Tuesday, 3 April 2012
US Masters contenders
It's the weekend that always makes me think that spring is here. Watching the climax to a great weekends golfing action on the world best golf course. And the worlds best golfers will all be trying to win the coverted green jacket.
After having a brief look at the odds this morning and the bookmakers have made Tiger Woods 9/2 and Rory McIlroy 6/1 the clear favourites. However I flicked further down the list and have picked out a few decent worthy bets. However shop around for where the best place to put your bet on is as some outlets only offer 4th place and ties but I know Paddy Power offer as far down as 6th.
Luke Donald is 14/1 and a worthwhile £2 each way bet.
The rest of the golfers names I'll list are all worth a £1 each way.
Lee Westwood is 20/1
Hunter Mahan is 28/1
Keegan Bradley is 30/1
Jason Day is 40/1
Sergio Garcia and Dustin Johnson are both 50/1
Webb Simpson, Graeme McDowell and KJ Choi are all 66/1
Martin Kaymer is 70/1
Angel Cabrera is 80/1
Rickie Fowler is 100/1
Some surprising odds see Paul Casey and Y E Yang at 125/1 and Stewart Cink at 200/1 and Miguel Angel Jimenez 250/1
Also it seems at Augusta a former champ always seems to feature.
So the likes of Fred Couples are a mere 125/1, Vijay Singh 200/1 and Jose Maria Olazábal 400/1
So where will my money be going this weekend.
McIlroy could be worth £5 to win and I hope he does but I usually pick out 5 golfers further down the field and do them £1 each way making an weekends pleasurable golf with a minor £10 outlay.
I think Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, KJ Choi, Hunter Mahan and an outsider paul Casey could be the ones I'd go with.
Monday, 2 April 2012
Armchairstato.com: Who should be the next England manager?
Armchairstato.com: Who should be the next England manager?: Since Fabio Capello resigned as England manger earlier this year, speculation as to who his replacement should be has reached fever pitch. ...
Who should be the next England manager?
Since Fabio Capello resigned as England manger earlier this year, speculation as to who his replacement should be has reached fever pitch.
In the eyes of the media there seems to be just one man for the job. That's the same media ready and waiting to knock the next candidate down.
Harry Redknapp is a very respected manager in England. His man management skills are well documented but there a two factors which should be considered. Firstly his age doesn't mean he is a real long term option. Secondly, should Tottenham secure a top 4 finish then I think Redknapp will relish another crack at Champions League football.
The other man named of similar age is Roy Hodgson. He is well respected across Europe and has coached and been successful at everywhere he has been. OK his time at Liverpool will be questioned but I feel he wasn't given a fair chance there. Both Hodgson and Redknapp may be slightly to old for the England job.
Now if you consider the next two world cups are in Brazil and Qatar then in all seriousness, I wouldn't expect England to win either. Travel and climate, altitude and heat are all factors to be considered. So if the FA are looking for longevity then their next manager should be someone who ideally will be around managing in 2022.
I don't subscribe to the idea the next manager has to be English but certainly British. So who are the candidates.
David Moyes continues to defy the financial constraints at Everton and this season alone finds the club in an FA Cup semi final as well as in the mix for a European place through the league. Moyes also has an uncanny knack of unearthing decent players from lower down the leagues. My only concern would be whether or not Moyes has experienced pressure situations and whether or not a top 4 or 5 club will come calling in the summer.
Tony Pulis has made Stoke one of the Premier Leagues most feared teams on their day. Near impossible to beat on home soil, they continue to defy the odds in the league and although Stoke did spend in the summer, still possess a 'team' not guaranteed to play for many premier league teams. People may raise doubts over a proud Welshman managing the England team and maybe that is why he hasn't been mentioned.
Alan Pardew still remains a candidate for manager of the season in my view. Allowing Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique to leave and none have gone on to top Newcastle in the table so far. He obviously has an eye for talent as the squad he has assembled proves. The downside to Pardew is the lack of English players in his starting line up.
Chris Hughton has done a minor miracle at Birmingham this season. So long known as an assistant, he left Newcastle through no fault of his own in good shape after an excellent promotion from the championship. He has juggled a squad ripped of it's better players as well as Europa League commitments, which they almost qualified from, and took Chelsea to an FA Cup replay. During all this he has quietly taken Birmingham into the playoff zone and if nothing else deserves recognition.
The other obvious man is Stuart Pearce. He has tournament experience with the U21 team and knows the next generation of England players. If the players are old enough then why not the manager. England can use the next two world cups as experience and focus on the Euro's. Then for 2022, Pearce will still be available for a fair crack at a world cup.
In the eyes of the media there seems to be just one man for the job. That's the same media ready and waiting to knock the next candidate down.
Harry Redknapp is a very respected manager in England. His man management skills are well documented but there a two factors which should be considered. Firstly his age doesn't mean he is a real long term option. Secondly, should Tottenham secure a top 4 finish then I think Redknapp will relish another crack at Champions League football.
The other man named of similar age is Roy Hodgson. He is well respected across Europe and has coached and been successful at everywhere he has been. OK his time at Liverpool will be questioned but I feel he wasn't given a fair chance there. Both Hodgson and Redknapp may be slightly to old for the England job.
Now if you consider the next two world cups are in Brazil and Qatar then in all seriousness, I wouldn't expect England to win either. Travel and climate, altitude and heat are all factors to be considered. So if the FA are looking for longevity then their next manager should be someone who ideally will be around managing in 2022.
I don't subscribe to the idea the next manager has to be English but certainly British. So who are the candidates.
David Moyes continues to defy the financial constraints at Everton and this season alone finds the club in an FA Cup semi final as well as in the mix for a European place through the league. Moyes also has an uncanny knack of unearthing decent players from lower down the leagues. My only concern would be whether or not Moyes has experienced pressure situations and whether or not a top 4 or 5 club will come calling in the summer.
Tony Pulis has made Stoke one of the Premier Leagues most feared teams on their day. Near impossible to beat on home soil, they continue to defy the odds in the league and although Stoke did spend in the summer, still possess a 'team' not guaranteed to play for many premier league teams. People may raise doubts over a proud Welshman managing the England team and maybe that is why he hasn't been mentioned.
Alan Pardew still remains a candidate for manager of the season in my view. Allowing Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton, Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique to leave and none have gone on to top Newcastle in the table so far. He obviously has an eye for talent as the squad he has assembled proves. The downside to Pardew is the lack of English players in his starting line up.
Chris Hughton has done a minor miracle at Birmingham this season. So long known as an assistant, he left Newcastle through no fault of his own in good shape after an excellent promotion from the championship. He has juggled a squad ripped of it's better players as well as Europa League commitments, which they almost qualified from, and took Chelsea to an FA Cup replay. During all this he has quietly taken Birmingham into the playoff zone and if nothing else deserves recognition.
The other obvious man is Stuart Pearce. He has tournament experience with the U21 team and knows the next generation of England players. If the players are old enough then why not the manager. England can use the next two world cups as experience and focus on the Euro's. Then for 2022, Pearce will still be available for a fair crack at a world cup.
Friday, 16 March 2012
Armchairstato.com: Champions League last 8 draw
Armchairstato.com: Champions League last 8 draw: The draws for the Quarter and semi finals of this seasons Champions League took place today. English side Chelsea take on Portuguese side ...
Champions League last 8 draw
The draws for the Quarter and semi finals of this seasons Champions League took place today.
English side Chelsea take on Portuguese side Benfica and the Stamford Bridge side will fancy their chances against them. I personally think Chelsea would of overcame Napoli with Andre Villas-Boas and his knowledge of the game in Portugal could be a massive loss. Over the two legs you would fancy Chelsea though.
The winners of that Quarter final take on the winners from the AC Milan vs Barcelona tie. Barcelona will be heavy favourites for this tie and with Lionel Messi in record breaking form I see no reason not to predict they will go through to meet Chelsea in a mouth watering semi final.
On the other side of the draw, Real Madrid take on minnows APOEL Nicosia. The Cyprus side have over achieved this season but will surely face Real a test to far. If Real can reproduce their La Liga form then there is only one winner for this tie.
The winners of that Quarter take on the winners of the Marseille vs Bayern Munich tie. Having tipped Bayern all season I can't back down now and they have got the draw they would have preferred. I think they should beat Marseille especially after their home leg demolition of FC basle in the last round.
So I think the semi finals will look like this.
Chelsea vs Barcelona and I think Barcelona will win this.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich is a tougher match to predict but I have to say I believe Bayern will just have enough.
English side Chelsea take on Portuguese side Benfica and the Stamford Bridge side will fancy their chances against them. I personally think Chelsea would of overcame Napoli with Andre Villas-Boas and his knowledge of the game in Portugal could be a massive loss. Over the two legs you would fancy Chelsea though.
The winners of that Quarter final take on the winners from the AC Milan vs Barcelona tie. Barcelona will be heavy favourites for this tie and with Lionel Messi in record breaking form I see no reason not to predict they will go through to meet Chelsea in a mouth watering semi final.
On the other side of the draw, Real Madrid take on minnows APOEL Nicosia. The Cyprus side have over achieved this season but will surely face Real a test to far. If Real can reproduce their La Liga form then there is only one winner for this tie.
The winners of that Quarter take on the winners of the Marseille vs Bayern Munich tie. Having tipped Bayern all season I can't back down now and they have got the draw they would have preferred. I think they should beat Marseille especially after their home leg demolition of FC basle in the last round.
So I think the semi finals will look like this.
Chelsea vs Barcelona and I think Barcelona will win this.
Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich is a tougher match to predict but I have to say I believe Bayern will just have enough.
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Armchairstato.com: Chelsea axe AVB
Armchairstato.com: Chelsea axe AVB: I couldn't believe it today when I read that Chelsea had parted company with manager Andre Villas-Boas. A man that during the summer they pa...
Chelsea axe AVB
I couldn't believe it today when I read that Chelsea had parted company with manager Andre Villas-Boas. A man that during the summer they paid £13.3m just to secure him from his FC Porto contract, finds himself the scapegoat for Chelsea's disastrous fortunes.
Taking over from the sacked Carlo Ancelotti, Villas-Boas inherited an aging squad that needed overhauling and seemed unwilling to conform to his style of doing things. His all conquering Porto exploits suggested he should of been given more time than what he has been allowed.
In my eyes Petr Cech hasn't looked the same keeper since his injury and a more consistent keeper is needed. In a defence that has only had Ashley Cole as an automatic starter and Ivanovic played out of his best position, Chelsea need at least 3 top defenders in the midst of their 20's. Bosingwa, Terry,Ferreira and Luiz are all liabilities. The signing of Gary Cahill is looking a shrewd investment but another centre back and a right back are vital if Chelsea are to challenge for anything next season.
In midfield Lampard may score a few goals but doesn't contribute much else. Like England, Chelsea are losing something trying to accommodate "Fat Frank" in their starting line up. They look a much better outfit with Essien, Meireles, Ramires or Romeu as a three man midfield. Others that need moving on are Mikel, Malouda and Kalou.
Upfront how AVB can be blamed for the stuttering Fernando Torres is beyond me. £50m for a player out of sorts and out of form. Surely it would of been better and cheaper to cut their losses and got rib of the misfiring Spaniard instead of a top young manager. The money they would get would of financed a move for Porto's Hulk.
Roberto di Matteo takes over until the end of the season and has to transfer window to wheel and deal in and will hope to rejuvenate the squad before key FA Cup and Champions League matches.
Whoever is in charge in the summer needs to replace Hilario, Turnball and Cech in goal. Ferreira, Bosingwa, Luiz and an aging Terry in defence. In midfield Lampard, Mikel, Malouda and Kalou can all be relocated. Upfront Torres has to go and a decent replacement for Drogba is required. In my eyes AVB has been unlucky and whoever takes over long term faces exactly the same problems.
Taking over from the sacked Carlo Ancelotti, Villas-Boas inherited an aging squad that needed overhauling and seemed unwilling to conform to his style of doing things. His all conquering Porto exploits suggested he should of been given more time than what he has been allowed.
In my eyes Petr Cech hasn't looked the same keeper since his injury and a more consistent keeper is needed. In a defence that has only had Ashley Cole as an automatic starter and Ivanovic played out of his best position, Chelsea need at least 3 top defenders in the midst of their 20's. Bosingwa, Terry,Ferreira and Luiz are all liabilities. The signing of Gary Cahill is looking a shrewd investment but another centre back and a right back are vital if Chelsea are to challenge for anything next season.
In midfield Lampard may score a few goals but doesn't contribute much else. Like England, Chelsea are losing something trying to accommodate "Fat Frank" in their starting line up. They look a much better outfit with Essien, Meireles, Ramires or Romeu as a three man midfield. Others that need moving on are Mikel, Malouda and Kalou.
Upfront how AVB can be blamed for the stuttering Fernando Torres is beyond me. £50m for a player out of sorts and out of form. Surely it would of been better and cheaper to cut their losses and got rib of the misfiring Spaniard instead of a top young manager. The money they would get would of financed a move for Porto's Hulk.
Roberto di Matteo takes over until the end of the season and has to transfer window to wheel and deal in and will hope to rejuvenate the squad before key FA Cup and Champions League matches.
Whoever is in charge in the summer needs to replace Hilario, Turnball and Cech in goal. Ferreira, Bosingwa, Luiz and an aging Terry in defence. In midfield Lampard, Mikel, Malouda and Kalou can all be relocated. Upfront Torres has to go and a decent replacement for Drogba is required. In my eyes AVB has been unlucky and whoever takes over long term faces exactly the same problems.
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