Statement of Intent..at last!!!

Every year we say it and every year we're proved wrong but this year liverpool FC look capable of finally making a serious title challenge. The addition of Irish captain Robbie Keane is a clear signal that Rafa Benitiez means bussiness this season.

Unlike in January it looks as if Rafa has been backed in the transfer market as he has made many big money moves for players and now Keane looks like being the finishing touch.

For me Keane has stepped up in the last two years from a decent Premiership striker would get you 10 goals and half a dozen assits into a player who is one of tyhe most feared in the divsion. His creative play and vision is up there with Wayne Rooney and he has a preditory finish when given the chance.

The introduction of Berbativ has only strenghtened his game and it is generally known that he likes playing with a big man uptop e.g Mark Viduka, Les Ferdinand and Niall Quinn. How he will adapt to playing with Fernando Torres will be interesting to see.

With the sale of Keane it sounds like same old Tottenham to me. After beating Chelsea the club have peatered away and showed very little ambition in the second half of the season.

There ambition has been confirmed by this weeks sale of Keane and if they were to loose Berbatov as well, well then Juande Ramos would have a job on his hands. I've heard noises that David Villa wants to leave Valencia and wants to play for Spurs. However the London club haven't submitted a bid for the player who is estimated to be worth around 30 million.

Ff the player wants to play for the club then Spurs would be mad not to go for him as he would be the perfect foil for the Bulgarian striker and a great replacment for Keane.

However it wouldn't surprise me if we saw the same old from Tottenham this summer and they lie down and let the top four walk all over them.

Out with the old, in with the rubbish

England after coming very close to beating South Africa at Lords go into the second test at Headingly with a problem. Out of form Paul Collingwood let in Andrew Flintoff for his test return. Ryan Sidbottom whoose form in an England shirt since his re-call has be awesome was ruled out with a side injury.

Three of England's Ashes 2005 bowlers were all avaliable to play, with Simon Jones in particulary in very good form and finds himself the most potent bowler in the County Championship this season. However the England selectors go with un-capped Darren Pattison.

Now against Zimbabwe or maybe even New Zealand this would have been an accpetable call-up. Against South Africa one of the leading test playing nations he looked like a light-weight.

I'm not saying he lost the test match for England because he wasn't the only under performing bowler out there, but his call up must have boosted the South African batters. Not haveing to face Harmisson or Jones at 90 miles an hour in the first innings it was 83 mph Pattison who they dispatched to all parts of Leeds.

Not quiet sure who was ivolved in the call up, I actaully think it was wrong to presume that Pattision would step up to the text arena but whoever made the call should have a long look at themselves.

Not only was it wrong for him to be involved but the options were there to be tapped into. Even Chris Tremlett who travelled with the team should have at least been given the nod. I do feel sorry for the Hampshire man who must feel hard-done by after watching almost an entire summer' worth of Cricket from the balcony.

Simon Jones and Steve Harmisson must think they can't do anymore after enduring a good season for both there counties. Matthew Hoggard has even had some effect as his impressive Yorkshire side continue to progree in all competitions.

So surely with the series drifting away from England a change will be made. Pattition can't keep up with the test playing demands.

I think the introduction of Jones would be the way to go. he has extreme pace and South Africa although they will know him won't be used to the variation that he would now give the England attack, pure swing.

So if any descion has to be made this week by the selectors, ignore Michael Vaughan's lack of form look at the bowlers by far England's strongest area.

One step forward-two steps back

Cricket has joined Football in making a Champions League with the best teams from around the world competing in a multi-million pound competition.

My first thoughts are that this is good for the sport. The ECB have obviously researched a lot of time and money into this project and have come up with a pretty good product. Getting rid of the pro-40 league is an excellent call, seeing as it isn't even played at International level I can't believe it was even introduced in the first place.

The ECB have also gone for what the fans want. Very few sports put the fans first, but the ECb's researched showed that we want more 20/20 cricket on friday nights. I couldn't agree more 20/20 is hugely exciting and more than even before has attracted sell out crowds all over the country.

Everyone's concern is that it may effect the amount of test cricket played and eliminate the game altogether. In the short run as has been shown already it will only improve the game. Run-rates are at an all-time high in test Cricket and the 5-day game has never been so exciting.

Whether the game survive will depend how how sucessful this 20/20 competition is. I do hope the 4-day games stay alive and that the ECB can accomidate both competitions.

The experenced gaine by some of the English firnge players will be vital in building a team for the next World Cup. The more Cricket they are playing the better in my opinion.

So overall this is a good thing for English Cricket. Yes things are changing but every sport changes now and again and I can't see this change making any negative impact on the sport.

Out of Jail

I haven't written a blog in sometime due to my inability to get to a computer. But as I am finally am to I'm going to start with one of the biggest descions in world sport that we heard last friday. The descion not to allow Dwain Chambers to run in this years Bejing Olympics.

In my opinion this ruling shouldn't have even gone this far. When the original ban was imposed 5 years ago. The BOA shouldn't have even allowed an appeal for the ban. To be honest no ban whether it be for drugs shouldn't be allowed to be appealed against. it simily underminds the goverening body who inforced the ban.

For some years now I have been against sportsman who have taken drugs to ever be involved in sport again. Ben Johnson is maybe the obnly athlete who has been treated in the way I would like every sportsman to be treated, with the respect that showed the sport, none at all.

Any sportsman found guilty of taking performance enhancing drugs should be banned for life. End of story. This way any sportsman who does it knows what they are giving up if they do it and what they could be giving up, there careers.

Until this rulling is introduced then athletes will continues to take drugs, get off with an 8 month band and return to the sport as quickly as they left it.

I'm not sure I've ever punched there air when I've listened to the news before. but when I heard of Friday's decsion I was delighted.

I'll be honest I hate Dwain Chambers. How dear he drag the reputation of a dying sport along with him to achieve a goal he destroyed himself when he was caught all those years ago.

Justice has been done at last, but not until lifetime bans are introduced, will drugs finally we demolished from our sport.

Toppled

Congratulations to Rafael Nadal who has ended the 5-year winning streak of Roger Federer to win this year Wimbledon Title. In a truly magnificent encounter Nadal proved just to strong for the world number one, who looks now like relinquishing his world ranking after 231 weeks at the top.

For Nadal it can only get better, after becoming the first person to win the French open, Queens and Wimbledon all in succession the sky is the limit for the Spaniard. Knowing him he will be pushing himself to succeed at the US open where he has yet to really shine in his career to date. But there is plenty of time for that.

For Federer how he recovers from this will be important not just for his own mental stability but for his career. Players who hit a defeat like his after a period of dominance usually fade away after a few years and aren't the same player. I expect that within 2-3 years Federer to have retired from tennis altogether. Whether he will break Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slams is yet to be see, as i said we will get a better idea of his progress and recovery at the US Open.

Nadal showed today how the tables have turned at the top of the men's game. Federer has to play the best tennis he's played maybe ever to keep up with Nadal and still that wasn't good enough. He is sure to dominate the game for as long as Federer dominated it.

The Swiss will rue the fact that he has never won a French Open and after his performances today and in the previous 3 finals it doesn't look like he will. That title could well be the difference between him being named the best player of all time, or one of the best. Beating Sampras' record will also contribute to as it has been his goal for some years now.

But the future is Nadal for now, and his quest to see whether he can stop Federer's dominance in America a go onto become the only the second men's player to hold all four grand slam at once, why not? The sky's the limit for this little master

Collision Course

Just eight remain in this years men's singles event at Wimbledon and for the third year in a row we are getting ready for another Federer-Nadal final. Both men have been simmering in the past week, knowing that they are almost certain to meet in Sunday's final. I'm going to look forward to tomorrows quarter finals and see if there is any chance of a different final on Sunday.

Roger Federer vs Mario Ancic: The last man to beat Federer on grass, Ancic is no stranger to this environment. In 2004 he met Andy Roddick in the semi-final before going down in four sets. However Federer has come on hugely since there 2002 meeting. He is now a five time Wimbledon Champion and a four time US Open champion. Ancic however has dipped in his form and this years championship has been the first chance he has had to break back onto the tour after a injury hit last few years. The two men form has been slightly contrasting. Federer not dropping a set on his way to the quarters. Ancic however has not. Three five set matches combined with a 9.15pm finish against David Ferrer, his most notable upset. Even if the match times were similar you can't see past the reigning champion. he simply has to much in his armoury for the Croat. It's been nice seeing Ancic's recovery but it has to end somewhere.

Marit Safin vs Feliciano Lopez: Probably the most open of the quarter finals with two men who have different paths to this stage of the competition. Safin, another man making his resurgence in the sport knocked of Novak Djokovic in round 2 and has gone from strength to strength in this tournament. Lopez up until round 4 hadn't had to many problems. He met Marcos Baghdatis the 10th seed and scrapped though in five sets, a big coup for the Spainard. If anything his mission this time round is slightly easier but Safin won't be giving away the match much like Baghdatis did. I think Safin will Prevale in this one, Lopez may well be tired after an enduring match against the Greek and the fact he is fighting a second battle in the men's doubles, something that could well be the downfall of this talented player.

Rainer Schuettler vs Arnaud Clement: The only quarter-final without a seeded player in and npthing could be more refreshing. Of the two Schuettler has had the more difficult draw knocking out James Blake and Janko Tipsarevic, Blake being dispatched in 5 sets after being 2 sets to 1 down. Clement for me has been one of the most impressive players at the championship. He has destroyed any opponent that has taken him on only dropping 2 sets the whole way through, something you would expect of a potential champion. So impressed I am with Clement I'm going to back the Frenchman to get through to his first ever grand slam semi-final but possible in five sets against a battling German opponent

Andy Murray vs Rafael Nadal: The tie of the round by a long way. The Brit hope against the best player in the world right now. Murray was simply magical in beating Richard Gasquet last night. Gasquet was so good in the opening two and half sets that we all thought he would give Nadal a fine match. However he lost concentration when it mattered and Murray came in to make it through. If Gasquet looked good enough to contend with Nadal, then Murray in the last two sets look good enough to beat him. The Spaniard will be wary not only of the new endurance based Murray, but also of the home crowd which surely gave Murray a set in all, that alone showing there influence. He will have to repeat this feat however to keep up with Nadal and his best chance will be to win in straight sets, in any more and Nadal will hold the advantage. For me Nadal will prevail, but only in four sets to let him know he's not the only young tennis star on the block

Much of a Muchness

Congratulations to Spain in there victory in Sunday European Championship Final against Germany. It wasn't the best week for me in terms of predictions and it finished off with a right hash up on Sunday. I had backed Germany from the beginning to win the tournament and I was no less confident going into Sunday's final. I had predicted Spain going out in each other there knock-out games which they went on to win and still backed against them in the final, the reason, I simply don't think there a very good side. I think this tournament has shown how poor the level of Football is in Europe currently, that a pretty poor side like Spain can go all the way. Now i hear you cry weren't Greece the same. No they weren't they beat decent sides to progress, France, Czech Republic and Portugal, who were all playing well and at some sort of peak, the sides who have entered this year are at the end of there Golden generation. Spain beat an ageing Italian side without there two best players on the lottery of penalties and Russia, who despite there brilliant performance are no world beating nation. They never took on a side who were brilliant played best they could and Spain outclassed them. For me it was a tournament of 16 indifferent teams, but my God it made for one hell of a tournament!!!

I'm going to try and put together a team of the tournament and then go through my favourite and not to favourite moments of the tournament and pick out the players who shouldn't have even bothered.

Team of the Tournament:

Goalkeeper- Authur Boruc: An odd choice i know but only because i seemed stuck with who else to go for, however Boruc was solid for an otherwise ordinary Polish side. His string of saves against Austrian was his proudest monment and how he kept out the Germans in there opening game was commendable, it was a shame how the rest of his team didn't show the same bravery that there keeper did.


Right Back- Sergio Ramos: I have a huge dislike for full backs who clearly don't know how much to attack and defend and get caught out doing to much of one. Ramos has got the mix just right. Good in the air, quick, strong, young, athletic great features for a full back to have. He has the physicality to later on in his career to become a centre back but while he still has a few yards of pace he plays at right back at has helped lead Spain to there first title since 1964.

Centre Back- Giorgio Chillini: Was due to be partnering Fabio Cannavaro at these championships and you hardly noticed he wasn't there. This man defended with the astute awareness usually left for the Italy captain and helped out the floundering back four. His performance in particular against Spain was one of the best of the tournament. A great centre back who if and when Cannavaro returns will form an excellent partnership together.

Centre Back- Pepe: Even though he only played part of the tournament his presence was felt has he held together an dodgy looking Portuguese defence. Te 23 million rated defender scored his team's opening goal of the tournament and looked right at home in the centre back position, if only his team mates could say the same as they were played so far out of position they were in the stands. A great individual performance let down by his team.

Left Back- Yuri Zhirkov: Possibly my player of the tournament simply because of his consistent performances and his brilliant both ends of the pitch. His pace was frightening and his willingness to get forward was relentless. His calmness at the back helped a at times leaky Russian defence. His pace helped create many Russian attacks and he certainly played his part in the humiliation of Holland in the quarter-finals, certainly his finest moment of the three weeks.

Right Wing- Bastian Swiensteger: Lets aviod the debatable sending off and concentrate on his excellent performances. if this man didn't turn up in the group stage he certainly did the knock-out stages where he scored his teams opening goals in both matches and helped his side all the way to the final, always drifting in the from the right to join in with play, was one of the driving forces in his team.

Centre Midfield- Csec Fabregas: The Arsenal man only started two game in the tournament, but I'm pretty sure he would have liked the final one he did start in. The injury to David Villa was a blessing as Fabregas inspired his side to a 3-0 win in the semi-final and garenteed himself a starting place in the final. That performance alone gets him into this team along with his winning penalty against Italy and his impact from the bench in the group stage. A brilliant player sure to get better come the World Cup in South Africa.

Centre Midfield-Marcos Senna: Only Zhirkov comes close to this man for me, and if ever a man could drive there team to a final it would be this man. Playing as the holding player in a sometimes five man midfield he looked well at home. The Villareal man really shone through in this tournament beyond the likes of Torres and Villa.

Left Midfield-Wesley Sneijder: If he had had longer in the tournament to make his impact him sure he would have been picking up his own individual award for player of the tournament. This man lived and breathed Holland in the group stage, two goals from him against Italy and France both marvellous in there own individual way. he spearheaded that magnificent Dutch attack which had shades of '88.

Striker-Roman Pavlyuchenko: Very difficult choice upfront but I've gone for the player who played five games and not three. He was always a threat upfront making the single man upfront look like three. Although he missed a few chances the one's he took were brilliant and he hugely deserved more than the three goals he did get. England were lucky only to concede two goals against this man, a real star for the future, let the bidding war commence.

Striker- Ruud Van Nistelrooy: The best striker in the world Fabio Capello called him, and he's totally right. This man's hold up play was always good, but now he's bringing more players into the game and becoming a more complete footballer, and is it me or has he got a yard more pace? Still scoring poachers goals as always like he showed against Italy and Russia.

I no there will be arguments there so do feel free to add your own team of the tournament of add your own substitutions. Not putting player of the tournament Xavi in you might say. I'll be honest who on earth chose him as player of the tournament, were the men at UEFA even watching the tournament? Torres and Villa for me didn't do enough than score goals in to games for me. They looked off the pace for me, although credit to Torres for his winning goal in the final, I thought he took it brilliantly and played very well.

So now to my best and worst moments of the tournament, some sensible, some not so sensible.

Goal of the Tournament: Wesley Sneijder vs. Italy- One of the first goals of the tournament and what a goal. The ball travels the length of the pitch after Italy have the ball cleared off the line, Durk Kuyt heads the ball across from a Van Bronkhorst cross and theres Sneijder to put the ball away beyond the despairing Buffon, a truly brilliant goal.

Game of the Tournament: Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic- One of the most amazing matches I have ever experienced and a turn around I haven't seen in some time. The Czech's go two nil up through Jan Koller and Plasil. Polak then hits the post with fifteen minutes remaining. Turan makes it 2-1 with Turkey still having much to do. But a goal-keeping error by Petr Cech with 89 minutes gone allowed Nihat to turn the ball into an empty net before the striker scored a stunning goal seconds later crashing the ball in off the bar. Even with a minute left there is still time for more action as Turkey's keeper Demirel is sent off for pushing Koller and with all three substitutes made Tuncay has to go in goal for the final seconds. Phew!!

Worst Game of the Tournament: Romania vs. France- In the group of death the opening game bought a match that wanted everyone watching to want to die. France looked 4 fours past there peak, playing players who clearly aren't international quality and are more legible for a pension rather than a transfer. Romania paid the French to much respect and expected more of a barrage than they got, they never wanted to win the game either. I'm surprised I've been able to write this much about it.

Worst Player of the Tournament: Florent Malouda- The normal development of a human being is after learning how to walk you learn how to run. Malouda has obviously not followed this pattern and is still at the walk stage. One of the few players in the tournament to have consistency the whole way through, to be so ineffectual its embarrassing. Why Chelsea even gave him a chance at the Bridge I don't know.

Best call of the tournament: The Austrian director of the TV coverage always picking out the hottest female fan he could find and zooming in until he absolutely had to cut to the football match that was happening at the time. Also Alan Hansen leballing the Romania-France game 'the worst game he had ever seen in his life'

Worst Call of the tournament: BBC Radio Five Live having Steve McLaren as there main summariser for the Championship. One of the worst decisions since England appointed........ oh wait.


Gaff of the Tournament: It's a toss up between Gomez's miss against Austria, or Howard Webb awarding Austria a penalty in there game with Poland.

So there we have it another European Championship is over. One of the best we've seen in years not just because of the quality of football however. For the first time in a long time there seemed to be an overwhelming respect for both players, supporters and referee's. There were just two sending' off in the entire tournament which is very encouraging to see, just one booking for simulation in the tournament and even more encouraging a seemingly bigger respect for the players towards each other. No petty fouls or niggling tussles, just good old football. If this tournament has shown us anything it has made us see that the sport his heading in the right direction and that it's cleaning up its act once and for all.