NFL: Eye-Brow Raising Week 8

With the undefeated Green Bay Packers, the revived New York Jets and several other talented teams on their bye week for Week 8, there was a sense heading into the weekend that it might be one of the less gripping days of the season.

Think again. From the St Louis Rams' shock victory over Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints to the Philadelphia Eagles' thumping 34-7 win over divisional rivals the Dallas Cowboys, Week 8 served up a real feast. The Pittsburgh Steelers also enjoyed a memorable Sunday, beating the much-hyped New England Patriots 25-17.

These results have made life particularly interesting in the AFC, where the Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals all sit on a 5-2 record. The Steelers are 6-2 while the Jets are 4-3 and look ready to put a run of wins together. The Bills deserve a special mention, considering that a year ago they made a woeful 0-8 start to the year. But Sunday's 23-0 win over the Washington Redskins in Toronto kept Buffalo well and truly in the playoff picture.

Week 9 promises more unmissable action. Game lines will appear later in the week.

NFL: Bills Continue Playoff Push With Thumping Win Over Redskins

Buffalo Bills 23  Washington Redskins 0

The Buffalo Bills felt very much at home on their annual visit to Toronto, battering the injury-ravaged Washington Redskins and keeping their playoff surge firmly on track. Tight end Scott Chandler caught two touchdown passes and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for 262 yards while the Bills defense kept Washington off the scoreboard with their best afternoon of the season.

And so the Bills’ run goes on. Heading into the season, expectations were understandably low after a 0-8 start last year on the way to a disappointing 4-12 record. But the Buffalo players have been reading from a different script, making the trip across the border really significant for the first time since the Bills Toronto Series began. The atmosphere outside the Rogers Centre was telling, with a real air of expectation – entering Sunday with a 4-2 record, Buffalo fans are dreaming big.

This was a must-win game for the Bills, given the remaining obstacles in their schedule, including two clashes with divisional rivals the New York Jets and trips to the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots, another AFC East powerhouse. And on their second drive of the game, the Bills took the lead with an eight-play, 80-yard drive, featuring two fine catches from receiver David Nelson and a 20-yard touchdown pass from Fitzpatrick to Chandler.

The Redskins’ recent injury woes have been well documented, with Tim Hightower, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley all sidelined. It has left head coach Mike Shanahan with limited resources to work with – and he got little production from any of the remaining offensive weapons.

Quarterback John Beck threw for just 66 yards in the first half and the ground attack – 24 total yards – was equally well snuffed out by the Bills defense. The Redskins best opportunity came after a Fitzpatrick fumble presented Beck with excellent field position. But Washington failed to cash in as Graham Gano’s field goal attempt was brilliantly blocked by Buffalo’s Spencer Johnson.

Lindell extended the Bills’ lead with a 37-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, sparking the thunderous sound effects that greeted each Buffalo score. The thunder was back just before half-time as Lindell struck again – this time from 44 yards – to stretch the score to 13-0. But for a London Fletcher interception in the end zone, the first half damage would have been worse. Fletcher pulled off a timely diving catch to pick off a pass intended for Stevie Johnson.

Things quickly got worse for the Redskins in the third quarter. The impressive Fred Jackson added to a strong first half performance with a 43-yard run, taking his rushing tally for the season past the 1,000-yard mark. That set up Fitzpatrick within striking distance and he made no mistake, finding Chandler alone in the end zone for his second touchdown of the afternoon.

The Redskins’ desperation was crystal clear in Shanahan’s decision to throw the ball on 4^th down with almost four minutes remaining in the third quarter. It proved a costly error as the Bills defense sacked Beck, who finished with 208 passing yards and two interceptions. One possession later, the Redskins quarterback was picked off by free safety George Wilson.

With Washington incapable of mounting any kind of comeback, the game fizzled out in the fourth quarter. Beck threw another interception with 7:48 to go – this time finding the Bills’ Jairus Byrd – and Buffalo iced the win with another Lindell field goal.

For the Redskins, this was a day to forget in a hurry and perhaps an ominous sign for the next few weeks. The Bills, however, mean business. At 5-2, they are level with the mighty New England Patriots at the top of the AFC East and look genuine playoff contenders. Exciting times await.

NFL: Bills leading Redskins in Toronto

The injury-hit Washington Redskins have been dealt more pain in the first half against the Buffalo Bills in Toronto, with a Scott Chandler touchdown and two Rian Lindell field goals putting the Bills up 13-0 at half-time.

This was a must-win game for the Bills, given the remaining obstacles in their schedule, including two clashes with divisional rivals the New York Jets and trips to the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots, another AFC East powerhouse. And on their second drive of the game, they took the lead with an eight-play, 80-yard drive, featuring two fine catches from receiver David Nelson and a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to tight end Chandler.

The Redskins’ recent injury woes have been well documented, with Tim Hightower, Santana Moss and Chris Cooley all sidelined. It has left head coach Mike Shanahan with limited resources to work with – and two sluggish, scoreles quarters suggest that the weeks ahead will be tough for Washington supporters.

Quarterback John Beck threw for just 66 yards in the first half and the ground attack - 24 total rushing yards - was equally well snuffed out by the Bills defense. The Redskins best first half opportunity came after a Fitzpatrick fumble presented Beck with excellent field position. But Washington failed to cash in as Graham Gano’s field goal attempt was brilliantly blocked by Buffalo’s Spencer Johnson.

Lindell extended the Bills’ lead with a 37-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, sparking the thunderous sound effects that greeted each Buffalo score - and added another from 44 yards with the final play of the half. Those sound effects are sure to reappear in the second half as Fitzpatrick looks to press home his team's advantage.

With Beck taking a pummelling at the hands of the Bills linemen, the 13-0 lead looks like a mountain to climb for the Redskins in the second half.

NBA: Hunter Talks to Bill Simmons About NBA Lockout

There is still no sign of the 2011/12 season starting but this podcast with Billy Hunter, executive director of the NBPA, sheds more light on the situation.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/7491/b-s-report-billy-hunter

Football: Ferguson Shattered as City Soar into Pole Position

Roberto Mancini has often spoken about the gap that separates his Manchester City team from Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. Prior to the season, the Italian assessed the gap to be two yards, then after nine games of the campaign it had been cut to just a single yard in Mancini’s eyes. But after handing United a 6-1 thumping at Old Trafford on Sunday – their heaviest home defeat since 1955 – City can legitimately claim to be top dogs. It is now Ferguson’s men who have yards to make up in pursuit of City.

As afternoons go, Mancini can have enjoyed few better and, as post-game bottles of wine go, he can have enjoyed few sweeter. Ferguson, however, has plenty to address and little time to do so before a tough trip to Goodison Park at the weekend. While Johnny Evans’ dismissal contributed heavily to the humiliationg scoreline, familiar problems reared their ugly heads during the defeat.

Chief among them is the lack of creativity in midfield, where weaknesses from last season remain glaringly obvious, particularly with the phenomenal David Silva pulling the strings in City’s midfield. Silva, who produced the pass of the decade to Edin Dzeko for the sixth and final goal, was once on United’s radar and Ferguson must rue not pulling the trigger on a deal for the Spaniard.

Anderson and Darren Fletcher have both been solid performers for United but as a partnership it just does not work – the recent victory over Norwich was a perfect example. Both harry and chase but neither is suited to taking control of a game. On Sunday, once City settled, Gareth Barry, Yaya Toure and Silva took charge, exploiting Ferguson’s decision to take on the visitors’ three-man midfield with just two central midfielders. Meanwhile, the energy and vision of Tom Cleverley has been missed during his injury layoff but, while his return will be a boost, United cannot rely on a 22-year-old for all their midfield guile.

Ferguson must also decide on his first choice strike pairing for the biggest games on the fixture list. Selecting Danny Welbeck over Javier Hernandez was a surprising choice given that the Mexican’s pace and movement causes nightmares for defenders and his partnership with Wayne Rooney is firmly established. It is all the more perplexing when you consider that Hernandez has played a total of 39 minutes across the last two league games – at Liverpool and home to City – and United failed to score in either game until he came off the bench. That is simply not enough playing time for one of the Premier League’s deadliest finishers.

A manager with as much experience as Ferguson has earned the right not to be openly questioned but he completed a hat-trick of head-scratching decisions by giving Evans the nod at centre-back ahead of Phil Jones, a more mobile and composed option. United fans feared the worst when Evans’ name appeared on the teamsheet, flooding cyberspace with predictions of impending doom – and with good reason. The Northern Ireland international put his team on the back foot by giving away possession, setting up a City counter attack, and then allowing Mario Balotelli time to slot home the opener.

Evans’ red card was another reminder that he remains at sea at the very highest level. For a physical tussle at Stoke or Bolton, a case could be made for him as the most suitable replacement for Nemanja Vidic, but against a team as technically gifted as City, it was a huge gamble. With Rio Ferdinand also looking off the pace, Jones’ confidence would have been a real asset.

But take nothing away from City, who were committed, organized and ruthless. The trio of Silva, James Milner and Micah Richards led the race for Man of the Match honours but several others were not far behind. In contrast to some of Ferguson’s blunders, Mancini was spot on with every tactical move – from putting faith in Balotelli’s temperament to leaving Samir Nasri on the bench in favour of the more industrious Milner. United were not only outplayed but also outcoached.

To read the rest of the article, visit http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/10/24/ferguson-must-address-man-utd-failings-as-man-city-run-riot/51379/

Football: United-City Title Race Locked In For Next Decade

"All derbies are big now, that is the nature of the landscape."
                                                                                             Sir Alex Ferguson, October 4

It has taken just six weeks of the Premier League season for a consensus to emerge that the battle for the title will be a two-horse race between Manchester United and Manchester City. Noisy neighbours no more, Roberto Mancini's men have made the expected step up this season, matching United stride for stride, win for win and goal for goal.

With the Manchester derby more hotly anticipated than ever before, the rivalry has huge potential. The combined star power is mind-blowing. City have dominated the transfer headlines over the past few years by splashing out more than £150M on the quartet of Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez, with plenty more arrivals also boosting the club’s trophy hunt. But it is easy to forget that United's big guns Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Nani, Jones and improving goalkeeper David De Gea did not come cheap either over the years.

And closer examination of the two squads and the two transfer budgets confirms that their title scrap this season will not be a one-off. Neither club is fading off the map any time soon - if anything, both will be stronger next year and even stronger the year after. With Chelsea unquestionably aging despite their solid start, Arsenal forced into an overhaul of their squad and Liverpool still one or two stars short, the future looks distinctly red and sky blue.

United provided a glimpse of the future in the second half of the Community Shield when Ferguson turned to his youngsters and sent out a team with an average age of 22. Young, at 26, was the oldest player in a red shirt until Dimitar Berbatov came off the bench late on.

Phil Jones, 19, has adjusted so seamlessly at the centre back that Rio Ferdinand is struggling to regain his place for club and country. Chris Smalling has proved that he is an option at both right back and centre back, Tom Cleverley is the closest United have come to a Paul Scholes replacement and Danny Welbeck has forced his way ahead of Berbatov and Michael Owen in the pecking order with his lively displays. This second coming of the Fergie Fledglings has caught England boss Fabio Capello’s attention too.

Over at the Etihad Stadium, City also have a youthful look, with goalkeeper Joe Hart showing maturity beyond his years, Aguero having the biggest impact of any summer signing and even Mario Balotelli producing displays that suggest he is growing up.  Throw in Samir Nasri and Adam Johnson, who are both just 24, and Mancini has a core group that could lead the City charge for at least the next seven or eight years.

To read the rest of this article, visit http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/10/20/man-city-and-man-utd-set-for-decade-of-premier-league-domination/51183/ 

Football: Ferguson Team Selection Dents Rivalry Claims

Kevin Keegan has been known to let his emotions run wild at times over the years, from his outburst against Sir Alex Ferguson on Sky Sports in the heat of the 1996 title race to the low points of his stint as England manager. But when Keegan claimed Manchester United’s team selection at Anfield on Saturday was an insult to Liverpool, it was easy to understand his dismay. With one teamsheet, Ferguson had shot down the hype surrounding the clubs’ rivalry and, with it, the notion that Liverpool were once again a force to be reckoned with.

The decision to leave Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez and Nani on the bench was perplexing at best. While Ferguson can point to Rooney’s questionable mindset after confirmation of his three-game international ban and Hernandez’s draining trip to represent Mexico against Brazil, surely the bottom line is that the United boss would have picked both if he had felt the need to. Instead, he took the calculated gamble that an under-strength team would still have the quality to outduel Liverpool – and that will have been a tough reality check for Reds fans.

This was a game that had received plentiful hype in the build-up, with Ferguson taking the surprising step of claiming it was a notch above Real Madrid-Barcelona as a rivalry. Such a boast was rendered ridiculous after the 90 minutes on Saturday and the fact that Rooney, in explosive form throughout the first two months of the season, spent close to 70 minutes on the bench.

Liverpool, meanwhile, were in no mood to rest star names, handing Steven Gerrard a first start of the season after recovering from a groin injury and unleashing Luis Suarez as the spearhead of their attack. The popular opinion on Merseyside is that a top four finish should be the minimum expectation this season, particularly after the vast sums spent this calendar year, but, again, Ferguson seemingly did not assess the threat to be so high.

On the one hand, picking Ji-Sung Park, Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher could be taken as a compliment to Liverpool’s up tempo style of play. After all, Ferguson usually places his trust in this trio for games against Chelsea and Arsenal. But why at the expense of Rooney, Hernandez and Nani? It would have been possible to play a 4-5-1 formation that featured at least five of these key men. And the experiment of playing Phil Jones in central midfield for the first time this season was another move that hardly suggested the game was “do or die” in Ferguson’s eyes.

Predictably, once United sent on the attacking cavalry, the game swung their way. It took Hernandez just five minutes to make his mark, heading home from Nani’s corner. If Ferguson’s plan had been to contain Liverpool for 70 minutes then go for the jugular in the latter stages, it almost paid off. But that does not exactly mesh with his description of a fixture worthy of “El Clasico” comparisons.

Read the rest of the article at http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/10/17/fergusons-man-utd-team-selection-dents-liverpool-rivalry/51017/