On Friday 9th October 2015, I set off from my house in Rotherham at 10.00am for a train at Rotherham at 10.37am to Doncaster to catch our connection train at Doncaster to London King's Cross at 11.17am.
We arrived at London King's Cross train station at 1pm and we then made our way to the underground tube station and purchased our tickets and then got a tube to Upton Park Tube Station to take a look at West Ham United's Upton Park stadium before the Hammers moved to the Olympic Stadium.
We then left Upton Park and walked to Millers View Pub in East Ham and had some food before we went on another tube straight to Wembley Stadium. We arrived at Wembley Stadium at 5.25pm and walked towards JJ Moons Pub for some pre-match drinks.
On the way to JJ Moons we saw the booth we're talkSPORT were presenting the drive time show from and I saw Ian 'The Moose' Abrahams and Chris 'Kammy' Kamara and got my photo with them. I also was interviewed by The Moose ahead of the game with him asking me for my score prediction, which I said would be England 3-0 Estonia with Harry Kane getting the first goal.
We then left JJ Moons at 7pm and walked back to Wembley Stadium and went into the ground and found our seats and we waited for build-up.
Just before the game got underway Wayne Rooney was presented with a golden boot by Sir Bobby Charlton after the Manchester United man broke the record for the most goals scored by a England International in England's last game. Rooney now has 50 goals for his country.
Onto the game and it looked like it was a training exercise and it took until the final minute of the 1st half for England to open the scoring when Arsenal's Theo Walcott collected a pass from Everton's Ross Barkley and he slotted it past the Estonia goalkeeper on the stroke of half time.
England upped the tempo for me in the second half and deservedly doubled their lead on 85 minutes when Leicester City's Jamie Vardy played the ball across to Manchester City's Raheem Sterling and he doubled the lead from close range.
England made it 9 out of 9 in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign as they beat Estonia 2-0.
After the game we went back on the Tube to Victoria and went to Victoria Coach Station and waited for a Megabus back to Sheffield. The Megabus left London at 1am and we arrived back in Sheffield at 5.15am and got a taxi back to our house in Rotherham, and got home at 5.40am.
I enjoyed my day out but found the game a bit boring.
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
Friday, 20 March 2015
Is Youth The Way Forward
I have been wondering is youth the way forward for Leeds United if they are to get back to the English Premier League?
I feel if we manage to keep hold of Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt, Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor, Kalvin Phillips, Chris Dawson etc then Leeds will have a big chance of getting back to the top flight of English football.
Since Neil Redfearn was appointed as head coach by the Elland Road club players like Mowatt, Taylor, Cook and most recently Phillips have been in and around the first team squad on match days for the clubs Sky Bet Championship fixtures in the past few months/weeks.
Byram, Cook, Mowatt and Taylor have all started virtually every game since the end of the January transfer window and it seems if Leeds United are going to move forward and gain promotion from the Sky Bet Championship we will need to keep all our young players in the squad for next season and add more Championship quality to the squad and help us mount a promotion push.
I asked the question on facebook here is what a few people said:
Andy Brown said: "I believe it is but any successful side needs an experienced back bone too. i-e Keeper, Central defender and cunning Striker up front... Put the youth around that and you should have a good football team...."
Phil Rourke said: "Yeah of course, I've been saying it for years now the only problem is we don't hang on to them."
Liverpool fan Liam Angell said: "Youth is always the way forward, eventually you have to trust the next generation as the youth are the future and Leeds need to build solid foundations rather than waiting for some rich benefactor to come in and save them."
Andrew Clarke said: "Yeah defo, always believed In youth and Lucky we have always had a gud un."
Peter Umpleby said: "I'm glad they have been given a chance this season, mowatt and cook are outstanding so far and taylor is holding his own, i just hope we can keep hold of them in the closed season."
Anne Taylor said: "We have quite a few younger players who have proven to be invaluable in the first team & several more who are on the fringes. We had this in the early 90's & with the right mix of experienced players they went on to help us to win the league & a good few of them went on to have good careers. I think that with the same mix of experience & youth it can be the way forward. Redfern knows these young guns & he will utilise them wisely."
Karl Morgan said: "I think that killock will turn out to be a good player for us, would love to see adryan put some good form in too."
A few thing youth is the way forward but we need too keep hold of the young players such as Byram, Mowatt, Cook, Taylor, Killock, Phillips, Dawson etc.
I feel if we manage to keep hold of Sam Byram, Alex Mowatt, Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor, Kalvin Phillips, Chris Dawson etc then Leeds will have a big chance of getting back to the top flight of English football.
Since Neil Redfearn was appointed as head coach by the Elland Road club players like Mowatt, Taylor, Cook and most recently Phillips have been in and around the first team squad on match days for the clubs Sky Bet Championship fixtures in the past few months/weeks.
Byram, Cook, Mowatt and Taylor have all started virtually every game since the end of the January transfer window and it seems if Leeds United are going to move forward and gain promotion from the Sky Bet Championship we will need to keep all our young players in the squad for next season and add more Championship quality to the squad and help us mount a promotion push.
I asked the question on facebook here is what a few people said:
Andy Brown said: "I believe it is but any successful side needs an experienced back bone too. i-e Keeper, Central defender and cunning Striker up front... Put the youth around that and you should have a good football team...."
Phil Rourke said: "Yeah of course, I've been saying it for years now the only problem is we don't hang on to them."
Liverpool fan Liam Angell said: "Youth is always the way forward, eventually you have to trust the next generation as the youth are the future and Leeds need to build solid foundations rather than waiting for some rich benefactor to come in and save them."
Andrew Clarke said: "Yeah defo, always believed In youth and Lucky we have always had a gud un."
Peter Umpleby said: "I'm glad they have been given a chance this season, mowatt and cook are outstanding so far and taylor is holding his own, i just hope we can keep hold of them in the closed season."
Anne Taylor said: "We have quite a few younger players who have proven to be invaluable in the first team & several more who are on the fringes. We had this in the early 90's & with the right mix of experienced players they went on to help us to win the league & a good few of them went on to have good careers. I think that with the same mix of experience & youth it can be the way forward. Redfern knows these young guns & he will utilise them wisely."
Karl Morgan said: "I think that killock will turn out to be a good player for us, would love to see adryan put some good form in too."
A few thing youth is the way forward but we need too keep hold of the young players such as Byram, Mowatt, Cook, Taylor, Killock, Phillips, Dawson etc.
Friday, 23 January 2015
Madrid win again to stay ahead of the pack.
Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice and Gareth Bale also got on the scoresheet as Real Madrid beat Getafe 3-0 on Sunday morning to stay one point clear of Barcelona in Liga BBVA. The game was decided in the second half of the game after a goalless first half but it was not a case of the match lacking opportunities.
Team Selection:
Getafe: Codina; Valera, Naldo, Velázquez, Alexis, Lago; Juan Rodríguez, Sammir (Álex Felip 83); Pedro León (Yoda 73), Sarabia (Hinestroza 56) and Álvaro Vázquez. Subs: Jonathan, A.Arroyo, Escudero, Valera.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo (Nacho 82), Kroos (Illarramendi 82), James, Isco (Khedira 78), Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo. Subs: Keylor Navas, Chicharito, Jesé, Álvaro Medrán.
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Getafe: Codina; Valera, Naldo, Velázquez, Alexis, Lago; Juan Rodríguez, Sammir (Álex Felip 83); Pedro León (Yoda 73), Sarabia (Hinestroza 56) and Álvaro Vázquez. Subs: Jonathan, A.Arroyo, Escudero, Valera.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo (Nacho 82), Kroos (Illarramendi 82), James, Isco (Khedira 78), Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo. Subs: Keylor Navas, Chicharito, Jesé, Álvaro Medrán.
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Match overview:
The Whites had various chances to score but failed to due to a shortage of luck and Getafe's tremendous work at the back. The latter happened one minute before the 30' of play. It was good individual play from Karim Benzema, who feinted on the back line, left the defender on the ground and crossed back in. James' free shot from the penalty spot was cleared for a corner by Lago. The last move of the first half was even clearer. Toni Kroos' shot, a free ball hit from the edge of the area with his left foot, hit the bar. The crossbar prevented Madrid from breaking the deadlock at the end of the first half but at the start of the second it was Codina who did well to keep them out the play was brilliant Isco got away from an opponent, he combined with James in the 53rd minute who passed through the defence but Benzema was unable to take advantage in the one-on-one. Four minutes later, the Colombian had the chance, but the home goalkeeper twice stopped his shots from the edge of the area.
The leaders' siege grew more intense as the minutes ticked on and it was only a question of time before the Madrid scored. And that is how it was. The goal was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, but the amazing move was created by Benzema. The French player's move in the 65' was reminiscent of the masterpiece that Butragueño left for posterity against Cádiz. Benzema got the ball as he was leaning over, he pretended to cross to get away from the first opponent, and without losing sight of the fact the Portuguese player was unmarked, he managed to keep control of the ball on the by-line in order to trick the second home defender by stepping on the ball with his right foot before assisting with his left. 1-0 RM.
Madrid had done the most difficult part, but they didn't sit back, and four minutes later they killed off the game as Bale finished off a textbook counter-attacking move following a measured James assist coming from the left wing. 2-0 RM. It wasn't the last goal from Madrid as Cristiano Ronaldo finished off the thrashing in the 79th. Once again, James provided the assist and the Portuguese player headed the ball into the net from the penalty spot. 3-0 RM. Real Madrid, who kept a clean sheet, are top of Liga BBVA with a game in hand.
Next game up for Real Madrid is against Córdoba away on Saturday kick-off 16:00 Local Time (15:00 GMT). Getafe face Celta Vigo at home on Monday kick-off 20:45 Local Time (19:45 GMT).
The leaders' siege grew more intense as the minutes ticked on and it was only a question of time before the Madrid scored. And that is how it was. The goal was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, but the amazing move was created by Benzema. The French player's move in the 65' was reminiscent of the masterpiece that Butragueño left for posterity against Cádiz. Benzema got the ball as he was leaning over, he pretended to cross to get away from the first opponent, and without losing sight of the fact the Portuguese player was unmarked, he managed to keep control of the ball on the by-line in order to trick the second home defender by stepping on the ball with his right foot before assisting with his left. 1-0 RM.
Madrid had done the most difficult part, but they didn't sit back, and four minutes later they killed off the game as Bale finished off a textbook counter-attacking move following a measured James assist coming from the left wing. 2-0 RM. It wasn't the last goal from Madrid as Cristiano Ronaldo finished off the thrashing in the 79th. Once again, James provided the assist and the Portuguese player headed the ball into the net from the penalty spot. 3-0 RM. Real Madrid, who kept a clean sheet, are top of Liga BBVA with a game in hand.
Next game up for Real Madrid is against Córdoba away on Saturday kick-off 16:00 Local Time (15:00 GMT). Getafe face Celta Vigo at home on Monday kick-off 20:45 Local Time (19:45 GMT).
Thursday, 8 January 2015
Russ Vernon on the Road: Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United
On Sunday 4th January 2015 i headed to the Stadium of Light to see Sunderland and Leeds United go head to head in the FA Cup Third Round Clash. We set off from Cross Key's Pub, Wath, Rotherham at 7.15am and arrived at Ralph Fitz Randal, Richmond at about 9am to eat breakfast ahead of the game. We left Richmond shortly after 11am and arrived at the Stadium of Light 12.36am ahead of the 1pm kick-off. Due to 5,000 Leeds fans trying to get into the Stadium i missed the first 10 minutes of the match.
Once inside the stadium and at my seat Sunderland were the looking the more likely to open the scoring and Steven Fletcher wasted a good chance to put them infront when Patrick van Aanholt's left wing cross came in the striker hit over the bar from close range.
Casper Sloth who came back into the side after not playing since November when he came off the bench v Charlton had to block a header from Santiago Vergini’s on the line. Moments after that and it was van Aanholt who opened the scoring after he drilled a ball cross the box into the bottom corner past Marco Silvestri in the United goal to give the EPL side the lead on 33 minutes. SAFC 1-0 United.
After the goal United started to see more of the ball inside the Sunderland half, but Rudy Austin just found his path blocked off inside the area following a brilliant move on the stroke of half-time.
HALF TIME: SAFC 1-0 LUFC.
Into the Second half and United almost got off to the perfect start when on loan Brazilian Adryan, found away past the Sunderland defence and saw his shot saved by the legs of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon after being played through by Mirco Antenucci. Brian Montenegro forced another good save from Pantilimon as he looked to score at the near post. United were denied a penalty when Charlie Taylor went down under the challenge of Sebastien Larsson but referee Mike Dean said the challenege was outside the box but replays showed it was inside the area.
United then started to push forward to try and get back into the game and Sunderland thought they had a second goal of the afternoon but it was disallowed for offside after Fletcher was in a offside position but he put the ball into the back of the net. Silvestri then had to make a save from Giaccherini after his low effort and he made a good save on 69 minutes to keep it at 1-0 after he had to dive low to save Fletcher's goalbounded effort with both hands, before saving from Jordi Gomez.
At the other end Montenegro was found unmarked at the back post but he blazed over the bar and Austin dragged one wide from distance, while Fletcher drilled well wide of the far post as Sunderland threatened again. Cooper hit over with 10 minutes to go as Leeds remained within a shout of earning a deserved replay. Leeds had to be alert to Sunderland's counter attacks as Cooper slid in to deny Fletcher before ex loanee Connor Wickham saw a header saved by Silvestri.
With moments remaining Liam Cooper saw a header come back of the post with Pantilimon rooted to the spot after after a brilliant cross from United midfielder Luke Murphy. That proved to be the final action of the game and United bowed out of the FA Cup with a brilliant second half display against the EPL side.
Full Time: SAFC 1-0 LUFC.
Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini, van Aanholt, Coates, O'Shea, Bridcutt, Rodwell (Larsson 37), Gomez, Alvarez (Wickham 46), Giaccherini (Johnson 74), Fletcher. Subs. Stryjek, Buckley, Beadling, Robson.
United: Silvestri, Berardi, Cooper, Del Fabro, C Taylor, Austin, Murphy, Sloth, Adryan (Sharp 62), Montenegro (Doukara 84), Antenucci. Subs. S Taylor, Killock, Thompson, Phillips, Dawson, Doukara.
Once inside the stadium and at my seat Sunderland were the looking the more likely to open the scoring and Steven Fletcher wasted a good chance to put them infront when Patrick van Aanholt's left wing cross came in the striker hit over the bar from close range.
Casper Sloth who came back into the side after not playing since November when he came off the bench v Charlton had to block a header from Santiago Vergini’s on the line. Moments after that and it was van Aanholt who opened the scoring after he drilled a ball cross the box into the bottom corner past Marco Silvestri in the United goal to give the EPL side the lead on 33 minutes. SAFC 1-0 United.
After the goal United started to see more of the ball inside the Sunderland half, but Rudy Austin just found his path blocked off inside the area following a brilliant move on the stroke of half-time.
HALF TIME: SAFC 1-0 LUFC.
Into the Second half and United almost got off to the perfect start when on loan Brazilian Adryan, found away past the Sunderland defence and saw his shot saved by the legs of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon after being played through by Mirco Antenucci. Brian Montenegro forced another good save from Pantilimon as he looked to score at the near post. United were denied a penalty when Charlie Taylor went down under the challenge of Sebastien Larsson but referee Mike Dean said the challenege was outside the box but replays showed it was inside the area.
United then started to push forward to try and get back into the game and Sunderland thought they had a second goal of the afternoon but it was disallowed for offside after Fletcher was in a offside position but he put the ball into the back of the net. Silvestri then had to make a save from Giaccherini after his low effort and he made a good save on 69 minutes to keep it at 1-0 after he had to dive low to save Fletcher's goalbounded effort with both hands, before saving from Jordi Gomez.
At the other end Montenegro was found unmarked at the back post but he blazed over the bar and Austin dragged one wide from distance, while Fletcher drilled well wide of the far post as Sunderland threatened again. Cooper hit over with 10 minutes to go as Leeds remained within a shout of earning a deserved replay. Leeds had to be alert to Sunderland's counter attacks as Cooper slid in to deny Fletcher before ex loanee Connor Wickham saw a header saved by Silvestri.
With moments remaining Liam Cooper saw a header come back of the post with Pantilimon rooted to the spot after after a brilliant cross from United midfielder Luke Murphy. That proved to be the final action of the game and United bowed out of the FA Cup with a brilliant second half display against the EPL side.
Full Time: SAFC 1-0 LUFC.
Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini, van Aanholt, Coates, O'Shea, Bridcutt, Rodwell (Larsson 37), Gomez, Alvarez (Wickham 46), Giaccherini (Johnson 74), Fletcher. Subs. Stryjek, Buckley, Beadling, Robson.
United: Silvestri, Berardi, Cooper, Del Fabro, C Taylor, Austin, Murphy, Sloth, Adryan (Sharp 62), Montenegro (Doukara 84), Antenucci. Subs. S Taylor, Killock, Thompson, Phillips, Dawson, Doukara.
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