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Time for Freddie to return?

Sat, 10 May 2008 10:21:56 +0000

It's one of the biggest debates surrounding the preview to the up coming test series against New Zealand and is certainly a difficult decision for the England cricket selectors. Should Andrew Flintoff be recalled?

The biggest character in English cricket is fit again and has been playing for Lancashire in the last few weeks after a number of ankle operations that have hampered his England career.

There is an argument that he should be held back. After all, New Zealand are hardly likely to cause England too many problems - with or without Freddie. The likes of Sidebottom, Panesar and Broad should be able to handle the likes of McCullum, How and Taylor. The only shining lights in what is a much depleted Kiwi batting line up.

Freddie has had too many injury setbacks in his career to throw him in just yet. If it was against Australia, then he would be recalled. Against the team ranked 7th in the world - is there really any point? If he came back and got himself injured during a convincing victory for England in which he played little part in, people would question the selectors. If they pick him, it's a calculated risk of which the England selectors are not exactly famous for.

Something else that should be holding him back from a return to the England fold is his batting form. Freddie is supposed to be one of the best all-rounders in the world and at the moment, he can't hold a bat.

He recorded two ducks in Lancashire's recent County Championship fixture and hasn't found runs easy to come by in recent weeks.

Which leads onto the next dilemma for the selectors. Is Freddie good enough for England as just a bowler? Could he bat down at 7 or 8 if it meant he was one of the front line seamers? I think he could. The England bowling attack always looks stronger with Flintoff as part of it. Justin Langer recently said that he was the best pace bowler in world cricket right now. A high accolade indeed and one which highlights the problems Flintoff causes for batsmen.

However, for now let him continue his journey back to fitness with his county during the New Zealand series. This will allow him time to continue his excellent bowling form and time to rediscover some sort of batting form. Bring him back, raring to go, against South Africa in the second part of the summer. It's a much tougher series and one which a fit Andrew Flintoff will revel in.

United shouldn't take title Grant-ed

Fri, 09 May 2008 16:11:49 +0000

Although many believe that the Premiership title is destined to stay put in Manchester United's trophy cabinet this Summer, Chelsea boss Avram Grant believes that there could be one final twist in the tale of the 2007-2008 Premier League season.
Although Wigan cannot possibly be relegated this year the Israeli believes that Steve Bruce and his men will be utterly determined to cause an upset against United despite Bruce being a former Red Devil during his playing days.

Grant's comments came after the Newcastle match where his side beat an in-form Magpies side to take the title to the wire and he believes that Chelsea are still in with a massive shout of overtaking United at the top of the pile. If that would happen it would surely be the most thrilling end to a League season since Michael Thomas' late, late goal against Liverpool which saw Arsenal crowned Champions in 1989.
Since taking the helm from Jose Mourinho, Grant has been subject to massive criticism from many corners of not only the media but the footballing fraternity as a whole. The next two games will be vital in determining whether this quiet and seemingly pleasant natured manager will remain at Chelsea next season but Grant himself is confident that he will remain in place next season.

Rumours surrounding Grants future have remained rife but following the clubs defeat of Liverpool in the Champions league and subsequently securing their first appearance in the final, he feels that owner Roman Abramovich is happy with the way the club are performing and club captain John Terry has jumped to the defence of his manager.

Terry told the BBC,
"To get to where we are and still question his role is unbelievable.
"It's the first time we've got to the final. No manager or set of players has ever done that. Results don't lie"

Time will only tell if Grant is to remain in charge into the new campaign but with the season drawing to a close, he must up the ante and deliver the most telling sign that he has what it takes to lead one of Europe's trophy-hungry clubs.
Although there have been slip-ups during his time in charge of the Blues, Grant has recently proven that he has the ability to grind out results and get the best from his players in the games that really matter.

First of all came Chelsea's Easter Sunday showdown against arch-rivals Arsenal. After falling behind early in the second half Grant made an unpopular decision in bringing on Nicholas Anelka for Claude Makelele. With cries of 'you don't know what you're doing' ringing around Stamford Bridge - and Grant's ears - Anelka flicked a ball into the path of Drogba who slotted home the equaliser, scoring the winner minutes later keeping Chelse in the Premiership title race.

Then came the match against Manchester United. If Chelsea failed to beat United it would have left them effectively out of the running for the title, handing instead to their opponents and most likely even more pressure for the sacking of Grant.
Those critics were left eating humble pie as a dominant performance from the Blues saw them sweep aside United who were kept quiet throughout a glorious Spring afternoon down at The Bridge.

Chelsea took the lead via a late Michael Ballack header in the first half, securing all three points late on through Ballack again from the penalty spot. The only real blip of the afternoon coming when Ricardo Carvalho foolishly played a short ball back to Petr Cech; Wayne Rooney rushing in to fire in the equaliser, a goal which with time running out appeared to be enough for United.

Last but not least came that night at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea took on Liverpool in a game which could and probably in defeat, would have sealed Grants fate.

After being taken to extra time, Chelsea upped their game, scoring twice through Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard who following the death of his mother the previous week, fired in an emotionally fuelled penalty taking the Blues to within touching distance of a vital revenge over Liverpool and a place in the Champions league final.

A late Liverpool onslaught which resulted in a goal was not enough to turn the tie around in favour of the Reds and as Grant fell to his knees in a mixture of disbelief and joy, he knew that his job was safe, at least for a few more matches.

Now seemingly brimming with confidence, Grant takes his side into the final day of the season knowing that if United drop points against Wigan and Chelsea secure all three at home against Bolton, the first piece of an unlikely double will be secured and Grant, unfavoured by many may well be on his way from going from zero to hero and that really would be a bolt from the Blues.

Thaksin time for Eriksson as City make Scolari approach

Wed, 07 May 2008 13:05:44 +0000

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra may have become impatient with Sven Goran Eriksson over the lack of 'success' at the club this season yet he still wants the Swede to take his team on a tour of Asia before Philipe Scolari takes the helm.
Personally I feel that City have made great strides under Eriksson this season. Their campaign may have tailed off slightly in recent months but that is only because they were punching well above their weight at the start of the season. After all in the early stages it was the blue half of Manchester who were topping the table and there were serious claims that they might well go on to claim a Champions League spot.
All that early optimism has long evaporated but City are still clinging on to a top half finish but that ain't good enough for our Thaksin, oh no and now he's looking to bring in 'Big Phil' to ahem, 'Phil' the soon to be vacant managers post at Eastland's.
Scolari has been asked - I can only imagine very nicely - by Shinawatra to make a decision before the European championships as to whether he will take the role as City's coach next season.
Before the end of the Euro's though there is the small matter Man City's pre-season tour of Asia which takes in Thailand and Shinawatra wants Eriksson to stay in charge of the tour as it visits his homeland.
Now for me this seems a little strange seen as the players themselves must know that only weeks after the tour they will be under the guidance of a new manager, be it Scolari or not. Sven doesn't really have a say in the matter and such is his craving for cash - as we saw with England - I highly doubt that he will resign before the tour if it means missing out on a few grand of his salary.
Still, the way that Shinawatra has handled Eriksson has been absolutely disgraceful, all you have to do is look at the banners which the City fans took to Anfield at the weekend to see how they feel about Sven. It was heartwarming to watch the traveling support singing the Swede's name, something which during his time at England could he only have dreamed of and it is sickening to think that once more a manager who is appreciated by the fans is about to be thrown to the gutter by an ungrateful owner.

When Jose Mourinho was given the boot by Roman Abramovich there was uproar at Stamford Bridge and the strong feelings between of the fans both towards Jose and the actions of the board remain. There was no sign that dismissal was on the cards, a draw against Rosenborg wouldn't lead to calls for his head from any Chelsea fan after back to back titles and a couple of domestic cups in the bag but Abramovich called time on Mourinho's reign because of his overwhelming desire to get his own way.
Now it seems that the same mentality is one which Shinawatra possesses and the axe is about to be wielded on yet another popular manager.
Jose seems likely to have the last laugh with attractive jobs seemingly becoming available in the European leagues, perhaps Sven too will be able to stick two fingers up to Shinawatra if he too moves on to bigger and better things.

Not quite good enough is good enough for FA

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:54:21 +0000

This may come as little surprise given the comments and decisions made by our beloved FA in recent times but the big wigs at Soho Square have decided that falling at the penultimate hurdle is what Fabio Capello should be aiming for at the next World Cup or the European Championships of 2012.
There may be many who disagree with my sentiments but surely after the heartbreak of 2006 and 2004 - not to mention the 38 years prior to Portugal 04 - leaving either tournament at the semi-final stage would create just as much torment for England fans.
Reaching the semi-final stage of any competition for England is a feet which is long overdue, looking at the players that have donned the three lions of recent years. Names such as Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Tony Adams, David Seaman, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, John Terry and Frank Lampard spring to mind as players who really should have at least featured in the final game of a major tournament. We have had our fair share of donkey's over the years (see Emile Heskey) but even with such heavy handicaps facing the side the strength of the national pool is so great that a team capable of reaching the holy grail that is the final of a major competition should surely not be beyond us.
So why does it seem that even with this strength in depth, we capitulate at every given opportunity to rise to the challenge and battle through to the very last stage, after all we are very, very good at making the quarters!
There have been many times when excuses such as the players not having the drive or commitment or previous coaches lacking the tactical knowledge required at such a high level of the game. This comment from the FA though has shed light on who is really responsible for our poor performances on the international stage, the FA themselves.
It's one thing bringing in a manager such as Sven Goran Eriksson, paying him the Earth and then adding Pluto to his pay-off after apparent poor results but it is another to sign a coach who immediately claims that England must win a major tournament under his reign and them effectively tell him, 'Nah it's fine Fab's 3rd or 4th will do nicely thanks.'
I don't think Capello will settle for anything less than a spot in the final at either of the next two tournaments we're eligible for, it doesn't seem that the man is the type to accept adequacy, he looks for perfection. His record is one which shows that and if he can repeat the outstanding record he's set at domestic level, England should be looking towards a bright future under the steady hand of an Italian. That's a controversial issue in itself but we'll leave that for another day.
Forza England!

English clubs finally catch on to Argentinian qualities

Tue, 06 May 2008 23:58:33 +0000

It's been relatively late coming but it looks like the Premiership has finally woken up to the benefits of signing Argentinian players.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, crystalising the sentiments of many a modern coach, extolled the virtues of Carlos Tevez after his hyperactive display of ball hunting in the Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona.

"Tevez scores in big games a lot.His energy the other night was fantastic, a real Argentinian mentality, a winner's mentality," said Ferguson.

The United boss persevered with the unorthodox loan acquisition of Tevez last summer because he had been so impressed with the striker's never-say-die attitude in the last eight weeks of the season prior when he, in Ferguson's view, singlehandedly saved West Ham from relegation.

Tevez and countryman Javier Mascherano arrived in England fresh from a World Cup and struggled to adapt to the relentless pace of Premiership football, but like Tottenham pair Ardiles and Villa before them, they now look at home.

Twenty five years after Ossie packed his bags and quit White Hart Lane in search of a peaceful life away from a country at war with his homeland, a new wave of Argentinians are set to invade England's top fight.

Wheras Spain, Italy and Portugal were the most attractive destinations for the boys from Buenos Aires in the past, now they are bypassed or become just stopping off points en route to the new promised land - a Premiership dripping with cash.

So where will messrs Ferguson, Benitez, Ramos and Redknapp be shopping this summer and who are the new faces we should look out for ?

Ezequiel Garay (Racing Santander) - left-footed centre-back with a rocket shot.

Angel De Maria (Benfica) - skilful forward or winger.

Lucho Gonzalez (Porto) - midfield engine with leadership qualities.

Lisandro Lopez (Porto) - free-scoring striker with predatory instinct.

Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors) - unpredictable striker capable of genius.

Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht) - mature ball-winning midfielder, but uncapped and has no EU passport

Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli) - pacy striker with an Italian passport - SB.

The Championship: More exciting than the Premier League?

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:25:41 +0000

After having watched the drama of the last day of the Championship season unfold in front of me on Sunday I have come to the conclusion that whilst it will never boost the quality of the Premier League I did in fact find it more exciting to watch than any last day of the Premier League season.

Let me explain, firstly the game between Stoke and Leicester may not have been the greatest game on the field but the fans made it into a momentous occasions, momentous for Leicester for all the wrong reasons but still a remarkable day. Who would have predicted that Stoke would be gaining automatic promotion and relegating a side whom, until few years ago, were playing UEFA Cup football and punching above their weight in the Premier League. If anything I would have guessed at the beginning of the season that it would have been Leicester going to Stoke needing a point to gain promotion but that's why the Championship can be so interesting. You can never predict at the start of the season who will be going up or down, many will have picked West Brom to gain promotion but I doubt even the most optimistic Stoke fan would have had their side gaining automatic promotion with them. Along with Stoke who would have guessed that Hull and Bristol City would have been in the play-off places.

At the other end of the table who have believed that the likes of Coventry, Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday would have needed a win to avoid the drop into League 1. I know the likes of Nottingham Forest and Leeds have fallen through that trap door but still it is unusual for clubs who were once in the Premier League to fall further than the Championship (no offence Bradford or Swindon). There is just so much more to play for in the Championship and the league is so open that it makes for an exciting season. I think it's great that Stoke are going to be in the Premier League next season and I hope either Bristol City or Hull join them because it's a testament to the league that those teams can rise to the top and take their place in England's top flight. They may well go straight back down but who knows, they may well shock everyone and force one of the Premier League's more established sides out.

Reading an article by Phil McNulty on the BBC's sport website defending the Premier League after Kevin Keegan's 'boring, but great, leagues' comment yesterday has made me realise that while the Premier League title is going down to the wire, it's between two clubs who you would have guessed would have been up there at the start of the season. You can pretty much dictate how the league is going to go before they kick-off in August. The Premier League has become predictable with the same old sides rising to the top, not so in the Championship this season where it could have easily been Stoke or Hull who took the league winners crown.

That is what I love about football, the unpredictable side of things, something which is slipping away in the top flight of English football. It's why I have enjoyed the FA Cup more this year than any other, but that competition lost its shine as soon as Manchester United decided to play in some silly tournament in Brazil rather than in the oldest cup competition in the world. In Phil McNulty's article he makes a good point when he says that all European Leagues are predictable and on the whole you would agree with him where it is always Inter Milan or Lyon dominating their respective leagues. But Spain's La Liga does not fit into the mould. While Real Madrid or Barcelona do normally end up winning the league at least a different side comes up to challenge them most season's. This year it has been Villarreal and before that Sevilla, Valencia, Real Betis etc.

Perhaps the Championship's biggest plus point is also its downfall because, as the Derby proved last season, you don't have to be brilliant to get promoted. But teams must always have faith and I look forward to Stoke being in the Premier League next season and also look forward to the most nerve racking time of the year now, the Play-Offs.

Bet on the Play-Offs here at Betfair

The Madness of King Shinawarta

Tue, 06 May 2008 12:51:22 +0000

I imagine that at this moment realistic Manchester City fans up and down the country are shaking their heads in disbelief at the notion that this summer one of their most successful managers in recent history is to be sacked. He may not have won anything but he has made City into a competitive team once again, and to beat their city rivals United home and away is not mean feat when you consider some of the teams that have tried and failed in that task this season. At the end of last season City were perhaps lucky that their early season form meant they weren't relegated because their home form was dreadful and goals were like goal dust for the Citizens.

To steal a quote from a BBC news reports I saw earlier today, City change their managers more regularly than people change their tooth brush. Sven-Goran Eriksson may not be in the same league as Steve Coppell and his 32 day reign but what Manchester City need, if they seriously want to challenge for honours, is stability and plenty of it. Whilst the former England manager may have dropped a clanger this weekend, I mean who throws away a two goal lead against Fulham, a team single-handedly carried by Jimmy Bullard at times but that's for another blog. Sven may have dropped £46m last summer on a few players who have been less than successful, Bianchi for £8.8m springs to mind. But City were making progress this season, for the first part of the season they were even challenging for a Champions League pace, now I will be the first to admit they have been dismal in the second half of the season but they lack strength in depth in key positions. The lose of Micah Richards and, more recently Richard Dunne, has seem them leak goals like a sieve leaks water but I would have predicted that Eriksson would have added to his squad in that position in the summer. Now he won't get the chance.

Eriksson is a good club manager, winning Serie A with Lazio is no mean feat and while he may have failed to carry England past the quarter-finals at least we reached those major tournaments under the Swede. I think Thaksin Shinawatra is being extremely naïve to presume that success would just come to a club that hasn't won a major trophy since the 1976 League Cup, I don't include the First Division a major trophy for a team like City who have a European tournament. It seems that Mr Shinawatra presumed taking over a football club and success come hand in hand if your knowledge of football is based on how Chelsea have done under Roman Abramovich. Sven was building a squad that would have been challenging for major honours given enough time, the future looks bright for City whose youth side just won the FA Youth Cup. Perhaps like Chelsea it was another clash of personalities between the two or perhaps Now the future for City looks grey, who could they readily get to provide instant success whilst working under some extreme conditions where you are only given a season. Most managers like their own freedom and to have someone staring over your shoulder will only fail to fill your manager with confidence. Anyone with any knowledge of football knows that a manager needs time to build a successful team and it looks like if your thinking of applying to become City manager....don't

Place your bets on Sven being the next manager to get the sack here

Rangers suffer UEFA Cup hangover as Hibs hold firm

Sun, 04 May 2008 20:09:06 +0000

Following Thursday's victory over Fiorentina, you would have thought that Rangers would head to Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon brimming with confidence and put on a performance worthy of UEFA Cup finalists.
Be it a dreaded hangover following their European adventure, an extended period of shock from making the final or simply jet-lag, a strong Rangers side failed to make a winning return to domestic football.
The Gers' headed to Easter Road knowing that arch-rivals Celtic had already bagged three points a day earlier, coming from a goal down to see off Motherwell at Fir Park although from kick-off it almost seemed inevitable that Rangers weren't going to defeat a stubborn Hibs side.
In a first half of limited chances it was in fact the hosts who looked the more likely to score as Rangers' boss Walter Smith looked as though a pillow would have been a welcome sight as his side struggled to get back into the stride of bread and butter football.
In truth, neither side found their way into the match in the first half and as pass after pass sailed out for throw-ins and goal kicks both Smith and Hibs' boss Mixu Paatelainen appeared increasingly distressed with their players and rightly so, after all Rangers and Hibs are chasing the title and UEFA Cup spots respectively.
In a half which lacked any real creative freedom Carlos Cuellar came closest to breaking the deadlock, forcing Andrew McNeil into an acrobatic save just before the break but it was not enough to spark the visiting support into life who had brought banners urging their team to become heroes in Manchester later this month.
After receiving what must have been a stern dressing down at half time from Smith, the Rangers side came out fighting with strikers Nacho Novo and Daniel Cousin combining well to create a number of chances as the visitors began to assert their dominance.
Just as it appeared that Rangers were on the brink of finding a break-through though the hosts began to pile on pressure of their own, the best chance falling to the brilliant Dean Shiels who collected a pass 25 yards out before pulling the trigger and making Neil Alexander tip the ball behind for a corner kick.
Just as it was getting interesting though the tempo of the match took an unwelcome turn, becoming patchy and bogged down in the midfield almost until the end of the match until Novo came close to increasing his hero status.
With Hibs unable to keep hold of the ball, Novo took his chance, running into the space and flashing in a shot as the ball came loose. His effort was fierce and on target but yet again McNeil was in the right spot, sticking out a leg to divert the effort round the post and away to safety.
Rangers will be disappointed with the result but with three games in hand - none on paper against a side as strong as Hibernian - and seven points to be made up in the race for the title
they'll know their destiny is still in their hands.

The Great England Myth

Fri, 02 May 2008 11:10:47 +0000

When England failed to qualify for this summer's European Championships in Austria and Switzerland there was an almighty outcry about how the influx of foreign players has had a negative impact on the national team.

However in the very same season three Premier League clubs have reached the last-four of the Champions League and two - Chelsea and Manchester United - have gone on to set up a first-ever All-English European Cup final in Moscow on May 21.

The initial argument would be that, despite being English clubs in name, these top teams are littered with top foreign talent who are responsible for their success on the field!

On the face of it you could argue that United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez have been integral in their side's progress, while Chelsea have the likes of Didier Drogba, Michael Essien and Michael Ballack to name but a few.

However take another look at the team line-ups and if respective managers Avram Grant and Sir Alex Ferguson get to name their first-choice starting line-ups almost half of the 22 players on the field of play in Moscow later this month will be from England.

United will have Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown, semi-final hero Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick on show, while Chelsea will almost certainly have John Terry, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Ashley Cole lining up at the start of the game.

Chelsea will also have Shaun Wright-Phillips and Wayne Bridge to call on with United boasting veteran full-back Gary Neville in their ranks.

If Liverpool had gone through instead of Chelsea there would still have been Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher starting with Jermaine Pennant and Peter Crouch on the periphery of the team.

This begs the question what exactly is wrong with the England team?

It is blatantly not a lack of quality because as has been proved this season and in the past, the cream of English football are all plying their trade in the top Premier League teams.

It also scotches the notion that foreigners are stunting the development of young English talent because if the youngsters coming through the ranks are good enough they will get a chance to prove it.

It simply boils down to the man at the helm of the national team being able to get the raw ingredients and blend them into a winning formula.

Steve McClaren had the players at his disposal but could not throw them together as a team so the Football Association went for the more experienced and revered Italian task-master Fabio Capello to ensure the Three Lions do not miss out on the 2010 World Cup.

If Capello is as good as everyone makes out then England might actually start winning again and people might stop looking for scapegoats and focus on the good that there is in English football.

Sacking Sven would be a huge mistake

Fri, 02 May 2008 09:14:15 +0000

The fact that Manchester City are even thinking of sacking Sven-Goran Eriksson is completely absurd. The former England boss has done a fantastic job under the circumstances and is guaranteed a top ten finish during his first season of club management in the Premier League.

Whatever is going through Thaksin Shinawatra's head I'll never know. Fair enough, Sven has spent a lot of his money on players that haven't performed for the last few weeks, but it takes time to build a team that is capable of a top six finish in this league. Which I presume is what Mr Shinawatra is after.

Man City should take a leaf out of their nearest rival's book. Keeping faith with the same manager does pay off. Alex Ferguson didn't have the best start to his career at United, but look at him now. Not that it helped him against Sven this season though. The blue side of Manchester have emerged victorious both times the sides have met this season and what does Sven get in return - a sacking?

City's problems are probably based around their fantastic start to the season. They were in the top four and heading for a Champions League place before Christmas and it now seems that their 'dramatic' slide to a very respectable 9th in the table could cost the Swede his job. That I guess is one of the down sides to having a foreign owner - they expect far too much, far too quickly.

What did he expect City to do this season? No-one is going to break the the top four up and then it's the ever improving teams of Everton and Aston Villa - who have, by the way, taken time to produce the consistency that is seeing them head for Europe this season. With David Moyes another excellent example that faith in your manager does pay off.

I guess you could argue that City could be finishing above Portsmouth and Blackburn, but two places in the league can't be enough to cost someone their job. Maybe it was a cup that Shinawatra wanted this season, who knows. One thing that does seem clear is that there will be a lot of disapproval amongst the Manchester City fans if Sven is asked to move on. They were uncertain of his appointment to begin with, but after playing some fantastic football in the first few months of the season and defeating their local rivals twice - he has won them over.

Sacking him now would be like going back to square one. Under Keegan and Pearce, Man City were constantly fighting relegation from the Premier League. Now they have someone who can help them push for Europe every year and help attract some quality players to the Eastlands.

The way of the Premier League now, seems to be that unless you are Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger - your job is under threat. Mr Benitez, Mr Grant and Mr Curbishley will vouch for that. I think it was Harry Redknapp that said recently - "anyone outside the 'big four' that finishes in the top ten has had a fantastic season." Maybe for the sake of Manchester City's future, the Portsmouth boss should have a word in Mr Shinawatra's ear.

Bridge bash to buck recent trend

Fri, 02 May 2008 07:17:47 +0000

Betting enthusiasts will have to trawl back nine games to find a match between Chelsea and Liverpool with more than three goals, but when the two sides meet on Wednesday that trend may well be bucked.

Liverpool know they must score on the Kings Road - a feat which has so far eluded them under Rafa Benitez - if they are to reach the Champions League final in Moscow.

The Reds were the dominant force in the semi-final first leg at Anfield and created ample chances before being undone at the death by a John Arne Riise own goal.

The in-form Peter Crouch could be rewarded with a rare start and alongside Fernando Torres the duo have the ability to trouble John Terry and Chelsea.

Torres passed up a terrific chance in the first leg to score and he is unlikley to be so generous again against a Chelsea side buoyed by Saturday's 2-1 win over Manchester United.

Avram Grant's men will be out of the blocks quickly and will be intent on trying to bulldoze their way past Pepe Reina and an early goal for either side will go a long way to landing a punt at attractively priced odds on the over 2.5 goals market.

The last meeting between the two sides at the Bridge was a 0-0 bore draw, but Wednesday's tussle promises so much more and with it a goal fest.

Daggers destined for drop

Fri, 02 May 2008 07:14:36 +0000

Dagenham and Redbridge have only been in the Football League for a season, but their stay in League Two looks like being a short one.

The Daggers look all set to battle it out with Mansfield to avoid the second and final relegation spot. The Daggers are a point better of than the Stags with two games to play, but it may well pay to side with Mansfied to stave off relegation.

Dagenham are 3/1 away at promotion-chasing Darlington at the weekend and are unlikley to improve on a run of form which has seen then pick up just three points from a possible 27. While the Stags are at home to debt-ridden Rotherham and have lost just once in their last six.

Mansfield's goal difference is seven better than their Victoria Road rivals and a draw for Mansfield at the weekend along with a Dagenham defeat would mean the Stags need to avoid defeat in the last-day clash at Dagenham.

The final game could not have worked out anymore dramatic in the Football League basement and the 15/8 about Dagenham going down looks generous.

Greece primed for repeat showing

Fri, 02 May 2008 07:11:13 +0000

Greece shocked Europe four years ago when they lifted the European Championship title in Portugal and it seems they have been written off again this time around.

Much was made of the squad's freshness in 2004, but it was coach Otto Rehhagel's tactical genuis which turned Greece into an Italian-like well-oiled machine.

Rehhagel's men carved out three consecutive 1-0 wins, from the quarter-final to the final, to land the trophy and with it a remarkable piece of history.

Half of the winning squad will be back to defend their title and once again they look well-rested ahead of the June kick-off in Salzburg against Sweden.

Greece only dropped five points in qualification and racked up seven clean sheets in their 12 games and they look primed to produce another dour, but effective, defensive display at the finals.

They should squeeze through their group, just as they did four years ago, as only Spain look to have the firepower to break down their dogged resistance.

Russia historically are poor travellers and Sweden never seem to work their way out of the initial phase of tournamnets.

Then the quarter-finals could see the Greeks paired with France or Italy, who look the pair to beat from Group C, but they will not be worried by that prospect - having disposed of the French at the same stage last time around. Italy may provide a sterner test in a game which I advise you to avoid watching at all costs unless you've re-mortgaged the house on a 'no-goalscorer' bet.

If they can edge through, the semi-finals and final will pit Greece with the cream of Europe. However they showed they have no respect for reputations last time around and with a water-tight rearguard to build on, the two frontmen Ioannis Amanatidis and Theofanis Gekas might just surprise one or two people.

Rehhagel is likely to switch to a 4-4-2 formation for the finals after employing a 4-3-3 style in qualification, but that won't alter their work ethic and if you can get a price of around 33/1 it will be worth trading before the tournament begins.

What goes up must come down.

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:42:46 +0000

After the match at the Hawthorns this evening there will be just the one game left for each side in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship and with the automatic and play-off places still very much up for grabs, it looks like it will go right down to the wire. But who will secure their place in the top flight of English football for next season, and how will they fare against some of the best players and teams in the world?

It is a typical assumption that the sides
promoted from the old 'Division One' will be high contenders for relegation the following season. Pundits will forever be proved wrong, but looking at the current top eight in the Championship I cannot see much hope for the optimistic contenders wishing to be part of the 2008/09 Premiership campaign.

West Brom look set to secure promotion with a win in tonight's clash with Southamption and the betting odds are firmly stacked in their favour. Tony Pulis' Stoke are the favourites in the race with Hull to acquire the remaining automatic spot with their final match at home to struggling Leicester, while the next six teams will be left to fight it out in the nerve-racking play-offs. Hull and Bristol City have both secured places and will be favourites to succeed in the mini-competition, while the final two places will be fought out between Watford, Crystal Palace and Wolves - though Ipswich and Sheffield United do have an outside chance.

And while chasing and securing promotion is very exciting, not to mention the massive increase in finance from TV rights, I think it will all be doom and gloom for these sides next season. The winner of the play-offs will no doubt be favourites to finish in the bottom three next season, and I should imagine the other promoted side besides West Brom (probably Stoke) will be a close second. Tony Mowbray's side, I feel, are the most appealing side to prove to be an exception to the rule. However, I still cannot see them mirroring the likes of West Ham and Reading, both of whom looked Premiership quality in their first season back in the top flight (though both indeed found it difficult in their second).

Of course, each manager will have the chance to strengthen his squad during the summer and I'd expect them all to be striving to find that '20-goal-a-season-striker'. That is unless West Brom already think they have that in 34-year-old Kevin Phillips who only scored four goals for Aston Villa last season and, let's face it, isn't really that good anyway. The problem the sides will face, however, is that players may not be particularly excited by the prospect of a relegation scrap all season.

But there is always hope for newly promoted sides, though I think they will have to pin it on their fellow strugglers performing worse than themselves. Under Gary Megson, I cannot see Bolton finding the form they hit under Big Sam and I firmly believe they will be in the thick of things at the bottom next season. The only other sides who my money would be on to struggle next season would be Middlesbrough - though given a couple of signings could quite easily rise to a safe mid-table side - and Fulham, but they look set to drop divisions this season.

You can never quite say what will happen next season and we will have a much better indication after the summer transfer window when the season is underway, but for now I'm sticking to Isaac Newton's hypothesis that "Whatever goes up must come down".

Clarke takes steps to Ryder Cup contention

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:44:59 +0000

Following a traumatic two years in the life of golfer Darren Clarke what a great boost it would be if he can force his way into Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup squad to face America at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, September 16-21.

In August 2006 the Northern Irishman lost his wife Heather to breast cancer at the age of just 39. And following a break from the game he bravely made himself available as a wildcard selection to Europe's Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam for the tournament the following month.

He went on to pick up a creditable three points on the way to a European victory against the Americans at the K Club.

However since that emotional event, Clarke admits he lost some love for the game as he failed to light up the European Tour and slipped down the order of Merit standings as a result.

Clarke looked a million miles away from being considered for this year's Ryder Cup - which would be his sixth successive appearance - as current captain Faldo will pick the top five players from the world rankings and the top five from the European Tour rankings with two wildcards to make up the 12.

However, with players such as Colin Montgomerie probably requiring wildcard selection, Clarke has taken up the challenge with some hard work on the course and was rewarded with victory in the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai, China, to move him up to 14^th in the current European rankings.

Clarke's last win on the European Tour was five years ago at the WGC-NEC Invitational and he is hoping this latest title success will put him in the running for this year's Ryder Cup, although he accepts he still has a lot to do.

He said: "If I qualify for the Ryder Cup team that would be fantastic. That is back as a realistic goal now.

"I have given myself a bit of a boost but there is still a long way to qualify for the team.

"There is nothing that helps your confidence like wining, whatever way you do it, and it feels good.

"My focus is to keep playing as good a golf as I can and I do desperately want to be at Valhalla, but we will see."

There is no doubt Clarke has the experience and know-how when it comes to defeating the Americans so you would not bet against him lining up in Europe's colours once again this autumn, possibly as a wildcard pick, but hopefully through his own merits.