Tuesday, May 30, 2006
World Cup madness
I used to look forward to the World Cup.
One of my earliest memories is from World Cup 1982, followed by Mexico 86 and then Italia 90, when I could get home from school and there would be football on immediately.
One of the things I like best is watching the games involving two non-entities and finding the game to be fascinating. Wall to wall football as well - it couldn't get better.
My favourite World Cup was USA 94 when I'd just finished my GCSE's and therefore had nothing to do except watch football matches.
But since then, the World Cup has generally fallen a bit flat because of all the hype. It gets worse with every tournament to the effect that it almost turns me off. Yes I do want England to do well but it seems like everyone must yell and scream and talk about it like it's the most important thing ever.
It seems that the less you follow football generally, the more you must show that you're a true fan. I can't stand all the faux followers, with people in the media trying to get all hyped up about it and pretending they actually have a first clue about what's going on. Rooney's injured? Big deal - talking about it incessantly isn't going to do anything and, by the way, nothing much is going to change between now and the next scan, so why is so much going to be published about it.
There seems to be no sense of perspective about England. In World Cup 98, we were knocked out because we took all of our penalty takers off and then tried to play for a shootout - not the brightest of things to do tactically. 2000, we weren't good enough in the Euros and then we were too negative in 2002 against Brazil. 2004 - the same problem of trying to hang onto a one-goal lead. And the disallowed goal by Sol Campbell was right to be disallowed - I couldn't believe that anyone thought it was a goal - let alone so many delusional people.
This year, the hype has got bigger and bigger and I wish it would the World Cup could come so we could all get on with it.
World Cup 94 was my favourite World Cup, not despite the fact England didn't qualify but probably because they didn't. Less hype, less idiots jumping on the bandwagon, letting me enjoy my games in peace.
Twiki
One of my earliest memories is from World Cup 1982, followed by Mexico 86 and then Italia 90, when I could get home from school and there would be football on immediately.
One of the things I like best is watching the games involving two non-entities and finding the game to be fascinating. Wall to wall football as well - it couldn't get better.
My favourite World Cup was USA 94 when I'd just finished my GCSE's and therefore had nothing to do except watch football matches.
But since then, the World Cup has generally fallen a bit flat because of all the hype. It gets worse with every tournament to the effect that it almost turns me off. Yes I do want England to do well but it seems like everyone must yell and scream and talk about it like it's the most important thing ever.
It seems that the less you follow football generally, the more you must show that you're a true fan. I can't stand all the faux followers, with people in the media trying to get all hyped up about it and pretending they actually have a first clue about what's going on. Rooney's injured? Big deal - talking about it incessantly isn't going to do anything and, by the way, nothing much is going to change between now and the next scan, so why is so much going to be published about it.
There seems to be no sense of perspective about England. In World Cup 98, we were knocked out because we took all of our penalty takers off and then tried to play for a shootout - not the brightest of things to do tactically. 2000, we weren't good enough in the Euros and then we were too negative in 2002 against Brazil. 2004 - the same problem of trying to hang onto a one-goal lead. And the disallowed goal by Sol Campbell was right to be disallowed - I couldn't believe that anyone thought it was a goal - let alone so many delusional people.
This year, the hype has got bigger and bigger and I wish it would the World Cup could come so we could all get on with it.
World Cup 94 was my favourite World Cup, not despite the fact England didn't qualify but probably because they didn't. Less hype, less idiots jumping on the bandwagon, letting me enjoy my games in peace.
Twiki
Monday, May 29, 2006
General Introduction
Erm, hello everyone.
Have no idea whether this is a blog for me to let off steam or for other people to view. I'd like it to be the latter but I can see it as being the former.
That is, of course, if I have steam to let off. I have lots of things I get annoyed about but whether I can articulate them into words is a lot harder.
It would of course, be more productive to go into what I believe in agree with, rather than descend into a rant against issues. It's easy to criticise but there must be an alternative where you expound your own beliefs.
I'm also not trying to foister my own thoughts on anyone but explaining my own position. You may not agree with them but as long as you read them and allow my beliefs then that's fine.
So here's the thing about me. I'm a catholic, I've a girlfriend, I support Manchester United and I love all sports. I'm a pedant, live in the north of England and like playing the guitar. I work in the media, eat meat and like drinking good ales and fine wines - generally red.
And I'm liberal.
It's difficult being a liberal and ranting - though recent events have made it easier, sadly, as the current government become more and more authoritarian.
Over the weeks, there'll be general rants over issues I feel strongly about (if I bother updating this). But this will do for now.
Thanks for reading this
Twiki
Have no idea whether this is a blog for me to let off steam or for other people to view. I'd like it to be the latter but I can see it as being the former.
That is, of course, if I have steam to let off. I have lots of things I get annoyed about but whether I can articulate them into words is a lot harder.
It would of course, be more productive to go into what I believe in agree with, rather than descend into a rant against issues. It's easy to criticise but there must be an alternative where you expound your own beliefs.
I'm also not trying to foister my own thoughts on anyone but explaining my own position. You may not agree with them but as long as you read them and allow my beliefs then that's fine.
So here's the thing about me. I'm a catholic, I've a girlfriend, I support Manchester United and I love all sports. I'm a pedant, live in the north of England and like playing the guitar. I work in the media, eat meat and like drinking good ales and fine wines - generally red.
And I'm liberal.
It's difficult being a liberal and ranting - though recent events have made it easier, sadly, as the current government become more and more authoritarian.
Over the weeks, there'll be general rants over issues I feel strongly about (if I bother updating this). But this will do for now.
Thanks for reading this
Twiki
