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.