My Sporting Lowdown

by Chris Usually on this blog I post things of a positive tone, or at least bearable. Suggestions of improvement instead of downright criticism, and humorous jovialities instead of hate. Today is different. It is but a normal test match, South Africa vs Australia. Although a few niggles in the matches previous, seeing Kagiso Rabada pick up a suspension for physically contacting Steve Smith as he walked off, and crowd troubles, it was but a normal test match and series played between two seriously competitive cricketing powerhouses. The ball is just being recycled back to the bowler, as you do in between deliveries. The ball is thrown to the relative novice Cameron Bancroft, to shine the ball. To those who aren't knowledgeable about cricket, this aids the ball to move in different directions whilst being delivered. This is known as swing, which can provide a serious advantage to the fielding side, and increase the likelihood of taking the wicket of the batsman. Banc...

by Chris It's a Saturday morning. Soccer Saturday's blaring with the engaging opinions of Merson, Thompson, Nicholas and the like, but this Saturday was different. This Saturday was not just any game. It was the game. The dreaded margin for error is minuscule. Win, draw, or devastation. Just a game? This game brings that saying to its very tightest boundary. It's Liverpool. It's Manchester United. It's the ultimate contest of passion, desire and success. Nervously I just knew it would never be Liverpool's day, but how the goals came were inexplicable. Never would I have thought that, however good David de Gea is, he would play a leading role in the two goals scored by the subject, Marcus Rashford. A kick was launched straight on to the head of the towering Belgian Lukaku, and was expertly set up and finished by the golden boy, to the fault of the previous subject on  ' Underrated', Dejan Lovren, who certainly undid his praise which I ...

by Chris Much talk recently on sports sites and blogs have been about the defensive frailties of Arsène Wenger and when he's going to leave and all that jazz. Now on the Sporting Lowdown we like to take a look at the unsung heroes, and maybe those unfairly criticised. Now as I slumped on my sofa on the 22nd October, a lukewarm autumn day, to watch Tottenham play Liverpool, I was certainly expecting a good performance, considering the Reds had just utterly dominated Huddersfield the week beforehand, with Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Gini Wijnaldum giving the Reds a comfortable win at Anfield.  Only four minutes in, a lofted, wishful ball seemed to be dropping on the head of Croatian international and £26m signing Dejan Lovren. Inexplicably, and to the shock of the entirety of the Premier League, he managed to duck and avoid what would've been one of the most basic clearances a defender could make during a game. Out came Simon Mignolet, flying like a wild Patri...