What Does The Future Hold?

As a West Ham fan, I'm used to seeing good football. Maybe not successful football, but certainly good football. Many of you will of course be saying that there is no "West Ham way" to play football, but have a look at the video below, and tell me that those goals aren't 100x better than what has been on display at Upton Park this season. I'm now willing to go on record publicly saying that I hope that Sam Allardyce either leaves, or is sacked, at the end of the season, or at the very least by the start of next season.  

It's all well and good Big Sam saying that he's not worried about what the fans think, but at some point he'll have to open his eyes to the fact that the football he is sending the players out to play is both ugly, and unsuccessful.

Let's now compare West Ham in the Premier League this season, with the West Ham team managed by Avram Grant in 2010/11.  Sam's 28% win rate is higher than Grant's, but his loss rate of 53% (19 out of 36 games) is higher than Grant's number, standing at 50% (19 out of 38). With West Ham still to play Tottenham and Man City, I can't see that percentage decreasing. Equally, Grant's West Ham scored more goals (43 in 38) than Sam's Hammers currently have (38 in 36), and I can't see that number increasing by a great deal, if, at this rate, any.

Allardyce has repeatedly said that he doesn't care for the fans' protests towards both the results being produced, and the style of football being played. However, here was his view on the sacking of Gary Megson's reign at Bolton Wanderers, one of Sam's former clubs: "Unfortunately for Gary, the fans wouldn't quite take to him and they always felt there was something they disagreed with, no matter what he seemed to do...if your fans decide they don't like you, then you've got very little chance of keeping your job, no matter how good you are." After fans at the West Bromwich Albion game on Saturday unveiled the banner shown (right), and having been asking Chairman David Gold on Twitter about the future of the 13th highest paid manager in the world, you have to wonder how long Allardyce has left at the Boleyn Ground.

By bringing in a new manager, the two Davids would be showing a willingness to change the mentality of a West Ham fanbase who are, at the moment, demoralised with the approach taken by manager Allardyce. His tactic of playing 1 up front, and refusing to budge from that tactic, even when 1 or 2 goals down. His recent decisions to replace both wingers, who are key to the current West Ham style of play, has not gone down well with fans. Considering that Carlton Cole often comes on, and Kevin Nolan has been less than effective, Allardyce could do with taking off Nolan and possibly one of Diamé or Noble, rather than persisting with no wingers when a couple of goals down.

 To see someone more expansive at the club, such as Malky Mackay or Slaven Bilic (themselves both former Hammers), or even fan favourite Paolo DiCanio, would be a welcome replacement. Although I think that DiCanio would be a disaster, it would be a real boost to the fans. From my perspective, he seems better suited to an Assistant Manager's role, used as a motivator for the players. That is unlikely, but any man who is willing to come in to a team that is fairly strong to be set up in many ways is likely to shake things up, make the squad younger and introduce a new philosophy, more akin to that of the West Ham of old.

Personally, I wouldn't be averse to saying goodbye to Sam, whatever the cost. His style of play doesn't fit West Ham as a club, and his attitude towards the fans is wearing thin. He still refers back to the fact that he kept the team in the Premier League last season, as well as the run that he had in February which saw him win the Manager of the Month award. For me, though, it's got to be "Goodbye Sam", as his philosophy simply doesn't stand up to the style of play that West Ham fans are used to, as well as the fact that opposition teams are finding it easier to stop a squad with seemingly only one way of finding the back of the net.

NFL Terminology: Offense

One of my real passions in life is American Football, and as I'm sure you've all noticed, I'm trying to force it on a somewhat reluctant British audience. As such, I'm going to try and make things easier for everyone by explaining all the positions and phrases that I've used and will be using. This article will focus on everything on the offensive side of the ball, as well as the general setup of the NFL, and the teams in it.

General Setup:

The National Football League is made up of 32 teams. Those 32 teams are split into two conferences of 16, and each conference contains 4 divisions of 4 teams. So to summarise; Division<Conference<League. 

NFL -> AFC/NFC (Conference) -> North/South/East/West (Division)

Each team plays 16 games. These games consist of home and away games against the other 3 teams in the same division, games against all 4 teams from one division in each conference, as well as playing the two teams in the same conference who finished in the same place in their division the previous season.

As an example, let's look at the Ravens: They will play the AFC North (their own division), the AFC South and NFC South, as well as the Chargers and Dolphins (3rd place in the AFC West and East respectively).

Points go to anyone who knows whose hand this is...

At the end of those 16 games, played over 17 weeks (every team gets a "bye week", which is essentially a week off), the playoffs are decided. Each conference is represented by 6 teams in the playoffs. These teams play in a knockout-style competition to decide the two participants of the Superbowl. In essence, the Superbowl is the winner of the NFC against the winner of the AFC.

Everyone still with me? Still awake?

Right, let's get into the real stuff. You may need to read this in a couple of sittings, I realise, but I'm on a roll right now.

Offensive Terminology

This is the bit where I tell you what everything means, not the bit where I write down swear words and explain them. That's not big, and it's not clever, as my mum would say.

He's worth $120m. Yes, really.

Quarterback/QB: The main man. The guy who throws the ball, and generally decides what goes on. It's his job to work out what the defense is doing and counter it in a way that will most benefit his team, before making sure everyone executes properly. Generally speaking, they're the best paid players on the team, earning on average about $4m per year. Although if you're really good, your team could hook you up with $20m+ per year over 5 or 6 years...

It may not look it, but he's off to the races!

Running Back/RB: These guys are pure muscle, more or less. Their job is to take the ball from the QB and run. That's their job in Layman's terms. A more in-depth analysis of their career reveals that these guys take an absolute pounding every Sunday. Star RB's will generally carry the ball 20-25 times a game, and get absolutely drilled by a 300lb defensive player more often than not. They're aided by their Offensive Line, which we will come to in a minute. If they can find a hole to run through, though, you'd better get your skates on. These boys have got wheels.

As I said, crazy athletes.

Wide Receiver/WR: A QB's best friend, wide receivers are the glory boys of the NFL. They're the ones you see running 50 yards without the ball, having it drop over their shoulder into their waiting hands, and then celebrate like they're the ones doing all the hard graft. But seriously, these guys are insanely talented athletes. Wide receivers are normally on the field in groups of between 2 and 4, offering the QB different options to throw to.

The majority have hands larger than your average dinner plate, and can run the 100m in about 11 seconds. Not only that, but some of them run across the middle of the field to receive passes and get poleaxed by men about twice their size, before getting up and brushing it off like it was nothing. Suarez has a lot to learn, go grab him some pads!

Look at the size of him!

Tight End/TE: These guys are part wide receiver, part offensive lineman, but they're 100% massive, and usually the missing link between us and apes. Tight ends come in different packages. Some catch more than others. Some block quite a lot. Some do both quite well. Others don't really do much at all. Increasingly in the NFL, they're used to catch passes because they are absolute physical freaks. They're not much slower than WRs, but they carry about 40-70 extra pounds. Capable of making insane catches and taking monster hits, these guys are a force to be reckoned with, and it takes quite a lot to stop them. Blocking tight ends are used to open up more holes for the RB to run through, and they can typically make their way downfield to make another block if nobody gets to the running back. In short, don't mess with them.

I'm sure they're lovely, but LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THEM!

Offensive Linemen/OL: These guys are behemoths. Like, genuine monsters. Their entire job is to stop people touching the QB, and push people in various directions so that the RB can run by them and score multiple touchdowns. There are 5 positions on the offensive line, Left Tackle (LT), Left Guard (LG), Center (C), Right Guard (RG), and Right Tackle (RT). Inventive, I know. Tackles need to be nimble on their feet for men who weigh over 300lbs, because they need to stop all the fast guys on the defense hitting the QB or RB. Left tackle is often considered the most important position on a team because he protects the side that right-handed QBs can't see, thus protecting his "Blind Side" (like the film, but Michael Oher was actually a RT, and not a very good one at that). Centers and guards stop the defenses big boys coming up the middle, and as a result are normally slightly stouter, but stronger than their tackle counterparts. The center is also responsible for giving the ball to the QB to start the play. It all looks very confusing on the O-Line once the ball has been "snapped", but theres a method to the madness, I promise. I'll explain all that another time, though, cos most of my essays aren't even this long...

Anyway, hope this has cleared up a few things about the NFL and how it works, as well as who is on offense. Next time (Hopefully tomorrow) I'll do the defense, and maybe Special Teams as well. And no, Special Teams isn't what you're thinking. Get your mind out of the gutter.

AFC North Preview

Baltimore Ravens


Key Player:

Joe Flacco. If the $120m man can click with new receiving options Owen Daniels and Steve Smith, Sr., the Ravens have the potential to be a potent threat throughout the NFL this year. This also relies on Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce getting back to their form of 2012, but word coming out of Maryland is that the two of them have lost weight and regained the speed and mobility that made them a fearsome 1-2 punch in the Superbowl winning season.

Best Free Agent Signing:

Whilst the signings of Smith, Daniels, and C Jeremy Zuttah were impressive, Ozzie Newsome worked his front office magic again this offseason by retaining studs like TE Dennis Pitta and LT Eugene Monroe. Monroe has established himself as a top 10 left tackle in the NFL, while Pitta, coming off the back of a dislocated hip injury in July 2013, has the chance to develop from Joe Flacco's favourite target, into one of the best tight ends in football.

Season Prediction: 

Obviously it's very hard to predict anything in the NFL, especially before the Draft on May 3rd, but considering the rebuilding job the Ravens have done, I can see them winning a minimum of 9 games, serious injuries permitting, and probably returning to the playoffs.

Final Prediciton: 10-6

Cincinnati Bengals

Key Player:

AJ Green. Having established himself as one of the elite wide receivers in the NFL in his first 3 seasons, Green has a huge role to play in a Bengals offense searching for their second consecutive AFC North title. Andy Dalton is a decent quarterback, but certainly isn't one of the best, and he often relies on Green to go and get catches, rather than just delivering them to him, so it will be interesting to see how defenses line up to combat Green. I envisage Green coming up with well over 1,200 receiving yards and at least 8 TDs to help the Bengals push for another division title.

Best Free Agent Signing: 

Having been relatively quiet in free agency, with few holes that need filling, the Benglas re-signing of Taylor Mays is probably the one that fits the title of this bit best. Mays, a second round pick for the 49ers in 2010, has become a starter on a Bengals defense that regularly makes life hard for the opposition. His range and speed across the field make him a good weapon to have at the free safety position, and one who will be a key part of this Bengals team for this season and those to come.

Season Prediction:

If they can tighten up in areas of need through the draft, then despite a tough schedule, the Bengals should be capable of at least 10 wins, and maybe even an elusive playoff victory.

Final Prediction: 10-6

Pittsburgh Steelers

Key Player:

Ben Roethlisberger. As ever, everything good that goes through the Steel City, goes through Big Ben. With his ability to extend plays with his feet, receivers have time to get open. Couple this with his ability to come
up big in the important games and play through injury and you've got yourself a borderline elite quarterback.

Best Free Agent Signing:

LeGarrette Blount. Bringing Blount in from New England not only takes away a dangerous runner from the Patriots, but adds a bruising between-the-tackles man to a Steelers run attack that already boasts Le'Veon Bell. These two will wear teams down throughout the season, and will most likely be splitting carries 70/30 in Bell's favour. Blount is a good back who is capable of barrelling through tackles and breaking off big runs, a very good signing.





Season Prediction:
The major problem for the Steelers in recent years has been their ageing defense. If they look to get younger through the draft, as well as filling some gaps along the offensive line, they could well end up challenging for the AFC North title once again. Early trips to Baltimore and Carolina will shape their season, and it will be make or break in weeks 14-17 as they play Cincinnati twice, as well as Kansas City.
Final Prediction: 9-7


Cleveland Browns

Key Player:
Josh Gordon. Poor Josh Gordon. He has the potential to be a really, really good receiver for the Browns, but last season he had Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell throwing to him a lot of the time. If the Browns draft wisely and take a QB with either of their first rounders, we could see Gordon really explode, especially
if they also go and get someone to support him on the other side of the field. This kid could go far, if given the opportunity.

Best Free Agent Signing:
Whilst it was imperative that Alex Mack stayed to anchor the Cleveland O-Line, the addition of Ben Tate to the backfield gives the Browns a fighting chance in a number of close games this season. By having a man like Tate, Cleveland will be able to grind teams down in the trenches and open up the game for their new QB and their receivers to make big plays on the outside.

Season Prediction;
The Browns are still in a rebuilding stage as they overhauled their coaching and backroom staff at the end of last season, as well as having traded away Trent Richardson, who never amounted to what he should have done. If the Browns can become stabilised and find a coaching setup that fits, they could become competitive within a few years. This year, though, they're going to struggle.
Final Prediction: 5-11

A Rivalry Resumes

When Bayern Munich and Real Madrid face each other on Wednesay at the Allianz Arena, a great European rivalry will be re-ignited. Having last met at the same stage of the competition last year, this will be the 6th time that the two have faced each other in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The incident shown below occurred in 1987 at the Olympiastadion in Munich, as Bayern ran out 4-1 winners in the first leg. They went on to qualify for the final, where they lost to Porto. Clearly this tie is likely to be spicy, with much at stake for both sides. Hopefully nothing like this happens, but with Pepe and Ramos going up against Ribery, anything goes.

The game will most likely be a tight affair in the first leg, with maybe only a couple of goals. However, the game at the Santiago Bernabeau will probably be more expansive and attacking.

I expect Real Madrid to be able to break Bayern down, however it will be a case of keeping it tight at the back, as Marcelo and Coentrao, as well as Dani Carvajal, all like to push forward. It will be key, then, for Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric to patrol the space in front of Pepe and Ramos to ensure that any attacks are thwarted before they can reach Robben or Ribery.

From a Munich perspective, the key will be to get the ball to the two dangermen, Robben and Ribery, early, in the hope that they can exploit the gaps left by the Real full-backs. Mandzukic will likely be cutting a lonely figure up front, as he is shadowed across the pitch by the defence, however, driving runs from central midfielders will give him some free space to attack in behind.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 1-1 Real Madrid

Palace March Past Lucklustre Hammers

Crystal Palace today extended their winning run in the Premier League to 5 games with a 1-0 victory at Upton Park. Before kick-off, there was a sombre atmosphere around the ground after the news broke on Friday of the tragic death of 20-year old Hammer and Australia U-21 international Dylan Tombides. Many around The Boleyn Ground would have been hoping for an attacking performance that Tombides would have been proud of, but Palace had other plans.

West Ham started the livelier in the first 10 minutes, but the Eagles started to grow into the game with a number of chances from corners, in particular a good downward header from Dikgacoi which had to be cleared off the line by Carroll, who was influential at both ends, forcing a great point blank save from Julian Speroni just before half time.

Both sides had good claims for a penalty turned down, as Palace felt Nolan had handled, and Eagles captain Jedinak bundled Carroll over at the other end. Both teams seemed to make a good point, and potentially at least one penalty should have been given. With the teams going in deadlocked at half-time, the game was well poised, and the crowd knew that one goal would likely change the game.

Coming out for the second half, Palace looked galvanised by Pulis' team talk, and started brightly, as McCartney was cautioned for bringing down Bolasie as he bared down on goal. Andy Carroll had a couple of clear chances inside the box, one of which was dragged wide, and the other which was blocked well by Damien Delaney, a member of a hard-to-break-down defensive unit which has been the basis for Palace's good form of late.


Jason Puncheon, a man in form if ever there was one, had a penalty shout turned down by Martin Atkinson after knocking the ball past Pablo Armero, and barely two minutes later, the West Ham full-back was guilty of an unnecessary foul inside the area on Cameron Jerome. The penalty was duly dispatched by Mile Jedinak, sending the travelling fans into raptures. Thereafter, West Ham were chasing the game, and it showed, as Allardyce brought off Jarvis and Downing for the two Coles, therefore forcing the team to play long balls, as opposed to trying the break the defence down out wide and swinging in crosses.

Palace's defence found this approach very easy to combat and their attack prospered, with a number of chances falling to Jerome, Puncheon and Bolasie, before the three attackers were brought of in favour of more defensive-minded players. Joe Cole had a couple of good chances late on, but failed to capitalise on them, with Eagles defenders throwing themselves in front of everything coming into the box.

Towards the end of the game, Hammers fans were flooding out of the gates in their droves. When the final whistle came, Allardyce was met with boos from the crowd and quickly disappeared down the tunnel, unsurprising, considering his team are now without a clean sheet in 9 games. In all, a disappointing performance from an uninspired West Ham team who clearly can't wait for the end of the season, but an impressive defensive display from a Palace team going from strength to strength.

That said, however disappointing or impressive the performance of each of the teams, we must not forget that some things in life are more important than football. In memory of Dylan Tombides, please consider donating, to try and combat all kinds of cancer at http://www.onefortheboys.com/














RIP Dylan Tombides 
8/3/1994-18/4/2014

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to my first ever blog, and therefore my first ever blog post!

I'm Calum, a second year Modern Languages with Business student at The University of Nottingham. For a long time now I've wanted a blog to talk about anything and everything to do with sport, but it's only since getting involved with the radio team at university that my passion has really been ignited and I've been able to further my knowledge of football both in Britain and the United States. These two sports will be the focus for the majority of this blog. The plan is to update it once or twice a week with news, reports and things like that.

I know what some of you might be thinking: "But Calum, it's April. What could you possibly write about in April?!" Well, the Premier League and Football Leagues are at the "business end" of the season, and in the NFL, the draft lies less than a month away, and then it's all out for preseason, so there's lots to be looking forward to.

For those people who don't like American Football, I hope you find something educational in them that may inspire you to take an interest. For those of you who don't like football, the same applies. For those of you who don't like either sport, I hope my writing style will entertain you; I've been told I write good FIFA Apology Letters so that's a start.

Hope you stay and enjoy, and I look forward to hearing any feedback you have!