Football: Premier League 10 Years On

Recalling memories of the 2001/02 season, it is easy to be sucked into thinking that not much has changed in the Premier League over the past ten years. Back then, star-studded squads at Arsenal and Manchester United were in thick of the title race, as were a talented Liverpool team. Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson were in the midst of a great rivalry and the league was attracting more and more of the biggest names from across the globe. Meanwhile, the likes of Everton, Sunderland, Bolton and Fulham were fighting to keep their heads above water in the relegation dogfight. While the Gunners are no longer the powerhouse of the Thierry Henry era, the rest of these recollections ring true in today’s Premier League.

But a closer examination of the league table from May 2002 provides a reminder that the top flight has undergone radical changes over the past ten years, with new challengers emerging and established giants collapsing. 

Chelsea, for instance, finished sixth but 24 points behind champions Arsenal and even the most diehard fans at Stamford Bridge would not have classed the squad as future champions. Then came the Roman Abramovich era, lifting the Blues from a top six hopeful to a title contender. Given their success under Jose Mourinho between 2004 and 2006, it is hard to believe that just a few years earlier, Chelsea were battling just to qualify for the UEFA Cup.

What about the teams above Chelsea in fourth and fifth? Few would remember that they were Newcastle and Leeds, who have both endured rollercoaster decades. The late Sir Bobby Robson helped Newcastle surpass all expectations as Alan Shearer, Laurent Robert and Craig Bellamy fired the Magpies to the top of table at Christmas, though they eventually had to settle for a Champions League spot. The mood on Tyneside was jubilant but Newcastle never built on their run in 2001/02, sacking Robson too soon and stuttering before dropping out of the top flight in 2009.  Against all odds, Alan Pardew has steered the 2011 squad to an outstanding start. 

Leeds, meanwhile, had a more sudden reversal of fortunes. David O’Leary’s side was buoyant in 2002 with years of success seemingly ahead.  Boasting stars like Rio Ferdinand, Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, Leeds even topped the table for the first half of the campaign. But when the big spending caught up with the club, the slump towards League One began. Relegation in 2004 devastated a club that was in the Champions League semi-final only three years earlier. Leeds, contending again this year in the Championship, are clawing their way back but there is still a long way to go.

In total, the 2001/02 season featured eight teams that have since dropped from the Premier League – a staggering statistic that reflects the turbulent nature of life at English football’s top table. Among the other teams to suffer after 2002 are Southampton, who are hoping to return to the top flight this season, Ipswich, Leicester, Derby and West Ham, who finished a respectable seventh that year.

To further illustrate the point, back in 2002, the landscape looked rather different for some of the current Premier League sides. Wigan, for instance, managed a mid-table spot in the old Division Two, with Stoke and QPR fifth and eighth respectively. Plus, spare a thought for Swansea, who finished 20^th in the fourth tier of English football and could not have been much further from playing host to the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal. 

And then there was Manchester City, who topped the old Division One in 2002 and earned a return to the big time after a spell in the football wilderness. Now, ten years later, equipped with some of the game’s biggest talents, they are the favourites to win the Premier League. What better illustration of the huge shifts that have occurred over the past decade? And what better evidence for the beauty of the promotion/relegation system?

To read the rest of the article, visit http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/11/28/premier-league-familiar-faces-but-decade-of-change/53374/

NBA: Shaq On The NBA Season Ahead

Shaquille O'Neal might have ended his NBA playing career but his move into a commentary role ensures he will still be a huge part of the game.

In this clip, Shaq looks ahead to the shortened 2011/12 season

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2011/11/26/gt_shaq_intv.nba/

Football: Slow Progress for MLS Despite Beckham Factor

Presented with the chance to give his MLS adventure a Hollywood ending, David Beckham did not falter. Nor should we be surprised given that Beckham's CV includes assists for Manchester United's two dramatic goals against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final, a last gasp free-kick that sent England through to the 2002 World Cup and a league title in his final season at Real Madrid just as he was being written off.

Beckham was involved in the attack that led to Landon Donovan's MLS Cup-winning goal on Sunday against the Houston Dynamo and put in a typically composed display in the centre of the LA Galaxy midfield. A proud man, it was a night that really mattered for Beckham, as evidenced by his euphoric celebration with Donovan at the final whistle.

But with his five-year contract set to end next month, what next? And where does the MLS stand after half a decade with Beckham on board?

The first question is rather more clear cut than the second. Beckham has refused to show his hand thus far but it would come as a big surprise if he was in a Galaxy shirt in 2012, especially given the interest shown by the likes of PSG and several English clubs. A swansong on a bigger stage seems a more appropriate direction. However, until he confirms his intentions, it is possible that factors like not wanting to uproot his family could sway him.

But the progress made by the MLS is more debatable. First, it should be said that for all the Brand Beckham hype that surrounded his arrival, it was never realistic to think that one player - however famous - could lift the sport to the next level. The market in the US is enormous, meaning that fans are not short of options when it comes to watching sport on a Saturday afternoon.

The NFL remains the biggest business, with the NHL (ice hockey) and MLB (baseball) part of the chasing pack. The uphill battle faced by the MLS has been put into perspective over the past few weeks by the underwhelming reaction of NBA (basketball) fans to the fact that the first six weeks of their season have been cancelled. At the end of the day, there are plenty of other sports - at professional and college level - for fans to turn to.

This is the level of competition that the MLS is fighting against - and the battle is tough for the big market and small market teams alike. Take Thierry Henry's New York Red Bulls - yes, the potential is huge for securing a solid fanbase and the funding is there to recruit stars like Henry and Rafa Marquez, but the city also boasts two NFL teams, two MLB teams, two NHL teams and, soon, two NBA teams. Meanwhile, smaller market teams like the Columbus Crew or Sporting Kansas City face their own challenges. For obvious reasons, the smaller teams are unable to pull off the “designated player” coups to match the big boys.

Since Beckham arrived in LA in the summer of 2007, the average MLS attendance has risen, jumping from close to 15,500 to almost 18,000. Though the MLS has not made major inroads on the greater popularity enjoyed for other US sports, the Beckham factor has certainly proved a talking point and, while the tendency has been to portray the midfielder’s time in LA as either a roaring success or a dismal failure, the truth falls somewhere in between.

His manager Bruce Arena and his team-mates have not been shy about praising Beckham’s contribution, particularly during this season’s playoff run, and further evidence of his value to the Galaxy can be found in the $55M, 10-year TV deal that the club just signed. Make no mistake, that deal does not happen without Beckham. And Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, the Galaxy’s owners, did not try to conceal that fact.

“We don't talk about this deal without David Beckham,” he admitted. “We wouldn't have gotten the Herbalife deal [in 2007, worth as much as $25 million over five year] without David Beckham. We certainly are not touring Indonesia, Asia and Australia without David Beckham, and we're not getting the kind of guarantees we're getting [for the trip] without David Beckham. I don't even think we get Robbie Keane without David Beckham.”

To read the rest of the article, visit http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/11/24/slow-progress-for-mls-despite-david-beckham-factor/53190/

NBA: Basketball is Back!

A tentative agreement has finally been reached between the NBA players and owners, with the season expected to start on Christmas Day. The deal still requires a vote from both sides but sources are adamant there will be no problems on that front.

Training camps and free agency are pencilled in to start on December 9, setting up a frenzied fortnight for all teams.

For more details, check out http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7281052/nba-owners-players-get-tentative-agreement

Football: Parker gives Spurs steel on the road

Scott Parker has been the pick of many observers for signing of the season so far in terms of value for money and performances on the pitch. His remarkable mid-late career renaissance has seen him elevated from outsider-looking-in for Fabio Capello's England 18 months ago to one of the first names on the teamsheet as they plan for the Euros next Summer in Poland and Ukraine.
Harry Redknapp, Parker's new club manager at Tottenham, has wondered out loud - as is his wont - how his club managed to sign Parker without facing any serious counter bids from rival sides. The value of Parker as a player can be seen in Spurs' away league results since he signed before Spurs faced Wolves away at the end of August. The report card reads: played five, won four, drawn one. It is true that these five fixtures were against none of the traditional powerhouses of the league, but nonetheless they include wins on the road at Blackburn, Wolves, Wigan and Fulham. Spurs have long been seen as a soft touch at away grounds in the midlands and the north-west, precisely because they have missed a player like Parker. That is to say, someone not afraid of rolling up his sleeves, chasing opposition players and making tackles. Ledley King has remarked that the amount of running he has had to do since Parker signed has been slashed dramatically because of the remarkable shield Parker provides in front of his back four. Yet, it is not only centre-halves who can be grateful to Parker. Luka Modric, nominally Parker's partner in central midfield, has been allowed to roam forward and carry the ball, playing to his own strengths because he has already learnt that Parker can be relied upon totally. Parker himself, though not a major offensive contributor yet for Spurs, is by no means all at sea when in possession of the ball and is well capable of carrying possession and picking smart, short range passes.
As Spurs prepare for a visit to The Hawthorns tomorrow, where they will face West Bromwich Albion, they can be grateful that in putting out a midfield containing the indefatigable Scott Parker, they can look forward to an afternoon's football on the road with much greater optimism than has been typical in recent seasons.


Nick Rogerson

NBA: Grantland's Take

With no end in sight for the tedious NBA lockout, Grantland breaks down where things went wrong.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7250994/business-vs-personal

NFL: Week 11 Lines

Time is running out for some teams looking to make the playoffs. Week 11 will go a long way to separating the contenders from the also-rans. Here are the lines - and TSV's picks.

(Last week 9-6)

Tennessee Titans (+6.5) @ Atlanta Falcons...Pick: Falcons
Buffalo Bills (+3) @ Miami Dolphins...Pick: Bills
Cincinnati Bengals (+7) @ Baltimore Ravens...Pick: Ravens
Jacksonville Jaguars (+1) @ Cleveland Browns...Pick: Jaguars
Oakland Raiders (+1) @ Minnesota Vikings...Pick: Vikings
Carolina Panthers (+7) @ Detroit Lions...Pick: Lions
Tampa Bay Buccs (+14) @ Green Bay Packers...Pick: Packers
Dallas Cowboys (-7) @ Washington Redskins...Pick: Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals (+10) @ San Francisco 49ers...Pick: Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks (+3) @ St Louis Rams...Pick: Rams
San Diego Chargers (+3.5) @ Chicago Bears...Pick: Bears
Philadelphia Eagles (+5.5) @ New York Giants...Pick: Giants
Kansas City Chiefs (+15) @ New England Patriots...Pick: Patriots

Football: ESPN.com's Take on England

England's spirited 1-0 win over Spain last weekend raised the debate once more over anti-football and whether players or tactics are the key to victory.

Here's ESPN.com's take:

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/7246328/euro-2012-england-new-greece-michael-cox

Football: Premier League Newcomers Bucking The Trend

It is easy to see why promoted clubs are always grouped among the relegation candidates at the start of each Premier League season - after all, the history books do them no favours. From Sunderland's woeful 15-point effort in 2005/06 to Derby's pathetic 11-point, one-win campaign two years later, the prospect of top flight newcomers flopping is hard to shake.

Over the past decade, talk of the 'gulf' that separates the Premier League and the Championship has been widespread, targeting factors from spending power to style of play. It is perhaps the toughest step up in world football. And yet there is a growing sense that for just the second time in the Premier League era, all three promoted clubs will survive the drop, bucking the trend in the most emphatic manner possible.

Swansea, Norwich and QPR have all made clear statements of intent over the first 11 games of the campaign. They are not here to make up the numbers, they will not be intimidated and they will play their own brand of football regardless of the opposition. So far, this mindset has worked a treat, with the trio sitting comfortably in mid-table. Fortunes can change quickly – just ask Hull or Blackpool – but all signs point to these three clubs having the belief and quality to survive.

Of course, their odds of beating the drop are aided by the fact that Wigan and Blackburn, in particular, have been in wretched form thus far. One win apiece confirms that both are definite relegation candidates. Wolves, Fulham and Bolton are also visibly out of sorts and have neither the star power nor the squad depth to consider themselves too good to go down.

There is more to the top flight new boys' story than just their points haul. In fact, it is the quality and fearless attitude in their displays - in victory and defeat - that has especially caught the eye. While in the past newcomers have approached away games with the hope of clinging on for a point, Swansea and Norwich, in particular, have embraced the possibility of taking the full three points at every opportunity.

The Swans’ goalkeeper Michel Vorm has been a revelation thus far and, after securing a 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield earlier in the month, he summed up his team’s mindset perfectly. “We weren’t overawed by being there, far from it,” he said. “We are not afraid of anybody. For a lot of players it was the first time being there [at Anfield], but we were not afraid.”

On the day, Swansea's quality passing and movement put Liverpool to shame – and without spending big money. While Kenny Dalglish started duo Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson on the flanks, who cost a combined fee in the region of £40M, Swansea showed much greater threat through the considerably cheaper pairing of Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge, with Scott Sinclair coming off the bench. Manager Brendan Rodgers has done a masterful job over the past few months and his decision to use Leon Britton in a deep-lying midfield playmaker role has been inspired.

Over at Loftus Road, QPR are reviving memories of the Les Ferdinand era. A spirited win over Chelsea and a narrow loss to Manchester City showcased the improvements made by manager Neil Warnock. Joey Barton has not put a foot wrong so far and the additions of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Anton Ferdinand have had a clear impact. Again, there is no fear of the supposedly ‘bigger’ clubs.

Not to be outdone, Norwich have enjoyed some heroic afternoons of their own. Paul Lambert's side have shown real ambition and were unlucky to leave Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford without a point. A draw at Anfield was a big result and, like Swansea and QPR, results are being earned by outplaying opponents, not simply outbattling them. Flowing football has been a feature of Norwich’s season to date and Lambert has excelled in pairing this with a relentless work ethic.

Of course, all three teams have their weaknesses. Swansea, for all their pace, have often struggled to turn possession into goals. Norwich have been hindered by defensive lapses while QPR are still gelling and have yet to find the best role for the mercurial Adel Taarabt.

Much will depend on how the trio handle the frantic Christmas period, which tests stamina and squad depth. The table can be deceptive at times too, given that Norwich – in ninth, the highest placed team of the three – are just four points better off than Bolton, who occupy a spot in the relegation zone. The solid starts by the newly promoted clubs does not, by all means, guarantee an easy ride over the next six months but it absolutely keeps survival on the table.

To read the rest of this article, visit http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/11/15/qpr-norwich-and-swansea-ready-to-repeat-2002-feat/52675/

Football: De Bruyne on Chelsea Radar

Kevin De Bruyne is making waves and grabbing the attention of a string of big clubs, including Chelsea. This article, by TSV's Matt Oldfield, looks at the youngster's progress and the possibility of a move to Stamford Bridge.

http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/11/06/kevin-de-bruyne-brilliance-winning-chelsea-admiration/52150/

US Sports: BS Report

Bill Simmons, Editor-in-Chief of Grantland, has established himself as the king of sports podcasts. Check out http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=2864045 for a range of great discussions.

His recent two-part podcast with Ric Bucher and Marc Stein sheds more light on where the NBA lockout may go from here.

Football: Rio Ferdinand Responds to Blatter Comments

Rio Ferdinand was quick to respond to comments from FIFA president Sepp Blatter regarding racism in football...well worth a read. The BBC Sport story also includes views from Robbie Savage and Jason Roberts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15766375.stm

Football: Patrick Kendrick Audio Clips

Check out http://audioboo.fm/patrickendrick for clips of Patrick Kendrick on the mic. More clips to come in the weeks ahead.

NBA: Classic Games One Perk of Lockout

The downside of the NBA lockout has been well-documented over the past four months or so - and the situation is unquestionably bleak. But one perk of the break in NBA action has been the steady stream of classic games being televised to fill the void.

Tonight's schedule features the Orlando Magic, with a young, trimmer Shaquille O'Neal, facing the Indiana Pacers, led by Reggie Miller, in Game 4 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals. The Magic would go on to win the series and reach the NBA Finals, where they were swept by Hakeem Olajuwon's Houston Rockets.

Tomorrow, NBATV takes viewers back to 1990 to see Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in action, as well as Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals (Rockets-New York Knicks).

It hurts not to have the 2011/12 NBA season to salivate over - but the classic games at least provide a slight boost.

NFL: Jets-Broncos

For the New York Jets, a trip to Denver hot on the heels of Sunday night's tough loss to New England hardly caps off an ideal week - but Thursday night's game promises to test the playoff credentials of Rex Ryan's men.

The Broncos are riding the Tebow phenomenon and have forced their way back into the AFC West divisional race, bouncing back to 4-5 after a sluggish start with Kyle Orton as quarterback.

But taking down the Jets is a different proposition than seeing off the Miami Dolphins or Kansas City Chiefs. New York needs the win and, with the line at -6.5, represent good value as Week 11 begins in the Mile High City.

* TSV went 9-6 in Week 10, 6-8 in Week 9

NBA: Lockout Could Impact Olympics

NBA commissioner David Stern predicted a ‘nuclear winter’ this week as the league’s owners and players headed to court to resolve their labour negotiations – and the fear for Olympics organisers is that next summer may also be caught in the blast of the NBA lockout.

Basketball was tipped to be a hot ticket at London 2012 but, with the chances of a cancelled NBA season sky-rocketing after the players rejected the owners’ latest offer on Monday, concerns over player insurance could keep some of sport’s biggest stars on the sidelines.

Typically, an agreement between FIBA and the NBA has limited the cost of insuring players' contracts in case they are injured playing for their national teams. But the lockout makes that agreement invalid, forcing federations to foot the full insurance bill. For many, that financial burden will be too much to take on.

For Team GB, this is a familiar story. In the early stages of the lockout, they secured sufficient coverage for Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng to play in the Olympic test tournament and European Championships this year – but only after lengthy discussions. For London 2012, Team GB would have to consider insurance for both Deng and Detroit Pistons guard Ben Gordon, who is still waiting to make his national team debut.

Of course, the US national team would feel the pinch more than most. If insurance issues emerge, the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant may not be on the plane to London, no doubt leaving many ticketholders fuming.

US head coach Mike Krzyzewski has already raised that possibility. Krzyzewski, who led the Americans to gold in Beijing in 2008, explained: “If there is no season, I’m sure the players would want to play, but who funds their injury insurance?” 

For the rest of this article, visit http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/basketball/1615800-london-2012-olympics-may-be-caught-fall-out-nba-player-lockout

Football: MLS Cup Preview

Given David Beckham’s track record, it should come as no surprise that he has pushed the Los Angeles Galaxy to a place in the MLS Cup this weekend, setting up the possibility of a dramatic Hollywood ending to his stint in California. Standing in his way are the Houston Dynamo, cast in the role of villain and travelling to the Home Depot Center, home of the Galaxy, to cut short the farewell party. The 2011 MLS Cup is set to be a classic.

Critics will be quick to condemn Beckham’s five-year spell in the MLS as a failed mission to increase the sports national profile in the US – but Sunday’s final presents a chance for him to bow out on top and pocket the silverware that he has craved since leaving Real Madrid. With a number of European clubs clamouring for his signature – PSG and Tottenham chief among them – all the signs point to this being his final game in a Galaxy shirt.

The former Manchester United man has certainly played his part en route to this decisive moment. The Galaxy’s brushed aside Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls in the opening round, winning both legs of the tie, and then had too much class for plucky Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference Final. Beckham took centre stage against RSL, setting up Robbie Keane’s first goal and playing a key role in his second. While injuries and loan spells with AC Milan have derailed the star in previous campaigns, he has barely put a foot wrong this season.

The Galaxy are by no means a one man show, however. Landon Donovan and Keane spearhead a hugely dangerous attack while Mike Magee has chipped in with vital goals in the playoffs. Juninho, who partners Beckham in midfield, is a talented all-round player and the back four have exceeded expectations thus far. This is a group that won the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the regular season top dogs, and has been saddled with the tag of favourites – and the pressure that goes with it – throughout the playoffs. Sunday will be no different.

But Houston are unlikely to back down from the challenge. The Dynamo know their way around the post-season, winning the MLS Cup back-to-back years in 2006 and 2007, and midfielders Brad Davis and Corey Ashe remain from the victorious 2007 squad – as does manager Dominic Kinnear. This wily core has been supplemented by the youthful exuberance of striker Will Bruin, 22, and midfielder Danny Cruz, 21.

While other contenders had top goalscorers with double digit tallies, the Dynamo had three players tied on five goals at the top of their scoring chart – and that sums up the team’s efficient style. Houston finished the regular season with 12 wins, nine losses and 13 draws, scoring 45 and conceding 41. It is not a record that will strike fear into the Galaxy – who managed 19 wins and 18 more points than the Dynamo – but the fact that seven different players scored at least four goals tells the story of a well-balanced team.

A solid performance in Philadelphia, in which Davis showcased his vast talent, went a long way towards securing Houston’s spot in the Eastern Conference Final but they were underdogs in many fans’ eyes heading into their clash with Sporting Kansas City, who had topped the table in the East during the regular season. Instead, the Dynamo produced another disciplined performance on the road, grabbing a 2-0 victory despite an injury to Davis.

To read the rest of this article, visit http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/11/15/2011-mls-cup-final-preview-david-beckham-eyes-swansong/52680/

NBA: Lockout Latest

The NBA owners are set for a call on Thursday to discuss their next move.

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/steve_aschburner/11/16/labor-update/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

NFL: Week 10 Lines

More drama ahead today as playoff hopefuls face huge tests...

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) @ Cincinnati Bengals...Pick: Steelers

Denver Broncos (+3) @ Kansas City Chiefs...Pick: Chiefs

Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) @ Indianapolis Colts....Pick: Jaguars

Buffalo Bills (+4) @ Dallas Cowboys....Pick: Cowboys

Houston Texans (-4) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers....Pick: Buccs

Tennessee Titans (+3.5) @ Carolina Panthers....Pick: Panthers

Washington Redskins (+4) @ Miami Dolphins....Pick: Dolphins

New Orleans Saints (+1) @ Atlanta Falcons.....Pick: Falcons

Detroit Lions (+3) @ Chicago Bears.....Pick: Bears

St. Louis Rams (+3) @ Cleveland Browns....Pick: Rams

Arizona Cardinals (+13) @ Philadelphia Eagles....Pick: Eagles

Baltimore Ravens (-6.5) @ Seattle Seahawks....Pick: Ravens

NY Giants (+4) @ San Francisco 49ers.....Pick: 49ers

New England Patriots (+2) @ NY Jets....Pick: Patriots

Minnesota Vikings (+13) @ Green Bay Packers.....Pick: Packers

(Last Week: 6-8)

NBA: Lockout Update

We are finally rumbling towards the decisive moment of the NBA lockout, with players travelling to New York on Monday for crucial discussions. The owners have presented a new deal that is at least slightly closer to what the players want - but it has hardly been met with optimism in most quarters. The likeliest outcome at this stage is that player representatives will reject the deal rather than putting it to the vote.

Here's the latest:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7220959/nba-lockout-players-unlikely-accept-owners-proposal-sources-say

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/33240/finally-the-real-fight

Football: Premier League Predictions - Lawro & Ricky Hatton!

Well worth a look, though Hatton's City prediction seems a stretch! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/football_focus/15573320.stm

Football: MLS Playoffs Down To Final Four

The MLS playoffs have not disappointed thus far. With three of the four Conference semi-finals providing tight ties, the league gave itself a great shot at capturing some of the sports fans disillusioned by the continuing NBA lockout.

Our predictions for the Conference semi-finals were solid (3 out of 4 - http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/10/28/beckham-vs-henry-the-highlight-as-mls-playoffs-get-serious/51621/). Now it's time to look at the last four.

Eastern Conference Final

Sporting Kansas City v Houston Dynamo: Sporting Kansas City have been a remarkable story this season, moving into their new stadium part way through the campaign and then surging into top spot in the East. They encountered few problems in seeing off Colorado in the last round. Houston Dynamo had too much strength for Philadelphia Union in the semi-final round but travelling to Kansas City for a one-off game is a different proposition. Look for the home team to prevail.


Western Conference Final

LA Galaxy v Real Salt Lake: Real Salt Lake showed that end of season form counts for little by hanging on for a 3-2 aggregate win over Seattle in the semi-finals. This is a gritty, hard-working group who will not be intimidated by the trip to LA. The Galaxy, though, are tough to stop when David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane are on song. And Mike Magee is also in fine form. LA have too many weapons and will reach the MLS Cup.

Football: Ronaldo Threatened By Barcelona Shadow

Sometimes, timing is everything in sport – from being in the right place at the right time to falling victim to a golden era. The examples are all around. Plenty have profited, from Kenny Dalglish moving into the Liverpool job at the perfect time with nothing to lose and everything to gain to Vicente Del Bosque winning the 2010 World Cup after inheriting a Spanish team packed with stars.

On the flipside, how many good players were overlooked during Manchester United's dominance in the 1990s? How many great basketball players suffered the curse of playing in the Michael Jordan era? And what about all the talented golfers that suffered the bad luck of running into Tiger Woods at the peak of his powers?

Cristiano Ronaldo has experienced both scenarios. Rewind to 2006, Ronaldo was fresh off a World Cup in which he played a central role in Wayne Rooney's dismissal in the England-Portugal quarter-final. With Brazil, Argentina and Spain all crashing out earlier than anticipated, he used the tournament as a career launch pad as Portugal narrowly missed out on a spot in the final.

Then, cast as the villain, the winger returned to Old Trafford, facing a make or break season. But, just like at the World Cup, events fell his way. Ruud van Nistelrooy had left during the summer, Rooney’s temperament was fragile and, over at Stamford Bridge, the relationship between manager Jose Mourinho and owner Roman Abramovich was gradually deteriorating.

Ronaldo seized the moment, scoring 23 goals during the 2006/07 season and propelling Manchester United to the Premier League title and the Champions League semi-final. A year later, he built on that momentum, grabbing a staggering 43 goals. There was no shortage of world class performers elsewhere in English football during Ronaldo’s unstoppable three-year breakout – but all paid the price for emerging at the same time as the Portuguese star.

However, since moving to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009, after one of the most protracted transfer deals in recent memory, Ronaldo has been given a taste of his own medicine. One glance at the statistics confirms that his productivity has increased but his brilliance has been somewhat smothered by the magic being produced week in, week out in Barcelona. After two full seasons at the Bernabeu, Ronaldo has a sole Spanish Cup winners medal to show for his efforts.

Let's go back to the Michael Jordan comparison. During Jordan's glory years, many great players caught the eye, earned big contracts and dominated playoff series. But, ultimately, Jordan's shadow has engulfed almost all of them. Likewise, Ronaldo is in danger of being blanketed by Barcelona's shadow.

Running into a player of Lionel Messi's calibre is incredibly bad luck for Ronaldo but reaching his peak at a time when not only Messi but also Xavi and Andres Iniesta are fighting for the tag of world's best player is almost mind-boggling.

Ronaldo has been unrelenting with his heroics since first putting on the famous Real Madrid shirt. In his first season, he netted 33 goals in 33 games, only to watch Barcelona take the plaudits as La Liga champions. Last year, Ronaldo again carried Real with countless sublime performances, upping his game to score 53 goals in all competition. Yet, despite the Portuguese landing a significant blow with the winner in the Spanish Cup Final, Barcelona hogged the spotlight again with a La Liga and Champions League double. Messi, meanwhile, matched Ronaldo with a 50-goal campaign of his own.

To read the rest of the article, visit http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/11/04/cristiano-ronaldo-runs-risk-of-fading-into-barcelonas-shadow/51991/

NFL: Week 9 Lines

Week 8 brought some surprising results in the NFL, with the St Louis Rams earning their first win of the season against the highly-rated New Orleans Saints while the Dallas Cowboys slumped to a feeble 34-7 loss in Philadelphia. Week 9 features more big games. Lines are below:

Atlanta Falcons (-6.5) @ Indianapolis Colts....Pick: Falcons

Tampa Bay Buccs (-8.5) @ New Orleans Saints....Pick: Saints

Cleveland Browns (+10.5) @ Houston Texans....Pick: Browns

New York Jets (+2.5) @ Buffalo Bills.....Pick: Bills

Miami Dolphins (+4) @ Kansas City Chiefs....Pick: Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers (-3) @ Washington Redskins....Pick: 49ers

Seattle Seahawks (+11) @ Dallas Cowboys....Pick: Cowboys

Denver Broncos (+7) @ Oakland Raiders....Pick: Raiders

Cincinnati Bengals (+3) @ Tennessee Titans....Pick: Bengals

St Louis Rams (+3) @ Arizona Cardinals....Pick: Rams

New York Giants (+9) @ New England Patriots....Pick: Giants

Green Bay Packers (-5.5) @ San Diego Chargers....Pick: Packers

Baltimore Ravens (+3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers....Pick: Steelers

Chicago Bears (+7.5) @ Philadelphia Eagles....Pick: Eagles