It all Opens up.....

It’s been a massive week in all sports and it will be interesting to see what this weekend has in store.  The champions league saw a one sided first legs in both ties and Manchester United are going to have to combat the outstanding Messi. United are also closely trailed by Chelsea in the Premier league and thats where we shall start. 

         Manchester United will have to fight hard. A draw should seal the title for them but United never play for a draw. They will look for the win from the first whistle and will hope to bag an early goal. Chelsea will also hope to win and take over the league leaders, they're main threat, Kalou will try to beat Edwin Van Der Sar, and with his recent form is more than capable. United’s main threats are Hernandez and Rooney who have linked together well ever since Hernandez broke into the first team. I think Chelsea will play an attacking team to try and break through United’s strong defence. Possible team to play Man. United: Czech, Cole, Terry, Luiz, Ivanovic,  Malouda, Lampard, Essien, Mikel, Kalou, Drogba.

Possible United team to play Chelsea: Van der sar, Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park, Hernandez, Rooney. Prediction 3-1 Chelsea.

          Another big game is Wigan vs Aston Villa. Villa have never beat Wigan at home and will hope to do so today. Wigan need the points to keep fighting to stay in the league. Should wigan win and Blackpool fail to do so then Wolves will clamber out of the Relegation zone. It’s very tight down the bottom. Possible team: Habsi, Figueroa, Alcaraz, Gouhori, Boyce, Cleverly, Mc Arthur, McCarthy, N Zogbia, Watson, Rodallega.

Aston Villa: Friedel, Young, Dunne, Collins, Walker, Downing, Young, Petrov, Reo Coker, Heskey, Bent. Prediction: 1-1

         They are just the two biggest games of the day, One at the top and the other at the bottom. Chelsea are really closing the gap on the 18 time champions but United will fight hard. At the bottom West Ham, Wigan and Wolves are all fighting for survival.The race for the champions league places heats up as Liverpool enter contention, Tottenham play Blackpool in a game that could affect both ends of the table. The Champions league itself this year is heading for a grande Finale the best player in your against the best Manager in Europe. Barce beat United two years ago but united were the victors in the 2008 encounter. The Championship, well after QPR survive a point deduction possibility this morning they now have Premier League status, yet again Nottingham forest make the play offs and so do Swansea and i think it will be a Swansea-Forest encounter in the final. 

           Onto Cricket, the season is in full flow, the village cricket matches have started and summer is in the air. However what looks like 3 games heading for a draw in fourth day of the county championship. Middlesex look like drawing to Gloucestershire. Century for Taylor and Fifty for Marshall put Gloucestershire off to a good start and Middlesex replied with Fifty from Dexter and 87 from Rogers. A strong Gloucestershire reply saw a 93 from Gidman and a 72 from Cockbain. Surely heading for a Draw.

            The only positive result looks like its going to be for Northants, so far  2 Centuries altogether Stevens and Hall and several fifties all round keeping it poised. Unfortunately no one could bat well with Stevens in the first innings.

            The IPL hots up now. Valthathy is the under praised star so far doing brilliantly in the opening phases. Tendulkar looses his cap to Sehwag who now takes over as leading run scorer. Eoin Morgan is like a ball magnet always producing brilliant performances in the field and some good runs with the bat. Asked to play midweek at the top of the order and did well, interesting to see how the end of todays game goes. Lasith Malinga is brilliant and continues to wear the purple cap. I think the Mumbai Indians on the whole look set to win and thats the way it’s heading. 


Key Words: Malinga, Cricket, Ipl, IPL, Sports, Premier League, Mumbai, Wigan, Blackpool. County Championship.

          Special Blog on Cricket to follow Early next week..........