Wonga, Newcastle United and football’s moral compass

On Tuesday, Newcastle united announced a brand new sponsorship deal with the infamous payday loan company, Wonga. This has led to heated debates about whether the deal is moral. In my latest contribution to Natter Football, I take a look at the club, the deal and why the criticism borders on hypocrisy.

http://natterfootball.co.uk/2012/10/wonga-newcastle-united-and-footballs-moral-compass/

Ruthless Cod Army put York in their Plaice

York City were left to rue not making the most of a brilliant spell early in their game with Fleetwood, as the visitors came out 2-0 victors. In a battle between the two sides who achieved promotion from the BlueSquareBet Conference Premier last season, high-flying Fleetwood continued their charge up the League Two table and sit 3^rd after ten games with six wins. York, however, look likely to have to settle for mid-table after a third defeat. The Minstermen sit 14^th and, whilst looking strong enough to stay clear of the relegation places, have a long way to go if they are to challenge for the play-offs.

The end result was in stark contrast to York’s bright start. The first 30 minutes saw York dominate in both possession and chances. In truth, it was probably the best spell of football I have seen in my year attending York City games. The pre-match rain continued to fall, making the surface skiddy which helped York’s quick, zippy passing. Within a minute, Matty Blair and Michael Coulson had worked Town keeper Scott Davies. As time passed Fleetwood got more in to the game, but York were the stronger team and continued to create chances. For half an hour, York were battering the Cod Army.

But the first goal changed all that. After it, City began to panic and lost the composure which had seen them threaten Fleetwood’s goal with effortless ease. Up to the goal, central midfield man Danny Parslow had barely seen the ball; York’s attacking was so fast and efficient, the ball was zipped from defence straight up the wings and into attack. But when York’s defence failed to close down on the edge of the box, Junior Brown was allowed the space to fire a shot just inside Michael Ingham’s right post from 25 yards. It wasn’t particularly deserved, and was the team’s first clear chance of the half. But it shell-shocked York, who were happy to hear the half-time whistle when it came.

But if the last ten minutes of the first half had been poor from the hosts, the second half was even more disappointing. Gone was the fluid attacking play that had defined the first 30 minutes, replaced by more frantic play. York were playing like a team who were a man down; Fleetwood’s players dominated midfield as though they were outnumbering their counterparts. Whereas York began resorting to the long ball as a sign of desperation, Fleetwood used it throughout to a more devastating effect. City centre backs Chris Doig and Chris Smith were terminally unable to deal with the high deliveries. This gave the visitors’ a couple of good chances before they added a second. The best saw David Ball round Ingham but fire his shot across goal, coming out off the far post; the rebound was blocked on the line. But finally the run of play told, and as Smith again did not deal with a long ball, Steven Gillespie was put through and slotted home.

York’s early display was so good that they may still have had a strong claim to have deserved a point. But in truth, Fleetwood looked comfortable after that opening spell and despite the odd chance, York didn’t look likely to pull the game back. And were it not for a couple of top class saves from Ingham, the reverse may have been greater. As it is, York have to move on to the weekend, as Rotherham United are the visitors. Back-to-back home games gives York their best chance to bounce back to winning ways.

Ingham, 7, another great goalkeeping display, though could work on kicking distribution

Fyfield, 7, lively on the overlap early on, and did little wrong defensively

Smith, 3, struggled with high balls all day, should have done better for second goal

Doig, 4, also had trouble with long ball and seemed on different page to Smith

Challinor, 6, solid defensively and going forward, throw ins always a threat

Parslow, 5, rare quiet game, was unable to control the middle of the park

(Bullock - 70'), 5, minimal impact after coming on

Blair, 6, was unable to sparkle in second half when called upon

McLaughlin, 6, in an overcrowded central midfield had only slight influence

(Taylor - 83'), 4, only major contribution was to set up a late chance for Town

Walker, 7, as usual, put himself about and worked incredibly hard for team cause

Chambers, 5, attacking runs came to no avail against stout defence

Coulson, 6, heavily involved early on, but dropped off as game wore on

(Johnson - 70'), 5, a couple of bright moments but also a couple of sloppy ones

Italics indicates Man of the Match

Saturday Six-Pointer: 29/09/2012

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Chelsea have well and truly established their title winning credentials. Undefeated, with five wins from six games, has shown this on paper. But it’s wins against rivals that really count at the end of the season. Arsenal had impressed so far, none more so than in a comfortable 2-0 win at Anfield earlier in the season. I was beginning to consider them title contenders. But where the Gunners often fall short is against the other teams likely to challenge at the top. So, for every hard-earned draw like that against Manchester City last week, there is an underwhelming defeat like the 2-1 reverse against Chelsea. For the Blues, the season is looking bright. Both Manchester clubs have looked short of their best so far. And while Fernando Torres remains a shadow of his former sense, he is certainly an improvement on the player who was more likely to get a yellow card than score a goal for Chelsea. If he can continue to contribute to the goal-scoring, that could be the difference between Chelsea fighting for a Champions’ League spot, or challenging for league title glory.

My Three Teams: York City FC and Sunderland AFC

In my latest contribution to Natter Football, I have taken a look at the fortunes of York City FC and Sunderland AFC. This is a follow-up to my season preview, found here  and comes after the first part, covering Darlington FC, to be found here.

Here's the link to my new article. Enjoy!
http://natterfootball.co.uk/2012/09/my-three-teams-part-two-york-city-fc-and-sunderland-afc/#comment-6635

My Three Teams: Darlington FC

Before the start of the football season, I wrote a preview for the three teams I follow: Darlington FC, York City FC and Sunderland AFC. That blog post can be found here:
Football Season Preview: My Three Teams

Now, a month into the season, I have revisited this post and written a brand new pair of articles for Natter Football looking at how the teams have fared so far. The first article traces the fortunes of Darlington FC in their inaugural season in the Northern League Division One. It was written earlier this week, before the loss in the Durham Challenge Cup to Hebburn Town. It can be found here:
My Three Teams: Part One, Darlington FC

The second part will look at York City and Sunderland, and will be posted at the start of next week.

Champions League Game-Week 1 Round-Up

I've done a round up of the games from the first week of UEFA Champions' League fixtures for The Student Journals. Follow the link to find it!

http://www.studentjournals.co.uk/comment/sport/1867-champions-league-round-up-city-hart-break-as-real-snatch-late-winner

Saturday Six-Pointer: 15/09/2012

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Some might see it as a bit cliché to say that the Premier League is unpredictable. Inexplicably, many people insist on debating whether the Premier League is better or worse than La Liga. Of course, this is ultimately irrelevant. And the answer would depend on what exactly you are looking for. At the end of the day they are the best two leagues in the world, and that is what matters. One thing in common so far is unpredictability. Because, while Real Madrid have lost two of their first four games, the Premier League this weekend saw another array of startling results. Out-of-sorts Aston Villa comfortably beat in-form Swansea City, while undefeated West Brom were thrashed by Fulham. Meanwhile both Chelsea and Manchester City were unable to win away games against opponents who have not yet won a game between them. The Premier League is starting to become a graveyard for the accumulator. Predicting more than one or two correct results in any given week seems to be getting harder and harder. Yesterday, out of eight fixtures, I predicted only two correct results (and those were the more obvious home bankers of Manchester United and Arsenal).

Walker’s crisp finish salvages point for York

Jason Walker scored a goal in the last minute of injury time as York’s unbeaten run continued with a 2-2 draw against Chesterfield at Bootham Crescent. Walker was in the right place at the right time as he placed his shot into the top corner from eight yards after four minutes had been added. City had been trailing by a goal when Ashley Chambers sent in a cross to the back post, which captain Chris Smith knocked down into the path of frontman Walker, who made no mistake. The full-time whistle came just seconds after the restart. It was no less than City deserved, in a game which was fairly even but in which York had the lion’s share of the play and the chances.

The first half was a very even affair, though York looked very composed, both in possession and when Chesterfield had the ball. There weren’t any clear-cut chances in the first half-hour, but when the first one came Chesterfield (eventually) converted it. A brilliant double save from City keeper Michael Ingham wasn’t enough as the Spireites converted at the third attempt from close range, Sam Hird the man on hand. City hit back straight away, Ashley Chambers' free kick forcing a diving save from Richard O’Donnell. But soon after Michael Coulson levelled the scores, finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and chipping the ball past the on-rushing O’Donnell.

Premier League 2012/3: Predictions 2.0

You could argue that making a new set of predictions after the first three games of the season is a bit of a cop-out. But I disagree. The first three games are far from indicative of how the season will go. Last year, Wolves took seven points from their first three games. They won only three more matches all season. Importantly, the transfer window has now closed. Although there is always the chance players will be added in January, the current squads will have to last for the first half of the season at least. So, I’ve decided that at this point in the season we know enough to make some more educated predictions, without knowing so much that it’s a cop-out.

The positions in brackets indicate the positions I predicted before the start of the season in “Premier League 2012/3: Predicitions”.

1st               Manchester City (2nd)

First time out, I genuinely agonised over whether to go for United or City to win the title. In their first three games, City have convinced me they should have been top. They haven’t actually played very well, but they have found a way to win games, or draw in the case of Liverpool. They maybe didn’t strengthen as much as hoped on deadline day, but the squad is still strong and deep and you would back them to add in January.

New system creates new problems for Liverpool

This is my latest contribution to the website Natter Football. In it, I take a look at Liverpool's start to the season. I question whether Brendan Rodgers may be taking a too radical approach, and whether he will be given the time to achieve his goals at Anfield.

It would be interesting to see what others think of Liverpool's start and prospects. So head over to Natter Football and join the debate.

Click here to read "New system creates new problems for Liverpool."

Saturday Six-Pointer: 01/09/2012

This week's Saturday Six-Pointer, looking at Spurs' crazy transfer window, hope for West Brom and West Ham, and what QPR could learn from Manchester City.

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Tottenham Hotspur had one of the more interesting transfer windows. Andre Villas-Boas was sacked by Chelsea last season for trying to change too much too quickly, dropping established figures like Frank Lampard. Presumably, his new bosses at Spurs have given him the free reign to overhaul the squad which he did not have at Chelsea. Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart have left the North London club, with a host of players including Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey coming in. This year is likely to take on a transitional feel for Spurs, as the new players bed in. It might well have long term benefits. It was the drop-off in form that did for Harry Redknapp last year, rather than the final league placing. With the changes made in the squad this year, Spurs will surely be satisfied with any European qualification this season. To achieve that, they have to learn how to hold on to a lead. An underwhelming start against Newcastle United has been followed with back to back 1-1 draws in which Spurs relinquished the lead. Both were against opposition you would have expected them to beat. They languish on two points from three games. Looks like AVB’s job is far from simple, and far from over.

Summer of frustration bursts into life as Sunderland makes double signing

Sunderland fans have been through a lot in the past. Within my lifetime, and those of fans much older than myself, the club has been the definition of a ‘yo-yo’ team. But there is a strange emotion brewing on the banks of the Wear. That is one of optimism. After a quiet off-season, the Black Cats have burst into life with a hectic day of business. Adam Johnson, England international winger, has signed from Manchester City for £10million (plus performance related add-ons). Steven Fletcher, formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers, has signed for £12million. The club is on the up.

Some people have said Sunderland overpaid for Fletcher. The outlay of £12million (and reliable reports suggest that there are no add-ons despite earlier claims that the deal was £14million) is more than Sunderland would have liked to have spent. But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. Martin O’Neill has never spoken of a war chest given to him by Ellis Short, the Sunderland owner and chairman. No such cap on spending exists. O’Neill has been asked by Short to build a competitive team, knowing that he will have the funds to make it happen. O’Neill has now made this come to fruition. Short has backed O’Neill to the hilt. At times this summer there were concerns over Sunderland’s lack of business. But those thoughts are now well in the past. The signings of Fletcher and Johnson are the sign that Sunderland is ready to make the step up to the next level.

Buying the title? How else are you meant to win it?

I've recently written my first article for a football website known as Natter Football. The site is a great general interest football page with contributions from a number of different writers. They are also on twitter, @natterfootball, and while you're at it, those of you with twitter can add me @thrifty1992.

The article is called "Buying the title? How else are you meant to win it?" and takes a look at how all clubs who win the title, even Manchester United, can be labelled as having 'bought' the Premier League title.

No Olympic hangover as Premier League gets off to fast start

There is no doubting that the Olympics were a brilliant spectacle. The general (though not universal) spirit in which the sports were played made a lasting impression on those who watched. The quality of the competition was also impressive. London 2012 was billed as the pinnacle of sporting competition, and it lived up to that billing. The inevitable consequence, however, was unfavourable comparisons with football. Footballers have been depicted as over-paid prima-donnas, with no respect for one another and a misunderstanding of the meaning of sportsmanship. To some, the sense of entitlement held by some footballers ran in stark contrast to the more worthy, but more humble, Olympians.

I for one did not hold that view. Though the majority of Olympians were inspirational, footballers as a collective did not deserve the harsh criticism they have received. Some footballers, admittedly, fit the descriptions. The repeated off-field (and often on-field) indiscretions of players like John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez, to name but a few, do not match up to the astronomical wages that they earn. Perhaps the worst culprit last year was Carlos Tevez, a man who continued to paid hundreds of thousands of pounds a week despite refusing to play, that is until his Manchester City side looked destined to win the league title at which point he magically returned. It is perhaps understandable, then, that a lot of people openly stated their disinterest in the start of the new Premier League season. Categorically, I was not one of them.

Saturday Six-Pointer

Here's the first in what will hopefully be a regular feature on the blog throughout the Premier League season. It's a weekly look at the six talking points which have caught my eye in the Premier League each Saturday.

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I’m not a big fan of Alan Pardew, though it has to be accepted that he has done an incredible job at Newcastle. It is easy to forget that when he came in, to replace the popular Chris Hughton, he was derided by most Newcastle supporters. Now they back him to the hilt, because his results have proven him worthy. But his act of petulance today, pushing the linesman after he didn’t flag for a Newcastle throw-in, has no place on a football field. Managers are meant to set an example, for their players and supporters. Pardew has apologised, but he has had other indiscretions in the past. He has to realise that he cannot act like that, hoping that an apology will make everybody forgive and forget. I would suspect a touchline ban may be in the pipeline.

Match Report: York City 1-3 Wycombe Wanderers

York City came back down to earth with a bump as Wycombe Wanderers came out 3-1 victors on the opening day of the League Two season. There were promising signs for York, however, as in spells they managed to get together the zippy, free-flowing football which made them a rare delight in the physical Conference Premier last season. York were unable to make this spells count, though, lacking the cutting edge that they will need to find to survive in the league this year.

Wycombe, on the other hand, were ruthless as they took their three best chances. It was the visitors who settled quickest, not surprising considering they were a League One side last year. York was a bit jittery at first. The hosts settled, and were dealing with Wanderers’ long-ball tactics well. In the lead up to the first goal City may even have had the upper hand, but then Matt Bloomfield made it 1-0. Bearing down on goal, Bloomfield tried to place a shot low to Michael Ingham’s right only for the shot to take a deflection and nestle into the opposite corner. 

Premier League 2012/3: Season Predictions

At the end of the day, predictions are merely guesswork. Anybody who reads Mark Lawrenson’s ‘expert’ predictions on a weekly basis on the BBC Sport website will appreciate this. Lawrenson goes head-to-head with a different celebrity or famous figure each week, predicting that week’s Premier League scores, and invariably gets beaten. The unpredictability of Premier League football is even more pronounced when making predictions for the whole season, rather than just a week’s match-ups. Perhaps most significantly, pre-season predictions can’t take into account the remaining weeks of the transfer window which, guaranteed, will have s significant impact on end of season positions. Basically, I’m not expecting these predictions to be dead-on. Instead, it’s just a fun look at the prospects of the Premier League clubs, as we stand today.

Football Season Preview: My Three Teams

With the Olympics now over, the football season is upon us. The Community Shield went ahead on Sunday with Manchester City defeating Chelsea 3-2 in an entertaining game, and the first round of the Capital One Cup (or the League Cup to you and me) has begun. Both the Premier League and the Football League begin this coming weekend. Fans around the country are looking forward to it all getting underway. Maybe this year might be “our year.” For most, it won’t be long until they realise, once again, that that is not going to be the case.

It would be impossible to do an extensive review of the football season. But I have the pleasure of following three clubs in vastly different situations, with different expectations for the season and in very different places in the English football pyramid. Sunderland A.F.C. is in its sixth consecutive season in the Premier League, their longest spell in the top flight since first being relegated from Division One in 1957-8. York City F.C. will be playing in Football League Two, after promotion last season through the play-offs in the Conference Premier, their first season in the Football League since 2003-04 when 75 years of membership came to an end. Darlington 1883 is the continuation of the traditions of Darlington F.C. and will play in the Northern League, the ninth step on the English football ladder. Darlington was demoted four divisions after the last campaign because it was considered to be a ‘new’ club by the Football Association (for a similar, more high-profile case, see Glasgow Rangers). In this article I will preview these three clubs with their different hopes and prospects for the season.

Darlington F.C. 

With Darlington’s financial problems last season, football itself took a backseat. The club almost went out of business, with the administrator having announced to the players that it was to be liquidated when at the last minute extra money became available. The club has survived thanks to efforts of a dedicated few, such as administrator Harvey Madden, former manager Craig Liddle and chairman of DFC1883 Denis Pinnegar. This year is the club’s chance to start from scratch. They are no longer tied down to the white elephant that is the Darlington Arena, built by former chairman and former safe-cracker George Reynolds as nothing more than a status symbol for his own ego. Instead they will ground-share with Bishop Auckland at Heritage Park. It will be a long and hard road back to where the club belongs, in the Football League. That target is five promotions away. But if it can be achieved it will be one of the greatest fairy-tales in English football.

Darlington is my home town team and I have followed them closely since 1998. My greatest memories of the Quakers were the teams of the late 90s when Marco Gabbiadini was banging in goals for fun and, but for a late season slump, Darlo would have won automatic promotion into what was then Division Two. As it was, the team fell to a play-off final defeat to Peterborough united. That Peterborough now plies its trade in the Championship shows just how pivotal a day that may have been for both clubs.

It must still be taken one season at a time. The Northern League is one of the strongest at that level of football in the country. Its clubs have had significant and consistent success in the FA Vase, a competition (to rub salt in the wound of a four-league demotion) Darlington has been excluded from this season. But Darlington has gone about assembling a strong team of established northern League players. The team has performed exceptionally well in pre-season, with goals aplenty from across the team, Sean Reay being particularly prolific. Darlington immediately becomes the big name of the Northern League. The club has struggled with fluctuating support over the years but it will certainly be the best supported club in the division by far. These do not guarantee success, but they do help. Under the guidance of new manager Martin Gray, Darlington 1883 is ready to take the first step back towards what the club once took for granted: its place in the Football League.

York City F.C.

While Darlington are rebuilding, York City will look to re-establish themselves as a Football League club. Last season was my first following York, having begun studying at the city’s university two years ago. I attended many of the games and I am a season-ticket holder for the coming year. It was a great year to become a York supporter as the club had significant success in league and cup. A consistent league season saw the club end up 4^th in the Conference Premier, good enough to earn a play-off spot. The team booked two trips to Wembley in consecutive weekends. The first saw them triumph 2-0 over Newport County in the FA Trophy. However they will not defend that crown this season after they won once again to earn promotion eight days later, 2-1 in the play-off final against Luton Town. It is difficult to know what to expect from York this year. Many teams promoted from the Conference go on to finish highly in their first League Two campaign, and promotion is not unprecedented. City’s best chance is to try and recreate the free flowing football which saw them challenge at the very top of the table earlier in the season, before they receded into a more direct approach as the season went on.

Importantly for City, they have made a number of good signings whilst keeping together the majority of the team which won promotion. Jason Walker is a proven goal-scorer, who should be back to his best after an injury last season, after which he struggled to recreate his early season form. Matty Blair and Scott Kerr looked a class apart in the Conference at times last year. Blair is a lively winger who can be found on either side of the pitch, with a knack for scoring important goals, notably the winner in the FA Trophy final, and the winners in both the semi-final second leg and final of the play-offs. Kerr was absent in those games after a season-ending injury, but prior to that was a quality central midfield player blessed with an eye for a pass and a creative spark. With the core of the team back for another year, City will be happy to consolidate this time around. Anything more would be a bonus, but it’s not out of reach for York City to challenge for a high finish this year.

Sunderland A.F.C.

The third club I will be following this season will be Sunderland. I have been a Sunderland fan since I was introduced to the club by my father in 1999. That was an historic season for the club as it won promotion to the Premier League with a then record amount of points. In my years, I have seen more than my fair share of triumph and disappointment. But Sunderland fans enter this season with a rare mix of emotions. The replacement of the frankly hapless Steve Bruce with Martin O’Neill, who transformed the club into one of the most formidable in the league last season almost overnight, has created both hope and expectation. O’Neill has a proved track record and is the kind of man manager that has benefited youngsters like the excellent Jack Colback, and loose cannons like Lee Cattermole.

But with the season beginning this week, there is still a lot to be determined about Sunderland’s team for 2012/3. There have been no major additions to the squad, and the team is two strikers short of where it would hope to be. The pursuit of Steven Fletcher from Wolves has been a long and, as yet, unresolved one. His arrival at Sunderland has seemed inevitable all summer but as the start of the season closes in, neither Fletcher nor any other forward has been signed. Sunderland has a strong and experienced defence and a lot of good options in midfield, but at least one new striker is needed. Football is a game about scoring goals and at the moment it’s not certain where Sunderland’s goals will come from. Stephane Sessegnon is a class apart in the side, one of the better creative players in the league, but not a prolific goal-scorer. If O’Neill can successfully address this deficit then Sunderland should be able to make the step up and challenge for Europe. Should it go unresolved, and it will be a case of looking down instead of up. This is something every Sunderland fan has experienced many times before, but not one they would like to encounter. The weeks before 1 September, when the transfer window closes, will be the most important for the Black Cats this season.

The football season is always a stressful experience, but it is not one any fan would trade in for anything else. This year I have the pleasure of following three great football clubs in very different situations. No doubt all three will have their ups and downs, but here’s hoping it will be one to remember (for the right reasons) for them all.

Should David Beckham have been named in the Team GB football squad for the Olympic Games?

Following the controversial omission of David Beckham from the Team GB squad for the Olympic Games, I've decided to take a look at whether he should have been named in the squad. I have enlisted my good friend David Spereall to provide one side of the argument, and I will write the other. Fortunately he and I usually disagree on matters like this so it should make for a good debate. You can follow David on Twitter or visit his political blog, Politics Through Young Leftish Eyes. He is also an aspiring young journalist and he is the editor of the Leeds Trinity University Magazine.

Please feel free to join the debate in the comments at the bottom of the page!

DAVID SPEREALL: STUART PEARCE WAS CORRECT NOT TO SELECT DAVID BECKHAM FOR TEAM GB

Moreover, if you were to compare the long-term fitness and injury records of the two, Giggs beats his former colleague hands down. With a potentially gruelling schedule at the hottest time of the year, Giggs’ stamina wins out over Beckham’s increasingly dodgy ankles. It’s a similar story with the two other over-age players Stuart Pearce has selected. Micah Richards, fresh from his harsh omission from Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the Euros, will be raring to prove a point. Pearce cites defensive cover as his reason for selecting Richards ahead of Beckham, which is a point that cannot be disputed. Add to the list Craig Bellamy, whose incisive displays in an otherwise poor team last season perhaps summed up his own career. For a man of Bellamy’s unquestionable talent, he has won precious few winners’ medals to show for it. GB success represents a rare opportunity for hard evidence of success for him.

Whilst David Beckham’s inclusion in the GB squad would have represented a victory for sentimentality, Stuart Pearce has never really been a man of sentiment. And from a practical footballing perspective, he’s made the right decision. Beckham was easily the best English footballer of his generation, but the broken metatarsal that had the country on tenterhooks for three months prior to the World Cup in Japan and South Korea was ten years ago now.

At 37, Becks is undeniably in his twilight years, and it is highly likely that he now regrets moving to LA Galaxy in 2007 – at least at that point in his career, when he had just played a pivotal role in helping Fabio Capello’s Real Madrid to the La Liga title, and was clearly still capable of playing at the top of one of the best leagues in the world. But run to the States he did, probably because Steve McLaren had prematurely called time on his England career, and it was a move that bought him money, but cost him ambition.

His old friend Ryan Giggs meanwhile, has continued to defy his own age with some brilliant performances for Manchester United last season. He might be eighteen months older than Beckham, but the context is crucial. Whilst Giggs plies his trade in a pulsating league boasting the cream of the world’s best players – a league unrecognisable from the one he started as a fresh-faced, bubble-permed 17 year-old in 1991, Beckham can point to little more than Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane in the form of respectable company nowadays.

Whilst all three players are all at a higher footballing standard than Beckham in 2012, it is also worth remembering they come off the back of a two-month rest. Beckham may well have felt the effects of fatigue from his ongoing season in the MLS, as well as having to contend with jetlag.

Yes, I understand Beckham is one of our great patriots who wears his heart on his sleeve, and that’s why the British public rightly love him and have forgiven him for past wrongs on and off the pitch. In an era where the likes of Jamie Carragher and Ben Foster to name a couple, have shown they couldn’t care less about national service by ditching the England team so early in their careers, Beckham’s loss of temper over a rather trivial matter in his club’s game this week showed the wounds of national rejection were fresh and deep. The affection and respect of his country only grew as a result.

It does seem harsh to axe a man who has gone to great lengths to spearhead the Olympic bid and its preparations, not to mention his tireless lobbying for England’s ill-fated attempts to host the 2018 World Cup. But it is quite clear that he will still have some part to play and Pearce will create an avenue for his talismanic qualities to be practised. Ultimately, the country has a choice going into this most significant of all British summers. Do we want medals or success, or do nothing more than simply turn up and host a good party? If Stuart Pearce was under instruction to fill a team of national treasures, he might as well have gone and personally dragged Baroness Williams from the House of Lords and flown Hugh Laurie back home on the same plane as Beckham. But that’s not his job. His decision was wise, and it is ultimately a victory for sense over sentiment.

MICHAEL THURLOWAY: DAVID BECKHAM SHOULD HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR TEAM GB

The omission of David Beckham from the Team GB football squad, announced earlier this week, came as a shock to many people who had complacently expected him to be included. Stuart Pearce is clearly putting his own stamp on the squad. He has refused to be dictated to by the emotions of the nation. However in this case I think Pearce has gone wide of the mark. To me he has missed the point.

The Olympic Games football tournament consists of teams made up almost completely of players aged twenty-three or under. The only exceptions are the three more experienced players which each squad is permitted. One must ask the question why this is. Footballers play at all age levels without the participation of older players to help them along. By the time players reach the age of twenty-one, effectively the end of regular age defined football teams in England at least, they should certainly not be in need of old heads to guide them along. In reality it is not the experience of these older players which is important. It is the experience of playing with them. And who has been more iconic in British football over the last fifteen years than David Beckham?

Let’s not kid ourselves here. The British football team is nothing but a novelty. Though I will be supporting them all the way, with the hope they can win the gold medal, it will be with nowhere near the fervour with which I supported England during last month’s European Championships. What it is, however, is a chance for lesser known players to be recognised on the international stage. If they were given the choice, I’m sure they would prefer to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to play alongside Beckham. The obvious omission would be Micah Richards: his well publicised refusal to be on the standby list for England’s Euro 2012 squad is a sign of petulance contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games. Ironically, the injury to Gary Cahill which ruled him out of the tournament would surely have meant Richard’s was called up, had be been available. Martin Kelly was called up instead.

Pearce has claimed that “no manager picks on sentiment.” What he is forgetting is that Team GB is not an ordinary managerial job. It is a one-off experiment. There has not been a British Olympic football team since 1960, and may never be one again. To omit Beckham, a man who has been recognised for his services to football and sport in general, appears ill advised. It comes from a manager who seems to be overplaying exactly what his job entails. This is no equivalent to being the England manager. He may use “football reasons” as his excuse, but as Beckham showed earlier this week in the MLS, his dead ball ability has not deteriorated. Beckham has also come out in defence of the quality of the MLS, convincingly stating that, if it were not of a good standard, Manchester United would not make regular pre-season trips to the USA. The Glazer connection may also be a factor, but Sir Alex Ferguson would never go along with it if wasn’t useful preparation for his team.

The additional defensive cover cited in defence of the inclusion of Micah Richards seems to be at odds with the make-up of the rest of the squad. Pearce has selected only three forwards, one of whom is Bellamy who has played mostly on the right of midfield this season for Liverpool. Daniel Sturridge has also seen most of his playing time on the left of a front three, leaving England short of a true centre forward. He might question Beckham’s form, but form has not prevented his selection of a number of players who have had little game time all season. This is not to say that Pearce should not have picked some of the younger players who are not regulars for their clubs. It just seems to invalidate his explanation for Beckham’s omission. Pearce’s claims to have picked a squad bearing in mind “football reasons” do not seem to stack up.

Overall, Beckham has received a harsh snub, which will surely come as a disappointment to fans and other players as well as the man himself. He has not been granted one last hurrah on home soil. I have been unconvinced by Pearce’s arguments in favour of his omission. He has claimed not to pick on sentiment, yet the inclusion of his former player at Manchester City, Richards, belies that. On the basis that Pearce’s explanations do not add up, I believe Beckham should have been included in the England squad.