Drama Denied: What Was The Double Point?

The Hives put it perfectly - 'hate to say I told you so'. As I mentioned in a critical (and therefore fairly normal) post earlier in the year, I was not all for the double points race being discussed at the time. Having had that race - today's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, I can safely say I am still not a fan. A season full of twists and turns (even though viewers may have wanted a slightly more competitive field) has, thanks to the double points rule, seemingly been won emphatically. And this season review post will demonstrate that this has simply not been the case.

Though no-one can deny that the Constructors title has been long since over - really since about race five or six - the Driver's Championship has gone right down to the wire, with both Mercedes drivers in with a shout as the lights went out in the desert. It's worth saying that this would still have been the case without double points, though admittedly the pressure on Hamilton would have been non-existent.

However, after all the pre-race talk about avoiding technical issues, it was perhaps inevitable that the title would ultimately be cemented by a catastrophic ERS failure for Nico Rosberg. This left the German well outside the points, while his teammate took the top step in Abu Dhabi to extend his Drivers Championship lead to an impressive 67 points. Much like many football results we see, the final score simply doesn't tell the story, and this must be blamed, at least slightly, on the ludicrous double points final race.

Despite his enormous final margin of victory, the 2014 season started in the worst possible way for Hamilton with a DNF handing Rosberg a 25 point advantage. However, four straight one-two victories for the Briton saw him reel Rosberg back in as the pair headed to Monaco, with the Constructors Championship practically sewn up.

But the famous track saw an ugly twist in race, which threatened to break the two lifelong friends apart. In a move reminiscent of the cynical parking manoeuvre pulled off by Michael Schumacher in 2006 at Rascasse, a dubious "mistake" handed Rosberg pole and ultimately victory, bucking the trend of Hamilton wins and left a bad taste in the mouth. This would not be the only time the pair clashed, with Hamilton again feeling aggrieved at the tactics of his teammate at Spa later in the year.

With Hamilton's win at Yas Marina, Mercedes set a new record for most wins by a Constructor in a single season - 16. The only man to taste success was a surprising one - not one of the several world champions littering the field, but Red Bull new boy Daniel Ricciardo. His first race win in Canada was gifted to him, with both Mercedes drivers struggling with ERS problems - forcing Hamilton out, and Rosberg into second. He was also the beneficiary when the two Mercedes collided in Belgium, whilst poor strategic decision-making and changeable conditions handed the Australian the victory in Hungary. Though he has been fortunate, take nothing away from his performance - to comprehensively beat the four time world champion Sebastien Vettel, in the car he won the titles, both in qualifying and the race, is quite incredible.

Likewise, Valtteri Bottas's performances have also been eye-catching. Though the Finn failed to claim victory, he was a regular on the podium, more than matching his illustrious teammate, Massa. Moving back to the title race, the Mercedes pair swapped victories, with both taking their home races. However, after the incident at Spa, the team's sympathy sat well and truly with Hamilton, with a number of the upper echelons publicly blaming Rosberg for the crash. This clearly had an impact on Hamilton, as the Brit claimed the following five Grand Prix to take the initiative in the title race - 24 points ahead with just two races to go.

While in any normal season, that would almost see the title done and dusted, the threat of double points in Abu Dhabi placed more emphasis on the Brazilian GP. This time, the pressure told on Hamilton, with an uncharacteristic driving error having seemed set to jump his teammate in the pits. The spin left Hamilton 17 ahead going into today's GP in the desert, with the ERS problem for Rosberg killing any threat of final day drama.

So as I have mentioned, I am hardly the biggest fan of the double points rule. I was equally against the extension of the points to 25,17 etc... from the more traditional 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 that I grew up with. So, using the older scoring system, how would the season have panned out?

	Hamilton	Rosberg
Australia	0	10
Malaysia	10	18
Bahrain	20	26
China	30	34
Spain	40	42
Monaco	48	52
Canada	48	60
Austria	56	70
Britain	66	70
Germany	72	80
Hungary	78	85
Belgium	78	93
Italy	88	101
Singapore	98	101
Japan	108	109
Russia	118	117
USA	128	125
Brazil	136	135
Abu Dhabi	146	135

So Bernie wants excitement right to the end? Newsflash Mr Ecclestone - you don't want double points, you don't even want the current 25 for a win scoring system - you want the system you used 10 years ago! Under the old system, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg would have come into today's race separated by just one point, knowing that the winner would take it all!

England's Newest Centurion: Is Rooney an England Legend?

Despite the long history of England's national football team, it comes as a considerable surprise that just nine individuals hold more than 100 caps. The latest of these, Wayne Rooney, has been at the heart of the side for almost a decade, and in recent years we have seen an arguable overreliance on the combustible forward. But a true England legend alongside the likes of Bobby Moore, David Beckham and Bobby Charlton? I'm not so sure.

Though the caps statistic doesn't lie (Rooney follows an elite list of Peter Shilton, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Bobby Moore, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Bobby Charlton and Billy Wright), it's not the only statistic that matters. As a successful striker, Rooney, as with any other forward in world football, is ultimately going to be judged on goals scored. As of writing this, Wayne Rooney sits 3rd on the all-time England scoring list - just three behind Bobby Charlton at the top.

If we dig a little deeper, however, we see that this achievement is not as impressive as it initially appears. Of the eight other England centurions, just one is a striker - Charlton. This brings us onto an additional point. As well as the volume of Rooney's goals, it is also important that the ratio of goals to games is considered. As of writing this, Rooney's record is an average of a goal every 157 minutes. While this is comparable - even slightly better than Bobby Charlton (193 minutes), he is actually behind considerably more than just the two other England goalscorers for volume. Second in the list, Gary Lineker scored an average of a goal every 136 minutes, while 4th place Jimmy Greaves has an incredibly impressive 117 minutes a goal.

On top of this, Rooney also falls behind Michael Owen (155), Nat Lofthouse (95), Steve Bloomer (74), Vivian Woodward (72), Stan Mortensen (98), Tommy Lawton (94), Peter Crouch (99). And that's just those that have scored more than 20 for their country!

So Rooney as a goalscorer is perhaps not all it's been suggested to be cracked up to be. These is further reinforced when you look at the opposition against whom England's current talisman has scored the majority of his goals. Interestingly, though Rooney has played matches against the majority of the world's top footballing nations, he has only scored against four of FIFA's top ten, and has only scored more than once against one - Brazil. This is despite the England man finding the net on more than one occasion against 15 different opponents in his career.

If we look at those nations he has been most clinical against, we see an obvious pattern develop. At the top of the list, Rooney has scored four goals against Croatia (14 world ranking) and San Marino (208), three goals against Switzerland (12) and Kazakhstan (132) and two against Slovakia (24), Iceland (28) Denmark (32), Scotland (37), Poland (44),  Bulgaria (59), Montenegro (64), Estonia (88), Belarus (106) and Andorra (202). If we find an average ranking of those he is most prolific against, it comes in at 70, or Antigua and Barbuda in the current rankings.

We also don't tend to remember his performances at major competitions fondly. With the exception of his earliest tournament - a four goal salvo at Portugal's Euro 2004, he has been underwhelming. Germany's World Cup in 2006 saw Rooney attempt to stop Ricardo Carvalho from ever having kids (who can forget Cristiano Ronaldo's wink?!), while the less said about the 2010 and 2014 World Cups the better. Even in 2012, which saw England put in reasonable performances on their way to the quarter finals, Rooney failed to live up to his talismanic billing. He himself has said that until he wins a trophy with England, he cannot eclipse Sir Bobby Charlton as England's greatest. Sorry Wayne, but until you win something as the nation's centrepiece, you won't even be up there for consideration, let alone the top. Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Peter Shilton, Gordon Banks and David Beckham have all had tournaments where they were the heart of the team, but all have kept a high level of performance up consistently, which is more than can be said for Rooney.

However, there is one point that works in the favour of Rooney. All of the above have been involved in great England teams, be it the World Cup winners, the 1990 semi finalists or the 'Golden Generation' of 2002-06. Rooney may have seen the very back end of this era, but the majority of his time with the 3 Lions has been in a position of adversity, where the public expects more than is achievable. Though the failures of the last two World Cups go even further beyond that, it's certainly a mitigating circumstance for Rooney, who has had to carry the majority of the team for too many years.

He's certainly not a legend yet, and I'm struggling to see whether he ever can be. He is certainly among the most talented players England has ever produced, but I can't help but think that pressure, and circumstance, has held him back when playing his country. It is this, and this alone, that Rooney needs to handle better if he is to be talked about in the same breath as Charlton, Moore, Banks and Beckham, regardless of how many goals he scores against San Marino.

Manchester Derby Series: My 10 Most Iconic

The Manchester derby. A game steeped in history. I'm not going to get into the 'which is the greatest derby' debate - around where I'm from, there is no debate, and I'm sure that's the same argument in Liverpool, Athens, Milan or Madrid. This post is very much about the most iconic moments (in my lifetime) of the Manchester derby. I have said this in a number of my previous posts, but I am a lifelong City fan, and as such, the list below is unashamedly weighted in favour of the Blues.

I will say one thing in my defence, however. In my lifetime (23 years and counting), my early experiences of Manchester derbies were negative from my perspective. However, this was always the expected outcome, and as a result, I would not consider many of those games 'iconic' in the relationship. As I got older, I found that United began to struggle more and more against City, perhaps underestimating their local rivals. Since 2008, the dynamic has shifted, and we have seen many more dramatic moments, and these dominate my list.

1. Manchester City 1-1 Manchester United (Maine Road, April 21, 2001)
As I mentioned, the majority of my earliest memories of the Manchester derby are negative, and as a result, perhaps I have willingly forgotten most of them. However, one moment that does stand out in my early years is 'that tackle'. And by tackle, I mean violent assault. A moment completely out of keeping with the rest of the game, petering out towards a dull 1-1 draw. However, Roy Keane's long-standing personal rivalry with Alf-Inge Haaland boiled over in stoppage time with a quite disgraceful kick to the knee. In my opinion, the United man was lucky to escape prison for assault (not being melodramatic - look at the law) and Haaland was never the same player.

2. Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United (Maine Road, November 9, 2002)
My first positive memory. The final Manchester derby to take place at Maine Road was all about one man: Shaun Goater. The legendary City striker followed an early strike from Nicolas Anelka to turn the game decisively in the Blues favour. Capitalising on a Gary Neville mistake that few City fans will let him forget, Goater put City back in front before half time, before lifting a neat finish over Fabien Barthez after an hour to secure the points and claim his 100th goal in City colours.

3. Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City (Old Trafford, February 10, 2008)
With the controversial Thaksin Shinawatra in control of affairs at City, the Blues had spent over £25m on talent including Elano, Bianchi, Corluka and most recently Benjani. It was the latter that would have the biggest impact in this game. However, with a United side including Rooney, Ronaldo, Vidic and Tevez, especially on the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, no-one gave City a hope of a result. However, goals from Darius Vassell and a debut strike from Benjani meant that Joe Hart's superb rearguard action meant that City claimed their first league double over their rivals for 38 years.

4. Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City (Old Trafford, September 20, 2009)
Arguably the most dramatic and thrilling Manchester derby of all time. Heartbreaking from my perspective (along with being a little more than suspect timekeeping), but Michael Owen's 96th minute killed the 'noisy neighbours' challenge. A match with more than a few sub-plots, including Carlos Tevez returning to the home of his former side, but it was Mark Hughes who was left fuming at the final whistle. The prime example of 'Fergie Time' handed United the points and ended City's unbeaten league start.

5. Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United (City of Manchester Stadium, January 19, 2010)

Further to the earlier sub-plot, Tevez had a point to prove in the Carling Cup Semi Final First Leg at home to United. Having been disappointing at the classic at Old Trafford, Tevez got his opportunity to shove United chants back down their throats, stepping up to take a 40th minute penalty after City had fallen behind. After a few words from Wayne Rooney, Tevez almost took the net off with his spot kick before turning the match in the Blues' favour, nodding in on the hour mark. Though United went on to win the two-legged tie, Tevez had made his point to his former employers.

6. Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City (Old Trafford, February 12, 2011)
The Goal of the Premier League - apparently. With the match delicately poised at 1-1 going into the final 15 minutes, Wayne Rooney came up with a brilliant piece of shin-work to claim all three points. Despite my jokes, Rooney as the leading goal scorer in Manchester derby history must have done something right! And the technique has to be appreciated, even if it doesn't come firmly off his boot. Who would have thought that that would have been United's last victory against City at Old Trafford?

7. Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United (Wembley, April 16, 2011)

Without any doubt from my perspective, the kick starter for Manchester City's recent success was the victory against United at Wembley in the FA Cup. After being under the cosh for the majority of the first half, an error from Michael Carrick handed Yaya Toure the chance to slide the ball under van der Sar and hand City a return trip to Wembley. Another memory of mine was a disgraceful high challenge by Paul Scholes on Pablo Zabaleta that was slightly reminiscent of the Roy Keane GBH (though without the same intent).

8. Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City (Old Trafford, October 23, 2011)

The greatest derby of my lifetime (although of course I would say that!). One of the only moments that enigmatic striker Mario Balotelli came to the party, with his 'Why Always Me' shirt already an iconic moment in Premier League history. The match that Sir Alex Ferguson claimed was his 'worst moment in football', and the heaviest home defeat for Manchester United since 1955. The final few minutes were quite incredible, with 10-man United ripped apart on multiple occasions, resulting in three injury time goals.

9. Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United (Etihad Stadium, April 30, 2012)

If the 6-1 win at Old Trafford was a statement to the champions at the time, the game in April at the Etihad was the hammer blow. City had been roaring back in the league to bring the eight point gap back to three before the derby just three games from the end, putting huge emphasis on the game. As it was, a thunderous header from Vincent Kompany handed City the inertia and momentum going into the final two games. This goal was possibly just as important as that late late strike from Sergio Aguero against QPR.

10. Manchester City 4-1 Manchester United (Etihad Stadium, September 22, 2013)

With both teams having changed managers going into the new season, this was an entirely different dynamic, particularly for United. And so it proved. This game simply demonstrated the changing dynamic of the relationship between the two clubs, with City firmly on the up and United taking a downward trajectory. The emphatic defeat put further pressure on David Moyes and instantly lifted Manuel Pellegrini to hero status.

The relationship between the two clubs has changed dramatically in my lifetime. From growing up expecting nothing from derby day, and often dreading going to school the following day, I now look at today's derby thinking that anything other than three points is a significant disappointment. City's star seems to have been on a meteoric rise in the last 7 years, while United are firmly in the middle of an identity crisis following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.

As a City fan, long may it continue, but it takes a brave person to predict a derby, particularly involving two such large clubs.

What Makes A Truly Great Stadium?

Behind every great team, there is an iconic stadium. Be it the Bernabeu, the Nou Camp, or Old Trafford, the essence of every club comes from the ground they play on. People often underestimate its importance in football - I have seen grounds change matches, seasons, and even end championship dreams. But when considering the world's best stadium, there is often a lot of discussion.

The first, and most obvious criterion, is aesthetics. There are many stadia around the world that are beautiful examples of architecture - the Emirates in London, the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City or the Etihad in Manchester. As a Man City fan, it should come as little surprise that I add the City stadium to this list, particularly at night. However, my personal favourite for aesthetics has to be the Allianz Arena in Munich. The perfect blend of modern technology mixed with modern architecture, the Bayern stadium has to be up there with the most aesthetically pleasing of all time.

The Etihad at night - one of the more beautiful stadia in world football?

But it is important to consider that looks are not everything. There are many more components to the perfect stadium, some often as important as looks alone.

Firstly, history plays a part. Certainly not as much as Man United and Liverpool fans like to make out, but it certainly is an aspect behind an iconic ground. Seeing some of the most important moments in world football's history does mean that a stadium becomes one of the world's greats. These are almost always not the most aesthetically pleasing - look at the mish-mashed development that is Old Trafford or Liverpool's rather disjointed city centre Anfield ground. Both have seen some of the greatest moments in football, and should certainly be considered. Outside of the UK, the San Siro and Nou Camp have been at the heart of football's dramas, but neither are, in my opinion, particularly attractive. However, as we have begun to see, football clubs with some of the more beautiful grounds have begun to see dramatic moments - who can forget 'Aguerooooooo'?

And secondly, it is important to consider atmosphere. Though the best looking stadia have their advantages, they are also often not the most atmospheric. As I said earlier, I have seen games and titles decided by the atmosphere created in a ground. Here is where the less attractive grounds often have the advantage. It's strange, but the older grounds in the UK tend to keep the atmosphere within better than the newer builds, and give fans the sense of being closer and more integral to the action. The best example I have of this is last season's critical late season match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park. 3-0 down, the home fans' enthusiasm was relentless, and ultimately dragged their side back into the game. An incredible comeback ensued to secure a 3-3 draw and destroy the Reds' title hopes.

So, with all those in mind, what makes the perfect stadium? In my eyes, a great stadium has to look appealing. I understand that the historic gates at Anfield have their own appeal, and I actually accept that point, even though the ground itself is not necessarily the most beautiful. Having said that, what does put me right off is the way that stadia like Old Trafford have pretty much killed any of the history of the ground by continually extending sections. The core heart of the historic ground has gone, and in my view, if you're going to build, you may as well make it attractive.

On top of this, it surprises me that science either hasn't been consulted or successfully used when creating a new ground to keep the atmosphere within and rival older grounds. I don't know if its simply nostalgia, but there still seems most enjoyable at historic grounds. Whether that will change, I don't know, but I hope so, as the best of both worlds would make it a ground people want to visit and enjoy once they are there.

Having considered all three of these elements, here is my list of 10 top grounds:

1. Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich
2. Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid
3. Nou Camp, Barcelona
4. Estadio do Maracana, Rio di Janeiro
5. Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
6. Anfield, Liverpool
7. Etihad Stadium, Manchester
8. Olympiastadion, Berlin
9. AmsterdamArena, Amsterdam
10. Estadio de Luz, Lisbon