Ryan Giggs - 37 years young

Credit HERE

 Talks of plans to add another year to Ryan Giggs' contract at Manchester United at the age of 37 would provoke questions if it was any other player. However this is Giggsy and it is more than justified.

In the same week as the story of a new contract came about Manchester United beat Birmingham in an impressive 5-0 win. Although Berbatov got a hat-trick and with that man of the match, Ryan Giggs also put in a very good performance topped off by a goal.

In the season  where he has clocked up his 600th appearance, Giggs himself wants to carry on at United. With performances like the one vs Birmingham, where he also bagged an assist, and his  substitute show vs Blackpool it is no wonder Manchester United still want him.

Probably man of the match for United at Bloomfield Road, although that might not be saying much based on first half performances. However as soon as Giggs came on for Gibson he changed the game. Partially because Man United had more width to their formation with him on the wings, but also because he still has an attacking urgency which he can still execute.

If you look at this Chalkboard you can see the concentration of Ryan Giggs' passes vs Blackpool, which is why he changed the game for Manchester United. In the attacking third, making things happen as he has done for so long. The very fact alone that Giggs can still perform well in this manner and help Manchester United come back from defeat like he has done for so long is enough to earn him new contracts each year.

It is amazing that he continues to play so consistently well it is almost routine and yet we are still left surprised. He has still scored in every Premier League season and is still needed by Manchester United. In the past few years players like Gary Neville have become less of an asset with no real need to keep in the squad, but having Giggs, along with Scholes, in the team is still very much a benefit for Manchester United.

At the age of 37 there are not many teams in the Premier League, if any, that would not mind having this man in their team. Still a game changer, still a winner and still hungry for more. How many 37 year old players can still say that about?

Packers and Steelers earn their tickets to Dallas

Credit HERE

  Last night saw the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers  seal their places in Super Bowl 46. It was far from easy for both teams, but their impressive defence was enough to see them through.

NFC Championship game

It was a match that saw a 90 year old rivalry continue, Packer vs Bears was not to be missed. Packers received the ball and they drew first blood.

The opening drive took Green Bay into the end zone, Quarterback Aaron Rodgers ran it in from one yard. The Packers had a lot of success to Greg Jennings, who finished the game with eight receptions and 130 receiving yards.

The second touchdown came in the second quarter with rookie Starks running in from four yards. 14-0 at half-time, but the score did not reflect Green Bay's dominant performance. This made the second half much more interesting.

What the Bears did not want is their Quarterback Jay Cutler to get injured, however this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Todd Collins came in,  but not for long and was replaced by third string Caleb Hanie.

The Bears did not score until the fourth quarter and with that the momentum shifted, Chicago looked the more likely to score the next touchdown. 14-7 Green Bay looked like they were going to be made to rue missed opportunities.

However the Packers were gifted their next touchdown as Hanie was intercepted by BJ "the Freezer" Raji, who completed the touchdown. With the Green Bay offence struggling, the defence had to step up and they did so perfectly.

Green Bay, however, became complacent. Almost immediately after Chicago scored the first passing touchdown of the match ironically from the third string Caleb Hanie. Short pass to Bennett for 35 yards and the touchdown.

21-14 and a very nervous finish to the game for the Packers. Again it was down to the defence to keep Chicago out and for the third time in four matches Green Bay win the match with an interception. Again showing the defences ability to step up when it really matters.

So game over, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers reach the Super Bowl, showing that they have moved on from Brett Favre. Most of all that Rodgers is the leader of this team.

AFC Championship game

Credit HERE

In the AFC Ben Roethlisberger reached his third Super Bowl as the Pittsburgh Steelers survived a second half come back from the New York Jets.

If you wanted to define the cliche 'a game of two halves' you would just need to point out this match as a prime example. The Steelers dominated the first.

Like the Packers, Pittsburgh scored with their opening drive but like always running down more time on the clock. Nine minutes was the time elapsed when the Steelers scored the opening touchdown. Judging by just that drive it already looked like a tough night for the Jets.

New York couldn't find their rhythm, which is credit to the steel curtain for Pittsburgh. The next score was only a field goal for the Steelers, however unlike the Jets they looked like scoring on every possession.

The next touchdown came from some improvisation from Roethlisberger who ran in from two yards, 17-0. Just 47 seconds later the Steelers' defence continued to assert their dominance and forced a fumble from Sanchez, which was recovered by William Gay who scored the touchdown. 24-0 and it looked game over.

What changed the outlook of the game for the second half was New York Jets being allowed good field position and converting the field goal. 24-3 going into half time, but there was a slight wind beneath the Jets' wings.

If New York were going to turn this game around they needed a big play early, and Sanchez delivered. A bomb down field to Holmes for a 45 yard touch down, 24-10 game on?

Pittsburgh's defence were keeping the Jets out, a battle on the edge of the end zone was won by the Steelers. This could have meant the game being all over for the Jets but the Pittsburgh offence continued to struggle. A simple snap was too much to handle at this time and Roethlisberger fumbled and was tackled in the end zone for a safety.

The next drive was critical for New York if they were going to complete the comeback, and not even the steel curtain could stop them on this drive. Jets were down to the red zone and a simple pass from Sanchez to Cotchery was all that was needed. Pittsburgh needed to get going on the offence.

The success to seal the game was down to some great scrambling from the Steelers' Quarterback with a big play on two minutes to go. Short pass to Antonio Brown who pushed out of bounds after a gain of 14 yards. A couple of kneels and game over.

Heart break for the New York Jets who tried their best to recover, but it wasn't enough. Like the Green Bay Packers, the Pittburgh Steelers' defence stepped up when it mattered.

Premier League 5 a-side team

Credit HERE

Struggling to think of something to blog about as I sit in my room at university starved of sports coverage, I thought back to a question funnily enough first asked by a maths teacher of all people and then asked by others since. Who, from the Premier League, would be in your 5 a-side starting line up.

When you are first asked it may seem straight foward, but when you get thinking it is actually quite difficult. You need to take into consideration the size of the pitch then the roles of defenders and strikers that would differ to 11 a-side.

Starting with the goalkeeper. As you can see in the picture the goals are not very high, so a keeper who is quick to the ground is vital. Then of course it is the quick reactions that come into account. For me Joe Hart is the man for this job. Quick reactions, gets low very quickly and is great in one-on-one situations. The video below demonstrates this.
























Next the defenders. When thinking of the centre back you have to consider the rules more than anything, no slide tackles, no overhead so in my book no Nemanja Vidic. You also need someone can chip in with goals aswell, so perhaps not necessarily an actual CB in real life. In this case Yaya Toure is my man in the centre. Strong, good tackler, good feet and can pass a ball as the short video below shows.
























You will also need two wing backs that can get foward, create chances and defend, tough to choose. I think for this, although might be debatable, down the right hand side I will go for Rafael Da Silva. Very attacking minded Brazilian, but I don't think there is any doubt he can defend. The video below again shows some of his stuff.

Down the left I think it has to be Gareth Bale. Former left back turned left midfielder who can score goals. He is also a good defender. Alongside that his pace, skill etc.




Now the striker. You need a striker who can get back and defend as well as hold the ball upfront. Although there are already plenty of City players in this, it is hard not to go with Carlos Tevez. No, I am going with Tevez, I have played 5 a-side with a player who plays like Tevez (not as good of course) and he was un-playable.

Tevez can of course score goals, but as we have seen in the Premier League and for Argentina he works hard and is very strong. Everything you want in a 5 a-side striker, watch the video below as a justification.



So that is my Premier League 5 a-side team starting line-up. Comment with your starting line up or what you would change.

The Tweeting opinion

Credit HERE

Ryan Babel has become the first footballer to be charged by the F.A. for improper conduct because of something posted on twitter. Madness.

He is not the first sportsman to be at the centre of a social networking controversy, in fact he wasn't the only one in that week. Glen Johnson had to remove a comment made about Paul Merson.

It is not just football, in August 2010 Kevin Pieterson faced disciplinary action after comments he made when being left out of the T20 squad. Now fair enough if they are out of line, like Glen Johnson was, but sometimes jokes are taken too seriously.

There is now further talk of a censorship on sportsman posting their opinions on twitter, but when the Guardian opened the question up to readers online after Kevin Pieterson's comments the results were decisive.

87.9%  voted sportsman should not be banned from using twitter, good to know we're not all going mad then. At the end of the day they are people and have a right to use any social networking sight they choose. Furthermore they should be allowed to express their opinion on matters in their sport, freedom of speech and all that.

If we take the Ryan Babel situation as an example, it is a joke taken too seriously. What makes it even more ridiculous is that in the same week Theo Walcott admitted to diving in Arsenal's F.A. cup tie with Leeds United, yet Babel is charged by the F.A.

The F.A. should spend less time punishing players for having an opinion and more time punishing those who cheat and try and stamp it out of the game.

Sportsman do need to be careful of what they say on twitter because of the media attention on accounts, however they should not be completely censored or punished for expressing opinions. Babel is not the first one to comment about referees, however he is the first to be punished. That is wrong.

My tweeting opinion is that sportsman, like everyone else, have their own opinion. Governing bodies of sport should not punish them just because a tweet hurts their feelings, especially when they have failed to regulate everyone.

They should expect criticism just like players do in all sports, because as we all know they are far from perfect.

Simply the best, but did he deserve it?

Credit HERE

Lionel Messi has won his second Ballon D'or and with it his second World player of the year title in as many years.

According to Optajose Lionel Messi scored the most goals (42), made the most assists (15) and completed the most dribbles (166) in Liga BBVA 2010. However the decision still received criticism.

If you include the Champions League Messi actually scored 54 goals and made 16 assists, so why the controversy? There are those who argue Xavi, who finished third, deserved the title.

Xavi was actually voted World Soccer player of the year and the argument in favour of Xavi winning the title is of course his instrumental role for Spain in the World Cup and his influence in the Barcelona side.

Sid Lowe wrote for the Guardian 'Lionel Messi is the world's best player but Xavi deserved Fifa's award', but I always thought the award went to the 'world's best player'. Lionel Messi is the world's best and in my opinion that is why he won the award and deservedly so.

It is the first time a player who hasn't won the world cup in that world cup year has still won the award since 1974, the fact that the World cup had no bearing this season shouldn't be a surprise. Trophies normally have an effect on the vote, but when Sneijder missed out on the top three it was clear that would not be the case.

It should be based on the entire year, and based on that Messi comes up trumps for many. 12 braces, five hat-tricks and one quadruple then add all the assists and we have a complete player. He has won world player of the year twice and he is only 23 years-old.

He has matched Ronaldinho's achievement of winning the title twice and should now be considered as one of the greatest players of all time. He will go on the win- God knows how many - more Ballon D'ors and maybe eventually he will seriously be considered as THE greatest of all time.

He is the best player in the World and therefore deserved it.

Will it really be a Dream team?

Credit HERE

Amidst all the talk over Beckham's loan deal to Tottenham, the Daily Mirror have reported that 'Harry and Becks lined up as our 2014 dream team'. Dream team, really?

As good as a role model Beckham might be to the younger players and how well Spurs are doing in the Premier League at present, I am not convinced and I will tell you why.

Away from all the abstract talk of 'because Harry is English he can inspire the team' and so on, reality is what we should consider. The Reality is you cannot spend millions on players for your national team, as Harry has done at Spurs, you deal with what you are given and in England's case it is not much.

Say what you like about Capello, but it was not his fault for our poor showing in the World Cup, he did what he could with an overrated team. That was cruise through an easy group and struggle when it comes to the big tournament. We have a limited amount of players of an international standard to pick from, and they are not of a high international standard.

I do not think Harry will do any better than Capello because I do not think he is a better manager. You may say his man-management compare to Mr Fabio will be key, but I say it won't matter. Without the quality players we will not succeed and that comes down to player development and teams in the Premier
League actually bringing young English 'talent' through. Unfortunately that rarely happens.

I'll also say if Harry Redknapp and David Beckham do take over the England I will love to be proven wrong.