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Another Top Balcony Blue

Listed below are comments made by Another Top Balcony Blue between Friday, 11th July 2008 and Tuesday, 27th January 2009.

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Rafa's Red Missed 8:22pm on 27 Jan 2009 Just a couple of points:

YES Everton had a striker on Sunday - Amechebe. And the point is . . .?
(As a matter of interest he is 5th in line behind Yak, Saha, Vaughan and Cahill.)

We went there with a plan - keep it tight and hit them on the break. Anybody who thinks this was the wrong tactics at a ground where we havent won for 10 years and with a much depleted side are clearly doing everything possible to ignore their own teams short comings.

Accusing the BBC of being anti-liverpool now? It's a good job that Hansen, Lawrenson and Alan Green all make up for that then big style.

We snuck a draw in the cup and RB didn't have the dignity to accept that on the day his players couldn't break us down. What sort of tactician is he, if he doesn’t plan against the opposing team defending as unit?

In the league match it was RB who had withdrawn his £48m strike-force, who was being negative and defensive then?
Sports Personality shortlist announced 2:54pm on 02 Dec 2008 For those people who thought I was knocking Hamilton, I will respond.

I was jumping around like an idiot when he passed Mr Glock and was really, really pleased that he won despite what the governing body and all the marshals had done to him all season. His fitness, dedication and skill will never be in doubt.

However, to answer a few things. So he’s the youngest F1 Championship winner of all time, brilliant! But, does anyone else think that MS would have won the Championship in his first year if he been in that McLaren? LH had the best car last year and it didn’t go for him and I was gutted. He had the best car again this year and won it. A brilliant achievement and I think that next year he will blitz the championship – and THEN he will be SPOTY.

For those who argue that the swimmers had an unfair advantage with their low resistance suits – most of the swimmers were wearing them, and those that didn’t had chosen not to (for some reason). It’s not like the suits cost millions of pounds. In swimming it is all down to talent and ability – and an unhealthy desire to get up and swim at 5 in the morning! The fact that Rebecca Adlington won one Gold would have put her up for nomination, but to get two and smash the longest standing record in the process, should go down in history.

Chris Hoy would be my second choice. He had a fantastic year. It is so close between the two in my eyes - such a fine margin, but he was expected to do well and was also on a very expensive bike and they are the only things I can say against his case of winning it.

Murray has had a great year too, but unfortunately for him, the others are supreme winners at the very top of their game, whereas while he has made a great step forward and may well win a grand slam in the not too distant future, in my opinion he hasn’t quite done enough.

Perhaps we should have a Sportsman of the Year and a Sportswoman of the Year award.
Sports Personality shortlist announced 12:02pm on 02 Dec 2008 Here's me 10p's worth!

In my opinion it has to be an Olympian - we had such an unexpectedly good games and the main protagonists survive on a fraction of the money that Hamilton or Murray get, the dedication and commitment needed should not be ignored.

My individual award winner would be Rebecca Adlington, especially for the 800m Gold and shattering Janet Evans' 19 year old record. If Hamilton had won the last race, then I think he might be more deserving, but in my eyes, although I was chuffed he won it, he had the best car and only just scraped it. Moving to Switzerland to escape "media intrusion" disappointed me, IF he didn't want all the exposure perhaps he should not have signed all those sponsorship deals. I am really glad he won the Drivers Championship for a semi-British team, but I think this year there are stronger claims. Calzaghe had another great year, McHoy was simply amazing, but I think it was the manner in which Adlington stormed to the 800m was simply incredible.

I think Chris Hoy will get a lifetime achievement award sometime, and I would not be upset if he did win it, but I think Adlington just shades it. The other cyclists also showed that we can be a nation of winners, all of whom showed class and dignity in victory. I felt sorry for Victoria Pendleton, who surely would have won more medals if they had put on more races for her to race in.

The overseas personality should go to Phelps, not only did he break all those records in winning all his races, but, again, he won with surprising humility and never once went on about how great he was! Unlike Bolt, who is an amazing athlete, but was a bit to brash for me - old fashioned chap that I am!

For the record the individual nominations were:

Chris Hoy 28
Lewis Hamilton 28
Rebecca Adlington 28
Andy Murray 26
Joe Calzaghe 24
Ben Ainslie 20
Bradley Wiggins 20
Christine Ohuruogu 19
Nicole Cooke 15
Rebecca Romero 11
Victoria Pendleton 8
Kevin Pietersen 7
Cristiano Ronaldo 5
Mark Cavendish 5
Theo Walcott 5
Ellie Simmonds 3
James DeGale 3
Wayne Rooney 3
Shane Williams 3
David Haye 2
Ryan Giggs 2

A few others with 1 nomination.

I am surprised Shane Williams didn't get more nominations as he has been electrifying over the last few years - this coming from an English Oswestrian (a matter of a couple of miles from the Welsh border) and so that hurts a bit! I think he is unlucky to have such a good year in Olympic year.

The team award must go to the Cyclists for their domination of the sport in both the Olympic and the World Championships. They could not do any more. Wales Rugby and Man U would give them a run, but I think that this year the cyclists just shade it.
British girls pay price for relay mistake - but I'd have made it too 3:06pm on 14 Aug 2008 To Not Logged In regarding "I'm a little fed up with British PBs and finishing 6th or 7th in the final." Would you prefer a competitor who couldn't be bothered to get fit or prepare properly - probably because there was no prize money or ranking points available? If they are prforming PB’s and probably breaking the National Record while they are at it, there’s not a lot more they can do. What you are saying is that doing your best is not good enough? Thank God you are not the coach.

Considering Paris alone only has 1 less full sized pool than in the whole UK, it’s remarkable that we have any swimmers in any of the finals.
Welcome to the real world, Tom! 12:06pm on 12 Aug 2008 One point I will make is that until they stepped onto the board for their first dive, I did not even know what Blake looked like. I did however, know what Tom, his Mum, his Dad and his two brothers looked like. I even had to watch them have a meal with matthew Pinsent. I did not see a single shot of this feller who was diving with young Tom. The media coverage has been so focused on Tom that a lot of people weren't even aware he was taking part in a pairs event.

It's not an excuse, but Blake is 26 and may not make another Olympic Games and after not performing at their best form and perhaps he spoke without thinking but the journalists asked "what went wrong and he gave his opinion". Which was neatlt editted down to provide the best 'headline'.

Typical British media. Build them up and then shoot them down.

i think they did alright, but the judges were clearly more lenient towards some of the other divers. The Russion chaps were given a 9.0 off one judge went one of the divers went in piked! What was all that about?
Pietersen fails to complete rescue operation 11:43pm on 01 Aug 2008 To all the KP knockers - his regular tactic is to impose himself on the bowlers by playing attacking, and often risky, shots. So he got carried away nearing the century just as Boycs was busy saying the feller can't bowl. It was a stupid mistake, but he'd got England back into the match, unlike Cook, Strauss, Vaughan and Bell. Save your criticism for those under achievers.

KP is the only consistant world class player we have, the rest (unfortnately for all England fans) are not. Look at the averages: Vaughan, Colly, Bell, Cook an Strauss all average about 40, whereas KP is nearer 50. Now look at the Ozzies - with Hussey (68), Ponting (58), Hayden (53), Hodge (55), Jacques (47), Clarke (47) and Symonds (45)!

I find it incredible that KP is getting all the flak.
The dirtiest race in history 1:28pm on 18 Jul 2008 I am pleased that Chambers lost the appeal on a number of grounds :-

1 It sends out a proper message that we don't want cheats to prosper.

2 I did not even understand the basis of the appeal. How could a ban for the Olympics be a "unfair restraint of trade"?. He is not banned from the Golden league meetings where most athletes earn their dosh. The Olympics lead to greater exposure, but he knew the rules and he broke them.

3 He did not "come clean" - their whole training group were shopped, he just admitted it when asked.

4 If he'd made a career at American Football or Rugby League, he would not have been bothered.

It has got nothing to do with the colour of his skin either.
First day to the hosts 10:03am on 11 Jul 2008 I am also surprised that Aggers has singled out MV as under threat from AF. While he does look rooted to the spot when he first comes in, his record over the winter (up until this test) is ok, averaging 33, as Colly’s is 31, Cook’s 37 and Bell 38, they shouldn't be resting on their laurells. I feel that yesterday Cook and Bell put a stake in the ground and it’s now up to Colly to prove that he’s worth his place.

The trouble is that Australia’s top six all average over 45, with Ponting averaging 58 and Hussey 78. Collectively our batsmen all have to work hard at their game as there is a gap.

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