ATP World Tour Finals, London - Preview

The top eight men minus Andy Murray will be playing at London's O2 arena for the men's end of year championships. 

Unlike the women's end of year championships, the men's tournament is slightly more open. 

However Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro and Rafa Nadal are my picks for men that are more likely to do well and win. 

Novak has not had a bad year but he will be frustrated about Wimbledon and the US Open finals and will want to make amends. 

Juan Martin Del Potro has not had a great year so winning the end of year title would set him up nicely for 2014. 

Rafael Nadal has had a great come back from injury this year. Two grand slams and host of other titles and so he will feel like this title belongs to him. 

Another outsider for the title would be Roger Federer and although by his own standards he has not had a great year. He just about managed to qualify for these finals. 

So a win for Roger would set him up for better 2014. Somehow I think it is unlikely  but with sports sometimes you never know. 

Premiership - Weekend review

There were some real surprises in this weekend premiership fixtures. I was not expecting Chelsea to lose Newcastle without scoring. 

That was a surprise but at the same time it is very difficult to get results at St James park. 

I thought that Man City would win but I didn't think they would hammer Norwich Cit seven goals to nil. 

It was a very bad result for Norwich the type of result that could be season changing. 

For Man City it was an amazing result and it has taken them to fifth to the league. 

Man United beat Fulham three goals to one and I thought the score line was going to be lot closer. 

Arsenal beat Liverpool two goals to nil and even though I am an Arsenal fan I was quite surprised by ease in which Arsenal beat Liverpool. 

I thought it was going to be a very difficult  match. But the team were determined to get this result.

 Normally with Arsenal games, the last twenty minutes are the most nerve wracking.

 But for some reason I was not nervous at all. So it was great result and our next premier league game is away to Manchester United so it will be another difficult match. 

Tottenham Spurs and Everton drew nil nil and this result was probably about right. 

Premiership - preview of weekend games

Some interesting games taking place in the premiership this weekend. Man United are away to Fulham. 

This could be a tricky match for Man United would not be surprised Fulham snatched a draw. 

Chelsea are away to Newcastle and yes Newcastle have so far had a poor season. 

But it is always a challenge for away teams to come away with all the points. So this match could either way but I would favour Chelsea to get the win.

Man City are at home to Norwich City and although Man City have not been doing as well, I think they will probably beat Norwich. 

Arsenal are at home to Liverpool and this will be tough match for Arsenal. We are already missing at least three of our first team. 

Liverpool have had a fantastic start to the season and historically November is the month Arsenal struggles to get wins. 

I really hope Arsenal win but it is going to be tough match so really anything could happen. 

What are your predictions? Do you agree or disagree with my predictions? 

League Cup - round up

Some League cup matches took place last night. Man City needed extra time to beat Newcastle by two goals to nil. 

Man City are definitely working harder than last year to get wins. But most importantly the hard work is paying off and they are getting good wins. 

Tottenham needed extra time and penalties to beat Hull City. From Tottenham prespective they better hope that this long match does not impact on their ability to win their next game at the weekend. 

 

But I am sure Spurs are just grateful that they won the match and have now progressed to the next stage of the League Cup competition. 

For their hardwork Man City face Leicester and Spurs face West Ham. For place in the semi- finals and these ties will be played a week before Christmas and should be good matches. 

WTA Championships - Review

The WTA Championships did not really live up to its high profile billing. This because players like Victoria Azarenka and Aga Radwanska did not play as well as they where expected to.

This meant that players like Petra Kivitova, Jelena Jankovic and Ni La who have had relatively quiet year where then able to shine.

After reading the comments that both Jelena Jankovic and Ni La made about Serena William's gamesmanship I was a little surprised. 

Both Jelena and Li Na have had average year and Serena has won eleven tournaments. As a fan I can understand why she would have been tired. 

I suspect some players might be already fed up with playing on tour with someone who some fans have given legend status. 

However Serena Williams has worked incredibly hard to achieve this and things have not always gone so well for Serena. 

But the fact she is still playing at such high level and at the age that most of her  

contemporaries have retired or thinking of retirement is amazing in itself. 

Serena's perseverance to win this tournament even though she was not feeling 100%. To me can only be admired so it is little disappointing to read comments made by fellow professionals. 

Serena to me was a worthy winner and whilst her contemporaries where falling apart. 

Serena weathered her own storm and retained her title and it was amazing to watch and to think that I was witnessing history.

League Cup - round up 29/10/13

Yesterday's league cup matches where interesting to say the least. Arsenal lost two nil to Chelsea. 

Arsene Wenger practically put out a first team squad but he chose the wrong striker in Nicholas Bendtner. 

Nicholas looked overweight and could barely run for the ball. It looks like his Arsenal first team days are long gone. 

Nicholas could prove me wrong and end up scoring some amazing goals. Somehow I doubt it, Arsene Wenger needs to get rid of him quick before he drags the team down with him. 

Other than a poor Nicholas Bendtner, there was no width or creavity in the Arsenal team. 

Arsenal has three crucial matches coming up and the first one is against Liverpool and nothing less than a win will do. 

By contrast the much maligned Man United beat Norwich City by four nil to progress to the quarter finals. This win would have eased a little bit of the pressure from David Moyes's shoulders. 

But the reality is, is that for the big clubs winning the league cup is not enough. Success is measured by winning either the Premiership, FA Cup or the Champions league. 

So Arsenal losing wasn't great but what will help is if they can win the previously mentioned trophies.

Premiership - a Roundup

Another good weekend of premiership football and Arsenal managed to beat Crystal Palace by two goals to nil. 

It's been while since Arsenal have managed to stay at the top of league for consecutive weeks. 

But like I said in my previous blog it is all about the November test for Arsenal. Which historically is the month we tend to struggle with the change of weather.

Man United came from behind twice to beat relegation bound Stoke City by three goals to two. 

David Moyes is still under massive pressure and close wins like this would not have helped his cause.

 I think that if by the start of the new year Man United are not top four then it will be hard for David Moyes to hold on to his job. 

Liverpool continued there impressive start to the season by beating West Bromwich Albion by four goals to one. 

I think Liverpool are the team to watch and this is there best start to the season for quite sometime. 

Arsenal will nervously looking over its shoulder as Liverpool have got the team and the desire to win the premiership.

Chelsea and Tottenham Spurs also recorded wins and they are only a couple of  points dividing teams in the top of the league positions. 

So it is still very early in the season with most of the top teams all doing well at the weekend.