So it's decision time again, and no I dont mean on the X-Factor or Strictly....This vote means so much more.
On Thursday, 22 FIFA delegates will decide which Countries will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Bidding to host the 2018 event are, Belguim/Netherlands, Spain'Portugal and single bids from Russia and England.The 2022 bid will be contested between Australia, USA, Qatar, Japan and South Korea.
The bidding process has been undermined since Day one when FIFA agreed to make both decisions on the 2nd December 2010, allowing for theories of collusion between two rival bids, something that rocked the bid in October when Spain and Qatar were investigated on collusion, only to be cleared of any wrong doing.
England's bid has suffered many setbacks. The first came last year when the Chairman of the bid was made to resign after making false allegations against the Spain bid, something which is against the FIFA rules.
More recently the bid was setback even further and mainly by the country's own media. Firstly Panorama will air a show on Monday Evening that will aim to show FIFA as a corrupt Governing Body. The show will not go down well with FIFA delegates who may vote with their feet and hand the showpiece event elsewhere.
The second own goal from the media from England came when a 'Sunday Times' investigation tricked two FIFA voters that they were the USA bid and offered money for them to vote in their favour. This trickery from the 'Times' newspaper saw both voters banned from voting this Thursday, again a move which has not pleased many of the voters who blame the English media.
All the drama though will finally end this Thursday when FIFA decides, but which way are they likely to go?
I personally feel that despite all the upheavel recently, England will still be hosting the 2018 World Cup as quite simply we are ready to host the event once again, Russia simply is not ready and Spain/Portugal bid could be complicated.
I hope to see the World Cup in this Country in eight years time and come Thursday afternoon I will have my fingers crossed....
OVER TO YOU FIFA
Who do you think will host the 2018 World Cup and do you think the English media has damaged our bid?
Sunday 28 November 2010
Wednesday 10 November 2010
A YEAR ON FROM A TRAGEDY THAT SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
How many of us have gone to a game and shouted abuse at a player for missing that 'vital' chance or letting the ball getting away from them or even for conceding a soft goal?
Well I wont lie- I have. A year on though since the tragic day that Hannover 96 goalkeeper comitted suicide by stepping in front of a train in Germany- Maybe we could all take a look at ourselves and before next time we hurl abuse at our players, just think about the words we use to label that player.
I will admit that sometimes knowing that the player in front of our eyes is about to take home anything up to £100,000 pound home makes it all that more difficult not to shout something abusive, however at the end of the day we are all human.
Robert Enke was Hannover 96 goalkeeper and was set to be the German No1 this summer in South Africa, however the events exactly one year ago today changed everything.
The keeper suffered from a mental illness known as depression, fearing that telling anyone about the condition would harm his profession, Enke kept it quiet from everyone. The German shot stopper lost his 2 year old child, something none of us ever want to suffer and surely would have played a massive part in his depressive state.
The issue of depression with sports stars must remain in the eye so that players and fans realise this is in today's world and no matter how rich, famous or professional you are- Depression can affect anyone.
So next time you travel to watch your side in action, just give a thought to this day, a day when football lost a gentleman to something that could affect any of us.
RIP Enke
Well I wont lie- I have. A year on though since the tragic day that Hannover 96 goalkeeper comitted suicide by stepping in front of a train in Germany- Maybe we could all take a look at ourselves and before next time we hurl abuse at our players, just think about the words we use to label that player.
I will admit that sometimes knowing that the player in front of our eyes is about to take home anything up to £100,000 pound home makes it all that more difficult not to shout something abusive, however at the end of the day we are all human.
Robert Enke was Hannover 96 goalkeeper and was set to be the German No1 this summer in South Africa, however the events exactly one year ago today changed everything.
The keeper suffered from a mental illness known as depression, fearing that telling anyone about the condition would harm his profession, Enke kept it quiet from everyone. The German shot stopper lost his 2 year old child, something none of us ever want to suffer and surely would have played a massive part in his depressive state.
The issue of depression with sports stars must remain in the eye so that players and fans realise this is in today's world and no matter how rich, famous or professional you are- Depression can affect anyone.
So next time you travel to watch your side in action, just give a thought to this day, a day when football lost a gentleman to something that could affect any of us.
RIP Enke
THE SAD SIDE OF THE GAME WE ALL LOVE
So yesterday the news broke that yet another 'Big' club face winding up orders from the HMRC. Former Premier League Side Sheffield Wednesday, now in League One face another challenge off the field to survive on it.
Portsmouth, Southend, Crystal Palace and Leeds are just some of the teams that have come face to face with the dreaded taxman in court in the last few years and you can only feel that they wont be the last.
With clubs now overspending in most aspects of the game, is there really a feeling that the 'beautiful' game could rot away into nothing due to the most feared person in the country?- yes I mean the taxman not Sir Alex Ferguson.
The reality is that the taxman is becoming more and more less forgiving with clubs, in particular the smaller ones, Chester FC and Farsley Celtic have both been liquidated in the past year.
The number of clubs that have entered administration since 2008 currently stands at 13, obviously a worry for the bosses of the game.
My home team Margate FC have had too many meetings with the taxman to even remember, the fear now is that should the two cross paths again there would only be one winner, and it would not be the same winner of the last meetings.
Obviously the whole issue of administration is a massive talking point in the game, I would just like to see the games big bosses run stricter tests on new owners before as supporters we lose some of our most prestigious clubs that carry so much history and tradition with them, and more importantly before the fans that pay their well earned cash to see a game also lose their saturday afternoon entertainment.
Portsmouth, Southend, Crystal Palace and Leeds are just some of the teams that have come face to face with the dreaded taxman in court in the last few years and you can only feel that they wont be the last.
With clubs now overspending in most aspects of the game, is there really a feeling that the 'beautiful' game could rot away into nothing due to the most feared person in the country?- yes I mean the taxman not Sir Alex Ferguson.
The reality is that the taxman is becoming more and more less forgiving with clubs, in particular the smaller ones, Chester FC and Farsley Celtic have both been liquidated in the past year.
The number of clubs that have entered administration since 2008 currently stands at 13, obviously a worry for the bosses of the game.
My home team Margate FC have had too many meetings with the taxman to even remember, the fear now is that should the two cross paths again there would only be one winner, and it would not be the same winner of the last meetings.
Obviously the whole issue of administration is a massive talking point in the game, I would just like to see the games big bosses run stricter tests on new owners before as supporters we lose some of our most prestigious clubs that carry so much history and tradition with them, and more importantly before the fans that pay their well earned cash to see a game also lose their saturday afternoon entertainment.
Friday 5 November 2010
A CUP CLASH WORTH SO MUCH MORE
Saturday sees the first round proper tie's from this seasons FA cup, and there is one fixture that will hold so much more passion than any usual cup game between two rivals.
At 3pm on Saturday at the Priestfield stadium, Kent rivals Gillingham FC and Dover Athletic will lock horns for a place in the second round proper of the competition......but there will be an added spice to this one.
After realeasing former boss Mark Stimson last season, the Gills needed a new man at the helm, and there was only one person in their sights, and that was the former Gills boss and then current Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler.
'Hess' had been charge of the Gills from 2000 until 2004 when he left after relegation, three years later and he found himself at near neighbours Dover Athletic in the Ryman Division One. With a good squad, Dover won two promotions in a row and then made the play-offs in his third season in charge.
After Stimson's sacking following the relegation from League One last season, Gillingham set about getting their former boss back. With permission granted to speak to Gillingham it was clear that Hess was going to take the reigns back over at the Medway club, however, it was the days to follow the announcement that will make this weekends cup game all that little bit more fiery.
With Hessenthaler back in Gillingham, Dover set about appointing their new man. A statement realeased from the club announced that former Barnet manager Ian Hendon would be taking charge at the Crabble. Just a wek into his new job though Hendon decided he no longer wanted the job, instead he followed Hess to the Priestfield to become his number two.
So with Hendon gone, Dover announced their second manager of that week as they appointed Martin Hayes as the man tasked with taking the ambitious club to the top of the Non-league pyramid. Dover then announced that their player-coach Nicky Southall was heading to Priestfield to take up the same position with Gillingham.
So after an eventful summer between the two sides, which has seen fall out galore, you can bet that tomorrow's clash will be epic, and maybe, just maybe that Dover can get one over on their Kent counterparts in their own backyard.
At 3pm on Saturday at the Priestfield stadium, Kent rivals Gillingham FC and Dover Athletic will lock horns for a place in the second round proper of the competition......but there will be an added spice to this one.
After realeasing former boss Mark Stimson last season, the Gills needed a new man at the helm, and there was only one person in their sights, and that was the former Gills boss and then current Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler.
'Hess' had been charge of the Gills from 2000 until 2004 when he left after relegation, three years later and he found himself at near neighbours Dover Athletic in the Ryman Division One. With a good squad, Dover won two promotions in a row and then made the play-offs in his third season in charge.
After Stimson's sacking following the relegation from League One last season, Gillingham set about getting their former boss back. With permission granted to speak to Gillingham it was clear that Hess was going to take the reigns back over at the Medway club, however, it was the days to follow the announcement that will make this weekends cup game all that little bit more fiery.
With Hessenthaler back in Gillingham, Dover set about appointing their new man. A statement realeased from the club announced that former Barnet manager Ian Hendon would be taking charge at the Crabble. Just a wek into his new job though Hendon decided he no longer wanted the job, instead he followed Hess to the Priestfield to become his number two.
So with Hendon gone, Dover announced their second manager of that week as they appointed Martin Hayes as the man tasked with taking the ambitious club to the top of the Non-league pyramid. Dover then announced that their player-coach Nicky Southall was heading to Priestfield to take up the same position with Gillingham.
So after an eventful summer between the two sides, which has seen fall out galore, you can bet that tomorrow's clash will be epic, and maybe, just maybe that Dover can get one over on their Kent counterparts in their own backyard.
Wednesday 3 November 2010
AMAZING ALEX DIGS THE DAGGER IN DEEPER
Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Kevin Davies, James Beattie- All familiar names with Southampton FC fans who have seen these names play in the famous red and white for the Saints as well as going onto to play for their international sides (all England bar Bale).
After yesterdays 4-0 demolition of Dagenham and Redbridge, the St Mary's faithful might just have another name to add to that list in the not to distant future- Step foward Alex Chamberlain.
At just 17 years of age, the winger who has progressed up through the ranks at Southampton has started this season in blistering form terrorising defences up and down the wings in League One. His latest display against a Daggers side again highlighted just how good the youngster, who was born in Portsmouth, will be.
With two goals and an assist in the game, he was certainly a clear winner of the man of the match award. His first goal maybe was a bit lucky as his cross floated over the visitors keeper, however the second was pure genius. Out on the wing and seeing the keeper was slightly off his line, Chamberlain tried an audacious lob that beat the keeper and practically ended the game.
The young midfielder then showed real pace and strength to force his way down the flank to tee up an easy chance for Lee Barnard who easily dispatched the golden opportunity that Chamberlain presented him with.
With Saints up to 6th in the league now and holding such a prize asset that they will be reluctant to depart with for many years to come, you can safely say that the future at least at one of the South Coast clubs is looking very bright.
After yesterdays 4-0 demolition of Dagenham and Redbridge, the St Mary's faithful might just have another name to add to that list in the not to distant future- Step foward Alex Chamberlain.
At just 17 years of age, the winger who has progressed up through the ranks at Southampton has started this season in blistering form terrorising defences up and down the wings in League One. His latest display against a Daggers side again highlighted just how good the youngster, who was born in Portsmouth, will be.
With two goals and an assist in the game, he was certainly a clear winner of the man of the match award. His first goal maybe was a bit lucky as his cross floated over the visitors keeper, however the second was pure genius. Out on the wing and seeing the keeper was slightly off his line, Chamberlain tried an audacious lob that beat the keeper and practically ended the game.
The young midfielder then showed real pace and strength to force his way down the flank to tee up an easy chance for Lee Barnard who easily dispatched the golden opportunity that Chamberlain presented him with.
With Saints up to 6th in the league now and holding such a prize asset that they will be reluctant to depart with for many years to come, you can safely say that the future at least at one of the South Coast clubs is looking very bright.
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