THE ASHES

[toonfandangl]

Mike!! I watched the cricket up till Australia was batting Shane Watson 57 Katich a duck and Ponting 78 had a look at the score board this morning

Australia 196-4 England all out 102 its looking OK for the Aussies...........but lets wait and see........ in the last match both Aussie openers fell to the first ball and then they collapsed.........................

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

As you say Frank, wait and see but I don't hold out much hope for England. They need to go back to the drawing board and get more aggresive and cut out all of this hype, especially from Strauss, I think it is starting to backfire on him.

[toonfandangl]

Mike am watching it Australia are 5-306 lunch is being taken at the moment............................................

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

OK , OK, don't rub it in.............!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you a football fan at all Frank and if so I suppose you would support Newcastle. Just wait until they play my team, Plymouth Argyle.........

[toonfandangl]

                   

[toonfandangl]

Mike I like most sports!! and I used to coach a team here, and was Vice President of the soccer federation in this area for nearly ten years.

We had about 500 senior players M/F and over a 1000 juniors 7 clubs, and we played in the Queensland Cup which meant our seniors would have to travel as far as Townsville about 1000 kilometers.

Also we interacted with the major soccer league (its called the 'A' League) then it was the "Brisbane Strikers" now called the "Queensland Roar" there was an international referee by the name of Mark Shields.

Mark!! officiated at many of our senior games and in the 2002-6 World Cups was one of 23, FIFA's referee's

To answer your question yes I am a supporter of Newcastle United (Dysfunctional) I cry when I see what's happening to them, most of it is down to not getting the ball in the back of the oppositions goal.

There has been a lot of miss management and no management, remember "SEXY FOOTBALL" its pathetic to see a great club go down the tubes
by the way 'WHO' is........................Plymouth Argyle...........................................................

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

Likewise Frank I also enjoy most sports by football is my preference. I used to coach the youngsters in O'mund during the late 80's & early 90's but found it very frustrating in as much as OPS DID NOT recognise football as a sport. So we had to organise games etc with the local communities from the Richtersfeld area, Beauvallon and Port Nolloth. Also used to referee the local senior games as well along with Gilbert Kermis amongst others.

Who ever buys Newcastle, will be doing the club a big deal as I think the current owner has brought nothing but negitivity to the club, hence their relegation last season. I hope they do well this season but will come a cropper when taking on Plymouth Argyle.

Who you say..............????????????? just wait and see

[toonfandangl]

Yes Mike !! football soccer !! what ever they want to call it here, as you will be aware Australia has a huge sporting history and cricket is the no ONE sport, rugby league and AFL comes a good second.

Australian Football !! its called Footy (the oval ball) that was mainly played in Victoria state and league was NSW and what we call football its called soccer here it was referred to as WOG ball.

Its been about seven years since I was involved, we moved to the bay then, and as you know being involved in these things not every one agrees, and after 10 years( I had had enough) and it would have meant traveling back and forwards.

As you say about N/United I hope they can get back into the premier league next year with some better management, if they don't then it could look like what happened to Leeds dropped to the old Third Div.


Well Australia are dealing the last blow to England...............................just happened 263 all out.

So the series is still alive I can only wait in anticipation for the 5th test....................................................

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

Getting the black armbands ready to wear...........!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least I'm getting some enjoyment from the Charity Cup being played this afternoon although I don't mind who wins this game.

When one looks at some of the more famous football teams and see where they are now, one wonders what actually happened but I suppose money is the downfall of plenty of these clubs

[toonfandangl]

Mike a lot of these football clubs in the UK started with local guys, then it got to buying players from different towns, now they can buy players from all over the world.

Good in a lot of ways (some great talent) but that seems to be to the detriment of the local talent, I know that many clubs have there youth soccer programs, but are they given a decent (the young players) crack of the whip.


This is an extract!! and below are the top ten English players............


Matt, Macca & Johnny Foreigner

Sunday 21 June 2009 12:00

His dream of playing for his hometown club in ruins, Matt Derbyshire has done a very brave thing, effectively engineering a move to Olympiakos.

Ignored in Blackburn, adored in Athens, the promising 22-year-old is setting an example many other English footballers should follow – for their own good and the good of the game.

The narrative of Britain's football industry in the 20th century bears certain similarities to the story of British shipbuilding and steel.

Where once we led the world, exporting to all four corners of the globe, we now rely on imports.


Top UK Football Players
Barry Ferguson
David Beckham
David James
Danny Murphy
Frank Lampard
Gary Neville
Kieron Dyer
Michael Owen
Paul Lambert
Paul Scholes
Robbie Savage
Rio Ferdinand
Ryan Giggs
Stephen Gerrard

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

The biggest problem with England and their lack of success in various national team sports is the way in which they allow foreign players to operate in the UK. There are too many foreign players taking the places of what could be great future English stars. If one looks at football and Arsenal in particular, how many English players are in their normal weekly side, not many. Cricketers of all other countries play in England during the English summer but where do the English players go to. A very good question............., I could go on and on

[toonfandangl]

Yes Mike!! I think all competitive country's have their sporting academy's but they need to go out into the big world and compete.

Look what they did in the last Olympic games 4th (mind we were not far behind them) and I believe it was money from their lotteries
that financed their academy's, and that's what they have to do.

Lottery funding has proved GB's ticket to medal success ...
OF the 47 medals won at a groundbreaking Olympics for Great Britain, ... "The financial support I get from the National Lottery is phenomenal, ...
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/olympics/Lottery-funding-has-proved-GB39s.4603090.jp -

Cricket here is the no one sport, and in the domestic games like state v state you only hear of Australian player's.
When the season has ended most of the players go off to the UK and others to play in the summer season...............................................

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

At last the power which has been off since 05h30 this morning came on just in time for me to see Englang win the Ashes but what will happen in Australia in two years time........????????

[toonfandangl]

Hello Mike we are still on our travels we are in Brisbane, we were staying at a caravan park over the last few days.
No reception on the TV only the radio ..................well the Brisbane river is full of Aussie cricket  supporters.

Am at my son's place we are going to the pub tonight .............and lost at the Rugby.........jeez .

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

Frank, travels again?, missed your comments these last few days, that explains why you have been a little quiet. Anyway enjoy the trip and time with the family.  I'll have a drink on England's win but I'm sure in eighteen months time I'll be the one drowning my sorrows.

Lovely day here in Gordon's Bay, now to cut the long grass. Maybe you could send over one of the millions of sheep in Oz, that would give me more time to spend on this forum..............