With the FA Cup Third Round ahead this weekend, expect to see fringe players and youngsters out in force as the Premier League sides look to keep their stars fresh for league action.
Manchester United face Leeds on Sunday and you can be sure that Sir Alex Ferguson will take the chance to rest his big hitters. Similarly, Chelsea and Arsenal - the other sides in the thick of the title race - will look to shuffle the pack.
It is a real shame for the prestige and rich history of the FA Cup but nowadays the competition comes a distant third behind the Champions League and Premier League in the eyes of the top teams.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Cricket: Englnad hope to keep same side and stay ahead
The England camp will be praying that Paul Collingwood overcomes his dislocated finger ahead of the Third Test so they can pick an unchanged side.
After the emphatic innings victory in Durban, coach Andy Flower could not have been happier. Everything went right for the tourists with Alastair Cook and Ian Bell recording hundreds under pressure as England took a 1-0 series lead.
Hampshire batsmen Michael Carberry has been called up as cover for Collingwood but the hope will be that the Durham man recovers in time.
The Third Test begins on January 3 at Newlands, Cape Town.
After the emphatic innings victory in Durban, coach Andy Flower could not have been happier. Everything went right for the tourists with Alastair Cook and Ian Bell recording hundreds under pressure as England took a 1-0 series lead.
Hampshire batsmen Michael Carberry has been called up as cover for Collingwood but the hope will be that the Durham man recovers in time.
The Third Test begins on January 3 at Newlands, Cape Town.
NBA: Spurs end year on a high
After a sluggish start to the season, the San Antonio Spurs are starting to come good and they head into the New Year as one of the NBA's in-form teams.
A 108-78 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night was the latest impressive outing, with Tim Duncan putting up 23 points and 10 rebounds. Heat star Dwyane Wade was held to just 16 points on 6-18 shooting.
With Portland struggling due to injuries and Denver unable to get the job done on the road, the Spurs have eased back into contention and might yet be the ones to push the Lakers the closest in the West.
A 108-78 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday night was the latest impressive outing, with Tim Duncan putting up 23 points and 10 rebounds. Heat star Dwyane Wade was held to just 16 points on 6-18 shooting.
With Portland struggling due to injuries and Denver unable to get the job done on the road, the Spurs have eased back into contention and might yet be the ones to push the Lakers the closest in the West.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Soccer: Chelsea feeling the heat as African stars head off
The Premier League title race is in full swing now and it will be Chelsea feeling the most pressure at present, with Manchester United and Arsenal hot on their heels.
Carlo Ancelotti's side are out of sorts at present and the situation has been complicated by the African Cup of Nations that begins on January 11.
Training camps are now underway and the Blues will have to manage for around a month without Didier Drogba, Salomen Kalou, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel. No one can overlook the quality of the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka but Chelsea will be heavily weakened over the next four weeks.
Meanwhile, United are all smiles. Sir Alex Ferguson has no African players in his squad and, with his defensive injury crisis improving day by day, the champions are set for a winning run.
Arsenal will be relatively unaffected too. Arsene Wenger will lose only Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song to the competition, which is being held in Angola.
Everything points towards the next four weeks being absolutely critical in this season's title race and there is no doubt that United and Arsenal look the stronger forces over that period.
Carlo Ancelotti's side are out of sorts at present and the situation has been complicated by the African Cup of Nations that begins on January 11.
Training camps are now underway and the Blues will have to manage for around a month without Didier Drogba, Salomen Kalou, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel. No one can overlook the quality of the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Nicolas Anelka but Chelsea will be heavily weakened over the next four weeks.
Meanwhile, United are all smiles. Sir Alex Ferguson has no African players in his squad and, with his defensive injury crisis improving day by day, the champions are set for a winning run.
Arsenal will be relatively unaffected too. Arsene Wenger will lose only Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song to the competition, which is being held in Angola.
Everything points towards the next four weeks being absolutely critical in this season's title race and there is no doubt that United and Arsenal look the stronger forces over that period.
NBA: Nuggets desperate for Billups' return
Everyone knew the Denver Nuggets would struggle without injured point guard Chauncey Billups - but no one expected it to be this much.
Denver have dropped their last three and five of the last six with Billups, who has been sidelined with a troublesome groin injury, managing just a half against Portland during that disastrous stretch. Carmelo Anthony has continued to score big but without Billups' leadership in his role as a reliable second option, the defeats have come in bunches.
Suddenly, the Nuggets' position in the West is far less stable.
The Blazers have closed in on George Karl's team in the Northwest Division and the likes of Phoenix and San Antonio are enjoying improved form. Karl admitted that Denver's three-day break had come at a good time and he is visibly concerned by the losing run.
The Nuggets have had a few days to work on their problems and they return to the court in Utah on January 2 to face another divisional foe.
Billups should be back to full fitness by then and boy do Denver need him right now.
Denver have dropped their last three and five of the last six with Billups, who has been sidelined with a troublesome groin injury, managing just a half against Portland during that disastrous stretch. Carmelo Anthony has continued to score big but without Billups' leadership in his role as a reliable second option, the defeats have come in bunches.
Suddenly, the Nuggets' position in the West is far less stable.
The Blazers have closed in on George Karl's team in the Northwest Division and the likes of Phoenix and San Antonio are enjoying improved form. Karl admitted that Denver's three-day break had come at a good time and he is visibly concerned by the losing run.
The Nuggets have had a few days to work on their problems and they return to the court in Utah on January 2 to face another divisional foe.
Billups should be back to full fitness by then and boy do Denver need him right now.
NFL: Race in the AFC reaching climax
The NFC playoffs spots may be all but decided but the AFC is going right to the wire with a string of teams still fighting to prolong their season.
From the NFC, the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers have booked the places and only positional seedings are up for grabs in Week 17.
But the final week has major implications in the AFC, where the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals are all heading for the playoffs. That leaves two spots remaining and a lot of contenders to fill them.
The Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars are all still in the mix, though only the Ravens and Jets have full control of their own destiny.
There are bound to be plenty of twists and turns but by the end of the weekend, all will become clear.
From the NFC, the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers have booked the places and only positional seedings are up for grabs in Week 17.
But the final week has major implications in the AFC, where the Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals are all heading for the playoffs. That leaves two spots remaining and a lot of contenders to fill them.
The Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars are all still in the mix, though only the Ravens and Jets have full control of their own destiny.
There are bound to be plenty of twists and turns but by the end of the weekend, all will become clear.
Athletics: Bolt continues to set standards
Usain Bolt's 2009 ranked right up there with his outstanding 2008. Smashing his own records in the 100m and 200m at the World Championships in Berlin, the Jamaican brought crowds to their feet with his on-track exploits and all-round personality.
Bolt is almost single-handedly restoring athletics' good name and for that we should all be thankful. See the link below for a look back at Bolt's 2009 success:
http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athletics/227878-the-best-of-2009-usain-bolt
Bolt is almost single-handedly restoring athletics' good name and for that we should all be thankful. See the link below for a look back at Bolt's 2009 success:
http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athletics/227878-the-best-of-2009-usain-bolt
NBA: Bosh putting up numbers to remember
When Chris Bosh says that math was his favorite subject during his school days, it should come as no surprise. After all, Bosh is all about putting up big numbers.
This season the Raptors power forward, drafted out of Georgia Tech, is averaging almost 24 points and 11 rebounds in roughly 35 minutes a night. Bosh is shooting more than 51% from the field and 78% from the free throw line.
With these kind of numbers, it does not take a genius to work out that Bosh is Toronto's leading light. The Raptors have won five straight and sit sixth in the East with a 16-17 record. If Bosh stays on track alongside Hedo Turkoglu and Andrea Bargnani, they have the perfect formula for reaching the playoffs.
This season the Raptors power forward, drafted out of Georgia Tech, is averaging almost 24 points and 11 rebounds in roughly 35 minutes a night. Bosh is shooting more than 51% from the field and 78% from the free throw line.
With these kind of numbers, it does not take a genius to work out that Bosh is Toronto's leading light. The Raptors have won five straight and sit sixth in the East with a 16-17 record. If Bosh stays on track alongside Hedo Turkoglu and Andrea Bargnani, they have the perfect formula for reaching the playoffs.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Cricket: Cook reaps rewards of powers of concentration
Alastair Cook came out of his batting slump with a timely century in Durban on day three, putting together an innings founded on concentration and character.
Operating largely through the leg side, Cook managed 10 fours in bringing up his tenth Test hundred off 218 balls.
With Paul Collingwood still providing handy support, England have seven wickets in hand and are just over 100 runs behind.
Operating largely through the leg side, Cook managed 10 fours in bringing up his tenth Test hundred off 218 balls.
With Paul Collingwood still providing handy support, England have seven wickets in hand and are just over 100 runs behind.
Cricket: Second Test in the balance
South Africa claimed the vital scalp of Kevin Pietersen before lunch to keep England at bay in the Second Test.
Pietersen was given out lbw to Paul Harris playing across the line for 31, becoming the second wicket to fall on day two after Jonathan Trott was caught behind off Morne Morkel.
Alastair Cook's grit helped him reach fifty and he and Paul Collingwood are currently steering England towards the 200 mark.
Pietersen was given out lbw to Paul Harris playing across the line for 31, becoming the second wicket to fall on day two after Jonathan Trott was caught behind off Morne Morkel.
Alastair Cook's grit helped him reach fifty and he and Paul Collingwood are currently steering England towards the 200 mark.
NBA: Pistons struggling
The return of Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince to the starting line-up was supposed to turn the Detroit Pistons' season around. Instead, they slipped to a seventh-straight loss.
With Ben Gordon also back from injury, there were plenty of reasons to be optimistic about a trip to the inconsistent Toronto Raptors but Chris Bosh paced the home side with 25 points and 16 rebounds on the way to a 102-95 win.
The Pistons now sit at 11-19 and their playoff hopes are fading fast.
With Ben Gordon also back from injury, there were plenty of reasons to be optimistic about a trip to the inconsistent Toronto Raptors but Chris Bosh paced the home side with 25 points and 16 rebounds on the way to a 102-95 win.
The Pistons now sit at 11-19 and their playoff hopes are fading fast.
Soccer: Brilliant Rooney saves sloppy United
Wayne Rooney scored one and made two as Manchester United cranked up the pressure on leaders Chelsea with a 3-1 victory at Hull.
But that scoreline more than flattered the champions, who were careless in possession and clueless in the final third. Rooney, though, saved his team-mates' skin.
United were fortunate not to concede a first half penalty for a Wes Brown challenge but took the lead just before the break when Rooney tapped home Darren Fletcher's inviting low cross.
Just when it looked as though United had gained control, Rooney made his one error of the day. His senseless back pass was picked off by Craig Fagan and Rafael Da Silva fouled Seyi Olofinjana in the box. Fagan slotted the spot kick for 1-1.
Then it was all about Rooney's desire to make amends. With Dimitar Berbatov once more seemingly managing not to break sweat, the England man was on his own up front yet he was everywhere as United chased a winner.
And he got his reward when the champions counter-attacked and Hull left-back Andy Dawson could only turn Rooney's driven cross into his own net.
The former Everton man was not done yet either. With Hull throwing bodies forward in search of a late equaliser, Rooney broke on the left and threaded a beautiful pass through for Berbatov to seal the points.
On this evidence, United have a lot to do if they are to win the title and become the first team to do so after losing five games before Christmas. Rooney's performance papered over a number of cracks and Sir Alex Ferguson has some interesting decisions to make when the January transfer window opens.
But that scoreline more than flattered the champions, who were careless in possession and clueless in the final third. Rooney, though, saved his team-mates' skin.
United were fortunate not to concede a first half penalty for a Wes Brown challenge but took the lead just before the break when Rooney tapped home Darren Fletcher's inviting low cross.
Just when it looked as though United had gained control, Rooney made his one error of the day. His senseless back pass was picked off by Craig Fagan and Rafael Da Silva fouled Seyi Olofinjana in the box. Fagan slotted the spot kick for 1-1.
Then it was all about Rooney's desire to make amends. With Dimitar Berbatov once more seemingly managing not to break sweat, the England man was on his own up front yet he was everywhere as United chased a winner.
And he got his reward when the champions counter-attacked and Hull left-back Andy Dawson could only turn Rooney's driven cross into his own net.
The former Everton man was not done yet either. With Hull throwing bodies forward in search of a late equaliser, Rooney broke on the left and threaded a beautiful pass through for Berbatov to seal the points.
On this evidence, United have a lot to do if they are to win the title and become the first team to do so after losing five games before Christmas. Rooney's performance papered over a number of cracks and Sir Alex Ferguson has some interesting decisions to make when the January transfer window opens.
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