Champions League
One of the tasks AVB was given by Abramovich was to overhaul the Chelsea squad, including ageing stars like Drogba & Lampard. However, the old guard, especially Drogba weighing in with vital goals, have been instrumental in Chelsea's recent return to top form. Having looked dead & buried in the last 16 v Napoli, they have now beaten the mighty Barca with only ten men for over 50 minutes of the SF second leg, & reached two cup finals.
Performance of the Month
Bubba Watson, who promptly burst into tears after sinking the winning putt which clinched his first major at the Masters.
Honourable mentions:
Chelsea.
Real Madrid, who inflicted Barca's first home defeat for 54 matches with a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu, & so took a seemingly insurmountable seven point lead in La Liga.
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Operation Grand Slam
My pre-tournament tip, Wales, deservedly took their third Six Nations Grand Slam in eight years.With only three players over the age of 30, they could dominate for some years.
England, who I thought would end up in the bottom half, finished up as runners-up; & in Owen Farrell may have found a dead-eyed kicker in the Wilkinson mould.
France will look to rebound next year from a disappointing 4th place.
Federer back in Form
Roger Federer showed he is still a force to be reckoned with, winning Rotterdam, Dubai, and Indian Wells. Until he lost in Miami it looked like he was on track to regain the world no. 1 ranking, amazingly, at the age of 30. It's still possible, as Djokovic has a huge amount of ranking points to defend this season, but the Fed would need to win a couple of tournaments in the upcoming clay court swing. Also, I still think in the best of five sets matches at the Slams, he will come unstuck against a top eight opponent.
Performance of the Month (Feb & March)
Wales.
Honourable mentions:
Federer.
The GB women 4 x 400 m relay squad, who won the 1st ever GB gold in the event, at the World Indoors.
Brad Wiggins, who became the first Brit since Tom Simpson to win the Paris-Nice stage race.
Vika Azarenka, who lost her 27 match win streak to Bartoli in Miami this week.
Quote of the Month
There is no script in sports, you know. I think that's what makes it the best entertainment in the world.
Andy Roddick, after beating Federer for only the third time in 24 meetings.
England, who I thought would end up in the bottom half, finished up as runners-up; & in Owen Farrell may have found a dead-eyed kicker in the Wilkinson mould.
France will look to rebound next year from a disappointing 4th place.
Federer back in Form
Roger Federer showed he is still a force to be reckoned with, winning Rotterdam, Dubai, and Indian Wells. Until he lost in Miami it looked like he was on track to regain the world no. 1 ranking, amazingly, at the age of 30. It's still possible, as Djokovic has a huge amount of ranking points to defend this season, but the Fed would need to win a couple of tournaments in the upcoming clay court swing. Also, I still think in the best of five sets matches at the Slams, he will come unstuck against a top eight opponent.
Performance of the Month (Feb & March)
Wales.
Honourable mentions:
Federer.
The GB women 4 x 400 m relay squad, who won the 1st ever GB gold in the event, at the World Indoors.
Brad Wiggins, who became the first Brit since Tom Simpson to win the Paris-Nice stage race.
Vika Azarenka, who lost her 27 match win streak to Bartoli in Miami this week.
Quote of the Month
There is no script in sports, you know. I think that's what makes it the best entertainment in the world.
Andy Roddick, after beating Federer for only the third time in 24 meetings.
Saturday, 3 March 2012
England Eclipsed
Champions League
With Chelsea & Arsenal facing first leg deficits of 3-1 & 4-0 respectively, it's looking highly likely there will be no English team in the QFs for the fist time since 1996. From 2007-9, English teams made up three of the four semi-finalists, with an-all English final in 2008. United were also runners-up to Barca last year & in 2009. So why are English clubs no longer dominant ? The other side of the coin is the opposition getting stronger. Barcelona have set a new level of excellence in recent years, & Real Madrid are perhaps Barca's closest challengers. So last season Barca accounted for Arsenal as well as Man U, while Madrid knocked out Spurs. In the last few seasons English sides have had the better of the Italians but this year Serie A have turned the tables, assuming the London clubs can't pull off miracle comebacks.
The question is whether this is set to last, or will English teams mount a strong challenge next season. I think they will. Man U will surely bounce back after their nightmare European season, although they need reinforcements in midfield for the vets: Giggs & the unretired Scholes. Man City you would expect to have a decent run after a difficult first campaign. Spurs are the only other team you can be fairly sure will qualify, with the 4th place being far too close to call at the moment. If Redknapp takes the England national team post, I wouldn't like to tip how well Spurs will do until seeing their new manager.
With Chelsea & Arsenal facing first leg deficits of 3-1 & 4-0 respectively, it's looking highly likely there will be no English team in the QFs for the fist time since 1996. From 2007-9, English teams made up three of the four semi-finalists, with an-all English final in 2008. United were also runners-up to Barca last year & in 2009. So why are English clubs no longer dominant ? The other side of the coin is the opposition getting stronger. Barcelona have set a new level of excellence in recent years, & Real Madrid are perhaps Barca's closest challengers. So last season Barca accounted for Arsenal as well as Man U, while Madrid knocked out Spurs. In the last few seasons English sides have had the better of the Italians but this year Serie A have turned the tables, assuming the London clubs can't pull off miracle comebacks.
The question is whether this is set to last, or will English teams mount a strong challenge next season. I think they will. Man U will surely bounce back after their nightmare European season, although they need reinforcements in midfield for the vets: Giggs & the unretired Scholes. Man City you would expect to have a decent run after a difficult first campaign. Spurs are the only other team you can be fairly sure will qualify, with the 4th place being far too close to call at the moment. If Redknapp takes the England national team post, I wouldn't like to tip how well Spurs will do until seeing their new manager.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Marathon Man
January review
Novak Djokovic, after a semi v Murray lasting nearly five hours , had the iron will to overcome fatigue and take the Australian Open title in the longest Slam final in history (5 hr 53 min). That it was against Nadal, by common consent the fittest player on the Tour, made it even more of a feat . Rafa had also had the luxury of an extra day's rest & a shorter four set semi v Federer.
Djokovic's mental strength was typified for me by the ninth game of the final set. He lost an exhausting 31-shot rally, but went on to win the game.
Some experts have been quick to put the match up there with the all-time great finals, like Wimbledon 2008 (Federer-Nadal) & 1980 (Borg-McEnroe). it was definitely a great match, but the lack of net play is a slight negative. Time will tell whether it deserves to be ranked that highly.
Murray can take heart from coming back from 2-5 down in the fifth set of the semi before eventually succumbing to defeat (7-5). He pushed Djokovic much closer than the straight sets reverse of last year's final.
The womens final was a let down by comparison, turning out to be disappointingly one-sided, as Sharapova won only three games. Azarenka won her first major, & in stark contrast to the men, where the top three players have monopolised the Slams, the last four majors have had first time winners (Stosur, Li Na, Kvitova, Azarenka). I think the latter two will vie for the no.1 ranking over the next few years.
Performance of the Month
There can only be one-Djokovic.
Six Nations Rugby
Before an oval ball was kicked I tipped Wales. They have pace, power & youth in the backs. The Welsh can win the key fixture, home to France, & do the Grand Slam.
Novak Djokovic, after a semi v Murray lasting nearly five hours , had the iron will to overcome fatigue and take the Australian Open title in the longest Slam final in history (5 hr 53 min). That it was against Nadal, by common consent the fittest player on the Tour, made it even more of a feat . Rafa had also had the luxury of an extra day's rest & a shorter four set semi v Federer.
Djokovic's mental strength was typified for me by the ninth game of the final set. He lost an exhausting 31-shot rally, but went on to win the game.
Some experts have been quick to put the match up there with the all-time great finals, like Wimbledon 2008 (Federer-Nadal) & 1980 (Borg-McEnroe). it was definitely a great match, but the lack of net play is a slight negative. Time will tell whether it deserves to be ranked that highly.
Murray can take heart from coming back from 2-5 down in the fifth set of the semi before eventually succumbing to defeat (7-5). He pushed Djokovic much closer than the straight sets reverse of last year's final.
The womens final was a let down by comparison, turning out to be disappointingly one-sided, as Sharapova won only three games. Azarenka won her first major, & in stark contrast to the men, where the top three players have monopolised the Slams, the last four majors have had first time winners (Stosur, Li Na, Kvitova, Azarenka). I think the latter two will vie for the no.1 ranking over the next few years.
Performance of the Month
There can only be one-Djokovic.
Six Nations Rugby
Before an oval ball was kicked I tipped Wales. They have pace, power & youth in the backs. The Welsh can win the key fixture, home to France, & do the Grand Slam.
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Manchester Ambitions Reined In
December review
Champions League
The group stage has seen shock exits for Man U & Man City. When United were at their peak, teams from the smaller European leagues like Benfica & Basle would have been swept aside by a comfortable margin at Old Trafford. This season, two home draws against those teams cost them. Man City had a much tougher group, & couldn’t get the better of Bayern & Napoli.
Pundits like Keane & Southgate, in a snap reaction after Man U’s exit, talked of a team in transition. I thought it was premature at the time, & so it’s proved, with them now level on points with City at the top of the Prem. It looks like the title race will go all the way, so far United are coping with the injuries to the likes of Vidic & Jones. However, to go from UCL runners-up to a group stage exit in a year, is still a disaster for them.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have underlined their status as favourites again, with a crushing 4-0 win over Santos in the World Club Cup as well as beating Real 3-1 at the Bernabeu in La Liga.
The draw for the Europa League will have given further ammunition to the conspiracy theorists who believe Platini has an anti-English basis. The draws for Man U & City of Ajax & Porto respectively, are the toughest possible ties.
One of the greats of Braziilan football died last month. Socrates played in two world cups; & the 1982 side of Zico, Falcao, Junior, Eder, is widely thought of as one of the best teams not to have the won the World Cup.
Perfomance of the Year
Novak Djokovic. He went on a 41 match win streak this year, & won three of the four Slams, as well as a setting a new record of five Masters titles in a season. Although his season tailed off slightly with a back injury taking its toll (two retirements) & he finished with a 70-6 win loss record, it was still a standout performance.
Honourable mentions for Cadel Evans, Mark Cavendish, the All Blacks & the England cricket team.
Champions League
The group stage has seen shock exits for Man U & Man City. When United were at their peak, teams from the smaller European leagues like Benfica & Basle would have been swept aside by a comfortable margin at Old Trafford. This season, two home draws against those teams cost them. Man City had a much tougher group, & couldn’t get the better of Bayern & Napoli.
Pundits like Keane & Southgate, in a snap reaction after Man U’s exit, talked of a team in transition. I thought it was premature at the time, & so it’s proved, with them now level on points with City at the top of the Prem. It looks like the title race will go all the way, so far United are coping with the injuries to the likes of Vidic & Jones. However, to go from UCL runners-up to a group stage exit in a year, is still a disaster for them.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have underlined their status as favourites again, with a crushing 4-0 win over Santos in the World Club Cup as well as beating Real 3-1 at the Bernabeu in La Liga.
The draw for the Europa League will have given further ammunition to the conspiracy theorists who believe Platini has an anti-English basis. The draws for Man U & City of Ajax & Porto respectively, are the toughest possible ties.
One of the greats of Braziilan football died last month. Socrates played in two world cups; & the 1982 side of Zico, Falcao, Junior, Eder, is widely thought of as one of the best teams not to have the won the World Cup.
Perfomance of the Year
Novak Djokovic. He went on a 41 match win streak this year, & won three of the four Slams, as well as a setting a new record of five Masters titles in a season. Although his season tailed off slightly with a back injury taking its toll (two retirements) & he finished with a 70-6 win loss record, it was still a standout performance.
Honourable mentions for Cadel Evans, Mark Cavendish, the All Blacks & the England cricket team.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Youth vs Experience
November review
UEFA Euro 2012
Talk about the commentators' curse. In my October blog I'd been praising Spain to the rafters, but an experimental England XI beat them 1-0. In this & the Sweden game we saw the promise of youngsters like Rodwell & Jones. We've been here before of course, it's one thing having good results in friendlies & qualifying, but can they deliver at the business end of a major tournament ? The first game against France will be crucial. If England win the group they would avoid Spain (assuming the Spaniards win their group) in the quarters. I think the semis is the best England can hope for.
ATP World Tour Finals
Roger Federer won the ATP Masters for a record sixth time. I think the shorter format (best of 3 sets) suited him. At the Slams, with the best of 5 set matches, I think fatigue can be a issue and the younger guys will still prevent him from winning a 17th major. Both Tsonga & Djokovic beat him this year from 2 sets down, something that Roger had suffered only once before, in Davis Cup (2003) to Hewitt.
Frazier & Lyle
Last month saw the passing of two great heavies, Joe Frazier & Ron Lyle. They fought in the golden age of the heavyweight division, the 1970's, an era packed with quality: Ali, Foreman, Frazier, Larry Holmes, Earnie Shavers, Jerry Quarry, Lyle. This is in stark contrast to the current situation where Eastern European fighters dominate. Sadly there is no statue of Frazier in his native city of Philadelphia despite his achievements-only one of Rocky Balboa.
Performance of the Month
Federer for winning at the O2, his 70th career tournament title.
UEFA Euro 2012
Talk about the commentators' curse. In my October blog I'd been praising Spain to the rafters, but an experimental England XI beat them 1-0. In this & the Sweden game we saw the promise of youngsters like Rodwell & Jones. We've been here before of course, it's one thing having good results in friendlies & qualifying, but can they deliver at the business end of a major tournament ? The first game against France will be crucial. If England win the group they would avoid Spain (assuming the Spaniards win their group) in the quarters. I think the semis is the best England can hope for.
ATP World Tour Finals
Roger Federer won the ATP Masters for a record sixth time. I think the shorter format (best of 3 sets) suited him. At the Slams, with the best of 5 set matches, I think fatigue can be a issue and the younger guys will still prevent him from winning a 17th major. Both Tsonga & Djokovic beat him this year from 2 sets down, something that Roger had suffered only once before, in Davis Cup (2003) to Hewitt.
Frazier & Lyle
Last month saw the passing of two great heavies, Joe Frazier & Ron Lyle. They fought in the golden age of the heavyweight division, the 1970's, an era packed with quality: Ali, Foreman, Frazier, Larry Holmes, Earnie Shavers, Jerry Quarry, Lyle. This is in stark contrast to the current situation where Eastern European fighters dominate. Sadly there is no statue of Frazier in his native city of Philadelphia despite his achievements-only one of Rocky Balboa.
Performance of the Month
Federer for winning at the O2, his 70th career tournament title.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Long White Cloud Lifted
Rugby Word Cup
The RWC semis were compelling viewing, especially the first. Wales, despite playing a man down for 60 minutes, scored the only try and were inches away from beating France (Halfpenny's penalty attempt crept agonisingly under the bar).
The emotion of the haka seemed even stronger in this tournament than normal. The electrifying new version featured the players dropping to one knee at dramatic intervals, and a final gesture of hanging the opponent. It was great theatre. The stadium would fall silent for the performance, only punctuating the gaps in the chanting with cheers.
The NZ win the final put an end to 24 years of hurt. The losses of past tournaments were sometimes due to choking under the pressure of expectation as the favourites, on one occasion(1995) an infamous case of alleged food poisoning was blamed.
The All Blacks winning feels like the natural order of things has been restored, like Brazil winning the (football) world cup. In both countries it is a viewed as a total disaster if they don't win the respective quadrennial competition. They don’t get any plaudits back home for a gallant loss in the semis.
Perfomance of the Month-October
It has to be NZ, for getting the monkey off their back after 24 years.
Honourable mention: Andy Murray who won in Shanghai, his 3rd title in a row (including Tokyo where he beat Nadal), to overtake Federer as world no. 3.
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