For a sport event junkie like myself, I ticked another box last week when attending the Cheltenham festival in the Cotswold in the English west country. Unlike a one-off team field game, the racing is a four day marathon has it is to be enjoyed, appreciated and not endured (despite having battered feet afterwards). So what makes it so special? Read more…
Since starting this blog 14 months ago, my penchant for predictions is abysmal so writing a blog attempting to foretell the major sporting events in Europe in 2011 is folly. Heres goes but I wont be heading to a bookies anytime soon with a wedge of cash on these hunches!
Football
As the English Premiership season turns into 2011 and with more than half of fixtures completed, regular table toppers Manchester United sit on top ahead of their bountiful city rivals City on goal difference. The catch is the class of 2010/2011 is probably the worse in terms of top quality sides who can challenge for the title. Up to five sides can claim they are in contention and while this is good for drama for the media and neutral fans, this is a reflection of how there are no great or even very good sides this year. If any side goes on a long winning run (as opposed to unbeaten run like Man United), they can leave the herd behind.
The FA Cup is a lottery but with Spurs seemingly destined to win a trophy in any year ending in 1, Harry Redknapps wonderfully entertaining can claim some silverware.
The Champions League is seemingly Barcelona’s to lose but we said that last season too! With the final at Wembley, it seems a good time for a London club to finally annex it but Chelseas time has gone it seems and Arsenal are facing down the barrel of a gun against Barca. The Europa League is more open than a desert but Man City have the squad to fight on 3 fronts.
We will know in November whether Gio Trappatoni should have taken a paycut or not as Ireland will know theirr qualification fate for Euro 2012 in Poland/Ukraine. Russia will automatically qualify but the feeling is Irelands top players are bottoming out at their clubs and Slovakia can nick the play-off instead.
Premier League: 1. Manchester United 2. Arsenal 3. Man City 4. Chelsea
Champions League: Barcelona (Chelsea finalists)
Europa League: Man City
FA Cup: Spurs
Carling Cup: Arsenal
GAA
Im really sticking my neck out here and predicting only Tipperary or Kilkenny will win the All-Hurling championship and the football title will go to either Kerry, Cork, Tyrone or Dublin. Even I cant be wrong with those calls!
Hurling first and both Tipp and the Cats are so far ahead of the other hurling strongholds that it will be an amazing turnaround of fortunes. Kilkenny are 6/5 with Paddy Power, Tipp the reigning champions 11/8 and Galway are third on the list, way out at 8/1 with Cork and Waterford drowning at 16/1! Many feel Kilkenny will gain revenge for having their 5 in a row dreams dashed but Tipperary are a young, driven side and could retain their crown.
Forecasting the All-Ireland football c’ship winners is a tougher nut to crack. After the 4 protagonists mentioned earlier, Meath at 14s and Kildare at16′s are next in the betting ring. While a relative outsider could win Sam Maguire, its unlikely a surprise packet like Down could reach the final again. Cork will fancy holding onto the trophy and Kerry with Paul Galvin flying have the pedigree but Dublin are a nice work in progress and if they remain hard to beat, Bernard Brogan may fire them to an overdue All-Ireland!
Rugby
Starting with the Internationals and its Rugby World Cup time. New Zealand are hosts and overwhelming favourites to finally reclaim the William Webb Ellis trophy but they have unbearable pressure on their Kiwi shoulders. Undoubtedly the best side in the world, no amount of Tri-Nations and Grand Slam tours will sate the players and their public unless they win the final in Auckland. Australia look to be peaking at the right time and have the best backline in the world while the Northern Hemisphere big two, France and England, are always capable of a few scalps.
The Six Nations is likely to be very open with 5 of the 6 sides fancying themselves to win this wonderful event. Ireland and Wales have the talent but are too inconsistent while Scotland are too one-dimensional. England and France are the main contenders for me and while there is unlikely to be a Grand Slam winner, England have home advantage against the French and may nick the championship.
The Heineken Cup is also quite open although French holders, Toulouse are backed at 9/4 to retain European club rugbys greatest prize. Irish side, Leinster are the form side at the moment while Northampton are looking good also. Munster seem on the way out as they struggle to qualify from their group while the Ospreys are too brittle mentally to claim the prize in Cardiff.
RWC winners: New Zealand (Australia finalists)
Six Nations: England
Heineken Cup: Leinster
Magners League: Ospreys
Best of the Rest
In the golfing world, Europe is likely to continue its upward curve with more major winners likely. World no 1 Lee Westwood can join the majors club in 2011 while Martin Kaymer can add a second. Rory McIlroys time has urely come too.
In horse racing, Imperial Commander and Kauto Star will likely race-off in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March and that is one to watch. Denmans time has gone but IP may win his second in a row against the great Kauto. Master Minded is also fancied again for the Champion Chase.
Oh and Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer will likely win at least 3 of the 4 tennis majors on offer this year. Some hope for Andy Murray so!
Here’s to a great sporting year, it will at least take your mind off this recession lark.
