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England
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Written by Mark W
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Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:19 |
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If you read my trip report from San Marino you will know that I was quite forthright in my criticism of elements of the England support. I was shocked however to read this article by Oliver Holt making accusations of racism. HERE
The article makes some very serious accusations about the English supporters in the Stadio Olympico and some of the songs that were being sung.
The key song that the article refers to is the 'Bonfire' song. I was at the game and have spoken to dozens of other people that were there. Not one of us heard this song. Of course, that does not mean that it was not sung. There were England fans all around the ground and it may have originated in an area away from where everyone I have spoken to were sat. I have no reason to think that Mr Holt would have invented this song and so can only take his word for the fact that it was sung.
What I can say, however, is that if there were people in the ground singing this, there could not have been very many of them. A group of say 30 fans singing a song would have been clearly audable in that small stadium. My assumption, therefore is that if it was sung there may have been perhaps 5-10 people involved.
It is the nature of the article that upsets me. The inference is that England supporters are racist and this inference is damaging. A lot of work has gone on from the FA in 'cleaning up' the England support over the last decade or so. In many cases, I think they have gone over the top in this but without doubt they have made fantasic inroads when it comes to racism. To suggest that the England support is still racist, therefore is truely unfair.
Do not get me wrong, I am not for one moment claiming that there are not people with racist view who still follow the England national team. Of course there are. There will always be people in all walks of life who hold these views, but to say England have some racist fans is completely different to saying that England's support is racist. Every club and every nation has some racist fans be it football, rugby, cricket or syncronised swimming.
If there were a small number of fans who were singing racist songs, they need to be dealt with by the FA and by the police. We do not need these people following England. Mr Holt is right here. One person shouting racist abuse is one person too many. If it just a handful though, they should be being dealt with in an appropriate manner, ie. identified and banned. This should not have been sensationalised headline news.
Having been in Rimini and San Marino on the day of the game, I can confirm that there was a lot of anger about Rio Ferdinand's decision to comentate on the game in the Middle East rather than play for his national side. You have to remember that many fans had paid a significant amount of money and booked a week off work to follow the team to San Marino and Montenegro. Is it surprising that they were frustrated with someone who was seen to 'not be bothered to play'? At no point during the day, however, did I hear one racist comment about him.
There is, of course a secondary issue. Assuming we take the song as read, is it actually racist? On the face of it, no. There is nothing at all in that song which uses any kind of racist language and as has been well documented the somg is used at grounds around the country with no racial conotations. The only way, however, to know whether a song like this is being sung with racist undertones is to know the individuals singing it. The same song could easily be sung by two different people for different reasons. As we are yet to identify any individuals as having sung it, I do not understand how a conclusion can have been reached that it was racist.
If you wonder why this matters so much, it is not because of the threat of England playing a game behind closed doors. FIFA are perfectly entitled to investigate and I fully expect the outcome to be that England have no case to answer. The problem comes from the perception of England fans to the general population. I have already heard friends tell me "That's why I don't follow the national team". Some members of the press seem to thrive off criticising the England supporters who care passionately and will follow the team all over the world. Surely we want to be encouraging fans to support England, not turning them away. Furthermore we want to attract fans from different backgrounds. There is a small but increasing number of black and Asian fans following England. That's a good thing but inaccurate reporting like this will put others off.
I care passionately about England and I care passionately about the image of England fans. I have many friends who follow England home and away much more frequently than I do. These are good people who are helping to promote the good name of England fans. It's a real kick in the teeth when someone comes along and tries to undermine this for the sake of a headline.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:20 |
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Oldham Athletic
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Written by Mark W
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Wednesday, 20 February 2013 17:36 |
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It’s Saturday 16th Febrruary 2013 and the time is about 19.50. Latics are 2-1 down to Everton in the FA Cup 5th round.
We’ve played well enough, certainly haven’t disgraced ourselves in front of the TV cameras but we’re out of the cup. Despite the good performance, we’ve not created much in the way of clear cut chances in the second half and when that illusive chance finally fell to Robbie Simpson he fluffed it. Howard did well from the original shot but he should have buried the rebound. You always suspect that a chance will come but you simply have to take it at this level.
I shouldn’t be as upset as I am. We never had any right to expect to get anything out of this game. We are playing the 6th best team in the country based on their current league position. I am upset though. Not devastated, that would be overstating it but upset all the same. I dared to believe. We were 2 games away from Wembley and I let myself get carried away. Instead of looking forward to tomorrow afternoon’s quarter final draw, all I can look forward to is trying to scrape together enough points to stay in this league. I hate being in this league anyway. Perhaps we’d be better going down. New grounds to go to, new pubs to find… No, don’t be stupid. We’ve picked up a bit of unforeseen revenue from this cup run but relegation could prove terminal.
They’ve done well though, if we play like this we will stay up. They don’t play like this though do they? That’s the reason we’re in this situation.
Come on lads, last chance here. Swing it in and someone get their nut on it. Deano, what are you doing, don’t gift them a free kick by handling… Ohhhh my Goddddddd, Yessssssssssss. Shit, check the lino, his flag’s up, I know he’s put his flag up. No he hasn’t. We’ve done it, Ohhhhhh my Goddddddd. Who scored it? Was it Smithy again? Who cares? Get Innnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
By this point I’m two rows further forward than I was ten seconds ago. I don’t know how I got here but the cuts and bruises on my legs suggest I’ve been dragged over the sharp backs of the seats. I only realise that later in the night as I certainly can’t feel any pain now.
I’m screaming with delight but the overwhelming sense, ridiculously, is relief. All those feelings I had moments earlier have dissolved and been filled with pure euphoric relief.
Then it starts, I’m crying. Tears rolling down my cheek. Get a grip man, what are you doing? I don’t know why, but there’s nothing I can do. The whistles gone and I should be looking forward to Goodison but instead I’m blubbering like a baby. It’s not the first time. I was close after Liverpool and a right state both when we were relegated at Norwich and when we lost the Play-off at Loftus Road. It doesn’t make it any less pathetic though. The non-stop chanting I’ve witnessed from the small section of the Roachdale Road End is getting even louder and that’s just making me worse.
It’s twenty years since I’ve seen Boundary Park like this. This is what it’s supposed to be like. I love football.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 February 2013 17:38 |
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Oldham Athletic
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Written by Mark W
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Monday, 04 February 2013 16:54 |
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My views on sacking managers were well documented in the blog I did at the end of September. I strongly believe that a manager has to be given time to complete the job he has been asked to do. Despite this, even I had come to the conclusion that Paul Dickov could not remain as manager.
The league run of one point in nine games that preceeded Dickov’s resignation included a number of games where we could honestly claim to have been unlucky. Unfortunately that excuse eventually runs out. It is fair to say that you have to make your own luck at times.
When a manager leaves his post, it is common to hear the phrase “He lost the dressing room”. On this occasion, couldn’t seem to be further from the truth. Everything suggests that the players loved Dickov yet still they didn’t play for him. Was he too ‘matey’ with them? I don’t know. All I do know is he wasn’t getting the best out of them.
A lot has been made about the strength of the squad this season. Indeed, Dickov himself described it as the strongest during his time at the club. Personally, I don’t buy that. We had a decent first eleven but the squad was worryingly thin. That said, Corney did back him when he needed to. A number of loanees were brought in and the signing of Jose Baxter more than any showed that some money could be found when it really mattered.
By the time we lost to Notts County it was clear that Dickov had no future at Oldham. If it had been me I would have made the decision at that point. The Liverpool game was always going to muddy the waters. When we won, it made Paul unsackable in the immediate term and had we lost, the press would have had a field day with “Oldham sack manager because they lose to Liverpool”. For whatever reason, Corney chose to give him that Liverpool game and in many ways it was an inspired decision. I wouldn’t swap that victory for anything right now and you have to imagine that had Dickov gone, we probably wouldn’t have won it. For once his tactics were spot on.
In the aftermath of the game, we became a big story in the media. It was inevitable that questions would be asked regarding the manager’s position and I’m not sure I know what Simon’s response should have been. I honestly believe he was in turmoil. It is clear that he and Paul are good friends and that he didn’t want to lose him. Friendships shouldn’t cloud a business judgement but it’s hardly surprising that they do.
The way the manager was backed on deadline day shows to me that he really was being given a final opportunity to turn it round. If he could have done it, the Liverpool game could have been the biggest turning point in our history.
Sadly it was not to be. For twenty minutes against Walsall it looked like things might be on the up. Even after that there were signs that all might not be lost but the way we capitulated in the final twenty minutes meant that Dickov was a dead man walking. He’d shown that despite all that had gone on, he just couldn’t motivate them in the way required.
The players have a lot to answer for. There are a number who simply have not performed at a level that they are capable of with any consistency. They claimed to like him but when he was relying on them to save his bacon they went missing.
I didn’t like the way that his eventual dismissal was played out in the press but again, that was largely down to the furore following the famous cup victory. It struck me that the news he’d gone made the national news while Keith Curle’s dismissal from Notts County the same day didn’t warrant a mention.
What has happened has happened and I wish Paul well for the future. I believe that he can make it and at times we saw some superb football while he was here. As well as the big wins such as Liverpool and Sheff Utd there were games like Charlton away when we battered them with ten men without finding the goal to win the game. Crewe away and Preston at home this season saw some of the best football I’ve seen from an Oldham side in quite some time.
It’s important now that we bring in the right man to take the club forward. I am not going to put specific names forward but it needs to be the right choice, not an emotional choice. I would not like to see us step backwards by appointing someone who’s been here before. We need a clean break. I will support whoever gets it whether it is who I want or not. The only way we will be successful is if everyone is pushing in the same direction.
My one plea to Simon Corney would be to appoint who he believes will keep this club up and then play good football next season. Don’t pick who the fans want, pick the best man for the job. Just remember, though, that this man is not Mark Hughes.
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General Football
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Written by Mark W
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Tuesday, 11 December 2012 22:26 |
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There are two football stories dominating the media today with 13 clubs backing calls for a return to safe standing, while the PFA have mooted the idea of clubs installing netting to protect players from missiles. Both issues simply highlight how football fans are treated differently from other sections of society.
The call for safe standing is a no-brainer for me. Standing should never have been outlawed in the top two divisions and bringing it back should be an option available to all clubs.
I am well aware of the sensitive nature of this argument, particularly amongst Liverpool fans affected by the Hillsborough disaster but you have to look at these things objectively. Hillsborough was not caused by people standing. We have had it confirmed recently that there were a number of failings which led to the disaster but ultimately, it was caused by fences. The fans in the Leppings Lane end were crushed due to the fact that they had nowhere to go. If there had been no fences, there is nothing to suggest that there would have been any deaths. The overcrowding in there was due to critical errors by the police and stewards.
Technology has moved on and even if you accept that standing in the form we used to have will never return, safe standing areas have proved hugely successful in Germany. Why this technology has been repeatedly ignored by the powers that be in this country has to be questioned.
It seems that as a football fan, I do not have the right to choose how I watch a game whereas if I want to attend another event, I suddenly have that right. Not only have venues for other forms of entertainment not had to convert to seating, new venues with huge standing areas can still be built. In the last couple of years both Salford Reds and St Helens Rugby League teams have built new stadia with significant terraces. Not only that, but while Wembley Stadium has to be all seated for football matches, it is fine for 15,000 people to stand on the pitch for a rock concert. Either standing is dangerous or it is not, you cannot claim that it is only dangerous if you are watching football.
I should add here that I am not someone who believes that the reintroduction of terracing will reduce the cost of attending games. There will be a cost with installing terraces and I have no doubt this will get passed on to fans. I do, however still think that large numbers will choose to stand. It is interesting to note that in recent years the price of standing at gigs has risen above the cost of sitting for big artists, clear evidence that demand is for the experience, not the price.
To me, there is no comparison between sitting and standing at a game. The atmosphere that can be made by a few hundred stood together can easily outstrip tens of thousands sat down. At the same time, I have witnessed my parents have games ruined for them by fans standing in front of them in all seater grounds. Offer the opportunity to stand and you should remove this problem.
The idea of putting up netting is equally discriminatory. Why do some people insist on tarring all football fans with the same brush? It was disgraceful that someone threw a coin at Rio Ferdinand on Sunday but what has that got to do with me just because I like to watch football?
If I go into town on a Friday night and assault someone, I will be arrested and if the press take note, they will refer to me as a thug. If I was to commit the assault inside a football ground on a Saturday afternoon, I would still be arrested but the press would probably refer to football hooligans. Exactly the same act sees me blamed in one instance but football fans generalised in the other. Likewise, I ask the question whether should someone throw a coin at an actor in a West End play, would there be calls for audiences to be searched or barriers to be put up to protect actors in all theatres across London?
The same kind of discrimination exists in other areas too. It is illegal to drink alcohol within sight of a football pitch at a game in England. It is not illegal to drink in the stand at rugby or cricket. It is illegal to sell on a ticket to a friend for a professional at less than face value. If you sell a ticket for any other event at twice the face value to a total stranger, you have committed no offence.
I’m not claiming that these laws have all been brought in without reason. In the 1970s and 80s there were so many problems with hooliganism that some emergency legislation was required but football is not in the same place now that it was then. Maybe it is time to stop treating us all like animals and instead show us the respect that just we deserve.
Please note that these are my own views and do not represent the views of www.ernieflag.co.uk
Please feel free to follow me on Twitter… @oldham_mark
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Oldham Athletic
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Written by Mark W
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Monday, 01 October 2012 18:19 |
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That time has come where the lone voices questioning the manager’s position has turned into more of a heated debate. It always comes eventually and it is rare that a manager can win them all back once the questions start to be aired.
There is no doubt that Latics are underperforming this season. We’ve got a decent starting eleven, better I would say than we had last year. The squad itself is very thin but with the team that we are currently able to put out we should certainly not have found ourselves sucked into the bottom four.
It is no surprise, therefore, that Paul Dickov finds himself under pressure. We look at the likes of Montano and Croft on the wing and can see so much opportunity for chances to be created. We look at Derbyshire in the middle with Baxter just behind him and see players who have the ability to capitalise on those chances. The defenders are making far too many individual errors but for the most part look solid enough and in the middle of the park we’ve got two players who proved last season that they are above average for League One. Despite this it is difficult to see where our next goal, and certainly our next win is going to come from. The only logical explanation is that it’s the manager’s fault.
I am not going to put forward an argument that I do not blame Dickov, I believe that the responsibility lies squarely on his shoulders but I do not believe that the automatic solution is to sack him. Chairmen are very quick these days to pull the trigger when things start going wrong but what good does it actually do? We’ve had eight managers in the last ten years (excluding caretakers who only got the odd game) and we have gained nothing. It’s easy to change managers, it takes guts to stick by them and give them time.
A manager is given a job to do at the start of each season and should be given the opportunity to do it. If a manager is told that he must be top ten after fifteen games, then fine, replace him if he fails but if a manager is told to keep a team up over the duration of the season, he should be given the chance to do so, even if the campaign starts badly. There were some who thought Dickov was lucky to make it through the summer but he did and having started this season, he needs to be backed.
I have heard many comments that we are doomed this season, but that is far from the truth. As I’ve already stated we’ve got some good players and they are players that Paul Dickov has managed to bring to the club. There’s a lot a new players though and they are taking longer than we’d like to gel. It may be that they never gel, but I still think Dickov deserves the chance to try.
My views on how managers should be treated have changed over the years. I was very vocal in calling for a number of manager’s heads; Sharp, Talbot and Moore spring to mind. I look back now, however and think I was probably misguided. We need some continuity at the club and the Boundary Park revolving door has played some part in why we are where we are.
I am pleased to see that despite the negative feeling towards Dickov by some, this has not resulted in chants for him to go at matches. That really does do nothing to help the team and I think it shows that underneath, most fans want him to do well.
I hope that Latics fans can be won round and that we can put together the run of results that will allow this to happen.
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 October 2012 11:58 |
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Oldham Athletic
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Written by Mark W
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Friday, 17 August 2012 21:41 |
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Every year I embarrass myself with my predictions on how the league will turn out come May (although I think it is actually the end of April for some reason this year.
Here goes:
1st MK Dons
Signings of Smith and Lowe could be the difference this time round. Can see them winning the league (much as I hate to say it).
2nd Sheff Utd
Ched Evans cost them promotion last time and they haven't replaced him but I think they will be too strong for most teams in this division.
3rd Swindon
Di Cannio is being backed by the board and Swindon will be a handful this campaign. Promotion candidates.
4th Coventry
Lots of ins and outs but they've kept hold of McSheffrey and made some astute signings. Could potentially challenge for top 2.
5th Notts County
Players they've brought in look better than those they have released. Can see them challenging towards the top.
6th Colchester
Sears and Morrison could be inspired. Looks a good side last year. Can see a good season for them.
7th Doncaster
Anything could happen based upon their loan signing policy of last season. Can see them just missing out on play-offs.
8th Brentford
Didn't live up to expectations last season. Touch and go for the play-offs.
9th Carlisle
Will miss Zoko. Cadamarteri signing could go either way but they will challenge for a play-off place.
10th Preston
Almost a complete new squad from last season. A bad start and the fans will get restless. Westley out by Christmas, Preston mid-table.
11th Bournemouth
A decent side. Nothing too exciting has happened in the transfer market but should finish mid-table.
12th Scunthorpe
A couple of decent signings but can't see them troubling either end of the table.
13th Shrewsbury
They've got Rob Purdie so they are bound to do well! Should be able to survive but won't challenge for promotion.
14th Stevenage
Excellent performances from them last season but think they'll find it tougher this time round. Won't struggle to survive though.
15th Hartlepool
Won't be feeling good after departure of James Brown but would expect a mid-table finish. Howard's a great signing.
16th Tranmere
Hoof! They will be alright. Ian Thomas-Moore hasn't signed yet. Only a matter of time.
17th Oldham
I think we'll struggle. The 1st team looks decent but the squad is weak. Need to make good use of loan signings. Should stay up though.
18th Crawley
Haven't spent the money that many expected. Could be a season of consolidation after back to back promotions.
19th Leyton Orient
Struggled last year and nothing to suggest anything different. Think they'll stay up… just.
20th Portsmouth
Everyone expects them to go down but I can see money being found and spent in January. Big call but I think they'll stay up.
21st Crewe
Loss of Powell will be a huge blow. Some decent young players but will struggle at this level.
22nd Yeovil
Keanu Marsh-Brown and Reuban Reid will improve their squad but I think they will be back in League 2 next year.
23rd Bury
Over performed last term. No manager at the moment. Could really struggle.
24th Walsall
Managed to survive last season but can't see them repeating that trick. Fabian Brandy needs to find the form to match his potential.
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Last Updated on Friday, 17 August 2012 21:53 |
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All Sports
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Written by Terry Doran
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Monday, 13 August 2012 08:02 |
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I haven’t been to any Olympic events, but I’ve spent many hours glued to BBC TV, from ‘Breakfast’ to ‘Olympics Tonight’, watching sports that I’d never even heard of, and quickly becoming an ‘expert’ and a critic. If medals were to be appointed for mastering the ‘red button’ and the ever-changing ‘blue menu’, with crucial moments being continued on other channels, I’d like to think I’d be up there on the podium.
I’ve loved the entertainment and spectacle of sports played hard and fair with passion and desire in front of packed, patriotic and well-behaved crowds. The abilities, human spirit, dignity and humility shown by so many competitors have been so inspiring. I experienced stress and adrenolin rushes as I screamed and shouted at the TV, and I’ve shed tears of joy and despair. Even my correctly-predicted penalty shoot-out exit and relay baton cock-up failed to dampen my spirit.
The organisation of such a massive event has been a tremendous success. Among the top performers have been the army of 70,000 volunteers, who have endured long days in their uniforms without pay, and whose work has been praised by competitors in interviews.
National pride has eclipsed my usual cynicism and the scaremongering media claims have been exposed, as the public transport hasn’t collapsed, terrorists haven’t blown up anything and a good time has been had by all.
The cost of London 2012 has been colossal and the knee-jerk reaction to such spending without a direct return – ‘this could be better used elsewhere’ – misses the point. Of course there are many areas which need more funding, but if we follow the flawed logic of cutting everything that’s optional, who would want to live in a country without things such as art, literature, film, competitive sport and exploratory science?
People have been more cheerful than usual, with complete strangers in the street stopping to chat about the previous day’s sporting events. I know that the feel-good factor will dissipate quickly and the flag-waving glee is unlikely to last until Christmas.
Claims of a major economic boost have been shown to be exaggerated, with increased sales and footfall in Stratford having been cancelled out by losses in the West End. However, in the long-term, I would expect many more foreign visitors than usual to be drawn to London by the iconic images shown throughout the Olympics.
London’s Olympic legacy remains to be seen, but I hope that the UK’s successful performance as hosts and participants will inject a ‘can do’ attitude into tackling other national issues, as well as inspiring us all to be more active.
Roll on the Paralympics!
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