New Season, New Trends

So it's the start of the season and the excitement is in the air once again! Whether your team is expected to finish at the top or the bottom every fan is thinking this is can be our year and every manager is hoping their team has been prepared enough through pre-season. The players themselves however could be thinking about absolutely anything, the trend of last season was the next woman who was throwing themselves at them. This year it seems to be 'what smart comment can i write on my twitter account that will attract the most followers', this is before they think about what could come  from an irrational comment that the whole world see's in a second. In some cases it is just for entertainment and it's usually very harmless but others (mentioning no names but an English midfielder who plays for Newcastle) use it to create drama and potential force through a move to another club that may not come through any other method. This once again brings up the debate about player power and if they want a move they will get it.
However with the Football League season starting imminently and the Premier League next weekend a lot of big names who would have thought to have had a contract at this stage still have not. This includes two West Ham players, Matthew Upson and Thomas Hitzlesperger, both who probably thought that clubs would be snapping them up as soon as last season was over. Another big name player James McFadden could well be a sufferer of the '25 registered players in a squad' rule, with Premier League clubs not wanting to commit to selecting a 25 man squad until the final days of the deadline. These players won't want to drop down to Championship clubs who can't pay the same wage as they were on, even though they crave a big name signing that might give them the edge in a gruelling 46 game+ season. That's why I once again start the season with the hope that this year will be West Ham's year (fan optimism showing once again) and that we can avoid off the pitch publicity that has managed to spread north over the summer. If we have our few big name players come September 1st and we start well then hopefully West Ham will be back in the Premier League for 2012/13. In the meantime bring on 2011/12!

Worlds Best

Leading on from my last post my prediction of Andy Schleck to win the Tour de France didn't come in as it was Cadel Evans who took the Yellow jersey. It also consigned the doubters who didn't believe he was able to perform when it mattered, it also brought up whether Andy Schleck's time trialling skills will continue to let him down. If Alberto Contador manages to ride next years tour he will be back to his best with no continual drug allegations against him and it will be very doubtful whether he would compete in a gruelling Giro just months before. This addition as well as the constant improvements of young riders will make it even tougher for the younger of the Schleck's to win in France. One man who finally did put his doubters (if any) in place was Mark Cavendish who managed to win the final stage (again) and the Green jersey, speculation won't go away about a possible move to team sky next year. I see this move would not only hamper Cavendish himself but team sky as well, after what was a successful tour for the team barring the bad luck of Bradley Wiggins crashing out. Would Cavendish get the support needed for stage wins or will Sky keep to their ethos of building for a tour winner within the next few years? This move would benefit neither except financially.

Another world best could be decided, well officially anyway, within the next few weeks. England have dominated India, except 2 sessions, throughout the first two games of this world number 1 test cricket series decider. Its not only been the starting eleven that has been the reason for England's success Tim Bresnan stepped in for the injured Chris Tremlett to get 90 with the bat and 5 wickets in the 2nd innings. Stuart Broad has finally sorted his lengths out with his bowling action and has been rewarded by playing a man of the match performance. When Alastair Cook has arguably been the worse player in your team so far you know you are performing well! Sometimes you don't need an official ranking to know that someone or some teams are the best in the world, but in some sports a yellow jersey goes a long way!



Worlds best, just not officially yet