Is Bale the Real Deal?

by Zoe Rundle



Gareth Bale
(Wiki commons)

Ok, so if you arrive in Madrid with an £85 million price tag you've clearly got some sort of talent. But when you're just a young lad from Wales who grew up under the influence of father Frank, a school caretaker, and mother Debbie, an operations manager, you must be pretty special. For Gareth Bale, the boy from Whitchurch, transferring over to Real Madrid for a world-record fee can only be described as a dream come true as a new chapter opens in the career that's only just beginning.

Growing up, Bale was just like any ordinary kid who loved football and idolised the Welsh wizard Ryan Giggs. He attended Whitchurch High School and, unbelievably, was in the same class as Welsh rugby captain Sam Warburton and national cycling hero Geraint Thomas. Bale caught the eye of Southampton, aged just nine, while playing a six-a-side tournament for his first club Cardiff Civil Service. However, it wasn't just football that the Welshman excelled in; hockey, rugby and even sprinting also featured in Bale's repertoire and it's even been rumoured that he was able to run 100m in 11.4 seconds aged only 14. Despite this, it was football that Bale pursued and school PE teacher Mr Morris had to prevent Bale from using his left foot and limit him to one-touch passing in order to make it fairer on the other boys. While at school, Bale showed the much-needed commitment by travelling several times each week to Southampton's satellite academy in Bath and as a result his game was improving day-by-day. Aged sixteen, he was in the Whitchurch under-eighteen side that won the Cardiff and Vale Senior Cup and was awarded a PE prize for his services to sport. During the presentation, teacher Mr Morris said how Bale had "a fierce determination to succeed" and "the character and qualities to achieve his personal goals" - something he would go on to do.

The youngster left school in 2005 and less than a year later became the second youngest player to represent Southampton (behind a certain man named Theo Walcott). In April 2006, at the age of sixteen years and two-hundred-and-seventy-five days he made his debut in a 2-0 victory over Millwall and it looked as if the move away from home at such a young age was worth it. He became the youngest player ever to play for Wales as he appeared as a substitute in a 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago on May 26th 2006. He assisted the winning goal scored by Robert Earnshaw and Bryan Flynn was quick to compare his technical ability to that of Bale's childhood hero Ryan Giggs. Later that year he scored his first league goal, in the form of a free kick, to level the score in a 1-1 draw at Derby County. Bale netted with another free kick in Southampton's second game of the 2006-2007 season and started to build-up a reputation from set-pieces continuing to score more from a dead-ball against the likes of Hull and Norwich. In October, Bale was called up to the Welsh squad again and became the youngest player ever to score a goal for his national team by netting another free kick against Slovakia. Life was pretty good for the Welsh youngster and his Premier League goal tally was up to five by Christmas. Bale started to gather up some high-profile awards, such as the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year. A few months later, in March 2007, the then-defender was named the Football League Young Player of the Year and connections were starting to be made with top-flight clubs. A second goal in a Welsh jersey was put to his name as he scored in a 3-0 win over San Marino on March 28th. He later stated that it was "an honour to play for Wales". After suffering an injury during the first leg of Southampton's Championship play-off semi-final, Bale's season and time at Southampton was over. He didn't feature again for the club and moved to Tottenham Hotspur that summer.

A four-year deal was on the cards and Bale cost the London club a mere £7 million, something that now seems like one of the biggest bargains of football history. Big things were expected from the lad who had sacrificed so much for his dream and he was now about to embark on what would be an up-and-down journey at Tottenham Hotspur. The 2007-2008 season was just around the corner and it would turn out to be a rocky road for the Welshman. The season started well and Bale made his competitive debut at the Theatre of Dreams in Tottenham's second game of the season. He went on to score his first goal in a 3-3 draw with Fulham in early September as he charged down the left-flank and coolly finished past Niemi. Since Bale's name was now synonymous with the phrase "free kick", it only seemed natural that this how he scored in his first North-London derby against Arsenal. The ball sailed in past the near post and as far as Spurs fans were concerned, this was already enough to give him a legendary status. He continued his fine start to the season with a goal in the League Cup tie against Middlesbrough; Bale had now scored three goals in four starts for Tottenham. However, things were about to go downhill. The rising star was substituted on the 2nd of December following a tackle from Fabrice Muamba. It was discovered that Bale had suffered ligament damage to his right ankle and surgery was necessary. By February 2008, it became clear that he would miss the rest of the season and the Tottenham Sporting Director Damien Comolli said that the decision had been made to "bring him back slowly to ensure he does not get a repeat of the injury or suffer any further damage".

After such a promising start to his Spurs career, Gareth Bale started the 2008-2009 campaign with a few uninspiring performances, despite signing a new four-year contract at the start of the season. He was soon dropped and remained the second-choice left-back behind Benoit Assou-Ekotto. The following season continued on as the previous one had ended - in a rather dull manner for Bale. The Welshman missed pre-season and the first-few weeks of the league campaign after he underwent further surgery for his knee. He returned on the September 26th as a substitute and came on in the 85th minute; Tottenham recorded a 5-0 win over Burnley and it was the first time that Bale had been on the winning side as a Spurs player, despite 24 previous attempts. However, since Assou-Ekotto was in good form, it became difficult for Bale to get in the starting eleven. Nevertheless, Bale still recieved another call up to the Welsh National Side and he started the World Cup qualifier against Finland. Four days later he set up David Vaughan who scored the opening goal against Liechtenstein and won a free kick which was scored by Aaron Ramsey for the second. The Premier League season continued and Bale knew that he had to take his chance when it came. After an impressive performance in the FA Cup third-round against Peterborough, and aided by a slight injury to Cameroon-international Assou-Ekotto, Bale was given the go-ahead as Spurs met local rivals Fulham in the January of 2010. Redknapp's men earned a 2-0 victory and the left-back's game started to improve. In April, he scored the winning goal in the North-London derby, much to the delight of all associated with Tottenham Hotspur, and three days later produced a man-of-the-match performance against eventual champions Chelsea after scoring the winner with his weaker right foot. Clearly all that practice with Bale's right foot, thanks to Mr Morris back at school, was paying off! The Welshman was named Barclays Player of the Month for April 2010 and signed yet another four-year contract in May after helping Tottenham secure Champions League football for the first time in their history.

The 2010-2011 season is surely one that Bale will remember for a long time to come. He started the season in phenomenal form scoring twice in a 2-1 win at Stoke City in August (with the second of these goals later awarded Goal of the Month by the BBC). Less than a week later, Tottenham beat Young Boys 4-0 to take them into the Champions League group stages and it was Bale that set up all four goals. The lad from Whitchurch soon moved into the left-wing position in order to accommodate Benoit Assou-Ekotto at left-back who had returned from injury. In September, Bale netted his first Champions League goal against FC Twente and was consequently named Welsh Player of the Year. His next Champions League goal, or should I say goals, are sure to live in the memories of several thousand Spurs fans. It was the 20th of October and the San Siro was the location. Tottenham were to take on the European giants Inter Milan and it was the manner in which this game played out that made it so special. After going 4-0 down in thirty-five minutes, and playing with ten men for over eighty minutes after Spurs' goalkeeper Gomez had been shown red early on, a Gareth Bale hat trick saw the game end 4-3. All his goals came from a surge down the left-wing followed by a fierce shot that flew past the Inter keeper. In the return leg, another man-of-the-match performance from Gareth Bale saw the London side win 3-1; the Welshman set up goals for Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko. With these two performances buzzing in the minds of several top European clubs, Bale showed his loyalty to Spurs by extending his stay at the club until 2015. In the April of 2011, he was honoured with the PFA Player of the Year award which was voted for by his peers.

The 2011-2012 season lived up to expectations and Gareth Bale started strongly once again. He netted against the likes of Wigan, managed two against Queens Park Rangers, and heavily influenced those scored against Fulham. The 3rd of December 2011 saw Tottenham take on Bolton Wanderers and it turned out to be a rather emotional day. Bale scored and followed by holding up his left boot which read "R.I.P Gary Speed". The message for the former Bolton and Wales midfielder was received well and the legacy of Gary Speed lived on. Bale continued his fine form with goals against Norwich and Wigan which soon took his tally for the season into double figures. Success didn't stop there for the Welshman as he was named in the UEFA Team of the Year for 2011 and earned the Premier League Player of the Month for January 2012 after three goals and two assists in this period. At the end of the season, a new four-year contract was agreed and Bale looked set to stay at the club until 2016.  

Bale embarked on his sixth season as a Tottenham Hotspur player and, as he was now more of a left-winger, he changed his squad number to eleven. He scored against Reading and then at Old Trafford, helping Spurs gain their first win at Old Trafford since 1989. International call ups were now becoming rather common and in the October of 2012, Bale scored two goals in a 2-1 victory over Scotland in a World Cup qualifier. His first Premier League hat trick came on Boxing Day against Aston Villa and he started the New Year well with goals against Coventry, in the FA Cup, Norwich and Newcastle to bring him to fifteen goals for the season. It left the London club in third position and strengthened their ambitions for Champions League football once again. A Bale brace in the first leg of Tottenham's Europa League round-of-thirty-two helped them see off Lyon after two incredible trademark free kicks found the back of the net. He continued his electric form against West Ham by scoring twice again. A long-range dipping shot from over thirty yards was the highlight of a world-class performance from Bale and he was simply in the form of his life. His eight goals in six games proved this. As March came around, the Welshman scored against Arsenal in yet another North-London derby which Tottenham won 2-1. Less than a week later, it was a rematch of the Champions League tie in 2010 as Spurs faced Inter Milan. The former won 3-0 with Bale bagging the first. More awards started coming the winger's way as he won the BBC Goal of the Month in both January and February for strikes against Norwich and West Ham respectively. Furthermore, he was also awarded the Premier League Player of the Month for February. Despite picking up an injury against FC Basel in the first leg of the Europa League quarter final, he returned quickly and gained a goal and an assist against Manchester City, much to the thrill of the packed out crowd at White Hart Lane. Towards the end of April, Bale picked up the PFA Player of the Year award for the second time, but also added the PFA Young Player of the Year award too. He then went on to collect the Footballer Writer's Association Player of the Year award, making him only the second player to have won all three of these prestigious awards in the same year, the other being Cristiano Ronaldo. Bale finished the season strongly scoring against his former club Southampton and then, from twenty-five yards, out against Sunderland. Unfortunately this was not quite enough to grant Tottenham Champions League football but, as for Bale, his superb form had caught the eye of one of Europe's greatest clubs and this level of football looked to be on the cards.

After a long summer of speculation, Bale eventually made a boyhood dream a reality as, on the 1st of September, Real Madrid confirmed that an agreement had been reached for Wales' new wizard. A six-year deal had been agreed, which was thought to be in the region of £85 million. It surpassed that of Cristiano Ronaldo and the kid from Whitchurch became the world's most expensive footballer. It seems crazy to think that someone of this caliber may not ever get the chance to play in a World Cup, but for now Gareth Bale can focus on a new start and life in Madrid. All that travelling and hard work as a child, as well as the persistence through injury concerns, has paid off and it proves that with the right attitude anything is possible. Bale is now on top of the world and has become a player that young children look up to. What is so admired, is the sheer determination, the fact he's a dream-chaser and someone that refuses to give in. Let's hope this sensational form continues in Madrid and we can look forward to many more years of Bale's magic.    

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In Defence of Warhammer (40k)

by Tim MacBain

I can be, in many ways, classified as a nerd. Or a geek. Never understood the difference, so I think it’s a good idea to cover both bases. I play Xbox and computer games, I love fantasy fiction, especially epic/high fantasy, and I actually enjoy doing homework. Of course, that last fact is a moot point, since I will never be given work titled homework again, but hey-ho. It is through this classification, and the title of this article, that you all should be able to work out that I like Warhammer. Specifically, Warhammer 40000, colloqueally known as 40k.

Since I got involved in 40k in Year Eight, I have faced nothing but derision, mocking and (occasionally) insults about my participation in this hobby, arguably forming one of the causes of my hiatus from 40k since Year 10. However, seeing as I am leaving so very soon, I have no qualms about the significant dent my ‘reputation’ may well now take from this article. For Warhammer does not deserve the sad, introverted status is holds currently. I have taken it upon myself to explain why.

Warhammer is in fact a multifaceted art. Although expensive (at least £1.80 per model, and that’s really rather rare), one has to assemble the models from scratch, paint them, customise them (if you want – I very rarely bothered), and then game with them. I have heard that those applying for dentistry are required to provide evidence of their ability to work precisely with their hands, and Warhammer is on the list of approved activities. The painting, for me the most arduous part, is no different from painting art sculptures or miniature paintings, or perhaps somewhat better, for at least you are actually going to use that which you are painting, still requiring much skill and precision whilst understanding which colours go with which. The gaming side, often seen as the ‘saddest’ part, is surprisingly difficult. The rulebook is a lengthy tome (my friends and I used to joke about, reading from it as if it were the Bible – anything to make the trawling through the dense prose more enjoyable), featuring rules ranging from the determining of the casualties taken from a single ‘Blast’ weapon to the maximum number of models in a unit. Writing that sentence, I realise that it could be seen as rather sad. I would disagree – it is not sad, rather those who do not know Warhammer don’t understand the attraction of it, and if you’ll forgive my descent into half-baked psychology, one fears and derides what one does not understand, resulting in a negative adjective being assigned.

In addition, the classic image of a lonely 13 year old in thick, horn-rimmed glasses, alone in his room, crouched over a desk with a single lamp lighting his work, a small model which he is painting a plethora of different colours, is simply untrue. Well, not entirely; I freely admit I did that once (minus the glasses; I added those to the image for effect), and it resulted in the pride of my collection, my Terminators, a shining beacon of what a young teenager can do with no training or much guidance other than what he had picked up from his friends. However, it is very rare that someone stays at home for more than 40% of his hobbying time. Meeting others who play the game, socialising, swapping tips and tactics, and generally having a great time with other people is what the majority of Warhammer is about. I still remember with great affection my 14^th Birthday celebration, when I invited three friends (who shall remain nameless to preserve their sanity) to mine for a large ‘Apocalypse’ battle. Yeah, we got a bit of stick when some people found out, and the battle fizzled out into a tense draw, but we actually had an enormous amount of fun, and I still consider them some of my greatest friends to this very day.

I read an article in The Independent the other day, which defended the vast sums paid to footballers. It did so by comparing them to celebrity stars such as Robert Downey Jr and Justin Bieber, who get paid a heck of a lot more for doing the same thing, entertaining. I shall use the same concept to defend Warhammer; by comparing it to computer and video gaming. This still has a reputation of being ‘sad’, but does not bring out such a knee-jerk reaction of “My god, you don’t play THAT, do you?!?”. Neither computer nor video gamers have anything to show for their craft, aside from possibly a bit of RSI and some numbers on a screen. Yes, there are conventions they can go to and win prizes (which are quite something I’ve heard), but these are few and far between, and require you to be playing at the very highest echelons of skill, which many people, needless to say, do not achieve. We who play Warhammer have a well-crafted collection to show, communicate with others face to face rather than across the Internet, and have no injuries at all (unless you step on a model, which is very painful, both from the sharp model itself and the angry owner you have just robbed of a prized item).

To play, one also needs a large skill set. This is my area of speciality. Some others find it a little long-winded, but to me it is the highlight of a long and sometimes irritating journey. You need to be able to judge distances (in inches), spot weaknesses in your opponent’s units, and ascertain the correct time to bring those reserves in. In the real world, you learn how to negotiate quickly and effectively (nobody likes someone who shouts at you until they get their way, and life doesn’t work like that), to lose graciously when you’ve given your all, and how to make friends whilst concentrating on something completely different. Schools place heavy emphasis on sport and academia, and secondary emphasis on music and drama, on ways to learn life skills such as concentration, commitment, and interaction. Well what happens if you aren’t very good at/aren’t enormously interested in those four elements? You have to look elsewhere for such lessons, and, if played properly, Warhammer can provide them. Of course, other activities can (I would personally highly recommend music, especially Chamber Choir), but Warhammer doesn’t deserve the reputation it currently has.

At some point in the last paragraph (just after ‘sport’, if you’re counting), I passed 1,000 words. You could see this as a rant; I have tried not to, but apologise if I have slipped into that tone. I will end with this, a challenge of sorts. Does that kid in your year, always reading White Dwarf in the Library at break, deserve your mocking derision? If you see a group of your peers in the Quad clustered round the latest Space Marines Codex, should you muscle in on their conversation and tell them to stop being so sad and do something that “everyone else does, ‘cause everyone else will like you then”? If you’re asked to do a presentation in English or your Tutor Group, why laugh at they who takes you through his pride and joy, his large collection of Tau?

Dara O’Briain puts it really rather well. “Non-nerds, don’t fear us. We’re gentle folk.” Don’t fear us, and we won’t fear you. Deal?

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My 5 Sports-People of the Summer

by Tim MacBain

 

This summer has not been an enormous let down as some of us expected, being the summer after the Olympics. Although not reaching the heady heights of 2012, 2013 has still been a year to remember for British sport. There have been a few stand-out people which have caught my eye. Honourable mentions go to Gareth Bale for becoming the most expensive footballer ever bought (and, in the process, ruining his career), to Laura Robson for continuing her brilliant rise up the tennis rankings, and to Adam Gemili for breaking the 20 second barrier in the 200m (and showing great maturity in his post-race interview), but here are the people who have defined this summer’s British sport.

5. Stuart Broad

Love him or hate him, Stuart Broad demonstrated this summer just what a fantastic sportsman he is. Adding runs with the bat stylishly (I believe Geoffrey Boycott compares him to the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers regularly) and when needed, his performance with the ball in the later Tests of this summer’s Ashes showed just how destructive he can be. I know I’ve said this before, but he has the potential to completely changes matches, and has demonstrated that twice this season, once against New Zealand and once against the Australians. Some criticised him for not walking at Trent Bridge; they’re incorrect in their criticism. Not that I’m opinionated at all…

4. Christine Ohuruogu

Athletics isn’t watched or participated in anywhere near as it should be. Maybe people have an aversion to watch athletes run round a track for (sometimes) upward of ten minutes. That said, Christine Ohuruogu’s performance at the World Championships in Moscow was stunning. As the captain of, to be frank, a rather weak British team, she delivered exactly what was needed; a composed, exceptionally run gold medal, beating her Botswanian rival, Amantle Montsho, simply by wanting it more. She was also thoughtful and clear when interviewed, and held the team together from the beginning with a well-executed speech before the championships began. She is now, incidentally, the most successful British female athlete. And what an athlete she is.

3. Ian Bell

The sheer weight of the statistic of Ian Bell’s average, 56.2, during the Ashes series easily puts him as England’s best player. Anderson was fantastic but lost his vip towards the end of the series, Swann was good but not at his best, and none of the other batsmen got anywhere near Bell’s form or reliability. This, when combined with the fact that he has never really performed at his best against Australia (I still shudder when I think of Warne and McGrath utterly flummoxing him in 2005), and the persistent criticism of his inability to make significant runs under pressure, makes his match-saving hundred at Trent Bridge and innings-saving ton at Lord’s easily worthy of enormous merit. I hope this form continues Down Under later this year.

2. Mo Farah

As one of the faces of London 2012, Mo Farah was already flying pretty high. Then, at the Moscow World Championships, he entered the pantheon of greats of distance running. He did what only one man had ever done before; hold the Olympic and World titles at both 5,000 and 10,000 metres. He was already a British all-time great. Now his place on the world stage is secured. He works hard, having relocated to the United States a few years ago to train with a man named Salazar (what a fantastic name?!?), and is so easy to like when you see him on camera and in interviews, he is a wonderful advert for his sport. Alright, the Mobot is a little cringy. But we can forgive that, can’t we?

1. Andy Murray

And finally. Call me common and I wouldn’t care. Andy Murray has had the year of his life, but this summer he decided to go and win Wimbledon. And not just eek it out. Oh no, he beat Djokovic in straight sets. He has come on so far since the young teenager that lost to David Nalbandian after being two sets up. Some people I know don’t like him, thinking him grumpy and lacking in personality. I point you to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, two men who could be perceived as ‘lacking personality’. Please note the conditional tense, I don’t actually think that. In addition, a great sportsperson does not need a riveting personality. Watch the documentary the BBC broadcast this year; it’s a real eye-opener. I hope he finds even more happiness than he already has – he is a great British sportsman. Simple as.

 

So, who disagrees? Have I missed anyone out? Leave your comments below…

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Simultaneous Chess: Mr Puchades v. Five Pupils

Richard Puchades 

On the Tuesday on the last week of the Summer term I played the 5 best PGS chess players in a simultaneous match organised by Luke Ronaldson. All of the games were hard fought but, in the end, experience triumphed over youth and I won 5-0.

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The Fourth Test: Analysis

by Tim MacBain

Wow. Wasn’t expecting that.

What a Test! It had everything, controversy, sublime batting, insane bowling, and probably one of the most wonderful moments for one man, so richly deserved. How can the Oval live up to this?

I’ll start with him. Chris Rogers. The poor bloke had about five years between his debut in 2008 and next Test, the first of this series. Eternally behind Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden until their retirements, and overlooked in preference to the likes of Shane Watson and Philip Hughes until this series, many thought he would become just another One Test Wonder. Therefore, the century he scored here, his maiden Test century for his country, was fantastic, and wonderful to see. Hats off to him, for having the tenacity to stay within reach of the national team and averaging 43 against a pretty powerful English bowling line up. He and David Warner may well form a well-rounded and interesting opening partnership.

Staying along the vein of batting, we come to Ian Bell. May the cricket gods be praised for his form and panache, his effortless ability this series to really step up to the mark when the top order failed (again). His century was majestic and very timely. At the other end of the spectrum, what is Jonny Bairstow still doing in the team? He’s averaged 29 this series, with only one fifty, when his country has direly needed him. His repeated failures are disappointing, and he should, quite frankly, be dropped. Joe Root isn’t doing too well up the order either; I suggest dropping Bairstow, moving Root down to 6, and playing Compton. It just isn’t fair to ask Root to open when he wants to but evidently isn’t ready.

Bowling-wise, Australia have a lot to be proud of. Harris is a brilliant bowler, who would have kept Mitchell Johnson or Ben Hilfenhaus out of the last Ashes series had he not been so injured. His ball to remove Root in the second innings was stunning. Nathan Lyon is no Graeme Swann, but has showed resilience to compete towards the top of the international game. England have a few question marks. James Anderson has been invisible this Test and the last, Bresnan (in my opinion), despite contributing well with the bat and that piece of genius to dismiss Warner, shouldn’t have been preferred to Onions, with Durham being the latter’s home strip. Swann played well, but was a little overshadowed…

…By Stuart Broad. What a performance. 11 wickets in the match, all conceded for 121 runs. The highlights night were enormous fun to watch. He really can be a game changer, and boy did he change this game.

Bring on the Oval! Can’t wait to see how the Australians will respond…

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Ashes: Third Test

by Sampad Sengupta

Rain dampens Australia's hopes

Englandretained the Ashes as the third Test ended in a draw with the home side now having an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.  The third Test at a new look Old Trafford stadium was cut short by some typical British weather as it poured down on the final day causing the match to end in a draw.  After having won the first two games, the momentum was with England who were looking forward to a whitewash.  On the other hand, Australia had to improve their performance drastically if they had to give themselves any chance of coming back into the series and they did not disappoint, putting together a good performance with both bat and ball to put England under pressure but fell prey to the weather.

Amidst talks of playing two spinners or bringing in Chris Tremlett into the attack, England fielded an unchanged side whereas Australia made a few changes. Nathan Lyon replaced fellow spin bowler Ashton Agar, Ryan Harris came in for the injured James Pattinson, and David Warner made his comeback into the Australian side at the expense of Phil Hughes. The visitors won the toss and chose to bat and scored over 500 runs for the first time this series with captain Michael Clarke leading the way with a massive individual score of 187 runs and with some useful contributions from Rogers, Smith and Haddin.  Graeme Swann was once again on the money for England as he picked up 5 of the 7 Australian wickets that fell.  England came in to bat and struggled early on with wickets falling but then Kevin Pietersen, who was doubtful for this game with fitness issues, chose the perfect moment to regain his form and struck a century which took England to 368. His innings had the usual swagger of any Pietersen innings, aggression mixed with patience, which was exactly what England needed at that time. Useful knocks from the lower order meant that England avoided the follow-on and Australia would have to bat again.

Celebrations all round

Australia came out in the second innings and made their intentions clear early on, sending Warner out to open the batting, and they scored freely to extend their first innings lead. In the quest for quick runs, they lost wickets at regular intervals but that was a risk they were ready to take as they had no intention of batting for a long time and wanted to put England in as early as possible. On the final day of what had been an exciting Test match, all three results were possible with England needing 332 runs to win and Australia needing 10 wickets.  As the commentators said, Australia needed 10 good deliveries out of a possible 588 and England only needed to score at around 3.8 runs an over which in modern day cricket is not a very daunting task.  Australia started the day well, getting 3 early wickets in the first session, but to England’s relief, that was all they could manage as the rain came pouring down which meant that no more cricket was possible and the match was drawn.  There were mixed reactions all around, some were unhappy that an exciting day of cricket was cut short by the rain, but on the other hand, England had managed to retain the Ashes as they could no longer lose the series from here on.

Kevin Pietersen

The match once again witnessed several controversial decisions alongside the high quality cricket that was played, notably the dismissals of the Usman Khawaja in the 1^stinnings and that of Kevin Pietersen on the final day. This sparked another debate regarding the DRS (Decision Review System) and its reliability at this level of the game. There were several positives for Australia with the return to form of their captain and the entire team finally scoring some runs out in the middle. England were also overjoyed by the return to form of star batsman Kevin Pietersen, who played down any thoughts of him being unfit for the game with a well-played century in the first innings.  Graeme Swann tops the wicket-takers charts with 19 wickets from the three games, showing why he is considered one of the best spin bowlers in the world at the moment. With the fate of the Ashes already decided, Australia would be playing for pride in the next two games whereas England would be looking to continue with their good form and show why they are one of the top Test playing sides in world cricket.

Michael Clarke on his way to a century

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Chris Froome's Tour de France Victory

Britain's Chris Froome won the Tour de France today, only the second British cyclist to do so. From the Portmouth Point archives: Fergus Houghton-Connell and Callum Strong discuss the prospects for Froome, Mark Cavendish, Team Sky and British cycling in 2013 and beyond.

Fergus Houghton Connell on Chris Froome:

"La Vuelta is a very different race to Le Tour de France. In the latter, the mountains are, on average, longer than those of the former, so they have a shallower gradient, normally 18% at the most, to compensate for these long distances . . . (Froome) prefers the long climb of the Alps to the conditions in Spain. Overall, the British cyclist will have to wait a while longer for his first grand tour win, but, although he has suffered a minor glitch, his career as a cyclist is far from over. Whether he stays with Team Sky or not, he will most certainly be leading a team in next year's Tour de France. Many people believe that there is still much to come from Chris Froome." Read the rest of the article here.

Callum Cross on Team Sky:

"This term, "the Sky is the limit", in cycling has now been coined in reference to anything that Team Sky want they get. They “want” the Tour de France, so they go out and get the best riders and give them lots of money to ride very hard on the front." Read the rest of the article here.

Callum Cross on British cycling in 2013:

"With a total of 17 British road wins from January to the end of February (5 more than last year), it is shaping up to be a great season. But with this in mind how far can we go this year? Well there should be a Giro d’Italia win for Sir Bradley Wiggins, and a few classics wins shared amongst the rest. With Cav on a new team designed to deliver him to stage wins there should be plenty for him this year as he rapidly approaches his hundredth professional win. Chris Froome is shaping up to potentially win the Tour and with 3 more top tier pro teams this year I think things can only get better."" Read the rest of the article here.

 

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The First Test: Analysis

by Tim MacBain

What a Test. It really did have it all, wickets tumbling, runs scored, a great deal of controversy, stunning play, questionable decisions, and a ridiculously tight finish. So, what have we learnt, and where can both teams go from here?

James Anderson, Man of the Match

Well, first things first, the Australians are not to be underestimated. Frankly, if you had thought that they were down and out before the series began, you either have been living with your head in the sand for the past few years or are a complete idiot. They can score runs, not heavily yet, but glimpses, especially in the middle order of Clarke, Smith, Hughes and Haddin, of great things to come have come through. The bowling attack, although a smidgeon unreliable (as England’s first innings showed), can be rather potent, and has depth – my man to watch for is James Faulkner. If he breaks into the side, he may well be rather effective; having seen the damage his left arm pace can do in the IPL this year, he could be a real find for the Aussies. The top order, however, is fragile. Cowan failed in this Test, and Rogers is inexperienced at this level, despite a well-executed 50 in the second innings. Watson, however, showed just how important he could be for Australia’s Ashes. He may not have scored particularly freely (13 & 46 can attest to that), but his economy rates of 1.75 in the first innings and 0.73 in the second are mind-blowing. If his batting starts firing again he could swing the momentum right back in Australia’s favour.

England, although pleased to have won the Test, should be disappointed. Yet again, the top order has failed to score highly, with just one fifty and a 48 in 6 innings between Cook, Root and Trott. Our bowling was very good, as we have come to expect, but we kept putting ourselves into fantastic positions and then failing to consolidate them, the Australian first innings a perfect example of this. We could have had a first innings lead of 80 or 90 odd. We ended up 65 runs behind. It was in this position, however, that the real Man of the Match stepped up. Ian Bell’s innings was exemplary, everything you could want from a number five. Ably supported by Stuart Broad (yes, I’ll get there), he put England in the driving seat; I don’t think I heard one pundit not utter the words ‘Anything over 200 is going to be tough to reach.’ And then out steps another Aussie hero, Brad Haddin. He may have got out, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t do exceptionally well. We won by the skin of our teeth when, at 117-9 in Australia’s first innings, we should have wrapped the game up there and then.

Now we come to the others factors in the match. Yes, those ones. Chronological order places the Trott decision first. Now, I like umpires, and believe that they do a sterling job. However, Erasmus’ decision was astonishing. To give Trott out when there was still reasonable doubt and not all of the technology was available? Unthinkable. Don’t agree with his point of view at all. Maybe the fact that I’m English might have something to do with it. But still, it could easily have swung the match entirely in Australia’s favour, somewhat unfairly. Therefore, the Broad decision, as horrifically inaccurate as it was, put England on a little more of a level pegging; if you had asked the Aussie’s which, out of Broad or Trott, they would have preferred to have been given out, Trott would have been the answer every time. And, to add my opinion to the massive debate raging about whether Broad should have walked, I go with everybody aside from Jonathan Agnew in saying that he was right not to have walked. Agnew’s claim that it became ‘an issue for the spirit of the game’ (BBC) is unfathomable; cricket is firstly a competitive game in which both sides want to win, but without cheating or breaking any rules; Broad did neither  of those things, and thus kept within the spirit of the game. This isn’t the 1890s anymore. What the Broad Incident showed us is that Australia don’t use their reviews very well. They use them up on key batsmen, not key moments in the game, which is something that they will want to address quickly.

Finally, a mention has to be reserved for the pitch. Evidently it was quite hard to bat on, for both teams, but that in many ways made the match even more interesting, with turn for Swann and Agar, and movement for the likes of Anderson (who was exceptional even though he wasn’t my Man of the Match) and Broad.

So, where does this leave us? A wounded Australia, a pleased but worried England. Dangerous for us England fans, if I’m honest with you. If I were Darren Lehmann, I would be looking to the future, not just the second test, but those beyond it; maybe it would be time to consider recalling Simon Katich? Proven at international level, he’s doing well at for his county this year. This could result in the partnership of Clarke and Katich, one to send a chill down any English spine. If Starc fails to perform at Lord’s, give Faulkner a go at Old Trafford, and keep Peter Siddle as healthy as is humanly possible; without him Australia will begin to struggle. For Andy Flower, DROP JONNY BAIRSTOW NOW. I think he’s a wonderful player, but is consistently underperforming. Move Root down the order, open with Cook and Compton. Then we’ll have them… Bring on Lord’s!

Read Sampad Sengupta's analysis of the Ashes' First Test here.

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The Ashes: First Test

by Sampad Sengupta

Victorious England celebrate

Wickets tumbling, runs scored, records broken and to add to all that, some controversy, that’s all you can ask for in a game of cricket and the first Ashes test of 2013 didn’t disappoint.  It was a fight to the finish in the first test match at TrentBridge as Englandcame out on top beating arch rivals Australia by 14 runs on the final day.  The match was a brilliant advert for the longer format of the game which many consider to have lost its charm.

The headlines in the build-up to the series were dominated by the return of England’s star batsman Kevin Pietersen and also by the appointment of Darren Lehmann as Australia’s head coach.  The Australian team, very much a team in transition and struggling to find stability, had plenty of changes in the dressing room with the arrival of new players and personnel.  This was highlighted in their team selection for the first test where they dropped established players like David Warner and Nathan Lyon and brought in 19-year old debutant Ashton Agar.  The England side was much more predictable with the only notable change being that of Joe Root opening the batting alongside captain Alastair Cook.  Englandwon the toss and chose to bat and soon found themselves in trouble as they got bowled out for a meagre 215, Peter Siddle being the pick of the Australian fast bowlers, picking up 5 wickets.  Australia too did not find it easy to score runs after a shaky start and thanks to some good knocks in the middle order and a record breaking innings of 98 (off 101 balls) from No. 11 Ashton Agar, they reached a total of 280. Agar’s score was the highest by any No.11 batsman in Tests.  His innings was that of class and he played a brand of fearless cricket showing no signs of being nervous playing his first Ashes test.

Ashton Agar

England then came out for their second innings and the controversy began as Jonathan Trott was given out LBW despite suggestions that he might have nicked the ball.  The innings was then given some stability by Cook and Pietersen, both of whom fell after reaching their fifties.  It was then down to Ian Bell (109 runs off 267 balls) and Stuart Broad (65 runs off 148 balls) to put together a solid partnership and take the score to 375.  It was during this innings of Broad’s that the main talking point of the game took place.  Agar, a left-arm spinner, bowled a delivery which bounced ever so slightly on Broad and caught the outside edge of the bat. The ball then deflected off the keeper’s gloves and was caught at slip by Australian captain Michael Clarke.  For a moment, it was celebrations all around for Australiaonly for them to realise that Broad was still there and the umpire had not given him out.  Having used up all their reviews, a shocked Australian side had no choice but to carry on and allow England set them a target of 311 runs to win.  Australia got off to a good start with Rogers and Watson only for the latter to be given out LBW under controversial circumstances once again.  Australia were left needing just over 130 runs on the final day with 4 wickets to go. The final day showed us what Test cricket is all about as the two teams played their hearts out in front of a full house at Trent Bridge.  After a nail biting few hours of cricket which saw a fantastic spell of bowling by James Anderson and some brave batting by Brad Haddin and also another Australian No. 11 James Pattinson, the fate of the match had to be decided by the third umpire as England asked for a review and Haddin was given out.  England won the game by 14 runs and Anderson was named Man of the Match, picking up 10 wickets in the game and once again showing how valuable he is to this Englandteam.  



The match will be remembered for quite a few reasons such as Anderson’s bowling, Agar’s herculean effort with the bat and the many controversial decisions from umpires and also the DRS (Decision Review System), and also whether Stuart Broad should have walked when he edged the ball off Agar. Perhaps that is a topic to be discussed at greater length, by analysts and critics and cricket-lovers all over the world.  Overall, the game was truly memorable and paved the way for what should be a hard-fought series between the two teams.

Read Tim McBain's response to the Ashes' First Test here.

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The Ashes: How Are England Shaping Up?

by Tim MacBain

This year is really rather a bumper year for English cricket. Two test series against New Zealand and the subsequent ODIs, the Champions Trophy, and the delicious prospect of back-to-back Ashes series. As far as I’m aware, the Ashes is the only five-test series in existence at the present moment, which means that the side with the best mental preparations and abilities will definitely have an advantage. Therefore, it’s probably best to take a look at England to determine what chances we have in the first series, starting at Trent Bridge on 10th July.

We need to talk about Kevin

Our squad is settled. Fairly strangely for English cricket, we actually have a plethora of batsmen and bowlers, more people than we can fill places with. This squad and the team has been working very well for some time now, and there isn’t a huge difference to the team that beat India in India just before Christmas. Such stability will very much aid us, and as will the surplus.

In terms of batsmen, Alastair Cook seems to be defying the vast majority of past England captains (Andrew Strauss excluded) in not allowing the weight of the captaincy to adversely affect his batting. He is still actually scoring runs, although he needs a century soon to maintain his air of invincibility. The second opening spot is an area of some dispute; should it be Nick Compton or Joe Root? There are arguments for both sides; Compton is more mature, and proved his mettle in New Zealand earlier this year. However, four successive failures on the return leg called his place in the side into question, and seeing as Root has been opening so immaculately for Yorkshire this season, being the form man, appears to be the natural successor. My question to the England selectors is this: why are they taking such a gamble in favouring Root ahead of Compton, as they appear to be doing? If Root loses form he could very easily end up losing not only his place in the side but also his confidence, resulting potentially in a fallow period for him. We all remember Ian Bell’s explosive appearance onto the Test arena in 2005, scoring beautifully and prolifically just before the Ashes, but, when it came to it, he was like a lamb going to slaughter. Admittedly, that was against Shane Warne and Glen McGrath, but the point still stands.

With Jonathan Trott’s place secure, it is obvious that the competition for Compton’s place is being directly caused by the return to fitness of Kevin Pietersen. We need to talk about Kevin. Sorry for the dire joke, but how do you solve this problem? He is arguably one of the most destructive, soul-destroying (for a bowler) batsman in the world, but that’s only if he’s on form. He is an integral part of the team, but has his behaviour made him a liability? I don’t think so, but let’s hope not, eh? Ian Bell at five is a must; he’s pretty much exactly who you want (who’s playing today; I don’t think anybody would refuse Steve Waugh on song) to bolster the middle order. Jonny Bairstow is, in fact, who I would drop given the chance, and keep Root at six; this would give Compton the chance at the top of the order and remove the debatable form of Bairstow. Matt Prior will always be our best Test wicketkeeper, as imperious with the bat as he is with the gloves. Although you can find holes in our batting line-up, it has people with enough talent and versatility to step up to the mark if it all goes pear-shaped.

 

Jimmy Anderson

In terms of bowlers, we’re pretty much set. Jimmy Anderson is at least the second-best pace bowler in the world. Stuart Broad, although a little temperamental nowadays, can still turn a match around in a spell; the Oval in 2009 is an example of that. Graham Swann has thankfully recovered from injury, and is really rather good. Steve Finn and Tim Bresnan fight it out for the last bowling place, and both of them are actually worth having in the team. The fact is, we’re not carrying anybody, all the players fully contribute to the performance of the team. Thank goodness.

Fielding: we’re not at the dizzy heights of the 2010/11 Ashes, but, in Anderson, Bell, Broad and Prior, we have some of the best fielders in the world, and, although Cook is a little inexperienced as captain, he learns quickly from his mistakes. The team is a unit, is well constructed, and, with Andy Flower at the helm, I can’t see an enormous amount going too wrong.

  Therefore, I’m going to predict an optimistic 2-1 win; the unknown Australian bowlers may well do some hefty damage – look out for James Faulkner, he’s had a successful IPL and can be quite tricky to face – and therefore I think we will definitely lose one Test, but, allowing for two draws, we’ll come through with a greater understanding of the Australian team, just in time for the return journey later in the year.

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The Transfer Market --- Greatest Show on Earth

by Thomas Penlington

When the Premier League season ends, many football fans are unwillingly forced to discover another pasttime or to immerse themselves in hobbies, with the intention of occupying themselves during the weekends between the end and the start of the new season. Granted, there’s the prospect of pre-season friendlies and international football, but the excitement and often the standard is never quite on par with a Premier League season. However, there is one way a football fan can satisfy their desire for the game.

The transfer market is never without excitement or controversy and can either be a fulfilling period of time or a frustrating one, depending on your team’s involvement. However, I think you can safely say it is never disappointing as a spectacle: whether we have the dazzling highs of staggering prices paid for players like the Cristiano Ronaldo who moved to Real Madrid from Manchester United for £80million, or the questionable lows of Fernando Torres moving to Chelsea from Liverpool for £50million. For fans, objectively the transfer market is unexpected and is watched in wonder and amazement as we all realise the sheer wealth involved in football clubs.

Each transfer market there seems to be a selected group of clubs that have been injected with wealth by an owner and so venture into the market to satisfy their cravings for international talent. At the end of the 2008-2009 season, Manchester City took up the role of the recently financed club by spending a total of £127million and they then surpassed even that total during the 2010-2011 season by spending a total of £154million on players. This provided much hope for the fans and much optimistic excitement for the new season. During the 2012-2013 season Chelsea once again proved that with Roman Abramovich their appears to be no limits to their wealth by spending a total of £92million on players; however, this wasn’t even close to the 2005-2006 season, in which they spent £111million on players.

Then, towards the end of the transfer market, there is a point of release at which all the accumulating tension that is generated throughout the market escapes in a climactic finish. This is known as the ‘transfer deadline day’ and it can be a day filled with intolerable excitement or disappointment. Upon this day, the conventional laws surrounding the purchase of players are ignored, either resulting in a moment of madness or inspiration. On the final day of the January transfer market during the 2010-2011 season, Andy Carroll signed for Liverpool FC from Newcastle United for a British transfer record of £35million. This price paid for a player who was relatively new in his first season for Newcastle upon their return to the Premier League was questioned by general football fans, and even Liverpool fans had some doubts. The staggering price immediately placed a heavy expectation upon the player’s shoulders, which it seems he never managed to shake following his recent exit from Liverpool to West Ham United. This example represents everything that ‘transfer deadline day’ stands for: controversial, desperate and most of all expensive.

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57 Million Euros for Neymar: Bargain of the Century

by Henry Cunnison

Neymar
(Wiki Commons)

The recently confirmed transfer of Neymar Da Silva Santos Junior, popularly known just as Neymar, the 21 year old Brazilian sensation, from hometown club Santos to Barcelona, was not unexpected. Neymar had been linked with every major club in Europe and the Catalan giants had been suggested as the most likely destination for almost a year. It was, however, controversial. Many still argue that Neymar is overvalued and overrated; they say 57 Million euros is too much for any player that is still, some say, unproven. But they are mistaken. Neymar has not only the ability, but also the commercial value that ensures his transfer will be a success.

The fact is that, even discarding Neymar’s footballing talent, he will boost Barcelona. He is the most marketable athlete, across all sports, in the world, according to Sports Pro magazine. This will be very important for Barcelona, because, despite their great success in previous years, their fan base is still not as international as other big clubs like Manchester United or Real Madrid.

Neymar also has appeal to markets that Barcelona needs to increase its support in- the emerging footballing countries. He is not only a national hero and talisman of his home country, but he also appeals to the whole South American continent. He is also famous in the United States, which Barcelona no doubt recognises as a potential market for expansion. Nor will Neymar’s appeal be weak in Europe. For years he has been hyped as the next big thing, the next best player in the world. This will surely mean that football fans will watch with interest his career in Barcelona. So, in terms of the sheer increase in fans that Barcelona will receive, this transfer makes sense. Probably more importantly, it is likely that Barcelona will make the 57 Million euros back on shirt sales within a year.  This was the case for Real Madrid when they paid £80 million pounds for Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar has a larger fan base than Ronaldo. Half of Brazil will probably buy a Neymar Barcelona shirt.

Neymar’s transfer also makes sense simply from a footballing perspective. He has been called overrated, but the truth is he is probably underrated. Legend Pele (although he is probably biased towards his countryman) has said Neymar is already better than Leo Messi, his new teammate and the man hailed as the best of his generation, perhaps of all time. I would agree with this assertion. At this point, most readers will probably be screaming the common criticism of Neymar: he has so far only played against average-at-best teams in Brazil with Santos. Neymar has scored 54 goals in 103 games for Santos. This, although obviously impressive, may at first not sound world-beating. But Neymar achieved this while he was still developing as a player, was not playing as a straight striker, rather as an advanced midfielder, and was playing at a team that other than him was average. Contrary to popular belief there are good teams in Brazil: Corinthians, Sao Paulo and Fluminense, to name just a few. Neymar often destroyed these teams more or less on his own.

  But even if one considers the Brazilian league sub-par, one cannot lay the same charges against Neymar’s international competition with Brazil. Neymar’s exploits with Brazil lend themselves naturally to comparison with Messi, as they play in similar positions for teams that both play most of their internationals against South American competition. Neymar has scored 23 Goals in 37 games for Brazil, Messi 35 in 82 for Argentina. This shows Neymar already has a better international record then Messi, even though he is still not in the prime of his career and Messi is. The comparison is more dramatic when we consider what Messi had achieved at Neymar’s age. He had scored only 10 international goals. Neymar has so much skill on the ball, so much dribbling ablity, and is such a good finisher that it is hard to argue that any player is better than him. His skill has recently been highlighted during the on-going Confederations Cup, a warm-up for next year’s world cup. Neymar has scored 3 goals in 3 games for the hosts, and has also won plaudits for his all-round play.

Thus Neymar was a steal at 57 Million euros for Barcelona. They will easily make this money back from his financial value and shirt sales. But on top of that they get a player who is already the most skilful player in the world, is a brilliant finisher and, if not the best player in the world, is easily in the top ten. He can only improve, and the combination of Messi and Neymar playing in the same attack will surely strike fear into any opposition’s hearts.

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What Do You Even Do In That Game?

by Callum Cross

That is the most asked question when you explain to someone that you play Pro Cycling Manager 2012. As you may or may not know, I like cycling. Unlike football, there is not a plethora of computer games to choose from, so, when I find a cycling game that has been released, I tend to look around for a good price (they are often dirt cheap) and buy it.

Cycling Manger 4 was where my somewhat worrying obsession with the Pro Cycling Manager series began, and that was only four years ago. I found it, or it found me, at a giant store in a small town somewhere in Dorset that smelt of cats. It was on sale for £12 and was the only one left; I’m guessing they ordered just one by mistake. I snapped at the opportunity and have never looked back buying the new one every year;  for the first time last year, I actually pre-ordered it off Amazon. So it seems fitting, with the new release of 2013 today (June 20th) that I write my Portsmouth Point article on the wonders of my favourite computer game.

So, answering the title question, it is what it says on box. You can pick, or make, a trade cycling team and you manage them. However the fun doesn’t end there, oh no. Much like the Fifa of cycling, you control your cyclist in races on the road telling them when to work together on the front to pull in a breakaway or when to attack. This game encompasses the best of two worlds: the fun 3D simulation game and the in-depth managerial game. Obviously the next question I get asked is: how do you manage a cycling team? Well, in the game, you have to balance the needs and desires of the sponsor of the team, which, after a few seasons, you can change, with the running costs of the team. It is important to hire the right staff to help develop young riders and increase the fitness of the key riders for the big races, but you must always work within your limits. It’s no use signing Sir Bradley Wiggins if you can afford any team mates to go with him; without a well oil machine to help him, he won’t win anything.

So what’s new for 2013? Well, there have been many team changes this year, with lots of riders jumping ship to search for new leadership roles; there have been so many breakthrough riders, especially for the UK, so the general database updates are obviously a good reason to buy the game. But "Hold the phone!" I hear you say, "There’s more???" Yes, they have significantly changed the 3D engine and developed a new system categorising riders into two types: diesel engine riders, who can accelerate but can ride at one tempo forever like Wiggo, and then the contrasting type of explosive riders who can accelerate violently, like Chris Froome. This fixes many issues of the games of old and should make mountain stages more realistic. With that in mind, all of the updates should be taken with a pinch of salt as the company which makes PCM is very small and has a miniscule budget. Now that you’ve heard how outstanding this game is, I implore you to buy it.

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Can Mourinho Achieve Immediate Success in his Chelsea Return?

by Zoe Rundle

"The Happy One"
(Wiki Commons)

After a six year absence, which has seen eight different managers take on the role of Chelsea boss, "The Special One" is back once and for all. The question is can he emulate the success he initially had back when he took the job in June 2004? Mourinho now claims to be "The Happy One" and there doesn't appear to be any real doubts about him. It is clear that he has the ability after proving himself in almost every top league in the world and some would argue that this current opportunity is as bright as ever for the Portuguese character.

It can often take quite some time for managers to get used to a new job. For example, Sir Alex Ferguson didn't win a trophy in his first three years at Manchester United and Liverpool were only triumphant in two of their opening eleven games under Brendan Rogers last season. It's easy to think that Mourinho is heading in the same direction, however the crucial factor to remember is that this is a man who doesn't know how to fail and someone who simply won't give until success is achieved. Furthermore, Mourinho is someone who was said to be instrumental in the building of Chelsea's prestigious Cobham training facility, a place which he'll be on a day-to-day basis next season. He is familiar with these surroundings and after spending the best part of two years at this elite location, it can only work in his favour. Not only this, Mourinho obviously knows the Chelsea area well from his previous stint as manager and while it can be said that this isn't a crucial factor, any small advantage he has could be vital in kickstarting the season. It's not just the surroundings which Mourinho is familiar with; legends such as John Terry and Frank Lampard have worked with the Portuguese icon previously meaning they know his style and already have an established relationship with him. With several managerial changes across the country, Mourinho looks to have the upper hand on them all. He is familiar with so many aspects associated with Chelsea Football Club and on top of this, he's also aware of several of the twenty stadiums which he'll visit, unlike some of the new managers coming in. More importantly, he last visited Old Trafford (the home ground of rivals Manchester United) in early March meaning that his knowledge of the ground and the size of the pitch is rather fresh in his mind. Small details like this could be turn out to be particularly vital should the two teams find themselves battling for the title next season, making the importance of these clashes even higher.

Next season, Chelsea will compete for the FA Cup, the League Cup the Champions League and of course the Premier League. Many would argue that the latter is the one they have their eyes on most after not having won it since 2010. The mood will certainly be high around Stamford Bridge with the fans offering nothing but praise to Mourinho since his arrival was officially announced last week and one may say that Chelsea have a real chance of glory in the league next season. With four of last year's top six finishers changing their manager, it could open up an opportunity for Mourinho's Chelsea. While he too is new to his job, he has experience at Chelsea and in the Premier League meaning that the familiarity may give The Blues an advantage. Manuel Pellegrini, for example, has never managed in the Premier League before and has spent the last three years at the same club so therefore might find it hard to adapt. Not only this, Sir Alex Ferguson has been in charge of Manchester United for the past twenty-six and a half years so a new manager will definitely be hard to get used to. Therefore, Chelsea do stand in a relatively strong position as we approach the new season and look as if they could certainly challenge for the title. To further this point, there is no reason why they can't have a decent cup run and seek one of these trophies. They have one of the strongest squads in the country accompanied by one of the strongest managers in the world so, really, there isn't too much to fault.

You could argue that Arsenal also look to be in a prominent position at this stage. Arsene Wenger has been in charge since 1996 and the current squad looks strong. Players such as Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have certainly proven to be a real force for both club and country in the recent months and their devastating pace down the wings can easily cause trouble for defenders. However, if Arsenal are going to stand a chance at the title, they need to spend money. Another centre forward looks to be required so that chances can be turned into goals on every occasion. Arsenal currently lie in a very similar situation to Chelsea apart from the fact that they've stuck with their manager. The squad they have is now developed and have learned how to play with one another comfortably. With signings such as Podolski and Giroud last season, it took some time to adapt and by the end of the season The Gunners couldn't stop winning. As well as this, Arsenal are long over-due a title and they can't maintain this form much longer without bagging a trophy. It's about time they were rewarded and, like Chelsea, the opportunity they have now is as good as ever. It could well be Arsenal who put a spanner in the works of Mourinho's season next year.

There is also the potential threat posed by Tottenham Hotspur, who, similarly to Arsenal, haven't changed their manager. A lot of their success in the upcoming season really does depend on whether Gareth Bale stays put at White Hart Lane. He netted twenty-one times in the Premier League last season, a staggering achievement for a midfielder, and was influential in Spurs' domestic campaign. Right now, it's difficult to see Tottenham captain Michael Dawson lifting the Premier League trophy next season, however a cup triumph could be on the cards. Spurs are a team who like a trip to Wembley and a controversial decision against Chelsea at this location in last year's FA Cup semi-final would certainly make a rematch highly anticipated. Tottenham are a team with bags of potential and could well damage Chelsea's hopes in the cup this year.

Finally, we can not leave the debate regarding Chelsea's Champions League chances untouched. The simple argument here would be to say that Chelsea have no chance given the strength of the other teams taking part in the world's greatest club competition. However, a close analysis may reveal otherwise. Two of the greatest threats here would have to be Barcelona and Bayern Munich and Chelsea know what it's like to beat them both. Last year The Blues overcame Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Champions League and then went on to the final where they beat Bayern in Munich; this feeling will still be very much with the majority of Chelsea's squad today and will certainly make them all extremely determined to achieve this greatness again. Not only this, Mourinho knows Barcelona's game well from managing in La Liga for the past three seasons, and with Pep Guardiola taking over the German Giants Bayern Munich, Chelsea's chances are slightly more encouraging than they first appear. As well as this, Mourinho will have some knowledge of how the Real Madrid squad like to play and the various aspects they bring to the game so should Chelsea come up against them, they certainly will be well advised. Furthermore, David Moyes has never managed in the Champions League before meaning that the new experience may need some time to get used to. Therefore, Manchester United's threat may not be as high as it was this time last year. Winning the Champions League will not be an easy task and it's demanding nature to deliver in every game means that maximum flop us is necessary. Despite this, and after a closer look, one may argue that Chelsea's chances are just as good as any other team in the competition and the fact that Mourinho's won it twice before certainly stands Chelsea in good stead.

We can clearly see that there is an opportunity for Mourinho, and therefore Chelsea, to achieve great success next season. After looking at the other potential champions of the Premier League next season, it seems that there is no real reason why The Blues can't be victorious. Similarly in the domestic cups, Chelsea can easily be seen as the favourites, particularly looking at the strength of their squad and the accolade of their manager. The same could be said for the Champions League; the task is a big one, but after looking at some of the opposition, Chelsea certain have a possibility of glory. Now that Mourinho has his wish of being somewhere he is "loved", it appears that the pieces of puzzle are all there and ready to fit together for what looks to be an exciting 2013-2014 season for Chelsea.

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