Knife Crime Video

Knife Crime in Manchester from David Edon on Vimeo.

Another Perspective On JTGate

I was shocked to learn of John Terry's affair a month ago. But for me the rampant media speculation and complete invasion of the England captains privacy is much more worrying.

I believe in Free Speech- the freedom to speak without censorship or limitation is something that I think is incredibly important politically in any community or country. The media has every right to portray any piece of news it feels the public needs to hear.

But I feel that the tabloid vultures have swarmed in an attempt to wreck the image and life of a man just to sell newspapers. The common argument seems to be one of 'Everybody has a right to know what the captain of England has been up to'. But doesn't his family have the right not to be stalked by paparazzi? Does his daughters not have the right to be able to walk to school without reporters lurking around each corner? Shouldn't they have the chance to work out a family problem on their own and move on with their lives? And let's face it, it'd be a hell of a lot easier for Terry and his family to move forward if they could do it privately.

I am no great fan of Jon Terry's; in fact before all of this occurred you could even go as far as to say that I didn't like him. But if the journalists involved were subjected to this kind of harrowing nightmare every time they themselves made a mistake, they might think a little differently about whether they should be allowed to attempt to destroy a man's life.

Bragbook

I don't think I will ever understand my generation's obsession with Facebook. I have a Facebook account and I have one so that people I know can get into touch with me if they don't have my mobile number for whatever reason. But a lot of people my age seem to be utterly obsessed with the social networking site and log on for several hours every day.

Aside from the hundreds of pointless updates people post each day ('just had breakfast and now im off to work!' etc.) the thing that continually surprises me is how many photos people take of themselves on 'nights out'. Each day I log on to find that people have taken literally hundreds of pictures after simply meeting their friends for a quick drink. It always leaves me baffled- to take so many pictures they barely must have had any time to do anything but. In fact last week I went to a party with a bunch of students and you couldn't move for having a camera pointed at you.

Growing up with working class down-to-earth lads (who wouldn't be seen dead on Facebook by the way) the very last thing on my mind when I go on a night out is to take a digital camera. I go out to have fun, not to use it as a way of saying 'LOOK AT ME! I HAVE FRIENDS!' the next day. This leads me to believe that for many people Facebook isn't a social networking site at all, it's a social bragging site.

Whilst it's worth noting that most people don't use Facebook in this way there's still an annoying minority that do and unfortunately these are the people whose entries you have to shift through if you ever log onto the site. Maybe it is this small minority that spoils Facebook for me and maybe I should just ignore it. But it's humiliating to think that when people think of our generation, perhaps all we will be remembered for is our obsession with social networking websites.

How to transform young people's lives with Rathbone from David Edon on Vimeo.

News Report on the Recession- Christmas (Kingsgate Shopping Centre) from David Edon on Vimeo.

Two For Torres As Liverpool Beat Hammers

The Saturday tea time game was a chance for an inconsistent Liverpool side to prove their title credentials against a battle hardened West Ham team that had made their worst start to a season in 7 years.

Much had been made about the Hammers lack of goals prior to kick off and you could see why after Zavon Hines wasted a glorious opportunity just 2 minutes in. Jamie Carragher was caught napping at the back but Pepe Reina reacted quickly and managed to make himself big as the 20 year old smashed the ball against the post.

Liverpool soon woke up though as the Reds began to look dangerous. After 7 minutes Yossi Benayoun should have done better after a clever through ball from Torres- his tame attempt from the left hand side of the penalty area rolled straight into Robert Green's arms. Emiliano Insua had the next opportunity as the young Liverpool left back strode infield and drove a 30 yard shot wide of the right hand post.

Fernando Torres had admitted earlier in the week that he had not been playing his best football so far this season and right from the start he looked like he had something to prove. The Spaniard had a penalty appeal turned down and volleyed narrowly wide moments afterwards. But he would soon give the Reds the lead. Insua burst from the half way line and fed El Nino on the left. After instant control and a couple of sublime step-overs, Torres' quick turn of pace allowed him to sprint past James Tomkins with ease and poke the ball home at the near post from a tight angle.

It was to be a double blow for the Hammers as centre back Matthew Upson limped off after injuring himself attempting to stop Torres for the goal. With their inspirational captain substituted and Carlton Cole looking more and more isolated up front it was hard to see how the Hammers were going to get back into the game.

But Liverpool have looked weak defensively this season and predictably it was an unnecessary mistake that led to the equaliser. The impressive Hines outpaced Carragher down the left-hand side, and in his desperation to make amends the Reds' number 23 shoved the home-grown star to the ground. New signing Alessandro Diamanti scored from the spot but he may count himself somewhat lucky. He comically slipped whilst taking the kick and appeared to hit the ball twice before it slowly dropped into the net. Despite justified objections from the Liverpool bench the goal was allowed to stand by referee Andre Marriner.

Liverpool were to go right back in front just 4 minutes later as a Benayoun corner precisely found Steven Gerrard whose guided header ended up in the bottom corner. Dirk Kuyt got the final touch and went down as goal scorer but Gerrard deserved all the credit as it was going in anyway.

This incredible half of football wasn't over yet though as West Ham showed great character to equalise once more. Before the game Liverpool have conceded 7 goals this season and all 7 have resulted from set pieces. Number 9 was simple. Noble flighted an accurate ball over for Cole to get up and score and nothing should be taken away from West Ham in what was a well worked goal. But once more, whether it was down to zonal marking or not, there wasn't a single Liverpool player who came out to attack the ball.

The second half was slow to take off but Liverpool were gradually beginning to take control whilst their opponents were giving them too much time and space. Both teams were lacking quality on the ball. Needing inspiration and a little bit of flair Rafa Beneitz brought on Ryan Babel for Kuyt on the 60 minute mark. The dutchman strode on for his long awaited chance to do his talking on the pitch rather than in the papers.

An inspired run 3 minutes later from former Hammer Benayoun almost got the visitors the lead but after jinking past several challenges he eventually ran out of room in a crowded penalty area.

Ryan Babel made his first contrubution from 25 yards out with a shot that flew straight into row Z. However, he was going to prove invaluable.

Just as the Liverpool coaching staff were screaming at their full backs to get forward and stretch the weary defense Glen Johnson did just that. The full back burst forward from the half way line to get Liverpool up the field and moments later his team were ahead. Babel deftly sprinted past his man and dropped a perfect cross onto the head of the impressive Fernando Torres who directed the ball majestically into the top corner.

From then on, Liverpool were content to hold onto the ball and play down the clock as West Ham didn't seem to have the energy to go for another. Whether Zola's players should be getting cramp 80 minutes into a game at this stage in the season is something that will be debated I'm sure, as the Hammers simply didn't have the legs to press for a third equaliser.

Final score: West Ham 2:3 Liverpool

Torres Brace Keeps Liverpool in Title Hunt

Two goals from Fernando Torres helped Liverpool to a comfortable 4-0 win over a disappointing Blackburn Rovers side on the first premier league game of the weekend.

After Wednesday’s shocking 3-1 defeat to Chelsea, Liverpool had the chance to banish the memories of a below par performance as they looked to go two points clear at the top of the Premiership. With Manchester United playing later that afternoon, it was a chance Rafael Benitez’s men couldn’t afford to miss- even if they had to do it without their inspirational captain. An injured Steven Gerrard was to be an unused and unneeded substitute in the mauling that was to follow.

Before the match began Anfield paid tribute to the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives at Hillsborough with a rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone which was followed by an impeccably observed minutes silence. This week will mark the 20th anniversary of the disaster and Blackburn paid their respects as Stephen Warnock laid a floral tribute right in front of the Kop.

Whilst this was a fitting tribute, Blackburn began the game by showing Liverpool a little too much respect on the pitch as the Reds were allowed to start brightly. After forcing a corner after just 3 minutes Fernando Torres opened up the scoring 2 minutes later with a goal of the season contender. An immaculate ball over the defense from Jamie Carragher was controlled effortlessly by the Spanish starlet before he span to hit the ball on the half volley into the top corner of Paul Robinson’s net. It was a ferocious effort from an extremely difficult angle and one which any football fan will instantly admire on Match of the Day tonight.

It really should have been 2-0 on 15 minutes as Dirk Kuyt sent Mascherano through on goal with seemingly only the keeper to beat, but his indecision meant that the Blackburn defenders came swarming back and his shot was rushed. Consequently it was saved by the keeper before Torres blazed the ball over. It was a chance that looked much simpler than his goal and El Nino might look back on it as the miss that would eventually deny him a hatrick.

After 24 minutes Xabi Alonso’s ball to the back post was met by Daniel Agger who was gifted a free header but he could only direct it tamely into the hands of Robinson.

Dirk Kuyt was the next to spurn a chance 2 minutes later as he was the next man in red to head the ball straight at the goalkeeper and Yossi Benayoun couldn’t make the most of Paul Robinson’s proceeding spill.

As usual, whenever Liverpool have conceded from set pieces this season the side have been unfairly criticized from certain sections of the media for Rafa’s zonal marking policy. It seems unlikely that Blackburn’s man marking system will be given the same treatment even after some shocking defending led to Torres’s second. The ever hungry striker was allowed to wander into the penalty area seemingly unescorted to rise and head the ball expertly after another perfect cross from the impressive Alonso. Maybe that criticism was still ringing in Rafa’s ears as he produced a rare smile following the goal.

Perhaps it is just this reporter’s imagination but Liverpool’s style of play reminds me more and more of the technically brilliant Spanish team that strolled to the European Championships in the summer. They seem to play the ball so effortlessly and slowly at times with the pace quickening only when the Reds sniff a chance. They then sync gently back into their patient build up- waiting for the right time to strike once more. The second half was to give the emotional fans further examples of this as Liverpool came out determined to control the remainder of the match.

The fantastic Emanuel Insua at just 19 years of age was striding down the left wing looking as if he’d played on the Anfield pitch for years and it was he who set up Kuyt for the first chance of the second half but his effort was deflected wide.

Albert Riera was linking up well with the young left back as he jinxed through Blackburns defense eventually shooting wide of the post. Fernando Torres was substituted on 74 minutes as Rafa decided that the game was effectively over. And you could see why- the Liverpool defenders barely broke a sweat even in the beautiful Mersey sunshine.

But the blackburn fans did have a glimmer of hope in the 76th minute as the ball fell to Christopher Samba in a glorious position at the back post but Pepe Reina was never going to be troubled by his weak effort. The young keeper was heading for another clean sheet on his 200th appearance for the club.

Despite undoubtedly stepping down a gear since the break the Liverpool team looked determined to get a third in front of a Kop that demanded more goals. They came close when Mascherano drove a shot through several defenders which eventually ended up going just wide of Paul Robinson’s goal.

But it wasn’t long before Agger added a goal to an impressive performance in his return to the side. After 83 minutes he launched the ball into the top corner of the goal from all of 35 yards out as the Blackburn defense was once more guilty of giving the Reds too much time on the ball.

And the rout wasn’t over yet- Jamie Carragher’s high ball to the back post was headed across goal by Lucas for fellow substitute Ngog to glance the ball home for Liverpool’s fourth.