Decline & Fall

UCL QFs

Its’ the UCL QFS this week, & the round of 16 saw a couple of shocks.
Real Madrid have now gone out in the last 16 for the 6th year in succession. In recent years they have been vulnerable defensively. The biggest mistake Real made in that time was not offering Claude Makele an improved contract. Since he left, they haven’t replaced him with a defensive midfielder of similar quality, & in fact since they sold him have never gone past the UCL QFs. Still, it defies belief to think a team with both Ronaldo & Kaka can’t get past the 1st knockout round.

Inter thwarted Abramovich's dreams of glory for another year. Once Inter had a first leg lead against Chelsea, if you were to bet on any side to keep a clean sheet, it would be a Mourinho team.

Barca & Man U, the betting favourites, are in opposite halves of the draw & I think will both get through, for a repeat of last year’s final.

Davis Cup Disaster

British tennis reached its nadir with the 3-2 Davis Cup loss to Lithuania. The contrast with the strength in depth of men’s tennis with the leading Euro nations (Spain, France, Germany) is obvious.

I don’t believe the common opinion that GB players fail as they tend to be middle class & so don’t have the hunger to succeed. Henman is from a comfortable middle class background & got to no. 4 in the world, & Murray is similar. British tennis is undoubtedly too elitist though. Two courts in the local park were taken over by the local tennis club (they can still be booked by the public through the club, but its hardly widely advertised). Widening the participation at grassroots level to reach more of those from less comfortable backgrounds cannot do any harm.

Apart from Murray, the womens side is healthier with both Baltacha & Keothavong reaching the main draw of Indian Wells this month; & the talents for the future of Laura Robson & Heather Watson (junior Wimbledon & US Open winners respectively)