James Beeson looks at five reasons why the oldest competition in football, the FA Cup, simply isn’t the competition it used to be.
The FA Cup, once the pinnacle of English football, the stage where dreams were fulfilled and hearts broken, appears to be on the wane. Low attendances, weakened sides and a general lack of interest have seen this once glorious competition become nothing more than a mere distraction for many English clubs. Here are five reasons for the FA Cup’s fall from grace.
1) Poor Coverage
Increased commercialisation in football has already lead to the League Cup being renamed the Capital One Cup, and since the 2008/09 season, the ‘FA Cup with Budweiser’ has been shown exclusively on ITV. Whilst this is not necessarily an issue in itself, with ITV being available for public consumption at no extra cost to viewers, the coverage of this once magnificent competition has deteriorated significantly during this period. Constant advert breaks, coupled with meagre highlights and shoddy punditry have deterred viewers and taken the sheen off the FA Cup to such an extent that many football fans now avoid watching the competition entirely.
Wigan fans celebrate their FA Cup victory. Photo: the72.co.uk
2) Resurgence of the League Cup
Traditionally seen as the lesser of the two domestic cups available to English teams, the League Cup, or ‘Capital One Cup’, has seen something of a resurgence in recent years, with some thrilling ties and big upsets. Just last season, Bradford City of League Two defeated the likes of Wigan, Aston Villa and Arsenal to reach the final of the competition. Despite being beaten 5-0 by Swansea in the final, Bradford’s plucky spirit and hard-working attitude inspired football fans across the nation and rejuvenated the reputation of the League Cup, perhaps to the detriment of England’s supposedly more prestigious Cup competition.
3) Foreign imports
Increasing numbers of foreign players and managers on our shores could be causing a shift in attitude towards England’s cup competitions. It has been argued by some experts that many foreign players and managers do not ‘understand’ the true significance of the FA Cup – partly because, in many foreign nations, the domestic cups are not treated with the same respect as their league counterparts. This disdain was exemplified by then-Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier, who in 2001 refused to allow his players to celebrate following their FA Cup triumph over Arsenal because of an important upcoming UEFA cup match.
4) Premier League revenue
Gerard Houllier was notable for his disdain for the FA Cup. Photo: theoffside.co.uk
While many Premier League sides in recent years have been criticized for fielding weakened teams in the FA Cup, it is perfectly understandable that they do so when you consider that the growth of the Premier League as a global brand has seen revenue streams to clubs increase exponentially. As a result of this, many top-flight clubs tend to prioritize their league objectives and thus do not take the FA Cup as seriously, playing a mixture of squad players and youth team prospects. It could be argued that this has caused some of the magic of the Cup to disappear in recent years; after all, giant-killing performances are rendered less impressive when the favourites don’t start many of their star players, as was the case with Manchester City’s recent game against Watford.
5) Predictability
Even considering the fact that many Premier League clubs do field increasingly weaker sides in FA Cup games, there appears to have been a decline in the number of ‘giant-killings’ in the competition in recent years. The gulf in revenue streams between top-flight and lower division teams means that, in the majority of cases, Premier League sides can afford to rest key players and still come out on top in cup ties. This predictability has made the FA Cup less exciting to watch, with Premier League teams tending to dominate; Chelsea have won four of the last seven FA Cups, whilst the Cup hasn’t been won by a non-Premier League side this century!
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Online Sport Editor Matt Bugler offers his thoughts on Stanislas Wawrinka’s maiden Grand Slam championship.
Wawrinka’s forehand is one of the biggest on tour. Photo: zimbio.com
The ranking system in tennis has its peculiarities; as of Monday Andy Murray is ranked number six in the world and a resurgent Roger Federer languishes in eighth. However, based on his magnificent Australian Open triumph, Stanislas Wawrinka is not at all out of place as the new world number three.
Just over a year ago, the idea would have been inconceivable. Coming into last year’s Australian Open, Wawrinka was a solid top twenty player with just three career titles to his name, and at 27 years old running out of time to leave a real mark on the game.
An epic defeat to Novak Djokovic in the fourth round seemed to have a similar effect as Andy Murray’s defeat to the same man a year earlier, in providing an injection of belief that he could go the distance with the top players and reach the latter rounds of the slams. A clay court season where he was arguably the best player behind Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, and a straight sets demolition of Murray at the US Open, where he lost another epic to Djokovic in his first Grand Slam semi-final, confirmed that he was having by far his best year on tour.
None of this compares to winning the Australian Open by beating the top two players in the world en route. The final was somewhat disappointingly a farcical affair in the end, with Nadal never previously experiencing back problems, but allowing his reputation of blaming injury in his defeats to get the better of him.
At a set and a break down he was being blown off the court yet moving freely, and a possible attempt to play mind games with his opponent worked for the third set, where Wawrinka fell to of the hardest challenges in tennis; staying focused against a player playing at a slow, restricted pace.
Federer may be playing well but he has been replaced as the Swiss No. 1. Photo: zimbio.com
There are two ways to beat Nadal; one is to be Novak Djokovic and win at his own baseline attrition game. The other is to power past him in Lukas Rosol-esque fashion by smashing winners and denying him the time on the ball that he so desires. Nadal may have been complaining this tournament about the increased speed of the courts, but for the spectators it is incredibly refreshing seeing a new face win a major playing a different style of tennis to the customary long rallies at the back of the court.
Indeed, for the first set and the start of the second, Wawrinka was zoning, taking the ball extremely early and neutralising the looping topspin of Nadal. His single-handed backhand is one of the best in the game, but is forehand is almost equally damaging, and countless times he took the ball on the rise from close to the baseline to fire past the Spaniard. With a potent serve that struck 19 aces in the final and a solid volley, he boasts a fine all round game that is as effective on his favourite surface clay as it is on a fast hard court.
He proved against Djokovic that he is also happy to duel from the baseline, and the numerous break points he saved in long rallies against the four-time Melbourne champion was testament to his refusal to lie down. If the return is a slight weakness, where Wawrinka has the tendency like his compatriot Federer to just chip the ball back into play, then he suffered no similar travails against Nadal on Sunday. The return game at the start of the second set was sublime, where he completed a love break with a backhand return winner off the sliced leftie serve that has troubled Federer so much over the years.
The display of strength and skill must come down partly to the influence of coach Magnus Norman, who has been as effective as Ivan Lendl is to Murray. The difference is that Murray was always expected to win Grand Slams, while Wawrinka was always in the shadow of another Swiss. He may be two months shy of his 29th birthday, but with the average age of the top 100 much higher than it was a decade ago, he still has a few years to potentially add to his Grand Slam collection and confirm his place as third best player in the world.
Dimitrov and Bouchard lead a new generation
Li Na’s backhand in motion. Photo: india.com
Li Na is a merited winner of the Australian Open, having lost in the final twice before, and carrying the burden of the whole of China’s expectations on her back. Her smooth technique and backhand which may be the best in the women’s game complement her ebullient personality and sense of humour, which she displayed in the victory speech at the expense of her jovial husband.
Like Wawrinka, she was a late bloomer, winning her first Slam at the French Open in 2011 at the age of 29, and with fellow veteran Serena Williams leading the women’s game, the pattern of experience triumphing over youth seems to be translating equally to the WTA tour.
This may give hope to 24 year old Agnieszka Radwanska, who missed another huge opportunity to win her first Grand Slam. Like Wimbledon last year, she saw top players around her dropping like flies, only to blame fatigue on her semi-final defeat to Dominika Cibulkova, just as she did against Sabine Lisicki at SW19. Radwanska can be the most entertaining player on the tour, and her bageling of Victoria Azarenka was a delightful mix of artistry and disguise, but if she can’t last seven best-of-three matches in a fortnight then drastic changes need to be made to her training regime.
Along with the likes of Sloane Stephens and Laura Robson, Eugenie Bouchard leads the new generation of female players, and on the evidence of this tournament, she boasts the biggest chance of becoming the first major winner of the group. The Canadian feels at home on the centre stage, and her physical and mental prowess only needs to be put through more matches to finish developing. Bouchard should be top ten by the end of the year, and has all the potential to be the new face of the game.
In the men’s game, fans have been waiting patiently for a long time for Grigor Dimitrov to really break through. He threatened to at times last year, most notably in his victory over Djokovic at the Madrid Open, but repeatedly found his lack of stamina in the best-of-five matches to be his downfall.
A run to the quarters of Australia this year, where he won the first set against Nadal and probably should have gone two sets to one up, has hopefully announced his arrival on the main stage. At 22, “Baby Fed” is comparatively young to the top ten players, and will have plenty of time to turn into the player that L’Equipe predicted would be world number one by 2018.
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The transfer window is a thrilling time in the football calendar, but all too often the signing that is supposed to save your club’s season has the opposite effect. Cillian Dunn takes a look at six of the worst.
Quashie celebrating his relegation mission. Photo: bbc.co.uk
6) Nigel Quashie: Portsmouth to Southampton – £2.1 million (2005); Southampton to West Bromwich Albion – £1.2 million (2006); West Bromwich Albion to West Ham United – £1.5 million (2007)
Nigel Quashie’s agent is a genius. The fact he succeeded in persuading Premier League clubs to take on his client, season after season, in spite of the fact the Scot was a proven bad luck charm, is nothing short of incredible. Quashie, still going strong for Íþróttafélag Reykjavíkur in Iceland, was relegated an amazing four times from the Premier League with four different clubs – QPR, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and West Brom – and even has a Facebook page in his honour called “Nigel Quashie was relegated with my club”.
Having learnt his trade early on, helping QPR and Forest to relegations in the late 90s, Quashie embarked on his quest to break all records with a vengeance. Frustrated with the monotony of mid-table finishes at Portsmouth, Quashie switched to bitter rivals Southampton for the excitement of a good old relegation scrap. “I am certain we will stay up”, he lied. Southampton finished bottom of the table.
Not content with this, Quashie moved on to West Brom the following January, where he achieved the rare distinction of being relegated from the Premiership in two successive seasons. But Quashie, always striving for more, was determined to make it a glorious hat-trick. Reviewing the league table carefully, West Ham must have seemed like the perfect place to fulfil his dreams.
Everything begun as planned, with Quashie making 8 appearances, none of them on the winning side. Believing his work to be done, Quashie allowed himself to be injured. He hadn’t counted on one Carlos Tevez. The Scot remained contracted to the Hammers until 2010 but failed to make a single further appearance in this time. Presumably his attitude was that if it wasn’t a relegation battle, he wasn’t interested. It was a shame he left when he did. He would have got on well with Avram Grant.
Benni McCarthy: offering an alternative football build. Photo: dailymail.co.uk
5) Benni McCarthy: Blackburn Rovers to West Ham United – £2.5 million (2010)
Mido. Chamackh. Katan. Paulista. West Ham traditionally sign at least one forward in this window, who never makes more than 5 starts, misses chance after chance, but is still paid more in a month than most people are in a year. Yet dire as they all undoubtedly were, none even come close to filling the king sized shirt of Big Mac.
A Champions League winner with José Mourinho’s Porto, McCarthy had scored 24 goals in his first season with Blackburn, but his form had deserted him during his last year with the club, and frozen out by manager Sam Allardyce, his weight had already begun to balloon. Future Hammers manager Allardyce probably couldn’t believe his luck when they offered £2.5 million to take an overweight 32-year-old off his hands, and the Irons were equally generous to McCarthy, handing him a two and a half-year £38,000 a week contract.
And boy did Benni make the most of it! Following the traditional injury on his debut, something of a rite of passage for all West Ham signings, McCarthy devoted his hard earned cash on a cause close to his heart – his stomach. By May, he was 15st, with a body fat percentage of 24.2 (the expected percentage of a professional athlete is five to 12 per cent).
South Africa were hosting the 2010 World Cup but McCarthy was so heavy that they were forced to omit their talisman and all-time leading goal scorer from the squad altogether. This might have acted as an incentive to some, but not to Benni, and although he was fined almost £200,000 by West Ham for his failure to shed the pounds, this approach was no more successful.
Ultimately, the Hammers were forced to pay him £1.5 million to terminate his contract. In just over a year with the club, he’d made just two starts, cost over £5 million in wages and transfer fees, and failed to score a single goal. He was, in the eloquent words of West Ham Vice-Chairman Karren Brady, a “big, fat mistake”.
4) Afonso Alves: Heerenveen to Middlesbrough – £12.7 million (2008)
It must be said in Boro’s defence that Alves’ goal scoring record in Holland was impressive. But then again, the same can be said of Marco Boogers, who was famously sent off on his Premier League debut, managing another three appearances before fleeing back to Holland to live in a caravan from where he declared himself “psychologically unfit to play football” (Boogers’ public stance was that “he was not mental, but just had a sore stomach”).
Alves never quite hit those barmy heights, although he spent much of his time on Teesside looking as though he’d much rather be residing in a caravan than spend another moment of his life in Middlesbrough (arguably the Brazilian is not alone in holding this view, but unlike the vast majority of Smoggies, he was being paid £50,000 a week to live there).
His first half-season with the club arguably showed some promise (6 goals in 11 appearances) but the warning signs were there already, with Alves criticised for his poor all round play. It was the following season, however, where Alves’ vilification begun in earnest; his record of 4 goals in 31 games an appalling one by any forwards’ standards, let alone a £13 million club record signing. Boro were relegated and can count themselves lucky to have made a loss of ‘only’ £7 million on the striker, who signed for Qatari club Al-Sadd, and has been gradually winding down his career in the Middle East ever since.
West Ham show off their proud new signing. Photo: thesun.co.uk
3) Savio Nsereko: Brescia to West Ham United – £10 million (2009)
Argentinians on dodgy third party contracts, eccentric Dutchmen with a fondness for caravans (oh come on, did you seriously think any other football club would sign Boogers?) and a goalkeeper called Ruud Boffin – they’ve pretty much seen it all in East London. Or at least they thought they had, until the club announced that star striker Craig Bellamy (sold to Manchester City for £14 million the previous week) would be replaced by a completely unknown Ugandan born teenager from Brescia.
Astutely realising that Hammers fans might not be too happy about this, crafty West Ham CEO Scott Duxbury claimed that the Irons had beaten off “fierce competition” from Europe’s leading clubs to sign the winger for a club record fee. With the club even releasing an ‘exclusive picture gallery’ to celebrate Savio’s first day of training, Hammers fans might have been forgiven for thinking they had landed the new Pele.
It quickly became clear that they had not – Savio made 10 appearances, just one of which was a start, and continued the proud tradition of West Ham forwards signed in January in failing to score. Come the summer, Savio had been sold to Fiorentina, and to say that his career went downhill from there would be a gross understatement; he is currently playing for Kazakhstani Premier League side FC Atyrau.
During this time he has been reported missing on numerous occasions (having his contract cancelled by more than one of his clubs as a result of this), spent £14,000 in casinos and strip clubs in the space of a week, and while holidaying in Thailand, even faked his own kidnapping, in a bizarre attempt to extort money from his own family. I’ll remind you again; a Premier League football club once paid £10 million for this guy. The current board have even launched an official investigation into what we are all wondering – why?
2) Fernando Torres: Liverpool to Chelsea – £50 million (2011)
Some people, it is said, have more money than sense. Others, it would appear on this evidence, just have money. It is certainly difficult to argue that there was any logic to Chelsea’s purchase of Fernando Torres – though he had proven himself a world class finisher at Atlético Madrid and Liverpool, injuries had resulted in him losing the pace and mobility that allowed him to be so.
But Roman Abramovich wanted a marquee signing, and so he brought Torres. Thus far, the Premier League’s most expensive player has repaid him with just 18 goals in almost 100 games. Admittedly, no one expected him to be quite that bad. But still Roman, £50 million, seriously?
One cost £22.8m, one cost £35m. Who would you pick? Photo: zimbio.com
1) Andy Carroll: Newcastle United to Liverpool – £35 million (2011)
The transfer fees for both Carroll and Torres were ridiculous, the inflated fee paid for the former a direct result of Newcastle taking advantage of the fact that Liverpool had just sold the latter for an equally outlandish price. Evidently, the logic at Anfield a little off, with Messrs Dalglish and Comolli apparently under the impression that having received such a generous fee for Torres, they were obliged to spend equally lavishly themselves.
And spend they did, with the £35 million transfer fee making Carroll, a 22-year-old with 14 Premier League goals to his name, the most expensive British player in history. It was almost enough to make Abramovich look sensible – at least Torres had once been a world class player.
Carroll, on the other hand, was not, never had been and never will be – 6 goals in 44 Premier League appearances for Liverpool sum it up. They persisted with him for a season and a half, but when Brendan Rodgers was appointed as the new Liverpool boss, looking to implement the passing style of football he had won recognition for with Swansea, Carroll was never going to be part of his plans.
There was, however, a problem. Surely no football club would be stupid enough to match both Carroll’s £90,000 a week wages and Liverpool’s £17 million asking price? Fortunately for the Reds, they then remembered that there was in fact one such club. In June 2013, Andy Carroll signed a six year deal with West Ham United.
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After Manchester City became the fastest ever Premier League club to rack up 100 goals in a season, Emmott Leigh argues that such a tremendous strike rate doesn’t mean the silverware will necessarily follow.
Whilst record-breaking centuries have been making headlines in cricket recently, with New Zealand’s Corey Anderson notching a ton off only 36 balls in their ODI series against the West Indies, the latest speedy hundred in sport is even more impressive – Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City reached the landmark in goals during their 4-2 routing of Cardiff City, after only 34 games in all competitions.
Luis Suarez may be the most talked-about striker in the Premiership due to his extraordinary finishing proficiency, but Manchester City boast three first-class finishers in Edin Dzeko, Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero, two of whom have scored 20 or more goals this season already. As Alan Shearer astutely observed: “You just know they are going to score goals.”
Sergio Aguero has notched up 14 goals in the current Premier League season, second only to Luis Suarez. Photo: koonis.com
If Dzeko can notch four more goals to his tally, City will become the first side with three forwards who have bagged 20 in a season since 1981-82. Such a feat is obviously remarkable, but it should be noted that lots of goals does not necessarily equate to lots of success.
After all, it might be expected that the former champions would be sitting pretty once again at the head of the Premier League, but in reality, City are a point behind the league leaders Arsenal (whom they humiliated by 6-3) and finished only second in the Champions League group stage. How have Arsenal and Bayern Munich managed to edge ahead of the record-breaking side?
The answer tarnishes City’s feat a little. Yes, they have destroyed sides like Norwich (7-0), Newcastle (4-0) and even their Manchester rivals (4-1). Yes, their home record is absolutely phenomenal; only Bayern Munich have managed to come away from the Etihad Stadium with a victory this season.
Even the managers have been dealt the most severe of blows; Tottenham’s Andre Villas-Boas was sacked after his side leaked six goals to City and Sam Allardyce won’t last long after his West Ham outfit took a pummelling by the same scoreline. This is all very impressive, but it hasn’t lifted City to the top in the Premiership or the Champions League. Their losses may yet truly define their year.
With 18 matches yet to be played, the Blues have plenty of time to unseat Arsenal. However, it remains to be seen as to whether their ignominious 3-2 defeats at Aston Villa and Cardiff, of all teams, will ultimately decide their failure, along with a 1-0 loss at Sunderland. Conceding three or scoring none is lamentable for a top side, especially when two of their conquerors are struggling against relegation.
Similarly, their loss to Bayern Munich has proved to be by far the most decisive result in their Champions League exploits, far more than a 5-2 or 4-2 thrashing of the other sides in their group. Now they are faced with the daunting task of bettering the mighty Barcelona over two legs.
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It seems that pundits are focusing too heavily on the team’s excellence in the final third. The ‘first third’ has seen them suffer a little, with 28 conceded goals outnumbering those of Arsenal and Chelsea by 30 percent. As full-back Zabaleta admitted: “Sometimes when you play an offensive game, you leave yourself exposed at the back.”
Such a point is evidenced by the likes of Yaya Toure, who charges forward like an Ivorian express train at the first opportunity only to amble casually back again once the ball is lost and danger threatens. Martin Demichelis has been unable to cover his weaknesses either, often leaving the rest of the back four exposed through over-eagerness.
Even City’s captain Vincent Kompany has faltered occasionally; he was turned twice in the lead-up to Cardiff’s second on Saturday, and not for the first time, as Southampton’s Dani Osvaldo will recall. In light of these issues, is it possible that Manchester City’s strike rate is too excessive?
It would explain why so many of their hammerings have been tainted by a couple of concessions at the other end. Arsenal have scored 43 goals in the top flight against City’s 63, but how does the significance of 20 more conversions weigh up against that of the six fewer conceded by Arsenal? The single point between them seems to indicate the increased importance of the latter.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side can’t afford to rest on their laurels despite their incredible scoring rate. Photo: caughtoffside.com
That relationship is apparent elsewhere in the table; Tottenham have converted only 29 times this season, yet find themselves level on points with Liverpool, who have blasted home 53 times (five of those occasions against Tottenham themselves). In fact, it is a sure indication of how important a defence is that 11 of the 26 goals let in by Spurs were scored by Manchester City and Liverpool, over two matches.
Pundits praise the forwards for bagging the goals, but they fail to recognise the fact that Tim Sherwood’s side have otherwise leaked only 15 times in 20 matches, less than a goal a game. Spurs have won 13 of their 22 matches, which is the same amount as Liverpool and only three times less than City. How many times did they win 1-0 or 2-0 when the other two were smashing five past their foes?
100 goals in 34 matches works out to an amazing strike rate of 2.94 goals per game, which is ridiculously impressive in the modern era and may never be surpassed. It is a statistic for the history books, but will it lead to trophies? Not if the more cohesive back fours of Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona have anything to say about it.
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Online Sport Editor Jamie Klein analyses the potential implications of last weekend’s Monte Carlo Rally for UK rally fans, and examines the chances of British hopefuls Kris Meeke and Elfyn Evans.
After years in the wilderness, it may be that last weekend’s Monte Carlo rally marks the beginning of a long-awaited resurgence for the sport of rallying the UK.
A third place finish for Ulsterman Kris Meeke behind the wheel of a Citroen marks the first time in 11 long, painful years that a Briton has finished on the podium of a World Rally Championship event. The last Brit to do so? The late Richard Burns, at Rally Australia in 2003.
2014 is the year that Meeke, who is now 34 years of age, has finally been handed the break he’s deserved for much of his career. A protégé of Britain’s other rallying mega-star of yesteryear, Colin McRae, Meeke missed out on the chance to drive for Citroen back in 2006, teammate Dani Sordo beating him to the preceding year’s junior title.
Kris Meeke, pictured driving for Citroen last year, ended an 11-year wait for a British podium finisher in WRC last weekend. Photo: carwitter.com
After several years in the wilderness, Meeke re-emerged on the rally scene in earnest in 2009 with Peugeot, sealing the Intercontinental Rally Challenge title the following season. That put Meeke back in the WRC fray, throwing in his lot with the new BMW-backed Prodrive effort in 2011, but funding shortages saw him ditched after just a handful of rallies.
Just when it appeared Meeke’s hopes of a full-time WRC drive looked to be over, the very team that had cast him aside all those years ago offered him a lifeline. Two rallies with Citroen last year were enough for Meeke to show that he deserved one of two permanent seats this year – despite not finishing either of them!
In a rally marked by atrocious conditions, Meeke defied his reputation by keeping his car on the road where several of his rivals were unable to, finishing a fine third place, just under two minutes in arrears of reigning champion Sebastien Ogier and a similar margin ahead of new teammate Mads Ostberg, who claimed fourth place.
But, podium finishes alone are not going to be enough to re-ignite British interest in rallying. If the public are going to sit up and pay attention to the degree they did in the McRae-Burns era, a Brit needs to start winning rallies – and lots of them.
Unfortunately, it’s doubtful that Meeke is the right man for that particular job. As luck would have it though, there is another young hopeful waiting in the wings who may just have what it takes to really spark a full-blown renaissance for British rallying – Elfyn Evans.
The son of former rally driver Gwyndaf, it’s been a swift rise to the highest level for Evans. After finishing runner-up in the British Rally Championship in 2011, the Welshman dominated the entry-level WRC Academy series in 2012 before impressing during a part-time campaign in the second tier WRC-2 series last year.
Promoting Evans to a full-time M-Sport seat alongside ex-F1 star Robert Kubica and veteran Mikko Hirvonen with so little experience thus represents something of a gamble, but the 25-year-old was in fact the only one of the trio to make the finish in Monte Carlo, holding his own to clinch a highly respectable sixth place finish.
The successes of Burns (left) and McRae (right) ensured rallying enjoyed a high profile in the UK in the late nineties and early noughties. Photo: fanaticosdelrally.com
It will take time for Evans to develop into a driver capable of winning rallies at the highest level, but the promise he has shown so far is undeniable. After all, recently departed nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb didn’t win his first rally until the age of 28, and it’s far from inconceivable that Evans will have stood on the top step of the podium in three year’s time.
A generational shift looks to be taking place in the rallying world. The old guard, Loeb’s generation, have all departed the scene, and time is clearly running out for such experienced drivers as Hirvonen and Sordo, neither of whom have the sheer pace and consistency to challenge for the title and look set to be relegated to supporting roles at their respective teams.
The immediate future belongs to Volkswagen’s Ogier, who is now clearly WRC’s benchmark driver, as well as Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and M-Sport’s Kubica, the only two drivers who, for now, look to have the pace to truly threaten the Frenchman.
For Meeke, it’s probably a bit too late to join that exclusive club even if he’s sure to rack up more podium finishes this season – and maybe, if circumstances permit, a first win for a British rally driver since his late mentor McRae won the Safari Rally in 2002.
But, it’s Evans who British rallying fans should be looking towards to well and truly make the British public sit up and take notice of the sport once again.
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It’s been a tough few weeks for all involved – forget the Christmas cheer, life has been a hard struggle without the reassuring comfort of Bugler’s predictions to hold your hand and tuck you in at night. Fortunately, the wait is over as he takes on a very big name in the (small) Exeposé world: News Editor and football purist Owen Keating.
Sunderland- Southampton
The player every kid dreams of emulating: Phil Bardsley. Photo: The Guardian
Owen: 0-1
This game doesn’t immediately strike me as a classic. Southampton’s form has been sketchy since they were forced to play with a hi-vis ball, and Sunderland are…Sunderland. Expect Adam Lallana to make a total mockery of Phil Bardsley before complaining that the terrible right-back teased him that he’d changed.
Matt: 0-1
Sunderland are in the midst of the Premiership’s slowest ever recovery from a poor start, as Gus Poyet has avoided the a Di Canio-style instant impact followed by general uselessness in favour of a gradual ascent from the relegation zone based on sneaky wins away from home. They still can’t win at the Stadium of Light though, and a Saints side playing for fun will assert their superiority.
Arsenal- Fulham
Owen: 3-0
Fulham’s appalling sprint towards the relegation trapdoor will continue here, as they’ll inevitably crumble against a far superior side. The thought of a beleaguered Steve Sidwell trying to keep up with Santi Cazorla is the kind of thing that everyone will surely enjoy, except Fulham’s away fans. Yeah, both of them.
Matt: 2-1
In recent weeks, Arsenal have transformed from a swashbuckling, rampant array of midfield cavaliers to a gritty unit grinding out wins over lower-table sides to a chorus of doubters. An 89th minute Oxlade-Chamberlain winner will add to their collection of “hallmarks of champions”.
Crystal Palace- Stoke
Owen: 1-1
A clash for the masochists, Tony Pulis has the chance to avenge his irrelevant sacking from the Potters against a team whose defence enjoyed a particularly restful Sunday last time out, shipping five against Liverpool. In this battle of philistine managers, of baseball cap and alarmingly errant grey hair, the only winner will be the person who chooses to stay in and watch Deal or no Deal instead.
Matt: 1-0
For Stoke, ditching Tony Pulis at the end of last season meant they would have the opportunity to progress into a more complete footballing side. In other words, they would remain in the same position hovering over the relegation zone whilst occasionally losing 5-3 at home. Palace are the new Stoke, although in Jason Puncheon they have one of the most underrated players in the League, someone who can win matches like these. As long as he doesn’t take a penalty.
Andreas Cornelius sprints onto a through ball. Photo: realmofmagyk.com
Man City- Cardiff
Owen: 5-0
Considering that Man City beat West Ham 6-0, and West Ham beat Cardiff 2-0, this should be 8-0. It won’t be (maybe), but nonetheless, Man City will have far too much for a Cardiff side who, like I said, lost to a team who rarely ever try to score goals. Cardiff are, in every sense, lambs to the slaughter.
Matt: 5-0
Cardiff’s first Premiersip result under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a 2-0 home defeat to West Ham, was an absolute stinker. Nevertheless, in new signing Magnus Wolff Eikrem they have a player who did great things for me on FIFA at Euro 2016. Although Andreas Cornelius was also good on FIFA, and he’s turned out to have the movement and agility of an ent.
Norwich- Hull
Owen: 0-1
Hull have been good value recently, and another win here would firmly ensconce them in the top half of the table. Steve Bruce has sprinkled a large amount of glitter on some dull, dull players, as opposed to Chris Hughton, who appears to have been tactically outsmarted by the childproof cap. Away win.
Matt: 0-0
Hull have somehow managed to reach 10th in the table in mid-January despite not having a striker. The answer to this gap in the squad lies in the two-pronged monster of Nikita Jelavic, who barely scored in the whole of 2013, and Shane Long, a striker who specialises in not scoring goals and who missed a sitter against Southampton last week that even Harry Redknapp’s missus would have put away. Goalless draw it is then.
West Ham- Newcastle
Owen: 1-2
Big Sam’s jump for joy as Mark Noble secured three priceless points at Cardiff last weekend signalled the end of a traumatic week for the Hammers. This is a tough home game, but the kind they need to win if they’re going to have any chance of avoiding Huddersfield away next year. They’ll also need to beat Alan Pardew’s men both at football and the inevitably messy touchline spat that will ensue in the second half.
Matt: 2-0
West Ham fans face football’s ultimate dilemma: do you support your team even when the football is dire and the results poor, or do you hope that your team loses enough matches to have no option but to sack Sam Allardyce and get someone better in to put long-term improvements in place? If the answer is the latter, then look forward to Big Sam spouting clichés about the enormity of back-to-back wins after this match while smugly knowing his job is safe for at least another month, when the cycle will begin again.
Liverpool- Aston Villa
Owen: 4-0
Aston Villa’s home defeat to Arsenal was a further indicator of their crippling mundanity, and Villa fans travelling to Anfield can only expect a tonking. At least they won’t get a nasty shock, as Luis Suarez and the returning Daniel Sturridge will do terrible footballing things to hapless midlanders like Nathan Baker.
Matt: 3-1
The disproportionately large number of Liverpool fans in Exeter have had reason for cheer this season, while Luis Suarez is bent on single-handedly derailing my Exepose Fantasy Football title bid. As for Aston Villa, who are they? What do they mean? Questions beyond a simple football predictor.
Football manager, life coach and after dinner speaker: Tim Sherwood. Photo: telegraph.co.uk
Swansea- Tottenham
Owen: 2-2
Michael Laudrup and Tim Sherwood look kind of similar, if you, like me, are both cripplingly short sighted and unable to locate their glasses. Spurs have undergone a renaissance since Sherwood brought his loathsome cheeky chappy shtick to the Lane (AVB, forever in our hearts), and they might have too much for a Swansea side whose redeeming feature is an anonymous superfan who was once seen on Twitter wearing a personalised white leather jacket, stitched with “Michu: The White Dove”. Different gravy.
Matt: 2-2
Swansea, lurking a dangerous three points above the relegation zone, have had a bit of a nothing season, aimlessly drifting through the monotony of life whilst sometimes kicking a ball into a net. For Tottenham, Tim Sherwood is the Robin Williams to Emmanuel Adebayor’s Matt Damon, and an exciting affair awaits.
Chelsea- Man United
Owen: 2-1
The biggest game of the weekend, both of these teams remain among the most dislikable in the Premier League. Moyes’ United are turgid and uninspiring, while Mourinho’s Chelsea are like the rich kid at school who bullies you by hitting you with his fat, gold £28million watch several times every Saturday. Expect over-entitled fans and abhorrent press conferences.
Matt: 2-1
The question is, how much controversy can be packed in one game? Chelsea will have a goal wrongly disallowed for offside, Mourinho will be sent to the stands, United will take the lead only to give away a soft penalty. With the scores level in the 70th min, Mourinho will react to Fernado Torres’ sending off by throwing on Demba Ba, who will stab home after a goalmouth scramble deep into extra time. Either this, or nothing will happen, like the reverse fixture in August.
West Brom- Everton
Owen: 2-2
Everton’s star has fallen slightly since the halcyon days earlier this season where they played with verve and vigour on the regs, as their main traits so far in 2014 have been gritty midfield performances and the troubling reappearance of Steven Naismith. The Baggies’ new boss Pepe Mel will have had easier home debuts, but Everton are not the force they were in October, especially without the recently injured Ross Barkley.
Matt: 3-2
Pepe Mel is an enigma wrapped inside a mystery, and the brooding Spaniard will have an enjoyable debut against housewives’ favourite Roberto Martinez. Rumour has it Mel knows a thing or two about charm as well, so expect a lot of courtesy pats on the back as the two go in for the pre-match handshake.
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It’s been two years since the BBC-Sky rivalry in the world of Formula One broadcasting commenced. James Coghlan evaluates the two different approaches and gives his verdict as to which is superior
2008 was a good year for British F1 fans. Not only did it yield a home-grown champion in the form of Lewis Hamilton, but it also marked the end of ITV’s somewhat underwhelming TV coverage of the sport.
Following the conclusion of a five-year deal, the BBC obtained exclusive rights to broadcast F1 in the UK from 2009 onwards. The presenting team spearheaded by Jake Humphrey moved far beyond the standards set by ITV, introducing a perfect blend of professionalism and banter that captivated the viewing audience and redefined their expectations of how the sport should be covered.
The BBC’s original line-up of Eddie Jordan, Jake Humphrey and David Coulthard was a hit with viewers. Photo: twominutessport.blogspot.com
However, thanks to a freeze in the licence fee, the BBC has been forced to share broadcast rights with Sky from 2012 onwards, only showing half of the races live while Sky established an entire channel to covering the sport with a unprecedented level of commitment and depth. This has meant UK fans have been able to choose between two very different ways of viewing F1 for the last two years. But, the question is: which one delivers the best experience?
In its first year, the BBC began broadcasting live video coverage of F1 on the internet, also making use of interactive TV by offering onboard camera views, the post-race ‘Forum’ and rolling highlights on its ‘Red Button’ facility. Since then, the their offerings have gone even further, introducing neat services like the brilliant ‘Driver Tracker’ and F1 coverage on the BBC Sport smartphone app.
However, these technological endeavours pale into comparison to the host of features offered by the Sky Sports F1 channel, which offers everything that the BBC does and more; its ‘Sky Race Control’ service, for instance, has even more feeds than the BBC equivalent and is also available on multiple platforms. Sky’s endless promotions of its “incredible 5.1 audio” and “stunning high definition” live up to their billing, too. Indeed, if Sky goes ahead with its proposals to broadcast races in 3D, it almost won’t be worth going to see Grands Prix live in person.
Ex-MotoGP and Gadget Show presenter Suzi Perry has done a commendable job filling Humphrey’s role. Photo: thedrum.com
The presenting team is an area in which the BBC hits back, however. Their current line-up of pundits works extremely well, as each one is able to offer the viewer a different perspective of events; with ex-driver David Coulthard, former team owner Eddie Jordan and his brilliant technical director Gary Anderson providing detailed and role-specific analysis of any development that comes their way. Ben Edwards’ commentary style is also highly effective, combining sharp observations with a level of excitement that makes watching a bunch of cars going round a track a fantastically entertaining experience.
Suzi Perry also deserves praise for having successfully filled the shoes of BT Sport-bound Jake Humphrey in 2013. Thanks to her vast experience in presenting other motorsport, most notably MotoGP for much of the 2000s, Perry is able to deliver a level of technical insight that seemed to be beyond her predecessor, but couched in the same sort of light-hearted, jocular manner that made the BBC’s coverage such a big hit in the first place.
Sky’s presenters are a highly professional bunch, led by former rugby presenter Simon Lazenby, who has managed to ease relatively comfortably into the world of F1 after two seasons presenting the sport. Despite being prone to the odd controversial clanger, he appears more confident and composed than his BBC counterpart Perry, which helps to offset his limited technical knowledge. Ex-drivers-turned-pundits Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert more than make up for this, however, always on hand to chip in with expert insight when Lazenby runs dry.
Sky’s presenting team provide more in-depth analysis than their BBC counterparts, but lack chemistry. Photo: planetf1.com
Where Sky’s analysis really excels is in its use of the ‘Skypad’, which provides a highly digestible breakdown of all the most complex and exciting parts of the on-track action. In the hands of another expert analyst in the form of Anthony Davidson, the facility adds a significant amount of value to post-race discussion and gives the viewer a much clearer understanding of the race’s most important developments. Whilst the BBC’s post-race analysis is good, it could use something like the Skypad to help direct the pundits.
The race commentary is an area where Sky lags behind. That’s not to say that the combination of David Croft and BBC defector Martin Brundle is bad by any means, but it is a little underwhelming compared to the brilliantly berserk commentary provided by Edwards and Coulthard. This highlights a wider problem with Sky’s presenting team as a whole: they’re a bit boring.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in their extensive 90-minute race build-up, in which they attempt to replicate the sort of fun-filled adventures typical of the BBC’s coverage. This would be fine if the presenters could muster the sort of entertainment value of the tremendous trio of Perry, Jordan and Coulthard – but they can’t. The problem is that there is no tangible chemistry between Sky’s presenting team at all, making any attempt on their part to make the programme entertaining somewhat awkward to watch.
That said, Sky is perfect for the viewer who wants to indulge in extensive analysis tailored to the hardcore race fan, and are willing to pay for the privilege. The BBC’s more light-hearted approach however appeals to a much wider audience, and still provides an excellent standard of coverage and technological features for what remains a taxpayer-funded free-to-air service. For that reason, in spite of all of Sky’s efforts so far, the BBC remains the superior way to watch for the substantial majority of F1 fans.
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With both Laura Robson and Heather Watson dropping out of the Australian Open in the first round, Online Editor Matt Bugler takes stock of the careers of Britain’s two pre-eminent female tennis players.
Having built her game around success in the big events, it was surprising and disappointing to see Laura Robson fade out of the Australian Open first round on Monday. Having reached the third round last year, which included an epic three hour win over Petra Kvitova, she could find no such battle in her 50 minutes on court with Kirsten Flipkens, becoming the first player to be knocked out the event.
The rankings would suggest that 18th seed Flipkens should be comfortably beating the 48th ranked Robson, but the Brit has made such a habit of overcoming higher ranked players in the Slams that she was almost equal favourite in the national optimist’s eyes. Robson’s run to the Wimbledon fourth round last year had people talking about her winning the event in the future, and it was certainly a nice change to have another home prospect accompanying Andy Murray in the second week.
However, since then she has won just six matches on tour and is starting to slide down the rankings. Although she didn’t play her best tennis at the US Open last year, her good form in the summer meant she was seeded for the first time, and she capitalised on that opportunity by beating some lower-ranked players en route to the third round. Having failed to back up these results in recent months, she was always vulnerable to a tough draw in Melbourne, and the Wimbledon semi-finalist Flipkens was no slouch.
It was not the result that disappointed but the manner of the loss; 32 unforced errors in 50 minutes is a dreadful statistic, and losing the last eight games is not much better. She has always been hit and miss in the winners to unforced errors ratio, but with a scoreline as one-sided as 6-3 6-0, perhaps she needs to find a Plan B to simply hitting the ball as hard as she can. When she’s playing well she strikes the ball as well as anyone on tour, but when she’s a bit off her sluggish movement and difficulty at dealing with slice and variety is all too evident.
Eugenie Bouchard in action. Photo: thestar.com
Robson may have failed to complete a match this season after being hampered by a wrist problem, but if she says it isn’t an issue then you wonder what is. It is discouraging to see players picking up injuries before the season has really started, and questions must be asked about her off-season training schedule. She recently teamed up with Nick Saviano, but the American can’t commit to being a full time coach as he focuses on Robson’s friend and rival Eugenie Bouchard.
Bouchard’s success has been slow and steady compared to the rollercoaster of Robson’s junior Wimbledon triumph at 14 and subsequent highs and lows. However, it is the Canadian who goes into round two at Australia having won her first match as 30th seed. It seems that Robson is playing second fiddle at the moment to Bouchard, as she is only being part-time coached by Saviano, and is encountering a difficult time in her career as her ranking fluctuates. Bouchard’s ranking is gradually increasing, but Robson’s may go down some more before she cracks the top twenty.
Heather Watson may have plummeted down the rankings in the last year, but she seems to be putting her glandular fever-disrupted 2013 quickly behind her. It is better for her confidence to be winning three rounds of qualifying in Australia rather than gaining direct entry whilst low on confidence, and her close encounter with the skilful veteran Daniela Hantuchova showed signs of promise.
Watson may not be as naturally talented as Robson, but her determination to put up a fight is second to none. If she is to make a success of her career, it will be in the vein of a Marion Bartoli or Jelena Jankovic, players who maximise their potential against physically and technically superior opponents. The key for Watson this season is to play as many matches as possible, possibly add to her sole tournament win in the 2012 Japan Open, and work her way back into the top fifty. She hits a good ball and must believe she can be competitive with the best players.
It is essential for both players to pick up wins in the next couple of months, before the season turns to clay. Their early exits will give them time to practise more on hard courts, and perhaps adjust their schedules to play an extra event. Moreover, as they team up in the Fed Cup to represent Great Britain next month they will perhaps take stock of how far they have to go in their respective careers.
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Alex Bonner assesses the season so far for new Manchester United manager David Moyes, and asks whether there is still chance for the Scotsman to establish himself at Old Trafford.
Following Manchester United’s loss to Sunderland last Tuesday, many have begun to question the decision to appoint David Moyes as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor as United manager. The Red Devils’ loss to Sunderland marked their third in a row, the first time United have suffered such a fate since 2001.
Ferguson, when commenting on his first experiences at Old Trafford, was quoted as saying: “No manager can really be prepared… it’s so different from any other club in Britain.” Ferguson went on to suggest that: “Only through success can a manager become master of his own destiny”. Moyes has had a troubled start to his Manchester United reign, meaning the 50-year-old at this stage is unlikely to have control over his managerial destiny in the way his predecessor did.
It’s been a troubled start to David Moyes’ managerial career at Manchester United. Photo: soccerlens.co.uk
Indeed, Moyes has found replacing Ferguson a challenging task to say the lead, Ferguson’s incredible record just adding to the already enormous pressure. The legendary Scot claimed an incredible 38 trophies in just 26 years at United, including 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League wins. Ferguson’s standing as a manager was also increased due to his ability to rebuild teams following periods of immeasurable success, the famous “Class of ‘92″ is a clear example of this strength.
Every loss suffered by Moyes, as is to be expected for anybody in the position of Manchester United manager, has been subject to immense pressure by the media. Moyes did not receive anywhere near such scrutiny during his tenure at Everton, meaning the Scot will require a period of adjustment. Additionally, Moyes’ success at Everton has so far counted for little, his solitary piece of silverware to date with United being the Community Shield won at the season’s beginning.
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Following their 2-0 win against Swansea yesterday, helping to erase the pain of the team’s 2-1 defeat to the Welsh side in the third round of the FA Cup, United currently sit nine points behind current Premier League leaders Chelsea, seventh in the table. This has to be ranked as a sub-par start to Moyes’ managerial career at United, the current title-holders.
In addition, United’s style of football of late has also been poor, with several of their recent performances, most notable against Sunderland, having been described as “laboured” by pundits. Despite this, there have been glimpses of brilliance by United this season, their 5–0 win against Bayern Leverkusen in the group stages of the Champions League a good example of this.
Moyes could hardly have a bigger pair of shoes to fill, Sir Alex Ferguson’s astonishing record a permanent source of pressure. Photo: goal.com
For this reason, time should still be given to Moyes, with the January transfer window offering a chance for him to add to his squad. This will give Moyes a chance to atone for United’s substandard performance in the last transfer window, with Marouane Fellaini the side’s only major acquisition of the summer. Indeed, many felt the acquisition of the Belgian, who lacks Champions League experience, was a poor choice.
With the January transfer window now open, this period seems like a perfect opportunity for Moyes to add much needed talent to an underperforming United squad, which needs strengthening in both defence and midfield. Attracting talent to United shouldn’t prove difficult in itself, but the January transfer window still has its pitfalls.
With the Champions League re-commencing in February, Moyes will find it tough to acquire talent from clubs also competing for European silverware, as well as United’s rivals in the Premier League. This next month will thus prove crucial for Moyes, with a failure to bring any world–class talent to the team likely to derail United’s challenge for a top four Premier League standing, the least Moyes arguably must deliver to satisfy the doubters.
Replacing Ferguson as United’s manager was always going to prove difficult for Moyes. What is important to remember, however, is that Ferguson’s success at United did not happen immediately, with the Scot given time to acquire his first trophy – Moyes thus deserves a similar period of grace to build a squad capable of competing for both domestic and European trophies.
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It seems likely Andy Flower will continue in his current role despite calls for his head. Photo: yorkshirepost.co.uk
Ben Pullan examines what went wrong for England during the recently concluded Ashes and looks at what options they may have to turn around their lacklustre form.
In years to come, 5 January 2014 will be viewed as one of the lowest points in England’s long association with Test Match Cricket. Fans of the game, looking back, will scarcely be able to believe that an team full of some of England’s most celebrated players ever managed to lose a series 5-0 against an Australian side whom they had beaten 3-0 only four months previously.
Indeed, after further investigation, they will probably think they are reading some sort of joke, written by an Aussie wag. They will see ridiculous margins of victory in every Test Match, and encounter seemingly stereotyped scenarios: the batsman who can’t take the pressure, has a breakdown and then runs off home; the formerly great bowler who decides he has no other option than to retire at a time when it could not be less convenient for the team; and a captain who is clueless.
On the other side of the coin, they will read about the outstanding performances of two 36-year-olds, deemed by many to be past their sell by date, achieving fairytale success; a batsman, who turned himself from being a left-hook-swinging laughing stock into a destroyer of England’s bowling; and a bowler, who came into the series as a joke, but left it as a legend.
Yes, there has been very little about this series that anyone would have expected. Though the Aussies had shown some signs of resurgence prior to the series, most expected an England win – or, if not, a closely fought series at the least. No one would have predicted what has happened here – that Australia have walked all over England in each of the five matches and have barely broken sweat.
Never has an England team ceded a series so easily; even the nadir of England cricket in recent times – the 5-0 whitewash of 2006/07 – saw England put up a fight in at least one of the Test Matches. And the worst thing about it is that in that series, the Australian side featured names such as Langer, Hayden, Ponting, Martyn, Hussey, Gilchrist, Warne, McGrath and Lee. The Australian side of 2013 / ‘14 were no such galácticos. Indeed, after being whitewashed themselves by India earlier this year, many were of the view that they were the worst Australian cricket team ever.
Ben Stokes is one of English cricket’s brightest young prospects. Photo: thejournal.co.uk
As for England, it’s impossible to see how any team can be beaten so categorically – by an Australian side that can hardly be described as world-beating – and not make changes. The question is how drastic these will be. In the moments after the conclusion of the Sydney Test, England team director Andy Flower conceded: “It does feel like the end of some type of era and there will be some sort of new start.” Though many feel that the best way to begin this is with Flower’s head, it is highly likely that England’s most successful coach will keep his job; so too the captain, Cook, largely due to a lack of alternatives.
This ‘new start’ for England is most likely to come into effect through a change in style, influenced by some new playing personnel, rather than through drastic changes at the top. The retirement of Graeme Swann has ensured that this process has already begun; no longer do England have a world class spinner who, even when conditions do not suit him, is able to ‘bowl dry’, holding up an end. Without this luxury, England can no longer risk going into Test Matches with only four front line bowlers; what they now need is a five-man attack à la 2005, with a genuine all-rounder to bat at number six.
Thankfully, it seems that, from the gloom of the past couple of months, one shining light has emerged – someone who could provide the key to balancing such a side. We ought to be wary of placing too great a weight of expectation on such young shoulders, but it is impossible not to be excited by the talent Ben Stokes has displayed in his brief international career.
In the entirety of Andrew Flintoff’s career, the talismanic all rounder registered only five centuries and three five wicket hauls; Stokes has achieved one of each inside only four Tests. What is more, the manner in which he has scored his runs and taken his wickets is just what England need. For too long we have been getting by with an uninspiring brand of cricket, relying on the top three to churn out centuries, a tactic effective against lesser opposition but liable to be exposed by the type of aggression displayed by Australia.
For this reason, it is also essential that England ensure that Steven Finn regains the form that has seen him take 90 wickets in only 23 Test Matches. He, like Stokes, has that element of star quality; capable of bowling at speeds of over 90mph, he would have been perfectly suited to the pitches Down Under, and must be ready to play come the first Test of the summer.
Steven Finn recapturing his best form would be a major boost to future English hopes. Photo: kingcricket.co.uk
A four-pronged seam attack of Anderson, Broad, Stokes and Finn, with Onions in reserve, looks lethal on English wickets. Such a pace attack may allow England to play leg-spinner Scott Borthwick, a genuine attacking option, in Swann’s open berth. But if not, the best option for the moment may be to stick with Panesar.
Nevertheless, it is not the bowlers who are to blame for this debacle – the fault lies firmly with the batsmen. England’s problem is that players such as Cook, Trott, Pietersen and Bell are statistically some of our country’s greatest ever, with Test records that make them very hard to drop. Trott’s troubles have probably opened up space for some long term freshening-up, but on the whole, these players will remain the mainstay.
The key for England is to ensure they are all fully committed to righting the wrongs of last winter and overseeing the development of future stars such as Root and Ballance. With this healthy mix of experience and youth, England’s batting star could yet rise again, but they must be ready to face extreme pace next time they encounter it.
It may sound strange to be excited about English cricket at this lowest of moments, but with players like Stokes and Balance we are entering into a brave new world. Who knows – their drubbing may in fact allow the England cricket to, like the Phoenix, rise from the Ashes more beautiful than before.
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