The Premier League's French XI:

The Premier League's French XI:

The English Premier has housed some of the finest French players of recent years; think of the likes of Laurent Robert, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira for example. Today no fewer than 32 Frenchmen play in the Premier League – no league away from France house as many Frenchmen. The question is: out of those 32 Frenchmen, how good would an XI be comprised solely of them?

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris

Tottenham Hotspur’s shot-stopper is viewed by many as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. For the first half of the season he played largely second-fiddle to the American-veteran Brad Friedel; but since he was awarded the starting berth in the Tottenham XI he has played 1980 minutes, facing 174 shots and only allowing 24 of those shots to turn into goals. Lloris and Manchester United’s David De Gea are in the leading in the fewest goals against this season with 24-a-piece. A great goalkeeper for this French-XI.

Right-back: Bacary Sagna

Arsenal’s right-back has appeared 27 times in all competitions. Managing to notch one goal and bag two assists. Bacary Sagna is a highly rated player amongst the football world – Paris Saint Germain being recently linked with the 30-year-old. Bacary Sagna just gets in the team ahead of Newcastle United’s Mattieu Debucy due to his wealth of experience.

Centre-back: Laurent Koscielny

Playing alongside his Arsenal team-mate is the 27-year-old Laurent Koscielny infamous for his back-pass during the 2011 Carling Cup final against Birmingham City. That aside – Koscienlny is a regular starter in a top-six outfit; managing around 40 appearances a season (in all competitions). This season he has only managed 28 appearances at club-level; scoring one and assisting one goal in that time. EA’s FIFA 13 rates him as the highest-rated French centre-back in the Premier League.

Centre-back: Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa

The 23-year-old former Montpellier captain is one of the highest-rated youngsters in football; after a fantastic season with the French outfit Montpellier he signed for Newcastle United in the January transfer window of 2013 on a five and a half year contract. Since then he has impressed partnering Steven Taylor in the absence of club-captain Fabricio Coloccini. Out of 35 appearances this season WhoScored.com have gave the Frenchman an average match-rating of 7.13.

Left-back: Patrice Evra

Manchester United’s 31-year-old has had a fantastic season as United clinched their 20^th League title. Making 31 appearances this far and scoring four goals. The French internationals endurance is what gives him the role in this side ahead of Gael Clichy. For the last six years at the Red Devils he has averaged around 50 appearances in all competitions a term. Infamous for his role in the French strike in the South African World Cup of 2010, and his and Luis Suarez’ racist ordeal – Evra isn’t without a dark side. But he is still more than good enough to make this XI.

Centre-midfield: Samir Nasri

The mercurial Samir Nasri is a silky dribbler and a scorer of good goals. The 25-year-old over two transfers has accumulated a total transfer worth of – £39,800,000, making one of the most valuable midfielders in the Premier League. Averaging a goal every ten games throughout his career – he has scored a total of 49 goals in 266 games throughout his career, The Manchester makes it into the team due to his creativity.

Centre Midfield: Yohan Cabaye

Newcastle United’s fan-favourite Yohan Cabaye is arguably the best French player in the Premier League. After a stellar European Championship with France the likes of FC Barcelona and Manchester United were circling around him. He signed for Newcastle United for the small sum of four million in 2011; the 27-year-old has impressed with his dead-ball abilities grabbing two goals from free-kicks this season alone. An influential captain in absence of Fabricio Coloccini, the former-Lille man could fit into any of the Premier League’s top sides.

Centre Midfield: Moussa Sissoko

The super-quick centre-midfielder was courted by the likes of Tottenham Hotspur before Newcastle United signed him on a free-transfer in 2013. Since joining Newcastle, the-23-year-old has managed to garner 17 games, scoring three goals and assisting five. Alongside Chelsea’s Ramires, Sissoko is one of the fastest central-midfielders in the Premier League; which gives him his place in this XI.

Left-Wing: Charles N’Zogbia.

The last signing Sir Bobby Robson made in his managerial career. The mercurial talent of Charles N’Zogbia. Mind-blowingly quick on the ball and one of the standout performers in his time at Wigan. N’Zogbia was at one time linked with a big-money move to Turin; but this move never came to prominence. He eventually signed for Aston Villa in 2011 for £9,500,000 and has gone on to make 41 appearances and score 5 goals. His pace is what gives him the role in the side over Florent Malouda.

Striker: Oliver Giroud.

The 6ft 3 French hit man started his first season poorly. He struggled to find the net or replicate the form his showed at Montpellier; but he has hit-the-ground-running in the latter stages this season. He has averaged a goal every-three-games in the Premier League. If he can replicate the form he showed at Montpellier last season – 24 goals in 42 appearances then next season Arsenal could be considered a Premier League challenging side once more.

Right-Wing: Hatem Ben Arfa.

The player every opposing player dreads to defend against. Hatem Ben Arfa is up there with the best-dribblers in the game; he believes that if he had of concentrated in the earlier stages of his career he could of been rubbing shoulders with Lionel Messi. Real Madrid once scouted the Newcastle United playmaker and more recently Liverpool have been linked with the mercurial character. Throughout his career he has averaged a goal twice in every ten games – making him more of an attacking menace than Samir Nasri. The tightest of defences can be unlocked by Ben Arfa’s brilliance – which is why he deserves his place in the Premier League’s French XI.

When we were Kings: Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson. V. Jim Jefferies.

When we were Kings: Jack Johnson.
It is worth noting before I start this article: this is an improved re-upload telling the story of Jack Johnson an early 20th century boxer and the first African-American heavyweight Champion of the world.

ON the 26^th of December 1908; Boxing day truly became boxing day. It was a momentous occasion as a new heavyweight king ascended to the prestigious throne, and claimed his place amongst divine fighters: Langford, Jefferies and Corbett.

What made this occasion more significant was that the new heavyweight champion of the world was black. The first black heavyweight champion of the world – Jack Johnson.

Jack Johnson, born in 1878 to former slave parents, had been fighting since he was twelve years old; mainly bare-knuckle and for very little money, but enough to capture the attention of his now friend Joe Choynski – who noted ‘ A man like Johnson should never have to take a punch’. Chonyski, 40, helped turn Johnson professional after their 1901 bout. Johnson would soon ascend to the Heavyweight crown.

For as many as four years, a title shot eluded Johnson, he beat contender after contender, but his opportunity would never arrive. His race was what was holding back any chance of a title shot.  Former heavyweight champion – James J. Jefferies spoke of Johnson in poor regard, ‘As long as I live the heavyweight crown will never fall into the hands of an African-American’ he said to the press in 1906.

But with Jefferies’ retirement in 1906, a new heavyweight champion was crowned – Tommy Burns.  A hope emerged for Jack Johnson. A ray of hope that would cause controversy around the United States, but provide hope for the African-American nation.

Tommy Burns for the next two years would tour the world, fighting exhibitions: in London, Australia and France, and Johnson would follow. The media began to criticise Tommy Burns for ‘ducking’ Jack Johnson’s efforts to push a fight through. Johnson would buy ringside tickets to all of the champion’s fights, and he would regularly taunt the champion.

An interested Australian entrepreneur was watching the situation closely. Hugh McIntosh offered an astronomical sum of 7,500$ to the Champion if he would fight Johnson. The challenge was finally accepted.

December the 26^th 1908, 20,000 people flood into Rushcutters Bay to see the first mixed race title bout. The atmosphere was electric. Heart pounding. The white bigoted journalists had labelled Burns as the ‘Great white hope’ , and expected nothing more than a flawless victory for the Canadian.

Finally at 2:50pm, Jack Johnson entered the ring to a warm reception, sporting a fine white robe, standing 6ft1; five inches taller than his opponent.

Johnson’s goal was to dominate the fight from start to finish. He did just that. Johnson knocked down the Champion within a few minutes with a thunderous right hand. The Orthodox fighter was in a hungry mood. Burns was down for the count of eight, but eventually rose.

This sadly was the pattern of the fight. Johnson dominated, and even the most bloodthirsty fight fanatics, called for the fight to be stopped. Round 14. Johnson opened a barrage of attacks; the experienced 30 year old, attacked Burns with uppercuts, haymakers and anchor punches. The fight was stopped as the helpless Burns, was felled like a tree in the forest.

The camera’s stopped rolling as the Champion hit the canvas; a bittersweet feeling engulfed the arena. The bigoted racists faces turned sour. The Galveston Giant, at 30 years of age, had proved to the world: a black man could win the most prestigious throne in the world.

However; typical of the times, after the white Tommy Burns hit the canvas, Jack Johnson had to be guarded by his trainers, as angry fight fans stormed the boxing ring to confront the new champion.

Nonetheless, the title that had eluded Johnson for half a decade, was now in his clutches. Jack Johnson would return to America as more than a boxer, he would return as a symbol; a symbol of hope for all of his African-American nation.

During the next seven years, the Champion defeated challenger after challenger; many of the challengers being dubbed by journalists as ‘The Great White Hope’ due to their bigoted beliefs that they were superior to the African-American.

In 1910, Jack Johnson swept away any lingering doubts of his ability by defeating the former undefeated heavyweight champion of the world : James. J. Jefferies’ with ease. Jefferies earlier in his career was known to have ridiculed Johnson, and refused to fight him. But James Jefferies was seen as America’s ‘Great White Hope’ and was pushed into fighting his former-foe.

Jack Johnson, beat challenger after challenger, until 1915, when his reign ended prematurely, thanks to former fireman Jess Willard.

Nowadays, Jack Johnson is a forgotten figure. But if it had not been for his defiance in the face of racism and criticism, there may never of been boxers like Muhammad Ali or Joe Louis. Jack Johnson like any explorer treaded on land that had never seen his kind; he created waves and conflicts throughout America. He sparked the light and opened the door for future generations to live an easier life.

Out of his 114 fights, Jack Johnson won 80, drew 12 and lost 13; the other nine were no contests.  He boxed until his final years; a rarity in the boxing world. In 1946 he died, aged 68, after being turned away from a restaurant due to his skin colour, he angrily left the restaurant, crashed his car and died from the impact instantly.

 A tragic end, for an otherwise remarkable life.