A Complete Explanation Of Everything
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Euro Championships 2008 XI
GK - Volkan (Turkey)
For me, despite his sending off, he was having the best tournament keeperwise up to that point. Casillas has had some good moments but the likes of Cech, Coupet, Lehmann and Volkan's replacement Rustu really failed to make this a memorable tournament for keepers. The new ball didn't turn out to be as dangerous as predicted, there were pitifully few efforts on target from distance and only one direct free kick. Volkan for me...
Fullbacks - Philip Lahm (Germany), Zhirkov (Russia)
Lahm was taken apart by the directness of Kazim-Kazim (Colin Kazim-Richards to you and I, ex of Sheffield Utd) in the semi-final but still had the reserves to get down the pitch and score the last minute winner. He was utterly transcendent prior to the semi, so does go in on merit. Can play either left or right back, which allows Zhirkov into the team, really lit up the tournament in the final 1st round match and the epic quarter final win against the Dutch. Dangerous shot, a good eye for a pass and bags of energy, this duo would be as good going forward as anything ever assembled from fullback.
Centrebacks - Chiellini (Italy), Marchena (Spain)
Difficult shout this, not too sure any centrehalf has been truly exceptional. Chiellini stepped into the team for the Italians and at 23, looked very good, composed and let's face Italians only made a case for inclusion in the defence, although Pirlo might have had more to say about that but for those yellow cards. Marchena gets in on the basis that Spain have looked relatively solid and that can't be down to Puyol.
Central Midfield - Frings (Germany), Sneijder (Holland)
Again, a tough area... Frings makes Germany tick and was instrumental when he came on against Turkey in the semi-final, he'll plug the holes and will make the final an interesting battle for midfield supremacy. I could have had a number of Spaniards in here but I've plumbed for Wesley Sneijder in a floating role, although normally a wing man, he does tend to drift inside and lit up the tournament as the best the Dutch had to offer. Irony heaped upon irony, he may now be sacrificed by Real Madrid in order to bring the Portugese Winker and his considerable marketing clout to the Spanish capital.
Rightwing - David Silva (Spain)
Has been the most impressive winger of the tournament, for all the kudos heaped on Villa and Torres, this guy has been the thorn in the side for the Spanish opposition. It looks like a long road back for the likes of Joaquin to displace this guy.
Leftwing - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Despite the quarter final exit, Ronaldo bolstered his reputation with an effective enough tournament, a great goal and some great link play. Portugal may have suffered for directing all their attacking through Ronaldo and Deco and maybe, it will be become the lesson of Ronaldo's career that he begins to eschew teamplay for personal glory. He could go either way at this point...
Forwards - Arshavin (Russia), Villa (Spain)
The little Russian and the little Spaniard. Goals, movement, trickiness, a clever pass, these two though slight in stature would pose real difficulties for any defence. Arshavin disappointed many with his semi final performance but he faced a Spanish midfield that dominated and was completely starved of supply, again, the skill he showed in his two performances more than justified Hiddink's decision in bringing a player suspended for two matches. Villa has finally confirmed his reputation on the international stage and his goal, the winner against Sweden will live long in the memory. A great shame neither will grace the final but hands Torres the opportunity to finally stamp his mark on the tournament.
Subs: Casillas (Spain), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Senna (Spain), Robben (Holland), Podolski (Germany)
For me, despite his sending off, he was having the best tournament keeperwise up to that point. Casillas has had some good moments but the likes of Cech, Coupet, Lehmann and Volkan's replacement Rustu really failed to make this a memorable tournament for keepers. The new ball didn't turn out to be as dangerous as predicted, there were pitifully few efforts on target from distance and only one direct free kick. Volkan for me...
Fullbacks - Philip Lahm (Germany), Zhirkov (Russia)
Lahm was taken apart by the directness of Kazim-Kazim (Colin Kazim-Richards to you and I, ex of Sheffield Utd) in the semi-final but still had the reserves to get down the pitch and score the last minute winner. He was utterly transcendent prior to the semi, so does go in on merit. Can play either left or right back, which allows Zhirkov into the team, really lit up the tournament in the final 1st round match and the epic quarter final win against the Dutch. Dangerous shot, a good eye for a pass and bags of energy, this duo would be as good going forward as anything ever assembled from fullback.
Centrebacks - Chiellini (Italy), Marchena (Spain)
Difficult shout this, not too sure any centrehalf has been truly exceptional. Chiellini stepped into the team for the Italians and at 23, looked very good, composed and let's face Italians only made a case for inclusion in the defence, although Pirlo might have had more to say about that but for those yellow cards. Marchena gets in on the basis that Spain have looked relatively solid and that can't be down to Puyol.
Central Midfield - Frings (Germany), Sneijder (Holland)
Again, a tough area... Frings makes Germany tick and was instrumental when he came on against Turkey in the semi-final, he'll plug the holes and will make the final an interesting battle for midfield supremacy. I could have had a number of Spaniards in here but I've plumbed for Wesley Sneijder in a floating role, although normally a wing man, he does tend to drift inside and lit up the tournament as the best the Dutch had to offer. Irony heaped upon irony, he may now be sacrificed by Real Madrid in order to bring the Portugese Winker and his considerable marketing clout to the Spanish capital.
Rightwing - David Silva (Spain)
Has been the most impressive winger of the tournament, for all the kudos heaped on Villa and Torres, this guy has been the thorn in the side for the Spanish opposition. It looks like a long road back for the likes of Joaquin to displace this guy.
Leftwing - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Despite the quarter final exit, Ronaldo bolstered his reputation with an effective enough tournament, a great goal and some great link play. Portugal may have suffered for directing all their attacking through Ronaldo and Deco and maybe, it will be become the lesson of Ronaldo's career that he begins to eschew teamplay for personal glory. He could go either way at this point...
Forwards - Arshavin (Russia), Villa (Spain)
The little Russian and the little Spaniard. Goals, movement, trickiness, a clever pass, these two though slight in stature would pose real difficulties for any defence. Arshavin disappointed many with his semi final performance but he faced a Spanish midfield that dominated and was completely starved of supply, again, the skill he showed in his two performances more than justified Hiddink's decision in bringing a player suspended for two matches. Villa has finally confirmed his reputation on the international stage and his goal, the winner against Sweden will live long in the memory. A great shame neither will grace the final but hands Torres the opportunity to finally stamp his mark on the tournament.
Subs: Casillas (Spain), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Senna (Spain), Robben (Holland), Podolski (Germany)
Pints of water may be the way forward...
So we went out for pints during the Russia vs Spain game and then was out for pints yesterday straight after work. There is the strong possibility that more pints are on the agenda later and tomorrow is the European Championships Final, which will require some more pints.
I've been on the Miller, the Guinness and most tragically of all, the Heino, hopefully tonight we will stop somewhere that has access to some Czech beer.
Next week, I'm due to meet my brother for pints on Tuesday, then I'm having my leaving do from my section in Work on Thursday (alot of pints there) and I still have to meet up with Garrett who was recently let go by his employer in the recession hitting home, we shall have to drink pints to fete that...
All in all, that's alot of pints...
I've been on the Miller, the Guinness and most tragically of all, the Heino, hopefully tonight we will stop somewhere that has access to some Czech beer.
Next week, I'm due to meet my brother for pints on Tuesday, then I'm having my leaving do from my section in Work on Thursday (alot of pints there) and I still have to meet up with Garrett who was recently let go by his employer in the recession hitting home, we shall have to drink pints to fete that...
All in all, that's alot of pints...
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Carla Bruni vs Scarlett Johansson
Not really but I recently downlanded both their albums and the score is in Carla's favour, just at the minute but then again, I'm just hitting side 2 (in old skool) terms of young Scarlett's effort... We'll see...
Anyhoo, after France, I sojourned to Stockholm for a weekend and looked up Big Dave, alongside numerous of his other work colleagues, alot of money spent, alot of craic (not crack, in either sense) had... Then, alot of work stuff was kinda dealt with, spent most of this week in at 7:30 am, perhaps I'm taking all this lark too seriously but then again went and did some examens for a new job on Friday. Psychometric testing not being my forte, I ain't hopeful but in certain ways, it was an epiphany, this time last year, twould have been an unheralded disaster (and was), this year, I had kept plugging away thus that at a point when the Economy is going permanently south for the Winter, I'm in a fairly fortunate position, all will be revealed though, as I have yet to revel in my new post much.
I'll let you know how I get on, in a spiritual sense over the next few weeks.
Other than that, I've been mostly enjoying the Euros, tonight saw the marvelously talented Russians knock out the Dutch, Arshavin is a quality little player with a name that is rich in possibilities for mispronunciation next season, hopefully City or someone will take the plunge.
22nd June already, eh. Will check back in later...
Anyhoo, after France, I sojourned to Stockholm for a weekend and looked up Big Dave, alongside numerous of his other work colleagues, alot of money spent, alot of craic (not crack, in either sense) had... Then, alot of work stuff was kinda dealt with, spent most of this week in at 7:30 am, perhaps I'm taking all this lark too seriously but then again went and did some examens for a new job on Friday. Psychometric testing not being my forte, I ain't hopeful but in certain ways, it was an epiphany, this time last year, twould have been an unheralded disaster (and was), this year, I had kept plugging away thus that at a point when the Economy is going permanently south for the Winter, I'm in a fairly fortunate position, all will be revealed though, as I have yet to revel in my new post much.
I'll let you know how I get on, in a spiritual sense over the next few weeks.
Other than that, I've been mostly enjoying the Euros, tonight saw the marvelously talented Russians knock out the Dutch, Arshavin is a quality little player with a name that is rich in possibilities for mispronunciation next season, hopefully City or someone will take the plunge.
22nd June already, eh. Will check back in later...
Monday, June 9, 2008
Archive Foxy Bassplayer of the Month - June
And this month, we welcome one of Argentina's finest (and we do mean finest...), the luscious, delectable Paz Lenchantin, the beautiful bassist and etheral backing vocalist, now departed from the Tool side project, A Perfect Circle.
If you don't know the hit, "Judith", check it out and then some nice photos of Paz, she's basically hot on a number of levels...
Great player, great singer and Argentinian to boot!!!
If you don't know the hit, "Judith", check it out and then some nice photos of Paz, she's basically hot on a number of levels...
Great player, great singer and Argentinian to boot!!!
"He plays a different role, John..."
Is it just me or has Aprés Match been absolutely fucking tragic thus far??? The European Championships have been a spartan feast of football thus far but the prosaic hilarity of the faux Johnny, Eamonn, "The Sweet Smell of Souness" and Chippy simply haven't been doing the business.
Poor old Bill too, both his faux self and his real self are having a torpid time, tonight Italy were Spain, god knows what's next...
O'course, the real chap you'd have to feel sorry for is poor old Kinsella, Mark Kinsella to be precise... A full 90 mins beside Jimmy Magee during Romania vs France, now that's a greek tragedy!
Poor old Bill too, both his faux self and his real self are having a torpid time, tonight Italy were Spain, god knows what's next...
O'course, the real chap you'd have to feel sorry for is poor old Kinsella, Mark Kinsella to be precise... A full 90 mins beside Jimmy Magee during Romania vs France, now that's a greek tragedy!
