Clubs That Have Fallen...

It is the worst nightmare for fans: when you see your club relegated, then relegated again. You can't recover, and your club loses all it's former glory. Here are my top five clubs to who that has happened.

5) Nottingham Forest

The team now is nothing compared to Clough's team in 70s and 80s, and their fall has been pretty brutal. They were in League One 2 or 3 years ago but are now in the Championship. And they were doing well in it: they got in the playoffs and almost got back into the Premier League but this season they are in a relegation battle and they could be heading back down.

4) RC Lens

I am now a Lens supporter, so it's sad to see club in its current state. They are currently 15th in Ligue 2, having previously been in Europe and one of the best French teams in the early 2000s. Hopefully, like all the teams on here, they will recover, and even regain their European status, but that's going to be tough. Still, they do have a big stadium and that might appeal to a rich foreign investor...

3) Charlton

Even though they are now first, they are still in League One and are a shadow of the team that was in the Premier League 5 or 6 years ago. They seem to be on the road to recovery but it will still a brutal fall and their standards have gone down immensely.

2) AS Monaco

What a tragic situation this is. They were relegated last year to Ligue 2, the second division in France, and they are now rock bottom. They are in 20th position and if they don't get their act together, they could be relegated two divisions in two years. It would be especially troubling as in 2003 they were paying in the Champions League final. Football is a funny game, clubs can slip so far.

1) RC Strasbourg

It cannot really be anyone else. I've looked at many contenders when making this list but this is the saddest story of them all. Start of the decade, they were a top ten team in Ligue 1, the top division. Not really relegation contenders. Now, they are in CFA 2, the equivalent of the Blue Square Premier. Imagine Stoke ten years from now playing in the Blue Square Premier. That's what happened to Strasbourg. It is down to financial troubles a series of bad managers, and it doesn't look like they will sort themselves out anytime soon.

Lesnar vs Overeem: An Earthquake in the Octagon

For me, this type of fight is what the U in UFC stands for. Two of the most hard hitting heavyweights, if not the most hard hitting, will take each other on in a fight that is guaranteed to make the Octagon and the MGM Grand shake like never before. Lesnar needs to prove himself again following his humiliation at the hands of Cain Velasquez, and Overeem needs to enter the UFC with a bang.

Overeem has a huge reputation to maintain after coming over from Strikeforce, so he will be under equal pressure. Lesnar will want to bounce back and get a rematch for his world title against Dos Santos.

It's a tough one to predict, but I'm going to go Lesnar by stoppage (TKO, KO, or submission). When you look at who Overeem's fought in the past, he's lost to all the good UFC fighters (Rua, Nogueira and Werdum). He did beat Victor Belfort, but nevertheless, his record isn't great against fighters in the UFC. Lesnar on the other hand was really seen as tough to beat before the Velasquez fight. I think that's still the case.

Velasquez is a top fighter who made KO'ing Lesnar look easy, but it really isn't. Lesnar will win. Overeem won't be able to control him.

Thierry Henry: The Return?

He was the reason I started supporting Arsenal. In fact, he was the player who got me interested in football. Henry was my favourite player until he moved to Barca, but if he rejoins Arsneal on loan, he might just regain that title.

The man is a living legend, and possibly the best striker to ever play in there Premier League. Yes, I think he's better than Alan Shearer. At his peak no defender could stop him. He ran like the wind and was completely unstoppable.

Even through he might be 34 and slower than he used to be, he's still a great player and if Arsenal get him on loan it will be like another Christmas present. I would be absolutely delighted and would put his name on the back of my Arsenal shirt immediately.

I beg you Arsene, please bring him back!! Even if it's for two months, I'm sure he'll make a huge difference and help the squad hugely. His influence would be second to none: it would be great if were to be made captain if he came.

And of course, seeing as this will be my last post before Christmas Day: MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Disgraceful...

Now this is wrong for many reasons. Firstly the fan should not have been on the pitch running around like a hooligan and trying to assault the goalie. Second, the referee should not have sent him off, Esteban, the keeper, was only acting in self-defence and thirdly, even if your player as been sent off unfairly, it's not reason to call your players off the pitch. Talk about it after the game and continue. Almost everyone was in the wrong apart from the goalkeeper. What do you make of it? It's pretty crazy.

NO BOXING DAY FOOTBALL????

Boxing day football is one of the central pieces of Christmas in England. For a man, anyway. SO to even think of trying to stop it taking place is outrageous. But because of public transport strikes in London, Arsenal and Chelsea's games are under threat.

It's funny how the people who strike always deliberately choose the most popular moments to do so. Why on earth can't they just strike in summer for 2 weeks, instead of striking in December for one day.

I hope games are not cancelled, as I would be extremely disappointed and it would ruin Christmas tradition. Normally all teams play on Boxing Day, and to have two of the biggest missing in Arsenal and Chelsea would be good at all. PLEASE DON'T STRIKE.

Lionel Messi: Easily The Best Player Ever

Yes. In a word. I have long believed that it was Zinedine Zidane who deserved that accolade, but Messi for me is the now the best ever for several reasons. The main one is his age: he's 24. Let repeat that: 24. He's already rivalling the all time greats and he's barely half way through his career.

I have absolutely no doubt that by the time he's thirty, Messi will be better than Pele, Maradona, Cruyff and Zidane combined. He's a phenomenon. It's as simple as that. For him to achieved what he has in the period of time he did it in is beyond real. I could see him finishing his career with about 10 Ballon d'Ors to his name, and many more accolades.

Secondly, the ball just sticks to his foot. He never loses control. It's as simple as that. Like Maradona but 50 times better. He almost always beats his man and his low centre of gravity means it's incredibly hard to push him over.

Thirdly, and also very important: he's a playmaker. This is something he has developed immensely in his time at Barca, and it's something that Maradona didn't have. The latter was a scorer and dribbler, not a passer. Messi, amazingly, is both.

And that's what really sets him apart. Whereas the players that came before him fit into one category: Zidane and Cruyff playmakers, Pele and Maradona goal scorers, Messi fits into both and is better at both than anyone ever before.

It's an honour to live at the time he is playing. Thank you, Leo.

NBA: IT'S TIME!!

Well, the lockout definitely frustrated many, but that's over and now we have a full (well, half) season of NBA basketball to look forward too. With the Mavericks do a two-peat? Will the Lakers recover from last season's humiliation? Will the Clippers make some noise with Chris Paul? What will happen to Dwight Howard?

The questions could go on and on, but hopefully they will all be answered in the coming months. I'm personally hoping the Nets do well ahead of their move to Brooklyn for next season, and it will also be very interesting to see who the surprise package of next season will be. I reckon that the Thunder could cause some problems. They are a young team with loads of quality players, Westbrook and Durant to name but few.

It will also be interesting to see how the Spurs get on. Nobody pays them a great deal of attention, but they have always finished with one of the best records and consistently made the playoffs. Is there team to old to compete? We will have to see.

Dwight Howard: Coming Soon to a Brooklyn Arena Near You?

So, Dwight Howard is definitely on the move, and hopefully to the Nets. The latest official rumour is that he will be involved a multi team trade, with the Nets giving up Brook Lopez and draft picks to the Magic, the Trail Blazers giving up Wallace to the Magic and the Magic sending Howard to the Nets and draft picks to the Trail Blazers.

It is all very complicated, but hopefully it will be resolved soon, with the Lakers another possible destination. As a Nets fan, I would be over the moon if he joined us, but the fact of the matter is that the Lakers potentially have more to offer if they don't trade for Chris Paul in Pau Gasol and Andre Bynum.

The Magic would be stupid not to accept it over the Nets offer if proposed, so hopefully for me that won't happen.

The other thing that will happen if Howard arrives at the Nets is that we will see the arrival of glory hunters, rather like last year with the Miami Heat. I HATE GLORY HUNTERS. They are the worst kind of fan. Absolutely no loyalty to their team whatsoever. They go for the winners, and they don't deserve respect. That's my rant over for now...

George Foreman: The Hardest Puncher Ever

A while ago, while I was writing my Joe Frazier tribute, I listed my top 5 boxers of all time. I included Mike Tyson, but when writing I totally forgot Foreman. He's got be considered one of the greatest ever, possibly even the second best behind Ali. He had one of, if not the, hardest punch of all time, and beat Joe Frazier twice. Here's a highlight reel of his best moments. And of course, he launched the infamous George Foreman grill. The man's a legend.

Amir Khan: Shock Loss

Nobody expected that. Lamont Peterson beating Amir Khan narrowly on points. Khan was the overwhelming favourite before the fight, and Peterson has pulled off something pretty extraordinary by beating Khan. The Sports Personality of the Year candidate managed to knock Peterson down but he recovered and came back stronger.

Peterson has offered him a rematch but Khan is reportedly cross at the refereeing. He was deducted what would turn out to be crucial points for trying to push Peterson away, as Peterson, according to Khan, kept coming in low.

Who knows what will happen next for Khan, as before this fight he was one of the most in-form boxers around. A rematch could be in the making or Khan might set his sights higher. A fight with Pacquiao would be phenomenal, even though it seems that Mayweather could get there first.

Luis Suarez: How Stupid Can You Get?

I always thought that Luis Suarez was a reasonably respectable player, but after what's happened recently, I've completely changed my mind. He's now not only on a racism charge with Patrice Evra, he's also under investigation for showing the middle finger to Fulham fans as he walked off the pitch at Craven Cottage.

The guy's mental: here you can see him trying to bite off the ear of an opponent while still at Ajax.

He's a great footballer, but Suarez sometimes takes it too far, and he just doesn't think. There are so many cameras around in football these says, somebody is bound to pick it up.

Ballon d'Or Winner Announced One Month Ahead of Time

For the next few years, the Ballon d'Or is a pointless competition to have. Why bother? We know who's going to win. Lionel Messi has no competition. The award should just be given to him with no shortlist. Who is going to vote otherwise?

Ronaldo and Xavi are good, but Messi is going to win. Their will be a total one sided vote and he'll get something like 99%. Well done Lionel Messi, Ballon d'Or for a third year running. See you next year where if you remain injury free, you will win again.

If you play for an English club, the only prize you can potentially win is the PFA Player of the Year award, as Barcelona and Real will dominate. Wayne Rooney had and has no chance of winning the Ballon d'Or as long as Xavi, Iniesta, Ronaldo and Messi are playing. Same with other countries and talents like Neymar and Robin Van Persie, THE LATTER FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON NOT EVEN BEING ON THE PRELIMINARY SHORTLIST!!!

It's not that Messi doesn't deserve it because he does. He is easily the best player on the planet, and possibly the best ever depending on who you ask. It's just that the other top players are really unlucky to be playing at the same time and the three best players of the generation.

Dirk Nowitzki: The Best Power Forward in the NBA

The NBA is returning soon, and this is mix of the best PF in the NBA Dirk Nowitzki. Enjoy.

I claim no credit for the video.

Balloon d'Or!!

If you haven't seen this it's worth a look. Pepe Reina is completely fooled when Darren Bent's shot takes a deflection off a beach ball and goes in.

NBA Trade Rumours: Chris Paul and Dwight Howard

The NBA's return has only just been announced, but trade rumours have already started flying around, with Dwight Howard and Chris Paul at the centre of it all. Chris Paul has been linked with almost every team, including the Lakers, the Knicks and the Magic. Howard has been linked with the Nets and the Lakers among others.

I love reading trading trade rumours, especially as deadline day nears (which isn't for another few months, in any case it could be extended). I hope the Nets work something out to bring in Howard, but if they don't they still have a great big man in Brook Lopez, so whatever happens, it's good.

The Lakers have got a new coach following the retirement of Phil Jackson, and it will be interesting to see whether a change of ideology takes place. One thing's almost sure though, Chris Paul will not be at New Orleans for much longer, and neither will Dwight Howard in Orlando.

THE Best Basketball Shot Ever?

Absolutely phenomenal, taken from a college basketball game.

Euro 2012 Draw: What's Going to Happen?

It's the day national teams have been waiting for. The Euro 2012 draw. It could bring up some pretty interesting groups, and I'm looking forward to it. Here are the different pots:

Pot 1: Spain, Netherlands, Poland*, Ukraine*

Pot 2: Germany, Italy, England, Russia

Pot 3: Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Sweden

Pot 4: Denmark, France, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland

The death could potentially be Spain, Germany, Portugal and France. I can guarantee you that if that happens it will be explosive. Two big names will go home at the group stage. However, if the opposite happens, a super weak group, Poland, Russia, Greece and Czech Republic, it will also be very interesting.

I'll be supporting France, so hopefully they will get the easiest draw possible (Poland, Russia and Greece). Unlikely though, I'm pretty sure they will come up against some big names.

Neymar Better than Messi???

That's what Pele says. He claimed that Neymar was the best in the world and better than Lionel Messi. Do I agree? No. Of course not. Neymar is good, but he has never played in Europe and some Brazilians haver a knack for failing to adjust to the European style of play after coming over. Lionel Messi is still easily the most talented player, and I'm pretty sure Neymar will never be as good. Anyway, found this vid on Youtube. Enjoy.

Bruce Sacked, Who Will Replace Him?

As of yesterday, Sunderland have no manager. Steve Bruce was sacked by Ellis Short the owner, after a terrible run of form that leave Sunderland just above relegation. As always when a manager is sacked, the question is who will replace him?

The bookies odds on favourite is Martin O'Neill, but this morning the BBC were claiming Mark Hughes was the best placed to get the job. Other names mentioned have been Rafa Benitez and Guus Hiddink.

It's very unlikely, but if Sunderland were to appoint Hiddink, it would be a phenomenal coup, taking him right from under Chelsea's noses as a potential replacement to Villas-Boas. As for Rafa Benitez, I really want to see him managing in the Premier League again. I've changed my mind about him. He's not all that bad. If Sunderland were to appoint him, things would get better.

But it seems like either O'Neill or Hughes will get the nod. The first one would be very good, but I'm not a Mark Hughes fan. The way he walked out on Fulham wasn't good, and his time at Man City showed that he doesn't have the class to manage what was going to be and now is a big club.

Raikkonen Returns

Kimi Raikkonen has announced his return to F1 today with Renault for next season. He left F1 at the end of 2009 to pursue a career in rallying, which was only moderately successful. He was at first going to to return with Williams, but talks fell through.

I'm looking forward to seeing the Finn back, he's a really talented driver (not that it will make much difference when faced with a Red Bull) and Renault have a good car, so I would expect him to get a few podium finishes.

I remember watching Kimi when he was at McClaren-Mercedes with David Coulthard (a long time ago) and he used to be one of my favourite F1 racers. Hopefully he can do well, but as I said, F1 is the most boring sport in the world at the moment as only 1 team is competitive. Red Bull.

Gary Speed's Last Public Appearance

This is pretty tough to watch as he doesn't seem at all troubled. It just makes you put things into perspective and realise how quickly things can change. RIP Gary.

BBC Sports Personality 2011: The List of Candidates

UK sports fans, especially women, are in shock after discovering the nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. No women feature on the list, and Rebecca Adlington among others has already voiced her disapproval:

"There's been some great sportswomen like Keri-Anne Payne, it's sad they are not recognised"

Mark Cavendish (cycling), Darren Clarke (golf), Alastair Cook (cricket), Luke Donald (golf), Mo Farah (athletics), Dai Greene (athletics), Amir Khan (boxing), Rory McIlroy (golf), Andy Murray (tennis), Andrew Strauss (cricket) are the nominees for this year's award, with some on the list questionable.

The person who most deserves his place and to win it is Mark Cavendish, as his cycling achievements are truly remarkable and not many people, especially in the UK, recognise that. They are more interested in England winning the Ashes or Wayne Rooney having a hair transplant.

I digress, but it's worth mentioning. Others I really hope do well are Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke, as they deserve it, especially the latter with what he's been through.

What do you think of the list? Who do you think deserves to win? Comment below.

Roger Federer: Back to his Best?

The Swiss has been playing great recently, and he confirmed that by beating Tsonga and winning the ATP Tour Finals. It was his 100th final and 70th tournament win, which is an incredible stat. He has seen a dip in form in the past few years, but hopefully he's now back to his best. He beat David Ferrer to get to the final, and looked on top form.

Is this the Federer of old? Can he reconquer his number one spot? Maybe. Djokovic and Nadal completely messed up at the World Tour Finals, but maybe it was just down to them feeling tired at the end of a very long season.

Federer is capable of anything, and he will always be competitive at the very top. He's a super consistent performer, and undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes ever. No other player can produce brilliance like him. If he's in top form, he's completely unstoppable.

Gary Speed: 1969 - 2011

Tragic. Simply Tragic. A super consistent performer, and a role model on and off the pitch. He was doing phenomenally with Wales, and it looked like he was building a great team. He racked up 535 appearances during his career and 86 caps for Wales, and that is an incredible feat. One of the highest totals in Premier League history.

The sudden timing of it and the fact that it's a suspected suicide make it incredibly shocking. You can't really put it into words. RIP Gary, my thoughts and condolences go out to all his family and friends.

Kevin Prince Boateng: Best Goal this Season?

Here is a contender for goal of the season so far. Kevin Prince Boateng's strike vs Barcelona. Phenomenal.

The NBA Returns!!!!

Yes, I couldn't believe it when I hear the news, but we should be seeing the return of NBA basketball at Christmas time. It will be a reduced season, only 66 games will be played, but it's much better than nothing. As a Nets fan, it also means that Deron Williams will get some playing time before the end of his contract. I'm confident he'll stay and sign a new deal, but there is always that doubt.

The potential agreement still has to be voted on by the players and owners, but it is expected to have a successful outcome. According to David Stern, the agreement is down to many "complex mechanisms", but the important thing is that it's been achieved.

I'm hoping that the Nets can improve on last season and make the playoffs, as it will provide a good starting point for their move to Brooklyn in 2013. And if at the end of this season they can get their hands on some free agents, the name Dwight Howard comes to mind, then it would really be great.

As for who will win the championship overall, I'm going to go with either the Thunder or the Bulls. The Thunder have a quality young team, and with an extra year experience, I reckon they could do very well. And the Bulls have last season's MVP and will be looking to build on what was a good season last year. Also interesting will be how the Lakers recover from the embarrassment of last year's playoffs, but with a new coach, they could also do well.

The Moneyball Strategy: Would it Work in Football?

I've just got back from the cinema, having gone to see Moneyball the film. I've now read both the book and the film, and I'm very impressed with both. In the UK, everybody is now talking about possibly transferring this to football, and whether it would work. I think it potentially could, but it would be slightly different.

The reason Billy Beane had so much success was that baseball has too many stats. As a result, the important ones were overlooked (OBP) in favour of more popular ones (RBI). In football, there aren't as many stats. For strikers you have goals per game, but that is already used by scouting teams around the world. For defenders, possibly goals per game conceded. And for goalkeepers, the most common stat used to judge their ability is clean sheets.

But I think this is wrong, for the most part. Starting with goalkeepers, it is not clean sheets, but saves per game that matters. See this post for more information. For defenders, I would argue that it is successful tackles per game, but goals per game conceded is also of secondary importance. And for strikers, on word: speed.

If you're fast, nobody can catch you, you beat your man and your one on one with the goalkeeper. This is really overlooked and dismissed by pundits, as they claim you need a footballing brain to do well. The fact is that you can train technique and skill. Speed is something that's physical. It's incredibly hard to teach, and people can only reach a certain level by tuition.

That's my view. I think it can be adopted successfully, but it won't have the same stunning effects as it did in baseball as there are not as many stats available to use.

American Samoa: A Win at Last!!

American Samoa have made history again, this time for a good reason. They beat Tonga 2-1 in a Worlds Cup qualifier to record their first win ever. That's right. It's the first time they have ever won an international game. It's a huge improvement from when they were beaten 31-0 by Australia a few years ago (it is the largest ever scoreline in a football game) and you can tell just how elated they were to beat the Tongans.

They are joint worst ranked team in the FIFA rankings, so they really deserved a win. What a day it was for them. Who knows what they'll do next.

This is Serious...

Racism in football is a huge topic of conversation at the moment, but people overlook the most serious aspect: players being physically abused by racist hooligans. This happened to Emmanuel Eboue who plays for Galatasaray recently, and it's pretty horrific. Verbal abuse is one thing, but this is another. Both have to stop, but some serious sanctions need top be taken against those responsible, as players getting bombarded with bottles and other projectiles is a disgrace.

Australian Cricket Team: The Lowest of the Low

Is this the worst Australian cricket team of all time? It's very much up for debate. Their results have been dismal recently, highlighted by being bowled out for 47 against South Africa. They have levelled the series, but some of the performances have not been at all good. It's pretty depressing, as their team now is a world away from the Warne and McGrath team of a few years ago.

They've just appointed a new head coach, Mickey Arthur, who is the first non-Australian to ever manage the team. I still think it will take a while for them to rediscover a some form, as a normal Australia team should be beating South Africa. The out for 47 thrashing is also proof of why I think England got massively lucky in the last Ashes.

It was not the Australia team of old, the talent coming through isn not quite as good as it used to be, and England are I think slightly undeservedly ranked number 1 in the world. Australia have dropped to 4th in the Test rankings, below South Africa, India and England. And Sri Lanka are closing in on them as well.

I hope they rediscover their form because they are arguably overall the best side ever in cricket. They have consistently produced world class players, and I feel that is what is lacking at the moment.

Never Knew Joe Hart was So Fast!!

Is Joe Hart the fastest keeper ever? What a save this is, he runs the full length of the pitch and manages to keep it out. Great stuff.

Arsene Wenger: Leaving Soon?

I have done numerous posts on this in the past, but the first proof that Wenger could be heading out of the Emirates has emerged. When asked about his future at the Gunners, he said "we'll see at the end of season". I'm going to take that at a yes to him leaving. And, to be honest, Arsenal need somebody new.

It will be a bit of a shock if he does go, as I've got so used him as Arsenal manager, but as I said before, I think it's needed. There are many managers out there who could potentially replace him, even though it will obviously be a tall order.

Who is the person I would most like to see replace him? Dennis Bergkamp. I really think he is the ideal person. A club legend, and he's assistant at Ajax so he has got some managerial experience. I think he could really revitalise Arsenal as he's relatively young and full of energy. Otherwise, another manager I really like is Roberto Martinez, who is also young and I feel is not getting enough credit at Wigan.

One thing's for sure, I think Arsenal need a young manager. They need to make the transition and appointing an experienced manager I think would not be that beneficial. Somebody like Bergkamp would be great, or even Tony Adams who currently managers in the Azerbaijani Premier League.

Enzo Zidane: Like Father Like Son

Zinedine Zidane has a son. Three in fact, and they all play for the Real Madrid youth teams. But Enzo, the oldest, recently got a chance to train with the first team, and he plays a lot like his father, with all the usual tricks and skills. Looking forward to seeing him play more often, and I'm pretty sure he can become a top player.

Who is the Best Man to Replace Johnson?

More a less everybody expected Martin Johnson to resign as England manager, and he did so yesterday after what was a dismal World Cup. The big question is who is going to replace him. The English job is arguably the toughest one in rugby, and the person who does replace him will be under immense pressure to perform.

Two names have been flying around, Nick Mallett and Graham Henry. The former would have been good but has recently confirmed he wasn't interested, and the latter I would say is a big NO. I really don't Graham Henry. It took him 2 tries to win the World Cup with New Zealand, and they should really be winning it first time. What's more he has the best squad in the world by a mile and yet they really struggled to win in the Final this year.

If possible, the ideal candidate would be Warren Gatland. He's the best manager in the rugby world at the moment, but he seems committed to Wales. For me, easily the next best option would be Conor O'Shea. His Harlequins team have had a phenomenal start to thew season and he could really, I feel, do something good with the English team.

Only Thierry Henry...

The bit of skill above is one of Henry's trademark moves, and it's a lot harder that it looks. Absolutely brilliant.

UFC on Fox: Dos Santos Unstoppable

What a performance. I take my hat off to you, Junior. You made beating Cain Velasquez look as easy as anything. I was really surprised at the result, but I can't deny that de we have a new and worthy world champion. I'm a Velasquez fan, and I though he would win. But Dos Santos was simply unbeatable out there. It took a him a minute to find the killer punch and Velasquez was finished.

Velasquez is a phenomenal MMA fighter. That's why I still can't believe how Dos Santos pulled that off. If Velasquez can beat somebody like Lesnar in the way he did, imagine what Dos Santos could have done to him. He's still relatively young at 27, and if I were in the heavyweight division at the moment, I'd be very scared.

There are many possible contenders for Dos Santos' new belt. Cheick Kongo wants a shot after he beat Matt Mitrione, but you also have to consider a possible Velasquez vs Dos Santos II or a Dos Santos vs Lesnar. I'm really looking forward to potential title fights in the heavyweight division. It's fairly open, and it will be interesting to see who the UFC line up next for Dos Santos.

Santiago Munez: If Only He Were Real

Last night I watched, GOAL, which upon reflection is one of best sports films ever made, if not the best. You live the journey of young Mexican Santiago Munez as he tries to make it, and he eventually gets a trial at Newcastle etc... I wish he was a real player. Above is a mix I found on Youtube, just in case you haven't seen the film or haven't seen it in a while. It really is worth a watch. Will be watching the sequel tonight, which is just as good. DON'T GO NEAR THE THIRD GOAL THOUGH, IT IS THE WORST FILM EVER. First two are top class though.

England's Problem? Terry and Rooney

I gave England no chance coming into the game with Spain. Yet they won. How on earth did they do it? Simple, I reckon it was because Rooney and Terry weren't on the pitch. It's the first time that Rooney has missed an England international in ages, Terry as well, even though he was on the bench. I think it's no coincidence that the moment they don't play, England play brilliantly and beat the World Champions.

England played as a team last night. The tactic wasn't simply pass the ball to Rooney and take orders from Terry, there was freedom in place, and it clearly showed in England's performance. It is without doubt the best England performance I have seen since before South Africa. Long may this continue.

However, there is a problem. Capello. I'm pretty sure his next move will be to reinstate Terry back into the team for the next friendly and then Rooney after that. It will just go back to the same old thing of depending on two players. But this also means that at the Euro for the first three games without Rooney, England should deliver some top class performances.

England without Rooney and Terry isn't enough to win the Euro though. A lot of the players that played last night I really think do not deserve to go to Poland/Ukraine. Downing, Barry, Cole (for his off the pitch behaviour) are some examples. Below is the squad I would take at this stage to true Euro 2012. This could change as we get nearer to it, and assumes all players are fit, but for now here it is.

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster, Joe Hart, David James

Defenders: Glen Johnson, Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Kieran Gibbs, Phil Jones, Micah Richards, Gary Cahill

Midfielders: Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker, Jack Wilshere, James Milner, Aaron Lennon, Ashley Young, Frank Lampard

Strikers: Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent, Theo Walcott, Peter Crouch, Gabriel Agbonlahor

Man City's Owner Can Play!!

Who would have thought? Man City's gazillionaire owner Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is actually a darn good footballer. He scored a hat trick in a charity matches, and some of his finishes were just pure brilliance.

England vs Spain: T'Will be Brutal

The English football team have many problems at the moment, and easily the biggest is how to be competitive with Spain at the weekend. We know they will lose, let's not even bother discussing that, the next question is whether they will be able to limit the damage. For me England's objective has got to be this: not lose by more than 3 goals. Losing 3-0 would put them in a respectable position in what I call the second tier of European football.

Who are we kidding over here in England? The Three Lions have no chance of even getting a draw. I may seem way too overconfident, but they really do not have a prayer. Firstly, they haven't got Rooney (God knows how they'll perform in the first three games of the Euro), and secondly, they're playing Phil Jagielka with a broken toe, instead of Terry. Even if John is a racist, he's still one of the best centre backs out there, and when you play Spain, that's exactly what you need. Not somebody who can only use one leg.

I understand these dubious squad choices are for rotation purposes, but WHY DO THAT AGAINST SPAIN???? Sweden in the next game are a much more manageable adversary. THAT is where you want to road test players. You have the chance to try and challenge the Spanish. Play your best squad.

England really are doomed. They won't win anything for a while simply because they haven't got the right bunch of players. They should set themselves a target, for example 10 years from now, Qatar 2022. By then they should have a world class squad by using academies and development programs for ENGLISH PLAYERS provided by the clubs. It's actually quite simple.

Juan Agudelo: The Next Big Thing?

A few clips of Juan Agudelo, who arguably represents ht future of American football (soccer). He looks like a top talent, and I reckon it won't be long before we see him in Europe. He's only 18 and currently plays for the Red Bulls. I didn't make the compilation.

Football Manager 2012 Top Tips

Even though this is not strictly sport related, it is a sports game, and that's a good enough justification. Last year I did my top tips for Football Manger 2011, and so this year I thought I'd do them for this year's game. Football Manager 2012.

1. Make your own tactics. I can't stress this enough. If you download them, you don't know them, and you therefore won't know how to manage them. It's really simple to make them, especially with FM2012. You can do all of the important things from the main tactics screen.

2. Rely on your instinct. Sometimes your scouts tell you a player's good, but you know he isn't. Trust your instinct. Unless you have no knowledge of the players you're dealing, it's always best to do what you think is right and to not listen to your scouts.

3. Watch matches in TV mode. This is entirely up to you, but I would suggest doing this. The other views take some getting used to, whereas the TV view is how you watch football normally, and I think it gives you a better overall view of the game.

4. Start unemployed with a Sunday League reputation. Easily the most satisfying way to play the game. If you're new to it, you might want to start with Barca or a big team to get used to it, but afterwards, it's much more fun to start with nothing and make your way up. It's realistic and when you win a big competition, you can look back at feel good about how you got there.

5. Enjoy. This may seem obvious, but FM is one of THE most frustrating games when things start to go wrong. Just take it easy, AND DON'T GIVE UP!!. Every single professional manager goes through bad spells, and so if you have a ten game losing streak keep on trying to change things. Don't stop until you're fired.

Best Cricket Catch Ever?

Angelo Matthews is a genius. This catch is out of this world. With the ball seeming heading for a 6, he throws the ball up and swats it back into play. Genius. Must watch.

Joe Frazier: 1944-2011

Joe Frazier's passing is a tragic day for boxing. In my opinion he is in the top 5 greatest heavyweights of all time (the others being in no particular order Ali, Marciano, Louis and Foreman). Frazier was the one fighter who really stood up to Ali's supremacy, especially when he triumphed in the fight of the century.

George Foreman, the other top heavyweight at the time was good, but for me "Smokin Joe" just has the edge. He was beaten by Foreman, but Foreman never beat Ali, and I think that's the most important. Ali is what all other heavyweights are measured against. Frazier had one of the most powerful punches ever, and Ali described fighting him as hell.

You really didn't want to mess with this guy. His strength was immense, and he was unlucky to have been fighting at the time of two other great heavyweights. Had he faced the generation before, i.e. Liston, Paterson etc... I'm sure he would've been champion of the world for a very long time.

Frazier is a legend, and he will be remembered for years to come. All top boxers have paid tribute to him, including Ali and Foreman. RIP Joe.

Zidane: The Best Ever

Hee's to Zinedine Zidane, who I think in the greatest footballer of all time. I did not make this tribute, but it's so good I thought I'd use it. ENJOY!!

UFC 138: Way Better Than I Thought It Would Be

Last night was the first chance I got to watch a UFC event live. It was in Birmingham and on ESPN, so I was in the right time zone. It didn't disappoint. All the fights were pretty good, and more importantly none on the main card went the distance.

I think the best fight was the Perosh vs Diabate fight. It had a bit of everything but Perosh eventually won by taking the fight to the ground and using his brilliant jiu jitsu skills. I think he's as good as anyone in that area, and is really underrated.

The main event was also good, and Mark Munoz showed he is worthy of a title shot. Leben showed determination, but ultimately it was not enough. Even he couldn't stand up to the ferocious punching power of the Filipino.

Felipe Contepomi: The Shame

Now these highlights of Stade Francais playing Toulouse are not that interesting until the last minute, so feel free to skip the first part. In the last bit though, Contepomi chooses to kick a drop goal with one minute to go. The problem: it's not enough. Contepomi obviously thought his team were only 3 points behind, much to the distaste of his manager. To translate what he said, it's something along the lines of "What the f**ck is he doing?". It's pretty funny and worth the watch. Enjoy!!

London Wasps: In Trouble

I rarely write about the English rugby Premiership, but I figured since I'm going to see the Wasps play Northampton at the weekend, there could not be a better time. The Wasps have had some very tough times recently, and it's pretty sad to see. They are very close to bankrupt, all their top players have left or are leaving, and Shaun Edwards has also just resigned from his coaching position.

I have a soft sport for Wasps, even though I will be supporting the Saints at the weekend. I saw them play in Heineken Cup Final in 2007, and you can't recognise today's team. In 2007 all the big names were there: Dallaglio, Sackey, Shaw, Cipriani etc... Shaw has just announced that he is joining Toulon, so it really is a completely new team.

I hope they don't go bankrupt, as it would be a real shame for the whole of rugby. They were one of the biggest teams in the past along with Leicester (who are also doing badly), so it would be great to see them regain some momentum.

25 Years of Fergie

When a manager goes into a job, especially nowadays, one of the main thoughts is how long he's going to last. That is no longer an issue for Sir Alex Ferguson. In fact, it was last an issue about 24 years ago. What Fergie has done is absolutely phenomenal, and that's coming from an Arsenal supporter. He's the best manager the Premier League has ever seen, and he has got to be considered alongside the best ever.

Something I've noticed about Ferguson's Man Utd teams is that they have never really been that great. I mean that in terms of the players obviously, not it terms of the team itself. The individual stars they've had have been very good, but he's never ever had the very best. He's had a bunch of very good players, but there have been much better squads throughout the years in the league.

Having said that, Ferguson's always managed to get the most out of his players, and that is something that managers very rarely do. The bad squad with a great manager will always beat the good squad with a poor manager. That's a fact. The number of different managers who Ferguson must have shaken hands with over the years is incredible. He has overseen so many changes, not only to managers but to the game in general.

All the different players he's managed, the decisions he's made, it really is quite remarkable. No manager has contributed as much as him the the Premier League, and who knows whether he'll ever retire. It sure doesn't look like it.

Best Touchdown Ever?

This is taken from a college football game, and the guy simply hurdles his opponent to get to the endzone. They should start doing this in rugby!

Rhys Griffiths: Best Goal Scorer in Football?

Who is this guy you must be thinking right now. "This guy" is Rhys Griffiths, and he's the best goal scorer in football today. The Welshman plays for Llanelli in the Welsh Premier League, but that's only the start.

The reason I say he's the best goal getter in the world is simply his stats. He has scored an incredible 156 goals in 162 career appearances, and that is the highest goals per game average over a career I can find of any player still playing. Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, they're all considerably lower.

I think as a consequence of his stats, he is one of the most undervalued players in the world. You might tell the Welsh league is absolute rubbish, but I maintain that he could score a lot of goals elsewhere as well. If a player is top class, the league doesn't matter.

I honestly think the big teams have missed something here. He's had trials at a few clubs, the biggest being Aarau in Switzerland. Somebody should sign him before he retires. I guarantee he won't disappoint!!

Steve Claridge: 45 and still going...

Some players stop playing football at 33. Some at 35. Heck, there are some who go on till their 40. But Steve Claridge beats the lot. 45, and he's just come out retirement to play for non-league side Gosport Borough. I really respect and admire people like that. It shows that they have a true passion for the game which so many players today lack. He keeps super fit, and has already scored two goals in two appearances.

I think players who keep on playing deserve more credit. It really is quite rare for an outfield player to play beyond 40. The one world class player who did was Roger Milla for Cameroon. He made a World Cup appearance and scored aged 42. I doubt that will ever be beaten, especially nowadays.

Still, I hope the odd player keeps playing. Ryan Giggs for example is somebody who I think could, whether he wants to is a different question. Even as an Arsenal fan, seeing Giggsy outlast Ferguson would be something special. Other players, like Brad Friedel also show no signs of retiring, even though he's already 40.

As far as I'm concerned, if the body allows you to continue, you should.

The Longest Headed Goal EVER-OFFICIAL

Some legend in the Chinese football league managed to score a header, yes, a header, from 58 meters. Pretty crazy. Easily the world record!! Enjoy!! If only people in the Prem did this!!

UFC 137: So What??

What have we learned from UFC 137? I'm struggling. Still struggling. Nope, can't think of anything. You could have predicted the results perfectly before they happened. Diaz beating Penn and Cro Cop losing to Nelson. The attraction of the fight card was more than halved when GSP pulled out with an injury, and the fights themselves didn't do anything to add more glamour to the situation. Penn was beaten without any problems, and Cro Cop was TKO'd, even though he did put up some resistance.

It's sad to see the decline and retirement of two great fighters in Mirko Cro Cop and BJ Penn. In his prime, Cro Cop could knock you out cold with his left kick. As he says, "right kick hospital, left kick cemetery". Cro Cop hit Nelson with a left kick, but it didn't really affect him. It just shows how much, unfortunately, the Croatian has gone downhill. He would have won that fight easily had he been 10 years younger. No question.

As for BJ Penn, once a lightweight legend, it's sad to see that he can no longer compete with the very best. He is reduced to fighting guys in his situation, like Matt Hughes, and these are not always the most exciting fights.

UFC 137 has disappointed me in almost every way, but I have to admit that part of it is down to GSP'a injury. Having said that, I also think the UFC could have done a much better job of rescheduling it: Diaz vs Penn, as I said in a previous post, is not worthy of a main event. Condit vs Koscheck would have been much much better.

Longest NBA shot ever!!

It seems the NBA season won't be under way for quite a long time due to some rich idiots who don't appreciate basketball, so instead, here is a clip of Baron Davis sinking what is the longest NBA shot ever recorded. 92ft. Pretty crazy. Enjoy!!!

Best result in a long long time...

Phenomenal. Over the moon, Ecstatic. Incredible. Awesome. In fact, I can't really describe what I'm feeling right now. Arsenal slaughtering Chelsea 5-3 at Stamford Bridge is probably Arsenal's best result in 2 or 3 years. Robin Van Persie is absolutely unbelievable, scoring yet another hat trick. He really really needs to be offered a new contract. Walcott's goal was class, Santos proved his critics wrong, and John Terry ended up on his arse!! Can it really get any better for an Arsenal fan?

This win will give us huge confidence going forward. It's the first time we have really beaten an in form top 4 team for 2 or so years, so it is a huge achievement. This has sent a message to all the haters of Arsenal: PISS OFF. I rarely use foul language in posts, but this has got to be an exception. Arsene Wenger is building his team back up again, and I regret saying a while ago that he should leave. He has completely proved me wrong, but now he must continue to build on this.

On Chelsea's side, the pressure is now beginning to build on AVB. A loss at QPR, a loss to Man Utd, now a loss to the Gunners. He won't be allowed to many more slip ups. They could drop down into fourth if Newcastle win on Sunday, and we all know that Chelsea have a tendency to get on losing runs. I honestly thought Chelsea would win the Premier League this season, but the problem is that AVB had changed. He's not the same manager he was in Porto, and it looks like a pretty big waste of 13 million on Abramovich's part.

This has been a totally crazy Premier League season so far, and I leave you with one of my favourite Arsenal supporter songs:

“One team in London! There's only one team in London! One team in London! There's only one team in London!”

Best football statistics website?

This is probably the best football statistics site I have found, whether it be for trying to play fantasy football or trying to win on Football Manager. I have taken a great interest in statistics recently after reading Moneyball (see previous post), so this is to follow up on my interest. It ives team stats of every team in almost every division, from clean sheets to winning trends. If you want individual stats I would recommend looking in fantasy football as that is the best place. But for team stats, this is easily the best as it gives you complete breakdowns of winning trends, who scored first, which team leads most often at half time etc... Enjoy!! Link is below (I will also out it on my links page)

http://www.soccerstats.com

Moneyball: What a Story

I'm currently reading the book, and boy do I want to see the film as well. Moneyball is the phenomenal story of the Oakland A's who, with practically no budget, became division champions 3 times is a row. They completely rethought the idea of scouting players in baseball. The book is really of of the best I've ever read, and I can't wait for November 25th when the film comes out in the UK. Above is the trailer to give you a taste of what the story's like, but I really recommend you go out and buy the book. Your money could not be better spent.

Enjoy and comment!!!

Why has Zidane bothered to retire?

After watching this video, you will ask yourself the question. Terrible for the goalkeeper.

Enjoy!!!

What's with all the racism?

It's fairly clear that every once in a while, the Premier League goes through trends. For example last winter it was the snood that captured the imagination of players and newspapers, but now, it's something slightly more serious. Racism allegations. For some reason, God knows why, there have been two racism allegations from players within the past week. First it was the Evra vs Suarez incident and now it's John Terry vs Anton Ferdinand.

The first thing to note about Patrice Evra is that he has a huge history of winding people up and creating controversy. He always comes out before big games and says how the other team are not title contenders, and he sometimes likes to fight groundsmen for a bit of fun. Luis Suarez is new to the Premier League so, you would assume, he does not know this. Seemingly this incident has passed now, but the fact that it took up the front pages of the sports sections in newspapers shows how silly the whole incident was. Everybody has forgotten about it now, but Evra achieved what he wanted to do in creating a bit of controversy and tension.

Racism row two: Anton Ferdinand vs John Terry. Terry allegedly called him a "something black something". Also let's just point out that this wouldn't have escalated had some fan put a video up on Youtube accusing Terry. Honestly, I think this has been blown way out of proportion, along with with Evra incident. What sense would it make for Terry to racially abuse somebody he knows quite well?

It's time for football to find a new trend. I'm bored of this one already, it wasn't amusing at all and quite honestly racism is a term coined way to easily today. Practically everything's racist. In the 60s/70s/80s, these incidents would have been completely overlooked. They happened all the time.

My World Cup XV

It seems like everybody is making their own at the moment, so I figured I'd also go ahead and make mine. Below is my World Cup XV with explanations as to why I picked the players I did. Comment on what you think of my team and what your World Cup XV is.

1. Tony Woodcock (New Zealand): The prop was immense for New Zealand and he scored the winning try in the final. The New Zealand pack would have really struggled without him, and was ever-present in the scrums and rucks. Nobody else came close to having the impact he had in this position.

2. William Servat (France): For every good line out there's a good hooker, and William Servat was that man. France's line out was phenomenal at this World Cup, and Servat was a big part of that. He was also huge in the scrum, and there is no doubt that without him, France would not have been as strong in line outs and scrums. Keven Mealamu was also good, but Servat just has the edge in my opinion.

3. Adam Jones (Wales): When he came of injured against France, it was the start of Wales' decline. And it's not a coincidence. Jones was already established as one of the best props in the world before the tournament, and he solidified that reputation while he was in New Zealand. He was a key part of Wales' pack, not only being effective in the scrum but also in rucks and at the breakdown. France's Nicolas Mas comes very close to getting on my team, but Jones' experience and overall good performance tips the balance.

4. Brad Thorne (New Zealand): He is the All Black man mountain. A huge presence in the line out, he delivered some very solid performances in the tournament and his experience was invaluable the Kiwis. Luke Charteris of Wales comes close to challenging him, but the fact that New Zealand went all the way is what separates them.

5. Lionel Nallet (France): France's second row was a crucial part of France getting so far. Partnered with Imanol Harinordoquy, France's line out was almost unbeatable. They made catches under high pressure, and Nallet's experience was also a massive driving force for the French.

6. Thierry Dusautoir (France): Man of the match in the final, world player of the year, incredible performances against Wales and England, need we say anymore? Thierry Dusautoir had an incredible World Cup and there is absolutely no doubt about his place in this team.

7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand): Does this really need any justification?

8. Viliami Ma'afu (Tonga): Easily Tonga's best player of the world cup and a huge surprise. He was absolutely phenomenal against France, constantly causing Les Bleus problems, sand he also scored a well deserved try against Japan. I doubt many many people will agree with this choice, but he is as good as any other number 8 to have played at the world cup. Harinordoquy was phenomenal in the knockout stages, but in the group stages he failed to deliver, and that's what cost him his place on my team.

9. Dimitri Yachvili (France): Was the heartbeat of the French team, and created everything. Great box kicking ability, and also his kicking was as good as anyone's. Without him, France's would have been nowhere, and he scored some crucial kicks that allowed France to win games. Mike Phillips also did really well, his try against France especially, but Yachvili just gets it for his overall performance.

10. Rhys Priestland (Wales): Priestland was unknown before this tournament. Now he is practically a rugby superstar. He is what you'd call a playmaker: he links the forwards to the backs and really gave Wales a fluid game. Priestland was the reason Wales played such attractive rugby. Instead of just kicking, he looked for clever passes and helped his backs score. That's what traditionally the fly-half is supposed to do, and it's good to see it again. No real other contenders for the fly-half spot in my opinion, but Aaron Cruden, Dan Carter and Morne Steyn did play well and put it some good performances.

11. Shane Williams (Wales): What a player!!!! 34 and he was still Wales' main try scorer. George North came onto the scene with a bang, but I think Williams' performances were just phenomenal. He always scores when it really matters, and just seems to cut through every defence in the world like butter. I honestly think he's getting better with age. Now he's retired from international duty, it just won't ever be the same for Wales. Other people like George North and Richard Kahui played well, but the brilliance of Shane Williams is unique and is something that is almost impossible to beat.

12. Jamie Roberts (Wales): He is the Welsh battering ram. He runs at defences, and more often than not, gets through. He played superbly against France in delivered solid performances in the other matches. One of the best centres in the world full-stop. Conrad Smith and Rougerie played well, but I think that Roberts is just the class above.

13. Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand): If Roberts is the Welsh battering ram, than Nonu is the All Black version. A player who's incredibly hard to bring down, he scored a well deserved winning try against Australia in the semi-final and was an important part of the All Blacks' success. No doubts as to whether he deserves a place on this team.

14. Vincent Clerc (France): For me, Vincent Clerc and Shane Williams are easily the two best wingers in the world. The Frenchman had a really top quality world cup, scoring the crucial try against England and playing very well against Wales. He can beat any defence on his day, and has been France's best winger for several years now. He confirmed this at the World Cup.

15. Maxime Medard (France): Last but not least, the full back. I really like Medard. He's an exciting player and his counter attacks are breathtaking. He can cut through a defence just like Shane Williams and he looks to play the ball, not just kick it unlike many other full backs. Israel Dagg is also a strong contender here, but I just prefer the explosive style of Medard. Dagg is more traditional, whereas Medard just brings something new to the table.

Why do some athletes not play for their actual countries?

Something that really frustrates me when I look at certain sports teams is how many players they have who are not really the nationality of the team they play for. Two examples are pictured above. Manu Tuilagi, who is completely Samoan, nothing to do with England whatsoever, not even born there, but just because he's lived there a certain amount of time he gets the right to play for the English rugby team. There is also Danny Welbeck, who is completely Ghanian (he is born in England) and yet he plays for the English national team.

I really don't want to seem racist here, but this is incredibly unfair on the smaller countries like Ghana and Samoa. They produce talent, and yet it gets taken away from them by the bigger national sides. This then affects their performance on the pitch.

There are many other surprising examples of this: take for instance the New Zealand rugby team. Let's run through some of the great names of "New Zealand" players. Jonah Lomu has two Tongan parents, and spent his childhood in Tonga, yet he is born in Auckland and so can play for NZ. Tana Umaga has Samoan immigrant parents, and like Lomu, he is only eligible to play for NZ through being born there and having lived there. Joe Rokocoko is Fijian. Born in Fiji to Fijian parents, only migrated to New Zealand aged 15. And there are many more examples of so called "New Zealanders", like Keven Mealamu.

There are so many cases like this across sport, it's really frustrating. How different would it have been if Jonah Lomu had played for Tonga. They would be a rugby power, as Lomu's talent would not doubt have attracted other good Tongans who would otherwise have played for New Zealand.

If Manu Tuilagi had chosen to play for Samoa at the world cup, he could have partnered his brother in what would have been a scary backs lineup.

I've been focusing too much on rugby (it is the most affected sport), but other sports also have this feature. Eoin Morgan in cricket for example, plays for England but he is totally Irish and like all the others only gets his dual nationality through residency. Elena Baltacha in tennis plays for England but all her family is Ukranian. The list could go on and on.

It's obvious that all these athletes are just searching for success, but it could have been so different. If one of these people decided to stay loyal to their actual nationality, arguably many would have followed, and this could have built up the smaller country into a good team in the sport.

New Zealand Champions: Deserved?

So New Zealand are world champions. But only just. Their 8-7 win was close, and France were 1 point away from a different story. Woodcock was the try scorer for New Zealand, while Dusautoir went over for the French. In a match that was so close, did New Zealand deserve to win?

Yes and no. France, for me, were the better side. They really dominated some passages of play and had they been more accurate with the boot they could have won. More importantly though, it was clear that the referee's judgement was swayed by the crowd. All 50/50 decisions, whether it be for high tackles or anything else were given in the All Blacks' favour, and I think had this final been played in a different country, we could have had a very different result.

However, you can't deny with what's happened to New Zealand as a country this year that they needed something like this to cheer the country up. Also, if there is one side that hasn't won the World Cup enough, it's New Zealand, so they really deserved it in the long run.

It's really tough to say if it was deserved, but if you look at the match it definitely wasn't as I mentioned before. France can be hugely proud of their performance. They are world champions in every way but one: they don't have the Webb Ellis Cup.

Who is the Best Manager Ever?

This is a really tough question to answer, as there are so many possible names you could consider. Brian Clough, Arrigo Sacchi, Sir Alex, Arsene Wenger, Bob Paisley, Jose Mourinho and Herbert Chapman to name but few. However, there is one person who I think just edges all of them. Guy Roux.

The man is a legend, and none of the managers on that list has achieved what he has done. Taking a regional club, with no pedigree and no money to European heights and winning the main league of the country several times. Roux did this with Auxerre, and it was truly remarkable. He took the equivalent of a Blue Square North/South team and turned them into the best in the country.

Bob Paisley is very close to challenging Roux for the honour of best ever though. He is the only manager to have ever won 3 European Cups and was one of the main reasons Liverpool were so good in 70s and 80s. Clough is also great, winning the European Cup with Nottingham Forest, but what Guy Roux did you cannot put into words.

He transformed Auxerre from top to bottom: financially, on the pitch, staff, youth academy, everything changed. His life was Auxerre when he managed there. He built up some of the best players to ever play the game: Laurent Blanc and Eric Cantona are some examples. Djibril Cisse, Phillipe Mexes and Basile Boli also all come from the academy.

This is a really debatable question, but for me Guy Roux stands out above the rest. Who do you think was the best ever? Comment below.

Worst own goal ever?

As a Celtic fan, watching this video makes me despair, but is Cha Du Ri's failed back pass the worst own goal ever? Leave a comment.

Hopkins gets his belt back!!!

It was one of the most disgraceful decisions I had ever seen in a boxing ring, and thankfully, it has now been overturned. When Chad Dawson was given the world title after body slamming Bernard Hopkins to the mat, it was an outrage. Hopkins dislocated his shoulder and could not continue, and the ref said it was a TKO.

Today though it has been announced that he is getting his world title back. The ruling of the fight has been overturned, it is now a no-contest, and so Bernard Hopkins can finally feel a sense of justice about what happened. How the referee could have made the original decision is beyond my understanding, but at least it now no longer stands.

Bernard Hopkins is a phenomenal boxer, and even at 45, he manages to keep up with people half his age. He is the Ryan Giggs of boxing, no doubt. He will never retire. So he remains champion, and it will be interesting to see who wants to step forward to take him on. Will we see a Dawson vs Hopkins rematch or another opponent step up to the plate?

Which is your favourite war dance?

We all know that Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand and Fiji all have their different war dances that they perform before playing. New Zealand have the Haka, Tonga the Sipi Tau, Samoa the Sivi Tau and Fiji the Cibi. You can see them all below. Which one is your favourite? Post a comment!!!

New Zealand:

Tonga:

Samoa:

Fiji:

GSP INJURED!!!!

Dana White announced via Twitter that Georges St. Pierre is out of UFC 137 with a knee injury and that the new main event is Diaz vs Penn. This really is a massive hammer blow to the UFC, especially on such short notice. The prospect of seeing GSP is arguably what made thousands of fans buy tickets and now they are left with a slightly crummy Penn vs Diaz fight.

UFC 137 will undoubtedly be less watched because of this. With GSP gone, the fight card honestly isn't that interesting a part from Cro Cop's last fight against Roy Nelson (that should have been the main event in my opinion). Nick Diaz taking on BJ Penn is not exactly going to be the most entertaining fight, and will be no where near the magnitude of a GSP vs Condit clash.

What's more, Condit will wait until GSP is fully recovered. It's not as if they are just finding him another opponent, the whole fight has been wiped off the card. Carlos Condit beat Dan Hardy so he deserves something, but WHY ON EARTH WON'T THE UFC TAKE THIS CHANCE TO PUT ON A SILVA VS GSP BOUT (when they can)???

Carlos Condit can wait. The fight that will break all records, the fight that will easily make the most money for the UFC is Anderson Silva against GSP so why are they not taking this opportunity to say that Condit will fight somebody else (Josh Koscheck said he was up for it) and that GSP's next fight will be a mega blockbuster against The Spider? Only Dana will know the answer to that question.

I hope you're watching Chris Ashton...

I've decided on a change of strategy for this blog. Instead of posting one long post every two days, I will post several things every day. Now this could mean videos I find that are funny/cool, normal posts or anything else I find interesting. So you will getting a lot more content on this blog from now on. Expect at least 2-3 posts a day.

With that out the way, here is a video that England rugby player Chris Ashton should watch: this is what happens when your swallow dive/showboating goes wrong. Argentina flanker Juan Leguizamon is the victim here, and this is a massive showing off FAIL.

Tour de France 2012: The Route Unveiled

We now know what the route will be for the 2012 Tour de France. The presentation is still going on as I write this, but they've already fully unveiled the route. At first glance, it seems easier that other years. No Alpe d'Huez, no Mont Ventoux, but look closer and it is actually quite tough.For starters, the organisers, ASO, have reinstated La Toussuire as a mountain top finish. This climb in the Alps was last used in 2006 when a testosterone filled Floyd Landis won at the summit. Because of this it is slightly tarnished, but it is a tough climb, and Contador and co will have their hands full.

The next thing to notice is obviously where the whole thing starts, and that's Liege in Belgium, which is a huge name in cycling. Liege is the hub of all the classics in Spring, and the arguably the most important one goes through it (Liege-Bastogne-Liege). The first stage itself will be a time trial, something this year's Tour lacked, and I think is needed in every Tour. Starting with a time trial is the best way to kick a cycling stage race off.

Another very challenging stage will be the mouton top finish in the Pyrenees at Peyragudes. It will test the main contenders, especially as the Pyrenees come after the Alps, unlike this year's Tour where it was the other way round.

So what about the sprint stages? The first two will be reasonably flat and there will be some transitional stages as always where Mark Cavendish can assert his authority, such as the stage to the Cap d'Agde. But you also have to remember what happened in 2009 with the massive side winds that the peloton have to face up to.

What is the stage I'm most looking forward to? This might be surprising but I will say the Besancon time trial. It won't be completely flat, and so Cancellara or Martin will probably not win it. It will be between Contador, Evans and Wiggins. It's the first mountainous time trial that's featured on the Tour in while, so it should be very exciting.

I can't wait for the whole thing to start.

World Cup Predictions...

New Zealand knocked out Australia this morning, setting themselves up for a mouth watering final with France. Many people are saying that France will be totally humiliated and crushed, but I couldn't disagree more. France are New Zealand's bete noire. They have beaten them twice in previous World Cups, and even though the All Blacks have already beaten France in this tournament, I'm pretty sure both teams would have forgotten about it.

I would like to see France win, even though I know that the vast majority of people would like to see the All Blacks triumph. France are being hailed as the worst team ever to have made a World Cup final, but that's not true. England in 2007 were just as bad as the France of 2011.

There third place final will therefore be between Australia and Wales, and for me, Australia win hands down. Warburton is suspended and he is arguably Wales' best player, and the team will be pretty down after going out the way that they did. Even though Australia haven't been brilliant, I rethink they'll have enough to see off a depleted Wales.

Top 5 UFC Fights I'd like to see

So Frankie Edgar retained his Lightweight belt by beating Gray Maynard at UFC 136. In light of this, I figured I'd make a post with the top 5 UFC fights I'd like to see happen soon. Comment below on which fights you would like to see.

5.Frankie Edgar vs Sean Sherk

This might be a bit of a surprise choice, but when Sherk is not plagued by injuries, he's a class act. Edgar showed his dominance by beating Maynard, but Sean Sherk would represent a completely different opponent: somebody who is good on the ground and somebody who is impossible to submit. It can't happen for a while because of Sherk's injuries, but when he recovers this fight is a must.

4.Anderson Silva vs Michael Bisping

The man from Manchester is underrated. He's not got 3 victories in a row and if he beats Dan Miller in December, he deserves this fight. Even though he will almost surely not win, Bisping is a true fighter and he doesn't give up. Silva would have a different challenge on his hands and it would be a way more interesting fight than say Silva vs Okami.

3.Cain Velasquez vs Shane Carwin

The fight that everybody was asking for was Velasquez vs Dos Santos, and that is now going to happen at UFC 139. But assuming Velasquez wins, I would like to see him fight Shane Carwin. Even though he was beaten by Dos Santos, it really was a gritty, gutsy performance from Carwin and I think Velasquez would have his hands full. I pretty sure Velasquez would not be able to knock him out.

2.Jon Jones vs Rashad Evans

Jon 'Bones' Jones has beaten everybody there is to be beat in the light heavyweight division. Bar one man. Rashad Evans. Evans is plagued by injury, but the moment he is fit, this fight has to happen. He is the only man left who can beat Jon Jones. It really would be a blockbuster fight and a really close match up. Jon Jones has no rivals in the heavyweight division if you exclude Evans, and every fight is a bit boring, as you already know the outcome. A win for Jon Jones. A fight against Evans however would change that.

1.Anderson Silva vs Georges St. Pierre

Could it really have been anything else? This is the dream fight EVERYBODY wants to see, and I hope to God it happens before Silva retires. GSP would have to move up a weight class, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem. This fight would show who the best fighter in the UFC is. Simple as that. Anderson Silva is being called the G.O.A.T, but I think he can only genuinely be called that once he has fought and beaten GSP. THIS FIGHT HAS TO HAPPEN!!!

The English Rugby Team: A Disgrace

If you follow this blog, you'll know of my dislike for the England rugby team. Well, after their shenanigans in New Zealand, you can now say my hatred of the English rugby team. They did everything wrong: dwarf throwing contests, snogging an ex-girlfirend when you've only just got married to a member of the royal family, yes, I am talking about you Mr. Tindall. And to round it all off, Manu Tuilagi thought it would be really fun to jump off a ferry.

I really don't blame other countries for hating our national teams. I hate all English natonal teams. Football, rugby, you name it they are not well behaved. There needs to be some serious discipline put in place here: the English rugby team are a bunch of thugs. James Haskell knows only one word, and it begins with F, and Martin Johnson doesn't seem to care at all about what his players get up to.

If it doesn't affect the on pitch performance, it's more tolerable, but when it does, that's when it's really frustrating. Wales, for example, simply banned alcohol while at the World Cup, and they are now in a semi-final. The English really don't have any excuse, Martin Johnson should be sacked, and a disciplinarian should be brought in.

I really don't want to think about what the next rugby world cup is going to be like, seeing as it is being held in England. Let's hope, for their sake, that they sort themselves out really really fast.

Steve

This is a sports blog, but Steve Jobs was a revolutionary. A tribute.

Goal-line technology: Will it ever arrive?

It was announced today that goal line technology would not be appearing until at least the 2013-2014 season. Delayed yet again. And all I ask is why. WHY???

The times last season that goal line tech would have been useful is ridiculous. Apparently, they still have to test how accurate it is, as it is not fully up to scratch. Well, here's an idea, why don't the FA just buy the hawkeye technology in tennis (that definitely works) and use it in football? It really isn't that hard, and to be honest I,m pretty fed up with all the excuses.

The other problem of course is Michel Platini. The FA can do whatever they like. But as far as it being used in the Champions League and the Euro, we're still far off. Platini is strongly against the idea, for some inexplicable reason, and so he will need to leave before anybody can get anywhere with it on a European scale.

Having said that, seeing goal line technology at world cups is a possibility. Blatter isn't against the idea, but it would probably go down to a vote, and we know what happened last time there was some attempt at a vote in FIFA. CORRUPTION!!!

I hope to God it comes into practice soon. Waiting season after season for it is really frustrating, and while they're at it with goal line technology, they should introduce a 5th referee in the stands like in rugby, who has a computer and confirm/change all the ref's decisions. I'm sick of seeing rubbish referees, as is every single person in football.

Has The Professor failed the test?

Arsenal lost again at the weekend in the derby game against Tottenham. They lack confidence and experience. That much is obvious. Wenger refuses to buy players over 30. And I think that's part of the problem. Wenger was handed the experience he needed on a plate when he arrived with Tony Adams and Martin Keown. He has never bought anybody over 30, and got rid of Vieira when he would have been a great senior player.

You cannot win with a young team. You cannot win with an old team. You need a balanced team. I would suggest 2 players of over 33, 1 player between 30-33, 5 players between 25-30 and 3 players who are under 24. Arsenal have only the latter, and in key positions like centre back and goalkeeper, where they really need a 30+ year old cool head, they haven't got one. Mertesacker and Vermaelen are good players, but you need a player who will threaten to kick you up the arse if you don't do your job, like an Adams, or to use a modern day example, John Terry.

Ever since the 8-2 loss at Man Utd, I've said Wenger needs to go. Hr's made a decent attempt at signing some players to replace the departed, but it obviously hasn't been enough. Wenger should resign, because the board are not going to sack him, and somebody new should come in. The Professor is past his sell by date.

People who say that there isn't anyone who could replace him are pretty ignorant. When Rioch left, nobody predicted in a million years that Wenger would be appointed. There are many good managers out there in need of a job. I feel Rafa Benitez could be OK, he did reasonability well at Liverpool, winning two Champions Leagues, or you could even consider somebody like Mark Hughes, who did really quite well at Fulham. Something has to change, and by something, I mean manager.

WHY IS NOBODY BUYING TEVEZ????

Carlos Tevez is easily one of the best football players in the world. He has recently had a massive fight with his club and wants out. SO WHY ON EARTH IS NOBODY ATTEMPTING TO BUY HIM?? It really is beyond belief. Fair enough, we've had clubs over the last few days attempting to sign him on a loan deal (West Ham, and, believe it or not, Ireland's mighty Limavady United) but somebody should sign him. He hates Man City, Man City hate him, so why won't they just accept any only offer and get done with it.

Any potential Tevez deal would be the bargain of the century, as Man City, after the Champions League incident, would probably let him go for around 10-20 million, instead of the 35 they wanted during the summer. I would be over the moon if one of my teams signed him.

Joey Barton being signed on a free is a bargain, but Tevez for 10 million is a present. Surely Boca Juniors have 20 million going spare they can spend on Tevez? I reckon that he would be willing to significantly cut his wages to move away from Manchester.

What's more, Man City obviously won't have any problems replacing him. They will just buy somebody else for 30 or 40 million. The Qatari owner will not even blink. There is an obvious solution to this dilemma, which has been going on since the start of the summer, so why is nobody applying the solution?