A driver with an abundance of talent, and a driver’s instinct and competitiveness similar to a certain seven-time world champion, Sebastian Vettel can produce stella Grand Prix performances when everything is going his way. However, there is another side to his driving that lead to some, including ex-Formula 1 driver and commentator Martin Brundle, yet to be convinced of his overtaking skills in pressured circumstances.
In changeable conditions at the Belgian Grand Prix, Vettel could have conceivably won today’s race had he past title rival and McLaren driver Jenson Button despite Lewis Hamilton’s pace, who led from the first corner to the finish. Starting fourth, Vettel slipped his way past Renault’s Robert Kubica on Lap 4 at the La Source hairpin. And with Button struggling after sustaining damage to his front wing during the early laps, Vettel decided to pounce on Lap 17.
After coming out of the 180mph Blanchimont bend right behind Button’s gearbox in slippery conditions with both on slick tyres, Vettel aggressively moved out of his slipstream attempting to pass around the outside at the Bus Stop chicane, instead losing control and speared straight into the sidepod of the defending world champion’s McLaren.
The incident retired Button, but Vettel managed to crawl into the pits. That set the tone for a miserable race for the German. He was awarded a drive-through penalty for his actions, while two further incidents followed – a puncture after overtaking Vitantonio Liuzzi at the same corner, and almost colliding with Fernando Alonso in the pitlane for a change to wet weather tyres, although no punishment was given. Vettel went on to finish the race 15th.
This has not been the first time that his ragged overtaking manoeuvres have managed to deceive him. He still has a lot to learn if he is to create a legacy anywhere to the standard of compatriot Michael Schumacher. In Turkey back in May, Vettel rammed into his teammate Mark Webber in a disastrous attempted pass for the lead. The Red Bulls were holding off the McLaren duo of Hamilton and Button at that time, so it was a shock to see Webber and Vettel tangle. What confused fans, viewers and media analysts even further was Red Bull’s insistence that Webber was to blame for the cause of the accident.
His naivety has also been called into question. During the race in Hungary earlier this month, Vettel admitted he “fell asleep” when he was distanced by Mark Webber during a safety car period, and consequently incurring a penalty that cost him the chance of victory.
In 2009, Vettel’s lack of race craft in his driving came to the fore. For example, in Brazil, last season’s penultimate race, he failed to capitalise on his then arch-rival Button’s uncompetitive Brawn in qualifying by recording 16th position. A string of reliability problems also did not help his cause, but nonetheless a championship he should have won, especially when Brawn suffered a lack of raw pace at the back end of the season.
His moments of seemingly avoidable incidents often do overshadow his true abilities at the wheel where, when given a lead after the first lap, the likelihood is he would scamper off into the distance and never see him again. He is still a contender for this year’s Formula 1 drivers title, but he would need to establish consistency if he wants to count himself as among the greats in the sport.
Monday 30 August 2010
Friday 13 August 2010
Premier League predictions
Arsenal
Predicted Pos: 4th
With the news of Cesc Fabregas reaffirming his commitment, the Gunners can now look forward to a hopefully competitive season on all fronts. With their integral Spanaird staying, free transfer signing Maourane Chamakh's work up front should be made slightly easier with the incisive passing that Fabregas offers to the Arsenal attack. Goals should not be a problem, but a big question mark still lingers over their fragile-looking defence. Depth is at its skinniest, with only Johan Djourou the only other centre-half backup, while Laurent Koscielny will need to acclimatise to the 'smash mouth' style of the English game. Champions League could be their main hope for glory if their title aspirations diminish by February.
Aston Villa
Predicted pos: 8th
Martin O'Neill's resignation - just days before the start of the league campaign - would have knocked the stuffing out of the squad. With financial resources at its most stringent under the Lerner era, caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald will have a limited squad at his disposal, especially if James Milner does depart for Man City. The transfer of Milner would be a huge blow given he was an obvious standout in the side. Ashley Young could leave to balance the books at Villa Park. They could be heading into decline unless serious investment is made, which is unlikely under MacDonald's current spell as a temp.
Birmingham
Predicted pos: 15th
Birmingham caught many by surprise with superb defensive performances home and away last season. However, this year could be a worry as they look to dismiss the notion of a side suffering '2nd season syndrome' - relegation in their second year, after performing well in the first. The summer signings were only replacements of the players that left. Flamboyant striker 'Chucho' Benitez returned to Ecuador from his season-long loan at St Andrews, but more importantly keeper Joe Hart has gone. Their defence was the foundations of their success and without Hart, they could crumple. They should stay up, but players like Barry Ferguson and Roger Johnson will need to be at their consistent best like last year.
Blackburn
Predicted pos: 12th
Blackburn over the period of seven years since they returned to the Premier League have earned themselves the reputation as brute forces. Teams travelling to Ewood Park know that they are likely to be in a war to win a football match. Manager Sam Allardyce has continued to instill a competitive instinct in his players. Chris Samba and Ryan Nelsen, two powerhouses at the heart of the defence, are the bedrock of Blackburn. Where they may struggle will be on their travels, where they seem to disintegrate at places like Stamford Bridge and the Emirates like a Rich Tea dipped in a hot beverage, whilst their lack of a renown goalscorer will put more pressure to keep a tight lid in their defence.
Blackpool
Predicted pos: 20th
Premier League sides will take a trip to the seaside, as Blackpool confirmed their place with the top dogs in their play-off final against Cardiff City. From that glorious moment of ecstacy came planning for life in the Premier League. They have recruited five players, including striker Marlon Harewood, but unfortunately they will struggle due to the infastructure of the club's finances. Struggling to pay player bonuses for their promotion, to the delay of the stadium stand meaning the club will play four of the first five league fixtures away, it is unlikely that Blackpool can gather much momentum this season. A lot will depend on the form of attacking midfielder Charlie Adam, who netted 16 times last season.
Bolton
Predicted pos: 9th
After six months testing the waters at the Reebok, manager Owen Coyle can begin to stamp his own brand of football on his side. Bolton should be competitive this season. If they keep defender Gary Cahill, who suffered a blood clot in his arm during the middle of last season, fit and healthy then they can progress. Chung-Yong Lee also provided a useful outlet in the forward department, while Kevin Davies has physical and ball retention qualities that can be a key threat, especially at home. But pass and move will be more of the theme at Bolton, unlike under Sam Allardyce, so goals should be aplenty. Home form, as with most sides at the middle of the table, is critical.
Chelsea
Predicted pos: 2nd
Champions last year, and this year also looking an ominious threat, Chelsea are the team to beat. Now a side exuding class, rather than the Mourinho method of breaking down the majority of teams because of their physical presence. Carlo Ancelotti has developed a refined attacking culture at the club. Out of the club is Deco, in comes a leaner Ramires. Out is Joe Cole, in is technical, and according to Ancelotti, tactically-gifted Yossi Benayoun. With mounting speculation of Sergio Aguero, then Chelsea could be a creative attacking force, in combination with its household names Essien, Drogba, Terry, Lampard. What could hold them back is the fact that they are the current champions. Aston Villa, Everton, Stoke, Birmingham all caused Chelsea problems last year despite a clean sweep over the rest of the 'Big 4' contingent. And members from this squad (Lampard, Terry, Drogba etc.) had disappointing World Cups, so it is concievable that they could struggle to find their feet for at least the first month of the new campaign.
Everton
Predicted pos: 7th
This could be a very usual season for the Toffees, given that they have managed to secure the future of three valuable players synonymus to the club. Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka and more importantly, Mikel Arteta have pledged to stay, and possibly ease Everton into a Champions League place. Yet again it has been a summer of limited spending, but despite this, Everton over the last five years have laid the foundations of a solid defence and midfield. Free signing Jermaine Beckford should add another dimension up front instead of the lumbering Yakubu and the sometimes ineffective Louis Saha. A great side - only suffering 3 defeats in the last 24 league games and third in the form table after January behind Chelsea and Man Utd - but the waferingly small squad could prove yet again a headache, especially with Dan Gosling's unusual departure to Newcastle after backroom staff failed to arrange paperwork for his renewal.
Fulham
Predicted pos: 14th
A transitional season as Mark Hughes takes the reins over Roy Hodgson. With Hodgson moving to join Liverpool as manager, Hughes is inherited with Hodgson's Europa League heroines. A solid base to work on, although little depth, and is further hampened by keeper Mark Scrwarzer's insistence of leaving Craven Cottage for the prospect of playing Champions League football with Arsenal. Hughes will do very well to keep him, and his other saving grace is Arsene Wenger's general reluctance to buy players over the age of 30. He has a good team, with extra scope to graduate youth players to the first-team setup, given the modest funds he will have available. League safety should be secured, but a top 10 finish might be a step too far.
Liverpool
Predicted pos: 5th
In the murky mist of an impending takeover from as many as six different potential investors, Liverpool prepare for the upcoming campaign with important question marks over the futures of their prized assets. Fernando Torres was much talked about over the summer, with links with a return to Spain, or heavyweight league rivals Chelsea and Man City, more so the latter until they signed Mario Balotelli. They have purchased some potentially very good players thanks to Hodgson, and with very little in the transfer kitty. Joe Cole arrived on a free, 18-year old defender Danny Wilson arrived from Rangers for £2m, and Danish international midfielder Christian Poulsen was a £4.5m acquisition from Juventus. Some plus points there. However, a lot of Liverpool's problems last year surfaced out wide - defensively and offensively. Hodgson has not purchased a fullback so far, even though they remain lightweight over on the left, while Rafa Benitez disjointed system allowed very little width in their play. With the Europa League being a demotivating factor, Liverpool will find this season tough, but should improve nevertheless under the tutelage of the experienced Hodgson.
Man City
Predicted pos: 1st
Remind you of Chelsea from six years ago? Certainly. Man City have brought any emerging star they could possibly find, bankrolled by Dubai based investors whose main asset is owning a tenth of the planet's oil reserves. Yes, they are very wealthy. And I think this is the main reason why they will win. They will too strong for a lot of the sides in the Premier League with the amount of quality players at their disposal. It is not as if they have purchased a whole new team this summer, but more to the point they have players of real substance and guile.
Many will say they need to establish some coherency, but the fact that they will be competing on four fronts with the Europa League, there will be many chances for the fringe players to integrate. Carlos Tevez showed last year how dangerous he can be within the penalty area. While new signings David Silva and Mario Balotelli's footwork will leave many teams in a daze. Their concern will be in defence, but Joe Hart has proved he has the attributes to be a world-class keeper, while Vincent Kompany's defensive work since his arrival has been tremendous. The disappointing factor in all of this is the lack of reasonable opportunities for youth to enter the first team fray, which has left talents who have graduated from the youth team like Micah Richards and Stephen Ireland, disillusioned at Eastlands. Money does talk.
Man Utd
Predicted pos: 3rd
Last year was relatively disappointing, despite the scintillating form of Wayne Rooney. The lack of responsibility shed onto other players to score regularly probably would have disappointed Sir Alex Ferguson. This said it all when the next highest scorer after Rooney at one point was own goals. Michael Owen was suffering injuries at inconvenient points in the last campaign, while Dimitar Berbatov seemed to suffer from cold feet in some of the big matches. He didn't appear in the others. Ferguson has looked to recitify this by signing Mexico forward Javier Hernandez, who impressed at the World Cup earlier this summer. Despite adding a couple of players to the squad, including Chris Smalling from Fulham, the impression is that it may not be enough to regain the title in Sir Alex's 25th year in charge of the club.
Newcastle
Predicted pos: 16th
After a year out of the top flight Newcastle have come back with virtually the same members of the team that relegated the club. Joey Barton, Danny Guthrie, Shola Ameobi, Fabricio Coloccini for example all are surviving members of a dreadful season two years ago. Have they learnt their lesson? Possibly they have become wiser because of that event, and realise they are not as big a club as they thought they really were. On paper, they should be a good side and give most teams a good game. But Newcastle are a team that can implode. We have all heard of it. Team disharmony, backstabbing the manager, fighting your teammates. Between five to ten years ago, anyone wouldn't have been surprised if every player/staff antics involved Newcastle. This year could be different. They may stay up if the players are committed, but it is unlikely they can target anything else beyond that. For many sides expecting a season of struggle rather than expectation, loan signings could be crucial as finances tighten.
Stoke
Predicted pos: 10th
These fiercely incumbent men under Tony Pulis definitely have made a name for themselves in the Premier League in their two years here. They are willing to fight, scrap, claw for anything they can possibly muster. They work well as a team and that is why they are never serious candidates for the drop in many people's eyes. They should never be complacent however, and is possibly something Pulis will be ringing out in every player's ear every training session. Being so drilled, organised and efficient, the team do not venture forward all too often. Goals come in spits and spurts, so they must improve in that department if they want to consolidate.
Sunderland
Predicted pos: 13th
An inconsistent team with a top-level goalscorer in Darren Bent, Sunderland do flatter to deceive much of the time. Victories over Liverpool and Arsenal last season gave the impression Sunderland could make real headway and grab a European place until a large slumpin form over the turn of the year saw them, at one point, on the verge of relegation. With Bent shouldering the burden with goals, much more must come from midfield if they are to survive. Last season and the season before showed at most points of each campaign, the small gap between a midtable side and a team in the relegation spots. Strong form at the Stadium of Light is needed, as well as some diligent defensive displays when the going gets tough.
Tottenham
Predicted pos: 5th
Champions League football they aspired, Champions League they got. Tottenham have improved markedly under Harry Redknapp and qualification, should they beat Young Boys in a qualifying play-off, to play in Europe's biggest and richest tournament is one they should look to capitalise on. Premier League is the ultimate key though, and another campaign in which they can secure European football, preferably the Champions League, would be a successful season. They certainly have the players and the depth to compete on all fronts.
Tottenham can play predictably on occasions, as Hull, Stoke and Wolves, who all grasped great away results, all sussed out. Big campaign for Aaron Lennon to prove he has the attributes of a top quality right winger, while Gareth Bale on the opposite flank will be key to any success Tottenham will have. Fifth is more likely for Spurs, as the latter end of the season could prove too much with the likes of Jermaine Defoe, Luca Modric, Wilson Palacios potentially facing a 60+ game campaign, especially after a gruelling World Cup tournament.
West Brom
Predicted pos: 18th
Under Tony Mowbray, West Brom were a flawed side. A willingness to play an attractive brand of football that was never going to be realistic enough to stay up two years ago, The Hawthorns have a change of culture and fresher ideas under Roberto Di Matteo. Being a 'yoyo' club is challenging, consistently trying to reinvest to keep up with the pace. Such an ongoing problem for chief executive Jeremy Peace to balance the books, I probably wouldn't be surprised if he camped at the stadium over the whole summer. Despite all of his work, and which Peace has undeniably done a great job, the club never make significant investment in buying quality strikers that can score goals on a consistent basis at this level. Defence is also an issue, but it is whether they have the steel to defeat sides that would be around with them by the end of the season.
West Ham
Predicted pos: 11th
A change of manager over the summer period sees Avram Grant in the hotseat after his painfully struggling time at debt-ridden Portsmouth. He has wide contacts around Europe so it wouldn't be a surprise if he has unearthed a gem that can lift West Ham to greater heights. Last season they escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth, and even though I am a Hammers supporter, I genuinely believe they have a lot more to offer. West Ham have kept the likes of Matt Upson, Rob Green, Scott Parker, and Carlton Cole and have made additions in Thomas Hitzlsperger and Mexican winger Antonio Barrera. They will have to look at sides around them, but there is no reason why they cannot beat them given the quality of players they have. Safety assured.
Wigan
Predicted pos: 19th
Roberto Martinez could be in for an awful ride at Wigan. It is difficult to see where the source of goals will come from, and more worryingly, how many they will concede by the end of the season. Ceefax and Teletext may have trouble in extending the width of the 'Goals Against' column. Wigan conceded eight goals in the last game of the season against Chelsea, and five on both occasions in their games against Man Utd, not to mention the nine at Tottenham. Who is to say they will not suffer the same fate again? They are a poor side and the likelyhood is that they will struggle for safety.
Wolves
Predicted pos: 17th
Reenergised after a bruising campaign, Wolves are back looking to reaffirm their Premier League status. They won important games against teams near the foot of the table, and more of the same is needed this year. They have plans of extending the Molineux capacity to 50,000, and continuous existence in the top flight is almost paramount to Wolves. They have added Steven Mouyakolo and Steven Fletcher to their squad - players that have experienced a campaign at the foot of the table - so they have every chance of staying up, just about.
Predicted Pos: 4th
With the news of Cesc Fabregas reaffirming his commitment, the Gunners can now look forward to a hopefully competitive season on all fronts. With their integral Spanaird staying, free transfer signing Maourane Chamakh's work up front should be made slightly easier with the incisive passing that Fabregas offers to the Arsenal attack. Goals should not be a problem, but a big question mark still lingers over their fragile-looking defence. Depth is at its skinniest, with only Johan Djourou the only other centre-half backup, while Laurent Koscielny will need to acclimatise to the 'smash mouth' style of the English game. Champions League could be their main hope for glory if their title aspirations diminish by February.
Aston Villa
Predicted pos: 8th
Martin O'Neill's resignation - just days before the start of the league campaign - would have knocked the stuffing out of the squad. With financial resources at its most stringent under the Lerner era, caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald will have a limited squad at his disposal, especially if James Milner does depart for Man City. The transfer of Milner would be a huge blow given he was an obvious standout in the side. Ashley Young could leave to balance the books at Villa Park. They could be heading into decline unless serious investment is made, which is unlikely under MacDonald's current spell as a temp.
Birmingham
Predicted pos: 15th
Birmingham caught many by surprise with superb defensive performances home and away last season. However, this year could be a worry as they look to dismiss the notion of a side suffering '2nd season syndrome' - relegation in their second year, after performing well in the first. The summer signings were only replacements of the players that left. Flamboyant striker 'Chucho' Benitez returned to Ecuador from his season-long loan at St Andrews, but more importantly keeper Joe Hart has gone. Their defence was the foundations of their success and without Hart, they could crumple. They should stay up, but players like Barry Ferguson and Roger Johnson will need to be at their consistent best like last year.
Blackburn
Predicted pos: 12th
Blackburn over the period of seven years since they returned to the Premier League have earned themselves the reputation as brute forces. Teams travelling to Ewood Park know that they are likely to be in a war to win a football match. Manager Sam Allardyce has continued to instill a competitive instinct in his players. Chris Samba and Ryan Nelsen, two powerhouses at the heart of the defence, are the bedrock of Blackburn. Where they may struggle will be on their travels, where they seem to disintegrate at places like Stamford Bridge and the Emirates like a Rich Tea dipped in a hot beverage, whilst their lack of a renown goalscorer will put more pressure to keep a tight lid in their defence.
Blackpool
Predicted pos: 20th
Premier League sides will take a trip to the seaside, as Blackpool confirmed their place with the top dogs in their play-off final against Cardiff City. From that glorious moment of ecstacy came planning for life in the Premier League. They have recruited five players, including striker Marlon Harewood, but unfortunately they will struggle due to the infastructure of the club's finances. Struggling to pay player bonuses for their promotion, to the delay of the stadium stand meaning the club will play four of the first five league fixtures away, it is unlikely that Blackpool can gather much momentum this season. A lot will depend on the form of attacking midfielder Charlie Adam, who netted 16 times last season.
Bolton
Predicted pos: 9th
After six months testing the waters at the Reebok, manager Owen Coyle can begin to stamp his own brand of football on his side. Bolton should be competitive this season. If they keep defender Gary Cahill, who suffered a blood clot in his arm during the middle of last season, fit and healthy then they can progress. Chung-Yong Lee also provided a useful outlet in the forward department, while Kevin Davies has physical and ball retention qualities that can be a key threat, especially at home. But pass and move will be more of the theme at Bolton, unlike under Sam Allardyce, so goals should be aplenty. Home form, as with most sides at the middle of the table, is critical.
Chelsea
Predicted pos: 2nd
Champions last year, and this year also looking an ominious threat, Chelsea are the team to beat. Now a side exuding class, rather than the Mourinho method of breaking down the majority of teams because of their physical presence. Carlo Ancelotti has developed a refined attacking culture at the club. Out of the club is Deco, in comes a leaner Ramires. Out is Joe Cole, in is technical, and according to Ancelotti, tactically-gifted Yossi Benayoun. With mounting speculation of Sergio Aguero, then Chelsea could be a creative attacking force, in combination with its household names Essien, Drogba, Terry, Lampard. What could hold them back is the fact that they are the current champions. Aston Villa, Everton, Stoke, Birmingham all caused Chelsea problems last year despite a clean sweep over the rest of the 'Big 4' contingent. And members from this squad (Lampard, Terry, Drogba etc.) had disappointing World Cups, so it is concievable that they could struggle to find their feet for at least the first month of the new campaign.
Everton
Predicted pos: 7th
This could be a very usual season for the Toffees, given that they have managed to secure the future of three valuable players synonymus to the club. Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka and more importantly, Mikel Arteta have pledged to stay, and possibly ease Everton into a Champions League place. Yet again it has been a summer of limited spending, but despite this, Everton over the last five years have laid the foundations of a solid defence and midfield. Free signing Jermaine Beckford should add another dimension up front instead of the lumbering Yakubu and the sometimes ineffective Louis Saha. A great side - only suffering 3 defeats in the last 24 league games and third in the form table after January behind Chelsea and Man Utd - but the waferingly small squad could prove yet again a headache, especially with Dan Gosling's unusual departure to Newcastle after backroom staff failed to arrange paperwork for his renewal.
Fulham
Predicted pos: 14th
A transitional season as Mark Hughes takes the reins over Roy Hodgson. With Hodgson moving to join Liverpool as manager, Hughes is inherited with Hodgson's Europa League heroines. A solid base to work on, although little depth, and is further hampened by keeper Mark Scrwarzer's insistence of leaving Craven Cottage for the prospect of playing Champions League football with Arsenal. Hughes will do very well to keep him, and his other saving grace is Arsene Wenger's general reluctance to buy players over the age of 30. He has a good team, with extra scope to graduate youth players to the first-team setup, given the modest funds he will have available. League safety should be secured, but a top 10 finish might be a step too far.
Liverpool
Predicted pos: 5th
In the murky mist of an impending takeover from as many as six different potential investors, Liverpool prepare for the upcoming campaign with important question marks over the futures of their prized assets. Fernando Torres was much talked about over the summer, with links with a return to Spain, or heavyweight league rivals Chelsea and Man City, more so the latter until they signed Mario Balotelli. They have purchased some potentially very good players thanks to Hodgson, and with very little in the transfer kitty. Joe Cole arrived on a free, 18-year old defender Danny Wilson arrived from Rangers for £2m, and Danish international midfielder Christian Poulsen was a £4.5m acquisition from Juventus. Some plus points there. However, a lot of Liverpool's problems last year surfaced out wide - defensively and offensively. Hodgson has not purchased a fullback so far, even though they remain lightweight over on the left, while Rafa Benitez disjointed system allowed very little width in their play. With the Europa League being a demotivating factor, Liverpool will find this season tough, but should improve nevertheless under the tutelage of the experienced Hodgson.
Man City
Predicted pos: 1st
Remind you of Chelsea from six years ago? Certainly. Man City have brought any emerging star they could possibly find, bankrolled by Dubai based investors whose main asset is owning a tenth of the planet's oil reserves. Yes, they are very wealthy. And I think this is the main reason why they will win. They will too strong for a lot of the sides in the Premier League with the amount of quality players at their disposal. It is not as if they have purchased a whole new team this summer, but more to the point they have players of real substance and guile.
Many will say they need to establish some coherency, but the fact that they will be competing on four fronts with the Europa League, there will be many chances for the fringe players to integrate. Carlos Tevez showed last year how dangerous he can be within the penalty area. While new signings David Silva and Mario Balotelli's footwork will leave many teams in a daze. Their concern will be in defence, but Joe Hart has proved he has the attributes to be a world-class keeper, while Vincent Kompany's defensive work since his arrival has been tremendous. The disappointing factor in all of this is the lack of reasonable opportunities for youth to enter the first team fray, which has left talents who have graduated from the youth team like Micah Richards and Stephen Ireland, disillusioned at Eastlands. Money does talk.
Man Utd
Predicted pos: 3rd
Last year was relatively disappointing, despite the scintillating form of Wayne Rooney. The lack of responsibility shed onto other players to score regularly probably would have disappointed Sir Alex Ferguson. This said it all when the next highest scorer after Rooney at one point was own goals. Michael Owen was suffering injuries at inconvenient points in the last campaign, while Dimitar Berbatov seemed to suffer from cold feet in some of the big matches. He didn't appear in the others. Ferguson has looked to recitify this by signing Mexico forward Javier Hernandez, who impressed at the World Cup earlier this summer. Despite adding a couple of players to the squad, including Chris Smalling from Fulham, the impression is that it may not be enough to regain the title in Sir Alex's 25th year in charge of the club.
Newcastle
Predicted pos: 16th
After a year out of the top flight Newcastle have come back with virtually the same members of the team that relegated the club. Joey Barton, Danny Guthrie, Shola Ameobi, Fabricio Coloccini for example all are surviving members of a dreadful season two years ago. Have they learnt their lesson? Possibly they have become wiser because of that event, and realise they are not as big a club as they thought they really were. On paper, they should be a good side and give most teams a good game. But Newcastle are a team that can implode. We have all heard of it. Team disharmony, backstabbing the manager, fighting your teammates. Between five to ten years ago, anyone wouldn't have been surprised if every player/staff antics involved Newcastle. This year could be different. They may stay up if the players are committed, but it is unlikely they can target anything else beyond that. For many sides expecting a season of struggle rather than expectation, loan signings could be crucial as finances tighten.
Stoke
Predicted pos: 10th
These fiercely incumbent men under Tony Pulis definitely have made a name for themselves in the Premier League in their two years here. They are willing to fight, scrap, claw for anything they can possibly muster. They work well as a team and that is why they are never serious candidates for the drop in many people's eyes. They should never be complacent however, and is possibly something Pulis will be ringing out in every player's ear every training session. Being so drilled, organised and efficient, the team do not venture forward all too often. Goals come in spits and spurts, so they must improve in that department if they want to consolidate.
Sunderland
Predicted pos: 13th
An inconsistent team with a top-level goalscorer in Darren Bent, Sunderland do flatter to deceive much of the time. Victories over Liverpool and Arsenal last season gave the impression Sunderland could make real headway and grab a European place until a large slumpin form over the turn of the year saw them, at one point, on the verge of relegation. With Bent shouldering the burden with goals, much more must come from midfield if they are to survive. Last season and the season before showed at most points of each campaign, the small gap between a midtable side and a team in the relegation spots. Strong form at the Stadium of Light is needed, as well as some diligent defensive displays when the going gets tough.
Tottenham
Predicted pos: 5th
Champions League football they aspired, Champions League they got. Tottenham have improved markedly under Harry Redknapp and qualification, should they beat Young Boys in a qualifying play-off, to play in Europe's biggest and richest tournament is one they should look to capitalise on. Premier League is the ultimate key though, and another campaign in which they can secure European football, preferably the Champions League, would be a successful season. They certainly have the players and the depth to compete on all fronts.
Tottenham can play predictably on occasions, as Hull, Stoke and Wolves, who all grasped great away results, all sussed out. Big campaign for Aaron Lennon to prove he has the attributes of a top quality right winger, while Gareth Bale on the opposite flank will be key to any success Tottenham will have. Fifth is more likely for Spurs, as the latter end of the season could prove too much with the likes of Jermaine Defoe, Luca Modric, Wilson Palacios potentially facing a 60+ game campaign, especially after a gruelling World Cup tournament.
West Brom
Predicted pos: 18th
Under Tony Mowbray, West Brom were a flawed side. A willingness to play an attractive brand of football that was never going to be realistic enough to stay up two years ago, The Hawthorns have a change of culture and fresher ideas under Roberto Di Matteo. Being a 'yoyo' club is challenging, consistently trying to reinvest to keep up with the pace. Such an ongoing problem for chief executive Jeremy Peace to balance the books, I probably wouldn't be surprised if he camped at the stadium over the whole summer. Despite all of his work, and which Peace has undeniably done a great job, the club never make significant investment in buying quality strikers that can score goals on a consistent basis at this level. Defence is also an issue, but it is whether they have the steel to defeat sides that would be around with them by the end of the season.
West Ham
Predicted pos: 11th
A change of manager over the summer period sees Avram Grant in the hotseat after his painfully struggling time at debt-ridden Portsmouth. He has wide contacts around Europe so it wouldn't be a surprise if he has unearthed a gem that can lift West Ham to greater heights. Last season they escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth, and even though I am a Hammers supporter, I genuinely believe they have a lot more to offer. West Ham have kept the likes of Matt Upson, Rob Green, Scott Parker, and Carlton Cole and have made additions in Thomas Hitzlsperger and Mexican winger Antonio Barrera. They will have to look at sides around them, but there is no reason why they cannot beat them given the quality of players they have. Safety assured.
Wigan
Predicted pos: 19th
Roberto Martinez could be in for an awful ride at Wigan. It is difficult to see where the source of goals will come from, and more worryingly, how many they will concede by the end of the season. Ceefax and Teletext may have trouble in extending the width of the 'Goals Against' column. Wigan conceded eight goals in the last game of the season against Chelsea, and five on both occasions in their games against Man Utd, not to mention the nine at Tottenham. Who is to say they will not suffer the same fate again? They are a poor side and the likelyhood is that they will struggle for safety.
Wolves
Predicted pos: 17th
Reenergised after a bruising campaign, Wolves are back looking to reaffirm their Premier League status. They won important games against teams near the foot of the table, and more of the same is needed this year. They have plans of extending the Molineux capacity to 50,000, and continuous existence in the top flight is almost paramount to Wolves. They have added Steven Mouyakolo and Steven Fletcher to their squad - players that have experienced a campaign at the foot of the table - so they have every chance of staying up, just about.
Tuesday 10 August 2010
England 2-1 Hungary
Fans voiced their displeasure during the first half of seeing England underachieve time and again (Guardian)Booing. Heckling. Cheering. Applauding. These were the actions expressed by English fans in a difficult night for England during their unconvincing 2-1 victory over old European force Hungary.
Two months after World Cup humiliation at the hands of Germany, England's stars returned to their Wembley looking to redeem themselves. Capello made few changes in personnel, possibly not as radical as some had predicted as he introduced wingers Adam Johnson, Theo Walcott, and gave goalkeeper Joe Hart his first start for the Three Lions.
It was a lively display, something we hardly ever saw during the summer as the shackles of the more youthful players, were removed. Johnson looked very spritely, and in twine with his work-rate, the Man City wideman moved from his position on the left touchline to provide Wayne Rooney support. He had a great chance midway through the first half but blazed over from Walcott's cutback. Walcott also looked energised and threatening, although his final ball often did let him down.
However, the half did seem adnormal. England had the 'kids' performing, and the senior stars didn't know the kind of crowd reaction to expect. Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole were all booed at some point in the game for their dismal displays in South Africa, until Gerrard sprung to life similar to his typical heroic performances for his club Liverpool.
Hungary, regarded as one of the best sides in the world in the 1950s inspired by serial goalscorer Ferenc Puskas, controversially went in front 17 minutes after half-time when Phil Jagielka guided a cross into his own net. However, replays showed Michael Dawson, whose slip allowed Hungary to attack, cleared the ball before it had crossed the line. This led to a crescendo of boos from England supporters, who sensed another humiliating result dawn upon them.
Then stepped up England captain Gerrard, who scored two stunning goals to seal victory. First, the midfielder thunderously arrowed a 20-yard shot into the top corner, before his delicious footwork in the penalty box deceived three Hungarians to toe-poke beyond visiting keeper Gabor Kiraly's reach. Gerrard, and England by the end, received wonderful applause from the 70,000 crowd.
18-year old Jack Wilshere had a cameo role, while Bobby Zamora, Ashley Young, Kieran Gibbs each had individual performances they can be relatively pleased with. By all means it was not England's finest performance, nor that we really expected it to be, but maybe a game in which Capello can look to build on.
Tuesday 3 August 2010
Webber heads title race battle; Schumacher hits new low
Five drivers are in contention for the driver's title in what has so far been a very close season (Action images)After the debacle of the German grand prix a week before, last Sunday's Hungarian race served up an electic mix of driving. We saw the fast precisional handling of eventual race winner Mark Webber, Adrian Sutil ramming into Robert Kubica in the pitlane, Michael Schumacher fiercely defending 10th place against former team-mate Rubens Barrichello in an overly aggressive manner to the point he could have endangered both their lives (as if the sport wasn't dangerous enough in the first place), and Sebastian Vettel 'sleeping' at the wheel of his Red Bull R6. A surprisingly entertaining race given the limited opportunities of overtaking, and a result that pushes the drivers' title race to an intriguing scenario.
Despite Webber's almost faultless drive at the Hungaroring, it should be said that he was quite fortuitous after capitalising on his team-mate Vettel's mistake during a safety car period. A period in which all but three drivers, including Webber, made their pitstops, Kubica was accidently released in front of an incoming Force India Adrian Sutil. Moments later, Nico Rosberg's tyre was seen bouncing around in front of a raft of mechanics when his wheel flailed off when he was released for his tyre change. While Webber did not stop, Vettel did after his 12 second lead had vanished. When the safety car was heading for the pits for the resumption of the race, Vettel was caught out and distanced himself from Webber of more than 10-car lengths - prohibited in the FIA rulebook. Vettel was soon given a stop-go penalty, costing his chance of race victory, and opened the door for Webber for his fourth victory of the season.
Red Bull were, during the whole weekend, over a second clear of their main rivals Ferrari and McLaren. Their pace was evident in the race as Webber churned out fastest lap times after another to distance himself from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who was holding up Vettel, to the point that when the Australian stopped for new tyres, he returned in front of Alonso. It was a great drive, and of the reasons why he is a key protagonist for the drivers' title.
Of other title contenders to note, McLaren had a disastrous weekend. While Ferrari maximised their opportunity to earn invaluable points knowing they weere never in realistic contention to challenge for victory, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button endured a painful day in a damage-limitation exercise. The two, who occupied the World Championship before Hungary, have had an uncompetitive car since Hamilton last won in Turkey in a McLaren one-two. Since then, they have complaining in front of BBC cameras that Red Bull's front wing is illegal, with the argument based around the fact that the wing flexes, or moves, under braking when rules state car components should all be stable. Despite this, their car has been consistently approved by the FIA, so unless otherwise, McLaren cannot do much about it.
Whether Formula 1 fans like it or not, what Massa did in Germany has reinvigorated his teammate Alonso's title push. After winning in Germany the Spanaird posted a strong result in Hungary and is now within a race victory of leading the championship. Incredible given a poor season for the Prancing Horse beset by strange decisions by management, poor pace in qualifying, and slower development of this year's F10. When Alonso won this year's opening race in Bahrain, many tipped him as favourite, including myself, but Massa and Alonso have been frustrated by a lack of ultimate pace, especially in qualifying as they look to usurp the Red Bulls laying on the front row on Saturdays.
As the season heads towards its climax, there will be more twists and spills yet. If Massa can overcome his problems running competitively on prime (hard) tyres, then he could be a factor in helping Alonso while the Red Bull and McLaren drivers look to assert themselves as its true leader.
Monday 2 August 2010
Great Britain strike gold at Euro Champs; van Commenee cautious ahead of London 2012
Head Coach Charles van Commenee inspired a group of underachieving athletes at the Europeans (Getty Images)During the six-day event at the European Championships in Barcelona, Great Britain presided in their best ever showing in Europe's premier athletics competition since Split in 1990. The team won 19 medals, including six golds, which may signal green shoots of recovery on the way to London 2012.
This has led to many to believe that head coach Charles van Commenee has managed to turn a culture of failure and contentment, into competitiveness and joy. Take 110m hurdler Andy Turner for example. He has had a succession of injuries during his career, and has grossly underachieved given his potential as successor to Colin Jackson and third fastest Brit of all time. But last Friday, he became European Champion when few expected he could achieve this feat. Turner clocked a 13.28 time, and although this is over a third of a second off the best time in the world this year, he is now consistently close to his personal best which should yield for greater development.
Arguably, the shining light on GB's personnel was Mo Farah, who claimed gold in the 10,000m and 5,000m. The long-distance double is an incredible feat in any major championships, especially in the context that Farah had to contest a qualifying round in the 5,000m just two days after running in the 10,000m event. He ran with tremendous confidence and execution, timing his attack 300m before the finish on Spain's Ayad Lamdassem inside a partisan Spanish cauldron. He'll certainly have to improve his tactics and durability if he is to leave any mark on the African dominance in these two disciplines, but the good thing to take from these championships is that Farah will carry a tremendous amount of confidence as a competitor - something we probably didn't see early in his athletic career.
Heptathlete Jessica Ennis and Triple Jumper Phillips Idowu are two of Great Britain's pin-up wall athletes - both more than capable of winning gold medals on a world level, not just European. These championships proved they are head and shoulders above the field, but their rivals will come good at some stage in the future no doubt. Teddy Tamgho, who recorded a 17.98m jump in New York earlier this year, looked ominous, while Natalya Dobrinkska, who had been a thorn in Ennis's compatriot Katy Sotherton's side before, certainly gave Ennis something to think about in their final 800m event.
Di Greene blossomed into a world-class 400m hurdler, destroying his personal best and leaving a huge and ominous prescence in his event, something arch-rival Rhys Williams would have loved to have positioned himself in.
The championships will live fondly in peoples' minds for a while. Seeing Cristoph Lemaitre win both sprint titles in the 100m and 200m was good for European Athletics as they seek to uncover new talent to rival Asafa Powell, Tyson Gay and Usain Bolt. Other names that should be eavesdropped are Chris Tomlinson in the long jump - earning a bronze medal, Chris Thompson's silver in the 10,000m, Jenny Meadows in the 800m with bronze, and Mark Lewis-Francis silver in the 100m - it's good to see that years of training and commitment to their sport has yielded an achievement of tangible reward.
Van Commenee will surely want more improvement from his athletes, as he will look to continuously improve the coaching and athletic structure in Great Britain to achieve the best it could possibly achieve in London 2012.
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