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I have pleasure in saying that I had the joy of watching the Liverpool Chelsea match in the warm climate that is Mallorca on Tuesday night, whilst supping a cold beer or two.  Although not a classic, it had a bit of everything and kept me and a few locals entertained for a couple of hours.  For the life of me though I have no idea what Riise was doing and I’m sure his team mates and manager are wondering the same thing too.

You can say that it was on his right foot and he is left footed.  Two things though.  Firstly, even if he is left footed he only had to stick his right foot out and knock it over the line.  The worst thing that could have have happened is he might have spooned it into his own net….

Secondly, how can a player earning thousands of pounds a week in what is supposed to be the best league in the world, not be able to use both feet - even just a little bit?

Anyway, what the nugget has done is make it an interesting second leg, which I am already looking forward to.

I missed the Manchester United Barcelona match despite the best efforts of our pilot, who got us back 30 mins ahead of schedule and despite or bags being the first out - has that EVER happened before?

However, we were home in time for the highlights and much as I hate to say it Ronaldo/United were robbed.  The penalty he was given was probably the least obvious of the 3 and unfortunately I suspect his reputation preceded him on the other 2 claims.  But you reap what you sow!

Anyway, both sides will now fancy their chances and an early goal from Barca will lead to a great night of football.  Thankfully up to press I am around for both games next week, although sadly will be watching in the living room in Harrogate rather than a bar in Mallorca!

Their is a distinct possibility that County Cricket could have the stuffing knocked out of it by the new and lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), which starts this year.

The ECB are taking a firm stance, refusing to allow the centrally contracted players to compete and refusing to modify the English County season to allow County players to take part. This could however, backfire on them.

I don’t doubt that the International Players will tow the line as the money on offer won’t merit them losing their England place, ( and I hope the pride of playing their country will play no small part).  However, for County players who have a limited window of opportunity when it comes to earning potential, the temptations may be too great.

This could lead to the better players leaving and thereby reducing the quality of the county leagues and ultimately damage the National side.  Maybe the ECB would do better to follow the New Zealand cricket board example and accommodate the players - they have allowed 5 players including the skipper to miss the start of the England tour so that they can compete.

This might be a solution which prevents the demise of English cricket, although would mean the ECB actually being a little flexible of course and move with the times.  So far only Mascharenhas has signed but the writing is on the wall.

Chelsea have made me out to be a liar by conceding during injury time last night with Wigan and virtually handing the title to Manchester United.

With 4 games left, even if Chelsea beat Man U they have to rely on them losing one or drawing both of the other 3 games - none of which seem likely. I love the quote from Avram Grant though, where he says “we need to win the games against Manchester United and Everton otherwise it will be more difficult”.  Avram you drop either one of those and its not difficult.  It becomes impossible you muppet.

Unfortunately should they fail to win the Premiership and or the Champions League title then they will Grant will probably lose his job over the summer, which is harsh.  I gave him no more than a month when he took over but I think he has done a good job with a team he has inherited (even if they are all “world class”).

Abramovich should give him the summer to put his own stamp on the team and the judge him on next years performance, but I suspect he wants results NOW and will look for a more high profile guy.

On other side of the coin last night was a great result for Wigan and Steve Bruce, who should now be safe. I thought the way he was treated by Birmingham was poor and had the horrible feeling he had made a mistake and was going back to the Championship.  However, he has reversed it and now believes he has the basis for a decent side, assuming he can add to it over the summer.  Overall like Mark Hughes, I see him as a underrated manager, who would probably do very well with a big club and could well be a future candidate for the job at Old Trafford once Sir Alex retires.

Tiger Woods bid for the much talked about Grand Slam failed at the first hurdle when South African Trevor Immelman won the US Masters by 3 strokes, beating Woods into second place, in doing so, he became the first person to wire to wire winner in over 20 years.

In true dramatic Masters style though we could not be sure of the winner until the final putt was sunk, even though the winning margin was so great.  With Augusta set up as tough as ever, the potential for seeing a 3 shot lead disappear in seconds was ever present as the Europeans proved.

Justin Leonard was the first to collapse seeing his lead disappear in the second round and only just making th cut before finishing 7 over parr.  Ian Poulter, having put himself in contention going into Saturday managed to hit 3 double bogeys in 3 holes to ruin his chances and then Paul Casey was unfortunate to move his ball at address, costing him a stroke and hurting him mentally.

The strain was so great that none of the leaders finished below parr on the day, with Immelman himself slipping from 11 under back to 8 under.  Nearly all of the players will be able to look back and say “what if” as if any of them had put together a decent final round they could now be sporting the Green Jacket.  It even looked as if Woods, who by his own standards missed a number of decent chances might force a play off simply by holding parr as all the other competitors pressed the self destruct button.

The sigh of relief was clearly visible when Immelman hit a straight drive on he last hole, but his heart must have sunk when he realised that his ball was in a divot hole.  The only one for yards. However, he kept his nerve and knocked it into the middle of the green and wrapped it up with a safe 2 putts.

So good news all round really.  Not only is all talk of the Tiger Slam now over, but it was wasn’t even another Amercian who beat him!

Well time has prevented me from crowing about the fact that Pompey are now in the FA Cup final.  Well time and a sense of disbelief I suppose.

I ventured to bet £10 each way on them winning the Cup back in January and got odds of 10/1. (interestingly you can actually bet each way, in which case they only have to reach the final so ching ching already).  I hasten to add that I made that bet before the quarter final draw in the hope they would miss Manchester United and Chelsea, who were the only big clubs left.  As luck would have it, they drew Man U, and to be honest I gave up on the dream.  But the glory of the cup is the glory of the cup I guess and Pompey got through by the skin of their teeth.

Then came the semi-final with Donkey Adams, putting forward the theory that our name is on the cup.  A jinx if ever I heard one. And so it looked against West Brom on Saturday.

The whole team looked as though the pressure of the day and of being favourites was going to prove too much.  For 45 minutes at least, dire was the best word to describe it as they failed to string more than 3 passes together.  Against, a better side the game might have been over at half time.

The second half saw an early goal (which was gifted really, and had a hint of hand ball - so maybe Adams is right), and they looked a much better side, and could have won by a couple despite the Baggies hitting the bar. So they have made it and will face the Taffs, although I think they will have to play a lot better to lift the cup.  Let’s hope that they have got rid of the nerves and play with a little more freedom and confidence.

Elsewhere, in the Premiership, the bottom of the league looks to be resolving itself.  Derby down, Fulham to join them probably and Bolton’s rotten run of form showing no signs of reversing itself.  Stranger things have happened though as Pompey fans and Harry Redknapp know only too well. The good news is that Sunderland look to be safe although sadly Newcastle are as well.  How funny would it have been to see them relegated with Special K at the helm.

At the other end its still all to play for - at least if you are Chelski or Manchester United that is.  It looks like being the most exciting finish to the Premiership in years, and my money is still on Chelsea as it has been all season.