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.
Analysis of sporting events, talking points and controversies.
Showing posts with label World Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Cup. Show all posts
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Thursday, 8 May 2014
Who Makes It? On The Plane To Brazil
Just under a week until we know who to pin our childhood excitement on, however inevitable failure at the quarter final stage appears. The next in a long line of decisions for Roy Hodgson is who exactly has earned the place on the plane? His recent comments that a last dash of form wouldn't change his mind may be true, but it is worth examining those that seem set to miss out unless they do something spectacular with two to go in the Premier League season.
Goalkeepers
Obviously Joe Hart, but which other two deserve a place on the bench? For me, it is down to three for the two spots. Celtic's Fraser Forster has once again been solid for the Scottish champions this season, as he has for the past few campaigns. The main criticism levied against the ex-Newcastle man is that his abilities are overplayed due to the favourable clean sheet statistics, thanks mostly to Celtic's huge superiority in the league. However, having seen his performances against Barcelona both this season and last, I take such criticism with a pinch of salt. Reliable when called upon, I think he would be my number two.
So who for the last place? For me, despite the talk of youngster Jack Butland making the side, it has to be between West Brom's Ben Foster and Norwich's John Ruddy. The statistics demonstrate how marginal it is. While Ruddy's 11 clean sheets betters that achieved by Foster, who has only managed 7, the Norwich stopper has conceded 6 goals more than his West Brom counterpart. Perhaps that says more about the defence in front of him than his ability, but nevertheless a difficult decision. However, these, and any other stats like saves (which Ruddy also leads) are somewhat skewed by the fact that Ben Foster only managed 5 appearances in the first half of the season, with Boaz Myhill being preferred to the Englishman. Going purely on my gut feeling, I would take Ruddy. He is an excellent shot stopper who has earned the opportunity. Not that Foster hasn't, but his previous experience and mistakes unfortunately count against him.
Defenders
Now it gets interesting. With neither of the usual stalwarts of Rio Ferdinand or John Terry available for selection, a little more reshuffling is needed in the World Cup backline. Beginning at left back, it is a case of two places, three candidates. The left back present in the last three world cups, Ashley Cole, is not assured of his place this time around, having been robbed of his club spot by Cesar Azpilicueta. With the Chelsea defender being talked about as over the hill, it offers flying Everton wing back Leighton Baines the chance to cement that first team spot. Though the Toffees player has not been as effective this year as previous campaigns, he remains our best left back, and I would certainly take him (assuming his home sickness means he can go!).
This is one of the positions where a late run will make all the difference. Despite being sensational in the early to mid season, Southampton's Luke Shaw has flown somewhat under the radar in the last few weeks. Unfortunately for the 18 year old, this has happened just as Cole has returned to the fore for Chelsea in the big games in the Champions League and Premier League. For me, I would take Shaw. Cole has been an excellent servant of England, but his time is over, and it is time to allow the next generation of England players to take the main stage. With Baines into his early 30's, he is unlikely to keep the left back shirt for long, meaning that Shaw is the most likely to hold down the place in the long term.
Going into the centre of the field, it is again tough. I think that Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka have already booked their places on the plane. This is not necessarily as a result of any performances this year, though Cahill has been exceptional this season in particular, but the partnership that the pair have created at the heart of England's defence. Outside of this pair, who is there? Thankfully not Matt Upson, but the likes of Joleon Lescott, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Steven Caulker and Ryan Shawcross have all been mentioned in relation to the contest. Of these, I would take Phil Jones, and maybe surprisingly, Steven Caulker. Lescott has not played enough games this season, while Ryan Shawcross and Chris Smalling are about as consistent as simulation decisions.
Right back is a little more confirmed. Though Liverpool's Jon Flanagan has had a good season, he is not ready for the World Cup. As a result, his teammate Glen Johnson and Tottenham's Kyle Walker seem shoo-ins for the squad. Both have had anonymous seasons, but with relatively little competition, it is certainly the position that England are struggling for now.
Midfielders
Here I will split this into central midfielders and wingers. Beginning with central midfielders, with Steven Gerrard's incredible season this year, he is impossible to rule out. Equally, exceptional years for Southampton's Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson mean that I would take them too. That leaves just two places. So who is left?
Chelsea's Frank Lampard has had a difficult season, with sporadic appearances for Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, and being less effective going forward than he has been in previous years. Nevetheless, his England pedigree means that he cannot be ignored for consideration. Equally, injury has hit Jack Wilshere's England charge this year, with his appearances for Arsenal limited to a handful. Manchester United, despite a horrific season, have a number of English candidates, and Michael Carrick is certainly one of them. The defensive midfielder has struggled this year, after a number of excellent years for the Red Devils. Manchester City's James Milner, often maligned for being dull and boring, is perhaps the most consistent and hardworking player of the lot. What he lacks in flair, he more than makes up for in tenacity. However, his first team appearances have also been limited with the arrival of Jesus Navas. Ross Barkley, the Everton playmaker has shown desire, drive and innovation, but does his youth and inexperience count against him in such a hotly contested position? Tom Cleverley? No. Just no. Too far.
So which two get the nod? Though I would love to see Barkley lighting up the Maracana in July, I just wouldn't take the risk. There are too many experienced and seasoned campaigners to take the young Evertonian, but his time will come. At the other end of the scale, I would discount Frank Lampard. Though he can take a good penalty (always an important consideration with England), his best days are behind him, and he is no longer the 20 goals a season player we are used to seeing. It is so difficult to separate the three remaining, but I would take Carrick and Milner. Both have experienced World Cup football before, and both have the drive and work ethic to succeed in tough conditions. I feel Wilshere, with his well publicised petulance, would be far too easily wound up by the likes of Pepe and the South Americans with their diving to risk taking. Who knows, he may end up swearing at more crowds? Carrick offers reliability, while Milner offers stability in the midfield, which will be essential when playing sides with pace.
Now, to wingers. It's a shame Theo Walcott will not be on the plane, as he more than many deserves the opportunity after a lightning fast start to the season. However, the winger to most benefit from this has to be Raheem Sterling. The 19 year-old Liverpudlian has performed beyond everyone's expectations in the second half of the season, putting defences to the sword and acting as the catalyst for Liverpool's incredible title challenge. He is definitely there. Other than him, it is difficult. No-one else has stood out massively, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andros Townsend denied games by both injury and more illustrious teammates. Aaron Lennon has been a regular starter, but has failed to fully take advantage. Similarly, Adam Johnson at Sunderland has attempted to show fight, with a few good mid-season performances. However, he has not been consistent throughout the season. For me, I would take the North London duo of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lennon. Despite his excellent performances for his country, Townsend has not done enough to win a place throughout the season.
Forwards
Two of these are already sewn up. Wayne Rooney remains United's shining light despite the trials and tribulations, and Daniel Sturridge, behind just Luis Suarez and Yaya Toure, would be my pick for player of the season. So who gets the last two places? It would have been Jay Rodriguez after a phenomenal couple of years, but his horrific injury has cut that dream short. Despite a late run by Andy Carroll, I would take Rickie Lambert and Danny Welbeck. I dislike Welbeck's play in general, as his touch is often abysmal but he works hard. He is just an English Carlos Tevez, but he does have an excellent scoring record for the Three Lions. On the other hand, Lambert more than deserves his place. His power and aerial ability is important, but he is also more than capable of using either foot, and his dead ball delivery is exceptional.
Full Squad
Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Celtic), John Ruddy (Norwich City)
Leighton Baines (Everton), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Steven Caulker (Cardiff City), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), James Milner (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Rickie Lambert (Southampton)
Goalkeepers
Obviously Joe Hart, but which other two deserve a place on the bench? For me, it is down to three for the two spots. Celtic's Fraser Forster has once again been solid for the Scottish champions this season, as he has for the past few campaigns. The main criticism levied against the ex-Newcastle man is that his abilities are overplayed due to the favourable clean sheet statistics, thanks mostly to Celtic's huge superiority in the league. However, having seen his performances against Barcelona both this season and last, I take such criticism with a pinch of salt. Reliable when called upon, I think he would be my number two.
So who for the last place? For me, despite the talk of youngster Jack Butland making the side, it has to be between West Brom's Ben Foster and Norwich's John Ruddy. The statistics demonstrate how marginal it is. While Ruddy's 11 clean sheets betters that achieved by Foster, who has only managed 7, the Norwich stopper has conceded 6 goals more than his West Brom counterpart. Perhaps that says more about the defence in front of him than his ability, but nevertheless a difficult decision. However, these, and any other stats like saves (which Ruddy also leads) are somewhat skewed by the fact that Ben Foster only managed 5 appearances in the first half of the season, with Boaz Myhill being preferred to the Englishman. Going purely on my gut feeling, I would take Ruddy. He is an excellent shot stopper who has earned the opportunity. Not that Foster hasn't, but his previous experience and mistakes unfortunately count against him.
Defenders
Now it gets interesting. With neither of the usual stalwarts of Rio Ferdinand or John Terry available for selection, a little more reshuffling is needed in the World Cup backline. Beginning at left back, it is a case of two places, three candidates. The left back present in the last three world cups, Ashley Cole, is not assured of his place this time around, having been robbed of his club spot by Cesar Azpilicueta. With the Chelsea defender being talked about as over the hill, it offers flying Everton wing back Leighton Baines the chance to cement that first team spot. Though the Toffees player has not been as effective this year as previous campaigns, he remains our best left back, and I would certainly take him (assuming his home sickness means he can go!).
This is one of the positions where a late run will make all the difference. Despite being sensational in the early to mid season, Southampton's Luke Shaw has flown somewhat under the radar in the last few weeks. Unfortunately for the 18 year old, this has happened just as Cole has returned to the fore for Chelsea in the big games in the Champions League and Premier League. For me, I would take Shaw. Cole has been an excellent servant of England, but his time is over, and it is time to allow the next generation of England players to take the main stage. With Baines into his early 30's, he is unlikely to keep the left back shirt for long, meaning that Shaw is the most likely to hold down the place in the long term.
Going into the centre of the field, it is again tough. I think that Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka have already booked their places on the plane. This is not necessarily as a result of any performances this year, though Cahill has been exceptional this season in particular, but the partnership that the pair have created at the heart of England's defence. Outside of this pair, who is there? Thankfully not Matt Upson, but the likes of Joleon Lescott, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Steven Caulker and Ryan Shawcross have all been mentioned in relation to the contest. Of these, I would take Phil Jones, and maybe surprisingly, Steven Caulker. Lescott has not played enough games this season, while Ryan Shawcross and Chris Smalling are about as consistent as simulation decisions.
Right back is a little more confirmed. Though Liverpool's Jon Flanagan has had a good season, he is not ready for the World Cup. As a result, his teammate Glen Johnson and Tottenham's Kyle Walker seem shoo-ins for the squad. Both have had anonymous seasons, but with relatively little competition, it is certainly the position that England are struggling for now.
Midfielders
Here I will split this into central midfielders and wingers. Beginning with central midfielders, with Steven Gerrard's incredible season this year, he is impossible to rule out. Equally, exceptional years for Southampton's Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson mean that I would take them too. That leaves just two places. So who is left?
Chelsea's Frank Lampard has had a difficult season, with sporadic appearances for Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, and being less effective going forward than he has been in previous years. Nevetheless, his England pedigree means that he cannot be ignored for consideration. Equally, injury has hit Jack Wilshere's England charge this year, with his appearances for Arsenal limited to a handful. Manchester United, despite a horrific season, have a number of English candidates, and Michael Carrick is certainly one of them. The defensive midfielder has struggled this year, after a number of excellent years for the Red Devils. Manchester City's James Milner, often maligned for being dull and boring, is perhaps the most consistent and hardworking player of the lot. What he lacks in flair, he more than makes up for in tenacity. However, his first team appearances have also been limited with the arrival of Jesus Navas. Ross Barkley, the Everton playmaker has shown desire, drive and innovation, but does his youth and inexperience count against him in such a hotly contested position? Tom Cleverley? No. Just no. Too far.
So which two get the nod? Though I would love to see Barkley lighting up the Maracana in July, I just wouldn't take the risk. There are too many experienced and seasoned campaigners to take the young Evertonian, but his time will come. At the other end of the scale, I would discount Frank Lampard. Though he can take a good penalty (always an important consideration with England), his best days are behind him, and he is no longer the 20 goals a season player we are used to seeing. It is so difficult to separate the three remaining, but I would take Carrick and Milner. Both have experienced World Cup football before, and both have the drive and work ethic to succeed in tough conditions. I feel Wilshere, with his well publicised petulance, would be far too easily wound up by the likes of Pepe and the South Americans with their diving to risk taking. Who knows, he may end up swearing at more crowds? Carrick offers reliability, while Milner offers stability in the midfield, which will be essential when playing sides with pace.
Now, to wingers. It's a shame Theo Walcott will not be on the plane, as he more than many deserves the opportunity after a lightning fast start to the season. However, the winger to most benefit from this has to be Raheem Sterling. The 19 year-old Liverpudlian has performed beyond everyone's expectations in the second half of the season, putting defences to the sword and acting as the catalyst for Liverpool's incredible title challenge. He is definitely there. Other than him, it is difficult. No-one else has stood out massively, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andros Townsend denied games by both injury and more illustrious teammates. Aaron Lennon has been a regular starter, but has failed to fully take advantage. Similarly, Adam Johnson at Sunderland has attempted to show fight, with a few good mid-season performances. However, he has not been consistent throughout the season. For me, I would take the North London duo of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lennon. Despite his excellent performances for his country, Townsend has not done enough to win a place throughout the season.
Forwards
Two of these are already sewn up. Wayne Rooney remains United's shining light despite the trials and tribulations, and Daniel Sturridge, behind just Luis Suarez and Yaya Toure, would be my pick for player of the season. So who gets the last two places? It would have been Jay Rodriguez after a phenomenal couple of years, but his horrific injury has cut that dream short. Despite a late run by Andy Carroll, I would take Rickie Lambert and Danny Welbeck. I dislike Welbeck's play in general, as his touch is often abysmal but he works hard. He is just an English Carlos Tevez, but he does have an excellent scoring record for the Three Lions. On the other hand, Lambert more than deserves his place. His power and aerial ability is important, but he is also more than capable of using either foot, and his dead ball delivery is exceptional.
Full Squad
Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Celtic), John Ruddy (Norwich City)
Leighton Baines (Everton), Luke Shaw (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Steven Caulker (Cardiff City), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), James Milner (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Rickie Lambert (Southampton)
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
FIFA 14 Realism Series: Branching Out Into The World Of YouTube
This week, I will be doing a three-part mini series, celebrating and analysing the release of the most successful and popular football game series of all time. I am, of course, speaking of the immortal FIFA series. A franchise that has generated upwards of £3.7 billion since its inception in 1993, the game has made its way into the hearts (and homes) of football fans and gamers across the country. Last year's edition of the game has seen over 4.5 billion goals scored, and a staggering average of 13.3 million per day. The hotly anticipated release of their '14' version, which hit the shelves on Friday 27th September, sold over 2.5 million copies on the day of release. Having got my copy on the day, I have decided to see whether FIFA 14 can be considered to have achieved its primary objective: to be realistic. For Part 1, click here. For Part 2, click here.
The final installment in my FIFA 14 series will be relatively short, as all I am doing in this one is setting out my plans for over the next few months, and advertising my all new YouTube channel. With the success of my blog, and my interest in the realism of FIFA, I have decided to marry the two obsessions and start my own YouTube channel. Having begun my FIFA 14 version of the Premier League, where I am using a computer-simulation of each of the fixtures to determine the overall league table, I have realised that there are a couple of flaws to my experiment, and also a couple of areas that could be expanded. In my earlier post, I mentioned that the squads I will use for the entire season in my predictions are the best possible squads that each of the teams have available to them at any given time. This will inevitably not take into consideration injuries, suspensions etc, which is why I have had Luis Suarez playing from the start for Liverpool (not that it seems to have made any difference-the Reds have currently won only 1 of their opening 5 matches). Therefore, YouTube offers me a way to produce more realistic content to check immediately with live events.
My YouTube channel will consist predominantly of simulated FIFA 14 videos, with the main aim to determine the realism of the game. I will do this by uploading highlight package videos of two of the most intriguing looking Premier League fixtures of the week. However, unlike my blog's version, which due to time constraints can do nothing to edit the squads, the YouTube channel's videos will wait for the official team-sheets to be announced before beginning the simulation. I will then post the FIFA highlights on YouTube as the match is taking place (hopefully at around half time). This will prove that I have not been able to replay the match to make the result as true to life as possible, giving it an added air of authenticity. I want this to be as much of an experiment for me as it is for you, so rigging the result is not in my best interests.
This also opens up many more possibilities for me and the simulation. For example, I will now be able to simulate matches from all sorts of competitions, either domestic, continental or international. I will also be open to any suggestions. If anyone wants to make suggestions for upcoming videos, please use the comment section underneath my videos, or email me directly at itsmorethanjustagameblog@gmail.com. Whilst I will not be able to accommodate everyone's request, I will do my best to ensure that I put out the footage that the majority of the people will want to see. As a result I will be covering the major finals of every cup competition, and I will attempt to do as many of the Champions League and Europa League group and knockout round matches as possible. Looking forward, I will also be attempting to create videos of many of the World Cup games next summer (assuming that the teams involved are actually in the game!). I think that this opens up an extremely intriguing avenue for myself and my experiment, as the time constraints place additional pressure on me to get the results.
So, where can you find this promising new channel? The link is http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6MI4LgdOaTJbmp4vK3dEZA. Alternatively, if you just search into YouTube: itsmorethanjustagame, you should find me. If anyone has any suggestions to improve my channel's design or content, please just drop me an email and I will try to change it. Whilst there is little of interest on the channel at the minute, I promise some good stuff will be coming soon! I hope to begin my videos within the next couple of weeks, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled!
The final installment in my FIFA 14 series will be relatively short, as all I am doing in this one is setting out my plans for over the next few months, and advertising my all new YouTube channel. With the success of my blog, and my interest in the realism of FIFA, I have decided to marry the two obsessions and start my own YouTube channel. Having begun my FIFA 14 version of the Premier League, where I am using a computer-simulation of each of the fixtures to determine the overall league table, I have realised that there are a couple of flaws to my experiment, and also a couple of areas that could be expanded. In my earlier post, I mentioned that the squads I will use for the entire season in my predictions are the best possible squads that each of the teams have available to them at any given time. This will inevitably not take into consideration injuries, suspensions etc, which is why I have had Luis Suarez playing from the start for Liverpool (not that it seems to have made any difference-the Reds have currently won only 1 of their opening 5 matches). Therefore, YouTube offers me a way to produce more realistic content to check immediately with live events.
My YouTube channel will consist predominantly of simulated FIFA 14 videos, with the main aim to determine the realism of the game. I will do this by uploading highlight package videos of two of the most intriguing looking Premier League fixtures of the week. However, unlike my blog's version, which due to time constraints can do nothing to edit the squads, the YouTube channel's videos will wait for the official team-sheets to be announced before beginning the simulation. I will then post the FIFA highlights on YouTube as the match is taking place (hopefully at around half time). This will prove that I have not been able to replay the match to make the result as true to life as possible, giving it an added air of authenticity. I want this to be as much of an experiment for me as it is for you, so rigging the result is not in my best interests.
This also opens up many more possibilities for me and the simulation. For example, I will now be able to simulate matches from all sorts of competitions, either domestic, continental or international. I will also be open to any suggestions. If anyone wants to make suggestions for upcoming videos, please use the comment section underneath my videos, or email me directly at itsmorethanjustagameblog@gmail.com. Whilst I will not be able to accommodate everyone's request, I will do my best to ensure that I put out the footage that the majority of the people will want to see. As a result I will be covering the major finals of every cup competition, and I will attempt to do as many of the Champions League and Europa League group and knockout round matches as possible. Looking forward, I will also be attempting to create videos of many of the World Cup games next summer (assuming that the teams involved are actually in the game!). I think that this opens up an extremely intriguing avenue for myself and my experiment, as the time constraints place additional pressure on me to get the results.
So, where can you find this promising new channel? The link is http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6MI4LgdOaTJbmp4vK3dEZA. Alternatively, if you just search into YouTube: itsmorethanjustagame, you should find me. If anyone has any suggestions to improve my channel's design or content, please just drop me an email and I will try to change it. Whilst there is little of interest on the channel at the minute, I promise some good stuff will be coming soon! I hope to begin my videos within the next couple of weeks, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled!
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