Here Comes The Superbowl!

The big one is just around the corner, and there’s been plenty to talk about this week. Is Brady’s ankle ok? What on earth was Plaxico thinking predicting a giants 23-17 victory? Like the Pats need more motivation to beat them… And what’s up with Shockey, sulking like a child?

Lots of talk of too as to whether the Giants can repeat their performance of the final game of the regular season (great Onion article here), but it’s tough to see past the pats on two weeks rest, and (crucially) indoors in the warm. They’ve definitely sputtered to 18-0 the last few games, but with an extra week to recover and no weather to worry about you have to think their passing game comes alive again.

Hope I’m wrong so we get a decent game, but I can’t help but feel that the Giants are going to get well beaten, probably by double digits.

NFL Week Two: Predictions

Massive Sunday night game this week: Bolts v Patriots, in New England. You can bet the Patriots are going to come out firing to prove that the taping stuff (exciting espionage details here) wasn’t their secret sauce, Bolts are still pissed about the playoff victory last year. Bad blood there. I’m a little worried tbh: the patriots look very, very good. Then again the Jets aren’t the sternest of tests. Randy Moss? Randy Toss more like.

Pats/Bolts really is a huge game for so early in the season.

Big Game Prediction: winner of this game wins the superbowl.
Big Game Hope: Bolts win 20-10, LT gets some yards in, all the big players stay healthy.

Other Predictions: Colts get exposed, lose (or scrape win) against the Titans. Alex Smith (future all-star) continues to improve, SF roll over the Rams. Saints, desperate after their opening day humiliation, win handily against a beat up Bucs squad. Dolphins beat the horribly over-rated cowboys.

Football’s back. It’s good.

Manchester United 0, Reading 0: Held At Home on Opener

Fair play to Reading: game plan was to come away with a point, and that’s exactly what they did. United ridiculous number of shots on goal, great defending… Rooney going off injured. All combined for a cracking result for them. Can’t argue with their tactics, as Coppell himself said after the game:

I‘d have loved to have gone 4-4-2 and seen what happened but we’d have got hammered.

Can’t really argue with that. Of course we should have won that game handily, but one game into the season is a little early to be sounding the death knell. I’m convinced we’re going to score an absolute shitload this year and I honestly feel this is our best chance to land the Champion’s League in years. Nani, Anderson, Rooney, Scholes, Giggs, Saha, Ronaldo = a bucketload of goals. Just the right combination of youth and experience.

Manchester United: 2008 Champion’s League Winners.

Italy Match Fixing Trial: Three Relegated

Juventus were last night dealt the most crushing blow in the club’s illustrious history when a sporting tribunal set up by the Italian federation to decide on claims of match-fixing ordered the club be relegated to Serie B and forced to start next season with a 30-point deduction. It is unlikely they will play in the Champions League before at least 2009.

The worst corruption trial in the history of football? No question. Absolutely stunning.

2010 (South Africa) World Cup In Trouble?

Interesting and worrying article in the Guardian today:

“Fifa executives have voiced “serious” doubts about whether South Africa will be able to host the next World Cup in 2010 and have discussed a radical contingency plan that would see the United States stage the tournament instead, it was reported in Germany yesterday.”

Though I’d be sad to see South Africa lose it, I have to say I have my doubts about their ability to put it together. US seems the most likely to be able to host at such short notice. Also I live here now, so that would suit me down to the ground.  Any chance of having the Euros over  here too? 😉

Zidane Goes Mental, Italy Wins!

Bloody hell, what a finish.

Invisible for most of the game, Zidane crowns it with one of the most extraordinary moments a World Cup final has ever seen. Not unprecedented from him, but astonishing nonetheless. France looked to be in control, and he goes mental. Some power behind that headbutt, too. Kapow!

Fair play to Italy, proper test of nerves at the end with their penalty record, but they passed with flying colors. Gattuso was absolutely immense today, surprised he didn’t get MoM consideration: he was everywhere. Another one I’d love at United… perfect replacement for Roy Keane.

Nice to see Henry pick up his loser’s medal, too. Well deserved, a real runner’s up performance from him again today 🙂

This pic says it all, really:

Cheers for the memories Zizou. Truly one of the great players, but also a bit mental at times. Bit of a rubbish way to bow out, eh? Time to reconsider your retirement (again)?

10 Men Behind the Ball at All Times?

The showpiece kicks off in a little over half an hour… 32 teams whittled down to these two. So many questions…. will Henry turn it on? Will he swandive his way to a WC medal? How negative will the Italians be? Will there be a load of cards?  A sending off?

I’m hopeful the Italians play like they did against Germany, but my fear is they’ll put 10 behind the ball and try and smother the French.
I’m thinking 0-0 here, with the Italians taking it on Penalties.  Either way am expecting a real defensive battle.

Has This World Cup Been Any Good?

I can’t decide. Lot of folks saying it’s been the worst ever, but the English always say that after crashing out on penalties. I think above all else I’ll remember it as the competition of crazy cards. At the end of the group stage this WC had seen more cards than the whole of Japan/Korea saw. That’s just rubbish: with the exception of the Holland/Portugal game, it’s really not been a dirty competition.

I’ll also remember it for all the diving, Ronaldo and Henry in particular. Fifa needs to give itself the power to ban players after the game, based on the video evidence. That’s the only way it’ll get resolved, although a video ref in the stands and immediate yellows for diving will help. I really think it’s ruining the game… makes me sick to see a player as talented as Ronaldo or Henry going down with the slightest bit of contact, or even worse just out and out diving. They’re all at it, and we have to stop it somehow.

Thierry Henry is a Big Cheat

‘nother dive from him today to get them into the final, after the dive that broke the deadlock with Spain. Cheating fecker. Normally I support France, but this time I hope Italy absolutely batter them.

Forza Azzurri! Italy Show Their Class…

Wow. Game of the tournament, goals of the tournament. That was absolutely brilliant.

I’ve criticised Italy for their negative play, but they shut their critics up today. Cool, calm & collected, Grosso’s goal was just perfect. Del Piero’s was nice too, but Grosso was the real hero today. Absolutely brilliant, and what the WC should be about. Here’s hoping they keep it up in the final: I’ll be supporting them, for sure.

Feel bad for Germany and Jurgen, but this game was alll about Italy. First performance from anyone that’s been really worthy of a world champion.

Forza Azzurri!