2015/2016 Premier League Fixtures Announced: Who's Heading Down? (Relegation)

And so I come to my final post in this series. After discussions around the title race and the battle for a Champions League spot, I now come to the one that often ends up being the least predictable: relegation. Last year was no exception, with Newcastle coming perilously close to the drop after a simply horrific run of form towards the end of the season. However, it's my job in these posts to attempt to predict them based solely on the fixtures, so let's give it a go.

Before we start, I'm going to do a quick run through my choices for the sides that will be contesting the bottom three places. In my opinion, it all comes down to six teams. As at least one relegated side has been relegated for all bar two seasons this century, I'll include all three of the newly promoted sides, as well as others I believe to be vulnerable to relegation this year, namely Sunderland, Leicester and West Brom. You may have noticed that I've not included either Newcastle or Aston Villa, both of whom only narrowly evaded relegation last season. However, Aston Villa's upturn in form towards the back end of the season, along with the law of averages that suggests that Newcastle simply can't collapse in the same way they did last season, means that I don't believe either will be seriously fighting the drop this year.

So, now we've got our constituents, what do the fixtures say? Starting with the opening five, we can see an interesting variety of difficulties when it comes to fixtures. For instance, compare the opening fixtures for West Brom - Manchester City (h), Watford (a), Chelsea (h), Stoke (a) and Southampton (h) - with Sunderland's - Leicester (a), Norwich (h), Swansea (h), Aston Villa (a), Tottenham (h). Though the Black Cats do have some difficult games, there is nothing like the two top sides in the league and a difficult away trip to Stoke! Leicester's games are not too dissimilar to Sunderland's, with the starter against the North East club, before games at West Ham, at home to Spurs, away at Bournemouth and at home to Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, our new Premier League sides all have mediocre starts, with both challenging and easier games in their opening five. Watford have away games at Everton and Manchester City, as well as hosting West Brom, Southampton and Swansea. Norwich have a trip to St Mary's to contend with, in addition to hosting Stoke. Finally, Bournemouth's first season in the top flight sees them travel to Anfield, Norwich and West Ham, as well as hosting Leicester and Aston Villa.

In my opinion, the order is relatively simple - West Brom, Watford, Norwich, Bournemouth, Leicester, Sunderland.

As we move towards Christmas, the fixtures get brutal, and nowhere is that more obvious than in the relegation battle. For example, Leicester may be lucky to get three points out of their run of Chelsea (h), Everton (a), Liverpool (a), Manchester City (h), Bournemouth (h), while Watford may also struggle with their Sunderland (a), Liverpool (h), Chelsea (a), Tottenham (h), Manchester City (h). To be fair, no-one has a particularly easy ride, with West Brom perhaps the best placed to take advantage, but even they have to navigate tricky trips to Liverpool and Swansea, while hosting Newcastle, Stoke and Bournemouth.

Bournemouth may also see Christmas as a key moment, with an opportunity to claim some points. Starting with a home tie with Manchester United, they then travel to West Brom before hosting Crystal Palace. A trip to the Emirates follows, before going to Leicester on New Years' Day. Meanwhile, Norwich start their games with Everton at home and Manchester United and Spurs away, before home ties against Aston Villa and Southampton. Finally, Sunderland have three horrible games sandwiched by winnable ones. Starting with a home game against Watford, the Black Cats then travel to both of last year's top two, Chelsea and Manchester City, before hosting Liverpool. They finish the festive period with a game at home to Aston Villa, which could provide some respite.

This order is considerably more difficult, with many of the teams suffering during this period. Nevertheless, this is my order: Leicester, Watford, Sunderland, Norwich, Bournemouth, West Brom.

In the latter stages of the season, every point is critical. Therefore, the final five games are absolutely critical, and can ruin an entire year. Again, like the Christmas period, some clubs haven't been fortunate at all. In particular, I feel for Leicester, Bournemouth and Norwich. After a horrible Christmas period for the Foxes, they end their season with home ties against both West Ham and Swansea, before a horrible triple header of Manchester United (a), Everton (h) and Chelsea (a). Similarly, Norwich start with two, albeit slightly easier, home ties against Sunderland and Watford, before travelling to Arsenal, hosting Manchester United and making the trip to Everton. In contrast, Bournemouth start with horrible home ties against Liverpool and Chelsea, before travelling to Everton, hosting West Brom and then a killer tie at Manchester United on the final day.

Outside of those three, all have a couple of tricky ties, with a few games in which they can recoup some points. Sunderland have both Arsenal and Chelsea at home, as well as the tricky trip to Stoke, but they also have games against both Norwich and Watford. Similarly, West Brom have home games against West Ham and Liverpool, as well as a trip to Tottenham, but also playing Watford and Bournemouth. Finally, Watford probably have the easiest task, playing many of the sides around them, namely West Brom, Norwich and Sunderland, as well as a home tie with Aston Villa and a trip to Liverpool.

If the easiest is easy, the rest is fairly tricky, but this is the order that I have picked for the final five: Bournemouth, Leicester, Norwich, Sunderland, West Brom, Watford.

So, when all is said and done, who is set for the drop (according to the fixtures)? Well, if we add up the points, with six for the hardest and one for the easiest in each of the three periods, we can make a final table. Should there be even points, whoever has ended up at the highest end in terms of difficulty in any of the three periods will be considered at a disadvantage. With this in mind, here is the final order, as it would be in the table:

15th - Sunderland (8 points)
16th - West Brom (9 points)
17th - Norwich (11 points - top spot 3rd)
18th - Watford (11 points - top spot 2nd)
19th - Bournemouth (11 points - top spot 1st)
20th - Leicester (13 points)

2015/2016 Premier League Fixtures Announced: Invading The Continent (Champions League)

With the announcement of the Premier League fixtures, the rumour mills spins into overdrive about who is favourite for the big prizes - the title, the Champions League, and avoiding relegation. In my post yesterday, I outlined my opinion on who I believe is currently favourites for the Premier League title, based solely on the fixtures in the opening five games, the busy Christmas period, and the final five. This time, it's the turn of those sides competing for a place in the Champions League, namely Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton.

So, kicking off with the opening five fixtures of the new season, we see a clear winner. Southampton, after such an impressive opening to last season, have the opportunity to do the same, with a rather fortuitous run of fixtures to start this year. Beginning away at Newcastle to start Steve McClaren's reign at St James's Park, they then host Everton. However, after that potentially tricky opening couple of games, we see two games against newly promoted sides - away at Watford and at home to Norwich - before ending their first five with a trip to West Brom.

Compare that to the fixtures of their rivals. Liverpool start with a horrible trip to Stoke (remember the 6-1 mauling last year), before a home game against Bournemouth. They then face two of the title rivals in the next three games, with trips to Arsenal and Manchester United punctuated by a home game against West Ham. Meanwhile, Tottenham begin their season with a trip to Manchester United, before hosting Stoke. They then travel to Leicester, welcome Everton and round it off with a visit to the North East for a game against Sunderland. Therefore, I'd certainly put the difficulty of the opening fixtures in this order: Liverpool, Tottenham, Southampton.

Moving onto the busy Christmas period, we can see that roles are almost completely reversed. Southampton have a horrible set of fixtures, facing a tough trip to Crystal Palace before home games against both North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal. They then have another difficult trip to West Ham before finishing with Norwich away. In comparison, Liverpool have home ties against West Brom and Leicester, as well as winnable games away at Watford, Sunderland and West Ham. Spurs also have some good fixtures starting at home to Newcastle, before the crunch tie against Southampton. A double set of games against promoted sides follow, at home to Norwich and away to Watford, before a tricky tie away at Everton. So I'd put these fixtures in this order: Southampton, Tottenham, Liverpool.

So with a complete reversal of the first five in the Christmas period, it all comes down to the final five for me to select my favourite for the Champions League spot. Here, Liverpool again get the advantage. Their final five starts with a trip to Bournemouth, before hosting Newcastle, travelling to Swansea and entertaining Watford. The final day could be tricky, with a trip to West Brom, but these are all eminently winnable games.

So if Liverpool are favourites, who's got an uphill task? Spurs start with a trip to Stoke and a visit from West Brom, but the following couple are horrible - away at Chelsea and a crunch tie against Southampton. They then finish with a trip to Newcastle, which could see the race come down to the wire. Meanwhile, Southampton have four tricky fixtures out of five, with visits to Everton and Aston Villa followed up by a home tie against Manchester City. The possibly pivotal fixture against Spurs comes next, before they finish the season at home to Crystal Palace. In this crucial final five, the difficulty ratings are as follows: Southampton, Tottenham, Liverpool.

It's worth bearing in mind that this is all presuming that one of last season's big four fail to make the grade this year, otherwise this talk is entirely academic. We could end up arguing over the Europa League places! With this in mind, I'm saying that the order that I expect based on the fixtures alone is Liverpool, Tottenham and Southampton, but this will not necessarily be the most interesting battle this season.

2015/2016 Premier League Fixtures Announced: Clash of The Cash (Title Race)

With the fixtures announced on Wednesday, that feeling of anticipation and excitement over the new season grows. The transfer window hasn't even opened yet, and people are already looking at the big derbies (with Aston Villa and West Brom particularly peeved that they didn't make the list) and making their predictions over the winners of the next Premier League title. Over the last couple of years, I've done blog posts looking at the fixtures, and using them to give an initial indication of who should be considered favourites. It's not particularly scientific, but it is interesting.

As with the last couple of years, I'll start with the title race. Now here's where it gets a bit tricky. Unlike the last few years, where it has been rather obvious who should be considered contenders, and who should fit into the category of European hopefuls, this year is different. Any one of last year's top four could theoretically win the title, especially with the money that is being discussed in transfer fees. As a result, I'll look at the fixtures of each of Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United in the three key periods of the season, start, Christmas and end, to see who should be considered favourites at this stage.

It's also worth remembering that these fixtures are subject to change, particularly when the Champions League and Europa League fixtures are announced. However, the current opening five look like this for each of the title-challenging sides. Champions Chelsea begin at home to Swansea, before the season's first heavyweight clash at the Etihad against City. They then travel to West Brom, before hosting Crystal Palace and negotiating a difficult away trip to Everton. Last year's runners-up Manchester City have an even harder task. Though most of the sides are the same as Chelsea, they start with a tricky away trip to Tony Pulis's West Brom, before that mammoth game at home to Chelsea. They then have difficult away games at Everton and Crystal Palace, with their only seemingly easier game at home to Watford.

If City have the hardest start, Arsenal have the easiest. Starting with a home game against West Ham, they then have a slightly difficult three game series, starting with a trip across London to Crystal Palace. They then host Champions League chasing Liverpool, before another away day at an unpredictable Newcastle. They they finish the series with a home tie against traditionally travel-sick Stoke. Finally, United rival City for the title of trickiest opening. Hosting Spurs on the opening day, they then travel to Aston Villa before returning to Old Trafford to face Newcastle. Following a trip to Wales to visit Swansea, they then have the huge North West derby at home to Liverpool, which could give an indication of the gap between the Champions League places and the title. So in my opinion, the opening fixtures go: Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in terms of difficulty.

Moving on to the critical Christmas period, we see that all four have comparatively easy fixtures against the difficult starts. Arsenal, however, is perhaps the exception. Starting with the tricky trip to Aston Villa, they then host Manchester City before another hard away day at Southampton on Boxing Day. Two home fixtures against newly promoted Bournemouth and Newcastle round off the festive period, but it's still enough to be the hardest set. In comparison, Manchester United have the easiest run, started by two games against newly promoted sides. Though the trip to face Bournemouth may be a trip into the unknown, you would still expect them to win, before an easy home game against Norwich. Two difficult fixtures follow - away to Stoke before a home game against Chelsea - before they start 2016 with a home tie against Swansea.

Across the city (well, actually in a different city altogether) City have a strange mixture of difficult and easier fixtures. Kicking off at home to Swansea, they then take that trip to the Emirates, before another home tie against Sunderland. They finish the Christmas period with trips to Leicester and newly promoted Watford, two games that they will need to take six points from. Finally, Chelsea are towards the easier end of the fixture list, with a couple of difficult games punctuating easier ones. They start with a trip to Leicester, before hosting Sunderland and Watford - all games that are realistically winnable. They then end the period with games away at Manchester United and Crystal Palace, both of which are banana skin ties, particularly when you consider the congested list. So, the middle section is Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United.

And so, we come to the final five. With the title race set to come down to the wire, the last few fixtures will come under an enormous amount of pressure. With this in mind, Manchester City could really have done without their run-in. Starting with the huge fixture at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, they then host Stoke before another difficult away day at Southampton. Their penultimate game does not get any easier, with Arsenal visiting the Etihad, before a final day banana skin tie at Swansea. In contrast, Manchester United (surprise, surprise) have a comparative doddle in their final five, hosting Villa and Leicester and travelling to West Hame and Norwich, before a final day visit of Bournemouth - they could barely have wished for an easier end.

The two London sides have vastly similar endings in terms of difficulty, with the champions perhaps on the receiving end of the raw deal. Chelsea host City, before a trip to Bournemouth. They then have a tough game against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, before ending the season with a trip to the North East to play Sunderland, and a home game against Leicester on the final day. Arsenal start at home to Crystal Palace, before travelling to Sunderland and hosting Norwich. They then have that game at City, which has huge implications for the title race before a final day home tie against Aston Villa. In my opinion, the final five go like this: Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United.

If we add up the three periods based on difficulty, with four representing most difficult and one least, we see a clear pattern. Manchester City should be considered the least favourite based solely on the fixtures, amassing a worrying 10 points. They are followed by current champions Chelsea, who have a total of eight, while Arsenal total seven. For those of you familiar with Sir Alex Ferguson's almost miraculous knack of securing an easy fixture list for Manchester United, it should come as no surprise to see them total just five points, with the easiest fixture list in both the middle and end of the season. With this in mind, it is Manchester United that should be considered the favourites based solely on the fixtures. We'll have to see how this plays out in reality.

Football's 'Best Ever Side' - Really?

For those of you that live in a cave, or don't have access to a TV or the internet, yesterday was the Champions League final. And following a (rather more closely fought than anticipated) 3-1 win for Barcelona, people have as usual got carried away. Calls for the new European champions to be recognised as football's 'best ever side' have emerged, thanks largely to the incredible number of goals scored by the club's front three this year.

For me, this is frankly ludicrous. I'll go into this in more detail later, but far from the being the best side to play football, they're not even the best side I've seen in my lifetime. In fact, they're not even the best Barcelona side I've seen in my lifetime!

Though much has been made of this current side, my favourite Barcelona side remains the Champions League winners of 2009. Managed by Pep Guardiola, this side had matched the feat of the current Barca team, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey ahead of the meeting with Manchester United in Rome.

Here, it's worth outlining the opposition that the two sides faced. Though Juventus certainly do have some talented players - Tevez, Pirlo, Buffon and Marchisio to name a few - there are a number that are certainly past their best. This was absolutely not the case for the 2009 side. In Manchester United, they had a side that had run away with the English league (and anyone who's watched a season will tell you how difficult that is - unlike Italy), and contained players in their prime. Defensively, the likes of Evra, Vidic and Ferdinand were all seen as being at the pinnacle of the game, and going forward, the side had an embarrassment of riches, with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez forming a formidable partnership, not unlike the current Barca trio.

Despite this, Barcelona simply destroyed United, with Xavi and Iniesta toying with them in the midfield before letting Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o take over. Though the final score was only 2-0, it could and perhaps should have been many more, with United unable to penetrate the defence.

Whether that side is my favourite because of the football they played and the fact that a treble was unprecedented for Spanish sides at the time, or simply because they picked apart a Manchester United side that I was thoroughly sick of watching win, I'm not sure. Either way, it cannot be disputed that they were comfortably the best side in the world at that moment - but is that true of the Barcelona side of today?

I'd argue not. I know they say that the best side over 38 games wins the league, so perhaps this Barcelona side is better than Real Madrid. But it is worth noting that only a spectacular collapse from Carlo Ancelotti's men in the mid-season, following an incredible 22-game winning streak, handed Barca the Spanish title. I'd strongly suggest that had the furore around Gareth Bale and his unpopularity with the fans not potentially upset the morale surrounding the squad and the feel-good factor at the club, Real Madrid would be sitting here with three trophies, and we'd be calling for them to be instated as the best team in the world.

I'd also argue that, although they were soundly beaten in the Nou Camp, Bayern Munich have a better squad that the Catalans. They had to complete their two legged tie without the assistance of either Arjen Robben or Franck Ribery, two of the best wingers in the world - imagine if Barca had to go on without both Luis Suarez or Neymar. I can't imagine if the roles had been reversed, we would have seen anything other than a German victory.

So clearly, proclaiming the current side as the best ever to grace the game of football is a tad premature. But to be fair, how many of the current Barcelona side would get into the sides of either 2009 or 2011? Who would I pick as my best Barcelona team of the last six years?

Goalkeeper - Victor Valdes (2011), Right Back - Dani Alves (2011), Centre Back - Carles Puyol (2009), Centre Back - Gerard Pique (2009), Left Back - Jordi Alba (2015), Defensive Midfield - Yaya Toure (2009), Centre Midfield - Xavi (2009), Centre Midfield - Andres Iniesta (2011), Left Wing - Neymar (2015), Centre Forward - Lionel Messi (2011), Right Wing - Luis Suarez (2015)

So with only three players in my best Barcelona team of the best six years, is the current side the best of all time? No. Also, to assume that a Barcelona side of within the previous decade is to totally ignore the incredible club sides put together by Real Madrid in the early 2000's, including the likes of Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Beckham and Roberto Carlos, Arsenal's 'Invincibles' team of 2002/2003 or (annoyingly) Manchester United's treble-winning team in 1999. It also neglects the incredible national teams that have been created - think of Spain's 2010 World Cup winners, or the Brazilian sides in either 2002, with the three Rs of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, or the side recognised as the greatest World Cup team, the Brazilian team of 1970 including Pele, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto and Rivellino.

However, the 122 goals scored by Messi, Neymar and Suarez this season cannot be ignored. They certainly have a claim to be the best strike force of all time, but to create an extension to the rest of the team is unfair. Become the first side ever to retain the Champions League next season, as well as completing another domestic and European treble with the same group of players, and then we'll talk.

Tactics Talk: Manchester United vs Bayern Munich

Manchester United (4-3-3): De Gea, Buttner, Ferdinand, Vidic, Rafael, Giggs, Carrick, Fellaini, Welbeck, Rooney, Valencia

Bayern Munich (4-5-1): Neuer, Rafinha, Martinez, Boateng, Alaba, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Ribery, Robben, Kroos, Muller

Living in and around Manchester, I have seen first-hand the change in mood surrounding the Old Trafford club in the last six months. The fall from grace of one of the most successful clubs in the world has come as a shock to many, and as a City fan, not a moment too soon for me. But it speaks volumes that Manchester United came into this match having lost their last two games at Old Trafford by resounding 3-0 scorelines against two of their largest rivals, and were considered rank outsiders for this one. Just 12 months ago, United were leading Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid until Nani was debatably dismissed. Fast forward a year, and United fans saying 'if we don't get thumped I'm happy' epitomises the lack of belief in their aging and underperforming side.

With key men in Robin van Persie and Patrice Evra unavailable for selection, United had every right to be pessimistic. But in Wayne Rooney they have one of the form players in the Premier League, and he would need to be on the top of his game to keep United in it. By contrast, Bayern Munich had already sewn up the Bundesliga title with 7 games to go, and were looking to repeat the domestic and European quadruple that they achieved last season. Pep Guardiola's side have picked up where Jupp Heynckes left off, with many calling it 'improving on perfection'. As such, though they were without the suspended Dante, the side looked perfectly capable of breaking United down.

The opening exchanges saw, as expected, the German side retain a considerable amount of possession. In fact, by the time we reached half time, United had only managed to keep their feet on the ball for less than 30% of the time. With this inevitable, United would have to begin the game solidly in defence, whilst remaining open to the counter attack. This they did well, with Danny Welbeck a constant annoyance for Jerome Boateng. However, in Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, Bayern have two of the best wingers ever to have graced the game, and it was down the wings that the German side were getting joy. With United seemingly camped on the edge of their area, it would take a moment of magic to catch them out.

And yet it didn't come. For all of Bayern's slick (dare I say it) 'tiki taka' football that Guardiola made so famous at Barcelona, Munich just could not break down a strong and committed United defence. Marshalled by stalwarts Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, the United back line looked considerably stronger than it has in many Premier League games this year. Guardiola's aversion to long range shooting also meant that the short stuff would continue, and United maintained their defensive solidarity, much to the annoyance of the Bayern coach.

Their strength at the back enabled United to press a little higher when defending, forcing a few errors from the usually reliable Bayern midfield. Manuel Neuer seemed similarly error-prone, with the touch happy goalkeeper having to slice the ball anxiously into touch as Welbeck and Rooney chased down the German.

First half hour: United's defending means they didn't deserve to be behind but Bayern's possession has been mesmerising. It seemed only a matter of time...

The game then began to open up. My initial reaction to this was 'this could get messy for United now', but it strangely favoured the English side. With the game stretched, they were able to maximise their effect on the counter, bringing them their first real chance, and the best chance of the game so far. A quick breakaway from a corner, coupled with a timely slip from Boateng left Welbeck in one-on-one with the onrushing Manuel Neuer. However, instead of smashing the ball beyond the keeper, the United striker inexplicably elected to attempt the dink over the head of the Bayern man. Safe to say it was easily caught, and the chance was gone. As was the half, but United had shown sufficient promise that fans knew they were not about to cave.

This was reaffirmed by Moyes' half time substitution. The elderly (and supposedly injured) Ryan Giggs was withdrawn in favour of the more attacking-minded Shinji Kagawa. With United looking more of a threat going forward, the game quickly became end to end, with the Germans once again dominating possession, but United having as many chances. However, that killer pass just wouldn't come, and for United, it was from set pieces where they looked most likely to damage Bayern. And do it proved. Abysmal marking from a corner left Nemanja Vidic free to expertly glance a header into the bottom corner to a thunderous reception around Old Trafford. The departing captain handing United a enormous leaving gift, and suggesting that a huge upset on the cards.

Second half hour: With Bayern now rattled and behind, United's defending looked ever more impressive - definitely a United period.

However, despite Bayern being on the back foot, they can always punish you. Just 8 minutes after going behind, a fluid move from the European champions left Bastian Schweinsteiger free to slam an excellent finish into the roof of David de Gea's net. With their advantage nullified, United once again reverted to type, knocking long balls up to Marouane Fellaini, and allowing Bayern onto them. But as with the whole game, their defence remained firm. Their defensive task did get more difficult when Alexander Buttner, in for the suspended Patrice Evra, had to leave the field having aggravated an injury. His replacement, Ashley Young, meant a real reshuffling of the back four, bringing Antonio Valencia, who was already on a yellow card and fortunate not to have been dismissed for a lunge on Phillip Lahm, back into right back.

As the game meandered towards its conclusion, with neither side really threatening, Bayern brought Mario Gotze, the highly rated German international on for the fairly ineffective Toni Kroos. As United searched for a winner on the break, Moyes turned to his instinctive finisher and (though he would not want the title) super-sub, Javier Hernandez. Neither really had any impact. The only remaining talking point came in the shape of a second yellow card for Schweinsteiger for a late challenge on the (slightly OTT) Wayne Rooney. Whilst this came in added time, and therefore carried no significance to this game, it could very much affect next week's. With both Javi Martinez (who picked up another booking to rule him out) and Schweinsteiger unavailable, Guardiola will have a slight headache at central midfield for the second leg.

Final half hour: Neither side did enough to win the game. Whilst Bayern's possession stats are incredible for the away side at Old Trafford, they did little to demonstrate why they are the European champions and how they have blown their league away this season. Draw a fair result.

David Moyes, for all his detractors (of which last weekend's banner illustrates there are fewer of than the media would have us believe), got his tactics spot on. He is an expert in defensive management, and this was evident against Munich. Though they head to the futuristic Allianz Arena still as rank outsiders, another performance like that may just see them pull off the impossible.

F1's Double Points Finale: Just How Ridiculous Is It?

The news that Formula 1 is planning to award double points for at least the final race of the season has been greeted with almost universal derision from fans and drivers alike. I pride myself on attempting to put both sides of the argument before coming to a reasoned decision, and this will be no different. Personally, I disagree whole-heartedly with the changes, but then again I generally am averse to major change in sport. I disliked the points move to 25 initially, but this has widely been accepted.

After such an emphatic title victory by Sebastian Vettel last time around, it is unsurprising that bosses want to prevent the same repetitive, boring season next year. Handing double points for the final race of the season would certainly prolong the title race, as an individual would need to be more than 50 points clear before travelling to the final race to be assured of the title. However, even this argument has flaws. It would not prevent the situation that we saw this season, as Vettel would still have been champion entering the final race in Brazil, and his win in the final race would only add further emphasis to the margin of victory.

I have further issues with this proposal. At the beginning of the season, every team sets up their car in a particular way, with different top speeds and cornering ability. This means that the best car often changes depending on the type of track. If a track has a huge amount of straights, like Spa-Francorchamps or Monza, this inevitably favours a car with a high top speed. On the other hand, a track like Monaco or Singapore's Marina Bay circuit rely on twisting turns, meaning that cars with excellent turning ability and high downforce will be at an advantage. What this has to do with the proposal is regardless of the track that is chosen to be the final race of the season, it will favour one team in particular. Either this, or, even worse in my opinion, all of the teams will set their cars up with the final race in mind, meaning that there will be no difference between the cars from track to track, meaning that we will almost certainly repeatedly see the type of emphatic Vettel win each season. It will become who can set their car up for the final race best.

As I mentioned earlier, this proposal has been met largely with disapproval. Most outspoken of the drivers has been Sebastian Vettel. Whether that is because it disadvantages him should his championship lead next year not be as emphatic as this, or whether that is me being cynical, I am not sure. Nevertheless, his comments have been covered in media across the globe, and he has become the face for the anti-50 points campaign. As much as I agree with the sentiment behind his words, I have a serious issue with something he said. One of the soundbites used during his comment was 'it's like giving double points for the final game of the Bundesliga'. That got my back up. I do love a good analogy, but it is this kind of ill-conceived and poorly constructed notion that makes me think that sportsmen should just stick to 'I think that...'.

The reason this simple statement got me irritated is that the two aren't really comparable. Whilst they are both sports, there is pretty much where the similarities end. The key point that makes me disagree is the fact that not all of the teams play each other on the final day. In racing, every driver is on the track at the same time, and therefore each can alter their own fate and position. On the final day of the football season, Bayern Munich (the team in first) could be playing Eintracht Braunschweig (the team currently bottom), whilst their main title rivals Borussia Dortmund could be playing Bayer Leverkusen for double points. I know which I would favour in that equation. In football, the fixtures leave more to fortune than F1 ever can, and therefore the double points in football would be far more unfair than the double points in motor racing.

However, just because I am arguing against Vettel's usage of a misguided metaphor, please do not think that I support the new rules. I do not. I think, for the reasons I have outline, it is a ridiculous notion, which doesn't even achieve its original purpose. If an individual is really as dominant as Vettel was this season, they will win the final race regardless, as Vettel did. Designed to attract TV audiences, all this new rule would do would be to force the other 19 races into a lesser category, meaning that viewers are unlikely to watch them. This makes no sense, either for the benefit of the sport, or the wallet of Bernie Ecclestone.

Super League Grand Final: Tale of Two Halves Leaves Warriors Champs

                         After 9 months of drama, agony, injury and exertion, it all came down to 80 minutes in the heart of Salford. In my opinion, the two best sides in the Super League this year, certainly the two most attractive rugby sides to watch, Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves, met at Old Trafford last night to battle for the most prestigious prize in British Rugby League. With plenty of W's in the team names, we were always going to be in for an entertaining game, and my word they did not disappoint.

                          Warrington, after the heartbreak of the Grand Final defeat to Leeds Rhinos just 12 months earlier, were looking to secure their first title since 1955. Considering their recent revival, that they are yet to win the ultimate prize is somewhat surprising. Their star-studded line-up have once again proven themselves up to the test this season, and they would need to perform to their potential if they were to win on the biggest stage. The rather remarkable thing is that not a single Wolves player managed to make it into the Super League Dream Team this year. Lee Briers, Joel Monaghan and Stefan Ratchford have been particularly impressive, and going forward they would be the most potent threat to the Wigan line. In order to deal with Wigan attacks, Simon Grix and Micky Higham would have to be organised and strong to repel the Warriors. Today would also be a very special day for forward Adrian Morley. Starting on the bench, the 36-year-old would be playing his last game for Warrington, after agreeing a deal to take him to his hometown club, Salford Red Devils, next year, for what would possibly be his final season as a professional. After 6 years of excellent service, spanning over 100 games, few Warrington fans will forget him in a hurry.

                             Warrington's route to the Grand Final in the play-offs was hardly straightforward. They began with a home tie against defending champions Leeds Rhinos, the very side that knocked them out in last year's showpiece. Here, home advantage, and an extra year's experience paid dividends for the Wire, who ran out comfortable 40-20 winners. With Huddersfield being beaten in the other qualifying play-off, Warrington, having finished 2nd in the regular season, recieved the Club Call, meaning that they could select their semi-final opponents. With both Huddersfield and Leeds winning their preliminary semis, it meant that the Wire only had a choice between the league leaders and the reigning champions. Interestingly, despite having beaten Leeds just prior, they chose Huddersfield for their semi final. In a tense, edgy game, Warrington took their chances when required to ensure that it was they that reached their second consecutive Super League Grand Final, winning by 30-22.

                                Wigan, in contrast, were not looking to rectify any mistakes from the campaign. Rather their only aim was to complete the double, and join an elite group of clubs to have achieved that feat, the last of which was St Helens in 2006. Having claimed the Challenge Cup in August, after a superb shut-out victory over Hull FC at Wembley, they wanted to add the Super League to that success. Going forward, players like Josh Charnley, Sam Tomkins and Sean O'Loughlin have all had exceptional seasons, the latter being shortlisted for the Man of Steel award, and all would be expected to contribute massively to any success. Defensively, Liam Farrell and Darrell Goulding would need to be at their best to keep out a free-scoring Warrington attack. Just like the Wire, this was a special occasion for a couple of the Warriors' players. Sam Tomkins, the Wigan full-back, has been in the headlines in recent weeks, after his decision to leave Britain for the NRL side New Zealand Warriors at the end of the season. At a reported fee of £700,000, the full back has become the most expensive player in Rugby League history. This incredible when you compare it to the £85 Million that Real Madrid have forked out for the services of Gareth Bale. It would also be a momentous day for long-serving winger Pat Richards. After a Wigan career spanning 7 years and over 150 appearances, the 31 year old will also be returning to the NRL, choosing to join up with old club Wests Tigers. A true Warriors club legend, his legacy at the club is assured, having masterminded Wigan's last Super League success in 2010.

                                   The Warriors' journey to Old Trafford was no less complicated than that of their opponents. In fact, it was almost identical. Having played a spirited Huddersfield side in their qualification play-off, the Warriors managed to overcome their Yorkshire opponents, winning by 22-8. After Warrington's Club Choice, and Leeds's narrow win over St Helens in their preliminary semi, it meant that Wigan had the reigning champions to play in their semi-final. In another tight and nervy affair, Wigan held their nerve in the big game, dealing Leeds their first semi-final defeat in three years. A 22-12 victory ensured that Wigan would return Old Trafford for the first time in 3 years, since the scene of their last famous victory in 2010.

                                     However, statistics between the two sides did not favour the side from Greater Manchester. Warrington finished the league season above Wigan by some 6 points, and were unbeaten against the Warriors in the league, winning at the Halliwell Jones after drawing at the DW at the start of the season. Whilst some claim that statistics count for nothing in sport, I often disagree. It tends to indicate how teams perform in pressure matches, and will inevitably play on the minds of both sets of players involved, with one feeling invincible, and the other feeling pressurised to break the bad spell of results. Starting the game, Wigan will have known that Warrington have historically performed better against them, and as a result, started brightly. Whilst the opening 10 minutes passed without points, it did not go without incident. In only the fourth minute, Blake Green was left bloodied and battered by what appeared to be a robust challenge. Having consulted the video, it was revealed that Ben Westwood punched the Wigan man, leaving him prostrate on the floor, requiring oxygen to continue. After a few minutes, Green, sporting a black eye, re-entered the fray, and the officials placed Westwood on report. Having seen the incident a few times, I think that the Warrington defender was fortunate not to be sin-binned at least, which would have left his side vulnerable.

                                        After the game had settled, Wigan opened the scoring with a Pat Richards penalty. In the early stages, the Greater Manchester side were in the ascendency, and looked like extended their flimsy 2 point advantage. However, a mid-period Warrington revival turned the game on its head. Three tries in 5 minutes left the Wire 16-2 up as half time approached. First, Joel Monaghan produced a fantastic catch from a Lee Briers crossfield kick to touch down in the corner to hand Warrington the lead. This score came completely against the run of play, and started an incredible period of dominance for the Wolves. Just three minutes later, Simon Grix capitalised on an uncharacteristic error from the usually dependable Pat Richards, before powering over. Stefan Ratchford then converted the try to further extend the advantage. Only another 2 minutes had passed when Ben Westwood, who was fortunate to be on the pitch, smashed through the Wigan defence from close range. Another Ratchford conversion left the score at 16-2, and left the Wigan fans and players stunned. They desperately needed to regroup, and they needed a leader to take the game by the scruff of its neck.

                                         The moments leading up to half time were disastrous for the Wolves however. Joel Monaghan, who had been one of the most influential players for Warrington in the first half, had to be removed from the field on a stretcher, after a nasty looking injury. This was compounded by arguably the most important moment of the match, which occurred just 2 minutes before the break. A moment that saw the momentum swing once again, as a sweeping Wigan move saw Darrell Goulding cross in the corner. Though Richards missed the conversion attempt, Wigan will have gone into half time much happier at 16-6 than the 16-2 that it was just seconds earlier. This momentum shift was even more evident after the break, when a quite incredible turn of events saw the game turn 180 degrees. Less than 10 minutes after the restart, Wigan had closed the gap even further. Sloppy Warrington defending allowed dummy half Michael McIlorum to squirm through to reduce the deficit to a single score. With the Wire now well and truly on the ropes, Wigan pressed forwards to try an regain the lead. Just four minutes later, they had it. A little grubber kick from Darrell Goulding was seized upon by Josh Charnley, and the predatory finisher had little trouble finding his way to the try line. After a brief discussion with the video ref, the try was awarded, and the conversion handed Wigan a remarkable 18-16 lead.

                                             As the game ticked into its final quarter, Warrington looked every inch a beaten side. Stefan Ratchford was also forced from the field with an injury, depriving the Wolves of yet another important creative player. Wigan landed the killer punch with just 15 minutes to go, as Blake Green caught Adrian Morley out with a dummy, taking advantage to go over under the posts. The conversion meant that the game was now 2 scores away from Warrington, and effectively out of their hands. Warrington looked shell-shocked, and were hit with a final sucker punch just 5 minutes from time. The fairytale ending for Pat Richards, the Wigan veteran touching down in the corner before converting to rubber stamp Wigan's double winning season. The perfect way to go out, and few would deny the winger the success that his performances have more than merited. However, the Harry Sunderland Man of the Match Trophy belonged to Blake Green. Having started the game flat on his back, having been walloped by Westwood, the Wigan half-back played himself into the game, before touching down the crucial try. An excellent performance, and well deserved accolade. With that came the last action, meaning that the scoring finished at 30-16.

                                              Few that had seen the scoreline at half time would have believed that this outcome was possible. An incredible 28 unanswered points from Wigan, including a complete shut-out in the second half, meant that the Warriors deservedly regained the Super League trophy. Wigan's trophy cabinet at the DW Stadium will be rather full at the minute, as the Warriors have done the Challenge Cup and Super League double, and the football side currently hold the FA Cup. For Warrington, their 58 year wait for the Super League continues, but if it is any consolation, the Wire are getting closer, and have every chance of claiming the ultimate prize next year. This game was a pulsating and enthralling advert for the Super League, and a microcosm of the season as a whole: exciting, unpredictable, full-blooded, passionate and pure entertainment.

The 2013 Challenge Cup Final: Living Up To The Hype

                             With this year's Challenge Cup Final taking place in the shadow of the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, players from both Wigan and Hull would both have been looking to illustrate to selectors exactly why they deserve a place in the squad for this autumn. However, the hype around this particular match goes far deeper than just the prospect of improving an individual's chances. All of the headlines in the days leading up to the British rugby league showpiece have been harking back to the classic 1985 final between the two teams. On that day, in a topsy-turvey contest, it was the Warriors that came out victorious. The game had it all, with drama, wonderful tries and a sting in the tail. With Wigan 28-12 ahead with just 16 minutes left, they looked to be cruising, especially after a scintillating try from Brett Kenny, who went the length of the Wembley pitch before touching down. However, Hull were not dead yet, fighting back to make it a 1 score game, with tries from Leuluai and another stunner from Divorty, along with penalties from Crooks. This took the score to 28-24, with the most unlikely of comebacks on the cards. But time ran out on the Black and Whites, leaving them to rue the 5 missed conversion attempts that they had throughout the match. And today, Wigan and Hull resumed that rivalry, with the expectation heavily on the match to live up to the standard of 28 years ago.

                               In setting up the repeat of that historic contest, both sides have had to come through arduous examinations of their credentials. As Super League sides are given byes through to the fourth round, there is an obvious advantage of being in the top tier of British rugby league. For Wigan, a home tie against Championship side Leigh kicked off their Challenge Cup campaign. An emphatic win for the Super League team, with tries from Charnley (3), Richards (3), Tomkins (4) and Williams ensuring a 60-10 win. In the fifth round they travelled to Hull to face fellow Super League side Hull KR. In a much tighter affair than the previous round, the prolific Tomkins scored another 4 tries to ensure that the Warriors progressed. Other scores from Richards, Charnley, Thornley and Farrell gave the scoreline a more emphatic feel, with a 46-14 final result. Wigan managed to avoid the other top sides in the competition in the quarter finals, facing a visit from Widnes Vikings. Once again, another routine victory for the home side, with tries from Charnley (3), Tomkins, Smith, Farrell, Hampshire and Green sending the Warriors into the final 48-4. Another favourable draw saw Wigan face another of Super League's struggling sides: London Broncos. In a complete demolition job of the side from the capital at Leigh Sports Village, Wigan equalled the record margin of victory in a semi final, winning 70-0. Tries from Goulding, Mossop, Tomkins, Green, Richards (2), Charnley (2), Taylor, Smith, Farrell and Thornley allowed Wigan to cruise to Wembley, humiliating the Broncos in the process.

                                 Hull's progress, on the other hand, had been far from simple. Though their campaign began with a comfortable victory over Crusaders in the fourth round, where tries from Horne (2), Westerman, Crooks, Yeaman (3), Lineham, Cunningham and Shaul (3) gave Hull a 62-6 victory, that ease would not last long. Their fifth round tie was a nip-and-tuck affair against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. In a scrappy game, a few moments of brilliance ensured that it would be the Hull side that progressed. Tries from Horne, Ellis, Yeaman and Pitts (2) gave Hull a hard-fought 24-6 win, and set them up for a quarter final trip to the South of France. A difficult tie against Catalan Dragons was the reward for that win, and that match would prove to be every bit as difficult. In a rollercoaster game, in which both sides held the lead, and thought they had the momentum, with the half-time score 7-8. This time, it was the English side that progressed to the semi-final, with the promise of Wembley now just one game away. Tries from McDonnell (2), Lineham and Briscoe gave the Yorkshire side the narrowest of 13-24 wins. They saved the tightest game for last however. At Huddersfield's John Smith's Stadium, Hull were the underdogs for their clash with Challenge Cup holders Warrington Wolves. In order to win that game, they required a scrappy and tense affair. Fortunately, the Black and Whites got it, defending fantastically well against an out-of-sorts Warrington, and hitting them with 3 great tries. Lineham, Whiting and Heremaia gave them a lead to protect, and once they had held off a late Warrington charge, they claimed a fantastic 16-12 victory to take them to rugby league's showpiece.  

                                    In order for this game to be considered in the same breath as its 1985 predecessor, it had to start quickly. Unfortunately, the nerves, and the dismal weather obviously got to the players, as the opening 20 went by without incident. It seemed to be a case of not wanting to take too many risks, as the game became a scrappy affair, but it maintained the intensity that one would expect from a cup final. After the initial sparring between the two teams, it was Wigan who struck the first blow. After some quick hands, Warriors wing Ian Thornley went over in the corner. With Pat Richards adding the two points, the Warriors took a 6-0 lead. Immediately after the try, Hull struggled to cope with a rampant Wigan side, with McIlorum breaking the line and only last ditch defending preventing a second. After riding the initial shock, Hull began to work themselves back into the game. However, the niggly errors continued from both sides, meaning that the fluidity of the game was regularly interrupted. This was particularly evident in the statistics for Hull at half time. In terms of set completion, Hull managed only 50% to Wigan's 82%. The final real chance of the first half fell to the Black and Whites, with a Wigan knock-on handing Hull a good field position. After further possession, the underdogs were handed a penalty. However, instead of the common sense option to kick the points and go in just four points down, Hull chose to tap and go. Almost immediately, the ball was lost forwards and the chance was gone. The question was raised about how valuable those points may be come the end of the game as the hooter went.

                                          In complete contrast to the rather lacklustre start to the match, the second half started at a much higher pace, with Wigan forward Taylor coming within inches of a try. Having been given an advantage, the centre was dropped short of the line. If Hull thought that that would be the end of the danger, they were mistaken, as the referee pulled the game back for the penalty. Richards stepped up and put the two points over, making it a 2 score game. After this, the game once again returned to the scrappy and error-strewn affair that it was before the break, meaning that chances were few and far-between. When one did arrive, it was Hull that profited. After another period of Wigan pressure, Jamie Shaw intercepted a ball and broke the Wigan line. His path to the try line looked straight-forward, putting the game back in the balance. However, the Hull man did not reckon on the pace of Josh Charnley. The Wigan winger, who is arguably the fastest player on the field, chased Shaw down and managed to tackle him, thus saving his side 6 points. However, with the Hull crowd lifted, would that break lead to a comeback? Unfortunately for Hull, the momentum that threatened to shift was checked almost immediately by the seemingly serious injury to the Wigan forward Goulding. In a tough tackle with a Hull player, Goulding failed to put his head in the right place, knocking him unconscious and leaving him prone on the Wembley turf. After a good few minutes of treatment, he left the field on a stretcher. The latest reports suggest that he will make a full recovery, which is very good news.

                                            Once the game restarted, any momentum Hull may have gained had well and truly gone. Every time they progressed into the Wigan final third, the Hull players dropped the ball. Wigan also began to get into that pattern, with the second half slowed to a crawl, punctuated by the mistakes and errors. Eventually, one of those errors lead to a kickable opportunity for Wigan's Richards. The kicker remained composed, taking the score to 10-0. As the final 10 minutes moved into focus, Hull were in desperate need for a try, and they began to put pressure on the Wigan defence. It was met by excellent defence, at times last-ditch, with only one clear cut chance to show for it. Yeaman charged down a Wigan clearance, knocking it forwards for Briscoe to chase. Had the winger dived onto the ball, the arrears may have been reduced. As it was, a last ditch tackle ensured that Wigan's scorecard remained unblemished. After all that pressure, it was Wigan that finished the scoring, with the excellent Sam Tomkins going over to cap a magnificent performance. The full back has had a fantastic campaign once again, and if this is to be his Wigan swansong, with rumours that he is on the move to the NRL, he has acquitted himself admirably during his time at the DW Stadium.

                                             After the Tomkins try, there was barely time for Richards to add the 2 points before the final hooter sounded, ensuring that the score finished 16-0, handing Wigan another trophy. They will be hoping for the more elusive one in a couple of months, where they will have to wrestle their way past sides like Warrington, Huddersfield and Leeds to win the Super League title. Hull will be disappointed, but they have shown enough to suggest that this won't be the last time we see them at Wembley. The showcase was a touch more one-sided and error-strewn than we are used to seeing, but it still proved an entertaining game, needing that final Tomkins try to put it to bed.

2013 Wimbledon Finals: A Place In History Beckons?

                    As I mentioned in my Wimbledon preview post, I have been a tennis neutral for the entire Wimbledon fortnight, and as a result have been able to enjoy some truly outstanding tennis. From controversy, to shocks, to outrageous shots, this year's tournament has had it all. What would have rounded everything off perfectly, in my opinion, would have been to have a Goran Ivanisevic-esque fairytale victory at the end of it. A Murray-Djokovic final in the men's singles means that that dream will have to wait another year. Shame. However, the shocks in the women's draw means that a final between two unexpected names has come to fruition, with Sabine Lisicki seeing off favourite Serena Williams on her way to meet Marion Bartoli in today's showpiece.

                    One of the two women involved in the match today will take their place in history as a first-time Grand Slam winner. Whilst Bartoli has more experience of Grand Slam finals than her opponent, I do not believe that in any way makes her the strong favourite for the match. Lisicki has shown in the past two weeks that she is more than capable of upsetting the apple cart and rising to the big occasions. If this was something we hadn't seen in her exit in the Wimbledon semi-finals a couple of years ago, it is certainly something we saw against Serena just a matter of days ago. In this post, I will be reviewing the form of both the women, and the men's finalists, before deciding who I believe should be the favourite.

                     In terms of the title of this piece, however, it is not difficult to see what it is I am referring to. The presence of Andy Murray in a Wimbledon final for the second consecutive year means another chance to end Britain's incredible barren spell at Wimbledon. Whilst I explained in my opening post why I personally do not feel inclined to support him over any other athlete, he has certainly performed well over the past two weeks and deserves his place there. Whilst all will remember his emotional speech after defeat to Roger Federer in last year's final, many will be hoping for better fortunes this time around. A Murray victory tomorrow would certainly see an eminently forgettable page of British tennis history consigned to the memory banks, and a breakthrough of even greater proportions than that of his US Open victory last summer.

                    However, regardless of whether he takes that place in history tomorrow, there is one thing that will be forever untouchable, in my opinion, to the Scot. I have been saddened to hear the BBC commentators debating whether Wimbledon's iconic Henman Hill should be renamed in Murray's honour. I have issues with this. Firstly, Murray Mound sounds rubbish. Secondly, I believe that Tim Henman as a tennis player sums up not just the traditional British tennis player, but the entire British mindset in terms of sport. Starts with a vast overestimation of ability by the press and the crowd, who all proclaim that 'this will be the year', only to be eliminated at the quarters/semis. If tennis had penalties, this would sum up another sport incredibly accurately. I think, as a reminder of our typical British disappointment, Henman Hill is an essential part of Wimbledon, and should always remain as such.

                    Getting back to the matches over the next two days, it is worth looking at the run that each of the finalists have had, and therefore who should be considered the favourites. Starting with today's women's final, we see that both of the competitors went through their opening games in straight sets, with Lisicki particularly convincing in a 6-1, 6-2 victory over the usually strong Francesca Schiavone. Another pair of straight sets results followed in the second round, with the German once again being more emphatic in her victory. The third round saw a change in the pattern, as the Bartoli progressed in two close, but straight sets, whilst Lisicki was pushed all the way to three by the fiery Samantha Stosur, eventually winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-1. What happened in the fourth round made the tennis world sit up and take notice. Serena Williams, the shoo-in favourite for the title after the carnage of the 26th of June, was unceremoniously dumped out by Lisicki. After a strong first set, which the German won 6-2, the American world number 1 came storming back to take the second 6-1. This led analysts to assume that Serena would just steamroller her way through the third set. But it was not to be, with the German Lisicki picking up arguably the most memorable win of her career, and continuing her incredible record against French Open champions at Wimbledon.

                    Whilst Bartoli did win in straight sets on the same day, it was nowhere near as impressive as the Lisicki victory. This also started to shift fan support towards the German underdog, as the British crowd are always likely to get behind that! With another pair of straight sets victories in the quarter finals, Lisicki and Bartoli were only one game away from a place in the pinnacle of tennis. A stroll for Bartoli, who came through her semi-final 6-1, 6-2 against the novice Flipkens of Belgium. Lisicki on the other hand, had another tough game against number 4 seed Agnieska Radwanska. An enthralling semi-final, which swung first one way and then the other, ending with an incredible 6-4, 2-6, 9-7 to the German. After an energy sapping semi, along with the draining victory against Serena, I fear for Lisicki's energy levels. If they hold up, however, the tough tests she has endured should give her a fantastic platform to claim the first piece of silverware of her career.
                
                       Moving onto the men's final, we have to consider the advantage that the crowd gives the Scot in his quest for his first Wimbledon title. Whilst I have made my feelings about the crowd's hypocrisy clear, there can be no doubt that they will hold a key role in the outcome of the match tomorrow. The form may give an initial indicator, but the adrenaline and momentum shift that the crowd can give is another variable. In terms of the route, both were imperious in the first week, successfully avoiding the drama and progressing with ease to the quarter final stage. There, Djokovic claimed another straight sets victory over Thomas Berdych, but Murray, despite having the crowd on his side, toiled against Fernando Verdasco. Comprehensively outplayed by the Spaniard in the first two sets, the Scot fought back to level the match. The final set was a tough and edgy affair, with both players fortunate on several occasions to hold serve. But it was Murray who claimed the decisive break to take the match 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 and progress to the semi finals.

                        Yesterday saw arguably the most incredible semi-final in Wimbledon history, with Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro contested another memorable 5 set match. Played in fantastic spirits, with both players in fine form and sportsmanlike mood, we saw a number of incredible rallies and at times unbelievable passing shots. Nowhere was that more evident than in the fourth set tie-breaker. With Djokovic two sets to one up, and at 6-4 in the breaker, Del Potro had two match points to save. The first one was particularly memorable. After a number of excellent shots, two incredible gets from Djokovic made it look as if Del Potro was going home. But the Argentine pulled out an incredible forehand to force the Serb to stretch and put the ball long. This changed the momentum, with Del Potro eventually taking the fourth set. The fifth maintained the frenetic pace, with no sign of letting up. After more incredible rallies, Djokovic broke the Argentine, and, after four hours and 45 minutes, the Serb took the match to set the record for the longest Wimbledon semi-final. Murray's route was considerably easier, beating the inexperienced Jerzy Janowicz in four sets. After fighting back from a set down, the Scot took advantage of the 22 year old's unforced errors to lead by two sets to one. After a brief delay as the roof was closed, Murray closed the match out in fine form, eventually winning 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

                          In terms of the favourite for tomorrow's final, I slightly favour Djokovic. Murray will inevitably feel the pressure after the events of last year. However, I would not be in the least bit surprised if the crowd lifts Murray, or the nerves fade after the victory in Flushing Meadows. I personally think that Murray has more to prove, but equally has the greater support. I anticipate one of the great Wimbledon finals, with a five setter on the cards. Eventually, my choice comes down to experience, with the Serb having more experience of the victories in finals, especially against Murray. However, whatever the result, both the men's and women's tournaments have been fantastic viewing, and those that come out victorious have deserved the titles.

The 2013 French Open Finals: Same Old, Same Old?

             In the French Open preview post, I set out who I thought would be the most likely candidates for both the men's and women's championships, hoping for a surprise or two along the way. As the end of another Grand Slam draws ever nearer, it is clear from the four finalists that this has not happened. No Goran Ivanisevic-style surprise for us this time around, with the biggest shock being that it is clay-court specialist David Ferrer, and not Roger Federer, in the men's final with Rafa Nadal. The top four domination of the men's game seems set to continue, with only Federer's position being weakened by the events of the last two weeks. In the women's game, it is arguably even more predictable, as the family that have monopolised the game for the past decade and a half remain in control, albeit halved in power.

              With a little examination of the finalists and their run to the tournament's summit, we can see how monotonous today's game is. It could certainly be argued that has always been the case, especially in the men's game, with dominance from the likes of Borg, McEnroe, Connors, Becker, Agassi, Sampras, and more recently, Federer regularly characterising tennis. Therefore repeatedly seeing the same names perhaps should not be surprising. However, with the increased publicity and awareness of tennis in recent years, should we have expected to see more competition than experienced previously?

               I will begin with today's women's final, contested between pre-tournament favourite Serena Williams, and reigning champion Maria Sharapova. Beginning with Serena, her route to the final has been relatively simple. Crushing her first three opponents for the loss of just 6 games, she cruised into the second week, doing little to challenge the assertion that the tournament winner is practically pre-determined. Another straight-sets victory in the fourth round against the 15th seed, Roberta Vinci, suggests that even the top 20 is not particularly competitive, seeing the American into the quarter final without dropping a set. There she met Svetlana Kuznetsova, who, despite being unseeded, is considered a very dangerous player. So it proved, with Serena being pushed all the way to the full three sets, claiming a 6-3 victory in the 3rd. The loss of a set evidently angered Williams, as she destroyed 5th seed Sara Errani in the subsequent semi-final to progress to yet another final, eradicating the memories of last year's shocking 1st round exit at Roland Garros.

              Her opponent, Maria Sharapova, has had an altogether more strenuous passage to her second successive Parisian final. Despite winning all of her opening four matches without dropping a set, matching the achievement of Serena, she found it considerably more difficult than the American to whitewash opponents, conceding more and more games in each match she was involved in. The quarter final saw the Russian concede her first set of the tournament against Serb, Jelena Jankovic. A horrendous start saw the reigning champion lose the first set 6-0 to the world number 18, and though she recovered to win in three sets, she can ill-afford to reproduce this start against Serena. Her semi final also saw her lose a set, with Victoria Azarenka levelling the match after a strong start from Maria. Her battling third set victory shows that she certainly has the fight to challenge Serena. Whether a poor start would prove fatal is difficult to tell. Serena is definitely the favourite for today's final, but I would not count out Maria.

               Moving on to the men's final, it appears almost unnecessary to reveal that Rafa Nadal is in another French Open final, as his dominance of the Grand Slam is well documented. The 7-times winner has had a more difficult route to this year's centrepiece than many would have expected. In both his first, and second round matches, he could only manage to win in 4 sets, suggesting signs of a Lukas Rosol-esque repeat, and the shock tennis seemingly requires. Nevertheless, he stabilised in later rounds, progressing from there to the semi finals without dropping a set, including a particularly impressive performance against Stanislav Wawrinka in the quarter-finals. There he met world number 1 Novak Djokovic, and yesterday saw one of the best matches in French Open history. A rollercoaster semi-final, with both men having ample opportunity to claim victory, Nadal triumphed in a mammoth 4 and a half hour, 5 set encounter, winning the final set 9-7 to progress to his eighth Roland Garros final. His trials and tribulations along the way, however, suggests that it is becoming ever more difficult to remain successful in the men's game.

               In contrast, tomorrow will mark the inaugural Grand Slam final of David Ferrer's career. The clay court specialist has had a remarkably successful journey to the final, being the only one of the four finalists in either the men's or women's games not to drop a set. Bearing in mind the dominance of Rafa Nadal in recent years here, there are few who would have predicted that! Most impressive were his victories in the quarter and semi finals against firstly Tommy Robredo, whom he dispatched comfortably 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, and then home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. With an expectant home crowd, desperate for a French Grand Slam winner, to comprehensively beat the Frenchman 6-1, 7-6, 6-2 is highly impressive. To beat Nadal he will have to be at the top of his game, and get a touch of luck along the way, but with the form he is in, there is no reason why we can't see a significant shock tomorrow. It would certainly be nice to show that there is a bit of variety in the game.

               The game of tennis has always had dominating factors, but certainly with the increasing coverage and publicity, I would have expected to see a more competitive tournament. If we compare tennis to another sport that has seen a recent increase in publicity, like Formula 1, we see the dominance of certain players maintained in tennis, and a much more competitive and open field in the latter. This makes me wonder if we will ever see a truly competitive tennis tournament, without there being some element of pre-determined nature to them. Until we do, moments like Ivanisevic's at Wimbledon will continue to be tennis gold.   

IPL 2013 Final: Who Chokes Best?

In a two part series on the IPL, I will be looking back at my highlights from this season, as well as providing my Team of the Year. In this post, I cover my personal highlights, and a brief review of the grand finale today in Kolkata.

 

                The Indian Premier League: a competition where it is considered fashionable to wear two baseball caps. Whilst this is only one of my many memories from the 6^th incarnation of the Sub-Saharan Twenty 20 Cricket tournament, it is one that sticks in my memory. The Indian Premier League is perfect for the cricket fan who watches the Test highlights on Channel 5, and doesn’t want to sit through dot ball after dot ball. It is arguably also the same place where you would see Sachin Tendulkar, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga and Mitchell Johnson all in the same team. Another intriguing few months of top quality cricket came to an end today at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, but before I go into the final itself, I will firstly go through a few more of my personal highlights.

 

                Firstly, this list could not be complete without a big West Indian having his say. Fortunately, in this list we have two. The first to make this list is Royal Challengers Bangalore opening batsman Chris Gayle. His innings against the Pune Warriors was nothing short of spectacular, leaving pundits and commentators to declare that ‘you will never see a better Twenty 20 innings’. Batting through the entire 20 overs, a feat in itself, the big West Indian smacked the ball to all corners, including the longest 6 of the tournament (119 metres), bringing up the fastest 100 in Twenty 20 (and I suspect all forms of) cricket history. Just 33 balls were taken to reach this milestone, putting his strike rate at 333.333, or 3.33 runs a ball to the layman. A simply phenomenal effort. And he didn’t stop there. In his next 33 deliveries, he continued knocking the ball about, reaching an incredible 175 off the 66 balls he faced. 175! Whole teams struggle to make that score from 120 balls, never mind half that! This innings was typical of the big man’s performance, and one that will go down in the annuls of history.

 

                The second West Indian to make my list happens to be another big man. Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard’s performance in the crucial game against the Sunrisers Hydrabad deserves to be in here, as with every ball he faced I found myself getting more and more excited. In a spot of trouble mid-innings, and having lost a few wickets in their chase, Mumbai called on Pollard to get them out of their hole. And how the big man responded! A quick-fire 66 from 27 balls almost single-handedly turned the game on its head, taking the required run rate from 15 to 9.5 a over. Smashing Thisana Pereira for 29 in one over set the tone for the all-rounder, hitting 6 maximums in a sequence of 7 balls. Certainly you will see no better example of a single-handed turnaround in this IPL season. Pollard also has the benefit of being a tremendous fielder. Memorable catches against Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings also propelled Pollard into our attention this spring. A valuable player to have in your side, especially as you get into the later overs.

 

                My third memory is a rather more nostalgic one. Adam Gilchrist, on his final performance for the Kings XI Punjab, was given the final over to bowl. With his team already having won the match against the Mumbai Indians, Gilly, normally a wicket-keeper, was able to bowl his very first over in Twenty 20 cricket. Using what can only be described as ‘weird spin’, I fully expected Harbhajan Singh to smash the Aussie out of the ground multiple times. The last thing I expected was for the off-spinner to mishit the ball out to long-on and lose his wicket! As the Mumbai Indians were something for 9 at the time, the game was obviously ended, and Gilchrist ended with figures of 0.1 overs bowled, 1 for 0 runs, and a 100% strike rate! His celebrations after the wicket was taken were superb, and illustrated the passion and flair that the sport will miss with his retirement.

 

                Despite the loss of Gilchrist, celebrations are not something this competition will be without next year. Four contenders for celebration of the season, with very different dancing styles. Firstly, Dwayne Bravo’s hip-swinging when taking either a wicket or catch caught the eye. Secondly, Darren Sammy’s wicket celebration, putting a dummy in his mouth and ‘rocking the cradle’, signifying the birth of his baby daughter. Unfortunately for Sammy, this came back to bite him, when Brad Hodge hit the winning runs off Sammy’s bowling in the Eliminator, he did the same cradle rocking moves we had become accustomed to from the West Indian. Next, seeing a big man do the Gangnam Style is always funny, and Chris Gayle is no exception. Even funnier, though, is seeing Harbhajan Singh’s take on it. Rebranded the ‘Pangnam Style’, Bhaji’s moves were certainly interesting, and I look forward to seeing more creations from the players next year.

 

                 As for the final, in a match between the top two teams in the regular season table, labelled as ‘Batting vs Bowling’, as Chennai’s batting and Mumbai’s bowling attacks are considered to be the best, round 1 went to the Super Kings. In the Qualifier, they comprehensively outplayed the Mumbai side, winning by a massive 48 runs. This seemed to imply that Batting is more important than bowling in Twenty 20 cricket. However, after overcoming the Rajasthan Royals in the 2^nd Qualifier, Mumbai had the chance to get their own back on the grandest stage of them all. Chennai, on the other hand, would want to avoid defeat in the final for the second year running, having been beaten by Kolkata in last year’s showpiece.

 

                With Mumbai in to bat first, Chennai had the early chance to test the theory of Mumbai as ‘chokers’. And choke they certainly seemed to, with an early batting collapse, leaving them at 16-3. With Karthik and Rayudu at the crease, the inning stabilised for a while. When Karthik went in the 10^th over, Mumbai looked in serious trouble. Kieron Pollard was the next man in, and he kept his head, and kept Mumbai on the path to posting a competitive score. Whilst wickets tumbled around him in the closing overs, he smashed two huge sixes off the last 2 balls to ensure that Mumbai had a reasonable 148 total, leaving Chennai chasing a eminently gettable 149. However, Chennai’s innings got off to the worst possible start, with both the Orange cap-holding, usually dependable, Mike Hussey and Suresh Raina out in the first Malinga over. 2-2. Badrinath fell in the next to Johnson. 3-3. At this point it looked more like Chennai were the chokers. And the wickets kept falling. After a short reposte, Bravo went to Dhawan. 35-4. Jadeja then fell off the bowling of Pollard, playing a ridiculous sweep stroke. 36-5. In came Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the talisman and the glue of this Chennai side, and it was he that started the recovery.

 

                But all too soon, he began to run out of partners. Vijay went next over to Johnson, at 39-6. Albie Morkel, after a brief cameo, was clean bowled by Ojha. All the Mumbai bowlers were getting in on the act. Morris was next to go, caught off Harbhajan. With Chennai languishing at 58-8, surely that was game over. But still there was Dhoni, smashing maximums as though his life depended on it. And try as they might, the Mumbai bowlers simply could not get him out. However, after all of Dhoni’s fighting, Ravi Ashwin was caught playing a foolish shot off Pollard at 99-9. After this, there was no going back. Dhoni again tried valiantly to score runs, but time and balls ran out, leaving Chennai needing 42 off the last over. They ended up losing the match by 23 runs, which given their predicament speaks volumes for Mahendra Singh Dhoni, but it handed Mumbai their first IPL victory in 6 attempts.

 

                  A brilliant season, culminating in a final that twisted and turned, producing pure drama, and a shock as the favourites were beaten. As we have seen in other sports, rarely does the favourites tag mean anything at all. Mumbai have shown this once again, and will return to defend their title next year, when hopefully, Sachin Tendulkar will be fit once more. Though viewing figures in the UK may have declined, I will most certainly be tuning in next campaign.

2013 Champions League Final: Who Needs Guardiola?

            London was invaded by Germany tonight, with an estimated 150,000 making their way from the continent. Their intention: to watch arguably the most prestigious game in European football, the Champions League final. Hosted at Wembley for the 2^nd time in three seasons, Europe’s most valuable tournament has once again provided twists, turns and plenty of shocks on the way to the finale. After a gruelling 9 months of European competition, only Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were left standing, giving the first ever all German Champions League final. My earlier blog post ‘Germany 11-3 Spain’ asks whether this indicates a significant shift away from the traditionally dominant Spaniards, as this season more than many others has seen German clubs coming to the fore. In the German league, Munich romped away to claim the title in early April, ending a full 25 points clear of their nearest rivals, Dortmund. This gave them the tag of comfortable favourites going into this final, though as we have seen in recent Wembley and Champions League finals, that tag ultimately means nothing.

 

                As far as each of their Champions League campaigns are concerned, both have had to do it the hard way. Borussia Dortmund in particular, as they were involved in what had been labelled the ‘Group of Death’, with the league champions from each of Spain, England and Holland as their opponents. Dortmund performed above all expectations in the group stages, finishing as group winners. A tricky tie against Shakhtar Donetsk followed, with a nervy 2-2 draw in Ukraine being followed up by an emphatic 3-0 home win to see the Germans through. The pivotal moment in the whole of Dortmund’s campaign came in the Quarter Final against Malaga. After a dull 0-0 draw in Spain, the Germans fell behind twice in the return leg, only for Dortmund to stage an injury time comeback, reminiscent of Manchester United’s famous 1999 final success over Bayern Munich, to win 3-2. A 4-1 home demolition of the great Real Madrid in the Semi Final first leg made the world sit up and take notice, and whilst the Germans had to withstand an anxious last ten minutes, they held firm to qualify for their first Champions League final since 1996.

 

                Bayern Munich, in comparison, had arguably a far easier group. Nevertheless, they still had to win it, which they did (albeit on results between themselves and Valencia), setting up a Last 16 game against Arsenal. A brilliant 3-1 win at the Emirates set themselves up nicely, only to nearly collapse in the return leg, being lucky to progress on away goals after a 0-2 defeat. A more comfortable victory in the Quarter Final followed, with the Bavarians winning both legs 2-0 to set up a semi final with Catalan giants Barcelona. An astonishing home leg scoreline, as the Germans blew the favourites for the title away, winning 4-0. Even more astonishing was the result the following week, as Munich went to the Nou Camp and thoroughly outplayed the Spaniards, winning 3-0 to cap a resounding 7-0 aggregate victory and taking them into their second consecutive Champions League final. Jupp Heynckes, the Munich manager, having already led his side to resounding victory in the league, can justifiably feel hard done by, having been given his notice in January to make way for Pep Guardiola from the start of this season. The prospective treble seemed like the perfect leading present, and the best way to show the Munich board that they may have made the wrong decision in replacing him.

 

                In the weeks leading up to the final, bad blood erupted between the two clubs, as Bayern announced the signing of Dortmund playmaker Mario Gotze for the start of the following season. This led to a slanging match in the press over the course of several days, with insults being thrown from both camps. This was exacerbated by a league game between the pair, where Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp had a major disagreement with the Bayern bench, almost coming to blows on the touchline. Further Munich pursuits of Dortmund talisman Robert Lewandowski further stoked the atmosphere before the Wembley final, where Munich would be desperate to avoid the heartbreak dished out, at the Allianz, against Chelsea in last season’s final.

 

                 The game began at a ferocious pace, with Dortmund pressurising the ball at every opportunity. Thanks to this, Dortmund looked the more dangerous of the two sides in the opening half hour, with firstly Lewandowski, and then Marko Reus testing Manuel Neuer. Sven Bender also found himself in space in the Munich area, but the defensive midfielder failed to connect properly, allowing Neuer to collect comfortably. After this, Munich found their feet, with Mario Mandzukic’s header being brilliantly kept out by Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller. After this, the two best chances of the first half fell to Arjen Robben. The first came to him rather fortuitously, with a deflected pass putting the Dutchman in. Unfortunately for the Bavarians, Robben could only hit the big Dortmund keeper. A similar outcome just a few minutes later, with a slip by Mats Hummels letting in the usually predatory Robben, but once again, the face of Weidenfeller prevented the winger from breaking the deadlock. Robert Lewandowski’s late chance showed that Dortmund were by no means out of the contest, but the first half ended goalless.

 

                The second half began in vastly the same way as the first, with Dortmund pressurising Munich’s every move. However, unlike the previous half, they failed to create any decent openings, leaving Mario Mandzukic to tap Munich into the leader after some good work from Arjen Robben. The goal shocked Dortmund into action, and just 8 minutes later, they had a chance to respond. A clumsy Dante challenge on Marko Reus gave Ilkay Gundogan the chance to level matters from the spot. The German, replacing Lewandowski as penalty taker after the Pole’s miss in the league game against Neuer a few weeks ago, made no mistake, sending the Bayern keeper the wrong way. After this, the game became increasingly stretched, with chances arriving thick and fast at both ends. A brilliant Neven Subotic goalline clearance prevented Bayern’s Thomas Muller from putting the Bavarians back into the lead, before Robert Lewandowski had a stunning 30 yard strike correctly disallowed for handball. However, as the game entered the final ten minutes, Dortmund were under increasing pressure from the German champions. Eventually, the pressure told, as Robben got on the end of a clever Ribery through ball to slide the ball past Weidenfeller and send the crowd behind the Dortmund goal wild. With only two minutes to go, Dortmund had no time for a response, meaning that Bayern collected their fifth European Cup.

 

                 Having successfully exorcised their demons from last year’s final, Bayern Munich ran out deserving winners at Wembley tonight. Over the course of the season, they can certainly make a claim to being Europe’s best club, a claim that is only strengthened with the addition of this silverware. A fantastic way for Jupp Heynckes to sign off as Munich manager, and with a domestic cup final still to come, the prospect of an historic treble looms large. Certainly a herculean task for Pep Guardiola to reproduce, and a decision that Bayern bosses will now be wondering about.