Football.

Are wages for top flight footballers getting out of hand?

With transfer fees for top flight players continually increasing so are the wages. 

It was reported recently that Chinese Super League clubs are interested in signing Tottenham's Dele Alli.  Tottenham will never sell him you say but it seems that Chinese clubs are queuing up to sign him and pay him in excess of £800k per week.  

You did read that right but just in case you thought you hadn't I will confirm......£800k per week! 

So lets put this into perspective:

The British Prime Minister reportedly earns £144k per year which after tax, pension and national insurance contributions nets out around £81k.  Is this enough for carrying the weight of the country on your shoulders?

Your GP can expect to earn between £55k and £81k a year. Whilst fully qualified nurses salaries start at around the £21k mark and rise to around £28k. More funding for the NHS I hear you say and quite rightly so. These people care for our wellbeing and so should be recompensed accordingly.

Newly qualified teachers salaries start at about £21k rising incrementally to around £33k. These are the people shaping the future of our country.  If that's enough for them to be paid then we will have a shortage of mentors educating our children very soon.

A trainee firefighter is on around £22k per year.  Once full competence is achieved this could rise to around £29k. For police constables, it's between £19k and £23k.  After seven years they can achieve £37k which is the top of the pay scale.  These people regularly put their lives on the line for us.  Is this all they deserve to be paid?

So what about Joe Public?  The average working person can expect to earn £28k per year.  Depending on circumstances they may or may not be able to afford watching top flight footballers fall over and roll around after being poleaxed by another top flight footballer sporting a perfect haircut and designer tattoos. 

Now I am all for people who are good at what they do being compensated accordingly but £800k per week? For playing football? That's £41.6m a year... It would take Joe Public roughly 1,485 years to earn that amount of money.

Too much money in football? Yes, there is.  

Will we keep watching it? Of course we will!

  

Euro 2016 - The home nations (and the Republic of Ireland!)

All of the home nations and the Republic of Ireland are through to the last 16 of Euro 2016.

Wales beat Russia 3-0 and England drew 0-0 with Slovakia to finish first and second respectively in Group B.  Northern Ireland lost 1-0 to world champions Germany to secure their place in the knock out stages and the Republic of Ireland left it late to beat Italy 1-0 to ensure their passage into the last 16. 

The Welsh now play Northern Ireland in Paris at the Parc des Princes on Saturday 25 June 2016.  Kick off 5pm.  England play Iceland, who scored a dramatic winner against Austria to finish second in Group F.  The match will take place in Nice at the Allianz Riviera stadium on Monday 27 June 2016.  Kick off 8pm.  The Republic of Ireland finished third in Group E and will now play hosts France at the Stade des Lumieres in Paris on Sunday 26 June 2016. Kick off 2pm.

Good luck to all!

Euro 2016 - The story so far.  

Groups D-F

A 41st minute volley by Luka Modric gave Croatia victory over Turkey in Group D.  The Turkish were unable to cope with the Croatians who could have won by a greater margin. Next up For Turkey are Spain and they will need to improve to get anything from the Spaniards.

Also in Group D, Spain beat the Czech Republic 1-0.  The Spaniards dominated proceedings, however were unable to penetrate a staunch Czech rearguard.  The Czech's had their chances too and Cesc Fabregas cleared a Gebre Selassie header off the line.  A Gerard Pique header won it for Spain in the 87th minute from man of the match Iniesta's cross.  

In Group E the Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 with Sweden.  A sweet half-volley by Wes Hoolahan in the 48th minute gave the Republic a well deserved lead shortly after the break. Sweden responded and the pressure began to mount on the Irish defence.  The self proclaimed legend, Ibrahimovic set up the equaliser in the 71st minute.  The helpless Clark put through his own net from Ibrahimovic's cross to give Sweden a share of the points.

Belgium lost 2-1 to Italy in the other Group E match.  The much fancied Belgium golden generation were disappointing to say the least.  Take nothing away from Italy though. An Emanuele Giaccherini goal in the 32nd minute gave Italy the lead. Graziano Pelle completed the win in injury time with a thumping volley from a quick counter attack by the Italians.

Group F saw Austria take on Hungary who started their first tournament since 1972. Hungary's former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly became the oldest player ever to play in the European championships, aged 40 years and 74 days. Austria had Aleksandar Dragovic sent off in the 66th minute for a second bookable offence.  Adam Szalai and Zoltan Steiber secured the points for the Hungarian side in the 62nd and 87th minutes.

The other Group F game saw Portugal take on Iceland.  The Portuguese had the Lion's share of possession in the first half and Nani deservedly gave them the lead in the 31st minute. It was a night of frustration for Christiano Ronaldo who saw efforts blocked by Icelandic bodies and keeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson.  Iceland shocked the Portuguese in the 50th minute when Birkir Bjarnason, in acres of space volleyed the equaliser. 

Euro 2016 - The story so far:  

Groups A-C

Euro 2016 kicked off with hosts France facing Romania at the Stade de France in Group A.  
After a nervous start Olivier Giroud gave Les Bleus a 58th minute lead.  Seven minutes later Patrice Evra fouled Nicolae Stanciu to give Romania a penalty. Bogdan Stancu scored from the spot to put Romania level. A sensational Dimitri Payet strike in the 89th minute secured the points for the French.

In the other Group A match Albania lost 1-0 to Switzerland. Fabian Schar securing the win with a 5th minute header. Lorik Cana was sent off for Albania just before half time for deliberate handball. Had Cana not been sent off things might have been different for the battling Albanian's.

Group B saw Wales beat Slovakia 2-1 in their first major tournament start in 58 years. Galactico, Gareth Bale gave Wales the lead in the 10th minute with a trademark free kick. Ondrej Duda drew Slovakia level in the 61st minute. Substitute Hal Robson-Kanu's low strike won it for the Welsh in the 81st minute.

Meanwhile England drew 1-1 with Russia in Marseille in the other Group B match. Eric Dier's 20 Yard free kick gave England the lead in the 73rd minute. Despite England's dominance Berezutski snatched an injury time equaliser to give Russia a share of the points. 

In Group C, a resolute Northern Ireland lost 1-0 to Poland in their first appearance at a major tournament in 30 years.  Arkadiusz Milik's 51st minute strike gave Poland the win. Things could have been different for Irish had Steven Davis managed to connect with a clever free kick from Oliver Norwood.

Germany beat Ukraine 2-0 in the other Group C tie. A Shkodran Mustafi header on 19 minutes gave the world champions the lead. In stoppage time the experienced Bastian Schweinsteiger, on as a substitute made sure of the points from a pin point pass from Mezut Osil.

With the first round of games in Group's A-C complete, lets hope round two is every bit as exciting!

France 2-1 Romania

A sensational 89th minute strike by Dimitri Payet secured the points as hosts France beat Romania in the Stade de France.

France started nervously and early in the game Hugo Lloris instinctively saved a close range effort by Stancu. Antoine Greizmann saw a header come back off the post as both sides missed chances to break the deadlock before half time.

Olivier Giroud's 58th minute header from a Payet cross gave France the lead. The advantage however would last just seven minutes. The experienced Patrice Evra fouled Nicolae Stanciu to give Romania a penalty. Bogdan Stancu stepped up and scored from the spot to put Romania level.

With time running out and a draw looking the most likely result, up stepped man of the match Payet. His 30 yard strike ensured French victory on a night that saw Les Bleus struggle to get past the organised Romanian defence. With first night nerves out of the way the tournament favourites can now settle down and ensure progression from the group stage.

Euro 2016

Euro 2016 kicks off tonight with French hosts Les Bleus taking on the Tricolorii (The Tricolours) of Romania at the Stade de France .

If you fancy a flutter the best odds (at the time of writing) are:  

France 3/8,  Draw 4/1.   Romania 23/2.  

If you fancy Antoine Griezmann of France as the first goalscorer the best odds are 4/1.   Fellow countryman Olivier Giroud is 9/2 whilst Romania's Florin Andone and  Bogdan Stancu are 18/1 and 20/1 respectively.


Let the games commence!

Euro 2016

Looking forward to Euro 2016?  Who do you think will win?  Who will be top goalscorer? How many goals will be scored in the tournament?

These questions and many more will be answered between June 10, 2016 and July 10, 2016.