June 2011 Archives

Barcelona would have beaten any team in the world with their performance against Manchester United in Saturday's European Champions League final at Wembley.3-1 could have been a lot more but United,despite some mistakes,were not disgraced.Lionel Messi proved he is the best in the world and United did not give or need any excuses.They were just outplayed by a side that have won this trophy 3 times in 5 years--including a win over United in Rome.United do reach the final and of course beat Chelsea in the Moscow final.But this Barca side has to rank as one of the greatest of all time.Game,set and match-and a pleasure to watch!....By the way when the pairing for the final was known I could not give United much chance.Then last week I changed my mind.Hands up I should have stuck with my gut feeling!

SWANSEA,PETERBOROUGH AND STEVENAGE PROMOTED

Great play-off Championship final at Wembley.Swansea beating Reading 4-2 to gain promotion to the Premier League.Lovely football played most of the season by Swansea under Brendan Rodgers who was sacked by Reading two years ago after only five months.I worry for them next season but the Premier is the only place to be.....Peterborough hit three late goals very quickly,78minutes,80 and 85 to beat Huddersfield in the League One play-off final.Darren Ferguson banned his dad,Sir Alex from Old Trafford to watch his son's team.The Posh boss claimed Sir alex had become a jinx!Darren had been sacked by Preston in December and returned to Peterborough after leaving acrimoniously in 2009 after taking them from League 2 to the Championship in successive seasons.But it looks as if 35 goals Craig Mackail-Smith will be leaving.Mind you Posh did score 129 goals this season!..and Stevenage,not that long ago of the non-league won the League 2 play-off final 1-0 over Torquay United

BUSY WEEK FOR YOURS TRULY

A great week for me TV wise.I presented the William Hill Greyhound Derby third round from Wimbledon on Saturday on Sky Sports 4...I am back tonight( Tuesday) for the quarter-finals on Sky Sports 2...then Wednesday I am recording an episode of Living the Life for Sky Arts with Lord Sebastian Coe( due to go out in September),Thursday there is a repeat of Time of Our Lives at 11.00p.m. with Darts ace Phil Taylor,Mike Gregory and Tony Green.On Saturday from 10.30p.m. until 4.00a.m I am presenting a triple bill of Boxing on Sky Sports 1 headed by the Carl Froch WBC fight from Atlantic City.Plenty of homework but hey better than a proper job.I am still excited by it all

DAVE JONES SACKED AS CARDIFF MANAGER;SAM ALLARDYCE SET FOR WEST HAM

Dave Jones is a good manager and unlucky to be sacked as Cardiff manager after dipping out of the Championship play-offs.They have been peppering promotion under Jones despite their apparent problems.Lets see who they get next.....I am sure Jones will get a good job before long....Sam Allardyce looks set to return to football as the new boss at West Ham.Their co-chairman David Gold told me recently they need an experienced new manager.They will certainly have that in Sam who will need and want to change the squad.There is no easy way out of the Championship and their will be plenty to challenge there with the likes of Birmingham, Blackpool, Reading, Leeds and Leicester - just to name five!

Barcelona would have beaten any team in the world with their performance against Manchester United in Saturday's European Champions League final at Wembley.3-1 could have been a lot more but United,despite some mistakes,were not disgraced.Lionel Messi proved he is the best in the world and United did not give or need any excuses.They were just outplayed by a side that have won this trophy 3 times in 5 years--including a win over United in Rome.United do reach the final and of course beat Chelsea in the Moscow final.But this Barca side has to rank as one of the greatest of all time.Game,set and match-and a pleasure to watch!....By the way when the pairing for the final was known I could not give United much chance.Then last week I changed my mind.Hands up I should have stuck with my gut feeling!

SWANSEA,PETERBOROUGH AND STEVENAGE PROMOTED

Great play-off Championship final at Wembley.Swansea beating Reading 4-2 to gain promotion to the Premier League.Lovely football played most of the season by Swansea under Brendan Rodgers who was sacked by Reading two years ago after only five months.I worry for them next season but the Premier is the only place to be.....Peterborough hit three late goals very quickly,78minutes,80 and 85 to beat Huddersfield in the League One play-off final.Darren Ferguson banned his dad,Sir Alex from Old Trafford to watch his son's team.The Posh boss claimed Sir alex had become a jinx!Darren had been sacked by Preston in December and returned to Peterborough after leaving acrimoniously in 2009 after taking them from League 2 to the Championship in successive seasons.But it looks as if 35 goals Craig Mackail-Smith will be leaving.Mind you Posh did score 129 goals this season!..and Stevenage,not that long ago of the non-league won the League 2 play-off final 1-0 over Torquay United

BUSY WEEK FOR YOURS TRULY

A great week for me TV wise.I presented the William Hill Greyhound Derby third round from Wimbledon on Saturday on Sky Sports 4...I am back tonight( Tuesday) for the quarter-finals on Sky Sports 2...then Wednesday I am recording an episode of Living the Life for Sky Arts with Lord Sebastian Coe( due to go out in September),Thursday there is a repeat of Time of Our Lives at 11.00p.m. with Darts ace Phil Taylor,Mike Gregory and Tony Green.On Saturday from 10.30p.m. until 4.00a.m I am presenting a triple bill of Boxing on Sky Sports 1 headed by the Carl Froch WBC fight from Atlantic City.Plenty of homework but hey better than a proper job.I am still excited by it all

DAVE JONES SACKED AS CARDIFF MANAGER;SAM ALLARDYCE SET FOR WEST HAM

Dave Jones is a good manager and unlucky to be sacked as Cardiff manager after dipping out of the Championship play-offs.They have been peppering promotion under Jones despite their apparent problems.Lets see who they get next.....I am sure Jones will get a good job before long....Sam Allardyce looks set to return to football as the new boss at West Ham.Their co-chairman David Gold told me recently they need an experienced new manager.They will certainly have that in Sam who will need and want to change the squad.There is no easy way out of the Championship and their will be plenty to challenge there with the likes of Birmingham, Blackpool, Reading, Leeds and Leicester - just to name five!