What Happened to Birmingham City?

Amidst the excitement and fireworks of Tuesday's night Champions League semifinal in Munich, there were 2 big matches in the Championship which were just as important for the clubs involved.

Charlton sealed their 2nd tier status with a 3-1 win over Watford while Wigan Athletic booked their place in the playoffs with a 1-0 win at Birmingham City - the result also left the 2011 Carling Cup winners in danger of playing in England's 3rd tier for the first time in 23 years.

Birmingham City celebrating their shock Carling Cup success in 2011 - they got relegated 9 weeks later

Remember, only 3 seasons ago, Birmingham City were playing the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and of course, fellow city rivals, Aston Villa in the Premier League.

However, Blues fans will almost certainly have to start planning weekend trips to the likes of Rochdale and Milton Keynes, should Birmingham City fail to beat Bolton - even if they win, they will be reliant on Millwall, Doncaster and/or Blackpool losing on Saturday afternoon.

A remarkable and sad decline for a club that has seen its fair share of ups and downs in its history. However, it was hoped that following promotion to the Premier League in 2002, the club was set for brighter things and a stint in the top flight that ended in 2006, followed by swift returns in 2007 and 2009 was a start of better things for the blue half of the 2nd city.

Ironically, in an era where more English clubs are going under foreign ownership in search of glory, it appears that quest has led Birmingham City down the gurgler. Fears from fans regarding Carson Yeung already surfaced when his name was first mentioned towards the end of the 2007/08 season and they appear to have come to fruition, with Yeung sentenced to prison in March for money laundering back in Hong Kong.

As a result, it has left the club - owned by the company Carson Yeung set up, Birmingham International Holdings - on the brink of financial ruin and the parlous nature of the club's finances has seen it plummet down the Championship table this season as top players have moved on to other clubs.

Carson Yeung - what a crook

Birmingham City is sadly a club with an image problem. While it has many proud fans, it has sadly got the air of being a second-rate runt to its more illustrious brother across town - and across the region. In the Premier League era, it has used the riches from staying up to buy goal-scoring talent in a hope to establish itself as a top flight club, e.g. Christophe Duggary back in 2003 to Nicola Zigic in 2011.

While Duggary was a one-off success that hardly cost the club a buck, Zigic whose hefty 5-year contract was designed to benefit himself, has been a flop and his presence has definitely helped to run the coffers dry at a time when the Blues couldn't afford it.

Alex McLeish - a mixed success at St Andrews

The type of football Birmingham City plays is hardly attractive and conducive for scoring goals - under Bruce or McLeish, the Blues were hardly the most free-flowing team to watch but they were effective for a couple of seasons and that kept them up in the top flight.

Alas, with all that quality gone to other clubs, Birmingham City have the fight but just don't have the quality anymore to be a competitive team.

Perhaps League One football will be the best thing for the club as it has been for former Premier League sides like Norwich City, Southampton and this season, Wolves - the former two were promoted from League One to the Premier League in the space of two seasons having spent their League One campaigns rebuilding their team on their youth academies. Hopefully, Birmingham keep Lee Clark for this big rebuilding campaign - Clark was a brilliant manager at Huddersfield before being unfairly let go.

For now though, the gloom must preside over St Andrews as another dark chapter in the dark history of this club draws to a close.
 

20 Years On From Senna's Death - Is F1 In A Better Place?

Thursday, 1 May 2014 will be a poignant day for F1 fans - it will be the 20th anniversary of the untimely death of legendary driver, Ayrton Senna at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola.

While many Senna fans prefer not to celebrate his career on the day he died, preferring to do that on his birthday on March 21, the day his soul and talent left this world forever is still very much significant and poignant for drivers and fans who love Formula 1 and still re-live the images from that day that will haunt us forever.

Indeed, 20 years on, had it not been for the fatal crashes that killed Senna - and Roland Ratzenberger and nearly Rubens Barrichello - that weekend, I dare say Formula 1 would not be what it is today - a sport that is thrilling and exciting to watch yet safe for its participants who are still risking their lives driving the fastest cars on earth.

The immediate effect of those deaths was very clear to see in that 1994 season with holes cut into cars, wing sizes cut down and barge boards placed under cars, along with chicanes put at fast corners at Barcelona, Montreal and Spa Francorchamps's F1 circuits (remember the chicane at the bottom of Eau Rouge?) - thankfully circuit owners would redesign the corners to ensure those chicanes were a one-off and future circuits were eventually designed with wide tarmac and big run-off areas as demanded by the FIA.

Chicane at Eau Rouge, 1994 Belgian Grand Prix

The F1 cars itself would continue to be the benchmark for safety in motorsport and towards the end of the 1990s, the FIA would introduce the likes of grooved tyres, narrower wings, etc. to slow the cars down.

Testament to that is the big crashes we've seen in the last 20 years involving the likes of Robert Kubica and Michael Schumacher that left them with broken bones - such crashes would have almost certainly killed them pre-1994.

The FIA continues to do so even if the focus is now on being environmentally relevant now that F1 has shown it can build the fastest yet safest cars in the world. This year's V6 turbo powered F1 cars with their controversial wing designs are almost certainly the safest racing cars in the world.

What about the drivers? The drivers remain as daring and talented as they did in Senna's time - but with the safety culture now in place in F1, we are quite certainly no more at risk of losing a generation of talented drivers like we did in the 1960s and 1970s.

4-time champion Sebastian Vettel is very much a driver in the Senna mould - fast in qualifying, aggressive in the race

The likes of Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are definitely drivers of the Senna mould - fast and aggressive with a win-at-all-costs attitude - all of them would have been raised up watching Senna become three times champion.

So while Senna may be dead now for 20 years, his legacy lives on and it's not just the memory of those brilliant drives at Estoril and Donington Park.

Perhaps, the greatest mark he left is leaving a sport fighting hard to ensure that a generation who adored him and sought to follow in his footsteps would be able to do so knowing they would be coming home from each grand prix and testing session.

F1 may not be completely safe - the death of Maria de Villota following a straight-line testing session for Williams in 2013 is a reminder of that - and will never be. But it has never been safer and more popular and relevant to its fans than ever.

Adieu Ayrton.

Shaun Johnson Kiwi Magic!

Can Shaun Johnson inspire the Kiwis to victory in the Anzac test for the first time ever?

Here's some magic from Shaun Johnson in the black and white!

RIP Ryan Tandy

Some sad news has emerged this week from Australia with the word that former rugby league star, Ryan Tandy was found dead at the age of 32 in his family home. - allegedly due to a drug overdose.

Tandy's NRL career was abruptly ended after he was found guilty of matchfixing while playing for the Bulldogs in that infamous game against the Cowboys in 2011. Tandy had deliberately conceded a penalty under the posts to help punters who bet on the first score being a Cowboys penalty goal. The subsequent investigations found Tandy guilty and he was given a lifetime ban from the NRL and a $4000 fine.

Ryan Tandy was considered a journeyman NRL player, but did end up winning a Grand Final with the Melbourne Storm in 2009 - that victory itself was tarnished by the Melbourne Storm's salary cap scandal.

Tandy's life after footie was sadly tarnished by charges of kidnapping a man over debt owed to him.

A sad way to end a life unfortunately.

RIP Ryan Tandy.

2014 Super Rugby Half Time Report!

The 2014 Super Rugby season is just over halfway now and some trends are quite clear now.

The Australian and New Zealand conferences are looking highly competitive at this stage of the season with nothing between all 5 sides in each conference, and all of them right in the mix to win the conference and sneak into the playoffs.

The Anzacs are also looking far superior to the South African conference with 3 of the South African teams propping up the overall table. While Jake White's Sharks are leading the overall table right now, they are yet to tour Australia and New Zealand - and the loss to the Highlanders in Durban will definitely send shockwaves in the Shark tank.

Not really a convincing argument then, for the South Africans picking up a 6th franchise in the next expansion in 2016.  The player drain from the South African franchises has definitely hurt and could be a sign of things to come for the Aussie and Kiwi franchises who are set to lose a fair chunk of top Super Rugby players to the rich European clubs now that the recession over there is over.

So, this Super Rugby season is definitely one to savour right now, not just for the tries and great attacking play but also for the unpredictability of results so far.

Here's the Super Rugby XV of the season so far.

1.Ben Daley, Reds
2.Dane Coles, Hurricanes
3.Julian Redelinghuys, Lions
4.Victor Matfield, Bulls
5.Jacques du Plessis, Bulls
6.Matt Hodgson, Western Force
7.Shane Christie, Highlanders
8.Ben Mowen, Brumbies
9.TJ Perenara, Hurricanes
10.Beauden Barrett, Hurricanes
11.Julian Savea, Hurricanes
12.Malakai Fekitoa, Highlanders
13.Alapati Leiua, Hurricanes
14.Nick Cummins, Western Force
15.Israel Folau, Waratahs

Surprise of the season - the Western Force, tipped to be one of the wooden spoon contenders this season with a squad with few internationals and stars, the Force have epitomised all that is good about team sport with some courageous defence and superb tries. Could they finally break their finals duck in their 8th season of inception?

Disappointment of the season - Benji Marshall, ok he didn't get many opportunities and did look alright when he took the field but the most disappointing thing was that he just didn't stick with it. Perhaps the Blues are better off without him now as they looked pretty good against the Waratahs.

Best game of the season - Crusaders v Hurricanes, Christchurch. Absolute barnstormer of a game.

We Are the Champions - Football Wraps Up in Europe!

The club football season worldwide is into its home straight. Most of the big leagues in Europe have decided who their champions will be - congratulations to the following clubs on their (impending) coronation as league champions -

Bayern Munich (Germany), Juventus (Italy), Paris St Germain (France), Benfica (Portugal), Celtic (Scotland), Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands), Olympiakos (Greece)

However, the title race is very much on in the two best leagues in the world with the champions of both English Premier League and Spanish La Liga still up in the air. Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are currently heading the table and on paper and current form, should be champions - but considering the way both leagues have gone this season, there could be a few more twists and turns to come.

Here's a look at the run-in for both English and Spanish leagues -

English Premier League
Liverpool (80) lead the table from Chelsea (75) by 5 points and Manchester City (74) by 6 points. Liverpool host Chelsea on Sunday afternoon in a game that will go a long way to deciding the title - a win to the home side (their odds are good given Mourinho's intentions to field a weakened side ahead of their Champions League semifinal clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday) will mean Liverpool have a hand on their first league win in the Premier League era and their first since 1990 - the gap to Chelsea will be 8 points with 2 games and even if City win their game in hand, they will still be at best still 3 points behind the leaders, although they could very well take the title race to the final day.

City do face two banana skins - Crystal Palace and Everton away, both sides have been excellent at home and are very much top ten material, but the game against Everton could definitely spell the end of City's title aspirations given their record at Goodison Park, meaning, the title could very well be settled at Selhurst Park when Liverpool visit Crystal Palace on Monday, 5 May.

Remaining games - 
Liverpool - Chelsea (H) (win), Crystal Palace (A) (win), Newcastle (H) (win)
Chelsea - Liverpool (A) (lose), Norwich City (H) (win), Cardiff (A) (win)
Manchester City - Crystal Palace (A) (win), Everton (A) (lost), Aston Villa (H) (win), West Ham (H) (win)

(win/draw/lose) - my tip

Verdict - Looking good for Liverpool to start catching up with those bloody Mancs in the overall league wins table.

Spanish La Liga
Atletico Madrid (85) currently lead Real Madrid (82) by 3 points and Barcelona (81) by 4 points. Atletico do face a tough finish to the season - 3 of their games are away from home including a finish at the Camp Nou against Barcelona. Despite Barcelona's recent form, that game set for the weekend of 16-18 May 2014 still has the features of a title decider and cup final all in one, more so if results go Barca's way and less so for Atletico.

However,it is Real Madrid who are mathematically, realistically and on form, Atletico Madrid's closest rivals in the title race and their run-in is fairly straightforward with games against opposition that they have beaten already this season. They do have a bigger squad than Atletico to cope with the demands of a title race as well as a campaign for the European Cup so even though they have do not have the head-to-head with Atletico and Barca in their favour, will very much back themselves to be champions of Spain for the 2nd time in 3 seasons.

Remaining games - 
Atletico Madrid - Valencia (A) (win), Levante (A) (win), Malaga (H) (win), Barcelona (A) (draw)
Real Madrid - Valencia (H) (win), Valladolid (A) (win), Celta Vigo (A) (win), Espanyol (H) (win)
Barcelona - Villarreal (A) (win), Getafe (H) (win), Elche (A) (win), Atletico Madrid (H) (draw)

(win/draw/lose) - my tip

Confidence is strong for Atletico who will be very much focused on winning La Liga - getting to Lisbon for the Champions League Final will be a bonus but Diego Simeone won't be crying all day and night if they eventually succumb to Chelsea. Results against Barca and Real Madrid have shown that they can beat the so-called fancied teams on their day and they appear to have finally figured out how to be leader of the pack having stumbled upon chance after chance earlier in the season to be leaders of the league (imagine if they hadn't missed those chances too - the title would very much have been wrapped up in their favour by now). Valencia and Barcelona will be tough but this is very much an in-form Atletico side riding with destiny - and Diego to remind them so.

Verdict - Atletico to be champions.

Warriors Once Again Crush Storm in Melbourne!

The Warriors have again proven to be a thorn in the Melbourne Storm's side, winning again at AAMI Park on Anzac Day.

Including that semifinal win in 2011 that saw the Warriors book a place in the NRL Grand Final, the Warriors have tended to do quite well at the home of the Storm - and when they have won there, they have often gone on to greater things.

Hopefully, even with a caretaker coach at the helm, the Warriors can go on from here and move up the table and be a contender late in the season.

Anyway, here are the highlights from the game if you missed it!

Are the Hurricanes New Zealand's Best Hope in Super Rugby?

The Hurricanes continued their resurgence with their 4th win in a row as they put 4 or more tries past their opponents for the 2nd game in a row at home - this time against the Reds.

Indeed, just as they did the weekend before, the Canes were impressive, having to come from behind to reassert their superiority and romping home with a fairly comfortable and thrilling victory.

It was their backline that made the difference with the Japan-bound Andre Taylor sparked the Canes from the back and helped All Black winger, Cory Jane score a hat-trick. TJ Perenara, Alapati Leiua, Conrad Smith, Beauden Barrett and Julian Savea all played their part too against a very good Reds side that appears to be in the midst of transition.

The question is, can the mercurial Canes maintain this form for much of the rest of the season and be contenders at the business end of the season this time? Next week's game in Sydney against fellow contenders, the Waratahs will be key in determining that - much of the Canes' resurgence has been mainly in New Zealand so if the Canes are to show that they and not the Chiefs are the team from New Zealand to beat, they will need to beat a Tahs side that will be wounded after taking a beating from the apparently terrible Blues side.

It would be ironic then that after all the drama with coach Mark Hammett that the Canes are to end up being the real deal this season - on that note, watch out for his assistant, Alama Ieremia who is very much a Hurricanes man born and bred.

Anyway all the highlights from Super Rugby this weekend here - sorry no highlights of games from South Africa including the Highlanders game - couldn't find any!

Highlanders Survive Shark Tank in Anzac Day Super Rugby!

Anzac Day witnessed two trans-Tasman Super Rugby clashes - and a New Zealand versus South Africa clash in the Republic - with the Anzacs right on top in all of them even if it wasn't necessarily the Kiwi on top.

Firstly, in Auckland, John Kirwan's Blues got a much-needed win after a week overshadowed by the media attention and furore over the failed Benji Marshall experiment. The Blues were actually pretty impressive against a very good Waratahs side, and scored some scintillating tries - they could have had a few more but for some shoddy handling as the likes of Francis Sai'ili, Charles Piutau, et al were finding more holes in the Waratahs backline than a block of cheese.

Suddenly, the Blues are right back in contention for the New Zealand conference - helped by the fact that the Chiefs are in the midst of their first losing streak in 3 seasons.

Indeed, it was the Chiefs that looked like the Blues in Canberra against the Brumbies - porous defence at the back letting in an always talented Brumbies backline dot down 5 times. The Chiefs struck back with 3 tries but once again, deservedly came away from Canberra with nothing in a 41-23 defeat.

The Chiefs return to New Zealand to face the Lions at home - perhaps a good chance for the Chiefs to regroup and end their losing streak - by then, they might very well have lost the lead of the New Zealand conference to the Hurricanes should they beat the Reds with the bonus point on Saturday night.

Another Kiwi side hot on the Chiefs' bumper sticker is the Highlanders, who scored a tremendous win over the Sharks in Durban - highlights not available yet but will come later so do check back!

This was probably the most satisfying win for the Highlanders in their history considering that the Sharks were clear favourites going into this game - unbeaten at home and top of the whole Super Rugby, littered with Boks stars and a former Boks coach at the helm, plus a far superior scrum as evident in the game.

The Highlanders were highly impressive both in attack and defence even being a man down, after losing Joe Wheeler for 10 minutes - their pressure definitely told on the Sharks whose slippery handling didn't really help particularly at the back, as the Highlanders capitalized on some schoolboy errors to score 4 tries and even gain a bonus point.

Malakai Fekitoa was again the Highlanders' most dangerous weapon as he powered through gaps and gained vital metres for the Highlanders into the danger zone but the rest of the backline was just as impressive and industrious.

The Highlanders now face another big test in Cape Town against the struggling Stormers who are very good defensively at home. However, after going to Durban and shocking the Sharks, they will be quite confident against a Stormers side that appears very out of sorts at the moment.

RIP Tito 1969-2014

It has been sadly announced today that former Barcelona manager "Tito" Vilanova has lost his battle with cancer, passing away at the age of 45.

Tito took over from super coach Pep Guardiola at the end of the 2011-12 season, having been his assistant as Barcelona won the Champions League and La Liga twice in three seasons. However, halfway through the season, Tito was forced to take leave from his post while he underwent further treatment for his cancer. At the end of the 2012-13 season - a season which saw Barcelona win another Spanish league title - Tito announced his resignation to focus on his cancer treatment.

Tito continued the brilliant principles of his predecessor as Barcelona led by the talented Leo Messi continued to wow and dazzle the European and Spanish football world. The loss of such a brilliant football mind will be truly felt and it does feel like the end of an era particularly considering the way Barcelona have gone this season.

RIP Tito Vilanova

Alex McKinnon Speaks For First Time Since Horror Injury!

Former Newcastle Knights rugby league player, Alex McKinnon, has given his first public interview since his horror injury last month left his body and fledgling career in tatters.

McKinnon has revealed that he has regained feeling and some movement in his arms and legs as he slowly recovers from the severe spinal injury following a horror neck-to-head tackle sustained during the Knights' game against the Melbourne Storm.

Since he was admitted to hospital, McKinnon has become engaged to his girlfriend and has received plenty of support from the NRL, players and fans, while the game's governing body is working hard to ensure a repeat of McKinnon's horror tackle never happens again.

Anzac Rugby League XIII

Today marks 99 years since the first forces from Australia and New Zealand landed on Gallipoli Beach in Turkey to take on the Axis forces in World War I - a day that two nations fought as one and a day that will forever mark our nations' identity.

To celebrate our Australian and New Zealand identity, what better way than to consider our Anzac rugby league XIII based on current players.

Here's mine -
1.Billy Slater
2.Jarryd Hayne
3.Greg Inglis
4.Brent Tate
5.Manu Vatuvei
6.Johnathan Thurston
7.Shaun Johnson
8.James Tamou
9.Cameron Smith
10.Jarrad Waerea-Hargreaves
11.Sonny Bill Williams
12.Simon Mannering
13.Paul Gallen

Interchange -
14.Cooper Cronk
15.Isaac Luke
16.Frank-Paul Nu'uausala
17.Corey Parker

Greatest Ever Anzac Rugby Union XV

Today marks 99 years since the first forces from Australia and New Zealand landed on Gallipoli Beach in Turkey to take on the Axis forces in World War I - a day that two nations fought as one and a day that will forever mark our nations' identity.

To celebrate our Australian and New Zealand identity, what better way than to consider the greatest ever Anzac rugby union XV.

Here's mine -

1.Wilson Whineray
2.Sean Fitzpatrick
3.Carl Hayman
4.John Eales
5.Colin Meads
6.Michael Jones
7.Richie McCaw
8.Zinzan Brooke
9.George Gregan
10.Dan Carter
11.Jonah Lomu
12.Tim Horan
13.Conrad Smith
14.David Campese
15.Christian Cullen

Subs -

16.Phil Kearns
17.Tony Woodcock
18.Olo Brown
19.Sam Whitelock
20.Kieran Read
21.David Kirk
22.Stephen Larkham
23.John Kirwan

Benji Marshall Magic!

Benji Marshall may have been a washed-up union star but he is definitely not washed up in league. Here's why.

Sport and Anzac Day - Lest We Forget

Anzac Day is a significant day on both sides of the Tasman and with the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings next time round, the gravity of the day will become ever greater as Australians and New Zealanders mark the day their ancestors sacrificed their lives and fought for their countries instead of Great Britain.

Indeed, Anzac Day instead of Waitangi and Australia Days has become the symbolic national days for both New Zealand and Australia respectively and a day when the best of both countries is celebrated - one of those being both countries' passion for sport.

Collingwood v Essendon on Anzac Day

In Australia, Anzac Day is a big day for two of the country's biggest winter codes, with the big game at the MCG between Collingwood and Essendon often sold out and the Dragons and Roosters - two of the NRL's original clubs - playing each other at the Sydney Football Stadium every year.

Yet in New Zealand, the idea of playing special games on Anzac Day is still a foreign concept and one that we haven't quite come to terms with.

Yes, there are years when Anzac Day has fallen on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, meaning that there is Super Rugby or a Warriors home game anyway - and there is the Anzac League test which isn't actually played on Anzac Day but we don't really have a Collingwood v Essendon or Dragons v Roosters game to look forward to on Anzac Day.

The trouble with Super Rugby is that tours to South Africa mean that it is quite hard to book a game between two Kiwi sides or a Kiwi and Aussie side on this side of the Tasman each year. However, that could be fixed with two traditional Aussie/Kiwi clashes on Anzac Day afternoon featuring whichever side is still on these sides.

Blues v Reds on Anzac Day could be a perfect way to celebrate Anzac Day afternoon

Imagine, Blues versus Brumbies in Auckland and then Waratahs versus Crusaders in Sydney at 2pm local time on Anzac Day - celebrating the best of trans-Tasman relationships.

The now annual Melbourne Storm v NZ Warriors game could alternate between Melbourne and Eden Park in Auckland every year to make the occasion really special.

Whatever the case, Anzac Day is a day to be proud to be Aussie or Kiwi and the most important people at heart are the soldiers who died for our freedom and pride.

Lest we forget.

Benji Marshall Set for Melbourne Storm!

More of Benji in the purple top?

In the latest episode of the Benji Marshall saga, it appears that the Melbourne Storm are in pole position to snap up the wantaway former rugby union wannabe.

The Melbourne Storm have struggled at five eighth since the departure of Gareth Widdop from the club and Benji Marshall's artistry would be a perfect compliment for Cooper Cronk's organization.

Furthermore, the lure of being involved with a potential NRL Grand Finalist could be greater than Benji Marshall's wage demands in the short run and give Marshall more time to try and negotiate his way back into the Tigers den.

The Melbourne Storm, so far the centre of controversy in the NRL this season, could very well redeem itself with the signing of the season.

Diego Simeone To Replace David Moyes at Manchester United?

 

With David Moyes' 46-game reign at Old Trafford over now, the race to replace him as Manchester United manager is now very much on especially with the Glazers keen to stop the club's rapid decline into becoming another Liverpool.

Indeed, in the last couple of hours, Borussia Dortmund's Jurgen Klopp ruled himself out of the job, saying that his commitment to Dortmund and the fans is "not breakable".

With Klopp out, here are 3 contenders for the job that looks like the hottest job in world football in name, but will definitely be only for the brave.

Louis van Gaal - the most obvious contender given his credentials, experience and the fact that his contract as manager of the Dutch national football team ends in the summer after the World Cup. He has already been linked to Tottenham but those links appear to have been hosed down by White Hart Lane, meaning that van Gaal's links with Manchester United will be growing stronger by the minute. I'm not sure he is the best choice and fit for the club though - as mentioned previously, his methods at Barcelona and Bayern Munich weren't necessarily the most popular and he is a bit of an unknown quantity when it comes to English football.

Diego Simeone - the hottest prospect in club football right now having guided an Atletico Madrid side from near relegation into virtual Spanish - and some say, even European - champions elect. The former defensive midfielder has emerged as an unlikely managerial star with his much unfancied Atletico side playing some of the best football in Europe right now. He could be a risky choice with his methods being very unconventional but he could be perfect for a United side set for a major rebuild anyway and likely to feature many new names in the summer - United can easily afford to buy out Simeone's 4 year contract at Atletico Madrid, a club that with not necessarily the most cash in hand. My head says that Simeone would be the right man for United at his time and the future.

Ryan Giggs - the current caretaker manager and if football were still following the pattern when long-time players became coaches, i.e. Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool, Glenn Hoddle at Chelsea, etc. he would be the favourite. But as David Moyes' departure has shown, football has moved beyond those times and is very much a results oriented business with big experienced names having a huge edge over promising potential upstarts. Would do well as an assistant to the next manager given his knowledge of the club.

David Moyes - What Went Wrong?

It looks like the Moyes era at Old Trafford is set to end much earlier than expected. Less than a year into his 6 year contract, David Moyes is set for the chop in the next few days from Manchester United's American owners, the Glazers after a season where they've not only failed to retain their Premier League title but failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 18 years.

Indeed, the 2013-14 season for Manchester United fans has been one to forget as they failed on all accounts on all fronts - often in embarrassing style.

So why did David Moyes fail at Manchester United this season?

The most obvious reason is an aging squad - and a really aging squad which has not been replenished sufficiently during the transfer window. Hard to believe that this was essentially the same squad that was champion twice in the last 3 seasons, made a European Cup Final and was only beaten by the great Barcelona side headed by Lionel Messi. Alas all great sides age with time and this United side was no exception.

Much has been mentioned about the failings of United to lure the likes of Cesc Fabregas to Old Trafford, but Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata are pretty good signings who did well at their previous clubs. It does require a manager to get the best out of them and Moyes definitely had a good track record with Fellaini - mind you, the Belgian midfielder has been hampered by injury during his time trying to bed into a midfield that has a track record of not really allowing players who have starred at other clubs to bed in, i.e. Owen Hargreaves, Juan Sebastian Veron, Karel Poborsky, etc.

Alas, the Giggs/Scholes/Butt firm is pretty much on its last legs and if this season is anything to go by, it will need to be deestablished in order for United to flourish in the future - and not prove as big a stumbling block to future managers as the manager who established the firm, Sir Alex Ferguson.

David Moyes has always been an effective yet conservative manager just like his predecessor and compatriot but in an age where money and innovation dominate football, perhaps the same mantra that made Ferguson great no longer works - indeed what kept Ferguson going in the last 10 years of his reign was his experience and his name. Perhaps the shadow that Ferguson has on Old Trafford is blocking out the view to what is going on in football now and that after removing those old curtains, Moyes' deficiencies have wilted in the sun.

The problem now with United is finding someone to replace Moyes. No manager right now in their right mind would want to take the United job knowing what has happened to Moyes and the job ahead to ensure United avoid the downfall that Liverpool experienced after their last title in 1990.

As it is, it is United's most bitter rivals who are having the last laugh as the circle of football swings towards them.

Benji Marshall Rugby Career is Over!

It appears that rugby union's brief flirtation with rugby league star, Benji Marshall is at a very premature and sudden end. After an unsatisfying start with the Blues and failing to settle into a starting position in John Kirwan's team, Benji Marshall is set to cut his ties with the Blues and rugby union effective immediately and return to the NRL. 

While Marshall has shown flashes of brilliance while coming off the bench and briefly playing at first five, key deficiencies like inept tackling and poor positional play have meant that Kirwan has preferred the likes of more traditional bread and butter first fives, Chris Noakes and Simon Hickey over him to spark a talented yet still raw backline consisting of Francis Sai'ili, Frank Halai and Charles Piutau. 

Marshall is in talks with NRL clubs but a source close to this blogger has told me that the Wests Tigers are in pole position to get Marshall's services with Marshall having made up with the new owners and having seen the Tigers' form so far in the NRL would be convinced that the new ownership is the way to go.

Other clubs rumoured to be in talks are the Gold Coast Titans, Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs.

What a shame for union but great news for league fans! 

Then There Were Four... - Champions League Semifinals Time!

The best Champions League quarterfinals round ever has now been completed. There was plenty of drama, quality football and the odd surprise but after all that, we now have our four Champions League semifinalists.

How do their chances rate not considering the luck of the draw that is to be made on Friday? Here they are.

Bayern Munich - still easily the favourites despite not looking the most convincing against the worst Manchester United side to play in the competition for some time, Bayern will definitely take plenty of lessons from their thrilling fortnight against whoever their next challenge will be. Even a goal down twice, Bayern still had enough composure and quality to ensure they weren't behind for too long and finally turned all that possession and time on the ball into goals and finished off United in their tie. Most importantly, unlike the other 3 sides, they can fully concentrate on the competition having already wrapped up the league title a fortnight ago - potentially a big advantage over their rivals.

Chelsea - I rate them as the 2nd favourite team here simply because of Jose. Chelsea may not have the talent and consistency of the other 3 teams but they still have by far the greatest tactical mastermind in world football management - up against the odds needing 2 clear goals to beat PSG and progress to the next round, Mourinho pushed his team further up the field with a three-pronged attack led by the much maligned Fernando Torres and Demba Ba. It was a brilliant masterstroke which gave them the result they wanted and deserved and they can look forward to making their 2nd final in 3 seasons with the belief they have right now.

Atletico Madrid - Their shock triumph over the team considered the best club side in the world until recently, has had many more football fans talking them up now as not only the best team in Spain but possibly even in Europe. Their performance at the Camp Nou was superb as they neutralized the threats of Neymar and Messi and but for a slip in defence, should have come away with a win at Barcelona's home turf. As it was, they took plenty of encouragement from that 1-1 draw and utterly outplayed the Catalans at home - Atletico should have won 3-0 rather than 1-0 and that performance must surely place coach Diego Simeone and many of his no-name players on top of football's most wanted list. Even if European glory eludes them this season, it has been a highly memorable season for the other Madrid club and their fans who have experienced so many highs and lows in 20 years.

Real Madrid - Surprisingly the underdog here but that performance against Borussia Dortmund in the Westfalenstadion probably has them down a few notches. Without Ronaldo, they lack leadership even if they have the talents of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Isco and Angel di Maria, and against more effective sides like Bayern Munich, Real Madrid are a much more vulnerable side. However, they do have the talent to be champions and given that their hopes of winning La Liga are getting slimmer with each weekend, another record European Cup win could be the boost that the galacticos would like.

Stay tuned for the semifinal draw this Friday!

Wellington to Host 2014 Rugby League Four Nations Final!

The dates for the 2014 Rugby League Four Nations tournament have been confirmed today with the Final set to be hosted in New Zealand.

And for once it won't be Auckland hosting the Final - indeed Auckland will not be hosting any games with the nearest place Aucklanders will have to go to watch the Kiwis for this tournament, being Whangarei when the Kiwis host either Fiji or Samoa.

Yes, in a resounding vote of confidence of Wellington, New Zealand rugby league's newest stronghold, New Zealand's capital will host the Four Nations Final on November 15.

Wellington rugby league fans will be hoping the Kiwis can make the Final!

Here are the full details - 

Saturday, October 25
England v Fiji/Samoa, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Australia v New Zealand, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Saturday, November 1
New Zealand v Fiji/Samoa, Toll Stadium, Whangarei

Sunday, November 2
Australia v England, AAMI Park, Melbourne

Saturday, November 8
New Zealand v England, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Sunday, November 9
Australia v Fiji/Samoa, WIN Stadium, Wollonggong

Saturday, November 15
Four Nations Final, Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Who Should be the Next Hurricanes Coach?

In a shock announcement today, Hurricanes coach, Mark Hammett announced that he would be stepping down from his role after 4 seasons in charge of the Wellington based Super Rugby franchise.

The search is now on for a new coach for 2015 and James Te Puni is quite keen to have one named by June.

So who should be the next Hurricanes coach? Here are some names to consider -

1. Peter Russell - The former Hawkes Bay coach has recently resigned from his post as coach of English Premiership side, the Newcastle Falcons, for personal reasons - indicating that Russell is keen for a return to New Zealand. The Hurricanes job could be perfect for a coach who was once the hottest property in New Zealand rugby after guiding a Magpies side that had only been playing Second Division NPC Rugby to the playoffs of the Air New Zealand Cup. With experience coaching at the highest level of club rugby, Russell is possibly primed for the head coach role at a Super Rugby side.

2. Robbie Deans - the most eligible and qualified coach without a job at the moment, Robbie Deans would be another controversial choice from red and black land, that the Hurricanes management might prefer to avoid after the Hammett experience. However, putting provincial bias aside, Deans would be a glamour choice for the Canes and as long as he still has the touch he had from Crusaders times, could guide the Hurricanes to the Super Rugby glory they've long craved. On the other hand,  he has a lot of work to repair his image after ditching New Zealand to coach the Wallabies for 5 seasons.

3. Chris Boyd - current coach of the Wellington Lions and the New Zealand under-20 team but a very risky choice given he has never coached at Super Rugby level. However, he has experience with coaching the emerging stars of New Zealand rugby and given the youth available in the Hurricanes, Chris Boyd could be a match made in heaven until he comes up against the Aussie and South African Super Rugby franchises.

Mark Hammett Set to Leave the Hurricanes!

Mark Hammett is set to leave the Hurricanes at the end of the season regardless of where the Canes finish this Super Rugby season.

Hammett made the announcement public today saying that the time was right to make this decision and made the usual comments about how the job has been stressful for his family and how he is proud of what he has achieved with the Hurricanes over the last 4 seasons.

Hammett's tenure in the Central North Island's Super Rugby franchise has been controversial to say the least - the way he ushered out Hurricanes legends and stalwarts, Ma'a Nonu and Andrew Hore certainly made him highly unpopular in Wellington - and not particularly successful - no playoff appearances in 4 seasons - although it does warrant a pass mark for the way he brought up the likes of Ardie and Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Brad Shields, Dane Coles, etc. into top flight provincial rugby.

The former Crusaders and All Blacks hooker hasn't said where he will head to next although the Crusaders could very well be the next destination especially if Todd Blackadder leaves at the end of the season - Hammett has always been highly regarded in red and black country and given it is home, it would be a match made in heaven.

Who will be the next Canes coach? Watch this space.

Man United Set to Suffer Without Champions League!

It was brutal, it was heartbreaking but to be fair, the result was probably fair.

Bayern Munich over two legs were clearly the better team but Manchester United, a shadow of their former selves, were actually much better than people expected them to be and at times had control of the tie over the current German, European and world champions and Laureus team of the year.


Indeed, credit to David Moyes' men who gave it their very best shot against an opposition that was always going to be superior to them but ultimately it was not enough and England's most successful team over the last 20 years is set for a long spell away from Europe's top flight.

This is because in the league, United are 7 points behind Arsenal who hold the last Champions League spot in 4th place and even though the Gunners' form has been poor of late, United are definitely behind Everton and Tottenham in the race to usurp Arsenal for that final Champions League spot - they are on 63 and 59 points respectively.

United's only other hope of returning to Europe's top flight next season was to win the competition which now is out of the window.

Effectively, United don't really have a hope of making the Champions League but could still make the Europa League by finishing 6th as a result of Manchester City winning the Capital One Cup and being in the Champions League already.

United have provided many of the Champions League's great moments

Perhaps not having European football next season could be a good thing or United - Liverpool this season have definitely benefited from not having to play midweek in Europe and look set to return to the Champions League at the very least, even if they miss on the title.

However, unlike Liverpool, United have a side on the down and requires major rebuilding so could very well spend one or two seasons away from the competition that they've effectively been the family couch for.

Financially, it will be a big blow for United with United missing out on the TV revenue from the Champions League but United are a strong enough club and should be alright even without participation in Europe's premier competition. On the player side though, it will be tough to sign the best players without the carrot of playing in the Champions League - as Liverpool's manager, Brendan Rodgers said earlier this season, "it is nigh on impossible to sign the best players in the world when they have to pick between a club playing regular Champions League football over one that isn't there."

So the Champions League and Manchester United bid farewell to each other in the hope that their time apart won't be a long one.

Another glorious Champions League moment at Old Trafford

Sir Owen Glenn Set to Pull Plug on the Warriors!

Sir Owen Glenn is set to pull the plug on his ownership of the Warriors.

The Monaco based businessman and philanthropist has expressed his dissatisfaction at the way the NRL club has been run with things coming to a head with the sudden departure of coach, Matthew Elliott.

Glenn said that he has not been able to work with co-owner, Eric Watson, and feels left out of big decisions about the club.

It is another blow to a club where Eric Watson and his men still appear to have their heads very much up their bums in running the club despite the amount of talent available through all levels and the level of support that they have - amongst the largest in the NRL. Mind you, as long as Watson is in charge of the club, we'll just have to put up with him.

Warriors fans could stage a demonstration like English football fans have done in years gone by when they have been displeased with ownership. Unlikely though, given Watson has been at the club for so long and Glenn was very much a peripheral character.

Who Should Be Tottenham Manager?

Once again, that question is being asked at White Hart Lane.

With Tim Sherwood's future in doubt following a recent run of defeats until Monday's 5-1 thumping of Sunderland at home, speculation is now rife as to who should be manager of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

Plenty of names have been bandied around like it's Fantasy Football but putting aside the likes of pipe dreams like Pep Guardiola, here are 3 realistic contenders to take charge in North London, if Tim Sherwood is not considered a manager of a Champions League chasing club.

1. Louis van Gaal - the current manager of the Dutch national side will be off-contract after the World Cup and apparently has already signed up to be Tottenham's next manager if media reports are to be believed. Van Gaal has plenty of experience having coached the likes of AZ Alkmaar, Barcelona, Ajax Amsterdam, Bayern Munich and guided a young Ajax side to European Cup Final glory in 1995, but has had some failures at the same time, most notably at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

A high profile choice but not necessarily the right option going forward.

2. Frank de Boer - the former centre-back has now emerged as one of football's great managers and must be the hottest property on the market after guiding Ajax to 3 Eredvisie championships in two and a half years with a very young, talented squad.

De Boer would be a great choice as he will bring a fresh perspective to White Hart Lane and unite a very talented squad that is lacking cohesive - while being reunited with former charge, Christian Eriksen. He will also be very good for Tottenham's academy and helping bring through a very talented next generation into the top flight.

3. Mauricio Pochettino - another name that has been mentioned particularly after his stellar 18 months at Southampton where he has not only kept the Saints in the Premier League but established them as one of the teams to watch thanks to their high tempo attacking football and English youngsters. Like de Boer, Pochettino could bring his experience from playing and managing on the continent as well as a fresh perspective to White Hart Lane and working with the youngsters from the academy.

The one thing that will mark Pochettino down is his poor English, still preferring the comfort and security of a translator, although this would be a half-mark rather than many points if his record at Southampton is anything to go by.