Kiwi FC v Wadham College Old Boys FC (Win 4-2)
Saturday 28 October 2006
Wandsworth Park 14:00
Kiwi FC continued their good run of form this weekend with a strong win on the back of a sensational second half. The team welcomed the return of veteran Sam Foley to the side, who accepted the challenge of playing in goal when our goalkeeper did not arrive.
Kiwis again started the match slowly and allowed the opposition to play more of the game in the Kiwi half. The Wadham captain looked to be the danger man for his team and he made space for himself on a few occasions. However the Kiwi defence was staunch and he was unable to mount any serious chances on goal. Kiwis started to find their feet and began to move the game further up the field to their advantage. They strung some good passes together and made space for themselves against the cumbersome Wadham defence. Wadham’s goalkeeper though was strong and he swept well behind his defence and managed to close down the Kiwi attacks. He was however lucky to still be on the pitch, after getting away with a foul in the first 5 minutes when he tripped up the last Kiwi player as he was in on goal.
Wadham were the first to break the deadlock however when they earned a penalty. It was well taken and for the first match this season, Kiwi FC were the first to concede. The scoreline remained the same until half time, but Kiwi FC knew that they were doing the right things and that it really would just be a matter of time until they found themselves on the scoreboard.
Indeed that time came sooner than anyone expected. An average kick off saw James take the ball forward himself; he made some progress but lost the ball. He followed up though and managed to get in the way of the defender’s clearance; the ball rolled straight into Nick’s path who was in on goal. He drew the goalkeeper and finished well on his left foot to put Kiwis back on level terms, within 30 seconds of the start of the second half.
The Kiwi onslaught continued again right from the kick off. Wadham were still in shock from the first goal and it showed. From the kick off, a poor attempted pass to their right back was intercepted by James, he raced down the left and cut into the box. His attempted pass back to Gav in the centre hit the outstretched arm of the Wadham defender, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. The ever reliable Gav stepped up to the spot and his finish was clinical to the bottom left corner of the net. Kiwis were up 2-1 and Wadham were stunned.
Kiwi FC continued to control the game after that, again Cappy and Dave were solid at the back, Steve A and Gav controlled and midfield and James and Nick ran hard at the front. Steve Mc and Chris D gave plenty of width and options down the left. Nick O and especially Sam Foley, now playing in the outfield, showed some great form down the right.
More goals seemed like they would come, but it was Wadham’s turn to put themselves back into the game. In what was really their only foray into the Kiwi box, they swept a free kick in from the right and found an unmarked player at the far post; the ball came of his chest and wrong-footed the Kiwi keeper and just edged in. It was a soft goal but it still counted and the scores were level at 2-2.
Kiwis made a double substitution with Bede and Greg coming on for Nick O and Chris. They both worked hard and their presence had an impact. It was not long before Kiwis were back on top. The attack building from midfield; James took a pass and then another couple of touches himself, he beat his man and teed up a shot on his right foot from about 20 yards out. His low drive beat the outstretched arm of the keeper and Kiwi FC had the advantage again.
From there Kiwis never looked back, they continued to create chances for themselves and were never really threatened at the back. Though it did not look like they would need it, they pressed hard for their fourth goal to put the game well beyond the oppositions reach. When it came it came again from the boot of Nick P; a well delivered Kiwi corner was not dealt with by the Wadham defence, Nick was quick to react and smashed home the ball through a crowd of players for his second of the day. That made it 4-2 and it Kiwis knew they had it in the bag.
Kiwi FC continued their pressure until the end of the game and although it looked like they might, they were unable to extend their lead even further. The ref’s whistle put Wadham out of their misery and the Kiwi Juggernaught marches on.
The win consolidated second place on the ladder, but with form like this, Kiwi FC have now got their eyes on the title.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Friday, October 27, 2006
Friday's thought
I’m sick and tired of Muslims making a song and dance every time someone says a bad word about them. “Islam is crap” someone will say “Cut their heads off” so the Muslims will respond. “Kill everyone who insults Islam.”
Pretty ridiculous really; none of the other religions have such a knee jerk reaction to being offended. It sounds like a pretty hard case of insecurity to me. Why should they be so worried if people say a bad word about them? Are they so fragile that they must protect themselves so vehemently?
People who are insecure will react badly to any negative comment said about them, yet confident people will often not care whether someone likes them or not. If you have a house made out of straw, you will attack the person who throws a rock at it, since they might knock it down. If you have a castle made of stone, then someone can throw rocks at it all day long and you can sit inside and know they can never knock it down.
Muslims that react so aggressively to negative comments about their faith, behave like their house is made of straw.
In Britain, there is much controversy whenever anyone says anything about Muslims. Jack Straw stated recently that he would prefer it if women in his constituency did not wear veils, as it promotes separation and does not promote an open community. This simple suggestion was turned into a storm; partly by radical Muslims and partly by the sensationalist British media. Mr Straw’s comments are perfectly reasonable; they are not an indictment of Islam and they are not meant to persecute a minority group. Britain is a country built upon the Christian faith. It is true that much of Britain is now largely secular, however it is this fact that those of other faiths must concede. While we of the majority should not hold prejudice against the minority for their beliefs, we should ensure that our beliefs are still held as a priority. Those of a minority belief who wish to enjoy the benefits of living in a country where they do not believe as the majority do, must accept some concessions to their own beliefs in order to participate in society as whole. If Muslim people wish to live exactly as their faith teaches them, then they should move to a country where Islam is predominantly part of the culture. Where it is not here, they must accept certain aspects of culture that may be different to their own initial beliefs. Were I to go to an Islamic country, I would be expected to respect the cultural beliefs of that country. I would expect my girlfriend to dress modestly. I would not expect her to wear revealing clothing, simply because that is that is how it is done in our culture. So Muslims should not react so harshly when it is suggested that veils are not worn in our society; so we can ensure that everyone integrates into the general fabric of society as it exists.
Pretty ridiculous really; none of the other religions have such a knee jerk reaction to being offended. It sounds like a pretty hard case of insecurity to me. Why should they be so worried if people say a bad word about them? Are they so fragile that they must protect themselves so vehemently?
People who are insecure will react badly to any negative comment said about them, yet confident people will often not care whether someone likes them or not. If you have a house made out of straw, you will attack the person who throws a rock at it, since they might knock it down. If you have a castle made of stone, then someone can throw rocks at it all day long and you can sit inside and know they can never knock it down.
Muslims that react so aggressively to negative comments about their faith, behave like their house is made of straw.
In Britain, there is much controversy whenever anyone says anything about Muslims. Jack Straw stated recently that he would prefer it if women in his constituency did not wear veils, as it promotes separation and does not promote an open community. This simple suggestion was turned into a storm; partly by radical Muslims and partly by the sensationalist British media. Mr Straw’s comments are perfectly reasonable; they are not an indictment of Islam and they are not meant to persecute a minority group. Britain is a country built upon the Christian faith. It is true that much of Britain is now largely secular, however it is this fact that those of other faiths must concede. While we of the majority should not hold prejudice against the minority for their beliefs, we should ensure that our beliefs are still held as a priority. Those of a minority belief who wish to enjoy the benefits of living in a country where they do not believe as the majority do, must accept some concessions to their own beliefs in order to participate in society as whole. If Muslim people wish to live exactly as their faith teaches them, then they should move to a country where Islam is predominantly part of the culture. Where it is not here, they must accept certain aspects of culture that may be different to their own initial beliefs. Were I to go to an Islamic country, I would be expected to respect the cultural beliefs of that country. I would expect my girlfriend to dress modestly. I would not expect her to wear revealing clothing, simply because that is that is how it is done in our culture. So Muslims should not react so harshly when it is suggested that veils are not worn in our society; so we can ensure that everyone integrates into the general fabric of society as it exists.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Moving the goal posts
My comment on this Daily Truth posting today. The post is with regards to a scathing review on Professor Richard Dawkin's new bookm which I shall be purchasing shortly, entitled "The God Delusion"
Professor Eagleton's claim is simply another attempt at 'moving the goalposts' to counter credible argument for the non existence of God. The notion of God as Professor Eagleton has suggested is not the notion of God as is believed by earthly religions. The Bible states that God does exist, He is an entity, He created humans in His own image and; depending on your particular arm of Christianity, actually came and lived as a man on the earth.
It is this notion that Professor Dawkins is countering in his book, because this is what is believed by theists. As human understanding of ourselves has grown throughout time, so has the argument against a God grown in credibility. Professor Eagleton has simply chosen to redefine the notion of God in the face of this, in order to suit his needs. However his definition of God is not the one that has formed the basis of Abrahamic religion for the past few millennia.
Professor Eagleton's claim is simply another attempt at 'moving the goalposts' to counter credible argument for the non existence of God. The notion of God as Professor Eagleton has suggested is not the notion of God as is believed by earthly religions. The Bible states that God does exist, He is an entity, He created humans in His own image and; depending on your particular arm of Christianity, actually came and lived as a man on the earth.
It is this notion that Professor Dawkins is countering in his book, because this is what is believed by theists. As human understanding of ourselves has grown throughout time, so has the argument against a God grown in credibility. Professor Eagleton has simply chosen to redefine the notion of God in the face of this, in order to suit his needs. However his definition of God is not the one that has formed the basis of Abrahamic religion for the past few millennia.
Monday, October 23, 2006
FC Centaur vs Kiwi FC
FC Centaur vs Kiwi FC (win 3-1)
Wandsworth COMMON!!!
21 October 2006 2pm
Kiwi FC returned to winning ways this Saturday with a well deserved victory over FC Centaur in a good spirited game. The game started a little late as this time it was the Kiwis who were late getting their act together. Predictably whenever we play at Wandsworth Common, one or two people end up at Wandsworth Park, and so it was the case this time meaning Kiwis started the game with just 9 men. FC Centaur were known and respected opponents from previous seasons, however the Kiwis’ 4-3-1 starting formation began to dominate from the outset. Gav and Cappy controlled the ball well and they provided the foundation to launch some attacks. Steve McCormack and Chris Danrell pushed forward on the wings and made some positive runs into the final third of the pitch.
Even with 2 men down it seemed as though a Kiwi goal would soon be coming. With another wave of pressure sweeping forward; Gav made a strong run into the box, he beat 2 defenders and made it to the by-line. Under pressure he made a perfect pass across goal and found James unmarked at the far post; he had the simplest of tap-ins from about 3 centimetres out. 1-0 Kiwis.
Nick and Leighton made it to the ground after their little detour and Kiwis were back playing 4-4-2. They continued to control the game and apply more pressure on the opposition goal. Kiwi defence was strong, marshalled well by Chris and Dave at the back, they prevented Centaur from gaining any real scoring opportunities, and Keeper Adam was on hand to confidently deal with any balls that made it his way.
The Kiwi dominance continued and the Centaur keeper was called into action frequently to deal with more and more attacking raids. In the end though it was the simplest of goals that doubled the Kiwi lead. Chris Danrell applied some good pressure on the defender who was forced into a poor back pass to the keeper. The keeper really should have caught the ball and conceded the free kick but he tried to trap the ball with his chest, succeeding only in steering the ball into James’s path. The open net beckoned and Kiwis went up 2-0. It was no more than they deserved.
After such a dominant first half the only danger to the Kiwis in the second half would be complacency. Another goal would be needed to kill the game off and Kiwis started the second half from where they left off. Gav and Cappy continued to control the midfield with skill and precision and Kiwis launched more attacks. James had a few second half chances to secure his hat-trick but he failed to capitalise. The game though was played predominantly in the Centaur half and the Kiwi defence was sturdy and composed to break down any Centaur attack. Leighton had donned the gloves at half time, and he was called into action; making a couple of smart saves to keep the opponents scoreless.
Kiwis extended their lead further with a goal worthy of their dominance. Great play once again from Gav and Cappy; linking up well with each other with some good passes. They moved forward and found Adam in space in the centre, he controlled well and his finish was clinical for a goal of the highest quality. Surely that would see all 3 points in the bag.
Kiwis though lost a little bit of shape and concentration after that, allowing Centaur to control the game a bit and for a short while, Kiwis were on the back foot. A penalty was conceded, which was well taken by the Centaur captain and the Kiwi goal line was finally crossed. At 3-1, one sensed that Centaur might have a chance of scraping a point if they could nick another goal. This would not be the case though as Kiwis found their shape again and controlled the match until the final whistle and the game finished 3-1
It was a strong display from Kiwi FC and indeed the score-line probably didn’t reflect their dominance. But for some better finishing they could have bagged a couple more. The 3 points though is what matters and they were secured well. Man of the Match: Dave Capstick.
Wandsworth COMMON!!!
21 October 2006 2pm
Kiwi FC returned to winning ways this Saturday with a well deserved victory over FC Centaur in a good spirited game. The game started a little late as this time it was the Kiwis who were late getting their act together. Predictably whenever we play at Wandsworth Common, one or two people end up at Wandsworth Park, and so it was the case this time meaning Kiwis started the game with just 9 men. FC Centaur were known and respected opponents from previous seasons, however the Kiwis’ 4-3-1 starting formation began to dominate from the outset. Gav and Cappy controlled the ball well and they provided the foundation to launch some attacks. Steve McCormack and Chris Danrell pushed forward on the wings and made some positive runs into the final third of the pitch.
Even with 2 men down it seemed as though a Kiwi goal would soon be coming. With another wave of pressure sweeping forward; Gav made a strong run into the box, he beat 2 defenders and made it to the by-line. Under pressure he made a perfect pass across goal and found James unmarked at the far post; he had the simplest of tap-ins from about 3 centimetres out. 1-0 Kiwis.
Nick and Leighton made it to the ground after their little detour and Kiwis were back playing 4-4-2. They continued to control the game and apply more pressure on the opposition goal. Kiwi defence was strong, marshalled well by Chris and Dave at the back, they prevented Centaur from gaining any real scoring opportunities, and Keeper Adam was on hand to confidently deal with any balls that made it his way.
The Kiwi dominance continued and the Centaur keeper was called into action frequently to deal with more and more attacking raids. In the end though it was the simplest of goals that doubled the Kiwi lead. Chris Danrell applied some good pressure on the defender who was forced into a poor back pass to the keeper. The keeper really should have caught the ball and conceded the free kick but he tried to trap the ball with his chest, succeeding only in steering the ball into James’s path. The open net beckoned and Kiwis went up 2-0. It was no more than they deserved.
After such a dominant first half the only danger to the Kiwis in the second half would be complacency. Another goal would be needed to kill the game off and Kiwis started the second half from where they left off. Gav and Cappy continued to control the midfield with skill and precision and Kiwis launched more attacks. James had a few second half chances to secure his hat-trick but he failed to capitalise. The game though was played predominantly in the Centaur half and the Kiwi defence was sturdy and composed to break down any Centaur attack. Leighton had donned the gloves at half time, and he was called into action; making a couple of smart saves to keep the opponents scoreless.
Kiwis extended their lead further with a goal worthy of their dominance. Great play once again from Gav and Cappy; linking up well with each other with some good passes. They moved forward and found Adam in space in the centre, he controlled well and his finish was clinical for a goal of the highest quality. Surely that would see all 3 points in the bag.
Kiwis though lost a little bit of shape and concentration after that, allowing Centaur to control the game a bit and for a short while, Kiwis were on the back foot. A penalty was conceded, which was well taken by the Centaur captain and the Kiwi goal line was finally crossed. At 3-1, one sensed that Centaur might have a chance of scraping a point if they could nick another goal. This would not be the case though as Kiwis found their shape again and controlled the match until the final whistle and the game finished 3-1
It was a strong display from Kiwi FC and indeed the score-line probably didn’t reflect their dominance. But for some better finishing they could have bagged a couple more. The 3 points though is what matters and they were secured well. Man of the Match: Dave Capstick.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Kiwi FC v Southside Rovers
Kiwi FC v Southside Rovers
Wandsworth Park
14 October 2006
In the fifth round tie this Saturday; Kiwi FC went all Rafa Benitez and there was a fair bit of tinkering to the side, with it being a largely different team to that which triumphed the previous week. The Kiwis started the game on the back foot with Southside taking control of the game from the outset. The game was being played mostly in the Kiwis half, the opposition stringing together some good pieces of play, however they found themselves undone at the end with some strong Kiwi defence and some excellent work between the posts by Kiwi's new goalkeeper Andrew. Kiwi's weren't without their own attacks and made some good breaks into the opposition half and testing their keeper with some early shots. Kiwis were the first to get on the scoresheet with a goal largely against the run of play. James challenged well in the air for the ball just outside the Southside 18 yard box, the defender lost his feet and the ball fell kindly for James, he showed good composure to drill the ball on the volley, into the top left corner of the goal. Kiwi FC had the advantage.
Southside continued to create chances for themselves at the other end, but the Kiwi's showed good resilience and managed to keep them out. All while creating a few more chances for themselves at the other end, forcing their keeper to makes some good saves. The scoreline stayed at 1-0 going into half time. Kiwi FC felt that they were doing some good things, and that if they could keep more of the ball in the second half they would have a good chance of taking the points home.
Kiwis started brightly in the second half, mounting an attack straight from the kick off and coming close to scoring. The second half soon though started to feel like the first with Southside controlling more of the ball and creating more chances. It seemed as though a goal from them was inevitable and sure enough it came about 15 minutes into the second half. The scores were now level and Kiwis knew they would have to do more if they wanted to win the game, however Southside managed to follow up from their first goal and find the net again to take the lead. Heads started to drop but Kiwis picked up the intensity in their attack and it was not long before they were level again. Some strong midfield play by Nick put Kiwis on the attack, the ball was delivered into the box and the opposition were unable to clear properly, it fell for Jerry on the edge of the area who struck a lovely volley straight into the net, great goal. 2-2
The Kiwis started to mount more pressure on the opposition goal, still keeping strong in defence and nullifying the Southside attacks. Nick took the ball in front of him and struck a glorious shot from 30 yards out, it dipped and swerved and was just tipped over by the keeper, it was a cracking shot and deserved a goal. Kiwis though should have gone ahead shortly after; James made a good run behind the defence and Jerry found him with a accurate through ball. In on goal this time his composure deserted him and he flashed his shot over the bar. Kiwis should have been in the lead, but football can be a cruel game and less than a minute later it was Southside who took the lead at the other end. One of those "was it a cross or a shot?" from the other team, whatever it was it was a fluke but it didn't matter as Kiwis were now down 3-2.
The last ten minutes actually went on for about 20, during which time Southside managed to put another 2 goals in, though when they were starting to boast, Kiwis managed to have the final say. Some solid pressure saw Bede finding himself in space just inside the box, he was found with a good pass and slotted home past the keeper form close range. That was the final say of the game and the Kiwis succumbed to their first defeat since the opening day of the season 5-3.
Kiwis showed good team spirit and determination in the game, especially with so many players playing together for the first time. Nick Palairet had a man of the match performance in midfield with some strong running, hard tackling and excellent work rate.
Kiwis will look to bounce back next week and resume their winning ways
Wandsworth Park
14 October 2006
In the fifth round tie this Saturday; Kiwi FC went all Rafa Benitez and there was a fair bit of tinkering to the side, with it being a largely different team to that which triumphed the previous week. The Kiwis started the game on the back foot with Southside taking control of the game from the outset. The game was being played mostly in the Kiwis half, the opposition stringing together some good pieces of play, however they found themselves undone at the end with some strong Kiwi defence and some excellent work between the posts by Kiwi's new goalkeeper Andrew. Kiwi's weren't without their own attacks and made some good breaks into the opposition half and testing their keeper with some early shots. Kiwis were the first to get on the scoresheet with a goal largely against the run of play. James challenged well in the air for the ball just outside the Southside 18 yard box, the defender lost his feet and the ball fell kindly for James, he showed good composure to drill the ball on the volley, into the top left corner of the goal. Kiwi FC had the advantage.
Southside continued to create chances for themselves at the other end, but the Kiwi's showed good resilience and managed to keep them out. All while creating a few more chances for themselves at the other end, forcing their keeper to makes some good saves. The scoreline stayed at 1-0 going into half time. Kiwi FC felt that they were doing some good things, and that if they could keep more of the ball in the second half they would have a good chance of taking the points home.
Kiwis started brightly in the second half, mounting an attack straight from the kick off and coming close to scoring. The second half soon though started to feel like the first with Southside controlling more of the ball and creating more chances. It seemed as though a goal from them was inevitable and sure enough it came about 15 minutes into the second half. The scores were now level and Kiwis knew they would have to do more if they wanted to win the game, however Southside managed to follow up from their first goal and find the net again to take the lead. Heads started to drop but Kiwis picked up the intensity in their attack and it was not long before they were level again. Some strong midfield play by Nick put Kiwis on the attack, the ball was delivered into the box and the opposition were unable to clear properly, it fell for Jerry on the edge of the area who struck a lovely volley straight into the net, great goal. 2-2
The Kiwis started to mount more pressure on the opposition goal, still keeping strong in defence and nullifying the Southside attacks. Nick took the ball in front of him and struck a glorious shot from 30 yards out, it dipped and swerved and was just tipped over by the keeper, it was a cracking shot and deserved a goal. Kiwis though should have gone ahead shortly after; James made a good run behind the defence and Jerry found him with a accurate through ball. In on goal this time his composure deserted him and he flashed his shot over the bar. Kiwis should have been in the lead, but football can be a cruel game and less than a minute later it was Southside who took the lead at the other end. One of those "was it a cross or a shot?" from the other team, whatever it was it was a fluke but it didn't matter as Kiwis were now down 3-2.
The last ten minutes actually went on for about 20, during which time Southside managed to put another 2 goals in, though when they were starting to boast, Kiwis managed to have the final say. Some solid pressure saw Bede finding himself in space just inside the box, he was found with a good pass and slotted home past the keeper form close range. That was the final say of the game and the Kiwis succumbed to their first defeat since the opening day of the season 5-3.
Kiwis showed good team spirit and determination in the game, especially with so many players playing together for the first time. Nick Palairet had a man of the match performance in midfield with some strong running, hard tackling and excellent work rate.
Kiwis will look to bounce back next week and resume their winning ways
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Give him a break
In England, the media and the hard core fans, expect their national football team to win every game, and win every game by a 4 goal margin. This is because the English are the best, or at least they think they are. So they think they should always win. Any defeat by a nation ranked lower than them is an embarrassment, and any time the side strings together more than two poor games in a row, there are calls for the manager to be sacked. On the same token, any time the side wins, there is praise granted beyond that which is deserved; poorly played 1-0 victories are enough for the arrogant English fans and media. This leaves faults unaddressed and uncorrected; which, in the end leads to losses.
The English football media need to take some kind of responsibility for the poor form of their national side. There is no room for error, no chance for improvement or development. England must be the best, all the time. Any mistakes or errors are utterly lambasted and magnified many times greater than their actual significance. One of Sven’s problems, probably because he was the first foreign person to manage England, was that he was so constantly attacked by the media, and not just about football. Sven was too afraid to try anything new, because if you try something new and different, you run the risk of it not working, and when that happens, the press get their claws out. So it was comfortable and relatively low risk to pick the same squad of players and use the same tactics. If he tried something different and it didn’t work, then he knew the kind of punishment he would receive from the media, so he didn’t.
Now, unbelievably, some are asking whether Steven McLaren should be sacked. Give the guy a break. He tried something new last night, it didn’t work out, he made a few mistakes; but it will be his ability to learn from those mistakes that will make his side better. Sometimes to work out a winning formula, one needs to try things a few different ways, and some of those ways don’t work out. Understanding why it didn’t work out and learning from that, helps to achieve that winning formula. This whole process is made a lot more difficult if there is no room given to make any mistakes.
So give Steve McLaren a chance, stop being so arrogant and then mauling the England team when they don’t massage your arrogance. Try giving the opposition a little credit for playing well, instead of being so patronising. You must first be humble, before you can be great.
The English football media need to take some kind of responsibility for the poor form of their national side. There is no room for error, no chance for improvement or development. England must be the best, all the time. Any mistakes or errors are utterly lambasted and magnified many times greater than their actual significance. One of Sven’s problems, probably because he was the first foreign person to manage England, was that he was so constantly attacked by the media, and not just about football. Sven was too afraid to try anything new, because if you try something new and different, you run the risk of it not working, and when that happens, the press get their claws out. So it was comfortable and relatively low risk to pick the same squad of players and use the same tactics. If he tried something different and it didn’t work, then he knew the kind of punishment he would receive from the media, so he didn’t.
Now, unbelievably, some are asking whether Steven McLaren should be sacked. Give the guy a break. He tried something new last night, it didn’t work out, he made a few mistakes; but it will be his ability to learn from those mistakes that will make his side better. Sometimes to work out a winning formula, one needs to try things a few different ways, and some of those ways don’t work out. Understanding why it didn’t work out and learning from that, helps to achieve that winning formula. This whole process is made a lot more difficult if there is no room given to make any mistakes.
So give Steve McLaren a chance, stop being so arrogant and then mauling the England team when they don’t massage your arrogance. Try giving the opposition a little credit for playing well, instead of being so patronising. You must first be humble, before you can be great.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
It will be 911 times 2356
It’s exciting isn’t it? That creepy strange little man in North Korea has managed to build himself a nuclear weapon. Really though this was inevitable; acquiring the capabilities to build nuclear weapons was the only real way that Kim Jong-Il was going to protect himself from the West. The USA specifically are far less likely to attack your country, if you can defend yourself with nuclear weapons.North Korea has been targeted for some time now; they were infamously included in the so called “axis of evil.” Look what happened to the first country included in that axis; Iraq was attacked, occupied and its leader ousted. This was all on the pretence that they were developing weapons of mass destruction and a pre-emptive attack was required in order for the US to defend itself from the threat of attack.
Now if I was the leader of North Korea, I would probably start thinking that my country might be next. Indeed who’s to say that if the US hadn’t ended up bogged down in Iraq for so long, they wouldn’t have turned their attentions towards Korea? The circumstances of the invasion of Iraq would certainly suggest that to be a possibility. The likelihood of such an attack would be considerably reduced, if North Korea proved that they could defend themselves with nuclear force. It is believed they have intercontinental missiles capable of reaching the west coast of the United States; it would seem now that they are not too far off being able to attach nuclear warheads to these missiles. The US would never initiate an attack on a country that could fire a nuclear missile at its shores.
So really with America’s constant threats and accusations towards North Korea, their quest to join the nuclear club has only been encouraged. A country with nuclear capabilities is treated with a lot more respect that one without. No one would give a toss about Pakistan if they didn’t have the bomb.
It is all well and good for the most powerful nations to try and rule the world, of course they should, when you have power, you want to exercise it. However the problem with trying to tell people what to do, is that they are far less likely to listen to what you have to say, if you are not seen to be practicing what it is you are preaching. It is of course no coincidence that the 5 permanent member nations of the United Nations Security Council are the 5 original countries to have had nuclear weapons before all the talk came along about nuclear non-proliferation. Now these countries have all signed the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treat (NPT) and encouraged all others to do so. Basically, now they’ve got nukes, they don’t want anyone else to get them either. There is certainly nothing wrong with this at all, if you are in power you will want to stay in power and try to prevent others from being capable of challenging that power. We should not though be at all surprised though if countries don’t do what we tell them to do. Why would other countries agree not to develop nuclear weapons if the people who are telling them not to wont get rid of the ones they have already? Even, in the case of the US develop more.
The powerful nations of today should in every way try to prevent other nations from proliferating nuclear weapons, but they should not be surprised when their attempts fail. The only real way for nuclear non proliferation is to eliminate all nuclear weapons from the earth, including those held by members of the UN Security Council.
Of course we shouldn't discount the possibility that this test was actually faked and the explosion was not caused by a nuclear chain reaction. For North Korea, having everyone else think they have nuclear weapons is just as good as having them.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Boca Seniors vs Kiwi FC
Boca Seniors vs Kiwi FC
Saturday 7 October 2006
Raynes Park 12:00
A sunny autumn day saw the black and whites of Kiwi FC take to the pitch at Raynes Park against Boca Seniors. The match was delayed by 15 minutes due to the late arrival of the opposition and the Kiwis felt confident their pre-match preparation and readiness would give them the advantage from the off. This however turned out not to be the case as Boca Seniors took the game to the Kiwis in the first 20 minutes; the game was played mostly in the Kiwi’s own half. Some resolute Kiwi defending and a couple of tidy saves from Grog between the posts saw the Kiwis weather the early storm and the score line remained even.
The Kiwis were starting to frustrate their opponents and starting to build up attacks of their own. Sure enough with almost their first foray into the Boca goal, Kiwi FC capitalised. A fizzing shot from outside the area from Steve, could not be held by the goal keeper; Nick was first to react on the rebound and emphatically fired the ball past the prone keeper. 1-0. Advantage Kiwi FC.
Kiwi FC now had control of the game and continued to mount pressure on the Boca defence. They should have made it 2-0 shortly after; another cracking shot from Steve in central midfield. It certainly deserved a goal but, with the keeper beaten, the ball struck the underside of the bar and bounced out; Robbie was first to get to the rebound this time, but unfortunately headed narrowly wide.
Boca Seniors must have felt themselves quite lucky not to be 2 goals down and took the chance to swing the game back in their direction. A goal at the other end brought the score back to 1-1 and there it stayed until half time.
The Boca players were spluttering a few smokers’ coughs after half time; the Kiwis were running down hill for the second half and sensed they could win. They started to control the game in the second half and it wasn’t long before they were back on top. Winning a free kick just inside the Boca half; the Kiwis sent men forward. Nick swept in a lovely free kick, sending the ball straight to James’s head, who nodded towards goal. The ball beat the outstretched arm of the goalkeeper and went in. 2-1, it was nothing less than the Kiwi’s deserved.
Boca Seniors saw they would have to do more if they wanted to overcome the mighty Kiwis; they pushed more men forward and laid siege to the Kiwi penalty area. Again more outstanding Kiwi defence saw the goal line remain uncrossed. With more men forward, Boca left some holes open at the back and sure enough, the Kiwis capitalised. Making a run from inside his own half, James ran onto a perfectly timed through ball from Gav. He charged at the Boca goal, held off 3 defenders and coolly slotted past the goalkeeper at the near post. 3-1
From there Boca didn’t let up on their pressure on Kiwi goal, hearts were in mouths once or twice during one or two goalmouth scrambles. Strong desire from Kiwi defenders to keep the ball out ensured the score line stayed the same. Grog had a man of the match performance in goal with a string of fine saves, showing his bravery and commitment to the side.
The Kiwis had a couple more chances at the other end but couldn’t extend their lead and 3-1 remained the final score. It was a well deserved victory from Kiwi FC in what was their strongest performance of the season thus far.
Saturday 7 October 2006
Raynes Park 12:00
A sunny autumn day saw the black and whites of Kiwi FC take to the pitch at Raynes Park against Boca Seniors. The match was delayed by 15 minutes due to the late arrival of the opposition and the Kiwis felt confident their pre-match preparation and readiness would give them the advantage from the off. This however turned out not to be the case as Boca Seniors took the game to the Kiwis in the first 20 minutes; the game was played mostly in the Kiwi’s own half. Some resolute Kiwi defending and a couple of tidy saves from Grog between the posts saw the Kiwis weather the early storm and the score line remained even.
The Kiwis were starting to frustrate their opponents and starting to build up attacks of their own. Sure enough with almost their first foray into the Boca goal, Kiwi FC capitalised. A fizzing shot from outside the area from Steve, could not be held by the goal keeper; Nick was first to react on the rebound and emphatically fired the ball past the prone keeper. 1-0. Advantage Kiwi FC.
Kiwi FC now had control of the game and continued to mount pressure on the Boca defence. They should have made it 2-0 shortly after; another cracking shot from Steve in central midfield. It certainly deserved a goal but, with the keeper beaten, the ball struck the underside of the bar and bounced out; Robbie was first to get to the rebound this time, but unfortunately headed narrowly wide.
Boca Seniors must have felt themselves quite lucky not to be 2 goals down and took the chance to swing the game back in their direction. A goal at the other end brought the score back to 1-1 and there it stayed until half time.
The Boca players were spluttering a few smokers’ coughs after half time; the Kiwis were running down hill for the second half and sensed they could win. They started to control the game in the second half and it wasn’t long before they were back on top. Winning a free kick just inside the Boca half; the Kiwis sent men forward. Nick swept in a lovely free kick, sending the ball straight to James’s head, who nodded towards goal. The ball beat the outstretched arm of the goalkeeper and went in. 2-1, it was nothing less than the Kiwi’s deserved.
Boca Seniors saw they would have to do more if they wanted to overcome the mighty Kiwis; they pushed more men forward and laid siege to the Kiwi penalty area. Again more outstanding Kiwi defence saw the goal line remain uncrossed. With more men forward, Boca left some holes open at the back and sure enough, the Kiwis capitalised. Making a run from inside his own half, James ran onto a perfectly timed through ball from Gav. He charged at the Boca goal, held off 3 defenders and coolly slotted past the goalkeeper at the near post. 3-1
From there Boca didn’t let up on their pressure on Kiwi goal, hearts were in mouths once or twice during one or two goalmouth scrambles. Strong desire from Kiwi defenders to keep the ball out ensured the score line stayed the same. Grog had a man of the match performance in goal with a string of fine saves, showing his bravery and commitment to the side.
The Kiwis had a couple more chances at the other end but couldn’t extend their lead and 3-1 remained the final score. It was a well deserved victory from Kiwi FC in what was their strongest performance of the season thus far.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Spending what we don't have
I commented on this post from Daniel Tammet's blog which I like to read.
Daniel you are most correct. What has lead to debt being so high in the UK is not only the ease at which debt is available, but also the rampant consumer culture that exists here now. People just want to buy more and more things. It seems as though that is now our purpose as citizens of the UK, to spend money. Everywhere we turn, our senses are assaulted with many different forms of advertising, encouraging us to buy the next latest thing. Advertising is effective, people want the next think out on the shelves; they should really save up for it but by the time they do it will probably be out of date. So why wait when they can just borrow money and have it now!
The news the other day was trying to hypothesize why UK debt levels were so much higher than that of Continental Europe. I think they are mistaken here in the first place by comparing the UK in these terms to the rest of Europe. In so much as that the UK is far more similar to the USA when it comes to consumer culture. To compare the UK to Europe in this circumstance I think is like comparing apples to oranges; I would be much more interested to see the UK debt levels compared to those of the USA.
Obviously a large part of many people's debt is mortgage payments. Obviously it is fair to discount this type of debt when considering statistics. However in one of the few left wing views I have about society, I think that it is inherently wrong that people should consign themselves to a lifetime of debt, simply in order to have a home to live in. Regulating the housing market is a way to do this, restricting investment and capping prices at certain levels. It is investment in the housing market that drives the persistent increase in house prices; if regulations severely limited investment in the housing market, prices would not rise too high so quickly and housing would be more affordable. It is fair to say that with hard work and wealth comes the opportunuty to buy a better house, and there is no reason why this could not remain the same. However when the average person must commit to paying off a loan for the next 30 years of their life, simply to have an average home, it must be considered that this is not right.
The ease of obtaining a mortgage combined with low interest rates helps keep house prices on the up. People can afford to borrow more and so prices will be higher. A rise in interest rates will slow down the rise in prices. Again, for this we will take our lead from the US.
Daniel you are most correct. What has lead to debt being so high in the UK is not only the ease at which debt is available, but also the rampant consumer culture that exists here now. People just want to buy more and more things. It seems as though that is now our purpose as citizens of the UK, to spend money. Everywhere we turn, our senses are assaulted with many different forms of advertising, encouraging us to buy the next latest thing. Advertising is effective, people want the next think out on the shelves; they should really save up for it but by the time they do it will probably be out of date. So why wait when they can just borrow money and have it now!
The news the other day was trying to hypothesize why UK debt levels were so much higher than that of Continental Europe. I think they are mistaken here in the first place by comparing the UK in these terms to the rest of Europe. In so much as that the UK is far more similar to the USA when it comes to consumer culture. To compare the UK to Europe in this circumstance I think is like comparing apples to oranges; I would be much more interested to see the UK debt levels compared to those of the USA.
Obviously a large part of many people's debt is mortgage payments. Obviously it is fair to discount this type of debt when considering statistics. However in one of the few left wing views I have about society, I think that it is inherently wrong that people should consign themselves to a lifetime of debt, simply in order to have a home to live in. Regulating the housing market is a way to do this, restricting investment and capping prices at certain levels. It is investment in the housing market that drives the persistent increase in house prices; if regulations severely limited investment in the housing market, prices would not rise too high so quickly and housing would be more affordable. It is fair to say that with hard work and wealth comes the opportunuty to buy a better house, and there is no reason why this could not remain the same. However when the average person must commit to paying off a loan for the next 30 years of their life, simply to have an average home, it must be considered that this is not right.
The ease of obtaining a mortgage combined with low interest rates helps keep house prices on the up. People can afford to borrow more and so prices will be higher. A rise in interest rates will slow down the rise in prices. Again, for this we will take our lead from the US.
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