Alot to catch up on!

As my title today suggests, I have somewhat neglected my blog in recent weeks. Just reading back I said I was going to cover League's One and Two after they were done the Saturday after my last post. I forgot to do this and so apologies for that. I'll be taking a look at League One, Premiership, FA Cup, Play-Off's, Champions League Final, Europa League final, and of course, Andy Murray's first round match at the 2010 French Open from Rolland Garros.

So, where shall we start?? I think League One is as good a place as any to be honest because the drama we had on the final day of the season down there was magnificient. Leeds knew what they had to do going into their game with Bristol Rovers, and with Millwall, Swindon, Charlton and to a much lesser extent, Huddersfield all having the chance to take that 2nd automatic promotion spot if Leeds couldn't complete the task they had set themselves. Millwall did what was asked of them beating fellow promotion hopefuls Swindon Town 3-2, but they would have to rely on Leeds failing to win. Charlton, despite their 2-0 win over Oldham, couldn't get in there even if Leeds somehow managed to fail their unenviable task. Huddersfield lost 2-1 to Exeter, a result which, incidentally, changed the complexion at the opposite end of the table, but more on that later. So, what could Leeds do?? At one point in there match at Elland Road, they were not only a goal down but a man down aswell and things were looking decidedly dodgy for a Leeds faithful who have had their fair share of heartache over the years. However, with a handy goal from super-captain Jermaine Beckford, Leeds managed to seal a 2-1 win, and the prospect of Championship football next season. A welcome reprieve for many of their fans who invaded the pitch at the end. Who can blame them with all the topsy turvy emotions they must have been feeling. As promised, I will now say what happened at the other end of League One, where there was yet mroe drama. Torquay United, dreadful for large parts of the season, and at one point most people's favourite to be relegated, somehow managed to grab a 3-0 win on the last day of the season which kept them up and so some major congratualtions has to go to them. Two other teams spent time in the final relegation spot on the last day, namely Exeter City and Gillingham. However, come the final whistle, it was the unlucky Gills who found they had been relegated after being thumped by fellow relegated side Wycombe Wanderers. For large parts of the day, it seemed Exeter would indeed be going down, but a goal just 8 minutes from time against Huddersfield saved Exeter and relegated Gillingham, who had seemed safe just a few weeks back. On the lower league chat, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Grimbsy Town fans after they were relegated from the Football League after a 99-year stint, despite their attempt at the great escape towards the end of the season. They must be rueing that period where they didn't win in 16 or 17 games midway through the season now.

So, what next?? Premier League?? There's really not alot to say given that the outcome was fairly obvious after Chelsea's win at Anfield. Yes, much to my annoyance, Chelsea are the Barclay's Premier League Champions after absolutely demolishing Wigan 8-0 on the last day. Incidentally Wigan fans, thats 17 goals you managed to concede in just 2 games in London. Glad to see Roberto Martinez is working out for you after he cruelly stabbed Swansea City through the heart last season. Manchester United did actually do enough on the last day of the season, had Chelsea lost of course, as they beat Stoke 4-0 at Old Trafford. It's obvious to me however that they have missed Ronaldo this season and so Sir Alex will undoubtedly look to sign a couple of decent player's this summer in the hope of capturing yet another Premier League crown with the Red Devils. We can actually mention the FA Cup final here, where a gallant Portsmouth were defeated by the juggernaut that seems to be Chelsea these days. After Kevin Prince-Boateng missed a penalty for Portsmouth midway through the second half, Didier Drogba (a man who I actually hate) scored from a free-kick to give Carlo Ancelotti the double in his first season in charge. No matter how much I hate Chelsea, and believe me, I do, I have to doff my hat to them because that is mightily impressive.

The play-offs next then and after, what was an absolutely mesmerising performance in both legs of the semi-final, and the final, Blackpool are the team that got promoted to the Premier League. Now I have friends and family who are Cardiff fan's (the team Blackpool beat in the play-off final) and for them, it really must have hurt to go into that game as favourites but to walk away seeing the Tangerine amry march into the Premier League instead of them. As a Swansea fan?? It was absolute agony!! I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't know if I'd have enjoyed seeing Cardiff go up and having to wave goodbye to the Welsh derby for a couple of years, but seeing the team that usurped our play-off place so spectacularly at the end of the season actually win through the play-offs and gain promotion was heartbreaking. Given a few more results our way, that genuinely could have been us. But I guess I myself have to get over that. And so for the most arkward congratulations ever... Well done Blackp... I genuinely can't write it, but the sentiments there ok?

Europa League final next. Fulham vs Atletico Madrid. I was quite hopeful, given Fulham's mesmerising performance in Europe this season, that British football may infact have a European winner this season, but it was not to be. Two goal's from Diego Forlan, the 2nd moments before both teams would have been looking at the lottery that is penalties, tore Fulham's, and indeed most of Britain's heart out at unfortunately killed the dream. They did score though, through Simon Davies, and they did take a VERY decent side to extra-time and within a breath of penalties so I guess Fulham should be proud of what they achieved this season in Europe. Certainly more than anyone would have expected going in. Ploughing swiftly on, as this post is beginning to drag on, the Champions League final. In what was an overwhlemingly dull game from where I was sat, Inter Milan managed to overcome the German giants of Bayern Munich thanks to two, rather excellently taken, goals from Diego Milito. The Argentine showed everyone watching why exactly Argentina will be such a big threat in South Africa, as despite the fact he most likely won't start most of Argentina's games, he looked like he would waltz into any other national team anywhere else in the world. Bayern on the other hand, despite having world class players in the like of Arjen Robben and Ivica Olic, just looked very ordinary, and I wouldn't tip them to do anywhere near aswell in Europe next season.

So, onto my final topic, and about time too, I hear many of you cry. Andy Murray opened his account at Rolland Garros today with a thrilling 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 victory over talented Frenchman Richard Gasquet. After the first 2 and a half sets, I was very worried that Murray's faltering form looked like it would continue here and a first-round loss would be on the cards for Murray. That would've been an absolute disaster for the number 4 seed, and it looked as though he sensed so after the terrible tennis early on. Yet again though, Murray showed that battling spirit that so endear's him to tennis crowds around the world, even if they think he needs some serious work on his interview technique. It seems like Wimbledon all over again, after all, who can forget that match where Murray looked like he would be knocked out comprehensively by Gasquet only to fight-back and take it in 5 sets. Big question now is, can Andy keep some form up and go further into this tournament, or will it be something of an extended break before returning to his now adopted home at Wimbledon for the disgruntled Scotsman. Only time will tell.

Ok, so that's all I've got for now folks. I'll keep you updated with Murray's progress as the French Open matures, and I will also be back Saturday and Sunday to keep you over the League One and Two play-off final's between Swindon and Millwall, and Dagenham and Redbridge and Rotherham. Hope you've enjoyed this blog yet again, and I guess I'll see you all soon. TTFN

Commiserations and Congratulations

My last post was about the tension leading upto Swansea's must-win game last Sunday and the build-up to the World Snooker Final. We'll look at both of those events plus the big matches that took place on Sunday containing the title contenders, Chelsea, and Manchester United.

I think we all know by now where I'm going to start this week. I was at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday trying to shout my boys into a play-off place. Unfortunately for the 17,630 that gathered there on Sunday, Swansea City were unable to do what was needed to claim the final play-off place, despite having been in the play-off places for over 4 months. We can look back now and be proud of the boys, but I don't think anyone thought any less of the club, players, or backroom staff on Sunday despite the dissappointing 0-0 draw with Doncaster Rovers. Swansea had many chances to score both in the first and second half to score but couldn't take them despite knowing that they only needed to win this game and theyd get a shot at playing in the Premier League. The 2 most controversial moments of the match however, came in the 4 minutes of injury time that was played at the end of the normal 90 minutes. Firstly, the penalty claim. After some good work by Darren Pratley, the ball was lofted into the box towards the onrushing Craig Beattie, who would have connected and probably given Swansea their much-deserved goal except for the terribly timed and downright awful challenge that came in from Doncaster defender Sam Hird. Hird not only grabbed Beattie's shirt, but also tripped the Scotsman as he was about to connect with the ball. What did the referee say?? No penalty. For me, at this level, that simply isn't good enough. You could show that penalty claim to someone who has never seen football before and even they would say its an absolute stonewaller. The crowd was delirious as to how the ref didn't give it. Indeed, even the linesman said no. But having seen it live and on television replays, I can tell you now that it was an absolute stonewaller and that the referee and linesman are a disgrace for not giving it. I know I'm a Swansea fan and it may seem biased of me to say that, but trust me when I say this, if I had been impartial, I could say whole-heartedly it was 100% a penalty. Second contentious decision was the decision to disallow a last-gasp Lee Trundle goal. On television replays, I have to admit it looks like handball, and perhaps from where the referee is standing it looks the same, but I was right in line with where Trundle made contact with the ball, as should the linesman have been, and it quite clearly hit his chest before bouncing onto his arm, which by my definition is ball to hand. Most people in the crowd thought it was a goal, the stadium announcer thought it was a goal, the stewards thought it was a goal, and there were no appeals from the Doncaster players, and surely theyre in the best possible position to adjudge it. For me, disallowing that goal was a bad decision, but then again, we've had bad decisions all year and so it comes as no surprise, but it does leave me, the fan, feeling very numb at a performance which ordinarily would've yielded a lot more. Even if it was a handball, those are the sorts of decisions and luck that we quite simply haven't had, and I suggest the FA take a good look at all their referee's before next season as some of them simply aren't good enough at this level. So, the play-off picture looks like this, Blackpool v Nottingham Forest and Cardiff v Leicester. One of those 4 teams will be able to plan for Premier League football next season, whilst some of us must lick our,extensive,wounds and wonder if next season will be the season it finally happens.

In a quick recap of the title race, it's going down to the final day of the season. After Chelsea won 2-0 at Anfield, which has been all too easy this season, Manchester United knew they needed a win at the Stadium Of Light and that win came through Nani's goal midway through the first-half. Games that are left?? Chelsea face Wigan at home, who have pulled out a couple of unlikely results this season, and United host Stoke. Could be a tense final day this Sunday.

The World Snooker Championships. The pinnacle of the sport. The chance to join a legendary list of player that contains the likes of Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan. The final was played over 4 sessions, 2 Sunday, 2 Monday and was between the World number 9, The Thunder From Down Under, Neil Robertson, and former Champion (2006), and runner-up (2004), a man who has lost his way in recent years but looks back to his best after these 2 weeks in Sheffield, The Pocket Dynamo, Greame Dott. The way these 2 men has been playing, it looked like we were in for an absolute crackerjack of a final, and they didn't disappoint. The final result, after much toil and strain, was Neil Robertson being crowned World Champion with a margin of 18-13. It has to be said that Dott did look quite tired throughout the match, but he gave as good as he got for a long, long time which led to this final finishing at 12:55, just 15 minutes outside the legendary black ball final of '85 between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor, which, to this day, remains the latest finishing time for a World final. I have to say, looking at the way he came through the tournament to the final, perhaps Neil Robertson deserved to win it. I mean in the second round, he came back from 11-5 down to beat Martin Gould 13-12 and you don't come back like that unless you've got some serious talent and drive to get there. Then he went into a quarter-final against the charismatic Steve Davis, a man who ousted disgraced John Higgins earlier in the tournament and beat him 13-5. That takes some doing and you cant really have a dig at a man who came through some tough, tough matches with such style and charisma. Mind you, Dotty didn't have it easy, especially in his semi-final when he came up against Mark Selby, a man who had ousted, former champions Ken Doherty, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan. He came through that match against Selby 17-14, but the strain of that match showed through in the final with Dott looking visibly tired as commented on by Peter Ebdon, a man who Dott had actually beaten earlier in the tournament. So well done to Neil Robertson, a man who has given Australia their first World Champion in this age-old and much revered sport. Robertson said that he hopes his win give Snooker a boost in his homeland. Either that or he won't call himself Australian anymore. All joking aside though, who knows when, aswell as the Chinese invasion, we may have an Aussie invasion at the Crucible as well.

So there are my congratulations and commiserations in what has been an emotionally turbulent week of sport for myself and for you out there. I hope you've enjoyed this blog as I always try to make it as readable as possible and I love the fact that people read it and get a little kick out of it. So cheers everyone, see you soon. Probably Saturday after all outstanding issues in League's 1 and 2 are done with. Laters