Lightning in the local area means the game has been temporarily suspended. ????
More information when we have it. #SurreyBlast
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 9, 2018
13 overs of bash in the end with Joe.
Category: Sport
Brentford making waves-again
Brentford happy to do it their own way in quest for promotion
Using statistical analysis to sign players, ditching their academy and scrapping the captaincy are some of the innovations that have turned Brentford into Championship contenders
With the transfer deadline looming on Thursday, you could forgive scurrying rivals for peering over the wall at Brentford in envy. It may seem an odd thing to say given they have lost their captain, John Egan, and the winger Florian Jozefzoon to Championship competitors this summer but few clubs navigate transfer windows better.
Brentford do not panic but rather rebuild and, once more, Dean Smith’s stimulating side – top of the tree after a thumping 5-1 first-game win – have plans of surprising the field.
They are comfortable in their own shell, happy at being different from the rest, visionaries of sorts. Brentford cross-reference potential signings through the owner Matthew Benham’s statistical-analysis company, SmartOdds and ditched their £2m‑a‑year academy two years ago. This pre-season the manager, Smith, scrapped the captaincy altogether – long before the £4m sale of Egan to Sheffield United – preferring a leadership group. Smith is intrigued by rugby, particularly the freedom for players to get involved in the tactics of the game. He has gathered titbits from visits from the French Rugby Federation and London Irish, while he has an invitation to watch Eddie Jones’s England team.
Season ticket
New season for the mighty Bees. An early start in August for which I was unavailable. So Joe went in my place to see a big win.
A vey solid start and early table topping after a 5-1 win.
We are both going to the next home game.
London Cycle Weekend
The Ride London event is something that I came across by accident when looking to see what event was disrupting roads and transport for the weekend. Apparently it is a legacy event of the 2012 Olympics with professional races over the weekend and a public event to cycle 100 miles from the original Olympic stadium to Surrey following the original route of the JO.
Today I took part in the fun cycle that, with roads closed, allows the public to cycle in the centre of the city getting close up to well known sites of the city.
I cycled to Buckingham Palace via Battersea Park and Chelsea Bridge for the start. Early on the route was fine but certainly the numbers had increased by the time I had done my leisurely circuit of 8 miles.
I few images of sites along the way:
World Cup
This afternoon we watched the final at home with France coming out the winners 4-2 against Croatia. A good final, a very good performance by Croatia who were always behind. France good for the win though fortunate with a penalty decision and a dive for a free-kick from which the first goal was scored in the first half.
The tournament contained good matches and football with plenty of goals.
England reached the semi- final so a good arm chair ride for the nation taken in good humour. They did better than expected and people were happy to follow and enjoy them again. A team rather than a set of superstars with others included. They were not good enough to win but the hope was there again for a while.
Football is yet to come home:
World Cup
Back in action-resumé
Again a long time since being able to post. A number of factors, firstly due to a lack of time with being on holiday in Australia en famille in Melbourne and Apollo Bay in country Victoria. The Ashes were on and Joe and I thought another trip to the MCG would be worth it and good value. In the end not to bad.
The principal reason for the delay was the changing of the host for the blog. The change was made for good reason-cost. Hosting for 3 years for the cost of one previously. However the transfer did not so smoothly and I had to pay to have that done- so not so much of a saving in the end! All took time too.
Plus there is a lot going on with moving. Wow.
May tries to set a new tone
Theresa May has made a significant speech on Brexit in Florence. It seems to set out some clarity, is more conciliatory in tone but still leaves some things left answered. A desire to have a transition phase at least acknowledges reality that the exit date is fast approaching with slow progress being made in the negotiations. How much this moves the process on-who knows?
Brixiteers have reacted with criticism and NF talks of treason- no surprise there.
The reality is that the opposing demands of control and trade and relations are irrecocilable. So where will the line fall?
Less optimistic
Team chosen
A few more surprises in the team than expected maybe. Maybe risk attached.
Warren Gatland’s five big calls for the Lions’ first Test against All Blacks
Gerard Meagher