Last gasp footie in 5 to Watch
The English domestic football season is usually a long drawn out affair with play-offs, finals, news of next season’s friendlies and transfer talk. Sometimes you just want to say: enough, already.
This Saturday sees the last domestic issue resolved: who joins surprise package Norwich and scrappers Leeds in the Championship.
• In the Red corner we have Danny Wilson’s Swindon – all West country “lovely and bunkum”. The Blue corner contains Kenny Jackett’s self-confessed hard nuts of “East Laarndon” Millwall going head-to-head at Wembley for the privilege. A week before the end of the season I’d have said –like most folk – that Leeds had blown it and Millwall were going up with the Canaries. But Millwall blew it at Tranmere and 10-man Leeds, as we know, stuttered to a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers. Millwall or Swindon is close. But on the Blackpool principle that the unlikely is always likely to happen let’s go for Swindon.
• Bigger than Millwall v Swindon this weekend is the final of the Guinness Premiership between Saracens and Leicester. The final has added spice because Brendan Venter, the Sarries coach, is banned from the Twickenham match for being nasty – allegedly – to Leicester fans in a recent league game that Sarries won. It’s tempting to go with the Saracens momentum but I think the wily men of Leicester will prevail.
• Aussie Mark Webber is the man of the moment in F1. Two wins in a row make him hot favourite for the drivers’ title even though there is a long way to go but his Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel is stuttering and Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton are not yet making much impression. Shall we go for three in a row and tempt fate? Why not. Webber to win.
• The law of averages in golf says that whoever leads after round one in any tournament can kiss goodbye to the title by day four. I’m tempted to write off Luke Donald at the Madrid Open in similar fashion but it’s still about time he won so let’s go for the baby-faced swinger to keep the momentum going and reign in Spain.
• One of the most intriguing games in the last 32 of the women’s section of the French Open tennis is Maria Sharapova, the not-so-young grunter, and Justine Henin, the Belgian waif. They will meet over the weekend to decide the dubious pleasure of taking on Serena Williams in the last 16. Henin has the game to upset the volatile Russian beauty (sorry – sexist) and so should win comfortably.
Friday, 28 May 2010
Monday, 24 May 2010
5 To Watch Review
The pleasure of 5 to Watch failure
There are some things you don’t mind losing over – an argument with the best looking girl in the class or the toss of a coin over who gets to eat up the last cake mix after your mum has given you the bowl – and then there are the 5 to Watch choices that sometimes it is a pleasure to say – I’m glad.
Blackpool’s success in the Championship play-off against Cardiff is one such occasion because it gives their manager Ian Holloway – a man much derided and made fun of in football circles – to say he did it; he got his lowly tangerine toilers into the Premier League. Well done.
Another defeat that put a smile on my face was the PGA Championship victory of Simon Khan. Who? You might say. Well, the man ranked 471st in the world of golf before the weekend and who didn’t even know he was playing in the event until Monday actually won it with the best final round comeback ion the history of the European Tour. He was seven shots adrift at the start of the final round in Wentworth but managed through good luck, hopeless opposition and good finishing to win. Great stuff. Our choice? Luke Donald nowhere.
Toulouse came home victorious in the Heineken Cup but they made hard work of winning the trophy over fellow French side Biarritz, 21-19 in Paris.
Cardiff also upset the apple cart in the Amlin Cup – beating their French rivals on their own patch. Some consolation for the Welsh city after the Blackpool defeat but not much.
Finally, Jose Mourinho didn’t need penalties to defeat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. The remarkable coach looks to be heading for Real Madrid but on Saturday his Inter Milan side did him proud with a 2-0 victory.
There are some things you don’t mind losing over – an argument with the best looking girl in the class or the toss of a coin over who gets to eat up the last cake mix after your mum has given you the bowl – and then there are the 5 to Watch choices that sometimes it is a pleasure to say – I’m glad.
Blackpool’s success in the Championship play-off against Cardiff is one such occasion because it gives their manager Ian Holloway – a man much derided and made fun of in football circles – to say he did it; he got his lowly tangerine toilers into the Premier League. Well done.
Another defeat that put a smile on my face was the PGA Championship victory of Simon Khan. Who? You might say. Well, the man ranked 471st in the world of golf before the weekend and who didn’t even know he was playing in the event until Monday actually won it with the best final round comeback ion the history of the European Tour. He was seven shots adrift at the start of the final round in Wentworth but managed through good luck, hopeless opposition and good finishing to win. Great stuff. Our choice? Luke Donald nowhere.
Toulouse came home victorious in the Heineken Cup but they made hard work of winning the trophy over fellow French side Biarritz, 21-19 in Paris.
Cardiff also upset the apple cart in the Amlin Cup – beating their French rivals on their own patch. Some consolation for the Welsh city after the Blackpool defeat but not much.
Finally, Jose Mourinho didn’t need penalties to defeat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. The remarkable coach looks to be heading for Real Madrid but on Saturday his Inter Milan side did him proud with a 2-0 victory.
Saturday, 22 May 2010
5 To Watch Preview
The £90m 5 to Watch
It has been called the £90 million match and the Blackpool v Cardiff City Championship play-off final at Wembley leads our 5 to Watch this weekend.
The winners will join the elite in the Premier League and even if it is for one season Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale has estimated that £90m will flow through the coffers of the winning side in the next three years, largely through TV money, parachute payments if they go down straight away and marketing and sponsorship revenue.
• All this makes it difficult to call. But we must and I’m siding with Cardiff who have more experience and better players. Don’t write off Ian Holloway and his Seasiders but it’s Cardiff for me.
• Saturday night sees the most unlikely Champions League final for years with few predicting Inter Milan taking on Bayern Munich. Barcelona v Man United may have been most people’s choice but the combined talents of Jose Mourinho at Inter and Louis van Gaal at Bayern scuppered both teams. I would like to see Mourinho win it if only because it will probably hasten the departure of Ferguson at Man United and install the special one at Old Trafford in the next couple of seasons. Inter to win but it may take penalties.
• The Heineken Cup final in rugby union is one of the game’s showpieces and it is unusual that this season there is no English presence. Toulouse take on Biarritz in Paris in what should be a classic final. Toulouse for me.
• On Sunday we have the Amlin Cup in rugby union when Cardiff play Toulon in another beautifully poised final, in Marseille. Jonny Wilkinson has joined the Gallic rush and could make the difference between the sides. Toulon for a French double.
• Two rounds gone in the PGA at Wentworth and my pick for victory is leading. It’s about time Luke Donald came out from the shadow of Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood and what better place to do it than one of the homes of golf – even though not many people are pleased with the way Ernie Els has altered the famous course. Donald to win.
It has been called the £90 million match and the Blackpool v Cardiff City Championship play-off final at Wembley leads our 5 to Watch this weekend.
The winners will join the elite in the Premier League and even if it is for one season Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale has estimated that £90m will flow through the coffers of the winning side in the next three years, largely through TV money, parachute payments if they go down straight away and marketing and sponsorship revenue.
• All this makes it difficult to call. But we must and I’m siding with Cardiff who have more experience and better players. Don’t write off Ian Holloway and his Seasiders but it’s Cardiff for me.
• Saturday night sees the most unlikely Champions League final for years with few predicting Inter Milan taking on Bayern Munich. Barcelona v Man United may have been most people’s choice but the combined talents of Jose Mourinho at Inter and Louis van Gaal at Bayern scuppered both teams. I would like to see Mourinho win it if only because it will probably hasten the departure of Ferguson at Man United and install the special one at Old Trafford in the next couple of seasons. Inter to win but it may take penalties.
• The Heineken Cup final in rugby union is one of the game’s showpieces and it is unusual that this season there is no English presence. Toulouse take on Biarritz in Paris in what should be a classic final. Toulouse for me.
• On Sunday we have the Amlin Cup in rugby union when Cardiff play Toulon in another beautifully poised final, in Marseille. Jonny Wilkinson has joined the Gallic rush and could make the difference between the sides. Toulon for a French double.
• Two rounds gone in the PGA at Wentworth and my pick for victory is leading. It’s about time Luke Donald came out from the shadow of Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood and what better place to do it than one of the homes of golf – even though not many people are pleased with the way Ernie Els has altered the famous course. Donald to win.
Monday, 17 May 2010
5 To Watch Review
Murray the weak link in 5 to Watch
Andy Murray, so often the hero in our sporting lives, let us down this weekend as we went for a grand slam of 5 to Watch.
The Scot – he will always be a Scot when he loses – was dumped in the Madrid Open by Spain’s David Ferrer, repeating his success over Murray in the Rome Masters a week or so before.
We flew out of the blocks on Friday when the Ospreys reached the Magners League Grand Final, beating Glasgow 20-5 and all looked set fair for a nice winning weekend.
Chelsea duly won the FA Cup final, making hard work of turning over Portsmouth at Wembley after hitting the woodwork more times than a lumberjack in the Canadian Rockies. Good job they had Didier Drogba.
I deliberately avoided the Monaco Grand Prix because invariably whoever is on pole wins the race and Mark Webber did the honours.
There was much more fun in picking Amir Khan to beat tough New Yorker Paulie Malanaggi and the Bolton boy came up trumps by stopping his man in the 11th round to retain his WBA light-welterweight crown.
Finally, gloriously, England cricketers did the game a world of good by crushing the Aussies in the World Twenty20 final in Barbados. What a performance throughout the tournament from Paul Collingwood’s men – half of whom I know talk like a Cape Town taxi driver but no matter.
The trophy will say Winners 2010: England. Job done!
Andy Murray, so often the hero in our sporting lives, let us down this weekend as we went for a grand slam of 5 to Watch.
The Scot – he will always be a Scot when he loses – was dumped in the Madrid Open by Spain’s David Ferrer, repeating his success over Murray in the Rome Masters a week or so before.
We flew out of the blocks on Friday when the Ospreys reached the Magners League Grand Final, beating Glasgow 20-5 and all looked set fair for a nice winning weekend.
Chelsea duly won the FA Cup final, making hard work of turning over Portsmouth at Wembley after hitting the woodwork more times than a lumberjack in the Canadian Rockies. Good job they had Didier Drogba.
I deliberately avoided the Monaco Grand Prix because invariably whoever is on pole wins the race and Mark Webber did the honours.
There was much more fun in picking Amir Khan to beat tough New Yorker Paulie Malanaggi and the Bolton boy came up trumps by stopping his man in the 11th round to retain his WBA light-welterweight crown.
Finally, gloriously, England cricketers did the game a world of good by crushing the Aussies in the World Twenty20 final in Barbados. What a performance throughout the tournament from Paul Collingwood’s men – half of whom I know talk like a Cape Town taxi driver but no matter.
The trophy will say Winners 2010: England. Job done!
Friday, 14 May 2010
5 To Watch Preview
5 To Watch takes a gamble
This week, we’ll have a go at the World Twenty20, the Cup final and a bit of boxing. But the worst of it is that I’m going to tip England to be world champions which has to spell disaster.
• Let’s start with one of the rising stars of British sport – Amir Khan. The youngster is now under the wing of trainer Freddie Roach, one of the shrewdest men in world boxing, who has said the Briton has all the attributes it takes to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. How can we argue with that? On Saturday he fights New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi for Khan’s WBA Light-welterweight title at the famous Madison Square Garden. It might be Malignaggi’s back yard but we have to go with Khan.
• The FA Cup final is an intriguing match because it pits relegated Portsmouth – broke, broken and seemingly helpless – against Premier League champions Chelsea who would surely love to complete the double to make up for their Champions League disappointment. Sentiment has its place and I can see Pompey doing well but the head rules: Chelsea to win.
• England’s cricketers have reached the World Twenty20 Cup final with a combination of dashing stroke play, miserly bowling and acrobatic fielding – just like all the Aussie teams over the years. The fact that the team has its fair share of South African exiles in the squad doesn’t matter to me, it’s still England. They could be taking on the Aussies in the final but whoever they face I’m taking them to go one further than merely reaching the final and actually winning it.
• Andy Murray’s roller coaster career has yet to include a Grand Slam – and I for one have a nagging fear it never will. But he can creep closer to a clay court crown with victory over David Ferrer of Spain in the Madrid Open. Ferrer beat Murray in Rome recently but the Scot was very off his game. Now he’s back and ready – he says – to do justice to his talent. Good luck to him. Let’s back the Brit – Murray to win.
• And finally, when the TV company Setanta failed, the Magners League was hit by a lack of a broadcast partner for some of its teams. Now that has been resolved and BBC Alba (eh?) will screen the league final when the Ospreys take on Glasgow in the Liberty Stadium, Swansea. The Ospreys are favourites and you can’t bet against them. Glasgow it is.
This week, we’ll have a go at the World Twenty20, the Cup final and a bit of boxing. But the worst of it is that I’m going to tip England to be world champions which has to spell disaster.
• Let’s start with one of the rising stars of British sport – Amir Khan. The youngster is now under the wing of trainer Freddie Roach, one of the shrewdest men in world boxing, who has said the Briton has all the attributes it takes to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. How can we argue with that? On Saturday he fights New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi for Khan’s WBA Light-welterweight title at the famous Madison Square Garden. It might be Malignaggi’s back yard but we have to go with Khan.
• The FA Cup final is an intriguing match because it pits relegated Portsmouth – broke, broken and seemingly helpless – against Premier League champions Chelsea who would surely love to complete the double to make up for their Champions League disappointment. Sentiment has its place and I can see Pompey doing well but the head rules: Chelsea to win.
• England’s cricketers have reached the World Twenty20 Cup final with a combination of dashing stroke play, miserly bowling and acrobatic fielding – just like all the Aussie teams over the years. The fact that the team has its fair share of South African exiles in the squad doesn’t matter to me, it’s still England. They could be taking on the Aussies in the final but whoever they face I’m taking them to go one further than merely reaching the final and actually winning it.
• Andy Murray’s roller coaster career has yet to include a Grand Slam – and I for one have a nagging fear it never will. But he can creep closer to a clay court crown with victory over David Ferrer of Spain in the Madrid Open. Ferrer beat Murray in Rome recently but the Scot was very off his game. Now he’s back and ready – he says – to do justice to his talent. Good luck to him. Let’s back the Brit – Murray to win.
• And finally, when the TV company Setanta failed, the Magners League was hit by a lack of a broadcast partner for some of its teams. Now that has been resolved and BBC Alba (eh?) will screen the league final when the Ospreys take on Glasgow in the Liberty Stadium, Swansea. The Ospreys are favourites and you can’t bet against them. Glasgow it is.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Getting The Hang Of 5 To Watch: Review
Getting the hang of 5 to Watch
Well, that was a nice weekend. One in which we seem at last to be coming into our own on the success front. But let’s not gloat.
• The top two in the Premier League were a spectacular triumph, not least because Chelsea banged in 8 goals against Wigan and Man United were stimulated enough to knock in four past Stoke.
• Leigh Rugby League club couldn’t come near the giant-killing act against Bradford Bulls and took a 50-point pasting.
• Jenson Button continues to blow hot and cold on the F1 track. Our prediction that Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel should shine was spot on but we went for the plucky Brit to beat Lewis Hamilton. This he did but only after Hamilton blew a tyre – and probably a metaphorical gasket – two laps from home. Next up Monaco.
• Finally, finally, England’s spin bowlers tied South Africa down so much in the World Twenty20 group game in the West Indies that the winning margin of 39 runs was an annihilation.
Well, that was a nice weekend. One in which we seem at last to be coming into our own on the success front. But let’s not gloat.
• The top two in the Premier League were a spectacular triumph, not least because Chelsea banged in 8 goals against Wigan and Man United were stimulated enough to knock in four past Stoke.
• Leigh Rugby League club couldn’t come near the giant-killing act against Bradford Bulls and took a 50-point pasting.
• Jenson Button continues to blow hot and cold on the F1 track. Our prediction that Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel should shine was spot on but we went for the plucky Brit to beat Lewis Hamilton. This he did but only after Hamilton blew a tyre – and probably a metaphorical gasket – two laps from home. Next up Monaco.
• Finally, finally, England’s spin bowlers tied South Africa down so much in the World Twenty20 group game in the West Indies that the winning margin of 39 runs was an annihilation.
Friday, 7 May 2010
5 To Watch Preview: Closing In
Closing in on 5 to Watch
It’s the final weekend of the regular football season and having been bitten by Leeds United’s abortive promotion hopes last week I’m inclined to be a bit more cautious this time around.
• However, the big one is the Premier League title and we would be foolish in the extreme to look further than Chelsea on Saturday. They face a Wigan side who gave them a pasting at the DW Stadium but it isn’t going to happen this weekend. The Blues to be crowned champions.
• Manchester United face a Stoke side buoyed by their elevated status of 10th in the league thanks to a win at Fulham in midweek, Fulham had the Europa League final on their minds – Man United won’t so the Reds will win comfortable.
• It’s another Formula One weekend and the Spanish Grand Prix is wide open. Sebastien Vettel and Red Bull teammate Mark Webber should shine but I’m sticking my GB neck out again and going for Jenson Button. Daft, I know, but he looks to have the beating of Lewis Hamilton.
• England v South Africa in the World Twenty20 should be a cracker. The Boks are a formidable side but England have proved fearless at the top of the order and experienced where it matters in the middle. It’s a tough one to call and I am hoping England can pull off a shock win with tighter bowling.
• Finally, it is Rugby League Challenge Cup time again and former Bradford Bulls star Robbie Paul now leads Leigh against his stuttering former club. It might be close but I don’t think the Bulls will falter, Bradford to win.
It’s the final weekend of the regular football season and having been bitten by Leeds United’s abortive promotion hopes last week I’m inclined to be a bit more cautious this time around.
• However, the big one is the Premier League title and we would be foolish in the extreme to look further than Chelsea on Saturday. They face a Wigan side who gave them a pasting at the DW Stadium but it isn’t going to happen this weekend. The Blues to be crowned champions.
• Manchester United face a Stoke side buoyed by their elevated status of 10th in the league thanks to a win at Fulham in midweek, Fulham had the Europa League final on their minds – Man United won’t so the Reds will win comfortable.
• It’s another Formula One weekend and the Spanish Grand Prix is wide open. Sebastien Vettel and Red Bull teammate Mark Webber should shine but I’m sticking my GB neck out again and going for Jenson Button. Daft, I know, but he looks to have the beating of Lewis Hamilton.
• England v South Africa in the World Twenty20 should be a cracker. The Boks are a formidable side but England have proved fearless at the top of the order and experienced where it matters in the middle. It’s a tough one to call and I am hoping England can pull off a shock win with tighter bowling.
• Finally, it is Rugby League Challenge Cup time again and former Bradford Bulls star Robbie Paul now leads Leigh against his stuttering former club. It might be close but I don’t think the Bulls will falter, Bradford to win.
Monday, 3 May 2010
5 To Watch Review: A Close Call
A close call for 5 to Watch
We were pretty average again this weekend with our 5 to Watch although a couple of goodies did do us proud.
Floyd Mayweather came through the formidable test of facing Shane Mosley to record a very hard-fought points victory but Chelsea had few problems against a tired and deflated looking Liverpool side to maintain their quest for the Premier League title.
Hopefully, the dismal season and Liverpool’s search for new owners will hasten the all-too-overdue exit of Rafa Benitez – a much overrated manager.
Unfortunately, Danny Cipriani’s final game for Wasps before his Australian adventure ended in defeat at the hands of the Cardiff Blues and Pakistan spoiled our Twenty20 World Cup prediction by beating Bangladesh comfortably by 20 runs.
Then we had Leeds United who were very unlucky to fall to a late, late Charlton goal in their League One game.
However, they do have the promotion prize in their own hands.
Beat Bristol Rovers at home next week and they are up after a significant wobble.
Shall we pick them again next week? Maybe.
We were pretty average again this weekend with our 5 to Watch although a couple of goodies did do us proud.
Floyd Mayweather came through the formidable test of facing Shane Mosley to record a very hard-fought points victory but Chelsea had few problems against a tired and deflated looking Liverpool side to maintain their quest for the Premier League title.
Hopefully, the dismal season and Liverpool’s search for new owners will hasten the all-too-overdue exit of Rafa Benitez – a much overrated manager.
Unfortunately, Danny Cipriani’s final game for Wasps before his Australian adventure ended in defeat at the hands of the Cardiff Blues and Pakistan spoiled our Twenty20 World Cup prediction by beating Bangladesh comfortably by 20 runs.
Then we had Leeds United who were very unlucky to fall to a late, late Charlton goal in their League One game.
However, they do have the promotion prize in their own hands.
Beat Bristol Rovers at home next week and they are up after a significant wobble.
Shall we pick them again next week? Maybe.
5 to Watch This Weekend: The Crunch
The 5 to Watch crunch
It’s crunch time for many teams as we reach the end of the domestic football season and there are a few new things to keep us occupied over the next few weeks – the World Twenty20 for a start.
The 5 to Watch this weekend takes in both these bits of sporting competition so let’s start.
• Chelsea face probably – on paper – their toughest test for weeks when they go to Anfield trying to maintain their lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premiership table. Liverpool’s shocking exit from the Europa League on Thursday should hasten Rafa Benitez’s exit and this is what makes them dangerous. I think it will be a draw but hope Chelsea win – and that’s the prediction: Chelsea victory.
• In the World Twenty20, Afghanistan are unlikely opponents for India but in the match after that we have the intriguing contest between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Both teams are inconsistent but I’m plumping for Bangladesh to steal it
• Two of the greatest welterweight boxers of all time meet on Saturday in Las Vegas. Floyd Mayweather – destroyer of Ricky Hatton – and Shane Mosley meet in a fight that is very close to call. Mayweather is mouthy, brash and super rich while Mosley is more modest but the two have 12 world titles between them and for me I’m going to go with Mayweather to win.
• Danny Cipriani signs off for Wasps before heading for Australia as his side take on Cardiff in the Amlin Cup. It could be a tasty battle between the Anglo-Welsh wizards and I’d like Cipriani to end up on the winning side – it’s Wasps.
• Finally back to footie and the race to move up to the Championship. The teams in the frame are Leeds United, Millwall, Swindon and Charlton. Leeds are a point ahead of Millwall but are wobbling furiously. They play Charlton and I fancy them to take the points and consolidate their promotion charge. Leeds to win.
It’s crunch time for many teams as we reach the end of the domestic football season and there are a few new things to keep us occupied over the next few weeks – the World Twenty20 for a start.
The 5 to Watch this weekend takes in both these bits of sporting competition so let’s start.
• Chelsea face probably – on paper – their toughest test for weeks when they go to Anfield trying to maintain their lead over Manchester United at the top of the Premiership table. Liverpool’s shocking exit from the Europa League on Thursday should hasten Rafa Benitez’s exit and this is what makes them dangerous. I think it will be a draw but hope Chelsea win – and that’s the prediction: Chelsea victory.
• In the World Twenty20, Afghanistan are unlikely opponents for India but in the match after that we have the intriguing contest between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Both teams are inconsistent but I’m plumping for Bangladesh to steal it
• Two of the greatest welterweight boxers of all time meet on Saturday in Las Vegas. Floyd Mayweather – destroyer of Ricky Hatton – and Shane Mosley meet in a fight that is very close to call. Mayweather is mouthy, brash and super rich while Mosley is more modest but the two have 12 world titles between them and for me I’m going to go with Mayweather to win.
• Danny Cipriani signs off for Wasps before heading for Australia as his side take on Cardiff in the Amlin Cup. It could be a tasty battle between the Anglo-Welsh wizards and I’d like Cipriani to end up on the winning side – it’s Wasps.
• Finally back to footie and the race to move up to the Championship. The teams in the frame are Leeds United, Millwall, Swindon and Charlton. Leeds are a point ahead of Millwall but are wobbling furiously. They play Charlton and I fancy them to take the points and consolidate their promotion charge. Leeds to win.
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