tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38443266739746680192024-02-07T05:50:40.143+00:00Student Sports ViewScott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-66008863478077163242011-04-27T21:55:00.009+01:002011-04-27T22:38:19.764+01:00Real Madrid 0 vs 2 Barcelona<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGFKX6UiysIIljuGgbGnT-6lvJ-9bl6yzBUNMuqdsWObNKS2kVKkJ1AxgbomUP9l4K2Ow_N-dTM4t5v7c27t9Qs8mCj8uAVLbRAKRd9I3lmXdz_cLMe8iP42bAdfupkOauF5BpOAmkHhO/s1600/_52375566_011845407-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGFKX6UiysIIljuGgbGnT-6lvJ-9bl6yzBUNMuqdsWObNKS2kVKkJ1AxgbomUP9l4K2Ow_N-dTM4t5v7c27t9Qs8mCj8uAVLbRAKRd9I3lmXdz_cLMe8iP42bAdfupkOauF5BpOAmkHhO/s400/_52375566_011845407-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600370994226860258" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday 27<sup>th</sup> April 2011 - Champions League Semi Final 1<sup>st</sup> Leg</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A little piece of magic from Lionel Messi has given Barcelona one huge foot in next months Champions League final at Wembley. A brace from the Argentinian, following a straight red card for Real Madrid’s Pepe, was the difference between Madrid and Barcelona in their Champions League Semi Final 1<sup>st</sup> Leg at the Bernabeu.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In what could only be described as an ugly match which produced more petty squabbles than clear cut chances, it was a piece of sheer brilliance that rubber stamped Barcelona’s dominance of their domestic rivals.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Before the game at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, it was the usual ‘Jose Mourinho show’, with a war of words between the two managers coming to the boil the day before the game.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mourinho, a master of the mind games, had his opposite number, Pep Guardiola, uncharacteristically spitting feathers in his pre-match interview with the press. Following Barcelona’s somewhat comfortable victory tonight in Madrid, it was Mourinho who looked lost for words come the final whistle. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With a second leg, and a fourth meeting in 16 days, to come next week at the Nou Camp, this match between the two giants of Spanish football was never going to be an expansive show of class and quality.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unlike Barcelona’s 5-0 thumping of Real earlier in the season, this was always going to be more a-kin to the most recent El Clasico, in the Copa Del Rey final just seven nights ago. On that occasion Real were the victors 1-0, and it was more of the same from the outset this evening. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The first half was a cagey, tense and sometimes lifeless affair, which was only broken up with outbreaks of en-mass arguments between players on both sides, and the German referee, Wolfgang Stark.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Barcelona, who passed Arsenal to death earlier in the campaign, toyed with their most recent conquerors, securing the bulk of the first half possession, keeping the ball at arms-length for most of the opening exchanges.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Occasionally Madrid were allowed brief forays with the ball, but were unable to create any clear cut chances, with the only real chance in the early stages falling to Barcelona’s Xavi.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Following a delightful through ball from the mercurial Messi, Xavi found himself with time and space to get a shot away just inside the Real box, forcing a smart save, low to his left, from Real goalkeeper Ike Casillas.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This, though, was to be the only action of note in what was a dull first half of football, right up until added on time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A speculative effort from Ronaldo in injury time was spilled by Victor Valdes straight to the feet of German World Cup star, Mezut Ozil, who, from 10 yards out, could only find the legs of Valdes with his follow up. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With the half time whistle falling on a tetchy first half of football, the petty tone of the match descended on the players’ tunnel, with yet another melee breaking out between players, staff and security. Barcelona’s substitute goalkeeper Pinto was sent off as a result.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The second half began where the first had left off, quiet and lifeless with no chances of note. Then, with an hour on the clock, the game was sparked into life with a dubious, and technically second, straight red card. This time pointed in the direction of Madrid’s Brazilian-born centre half, Pepe.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pepe, who was also sent off in the Copa Del Rey final last week, was given his marching orders again, this time for a high foot which caught Barcelona’s Daniel Alves on the knee after they’d both gone for a loose ball.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The incident was followed by a swarm of red and blue shirts heading in the direction of referee Stark, and whether that influenced the referee or not, the dismissal seemed harsh.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A third sending off was to follow, as in the aftermath Mourinho said a little too much to the fourth official and found himself sat in the stands moments later.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Barcelona, with their extra man, began to turn the screw and almost grabbed a vital away goal minutes after the sending off.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Xavi, picking up the ball from midfield, drove forward finding striker David Villa in space on the left hand side. A simple slide-rule ball presented a golden shooting chance for Villa whose snap shot was saved well by Casillas, only for the ball to be punched straight against the head of Villa’s strike partner Pedro, leaving the Spanish number one stranded as the ball floated past the post. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was a brief stay of execution however, as with 15 minutes left on the watch, Barcelona made their numerical advantage count, grabbing a priceless away goal.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Xavi, who was involved in everything as he always is, under pressure from Lassana Diarra was able to find Affelay on the right wing, with the Dutchman’s jinking run allowing enough space to hit a low hard cross which was met beautifully by Messi at the near post, leaving Casillas with no chance.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was more than what Barcelona deserved for their persistence and sheer dominance of the ball, and the tie was all but secured thanks to a piece of magic by Messi.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">With a couple of minutes of normal time left to play, the petite Argentinian picked the ball up about 40 yards from goal with only one thing on his mind.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After gliding past not one, not two, but four Real Madrid challenges, the little maestro calmly slid the ball into the net, effectively giving Barcelona at least one foot in the final ahead of the second leg next week.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Barcelona were well worth their two goal advantage that they can now take to the Nou Camp next week, as it looks increasingly likely that we will have a repeat of the 2009 Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Both sides take 2-0 leads into their home legs, with what would have to be considered a monumental collapse being the only thing preventing a repeat of 2009 in Rome.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Undoubtedly Mourinho will have something to say about that dubious red card which preceded the Messi master-class, but, on this occasion, Mourinho got his tactics wrong and it looks like he will have to wait another year before attempting to become the first manager to win three Champions League titles with three different clubs. <o:p></o:p></p>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-377268475569882222010-08-24T14:13:00.009+01:002010-08-24T14:25:09.033+01:00Chelsea Bandwagon Jumping the Gun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ccCM6DF42gGS8POC55C1bougC1BawV1TsiG7o_BDAE86Wv4XhLVVH18ueaiPA7_IQ_b7Ovh9paZ5NC12Y-XhA3gwH2RmjPZo7splJCDVm14qTDHEO-SRui0r6qEExmprDbyQK5C3-3Nv/s1600/z_48822772_anelk_getty.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508964042813590082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ccCM6DF42gGS8POC55C1bougC1BawV1TsiG7o_BDAE86Wv4XhLVVH18ueaiPA7_IQ_b7Ovh9paZ5NC12Y-XhA3gwH2RmjPZo7splJCDVm14qTDHEO-SRui0r6qEExmprDbyQK5C3-3Nv/s400/z_48822772_anelk_getty.jpg" border="0" /></a> Following Chelsea’s second 6-0 win of the embryonic 2010/11 Premier League season every man and his dog seem to be jumping on the Chelsea bandwagon praising their prowess and ability to score goals, and score lots of them.<br /><br />I agree, two 6-0 wins to open up a Premier League season is an impressive feat – beating the previous record of +10 after two games achieved over a hundred years ago by (I think) Sunderland – but before everyone gets over excited about Chelsea and becomes hypnotised by their prowess in front of goal, you have to consider the opposition.<br /><br />West Brom, though noted for their valiant attempts to play good football rather than scrap and battle and bully their way away from relegation, were always going to come unstuck at Stamford Bridge, and if it wasn’t for their diabolical attempt at blocking free-kicks the arrears wouldn’t have amounted to six.<br /><br />West Brom, simply put, are relegation candidates so a 6-0 defeat away at Chelsea is no disgrace, especially when you compare it to similar score-lines from last season when Chelsea only won the league by a single point.<br /><br />Following on from their thumping of The Baggies, Chelsea travelled to perennial whipping boys Wigan Athletic, again coming away 6-0 winners. Impressive on paper. In retrospect, not so much. The fact that on the final day of last season Chelsea beat Wigan 8-0 at Stamford Bridge and only the week before, newcomers Blackpool won at the DW Stadium by 4-0 takes some of the gloss from an otherwise textbook performance.<br /><br />A huge question mark would have been placed against Chelsea if they hadn’t of come out comfortable winners in both of their opening matches, and with a home games against Stoke – who have already lost their opening two matches – and Blackpool, either side of a visit to West Ham – who have also lost two from two – in their next three league outings the champions are not likely to face a real test until the end of September, when they travel to ‘Middle-Eastlands’ to face Manchester City.<br /><br />The way the opening league fixtures have panned out for Chelsea couldn’t have been any better, even if Roman Abramovich had paid off the Premier League and let him pick them himself.<br /><br />Chelsea had, by their high standards, and pretty sub-par pre-season and looked off the pace against Manchester United in the Community Shield at Wembley, the week prior to the Premier League kick-off. Receiving a favourable opening allows their players to find their form and, as we have already seen in the opening two matches, find the net as they prepare for much bigger tests ahead.<br /><br />Last season Chelsea done the double over all of the other three ‘big four’ sides, Manchester United (1-0 at home, 2-1 away), Arsenal (3-0 away, 2-0 at home) and Liverpool (2-0 home and away) and it will be these matches against the bigger sides, which now has to include Manchester City also thanks to their bottomless pit of money, that Chelsea’s title hopes should be judged upon, and when their praise would be richly deserved.<br /><br />To think that the title race is all but over based on two performances against sides that will mostly likely be in the Championship come this time next year, is jumping the gun just slightly, and suggestions that Manchester United are already on the back foot following their disappointing 2-2 draw with Fulham at the weekend, also reeks of prematurity as Chelsea WILL drop points.<br /><br />If last season’s up and downs in the title race are anything to go by, plenty of points will be dropped by both sides as the best of the rest (Tottenham, Manchester City, Everton and Aston Villa) draw the ‘big four’ in, as they progressively have been doing season on season.<br /><br />Chelsea are deserving of their pre-season favourites tag, they did win a league and cup double last year, but hold off on the praise just for the moment, at least until Chelsea have beaten one of the bigger fishes in the Premier League’s deep, deep ocean.<br /><div></div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-74857403188676818502010-07-09T11:05:00.012+01:002010-07-09T13:26:57.109+01:00FIFA's Eureka Moment<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk-jd_EZuSTjJxl-3h_5nwNs59NBxnrNA12o7xlpUg6pxYSrriIE8x36DtzT94ly7nc8QYW3XIWQ3ksVlPBR1qnwoQoABSPFHUYtozkikRxzX7GdNLMtBqY6GNBFyTwhBFCV0ihjfZEer/s1600/football.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491876506928305666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk-jd_EZuSTjJxl-3h_5nwNs59NBxnrNA12o7xlpUg6pxYSrriIE8x36DtzT94ly7nc8QYW3XIWQ3ksVlPBR1qnwoQoABSPFHUYtozkikRxzX7GdNLMtBqY6GNBFyTwhBFCV0ihjfZEer/s400/football.JPG" border="0" /></a>A long time has passed since I last blogged on here, and as usual a lot has transpired in that time, in the world of sport at the very least.<br /><br /><div>The issue that has brought me back on here is what everyone else has been, again, battering on about since 'the goal that never was' in the World Cup 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">nd</span> Round match between Germany and England...goal line technology.<br /></div><br /><div>Time to batter on some more.<br /></div><br /><div>There are few that, honestly, believe that should the goal have been given to Frank <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Lampard</span> the end result would have been any different. England were dismal the entire tournament - best we gloss over the Algeria game - and on the day Germany were, by far, the superior outfit. However, the England team's presence in the World Cup may have been abject, at least actions on the field will have spurred <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">FIFA</span> to finally fall in line with the other top sports across the world, by bringing in goal-line technology, with the hope of eradicating any further embarrassment for the sport as a whole, not just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">FIFA</span>, who have been so against technology in the game for so long.<br /></div><br /><div>The arguments used by football's world governing body were, at best, outdated. Arguments such as, it would slow the game down and that it wouldn't fit into football played on the 'hackney marshes' have been surpassed, or at least disproved, for a long time now. </div><br /><div>A blog entry by David Bond, a member of the BBC Sport team, noted that having this ideal that what happens at the top level needs to go on in the far flung, lower reaches, of football have gone the way of the Dodo. I don't know about you, but when I play football on a Saturday afternoon, I don't see Andy Gray and Martin Tyler on the side commentating at how awful we are...but I digress. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>The television directors who are currently overseeing the coverage of the World Cup have proven that within seconds a replay can be shown, either on a big screen to the entire crowd, the players and officials, or simply to the fourth official on a monitor on the sidelines. Time is of the essence in such a fast paced sport, but no time will be lost if replays are that quick, and getting a fair and honest result must surely be the be all and end all for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">FIFA</span>? </div><div><br />The only question that would remain then, should <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">FIFA</span> go ahead with technology in football, is what decisions should this technology be used for?</div><br /><div>Personally, I feel that goal-line and offside decisions should be the only decisions referred to technology. If you want every single decision judged by a video replay then the fear of slowing the game down will, almost certainly, become a reality. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>One of the great things about football is that it's a sport that will always create debate. Not everyone is going to agree on everything. Things such as penalty decisions, corner kicks and even throws are left up to a person's interpretations. Whether or not a ball has crossed the line and whether or not a player is in an offside position when the ball is played are, in the most part, clear cut decisions call - especially with the help of a replay. Bringing it in for everything will just make the game cluttered and more like our American counterparts interpretation of 'football', with stoppages every five seconds. I'm sure I'm not the only one hoping that that won't be the case. </div><br /><div>Football will continue to cause debate, off the field as well as on. All of this has even caused a debate about something that's meant to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">eradicate</span> debate, so in that sense the part of the game will never leave. Should <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">FIFA</span> bring in technology, it certainly won't make the beautiful game perfect, far from it, but it will make it better. </div><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">FIFA</span> have finally seen the light. All we can hope for now is that this isn't just smoke and mirrors and that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">FIFA</span> follow through. Providing the world with a fast paced, intriguing, enjoyable, and ultimately fair, beautiful game.</div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-15951844246789291592009-09-14T21:52:00.008+01:002010-07-09T11:41:24.458+01:00What does Clijsters' win say about Women's Tennis?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneT7RnT9tCHBSV0Q5vbz_QMZ_jkSmhBsUYWGYuOFJUj29DlOkcPtfnBjrqF2IMUzY8VaTj80Pw_M7h2-rxGypyrlvD2jz3Eswj1ePatSHmiMJwNz5iEZ4YfZKgSF1Anl0nCyGeGXGB502/s1600-h/_46372668_kc_ap_766.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381455766568904754" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneT7RnT9tCHBSV0Q5vbz_QMZ_jkSmhBsUYWGYuOFJUj29DlOkcPtfnBjrqF2IMUzY8VaTj80Pw_M7h2-rxGypyrlvD2jz3Eswj1ePatSHmiMJwNz5iEZ4YfZKgSF1Anl0nCyGeGXGB502/s400/_46372668_kc_ap_766.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />In April 2007, Kim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Clijsters</span> stepped out onto the red dirt court in Warsaw, Poland, in what was later to be her farewell match on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">WTA</span> Tour. <div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Clijsters</span>, the Belgian former world number one, was in the midst of her swansong season, after already announcing earlier in the year that she would be leaving the tour at the end of the 2007, enabling her to concentrate on her family life. </div><div><br /></div><div>A shock defeat, though, in the round of 16 to Julia <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Vakulenko</span>, forced <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Clijsters</span> to question whether there was much point in waiting till the end of the season to retire. Her heart had well and truly left the game. A week later, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Clijsters</span> announced her retirement, with immediate effect. </div><div><br /></div><div>Two years on, now married to her long term partner, basketball player Brian Lynch, and with a baby daughter, Jada Ellie, born in early 2007, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Clijsters</span> decided that take the leap, and come back to tennis. </div><div><br /></div><div>You would imagine, even for a top player like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Clijsters</span> once was, that coming back into the world of professional tennis, after a hiatus of over two years, would, or should, have been a baptism of fire. </div><div><br /></div><div>That presumption, though, could not have been any further from what was to transpire, as the Belgian returned to the tour to post a couple of respectable showings in the two tour events that she entered (Quarters in Cincinnati, 3rd Round in Toronto), only to then go on and beat both Williams sisters, and finally the 9<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">th</span> seed Caroline <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Wozniacki</span> in the final at Flushing Meadows, on her way to a second US Open title. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Clijsters</span>' win, while storybook, must raise questions about the state of the women's game. </div><div><br /></div><div>The fact that someone can just leave and come back two years later and still - not only compete - beat the top women who have spent their entire year striving to achieve what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Clijsters</span> achieved in a matter of just a month back on the tour, must raise questions about the state of women's tennis at the moment in time.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Clijsters</span>, in her heyday, was certainly a great player, a deserving number one, but when compared to compatriot Justine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Henin</span>, she wasn't exactly prolific when it came to the majors. Only picking up the one grand slam title, again in New York, back in 2005. </div><div><br /></div><div>Has the game got worse since then or has <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Clijsters</span> simply just matured and maybe even got better? </div><div><br /></div><div>She certainly had her fair share of luck on the way. Nowhere more so than in the semi final against defending champion and the self proclaimed 'true number one' Serena Williams. </div><div><br /></div><div>On Williams' second serve, at 15-30, 5-6, one set to love down, Williams was wrongly foot faulted.</div><div><br /></div><div>The call prompted the American into a fearsome tirade towards the line judge, who went on to report Williams to the umpire. </div><div><br /></div><div>After already receiving a code violation for racket abuse at the end of the first set, the match referee ordered the umpire to give another code violation to Williams, which came with a point penalty. </div><div><br /></div><div>After the foot faulted second serve and the point penalty the match was over without <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Clijsters</span> having to hit a ball. </div><div><br /></div><div>The final was straight forward by all accounts. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Wozniacki</span>, appearing in her first grand slam final of her young career, was simply outplayed by the wiser, more experienced <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Clijsters</span>.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the history of professional sport you will find, dotted through time, fairytale stories. Stories you couldn't make up. Stories that unless you were there or saw them on television you wouldn't believe. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Clijsters</span> becoming the only unseeded player to ever win the US Open, was certainly a storybook moment for her and for tennis. </div><div><br /></div><div>In my opinion, though, this moment could not have been more poorly timed, as the state of women's tennis is consistently coming under question, as it has been ever since the retirement of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Henin</span> back in 2008.</div><div><br /></div><div>Since the retirement of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Henin</span>, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">WTA</span> tour has been going through transition, with five players holding the number one ranking between May 2008 and September 2009 (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Dinara</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Safina</span>, Serena Williams, Maria <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Sharapova</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Jelena</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Jankovic</span>, Ana <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Ivanovic</span>). None of which have been able to make the ranking their own. </div><div><br /></div><div>The current debate over whether <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Safina</span> is the worthy number one, considering that Serena Williams, until last night, was the holder of three of the four grand slam titles on offer, was only added to this fortnight just gone, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Clijsters</span>' success is only going to add fuel to the fire for whoever holds the poisoned chalice that is the number one ranking. </div><div><br /></div><div>Following <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Clijsters</span>' win at Flushing Meadows there have been rumours circulating that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Henin</span> may want to follow in her country women's footsteps and also return to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">WTA</span> tour. </div><div><br /></div><div>The tour organisers would no doubt be delighted with such a star name returning to the game. The players who are there currently, though, might have different ideas after what <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">occurred</span> following the return of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Clijsters</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Soon, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">WTA</span> tour and its players will come through this transition phase and one day return to be strong, with great depth and aspiring young talents trying to make their name in the game. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the time being, though, the tour will just have to go along with the old timers, who are either making a mockery of the women's game, or if your a glass half full time of person, an inspiration to every young girl trying to make a name for themselves on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">WTA</span> tour. </div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-23313691924816404042009-08-10T11:26:00.004+01:002009-08-10T11:55:36.079+01:00Let Battle Commence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2yI5xvG2SgHSb1zXHApuXj7ico_jIZzabSJARyJQqHuvHr4Nku02rZtZi-fUgRJWZGvCvQfju3ZwNJaKdb9SgMJoMi-5_PpnEUXsY5UHmyyFDgM0gux2MKfMxmZiBd_FOL_WLE_GlzHL/s1600-h/_46180891_shieldbody466.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2yI5xvG2SgHSb1zXHApuXj7ico_jIZzabSJARyJQqHuvHr4Nku02rZtZi-fUgRJWZGvCvQfju3ZwNJaKdb9SgMJoMi-5_PpnEUXsY5UHmyyFDgM0gux2MKfMxmZiBd_FOL_WLE_GlzHL/s400/_46180891_shieldbody466.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368285977512927858" /></a><br />Yesterday's Community Shield, won by F.A. Cup winner's Chelsea on penalties over English champions Manchester United officially raised the curtain on the new football season, which has been as eagerly anticipated as ever. <div><br /></div><div>Manchester City's summer spending, which has seen the likes of Carlos <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tevez</span>, Emmanuel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Adebayor</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kolo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Toure</span>, among others, come through the doors at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Eastlands</span>, has raised questions over whether City have to team now that can break the top four monopoly. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the other side of Manchester, the much publicized departure of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ronaldo</span> to Real Madrid for £80million and the loss of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tevez</span> to their Manchester rivals has sparked questions over whether United can retain the league title for a record fourth time. </div><div><br /></div><div>The surprise arrival of Michael Owen on a pay as you play deal, may well turn out to be a great piece of business by Sir Alex Ferguson, if he can keep the Englishman fit. </div><div><br /></div><div>If the Community Shield game, a game I was in attendance for, was anything to go by, this season will certainly be a very memorable one. </div><div><br /></div><div>The football league season however is already underway with some remarkable results already on the first day of the campaign, most notably Norwich's 7-1 thumping by East Anglia rivals <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Colchester</span> United at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Carrow</span> Road. </div><div><br /></div><div>Other big wins came from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Gillingham</span> and Sven Goran <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Eriksson's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Notts</span> County who both recorded 5-0 drubbings of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Swindon</span> and Bradford respectively. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, in my opinion, the day belonged to Cardiff, who's woeful run at the end of the season, including an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">embarrassing</span> 6-0 defeat by Preston North End, saw them lose out on a playoff place by one goal. </div><div><br /></div><div>The Bluebirds opened the new <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">campaign</span> with a handsome 4-0 win over newly promoted <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Scunthrope</span> in the first competitive game to be played at their new 27,000 all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">seater</span> stadium, literally a stones throw away from the notorious <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Ninnian</span> Park. </div><div><br /></div><div>The season has only just begun and already there is so much to talk about up and down the divisions, and all across Europe, and thank god for the football aye? Kept my eyes well a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">truly</span> away from Headingly.</div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-61568160195055542122009-07-06T00:53:00.003+01:002009-07-06T01:43:55.855+01:00Serena: The 'True' Number One...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyS_BDJkQoUyFHySMoGt6wF_sUq5lP2Wt1ej9QvKpvuSZdF1GtL3d_MwEZyujY81F5XfK0bw6bJP9Rgro-Zm8c5RS4o8OvOd040qzsQ_VnLm71c1H1cRuNFLaHbqtsz-Rf6pVw8fH2u7l/s1600-h/_46011906_serenaandtrophy766ap.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyS_BDJkQoUyFHySMoGt6wF_sUq5lP2Wt1ej9QvKpvuSZdF1GtL3d_MwEZyujY81F5XfK0bw6bJP9Rgro-Zm8c5RS4o8OvOd040qzsQ_VnLm71c1H1cRuNFLaHbqtsz-Rf6pVw8fH2u7l/s400/_46011906_serenaandtrophy766ap.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355141047067293298" /></a><br />No!<div><br /></div><div>No, no, no, no, no, no...no!!</div><div><br /></div><div>This statement, which was made around March of this year, that came from Serena Williams, holder of three of the four grand slam titles, saying that she is the 'true' number one has riled me up beyond <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">comprehension</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let me explain to those of you reading this, first of all, how the rankings work, in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">layman's</span> terms, how Serena has come to this conclusion and why I think that her statement is a load of tosh.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">OK</span>, in simple terms this is how to tennis world rankings are made up. </div><div><br /></div><div>Every tournament, from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ITF</span> Futures to Grand Slams, have ranking points, per round, which are dependent on the status of the tournament. </div><div><br /></div><div>The winner of a Grand Slam, for example, will be awarded 2000 ranking points; the winner of a Tier I event (now known as Premier Mandatory...<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">don't</span> ask) will be awarded 1000 ranking points, and so on and so on. </div><div><br /></div><div>Your overall ranking points are comprised of your results from all four majors (Australian Open, Roland <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Garros</span>, Wimbledon, US Open), the four Premier Mandatory events (Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Beijing) and your best other eight results in other tournaments. I never said this would be easy. </div><div><br /></div><div>The results that are used will be results that have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">occurred</span> in the last 52 weeks. So, for example, by winning Wimbledon this year Serena Williams increased her ranking points by 700, as last year she was runner up and only gained 1400 points, Venus Williams, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">obviously</span>, will lose 700 points. Still with me?</div><div><br /></div><div>So <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">that's</span> how the rankings are worked out, by your performance in the major tournaments and a set of other smaller, less <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">prestigious</span>, tournaments. </div><div><br /></div><div>Currently the world number one is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Dinara</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Safina</span>, who has been in three grand slam finals and has won none of them, and who was also decimated by Venus Williams in the semi final at Wimbledon on Thursday 6-1 6-0.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, Serena believes that as she holds three of the four grand slam titles that there are on offer, that by right she should be the world number one. </div><div><br /></div><div>You have to admit that she gives a good case, I mean three grand slam titles is no mean feat and she has been convincing throughout, but this is where I ask the following question...what about other tournaments, what has Serena done in them? The ones with less limelight and television coverage, the ones with less ranking points and lesser prize money.</div><div><br /></div><div>The answer to that question is simply, not a lot. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 2009 Serena has, so far, only competed in 10 tournaments, winning two, the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and reaching the final of just one other, Miami. She also has notched up three semi finals, one quarter final, and three first round losses (in a row I might add). </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Dinara</span> is number one because she has won five tournaments in the last 52 weeks, made five other finals, four semi finals and two quarter finals in the 19 tournaments that she has played a part in, I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">don't</span> care who the hell you are, that is consistency and that is impressive. </div><div><br /></div><div>There has always been a question mark, especially so on the women's side, when a player reaches the number one ranking without winning a major. The same question was being asked of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Jelena</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Jankovic</span> not so long ago, who managed to reach the number one ranking without even coming close to reaching a grand slam final, let alone winning one. </div><div><br /></div><div>The reason I feel that Serena <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">doesn't</span> deserve the number one ranking is because I, personally, feel that they (Venus and Serena) <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">shouldn't</span> just be allowed to turn up to the major tournaments, power their way through, take the prize money, take the glory and go off into the spotlight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of the 15 tournaments <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">that</span> Serena has taken part in over the last 52 weeks, about three or four of them have been, what were known as, Tier II or below level tournaments. Tournaments that are short on glamour, prestige and prize money. And even when Serena did play in these lesser tournaments, she often <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">didn't</span> do very well in them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Dinara</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">hasn't</span> won a grand slam; winning a Grand Slam is a great achievement and one that can never be argued against or taken away from you, but if you honestly believe that you are the world number one player, prove it, week in week out, not when you please and when the money is right. </div><div><br /></div><div>It has been a consistent <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">criticism</span> of the Williams sisters that they have, in the past, not been fully focused on their tennis, with other money making schemes going on in the background. More recently however this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">hasn't</span> been so much the case, with both the sisters looking more focused and determined than ever before. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you are fully focused on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">WTA</span> tour and on tennis, though, Serena, and are so transfixed on the the world number one ranking which you behold as being your own, and are so upset and dismayed as to why you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">aren't</span> the world number one ranked player...then do something about it, turn up, win tournaments, at ALL levels and let the computer do the rest. </div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-69274237102650072312009-07-04T14:53:00.013+01:002010-07-27T15:53:09.410+01:00"...there's always Michael Owen!"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoSdjdrHk5QbmzdcG2CQL9_0CL1z2rNVhxScaYw4BE6Ad-Bp_hHRP7f-lNpqwTp4uWIAq27aZDLGHYzV-KBxJ1qtMuECdhKlSGzJ-HkYwDR1jzgexK4FAgrvPrnJJub5Fezu03Og9GLNN/s1600-h/Michael-Owen-001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354604357987440818" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoSdjdrHk5QbmzdcG2CQL9_0CL1z2rNVhxScaYw4BE6Ad-Bp_hHRP7f-lNpqwTp4uWIAq27aZDLGHYzV-KBxJ1qtMuECdhKlSGzJ-HkYwDR1jzgexK4FAgrvPrnJJub5Fezu03Og9GLNN/s400/Michael-Owen-001.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoSdjdrHk5QbmzdcG2CQL9_0CL1z2rNVhxScaYw4BE6Ad-Bp_hHRP7f-lNpqwTp4uWIAq27aZDLGHYzV-KBxJ1qtMuECdhKlSGzJ-HkYwDR1jzgexK4FAgrvPrnJJub5Fezu03Og9GLNN/s1600-h/Michael-Owen-001.jpg"></a>No more than 48 hours after those very words were uttered by my lips, in a phone conversation with one of my many University housemates, had my possible 'tempting of fate' occurred; Michael Owen had become a Red Devil. </div><div><br /></div><div>The conversation that took place began with us discussing our landlord, then onto my desire to purchase a Manchester United season ticket which I couldn't possibly afford, and then we discussed the team itself and the issue of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez heading for the exits, and Antonio Valenica coming in the opposite direction. </div><div><br /></div><div>In my eyes, even as a Manchester United fan who has on more than one occasion been proven to never doubt Sir Alex Ferguson and his decision making, the idea of Michael Owen, who since the World Cup in 2006 has had uncountable injury problems and not to mention is a former Liverpool icon, signing for United was somewhat of a gamble. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sir Alex, though, has previous in this sort of area. Look what he done to Eric Cantona, who wasn't a regular at Leeds and had a bit of a reputation as being a tough man to please and contain, became a Old Trafford legend; a name that will live in infamy at the Theatre of Dreams. </div><div><br /></div><div>On a smaller scale you can also use the example of Henrik Larsson, who, despite coming off the back of a serious injury, made a considerable contribution to United during his three month loan spell. </div><div><br /></div><div>Both example's were, without any question, gambles; gambles that paid off. </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite Owen's injury plagued 2008/09 season he still managed to score 10 goals. Not bad for someone who had to battle through a number of injury setbacks, for a team who ultimately were relegated to the Championship. </div><div><br /></div><div>After his lucrative £110,000 a week (reported) contract had expired, Sir Alex saw the chance of carrying out what could be a very astute piece of business, signing the former Liverpool and Real Madrid star for the pricey sum of nothing, and on a pay as you play contract. </div><div><br /></div><div>You cannot deny that Owen is a born goalscorer, and as the saying goes 'form is temporary, class is permanent' which he has proven over the years, even during his less than encouraging spell with Newcastle, proving that he still has that killer strikers instinct, something he has shown year in year out for club, and for country. </div><div><br /></div><div>Owen still harbours hopes of getting back into Fabio Capello's England squad, with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa just one more win away, and where better to be playing at club level than at the home of the English and World Champions, where chances <i>will</i> be created in abundance?</div><div><br /></div><div>Ever since Ruud Van Nistelrooy left the Old Trafford club United have been trying to find an out and out goal scorer to replace him. Wayne Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo and more recently Dimitar Berbatov have managed to make this void seem minimal at best, scoring countless goals in United's endless pursuit of silver wear between them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Owen will, hopefully, fill that void, and will, if fit, hope to be a key member of the United strike force, as they try and replace the 30-40 goals a season that Ronaldo and Tevez provided them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Despite my original pessimism about the move, I must say that in the days that led up to the signing, and that have now preceded them, I, personally, am more and more upbeat about the possibilities of Rooney and Owen reuniting, in the hope that they can strike up a world beating partnership for club, and maybe for country again. </div><div><br /></div><div>So far, of the reported £100 million cash pot that United have at their disposal, they have only spent £16 million, all of that on, Ecuadorian, Valencia from Wigan Athletic. United would probably like another striker, another winger and another left back before the season begins against Birmingham City on August 16th, but, so far, have seemingly missed out on their main targets this summer of Tevez, Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema, the latter two, presumably, following Ronaldo to Madrid, and Tevez, presumably, going down the road to Manchester City.</div><div><br /></div><div>Some might see Owen's signing as a desperate act after missing out on their main targets to Real Madrid's ridiculous millions, but as another one of my housemates at University said to me 'In Fergie we trust'...who am I to argue with a man who has won 23 major domestic and European trophies in 23 years?</div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-34992793467575724812009-07-01T22:32:00.006+01:002009-07-02T21:35:59.730+01:00The Usual Suspects<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlMbZRvkUYrAW3wefizzYRY-cxqqjkf9EzlvGGK0BGkXsNwUtolLhJxmf8vr_giNgZzcQQcCmwJyJ_XfLOf4Rg91UybGoBgSHLTqfwaYC_pFVpJTDEeR7uAmkm8PLoidCaM4CMprWaY8w/s1600-h/b_09_vswilliams_18_getty_h_blair.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlMbZRvkUYrAW3wefizzYRY-cxqqjkf9EzlvGGK0BGkXsNwUtolLhJxmf8vr_giNgZzcQQcCmwJyJ_XfLOf4Rg91UybGoBgSHLTqfwaYC_pFVpJTDEeR7uAmkm8PLoidCaM4CMprWaY8w/s400/b_09_vswilliams_18_getty_h_blair.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353608434520772754" /></a><br /><div>There were eight aside, now we have four, and its the usual suspects that make up the semi final lineup at Wimbledon, with all four top seeds making it through on the women's side, while on the men's side, the dream final is still on, but there are a German and an American who always do well on the grass who will do whatever it takes to scupper that dream. </div><div><br /></div><div>The women step out for the semi finals today, with Venus Williams taking on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dinara</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Safina</span>, who is making her first appearance in a Wimbledon semi final, and Serena Williams taking on Elena <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Dementieva</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>The women's side has almost had a feeling of 'whats the point' about it since the get go, with everyone presuming that the Williams sisters will make it into the final for the second year in a row, but although the sisters are in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">scintillating</span> form at present, dismissing their quarter final opponents with consummate ease, this will be their toughest tests as they face the highest seeds they were ever going to face in the lead up to the final. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Dementieva</span> is most likely to upset the apple cart in this one and has a fairly decent record against Serena, albeit a losing record. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Safina</span>, despite being world number one, has a public hatred of grass and has to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">considerably</span> pleased to have even made it this far having never progressed beyond the 3rd round here before. </div><div><br /></div><div>I still fully expect an all Williams final, to my distaste, but there is no denying they know better than anyone on the tour how to play the grass and how to dominate like nowhere else in the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>The men's side is now one step closer to the dream final that the British public, the British press and most of the watching world are hoping for, with Andy Murray making light work of Juan Carlos <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Ferrero</span>, and Roger <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Federer</span> having inhuman reactions to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ivo</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Karlovic's</span> power serve game beating him, also, in straight sets. </div><div><br /></div><div>The closer we get to the final on Sunday, the more the nerves and anxiousness creep in and unlike the women's side, where everyone sees nothing other than a Williams 1-2 on Saturday, Andy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Roddick</span>, who takes on Murray, and Tommy Haas, who takes on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Federer</span>, stand in the way of the dream and have more than enough tools to upset a few million people around the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>Andy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Roddick</span>, two time Wimbledon finalist, is one of the usual suspects when it comes to the latter stages of Wimbledon and has the experience that Murray at present doesn't have and is learning by the day. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was mentioned fleetingly that Murray looked a little tired in his quarter final against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ferrero</span>, so he will more than happy coming through that one in straight sets, expending as little energy as possible as he will need his A game to beat A-Rod, who has markedly improved in recent months. </div><div><br /></div><div>Haas has always been pretty nifty on the grass. Winner in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Halle</span>, beating <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Novak</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Djokovic</span> who he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">subsequently</span> beat in yesterday's quarter final, he can go into his match up against the history making <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Federer</span> full of confidence. It wasn't much more than a month ago that Haas was two sets to love up against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Federer</span> at Roland <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Garros</span>, the day after Rafael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Nadal</span> had been knocked out. How different things could have been. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the grass, despite this being the surface of choice for both, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Federer</span> will always have the edge, you just have to look at the numbers. Five <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Wimbledons</span> to Zero says it all. </div><div><br /></div><div>Murray has never been this far at Wimbledon before, and some might think back to his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">annihilation</span> at the hands of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Nadal</span> last year, off the back of another five set thriller against Richard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Gasquet,</span> in the Quarter Final. </div><div><br /></div><div>Following that slam he went on to win back to back Masters titles, and reach the US Open final. There is no one now who can doubt his fitness. Despite Murray being blinkered and giving the usual responses of 'taking one match at a time' and not worrying about what the media are saying and the pressure they are heaping on him, it wouldn't be human if it didn't affect him a little bit, and if Murray can overcome the pressure that plagued Tim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Henman</span> in so many Wimbledon semi finals over the years, he can and will come through. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are at the business end of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">championships</span> and the usual names are still on the draw sheet with Venus and Roger looking to make it six <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">championships</span> a piece, Serena hoping to make it three, and Tommy, A-Rod, Elena, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Dinara</span> and Murray all hoping to make history of their own and win the most prestigious trophy in tennis. </div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-10485853638498354532009-06-30T01:15:00.008+01:002009-06-30T21:54:04.230+01:00And then, there were Eight<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4jbt6YcWm7VXApScOMhN6lYifbdgFksJ91xWDcWRkfAcMR7gum3htcMkER2b2TvyzBTv_lojAxATQKHHAGUKgs5IQSpiKrv3O7sJYasu2SjcoEPw9W5aZKtOwgylIs9NixnlxwLJZ9dh/s1600-h/c5d947dd755954a44525a31a3721fb68-getty-87978003jm004_the_champions.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4jbt6YcWm7VXApScOMhN6lYifbdgFksJ91xWDcWRkfAcMR7gum3htcMkER2b2TvyzBTv_lojAxATQKHHAGUKgs5IQSpiKrv3O7sJYasu2SjcoEPw9W5aZKtOwgylIs9NixnlxwLJZ9dh/s400/c5d947dd755954a44525a31a3721fb68-getty-87978003jm004_the_champions.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352908591152527522" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4jbt6YcWm7VXApScOMhN6lYifbdgFksJ91xWDcWRkfAcMR7gum3htcMkER2b2TvyzBTv_lojAxATQKHHAGUKgs5IQSpiKrv3O7sJYasu2SjcoEPw9W5aZKtOwgylIs9NixnlxwLJZ9dh/s1600-h/c5d947dd755954a44525a31a3721fb68-getty-87978003jm004_the_champions.jpg"></a>The second week of Wimbledon is under way and we now know the eight men and eight women who make up the quarter final's and in both the men’s and women’s draw’s there are some intriguing, and some surprising, names in the quarter's. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">In the men's draw, former number ones collide as former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt takes on former two time Wimbledon finalist, the number six seed, Andy Roddick. World number three Andy Murray, after his marathon late night match against Stanislas Wawrinka, under the lights and under the new roof, will take on another former number one Juan Carlos Ferrero, who doesn’t normally take well to the grass. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">In the bottom half of the draw we see the forgotten man, Novak Djokovic, take on<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>the consistent grass-courter Tommy Haas and, finally, Roger Federer takes on the, somewhat unnerving, task of facing the 6’10” ace machine Ivo Karlovic, who, to date, has served 136 aces and has yet to be broken.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">On the women’s side we seem to be heading towards yet another all Williams final, between the sisters Venus and Serena. At the top of the draw, the most under the radar number one seed, Dinara Safina, takes on the up and coming talent of Sabine Lisicki, with the winner of that match taking on the winner of the match between defending champion, Venus Williams, and another young talent Agnieszka Radwanska. On the bottom half surprise quarter finalist Francesca Schiavone takes on Olympic gold medallist Elena Dementieva, while the last eight line up is completed by Williams sister number two, Serena, up against the princess of the grunters Victoria Azarenka.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">The women’s draw has, from the get go, had an unerring inevitability about it. The Williams sisters love SW19, with seven titles between them, and with Venus looking for a hat trick of titles, and sister Serena looking for revenge for last years final defeat, it looks like we are set for another family get together come Saturday afternoon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Out of the other six quarter finalists the person who, in my opinion, is most likely to stop this years final being a repeat of last years is Elena Dementieva. Radwanska, Lisicki and Azarenka are all great, young, talents, but I feel they do not have what it takes, yet, to make it to a grand slam final. Schiavone has more than enough experience but also has never made it this far in a slam before and may not know how to work her way out of the last eight now that she’s there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Dementieva, however, has two grand slam finals under her belt already, and winning the Olympic Games last summer will have given her great confidence that she can win a major tournament. Her record against Serena, who Dementieva is set to meet in the semi final, is a great cause for further optimism. Despite Serena having a five to three head to head record in her favour, Dementieva has won three of the last four meetings between the two.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Dinara Safina is the world number one, and no one is really backing her to do much at Wimbledon this year at all. That may be in part due to the fact that she was quoted on her official website, in an article titled ‘I Hate Wimbledon’ as saying that <i>“Grass makes me angry. I hope they dig up the grass and replace it with a hard court”</i>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Safina has shown a lot of improvement on the grass this year, but is still not being talked about at all, and it would have to be considered a major shock if she was to win here, despite being ranked as number one in the world.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">So Venus vs Serena it seems on the women’s side, what about the men?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Everyone, who is everyone, wants Sunday’s showpiece to be a match between the best player ever to grace a tennis court, Roger Federer, and Britain’s Andy Murray, as he tries to make history of his own, becoming the first Brit since 1937 to win Wimbledon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">The final eight of the men’s draw however is littered with potential banana skins for both of these men on the road to their ‘destiny’.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Lleyton Hewitt has rolled back the years this week, producing some wonderful tennis, reminiscent of previous glory’s by the former world number one, and he has the experience to come through at SW19 and maybe make a surprise appearance in another Wimbledon final. Andy Roddick stands in his way in his pursuit of a second grand slam title, six years after his one and only success at the US Open. He has also experienced what it is like to be in a Wimbledon final, not once, but twice, both times, though, running into the mercurial Federer.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Murray may have queried the decision to play his 4<sup>th</sup> round match up against Stanislas Wawrinka under the roof on Monday night, the first competitive match to be played entirely under it, but it could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. With the match finishing at 10:38pm, without the roof Murray would have had to sacrifice his day off to complete the match, and if you ever needed any proof that carrying a match over is difficult business, just watch some of Tim Henman’s old Wimbledon matches.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">He will now, though, have an entire day to rest up before taking on Juan Carlos Ferrero, who he met and defeated quite convincingly on his way to the Queen’s title a fortnight ago.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Federer, despite winning in straight sets against, French Open final counterpart, Robin Soderling, was not at his best, and he has the unenviable task of taking on Ivo Karlovic, in a match where he will have to improve and be at his best when returning, as Karlovic has yet to drop his serve.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">The fourth quarter final match up sees Novak Djokovic take on Tommy Haas, who always seems to produce on grass and who beat ‘Nole’ a fortnight ago in Halle, in the final of the tour event in Germany.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">Much like no one has been talking about Safina on the women’s side, no one really has said much about Djokovic either, with all the attention being placed on the home favourite Murray, and Federer as he looks to surpass Sampras’ grand slam record.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">This could very easily work in Djokovic’s favour as there is no pressure on him and he is free to produce his best tennis with not a lot of expectations, and we have seen in the past that Djokovic is more than capable of beating the people above him in the rankings, and there are only three of them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">There are still bound to be one or two twists and turns in the final days and hours of the 2009 Wimbledon, and who knows maybe we will all be proved wrong and not have a repeat of last years women’s final, and we may all be disappointed to not have the dream final of Murray against Federer come Sunday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt">That’s the magic of tennis, that’s the magic of sport in general, you can never really know whats going to happen, but your still glued to it nonetheless. There are a few thousand people that were on Henman Hill at gone 10 in the evening, in the pitch black monday night, that can testify to that statement. </p></div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-90674830264891767372009-06-29T18:19:00.004+01:002009-06-29T23:17:01.073+01:00South Africa Making a Point<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NxhjeHat2xaU19XbOBFLVdOQf2n-bljHJgwIRHvZuaDb9vvOsmFfiatWZFuNMuUDDAPLZWkJnxqMugQOdl6EKBegg_b4ZpgGKoG1nPF0r6HcKRQ1yBa0_HlQ-2JY82ZuKAmEGWZFCKDA/s1600-h/South+Africa.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NxhjeHat2xaU19XbOBFLVdOQf2n-bljHJgwIRHvZuaDb9vvOsmFfiatWZFuNMuUDDAPLZWkJnxqMugQOdl6EKBegg_b4ZpgGKoG1nPF0r6HcKRQ1yBa0_HlQ-2JY82ZuKAmEGWZFCKDA/s400/South+Africa.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352845396179641698" /></a><br /><div>The Confederations Cup, FIFA's little play thing, that sees the six most recent continental tournament winners - Europe: Spain, South America: Brazil, North America: USA, Asia: Iraq, Oceania: New Zealand and Africa: Egypt - join the World Champions Italy and the host's of the next World Cup South Africa, is meant to be used as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup the following year. </div><div><br /></div><div>The tournament has never really had much resonance among the nations that compete in it but this was more than just a tournament for the host's South Africa, who had two points to prove; One, that they could host a major footballing event, and two, that they could compete and not embarrass themselves on a world stage, which was looking more and more likely as the weeks rolled towards the summer of 2010.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the years in the lead up to the World Cup, which is being held in Africa for the first time, the national team's results have been mediocre at best. </div><div><br /></div><div>In their World Cup Qualifying group, which they still had to compete in because the World Cup qualifying has a direct affect on the qualifying for the African Cup of Nations, they enjoyed just two wins, both against Equatorial Guinea.</div><div><br /></div><div>South Africa opened the tournament with an unconvincing performance against Iraq, which brought about a dire 0-0 draw, leaving all the doubters still with the view that South Africa wouldn't do themselves justice when the best 31 nations in the world verge on the most southern point in Africa. </div><div><br /></div><div>After their unbearable opening to this, somewhat, unimportant tournament, the only way, as the saying goes, was up, and a much improved performance in their second group game, albeit against New Zealand, resulted in a 2-0 win for the hosts, which was enough to send them through to the Semi Finals. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is where South Africa showed their worth and began to prove to the South African public, and the rest of the world, that they were no mugs and maybe aren't destined to become the first host nation to be knocked out in the group stages of a World Cup Finals. </div><div><br /></div><div>A world class free kick from Dani Alves, three minutes from time, in the Semi Final was all that separated them from Brazil, and, on paper, it wasn't going to get any easier for them in the 3rd place play-off, after the USA shocked the FIFA No'1 ranked team, Spain, in their semi final. </div><div><br /></div><div>Spain and South Africa played out a scintillating 3-2(AET) match, which went back and forth throughout and took a wonder free kick from Mphela to take into extra time, moments after Spain had scored twice in two minutes to come from 1-0 down, with just a minute of normal time on the clock. </div><div><br /></div><div>In just 210 minutes of football, South Africa had proved to the world that they could compete with the best, which is the minimum requirement from the South African public who were passionate, loud and fully supportive of their team throughout, but in the back of all their minds must have worried that their worst fears could well have been realised. </div><div><br /></div><div>The South Africans managed to prove their point. They took the best two teams in the world to the brink, they didn't win, but they came close. That will be more than enough in 12 months time, and performances like the ones against Spain and Brazil will hold the South Africans in good stead against most of the smaller nations come World Cup Finals time. </div><div><br /></div><div>They also managed to prove that they are capable of holding their own in the hosting department, and although there were only eight nations at this event, compared to the 31 other nations that will join South Africa next year, the signs look good. </div><div><br /></div><div>It may take some getting used to the weather however, with winter temperatures in South Africa during our 'summer' months, but that will be the least of the nations worries as they compete for the biggest prize in football. South Africa, though, are just happy to be there, happy to host, and happy that they know, and the public now knows, that they wont just be there to make up the numbers. </div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-7536614151872867532009-06-24T23:52:00.003+01:002009-06-25T22:23:21.820+01:00British Tennis under the Microscope Again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYon6qDyyjvcYVstazWhMps5s5SAL_KsKbQs7B6rtqZvLR93sK75YNUPCO9RnEDY9YSIZ0rXlR6VUbbmU0vl5yCwywGfYPN60gbPOz9ooTIrez3T3BQH-M0tTjE0d7FLkMTTP_AQZokLZ/s1600-h/bc1a411e7aaf04085a39e7958df68548-getty-87977980jm015_the_champions.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYon6qDyyjvcYVstazWhMps5s5SAL_KsKbQs7B6rtqZvLR93sK75YNUPCO9RnEDY9YSIZ0rXlR6VUbbmU0vl5yCwywGfYPN60gbPOz9ooTIrez3T3BQH-M0tTjE0d7FLkMTTP_AQZokLZ/s400/bc1a411e7aaf04085a39e7958df68548-getty-87977980jm015_the_champions.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351030865058527042" /></a><br />When Wimbledon comes knocking around, the same time every year, you can rest assured on a couple of things happening during the opening couple of days of the tournament.<div><br /></div><div><div>Normally, the rain is somewhere to be found but, ironically in the first year that the roof has been in place on centre court, that so far hasn't been the case; you can also be sure that with the sun out there will be a few more people playing on local tennis courts up and down the country as tennis fever grips the nation, and the one you can always, always, bank on is Alex Bogdanovic being knocked out in the 1st round of the tournament, along with the majority of the British contingent, like he has done for the last eight years in a row.</div><div><br /></div><div>'Bogo', as he is known in tennis circles, isn't an isolated case however, and the first two days of the 2009 version of Wimbledon was a case study which has caused much debate in the British tennis fraternity, from Paul Annacone, former coach of Tim Henman and head coach at the LTA, all the way through to the current British number one, Andy Murray, who hasn't mixed his words when talking about the lack of depth in the British game.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over the opening Monday and Tuesday of the Championships there were only two victorious Brit's in the first round of the men's and women's singles draw; Murray beating American Robert Kendrick in four sets, and Elena Baltacha, the British number two female, beating Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko in three.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bogdanovic was joined out the door by Dan Evans, Josh Goodall, James Ward, Anne Keothavong, Katie O'Brien, Laura Robson, Melanie South and Georgie Stoop make up the list of British losers on the opening two days of the tournament, and with the exception of Keothavong, the British number one female, and Robson, who was making her grand slam debut at the age of 15, all had been given wild cards into the event because they hadnt deserved it through their ranking or through merit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many in the game feel that the Lawn Tennis Association and the All England Club are too lenient and easy going when it comes to the handing out wild cards and funding to the lowly ranked British players, and this certainly isn't the first time that this topic of conversation has come up.</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple of years ago Tim Henman was more than vocal with his views on the state of the British game and what the LTA and AELTC need to do to improve the game in this country.</div><div><br /></div><div>Andy Murray followed in Henman's footsteps yesterday saying that, <i>'the depth needs to get way better'</i> and that its <i>'not acceptable'</i>, but saying that, <i>'its not picking out any of the players in particular, because I watched some of them play and some of them played well, but they aren't at the same level as some of the guys and they don't play at this level too often because their not ranked that high'</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>In fairness, the draw could not have been much worse for the British wild cards this year, especially for the likes of Georgie Stoop and Dan Evans, who were drawn against the women's and men's 7th seeds, Vera Zvonareva and Fernando Verdasco respectively, but if this was just a one off year then it would have been forgotten about, but the failings of the Brit's at the showcase event of the British tennis calender has been an annual occurrence; thank god we still have the likes of Andy Murray, and previously Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski to show that all is not lost, on the men's side at least.</div><div><br /></div><div>There have been a few suggestions made as to what can be done to help the plight of the British wild card.</div><div><br /></div><div>Henman has weighed in again following this years debacle saying that wild cards should be 'given to the young and up and coming players, we don't want to see them being given out to the same people again and again' and that the LTA needs to 'make it (getting a wild card) harder so that British players are earning that right, not feeling an entitlement to get that wild card if their top three or four in the country'.</div><div><br /></div><div>One suggestion that has come from the former coach of Andy Murray, Mark Petchey, is that the LTA should act as a 'bank' that invests money in British players, with the expectation of getting it back, which Annacone said had been a suggestion that had been discussed a number of times.</div><div><br /></div><div>In all, Annacone said to the BBC that the target is to have four British players inside the world's top 100 of the men's and women's game each by 2012. Is this too much to ask, or the least that we can expect after year after year of false dawns, that has only been saved by the few.</div><div><br /></div><div>The noises coming out the LTA are good, ask anyone who is involved, from the people behind the scenes to the names and faces that we all know, they will tell you that the signs are good for the future, but ultimately it will be the results, not the promise that will be the deciding factor in this argument.</div><div><br /></div><div>After this years Wimbledon the microscope is well and truly pinned on the men and women in charge of churning out more top British tennis players in the future, and hopefully the increased media coverage and discussions that have raged following this poor showing will force the LTA and AELTC's hand into seriously rethinking their wild card policy, and the way in which the try and get these players through and into the big time.</div></div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-23422533318586732442009-06-23T01:54:00.000+01:002009-06-23T01:55:20.569+01:00Johnson's Second Coming<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkpeV7QPJQHMDwjaorn7NWJJE1iPzMX9sUCJ0-CB3iUtIMoMwVVHBuEo1nyf53SYBWxavEFCAmGYS4u6h6esREMyvK6wuTSjt__CO9i3_lEhk626pKcUPvGRTOcJJ56lTLMsCNjFRM-lM/s1600-h/johnson_516x373_6938a.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 289px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkpeV7QPJQHMDwjaorn7NWJJE1iPzMX9sUCJ0-CB3iUtIMoMwVVHBuEo1nyf53SYBWxavEFCAmGYS4u6h6esREMyvK6wuTSjt__CO9i3_lEhk626pKcUPvGRTOcJJ56lTLMsCNjFRM-lM/s400/johnson_516x373_6938a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350320266479740130" /></a><br /><div><div>Over recent weeks, during this recession that the whole world is having to face up to, the footballing world has shown once again and, arguably, more than ever before, how far away it is from reality.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cristiano Ronaldo is poised to, finally, get his 'dream' move to Real Madrid after an £80million bid was accepted by Manchester United, just days after Madrid sealed a £56million switch for AC Milan's Brazilian play maker Kaka.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today, being slightly overshadowed by the beginning of Wimbledon, has seen three big money signings transpire, only two of which involved actual footballers.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other signing I'm alluring to is the purchase of Setanta's Premier League rights by American powerhouse ESPN, after the Irish network went bust, owing sums of £30million and £3million to the English Premier League and the Scottish Premier League respectively. However, this is another issue for another day.</div><div><br /></div><div>The two signings involving players today have seen Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz go and join his old boss Mark Hughes at Manchester City, for a reported £19million, and Glen Johnson, formerly of West Ham United, Chelsea and now Portsmouth, making the switch to Anfield for £17.5million, and its this transfer which the one of interest here.</div><div><br /></div><div>Glen Johnson is one of a multitude of players who have successfully come out of the junior system at West Ham United and was seen as, potentially, a very good player very early on in his career.</div><div><br /></div><div>His arrival into the first team at Upton Park coincided with the arrival of Roman Abramovichand his millions at Chelsea, and Johnson, following West Ham's relegation to the Championship, was the first purchase under the new 'lets buy everyone under the sun' philosophy that was employed by Abramovich and the then manager Claudio Ranieri.</div><div><br /></div><div>Though Johnson had a promising start at Chelsea, which saw him make 63 first team appearances over the 2003/04 and 2004/05 seasons, the arrival of Jose Mourinho, which saw Paulo Ferreira follow him from FC Porto the following season, limited Johnson's first team chances.</div><div><br /></div><div>A move to Portsmouth was the result, and Johnson has, in time, become a key player for Pompey, and looks to have established himself as the best choice for England at right back.</div><div><br /></div><div>His move then to Liverpool this evening is a sign to players like Scott Parker, Michael Owen and others, that leaving a big club to ply your trade for a so called 'smaller' club, can reap benefits.</div><div><br /></div><div>There will have been many pundits that would have considered Johnson's move to Portsmouth to be the right one for his career, but at the same time they may have also considered a club like Portsmouth to be about right for someone like Johnson after losing favour at Chelsea.</div><div><br /></div><div>But where Scott Parker and Michael Owen have come from big clubs (Chelsea and Real Madrid respectively) after not performing at the peak of their powers and losing favour with their respected managers, gone to a smaller club - although Newcastle isn't exactly a small club, but I digress - like Johnson did, they have yet to make it back to the big leagues and play once again for a 'top 4' side or a major European team.</div><div><br /></div><div>Johnson, thanks to his determination and forever improving performances for club and, now, country, is more than deserving of his second chance at establishing himself at one of the big four. Chelsea might even wish they still had him on their books after Ferreira and a host of potential suitors to the right back position at Chelsea have tried, and failed somewhat, to shine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Moving to Liverpool will only increase Johnson's chances of keeping his England place and will allow him to challenge for silver wear more regularly, and he is an example to all professionals who drop down from dizzying heights, that if you work hard enough, you can make it back.</div></div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-11376533856656968982009-06-20T20:57:00.002+01:002009-06-20T20:57:54.930+01:00Step forward Federer, Murray....Robson?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KzrfouV-U-QVYQBAP9W_1tfnyjVAKnmW7Yb7mQtj-w-lZgwrgKGGY6iFTT-Hgrh3-7qa77-MhGQJgdsVHfXX3Z_xkj3vThXP5c1YxQBI9qqfTkTuAzJdFT4d9avecDPqu5b-1j19q7Bx/s1600-h/laura-robson-404_685348c.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KzrfouV-U-QVYQBAP9W_1tfnyjVAKnmW7Yb7mQtj-w-lZgwrgKGGY6iFTT-Hgrh3-7qa77-MhGQJgdsVHfXX3Z_xkj3vThXP5c1YxQBI9qqfTkTuAzJdFT4d9avecDPqu5b-1j19q7Bx/s400/laura-robson-404_685348c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349501425485292658" /></a><br /><div><div>50 weeks ago to the day the centre court was packed to the rafters, with millions more watching at home, as most of the nation watched the Williams sisters battle it out for the Wimbledon women's singles title.</div><div><br /></div><div>My eyes however, not being a fan of the Williams sisters in the slightest, was well and truly transfixed on Court 1, and on a diminutive young Brit who was to be thrust into the limelight at the tender age of 14.</div><div><br /></div><div>Laura Robson, while the sisters Venus and Serena were fighting each other for the big prize of the day, was winning the junior Wimbledon title, beating Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 6-3 3-6 6-1, becoming the first Brit to win the girls event since Anabel Croft won in 1984.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nearly a year on and Wimbledon is set to begin its 2009 version, centre court roof and all, on Monday, with Robson being awarded a wild card by the All England Club into the main draw for her achievements over the previous 12 months which has seen her reach another junior grand slam final, and become the junior world number one.</div><div><br /></div><div>The draw, which was released on Friday, was not so kind to young Robson, pitting her against the highest ranked player not to be seeded, world number 33 Daniela Hantuchova.</div><div><br /></div><div>The match up between the veteran - despite being just 26 years of age - Slovakian and the teenage Brit could be seen as some sort of changing of the guard in some aspects, but may also remind Robson, if she needed it, that sometimes fame, pressure and prestige, can come too early in a tennis players career. All that she needs to be reminded of this is to look across the net come Monday or Tuesday.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hantuchova broke onto the scene back in 2002, winning Indian Wells and reaching the top 5 in the world. She was seen as being potentially someone who could break the dominance of the Williams sisters, who at the time had complete control over the women's game.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alas this wasn't to be the case, as Hantuchova's fall from grace began at the 2003 Wimbledon, where seeded 9th, she lost a tight second round encounter, 12-10 in the final set, to Shinobu Asagoe.</div><div><br /></div><div>With heightened media speculation over her weight and figure, as well as the pressure coming from tennis circles regarding her potential greatness, Hantuchova broke down in tears, crying between points as she lost the match.</div><div><br /></div><div>The media has always had its criticisms when it comes to hype, and naturally they hyped up Robson after her Wimbledon triumph last year. But so far, in the grand scheme of things, Robson has been well looked after in terms of media coverage, helped by opting not to take the usual leap into the professional game and sticking with the junior and smaller ITF events.</div><div><br /></div><div>The last few months have seen Robson go through a bit of a growth spurt, which in turn has prevented her from playing much in the lead up to Wimbledon, but while the nation will be watching Roger Federer, as he begins his attempt at becoming the most successful tennis player in history, Andy Murray, in his attempt to rewrite British tennis history, and the Williams sisters, as they fight for another jolt at the Wimbledon title that they have won seven times between them, my eyes will, for the first round at least, be on Robson, as she makes her Grand Slam bow, the starting point of what, if done right, will be a great career in world tennis.</div></div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-14608641856748878692009-06-17T10:38:00.004+01:002009-06-17T11:13:39.860+01:00Let the Countdown Begin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAoeF_bvHQrgeP6NcoDyZNe1foLlN60ldF6LDHvk9vOobiVTvk0MOy00QiQrkySfYzPB9NiG3s-dH5Uzy-Ukcf4NxUyoMnNJbxhHLn8hmJsP-QzJzq85RvPLkCEhnr5rkG4qkrFwWdcta/s1600-h/_45784794_newcelebrate460.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAoeF_bvHQrgeP6NcoDyZNe1foLlN60ldF6LDHvk9vOobiVTvk0MOy00QiQrkySfYzPB9NiG3s-dH5Uzy-Ukcf4NxUyoMnNJbxhHLn8hmJsP-QzJzq85RvPLkCEhnr5rkG4qkrFwWdcta/s400/_45784794_newcelebrate460.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348229001680674034" /></a><br /><div>It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">doesn't</span> feel that long ago that the 2008/09 Premier League season had concluded, with champions Manchester United trying their best to relegate Hull with their reserve side and Newcastle United and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Middlesbrough</span> losing their fight with the trap door.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the countdown to the 2009/10 season is now fully underway after the fixtures were released this morning for the up coming season. </div><div><br /></div><div>The release of the fixtures is always somewhat of a formality, a season is not going to organise itself, but for promoted sides from the Premier League down to League Two it tends to be a much anticipated event, as <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">newly</span> promoted sides find out who they will face first in new surroundings. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's not so much an event for those sides who have been relegated though, remembering times of old and realising times of new, as they also get used to new surroundings and more humble opponents.</div><div><br /></div><div>Newcastle United and West <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bromwich</span> Albion will have to wait a few days longer than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Middlesbrough</span> to realise what its like to be a Championship side, as they face each other on the opening day of the season, with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Middlesbrough</span> taking on Sheffield United at home, who will want to stamp their authority early, as they look to go one step further than last season. </div><div><br /></div><div>The focus of today though is without doubt on the Premier League, and there are some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">intriguing</span> matches in the opening weekends of the season. </div><div><br /></div><div>Most of the focus lies with the new boys, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Burnley</span>, Wolves and Birmingham, and its the boys in blue who have drawn the short straw, opening their campaign with an away trip to Manchester United. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">I'm</span> sure though that many Birmingham fans will be thinking that not only will it be a nice away day in the, normal, opening day sun, but it will be good to get the toughest fixture of the season out the way from the off. </div><div><br /></div><div>Manchester United <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">couldn't</span> have asked for an easier start to the season, starting with Birmingham at home they then become <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Burnley's</span> first home opponents in the Premier League, rounding off the opening trio of matches with the slightly tougher prospect of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Wigan</span> Athletic away. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Burnley</span>, the surprise package of last year's Championship open with an interesting match away to Stoke, and with the adrenaline, no doubt, running high throughout their squad, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Burnley</span> and Owen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Coyle</span> would fancy getting a point, or maybe three, at the Britannia, before they entertain Manchester United three days later. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for the champions of last year's Championship, Wolverhampton Wanderer's, Mick McCarthy and his men will be hoping that they do not reproduce their one season cameo they had in the 2003/04 season, and in theory are best placed to be more than a one season wonder, after having the longest of the three teams to prepare for the up coming Premier League campaign. </div><div><br /></div><div>Wolves open up with a home game, the only one of the three promoted sides to do so, against West Ham United. Not the toughest of fixtures, but one that McCarthy will not be taking lightly against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Gianfranco</span> Zola's side. </div><div><br /></div><div>59 days and counting, then, till the new Premier League season. It will have to go some way to beat last year's story book season, which saw twists and turns from top to bottom of the league throughout the nine months, and with Wolves, Birmingham and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Burnley</span> joining the party, its set to be yet another magnificent season of Premier League football.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Opening Day Fixtures:</b></div><div>Aston Villa vs Wigan Athletic</div><div>Blackburn Rovers vs Manchester City</div><div>Bolton Wanderers vs Sunderland</div><div>Chelsea vs Hull City</div><div>Everton vs Arsenal</div><div>Manchester United vs Birmingham City</div><div>Portsmouth vs Fulham</div><div>Stoke City vs Burnley</div><div>Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool</div><div>Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United</div><div><br /></div><div><i>*Matches to be played the weekend of the 15th/16th/17th of August</i></div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-27305068522926532522009-06-14T16:07:00.002+01:002009-06-14T16:53:02.255+01:00Murray Continues Year of Firsts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBFnZbD7dz3FY5hU-j7uFxWcALaMDs20PUGRoTCsQnIDp6Ns02sQG4PW3tq2pbjYzLsRtWY7-ohSbpB9gY3pzp2uNlq7X0oCePeh_EA3nZDH8mSja0tgowjsLgY__BXEKwlX-9yg4dQyk/s1600-h/dabfecec408a9597f8a3893ebf51095c-getty-86297596mw076_aegon_champio.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBFnZbD7dz3FY5hU-j7uFxWcALaMDs20PUGRoTCsQnIDp6Ns02sQG4PW3tq2pbjYzLsRtWY7-ohSbpB9gY3pzp2uNlq7X0oCePeh_EA3nZDH8mSja0tgowjsLgY__BXEKwlX-9yg4dQyk/s400/dabfecec408a9597f8a3893ebf51095c-getty-86297596mw076_aegon_champio.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347201372346784914" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBFnZbD7dz3FY5hU-j7uFxWcALaMDs20PUGRoTCsQnIDp6Ns02sQG4PW3tq2pbjYzLsRtWY7-ohSbpB9gY3pzp2uNlq7X0oCePeh_EA3nZDH8mSja0tgowjsLgY__BXEKwlX-9yg4dQyk/s1600-h/dabfecec408a9597f8a3893ebf51095c-getty-86297596mw076_aegon_champio.jpg"></a>Not since 1938, when Henry 'Bunny' Rogers claimed the title at the Queens Club in London, has there been a British winner of the pre-Wimbledon tournament. Records, though, are there to be broken, and today Andy Murray achieved two more firsts in his career, to add to the long list he has already achieved this season.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>His 7-5 6-4 demolition of America's James Blake, in just over an hour, was the culmination of a perfect week of tennis for the World number three, as he brushed aside every opponent placed in front of him with consummate ease. </div><div><br /></div><div>The win gave Murray his first ever grass court title of his career and greatly enhanced his already major chances of winning Wimbledon, and possibly claiming his first grand slam title. </div><div><br /></div><div>This year has already been a year of firsts for Murray. He reached the quarter's and semi finals of a clay court event for the first time, had his best performance at Roland Garros, reaching the quarter finals there for the first time, and also became the first British man in the open era to reach the world number three ranking, where he now sits behind the mercurial Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who Murray is inching ever closer to as the weeks go by. </div><div><br /></div><div>The ease in which Murray claimed the title at Queens, his fourth title of the year, and his 12th of his career (one more than Tim Henman achieved in his entire career) is only going to get the British press into more of a furore over his chances at Wimbledon, but with Nadal seemingly not at 100%, many would consider Murray as second favourite for Wimbledon at the very least, but when you also take into consideration that Murray has beaten Federer on their previous four meetings, maybe Murray could even be considered overall favourite for the title. </div><div><br /></div><div>Neither Nadal or Federer, though, will be getting any practice on the grass before Wimbledon. Nadal will be giving his knee the longest possible amount of time to recuperate before defending his crown, and Federer withdrew from his usual warm up event in Halle due to exhaustion.</div><div><br /></div><div>Going down the list, Novak Djokovic, the world number four, fell short in the final at Halle today, losing out to Tommy Haas, who always seems to do well around this time of year. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some other players on the tour that may be considered a threat are two time finalist Andy Roddick and possibly Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, but unlike any other surface, there are only a select few that can be considered serious contenders on grass, not that last years Wimbledon was a good indicator of that, with Jonas Bjorkman and Rainer Schuettler reaching the semi finals.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I talked about Nadal's exit from Roland Garros a fortnight ago, and hyped up Federer's chances of finally completing the career grand slam, I spoke of a particular omen that Federer fans may have liked to have held on to. Federer was competing in his 11th Roland Garros this year, which also happened to be the same amount that Andre Agassi had been in before he also completed the career grand slam in Paris, the last person to do so prior to Federer.</div><div><br /></div><div>If your looking for an omen for Murray this time around, and for Wimbledon coming up, then you may want to hold onto the fact that when Austin won Queen's way back in 1938, he followed it up with a Wimbledon final. Despite Murray's determined nature I think not even he would be unhappy at reaching a Wimbledon final, question is, if he gets there, can he win it?</div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-59213708556078010582009-06-11T19:13:00.003+01:002009-06-11T21:40:41.399+01:00Welcome back Florentino Perez<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5j3FAsV2CinNbgZdzeTOTmkVQzQRteR3rmZ-FpFYDpvRAyRo1Nt9pD51_UEViJt_b8EhpDGc_ldD_dLqvasDj0xEShWFmeoPJ1YtXBUg2WqtDvK1gY-2tTsRv0b0pzbrwFgK_SHocnoM/s1600-h/Florentino+Perez.jpg.ashx.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 321px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5j3FAsV2CinNbgZdzeTOTmkVQzQRteR3rmZ-FpFYDpvRAyRo1Nt9pD51_UEViJt_b8EhpDGc_ldD_dLqvasDj0xEShWFmeoPJ1YtXBUg2WqtDvK1gY-2tTsRv0b0pzbrwFgK_SHocnoM/s400/Florentino+Perez.jpg.ashx.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346135579174186082" /></a><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Florentino</span> Perez, the newly elected President of Real Madrid Football Club, has been back in charge of the club for the proverbial five minutes and has already splashed £136 million on two of the most recognised names in world football, and it doesn't look like he will be stopping there, as he tries to bring back the '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Galacticos</span>' philosophy at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bernabeu</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>The announcement today of Manchester United accepting an £80 million bid for world player of the year Cristiano <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ronaldo</span>, coupled with the purchase of AC Milan's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kaka</span> for a mere £56 million earlier in the week, will begin to send shivers down the spines of many in European football, as Madrid show their financial muscle, ironically during one of the worst financial crises in living memory. </div><div><br /></div><div>Try telling that, though, to Perez, who's previous reign at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bernabeu</span> saw the likes of Luis <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Figo</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Zinedine</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Zidane</span> and David <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Beckham</span> play in the famous all white of Madrid, and with Madrid touted to be in the market for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Bayern</span> Munich's Franck <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Ribery</span>, Valencia's David Villa and Liverpool's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Xabi</span> Alonso, among others, you can rest assured that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Kaka</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ronaldo</span> wont be the only ones coming to Madrid over the summer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Those who keep their finger on the pulse in world football will remember the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">unceremonious</span> way in which the previous '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Galacticos</span>' disbanded, with reports of dressing room unrest and players not bothering to train, as the millions that were being spent on them, as well as paid to them, was going to their heads. </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite the issues that surrounded the end of the previous '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Galacticos</span>' era, you cannot argue with the success that it brought to the Spanish giants, who in Perez's first term as Madrid president, between 2000 and 2006, raked in two La <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Liga</span> titles (2000/01 & 2002/03), two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Copa</span> Del Rey's (2001/02 & 2003/04), two Spanish Super Cup's (2001 & 2003), a Champions League title (2001/02), an Intercontinental title (2002) and a European Super Cup (2002). </div><div><br /></div><div>A haul of trophies like that would be more than enough for any normal club, but considering the amount of money that was paid for players like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Figo</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Zidane</span>, this was not a normal club, and ultimately it was the lack of major honours, at domestic, as well as European level, that was the philosophy's down fall. </div><div><br /></div><div>By bringing in the biggest names in world football, this generally meant bringing in attack minded players, meaning that the Madrid defense was less than ideal and far from what was required to win numerous domestic honours and to challenge more regularly in Europe. </div><div><br /></div><div>With the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">acquisition</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Kaka</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Ronaldo</span> it seems that Perez will continue where he left off with his '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Galacticos</span>' philosophy, despite its previous down falls, as he tries to bridge the gap between themselves and bitter rival's Barcelona, who last year became only the second team in European football to complete the 'treble', winning their domestic league, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">their</span> major domestic cup and the Champions League all in one season.</div><div><br /></div><div>On the BBC website, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Florentino</span> Perez was quoted to have said "we will build a spectacular team with top-notch players. We have set up a strong and stable sporting project, which will be able to call upon footballers who will turn each Real Madrid match into a fascinating <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">rendezvous</span>."</div><div><br /></div><div>The club itself has always had a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">mystique</span> that goes along with it, and with their illustrious history in tow, despite performing below par in recent years, Real Madrid is still somewhere that the top players in the world want to be. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Ronaldo</span> expressed his desire to move to Madrid last year, despite coming off the back of a season which saw him score 42 goals for Manchester United and collected the Premier League and Champions League trophies. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's going to be interesting to see how Real Madrid do business over the summer, and you can be sure that they will go about it in their usual circus style. God knows how many more millions will be spent building this star studded team, but for Madrid's sake lets hope that they, and Perez, learn from the mistakes that were made in 2006, and for the rest of Europe, lets hope they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">don't</span>. </div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-71545677939113790592009-06-07T23:58:00.007+01:002009-06-11T17:46:13.154+01:00Roger Federer: The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnqvJmotfvALDfLv7qdrNpe32xBryLtZY0Nb81xY7z9dnSnU0fRI1wzkiF7Bb19Q0q7REvGA4UYjki6Uc_xsq2Q_A6tn4kpYpy5_mXcSBFhH0HApl3rZGB-kl7dUYI7wHMHfFRp2jD-Rm/s1600-h/_45883051_locker_766.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnqvJmotfvALDfLv7qdrNpe32xBryLtZY0Nb81xY7z9dnSnU0fRI1wzkiF7Bb19Q0q7REvGA4UYjki6Uc_xsq2Q_A6tn4kpYpy5_mXcSBFhH0HApl3rZGB-kl7dUYI7wHMHfFRp2jD-Rm/s400/_45883051_locker_766.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344739767626913682" /></a><br />The quote that was used in the title of this blog entry was attributed to the wrestler Bret "The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hitman</span>" Heart, a man who's trade, while being brutal, at the core was fictitious and fantasy. Today, Roger <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Federer</span> was in a fantasy world of his own, but there was certainly nothing fictional about the way he strode to his 14<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> Grand Slam title, and completed the career Grand Slam, becoming only the sixth man in history to do so. <div><br /></div><div>In his 11<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> appearance at the French Open, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Federer</span> managed to brush aside the unheralded Robin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Soderling</span>, 6-1 7-6 6-4, to win the French Open for the first time, an achievement that had previously seemed so distant in his three previous finals, where the clay court maestro, Rafael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Nadal</span>, had previously stood in his way. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today's victory, though, was more than just another Grand Slam win for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Federer</span>, as he finally achieved what so many in the game believed to be his destiny, the mantle of being the best player ever to pick up a racket, and by equalling Pete <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Sampras</span>' collection of 14 majors and becoming the first man since Andre Agassi in 1999 to achieve the career Grand Slam, he certainly gained that honour with aplomb.</div><div><br /></div><div>For me, all eyes are now fully focused on Wimbledon, as in two weeks time the newly crowned champion of clay will step onto the hallowed turf at SW19, as he begins his attempt to surpass the great <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Sampras</span>' record of grand slam titles, and wouldn't it be apropos if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Federer</span> could achieve that at the venue where both <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Sampras</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Federer</span> have had the most Grand Slam success?</div><div><br /></div><div>By <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Federer's</span> high standards, the last two years have not been the best, losing matches that in previous years would have been unheard of for him to lose, but despite it all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Federer</span> has remained resolute and has still managed to achieve, year on year, things that the other 1913 players ranked below him could only dream about. </div><div><br /></div><div>Andy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Roddick</span> is one player who is more than happy to speak up about what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Federer</span> has achieved in the game an when asked by some American journalist's about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Federer's</span> 'bad' season in 2008, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Roddick</span> replied <i>"you guys are brutal. Absolutely brutal. The guy has only made two Grand Slam finals this year. I would love his bad season. I would love it." </i>Such is the level that this man has set the rest of the world, that when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Federer</span> doesn't win a match or two, he is considered to be off his game or even past it. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Federer</span> has achieved so much in the game already, and despite being 27, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Federer</span> himself has stated that, if fit and well, he could continue playing for another 10 years, something that must send shivers down the spines of many on the tour. </div><div><br /></div><div>Now, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Federer</span> will have his sights firmly set, not on something that he has yet to achieve, but on regaining two things that he had previous held for so long, but has now let slip through his fingers. Firstly the Wimbledon title and secondly the title of being the World number one, two things that currently lie in the hands of the pretender to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Federer's</span> thrown, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Nadal</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Before today's events, there were still some people out there who questioned whether <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Federer</span> really was the best man ever to step onto a tennis court. After years of domination, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Federer</span> had let slip his immaculate reign at the top of the game, and seemed vulnerable like never before, but through the turmoil of losing, not one, not two, but five Grand Slam finals to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Nadal</span>, including his grasp on the Wimbledon crown and number one ranking, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Federer</span> has now come out the other side, and can once and for all be called the best there was and the best there is. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for the best there ever will be, this remains to be seen, with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Nadal</span> currently perched on top of the ATP tree, with six grand slam titles already under his belt, and four years <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Federer's</span> junior. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Nadal</span> may well surpass <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Sampras</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Federer's</span> record in years to come, but for now Federer can revel in the fact that he is, officially, the best player in the history of tennis and is the bar for the Nadal's of this world, an achievement that is fully deserved, not only for what he has achieved in the game, but for the way he has conducted himself on and off the court, and his graceful, elegant style of play, that all tennis players aspire to replicate.</div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-38435757584502241722009-06-05T21:44:00.008+01:002009-06-06T15:41:09.245+01:00Ashes? We can't even beat the Dutch!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7o_gUoOR58nCbdy2e1isKxg_JqlTAVfjz_I2On8OsNP_UMYaNSq41oFbnne9y62uqqwEwFdKbgUTEheP8QKmFhorhzXb6HaGkpe-iiIOf9aiPGshnZ6qq-7MM3bBr7VLw1Rs_-DMP-cO/s1600-h/_45875828_colly_getty766.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7o_gUoOR58nCbdy2e1isKxg_JqlTAVfjz_I2On8OsNP_UMYaNSq41oFbnne9y62uqqwEwFdKbgUTEheP8QKmFhorhzXb6HaGkpe-iiIOf9aiPGshnZ6qq-7MM3bBr7VLw1Rs_-DMP-cO/s400/_45875828_colly_getty766.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344224621213068562" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7o_gUoOR58nCbdy2e1isKxg_JqlTAVfjz_I2On8OsNP_UMYaNSq41oFbnne9y62uqqwEwFdKbgUTEheP8QKmFhorhzXb6HaGkpe-iiIOf9aiPGshnZ6qq-7MM3bBr7VLw1Rs_-DMP-cO/s1600-h/_45875828_colly_getty766.jpg"></a>In 32 days time Paul <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Collingwood</span></span> and his band of merry men are going to walk out in front of a bumper crowd in Cardiff, with the Barmy Army hoping that England can make a decent start to their attempt at regaining the Ashes, when they take on Ricky <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ponting's</span></span> Australia in the first test.<div><br /></div><div>However, with just over a month to go to the much anticipated test series, against the world number one test side and our bitter enemies, England have gone and slumped to a rather <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">embarrassing</span> defeat to cricketing minnows The Netherlands, in the opening game of the World Twenty20 tournament, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">that's</span> being hosted in England, adding <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">insurmountable</span> pressure on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Collingwood</span></span> and the rest of the team, ahead of the Ashes series, which in 2005 brought the whole country together as we won the 'little urn' for the first time since 1987. </div><div><br /></div><div>Prior to the start of the Twenty20 tournament, England had notched up an encouraging win over the West Indies in their second of two warm up matches, but in the warm up match that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">preceded</span> it, the England side looked less than convincing against another minor cricketing nation, Scotland, but ahead of the serious stuff, no one would ever have predicted this outcome. </div><div><br /></div><div>An over throw off the final ball of the final over from Chris Broad allowed the Dutch to get the two runs they needed to clinch the shock win and open up this years World Twenty20 with a bang, however the win was no fluke, in fact, it was more than the Dutch deserved as England were punished for not being more daring and attacking in the final overs of their innings, and performing poorly in the field, where on a number of occasions the fielders had clear chances to take the wickets apart and get some run outs, but missed every single time, including with the final ball. </div><div><br /></div><div>England now must beat Pakistan on Sunday, in their final group game, to have any chance of reaching the knock out rounds of the tournament but with the Ashes just a month away, the greater concern is whether we can even compete with the Australian's, if we can't even beat the Dutch on our on patch. </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite being the innovators of the Twenty20 game, England <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">aren't</span> that great at it, and it seems that the shorter the match, the worse we are, so in test match conditions we have as good a chance of any of beating the Aussie's, but when you look at the team that walked out against the men in orange yesterday at Lords, you have to be a little worried, as at least five of the 11 players in the team will be in, or at least in contention for, a starting place come July 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span></span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Australia, about six months ago, were looking a little worse for wear, and England had cause for optimism after the Aussie's lost to South Africa in Australia, their first test series defeat on home soil in 16 years, but since then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ponting's</span></span> men have pushed on and have markedly improved, coming back to beat South Africa in South Africa and have looked close to their best. </div><div><br /></div><div>The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Australian</span> team that walks out with England on that opening day of the test series, is not going to be a familiar one to non cricket followers, as very few of the players that England beat back in 2005 are still playing, but their current crop are young, exciting and seem to be a great blend of youth and experience. </div><div><br /></div><div>Off the pitch Australia have had some minor disciplinary problems, having to send Andrew <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Symonds</span></span> home for breaching alcohol rules yet again, but the Australian's have dealt with that quickly and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">swiftly</span> and hope to continue their encouraging start to their summer tour of England, with a win in their opening group game of the World Twenty20 this afternoon against the West Indies. </div><div><br /></div><div>Being beaten by the Netherlands in any form of cricket is going to hurt the England boys for a little while, but they have no other choice but to shake that feeling quickly as tomorrow they have a must win match against Pakistan, where only a win will do to take them into the knockout stages and restore some pride in the England dressing room. </div><div><br /></div><div>As the Ashes draws closer and closer, the Australians, being the professionals that they are, sure wont be taking England lightly despite this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">embarrassing</span> defeat, but it will have certainly raised a few eyebrows in the Australian camp, and made one or two have a little laugh to themselves, and will have only of raised the Australian's expectations of retaining the Ashes this summer.</div></div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-67793422322416423222009-06-01T16:59:00.000+01:002009-06-01T17:00:03.831+01:00Champions Suffer Exits in Paris<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZOedXzsrmbKFqzOfJsUNZ7wopMSN82dBFMW9PTs_k35K8OCo35T9yxTFbvr-wt2P0C_HiP3cSOuufyWtqjn7iPF8LKf8Cq8E1wReKUZOPcHFUKnxS-qOiq0FPn85mb0J0eVvCQN68Lvv/s1600-h/_45848705_nadal_gett.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZOedXzsrmbKFqzOfJsUNZ7wopMSN82dBFMW9PTs_k35K8OCo35T9yxTFbvr-wt2P0C_HiP3cSOuufyWtqjn7iPF8LKf8Cq8E1wReKUZOPcHFUKnxS-qOiq0FPn85mb0J0eVvCQN68Lvv/s400/_45848705_nadal_gett.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342389535802974802" /></a><br /><div>What would have been the odds on BOTH defending champions being knocked out of the French Open on the same day? The odds might not have been that big on Ana Ivanovic going out to an in form Victoria Azarenka, but Rafael Nadal losing in four sets to Sweden's Robin Soderling is something else entirely.<div><br /></div><div>Before the tournament started, even as last years tournament ended, you would have got ridiculously short odds on Nadal retaining his Paris title, for a record 5th time, but after his 6-2 6-7(2) 6-4 7-6(2) defeat to Soderling, on the Philippe Chatrier court, yesterday, that is longer a possibility, opening the door for Roger Federer, and maybe even Andy Murray, to make a run to the final on Sunday. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the women's side, Ana Ivanovic has not looked the same player since winning the title at Roland Garros last year, her one and only Grand Slam to date, a complete contrast to Nadal, who has done nothing but improve since winning his first Slam, four years ago, at the same tournament. </div><div><br /></div><div>Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, has been one of the most improved players on the WTA Tour this year and has some sizable scalps to her name already in her fledgling career. Her current ranking shows that yesterday's 6-2 6-3 defeat of the defending champion isn't that big of a surprise at all. Azarenka is ranked 9th in the world, Ivanovic 8th, so not a whole lot of difference there, but based on points accrued this year alone, Azarenka is the 4th best player so far in 2009, Ivanovic 12th best, so if we're getting statistical then an Ivanovic win would have been more of a shock today than the other way around. </div><div><br /></div><div>With Nadal and Soderling, though, you can flip, twist, dilute, blow up or do all of the above with the statistics, but whatever you would of done with them, you would have found that world the number one Nadal losing to Soderling, his first loss on the clay at Roland Garros in 32 matches, a massive shock, arguably one of the biggest shocks in recent memory. </div><div><br /></div><div>This match was always going to have some spice to it, as Soderling and Nadal are not the best of friends on the court, and Soderling is known as one of the more fiery characters on the ATP tour, but when you consider that the two of them last met just a month ago, on clay, in Rome, with Nadal winning 6-1 6-0, this has to be considered a turnaround of epic proportions. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some people questioned whether Nadal was such a heavy favourite, going into the tournament this year, as everyone presumed, following his defeat in the Madrid Masters Final to Federer, but on that day Nadal had just finished a four hour epic the day before and was visibly spent, making Federer's arduous task that little bit easier. </div><div><br /></div><div>As for the match against Soderling, yesterday, there was none of that, as Nadal had comfortably worked his way into the 4th round, without dropping a set, and would have been odds on favourite to beat the Swede and waltz into the Quarter Finals for the 5th year running. </div><div><br /></div><div>Soderling, despite being seeded, has a terrible Grand Slam record, never before reaching the 4th round of a major, so you would have to feel that he would have been happy with his weeks work, but that could also be a major indication of why he played so well, knowing that he had nothing to lose, and even if he did walk off the court defeated it would have been the best Grand Slam performance of his career. </div><div><br /></div><div>Soderling's play was of the highest quality against Nadal yesterday, with relentless ground strokes that were deep and flat and were constantly putting the Spaniard under pressure, and despite Nadal's exceptional defensive abilities, even this was too much for him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking on Eurosport last night, Mats Wilander, a former French Open champion, reckoned that if you were to mould a tennis player to beat Nadal on clay, it would have been in the form of Soderling; Tall, powerful, deep flat ground strokes, all the ingredients required to beat the master of the clay court, and all of those attributes Soderling brought to the match, and then some.</div><div><br /></div><div>The aftermath of the defeat leaves the top half of the men's draw wide open, the half of the draw that Andy Murray is currently sat in. Federer, in the bottom half of the draw, would have to feel that if he was to ever win the French Open, and complete a career grand slam, then this would be his best chance, but as I write this, Federer is two sets to love down to Germany's Tommy Haas, and should he be defeated as well, Murray would be the highest seed left in the draw. </div><div><br /></div><div>The last man to complete a career Grand Slam was the great Andre Agassi, who completed his collection of all four majors at the 1999 French Open, at the 11th time of asking. The 2009 French Open is Federer's 11th also, so if your a Federer fan and your looking for an omen or two, this may be one of them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Despite the draw opening up for Murray, it is still unlikely that he will be able to pick up the trophy on Sunday, but so far this week he has shown that he has improved ten fold on the clay. His Quarter Final tomorrow against Fernando Gonzalez will be the biggest test that he has faced so far, but with his guts and determination, anything is possible, and knowing that Nadal is not going to be there come Semi Final day, may be a massive motivator for the Scot. </div><div><br /></div><div>Clay though is one surface where rankings don't always mean everything, and there will be a lot of people a little lower down the rankings that are equal if not better than people ranked above them, when it comes to playing on clay. You still have the likes of Juan Martin Del Potro, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Gael Monfils and Nikolay Davydenko, who are all quite verse on a clay court, and what about Andy Roddick, if you think that Murray winning the title would be a shock and that Nadal losing to Soderling was a shock, then Roddick winning here would be as if Jesus had come back to life, but he's still there and he's still fighting. </div><div><br /></div><div>The women's draw has always been an open one, it was before Ivanovic was knocked out and still is now that she's not there, but based on the first four matches of the women's tournament its going to take something special to stop the world number one, Dinara Safina, getting her hands on her first career Grand Slam, after winning her opening four rounds 6-0 6-0, 6-1 6-1, 6-2 6-0 and 6-1 6-0. </div><div><br /></div><div>What is known is that this French Open is shaping up to be one of the best yet, and as I've mentioned before on here I'm not a great fan of clay court tennis, but even I'm hooked and will be all the way to the final.</div></div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-73053146683760751552009-05-26T12:19:00.004+01:002009-05-26T13:12:43.735+01:00And the Winner of the Richest Prize in Football is....Burnley!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC87wuwXU_3MBDsGsDu_SHSAeQJn9IdBJyYL0IzGGGoT94vw76eBEewELyV9QgFy-S-VrD9kqcAgy73CHbUBAzFicTPZ-uwHtOIMT7FnbxWJW-tCVIvGQRlCblBj-RqvzzBOQlqIohwlJ/s1600-h/_45822245_burnley466.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC87wuwXU_3MBDsGsDu_SHSAeQJn9IdBJyYL0IzGGGoT94vw76eBEewELyV9QgFy-S-VrD9kqcAgy73CHbUBAzFicTPZ-uwHtOIMT7FnbxWJW-tCVIvGQRlCblBj-RqvzzBOQlqIohwlJ/s400/_45822245_burnley466.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340102004577474082" /></a><br />61 games, 25 players used and two minutes away from a Carling Cup Final against the World, European and English Champions would normally be enough for one season, for any normal small town club, but not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Burnley</span></span>, whose 1-0 win against Sheffield United won them the right to play in the biggest league in the world and compete against the best every week, not just in cup competitions. <div><br /></div><div>Owen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Coyle</span></span> has done something that has to be a kin to a miracle at Turf Moor who compiled his squad, spending just £2.5million pounds, and will next season see his side walk out against the biggest earners in the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>Only Manchester United have played more games this season than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Burnley</span></span>, with their Champions League Final against Barcelona tomorrow night being the 66<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span></span> game of their season, which has seen them compete in seven competitions, reaching at least the semi final in all of them, and so far winning four of them (including the Community Shield).</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">don't</span> need to tell you what the major differences are between <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Burnley</span></span> and Manchester United, so for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Coyle</span></span> to coax his team through a 61 game season, and only use 25 players in the process is, without a shadow of a doubt, verging on miraculous, and it just goes to show to the likes of Manchester City and the Chelsea's of this world that you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">don't</span> need big money to be successful. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Burnley</span></span> have come through this season because of their spirit and their togetherness. They fight for each other and are more like a family than colleagues, and that has shown in some of their more high profile matches this season, including yesterdays play off final. </div><div><br /></div><div>4-1 down after the first leg against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Tottenham</span></span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Hotspur</span></span> in the Semi Final of the Carling Cup, no one in their right mind would have honestly believed that they would be able to pull off a 3-0 victory to take the tie into extra time, and with a little more experience, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Burnley</span></span> may have been able to hold on those last two minutes, which would have seen them through on the away goals rule, and seen them walk out at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Wembley</span></span> against Manchester United. </div><div><br /></div><div>Wins against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Fulham</span></span>, Chelsea, Arsenal and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Tottenham</span></span> will only have given <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Coyle's</span></span> side a taste of what is to the come for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Burnley</span></span>, who despite these encouraging results will need a lot of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">investment</span> if they are to survive the gruelling Premier League. £60 million pounds should do it, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">shouldn't</span> it?</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">That's</span> the price tag that is placed on a place in the Premier League, with its increased television revenue and sponsorship that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">sees</span> matches <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">beamed</span> all over the world, and for the first time in the 18 year history of the Premier League, people in Asia and America will be able to see how a little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Lancashire</span></span> side called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Burnley</span></span> get on against the might of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea next season.</div><div><br /></div><div>In previous years <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Burnley</span></span> have had to sell one decent player every season in order to stay afloat, they will not have to worry about that this season and if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Coyle</span></span> is wise with his money, and the clubs chairman <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">isn't</span> too <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">frugal</span> with what he gives the Scotsman, there is no reason why <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Burnley</span></span> cannot repeat Hull and Stoke's example from this season and stay up. </div><div><br /></div><div>In terms of sheer size, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Burnley</span></span> are quite likely one of the smallest clubs to have ever graced the Premier League, along with maybe the likes of Bradford City and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Swindon</span></span> Town, but in terms of heart, togetherness and a sheer will to win, they can take on and beat the best. </div><div><br /></div><div>One question that will be raised is whether the young squad of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Burnley</span></span> will be able to recover from their long, tough, season in the Championship, and be fit, and ready, for an even tougher season in the Premier League? Adrenaline will no doubt get them through their first couple of games, but should <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Burnley</span></span> start the season poorly the knives will almost certainly be out for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Coyle</span></span> and his men. <br /></div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-76251512632433939772009-05-24T21:41:00.005+01:002009-05-25T14:20:55.520+01:00What now for Newcastle United?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0jl67tK6y9L3mYcwdSZ5P-uBNLFmEb4DtFLmcqP2Xweo7qJ_VmJPyq0It4sv1eYTpwKfUFl6XkHTHlnFjftZfWmb2MzHZ4MmgkPelWswQ_MRIYbo2aw5q9wWGn2SvQ_mmHdAt6ZkB2tC/s1600-h/Supporters-Aston-Villa-Newcastle-United-Premi_2310301.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0jl67tK6y9L3mYcwdSZ5P-uBNLFmEb4DtFLmcqP2Xweo7qJ_VmJPyq0It4sv1eYTpwKfUFl6XkHTHlnFjftZfWmb2MzHZ4MmgkPelWswQ_MRIYbo2aw5q9wWGn2SvQ_mmHdAt6ZkB2tC/s400/Supporters-Aston-Villa-Newcastle-United-Premi_2310301.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339495023690960850" /></a><br /><div>There have been some big clubs that have found themselves in the bottom three of the Premiership, once the final whistle has been blown on the final day. </div><div><br /></div><div>Leeds United, West Ham United, Blackburn Rovers, Nottingham Forrest, among others, have all seen the trap door to the Championship open below them, and for 40% of the teams that have been relegated from the Premier League since its inaugural season in 1992/93, it was to be their last visit to the top division of English football. </div><div><br /></div><div>Newcastle United, without any shadow of a doubt, can rank themselves along with the likes of West Ham and Leeds, as being another big, big club to have been found wanting come final day. </div><div><br /></div><div>Leeds have slipped further and further down the pecking order, languishing in League 1 for yet another season, West Ham United managed to bounce back at the second time of asking, after losing out in the playoffs first time around, they managed to win the title the following season, and have never looked back, but what will the fate of Newcastle be come next season, when they line up against the likes of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Peterborough</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Scunthorpe</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Doncaster</span>?</div><div><br /></div><div>A whole host of people, whether they be neutral or Newcastle fans themselves, in hindsight, would probably argue that relegation from the Premier League is what the club needed if they were to ever move forward, after recent years of constant chopping and changing at managerial level, all the way to board room level, never allowing one man to mould the team into his own. </div><div><br /></div><div>Alan Shearer was seen as the saviour of Newcastle when he came in, set with the task of keeping Newcastle United in the Premier League, with just eight games remaining to work his magic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Five points from a possible 24 was never going to be enough, with Shearer's only managerial victory coming at home to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Middlesbrough</span>, who themselves find themselves looking forward to a season in the Championship next year. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first thing that Newcastle will have to do is slash the wages at the club. The likes of Michael Owen, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Obafemi</span> Martins and Mark <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Vidulka</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">don't</span> come cheap, and with the wage structure at the club having to drastically be reduced, players leaving the club is an inevitability. </div><div><br /></div><div>Owen, Martins, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Vidulka</span>, Damien Duff, Kevin Nolan are just five players who I consider to be Premier League class, and it would shock me if more than one of those players hung around to get Newcastle out of the mess, that they have ultimately put the club in. </div><div><br /></div><div>The next issue that the club will have to face is who is going to be the man to take them forward?</div><div><br /></div><div>When Shearer came in, his tenure was to last the final eight games of the season while Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Kinnear</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">recuperated</span> from his heart surgery, but in the weeks leading up to today many people are of the belief that Shearer will stay on, a choice that no Newcastle fan would have a problem with. </div><div><br /></div><div>One question you will have to ask, though, is will Shearer have the experience and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">nous</span> to get Newcastle out of the Championship, which is one of the most competitive leagues in the world, where literally anyone can beat anyone.</div><div><br /></div><div>On top of that the Newcastle team that walked out today at Villa Park will almost certainly be nothing near the team that will walk out on the opening day of the Championship, with many new players coming into the club, almost as quickly as the high profile players go out the door, and who ever the manager is at the time will have a tough task moulding this new group of players into a team, that can compete in the Championship and carry the pressure that comes with playing for a big club whatever the level. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the club to really move forward, though, the board room shenanigans will have to come to an end.</div><div><br /></div><div>When Shearer came back to the club it was like Mike Ashley thought that he was back in favour with Newcastle fans, like he was when he brought in Kevin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Keegan</span>, but Newcastle fans <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">aren't</span> that stupid and are not going to forget what Ashley has done with the club so far. </div><div><br /></div><div>With Ashley's extortionate price tag, that he is placed on the club, it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">doesn't</span> seem that anyone is too keen to part with their money, especially in these troubled financial times, and the task of selling the club is only going to have been made tougher with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">today's</span> relegation. If the club is to be sold, Newcastle fans have two hopes, one that a billionaire oil tycoon turns up and fancies a toy, or that a true Newcastle fan, through and through, has the money required to buy the team and build it back to what it once was. </div><div><br /></div><div>Newcastle, as a team, have more than enough potential to bounce back at the first attempt, but as the stats show it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">isn't</span> always a foregone conclusion that a team from the Premiership will bounce back once they go down to the Championship.</div><div><br /></div><div>Apart from Leeds, there will have been no other side in the history of the Premier League that will have had to go through so much change in the three month period between the seasons, following relegation to the Championship, and because of this, Newcastle fans may have to wait more than a year before their team can bounce back. </div><div><br /></div><div>As long as Ashley can sell to the right person, who has the correct intentions for the club and a fair bit of patience, get a manager in who knows how to succeed at Championship level and coach a team through a tough and demanding 46 game season, and slash the wages to the extent that, should they not come back first time, it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">isn't</span> a disaster, then the future for Newcastle is bright. </div><div><br /></div><div>For now though a few more drinks are probably in order for Newcastle fans, but they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">shouldn't</span> look at this moment as a dark day for the club, but they should see is as the rebirth of Newcastle United, as they try and right the wrongs made by all that have gone before them. </div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-53819198980250913942009-05-24T15:00:00.003+01:002009-05-24T15:46:38.141+01:00Jenson Button: Worthy World Champion?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMfJHYc6I76y31bJwVuY_cayd7OAbJz-PHSzFXy96d4rommQ9Tr43Xf12eHD0NoAOUQQ8H5Hk_zwGoaVQFarS0AgNkpGCUd1ESefCjw0Q-9ehURUAKD0qRdeY7B-zwJYMU2iFQVay4f6_/s1600-h/JensonButton12.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMfJHYc6I76y31bJwVuY_cayd7OAbJz-PHSzFXy96d4rommQ9Tr43Xf12eHD0NoAOUQQ8H5Hk_zwGoaVQFarS0AgNkpGCUd1ESefCjw0Q-9ehURUAKD0qRdeY7B-zwJYMU2iFQVay4f6_/s400/JensonButton12.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339390821631501634" /></a><br /><div>I know its a bit presumptuous to assume that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Jenson</span> Button will become the Formula 1 World Champion for 2009 but after this afternoons win at the Monaco Grand <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Prix</span>, which he led from start to finish, Button has now opened up a 16 point lead from team mate Rubens <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Barrichello</span>, just six races into the season, that is championship form in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">anyone's</span> eyes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Those who are new or don't really know a lot about Formula 1 will be thinking, roughly, the same as me, how has <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Jenson</span> Button all of a sudden come good? </div><div><br /></div><div>Button has been on the F1 scene now since 2000, when he started his fledgling career with Williams. Since 2000 Button has been with Williams, Benetton, Renault, BAR and Honda, and in his eight seasons with those five teams he managed to collect one win, in 2006. </div><div><br /></div><div>This season alone Button has managed five wins from the opening six rounds of races in 2009, not bad considering that Button and the rest of the Honda team were resigned to the fact that they may not have a team to work for this season, after Honda decided to pull out of the Championship following the financial crisis that has affected so many car manufacturers across the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ross Brawn, the former Ferrari and Benetton supremo, though, saved the Honda team, and seemingly Button's career, when he decided to acquire the team, which he was team principle of anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div>Formula 1 bosses have been doing all that they can to try and change and make Formula 1 more competitive and a closer run thing. For years the Championship has been dominated by the likes of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">McClaren</span> and Ferrari, with Renault having some recent successes with Fernando Alonso, but these changes that have been brought in by the F1 bosses have had an opposite effect, in the sense that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">McClaren</span> and Ferrari are not dominating, but have had no effect in the sense that one team is still dominating the proceedings. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Jenson</span> Button has had many a critic in his career, and has up until now never shown his potential under his previous teams, but this year, Button and his Brawn GP have adapted the best to the new rules, and Button now has a car that he can compete with and show what he is made of. </div><div><br /></div><div>Button fans are obviously enjoying this new found success and have known, since Button came onto the circuit, that given the right car he would be able to compete with the best on the grid. But with all these changes that have limited the performances of World Champion Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari boys, if Button is to continue his form that he has shown so far this season, will his title be merited, as arguably the best drivers in previous years have been unable to compete due to the rule changes?</div><div><br /></div><div>The old philosophy from football of you can only beat whats put in front of you can be applied to all sports, even F1. Button has had the luck of having a car that can compete and win races, a car that he has never had before, and despite the fact that the usual names of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">McClaren</span> and Ferrari aren't keeping up to pace with the Brawn GP team, should not take too much away from Button's achievement. </div><div><br /></div><div>There will always be some people in F1 circles who will question the merit of the title should Button win the Championship in November, and in some aspects, this year is a poisoned chalice for whoever wins the title because of the amount of chances that have been made and implemented for the first time this season.</div><div><br /></div><div>Button looks odds on to win the title come November but should anyone else be able to take the title from Button and the Brawn GP team, they will have to go along with the fact that they have won the title under contrasting circumstances to the likes of Alonso, Hamilton and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Raikkonen</span> of previous years. </div><div><br /></div><div>An imaginary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">asterix</span> will be placed next to '2009 World Champion <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Jenson</span> Button'*, winner of a changed championship. </div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-85569456313690409622009-05-19T14:32:00.009+01:002009-05-19T15:45:22.601+01:00It's Squeeky Bum Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9i1bJOOf1sYazfw-dZMH_3fgcYD4j1r7DriZXQhZsxq567ZaJgeLSiDGM6MdXunxD5G786Y3rhrIIAlrgvcEXrIsja9NJdbNesy9k5y0IVYuhLd2lF3Pbv4_wiZkmJ189_5sxc6SgxjX/s1600-h/squeeky+bum+time.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9i1bJOOf1sYazfw-dZMH_3fgcYD4j1r7DriZXQhZsxq567ZaJgeLSiDGM6MdXunxD5G786Y3rhrIIAlrgvcEXrIsja9NJdbNesy9k5y0IVYuhLd2lF3Pbv4_wiZkmJ189_5sxc6SgxjX/s400/squeeky+bum+time.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337531875075419362" /></a><br /><div>The final weekend of the Premier League season is upon us and with the Title race concluded, after Manchester United picked up the point they needed to clinch the title at home to Arsenal on Saturday, all the worlds attention now turns to the bottom of the league and who is going to plummet to the Championship next season. </div><div><br /></div><div>West <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bromwich</span> Albion lost their battle against the drop, despite a spirited comeback towards the end of the season, with the trap door being opened by Steven Gerrard and Dirk <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kuyt</span>, resigning them to another yo-yo season back towards the Championship. </div><div><br /></div><div>The other two places, though, are still up for grabs, although this is not a prize that anyone in football wants, and with four teams still left in the running for the drop we're now going to look ahead to this weekends fixtures and see who is most likely to avoid the drop and who is the most likely to join the likes of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Peterborough</span> and Plymouth in the Championship next season. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Middlesbrough</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Final Day Fixture: Away vs West Ham United</span></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Middlesbrough</span>, for all intense and purposes, need a miracle. They currently sit second bottom of the league, three points from safety, with a worse goal difference than Hull's, who currently are sitting pretty in the coveted 17<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> position. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Boro's</span> away form this season has also been, well, pretty poor, but they can live off the memory of their FA Cup win at Upton Park earlier this year, when Stewart Downing finally figured out how to hit the back of the net. </div><div><br /></div><div>Downing though <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">hasn't</span> scored in the league this season, which has been one of the many <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">disappointing</span> factors in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Boro's</span> season. Their top goalscorer is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Sanli</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Tuncay</span>, who has six goals to his name, and the club as a whole have only managed to score 27 goals all season, which, by <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">any ones</span> standards, is a poor return. </div><div><br /></div><div>West Ham, were fighting for 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">th</span> place in the league, which brings a Europa League place for next season, but with back to back defeats by Liverpool and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Everton</span> they now cannot attain that place and effectively have nothing to play for, but on the final day of the season in front of their home crowd you would expect them to want to put on a performance. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Boro</span> will be going for it, they have no other choice, needing a five goal swing to have any chance of staying up, but I think that Gareth <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Southgate</span> and his young team are going to be counting the cost of not scoring enough goals and drop out of the Premier League for the first time in 10 years. </div><div><br /></div><div>Result: West Ham United 1 vs 1 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Middlesbrough</span><br /></div><div>Prediction: Relegation</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Newcastle United</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Final Day Fixture: Away vs Aston Villa</span></div><div>What on earth has happened to Newcastle United?! Every week they come out and something inside of me thinks that they have a good enough team to win a fair few matches in the Premier League, but week in week out they seem to do the complete opposite. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone, including me, begrudgingly thought that after their massive win against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Middlesbrough</span> last week that they would go on to beat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Fulham</span>, who's away record in recent years has been pretty below standard, and steer themselves clear of the pack, so like every single other presumption I've had about Newcastle this year, they went and lost.</div><div><br /></div><div>Newcastle can, though, go into the last game feeling pretty confident about staying up because of two reasons; One being that they are playing a Villa side, who once dreamt of Champions League participation next season and within a few short weeks now find themselves fighting to keep 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">th</span> place ahead of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Everton</span>. With just one win in 14 matches, Newcastle have to feel that they have a chance of getting something out of the game on Sunday. With a better goal difference than Hull, a point may be all that they require to stave off relegation; Reason number two for being confident is the fact that Hull host the Champions on Sunday, not the best team you would want to be playing on the final day, when you really, really, need a result. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think though that even a result at Villa <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">isn't</span> going to be enough for Newcastle, and I'll explain in a moment why not when I discuss Hull's chances, but I think this one is going to be another draw, but not enough to pull Newcastle away from the Championship. </div><div><br /></div><div>Result: Aston Villa 2 vs 2 Newcastle United</div><div>Prediction: Relegation</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Hull City</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Final Day Fixture: Home vs Manchester United</span></div><div>Now, many Hull fans will have read at the beginning of the season who they were to be facing on the final day of their first Premier League season and probably took a sharp intake of breath, but last weeks point against Bolton Wanderers <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">wasn't</span> the only thing that Hull fans would have been celebrating last week, but the fact that Manchester United sowed up the Premier League title would have been a huge relief for Hull fans. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Three days after the game against Hull, Manchester United travel to Rome to face Barcelona in the Champions League final, and it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">doesn't</span> take a brain surgeon to realise what the priority is going to be, come Sunday. </div><div><br /></div><div>Manchester <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">United's</span> squad, though, has so much depth that Hull will still have a lot to deal with. Unfortunately, even for me, a Manchester United fan, I cant begin to fathom who would be the ideal starting 11 for Manchester United, so picking a second string is difficult in itself, but what is for sure is that Sir Alex is capable of picking two teams and you can bet your life on the likes of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Ronaldo</span>, Rooney, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Berbatov</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Vidic</span>, Van Der <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Sar</span> and the like, not being in the team come 4.00pm at the KC Stadium. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hull showed a lot of grit and fight to come back against Bolton last weekend and looked the most likely to get the winner, and if it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">wasn't</span> for another superb performance by Bolton goalkeeper <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Jussi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Jaaskelainen</span> then Hull would of been all but safe by now. </div><div><br /></div><div>With the home crowd behind them, and the tantalising prospect of facing up against the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">newly</span> crowned champions of England, I think that that and the fact that it will almost certainly be Manchester <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">United's</span> second string will be just enough to see Hull over the finishing line. </div><div><br /></div><div>Result: Hull City 1 vs 0 Manchester United</div><div>Prediction: Safety</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sunderland</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Final Day Fixture: Home vs Chelsea</span></div><div>Following the departure of Roy Keane in the middle part of the season, few would have predicted that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Sunderland</span> would still find themselves where they are currently after the good start Ricky <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">Sbragia</span> had to his managerial career at the Stadium of Light, but after defeat to Portsmouth on Monday night they still find themselves not quite safe, and have the terrifying prospect of Chelsea on Sunday to contend with. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Them, like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">Middlesbrough</span>, have been struggling to score goals this season, not in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">magnitude</span> that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">Boro</span> have, but in recent weeks its been the poor finishing in front of goal that has cost them. Two weeks ago, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">Sunderland</span> should of been past the finishing line and well ahead of Bolton at the Reebok but chance after chance, almost all of which fell to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">Kieron</span> Richardson, went begging and they ended up scrapping a draw from the game. It was more of the same last night with some good chances being created, but not being taken against Portsmouth. </div><div><br /></div><div>Chelsea will want to put on a show for their soon to be departing manager Guus <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">Hiddink</span>, and there will be some players who will still be trying to persuade the Dutchman that they are good enough to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">warrant</span> a place in the FA Cup Final side for the following weekend, so on that basis I am almost certain that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">Sunderland</span> will lose to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, but I think the other results will go for them and they will stave off relegation by one point, and sit in 17<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">th</span> come the final whistle, almost staving off relegation by default. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">Sunderland</span> to lose, but to stay up by the skin of their teeth, Niall Quinn will need to invest a little bit more of his money into the club if they are to improve next season, or it could be another <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">frustrating</span> tale for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">Makems</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Result: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">Sunderland</span> 0 vs 2 Chelsea</div><div>Prediction: Safety....just! </div><div><br /></div><div>This season has seen more twists and turns than <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">spaghetti</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">junction</span>, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">I'm</span> sure that there will be more twists and more turns on the final day than we have seen for quite some time. It makes for a fantastic weekend of football to look forward to, but for fans of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">Middlesbrough</span>, Newcastle, Hull and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">Sunderland</span> its going to feel like the longest 90 minutes of their lives. </div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-60309731308906359142009-05-13T17:18:00.009+01:002009-05-14T13:10:39.688+01:00Murray aims to break Domination of Top 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWufg138K0UXC6Rd64JzJZUbUsPOczlViRcoVw3WU908CQje6YYsY_wR94sr5mTJqbjSZCcQN0tzfmWzc9AZoftQsZ3EaGfzLDA2bBL8ZUff7TY26b0t7bWkgs976bg6zQd7T8EzLQZej/s1600-h/federernadal.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWufg138K0UXC6Rd64JzJZUbUsPOczlViRcoVw3WU908CQje6YYsY_wR94sr5mTJqbjSZCcQN0tzfmWzc9AZoftQsZ3EaGfzLDA2bBL8ZUff7TY26b0t7bWkgs976bg6zQd7T8EzLQZej/s400/federernadal.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335359413069042130" /></a><br /><div>When the ATP rankings were published on Monday, there was a new man sitting next to the number 3. Andy Murray leap <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">frogged</span> Serbian <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Novak</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Djokovic</span> to become, officially, the third best player in the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>For months no one disagreed with the notion that Murray was one of the top three best players in the world and despite the obvious talents of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Djokovic</span>, Murray has now, without doubt, surpassed the young Serb. </div><div><br /></div><div>The next step now is to go even further, as Murray is not content with settling for the number three spot, despite being the first Briton to reach this ranking in the open era. </div><div><br /></div><div>Above him though are the current holders of all four grand slam titles. <br /></div><div>Rafael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Nadal</span>, the owner of the Australian, French and Wimbledon titles, currently lies at the top of the tree, ahead of the US Open Champion, and arguably the best tennis player ever to string a racket, Roger <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Federer</span>. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Murray's record against <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Federer</span> is a sign that when Murray says he wants to be inside the top two, his aim isn't too <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">far fetched</span>. In eight meetings on tour, Murray has beaten <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Federer</span> on six occasions, showing that Murray can mix it with the best and beat them. </div><div><br /></div><div>However for Murray to reach his target and take one more step towards the number one ranking he will have to do something that no British man has done, not just in the open era, but since 1936...win a Grand Slam. </div><div><br /></div><div>The question is though when, and more importantly where, will Murray pick up his first major?</div><div><br /></div><div>As mentioned previously on this blog, the chances of anyone other than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Nadal</span> winning at Roland <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Garros</span> at the end of the month is none to none (and yes I meant to write none to none), so you can count out the French Open title, and even if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Nadal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">wasn't</span> there, Murray <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">wouldn't</span> be one of the favourites to win the title anyway, despite his clear improvements on clay. </div><div><br /></div><div>Wimbledon, a month later would be a better opportunity, and a fairytale venue for the Brit to win his first Grand Slam, but in the shape of the top two, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Nadal</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Federer</span>, you find two men who have only lost to each other in the last three years on the grass, and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Nadal</span>, in last years Wimbledon Quarter Final, gave Murray a lesson on how to play on grass. </div><div><br /></div><div>For Murray to do what he has to do, to even contemplate breaking into the top two, his best bet is at the US Open in September. </div><div><br /></div><div>Murray was losing finalist at Flushing Meadows last season, and states that his favourite Grand Slam is the US Open, and his game is clearly most suited to the higher bouncing hard courts than the grass courts that zip and the clay courts that do the exact opposite and slow everything down. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is no one who is brave enough to honestly say that Murray will never win a Grand Slam, however it's not likely to come this year, but its more likely than any other year previously, and if Murray is to reach his stated aim, of breaking the top two men in the world over the past 6 or 7 years, then he must pick up at the very least one of what those two above him have in abundance, one of the greatest prizes in tennis. </div><div><br /></div><div>Over the years Murray has always been outspoken about his targets, reach the top 100, reach the top 75, reach the top 50, reach the top 20, reach the top 10, reach the top 5 by this date, and this date and so on, and so far, Murray has achieved every target he has set, so if he says he aims to break the top two and split apart the two most dominant men in the recent history of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">men's</span> tennis, then who am I to bet against him?</div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3844326673974668019.post-72849639556994617902009-05-07T22:22:00.008+01:002009-05-07T23:11:01.688+01:00Big Game, Big Referee?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkac4IY6-pPRsgwXNCayfGkJdJAD8XntO1aAP0gXkylbbpnd6WsianijbWDcWGVtaJut-ajD25znnTbSm-BaR-zcUt1C-NIp5Cokk0tP8SiFSf2j3o7dngZc0e4_QXVJjCHfbTzk67Ihsz/s1600-h/_45743247_badtemper_pa766.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkac4IY6-pPRsgwXNCayfGkJdJAD8XntO1aAP0gXkylbbpnd6WsianijbWDcWGVtaJut-ajD25znnTbSm-BaR-zcUt1C-NIp5Cokk0tP8SiFSf2j3o7dngZc0e4_QXVJjCHfbTzk67Ihsz/s400/_45743247_badtemper_pa766.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333205674008227010" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">After Chelsea's late, late, away goals defeat to Spanish giants Barcelona, in their Champions League Semi Final 2nd leg at Stamford Bridge last night, all the talk was about two things. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">First was Didier Drogba's four letter tirade at the Sky Sports camera's after the game, but in the most part it was about the poor refereeing display of Norway's Tom Henning Ovrebo. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ovrebo missed what seemed to be at least two stick on penalty decisions for Chelsea, and even when he did give a crucial decision to the Blues, he got it wrong again, sending off Barcelona defender Eric Abidal for fouling Nicolas Anelka, when video replays showed that Abidal had made minimal contact at best and Anelka seemed to trip himself up, with Ovrebo sending Abidal off for being the last man. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The foremost question on a lot of people's minds, as well as the lips of Sky's Andy Gray, was should referee's from small footballing nations be allowed to officiate such big matches as a Champions League Semi Final, between two of the biggest teams in Europe, if not the world? </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">No offence to the Norwegien league, but even officiating a top table clash between Rosenborg and Molde (the current top two in the Tippeliagen) cannot even begin to compare to a clash between Chelsea and Barcelona, on a stage such as the Champions League, with a place in a Rome Final against the current World and defending European Champions (thought I'd get that one in somewhere) at stake. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Again, no offence, but the level of football in the Norwegian League cannot possibly be at the standard and the speed of a similar match in the English Premier League or in the Spanish La Liga, and because of that, referee's such as Ovrebo can't possibly be used to officiating a match of this standard. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It could though be seen as discrimination to suggest that if a referee comes from one country that we should assume that they are not good enough for the big events, but I think some common sense needs to be used, as one bad performance has cost Chelsea and lucrative place in a Champions League Final. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ovrebo in his own right is a good referee but on a weekly basis he will be officiating matches between the likes of Molde, SK Brann, Rosenborg and the like, and his decision making and speed of thought is simply going to be set to the standards he has in his home league. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">UEFA probably feel that there isnt a problem here, and Im sure Michel Platini is quite happy with how things turned out (for reasons he hasnt exactly kept secret) but if UEFA do feel there is a problem then the solution is simple, assign referee's based on the magnitude of the event, the teams involved, and the league they officiate. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Let's look for a moment at the English Premier League. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When matches between Manchester United, and Liverpool or Chelsea or Arsenal take place, who referee's them? Nine times out of ten it will be Howard Webb or Mike Dean who are the top two referee's in the country, they are also near the top of the list when it comes to appointing officials for the big events, like Howard Webb will this year be officiating the FA Cup Final. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For years UEFA have had a star rating on venues, and its this star rating that comes into consideration when deciding where to host a major event. For example this years Champions League final will be being held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, which is a UEFA five star rated venue, and its this principal, that may work with matches, in deciding how important they are and who needs to be at the centre of everything. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Chelsea have lost out on a rematch with Manchester United because of a poor display from a referee from a country who's league is at a very low standard compared to the Premier League and La Liga, but UEFA still entrusted him to take control of these two mammoth sides and call it down the middle and fairly, and even the untrained eye could see some of the glaring mistakes that Ovrebo made in the 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge. </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maybe its time for UEFA to use the common sense approach, big game, appoint a big ref from a big league. </span></span></span></div>Scott Hatleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16726817962695045743noreply@blogger.com0