things that I like so sports, computer games, music and Youtube.
First proper blog thing will be up later today.