Euro 2012 Draw

The draw for the group stages of the Euro 2012 will take place around 5.30pm Irish time today. All eyes will be on the event in Kiev, which will determine who Ireland will be playing and whether the team, and supporters, will be based in Poland or Ukraine. Most Irish fans are hoping to be drawn in Group A or C, all group matches in these groups will be played in Poland. Groups B and D will be in Ukraine. Poland will be considerably easier to access from mainland Europe and direct flights should be cheaper.




The Pots are set up according to Uefa seeding, as follows:

Pot 1: Spain, Netherlands
Pot 2: Germany, Italy, England, Russia
Pot 3: Croatia, Greece, Portugal, Sweden
Pot 4: Denmark, France, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland


The other two teams from Pot 1 are hosts Poland and Ukraine and they will automatically be placed in Pots A and D respectively.


So who do we want?  
Like many Irish, I'd like to see us drawn against our neighbours England, which is possible.
Here's my dream group:

Group A
Poland
England
Greece
Republic of Ireland 

I'd fancy our chances in any group if I'm honest but the above situation would give us a great opportunity to make it to the knockout stages.

Other possibilities: 

'Group of Death' - To be drawn with Spain, Germany, Portugal.

'Group of Debt' - To be drawn with fellow debt ridden EU countries: Spain, Italy, Greece.

Anyway, tune into RTE, Sky Sports News or the Uefa website around 5.30pm to find out who we'll be up against.

All info on the draw is explained here

Steve Bruce

The first PL manager to be sacked this season, after Sunderland show him the door following a string of bad results. Sunderland lie just two points from the drop zone as we come up to the busy Christmas period of the season. I'm sure many expected Steve Kean of Blackburn to be the first manager booted out but the Black Cats' defeat at home to fellow Premiership strugglers, Wigan, on Saturday didn't do Bruce any favours in avoiding the sack.
Since they sold Darren Bent to Aston Villa, Sunderland have been very much out of sorts. It can be said Bruce failed to spend wisely in the summer and certainly failed in buying a goalscorer to fill the void of Bent's departure.

src: bbc.co.uk

Martin O'Neill and Mark Hughes are the bookies' favourites to replace Steve Bruce. Personally, I'd like to see O'Neill back in the Premiership. I'm sure many Sunderland fans would agree. He is a very intelligent man with a footballing brain and he has a proven track record of turning clubs around for the better (Leicester, Celtic and Villa). Others said to be in the race for the position are, Rafa Benitez, Steve McClaren, Alan Curbishly, Guus Hidink.


So who will be the next PL manager to be given his P45?
Steve Kean? Villas-Boas? Owen Coyle? Mick McCarthy? Roberto Martinez?
Martinez is 12/1 to be next out. Decent price considering Wigan's results this season.


 

Gameweek 13 - Review

A decent game between Liverpool and Man City on Sunday, ending in a point for both sides. I thought Liverpool could get something out of this fixture, especially as they were at home, and my prediction of 1-1 was correct (and I got some of the 11/2 on offer for that correct score).
The result means City stay 5 points clear of Manchester neighbours, United, after the Reds could only manage a draw at home to a well organised Newcastle United side. Man Utd were unlucky not to get the 3 points - a combination of Tim Krul's superb goalkeeping and referee Mike Jones' controversial decision to award Newcastle a second-half penalty meant Man Utd gained only a point on City who were to play the next day.



Fantasy Football review - GW13





Ever since I started writing blog I've done everything wrong with my fantasy football team. So, I'm blaming this blog for putting the jinx on me.
I used my wildcard this week and still only managed a measly 28 points. I only managed 3 points in total from my three most expensive players - Lampard, Balotelli and van Persie. Lampard did not start and was on the bench til 20 odd minutes to go. I chose Robin van Persie as captain, but of course his scoring form comes to a halt. Mario Balotelli, a liability for any team, got sent off in the space of 18 minutes after coming on for Nasri, which meant I would earn minus points for his contributions.
If this run of bad form continues I'll be lucky to still be manager of Rejects FC come Christmas.