The World Stands as One for Chapecoense
One thing football gets right is unity.
On Monday last week, a plane carrying the Brazilian team Chapecoense FC crashed over Colombia killing 71 of the 77 people on board. The majority of those killed were players, coaches and journalists.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe crash has left the world shaken and in mourning. Chapecoense, dubbed the ‘Brazilian Leicester City’ for their remarkable rise to the top of Brazilian football, were on their way to play their first Sudamerica Final against Atletico Nacional. The club had been playing in the fourth tier of Brazil in 2009. This final was supposed to be the clubs greatest moment, but has become their darkest day.
In one moment, the crash had wiped out almost the entire team.
The identity of the club gone. So many heroes, loved ones and fathers who won’t ever come home.
In devastating times like these the footballing world comes together. Football gets a lot of criticism for the behaviour of sets of fans, corruption and even what happens on the pitch.
Football gets a lot of things wrong, but one thing football gets right, is unity.
This disaster is relatable to so many. For many, their football club isn’t just a hobby but a way of life. They feel a connection to their club which is so strong. The club defines who they are. When the plane carrying the Chapecoense team came down, the hearts of thousands of fans died too.
Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty ImagesChapecoense needed the world’s support now more than ever and they got it. Within hours of the news breaking on social media, the hashtag #ForcaChape was trending.
This was a time where the footballing world had to show they were together and they did.
The clubs of South America were the first to show their support. Brazilian clubs pledged to loan players to Chapecoense for free and insisted they should not be relegated for at least three seasons. Rebuilding the club is going to be a tiring, time consuming task but this small gesture will go a long way in helping them do so.
Their opponents in the Sudamericana Final, Atletico Nacional, announced within hours of the crash they had contacted CONMEBOL and asked for Chapecoense to be given the trophy. It was announced yesterday they would be.
Embed from Getty ImagesAll of football stood together for Chapecoense across this weekend’s fixtures. All teams wore black armbands as a mark of respect.
Embed from Getty ImagesSome clubs wore black armbands with the Chapecoense badge displayed on top. This more prevalent in South America where the crash had the most traumatic effect.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was a time for clubs and fans around the world to do all they could to remember and pay tribute to all those lives taken away too early. This wasn’t just about a weekend’s show of unity, but one of lasting impact to get Chapecoense back on their feet. Days after the crash, football legends Ronaldinho, Juan Roman Riquelme and Eidur Gudjohnsen declared they would play for Chapecoense for free, for as long as they were needed. A remarkable gesture from three of football’s greatest players.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe fairy tale story for Chapecoense was cruelly brought to an end last week. The lives of so many now darker than before. So many children have lost their heroes, so many families have lost a precious son. However, with acts of unity similar to those displayed over the past week, the footballing world can help Chapecoense and hopefully they will still find their happily ever after.
Força Chape!
Is Southgate the right man for the job?
Embed from Getty ImagesGareth Southgate was appointed permanent manager of England last week after a spell of four games in charge as interim coach, where the Three Lions went unbeaten. Yet, there was still speculation on whether Southgate would take over full time.
The man in charge of appointing Southgate, FA Chief Executive, Martin Glenn said “You can see, like all of us, he has still got things to learn.” This probably explains why it took so long to make the appointment permanent and the FA have deemed this appointment, a gamble.
“I am extremely proud to be appointed England manager. However, I am also conscious getting the job done is one thing, now I want to do the job successfully,” said Southgate, after his appointment.
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter usually turning to the seasoned professionals with perhaps more glamourous CVs than Southgate’s, the FA have finally taken a chance. Southgate has the worst club managerial record in 20 years with all seven managers before him boasting greater success as a manager. He is the first manager since Steve McClaren to register more losses as a manager than wins, at club level. He did, however, win the Toulon Tournament last year but is that enough to merit the England manager position?
Embed from Getty ImagesIt looks as if the FA have backtracked on their idea of a ‘fresh start’ which led to Allardyce’s appointment back in August. With Allardyce, the FA knew what they were getting but it was new for them and for England. Allardyce and his staff were to inject new levels of professionalism, energy and national pride. Although, all of this was still lacking when England beat Slovakia in Big Sam’s only game in charge.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe FA have gone back to what they know, perhaps still embarrassed over Allardyce’s actions. Southgate is a man well on board with FA tradition. He first worked for them in 2011 before taking over the Under 21s in 2013. Southgate will not need time to settle into his surroundings that’s for sure.
The England team is full of internationals Southgate worked with and helped develop between 2013 and now. Ross Barkley, Raheem Sterling and Eric Dier; all players who Southgate spent some time managing. His existing relationship with some of England’s future stars may have swayed the FA into looking more closely at Southgate this time and more than they did before they appointed Allardyce.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat begs the question; If Southgate is the right man now, why wasn’t he four months ago?
Southgate stumbled upon the England job as the man ‘in the right place at the right time’. He had enough trust and respect from the FA already to carry the team through a four game period before a permanent successor was found.
Embed from Getty ImagesSouthgate provides The FA with the perfect balance both on and off the field. He has relationships with most of the squad, particularly the younger players, who are at a vital stage of their own development. He also understands the FA values and expectations and will certainly not appear to be disgracing the organisation. He provides the change and gamble the England fans wanted but also the stability which is more important than ever for the FA.
Looking back now, Southgate seemed like the obvious choice all along, didn’t he?
Foxes thrashed in Champions League
Premier League Champions, Leicester City, were hammered 5-0 by FC Porto on a miserable night in Portugal, for Claudio Ranieri’s men.
Embed from Getty ImagesA frustrated Ranieri said after the game that “we wanted to see something different tonight, but it was too easy for Porto. We didn’t make them fight to score.”
Ranieri made ten changes from Leicester’s defeat to Sunderland at the weekend but it made little difference. Leicester, who had already qualified as group winners, started slowly and it took the Portuguese side just six minutes to go in front. Porto striker, Andre Silva, found himself unchallenged from a corner to head past keeper Ben Hamer.
Embed from Getty ImagesLeicester’s defending left much to be desired on the night and Porto doubled their lead mid-way through the first half, when Jesus Corona found himself unmarked and volleyed home from ten yards, into the roof of the net.
It got even worse for the Foxes just before half time when more poor defending in the box, allowed Yacine Brahimi to flick home his first goal of the campaign and his side’s third of the night.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani all left at home by Ranieri, the Italian turned to Marc Albrighton and Leonardo Ulloa, who replaced Jeffrey Schlupp and Ahmed Musa, both of whom had been less than in impressive in the first half.
Leicester showed glimpses of promise at the start of the second half with Shinji Okazaki going close with a header before Demarai Gray fired over from close range.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, the Premier League Champion’s night went from bad to worse. In the 64th minute, the returning Danny Drinkwater pulled down Andre Silva in the box and the striker picked himself up, before converting the penalty to score his second of the night.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn front of 3,000 travelling fans, Leicester were a shadow of the team who won the Premier League six months ago and showed no signs of taking anything from the game.
FC Porto scored their fifth, when the Leicester defence allowed Diogo Jota to walk through the middle of their defence and slide the ball under the legs of Hamer.
It wasn’t until the 88th minute that Leicester had their first corner of the game. From the corner, substitute Ulloa hit the cross bar, which was met by sarcastic cheers from the Leicester fans who were still inside the Estadio Dragao.
Embed from Getty Images“I am sad for our fans. They deserved more. I didn’t see what I have seen in training on the pitch tonight,” said Ranieri. “I have a clearer idea about my players now. We need to focus on the Premier League and change our position.”
Leicester welcome Manchester City to The King Power on Saturday in the Premier League, hoping to register their first league win since October. The Champions will have to put tonight’s horror show behind them quickly, if they hope to turn their league form around.
5 reasons why Leicester City won’t get relegated
It has been an indifferent start to the new season for the Champions of England. The foxes breezed into the last 16 of the champions league but their league form means they are now involved in a relegation battle. Many are tipping Leicester City to be the first team to win the champions league and be relegated. Absolute madness. Here are five reasons why Leicester won’t be going anywhere just yet!
1. Champions don’t get relegated, do they?
Embed from Getty ImagesYou have to go way back to 1938 when champions of England, Manchester City, were relegated having won the title the year before. That means should Leicester do the unthinkable, they will be taking a record that has stood for 79 years. It simply doesn’t happen…in England. Across Scandinavia, it has happened 13 times. The foxes will hope the winds of change haven’t travelled across the North Sea to the Midlands.
2. They have the 7th and 8th best players IN THE WORLD
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s true. Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy were voted the seventh and eighth best players in the world earlier this week. They sat in between Gareth Bale and Pepe. Mahrez was also named ‘African Footballer of the Year’ earlier the same day, not a bad week for the Algerian. They can’t be relegated with those two heading the attack, can they?
3. Claudio Ranieri is in charge
Embed from Getty ImagesDilly Ding Dilly Dong! Claudio Ranieri has managed 15 teams domestically in his long and illustrious career. How many times has the Italian been relegated? Zero. Ranieri is an experienced manager who led Leicester to their first ever league title. The Italian recently conceded his team are in a relegation battle but don’t for one minute believe he thinks they will be there for long.
4. They have Buddhist monks on their side don’t forget
Embed from Getty ImagesThe pre-match blessing of monks flown over by the club’s owners from the Wat Traimit Withayaram Woraviharn Temple, in Bangkok, contributed to Leicester’s unlikely title triumph last season (so they say). The owners believe the monks spread good karma and spiritual wellbeing into the players and, after last season, who is to doubt them. Well, the monks are still there. Around ten monks are flown into Leicester before each home game and with their help, the Leicester players will find the right path.
5. This is all part of the plan, it’ll make the film even better!
Embed from Getty ImagesThis will be a Hollywood Movie one day, take my word for it! The plucky underdog who defied all odds in the ‘Great Escape’ season and dragged themselves from the depths of despair. The same players then fought against the moneybags and the power to win the league by ten points. They then took themselves into Europe and conquered the European forces in front of them whist falling to their domestic enemies. This has got ‘box office’ written all over it. Get DiCaprio on the phone, we start shooting tomorrow!
Who would be an editor?
Anger. Frustration. Pure hatred at times. These are just some of the feelings I have found simmering beneath the skin, having played editor in chief for a newly set up sports website, this past month.
What I can say in confidence is that I have learned A LOT!
I have learned new skills, new levels of organisation I didn’t even know existed and most importantly I have learned, a great deal, about people.
I found myself volunteering to take a lead role in the running of the website. I consciously raised my hand when asked if anyone would be interested in doing so. What was I thinking? It seemed like a great idea at the time. No doubt when all my current assignments are done and I look back, I will be glad I did this but right now, and for the past month, I’ve wanted to run for the hills.
With deadlines hitting me from all angles and countless new series on Netflix to be watched, I found myself lost for time. Did you know, there are simply not enough hours in the day? I’ve grown up listening to my dad tell me that. He’s right you know!
The term ‘deadline’ doesn’t have as much meaning to some as it does to me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve read and edited some fantastic work over the past month, some absolute delights to read. Some other work needed a little more TLC, but I was happy to spend that extra five minutes because the work had met THE DEADLINE!
I only presume out there in the ‘real world’ if someone is missing deadlines then they’re missing from the office in the future. They’ve been sacked probably or put on tea duty. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t do that and I even had to make my own tea.
I’m probably being a little over the top and I do apologise, it has been a long semester.
Have I enjoyed being editor in chief? Yes. To be honest, have I enjoyed being in control is probably a more fitting question? Absolutely.
I’ve read some brilliant work and on the most part, found myself enjoying what I was reading and enjoyed putting this whole show together. I’d love to have the opportunity to do it again in the future and if I was asked to continue doing this over semester two, would I? Yes I would…if the pay cheque was fruitful!
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