Rob Smyth's Blog, page 74
July 7, 2022
The Fiver | The spin cycle that is an inescapable part of supporting England
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It was a tense Wednesday night in Fiver Towers. Two TV screens, two matters of great national import, two compelling struggles: England trying to hold on to their 1-0 lead over Austria in an increasingly fraught Euro 2022 opener, and Boris Johnson trying to preserve his 42-0 deficit against the Tories. Our eyes were mainly on the former, where Beth Mead’s stylish early goal gave the Euro 2022 hosts an important if nervy victory. The Fiver didn’t deal with the tension of the last 25 minutes particularly well, polishing off a quota of Tin that was supposed to last us up to and including Sweden v Switzerland at 5pm on Wednesday 13 July. By the final whistle we were so discombobulated that we were screaming for Sarina Wiegman to resign and BJ to pick Alex Greenwood against Norway on Monday.
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July 5, 2022
The Fiver | PSG’s very modern parting of the ways with Mauricio Pochettino
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The Fiver has never been dumped, and you can probably join the dots on that one. But we have enough of our fat finger on the pulse to know about the modern ways in which people have conscious uncoupling imposed upon them: the sudden “we need to talk”, the text, the FaceSpace status, the tears. Today, Paris Saint-Germain introduced a new one: the afterthought.
Continue reading...Football transfer rumours: Cristiano Ronaldo to Barcelona? Really?
Today’s gossip wears denim wherever it goes
Ambition has no room for sentiment. The Mill wouldn’t know much about this, having chugged along near the bottom of the transfer-gossip pyramid for the best part of 20 years, but we read it on a toilet wall once and it sounded profound. And if we had any lingering doubts about the incompatibility of ambition and sentiment, they’ve been obliterated by the burgeoning where-will-Cristiano-Ronaldo-pout-next saga!
Yesterday’s news that Ronaldo is making come-to-CR7 eyes at Chelsea was a knife to the memory bank for all connected with Manchester United. And today’s rags suggest he is now doing the same to Real Madrid!
Continue reading...July 3, 2022
England v India: fifth Test, day three – as it happened
India continued to dominate at Edgbaston despite another barnstorming century from Jonny Bairstow
33rd over: England 110-5 (Bairstow 25, Stokes 12) Bumrah jags one back into Stokes and an inside edge saves him. Bairstow comes onto strike and short arm jabs Bumrah aerially down the ground for four. The Yorkshireman then leans on one into the covers to pick up two. Absorbing first half an hour this.
32nd over: England 100-5 (Bairstow 16, Stokes 11) It all gets a little spicy out there as Virat and Bairstow seem to have terse words and the umpires step in. Not sure what about, probably Kohli trying to get into Johnny’s noodle. Bairstow’s beans are well and truly up as a result and he has a wild few swipes before connecting with a flay over point for three. Fair to say he is ticking.
Continue reading...July 2, 2022
England v India: fifth Test, day two – as it happened
Jasprit Bumrah set a new Test record, with Stuart Broad conceding 35 runs in one over, and then took three wickets as India overwhelmed England on a rain-affected day at Edgbaston
75th over: India 339-7 (Jadeja 84, Shami 0) As eager as a young pup, something solid like a Labrador, Potts runs in. A huge lbw appeal first ball against Jadeja but no-one fancies it as much as Potts.
74th over: India 339-7 (Jadeja 84, Shami 0) Stokes leans gingerly into his first over of the day, just a single coming from it.
Continue reading...July 1, 2022
England v India: fifth Test, day one – as it happened
Rishabh Pant smashed an extraordinary 146 as India recovered from 98 for five to reach 338 for seven on a rain-affected first day
4th over: India 13-0 (Gill 4, Pujara 4) Pujara gets off the mark in style, pushing Broad past mid-off with the greatest of ease. He also picks up two leg-byes when, as Broad notes, he was surely not playing a shot.
“As we all know,” says Alex Hankey, “India is cricket-mad. As an Englishman living and working in Pune, I am often asked where I come from, my ‘Native Place’. If ‘England’ gains lack of response, ‘Joe Root’ commands instant recognition. I can see that I shall now have to change that to ‘Ben Stokes’! Best wishes, and many thanks for all your efforts.” Pleasure! I’m old enough to remember when the magic words were “Bobby Charlton”.
Continue reading...May 29, 2022
Huddersfield Town 0-1 Nottingham Forest: Championship play-off final – as it happened
Forest are back in the Premier League for the first time since 1999 after holding on to win a scrappy, controversial game at Wembley
Here come the players. For most, it’s the biggest game of their life so far. For many, it’s the biggest game they’ll ever play.
“Compared to many of your readers, I am sure I am a relative newcomer to the Premier League,” says Joe Pearson. “I’ve only been an avid follower since it became available to watch here in the USA! in the early aughts, or should I say the ‘noughties’? Anyway, even I know the Premier League would be better with an historic club like Forest in it. Come on you Tricky Trees!”
Continue reading...May 28, 2022
Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in Champions League final – as it happened
More pre-match reading
They’ve announced their team early - no biggie - and it’s the XI we expected.
Continue reading...May 22, 2022
Manchester City crowned Premier League champions after 3-2 win over Aston Villa – as it happened
The substitute Ilkay Gundogan scored twice as City came back from the brink to win the title in unforgettable circumstances
Well isn’t this interesting. John Stones returns to the side, but it’s in place of Oleksandr Zinchenko rather than Fernandinho. Kyle Walker is only fit enough for the bench.
The City team graphic suggests Stones will start at right-back, though there is a burgeoning (and slightly pathetic) culture of tactical subterfuge in these Twitter graphics, so we’ll see.
Continue reading...May 21, 2022
Barcelona 1-3 Lyon: Women’s Champions League final 2022 – as it happened
An Ada Hegerberg masterclass helped Lyon overcome the holders Barcelona and win the Champions League for the sixth time in seven years
The warm-ups have begun, with Lyon taking to the field to put the final touches on their pre-match preparations.
The atmosphere is building at the Juventus Stadium. Barcelona fans have greeted the team coaches with smoke bombs and a sea of flags, while the stands are gradually filling up with supporters.
Continue reading...Rob Smyth's Blog
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