James Hunt2013-05-18T11:41:16-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=james-huntCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for James HuntGood old fashioned elbow grease.Safety Not Guaranteed: For Newcastle and Sunderland, Premier League survival is not enoughtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.32666462013-05-13T11:13:30-04:002013-05-14T07:37:57-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/"You think your world is safe? It's an illusion. A comforting lie told to protect you."
Newcastle think they're safe - and they are, for this season at least. Sunderland should be too, although it's not yet guaranteed.
Premier League survival, however, is not something that either club should be celebrating.
Given the size of the clubs, the players, the money, the stadia, and - most importantly - the fans, survival should be the absolute minimum. This season, it shouldn't have been anywhere near the forefront of fans' minds.
Indeed, for the first half of the season, it arguably wasn't. Neither side did particularly well, but to think they would end up heading into the penultimate game of the season needing points was not a scenario many will have envisaged.
Newcastle were the proverbial 'surprise package' last year, mounting - for part of the season, at least - a serious challenge for a Champions League spot, ultimately finishing a still impressive 5th.
Sunderland finished a slightly disappointing 13th, but a cup run and a major upturn in fortunes following the December appointment of Martin O'Neill meant there was a lot of promise for the coming season.
The Black Cats strengthened considerably in the summer, spending big money on Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson.
Newcastle, however, did relatively little, perhaps understandably happy with their lot.
Steven Fletcher may have impressed, but Adam Johnson made little impact as the majority of the Sunderland team struggled. As for The Magpies, their decision to stick rather than twist was backfiring, with the likes of Papiss Cisse - so impressive last term - finding it difficult to regain that form.
Newcastle did strengthen in January, arguably more so than a side would like to in the winter, especially with the players all coming from a foreign league. Nonetheless, the signings of Debuchy and Sissoko et al did look impressive, and relative bargains.
Sunderland also 'strengthened', although given Danny Graham's form it's difficult to justify not only that term, but also his £5m price tag. Alfred N'Diaye has been hit and miss as he adapts to the Premier League; Kader Mangane is a myth, a fictional character created to increase pressure on Titus Bramble and Carlos Cuellar, to little effect.
Sunderland have had to resort to a change of manager; Newcastle have theirs for another seven years.
Di Canio's impact was almost immediate, with victories over Newcastle and Everton, but reality has bit back since then, especially with the shuddering 6-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
Pardew, meanwhile, has seemed increasingly like the caretaker who accidentally walked into a board meeting, only to be offered the top job, and now has no idea what he's doing.
Bringing in so many players in January has not paid dividends, with talk of a split in the camp. While the club has denied that exists, such divisions would hardly be a surprise. La Revolution now seems more like Les Miserables.
Despite this, though, they are safe. And, if Arsenal can beat Wigan, Sunderland will be as well. Even if Wigan do manage another upset, the Wearside club's goal difference is a big advantage.
It's not good enough, though, for these clubs simply survive. Despite both having had relegations in their recent history, they should be well-established Premier League clubs. They now need to make sure this is a one-off, and the mistakes of this season are not repeated.
The North East is spoken of as a hotbed of football. Now its clubs need to wake up.]]>Bayern, Barcelona and the End of an Era in the Champions League?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.31533432013-04-25T19:00:00-04:002013-04-25T12:40:56-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/
It's a claim that has been repeated since before the final whistle had even blown on Tuesday night, Barcelona looking a shadow of their former selves. Indeed, a closer reflection of what had defined this great Barca side was found in their opposition. Bayern have mixed the possession, pressing and passing perfected by the Catalan outfit, and imbued it with their own power and pace.
It was a devastating show of force, like the scene when Darth Vader chokes Admiral Motti using only, well, the Force. Bayern is essentially a Sith lord, ready to rule the empire.
However, while this may have heralded the rise of Bayern - although it's worth remembering they reached the final in 2010 and 2012, so it's not exactly as though they've suddenly came from nowhere to usurp Barca's throne - it was not necessarily the 'end' of Barcelona.
That particular eulogy has been all too hastily written; all too gleefully as well. The bigger they are, the harder they fall... and the happier people are about it as well. There seems to be a delight taken in greatness failing, with the need for the next step to be taken (the king is dead, long live the king and so on).
People should step back and reflect on just how brilliant Barcelona have been: not only in terms of their vast trophy haul, and the six consecutive Champions League semi-finals, but also their influence and impact. Teams want to play the Barcelona way, or at least develop their own identity, and bring through players like La Masia. It's also reflected on the international stage: Barca have fed Spain's success, and vice versa, in a way perhaps not seen since Ajax/Holland and Bayern/Germany in the 1970s.
The notion that they're finished, however, is absurd. In Lionel Messi, they still have the greatest player to grace the game. Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique... all remain world-class players. One bad game does not change that. A change of style is not needed, just perhaps a defender and someone to alleviate the burden on Messi. Barcelona will be contesting for this trophy next year, and the year after, and the year after.
If that is true, it is also true that Bayern will be contesting alongside them. Their performance, and indeed performances throughout the season, has been slightly overlooked in the rush to criticise Barcelona.
His appointment brings a certain symmetry to this supposed changing of the guard, a zigzag of philosophies passed from Rinus Michels through Johan Cruyff, to Louis van Gaal to Guardiola himself, with the ideologies represented at both clubs now more than ever.
Yet no club has ever retained the Champions League, and it will still be a huge task. Barcelona will be lining up for revenge, while Madrid look like they will still be pursuing Il Decima. Dortmund could be there again, if they can hold onto their stars. Then there's the two Manchesters - United and City - as well as Chelsea; Juventus; PSG.
This may not be the end of Barcelona's era so much as it is the last we'll see one side truly dominate.
The end of an era of eras.]]>Chelsea v Sunderland: Stop the Press, There's a Football Match On!tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.30212522013-04-05T11:47:56-04:002013-04-07T14:38:51-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/
Okay, so perhaps the last one is warranted - unless that sometime after writing this blog North Korea does launch a nuclear strike, and they do reach the US - but for now, ridicule away. The point is I'm prepared to have a bucket load of scorn poured on a similarly outlandish statement: Sunderland have a football match this weekend!
Paolo Di Canio's first match in charge sees Sunderland head to Stamford Bridge without a win in their last seven games.
They're missing their captain, Lee Cattermole, and their top scorer Steven Fletcher. On form they're the second worst side in the league, on a relentless slide towards relegation.
It would be unfair to say the majority of players have been underperforming this term, but only because that would suggest they've been performing at all.
Adam Johnson has come in for particular criticism, which is understandable given his price tag, but in actual fact those who should escape it are few and far between: add Danny Rose and Simon Mignolet to Cattermole and Fletcher, and that's probably it.
The defence is slow, the midfield weak and the strikers practically non-existent.
There will be a few questions for the new boss to answer with regards to the make-up of his team, although it's unlikely to differ too far to that of his predecessor in terms of personnel.
Johnson is all but guaranteed to start, as is Stephane Sessegnon, and it'll be interesting to see how those, amongst others, react to Di Canio's persona and intense training methods.
He has, encouragingly, outlined an attacking intent, although that's easier said than done, especially against a side with the quality of Chelsea.
While stating that he would look to attack, he did also mention that he won't be changing the system drastically as the players are used to it. Considering the central midfield has been dire this season, it will be a difficult balance to achieve between attacking and not leaving them and the defence exposed, something Martin O'Neill ultimately failed to do; the result was mostly poor defending and non-existent attacking.
The former Swindon boss has seven games in charge, and while it'd be unfair to judge him on those, the six after this weekend should at least give an indication of the sort of manager he'll be, and where certain players stand.
For now, though, the concern is John O'Shea et al facing up to the likes of Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard.
Perhaps Di Canio may be open to talking politics instead after all...]]>No Happy Ending for Fairytale Romance as Sunderland Sack Martin O'Neilltag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.29923372013-04-01T10:33:15-04:002013-04-03T10:11:34-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/
The Northern Irishman's appointment was supposed to be a storybook wedding; it's ended more like a Hollywood one. There's no happy ending here.
Peter Reid. Howard Wilkinson. Mick McCarthy. Kevin Ball. Niall Quinn. Roy Keane. Ricky Sbragia. A succession of managers, permanent and caretaker alike, after all of whom the answer on the lips of many a fan was Martin O'Neill.
So, when Steve Bruce was sacked and the question was once again asked - 'who should get the job?' - the answer was much the same as ever. Only this time, the men in charge agreed, and O'Neill himself did as well.
Having spurned our advances back in 2006, in favour of taking the reigns at Aston Villa, the Black Cats had their man.
It was the perfect match, not just on paper but on the pitch as well. He said all the right things, and did them too.
He spoke of growing up a Sunderland fan, of Roker Park and Charlie Hurley. He understood the region, the passion, and, unlike his predecessor, the expectations. Not only understood them, but welcomed them.
His impact was almost instantaneous. A 2-1 home win over Blackburn, which featured a turnaround in the last 15-minutes, inspired by O'Neill, conducted on the pitch by James McClean - who had never featured under Bruce.
It wasn't just the results, there was a notable lift around the Stadium of Light. Fans had their optimism renewed; the players had their fire relit.
His first few months seemed to exist as if under a spell. There were great results and spectacular goals, packed houses and happy faces.
There was the famous New Year's Day win over eventual champions Manchester City, showing strength of character that had previously been missing. Scoring four past Wigan showed there was style to go with the substance.
A run in the FA Cup added to the mystique: magic of the cup, to go with the magic of Martin. How could anything possibly go wrong?
Go wrong it did, though. The purple patch developed into a nasty bruise, beginning with a defeat in the quarter-final replay to Everton.
It was not so much the defeat as the manner of it that showed the early signs of trouble in paradise. It was a truly horrific performance, with none of the spirit of the previous months. A wake-up call, back to reality.
A winless run meant a brief flirtation with relegation, although it amounted to little more than a cheeky wink, with not even the offer of a drink. In the end, it was a solid if unspectacular 13th place finish.
Past summers on Wearside had seen swathes of comings and goings, a huge turnover of players. That was not to be the case this time. A couple of key pieces were all that was required.
O'Neill got them, paying a hefty price too: £12m for Steven Fletcher, along with Adam Johnson arriving for £10m. A signal of intent, of ambition, and also of a long-term plan.
Everything at Sunderland seemed sweet, and it's difficult to see how things soured so drastically.
The season started well enough, with early signs of promise, in particular from Fletcher, Simon Mignolet and Danny Rose. A few players - Johnson in particular - looked off the pace, but patience was the key. Just give them time.
Well, time has now run out. The relegation zone has silently crept up on the North East outfit, who for so long - particular after another victory over City, this time on Boxing Day - had been looking up, not down; forwards, not back.
Sunderland have picked up just two league wins in 2013, and both of those came in January. Since then, O'Neill has looked like a man bereft of ideas. Where once there was fire, there was now naught but a few smoking embers.
He was once thought of as a manager ahead of his time. Now it's seemingly passed him by. His tactics seemed outdated, and his famous motivational skills - which worked wonders when he first arrived - were nowhere to be seen.
The timing of the sacking is peculiar, after an international break and a defeat to Manchester United, with an extremely tough run of games to come. Surely it would have been better to wait until the end of the season, but clearly Ellis Short felt that, by then, it would have been too late.
The partnership had made so much sense, but unfortunately these things don't always work out as they do in the stories.
The fairytale is over, what's left is a grim tale.]]>Sunderland Suffer Survival Setback With News of Steven Fletcher's Injurytag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.29613282013-03-27T05:12:36-04:002013-03-29T08:19:34-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/
Okay, so the striker may not actually have broken anything, but he has sustained an injury that has ended his season early.
Given his importance, it's not particularly good news for the Black Cats, even without taking into consideration that they're sitting just four points above the drop-zone, have won just two league games since the start of the year, are currently are without a win in seven matches and their next four fixtures include Manchester United, Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton.
So, while there isn't exactly a good time to lose your top scorer - one who has accounted for a third of your league goals this term - this setback has arrived at an especially bad time.
Sunderland have two strikers on the books who will be required to shoulder the burden, and thus far this season they have a combined goal tally of four goals, one of which was in the Championship, and none in a red and white shirt.
Danny Graham's £5m arrival was preceded by a chorus of boos, and he's done little to win round the Sunderland faithful. Fletcher dropped slightly deeper to accommodate the former Swansea man, playing more as a 'number 10' with Stephane Sessegnon asked to play out wide. Strangely, though, while the two asked to play different roles haven't done too badly, it is Graham - playing in his preferred 'number 9' position - who has looked the most out of place.
However, Fletcher's injury will mean he's all but certain to remain a fixture in the side until the end of the season, which will add more pressure onto his shoulders.
It's unlikely Martin O'Neill will deviate too far from the setup that has proved unsuccessful, with either Sessegnon playing behind Graham and James McClean coming back into the side, or a straight replacing of Fletcher with Connor Wickham.
The former seems more likely at the moment, given O'Neill was happy to let Wickham leave on loan, despite having just Fletcher and Graham as his other attacking options and a squad that was, on the whole, short of numbers.
The Northern Irishman's tactics, perhaps more than his selection, have frustrated this season. With the likes of Fletcher, Sessegnon, McClean and Adam Johnson regularly in the side, fans expected to see a reasonably offensive outfit, with the triumvirate of the latter playing behind the Scot. This has, however, been turned into a 4-5-1, with Johnson and McClean, or Sess, often found no further forward than the halfway line.
Some fans demanded a return to the archaic system of 4-4-2, with a compromise of sorts offered with the pairing mentioned above of Fletcher behind Graham. Again, this has proved far more attacking in theory than in practice.
With Fletcher injured, a silver lining could be found from trying something new. After all, their form can hardly get any worse.
The central midfield is particularly weak, so perhaps adopting a three-man midfield would provide a more solid platform, allowing the likes of Johnson and Sessegnon to play further forward. That said, there should also be a case made for dropping Adam Johnson, for at least a game or two, to serve as the proverbial 'kick up the backside' he appears to need.
A change of manager - as some fans of suggested - is not what is needed, but a change in the manager's approach is. He's been too conservative this season; after the international break, it's time to go for broke.]]>Summer Signings Helping Spurs Succeedtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.28058122013-03-04T10:40:42-05:002013-05-04T05:12:01-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/ Hugo Lloris
Eyebrows were raised in some quarters when Tottenham splashed out on the French 'keeper in the summer, given they had one of the most consistent and reliable goalkeepers around on the books in the form of the seemingly ageless Brad Friedel. Those eyebrows were raised further when he was continuously left on the bench.
Well, it's probably time for those who haven't already to lower them. The decision to install Lloris between the sticks has helped lay the foundation for Spurs' great form of late, with the former-Lyon man proving himself one of, if not the best in the league.
He's an excellent shot-stopper, and commands his area pretty well, but perhaps the most important aspect of his game, and why he's been a better fit than Friedel, is his willingness to come off his line - and ability to do so - and act as a 'sweeper 'keeper'. He's the last line of their (high) defence, and an increasingly impressive one at that.
Jan Vertonghen
While I'm fairly convinced the defender is related to AVB, or perhaps shares a hairdresser with the Portuguese, there's no doubting he's proved an excellent signing for Tottenham.
With much focus on Arsenal's high-defensive line that was so easily exploited by Spurs, the Belgian was a big factor in why the Gunners could not do the same to their rival's own defence, who were similarly pushed up.
Vertonghen's awareness means he's less likely to be caught out a la Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen, something backed up by the fact that he averages 3 interceptions per game (7th highest in the league (Mertesacker and Vermaelen, for what it's worth, average 1.7 and 1.8 respectively)). He's also very comfortable at bringing the ball out of defence, and - while he hasn't quite repeated the goalscoring exploits he managed at Ajax just yet - he has shown himself to be a goal threat.
Moussa Dembele:
Signed from Fulham for £15m, the midfielder isn't by any means the biggest Belgian in the league (in terms of reputation, height, hair or price-tag), but he's certainly one of the most effective.
Providing a link between defence and attack, Dembele's form has been one of the key components of Tottenham's good season. He's in the top 20 players - not just midfielders - in the league when it comes to tackles per game, passes per game and key passes. Currently he is 6th overall in terms of pass completion.
Obviously it's easy to point to such statistics out of context, and much like YouTube clips they don't tell the full story of a player's ability, but his passing, movement, ability to create and screen the back four do, especially as in the absence of Sandro he's had to play slightly deeper. He's been a big player thus far, and arguably all he needs to do is add a few goals to his game to start getting the acclaim his compatriots Marouane Fellaini and Eden Hazard do.]]>Sunderland's Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet Wins North East Awardtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.24559202013-01-11T09:41:57-05:002013-03-13T05:12:01-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/He's our 'keeper, our Belgian 'keeper, Simon Mignolet...
Sang to the tune of the, er, classic song The Lion Sleeps Tonight, if there was an official chart for football songs then Sunderland fans' ode to their number one would certainly have been Christmas No. 1.
As it is, no such chart exists - yet, anyway - but the Belgian's brilliance this season has definitely been due national recognition.
It marks an incredible year for the Belgian, who, at the start of the 2011/12 season, was not even necessarily guaranteed to be his club's first choice. Now it's such an undisputed fact that there's every chance Keiren Westwood may need to leave in order to find any first team football.
He may not be mentioned in the same breath as the world's best, and nor should he be. But given he's only 24, there's every chance he could be one day.
He should, however, be mentioned as one of the Premier League's best. It's pretty much accepted that Joe Hart is the best in the league, and indeed he is the only 'keeper (with 17) to have kept more clean sheets in 2012 than the Belgian (15). Not a bad stat when you look at the fact that Mignolet plays behind a defence as secure as the US economy. The Sunderland man also made 140 saves in 2012, more than anybody else. That in part tells you all you need to know about Sunderland's defence, but it's also a testament to his wonderful shot-stopping ability.
He still has work to do, of course: he makes mistakes, as all goalkeepers do - most notably against West Brom in the 4-2 defeat this season. Some things, such as commanding his area, will only improve as he gets older and more experience. He's made a steady-start to his international career, but - playing in a Belgian side tipped for great things - is not fully established as their number one, vying for that jersey with Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois, currently on-loan at Atletico Madrid and already an Europa League winner at the age of 20.
Most of the tools are there, though: the aforementioned shot-stopping, his ability in one versus one situations, and his distribution are all generally excellent.
Most encouraging is that he is nowhere near his peak. When he is, you'd imagine that it won't only be Arsenal showing an interest. For now, Sunderland fans can just enjoy the fact that he's their 'keeper, their Belgian 'keeper...]]>Where Next for David Beckham?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.21637552012-11-20T06:28:18-05:002013-01-20T05:12:01-05:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/ A-League
Most of the money is on Becks heading Down Under, following in the footsteps of similar European footballing legends such as Alessandro Del Piero and, ahem, Emile Heskey.
It's a league with a growing reputation, with plenty of money on offer and a lot of sunshine. Not too dissimilar, in fact, from factors involved when he made the move to Los Angeles. Plenty of clubs seem to be interested, although with a more laid-back, less celebrity driven culture, it may not be the best move for 'Brand Beckham'.
China
China's economy is one of the fastest growing in the world, and football is growing with it. Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are already plying their trade in Shanghai, earning huge amounts of money for doing so.
There would certainly be money on offer on-the-field, and the potential of furthering his already huge commercial earnings. Living in somewhere like Shanghai may also suit the glitz-and-glamour lifestyle of his wife. However, given the standard of football, it depends on exactly what kind of 'challenge' it is Beckham is after.
Ligue 1
A year or so ago, a move to mega-rich PSG was heavily rumoured. While it did not transpire then, there is a chance, albeit a slim one, that he could end up with the Ligue 1 title contenders.
He knows their coach, Carlo Ancelotti, from his time with AC Milan; they could offer him a big wage; Paris would be a great location for fashion-focused Posh; he'd still be playing at a high-level. It makes sense, there's only one problem: PSG are unlikely to want him. They're favourites to lift the title as it is, and may not want the distractions Beckham would bring, as well as doubts regarding his ability to perform at such a standard.
Premier League
The unlikeliest of destinations, especially as he has previously stated he would not play for another Premier League side other than Manchester United. However, if he did fancy a move back home, there would probably be a couple of options.
Queens Park Rangers could do with all the help they can get at the moment, and would surely benefit from his experience and leaderhip qualities. West Ham, meanwhile, aren't in need of him, but would be unlikely to say no. Who knows, maybe even Fergie might take a gamble on a short-term deal. Okay, maybe not, but you never know...
SPL
The bookies have decided to place Celtic near the top of their list of early favourites for Beckham's next destination. In a way, it makes some sense: they're a big club, he could still perform at that level, and they're in with a chance of reaching the next stages of the Champions League. There'd be mutual benefits.
However, this one would seem like a no-go, because a) they wouldn't be able to afford his wages, and b) I don't see the Beckhams uprooting from LA to Glasgow. Sorry.
UAE
The previous vogue destination for footballers looking for one last payday challenge, there is a chance Beckham could follow in the footsteps of former Real Madrid teammate Raul with a move to the Middle East.
There'd be an endless amount of cash thrown his way, and living somewhere like Dubai may suit him. However, there are likely to be offers that can offer more in terms of football, as well as money.
Stay in America
If he doesn't fancy leaving the USA, he could always make the move to another side. With Posh making a name for herself in the fashion world, a switch to the East Coast and New York would make a lot of sense.
In footballing terms, Red Bulls already have Thierry Henry on the books, and the thought of linking up with him must have at least crossed Beckham's mind. Alternatively, if he didn't fancy the MLS, there's always the New York Cosmos. Now that would be romantic.]]>Kevin Pietersen Back in England Test Squadtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.19804372012-10-18T12:39:33-04:002012-12-18T05:12:02-05:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/
That it took so long, that it dominated - and will continue to dominate - so many headlines and column inches is a testament to two things: firstly, how badly this situation was handled by all involved, and secondly, how much Pietersen and England need each other.
'KP' was, of course, in the wrong. To send text messages criticising your captain - to players you are currently facing in a Test series, no less - is unacceptable. However, from that point on all parties should have sat in a room and dealt with it privately.
Dropping Pietersen for the final Test was perhaps understandable, it came fairly quickly on the back of these events taking place. However, there was more than enough time for it to have been dealt with afterward, and the South African-born batsman certainly could've been on the plane to Sri Lanka.
As it was, the 'saga' dragged on, no one involved looked to have gained any particular credit, and the biggest loss was ultimately to the performance of the national side.
Pietersen is England's best batsman, in all forms of the game. In fact, he's one of the most talented batsman England have ever had, certainly in recent years at least.
An England side without him is an England side weakened, as evidenced in the performances against South Africa in the third Test, and more noticeably in the World T20.
However, Pietersen also needs England. Had his exile continued, he would doubtless have made himself a fortune. The Big Bash, IPL and others would have been queuing up to throw huge sums of money at him. He could have travelled the world playing Twenty20 cricket, making far more than he would playing Test cricket for England.
The reason PIetersen doesn't want to do that, though, is simple, and probably a contributing factor to his alienation in the dressing room: his ego. He wants to be the best, he wants to leave a lasting legacy, and to do that he needs to play Test cricket.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that will likely be the case. His teammates may not like him, and they don't have to as long as there's a mutual respect and understanding.
His absence, though, has meant an absence of winning, and that is something England players, coaches and fans had become not only fond of, but accustomed to. His return should signify an upturn in fortunes.
It won't be easy, of course, as it all begins with a trip to India, one of the hardest tours in Test cricket.
Pietersen aside, there are many other questions to be answered. Who opens the batting? Nick Compton and Joe Root are in the squad, but both are uncapped. Jonathan Trott could open, but then you simply replace the first question with who bats at three, or five (Pietersen will undoubtedly be at number 4, whatever happens). One spinner or two? How will Cook handle the pressure of captaincy?
These questions are all rather important, and now the Pietersen saga is over, Andy Flower, Alistair Cook et al can focus on how to answer them.]]>Premier League: Five Things The Weekend Taught Ustag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.18917462012-09-17T19:22:24-04:002012-11-17T05:12:01-05:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/Scrap the handshake
Not something learned, per se, but extra weight was added to the argument for scrapping the pre-match handshake after Anton Ferdinand refused to shake the hands of John Terry and Ashley Cole. As everyone knew he would (and as he was well within his right to do). The FA and the Premier League don't want these incidents to become an issue, but make them as such when insisting that handshakes go ahead, even when it's quite clear to all involved that there will be at least a degree of controversy. Players, managers, journalists and pundits - all agree it should be scrapped. Shake hands at the end, yes, as a sign of sportsmanship, a show of respect for your opponent, and one that - without the formality of lining up and doing it, draws far less attention. Shaking hands before a match is now just more trouble than it's worth.
Buttner is better?
Okay, he's only had one game, but debuts don't really get much better, especially for a left back, than Alexander Buttner's. Certainly, Patrice Evra may wish his had gone half as well, although it hasn't turned out too badly for the Frenchman. Similarly, Evra must have watched the Dutchman making his bow at Old Trafford with at least a tinge of envy. It's much too early to say whether or not Butter - who scored one goal and assisted another against Wigan - will remain in the first team, with Evra reportedly only missing out due to injury. The France international's form has dipped considerably over the past 12-18 months or so, yet he's never been dropped and has played in the vast majority of United's games in this period. Both of these, perhaps, can be attributed to the lack of competition. His place has never been under threat, nor has there been a suitable replacement to give him an extended rest. The arrival of Buttner could cost Evra his place, or it could be the thing that means he keeps it for just a little while longer.
Berba is back...
Dimitar Berbatov's laid-back style isn't for everyone, but personally speaking it was brilliant to see him both starting and scoring for Fulham this weekend. Few strikers can make the sublime look as effortless as the Bulgarian. He almost signed for Fiorentina, and you can picture him sitting outside a cafe in the cool Florence sunshine, donning a pair of aviator sunglasses and a jumper draped over his shoulders; a cigar in one hand, a glass of their finest wine in the other. He's a very un-Premier League player, and the Premier League is better for having him.
...but is Owen?
Another striker who departed Old Trafford this summer, having spent most of his time there on the bench, is Michael Owen. However, he might not find things too different at the Britannia. He didn't come on until the 90th minute of Stoke's draw with Man City, and didn't manage a touch of the ball. He will undoubtedly get more minutes and more touches in the games ahead, but he is perhaps not the guaranteed starter many - including, maybe, himself - would have thought.
In need of a win
Seven teams remain without a win in the Premier League after this weekend's action. Sunderland, Stoke, QPR, Norwich, Liverpool, Reading and Stoke. Of those it is the latter two, also the bottom two, for whom you have to worry, with both sides clearly having defensive issues. Brendan Rodgers must be hoping his Liverpool side begins to click sooner rather than later. He isn't under pressure just yet (rightly so, but a sign of the times that it has to be stated so early in his tenure), but a couple more games without a win and that could well change.]]>Sports Personality of the Year: Does It Really Matter?tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.18809312012-09-14T19:00:00-04:002012-11-14T05:12:01-05:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/
What do all of these have in common?
Well, besides being truly remarkable achievements by British sportsmen and women, in what has been a truly remarkable summer for British sport, they've all been followed by a debate on the upcoming Sports Personality of the Year award.
Even at 2am, following Murray's win at Flushing Meadows, SPOTY was trending on Twitter.
In a sense, it's easy to see why. Normally the awards come at the end of a fairly unspectacular year, and there'll be two or three in with a real chance of winning.
This year, though, there's Jessica Ennis, Ellie Simmonds, Sarah Storey, Victoria Pendleton and Laura Trott. One of at least five women could win, and you'd be hard pushed to complain about it. Contrast that to last year, when, shockingly, not a single woman made the shortlist of ten.
Then, of course, there are the men: Mo Farah, Jonnie Peacock, David Weir, Chris Hoy, as well as Wiggins and Murray, all have a strong case as to why they should win. The award could be defined more by who doesn't make the shortlist than who does.
The thing is, does it really matter? Will those Olympic and Paralympic golds mean more if you can add 'Sports Personality of the Year 2012' to 'double/triple gold medallist'? Of course not. Will Andy Murray be thinking: 'well, it's good to finally win a Grand Slam, not to mention the gold medal, but what really counts is that BBC award!' Well, he might be, but it's highly unlikely.
Mark Cavendish won the award last year, deservedly so after his impressive feats in the Tour de France. By that reasoning, Wiggins would walk the award in any other year.
Indeed, that logic could be applied to all of the athletes so far, for pretty much any year. In 2010 it was Tony McCoy, in 2009 in was, er, Ryan Giggs. It's essentially a popularity contest, with the only real surprises being just how popular F1 drivers seem to be.
It's precisely because of the sheer number of deserved winners that the interest is so high, and the potential recipient so discussed. But that is precisely why it shouldn't be.
To suggest the achievements of one of the sporting stars on this list are somehow more deserving than another's is absurd. There'll be knighthoods a-plenty, and a pick'n'mix of M/O/CBEs. And, of course, the medals and trophies themselves.
Not one of the sportsmen/women mentioned (and there's plenty not mentioned too) deserve an award. They all do.]]>Sunderland Show Intent With Signings of Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnsontag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.18327502012-08-27T08:27:28-04:002012-10-27T05:12:03-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/
It may not be defining in a long-term sense, not in the way of the Stadium of Light being built or the two takeovers, firstly by the Niall Quinn-led Drumaville consortium, then current owner Ellis Short, were.
But in the short-term, for this season and arguably the next two or three seasons, it was a day that defined and showcased the intent and ambition of Short, chief executive Margaret Byrne, manager Martin O'Neill and all others involved.
The prolonged Steven Fletcher saga finally reached its denouement, with a fee in the region of £12m finally agreed for the Scottish striker. Many will, and indeed have baulked at such a figure, but nowadays you tend to pay a premium for the following: goalscorers, British players, those with proven Premier League records, and players 25 or under. Fletcher gets a tick in every box.
His name may not automatically strike fear into the hearts of rival teams or their fans, but his goalscoring record in poor sides is excellent. With excellent service provided from the flanks, with Seb Larsson, James McClean and another player I shall get to shortly, the man who scored the most headed goals in the league last term should have no trouble reaching double figures.
The aforementioned other player is, of course, Adam Johnson. Born in Sunderland, though any claims he supports the club (or Newcastle, for that matter) are unfounded, he reportedly turned us down when opting for a £7m move to Manchester City.
Since then, he's continuously struggled to cement a first team spot, and has been linked with a move back home in seemingly every transfer window. His name has been one of the first on the lips of many Sunderland fans when asked who they'd like to sign, but to see it actually happen is something else entirely.
His arrival is the one that will spark interest in the Black Cats, the one that may make other teams sit up and take notice, and one that can help us rise from mid-table mediocrity.
It was Fletcher that we needed: a striker who can score goals and lead the line. Johnson is simply the cherry on the cake. Consider it like moving into a new house: Fletcher is the sofa, Johnson the big-screen TV.
After a disappointing 13th placed finish last season, the aim now has to be - at the very least - top ten. While any talk of a European spot is surely extremely premature, you'd imagine that is where the club is looking in the next couple of years, and some very strong foundations have been laid.
Praise should certainly go to Ellis Short for bankrolling the deals, and to all those involved in making them happen, especially in one day. More additions - certainly a full back - are necessary before Friday's deadline, but you'd imagine that these are the two that could play the biggest part in where Sunderland are headed.]]>Premier Leauge: Five Things the Weekend Taught Ustag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.18326692012-08-27T07:47:37-04:002012-10-27T05:12:03-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/Struggling to adapt?
The main event of Sky Sports' Super Sunday was a contest between two teams trying to adapt to new systems, with somewhat mixed results. Liverpool are busy attempting to implement the passing and possession game that Brendan Rodgers believes in, while Roberto Mancini continues to experiment with a back three at Manchester City. Liverpool are perhaps adapting the better of the two: they controlled large parts of possession, and thus the game; Joe Allen was named man of the pitch, showing that they were particularly strong in midfield. Both of their conceded goals, however, came as a result of defensive mistakes. Perhaps they wouldn't have happened if they were simply prepared to hoof the ball clear, as opposed to playing it out from the back. For Man City, the biggest problem was arguably not the playing of a back three, but the chosen personnel, as young Raheem Sterling troubled Kolo Toure all afternoon. Their zonal marking system also left a lot to be desired, as shown by Martin Skrtel's goal. When changing a system, you have to be prepared for it to take time and accept mistakes will be made. That's something Liverpool can maybe afford, but something City certainly can't.
Everton for fourth?
It sounds crazy, but David Moyes' men could well mount a serious challenge for a Champions League spot. It's obviously far too early to be writing teams off, but Arsenal and Tottenham - the two most likely contenders for fourth place - have both shown early signs of struggling, and both need further improvements, in particular Spurs, who have sold Luka Modric. Newcastle and Liverpool will no doubt feel they can mount challenges, but it is Everton of all these sides who have started the best. They've shown they have different ways of playing in their two victories so far, and may - for once - just have enough strength in depth. They're very much outsiders at this stage, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see them up there as the season approaches the finishing line.
Villa in trouble
While Everton are looking good, the side they beat on Saturday - Aston Villa - continue to look worse each day. It could be argued that Randy Lerner should be applauded for his attempts at balancing the books, especially after the spendthrift days under Martin O'Neill. However, it's quite clear that reinforcements are needed, and that cheque book will have to be pulled out. Darren Bent will get goals, but beyond that there's very little for Villa fans to be optimistic about. If Lerner doesn't spend any money, it could well be a long, hard season for the Villains.
Man United may not miss Rooney
Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, the suggestion that United wouldn't miss Wayne Rooney would normally be ridiculed. However, that may no longer be the case. While Rooney's world-class ability isn't in question, the Red Devils started without him on Saturday and looked a better side than they had against Everton (when he did start). More pertinently, it was Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa - players with whom Rooney may well be fighting for a place - who got two of their three goals. With Rooney now injured, there's every chance United - and that pair in particular - could have continued success in a side and system without Rooney, who had been looking off the pace anyway. While he'll no doubt come back into the side once fit, this could be the wake-up call he needed to get back into shape and fight for his place, something he's never had to do before. And he certainly won't be as big a miss as he would have been in previous years.
Hazard the real deal
While there was an undoubted buzz of excitement surrounding the arrival of Eden Hazard, not just to Chelsea but the Premier League, I'm not sure anyone would have predicted so big an impact straightaway. The Belgian has been involved in almost all of Chelsea's goals this season, and his general play has been excellent. He has been at the heart of all that's been good about the football played by Roberto di Matteo's men, adapting to the Premier League quicker than most. They may have paid over £30m for him, but right now that's looking as if it could be a bargain.]]>Premier League: Five Things the Opening Weekend Taught Ustag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.18167372012-08-21T07:40:45-04:002012-10-21T05:12:12-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/Carlos Tevez is like a new signing
We saw him getting back to his best towards the end of last season, something that was surely a great boost as Man City completed a successful title charge. Now, with a full pre-season under his belt, and personal problems seemingly behind him, Carlos Tevez looks better than ever. He followed up his goal in the Community Shield with one against Southampton, and while Roberto Mancini may be bemoaning his side's lack of transfer activity, having the Argentinian return in this manner is like a new signing in itself, and I wouldn't bet against the former Man United man claiming the golden boot come the end of the season. City will just hope the Premier League title comes with it.
Norwich look doomed
The Canaries were one of the surprise packages of last season, finishing an impressive 12th on the back of promotion from the Championship. Now, though, with manager Paul Lambert swapping Carrow Road for Villa Park, the prospect of 'second season syndrome' looms larger than ever, and they received a taste of things to come with a 5-0 thrashing away to Fulham. Of course, it's very early yet, but it looks to be a long season ahead for Chris Hughton's men.
Swansea surprise everyone...again
Along with the aforementioned Norwich, Swansea were the surprise team of last season, finishing one place above their fellow newly promoted side. Becoming the first Welsh side to play in the Premier League, they impressed everyone not just with results but with their brand of football as well. However, much like Norwich, they've lost their manager - and some key players in Joe Allen, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Steven Caulker, with Scott Sinclair also hotly tipped to leave - and were expected to be battling relegation this season. There were no signs of that on the opening day, though, as they went and beat QPR 5-0, proving the doubters wrong...for now. While Michael Laudrup is a talented manager, and Michu could well be the bargain of the season, it won't always be this easy.
Dempsey better staying put
The American has been linked with a move away all summer, with Liverpool reportedly leading the chase for the Fulham attacker. His exit has seemingly moved closer, after he refused to take part in their opening match. While there's no doubting Dempsey would be a good signing for most clubs - his 23 goals last term prove as much - you have to wonder if his attempts at forcing a move will be worth it. Staying at Fulham, if he can apologise and move on from this, he'd be guaranteed to be playing first team football in a team he's already shown he can succeed in. A move to, for example, Liverpool or Arsenal would mean he could not guarantee himself first team football, while the likes of Sunderland would represent a move sideways. Dempsey would do well to look at the example of Steven Pienaar with his move from Everton to Spurs and back to realise the grass isn't always greener, and, especially in light of the weekend's results, he may well be best off staying where he is.
It's good to be back
Among the many great things to be left over from the Olympics, perhaps the worst has been the endless comparisons - and subsequent criticisms - of football. Some of this has been fairly just, but just as much has been unwarranted. The opening weekend served as a reminder of all that was good about the game, with plenty of passion, drama, some truly wonderful moments of play - and some horrific - and whole bunch of goals. Football is back. Huzzah!]]>London 2012 Olympics: USA Men's Basketball Team Win Gold, but They're no Dream Teamtag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.17728742012-08-13T11:54:58-04:002012-10-13T05:12:11-04:00James Hunthttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-hunt/
The USA men's basketball side that won gold in Barcelona back at the beginning of the 90s is stuff of legend, and the greatest team tag could well be applicable across any sport.
The class of 2012 has matched their accomplishment, at least in basic terms, by winning gold in London. However, the same cannot be said in terms of how they did it.
The comparisons had begun long-before the competition itself, just as they did with all other teams that have followed since the Games that saw NBA players make their Olympics debut.
When 'Team USA' beat Nigeria by 83 points, they set a new record winning margin (the biggest margin '92s team could muster was a 'meager' 68), and a new record points total (127 was the highest two decades ago), those comparisons started to get louder, and looked more accurate than ever.
However, that mammoth victory only came after comfortable but at times sloppy performances in their opening two matches. They were missing three-pointers and making fouls, but the Nigeria match was where they seemingly woke up.
Similarly, they struggled - or as much as a team of such quality can struggle - against Lithuania, winning by a margin of only five points (their lowest winning margin of the whole tournament). By contrast, the lowest winning margin of the '92 side was 32 points, and that came in the gold-medal match against Croatia.
Spain were the gold-medal opposition this year, and the 2008 silver medalists and reigning European Champions pushed USA all the way. They won the second quarter 31-24, went in at half-time level and drew the third quarter as well. It was only in the final minutes that the overall class of USA shone through, resulting in a 107-100 victory.
The current Team USA are, to be fair, probably a victim of the juggernaut that was the 1992 team. Not only in terms of the huge level of expectation placed upon their - admittedly rather broad - shoulders, although that should not be discounted, but also the impact that team had on basketball globally.
At the start of the 1991-92 season, there were 23 international players from 18 countries; at the start of last season, that number had increased to 74 international players from 35 countries.
And it isn't just more international players in the NBA, but also an increased strength in the European game. The bulk of Spain's squad, for example, now silver medalists two games in a row, comes from their own league.
There was expectation on Chuck Daly's side too though - more pressure, if anything, as theirs was the first Olympics to permit NBA players to compete.
The average margin of victory for 1992s team was 43.75 points, with a median margin of 43. For 2012, the average was 37.33, and the median 33. 11 of the 12 players to make up the roster in 1992 have gone on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame; of the 12 in 2012, only two - Kobe Bryant and LeBron James - are certain future inductees. Probably added to that list, if they keep doing what they are, will be Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony. It is perhaps worth noting, though, that the likes of Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh were all missing this summer.
So, while nothing should detract from the achievement of this current side, there is only one Dream Team, and it existed 20 years ago. When Bryant said that the current side would beat 1992s, Charles Barkley said he "just started laughing." The gold medal is unlikely to stop him.]]>