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.