The Last Word - Sports Blog (Sean Simara)

Liverpool are currently 11pts behind leaders Chelsea going into the international break. They have lost 5 games in the league already this season, and only have one win in their past nine games. This win was against Manchester United, however their on the brink of elimination from the Champions League and with Manchester City and Everton to play in the next few weeks the gap could become wider. They have the same current form as Championship basement team Peterborough who axed their manager this week. Liverpool do have a fantastic history, but their present is what really matters. They have never won the Premier League at look to be slipping even further away this season. They did make progress last year finishing 2nd. But here are my personal reasons to why they will not win the Premiership. Benitez has always favoured the Champions League over the Premiership. They should not have let Alonso go; as they did they should have replaced him with a player of equal quality. When Torres and...

Brazil, Holland, England, Italy, Germany, Chile and Ghana have all already booked their place in South Africa 2010. The greatest football competition in the world brings together all the best footballers together in one place. It is the highlight for any footballer in their career. Argentina’s last minute winner on Saturday night against Peru has nearly put them through. In the hammering rain the former world champions were 30 seconds away from elimination. Then Martin Palermo snatched the winner for Maradona‘s men. Wednesday night the travel to Uruguay in a winner-takes-all match. Portugal are another team with their World Cup future in their own hands. A win at home over Malta will see them through. With all the top nations from around the world looking like they will somehow get through, the excitement builds up. I feel the top countries being at the tournament will make the competition better. There will be no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’ that whether a team would have won if so and so were the...

The Premiership is only in early October but its looks like its shaping up to be an interesting and one of the most memorable yet. Chelsea tops the going to in the international break. The Blues only lost one game (Wigan away), and Ancelotti has finally fashioned a way to make Drogba and Anelka click, playing as a pair up front. Something that the past two managers didn’t do. Manchester United’s start sees them only losing one game as well. Burnley shocked them but I feel they are still missing a certain Portuguese winger. Note that Madrid lost their first game of the season when Ronaldo was out injured. His ability to produce a match winning moment I feel will cost United. Spurs and Man City find themselves where their fans love, in the top four. For Tottenham being above Arsenal means everything to the fans. Their derby at the end of the month will be a real test for both. It will answer a lot questions, are Spurs finally catching up to their longest rivals? I feel Arsenal are doing ...

Since the last time I wrote a lot has happened in the foot baling world. England has now qualified for the World Cup in South Africa. Their demolition of Croatia at Wembley Stadium was one of the best performances for many years. The season so far has been packed with incidents. The Premiership top 4 looks like it could well be invaded. Manchester City showed there good enough to mix it with Arsenal, and was unlucky not to leave with at least a point from Old Trafford. Santa Cruz hasn’t even kicked a ball yet, and Hughes is coping well with the egos of Bellamy and Robinho for now. Tottenham are the other, they had an explosive start to the campaign. But when it came to playing the top 4 teams, they came unstuck. Manchester United & Chelsea showed Spurs they must still work very hard to break into the exclusive top elite clubs in England. Tottenham’s weakness is their defence. King, Woodgate and Dawson are all injury prone. The full backs are unrealisable and they have not one, but...

Premiership Top 6 Manchester United Chelsea Liverpool Arsenal Man City Spurs Relegated Wolves Burnley Portsmouth Championship West Brom Cardiff City Middlesbrough (Play - 0ff Winners) Relegated Plymouth Scunthorpe Peterborough League One Leeds United Millwall Charlton (Play - 0ff Winners) Relegated Yeovil Swindon Exeter Stockport League Two Notts County Bradford Rochdale Chesterfield (Play - 0ff Winners) Relegated Accrington Stanley Burton Albion

I didn’t expect Arsenal to start the season in such explosive fashion. A 6-1 opening day win is good. But up at Everton is something special. I did though expect Arsenal to struggle this season; however an inspirational performance showed they still will be hard to knock out of the top four. They played and looked like they did a few years ago when they were an unbeatable force. I was also impressed with Manchester City. Now you would expect them with a team they have to beat Blackburn, which they did. But it was the performance at the back I was most impressed with. Given, Dunne and Toure looked good and dealt with whatever Rovers threw at them. Adebayor scored on his debut and fan’s player of the year, Stephen Ireland netted his first of the campaign. With Everton and Villa’s slow starts City could mount a serious top six challenge. Manchester United started the defence of the title with a steady 1-0 win over newly promoted Birmingham City. But even in the first game they look like t...

The football league is back!!! A week ahead of the Premiership, the teams and fans of the football league sides start their campaigns for glory. The Championship round-up starts with, Cardiff City’s 4-0 victory at their brand spanking new stadium over Scunthorpe. Cardiff if you remember missed out on the Play-Offs by one goal last season. Newcastle United put the turmoil of the summer behind them and drew 1-1 at West Brom. These two teams will be there or there abouts come May. Goal of the weekend was Clinton Morrison opener against Ipswich Town. His curling lob over the keeper and two Town defenders is a contender for goal of the month already. http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid29318049001?bctid=32823450001 In League 1 Colchester put on the best show. An amazing 7-1 win at Norwich was a perfect way to start any season. This overshadowed Gillingham’s 5-0 win over Swindon. League 1 this year will be tight with fans of Leeds, Millwall, Charlton, MK Dons and Southampton look...