You may be wondering where the latest update is, with a bumper weekend of sport still ongoing. Fear not, it's here. Before I start, a thank you to everyone who has offered up invaluable advice. I will endeavour to take it all on board, but please keep the feedback and comments coming. Cheers.
Overloaded FA Cup draw awaits.
Saturday gave the term 'FA Cup Draw' a whole new meaning - eight teams have to do it all over again. With the slight possibility of another draw today at Pride Park and the fact that Arsenal and Cardiff have yet to complete their fourth round tie (Burnley await the winners), we already have a guaranteed 14 teams in tonight's quarter-final draw. We may even be faced with the prospect of having 15 teams gunning for 8 places, something which can't happen too often.
Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Portsmouth got back to winning ways for the first time since the end of November. Caretaker boss Paul Hart says he is only concentrating on the next game. My reading of the situation is that Hart might remain until the end of the season. Otherwise, the shrewd appointment of Brian Kidd will simply have been needless. Portsmouth's next seven games include matches with Stoke (a), Middlesbrough (a), Hull (a), West Brom (h) and Bolton (h). I expect them to have enough quality to climb away from the dogfight below, and Portsmouth to stick with Hart and Kidd until the summer, at least.
Anguish in Antigua.
Friday the 13th probably passed by quietly for most of us. Not for those in Antigua awaiting the Second Test between the Windies and England. After 10 deliveries, it was abundantly clear that the bowler's run-up was unsafe, to say the least. It was a pity. In a part of the world where cricket is paramount, and in a stadium celebrating a legend of the game, Friday's events were farcical. A hastily arranged Third Test has now started, with England making a bright start.
I can't understand, however, the decision to twice put England in to bat after winning the toss. After England's embarrassing First Test collapse, it would have made sense to me for the West Indies to get out and post a decent score, all the while giving England plenty of time to reflect on their batting. Instead, Chris Gayle has given the English a chance to get out quickly and banish the memory, and England have duly obliged (this time around). It's good to see that the selectors, however, have not found any reason to bring Ian Bell back, and Owais Shah will get his chance. With the pitch offering little for the bowlers, and rain forecast over the next few days, the 5/6 being offered by Boylesports makes that my first Banker of the Week.
Murray's mint performance.
Tennis now, and Andy Murray has beaten an obviously distressed Rafael Nadal in the final of the creatively named World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. Nadal was clearly injured and stuggling in the final set, Murray winning 6-3 4-6 6-0. It's a pity to see Nadal hurt, but testament to his character that he stayed out and fought all the way. Murray, meanwhile, is impressing time after time this season. Nadal will be strong favourite at Roland Garros, but he and Roger Federer will rightly be worrying about Murray's form should it continue towards Wimbledon and the US Open.
Two Nations continues.
England may have been heavily criticised for their performance against Italy, but they showed a lot of spirit in yesterday's RBS Six Nations clash with Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Wales' class told in the end, but it offers some much needed encouragement for Martin Johnson and his men. Scotland lost in Paris, another fighting display, and they will offer plenty of resistance for the rest of the tournament. And Ireland saw off a distinctly average Italian side in Rome, bringing to conclusion another weekend that suggests the clash between Wales and Ireland in Cardiff may well decide who this year's champions will be.
So, another substantial if unspectacular sporting weekend continues with the Milan derby tonight, after the FA Cup quarter-final draw is made. Last year, I correctly pointed Portsmouth out as potential winners (albeit to a couple of friends), so this year I offer you another outsider - Everton. They've been really impressive of late, and with a bit of luck they could lift the cup for the first time since Paul Rideout's winner in 1995.
3 comments:
Alright Paddy,
already wrote a comment but this site sacked it off when i tried to post it and i couldn't retrieve it. Anyway since i'm hooked with the conversation of sport i'll summarise my key points if you dont mind.
i. FACup draw - glad United didn't get Everton, agree that they are the team to beat, wanted a tie with the currently unsettled Chelsea team.
ii. Not a fan of cricket as would be the usual response but did see the quality of the pitches in tests 2 and 3 and agree that they are diabolical to be fair.
iii. I agree with the drug testing now, you've convinced me. Why wouldn't these professionals who would be training during the day anyway ensure the sport is clean and maintain a role model persona to their fans. Murray had a good win and aslong as he doesn't mess things up like he did in Aus' he could be a fierce opponent for the top 3.
iv.Two nations is a fair reflection. I think Ireland have a good shot and it could go down to the wire. Saki (i think is the correct spelling) deprived all of us honest gambling addicts a chance to bite the bookies winnings when he failed to get a try with England trailing by 5 points.
v.
What do you think of Chelsea and Arsenal, their hopes of silverware and their squads? More importantly what do you think about your beloved Liverpool? My da told me to send Rafa B a thank you card for giving Manchester United the league this season, do you see where he's coming from (he's a huge Lpool fan)?
What did you think of the C Ronaldo and his disallowed goal today? A good piece of refereeing or a shambles?
Any tips on who might edge it between Ireland and Wales in the six nations triple crown, title and grandslam (hopefully) hopes? Ireland surely are due a bit of luck to win the thing after our own stupidity two years ago (allowing France and Italy a last minute try in both games to lose in PD).
Have you already resigned to the fact Rafa Nadal will win the French Open with ease again this year (excluded the French Open when talking about A.Murrays quest for gold)?
Think i might have just rewrote my original post in different words, i'll never get those 10minutes back! A good read again Paddy, good knowledge with the Cricket too so i'll be looking forward to the next one and try and improve my grammar to save confusion and time!
I really hate barry venison. I think he is a complete knob. Do you agree Paddy?
Kieran, I'll respond in kind, if you don't mind.
i) Chelsea may be currently unsettled, but with Hiddink set to take over, one would imagine they'll be a bit more settled come March 6th/7th. Arsenal looked pretty good tonight, and Everton are having another brilliant season under Moyes. If they are the four teams who win through to the semi-finals, it'll make for a fantastic couple of games.
ii) It's not so much the quality of the pitch in the current Test, but the fact that it is as flat as a pancake, with the exception of a rather tasty ridge at the halfway point. It's an (almost) ideal batting surface, which is why I think the Windies have enough to bat through tomorrow/today (depending on when you are reading), albeit with a heavy reliance on Chanderpaul.
iii) Watch this space for further issues arising because of the new drug testing systems. More athletes are entering the debate, and I understand a legal challenge is being prepared by a group from Belgium. I suppose, if anything, singling out Nadal was a bit harsh.
iv) Not much to say about this, apart from 'It's Sackey, get it right man'.
v) I think Arsenal have far too much to do to challenge in the Premier League this season, however with two home games in the FA Cup coming up, I fully expect to see them in the semi-finals. Chelsea, on the other hand, is tougher to call. Much depends on whether Hiddink can unite the squad and give them belief that they can still challenge for the Premier League title. I think both squads have suffered heavily this season due to injury. Fabregas has been missed by Arsenal, and the Premier League in general, whereas Essien and Joe Cole's injuries for Chelsea have been massive blows. These are the type of players that can change a match in an instant, and is probably why they are both off the pace.
I think the team to beat in Europe this season is Barcelona. They've been in outstanding form in La Liga, and have a rejuvenated Thierry Henry leading the line. After that, I think Man United and Liverpool will be the teams everyone wants to avoid. Liverpool definitely have what it takes to see off Real Madrid, in my opinion. They need to do two things: 1) Don't get hammered at the Bernabeu, and 2) Get Gerrard fit.
Liverpool this season have been both refreshing and frustrating. The players obviously believe they're good enough to challenge, and some players have raised their level of performance on a regular basis: Xabi Alonso and Yossi Benayoun, for example.
Many Liverpool fans this season have been frustrating. Personally, I don't understand the hysteria surrounding Man United returning to the top of the league. Since when has a potential 5-point lead been a championship-winning performance? Yes, United have been rock solid at the back, but they have been less impressive at the opposite end of the park. This is why I still think they will drop points, and that the league is not over. Admittedly, they are strong favourites, but as we all know, leagues are not won in February. March 14th will give us a much clearer picture, of course.
vi) If the linesman didn't see Giggs get a touch, and genuinely wasn't sure if he had, to wait the way he did and consult the referee took a lot of bottle. If this is what happened, and it's a pretty good explanation, then it is top class officiating - no doubt about it. You'd have to wonder whether he would've kept his head at Old Trafford in the same way.
vii) At this stage, it could be either. Ireland were very impressive against France, but looked a little laboured at times in Rome. Wales were made to fight by England, but showed that when they are in a scrap, they can battle. If I had to give a prediction, at this stage, I'd say Wales. They have home advantage, and also some of their periods of play have been scintillating, something which gives them an attacking edge over Ireland. Both teams do face tough games in less than a fortnight, however, so someone's Grand Slam hopes could end prematurely.
viii) Simply put, yes. For the past number of years, Rafa has been a mile ahead of anyone else on clay, highlighted by his demolition of Federer in last year's final. Murray has improved, but he'll always be a better hard court player, a mon avis. Injuries permitting, I'll be surprised if Nadal drops more than one set at Roland Garros this year.
Gareth, I don't have much against Barry Venison. If I'm honest, the "mulleted wonder" could well be my favourite footballer of all time with a meat-orientated surname. Frank Leboeuf a close second, obviously.
I can't honestly tell whether you mean to use Gareth as your forename, rather than Garth. Can I assume that this is a rather clever play on the BBC pundit's name?
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