This weekend, Sky will be showing their first ever live game in 3-D. Why on earth would anyone want to go through the effort.
I watched Avatar recently - it's amazing. The way that a special effects film like that can be enhanced in a cinema environment is absolutely mindblowing, and presents an experience that cinema-goers will return for again and again. This however, is football.
Firstly, most people watch it in a domestic setting. You text while it's on, you make a cup of tea and a sausage sandwich, you have a chat with your mates. You don't sit there like a Japanese tourist gawping at the people buzzing around you, and to assume that anyone gives their full concentration to a game of football, even if you're sat in the ground watching it, is absurd.
Secondly, does it honestly enhance the experience of watching the game. Avatar had flying stuff, people jumping out of trees and inter-planetary war. Nani might be able to do an impressive number of stepovers, but it hardly overloads the senses. Surely most people will just get bored of feeling like a feather floating above the pitch?
Thirdly, crowds at football grounds are already shrinking. Is it honestly time to present Dagenham v Shrewsbury in 3-D, so their fans can feel like they're at the game without actually getting off their arses and getting their wallets out? This week, Crystal Palace have gone into administration, Portsmouth's website has been shut down and countless others face a fight to survive this season with any players or staff.
The progression of Sky TV has coincided with the increased suffering of non-league teams, and if 3-D is as expensive as James Cameron makes it out to be, things only look like getting worse. A pretty gimmick this may be, but if the commodification of football seriously begins to enter the realm of the cinematic, there won't be much of a game to see behind those multi-coloured lenses.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Thursday, 21 January 2010
100k a week on...
Rumour has it that David Sullivan is about to dip into those audaciously large pockets and pull out the trump card that will save our season. A player who will be paid £100,000 a week. Someone who has been at the top. Has to be a striker - or a renowned goalscorer at least.
The early money is on Ruud van Nistelrooy, but for these kind of wages this ought to be a player who will play every second of every game, win every tackle, score every goal and become instantly adored by the fans. Two of Carlos Tevez basically. van Nistelrooy is (one... two...) none of those things.
I had to allow myself the fantasy of imagining who is actually available for free (or loan) and who matches Sullivan's criteria of 'very special'. If it isn't something akin to Aguero, Vagner Love, Higuain or Chamakh, then our beloved new chairman's first act will be to overhype and overspend.
In another, more fruitful rumour perhaps, Benny McCarthy is said to be on his way. Let's bloody hope so.
The early money is on Ruud van Nistelrooy, but for these kind of wages this ought to be a player who will play every second of every game, win every tackle, score every goal and become instantly adored by the fans. Two of Carlos Tevez basically. van Nistelrooy is (one... two...) none of those things.
I had to allow myself the fantasy of imagining who is actually available for free (or loan) and who matches Sullivan's criteria of 'very special'. If it isn't something akin to Aguero, Vagner Love, Higuain or Chamakh, then our beloved new chairman's first act will be to overhype and overspend.
In another, more fruitful rumour perhaps, Benny McCarthy is said to be on his way. Let's bloody hope so.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Sullivan/Gold take over West Ham
I'm not sure what to make of this really. From a business perspective, I don't think any West Ham fan can feel anything other than relief. Since the days of the egg man (Magnusson) we have either spent ludicrously or not at all, and results have taken their toll on a paper thin squad that seems to be overly relient on injury-prone players. Sullivan took over at Birmingham and pulled them out of administration and the Third Division, eventually making a nice profit and, on occassion, splashing the cash on the likes of Heskey, Forsell and Christoph Dugarry. They are both West Ham fans, and I know that if I could save the club with my savings, I would, so I have 100% faith that if a big purchase needs to get made, it will happen.
On the other hand, there is the matter of the actual football. Granted, there were trophies, championships and general progress under these two at Birmingham, but there was also the departure of Terry Cooper, a man who had just won Birmingham the title, shortly after the takeover. Boardroom disputes cost us Harry Redknapp, and the owners would do best to avoid the pubs on Green Street if the same thing happens to Zola and Clarke.
Then, clearly, you have to look at Birmingham's recent form. Consistently mid-table for a time, then two relegations with immediate promotions to follow. Investment dried up, save the odd Chuco Benitez-size splash, and it seems hard to ignore the fact that Birmingham have gone unbeaten since the new owners took charge. Let off the leash perhaps? We'll never know.
My main, and positive, consolation is that I think Gold and Sullivan, and probably even Karen Brady, know what kind of club they are running now. We don't sack our managers. We don't have anyone but the coach pick the side and make the signings. We give our fans a voice. We're not a yo-yo club.
Take all those things on board and everything will be just fine, fellas. And if Barry Fry comes within a hundred miles of the Boleyn you will have to just deal with the consequences.
On the other hand, there is the matter of the actual football. Granted, there were trophies, championships and general progress under these two at Birmingham, but there was also the departure of Terry Cooper, a man who had just won Birmingham the title, shortly after the takeover. Boardroom disputes cost us Harry Redknapp, and the owners would do best to avoid the pubs on Green Street if the same thing happens to Zola and Clarke.
Then, clearly, you have to look at Birmingham's recent form. Consistently mid-table for a time, then two relegations with immediate promotions to follow. Investment dried up, save the odd Chuco Benitez-size splash, and it seems hard to ignore the fact that Birmingham have gone unbeaten since the new owners took charge. Let off the leash perhaps? We'll never know.
My main, and positive, consolation is that I think Gold and Sullivan, and probably even Karen Brady, know what kind of club they are running now. We don't sack our managers. We don't have anyone but the coach pick the side and make the signings. We give our fans a voice. We're not a yo-yo club.
Take all those things on board and everything will be just fine, fellas. And if Barry Fry comes within a hundred miles of the Boleyn you will have to just deal with the consequences.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Micah Richards for the World Cup
If ever there was a player who needed a new manager to give his career a shot in the arm, it's Micah Richards.
About 18 months ago he was making consecutive appearances for England at right-back, scoring goals for club and country, and looking like a big-money move to one of Europe's best clubs was only a matter of time.
Then, under Mark Hughes, nothing. Nada. Couldn't even get a game sometimes. In one of the most spectacular losses of form since Socrates came out of retirement, both he and Richard Dunne were incapable of making any kind of impression on the strikers they were up against. Which, let me remind you, included Mamady Sidibe.
Now, in just three weeks under Mancini, he has made a screaming return to what he does best; bombing up the flanks, taking men out with tank-like tackling, exerting his pace and power at all times, and chipping in with the odd goal. With Man City also among the nouveau-riche of the league, top-level European football also looks to be on its way.
Surely, the time has now come for Capello to very quickly recognise the talent that Richards has always had, and get him into the England set up to replace Wes 'I'll play anywhere just not very well' Brown. Hell, if he plays to his capabilities he ought to be starting ahead of Johnson, and should be first or second choice reserve centre-back.
If I picked the England squad tonight:
GK: Green, Hart, James
DEF: Johnson, Richards, Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, A.Cole, Warnock
MID: Lampard, Gerrard, Barry, Lennon, J.Cole, Beckham, Parker, Downing
ATT: Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Walcott, Heskey
About 18 months ago he was making consecutive appearances for England at right-back, scoring goals for club and country, and looking like a big-money move to one of Europe's best clubs was only a matter of time.
Then, under Mark Hughes, nothing. Nada. Couldn't even get a game sometimes. In one of the most spectacular losses of form since Socrates came out of retirement, both he and Richard Dunne were incapable of making any kind of impression on the strikers they were up against. Which, let me remind you, included Mamady Sidibe.
Now, in just three weeks under Mancini, he has made a screaming return to what he does best; bombing up the flanks, taking men out with tank-like tackling, exerting his pace and power at all times, and chipping in with the odd goal. With Man City also among the nouveau-riche of the league, top-level European football also looks to be on its way.
Surely, the time has now come for Capello to very quickly recognise the talent that Richards has always had, and get him into the England set up to replace Wes 'I'll play anywhere just not very well' Brown. Hell, if he plays to his capabilities he ought to be starting ahead of Johnson, and should be first or second choice reserve centre-back.
If I picked the England squad tonight:
GK: Green, Hart, James
DEF: Johnson, Richards, Terry, Ferdinand, Upson, A.Cole, Warnock
MID: Lampard, Gerrard, Barry, Lennon, J.Cole, Beckham, Parker, Downing
ATT: Rooney, Crouch, Defoe, Walcott, Heskey
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
January Transfer Window
As some old bastard once sang - it's the most wonderful time of the year.
The next few weeks will determine a few things.
1. If Chelsea will win the title or not
2. Who will sink to the bottom of the league, never to return
3. Who the stupidest chairmen are in the league
The first seems fairly straightforward, as Chelsea have to cope without Drogba and Essien for the terrifying prospects of Hull, Sunderland, Birmingham and Burnley. Twelve points and a bit of form from their squaddies should see them safely home.
Second, I see Burnley disappearing into the mire without Owen Coyle. In one of the stupidest moves of recent years, he has neglected the team he just brought up in favour of Bolton. It won't work for one main reason: at Burnley he had footballers he could get to pass and move. At Bolton he doesn't. Ten quid says Coyle's current and former club slip away quietly between now and May, along with Portsmouth who may not even be a club by then.
Finally, the Man City powers that be are sticking their necks out for twats of the month, in trying to sign Juan Veron, a man who cannot be arsed to pull his socks up, let alone run. Why the richest team in the world are looking at MORE central midfielders is beyond me, when they should be after two more defenders and attempting to gel the side they already have.
Rumours continue to suggest that Arsenal will bid upwards of 9 million for Carlton Cole - a superb signing for them that would be, but not one that would relegate us. We haven't put our best team out for about 3 years now, and still manage somehow. Can think of several huge sides who would benefit from the likes of Parker, Collison, Green and Upson - one just has to hope they don't read this blog.
If there's one thing West Ham could do with it's a ruthless striker with pace. Not many of those around, but I can think of one who scored a winner at Old Trafford last week. For a couple of million, why not? Anyone has got to be more potent that Freddie Sears..
The next few weeks will determine a few things.
1. If Chelsea will win the title or not
2. Who will sink to the bottom of the league, never to return
3. Who the stupidest chairmen are in the league
The first seems fairly straightforward, as Chelsea have to cope without Drogba and Essien for the terrifying prospects of Hull, Sunderland, Birmingham and Burnley. Twelve points and a bit of form from their squaddies should see them safely home.
Second, I see Burnley disappearing into the mire without Owen Coyle. In one of the stupidest moves of recent years, he has neglected the team he just brought up in favour of Bolton. It won't work for one main reason: at Burnley he had footballers he could get to pass and move. At Bolton he doesn't. Ten quid says Coyle's current and former club slip away quietly between now and May, along with Portsmouth who may not even be a club by then.
Finally, the Man City powers that be are sticking their necks out for twats of the month, in trying to sign Juan Veron, a man who cannot be arsed to pull his socks up, let alone run. Why the richest team in the world are looking at MORE central midfielders is beyond me, when they should be after two more defenders and attempting to gel the side they already have.
Rumours continue to suggest that Arsenal will bid upwards of 9 million for Carlton Cole - a superb signing for them that would be, but not one that would relegate us. We haven't put our best team out for about 3 years now, and still manage somehow. Can think of several huge sides who would benefit from the likes of Parker, Collison, Green and Upson - one just has to hope they don't read this blog.
If there's one thing West Ham could do with it's a ruthless striker with pace. Not many of those around, but I can think of one who scored a winner at Old Trafford last week. For a couple of million, why not? Anyone has got to be more potent that Freddie Sears..
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)