Newcastle Sack Hughton

Hughton sacked with Newcastle 11th in the Premier League

Unbelievable. The soap opera that is Newcastle United. As a fan it really does leave you speechless. 

When I was in a lecture and my friends turned and told me the news I was in total shock and anger. Just as they were gaining some stability and the fans were maybe beginning to forget about Mike Ashley and his past decisions he has decided on what appears to be the ludicrous decision to sack manger Chris Hughton (above). The man took over the team when they were in turmoil and many were touting Newcastle to 'do a Leeds' and drop even further down the divisions. He stabilised the club, gained the backing of the players and gained promotion. Ashley can have no complaints. His remit was promotion and he delivered. With a few 'cheap' January additions such as Wayne Routledge, Leon Best and Mike Williamson he won the Championship with 102 points. Also over the summer with no serious money he brought in what he could. It is fair to say not all his signing I agree with and some have not really worked e.g Sol Campbell and James Perch however Check Tiote was a great addition and he was unlucky with Hatem Ben Afta getting injured as he is a quality player. Had he been fit and in the team I am sure they would have more points then they currently do. Newcastle currently sit 11th in the table and are on course for survival. I know this could change and there is a long way to go in the season but I feel this decision is rash.

The job he has done should not be underestimated. This season Newcastle have put in some terrific performances agianst Chelsea, Arsenal and of course the 5-1 beating of Sunderland. The form has dipped recently and the West Brom game was disappointing and was extremely poor. Nevertheless that was a one off very poor performance and even at the end I still had faith in him getting something next week against Liverpool. This man has done wonderfully well with what he has been given. Lets remember this is Newcastle's first season back in the Premier League so the aim is to survive. There was no real investment over the summer so he has players in the squad who really are not Premiership players yet he still gets results. Players such as Guthrie, no manager can turn him into a great player.

I suppose the departure of Colin Calderwood was a clear sign as he was allowed to leave and no replacement was made. Looking back this was the writing was on the wall, the board decision had obviously been made and they were waiting for one poor performance as an excuse to get sack Hughton and West Brom game provided that. 

Hughton deserved a new contract and the chance to keep Newcastle in the top-flight. As for this statement about the need for a more 'experienced manager' what is that about? No one is available and furthermore who would want the job after they see the way the board treats its mangers. Kevin Keegan and Hughton both treated appallingly and deserved much, much more. It is a sad day for the Toon and one I hope does not lead to Newcastle free-falling just as they did before and go back into the Championship. Mike Ashley hold your non-footballing head in shame. Even if Newcastle get someone in and go on to have great success this decision will still be wrong. I know many will say if the new guy comes in and does well all will be forgotten but for me this event will always feel wrong. 

I hope Newcastle can get someone in who will help them to firstly stay up and then continue this plan of the Newcastle board and Chief Scout Graham Carr of finding young talent such as Ben Arfa and Tiote for small fees. Hopefully Newcastle will remain in the Premier League for a very long time and maybe even challenge Europe and return to the great days of Bobby Robson and enter the Champions League. 

O'Neill would be great choice

Names that have been mentioned are that of Alan Shearer however I doubt this will happen. Martin Jol who I hope does not get it as he is not one of my favourite managers to put it politely. Alan Pardew is mentioned and is the bookies favourite however having just been sacked from League 1 Southampton is he the right man? For me I would love to see Martin O'Neill. For me he is a terrific manager and one who could help Newcastle. He is great with getting results with average player and looking at the Newcastle  squad that is what we are dealing with. His job at Villa was magnificent and Newcastle could do with a man like that however would he work for Ashley? He is a top manager who will have success again where ever he ends up. 

I hope the best for Chris Hughton. I am sure that he will be back soon as the job he has done at Newcastle will not go unrecognised. I am sure he will be back in management by the start of next season. 

Wonderful Barcelona Teach Madrid A Real Lesson

Once again Barcelona have proven why they are the greatest team on the planet. 

The way in which they play football is that of sheer class. It was truly mesmerising and last night's game showed just how far away Real Madrid are from challenging them. Despite there impressive start under Jose Mourinho it was evident just how far they still have to go. I have no doubt that they will as with Mourinho in charge they will improve. 

Dynamic Duo-
Arguably the best on and off the field.
Guardiola with Messi are making Barcelona
 truly great 

I would not even rule them out of winning the league this year despite the humbling 5-0 thumping they received last night although it is a tough ask. No one saw such a result coming, it was billed as a tight affair that could go either way. Mourinho first chance as Real Madrid coach to show his sides improvement. His team were outplayed,outclassed and at numerous points torn apart by the magnificent movement and passing ability of Pep Guardiola's (left) Barcelona. Lionel Messi (left) , Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and David Villa were phenomental and the Madrid defence had nothing in reply. Maybe the occasion for the young Madrid players was too much as they are wonderful players however certain players such as Mesut Ozil were anonymous and really struggled to get into the game.

Barcelona do look a better team then last year and it is hard to believe they could improve on that. This year it would seem Barcelona will for me dominate and the chances on them winning the treble (La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League) must be good bet. The team is phenomenal and frightening for an opposition manager. 

I am sure the corresponding game at the Santiago Bernabeu will be different however last night showed that despite being the undisputed top two the gulf between the two is vast.

Federer Beats Nadal To Win In London

Two modern greats- Federer and Nadal again contest a final

Today was a vital day for Roger Federer. Another defeat by Rafael Nadal may have really signalled the end of him being able to regularly challenge Nadal. 

However a magnificent display by Federer won him the last tournament of the year, the ATP World Tour Final in London, and showed that he still has the ability to continue to challenge and complete with the very best. He won 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in a great match between two of the modern greats. This win now gives Federer five World Tour Final titles equally that of legends Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl.

Federer's reaction at the end showed the hungary and desire for victory that still burns inside of him. I am very happy for him and always cheer him on as he is just the complete professional. He makes tennis look so effortless, a true sign of great champion.

Maybe Nadal's earlier match against Andy Murray did weaken him however take nothing away from Federer for a truly wonderful performance. I am sure they will meet again and that more finals await the pair. I do not know for how much longer Federer will be at the top however I would love to see him win one more Wimbledon.

We have been without a doubt witnessing the greatest player of our time, and possibly all time, and it is a privilege to see it. 

Walcott, Johnson And Parker All Miss Out As England Announce World Cup Squad

The squad announcement today by Fabio Capello has raised eyebrows as Theo Walcott missed out along with Adam Johnson and Scott Parker. All three of which I think should have been taken, especially the latter two. Joe Cole does make the plane as does the injured Gareth Barry.

Theo Walcott has been poor of late and so in some respects it is not a surprise decision. However leaving out Adam Johnson and Scott Parker (below right) is baffling as both have proven they derserve to be there. Johnson gives you that something different, hes left footed and perfect cover if Gerrard is moved into his rightful position in the middle of midfield. Also he was brought by Manchester City in January and replaced Shaun Wright-Phillips in the team. 

What more did Parker need to do?

So how can Capello pick Wright-Phillips over him. A further problem with Wright-Phillips is that of quality, Theo Walcott is frustarating however this is bacause we know he has the ability on the world stage (as shown against Croatia) however Wright-Phillips does not and for me has not shone this season. He is incredible lucky to be there, his form has been poor also all year. I agree that Walcott has been poor however I would have taken him. 

Then there is Scott Parker. Michael Carrick has had a woeful year and Gareth Barry is a injury prone. Parker single handedly galvanised West Ham this year and was back to his best. This is a man voted player of the season, after playing with the team who finished bottom of the league. His absence is baffling. 

For me the midfield is weak. There is nothing there to worry anyone, all we have is Steven Gerrard. Joe Cole is off form while the likes of James Milner and Michael Carrick offer little in terms of an attacking threat. 

The strikers again strike little fear. Wayne Rooney is the only hope as Emile Heskey and Jermaine Defoe certainly won't be worrying any international defences. Darren Bent is unlucky to as what more can he do. They say he has not done it at international level but neither has Jermaine Defoe, I would not want a chance falling to Defoe as he has shown all year he is so irractic. I like Peter Crouch as he offers something different so glad he is in the squad. 

The central defenders are all the same, big and slow, as Mexico proved any nibble footwork and England will be cut to shreds. Our performance against the Mexicans worried me greatly as the Germans and the Spanish are far superior to them. As a result if we get through the groups and draw the Germans which is possible we will lose comfortably 4/5-0. I have no doubt about that.  

 England's future number one

In goal, for me, Capello must pick Joe Hart (left). Experience is vital as a goalkeeper however he has had a fantastic season and both Robert Green and David James are prone to errors that could cost us. He must pick Hart from the first game. Hart will be England number one for years to come I am sure. 

Also with Gareth Barry and Ledley King you could easily lose two players early on in the tournament through injuries so do not understand why they have been taken. 

As a result I fear for England's chances and can not see us progressing far. The opener against the USA is vital as I think England will seriously struggle. Dempsey is the danger man for the USA. A fit Steven Gerrard linking with Wayne Rooney is our only hope however they can not cover the weaknesses of the team. I fear more disappointment for us England fans. This squad is wrong and we will win nothing with it. I am not saying if others were picked we would win it but I like to think we are going into a tournament with the strongest possible squad of players and quite frankly we are not. We are in trouble before we have even left England.  

Full England squad:

Goalkeepers
Robert Green	West Ham United
Joe Hart	Birmingham
David James	Portsmouth
Defenders
Rio Ferdinand	Manchester United
John Terry	Chelsea
Ashley Cole	Chelsea
Glen Johnson	Liverpool
Stephen Warnock	Aston Villa
Jamie Carragher	Liverpool
Ledley King	Tottenham
Matthew Upson	West Ham
Midfielders
Steven Gerrard	Liverpool
Frank Lampard	Chelsea
Aaron Lennon	Tottenham
Shaun Wright-Phillips	Manchester City
James Milner	Aston Villa
Michael Carrick	Manchester United
Joe Cole	Chelsea
Gareth Barry	Manchester City
Forwards
Wayne Rooney	Manchester United
Emile Heskey	Aston Villa
Jermain Defoe	Tottenham
Peter Crouch	Tottenham

Mourinho Masterclass

Mourinho has plenty to smile about

This man is by far the best manager around. He tactically out thinks and outwits opponents. The victory over Barcelona and Chelsea was masterful. He found a way to defeat the reigning champions which no one saw possible. 

He has recieved much criticism from some over his so called 'boring' tactics however who's name is on the cup. The Barcelona game highlighted his class compared to that of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal who decided to play Barcelona at their game and suffered as a result. Jose Mourinho (above) had a plan and it was executed to perfection by his loyal team. Also he doesnt have the players to play expansive open football at Inter Milan so he has to come up with a way of winning with a good but not great Champions League team but who were 100% committed. The way he has won the Champions league with 10 players over 28 is remarkable. By his own omissions he said the players are older so do not have the pace for expansive football. However the pace of Barcelona have is frighting and so how he manage to calm and kill the game was an intriguing and masterful watch. 

His achievement at Inter should not be underestimated. In two years at Inter he has won two League titles, one Coppa Italia and one Supercoppa Intaliana as well as the Champions League. This year he completed the historic treble (Serie A, Coppa Italia, Champions League) and this was the first time this had ever been achieved by an Italian side. It was also Inter's first ever Champions League title. The last time they won the tournament was back in 1965 when it was the old European Cup. Previous manager Roberto Mancini had plenty of domestic success however never got Inter anywhere near winning the Champions League, and were regularly defeated in the 2nd round comfortably. 

Mourinho's Inter played the classic Italian way of soaking up pressure then hitting on the break with a clinical finish, a throwback to great past Italian teams. Also like those teams, once Inter went 1-0 up you never really saw Bayern scoring, Inter were comfortable on the whole. It now seems certain he will be taking the Real Madrid job. He is the only one to sort out Real Madrid and all of the egos. Stopping Barcelona will be so difficult as of the might of Barcelona now with Villa and possibly Fabregas. However it will be incredible to see how he will attempt to defeat them over a 38 game season and if he can unite a broken Real. There is no doubt he is currently the best in the world and many fans would want him in charge of their team. He is the master without a doubt.

Are Glory Years Returning to Wigan?

Can Sam Tomkins lead Wigan to glory?

After watching Wigan throughout the season it has to be said that they are one of the best in the Super League and deserve the top spot. 

For so long now Wigan have sat in the shaddows as neighbours St Helens gained glory however finally Wigan seem to be returning out of the dark to regain glory days long lost. 

Michael Macguire seems to have them playing better then I ever saw under Brian Noble. The team is better in attack and defence and will prove true contender. Also in Sam Tomkins (above) they seem to have a certain England International. 

However the Super League competition is tough with St Helens who have the up and coming star that is Kyle Eastmond and the likes of Warrington and Huddersfield are equally strong. Also I remember one year where Bradford where at the bottom after the first half of the season however went on a run and won the whole thing. As a result the likes of Leeds Rhinos with the returning Lee Smith should not be ruled out. It is the most open Super League ever and the best. The sport is wonderful to watch. It should be a thrilling climax to the season. 

Danny Wilson Leads Swindon Towards Championship

Wilson chance at top job coming

Just wanted to give a quick mention Danny Wilson (right) and the job he is doing at Swindon. 

What Danny Wilson has acheived at Swindon is nothing short of phenomenal. The way the side plays if fantastic and to do the double over Leeds 3-0 both home and away is some achievement. They throughly deserve to be where they are and I hope they gain promotion. I have long wanted Wilson as the Manager of my local side Brighton, however Gus Poyet is doing very well at the moment. The find of Charlie Austin has been a masterstroke as him and Billy Paynter are proving a terrific duo in League One this season. After struggling to survival last season and with star striker Simon Cox having to to be sold in the summer to being promotion contenders this year is remarkable. 

Wilson is a great manger and one I have great respect for. I am sure he will get offers from bigger teams in the future. In his managerial career he has been ridiculed and deemed not good enough and he has been sacked from various teams including Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday for this very reason. I think he has learned a lot from his jobs and think he will one day get the chance to manage again in the Premier League. He for me deserved another chance and I think he will get it in time.

If that happens and he leaves Swindon then he will take some replacing. My only fear for Swindon is if they fail to gain promotion then star players will leaves and it will be hard for them to be replaced. It would be wonderful if promotion could be gained as his achievement would get the wider acknowledgement that it deserves. Being a manger is tough and fortunes can quickly change so we should celebrate those who are doing well and not just focus on castigating those who are not.    

Impressive Haye Beats Ruiz And Sets Up Possible Klitschko Fight

Haye lands another huge punch

What a fantastic performance by David Haye on Saturday night. A lot of people had said that it was a given win however you knew it was not going to be easy. John Ruiz must be one of the toughest Boxers around, he kept coming back again and again. 

David Haye has lit up British Boxing again in the Heavyweight division and this can only be good for boxing. He is a performer with real talent and a desire to win. I however do fear for him against the better opponents such as if he ever fights one of the Klitschko brothers. Both I feel have too much for him however you never know, and Haye may improve and on the night anything can happen. His performance against Nikolay Valuev was terrific and he has continued to improve since. 

The speed of Mayweather

The power of Pacquiao

However despite all this and the quality of the match and performance, the fight that I wish and long to see is that of Manny Pacquiao (left) vs Floyd Mayweather Jr (right). I would pay money to see that and if I could only be ring-side for one fight it would be that one. They are talking about is being in May but all I hope is that it is soon as it has the billing to be one of the greatest fights for a long time. Pacquiao is the best pound for pound boxer and has destroyed many an opponent. Mayweather has done the same and so it will be the greatest test of both boxers careers to see this fight happen. The money and interest it will generate will be huge. I just hope it happened while they are both still in their prime. 

                  

Coyle Departure Broke The Heart Of Burnley

'Judas' Coyle ended Burnley's Premier League
survival dream

When Burnley lost one of the supposed best young managers in England they lost more then just a manager. Owen Coyle (above) was the heart and soul of the club as having taken them from mid-table in the Championship to the Premier League. From winning away at Barnsley to beating current Premier League Champions Manchester United at Turf Moor, the fans saw him as a hero, a saviour, a god. However his departurture to Bolton was the first nail in Burnley Premiership coffin. Ever since Coyle left when I see Burnley play they seem to not have the belief, they appear a deflated side who look beat before the game even starts. The heart, fight and spirit of the players was gone and no matter what they say they felt betrayed and hurt but the lose. It really did knock the players and they have never recovered.

It was obvious that Burnley may struggle to recover from this, they needed a manager with character and backbone, or at least someone with a track record. Someone who could lift the heads of players and fans who felt betrayed. However instead of getting that the Burnley board opted for a failure in the second tier of English football. How did Brain Laws ever get the job? His record at Sheffieled Wednesday was poor with a 33% win percentage, so to expect him to perform in the Premiership was ridiculous. He has no experience of managing in the Premier League let alone coming in to a team who need a lift. This has proved correct as he has taken Burnley down, all hope is now gone after todays mauling and I would not be surprised if Burnley did not pick up a single point for the rest of the season. The Burnley board admitted relegation on his appiontment and I feel sorry for the fans who are seeing this. As a Newcastle United fan I also have seen my team hit for six in the Premier League and there is nothing more deflating. If there is any justice then 'Judus' Coyle and Bolton will follow Burnley and Portsmouth to the Championship. It is very sad as you know that Burnley will not bounce back and will return to the mid-table of the Championship - that is if Brian Laws is sacked or they will continue to fall. 

Its Time For Video Technology

For years now the public have watched bad decision after bad decision by referees. Every week there is a decision that video technology could be used with. However I do not blame the referees for they have only split seconds to make a decision. They require help and assistance. 

Video technology is used in so many sports now from Rugby League to Tennis. So why does football, arguably the biggest game on the planet and the game with the most money involved, not use technology. Players will no longer argue with the referee as the decisions would have been made by an official in the stands with all the angles. The players will not be able to intimidate him as they do the referee on the field. 

With so much money involved it is criminal not to use it as one decision can cost a club millions of pounds be it through Champions League places or relegation. 

Henry blatant hand ball against Ireland

A recent example is Ireland failure to qualify for the World Cup. Due to that clear cheating Ireland will not be going. Some of the Irish players may now never go to a World Cup. It could lead back to the days of the seventies and football violence as fans will be so angry over a decision if it is unfair. It is time for Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini to make the decision to use technology. Unfortunately it seems until it happens in a World cup final or to France they will do nothing.

I also believe that the FA and Premier league should take a stronger stance as being the most powerful leagues in the World they should do it themselves. If that means England being banned from Europe and national competitions then maybe it is a price to pay for having a strong and fair league. The other countries will soon follow as they see it working in England.

A major argument against video technology is that it takes to long. This is complete rubbish, it takes less then a minute, just look at the other sports. Also I would rather wait one minute and get the fair/right decision be it for or against my team.

My conclusions from the argument is that the only people against video technology are the cheats and divers as they will be found out. Any honest professional or member of the public just wants the right result. It is long overdue but now is surely the time for video technology.