Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Sports World |
- Chelsea deny Cole taunts as title race hots up
- Hart Memorial Trophy Candidates
- Packers looking good to defend Super Bowl title
- Barca still on top
- Toulouse & Leinster Heineken Cup Favourites At Group Halfway Stage
| Chelsea deny Cole taunts as title race hots up Posted: 14 Dec 2011 08:31 AM PST Chelsea have strongly denied newspaper reports that Ashley Cole taunted Manchester City players in the tunnel following their clash at Stamford Bridge on Monday. Cole was alleged to have chanted 'Thursday night, Channel Five' at the City players, a slight aimed at their participation in the Europa League following their failure to qualify for the Champions League knock-out stages. However, Chelsea have since denied any incident took place, with a statement on the club's website saying: 'Contrary to reports, Ashley Cole did not say anything to the opposition in the tunnel after Monday's game. Ashley has huge respect for the players and staff at Manchester City, many of whom he knows personally and calls friends.' The game was a thrilling one and Cole's jubilant move justified, with Chelsea coming from behind to win 2-1 and give their premier league odds a real shot in the arm. They remain seven points behind Roberto Mancini's men but they confidence gained from halting the big-spending juggernaut could prove invaluable. City now for the first-time this season have to prove a point. They have steam-rollered everyone in sight so far, but defeats to Napoli in the Champions League and now to Chelsea represent a real test. They now host in-form Arsenal in what could be one of the matches of the season to date – they could even begin the game in second place with rivals United playing earlier in the day. It looks set to be a bumper day for those who Live Football Online or on TV at home, with three games in-a-row live in a taster for the annual bumper festive programme, which thanks to Sky TV means there is a match on everyday during the Christmas holidays. Being top on the 25th doesn't guarantee much (and it doesn't carry the stigma of Christmas on the bottom of the league) but it would certainly be a psychological boost in a fascinating title race that looks like going right to the wire.  |
| Hart Memorial Trophy Candidates Posted: 14 Dec 2011 07:50 AM PST As the NHL moves through the first quarter of the season it seems like a good time to look at the top candidates for the Hart Memorial Trophygiven, not to the league MVP or best player, but rather the playermost valuable to his team. It's an important distinction otherwise wehand over the trophy every year to Sidney Crosby. These candidates are certainly worth noting for NHL betting tips. 1. Jonathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks The best player on what is shaping up to be the best team in theleague and still only 23 years old. Toews, the Blackhawks captain,anchors the top line for Chicago and is tied with NHL scoring leaderPhil Kessel of the Toronto Maple Leafs. 2. Phil Kessel – Toronto Maple Leafs Taken two picks below Toews in the 2006 NHL draft by the BostonBruins, Kessel has slowed a little after his red hot start to theseason, but still leads the league in goals and points. Moreover hisplay has elevated that of line mate Joffrey Lupul who appears to be onhis way to a career year after bouncing around the league with theAnaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers. 3. Claude Giroux – Philadelphia Flyers Yet another skater from what is turning out to be a very good 2006 NHLdraft that also included the Penguins Jordan Staal and NicklasBackstrom of the Washington Capitals, Giroux was selected 22nd overallby the Flyers. The first line center may ultimately edge out Toews andKessel if all-around play is also taken into consideration. 4. Pavel Datsyuk – Detroit Red Wings Datsyuk suffers in the race for the Hart Memorial because of thebelief that he is surrounded by superior talent in Detroit. That maybe so, but the value of the best two-way forward in the league cannotbe diminished so easily. Not only is he great for NHL picks, but is one of the great value picks of all time,Datsyuk lasted until the sixth round of the 1998 draft. 5. Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning On pace for a 100-point season the former top pick overall in 2008 haslived up to all the hype and finds himself at 21 the best player on aTampa team that also features Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier.Stamkos will not win the Hart this year, but pencil him in as theearly favorite for next.  |
| Packers looking good to defend Super Bowl title Posted: 14 Dec 2011 06:37 AM PST The Green Bay Packers are looking the best team in the NFL by a wide margin and look a great chance of defending their Super Bowl title in Indianapolis come February. Cheeseheads all over are celebrating the Packers booking their play-off by continuing their unbeaten run with a 38-35 win against New York Giants – courtesy of a last minute 30-yard field goal by Mason Crosby. That means they are 12 games undefeated in the season and looking like steamrollering their way to Super Bowl XVLI in Indianapolis, which takes place on February 5th. People looking at the Superbowl odds should remember this. The way the Packers came through the Giants test showed how resilient they are and answered any lingering questions about how they would react in a tight game. That vital win, coupled with the fact Detroit lost to New Orleans, ensured the Packers won the NFC North title. A third consecutive playoff berth and the fourth in the six-year era under head coach Mike McCarthy pays testament to the quality Green Bay have and, while they have not often been really tested this season, the defending Super Bowl champions look capable of scoring for fun and steamrollering their way through teams. The Super Bowl betting reflects this. McCarthy is refusing to get too carried away at the superlatives being thrown at the Packers and the fact they are the side picked by most onlookers to win Super Bowl XVLI, while there is also the question regarding whether they can push on to finish 16-0 and boast an unbeaten campaign. "You stay focused on what's at hand, because every week it's going to be a challenge. We're 12-0, but we need to get to 13-0," said the coach. "We have other goals in front of us before we can even entertain that. So I hope we are in position to talk about that. But right now, we really aren't." NBC have confirmed that Madonna will perform at the Super Bowl XVLI half-time show in Indianapolis, with the half-time show becoming almost as big a deal as the Championship match for many fans and also advertisers.  |
| Posted: 14 Dec 2011 05:55 AM PST Real Madrid were billed as favourites in some quarters going into their clash with Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. Fifteen straight wins and scoring goals for fun – surely they would halt Barcelona's El Clasico dominance? The home side got off to a dream start. Not even 30 seconds were on the clock when Karim Benzema gave his side the lead from a Victor Valdes error. The majority of the 80,000 fans packed inside the stadium were dreaming of a victory which would have taken them six points clear of their fierce rivals. Those following the Spanish football betting will have known this. Real were buoyant and pressed Barcelona at every opportunity. The Catalan giants looked rattled. You can never keep a good side down, though, and Barca found a way back into the game after half an hour. The mercurial Lionel Messi fed Alexis Sanchez, who finished brilliantly past Iker Casillas. The goal took the wind out of Real's sails and they never recovered. They will point to a moment just before half-time when Messi was lucky to avoid a second yellow card, but, in truth, they were second best after Barcelona settled into the game. Xavi scored with a deflected effort from outside the box to give Barca the lead, before Cesc Fabregas rounded off an excellent move to make the game safe. Not for the first time, Messi completely outplayed Cristiano Ronaldo and led his side to victory over their bitterest of rivals. Question marks will remain over Ronaldo's big-game temperament, while Messi can do little wrong. Even the referees can't bear to see him leave the field.  |
| Toulouse & Leinster Heineken Cup Favourites At Group Halfway Stage Posted: 14 Dec 2011 05:09 AM PST The halfway point in the Group stage of the Heineken Cup was reached last weekend, with only three teams, Munster in Pool 1, Cardiff Blues in Pool 2 and Toulouse in Pool 6 able to boast 100% records and top their respective Heineken Cup Pool Tables. As a result, all three teams look certain to qualify for the knock out stages but it remains competitive as to which teams will be joining them. Pool 1 Billed as the 'Pool of Death' beforehand, Munster took control after winning their first match 23-21 in an epic encounter against last season's runners up, Northampton. They followed that win up with narrow away wins against both Castres and Scarlets, which leaves them 'sitting pretty' on top. Meanwhile Scarlets having beaten Castres at home and Northampton away, earning themselves two valuable bonus points in the process, lay in second place on ten points. Castres are in third place on six points while Northampton who has yet to win a game are looking down and out on three points, all earned via the bonus points system. Pool 2 Cardiff Blues have Pool 2 at their mercy having won three from three although they still must travel to both London Irish and will take on Edinburgh again this Friday at Murrayfield having trounced them in Cardiff last weekend by 25-8. With an away win already 'in the bag' against Racing Metro, a repeat win against Edinburgh this week should see the 'Blues' through. London Irish, currently on seven points, could go second in the Pool this weekend; provided they beat Racing at home and Edinburgh indeed lose to Cardiff. Pool 3 Defending champions Leinster consolidated their position at the top of the Pool with an away win at Bath last weekend, courtesy of a kicking master class, from fly half, Johnny Sexton. The win comes on top of their home victory over Glasgow and their draw away at Montpellier. With two away wins in the bag, Leinster is virtually assured of qualifying for the knock out stage and are also the bookmakers favourites to win this season's trophy. However which side qualifies with them is very much in the balance, with Glasgow on eight points, Bath on six and Montpellier, who entertain Glasgow this weekend on four. Pool 4 With Leicester losing their unbeaten tag last weekend away at Clermont this Pool is now a very open affair. Clermont sit top with ten points, Ulster are in second on nine points, while Leicester are now in third on eight points, Aironi, clearly the pool 'whipping boys' are just about out of the tournament with no points from three games. Leicester play host to Clermont this weekend, in a game which could effectively seal the Heineken Cup destiny for this season of the 'Tigers'. Defeat for them on Saturday and a win with bonus points for Ulster over Aironi in Italy on Saturday could well see the two time winners out! Pool 5 This Pool is a very tight affair, with Saracens currently holding sway on ten points having beaten Ospreys in a titanic struggle at home on Saturday. The two must face off again this Friday with this time Ospreys having home advantage and knowing that a win would lift them above 'Sarries'. Should that be the case and Biarritz nail Treviso at home then they too could go above Sarries in the Pool. However that might be easier said than done as the Italian team defeated the French outfit last weekend to keep them well and truly in the Pool 5 picture. It is very much all to play for all four teams in this Pool. Pool 6 Having beaten second place Harlequins at the Stoop last weekend, four times winners Toulouse can make sure of qualification with a repeat success over the Premier League leaders this Sunday, this time on home soil and as co-favourites to win the competition, a place in the enxt stage is expected. Should that be the case then it would allow Gloucester back into the Pool 6 picture, assuming that they repeat their success of last weekend against Connacht. Given that Toulouse look certain to win the Pool, the runner up spot could be decided in a straight showdown between Harlequins and Gloucester who face off against each other next month. |
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