Monday 27 February 2012
Armchairstato.com: 2012 F1 Preview
Armchairstato.com: 2012 F1 Preview: The new Formula One season is just around the corner. Obviously the biggest change is in the broadcasting rights with the BBC selling off th...
2012 F1 Preview
The new Formula One season is just around the corner. Obviously the biggest change is in the broadcasting rights with the BBC selling off their exclusivity and every race now being shown on Sky. The other significant change comes in the form of the ban on the controversial rear defuser.
With that in mind I thought I'd include a list of the teams and drivers that we will see on this years grid.
In cars 1 and 2 will be Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. This could be Webber's last season at Red Bull and he will be pushing hard to prove he is more than a number two driver.
Cars 3 and 4 will be Maclaren's Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. It will annoy Hamilton all season that his teammate has the "team leader" number on his car and he will be out to upstage Button on track at every opportunity.
Cars 5 and 6 are Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. Massa needs to show he can still drive competitively with the top 5 drivers without crashing people off the road.
Cars 7 and 8 are Mercedes Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. Schumacher had a strong end to last season to finish above his young teammate. Rosberg will be out to rectify this.
Cars 9 and 10 will be Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. Both are returning F1 drivers and Raikkonen adds a sixth world champion to the grid. He will be looking for podiums as he attempts to push the team forwards.
Cars 11 and 12 are Force India's Paul di Resta and Niko Hulkenberg. Di Resta had a good debut season last year and rightly kept his seat. Will the role of team leader stop him from delivering?
Cars 14 and 15 will be Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez. On their day both drivers are capable of spectacular feats and Kobayashi is already a fan favourite.
Cars 16 and 17 are Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. Vergne proved a quick driver in the young drivers test and although a rookie, he will be looking to upstage his teammate
Cars 18 and 19 are the Williams pair of Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna. Senna can count himself unlucky not to retain his Lotus seat but he should easily outdo his teammate and probably the limits of the car as well.
Cars 20 and 21 are Caterham's Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov. Both will find it hard making an impression from this team but a good inter team scrap could push them further forward as the season unfolds.
Cars 22 and 23 are HRT's Narain Karthikeyan and Pedro de la Rosa. Not sure what to make of this team line up considering some of the drivers not on this seasons grid. If they are not finishing last they will be doing well.
Finally cars 24 and 25 are Marussia's Timo Glock and Charles Pic. This team has finance but that doesn't always guarantee results. Pic is the second rookie on the grid and the jury will be out on him from the start.
With that in mind I thought I'd include a list of the teams and drivers that we will see on this years grid.
In cars 1 and 2 will be Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. This could be Webber's last season at Red Bull and he will be pushing hard to prove he is more than a number two driver.
Cars 3 and 4 will be Maclaren's Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. It will annoy Hamilton all season that his teammate has the "team leader" number on his car and he will be out to upstage Button on track at every opportunity.
Cars 5 and 6 are Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. Massa needs to show he can still drive competitively with the top 5 drivers without crashing people off the road.
Cars 7 and 8 are Mercedes Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. Schumacher had a strong end to last season to finish above his young teammate. Rosberg will be out to rectify this.
Cars 9 and 10 will be Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. Both are returning F1 drivers and Raikkonen adds a sixth world champion to the grid. He will be looking for podiums as he attempts to push the team forwards.
Cars 11 and 12 are Force India's Paul di Resta and Niko Hulkenberg. Di Resta had a good debut season last year and rightly kept his seat. Will the role of team leader stop him from delivering?
Cars 14 and 15 will be Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez. On their day both drivers are capable of spectacular feats and Kobayashi is already a fan favourite.
Cars 16 and 17 are Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. Vergne proved a quick driver in the young drivers test and although a rookie, he will be looking to upstage his teammate
Cars 18 and 19 are the Williams pair of Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna. Senna can count himself unlucky not to retain his Lotus seat but he should easily outdo his teammate and probably the limits of the car as well.
Cars 20 and 21 are Caterham's Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov. Both will find it hard making an impression from this team but a good inter team scrap could push them further forward as the season unfolds.
Cars 22 and 23 are HRT's Narain Karthikeyan and Pedro de la Rosa. Not sure what to make of this team line up considering some of the drivers not on this seasons grid. If they are not finishing last they will be doing well.
Finally cars 24 and 25 are Marussia's Timo Glock and Charles Pic. This team has finance but that doesn't always guarantee results. Pic is the second rookie on the grid and the jury will be out on him from the start.
Saturday 25 February 2012
Armchairstato.com: Champions League Quarter Finalists
Armchairstato.com: Champions League Quarter Finalists: This weeks international break comes in the middle of the Champions League last 16 matches. That is the last 16 matches that have been stret...
Champions League Quarter Finalists
This weeks international break comes in the middle of the Champions League last 16 matches. That is the last 16 matches that have been stretched out over the best part of a month by the way. Regardless of that, who is looking pretty to make the Quarter Finals of this seasons Champions League.
AC Milan hold a 4-0 lead over Arsenal and even the most optimistic of Arsenal supporters must be thinking that qualification for next seasons tournament is a more likely outcome. Arsenal fans were confident when the draw was originally made but not only were they dealt a footballing lesson by the Italians concerns are sure to of been raised in Robin van Persie's mind to their abilities against Europe's elite.
Barcelona scored 3 away goals against Bayer Leverkusen to lead 3-1 on aggregate and a minor miracle is needed for the Germans to overcome this deficit. The reigning holders do still look the team to beat and of course a lot will depend on who they draw in the next round.
Napoli beat Chelsea 3-1 in their first leg but this is Andre Villas-Boas chance to prove his potential. Not many managers manage to overcome a 2 goal deficit in Champions League knockout matches. There have been some memorable European nights at Stamford Bridge and admittedly Chelsea will need one but I for one wouldn't be surprised if they did make the Quarter Finals.
Real Madrid toiled to a 1-1 draw away to CSKA Moscow. You have to fancy the Spanish giants to get the win and result they need to make the Quarter Finals as Jose Mourinho seeks Champions League success with his 3rd different club.
Mourinho's former employers Inter Milan have a 1-0 defeat to overcome against Marsielle. With home advantage in their second leg you would fancy the Italians but the French side may cause a problem or two. I think Inter Milan will have enough about them.
My personal tip Bayern Munich suffered an away 1-0 defeat to Basle and as Manchester United found, the Swiss are not frightened of any reputations. I think the German giants will end of victorious but you can't see Basle not scoring so that means Bayern realistically need 3 goals.
Lyon won 1-0 at home to surprise package Apoel Nicosia. The Cypriot side will have home advantage in the second leg but Lyon have been in this stage to many times to let their advantage slip. Their last away Champions League match was a 7-1 win by the way.
The final tie is the interestingly poised one featuring Zenit St.Petersburg and Benfica. The Russians won the home tie 3-2 but the Portuguese showed they are a side to fear going forward. A win will see Benfica through and that is where my tip will go to.
On historic value and proverbial paper my 8 qualifiers will be AC Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Benfica and Lyon but that said at least one of those names is going to have an early exit
AC Milan hold a 4-0 lead over Arsenal and even the most optimistic of Arsenal supporters must be thinking that qualification for next seasons tournament is a more likely outcome. Arsenal fans were confident when the draw was originally made but not only were they dealt a footballing lesson by the Italians concerns are sure to of been raised in Robin van Persie's mind to their abilities against Europe's elite.
Barcelona scored 3 away goals against Bayer Leverkusen to lead 3-1 on aggregate and a minor miracle is needed for the Germans to overcome this deficit. The reigning holders do still look the team to beat and of course a lot will depend on who they draw in the next round.
Napoli beat Chelsea 3-1 in their first leg but this is Andre Villas-Boas chance to prove his potential. Not many managers manage to overcome a 2 goal deficit in Champions League knockout matches. There have been some memorable European nights at Stamford Bridge and admittedly Chelsea will need one but I for one wouldn't be surprised if they did make the Quarter Finals.
Real Madrid toiled to a 1-1 draw away to CSKA Moscow. You have to fancy the Spanish giants to get the win and result they need to make the Quarter Finals as Jose Mourinho seeks Champions League success with his 3rd different club.
Mourinho's former employers Inter Milan have a 1-0 defeat to overcome against Marsielle. With home advantage in their second leg you would fancy the Italians but the French side may cause a problem or two. I think Inter Milan will have enough about them.
My personal tip Bayern Munich suffered an away 1-0 defeat to Basle and as Manchester United found, the Swiss are not frightened of any reputations. I think the German giants will end of victorious but you can't see Basle not scoring so that means Bayern realistically need 3 goals.
Lyon won 1-0 at home to surprise package Apoel Nicosia. The Cypriot side will have home advantage in the second leg but Lyon have been in this stage to many times to let their advantage slip. Their last away Champions League match was a 7-1 win by the way.
The final tie is the interestingly poised one featuring Zenit St.Petersburg and Benfica. The Russians won the home tie 3-2 but the Portuguese showed they are a side to fear going forward. A win will see Benfica through and that is where my tip will go to.
On historic value and proverbial paper my 8 qualifiers will be AC Milan, Barcelona, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Benfica and Lyon but that said at least one of those names is going to have an early exit
Friday 24 February 2012
Armchairstato.com: That time of year
Armchairstato.com: That time of year: We are entering that fun time of year when the sporting world comes to life. We have the Premier League Darts well under way and even at t...
That time of year
We are entering that fun time of year when the sporting world comes to life.
We have the Premier League Darts well under way and even at this early stage you have to say anyone other than an Adrian Lewis or Phil Taylor victory will be an upset.
Then we have the Easter period which sees the Grand National or Grand Lottery as it maybe should be called.
Also around then we have the World Snooker Championships. The likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Selby and Mark Williams are all ones to watch. Can Judd Trump find a consistent game to make a run to glory.
We also have the Masters Golf in April. Can Tiger Woods win another major. Or will a European like McIlroy, Westwood or Donald win the green jacket.
Moving on to the summer we have the European Championships and I have tipped Germany to win that and for once I hope my prediction is wrong.
Running from now till the Autumn we have the Formula One Season and Red Bull vs McLaren is the duel. Don't rule Fernando Alonso out of the equation.
And also this year we have the white elephant. The 2012 Olympics from London.
Further coverage on all these events will be available nearer the time.
We have the Premier League Darts well under way and even at this early stage you have to say anyone other than an Adrian Lewis or Phil Taylor victory will be an upset.
Then we have the Easter period which sees the Grand National or Grand Lottery as it maybe should be called.
Also around then we have the World Snooker Championships. The likes of Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Selby and Mark Williams are all ones to watch. Can Judd Trump find a consistent game to make a run to glory.
We also have the Masters Golf in April. Can Tiger Woods win another major. Or will a European like McIlroy, Westwood or Donald win the green jacket.
Moving on to the summer we have the European Championships and I have tipped Germany to win that and for once I hope my prediction is wrong.
Running from now till the Autumn we have the Formula One Season and Red Bull vs McLaren is the duel. Don't rule Fernando Alonso out of the equation.
And also this year we have the white elephant. The 2012 Olympics from London.
Further coverage on all these events will be available nearer the time.
Armchairstato.com: What fates await Tottenham
Armchairstato.com: What fates await Tottenham: First of all I am going to assume that Harry Redknapp will guide Tottenham into a Champions League qualifying place this season. Then what? ...
What fates await Tottenham
First of all I am going to assume that Harry Redknapp will guide Tottenham into a Champions League qualifying place this season. Then what?
Will he then turn his back on day to day management and take over as England manager. Personally I think it is a poisoned chalice at the moment. With the next two World Cups being held in Brazil and Qatar, England are unlikely to do well in either. That's just realism. And wouldn't Redknapp relish another crack at Champions League football?
So let's assume Redknapp stays what should be his biggest attention areas to his squad. Well strangely that is beyond harry's control. I think the White Hart Lane heirachy should first adjust the wage budgets to allow Redknapp the scope to keep players like Adebayor, bale, Modric and van der Vaart.
They have enough in the goalkeeping departments although none of their keepers are spring chickens. Maybe Gomes will be offloaded somewhere.
Defence is an area that needs an addition or two. Another centre back as well as a two footed full back capable of playing on either side would compliment the players already at the club. Corluka is another who could be on his way out maybe along with Bassong.
In midfield Tottenham don't really need any reinforcements. The question is who is on their way out. Sandro, David Bentley, Steven Pienaar and Jermaine Jenas could all be surplus to requirements as Tottenham look to adjust their wage budget to keep a Champions League squad intact.
Up front I like Adebayor and Louis Saha while I think the decision on Defoe staying will be entirely down to him. I expect Giovani Dos Santos to leave though.
What are your thoughts on this. Comment below
Will he then turn his back on day to day management and take over as England manager. Personally I think it is a poisoned chalice at the moment. With the next two World Cups being held in Brazil and Qatar, England are unlikely to do well in either. That's just realism. And wouldn't Redknapp relish another crack at Champions League football?
So let's assume Redknapp stays what should be his biggest attention areas to his squad. Well strangely that is beyond harry's control. I think the White Hart Lane heirachy should first adjust the wage budgets to allow Redknapp the scope to keep players like Adebayor, bale, Modric and van der Vaart.
They have enough in the goalkeeping departments although none of their keepers are spring chickens. Maybe Gomes will be offloaded somewhere.
Defence is an area that needs an addition or two. Another centre back as well as a two footed full back capable of playing on either side would compliment the players already at the club. Corluka is another who could be on his way out maybe along with Bassong.
In midfield Tottenham don't really need any reinforcements. The question is who is on their way out. Sandro, David Bentley, Steven Pienaar and Jermaine Jenas could all be surplus to requirements as Tottenham look to adjust their wage budget to keep a Champions League squad intact.
Up front I like Adebayor and Louis Saha while I think the decision on Defoe staying will be entirely down to him. I expect Giovani Dos Santos to leave though.
What are your thoughts on this. Comment below
Armchairstato.com: Man City - All conquerors to struggling winners
Armchairstato.com: Man City - All conquerors to struggling winners: Round about October time and nearly every football pundit claimed Manchester City were the runaway winners for all the trophies available to...
Man City - All conquerors to struggling winners
Round about October time and nearly every football pundit claimed Manchester City were the runaway winners for all the trophies available to them. Well nearly every pundit.
After looking at the schedules between October and February, I claimed that the title was a far from over conclusion and as we enter March that has played out with Manchester United only sitting a point behind. City have also crashed out of both domestic cups as well as the Champions League in that time. With the dragged out Carlos Tevez fiasco and Mario Balotelli's weekly tabloid appearances, things are fine from OK at the Etihad.
So should the impossible happen and City not win the league what will happen next season. Will Roberto Mancini's job be safe. You would have to say the answer is unlikely. Their are a host of top managerial candidates that would love the financial power available as well as the core of undoubted top quality players already at the club. Fabio Capello or Jose Mourinho are just two that jump to mind.
Obviously they are sorted for a goalkeeper as Joe Hart is just a natural in that position. However a decent understudy might not be a bad plan. However this is not a necessity.
One area City will need to find a settled starting line up is the back four. Kompany has been a rock this season and I am a fan of Micah Richards at right back. However is Lescott a Champions League centre back. I say not really. While Kolo Toure is, he seems out of favour so I think there is a case for another centre back to join the ranks. Also a first choice regular left back wouldn't surprise me. Kolorov and Clichy have both had chances but neither has stacked a claim for a regular start. Ashley Cole could be an option.
In midfield Yaya Toure and James Milner look the real deal but I would expect one tough tackling midfielder to join over the summer. They may also bring in one more natural wide winger but that apart City are blessed with an talented midfield.
Up front City have relied on Aguero and Dzeko and neither has disappointed. However I do expect a marquee signing like Hulk to join over the summer. A Chelsea fan I spoke to the other day wouldn't be disappointed if a straight swap of Torres for Tevez happened which speaks volumes.
A clear out of dead wood should see the likes of Stuart Taylor, Gunnar Nielsen, Wayne Bridge, Gareth Barry, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Johnson, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz could all find themselves reassigned whether new management or if Mancini keeps his job. Another summer of intrigue surrounds the money men from Manchester.
What are your thoughts. Comment below.
After looking at the schedules between October and February, I claimed that the title was a far from over conclusion and as we enter March that has played out with Manchester United only sitting a point behind. City have also crashed out of both domestic cups as well as the Champions League in that time. With the dragged out Carlos Tevez fiasco and Mario Balotelli's weekly tabloid appearances, things are fine from OK at the Etihad.
So should the impossible happen and City not win the league what will happen next season. Will Roberto Mancini's job be safe. You would have to say the answer is unlikely. Their are a host of top managerial candidates that would love the financial power available as well as the core of undoubted top quality players already at the club. Fabio Capello or Jose Mourinho are just two that jump to mind.
Obviously they are sorted for a goalkeeper as Joe Hart is just a natural in that position. However a decent understudy might not be a bad plan. However this is not a necessity.
One area City will need to find a settled starting line up is the back four. Kompany has been a rock this season and I am a fan of Micah Richards at right back. However is Lescott a Champions League centre back. I say not really. While Kolo Toure is, he seems out of favour so I think there is a case for another centre back to join the ranks. Also a first choice regular left back wouldn't surprise me. Kolorov and Clichy have both had chances but neither has stacked a claim for a regular start. Ashley Cole could be an option.
In midfield Yaya Toure and James Milner look the real deal but I would expect one tough tackling midfielder to join over the summer. They may also bring in one more natural wide winger but that apart City are blessed with an talented midfield.
Up front City have relied on Aguero and Dzeko and neither has disappointed. However I do expect a marquee signing like Hulk to join over the summer. A Chelsea fan I spoke to the other day wouldn't be disappointed if a straight swap of Torres for Tevez happened which speaks volumes.
A clear out of dead wood should see the likes of Stuart Taylor, Gunnar Nielsen, Wayne Bridge, Gareth Barry, Owen Hargreaves, Michael Johnson, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz could all find themselves reassigned whether new management or if Mancini keeps his job. Another summer of intrigue surrounds the money men from Manchester.
What are your thoughts. Comment below.
Friday 17 February 2012
Armchairstato.com: United Need
Armchairstato.com: United Need: No matter how many ways I assess Manchester United's options both this season and beyond, one solution keeps popping up which Sir Alex Fer...
United Need
No matter how many ways I assess Manchester United's options both this
season and beyond, one solution keeps popping up which Sir Alex
Ferguson needs to address in the summer.
OK United will probably add another striker in the summer but the
player I'm most eager to see arrive is Jack Rodwell.
Rodwell has Anderson's work rate, Fletcher's ability to man mark and
tackle and has Scholes's knack of late runs forward. Give him a
platform and I'm sure he will step up and not only become United's
"Gattuso" or "Davids" but an integral part of the England set up. That
type of player that United have been crying out for since Roy Keane
retired.
Adding Rodwell gives United an amazing squad. Lindegaard has proven
better than expected and de Gea will be a great keeper. Young Amos has
had a few games as well. Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Jones, Evra,
Evans and the da Silva brothers. One addition I would be interested in
is if Harry Redknapp leaves Tottenham, would Kyle Walker consider a
move to Old Trafford. He would vie for a start at right back and
provide cover for Evra.
United's wide options would include Valencia, Nani, Young and even
Giggs and Park with central midfield options of Fletcher, Carrick,
Anderson, Scholes, Cleverley and Rodwell.
I'd keep Owen on a rolling contract. He still has goals in him.
Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck all provide a good goal threat but one
thing Fergie loves is a striker and Ricky Wolfs van Winkle has been
mentioned.
What are your thoughts on this. Comment below.
season and beyond, one solution keeps popping up which Sir Alex
Ferguson needs to address in the summer.
OK United will probably add another striker in the summer but the
player I'm most eager to see arrive is Jack Rodwell.
Rodwell has Anderson's work rate, Fletcher's ability to man mark and
tackle and has Scholes's knack of late runs forward. Give him a
platform and I'm sure he will step up and not only become United's
"Gattuso" or "Davids" but an integral part of the England set up. That
type of player that United have been crying out for since Roy Keane
retired.
Adding Rodwell gives United an amazing squad. Lindegaard has proven
better than expected and de Gea will be a great keeper. Young Amos has
had a few games as well. Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Jones, Evra,
Evans and the da Silva brothers. One addition I would be interested in
is if Harry Redknapp leaves Tottenham, would Kyle Walker consider a
move to Old Trafford. He would vie for a start at right back and
provide cover for Evra.
United's wide options would include Valencia, Nani, Young and even
Giggs and Park with central midfield options of Fletcher, Carrick,
Anderson, Scholes, Cleverley and Rodwell.
I'd keep Owen on a rolling contract. He still has goals in him.
Rooney, Hernandez and Welbeck all provide a good goal threat but one
thing Fergie loves is a striker and Ricky Wolfs van Winkle has been
mentioned.
What are your thoughts on this. Comment below.
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