My England X1.

I am now back in the UK… and enjoying the weather that accompanies my visit (woot).
It seems as ever (despite the best attempts of the Olympics) most sports news is dominated by football, and this week the start of the English Premier League and the selection of England’s new captain… which is John Terry.

Whilst I don’t disagree with the appointment, personally I would have preferred to seen Steven Gerrard in that role. Howeve, I feel that either he (Gerrard) Rio Ferdinand or John Terry would do a decent job.

This brings us neatly onto the selection of the squad… who will Don Fabio (don’t you just loathe The Sun) pick. Well… here is my selection and formation.

Firstly my formation… I would go for a 4-5-1 formation, similar to that used by both Liverpool, Chelsea and English and Premier League champions (sic) Manchester United. This involves a standard back four with attacking fullbacks with two defensively minded midfielders just in front supporting three attacking midfielders and a single (preferably Strong and fast striker) up front. The reason for this selection is simple… most of the players chosen in this squad know this system as they play it for their domestic clubs…. and it produces attractive attacking football, something that has been missing from England for a long time.

So the squad…

Goalkeeper: David James
James for me still has to be England’s number one, despite getting on a bit and being prone to the odd clanger their are very few better keepers in the premiership… let alone English ones. He adds experience and is a good communicator at the back.
Other contenders for this spot include: Green, Foster, Carson, Hart and Manual Alumina (if he can get English citizenship he should be considered)… Paul Robinson would have to show a complete change in fortune to be considered.

Right Back: Wes Brown
Despite not particularly liking this player, right fullback is a position in which England are woefully short of cover. Wes can attack and cross a ball, and his positional sense isn’t bad… in essence you can be THAT bad if you’ve won the Premier League and Champions League.
Other considerations: Micah Richards Glen Johnson and Gary Neville (if he ever shows some of his previous form)

Center backs: John Terry and Rio Ferdinand
Two of the best defenders in the world let alone England and this has to be the first choice center back pairing. Rio is fast and (despite loosing concentration occasionally) a very good reader of the game. Terry will sacrifice anything for his team… just don’t let him take a penalty.
Other considerations: Woodgate (if fit), Micah Richards, David (Davros) Wheater.

Left Back: Ashley (money money money) Cole
Ashley blows (allegedly) hot and cold, but there is little doubt that he is England’s best left full back. Although he isn’t very tall, he is very fast and makes Christiano Ronaldo look pretty ordinary whenever he plays against him. He will have a big year for Chelsea this year under (allegedly ;-)) Scolari.
Other considerations: Wayne Bridge, Matthew (goal of the season) Taylor.

Defensive Midfielders: Owen Hargreaves and Gareth Barry
Owen Hargreaves was the man we all loved to hate a few years ago but has gone on to show what a very good player he is. A real work horse with good versatility he must start if fit. Gareth Barry, lusted after by Rafa Benitez and Liverpool fans alike is my second choice. When I first thought about this squad I didn’t think that choosing two DMs would be hard, but there is a real lack of quality in this area. Barry gets the nod over the others because he is a natural leader and is left footed, he also takes a good set piece.
Other considerations: Michael Carrick, Huddestone, Mark Noble.

Attacking Midfielders/Forwards: Joe Cole, Gerrard, Rooney
Three of the most technically gifted English footballers all very strong with a reasonable amount of pace. All can pass and shoot… all of them quality.
Other considerations: Lampard, David Bentley, Ashley Young, Jermain Jenas, Shaun Write-Phillips, Arron Lennon, Stewart Downing, Kieron Dyer

Striker: Gabriel Agbonlahor
A controversial choice. Gabby has shown his ability in the last two seasons in the prem, he is lightning fast and knows how to find the back of the net. He’s also very young and likely to improve and isn’t made of glass, so wont break in half as soon as someone comes close.
Other considerations: Ashton, Crouch, Owen, Defoe, Walcott.

James

Brown              Terry        Ferdinand                Cole

Hargreaves           Barry

Rooney            Gerrard              Cole

Agbonlahor

A big update

Ok… So I haven’t updated this blog for way too long… and it is time to fill in the gaps.

Last time I posted (before today) was during the Euro2008 championships… which (and you may have spotted this) Spain won. Jumping in the city’s main fountain was also good fun.

The euphoria that spread throughout the country during the weeks after was indescribable. It makes me wonder what would happen if England won a major tournament… A win of this style does wonders for the country in terms of moral and kids interest in sport.

The rests of June was pretty uneventfull wth only the weather to talk of. The famous Spanish sun started to appear and weekends and spare afternoons seemed to equal a trip to the local outdoor pool (which probably explains a lack of blogging activity).

The end of June/start of July saw the end of the school terms and a reduced workload with regard to teaching, whilst this break from was welcome sometimes, the lack of work has meant cash has been a little tight. Vicky and I headed off to Madrid  to check out Spain’s capital, and I was very impressed. A trip to the Bernabau, and the worlds oldest restaurant combined with being away from Valladolid and spending time with the lady was ace. One interesting point… going to Madrid in summer to learn Spanish to me would seem pointless… as everyone we met spoke English… and most were American.

My Birthday was very uneventful with a record low ‘haul’ of two dvds… but that being said I did have a nice day  (and a wicked curry) and would like to say thanks to all those who texted, facebooked and sent cards.

Since then… well not a lot has happened. Vicky has gone back to the UK for a week and I have booked flights home for the 15th August. Thats the update just about complete… I wish I had something more exciting to add.

Love Nicko

x

Why Dell suck, and Nokia rock

Firstly I need to apologise for my lack of blogging over the last month and a half. There is no good reason for this and I have had allot to write about… but the weather has been nice and I generally couldn’t be bothered to sit down and write.Anyway, this week I have had an experience (or experiences that have jolted me out of my dormant blogging state.

Within the space of two day last week I managed to break my mobile phone and my laptop… not handy (especially as the GF hasn’t been around). I have had a Dell XPS M1330 for around 5 months, and the whole experience of dealing with Dell up until last week had been a pleasant one. This all changed when I rang Dell customer service to find out why my computer battery wasn’t charging (I knew beforehand that the AC adapter had broken, and that I simply needed a new adapter).

After eventually getting through I was greeted by a friendly young sounding man who obviously was not from the UK. He listened to my problem and acknowledged that I was speaking to him through Skype. He asked me to run a diagnostic on my machine and to call them back with the results of this test. He then assured me that once this was done that he would send a new Adapter to Spain the next day.
Well, I ran the diagnostics and rang them back… this is where the problems started.

I was greeted again by another gentleman from a slightly more exotic region than my own and was asked if I had run the diagnostics… I replied (truthfully) yes, and then told him the results. After listening to this the man then asked me to run the diagnostics on my computer…. WTF I JUST GAVE YOU THE RESULTS!!!!!
Then then asked if I had turned my computer “off and of again”… to which I replied of course. After much broken English he agreed to send the part to me.

I was then told that because I lived in Spain that they could not send me the part because of “security reasons”… ah I see… AC adapters running amuck throughout Spanish immigration…. makes perfect sense.

They then agreed to send the part to the UK (no security problems there then), but only on the condition that I send my old adapter (which was the only thing that was, and still is, keeping my laptop alive) back to them the same day. I told them that this was not possible under any circumstance, and to their credit they agreed to let me keep my old faulty adapter.
My contact in the UK received the adapter the next day…. it appeared to be the wrong part. I was angry… very angry. After much investigation and using the magic of social media I found that the adapter that I was send would work with my laptop although it wouldn’t fit “as snugly”. The total length of my calls to Dell tops 2 hours.

Now, compare this to Nokia. Last week I sat on my N95 with my keys in my pocket and cracked the screen. Once I had found a Nokia service center I took the phone there and explained in broken Spanish the problem. They said that it wasn’t a massive problem and that I could get the phone back the next week. One week later I went into the store paid over my money (a measly €45, which I thought was pretty cheap)… and as if by magic I was returned my N95 complete with new screen installed. I was very happy.

So my question is… seeing as Dell probably sells more computers than any other manufacturer world wide… why don’t they set up service centers??? It would be easy… take the part in if can be fixed…. get it fixed… if it can’t replace the part. Apple run a similar system in their stores and it works… but Dell have taken the cheap option and employed a gathering of people in a shed in the Middle East to read from a script as their version of customer support. It is, quite frankly, a joke.

Eurostat madness

I was pointed toward this rather stuperb blog by a friend of mine last week, and felt I should give it a mention.

Euro2008 statistics is a Castrol sponsored football blog concentrating on live in game statistics and metrics accompanied by a typically dry british wit. Whilst I have never been a big fan of statistics or metrics of any kind this is different and offers a really cool insight into the beautifull game.

Look at this pretty picture as a fine example.

This clearly shows that this Croatian gent was running around alot.

Check out the site here.

Luv

Nx

Euro2008…meh

Ok ok, now I will admit that I am a big fan of football, and that I am enjoying the rececnt euro 2008 championships… they have been great. The football on show in most cases (italians french and greeks being the exception)

But I cant help feeling a certain sense of apathy and dis-interest. I have adopted Spain as my team to support this year.. and they have been excellent so far… but i feel a certain sense of guilt… it should be england….

Looking at the qualityu (or lack oif) from some teams makes me angry… mostly with Steve McLarren.

Thanks Steve.

(and yes i know tis old)

A message from Barney… Rueben perish.

It would appear that one of my most loved and cherished bands ever is parting ways… or at least in their own words having an indefinate hiatus.

Reuben, Guy John and Jamie have rocked my socks off for the last 5 or so years, and I have been lucky to meet dine and drink with them on a few occasions… and I for one (speaking as a loyal fan only) hope they return before too long… rawk will be a sadder place without them.

Check out some of their classics live shows and attempt at a christmas number one here.

The Big Spanish Update (Part 1)

Well…. I find myself sat in my new house in a new town in a new country on a thursday bankholiday (the 2nd or 3rd bank holiday in the last month)… its time I updated this blog with an explination of everything that has changed and what life is like for a brit living in Spain.

Because so much has happened Im going to break this down into various parts… so here is part 1.

Part 1 - The Move
Moving to Spain is without doubt one of the most stressfull and difficult things I have ever had to organise. I cant really compare it to anything else I have done in my life. Everything that was my life in rural oxfordshire had to change or be considered. my car, my Job, my house, my music collection, my friends, my family… everything. Packing wasnt as bad as I thought, although cleaning the house of trouser was an interesting experience.

After much consideration and looking into how to move an entire life to spain… I decided the easiest way to get the majority of my crap important life items was to take them with me on the plane to Madrid. This had two distinct disadvantages and one percieved advantage. The disadvantages where that I could only carry so much (two large bags worth)… and that no matter how much/little this was I had to carry it across the center of Mardid from Barajas airport to Madrd Chamarten train station (a mere 7 miles)… thankgod for the Metro. The percieved advantage was that it would be considerably cheaper. Well… it wasnt. As I checked in at Bristol Airport I was informed by a rather disgusted Easyjet checkin girl that i was 30kg ish over my 20kg weight limit… this meant a rather shocking £179 excess bagage fee. Thanks has to go to my dad here who helped me out immensly by paying for this. Anyway… i digest.

So we got to Madrid and after a backbreaking hour or so of dragging stuff over the capital of Spain we managed to get to the train station and onto the impressive Ave train to Valladolid. This rail system really puts the english to shame… the train took 45 min was spotless… arrived on time and didnt feel like it was moving…. intershitty has alot to answer for.

So I got here safely, and despite suffering back spasms from carrying my stuff relativly unscathed.
That will do for part 1 for now… ill write some more tomorrow.

Love to all

Nicko

x

I storm the BBC sport website… again

Some of you who know me may know that I once managed to get a comment on the BBC’s famous “Quotes of the week” page. Well… this week I did it for a second time, with my victim being none other than loudmouthed under-achieving Oxford United reject and Rushden & Diamonds semi proffesional footballer Andy Burgess.

See my devestating remarks below.

Seeing as WordPress is pathetic… the comments are enclosed below in normal text.. also please ignore the snooker player who looks nothing like either myself or Mr Burgess.

“I know for a fact that the squad of players we have here are a better group than they have at their disposal.”
Rushden and Diamonds’ Andy Burgess on his ex-Oxford United team-mates, who beat Rushden 1-0 the next day, ensuring they would finish above the Diamonds in the Blue Square Premier League. Funny how things come back to bite you, eh Andy?

Love

Nicko

x

Champions League… A spanish perspective.

This week sees the semi (hehe) finals of the champions league take place, with three english teams and one spanish team (well maybe two if you count liverpool). I am sure most readers in the UK know what the british press/general public feel… But what of the spanish perspective.

 VS
It is fair to say out of the remaining matches this is tie is the one that is receiving the most exposure in the Spanish press (for obvious reasons). Barca, by their standards, are having a bad season. With reports that Eto, Ronaldiniho and others are unsettled the Catalan giants have been suffering from an Arsenal esk slump in form, and are currently 3rd in La Liga after Villareal won against relegation threatened Valladolid at the weekend. Barca fans have been protesting outside of the Nue Camp, and pretty much anywhere else that people will pay attention to them, and this can only be disruptive for a team which its ´Should´ be in the Champions League final. Manchester United on the other hand have looked (much to my displeasure) a class apart from most of their rivals both domestically and in continental competition. Despite the intimidating fortress that is the Nue Camp I can see only one winner here. As far as the Spanish go, obviously Barca fans are rooting for their team, everyone else is backing Manure. Manchester United to go through.

VS

Hmmmm, have we been here before. Inexplicably these two pseudo giants of English football have managed to come up against each other for the 3rd time in recent years. There is considerable Spanish interest int his match with Spain FC (Liverpool) containing a host of Spanish internationals including the unfathomably good El Niño, Fernando Torres, and a Spanish manager. It has has been a disappointing season for Liverpool. After the mass summer spending by Sr Benitez most scouse fans expected their team to be fighting for the premiership title this year, instead they find themselves in yet another Champions League semi final and yet again 4th in the Premiership. The bright point for Liverpool is that after years of searching they have found a striker who will really put the fear of god into any opponent. A disappointing season is something that Chavski can also relate to, despite finding themselves in with  long shot of recapturing the premiership title from Man U. Avram Grant will surely be told to clear his desk in the summer (even if it is for a more executive role), as his team seem to capitulate in an “must win” matches. Despite this, exit in the FA cup to Barnsley as well as loosing in the League Cup final against Tottenham could spur (see what i did there) Grants men past Liverpool and into the final. Spanish hearts say Liverpool for the win, Spanish heads say its a lot closer than that. Liverpool to go through on penalties.

Adios

Nickox

 

Newsflash: I am still alive

Hello all… me again from the smokey porn infested internet cafe.

Just a quick post to let you know I am still alive and have managed to live over a week in spain! I still have not got the internet sorted, but that (i am assured) will be looked at today. I strt my new job tomorrow which will be exciting!
I havnt got much else to report back at the moment, so ill keep this short and sweet.

Lv Nx