"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business, but i was in the top one."
Ten years has passed incredibly quickly since football lost one of its biggest ever characters and my club Nottingham Forest lost the man who undoubtedly put it on the map.
Many Forest supporters will probably be able to tell you exactly where they were at the moment they heard the news of Brian Clough's passing on the 20th September 2004. I certainly can. I had just started at university. I had been in Leeds a matter of days, and a fairly insignificant welcome session ended with me recieving a text message telling me the news. I remember nothing at all about the hour in the room which preceded it, but I will take that feeling of reading that text to the grave. I could take you to that room now. My biggest regret to this day as a Forest fan was that I couldn't get back to Nottingham for the game against West Ham, the first at the City Ground since Clough's death. I watched the game on television in a Horsforth pub, with tears in my eyes at the significance of the moment. We won that match, but just eight more wins all season meant that we were relegated at the end of the season. Those were dark days for the team but we seem to be finally back on track; top of the Sky Bet Championship on the tenth anniversary of that sad day.
Last Sunday the club began its period of marking the anniversary with the game against Derby County. It seemed fitting that the fixture gods had brought together the two clubs with which Clough will always be most associated. He is arguably the reason why the rivalry is so fierce between the two sides of the stretch of the A52 which now bears his name. The game itself wasn't particuarly memorable, they rarely are, apart from a few flashpoints, but the afternoon was never going to be about 90 minutes of football. The minute's applause after ten minutes was observed by fans of both the clubs which Clough loved so much, and save for the three idiots that invaded the pitch during the second half, all in attendance behaved themselves and respected the man and the occasion. It was a timely reminder that while Nottingham Forest and Derby are rivals, we're not enemies. I am glad I was there to pay my respects.
You don't need me to tell you about Clough. We all have our stories and memories of him, even those of us who never met him or even saw any of his Forest teams play. My Dad once asked him for a handshake at East Midlands Airport following a European away game. Clough replied "course you can, big fella". I must have heard the story a thousand times, but the enthusiasm is still there when my dad tells anyone who will listen as if it made his life.
There will never be another manager like him. There will certainly never be an opportunity for a club like Nottingham Forest to rule Europe twice, certainly not without billions of pounds of investment.
Stuart Pearce has led us to the top of the table, and although we're only seven games into the league season, it's difficult not to think of how fitting it would be to mark such a significant year - it's also the club's 150th anniversary in 2015 - with promotion back into the top flight. There's a long way to go, but you just never know.
Saturday 20 September 2014
Tuesday 16 September 2014
UEFA Champions League predictions
The UEFA Champions League returns this week, as Real Madrid aim to become the first team to retain the title in the Champions League era, and the first in the competition as a whole since AC Milan in 1990. Carlo Ancelotti's men will face competition from the usual suspects in the shape of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, PSG, and in the group stage they will face another potential contender in Liverpool, back in the competition for the first time in five years.
As well as the elite, there are teams simply happy to take their place in the tournament. Malmo are in the group stage for the first time, as they dream of emulating their 1979 side, who reached the European Cup final before losing to Nottingham Forest. The Bulgarian champions Ludogorets didn't even exist then, and their fairytale rise to Europe's top table was completed by a sensational play-off victory over Steaua Bucharest, where defender Cosmin Moti became their penalty-saving hero. Progression to the knockout stage from either club would represent a huge shock, but their participation can only be a good thing to appease those who believe the Champions League is a closed shop for anyone but the very biggest clubs.
Here is Behind The Goal's predictions of how the groups will finish. Admittedly, some are easier than others to predict, but while first place in the group is so important, no games can be taken lightly.
Group A:
1. Atletico Madrid
2. Juventus
3. Olympiakos
4. Malmo
Group B:
1. Real Madrid
2. Liverpool
3. FC Basel
4. Ludogorets
Group C:
1. Benfica
2. Bayer Leverkusen
3. Zenit St Petersburg
4. Monaco
Group D:
1. Arsenal
2. Borussia Dortmund
3. Galatasaray
4. Anderlecht
Group E:
1. Bayern Munich
2. Manchester City
3. AS Roma
4. CSKA Moscow
Group F:
1. Barcelona
2. Paris Saint-Germain
3. Ajax
4. Apoel Nicosia
Group G:
1. Chelsea
2. Schalke 04
3. Sporting
4. Maribor
Group H:
1. FC Porto
2. Athletic Bilbao
3. Shakhtar Donetsk
4. BATE Borisov
English clubs:
I expect all four Premier League teams to reach the round of 16 at the very least, although that could be where Liverpool and Manchester City find out the hard way just how important winning the group is. Facing a group winner in the first knockout round may be a step too far for Liverpool, whereas City may need a lucky draw. Arsenal are well placed to reach the quarter finals, but probably no further.
The last English team left will in my opinion be Chelsea. The semi finals is the very least I expect them to reach, maybe even further. Jose Mourinho's squad is twice that of Roberto Di Matteo's which won the European Cup in 2012, but as that season proved, anything can happen in cup football.
Dark horses:
This is surely the year that Juventus pose a bigger threat in the competition. Massimiliano Allegri's Serie A champions have flattered to decieve in Europe of late. Their group could have been a lot worse, and with perhaps a bit of luck in the draw, the bianconeri could reach the later stages. If - and it's a big if - Roma can get out of their group, maybe they could progress to the last eight, but in Manchester City and Bayern, their first hurdle couldn't have been more difficult.
Winners:
Last season I told friends I thought Real Madrid would win the title, and they did. This year I will tell all of you the same. My prediction is for Carlo Ancelotti's side to make Champions League history and retain the European Cup in Berlin in June.
As well as the elite, there are teams simply happy to take their place in the tournament. Malmo are in the group stage for the first time, as they dream of emulating their 1979 side, who reached the European Cup final before losing to Nottingham Forest. The Bulgarian champions Ludogorets didn't even exist then, and their fairytale rise to Europe's top table was completed by a sensational play-off victory over Steaua Bucharest, where defender Cosmin Moti became their penalty-saving hero. Progression to the knockout stage from either club would represent a huge shock, but their participation can only be a good thing to appease those who believe the Champions League is a closed shop for anyone but the very biggest clubs.
Here is Behind The Goal's predictions of how the groups will finish. Admittedly, some are easier than others to predict, but while first place in the group is so important, no games can be taken lightly.
Group A:
1. Atletico Madrid
2. Juventus
3. Olympiakos
4. Malmo
Group B:
1. Real Madrid
2. Liverpool
3. FC Basel
4. Ludogorets
Group C:
1. Benfica
2. Bayer Leverkusen
3. Zenit St Petersburg
4. Monaco
Group D:
1. Arsenal
2. Borussia Dortmund
3. Galatasaray
4. Anderlecht
Group E:
1. Bayern Munich
2. Manchester City
3. AS Roma
4. CSKA Moscow
Group F:
1. Barcelona
2. Paris Saint-Germain
3. Ajax
4. Apoel Nicosia
Group G:
1. Chelsea
2. Schalke 04
3. Sporting
4. Maribor
Group H:
1. FC Porto
2. Athletic Bilbao
3. Shakhtar Donetsk
4. BATE Borisov
English clubs:
I expect all four Premier League teams to reach the round of 16 at the very least, although that could be where Liverpool and Manchester City find out the hard way just how important winning the group is. Facing a group winner in the first knockout round may be a step too far for Liverpool, whereas City may need a lucky draw. Arsenal are well placed to reach the quarter finals, but probably no further.
The last English team left will in my opinion be Chelsea. The semi finals is the very least I expect them to reach, maybe even further. Jose Mourinho's squad is twice that of Roberto Di Matteo's which won the European Cup in 2012, but as that season proved, anything can happen in cup football.
Dark horses:
This is surely the year that Juventus pose a bigger threat in the competition. Massimiliano Allegri's Serie A champions have flattered to decieve in Europe of late. Their group could have been a lot worse, and with perhaps a bit of luck in the draw, the bianconeri could reach the later stages. If - and it's a big if - Roma can get out of their group, maybe they could progress to the last eight, but in Manchester City and Bayern, their first hurdle couldn't have been more difficult.
Winners:
Last season I told friends I thought Real Madrid would win the title, and they did. This year I will tell all of you the same. My prediction is for Carlo Ancelotti's side to make Champions League history and retain the European Cup in Berlin in June.
Thursday 14 August 2014
Barclays Premier League Preview 2014-15 Part 2: My Predictions
In Part 1 of my season preview I took a closer look at the five teams who I think will challenge for the championship. In Part 2 I will predict the final table and offer my early thoughts of what may happen.
Here's the Behind The Goal predicted table for 2014-15.
(The usual caveat applies, namely the transfer window is still open, but right now, I'm happy with this order.)
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester City
3. Arsenal
4. Manchester United
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Newcastle United
9. Stoke City
10. Swansea City
11. West Ham United
12. Southampton
13. Crystal Palace
14. Sunderland
15. Queens Park Rangers
16. Hull City
17. Aston Villa
18. Leicester City
19. West Bromwich Albion
20. Burnley
I also expect Sean Dyche of Burnley and Aston Villa's Paul Lambert to be out of a job before the end of the season. For me, Roy Keane's appointment as Villa's number two looks so much like they have replaced Lambert before even getting rid of him. Think Rene Meulensteen at Fulham last year. That worked out well.
Best summer signing:
Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea.
Some may say Diego Costa; in fact I think he will be Chelsea's best player and top scorer, but Fabregas will be the most important player. He is the final cog in the wheel, and offers a wider variety of midfield options than the others.
Some may wonder whether Costa can score as many goals in the Premier League as in La Liga for Atletico Madrid, but for me, he is bound to. Chelsea were a top striker away from winning the title last season, but now they may just have found the final piece in the jigsaw.
Leave a comment or Tweet me @adamgray50 with your thoughts on the new season.
Here's the Behind The Goal predicted table for 2014-15.
(The usual caveat applies, namely the transfer window is still open, but right now, I'm happy with this order.)
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester City
3. Arsenal
4. Manchester United
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Newcastle United
9. Stoke City
10. Swansea City
11. West Ham United
12. Southampton
13. Crystal Palace
14. Sunderland
15. Queens Park Rangers
16. Hull City
17. Aston Villa
18. Leicester City
19. West Bromwich Albion
20. Burnley
First manager to be sacked:
Sam Allardyce of West Ham United. The fans don't particularly like him, the owners David Gold and David Sullivan aren't all that overstruck by his style of football, and their Andy Carroll-less side may struggle for goals if Enner Valencia doesn't hit the ground running as his replacement. The club's imminent move to the Olympic Stadium in a couple of years adds a ton of pressure for them to remain in the Premier League long term, and a poor start may be enough for Gold and Sullivan to pull the trigger.I also expect Sean Dyche of Burnley and Aston Villa's Paul Lambert to be out of a job before the end of the season. For me, Roy Keane's appointment as Villa's number two looks so much like they have replaced Lambert before even getting rid of him. Think Rene Meulensteen at Fulham last year. That worked out well.
Best summer signing:
Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea.
Some may say Diego Costa; in fact I think he will be Chelsea's best player and top scorer, but Fabregas will be the most important player. He is the final cog in the wheel, and offers a wider variety of midfield options than the others.
Player of the Year:
Diego Costa, Chelsea.Some may wonder whether Costa can score as many goals in the Premier League as in La Liga for Atletico Madrid, but for me, he is bound to. Chelsea were a top striker away from winning the title last season, but now they may just have found the final piece in the jigsaw.
Most looking forward to:
Seeing how the stars of the World Cup get on, particularly
Jefferson Montero at Swansea City.Leave a comment or Tweet me @adamgray50 with your thoughts on the new season.
Tuesday 12 August 2014
Barclays Premier League Preview 2014-15 Part 1: The Title
The new Barclays Premier League season begins this weekend, and in this post I will take a look at the title contenders.
Last season's title race was one of the most exciting for years. Liverpool looked like certainties to win their first championship for 24 years until their (well, Steven Gerrard's) late slip allowed Manchester City to take home the trophy, Manuel Pellegrini's first domestic title in a European league. Arsenal led the table for longer than anyone else, yet suffered damaging defeats to all of their title rivals. Chelsea beat both Manchester City and Liverpool home and away, but dropped points to so-called lesser opposition to end up only 3rd, and Manchester United suffered an unthinakble decline as their worst ever Premier League finish of 7th place followed. It's impossible to believe that the title will go anywhere else but to one of these five teams again, and here, I will look at their credentials.
Arsenal's Community Shield win this week over a suprisingly poor Man City side has given their supporters the right to believe that they can live with the big boys this time around. Last season's defeats against their fellow contenders weren't just notable for their frequency, but for their comprehensiveness. Chelsea, City and Liverpool scored a combined 17 goals against them in three infamous early kick-offs. Their challenge wasn't helped by a familiar problem, that of an injury list far too long for their liking. Aaron Ramsey's early season form could have brought more to the Emirates trophy cabinet than the FA Cup had he not missed almost the entire second half of the season. He, a fully fit Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil, as well as the big money addition of Alexis Sanchez may give them the sort of midfield dominance needed to get over the line, but once again, they may just fall agonisingly short over 38 games, especially if they don't ease the workload on Olivier Giroud with another forward signing. (Behind The Goal Prediction: 3rd)
Manchester City's title win should have come as no surprise given that on paper, they had the best squad, but even great groups take time to gel. Their poor away form in the first two months of the season could have cost them, but once they got going they didn't really look back. Their transfer activity has been relatively quiet, as their hands are tied by the Financial Fair Play regulation slapped on them by UEFA. Despite that, Pellegrini has brought in Fernando and Eliaquim Mangala both from Porto, as well as Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna and surprisingly Frank Lampard for a bit of squad depth. Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko will continue to provide plenty of goals, and Stevan Jovetic will be like a new signing this year, after his debut campaign was blighted by injury and poor form. Holding on to Yaya Toure is a huge boost too, after the controversy surrounding what did or didn't happen around his birthday. Whoever finishes above them will probably win the title. (BTG Prediction: 2nd)
Manchester United and their fans expected a transitional season under David Moyes last year. But by Manchester United's standards, that still means a title challenge and maybe a Cup run. It certainly didn't mean 7th place and your Chosen One out of a job by April, but that's exactly what they got. In Louis van Gaal, they have the manager with the sort of credentials that warrants one of the biggest jobs in world football. Whereas Moyes looked delighted to be there in his opening press conference, van Gaal was telling United that they should be delighted to have him. Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw have been brought to Old Trafford, but they still look short defensively following the exits of Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and captain Nemanja Vidic. At the other end of the pitch, van Gaal is the right man to inject new life into Robin van Persie, who captained his Netherlands side at the World Cup. If they can get themselves back into the Champions League, United's fans will be happy. 4th place would never have been considered success under Sir Alex Ferguson, but it will be after last year's debacle. The trouble is, they have very quickly fallen too far behind the top three to get any higher this year. (BTG Prediction: 4th)
Liverpool snatched Premier League defeat from the jaws of victory last season. Brendan Rodgers' side may have won 12 of their last 14 games, but that's no good when the other two cost you everything. The 2-0 Anfield reverse by a Chelsea team who found a way to win with resolute defending, canny counter attacking and that slip, was followed by the catastrophe that was the last quarter of an hour at Crystal Palace which led to a 3-3 draw. They let Manchester City in to take the title that looked Liverpool bound after their win against the Citizens in April. Even that 3-2 victory though illustrated the ultimate reason why it went wrong. Despite scoring for fun, they simply conceded too many sloppy goals at the other end. Dejan Lovren's arrival should help arrest that trend, but how on earth do they go about replacing Luis Suarez and his incredible haul of goals? The £75million will hopefully from their point of view be spent better than Tottenham's Gareth Bale money was, but the jury is out on whether Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert can make the step up. Lazar Markovic should be good when fit, but Liverpool need another outlet in midfield, but if anyone can, Emre Can. Liverpool haven't turned into a bad side overnight, far from it, but despite being linked with a few, they remain a top-class striker away from getting as close as last season. even finishing in the top four should be considered progress. (BTG Prediction: 5th)
Chelsea came only four points behind Man City last season even with the high number of dropped points against the likes of Sunderland and Norwich City. A new, improved Blues starting eleven should be far more comfortable of avoiding any such mistakes this time around. Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard have moved on, although the old guard is still represented in the form of John Terry and the returning Didier Drogba from Galatasaray. The Ivorian legend may not play as many games as he used to, but as any Chelsea fan will tell you, the higher the stakes, the more likely it is he'll score. Of course they also still have Fernando Torres, who gets more goals than people think, but the main man will no doubt be Diego Costa. The Brazilian-born Spaniard bagged 36 goals for Atletico Madrid last season, helping them to the La Liga title and very nearly the Champions League. Anywhere near that return and Chelsea will take some stopping. That's even before I mention the arrival of Cesc Fabregas. Arsenal didn't want him and Manchester United didn't think they needed him, but I bet they'll soon regret he's a Blue. The addition of Filipe Luis to what was already the league's best defence make Jose Mourinho's side my favourites. Like City, whoever finishes above them will win the title. (BTG Prediction: 1st)
Who are your tips for the title? Tweet @adamgray50 or leave a comment.
Last season's title race was one of the most exciting for years. Liverpool looked like certainties to win their first championship for 24 years until their (well, Steven Gerrard's) late slip allowed Manchester City to take home the trophy, Manuel Pellegrini's first domestic title in a European league. Arsenal led the table for longer than anyone else, yet suffered damaging defeats to all of their title rivals. Chelsea beat both Manchester City and Liverpool home and away, but dropped points to so-called lesser opposition to end up only 3rd, and Manchester United suffered an unthinakble decline as their worst ever Premier League finish of 7th place followed. It's impossible to believe that the title will go anywhere else but to one of these five teams again, and here, I will look at their credentials.
Arsenal's Community Shield win this week over a suprisingly poor Man City side has given their supporters the right to believe that they can live with the big boys this time around. Last season's defeats against their fellow contenders weren't just notable for their frequency, but for their comprehensiveness. Chelsea, City and Liverpool scored a combined 17 goals against them in three infamous early kick-offs. Their challenge wasn't helped by a familiar problem, that of an injury list far too long for their liking. Aaron Ramsey's early season form could have brought more to the Emirates trophy cabinet than the FA Cup had he not missed almost the entire second half of the season. He, a fully fit Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil, as well as the big money addition of Alexis Sanchez may give them the sort of midfield dominance needed to get over the line, but once again, they may just fall agonisingly short over 38 games, especially if they don't ease the workload on Olivier Giroud with another forward signing. (Behind The Goal Prediction: 3rd)
Manchester City's title win should have come as no surprise given that on paper, they had the best squad, but even great groups take time to gel. Their poor away form in the first two months of the season could have cost them, but once they got going they didn't really look back. Their transfer activity has been relatively quiet, as their hands are tied by the Financial Fair Play regulation slapped on them by UEFA. Despite that, Pellegrini has brought in Fernando and Eliaquim Mangala both from Porto, as well as Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna and surprisingly Frank Lampard for a bit of squad depth. Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko will continue to provide plenty of goals, and Stevan Jovetic will be like a new signing this year, after his debut campaign was blighted by injury and poor form. Holding on to Yaya Toure is a huge boost too, after the controversy surrounding what did or didn't happen around his birthday. Whoever finishes above them will probably win the title. (BTG Prediction: 2nd)
Manchester United and their fans expected a transitional season under David Moyes last year. But by Manchester United's standards, that still means a title challenge and maybe a Cup run. It certainly didn't mean 7th place and your Chosen One out of a job by April, but that's exactly what they got. In Louis van Gaal, they have the manager with the sort of credentials that warrants one of the biggest jobs in world football. Whereas Moyes looked delighted to be there in his opening press conference, van Gaal was telling United that they should be delighted to have him. Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw have been brought to Old Trafford, but they still look short defensively following the exits of Patrice Evra, Rio Ferdinand and captain Nemanja Vidic. At the other end of the pitch, van Gaal is the right man to inject new life into Robin van Persie, who captained his Netherlands side at the World Cup. If they can get themselves back into the Champions League, United's fans will be happy. 4th place would never have been considered success under Sir Alex Ferguson, but it will be after last year's debacle. The trouble is, they have very quickly fallen too far behind the top three to get any higher this year. (BTG Prediction: 4th)
Liverpool snatched Premier League defeat from the jaws of victory last season. Brendan Rodgers' side may have won 12 of their last 14 games, but that's no good when the other two cost you everything. The 2-0 Anfield reverse by a Chelsea team who found a way to win with resolute defending, canny counter attacking and that slip, was followed by the catastrophe that was the last quarter of an hour at Crystal Palace which led to a 3-3 draw. They let Manchester City in to take the title that looked Liverpool bound after their win against the Citizens in April. Even that 3-2 victory though illustrated the ultimate reason why it went wrong. Despite scoring for fun, they simply conceded too many sloppy goals at the other end. Dejan Lovren's arrival should help arrest that trend, but how on earth do they go about replacing Luis Suarez and his incredible haul of goals? The £75million will hopefully from their point of view be spent better than Tottenham's Gareth Bale money was, but the jury is out on whether Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert can make the step up. Lazar Markovic should be good when fit, but Liverpool need another outlet in midfield, but if anyone can, Emre Can. Liverpool haven't turned into a bad side overnight, far from it, but despite being linked with a few, they remain a top-class striker away from getting as close as last season. even finishing in the top four should be considered progress. (BTG Prediction: 5th)
Chelsea came only four points behind Man City last season even with the high number of dropped points against the likes of Sunderland and Norwich City. A new, improved Blues starting eleven should be far more comfortable of avoiding any such mistakes this time around. Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard have moved on, although the old guard is still represented in the form of John Terry and the returning Didier Drogba from Galatasaray. The Ivorian legend may not play as many games as he used to, but as any Chelsea fan will tell you, the higher the stakes, the more likely it is he'll score. Of course they also still have Fernando Torres, who gets more goals than people think, but the main man will no doubt be Diego Costa. The Brazilian-born Spaniard bagged 36 goals for Atletico Madrid last season, helping them to the La Liga title and very nearly the Champions League. Anywhere near that return and Chelsea will take some stopping. That's even before I mention the arrival of Cesc Fabregas. Arsenal didn't want him and Manchester United didn't think they needed him, but I bet they'll soon regret he's a Blue. The addition of Filipe Luis to what was already the league's best defence make Jose Mourinho's side my favourites. Like City, whoever finishes above them will win the title. (BTG Prediction: 1st)
Who are your tips for the title? Tweet @adamgray50 or leave a comment.
Thursday 7 August 2014
Sky Bet Championship prediction 2014-15
The new season is back and so is Behind The Goal. It's the third season of your favourite football blog. Thank you for reading my posts last season, or if you are a new reader, welcome aboard.
The Sky Bet Football League kicks off this weekend, and as always, the race for promotion should be hotly contested. No fewer than 18 of the 24 clubs have played in the Premier League at some point, and a similar number will head into the campaign with genuine hopes of troubling at least the play-off places in the spring.
The three teams relegated last season are all in pole position to bounce straight back, with none of those sides having to make drastic changes. Fulham, Cardiff City and Norwich City will be in the mix and ought to finish in the play-off places with little fuss. All three of them will fully expect that they can bounce straight back via automatic promotion.
But of those, it is Fulham who are most proving that the parachute payments from the drop can now fund a promotion campaign rather than protect a club against further demotions, as has been the case in the past. Felix Magath's men will now be led by last season's Championship top scorer Ross McCormack, who moves to Craven Cottage for a second-tier record £11 million. He threw goals in for fun last year in an average Leeds United team, and he should continue where he left off, and my opinion, help the Cottagers bounce straight back to the Premier League in style.
Of last May's beaten play-off teams, Wigan Athletic are best placed to challenge again, although Derby County and Brighton and Hove Albion also have retained the squads needed to go close. After last season's poor start, not helped by their Europa League campaign, Wigan rallied to a top-six finish, and were unlucky not to beat Queens Park Rangers in the semi-finals. A better start, and maybe Uwe Rosler will get the Latics back this time.
As for my club, Nottingham Forest, to say this last week before the big kick-off has been a rollercoaster ride is somewhat of an understatement, and possibly worth a blog post longer than this one all by itself. In a nutshell, the controversial sales (and loans back) of Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow to Newcastle United paid for the transfer fees of Michail Antonio from Sheffield Wednesday, and Britt Assombalonga from Peterborough United, the latter for a club record fee of in excess of £5 million.
Those additions, plus the recruitments of the likes of Matt Fryatt, Michael Mancienne, Lars Veldwijk and Chris Burke make us far stronger in depth than last year, when we limped home in a disappointing 11th place. Wishful thinking maybe, but a play-off place is the least I expect this season. I will play safe and not put us any higher than 6th though. I daren't predict we will finish above Derby County, although there will be very little separating both teams this time around. I'll be at the City Ground on Saturday for Stuart Pearce's first game as manager against Blackpool; needless to say the atmosphere will be something special as a genuine club legend returns.
At the bottom, I am hardly going out on a limb in tipping Blackpool for the drop. What has been allowed to happen at Bloomfield Road is a disgrace, and the fans deserve better than to enter a league season with barely more than eleven players to play in it. Newly promoted Brentford may find the step up one too far, and can Charlton Athletic defy the odds with another late season revival? Possibly not, given their manager Jose Riga left, ironically to Blackpool, and they have a newcomer to English football in charge in the shape of Bob Peeters. Their young squad may just lack the quality to get over the line this year.
Last season I correctly called two of the relegation places, and I was right in predicting Queens Park Rangers' promotion, although I did think it would be automatic. In the interest of fairness I should also point out that I had runners-up Burnley down in 18th place before a ball had been kicked, so it's not all doom and gloom if I put your team towards the bottom.
Here is the BTG Championship table prediction:
3. Cardiff City
4. Norwich City
5. Derby County
6. Nottingham Forest
7. Ipswich Town
8. Blackburn Rovers
9. Brighton and Hove Albion
10. Middlesbrough
11. Reading
12. Wolverhampton Wanderers
13. AFC Bournemouth
14. Bolton Wanderers
15. Watford
16. Birmingham City
17. Leeds United
18. Rotherham United
19. Huddersfield Town
20. Sheffield Wednesday
21. Millwall
22. Charlton Athletic
23. Brentford
24. Blackpool
Where do you think your team will finish? Have I got your boys in the right place? Whether you agree or disagree leave a message or Tweet me @adamgray50
The Sky Bet Football League kicks off this weekend, and as always, the race for promotion should be hotly contested. No fewer than 18 of the 24 clubs have played in the Premier League at some point, and a similar number will head into the campaign with genuine hopes of troubling at least the play-off places in the spring.
The three teams relegated last season are all in pole position to bounce straight back, with none of those sides having to make drastic changes. Fulham, Cardiff City and Norwich City will be in the mix and ought to finish in the play-off places with little fuss. All three of them will fully expect that they can bounce straight back via automatic promotion.
But of those, it is Fulham who are most proving that the parachute payments from the drop can now fund a promotion campaign rather than protect a club against further demotions, as has been the case in the past. Felix Magath's men will now be led by last season's Championship top scorer Ross McCormack, who moves to Craven Cottage for a second-tier record £11 million. He threw goals in for fun last year in an average Leeds United team, and he should continue where he left off, and my opinion, help the Cottagers bounce straight back to the Premier League in style.
Of last May's beaten play-off teams, Wigan Athletic are best placed to challenge again, although Derby County and Brighton and Hove Albion also have retained the squads needed to go close. After last season's poor start, not helped by their Europa League campaign, Wigan rallied to a top-six finish, and were unlucky not to beat Queens Park Rangers in the semi-finals. A better start, and maybe Uwe Rosler will get the Latics back this time.
As for my club, Nottingham Forest, to say this last week before the big kick-off has been a rollercoaster ride is somewhat of an understatement, and possibly worth a blog post longer than this one all by itself. In a nutshell, the controversial sales (and loans back) of Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow to Newcastle United paid for the transfer fees of Michail Antonio from Sheffield Wednesday, and Britt Assombalonga from Peterborough United, the latter for a club record fee of in excess of £5 million.
Those additions, plus the recruitments of the likes of Matt Fryatt, Michael Mancienne, Lars Veldwijk and Chris Burke make us far stronger in depth than last year, when we limped home in a disappointing 11th place. Wishful thinking maybe, but a play-off place is the least I expect this season. I will play safe and not put us any higher than 6th though. I daren't predict we will finish above Derby County, although there will be very little separating both teams this time around. I'll be at the City Ground on Saturday for Stuart Pearce's first game as manager against Blackpool; needless to say the atmosphere will be something special as a genuine club legend returns.
At the bottom, I am hardly going out on a limb in tipping Blackpool for the drop. What has been allowed to happen at Bloomfield Road is a disgrace, and the fans deserve better than to enter a league season with barely more than eleven players to play in it. Newly promoted Brentford may find the step up one too far, and can Charlton Athletic defy the odds with another late season revival? Possibly not, given their manager Jose Riga left, ironically to Blackpool, and they have a newcomer to English football in charge in the shape of Bob Peeters. Their young squad may just lack the quality to get over the line this year.
Last season I correctly called two of the relegation places, and I was right in predicting Queens Park Rangers' promotion, although I did think it would be automatic. In the interest of fairness I should also point out that I had runners-up Burnley down in 18th place before a ball had been kicked, so it's not all doom and gloom if I put your team towards the bottom.
Here is the BTG Championship table prediction:
1. Fulham
2. Wigan Athletic3. Cardiff City
4. Norwich City
5. Derby County
6. Nottingham Forest
7. Ipswich Town
8. Blackburn Rovers
9. Brighton and Hove Albion
10. Middlesbrough
11. Reading
12. Wolverhampton Wanderers
13. AFC Bournemouth
14. Bolton Wanderers
15. Watford
16. Birmingham City
17. Leeds United
18. Rotherham United
19. Huddersfield Town
20. Sheffield Wednesday
21. Millwall
22. Charlton Athletic
23. Brentford
24. Blackpool
Where do you think your team will finish? Have I got your boys in the right place? Whether you agree or disagree leave a message or Tweet me @adamgray50
Thursday 10 July 2014
The Behind The Goal Awards: World Cup 2014
As the 2014 FIFA World Cup draws to a conclusion with the final between Germany and Argentina, and before that the third place play-off featuring Brazil and the Netherlands, I take an early look back at the best and worst of the tournament with a World Cup edition of the BTG Awards.
Player of the Tournament:
The World Cup was all about which of the game's genuine superstars would announce to the world that they were the best. Cristiano Ronaldo flattered to decieve in a disappointing Portugal side. Neymar threatened to take it by storm before his injury ended Brazil's hopes of letting him. Lionel Messi has the chance to become an all-time legend of the game with a win in the final, but he hasn't taken Argentina there single handedly. Which leads us to the player without whom his nation would have looked far weaker, especially one already missing another world class player in Radamel Falcao. My player of the tournament scored six goals, and was only stopped in the quarter final by some rough tactics by Brazil. The winner is Colombia's James Rodriguez.
Goal of the Tournament:
'Ham-ess' also wins this award, for this...
Biggest disappointment (player):
While the game's world class players proved why they are just that by scoring goals, influencing games or producing brilliant pieces of skill, another's World Cup participation will only be remembered for a moment of madness. Uruguay's Luis Suarez's bite of Giorgio Chiellini of Italy cost his country their realistic tournament challenge and himself a four month ban from football. After a phenomenal season for Liverpool, I thought his previous misdemeanours were things of the past. All eyes will be on the striker when he returns to action, probably at Barcelona.
Biggest disappointment (team):
While few in my country expected our team to win the competition, or even reach the business end, elimination in the group stage fell far below the standard required. Granted, England were in a difficult group, and their two defeats came against teams higher than them in the FIFA rankings, but what was difficult to accept is that while Roy Hodgson's side were never outclassed, they were never clinical enough in the key areas to win those games. The final game against shock quarter finalists Costa Rica was one of the biggest non-events in the history of English football. I don't think Hodgson should pay with his job, and it looks like he won't, but we will expect far better in the next European Championship if he and this group are given two more years to gel together.
Best game:
Round of 16
Brazil 1-1 Chile (Brazil won 3-2 on penalties)
Worst game:
Group stage
Iran 0-0 Nigeria
Boob of the Tournament:
My pre-tournament prediction that the Netherlands would fail to make it past the group stage. I was very relieved that Argentina knocked them out in the semi final. I would never have lived it down if the Oranje had won it all!
Player of the Tournament:
The World Cup was all about which of the game's genuine superstars would announce to the world that they were the best. Cristiano Ronaldo flattered to decieve in a disappointing Portugal side. Neymar threatened to take it by storm before his injury ended Brazil's hopes of letting him. Lionel Messi has the chance to become an all-time legend of the game with a win in the final, but he hasn't taken Argentina there single handedly. Which leads us to the player without whom his nation would have looked far weaker, especially one already missing another world class player in Radamel Falcao. My player of the tournament scored six goals, and was only stopped in the quarter final by some rough tactics by Brazil. The winner is Colombia's James Rodriguez.
Goal of the Tournament:
'Ham-ess' also wins this award, for this...
Biggest disappointment (player):
While the game's world class players proved why they are just that by scoring goals, influencing games or producing brilliant pieces of skill, another's World Cup participation will only be remembered for a moment of madness. Uruguay's Luis Suarez's bite of Giorgio Chiellini of Italy cost his country their realistic tournament challenge and himself a four month ban from football. After a phenomenal season for Liverpool, I thought his previous misdemeanours were things of the past. All eyes will be on the striker when he returns to action, probably at Barcelona.
Biggest disappointment (team):
While few in my country expected our team to win the competition, or even reach the business end, elimination in the group stage fell far below the standard required. Granted, England were in a difficult group, and their two defeats came against teams higher than them in the FIFA rankings, but what was difficult to accept is that while Roy Hodgson's side were never outclassed, they were never clinical enough in the key areas to win those games. The final game against shock quarter finalists Costa Rica was one of the biggest non-events in the history of English football. I don't think Hodgson should pay with his job, and it looks like he won't, but we will expect far better in the next European Championship if he and this group are given two more years to gel together.
Best game:
Round of 16
Brazil 1-1 Chile (Brazil won 3-2 on penalties)
Worst game:
Group stage
Iran 0-0 Nigeria
Boob of the Tournament:
My pre-tournament prediction that the Netherlands would fail to make it past the group stage. I was very relieved that Argentina knocked them out in the semi final. I would never have lived it down if the Oranje had won it all!
Wednesday 11 June 2014
World Cup 2014: My Predictions
The 2014 FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday with Brazil v Croatia. Before the action kicks off be sure to get yourselves in the mood by checking out my favourite goals of the last 20 years of World Cup football, and read my predictions for the competition.
Let me know your expectations by leaving a comment or Tweeting me @adamgray50
The final:
Brazil to beat Argentina in what will hopefully be a thriller.
How far will England get?
We will play decent, but not brilliant football in the group, before stunning Colombia in the second round. A plucky, gallant, typically English quarter final exit to Brazil will then follow.
Surprise package:
Possibly Bosnia-Herzegovina. A quarter final place in their debut World Cup isn't beyond the realms of possibility. I am really looking forward to seeing how Miralem Pjanic gets on at the top level.
Biggest disappointment:
Netherlands. Chile will beat them to the second place in Group B behind Spain. Three defeats at Euro 2012 followed by another failure in Brazil; the final of 2010 seems an awfully long time ago.
Golden Boot:
Neymar.
Most looking forward to:
Hearing the Brazilian national anthem sung before the opening game. It will be something else.
Least looking forward to:
Hearing some England fans no doubt claim the tournament has been a failure if we 'only' reach the last 16.
Let me know your expectations by leaving a comment or Tweeting me @adamgray50
The final:
Brazil to beat Argentina in what will hopefully be a thriller.
How far will England get?
We will play decent, but not brilliant football in the group, before stunning Colombia in the second round. A plucky, gallant, typically English quarter final exit to Brazil will then follow.
Surprise package:
Possibly Bosnia-Herzegovina. A quarter final place in their debut World Cup isn't beyond the realms of possibility. I am really looking forward to seeing how Miralem Pjanic gets on at the top level.
Biggest disappointment:
Netherlands. Chile will beat them to the second place in Group B behind Spain. Three defeats at Euro 2012 followed by another failure in Brazil; the final of 2010 seems an awfully long time ago.
Golden Boot:
Neymar.
Most looking forward to:
Hearing the Brazilian national anthem sung before the opening game. It will be something else.
Least looking forward to:
Hearing some England fans no doubt claim the tournament has been a failure if we 'only' reach the last 16.
Tuesday 10 June 2014
My Favourite World Cup Goals
I have watched football my whole life. The first time I was old enough to remember World Cup football was sadly watching England's infamous failed campaign to qualify for USA 94, the San Marino goal and all. It was immortalised by the terrific An Impossible Job documentary, which I urge you to watch if you haven't seen it. Since then, it has been slightly better for my country, but sadly not much better. Too many missed penalties, and not enough memorable moments (for the right reasons, anyway), but we keep coming back for more.
Ahead of the 2014 tournament in Brazil, I have attempted to compile my 20 favourite World Cup goals of those last 20 years. A few classics, a few forgotten pieces of brilliance, and the first goal I can remember where I was when I saw it, put away by an Irishman. Well, sort of.
These are in chronological order by tournament, but let me know what your favourite is, or maybe even work out the order from 1-20. Maybe I have missed a really obvious goal, or perhaps your favourite isn't on the list. Tweet me @adamgray50 or leave a comment if you agree or disagree with my choices.
USA 94:
Ray Houghton (Republic of Ireland v Italy)
Houghton controls a poor Italian header on the chest, before coolly chipping Gianluca Pagliuca from outside the box.
Gheorghe Hagi (Romania v Colombia)
Was it a cross, or was it a shot? Either way, the left foot effort completely bamboozled Cordoba in the Colombian goal.
Diego Maradona (Argentina v Greece)
This goal is more remembered for the celebration, but the tight ball control and excellent finish in limited space is worth remebering too, even if Maradona left the tournament in disgrace.
Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria v Greece)
The future Everton man takes it past four Greek defenders before unleashing an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.
Saeed Al-Owairan (Saudi Arabia v Belgium)
The best goal of this World Cup from a man forever remembered in pub quizzes since. His impression of Maradona's second goal against England was just as good, if not better, than the original.
France 98:
Ronaldo (Brazil v Morocco)
The best player in the world at the time will sadly be more remembered for the mysterious events of the day of the final, but prior to that he showed why he was the top striker in the game with this finish.
Michael Owen (England v Argentina)
The 18-year-old announced himself to the world with this run from the halfway line and calm finish. One of England's greatest ever World Cup goals.
Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands v Argentina)
Bergkamp won his country this quarter-final with possibly the finest example of how to control a 60-yard pass and stop it dead, before keeping your head to poke home. Insanely good.
Japan and South Korea 2002:
Dario Rodriguez (Uruguay v Denmark)
Uruguay's corner is only headed away as far as Garcia, who tees up Rodriguez for a spectacular volley.
Edmilson (Brazil v Costa Rica)
A fantastic acrobatic volley, made even better when you consider that Edmilson was a defender, and this was his only goal for the Selecao.
Salif Diao (Senegal v Denmark)
Diao had a game to remember. In between committing the foul for Denmark's penalty and then getting sent off late in the game, he put the finishing touch to one of the great counter attacks.
Germany 2006:
Phillip Lahm (Germany v Costa Rica)
The opening goal of the tournament. Lahm picks the ball up on the left, before cutting inside and finding the top corner with his right foot.
Torsten Frings (Germany v Costa Rica)
Frings is teed up from a free kick, before rifling one in from fully 30 yards.
Joe Cole (England v Sweden)
The ball comes to Cole, who sets himself up on the chest, and volleys it into the corner from distance.
Maxi Rodriguez (Argentina v Mexico)
In Extra Time the game is usually either decided by a mistake or a moment of pure brilliance. You decide which this is.
Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina v Serbia and Montenegro)
Quite simply one of the best team goals of all time.
South Africa 2010:
Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa v Mexico)
The first goal of the tournament gave the goalkeeper no chance.
Carlos Tevez (Argentina v Mexico)
Tevez takes the ball past two Mexican defenders, and before they have time to recover, it's in the net thanks to a thunderbolt.
Maicon (Brazil v North Korea)
Shades of Roberto Carlos as Maicon finds the North Korea net from close range with the outside of the foot.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Netherlands v Uruguay)
The best goal of the last World Cup. van Bronckhorst picks the ball up nearly 40 yards out, and for some reason thinks it's a good idea to shoot. As Alan Partridge once said, "He must have a foot like a traction engine!"
Lets hope the Brazil World Cup can provide a few more goals to treasure.
Ahead of the 2014 tournament in Brazil, I have attempted to compile my 20 favourite World Cup goals of those last 20 years. A few classics, a few forgotten pieces of brilliance, and the first goal I can remember where I was when I saw it, put away by an Irishman. Well, sort of.
These are in chronological order by tournament, but let me know what your favourite is, or maybe even work out the order from 1-20. Maybe I have missed a really obvious goal, or perhaps your favourite isn't on the list. Tweet me @adamgray50 or leave a comment if you agree or disagree with my choices.
USA 94:
Ray Houghton (Republic of Ireland v Italy)
Houghton controls a poor Italian header on the chest, before coolly chipping Gianluca Pagliuca from outside the box.
Gheorghe Hagi (Romania v Colombia)
Was it a cross, or was it a shot? Either way, the left foot effort completely bamboozled Cordoba in the Colombian goal.
Diego Maradona (Argentina v Greece)
This goal is more remembered for the celebration, but the tight ball control and excellent finish in limited space is worth remebering too, even if Maradona left the tournament in disgrace.
Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria v Greece)
The future Everton man takes it past four Greek defenders before unleashing an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.
Saeed Al-Owairan (Saudi Arabia v Belgium)
The best goal of this World Cup from a man forever remembered in pub quizzes since. His impression of Maradona's second goal against England was just as good, if not better, than the original.
France 98:
Ronaldo (Brazil v Morocco)
The best player in the world at the time will sadly be more remembered for the mysterious events of the day of the final, but prior to that he showed why he was the top striker in the game with this finish.
Michael Owen (England v Argentina)
The 18-year-old announced himself to the world with this run from the halfway line and calm finish. One of England's greatest ever World Cup goals.
Dennis Bergkamp (Netherlands v Argentina)
Bergkamp won his country this quarter-final with possibly the finest example of how to control a 60-yard pass and stop it dead, before keeping your head to poke home. Insanely good.
Japan and South Korea 2002:
Dario Rodriguez (Uruguay v Denmark)
Uruguay's corner is only headed away as far as Garcia, who tees up Rodriguez for a spectacular volley.
Edmilson (Brazil v Costa Rica)
A fantastic acrobatic volley, made even better when you consider that Edmilson was a defender, and this was his only goal for the Selecao.
Salif Diao (Senegal v Denmark)
Diao had a game to remember. In between committing the foul for Denmark's penalty and then getting sent off late in the game, he put the finishing touch to one of the great counter attacks.
Germany 2006:
Phillip Lahm (Germany v Costa Rica)
The opening goal of the tournament. Lahm picks the ball up on the left, before cutting inside and finding the top corner with his right foot.
Torsten Frings (Germany v Costa Rica)
Frings is teed up from a free kick, before rifling one in from fully 30 yards.
Joe Cole (England v Sweden)
The ball comes to Cole, who sets himself up on the chest, and volleys it into the corner from distance.
Maxi Rodriguez (Argentina v Mexico)
In Extra Time the game is usually either decided by a mistake or a moment of pure brilliance. You decide which this is.
Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina v Serbia and Montenegro)
Quite simply one of the best team goals of all time.
South Africa 2010:
Siphiwe Tshabalala (South Africa v Mexico)
The first goal of the tournament gave the goalkeeper no chance.
Carlos Tevez (Argentina v Mexico)
Tevez takes the ball past two Mexican defenders, and before they have time to recover, it's in the net thanks to a thunderbolt.
Maicon (Brazil v North Korea)
Shades of Roberto Carlos as Maicon finds the North Korea net from close range with the outside of the foot.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Netherlands v Uruguay)
The best goal of the last World Cup. van Bronckhorst picks the ball up nearly 40 yards out, and for some reason thinks it's a good idea to shoot. As Alan Partridge once said, "He must have a foot like a traction engine!"
Lets hope the Brazil World Cup can provide a few more goals to treasure.
Tuesday 6 May 2014
The Behind The Goal Awards 2014
What a season it has been in the Barclays
Premier League. One of the closest title races for years has gone all the way
to the final week of the campaign, and while it should be won by Manchester
City now following Liverpool's dramatic collapse at Crystal Palace, you cannot
take it for granted the way it has gone in recent weeks. At the bottom, Cardiff
City have been relegated after just a single season in the top flight, along
with Fulham and almost certainly Norwich City. Sunderland's upturn in form has
come at exactly the right time, and Gus Poyet has got the Black Cats over the
line for another year in the Premier League.
Leicester City and Burnley will join the elite next season after romping to the automatic promotion positions in the Sky Bet Championship; the latter defying this blog's prediction of an 18th-place finish. Derby County and Queens Park Rangers' play-off positions were nailed on for most of the season, but Wigan Athletic and Brighton and Hove Albion were made to sweat for theirs; the Seagulls not securing a top-six finish until stoppage time at Nottingham Forest on the last day. We await the play-offs with excitement once again.
It's also been another enjoyable year on a personal level as I have continued Behind The Goal for a second season. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my work and supporting the page.
Here are the 2nd annual Behind The Goal Awards. If you agree or disagree with any nominations or winners, let me know either on this page or on Twitter @adamgray50.
Player Of The Year:
Nominations: Wilfried Bony, Steven Gerrard, Eden Hazard, Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez, Yaya Toure.
He has won the PFA and the Football Writers' awards, and now he has the hat trick. To score 30 goals in a season is not to be sniffed at, and the way in which he has rebuilt his reputation a year after the incident with Branislav Ivanovic is commendable.
The winner is Luis Suarez.
Goal Of The Season:
Nominations:
Pajtim Kasami (Fulham v Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park)
Pablo Osvaldo (Southampton v Man City at St Mary’s)
Wayne Rooney (Man Utd v West Ham at Upton Park)
Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal v Tottenham at White Hart Lane)
Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea v Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium)
Luis Suarez (1st goal, Liverpool v Norwich at Anfield)
Alexander Tettey (Norwich v Sunderland at Carrow Road)
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal v Norwich at the Emirates)
Cardiff sacking Malky Mackay to appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Arsenal signing an injured Kim Kallstrom and not a striker in January
Andre Marriner sending off Kieran Gibbs instead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Chelsea
Leicester City and Burnley will join the elite next season after romping to the automatic promotion positions in the Sky Bet Championship; the latter defying this blog's prediction of an 18th-place finish. Derby County and Queens Park Rangers' play-off positions were nailed on for most of the season, but Wigan Athletic and Brighton and Hove Albion were made to sweat for theirs; the Seagulls not securing a top-six finish until stoppage time at Nottingham Forest on the last day. We await the play-offs with excitement once again.
It's also been another enjoyable year on a personal level as I have continued Behind The Goal for a second season. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my work and supporting the page.
Here are the 2nd annual Behind The Goal Awards. If you agree or disagree with any nominations or winners, let me know either on this page or on Twitter @adamgray50.
Player Of The Year:
Nominations: Wilfried Bony, Steven Gerrard, Eden Hazard, Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez, Yaya Toure.
He has won the PFA and the Football Writers' awards, and now he has the hat trick. To score 30 goals in a season is not to be sniffed at, and the way in which he has rebuilt his reputation a year after the incident with Branislav Ivanovic is commendable.
The winner is Luis Suarez.
Goal Of The Season:
Nominations:
Christian Benteke (Aston Villa v Norwich at Villa Park)
Graham Dorrans (WBA v Man City at the Etihad)Pajtim Kasami (Fulham v Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park)
Pablo Osvaldo (Southampton v Man City at St Mary’s)
Wayne Rooney (Man Utd v West Ham at Upton Park)
Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal v Tottenham at White Hart Lane)
Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea v Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium)
Luis Suarez (1st goal, Liverpool v Norwich at Anfield)
Alexander Tettey (Norwich v Sunderland at Carrow Road)
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal v Norwich at the Emirates)
All types of goals in this
list, and any could have won, but the winner is this beauty from an early
season London derby.
Best
signing of the season:
Nominations: Wilfried
Bony,Fernandinho, Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic, Jason Puncheon, Willian.
This award goes to a player
whose team would have been in serious relegation trouble without his signing.
To come into the Premier League and score 15 goals for a mediocre side is no
mean feat, and Swansea must be praised for taking a punt on a striker from
Dutch football.
The winner is Wilfried
Bony.
Manager
Of The Year:
Nominations: Steve Bruce,
Mark Hughes, Roberto Martinez, Manuel Pellegrini, Gus Poyet, Tony Pulis, Brendan Rodgers.
It is difficult not to give
the award to Brendan Rodgers, considering how close he has taken Liverpool to
the title, but the winner has taken his Crystal Palace team to a scarcely
believable 11th place at the time of writing. I think people forget how bad they
were under their sacked former manager Ian Holloway. They looked embarrassingly
out of their depth at this level, yet they now have the potential to establish
themselves as a tough-to beat, mid-table outfit.
The winner is Tony
Pulis.
Premier
League Rookie Of The Year:
Presented to the player
playing his debut season in the top flight.
Nominations: Wilfried Bony, Gerard Deulofeu, Christian Eriksen,
Fernandinho, Adnan Januzaj, David Marshall.
Any player that can adapt to the speed of the English game and instantly
fit in will impress me, and it is no surprise that the likes of Borussia
Dortmund are reportedly interested in his services, so for the same reasons as
Christian Benteke won it last year I shall award it to one of the best, if
still slightly underrated strikers in the league.
The winner is Wilfried Bony.
The Jose Bosingwa Award for Flop Of The Year:
Named in honour of its first winner, whose season was so bad it
deserves permanent recognition.
Nominations: Jozy Altidore,
Andreas Cornelius, Marouane Fellaini, Erik Lamela, Roberto Soldado, Ricky van
Wolfswinkel.
These players have either
flattered to decieve (Altidore), failed to live up to a big price tag or
reputation (Lamela, Soldado), sent back to their former club (Cornelius), or
just been plain rubbish (van Wolfswinkel). But the winner sums up his team's
dreadful season on and off the pitch. There's no way he's good enough to play
for Manchester United.
The winner is Marouane
Fellaini.
Boob of the Year:
Nominations:
Manchester United appointing David Moyes
Tottenham wasting the Gareth Bale moneyCardiff sacking Malky Mackay to appoint Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Arsenal signing an injured Kim Kallstrom and not a striker in January
Andre Marriner sending off Kieran Gibbs instead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Chelsea
The winner is Manchester United appointing David Moyes.
Little explanation necessary.
Tuesday 29 April 2014
RIP Tiki Taka
- R.I.P.
- N.B.—The body will be cremated and the
- ashes taken to Madrid.
Thursday 24 April 2014
TWIF 2.06: Champions elect; Champions League; Championship
This Week In Football, it's all about the champions. There was another story too, but you're probably sick of reading about that already!
Chelsea right to rest the starters
Chelsea's shock Barclays Premier League defeat to Sunderland this past Saturday night has virtually handed the championship on a plate to Liverpool ahead of the teams' clash at Anfield on Sunday. The game, which could have been a title decider, comes three days before Chelsea's Champions League semi final second leg against Atletico Madrid. Jose Mourinho's threat to rest his starters for the Liverpool game has been met with some criticism, but in my opinion, he would be stupid not to keep what is left of his first team fit for Europe. Even if the Blues do beat Brendan Rodgers' champions-elect at the weekend, Liverpool have to drop points somewhere else not to win the title, and Mourinho knows it. It's a shame that Chelsea feel they can't win the trophy, and that the closest title race for years has become a slight anti-climax, but what would be a bigger shame is for their Champions League challenge to fizzle out so close to the final in Lisbon having chased a prize they are unlikely to win anyway.
Champions League round up
Mourinho has always faced criticism for his defensive approaches to big games, but is he bothered? Not a bit. Should he be? If Chelsea win on Wednesday, he'll just show you the way to the final. The goalless draw at the Vicente Calderon arguably puts the Blues in the ascendancy, but they will be desperate not to concede an away goal which would leave them needing to score two. Atletico Madrid are more than capable of scoring of course, but I do think Chelsea have enough to go through even if they fail to keep a clean sheet.
Bayern Munich's grip on the European Cup has slipped somewhat following their 1-0 defeat against Real Madrid, but Pep Guardiola will be very thankful that his charges only conceded the one goal. Despite dominating possession, they didn't do enough with the ball and failed to create enough clear-cut chances, and those they did have were wasted. Carlo Ancelotti's game plan would have been to exploit Bayern down their right hand side on the counter attack, and that is exactly how the goal from Karim Benzema came about. It wasn't until the arrival in the second half of Javi Martinez, with Philipp Lahm moving to right back, that Bayern were able to cope with Real without the ball. Despite the off-day, Bayern will still fancy their chances of going through, but if they allow Fabio Coentrao and Cristiano Ronaldo the sort of space they had at the Bernabeu, they will do well to keep another clean sheet. It's great though that we have absolutley no idea what the final will be though even now.
Champions!
Congratulations to Leicester City, who finally secured the Sky Bet Championship title this week. They have been the best team in the division by a long way, and it goes to show what can happen if a board remain patient with a manager and a young team. They have swept all before them and will deserve the milestone of 100 points should they reach it in their last two games. They couldn't beat Forest though, could they? :)
Chelsea right to rest the starters
Chelsea's shock Barclays Premier League defeat to Sunderland this past Saturday night has virtually handed the championship on a plate to Liverpool ahead of the teams' clash at Anfield on Sunday. The game, which could have been a title decider, comes three days before Chelsea's Champions League semi final second leg against Atletico Madrid. Jose Mourinho's threat to rest his starters for the Liverpool game has been met with some criticism, but in my opinion, he would be stupid not to keep what is left of his first team fit for Europe. Even if the Blues do beat Brendan Rodgers' champions-elect at the weekend, Liverpool have to drop points somewhere else not to win the title, and Mourinho knows it. It's a shame that Chelsea feel they can't win the trophy, and that the closest title race for years has become a slight anti-climax, but what would be a bigger shame is for their Champions League challenge to fizzle out so close to the final in Lisbon having chased a prize they are unlikely to win anyway.
Champions League round up
Mourinho has always faced criticism for his defensive approaches to big games, but is he bothered? Not a bit. Should he be? If Chelsea win on Wednesday, he'll just show you the way to the final. The goalless draw at the Vicente Calderon arguably puts the Blues in the ascendancy, but they will be desperate not to concede an away goal which would leave them needing to score two. Atletico Madrid are more than capable of scoring of course, but I do think Chelsea have enough to go through even if they fail to keep a clean sheet.
Bayern Munich's grip on the European Cup has slipped somewhat following their 1-0 defeat against Real Madrid, but Pep Guardiola will be very thankful that his charges only conceded the one goal. Despite dominating possession, they didn't do enough with the ball and failed to create enough clear-cut chances, and those they did have were wasted. Carlo Ancelotti's game plan would have been to exploit Bayern down their right hand side on the counter attack, and that is exactly how the goal from Karim Benzema came about. It wasn't until the arrival in the second half of Javi Martinez, with Philipp Lahm moving to right back, that Bayern were able to cope with Real without the ball. Despite the off-day, Bayern will still fancy their chances of going through, but if they allow Fabio Coentrao and Cristiano Ronaldo the sort of space they had at the Bernabeu, they will do well to keep another clean sheet. It's great though that we have absolutley no idea what the final will be though even now.
Champions!
Congratulations to Leicester City, who finally secured the Sky Bet Championship title this week. They have been the best team in the division by a long way, and it goes to show what can happen if a board remain patient with a manager and a young team. They have swept all before them and will deserve the milestone of 100 points should they reach it in their last two games. They couldn't beat Forest though, could they? :)
Thursday 10 April 2014
Two cup finals in the Premier League
This weekend sees the semi-finals of the FA Cup with Budweiser. Arsenal face holders Wigan Athletic and Hull City play Sheffield United, but in the Barclays Premier League, there are two cup finals too. One will probably decide a relegation place; the other will almost certainly hand the league title to the winners.
Norwich City travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday to play Fulham with the losers facing a near-impossible task to avoid going down, almost certainly alongside Cardiff City and Sunderland, who look doomed already. With five games to go, the Canaries hit the panic button and parted company with boss Chris Hughton. Despite being five points clear of Fulham, who occupy the third relegation place, the board have acted now, given the team's last four games are against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. It is not inconceivable that Norwich will lose all four. Defeat at the Cottage will leave Fulham two points behind Norwich, and assuming that Norwich do lose all four against the league's big guns, Felix Magath's charges will only need one more win from fixtures against Tottenham, Hull City, Stoke City and Crystal Palace to move above the side from Carrow Road. Magath has a proven track record for pulling teams out of trouble, and no doubt will smell blood coming from a Canaries team who look short of confidence, are out of form and who have just appointed a manager - Neil Adams - with no Premier League experience. Norwich went to Craven Cottage on the final day in 2005 needing a win to stay up. They lost 6-0 and were relegated. The omens are not good, and I think Fulham will add to their growing belief with another win to follow up their success at Villa Park last week.
On Sunday afternoon Liverpool play host to Manchester City in what looks for all the world like a title decider. The Reds are on a run of nine consecutive victories, and five more will earn them their first ever Premier League title, and their 19th in English top flight football. Standing in their way is a City side who have stuttered of late, just weeks after seemingly beginning to run away with the league. Despite this, Manuel Pellegrini still has the bookies' favourites in a strong position; as well as Liverpool, they also know that maximum points from their remaining matches will win them their second championship in three years. Brendan Rodgers has already ramped up the pressure, claiming that the visitors will go into Sunday lunchtime's game as favourites. The Kop boss has said all along that Liverpool aren't in this title race. He may as well keep saying it, because it isn't doing his players much harm at the moment. The timing feels right for the home side to take the bull by the horns and go and win this title. This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, and Anfield will be an emotional setting for a game which will kick off seven minutes late as part of the league-wide commemorations of the tragedy. What better way to remember the 96 who lost their lives that day than to win the one piece of silverware that has eluded them since 1990. Mind you, Manchester City will have something to say about that. Who do I think will win the game? I don't know, but I'll have a lot of fun finding out!
Norwich City travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday to play Fulham with the losers facing a near-impossible task to avoid going down, almost certainly alongside Cardiff City and Sunderland, who look doomed already. With five games to go, the Canaries hit the panic button and parted company with boss Chris Hughton. Despite being five points clear of Fulham, who occupy the third relegation place, the board have acted now, given the team's last four games are against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. It is not inconceivable that Norwich will lose all four. Defeat at the Cottage will leave Fulham two points behind Norwich, and assuming that Norwich do lose all four against the league's big guns, Felix Magath's charges will only need one more win from fixtures against Tottenham, Hull City, Stoke City and Crystal Palace to move above the side from Carrow Road. Magath has a proven track record for pulling teams out of trouble, and no doubt will smell blood coming from a Canaries team who look short of confidence, are out of form and who have just appointed a manager - Neil Adams - with no Premier League experience. Norwich went to Craven Cottage on the final day in 2005 needing a win to stay up. They lost 6-0 and were relegated. The omens are not good, and I think Fulham will add to their growing belief with another win to follow up their success at Villa Park last week.
On Sunday afternoon Liverpool play host to Manchester City in what looks for all the world like a title decider. The Reds are on a run of nine consecutive victories, and five more will earn them their first ever Premier League title, and their 19th in English top flight football. Standing in their way is a City side who have stuttered of late, just weeks after seemingly beginning to run away with the league. Despite this, Manuel Pellegrini still has the bookies' favourites in a strong position; as well as Liverpool, they also know that maximum points from their remaining matches will win them their second championship in three years. Brendan Rodgers has already ramped up the pressure, claiming that the visitors will go into Sunday lunchtime's game as favourites. The Kop boss has said all along that Liverpool aren't in this title race. He may as well keep saying it, because it isn't doing his players much harm at the moment. The timing feels right for the home side to take the bull by the horns and go and win this title. This weekend marks the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, and Anfield will be an emotional setting for a game which will kick off seven minutes late as part of the league-wide commemorations of the tragedy. What better way to remember the 96 who lost their lives that day than to win the one piece of silverware that has eluded them since 1990. Mind you, Manchester City will have something to say about that. Who do I think will win the game? I don't know, but I'll have a lot of fun finding out!
Tuesday 18 March 2014
TWIF 2.05: Moyes and Davies under Derby day pressure
This Week In Football I look at two managers facing battles to save their jobs following, or ahead of, derby day fixtures.
Manchester United's 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool was a shocking new low in what has been a horrendous season for the Barclays Premier League champions. Shocking in that Liverpool only managed to score three goals. Two penalties from captain Steven Gerrard and a goal from Luis Suarez gave Brendan Rodgers' side an unbelievably easy victory. Liverpool would have been disappointed it wasn't six or seven. What would have hurt the home fans the most would have been the players' lack of urgency, fight, and ultimately discipline. To concede three penalties is pretty shameful, and to be honest, referee Mark Clattenburg could, maybe even should, have given Liverpool five. United were getting overrun in midfield; it looked like 12 men against ten at times. Juan Mata was out of position again. If you don't play him in the No.10 role, you may as well put him in goal. The gulf between the two old rivals was apparent for all to see, and it proved that David Moyes, despite his defiance in press conferences before and since, is on borrowed time at Old Trafford. If United are knocked out of the Champions League by Olympiacos and then lose at home to Manchester City in the Premier League, I am reasonably confident that the United hierarchy will act. We all expected a transitional season, but 7th in the table is an absolute failure.
Speaking of managers who may be up against it, Billy Davies is allegedly facing a battle to hang on to the Nottingham Forest hot seat after a poor run of results and an FA charge, which has brought a touchline ban, subject to appeal. It gives me no pleasure as a fan of his and of the club to see his position brought under threat by an increasing band of supporters who have had enough of his antics and percieved lack of tactical nouse. In all fairness, find me another team in the Sky Bet Championship who wouldn't struggle to maintain a good run of results with almost their entire starting XI out with not insignificant injuries. The Billy Out Brigade will point to the fact that the club is in no better position now than a year ago, when they ultimately missed out on a play-off place on the final day, but he needs to be given the chance to see out the season. If Davies isn't the manager, who will be? Last time he left, he was followed by Steve McClaren, Steve Cotterill, Sean O'Driscoll and Alex McLeish, a glorious period in the club's history it wasn't. On Saturday Forest travel to the iPro Stadium to face local rivals Derby County. Needless to say, the Reds fans aren't all that confident, illustrated by their struggle to sell out their ticket allocation for the match. Following the reverse fixture at the City Ground in September in which Forest won 1-0, Derby sacked Nigel Clough. I am just hoping that the roles aren't reversed on Saturday afternoon.
Manchester United's 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool was a shocking new low in what has been a horrendous season for the Barclays Premier League champions. Shocking in that Liverpool only managed to score three goals. Two penalties from captain Steven Gerrard and a goal from Luis Suarez gave Brendan Rodgers' side an unbelievably easy victory. Liverpool would have been disappointed it wasn't six or seven. What would have hurt the home fans the most would have been the players' lack of urgency, fight, and ultimately discipline. To concede three penalties is pretty shameful, and to be honest, referee Mark Clattenburg could, maybe even should, have given Liverpool five. United were getting overrun in midfield; it looked like 12 men against ten at times. Juan Mata was out of position again. If you don't play him in the No.10 role, you may as well put him in goal. The gulf between the two old rivals was apparent for all to see, and it proved that David Moyes, despite his defiance in press conferences before and since, is on borrowed time at Old Trafford. If United are knocked out of the Champions League by Olympiacos and then lose at home to Manchester City in the Premier League, I am reasonably confident that the United hierarchy will act. We all expected a transitional season, but 7th in the table is an absolute failure.
Speaking of managers who may be up against it, Billy Davies is allegedly facing a battle to hang on to the Nottingham Forest hot seat after a poor run of results and an FA charge, which has brought a touchline ban, subject to appeal. It gives me no pleasure as a fan of his and of the club to see his position brought under threat by an increasing band of supporters who have had enough of his antics and percieved lack of tactical nouse. In all fairness, find me another team in the Sky Bet Championship who wouldn't struggle to maintain a good run of results with almost their entire starting XI out with not insignificant injuries. The Billy Out Brigade will point to the fact that the club is in no better position now than a year ago, when they ultimately missed out on a play-off place on the final day, but he needs to be given the chance to see out the season. If Davies isn't the manager, who will be? Last time he left, he was followed by Steve McClaren, Steve Cotterill, Sean O'Driscoll and Alex McLeish, a glorious period in the club's history it wasn't. On Saturday Forest travel to the iPro Stadium to face local rivals Derby County. Needless to say, the Reds fans aren't all that confident, illustrated by their struggle to sell out their ticket allocation for the match. Following the reverse fixture at the City Ground in September in which Forest won 1-0, Derby sacked Nigel Clough. I am just hoping that the roles aren't reversed on Saturday afternoon.
Monday 24 February 2014
England have it easy. Too easy.
England were placed in Group E in Euro 2016 qualifying. But is the competition too easy with the extended format?
Sunday saw the draw for the European Championship qualifiers, yet any excitement about England's near-certain progression into the finals was offset by an overwhelming feeling of anti-climax. Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino stand in the Three Lions' way in Group E of the competition. Rumours that the E stands for Easy were neither confirmed nor denied by the FA.
UEFA's decision to expand the tournament to 24 teams - an increase from 16 last time out - means that for England and the other teams in Pot 1 of the seeding, qualification should be a foregone conclusion. Under the current six-pot format, it was straightforward enough for us to qualify anyway without making it even easier. People may have their opinions on the the heavy weather England made of reaching the World Cup, but don't forget we did so without losing a game. With an additional eight places up for grabs for Euro 2016, second place, or even third in the group, will be enough to reach France. But can you really see England not winning the group with their proverbial hands tied behind their backs?
The lack of significant format change has rendered the whole qualification process almost meaningless. No wonder the FA are worried that they may struggle to fill Wembley Stadium for the home games this time around. Who is going to get excited by another visit of San Marino? During the World Cup campaign they were an embarrassment, frankly. Being a bad side is one thing, but at times they barely even tried to take the ball forward. It's a waste of time that we all have to play and beat them twice more.
From UEFA's point of view, it will be good for the game and for the likes of Scotland and Wales, for whom qualification is now a far more realistic proposition. But I speak for many England supporters in raising concern that 24 teams in the finals is too many. It's quantity over quality. Some of England's matches are difficult enough as it is for some people to get excited about, but knowing that we should win and will qualify before we have even started makes it a really tough sell. At least our previous campaigns have been a touch more exciting; there have been crucial, or even 'must-win' games along the way. This campaign will be so easy there's almost no point.
Sunday saw the draw for the European Championship qualifiers, yet any excitement about England's near-certain progression into the finals was offset by an overwhelming feeling of anti-climax. Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and San Marino stand in the Three Lions' way in Group E of the competition. Rumours that the E stands for Easy were neither confirmed nor denied by the FA.
UEFA's decision to expand the tournament to 24 teams - an increase from 16 last time out - means that for England and the other teams in Pot 1 of the seeding, qualification should be a foregone conclusion. Under the current six-pot format, it was straightforward enough for us to qualify anyway without making it even easier. People may have their opinions on the the heavy weather England made of reaching the World Cup, but don't forget we did so without losing a game. With an additional eight places up for grabs for Euro 2016, second place, or even third in the group, will be enough to reach France. But can you really see England not winning the group with their proverbial hands tied behind their backs?
The lack of significant format change has rendered the whole qualification process almost meaningless. No wonder the FA are worried that they may struggle to fill Wembley Stadium for the home games this time around. Who is going to get excited by another visit of San Marino? During the World Cup campaign they were an embarrassment, frankly. Being a bad side is one thing, but at times they barely even tried to take the ball forward. It's a waste of time that we all have to play and beat them twice more.
From UEFA's point of view, it will be good for the game and for the likes of Scotland and Wales, for whom qualification is now a far more realistic proposition. But I speak for many England supporters in raising concern that 24 teams in the finals is too many. It's quantity over quality. Some of England's matches are difficult enough as it is for some people to get excited about, but knowing that we should win and will qualify before we have even started makes it a really tough sell. At least our previous campaigns have been a touch more exciting; there have been crucial, or even 'must-win' games along the way. This campaign will be so easy there's almost no point.
Monday 27 January 2014
TWIF 2.04: Mata signs, Januzaj dines, FA Cup round five.
This Week In Football Manchester United made the biggest move of the January window, as another Old Trafford star went out for dinner.
United start rebuilding, but they need more than Juan player.
Manchester United may be out of the title race in the Barclays Premier League, but the signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea has reminded the world that they aren't quite finished yet. It may have come too late in terms of their title defence, but the Spaniard's arrival may be the catalyst for a push up the table and into the top four. He alone won't win games for David Moyes, and there is no doubt that United are still four or five players short of a championship-winning squad, but this signing can definitely set the wheels in motion, whether in what is left of this January window, or in the summer. I don't buy Arsene Wenger's argument that Chelsea are trying to sabotage Arsenal and the other title contenders by selling Mata to a team who still have to play them all except Chelsea for a second time. After all, he has been quite happy to let the likes of Ashley Cole and Robin van Persie go in the past to rivals. Short memory as well as short sight, Arsene?
Januzaj's girl cries fowl over Nando's date.
Adnan Januzaj was in the news on Monday when it was revealed that he took a girl to Nando's on a date. No different from a lot of other 18-year-olds I would have thought, except Januzaj has probably got a bit more money than them. Not that money should matter. Call me old-fashioned, but the size of your wallet shouldn't be important. Melissa McKenzie, of Liverpool, obviously saw pound signs in her eyes when a Manchester United footballer came calling, but when she wasn't taken to the poshest restaurants and hotel, felt like she missed her chance to get into the VIP's circle. Shame on you darling, for trying to sleep your way into the papers, and as for a Scouser selling her story to The Sun, surely she knows what her city thinks of that particular publication.
Top four draw opens Cup up.
The current top four in the Premier League were drawn together in the 5th round of the FA Cup with Budweiser in Sunday's draw; Manchester City will welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium, and Liverpool will travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal. From a neutral point of view, it's a shame that two of them will go out so early, but then again last year it did the competition, and particularly Wigan Athletic, no harm that a so-called lesser club's path to the final was made easier by the draw. It could be great news too for Wigan's former boss Roberto Martinez's current club Everton, who if they beat Swansea City in the 5th round, may suddenly think it could be their chance.
Tweet me with you opinions @adamgray50
United start rebuilding, but they need more than Juan player.
Manchester United may be out of the title race in the Barclays Premier League, but the signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea has reminded the world that they aren't quite finished yet. It may have come too late in terms of their title defence, but the Spaniard's arrival may be the catalyst for a push up the table and into the top four. He alone won't win games for David Moyes, and there is no doubt that United are still four or five players short of a championship-winning squad, but this signing can definitely set the wheels in motion, whether in what is left of this January window, or in the summer. I don't buy Arsene Wenger's argument that Chelsea are trying to sabotage Arsenal and the other title contenders by selling Mata to a team who still have to play them all except Chelsea for a second time. After all, he has been quite happy to let the likes of Ashley Cole and Robin van Persie go in the past to rivals. Short memory as well as short sight, Arsene?
Januzaj's girl cries fowl over Nando's date.
Adnan Januzaj was in the news on Monday when it was revealed that he took a girl to Nando's on a date. No different from a lot of other 18-year-olds I would have thought, except Januzaj has probably got a bit more money than them. Not that money should matter. Call me old-fashioned, but the size of your wallet shouldn't be important. Melissa McKenzie, of Liverpool, obviously saw pound signs in her eyes when a Manchester United footballer came calling, but when she wasn't taken to the poshest restaurants and hotel, felt like she missed her chance to get into the VIP's circle. Shame on you darling, for trying to sleep your way into the papers, and as for a Scouser selling her story to The Sun, surely she knows what her city thinks of that particular publication.
Top four draw opens Cup up.
The current top four in the Premier League were drawn together in the 5th round of the FA Cup with Budweiser in Sunday's draw; Manchester City will welcome Chelsea to the Etihad Stadium, and Liverpool will travel to the Emirates to face Arsenal. From a neutral point of view, it's a shame that two of them will go out so early, but then again last year it did the competition, and particularly Wigan Athletic, no harm that a so-called lesser club's path to the final was made easier by the draw. It could be great news too for Wigan's former boss Roberto Martinez's current club Everton, who if they beat Swansea City in the 5th round, may suddenly think it could be their chance.
Tweet me with you opinions @adamgray50
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