The Last Word - Sports Blog (Sean Simara)

A London Derby will headline the Capital One Cup final on Sunday as Chelsea face Tottenham at Wembley Stadium. The two are split one win each this season in the league so both will be up for this one as there's no love lost between the two clubs. Tottenham will be hoping star man Harry Kane can put on the performance as he did at White Hart Lane against Chelsea. Kane has been on fire this year, he scored the winner in the North London Derby so to become a even bigger star at the lane this year a cup final winner will be everything Spurs fans will be dreaming of.  A disappointing defeat in the Europa League in the week off the back of a late late goal against West Ham means Spurs are coming in to this game out of form at the worst possible time. Chelsea fresh off the Jose's Goals on Sunday rant will be itching to put more silverware in the cabinet. Off the field antics in France have overshadowed the club in recent weeks, can they make the headlines for the right reasons now...

The Premier League returns this weekend and draws up a few taking point. Tim Sherwood takes charge of his first game of Aston Villa at Villa Park as they host Stoke, confidence should be high as they beat Leicester City in the FA Cup and Lambert's sacking seem to go down well with the fans. Tim Sherwood should get that new manager effect as I expect Villa to win this. Also down near the foot of the league the KC Stadium host a vital game as Hull play QPR. Rangers have appointed Chris Ramsey until the end of the season after abandoning the 'Dream Manager' hunt. QPR picked up there first points away from home at Sunderland last time out with an impressive 2-0 win. The pressure will be on as both sides as they know a win could be vital come the end of the season. I expect this one to end in a draw. Sunderland had a disappointing result in the cup against Bradford and West Brom will be no easy task. Pulis is working his relegation wonders again and it will be tricky for Sun...

I've not wrote a blog for a little while so here's a little update of what's gone on in the world of football recently. FA Cup What an amazing weekend of FA Cup football, who said the magic is gone. We saw Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham, Swansea and Southampton all crashing out on the same day. With Manchester United and Liverpool going to replays the cup is wide open for a ‘smaller’ club to have their big day at Wembley. However it was all fun and games Saturday but if we get a West Ham v Derby final I don’t think it will be a great spectacle. Let’s hope its Arsenal v Manchester United or Liverpool in the final, it is the ‘best cup competition in the world' remember. QPR QPR still haven't won an away game all season, however Harry Redknapp has been backed by his chairman. I wonder how many other managers would be safe if they had such a horrendous record. QPR have only brought in Mauro Zarate on loan so far but we all know Redknapp is a deadline day guy, ...

As we reach the end on 2014 here I have another little look at the London clubs and how there doing so far with a fun grading system.  Premier League Chelsea - Previously A* NOW A Only one defeat in the league it looks like a two horse race between them and City. Not looking quite as cut throat as they were earlier in the season, could be the calm before the storm though. West Ham Previously C+ NOW B   West Ham still looking strong and now with Andy Carroll back West Ham could be in the hunt for European Football. Song and Valencia could well be the deals of the summer. Arsenal Previously D- NOW D+ The Gunners still way off the pace in the title race, However Sanchez is taking the Premier League by storm. Wenger does need to still dip into the transfer market next month as top 4 will be tight this season.   Tottenham Previously D - NOW C   Unbeaten in 6 in the league now, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen get special praise as without them Spurs woul...

From manager of the year to the worst start in over 40 years, what's gone wrong at Liverpool? Why has Rodgers gone backwards so fast? Is he over-rated and did he waste the cash he got for Suarez? I'm not a Liverpool fan but I will give my honest opinion. To me Brendan Rodgers had the luckiest season in football last year where everything went for them. Chelsea weren't quite on point, Man United were dreadful, Arsenal were Arsenal, and somehow Man City won it all. Liverpool played great attacking football the S.A.S (Suarez & Sturridge) people were raving about. Especially with the Liverpool filled football pundits, they were scoring goals for fun. Sterling was playing out of his skin, Gerrard & Henderson in the middle was the best thing since slice bread everything was going right. The only thing was they were leaky at the back. It didn't matter though as they were outscoring them all. However you don't win leagues if you can't defend. We know what h...

As were reaching the half way point to the season here I look at the London clubs and how there doing so far with a fun grading system. Based on how the team is performing matching up to season expectations.  Premier League Chelsea - A*   Still undefeated in the league, Jose has got his side doing the business already. They look like they could win the league by February at this rate. West Ham C+   Running along nicely, at the start of the season Big Sam was favourite to be sacked, he has put together his new look side which sees players like Downing shining and 'fan fav' Nolan out the team which has gone down very well. Arsenal  D-  The Gunners finds themselves way off the pace in the title race, Sanchez is doing well but Ozil is out injured and the team have forgotten how to defend. Wenger has to put his hand into them deep Puma pockets again in January or he could miss out on top 4. Tottenham D -   They still seem to find new ways to be avera...

A look at the English sides in Champions League action this week. Real Madrid v Liverpool  Out of form Liverpool head to Madrid which was always going to be the toughest game of the group. They were given a footballing master class at Anfield by the current European Champions as they won 3-0. Madrid are on a 11 game winning streak in all competitions and I only see that continuing. Liverpool are struggling, Mario Balotelli hasn't lived up to the hype, while Gerrard is struggling this season and it looks like he will be rested, or in other words 'dropped'. There is a clear over reliance on Raheem Sterling, if you keep him quite you keep Liverpool quite. They still can't defend, which cost them their first ever Premier League title. I see Real Madrid winning this 4-0 with Ronaldo scoring the first. Arsenal v Anderlecht  Arsenal could practically seal their place in the knock-out stages of the Champions League with a win here. The Gooners snatched victory against Anderlech...