The magic of a Wembley final can never be understated, regardless of the division or cup competition. Every schoolboy one day dreams of making the long walk up the steps towards the Royal Box to collect a winner’s medal and bask in the glory of a trophy raise.
West Ham United and Blackpool will battle it out in Saturday’s Championship playoff final in a bid to regain their Premiership status following relegation last year.
To read my preview, click on the link below...
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/05/18/championship_playoff_final_west_ham_blackpool/
Friday, May 18, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Top 10 Champions League Matches
With one game to go in the UEFA Champions League, it's difficult not to look back and relive the best matches along the road that lead to Munich's Allianz Arena.
For the first time in the modern history of the tournament, the hosts will compete in the final. Bayern Munich is considered the favorites to lift the trophy and inevitably celebrate in front of a joyous home audience with a sea of red and white confetti raining down from the sky above. It would be the storybook ending that turns players into legends and teams forever revered.
Chelsea will be looking to crush that fairytale and create one of their own, riding a wave of momentum and good fortune all the way to the final. Caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo has been the lucky charm, steering the Blues from the brink of elimination and through a difficult journey to Saturday's final.
Littered along the path are plenty of sorrow and heartache -- ambitions never realized, missed opportunities and everything in-between. The shocking elimination of Manchester United and Manchester City tilted the table of uncertainty, while the amazing Cinderella run of APOEL FC and FC Basel heightened the unpredictability going into the knockout rounds.
Choosing the best 10 matches was difficult, especially since there was a contingent of deserving candidates. There were many things to consider: hard-fought comebacks, shocking upsets, record-setting individual performances and marathon finishes -- everything was studied and scrutinized. But after much thought and deliberation, this is what I came up with.
To read my Top 10 List, click on the link below...
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/champions_league/2012/05/17/uefa_champions_league_cheslea_bayern_munich/
For the first time in the modern history of the tournament, the hosts will compete in the final. Bayern Munich is considered the favorites to lift the trophy and inevitably celebrate in front of a joyous home audience with a sea of red and white confetti raining down from the sky above. It would be the storybook ending that turns players into legends and teams forever revered.
Chelsea will be looking to crush that fairytale and create one of their own, riding a wave of momentum and good fortune all the way to the final. Caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo has been the lucky charm, steering the Blues from the brink of elimination and through a difficult journey to Saturday's final.
Littered along the path are plenty of sorrow and heartache -- ambitions never realized, missed opportunities and everything in-between. The shocking elimination of Manchester United and Manchester City tilted the table of uncertainty, while the amazing Cinderella run of APOEL FC and FC Basel heightened the unpredictability going into the knockout rounds.
Choosing the best 10 matches was difficult, especially since there was a contingent of deserving candidates. There were many things to consider: hard-fought comebacks, shocking upsets, record-setting individual performances and marathon finishes -- everything was studied and scrutinized. But after much thought and deliberation, this is what I came up with.
To read my Top 10 List, click on the link below...
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/champions_league/2012/05/17/uefa_champions_league_cheslea_bayern_munich/
Friday, May 11, 2012
Relegation Sunday
After almost nine months of grueling Premiership football, everything comes down to Sunday.
The title is still up for grabs with both Manchester clubs vying to be crowned champions, although Manchester City holds both tie-breakers and only have to mirror the result of their rivals -- beating Manchester United twice this season by a six-goal margin has earned them the crucial advantage.
It has been a remarkable turnaround of fortunes and manager Roberto Mancini deserves a tremendous amount of credit, making up an eight-point gap at the tail end of the season.
Not many saw it coming, myself included. City do have the better squad but it was difficult to bet against United's ability to hang onto such a big lead before they threw away points to Wigan Athletic and Everton, and losing at the Etihad Stadium to relinquish control of top spot.
But the surprises continue further down the table with European places still undetermined. Chelsea sit four points behind Newcastle United for the final Europa League berth, while the Magpies shocking form has them only two points off an automatic Champions League spot that is currently being held by Arsenal. Tottenham is in fourth with a single point separating them from the Geordies and their London rivals.
Some talk about the demise of quality in the Premier League in recent years, with results in Europe being the glaring example to emphasize that point. But I would argue the opposite. Who wants the league to be determined before a ball is ever kicked?
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/05/11/bpl_epl_releagtion_bolton_qpr/
The title is still up for grabs with both Manchester clubs vying to be crowned champions, although Manchester City holds both tie-breakers and only have to mirror the result of their rivals -- beating Manchester United twice this season by a six-goal margin has earned them the crucial advantage.
It has been a remarkable turnaround of fortunes and manager Roberto Mancini deserves a tremendous amount of credit, making up an eight-point gap at the tail end of the season.
Not many saw it coming, myself included. City do have the better squad but it was difficult to bet against United's ability to hang onto such a big lead before they threw away points to Wigan Athletic and Everton, and losing at the Etihad Stadium to relinquish control of top spot.
But the surprises continue further down the table with European places still undetermined. Chelsea sit four points behind Newcastle United for the final Europa League berth, while the Magpies shocking form has them only two points off an automatic Champions League spot that is currently being held by Arsenal. Tottenham is in fourth with a single point separating them from the Geordies and their London rivals.
Some talk about the demise of quality in the Premier League in recent years, with results in Europe being the glaring example to emphasize that point. But I would argue the opposite. Who wants the league to be determined before a ball is ever kicked?
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/05/11/bpl_epl_releagtion_bolton_qpr/
Friday, May 4, 2012
Chelsea: Smoke and Mirrors
Spirits are up in and around Stamford Bridge.
With expectations swiftly rising following the massive achievement against Barcelona to reach the Champions League final, meshed together with an FA Cup final date at Wembley, it’s difficult not to get excited if you’re a Blues supporter. However, lofty ambitions should be kept in check because the squad needs a significant overhaul in the summer.
Unless they manage to lift the trophy in the Allianz Arena on May 19, the prospect of European football next season is hanging on by a thread. Chelsea trails Tottenham and Newcastle by four points with two matches remaining, and the prospect of even finishing outside a place in the Europa League is looking more realistic, as their league form continues to be sporadic at best.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/05/04/cheslea_epl_bpl_premiership/
With expectations swiftly rising following the massive achievement against Barcelona to reach the Champions League final, meshed together with an FA Cup final date at Wembley, it’s difficult not to get excited if you’re a Blues supporter. However, lofty ambitions should be kept in check because the squad needs a significant overhaul in the summer.
Unless they manage to lift the trophy in the Allianz Arena on May 19, the prospect of European football next season is hanging on by a thread. Chelsea trails Tottenham and Newcastle by four points with two matches remaining, and the prospect of even finishing outside a place in the Europa League is looking more realistic, as their league form continues to be sporadic at best.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2012/05/04/cheslea_epl_bpl_premiership/
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