...This post is going to be something a little different to the usual F1/Football kind of posts that I put up. This one is a little more personal, a little more 'real' and somewhat more candid.
I am in love with my fiancée. It seems like a straightforward enough concept. It makes sense, it is simple. It doesn't, however, reflect the entire story.
We have been unofficially seeing eachother for more or less three years. In June it will be officially 3 years, but I started loving her way before then.
The three year itch is thought to be the feeling you get after three years together. The feeling that either you have to commit to your relationship, or accept that it isn't going anywhere and drift apart. It isn't by any means a 'we must have the itch' but it is something I, and many other people, can relate to.
The following paragraphs are my thoughts on the concept.
There comes a point in almost every relationship where you start to take your partner for granted. No longer do you feel the butterflies you once felt, you don't have them on your mind for every second of the day and you don't feel the pure need and desire to be at their side for every waking breath. This isn't a matter of falling 'out of love', but merely a matter of getting used to your current life and accepting things the way they are.
At this point, you could go down one of a few routes;
The Pessimist
Desperately you try to force your partner to love you again. You question everything, you question your partner's motives and you worry about what the future may bring. You don't know how to 'fix' the issue, and it gets you down. You're sure that the relationship is going to end, and for every good week, 5 minutes of doubt sets you back to the beginning. You're in a true slump, and you feel like you have no control over anything.
The Optimist
You find yourself saying things like 'Ahhh it'll be fine' all the time, and you refuse to accept that anything is wrong. You're happy with the way things are, you've no reason to change anything and you're convinced it'll all blow over and figure itself out in the end.
The Butterfly Catcher
The most naive. The one for dreamers. You don't know where the butterflies have gone, but you fear you'll never get them again and so you start to seek someone else who will bring them back. You could ultimately be chasing butterflies every three years for the rest of your life, or until you learn that it just doesn't work like that.
The Thinker
You understand and accept that realistically you won't have the feelings you had at the start of the relationship. You have a deeper, more emotional connection than that. You are aware that you have found someone special, you happily accept your partner the way they are. You now follow your head more than your heart, but you are happy to do so. You possibly refer to your partner as your soul-mate.
The Wimp
You never really wanted a long term thing, but have found yourself stumbling along for three years without having any better options. and never having found a way out. You might take this opportunity to cut ties, but you start to feel bad about the years you have wasted. You probably worry a lot about how others perceive you, so you brace yourself for the next year in the hope that an opportunity comes along to jump ship without taking the blame for heartache, or in the hope that some how you will actually want to be in the relationship.
I don't consider myself a relationship expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I can't help but try to offer some advice.
If you decide to commit to your partner, I think it's important to ultimately ignore your instincts. It is quite normal to go through this phase and fear for your future. It's easy to think that your partner doesn't love you as much because they don't make the effort that they used to, but you need to push that mindset aside and work at what you do have.
Don't place the blame anywhere, don't expect them to come up with a magical plan to make you feel wonderful, don't have any expectations at all. Find reasons to continuously appreciate each other. Be sure to thank each other, do the little things and have a cuddle once in a while. Enjoy the simple things that you might overlook or take for granted. We are all human, and all have feelings. Nurse the feelings, but don't worry if the butterflies don't reappear too often. Be content with happiness and comfort, and understand that your partner has your best interests at heart.
I've stolen this quote from an article I just read;
Love isn't a feeling that should be triggered or instilled by someone else; it should be drawn from an intimate, deep gratitude for finally finding someone who understands you, will always be there for you and reciprocates all of this on the same level.
So there it is. I committed to Jackeline a long time ago, and she did me. We are due to wed next June, and although it may seem very simple and straightforward, relationships are difficult. I could probably see a bit of myself in most of the descriptions I've given - though I'd like to consider myself more of a thinker than anything else. I appreciate her. She makes me happy, but not because of anything special - but because of who she is, what she believes in and how she is always there to turn to when I need some care or advice. She is my soulmate, and I love her very dearly.
Tuesday 18 November 2014
Monday 10 November 2014
Potential Abu Double Results
With double points being agreed for the final race of the season, Abu Dhabi has never been so important. Hamilton has been arguably the best driver this year, he has won most of the races and would be a popular World Champion. Rosberg has been consistent, has been strong in qualifying, and should he win the title then I hope that it isn't down to the double points rule.
As things stand, 17 points separate the two drivers meaning that with regular points being scored, Rosberg would either need to win with Hamilton finishing 7th or below, or Rosberg to come second and Hamilton not score any points.
Alas, we do have double points and so the situation changes and the race in Abu Dhabi becomes more important than ever.
If Hamilton finishes 1st or 2nd, he wins the Championship.
Rosberg must finish in the Top 5 to stand any chance of winning the title.
If Rosberg is to win in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton must finish second to win the Championship.
If Rosberg finishes 2nd, Hamilton must finish 6th or higher to win the Championship.
If Rosberg finishes 3rd, Hamilton must finish 7th or better.
If Rosberg finishes 4th or 5th, Hamilton must finish 9th or better.
If Rosberg finishes 6th or below, the title belongs to Hamilton.
Below them, Ricciardo has guaranteed himself 3rd place already but there is quite a battle for the 4th spot - with only 3 points currently separating Alonso, Vettel and Bottas.
At the bottom end of the table, Sauber remain pointless and have also confirmed that their driver lineup will change entirely for next season, with Marcus Ericsson moving across from Caterham and Filipe Nasr coming in from his current position as reserve driver for Williams. This means that currently, Adrian Sutil is without a drive which is something that makes me very happy.
Daniil Kvyat will be looking to Abu Dhabi to really push himself up the table. The Red Bull bound Russian is on a lowly 8 points and sits in 15th place, 14 points behind his teammate Jean-Eric Verge, who will argue that he probably should've been given the seat ahead of his rookie pal. For Kvyat to bump ahead of his teammate, he'll need a finish of 6th or better which seems a bit of a long shot. With normal points in place, he'd need to be on the podium to stand any chance.
So here are my hopes for Abu Dhabi;
I hope that the title isn't decided on because of the double points rule. If Rosberg wins it, I'd like him to do so by finishing 1st or 2nd with Hamilton in 6th or below.
I hope that the title isn't decided by technical faults. If Hamilton or Rosberg retire due to something that is not their fault, it really wouldn't sit right - unless Hamilton finishes 1st anyway.
I hope JEV has a good race and gets a seat for next season.
I hope Caterham return.
I hope that Sauber remain pointless, as Bianchi's hard fought points for Marussia sit there as a legacy of sorts to the French driver, who remains in a critical but stable condition following his crash in Japan.
As things stand, 17 points separate the two drivers meaning that with regular points being scored, Rosberg would either need to win with Hamilton finishing 7th or below, or Rosberg to come second and Hamilton not score any points.
Alas, we do have double points and so the situation changes and the race in Abu Dhabi becomes more important than ever.
If Hamilton finishes 1st or 2nd, he wins the Championship.
Rosberg must finish in the Top 5 to stand any chance of winning the title.
If Rosberg is to win in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton must finish second to win the Championship.
If Rosberg finishes 2nd, Hamilton must finish 6th or higher to win the Championship.
If Rosberg finishes 3rd, Hamilton must finish 7th or better.
If Rosberg finishes 4th or 5th, Hamilton must finish 9th or better.
If Rosberg finishes 6th or below, the title belongs to Hamilton.
Below them, Ricciardo has guaranteed himself 3rd place already but there is quite a battle for the 4th spot - with only 3 points currently separating Alonso, Vettel and Bottas.
At the bottom end of the table, Sauber remain pointless and have also confirmed that their driver lineup will change entirely for next season, with Marcus Ericsson moving across from Caterham and Filipe Nasr coming in from his current position as reserve driver for Williams. This means that currently, Adrian Sutil is without a drive which is something that makes me very happy.
Daniil Kvyat will be looking to Abu Dhabi to really push himself up the table. The Red Bull bound Russian is on a lowly 8 points and sits in 15th place, 14 points behind his teammate Jean-Eric Verge, who will argue that he probably should've been given the seat ahead of his rookie pal. For Kvyat to bump ahead of his teammate, he'll need a finish of 6th or better which seems a bit of a long shot. With normal points in place, he'd need to be on the podium to stand any chance.
So here are my hopes for Abu Dhabi;
I hope that the title isn't decided on because of the double points rule. If Rosberg wins it, I'd like him to do so by finishing 1st or 2nd with Hamilton in 6th or below.
I hope that the title isn't decided by technical faults. If Hamilton or Rosberg retire due to something that is not their fault, it really wouldn't sit right - unless Hamilton finishes 1st anyway.
I hope JEV has a good race and gets a seat for next season.
I hope Caterham return.
I hope that Sauber remain pointless, as Bianchi's hard fought points for Marussia sit there as a legacy of sorts to the French driver, who remains in a critical but stable condition following his crash in Japan.
Friday 24 October 2014
F1 Catch Up
With only three races to go in this F1 season, eyes are already looking ahead to the joys that next year may bring.
So far we have had a Mercedes dominant year, with a few bright sparks from the Red Bull of Ricciardo and the re-emergence of Williams as a bit of a force. It has also been a season of underachievement on a number of fronts, from McLaren and Ferrari to Lotus and Sauber, and even the reigning World Champion has had a season to forget. There was also a particularly dark point in Japan where one of my favourite drivers, Jules Bianchi, had a crash and remains 'critical but stable' in a Japanese hospital having obtained injuries to his brain.
For Marussia overall, it is Jules Bianchi's 2 points from Monaco that has put them ahead of Caterham and Sauber is the Constructor's Championship. The Frenchman drove a solid race to bring his car home in 9th place and score Marussia's first ever points in Formula 1.
The two drivers I dislike the most continue to underachieve. Sutil and Maldonado remain pointless for Sauber and Lotus respectively, putting themselves on par with the Caterham team, Max Chilton and Esteban Gutierrez.
At the other end of the field, Rosberg and Hamilton have shared most of the victories thus far and are seperated by just 17 points at the top with three races to go. Nearly 100 points off of the lead, Ricciardo has had an impressive season in his first with Red Bull and Bottas sits in 4th as Williams continue to improve and impress. Vettel and Alonso find themselves in 5th and 6th, and Raikkonen on his return to Ferrari is sitting in a lowly 11th place.
Alas, the silly season is now upon us. Some driver changes for next year have already been announced, and speculation is hotting up on who will fill the remaining seats...
Mercedes are sticking with Rosberg and Hamilton for next year. Williams are the only other team to confirm that they are sticking with the same pairing, as Massa and Bottas have had a solid season together.
Other drivers to stay put include Ricciardo (Red Bull), Hulkenberg (Force India) and Maldonado (Lotus).
The biggest surprise thus far is in the Red Bull garage, where Vettel has announced his intention to leave the team that he has been with since the age of 11. Now at 27 years old, he feels the need to try things out at a different team - with Ferrari being his preferred destination. Red Bull responded quickly, announcing that Kvyat will take his place in the team, which in turn leaves the Torro Rosso team with a new pairing for next year. They announced early on that Vergne will be departing them, and he will be replaced by a 17 year old chap by the name of Max Verstappen. JEV claims to be too old now for the Torro Rosso team, and I imagine he's correct. It'd be a shame to lose him as I think he's a decent driver and would do a good job with anyone, but I fear he'll be joining Buemi and Alguesuari on the Red Bull scrap heap.
It is reported that Alonso wants to leave Ferrari. It seems McLaren will be his likely destination, but with Button and Magnussen currently at the team, I'm not sure who will make way. Perez at Force India was thought to have signed a 'Multi year deal' last year, so we can assume he'll not be changed. This would help build on a decent year for the Force India team, who have found themselves battling it out with McLaren for 5th spot in the Constructor's Championship.
With all this in mind - here is how the teams currently look for next season;
Mercedes
Hamilton
Rosberg
Red Bull
Ricciardo
Kvyat
Williams
Bottas
Massa
Ferrari
Raikkonen
Vettel (TBC)
Force India
Hulkenberg
Perez (TBC)
Torro Rosso
Verstappen
(TBC)
Lotus
Maldonado
(TBC)
McLaren, Marussia, Sauber & Caterham
(TBC)
(TBC)
Current drivers unassigned
Alonso, Grosjean, Button, Magnussen, Vergne, Bianchi, Chilton, Sutil, Gutierrez, Kobayashi, Ericsson
As you can see, there are currently many unknowns so I'm going to have a stab at filling the gaps for you...
I imagine Vettel will soon be confirmed at Ferrari, with Alonso returning to McLaren. I think either of the current McLaren drivers could make way, but I'm going to assume it'll be Magnussen who has had a quiet season. Jenson Button may be getting on a bit, but he has outperformed his younger teammate and is keen to work with the Honda engines coming in for them next year.
Perez, I'm sure, will be confirmed at Force India before too long.
The second seat at Torro Rosso is anybody's guess. Carlos Sainz Jr was expected to make the step up last year, but Kvyat came out of nowhere and has impressed in his first season. I'd quite like to see the Brit, Alex Lynn, given the seat but I think Sainz Jr will take it in the end.
Teaming up with Maldonado for next year? I don't think it'll be Grosjean. Maybe it's a decent destination for his fellow countryman, Jean-Eric Vergne. It'd be a shame to lose JEV as he has done nothing wrong, so perhaps Lotus makes sense for him. Failing that, I think our GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer deserves a shot in F1 so maybe this could be the team for him.
Marussia, I imagine, will keep faith in Chilton. Unfortunatley I don't see a way back for Jules Bianchi following his accident, and I reckon his seat will be taken by Alexander Rossi who is currently their reserve driver. He has been in and around F1 teams for a couple of years now and I think it's about time he got a seat.
Sauber could do with a complete change of personnel. Sutil was always a bad choice, and Gutierrez unfortunately hasn't stepped up. Van der Garde looks likely to be getting a seat back in F1, and I think he'll be put together with Sergei Sirotkin. He didn't particularly impress when doing a test drive for the team recently, but he brings with him a bunch of financial assistance and I think that is what Sauber need right now.
Caterham - will they even be in it next year? I don't know. It's impossible to know what is going on there, but it is clear that they have financial problems. If they do make it onto the grid for 2015, I wouldn't be surprised if they keep Ericsson on board. He hasn't had a good season, but he's still fresh. I can't imagine their second seat going to Kobayashi though. They'll need someone with a good amount of sponsorship to keep them afloat, or somebody that doesn't cost a lot. Merhi is currently looking good for a seat, or Lotterer who was their named driver in Belgium - though his race didn't last long at all. Jolyon Palmer is another potential candidate, and someone I would really like to see get a race seat for 2015.
Forza Rossa
Back in June it was announced that a new team based in Romania have been given the green light to start up in 2015. Not much has been said since, so whether they make it there in time is yet to be confirmed, but if they do I believe they'll pick a lineup with a mix of youth and experience.
The 'Romanian Ferrari' team will no doubt have aspirations to be on par with Torro Rosso, though as the team is apparently led by Colin Kolles I can't imagine they'll last too long - his CV includes HRT, Jordan, Midland and Spyker. He is also currently an advisor for Caterham..!
Being based in Romania, it'd make sense for them to pick out a Romanian youngster to be part of their team and 18 year old Robert Visoiu is doing a half decent job in GP3. The second seat is anybody's guess - so I'm going to have a stab in the dark and go for Kovalainen.
To be honest though, I doubt they'll make it as far as Melbourne.
So far we have had a Mercedes dominant year, with a few bright sparks from the Red Bull of Ricciardo and the re-emergence of Williams as a bit of a force. It has also been a season of underachievement on a number of fronts, from McLaren and Ferrari to Lotus and Sauber, and even the reigning World Champion has had a season to forget. There was also a particularly dark point in Japan where one of my favourite drivers, Jules Bianchi, had a crash and remains 'critical but stable' in a Japanese hospital having obtained injuries to his brain.
For Marussia overall, it is Jules Bianchi's 2 points from Monaco that has put them ahead of Caterham and Sauber is the Constructor's Championship. The Frenchman drove a solid race to bring his car home in 9th place and score Marussia's first ever points in Formula 1.
The two drivers I dislike the most continue to underachieve. Sutil and Maldonado remain pointless for Sauber and Lotus respectively, putting themselves on par with the Caterham team, Max Chilton and Esteban Gutierrez.
At the other end of the field, Rosberg and Hamilton have shared most of the victories thus far and are seperated by just 17 points at the top with three races to go. Nearly 100 points off of the lead, Ricciardo has had an impressive season in his first with Red Bull and Bottas sits in 4th as Williams continue to improve and impress. Vettel and Alonso find themselves in 5th and 6th, and Raikkonen on his return to Ferrari is sitting in a lowly 11th place.
Alas, the silly season is now upon us. Some driver changes for next year have already been announced, and speculation is hotting up on who will fill the remaining seats...
Mercedes are sticking with Rosberg and Hamilton for next year. Williams are the only other team to confirm that they are sticking with the same pairing, as Massa and Bottas have had a solid season together.
Other drivers to stay put include Ricciardo (Red Bull), Hulkenberg (Force India) and Maldonado (Lotus).
The biggest surprise thus far is in the Red Bull garage, where Vettel has announced his intention to leave the team that he has been with since the age of 11. Now at 27 years old, he feels the need to try things out at a different team - with Ferrari being his preferred destination. Red Bull responded quickly, announcing that Kvyat will take his place in the team, which in turn leaves the Torro Rosso team with a new pairing for next year. They announced early on that Vergne will be departing them, and he will be replaced by a 17 year old chap by the name of Max Verstappen. JEV claims to be too old now for the Torro Rosso team, and I imagine he's correct. It'd be a shame to lose him as I think he's a decent driver and would do a good job with anyone, but I fear he'll be joining Buemi and Alguesuari on the Red Bull scrap heap.
It is reported that Alonso wants to leave Ferrari. It seems McLaren will be his likely destination, but with Button and Magnussen currently at the team, I'm not sure who will make way. Perez at Force India was thought to have signed a 'Multi year deal' last year, so we can assume he'll not be changed. This would help build on a decent year for the Force India team, who have found themselves battling it out with McLaren for 5th spot in the Constructor's Championship.
With all this in mind - here is how the teams currently look for next season;
Mercedes
Hamilton
Rosberg
Red Bull
Ricciardo
Kvyat
Williams
Bottas
Massa
Ferrari
Raikkonen
Vettel (TBC)
Force India
Hulkenberg
Perez (TBC)
Torro Rosso
Verstappen
(TBC)
Lotus
Maldonado
(TBC)
McLaren, Marussia, Sauber & Caterham
(TBC)
(TBC)
Current drivers unassigned
Alonso, Grosjean, Button, Magnussen, Vergne, Bianchi, Chilton, Sutil, Gutierrez, Kobayashi, Ericsson
As you can see, there are currently many unknowns so I'm going to have a stab at filling the gaps for you...
I imagine Vettel will soon be confirmed at Ferrari, with Alonso returning to McLaren. I think either of the current McLaren drivers could make way, but I'm going to assume it'll be Magnussen who has had a quiet season. Jenson Button may be getting on a bit, but he has outperformed his younger teammate and is keen to work with the Honda engines coming in for them next year.
Perez, I'm sure, will be confirmed at Force India before too long.
The second seat at Torro Rosso is anybody's guess. Carlos Sainz Jr was expected to make the step up last year, but Kvyat came out of nowhere and has impressed in his first season. I'd quite like to see the Brit, Alex Lynn, given the seat but I think Sainz Jr will take it in the end.
Teaming up with Maldonado for next year? I don't think it'll be Grosjean. Maybe it's a decent destination for his fellow countryman, Jean-Eric Vergne. It'd be a shame to lose JEV as he has done nothing wrong, so perhaps Lotus makes sense for him. Failing that, I think our GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer deserves a shot in F1 so maybe this could be the team for him.
Marussia, I imagine, will keep faith in Chilton. Unfortunatley I don't see a way back for Jules Bianchi following his accident, and I reckon his seat will be taken by Alexander Rossi who is currently their reserve driver. He has been in and around F1 teams for a couple of years now and I think it's about time he got a seat.
Sauber could do with a complete change of personnel. Sutil was always a bad choice, and Gutierrez unfortunately hasn't stepped up. Van der Garde looks likely to be getting a seat back in F1, and I think he'll be put together with Sergei Sirotkin. He didn't particularly impress when doing a test drive for the team recently, but he brings with him a bunch of financial assistance and I think that is what Sauber need right now.
Caterham - will they even be in it next year? I don't know. It's impossible to know what is going on there, but it is clear that they have financial problems. If they do make it onto the grid for 2015, I wouldn't be surprised if they keep Ericsson on board. He hasn't had a good season, but he's still fresh. I can't imagine their second seat going to Kobayashi though. They'll need someone with a good amount of sponsorship to keep them afloat, or somebody that doesn't cost a lot. Merhi is currently looking good for a seat, or Lotterer who was their named driver in Belgium - though his race didn't last long at all. Jolyon Palmer is another potential candidate, and someone I would really like to see get a race seat for 2015.
Forza Rossa
Back in June it was announced that a new team based in Romania have been given the green light to start up in 2015. Not much has been said since, so whether they make it there in time is yet to be confirmed, but if they do I believe they'll pick a lineup with a mix of youth and experience.
The 'Romanian Ferrari' team will no doubt have aspirations to be on par with Torro Rosso, though as the team is apparently led by Colin Kolles I can't imagine they'll last too long - his CV includes HRT, Jordan, Midland and Spyker. He is also currently an advisor for Caterham..!
Being based in Romania, it'd make sense for them to pick out a Romanian youngster to be part of their team and 18 year old Robert Visoiu is doing a half decent job in GP3. The second seat is anybody's guess - so I'm going to have a stab in the dark and go for Kovalainen.
To be honest though, I doubt they'll make it as far as Melbourne.
Monday 18 August 2014
PL Predictions 11th-15th
I was tempted to reevaluate this as Tony Pulis was a major part in my prediction for Crystal Palace - but I suppose that's the joy with football - at any moment in time, a random unexpected event can occur and suddenly things look a whole lot different. For what it's worth, if rumous of Sherwood taking over a true, I reckon they'll go down.
Alas - I shall continue with positions 11th through to 15th.
In 11th place I have put Southampton. A lot of people are expecting them to struggle having lost the likes of Shaw, Chambers, Lallana, Lambert and Lovren - but Koeman has bought well. He has brought in players that he knows, and players that will directly replace those that have left (Shaw - Bertrand, Lallana - Tadic, Lambert - Pelle). They could do with a new central defender though, as Yoshida doesn't appear to have what it takes.
My prediction for 12th place is Newcastle United. Again, I think they'll be relatively safe - though they have a habit of making it hard for themselves. They have brought in players on long term contracts which is a bit of a risk, and they still have a pretty hefty French contingent. Cabella looks a handy signing, as does de Jong. Provided Pardew keeps his cool, The Magpies should be pretty comfortable.
In 13th I have placed Sunderland. After a huge shake up when Di Canio came in, Poyet has worked miracles in order to steady the ship and he appears to have a very clear idea of what he's doing. They still lack a top quality goal scorer, but they have a decent enough team overall with a good amount of experience. They seem to have faith in their manager, and with Poyet at the helm they could actually push towards the top half of the table.
Leicester City are the next on my list, finding themselves in 14th place. After a hugely impressive Championship campaign last season, The Foxes decided against making wholesale changes to their squad. They brought in a few players early, and Ulloa coming in from Brighton will take the goalscoring burden away from Nugent and Vardy. They have been away from the Premiership for too long and it'd be a real shame if they were to head back down.
I think exploits in Europe will be detrimental to Hull City's season, which is why I have them down in 15th. I actually think Steve Bruce has put together a brilliant squad, full of young British talent - but I worry that they'll burn out towards the end of the season. Beating Inter Milan to the signing of Ince is quite a coup, as was bringing in Livermore on a permanent basis. I like Hull and I hope they do well, but if they go on a decent run in Europe they may struggle.
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Crystal Palace
9. Queens Park Rangers
10. Stoke City
11. Southampton
12. Newcastle United
13. Sunderland
14. Leicester City
15. Hull City
Alas - I shall continue with positions 11th through to 15th.
In 11th place I have put Southampton. A lot of people are expecting them to struggle having lost the likes of Shaw, Chambers, Lallana, Lambert and Lovren - but Koeman has bought well. He has brought in players that he knows, and players that will directly replace those that have left (Shaw - Bertrand, Lallana - Tadic, Lambert - Pelle). They could do with a new central defender though, as Yoshida doesn't appear to have what it takes.
My prediction for 12th place is Newcastle United. Again, I think they'll be relatively safe - though they have a habit of making it hard for themselves. They have brought in players on long term contracts which is a bit of a risk, and they still have a pretty hefty French contingent. Cabella looks a handy signing, as does de Jong. Provided Pardew keeps his cool, The Magpies should be pretty comfortable.
In 13th I have placed Sunderland. After a huge shake up when Di Canio came in, Poyet has worked miracles in order to steady the ship and he appears to have a very clear idea of what he's doing. They still lack a top quality goal scorer, but they have a decent enough team overall with a good amount of experience. They seem to have faith in their manager, and with Poyet at the helm they could actually push towards the top half of the table.
Leicester City are the next on my list, finding themselves in 14th place. After a hugely impressive Championship campaign last season, The Foxes decided against making wholesale changes to their squad. They brought in a few players early, and Ulloa coming in from Brighton will take the goalscoring burden away from Nugent and Vardy. They have been away from the Premiership for too long and it'd be a real shame if they were to head back down.
I think exploits in Europe will be detrimental to Hull City's season, which is why I have them down in 15th. I actually think Steve Bruce has put together a brilliant squad, full of young British talent - but I worry that they'll burn out towards the end of the season. Beating Inter Milan to the signing of Ince is quite a coup, as was bringing in Livermore on a permanent basis. I like Hull and I hope they do well, but if they go on a decent run in Europe they may struggle.
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Crystal Palace
9. Queens Park Rangers
10. Stoke City
11. Southampton
12. Newcastle United
13. Sunderland
14. Leicester City
15. Hull City
Friday 8 August 2014
PL Predictions - 6th to 10th
So without further ado, I shall go through the next 5 positions.
In 6th place, I have gone for Tottenham Hotspur. Generally a team that is sniffing around the European places, but never quite making the step up to the big time - I think this coming season will be a familiar story for Spurs fans. A team who generally have ambitions higher than their potential, Tottenham are a double edged sword for any manager taking the reigns. In Potchettino, they have a gaffer with a growing reputation but this stint could determine whether he has what it takes. Tottenham do have a talented squad, and they will be tricky to beat, but they need Lamela and Soldado to really step up this season if they want to put any pressure at all on the top 5.
In 7th place I've put in one of the overachievers from last year, Everton. Martinez worked wonders there in his debut season, and he'll need more of that this year as their squad hasn't really evolved since then. Keeping hold of Ross Barkley is important for them, and signing Lukaku permanently was a real sign of intent - but I don't think it'll be enough. A team with quality players throughout, Everton lack the trickery of Deulofeu this season and don't have a great amount of depth. Being in the Europa League could be a bit of a distraction, and I think 7th is the best they can hope for.
From 8th-15th I think you can probably whack a number of the remaining teams in a hat and it'll be as accurate as any guess. I dont think any teams left have the quality to push the top 7, and all have the potential to be in a relegation fight so maybe 8th position is generous for my predicted team, Crystal Palace. Since Pulis took over, Palace transformed into a difficult team to beat and they play a decent style of football. They have signed two players with decent Premier League experience in Hangeland and Fraizer Campbell, and I think they'll be fine.
In 9th place I have put our first Premiership newbies - QPR. 9th is pretty high for a newly promoted team, but with Harry Redknapp at the helm, there is always the potential to overachieve. A completely remodelled squad from the team that got relegated a couple of years back, QPR have built their latest foundations on British talent and have worked miracles in the transfer market to get in Ferdinand, Caulker, Mutch and Chilean World Cup star, Isla. If they can keep Remy, he will essentially be a new signing and so they only really need a left back and a tricky winger to have a well rounded squad. I think they'll be safe this season, and with a good run of results should squeeze into the top ten.
The last team to make it into my top ten is Stoke City. Mark Hughes is a manager I have never really rated, but I can't ignore the fact that he did a brilliant job last year - particularly after having a disastrous stint at QPR beforehand. He has slowly changed the style of play at Stoke, and although their backline still essentially consists of 4 centre backs, they have a bit more creativity and pace in the final third. Bojan could be an inspired signing provided he copes with the physical side of the PL, and Diouf coming in from Germany is another decent piece of business. Stoke have options these days, rather than the long ball tactics that got them into the league in the first place.
So here's my top 10:
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Crystal Palace
9. Queens Park Rangers
10. Stoke City
In 6th place, I have gone for Tottenham Hotspur. Generally a team that is sniffing around the European places, but never quite making the step up to the big time - I think this coming season will be a familiar story for Spurs fans. A team who generally have ambitions higher than their potential, Tottenham are a double edged sword for any manager taking the reigns. In Potchettino, they have a gaffer with a growing reputation but this stint could determine whether he has what it takes. Tottenham do have a talented squad, and they will be tricky to beat, but they need Lamela and Soldado to really step up this season if they want to put any pressure at all on the top 5.
In 7th place I've put in one of the overachievers from last year, Everton. Martinez worked wonders there in his debut season, and he'll need more of that this year as their squad hasn't really evolved since then. Keeping hold of Ross Barkley is important for them, and signing Lukaku permanently was a real sign of intent - but I don't think it'll be enough. A team with quality players throughout, Everton lack the trickery of Deulofeu this season and don't have a great amount of depth. Being in the Europa League could be a bit of a distraction, and I think 7th is the best they can hope for.
From 8th-15th I think you can probably whack a number of the remaining teams in a hat and it'll be as accurate as any guess. I dont think any teams left have the quality to push the top 7, and all have the potential to be in a relegation fight so maybe 8th position is generous for my predicted team, Crystal Palace. Since Pulis took over, Palace transformed into a difficult team to beat and they play a decent style of football. They have signed two players with decent Premier League experience in Hangeland and Fraizer Campbell, and I think they'll be fine.
In 9th place I have put our first Premiership newbies - QPR. 9th is pretty high for a newly promoted team, but with Harry Redknapp at the helm, there is always the potential to overachieve. A completely remodelled squad from the team that got relegated a couple of years back, QPR have built their latest foundations on British talent and have worked miracles in the transfer market to get in Ferdinand, Caulker, Mutch and Chilean World Cup star, Isla. If they can keep Remy, he will essentially be a new signing and so they only really need a left back and a tricky winger to have a well rounded squad. I think they'll be safe this season, and with a good run of results should squeeze into the top ten.
The last team to make it into my top ten is Stoke City. Mark Hughes is a manager I have never really rated, but I can't ignore the fact that he did a brilliant job last year - particularly after having a disastrous stint at QPR beforehand. He has slowly changed the style of play at Stoke, and although their backline still essentially consists of 4 centre backs, they have a bit more creativity and pace in the final third. Bojan could be an inspired signing provided he copes with the physical side of the PL, and Diouf coming in from Germany is another decent piece of business. Stoke have options these days, rather than the long ball tactics that got them into the league in the first place.
So here's my top 10:
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Everton
8. Crystal Palace
9. Queens Park Rangers
10. Stoke City
Thursday 7 August 2014
PL Predictions - Top 5
I love a good prediction, and so I'm going to go through my predicted final standings of the PL for the upcoming season, starting here with my Top 5.
In first place, I have Chelsea. I think Mourinho has a squad full of depth and talent, having shipped out some deadwood over the past few months and he has a squad that should really be winning the title. They have two top class players in each position, though they do struggle a bit with strikers, but Drogba coming back to breathe down the necks of Torres and Costa should be enough to see them bang in a few goals. I'd love to see them play some of the younger forwards (Izzy Brown, Patrick Bamford) though I imagine they'll be sent out on loan instead. I think Fabregas is the signing of the summer, and will solidify a midfield that contains a huge amount of flair and skill.
Second place this yea I reckon will go to Manchester United. A new system and a new ethos this year will see a team itching to prove themselves. Louis van Gaal is a proven winner and has managed the largest clubs across Europe. Some of their current crop will have to adjust into their new roles - but once they find their feet, they'll be tricky to beat. I'd like them to bring in Cuadrado to play as a wing back, and perhaps an experienced central defender to give them options (Yepes?). rather than relying on Jones, Evans and Smalling. It will also benefit them hugely that they won't be playing in Europe this year when all of their competitors will be, and so I think it'll be a shootout between them and Chelsea for the title.
In third place I have the reigning champions. Manchester City will be there or therabouts - but I think they'll just miss out. Without Yaya Toure last season, they wouldn't have won the title, and I get the impression that he isn't as passionate this year as he has been in the past. They'll need more goals from the likes of Silva and Nasri to keep with the pace, and I think they'll run it close - but I just don't think they'll have the game changing moments to win it this time round. I also think they'll focus heavily on the Champion's League having not really impressed in Europe for the last few seasons, and if you compare squads with Chelsea, you can see that the depth for City just isn't quite there yet.
Fourth, and I believe a few points behind, will be Arsenal. They are comfortably the 4th best team in England and have been now for a few years. Alexis Sanchez is a great signing, and between him, Ozil, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain they have some very skilled players - but they still lack a decent holding midfielder, and I reckon they could do with a whole new back line. Should Joel Campbell play to his potential in the PL they will do well, but otherwise they're relying on Giroud again and I don't think he's really up to it.
In fifth I have Liverpool. They have spent millions since Suarez left in a similar way to Spurs splashing the cash once Bale left - and I think it'll be a similar result. I don't think Rodgers will get sacked, but I also don't think Lallana, Lambert, Markovic, Can and Lovren are really inspirational signings. It is rumoured they are looking at Falcao, who would be an incredible signing but in reality it's not going to happen so I think a safe 5th works for them. They're better than the teams below, but won't keep pace with those above, and they will have Champions League football to contend with this season.
In first place, I have Chelsea. I think Mourinho has a squad full of depth and talent, having shipped out some deadwood over the past few months and he has a squad that should really be winning the title. They have two top class players in each position, though they do struggle a bit with strikers, but Drogba coming back to breathe down the necks of Torres and Costa should be enough to see them bang in a few goals. I'd love to see them play some of the younger forwards (Izzy Brown, Patrick Bamford) though I imagine they'll be sent out on loan instead. I think Fabregas is the signing of the summer, and will solidify a midfield that contains a huge amount of flair and skill.
Second place this yea I reckon will go to Manchester United. A new system and a new ethos this year will see a team itching to prove themselves. Louis van Gaal is a proven winner and has managed the largest clubs across Europe. Some of their current crop will have to adjust into their new roles - but once they find their feet, they'll be tricky to beat. I'd like them to bring in Cuadrado to play as a wing back, and perhaps an experienced central defender to give them options (Yepes?). rather than relying on Jones, Evans and Smalling. It will also benefit them hugely that they won't be playing in Europe this year when all of their competitors will be, and so I think it'll be a shootout between them and Chelsea for the title.
In third place I have the reigning champions. Manchester City will be there or therabouts - but I think they'll just miss out. Without Yaya Toure last season, they wouldn't have won the title, and I get the impression that he isn't as passionate this year as he has been in the past. They'll need more goals from the likes of Silva and Nasri to keep with the pace, and I think they'll run it close - but I just don't think they'll have the game changing moments to win it this time round. I also think they'll focus heavily on the Champion's League having not really impressed in Europe for the last few seasons, and if you compare squads with Chelsea, you can see that the depth for City just isn't quite there yet.
Fourth, and I believe a few points behind, will be Arsenal. They are comfortably the 4th best team in England and have been now for a few years. Alexis Sanchez is a great signing, and between him, Ozil, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain they have some very skilled players - but they still lack a decent holding midfielder, and I reckon they could do with a whole new back line. Should Joel Campbell play to his potential in the PL they will do well, but otherwise they're relying on Giroud again and I don't think he's really up to it.
In fifth I have Liverpool. They have spent millions since Suarez left in a similar way to Spurs splashing the cash once Bale left - and I think it'll be a similar result. I don't think Rodgers will get sacked, but I also don't think Lallana, Lambert, Markovic, Can and Lovren are really inspirational signings. It is rumoured they are looking at Falcao, who would be an incredible signing but in reality it's not going to happen so I think a safe 5th works for them. They're better than the teams below, but won't keep pace with those above, and they will have Champions League football to contend with this season.
Joe's Top 5
1. Chelsea
2. Manchester United
3. Manchester City
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
Friday 18 July 2014
My name is Joe, and I am a Football Managerholic
So the day is Thursday 18th July, the glorious sun is shining through my window and it is my day off from work. My beautiful partner has gone to work and I am home alone.
There are many things I could do with my day - whether it be strolling in the park, having a quiet read on the balcony or meeting up with a friend for lunch... But no. My sole focus is to get Crewe Alexandra promoted from League 1.
Let me explain myself.
I have been a massive fan of the Football Manager series for about 10 years now. I have spent hours/weeks/months on that game steadily building a solid foundation for any given team. I have won everything there is to win, and I have been heartbroken when losing to that gutting goal in the final minute that my keeper most definitely should've saved! I have been there. I have even played the Champions League theme tune through my phone as my players come out onto the pitch. I have felt every minute, and I have loved it...
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing that youth team player you have produced grow into one of the World's best players. To see him get called into the international squad for the first time, and for him to thank you when getting his first international cap or goal. The feeling of finding that elusive gem playing away in the depths of a Scandinavian league and giving him his chance at the big time - to see him score the winner in the FA Cup Final! To have one of your legendary players retire and then elect to become your Assistant Manager so that you can continue your friendship.
These characters are not simply fake little players running around. They are my players. They are people, and they have personalities to go with it. I imagine they have fake little families, and are friends with all the other fake little players.
...and this is why I am an addict.
But I don't care. Yes the sun is shining, yes there are a million things to do, but young Stevie Harrison has just come into the youth team, and he is going to be my star for years to come! I must make him a star!!
Only a few people will really understand this, but those who do will completely appreciate where I'm coming from. The rest of you can think I'm mental, that's fine. I have a legacy to complete.
There are many things I could do with my day - whether it be strolling in the park, having a quiet read on the balcony or meeting up with a friend for lunch... But no. My sole focus is to get Crewe Alexandra promoted from League 1.
Let me explain myself.
I have been a massive fan of the Football Manager series for about 10 years now. I have spent hours/weeks/months on that game steadily building a solid foundation for any given team. I have won everything there is to win, and I have been heartbroken when losing to that gutting goal in the final minute that my keeper most definitely should've saved! I have been there. I have even played the Champions League theme tune through my phone as my players come out onto the pitch. I have felt every minute, and I have loved it...
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing that youth team player you have produced grow into one of the World's best players. To see him get called into the international squad for the first time, and for him to thank you when getting his first international cap or goal. The feeling of finding that elusive gem playing away in the depths of a Scandinavian league and giving him his chance at the big time - to see him score the winner in the FA Cup Final! To have one of your legendary players retire and then elect to become your Assistant Manager so that you can continue your friendship.
These characters are not simply fake little players running around. They are my players. They are people, and they have personalities to go with it. I imagine they have fake little families, and are friends with all the other fake little players.
...and this is why I am an addict.
But I don't care. Yes the sun is shining, yes there are a million things to do, but young Stevie Harrison has just come into the youth team, and he is going to be my star for years to come! I must make him a star!!
Only a few people will really understand this, but those who do will completely appreciate where I'm coming from. The rest of you can think I'm mental, that's fine. I have a legacy to complete.
Monday 14 July 2014
So How Close Was I To Being Correct?
Ok, let's face it. My post here was a little tongue in cheek, and in reality I got 0 out of 3 correct..
The major thing I got incorrect was that I didn't predict that for the first time in history, the World Cup held in South America would be won by a European team.. However, my thought process wasn't a million miles off for the rest of it.
Winners: Germany
Prediction: Brazil
I predicted that Brazil would win the World Cup.. I was wrong. They were utterly hammered by the eventual winners in the Semi Finals. I can't really defend that.
Runners Up: Argentina
Prediction: Germany
I had predicted that not only would there be a Europe vs South America final, but also that Germany would be the team representing Europe. I would argue that had Brazil been on the other side of the draw, the final could well have been Brazil vs Germany but as they both won their groups that was deemed impossible. If you read my original thread too, I toy with the idea of putting Argentina there and state that the only reason I chose Brazil was because of home advantage. So yes, I was wrong but I was close to being right.
Top Scorer: James Rodriquez
Prediction: Edin Dzeko
Now, I was completely wrong with my answer here. I had Bosnia down to be a dark horse. They scored plenty in qualifying and Dzeko was their top scorer. They should've breezed past Nigeria and Iran but alas, they didn't. Unfortunately he ended the tournament with 1 goal to his name, and Bosnia never made it out of their group.
However - I was correct to state that the top scorer is likely to be playing for a team that does not compete in the final. In fact, James Rodriguez didn't even play in the Semis... So my thought process was correct, but my decision making was a bit off.
The major thing I got incorrect was that I didn't predict that for the first time in history, the World Cup held in South America would be won by a European team.. However, my thought process wasn't a million miles off for the rest of it.
Winners: Germany
Prediction: Brazil
I predicted that Brazil would win the World Cup.. I was wrong. They were utterly hammered by the eventual winners in the Semi Finals. I can't really defend that.
Runners Up: Argentina
Prediction: Germany
I had predicted that not only would there be a Europe vs South America final, but also that Germany would be the team representing Europe. I would argue that had Brazil been on the other side of the draw, the final could well have been Brazil vs Germany but as they both won their groups that was deemed impossible. If you read my original thread too, I toy with the idea of putting Argentina there and state that the only reason I chose Brazil was because of home advantage. So yes, I was wrong but I was close to being right.
Top Scorer: James Rodriquez
Prediction: Edin Dzeko
Now, I was completely wrong with my answer here. I had Bosnia down to be a dark horse. They scored plenty in qualifying and Dzeko was their top scorer. They should've breezed past Nigeria and Iran but alas, they didn't. Unfortunately he ended the tournament with 1 goal to his name, and Bosnia never made it out of their group.
However - I was correct to state that the top scorer is likely to be playing for a team that does not compete in the final. In fact, James Rodriguez didn't even play in the Semis... So my thought process was correct, but my decision making was a bit off.
Tuesday 1 July 2014
Why English Players Should Move Abroad
It is no secret that our issues with the national team are being blamed on those 'average' foreign players that get brought into the Premier League on smaller pay packets. The England National Team is apparently worse off because of this, and the idea of a 'B Team League' has been brushed off with barely a whimper - after all, how is the English team going to benefit from more players playing at a lower standard...?
If the FA will not put rules in place to restrict the amount of players from across Europe joining our league, surely English players should be looking to seek moves to clubs outside of our own nation. There are barely any British players plying their trade across Europe's other big leagues, and I think this is part of our downfall.
In the Premiership, we have a huge amount of Spanish, French, Dutch and German players. Players who are mostly internationals, and some who are absolutely World Class.. On the other hand, the only player in Woy's squad to play outside of the Premier League is Fraser Forster.. Of Celtic.
I was frustrated with Tom Ince when he turned down a move to Inter Milan, stating that he has 'unfinished business' in the Premiership. This isn't the case. He is still young and can return to the PL after 5 potentially brilliant seasons playing for one of Italy's top clubs - but no. He'll probably move to Hull, or Crystal Palace and be constantly ignored by the National team because he isn't at a big club. He has the potential to be one of the most effective wingers in Europe, and this lack of ambition really frustrates me.
I have read recently that Fraser Forster has been linked with a move to Athletico Madrid and I think this would be a brilliant move for him. I really rate Forster, but it's clear that playing for Celtic has seen him considered only 3rd choice for England. I think he's far better than Ben Foster, and, provided he's playing for a World Class team on a regular basis, he could really push Joe Hart for the Number 1 spot... But staying in Scotland would see him fester into that average 3rd choice role for the rest of his career.
Yes, the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the World - and there are a lot of British players drawn to that - but if you have the option of Inter Milan or Hull, surely it's a no brainer?! Gareth Bale took the plunge and went to Real Madrid, and he is clearly enjoying that - but even that took a World Record fee.
Look at Joey Barton, succeeding at Marseille a couple of seasons back. Joe Cole had a bit of a revival in France with Lille - but has since failed at West Ham, and even Bradley Wright-Phillips looks a decent player playing alongside Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry in the MLS, moving there from Charlton.
Let's imagine that Tom Cleverley goes abroad along with Micah Richards, Ryan Shawcross and Andros Townsend. Four players that have potential to be good enough for the England team, but are wasting time stuck at their current clubs - happy to be average. Shawcross could get into almost any squad in Europe and would be great in the heart of an English defence, Richards was a brialliant youngster but has since rotted away on Man City's bench and cannot shift Zabaleta from that right back slot. Townsend too would be brilliant in La Liga or Serie A, and Cleverley could even do a decent job in the Bundesliga. But it is just not going to happen.. The draw of the Premier League is too great, even if it means a player's career suffering because of it.
The amount of players you could list who have 'wasted potential' goes on - you look at Jack Rodwell, Scott Sinclar, Ravel Morrison, Wilf Zaha, Conor Wickham.. All players who are not getting game time in the biggest competitions because they would rather stick it out at an average English team, or convince themselves that they're going to knock Juan Mata or Yaya Toure out of the starting lineups of their clubs. Not going to happen. Move on. Live a little. Reach that potential!
Cool. Rant over. Thanks for reading.
If the FA will not put rules in place to restrict the amount of players from across Europe joining our league, surely English players should be looking to seek moves to clubs outside of our own nation. There are barely any British players plying their trade across Europe's other big leagues, and I think this is part of our downfall.
In the Premiership, we have a huge amount of Spanish, French, Dutch and German players. Players who are mostly internationals, and some who are absolutely World Class.. On the other hand, the only player in Woy's squad to play outside of the Premier League is Fraser Forster.. Of Celtic.
I was frustrated with Tom Ince when he turned down a move to Inter Milan, stating that he has 'unfinished business' in the Premiership. This isn't the case. He is still young and can return to the PL after 5 potentially brilliant seasons playing for one of Italy's top clubs - but no. He'll probably move to Hull, or Crystal Palace and be constantly ignored by the National team because he isn't at a big club. He has the potential to be one of the most effective wingers in Europe, and this lack of ambition really frustrates me.
I have read recently that Fraser Forster has been linked with a move to Athletico Madrid and I think this would be a brilliant move for him. I really rate Forster, but it's clear that playing for Celtic has seen him considered only 3rd choice for England. I think he's far better than Ben Foster, and, provided he's playing for a World Class team on a regular basis, he could really push Joe Hart for the Number 1 spot... But staying in Scotland would see him fester into that average 3rd choice role for the rest of his career.
Yes, the Premier League is one of the best leagues in the World - and there are a lot of British players drawn to that - but if you have the option of Inter Milan or Hull, surely it's a no brainer?! Gareth Bale took the plunge and went to Real Madrid, and he is clearly enjoying that - but even that took a World Record fee.
Look at Joey Barton, succeeding at Marseille a couple of seasons back. Joe Cole had a bit of a revival in France with Lille - but has since failed at West Ham, and even Bradley Wright-Phillips looks a decent player playing alongside Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry in the MLS, moving there from Charlton.
Let's imagine that Tom Cleverley goes abroad along with Micah Richards, Ryan Shawcross and Andros Townsend. Four players that have potential to be good enough for the England team, but are wasting time stuck at their current clubs - happy to be average. Shawcross could get into almost any squad in Europe and would be great in the heart of an English defence, Richards was a brialliant youngster but has since rotted away on Man City's bench and cannot shift Zabaleta from that right back slot. Townsend too would be brilliant in La Liga or Serie A, and Cleverley could even do a decent job in the Bundesliga. But it is just not going to happen.. The draw of the Premier League is too great, even if it means a player's career suffering because of it.
The amount of players you could list who have 'wasted potential' goes on - you look at Jack Rodwell, Scott Sinclar, Ravel Morrison, Wilf Zaha, Conor Wickham.. All players who are not getting game time in the biggest competitions because they would rather stick it out at an average English team, or convince themselves that they're going to knock Juan Mata or Yaya Toure out of the starting lineups of their clubs. Not going to happen. Move on. Live a little. Reach that potential!
Cool. Rant over. Thanks for reading.
Sunday 29 June 2014
UFWC - Will the 'trophy' change hands today?
Today sees Costa Rica play Greece in the title match for the Unofficial Football World Championships.
The winner will move up in the rankings - Costa Rica from equal 24th (with Angola, Paraguay, Peru and Zimbabwe) to joint 22nd (with Colombia and Romania). Greece would move ahead of Japan and Chile, to joint 15th alongside Wales and Austria.
For those who didn't read my last post about the UFWC, it is the longest international football 'competition' in which there is a winner-stays-on mentality. The first champions were England back in 1873, having beaten Scotland - they held onto it until they were beaten, the team that beat them then held onto the title until they were beaten, and so on.. Right up to present day, over 800 international matches have had the title up for grabs, over 142 years, title bouts have been fought between some of the huge teams in the World, as well as some of the minnows.
As recently as 2012, North Korea were UFWC title holders having won it from Japan - and held the title for a whole year before losing against Sweden on penalties in the 'King's Cup', held in Thailand.Scotland currently top the World Rankings with most successful defences of the title, mostly due to the fact that in the early years there were very few international football teams at all. They look likely to stay there for some time, with England 13 defences behind, and Argentina 3rd in the rankings and 29 victories away from overtaking them.
This year, we will see the UFWC and the World Cup title unified during the World Cup for the 9th time in history. England could've kept them apart had they beaten current holders, Costa Rica, before heading back home - but alas they did not, Costa Rica successfully defended the title and it is now up to Greece to take it off them.
What's great is that the teams competing don't even know they are competing for it. They could lose the title in an international friendly, or they could - as will happen this year - win it in the World Cup Final. It is unlikely that Costa Rica will keep hold of it for much longer, but you never know!
The winner of today's game will then take on the team who wins between Netherlands and Mexico, in another title bout.
Today, I think Costa Rica will keep hold of it. Greece have only scored 2 goals in the competition, and blagged it through the group stage thanks to a last minute penalty which Samaras put away.
Costa Rica have impressed, beating both Uruguay and Italy - and are currently one of the few teams to maintain an unbeaten record in the competition. They've played some good football, and are ultimately the surprise of the tournament.
I'm gonna go for a win on penalties for Costa Rica, after a 1-1 draw. Quite specific, but I'd like to imagine it'll go that far.
Thursday 26 June 2014
Costa Rica are (unofficial) World Champions!
When you think of footballing World Champions, you think of Brazil, Spain, Argentina. You wouldn't realistically think that Scotland are ranked number 1 in the World - but you'd be mistaken.
I imagine that none of you have ever heard of the Unofficial Football World Championship (UFWC), but it is something that captures the imagination, and cannot really be argued against.
The current holders of the UFWC Trophy are Costa Rica (Ranked =24th). Odds are, they do not know this - but by beating Uruguay (11th) on the 14th June, they took the title and have held it ever since. England (2nd) had a chance to claim it off of them, but the 0-0 in their final group game was not quite enough. Costa Rica's match against Greece (=17th) on Sunday will determine whether they hold onto it for a little longer.
You see, the UFWC is a competition that has gone on since the very first international football match was played between Scotland and England, in 1872. Back then, there were no other teams and thus, the winner of that game could claim to be the best in the World! It finished 0-0 of course, but they had a rematch in 1873 which England won 4-2. England were Champions!
Imagine the UFWC as a belt in boxing. You defeat an opponent, you get the title. Every match is a 'title fight', whether it be a World Cup Final, or a seemingly pointless friendly.
Through 142 years of international footballing history, the title has passed through the hands of some huge teams, as well as some minnows of the footballing World. Even the likes of Angola (=24th), North Korea (=20th) and Wales (=15th) rank higher than teams such as Portugal (=38th) and Belgium (=30th).
1 point is scored for the team who wins the vital match involving a UFWC title holder. A draw counts for nothing, and is considered a successful defence of the title. Owing to the fact that most international matches in the 19th century were contested by the home nations, England and Scotland are a few points clear of the rest - but that will all change in time.
So if you follow the 142 year UFWC lineage of over 800 international competetive and friendly matches, following who beats who, and starting with the first ever International Football match, you discover that Costa Rica are the current Unofficial Football World Champions.
So grab a beer, and tune in on Sunday because Costa Rica vs Greece is the next UFWC Cup Final!
UFWC Rankings (Top 10)
1 
SCOTLAND 86
2
ENGLAND 73
3
ARGENTINA 57
4
NETHERLANDS 49
5
RUSSIA 41
6
BRAZIL 29
7
SWEDEN 28
8
GERMANY 27
8
ITALY 27
10
FRANCE 25
SCOTLAND 86 2
ENGLAND 733
ARGENTINA 574
NETHERLANDS 495
RUSSIA 416
BRAZIL 297
SWEDEN 288
GERMANY 278
ITALY 2710
FRANCE 25 
All information gained from http://www.ufwc.co.uk/about/
Suarez, England and Today's Predictions
Today brings in the final group games of the tournament, giving us a day off tomorrow before the serious games start.. It's been an awesome tournament so far, with a couple of talking points I'd like to discuss.
Luis 'Jaws' Suarez.
This man is a fool. He has had a brilliant season with Liverpool, despite starting it with a 10 game ban for biting Ivanovic. He managed to turn things around, and even had some of us believing that he had turned a page. Alas, he has not. He is still a bitey wanker - highlighted by the chunk he decided to take out of Chiellini's shoulder in Uruguay's game against Italy.
His punishment? A 9 game international ban, and 4 month ban from footballing activities worldwide. This now means that since 2010, Suarez has been banned from playing in 34 matches without receiving a red card.
I think it's a generous punishment. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if in 18 months from now, he has bitten someone else and we go through this process all over again. He is a waste of great talent. I also think that if someone like Joey Barton were to do the same thing, he would be out of contract and unemployable - but alas, this is Suarez. He scores goals blah blah.. anyway, enough about him.
England
I think the criticism of the England team has been pretty harsh. I was very positive after the game against Italy, and thought we got some good things out of it. We were never going to do particularly well in this tournament, and knew that we had a tough group. Uruguay frustrated us, and the Costa Rica game was meaningless. I always suspected the Italy game would define who goes out of the group, and I was correct - though I certainly didn't expect Costa Rica to defeat anybody and win the group.
We have very few players in their prime at the minute - either too old or too inexperienced - and the one chap who should be in his prime is constantly being slaughtered by the media. We got what we realistically expected, and that's fair enough.
I would like to have seen more of Lambert in the World Cup, and more of Adam Lallana - Sturridge missed too many chances for my liking, and there's only so many times the likes of Barkley or Sterling can try and wiggle their way through an opposition's defence.
Saying that, I think we did OK. Yes, it is disappointing to not progress - the same can be said for any team who gets knocked out in the first round - but I don't think we were too bad.
Right, on to today's matches!
USA vs Germany
Huge game for USA and Klinsmann this, who have done well to be where they are. Nicked a victory out of Ghana, and just missed out on a huge upset against Portugal - USA are punching above their weight, and this game could see them either scrape through or narrowly miss out. Germany have looked alright, but not as great as you might expect.
Prediction - USA 1-2 Germany
Portugal vs Ghana
Both teams need a victory, and in Portugal's case - a pretty decent one - and I think they'll get it. Ghana have frustrated me because they have some great players, but don't have the composure to put the ball in the net when it matters. Muntari has been sent home alongside Kevin Prince Boateng, arguably two of their better players, and so it falls on the shoulders of the Ayew brothers, Christian Atsu, and former Sunderland man Asamoah Gyan to blag a win. Portugal have been crap so far and really need a performance. I imagine that Ronaldo will take it upon himself to win this, and will possibly be awesome.
Prediction: Portugal 3-0 Ghana
South Korea vs Belgium
I don't have a lot of faith in the Korean team. Losing to Algeria was pretty poor, and they lack the quality to do anything against a decent Belgium squad. Belgium haven't quite hit the heights yet in a relatively easy group, but this game should be the chance for Lukaku, Hazard and co to shine.
Prediction: South Korea 0-4 Belgium
Russia vs Algeria
Really? This game sounds crap but you never know. I've not got much of an opinion on either team, though I'd quite like to see Algeria blag it through to the next round and so I'll be cheering them on. Russia need a victory to have any chance - so should nab a goal, but have been largely disappointing for Mr Capello so I'm going for an unlikely victory for the African team.
Preditcion: Russia 1-2 Algeria
Luis 'Jaws' Suarez.
This man is a fool. He has had a brilliant season with Liverpool, despite starting it with a 10 game ban for biting Ivanovic. He managed to turn things around, and even had some of us believing that he had turned a page. Alas, he has not. He is still a bitey wanker - highlighted by the chunk he decided to take out of Chiellini's shoulder in Uruguay's game against Italy.
His punishment? A 9 game international ban, and 4 month ban from footballing activities worldwide. This now means that since 2010, Suarez has been banned from playing in 34 matches without receiving a red card.
I think it's a generous punishment. I wouldn't be entirely surprised if in 18 months from now, he has bitten someone else and we go through this process all over again. He is a waste of great talent. I also think that if someone like Joey Barton were to do the same thing, he would be out of contract and unemployable - but alas, this is Suarez. He scores goals blah blah.. anyway, enough about him.
England
I think the criticism of the England team has been pretty harsh. I was very positive after the game against Italy, and thought we got some good things out of it. We were never going to do particularly well in this tournament, and knew that we had a tough group. Uruguay frustrated us, and the Costa Rica game was meaningless. I always suspected the Italy game would define who goes out of the group, and I was correct - though I certainly didn't expect Costa Rica to defeat anybody and win the group.
We have very few players in their prime at the minute - either too old or too inexperienced - and the one chap who should be in his prime is constantly being slaughtered by the media. We got what we realistically expected, and that's fair enough.
I would like to have seen more of Lambert in the World Cup, and more of Adam Lallana - Sturridge missed too many chances for my liking, and there's only so many times the likes of Barkley or Sterling can try and wiggle their way through an opposition's defence.
Saying that, I think we did OK. Yes, it is disappointing to not progress - the same can be said for any team who gets knocked out in the first round - but I don't think we were too bad.
Right, on to today's matches!
USA vs Germany
Huge game for USA and Klinsmann this, who have done well to be where they are. Nicked a victory out of Ghana, and just missed out on a huge upset against Portugal - USA are punching above their weight, and this game could see them either scrape through or narrowly miss out. Germany have looked alright, but not as great as you might expect.
Prediction - USA 1-2 Germany
Portugal vs Ghana
Both teams need a victory, and in Portugal's case - a pretty decent one - and I think they'll get it. Ghana have frustrated me because they have some great players, but don't have the composure to put the ball in the net when it matters. Muntari has been sent home alongside Kevin Prince Boateng, arguably two of their better players, and so it falls on the shoulders of the Ayew brothers, Christian Atsu, and former Sunderland man Asamoah Gyan to blag a win. Portugal have been crap so far and really need a performance. I imagine that Ronaldo will take it upon himself to win this, and will possibly be awesome.
Prediction: Portugal 3-0 Ghana
South Korea vs Belgium
I don't have a lot of faith in the Korean team. Losing to Algeria was pretty poor, and they lack the quality to do anything against a decent Belgium squad. Belgium haven't quite hit the heights yet in a relatively easy group, but this game should be the chance for Lukaku, Hazard and co to shine.
Prediction: South Korea 0-4 Belgium
Russia vs Algeria
Really? This game sounds crap but you never know. I've not got much of an opinion on either team, though I'd quite like to see Algeria blag it through to the next round and so I'll be cheering them on. Russia need a victory to have any chance - so should nab a goal, but have been largely disappointing for Mr Capello so I'm going for an unlikely victory for the African team.
Preditcion: Russia 1-2 Algeria
Tuesday 24 June 2014
World Cup Predictions - Groups C & D
Here's how I got on with yesterday's games - not too bad!
Spain vs Australia
Predicted result: 4-0
Actual result: 3-0
Holland vs Chile
Predicted result: 1-2
Actual result: 2-0
Brazil vs Cameroon
Predicted result: 4-0
Actual result: 4-1
Croatia vs Mexico
Predicted result: 1-0
Actual result: 1-3
So overall not too bad - I was hoping for a Chilean surprise, and thought Croatia would be Mexico but ultimately they were outplayed. I predicted the other two games pretty accurately. This all means that Brazil will play Chile in the next round, and Holland get to play Mexico. Cameroon, Spain and Australia had already packed their bags and Croatia will be joining them on the plane home.
Today sees England back in action, this time against the surprise package of the tournament - Costa Rica. Uruguay face Italy in the other Group D clash, a game in which the winner will progress. In Group C, Colombia have already qualified and face a Japan team who must win, and hope that Greece beat Ivory Coast in the other clash. Ivory Coast will qualify with a victory, and will also qualify with a draw provided Japan don't win by more than one goal. Greece can still qualify, but must beat Ivory Coast and hope that Japan don't beat Colombia. Cor!
On with the predictions!
England vs Costa Rica
Woy is making 9 changes to his starting lineup, keeping only Sturridge and Cahill in place from the last game. I think in general this is a good idea, as it'll give the likes of Barkley and Shaw a chance to impress - though Foster in goal is always shaky, and could prove to be the weak link against a Costa Rica team who appear fearless. Costa Rica will damage England if Joel Campbell plays in 'Beast Mode', though they aren't desperate for the win so may elect to rest some players for the next round.
Prediction: England 3-2 Costa Rica
Italy vs Uruguay
Uruguay simply must win this one, with a draw favouring the Italians. I simply don't think they will though - Italy looked decent against England, but pedestrian against Costa Rica. Both teams will need to step up their game to have any hope of doing well in the tournament, and I think Italy will do just that.
Prediction: Italy 2-0 Uruguay
Colombia vs Japan
The Japanese team have not done much thus far, and I don't think they'll do much here. They have slim hopes of qualification, and must win in order to have a chance. Colombia have already qualified and may rest the likes of Cuadrado and Rodriguez in this game, but should still be a tough team to beat. Colombia lack quality in the fullback positions, and should Japan exploit that they could be in trouble - but they won't. Colombia should still win this.
Prediction: Colombia 2-0 Japan
Ivory Coast vs Greece
I've been disappointed with the Greek team in this tournament. I never expected them to set the World alight, but I thought they'd put up a fight. Two games in, and 0 goals scores doesn't bode well - though they do still have a chance of qualification. Ivory Coast are a strong team, the best of the African teams, but have had some difficulties to overcome - most notably the brother of Kolo and Yaya Toure passing away. Bony and Drogba are a very strong attacking threat, and I just don't think Greece will cope with them.
Prediction: Ivory Coast 3-0 Greece
Spain vs Australia
Predicted result: 4-0
Actual result: 3-0
Holland vs Chile
Predicted result: 1-2
Actual result: 2-0
Brazil vs Cameroon
Predicted result: 4-0
Actual result: 4-1
Croatia vs Mexico
Predicted result: 1-0
Actual result: 1-3
So overall not too bad - I was hoping for a Chilean surprise, and thought Croatia would be Mexico but ultimately they were outplayed. I predicted the other two games pretty accurately. This all means that Brazil will play Chile in the next round, and Holland get to play Mexico. Cameroon, Spain and Australia had already packed their bags and Croatia will be joining them on the plane home.
Today sees England back in action, this time against the surprise package of the tournament - Costa Rica. Uruguay face Italy in the other Group D clash, a game in which the winner will progress. In Group C, Colombia have already qualified and face a Japan team who must win, and hope that Greece beat Ivory Coast in the other clash. Ivory Coast will qualify with a victory, and will also qualify with a draw provided Japan don't win by more than one goal. Greece can still qualify, but must beat Ivory Coast and hope that Japan don't beat Colombia. Cor!
On with the predictions!
England vs Costa Rica
Woy is making 9 changes to his starting lineup, keeping only Sturridge and Cahill in place from the last game. I think in general this is a good idea, as it'll give the likes of Barkley and Shaw a chance to impress - though Foster in goal is always shaky, and could prove to be the weak link against a Costa Rica team who appear fearless. Costa Rica will damage England if Joel Campbell plays in 'Beast Mode', though they aren't desperate for the win so may elect to rest some players for the next round.
Prediction: England 3-2 Costa Rica
Italy vs Uruguay
Uruguay simply must win this one, with a draw favouring the Italians. I simply don't think they will though - Italy looked decent against England, but pedestrian against Costa Rica. Both teams will need to step up their game to have any hope of doing well in the tournament, and I think Italy will do just that.
Prediction: Italy 2-0 Uruguay
Colombia vs Japan
The Japanese team have not done much thus far, and I don't think they'll do much here. They have slim hopes of qualification, and must win in order to have a chance. Colombia have already qualified and may rest the likes of Cuadrado and Rodriguez in this game, but should still be a tough team to beat. Colombia lack quality in the fullback positions, and should Japan exploit that they could be in trouble - but they won't. Colombia should still win this.
Prediction: Colombia 2-0 Japan
Ivory Coast vs Greece
I've been disappointed with the Greek team in this tournament. I never expected them to set the World alight, but I thought they'd put up a fight. Two games in, and 0 goals scores doesn't bode well - though they do still have a chance of qualification. Ivory Coast are a strong team, the best of the African teams, but have had some difficulties to overcome - most notably the brother of Kolo and Yaya Toure passing away. Bony and Drogba are a very strong attacking threat, and I just don't think Greece will cope with them.
Prediction: Ivory Coast 3-0 Greece
Monday 23 June 2014
Roundup and Predictions for Groups A & B
It seems as though this World Cup is determined to make me look foolish. Not only have the games been ridiculously entertaining, they have also been completely random. Costa Rica beating both Uruguay and Italy?! Dezko failing miserably, putting my "watertight predictions" post to rest, Iran almost pulling off an incredible draw against Argentina, Spain out, and France spanking Switzerland. What a tournament!
I haven't posted for a few days. For what it's worth, the predictions I had in my head were all wrong (I had put a sneaky £1 on a 6-0 Argentina win) - so without further ado, here's what is blatantly not going to happen in the games today!
We see the final group games this week, and today we have four games - deciding the fate of those countries who are yet to know whether they'll soon be going home;
Group A
Brazil vs Cameroon
Croatia vs Mexico
Group B
Spain vs Australia
Chile vs Holland
Let's look at Group B first, as they are the 5 o'clock kick offs:
Spain vs Australia
This game is a dead rubber, and therefore entirely unpredictable. Australia are without the iconic Tim Cahill, and Spain are miserable and would probably much rather just disappear into the Brazilian abyss.. That said, I still can't rule out the Spanish as the quality in their squad is incredible. Perhaps if they decide against starting with Diego Costa, and give some of their younger players a chance they may well have a nice, fresh finish to their tournament.
Prediction: Spain 4-0 Australia
Chile vs Holland
The winner of this game will most likely avoid Brazil in the next round, so it is a game that both teams will want to win. A draw would see Holland top the group, and so Chile have to go for the win - though their performances so far have been impressive, and a match against Brazil wouldn't be too daunting. With neither team wanting to risk any potential injuries, I think this may be a tentative affair - and with the tournament being random so far, I'm gonna punt for Chile to nick the win.
Prediction: Chile 2-1 Holland
In Group A, the only team with nothing but pride to play for is Cameroon who face Brazil. A Cameroon win in that game opens the door for both Mexico and Croatia. Brazil will only go out if Cameroon beat them more heavily than Croatia beat Mexico. A draw in the Croatia vs Mexico game could also see Brazil out of the competition, provided Cameroon win by 2 or more goals.
Cameroon vs Brazil
Let's face it, it could happen. Brazil haven't looked great and the African teams have been impressive.. That said, Cameroon have not yet scored in this tournament so realistically it doesn't look great for them. If the useless Fred is left out of the Brazil lineup, they should do well. If he plays, then I imagine we'll have a frustrating game on our hands.
Prediction: Cameroon 0-3 Brazil
Croatia vs Mexico
Huge game here, and basically the loser goes out of the competition. Mexico got a decent draw against Brazil, and Croatia were unfortunate to lose in the opening game. Croatia need a result, and I think they'll get it. They have looked a solid outfit and I think they will be a bit too organised for Mexico, who have so far impressed against teams who are not known for their defensive discipline.
Prediction: Croatia 1-0 Mexico
I haven't posted for a few days. For what it's worth, the predictions I had in my head were all wrong (I had put a sneaky £1 on a 6-0 Argentina win) - so without further ado, here's what is blatantly not going to happen in the games today!
We see the final group games this week, and today we have four games - deciding the fate of those countries who are yet to know whether they'll soon be going home;
Group A
Brazil vs Cameroon
Croatia vs Mexico
Group B
Spain vs Australia
Chile vs Holland
Let's look at Group B first, as they are the 5 o'clock kick offs:
Spain vs Australia
This game is a dead rubber, and therefore entirely unpredictable. Australia are without the iconic Tim Cahill, and Spain are miserable and would probably much rather just disappear into the Brazilian abyss.. That said, I still can't rule out the Spanish as the quality in their squad is incredible. Perhaps if they decide against starting with Diego Costa, and give some of their younger players a chance they may well have a nice, fresh finish to their tournament.
Prediction: Spain 4-0 Australia
Chile vs Holland
The winner of this game will most likely avoid Brazil in the next round, so it is a game that both teams will want to win. A draw would see Holland top the group, and so Chile have to go for the win - though their performances so far have been impressive, and a match against Brazil wouldn't be too daunting. With neither team wanting to risk any potential injuries, I think this may be a tentative affair - and with the tournament being random so far, I'm gonna punt for Chile to nick the win.
Prediction: Chile 2-1 Holland
In Group A, the only team with nothing but pride to play for is Cameroon who face Brazil. A Cameroon win in that game opens the door for both Mexico and Croatia. Brazil will only go out if Cameroon beat them more heavily than Croatia beat Mexico. A draw in the Croatia vs Mexico game could also see Brazil out of the competition, provided Cameroon win by 2 or more goals.
Cameroon vs Brazil
Let's face it, it could happen. Brazil haven't looked great and the African teams have been impressive.. That said, Cameroon have not yet scored in this tournament so realistically it doesn't look great for them. If the useless Fred is left out of the Brazil lineup, they should do well. If he plays, then I imagine we'll have a frustrating game on our hands.
Prediction: Cameroon 0-3 Brazil
Croatia vs Mexico
Huge game here, and basically the loser goes out of the competition. Mexico got a decent draw against Brazil, and Croatia were unfortunate to lose in the opening game. Croatia need a result, and I think they'll get it. They have looked a solid outfit and I think they will be a bit too organised for Mexico, who have so far impressed against teams who are not known for their defensive discipline.
Prediction: Croatia 1-0 Mexico
Tuesday 17 June 2014
World Cup Predictions - Groups H & A
Yesterday's games:
Germany vs Portugal
Predicted score: 3-1
Actual score: 4-0
Iran vs Nigeria
Predicted score: 1-1
Actual score: 0-0
Ghana vs USA
Predicted score: 3-2
Actual score: 1-2
I only managed to watch one half of these games as I was in work, the second half of USA vs Ghana - which looked as though Ghana were pretty dominant, but had no patience in the final third, thus wasting chance after chance. They equalised with 10 minutes to go and I thought they might go on to grab a winner, but USA hit back immediately and held on until the end. Germany thrashed Portugal in a game where Portugal were reduced to 10 men, and I'm led to believe the Iran vs Nigeria game was a pretty dull affair. My predictions weren't bad at all, and the first draw of the tournament did indeed come about in the worst game of the day.
So - today we see the last few teams play their first matches of the tournament, as well as Brazil vs Mexico going into the next phase where qualification is achievable.
Belgium vs Algeria
I'd be surprised if Algeria really do anything much in this game, but I said the same for Costa Rica when they played Uruguay. That said, Belgium are one of the teams in with a good chance of reaching the latter stages, and have a strong, youthful squad with bags of potential. Algeria have a former Crewe player in their squad, a Tottenham youth player and a bunch of extras to make up the numbers. I can't imagine this one will be much of a competition.
Prediction: Belgium 4-0 Algeria
Brazil vs Mexico
Our second game of the day sees two teams with one victory to their names already. Brazil saw off Croatia in a not-so-convincing display, and Mexico were unfortunate to only beat Cameroon 1-0 when it could've been 3. Having played relatively defensively against Cameroon, Mexico are expected to essentially park the bus here and may frustrate the home team - though it could also lead to a whipping.
Prediction: Brazil 4-1 Mexico
Russia vs Korea Republic
With Fabio Capello at the helm, Russia are a well organised outfit who qualified top of a group that included Portugal, amongst others. They will be tricky to beat, having only conceded 5 goals during the qualification process and should see of the Koreans without too much trouble. Korea on the other hand finished second behind Iran in a group that included Uzbekistan, Lebanon and Qatar. They lost in their two friendlies vs Ghana and Tunisia and just aren't looking like much of a force. I imagine this will be a pretty efficient display from Russia.
Prediction: Russia 2-0 Korea Republic
Germany vs Portugal
Predicted score: 3-1
Actual score: 4-0
Iran vs Nigeria
Predicted score: 1-1
Actual score: 0-0
Ghana vs USA
Predicted score: 3-2
Actual score: 1-2
I only managed to watch one half of these games as I was in work, the second half of USA vs Ghana - which looked as though Ghana were pretty dominant, but had no patience in the final third, thus wasting chance after chance. They equalised with 10 minutes to go and I thought they might go on to grab a winner, but USA hit back immediately and held on until the end. Germany thrashed Portugal in a game where Portugal were reduced to 10 men, and I'm led to believe the Iran vs Nigeria game was a pretty dull affair. My predictions weren't bad at all, and the first draw of the tournament did indeed come about in the worst game of the day.
So - today we see the last few teams play their first matches of the tournament, as well as Brazil vs Mexico going into the next phase where qualification is achievable.
Belgium vs Algeria
I'd be surprised if Algeria really do anything much in this game, but I said the same for Costa Rica when they played Uruguay. That said, Belgium are one of the teams in with a good chance of reaching the latter stages, and have a strong, youthful squad with bags of potential. Algeria have a former Crewe player in their squad, a Tottenham youth player and a bunch of extras to make up the numbers. I can't imagine this one will be much of a competition.
Prediction: Belgium 4-0 Algeria
Brazil vs Mexico
Our second game of the day sees two teams with one victory to their names already. Brazil saw off Croatia in a not-so-convincing display, and Mexico were unfortunate to only beat Cameroon 1-0 when it could've been 3. Having played relatively defensively against Cameroon, Mexico are expected to essentially park the bus here and may frustrate the home team - though it could also lead to a whipping.
Prediction: Brazil 4-1 Mexico
Russia vs Korea Republic
With Fabio Capello at the helm, Russia are a well organised outfit who qualified top of a group that included Portugal, amongst others. They will be tricky to beat, having only conceded 5 goals during the qualification process and should see of the Koreans without too much trouble. Korea on the other hand finished second behind Iran in a group that included Uzbekistan, Lebanon and Qatar. They lost in their two friendlies vs Ghana and Tunisia and just aren't looking like much of a force. I imagine this will be a pretty efficient display from Russia.
Prediction: Russia 2-0 Korea Republic
Monday 16 June 2014
World Cup Predictions - Groups F & G
Yesterday's games.
Switzerland vs Ecuador
Predicted score: 1-1
Actual score: 2-1
France vs Honduras
Predicted score: 3-0
Actual score: 3-0
Argentina vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Predicted score: 3-2
Actual score: 2-1
I did pretty well with yesterday's predictions. Got the France win spot on - and also suggested that Honduras would be a dirty team, proven by the red card issued to Palacios just before half time. Switzerland scored their winner in the 93rd minute, so that was pretty damn close too and Argentina only won by the 1 goal as I predicted, though I expected a slightly more open game.
Today we have a few tricky ones to predict, so let's see how this goes.
Germany vs Portugal
Similar to Spain vs Holland, and England vs Italy, this game puts two strong European teams up against each other. Portugal have Cristiano Ronaldo and a few other, tricky, players but struggled slightly through qualifying and their main man isn't 100% fit. Germany had doubts over Lahm and Neuer, but both seem to have shaken off niggles for the opening match. In Joachim Low, Germany have a manager who has taken them to the Semi Finals of every competition they've entered since taking over in 2006 - and I think this tournament will be no different. I reckon they'll be too strong for Portugal, who rely too heavily on their main man.
Prediction: Germany 3-1 Portugal
Iran vs Nigeria
Not likely to be a classic, and not quite so highly anticipated as the first game today, Iran vs Nigeria is the kind of game that makes the World Cup what it is. I love seeing two teams with relatively unknown players pitting themselves against each other on the biggest stage. Both will need a win to stand any chance of sneaking through their tricky Group F, and I fear that means we'll end up with the first draw of the tournament. Iran have the highly experienced Carlos Quieroz as manager, and though their players are less familiar to most people, I think he'll find ways to frustrate Nigeria and grab the draw. Nigeria have some good individuals, but nothing World Class.
Prediction: Iran 1-1 Nigeria
USA vs Ghana
The last three times these teams have met, Ghana have won. I like Ghana, I think they have a decent team and could start their tournament off with a victor - they had some good results in their friendlies, and might just be able to carry that momentum into the tournament. USA too, have had a good build up and appear to be full of confidence, but I can imagine that bubble bursting in this must-win game. With Portugal and Germany left to play in the group, both teams need a win so we will hopefully get an open game.
Prediction: USA 2-3 Ghana
Sunday 15 June 2014
World Cup Predictions - Groups E & F
Let's have a look at how my predictions matched up yesterday
Colombia vs Greece
Predicted score: 1-0
Actual score: 3-0
Uruguay vs Costa Rica
Predicted score: 4-0
Actual score: 1-3
England vs Italy
Predicted score: 0-0
Actual score: 1-2
Ivory Coast vs Japan
Predicted score: 3-1
Actual score: 2-1
So overall, not great. Certainly didn't think Costa Rica would walk away with anything - but with great performances from Joel Campbell and their 'keeper, Keylor Navas, they ended up with a deserved 3 points.
Colombia and Greece played out a quite open match, which was very different to what I was expecting, though the win for Colombia was at least correct. England and Italy also played out a quite entertaining game, and I though I thought England should've come out with a draw, the Italians exploited the gaps in behind the fullbacks and scored a couple of decent goals.
I didn't stay up to watch the Ivory Coast game, though the report suggests that Ivory Coast dominated the game but just couldn't put the ball in the net - limiting them to a narrow victory rather than something more dominant... So overall, two correct results, no correct scorelines and a couple that were just simply wrong. Meh.
Today's games!
Switzerland vs Ecuador
I can't say that I'm particularly interested in this game - but with Switzerland sitting at 6th in the FIFA World Rankings, they should be taken quite seriously. They're ahead of countries such as England, France, Colombia, Italy, Holland and Belgium in the rankings. Ecuador on the other hand are sat alongside Scotland in 26th place, and so you'd assume it's a straightforward result.. But rankings can lie, and I actually think this will be quite tight. Ecuador have a couple of dangerous players, and will have a lot more support in the stands.
Prediction: Switzerland 1-1 Ecuador
France vs Honduras
The French have underachieved for a number of years now, but you can't deny that they have a very good team. They seem to be turning a corner now, and I think they might have a decent little tournament. Honduras, on the other hand, should not pose a threat. After watching them play England, it seems their only tactic involves hard tackling and dirty play, so I'd expect a few cards and a frustrating game. That said, I reckon France will get the ball in the back of the net more than once.
Prediction: France 3-0 Honduras
Argentina vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
There are many strong players in the Argentina squad, and they have been tipped by many to win this tournament. Lionel Messi has often not performed for his country but since being given the captain's armband, he has transformed into the player we see at Barcelona. Bosnia have some surprisingly good players too, though, and having scored 30 goals in 10 games of qualifying they know how to find the back of the net. I think Argentina will win this one, but not as comfortably as you might think.
Prediction: Argentina 3-2 Bosnia and Herzegovina
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