Cougars look like the team to beat again
Despite seeing only two of their matches I believe Devonshire Cougars are going to be the team to beat this season.
They've a good balance and their players look like they each know their specific role within the team. Not everyone can be a creative player and Cougars seem to have guys who realise that.
They look like a hard working outfit and I was impressed with them against both Devonshire Colts in the Charity Cup and Somerset Trojans last weekend.
I also saw North Village's game against PHC and thought they showed promise, but were not quite as balanced as Cougars. But let's not forget that after one game and it will take time for Elliott Jennings to get Village playing the way he wants.
I know Cougars' manager Shawn Smith from our time in the Bermuda national team and he was a very steady player. You always knew what you would get from Shawn and he was a useful sweeper.
He was what I call a seven out of ten player. Those players seem to maintain the same level of performance throughout, not often going higher, but almost never dipping below that mark.
He was a quiet guy on and off the pitch and it seems his coaching methods are working well at Cougars. It's no secret that I'm attending matches to mainly check up on the Hogges' players, and also to see any others that catch my eye. So far I've been pleased with what I've seen from our guys.
It was interesting to see Village's Ralph Bean up against Zebra's Omar Shakir and Kevin Richards.
As I mentioned in my column last week I will be coaching with the North Village youth programme this season. I will be involved in helping train the under-18s and went to my first training session this week. It was good for me to meet the players and observe their session. I don't yet know when their season starts but I'm looking forward to working with coach Alan Smith and giving something back to my old club. I think we will be having a scrimmage between ourselves this week to prepare for our first game.
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I was shocked to hear Chelsea and Jose Mourinho had parted company. It's quite a bizarre one, considering the success he has enjoyed at Stamford Bridge.
I must admit I liked his style and thought he brought a new, fresh, exciting element to the Premiership.
Straight away he was challenging Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United and Arsene Wenger's Arsenal.
It took those guys a while to establish themselves in England, but he just arrived and set his stall out immediately.
He's a master tactician and is never frightened to make changes during a game if things aren't going to plan. You can definitely say he has the courage of his convictions.
From what you read, it seems Mourinho's relationship with Roman Abramovich broke down, and if a Premiership owner gets involved with signing players there's inevitably a clash.
Love him or hate him, Mourinho will be sorely missed and I'm sure it won't be long before he's back at a top club. I hope to see him return to the Premiership soon, as there's only one 'special one'.