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.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
2015 Cricket World Cup Venues Announced
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.
So here's to 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 -
Quarter-finals:
Semi-finals:
Final:
| 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 |
Monday, July 29, 2013
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.
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| 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.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
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.
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.
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| Nottingham Forest |
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