Monday, October 22, 2012

DEACON BLUE AND AZADEH BRILLIANT

PRIVILEGED to see Deacon Blue in Plymouth last night on their 25th anniversary tour. Wonderful night of entertainment from Scotland's finest. Don't leave it so  long before you tour again, Ricky!

Also look out for Azadeh, who supported them last night. The girl with the sweet voice and the spiritually and emotionally uplifting lyrics is going to be big time, no doubt about it. Her best song at the moment is called Butterflies...remember where you  heard about her first!

FRANK WORRALL

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

WELCOME TO MY BLOG - OCTOBER 2012

'This is not brain surgery we are talking about here...'

THAT QUOTATION was from one of my first mentors in journalism – and I still stick by it today.
I have been a journalist on national newspapers for the last 20 years and am now the author of 12 books on key sportsmen of our time, and it still makes me smile when I hear some of the rubbish would-be Martin Amises spout. The people we are dealing with in football, sport generally, music and celebrity are not philosophers or the aforementioned hospital lifesavers – yet some writers, and publishers, would have you believe that they are just that.
I remember when I did my first book on Wayne Rooney and a publisher agreed to look at it. He rang me and I could almost see his lip curling in true aristocratic pompous-style as he told me: “The problem is it does not take me into the socio, psychological world of Rooney. It does not take into account the economic and social factors behind his rise. I would really need that input to take a punt on it.”
Bemused, I promptly sold it a day later to a publisher who knew what we were talking about here: Wayne Rooney, footballer extraordinaire and a young lad who had perhaps had his head turned by some of the excesses money and youth can bring. Nothing more; there was no great philosophical or sociological statement to be gained.
The world of entertainment is a great one in which to be involved and grow up. I was lucky enough to write for what used to be the Melody Maker at a very young age. I was their North of England correspondent and it was the next best thing to being a pop star. A young lad from north Manchester interviewing and staying in the same hotel as the Rolling Stones etc. Of course it went to my head! I paid a price: losing much in a fantasy world of rock 'n roll excess. Even in hindsight, it is a cheque I would gladly issue once again.
I was privileged to break some of the biggest artists to come from the north of England in the 80s. I did the first interviews with Jarvis Cocker, New Order, Morrissey, OMD and was there backstage cheering the likes of the Human League on. I also loved some being part of the more experimental music at the time – Cabaret Voltaire, the Box, Person to Person and Syncopation.
With my books, the focus has been on my joint first love – football. My book on Rooney was the first on the boy and I was privileged to do a follow-up to Roy Keane's magnificent autobiography, and, moving at a slight tangent, the first biogs on Lewis Hamilton and Rory McIlroy.
The Hamilton story encapsulates for me exactly what a great sports book should be about. The overcoming of adversity and the advent of a legend.
I intend to post my blog here regularly to expound my views on the latest developments in the world of sport and music – and I look forward to reading your replies.

FRANK WORRALL - OCTOBER 2012

THE ROLLING STONES - RICH OLD TOSSERS TO THE END?

I'LL admit I was excited when I heard the Stones were going to tour.
I'm not that much of an old fogey that I get a hard-on when every massive band from the past reforms.
But the Stones along with Bowie and The Clash are the only ones I would get out of bed to see from the old days.
Obviously David is not going to tour because of his ongoing treatment for his health problem in Manhattan and a Clash reunion would be pointless without the late great Joe Strummer.
But the Stones, and Keef in particular, are always an event and a band worth seeing.
So it is all the more disheartening that they should, even now as death probably looms for one or two of them, put money first.
Everyone in the business knows Jagger is a mean git when it comes to money. A brilliant showman and frontman, but he has always been obsessed by the readies; always insecure even when he has millions in the bank.
But surely Keef could have put on his man-of-the-people act and told Jagger that this time - and it is I understand actually going to be the last time - they should be playing for peanuts.
They could have charged a fiver a ticket as a final thank you.
It is insulting and pathetic that it will cost up to four hundred nicker (as Mick would say) to see them at the O2.
I have been told that one of their final gigs ever will be on the Saturday night at Glastonbury.
That will undoubtedly bring them in a few more nicker.
But they should do the Wembley shows that follow - that I am told will be the FINAL EVER - for a minimal charge.
It's time to give the fans something back, not to rip them off.
Come on Mick - have a bit of a social conscience or you're gonna go down in history as THE rocker who could have helped change the world, but was too keen on becoming a rich old tosser to really give a shit about the man (and woman) on the street.
It really is give something back time...

FRANK WORRALL

GOOD COP'S COP-OUT

BIT of TV comment here...I have been watching the Good Cop drama on BBC and found it brilliantly devised with great writing and acting.
But the last episode of the three-parter was a real disappointment.
Only aired on Sunday after being temporarily shelved due to the recent real-life shootings tragedy in Manchester, I had expected a finale that would tie up all the loose ends.
Instead, we were left with a cop-out as the principal character was left holding his head in anguish as he looked distraughtly at the Mersey.
OK, we know he is in meltdown over the killings he has carried out - but we needed to know if he was going to complete the set by gunning down the rest of the gang who had murdered his partner on the beat.
And what would happen to him? Would the nasty bit of work masquerading as his boss finally take him down - or would he get off scot free.
The end was what I would term a typical clever-dick BBC exec's idea of an ending - leaving it all up in the air and leaving it up to the viewer to come to his/her own conclusion.
Memo to Beeb big-knobs for future dramas: We don't need that lovey crap, we just need a satisfying ending to get our teeth into. You do the work, that's what we're paying you for with the ridiculous licence fee cash.

FRANK WORRALL

THE MADNESS IN WARSAW COULD BE TO ENGLAND'S BENEFIT

YESTERDAY they wouldn't shut the roof over the National Stadium in Waraw - even though it lashed it down with rain.
Today, they won't open the roof to help dry out the pitch - even though the sun is shining!
This is one crazy place with some inverted ideas on life.
I am told by a Polish friend that the madness in Warsaw has always been intended to help the Polish team beat England.
That by keeping the roof open the authorities hoped it would see England's players slipping and sliding around on the pitch.
And that now, by keeping it shut, it will also be to the Poles' advantage as the pitch will again not be in as good a condition as could have been expected if it had dried out more fully.
Despite all that, I am predicting that the crazy decisions will rebound on the Poles - and that THEY will suffer most because the postponement will dilute the massively partisan support they could have expected. many of those fans will now miss the game because of work commitments.
I had thought it would be a 2-2 draw but now reckon Roy Hodgson's men could pull off a 3-1 win.

FRANK WORRALL

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

JOHN TERRY MAY BE BACK FOR ENGLAND

MY sources tell me that John Terry may yet return to England duty.

Some people are suggesting JT was hoping his resignation from the national set-up would have helped him in his dispute over the Anton Ferdinand allegations, and would have sparked a demand for him to be brought back into the England squad.

He received a four-match club ban  - so you can decide for yourselves whether it worked or not...in my humble opinion JT did well given the FA's verdict.

I am told John will now accept the ban to draw a line under the affair and could well go on to announce he has reconsidered his England decision and return to the squad by next year, certainly in time for the World Cup.

I was one of those pundits who questioned Terry's right to even be at the Euros, but his departure from the national scene has served mainly to highlight the paucity of alternative credible central defensive options.

In short, I was wrong about Terry's right to play in terms of his ability and I hold my hands up. He is certainly better than Cahill and formed a solid defensive partnership with Lescott.

Indeed, the way in which he made Lescott look such a good stopper is more proof if needed of just how good a defender and defensive leader Terry actually is. I would suggest that what we need with England is the emergence of a speedy, incisive smaller man to play alongside Terry - someone in the mould of say Colin Todd or Martin Buchan. I was hopeful that Phil Jagielka could be that man, but his form and judgment seems to have deserted him of late.

FRANK WORRALL

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

MANCINI'S DEFINING MOMENT AT MAN CITY TONIGHT

NO ONE is denying that Roberto Mancini has done a fine job at Man City since taking over from Mark Hughes. 

The Italian has won the league and the FA Cup and is on course for another title tilt this season.

But in the long-term that will not be enough to keep him in the hot seat at the Etihad.

The simple truth is this: Mancini needs to win the Champions League. Not just to secure his employment with City but to shoo away the doubters (including myself I might add) who feel he is a top-class manager but NOT a world-class one like Mourinho and Guardiola.

Mancini cannot seem to crack it in the Champions League. It cost him his job at Inter Milan when he was sacked for failing in Europe - despite THREE consecutive Serie A titles.

Now history appears to be repeating itself at City. Last year they exited the Champions League at the group stage - which was a disaster.

And this term they are in a very vulnerable position as they prepare to take on Dortmund at home tonight.

It is a game that I can tell you now that Mourinho would win if he were in charge at City - and with the same players at his disposal as Mancini has tonight.

Trying to analyse why Roberto could fail tonight, the thought keeps reappearing in my head that maybe he tries too hard when it comes to the Champions League. That he wants everyone on the Continent to know he is a tactical genius, who changes his personnel for this competition. How otherwise to explain the inexplicable...in the loss at Madrid he played Maicon instead of Zabaleta, the raw teenager Nastasic instead of Lescott and the overrated Javier Garcia instead of Milner.

Why gamble so much for such a big match? It just didn't make sense.

Tonight is arguably Mancini's defining moment at City - lose and they are probably out of the Champions League running for another season. Defeat would intensify the pressure and the likelihood that Mourinho will once again take over from him as he did at the San Siro.

Mancini needs to get it right - and the best way to do that is for him to rely on the likes of Lescott and Zabaleta and not dabble with Maicon or Nastasic. Go steady, Roberto - go with the experienced hands who won you the Prem and you will win...there's no need to gamble to try to look clever.

FRANK WORRALL

I WAS RIGHT ABOUT ROONEY

YESTERDAY I advised Sir Alex to move Rooney into midfield to solve the dilemma he had created by not buying anyone for years - and I was glad to see he took my advice!

The result? Rooney pulled the strings and Van Persie scored the goals. This is the future for Rooney at United and, if that daft old dinosaur Roy Hodgson has any sense, for England too.

Rooney has lost some of his pace - inevitable really given his lifestyle away from the pitch - and I very much doubt he will ever regain it.

Central midfield is the future for Wayne - and I was glad to be the first hack to suggest and report it for you!

FRANK WORRALL

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

ROONEY TO REPLACE SCHOLES IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD AT MAN UTD

Manchester United continue to find consistency a headache, both in defence and central midfield.
Defensively, the predicament is understandable given the number of current injuries in that position - I'm talking, of course, about Vidic, Jones and Smalling.
I would though contend that Fergie could use the scenario to give an extended run to young Michael Keane if he wanted to rest Evans or Rio - why keep putting Carrick in there when he isn't up to it?
But central midfield remains the elephant in the room for the United boss - a problem much of his own making.
He bought Van Persie when he already he had two fine strikers in Rooney and Chicharito - £22million that could have been used to strengthen that problem area.
Well, maybe the answer to part of the problem is staring him in the face - and maybe it is so obvious that he cannot see it for searching...
Rooney is the obvious man to replace Paul Scholes there.
He is perhaps the only player at the club with the vision and class to come near to Scholesy's talent.
I would play Rooney in midfield and put Hernandez up front with Van Persie. Simple as that - part of the problem solved. Chicharito is a much better player than the vastly overrrated Welbeck. He will score more goals for you and is stronger on the ball than Danny boy - I also believe it is in the club's interest to show him he is loved...I keep hearing that Real Madrid remain keen on him, even at £30million.
The other side of the central midfield conundrum concerns the lack of a ball winner to play there with Rooney,
Again, the answer seems simple enough to me - although it will cost around £30million to remedy the situation.
United need to buy Everton's Marouane Fellaini in the January transfer window. Tell me who is a better player in his position - Fergie knows how good he is, he single-handedly destroyed United earlier in the campaign at Goodison.
So there you have it...Rooney and Fellaini in central midfield, Chicha and Van P up front and Valencia and Kagawa floating in from the wings. Plus a backline of Jones, Smalling, Vidic and the new Heinze (Buttner) - and I am convinced you have a team that can contend with the best in Europe once again.
Come on, Alex - get the Glazers to part with a few quid and give Roon that floating Scholesy role...

FRANK WORRALL