A Cyclist In France: A Big Scary Nurse

It's been a while but here's our latest update from our cyclist in France. Andy Phillips's blog posts have been a popular addition to our blog and will continue to do so on Sport Trades Pulse.

For those of you who are new to Andy and our blog, Mr Phillips is a Cat 2 cyclist whose progess we follow. So far on the blog we've heard how Andy got into cycling, his training methods and the start to his season which so far has been a mixed one. So what's next?

Andrew: Well I had some goals that I wanted to achieve this season. One of which was to get a podium position at the Charente Departmental Championships. This is a tough one as in my age category there are a number of first cats so it was always going to be difficult. The race was at a place called Reparsac on the 30th May.

I did quite well and was coping with the pace. Unfortunately it was a wet day and on the 3rd lap I crashed and skidded down the road. I got back on my bike and did another lap but I had a badly sprained wrist and a bad dose of road rash, and had to give up. Interestingly enough a couple of laps later there was a big crash at exactly the same place so perhaps there was something on the road.

The nurse was interesting to say the least! (see photo). Bit scary if you ask me. It was quite disappointing as my parents were over and had come to watch the race. They came last year to watch me at a place called Villefagnan.

Unfortunately at that race someone had a heart attack and the race was abandoned. So my parents have been over twice and have not seen me finish a race yet.

The crash at Reparsac sums up the last couple of months really. I have had some top 10 finishes and at times I have felt very strong. I am still making mistakes and some big ones. For example at Londigny, a race which could have had my name on it, I almost rode straight into a field.

My chain had come off for some reason and in chasing the peloton down, which I think I was doing quite well, I did not see an ‘S’ bend in the road. I was just watching the riders in front of me. Has anybody else ever done anything so stupid? I always cycle the circuit before the race but on this particular occasion I did not. I had driven it in the car a few days before but I forgot the ‘S’ bend.

One of my main gripes over the last couple of months has been the fact that quite often the 1st and 2nd cat’s race at the same time. The only difference being that the 1st cats do an additional lap to us.

This happened in the race yesterday at Prignac. The turnout was good. A lot of riders from all categories. I thought because of the number of riders that each category would have its own race. But no. At the start line when they announced that the 1st and 2nds would go off together my heart sank. I have never seen so many 1st cats before.

The pace was set by the 1st cats. It was a long flat circuit and some of the roads were quite narrow. There were attacks going on all the time and 5 second cats managed to get away with some 1st cats. Race over! Total confusion!

I stayed with the peloton and was strong at the end and finished 1st in the bunch sprint. So 6th overall. I was pleased with my performance and in some ways it was the best race I have done for a while.

But it is not fair that 5 guys were possibly pulled along by some 1st cats. It’s funny because at the race in Touvre a couple of weeks ago the 1st and 2nds set off separately and the 2nd cat peloton was lapped by some 1st cats. We had to let them go and would have been disqualified if anyone had been pulled along by them. SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Well enough of my moaning. Summer has arrived. The races are getting hotter. I think I ride quite well in the heat. I suffer. But there are riders who suffer more than me so bring it on. I have also had a good month of training. My friend Christian who is largely to blame for me cycling has started racing again and I have done some good training rides with him.

I would also, at this stage, like to thank Tony who helps to keep me on the road. Again after the crash at Reparsac he stepped in and did the necessary to get my bike and gears working. I would also like wish Paul a speedy recovery after another nasty crash. Hope to see you back on your bike soon.

Right that is it from me at this stage. Remember you can follow me on facebook by becoming a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’ or just join the facebook group ‘Help me Win in France’. I can also be found on Twitter @cyclistinfrance, where you're more than welcome to chat to me about all things cycling.

All Change at SportTrades

SportTrades have been ringing in the changes. The alterations were necessary to provide a more improved, effective and positive management for our current partners and cope with the influx of new clients.

Some SportTrades services may have suffered over the last two weeks and we apologise for the inconvenience that may of caused. Some clients maybe concerned about the changes, however, we will uphold our professionalism and commitment to all projects and remain loyal to all our beliefs within sport. There remains some familiar faces within the team, but we will be introducing our new Account Managers next week.

Today, we announce two changes. Our Business Development Manager will now head our Sales & Marketing Department. He will be responsible for the daily management of our Account Managers, customer service and Development programmes.

James Drew is now our Director of Sales & Marketing. Picture shows him celebrating in a recent National Express event at Wembley.

Pete Lewis is appointed as Director of Communications & Media with responsibility for SportTrades Pulse blog and Newsletter and also SportTrades Talk twitter site. Pete will also assist James in the development side of SportTrades in terms of identifying potential clients and projects.

Adam Dennehey will remain as our Communication & Media Manager with the same brief as previously.

We will be able to announce next week a number of very exciting projects and high profile clients joining us here at SportTrades.

World Cup 2010, SportTrades Group Predictions Results

The Group stages are over and we fast approach the Quarter Final stage without England. The World Cup Pulse files provided you with an insight into the teams competing in the tournament. It also gave you the SportTrades predictions for the group stage. So here is that update, but first our success rates.

Predicted Group Winners 62.5%

Predicted Qualifiers from Group: 56.25%

Correct Predicted Positions in Groups 31.25%

The first Team to appear will be the actual finish and the second SportTrades Prediction

Group A
1 Uruguay/France
2 Mexico/Uruguay
3 South Africa/South Africa
4 France/Mexico

Group B
1 Argentina/Argentina
2 South Korea/Nigeria
3 Greece/Greece
4 Nigeria/South Korea

Group C
1 USA/England
2 England/USA
3 Slovenia/Slovenia
4 Algeria/Algeria

Group D
1 Germany/Germany
2 Ghana/Australia
3 Australia/Serbia
4 Serbia/Ghana

Group E
1 Holland/Holland
2 Japan/Denmark
3 Denmark/Cameroon
4 Cameroon/Japan

Group F
1 Paraguay/Italy
2 Slovakia/Paraguay
3 New Zealand/Slovakia
4 Italy/New Zealand

Group G
1 Brazil/Brazil
2 Portugal/Ivory Coast
3 Ivory Coast/Portugal
4 North Korea/North Korea

Group H
1 Spain/Spain
2 Chile/Switzerland
3 Switzerland/Chile
4 Honduras/Honduras

SportTrades to follow St Pauli in Bundasliga 2010/2011

True the timing could be better, but no hard feelings. SportTrades are proud to announce another foray into European Football. We will continue to follow UD Lanzarote during this coming season in the weekly Sol y Futbol, but we add St Pauli from Germany to that list.

St Pauli are a radical club based in the Red Light District of Hamburg. Their philosophy is based around Politics, Art and Music. St Pauli are a true sports club, they have a very successful women's rugby side and an American Football team named the Buccaneers. St Pauli were promoted last season and play in the Bundasliga, they will be favourites for relegation this season.

A familiar name in the squad for the coming season is that of Moritz Volz ex Fulham and Arsenal

SHOUT: A World Cup Special

Technology that is the question. Last year we posted an article about technology and our view against bringing it into football. Sepp Bladder (I know 2 t’s) agreed with us. We split team sports into 2 groups, momentum and segment. Segment being the majority group, where there is natural break where TMO’s (Television Match Officials) can look at disputed decisions. Football is a momentum sport where a delay will disrupt the rhythm of a game.

Technology, which technology do you bring in and where? Do you bring Goal Line Technology, in which case Lampard would have scored or do you go further and bring in simply Goal Technology? In which case Lampard would have scored and Argentina’s first goal disallowed. Goal Technology would, as Gary Lineker, suggested, be limited to 3 appeals a game. Otherwise every goal would be disputed for whatever reason. Where do we use the technology? International, European Competitions or National Leagues. To introduce it at club level FIFA would instruct the confederations to start at the top level. Hang On! What about the world’s richest individual game? The Championship Play-Off. This debate could go on and doesn’t guarantee, like technology, 100% success.

England? The F.A will look in depth and try and determine the meltdown, they will have meetings, speak to the manager, never wear M&S suits again, they will collate in-depth analysis. Stop! We just were not good enough. Thankfully, the disallowed goal made no difference it became an ‘if’. If we had gone into half time 2-2, it would have been different. If Germany had taking their chances we would have been 4-0 down before we got to that incident. Our Scottish, Welsh and Irish brethren will mock. Just one minute, to play this badly in the finals of a World Cup Tournament you need to qualify. The hand of Henry, unjust yes, but Paul McShane should have launched that ball into the rues of St Denis before Le Tel got to it.

How do we stop this happening again? Well we need to follow our friends in Germany. The German F.A has ultimate authority. They do not pander to the Budasliga, they restrict the amount of non nationals able to play in domestic league matches and develop home grown talent. The Premier League is the F.A, but yet separate with its own identity. Bring it back under the F.A total control; lets have some joined up thinking and the football we deserve.

So the Steps ahead. These are not designed to win a tournament, how can you pre determine the weather, ball, form, pitch, luck or indeed human or technological error. It is designed to bolster team spirit and send players out to compete to their level of ability. That alone should put is in with a shout.

Step 1: If Fabio resigns, replace with David Beckham as a Director of football, surround him with coaches (No different from Fabio) or give Harry a go. David’s option is not full time, he needs to continue world domination. Harry will have to step down from Spurs and stop playing Wii with Jamie.

Step2: Limit non-national players for each club to a maximum of 3 on the field of play simultaneously per domestic match.

Step3: Of the players in a match day squad 3 must be under 21 (Help Development)

Step4: Non Nationals can not be brought over to clubs before their 18th Birthday.

Step5: Limit non National coaches per club; be proactive in identifying and education to attract professional players into coaching from the age of 25. Once retired their transformation into coaching is instant.

Step6: 70’s Total Football Dutch style included letting Kids enjoy football and express themselves. Give them back that freedom. The present system sterilises the game into the processed articles of individual clubs. By all means coach children from a certain age, but let them play in their weekend clubs with their mates when there is no game. They will highlight the fact that the player is susceptible to being targeted. Believe me his mates will protect him and in years ahead team mates and opponents will say well I played against..............

So England are coming home. You may remember earlier this month or maybe even last month we chose our World Cup 2’s. This was where SportTrades management selected teams they thought would play England in the final. These will now become they World Cup Winners predictions. A reminder,

World Cup 2's

Adam Dennehey: Spain
Jimmy Drew: Brazil
Pete Lewis: Portugal
Jason Beazley: Argentina
Rob McAvoy: Holland.

Amazing all five of us still in.

Yours in Sport

Rob McAvoy

COME ON FAB'S ARMY

A preview of THE MATCH, England vs Germany. The preview taking in full from our friend John Ley @ Telegraph Sport.



We owe Franz one, lets keep him quiet. DON'T TELL THEM YOUR NAME:FABIO.

It was, perhaps, inevitable England would meet Germany in South Africa, but few expected it so early on. Germany have impressed more than England at the World Cup so far, particularly against Australia. Yet they have lost, against Serbia, while England remain unbeaten.

The last time these teams met in the finals was back in 1990, when England suffered the cruelty of a penalty heartache. But on the previous occasion they met in the qualifiers England record their best ever win over their rivals, a remarkable 5-1 victory in Munich.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, Jerome Boateng and Mesut Ozil all picked up knocks against Ghana but Germany anticipate the trio to be fit. The Germans will also have Miroslav Klose available after suspension.

England, meanwhile, are expected to keep faith with Matthew Upson alongside John Terry even though Jamie Carragher is available after suspension. There is, though, a slight double over Wayne Rooney and his ankle problem.

Key Clash

John Terry v Miroslav Klose: Terry was immense against Slovenia, having received a verbal lashing from Capello.

Now he faces one of the most successful strikers in world football and has to produce another superlative performance, aided by Matthew Upson.

Klose is one short of 50 international goals and his return, from suspension, against England will be his 99th appearance for Germany.

Touchline duel

Fabio Capello v Joachim Low: Two cool customers will stand side by side in Bloemfontein and both have points to prove.

Low has been criticised for fielding such a young side but the fact Germany have qualified again suggests the future is bright.

Capello’s hold over discipline showed cracks but now he has the support of his players again and confidence has returned.

Talking tactics

Capello has resisted calls to play Wayne Rooney as a lone striker with Steven Gerrard playing just off him. Gerrard started on the left against Slovenia, though he did drift inside.

James Milner impressed on the right in that game and will continue, while Matthew Upson will be expected to deliver another good display alongside John Terry.

Germany have used a 4-2-3-1 formation for all three games, with Cacau replacing Klose against Ghana.

Fabio Capello: “The players needed the victory against Slovenia and I needed it. They can play against all the teams and I am sure the performance will always be at this level with this spirit.”

Hansi Flick (assistant manager): “We have a very young team and England are certainly the favourites. But beating Ghana made us mentally stronger.”

Teams

Germany (3-2-3-1): Neuer; Lahm, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Boateng; Khedira, Schweinsteiger; Muller, Podolski, Ozil; Klose.
England (4-4-2): James; Johnson, Upson, Terry, A Cole; Milner, Lampard, Barry, Gerrard; Rooney, Defoe.
Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)

Previous meetings

Played: 27 Germany 10, Draws 5, England 12

1930: (Berlin, Friendly): Germany 3 England 3
1935: (London, Friendly): England 3 Germany 0
1938: (Berlin, Friendly): Germany 3 England 6
1954: (London, Friendly): England 3 West Germany 1
1956: (West Berlin, Friendly): West Germany 1 England 3
1965: (Nuremburg, Friendly): West Germany 0 England 1
1966: (London, Friendly): England 1 West Germany 0
1966: (London, WC): England 4 W Germany 2 (aet)
1968: (Hanover, Friendly): West Germany 1 England 0
1970: (Leon, WC): W Germany 3 England 2 (aet)
1972: (London, EC): England 1 West Germany 3
1972: (West Berlin, EC): West Germany 0 England 0
1975: (London, Friendly): England 2 West Germany 0
1978: (Munich, Friendly): West Germany 2 England 1
1982: (Madrid, WC): W Germany 0 England 0
1982: (London, Friendly): England 1 West Germany 2
1985: (Mexico City, Friendly): England 3 West Germany 0
1987: (Düsseldorf, Friendly): West Germany 3 England 1
1990: (Turin, WC): W Germany 1 England 1 (West Germany 4-3 pens)
1991: (London, Friendly): England 0 Germany 1
1993: (Detroit, Friendly): Germany 2 England 1
1996: (London, EC): England 1 Germany 1 (Germany 5-6 pens)
2000: (Charleroi, EC): England 1 Germany 0
2000: (London, WCQ): England 0 Germany 1
2001: (Munich, WCQ): Germany 1 England 5
2007: (London, Friendly): England 1 Germany 2
2008: (Berlin, Friendly): Germany 1 England 2

Fact: Miroslav Klose has scored 11 goals in World Cup finals, just four behind all-time record scorer Ronaldo, who has 15.

He is only three behind Germany’s most prolific World Cup scorer, Gerd Müller. England’s highest scorer is Gary Lineker (10) while, in the present squad it is Steven Gerrard, with three.

Meanwhile, Germany have drawn only one of their last 15 games, keeping nine clean sheets in that spell.

All four previous knockout matches between England and Germany in major tournaments have gone to extra time.

Prediction: The time has come for England to beat Germany, and do it in regular time without penalties. England will win.

AZZURRI GO 'HOME IN SHAME'

It's left for Slovakia and Spain to battle it out for the SportTrades Tom Daley Trophy. Thank you to our friends at Sporting Life for this report.





The Italian press pulled no punches on Friday morning as they dissected the Azzurri's World Cup failure.

Marcello Lippi's men failed to negotiate a passage through the group phase in South Africa after losing 3-2 to Slovakia on Thursday in what was a weak defence of the trophy they won four years ago in Germany.

Gazzetta dello Sport led the condemnation with a headline of: "Humiliated by Slovakia, time to go home."

They also added: "Home in shame."

Corriere dello Sport continued in a similar vein with: "Italy, what shame! Out and last in the group."

Italy's leading broadsheet Corriere della Sera carried the story on its front page under the headline: "Italy, farewell to the World Cup.

In a special World Cup link, the paper added: "Disastrous Italy, the Azzurri go home.

La Repubblica focused more on the impact the failure would have on a country obsessed by football.

"Shame and tears, a nation to be rebuilt," said its headline, before adding: "Slovakia win 3-2 in Johannesburg to knock the Azzurri out in the first round, something that has not happened since 1974.

"We now look to (new coach Cesare) Prandelli."

Turin-based La Stampa blamed Lippi for the team's poor showing.

Their headline read: "The failure of Lippi in South Africa.

"The blackest page of our footballing history."