Vardy lights up first weekend of Premier League
And so begins a new Premier League season. While it’s obviously much too early to confidently assess how teams are likely to shape up, there was something ominous about Manchester City’s 2-0 win away to Chelsea last Sunday, a performance of ruthless efficiency that will have sent shivers down the backs of rival managers.
For me, the highlight of the opening games was Jamie Vardy’s performance for newly-promoted Leicester City against Spurs on Monday night.
I’ve always liked Vardy, combative and all as he may be (and he certainly showed that side of his personality the other night). In truth, his niggly nature is critical to his success. He’s a marvellous player, and his story is remarkable. Vardy didn’t make his Football League debut until he was past his 25th birthday!
A non-league player up to that point, it seemed certain that Vardy would never become a top pro. But all that changed when Leicester (then in the Championship) signed him for one million pounds back in 2012. The rest is history. Vardy, with his great pace, instinctive off the ball running and lethal finishing, became a great top level goalscorer. It was real Roy of the Rovers stuff as Vardy’s goals led Leicester to a shock Premier League title win in the 2015/2016 season.
Remarkably, with his 38th birthday coming up in January, Vardy is still playing. He wasn’t expected to feature against Spurs on Monday night, but ended up starting the game. And what a performance he put in,
Vardy reminding everyone that he can still have an impact at the very highest level. His 57th minute goal denied Spurs all three points (the game ended 1-1), Vardy came closest to scoring a winner, and when he left the field it was with a volley of taunts (from Vardy, to Spurs players and fans) and to an ovation from home supporters.
Elsewhere, Arsenal and Liverpool both got off to a winning start, while Brighton’s 3-0 thumping of Everton suggests that the Blues might be battling relegation again.
All neutral fans will be hoping that the title race is a proper contest and not a stroll in the park for five-in-a-row chasing Manchester City.
I’ll be surprised if Chelsea challenge for top spot. Manchester United are likely to contend strongly for a Champions League place, but no better than that. As for the title, while Liverpool cannot be discounted, Arsenal should prove to be City’s main challengers. Most neutrals will be hoping for an end to the dominance of Pep’s purists.
Shock as Sky Sports recognise the old days…
Speaking of the Premier League, the good news is there might be a shift in policy in Sky Sports land… with a match commentator openly speaking (during Chelsea v Manchester City on Sunday) about a period of dominance enjoyed by Liverpool in… the 1980s.
This may have been a slip-up (or not), but it was a very welcome development, because normally ‘Team Sky’ are loathe to mention life before the Premiership/Premier League era began (in 1992)!
The commentator was making the point that if five-in-a-row chasing City win the league this season, it will be seven titles in eight years for them, and therefore (marginally) better than what Liverpool achieved in the 1980s.
It was just good to hear an acknowledgement by Sky that elite football in England didn’t start with the ‘Premier’ era (and Sky’s coverage of same).
Table for two: In praise of pool…
Reading an email we received into the newsroom announcing that a new Roscommon Pool League season will soon start had me feeling a touch envious – and nostalgic.
But I won’t be making a playing comeback, not after a misguided brief return a few years ago was mercifully interrupted by a worldwide pandemic (which led to the pool competition in question being cancelled a couple of weeks in, partly saving my embarrassment).
I played competitive pool for decades, but the passing years take their toll, as my misconceived comeback was proving before lockdown. (Oh I can still play, but my eyesight isn’t as good as it was, and anyways, I never fully adapted to the ‘new rules’).
The ‘misspent youth’ jibe is lazy. Whether in competition or playing for smaller stakes, pool is a great game, one that requires its most successful exponents to exhibit skill, astute decision-making, precision/accuracy, tactical prowess, and calmness under pressure.
A good pool session (competitive or otherwise) gets the adrenaline flowing… pitching both players into a battle of skill, tactics, even wills!
The satisfaction comes from the shots that slowly shape the trajectory of a frame… that perfect cross when the object ball rattles into a centre pocket; a long pot down the cushion; a cut with side that nudges another ball into a pottable position… a perfectly judged escape from a snooker, all the better if it leaves your opponent in trouble. Of course luck can play its part too, as anyone who has ever watched the cue ball cruelly disappear after a black can testify.
Having grown up in our family-run pubs, I played pool from a young age. Back in the 1980s, there were regular tournaments in Rooskey, Strokestown, Longford, Edgeworthstown, Mohill, etc.
Then in Roscommon Town in the early 1990s there was a great competitive pool scene. This was primarily thanks to Eamonn Smith’s promotion of snooker and pool in The Sportsman’s Inn, the popular public house in Church Street that he ran with his wife Margaret. Sadly, like the adjoining ‘Green Rooster’, the Sportsman’s Inn is no more.
During the 1990s, our Roscommon Champion pool team had great success, and a few epic battles, most memorably with Crimeline (led by Bill Hennelly). The Champion team had a period of dominance on the circuit, winning several tournaments, while Crimeline were also very successful and they too picked up a number of trophies.
My teammates on the green baize (I’ll go in alphabetical order) were Eddie Keane, Gerard O’Loughlin, Frank Regan and Seamus Regan, with some key appearances by George Bannon and Tom Farrell. All of them fine tournament players.
I perhaps shouldn’t single out opposition players, but Jeremy Cullen and Con Faughnan were brilliant cueists… always a pleasure to watch. There were many other very accomplished pool players to the fore in those days, including the late David Feeney. Greg Glancy was (and remains) another highly competitive veteran of the pool circuit.
Very fond memories were formed. Of course time marches relentlessly, and for most of us, the cue has long been passed on…
*I am aware that the standard of pool in more recent years in Roscommon has been extremely high. A great Pool League season awaits. Best of luck to all involved (see details on page 44).
