Deserving a second chance

Joey Barton's goal on Tuesday evening against West Brom meant many things. Not only did it help give Newcastle their first win under caretaker manager Joe Kineer, but it was Barton's first goal since his jail sentence and the formal ban given to him by the football association.

Now the ban is over Barton can get on with his career, something that he started on Saturday against Sunderland and has now continued by scoring on Tuesday evening. Now the process begins as opposing fans coming to terms with Barton's return to the game something that many feel he should never have been allowed to do.

I'm pretty certain that the Football Association wouldn't have let him complete his comeback to the game if he hadn't proven he could change and be a positive influence on the game. But that won't stop many opposition supporters.

Barton has got the job of turning some of those supporters round, just like Jonathan Woodgate has since he was involved in an assault in 2001 along with Lee Bowyer. The only way he can do it, just like Woodgate did is by turning out week in week out and performing like we know he can. After all Barton still hasn't recaptured the form that saw him earn an England cap while he was at Manchester City.

He's not the only one whose had to prove himself however. In 2004 Lee Hughes, then of West Bromwich Albion was involved in a car crash in which the driver in the car hit was killed. Hughes, foolishly fled the scene of the accident but handed himself in just 24 hours later. He was later charged with dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident and jailed for six years.

He was released after three years for good behavior and returned to football months later with Oldham Athletic, after West Brom had terminated his contract. Many fans were against the signing and boycotted games that he was involved in.

However soon his form on the pitch turned the fans around, and even though there are football fans out there outraged that he is allowed to play many have made there peace with the decision. Hughes is now an influential presence in the Oldham side as they push towards promotion from League 1.

Hughes has shown how hard work on the pitch can help turn the tables in your favor and if Barton wants to get similar respect he needs to turn out performances mirrored on how Hughes made his comeback.

Not letting himself get in stupid disputes like he did while at Manchester City will help, a particular incident at Goodison Park comes to mind, when he dropped his shorts towards opposition supporters.

Barton has an example to follow, it's now down to him put the work in and get the fans back on side.

The Standford Super Series- does anyone actually care

This week has seen the beginning of the Standford Super Series set up by Sir Allen Standford involving four sides Trinidad and Tobago, Middlesex the 20/20 cup winners, England and his own Superstar dream team. Lets start by saying these matches, especially the final match on Saturday between England and the Standford Superstars is a great opportunity for the players. Never before have they been fighting for a prize that is so huge in a sport which can pay so little.

Whether there is a need for all the money to flood into Cricket is debatable. We have all watched how football has deteriorated under the increased influx of money into the game. It certainly isn't the same as it was twenty years ago. Cricket unfortunately is heading a similar direction. Standford won't be the last to put money into the game but given the reaction he's had from the players and supporters alike others might be put off.

For the England players who have traveled out there is the last thing they want to be doing. After a long summer the players wanted some sort of break before they go to India in the winter. This publicity stunt has ruined there preparations for the tour, and instead of being fresh, something that is necessary in India they will be tired and weary.

Believe me the first hint we see of England struggling and this series will be called into question. And rightly it should be. To be honest its a shambles. The England players have been humiliated by Standford himself by posing with there wives during Monday night match with Middlesex, and looking rather hot under the collar it might be said. And now four of the squad have been taken ill leave the side with just eleven fit players, a wholly miserable week it has been. Captain Kevin Pietersen has called to get the week over a done with so they can get back home with there families, not the first sign that the players are unhappy about proceedings.

However will the £500,000 win bonus soften the blow, maybe just a little, will it help the game of Cricket most certainly not. Players are now being asked to choose between big pay outs in 20/20 Cricket, or a smaller pay out in test matches.

Now with families to support and lives to live, players who have been earning very little in comparison are made to choose, and in many of there positions they can't afford to say no.

The sanctity of Cricket is being pulled through the mud here and Standford has got the ball rolling in that respect. And for me it doesn't look like slowing down. The demand for 20/20 is there and due to the reception its got in England and now abroad businessmen will come in, throw large amounts of cash at the sport and watch in all unfold. I'll tell you now I won't be one of the onlookers.

Cricket has become fashionable again it seems, but for how long will the name of Cricket remain as we knew it just 4 years ago, oh how times have changed.

Before its to late

When Carlisle United were relegated from the football league in 2004 there fans must have feared the worst. Their club had avoided relegation on numerous occasions from Division 3 and when they finally did drop they must have feared that they could be down in the realms of Non-league for years to come.

On the contrary, they were promoted straight back up the following season, and used the relegation as the catalyst for where they are today, playing League 1 football. However it looks as though the club, who missed out on promotion to the Championship last season might need another relegation to kick start there fortunes.

The club lie 14th in the table three points off the relegation places and not knowing where the next win is going to come from, a cliche I know but never spoken more truly than with Carlisle this season.

Defeats recently to struggling Hereford United and now Colchester United, who record there first win at their new stadium on Saturday with a thumping 5-0 win. Things haven't looked as bleak since the non-league days.

With the squad at John Ward's disposal its hard to see why they are struggling. They lost very little of the squad which finished fourth in the league last season. Keiron Westwood has gone to Coventry in the Championship but this move is hardly the sole season for their fall from grace.

The events of the final day of last season could have diminished the sides confidence some-what. They were second going into the final day and a draw at home to Bournemouth who needed the win to stay up themselves. Nottingham Forest jumped ahead of them and were automatically promoted and left Carlisle to the lottery of the play-offs where they were knocked out by Leeds United.

They came so close last season some of the disappointment may have run over to this season with a squad very similarly built. In truth the team would have struggled in the Championship and could have struggled badly, their start to League 1 this season shows that.

The team aren't looking as strong as unit as they did last season and don't ever look likely to hold onto leads like they showed at MK Dons when they looked as though they could add to their tally.

The man mountain upfront Danny Graham has weighed in with his share of goals as always, scoring ten in total. However there aren't many in reserve willing to take much of the responsibility in terms of scoring goals. Graham does have the hopes of the team on his shoulders. but its obvious hell need help.

The introduction of Grahame Kavanagh will hopefully sure up the midfield and give some creativity up front.

At the back the side has struggled hugely and with the fire-power up top the side knows that if it defends well it has a chance. They simply haven't done that this term and this has to change if results are to get better.

The team have already conceded 26 goals in the league, the worst defense outside the bottom four. The loss of Peter Murphy is a big one sure, but no-one has stepped up to the plate defensively and taken charge, because no offense to Colchester if they are scoring five past you then you have serious problems.

John Ward has done an admiral job since taking over 2 years ago and getting the club to his stage is very admiral, but he is in danger of loosing all he has created if his side don't sort out there defensive frailties.

With Graham in the side they always have a chance but until problems are sorted out elsewhere his goals, and there will be plenty of them will be going to waste.

Performance of the Week

Not that player and teams don't put 100% to there performances, there didn't seem to be the clear performance of the week this week but I have as ever come up with another cracker from this latest sporting week. But firstly a few mentions for the unlucky few. Rochdale and Chris Dagnall in particular hit six past leaky Chester in mid-week. it was Dagnall's second career hat-trick which he completed within the hour. Andy Murray won his fifth title of the year and his 23rd match in 25 as he won the St Petersbury Open. Murray was the top seed in the competition he also won last year, something we will be hearing a lot of in the coming years.

As you can see only two performances caught my eye as contenders to performance of the week, mainly because I was blinded by the winner, Liverpool's 1-0 win at Chelsea.

Now lets look at this result at literally as we can. beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is some achievement, no-matter who you are no-one has in 86 matches. An amazing feat I think and one not looked upon as a great one enough I don't think. Add to that that no Liverpool side managed by Rafa Benitez has ever scored a league goal at Stamford Bridge, and they went to the fortress without there tip scorer from last season and the an who put three past this same side last season Fernando Torres.

Look at all of those statistic and you come close to realizing how brilliant this win really is. Not since Liverpool's win at Old Trafford in 2002 have Liverpool won in the league away from home against one of the big four. It's their second win against one of the big four already this season.

Confidence is clearly a big factor with this team. Going for so long without a win of any sort away from Anfield against a top side is hard to take, and this Liverpool side knew if they were to challenge for the title they had to start winning these games. Well they have started that process very well.

The game itself was a poor one, a typical Chelsea-Liverpool affair to be honest. Tight neither side giving much away and not may chances to speak of. However Liverpool were prepared to come out and take the game to Chelsea. Just like Manchester United did last month they got there early goal and asked the home side to come and have a go. This time they couldn't reply.

More could have followed, some great interplay in the final minute could have given Babel a goal after he replaced Keane. Alonso could have doubled his tally but the post denied him of a beauty from a 30 yard free-kick. Chelsea were devoid of ideas Nicolas Anelka marshaled brilliantly by Daniel Agger and Frank Lampard almost anonymous under the eyes of Javier Mascherano.

This performance, like the one against Manchester United should give them extra belief that this could be there season, wins without Torres were almost non-existent last season, at last they have learned how to win without the Spaniard.

Whether this win means they can win the title is debatable, you certainly win nothing in October, but everyone knows they mean business that's for sure. How they react when they eventually loose a game will show us all what there character is like. Not until then will we know if Manchester United crown in heading to Mersey-side.

Redknapp bites the Tottenham worm

Harry Redknapp has agreed to join Tottenham Hotsphur as their new manager after the London club sacked Juande Ramos yesterday evening. Redknapp who has also managed at Bournemouth and Southampton has been seeking a big time job for some years now and after putting off a number of offers in recently, has finally given in and taken over the mantle at Spurs.

For Redknapp personally he deserves the step up. He has overachieved massively with Portsmouth getting them promoted from Division 1 and consolidating them as a regular Premeirship side, devoid of relegation scraps and as of last season competing for European Qualification. Last season’s FA Cup win was the reward he deserved after all his hard work at the club.

Last season he was linked with the vacant position at Newcastle United and bookmakers even started playing out on Redknapp becoming the next manager at St. James’ Park. However a u-turn by Redknapp allowed Kevin Keegan to return to the club. Redknapp showed surprising loyalty to a club after a series of walk outs by managers.

The refreshing loyalty shown by Redknapp gave us all hope that at least some of our heroes do have a conscience under there somewhere.

Redknapp somewhere along the way has had a change of thought and I think it centers around what has happened at the club over the last eight clubs, since he was offered the job at Newcastle.

He had the success at bringing European football in Fratton Park and a Premiership best finish of eighth. However the uncertainty over the clubs future under owner Alexander Gaydamak might have led Redknapp to believe it was the right time to go.

On the pitch, predictably things hadn’t going to plan after last season’s brilliant start. They found themselves at one point bottom of the League with no-win from their opening three games. Since results have picked up, getting through to the group stage of UEFA cup is a brilliant achievement in itself.

Heavy defeats at Chelsea and Manchester City wouldn’t have helped and after setting such high standards last season maybe Redknapp had done all he could.?

As with any job if a promotion comes along, you want to take it no-matter what anyone else wants. After all this is a carer and more importantly a new challenge for Redknapp. He deserves the opportunity to show he isn’t just an overachiever at a small club, that he can mix it with the big boys as well.

If Portsmouth fans truly love Redknapp like they profess then they will let him go quietly. Disappointed they will be, but dejected they should not, their team is hardly struggling Redknapp has earned his chance lets see whether this is a step up to far.

Not doonying it like they should

Many team's start to this new season has been somewhat surprising and for some its been disastrous. Newly promoted side Doncaster Rovers have had a poor start to the season has been somewhat shocking due to the huge potential they showed in getting promoted from League 1 last season.

They showed all last season they could compete with the league and at times outstripped many of their competitors. In the play-off final in May Rovers defeated Leeds in a very one-sided game and they showed once and for-all they could compete with the big boys.

Their attack minded way of playing and there unique passing game won them many supporters in League 1 and many foresaw them having an good time of it in the championship. However it hasn't quiet come worked out for them.

With just two wins from 12 league games Rovers have been left lying in 23rd already six points from safety in the Championship.

Obviously for a club who had hopes of a top half finish they won't be happy about their early season form.

Reasons for there slum in form is difficult to pinpoint. Their away form of 5 defeats from six does explain a lot of their problems, but its not like their home form has been brilliant either, with three defeats from six.

One obvious stat that can be gathered from their poor start is their goal threat up front. With just six goals from 12 games the core of there problems are obvious.

Lewis Guy and Richie Wellens, the team focal points have just two goals each and James Coppinger who was influential last season is yet to get off the mark.

Doncaster were always tight at the back, and conceding 13 goals from 12 games shows they can defend, if they had a lead to defend now and again it might give them a chance.

Rovers were very negative in the summer with Darren Byfield and John Spicer the only two player's they bought in. A quality championship striker was what they really needed, and with so many floating around I'm surprised they didn't make a gamble.

Their current predicament, which includes seven defeats in their last eight can only be rectified if they make changes in the January transfer window.

Manager Sean O'Dricoll has a good record in the football league in his short career as a manager after his time at Bournemouth and I for one back his ability to succeed in the Championship.

He's been found out somewhat in this league and this could be down to under-preparing as they have looked flat-footed against some of the more average championship sides.

There doesn't look like much light at the end of the tunnel but the club need to get to January with as little damage as possible, and hope O'Discoll can wield his magic in the new year window, something that is a necessity if Rovers are to survive another season in the Championship

Beck to where he should be

This morning it was revealed that former England captain David Beckham is to join AC Milan on a six month loan during the off season in the USA. Beckham will be legible to play in AC Milan's UEFA Cup run including their away match with British side Portsmouth.

For Beckham this is chance to move back into the limelight after his move to LA Galaxy took him out of the footballing spotlight. The move is a reaction to Fabio Cappello's comments that he would only pick active and fit players for his squad for the World Cup Qualifying games next year.

After being with the Galaxy for two years now many people thought Beckham would deteriorate as a footballer and that his England career especially would be over. However it was at Galaxy that Beckham earned his recall to the England side. Since Cappello's squad announcement for the friendly against France Beckham has featured in every squad, and played a part in each game.

Now I'll be the first to say that the performances from Beckham in the internationals has been brief and even then very ineffective. His transition into the MLS has clearly had an effect on him.

With him moving to Milan for a 6 month period, it should raise his game slightly. He'll be back with players who are of a similar age, but of world class quality. The likes of Pirlo and Gattuso, are a similar ge but still seem to pull out performances that are out of this world, Beckham will be looking to fit right into that mold.

It's brilliant to see him back at a credible club and one that will be fighting for honors this season. Beckham would have played in Europes top three leagues before the end of his career along with three World Cups, a european cup final and collected over 100 caps for his country. His career is a lot more than the gliz and the fame.

I hope he can get back to some of the form he showed at the back end of his Real Madrid career and bring back some of the glory days to go out on some sort of a high, it would certainly be in keeping with the rest of his career.

To many cooks

Manchester United have quickly slipped into top gear this season after an indifferent start. Their 4-0 demolition against West Brom was followed up by a comfortable 3-0 win over Celtic at Old Trafford last night. In the two games both Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov have both scored, with the Belorussian scoring two to take his champions league tally to four. Rooney has been in even better form with seven goals in his last 5 games for club and country. It seems that the talented teenager we saw beat David Seaman many years ago has finally come of age. Berbatov who we have seen shine for Tottenham in recent years seems to have found somehwere where his kind of football is replicated with the player he plays with, you can see why he always made a fuss on wanting to play in the champions league, he belong there.

All this is very good for the European Champions but what of there third striker Carlos Tevez. Currently on-loan from West Ham Tevez has only made a handful of appearances for the Red Devils since Berbatov's arrival. Not since the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool has Tevez started a game for United in a game where Berbatov and Rooney player alongside him in a 3 pronged attack, a formation that obviously didn't work.

With United having just paid out 30 million on Berbatov and with their sponsor just having been bailed out by the US Government are they in a financial position to buy Tevez permanently, or even more pressingly do they even need him.

We've all seen Tevez over the last three years of the Premiership and been suitably impressed. He was the driving force of West Ham's escape from relegation which included a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on the final day of the season. he was intrinsic in United double win of last season, always popping up with important goals, none more so than the winner at Anfield in a 1-0 United win.

This season he has been used sparingly in the wake of Rooney and Berbatov who are looking like the match made in heaven. But where does Tevez fit in? Do you really play 30 million for a player who is going to play in the last 15-20 minutes of matches? I'm sure the glazers would have a thing or to to say about that.

There are two views on this subject. Firstly that in terms of Manchester United's fight for Domestic and European supremacy then it is vital he is kept in their ranks, of the world class players in the Premeirship at the moment he is certainly one of them, and one of a number at Old Trafford. Obviously an injury to either Rooney or Berbatov would open the door for Tevez, loosing him would put a real hole in United's starting eleven.

Secondly however there is the view of Tevez himself. he is a young lad not quiet at his prime but you can see him progressing. He wants to be playing week in week out. Starting 10 league games a season isn't good enough for the Argentine International, involvement is key for a player of his age. With two such colossal strikers ahead of him in the pecking order does he really see himself in with a chance? Many other clubs would happily sign Tevez, his work rate is second to none and his finishing although sometimes a little off, is getting better.

Why would United not want a player of his calibre? Well in the current financial climate can they really afford him? 30 million was shipped out on Berbatov and with sponsors going bust and the club in millions of pounds of debt when pay day comes are they really going to be able to step up?

There's no doubt that Tevez is a huge asset for Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson and is would be a big loss if he were to go after his two year loan spell. Football is a squad game after all the Tevez has proved as bigger asset as any. But would the Glazer 30 million of money they don't have to pay for a squad player? The risk would surely be to big

Performance of the Week

A little later than usual I know but that doesn't put a downer on what was a superb week for British sport last week and yes this weeks winner is one of the elite band. Andy Murray secured his forth title of the year as he defeated Giles Simon in straight sets 6-4 7-6 in Madrid. Lewis Hamilton won his fifth Grand Prix of the season and extended his lead at the top of the driver championship to even point as he won the Chinese Grand Prix. John Higgins beat Ryan Day 9-7 to win the Grand Prix snooker at Wembley and England's football team made it four wins from four in their World Cup Qualifying group as they beat Belarus 3-1 in Minsk. I'm sure you can agree one the of the best weeks in British there has been since the Beijing Olympics. We're all grateful we've only had to wait 2 months for the next string of achievements.

My victor this week is some what of an unsung hero. Behind every great team performance there ha to be someone who pulls the strings in the background while others take the glory. This person's role is as, if not more important than headline grabber themselves. My performance of the week therefore goes to Wigan Striker Emile Heskey for the brilliant part he played in England win against Belarus.

Since Heskey was recalled to the England side for the double header with Estonia and Azerbaijan England have looked like a totally different unit. He was instrumental in his sides wins in those games and with Heskey at the helm Steve McLaren's helm as England manager looked slightly more rosy. However disaster struck, just 3 days after his heroics he broke his foot in a league game for Wigan. He was ruled out of England's games against Russia and Croatia. As we know the rest is history, England failed to qualify and Steve Mclaren lost his job as England boss.

Who knows whether Heskey had been fit or not whether the striker could have helped England towards the results they needed in those games. I'll be honest thank god not. McLaren needed to go whether we qualified or not.

But the state of intention was there, McLaren's crazy recall of Heskey, whose record of 5 goals in 50 caps is hardly one to strike fear into opposition defences, could be called as a shred one.

Capello wasted no-time bringing Heskey in as he saw no possible partner for Wayne Rooney coming from slightly built Jermaine Defoe or the clumsy Peter Crouch.

And now we come to last Wednesday night, his crowning moment in an England shirt. Playing alongside Rooney he was a great decoy for the Manchester United front-man. He held the ball up well as he always does and scared defenders into coming anywhere near him.

I know these characteristics are hardly ground breaking when talking about Emile Heskey but I think many people need reminding seeing as he was harshly slated when talks of a recall came calling.

His run and pass for Wayne Rooney's first goal showed what he's all about, and he's got something that people might have forgotten about and that's a bit of pace, and once he knew the pass was on he made no mistake. it was the perfect performance from the former Liverpool man.

Yes people will say his goal record isn't good enough, but if he's giving perfect service to Wayne Rooney like he's been craving for his entire England career then we could have on hell of a player on our hands, rap him in cotton wool I say.

His performance the other night showed to me that Heskey is irreplaceable for England. No matter who England try with Rooney, no-one not even Michael Owen can exploit Rooney's talent like Heskey can.

This performance shows alot of things, one thing it definitely shows is that England finally have a partner for Rooney, and it might be the partnership to take England to South Africa.

We've been here before

Well done to Lewis Hamilton on winning today's Chinese Grand Prix and extending his lead in the drivers championship to seven points. Hamilton holds the same lead that he did last season going into the final race in Brazil, where he was overhauled by Kimi Raikonnen.

The fin is no-where to be seen in this years title race, instead he is replaced by team-mate Felipe Massa. Massa has been chasing Hamilton for most of the season just like Raikonnen was, and now the lead is down to just seven.

Hamilton had shown the similar nervous tenancies he had at the end of last season, but it seems that after his victory in China that he has grown up a little after the debacle in Fuji.

For the entire season I have backed Massa to overhaul the brit and take the title, but it one race could define a season it was this one in China. We saw a different Hamilton, more focused more concentrated on the job in hand.

He has overcome his anguish of China from last year, its time to get over Brazil now and take the world championship he should have won a year ago. Just like last year he has it all in his hands, finishing any higher than fifth and Massa can do nothing to defy Hamilton. However a similar mistake on the first corner from Hamilton again and Massa will take the championship.

The main played in this race could be current champion Kimi Raikonnen. He has proved to be a ploy for the Ferrari team and strategically has helped the team gain many a point.

With Kovalinan becoming a bit of lightweight when competing with the big boys his role is almost irrelevant.

Lightning hardly ever strikes twice, but in this fast paced sport anything can happen. The chances of Hamilton having as big a shocker as he did last year are very small and with him being much strong mentally I can see him holding off Massa even if for the race itself on his home turf he is the favorite.

To bad to stay up

You've heard the saying to good to stay up. The phase has been thrown at many a team, West Ham United were the most recent example of this. It describes a team with a quality squad who are simply to talented to be relegated.

However this season in the championship we have a team who have so little potential to succeed they are almost a forgone conclusion. The team I am describing is Southampton. Today they were beaten convincingly 3-0 at home to Watford with the away side never getting out of 2nd gear.

The home side also managed to miss two penalties in the first half alone with David McGoldrick and and Paul Wotton the guilty men. As if it was possible the Saints were worse at the other end of the pitch where they gifted Watford three first half goals all coming from right wing crosses from set pieces.

Now rarely with defending from set pieces does on three occasions the mistakes come from individual errors, and as bad as Olly Lancashire's performance was today he can't be held culpable for every goal.

The defense as a unit, from Kelvin Davis onwards was an embarrassment. It was schoolboy stuff at the back today and Southampton couldn't raise themselves to the challenge. Davis didn't have a chance with any of the goals but I'm sure he could have contributed with the defense responsibilities.

This young side don't know how to do anything right now. They can't defend, they can't score and they can't grind out results something which is a necessary trait for any successful championship side.

They can pass the ball I'll give them that but once they get to the final third, they have forgotten how to break down sides, with just 11 goals from 11 games all season they definitely have a problem up front.

For me these problems can be rectified. Putting a goalscorer upfront is the first thing to do. The use of Stern John has been almost scares. he scored 20+ goals last season and kept Southampton up last season almost single handedly.

How the manager hasn't looked at last season's states and used them I have no idea, the sooner John is played the more goal threat they will have. At the back they lack a bit of experience a bit like they did last season. They brought in Chris Lucketti and then Chris Perry, for which Perry is still at the club. He should be drafted in to the back four to give them some sort of organizational presence.

I know the manager has kept with this young side and good on him to sticking to his guns, but it has to change at some point, the defense is leaking goals and the attack can't score to save themselves, and if they want to these things have to change.

There's no shame in changing things now, he's tried this ploy and it hasn't worked now is time to change it or his job and Southampton's status as a Championship team is over.

Not to put a complete downer on this blog, but I believe either way, even if Arsene Wenger is brought in as manager, the side will still be relegated. Things have to change dramatically to make sure it isn't embarrassing for the south coast side.

Performance of the Week

As I write this week's performance of the week is competing but it was his contribution earlier in the week that gives him this weeks award. If you haven't guessed it already it is Australia's Captain Ricky Ponting who is the winner after his first ever test century in India in the first test.

For me there are many judgments you can make of world class batsman. The first one is a good conversion rate of fifties to hundreds. Secondly is scoring any runs off Shane Warne and thirdly scoring big runs in India. For me most players can produce when it's sunny there's some pace in the pitch and it's flat. In India the conditions are usually against you. No matter whether it's day one or five there's always some ruff outside off-stump and its so humid to lose three stone after being out there for 30 minutes.

So Ricky Ponting's knock for me ranks up there as one of the best this year and apart from his knock at Old Trafford in 2005 the best of his career. His side were in trouble as they invariably are. He came in and held the ship steady, and as he likes to do after he reaches 20 odd start finding the boundaries. If you let Ponting surpass 15-20 thn you'll be seeing a lot of him, once this lad gets in only Sachin Tendulkar to more difficult to dismiss.

One thing that also amazes me about Ponting is that he is also the captain of his country. A country who have been the best in the world for the last 10 years. How he can lead such a massive country and still produce on a consistent individual basis. To add he is one of the best fielders in world as well.

His hundred was typical Ponting once in he started dismantling the Indian attack who had been buoyed by the early wickets. He was dispatching his pull shot, for me the best shot in world cricket, with aplomb.

In the modern age he is one of the best players right now is confidence at the crease as a batsman and as a captain is something to be admired.

His knock in India has reminded everyone what he's about and as Damian Martyn, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath hung up there boots everyone has forgotten that the jewell in the crown is still about.

It just doesn't get better than this

The week running up to intentional games is usually a very quiet week. Speculation over the starting eleven of the national team and whether Micheal Owen should be recalled or whether we should play 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1. But in truth there is plenty more going on that the media fail to let us know about.

Last night there was Johnston's Paint Trophy, Blue Square Premier and Setanta Shield action, with the amount of matches going on and spread across the country they were being played, you should be shot if you weren't at a match last night. That's if your not a naive football fan who thinks you won't watch anyone who isn't Liverpool or Manchester United. If your claim of the 'love' of football is true then you would go see any game whether your team is playing or not.

Last night I was at the Setanta Shield 2nd Round match between Eastleigh and Havent and Waterlooville. These two sides have a similar rivalry in Hampshire that Southampton and Portsmouth have. Both reside in the Blue Square Premier South and are separated by 5 points after 11 league games this season. Both sides are very evenly matched and in cup football as you know anything can happen.

On a cold Tuesday evening the game got off to the sort of start that warmed the fans to the game and the conditions. After just six minutes Eastleigh captain Andy Harris was sent off for an awful two-footed tackle on Brett Poate. The Spitfires would have to play for 84 minutes with 10-men which in the end would prove decisive.

The sending off, very much like a goal would have, made the game quiet a spectacle. Eastleigh were in fact the better side who instead of going for the traditional long ball tactics usually seen at this level, passed the ball around like an established league side.

Havent were able to let their man advantage count as a corner found its way all the way through to Jay Gasson whose side footed volley found its way through a crowd of players to put the away side ahead.

Eastleigh however weren't taken aback by the goal and came out just a strong a they did after they were reduced to ten men and came up with a goal of the game two minutes later.

James Baker started the move holding ball up and spreading the play to Matt Groves an then got on the end of a Trevor Challis cross to head home the equalizer.

The goal was in keeping with a pretty even game in which you couldn't tell the home side was a man down.

It took just two minutes after after half time for Eastleigh to take the lead in the game with a bizarre goal. Matt Bodkin, the best player on the pitch certainly deserved a goal at the end of the night but scoring direct from a corner wouldn't have been how he imagined it happening. Confusion between Kevin Scriven and his defense meant Bodkin's corner drifted straight into net.

The goal looked to be decisive as Havent even with eleven men looked tied and short of ideas. Eastleigh however did nothing to kill the game off as they sat off Havent and bought off the impressive Groves and Bodkin and they attempted to close the game out.

With ten men this is risky business and their lack of ambition gave Havent a second wind and they piled pressure on the Eastleigh goal. On two occasions Havent should have leveled it up. some frantic defending, denied both Jamie Slabber and Danny Webb as Eastleigh breathed once again.

With six minutes added on after an injury to the referee and a number of time wasting ploys by the home team, gave Havent a second chance, and they weren't going to let this one slip away.

A harsh free kick given down by the byline on the right-back side was whipped in and a mammoth goal-mouth scramble began. The ball was cleared off the line three times as Havent players qued up to make it 2-2. Eventually the ball was forced over the line and the goal was credited to Gary Holloway althougth it could have been a number of players who got the final touch.

With the goal being scored in the 92nd minutes a few more minutes remaining and there was still time for a thrilling climax.

Havent sniffing a second goal in stoppage time pushed forward and a deep cross towards Webb saw him be bundled to the ground by three desperate Eastleigh defenders and penalty was given for the blatant foul.

Jamie Collins kept his nerve in the final minute to secure the win as he planted the ball into the bottom right hand corner to send the traveling fans into ecstasy.

Thee was barely anytime for Eastleigh to mount an attack as they had been overwhelmed by their local rivals. Havent rejoiced at the sound of the final whistle as they overcame Eastleigh in a thriller at the Silverlake Stadium.

This evening showed a number of things. Firstly any excuse to watch some football between two teams you may have never heard of is something you should never turn down, you never know if something like that might happen. And secondly at £6 a ticket you just can't go wrong. Last night was football as it should be, and forever let it continue.

Performance of the Week

I think you would agree that great performances come from winners. Over the past week there have been many near misses. Bury for example going 3-0 up away from home and looking to inflict on Aldershot what would have been their first home defeat of the season. With half an hour remaining the Shot's came back and drew 3-3 ina real game of two halfs. Newcastle United can also find themselves unfortunete not to have picked up this week award. Coming back from 2-0 down to nick a point at Everton was some achievement, but they didn't win the game did they. For the record Steven Taylor the captain on the day would have picked up the award if the magpies hadn't been denied by a Leighton Baines clearance.

This weeks performance of the week goes to someone who I'm sure not many of you would have heard of, to be honest I hadn't till this weekend. And as a result of his victory ha shot himself into snooker stardom.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is one of those sportsman who once he is on a role he is hard to stop. This season has been no different victories at the World Championships in Sheffield and then at the Northern Ireland Open had him as the undisputed Number 1.

He went into the Shanghai Masters looking to become the first player for 15 years to win three ranking tournaments in a year. And in all honesty no-one looked like stopping him. After defeating Joe Perry and then old adversary Mark Williams to get to the semi-final stage the Rocket looked on fire.

The semi-final with Steven Maguire was a tight tense affair, the sort that usually unsettles O'Sullivan, but not on this occasion has he came through a 6-5 winner.

After beating Maguire the Rocket must have been tasting his third major of the season, especially when he saw young English qualifier Ricky Walden. Walden himself has had a long road to the final.

He beat what could be debated as five of the best players in the world right now Stephen Hendry, Neil Robertson, Steve Davis and Mark Selby to gt to his first ever ranking final. he even played a qualifying match at the beginning of the tournament against Anda Zhang.

He went into the final with no fear and battled against O'Sullivan who wasn't allowed out of the grasp of the rookie. Walden even went into a 3-1 lead at the mid session interval before O'Sullivan came back to lead the first session 6-5, hardly the dominated performance we were all expecting.

Into the second session and Walden won 3 of the first four games to open up an 8-7 lead. The players then exchanged frames as the World Champion looked for a way back into a match he could suddenly see himself loosing.

Then with the match poised at 9-8 O'Sullivan missed a crucial red and Walden was in. he cleared up and made a magnificent break of 105 to take his first ever ranking title.

The victory is significant in two ways. Firstly beating the World Champion in form is some feat for any player, for a rookie player who is ranked at 35 in the world it is amazing. Secondly this is Walden's break onto the World stage. This win will open so many doors for him.

Now up to his world best ranking of 17 he is just outside the coveted top 16 that every player so desperately wants. If the boy can kick on and keep working at his game then a top 16 birth is possible and an appearance at the World Championships next year is guaranteed. You heard the name of Ricky Walden here first, and with any luck it won't be the last time.

Super league Grand Final Preview

There are some sports that just don't get the appreciation they deserve. Super League certainly comes under that. Maybe its because of its access that is given to it through the media. Sky Sports dominate the Super League action and the BBC tag along showing Challenge Cup action and highlights of the weekend games on a sunday. Sky also have the problem that they show there games on a Friday and Saturday night. Now i don't know many people who come in from a hard day of work and turn on the Super League for a night in with that lads. Due to the coverage Sky gives the sport, which in all honesty is very good the sport basically lives off the coverage so if you loose the broadcaster then the sport could die a death.

If you didn't already know the Super League Grand Final takes place at Old Trafford on Saturday between St Helens and Leeds to top two teams in the division. Now I must admit I haven't watched every game this season that has been on Sky. As i mentioned earlier the timing of the matches doesn't suit a uni student who likes a drink or two. But ever since I remember I have made sure I'm around for the Grand Final. It's the one day the sport has a chance to show whats its made of when the two top sides of the year meet in a winner take all match. No instead of doing a elongated preview of the match and mentioning players and terms that many of you may not follow, I'm just going to give you 10 facts that will give you some background into this years final. A dummies guide if you will.

1. This years final will take place between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos. These two went through a play off system between the teams who finished in the top six of the division.

2. These two sides have met only once in Super League grand Finals and that was last year as Leeds beat St Helens 33-6. This is now the tenth year that play-off system has been employed in the League with St Helens comeing out as winner in four of the nine occasions.

3. The two Grand Final teams have in them the two highest try scorers of the season. Adrian Gardner of St Helens has scored 26 tries while his Leeds counterpart Scott Donald has gone over 21 times. Both men will be eager to add to there tally on Saturday.

4. The teams have met three times this season and St Helens hold a 2-1 advantage. Leeds were the winners in the first match at the recruitment stadium 10-14. St Helens then won the return match at Headingley 12-26. However the big match of the season in the play-offs went St Helens' way as they as they came out 38-10 winners.

5. James Graham of St Helens is this years man of steel, effectively the player of the year. He is the forth consecutive St Helens player to win the award after James Roby, Paul Wellens, Jamie Lyon and Paul Sculthorpe.

6. Saturday's final takes place at Old Trafford home to Manchester United. The stadium boats the biggest capacity of any club football stadium in the country and gives and therefore it's the highest attendance for any Super league match in the enitre season. Due to the recent re-building work on the stadium the attendance is expected to break the current record of 72,582 set in 2006 when St Helens met Hull.

7. The two teams are truly the best two teams of the season. They boast the best two attacks in the division and the meanest two defenses. St Helens hold a points difference of 33 over their opponents but it shows how close the match could be between these two heavyweights.

8. This St Helens' sixth final appearance and they're looking for their fifth win while Leeds who appeared in the first ever final in 1998 are in there fifth final looking for their forth victory.

9. History is on St Helens' side five out of the nine years the team who has finished 1st has gone on to win the final, however they have only won it twice doing that combination. Leeds were in fact the last team to stop them doing the double as they beat them in the final last year after finishing second.

10. And finally a ticket for this years final can be purchased for as little as £16. The fans of course can sit together as their is no segregation between the fans. The police presence at an event like this is 20% less than at a normal match at Old Trafford.

So there you go a few facts that should set you on your way for this years Grand Final. Screw your Premiership action sit down a watch a decent game of Rugby,its value for money its exciting and know full well you can have a beer with the opposition after wards.