Winning Is Everything

England Vs Belarus – Will Capello change things round?

2009-10-14T10:16:45Z

All eyes will be on the England performance on Wednesday night after their below par display against the Ukraine at the weekend. England have already qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after winning their first eight group games, but after they were reduced to 10 men on Saturday after the sending off of goalkeeper Robert Green, some poor performances were highlighted.

One key player that looked below par was Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. Ferdinand has struggled to overcome an injury he sustained earlier in the season and seemed to lack match fitness and sharpness. Big players always come good however and it is just a matter of time before Ferdinand is back to his best.

The match against Belarus on Wednesday night is fast approaching and with key players like Wayne Rooney out it will give team boss Fabio Capello the chance to give other players the chance to shine. Betting for the game sees England 1/6 on to win the tie with Belarus at a distant 20/1 for the win.

If you fancy a flutter, there are some great websites where you can place bets on the outcome, play brilliant games of bingo and play other different games to make the game a little more exciting.

18 and that’s a fact!

2009-05-18T09:44:38Z

This weekend we saw Manchester United crowned the champions of England for the 18^th time and boy was this number emphasized. You see, United’s arch rivals Liverpool are also currently on 18 league titles. Now that United are level their fans saw fit to rub this in a bit, especially since Liverpool haven’t won the league since 1990.

It was even more of an issue because of Rafa’s rant earlier in the season where he strangely produced a piece of paper during a press conference which had a list of what he kept referring to as facts. This was too many people’s amusement, especially United’s fanbase, and many commented that “Rafa was cracking up” which has been chanted at a few grounds this season.

Bring on the day that United were set to face Arsenal at Old Trafford - only a point was needed - and a point is what they got. United’s fans turned out in thousands, 75,468 of them to be precise, with a variety of banners of which the majority referred to the fact that it was their 18^th.

Now United can look forward to the champions’ league final in Rome, where they face Barcelona. If they win it could mean they repeat the success they had last year and then some - roll on Rome.

The summer break is not that long!

2009-04-29T12:37:02Z

For many football supporters up and down the country, this weekend will be a sad one. Win lose or draw, nobody can escape the fact that the last game of the season always has a tinge of sadness to it.

The traditional Saturday routines all go out of the window and you will find that your are compelled to do the housework or go shopping during your weekends rather than spend it with your mates watching your team.

No matter how your team have done this season, there is no doubt that come five o clock on Saturday, you will be feeling a litle bit of sadness.

Well the good news is that the summer break is getting shorter and shorter. Most teams begin their pre season campaigns in the second week of July and this is just ten weeks away!

Also of course, the Premier League still has three weeks to run with the FA Cup Final being played on the last Saturday in May. Throw in some World Cup Qualifiers at the start of June and the picture starts to look a little brighter.

Use the summer to recharge your batteries and when the 2009/10 season begins, you will be ready to cheer your team on for another nine months!

Giggs takes Player of the Year Award

2009-04-29T12:36:07Z

Manchester United’s legendary midfielder Ryan Giggs has been awarded the PFA Player of the Year at the awards ceremony held in London last night.

Giggs fought off competition from team mates Nemanja Vidic, Christiano Ronaldo and goalkeeper Edwin van der Saar as well as from Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard.

It is just reward for the Manchester United man after he rolled back the years to produce some inspirational performances. These have already secured the Carling Cup and with the Premier League championship and the Champions League within reach, the season may well have a successful ending for the Welshman.

Surprisingly, this is the first time which Giggs has picked up the accolade and he has moved quickly to dilute suggestions that he is set to retire at the end of the season. Speaking straight after the awards, Giggs sated that as long as he is still enjoying the game and feels as though he is offering something to the team then he will carry on playing.

Aston Villa’s Ashley Young capped a great season by securing the PFA Young Player of the Year award whilst one of the biggest surprises of the night came when the PFA Premier League Team of the Year was introduced yet did not include striker Wayne Rooney

WIE plays tribute to the Hillsborough 96

2009-04-21T13:10:52Z

Twenty years ago, ninety six Liverpool fans died as a result of the Hillsborough tragedy.
They had travelled to the home of Sheffield Wednesday for the FA Cup Semi Final against Nottingham Forest not knowing of the carnage which would unfold.
A hold up on the motorway meant that many Liverpool fans were late arriving at the ground and as they approached the Leppings Lane End, they would have seen a frantic rush for the turnstiles developing.
This led to the exit gates being opened and people entering the ground through this method.
What then followed will live in the memory of everyone who was present for the rest of their lives.
The crowd became crushed to the point that they could not breath and this was particularly the case with those stood at the front of the terrace.
In the struggle to get out and save themselves many people saw scenes which will never be forgotten. Advertising boards where used as make shift stretchers and people tried to save the lives of those around them as well as their own.
It was truly the blackest day in English football and must never be forgotten or repeated.
WIE plays tribute to the Hillsborough 96 – may you rest in peace.

United dumped out of FA Cup

2009-04-21T13:09:56Z

The quintuple is officially off. Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup yesterday by an Everton side who have reached their first final since 1995.
Ironically, it was United who Everton beat 14 years ago where a Paul Rideout goal ensured that the FA Cup made its way to the blue side of Liverpool.
Although yesterday’s match was by no means a classic, Everton fans will simply not care less – they are in the final and that is all that matters.
However, I for one was slightly concerned with Ferguson’s team selection which perhaps did not respect the competition. The United Manager opted to play an array of second string players and therefore can not argue with being dumped out.
Ultimately they were to fail during a penalty shoot out with Berbatov’s miss one of the most pathetic spot kicks which you will ever hope to see.
Any one of the vast crowd within the stadium could have made a better attempt at the spot kick which Tim Howard saved with ease.
United deserved to go out, if nothing more for the relaxed attitude which they seemed to have from start to finish.
Everton will meet Chelsea in the final after they overcame London rivals Arsenal in Saturday’s other semi final.

Football in the sun anyone?

2009-04-01T06:27:16Z

Every now and again, somebody comes up with an idea which may change the face of football forever. At the moment, there are plans to introduce video technology as well as a third linesman for example. However, trawling through the masses of literature on the internet, I became interested in another concept which does seem plausible.

This surrounds moving the football season so it encapsulates the summer months rather than the cold hard winter. Now many years ago, when I was a child, I became incredibly frustrated that just as the weather warmed up, and everyone had the chance to go out and play, the goalposts were taken down everywhere you looked – how annoying is that?

In terms of generating attendances, particularly at the lower end of the football spectrum – moving the season to the summer could also have major benefit in terms of attractiving the floating fans. People are more likely to stand outside and watch football when the weather is nice rather than freezing cold aren’t they?

Saying that though – isn’t becoming freezing cold at a football match part of it’s tradition and appeal.

What do you think? Would you be in favour of a summer move ?

Was it all worth it?

2009-03-31T06:07:35Z

Last weekends International friendly match was, on paper, a good run out for the England team ahead of the important clash with the Ukrainians next Wednesday. A four nil score line is always something to be proud of no matter who the opposition are.

Yet despite this there were a few negatives which overshadowed the victory. First of all, the injuries picked up by Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole. The two are now out of Wednesday’s game and Fabio has drafted in Spurs striker Darren Bent as a replacement. Personally, I would have opted to bring Michael Owen in and the fact that he has been looked over yet again does cast some doubt over the future of his International career.

The other negative from last Saturday’s fixture was the unveiling of the new England strip which in my opinion is absolutel awful. It looks like a cross between a Wimbledon outfit and a PE kit designed for 10 year olds. Somebody at Umbro must be having a right laugh at the design now. Five Live legend Alan Green certainly agrees with me – lets just say that he made it pretty clear that he does not like the new kit live on air last Saturday!

So on to face Ukraine – lets hope that we gain that important fifth win and all but secure qualification from the group.

Liverpool destroy Villa

2009-03-22T21:17:42Z

Steven Gerrard rendered the title race wide open after his hat trick helped see off Aston Villa at Anfield this afternoon.

The Liverpool skipper helped to ensure that his side’s poor home record did not continue against a Villa side who still have very real hoped of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

The Reds have had a perfect weekend with both United and Chelsea slipping up which has raised their belief that the title race is still very much on. They are now just one point behind their deadly rivals although United do have a game in hand against struggling Portsmouth.

Realistically. Liverpool will pretty much have to win every game from now until the end of the season to see off their rivals at the final reckoning. But this afternoon will give them every confidence that they can go on and do that.

You have to say that after back to back defeats, United will come back strongly and are still the team to beat, but it is good for the neutrals if we have a genuine title race this season.

Liverpool could also go head to head with United in the Champions League final in May and realistically this could well be their only hope of securing a trophy this year.

Wembley should be for the Final!

2009-03-19T06:42:49Z

When I was a young boy, a used to sit down and watch the Cup Final with my Grandad and it used to be one of the best days of the year. One of the first ones which I remember with any clarity is the 1990 Final between Manchester United and Crystal Palace. The game ended in a thriklling three all draw and as a result, people were treated to a mid week replay at Villa Park.

There was something magical about Cup Final day back then which in my opinion has been lost in today’s world of Champions Leagues, Super Cup and Premier Leagues.

This has been exemplified this season due to the fact that the semi finals as well as the final tie itself will be played at Wembley Stadium. Now I know that this has also happend in previous years too, but come on, surely this is taking much of the magical nature away from the hallowed stadium itself?

Get the semi finals played at a neutral venue around the country and safeguard Wembley for the final. Surely this is not too much to ask – yet I guess it is another example of market forces prevailing at the expense of tradition. Bah humbug.