PFA Team of the Year 2013

             My Player of the Year blog turned out longer than I thought, so I thought I would do a separate one on the PFA Team of the Year. Again, another highly contentious subject, with fans from most clubs complaining about someone having been omitted. I believe that the vast majority of the team selected is correct, or at least justified, based on the performance of many throughout the season. This certainly would have been one of the toughest squads to call, as there has been little to choose between many players this season, and many teams, and indeed individuals, have surprised us with their performances over the past nine months.

 

                I have only one significant complaint regarding the team. In terms of both attack and midfield, it is difficult to argue with the selections, as all have been exceptional. In fact, there are a few more names that would not have looked out of place: Marouane Fellaini, Santi Cazorla, Michu etc. It is in defence where the PFA appear to have neglected to note the statistics, and instead opted for the very tempting approach of ‘pro-champions’. If you look at statistics, Manchester City have conceded fewer goals than Manchester United, and have kept more clean sheets. I am not saying they have done it deliberately, nor am I saying this out of bitter City loyalty, having experienced it for City myself last year. I am merely stating that it is easy to understand why, especially with Manchester United so far ahead in the title race, players, that in another team would have been omitted, have been included. I seem to remember at the start of the season that United were being heavily criticised for their poor defending, epitomised by the chaotic 4-3 victory over Reading in December.

 

                Nevertheless, I will run down each of the selected players, stating why I think they deserve (or do not) their place, culminating in me putting forward my own Team of the Year (maybe with a few substitutes...)

 

David De Gea (Manchester United) – Unfortunately, we start with one of the members of the team that I believe should not be there. It is often not particularly difficult to be a goalkeeper in a championship-winning side, but despite this, De Gea has still made several high profile errors this season. Whilst he is much improved from last season, and his shot-stopping ability is unquestionable, his collection from crosses remains poor.

Leighton Baines (Everton) – A close run thing with both Patrice Evra and Ashley Cole, either of which would have deserved a place, but I find it difficult to argue with Baines. A consistent performer and often the driving force behind many of Everton’s forward bursts this season.

Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham) – Another certain inclusion for me. The big Belgian has had a highly impressive first season in the Premier League, even going on a recent scoring streak.

Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) – Whilst Rio has had a good season, especially when you consider his age, this is a prime example of what I was discussing above. If he played for a mid-table team, his performances this season would be generally forgotten. As he plays for the champions, his performances are instantly upgraded.

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) – City’s only inclusion into this team, and a thoroughly deserving one. A rock at the back, Zabaleta’s consistency this season has been superb. Whilst, at times, his defensive colleagues have gone missing, he has been the one to ensure that City’s defensive record remains the best in this season’s Premier League.

Gareth Bale (Tottenham) – As you can probably tell from the previous blog, a truly deserving winner of the Player of the Year, and therefore an obvious selection for this team. Having scored two or three simply stunning goals (vs West Ham in 90^th min springs to mind), and been incredibly consistent all season, Bale has been the catalyst for Spurs’s push towards the Champions League.

Juan Mata (Chelsea) – Another simple inclusion. The diminutive Spaniard has had arguably his best season this term, currently leading the creator’s charts. The headline of the ‘Holy Trinity’ currently operating at Chelsea, his trickery and vision has been a joy to watch this campaign.

Michael Carrick (Manchester United) – Although, personally, a surprising nomination for the Player of the Year, it cannot be denied that Carrick has had an exceptional season for United and deserves his place in this team. Most fans would have conceded pre-season that central midfield is the area United lacked. Carrick has most capably filled that void with his performances this year.

Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – Another of the successful signings this season. With a reputed £30+ million price-tag, the stakes were always going to be set high for the former Lille man. In his first season (if we ignore the kicking of a Welsh ball-boy) Hazard has become a catalyst for much of what Chelsea has created going forward, forming a great partnership with Mata and Oscar.

Robin van Persie (Manchester United) – Top goalscorer for the last two seasons, it is hardly difficult to see why van Persie has been selected. His ability to deal with the move from North London to the North West has put many Premier League underperformers to shame (especially the likes of Fernando Torres). His 25 goals this year have arguably won United the title single-handedly. I disagree, but I can’t deny it helps.

Luis Suarez (Liverpool) – The enigmatic striker has certainly had his most successful goalscoring season since moving to Merseyside. Whilst his unprofessional conduct all too often detracts from his talent, the positive performances still deserve some form of recognition.

 

My Team of the Year

       Jussi Jaaskelainen (WHU) 

Leighton Baines(EVE)      Ashley Williams(SWA)        Jan Vertonghen(TOT)       Pablo Zabaleta(MNC)

 

Gareth Bale(TOT)              Juan Mata(CHE)                   Michael Carrick(MNU)        Eden Hazard(CHE)

                                           Robin van Persie(MNU)              Luis Suarez(LIV)

Substitutes:

David De Gea(MU)    Matija Nastasic(MC)    Patrice Evra(MU)    Marouane Fellaini(EV)    Santi Cazorla(AR)    Michu(SW)    Christian Benteke(AV) 

PFA Player of the Year Award 2013

              Last night marked the prestigious PFA Awards for the 2012/2013 Premier League season. Firstly, congratulations must go to Gareth Bale for winning both the PFA Player of the Year, and the PFA Young Player of the Year. Secondly, I was unsettled by the booing that greeted Luis Suarez’s name at the ceremony last night. As the audience was made up of his peers, it shocks me a little that they lacked the necessary class to simply ignore the situation. Furthermore, it reinforces the implicit argument, by the FA’s punishment, that biting someone is worse than racism. No players booed Suarez after the Evra affair, but now he has bitten someone (again), he deserves booing? I think not. This lack of professional courtesy, along with the recent controversy over Reginald D. Hunter’s jokes, has slightly detracted from what I believe is a deserving winner.

 

                Nevertheless, there appears to be significant debate over whether Bale did deserve this award. Having spent the morning trawling through BBC Sport’s comment section on the article (I know I’m sad!) many comments have been raised that suggest that either Robin van Persie or Luis Suarez would have been more deserving recipients. I am aware that much of what is written on these comment sections is entirely biased, and often offensive (until moderators remove it), and fans will naturally support the player for their own team. However, a few interesting points were raised, which I believe merit some discussion and examination. Firstly, one of the most overused phrases when describing Gareth Bale in this comment section was ‘a model professional’, something which was simultaneously used to castigate Luis Suarez’s chances. This prompted numerous responses from angry (and I suspect Liverpool) fans, stating that the idea of Bale as a ‘model professional’ is laughable due to his habit for diving. To me, they are arguing from a rather indefensible position. Whilst, personally, I believe that diving is one of the greatest sins of the modern game, it can be stamped out by tougher officiating. It is also simply an example of one professional attempting to gain an unfair advantage. However, both Bale and Suarez have been found guilty of this offence. Racism, and what can only be described as ABH, on the other hand, cannot be so easily eliminated. Neither are they simply an occupational hazard of having 22 highly competitive players in one place. Whilst I take the point about Bale not being a ‘model professional’, I would go a step further. I would eradicate that phrase from the dictionary when attempting to describe the actions and personality of a footballer. However, in my opinion, Bale’s misdemeanours are far slighter than those of Luis Suarez. As this award is voted for by their peers, clearly the players thought so too. I agree that personality should not be the sole determining factor, but it should definitely contribute. The winner of the award supposedly represents the best of football. Therefore, players will vote based partially on their abilities, and partially on their personalities.

 

                Secondly, arguments have been raised regarding Gareth Bale’s statistics. As he happens not to be either the Premier League’s top goalscorer, or top creator (I refuse to use the word assist on the grounds that it is an Americanism), he is apparently unworthy to win the award. Once again, these arguments completely miss the point. Firstly, you can spin statistics to say whatever you want. Gareth Bale happens to be the joint top scorer on goals scored away from home, if that really matters. Secondly, his position should be taken into account. As both Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie are centre forwards (i.e. it is their primary job to score goals, and lots of them), one should expect them to be towards the business end of the goal charts. Bale, as a winger/attacking midfielder, should not be judged to the same standard. The fact that he, at time of publishing, is only 6 goals behind van Persie and 4 behind Suarez, is impressive. The only statistic that I believe Bale lacks on is as a creator, as he remains several behind both van Persie (8) and Suarez (5), despite being in a seemingly beneficial position on the pitch. Those arguing for Suarez on the basis of statistics clearly have either not read them properly, or have spun them to their own advantage, as he trails in almost every one. As for Robin van Persie, in terms of statistics he is difficult to argue with. However, this brings me nicely to my third point. I believe consistency and moments of genius are key in determining the victor. Robin van Persie, whilst he undoubtedly has had moments of brilliance this season, went missing from the turn of the year until a few weeks ago. That is not the sign of a player destined for an award. Gareth Bale, on the other hand, began writing headlines from November onwards, and I believe has been the most consistent player this season. Timing, unfortunately, is an element in this process, and Bale appears to have picked his moment to come good to perfection.

 

                Finally, the most childish argument of them all, of ‘British-bias’ towards Bale. I was unsure whether to even include this, but I thought it so easy to shoot down I couldn’t resist. The fact that 4 of the 6 candidates to win the award this year were non-British, and that this is not untypical of most years, implies that there is no such thing. There are several British names that could have been included, if such a thing existed. Leighton Baines, Rio Ferdinand, both of whom were put into the PFA’s Team of the Year, but omitted from the nominees. The idea of a ‘British-bias’ is ridiculous, especially when you consider it is voted for by the players, most of whom, as it is regularly commented upon, are not British! This argument appears nothing more than the whining of the sore loser.

 

                So well done to Gareth Bale, overall a deserving winner. Fortunate in some respects, and I do wish he would stop diving, but a genuinely great footballer. With these awards, he joins a very exclusive list of multiple winners, and of players to have won both awards in the same season. If he progresses the same way as the last one, a Mr Ronaldo, then the rest of the Premier League will have serious problems.

The Worst Kept Secret in 2013: Manchester United Win Premier League Title

              Seeing as I am a lifelong blue, and therefore (as I would call it), a ‘proper Mancunian’, it is with a heavy heart that I say the following words: Congratulations to Manchester United on winning their 20^th title in the 2012/2013 Premier League. Now is not the time for bickering over geographical locations and semantics, though I do so regularly with my red friends. There is one thing that most City fans will concede: that Manchester United deserve the title this season. Being a pessimist (oddly for a similar amount of time as I’ve been a City fan-I’m convinced the two are related) I have to admit I was worried for our title defence as soon as United secured that vital, albeit slightly flukey, Samir Nasri aided victory back in December (I’m not still bitter, honest!). Since then, my greatest fears have been recognised, and United have practically strolled to the league title, securing it tonight with an emphatic 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

 

                This season encapsulates everything I have known about City from a very early age, that they are consistently inconsistent. The only difference now is it is two divisions above where they were when I was growing up (so I suppose I shouldn’t complain too much). Whilst City have had great performances this season, reminiscent of last year’s glory, they have all too often had poor away days (Everton and yesterday at Tottenham spring instantly to mind). If I have learnt anything over my 21 years, it is that if there is one side you cannot afford to give an inch to in a title race, it is Manchester United. Once again the picture of consistency, their mid-season unbeaten run of 18 games clearing a path to what seemed the inevitable title. And yet, to the most optimistic of Manchester City fans and journalists, the events of Monday 8^th April threw everything back into contention. Already 15 points behind in the title race, City went to Old Trafford and produced arguably their best performance of the season, winning 2-1. Cue calls that the title race is not dead, calls that only increased in volume when United drew 2-2 with West Ham in mid-week. I, like most City fans and realists, knew the title race had long since been over, and therefore did not need this weekend’s result at Spurs to tell me as much. In fact, prior to the game at Old Trafford, I had been anxiously looking over my shoulder at the chasing pack. All I hope is that the result at Old Trafford is a more representative look at both of the top two teams, playing to their best. This will hopefully give a better picture for me next season, when City can hopefully regain the crown.  

 

                Whilst I am glad I have been spared the heart-attack inducing, ‘typical City’, last five minutes of the Premier League campaign that we saw last May, I had initially hoped that we would have a good chance at retaining the title. I don’t want to get into a significant argument regarding ‘you bought success’ etc, but I will say this. In my mind, £5 is £5, whether you spend it over 5 minutes or 20 years. Both City and United have spent a considerable amount of money on players over the years, but United have had that spending power for longer. I believe that herein lies the edge. It allows time for new signings to gel within a team, creating a stronger atmosphere and a greater understanding between the players. As much as football commentators claim that Robin Van Persie has been the difference between the two sides this season (and he has been a good purchase, don’t misunderstand), the primary force behind United’s success is the man on the touchline. Love him or loathe him, he seems to have an incredible talent for gelling what would otherwise be just above average players together. I am not attempting to say that United do not have quality players-clearly they do. However, within the squad, there appear to be only a handful of truly outstanding players. The rest form a highly successful team behind the individual flair players. And that is the key word, ‘team’. There is no doubt that Manchester United have been the best ‘team’ this season. If you are looking for the strongest set of individuals, I would argue you should look no further than Eastlands. That is not how championships are won, however. Players are bought in the short term, but a team is manufactured in the long term.

                So congratulations to Manchester United, and here’s hoping for a good many years of North West dominance in football. As for the fans of both, at least we can put our petty squabbles behind us... Well, at least for another 4 months until it all starts again!

World Snooker Championship 2013

              Last Saturday saw the start of the 2013 World Snooker Championship, held at the traditional venue of the Crucible in Sheffield. All the greats of the game have, at one time or another, plied their trade within those walls. Whilst much of the country are left scrabbling for the remote when the snooker comes on, in an attempt to quickly switch off, there are a number of indicators that suggest that this year’s tournament will be particularly interesting and competitive. Rarely have we seen a field quite as open as the one in 2013, with at least half a dozen names considered potential winners of snooker’s most prestigious event. The worldwide snooker season, recently massively expanded under the guidance of Barry Hearn, further reflects the competitive nature of modern snooker. The number of different tournament winners this season is well into double figures, with very few men able to put their hands to silverware more than the once.

 

                This year’s event has already seen its fair share of talking points, most notably Ronnie O’Sullivan’s dramatic decision to return to the sport after taking 12 months off on a sabbatical. Despite the tradition of the previous year’s world champion being automatically entered as the top seed for the following year, I must be honest, I questioned the decision in this case. As O’Sullivan has not played competitive snooker since his historic victory at the Crucible last year against Ali Carter, it follows that his ability, his eye for the game, and, most importantly, his mental attributes and concentration would all naturally have declined. It seemed unfair, to me, that he was still considered to be the world’s best player, as in effect that is what the ‘number 1’ seed does. However, my concerns were swiftly blown out of the water by O’Sullivan’s performance on Saturday. His 10-4 demolition of Marcus Campbell clearly showed that he has lost none of the flair that he is recognised for. Whilst it would be naive to suggest that this isolated result illustrates that Ronnie remains the best player in the game, it would be equally foolish to deny his candidacy for the title.

 

                It is also important to look at O’Sullivan’s fellow contenders. Beginning with the most decorated man in the field in terms of championships, John Higgins cannot be ignored for another Crucible victory. The four-time World Champion (equalling Ronnie O’Sullivan’s haul), after titles in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011, Higgins has certainly got the willpower, concentration and ability to snatch a fifth this time around. If so, he will have to overcome a significant deficit to the tricky Mark Davis, after losing his opening session 6-3. Mark Selby seems the next most logical point of call, as he is vying to become one of an incredibly elite group: to win snooker’s ‘Triple Crown’ (the Masters, the UK Championship and the World Championship all in a single season). The ‘Jester from Leicester’ certainly appears to be in the form of his life, and few would put this title beyond his capabilities. The 2010 World Champion Neil Robertson seems similarly well placed. The Aussie world number 2, after a fairly quiet season by his high standards, will be looking to reclaim his crown. A gritty and feisty competitor, he is often the man for the big occasion. China’s greatest hope, despite the recent expectations of up-and-coming young players, remains Ding Junhui. Unfortunately for the Chinese, Ding comes to the Crucible out of form, after complaining of feeling under pressure from his home fans. The fact that he is the only Chinese player in the draw does little to relieve the pressure upon his shoulders. As we began with the most decorated in terms of championships, we may as well end with the man considered most decorated in terms of potential, if not outfit. Judd Trump’s recent meteoric rise in snooker has been noticed, both on and off the baize, as illustrated with more coverage of his ‘spiky’ shoes at the Masters than his shots. His talent is unquestionable, and his mental abilities, whilst at times have been questioned, will certainly be razor-sharp, as he looks to avenge his defeat to John Higgins in the final in 2011 and win his first World Championship.

 

                Recent odds suggest that Ronnie O’Sullivan should be considered the favourite, from Robertson, Selby, Trump, Ding and then Higgins. It would not surprise me in the slightest if we saw yet more names appear on the list of prospective winners over the next fortnight, as this year’s World Championship appears more unpredictable and intriguing than ever before. For the portion of television viewers who do reach for the remote to switch over the next two weeks, you are missing out.

Luis Suarez: World Beater or Thug?

             English football thought it had seen the back of the majority of controversial issues when Mario Balotelli left these shores for warmer climes. How wrong we were. Luis Suarez, a man of undoubted talent, having recently been nominated for the Player of the Year Award by his peers, seems to be the man to take over Balotelli’s mantel. His actions in today’s Premier League match between his Liverpool side and Chelsea perfectly summarise the polarized nature of his time in Britain-from hero to villain and then back again in the space of 45 short minutes.

 

                It is also worth reflecting on his past ‘sins’. Whilst revered on Merseyside (the red half at least) for his footballing talent, which most Liverpool fans would concede is the primary reason for them remaining in the top half of the Premier League table this year, he has seen his fair share of controversy. Many football fans had their minds made up for them about Luis Suarez as a ‘gentleman’ after his handball against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup Quarter Final. His recent spat with Patrice Evra regarding racist abuse has been well documented, along with the farcical ‘will they/won’t they’ storyline over handshakes that looked like it had just been plucked from the script of Friends. The 8-match ban alone, whether fair or unfair, you would consider significant enough to keep himself out of trouble and his name in the limelight for positive reasons only. Not Luis Suarez. Most defenders you see interviewed say he is a ‘nuisance to play against’. Only with a handful of players is that not a phrase which is praising the attacking qualities of the striker. Unfortunately, whilst the majority of the time he is a ‘nuisance’ in the positive sense, scoring 23 league goals this season, and assisting numerous more, he is all too often a ‘nuisance’ in the negative. His diving has been noted on several occasions, including an admission by himself to such in January. It is the more underhand, cynical and borderline violent actions that leave many football fans with a bad taste in their mouths whenever Suarez’s name is mentioned. He also seemingly has form for this too. At his previous club Ajax, Suarez was banned for 7 matches for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal in November 2010, an incident which seems ever more relevant after today’s events.

 

If ‘a game of two halves’ is a cliché, then perhaps ‘a half of three halves’ would best describe Luis Suarez’s performance this afternoon. After a rather anonymous first 45 by his standards, he was the catalyst for Liverpool’s opener, using his prodigious talent to put a goal on a plate for Daniel Sturridge. The gallant hero of Liverpool FC to the rescue again. Or so it seemed. What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary. Having deservedly conceded a penalty for a blatant handball, his frustration appeared to get the better of him. And what do normal people do when they are frustrated? That’s right, they bite the nearest person! Rather than accepting his punishment and having a few stern words with himself, Luis Suarez decided to bite the arm of Branislav Ivanovic, the Chelsea defender. Nevertheless, this is not the end of the story. To add insult to Branislav Ivanovic’s injury, he then popped up in the 7^th minute of stoppage time to steer a header past Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal to rescue a point for Liverpool. The headlines practically write themselves: ‘Suarez is a ‘shot in the arm’ for Liverpool’ and the like. The fact that Brendan Rodgers, who at times has had to be a staunch supporter of Suarez, against all opponents, was unable to support his player, speaks volumes. Whilst it could be argued he really did need to review tapes of the incident, it is certainly true he has been quick to defend Suarez in the past.

 

Regardless of tonight’s apology, I expect to see a rather lengthy ban for Suarez, and it remains to be seen whether we see him again in the Premier League. Once again, it appears, Luis Suarez has wasted his considerable talent on becoming embroiled in yet more controversy. He has always had the potential, and application to be a ‘world beater’, but his competitive streak seemingly gets the better of him, and he appears unable to control his anger and frustration. I made the point earlier about him taking over from where Mario Balotelli left off. Like Suarez, Balotelli has considerable potential if he chooses to apply himself. In Britain, it never worked, as he found himself involved in several high profile controversies, ranging from setting off fireworks in his bathroom, to handing out money dressed as Father Christmas. Unlike Suarez, the majority of Mario Balotelli’s misdemeanours were idiotic, the sign of a petulant, immature clown. The more violent aspect of Suarez’s game appears to indicate a shift away from Balotelli, and towards the ilk of Joey Barton. I sincerely hope I am wrong, as it would be a shame to see such great potential wasted.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2013: Rising Above Controversy?

             In a week in which F1 has been plagued with controversies regarding sexism, with former champion Sir Stirling Moss arguing that women lack the necessary ‘mental fortitude’ for racing, a relaxing trip to a hot, tranquil country and an exciting but uneventful race seemed precisely what F1 required. Unfortunately, step forward Bahrain. A country currently in the centre of considerable political distress, with arguments over the monarchy and human rights dominating recent headlines. Indeed, such has been the scale of the problems that several British MPs have made suggestions, in the last week, that the F1 roadshow should not roll into Bahrain. The events of 2012 further support the argument not to return to the country this year. Whilst the race itself was relatively uneventful, the event will be best remembered for petrol bombings near the Force India garage, leading to a significant pit lane fire. The hacking of the official F1 website by an anonymous group, wreaking havoc with the live timing also overshadowed the grand prix itself. Recent reports suggest that the latter will reoccur this year, after heavy protests on the streets in recent days. The reason? The belief that F1 coming to Bahrain legitimises the current undemocratic regime, causing the worlds of politics and sport to clash.

 

                Nevertheless, F1 is in Bahrain this weekend, and with all of the discussion over political trouble, we seem to forget that a serious sporting event is taking place. Whilst arguments over postponing the race may be levied at Bernie Ecclestone and the heads of the FIA, it is important to remember that the political concerns are not the fault of the drivers. Therefore, assuming there are no significant security concerns, we can all enjoy the spectacle of the race itself, irrespective of the political issues. The start of the 2013 season suggests that the championship will be every bit as close as last year, which leaves F1 fans a mouth-watering 17 grand prix to enjoy over the next 7 months. Qualifying yesterday gave us much of the same indication, with 6 or 7 teams having the ability to challenge for Q3, and at least 3 teams (Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes) believing they had what it takes to snatch pole. As it was, Mercedes took the top spot. However, it was Nico Rosberg, not Lewis Hamilton, who was fastest, with a stunning lap of 1:32.330. Hamilton, who had outqualified his new teammate at every race previously, started 9^th after a 5 place penalty for a gearbox change in P3. That left Force India’s Paul Di Resta as the highest placed Brit, as he, and his teammate Adrian Sutil, started on the 3^rd row, a very encouraging result for the small team.

 

                The talk before the race was all about rear tyres, as the hot conditions in the desert-based track were considered to take a significant toll on the back end of the cars. Therefore, the winner of the race was considered to be most likely the one who could best look after the rear tyres. This gave assumptions that the race would be fought ‘Ferrari versus Red Bull’. Much of the rhetoric coming from Mercedes pre-race, and Ross Brawn in particular, suggested that they did not believe they would look after the tyres sufficiently to win. This was clearly illustrated by Rosberg falling drastically down the field early on. After starting on pole, and fighting Vettel very hard in the first corner, Rosberg had a disappointing afternoon, eventually ending in 9th. This led to an early fight between Vettel and Fernando Alonso. However, this intriguing battle ended prematurely, with Ferrari driver Alonso developing a DRS problem on lap , wrecking his race. After all of the recent talk of team orders, McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez had obviously not been paying close enough attention to the pre-race team briefings, as they collided on lap 31. Whilst both continued, after their persistent squabbling over position, one can imagine that team boss Martin Whitmarsh would have been unimpressed. After Alonso’s DRS failure, Ferrari’s afternoon imploded, with Felipe Massa suffering 2 separate punctures, leading to questions over the Pirelli tyres supplied. Despite a rousing Alonso fightback, the Tifosi were left in disappointing 8^th and 15^th places. Ferrari’s misfortune was Lotus’s (2^nd and 3^rd) and Force India’s (4^th) gain. This capped a dream weekend for di Resta, having been quoted after qualifying as saying that 4^th would be perfect for the Brit. The problems behind left three-time and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel free to stroll to a practically lights-to-flag victory, ending with a huge margin of 9.1 seconds from Kimi Raikkonen. Interestingly, the podium was identical to that of last year, with Vettel victorious from the Lotus pair of Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. The final few laps were lit up with a ferocious scrap between Hamilton (5^th) and Red Bull’s Mark Webber (7^th), where at more than one point it looked like contact was inevitable. Luckily, both managed to make it to the end unscathed in a truly thrilling climax.

Picture from GoogleImages

 

                Those who argue that Formula 1 is boring due to the lack of overtaking clearly failed to tune in to the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix. Throughout the field there were incidents and accidents, giving F1 fans a fantastic preview into the rest of what promises to be an exciting, competitive and action-packed season. Based on the action on-track, I hope Formula 1 returns to Bahrain for many years to come. The clash of off-track politics with sport, however, threatens to derail F1 in this part of the globe. Until the controversial issues are resolved, I fear we may be seeing similar scenes of protest before future Bahrain Grand Prix, if indeed we see another.