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karina-gill · 4 years ago

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22 May - 6 June 2021

A Rural Life - Exhibition & Installation by Dorset-Based Artists Karen Browning & Karina Gill At Fiddleford Manor.

Award winning artists Karina Gill and Karen Browning explore a shared experience of Dorset’s rich rural heritage through the harmony and discord of glass and metal, in an exciting creative collaboration at Fiddleford Manor in the heart of Dorset.

The Work

A large-scale installation and a craft-based collaboration that, using cast glass and silver, combines features both functional as well as sculptural. Their new collaborative work is firmly rooted in a combined and elemental connection with rural Dorset. Browning and Gill reflect on a childhood, growing up on farms, living in the countryside, making, crafting and working with hands.

Gill also presents her signature etched silver bowls and jewellery.

“Twenty years ago, I unearthed a deceptively simple and unique idea, which had the potential to develop an infinite number of variations on a single-minded theme. The idea drew influence from nature’s patterns and organic repetition – the endlessly uniform variety inspired by seed pods, fossils and ferns. It also drew on the principals of print-making and textiles, creating an outcome that is delicate yet solid, natural yet structural, simple yet confoundingly complex.”

Browning presents a new neon installation inspired by the Dorset hedgerows, alongside her new cast glass bullet hole pieces, ‘Miss Spent Youth’.

“The frozen moment of energy recording the shot is lost wax cast in black glass and gilded with 24 carat gold. A wax cast of a baked bean can was shot, then cast in glass, sandblasted for a matt finish and the bullet hole was gilded. A rural childhood spent shooting targets, cans and other debris, and an early training as a gunsmith inspired this work. I used my grandfather’s gun and bullets made by my father to create this piece.”

The Artists

Karen Browning, installation and glass artist. Browning gained her degree in Architecture at Oxford Brookes University, Masters degrees in Site Specific Sculpture at Wimbledon School of Art and in Glass at Swansea Institute of Higher Education. She is a member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors. Many of her pieces are held in private collections and she exhibits extensively, both in the UK and Worldwide. Browning creates dialogue and alters perceptions by playing with the key elements of glass, light and space. Her work is bold, dramatic yet intensely researched.

Karina Gill, silversmith, holds a bachelor’s degree in 3-Dimensional Design from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design. Since graduation she has built up her business from her workshop in Dorset, designing and making her unique etched metal bowls, jewellery, spoons and sculptural pieces. Gill also maintains a busy schedule of exhibitions across the UK and Europe. Her work captures the transformation of hard metal into brilliant organic forms that mirror the geometry of nature. She has established a unique voice through the crafting of exquisite contemporary pieces that demonstrate her characteristic experimental approach.

The Place

In the care of English Heritage, Fiddleford Manor is a 14th Century medieval stone manor house, beautifully situated on the idyllic banks of the River Stour near Sturminster Newton, Dorset. Completed circa 1370, this ancient house is steeped in history. Over its lifetime the manor has endured many changes, but the timber roofs over the great hall are still miraculously intact and thought to be the best in Dorset. Surrounded by scenic walks, there’s plenty to do and see if you choose to spend the day here.

The exhibition is part of the Dorset Art Weeks and is open to the public every day from Saturday 22 May until Sunday 6 June, 10am - 6pm. Both admission and parking are free. No toilet facilities.

VENUE INFORMATION

Download the NEW Dorset Art Weeks App now to enjoy a safe visit to a venue near you!

Please respect all COVID measures in place.

Venue no. 39

Fiddleford Manor, Fiddleford, Sturminster Newton, Dorset DT10 2BX

Directions

1 mile east of Sturminster Newton off A357. There is a large, free car park at the manor.

No toilet facilities.

Accessibility

It is a short distance from the car park via a grassed pathway. Wheelchair accessible.

Opening Hours

Open every day, 10.00am - 6.00pm

dorsetartweeks.co.uk

#dorserartweeks fiddlefordmanor

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coneycat · 7 years ago

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DUNKIRK--E.J. Pratt

The English May was slipping into June With heralds that the spring had never known. Black cavalry were astride the air; The Downs awoke to find their faces slashed; There was blood on the hawthorn, And song had died in the nightingales’ throats.

Appeasement is in its grave: it sleeps well. The mace had spiked the parchment seals And pulverized the hedging ifs and wherefores. The wheezy adverbs, the gutted modifiers. Churchill and Bevin have the floor, Whipping snarling nouns and action-verbs Out of their lairs in the lexicon, Bull-necked adversatives that bit and clawed, An age before gentility was cubbed.

A call came in from the Channel Like the wash of surf on sand. Borne in by the winds against the chalk escarpments. Into the harbors, up the rivers, along the estuaries, And but one word in the call. Three hundred thousand on the beaches. Their spirit-level vision straining West! A vast patience in their eyes. They had fought pig iron, manganese, tungston, cobalt; And their struggle with hunger, thirst, And the drug of sleep. Had multiplied the famine in their cheeks For England, By forty miles divided from her brood. Seven millions on the roads in France, Set to a pattern of chaos Fashioned through years for this hour. Inside the brain of the planner No tolerance befogged the reason — The reason with its clear-swept halls, Its brilliant corridors. Where no recesses with their healing dusk Offered asylum for a fugitive. The straightedge ruled out errors. The tremors in the sensory nerves, 40 Pity and the wayward impulses, The liberal imbecilities. The reason reckoned that the allied guns Would not be turned upon the roads To clear the path for the retreat. It reasoned well — Brutality, an art which had been bogged In some stray corner of the field In that Gallic- Anglo-Saxon fumble of the game.

REGATTA AND CREW

Millenniums it had taken to make their stock. Piltdown hung on the frontals of their fathers. They had lain as sacrifices Upon the mortuary slabs of Stonehenge. Their souls had come to birth out of their racial myths. The sea was their school; the storm, their friend.

Foot by foot and hand to hand They had met the legions On the beaches and in the surf. Great names had been delivered unto them;

Caractacus, Taking his toll of the invaders In his retreat to the fens and hills;

Boadicea, The storming of Londinium and Verulamium, And the annihilation of the Roman ninth;

Alban, Alfred, Athelney, Edington! And in the march of their survival They had fought the poll tax and burned The manor rolls under Ball and Tyler. They had led the riots against the Enclosures. They had sung ballads to the rhythms of the gibbets. The welts had been around their necks and ankles. They had swept the Main with Hawkins and Drake.

Morgan-mouthed vocabularians, Lovers of the beef of language,

They had carved with curse and cutlass Castilian grandees in the Caribbean.

They had signed up with Frobisher, Had stifled cries in the cockpits of Trafalgar. They had emptied their veins into the Marne. Freedom to them was like the diver’s lust for air. Children of oaths and madrigals. They had shambled out of caves To write the clauses of the Charters, To paint the Channel mists, To stand hushed before the Canterbury tapers.

THE RACE ON THE CHANNEL

The Royal Yacht squadrons of the Thames and Cowes, Those slim and rakish models of the wave-line theory, Flying the ensign with their Club devices — Grand-daughters of Genesta and the Galatea Whose racing spinnakers Outsilvered and outflew the sea gulls off the Isle of Wight. Cutters, the pride of Folkestone and Sheerness With their press balloon jibs, Their billows of flax and hemp Smothering their single masts And straight-running bowsprits. Excursion paddlers — Last of the family known as the fleet of the butterflies, Purveyors of moonlight sonatas and Sunday siestas. The fireboats from the London Fire Brigade. Luggers with four-sided sails bent to the yards And slung obliquely to the masts, Smelling of the wharves of Deal. Smacks that built the Grimsby name. Yawls with their handy mizzen sails — The Jacks-of-all-trades on the English coast. Barges spritsail-rigged with jigger booms. Bluff-bowed billyboys and Norfolk wherries, Skiffs that stank of herring roes and Yarmouth. Dutch scoots and square-stemmed bawleys rank With kelp, fish scales and the slime of eels. And with them all, the merchantmen. Three-funnel liners turbine-driven, Cabin cruisers, with whaleboats, rafts, and dories Tied to the grimy tails of barges drawn by tugs.

A Collingwood came from Newcastle-on-Tyne, Trelawney and Grenville of the Cornish Line, And Raleigh and Gilbert from the Devon Seas With a Somerset Blake. They met at the quays — McCluskey, Gallagher, Joe Millard, Three riveters red from Dumbarton Yard, And Peebles of Paisley, a notary clerk.

Two joiners from Belfast, Mahaffy and Burke, Blackstone and Coke of Lincoln’s Inn, A butcher from Smithfield, Toby Quinn, Jonathan Wells, a Sheffield bricklayer, Tim Thomas of Swansea, a borough surveyor.

Jack Wesley, a stoker, by way of South Shields, And Snodgrass and Tuttle from Giles-in-the-Fields, Young Bill of Old Bill with Hancock and Reid, two sons of a bishop from Berwick-on-Tweed, A landscape gardener of Tunbridge, Kent, Povey, a draper from Stoke-on-Trent, Arthur Cholmondeley Bennington-Grubbe With Benbow of the Boodles Club, A Ralph Abercrombie, a Fetherstonehaugh With Smith, and Ibbs, and Jones, and Buggs — They met on the liners, yachts and tugs; The Princess Maud, the Massy Shaw, The Crested Eagle, the Nicholas Drew, The Gurgling Jean and the Saucy Sue.

Two prefects from Harrow — Dudley and Fraser, Fresh in their gray flannel trousers and blazer, Helping two tanners. Muggins and Day, To rig up a sail at a mizzen stay. Were hailed by a Cambridge stroke — “ Ahoy! Will you let me go on your billyboy? ”

A curate from Cardiff, the Reverend Evans, Inspired with zeal by a speech of Bevin’s, Called on a Rochester verger named Burchall, Likewise inflamed by a speech from Churchill — Together they went to a Greenwich jetty And boarded a lighter — the Bouncing Betty.

Meadows, the valet, tapped at the door Of Colonel Ramsbottom, late of Lahore: ’Twas dawn, and the Colonel was sick with a head; “ The Dean and his lordship, the Bishop, are here. And your sloop, sir, is ready down at the pier. And may I go with you? ” Meadows said — “ No,” roared the Colonel, as he creaked out of bed. Blasting out damns with a spot of saliva, Yet the four of them boarded the Lady Godiva.

A Captain with a Cape Horn face. Being down on his luck without a ship, Had spent ten years in his own disgrace As skipper of a river ferry — Tonight he was taking his finest trip As master of a Norfolk wherry.

The junior partner, Davie Scott, Of MacTavlsh, MacEachren, MacGregor, and Scott, Conspired with Murdoch, MacNutt, and MacPhail To go to Gravesend that evening and sail For the Beach in Mr. MacTavish’s yacht.

HEARD ON THE COLLIERS

“ I’ve been in a bit of a muss, mesen, With my game left leg,” said Eddie Glen, “ And every night my faintin’ spells, Contracted in the Dardanelles.”

“ My floatin’ kidney keeps me ’ome. My shoulder too ’as never ’ealed,” Quoth Rufus Stirk of ’Uddersfield, Cracked with shrapnel at Bapaume.

“ Ovv, wot’s a kidney, look at me, A bleedin’ boulder in my lung,” Said ’Umphrey ’Iggins of Bermondsey; “ A ’Igh Explosive ’ad me strung On the top of a ruddy poplar tree For thirty hours at Armenteers, ’Aven’t spit straight nigh twenty years.”

“Now, my old woman,” said Solomon Pike, “ Says ’Itler’s sueh a fidget like; ’E steals the cows and ’ens from the Danes, ’E rummages France, ’e chases the Poles, And comes over ’ere with ’is blinkin’ planes To drive us to the ’Yde Park ’oles Where there’s nary a roof that isn’t leakin’. Swipin’ the pillows right under our ’eads. Shooin’ us out from our ’umble beds. ’E’s a mug, I says, in a manner o’ speakin’.”

“ How lang d’ye ken it’ll take to get through it? ” Said a cautious drover, Angus Bain. “ It’ll take a bit o’ doin’ to do it. The blighters are dropping bombs like rain,” Said the costermonger from Petticoat Lane.

Out on the Channel — laughter died. Casual understatement Was driven back from its London haunts To its clinical nakedness Along the banks of the Ilissus.

In front of the crew were rolling mountains of smoke Spilling fire from their Vesuvian rims; The swaying fringes of Borealis blue; The crimson stabs through the curtains; The tracers’ fiery parabolas. The falling pendants of green from the Verey lights; The mad colors of the murals of Dunkirk.

Space, time, water, bread, sleep. Above all — sleep; Commodities beyond the purchase of the Rand.

Space — A thousand pounds per foot! Not up for sale In the cabin suites or on the floors of the lighters. The single Mole was crammed with human termites. Stumbling, falling on the decks of the destroyers. Sleeping, dying on the decks of the transports Strung along the seaward end.

The solid black queues on the sand waited their turn To file along the bridgehead jetties Improvised from the army lorries, Or waded out to swim Or clutch at drifting gangplanks, rafts, and life belts.

Time — Days, weeks of the balance of life Offered in exchange for minutes now.

Stuff of the world’s sagas in the heavens! Spitfires were chasing Heinkels, one to twenty. The nation’s debt unpaid, unpayable. Was climbing up its pyramid. As the Hurricanes took on the Messerschmitts.

THE MULTIPEDES ON THE ROADS

Born on the blueprints. They are fed by fire. They grow their skin from carburized steel. They are put together by cranes. Their hearts are engines that do not know fatigue In the perfection of their valves. In the might of their systolic thrusts. Their blood is petrol: Oil bathes their joints. Their nerves are wire. From the assembly lines they are put on inspection.

They pass tests. Are pronounced fit by the drill sergeants. They go on parade and are the pride of the High Command. They take, understand, and obey orders. They climb hills, straddle craters and the barbed barricades. They defy bullets and shells. Faster than Genghis’ cavalry they speed, Crueler than the hordes of Tamburlaine, Yet unknowing and uncaring. It is these that the rearguards are facing — Creatures of conveyer belts. Of precision tools and schedules.

They breathe through carburetted lungs; If pierced, they do not feel the cut, And if they die, they do not suffer death. And Dunkirk stands between the rearguards and the sea.

Motor launches from the Port of London, Lifeboats from the liners. Whaleboats, bottoms of shallow draught. Rammed their noses into the silt, Packed their loads and ferried them to scoots and drifters. Blood and oil smut on their faces, The wounded, dying and dead were hauled up Over the rails of the hospital carriers In the nets and cargo slings.

IN THE SKIES

The world believed the trap was sprung. And no Geneva words or signatures of merey Availed the quarry on the sands. The bird’s right to dodge the barrels on the wing, The start for the hare. The chance for the fox to eross his scent. For the teeth to snap at the end of the chase, Did not belong to this tally-ho.

The proffered sword disclaimed by the victor, The high salute at the burial of a foe Wrapped in the folds of his flag. The wreath from the skies. Were far romantic memories.

As little chivalry here As in the peregrines chasing the carriers. As in the sniff of the jaekals about a carcass!

Here over the dunes The last civil rag was torn from the body of war — The decencies had perished with the Stukas.

From Dover to Dunkirk, From Dunkirk to Ramsgate, And baek to the dunes. Power boats of the enemy Were driving torpedoes into transports and colliers, Lifting the engines clear from their beds. Blowing the boilers, sheering the sterns. And the jettisoned loads gathered up from the sea Were transferred to other decks And piled in steep confusion On the twisted steel of the listed destroyers. On the rough planks of the barges. Into the hatches of the freighters. Jammed against bulkheads and riddled ventilators, On the coils of the cables.

On quarterdecks and in the fo’c’sles. On the mess tables and under them.

“ Was that roar in the North from the Rodney We hope to God it was.”

Drip of the leadlines on the bows — “ Two fathoms, sir, four feet, three and a half.” “ Wake up, you dead end. You’re not on the feathers now. Make room for this ’ere bloke.” “ Stiff as cement ’e is.” “ Git a gait on, Or the Stukas’ll be raisin’ boils on your necks.” “ Ahoy, skipper, a can of petrol.” “ Compass out of gear — Give us the line to Ramsgate.” “ Follow the skoots.”

The great birds, carrying under their wings The black distorted crosses, Plunged, straightened out, I.aid their eggs in air. Hatched them in fountains of water. In craters of sand, To the leap of flame. To the roar of avalanche.

And in those hours. When Death was sweating at his lathe. When heads and legs and arms were blown from their trunks, When the seventh day on the dunes became the eighth. And the eighth slumped into the dawn of the ninth. When the sand’s crunch and suck under the feet Were sounds less to be endured than the crash of bombs In that coma and apathy of horror —

It was then that the feel of a deck. The touch of a spar or a halyard. Was like a hold on the latch of the heart of God,

I’s the Navy's job! It’s their turn now, From the Beach to the ports. Let the Stukas break their bloody necks on the Mole; Let the fires scorch the stars — For now, whether on the burnished oak of the cabins, Or on the floor boards of the punts, Or in the cuddies of the skiffs. Sleep at last has an even game with Death.

The blessed fog — Ever before this day the enemy. Leagued with the quicksands and the breakers — Now mercifully masking the periscope lenses. Smearing the hairlines of the bombsights, Hiding the flushed coveys.

And with it the calm on the Channel The power that drew the teeth from the storm, The peace that passed understanding, Soothing the surf, allaying the lop on the swell. Out of the range of the guns of Nieuport, Away from the immolating blasts of the oil tanks.

The flotillas of ships were met by flotillas of gulls Whiter than the cliffs of Foreland; Between the lines of the Medway buoys They steamed and sailed and rowed.

Back to the roadsteads, back to the piers Inside the vigilant booms, Back to the harbors. Back to the River of London, to England,

Saved once again by the tread of her keels.

#dunkirk #poetry #ej pratt

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ultrasfcb-blog · 7 years ago

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Garth Crooks

The Premier League season is over, with Manchester City deservedly crowned champions after sweeping all before them in a record-breaking campaign.

West Brom, Stoke City and Swansea are facing up to relegation, while Arsenal enter life without Arsene Wenger.

But who has made my team of the season?

Goalkeeper – David de Gea (Man Utd)

The moment Jose Mourinho persuaded David de Gea to stay at Manchester United, rather than leave for Real Madrid, you knew something was brewing. Neither have managed to win the title this season, but I wouldn’t bet against them next term.

De Gea has once again looked imperious in goal, and one player in the United set-up who warrants the accolade ‘world class’. The issue for Mourinho is he has not been in a position to assemble a defence worthy of his keeper.

Petr Cech had William Gallas, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho to protect him when Mourinho was manager at Chelsea in 2004-05. That’s why they won the title and why United haven’t.

Did you know? De Gea won the Golden Glove this season, keeping 18 clean sheets in the Premier League. It’s his highest tally in a single season in the competition.

Defenders – Kyle Walker (Man City), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Nicolas Otamendi (Man City), Ashley Young (Man Utd)

Kyle Walker: When Kyle Walker left Tottenham Hotspur for Manchester City for £50m I thought Blues boss Pep Guardiola had suddenly gone to the ‘dark side of the moon’. When I saw Walker make his Premier League debut for his new club at Brighton, I knew then that City had spent over the odds but were sure of exactly what they were buying.

Walker has fulfilled his role and responsibilities brilliantly in this City side and got his reward as a consequence – it’s called a Premier League title.

Did you know? Walker has provided six Premier League assists this season, his highest in a single campaign.

Lewis Dunk: I have watched this lad in the Championship and I have watched him again in the Premier League and I can’t believe it’s the same player. The growth in the space of a season has been quite extraordinary.

It would have been very easy for me to have selected Jan Vertonghen (who has had another good season for Spurs) but Dunk has had to be outstanding week in, week out. Without that level of performance, Brighton would have sunk without trace.

If any of the big six have any sense whatsoever they should get their chequebook out immediately. He’s worth £30m of anyone’s money in the current financial climate.

Did you know? Dunk made more blocks than any other Premier League defender this season (56).

Nicolas Otamendi: I can never make up my mind about Otamendi. I have seen him play brilliantly for City and then suddenly be a complete disaster. I must say his calamities have been less frequent this season. He had a fabulous first half to City’s league campaign and deputised for Vincent Kompany brilliantly during a very important period for the club.

Defeats by Liverpool in the Champions League were not his finest hours, but overall he has proved to be a steady influence in a Manchester City team whose emphasis as always been on attack not defence. Lucky for him.

Did you know? Otamendi made more successful passes than any other Premier League player this season (2,825).

Ashley Young: I thought this lad was finished at Manchester United but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. United have converted yet another winger into a very competent full-back. First Antonio Valencia, now Ashley Young.

The England international was beginning to create a reputation for himself when it was alleged he would go looking for penalties in the days when he was a winger. He appears to have adapted his game and concentrated on becoming a permanent fixture in United’s defensive line-up.

His performances have also earned him a recall into the England set-up at 32 years of age. Not bad for a player I had written off.

Did you know? Young made more Premier League appearances (30) and starts (28) this season than he had in any of his previous seven campaigns with United.

Midfielders – Kevin de Bruyne (Man City), Fernandinho (Man City), David Silva (Man City)

Kevin de Bruyne: Of all the players I have watched this season, I have enjoyed no-one more than Kevin de Bruyne. It is unfortunate for De Bruyne that Mohamed Salah has had such a wonderful season, at the ‘award-winning’ expense of the Belgium international.

De Bruyne lifting the Premier League title with City will compensate to a large extent, but not completely – that’s the way it goes in football sometimes.

To play the game with such grace and win matches on such a regular basis without an ounce of ruthlessness deserves some recognition. Selecting De Bruyne for my Team of the Season is the best I can do.

Did you know? The Belgian finished the season with the most assists (16) and chances created (106) in the Premier League.

Fernandinho: There is a one in every title-winning team. Claude Makelele did it for Real Madrid, Esteban Cambiasso did it for Inter Milan, and Fernandinho has done it on two occasions for Manchester City.

These are players who accept that their ability does not compare with Zinedine Zidane, Wesley Sneijder or Kevin de Bruyne but who will run through brick walls for their team and wonder what the fuss is all about when you pat them on the back and tell them just how wonderful they have been.

The Brazilian is the lynchpin for City and the first player Guardiola would have pencilled in his team every week. Fernandinho has had a magnificent season and wins another Premier League title for his efforts.

Did you know? Granit Xhaka (2,709) was the only midfielder to complete more passes in the Premier League this season than Fernandinho (2,679)

David Silva: What a wonderful servant David Silva has turned out to be for Manchester City. Along with the amazing Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany, they have provided a platform upon which legacies are made.

How Silva has completed a title-winning season with the family issues he has to contend with is a testimony to the resilience and dedication of the man himself.

He is a wonderful player and, from what I can gather, an even better father.

Did you know? The Spaniard had a hand in 20 Premier League goals this season (nine goals, 11 assists). Only in 2011-12 (21) was he involved in more in a single campaign.

Forwards – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Sergio Aguero (Man City)

Mohamed Salah: What this lad has done for Egyptian football, not to mention social cohesion, cannot be quantified. What I can tell you is there is no better place on the planet than Liverpool Football Club to appreciate the talents of Mohamed Salah. He has had the most wonderful season.

I’m not entirely sure what I have enjoyed more – the striker bearing down on the opposition with such blistering pace and leaving defenders in his wake, or his glorious ice-cool finishes. A chorus of “Mo Salah, Mo Salah, Mo Salah” ringing around Anfield is not far behind, by the way.

Put that all together and there cannot be a better place on the planet for a player of Salah’s class to play his football.

Did you know? Salah’s 32 goals is the most by a player in a 38-game season.

Harry Kane: This has been another magnificent season from Harry Kane, however it can’t be entirely comfortable for Kane or his team-mates to look at another empty trophy cabinet. Elsewhere, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling all have titles, and Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nathaniel Clyne are preparing for the Champions League final.

It would be sheer folly for me or anyone else to ignore the obvious. This lad cannot wait around forever watching his England team-mates achieve what he could do quite easily elsewhere.

It’s why Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Teddy Sheringham all left Tottenham. It would be a crying shame if Kane is forced to do the same.

Did you know? Kane became the first Spurs player to score 40+ goals in all competitions in a single season since Clive Allen in 1986-87 (49).

Sergio Aguero: Regular readers of my Team of the Week will know how much I think of Sergio Aguero. Of all the strikers in my Team of the Season, Aguero is the one who has joined the ranks of football greatness.

During his time in the Premier League there is no other striker who has scored as many goals over so many seasons, or held so many titles.

His goals blasted Manchester City into an unassailable lead at the top of the table before injury took its toll and Leroy Sane took over. We have at last honoured this great Premier League player in the PFA team awards, and the least I can do is honour him in mine.

Did you know? Aguero’s goal against Napoli in November made him City’s all-time highest goalscorer.

Manager of the season – Rafael Benitez

I was asked recently who were my top three managers this season. Without a moment’s hesitation I said Rafael Benitez, Sean Dyche and Chris Hughton – in that order.

I never expected Burnley to qualify for Europe, for Brighton to survive a season in the Premier League, or for Newcastle to finish with 44 points, ensuring safety with games to spare having started the season with seven Championship players in the team.

Anyone who has watched Newcastle United this season will have observed Benitez and his boys refusing to compromise one iota on the brand of football their fans want to see.

I wish I could say the same for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United. If Newcastle have lost a game they have done so with their dignity intact. They have taken the opposition on trying to play.

There have been times when they have been outplayed, even outclassed, but they have never turned their backs on giving their fans 100%, which you have to do when playing for the Magpies.

That is why Newcastle fans love Benitez, because they have seen the Spaniard turn their team from a Championship squad into a credible Premier League outfit.

Give Benitez the resources and he would do what Kevin Keegan failed to do, and win Newcastle a trophy. Don’t give him the resources to compete with the very best and he will leave – and quite rightly.

Now it’s your turn

You’ve seen my picks this week. But who would you go for?

BBC Sport – Football ultras_FC_Barcelona

ultras FC Barcelona - https://ultrasfcb.com/football/3895/

#Barcelona

#Football

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365footballorg-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Salah... De Bruyne... Dunk - who else is in Garth's Team of the Season?

The Premier League season is over, with Manchester City deservedly crowned champions after sweeping all before them in a record-breaking campaign.

West Brom, Stoke City and Swansea are facing up to relegation, while Arsenal enter life without Arsene Wenger.

But who has made my team of the season?

<!–

Goalkeeper – David de Gea (Man Utd)

Petr Cech had William Gallas, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho to protect him when Mourinho was manager at Chelsea in 2004-05. That’s why they won the title and why United haven’t.

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Did you know? De Gea won the Golden Glove this season, keeping 18 clean sheets in the Premier League. It’s also his highest tally in a single season in the competition.

Defenders – Kyle Walker (Man City), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Nicolas Otamendi (Man City), Ashley Young (Man Utd)

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Kyle Walker: When Kyle Walker left Tottenham Hotspur for Manchester City for £50m I thought Pep Guardiola had suddenly gone to the ‘dark side of the moon’. When I saw Walker make his Premier League debut for his new club at Brighton, I knew then that City had spent over the odds but were sure of exactly what they were buying.

Walker has fulfilled his role and responsibilities brilliantly in this City side and got his reward as a consequence – it’s called a Premier League title.

Did you know? Walker has provided six Premier League assists this season, his highest in a single campaign.

If any of the big six have any sense whatsoever they should get their chequebook out immediately. He’s worth £30m of anyone’s money in the current financial climate.

Did you know? Dunk made more blocks than any other Premier League defender this season (56)

Did you know? Otamendi made more successful passes than any other Premier League player this season (2,825)

His performances have also earned him a recall into the England set-up at 32 years of age. Not bad for a player I had written off.

Did you know? Young made more Premier League appearances (30) and starts (28) this season than he had in any of his previous seven campaigns with United

Midfielders – Kevin de Bruyne (Man City), Fernandinho (Man City), David Silva (Man City)

<!–

De Bruyne lifting the Premier League title with City will compensate to a large extent, but not completely – that’s the way it goes in football sometimes.

Did you know? The Belgian finished the season with the most assists (16) and chances created (106) in the Premier League

Did you know? Granit Xhaka (2,709) was the only midfielder to complete more passes in the Premier League this season than Fernandinho (2,679)

How Silva has completed a title-winning season with the all his family issues[1] to contend with is a testimony to the resilience and dedication of the man himself.

He is a wonderful player and, from what I can gather, an even better father.

Did you know? The Spaniard had a hand in 20 Premier League goals this season (nine goals, 11 assists). Only in 2011-12 (21) was he been involved in more in a single campaign

Forwards – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Sergio Aguero (Man City)

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Put that all together and there cannot be a better place on the planet for a player of Salah’s class to play his football.

Did you know? Salah’s 32 goals is the most by a player in a 38-game season.

It would be sheer folly for me or anyone else to ignore the obvious. This lad cannot wait around forever watching his England team-mates achieve what he could do quite easily elsewhere.

It’s why Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Teddy Sheringham all left Tottenham. It would be a crying shame if Harry Kane is forced to do the same.

Did you know? Kane became the first Spurs player to score 40+ goals in all competitions in a single season since Clive Allen in 1986-87 (49)

During his time in the Premier League there is no other striker who has scored as many goals over so many seasons, or held so many titles.

Did you know? Aguero’s goal against Napoli in November made him City’s all-time highest goalscorer.

Manager of the season – Rafael Benitez

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I was asked recently who were my top three managers this season. Without a moment’s hesitation I said Rafael Benitez, Sean Dyche and Chris Hughton – in that order.

Anyone who has watched Newcastle United this season will have observed Benitez and his boys refusing to compromise one iota on the brand of football their fans want to see.

I wish I could say the same for Jose Mourinho and Manchester United. If Newcastle have lost a game they have done so with their dignity intact. They have taken the opposition on trying to play.

There have been times when they have been outplayed, even outclassed, but they have never turned their backs on giving their fans 100%, which you have to do when playing for the Magpies.

That is why Newcastle fans love Benitez, because they have seen the Spaniard turn their team from a Championship squad into a credible Premier League outfit.

Pick your Team of the Season

You’ve seen my picks this week. But who would you go for?

Choose your XI from the shortlist selected by BBC Sport journalists and share it with your friends.

Pick your Team of the Week

Pick your XI from our list and share with your friends.

Select formationConfirm team

References

^ family issues (www.bbc.co.uk)

BBC Sport – Football

Salah… De Bruyne… Dunk – who else is in Garth's Team of the Season? was originally published on 365 Football

#Bruyne #Dunk #else #Garth&039s #Salah #season #team

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foggycomputerdaze-blog · 7 years ago

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cool-amazingmakeup · 7 years ago

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There was plenty of action across the Premier League this weekend, as Arsenal and Manchester United both squeezed past Burnley and Brighton respectively, while Everton's poor fortunes continued. Here, Sportsmail's RALPH ELLIS takes a look at what we can take away from the top flight happenings, as well as delivering a few pointers and what went on the Football League. 1) German defender Shkodran Mustafi is quietly emerging as Arsenal’s key defender after another excellent performance in the 1-0 win at Burnley. The 25-year-old, who cost £35m from Valencia, has taken time to settle in the Premier League but this season has been outstanding. Arsenal have not conceded a single Premier League goal in the six games Mustafi has started since the 1-0 defeat at Stoke in August. In six games without him they have let in 15. 2) Zlatan Ibrahimovic is going to have a huge part to play if Manchester United are to overhaul the eight-point gap to neighbours City in the title race. The veteran striker has a mesmerising effect on opponents that creates space for others. He wasn’t involved in the goal that brought United a 1-0 win over Brighton but it was surely no coincidence that it came just four minutes after he was brought on as a substitute. 3) Everton’s next manager can start with a simple message — make sure you win your individual battles. The Toffees were second best too often at Southampton as they slumped to a 4-1 defeat, winning just 44 duels between them. Only Liverpool against Chelsea (42) won less duels among Premier League teams this weekend. 4) Daniel Sturridge has some big decisions to make in January on how he revives his career if he wants to get into England’s World Cup plans. The 28-year-old failed to take a rare chance to start a big game when Jurgen Klopp picked him against Chelsea, failing to register a single shot on or off target before he was hooked after 66 minutes. Sturridge’s finishing can be exceptional, but in 12 Premier League games he’s started since the beginning of last season he has scored only twice. 5) Credit to Claude Puel for finding a way to fit the creative talents of wingers Demarai Gray, Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton into the same side. The three of them took turns between wide positions and a number 10 role in the 1-1 draw at West Ham, the second game in a row in which all had started. Last season there were only three occasion in 54 games in all competitions when Gray, Mahrez and Albrighton were all named to play together. 6) Manchester United’s plan that teenage Dutch defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah would gain valuable Premier League experience at Crystal Palace has been scuppered since Roy Hodgson took over. The 19-year-old was back on the bench again for Palace’s 2-1 win over Stoke with Joel Ward preferred at full back and James Tomkins alongside Mamadou Sakho in the centre of defence. Fosu Mensah has started only once since Hodgson took over, having been a regular under Frank de Boer. 7) Dutch defender Mike van der Hoorn could give Paul Clement a difficult decision to make when Federico Fernandez returns to the club. The 6ft 3ins Dutch defender added extra aggression to Swansea’s defence and his attitude spread through the team in the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth. It would be tough on Fernandez to leave him out after allowing him to fly home to Argentina following the death of his father, but if van der Hoorn does well again at Chelsea on Wednesday he would feel he’d earned the right to partner Alfie Mawson 8) Chris Coleman’s arrival at Sunderland looks like good news for 18-year-old winger Joel Asoro who has been brought off the bench in both of his games in charge. The Swedish youngster, who has been in the Black Cats academy since 2015, provided a brilliant cross for George Honeyman’s goal in the 2-0 win at Burton. Coleman loves attacking players and Asoro, who has hardly figured since being given his debut by David Moyes last season, looks like being one the former Wales boss has picked out. 9) Rochdale manager Keith Hill’s relationship with his chairman Chris Dunphy must be the envy of most lower league managers. Hill took charge of his 500th game for the club in two spells in the 2-0 win over Peterborough, and has never been under pressure this season despite only one win in the previous nine games. 10) Michael Flynn pulled off something of a miracle when he kept Newport in League Two last season and he might just be ready for another one by steering the Welsh club to promotion. Remarkably the 37-year-old has had some criticism from fans with short memories of how he masterminded a great escape with seven wins from the final 12 games. Their 1-0 success at Swindon – the first time Newport had won at the County Ground in 62 years – has moved them to within two points of the play-offs. by Sport News 24H

#IFTTT #YouTube #News

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themillenniumscribe · 7 years ago

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Yu-Gi-Oh: Brilliancy (36)

Her name is Clarisa Swansea. She was born in Hong Kong to a wealthy yet loving family, a father, mother, and two older sisters. A competitive beast in women’s lacrosse with a pretty face to match, there was no mistaking that she was striving for greatness far beyond any expectations. But, when one accident took her family along with her mobility, her life took an intriguing turn into the world of chess.

He was so uncomfortable. With every flash of memory that passed over the surrounding space, tension mounted. His lips would harden in a line and his azure eyes flashed with a desperation uncharacteristic of his stoic, CEO demeanor. Although Clarisa admitted she wished that she wanted this level of discomfort, now that she saw it in person, she was starting to feel more sympathy than satisfaction.

“I thought I could go back to when Dad was alive…” The little Mokuba croaked, wiping his bitter tears on the back of his hand. Clarisa could see the little glisten of snot coming out of his nose.

“Stop crying, Mokuba,” The younger Seto scolded. “I know exactly how you feel. We aren’t loser dogs or trash. From now on, I’ll be your father and I will protect you.”

Mokuba sniffled, looking up at his older brother with such hopeful hazel eyes. For the first time, Clarisa got an idea of what Kaiba probably looked like with a genuine smile.

“We can’t show weakness,” He said firmly. “If you do, you’re done for.”

“You had to grow up so fast…” Clarisa thought aloud, her shoulders sinking. “And through no fault of your own.”

“We don’t need your pity…” Kaiba hissed through his teeth, his arms crossing over his chest. Despite his discomfort, he was trying to maintain some semblance of control over his emotions. However, the more he pushed his agenda, the more Clarisa started to see through him. She turned her attention to him, locking her pale blue gaze with his own intense glower.

“I don’t pity you.” She replied firmly, squaring herself off. “And even if I did, what good would that do? I can’t very well change anything that has already happened.”

The scene shifted again. They were back in the orphanage but looking inside one of the classrooms. Mokuba and Seto were in front of a chessboard, at the tail end of what appeared to be a decent game. With two more moves, Mokuba was beaten and Seto triumphantly smiled at his little brother.

“Again?” Mokuba squeaked, his shoulders slumping. It didn’t last long, though. He was quickly beaming, praising Seto for his prowess of the game. Clarisa could feel her lips tugging on the edges, beckoning a smile.

“You know, if you played more like him, I think you might have a chance at beating me.” The jab at Kaiba’s chess prowess was not appreciated. He scowled at her, the only warning she got not to press further before something else caught their attention. The young boys turned, looking at the television screen behind them. There, Clarisa saw a familiar face that she grimaced to behold.

“And the winner of the World Chess Championship is Gozaburo Kaiba!” The announcer cried out eagerly. “His $100,000 yen prize with be donated to charity!”

“What would be the odds if he donated it to this orphanage?”

“Um…Risa?” Clarisa glanced down at the older Mokuba, his finger pointing behind them. When Clarisa turned, she could feel herself sink deeper in shame.

Sure enough, the business tycoon himself was approaching the building, followed by sniveling orphanage staff and his own bodyguards. As Clarisa ate her own words, she took note of how Kaiba’s stiffness reached an all time high, especially when Gozaburo strode past with a confident air.

“This was the last time I ever saw Seto smile…” Mokuba murmured under his breath, barely detectable by Clarisa and Kaiba. Clarisa could feel the resentment building behind his voice. She wondered how long it had been there.

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Clarisa piped up. “How on earth did the two of you get adopted by this man? He doesn’t really seem like the child type.”

“He isn’t…” Kaiba seethed, tensing his shoulders.

“Then, how did both of you end up with his last name?”

“It was Seto…” Mokuba mumbled, hazel eyes meeting Clarisa’s. “Ever since we saw him win the Chess Championship, Seto was hatching a plan to make him adopt us.”

Clarisa watched carefully as the memory unfolded, confirming Mokuba’s claims. She watched as the young Seto challenged Gozaburo, impressing the tycoon with his fierce fighting spirit. He was challenged to a single game, expecting to triumph over the little boy only to be bested at his own techniques. It was a clever trap, one that Clarisa had to commend Kaiba for. But, there was a nagging question on the back of her mind.

“But, why?” She turned to Kaiba, eyeing him expectantly. “Why did you pick him? Even when I met him as a child, I knew there was something wrong with him. What drew you in?”

Kaiba’s lips stiffened up, pinched between his teeth. Clarisa was sure that he was trying to keep himself from speaking. Unfortunately, he couldn’t silence his eyes and they told more of the story than his words ever could. Clarisa wondered if Kaiba regret the faulty logic of his eight year old self.

“Why?” Clarisa was shocked by the venom in Mokuba’s voice, the younger brother focusing all of his frustration on the older. His eyes were lined with faint tears, the crystalline surfaces steaming with anger. Both Clarisa and Kaiba softened.

“Mokuba…” He whispered gently.

“I just want to know why, Seto!” His voice became shrill. “I didn’t need all of the riches and fancy things we got from him! I didn’t need any of it! We had each other and that was enough for me!”

Kaiba recoiled, his azure eyes widening with disbelief. Mokuba, however, was not done.

“We were happy. It wasn’t perfect but we were happy! And if you hadn’t challenged Gozaburo back then, maybe you would smile more!” He was shaking, trying to keep his tears at bay. His anger was righteous and it put Kaiba in a place that Clarisa didn’t expect. She saw the older sibling’s lips part, trying to find words but ultimately resign to silence. He wasn’t expecting this reaction from his brother.

Before Clarisa could do anything, Mokuba leaped for the door, sliding it open to go inside. However, instead of leading to the classroom like he wanted, it lead to a drop off into a dark, gloomy abyss.

Mokuba cried out, descending into the breach when both Kaiba and Clarisa snatched him up. The two of them were squashed together in the doorframe, the latter almost on top of Kaiba’s back. She could smell his fine cologne through the thick white jacket.

“Seto!” Mokuba cried out, his eyes wild with fear.

“Do a little less flailing and a little more reaching, Mokuba!” Clarisa remarked. She twiddled her fingers toward Mokuba’s loose arm. It took a few tries but the boy was eventually able to grab onto Clarisa’s free hand.

“You know, Mr. Kaiba,” Clarisa huffed between pulls. “You are without a doubt the boniest creature on the planet…”

“Less jabbing. More grabbing.” He ordered. The two of them hoisted Mokuba back up from the door, a few bumps and bruises shared when Clarisa had to push off of Kaiba.

All three were silent, trying to catch their collective breaths. Mokuba was leaning forward, his arms braced against his knees and head bowed down as he sighed. Kaiba was on his back, closing his eyes while his chest rose and fell heavily. Clarisa figured he was also resting from the stress of her pushing off of him. As for the blonde herself, she mirrored Mokuba’s stance, hands resting against her knees and blonde hair sticking wildly to her cheeks. She, however, was focusing her attention on both brothers when a thought crossed her mind.

“You weren’t happy, were you?” Clarisa hushed out, glancing at the CEO carefully. He returned her gaze, his expression defensive. She didn’t blame him for being so guarded but she didn’t let that stop her from speaking.

“You smiled because you didn’t want him to know how bad it really was, how alone you two really were.” She saw Mokuba’s head snap up, focusing on her for a moment before shifting to Kaiba. The older brother registered the hazel gaze with a flick of his own eyes but not once did he drop his focus on Clarisa.

Slowly, Kaiba sat up, his back to both of them. He rested one of his arms against his knee, breathing a long-standing sigh. There was so much weight in that one sigh.

“I did what I had to…” He said firmly, refusing to look at them.

“But_”

“Let him speak,” Clarisa cut off Mokuba’s protests, the latter reluctantly quieting down.

“Every choice I made was for us. I wanted to make sure we had everything we needed to make a life for ourselves and Gozaburo Kaiba was our ticket to getting there.” His head lowered briefly, absorbing the words before Kaiba rose to his feet. Still, he refused to turn around.

“I didn’t do everything right, Mokuba. I made decisions that I know were not right. But, I did everything for us and I can’t change anything.” Clarisa watched as he stood tall, locking eyes with his brother. “I need you to understand. I can’t go back and change the past. We have to move forward toward the future.”

Mokuba seemed to absorb the words from his brother, his body sinking with realization. His expression darkened, resigning to follow Kaiba’s drive toward the future.

“Your brother is right, Mokuba.” Clarisa stated softly, resting a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “We can’t dwell on the past and the ‘what-ifs’. Otherwise, we forget what it means to live in the now.”

A gentle smile crossed over her lips, a hint of bitterness seeping through.

“Just think, I could have slaved over my accident and become a bitter person. Instead, I learned how to play chess and ended up meeting you two donuts.” She ruffled the top of his head, the coarse black hairs covering up the grin and chuckle emerging from his face. It seemed to settle him for the time being, his expression much less somber than it had been with just his brother’s words. Kaiba seemed to appreciate her input, his azure eyes reflecting back what almost looked like a thank you.

“So, Mr. Kaiba…” Clarisa purred as she returned her focus toward Kaiba. “Where to next?”

He silently turned forward, walking away from the doorframe at a decent clip. Mokuba and Clarisa scrambled to their feet to follow. All the while, Clarisa couldn’t help but smile when she noticed that, true to his word, Seto Kaiba did not look back.

#yugioh #yugioh oc #yugioh brilliancy #clarisa swansea #seto kaiba #mokuba kaiba #gozaburo kaiba

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