Germany arguably do not have more talented players than England, but they consistently outperform us in the big tournaments. If only England had their mentality. Players like Klose are of the same generation as Lampard & Gerrard, but they have delivered when it matters. Everyone knows Germany’s World Cup record is awesome, but their recent tournament record is exceptional. Apart from Euro 2004, where they didnt get out of the group stage, they over-achieved to reach the 2002 final; then semis in 2006 (though with home advantage) ,runners-up at Euro 2008 & now semis again. Their 4-0 win over Argentina makes the English defeat look slightly better. Once again they were able to soak up pressure & were devastating on the counter.
I expected Brazil to beat Spain in the final, but they self-destructed against Holland. Still no African team has reached a WC semi-final.
No-one could have predicted both France, & the holders Italy, going out at the group stage, & both finishing bottom of their groups.
Wimbledon
In November I was at the O2 for the Masters & saw Djokovic comfortably take care of Nadal. In fact Rafa lost all his matches in straight sets. So it’s quite incredible how he has regained the no. 1 spot & again done the French-Wimbledon double. At the moment, it;’s difficult to see anyone challenging him (maybe Del Potro, if he can regain his previous level after wrist surgery)
, & assuming his knees hold up, he can set his sights on Federer’s record no. of Slams, he’s already half-way there with 8 majors.
Many commentators are wondering whether its time to start writing Federer's obituary. His incredible streak of 23 consecutive Slam semis having been broken, he's now made two Slam QF exits in a row. I'm not writing him off though, & am expecting to bounce back at the US hardcourt season & the US Open.
Andy Murray came up short in the semi v Rafa. Nadal played the big points better- taking the only break point in the 1st set, but he also benefited from a net cord in the 2nd set tiebreak. Murray is very close to winning a Slam but i do wonder if his groundstrokes are big enough.-he can’t blast opponents off the court like Soderling or Berdych. The latter is someone whose low ranking i always found a puzzle, considering he has wins over Roger & Rafa. But this year he's finally broken into the top ten, reaching the French semis & the final here at SW19.
Laura Robson, ranked 234 prior to Wimbledon, again put up a good fight against a much higher ranked opponent (no. 4 Jankovic) but lost in straight sets. I was surprised to read an article in the Guardian that Wozniacki is the only teenager currently in the top 25. The WTA top 20 average is 26, 5 years older than it was in 1990. Many prodigies in the womens game have won slams/cracked the top ten at an early age-Capriati, Seles, Graf, Hingis, Sabatini, Sanchez-Vicario, the Williamses etc. But lately with the Williams sisters, the Belgians coming out of retirement, the top players are extending their careers into their late twenties & beyond. With her talent I think Robson can make top 50 at the least, & with the higher average age of the top players, has time on her side.
Monday, 5 July 2010
Sunday, 28 March 2010
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)
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)
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Return of the Ronster
This is my first post in ages-long hiatus due to buying & moving into a flat…
After years of total domination by the Big Four, this year's Premiership has been a welcome change with the increased competition. Man City, Villa & Spurs are threatening the established pecking order. Vila have beaten Liverpool, Man U & Chelsea this season. The so-called lesser sides have also taken points off the Big Four- Wigan, Burnley. The result is that with 20 games played Man U have already lost 5 games. But they have suffered badly with injuries to their defence. Chelsea could lose points with Essien, Drogba & Mikel away at the African Cup., Meanwhile Arsenal have capitalised on recent slip-ups by Chels & MU , with 5 wins & a draw since the 3-0 home loss to Chelsea, but then were held to a draw by Everton. Liverpool have a lot of work to do just to get into the last Champions League spot. I’m still sticking by my pre-season prediction that the title will be between Chelsea & MU, with the Blues edging it.
The FA Cup Third round saw no upsets on the Saturday. Then United lost to Leeds on the Sunday, & Liverpool lost their replay to Reading. It’s the first time in 50 years both teams have gone out in R3.
Australian Open
Andy Murray, seeded 5, has a tough draw- Nadal in the quarters & then potentially Del Potro in the semi. Will Federer reach an incedible 23rd consecutive (!!) Slam semi. He’s seeded to meet Davydenko in the quarters, who recently broke his duck against Roger & has now beaten him twice on the trot; after that Djokovic is seeded for the semi.
Clijsters & Henin contested the Brisbane final, Clijsters winning the 3rd set breaker. I think these two will be a familiar sight in the next few years playing each other in the semis & finals of the Slams. Henin has a tricky draw, & will probably face Dementieva in the 2nd round. The Russian is probably the fittest player on the womens tour, & Henin could suffer with the heat, given that Melbourne had a record high night temperature this week.
Tips for the titles: Clijsters & Del Potro.
After years of total domination by the Big Four, this year's Premiership has been a welcome change with the increased competition. Man City, Villa & Spurs are threatening the established pecking order. Vila have beaten Liverpool, Man U & Chelsea this season. The so-called lesser sides have also taken points off the Big Four- Wigan, Burnley. The result is that with 20 games played Man U have already lost 5 games. But they have suffered badly with injuries to their defence. Chelsea could lose points with Essien, Drogba & Mikel away at the African Cup., Meanwhile Arsenal have capitalised on recent slip-ups by Chels & MU , with 5 wins & a draw since the 3-0 home loss to Chelsea, but then were held to a draw by Everton. Liverpool have a lot of work to do just to get into the last Champions League spot. I’m still sticking by my pre-season prediction that the title will be between Chelsea & MU, with the Blues edging it.
The FA Cup Third round saw no upsets on the Saturday. Then United lost to Leeds on the Sunday, & Liverpool lost their replay to Reading. It’s the first time in 50 years both teams have gone out in R3.
Australian Open
Andy Murray, seeded 5, has a tough draw- Nadal in the quarters & then potentially Del Potro in the semi. Will Federer reach an incedible 23rd consecutive (!!) Slam semi. He’s seeded to meet Davydenko in the quarters, who recently broke his duck against Roger & has now beaten him twice on the trot; after that Djokovic is seeded for the semi.
Clijsters & Henin contested the Brisbane final, Clijsters winning the 3rd set breaker. I think these two will be a familiar sight in the next few years playing each other in the semis & finals of the Slams. Henin has a tricky draw, & will probably face Dementieva in the 2nd round. The Russian is probably the fittest player on the womens tour, & Henin could suffer with the heat, given that Melbourne had a record high night temperature this week.
Tips for the titles: Clijsters & Del Potro.
Sunday, 27 September 2009
The Belgians
I'm feeling smug: I tipped Kim Clijsters for the top 5 & to be a Slam contender in my 18 Aug blog. I never expected her to win the US Open, but who did, in only her third comeback tournament ? I was also musing how great it would be if Henin came back as well. Guess what ? This week Henin called a press conference to announce her comeback. Henin said Clijster's’ success was only a small part of her decision to unretire, though announcing it only a week after the US Open suggests it played a much larger part in her decision than she is letting on.
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Fakers & Cheats
No-one likes to lose, from amateur to professional. When the desire or need to win is overwhelming then the temptation to cheat can increase, but the viewing public expects professional sport to be played in a fair spirit. This week has seen two high profile cases when the line has been crossed.
The Harlequins 'Bloodgate' scandal was a premeditated (though bungled) attempt to cheat which was planned by the Director of Rugby, Dean Richards. The ERC hearing even revealed that the same blood capsule ruse had been tried by Harlequins twice before but hadn't worked as the capsules were swallowed & dropped respectively.
I'm an Arsenal fan but I thought Eduardo definitely dived against Celtic. Diving has been in the game for years- Franny Lee springs to mind-but diving seems more prevalent now because of the widespread TV coverage. UEFA' s retrospective action was justified but will they now apply similar punishments to all instances of cheating & violent conduct which are missed by the officials in games under their jurisdiction ?
Saturday, 15 August 2009
New Season
My predictions for the Premiership:
This year again, only the Big Four can win the title. Man City's squad seems top-heavy with strikers & they will need to massively improve on their away form from last season. They will get some good results but i can't see them being consistent enough. Arsenal have talent & the promise of youngsters like Wilshere for the future. Their midfield looks too lightweight to me, they need someone in the Viera mould who can boss the midfield. Liverpool will up at the top again this year, but they lack adequate cover for Torres. Which leaves the usual suspects: Man U & Chelsea. Man U are bound to miss Ronaldo's goals & assists, though they will hardly be struggling for goals with Rooney, Berbatov & Owen. Chelsea can grind out the title, but it will be close, by not more than 5 points.
WTA & ATP
Kim Clijsters' first tournament since her comeback ended with a QF loss in Cincinnati to world no. 1 Safina, a great effort. Clijsters looks like a sure bet to return to the top five & be a Slam contender again. If only her fellow Belgian Justine Henin is now tempted to come out of retirement, it would be fantastic for the womens' game.
Andy Muray has a chance today to overtake Nadal as world no. 2. Rafa lost in the Montreal QFs to del Potro, Murray plays Tsonga (who beat Federer in the quarters) in the semi, if AM wins he'll be the new world no. 2.
This year again, only the Big Four can win the title. Man City's squad seems top-heavy with strikers & they will need to massively improve on their away form from last season. They will get some good results but i can't see them being consistent enough. Arsenal have talent & the promise of youngsters like Wilshere for the future. Their midfield looks too lightweight to me, they need someone in the Viera mould who can boss the midfield. Liverpool will up at the top again this year, but they lack adequate cover for Torres. Which leaves the usual suspects: Man U & Chelsea. Man U are bound to miss Ronaldo's goals & assists, though they will hardly be struggling for goals with Rooney, Berbatov & Owen. Chelsea can grind out the title, but it will be close, by not more than 5 points.
WTA & ATP
Kim Clijsters' first tournament since her comeback ended with a QF loss in Cincinnati to world no. 1 Safina, a great effort. Clijsters looks like a sure bet to return to the top five & be a Slam contender again. If only her fellow Belgian Justine Henin is now tempted to come out of retirement, it would be fantastic for the womens' game.
Andy Muray has a chance today to overtake Nadal as world no. 2. Rafa lost in the Montreal QFs to del Potro, Murray plays Tsonga (who beat Federer in the quarters) in the semi, if AM wins he'll be the new world no. 2.
Friday, 17 July 2009
Tour De Force
Tour de France
This is one of the most exciting tours for years. Recently drug scandals have sapped my enthusiasm, but this year was much anticipated with the return of Armstrong, and it hasn't disappointed. Armstrong is not in the same form as in his record seven tour wins but is certainly capable of a top ten finish. Contador remains the favourite. Mark Cavendish has demonstrated again he's clearly the best sprinter in the world, & if he can survive the Alps must be favourite to hold on to the green jersey. Bradley Wiggins has been a revelation, showing himself to be one of the rarest of species, a Brit who can live with the top contenders over the high mountain peaks. Wiggins is 5th in GC, if he can hang on in the Alps, he is excellent bet for a podium finish with his time-trialing ability.
This is one of the most exciting tours for years. Recently drug scandals have sapped my enthusiasm, but this year was much anticipated with the return of Armstrong, and it hasn't disappointed. Armstrong is not in the same form as in his record seven tour wins but is certainly capable of a top ten finish. Contador remains the favourite. Mark Cavendish has demonstrated again he's clearly the best sprinter in the world, & if he can survive the Alps must be favourite to hold on to the green jersey. Bradley Wiggins has been a revelation, showing himself to be one of the rarest of species, a Brit who can live with the top contenders over the high mountain peaks. Wiggins is 5th in GC, if he can hang on in the Alps, he is excellent bet for a podium finish with his time-trialing ability.
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