Looking to the future

Much was said of England's "old guard" after Euro 2012.  Critics questioned where does the England team go, what lays ahead for Roy Hodgson's squad?  Lots argued that the problem sits deep within the game, at the grassroots and youth level of the game.

But is it all so bleak?

Well, it can't be denied that it was only the organisation of England's defence in Ukraine that ensured the quarter finals were reached, so clearly the senior team needs a make-over.  At younger age groups though, England have earnt success in recent times, so can this be reason to be positive?

The under-21s reached the final of the European Championships back in 2009.  The under-19s made it to a second Euro semi-final in three years after finishing as runners-up in 2009.  England's under-17s won the European Championships in 2010.  So, why has this tournament success not been translated into better performances on the biggest stage.

One of the key reasons is where those players go onto.  Of that Championship winning under-17 side, only Jack Butland and Connor Wickham have made a real impact domestically.  And just 4 players from that squad have featured in the Premier League at all.

That's not of immediate concern - most of those players are still just 18 or 19 years old and time is on their side.  But the question becomes is it the Premier League that are letting our young players down, rather than our youngsters?

Less than half of players in the Premier League are English.  It's possible our top division has become a victim of it's own success. But that's only the thoughts of someone who wants a successful national side.  Is that what the FA wants too?

Wiggo on the verge of history

It's been a miserable year for British sport.  Or has it?  Ok, I know England were dumped out of the Euros on penalties again and Andy Murray fell at the last hurdle at Wimbledon, but there is much to be proud of this year.  Chelsea won the Champions League.  England's cricketers have dominated everyone they've faced.  And now Bradley Wiggins is close to becoming the first Briton to ever win the Tour de France.

Wiggins hasn't done it yet and I will feel partly responsible if he doesn't after glowing his praises here.  But his riding in the 99th Le Tour has been nothing short of inspirational.  Assured in the early mountain stages, and complete dominant over the time-trial, Team Sky's leader has already built up a lead of nearly two minutes on reigning champion Cadel Evans.

Two minutes doesn't sound like much, but in cycling terms that's a huge wide chasm of tarmac.  Realistically, Evans would need to take five minutes out of Wiggins in the mountains to stand any chance of retaining the yellow jersey for a second year.

I'm tempting fate here but I predict if Wiggins stays upright and doesn't suffer the misfortune of last year, he will win the Tour.  Many argue he doesn't face the stiff competition of previous years, and whilst Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador are missing, the fact remains that victory would be history.

Rage Against the (Slower) Machine

Road-rage is not contained to the motorways it would seem. Even Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel is susceptible to the occasional burst of anger on the track after calling one of the back markers of the F1 pack an "idiot". He didn't reference Narain Karthikeyan directly but it was apparent who the German was talking about after an incident between the two cost Vettel big points at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Karthikeyan responded by calling front runners "bullies" when they lap other cars. I know his feeling when you have drivers filling your mirrors despite driving at the prescribed speed limit. But this post isn't a rant on the road!

Back markers have their place on the Formula One grid and earn the right to take part in the race itself, if they qualify within 107% of the man on pole. The HRT of Karthikeyan was even running as high as tenth in Sepang before rain halted the race. The Indian wouldn't have even been running as far back as he was, if it wasn't for Jenson Button running into the back of him when challenging for 15th earlier in the race.

Vettel needs to stop finding excuses for the disappointing start to his and Red Bull's season and concentrate on producing the skill that brought him back-to-back world championships.

Cheating, corruption and cricket.

Today represents another sad day in cricket's recent history as former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield was found guilty of corruption.

Today's revelations come fast after the much publicised court case involving Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. All three were given prison sentences and Westfield could now follow suit.

The amounts of money in the Pakistan trial beggared belief. Huge sums, capable of changing lives. What is more concerning about the Westfield case is that the 23 year old accepted just £6,000 for deliberating bowling badly in a Pro40 game against Durham.

It throws up an array of questions. Are our young cricketers paid enough? Are they protected enough by the counties and by the sport? How far does corruption seep into the game? The list goes on...

PCA chief executive Angus Porter believes corruption in cricket is too easy because of its nature. "The spirit of the game" is built into cricket's laws and it's long been the virtue of honesty above all else. But as cycling has had it's troubles with drugs, will cricket now be treated with the same cynicism?

Comebacks...

It's been a while hasn't it? Apologies, but after a three (might be four) month absence Armchair Athlete is making a return. One of many New Years Resolutions includes updating this blog more frequently.

Hopefully that will last past February.

Unfortunately, for Arsenal fans at least, Thierry Henry's comeback wont be going into the spring. But what an impact the Frenchman made upon his return. A goal scoring (second) debut and a match winning one at that against Leeds in the FA Cup and it's all feeling a little like 2002 again.

Much so because Paul Scholes is gracing a Manchester United team sheet once more too. They say "never go back" but Scholes and Henry have defied that and one hopes it wont be to the detriment of the memories they have already given the fans of Manchester United and Arsenal respectively.

The return of these club legends is great for the media. Everyone loves seeing old footage of Henry's brilliant goal against Spurs at Highbury or Scholes smashing it in against Barca. Ah, the memories I hear you all say.

But before we go too far and start whittling on about the good old days, there is a more underlining issue regarding both these signings. Does it not smack of desperation by Fergie and Wenger to opt of bringing a man out of retirement and a player in the winter of his career? And quite what it says to those players already in the squads.

Exceptions that prove the rule occur all the time. Let's hope Scholes and Henry can do that and not tarnish the great careers they already have in the can.

D-Day Desperation

The targets had no defense to the huge monoliths of the mighty. And as those on the hit list were powerless to resist their advances...

I am of course talking about transfer deadline day. The biannual drama that sees 24 hours of movements and madness, rumours and revelations. As the window slammed shut at 11pm last night, the usual last minute deals were tied up and a couple of transfers totally out of the left field transpired.

Much of yesterday's action was a result of the exit of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri from the Emirates but it wasn't just Arsenal in the thick of it. Everton made two astute loan signings and QPR seemed to be trying to buy anyone and everyone.

For Arsenal, and Arsene Wenger, it was a change of tactics. A required one at that, after losing their captain and another of their shining stars. Not to mention a certain 8-2 scoreline. So, in come Andre Santos (£6.2m), Per Mertesacker (£8m), Yossi Benayoun (loan) and Mikel Arteta (£10m). Wenger usually goes for youth and some of the media have called this spending spree desperation. That it may be, but this mix of Premier League experience and defensive reinforcements could reinvigorate the Gunner's season.

As a Norwich fan, this summer's deadline day was a bit like knowing a party was going on but someone had forgotten to post the invite. Out of the three promoted sides, it was QPR, now under the ownership of Tony Fernandes, to spend big and they now look to have a squad capable of beating the drop.

For the others it was a case of scrambling around to pick up some quality players being left on the fringes of other Premier League clubs. Stoke spending £10m on Peter Crouch is a case in point and the England striker could well benefit from the style of football Tony Pulis' side play.
Whether it's because of Premier League rules restricting squads to 25 players or whether it's another wave of clubs owned by the mega-rich, there's one thing for sure. Deadline drama is here to stay.

So near but yet so Far-ah

The wait for the first British gold medallist at the World Athletics Championship continues. Jessica Ennis missing out today after Mo Farah's near miss in Sunday's 10,000 metres.

Whilst Ennis was expected to come away with the top prize, Farah's success has been the highlight for British athletics in Daegu thus far.

The fact that Farah himself viewed that silver medal as a disappointment says a lot about how Britain's best distance runner positions himself in comparison to the African elite. The Somalian-born Brit now believes he should be winning world titles and he will get another chance in the 5k later in the week.

Farah's progress has been staggering. I had the chance to meet up with the 28 year old in his new base of Portland, Oregon earlier this year and Farah was his usual easygoing, cheerful and friendly self. There was no expectancy upon his shoulders (despite victory in the New York half marathon) but nine races and nine wins later, he has become a firm favourite for Olympic medals next year.

That is down to his new training base, new regime, and most importantly, new coach. Alberto Salazar, himself a three-time winner of the New York marathon, has moulded Farah from raw talent into true contender. A diet of 120 miles a week, combined with constant technique tweaking and even some weird science in an underwater treadmill, have seen Farah take 45 seconds off his 10,000 metres personal best. The British record has become his too.

Farah's disappointment with silver shows his mentality for winning now. But you wouldn't bet against him becoming Britain's golden boy in London next year.