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Five weekend lessons learnt

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It was another splendid weekend of sporting action as Wales won the Grand Slam, Manchester United moved four points clear in the Premier League and Jenson Button won the Australian Grand Prix (totesport betting). So what did we learn over the last 48 hours?

United are timing their late run – again

Forget the Europa League debacle over the last couple of weeks, the Red Devils have their eye on the Premier League and Sir Alex Ferguson will move hell and high water to keep it away from Manchester City’s clutches.

United hammered 10-man Wolves 5-0 at Molineux on Sunday and in the process did their goal difference the power of good, with the pressure now on City when they entertain Chelsea on Wednesday at Eastlands (Manchester City 10/11, draw 13/5, Chelsea 3/1 – 90 Minutes).

The Blues of west London cannot win the Premier League this season but they can have a huge say in its destination and are still involved in the Champions League and FA Cup.

Gatland has earned the chance to lead Lions

Two Six Nations Grand Slams on his CV and Wales coach Warren Gatland is the obvious choice to lead the British & Irish Lions in Australia in 2013 (Wales 7/4f – 2013 Six Nations Outright).

The Kiwi also took the Dragons to the semi-finals of the World Cup last autumn and who know what would have happened if Sam Warburton had stayed on the field against France?

The Lions have not won a tour since 1997 but if anyone has the mojo to blend a winning side, surely it is the former London Wasps main man?

Vettel won’t have it all his own way

Second place on the podium is not disastrous for Sebastian Vettel following the first grand prix of the season, but it will feel like it to Red Bull’s back-to-back world champion.

A poor showing in qualifying left the German sixth on the grid – a place behind team-mate Mark Webber – and the Vettel could do nothing to stop Jenson Button taking maximum points, although he did prevent a McLaren one-two.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says there are improvement in the pipeline and for Vettel they can’t come soon enough as he looks to stay on course for a three-peat by successfully defending his crown (Vettel 7/4f – World Drivers’ Championship Outright).

Federer is as strong as ever

All-conquering Roger Federer may have seen Novak Djokovic become the number one ranked player in the world last year, but the Swiss maestro still have plenty left in his legs.

Now 30 years of age, the Basel-born ace continues to win tournaments and at the weekend he drew level with Rafael Nadal on 19 Masters titles after taking the spoils at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Nadal saw off the Spaniard in the semi-finals as the next Grand Slam event, the French Open draws ever closer (Nadal evens favourite – 2012 French Open Outright).

Shankly was wrong about one thing

Legendary Liverpool boss Bill Shankly once stated “some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that?”.

However, the man who guided the Reds to three league titles after inheriting a shambolic operation both on and off the pitch in 1959 was certainly wrong over the importance of the game.

The events of the weekend surrounding the collapse of Bolton star Fabrice Muamba and the genuine concern for the midfielder’s health show that, at times, football is not always the centre of the universe.

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Premier League lessons

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Another round of Premier League fixtures is out of the way and things are starting to take shape at both ends of the table, here are three things we’ve learnt from the latest round of fixtures (totesport – Barclays Premier League).

1) The title is heading to Manchester

Any hope Spurs had of landing their first league title since 1961 now appears to be over following their 5-2 loss at Arsenal on Sunday.  Spurs are now 10 points adrift of league leaders Manchester City and eight behind reigning champions Manchester United. With just 12 games to go it would take a magnificent effort from the north Londoners, combined with poor results for the Manchester duo, for them to take the top prize.

Manchester City are the 8/15 favourites to secure the Premier League crown, United can be backed at 6/4 and Spurs have now drifted out to 50/1 to land the title after their north London derby defeat.

2) Arsenal’s season isn’t over yet

While Spurs may be reeling from their heavy defeat at the Emirates it may mark a return to form for the Gunners.

Following their 4-0 loss at AC Milan in the Champions League and FA Cup exit at the hands of Sunderland it appeared as if Arsenal’s season was all but over before we had even entered March.  However, while silverware may again prove elusive for Arsene Wenger’s men this season they may yet secure a top four finish, which could be massive if it convinces star man Robin van Persie to agree new terms at the Emirates.

The Gunners’ 5-2 win over Spurs moved them back into the top four, ahead of Chelsea on goal difference, and after a disappointing couple of weeks that victory may be just what Arsenal needed to get their top four charge back on track.

Arsenal can be backed at 11/8 to secure a top four finish, while Chelsea are priced at 5/6.

Liverpool landed the Carling Cup on Sunday with a hard-fought victory over Championship outfit Cardiff.  The Reds are seven points adrift of Arsenal but Liverpool have not given up on Champions League qualification and they’re priced at 10/3 to grab a top four spot, while Newcastle are 16/1.

3) The relegation battle is down to five

West Brom, Stoke and Fulham all picked up three points over the weekend to move well clear of the drop zone and it now appears as if there are five teams remaining in the relegation battle, and all of them are struggling for form.

Wigan, who have picked up four points in their last two games, remain at the foot of the table with just 20 points but only goal difference separates them from a stuttering Bolton side who slumped to a 3-0 loss at Chelsea on Saturday.

Blackburn and QPR have 21 points, while Wolves are on 22, and it seems as if three of the current bottom five will be heading into the Championship, unless one of the sides above them suffers a dramatic dip in form.

QPR have a particularly difficult run in, they still have to face Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs before the season comes to a close, while their final game of the season is a daunting trip to Manchester City.  The Loftus Road side are priced at 10/11 to suffer an immediate return to the Championship.

In contrast, Bolton have just Manchester City and Spurs of the ‘top six’ left to play, with a trip to the Etihad on the horizon for the Wanderers this weekend.  However, Owen Coyle’s men have been frankly abysmal all season, aside from a couple of impressive displays, and it will take a remarkable change in fortunes, and form, if they are to survive.  The Wanderers can be backed at 8/11 to go down.

Wigan have been rooted to the foot of the table all season but they have come back from similar circumstances in the past.  Latics are 1/3 to suffer relegation after a seven-year stint in the top flight.

Blackburn have just sold key defender Chris Samba and appeared to have conceded defeat prior to a ball being kicked in their defeat at Man City at the weekend.  Steve Kean’s men are 8/11 to be relegated, which would come as no surprise following their turbulent campaign to date.

Wolves were the only side in the relegation mix to show any fight this weekend as they came from 2-0 down to record a 2-2 draw at Newcastle.  The Molineux outfit, who are now under the guidance of Terry Connor following the sacking of Mick McCarthy, are priced at 8/13 to be relegated.

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Bank Holiday Lessons Learnt

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It has been an extended weekend of sport with many highs and lows and we will take a look at the stand-out performances and see what can be learnt from the Bank Holiday weekend.

1. It is going to be a Manchester one-two this season

Manchester United always looked like being the team to beat this season and their early-season form has done little to suggest otherwise (United 11/10 – Premier League Outright).

But Sunday’s 8-2 demolition of Arsenal fired a shot across the bows of the rest of the Premier League as they looked in scintillating form when dismantling Arsene Wenger’s under-strength side.

Wayne Rooney had the weight of the world on his shoulders in the first half of last season and did not contribute much, but he has started like a house on fire and, with the summer signings already playing their part, the Red Devils are the side to beat.

Their ‘noisy neighbours’ Manchester City have also made a perfect start to the campaign and their 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham at White Hart Lane was, possibly, even more impressive given the location of the encounter.

It was always going to take a few years for a team of expensive signings to gel and, with Edin Dzeko finally showing his true colours with four goals, they look the likeliest challengers to Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges.

Chelsea will be there or thereabouts but, even at this fledgling part of the season, it is shaping up to be a two-horse race for top-flight honours.

2. Arsenal are in deep trouble

The general consensus is that Arsenal Wenger has ‘bought himself some time’ with the success he has had at Arsenal over the past 15 years.

But it also has to be remembered that the Gunners have not won a trophy for six years, something Ferguson said he would “never let happen” at Old Trafford (Arsenal 7/4 – Top-Four Finish).

A reluctance to spend is now coming back to haunt the Frenchman and he appears to be scrabbling around for players with just a few days to go before the transfer window shuts.

That is not usually how the north Londoners do their business and there is definitely a sense of panic at the Emirates.

He is an intelligent man with an excellent football brain and it will take all his skills as a manager to turn the season around, otherwise the Arsenal board might have to act to prevent the current campaign snowballing into a disastrous season.

3. Twenty20 cricket is here to stay

It may have its critics and the summer’s Test series with India showed that the five-day game still has a massive place in the sport, but the excitement of the Friends Life t20 finals day proved that the shortest version of the game will not go away.

Persistent showers threatened to ruin the Edgbaston showpiece but, with Duckworth-Lewis calculations changing targets all the time, both semi-finals finished in a tie and required the ’super over’ to sort out the finalists.

Leicestershire went on to win and it was a fitting way for Paul Nixon to bow out of the game after 22 years as a professional.

4. Heather Watson is the real deal

Britain has been crying out for a female tennis player to match the exploits of Andy Murray in the men’s game and, in Heather Watson, we may finally have one.

It is true that she lost to Maria Sharapova in the first round of the US Open, but the way the Guernsey-born star challenged the world number four and played her off court for the first set proved that she has the mettle to compete with the top players (Sharapova 5/1 – Tournament Outright).

The encouraging thing from a British point of view was her post-match interview, in which she said that she always felt she could win the match, and the manner in which she fought back in the second set after it looked as if the Russian would run away with it showed her class.

Laura Robson is still in the tournament and, if they both progress as they should, there is no reason why there will not be a couple of Brits in the world’s top 20 in the next few years.

5. Much work to do for London

With the London Olympics less than 12 months away the British athletes will be plotting their training regimes and competitions to make sure they peak for the greatest show on earth.

Two gold medal hopes, Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis, failed to win gold at the World Athletics Championships, and they will have to bounce back and make sure they perform to their ability in London.

There have already been noises made that British athletes might not do as well as had been hoped on their own patch next summer, despite the advantage that performing at home brings.

There is no doubt that the Games will be spectacular but, if the GB team fail to deliver, then it could become a bit of a damp squib – an expensive one at that.

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Lessons learned from the weekend

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It was a jam packed weekend of sport as the same old names and the same old faces dominated the headlines.
Sunday saw the curtain raiser to the Premier League season and Manchester United got the better of their ‘noisy neighbours’ Manchester City with a 3-2 victory in a thrilling Community Shield clash at Wembley.

United found themselves 2-0 down, despite dominating much of the possession and the early chances against the Blues.

However, not for the first time, the Red Devils showed why they have been so successful for so long by having that never-say-die attitude to score three goals and take yet more silverware back with them to Old Trafford.

United (7/4 Premier League 2011/2012 outright) have shown that once again they will be the side to beat in the Premier League this season and it will be down to the likes of City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal to do their best to stop them making it league title number 20.

In golf Adam Scott (22/1 USPGA Championship Outright) dominated in Ohio to win the WGC Bridgestone Invitational ahead of the final major of the season.

The Australian kept cool and calm down the back nine, as he finished on 17-under-par to win the last event before the USPGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club this week.

From a British perspective, it was pleasing to see the likes of Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy do so well on the Firestone Country Club course.

World number one Donald finished second at the event and has continued the fine form that took him to the top of the rankings earlier this year.

Westwood and McIlroy also enjoyed decent rounds and all three players should go into this week’s major full of confidence.

It was the same old story with the Leeds Rhinos, as they booked their place in the Challenge Cup final after a narrow 10-8 victory over Castleford Tigers on Sunday.

The go-to-guys for Leeds (11/4 Challenge Cup outright) once again came to the fore as they came up against a spirited Tigers side who almost clinched a surprise victory at the Keepmoat Stadium.

If Rangi Chase had slotted that drop goal in the dying moments it would be Castleford who would be looking forward to a date at Wembley with Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup final.

However, it was the likes of Rob Burrow and Jamie Peacock who were able to set up field position in time added on, as Danny McGuire was taken down with a high tackle, before Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield slotted the pressure penalty goal to seal the win.

Even though this has been somewhat of a transitional season for the Rhinos, this weekend showed they still have what it takes to win big games under pressure.

In a weekend with all the old names taking the limelight, it was refreshing to see a new name burst on to the international scene in rugby union as Manu Tuilagi’s debut against Wales gave England (12/1 World Cup 2011 outright) fans plenty to cheer about.

The Leicester Tigers centre showed why he is seen as such an exciting prospect following an impressive season in the Aviva Premiership.

Judging by his performance in England’s 23-19 victory at Twickenham on Saturday, Tuilagi has one foot on that plane to New Zealand, as head-coach Martin Johnson hopes to lead his country to a second World Cup title.

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Five weekend lessons

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Another amazing weekend of sporting action has come and gone and it is time to take stock of the action and assess what we have learnt from the action over the past couple of days.

1. The title race is far from over

Chelsea were all but written off as title contenders three months ago and there were even question marks over their Champions League prospects for next term.

But they have turned things around and are now within touching distance of Manchester United. Both the Red Devils and Arsenal have shown frailties in recent times but the Gunners’ victory on Sunday might well have given the Blues the opportunity to take the title – if they can beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s charges next weekend.

Arsenal may have gone yet another season without any silverware but their victory at the Emirates could have gone a long way in determining where the Premier League trophy ends up this season – and that will certainly put a smile back on Arsene Wenger’s face (United 2/9 to win Premier League title).

2. Neil Warnock will just not go away

Love him or hate him, Warnock will be back in the Premier League with Queens Park Rangers after their 2-0 victory over Watford sealed promotion to the top flight.

Although off-field issues might still provide a twist this season, it appears as though the Loftus Road outfit have ended their16-year wait to return to England’s top division.

And nobody can say they did not deserve it as they have been in the top two all season and would have gained promotion a few weeks ago but for three successive draws.

Warnock has managed just one season in the Premier League and suffered relegation with Sheffield United four years ago, with West Ham controversially staying up in their place after avoiding a points deduction despite falling foul of the league rules on player acquisition.

Controversy seems to follow Warnock around and, if they do go up, there is sure to be plenty more next season in west London, as Rangers face the inevitable battle to stay in the top division.

3. No-one wants to stay up

With just three games to go there are realistically still six clubs battling for Premier League survival although Sunderland, Newcastle and Aston Villa could still mathematically go down.

Blackburn’s victory over Bolton has seen them move three points clear of the drop zone but the other sides involved just cannot win a game.

Blackpool, Wigan, Wolves and West Ham have virtually the same goal difference and it seems increasingly likely that it will be a factor when the dust settles on the campaign.

All the respective managers at the foot of the table keep harping on about how many points they need to be safe – the trouble is, none of them appear capable of getting them (West Ham 2/7 to be relegated).

4. Liverpool will challenge next season

It seemed inconceivable that Liverpool would be in with a shout of playing European football next season when they languished near the foot of the table under Roy Hodgson, but Kenny Dalglish has galvanised the side and the key signing of Luis Suarez has turned the Reds back into contenders.

Sunday’s victory over Newcastle pushed the Merseysiders up into fifth with an excellent chance of making the Europa League next term.

Whether or not they want to play in the second-tier European competition is open to question, as the Anfield outfit will doubtless be pushing for a top-four finish nest season and will want to concentrate their efforts on domestic matters.

5. Lee Westwood deserves to be world number one

Many pundits have questioned the relevance of the golf world rankings when a man who has yet to win major sits at the top of the standings.

Westwood has always maintained that majors and the rankings and not connected and a player’s ranking reflects his consistency over a period of time.

The Worksop-born star has a valid point and back-to-back victories in Indonesia and South Korea prove that he is well worth his place.

The 38-year-old has been the model of consistency over the past two years and has come close in a number of majors, and surely it is only a matter of time before he wins one? (Westwood 10/1 to win Open Championship).

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Five lessons from the weekend

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It has been another fantastic weekend of sport with football, motor racing, golf, tennis and cricket all providing entertainment and it is time to reflect on what we have learnt as the new week begins.

1. Manchester United need Wayne Rooney

The treble chance has now gone for the Red Devils following the 1-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to rivals Manchester City and Rooney had to sit and watch from the stands after his two-game ban for swearing into a TV camera.

His actions against West Ham were widely condemned at the time and they came back to haunt the player and his club as United were unable to find the net against City. The England international hit-man is always likely to play on the edge due to his aggressive nature but he will need to curb his peripheral behaviour or run the risk of missing further big matches.

United have a star-studded side but they need their biggest star when it matters most (City 4/11 to win FA Cup).

2. Arsenal are not quite ready to challenge for the title

Having held onto United’s coattails all season Arsene Wenger’s men have stuttered of late and a third successive home draw has all but ended their title hopes this term. A six-point gap is not huge, but there are only six matches to play and they will probably have to win them all to take the title.

Wenger has consistently refused to buy experienced players and stuck to his policy of bringing youngsters through the ranks but it is obvious that he needs experienced players at this stage of the season to try and grind out results when it really matters. But that is not the Frenchman’s way. How long will the fans’ patience hold out for a trophy? (Arsenal 8/1 to win Premier League)

3. Andy Murray is not done yet.

Murray’s form going into the Monte Carlo Masters was woeful and his temperament had once again been called into question following his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final. But he eased into the semi-finals on his least favourite clay court surface and gave world number one Rafael Nadal a real run for his money, pushing the Spaniard to three sets.

The fact that Nadal took the match did not matter to Murray’s army of fans, as they will have been relieved that he showed the fighting qualities necessary to win big tournaments. Losing to the greatest clay-court player of all time is no disgrace and will set him up nicely for the bigger things to follow (Murray 28/1 to win French Open).

4. Graeme Onions has an England future

The fast bowler looked to have established himself as an England regular in his eight Tests before injury struck on the 2010 tour to Bangladesh. He missed the entire domestic season last year and reportedly feared for his future. But after working tirelessly to get back to fitness the 28-year-old returned to take five wickets in his first competitive bowl for more than a year as Durham beat Yorkshire to go top of the Division one standings.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad are nailed on to be part of the England attack this summer and it would be no surprise to see Onions back in the ranks, fitness permitting (Durham 11-4 to win Div 1 title).

5. Sebastian Vettel better watch out for the Brits

World champion Vettel was favourite to retain his title and, after wining the first two Grand Prix of the season, it could be seen why. But Lewis Hamilton’s superb drive to win the China Grand Prix has breathed life into the sport and proved that the German will not have it all his own way this season.

After battling with Vettel all the way, Hamilton passed his great rival with just four laps to go and it was significant moment for the former champion as it proved that he does have the speed to compete with the flying Red Bulls. Vettel still leads the standings but with Lewis second and Jenson Button third, to coin an Oscar-night phrase from Colin Welland, the British are coming (Hamilton 5/2 to win F1 title).

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10 football lessons learned

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Should we really be surprised by what happens in football? Here are some more reminders from the weekend about why we turn up most weeks.

Carlos Tevez may not be missed

Manchester City may publicly toe the party line but one wonders privately if manager Roberto Mancini has decided want-away striker Carlos Tevez is no longer worth the hassle? (6/1 Man City – Premier League outright)

The combustible Argentinian has confirmed City fans worst fears by revealing he wants away from Eastlands because his relations with “certain executives” at Eastlands have “broken down beyond repair”.

City have countered this as “ludicrous and nonsensical” and insist they do want to sell the 26-year-old. However, the performance of David Silva against West Ham may now tempt Mancini to contemplate the previously unthinkable.

Tevez fought tooth and nail to leave neighbours United – and it is significant that Sir Alex Ferguson has not lost too much sleep over his defection across the city.

Never doubt Barcelona again

Whisper it quietly but this commentator dared to suggest Barcelona may not have the legs and squad depth to see off the threat of great rivals Real Madrid (Villarreal 8/5 – La Liga w/o Barcelona and Real Madrid)

The 5-0 destruction of Real Sociedad on Sunday at Camp Nou means Barca last tasted defeat – and a shock one at that – on September 11 against Hercules.

Since then they have scored 64 goals in all competitions – including a 5-0 defeat of Real – and have not lost a single game.

The result keeps Pep Guardiola’s star-studded side at the top of the Primera Division table after 15 rounds of matches.

Prepare for a Chelsea backlash

A 1-1 draw on Sunday means Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League but, significantly, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard are both yet to return to full match sharpness (2/1 Chelsea – Premier League outright).

The pair came on against Tottenham on Sunday and fit-again defender John Terry put in a performance to suggest punters who wrote the west Londoners off could be left with a custard pie in their face at the end of the season.

It never pays to dismiss a top team – as comeback kings Manchester United have proved down the years – and Chelsea have too much quality to be considered also-rans in a wide-open race for the Premier League title.

Yes, the draw extended Chelsea’s winless streak to five league games but the 2/1 about their title chances could look big come next May.

Borussia Dortmund refuse to go away

Die Schwarzgelben continue to raise eyebrows in Bundesliga and a 2-0 win at home to travel-sick Werder Bremen on Friday means they should not be dismissed as genuine title contenders (1/4 Dortmund – Bundesliga outright).

Dortmund last won the German title in 2002 but play an attractive brand of attacking football under Jurgen Klopp and have only lost once in the league this season.

Bayern Munich are certain to be a threat after the winter break once their well-documented injury problems have cleared, but livewire strikers Shinji Kagawa Lucas Barrios – both have scored eight goals each in all competitions – are a potent combination of pace and movement.

West Ham fans should be worried

When West Ham were relegated in 2003 they finished on 42 points – still a record in a 20-team league – and for once the tired old cliché that a team is too good to go down seemed to ring true (4/9 West Ham – Premier League relegation).

Fast forward and the Hammers look anything but a Premier League team.

A 4-0 Carling Cup win over Manchester United off the back of a 3-1 Premier League win over Wigan has proved a false dawn for the Boleyn faithful.

West Ham have won only 10 of their last 55 league games and may not get much Christmas cheer from upcoming festive games against Blackburn, Fulham and Everton.

Alan Pardew may have won the battle?

Coronation Street script writers sourcing inspiration ahead of the 50th anniversary celebrations could be forgiven for turning to the long-running soap that is Newcastle United (16/1 Newcastle – Top 6 Finish).

Alan Pardew may have won the first battle, namely a 3-1 win over Liverpool, but that does not mean he will win the war on Tyneside. True, it is not his fault Chris Hughton was sacked but in an age where contracts at the highest level are worth precious little, it does seem like wishful thinking to believe he will see out his five-and-a-half-year deal at a club where managers come and go as often as Tuesday follows Monday.

Pardew appears savvy enough to win over the fans but the dressing room is another matter and, like most good soaps, you never quite know what is around the corner.

David Moyes may have reached the end

Everton have historically been slow-burners but an uninspiring goalless draw at home to Wigan has set the alarm bells ringing (22/1 Everton – Premier League relegation).

The New Year usually brings an upturn in form from the blue half of Merseyside but on current form it might be wise for David Moyes to start preparing his players for a fight at the wrong end of the Premier League table.

You have to go back to the end of October for Everton’s last Premier League win and fans must be wondering if the highly-rated Scot has hit a wall at Goodison Park.

Harry has a point

Harry Redknapp was bullish in his assertion that Tottenham can consider themselves genuine title contenders – before and after the 1-1 draw with champions Chelsea on Sunday (33/1 Tottenham – Premier League outright).

And given that Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all face other in the next couple of weeks his declaration might not be the bluff it appears at face value.

Redknapp has assembled an exciting crop of young talent fused with experience and the no-fear approach makes them dangerous.

Tottenham have already accounted for some sizeable scalps this season so Redknapp may just have a point.

And finally…

Gerard Houllier is going to have to rely on all his know-how to turn around a perilous situation for Aston Villa.

A home win over West Brom has provided brief respite but reports of player-unrest have done little to stem the flow of fans’ fears the club is going backwards.

Roy Keane may find he is running out time to transform Ipswich’s fortunes following their disastrous 1-0 defeat Championship basement club Preston.

The former Manchester United favourite has never shirked a battle, but, worryingly, admitted his team are now in a relegation battle after their sixth straight league defeat.

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