lookupsport

I going to go on a bit of a rant about the BBC Pundits in a minute but first a few lines about last nights game.

Yes its a friendly at the end of a long season, which has little meaning but gives Capello the chance to get to know his players better.  It was never going to be a classic, so let’s park that to one side for the time being.

A few other points to make though.

Firstly, Capello has only a couple more games to get to know his team before we hit the first World Cup qualifying match.  He has had the benefit of watching them in any number of Premier League matches over the last few months, and has had them in training for a week or so now as well.  He will also, no doubt have watched them play a few times at least before taking the job and will have access to as many tapes of old matches as he could wish for.  Therefore why did he (and have previous coaches), used these friendlies to “try” certain players.

In my opinion he should have a pretty good idea who his best 11 (or lets say 13 players) are, and what system he wants them to play.  These matches should therefore be used to let these players get used to playing together in a system that the coach wants.  That is how they will improve.  He started off with arguably his best team available last night but at half time the usual mess of substitutes were made.  You cannot possibly tell me that he can judge or test a player by giving him 10 minutes at the end of a match, when half the team has already been changed and is not representative of the players he might play with if he makes the “first team”.  If he really is unsure of his best team or system, then he is the wrong man for the job.

Lampard v Gerrard - he really has to make a decision here and for me its simple.  Gerrard always out performs Lampard in and England shirt.  Lampard should without a doubt be in the England squad but should be used a back-up for Gerrard.  The way Gerrard linked up with Rooney last night was brilliant.  Gerrard has shown he can play consistently well in any position in midfield where as Lampard tends to be more one dimensional.

Defoe - I’m a Pompey fan of course, but for Defoe needs at least 6 good chances in order to convert one.  Against good sides he will be lucky to get one or two.  I thought that with regular first team football he would get sharper.  It didn’t look that way last night.  Owen will prbably get the nod every time if he can stay fit with Defoe and Crouch as back up.

Now a few words about Lineker, Hanson Shearer and Dixon (could easily read Ian Wright).  It started in the last World Cup when they clearly didn’t think Sven was the man for the job, and went on to malign every single decision he made and performance of the team, especially if it meant that Shaun Wright-Phillips was omitted.  It continued with the Mclaren era, and last night was no exception.

As mentioned above the game was never going to be a classic, and they have all played in Internationals themselves, which were by far and away worse than last nights, but they have conveniently forgotten that.   The constant barrage of sarcastic and “humorous” comments really start to annoy after a while (add to this list Mark “Interesting” Lawrenson by the way).

The funny yet interesting thing is that all have chosen to stay clear of coaching and management and chosen the safety of the commentary box.  As predicted in this blog in the past, Shearer is constantly linked with the Newcastle job but will never take it as he would need to put his money where his mouth is.  The whole team bring to mind the old adage “those that can do and those that can’t teach”.  Now while that may not be completely true within teaching circles, it could be adapted to “those that can and have the bottle coach, and those that can’t and don’t justsit back and make sarcastic comments”.  Ok it doesn’t roll off the tongue but you get the drift.

In the past I have always chosen the BBC if a game was ever shown on more than one channel.  Not any more - give me the Sky team anyday.

What a fantastics weekend of sport, especially for British sports fans.
3 play off finals, with Hull gaining Premiership status for the first time with a superb goal from the oldest guy on the pitch, Doncaster turning over Yorkshire rivals Leeds and Stockport beating Rochdale in a thriller yesterday.  All in all great for us northern chaps!

I didn’t get to see the second two matches as I was on a stag night in the Yorkshire Dales where they have just got running water and the occasional inside toilet, so no mobile phone reception and definitely no satellite TV or internet cafe.

This meant that having watched Hull win and then the England cricket team bat at 2.4 an over for a few hours of tedium I received a nice surprise when I got back to civilisation.  Predictably the England middle order had collapsed but then unpredictably Panesar bowled career best figures of 6/37 and in reply Strauss made a century, with England running out winners by six wickets. I thought the game had draw all over it but it just proves it can change so quickly.

Then the Monaco Grand Prix and Lewis Hamilton claiming first spot despite crashing on lap six.   The win puts him 3 points clear but the Championship looks like it could be a close run thing with Ferrari hot on the heels of McLaren. Is it me or has the coverage of this year’s F1 been slightly muted?  I’ve hardly heard any mention of it in the press and we have the prospect of the first British Champion for years.  Last year there seemed to be loads of coverage about Hamilton winning in his rookie season.  It’s almost as if winning it in his second year is either expected or not exciting enough.  Then again maybe its just me.

Anyway, all in all a great weekend for sport, even if I didn’t get to see a lot of it.  It’s still good to see the Brits doing well for once - let’s just hope that England can go on to win the Test series and you never know maybe even Andy Murray might have a good run at Wimbledon.  That might just take our minds off of the European Championships, although we do have a friendly tomorrow with England facing USA - joy!

Well it’s an old cliche to say it but the final really was a “game of 2 halves” not to mention extra time and penalties of course.

Manchester United dominated the first half with 60% of the possession and should have had the game wrapped up with Tevez missing two good chances.  However, failing to do so let Chelsea back in and when they went in at 1-1 the momentum had swung to Chelsea.

Now, I was neutral but having had a feeling that Chelsea would win it 2-1, and that Ronaldo would score first I made the mistake of putting £10 on it at 85/1.  Once Ronaldo had scored first, I was no longer neutral and when Chelsea came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, I was just praying that they would only score the one and make me a nice £850.

Unfortunately despite all the pressure, the closest they came was when Drogba and the Lampard hit the woodwork. So I was actually only a matter of inches away from glory - something my girlfriend has said before now…

Once it got to penalties I commented that it would be an Englishman who missed but I wa delirious when Ronaldo missed - by this stage any thought of winning money had disappeared and I was once again neutral, but it was a sweet moment to see the Ferret Faced Diver miss trying his stop start routine - it seemed that with Cech holding his nerve and not committing himself early that Ronaldo suddenly wasn’t sure where to place it.

So that set it up for Captain Fantastic but unfortunately my prediction prior to the start was true and he slipped and missed - for a man who is Chelsea through and through, I suspect it will take years of counselling to get over that.  A shame as he kept his club in it, with an outstanding first half display.

So Manchester United are once again European Champions, and overall probably deserve to be.  One final question though!  Why no victory parade?  Once again the establishment has given in to the mindless minority and following the UEFA Cup last week have deemed it too risky.

Couple of points to make here.

Firstly, it is a completely different situation with a whole city (at least the Red half) wanting to pay tribute to their team as they have done before over the years without any trouble.

Secondly, if we continue to legislate and ban things every time something goes wrong, no matter how small or how unlikely the chance of it happening again, it won’t be long before we will all have to stay at home wrapped up in cotton wool.  Adults should be treated as such and are capabale of weighing up the risk of their actions, whether its how much they drink, what they eat or how they want to support their ladder when cleaning windows.  Stop with the rules and regulations and let people make their own decisions. You cannot legislate for absolutely everything and accidents will happen even if you try and do so - although at least it does generate lots of jobs for civil servants of course!
There you have it - little bit of politics in a sports blog.  Whatever next.  I’m off  to rant about something else and have a great bank holiday weekend binge drinking, climbing ladders and mowing the lawn without the aid of a safety net.

So the biggest domestic English final is only a few hours away with Chelsea and Manchester United meeting in the Champions League final in Moscow.  The fans are touring the Russian capital as we speak - with the exception of the 200 stuck at Gatwick of course.

Well it appears that the Russians are more hospitable than the media would have us believe, although they appear naturally to have ramped the price of beer - which is understandable.

The big question of course is who will be crowned Champions of Europe.  Well I am completely neutral on this one - I am just hoping for a decent match, which may be a bit much to hope for to be honest.

In my unbias opinion however, I have a funny feeling that its Chelsea’s year.  The luck they had against Liverpool with the Rise own goal etc, could mean their name is on the cup.

I also think the score will be 2-1 to Chelsea and have therefore put my money where my mouth is and committed to it in writing on this blog, which means it will be totally wrong of course!  But least I have an opinion and can sit down and watch with a can of beer and not be as tense as I was watching the FA Cup final.

Whatever happens, I’m sure there will be excitement drama and a hint of controversy - I just hope that a poor decision by and official doesn’t decide it and leave one set of fans and a manager with a nasty taste in their mouth.

Well it was a tight match, and probably not the best spectacle that will ever grace Wembley, but we always knew that would be the case. As Harry pointed out it was the result that mattered and you only had to see the 100 000 people out on Sunday to see he was right.

Some of the more jealous supporters of the “Big 4″ are saying it was the worst final ever (funnily enough mostly Arsenal fans, who have gone another season without silverware).  History has show though that with the odd exception - Liverpool v West Ham for example, these matches tend to be close and fairly dour occasions.  And let’s not forget the “1 nil to the Arsenal” tag which followed them around for years.

In the main though the praise has been high from all quarters ad supporters, who are just glad to see the monoply of the big 4 broken.  I don’t believe for a second that we will be a top 4 side next year as one or two over optimisitic supporters are suggesting, but hopefully we can build on the success and make it top 6.

My concern though is that the UEFA Cup could prove to be a poison chalice, particularly with the new league format meaning extra games.  Without a deep squad, the extra strain placed on them could prove a disaster on the domestic scene, with tiredness and injuries playing a part.

So let’s just hope that Harry does get enough players in over the summer to do that and we don’t lose too many either and we can continue to build on the solid platform, which has been built so far.  But that is for next year.  In the meantime I think I’ll just bask in the glory of supporting the FA CUP holders for a few months!

Just over 24 hours to go till the Blue Army meet Cardiff in the FA Cup final, and the nerves are already jangling for me let alone the players and Harry.  The stress levels haven’t been helped by them losing their last four matches on the spin, where it looks as if they have been saving themselves for this weekend.  The problem is that form winning is a habit and once its broken its not that easy to get back.  Just ask Watford!

Harry has already pretty much said its not going to be a spectacle, saying that ten years from now nobody will remember the performance and much as he would love the team to turn it on the result is all that counts.  Honest but it doesn’t exactly whet the appetite for the neutral, although both sets of supporters will go through the wringer whatever happens.  Therefore an early goal might be just what’s required.

David “Calamity” James has admitted that his performances in previous finals has been poor (hence the nick name) but he has promised a good game this time round.  The problem is he has had a fabulous season - even I am forced to admit that - but his decision making in big games has always been an issue.  I think he cracks a bit under pressure, and will no doubt come for a cross or two he shouldn’t and if there is a one on one situation will almost certainly give away a penalty.  But maybe that’s just me be pessimistic….

On the upside, Sol Campbell has a habit of popping up to score in big games (although for England they tend to be ruled out for one reason or another).  So I’m backing him to score from a corner and Pompey to run out 1-0 winners.  Might have to be 2-1 if Calamity gives one away…

A quick word on the play offs before I go.  I was tempted into a bet on Watford to turn around their 2 goal deficit against Hull.  Not through any  affinity for Watford but because they were 10/1 and that looked like a good bet - at least for the first 40 minutes.  However, now that Hull have made the final, I hope they go on to win it, for reasons mentioned earlier in this blog - Mainly because they are just down the road and I might get to watch them play Pompey next year.

Also, a quick word about Leeds who were trailing 2-1 to Carlisle after the first leg.  Having blown £10 on Watford I was tempted to look at the  odds on Leeds to turn the tie around, but bottled it and never even looked at the odds, which I imagine were similar to Watford.  Another error as they duely did just that thanks to a 91st minute goal.  Again. I hope they now go on and win the final and then get back to the Premiership as I really enjoyed going to Elland Road last time and watching Pompey beat them in front of their own supporters!

So after the final day of the Premiership, its time to either lick your wounds or grab the paracetamol for the hangover after the celebrations. As expected the day was not without its drama.

Manchester United could have conceded a penalty and probably should have been playing the last hour with 10 men, but referee Steve Bennett managed to get 3 out of 4 big decisions wrong.

Overall though, Manchester United probably deserved it on the season’s performance and it became irrelevant with Chelsea conceding in injury time to ex-pompey boy Matt Taylor.

At the other end of the table, it panned out as I predicted last week, with Fulham, Birmingham and Reading all winning and as a result Fulham getting out of jail.

Now time for a little gloating - In January I predicted that the order of the top 4 would finish Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, and that Reading, Wigan and Derby would get relegated. Not bad eh?

I also predicted that Chelsea would win the Champions League and the FA Cup. I’m glad to say that I got the FA Cup part wrong, but I am still in the hunt with the Champions League. I just hope that Pompey’s abysmal run of form can be halted and that Harry can get them fired up for the final - I’ll face all manner of abuse if they lose.

Credit has to go to Sir Alex eyt another trophy, and his joy and excitement, made it look like his first - that probably explains why he has been so successful.

His post match interview was interesting - he thought Scoles second tackle was just a push (not the cynical foul that it was) - I’m sure that had it been a Wigan tackle on Ronaldo then he would have seen it differently. Incidentally - what was Ronaldo on? He must have stopped playing at least 3 times to appeal for a foul when he was hardly touched - I suppose its better that throwing himself to the floor, although not by much and no doubt Sir Alex will have a word with him prior to the Champions League final. It’s such a pity that such a great player is such a lightweight - if he had Rooney’s approach he would definitely be the best player in the world - as it is he falls short to Messi in my opinion.

Back to Sir Alex though. He once again showed he is master of the mind games, initially with his pre-match comments about Bolton being out drinking all week and not taking the game seriously. A blatant attempt to fire them up. Then with his “had we lost today it would have been tough to pick ourselves up for the Champions League Final” comment. Designed to stick the knife in to the Chelsea boys obviously. Let’s just hope both teams have a full squad to select from and its a cracking match.

A couple of surprises in the play offs too, with both Hull and Bristol winning away from home. “Come on ‘ull” as they say in East Yorkshire. Another Premiership side in the area can only be good news for us Pompey fans living in Yorkshire, who will only have a short drive to go and watch, and increase the banter with the local yokels.

The Messiah that is Kevin Keegan has been summoned to London for “clear the air talks” with Newcastle club owner Mike Ashley following his post match outburst on Sunday.

Newcastle were outclassed by Chelsea and went down 2-0 at home and Keegan stated that the best Newcastle could hope for was a UEFA Cup place next season, asssuming he is given some money to spend over the summer.  He pointed out that he had been made promises before, which were subsequently not fulfilled and although he was sure that wasn’t the case here, he hadn’t been told what cash was available.

The clear implication was that he wants Ashley to publicy state what he is prepared to spend.  KK is also trying to set expectations at the right level for the Newcastle fans who think they are a “big club”.  Having a lot of fans prepared to spend their hard earned cash on a ticket each week does not unfortunately make you a big club.  Big clubs win trophies and Newcastle haven’t done that for 2 generations.

Even if Ashley backs Keegan this summer it is unlikely that he will be able to find exactly the right blend of stars first time round. It takes a number of years to get the right strength and depth of players, and there will be times within that period where there are slumps - even Manchester United have been there when one or two stars fail to pick up the pace of the Premiership or take a season to settle in and get used to the climate in the North West.  (Maybe Thaksin at Manchester City should bear this in mind).
Therefore Keegan’s comments are sensible - the question is how will Ashley react?  My gut feeling is that Keegan was a sticking plaster brought in to appease the fans who were disillusioned with Big Sam and that he doesn’t hold Keegan in the same esteem.  He clearly wasn’t the first choice.  That, coupled with the strange appointment of Dennis Wise soon after, leads me to believe that Keegan will be lucky to be at the helm come the start of next season, and that a small cockney chap will make the trip downstairs to take over.  I’m sure the legions of Geordies will simply love that.

As predicted last week, Leicester joined Scunthorpe and Colchester in the drop to League 1, when they failed to beat Stoke on Saturday and sadly Southampton made it to safety.

However, all is still to play for in the Premiership, with the top 2 winning comfortably and ensuring a nail biting climax.  You would expect both sides to win, but last day nerves will play a large part and I for one, wouldn’t be surprised if Manchester United struggled against Wigan, while Chelsea have a slightly easier (on paper at least) home tie against Bolton who are now safe.

The bottom end of the table is even closer, with Fulham climbing out of the relegtion zone for the first time in weeks.  I predict that the final weekend will throw up some surprises though.
You would have to back Reading to beat the hapless Derby, which would give them 36 points and potentially save them.  But with Birmingham playing Blackburn and Fulham away to Portsmouth, I can see both teams getting something.

Blackburn are out of the race for Europe and despite the inevitable talk about “being professional”, they will have one eye on the summer holiday, so Birmingham may well turn them over and pick up 3 points, giving them 35 points.

Now normally I would say that Portsmouth at home would beat Fulham hands down. However, Pompey have definitely got one eye on the FA Cup final as their recent results have proved.  With only one week to go they will be even more nervous and therefore could well draw and even lose.

I’m off to see what the odds are on all three teams in the mix for relegation actually winning, which will mean Reading and Birmingham will go down of course.  That will make the last weekend dramatic in the extreme and traumatic for the supporters, who will all be hoping that 3 points will be enough to get them out of trouble.

I’m glad that Pompey are well out of it but can still remember that sick feeling going into the final day - makes fantastic entertainment for the neutral though so bring it on!

With all the drama and excitement of the Premiership it would be easy to forget about the final weekend of the Championship, which is also going down to the wire. I can’t think of any season where there has been so much to play for in both leagues going into the last couple of games and certainly not into the last one.

Tomorrow any one of 5 sides could still be relegated to league one, and only West Brom are definitely promoted, and they may not go up as Champions.

In one of the many ironies that get thrown up on these occasions, Sheffield United may end up helping their local rivals Sheffield Wednesday if they beat Southampton, who currently occupy the final relegation spot.  I’m sure sme of the die hard Blades fans would happily see their side lose if it meant the Owls went down.

Speaking as an impartial Pompey fan, I would of course be gutted to see the Scum (as they are affectionately known down south) sent down to League 1.  Especially as it may well happen in the same season that Pompey go on and win the FA Cup.  Sweet indeed, when you think a few years a go, Pompey almost got relegated to the third tier themselves and Southampton were a mid table Premiership side. Its funny how quickly things can change, as teams such as Leicester, Leeds, Charlton et al will testify.

In truth, I think Leicester are actually the team most likely to go down - at this stage of the season you want a team who has nothing to play for at either end.  Unfortunately for the Foxes they are away to Stoke, who need to win to be sure of making automatic promotion and to be in with  shout of going up as Champions.  Not really a game you want when you need a result.  Coventry and Wednesday, like Southampton have mid table sides and Blackpool who are the other team in the mix will face Watford, who are in a dreadful run of form and could well miss the play-offs having been runaway leaders at one point.

Having said all that, tension will play a major part and history has shown that final days have more than one twist and turn, with the form book being upset.  Whatever happens its sure to make compelling viewing.