Overlooked as always

Something I hate more than anything as a sports fan (apart from drug taking) is the undermining of Major Sporting events. For me no sport deserves anymore coverage than another. This week if some of you didn't know the US Open Tennis at Flushing Medows has started where Roger Federer is out to break another one of Bjorn Borg's records and win 5 consecutive US open championships.

I know everyone was glued to Wimbledon to see whether Federer could be overhauled on his favourite patch, and we saw that Rafael Nadal came through a thrilling five setter to take his fifth Major title. This event however for me is more significant. It will give us an idea whether Federer's loss at Wimbledon was a blip, or the beginning of the Spanish Armada. Unfortunately Federer has very little room for error only a win will stop the critics raining down on the now former world number 1.

Nadal going on recent form is the clear favourite, the now Olympic Gold Medalist is surging towards the end of the year which could end with a US Open win, a Masters Series victory in Shanghai and finishing the year as world number one. Success that we all knew had the potential of happening, but seeing it happen would be something else.

All eyes will also be on Andy Murray who at World Number six is at his highest ranking and with that comes the expectation of success in the major tournament. It doesn't come bigger than the US Open an event Murray calls his favourite.

The draw that had been put infront of Murray is one that should see him past his lowest expected finish, the quarter-final. David Ferrer will be the man who will stand in Murray's way to his first ever Grand Slam semi-final where none other than Roger Federer will stand in his way there. So why on earth can Murray not reach the final, just like Greg Rudeski in 1997. Well is he really ready for the step up. Yes his win over Richard Gasquet at Wimbledon shows he has stepped up as a tennis player, but the Olympic games showed that he still has plenty to learn, it might be getting through the preliminary rounds that Murray might find the most difficult part. Complacency is still an issue with the 21 year-old.

With a World ranking of six a quarter-final place will be the minimum expected of Murray any further would be a huge achievement. I'm not sure we should be expecting the Scot to reach Grand Slam semi-finals just like that.

So as much as we would like to think Murray is on course for a real push at the grand slam we should just sit back as think the best is yet to come and that we shouldn't want to much to soon.

Air of change

So now the Olympics is over we can now all concentrate on the football season which is now into full flow up and down the country. I usually leave any opinions of the new season till at least November. With so many new players coming in these days and change of manager and whatever a true judgement of a teams progress can't really be estimated until at least a few months down the line. However some things have caught my eye already that I feel needed a comment or two.

Firstly I start with Newcastle United. It's Kevin Keegan first full season (if he lasts that long) at the helm of the magpies and he has done his best over the summer months to transform his side into a top 10 team. But of course he hasn't really been making the changes has he? Dennis Wise director of football is in charge of all transfers into the club. Keegan effectively is a school teacher who is surprised when a new pupil arrives in each day.

It must be frustrating for Keegan, one of the main privileges of a manager is being able to bring in players who you feel will make your team better, having that done for you while you have to manger players who you might not think are any good must be very difficult.

However from the outset it has worked. Wise has made some very astute signings none more so than Danny Guthrie. I saw this man play at Old Trafford the other week and he made Paul Scholes look like a school boy. Guthrie has tremendous vision on the ball and can't half play a pass. It's not often Manchester United have to bow down to a midfield player playing on the other side. When watching him at Coventry on Tuesday night he looked again very comfortable on the ball. he reminds me of the role Scholes has now in the United side, not busting a gut to get in the box but happy to play the simple passes and set your team on the attack. For 3.5 million I think Newcastle have found a peach of a player.

Elsewhere Nicky Butt has decided to learn how to pass a ball, and Michael Owen has shown that even 50% fit he is still one of the most potent strikers in the country. The singing of Guiterez also looks a good one, sure to be compared with other flying Newcastle wingers like David Ginola and Keith Gillespie. Otherwise it looks as though Newcastle could indeed push into the top half this season, if they can keep there injuries down, maybe even further.

If Newcastle have surprised me then Dagenham and Redbridge have astonished me. Tipped as Relegation candidates at the start of the season Daggers have picked up 7 out of nine points and find themselves in the top six. Now don't expect this exact type of form to continue but it certainly shows the amount of character in the Dagenham camp. They clearly struggled at the back end of the last season and many did fear for there football league status. The circumstances surrounding Luton, Bournmouth and Rotherham have pretty much put pay to that now, but Dagneham's form is still amazing. The form of Paul Benson and Ben Strevens is particularly impressive. But with such little resources can this 'tinpot' club really keep up a promotion challenge? Well in a word, no but watching there current form is certainly refreshing to see.

The final club I am going to talk about is a team I saw a lot of last season, Torquay United. Many had the team down as early season favourites for promotion, and so far after 5 games the gulls find themselves with just 4 points. Not only have the results infuriated the fans but so have the performances. And I'll be brutally honest I'm not surprised one bit. The home defeats to both Ebbsfleet United and then Salisbury City has brought cause for concern for the job of manager Paul Buckle who has job saving match tonight at home to York City. A defeat tonight would surely see the end for Buckle,even at this early stage of the season. Maybe a new manager would be the spur for the Gulls to push themselves up the table and into the promotion places.

My top 5 Beijing Olympians

Either you are glad or disappointed at the lack of blogs over the Olympic period but I thought I would let the action speak for itself. But now its over and people debating who the greatest Olympian of this years Beijing Games. And you might not realise it but its not all about Phelps and Bolt.

1. Chen Yanqing- 48kg and 58 kg class Gold medalist: The first women to ever win two gold medals in one Olympics as she defended her 58kg title and won her first 48kg medal. The most impressive thing about her 58kg defence was that she broke world records in each of the three disciplines, a stunning effort. This also coming from the women who has come out of retirement four times, its shows huge motivation from Chen and puts into perspective what sort of feat she has achieved. She won't get all the headlines but her victories should be put along side the best at this summer's games.

2.Maarten van der Weijden- 10k swim Gold Medalist: Even though most of the attention fell upon Great Britain athlete David Davies who collected the silver in this race the comeback from the Dutchman not only in the race but in his career deserves praise indeed. In 2001 Van der Weijden was diagnosed with Leukaemia seven years ago and after recovering came back stronger into the sport. His times improved and a fourth placed finish at the world championships showed a huge progress. He came to the Olympics as a big contender and after seeing Davies lead the race from the outset he looked set to suffer more disappointment on the big stage. However Davies' radar went a bit off as he headed off course allowing the Dutchman to take advantage and take the Gold. If you look at it it is a super human effort and one that should be valued as one of the greatest of the modern era.

3. Michael Phelps- 400m medley, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x100m free relay, 4x200m free relay, 200m medley, 100m butterfly and 4x100m medley Gold Medalist: I have two opinions on this man. The first being that a lot of the excitement of his achievement was actually taken out of it because of the ease at which he went on to collect his eight Golds. His 4x100m relay win was yes possibly the greatest swimming race we will ever see and the comeback from the American's was truly remarkable. The controversy of his 100m butterfly win will live on as well, but for me there was an air of inevitability of it. But there is another way of looking at it. Over nine days Phelps swam 17 times. That stat alone shows the amazing effort that he put in. Remember they are all different events so once you have used to one another comes around again. He was facing men who weren't trying to go for the same feat, they were fresh and ready to go. In no other sport would anyone have had to put up with the backlog of events. It was a fixture pileup that would have given Arsene Wenger a stroke. It was a truly monumental effort and one that will of course go down in history as one of the great performances.

4. Chris Hoy- Keirin, Team Sprint and Sprint Gold Medalist: I have followed this man's career for around five years now and nothing surprises me about his 3 gold medal haul at this years Games, for me it was a case of when and not if. His single gold medal in Athens wasn't enough for Hoy who triumphed at the World Championships in Manchester last year. His real dream was being Olympic Champion. The Team sprint was simply a remarkable win, an event the British team weren't even meant to be competing for a medal in soon became a one team show as they pushed aside France to take the title. The experience of Hoy in that team was vital. His own sprint title showed that he is one the most feared athletes on the planet, Jason Kenny was beaten before he even stepped on the track. he simply defies belief and as the team return to Britain he deserves all the praise he gets, because he is sure to get plenty

5. LaShawn Merritt- 400m Gold Medalist: This you may say is an odd choice because of the other high profile athletes who performed outstandingly well on the track. Yes Usain Bolt's triple Olympic Gold medals is stunning but was there really anyone in his way? With LaShawn Merritt the story is very difficult. Merritt has the colossal Jeremy Wariner in his way, the current World and Olympic champion and the man closing in Michael Johnson's infamous 400m record. He was expected to walk the race and let the other American's fight it out for silver and bronze. But Merritt ran a superb race overcoming Wariner in the final straight as the defending champion faded. It was the biggest shock at the Olympic games i have seen since I've been watching the event. Never has such a nailed on favourite lost out when so well fancied. I'll be honest this shock on the track was the reason Merritt was included in this list. I also won't lie that I backed Wariner to not only retain his title but take the world record with it, and believe me its nice to be proved wrong now and again especially in such a high profile event as this.

Going under

I think I speak for everyone when I say what a terrific effort the Great Britain team are making at this year Olympic games. For me the biggest impression has come from the pool as British athletes have dominated the starting grid for both semi-finals and finals. Becky Adlington, who will go into Saturday's 800m final as fastest qualifier will be looking to add to her first gold medal that she collected on Sunday.

Adlington could have been swimming for a third gold medal in the women's 4x200m relay, but her colleagues failed to qualify for the final. She was sensibly rested for the race so help her won personal chances. However lots of people believe that she should have raced and got the team through. I think that her omission from the team was a brilliant idea, and maybe even the team not qualify will help her. The winning time for the relay this morning was 3 seconds higher than the British record, whether they could have stepped up and won the race I'm not sure.

For me the team that was selected should have qualified whatever. They are talented enough to get through and the team need to have a long look at themselves afterwards. Fran Halsall who swam the final leg really let the team down, going into the final leg the team led the relay, when they finished they were down in sixth. A poor effort from the girl to be honest.

I think all the concentration should be taken off why Adlington didn't race and why the team picked, who were good enough didn't step up and get the team through. As Adrian Moorhouse said yesterday it was a 'shocking effort'. Never has a truer word been spoken

Premiership Preview

As the years of the Premiership have gone on it has become easier to predict the position of most clubs. For example it is common knowledge that no matter how much money they spend Liverpool will always finish in fourth.

It is almost very common for at least two of the three promoted clubs are relegated back to the Championship.

This season is no different unfortunately and this could be the most predictable Premiership season we’ve ever seen.

The identity of the Premiership champions can only come from two teams this season Manchester United, looking to pick up there third title in a row for the second time, and Chelsea will be looking for there third Premiership title in five years in Luis Fliipe Scolari’s first season.

United as yet haven’t strengthened there squad at all which to me is a crazy decision, and if they go the whole transfer window without making any purchases it would be a huge mistake. Expect Gary Neville to play almost and entire season which will seem like a new signing. Keeping Cristiano Ronaldo is a huge boast as well. United’s top scorer might not be around for much longer but keeping him for another season is better than nothing.

Chelsea have of course been recruiting all summer as well as there change in manager, they have signed both Bosingwa and Deco. The club have made it clear that they want a further player and it looks more and more likely the Brazilian Robinho will be the final piece of Scolari’s jigsaw. Keeping Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba is huge for the London club, who will have a huge squad to choose from next season, something that went against them last season when they endured lots of injuries.

It’s been all change at both Arsenal and Liverpool. Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini have both left the club to be replaced by Nasri and Aaron Ramsey. Keeping Emmanuel Adebayor is very important for Arsenal as without Eduardo it’s hard to see where the rest of the goals will come from. I don’t’ care whatever anyone says about Eduardo but if he is back playing before the end of the year I will be shocked, with an injury like that the last thing you need to do is rush back. Even though the squad is clearly weakened from last year I still expect a good season from Arsene Wenger’s side, but enough to put up a decent title challenge.

Liverpool have spent plenty of money this summer as they look to break into the top two. Robbie Keane for me is a super signing and 19 million is about right for the Republic of Ireland captain. If Gareth Barry also comes in then Liverpool will have a great squad to choose from and will be mouth watering to think of, along with Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Ryan Babel. They will certainly be a threat to the other three but its always the results against the other three that sets them apart. They usually under-perform. With some big game players now in there squad they have th opportunity to make the step up, if I’m honest I wouldn’t back Liverpool with anyone else’s money let alone my own.

Now I’ve done the definite top four I’m going to look at the Champions league pretenders.

The closest a side outside the top four has come to making there way into the champions league has been Everton. The Merseyside club did qualify for the qualifying rounds a few years back and were conned as they went down to Villareal. They haven’t really developed as a side since then, yes they have finished fifth two seasons in a row but not ever set the league alight. The loss of Andy Johnson to Fulham is more of a step back and with no real sign of any signings it seems like a summer of going back back than of one going forward. They still have a good starting 11 but as they showed when they lost Tim Cahill last season they are a little thin on the ground.

The same can be said for Aston Villa whose starting eleven can compete with the top four, but loose a few players here and there and they look like an average outfit. If Barry is to leave then the introduction of Steve Sidwell to replace him isn’t going to be enough to maintain the success as last season.

Juande Ramos is starting to build a decent squad now and the signings of Gomes from PSV Enidhoven and Giovani De Santos are sure to make an impact. I’m not sure about David Bentley however, for me 15 million is too much for a player like him, and I’m really not sure what the fuss is about. He will do a good job for them don’t get me wrong, but I don’t think he’s the sort of player that’s going to help them make the step up into the top four. Loosing Robbie Keane is a huge loss if Arshavin was to come in then the squad would look a lot stronger. Getting him would certainly be the step up they are looking for.

Waiting in the wings are FA Cup winners Portsmouth who have lost influential midfielder Sulley Muntari but have gained England striker Peter Crouch. A pretty even swap but I’m sure if you ask most Portsmouth fans they would have been happy with what they had. Blackburn Rovers will be in for a difficult season with Paul Ince at the helm. For me it’s a truly appalling appointment, he’s not a bad manager he just isn’t ready for this level. If Rovers were to loose Santa Cruz then I would think they would be doomed to relegation, however if they can keep the Paraguay forward then I’m confident that they can finish in the bottom half without to much alarm.

West Ham United and Newcastle United will be looking to recover from poor seasons last year. Both very inconsistent and there biggest notable summer achievement was keeping their prized assets of Dean Ashton and Obafemi Martins. Kevin Keegan will of course have his first full season and how much he uses Joey Barton will be fascinating to see.

At the other end of the table I can’t help feel that the three promoted sides will be returning to where they came this season. When I look at sides coming up I always look at whether they can get goals or not. I look at the front to of the each of the sides. Ricardo Fuller and Dave Kitson, Roman Bednar and Ishmael Miller, and Dean Windass. None of which will strike fear into the Premiership defences. I wouldn’t trust any of the back fours either. However Ryan Shawcross of Stoke was one of my players of the season last season. Stoke have spent a lot of money to be fair, but in this day an age no-where near enough.

All three for me look vulnerable, I know lots of people will tip West Brom to stay afloat, but some of the defensive signings leave a lot to be desired. If you can’t score and you can’t defend they I don’t give any of these sides a chance.

From the outset only Bolton look like challenging this. They have still not replaced Nicolas Anelka and showed that they aren’t going to score many goals. They have spent some money, 10 million of Ellmander of Sweden. It’s left to be seen if he can step up to the mark. I do worry for Bolton but reckon, just like last season there will be three sides worse than them.

Champions: Chelsea
Runners up: Manchester United
Champions League: Arsenal, Liverpool
Relegation: West Brom, Hull City, Stoke City

Championship Preview

Last season’s Championship proved to be the most exciting seen in years with promotion and relegation issues all having to be resulted with just two games to go.

This season should be no different with a host of teams looking to hit the big time of the Premiership. The relegated teams of Birmingham City, Derby County and Reading will be looking to bounce back while Doncaster Rovers will be looking to see whether there unique style of attacking passing football will be able to dazzle the Championship big boys.

Of the relegated clubs I can’t look past Birmingham when talking about promotion candidates. They have kept the vast amount of there players minus Mauro Zarate and should have too much for everyone else. To be honest I felt they were far to good to go down in the first place and it seemed that complacency was the reason and not lack of talent. If they don’t get complacent this season then they should walk this division and make it there second promotion from this league in three years.

In every league there is always a shock. This year’s shock for me is coming from Chris Coleman’s Coventry City. The chairman has obviously backed Coleman in the transfer market and some super signing has come of it. Former Southend striker Freddy Eastwood is an excellent acquisition along with Clinton Morrison from Crystal Palace, two players made for this division. Along with that keeping Michael Mifsud and the addition of Keiron Westwood from Carlisle probably the best signing of the lot and Coleman is building the sort of squad that can be taken seriously in the promotion hunt. For me if any team finishes above Coventry this season your promoted.

Wolves also look like a decent outfit and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake is firing the goals in from everywhere. I also like Michael Kightly, so refreshing to see a play put his head down and just run at defenders. Wolves missed out on the playoffs on goal difference last time out, they won’t let that happen again. These three sides have a real chance this season and watching them fight it out will be fascinating.

With the amount of money pilling into QPR right now it would be silly not to count them in with a chance. I worry whether the money is being used effectively and if the players will bond together like a championship winning side have, they have a long season to do it yes but I’m not sure whether this season is there turn.

Sheffield United were another side to miss out on the play-offs narrowly. James Beattie was an inspiration for them last season and 22 goals shows that he was a striker to be reckoned with as well. Along with Billy Sharp those two will cut some defences to ribbons again, another good season is for sure and the play-offs are the likely route.

I’m going to disappoint both Reading and Derby County fans by saying I don’t think either side will be troubling the play-offs this season. Reading have lost to many of there better players like we expected and as yet I haven’t seen hardly any signings from Steve Coppell whose negligence in the January’s transfer window helped to contribute to there relegation in the first place. The loss of Dave Kitson and Nicky Shorey is far too much for them to bear.

Derby on the other hand just need to re-build from last season. They are a broken side, however under Paul Jewell they do have a manager who has experience at winning this league. This season is too early for them top think about bouncing back but don’t count them out next season.

The promoted sides will produce a interesting test and seeing defences trying to deal with the man mounting that is Jason Scotland at Swansea will be awesome to see. Scotland was the main man in League 1 last season and he looks set to produce similar damage this season as well. Martinez is a decent manager and he should get them through this season without to many scares.

Doncaster’s entertaining way of playing won them many fans last season and many are looking for much of the same this time round. Richie Wellens will for sure be looking forward to showing everyone his talents, the player will be at home in the Championship and he is sure to be one of the shining lights for the play-off winners.

Nottingham Forest could surprise a few however. They have assembled a fine quartet of strikers including Championship journeyman Rob Earnshaw. I can’t see forest dropping out of the division and if they can keep their better players fit they have a real chance of a top half finish and maybe even more.

For the relegation issues there are many candidates and I’m not going to look further than Southampton. It’s no doubt that letting Nigel Pearson go is a huge mistake by the board. When will the board learn not to mess with team affairs when for the first time in a few years the dressing room had some sort of cohesiveness. Pearson kept a poor team together and got them playing something near there best as they struggled to keep alive in this division. I never like seeing former Premiership sides drop down another division to league 1 but I can’t help think that this year might be one to many.

Other clubs that will also be looking to avoid the drop are Blackpool who will be reeling from the loss of Wes Hoolahan, Plymouth Argyle who really struggled for any sort of form at the end of last season and Barnsley who needed there FA Cup run to cover up a horrendous season in the league.

I think it will be entertaining at both ends of the table this year and hopefully just as dramatic.

Champions: Birmingham City
Promoted: Coventry City
Play off winners: Wolves
Play offs: Wolves, QPR, Charlton, Sheffield United
Relegated: Barnsley, Blackpool, Southampton

League 1 preview

Last season was dominated by Leeds United’s fortunes in trying to overcome their 15-point deduction and there miraculous finish in 5th. There loss to Doncaster in the play-off final showed that they weren’t quiet ready for promotion but with no points deduction on there back they should have no problems guiding their way back to the Championship this season.

In Jermaine Beckford they have the leagues best striker and a player that is destined for greater things. Don’t expect things to be plan sailing for them however but even so anything less than promotion will be put down as a failure.

Carlisle United will also be looking to make amends for last season after totally outplaying Leeds at Elland Road in that first leg of the play off semi final. They could only come away with a 2-1 win a score that wasn’t enough to see them through in the return leg. There front pairing of Danny Graham and Joe Garner are a scary combination and expect them to blow away all teams in their path this season. These two sides should at least finish in the top 6 like last season and for both to be promoted wouldn’t be a surprise.

Something that I think all Division’s possess this season is the potential for the promoted sides to do well. None more so than Peterborough United. Darren Ferguson has got the resources and the fan base to make a push for a second successive promotion and believe me he won’t be thinking of anything different. Stealing Sergio Torres from league 2 could turn out to be a great singing and with Aaron Mclean up front you have a striker full of confidence and the ability to put even the meanest defences in tatters. They are a real good shout for promotion to the Champiopnship.

I would be saying the same about MK Dons as well, but the loss of manager Paul Ince is going to be to big a loss to make up for. Again resources are readily available but with untested manager Roberto Di Matteo at the helm it’s a recipe for disaster. Why Ince would want to move to a level he clearly isn’t ready for is a huge mistake. But bringing in a cult hero from Chelsea to mastermind a season in League 1 is an even bigger one. If Di Matteo got the job on the strength of his CV I would love top have seen the other contenders, it’s a laughable decision. I think the squad is to good to go down but it isn’t going to be an easy season.

I haven’t mentioned one the more high profile clubs to join league 1 this season and that’s Leicester City. The club definitely deserved to be relegated last season they were a really poor outfit and the saga surrounding Milan Madnaric and Ian Holloway was a joke. The club really need to wake up and sort things out. The appointment of Nigel Pearson I think is an inspired choice. He masterminded Southampton’s escape from relegation from last season to relegate Leicester. Now lets see if he can get the former Premiership club back into the second tier. If Pearson can replicate the sort of stability he gave Southampton in there last 6 games for Leicester’s the season they are a sure-fire promotion candidates.

Without even trying I have mentioned 5 teams with a good shout to get promoted. To compete with them Millwall, Huddersfield Town and Colchester United will all be a threat. Especially Colchester, who were a joke last season really need to bounce straight back. How raising ticket prices is suppose to do that I’m not quiet sure, it’s certainly not the way to get the fans back onside after a truly awful season.

John Sheridan’s Oldham could also be ready to fight for honours. The signing of Keiran Lee from Manchester United is what some people are saying the missing piece of Oldham’s puzzle but I think it will take more than a right back to change there fortunes. It will be interesting to see if Lee Hughes can replicate some of the form he showed last term, before injuries ended his season.

At the other end of the table it really is all up for grabs just as many teams who are gagging for promotion are striving to stay in the division. I really worry about Yeovil Town this season. They were helped out by point deductions last season of both Bournemouth and Luton. There will be none of those to come to there rescue this time around. From play-off final heartbreak to possible relegation in two years shows a huge downturn in form, but for me it looks pretty likely.

Promoted Stockport County and Hereford United will also be looking over their shoulder and hoping there stay in league 1 isn’t only a one-season affair. I think both sides will survive but it will be more about mid table consolidation than looking any higher into the playoffs.

There are a few sides I do worry about including Northampton Town, whose superb home record kept them afloat last season and Leyton Orient, who if they repeat there form they encountered in the second half of last season will be doomed. Walsall and Swindon Town went into freefall as well near the end of last season and as I said earlier with no point deductions for any clubs in this division it will be interesting to see who can beat the drop.

Crewe Alexandra are a lot of people’s tip to drop but I’m struggling to thing why. Yes the loss of Nicky Maynard is a huge loss but they survived just without him last year. Calvin Zola is a fine signing and as he isn’t a direct replacement in terms of talent he will provide goals that’s for sure. If his hat-trick against Hull City on his debut is anything to go by then it could be a fine season for him. Joel Grant could well be a gamble for Crewe but with a bit of firepower you never know.

Champions: Leeds United
Promoted: Carlisle United
Play off winners: Peterborough United
Play offs: Leicester City, Peterborough United, Oldham Athletic, Southend United
Relegated: Swindon Town, Leyton Orient, Yeovil Town, Cheltenham Town

League 2 preview

After seeing last season’s walk over by Milton Keynes Dons and Peterborough in League 2 it looks as though we are going to see a League that will be the most competitive in years.

These two clubs spent heavily on players transfer fees and wages and as expected walked into league 1 along with Hereford United and Stockport County.

I call this league this season the most competitive in the county and I’ll be honest I’m finding it difficult to find a winner.

Shrewsbury Town are one of the first clubs up for consideration. Grant Holt is a signing that will pull them from a poor team into a top half of the table club. Whether that will bring them promotion is another story, but if it were Paul Simpson is the man to do it, a man with plenty of experience in this league.

Wycombe Wanderers came close to the play-off final only to be ousted by Stockport and for me looked like a good bet for promotion. This season would have been no different but for two reasons. The loss of Sergio Torres is a big one, a player who I have seen close up and he looks like a super talent his transfer to Peterborough is a blow to Wanderers. The second is a big one. The loss of Paul Lambert as manager is a problem that could come back to haunt them. Peter Taylor has come in and the fear has already risen above Adams Park that Taylor will perform the sort of disastrous things that went on at both Stevenage and Crystal Palace. It is a clean slate for Taylor who like Simpson has had experience at this level, still with a good squad behind him he should recapture the form that saw a play-off finish last time out.

The other club who missed out on the play-off final Darlington are another club who will be looking to make a point as they go searching for promotion. They look a good bet like they did last season. Jitters with a third of the season to go let an automatic promotion place slip away, whether that will be allowed to happen again is unlikely. Tommy Smith showed last season he can set this league alight and I expect no different this season.

Bradford City with a lot of resources behind them are always peoples tip and maybe the singing of the Boulding brothers, particularly Michael could fire them into the promotion they crave. Clearly too big a club to be playing in this division this season could be there turn as it’s as open as ever they could just sneak in there.

At this point I could go on about another dozen clubs and their chance of promotion. To be honest this year there are so many it’s not worth mentioning them all. Chesterfield are another one for me. With Jack Lester always scoring goals they always look a threat and after a disappointing finish last season they will be looking to avenge their play-off heartbreak.

And what of the two promoted teams Aldershot Town and Exeter City. Well for me Aldershot look like a very solid entertaining team. I saw them a few times last season and with a very similar side, minus Joel Grant they could be in for some more success. Their fans will tell you just staying in the division would be enough but for me it could be more than that. I’d hate to give them the curse of saying a top seven finish but if things go there way they could surprise a few.

Exeter will be looking to do the same, and stay in the division. I can see them doing this at no particular struggle. They always look like the sort of team that could get 50 points out of a season. Don’t expect any promotion or relegation issues with this side just consolidation will be enough for the side from Devon.

For relegation my situation has been made easier by the Luton Town’s predicament. The will start the season on -30 and are dead certs to be playing there football in the Blue Square Premier next season. It’s a shame the club have nothing to grab onto; going out of administration is one small glimmer but only a small thread. Mick Harford has mission impossible and you can’t help but feel sorry for the lad.

Rotherham has hit the same sort of problems and a 17-point deduction puts them in big trouble as well. Bournemouth are in the same predicament and it looks like a straight fight between these two sides. Both teams would have been looking higher up the league to finish this year and neither can afford to go down. I’m going to stick my neck out and go for Bournemouth to stay up. They have been in this position before so they know the score, they reacted brilliantly to it last season and I think they could overcome it this time around.

It’s a shame that the fate of these clubs is basically decided before the season has started and that it’s not how the teams perform on the pitch but if you can’t run your club properly then you should have to pay the price.

Champions: Darlington
Automatic Promotion: Bradford City, Wycombe Wanderers
Promotion via play-offs: Chesterfield
Play offs: Shrewsbury Town, Chesterfield, Aldershot Town, Gillingham
Relegated: Luton Town, Rotherham

Conference Preview

I watched more Conference Football last season than from any other league and I can assure you it's one of the most exciting and competitive leagues in the country. I watched the fortunes of Aldershot Town and Torquay United as they both battled away at gaining promotion. Aldershot took the spoils, confirming it by beating the Gulls 2-1 at Plainmoor, a performance that underlined there Football League credentials.

Torquay went on to loose to Exeter in the play-offs before seeing there rivals overcome Cambridge United in a dull play off final. Torquay then will be looking to avenge last season's disastrous finish by being promoted as Champions. I always say with teams who get relegated from any division your best chance of promotion is first time around. And I see it being no different this time round. Having lost Chris Zebrowski and Lee Phillips a bit of fire power has been lost an although the addition of Lee Hodges and Wayne Carlisle imparticular will help sure you an impressive looking midfield. However I think the loss of Phillips and Zebrowski will be to much. They might have to be content with a play-off finish at best.

Now to the two relegated sides Mansfield and Wrexham. Neither went down in very good shape and both have had to struggle through pre-season re-building for a difficult new season. With 16 players being released or sold Wrexham look the best equipped to re-gain there league status. Brian Little has recruited lots of non-league experience. I'm a fan of new signing Jefferson Louis and I think with Michael Proctor also in attack a strong partnership could be made there. Wrexham fans wouldn't mind some cohesive football for a season or so and i don't many of there fans would mind a season for re-building after a disastrous campaign last season. I honestly think however they are in a position to compete for honours and expect to see them there of there abouts come May.

Mansfield have lost a lot of there better players from last season. The loss of both Jake Buxton and Michael Bolding won't have been a surprise but I'm sure they would have liked to have kept hold of one of them. I'm not sure that what they have bought in is of the same quality as what they have lost but for the division they are playing in, it will do. Michael Blackwood and Adie Moses look like the pick of the new bunch. For there chances well we'll have to wait and see. Like Wrexham there fans won't be expecting miracles. I do expect one of the relegated clubs to be promoted and of the two I'd have to go for Wrexham but don't be surprised to see Billy McEwan's men climbing the table and pushing for the playoffs.

Along with those clubs there are a whole host of others who will want to join the promotion race and a lot of old faces from last season will be around. Both Burton Albion and Cambridge United will want to overcome there play-off night mear of last season. Both met at the semi-final stage, with Cambridge eventually making it there before being ousted by Exeter. I think Burton are in a stronger position than last season I think anything less than a play-off finish will be disappointing. Lee Morris looks like a god signing as he tries to re-gain some fitness after missing most of last season. Nigel Clough has taken his side a long way and taking them to the football league might seem like a big jump but definitely a possible one.

I don't expect the same from Cambridge and teams who loose play-off finals never have good seasons the year after. I can't see the same impact being made.

If your looking for any other promotion candidates look no-further than bookies favourite's Stevenage. Plenty of new signings, and the recruitment of a lot of the player that helped them through last season. A poor last quarter to the season saw them miss out of the play-offs which they really should have made. If they sort out that complacency then there shouldn't be a problem for them this season.

Elsewhere Ebsfleet will want to build on last season's FA Trophy win and it will be interesting to see how Forest Green get on without Stuart Fleetwood. They were midtable with him, my worries are that they could slip a little further without him.

At the other end of the table Altincham will be wanting to dispel the memory of last season where they nearly feel out of the league. This season will again be difficult for them and I can't see them surviving this time around. Newly promoted side Lewes will be interesting to see as well. They stormed through last season and even thought they died away after they had won the title they will make a good fight of it this season. As will Eastbourne Borough although seeing both survive this season would be a huge achievement and would show that the quality coming up from the lower divisions can compete with the conference sides, something that would be refreshing to see. I think Woking may well end up in a relegation battle along with Northwich.

So there's my brief overview of how i see this league panning this i who I think the winners and looser will be:

Champions: Wrexham
Promoted via playoffs: Stevenage
Play-offs: Burton Albion, Torquay United, Stevenage, Ebsfleet United
Relegated: Eastbourne Bough, Northwich Victoria, Altincham, Weymouth

Football League Preview-well sort of

I was asked by a friend of mine the other day which I thought was the most under-rated sporting event in the sporting calendar in terms of its profile and its media coverage. After a few minutes of deliberation I went for the Olympic Games. This is supposed to be the greatest sporting event in the world. The whole countries attention should be on it. But yet with just 3 days to go till the start we are hearing more about the start of the football league season. I quiet frankly couldn't give a monkeys.

When watching Sky Sports news yesterday it took a whole hour for them to mention the Olympics in any kind of way. I know Sky have no coverage on the event but still I think this is shocking. They seemed more interested on Ben Muirhead's impending move to Darlington.

So for the next three weeks while the Games is taking place I wont be mentioning football once, because it simply doesn't deserve it. I'm going to make my way through my previews starting with the Conference but promise that Football won't inter-fear with this summers premier competition.

Revamp

With all due respect to South Africa a home series defeat to the county is utterly humiliating. The nature of the defeat doesn't make it much better either. England's bowlers looked tired after the Lord's test match, in which they had two days to bowl out South Africa and take a 1-0 lead.

From this moment the South Africans took a huge physcological edge and this result may not surprise many after scrapping through at Lords. But on the face of it England were poor and shouldn't be loosing a series like this one.

In Micheal Vaughan's retirment as captain of the side the ECB and the chairman of selectors has had his job done for him. It was obvious to everyone that Vaughan was never going to be dropped no matter how bad his batting performances were. I use the term 'batting' very loosly, 40 runs in five innings is not batting its tail ender stuff.

How he lasted in this team with the side not winning under his captaincy as well is laughable. So he has done the ECB's job for them. I can safely say Vaughan will never play for England again until he regains anything like the sort of form that saw him gain the captaincy in the first place.

In addition Paul Collingwood has also stepped down as ODI captain a decsion that really puzzels me. The Champions Trophy squad has just been announced and with England looking forward to the next World Cup the tranistion had started for the one-day team.

How this helps the transition I have no idea. No-one was expecting miricals under Collingwood, well not straight away they weren't and he has gone and put a spanner in the works and stepped down. I am lost for words why. Sounds to me like the ECB want one captain and Collingwood either wasn't considered for the Test position or he didn't want it.

For a replacment I think putting Kevin Pietersen in there would be a huge mistake. he is England's most important player already, England don't want his form to take a hit if he is concentrating on captaining the side.

Same goes for Andrew Flintoff who doesn't need that responsibility again. For me the resurgence of Andrew Strauss in the England side porves to me that he is ready to take on the mantel. He captained the side to a series victory over Pakistan a few years ago and has one-day captaining experience as well.

Yes his sucess wasn't the best but expereience is key and I think that Pietersen and Flintoff don't need the added pressure.

I think Pietersen will get the job but i plead with the ECB to select someone with a lower profile and lesser influence on the teams performances.