Author: Tim Etheridge

Big fan of sports, Star Wars and the Schmoedown. Follow Eyes on the Ball for sports and Schmoedown thoughts and The Canon Padawan for Star Wars talk

On the Move?

On the Move?

The Premier League season is over and for Southampton, Leeds United and Leicester City, the adventure of top flight football has come to an end. But that may not be the case for all of their players. For while the clubs may not have performed well enough to stay up, that does not mean that they do not have individuals whose talents deserve to be playing in the top division, who will often be easy targets for top flight teams now that they have fallen down to the Championship.

So today, I look at a handful of relegated players who could find themselves making an immediate return to the Premier League, along with suggestions of teams who may benefit from their arrival.

Leicester City

James Maddison

Let’s be honest, James Maddison should have a lot more caps to his name and should be competing for silverware every season. A move to Liverpool or Tottenham would be a major upgrade for either team (and may help convince Harry Kane to stay at Spurs). However Newcastle could be a dark horse here as they will surely be looking to upgrade their squad after securing Champions League football.

Harvey Barnes

A regular in the left wing position for Leicester, Barnes has retained his consistency despite the team’s failings this season, hitting double figures for goals for the third year in a row. Would be a major upgrade for Aston Villa as they look to add options with European football confirmed, while he would also add good depth at Spurs or Newcastle (especially considering Allan Saint-Maximin struggles to stay fit and Anthony Gordon is still young and adapting to a new team). For me, I think whichever team picks up Maddison should try to get Barnes as well, such is their connection after playing together regularly for the Foxes.

Youri Tielemans

One man who is definitely gone from Leicester as his contract has ended and he is understandably not signing a new one. The question now is just about who will sign him. And honestly, there should be quite a few Premier League teams interested in his signature. While Newcastle and Aston Villa would both benefit from an experienced international midfielder as they prepare for European football, such is Tielemans’ quality that Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United could all find themselves joining the race to sign him as they look to upgrade their midfields to compete in an even more competitive league.

Kelechi Iheanacho

A bit more of a long shot here, as his goal tally has not been overly impressive in the last 2 seasons. However his 2019/20 and 2020/2 campaigns (10 goals in 26 games and 19 goals in 39 games respectively) suggests that the quality is there with the right players around him, while his entire senior career has been spent in the Premier League. The league is so tight these days that a team in the bottom half of the table could look to bring him in in the hopes that his goals help keep them up. Recently names Leicester’s Player of the Season, he could prove attractive for one of the promoted teams looking to add a goal scorer with Premier League experience, but would also be an upgrade on Neal Maupay as back-up to the often-injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin, similarly could provide a solid option at Bournemouth after Kieffer Moore’s struggles to impose himself.

Leeds United

Rodrigo

The one real stand-out player for Leeds, Rodrigo stepped up this season with 15 goals in 35 appearances, and was clearly missed whenever he wasn’t on the pitch. Able to play as a striker or in a wider position, he would provide a dynamic and experienced option for Aston Villa to play either as back-up to Ollie Watkins or alongside him in a 3-man front, while Spurs may also see him as a cheap option to add some depth up front as they begin their rebuild.

Southampton

Honestly, I think that Southampton are actually in a relatively promising position, as they have a number of talented youngsters (including but not limited to Gavin Bazunu, Séjou Mara, Armel Bella-Kotchap and Roméo Lavia) with the potential to be stars, who probably found themselves playing Premier League football a little too early in their careers, so will benefit from a year or 2 fighting their way back up to the top flight via the Championship. Similarly, Tino Livramento’s long-term injury means that he will probably benefit from returning in the Championship to get back into playing regular competitive football.

James Ward-Prowse

One player who has certainly done his time and earned a move away from St Mary’s Stadium is captain James Ward-Prowse. Was offered a professional contract at the same time as Luke Shaw and Callum Chambers, but while they got their moves to big clubs, he remained that consistent presence in the Saints midfield. Arguably one of the best free kick takers in the world, his goal tallies have improved in recent years and it’s about time that he was given a shot at Europe for the first time since the 2016/17 season. It feels like any of the surprise European qualifiers (Villa, Newcastle or Brighton) would benefit from an experienced midfielder who will not just add depth to their squad but also give them another real weapon when given a free kick in the final third of the pitch.

Jan Bednarek

Similar to Iheanacho but at the other end of the pitch, Bednarek may not stand out like many of the names on this list, but he brings 6 years of Premier League experience and, at 27, should theoretically just be entering his prime. And as such, he could prove attractive if teams can pick him up on the cheap. Having decided to not make Conor Coady’s loan permanent, could Everton look to bring him in to increase their depth? Meanwhile, he could also be an option for any of the promoted teams looking for a bit more Premier League experience at the heart of their defence.

Carlos Alcaraz

Now personally, I think that at 20 years old and having only arrived from Argentina in January, Alcaraz falls into the category I mentioned earlier of talented youngsters who would benefit from a year in the Championship. However, he certainly looked to perform better than many of the other youngsters and put in some impressive performances both as an attacking midfielder and sometimes even further forward. He feels like the type of player that a team in the middle/bottom of the table could take a chance on to help provide the goals that will guarantee safety. But I could also imagine him going to a slightly higher club as Newcastle/Villa look to improve their depth ahead of European campaigns, while Spurs may choose to look at him as a cheaper/younger alternative to James Maddison as they start a potential rebuild under whatever manager they hire, or I could even envision Brighton bringing him in to replace the outgoing Alexis Mac Allister.

feat football prem league logo pink

Who do you think will be making their way straight back to the Premiership, and where do you see them ending up?

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You can find all the details on my announcement.

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What next for Arsenal?

What next for Arsenal?

We have reached the end of another Premiership season, and once again it is the blue side of Manchester that finds itself celebrating a title victory. Meanwhile in North London, Arsenal fans, players and staff will be left wondering what might have been, as having led the league for most of the season, a series of poor results allowed City to catch up and overtake them down the home stretch.

But is it really all doom and gloom for the Gunners? Mikel Arteta just found himself competing for the title with the youngest squad in the league, while of the main squad, only former City players Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus having experience of winning a Premier League title race, and even they had usually been playing more of a support role than stars of the starting XI. Even Arteta is still rather inexperienced, having only taken the lead role at Arsenal in December 2019 (named head coach, with his role expanding to manager in September 2020). While this loss will hurt, the squad will have learned so much, which will benefit them in the coming seasons. And while you would expect some of their rivals to be better next season, that extra year of experience should also be huge for the Gunners.

Of course, this painful end to the season has also highlighted a need to improve the depth of the squad, what is important is to find players who will complement the squad:

  • Probably most notable from the end of he season is the need for at least 1 more centreback to be brought in, as the Gunners were clearly hurt at the back by the loss of William Saliba. I can’t help but feel that Arteta should be looking to Italy here, where if Roma fail to reach the Champions League it would perhaps provide an opportunity to lure Chris Smalling back to England, which would also provide them a far more experienced player who is already used to the Premier League and has experience of fighting for (and winning) the title.
  • Similarly, you could argue that more options are required in the fullback positions, as a new right back would free up Ben White to potentially move back inside, while a lack of minutes this season will likely see Kieran Tierney look to move on.
  • While signing Jorginho in January brought a bit more depth to the midfield, Arsenal arguably need more options here, especially in the deeper position where Thomas Partey operates, as there was no real option available as his form disappeared towards the end of the season, while he could also miss time through the African Cup of Nations. Luckily, there are a couple of big names who may be available to move from other Premier League clubs, as Rúben Neves has expressed his desire to play Champions League football, while Declan Rice could potentially be available if he decides to leave West Ham, and Kalvin Phillips could even become an option should City decide to sell him after a successful move to midfield from John Stones.
  • Finally, like Manchester City a season ago, Arsenal need to look at adding another option up front in the form of an out-and-out central striker. We have seen the impact that Erling Haaland has had on City this season, providing a focal point in the box while also still retaining the quality of technical attack that we have come to expect of them. Of course, not everyone can get an Erling Haaland, and the obvious big name who may be available—Harry Kane—is highly unlikely to join having been a Spurs fan all of his life, while Ivan Toney’s ban probably rules him out this summer. However, Roma again feels like a potential place to look for the answer as the promise of Champions League football and also the lure of a potential England recall could tempt Tammy Abraham to the Emirates, while boyhood Arsenal fan Ollie Watkins may also be available, especially if Aston Villa just miss out on Europe.

While this will hurt in the short-term, as long as Arsenal learn the right things from this season and make smart moves in the transfer market, Arsenal have every chance of competing for the title again next season, even if we see a resurgence from Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs and continued improvement from Manchester United, Brighton, Newcastle and Villa. Only time will tell. But it feels like some silverware and a title challenge is a must.

Movember_Partner Badges_Proud Mo Grower_BlackThis year, I’m doing Movember a little different with my Movember Marathon.

You can find all the details on my announcement.

Visit my JustGiving page for updates or if you would like to donate.

Help me to change the face of men’s health!

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Top 5: Fullbacks

Top 5: Fullbacks

Welcome back to my “Top 5” rugby series. This 13-article series has been inspired by countless conversations among friends or other fans over the years and will see me selecting my top 5 men’s rugby players who are currently playing at each position.

With all of these lists, I am picking who I feel are the best 5 at each position, so there may be some surprises in there as I select the players who I feel are most appropriate to the position despite there being multiple ways to play many positions. I try to watch rugby from a broad range of leagues as well as plenty (or too much, depending how you ask) of Test matches, but I appreciate that I still have some blind spots, while a list like this is subjective; so while the majority of each article will be my list, I also set my good friend and occasional collaborator Phil the challenge to select his top 5, which I will include below. I’d also love to hear your picks, so go ahead and post them in the comments!

And so, we reach the end today and conclude this series with a look at fullback.

Top 5

Santiago Carreras

Currently the starting 10 for the Pumas and has spent much of the latter half of the season playing their for Gloucester too, but to me, Santi Carreras is so much better at 15. Has the intangibles to play across the back line, with a great range of passes and kicks (though he may overhit the odd kick), incredible footwork and enough pace to hold his own on the wing, while from a defensive standpoint, he is one of the best around under the high ball and a solid and reliable tackler.

Will Jordan

One of the silver linings from the dark cloud on All Blacks history that is the Ian Foster era, Jordan is one of the most exciting attacking fullbacks in the game. With the pace to also cover on the wing, he is solid under the high ball, an has great footwork to beat his man, while always appearing to pick the right line to break through the defense, or constantly on the shoulder to finish off the break.

Cheslin Kolbe

Gets the nod over Willie Le Roux, but Kolbe’s ability to also cover wing means I would look to get both of them in my team if possible. Kolbe is almost impossible to put down, with a great blend of pace and footwork making it near-impossible to get hold of him and then an incredible strength and leg drive making it hard to get him down if you do grab him. And with all that focus on how hard it is to tackle him, what then gets overlooked is his range of distribution that makes him capable of playing fly half.

Freddie Steward

One of the new young stars of English rugby. Steward is a big-bodied 15 who excels under the high ball, combining his height with an impressive vertical leap. Meanwhile, he picks his time and spots to come forward in attack, having great success in and around the 13 channel, using his pace and size to create a good momentum to put the team on the front foot or even go over for the try himself.

Hugo Keenan

And last but not least, a player who makes the list simply from reliably doing the basics right 99.9% of the time. Has good al-round attributes in attack and knows how to pick his moment to hit a deadly line, but it is hs defensive game that really sets him apart, as he always seems to be in just the right place to deal with whatever kick the opposition send into the backfield, including being super reliable in the air, while this reliability also continues to being in the right place to make a crucial tackle too.

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Phil’s top 5: Will Jordan, Hugo Keenan, Liam Williams, Kotaro Matsushima, Santiago Carreras

Who makes your top 5?

Movember_Partner Badges_Proud Mo Grower_BlackThis year, I’m doing Movember a little different with my Movember Marathon.

You can find all the details on my announcement.

Visit my JustGiving page for updates or if you would like to donate.

Help me to change the face of men’s health!

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Top 5: Wings

Top 5: Wings

Welcome back to my “Top 5” rugby series. This 13-article series has been inspired by countless conversations among friends or other fans over the years and will see me selecting my top 5 men’s rugby players who are currently playing at each position.

With all of these lists, I am picking who I feel are the best 5 at each position, so there may be some surprises in there as I select the players who I feel are most appropriate to the position despite there being multiple ways to play many positions. I try to watch rugby from a broad range of leagues as well as plenty (or too much, depending how you ask) of Test matches, but I appreciate that I still have some blind spots, while a list like this is subjective; so while the majority of each article will be my list, I also set my good friend and occasional collaborator Phil the challenge to select his top 5, which I will include below. I’d also love to hear your picks, so go ahead and post them in the comments!

And so, let’s continue down the back line and look at the wings.

Top 5

Damian Penaud

The son of former France stand-off Alain Penaud, the Bordeaux-bound wing has already done enough by the age of 26 to have become a French rugby legend in his own right. With a great blend of pace and power, the wing is able to make or finish a break, and make it look oh so simple. Already sits joint-5ᵗʰ alongside Philippe Bernat-Salles and Émile Ntamack in France’s all-time try scoring charts with 26, and it is highly possible that by this time next year he will have surpassed Serge Blanco’s record of 3 tries in just over half as many Tests.

Makazole Mapimpi

Perhaps one of the more underrated wings in Test rugby. A regular try scorer in open, attacking teams, playing for a much more defensive South African team has highlighted his full quality. While he still utilises his pace and power to take the chances he is given to score, he also uses these same attributes to shut down attacks down his wing. But more than that, he has an engine and selflessness, being willing to spend matches constantly chasing up box kicks and taking the catcher as soon as they have the ball, allowing his team to dominate the territory game, while he is also more than capable to compete in the air when he gets there in time.

Duhan van der Merwe

A player who jus seems to be getting better and better, van der Merwe may not be the best defensively, but more than makes up for this with his attacking prowess. A giant on the pitch, he utilises his size and strength to dominate most of his fellow wings (while also coming inside as a crash ball option to help put the team on the front foot), but he also has an eye for a gap and the pace to take advantage of any space he is given. A key part of Scotland’s World Cup hopes.

Marika Koroibete

While the performances of the Australia national team have been consistently inconsistent over recent years, Koroibete is one of a handful of players whose performances always seem to reach at least an 8/10. Combines pace, power and incredible footwork to consistently beat defences, while he frequently makes key interventions in defence  to turn the tide of matches in his team’s favour.

Rieko Ioane

A player who has spent much of this cycle playing outside centre, Ioane still reaches another level on the wing. His pace is a nightmare for defenders to deal with, and he backs this up with surprising strength, which makes him a matchup nightmare for opposition wings. Scoring tries at a rate of just over 1 every 2 games, which has slowed down a little in recent years as Ian Foster did his best to ruin the All Blacks, but at 26 years old, he still has plenty of time to climb the try scoring charts.

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Phil’s top 5: Makazole Mapimpi, Duhan van der Merwe, Cheslin Kolbe, Keith Earls, Santiago Cordero

Who makes your top 5?

Movember_Partner Badges_Proud Mo Grower_BlackThis year, I’m doing Movember a little different with my Movember Marathon.

You can find all the details on my announcement.

Visit my JustGiving page for updates or if you would like to donate.

Help me to change the face of men’s health!

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Top 5: Outside Centres

Top 5: Outside Centres

Welcome back to my “Top 5” rugby series. This 13-article series has been inspired by countless conversations among friends or other fans over the years and will see me selecting my top 5 men’s rugby players who are currently playing at each position.

With all of these lists, I am picking who I feel are the best 5 at each position, so there may be some surprises in there as I select the players who I feel are most appropriate to the position despite there being multiple ways to play many positions. I try to watch rugby from a broad range of leagues as well as plenty (or too much, depending how you ask) of Test matches, but I appreciate that I still have some blind spots, while a list like this is subjective; so while the majority of each article will be my list, I also set my good friend and occasional collaborator Phil the challenge to select his top 5, which I will include below. I’d also love to hear your picks, so go ahead and post them in the comments!

And so, let’s continue down the back line and look at the outside centres.

Top 5

Lukhanyo Am

A few years ago he was regarded as one of the best defensive 13s in the world… then the best defensive 13 in the world… then the best 13 in the world…now he is probably competing with Antoine Dupont to be called the best in the world. Always appears to make the right decision at just the right time, so solid in defence and able to truck the ball up, pass or kick as required.

Chris Harris

I remember being disappointed when it was announced that my team Gloucester were signing Chris Harris, as beck then he just seemed to be a very good defensive 13. Well roll the clock forward and he is now arguably one of the best defensive 3s in the game. Always appears to make the correct read in defence and knows when to hold back and when to blitz forward and make a big hit, while also covering the spaces that his teammates need. And the growth of a decent attacking game too certainly doesn’t hurt things either!

Jack Goodhue

That Goodhue’s last cap came in 2023 shows just how badly his career has been hit by injuries, but he remains a star and still has time to prove it on the internationals stage. A solid all-rounder in attack, Goodhue is another who excels with his reading of the game in defence, which result in him always being in the right place to stop an attack.

Len Ikitau

A player who has really snuck up on me to make his way onto this list. Took his chance when injuries opened up a spot in the 13 shirt for the Wallabies and quickly cemented his place in the team. Super reliable in attack, he’s also so reliable in his defence that he was able to shine defensively and succeed with the personnel around him changing each week during recent Australia matches. And at just 24 years old with 2 years of Test rugby behind him, he will just continue to improve over the coming years.

Garry Ringrose

A player who came onto the Test scene and was immediately hailed as the successor to Brian O’Driscoll, such was the hype about him in the early years that top quality performances are just expected from him these days. And yet somehow he never does appear to have a good game. A great dynamic attacker to balance outside Ireland’s more physical 12s, Ringrose is yet another player whose defensive reading of the game is spot on, and who you can always rely on to make the right decision between holding back in the line or flying out to make the man-and-ball tackle.

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Phil’s top 5: Chris Harris, Lukhanyo Am, Henry Slade, Jonathan Danty, Anton Lienert-Brown

Who makes your top 5?

Movember_Partner Badges_Proud Mo Grower_BlackThis year, I’m doing Movember a little different with my Movember Marathon.

You can find all the details on my announcement.

Visit my JustGiving page for updates or if you would like to donate.

Help me to change the face of men’s health!

Movember_Iconic Mo_Black

Top 5: Inside Centres

Top 5: Inside Centres

Welcome back to my “Top 5” rugby series. This 13-article series has been inspired by countless conversations among friends or other fans over the years and will see me selecting my top 5 men’s rugby players who are currently playing at each position.

With all of these lists, I am picking who I feel are the best 5 at each position, so there may be some surprises in there as I select the players who I feel are most appropriate to the position despite there being multiple ways to play many positions. I try to watch rugby from a broad range of leagues as well as plenty (or too much, depending how you ask) of Test matches, but I appreciate that I still have some blind spots, while a list like this is subjective; so while the majority of each article will be my list, I also set my good friend and occasional collaborator Phil the challenge to select his top 5, which I will include below. I’d also love to hear your picks, so go ahead and post them in the comments!

And so, having made it through the halves, let’s continue down the back line and look at the inside centres.

Top 5

Manu Tuilagi

One of the stars of English rugby over the past dozen years, and yet it feels like injuries have stopped the youngest of the Tuilagi brothers from reaching the heights that he should have. The name Tuilagi speaks for itself, as he is an absolute wrecking ball in midfield, and still appears to have a positive impact whenever he enters the Test arena. Unfortunately recent years have seen injuries really hamper his attempts to earn more Test caps, but England have never really managed to find someone who can replace him in his absence.

Samu Kerevi

Another player whose Test career has been limited in recent years (due to a move abroad affecting his eligibility in this case), Kerevi is another whose presence on the pitch seems to immediately make the national team look so much stronger. Has followed the Ma’a Nonu route of rugby by starting of as an incredible crash ball 12 and then expanding his game in his late 20s to also include an impressive passing and kicking game. Let’s hope that playing outside of Australia doesn’t see him being left out of the World Cup squad.

Damian de Allende

A player who seems to get a lot of stick from fans, de Allende is a highly impressive player. He may not have the wider game that some on this list do and sometimes makes the wrong decision with ball in hand, but what he does well, he does very well. A highly impressive crash ball runner, de Allende is also an impressive defensive 12, solid and reliable, but also a threat at the breakdown if and when the opportunity arises.

Jonathan Danty

What a few years it has been for Danty. Got a chance to continue his Test career as France tested their depth and forced his way into the squad, before becoming the clear replacement in midfield when Virimi Vakatawa was forced to retire and is now a key part of the XV. Runs hard but smart in attack, while in defence he is able to use his physicality to halt the opposition and is a constant threat at the breakdown.

Jordie Barrett

The youngest of New Zealand’s trio of Barrett brothers, if I could only have one on my team it would likely be him. A utility back who appeared to have found his home at fullback, injuries in the All Blacks midfield saw him tried at secnd five-eighth and he hasn’t looked back. Has the strength to hit the line as a crash ball or defend at such a key position, but is also a natural playmaker in a way that nobody else on this list is, with a range of passes and kicks that any fly half or fullback would be happy with, while he is also super accurate off the tee and able to nail a kick from his own half.

Toppng-No-Background

Phil’s top 5: Damian de Allende, André Esterhuizen, Manu Tuilagi, Samu Kerevi, Levani Botia

Who makes your top 5?

Movember_Partner Badges_Proud Mo Grower_BlackThis year, I’m doing Movember a little different with my Movember Marathon.

You can find all the details on my announcement.

Visit my JustGiving page for updates or if you would like to donate.

Help me to change the face of men’s health!

Movember_Iconic Mo_Black

Top 5: Fly Halves

Top 5: Fly Halves

Welcome back to my “Top 5” rugby series. This 13-article series has been inspired by countless conversations among friends or other fans over the years and will see me selecting my top 5 men’s rugby players who are currently playing at each position.

With all of these lists, I am picking who I feel are the best 5 at each position, so there may be some surprises in there as I select the players who I feel are most appropriate to the position despite there being multiple ways to play many positions. I try to watch rugby from a broad range of leagues as well as plenty (or too much, depending how you ask) of Test matches, but I appreciate that I still have some blind spots, while a list like this is subjective; so while the majority of each article will be my list, I also set my good friend and occasional collaborator Phil the challenge to select his top 5, which I will include below. I’d also love to hear your picks, so go ahead and post them in the comments!

And so, having made it to the halves, let’s look at the fly halves.

Top 5

Owen Farrell

This may be a controversial place to start, but it feels like Owen Farrell is one of those players who will only really get the recognition he deserves once he retires. Memed for a few no-arms tackles, Farrell is in fact probably one of the best defensive 10s in the game, so much so that he is a legitimate option at centre too. Meanwhile in attack, he calmly controls the game with a range of passes and kicks, generally relying on doing the basics well and then just occasionally adding a moment of flair when the situation is right.

Beauden Barrett

The man many would probably consider the best player in the world, and the kind of player many England fans are hoping Marcus Smith can become. His range of passes and kicks is incredible (though his goal kicking is not always the most consistent) and his eye for an opportunity has undone many defences. Controversially, while I agree that he is a top 5 flyhalf, I actually think that he is better used at fullback (though he just misses out on the top 5 at that position!), where he can work as a second playmaker but also read the game from slightly further away from the defence.

Richie Mo’unga

As great as Barrett may be, Mo’unga would be my pick at 10 were I selecting the All Blacks XV. He’s never really been given the full control of a decent All Blacks XV, so we have rarely seen the best of him at Test level, but for the Crusaders he is clearly the key man, solid in defence and with incredible footwork in attack to match his range of passes and kicks. This guy almost wins games on his own! Could the 2023 Rugby World Cup finally be the stage on which he manages to shine for the All Blacks?

Finn Russell

An absolute magician with ball in hand. Has been called a maverick for much of his career due to the mesmeric attacking variation that very few playmakers would even dream of, but he has in fact matured to control a game first and foremost, while he is also super reliable off the tee. But what is truly impressive is his self-belief. Some attempts at something special may not pay off, but he just smirks them off and carries on with the game. With this guy on the pitch, Scotland are a much more dangerous animal.

Romain Ntamack

Perhaps goes unnoticed at times with the quality of players around him in the current French team, but Romain has quality enough to be much more than just the son of French legend Émile. Controls the game well and generally seems to pick the right pass or kick for the situation, but also has the pace and footwork to go himself. He has that French rugby flair in his blood that leave him calm and confident enough to start an attack in his own in-goal (just remember that break against New Zealand) but balances this well with the restraint and knowledge of when to pick his moments.

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Phil’s top 5: Richie Mo’unga, Dan Biggar, Finn Russell, Beauden Barrett, Romain Ntamack

Who makes your top 5?

Movember_Partner Badges_Proud Mo Grower_BlackThis year, I’m doing Movember a little different with my Movember Marathon.

You can find all the details on my announcement.

Visit my JustGiving page for updates or if you would like to donate.

Help me to change the face of men’s health!

Movember_Iconic Mo_Black

Ted Lasso (season 2)

Ted Lasso (season 2)

Welcome to Sport on the Silver Screen. In this series, I will be looking back over sports movies and series that I have recently watched/re-watched and giving my thoughts on them. Getting into the Schmoedown and starting to follow a number of the personalities from the show has given me a much greater appreciation of movies and seen me starting to watch more, while a resolution for 2022 has also seen me making a resolution to watch more series.

Being a fan of both movies and sports, I have taken the chance to start highlighting the sheer volume of sports movies out there, while also now throwing in the occasional series. In each article I will be giving some details about the movie/series and then a quick review, including a section giving a sports fan’s perspective of the action’s realism.

This series has been heavily influenced by Ben Bateman and Andrew Ghai of Action Industries, but I will not be looking at the traditional “Fist-pump moment” and “Favourite line” sections due to just how much more content a series provides compared to a movie, instead talking about the prospects for the future of the show. Be aware, there will be spoilers, but I will try to keep them to a minimum.

After beng interested ever since hearing good reviews upon it’s initial release, and with a new series releasing very soon, I finally opened the wallet to pay for yet another streaming service, and after bingeing through season 1, I’m now here with a review of season 2 of Ted Lasso.

sport screen ted lasso season 2 poster

Key facts

Episodes 12

Released in 2021

Distribution (UK) Apple TV+

Starring Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Phil Dunster, Nick Mohammed, Juno Temple

Synopsis After last year’s relegation, it’s up to Ted Lasso to find a way to get AFC Richmond promoted back to the Premier League while also managing his own personal demons following his divorce. Meanwhile, Roy Kent adjusts to life after retiring from football, Jamie Tartt must pick up the pieces after a poor career decision. Can Richmond end a season full of personal trials with a return to the top flight?

Review

So I absolutely loved season 1, and I think that season 2 was even better. With the vast majority of characters now established, and with 2 extra episodes, the show can now focus even more on the situations to put the characters in, and on how the players are going to grow. And we see that with most of the main characters. We see Roy trying to find his place following his retirement and Keeley’s growth as a businesswoman, while also navigating their relationship and Roy’s close relationship with his niece. Rebecca is moving on with her life (with some interesting consequences), while a series of bad career decisions sees Jamie reach a low that helps put him on the path to becoming a much better person. Meanwhile, Sam Obisanya becomes integral to so much of this season as we see his own personal development, but also his impact on others. The big character growth here is from Nate, who finds his higher position going to his head. I understand that a lot of people didn’t like the way that his character went this season, but I personally appreciated the reminder that power can change people, while we did also see factors that would push him down this route, such as a father who was not satisfied with what he had done. The most notable of season 2’s new characters is Sarah Niles as Dr. Sharon Fieldstone, a sports psychologist hired after a hilarious opening to the season, and while I never really vibed with the character, she provided a straight-talking foil to Ted’s bubbly personality, and eventually this helps us get to know more about Ted’s life.

While the comedy was as great as ever, I would argue that the emotional moments his me even more this season. And they come in so many different ways that at least a couple are bound to affect you. We have the loss of loved ones, panic attacks, Nate’s fall to the dark side, abusive family members and also just some moments of good old fashioned romance of the sport. But there was never anything that ever felt too contrived; I could easily imagine many of these storylines playing out at professional clubs at some point or other.

As for the sporting side of things, it all feels like a good level for the show, but the quality of the football that we actually see is understandably limited by many of the key Richmond players being actors rather than professional footballers, and sadly this is most obvious in the goalkeeping, which honestly wouldn’t even cut it in the National League (the highest semi-pro level in the English football pyramid). But much like last season, the show continues to throw in enough terms for us football fans while giving them a decent enough level of explanation that someone new to the sport can keep up.

A few final thoughts on the series:

  • [Spoilers for the end of season 2 episode 8] The end of the Man City episode may be the moment that sticks with me the most from this season. Having just suffered a demoralising loss, Jamie’s drunk father comes in and bullies him in front of the team, until Jamie snaps and (understandably) lashes out. And while Beard throws the dad out, of all people it is Roy Kent who makes the move to go over to embrace Jamie and give him a shoulder to cry on in the moment, despite their mutual dislike. I’m not sure if it’s having been in a similar position to Jamie in the past with (in my case an abusive stepfather) meant it affected me more, but seeing Roy put aside his own history with Jamie in that moment to give Jamie the support he needed was beautiful
  • I’d love to know the thoughts behind episode 9 following Coach Beard for one crazy night. I initially thought that it meant we would find out more about him, but we didn’t really, and it was an episode that could have easily been removed without impacting the season. Was he number of episodes increased late in production? Or were they worried that an episode may need to be cut? While I don’t hate the episode, I’d have much rather spent some time getting to know the team a little better.

The Future

As I’m so late to the show, season 3 has already began airing, but at time of writing, I am yet to watch. Obviously we have now set Nate up as the main antagonist for nxt season, something we’ve not really had in the show until this point (other than Rupert’s shadow over everything and the occasional timely appearance).

Season 2 left us in an interesting position with some characters’ relationships, so it will be interesting to see how they continue this season, especially considering that the word on the street is that the show will only be running for 3 seasons. And from the sporting point, what does this mean for Richmond? Are we going to see a fairytale title for Richmond in the season after their promotion purely so that the show can finish on a high? Or will they miss out, with the morale of the story instead being about the positive impact Ted has had on everyone in these 3 seasons?

Personally, while I will be gutted if the show ends after 3 seasons, I will always prefer a show that gives itself a set number of series and looks to stick to it, rather than just going on until its eventual cancellation. Having the plan and sticking to it helps to keep the story on track and means that we don’t get any sudden character changes as writers start running out of ideas 6 seasons in.

What did you think of this series? Let me know in the comments. Until next time!

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A Global Rugby Calendar: My Plan

A Global Rugby Calendar: My Plan

With the news that Joe Hawkins had signed for Exeter Chiefs for next season, I found myself lamenting the loss of another talented player from Test rugby for the foreseeable future—and let’s be honest, Wales need him right now—as he has not earned enough caps to allow him to be eligible to play for the national team while playing or a club outside Wales. As a result, one of the biggest silver linings to a difficult last year for Wales is now highly unlikely to feature at the Rugby World Cup later this year. Meanwhile, England may have eligibility questions of their own as Jack Willis (a regular starter for England so far under Steve Borthwick) has signed for Toulouse after having initially moved there on a short-term contract following the collapse of Wasps.

You can understand both sides of the argument. Players’ careers are short and dangerous, so they need to make whatever money they can, which can’t be provided in Wales, where the WRU are failing to support the regions, or in England, where almost 100 Premiership players found themselves cut after last season due to reductions in the salary cap, while the Premiership is now 2 clubs down following the loss of Worcester and Wasps. Meanwhile from the union’s point of view, they want players playing at home to guarantee access to players whenever the national team wants them, rather than just during World Rugby’s Test windows.

Now I’m not going to consider myself even close to an expert, but I can’t help feel that both situations would be helped by something that has been suggested for a long time now: a global rugby calendar. There have been so many suggestions over the years but none have ever got the backing needed to be trialled. But as rugby finds itself coming to a vital point in its existence, where some of the established countries are struggling financially but the game also grows in other lower-tier countries, I have a suggestion for how the global season could look for professional rugby.

So my idea is loosely based on the format of New Zealand Rugby, where players are contracted to a Super Rugby franchise, but also a club in the NPC (National Provincial Championship, formerly the Mitre 10 Cup/ITM Cup). The NPC runs from July/August through to October, while Super Rugby runs from February to June. As a result, Test windows generally coincide with the NPC, but as each club will usually only have a couple of internationals contracted, they can work around this.

So my idea would be to split the season into 3 parts:

  • A “domestic” window, for competitions like the NPC, Premiership, MLR. I would also include the URC in this, though it may be that unions would prefer to replace this with individual domestic competitions. Due to this directly following the “Test” window (more on that in a moment), internationals would likely miss the opening month or so of the competition and find their minutes limited in order to avoid burnout.
  • This would be followed by a “continental” window, for competitions like Super Rugby, the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. Each continent would have their own competitions, though the Americas could be considered as 1 continent rather than 2. While the current Super Rugby format probably wouldn’t need much change, European competition would need a complete rebuild, to likely create a number of levels of a round-robin tournament with semis and a final in the final weeks of the season. I may get some grief for this, but I would have the South African franchises heading an African continental tournament, as I feel that Europe needs to focus on the growth of emerging nations like Georgia, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Romania, while it could also allow for teams from Italy’s domestic competition should the URC remain, while similarly African rugby needs a boost.
  • Finally a “Test” window, which is itself in 2 parts:
      • The first half of the window would be a series of matches similar to the current Summer/Autumn Tests. To allow a fair balance, fixtures played one season will be reversed in the next (eg England v Fiji in Year 1 leads to Fiji v England in Year 2). Personally, I would argue a balance between other Tier 1 opponents and Tier 2/3 opponents to continue growth of the game
      • The second half of the window would be the usual regional Test Tournament, or if there isn’t one, then one would be created. Obvious examples here would be the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship. Every 4 years, these regional tournaments would be replaced by the World Cup
    • Every 4 years (2 after the World Cup), the 2 halves would be swapped so that the regional tournaments happen first, then the British & Irish Lions tour would take place alongside the other Test matches to complete the season.

Do I think it’s perfect? Definitely not, especially as I’m sure that there would be questions over the financial implicaions. But I think that it would allow players greater freedom of movement by having all Test rugby played at the same time, while this would also see a gradual increase in intensity as the season goes on. Similarly with no overlap (the only potential overlap being between the Test and Domestic windows, which would allow Academy and fringe players a chance to gain experience and state their case to have a larger role as the season goes on.

What do you think of my suggestion for a global season? Do you have any recommendations of your own?

Thanks for reading. Until next time!.

Movember_Partner Badges_Proud Mo Grower_BlackThis year, I’m doing Movember a little different with my Movember Marathon.

You can find all the details on my announcement.

Visit my JustGiving page for updates or if you would like to donate.

Help me to change the face of men’s health!

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2023 Six Nations: Team of the Tournament

2023 Six Nations: Team of the Tournament

We’re 1 week on from Super Saturday and the conclusion of the 2023 Six Nations. And what an edition it was! We saw Jonathan Sexton overtake his predecessor Ronan O’Gara to become the new leading points scorer in tournament history in what is expected to be his last ever match in the competition. We saw Ireland win only their third Grand Slam in the Six Nations era (their fourth in the entire history of the tournament), despite playing the majority of a half of rugby with no recognised hooker. We saw France let loose against England in a timely reminder of how dangerous the are offensively, while England began life under Steve Borthwick and Wales began the second Warren Gatland era. Scotland gave fans hope by winning their opening 2 matches for the first time in the Six Nations, only to fall away against the Irish and French, while Italy looked better than they have in years, only to end with the Wooden Spoon. And over it all loomed the spectre of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France this Autumn…

And so it is time to bid farewell to the tournament by picking the 15 men who make my Team of the tournament. Let me know how my picks compare to yours!

Guinness Six Nations

So without further ado, my Team of the 2022 Six Nations is:

1) Pierre Schoeman: You can always tell when the Edinburgh loosehead has ball in hand from the entire Scottish crowd yelling “Schoe!” And they were doing it plenty this year, as the big man carried 60 times throughout the tournament, behind only Freddie Steward (62) and 11 more than the nearest front row (Ellis Genge). With 244 metres made and  broken tackles, Schoeman played a huge role in getting the Scottish attack on the front foot.

2) Dan Sheehan: George Turner’s lineout issues cost him in the fight for this spot, and while Giacomo Nicotera did very well in this area, he did not have the same impact in the rest of the game as Sheehan. Sheehan is one of the new generation of hookers coming through: big and physical but with the pace and footwork to be a threat anywhere over the pitch and a poacher’s eye for the line. His second try against England highlighted exactly why he makes this list, and don’t be shocked to see him regularly competing for this spot.

3) Finlay Bealham: Was given a chance to start with Tadhg Furlong injured and Andrew Porter now considered a loosehead, and took the opportunity with both hands. Scrummaged well, carried hard and generally did such a great job that Furlong’s absence was barely felt. His role in assisting Hugo Keenan’s try against France put the shine on a fine highlights reel. A pity that he was ruled out of the later stages of the tournament through injury.

4 & 5) Thibaud Flament & Federico Ruzza: Honourable mentions here for Richie Gray, who played a key role in the Scottish lineout before injury, and Ollie Chessum, who thoroughly outplayed teammate Maro Itoje and was one of the few to emerge from the hammering against France with any credit. Thibaud Flament not just secured his spot in the French XV with his performances this year but added an extra dimension to their attack with his strong but dynamic running that allowed him to carry in wider channels, and his ability to keep the attack going with a deft offload, while his  tries were also the joint-most among forwards, level with teammate Charles Ollivon. Meanwhile, Ruzza was at the centre of the Italian lineout—the most successful in the competition this season—with 39 lineouts won (more than double the tally of the next player) and a further 2 lineout steals (joint second, behind James Ryan – 5). But he was so much more than just a set piece specialist, with 28 carries for 139 metres with 6 broken tackles and 4 offloads helping to create a platform for the attack, and 55 tackles made leaving him joint-third among the Azzurri.

6) Sebastian Negri: He may not do the flashy work, but the Zimbabwe-born flanker will happily do the grunt work to allow the Italian flair players to flourish. You can always rely on him to go into contact hard, whether on offence (58 carries, 277 metres, 11 broken tackles) and defence (45 tackles, 4 dominant tackles). Does the hard work to create the platform for the backs, while also got a try for his efforts

7) Charles Ollivon: The former captain is looking back to his best. Made the third-most tackles of any French player (65 – joint-seventh most among all players) alongside 4 turnovers (2 of them in the tackle). In attack, he continued to show his quality in space, with 45 carries for 219 metres with 5 broken tackles and 5 offloads. His 3 tries were the joint-most among forwards, level with Thibaud Flament.

8) Caelan Doris: Was unlucky to miss out on a spot in my “Top 5 number 8s” article as he split his time in the national team between 6 and , but has now firmly established himself as the starting number  for Ireland and a top 5 in the world at the position. Doris is at the heart of almost everything good for Ireland, carrying hard (54 carries for 275 metres, third most metres made among forwards) nd is able to keep play going with well-timed passes either during or just before contact, while also putting in a shift in defence (50 tackles, 5 turnovers won).

9) Antoine Dupont: Honourable mention to Ben White, who took on the starting role for Scotland and was consistently reliable, but Dupont is on another level. While Ireland did well to nullify him, he showed in the rest of the games why he is regarded as one of the best players in the world. Controlled games with his ability to kick off both feet, while remaining both elusive and incredibly strong. May not have scored as many tries as we are used to seeing him score, but still finished with 4 assists and one of his own. His try-saving tackle when Mack Hansen looked certain to score will live long in the memory.

10) Finn Russell: The easy selection here would have been Sexton after leading his team to the Grand Slam, but that feels like giving into the fairytale story. Finn Russell is a magician. While not everything works out, he just smirks off the mistakes and goes again. But when it works, boy does it work, and with the team frequently putting him on the front foot, it was working this tournament, to the tune of 4 assists and key roles in many other tries. Scotland’s hopes lie in Russell and Gregor Townsend remaining on at least professional terms.

11) Mack Hansen: So I generally prefer to pick a left wing and a right wing, but while Ethan Dumortier impressed in his first Six Nations and Duhan van der Merwe continued to show his quality for Scotland, there were 2 clear standouts on the right wing who could not be ignored, so Mack Hansen gets the nod here. A great all-rounder, Hansen has the pace and ability in the air to excel at Test level, but his experience of having played 10 before moving to Ireland shows in his play, as he is frequently found coming off his wing and acting as another playmaker in wider areas to help Ireland expand their attack, while he also holds his own in defence and contributed 4 turnovers.

12) Sione Tuipulotu: Jonathan Danty’s impact on the final 2 rounds after returning from injury were almost enough to secure this spot, but he misses out to Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu. Secured his spot in the Scottish midfield and now we are starting to really see the best of him. Can carry and hit hard, but also has incredible subtlety, highlighted by a lovely grubber kick assist for centre partner Huw Jones against England—1 of 3 assists in the tournament this season.

13) Huw Jones: Could I really split up “Huwipulotu”? Not on this tournament’s performances! I was surprised to see Jones given the 13 shirt over Chris Harris, but his chemistry with Glasgow teammate Tuipulotu and (perhaps more importantly, Finn Russell) saw the Scot with the Welshest name ever excel. Made ground not just when in space but also through contact, finishing with 441 metres (sixth-most among all players) off just 39 carries, less than anyone above him, and with 15 tackles broken. His 4 tries left him joint-second in the tournament, level with Blair Kinghorn and behind just…

14) Damian Penaud: It’s crazy; Penaud is just 26, but needs just 12 more tries to equal Serge Blanco’s all-time record for France. The wing added 5 to his tally this tournament (the top try scorer) to highlight how clinical he is, while amassing 399 metres (seventh-most among all players), 25 broken tackles and an assist off just 28 carries. Don’t be shocked to see him pushing to be the top try scorer at RWC2023. Oh and for those wondering, Julian Savea’s 8 tries in RWC2015 are the most in a tournament (6 or 7 is the most common tally for a top scorer), so Penaud breaking the French try-scoring record by the end of the 2024 Six Nations is a distinct possibility.

15) Hugo Keenan: The model of consistency retains his place from the 2022 Team of the Tournament. Always seems to be exactly where he is needed in both attack and defence, continually dealing with the opposition kicking game, while his 54 carries this year saw him top the charts for metres made (564) along with 11 broken tackles, 2 tries and an assist.

Movember_Partner Badges_Proud Mo Grower_BlackThis year, I’m doing Movember a little different with my Movember Marathon.

You can find all the details on my announcement.

Visit my JustGiving page for updates or if you would like to donate.

Help me to change the face of men’s health!

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