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!!