Crunch?

That (Being business minded) gives security to the players and fans. I'm also hoping that many local businesses who know me will be able to join me and support the team as well." - New Basingstoke Bison Owner Harry Robinson.

Why does an exciting sport that sells out 30 arenas, with an average capacity of 20,000, in the USA fail to attract more than 10,000 people a week in this country?

I've witnessed over a hundred MK Lightning games, all as exciting as the next. A glutton for the goal-fest, I've enjoyed every one. There's just as much of the violence as in the equivalent across the pond to please the masses, and there's the hospitality and fan accountability factor to appease higher class crowds.

Basingstoke Bison, a top division team, regularly got 2,000 fans in the door but a decade ago. They now struggle to get half that, which is resulting in them slowly go bust, a fate which has felled many a club already. They've got a new owner with local business links, so they've got a chance to reverse their fate, but the worrying thing is those dwindling figures.

The most expensive ticket is less than fifteen pounds, so it's no necessarily price that's fending off the punters, and if there's one thing that "Sociology of Sport" lessons have taught me, it's that Sport is pretty much immune to the Credit Crunch (Proven in the Great Depression - and I'm not talking about Henmania).

It's not that they're all going to the football either. Basingstoke FC fail to get more than 500 through the gate on a saturday at the Camrose, and besides, the dwindling attendance applies to Sunday Fixtures just as vociferously.

Let's hope it begins to turn around, results certainly are since coach Ryan Aldridge left under acrimonious circumstances but two weeks ago, slagging of the club and players. I might be going to see the Bison next weekend. Maybe you could too?

Punch 'n Jude Inspire Dons to Victory Over Tranmere

Supersub Kevin Gallen made the difference in a drab 1-0 affair at Stadium:MK yesterday.

In a game with few clear cut chance, but fouls aplenty, the only sparks were MK wingers Jason Puncheon and Luke Chadwick.

Both sides back lines were particularly stingy, Tranmere's Ben Chorley bossing the Dons attack and his opposite number Jude Stirling intercepting everything thrown at the Dons box.

The game started terribly for MK Dons, as Tranmere found their way through a lacklustre defence clearly reeling from the absence of Willy Gueret.

One cross in from the left hand side caused a particularly problem, stand-in goalie Lewis Price caught it, but spilled it after a collision with Sean O' Hanlon. The ball fell to Gareth Edds, who from six yards out, blazed it over when in all honesty it would have been easier to score.

A wake up call for the Dons, they recouped some confidence and started to get at the Rovers defence. Two efforts to feed Sam Baldock had some success, one drawing a terrible tackle from Chorley, the other seeing a great shot from the edge of the area draw a fine save.

The second half followed the dull suit the first played out. An uneventful quarter of an hour was finished by a terrible blunder by Tranmere right-back Ryan Shotton, which saw the ball land to the electric Puncheon. Shotton wasn't done however, and deemed it fit to horrendously tug on Puncheon's shirt and yank him to the ground.

Not five minutes later, Baldock, now on the left, ran at Shotton, and drew a mistimed tackle in the area. Nearly 8,000 fans screamed penalty, but the ref, no more than two yards away, shook his head.

This served as a catalyst though, the driving Belson taken off for Alan Navarro, and the Dons had more of a license to attack. Puncheon and Chadwick exploiting more alleys, and the best chance came from a corner delivered by Puncheon.

O' Hanlon towered above the rest of the mass in the box, and slammed a header down in to the ground. Ali Gerba, in front of the goalie but just two yards out, just had to divert the ball in, but managed to take too long on the ball and squander the shot.

With just ten minutes to go, Puncheon won another corner, and moved to take it. Gerba was taken off for Kevin Gallen, and barely breaking stride, Gallen diverted the low corner in to the net, via a cheeky deflection off the shin of Chorley.

Gallen, barely on the pitch for ten seconds, had give the Dons the lead and Tranmere were reeling.

As they allocated men forward, Chadwick exploited the low numbers in the Tranmere half to break through on goal. He forced a great save from John Achterberg, and from the rebound Baldock hit the bar from twelve yards out.

Time was served up however, and the final whistle hailed a hard-fought three points for the ever-impressive MK Dons, to make it four wins out of five games against Tranmere in their short history.

NHL Preview.

"I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out." Rodney Dangerfield

There's more to it than that.

September saw the start of the NHL season in the states, and as my family only just got back from their yearly trip to New York, I've only just managed to get my mits on the Hockey News Yearbook for this season.

I've persevered for hours now and caught up with whose gone where, and I like to think I've made up my mind about who I expect to make the play-offs, and who I expect to perform. I disagree with THN quite a lot, it's a great book but it's predictions rely on trends and conventions in the NHL that have lasted over a decade being ended, and unless your Nick Howson, you can't break the rules at the click of a finger.

Winners - San Jose Sharks

How do you ensure a star like Joe Thornton prospers? Put two world-class defencemen in the first line with him to give him the freedom to play in the wingplayers, particularly Jonathan Cheechoo.

When Jumbo Joe switched from the Bruins, the world was shaken. Well, America, though it hit the news here, such was the rarity of trades as big-time as Jumbo Trade swapping the Big B for the California Strip. In all honesty, for all his ability he's not settled in San Jose, and in fact the once-impressive Sharks lost their way for a while.

GM Doug Wilson ran out of patience. Dan Boyle and Rob Blake are capable of giving Line One, Penalty Kill Lines and even PP's the toughest backbone possible. Both came from the Lightning, and their experience of the 03-04 Stanley Cup win will surely help them prosper. Add Brad Lukowich into the acquired pot, and the defensive cover stretches as far as the eye can see, despite losing top quality journeyman Sandis Ozolinsh.

Eastern Conference Winners - Washington Capitals

If you read a blog I did a while back, I mention Bury. A one man team. They are prospering now though. The Capitals are all about this approach. Alex Ovechkin is a phenomenon. Taking the world by storm in his rookie season, and repeating his success the next two years, the left-winger, if you can categorize the free-scoring floating hitman as that, has gone from strength to strenth but never let his success get to him and still celebrates every goal as though it was in OT in the 7th game of the Stanley Cup Final.

But Washington have both compliments and depth to support them this time round. Marcus Nylander returns from a long injury and can only support Ovechkin, grinding along and playing the Russian in. The fact that Victor Kozlov sits in the second line and Stanley Cup finalist Sergiy Fedorov sits in the third line speaks volumes for the depth in the squad.

The best bit of business for The Caps though is quite simply the addition of Jose Theodore, a keeper who has been around for a long time, and rejuvenated himself in the second half of last season with a stint at Colorado. He'll need to be a father figure to the young defence in front of him, and thus they will succeed.

West

1. San Jose
2. Dallas
3. Minnesota
4. Detroit (THN's pick)
5. Anaheim
6. Edmonton
7. Chicago
8. Calgary
9. Colorado
10. Nashville
11. Phoenix
12. Vancouver
13. Colombus
14. St. Louis
15. L.A Kings

East

1. Washington
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Montreal Canadiens
4. Philly Fliers
5. Rangers
6. NJ Devils
7. Ottawaaaa
8. Tampa Bay
9. Boston
10. Carolina
11. Buffalo
12. Florida
13. Atlanta
14. Toronto
15. NY Islanders
    

Yanks do it again.

"America still top the medal table"

All those medal tables you've seen are wrong I'm afraid.

Apparently medal tables are based on who has the most bronze medals.

You can see the true medal table here. Right at the end of the clip.

It really is a poor attempt from America to hang on to it's fine Olympic tradition, but are the American public really foolish enough to take it seriously.

The rest of the world has had a laugh at least.

25 Predictions That Will Happen In Lower League This Season...

"Why they've picked on little Luton is beyond me" Nick Owen

1 - One of Bournemouth and Rotherham and will stay up, and their manager will be lauded for staying up against the odds. Despite the fact Luton have had even more points deducted and there are only two relegation spots in League Two.

2 - Barnet will go on a run of six games without a goal, then win a game 4-1 and gain a cult hero.

3 - Dave Penney will be deemed to have underachieved with Darlington.

4 - Stockport will hit form in March after a mediocre season and overachieve again.

5 - Crewe will stick with their gaffer (and good on them!)

6 - Accrington will fail to get a gate over 2,000 people through the gates unless they face a team chasing promotion, when the away aggregate will be higher than the home aggregate.

7 - Whenever Hartlepool play in a midweek game, the Sky Sports News Presenter will be more bothered about Jeff Stelling than the result.

8 - Brighton's new ground will be delayed.

9 - Oxford will fail to get promotion despite being the biggest club in the BSP by miles.

10 - No Team will take the Johnstone's Paint Trophy seriously despite the potential half-million paycheck and great day out.

11 - MK Dons will play on telly, but the coverage will be Winkelman, Winkelman, Winkelman.

12 - Some idiots will post on forums about "Winkleman", acting as they know everything about the move when in truth they can't even spell his name.

13 - Darragh MacAnthony will cheat the 60% of turnover as wages rule by sponsoring Peterborough himself.

14 - Darragh MacAnthony will cheat the Johnstone's Paint Trophy first-team players rule because he has a mate at the Football League.

15 - Graham Turner will field a team of almost all loan players. Prompting Hereford to be dubbed Championship Loan Rovers.

16 - Colchester will fail to sell out their new 10,000 seater stadium apart from when they play Leeds, Leicester and Southend.

17 - Chester will only stay up because of the Point deductions in League Two.

18 - Whenever Torquay United are mentioned on Sky the presenter won't get through the sentence without mention Helen Chamberlain.

19 -Helen Chamberlain won't get through an episode of Soccer AM without mentioning Martin Gritton.

20 - Cheltenham Town will beat the odds again, purely based on other teams underestimating them.

21 - The form team will win the Play-offs in League One and Two.

22 - A club Drewe Broughton plays for will get relegated.

23 - A team will run away with the Blue Square Premier.

24 - A team in League Two will heavily invest in non-league players, and prosper as a result.

25 - Lincoln will come close but not quite make it.

They Just Don't Get It...

"His name is Darren... Huckerby, and he is a legend, a LEGEND of soccer". Silly Yank.

I came across an interesting video earlier today that I felt obliged to share.

You can find it here.

After failing to get a new contract at Norwich, Darren Huckerby has gone to the MLS to get some first-team football.

The San Jose Earthquakes his destination, and so he came to do an interview on American News network KRON. 

The expression on Huckerby's face when being asked questions from an American reporter who clearly hasn't done his research is stark. Then again, its to be expected, and if the former Lincoln man can help the MLS's quest for credibility then good luck to him.

I don't think it'll ever gain credibility in the eyes of Europe however. Let's face it, most of David Beckham's wages are paid for by the MLS itself, in an attempt to gain attendances for the flagging L.A Galaxy.

That said, I'll be keeping an eye for how Darren Huckerby and other ex-English League "legends" get on. Paulo Wanchope, Abel Xavier, Laurent Robert, and of course Danny Dichio!

An interesting thought has come up at that, I'm crossing my fingers that over the coming weeks The Earthquakes will sign Drewe Broughton, and the KRON can interview him.

"He is a legend of the English League, known as the Journeyman, he won the league and cup last season with Milton Keynes, and was the man who scored the penalty that won the Football League South Division Finals."

Well, he's been sent off on Boston Goals, that's a start!

Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Northampton Town

"There is no way I will be going into the boardroom and condoning what they did. I will not be shaking Mr Winkelman's hand, I will be cheering on my team from the away end, but that is it. " Anthony Collet.

I always like to start my articles with a quote, but today I had a bucket load to choose from.

Over the past week Northampton fans had decided to use the medium of the internet to bombard Dons' websites with jibes about supporting a real club, with history.

Well, based on my experience yesterday, if that's what a real club is like, count me right out.

The Cobbler's fans (pictured), were a disgrace to their team. With more chants aimed at "The Peterborough Scum" than encouraging their own team, they did little to provide the catalyst their team dearly needed.

Northampton started the better side and had the better of the first 15 minutes, Adebayo Akinfenwa having one effort deflected and looping just over the crossbar.

This kicked the Dons into shape, Alan Navarro and Peter Leven particularly impressing in the middle of the park. Meanwhile Town begun to flail, right back Jason Crowe seemingly unable to make a foward pass whilst under pressure from the imposing Austrian winger Florian Sturm. 

Dean Lewington at left-back for the Dons was excellent, every pass he made finding a white shirt, even if the pass was 60 yards-long. Lewington created two chances with zipping crosses, both met by Aaron Wilbraham at the far post, and both missing by the narrowest of margins.

As the half hour mark approached, a goal kick from Cobblers keeper Mark Bunn bounced over both Dons centre-backs and fell to Akinfenwa, who from 8 yards out, completely missed the ball, only to get another stab, screw wide from just 4 yards out.

The Cobblers took the game by the scruff of the neck and it was Akinfenwa who came close again, forcing a save from Dons keeper Willy Gueret from just outside the penalty area. The Dons held on until half-time, but it was clear that Northampton Town were beginning to gain an advantage on the pitch.

The second half was a quiet affair to begin with, but the right-hand side partnership of full-back Carl Regan and last season's top scorer Mark Wright began to find holes in the Cobbler's defence. 

On the hour mark, the best opportunity of the match came. Wright blitzed Town's Jackman down the right-hand side, and a great ball in was nodded wide by Florian Sturm, when in reality it would have been easier to score.

The pressure was beginning to tell and on 66 minutes the breakthrough came. An old-fashioned goalmouth scramble ensued after another top quality ball in from Wright, and Wilbraham was on stand to stab the ball into the goal-mouth. Mark Bunn felt he had got the ball away before it crossed the line, but the referee's assistant disagreed and the goal was given.

The Cobbler's fans weren't happy, and so the disgrace started. The linesman who had given the goal was pelted with bottles and coins, and the game stopped for several minutes while the matter was dealt with.

The Dons moved in for the kill, Kevin Gallen, on for Sam Baldock, looked like he had never been injured as he twice defied the Cobbler's defence and forced quality saves from Bunn.

Northampton were desperate and threw on Colin Larkin and Giles Coke in an attempt to find an equalizer, and they so nearly did in stoppage time.

Larkin ran at late substitute Jude Stirling, squared to Constantine, who tricked O' Hanlon and himself squared to Akinfenwa, who was one-on-one with Gueret. The French keeper came off his line, Akinfenwa tried to dink the ball over him, but Gueret stayed big and the ball bounced off his chest.

The final whistle promplty blew, and The Dons fans celebrated a great win, underlined by steely determination. The Cobbler's fans? They had a fight amongst their fans and barraged Dons fans on their way out of the ground. 

One Town fan shouted "Why don't you support a real club!?"

Because my friend, if your club is anything to go by, "Real Clubs" are brutes and vandals. 

Pre-Season Scramble

"At the end of the season you want to relax and switch off, but you've got to be fresh, go on trials and try to prove you're good enough." Julian Joachim.

Much like the end of the football season, the period before the start of a new season has its winners and losers. Some players nab a lush new deal at a new club, such as Andy Robinson who dumped Swansea City in favour of Leeds United.

Some, face the wilderness of being unwanted. Drewe Broughton (pictured) is a football league legend. Labelled a journeyman, Drewe has had sixteen clubs in a prestigious career, and at 29 years of age, surely has some great years ahead of him.

Yet after three relatively successful trials at Luton, Gillingham and Rotherham, in which he scored in friendlies for all three sides, Broughton has not been offered a deal. Reports suggest he's had a few offers from non-league sides, but Broughton's passion for league football has seen him search on.

The guy know League Two. There'll be a team in there that could use his experience. Not to mention his incredible professionalism. Last season, after sending MK Dons to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final, Drewe went straight out on loan to Wrexham to get extra match practice. He didn't feature in the final but was there in a non playing capacity, and even warmed up for the game.

You'd think given a team like Luton or Bournemouth's circumstance he'd be perfect, he has experience in that sort of situation after his stint with doomed Boston United a few season's back. I hope a club in League Two is clever enough to cash in on this Journeyman of epic proportions, rather than leaving him enveloped in the abyss of being a free agent.

A Tinpot Salute To... Wycombe Wanderers

"An underachiever, proud of it." Bart Simpson.

Up until 5 years ago, Wycombe Wanderers were wandering in the wilderness. The only team of note in Buckinghamshire, the Chairboys had a great catchment area.

It never really caught on. Now MK Dons are in the county and doing well, Wycombe struggle on.

Wycombe have come into the public eye twice in the last 10 years due to some epic cup runs.

First, Lawrie Sanchez took Wycombe to the FA cup semi-final, only to lose out to Middlesbrough in contentious circumstances.

Then two seasons ago, European cup-winner Paul Lambert took the Blues to the Carling Cup semi-final. They lost out to Chelsea who eased on to the final and the trophy.

The thing that intrigues me most about Wycombe though, is the complete lack of ambition. With all respect to the club it seems content with mediocrity. The last few years the club has produced stars in Jermaine Easter and Sergio Torres, only to sell them on, and not exactly for huge money at that. Tommy Mooney had stalwart qualities for them, only to move on to Walsall for a pittance.

Their signings do little to set High Wycombe alight for that matter. This season they've brought in a talented winger in Chris Zebroski, who scored for fun for Torquay last season, but other than him it's been a quiet pre-season for Peter Taylor.

Take last night's pitiful effort against Birmingham City. Granted, Birmingham are a good outfit, but the lack of effort and the lack of a crowd make Wanderer's look pathetic.

Wycombe have managed to finish the season in the top eight for two seasons running, but nothing than the top three will do for the Chairboys after some hard seasons in the fourth tier. I back them to fail. In unspectacular fashion.

The Ronaldo of Buckinghamshire

"I want to play for Real Madrid, but only if it is true they are eager to pay me and Manchester United what they have been saying they will" Cristiano Ronaldo.

Having been struck down with the flu for days, and missing Norwich City's visit to Milton Keynes last night in the Carling Cup, I've been reduced to trawling football forums online for days as a means of complementing my Olympic viewing.

One hot topic is the potential sale of reported want-away Keith Andrews. The Dons are in a sticky situation with this one, in a system where only the big clubs can hope to win.

It has been many weeks since Andrews (pictured) decided to tell Sky Sports News he wanted out at MK Dons, citing that he was "too good for League One". The reported interested party, Paul Ince, former Don's boss and now Blackburn manager.

Dons new boss Roberto di Matteo stated the obvious in that he would like to keep Andrews at the Dons. However days later, Andrews was transfer listed, The Dons management stating "In order to prevent the intense speculation of recent weeks jeopardising the start of our season, we feel it both in the Club's and the Keith's interests to settle this unhelpful situation."

The weeks passed however and no action was taken by Blackburn. When MK's last friendly came around, against Watford, Andrews was put into the team and off the transfer list. Andrews marked the occasion with a goal in the first minute, a screamer from 30 yards. Ironically Hornet's boss Aidy Boothroyd is a keen admirer of Andrews too, and reportedly decided against a bid at the last minute.

So the season started and Andrews remained a Dons player. Happy Ending? Nope.

Against Leicester "Captain Shamrock" didn't look like he wanted to be there at all. An indifferent performance stamped with a seal of idiocy, when Andrews blocked a certain goal by team-mate Sam Baldock. 

That's not all. Blackburn are back in the hunt, but not prepared to meet Dons chairman Pete Winkelman's £2 million asking price. 

£2 million is ridiculous for a player who isn't doing what his job title suggests, playing. He doesn't want to be at Stadium:MK, so immediately he won't go for his true value, despite an impressive CV that includes captain of a double-winning side and League Two player of the year.

Also, Keith has just a year left on his contract. The threat that in a year's time he can just jump ship for nothing will no doubt see him sold soon enough. It's a shame. The Dons know about the system too well, after losing Lloyd Dyer in similar fashion in May to Leicester after Dyer turned down a new contract. 

As groundbreaking as Jean-Luc Bosman's court case those years ago was, I guess he had no idea that it would be the bane of many a Lower League Club.

Those United fans worried about losing Ronaldo for about £50 million have no idea just how lucky their team is.

Baddy Cool

"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat" Malcolm Forbes 

2004. Athens. The mixed doubles pairing of Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson captured the country's imagination as they reached the Olympic final in their sport of Badminton.

They overcame some tricky matches on their way to that final and for a few days' Badminton was the sport of choice in Britain. Unfortunately, however, it wasn't to be for the Brits in the final, as they were beaten by Chinese heroes Zhang Jun and Gao Ling. 

4 years have passed and their time to shine has come again. This morning I eagerly awaited their Round of Sixteen tie, against a Chinese rookie, in young prodigy Zheng Bo, and their nemesis from Athens Gao Ling, now one of China's most celebrated female sports stars.

I'll admit I have a slight vested interest in the pair, they train in the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes, not ten minutes walk from my house, and I have met the pair on several occasions, but when the match started I was beyond passionate! The fact that the arena was packed with 10,000 screaming fans all behind the Chinese pair, who were 2nd Seeds, was sure to be a factor, mixed in with the delicious prospect of revenge of Gao Ling, in her last ever Olympics.

Though in the first game*,  it was the Brits' who looked the classier of the couples, their opponents reduced to desperate defensive play. The game finished comfortably, Britain prevailing 21-16. The Chinese Crowd had become deathly silent, as the British bench celebrated and encouraged the team to keep up their work-rate.

The second game however was not so clear-cut. Some mesmerizing placed smash shots from Robertson opened up a 11-7 lead, but the crowd got behind their team and Robertson began to flounder, his recent ankle operation and lack of training beginning to tell. As it would happen, the Chinese pair took the second game 21-16, a reverse of the first game. Emms looked to be panicking at the state of her partner, and the increasingly positive play of their opponents buoyed on by the Arena's rowdy crowd.

Their was more despair to follow. Gao Ling really showed just why she is so adored in her homeland, and partner Zheng Bo overcame the nerves that had overcame him in the previous games, the tired Robertson and desperate Emms seemed to be hitting against a brick-wall as the score hit 17-12 in the favour of the 2nd Seeds.

Then, as they say, Robertson got a second wind. The following point was an epic rally, the sort that the Briton's opponents had begun to dominate, but Zheng missed an easy smash chance and the momentum seemingly shifted. Robertson duly dispatched six straight points past the shellshocked Gao Ling, to put the score at 19-17 in the Buckinghamshire duo's favour. A minuted later, after four tense points, the final score was 21-19 to the British double act.

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, and to say the atmosphere in that arena had frozen would be an understatement.

The Olympics. Love it.

*Badminton Doubles consists of three games of twenty-one points.

Leicester City 2-0 Milton Keynes Dons

"Take chances, make mistakes, that's how you grow." Mary Tyler (American Comedian)

So hence it came, the opening day of the Football League season, and  two teams with differing fortunes last season collided. The relegated Leicester "Too good to go down" City at home to MK "Double winning" Dons.

The Ground filled, and 3 o' clock hit. The Foxes started the brighter of the two teams, MK looked a bit overawed by the occasion, though no clear cut chances presented themselves. Ex-Don Lloyd Dyer looked dangerous when he cut inside but failed to present a killer ball, and Leicesters much talked about Max Gradel looked lively but was kept firmly in-check by Dean Lewington.

Then in a flash the game came to life. Oakley flighted a long ball forward and City forward Matty Fryatt latched onto in the left hand channel. His pace was too much for Dons' defenders Carl Regan and Sean O' Hanlon, the latter clattering into Fryatt as he entered the box. Penalty given and struck home with ease from the young marksman.

Chances began to present themselves but it was MK Dons who had the only other clear-cut chance of the first half. Florian Sturm taking advantage of a miscommunication from Leicester's right hand pairing of Gilbert and Gradel, paving a way into the so far unbreached City box and squaring beautifully to Mark Wright who slices over on his weaker left foot.

The half-time whistle blew and Leicester looked comfortable, more through the Dons' vulnerability than any danger of their own making. The second offered a slightly closer contest. MK Dons pushed the Foxes defence more and a narrow Wilbraham effored was snatched by Henderson in the Home side's net and a Sam Baldock effort was thwarted on the line by his own skipper, the anonymous Keith Andrews.

Both sides made substitutions that livened up their sides. Leicester brought on talisman Paul Dickov who gave the side the tenacity it needed to close out the game. The Dons' introduction of new-signing Peter Leven gave the team a creative spark, even if it meant sacrificing Alan Navarro who had performed well.

Time went on and while the Dons did threaten, Leicester still looked dangerous, and when Dons deputy centre-back Jude Stirling dallied on the ball, Gradel nipped in to take it off of him and pass to Fryatt inside the box, who duly doubled the Foxes lead. Minutes the later the final whistle had gone and Leicester had gotten their "Bounce back" campaign off to a perfect start. Dons boss Roberto di Matteo got a reality check. Three friendlies and two signings were not enough preparation for a league of much higher quality than League One.

Predictions Predictions Predictions

"With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured" Abraham Lincoln

It's the week leading up to the season and it's time to get the predictions out. The league's are less predictable this time up, there's no standout moneybags in League Two paired with three strong teams plastered with points deductions, Leeds have the pleasant company of Leicester City in the third tier, and the teams going down to the Championship are of a poorer quality than has been seen for a long time, but last year's campaign had no unlucky losers in the championship, making for a league literally anyone can win.

League Two-

Promoted- Bradford City, Darlington, Shrewsbury, Wycombe. (Nearly men:Bury)

Relegated- Luton, Dagenham (Nearly men:Rotherham)

The shake-up at Bradford will bear fruit this season, The signing of the Boulding brothers, particularly Michael, Greame Lee and Paul McLaren are all tidy deals, and in Rhys Evans they have signed a solid keeper.

Darlington strike duo of Pawel Abbott and Adam Proudlock is a pair to make a league notorious for poor defending quake in its boots, and in David Poole and Adam Griffin have two players with a successful promotion campaign under their belts after they found play-off glory with Stockport.

Shrewsbury have a bright young manager with a great reputation, Paul Simpson. Richard Walker will bag at least 15 goals up front, Ben Davies is a player playing below his level, and Michael Jackson will show the defence that let the Shrews down last season how it's done.

Bury have achieved a small miracle in holding onto Andy Bishop in spite of interest from Leeds, Brighton and others, and look set to embark on a brilliant season. Efe Sodje will be desperate to seal a promotion to end his career on a high, and doubling as a coach the Shakers could sort out any problems at the back.

League Two Survival Guide

"Faith is a passionate intuition" William Wordsworth

How does one stay in the Football League? How does one perform in league two? I've prepared what I consider to be a definitive list to performing well in League Two.

• Get good gates. There's a definitive link in League Two with regards to attendances and League performance. If your not getting the peeps through the door, then where is the inspiration to perform brilliantly.
• Know the loan system. Just look at Hereford, they aren't exactly rich, but thanks to Graham Turner's knowledge of the loan scene in the UK the Bulls have exceeded expectations, albeit controversially.
• Have a physical presence. Players like Trevor Benjamin, Micah Hyde and Sean O' Hanlon have terrorized teams everywhere and seen their teams get promoted.
• Travel well. Teams need to prepare for away days with extreme care. Again this season home form has been pretty consistent league-wide, whereas performance away from home has been the difference maker. Milton Keynes have equalled the record for away wins in fact.
• Passion. The most important factor. If your teams got no passion to perform, like some of the lower table teams this season, then it's just not going to happen for you.

I've also taken the time out to pick my league two team of the season!

1. GK- Willy Gueret. Big Willy has been in tremendous form this season, and his pure physical presence and the confidence he builds from the back of the Milton Keynes Dons team has been simply terrific. A great shot-stopper,  Gueret has been terrific at saving penalties this term among his other achievements. (Honorable mention: Joe Lewis, Frank Fielding.)
2. RB- Trent McLenahan. The aussie full-back has begun to finally show the mature play he promised in the youth set-up at West Ham United. A member of the Hereford United squad not on loan from another club, Trent will surely be looking forward to another crack at League One with The Bulls.
3. LB- Dean Lewington.  In this lower league fans eyes, Lewington was the only option. A very reliable defender, Lewington has perhaps held back from his attacking instincts of previous seasons, the end result being a tight-ship at the back for MK Dons. Players like Craig Mackail-Smith and Andy Robinson have found "Deano" a terror.
4. CB- Danny Swailes. After spending last season at lowly Macclesfield under Paul Ince, Swailes followed Ince down the M1 to Milton Keynes. A rock at the back for The Dons, Swailes has been a permanent figure in their title-winning season. Swailes has contributed a fair few goals this season too.
5. CB- Craig Morgan. The Welshman has contributed heavily to Peterborough's promotion this season. Posh leaked a ridiculous amount of goals last season, but Morgan has gained a new sense of positional play and controlled his temperament more successfully and gotten himself on the international scene too.
6. RM- Jamie Ward. An awkward, awkward player to face. Ward has made many a defenders' miserable. After being shifted onto the wings for a large part of the season, Ward was crucial in keeping Chesterfield in play-off contention.
7. LM- Lloyd Dyer. Simply incredible, probably my player of the season. Lloyd Dyer is absolutely frightening. His pace alone gives defender's nightmares, and his finishing and versatility have made him a talisman for MK Dons double winning season.
8. CM- Keith Andrews. Winner of the League Two player of the year, he is the heartbeat of the Milton Keynes team. Added a new trick to his book by banging the goals in, and dictates the tempo in every game they play. A vital part of both defensive and offensive play, Captain Shamrock is simply incredible.
9. CM- Micah Hyde. Gone about his business quietly, but been crucial for Peterborough. An absolutely scary presence in midfield, Hyde is a huge part of the reason Posh have scored the most goals in the whole of the football league. Used his experience brilliantly and expect him to play a part in League One next year.
10. CF- Aaron McLean. What can I say? Incredible. The amount of goals he scores is insane, no defender seems to be able to stop him, his pace is extreme and McLean may be pint-sized but he can head a ball as good as any player I've seen. No doubt he serves a place in this list.
11. CF- Andy Bishop. Has today handed in a transfer request to Bury boss Alan Knill, but no surprise as to why, he is simply to good for this level. Had he been playing for Peterborough, he could have scored thirty this term. Bishop is quite simple unstoppable when on song, but still beater than most when he isn't. Expect to see him in the Championship next season.

It speaks volumes that both the PFA list and my list are stocked in abundance with MK Dons and Peterborough Players. That is to say, quite simply, that they have dominated the League this year. I reckon they will perform well in League One next year. They'll need to as well, it's looking as though it will be darn tough in there next season. 

Today's top five, wrestlers!

1. Triple H. He really is the King of Kings.
2. The Undertaker. What a gimmick. Gotta love him.
3. Kurt Angle. Can Suplex all day.
4. Randy Orton. Technically, I rate him highly.
5. Rey Mysterio. I swear this kid can fly!

147 and 1201

"At the end of my career I’ll be able to look back and say I’ve entertained a lot of people." Ronnie O' Sullivan

I've gotten quite into the snooker this last week. Amidst conversations my friends were having that Mark Selby was a great call to win the 888.com World Snooker Championships, I couldn't even bring myself to bother taking part. Now I'm getting texts from a mate, ironically called Shaun Murphy just like the World Snooker number one, telling me that "Rocket Ronnie has gotten a 147."

I immediately flick to the snooker. It was tremendous. Beautiful in fact. I wouldn't normally post a link in my blog but this is quite simply brilliant. The spin he gets on the cue ball is out of this world.

It's been a transformation. I can't stop watching this game! A battle of two minds. The technique is quite simply awesome. I'd give my right arm to have half these players ability. If you're not into snooker I'd give this tournament a cheeky watch, it has been extremely rewarding for me.

It's a shame then, that Cue World in Southampton has been empty whenever I have gone in it. I can but hope there is a future for snooker in this country. I've seen a couple of documentaries about the game being a revelation in the far east in recent years, and I even read a news story on the web last week about the possibility of moving the tournament away from The Crucible. Sad state of affairs I guess.

The time as I'm writing now is five to eleven. Only an hour until Grand Theft Auto 4 comes out. Which leaves me with a little bit of a dilemma. Whilst I can't stand the Premiership on the whole, the Champions League has always charmed me. I think it's a culmination of the brilliant opening music, the tasty continental football and the lure that the big four take their opponents seriously.

So tomorrow night, what am I to do? I'm ever so worried that GTA 4 will keep me away from watching my beloved Barcelona. Ever since I went to their game against RCD Mallorca towards the climax of last season I've looked out for their result veciforously.

I can only hope I'm given an offer I can't refuse with regards to watching the game when quarter to eight hits. Hopefully confirmation that Rooney is out will do the trick. (No I don't dislkike "Roonaldo", I just think this particular game will be more interesting without him.)

Anyway, here's to Rocket Ronnie winning the title at the crucible.

Today's top five, Tinpot clubs. (Which isn't an insult!):

1. Barnet. Love 'em, but Underhill is a hole. Absolutely chuffed they are in the top half of League Two
2. Macclesfield Town. The silkmen get some ridiculous attendances. Though to be fair to the Macc Lads, their season hasn't been helped by the fact a certain Mr Ince seems to be on a mission to sign all their players.
3. Dagenham and Redbridge. Whilst some people have no patience with "The Daggers" ridiculous attendences, I went to Victoria Road earlier this season and found the togetherness of the workers at the club, obviously all volunteers, extremely charming. Glad they secured League Status against Darlo at the weekend.
4. Accrington Stanley. Their pitch at the Crown Ground is a joke, and I have no sympathy for them. Their attendance last season for a crucial relegation clash against Torquay, where it was free entry, was a mere couple of thousand.
5. Grimsby Town. Your ground isn't even in Grimsby guys!

Handbags at Dawn!

"There have been a few players described as the new George Best over the years, but this is the first time it's been a compliment to me." George Best.

I feel the need to start today's blog finishing off what I started at the end of my post last night! Manchester United. A great club with a great tradition. That occasionally get too big for their boots. I don't see why certain parties have been so offended by me calling them "Divas" over the Glazer fueled unrest and other fiascos!

I do feel, though, that perhaps I was a touch unfair. I won't so much retract it as state that I think the "We're bigger than you" syndrome is a disease that has infected the whole of the top four now.

I've covered United, so I'll hit Chelsea. Complaining about playing three games a week springs to the recent memory cortex in my jumbled mind. I would probably have fought back with a few questions at the time. Firstly, how much revenue did you make from those games? Secondly, did you see Torquay's complaint about a similar workout? (No, thats because it didn't happen.)

Arsenal, and Wenger. Eduardo's injury was horrific and I wish him a speedy recovery, but Wenger's reaction was wildly OTT. Lambasting Martin Taylor who clearly had been a tad clumsy. An inch to the left or the right would surely have saved the Croatian sharpshooter's ankle. My question to "Le Proffeseur" would simply have been to ask him if he caught his skipper William Gallas kicking Nani like a petty schoolboy in the Arsenal-United cup clash the week before.

Liverpool. Probably Britain's most glorified club, and deservedly so. A damn fine tradition. Why was it though, that Javier Mascherano was allowed to play for them after already representing two clubs that year. Why was Liverpool's appeal for him to be eligible accepted when at the same time AFC Wimbledon were deducted eighteen points for fielding Jermaine Darlington under similar shady circumstances?

Who's to blame for all these occurences? I genuinely don't believe the clubs in question are to blame too much. I think the F.A is giving too many allowances to the big four.

Today's top five...Ridiculous Quotes

-5. "Where do you get an experienced player like him with a left foot and a head?" Bobby Robson

-4. "Not only has he shown Junior Lewis the red card, but he's sent him off." Chris Kamara

-3. "Michael Owen isn't the tallest of lads, but his height more than makes up for that." Mark Lawrenson

-2. "I was in Moldova airport and I went into the duty-free shop - and there wasn't a duty-free shop." Andy Gray

-1. "Argentina are the second best team in the world, and there's no higher praise than that." Kevin Keegan

Late April Ups and Downs

"April is a promise that May is bound to keep." Hal Borland.

...and April has been a month plentiful in promises of promotions and relegations in the lower leagues, that will come into play the weekend of the 3rd May.

My hometown club, controversial Milton Keynes Dons, have clinched promotion to League One. A 3-2 victory at Edgely Park over an in-form Stockport sealed it, and victory away at Bradford gave them the title. I've fallen in love with the club over the last few years. The determination to succeed and make professional football happen in Milton Keynes, my town. I was there when the club only had 50 fans in the away end at Yeovil and Swansea, and I've listened to all the jibes about Franchising.

MK Dons deserve this success. It's a double in fact, after The Dons won the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Wembley in March. A fantastic season. The club is on the way up and within ten years I fully expect them to be in the top end of the championship at least. Words truly cannot describe the pride I'm experiencing now. It's working. That said, I cannot help but feel for the fans left behind in South London. Here's hoping that AFC Wimbledon can gain league status and fill the void left behind by the Wimbledon saga.

Second place in League Two has gone to Peterborough United, who have also sealed promotion, and the Posh haven't exactly done it quietly either. Overseas property tycoon Darragh MacAnthony's funding has propelled them to the top three of League Two. Through the fact that his company sponsors the club (and he can plough his funding into the club via that avenue), their turnover is classed as a ridiculously large amount and they can avoid the League Two wage cap coming into play.

They've splashed ridiculously large amounts on players like George Boyd and Aaron McLean from the non-league scene. Fair play to them though, they look set to make several more times from selling these players than they spent buying them, and they've helped smaller clubs out with a bit of cash in the process. The approach has worked though. McLean is top scorer in the league and Posh have been a scary attacking force.

The third automatic spot has gone to Hereford United. I love it and hate it at the same time. At the end of the day, their attendances has been poor throughout. That said, at the same time, they've managed the club superbly, to win promotion on a shoestring budget amongst the company of Milton Keynes, Posh and Darlington to name but a few speak volumes. Teams that average several thousands week in week out like Bradford City have had indifferent seasons in comparison.

Some may dub Hereford as "Championship Loan Rangers" but when push comes to shove, if a team doesn't have funds and struggles to break a couple of thousand fans then they need to get a decent player staff somehow. Full marks to Graham Turner.

League One is the destination these three teams. Come may, their fellow teams will be decided. Colchester and Scunthorpe will be there, and look set to be joined by one of either Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday or Leicester. Whilst "Col U" and "Scunny" may be at a fair level the team that goes down with them will be at a ridiculous level considering their fanbase.

Congratulations to Milton Keynes Dons, Peterborough and Hereford United on their respective seasons. League One will be a more interesting place next season with these teams in it. I for one can't wait.

My top five for today is...

Top five Premiership divas.

5- Aliaksandr Hleb

Absolutely horrendous behavior against Reading two weeks ago. Seemed to think he was above Reading's Greame Murty. Had an unbearable look of arrogance as he wound Murty up.

4- Didier Drogba

I like Drogba, he's a talent. However his attitude against Tottenham in the league cup, and his actions when he clashed with Michael Ballack yesterday were absolutely shocking.

3- Robbie Keane

Again, I like him, he a bit of a talisman for Spurs, but boy does he act like a ponce on the pitch. Falling over like he has legs made of paper.

2- Ashley Cole

I have no sympathy whatsoever for a player that can be bought out by the highest bidder and show no loyalty.

1- Manchester United. In General.

"We don't want Malcolm Glazer, we won't renew our season tickets."

...2 years later...

"We won the league! We won the league! United 'til I die!"

(Don't get me started on the fans that have never seen them play.)