Champions League Group Stages Draw!

The draw for the financially lucrative Champions League group stages was made this afternoon in Monaco despite trouble with the balls containing the team names and group letters - sack the man who closed them so tightly!!!

FINAL DRAW -
A - Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad
B - Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray, FC Kobenhavn
C - Benfica, Paris St Germain, Olympiakos, Anderlecht
D - Bayern Munich, CSKA Moskva, Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen
E - Chelsea, Schalke, Basel, Steaua Bucharest
F - Arsenal, Olympique Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli
G - Porto, Atletico de Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Austria Wien
H - Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax Amsterdam, Celtic

Arsenal appear to be in the group of death sharing a group with last year's finalists, Borussia Dortmund, former champions and French Ligue 1 front-runners, Marseille and rising Italian club, Napoli with former Liverpool and Chelsea manager, Rafa Benitez. Finally, a tough group for the Gunners. 

As usual, Manchester United and Chelsea end up with a piss weak group each, while Manchester City can breathe a sigh of relief with a much easier group this time round - only Bayern Munich to worry about although they'll hope their trip to Moscow is earlier rather than later. 

Celtic's chances of repeating their efforts to make the 2nd round have been made difficult being drawn in the same group as three other former champions, Barcelona, AC Milan and Ajax Amsterdam. It will require a bit more Bhoys magic to get them through against two of this lot. 

Paris St-Germain and Benfica would be disappointed not to go through from their group too. 

Match-ups to watch early on - 

Juventus v Real Madrid

Barcelona v AC Milan

Bayern Munich v Manchester City

Atletico Madrid v Porto

Every game in group F

Every game featuring Celtic

Your tips to go through? Mine - Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Real Madrid, Juventus, PSG, Benfica, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Chelsea, Schalke, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Porto, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Milan

Can Aguero guide City into the 2nd round at the third attempt?

Celtic Win! 5 Greatest European Moments in Celtic History

James Forrest's dramatic last minute goal against Shakhter will forever be remembered as one of the greatest goals ever scored in Europe by a Celtic player.

It meant that Celtic had managed to overcome a 2-0 deficit in their tie to triumph 3-2 and reach the lucrative Group Stages of the Champions League and avoid embarrassment for one of football's most fabled clubs.

More of this this season

Here are 5 other memorable moments in Europe involving the Bhoys.

31 October 2001, Celtic 4-3 Juventus
Celtic may have been out of contention in the Champions League but they wanted to bow out in style and they sure did that against Italian champions and heavyweights, Juventus in a thriller of a game - this was the first game of football I ever watched.

21 May 2003, UEFA Cup Final, Porto 3-2 Celtic
Celtic's first European final since 1970 was against Jose Mourinho's Porto and despite the superior skill and talent of the opposition, the Bhoys held their own and were 5 minutes away from penalties when heartbreak struck.

3 October 2007, Celtic 2-1 AC Milan
In a tough group featuring Milan, Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk, Celtic needed some big wins on the way and in their first home game of the season, they scored one of the most memorable wins in their recent history courtesy of Aussie Scott McDonald although it was marred by a fan apparently confronting Milan's keeper, Dida who fell over after that.

7 November 2012, Celtic 2-1 Barcelona
A fantastic win against one of world football's greatest ever sides including one of their greatest ever players. Teenager, Tony Watt had one of the moments of his life, scoring Celtic's late goal against Barcelona which sealed a famous win and helped Celtic on their way to the 2nd round of the Champions League.

And the greatest of them all..

1967 European Cup Final, Celtic 2-1 Internazionale, Lisbon
The Lisbon Lions

Greatest Otago XV Ever (1881-2013)

1.Kevin Skinner - New Zealand heavyweight champion and key All Black on 1953/54 All Blacks tour of Great Britain and France. An old-fashioned prop in the strongest sense, literally and physically.

2.Anton Oliver - Otago and New Zealand legend.

3.Carl Hayman - One of the best props ever produced in New Zealand and now a multi-millionaire.

4.Jamie Joseph (captain) - Current Highlanders coach was a superb lock cum loose forward

5.Wayne Graham - Current Otago president was one of the most under-rated All Blacks in history

6.Mike Brewer - Brewer never really got the plaudits that he deserved, ended up going to Canterbury. Was a coach in Scotland

7.Josh Kronfeld - Otago has produced many great openside flankers, Kronfeld was the most familiar in the modern day and probably the best.

8.Taine Randell - Former All Black captain and Otago legend.

9.Chris Laidlaw - Rhodes Scholar and one of the best All Black halfbacks ever

10.Earle Kirton - Underrated first-five, now a practicing dentist in Wellington

11.John Timu - Under-rated winger

12.Duncan Robertson - Under-rated centre

13.John Leslie - Centre talent who was never really rated in New Zealand - went on to represent Scotland with aplomb.

14.Jeff Wilson - Goldie. Nuff said.

15.Ben Smith - Now considered one of the best players ever produced in the Otago region.

Arsenal v Tottenham!

The Premier League is braced for Super Sunday with two of English football's most famous rivalries. When the big game between those two "Northern" teams has finished, two real football clubs will take each other on for the first time this season.

Arsenal and Tottenham have had mixed starts to the season. Arsenal started their season on a horror note with a shock 3-1 loss at home to Aston Villa but bounced back to win 3-1 at Fulham - in between two very good performances in the Champions League against Fenerbahce to seal their place in the lucrative group stages. It appears that Arsenal were never really a club in crisis but just one that was slow to start.

Arsene Wenger wants to spend but hasn't yet

However, Arsene Wenger definitely needs to sign more players to deepen his squad especially considering the injury to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the need to look after the fragile Jack Wilshere.

Spurs new signings

On the other hand, Tottenham have quite possibly one of their deepest squads in years. The imminent sale of Gareth Bale at a phenomenal price has provided the funds for Tottenham - already one of the most financially stable and wealthiest clubs in the Premier League - to spend large on quality players in the summer transfer window, e.g. Roberto Soldado, Paulinho, Etienne Capoue and Nacer Chadli.

Even with Wilian picking Chelsea, Tottenham's squad looks very promising and it's up to Andres Villas-Boas to massage the new signings into the rigours of Premier League football.

AVB has been shrewd but needs to deliver 

Their start has been scratchy so far with two 1-0 wins courtesy of Soldado's skill from the spot but that is to be expected from a squad with so many new names and trying to play without their key talisman and PFA Player of the Season from last season. If AVB can get it right, Tottenham look set for a strong finish to the season - that has been their Achilles heel for the last couple of seasons and the reason why they've been in the Europa League rather than the Champions League.

Last season, Adebayor's red card titled the tie firmly in Arsenal's favour 

The North London derby in recent times has naturally taken on plenty of significance given that Champions League football is at stake. Indeed, that issue has probably stoked the rivalry more with the team in red often the reason preventing the team in white from playing with the likes of Barcelona instead of Wisla Krakow.

A win this weekend could give Spurs a vital psychological boost in their quest to finish ahead of Arsenal for the first time in Premier League history - and that in all likelihood will mean Champions League football.

With both sides intent on playing attacking football, this probably will be the game of the round rather than the Liverpool v Manchester United game. So here's to Sunday.

And here's 5 of the best North London derbies from the league at Highbury/Emirates.

24 November 1996, Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham

16 November 2002, Arsenal 3-0 Tottenham

29 October 2008, Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham

20 November 2010, Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham

26 February 2012, Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham

Liverpool v Manchester United!

Two of English football's most fabled and most successful clubs will resume their rivalry for each other on Sunday at Anfield in the first Liverpool v Manchester United game of the year.

Last season United won 2-1 at Anfield thanks to RVP

Both sides have started unbeaten to the season. For Liverpool, it will be the first big test of the season and the first indicator of their credentials for a top 5 spot - realistically, Champions League football next season would be a stupendous achievement with Liverpool sadly well behind their much hated rivals down the canal as a title contender.

David Moyes - already starting to look like Fergie?

For Manchester United, it just continues what David Moyes has already bemoaned as the toughest start for a reigning champion in Premier League history. A 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea hasn't done any harm to United's title challenge this early in the season with the easier fixtures to come but this has and will always be a tricky fixture for United to navigate.

As Everton manager, David Moyes' record against Liverpool isn't particularly that flash with only 3 wins out of 22 league games against the men in red. But with a talented Manchester United side which is keen to give the new gaffer an extended honeymoon, Moyes should chuck aside that record and confidently consider getting only his 4th career win against Liverpool - and a win at Anfield would definitely sweeten his relationship with United fans.

Can Brendan Rodgers win his first game against Manchester United on Sunday?

For Brendan Rodgers, there are still issues to consider. While they've kept two clean sheets in two games, the defence is still gelling in the post-Carragher era although that Capital One Cup game against Notts County shouldn't really count with Liverpool as it featured a second string defence. Thankfully Simon Mignolet appears to have started his Liverpool career on fire and he'll need to be called upon with Manchester United boasting far more quality and firepower than Aston Villa and Stoke combined.

So bring it on - hopefully it'll be a better game than that other big game of the season (Man Utd v Chelsea) which was such a dud.

And to whet your appetite, here are 5 previous Liverpool v Manchester United classics at Anfield from the Premier League -

4 April 1988, Liverpool 3-3 Manchester United

4 January 1994, Liverpool 3-3 Manchester United

4 November 2001, Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United

13 September 2008, Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United

6 March 2011, Liverpool 3-1 Manchester United

Essendon Crisis: What Now?

It is undoubtedly the biggest sports story right now in Australia and the biggest scandal to hit one of Australia's 2 big professional winter sports leagues.

James Hird has been banned for 12 months

It had been brewing some time but the news of Essendon's banishment from the AFL Finals - they would have been 6th - and the AFL Draft for the next two years as well as the ban of coach James Hird for his involvement in the "supplements" scandal at the club is still massive news and a lot to digest and talk about.

Not since the drama surrounding the Melbourne Storm in the 2010 season when the NRL club were stripped of their 2007 and 2009 Premiership titles for massive salary cap breaches, has the Australian media had this much fodder to chew on.

The Storm celebrating their 2009 NRL Grand Final win - it was stripped several months later

Indeed, it is the NRL that seems to have provided all the stories for the likes of Fairfax and APN to chew the cud on - 10 years ago of course, we had the Bulldogs salary-cap scandal which saw them stripped of their minor Premiership and points. And of course there are the new numerous player scandals over the years, e.g. Todd Carney, Greg Bird, Blake Ferguson.

Essendon's drug scandal does pose a wide question for all of Australian sport especially with the likes of Manly, Cronulla and even the much vaunted Olympians, footballers and cricketers, having had contact with the group of doctors that consulted with the AFL club.

A shadow has now been cast over the sporting success that Australia has enjoyed in the last 20 years or so - and perhaps may explain why Australian sport hasn't had much success since the world's attention was turned on performance enhancing drugs globally.

Was Punter doped?

Could the so-called legends like Ricky Ponting and Ian Thorpe have possibly doped to succeed?

In my opinion, no - they are naturally gifted athletes just like Usain Bolt.

Indeed, the spotlight could be on athletes and players of lesser abilities who perhaps feel they needed to dope to beat the best. As Lance Armstrong and his US Postal Service team and the likes of Asafa Powell and Bolt's athletics teammates proved, drugs can turn a lesser athlete into a superhero - Armstrong was never really considered the sort of cyclist who could win 7 Tour de France yellow tops in a row.

Furthermore, Cronulla's lack of success during the time the "drug doctors" were alleged to have been involved does show that doping doesn't quite work on the rugby field.

Nevertheless, it is a sad day for sport not just in Melbourne and Australia but everywhere really.

Real Madrid Boleh?

Real Madrid telah memulai musim baru La Liga dengan rekord 100% dan 2 kemenangan dari 2 pertandingan tetapi mereka menang sudah sangat dekat - 2-1 atas Real Betis di rumah, yang telah satu gol, dan 1-0 di Granada.

Kini masih hari-hari awal dan masih ada banyak untuk datang dari Real Madrid kerana mereka telah menandatangani beberapa pemain baru di Asier Illarramendi, Casemiro dan rising star Spanyol dari Malaga, Isco.

Gareth Bale - akan tiba ke Stadium Santiago Bernabeu

Dan tentu saja, ada juga Gareth Bale. Sekarang, soalan bukan jika tapi bila.

Kaka dan Ronaldo

Real Madrid selalu memiliki salah satu tim terbaik di dunia - setiap tim dengan Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Marcelo, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso dan Iker Casillas layak untuk dianggap sebagai salah satu yang terbaik jika bukan yang terbaik.

Barca

Masalahnya adalah, memiliki pemain terbaik di dunia tidak menjamin kesuksesan Anda - Barcelona sudah menunjuk bahwa memiliki tim terbaik adalah kunci untuk memenangkan liga dan ini adalah yang paling jelas musim lalu sebagai Real Madrid berjuang untuk mengejar ketinggalan dengan Atletico Madrid , apalagi Barcelona.

Ancelotti "trainer" 

Pelatih Jose Mourinho sudah pulang ke Chelsea. Carlo Ancelotti telah datang dari PSG untuk menyatukan bilik kasut yang terpecah musim tadi dan menghabiskan mengkhawatirkan tentang kebahagiaan Cristiano Ronaldo.

Dan sejauh ini, hasilnya tampaknya telah bekerja dengan Real Madrid sisi yang lebih ditentukan dan mantap di acara sejauh ini.

Ini bisa menjadi awal dari sesuatu yang lebih baik dan datang 27 Oktober 2013, Real Madrid bisa siap untuk mengambil Martino Barcelona di Nou Camp.

Gareth Bale mungkin telah membuat debut Real Madrid dan mulai meneror pertahanan di La Liga.

Adakah Gareth Bale bagian jigsaw terakhir di Real Madrid puzzle judul dan sebab Real ingin membayar 100 juta euro untuknya.

Akan datang?

Hellas! Hellas! Hellas Verona è Tornato!

Sabato notte, molto di Verona ha celebrato il ritorno della squadra hanno chiamato Hellas al volo alto di Serie A dopo un'assenza di 11 anni.

Hellas v Milan

Il partito divenne la celebrazione dell'anno in cui Hellas venuto da dietro per sigillare una famosa vittoria per 2-1 contro il Milan - è stato anche meglio di alcuni di fine anno, feste universitarie che la città di Verona è molto famosa.

Ha fatto tutti questi 11 anni di fedeltà sostenere la loro lotta amata squadra di sopravvivere in serie B vale la pena.

Hellas Ultras

Ora arriva la parte più difficile per il club reso famoso in tutto il mondo da autore inglese Tim Parks nel suo libro, A Season in Verona, che ha seguito Hellas durante la stagione 2000-01, la stagione prima della loro retrocessione in Serie B, ed è uno dei miei lati italiani preferiti.

Hellas devono ora prendere la fiducia guadagnata da sconfiggere il Milan, il giorno di apertura e realizzare che per tutta la stagione. Molto come potrebbero non piacere, possono prendere un sacco di ispirazione da rivali cross-città, Chievo che hanno trasformato l'Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi in fortezza e hanno mantenuto il loro posto in Serie A per 11 anni.

Luca Toni

Hellas non hanno sperimentato italiano internazionale, Luca Toni - che era il loro eroe contro il Milan. Hanno bisogno di assicurare Toni è adatto per gran parte della stagione, insieme con il centrocampista croato, Bosko Jankovic e il giovane argentino, Ezequiel Cirigliano.

Se Luca Toni può essere tra i migliori marcatori in Serie A in questa stagione, non vi è alcuna ragione per cui essi non possono rimanere.

Hellas! Hellas! Hellas!

Verona!

The Rise and Rise of Welsh Football

It's that man again

For so long, the land of the valleys and mines has been famous for its singers and rugby players. But when it came to football, Wales were very much considered one of world football's minnows.

They had their time in the sun in the 1950s when they featured as part of Pele's double act at the quarterfinals of the 1958 World Cup. Then again, much of their nemesis today, e.g. Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Lithuania were either busy rebuilding from World War II or stuck behind an Iron Curtain and part as the Soviet Union.

Welsh sports fans have had all their joy from George North and his teammates for so long

Yes, Welsh football has produced some of world football's best known stars, e.g. Manchester United's Ryan Giggs and soon-to-be Real Madrid's Gareth Bale, but other than that, football in the principality has had very little to shout about.

Until now.

Swansea win Welsh football's first major trophy in league football in years

Two of Wales' biggest clubs are in the English Premier League with Cardiff and Swansea playing together in the same division since 2011 and also the first time they will play together in the top flight.

Cardiff City are back in the big time

This is thanks to huge investment from some wealthy owners, Cardiff and Swansea City, which has seen their previously dilapidated stadia torn down and replaced with Premier League quality stadia. Crowds have been superb to the point that they outstrip crowds at Pro20 rugby games - a concern for Welsh rugby.

Ashley Williams still struggles to get more searches than his hotter female namesake but he's excelling on the field

Both clubs have been hugely strengthened with solid talent from the continent, e.g. Michu, Wilfred Bony at Swansea, but there is some local talent in both sides. Swansea have Welsh internationals, captain Ashley Williams, Ben Davies and Neil Taylor, while Cardiff have long-time Welsh legend, Craig Bellamy and fellow compatriot, Declan John.

Both clubs have two of football's rising managerial talent. Brian Laudrup was linked with Real Madrid last summer after guiding Swansea to the League Cup and a top ten Premier League finish and Premier League followers should become more familiar with Malky Mackay's name.

Malky gives goalscoring hero, Frazier Campbell - his brace helped cause a massive upset

Especially after Sunday's thrilling win over 2012 champions and powerhouses, Manchester City. Ok, City were missing Vincent Kompany at the back but even then, they played well enough on their home turf to unsettle City's stars, not familiar with a homecoming that has been planned for a generation or two.

Yes, Cardiff City may be playing in red - breaking away with the traditional blue and bluebirds which has alienated its older fans - but they're back in the Premier League and that is probably the most important thing for the club.

Can Cardiff and Swansea's success in the Premier League inspire a new generation of Welsh footballers who can get Wales back into a major tournament? That is quite hard to say and we would only be able to see the effects in 5-10 years or so when the current crop of teenagers is ready for first team football.

Aaron Ramsey is one of Welsh football's rising stars

It has to be said that the Welsh national team is currently blessed with some tremendous talent. There's not only Gareth Bale but also Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, Liverpool's Joe Allen and West Ham's Jack Collison. The only trouble is the rest of the team is average at best and still struggles to get wins on a consistent basis.

They were also hampered badly by the shock passing of coach Gary Speed, although current coach Chris Coleman has looked to try and continue Speed's success at bringing out the youth.

Welsh football has a long way to go before it sees days like this

So it may be some time before Welsh football can match the success of its rugby counterparts, but at least you can say that Welsh football is no longer dead, but very much alive and kicking.

Anyway's here's two fixtures to look out for.

3 November 2013, Cardiff v Swansea
8 February 2014, Swansea v Cardiff

Ben Smith Out of Otago's Ranfurly Shield Defence

It's been 56 long years but it's been worth it for the likes of Balclutha, Lawrence, Naseby, Clyde, Middlemarch, Palmerston and Waikouaiti.

Expect little old Omakau to be up if the Shield comes to town

The famous Log of Wood is set to tour one of the New Zealand rugby's largest unions over the week or so, keeping Otago rugby staff busy - the players won't be part of it having to train and prepare for their first shield defence in 56 years against Hawkes Bay - and they'll hope to do better than their predecessors did back then when they lost the shield after only one game.

Unfortunately, Otago fans won't be able to see this Ben Smith on Sunday 

So far it looks like Otago should be able to name pretty much the same side bar Tony Ensor who has a dislocated shoulder. Unfortunately, Otago won't be able to call on All Black Ben Smith who has not been given permission to play for his province on his week off from the ABs - fair enough really.

Here's a look back at the Ranfurly Shield's return to blue and gold land in pictures.

Manchester United v Chelsea!

It's only the 2nd weekend of the Premier League but the luck of the fixtures draw has meant that two title contenders will play each other this early in the season.

Indeed, this could very well be the most intriguing game of the season yet with the pretender taking on the master but not quite in the order you expect.

What a way to start your life at Old Trafford - a visit by Chelsea

For the first time in a long time, the pretender is on the Manchester United touchline while the master himself is back at Old Trafford and will probably get the same welcome he has gotten over the last couple of years as the visiting manager with the likes of Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid.

There is no doubt that for a first game at home, this is bloody ridiculously hard and David Moyes will need to try and rally his players to give it their best in their first league game of the season at Old Trafford and get what could be 3 key points that make the difference later in the year.

The Special One has no qualms about going to Old Trafford

For Jose Mourinho, it is a good time to lay a key psychological footprint on his toughest opponent yet - and given his record at Old Trafford, who would bet against the Special One snatching another win at Old Trafford at the expense of Manchester United?

Can Juan Mata force himself into Mourinho's plans?

While new recruit Willian is not likely to play at Old Trafford, Chelsea have a superb cast of world class talent particularly in midfield - could Juan Mata finally get his chance to show the Special One that he should be Chelsea's creative playmaker?

And will Rooney get a chance to redeem himself in front of the fans in the biggest game of the season yet?

Manchester United v Chelsea has become one of the Premier League's blue riband fixtures and it has often produced some of the games of the season. Here's a look back at 5 of the best fixtures between these two.

1999 Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United - before Mourinho and Abramovich

2004 Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United - Mourinho's first game

2005 Manchester United 1-3 Chelsea - icing on the cake



2012 Chelsea 3-3 Manchester United - thriller at the Bridge

2012 Chelsea 2-3 Manchester United - the duck is broken