My Top 3 Sporting Movie Villains

I was watching cricket the other day and found myself truly terrified by the presence of the 7 foot Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Irfan.  This got me thinking of other sportsman who remind me of movie villains, and here are my top 3 dick-dastardly characters from sport who are planning to take over the world in retirement.

When talking about villainous characters it’s quite hard to look past Joey Barton. This nefarious footballer has even picked up a dodgy French accent whilst playing for Marseille, so could be cast in a Bond film without a second thought.  Whereas with Irfan his look is intimidating, I think Monsieur Barton could do you some real damage on a physical level, and certainly one to avoid at all costs!  On a lighter note, Joey is in touch with his sensitive side so once he had beaten you up he would play you the Smiths and you could bond on a deeper emotional level.

Lance Armstrong would certainly be on the podium for this one, with his naughty deeds reminiscent of Sean Bean’s character in Goldeneye Alec Trevelyan.  You think he’s the hero of the piece, and then his true colours are revealed to make him nothing more than a duplicitous cheat.  Once the darling of a nation, Lance’s fall from grace has been mighty.  It’s only a matter of time before he hatches his plan of revenge and world domination.  Perhaps he’ll use EPO to create a genetically enhanced army of super soldiers capable of running the world on bikes?  Lord help us all.

Finally it is time for the terminator Novak Djokovic.  I have a feeling that beneath that layer of skin lies a technologically advanced killing device capable of inflicting devastation upon his enemies.  Have you ever seen a normal human bend like that?  He defies the normal laws of physics.  I have to say I can’t imagine Arnie feigning an injury whilst his opponent is about to serve for the match, though I never saw him play tennis so who knows what level that Artificial Intelligence would stoop to!

All in all I think the world could be in some serious trouble if these three ever meet, let alone me so I'll leave it there in fear of my own safety. Remember, you heard it here first!

For Andy Murray the Grass is always greener than the clay

With the grass court season getting under way at Queens this week the interest of a nation swings round to the one Grand Slam that seemingly exists in the British consciousness.  The Great British hope has been struggling recently with disappointing performances on the clay and a restrictive back injury culminating in a four-week lay-off and him missing the French Open.  Now Murray has a chance to put the clay court season behind him and get back to more familiar surroundings.  How will he fare on the grass in the upcoming weeks?

The most pressing concern for Murray at present must be his back injury.  At 100% Murray can match any of the top opponents for the title, though if his movement, power or stamina is restricted in any way you feel his chances are slim against the big dogs.  Queens should give us a good look at the state of Murray before Wimbledon, and hopefully he will come through it unscathed firing on all cylinders and with some much needed grass court match practice under his belt.

The main rivals for the title are predictable, and few.  Djokovic is always the man to beat, and his ability to step-up his play when he needs it the most is truly impressive.  Question marks remain over Nadal, with his knee proving untested on any surface apart from clay since his comeback he must be hoping that his body can keep up with the intense pressure he puts on it in every game and that he can maintain his rich vein of form from the clay court season.  Federer is more than capable of producing one last hoorah on the grass, and he has the potential to take out any of the top guys on any given day.  Stamina could be an issue if he is taken to 5 sets though, and I expect him to fall at the semi-finals.  The effervescent Tsonga could prove a handful for anyone, straight off the back of his best-ever performance at the French Open he will be full of confidence and like Murray able to use his serve to great effect on this surface.  Berdych could also spring a surprise as he has all the weapons to succeed on grass, though his form of late has been poor so his mental state could let him down at the key moments.  Expect to see Mr Consistent Ferrer in the final stages as well, however his record against the top 4 suggests he may fall short at the semis or quarters.   

With Murray it is never a question of talent, it is temperament which is the decisive factor in how he performs.  He has a tendency to revert to a passive game when times are getting tough, putting the ball in court and waiting for his opponent to make a mistake.  This is fine against the lower-ranked opposition he faces, but could prove his downfall against the top seeds willing to take the ball on.  When Murray is positive and aggressive he can beat anyone, and especially with his serve firing on the grass courts he can pick up plenty of easy points.  He is one of the fittest players on tour so capable of going the distance over 5 sets with Djokovic or Nadal, and if Murray can maintain this positive approach he could win Wimbledon this year.

Let’s not forget that this was the venue where Murray triumphed during the Olympics, and he will have the vast majority of the crowd right behind him cheering him on.  However this could prove to be a double-edged sword with the anxiety of the crowd adding pressure upon him to perform.  The expectation of a nation must be a heavy burden for one man’s shoulders.    

If Murray is fully fit then I expect him to reach the final at his favourite tournament and think he will face either Nadal or Djokovic for the crown.  With a packed Wimbledon crowd willing him on this might just be Murray’s year, and the chance to prove that, to him, the grass is always greener than the clay.  

The most anticipated season of all time?

Times are a changing in the Premier League; with the three top clubs appointing new managers there is plenty of speculation, optimism and excitement for the fans and neutrals alike to get their teeth into, but who will rise to the top next season?

The Main Contenders

Man United

The current champions are going through their biggest upheaval in the past 25 years with the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, but with David Moyes taking over the realm and a squad littered with up-and-coming talent it is hard to imagine Man United not challenging for the top spot next year.  David Moyes who is also famed for his non-nonsense approach, may have to deal with squad unrest and many players may want to test the boundaries under their new leader.  With the future of Wayne Rooney still unclear Moyes may decide to cash-in on the want away star who could do with a change of scenery to revitalise his career and would add significant funds to the transfer kitty.  Moyes will want to bring in some stellar signings to stamp his personality on the pitch, and it seems hard to imagine Fellaini and Baines not following their manager to Old Trafford.  The future looks bright, but if the season starts badly for Moyes questions will soon be asked by the media and the pressure will soon be on.  I expect Man United to challenge for the title but just fall short this year.

Man City

The sacking of Mancini proved to be an unpopular decision among the City faithful who made it clear that they thought he deserved more time.  If the rumours emanating from the Etihad since his departure are true, it seems that Mancini had problems controlling a dressing room chock-a-block with talent and ego in equal measure.  With many of the stars failing to shine this season a squad which cost so much to build seemed alarmingly short when the chips were down.  There is also the issue of the transfer policy at City, and how much control the new manager will have to bring in the players who have not only the talent, but the right attitude and desire needed in the Premier League.  If Pellegrini is appointed to the role he will have a real battle on his hands to unify a dressing room, provide attractive football and 5 trophies in 5 years.  Easy right?  Like United I think City may struggle to implement all of this in a season and may again loose out this year.

Chelsea

The perennial hirers and firers of the Premier League may just have hit the jackpot this year.  With a squad so used to Managers changing like the seasons they have a decisive advantage over their rivals.  The arrival of the special one has long been craved by the Chelsea supporters, and it can only be assumed that Mourinhos' return will be dependent on a huge cash injection to renovate the squad.  The special one will certainly match any ego in the dressing room, and will take the spotlight and pressure away from his team to be serenaded by the adoring English press.  One thing Mourinho has always displayed in abundance is tactical nous, and plenty of points will be gathered even if at the detriment of beautiful football.  With plenty of talent already at Stamford Bridge a couple of superstar additions (a striker is a must) could propel Chelsea right to the top of the League.  Like a summer romance I expect Mourinho to win the League this season, but like all flings reality will soon hit home and I expect old wounds to be re-opened with the owner in the foreseeable future leading to a swift boot out of the door. 

Arsenal

With so much change on the cards at their rivals could Arsene steal a march on his opponents and catapult Arsenal to the top of the pile?  The centre back paring of Koscielny and Mertesacker proved fruitful last season under the influence of Steve Bould, and the tactical awareness and discipline of Arteta led to a defensive solidity rarely seen by the fans in the past few seasons.  Gazidis has been very vocal in his support of Arsene with talks of a new contract, and his comments regarding the size of the transfer kitty and available funds for wages suggest a possible change of attitude at the Emirates.  The real question is how much money is Wenger prepared to spend?  Giroud is the only out-and-out centre forward currently at the club and experiments with Walcott, Podolski and Gervinho proving unsuccessful a striker seems essential.  If a big investment is made in this department Arsenal could go from top-four stalwarts to realistic title contenders in one swift move.  I expect big things from Arsenal this season. 

In reality it is neigh on impossible to call the winner yet.  Until the summer spending has been completed and the squads finalised there is certainly a fair amount of optimism for all.  One thing is for sure: this season is set to be one of the most fascinating of all time, and I for one can’t wait for it to begin.  

Beware the Wounded Aussie...

If you are a fan of English cricket then things are certainly looking rosy at present.  With Australian cricket seemingly in turmoil one could forgive a slight chuckle at the plight of the old enemy, yet don’t expect the Aussies to be anything but up for a scrap when the Ashes roll around.

England boast one of the strongest bowling units of any nation, second only to South Africa.  Jimmy Anderson, one of the finest swing bowlers in the world right now, is consistently taking wickets even when conditions do not suit.  Finn provides the pace and venom when sharing the new ball and it looks like the shortened run-up has aided the stump-kicking antics of the past year leaving him to focus solely on the job-in-hand. Stuart Broad looks somewhat back to his best in the most recent test against New Zealand, and not to mention the guile of Swann whose accuracy of length and variety of pace is enough to cause a headache for any batsman.

The batting side of the game is not looking too shabby either.  Led by Captain Cook England’s top 3 have shown the willingness to bat long and graft hard for runs, showing the levels of concentration required to blunt the cutting edge of a fresh bowling attack steaming in with the new cherry and scoring of the odd bad ball.  Admittedly it is a little early to include Compton into the proven duo of Cook and Trott, but back-to-back hundreds against New Zealand have demonstrated that Compton has the grit and determination needed to make it as this level, if facing slightly inferior bowlers on a flat track.  He is no spring chicken; at the age of 29 he understands his own ability and character at the crease, and with the added confidence gained from these innings he can now kick on and consider himself at home on the international stage.  With the silky stroke play of Bell at 4, and the explosive Pietersen at 5, things look pretty good once the shine has been taken off  the ball to put the opponent to the sword.  Young Root and Bairstow are both showing plenty of promise at 6, with arguably the final undecided place up for grabs we can look forward to the last test against New Zealand to see both demonstrate their full potential in order to nail down the spot.  With swash-buckling Prior the counter-puncher in at 7, England have the ability to dig deep and turn the tide of momentum if required by making quick runs whilst providing plenty of oos and ahhs for the crowd.  Even with Stuart Broad’s lack of form with the bat proving a slight concern, England’s tail still has plenty left to wag with Swann more than handy and even Finn proving a revelation with the blade in the last test.

In comparison Australia do not look in a good place. With four players being dropped from the last test against India for ‘homework-gate’ and facing a series whitewash, all is clearly not well in the Australia camp.  Michael Clarke and the coaching team have taken a fair amount of flack for their strong stance, though it turns out that the homework issue was the straw that broke the camels back in a series of poor disciplinary actions shown by the players.

Before us Englishmen start sniggering at the back of the classroom as plenty have been let us remember the actions of one KP which caused one of the best players in the world to miss the World Cup contributing massively to a tournament best forgotten by fans of the three lions.  However, Pietersen has now been re-integrated to the team and has been firmly put in his place, something the Aussies will be keen to replicate with the returning Watson.  One could argue that the timing was no coincidence, with Watson returning to Australia for the birth of his child he would not have been available for selection anyway, so what better way to make a stand on indiscipline whilst giving him the time to reflect with his family.

Let us not forget that Australia aren't the only team that have suffered on the spin-heavy pitches in India, many teams have suffered the same fate. The English conditions and pitches will be far more suited to the Australians, with less technical deficiencies in the batting being highlighted against seam rather than spin.

Australia have taken this opportunity before the Ashes to bring about some fundamental changes of attitude in the dressing room hoping to instil some of the passion and never-say-die attitude that is synonymous with the green baggy cap.  Without the abundance of talent of yester year, Australia need to replace their short-comings by mucking in with commitment and a willingness to fight as a united unit.

England do not suit the brash over-confidence of other nations, but would prefer the understated quiet determination so exemplified by the skipper.  Australia have a few wounds to lick, but a wounded animal is a dangerous one, a lesson that England would do well to bear in mind.