Nick Wright previews this weekend's clash between York City Knights and Hull FC
Alex Reid looks at whether the once ever-present appearance of English clubs in the later stages of the Champions League is set to become a thing of the past
Craig Dobson looks at QPR's decision to sack Neil Warnock and replace him with Mark Hughes
James Tompkinson reviews an excellent pre-season victory for the York City Knights against Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos
There are three kinds of sport fans. If you like watching the best be the best, then you're probably Australian, a massive fan of both Federer and Tiger Woods. Your favourite league? Serie A of course.
Or, you could be English. Your finest sporting memories are the Giants covering a massive handicap, Liverpool coming from 3 down, and equally, Barnsley giving that 'big four' team a thumping. You always support the relegation threatened team when they line up at the Emirates, and value a player who 'gives his all' over one who has talent to overcome his rivals.
Well you can have your Alan Smith, for there is a third way.
Sport is at it's most entertaining when it is competitive. Though this is not all that is required. Most college sports are competitive, but they hardly represent a viewable product!
Instead, this week we have the viewing feast that the Champions League knockout stages provide. Such a wealth of talent, players at the very peak of their expertise, competing for the highest stakes. This is sport, this is high class, this is real competition.
Unfortunately, I know who's going to win. Given the high standard of competition in this season's Champions League, the winner must surely be the Real deal.
Barcelona - Favourites? Are you having a laugh? They can't defend, their attack has lost it's oomph. Henry doesn't work, Messi has stopped scoring, and Ronaldinho can't win matches on the bench.
Man U - Cracking domestic form, but no better than last season, where they lacked the class at the most crucial stage.
Chelsea - Always fancied, and easy to see why. But don't get carried away with their impressive squad role call, only 11 can play at a time and unfortunately, Grant seems to prefer Lampard to Ballack.
Inter Milan - Utterly dominant in their domestic competition, losing only one game in the last 63 played. Tipped to break their worrying run of European blanks, and with the option to rest their potent front line every weekend could just prove the difference.
Real Madrid - Hitting form at the right time. Strong in defence, lethal in attack, class in midfield (even Robben has started to show signs of form again), especially with Robinho back from injury soon. They have a plum draw in Roma, who are treading water, and will play right into Real's counter attacking system. They have the class to go all the way, without breaking sweat.
Arsenal - Showed how flimsy they can be in knockout competitions at the weekend. Classic flat track bullys who don't have the class to make any impact at the business end of this competition. Soon they will find themselves solely focused on the league.
AC Milan - The current holders are only just finding their form, but they came from way off to win the title last year. The Duck has proved a phenomenon, and with Kaka back fit they should be able to overcome a wobbling Arsenal side on the way to a serious title defense.
Sevilla - Least glamorous of the Spanish sides remaining, but under estimate them at your peril. Have the dazzling wing play, and prolific strikers to threaten any team.
Liverpool - Have to throw domestic form out of the window, but have improved since they won in Istanbul. Instead of a one man team they're now a two man team. Inter should prove too strong.
One can only hope that Capello leaves England in such a rosy state as he has left Real Madrid. They are successfully proving they are better than Barcelona in their domestic efforts, yet are twice the price here. The fans at the Bernabeu are warming to Bernd Schuster, and he can turn them into European Champions at the first attempt.
However, let's not back them yet. Instead back them to beat Roma in the first leg on the Asian Handicap. 'Real +0' is currently trading at 2.32, which is a mad price. The only reason that Madrid won't beat Roma is if they settle for a draw. This bet allows that, as it returns your stake if they draw. If you havn't spent all the winnings from Man U last week, then lump them all on this. Roma's form is desperate, and they will attempt to attack Madrid - a horrible mistake to make.
Madrid are the Real deal.
If you're looking for a bet in tonight's matches, look no further than Milan +0.25 on the Asian Handicaps. Arsenal should struggle like they did against Man U - they always do against the big sides. Not so Milan, who put both Man U and Liverpool out last year.
Put 3pts on it at 2.07, and take the winnings to ziggies - see you there!
Nice job done by Milan - keep your eyes peeled for more successful Champions league tips over the next few weeks.
"Real Madrid - Hitting form at the right time."
Which Real Madrid is that then? They've lost five in 2008 already. Compared to the start of the season, they've fallen apart.
Grant doesn't prefer Lampard to Ballack, both have been playing. To completely dismiss Lampard is ridiculous as well. He has been a creative force for Chelsea this season when injured, and other than beckham and Scholes, is easily the best passer of a football England has. He's performed consistently for Chelsea for4 seasons, you seem intelligent enough not to jump on the Frank bashing bandwagon because he missed a few shots for England.
Ben, I hope you meant to say 'not' injured there!
I'm not the greatest Lampard fan, but I'm not his biggest critic. I was merely saying he is not the same class as Ballack. I believe Grant made a real mistake when starting Lampard ahead of Ballack in the Carling cup final, even if for the one reason that Lampard was not match fit. In picking Lampard for that final he showed unequivocally that Lamps is his first choice.
It's interesting that you don't add a certain Gerrard into your list of English passing midfielders - was this intentional? Would you really say Lampard is a better passer of the ball than old Stevie?
Gerrard seems to give the ball away a fair bit. He can deliver brilliant long passes but his short game is one of the reasons that England are rarely able to play good posession football on the attack.
Most moves move through Gerrard, and he lacks the patience or the concentration to keep the action going.
Yes, I'd say that Lampard is a much better passer of the ball than Gerrard. Perhaps, if both asked to hit a certain target from a certain distance, the difference would be negligable, but on a pitch, when it comes to knowing where to pass, when to pass and how to pass, I think Lampard is streaks ahead of Gerrard. Lampard plays a far more creative role for Chelsea than Gerrard does for Liverpool, where Xabi Alonso is the key playmaker. Lampard plays a similar role to that of Scholes last season, with a bit of added ground covered.
Lampard Vs Ballack is something we'll have to agree to disagree on, personally I see no real difference between the two, certainly for me they're the best two CMs in the premiership, slightly ahead of Essien, Gerrard and Scholes (although I'd put Essien ahead of the latter 2). I don't see it as being a one or the other position either. A central midfield trio of Essien, Ballack and Lampard would be my choice for Chelsea, as hard as it is to drop Mikel from a starting line up!
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