Waiting for World Cup fireworks
I hope you enjoy the column this week because for the next four weeks or so you'll have to be prepared to hear about me moaning about all the running I'm doing and how sore and tired my legs are.
That's right; pre-season training starts tomorrow night and as usual I'm not looking forward to it one little bit.
It'll be great to see all the lads again and meet the new boys, but the rest, no thank you.
I seem to have been running up and down hills and round running tracks for so long and I've no idea why I continue to put myself through it. Well, actually, that's not true, it's due to a love of the game and Annan Athletic.
The controversial World Cup ball, the adidas Jabulani. Photo: Getty.
My close season programme hasn't gone as well as I'd have liked and I've not done nearly enough work on my own during the break so I'm really hoping the manager breaks us in gently during Thursday night's session.
In all fairness, the running is the least of my worries; it's stepping on to those fancy scales I'm really not looking forward to.
As well as your weight, it also measures your body fat percentage, amongst other things, and although I'm confident that I'll have both down to a decent level by the time the season starts, I've a sneaky feeling I'll be asking the manager to keep my results a secret!
The one good thing about returning to training will be that I won't be forcing myself to watch every game in the . The competition has been a massive disappointment for me so far but I've continued to sit in front of the television thinking that the next match will be when it finally takes off.
I have been impressed by Germany and I also enjoyed watching Chile on Wednesday before having to go to work.
I was not happy at missing the Spain v Switzerland match as I really did believe that it would be an enjoyable one to watch, but I have said that a few times in the first six days of the tournament...
I think the main reason for the poor start could be that teams are being a little over-cautious. In a four-team group you really need to avoid defeat in your first match or your chances of progressing are pretty slim.
Unfortunately I reckon that teams are indeed trying to avoid defeat instead of trying to win the game.
It has meant the games haven't been that easy on the eye and I've been willing teams to take a bit of a risk and up the tempo. Other factors like the altitude and the new ball could be contributing to the disappointing start.
On watching some of the play from a few of the teams I can't help but think that the players are actually having problems with the .
I'm sure we're all well aware of the , but some of the passing and especially the set pieces have been so poor that it's got me wondering. I can't remember seeing so many over-hit corners and free-kicks in such high-level games.
Another thing I have noticed is that a lot of players are misjudging the bounce of the ball. It seems to me that it bounces ridiculously high - the ball, the surfaces and altitude might all be playing their part because I don't believe some of the players can be that bad!
The other main focal point of the tournament has been the . Love them or hate them, they are certainly making the stadiums noisy; it's just a pity it's the same droning sound over and over again.
I've got to be honest and say that I'm not a fan. It has completely taken away the natural atmosphere of the supporters. You can't hear them getting excited when a certain player gets the ball and I don't think I've heard a single football chant yet.
On a positive note, I did actually feel a little beat creeping in to the crowd during the so maybe things are starting to look up.
Hi there, I'm Chris Jardine, midfielder with Scottish Third Division side Annan Athletic. I hope, throughout the season, I can give you a good insight into life at the newest Scottish League club and maybe even a few laughs along the way.
Comment number 1.
At 16th Jun 2010, teddy salad wrote:I thoroughly agree with your assessment of the Jabulani. They've made it so light and seamless and bouncy that the best players in the world can't even control it. There will always be some pretty, curling strikes, but 95% of the goals come from set pieces and crosses and over and over, these aren't even coming close to their targets. They're really making these guys look awful.
And I have to say Spain's effort was the worst I've seen in a World Cup, and I've been watching them since I was a kid playing football in 1982. Sure, Switzerland crowded the box, but when a team does that you spread the ball out and attack through the wings and try to score through crosses. Spain had their whole team tracking down the middle of the field for 95 minutes and they never even tried to change. When they don't make adjustments at halftime you either wonder about the manager or wonder if the team isn't listening to him. I have to say I've never seen a team control the ball for 85% of the game and yet really not get but one decent shot on goal. No matter how good your players are they can't beat a one on six. They really deserve to get bounced out after that effort and I certainly wouldn't want to see that kind of a game in the knockout rounds.
Good luck to England in the next two matches. They're one of only 4-5 teams that has really kept to the fundamentals of moving the ball around and finding space and I think if they just keep working hard and accept things like Greens miscue as a Mulligan they'll easily get into the semis.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 19th Jun 2010, scotlandcricket wrote:lol
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 21st Jun 2010, gibson1972 wrote:I agree with your comments about the WC ball. It looks like you have to stroke the ball rather than whack it.
One question about your pre-season training - is more time spent on achieving match fitness or on set-pieces and skill or it is half and half?
Enjoyed reading your blogs last season and hopefully you will be challenging for promotion this season and would love to see local derbies with Annan and QOS in the league (just imagine how busy the A75 would be).
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 25th Jun 2010, Chris Jardine wrote:gibson1972 - it's more of a build up to the first game so initially there is more focus on the general fitness. We start off with the longer runs and then shorten the distances. We always have ball work in every session but the actual set plays will be focused on more when the games begin.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 26th Jun 2010, DrCajetanCoelho wrote:The World Cup has reached the QF stage and fireworks are yet to start. The likes of Rooney, Defoe, Gerrard, Lampard, Robinho, Luis Fabiano, Higuain, Ronaldo, Villa, Iniesta and Messi look set to cause the long awaited fireworks. Best wishes.
Dr. Cajetan Coelho
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 1st Jul 2010, JPMiami wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)