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.
- Paddy McLaughlin
- I'll keep this short and simple. I absolutely love sport - that's the rule. Rugby league and horse racing (apart from Aintree and Cheltenham) - them's the exceptions. I'll try to cover as much as I can throughout this blog, whilst trying to keep the sanctimony to a minimum. I'll try and add a bit of [tongue-in-cheek] humour, when appropriate. I'm currently studying towards an NCTJ Diploma in Journalism. All feedback and suggestions will be given the time and thought that they deserve. Enjoy the read guys, I'll enjoy the write.
Showing posts with label draw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label draw. Show all posts
Sunday, 15 February 2009
Win, lose or FA Cup draw.
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