Liverpool Web Design
Twitter Course for freeJust found a clip on Youtube that reminded me of classic Liverpool/United game back in the 80s.
The FA Cup Semi Final at Goodison Park where United led with 4 minutes to go before Ronnie Whelan equalized.
United led in extra time again before Paul Walsh equalized in injury time.
Anyone got a clip of the Walsh goal, drop me an email.
Looking at the crowd reminds me how much going the match has been sanitized in the Sky era. (for the worse).
United won the replay 2-1 at Maine Road.
Always a strange feeling when the career of somebody you’ve followed from start to finish comes to a close. Apart from making you feel old there is always a tinge of nostalgia.
Safin announced his arrival at the French Open back in 1998 by taking out the defending champion Gustavo Kuerten and one of the pre-tournamount favourites Andre Agassi.
Roll on a couple of years and Marat is sitting in the US Open Final against the great Pete Sampras. It was Marat’s time – he crushed Sampras in a bewildering display of power and accuracy to claim his first grand slam title. Most observers at the time thought it was the first of many. “The passing of the torch” from the Sampras/Agassi era.
Marat would become World Number #1 shortly after. It was a position he would only occupy for 9 weeks. He would never occupy the top slot again.
Safin’s next appearance in a Grand Slam Final was the Australian Open of 2002. Thomas Johannsen was the surprise opponent and Marat went in as a heavy favourite. This was not the free-swinging Safin of 2000 and he was beaten comfortably by the Swede. Marat put the loss down the “nerves” – the first major indication of a fragile mentality that would prove to dog him for the rest of his career.
Injuries plagued Safin in 2003 – the season was pretty much a write-off (he was to be plagued by knee and back injuries throughout his career). By now, new faces were beginning to dominate the scene – Agassi was still around enjoying an Indian Summer but Andy Roddick, Juan Carlos Ferrero and a young swiss Roger Federer were fighting for the #1 ranking. 2003 also saw Federer win his first major on the grass courts of Wimbledon.
Safin returned in 2004 and was a surprise finalist in the Australian Open as an #84 ranked outsider. This time he faced Federer and was beaten relatively comfortabley.
The Australian Open of 2005 was the beginning of the reclamation project. Everyone forgets Safin beat Lleyton Hewitt in the final. The Semi final against Federer was the match of the tournamount. This was one of the best matches in recent years. A 5 set thriller with some great shotmaking, huge momentum swings, match points saved at both ends… a match for the ages. Safin played arguably the best match of his career – dethroning the champion and going onto beat local favourite Hewitt in the final
That pretty much was the final curtain for Marat as a serious contendor on the ATP Tour. There were one or two false dawns including his Wimbledon run in 2008 – rolling back the years and offering glimpses of his best.
Safin was often criticised for his playboy lifestyle, poor temperament and the poster boy underachiever of the tour.
Put this into the context of multi million dollar earnings, 2 grand slam titles, 4 grand slam finals, Davis Cup titles and a string of beautiful women…. Not bad work if you can get it!
Marat Safin – always an engaging personality will be missed.
Do you Blog?
What’s your Blog?
You need a blog….
NO, NO, NO until now. Not that I didn’t want to Blog – just finding the time to get round to it has been a bit of a problem. C’est la vie!
I’m up and running – About Bloody Time.
