Battle of Manchester

A few hours after the Rugby World Cup final between France and New Zealand, which promises to be an absolute cracker, there is a small matter of Manchester United vs Manchester City- a blockbuster worth watching during your Sunday afternoon. For the past several years, United have casted shadow upon their rivals. However, after the Abu Dhabi takeover of Man City, an expenditure of £300 million on players, managerial changeover from Hughes to Mancini and £1 billion plan complex for City's overall infrastructure on youth development and facilities, it's fair to say the gap has closed considerably. So what can we expect?

Man Utd, despite picking up the points, haven't been at their flowing best. Their 2-0 win over Norwich was anything but comfortable and the draw with Liverpool showed United are not so defensively solid as they used to be. However, wins against Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea will give them confidence as well as the fact they have not lost at home in the Premier League since April 2010 against Chelsea. The emergence of Young and improvement of Nani have added a quickness and excitement to United's play supplementing the attacking threat of Rooney and Hernandez. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have certainly heaved more pressure on Vidic and Ferdinand to maintain their 1st choice centre back status.Plus, United have had plenty of big game experience. Therefore, they will be confident a picking up a result.

City, on the other hand, have been impressive. Despite their indifferent form in the Champions League, City have so far obtained seven wins and a draw and thus top of the table. Their 4-1 win over Aston Villa was imperious and the ability to shrug off the Tevez ordeal illustrates all things are smooth. Mancini has loosened the shackles to play a more attacking style of football that is so different yet refreshing from last year- gone are the chants of "Boring, Boring City". Combination of Dzeko and Aguero have flourished and the freedom for Nasri and Silva to roam around have cause all defence problems. In addition, they have an outstanding captain in Vicent Kompany and maurading giant of Yaya Toure who runs like train and so difficult to stop.

Both teams will target their weakness and it is how well one team utilises their strengths to minimise their own weakness and maximise exposure of their opponent's weakness that is the key to winning the match.

Man United can focus terrorising the left back area of Man City. Clichy, Kolarov and Lescott have all been trialled but none of them have seem to cement that left back position. As a team, United must switch the ball quickly from side to side and enable their wingers to go one-on-one with City's full back and attack City with pace in behind. But will Sir Alex employ two strikers and two wingers against a dangerous City side or will he turned to the team against Liverpool and try to nulify City's attack?

Man City will instruct their players to shoot directly at goal and test Man Utd's keeper, David de Gea, who has been a liability. More importantly, Man City can physically dominate the centre of the park with Yaya Toure's power and Barry tough tackling. One worry with United is that they have not replaced Paul Scholes  and Man City could expose that frailty.  The biggest question is: What formation will Mancini employ? Will he revert to his trusted 4-5-1 and sacrifice one of his strikers for a destructive midfielder such as De Jong and slow the game down but reduce their own attacking threat? Or will he be bold and go with two strikers and take United head on but risk his defence at the mercy of Rooney and co?

The team selection and formation selection will be pivotal not only to the outcome of the game but the style of the game. If both managers select two strikers, expect an open and exciting game full of goals, chances and wonderful attacking play. If not, expect a pedestrian, tedious and tense match with little goal mouth action.

Either way, it will be a fascinating derby of passionate supporters and feisty tackling with huge implications, result wise. If Man Utd win, they will go top of the table and sustain their long standing fortress against Man City. If City win, they will go five points clear of Man Utd and perhaps they will show signs of breaching United's walls. City can overtake United with the quality players, spending power and infrastructure but it will they match Man Utd for tradition, longevity and history of success. Let the battle commence.

Heartache for Heroic Wales

Neutral or Welsh, we all feel for Wales rugby team. Playing with 14 men for more than an hour against the French was always a tough challenge. But to be inches away, literally, from a place in the World Cup final is difficult to swallow. Passion, perseverance and physicality- Wales showed all the essential qualities to be true sporting greats. Yes, semi finals are all about results but one cannot deny that this semi final will be remembered for one of the bravest performance in Rugby World Cup history as well as the most ridiculous referee's decision which, in principle, handed over an controversial win to France. One could go as far to say that Wales were cheated. Nevertheless, it was a pulsating spectacle.

With a rainstorm hailing down before kick off, it was no surprise that the first few minutes started off with loose ball and ground play from both sides. However, it was Wales who scored first when Hook landed a beautifully-judged penalty from the right touchline but came at a cost of an injury to Adam Jones. Then drama struck as a red card was harshly given for skipper and talisman Sam Warburton for tackle on Vincent Clerc whilst up in the air- a sending off that got commentators and supporters in anger and disbelief. France were suddenly in the game as Morgan Parra hit two penalties to go 6-3 up. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Wales line pressed forward looking for instant response but no points. 

Second half started with a French penalty meaning Wales need a converted try to win. French pressure started to show as they pinned the Welsh back in their own half. It seemed all hope was lost. Suddenly, out of nowhere, after quick, recycling ball play, Mike Phillips darting run broke through French back line to score a try. Stephan Jones kick agonisingly hit the post to prevent them from going 10-9 up. From then on, Wales piled on the pressure throwing their bodies, taking the hits and thrusting forward, urged by the 50,000 Auckland roars. One could sense the anticipation of something special could happen. That opportunity came when a penalty was given to Wales on the half way line. Lee Halfpenny shouldered this responsibility and his kick, which had direction, just dropped tantalisingly short in front of the posts.

However, Wales kept going and put on a final assault that went through 26 phases. But they could not work another opportunity, and their exhausted players fell to their knees as referee Rolland blew his final whistle. Huge disappointment for the Welsh contingent but more relief than jubilation for the French who attempt to win the world cup final for the first time.

France- a team who were brushed aside by New Zealand and humbled by Tonga- are somehow, undeservedly to most rugby fans, in the final. "and this is why everyone hates the french", "Wales. Was. Robbed" are a few of many unhappy comments on the result. France flatter to deceive. Their unconvincing performances have pundits writing them off against either Australia or New Zealand in the final. Yet with match winners such as Parra, Harinordoquy, Dusautoir and Clerc, when performing at their best, France will be a difficult proposition for any side, especially when they get that slick, quick back line passing . 

On the other hand, Wales have been excellent throughout the tournament and will be proud of their efforts.  Youth and energy has made Wales a force to be reckoned with now and in years to come. They were extremely unlucky as injustice has been done upon them with the early sending-off. They gave absolutely everything and got nothing which would make anyone sick in any situation. But Wales represent an attitude which everyone should follow; If you have a goal, go for it, never give it up, fight for it and see it through with passion, desire and commitment.   

Surely a Spurs victory

North London derby always serves up a classic. 4-4, 3-3 just some of the most notable scorelines over the recent years between Arsenal and Spurs. For a long time, Arsenal have been the favourites. Yet today will be role reversal. For Spurs are the more confident, clinical and cohesive side out of the two and will be expected to be beat Arsenal- a thought which no Gunner would ever contemplate. Yes, Arsenal have won their last three games, but they were against hardly testing proposition. Adding to that, their defending has not been particularly water tight. Whereas Spurs have won their last three premier league including their 4-0 win over Liverpool. So the form book would suggest Spurs victory. But football is never won on pre-match stats. 

After the turbulent summer for both clubs, the departures of Fabregas and Nasri from Arsenal and the arrivals of Adebayor and Parker to Spurs plus their ability to hold onto Modric, Arsenal are all of a sudden are weaker side than Spurs. Take Spurs possible midfield line up for example,  (left to right): Bale, Modric, Parker, van der Vaart, Lennon.Compared to Arsenal: Arshavin, Arteta, Song, Ramsey, Walcott. Apart from Walcott on his day, none of the Arsenal players would get into that midfield. So first problem for Arsenal is how will they dominate that midfield area?

Defensively both teams are not sound. Though Arsenal would be more worried that they were opened up easily by weak opposition, especially from set pieces. Arsenal full backs are going to have be on top of their game to keep Bale and Lennon quiet and Arsenal's new giant, Mertersacker must win the aerial battle against Adebayor. Yet this leaves a problem for Arsenal's defensive line. For instance, they can keep a high line and thus, press the Spurs players, giving them little time to maneuver in a compressed midfield. Plus it will negate the long ball threat to Adebayor since he is so far back from the goal. However 1) this will be exhausting 2) If Arsenal don't press in unison, they will be huge, non-patrolled gaps in the middle of the park 3) If the ball is played over the top, and Bale and Lennon beat the offside trap, there will be a lot of space for them to run into and cause havoc since no Arsenal player will have the pace to recover. But if they were to defend from the 18 yard line, the threat in behind would not exist yet Arsenal will be inviting Spurs to attack and put the defense under even more pressure, especially if Adebayor get the knock downs onto midfield runner of Van der Vaart and Modric. But Arsenal are no team sit back. So, either way, it really depends upon on the Arsenal defenders.

Fear not Arsenal fans, you have a world class player in Van Persie who can 'turn any match on its head'- scoring 21 goals in last 23 premier league games. In addition, Walcott's pace and Arshavin's trickery, there will be enough of a threat to stretch Spurs shaky full backs. 

With all that in mind, it surely points to a Spurs victory . A win for them, would signal them as favourites for fourth place. Yet football is never predictable and despite all the criticism of Arsenal, perhaps Wenger and his team will pull out something from the hat.Whatever the result, it will no doubt be feisty encounter with interesting repercussions. 

A New Beginning

Holidays are over and this week most post GCSE or equivalent students will be off to their sixth forms or colleges to study A Levels(GCE) or equivalent.

For some, hopefully most of us,  it will signal an end of an happy and enjoyable summer holiday full of action, drama and loud noise or perhaps it was more quiet, peaceful and calm. Both scenarios coupled with excellent exam results.  Nevertheless these people wish that their holidays never stopped nor their GCSE years for that matter. Yet they will be confident, overconfident perhaps. With those who have overconfidence, complacency may creep along and bite them where it hurts most. Obtaining success is one thing, sustaining sucess is another. For our reliance on our past success can never assure us future success because our minds and our surroundings are never constant. Furthermore, the higher you achieve, the further your fall should you fail to live up to the high expectations created by one's success. One must heed with caution.

For some of us, school could not have come more soon having endured terrible and anxious holidays and be dejected of disappointing exam results. For those who feel this way, fear not. It is a new beginning and therefore must be met with optimism, hope and belief that the tides can turn around. Why shouldn't it? GCSEs are one thing, A levels are another. GCSEs are composed to test, stretch and view the potential of one's academic ability maximised by willingness to work hard and desire to achieve one's optimum ability. A Levels are composed to challenge the commitment to learn and expand one's interest through rigorous academia but also a test of passion for one's interest and skill capabilities to cope with challenges beyond the syllabus. It is the next two years where one's true colours are revealed. GCSEs may show rounded, intellectual ability- something that can never be disregarded since it is a sign of durability- but it does not test neither our the willingness to express one's passion of a subject nor our ability to apply complex theory in practice- something which occurs in the everyday life. So don't give up just yet.

Whatever it maybe, one hopes one's holiday was most relaxing and that one is refreshed and recharged to expand one's interests or tackle the difficult challenges ahead of us, academia or not. Judge yourself not now but in two years time. For that surely counts the most.

Kingston's Education and Unemployment

Not for the first time, recent statistics have shown a correlation between education and unemployment in Kingston’s local areas. The education-unemployment graph suggests low academic schools(LAS) are situated in local areas of the borough that has high unemployment. The question is why such a recurring ‘coincidence’ happens to be actual occurrence.

Families in high unemployment areas earn little or no income. A book ‘Small expectations: Learning to be poor?’ suggests children of low/non income families learn their financial difficulties and thus reduce their future aspirations based on their economic position in society.

Crime-Unemployment graph

Pupils’ academic attitudes are hugely affected by this link. Students attending high academic schools(HAS) behave more rationally, gain economic incentives to work harder because they have greater awareness of education’s value in the future. Whereas students of ‘LAS’, knowing there are better schools, automatically obtain an ‘I’m rubbish’ mentality. It lays out hedonistic incentives to drink alcohol, take drugs etc... This path leads to a future where one stays at home, has little or no qualifications, unemployed and, as the crime-unemployment graph suggests, is likely to commit unjustified anti-social offences. Therefore the poorer one’s education, higher the risk of unemployment and involvement in crime because, according to sociological theorists, one doesn’t understand ‘benefits of adhering to conventional social values’.

Teachers are a factor in the education-unemployment link. Most teachers realise the incentive of improving their pupils’ results to gain recognition from ‘HAS’. As a result, often those teachers leave for ‘HAS’ whom offer a higher salary, leaving low achievers with non-incentivised teachers which is why this link will always exist just as the unemployment rate will never reach zero.

Education-Unemployment graph

The link itself and its effects are not severe in Kingston compared to other boroughs. For instance, Tolworth Girls, despite situated in an area of 3% unemployment rate, their ‘A*-C’ % is higher than Hollyfield, who has a 2.4% unemployment rate, because of its pupils’ desire to succeed and its teachers’ dedication to teach. Stronger education leads to lower unemployment and crime rate and thus a safer community.