Montenegro v England

Posted in International on 10/7/11 at 12:14 pm3,090 Comments

20.00, Friday 8th October 2011, City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro.

It is almost inconceivable that England won’t qualify for EURO 2012 at this stage, but Fabio Capello’s men still need to be wary in their game against Montenegro tonight. England know that a draw will be enough to see them into the draw for the championships next summer and travel in good form following comfortable wins over Bulgaria and Wales during the last international break. Tonight will be a different test though, this is arguably the biggest game in Montenegro’s short history and they have the players to trouble England. Simon Vukcevic, who Blackburn fans know, and Stevan Jovetic, the young Fiorentina winger, can be a handful and will be looking to provide the ammunition for Mirko Vucinic, the newly signed Juventus forward, to cause John Terry and Co. problems at the back. A number of the Montenegrin players play in Europe’s top leagues with Stefan Savic and Marko Basa playing Champions League football with Manchester City and Lille respectively and England know there can be no room for complacency if they are to assure themselves qualification for a European Championships for the first time since 2004.

Lampard has silenced his critics in the past few weeks.

All that being said though, the England squad is in excellent shape, with the only notable absentees being Jack Wilshere and Steven Gerrard in midfield and there is little doubt that The Three Lions will look to win the game judging from the attacking options that are available to them. Ashley Young has been in excellent goalscoring form for club and country this season and looks a good price at 8/1 with Skybet to get the first goal. His Manchester United team mate Wayne Rooney has also been sensational so far this season and, coupled with England’s excellent away record, could be worth a small punt to score twice at 9/2. England’s line up looks to have a good balance to it and Gary Cahill and John Terry look to be building a good understanding in central defence, and with the excellent Joe Hart behind them, England to keep a clean sheet looks another bet worth taking at 11/10. With so many options available to Capello it is difficult to predict what his line-up will be tonight, with Frank Lampard and Phil Jones impressing for their clubs and in training, and Jones could be handed a debut at right back. Lampard looks to have completely silenced those writing his obituaries with four goals in two games for Chelsea and he has impressed Capello with his attitude and ability in training. England should win comfortably tonight but Montenegro won’t make it easy and another bet that could offer some value is in a draw at half time, England to win at full time at 10/3. There is little doubt that England will get the minimum required draw tonight, and then they can really look ahead to next summer and the big tournament out in Poland & Ukraine.

Possible England line-up: Hart; Jones, Cole, Cahill, Terry; Parker, Barry, Lampard; Walcott, Young, Rooney.

SYS Tip for the Game: England to keep a clean sheet at 11/10.

All odds provided by:

ALL ODDS PROVIDED BY:

England at EURO 2012

Posted in International on 10/4/11 at 2:39 pm4,758 Comments

Barring a disaster in Montenegro, England should qualify for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine next summer, and despite a shaky start, Fabio Capello will be pleased with what he has seen from his players during the qualification campaign. Sort Your Sport looks at the likely 23 man squad for the tournament based on the form players have shown so far this season.

Goalkeepers

Joe Hart (Man City): Has developed into a top class goalkeeper in the last two seasons, travelled to South Africa in 2010 so has experience of an international tournament and now, with Manchester City, Champions League experience as well. Nobody can question his claims to the number one jersey.

Rob Green (West Ham): Having only been capped 11 times since his debut in 2005 and after his calamitous error in the World Cup opener against USA in South Africa a lot of people question his selection. On his day though, he is a good goalkeeper and will benefit from the absences of Paul Robinson and Ben Foster.

David Stockdale (Fulham, on loan at Ipswich): Has had an excellent start to the season with Ipswich in The Championship and if he can help them to promotion then his place in the squad should be assured.

Defenders

Ashley Cole (Chelsea): One of the first names on Capello’s team sheet and one of the few players in the squad who would make it into any other side on the planet. Has impressed at every tournament England have been to since 2002 and barring injury he won’t miss out this time either.

Leighton Baines (Everton): An excellent understudy to Cole, reliable and energetic in defence and has a wicked left foot in the attacking third. Useful from set pieces as well, Baines will be an important member of the squad.

John Terry (Chelsea): Controversially reinstated as captain but has repaid the managers faith with a series of assured performances since. Influential on and off the pitch, England will need him to be at his best if they are to realise their ambitions for the championships.

Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd): Hasn’t been named in the squad for the Montenegro game but is an important presence in the dressing room and if he can get back to full fitness he is still in Capello’s preferred central defensive partnership.

Phil Jones (Man Utd): The £16m man who is threatening Ferdinand’s place in the United team has been one of the captures of the season so far. Has impressed with his marauding runs forward and tough tackling and is almost certain to make the 23 for the Euros.

Micah Richards (Man City): Established himself as Manchester City’s first choice right back, has been in and out of the England set up under Capello but now, with Champions League experience under his belt, he can make to step up and become England’s first choice in his position.

Gary Cahill (Bolton): Is likely to be fighting it out with Kyle Walker and Chris Smalling for the final defensive spot but has shown good form in a poor start to the season for Bolton. A big move in January could be on the cards to press his claims home further.

Midfielders

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool): Has been struggling with injury but on his day can still change a game in a heartbeat, if we can prove his  fitness for the rest of the season, will be a definite feature for England in the summer.

Frank Lampard (Chelsea): Answered his critics with a hat-trick against Bolton at the weekend, his passing and ability to get important goals are still imperious and adds crucial experience to the dressing room.

Jack Wilshere (Arsenal): Has missed the start of the season through a complicated ankle injury but is one the brightest prospects in world football and Capello seems to agree as he looks to build a team around the youngster. Could Euro 2012 be his coming of age?

Scott Parker (Tottenham): Got his move to Spurs late on in the transfer window and hasn’t looked back making a string of assured, industrious performances. He has been the linchpin of Harry Redknapp’s midfield and will give 100% commitment to the England cause in Poland & Ukraine.

Gareth Barry (Man City): Another important member of the England squad. Tough tackling and simple passing are key strings to Gareth Barry’s bow and his ability to break up play will be important to England during the tournament.

Ashley Young (Man Utd): His move to United was exactly what he needed and has come on leaps and bounds this season. Scored some key goals in the qualification campaign and will be looking to do the same at EURO 2012.

Theo Walcott (Arsenal): Was devastated to miss out on a place in South Africa but has come on leaps and bounds since then. His pace can be a threat to any defence and chips in with goals and assists as well.

Stewart Downing (Liverpool): Another mover in the close season, Downing has proved his worth for Liverpool with his direct running and wide range of passing skills. Offers another option on the left for The Three Lions.

James Milner (Man City): Versatile midfielder who has been in and out of the City side this season but has impressed when he has played. Another option in midfield for Capello.

Forwards

England will need Rooney to be at his best

Wayne Rooney (Man Utd): Has looked unstoppable at times for United this season. His temperament has improved no end and England fans will be hoping he can finally prove his undeniable brilliance on the international stage next summer.

Andy Carroll (Liverpool): The £35m forward looks to have settled in at Liverpool and offers England another dimension with the threat he poses aerially. Should cement his place if he keeps up his form.

Danny Wellbeck (Man Utd): Arguably the most improved player in the league this season. Has scored important goals for United and looks ready to make the step up to the international scene.

Darren Bent (Aston Villa): Consistently Bent is one of the best goal scorers in The Premier League and if he can continue to find the net he can be the one to take up the final attacking space in the squad for the tournament.

Waiting in the wings

Kyle Walker, Chris Smalling, Phil Jagielka, Tom Cleverley, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, Daniel Sturridge, Jermaine Defoe, Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Let us know what you think of our squad on Twitter @sortyoursport

ALL ODDS PROVIDED BY:

Keeping your feet on the ground

Posted in Premier League on 10/3/11 at 3:08 pm3,573 Comments

By Rob Lees

For Queen’s Park Rangers fans it was looking like a summer of misery. Neil Warnock was handed a transfer budget of £1.25 million by a board who were flirting with the idea of selling up. The uncertainty of talisman Adel Taarabt’s future was running theme throughout the close season with even Warnock himself certain that his captain would be lured by the riches of Paris St Germain. Warnock did little to convince Taarabt, not out of choice though, and was slow to get into the transfer market. Rangers’ first signing was a free transfer from Cardiff City in the form of Jay Bothroyd which excited the fans, mainly out of relief that they had finally signed someone. Warnock followed this by making what seemed like panic signings when he landed injury prone pair Kieron Dyer and Danny Gabbidon, who both made minimal appearances last season in the West Ham’s ill fated relegation battle. QPR then brought in Bruno Perone, an unknown quantity, and a third choice goalkeeper which again, didn’t give the fans anything to sing about. They then completed the signing of DJ Campbell from Blackpool which gave the fans a little more optimism. Taarabt pledged his loyalty, for the short term at least, but with the shoe string budget all spent the signs of staying in the Premier League did not look promising. The rumoured takeover was nowhere near completion and things were looking bleak for Rangers fans who had harboured huge hopes of a permanent return to the big time.

The opening day of the season came around and after a 14 year absence from top flight the prospect of coming up against a young, vibrant Bolton side was exciting and something for the fans to really whet their appetites for. The result however was very different; a 4-0 demolition, Dyer going off  after 6 minutes, Adel Taarbat looking lost and new boy Gabbidon scoring an own goal, was certainly a sore welcome back from Owen Coyle’s well drilled side. Warnock stayed ambitious, trying to rub off his excitement of being back in the big time to the fans, but in the back of his mind, he must have known it was going to be a huge task saving the R’s from relegation.

Just days later though, a press conference was called  and the takeover QPR fans had longingly hoped for had happened. The old regime of the F1 tycoons; the team tinkering Flavio Briatore and the disinterested Bernie Ecclestone were out and the club was taken over by Malaysian businessman and avid football fan Tony Fernandes. The news got better when Amit Bhatia, who left his position over a ticket pricing row with the old ownership in the close season, was reinstated, and Warnock was not only promised job security, but the funds that know meant he could shop at “Harrods and not Woolworths”.

Tony Fernandes has breathed new life into QPR fans hopes for the season.

Social networking sites were buzzing over the news, with fans singing the praises of Fernandes, who also promised to look at the extortionate season ticket prices and the prospect of a new ground. It was exciting times and this was shown by the players who produced a solid performance to win 1-0 away at Everton. Despite the three points, the squad looked thin and Warnock needed to spend. Big names like Scott Parker, David Beckham and Craig Bellamy were all surging through the rumour mill, but first through the door was Newcastle hot head Joey Barton. Due to the Newcastle board deeming his attitude and Twitter rants unprofessional, Barton was signed on a free transfer and if this wasn’t convincing enough, Warnock then made five more signings on transfer deadline day including England internationals Shaun Wright-Phillips and Luke Young.

The signings couldn’t play in a game away at Wigan, and this showed how much an injection of talent was needed as Rangers struggled to a 2-0 defeat. An international break allowed the players to bed in and get to know each other with a Monday night clash with Bartons old club Newcastle next on the agenda. Barton was named captain and the fans views were mixed, yet few questioned Warnock’s judgement. Loftus Road was buzzing with a sense of relief in the air that the club was in safe hands. Fernandes name was chanted all throughout the game (much to his delight, which he later expressed on Twitter) and Rangers narrowly missed out on the points in a 0-0 draw that saw a brilliant performance from a side who looked twice the team who went away to Wigan, two weeks ago.

An impressive 3-0 victory away to Wolves who were on a good run of form showed Warnock he has a team who can not only keep clean sheets, but score with good balance in a team with Shaun Derry doing all the unnoticed ‘dirty work’ and the flair of Alejandro Faurlin and Joey Barton’s range of passing beside him. Shaun Wright Phillips gives them the width and pace that hasn’t been seen since Wayne Routledge’s departure and they finally looked solid in defence with last year’s ‘Player of the Season’ Paddy Kenny looking like he belongs in the Premier League.

Neil Warnock has installed 'bad boy' Joey Barton as captain

These performances will make the R’s fans want to talk about a top ten finish and with Barton and Wright-Phillips linked with England recalls, it would be hard to begrudge them that optimism. However, with the wages Fernandes is splashing out on the likes Barton and Wright-Phillips, both dying for a recall to the national side, is it in Rangers best interest to simply focus on avoiding relegation this season, then hope Fernandes will inject the funds to push them on and build them into a club that can emulate their nearest rivals Fulham who indeed set a big reminder to the QPR faithful that they have just arrived from the Championship with a 6-0 drubbing of their West London rivals at the weekend. The fans, for the time being will need to keep their feet on the ground and remember it is a slow process building this team, that has had 14 years away from the big time, and remember even avoiding relegation will be a massive achievement, considering the way things looked in the close season. Supporters and neutrals alike will hope Warnock is given time to turn QPR into an established Premier League team, as there is little doubt that this is where they belong.

ALL ODDS PROVIDED BY: