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.