With the Champions League on the backburner and the domestic cup competitions on hold til the New Year, all eyes will be on the Premier League over the next fortnight.
And the busy league fixture list kicks off on Tuesday night with four games, including red hot Aston Villa travelling to Sunderland and Manchester United hosting Wolves. Wednesday's action features Chelsea at home to Portsmouth and a pumped up Arsenal heading to Burnley. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has promised a top four spot and that quest continues at home to Wigan.
There might be five months of the season to go but the Christmas period is so often telling in the title race and this year will be no different.
It must be said, though, that Chelsea, United and Arsenal have been handed favorable schedules for the hectic fortnight. After hosting Pompey, the Blues travel to West Ham and Birmingham then play Fulham at Stamford Bridge.
United have it easier still. Following the Wolves game, Sir Alex Ferguson's men go to Fulham and Hull then host Wigan. And Arsene Wenger will be smiling too. After travelling to Burnley, the Gunners host Hull and Villa before a visit to the South Coast to face Portsmouth.
As for Liverpool, even Benitez might be cheered to see Portsmouth and Wolves on his team's upcoming schedule.
All this means that dropped points will be more costly than ever. It is very possible that two or three of the so-called "Big Four" will dance through the Christmas period with maximum points and so the push for perfection is about to hot up.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
NBA: Knicks defying expectations
All the signs pointed to the 2009/10 NBA season being a miserable one for the New York Knicks. With all the talk about the 2010 free agent crop and the possibility of tempting LeBron James to New York, it seemed as though everyone in the Big Apple was just waiting for next year.
And the Knicks did little to make people think otherwise with their early season play, falling to 1-9.
But there has been a mini revival of late with Mike D'Antoni's team winning their last four and five of the previous six. The current streak has hauled the Knicks to 8-15 and a playoff spot suddenly seems an achievable target.
And with upcoming games against Charlotte, Chicago and the Los Angeles Clippers, the Knicks could improve on that record too.
If they keep up their recent form, they might just surprise a few people this year and head into a potentially-monstrous summer on a high.
And the Knicks did little to make people think otherwise with their early season play, falling to 1-9.
But there has been a mini revival of late with Mike D'Antoni's team winning their last four and five of the previous six. The current streak has hauled the Knicks to 8-15 and a playoff spot suddenly seems an achievable target.
And with upcoming games against Charlotte, Chicago and the Los Angeles Clippers, the Knicks could improve on that record too.
If they keep up their recent form, they might just surprise a few people this year and head into a potentially-monstrous summer on a high.
Soccer: Giggs honored by the BBC
Manchester United's Ryan Giggs won the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday night, adding another deserved prize to his overflowing trophy cabinet.
The midfielder, who turned 36 in late November, has been a revelation for the champions over the past two seasons and, despite younger faces arriving at Old Trafford, Giggs remains a lynchpin, rolling back the years.
The Welshman has won a staggering 11 Premier League titles with United to go with two Champions League successes and a string of other winners' medals. And, with the midfielder defying his age, manager Sir Alex Ferguson appears keen to extend the veteran's contract for another year.
Without a doubt, 2009 has been a special year for Giggs, who picked up the PFA Player of the Year award, made his 800th appearance for the club and scored his 150th goal.
In his speech, Giggs admitted: "I am playing for the greatest manager that has ever lived and I'm playing for the greatest club. Perhaps I've become more appreciated as I have got older.
"It's unusual for a 36-year-old to be playing with a team like Manchester United for 20 years but I am enjoying it and long may it continue."
Formula 1 champion Jenson Button finished second in the voting while heptathlete Jessica Ennis, who won gold in Berlin this summer, was third.
The midfielder, who turned 36 in late November, has been a revelation for the champions over the past two seasons and, despite younger faces arriving at Old Trafford, Giggs remains a lynchpin, rolling back the years.
The Welshman has won a staggering 11 Premier League titles with United to go with two Champions League successes and a string of other winners' medals. And, with the midfielder defying his age, manager Sir Alex Ferguson appears keen to extend the veteran's contract for another year.
Without a doubt, 2009 has been a special year for Giggs, who picked up the PFA Player of the Year award, made his 800th appearance for the club and scored his 150th goal.
In his speech, Giggs admitted: "I am playing for the greatest manager that has ever lived and I'm playing for the greatest club. Perhaps I've become more appreciated as I have got older.
"It's unusual for a 36-year-old to be playing with a team like Manchester United for 20 years but I am enjoying it and long may it continue."
Formula 1 champion Jenson Button finished second in the voting while heptathlete Jessica Ennis, who won gold in Berlin this summer, was third.
NFL: Vikings too strong for Bengals
With all the focus on the Colts and Saints securing 13-0 records, the Minnesota Vikings' 30-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday probably did not get the headlines it deserved.
The Bengals arrived in Minnesota with one of the best records in the league and high hopes of handing the Vikings a third loss of the season. Instead, Adrian Peterson had a field day, running for 97 yards and two touchdowns, and the home side clinched a playoff spot.
Cincinnati's Chad Ochocinco was limited to one touchdown and just 27 yards and, despite getting 96 yards from running back Cedric Benson, the Bengals never threatened.
Vikings QB Brett Favre did not have his most productive afternoon but the Vikings defense and Peterson ensured it did not matter as Minnesota moved to 11-2. One more win - or a Green Bay loss - and the Vikings will secure the AFC North.
The Bengals arrived in Minnesota with one of the best records in the league and high hopes of handing the Vikings a third loss of the season. Instead, Adrian Peterson had a field day, running for 97 yards and two touchdowns, and the home side clinched a playoff spot.
Cincinnati's Chad Ochocinco was limited to one touchdown and just 27 yards and, despite getting 96 yards from running back Cedric Benson, the Bengals never threatened.
Vikings QB Brett Favre did not have his most productive afternoon but the Vikings defense and Peterson ensured it did not matter as Minnesota moved to 11-2. One more win - or a Green Bay loss - and the Vikings will secure the AFC North.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Soccer: Capello with decisions to make on midfield back ups
The World Cup is drawing ever closer - and that means international managers around the globe must start making tough decisions for their final squads.
England boss Fabio Capello is one of many managers who still have decisions to make and choosing which midfielders to take to South Africa will not be easy.
Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry seem to have secured the central midfield berths while the on-going saga surrounding the notion that Lampard and Steven Gerrard cannot play together centrally has prompted Capello to use Gerrard on the left. The trio of Lampard, Barry and Gerrard have all done enough to clinch starting roles when England begin their World Cup bid on June 12 against the USA.
The right wing remains somewhat unresolved, however. Capello has a number of options with Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon looking to be the man in possession as he holds off Theo Walcott and David Beckham. All three should make the final 23.
But things get trickier from here onwards. The Italian only really needs one reserve for the centre of midfield as he has Gerrard who could tuck inside if required. Michael Carrick seems to be the favourite but Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jermaine Jenas will be aiming to make a late push.
Owen Hargreaves is the biggest question mark. If he can recover from his string of injuries, he should make the trip. Hargreaves is England's best defensive midfielder and adds versatility in being capable of filling in at right back and right midfield. Time is running out, though, for him to convince Capello that he is free from the knee problems that have plagued him since mid 2008.
Another alternative for the left flank is also critical. Barry has a cultured left foot and could slide across but Capello will surely consider Joe Cole and the Aston Villa pair of Ashley Young and James Milner. All three are comfortable on the ball and can deliver a good cross from wide positions.
All this leaves Capello with food for thought but the signs point to an eight-man midfield group of Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Lennon, Walcott, Beckham, Carrick and, albeit debatably, Milner heading to South Africa next summer to chase World Cup glory.
England boss Fabio Capello is one of many managers who still have decisions to make and choosing which midfielders to take to South Africa will not be easy.
Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry seem to have secured the central midfield berths while the on-going saga surrounding the notion that Lampard and Steven Gerrard cannot play together centrally has prompted Capello to use Gerrard on the left. The trio of Lampard, Barry and Gerrard have all done enough to clinch starting roles when England begin their World Cup bid on June 12 against the USA.
The right wing remains somewhat unresolved, however. Capello has a number of options with Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon looking to be the man in possession as he holds off Theo Walcott and David Beckham. All three should make the final 23.
But things get trickier from here onwards. The Italian only really needs one reserve for the centre of midfield as he has Gerrard who could tuck inside if required. Michael Carrick seems to be the favourite but Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jermaine Jenas will be aiming to make a late push.
Owen Hargreaves is the biggest question mark. If he can recover from his string of injuries, he should make the trip. Hargreaves is England's best defensive midfielder and adds versatility in being capable of filling in at right back and right midfield. Time is running out, though, for him to convince Capello that he is free from the knee problems that have plagued him since mid 2008.
Another alternative for the left flank is also critical. Barry has a cultured left foot and could slide across but Capello will surely consider Joe Cole and the Aston Villa pair of Ashley Young and James Milner. All three are comfortable on the ball and can deliver a good cross from wide positions.
All this leaves Capello with food for thought but the signs point to an eight-man midfield group of Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Lennon, Walcott, Beckham, Carrick and, albeit debatably, Milner heading to South Africa next summer to chase World Cup glory.
Soccer: Alonso glimpses void he left at Anfield
Xabi Alonso had plenty to ponder as he watched his former team Liverpool slip deeper into trouble with a 2-1 defeat at home to Arsenal.
The Reds' season is lurching from one disaster to the next while Alonso, who left Anfield for Real Madrid in the summer in a £32million move, is on the up in Spain. Real are chasing the title and have reached the second round of the Champions League.
As the midfielder took in the loss, he will surely have noted how pedestrian Liverpool have become in the centre of the park since he left for Madrid. The tempo is too slow and opponents are able to get men behind the ball, thwarting the threat of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez is fighting for his job and might just look back on the sale of Alonso as the moment when things took a turn for the worse.
The Reds' season is lurching from one disaster to the next while Alonso, who left Anfield for Real Madrid in the summer in a £32million move, is on the up in Spain. Real are chasing the title and have reached the second round of the Champions League.
As the midfielder took in the loss, he will surely have noted how pedestrian Liverpool have become in the centre of the park since he left for Madrid. The tempo is too slow and opponents are able to get men behind the ball, thwarting the threat of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
Reds boss Rafael Benitez is fighting for his job and might just look back on the sale of Alonso as the moment when things took a turn for the worse.
NBA: Lakers' run snapped, Suns fade late
Deron Williams' Utah Jazz ended the LA Lakers' winning run at 10 games with a 102-94 home victory on Saturday night.
Fresh from a resilient comeback win over Orlando the previous night, the Jazz (14-9) took control in the second quarter and then held the Lakers to just 41 second half points.
There was an element of payback too after the Jazz were humbled 101-77 in LA on Wednesday - and Williams led the way with 21 points. Utah had five other players in double figures and shot 52% from the field.
Just as crucially, Kobe Bryant was held to 16 points on 7-24 shooting as the Lakers slipped to 18-4 for the year but 3-2 on the road.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets recovered from a shaky first half to score a key 105-99 win over the Phoenix Suns.
Despite trailing by 17 with eight minutes to go in the third quarter, the Nuggets (17-7) bounced back largely thanks to Chauncey Billups. The point guard hit 17 second half points, including five 3s, to finish with 24 to go with Carmelo Anthony's 32-point haul.
Steve Nash paced the Suns (16-8) once again with 28 but was left frustrated that there was no whistle on a late drive, allowing Denver to escape with the W.
Fresh from a resilient comeback win over Orlando the previous night, the Jazz (14-9) took control in the second quarter and then held the Lakers to just 41 second half points.
There was an element of payback too after the Jazz were humbled 101-77 in LA on Wednesday - and Williams led the way with 21 points. Utah had five other players in double figures and shot 52% from the field.
Just as crucially, Kobe Bryant was held to 16 points on 7-24 shooting as the Lakers slipped to 18-4 for the year but 3-2 on the road.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets recovered from a shaky first half to score a key 105-99 win over the Phoenix Suns.
Despite trailing by 17 with eight minutes to go in the third quarter, the Nuggets (17-7) bounced back largely thanks to Chauncey Billups. The point guard hit 17 second half points, including five 3s, to finish with 24 to go with Carmelo Anthony's 32-point haul.
Steve Nash paced the Suns (16-8) once again with 28 but was left frustrated that there was no whistle on a late drive, allowing Denver to escape with the W.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
