Has Africa Got What it Deserved?

And so, the Confederations Cup has come to an end, with Brazil running out as the victors. The United States were worthy opponents on the day, but a superb Brazil fightback led Dunga's side to victory.
Spain started the tournament looking bright and full of energy, but they ended the competition looking lethargic and in need of a summer's rest after losing their unbeaten run.
South Africa, the hosts, finished in fourth place, having given Spain an almighty scare in the 3rd place play off.

But, who is the real winner here?

Without a doubt, South Africa and the South African authorities are the real winners after this tournament as they have shown that the country can handle the pressures of hosting a world tournament.

Yes, there were problems, but the world will not remember the problems. The world will not remember the untrained staff who did not know how to deal with the influx of visitors. The world will not remember the poor transfer routes. The world will not remember the faults.
The world will remember the football...and that is all that the authorities could have ever hoped for.

South Africa will host the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

But, I'm not happy.

South Africa will host the 2010 World Cup.

That sentence...it still doesn't quite make sense to me. I wonder...do they deserve it?

Sepp Blatter has always said that he would give Africa a World Cup. He promised it. He has delivered it. But why? Is the country ready? No chance.

The transport links are appalling. The roads (and there aren't many) are in poor condition and work that is to be carried out to make new roads and new transport links is still going on. Will it be ready? I'm not sure. Will it be rushed? I hope not. I really do. The football grounds are nowhere near ready for a World Cup. Yes, there has been some progress made, but that is not enough. The stadia are currently nowhere near the required level, and the plans made for stadia are still that...plans.

£2 billion is being pent on the country for the tournament, but if there was that money available, why was it not spent on improving policing, health services or education? Yes, this event has given the country a new lease of life, but it may lead to many more lives being ended. If fans stray away from recommended areas, then they will be in real danger. Yes, the crime rate has dropped recently in South Africa, but it has barely dropped when you look at the figures in detail. It has dropped from a very high number, to a high number. Either way, innocent people are dying. Last year, 18,500 people were murdered, and 36,000 raped. And those were the cases that were reported...there could easily have been many more...And you want to hold a World Cup there?

Countries are rewarded, when they are awarded the Finals. However, I would like to know, how has South Africa deserved this tournament?

The argument that we should help these countries now, so that they can grow in stature is a compelling one...until you realise this.
This is the WORLD CUP. This is the BIGGEST football competition in the world...bar none. This is not the testing ground for Fifa. This is not time for an experiment.


What should we do?
If I'm honest, I'm not sure exactly. Maybe the Confederations Cup could simply be held in a developing country whilst the World Cup is held in the actual host country.

However, if the country is not ready, it should not be given the Finals. It's not fair. The biggest tournament in world football deserves to go to a country who is ready. A country who is raring to go.

Sadly, South Africa is not that country. Not yet.

Ways to Survive the Summer!

http://www.joysandsorrows.co.uk/2009/06/penny-for-your-thoughts-16/


Enjoy!

Get the Diary

And so, in the space of 5 minutes one morning, your diary goes from being completely empty every weekend from August 2009 to May 2010 to being jam packed full of trips to Anfield or the Emirates or the Keepmoat (just for you Newcastle fans).

You have to love the day when the fixtures are released. The days before fill your head of images of one giant super computer that magically selects all of your team's fixtures for the forthcoming campaign. The reality, is quite different, but then again, who cares about reality?

The release of the fixtures brings a sharp intake of breath from fans, players and management. This is the time when it hits home that your side will be playing in the Premier League next season. This is the time when you plan every game, months and months before the game.

Immediately after the release, fans frantically run from friend to friend, exchanging stories about your forthcoming trip to Blackpool on a Tuesday night, or your dream start to the season, away at Old Trafford. Wait, did I say dream...or nightmare?

Well, in any case, my very own Birmingham City have been given that 'pleasure' next season. We get to travel to the home of the champions.

In some respects, that could be the best thing for us. Not only will you be brought down to earth (with a resounding thud), you also get out the way one of the hardest fixtures of the season. Below are the opening day fixtures for the Premier League:

Aston Villa v Wigan
Blackburn v Manchester City
Bolton v Sunderland
Chelsea v Hull
Everton v Arsenal
Manchester Utd v Birmingham
Portsmouth v Fulham
Stoke v Burnley
Tottenham v Liverpool
Wolves v West Ham

It will be interesting to see how Aston Villa fare, especially if the likes of Ashley Young move on in the summer after a certain amount of discontent coming from the Villa fans over O'Neill's transfer policy.

It will also be interesting to see how Everton match up against Arsenal, as David Moyes once again sets out his game plan - break in to the top 4.

Robbie Keane will be grateful (or not) to the fixture computer as he will face his former side in the first game of the season after facing them in the last game of last season.

When the fixture list is released, excitement for the new season can start to build up. This is it. A new start. A new beginning. A chance to make a mark.

Old Trafford, Portman Road, Elland Road, the Fraser Eagle Stadium. Wherever your side start the new season, enjoy it. This is what it's all about.

New Article - Birmingham City Transfer News!

Attention all Blues fans!


Below is an article looking at our activity in the transfer market, and also looking at our possible transfer targets in the next couple of months.


http://brum.blogsfc.com/birmingham-city-transfer-news.html

New Article - Penny for Your Thoughts?

Enjoy!

http://www.joysandsorrows.co.uk/2009/06/penny-for-your-thoughts-14/

Ronaldo's on the Move

When Perez, the Madrid President, said that he wanted to bring back the era of the 'Galacticos', many people dismissed him and his ideas as dreams. Well, he and Madrid are well and truly living the dream today as they have had a world record £80 million pound bid for Cristiano Ronaldo accepted by Manchester United.

It has been an astonishing week for Real Madrid and perhaps even more astonishing that Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to cash in on the best player in the world. There were rumours throughout the past 12-18 months that Ronaldo was on his way to Madrid, and even though a bid never materialised, Ronaldo continued to suggest that a move would come...eventually.

Relations between the two clubs broke down completely with Sir Alex's statement that he would not sell Madrid a "virus", after the way that they approached United through the papers, regarding Ronaldo.

Why did Fergie sell? The media have painted a picture that there has been a bust up between Fergie and Ronaldo over the player's attitude towards others. However, I'm not too sure. Personally, I think that Fergie looked at the situation, and just decided that it wasn't worth the hassle of all the rumours surrounding Ronaldo.
This way, United get £80 million to refresh the side, even if they have lost their star marksman.

Was it a good move? Well, it depends on who replaces Ronaldo. The problem is, that both Chelsea and Madrid seem to be cornering the market when it comes to top class players, and so United have to try and make inroads into the transfer market, proving that there is room alongside the two superheavyweights when it comes to funds for transfers.

I would like to see Fergie look for the next David Beckham. Obviously that won't be easy, but maybe it's time that Fergie reverted to the old style of wingers. Giggs will retire soon and Nani and co. have not proved to be adequate replacements for the United legends of days gone by. However, if Fergie did this, he would still need to go after a poacher. A real striker. A Van Nistelrooy. A Hughes. A David Villa? Maybe, but Fergie will need to be quick, as Madrid look set to sign the striker in the next couple of weeks.

For Madrid, this is a top signing. This is the one that they really wanted. This saga has suggested that players see Madrid as bigger than United, and that is a major bonus for Perez in his bid to bring back the Galacticos.

Kaka on Monday, Ronaldo on Thursday...I can't wait to see what Perez has planned for the weekend.

Silly Season is Well and Truly Underway

The Summer.
It's the time when a club on the up build on the successes of the previous season. It's the time when clubs desperately try to rebuild a ship that has sunk under the weight of its own incompetence. It's the time when clubs go crazy. Quite literally, in some cases.

Let's start from the top. The premier example. The number one case study. Newcastle United Football Club, or Newcastle United (football) if your name is Mike Ashley.
Ashley recently said that he would be "willing" to sell the club for £100 million...i.e., he is desperate. But, let's face it. If you had a spare £100 million, would you really waste it on Newcastle? Ashely spent over £110m buying the club and he then spent a further £110 million trying to pay off some of the debts that the club had...and look where that got him.
He initially offered the club to prospective buyers at an absolutely astronomical price. Obviously, that failed.
Now, Ashley has set an asking price of £100 million. Overpriced, yet again.
'Experts' say that the club's true value is about £80 million. At least Ashley was close this time.

It has been reported that Singapore-based group could be in the running to take over the club. Why? Cause no-one else is deluded enough to even enter negotiations with Ashley.

Is anyone a winner in this situation?
Well, they can't offer the Shearer the job because the club could be about to change hands. They can't offer the likes of Owen a new contract because the new owners may not like the deals offered. Players such as Steven Taylor will be torn apart mentally between his love for his club, but the yearning to play Premier League football at a crucial stage in his career. And Ashley...Ashley is hated by just about everyone residing in Newcastle (and that's probably an understatement.)

Going from the ludicrous to the extreme, it appears that Tottenham are on the verge of signing Ruud Van Nistelrooy from Real Madrid for a meagre £1.5 million.
The 32 year old striker looks set to return to the Premier League as Harry Redknapp looks for short term solutions to fire Spurs towards European football.
When he was in England previously, Van Nistelrooy was absolutely sensational for Manchester United, and his move to Real Madrid came as a shock to many who felt that the striker still had a few years left at the top of his game.
However, whether he still has the ability to readjust to the Premier League at this stage in his career is doubtful.
My personal opinion is that Van Nistelrooy is the right player for Spurs, but at the wrong time.
He was a top striker, but whether he is still the main man is doubtful. He missed much of the last season through injury and it remains to be seen whether he can regain top form.


Across the city, Chelsea have shown their ambitions, with a supposed £45 million pound bid for Sergio Aguero, the Athletico Madrid forward. There are also rumours abound that Chelsea are chasing the AC Milan striker Alexander Pato. Milan always said that they would be reluctant to sell either Kaka or Pato, and it was hoped that due to the subsequent departure of Kaka, Milan would be able to keep Pato at the club for the forseeable future.
However, there are reports circulating that Chelsea are after Pato, and personally, that would make sense to me as I was mystified that they were not fighting Madrid tooth and nail for the services of the Brazilian. Maybe they held the ace up their sleeve with the bid to sign Pato? You never know.
Could Chelsea be about to challegne Real Madrid in the long term in the battle to create the team of Galacticos?




Finally, on a personal note, it has been a very interesting couple of hours for myself and others connected to Birmingham City Football Club. A local radio station reported that the Blues are set to sign 3 defensive players in the next 24 hours, with one player set to sign in a £4 million deal.
The news will excite Blues fans, especially after the recent record signing in the form of Christian Benitez.
Fans will already know about the impending arrival of Giovanny Espinoza, and the possible arrival of Manchester City keeper Joe Hart. Fans have been trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle, with many unsure of who the 4 million signing could be. In the past week, we have read stories that Blues have had a £5 million bid for Cardiff's Roger Johnson rejected, and there were rumours of a bid for Coventry City's Scott Dann.


These are exciting times for fans everywhere...just not in the North East.