Top 5 New Names To Look Out in The EPL This Season

Yes, the transfer window may yet yield more new stars in the Premier League from outside the EPL and England but here are 5 that you definitely want to look out for.

Wilfried Zaha, Manchester United - Has had huge plaudits from his days at Crystal Palace and having made some impressive performances in United's pre-season tour of Hong Kong, David Moyes may be tempted to get Zaha straight in on the action. Expect to see Zaha in a starring role this season in a United top - or even a Crystal Palace top in the most unlikely yet plausible of circumstances.

Jesus Navas, Manchester City - The Spanish international winger will hope to bring the same qualities of his Messianic namesake to the blue half of Manchester. Navas has long been a respected player in the continent and with experience to back up his tricky skills, this could be one of the best buys of the season.

Fernandinho, Manchester City - Shakhtar's Brazilian has been one to watch for a long time before City finally decided to bite the bullet first and bring the Brazilian to the slightly warmer climes of Manchester. A superb puller of the strings in the centre of the park and he should compliment Samir Nasri, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry very well.

Alvaro Negredo, Manchester City - City have pretty much bought out the Sevilla team and Negredo is another non-Barca/Real Madrid Spanish international with plenty of respect back home. City have strikers aplenty but they couldn't quite fire up front. Pellegrini and Negredo will hope the goals can come fast both for their reputations.

Andre Schurrle, Chelsea - Chelsea swooped in quickly for Bayer Leverkusen and Germany's talented young striker. With Torres and Ba not quite firing, could Schurrle be the Special One's key to a title in his first season back at Stamford Bridge?

Can PSG and Monaco Rule Europe?

For so long, French football has sat in the shadow of its English, German, Spanish and Italian neighbours, with many of its top internationals plying their trade for the "big" clubs of European football.

Thierry Henry is one of France's best ever contributions to English and world football

France's Ligue 1 is one of the hidden gems of world football - it has often been one of the most closely contested leagues in Europe, far closer than its neighbours' leagues and a long established culture of parity has meant that no side can really pull away from the rest, even if there are the so-called popular clubs like Monaco, Marseille, Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain, Saint-Etienne etc.

Until now.

PSG made big strides in Europe last season thanks to Zlatan Ibrahimovic

The takeover of Paris Saint-Germain by the Qatar Investment Authority has seen the Parisians leap frog the rest of the French league and become the most powerful club in France. For the first time, a French club wielded some power and influence in the transfer window. No longer were the best French players meant to go to the likes of Arsenal, AC Milan and Barcelona to further their careers and fortune.

Becks in PSG colours

Indeed, even the world's most marketable footballer, David Beckham was jumping on the bandwagon down the River Seine.

For the first time, one of the greatest cities in the world actually had a football club that could compete with the best in Europe. Paris had become an attractive place to be a footballer - and the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Javier Pastore and now Napoli's top striker, Edinson Cavani appear to agree.

But PSG's time alone at the top of French football looks set to be shortlived with the emergence of AS Monaco thanks to their Russian billionaire owner.

Monaco are back in the big time and want the title this time

Come the end of the season, it'll be hard to believe that AS Monaco started the season as a newly promoted club, having been relegated to the second division of French football in 2011 with a large amount of debt. The takeover by Dmitry Rybolvlev has not only revived Monegaseque football but given it strength that it has never experienced before.

Falcao - world's best striker right now

Indeed, Monaco have snared the most wanted striker in world football from cash-strapped Atletico Madrid, Radamel Falcao along with Spurs target, Joao Moutinho. Ricardo Carvalho and Eric Abidal have also joined the renaissance on the French riviera. More signings are likely in the near future, with Manchester United's Nani also courted.

Monaco's little home 

One wonders if the little Stade de Louis II will see the crowds come in should Monaco as expected hit the bright lights of Champions League football.

While AS Monaco certainly won't win the Champions League this season, PSG, having come close to beating Barca last season, will want to take the next step and at least make the semifinals with coach Laurent Blanc. At the same time, the reigning French champions will need to keep an eye on what should be a very strong title push by Claudio Ranieri's men from Monte Carlo.

I actually feel a little sorry for those Marseille and Lyon fans who for once might feel they're missing out.

More of this next season?

But viva le France! Et viva Monaco et PSG!

5 Names To Watch in the 2013/14 SkyBet Championship

The SkyBet Championship kicks off this weekend along with the rest of the Football League. Here are 5 names to look out for on a frequent basis this season.

Chris Wood - The big Kiwi striker now has his short-term future secure at promotion chasing Leicester and hopes he can continue his hot scoring form in the 2nd tier of English football and finally play in the Premier League - and hopefully against fellow compatriot Winston Reid at West Ham. Wood's partnership with Nugent will be key in the Foxes' bid to avoid the slump that saw their Premier League return derailed last season.

Charlie Austin - Wanted by Arsenal at some point last season, Austin looks likely to stay in the Championship although it may not be at Burnley with Reading's Nigel Adkins offering a cut-price offer after Austin failed his medical at Hull. Whoever he ends up with, Austin's goals could be the difference between a push for the Premier League and mid-table mediocrity.

Billy Sharp - Still a Southampton player but likely to end up with a Championship club with Nottingham Forest and Doncaster Rovers calling. The little diminutive striker will be amongst the goals though if he is in the Championship.

Callum McManaman - One of the unheralded young stars in the Premier League last season, McManaman will benefit from a season playing regular football week in week out in the Championship until a Premier League club comes along. Owen Coyle will hope that the offers stay long enough if Wigan are to push for a swift return to the top flight.

Jordan Rhodes - Swansea might very well swoop for Blackburn's great Scot but should that fail, Rhodes is likely to continue his hot scoring streak - Blackburn may find the offers too hot to handle but would feel they have struck gold if Rhodes stays at Ewood Park.

Summer Transfer Window Targets XI

Football never really takes a break in the summer with clubs continuously wheeling-and-dealing between each other for their best players, even if the big transfers often only happen close to the close of the transfer window later in the month.

Forgetting the transfers already made (e.g. Neymar, Higuain, Cavani, Falcao, Isco, etc.) and the likes of Lionel Messi who will require China's GDP to pry out of Barcelona, this is this summer's transfer window targets XI.

Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea - Chelsea will loan the rising Belgian star to Atletico Madrid for a third season but Courtois' stocks are already so high that Chelsea may be tempted to cash in on their young star especially if Petr Cech doesn't look set to retire just yet - and the Special One may have something to say about Cech's long term future in the EPL. Could Barcelona swoop in on Courtois to replace Victor Valdez?

Leighton Baines, Everton - Despite being consistently the best left back in England, Leighton Baines still remains the nearly man of English football and a move to Manchester United may elevate Baines at last to number one man. And with David Moyes now in charge at Old Trafford, Moyes may push hard to take along one of his most faithful players before the end of the transfer window.

David Luiz, Chelsea - Sideshow Bob looks set to be wanted by Bayern Munich but Chelsea will probably not let go of one of their key stalwarts so easily. Luiz has improved leaps and bounds since his inauspicious start and Luiz should stay and fight for his place in the Special One's squad.

Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus - A double winner with Juventus, Chiellini may want a new challenge and Real Madrid could offer him that plus financial stability. Juventus could possibly sell the Italian international if the price is right given the parlous financial state of the Italian game.

Bacary Sagna, Arsenal - Arsenal's solid right back could be on his way out meaning he could be very attractive to many clubs who could get him on a free. Barcelona, Monaco or PSG may be tempted to take on the French international right back who never quite got the plaudits he deserved in England.

Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur - The most wanted man in world football. Real Madrid would move Castile and Leon just to bring the Welsh wizard over and even if Tottenham continue to rebuff efforts to sign him, the player himself is said to be keen to move after 2 successive failed attempts to make the Champions League.

Marouane Fellaini, Everton - Like Baines, Fellaini could be tempted by Moyes to move to Manchester United - and Moyes may be far more successful with getting the Belgian international to Old Trafford than with Baines. Fellaini would be a great fit for an aging Manchester United midfield and would compliment Michael Carrick very well.

Cesc Fabregas, Barcelona - Struggling to oust the likes of Xavi and Sergio Busquets from the Barca midfield, Fabregas has ended up being associated heavily with a move this summer, with Moyes already hard at work tempting the former Arsenal captain to come to Old Trafford. But would Cesc betray his former club and the club who got him to this point just to get some game time?

Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid - With Ancelotti at the helm of Real Madrid, Ronaldo's future at the Bernabeu may be in doubt and the Portuguese winger has indicated that his time in Spain's capital may be up. PSG and Monaco could be Ronaldo's next destination as only they have the cash to pry him from Real Madrid.

Wayne Rooney, Manchester United - The groans and grumblings have not abated and the Rooney-Moyes reunion may be shot in the water before it has the chance to set sail. But who wants the mercurial United striker who has changed his mind so many times about leaving and staying?

Luis Suarez, Liverpool - Another mercurial striker who may be on the move but no one is quite ready to pay the price that Liverpool have placed on him - just as well for Anfield for this season at least. This could be one where the player would rather move to another club, rather than other clubs wanting to move for him.

2015 Cricket World Cup Venues Announced

Hagley Oval in Christchurch to host opening game of the 2015 Cricket World Cup

The pools for the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand have been announced. 

A - England, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand plus 2 qualifiers

B - South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland plus 1 qualifier

21 pool matches will be played in Australia and New Zealand each.

The host cities are - 

Australia - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Canberra

New Zealand - Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Napier, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin

Hagley Oval in Christchurch will host the opening match between NZ and Sri Lanka of the tournament on February 14, 2015.

Eden Park and the SCG will host the semifinals in March while the MCG, naturally will host the Final given it is the Lord's of the Southern Hemisphere and by far the biggest cricket venue of out all the venues to be used at this year's World Cup.

MCG to host Final

So here's to 2015!

Full 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup fixtures -

Date	Match	Match Type	Pool	Venue
Sat 14 Feb 15	Sri Lanka v New Zealand	Day	Pool A	Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Sat 14 Feb 15	England v Australia	Day/Night	Pool A	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Sun 15 Feb 15	South Africa v Zimbabwe	Day/Night	Pool B	Seddon Park, Hamilton
Sun 15 Feb 15	India v Pakistan	Day/Night	Pool B	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Mon 16 Feb 15	West Indies v Ireland	Day	Pool B	Saxton Oval, Nelson
Tue 17 Feb 15	New Zealand v Qualifier 3	Day	Pool A	University Oval, Dunedin
Wed 18 Feb 15	Bangladesh v Qualifier 2	Day/Night	Pool A	Manuka Oval, Canberra
Thu 19 Feb 15	Zimbabwe v Qualifier 4	Day	Pool B	Saxton Oval, Nelson
Fri 20 Feb 15	England v New Zealand	Day/Night	Pool A	Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Sat 21 Feb 15	Pakistan v West Indies	Day	Pool B	Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Sat 21 Feb 15	Australia v Bangladesh	Day/Night	Pool A	The Gabba, Brisbane
Sun 22 Feb 15	Sri Lanka v Qualifier 2	Day	Pool A	University Oval, Dunedin
Sun 22 Feb 15	South Africa v India	Day/Night	Pool B	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Mon 23 Feb 15	England v Qualifier 3	Day	Pool A	Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Tue 24 Feb 15	West Indies v Zimbabwe	Day/Night	Pool B	Manuka Oval, Canberra
Wed 25 Feb 15	Ireland v Qualifier 4	Day/Night	Pool B	The Gabba, Brisbane
Thu 26 Feb 15	Qualifier 2 v Qualifier 3	Day	Pool A	University Oval, Dunedin
Thu 26 Feb 15	Sri Lanka v Bangladesh	Day/Night	Pool A	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Fri 27 Feb 15	South Africa v West Indies	Day/Night	Pool B	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Sat 28 Feb 15	Australia v New Zealand	Day/Night	Pool A	Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 28 Feb 15	India v Qualifier 4	Day/Night	Pool B	WACA, Perth
Sun 1 Mar 15	England v Sri Lanka	Day	Pool A	Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Sun 1 Mar 15	Pakistan v Zimbabwe	Day/Night	Pool B	The Gabba, Brisbane
Tue 3 Mar 15	South Africa v Ireland	Day/Night	Pool B	Manuka Oval, Canberra
Wed 4 Mar 15	Pakistan v Qualifier 4	Day/Night	Pool B	McLean Park, Napier
Wed 4 Mar 15	Australia v Qualifier 2	Day/Night	Pool A	WACA, Perth
Thu 5 Mar 15	Bangladesh v Qualifier 3	Day	Pool A	Saxton Oval, Nelson
Fri 6 Mar 15	India v West Indies	Day/Night	Pool B	WACA, Perth
Sat 7 Mar 15	South Africa v Pakistan	Day/Night	Pool B	Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 7 Mar 15	Zimbabwe v Ireland	Day/Night	Pool B	Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Sun 8 Mar 15	New Zealand v Qualifier 2	Day	Pool A	McLean Park, Napier
Sun 8 Mar 15	Australia v Sri Lanka	Day/Night	Pool A	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Mon 9 Mar 15	England v Bangladesh	Day/Night	Pool A	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Tue 10 Mar 15	India v Ireland	Day/Night	Pool B	Seddon Park, Hamilton
Wed 11 Mar 15	Sri Lanka v Qualifier 3	Day/Night	Pool A	Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Thu 12 Mar 15	South Africa v Qualifier 4	Day/Night	Pool B	Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Fri 13 Mar 15	Bangladesh v New Zealand	Day/Night	Pool A	Seddon Park, Hamilton
Fri 13 Mar 15	England v Qualifier 2	Day/Night	Pool A	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Sat 14 Mar 15	India v Zimbabwe	Day/Night	Pool B	Eden Park, Auckland
Sat 14 Mar 15	Australia v Qualifier 3	Day/Night	Pool A	Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Sun 15 Mar 15	West Indies v Qualifier 4	Day	Pool B	McLean Park, Napier
Sun 15 Mar 15	Pakistan v Ireland	Day/Night	Pool B	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Quarter-finals: 

Match No.	Date	Match	Match Type	Venue
Quarter-final 1	Wednesday 18 March 2015	TBD v TBD	Day/Night	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Quarter-final 2	Thursday 19 March 2015	TBD v TBD	Day/Night	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Quarter-final 3	Friday 20 March 2015	TBD v TBD	Day/Night	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Quarter-final 4	Saturday 21 March 2015	TBD v TBD	Day/Night	Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington

Semi-finals: 

Match No.	Date	Match	Match Type	Venue
Semi-final 1	Tuesday 24 March 2015	TBD v TBD	Day/Night	Eden Park, Auckland
Semi-final 2	Thursday 26 March 2015	TBD v TBD	Day/Night	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney

Final: 

Match No.	Date	Match	Match Type	Venue
Final	Sunday 29 March 2015	TBD v TBD	Day/Night	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Kick Off for the 2013/14 Football League!!

While the so-called big clubs don't kick off their season until the middle of August, the football season kicks off proper in England when the Football League starts this Saturday.

This is real football as we know it. No inflated wages - although there may be more in the Championship as we see more clubs taken over by foreign owners, e.g. Leeds, Nottingham Forest plus those coming down from the Premier League like QPR - no plastic fans and plenty of old-fashioned stadia - and terraces in the lower reaches of the English football pyramid.

The SkyBet Championship (SkyBet having taken over from npower as title sponsor) has never had it better. The dark days post ITV Digital are over, and England's second division is the best second division in world football - rated the 16th best league in the world.

Wolves will be keen to bounce back up quickly

Indeed, the difference between the top Championship sides and the EPL sides towards the bottom of the table is nearly negligible - Wolves' double relegation from EPL to League One in two seasons is a sign that the Football League is definitely catching up and sides that get relegated to the Football Championship find it very tough to get back up as Blackburn, Bolton, Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, etc. will all testify.

Unlike the Premier League, it is quite difficult to say who will be the best team in the Championship this season - perhaps that is the beauty of the league and why so many enjoy it more than the Premier League. That is because the best teams from last season are now playing in the Premier League, replaced by those that have been relegated from the Premier League.

It is hard to say if QPR, Reading and Wigan will straight away become the teams to beat in the Championship as all three have undergone tremendous change in the off-season. QPR have had to shed their expensive stars with the loss of TV revenue and Wigan have lost their inspirational manager of 3 seasons, Roberto Martinez to the big lights of Everton.

Reading appear to be the most steady with former Southampton manager, Nigel Adkins having taken over late last season and prepared the side for a stint in the Championship. Adkins will be determined to show that he's not merely a Championship-class manager having been unfairly dumped as Southampton manager for Mauricio Pochettino halfway through last season.

Blackburn hope to cling on to Jordan Rhodes as they push for a return to the EPL

Then there's the likes of Blackburn, Bolton, Watford, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Leicester, probably the most well financed clubs in the Championship this season and all clubs of recent Premier League pedigree. Leicester are the side with much to make up for after a season which saw them lead the Championship with Cardiff for much of the way then see them slide and almost miss the playoffs altogether - indeed only a last minute winner against bitter rivals, Forest saw them enter the playoffs where they lost to Gianfranco Zola's Watford.

The Championship is a league of plenty of pretenders and have-beens. Long winning streaks can see sides seem Premier League bound but those could easily turn into long losing streaks that see them battling for survival - Wolves, Middlesbrough and Blackburn showed that last season. On the other hand, its those winning runs that can see sides push for promotion but only just miss out - Bolton were close and Charlton's run nearly saw them make a shock appearance in the playoffs.

So if you're after real football and real fans, stay tuned - because you don't have long to wait.

Tips for the season -
Championship
Promotion - Bolton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester
Relegation - Barnsley, Huddersfield and Yeovil

League One 
Promotion - Wolves, Sheffield United and Brentford
Relegation - Colchester United, Carlisle, Coventry City, Oldham Athletic

5 Greatest Super Rugby Finals

It's Finals week and the buildup is set to be huge in Mooloo country as Chiefs fans count down to what they hope will be a memorable night - the Chiefs will be keen to match the 2 titles their rivals on Saturday night, the Brumbies have already won.

Here's a look back at the 5 Greatest Super Rugby finals in history

2000 Brumbies 19-20 Crusaders
The Brumbies had all the ball but the Crusaders got the points in a shock upset against a side laden with the heroes of Australia's 1999 Rugby World Cup win.

2004 Brumbies 47-38 Crusaders
The Brumbies exploded right out of the blocks thanks to a horror start for Crusaders fullback, Ben Blair. The Crusaders rallied strongly but Joe Roff settled the deal late on to claim the Brumbies' second ever title.

1998 Auckland Blues 13-20 Canterbury Crusaders
The beginning of a dynasty started with a late, late try to unheralded Crusaders winger, James Kerr, as they ended another fine dynasty and era.

2007 Sharks 19-20 Bulls
The Sharks were set to end their long run as Super Rugby's perennial bridesmaids at home before Bryan Habana scored a late, late try in the first ever all South African Super Rugby final.

2011 Reds 18-13 Crusaders
A Crusaders side who had not played at home all season due to the February Christchurch earthquake were valiant against an inspired Reds side in this epic encounter.

What Will Your Team Be Wearing This Season?

Not too long to go before Europe's biggest club football leagues kick off properly. Many clubs are playing pre-season friendlies at home or abroad and there are some clubs like Celtic are currently competing in the early qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League.

In recent times, the most exciting thing that fans look forward to is what type of tops their teams will be wearing for the new season.

Here is a sneak preview of some of the tops to look out for this season.

Nottingham Forest