Prem Title Race
Just when Man U were looking ominous for the title, they lost at Upton Park. Could Ronaldo's missed pen at 1-0 up prove to be a turning point ? Arsenal were flattered by a 4-1 away win at Everton, who were let down by defensive blunders. Surprisingly for a team known for their passing football, three of the Gunners' goals came from long punts into the penalty box.
Although Chelsea & Liverpool still have faint hopes, the title looks now to be a two-way fight between Wenger & Ferguson, whose teams who've dominated the Premier League, winning 12 of the 15 titles since the Prem was formed. United are still the bookies favourites for the title, and Arsenal will have to cope with losing three first team players to the African Nations Cup (Toure, Eboue & Adebayor). Man U don't have any African players so will be unaffected. Chelsea looked like they badly mised Lampard against Newcastle, and will lose Essien, Mikel, Kalou & of course the Drog to the African Cup.
Capello
Fabio Capello's appointment to the England job looks like a good move by the FA for once. He was the best qualified available candidate for the job. A serial winner of league titles, it is to be hoped he can bring success to the national team. Capello is known for being a pragmatist who favours results over playing attractive football, in this respect he is similar to Eriksson. Perhaps he differs from Sven in not picking players on their reputations, which was something the Swede was accused of during his time as England coach. Capello famously castigated Ronaldo at Real Madrid for being overweight. He also dropped Beckham, although in a recent interview in The Observer, Roberto Carlos expressed his belief that this decision had been made by the chairman rather than Capello. In any case, if Capello cannot choose the players & formation to make England successful, then no-one can.
The Rocket
Ronnie O'Sullivan won the UK Championhip two weeks ago. Surprisingly, it was his first ranking tournament win for 32 months, although he had won the Masters in the intervening time. The Masters, being an invitational, doesnt count as a ranking tournament. Many fans, including me, empathise with The Rocket for his sublime talent, which is sometimes undermined by his temperament. Last year he walked out of the same tournament when trailing Hendry 4-1. The highlight of his tournament win has to be the 147 maximum he produced in the final frame decider (!) of the semi with Mark Selby.
Monday 31 December 2007
Saturday 15 December 2007
Pretty Boy Walks the Walk
Hatton v Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather proved he's not rated the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world for nothing. The Pretty boy dominated the fight before knocking out Hatton in the tenth. I had thought Mayweather would win on points by boxing at long range & on the retreat. But he put on a masterclass. He is now unquestionably one of the best boxers of the last ten years or so, along with other greats such as Roy Jones, De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins & Calzaghe. I think Hatton should take one more big money fight against the 'Golden Boy', Oscar De La Hoya, and then retire.
Premiership & Champions League
If sport was easily predictable, bookies would have a hard time. As it is, a fair share of shock results keeps them in profit, & the punters miserable. In the past two weeks, Arsenal could only draw with Newcastle & lost to Boro, & Liverpool lost at Reading. All 3 victors were on long odds to win.
Liverpool needed a win in Marseilles to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League. The Reds added to their glorious history of overcoming adversity in Europe - St Etienne 1977, Olympiakos & Istanbul in 2005, with a thumping 4-0 win which put them through on Wednesday. However, as group runners-up they are guaranteed strong opposition from one of the Italian or Spanish group winners in the next round.
Euro 2008 draw
Talk about the ultimate 'group of death'. Every major tournament normally has one, but Euro 2008 Group C takes the biscuit: Italy, France, Holland & Romania. The two finalists from the last World Cup; Holland are currently FIFA world-ranked 9 & Romania 13. The Euro 2008 draw was skewed by the co-hosts, Austria & Switzerland, being placed in the top 'pot'.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Joe Calzaghe was the deserved winner of the BBC award, having beaten the previously undefeated Dane, Mikkel Kessler (now 39-1) to become the undisputed no. 1 at Super-Middle. Currently 3 Brits are rated no. 1 in their weight divisions by boxing experts (including the Ring magazine, 'The Bible of boxing' ),which is surely unprecedented. Calzaghe at Super-Middle, Haye at Cruiser, & Hatton at Light-Welter (he moved up a division to fight Mayweather).
British boxing has perhaps never been stronger, with such strength in depth at one time. In the amateur ranks, British boxing also looks in rude health, several boxers having already qualified for Beijing 2008, and Frankie Gavin (Lightweight) became the first Brit to win gold at the Worlds in November. Amir Khan looks an excellent prospect for a world title. khan defended his Commonwealth Lightweight title last Saturday, knocking out Graham Earl in 72 seconds. Earl was overwhelmed by the speed & ferocity of Khan, it was the most impressive quick title win i can remember since Tyson destroyed Spinks in 1988.
Floyd Mayweather proved he's not rated the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world for nothing. The Pretty boy dominated the fight before knocking out Hatton in the tenth. I had thought Mayweather would win on points by boxing at long range & on the retreat. But he put on a masterclass. He is now unquestionably one of the best boxers of the last ten years or so, along with other greats such as Roy Jones, De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins & Calzaghe. I think Hatton should take one more big money fight against the 'Golden Boy', Oscar De La Hoya, and then retire.
Premiership & Champions League
If sport was easily predictable, bookies would have a hard time. As it is, a fair share of shock results keeps them in profit, & the punters miserable. In the past two weeks, Arsenal could only draw with Newcastle & lost to Boro, & Liverpool lost at Reading. All 3 victors were on long odds to win.
Liverpool needed a win in Marseilles to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League. The Reds added to their glorious history of overcoming adversity in Europe - St Etienne 1977, Olympiakos & Istanbul in 2005, with a thumping 4-0 win which put them through on Wednesday. However, as group runners-up they are guaranteed strong opposition from one of the Italian or Spanish group winners in the next round.
Euro 2008 draw
Talk about the ultimate 'group of death'. Every major tournament normally has one, but Euro 2008 Group C takes the biscuit: Italy, France, Holland & Romania. The two finalists from the last World Cup; Holland are currently FIFA world-ranked 9 & Romania 13. The Euro 2008 draw was skewed by the co-hosts, Austria & Switzerland, being placed in the top 'pot'.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Joe Calzaghe was the deserved winner of the BBC award, having beaten the previously undefeated Dane, Mikkel Kessler (now 39-1) to become the undisputed no. 1 at Super-Middle. Currently 3 Brits are rated no. 1 in their weight divisions by boxing experts (including the Ring magazine, 'The Bible of boxing' ),which is surely unprecedented. Calzaghe at Super-Middle, Haye at Cruiser, & Hatton at Light-Welter (he moved up a division to fight Mayweather).
British boxing has perhaps never been stronger, with such strength in depth at one time. In the amateur ranks, British boxing also looks in rude health, several boxers having already qualified for Beijing 2008, and Frankie Gavin (Lightweight) became the first Brit to win gold at the Worlds in November. Amir Khan looks an excellent prospect for a world title. khan defended his Commonwealth Lightweight title last Saturday, knocking out Graham Earl in 72 seconds. Earl was overwhelmed by the speed & ferocity of Khan, it was the most impressive quick title win i can remember since Tyson destroyed Spinks in 1988.
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