Hi guys and welcome to my final blog... before going on holiday. Of course sport will continue despite my absence and I will try and keep up as much as I can, but it is unlikely I will have much use of the internet. Should I be wrong then I will endeavour to get something out for you at some point.
This week I debate what has been the biggest disappointment in the last month or so: Scottish football or Indian cricket?
And we know with me there is no impartiality, so there will be a cheeky mention of the Forest-Leicester match somewhere here. I know Leicester will turn it around and get second place eventually, but until then I will enjoy myself at their expense.
Debate: what is the bigger disappointment - Scottish football or Indian cricket?
Scottish football - the arguments
It was hard watching the Hearts v. Tottenham match on Thursday not to think this was one of the most one-sided matches I had ever seen. Yes, Spurs were excellent, but the home side did not test Heurelho Gomes once inside 90 minutes and that is criminal. Rangers can forget about the Champions League for another season and might not even make the Europa League group stages after blowing a lead to lose 2-1 against Slovenian side Maribor. Celtic, meanwhile, could only draw against Swiss side Sion at home.
You might think I am being a bit harsh here, but these are not isolated incidents. Celtic and Rangers have both had relative success in the Champions League and the Ibrox club made the Uefa Cup final a few years ago, only to lose to a wealthy Zenit St. Petersburg side. However, these are now isolated incidents. Rangers were the only team to make the group stages of a European competition last season and all they could do is stick 11 men behind the ball against Man United and play for the draw. I suppose with Scottish football these days, having one striker on the pitch is a positive step.
In defence of Scottish teams, their revenue is nothing like those of the elite English clubs. Hearts have an annual turnover which is a 10th of what Spurs get. So is it no surprise that so few ever prosper in European competitions where more and more teams are owned by extremely rich individuals?
Indian cricket - the arguments
World champions, number one in the world, controllers of world cricket. These were all phrases which were associated with India when they arrived on English shores little over a month ago and apart from the middle one, they remain so today.
Even if they manage to avoid a 4-0 whitewash against England, it will probably have something to do with the rain which has blighted this Test match (or a couple of their bastmen showing great defiance). The difference with India compared to Scottish football is that this is a team at the pinnacle of sport underachieving massively in a series where they were expected to push England all the way.
With just one day in the series to go, the two people who can say they have done well are Rahul Dravid and Praveen Kumar, who has most probably ran himself into the ground after bowling 158.3 overs in 3 matches.
Cricket is a game of statistics and I could tell you how England's numbers 7-11 average higher than Indian's top 7 or show you a list of averages for the series, but that's already been reported throughout the press.
What's worse is the manner in which India have lost. Look at the way Laxman has been constantly caught trying to pull the ball, or the way Harbhajan Singh was out slogging while his side tried to save a match.
The fielding has been even worse and has made India a bit of a laughing stock. And I include in that M.S. Dhoni's wicket-keeping.
But there should be some balance to this debate. Many players had played in the World Cup, the IPL and then gone on tour to the West Indies before hurriedly flying to England. Some others though, such as Sachin Tendulkar had a rest, but like the rest of his team only had one match at Taunton to prepare for English conditions. It doesn't excuse them for how dreadful their performances have been, but they lost the early momentum which is always crucial in a Test series.
Two other factors should be explored: firstly, India have seen Zaheer Khan suffer injury and miss the whole tour which was a huge blow. And, of course, England have just been on top form. To be tired and under-prepared is bad enough, but then to face a side in their own conditions and who are on top form and playing with immense confidence is a nightmare.
The verdict
It may be harsh to call the World champions a disappointment, but I was expecting a lot more from India than I was with Scottish football teams in Europe. There were mitigating factors I must admit, but watching R.P. Singh get called up at the last minute for a Test match having played no cricket and being overweight, with Munaf Patel who had been there all tour waiting in the wings, makes you only lose respect for what is a very good side.
Sir Bobby putting us to shame
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKqxAmzjJig&feature=share
Worst pun of the week...
Steve Kean was caught drink driving - is that him doing anything for three points? Or was this his way of trying to get out of the Blackburn Rovers job. If it was the latter than he shouldn't worry, unless he starts winning soon.
Hillsborough campaign
If you have Twitter and follow a number of footballers or journalists then you will probably have seen the e-petition asking for the release of all documents relating to the Hillsborough tragedy, but still, I ask that you sign up just to let the government know that another cover-up is just not acceptable.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/2199
Derby points challenge
It may have been a few years ago, but who could forget the pitiful 11 points Derby managed to win in an entire Premier League season. So now, I am launching the Derby points challenge to see when every team in the top flight passes that points tally. It is still early days, but I am expecting the challenge to be completed before the turn of the year. Amazingly, and annoyingly, they have already passed their own challenge after two weeks of this season.
The Bring Back Adebola Campaign
No Forest striker has scored in 4 league games, so I feel it is only right to create the Bring Back Adebola campaign. Let us not forget, the big man started on three ocassions last season and netted each time. How we could do with his predatory instincts (and sizeable assets) right now.
Confirming our suspicions
Manchester United are planning a stock flotation in Singapore. I suppose it makes sense to bring the club closer to where most of their fans live.
the you could have seen that coming award... a Real Madrid red card against Barcelona. Or should that be two? And what about Jose? I don't normally agree with Uefa, but he really is the enemy of football. Not only does he play boring football with great teams made up of hundreds of millions of pounds, but his teams cheat, constantly pressurise referees and are sore leaders. It's like a combination of Birmingham, Manchester City, Leeds and Arsenal.
Flop(ianski) of the week
He may be young and have a bad hair cut, but there isn't much excuse for Emmanuel Frimpong's dismissal. He looked like a red card waiting to happen from kick-off. He also missed his chance to earn a permanent place in the team with Alex Song injured.
But it's not him this week, oh no. A big thank you to Kasper Schmeichel for getting sent off despite not actually fouling anyone. You made my day and got Forest a point.
Hall of Lame
Ipswich Town lost 7-1 to Doncaster this weekend (following a 5-2 defeat to Southampton on Tuesday), but that must be a familiar feeling for their fans and manager. Last season, the Tractor Boys got hit for seven against Chelsea in the FA Cup third round and lost twice to Norwich City with an aggregate score of 9-2.
In 1995 they lost 9-0 away to Manchester United, with Andy Cole scoring five times.
And as for Paul Jewell, in the 2007-8 season Derby conceded six goals on four occasions and five goals on two ocassions. But there's a big difference between Liverpool and Peterborough.
Weekly predictions: Tipster v. the Selly Oak Tramp
And the one we all want to know...As expected it was a good start for the Tipster last week, as he accurately predicted how many holes Tiger Woods would hit bogey or worse. But could the SOT respond? Let's have a look at how last week's predictions panned out...
How many runs will India score in their first innings at the Oval?
Tipster: 198
Tramp: 320
Result: 300 - 1 point for Tramp
What will be the score in the Forest v. Leicester match next Saturday?
Tipster: 1-3
Tramp: 1-1
Result: 2-2 - 1 point for the Tramp
Which makes it a great turnaround from the Tramp after falling behind last week. He was closest with his cricket prediction and got the result right with the football, although he only got one point as he got the score wrong.
This week's predictions:
As I am going on holiday until September 5th, the tennis ones have to be decided a while in advance.
Who will win the US Open?
Tipster: Nadal
Tramp: Djokovic
First goal-scorer in Manchester United v. Arsenal match?
Tipster: Van Persie
Tramp: Nani
How many sets will Novak Djokovic lose in the entire two weeks at Flushing Meadows?
Tipster: 8
Tramp: 5
I wish I was a Getafe fan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/19/getafe-fans-sperm-donors
Anyone who has watched a Spanish film know that they're basically pornos anyway, but I didn't know it had forced its way into football!
Umm... ok
http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10426~2424681,00.html
Maybe he should be asking for someone to stop Wes Morgan banging them in against his team
I'll be back in a few weeks. In a bit.
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