Arcticterntalk.org

The blog of a travelling psychiatrist and football lover. Who happens to be a halfway decent photographer. Takes a cynical view of the world

Archive for the tag “cricket”

What is going on at Brentford and what is needed right now


After the farcical events of the last month we need to briefly recap.

  1. We employed an unknown manager and he has been sacked after 8 games.
  2. The results were not the issue but other factors which have not been specified.
  3. Mitigating factors include an unforseen series of injuries
  4. The new manager given the role till the end of the season does not want the job permanently.
  5. Brentford are heading for the relegation places, potentially this saturday.

What has gone wrong? Last season the fans were all together as a unit. Crowds were growing. The ground was sold out most games. Away travelling fans increased in numbers. This season that is all in reverse with 126 fans travelling to Middlesboro for a midweek game. My own view is this. The results have been poor but the performances poorer. A definite lack of tempo compared to last season ( this translates in my language to lack of effort), lack of leadership on the field. Would any away fan during the game be able to spot who the captain was? The quality of the play has been poor. The new players have mostly failed to be as good as the departing ones and certainly not better. And the defence has got worse, and frankly it was bad last year. Brentford are regularly conceding two or more goals each game.

So we need this

  1. A clear statement from the board about the long term managerial situation
  2. A statement from Matthew Benham regarding these matters, his plans and an explanation for what has happened
  3. A new captain on the field.
  4. A new defensive coach
  5. A far higher tempo to the play
  6. some stability for the next 6 months such that we can avoid relegation.

Anyone who thinks we are immune from relegation please think again. We have beaten only two of the poorest sides in the division so far and lost to sides that frankly are mediocre. But importantly we need to see something from the players. management team and board that we as fans can identify as an explanation for what has happened. We need to be able to get behind the team again and give them support. This is not easy when we have no clue what is going on.

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

Putting out the fires at Griffin Park?

The sun going down on Brentford dreams?

The sun going down on Brentford dreams?

Supermoon 2015 In Sequence.


Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Supermoon 2015 UK Copyright Chris Bushe

Craterseclipse 3eclipse 4eclipse 6eclipse8red moon 2Red Moon

The Last Redcurrants of 2015 from UK


One single plant has produced around £100 worth of redcurrants this year. I was somewhat amazed to find a few more the other day at the tail end of September. Tasted amazing. Thoroughly recommend a redcurrant plant for 2016.

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Redcurrants from surrey

Brentford 1 Huddersfield 2 Under-18


Despite threats of rain the sun came out and gave decent conditions for this saturday lunchtime game. The reality was that this was an easy win for a Huddersfield team that showed more physical strength than Brentford but all 3 goals were scrappy, with some doubt over the second Huddersfield goal which looked offside.

For those not familiar with this standard of football it is mostly played in decent spirit however Huddersfield did resort to timewasting from their goalkeeper as early as the 60th minute and a few cynical tackles from both sides. The last 10 minutes was frantic after Brentford scored a scrappy goal and four yellow card in four minutes summed up the frenetic nature of this last 10 minutes.

The standard of football is good with a lot of skill but it seems that physical strength plays a large part at this level in terms of results when the average age of the side is low. One player stood out on the pitch, the Huddersfield number 7, Jack Boyle. He displayed stamina, strength, skill and and effort. He is the player to watch here.

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Jack Boyle shoots .Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Jack Boyle shoots .Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Jack Boyle. Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Jack Boyle. Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015. Brentford keeper gets lobbed

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015.
Brentford keeper gets lobbed

all the 4's.Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

all the 4’s.Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

Brentford v Huddersfield Under 18. Sept 2015

World Food Photos. Like food, like photographs of food


Just a various eclectic mix of food photos taken in various locations. Nothing special. Just enjoy and be hungry.

phboto 1

Coconut Tart

Coconut Tart

CourgettesCustard Cream. Copyright Chris BusheCottage Pie. Smallest and worst cottage pie in the world. served Dalmahoy MarriottSea BassChicken and Asparagus, with courgettes and roast potatoesOrange and Arctic char with an "air"Pan Fried Cod and Broccolipbbhotophotod 5Nonsuch Park CafeNonsuch Park CafeBoat BreadNonsuch Park CafeGhost AlePineappleCopyright Chris BusheSri Lankan FruitCopyright Chris BusheSri Lankan FruitCopyright Chris BusheHerb Crusted Chicken Breast. A rarity .Copyright Chris BusheChicken and Asparagus. Copyright Chris BusheBanana and Coconut Tart. Copyright Chris Bushe 2014image

Sliders and Beef Wellingtons

Sliders and Beef Wellingtons

photo 1

Sussex V Surrey at Arundel. The last game of Chris Adams reign


Arundel is one of the most beautiful cricket grounds to watch cricket. IMG_2207 Solanki and Ponting3 Untitled2 wine best2 Best3 IMG_2224

Sussex v Surrey at Arundel. A painting.


Arundel is one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world. A couple of painting style photographs from today. Enjoy

Cricket at Arundel by Chris J Bushe

Cricket at Arundel by Chris J Bushe

Sussex V Worcestershire at Hove. Day 2


A decent days play in the sunshine with Sussex heading towards a lead of 200 and if the weather holds fair should win this game comfortably. Runs were scored at around three an over so never scintillating but none the less a good days play. Sadly though to me Murray Goodwin is well past his best and maybe his last season. A few photos to enjoy. A good discovery though was Stella Artois 4. Tasted cleaner and colder than the usual Stella.

Alan Richardson

Luke Wells giving an easy catch to slips

 

England v South Africa. Day 5. Oval


As most people expected this game was over by tea. But England, well some of them did put up a fight. Ian Bell and Matt Prior worked hard and were somewhat unlucky in getting out. Ravi Bopara looked the average county player he is. But the real story of this game is the great weather, the fact it went 5 days and the superb South African bowling, England were outplayed frankly in almost every regard except Wicket keeper where AB de Villiers looked average to poor.

As a result of making ticket prices 15£, the Oval was decently filled with only the hospitality guests absent as judged by their empty boxes. Dozens of pints were consumed, seemingly by some individuals, and the food prices remain too high for me with the choice poor. A picnic every time for me. But a great day out, a great test match.

Lastly, the stewards. What exactly is their role? Some were gifted lovely luminous jackets with “steward” emblazoned on the back, if we might not have guessed, but others had simeply ” response” on theirs and green jackets. None of them performed any useful purpose other than on occasions blocking visibility. but there again Bopara’s batting or a stewards bottom? The difference is what?

Ian Bell

Ravi Bopara departs bowled

South Africa Keeper and Slips[gallery columns="1" orderby="ID"]

England V South Africa Day 4. Oval test.


Test matches are always a spectacle and more so when England are playing at the Oval. A ground that although lacking the majesty of Lord’s has something of its own. A sort of “people’s ground”. Today the ground was packed with cricket fans paying their £60 to watch a day’s play and that is what they saw. South Africa dominated throughout. Scoring around 200 runs without losing a wicket, nor looking as though they might, to declare around 250 runs ahead of England. So the final session began with England needing to bat out 4 sessions to draw the game. The alleged best team in the world should be able to do that on a placid pitch. Wrong. England’s batting was appalling. A few good balls got wickets ( England got no wickets because they did not bowl any good balls) but Kevin Pietersen seemed determined to get himself out. A stupid cameo innings that gained the team 19 runs before his middle stump went cartwheeling out. Strauss was even worse, sweeping a harmless ball up in the air to square leg. Andrew Strauss has had a bad game all round. Bad batting and bad captaincy. The highlight of the day was seeing Hasim Amla score 300 not out. He looked like he might score 1000 if left there for a few days.

Meanwhile the sun shone, 30 degrees at least, the food selection was poor and expensive. We settled on a pastie for £4.50. No alcohol is allowed in the ground, cycnical. But we all enjoyed the occassion and no doubt will be back next year.

Oval

Oval

Oval

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