England Will Have to Bury Their Demons if They Want to Regain the Ashes

Cast your mind back to November 2013 and you might remember Australia captain Michael Clarke warning Jimmy Anderson to 'get ready for a broken fucken arm'. Clarke may not have delivered on that promise, but at the end of the last Ashes series Anderson and his England teammates were certainly left broken in every other sense of the word.

England weren't just beaten in that series, they were thrashed, outplayed and humiliated. There was a devastating routine of David Warner flashing the early warning blades before Mitchell Johnson essentially paraded around Australian cricket grounds with the heads of England's hapless batsmen on a pitchfork.

The Aussies were relentless and the 5-0 whitewash delivered a blow that English cricket is just about recovering from. Since the last time these two foes went head to head, England have had to reshuffle their management and playing staff, and have mustered just one Test series win in contrast to Australia's three.

In international sport when two sides are closely matched, a team is not expected to lose in the manner that England did one and a half years ago, especially having beaten the same opponents just a few months earlier.

To win the Ashes, however, requires more than simply having a better team, and the Australians drove England into the ground both physically and mentally. The Aussies bullied Alastair Cook's team into a position where it was as if they no longer had the right to win a game of cricket, and the margins of defeat speak volumes for how psychologically spent England were.

That's why if England are to have any hope of regaining the Ashes this summer, they have to wrestle back the mental edge that currently resides firmly in the Australian corner.

The psychological side of professional sport is often underestimated, and playing the perfect cover drive isn't so easy on a nippy surface at Lords with eleven Australians crowded round the bat persistently chirping away about your shoddy technique.

When captain Cook first comes to the crease for England next week, you can be sure that the Aussies won't be shy of reminding him about the last series down under, and might even find a way to wriggle the touchy subject of Kevin Pietersen into their sledges.

It's easy to forget that just a couple of years ago England were asserting the kind of ascendancy that is now being associated with the tourists. Indeed, it wasn't long ago that Jimmy Anderson was bringing his finger to his mouth to silence a chirpy Mitchell Johnson after comprehensively bowling Ryan Harris.


However, perhaps Johnson's personal revival is a microcosm of the shift in fortunes between England and Australia. Contrary to the Barmy Army's chant, Johnson no longer bowls many to the left or the right and his bowling is far from shite.  

The Aussies appear to enjoy each other's company and are an extremely cohesive unit. They come across a bit like the cool kids at school, the jocks who everyone else is afraid to stand up to, and at the moment England are the vulnerable students who always get their lunch money stolen off them. Johnson is the intimidating ring leader who always gets his own way, taking wicket after wicket while his chums whoop and high five around him. 

Johnson was certainly pivotal to the series whitewash in Australia. He dominated English batsmen with a speed and hostility which lifted his teammates. However, if England can silence Johnson, they will go some way to silencing the Australians. The 33-year-old is not in the form he was in 2013, and if England can get on top of him early we may not see the same snarling Johnson who haunted English nightmares two Christmases ago.          

The Australian's have already begun to try and exert some form of mental advantage over their Pommy counterparts. Number one media cheerleader Shane Warne has warned Jimmy Anderson that he will 'cop it' from the Aussies, while the Cricket Australia Twitter account recently tweeted a simple message: 'See you soon, @englandcricket... #Ashes', accompanied by an image of Steve Smith doing his best to stare into English souls.

The baby faced Smith doesn't strike the same fear as the brutish Matthew Hayden or menacing Brett Lee of old, but the 26-year-old's recent record is certainly cause for alarm. He endured a torrid time during his first tour of England, but since then has become the number one ranked Test batsman in the world and has averaged  102 in the last year.

England do, however, have an answer to Smith in the equally gifted Joe Root. Since being dropped for the Sydney Test in 2014, Root has averaged over 100 with the bat and established himself as the obvious successor to Cook as captain. With so many parallels being drawn between the two young talents, it would be surprising if the form of Root and Smith doesn't have a big impact on the
destination of the urn.

According to form, Australia have earned their position as favourites for the series, but they shouldn't be made overwhelmingly so. The Aussies have had a tendency to rely on Smith and their bowlers digging them out of holes which is a department where they may have the edge. England might have flattered to deceive since last facing the old enemy, but are coming dangerously close to figuring out what their best team is.

Think back to the first morning of the 2005 series. England's bowlers peppered the Australian's with an aggression which let their opponents know they were in a battle. Whether it's Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, or one of England's top order batsmen ambushing the Aussies in Cardiff, England have to make sure they do just that.

I don't agree with the idea that England have to adapt to the 'brand' of all out attacking Test cricket to win the Ashes, as New Zealand showed that it can reap its benefits one week but fail spectacularly the next. However, if England don't allow the Aussies to bog them down it will give the new breed of Root, Stokes and Butler the freedom to express the flair they have in abundance by taking the game to Australia.

This Ashes series should be a lot closer than many are anticipating. England may not regain the urn, but they shouldn't crash as miserably as they did in Australia. They are not coming up against an invincible team - there is no McGrath, no Gilchrist and no Warne for them to fear.

This English side must bury its demons and learn the lessons from one and a half years ago, and the only way they will let themselves down in this series is if they allow this Australian side to look as good as they think they are.  

The Burden of Expectation is Nothing New for Wayne Rooney

Had he not scored the dramatic late winner in Ljubljana last night, Monday morning probably would have greeted Wayne Rooney with the hostile but familiar headlines that have so often been associated with his international career, criticising an inability to regularly transfer his club form to an England shirt.

There was an apparent sense of relief as Rooney darted towards the travelling supporters in the Stožice stadium before sliding onto his knees and pointing to the heavens. Indeed, the England captain would have been fully aware that he had already missed two gilt edged chances in the second half. First he ballooned Raheem Sterling's through ball over the bar, and before he had a chance to cleanse his mind of that moment, he was skying the same provider's cutback into the netting behind the goal.

Rooney celebrates his late winner in Slovenia. 

It would have been easy for a lesser player to retreat into his shell and stop seeking out the opportune moments, but that is not in the nature of a world class talent like Rooney. When it mattered most, the centre-forward rediscovered his composure to score the goal that gave Roy Hodgson's side a sixth win from six qualifiers, and with it Rooney moved to within one of Sir Bobby Charlton's goal scoring record.

Without a goal since April, it could be argued that the infatuation with Rooney and the record has inhibited the England striker's performances, but having represented his country for over ten years, Rooney is no stranger to the expectation for him to prolifically lead the national team's front line. However, during what is a period of transition for England, the burden on Rooney to find the back of the net is now greater than ever.

The 29-year-old is the final remnant of the so called 'golden generation' of English footballers that were tipped to deliver the nation's first major trophy since 1966. The retirement of Rio Ferdinand coupled with Steven Gerrard's move to the MLS draws a symbolic curtain on the golden era of English talent leaving Rooney to pick up the pieces. With no Gerrard or Lampard to provide goals from midfield, the added responsibility for Rooney to lead by example as well as provide game winning moments is the most unenviable of tasks.

Rooney is the last of England's 'golden generation'.

However, Rooney has never been given an easy ride in his England career, and there is no doubt that the Manchester United striker is one of few individuals who will be relishing such a monumental challenge. Ever since he burst onto the international scene at Euro 2004, Rooney has been the most scrutinised of any player in an England shirt. The fact is, Rooney's performances will always be closely dissected because he is England's best player.  

With the hopes of a nation so often placed on his shoulders, Rooney was made a scapegoat after disappointing World Cups in South Africa and Brazil. Despite this, he has quietly accumulated what will soon be the record number of England goals and will rightly be remembered as one of the finest players this country has ever produced. 

There is no doubt that Rooney can have a frustrating tendency to pull on an England shirt and suddenly sink to the level of a Sunday League player. However, that could have easily been said about every individual who played in the dire friendly against Ireland last week. Rooney is set apart by his ability to grasp the game winning moments, just as he did in Slovenia last night, and just as he did with his free kick against Estonia back in October. 

Rooney is integral to Hodgson's new England era. 

The sporadic calls in the past for the striker to be dropped from the national team have always been rash and impulsive. The idea that this England side would prosper without him is a myth, and as long as he is fit, Rooney will always be the first name on Hodgson's team sheet. 

No individual is determined to succeed with England as much as Rooney. He knows that international accolades set the great players apart from the good ones, and it is that determination, that passion that he must communicate to an England team with lots to learn.   

Rooney has had to deal with the burden of expectation throughout his career, and his experiences of international football have moulded him into the captain Roy Hodgson needs to lead his new generation of England footballers.

Until now, his role within the national side has so often been undervalued, but England have become more reliant on Rooney than ever, and when he does finally eclipse Bobby Charlton's record, perhaps he'll be in danger of receiving the recognition such rare talent deserves.   

Leave Him to His Charity Work, but Don't Give Lance Armstrong the Attention He Craves

"Yes or no, in all seven of your Tour de France victories, did you ever take banned substances or blood dope?"

"Yes."

With one word, Lance Armstrong let down the millions of people that believed in him. Over two years have passed since the shamed cyclist confessed to spearheading one of the biggest doping scandals in sporting history. It was an admission that many hoped would never come, as the fairy tale of a cancer survivor returning to win seven Tour de France titles was too romantic to relinquish.

In contrast, for those who had fallen victim to the American's merciless pursuit of personal gain, the sight of the once adored cyclist slumped and exposed as a cheat next to Oprah Winfrey would have been the ultimate cathartic experience. Armstrong's confession, however, has done little to clear the doping clouds that continue to cast a shadow over the sport of cycling.

As the International Cycling Union continues work on shedding the sport's tainted reputation, Armstrong persists like a parasite that refuses to go away. It was never going to be an easy mess to clean up, but the abundance of lawsuits and settlements regarding the Texan's scandalous past are unfortunately just as intriguing as the competitive cycling on the road. Indeed, Armstrong's latest contribution to the fallout is his decision to accept an invitation from Geoff Thomas to return to France and cycle a stage of the Tour for the Cure Leukaemia charity.

Armstrong poses with Thomas ahead of their charity bike ride.

Armstrong's inclusion in the charity ride has inevitably been met with opposition by some who believe he should never be allowed near the bike again. During each of his Tour de France victories, Armstrong was a deceitful, ruthless and self-indulgent bully who brutally cast aside anyone who threatened to reveal the secret behind his success.

The former cyclist is still all of those things, and you'd be kidding yourself if you believe his confession wasn't a result of circumstance. The sincerity of his apology was about as believable as a strawberry flavoured kangaroo doing the butterfly across the Thames. He lied to journalists, fellow cyclists, presidents, and most shamefully, fellow cancer survivors. Armstrong clung to his elaborate lie until it was no longer possible. His admission was a classic case of jumping before being pushed.    

Ultimately, Lance Armstrong craves attention. After being stripped of his Tour titles the 43-year-old tweeted a picture lying under his collection of yellow jerseys in an act of defiance which illuminated his obvious lack of contrition. If Armstrong could dope and win again without being caught, he would.

"Just layin' around" - Armstrong was defiant after being stripped of his Tour titles.

More recently, the Texan compared himself to the Harry Potter villain Voldemort, complaining that "I'm the one everyone wants to pretend never lived". Indeed, Armstrong doesn't enjoy not being talked about, and his imminent return to the roads of France has profitably propelled him to the peak of the cycling headlines.

Perhaps just this once, however, Armstrong shouldn't be lapping up all the attention. The cause for which he is riding is far more deserving of our time. Like Armstrong, Geoff Thomas was a successful sportsman. Unlike Armstrong, Thomas didn't achieve his success through doping, but the two men are united by their personal victories over cancer. Livestrong rightly cut all ties with its founder when Armstrong admitted to cheating, but Thomas is providing the American a route back into cancer charity work.

Armstrong presents us with the most complex of moral dilemmas. Despite his checkered past, the Texan's remarkable comeback story provided the platform for a charity that raised millions of dollars for cancer patients and inspired many of them, including Thomas.

Armstrong will return to the scene of his tainted Tour victories.

The former Crystal Palace captain claims that 'Lance was the person who really dragged me out of what was a very dark place', and for this reason he is willing to offer Armstrong a path to redemption. One thing's for certain, that Thomas shouldn't be vilified for trying to help the man who offered him inspiration in his personal hopeless situation. 

Does this mean that we too can simply forgive one of the biggest cheats in sporting history? Probably not.

One would be forgiven for thinking that Armstrong has an agenda returning to France, an agenda to provoke or prove that he can still do as he pleases. In this case, however, perhaps the best punishment for Armstrong is to treat him like the Voldemort he fears he is and deprive him of the headlines his ego craves. This shouldn't be about the individual Lance going back to France, but rather a group of riders being led through the gruelling route of the Tour de France by cancer survivor Geoff Thomas. 

Despite what his Twitter bio tells you, Armstrong should no longer be acknowledged as the winner of seven Tour titles. It's time to separate Lance the cyclist from Lance the charity worker, and realise that Armstrong is now one among many in the fight against cancer.

If Geoff Thomas believes giving a second chance to a man who once offered him hope will help him reach his fundraising target of £1million, then who are we to condemn him? This is purely about raising money for cancer, and the sooner the fixation with Lance Armstrong stops, the sooner both he and cycling will be able to move on from each other.

Premier League End of Season Report Card

The Premier League may have come to an end a couple of weeks ago, but Barcelona’s Champions League triumph officially draws the curtain on the 2014/15 football season. 

Surprises were few and far between in a year that pretty much followed the script, but this campaign provided an insight into what should be a far more competitive top flight next time round.  

The season ultimately belonged to Chelsea, but success is always relative to the resources at your disposal, and a number of clubs will look back on their progress with fondness, while others will be forced into a busy summer plugging the gaps.

Here’s how each team fared and what to expect in the coming months:

Chelsea - 1^st Place: A

Following the first trophyless campaign of his career it was job done for Mourinho’s Chelsea, whose domestic success compensated for an early Champions League exit. The Blues fully deserved the Premier League crown, setting the pace in their opening game at Turf Moor and showing a ruthless streak to maintain top spot throughout the season.

Success was built on a solid and experienced defensive foundation, which delivered the platform for the attacking flair of Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas to assist Diego Costa. In signing Costa, Mourinho solved Chelsea’s central problem by providing the top flight with a striker it hadn’t been exposed to before. A no-nonsense brute of a centre forward, Costa defended from the front by roughing up defenders and scored the goals to justify his swagger.

With Roman Abramovich demanding European success, Mourinho will not curb his expectations. The Blues are only going to strengthen this summer and will be the team to catch next season.  

Manchester City – 2^nd Place: B-

This was the second time in three seasons that City had the chance to defend their title, and it was the second time they made a feeble attempt at it. Indeed, Manuel Pellegrini’s inability to inspire his side to a trophy could easily cost him his job.

It was a story of inconsistency for a team who at one stage looked like keeping up with Chelsea, and the next looked in danger of missing out on the top four. The spine of a side that has been so central to previous success didn’t perform, as injuries disrupted the form of Vincent Kompany and availability of Sergio Aguero, while Yaya Toure struggled to make the game changing impact that City fans have become so accustomed to. 

After another disappointing showing in Europe and the teams around them improving all the time, City’s ambitious owners will be under no illusions that they have to put things right this summer so that they aren't left behind.

Arsenal – 3^rd Place: A-

The Gunners continue to play attractive football without building a genuine challenge for the title. Qualification for the Champions League should be considered routine rather than success for a club that now boasts the world class talent of Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez.

A poetic performance at Wembley demonstrated that Arsenal have the quality to add more silverware to their back-to-back FA Cup wins, and an away victory at Manchester City showed signs of improving ability to grind out results. However, in order for a full scale revolution to take place Arsène Wenger must transcend his comfort zone and add a ruthless streak to his elegant style of play.

A premature Champions League exit to Monaco proved that there is still work to be done at the Emirates, but one cannot help but feel that a prosperous summer will make the Gunners relevant to the title race next season.

Manchester United – 4^th Place: B+

Following five points from their first five games and a Carling Cup exit at the hands of MK Dons, many were left wondering if David Moyes actually had been the problem at Old Trafford.  After such a lacklustre start to their campaign, few would have entertained the idea of United finishing in the top four.

However, a ten game unbeaten spell over Christmas demonstrated that Louis Van Gaal was beginning to implement his style of play on a squad that lacked confidence but possessed obvious quality. Wins over rivals City and a double over Liverpool exhibited United’s steady revival under the charismatic Dutchman, with performances starting to reflect the manager’s exuberant coaching methods.    

The bar has now been raised, but this has merely been a steady improvement rather than a chilling warning to United's rivals. The idea of a third consecutive season without a trophy will be unthinkable for a club accustomed to success, and if United are to spend big again this summer, Van Gaal must find a way to incorporate the big names into a system that eventually served him well in his first season of English football.     

Tottenham – 5^th Place: B

Mauricio Pochettino oversaw a relatively uneventful first season at Spurs, where the emergence of Harry Kane overshadowed the fact that the gap between Tottenham and the top four is growing all the time.

The North Londoners flirted with the Champions League places without ever threatening to break through, and they simply don’t have the firepower to overhaul the teams above them. An electrifying home win over Chelsea showed signs of promise, but Pochetinno’s side will need to make performances like that a habit if they are to better themselves next season.  

  

Liverpool – 6^th Place: C

The countdown of Steven Gerrard’s Anfield career was always going to provide the subplot to Liverpool’s season, and it’s safe to say that the midfielder’s farewell campaign couldn’t have gone much worse.

The Reds failed to make the top four, lost a semi-final at Wembley, and submissively exited Europe with barely a whimper. The frustration of their entire season was encapsulated in Gerrard’s thirty-eight second red card on his final appearance against rivals Man United.

More worryingly for Brendan Rogers, however, will be his side’s inability to adapt to life after Luis Suarez. After a massive step forward in 2013/14, Liverpool have taken two more back, and Rogers will be hoping for the opportunity to rebuild this summer. With the future of key players uncertain coupled with no recognisable leaders, one feels this will be a crucial transfer period at Anfield, and the Northern Irishman will have to ensure he brings in quality rather than quantity.

Southampton – 7^th Place: A

Relegation favourites at the start of the year and Europa League qualifiers by the end of it, Southampton have been one of the stories of the season.

After a summer exile, new manager Ronald Koeman intricately rebuilt by combining some shrewd acquisitions with an abundance of young talent, and applied a system which enabled the Saints to express themselves going forward.

Koeman guided the Saints to their highest ever Premier League finish, and supporters of the south coast club were subjected to some wonderful free flowing football which they will be hoping to emulate next season.

Swansea City – 8^th Place: B+

Garry Monk can consider his first full season in charge of the Swans a resounding success, as the young Englishman steered his side to their highest Premier League points tally. Despite losing top scorer Wilfried Bony halfway through the season, Swansea were still able to complete the double over Arsenal and Manchester United.

Up there with the best of the rest in the top flight, the real question will concern what the next step is for Monk’s men, and if they can better themselves next year by pushing for a place in the Europa League.

Stoke City – 9^th Place: B+

Mark Hughes is beginning to shed Stoke’s long ball tag while maintaining the workmanlike doggedness which makes the Potters an opponent that no team enjoys meeting.

Hughes is building an experienced squad and after another season of consolidation, he’ll have ambitions to replicate his achievements at Blackburn by defying the odds and leading his side to automatic Europa League qualification.

Crystal Palace – 10^th Place: B+

It was a season of two halves for the Eagles, as Alan Pardew took over an under-performing squad from Neil Warnock and inspired them to the first top ten finish in the club’s Premier League history.       

Pardew’s success relied on his ability to get the best out of what he described as the ‘mavericks’ at Selhurst Park. Indeed, it was the creative flair of Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie that was at the heart of Palace’s revival.

Palace fans will be wondering if it’s possible for the club to go one better next season, but Pardew wouldn’t have left Newcastle if he didn’t have high aspirations for the club he calls home. Fortunately, his ambitions match those of the owners, and they’ll want to ensure that the Eagles continue soaring up rather than down next year.

Everton – 11^th Place: C

Having come within touching distance of a Champions League place last season, the Toffees will be thoroughly disappointed with their showing this time round. Somewhat mirroring the struggles of their Merseyside neighbours, Everton’s campaign never took off and eventually stumbled to a mid-table finish.

The likes of Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley struggled to reach the heights of Roberto Martinez’s first season in charge, and there was no cup run to compensate for the club’s shortcomings in the league. In order to settle the unrest among the Goodison Park faithful, Martinez will have to reshuffle his pack this summer and hit the ground running in order to get the Toffees challenging for the top six again.

West Ham – 12^th Place: B-

After such a promising start to the season, West Ham won only three games in 2015, resulting in a decline from the dizzy heights of fourth in December to an underwhelming mid-table finish in May. This is by no means an underachievement, but Hammers fans will be left disappointed having seen glimpses of what their talented squad is capable of.

Sam Allardyce has since relinquished his post at the Boleyn Ground, and the club’s ambitious owners will be looking to bring in a manager who can achieve results that justify the money spent in recent years.

West Brom – 13^th Place: B+

The appointment of Alan Irvine was always likely to be a risk given his inability to succeed at Preston and Sheffield Wednesday. Indeed, the hierarchy at the Hawthorns bit the bullet in December and placed their eggs in the basket of Tony Pulis, who comfortably maintained his record of having never been relegated.

Pulis pulled off the same trick he did at Crystal Palace the year before, turning the Baggies into a well-oiled machine that was difficult to break down and caught out their opponents on the counter. West Brom quickly left relegation fears behind, and an away win at Old Trafford before a 3-0 triumph over Champions Chelsea showed the giant steps the West Midlands club have taken under Pulis.

With expectations likely to be raised, it will be interesting to see if Pulis will compromise the conservative tactics that have served him so well in favour of a more expansive style of play.    

Leicester City – 14^th Place: A

Bottom of the table going into April and still seven points adrift, one would be forgiven for assuming that Leicester would be occupying one of the relegation places at the end of May. Despite the fact that performances had been encouraging, there was little to suggest that the Foxes were about to turn these hints of promise into results.

However, Nigel Pearson – the man who ominously throttled James McArthur and bizarrely christened a reporter an ostrich – stirred his troops to one of the most remarkable revivals in Premier League history, winning seven of the last nine to finish a comfortable six points clear of the drop zone.

Despite his unorthodox behaviour, Pearson deserves great credit for turning Leicester’s season around, as do the board for reaping the rewards of standing by their manager. The Foxes now have a real chance to consolidate, and will need to get off to a better start next season to avoid having to pull off another minor miracle.       

Newcastle – 15^th Place: F

Seemingly coasting towards a top half finish with Alan Pardew, Newcastle’s decline under John Carver can best be described as a shambles, and the Magpies can consider themselves fortunate not to be starting next season in the Championship.

The Toon Army suffered eight straight defeats under Carver which dropped them perilously close to the relegation zone, and only a final day win against an equally out of sorts West Ham secured their top flight status. 

It’s clear that Carver is not up to the task, but for any manager to stem the tide and succeed at St James’ the Geordies need to amend their lofty expectations, and realise that the club’s problems predominantly reside in the boardroom rather than in the manager’s office.

Sunderland – 16^th Place: C-

Gus Poyet described last season’s escape from relegation as a ‘miracle’, but it certainly seems that the need for divine aid is becoming far too repetitive at the Stadium of Light. Indeed, the Black Cats showed no sign of improvement under Poyet, and the script was all too familiar when Ellis Short was forced to sack his manager in a last ditch attempt to stave off relegation.

Dick Advocaat may have kept Sunderland up, but it failed to mask what has ultimately been another disappointing season. The hierarchy at the Stadium of Light will be hoping that Advocaat is the man to help fulfil the potential of a squad that has regularly underachieved in recent years.

Aston Villa – 17^th Place: C-

Under the guidance of Paul Lambert, Villa were on a slide towards the relegation zone that showed no sign of stopping. The introduction of Tim Sherwood galvanised a squad that was lacking motivation and, most significantly, the former Tottenham manager was able to get Christian Benteke scoring again.     

However, Villa fans will not view this lucky escape as a successful season, and heavy defeats to Southampton and Arsenal in the FA Cup Final served a stark reminder that Sherwood still has a significant rebuilding job to do. No doubt the new manager will be relishing a summer to clear out the deadwood and bring in the players he feels will help him succeed at Villa Park.

Hull City – 18^th Place: D

One of a handful of sides in the bottom half who stuck by their manager, Hull were the victims of the revivals of teams around them. The Tigers were right to trust in the experienced Steve Bruce, but they left themselves too much to do with a run in that included four of the top six.

City’s squad never looked like one capable of consolidating in the Premier League, and much of their failure was due to an inability to strengthen in the transfer market. Record signing Abel Hernandez struggled to settle, while Tom Ince failed to live up to the hype that had seen him linked with Inter Milan. 

Back in the Championship after two years away, Bruce will know that he has a monumental task on his hands to bring the Tigers back up at the first attempt.

Burnley – 19^th Place: B

Sean Dyche will take Burnley back to the Championship having done no damage to his growing reputation. Keeping the Clarets in the Premier League would have easily been the achievement of the season, but Burnley’s squad lacked depth and an over-reliance on their starting eleven proved their undoing.

Competitive to the end, supporters at Turf Moor will have fond memories of their second stay in the Premier League. Despite a memorable win over Manchester City, the spirited Clarets didn’t take advantage of the January transfer window and simply ran out of steam at the business end of the season.

With Danny Ings set to depart, Dyche won’t underestimate the challenge ahead, and will want to strengthen this summer while holding on to the core of a side that made life difficult for so many Premier League teams.   

QPR – 20^th Place: F

QPR learnt that no team has a divine right to stay in the Premier League regardless of how much money you spend. A busy summer and a number of big name signings left Hoops fans optimistic of extending their stay in the top flight, but the season was lifeless from start to finish and the West Londoners rarely threatened to survive.

Not even ‘Arry could inspire the Rs who took until February to register their first away win. A slight improvement under Chris Ramsey but QPR lacked the leadership and togetherness required for a relegation battle.

Ramsey seems to have acquired a poisoned chalice, and will need to clear out the prima donnas at Loftus Road before placing faith in honest professionals who will chase success rather than the biggest pay cheque.   

Why Ice Hockey is the Best Sport in the World

With the Stanley Cup Finals looming, here’s why it’ll be worth staying up into the early hours of the morning.

“You know, ‘boring’ I think is ten years without a title: that’s very boring”.

Following a drab goalless draw at the Emirates that all but crowned his side Premier League Champions, Jose Mourinho couldn’t help but bite back to bitter accusations that his Chelsea team weren’t exciting enough to lay claim to the throne of English football.

That uneventful game in a small pocket of North London was, however, a microcosm of Chelsea’s successful season. The Blues were never set up to entertain, as football has become a business where success is defined by the immediacy of results, and Mourinho was only ever concerned with getting the job done.    

Get the job done he did, and one doubts Mourinho and Co. have been too troubled by their ‘boring’ label while looking at themselves in the reflection of their Premier League trophy. However, when the Champions of English football are being rendered uninspiring, one cannot help but wonder if the result focus of the business will begin to overshadow the primary duty of the sport: to entertain.   

Given that it is statistically the most popular, it is difficult to contend that football is not the most exciting sport in the world. Popularity, however, is determined by simplicity, and football feeds the masses because it is the easiest to understand. Many would argue, however, that football lacks the physicality of rugby and American football, or is devoid of the mental strength and patience required to score an Ashes winning century on day five at The Oval.      

    

As an English-born eight year old moving to the outskirts of New York, football was all I really knew as it became a central part of my upbringing. I was soon to discover, however, what I still believe to be the most exciting and skilful sport in the world. Ice Hockey amalgamates the passion of football, the physicality of rugby, the hand eye coordination of cricket and baseball, and throws it all within the confines of a massive slab of ice.

The rules are simple and probably do little to justify the title of ‘best sport in the world’. Two teams skate around the ice trying to put the puck into the other team’s goal, and whoever scores more is the winner. So how is this different from our experience of any other sport?

Well, other sports move at a snail’s pace in comparison to the 20mph skating speeds reached by those brave enough to compete in the NHL, and no sport rivals ice hockey for its ability to keep spectators on the edge of their seat for a full sixty minutes. The sheer speed at which the sport is played means that even the best players only compete for minute shifts at a time, with the action capable of shifting from one end to the other in a matter of seconds. In keeping with the exhilaration of regular time, there is no room for draws in ice hockey, as overtime and penalty shots ensure one team always goes home a loser. 

In an age when Ashley Young is winning penalties for being tripped up by a gust of wind, ice hockey players provide a refreshing escape from the diving and play acting we are exposed to in the Premier League. Ice hockey players are as tough as they come, and the phrase ‘leaving it all out on the ice’ can be vouched for by the majority of players with gaps in their teeth.

As if this wasn’t enough, not only are the body checks frighteningly colossal, but fighting is also considered part of the game. Even if you don’t have a clue what’s going on, the sudden break out of a fight is guaranteed to capture anyone’s attention. Is it outrageous? Of course. Is it acceptable? Probably not. Is it entertaining? You’d be lying if you said no.  

  

At the end of all this, the Stanley Cup represents the most demanding playoff format in all of sport. Tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning will play the first of a seven game series, having already played a gruelling 201 games between them since October. 

Their route to the final has been the ultimate test of mental and physical strength, but this will be no consolation to the team that has to walk past Lord Stanley a loser. So if this article hasn’t quite convinced you, stay up until 1:00am tonight and let the two best teams in the NHL this year win you over. One thing’s for sure, you won’t be left disappointed. 

Reading 2-2 Crystal Palace: Persistent Palace deny the League Champions

Having confirmed their promotion to the Premiership with a midweek victory over Nottingham Forest, high flying Reading returned to the Madjeski Stadium expecting similar scenes against an out of form Crystal Palace side. It would, however, prove to be a frustrating afternoon for The Royals, as it appeared that The Eagles had not received the script, and put in a determined performance to earn a share of the points in Berkshire.   

Six years on from their last promotion to the Premiership, Reading were once again looking to be promoted as Champions, and supporters of the Royals arrived at the Madjeski hoping to watch their last Championship home fixture for many years. Palace on the other hand, have gone in the opposite direction to The Royals, with a dip in form in the New Year seeing The Eagles slip away from the top half of the table. Despite not seeing their side win away from home in 2012, the 1600 travelling supporters were hopeful of crashing the Reading promotion party. 

With an understandably vociferous atmosphere inside the stadium, the game began at an equally frantic pace, as the home side looked to pick up where they had left off on Tuesday evening. Predictions prior to the game had suggested that Reading would waltz their way to a comfortable victory, so it came as somewhat of a surprise when Palace took an early lead. After some neat build up play in the midfield - and the Palace fans cheering every completed pass - the ball made its way out wide to Dean Moxey, whose low cross was met by the stretched leg of Wilfried Zaha, who duly ended his fifteen game goal drought. As a stunned silence descended over the home crowd, a similarly astonished cry of joy emerged from the away contingent now sensing an upset. 

Not deterred from going behind, Reading were immediately back on the front foot in search of an equaliser. Set piece specialist Ian Harte issued a warning of things to come, as Julian Speroni did well not to fumble the left back's free kick into the path of the onrushing Noel Hunt. With Reading supporters chanting, "We're going to score in a minute", the players appeased the home faithful with an equaliser just six minutes after going behind. Ian Harte's corner was initially cleared off the line by Paul McShane, but Owen Garvan's sliced clearance fell to Kaspars Gorkss, who climbed above several Palace defenders to force his header into the roof of the net. 

Having already had Nathaniel Clyne withdraw with a knee injury in the warm up, Palace were then forced to use two of their substitutions inside the first half an hour, as both goalkeeper Julian Speroni and center back Paul McShane were added to the away sides growing injury list. A youthful Palace team now had to dig deep as the Royals, buoyed by the growing involvement of their supporters, began to take a foothold in the game. Despite all their territory, however, Reading were struggling to breakdown a resolute Palace defense and failed to test substitute goalkeeper Lewis Price. 

It was in fact the away side who almost retook the lead just before the interval. Some uncharacteristic defending by Alex Pearce saw the ball chipped into the path of Glenn Murray, whose audacious flying volley was expertly tipped onto the crossbar by Adam Federici, denying the striker his first goal of 2012.

With the half seemingly heading towards an inevitable end, the turning point came just before the half time whistle. With Jason Roberts forcing his way in front of Palace defender Jonathan Parr, the Reading striker appeared to catch the Norwegian with his right arm. Referee Andy D'Urso interpreted the foul as being intentional, and had no second thoughts about reaching for his back pocket to show the striker a red card. With Roberts causing Palace all sorts of problems, the travelling supporters were happy to wave goodbye to a player who has been central to Reading's promotion push since joining from Blackburn in Januray. 

The half time whistle was met with boos from the Reading supporters, clearly unhappy with the decision to dismiss their target man on a day when events were meant to go smoothly. Palace manager Dougie Freedman sympathised with Roberts after the game, but if the shoe was on the other foot, one would assume that Royals supporters would have called for a similar decision.  

With Palace now sensing an excellent opportunity, they started the second half on the front foot. Making the most of the extra space now available to them, the midfield pairing of Stuart O'Keefe and Owen Garvan were intent on shifting the ball to the wide areas. Inside the first minute, Wilfried Zaha, who was impressive throughout, skipped inside several Reading defenders before his low shot was kept out by Federici. Darren Ambrose was next to try his luck from distance, only for his effort to be well held by the Australian goalkeeper. 

At half time Reading manager Brian McDermott decided to introduce top goal scorer Adam Le Fondre, who had played a massive part in Reading's recent run of form with four crucial goals in three games. The striker almost made an instant impact when he found himself through on goal, only for his courageous chip to agonisingly land on the roof of the net. The summer signing from Rotherham, however, was not to be denied and put the home side in front for the first time in the fifty-second minute. After Palace reacted slowly to a quick free kick Noel Hunt was given plenty of time to pick out Le Fondre, who rose highest to head home his twelfth goal of the season. 

Now brimming with confidence, one would be forgiven for thinking that Reading were the side with a man advantage. With Jobi Mcanuff starting to cause his former club problems, the home contingent began to sense the win they had all been craving. Le Fondre again went close with a free header, before Palace defender Matthew Parsons made two excellent blocks to deny Hunt and Mcanuff from extending the home teams lead.  

With a Palace equaliser now looking less likely, Dougie Freedman brought on young Mexican striker Antonio Pedroza to make only his third appearance for The Eagles. The away side instantly looked more threatening, as the young trio of Zaha, Pedroza and De Silva started to link up with Glenn Murray. With just fifteen minutes remaining, the Reading party was once more put on hold, when Owen Garvan's corner was not dealt with by the Royals defense. The ball fell to Glenn Murray who capped off a battling performance with a well executed turn and volley to give him his first goal since December, while it was the first time The Royals had conceded twice at home since November.

Now sensing the chance to win their first game in eight attempts, Palace looked the side more likely to go on and secure a winner. Despite their possession, however, The Eagles were unable to breakdown a resilient Reading side who held on for a well earned point. 

With the full time whistle came cheers of approval from both sets of supporters, and Southampton's defeat to Middlesbrough sees Reading promoted to the Premiership as Champions. Having suffered playoff heartbreak at the end of last season, Brian McDermott has astutely gone about his business at the Madjeski Stadium, building a team on a solid defensive foundation coupled with flair players capable of grinding out results. Indeed, Dougie Freedman has spoken of his admiration for McDermott's side, and will be encouraged by his teams ability to compete with the Champions, while the attacking intent and maturity shown by the younger players can fill the Palace faithful with plenty of optimism for next season, as Freedman will aim to replicate performances such as this one on a more regular basis.

Crystal Palace 4-0 Watford : Eagles finally find that finishing touch

Two teams met at Selhurst Park who had experienced contrasting emotions in their midweek fixtures. Watford, having netted late to record a victory over Leicester were looking to make it four wins out of five, while Palace had leaked two late goals to drop two points at Ashton Gate. With The Eagles under pressure to win their first game of 2012, an in form Hornets side were looking for their first win in SE25 since 2007.

Clearly on a high from their triumph on Tuesday night, the away side began the game confidently and looked to take control through midfield captain John Eustace. Finding space out on the wings, Watford were able to create a couple of early chances but neither of Alex Kacaniklic or Jonathan Hogg's long range efforts did enough to test Palace keeper Julian Speroni. The Selhurst faithful at this stage would have been forgiven for thinking that it was going to be 'one of those days' as the home side struggled to keep possession of the ball and appeared to be inviting pressure from their opposition. Indeed, Speroni had to be alert to keep out a free kick from Kacaniklic after Paddy McCarthy had fouled Joe Garner. 

Watford, however, did not make the most of their early dominance and allowed Palace to settle into the game. The warning signs were there when Mile Jedinak went close with a header from a Darren Ambrose corner, and five minutes later the home side went in front from their first meaningful attack. Following Nathaniel Clyne's hopeful ball down the right wing, Jermaine Easter was able to shrug off pressure from Adrian Mariappa and cross low into the penalty area. With the ball evading both Chris Martin and his marker, the ball fell to an unmarked Wilfried Zaha, whose shot was too powerful for goalkeeper Scott Loach, giving the nineteen year old his second goal in as many games.

The goal certainly sparked Palace into life, and a neat short corner routine between Zaha and Ambrose almost created a second goal before the final ball was cleared by Nyron Nosworthy. Palace skipper McCarthy then managed to get his head on another Ambrose corner, but on this occasion was unable to direct his effort on target. The Hornets did have chances of their own, and former Palace transfer target Chris Iwelumo managed to shrug off McCarthy before his tame effort was comfortably saved by Speroni. Incidentally it was a more recent Palace transfer target who was next to call Speroni into action, as Craig Forsyth tried his luck from long range, and the Argentinian goalkeeper had to be most watchful to make a smart save low to his right.

Despite Watford's best efforts, it was the home side who scored the second goal of the game to double their advantage. Palace midfielder Darren Ambrose was fouled on the right by Forsyth, and delivered a pin point free kick which was met by Chris Martin, whose header was equally well directed into the bottom corner. This was the first time the South Londoners had scored twice before half time in the league since defeat at Leeds in September, and would have left even the most pessimistic of Palace fans feeling that little bit more upbeat about the next forty five minutes. As referee Craig Pawson blew for half time, the select few Palace fans who had been voicing their concerns about the team and management over the past week may well have had less to discuss, while supporters of the Hornets would have been cursing the fact that their side had failed to make their early pressure count.

With Palace having surrendered a lead on no less than four occasions in 2012 and the next goal likely to determine the result, Sean Dyche acted quickly by making a change at half time and bringing on Gavin Massie for Joe Garner. Watford almost made the perfect start to the second half, but John Eustace couldn't keep his effort on target following Lee Hodson's cross. However, the away side had only themselves to blame when Palace extended their lead in the fiftieth minute. Following a foul by Jonathan Hogg, Ambrose's free kick was flicked towards the back post by Jermaine Easter leaving Martin with a simple tap in for his fifth goal of the season. This was yet another minor triumph for the Eagles, for whom it was the first time that they had scored three goals since victory over rivals Brighton in September.

Watford did their best to get back into the game, but Eustace saw another effort fly wide of Julian Speroni's goal, while Adrian Mariappa's blocked free kick somewhat summed up the away sides afternoon. It was in fact Palace who netted the fourth goal of the game just after the hour mark, thanks to more woeful set piece defending from the Hornets. Darren Ambrose, already with an assist to his name, took a corner to the near post which was bravely met by Kagisho Dikgacoi, whose effort crept under the hapless Scott Loach. On a day of firsts, this was the only occasion this season when Palace have managed four goals, and the first time since victory over Portsmouth in September 2010.

With the home side four goals to the good, two goal Chris Martin was not given the chance to pursue his hat trick, as both he and youngster Wilfried Zaha left the pitch to a standing ovation. With the game reaching an inevitable end, Watford went in search of a consolation goal to appease their travelling faithful of just over one thousand. However, Gavin Massie's effort which was straight at Speroni was the closest the away side came to getting on the score sheet, while manager Sean Dyche looked a forlorn figure on the touchline as the rain began to pour down. The weather could do little to dampen the spirits of the Palace fans, as chants of 'We want five' circulated in the Holmesdale as academy products Scannell and Clyne combined well down the right. Despite playing some neat one touch football in the closing stages, Jermaine Easter and substitute Owen Garvan couldn't add the cherry on top with their chances, and the home faithful had to settle for four.

The final whistle was met with cheers of relief by Palace fans, and ended a run of six league games without a win in 2012 for the Eagles. It was, meanwhile, a day to forget for Watford who will wonder what might have been had they defended set pieces adequately and made more of their early pressure. Having now completed the double over the Hornets, Palace will be hoping that this first 4-0 win since 2001 can be the start of greater things in the calendar year.