Clarke and Kent take the honours: The Open from a first-time spectator's view

Bleary eyed. Darren Clarke's face this morning resembled mine and my mate's on the final day of the Open


I have never been to watch golf but after following the ups and downs of a certain Northern Irishman in the last two majors I decided I wanted to go to the Open – where
I saw the memorable triumph of another.

So at £55 a ticket, two of us made the journey to Sandwich to watch the final day of the biggest golf tournament of the year. Not bad value when it’s a similar price for 90 minutes of football.

My friend and I started our day at Royal St George’s a similar way that Darren Clarke started his first day as Open champion: hungover. It wasn’t in the original plan but after copious amounts of red wine it proved unavoidable. Still, there’s nothing like a ten-hour stroll by the beach starting at 8am to clear your hangover.

The stroll was hardly easy going. Royal St George’s is littered with mounds, bumps and hills which makes for tough walking but with it excellent vantage points to see great golf in tough conditions. Even though the tees, greens and fairways were obviously cordoned off, the spectators’ area lived up to the tournament’s name, open, and we felt like we could go anywhere. If we wanted refreshments, we had three bars to choose from. Beer wasn’t cheap but it was good quality and £4.20 a pint is par for the course at sporting events.

Before the golf started we had a look around the tented village. This activities area, complete with simulator, Wii and bunker challenge is a great way for people to take a little break from the sport and should be introduced at other all-day events, most notably Test cricket where there is nothing to do when it rains (except drink in the bar).

Registering for the tented village the staff asked us a couple of questions: do you think the ticket price is good value for money? Would you prefer to be able to bring your mobile phone in? With a stern ‘yes’ to question one I had to think about number two. It’s strange for most people not to have their mobile with them and annoying if you’re in a big group and lose each other, but I didn’t miss my phone that much. Without a radio it would have come in handy to check what was happening on the other holes other than looking out for the leader board but this was a minor inconvenience.

Cameras were also banned from the course. This was annoying in that there were so many opportunities for great snaps, close-ups of the players and mementos of the day. However that is not nearly as annoying as it would have been trying to catch a view of a putt on 10th, only to have my view blocked by hundreds of hands in the air as people try and get a photo.

What about the golf itself? That was fantastic. However, seeing the heroic shots is down to luck for the spectator while it is a guarantee for the armchair viewer. We saw some good moments: impressive shots and some important putts, not to mention getting within touching distance of the players. But while we were a few feet from watching Miguel Angel Jiminez chipping from the rough on sixth, we missed the all important eagle from Phil Mickelson on the seventh. Keen to follow Mickelson after that, we then missed Clarke complete the same feat.

That unfortunate timing is more than made up for by the atmosphere. Everyone was in such a good mood from the supporters to the volunteer marshals to the burger van staff and the players themselves. It was great to see Sergio Garcia give his ball to a little girl between holes and the constant grin on Mickelson’s face, even when he had bogeyed the 11th. And when Clarke sunk that putt on the 18th to win, I couldn’t see a thing but would not swap the memory of being there for anything.

Being so close gives you an insight into the players’ mindset. They all seem so appreciative of the reception they are getting and like normal blokes despite being ultra-talented sportsmen and multi-millionaires. Many reports have said this is why Darren Clarke is such a popular champion but many of the players give off the same vibe.

If I had a criticism, the course could do with some more TV screens because you can’t always get an ideal view, but the cost of giant TVs may impact on the ticket price.

The trip to the Open was a Sunday stroll with a difference. A memorable day out where we witnessed the heroics of a true champion.

Chelsea not feeding from the fruits of their youth system

Cast out. Michael Mancienne has gone to Hamburg after only four first team appearances for Chelsea despite starting with the club in 1995


Given the short term success and massive transfer fees for star players – many forget that Roman Abramovich’s millions have also done a world of good for Chelsea’s youth system. The sad thing is the club are not making the most of this young talent.

His money paid for the state-of-the-art training facility at Cobham which has not just benefited the first team but also youngsters trying to make a name for themselves. They are doing that, but at smaller clubs where they are loaned out before deciding to move on permanently with no imprint on the Stamford Bridge set up.

The acquisition of Frank Arnesen from Tottenham did wonders for Chelsea’s youth development, his expertise helped bring in attractive young players from abroad and nurtured the home-grown talent, but the club are already feeling the effects of his departure to Hamburg and with no first team coach to act as a mentor, it is the young blood that will suffer.

Michael Mancienne is a prime example. Coming through the ranks with Chelsea’s youth team and reserves, he earned an England call up without a first-team appearance. But Mancienne spent more time on loan at Queen’s Park Rangers and Wolverhampton Wanderers than at Stamford Bridge and he has now left with Arnesen to Germany with only four Chelsea appearances to his name, but remains an integral part of England’s Under 21 squad.

When you look at that squad in Denmark for the European Championships, there are others that have similar stories. Scott Sinclair came to Chelsea from Bristol Rovers at 16 and was being touted as a major emerging talent. But he was constantly shipped out on loan before feeling so disassociated with the club he left permanently, to Swansea City with former Chelsea reserve team boss Brendan Rodgers. After a hat-trick in the playoff final he will have a chance to terrorise his former employers in the Premier League next season.

His international team mate Jack Cork must feel the same way. He has over 50 first team appearances on loan at Burnley and is an integral part of the team there. He has hinted to a return to Turf Moor as he feels he has unfinished business there. Defender Ryan Bertrand will also return to Chelsea after four years in the Championship and may find it difficult to adjust.

This is the case with Chelsea’s young foreign talent brought in by Arnesen as well. Patrick van Aanholt, Fabio Borini, Gael Kakuta and Jeffry Bruma were all loaned out but will need to return to the fold to really feel part of the Chelsea set up in the future.

Of course it makes sense to loan out young players. They are not going to push the likes of Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba out of a team trying to win every competition they enter so this gives them a chance of competitive first team football. But there is a balance otherwise the players are left wondering if their chance will ever come. Danny Sturridge set his stall out with his loan move to Bolton to make way for Fernando Torres in January, with eight goals in 12 games, but whether that will benefit Chelsea with goals or a big transfer fee, we don’t know yet.

Chelsea are aiming to be self sufficient so producing the next John Terry, the only real Chelsea product turned superstar, is an integral part of that. But to do that they have to make the youngsters think they have a realistic chance of making the first team.

The last manger Carlo Ancelotti got it right with 18-year-old midfielder Josh McEachran. The Italian gave him nine appearances for the Blues which gave him a chance to mix it with the big boys and show his potential. But he is one of dozens of emerging talents and he may not be the favourite of the next manager that comes in. McEachran is at least showing signs of being a Premier League superstar with his reported celebrity girlfriend, Coronation Street’s Brooke Vincent.

A constant change of manager gives the club no stability and while the Champions League is the top of Roman’s list, these young stars are not getting the mentors they need to succeed and benefit the club in the long run. We will have to wait and see what the next one does for them.

England calls for a delay in FIFA election, just 150 more to go . . .

Status quo. Blatter is set to continue as FIFA chief

Despite it being the top story on nearly all main British news programmes that both the English and Scottish FAs joined forces to delay the upcoming FIFA election – today’s news looks as though the election will go ahead as planned and the sole candidate, current president Sepp Blatter, will continue.

That is because the English and Scottish FAs hold as little weight in world football as the Kazakhstan or Azerbaijan FAs. It is all equal so these two are not going to make a difference.

For a delay in the election to go through, three quarters of the 208 nations that come under FIFA have to vote in favour, just the 150 something to go then.

Of course England wanted a delay in the hope that a new candidate, who has not been investigated for corruption, would stand. In their eyes Blatter and the current FIFA set up are responsible for the failed 2018 World Cup bid. Just as much as the likes of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan would be happy for Blatter to continue, not only do their low-profile leagues not care about an absence of goal-line technology but also under a Blatter regime, they may even get a sniff at hosting a World Cup like South Africa, Russia or Qatar.

Because England is one of the top football-playing nations in the world in terms of participation and support, if not international success, FIFA see them as a big-wig trying to gain all the power. Even Prince William said the election should be delayed, but only the British care.

For all FIFA’s corruption and wrongdoing, which is finally coming to the fore, they see themselves as an organisation standing up for the little guy and there are hundreds of these little guys not paying any attention to what is happening in Zurich.

This means we will have the status quo for a little while longer. England’s players will try and qualify for competitions in the back of beyond, every week managers and fans will complain at a decision that could have been easily resolved by technology and Blatter will laud in his power over the world’s most popular game.

Ji Sung would run all over the Park to win for Man United

Breath easy. Park has earned the nickname 'Three Lungs' for his athleticism

While Ryan Giggs is the main focus of the football and gossip pages at the moment – another Manchester United midfielder will be quietly getting on with training in the hope of playing some part in Saturday’s Champions League final.

And Korean international Park Ji Sung should play against Barcelona at Wembley because he has the burst of energy and the ability to nick a goal and change a game.

Park has played 15 league games and eight Champions League games this season, with eight goals and six assists in all competitions, including the first of the four in their title winning parade against relegated Blackpool. These stats make this the best season for any Asian player in England.

One suspects that if the man on the front of all the papers had not also been at the front of United’s on-field success, then Park, injury permitting, would have played and contributed a lot more.

No doubt that Park has the ability to change a game. He has a history of grabbing goals in important matches including one against Chelsea in the quarter final of this year’s Champions League campaign, just 30 seconds after Didier Drogba had given the Blues hope.

Former United midfielder Nicky Butt made his case for Park’s inclusion in Saturday’s team:

"His athleticism is amazing. He can break up play and gives the simple passes. But he also has the energy to get forward and scores the odd important goal.

"He is one of those players that are so difficult to play against because he is non-stop. Clearly they have outstanding players of their own, but Barcelona will not like playing against Park."

History suggests that Sir Alex Ferguson feels the same way. Park played in the 2009 Champions League final defeat to Barca in Rome. This was as much for his desire as for his ability. Park does not seek the limelight, despite being the equivalent of David Beckham in South East Asia.

He simply trains and gets on with his career in the hope of playing and making an imprint of the game. He has earned the nickname “three lungs” for the reputation of running his socks off for 90 minutes.

If Barca are flowing on Saturday night and Xavi, Iniesta and Messi are frustrating United by playing the ball around, you can bet that Park will be chasing every single one.

McDermott: 'We deserve everything we get'

Royal approval: Reading go to Wembley in a 3-0 win thanks to two goals from Shane Long

Reading manager Brian McDermott has praised his players’ faith throughout the season after they won 3-0 away at Cardiff to make this season’s Championship playoff final.

Two goals from Shane Long and one from Jobi McAnuff helped the Royals secure a spot at Wembley and a match up against former manager Brendan Rodgers’ Swansea City.

McDermott said: “This was a fantastic occasion and we are going to Wembley so I am absolutely delighted . This club is all about the group and they deserved everything they get.”

Reading sat in twelfth place in the Championship back in February but a late run helped secure fifth place. This win at the Cardiff City stadium stretched their unbeaten run away from home to nine games and gives them momentum going to Wembley.

McDermott added: “We had faith in what we could do and we never gave up.”

Just as Kevin Doyle was Reading’s hero when Steve Coppell led them to the Premier League in 2006, Irishman Shane Long was the man of the match and Reading’s after two goals taking his season tally to 25. His clever chip after a Stephen Bywater mistake and cool finish from twelve yards set the stall out in the first half before McAnuff finished it off.

“It means so much to all of us,” said Long. “It has been a long time coming.

“The game was not easy, we had to dig deep and it was just enough.”

A disappointed Dave Jones said Cardiff’s “hearts were on the floor” after his team yet again failed after fighting for promotion all season.
“I said to the players they have worked so hard again but it wasn’t to be. It is hard to swallow but you have to dust yourself down.

“Now is not the right time to reflect on the season, we need to go away and assess and that’s how the club has to grow. It’s Reading’s night it’s not our night.”

Jones delivered champagne to the Reading dressing room as a goodwill gesture but they will have to put it on ice for the time being and see if they can overcome another Welsh team at Wembley on May 30.

Cardiff City 0 - 3 Reading: Match Report

Reading spoilt the Welsh Wembley party and secured a shot at a return to the Premier League with a 3-0 win over Cardiff in the playoff semi final second leg on Tuesday.

As he has been so often this season, Irishman Shane Long was the Royals’ hero with two first half goals after glaring errors in the Cardiff back line. Long’s double and a clinical third goal from Jobi McAnuff towards the end set up a match up with Swansea City on May 30.

The club’s top goal scorer cleverly chipped into an open goal after Stephen Bywater’s scuffed clearance before scoring a second from the penalty spot after Dekel Keinan brought down Matt Mills. McAnuff skipped past the defence to finish past Bywater with seven minutes left to seal it.

Meanwhile the Bluebirds, who had their own hero Craig Bellamy on the sidelines through injury, face another season in England’s second tier after capitulating at the end of the league season and then in front of their own fans in this match. Despite enjoying the majority of the possession and having contentious penalty shouts turned down by England’s top referee Howard Webb, Dave Jones’ team knew that they failed to test Adam Federici in the Reading goal and costly errors in defence led to the defeat.

Cardiff had their first penalty shout after four minutes. Michael Chopra was brought down in the box by Andy Griffin but Webb, whose appointment signified the importance of the occasion, waved it away.

Chopra was in the spotlight again when he claimed to be brought down in the box and later a left footed effort from the edge of the box shaved wide. The Cardiff front man would have scored seconds afterwards when he latched onto a through ball from Jay Bothroyd but Mills’ decisive block in one of a handful of half chances.

Despite all this pressure it was Reading who got the first goal after 28 minutes. Long was lurking as Bywater misjudged the bounce of a long ball forward and kicked the ball straight into him so he could lift it into the empty net.

The goal came against the run of play and Cardiff responded well with more. Webb turned down another penalty claim when Olofinjana appeared to be pushed over by Mikele Leigertwood.

Leigertwood nearly allowed Cardiff back in five minutes before the break when his pass back was too short for Federici, but the Reading goalkeeper read the situation and cleared his lines with Bothroyd breathing down his neck, reacting slightly better than his opposite 20 minutes earlier.

For the contentious decisions in the Reading area, their penalty shout was a no brainer. Keinan constantly tugged on Mills’ shirt before finally bringing him down in front of the referee’s eyes. Webb pointed to the spot and Long converted.

Cardiff came out of the blocks fighting and had the first good chance after the break after Jay Emmanuel-Thomas put a ball across goal but no team mates were there to latch onto it. Olofinjana then latched on to another cross but headed straight at Federici again.

With 13 minutes left, Federici, who had made simple saves from a string of close range efforts, came flying out of his area to dispossess Jay Bothroyd and clear any danger for a second time of the evening. Replays suggested he handled the ball to control the long pass outside his area and was lucky to stay on the pitch.

Noel Hunt hit the post and flashed across goal for Reading in two good chances to kill the tie, but McAnuff finally clinched it with seven minutes left when he twisted past the Cardiff defence and slotted a fierce right-footed shot home.

Chelsea must invest in some width to succeed

Everything points to being all change at Chelsea next season. Odds are on that manager Carlo Ancelotti is off, with a list of candidates lined up to replace him, and the ageing hero Didier Drogba will be ousted to make way for the £50million Fernando Torres to thrive up front.

Should all this happen, the Blues will also need to look at two areas of the pitch in order to succeed and right the wrong of going a season without a trophy, both wings.

Torres is a striker who does best on his own up front. At Liverpool he did well with service from Gerrard and co behind him and he failed for Spain recently with the prolific David Villa up alongside him. With Chelsea having a centre midfielder in Lampard who enjoys bombing forward, the service for Torres to get those all important goals needs to come from the flanks.

Under Ancelotti, and previously under Guus Hiddink, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Avram Grant, Chelsea have played very narrow football but their strength in midfield allowed them to bulldoze lesser teams and occasionally be too strong for their rivals. This style seems to have been found out this year, especially by Manchester United, and has contributed to the unsuccessful campaign.

Although many associate Jose Mourinho’s reign at Stamford Bridge with effective 1-0 wins, many forget that when Arjen Robben emerged from injury in 2004, they enjoyed a string of big wins against Premier League opposition. This was continued with those effective 1-0 victories but they came because Robben and Damien Duff were so devastating on the wings: with pace, the ability to beat players, cross the ball and a knack to get goals. They would frequently swap sides and mess with defenders heads, and everything good about Chelsea going forward went through them.

Compare that with today and Chelsea still frequently play a 4-3-3 formation. But there is no threat on the right hand side with Branislav Ivanovic at right back, as he is a natural centre half, and further up the pitch Ancelotti normally chooses a natural centre forward on the right of the front three in the shape of either Salomon Kalou or Nicolas Anelka. There is of course the option of Jose Bosingwa at right back, but his fondness for going forward often leaves gaping wholes at the back. There needs to be a balance.

It is not much better on the left. While Ashley Coleis one of the world’s best left backs and can defend and get forward equally well, his ability to cross can leave something to be desired. He is joined on the left by Florent Malouda, an enigma for Chelsea who can be the best player on the pitch when things go right, but the worst when things go wrong.

Malouda has been prolific for a left winger with 13 league goals this season. They came when Chelsea were flying, both at the start of the season and on the recent run before the loss to Manchester United last weekend. When Chelsea had the miserable run in mid-winter of seven games without a win, Malouda was anonymous. He does not boast the track record of providing service for the strikers either, with only four assists all season.

Enigma. Florent Malouda has 13 goals but only four assists on the left for Chelsea this season

So some width is needed for Chelsea to succeed next year. That way Torres will enjoy some service while Lampard can bomb on and join him while either John Obi Mikel or Michael Essien (or anyone else who comes in) can sit in front of the front two.

The trouble is the options out there. Today Chelsea were linked with exciting Spanish left winger Juan Mata and Aston Villa’s Ashley Young is frequently rumoured to leave Villa park, but there is not that much Champions League/Premier League winning talent that is available. Whether a Duff and Robben-type partnership will return to Stamford Bridge remains to be seen.