RIP Jim Stynes

It's been said already but never will be enough. Champion footballer, president, ambassador & most of all person. What a great man to be lost to Australian sport. Thoughts & prayers with the Stynes family at this difficult time. There will not be another in football like him and never forgotten

Blogging on hold, thanks all

Hey, if you're reading this you've already got my appreciation. Unfortunately due to university commitments I can no longer continue blogging right now. If my blogging was viewed by thousands daily then there would be a responsibility to continue although not badly viewed which is appreciated but that much is nowhere near for me quite obviously (lol) I've enjoyed it heaps and I've gone Out with a Bang with my Grand Prix preview and my Messi 5 goals article being the most viewed, double the next closest, not a surprise because it was topical & posted on YouTube videos and retweeted. In fact everyone who retweeted links to my articles are kind and are absolute legends. So thanks for everyone who read glanced or linked. Hopefully when I come back to my blog it'll beat the magical 1000 views mark. go the western bulldogs, Man City, Melbourne Victory, Australia and Mark Webber/Riccardio!!!

Formula 1 returns:Melbourne Grand Prix preview

Yep that's right F1 lovers, after the testing period for the teams some completely changing others tweaking their designs and cars (And in the case of Caterham (Team lotus) their names) the first Formula 1 race is a metter of days away. Will it be Red Bull again lead by the incomparable Vettel and solid Webber or will it be a challenger from McLaren, Ferrari or even Mercedes or Lotus.  Here we look at each team and predict who will finish the race in front.

Red Bull

After an extremely successful couple of season, reigning world champ Sebastian Vettel and his restless Auistralian teammate Mark Webber line up again in a very strong car.  Expect it to be right on the pace right from the start. If Vettel gets Pole position the race is as good as over, just like his German compatriot Schumacher when he gets ahead he is so quick the race nearly gets boring.  Expect Webber at home to challenge very strongly.  Anything less than podiums for both would be a disappointment.

McLaren Mercedes

British team lead by two former world champions in Button and Hamilton will challenge extremely strongly.  Both now how to win races and come back from difficult positions but they wouldn't want to risk too many of those this year.  Button can again be expected to be extremely solid and will challenge till right at the end of the season.  However Lewis Hamilton is the most talented driver on the circuit.  Always entertaining to watch race (and the tabloids would say off-track) with his aggressive style of racing and his never-say-die attitude.  If he can reign it in with a good car he can win anything.  Just don't tell Fellipe Massa

Ferrari

The former Italian glamour team have slowly taken a bit of a fall from their usual standing but expect this season for them to comeback hard.  With a car overhaul if the engineering fits then Ferrari lead by Fernando Alonso (who is never one lacking for confidence) will jump back onto regular podiums.  As a support Nessa can also win races but there's no doubt unlike the other two teams who's boss at Ferrari. Might not challenge for victory in Melbourne but will improve quickly.


Mercedes

The statistically most successful racer in Michael Schumacher's comeback team has not threatened the big three but is however safely established as the fourth best team.  Perhaps for not much longer with Team Lotus making gains with Schumacher's successor at Ferrari Raikonnen making a return.  Improvement needs to be shown by both Schumacher and Rosenberg for them to keep going and for Mercedes to know it's on the right track. Expect them to start the season slow.

Team Lotus

The team formerly known as renault has made its ambition clear.  To become the fourth best team in world racing.  As big guns go they don't get much bigger than former world champion Fin Kimi Raikonnen.  Expect the enigmatic and quite racer to bring Lotus to a new level.  Podiums will be reached during the season


Force India

 As a middle team Force India is well placed to again perform strongly.  Removing Adrian Sutill however was a surprising move and the still young and inexperienced Resta and Hulkenberg will be interesting to watch

Sauber
What this team's all about? Watching the most entertaining driver in motor sport Kamui Kobayashi show his stuff with his heroic overtaking and fast speed.  Expect improvement also from Perez and Sauber.


Toro Rosso
 Red Bulls second squad, expect it to stay near the back.  However the main reason to watch is the two young talents of Riccardio and Vergne, future top 5 racers.

Williams
The glory days might be long past but for Williams the future is looking up.  Bruno Senna will be hoping to prove he has some of his uncles talent.

Caterham
Shame about the name change (It really doesn't sound racey) but with 2 experienced drivers of some very fine cars with Kovalainen and Petrov expect Caterham to surprise.


Hispania Racing Team
Will be fighting to not finish last, has brought in the old hand of Pedro de la Rosa and Karthikeyan to steady the ship but both drivers aren't going to get any better.

Marussia
Formerly Virgin Racing testing has not gone well for them (in fact no testing because of failed crash tests).  Expect Timo Glock to fight but it will not be enough to keep them from the bottom. 

Melbourne Race Predictions (Top 10)
 1.Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
 2.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
 3.Jenson Button (McLaren)
 4.Mark Webber (Red Bull)
 5.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
 6.Nico Rosenberg (Mercedes)
 7.Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
 8.Romain Grosjean (Team Lotus)
 9.Michael Schumacher (Mercedes)
10.Kimi Raikonnen (Team Lotus)

Sri Lanka the fighters

Sri Lanka ended losing the triangular CUB one-day finals series to the Australian side 2-1, but not after a bit more of the fight typical of the Sri Lankans shown in this series.  Although the Australians were well deserved victors although not being a class above but by being the most consistent, Sri Lanka can return home with their heads held high.

Tonight however they just couldn't do it, with a low total to chase impeded by some excellent early Australian bowling early on lead by Clint McKay with a fiver wicket haul.  But after the dark couple of months, with Kumar Sangakkara the erudite leader stepping down from the captaincy because of political interference and then Tillkeratne Dilshan stepping into the breach, with a baptism of fire soon enough against Australia at home.  Dilshan unfortunately not only suffered through his batting but also through not winning a series as captain.  Hence Mahela Jaywardene took over the reigns.  And immediately showed why he was earmarked by Ranatunga Sri Lankas only world cup winning captain as a future SL captain.

He has shown calmness and authority holding the captaincy and has been able to get the best out of his players.  Dilshan with a hundred in the finals series is also looking back to the cracking form that made him once the most watchable batsman in cricket.  It is amazing how Sri Lanka as a country has the orthodoxy and brilliantly classical and technical such as Jaywardene, Sangakkarra, Attapatu, De Silva with the unorthodox and unpredictable with Malinga, Mendis, Murala and Jayasuria for starters.  It is this combination of both extremes that make Sri Lanka one of the most watchable teams in the world and perhaps also explain why they've been very successful especially in the limited forms of the game (WC 1996 winners, SF 2003, Finalists 2007 & 2011 and Twenty20 finalists).  This also makes it a shame that they are departing, because besides the amazing run chase from India they have been an entertaining and admirable side to watch, they can certainly leave with a real excitement for the future.

Messi's 5 historical CL goals

Well if you could pick any player in the world currently playing to be the first to kick 5 goals in a Champions League final, Lionel Messi is where you'd start (unless Real Madrid were playing some Ukranian team who lost all their players from the previous season to bankruptcy, then Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn't surprise.(No disrespect to the Ukraine, just the first European country I thought of without a team that immediately springs to mind).  Is he the best ever?  I'll leave that debate to another time but let's not forget how amazing Diego, Pele and Cryuff were.


Here are the 5 goals:

Goal 1 (25min)

Exquisite pass from Xavi, with control from Messi enough to lob it over the shoulder of the keeper on a 45 degree angle to the goal to the opposite corner of the net,

Goal 2 (42m)

Recieves the ball from Iniesta, runs into the box, dances around 3 defenders and curls a left boot his into the bottom left-hand corner

Goal 3 (49m)

Another lob!  From another long pass from Fabregas this time, catching the ball on the volley and chipping it over the keeper again.

Goal 4 (58m)

Goalkeeper leno stopped a shot on the right post only to the deflect to Messi who was running in who easily closed the gap between a laying on the ground Leno.

Goal 5 (84m)

Gathered ball just outside penalty area and shoots from outside left boot to the left side once again, a sublime and trademark finish.

Chelsea manager rollcall during Roman Abromovich's reign

Chelsea managers June 2003-March 2012

Claudio Ranieri

Games: 200
Games won: 107


Jose Mourhino

Games: 185
Games won: 124

Trophies: 2005-2006 Premier League champions, 2007 FA Cup

Avram Grant

 Games:54
Games won: 36

Trophies: (although Champions League final)

Luiz Felipe Scholari

Games: 36
Games won: 20


Ray Wilkins

 Games: 1
Games won: 1


Guus Hiddink

Games: 22
Games won: 16

Trophies: 2009 FA Cup

Carlo Ancelotti

Games: 109
Games won: 67

Trophies: 2010 Premier League Champions, 2010 FA Cup

Andre Villas-Boas

Games: 38
Games won: 19


Roberto di Matteo 

???

To be honest, Villas-boas should have been given more time, but then again he shouldn't be there because Ancelotti is management royalty and after bagging Chelsea their first double his lack of success in the Champions League told. Though like Mourinho he's already won a Champions League.

ps-I promise this is my last post on Chelsea for awhile
pps-I don't want to seem like I'm out and out bagging the guy, I don't agree with his decisions on Managers but he has brought a lot of success to the club, financial stability, memories that will stay with Chelsea supporters forever and also stopped Manchester United winning more and more trophies, because their financial dominance for too long was overbearing.

And now-Deron Williams!!!

One of those days for NBA where it's all happening, first Linsation and Rondomania and now Deronistation (ok horrible, horrible, please forgive me).  But career and NBA season high 57 POINTS and a record for the New Jersey Nets franchise means that they were able to get over the Charlotte Bobcats 104-101.

Sure not one of the best teams to get the points over but still...

(thanks NBA for the great image too)

Rondomania!!!

Wow.  For a player to overshadow Jeremy Lin's heroic return to Boston and fourth quarter must be something special.  And Rajon Rondo brought it.  18 points, 20 assists, 17 rebounds including 5 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in the overtime period.

Fair game for a point guard, the coach was full of praise but geez what a game.  Boston Celtics are a very successful team with a long and proud history and Rajon Rondo had one of his best games.  Offensive and defensive play during the game.  Surely he WILL NOT be traded, ridiculous.

Final score Boston 115 New York Knicks 111

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:7645668&startTime=02:02

Roman's Chelsea claims another victim

So obviously the news is everywhere that Roman Abramovich, the billionaire owner of Chelsea has fired yet another coach.  Unmercilessly the "next big thing" Andre Villas-Boas wasn't even given the opportunity to see out the season, even though Chelsea (albeit probably not much longer) are still alive in the Champions League and can still make the top 4 in the premier league.

The season has been a shambles, but not as much as the coaching merry go round.  AVB should've been given more time, but also so should have Ancelotti and really so should have Mourinho.  Even before then.  Barcelona won't win La Liga this season but Guardiola's job isn't in any trouble, in fact is being allegedly chased by Chelsea! When will this coaching merry go round end?  Sure the money is good but who would take the position when even one bad run will see you fired?  Maybe Roman needs to look at the real cause of the problem.

Please End this Clive Palmer, a plea

If you're a follower of the A-League or even read Australian papers you'd know about the stoush between Frank Lowry, billionaire and chairman of Football Federation Australia (the ruling soccer body in Australia) and Clive Palmer, billionaire and owner of Gold Coast united and A-League team.  Or should that be former owner of GCU. His licence was revoked after a couple of breaches-

You can read about it here:
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Buckley-releases-statement-on-Clive-Palmer/45828

This is all really sad and I'm sure it can't have been an easy decision for Frank Lowry to make but the way the situation has turned out there's not much more he could do.

Gold Coast have worn shirts proclaiming "Free speech" in a match against an FFA directive, play to no crowds at Skilled stadium, fired their coach or he left after he disagreed with a promotion of a 17 year old to captaincy on the owner Clive's orders.  Clive Palmer since then has launched a stinging attack on Frank Lowry, the running of the game and even launched his own organisation called Football Australia and has allegedly been trying to recruit players to form a "rebel league".

Now Clive Palmer's worth $5 billion so I'm sure he can do what he wants, get flown in a helicopter where ever he wants, owner a pet elephant or launch a campaign against a government looking to share some of the wealth himself and Gina Reinhart are acquiring from Australia's natural resources (though I do accept mining is a high risk high investment industry okay just to get that one out of the way).

But in regards to Gold Coast, Mr Palmer please stop it, don't take this to court. You haven't won. It's not good for the game for this to continue being news, so in the interest of the game please stop.

Why Chelsea (and Roman) should persist with André Villas-Boas

Chelsea around 18 months ago were on top of the world.  Or at least England.  The recent Double winners (the first time in their history) were being coached by one of the best managers in England in Ancelotti, the team was playing entertaining, high scoring and attacking football with scores showing their dominance in competition.  Then it all fell away.  They had a horrible run near the end of 2010 till 2011, didn't progress in the Champions League and spent a 50 million pound transfer fee (a record in English football for Torres) on one of the world's brightest stars who could not the find the net in a better squad.

Meanwhile a new manager at Porto, ironically enough Mourinho's start in top line management was also starting to make a mark, Andre-villas Boas (or AVB). But enough about the Mourinho comparisons and the fact he worked under him in a fair bit of his success. In his first season as manager of Porto they won 4 titles, the Portuguese Supercup, the Portugues Premiera Liga, the Portugues Cup and most importantly of all the UEFA Europa Cup the second biggest European competition outside the Champions League.  It was this that really brought him to everyones attention on the world stage. 


Porto played an entertaining brand of football also with exceptional defence that allowed them to remain undefeated throughout the season.  It was no surprise that notoriously restless Abramovich moved Ancelotti on and then splurged out the highest transfer fee for a manger in history to lure AVB down to Stamford Bridge.

When signed he seemed a breath of fresh air, combative, emotional highly studios and intelligent, but since the start of the season things haven't gone the way they promised.  Chelsea is in 5th position, unable to compete with the top 3 clubs in the league and dropping points against teams from eminently winnable positions. There are rifts within the squad and rumours of disenchantment with the manager, publicly from the likes of Chelsea legends such as Lampard and Anelka, the free-flowing style does not seem to be netting results and dammit Torres just cant seem to fire.

But despite the fact that firing AVB now will be the most expensive 1 season by a manager for a very long time,  the fact is that Chelsea is a team in transition.  Ultimately this is a team still slowly shedding the shells of mourinho's powerful consecutive Premier League winning team.  Some of the young players brought in such as Mata and Sturridge do genuinely look the future of the club and up to it.  Drogba, Lampard and Terry are still excellent players some of the best in England but eventually they will have to be moved on and results will suffer, because you can't lose quality such as that and expect a dip.   And it seems AVB is aware of this hence why the controversial benching of Drogba and Lampard which don't seem to help results but are a statement to the future.  A game one day hoped to be melded on the lovely Barcelona passing game. Lampard and Terry since being English are club legends so to keep them around would be a good idea but perhaps if Drogba wants good game time perhaps moving him on while his currency is still good could be an option.  What a player though.  AVB is slowly learning on the jobs, more about how to treat personalities in addition to tactics but if he lasts till next season the fruits of his labour might begin to ripen.

Anzhi Makhachkala-It's not just about the money, money money

With former Blackburn star Chris Samba signing a  £12 million deal to play for the newest extremely-rich-owner team on the block, means another big statement from Anzhi Makhachkala (great to say also).  Playing in the Russian Premier League it is owned by billionaire Sulyeman Kerimov who bought the club only in January last year. Makhachkala is the capital of the republic of Dagestan and plays in a stadium with a capacity of only 15,000.  The streets around the stadium are not well kept and Dagestan is a country struggling with ethnic tensions, terrorism and in some parts poverty.  Although only 5% of the population now are ethnic Russians, the country is still under Russian authority.

So why did Sulyeman buy such a small team in not exactly a well-known sporting location in Makhachkala?  He is going to pump $200 million into stadium infrastructure and in the surrounding area to get the stadium to UEFA regulations of a 40,000 capacity.  The country is unsafe enough that the squad is still flown in on home games and their training takes place in Moscow, not exactly next door.  Sulyeman is a noted philanthropist, setting up a charity with his name to help in developing Russian communities and is spending $100 million on a top class school for gifted students west of Moscow.  He obviously feels that if the Makhachkala residents had something to bring them together, say a successful squad (Football being a great bridger) then harmony in the region can be slowly worked towards.  One things for sure, with the money being spent, they won't fail as both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona, and PSG show that money does equate to success, which ever way you look at it.

Anzhi Makhachkala's big signings:


Guus Hiddink

(PSV Eindhoven, The Netherlands, Real Madrid, Real Betis,South Korea, Australia, Russia, Turkey, Chelsea)

Samuel Eto'o

(Mallorca,Inter Milan, Cameroon)\

Roberto Carlos

(Brazil, Inter Milan, Real Madrid)\

Christopher Samba

(Congo, Blackburn Rovers)

NBA top 10 dunks January

check this out:

Gotta love it!!!

Virat Kohli's century youtube highlights

What an innings.

Cristiano Ronaldo's classy backheel goal

Just in case you haven't seen it: