February 2009 Archives

Yes once more it is time for me to look ahead and pick my highlights from the world of sport over the next two days.

Let's start with the egg chasing, because after a weeks break the Six Nations returns with a bang with the first ever Friday night game when Wales travel to Paris to take on the French. A lot of people aren't sure about them playing on a Friday night but having been at the England vs. Tonga game in the last world cup which was played at the same time, and even though that didn't involve the home nation, I can tell you the city will be rocking by 8pm tonight!!

So last night, instead of going on my weekly snowboarding jaunt to Tamworth Snowdome, I instead settled in for a night of Champions League action.

The sad part was I was watching in bed as I had to get up at stupid o'clock for my show as always, but the cool part was that after all the hype, all the rhetoric spoken about how Serie A is miles ahead of the Premier league, our boys done us proud!

My beloved Arsenal should have had six at the Emirates against Roma, and Man United were by far the better side in the 1st half against Mourinho's Inter, even if they faded towards the end, and should have come away with more than a draw.

Well I hyped it up on Friday as the game that would act as a yard stick to see how far Villa had come and unfortunately for Martin O'Neill's men, while they have made great strides, the early kick off defeat to Chelsea on Sat morning shows just how far they have to go.

It's not that Villa were that bad, but up against a side trying to impress there manager, and full of world class talent; they just seemed to lack that edge. I genuinely feel Villa can take on anyone on a good day, the problem was, Chelsea were also having a good day, and it just turned out to be better than Villa's.

So as the 6 nations sides take a well earned break this week once more all eyes turn to the Premiership, and what a game we have in store for us at 12.45pm when 3rd plays 4th at Villa Park, and yes, that's Villa above Chelsea!

As if there wasn't enough riding on this game already, it will also see Abramovich's bunch of mercenaries play their first proper game with new boss Guus Hiddink at the helm, and he will have a lot of questions to answer, none least, suggestions that he vehemently denies, that the dressing is as about as split as the end of one of my hairs.

Talking sport that is, yes, the Midlands leading sports pundit and Kerrang! Radio's Offside (Saturday 1-5pm) presenter Luke Wilkins chews the sporting fat once more with his good friend Jonny Greatrex at Fort Dunlop.

Yes after being bowled out for .....................well let's not mention that *coughs* 51........................and then having a game cancelled on us after just ten balls, the English cricket team have rediscovered how to play in the hastily arranged 3rd test in Antigua.

We put on 500 in the first innings, bowled the Windies out for under 300, and have now set a target for 503 to win, and not only that, but we have seen some awesome performances from under fire and new players alike. Strauss's ton in the first innings was immense, and more importantly for him he actually looked not just comfortable but in good touch, at one point I swear I almost saw him move his feet too!

Yes that's right, after saying how last week I wish I had been Welsh (which I believe my family still consider as heresy), this week the English rugby team went a hell of a long way to restoring some of that battered pride and once again every member of that team can be proud of wearing the English Rose.

I said England would lose by 20, and after the first minute when the Welsh poured through our defences like it was one of my old rugby socks (full of holes) I really though it might have been worse, but the way the players responded was amazing. It harked back to 2007 World Cup when we were beating teams much better than us by passion and aggression alone. You see rugby is a great game, as if you don't have the skill of say Shane Williams, you can make up for by being a human battering ram like Joe Worsley. Hell I was never that good but managed to play a pretty decent standard just 'cos I'm a bit crazy, and I remember winning games with my school team, where we were completely outclassed by other sides, but we simply beat the living be-Jesus out of them and they didn't want to know!

So here we go again, its time for round two of the Six Nations, and the FA Cup 5th Round and here is my guide to what you can look forward to sports wise this weekend!

First up, there will be no international cricket as England's test against the West Indies has been delayed/cancelled because of a bad pitch...surely they could have sorted this before play had started, unless of course this is cunning new tactic by England to ensure we don't get beaten!!

In mind of this I thought we might have a quick caption competition for the below pic:

Just whack your ideas as comments using the form below!

So we are only half way through the week, and already I have been absolutely gobsmacked about what has happened in the increasingly mad world of football that the sport seems to inhabit!

First up, Tony Adams getting sacked by Pompey after only 3 minutes in charge is a real shame I feel, with young English managers struggling to make an impact in the Premiership (especially after the whole Paul Ince debacle) it is sad to see one of the nicest, honest, and hardest working people in the sport booted out of his job. Don't get me wrong, I understand that as a manager you are judged on results, but consider that Pompey should have beaten Liverpool on Saturday and were only denied by a last minute Torres goal, and when you take into account that before the game he was given the complete support of the board it just shows you how unlucky he was.

Yes that's right, I have said it!! This morning of Monday the 8th of February, and you can quote me on this, but I wish I was Welsh!!

This is not due to some sudden craving for the Valleys, or because I have suddenly taken a liking to Catherine Zeta Jones, nor is it because I have been reliably informed by Rugby legend Allan Bateman that they actually make wine in said Valleys...yes Welsh Wine - I kid you not......no its because to be fair, I just don't want to be English after this weekend, and wow do those boys in red know how to play with an egg shaped ball.