The Moon of Liberty

My First sport round-up of recent events. I will continue to report individual events I see in full, but this is my general comment and review of sports events I feel the urge to comment about for no ther reason than I want to.

The Rugby World Cup is demonstrating an early gulf in class. While France fall dramatically to Argentina on the opening night, the rest of Europes top teams also struggle. Ireland were poor in the their inevitable win against Namibia, England were very poor against the United States only winning 26-10, and Wales were ouplayed for 50 minutes by Canada, who eventually fell away due to lack of fitness.

Scotland managed 50 points against the weakest team in the World Cup, Portugal, What price New Zealand to get 100, I suspect we will see it. The home nations will all have to be better against stronger opposition if they seriously want to compete with their Southern Hemisphere counterparts.

As if proof of that were needed, while Euopes finest struggled to put away the minnows, the tri nations of the Southern hemisphere had no such problems, New Zealand putting 70 plus past Italy, Australia racking up 91 against Japan, and South Africa were hugely impressive in their 50 demolition of one of the stronger minnow sides, Samoa. Brian Havana scored 4 tries for the Boks, look out for plenty more, he may well be the star of the torunament.

The NFL is underway, after the Superbowl champion Colts demolition of New Orleans on Thursday, the full schedual of week one took place last night. New Enlgands new passing force was there for all to see as they put the New York Jets away with ease 38-14 with Tom Brady and new recruit Randy Moss connecting 9 times for 183 yards and a TD, Rothlisberger was hugely impressive as Pittsburg defeat Cleveland 34-7, Big Ben throwing for 4 TD's. Houston lived up to the hype as many peoples surprise team by defeating Kansas City 20-3.

Seattle and San Diego are off to strong starts winning their openers, and in a Classic at Texas Staduim, Tony Romo threw for 4 touchdowns and had one rushing TD too as Dallas won a shoot out against the Giants 45-35.

As we warm up for the European Championship Qualifer between England and Russia the Russian Coach Gus Hiddink has been causing mischief ahead of the game claiming Russia and Croatia will qualify from the group, beating England into third. Will McLaren and his men make Hiddink eat humble Pie, we will find out Wednesday.

And finally, the US Open Tennis finishes with, well, a feeling of de javu. Federer and Henin won their respective titles with easy and fairly dull finals at Flushing Meadow, get used to it, they will win plenty more too.

European Championship Qualifier

England Vs Israel

Venue - Wembley Stadium Kick off 5.00 pm

With a tough game against Russia on the horizon, and after their dissapointing 0-0 draw in Israel, England needed to get a good result against the same opponenets this afternoon. Steve McLaren surprised a few people by bringing back Emille Heskey, for Israel this was always going to be a tough afternoon and they were looking to the experience of Yossi Benayoun of Liverpool to put the type of performance in that would give them a shout.

England began reasonably well and created the first chance of the game, a direct ball down the middle allowed Michael owen to knock the ball down perfectly for Heskey who blasted the ball over the bar.

From then on Israel began to look comfortable for the enxt fifteen minutes with threatening. That was until the two wingers combined, Joe Cole lofted a fine cross leaving the Israeli defense floundering and Shaun Wright Phillips struck a sweet volley home to give England the lead.

GOAL - 20 Minutes - Shaun Wright Phillips - England 1 Israel 0

It was down the flanks the England continued to get success. Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole, Micah Richards and Garath barry all put in excellent performances in the first half. Owen and Heskey up front however were wasteful, Owen had two chances from close range and failed to cpitalise, the first being save, the secon lashed over the bar. Heskey got onto a corner only to head wide. All Englands good work as a result came to nothing. The keeper also made a good save from Ashley Cole.

Israel offered little going forward, trying to get men behind the ball and only using a couple of men at any time to try and break. They did put some passes together in the last 10 minutes of the half however, and caused John Terry and Rio Ferdinand some problems, Micah Richards however was usually on hand to mop up however, and the goalkeeper Paul Robinson did not have a save to make in the first half.

Shortly in the second half England made it two. A smart passing move lead to michael Owen getting the ball on the edge of the box and he neatly turned and with a lovely strike doubled England's lead. After his wasteful efforts of the first half the goal eased the pressure on him, and on England as from here victory was secure.

GOAL - 49 Minites - Michael Owen - England 2 Israel 0

The game from this point went into a bit of a lull with little happening. Israel looked like a beaten side, England were crusing without being particularly special. On 66 minutes Micah Richards capped a fine performance by adding a third with a towering header from a corner. Israle believed Owne had tripped the keeper and the replays certainly looked that way, but Richards deserved his goal and the referee saw nothing wrong giving England their third.

GOAL - 66 Minutes - Micah Richards - England 3 Israel 0

The rest was a formality as the game petered out. A Mexican wave and people leaving early demonstrated how dull the game became from this point. Little else happened until the last minute when substitue Andy johnson won the ball and placed a delightful pass into Owen's path, Owen rounded the keeper and though he had scored only for the Israeli defnder Ziv to slided and clear off the line. Witht hat the game ended, a fourth goal would have flattered Englnad, and while they were comfortably better than a poor Israel, Russia will still fnacy their chances as there is not much inspirational about what we saw today, England did enough, but no more.

RESULT

England             (1) 3 (Wright-Phillips, Owen, Richards)

Israel                 (0) 0 

MOON OF LIBERTY STAR MAN - Micah Richards (England) - A Powerhouse performance at the back giving Israel no encouragement at times when other defenders around him looked a bit shaky, got forward plenty to, and an excellent goal.

Part two of my Sun editorial watch.

The only section of political significance today is a cooment reagrding a killer who received three life sentences is apprently preparing to be set free due to prison overcrowding after only 11 months behind bars.

In addition, a pop star o0f the group 'Girls Aloud' has made a comment stating the answer to prison overcrowding is to build more prisons.

The editorial ends stating 'It comes to something when a pop singer speaks more sense on tackling crime than the Governemnt.'

Ouch, poor Gordon. This is a classic example of what has been going on recently, Gordon Brown is not even mentioned by name in this editorial, but it is clear who the sting is aimed at and will be associated with in the public mind.

Drip, Drip, Drip.

I today introduce a new feature which I believe could have a major impact on the next general election. Namely that of the Sun Newspaper editorial.

I have been watching the editorial line over the summer. The Sun has, in my view been sharpening it's knives for Gordon Brown with daily attacks, some veiled, some obvious. This coupled with subtle priase for the Conservative Party's ideas and polcies could have a damaging effect on the perception of the Prime Minister come the next election. I therefore intend to keep a regular check on this blog of what the Sun are saying, Am I right that they are consistantly attacking Brown? And if so will it have the effect I am suggesting it may?

Today we have some praise for the Tories combined with a stinging attack on labour Britain. It is highlighting 3,000 crimes committed by under 10's in Britain. It also uses this to praise Cameron's plans saying ' The Tories are right to consider plans to make failing pupils repeat their final year of primary school, or at least go to a summer school.'

it ends saying 'Unless drastic action is taken, we are condemning a frightening number of a new generation to a life without hope.'

After a break from the blog I begin with a look at the facinating picture in Brtiish politics. Over the last few weeks we have seen the emergence of Prime Minister Brown. He has claimed to be the end of spin over substance, and yet, the opposite appears to be true. During the 'honeymoon', which is all about spin and presentations, Brown has done exceptionally well. Now we are getting back to substance as the honeymoon ends, his lead is starting to evaporate and his Conservtive opponents are back in the game.

Today poll reports are suggesting the gap has narrowed to as close to all square as possible. One poll even has it all square, another that gave Brown a 10 point lead only a few weeks ago now had it cut to three. It is being reported tonight that a third poll to be published tomorrow has a one point Labour lead. Taking margin for error into account, and the ability of polling data to consistantly over estimate the Labour position, we are effectively all square with everything to play for.

The interesting thing about what we are seeing now is that it coincides with a dominance of a key area of politics in which Brown is widely considered strong and Cameron weak, notably that of policy. If Cameron's position on family policy porved a disaster, which it did, he has recovered the ground on tax and crime. His attack over prison policy and early release schemes, the ambitous plans in John Redwood's report to cut red-tape for businesses and cut tax have all gone down well, despite the BBC's attempts to rubbish the Redwood report in a manner they had to apologise for.

In addition, you only have to look at the editorial line of the Sun newspaper to know Brown has many problems. They have attacked Brown day by day, on Europe, on immigration, on tax, on the economy, on crime and disorder, on education, on hospitals. Day after day the editorial line of the UK's leading paper has been a drip, drip, drip attack. Todays polling news suggests this is having a major effect, Brown's problem is that it will be difficult to stop them doing it.

So we go into the conferences and it is truely game on. Over the next few weeks we will see the true opening salvos of the next general election. It could still go either. Browns support for the EU treaty is very unpopular, and he has much to do in reassuring pepople on crime after recent high profile murders. in the measures in the report on family policy Cameron has many pitfalls too, he also has to resist the temptation to vere too much to the right, while mainitaining enough of the polcies that will keep traditional Tories and the likes of the Sun and the Mail on board, without scaring the horses.

This summer we have seen Cameron, who has looked like a winner from day one, wobble, now we are seeing Prime Minister Brown wobble for the first time too. In a long campaign you get wobbles. Everyone from Bill Clinton to Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher to Tony Blair had them. You may not remember them, thats because in the end they are forgotten if you are a winner. You may remember more the wobbles of the likes of Neil Kinnock and William Hague, beacuse they are only remembered if you are a loser. When it comes to Brown verses Cameron, this conference season may give us the first real indication of which one of these formidable operators is a winner.