Compliments to Dolf on the cracking standard of The Wrap in my absence.
1. NRL. Is there a better sight than seeing Manly get their tails kicked? Brian Smith will go close to the coach of the year. Canberra's Dave Furner will also be there too. They could be very good once Brett White and Blake Ferguson arrive there in 2011. Dugan is a special for the dally M Award this year.
Neil Henry from North QLD should get the Worst Coach of The Year Award. He has been awful. His players have been worse. Thurston will be regretting his decision to re-sign with them. Bowen is finished too.
2. Has Melbourne Storm sorted out its roster for 2011 yet? They seem very reluctant to cooperate and are trying the usual out of town concession/ even break argument. They have fallen apart this year and are getting a taste of how it feels to be on a level playing field. Funny how other clubs have had to endure this.
3. Can't see Tigers, Titans or Panthers troubling the trophy engraver this year. Roosters and Dragons have shown more steel than most - and more frequently. Warriors too. They can lift when it matters.
4. AFL. Crowds are increasing each week and the Swans have limped over the line. The competition is clearly not even based on draft picks and salary cap. The Swans should be smacked by Carlton next weekend, but they have surprised by making the semis at all.
5. Wallabies. Robbie Deans has the worst record of any coach in our time. Did anyone see the Foxtel interview with Deans? He basically could not answer this question: "Will Australia win tonight v South Africa"? His answer revealed a fair bit about his faults as a coach. He showed little faith in the team and covered his own rs by saying "We have certainly prepared for victory". A win Robbie? No, so long as you have done your best and your job is safe....He needs to go. We need an Aussie in control. If I hear altitude as an excuse for our woeful performances I'll scream...Quade Cooper should get out while he can.
6. Match Fixing. What about the predictable match fixing involving the greatest cheat of them all "Asif" - even Aamir is in on it. The cheating bastards then head to the boundary for sawdust blaming the conditions - too slippery! He's gone for drug offences before too. No balls being bowled at key times for key punters. Expect the echo of gunshots soon and one less fast bowler. The Ryan Tandy one stinks too. He transferred from Melbourne mid season so he will be well versed in undermining the rules and stretching the truth.
7. Mark Webber. A perennial favourite with the Wrap for his ability to flounder under pressure. He is showing a striking amount of ticker however of late and seems to be delivering when it counts. Now having said that, look for an early exit....
8. Tiger Woods. Is he becoming a joke? Hard to imagine how he is viewed other than comically by other players after his exploits. I suspect he is not the only one in world golf with this lifestyle.
9. Cricket. Can anyone believe the appointment of Greg Chappell as a selector for Australia? Everything he touches goes to mud, yet he keeps on getting his name into all manner of great high profile jobs in world cricket. He is cursed. By the way, Tim Neilsen has secured a contract extension till the end of 2013. That will coincide with him having presided over three Ashes losses. He is a joke too.
10. Interesting to see Rudi Koertzen bagging Aussie cricketers so soon after his retirement. He is the worst umpire seen in a very long time in world cricket.
11. Looking forward to more sackings - coaches , players, officials - stories emerging. They are popular this time of year.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Wrap - A Pain In The Butt
1. If there is one certainty in world sport, it is that England will amp themselves up for a major sporting contest (eg. Ashes) and tumble soon after. Fancy Salman Butt...no relation to Ejaz Butt...making an rs of himself telling the world that England are better than Australia. I would have thought he may need to concentrate on his own batting failures and team capitulation in his second Test match as captain. Especially when leading a team of pre-eminent failures and under achievers. There will be no wickets like these seaming paradises in Australia.
2. Bledisloe. How many times have Australia beaten NZ in rugby since we can remember? Night tests? Regretably, we are certain losers. The brutality of the NZ players and their relentless defence is incredible. We were soft in defence too often. If the All Blacks don't win the next World Cup it will be the greatest upset in the history of rugby.
3. Brisbane Broncos looking strong once again. An incredible club really. Roosters also looking stronger each week. Canberra, Souths and Eels all gone. All now walk the tightrope with the Bulldogs. The eight for mine will be: St George, Roosters, Panthers, Broncos, Manly, Tigers, Titans, Warriors. No Eels. Two blokes we are all heartily sick of: Jonathan Thurston and his whinging and Damian Irvine at Cronulla. In fact, any story from Cronulla. Would anyone outside of Fugee and Dolf care if the Sharks folded?
4. Interesting that despite the theatrics to try to convince us otherwise, the Melbourne Storm are falling apart with great haste. Blaming, backbiting and cash curiosity has justifiably taken hold. The Storm are losing players they should never have had. Let's see how they go now. Probably still pretty well mind you.
5. AFL. The Swans need a clear out. The Roos early retirement announcement like most announcements like this, simply manifest under performance. Either shut up and coach until the end of the season, or retire and move on. Roos has provided his whole team with an excuse. They are happily taking it! On the other hand, Collingwood and Geelong look like dead certs for the GF again. West Coast set for their first wooden spoon.
6. Gotta love a suck up tour like when the IOC, Commonwealth Games or Soccer World Cup FIFA clowns do a "visit" (code for junket) to look at possible host cities. Tokensistic environment angles, indigenous music/ dancing, young player and 'superstars' are rolled out for everyone to shake their heads and wonder where decency starts and ends.
7. EPL restarts soon. Great to hear. The A League also starts and once again, no one really knows any of their superstars. Why is that? (not many I realise, but...).
8. Stosur. Doing great things till the semis but cannot put the trophy in her kit bag. Good way to earn a living, but a short stay at the top for mine if she cannot crack higher honours more regularly.
9. Webber. He strikes me increasingly as the villain in the whole Red Bull division story with Seb Vettel. He is less than up front for mine and was signed as No. 2 driver, which he deserved. He might need to shut up and accept the fact that at the moment he is in the best team and cut out the back biting with others. Look at Schumacher. He now knows how hard it is to drive for a weaker outfit.
2. Bledisloe. How many times have Australia beaten NZ in rugby since we can remember? Night tests? Regretably, we are certain losers. The brutality of the NZ players and their relentless defence is incredible. We were soft in defence too often. If the All Blacks don't win the next World Cup it will be the greatest upset in the history of rugby.
3. Brisbane Broncos looking strong once again. An incredible club really. Roosters also looking stronger each week. Canberra, Souths and Eels all gone. All now walk the tightrope with the Bulldogs. The eight for mine will be: St George, Roosters, Panthers, Broncos, Manly, Tigers, Titans, Warriors. No Eels. Two blokes we are all heartily sick of: Jonathan Thurston and his whinging and Damian Irvine at Cronulla. In fact, any story from Cronulla. Would anyone outside of Fugee and Dolf care if the Sharks folded?
4. Interesting that despite the theatrics to try to convince us otherwise, the Melbourne Storm are falling apart with great haste. Blaming, backbiting and cash curiosity has justifiably taken hold. The Storm are losing players they should never have had. Let's see how they go now. Probably still pretty well mind you.
5. AFL. The Swans need a clear out. The Roos early retirement announcement like most announcements like this, simply manifest under performance. Either shut up and coach until the end of the season, or retire and move on. Roos has provided his whole team with an excuse. They are happily taking it! On the other hand, Collingwood and Geelong look like dead certs for the GF again. West Coast set for their first wooden spoon.
6. Gotta love a suck up tour like when the IOC, Commonwealth Games or Soccer World Cup FIFA clowns do a "visit" (code for junket) to look at possible host cities. Tokensistic environment angles, indigenous music/ dancing, young player and 'superstars' are rolled out for everyone to shake their heads and wonder where decency starts and ends.
7. EPL restarts soon. Great to hear. The A League also starts and once again, no one really knows any of their superstars. Why is that? (not many I realise, but...).
8. Stosur. Doing great things till the semis but cannot put the trophy in her kit bag. Good way to earn a living, but a short stay at the top for mine if she cannot crack higher honours more regularly.
9. Webber. He strikes me increasingly as the villain in the whole Red Bull division story with Seb Vettel. He is less than up front for mine and was signed as No. 2 driver, which he deserved. He might need to shut up and accept the fact that at the moment he is in the best team and cut out the back biting with others. Look at Schumacher. He now knows how hard it is to drive for a weaker outfit.
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