The new NFL season is only two weeks old, but already a few big story lines are emerging that could shape the season further down the line. Cam Newton has already stated his intent for the year with big yardage games and Tom Brady seems destined for another strong season, but none of these are as big as the Colts potentially playing the whole season without Peyton Manning. This is the first time in 208 regular season and 227 games (including playoffs) that Manning has not started under center for the Colts. It has hit them hard.
The Colts season has started 0-2, with losses on the road to Houston Texans and at home to Cleveland Browns.
The offense has been incredibly stagnant and it barely resembles the offense that Manning has lead for the past 13 seasons. Currently in the 2011 season, the Colts offense ranks at a paltry 29th in total offense so far and also in the points per game category, they rank at a meager 29th as well. Would the Colts really rank this low with Manning as the quarterback after playing the Texans and the Browns? I highly doubt it. To put this into perspective in 2010, in what was seen as year where Manning under-performed the Colts were 4th in yards per game and ranked 4th in points per game. The common attitude towards Manning and the Colts offense among non-Colts fans is that it is the pieces in place and the weapons at #18's disposal that make him and the offense so potent and great which for me could not be further from the truth. Lets investigate that hypothesis. Starting off with Reggie Wayne, Wayne happens to be my favourite receiver currently in the NFL but even I can see his skills as a wide receiver are tailor-made for the Colts offense under Manning and it is highly debatable whether he would have the same impact in other team's attacks. Is Dallas Clark really an all-pro tight end without Manning. He has not shown anything in the games without Manning to suggest he is. Can a running back like Joseph Addai carry the slack and improve the ground game when it is highly thought that his best skill is in fact pass-blocking for #18. Heck even for every superlative thrown at Marvin Harrison throughout his fantastic career, he did not have any 1000-yard seasons in the two he played before Manning was drafted. Was he elite before Manning showed up? Many anti-Manning fans suggest that the receivers run the routes and are always open to make his job easier but that is because Manning like a surgeon cuts through opposition defenses, analysing everything he sees in the practices in the week building up to the game and puts it together in the games.
Moving onto the offensive line, Jeff Saturday is really the only player of elite status at their respective positions. It is so hit and miss and the fact Manning has rarely been sacked throughout his career is often misleading to monitoring their performance and more to do with the fact Manning gets rid of the ball so quickly before he even has a chance to get sacked. With the offense not firing on all cylinders can the defense step up and become a top defense in the league? ABSOLUTELY NOT! The defense was built to play on leads, usually set up by the offense and use packages to set the likes of Freeney and Mathis free on quarterbacks to bring the pressure. I would never expect this bend but don't break Colts D to win them games, it just does not have enough start talent on it to warrant such a suggestion. If the defense strugggles to help Manning then surely it cannot help Kerry Collins either.
Kerry Collins has stepped into the breach as the Colts quarterback and it is fair to say he has struggled immensely early on. He is a seasoned campaigner in the NFL and it is evident that even someone that has been in the league as long as him even struggles with the complexity of the Colts offense. It is almost impossible to ask a quarterback that has not had any experience in the system to come in and expect them to be able to make the adjustments and reads at scrimmage that Manning does with every play to put the Colts in the best position. To put in perspective his problems, Manning has fumbled the ball five times in two years and Collins under center for the Colts has done so four times in just two games. I do strongly believe he was the best option out there they could have got but it shows that Bill Polian should have probably brought in a good back up earlier from maybe the NFL draft that could sit behind Manning and learn from him and step in when Manning is not there with confidence to run the offense to at least a competitive level.
The Colts play Pittsburgh in week 3 and with a lose almost looking imminent, you start to wonder whether sitting Manning for the whole year is the right thing to do. The Colts will most likely write this season off at the halfway stage of the season if things are looking bad and if that is the case, there is no reason to rush Manning back and potentially ruin not just his career but his life after football. There is only one Peyton Manning and he is the Indianapolis Colts in a nutshell.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
NFL Predictions - 2011 season
With the season a day away, I might as well post my NFL 2011 season predictions.
AFC East Winners: New England Patriots - With Bill Belichick stil at the helm, the Patriots still have one of the best coaching minds in NFL history and certainly the best in NFL today. Tom Brady is coming off a fantastic MVP year and expect him to have another very strong year. The defence should get better and still force turnovers at key points like last year, with Devin McCourty playing a huge role despite only being a rookie. The signing of Albert Haynesworth for me is an intriguing as it could pay big dividends if he becomes that disruptive force on the field in the Pats D-Line. Most likely scenario is that he becomes the liability he has shown to be last year or so and the Patriots cut their losses with him. Chad Ochocinco has also joined the Patriots, looking for one last shot at a Super Bowl. He still has a few good years left in him I think and with Brady under center, will catch quite a few deep balls with Welker occupying the slot. Provides a much needed vertical threat for the Patriots. Could go to the Super Bowl with the improvements they have made to an already emerging set of players.
AFC West Winners: San Diego Chargers - I think this year San Diego Chargers will wrestle the AFC West off the Kansas City Chiefs. With Philip Rivers as QB, they are fine at the position and have an elite QB. The offense should pick up where it left off last year, being one of the most explosive vertical threats in the league. Rivers can really air it out and has Vincent Jackson for the full season to help him do that even better ( if that is at all possible). Antonio Gates continues to be amongst the best at the Tight End position but the running game and Ryan Mathews need to improve to give the offense a more balanced look. The special teams was hideous at best, I can think of at least two games where it cost the Chargers the game and there seemed to be a mistake in almost every other game. The defence should settle in more, but the loss of Ron Rivera was a blow. Greg Manusky needs to hit the ground running with his defense, despite the lockout which will be more difficult. This team could become a force in the playoffs, especially if they get home field advantage.
AFC North Winners: Pittsburgh Steelers - This team for me is just a juggernaut right now. Totally stacked at most, if not all the skill-set positions and their defense is a menacing force. Ben Roethlisberger does not have off the field issues hanging over him like last season and this will take the pressure off him. Expect Big Ben to continue to make frequent big plays on the offense. Also the increasing threat of Mike Wallace makes the Steelers' offense more balanced, being very capable of making big vertical plays stretching the field. The defence should see a healthier Troy Polamalu back amongst the ranks, to the one that looked half fit in the playoffs and Super Bowl. I also pondered picking the Ravens to win the division but it seems right now the Steelers have some sort of a hex over the Ravens right now.
AFC South Winners: Houston Texans - This was perhaps the hardest choice for me to make out of all the divisions. I mean how can I bet against Peyton Manning and the Colts but his latest neck injury and the fact I now think Houston is at least on a par with the Colts talent-wise and also seems to now have an edge on defense. The hiring of Wade Philips as defensive coordinator is a huge signing for the Texans and he should certainly improve the ailing Texans defense of 2010. Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning should help out the horrendous secondary play of last year. Moving Mario Williams to outside linebacker is a big gamble but if anyone can make it work, it is Wade Philips. On offense, Matt Schaub is has all the tools to hit that next level and with Arian Foster and Ben Tate making it a two-back system in the backfield it has all the makings to continue to be perhaps NFL's most balanced offensive attack. Oh and who can forget the fact they have arguably the best WR in the NFL in Andre Johnson. This really is head coach Gary Kubiak's last chance in Houston.
AFC Wildcard positions:
Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens have tried to address their WR problems with the trade of Lee Evans but for me, it is still not enough to take over the Steelers. The running game needs to become elite again, with Ray Rice needing a big year after a fairly unspectacular year in 2010. The defence is ageing, with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed not getting any young and with Reed becoming more injury-prone than in previous years. The big question mark still remains whether Joe Flacco can take the Ravens to the Super Bowl. He has a good win-loss playoff record, but seems always to fall prematurely in the playoffs. It is a big test of character for him this year to overcome the Steelers. Time will tell if he has it in him to do so.
New York Jets - The Jets will once again be a force once the playoffs start but I always think they will drop games where they should win, like losing to Miami Dolphins at home last year. I am hoping the stabilizers are taken off Mark Sanchez, entering his third year in the league and he becomes much more than just a game manager. I feel this is needed to take them to the Super Bowl. The running game will still be the "bread and butter" for the offense but Sanchez should be able to make more downfield plays to the likes of Santonio Holmes and new addition Plaxico Burress. The defense again will be ranked amongst the league's best but it is important the team does not become over-reliant on the defense to win them games. I feel this team usually gets hot at the right times and could go a long way, but Sanchez needs to take more of a starring role for me.
NFC East Winners: Philadelphia Eagles - How can you not bet against the Eagles bringing home the NFC East again? The off-season additions of Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins amongst others should help the team immensely and fill the weaknesses on the defensive line. The only question mark is whether Michael Vick can regain his early 2010 form and not carry on where he ended the 2010 season. Also it is important he does not take too much sacks and physical impact from opponents' defenses and starts a lot of the games. Arguably the biggest concern lingering is whether DeSean Jackson decides to holdout and delay his return to the Eagles. He deserves to big money to compensate for his big play ability. The self-proclaimed "dream team" should win the division.
NFC West Winners: Arizona Cardinals - I thought long and hard about choosing the St Louis Rams. Sam Bradford should have a very good year in an offense coordinated by Josh McDaniels. The Cardinals seem to have quality skill players at the skill positions. They finally seem to have got a quarterback that can at least be competent and get the offense moving in Kevin Kolb. The secondary is very good and the addition of Patrick Peterson softened the blow of Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. Larry Fitzgerald will always be elite no matter who is under center and the running game and "Beanie" Wells will have to have a good year to keep the offense balanced. Expect them to have a rebound year and reign supreme in the beleaguered NFC West.
NFC North Winners: Green Bay Packers - I reckon Green Bay actually have a very good chance of reclaiming the Lombardi trophy. Aaron Rodgers barring the NFC Championship game had a superb playoff run and had a quality season. He can do it all as a quarterback.When you realise they won the Super Bowl last year with so many key players injured such as Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley and have them back for this year should strike fear into the NFC class of 2011. The defense under Dom Capers was great and Clay Matthews is a premier linebacker in the league and Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams are a great cornerback tandem. It would be foolish to bet against them going far again this year.
NFC South Winners: New Orleans Saints - When I look in this division Atlanta should get in the playoffs again but in the Wildcard places. For me New Orleans have by far the best quarterback in this division in Drew Brees, the only quarterback in the division that can win a game on his own for me. The wide array of wide receivers they possess makes their offense one of the most exciting to watch in the NFL. Marques Colston again should be the go-to man for Drew Brees. The addition of Mark Ingram gives the Saints that power runner to compliment the likes of Darren Sproles etc. The defense again is good enough to win the division again and Jonathan Vilma will be the quarterback of Gregg Williams' defense again. Should regain the division again largely due to their offense.
NFC Wildcard Positions:
Atlanta Falcons - Like I said before, it was close in choosing between them and the Saints to win the NFC South but liking New Orleans' offense swayed me. In Matt Ryan, the Falcons have an emerging young quarterback that should be the franchise quarterback for many a year. The Falcons drafted Julio Jones to give Ryan more passing weapons beside the excellent Roddy White and future hall of famer Tony Gonzalez but the bread and butter is the physical run game and Michael Turner. Hopefully they do not feel the need to pass more frequently because of the extra talent at Ryan's disposal. The lingering memories for me is their defense being torched by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. The defensive line needs to be more formidable and need John Abraham to keep producing which is a gamble. The secondary and cornerback pair of Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes is underrated but their line needs to protect them. Should easily make playoffs and just miss out on winning the division.
Dallas Cowboys - Deliberated long and hard whether or not the New York Giants or Dallas Cowboys would get the last wildcard place in the NFC. The return of Tony Romo, coupled with the injuries the Giants' secondary currently have sold it to me the Cowboys would get the last place. The Cowboys suffered badly when Romo went down with a season ending injury last year. The Dallas faithful can draw off the fact Miles Austin had a break out year with Romo under center in the 2009 season. Expect big production again this year as well. Dez Bryant should be more involved and have a break out year and Felix Jones has the home rum ability you want in your running back. The defense should regain it's spark with Rob Ryan as the new defensive co-ordinator and in DeMarcus Ware, they have one of the premier defensive players in the NFL. The secondary is a worry and Mike Jenkins needs to hit the pro bowl level of 2009 again. I think Rob Ryan should be able to contain most teams' aerial games though and they should reach the playoffs with the talent on the team.
Super Bowl: Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Winner: Green Bay Packers - I have gone for a repeat of last year's super bowl, as I believe both teams are currently the best in their respective conferences. In the Packers they should get their number one running back playing again in Ryan Grant and tight end Jermichael Finley which makes the offense even more better than last year if that is possible. Greg Jennings really took his game to that elite level with his big plays in key games. Pittsburgh should have Big Ben for all 16 games this year instead of missing the first 4 like last year. Hopefully for them Troy Polamalu plays all 16 season games and is fully fit for the playoffs. The younger receivers in Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders should get even bigger roles in the Steelers' vertical attack. For me it comes down to the fact I just think Rodgers is the better quarterback than Roethlisberger and has better wide receivers and a tight end to stretch the Pittsburgh D like last time out.
Regular Season MVP: Philip Rivers - He should have the individual stats to go with the Chargers regaining the division from the Chiefs. Finally will get recognition across the league for being a top 4 quarterback.
Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson - I am expecting Peterson to rack up big yardage for the season and most likely lead the league in rushing yards. Teams will not be expecting the run from the Vikings as much with Donovan McNabb at quarterback. Seems to have sorted out his fumbling problem which should further enhance his chances.
Defensive Player of the Year: Darrelle Revis - One of the best defensive players in the league he can do it all. He should play the whole 16 games and come into the season in much better shape than he did last year, due to his holdout in 2010. Rex Ryan will have him flying all over the field in most if not all the games. The league has resisted to give him this award the last few years but I think this is the year he finally gets it.
AFC East Winners: New England Patriots - With Bill Belichick stil at the helm, the Patriots still have one of the best coaching minds in NFL history and certainly the best in NFL today. Tom Brady is coming off a fantastic MVP year and expect him to have another very strong year. The defence should get better and still force turnovers at key points like last year, with Devin McCourty playing a huge role despite only being a rookie. The signing of Albert Haynesworth for me is an intriguing as it could pay big dividends if he becomes that disruptive force on the field in the Pats D-Line. Most likely scenario is that he becomes the liability he has shown to be last year or so and the Patriots cut their losses with him. Chad Ochocinco has also joined the Patriots, looking for one last shot at a Super Bowl. He still has a few good years left in him I think and with Brady under center, will catch quite a few deep balls with Welker occupying the slot. Provides a much needed vertical threat for the Patriots. Could go to the Super Bowl with the improvements they have made to an already emerging set of players.
AFC West Winners: San Diego Chargers - I think this year San Diego Chargers will wrestle the AFC West off the Kansas City Chiefs. With Philip Rivers as QB, they are fine at the position and have an elite QB. The offense should pick up where it left off last year, being one of the most explosive vertical threats in the league. Rivers can really air it out and has Vincent Jackson for the full season to help him do that even better ( if that is at all possible). Antonio Gates continues to be amongst the best at the Tight End position but the running game and Ryan Mathews need to improve to give the offense a more balanced look. The special teams was hideous at best, I can think of at least two games where it cost the Chargers the game and there seemed to be a mistake in almost every other game. The defence should settle in more, but the loss of Ron Rivera was a blow. Greg Manusky needs to hit the ground running with his defense, despite the lockout which will be more difficult. This team could become a force in the playoffs, especially if they get home field advantage.
AFC North Winners: Pittsburgh Steelers - This team for me is just a juggernaut right now. Totally stacked at most, if not all the skill-set positions and their defense is a menacing force. Ben Roethlisberger does not have off the field issues hanging over him like last season and this will take the pressure off him. Expect Big Ben to continue to make frequent big plays on the offense. Also the increasing threat of Mike Wallace makes the Steelers' offense more balanced, being very capable of making big vertical plays stretching the field. The defence should see a healthier Troy Polamalu back amongst the ranks, to the one that looked half fit in the playoffs and Super Bowl. I also pondered picking the Ravens to win the division but it seems right now the Steelers have some sort of a hex over the Ravens right now.
AFC South Winners: Houston Texans - This was perhaps the hardest choice for me to make out of all the divisions. I mean how can I bet against Peyton Manning and the Colts but his latest neck injury and the fact I now think Houston is at least on a par with the Colts talent-wise and also seems to now have an edge on defense. The hiring of Wade Philips as defensive coordinator is a huge signing for the Texans and he should certainly improve the ailing Texans defense of 2010. Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning should help out the horrendous secondary play of last year. Moving Mario Williams to outside linebacker is a big gamble but if anyone can make it work, it is Wade Philips. On offense, Matt Schaub is has all the tools to hit that next level and with Arian Foster and Ben Tate making it a two-back system in the backfield it has all the makings to continue to be perhaps NFL's most balanced offensive attack. Oh and who can forget the fact they have arguably the best WR in the NFL in Andre Johnson. This really is head coach Gary Kubiak's last chance in Houston.
AFC Wildcard positions:
Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens have tried to address their WR problems with the trade of Lee Evans but for me, it is still not enough to take over the Steelers. The running game needs to become elite again, with Ray Rice needing a big year after a fairly unspectacular year in 2010. The defence is ageing, with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed not getting any young and with Reed becoming more injury-prone than in previous years. The big question mark still remains whether Joe Flacco can take the Ravens to the Super Bowl. He has a good win-loss playoff record, but seems always to fall prematurely in the playoffs. It is a big test of character for him this year to overcome the Steelers. Time will tell if he has it in him to do so.
New York Jets - The Jets will once again be a force once the playoffs start but I always think they will drop games where they should win, like losing to Miami Dolphins at home last year. I am hoping the stabilizers are taken off Mark Sanchez, entering his third year in the league and he becomes much more than just a game manager. I feel this is needed to take them to the Super Bowl. The running game will still be the "bread and butter" for the offense but Sanchez should be able to make more downfield plays to the likes of Santonio Holmes and new addition Plaxico Burress. The defense again will be ranked amongst the league's best but it is important the team does not become over-reliant on the defense to win them games. I feel this team usually gets hot at the right times and could go a long way, but Sanchez needs to take more of a starring role for me.
NFC East Winners: Philadelphia Eagles - How can you not bet against the Eagles bringing home the NFC East again? The off-season additions of Nnamdi Asomugha, Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins amongst others should help the team immensely and fill the weaknesses on the defensive line. The only question mark is whether Michael Vick can regain his early 2010 form and not carry on where he ended the 2010 season. Also it is important he does not take too much sacks and physical impact from opponents' defenses and starts a lot of the games. Arguably the biggest concern lingering is whether DeSean Jackson decides to holdout and delay his return to the Eagles. He deserves to big money to compensate for his big play ability. The self-proclaimed "dream team" should win the division.
NFC West Winners: Arizona Cardinals - I thought long and hard about choosing the St Louis Rams. Sam Bradford should have a very good year in an offense coordinated by Josh McDaniels. The Cardinals seem to have quality skill players at the skill positions. They finally seem to have got a quarterback that can at least be competent and get the offense moving in Kevin Kolb. The secondary is very good and the addition of Patrick Peterson softened the blow of Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. Larry Fitzgerald will always be elite no matter who is under center and the running game and "Beanie" Wells will have to have a good year to keep the offense balanced. Expect them to have a rebound year and reign supreme in the beleaguered NFC West.
NFC North Winners: Green Bay Packers - I reckon Green Bay actually have a very good chance of reclaiming the Lombardi trophy. Aaron Rodgers barring the NFC Championship game had a superb playoff run and had a quality season. He can do it all as a quarterback.When you realise they won the Super Bowl last year with so many key players injured such as Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley and have them back for this year should strike fear into the NFC class of 2011. The defense under Dom Capers was great and Clay Matthews is a premier linebacker in the league and Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams are a great cornerback tandem. It would be foolish to bet against them going far again this year.
NFC South Winners: New Orleans Saints - When I look in this division Atlanta should get in the playoffs again but in the Wildcard places. For me New Orleans have by far the best quarterback in this division in Drew Brees, the only quarterback in the division that can win a game on his own for me. The wide array of wide receivers they possess makes their offense one of the most exciting to watch in the NFL. Marques Colston again should be the go-to man for Drew Brees. The addition of Mark Ingram gives the Saints that power runner to compliment the likes of Darren Sproles etc. The defense again is good enough to win the division again and Jonathan Vilma will be the quarterback of Gregg Williams' defense again. Should regain the division again largely due to their offense.
NFC Wildcard Positions:
Atlanta Falcons - Like I said before, it was close in choosing between them and the Saints to win the NFC South but liking New Orleans' offense swayed me. In Matt Ryan, the Falcons have an emerging young quarterback that should be the franchise quarterback for many a year. The Falcons drafted Julio Jones to give Ryan more passing weapons beside the excellent Roddy White and future hall of famer Tony Gonzalez but the bread and butter is the physical run game and Michael Turner. Hopefully they do not feel the need to pass more frequently because of the extra talent at Ryan's disposal. The lingering memories for me is their defense being torched by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. The defensive line needs to be more formidable and need John Abraham to keep producing which is a gamble. The secondary and cornerback pair of Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes is underrated but their line needs to protect them. Should easily make playoffs and just miss out on winning the division.
Dallas Cowboys - Deliberated long and hard whether or not the New York Giants or Dallas Cowboys would get the last wildcard place in the NFC. The return of Tony Romo, coupled with the injuries the Giants' secondary currently have sold it to me the Cowboys would get the last place. The Cowboys suffered badly when Romo went down with a season ending injury last year. The Dallas faithful can draw off the fact Miles Austin had a break out year with Romo under center in the 2009 season. Expect big production again this year as well. Dez Bryant should be more involved and have a break out year and Felix Jones has the home rum ability you want in your running back. The defense should regain it's spark with Rob Ryan as the new defensive co-ordinator and in DeMarcus Ware, they have one of the premier defensive players in the NFL. The secondary is a worry and Mike Jenkins needs to hit the pro bowl level of 2009 again. I think Rob Ryan should be able to contain most teams' aerial games though and they should reach the playoffs with the talent on the team.
Super Bowl: Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Winner: Green Bay Packers - I have gone for a repeat of last year's super bowl, as I believe both teams are currently the best in their respective conferences. In the Packers they should get their number one running back playing again in Ryan Grant and tight end Jermichael Finley which makes the offense even more better than last year if that is possible. Greg Jennings really took his game to that elite level with his big plays in key games. Pittsburgh should have Big Ben for all 16 games this year instead of missing the first 4 like last year. Hopefully for them Troy Polamalu plays all 16 season games and is fully fit for the playoffs. The younger receivers in Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders should get even bigger roles in the Steelers' vertical attack. For me it comes down to the fact I just think Rodgers is the better quarterback than Roethlisberger and has better wide receivers and a tight end to stretch the Pittsburgh D like last time out.
Regular Season MVP: Philip Rivers - He should have the individual stats to go with the Chargers regaining the division from the Chiefs. Finally will get recognition across the league for being a top 4 quarterback.
Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson - I am expecting Peterson to rack up big yardage for the season and most likely lead the league in rushing yards. Teams will not be expecting the run from the Vikings as much with Donovan McNabb at quarterback. Seems to have sorted out his fumbling problem which should further enhance his chances.
Defensive Player of the Year: Darrelle Revis - One of the best defensive players in the league he can do it all. He should play the whole 16 games and come into the season in much better shape than he did last year, due to his holdout in 2010. Rex Ryan will have him flying all over the field in most if not all the games. The league has resisted to give him this award the last few years but I think this is the year he finally gets it.
Friday, 26 August 2011
Premier League Predictions
Ok so I might be a bit late with posting my predictions for the forthcoming season. It has been a tougher year to call from previous years for me. Without further or do, here are my 2011/2012 Premier League predictions.
Top 5
1. Manchester United - I cannot bet against United regaining the title. The summer additions have strengthened the squad greatly and are set to become key fixtures in the United squad for many years to come. Ashley Young made the jump to a top 4 club after excelling at Aston Villa for many years. Phil Jones was brought as Sir Alex Ferguson started to look at future replacements for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. David De Gea was an interesting selection to replace Edwin Van Der Saar but could turn out to be a master stroke given his young age, potential ability and early pedigree he has displayed for both Spain u21s and Atletico Madrid. Expect the likes of Chris Smalling, Fabio, Rafael and Jonny Evans to kick on even further after showing early promise in their youthful United careers. Midfield seems to still be a talking point amongst most fans but United showed last year they have a strong enough midfield to at least get far in both the English and European competitions. The performance of Nani last season, showed he has finally arrived on the world class stage and the return of Antonio Valencia helped United at the business end of last season. I also expect Wayne Rooney to get close to an individual league award after the way he finished the 2010/2011 Premier League season. The introduction of Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck back into the team should also give United even more depth at important positions of central midfield and striker. United to seal league title number 20 for me.
2. Manchester City - I think this is the year that City elevate themselves into serious title contenders. The Non-City fans will be expecting City to win the league and will see not winning the title as a failure season but City fans seem to be a bit more rational and realistic with their season predictions of their team. However, this season might be a bit too early for them to bring home the league championship but the summer acquisitions of Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri have given them another genuine match-winner to go with the likes of Carlos Tevez and David Silva. Keeping Tevez was important but the signing of Aguero almost made him expendable. Look for them two, along with Silva to be the main forwards that spearhead City's charge this year. The Nasri signing was almost needless in my view given the amount of talent that already play in the positions that he will occupy. Surely his signing spells the end for maybe Mario Balotelli or Adam Johnson. Expect the Champions league to be a learning curve this year for City, but I do not expect it to affect their league form with their big squad they currently have. Should be an exciting year for City fans to finally see their team challenging on all fronts after so many years in the wilderness.
3. Chelsea - It will be interesting to see how new manager Andre Villas-Boas settles in at Chelsea. Roman Abramovich will expect Villas-Boas to hit the ground running and provide instant success to Chelsea. Abramovic has taken "irrational chairman" to a whole new level since Jose Mourinho left Chelsea in 2007. He needs to give Andre Villas-Boas time to put his own stamp on this Chelsea team, that lets be honest still has a Mourinho-feel to it. Chelsea have quietly made a big splash in the transfer window so far and in signing Juan Mata have brought in a player that oozes creativity and is youthful. If they persist with their pursuit of Luka Modric, then I would consider putting them 2nd on my predictions should they bring him in. Romelu Lukaku looks to be a type of Didier Drogba replacement. He still looks raw, like you would expect at the age of 18 but could be used in domestic cup campaigns to become acclimated to the demands of the English game.Also, surely Fernando Torres will hit the ground running this year after a torrid start to life as a Chelsea player in the second half of last season. He is too god not to succeed at Chelsea. Unfortunately, I think this year might just be a bit too soon for Andre Villas-Boas to wrestle the title away from the clutches of Manchester United. Although I do expect them to be a force in Europe, where I think Villas-Boas will feel more at home, especially in his first year as Chelsea manager.
4. Liverpool - I have Liverpool in this position, more by default than anything really. The return of Kenny Dalglish along with the signing of Luis Suarez has reinvigorated Anfield and brought a sense of optimism and excitement that has been non-existent at Liverpool during the past few years. Suarez is the type of player that will draw in big crowds and vault a team to that next level. The signings of Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll raised eyebrows, certainly they did with me due to their big transfer fees they both commanded. Furthermore with Aquilani coming back, I thought the central midfield was not in need of a lot of improvement in order to break into the top 4 again. Carroll will probably turn out to be a good signing but for £35million, surely there were players out there that represent better value for money at the time. The signing of Charlie Adam, seems to have taken Raul Meireles out the starting XI which is a shame, as I thought Meireles was excellent from when Kenny took over in January. Looking at their squad, there is no reason why Liverpool cannot take 4th and restore Champions League football back to Anfield.
5. Arsenal - I was actually tempted to put Tottenham in this position but decided to stick with Arsenal on the premonition that Arsene Wenger will spend big on players to bring in as replacements for the departed Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. It was a bitter blow for Arsenal to finally lose Fabregas, despite being prepared that it will happen for the last few years. Nasri was a very good player but nowhere near as important as Fabregas, but losing them at the same time will worry Arsenal fans.On a positive note, it seems Wojciech Szczesny looks the real deal at Goalkeeper and should flourish for years. the defence needs strengthening, however I am not in the group that suggests they need another world class centre half as I expect Laurent Koscielny to warm to the role of being a centre back in English football. They could get another full back in to cope with the sales of Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue just to provide more depth. Expect Jack Wilshere to become the "face" of the Arsenal midfield and with Aaron Ramsey they should be a partnership for years. Still it would not hurt to bring in a world class midfielder to play alongside them. Up front, Robin Van Persie is up there with the most talented forward players in Europe but struggles to stay fit, Gervinho looks a very good signing early doors. Arsenal need to be active from now until September 1st to stay with the likes of United, City, Chelsea and Liverpool for me.
Bottom 3
18. Wigan - This could be the year Wigan are finally relegated from the Premier League. It has been a tremendous achievement from Wigan, who are regarded as the smallest market team in the league to stay in the top flight for seven seasons. I think Roberto Martinez will become a quality manager but his reluctance to change his "continental" style of playing could be his downfall this year. The sale of Charles N'Zogbia was imminent but when you seen transfer fees flying round this summer, £9million for N'Zogbia seems a bit cheap and the fact no real replacement has been brought in must leave Wigan fans full of skepticism. Ben Watson and James McCarthy have emerged in the midfield as very good technical players that could ply their trade at bigger clubs but defence seems a weak point for Wigan still.
19. Norwich - Norwich are back in the Premier League after being relegated at the end of the 2004/2005 season. Looking at their summer signings, none of them have any Premier League pedigree and that worries me for their chance of survival. Similar to Wigan, they have a fantastic young manager in Paul Lambert, that will get the best out of his squad but whether that is good enough I am not sure. I fail to see any real talent in the team but sure Norwich fans would grill me on that one. Away form will be key as always as good home form usually is not good enough to survive in the league (unless you're Fulham).Ultimately I think this season might be just a bit too much for them but should not undo the great work Lambert has done at Norwich in such a short space of time.
20. Swansea - I had no trouble in picking Swansea to finish bottom of the league. You have to applaud them for the way their play and how they will stick to their morals of playing attacking football, but in reality it never works for the promoted teams in the premier league. I fail to see any real steeliness in the team for if games get bogged down and scrappy. Like Norwich, picking up points in away games is imperative but I just cannot see it happening. The signings lack any real inspiration, I mean Wayne Routledge has been poor in the Premier League yet has been given another chance and it just dumbfounds me. Brendan Rodgers seems to be relying on the players that got them to the top flight to be talented enough to hold their own this season. it is risky business as always but good luck to them. Might be in the minority here but I think it would be great if a Welsh team became established in the Premier League.
Overachievers: Aston Villa - Aston Villa finished 9th last season it was turned out to be a below-par year for them. The departures of both Ashley Young and Stewart Downing will be felt but signing N'Zogbia was a great piece of business, don't expect him to be a assist provider that crosses the ball frequently like Downing and Young but can chip in with the goals and will play an important role. The signing of Shay Given (see below) was a fantastic buy for Brad Friedel. I think they can get near 5th-6th this year with the team they have but need to sort of their consistency problems that were rife last year.
Underachievers: Sunderland - I had a problem in picking a team for this bit but plunged for Sunderland in the end. Looking at Fulham who finished 8th last year, I thought they punched way above their weight under Mark Hughes but felt Sunderland who finished 10th could do a lot better. This year they have purchased some real quality in Sebastian Larsson, Craig Gardner, John O'Shea and Wes Brown to name a few. But one common denominator is still there from last season.... Steve Bruce. Now Bruce for me is an ok manager, even good for a mid table, low end club but for team that has potential Europe aspirations, I am not sure he can take them to that level. Seemed lost and bereft of ideas when Sunderland endured their horrific slump last year. Time will tell if I am right or not.
Signing of the Season: Shay Given - It was a great bit of business by Villa to bring in Shay Given, a proven, quality goalkeeper to replace Brad Friedel. He will win them an extra 10-15 points this year I think and still has a few good years left in him. Seems a snip at just £3.5million.
Worst Signing of the Season: Jordan Henderson - Henderson was brought in for for around £20million and for that fee you would expect instant results regardless of how old you are.I just do not see star-quality in Henderson and would be very surprised if he made a big impact at Liverpool this year. Expect him to be overshadowed by their other signings. Could become good in the future, but for me not this year.
Player of the Year: Wayne Rooney - This pick was based on the reasoning that I think United will win the league and if Rooney carries on his form from January onwards from last season, then he will be United's best player and come close to winning players' player award or the football writers one. I can see Rooney hitting the 20 goal mark in the league and also dishing out a few assists as well. He can do it all, he is United's most important player by quite some distance.
Top 5
1. Manchester United - I cannot bet against United regaining the title. The summer additions have strengthened the squad greatly and are set to become key fixtures in the United squad for many years to come. Ashley Young made the jump to a top 4 club after excelling at Aston Villa for many years. Phil Jones was brought as Sir Alex Ferguson started to look at future replacements for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. David De Gea was an interesting selection to replace Edwin Van Der Saar but could turn out to be a master stroke given his young age, potential ability and early pedigree he has displayed for both Spain u21s and Atletico Madrid. Expect the likes of Chris Smalling, Fabio, Rafael and Jonny Evans to kick on even further after showing early promise in their youthful United careers. Midfield seems to still be a talking point amongst most fans but United showed last year they have a strong enough midfield to at least get far in both the English and European competitions. The performance of Nani last season, showed he has finally arrived on the world class stage and the return of Antonio Valencia helped United at the business end of last season. I also expect Wayne Rooney to get close to an individual league award after the way he finished the 2010/2011 Premier League season. The introduction of Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck back into the team should also give United even more depth at important positions of central midfield and striker. United to seal league title number 20 for me.
2. Manchester City - I think this is the year that City elevate themselves into serious title contenders. The Non-City fans will be expecting City to win the league and will see not winning the title as a failure season but City fans seem to be a bit more rational and realistic with their season predictions of their team. However, this season might be a bit too early for them to bring home the league championship but the summer acquisitions of Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri have given them another genuine match-winner to go with the likes of Carlos Tevez and David Silva. Keeping Tevez was important but the signing of Aguero almost made him expendable. Look for them two, along with Silva to be the main forwards that spearhead City's charge this year. The Nasri signing was almost needless in my view given the amount of talent that already play in the positions that he will occupy. Surely his signing spells the end for maybe Mario Balotelli or Adam Johnson. Expect the Champions league to be a learning curve this year for City, but I do not expect it to affect their league form with their big squad they currently have. Should be an exciting year for City fans to finally see their team challenging on all fronts after so many years in the wilderness.
3. Chelsea - It will be interesting to see how new manager Andre Villas-Boas settles in at Chelsea. Roman Abramovich will expect Villas-Boas to hit the ground running and provide instant success to Chelsea. Abramovic has taken "irrational chairman" to a whole new level since Jose Mourinho left Chelsea in 2007. He needs to give Andre Villas-Boas time to put his own stamp on this Chelsea team, that lets be honest still has a Mourinho-feel to it. Chelsea have quietly made a big splash in the transfer window so far and in signing Juan Mata have brought in a player that oozes creativity and is youthful. If they persist with their pursuit of Luka Modric, then I would consider putting them 2nd on my predictions should they bring him in. Romelu Lukaku looks to be a type of Didier Drogba replacement. He still looks raw, like you would expect at the age of 18 but could be used in domestic cup campaigns to become acclimated to the demands of the English game.Also, surely Fernando Torres will hit the ground running this year after a torrid start to life as a Chelsea player in the second half of last season. He is too god not to succeed at Chelsea. Unfortunately, I think this year might just be a bit too soon for Andre Villas-Boas to wrestle the title away from the clutches of Manchester United. Although I do expect them to be a force in Europe, where I think Villas-Boas will feel more at home, especially in his first year as Chelsea manager.
4. Liverpool - I have Liverpool in this position, more by default than anything really. The return of Kenny Dalglish along with the signing of Luis Suarez has reinvigorated Anfield and brought a sense of optimism and excitement that has been non-existent at Liverpool during the past few years. Suarez is the type of player that will draw in big crowds and vault a team to that next level. The signings of Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll raised eyebrows, certainly they did with me due to their big transfer fees they both commanded. Furthermore with Aquilani coming back, I thought the central midfield was not in need of a lot of improvement in order to break into the top 4 again. Carroll will probably turn out to be a good signing but for £35million, surely there were players out there that represent better value for money at the time. The signing of Charlie Adam, seems to have taken Raul Meireles out the starting XI which is a shame, as I thought Meireles was excellent from when Kenny took over in January. Looking at their squad, there is no reason why Liverpool cannot take 4th and restore Champions League football back to Anfield.
5. Arsenal - I was actually tempted to put Tottenham in this position but decided to stick with Arsenal on the premonition that Arsene Wenger will spend big on players to bring in as replacements for the departed Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. It was a bitter blow for Arsenal to finally lose Fabregas, despite being prepared that it will happen for the last few years. Nasri was a very good player but nowhere near as important as Fabregas, but losing them at the same time will worry Arsenal fans.On a positive note, it seems Wojciech Szczesny looks the real deal at Goalkeeper and should flourish for years. the defence needs strengthening, however I am not in the group that suggests they need another world class centre half as I expect Laurent Koscielny to warm to the role of being a centre back in English football. They could get another full back in to cope with the sales of Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue just to provide more depth. Expect Jack Wilshere to become the "face" of the Arsenal midfield and with Aaron Ramsey they should be a partnership for years. Still it would not hurt to bring in a world class midfielder to play alongside them. Up front, Robin Van Persie is up there with the most talented forward players in Europe but struggles to stay fit, Gervinho looks a very good signing early doors. Arsenal need to be active from now until September 1st to stay with the likes of United, City, Chelsea and Liverpool for me.
Bottom 3
18. Wigan - This could be the year Wigan are finally relegated from the Premier League. It has been a tremendous achievement from Wigan, who are regarded as the smallest market team in the league to stay in the top flight for seven seasons. I think Roberto Martinez will become a quality manager but his reluctance to change his "continental" style of playing could be his downfall this year. The sale of Charles N'Zogbia was imminent but when you seen transfer fees flying round this summer, £9million for N'Zogbia seems a bit cheap and the fact no real replacement has been brought in must leave Wigan fans full of skepticism. Ben Watson and James McCarthy have emerged in the midfield as very good technical players that could ply their trade at bigger clubs but defence seems a weak point for Wigan still.
19. Norwich - Norwich are back in the Premier League after being relegated at the end of the 2004/2005 season. Looking at their summer signings, none of them have any Premier League pedigree and that worries me for their chance of survival. Similar to Wigan, they have a fantastic young manager in Paul Lambert, that will get the best out of his squad but whether that is good enough I am not sure. I fail to see any real talent in the team but sure Norwich fans would grill me on that one. Away form will be key as always as good home form usually is not good enough to survive in the league (unless you're Fulham).Ultimately I think this season might be just a bit too much for them but should not undo the great work Lambert has done at Norwich in such a short space of time.
20. Swansea - I had no trouble in picking Swansea to finish bottom of the league. You have to applaud them for the way their play and how they will stick to their morals of playing attacking football, but in reality it never works for the promoted teams in the premier league. I fail to see any real steeliness in the team for if games get bogged down and scrappy. Like Norwich, picking up points in away games is imperative but I just cannot see it happening. The signings lack any real inspiration, I mean Wayne Routledge has been poor in the Premier League yet has been given another chance and it just dumbfounds me. Brendan Rodgers seems to be relying on the players that got them to the top flight to be talented enough to hold their own this season. it is risky business as always but good luck to them. Might be in the minority here but I think it would be great if a Welsh team became established in the Premier League.
Overachievers: Aston Villa - Aston Villa finished 9th last season it was turned out to be a below-par year for them. The departures of both Ashley Young and Stewart Downing will be felt but signing N'Zogbia was a great piece of business, don't expect him to be a assist provider that crosses the ball frequently like Downing and Young but can chip in with the goals and will play an important role. The signing of Shay Given (see below) was a fantastic buy for Brad Friedel. I think they can get near 5th-6th this year with the team they have but need to sort of their consistency problems that were rife last year.
Underachievers: Sunderland - I had a problem in picking a team for this bit but plunged for Sunderland in the end. Looking at Fulham who finished 8th last year, I thought they punched way above their weight under Mark Hughes but felt Sunderland who finished 10th could do a lot better. This year they have purchased some real quality in Sebastian Larsson, Craig Gardner, John O'Shea and Wes Brown to name a few. But one common denominator is still there from last season.... Steve Bruce. Now Bruce for me is an ok manager, even good for a mid table, low end club but for team that has potential Europe aspirations, I am not sure he can take them to that level. Seemed lost and bereft of ideas when Sunderland endured their horrific slump last year. Time will tell if I am right or not.
Signing of the Season: Shay Given - It was a great bit of business by Villa to bring in Shay Given, a proven, quality goalkeeper to replace Brad Friedel. He will win them an extra 10-15 points this year I think and still has a few good years left in him. Seems a snip at just £3.5million.
Worst Signing of the Season: Jordan Henderson - Henderson was brought in for for around £20million and for that fee you would expect instant results regardless of how old you are.I just do not see star-quality in Henderson and would be very surprised if he made a big impact at Liverpool this year. Expect him to be overshadowed by their other signings. Could become good in the future, but for me not this year.
Player of the Year: Wayne Rooney - This pick was based on the reasoning that I think United will win the league and if Rooney carries on his form from January onwards from last season, then he will be United's best player and come close to winning players' player award or the football writers one. I can see Rooney hitting the 20 goal mark in the league and also dishing out a few assists as well. He can do it all, he is United's most important player by quite some distance.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Steve Nash deserves a championship
It is a warm, summer afternoon I am sitting reading a basketball blog in my Phoenix Suns Steve Nash jersey and it got me thinking about my favourite basketball player. I am a Phoenix Suns fanatic and think the world of Steve Nash and cherish him playing on my favourite team. But our sub-standard 2010/2011 season and subsequently transitional years and rebuilding that should follow this past season has got me thinking would any Suns fan begrudge Nash leaving the team and joining a championship-chasing team? Would Suns fans be upset with a 2-time MVP moving teams to get a championship ring to cement his greatness?
This 2010/2011 season as a Phoenix Suns fan has been somewhat of a disappointment. The previous season was a great surprise, the great run to the Western Conference Finals got me excited for the coming seasons with the Phoenix Suns, then Amar'e Stoudemire left to join the New York Knicks and it seemed the wheels were in motion for the Phoenix Suns to start building for the future and enduring a few transitional years along the way. Nash has now lost both his wing-men in Shawn Marion and now Amar'e Stoudemire, leaving him as the final piece left from the Mike D'Antoni Phoenix teams of 2004-2008. I might be biased in saying this but in my time of following the NBA, I have never seen a point-guard like Nash that brings the best out of some many team mates on his team. Players like Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa erupted and had career years under Nash's leadership in the D'Antoni years. Nash has come desperately close to making the NBA finals, often part of Phoenix teams that run out of steam come the Western Conference Finals games. But surely you cannot say that Nash is somewhat that of a bottle-job in the playoffs. His playoff stats with Phoenix exceed his regular season stats with the team by some way if that is possible given his excellent regular season stats. He has got a bit unlucky, like having no Amar'e Stoudemire throughout the 2006 playoffs where it was a big chance for Nash to reach the NBA finals.
Nash has also suffered heartache in 2003 with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, who are both his and Phoenix's nemesis in playoff basketball it seems. I cannot think of a lot, if any NBA MVP's that have never played in the finals before and with Nash ageing and reaching the end of his career time is running out for him. Can we assume this Phoenix team can challenge for the title, not remotely likely. The sad thing is that unlike other greats that have joined perennial playoff teams in bids to win titles (see karl Malone), Nash still is playing at a high level, much better than most point-guards in the league. I cannot see Nash asking to leave the team but he does deserve one final shot at a title and will not get it with this current Suns team unfortunately.
In finishing this article, I would be happy for Steve Nash if he was traded to a contender where he could have a few more cracks at the NBA finals. For all he has done for this franchise, he resurrected us and brought excitement back into Phoenix upon arrival for his second stint with the team. If we could get young players to build for the future from any potential Nash deal then that would be terrific but I would not want to see an NBA modern great's career peter out into retirement full of what-if questions. Steve Nash deserves better, he deserves a championship.
Nash has also suffered heartache in 2003 with the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, who are both his and Phoenix's nemesis in playoff basketball it seems. I cannot think of a lot, if any NBA MVP's that have never played in the finals before and with Nash ageing and reaching the end of his career time is running out for him. Can we assume this Phoenix team can challenge for the title, not remotely likely. The sad thing is that unlike other greats that have joined perennial playoff teams in bids to win titles (see karl Malone), Nash still is playing at a high level, much better than most point-guards in the league. I cannot see Nash asking to leave the team but he does deserve one final shot at a title and will not get it with this current Suns team unfortunately.
In finishing this article, I would be happy for Steve Nash if he was traded to a contender where he could have a few more cracks at the NBA finals. For all he has done for this franchise, he resurrected us and brought excitement back into Phoenix upon arrival for his second stint with the team. If we could get young players to build for the future from any potential Nash deal then that would be terrific but I would not want to see an NBA modern great's career peter out into retirement full of what-if questions. Steve Nash deserves better, he deserves a championship.
Friday, 3 June 2011
You cannot win with shot-first point guards
NBA 2010/2011 regular season has just ended, and the overwhelming consensus is that Derrick Rose will be crowned as the league MVP for the season. His individual stat line was very good, perhaps not the best in the league but he was imperative to his team. He has had to deal without the Chicago Bulls main off-season signing Carlos Boozer and also center Joakim Noah for large portions of the season, yet lead the Bulls to a league-best 62-20 regular season record. The Bulls picked up the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and had the number of the big teams that could rival them on getting to the NBA finals. A lot of fans were expectant that he could lead Chicago to their first NBA finals title since the legendary Michael Jordan led them to six titles throughout the 90s. But can you really win it all with a point guard that is a shoot-first guard?
A point guard is supposed to run the game from an offensive point of view. They are usually the ball handler and playmakers of their teams and have to get the ball to a team’s main offensive threats with every play. A quality point guard will act as a game-manager on the court, carrying out offensive plays wanted to be run by the head coaches. Can a shoot-first point guard do this? Chicago Bulls were soundly beaten 4-1 in the best of 7 series Eastern Conference Finals by the Miami Heat. Obviously Miami Heat were expected to go far this year after bringing in Lebron James and Chris Bosh to a team that already has a superstar in Dywane Wade. But Rose’s performances, especially in the Conference Finals were particularly sub-standard and was this a result of having an extra burden of being a game manager at point guard and also being the team’s main offensive weapon and point scorer. If we look at D-Rose’s stats from the post-season, it shows that he averaged roughly around 23 shots a game for only an average of 27 points. Also his fg% was very low at .396 and also he attempted a lot of 3PM’s and only has a success rate of .248 which is terrible for a player taking a good volume of 3PA’s. This proved to be the undoing of the Bulls as he was under so much pressure to be the catalyst for the offense and it showed he was usually taking shots with maximum risk to make things happen for the team. Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder also is more of a shoot-first point guard. This also was a problem for OKC when he was taking on average 20 shots throughout the playoffs and only making .394% of his shots. Furthermore he had one of the league’s best scorers in Kevin Durant next to him yet decided to try and become a volume scorer of the team. His turnover rate was quite high as well often putting the team at jeopardy. It begs the question whether players like Westbrook are real point guards or are they two-guards?
The recent history of winning NBA teams show that the role of the point guard is to be the playmaker, creative spark and get the ball to the main attacking threats in their team. Recent winning teams like LA Lakers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons have point guards such as Tony parker, Rajon Rondo, Chauncey Billups, Derek Fisher, that like to do not take a lot of shots and do not put the team at risk as much as shoot-first point guards. Players like Rajon Rondo of the Celtics play their part in the offensive scoring but do not make it their main job within the team. The dynamics of the Celtics team would be very imbalanced if Rondo attempted a lot more shots and stopped getting the ball to the primary scorers Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. By my recollection the last shoot-first point guard to win the championship was Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons, in the late 80s but shoot-first guards like Allen Iverson that could potentially play as a two-guard have not found success on the biggest stage. To be fair to Iverson his Philadelhpia teams in the prime of his career were never championship-calibre and he did immensely well to reach the NBA championships and even take a game off the formidable LA Lakers.
The point of this article is to raise the question whether point-guards that are the primary scorers in a team can lead their team to ultimate glory in the NBA. After all, it does add extra pressure to that position that not everyone can handle.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Jose Reyes needs to be re-signed at all costs - Even if that means sacrificing David Wright
It is June 2011; the baseball season is in full swing. As a New York Mets fan, I am watching on with no real expectations of this current Mets team that has a crippling financial lawsuit looming over the owners of the team. However I am enjoying watching Jose Reyes swing the bat better than I have ever seen him do in any part of his career to date. He is the only real positive note of the 2011 New York Mets season up to date. However he becomes a free agent in the off-season and the Mets’ financial plight means that they might struggle to offer a long-term deal, similar to that of Carl Crawford’s Red Sox deal. That leaves the Mets with the ultimate quandary of whether to trade Reyes whilst he is so hot at the plate and is showing he can stay healthy. I am going to present my case of why the Mets should maybe think about attempting to keep Reyes and instead offload the face of the franchise David Wright.
If we look at recent seasons Reyes has struggled to stay healthy in last 2 seasons or so despite displaying durability early on in his career. David Wright until 2009 was compiling a very commendable stat line for his career that displayed him as an RBI machine and also could hit for contact. However since the move to Citi Field in 2009, a widely renowned ‘pitchers’ ballpark that is big in dimensions and means that power hitting is a premium. The dimensions however are catered to the strengths of Jose Reyes with the space around outfield means it will be easier for him to hit triples and round the bases. If we look at this season where even trading both players has been mentioned, it has been Reyes that is having a career year. Obviously this must have something to do with the fact he is in his final year of his contract looking to get a lucrative deal but it is also the first year since the Mets have been at Citi Field that he has been fully healthy. Reyes is in line to have career highs in hits, doubles, triples, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and career low strikeouts. Obviously he will cool down as the season wears on but the fact is that Reyes is in his best ever form whilst David Wright seems to have regressed in the last couple of years.
David Wright is recognised as the face of the New York Mets franchise but since 2008 he has not been the same David Wright as the previous years. I know he has played with injury this year but he seems to strikeout a lot more these days than he used to, his batting average has gone down and after his 2007 season, his season hit count has gone down by as many as 30 hits. Fact is now that for a man that usually bats in the cleanup spot in absence of Beltran or bats third when he is available is that he strikes out far too much (increased to 161 K’s in 2010), meaning we either leave runners on base or this offers no real protection to the cleanup hitter. His walk count has been down in recent years, (but 2011 has improved) meaning he has become undisciplined at the plate. If we quickly gloss over the fielding element of both players, Wright is a multiple gold-glove recipient and is a quality infielder, but also Reyes is a very good defensive player at a premium position within baseball. Reyes has a much more exciting game, plays in a more important position; he also brings in the fans to games when he is turning out great performance after great performance like this season. It is unbelievably hard to find a man as electric on the bases to lead off like Reyes does as well. Once he gets on base, he can wreak havoc and put himself in run scoring positions time after time. Sure there is the boneheaded play with him now and again, whether it is a base-running error or a fielding error but the fact is few players are as dynamic as Jose Reyes and his exciting style is what can take the New York Mets to another level.
I am not saying at all that I want to see the Mets get rid of David Wright. In an ideal world I would love us to keep all of our marquee talent and build a team equipped to challenge but our financial position means we are not able to fulfil this ambition. In my opinion if we look at the ballpark we currently play in, we should be looking at players that can hit for contact and speed to make use of the dimensions instead of trying to bring in power hitters (see Jason Bay). Having said that, the way Reyes is playing now I would rather sacrifice David Wright in the off-season and keep Reyes as he is the spark our offence feeds on and when he is hot, the Mets offence tends to follow suit. But will I be saying the same comments come September?
LETS GO METS!
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Why Luka Modric is a must-buy for Manchester United this summer
The 2010/2011 season has finished, Manchester United have bounced back from a largely sub-par 2009/2010 season. 19th English top flight domestic league title, returning to the UEFA Champions League final again, also a domestic cup semi final. However these accomplishments have not appeased all United fans that have been yearning for the last few years for new blood to take the team to the next level. Despite making it to the final against Barcelona, the game exposed a few players on the grandest stage and regardless of Barcelona being brilliant, a few home truths about United players measuring up to the world’s best hit home to fans are media alike. Ryan Giggs has been brilliant in centre midfield for Manchester United this season but he was horribly overrun by the Barca midfield. A big reason was not that the Barca midfield was physically stronger than Giggs but because they are constantly on the move, playing short, one-touch passes means that you have to do a lot of chasing, to get near Xavi, Iniesta or Busquets. Giggs is most effective when he is on the ball, not just passing but dribbling and marauding through midfields using his strengths he used as a winger in the prime of his career. If we look at the quality of the United central midfielders, it is evident that that group could benefit from maybe one world-class operator amongst the ranks. Michael Carrick has refined his role within the team somewhat to a more defensive minded midfielder that can dictate and keep things ticking over from a deeper role on the pitch. Anderson keeps showing signs of progressing into a talented, box to box midfielder but with each positive step, seems to take a step back. Darren Fletcher has suffered with illness but should be back in the reckoning come August when the new season starts.
With Paul Scholes also retiring and the imminent release of Owen Hargreaves, potentially Sir Alex Ferguson will go out and make a big money signing in central midfield. With the emergence of Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney partnership up front means the central midfielder has to be acclimatised to that role in a 4-4-2 unless United change back to 4-3-3 or the 4-2-3-1 operated in last few years. For me, this should eliminate Wesley Sneijder and he plays a free role and flourished in a 4-2-3-1 under Mourinho. Whether he could produce in a 4-4-2 remains to be seen. Modric plays in a 4-4-2 at Tottenham, has a fantastic passing range, glides across a football pitch with grace that portrays minimal ease. can dribble with pace and can actually tackle and is disciplined in keeping position to keep an organised team shape. To quote one scout on his twitter, “Luka Modric is the only player that would add class to this present Barcelona team.” He can also play the withdrawn role off the strikers if United play a more defensive minded formation away from home in bigger games.
To summarise, he would command decent money but if United want to make the leap to challenge the likes of Barca on a consistent basis then they need to start bringing in the likes of Luka Modric.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Modric is a must buy for Man Utd in the summer!
The jury was out on a little Croatian when he first arrived in England. He is often seen as too small and simply too lightweight to compete in the heart of a midfield in the most physical league in the world, the English Premiership. I must admit, I was one of the jury still unsure whether this highly technical genius had enough physical attributes to sustain a long and successful career in England. I had seen him for the Croatian national team flourish in a free role and thought although he is skilful, could he hack it in the Premiership? A few years on and my opinion has not only changed completely, I now think Luca Modric is a must buy for Manchester United this summer.
Here is the scenario, Manchester Utd have had a good season this year but nothing more. The main objective was to reach the Champions league final again and this time erase the painful memories instilled on them by Barcelona at the peak of their powers. The Champions League games with Bayern Munich and Premiership game with Chelsea showed that even though the old guard such as Scholes and Giggs are still very good squad players and do a job when called upon, it is not reasonable to rely heavily on two middle-aged thirty- year olds to compete with younger, quicker players on the elite stage, especially for the next few seasons. This is where my quest for Modric at United comes in.
Wayne Rooney is in the form of his life and acclimatised himself brilliantly to playing upfront as a lone striker. This season Sir Alex Ferguson has favoured this formation as he knows it gets the best out his best player in Rooney, and often deploys Giggs or Scholes within the three-man central midfield. Lately this 4-3-3 formation or 4-5-1 (when playing away) has been transformed into more of a 4-2-3-1 with an attacking midfielder being used just playing off Rooney. Luca Modric plays this role for Croatia with aplomb and flourishes in a withdrawn role from the strikers, being the puppet master for attacks and a tollbooth for offensive strategies conjured up by his teams. He is a classy dribbler and has deceptive speed with bags of creativity and flair. His movement is dazzling at times and would be on full show in this role at United. He is constantly on the move in this role which is a nightmare for opposing defensive midfielders and defenders to pick up, dropping off and turning up in clever positions. His passing is never really talked about but his passing range is very good and crisp. He has also showed this year more than ever that he can play in the heat of the battle in an orthodox center midfield role and come out better and stronger and help Spurs to important points along the way. His versatility could also be vital for a team like United that play a lot of games per year and rely heavily on not just assured first teamers, but fringe and squad players. He can play on the wing as well as this gives United something more cultured and different on the flanks from the strong, fast usually hustle and bustle from messers Valencia and Nani.
Luca Modric is a quality footballer who deserves his place amongst the elite in the world for the position he takes up on a football pitch and the style of player he is. Simply he would be garnering a lot more attention if he played for a bigger team than Tottenham. That is not putting down Spurs in the slightest, but until they at least take up a place in the Champions League, will constantly be regarded as the ‘Nearly men’ of English football. If Modric played for Barcelona, people would be waxing lyrical about a footballer, simply divine in how he carries himself on a pitch and portrays a vision of how the beautiful game should be played. He would also be cheap in relation to bidding for players of similar abilty at the elite clubs. These clubs command astronomical prices for players who cannot repay massive fees by turning out unbelievably frequent top-notch performances and represent bad value for money and Modric would make sense for United. He is also accustomed to the English game and type of play and would fit into United almost straight away.
To summarise Luca Modric is exactly the type of player needed at United to bring them back to the top of the world’s elite and could be a new number 7 United have been craving since Cristiano Ronaldo left.
Jose Mourinho – 2010, put up or shut up time.
Now I am not disputing Jose Mourinho is not a great manager and in the higher echelon of football managers across Europe and indeed the world. Heck by the end of his managerial tenure at various clubs, he might be called the greatest manager ever. Here is my debating point. What has he done to separate himself from the best managers since 2005?
Mourinho reached the elite level in emphatic style with back to back European trophies in 2003 and 2004 with Porto, winning both the UEFA Cup and the Champions League with relatively unfashionable Porto. But since then has he really kicked on as a manager? Roman Abramovich became tired of losing and being unsuccessful after just one season of his Chelsea revolution and appointed the hottest commodity in the management merry-go-round. Mourinho literally fell into his millions and was given dispensation to pull the trigger on many big money signings. 1st year at Chelsea was a successful one, bringing home the much needed 1st Premiership title for over 50 years for Chelsea. Also Mourinho bagged a League Cup win but that was not really significant, although a trophy is a trophy. But since then it has gone a bit south for Mourinho. One more solitary league trophy during his tenure at Chelsea and a couple of FA Cup and League up wins could not satisfy or feed both Roman’s ego or his quest to spend even more money on an already expensive squad. Things ended bitterly for Jose early on in his 4th season, getting the boot from Roman over reported disagreements over player selection. If you analyse his stint at Chelsea, it really did peak in the 1st season and did not progress throughout the three years Jose was there.
At Inter he fell into a job coaching a team that had dominated the domestic scene for a few years and a team that was improving as their rivals were faltering and in transition modes. He instantly won the Italian league title, to add to his growing collection of European domestic league wins under his belt. Similar to his arrival at Chelsea, he was brought to Inter to bring home European glory to a perennial underachiever on the European stage. 1st year in Europe ended in failure, succumbing to Manchester United in the last 16 round in relatively convincing fashion.
However this year, although locked in a tight battle with a rejuvenated AS Roma team for league honours, Mourinho is fighting on all three fronts, including Europe in hope of lavishing a distinct treble on Massimo Moratti and Inter. But it is the title assault on Europe that has everyone at Inter dreaming. After all they achieved domestic domination with Roberto Mancini and have arguably been spoilt in that case with the league successes. It is the hunger for the Champions League that makes Inter do rash decisions regarding issues such as managers. If Mourinho had not produced in Europe this year, people would be raising eyebrows on his credentials as ‘The Special One’ and indeed wondering if he has improved this Inter team from the days of Roberto Mancini. He has a chance to elevate himself from almost any other Inter Milan manager in history, unless your name is Helenio Herrera, the winning manager from Inter’s last success in the European Cup. The semi final games with Barcelona showed what a tactician Jose is and how he differentiates from other managers and the skills that set him apart. He took Lionel Messi out of both games, (Messi has not scored in seven games against Mourinho) and stifled Barca’s passing attack usually lead by Xavi. Especially in the 1st leg, he knew how to hurt Barca’s defence and how to attack them in moderation without sacrificing too much defensively. Combined with a bit of luck and tactical genius, Inter progressed to the final in Madrid in May. Win the Champions League this year and he will etch his name in elite manager folklore and up with managers such as Sir Alex ferguson, which at Mourinho’s young age is unprecedented. They will go into the final against a robust Bayern Munich team as clear favourites, especially with the absence of Frank Ribery. Inter on the verge of making history in Italy, with Mourinho at the center of it all. Would he have it any other way.
2010 is certainly a year of put up or shut up for Jose Mourinho.
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