Friday, February 25, 2011
Sports World |
- Injury worries pile up for Arsenal
- G-Mac takes Tiger's spot
- Masters form guide - Graeme McDowell
- France make four changes
- Progressive Alfa Beat the big Irish hope for the NH chase
| Injury worries pile up for Arsenal Posted: 25 Feb 2011 08:53 AM PST Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out of the Carling Cup final against Birmingham, and is rumoured to be a doubt for the second leg Champions league tie against Barcelona. The former Barcelona man picked up a hamstring injury in the 1-0 win over Stoke on Wednesday, while Theo Walcott will also miss the final at Wembley after picking up an ankle injury in the same game. The loss of both men is a massive blow to Wenger's chances in both tournaments; prior to the first game against Barcelona Lionel Messi described Walcott as "one of the most dangerous players I have played against", While the Catalan club have publicly courted Fabregas for some time. The hamstring injury Fabregas suffered is a reoccurrence of a problem which blighted the early part of his career, and Wenger is unsure how long he will be on the sidelines for. "It is a very small injury but certainly Cesc will be out for Sunday. For how long (he will be out) I don't know but definitely for Sunday. He is disappointed. We all feel sorry and sad for him." The Arsenal boss said. "The only way we can help him now is to win the Carling Cup as he contributed a lot in this competition." Arsenal are looking to end their 6 year spell without a trophy, and will have a good chance of doing so on Sunday, but face the tough task of going to the Nou Camp to face the current La Liga leaders for a place in the Champions League quarter finals on March 8th. Arsenal lost at the same stage to Barcelona last year, going down 4-1 at the Nou Camp after securing a 2-2 draw largely thanks to the introduction of Walcott as a substitute, and Fabregas, who scored a penalty despite limping badly with a leg injury. It certainly hasn't been a lucky week for Arsenal, so perhaps anyone associated with the club should stay away from Scratch Cards Online this weekend. Unless they fancy a change in fortunes!  |
| Posted: 25 Feb 2011 08:27 AM PST Graeme McDowell could head into the first major of the year at Augusta as the new world number three following his elevation up the rankings this weekend. The Ulsterman will battle it out with Luke Donald for the number three spot but both should climb above former number one Tiger Woods as his winless streak stretched to 18 tournaments following his first round exit in Tuscan this week at the WGC Match Play event and the US Masters betting 2011 suggests he won't have any respite in that tournament either. Despite overtaking Tiger in the rankings, G-Mac is realistic about his new place in world golf and the Irishman isn't in any doubt as to whether he is better than Woods. "I'm perhaps a better golfer than Tiger in the last 12 months but he's the greatest player. If someone told me at some point in my career I would be number three in the world I'd be proud of that fact," he said. McDowell reached the last 16 of the Match Play event alongside Donald and the Irishman will be one of the favourites to lift the title that Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter won last year. Despite his good form the US Masters betting suggests the bookies don't fancy McDowell to have much of a chance at the US Masters in April. Plenty of punters will have a flutter on the Irishman though, especially after a year which has seen him climb from world number 50 up to his current lofty position. He became the first European player to taste success at the US Open for 40 years and followed that up by sinking the winning put at the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor later in the year to hand Europe the trophy. Elsewhere in the rankings, there could be another change at the top with Martin Kaymer in with a chance of replacing Lee Westwood as world number one. The German will need to reach the final in Tuscan to clinch the top spot but Hunter Mahan won't be a walkover in their last 16 match this weekend.  |
| Masters form guide - Graeme McDowell Posted: 25 Feb 2011 06:55 AM PST Graeme McDowell has enjoyed a stellar 12 months. He started 2010 ranked 50th in the world, a reflection of his steady progress in the upper echelons of the game. He has since won his first major, hit the winning putt at a Ryder Cup, been made an MBE and is about to overtake Tiger Woods in the rankings. All this must give the Ulsterman massive confidence, which makes him a serious challenger for glory at the Masters. More importantly he has good current form, having hit a blistering final round 62 to finish third in last month's Hyundai tournament of champions and ending the Abu Dhabi Championship in the same position. McDowell has so far beaten Heath Slocum and Ross Fisher by respective 4&3 and 4&2 scorelines in the WGC-Accenture Match Play, proving his game is in good working order as he continues his preparations for a major that he is yet to do himself justice in and the US Masters odds suggest he can do well this time around. The man from Portrush finish joint 17th at Augusta in 2009 but missed the cut in his two other appearances, going home early last year with a disappointing +5 scorecard that contained four double bogeys. He will be better prepared for the unique Augusta experience, both in terms of course familiarity and ability to handle pressure. All players walk the fairways differently after winning a major and McDowell knows this coming year provides an excellent opportunity to fill his trophy cabinet further. He was a shock winner at the US Open last year but it is a measure of his improvement that few will raise eyebrows if slips on the famous green jacket in a few weeks' time.  |
| Posted: 25 Feb 2011 06:20 AM PST France boss Marc Lievremont has decided to make four changes ahead of this weekend's crunch game against England at Twickenham. Lievremont has handed recalls to experienced quartet Sebastien Chabal, Vincent Clerc, Dimitri Yachvili and Yannick Jauzion. Clement Poitrenaud will return to the bench after starting against Ireland with Maxime Medard switching to full-back from the wing despite missing training on Tuesday with a thigh problem. The versatile Damien Traille has also suffered demotion to the bench after starting France's opening two matches of this year's tournament. Morgan Parra and Julien Bonnaire are the other two who make way for this match as both sides look to continue their 100% record so far. Anyone looking to bet on England Scotland rugby should keep a close eye on this match to see how England are shaping up. Lievremont has played down accusations that he is taking a risk by making changes to a winning side. To be fair to the French coach, it's not like he blooding untested youngster, the players recalled are all proven at this level. "I don't have the feeling that I'm taking risks. To bring in lads like Vincent Clerc, Yannick Jauzion and Dimitri Yachvili into a clash which promises to be hostile is rather reassuring," he said. The importance of this game won't be lost on either side with it likely that the winner this weekend will go on to lift the trophy and possibly the Grand Slam. With the World Cup coming up later in the year, a Grand Slam in the Six Nations will be the perfect preparation.  |
| Progressive Alfa Beat the big Irish hope for the NH chase Posted: 25 Feb 2011 04:02 AM PST Ireland can boast an impressive record in the 4-mile National Hunt Chase and there will be many who fancy Alfa Beat to maintain that good record this year. Since joining his trainer Charles Byrnes, the gelding has been very progressive and has won on all five occasions he has represented the handler and is perhaps one of the most promising Irish horses around right now and anyone looking to bet on Cheltenham 2011 should remember this. His latest win came in the Kerry National at Listowel and it was the manner of his victory that marked him out as a strong contender for Cheltenham Festival honours. The seven-year old handled the hustle and bustle of that big field affair with aplomb and a similarly large field at Cheltenham will hold no fears. Another bonus is that the gelding is likely to be partnered by the crack Irish amateur jockey Robbie McNamara. This partnership is already proven under race conditions as they won a handicap hurdle together at Limerick last July and the Cheltenham racing betting suggests they can continue their success. The four-mile trip promises to suit and the Irish punters are expected to be out in force to support him and if he does win, the victory will no doubt be one of the most well-received of the four day fixture.  |
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