the pirating of Davide Petrucci

While England grapples with not taking part in the Euro championships and nod's a familiar nod of superiority, I question whether the once great Football superpower will ever understand the road to developing the youth of the nation.

It has been a number of months now and the message of the FA not supporting domestic coaches is loud and clear. I've accepted the rationale of the "best man available" yet I haven't seen the proverbial dance that domestic coaches would be developed. I suspect I could ask how and where but that would be ignored just like other commentaries towards governing bodies that didn't come with a commercial endorsement and a third-party payment. But enough of those ramblings, I don't want to poke at the hornets nest too much or someone still might want an answer to why the FA blessed the selling of domestic institution and now wears its jersey.

What I do wish to bring your attention to is the pirating of one Davide Petrucci. One of the most promising young strikers in Italy who many compare to Francesco Totti, has just signed a contract with Manchester United. Young Davide is only sixteen years of age and by Italian law unable to sign a professional contract however Man Utd thought nothing of enticing the boy with a three year contract at € 120 k, a gardening job for his father and other incidentals. It is strictly pirating and a dreadful comment on Man Utd.

Now I'm sure many will wag their all knowing finger at me, standing proudly on a soap-box and tell me how this is the nature of modern sport. This is certainly not the first time it has happened and it will not be the last. I suppose there is a great deal of truth to it but while you're wearing your new kit and watching the Premier League champions defend their title, out in the reserves squad another spot will be taken by someone who will never dream of taking thirty-nine steps. If sport echoes society, your acceptance was your condemnation.

Should this type of behavior continue, I can only hope the 2018 bid is successful because qualifying on merit won't be much of a concern.

FA Cup highlights

Portsmouth win's FA Cup

Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth won the FA Cup in a 1-0 victory over Cardiff City at Wembley. The lone goal came from Nwankwo Kanu at the thirty-seventh minute in a tight defensive affair. Cardiff has had few chances although the play of seventeen year-old Welsh international, Aaron Ramsey has firmly established his extraordinary promise.

FA Cup final

In just under two hours Portsmouth and Cardiff City meet for a historic FA Cup final at Wembley.

It has been a stunning year for athletics in Wales and the Bluebirds look to continue this with their first FA Cup victory since 1927. Cardiff is naturally the underdog but hopefully will have the Robbie Fowler back for the match.

Harry Redknapp, the man who should be the head coach of England, will be without Jermain Defoe but will have David James and Sol Campbell back. This should be the crowning of Harry Redknapp as he leads Portsmouth to glory. For Cardiff to pull off an epic upset they will need to play a pack the midfield, a murderous challenge given the size of the Wembley pitch and counter-attack upon weakness. Hopefully, should Portsmouth raise the trophy, England will begin to realize they have their new leader and shockingly he hails from England.

Doncaster - Southend League One playoff

After a tactical and nervy goalless draw in the first leg of the semi-finals Doncaster and Southend meet again today to see who faces Leeds United at Wembley next week. At stake is the valuable promotion to the Championship League.

Doncaster will be without Paul Heffernan who suffered a momentary lapse of sanity when he head-butted Charlie Mulgrew and drew a red-card. Pre-match fitness tests loom for Doncasters Richie Wellens and Southend's Steve Tilson.

Doncaster over Southend 5-1

Presumably someone can explain where Southend went today because the imposter's were dismantled by Doncaster in the most lopsided playoff match I can recall.

James Coppinger put up three goals in the match in a stunning and emphatic win serving full notice to the Yorkshire cohorts, Leeds United, that the Wembley final is going to be a tough match. With a win, Doncaster can complete a stunning turnaround that would see them move from Conference to Championship League in five years.

Leeds - Carlisle League update

9 minute mark, Jonathan Howson scores for Leeds with a left footed strike inside the box. Leeds 1, Carlisle 0 (aggregate 2-2)

- @ the half with aggregate tied

90+ minute; the 19 year-old Jonathan Howson, who hails from Leeds, scores again for Leeds United with a left footed strike off a brilliant set-up from Dougie Freedman.

Leeds United wins and returns to Wembley for the first time in twelve years with a chance to move back to the Championship League.

Leeds - Carlisle League One semi-final playoff

Game two of the second-leg of the Leeds United - Carlisle is set to begin at Brunton Park.

The first leg was a peculiar affair with Carlisle winning 2-1 and Leeds provided a lifeline on a critical goal by Dougie Freedman deep into added-time. Carlisle's Keiren Westwood was an absolute wall and denied Leeds on numerous occasions. If Leeds is to make the drop to League One only last a season, they will need to reverse to pressure Carlisle, pursue better at the mid-field and mark tighter defensively.

Leeds will have Jermaine Beckford and Alan Thompson available for the match and relatively unscathed from the weekend. Carlisle will also have David Raven back but Simon Hackney is questionable.

Hull City - Watford update

quick update - At the 11th minute mark, Darius Henderson on a nice little 1-2 at the top of the box scored to give Watford a 1-0 lead and to close the aggregate to 2-1.

-43rd minute; Goalkeeping blunder from Watford as Nick Barmby heads home a goal for Hull City, returning the 2 goal aggregate lead to Hull City.

- half

69th minute; Hull City will be advancing to Wembley to face Bristol City (barring a stunning reversal) as Caleb Folan just scored on a header from a brilliant crossing volley by Samuel Ricketts. Hull leads the aggregate 4-1

88th minute: Richard Garcia in a run from the half straight down the pitch scores for Hull
90th minute: Nathan Doyle adds another goal for Hull on a strange deflection.

Hull wins the aggregate 6-1 and now will face Bristol City at Wembley with promotion to the Premier League on the line.

Championship League semi-final: Hull City - Watford

After the 2-0 loss at Vicarage Road on Sunday to Hull City, Watford has its work cut out for it today if it to advance to the finals against Bristol City.

For Watford, captain John Eustace will be back after the red-card phantom violation was thankfully overturned by the FA as well as having top scorer Darius Henderson back. Unfortunately they will be without Steve Kabba and Danny Shittu who is doubtful. Based upon his play in the first leg, you can expect Adrian Boothroyd to bring the Hungarian striker Tamas Priskin on early for Watford. Watford will need a mammoth effort if they are to close the two goal gap as no team has won a playoff with more than a one-goal margin from the first round or overturned the deficit whilst playing away from home in the Championship League. Hull is definitely looking prepared for the challenge and might have Jay-Jay Okocha, Dean Marney and Henrik Pedersen back from injuries.

Bristol City - Crystal Palace, update

update -

After a missed Ben Watson penalty at the seventy-third minute the score remains the same at the end of regulation. Headed to extra-time now.

-13th minutes of extra-time, Bristol City's Lee Trundle just scored with a left-footed shot from the top of the box.
-20th minute of extra-time, Michael McIndoe hits a laser strike for Bristol City. Bristol City will advance to the finals now at Wembley on the 24th against either Hull City or Watford.

Goaaaaaaaaaal Crystal Palace

While Bristol City has been in charge of much of the match, Crystal Palace's Ben Watson just scored shocking goal at the 23rd minute with a lofting header from outside the box. Aggregate is now 2-2, reports to follow.

Bristol City - Crystal Palace

With Bristol City capturing the first leg 2-1, Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace will need to pick it up today at Aston Park if they are to advance to the playoff finals of the Championship League. Bristol City certainly will have an psychological advance after David Nobles strike from thirty-yards out in added-time goal stunned Crystal Palace in the first leg. Bristol City is reporting no injuries and Crystal Palace will be definitely be without James Scowcroft as his hamstring injury resurfaced. The winner will face the winner of Hull - Watford at Wembley on the 24th of the month with ascension to the Premier League and a £60 million boost to revenue on the line.

While down a goal, I still have to believe in the Eagles as they might be the most exciting story in English football this season as they climbed from near bottom of the table to fifth with Neil Warnock in charge.

Carlisle over Leeds

In a brilliant match just concluding, Carlisle surprised Leeds with a tactically brilliant 2-1 victory at Elland Road in the first leg of the semi-finals.

Carlisle was highly opportunistic and was pushed on with a tremendous performance by goalkeeper Keiren Westwood who saved at least five dead-on goals. The first goal came with a taste of controversy as Danny Graham scored off a corner kick that replays will show should have not been awarded and merely been a Leeds goal-kick. However with the Carlisle mid-field dominating, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson scored at the fifty minute mark on a crossing re-direction. Finally well past the fifth minute of added time and after considerable pressure through most of the last twenty minutes, Dougie Freedman scored a crucial life-line for Leeds from close range to bring the match to a 2-1 conclusion.

Game two is on Thursday at Brunton Park.

Walcott's goal against Sunderland

With speed that can change the way the game is played, Theo Walcott goal yesterday against Sunderland.

Leeds - Carlisle League One semi-final playoff

Where oh where do I go with this profile because lets be honest, I am anything but unbiased in this match. So prior to my little preview, let me run with this rant...

Personally I feel that the ruling bodies did a horrible disservice to Leeds in the double point reduction, the rationale was highly questionable at best and seemed to merely be another point in a long line of the poor management of the sport. I would like to see Leeds (and Nottingham Forest) return to the glory of the past and possibly more importantly for the heritage of the sport begin to gain respect.

This is not some cute little antiquated idea or a nostalgic look at the past but because I believe in the game in England as part of the nations heritage and am nauseated seeing the sporting heritage ripped from the womb by greedy foreign investors. I have seen this in other sports venues, most notably the loss of the Nordique to the Quebecois or the Jets to the good people of Winnipeg and it truly is time for the people to be organized and fight off their heritage being whored on the street to the highest bidder. While I have noted on numerous occasions that the future of English Football is clinging to life-support, little is being done to ensure the heritage of the sport is secured. The time to refer to the “Premier League” as “English” is long gone and it is a comical piece of marketing to make the claim, excluding the fact that teams play in the same locations and of-course supported by local fans, now forced to pay a kings ransom for tickets. This situation is only going to get worse as ESPN looks to stake its claim on the Premier League by pushing out Rupert Murdoch's Sky TV. If this starting to sound eerily like the NHL of the early 1990's and how Canadian franchises were destroyed with the leagues blessing along with changing the style of play to suit broadcasting to non-fans and well reduce the "Canadian content" , it should, as it is the same business template.

Sadly it is rare for teams to be owned locally and supported by regional academies that feed players through local residents. The examples are numerous but as a fan, who cannot state that watching young Freddie Sears of West Ham, a protege of their academy wasn't one of the great highlights of the year and if truth be told, I would have rather seen Jack Hobbs on the pitch for Liverpool, not simply for his play but what he means to the young players in England. I care not even to get started on how Arsenal is completely wasting the extraordinary talent of one of the nations most important young players, Theo Walcott but the point is loud and clear. While the FA goes through the sham of selling its vision of the future, the public needs to take a stand and support local teams that are dug into the heritage of the sport. Something went horribly wrong with the Leeds situation to name just one and the long-term process of healing the sport and returning it to the people, along with severing foreign ownership of clubs, is seeing great programs return to glory.

With that rant aside, today's match looks to be a great one with the teams coming into the playoffs in completely opposite form but all that is in the past because anything can happen in the playoffs. Elland Road, one of the greatest and most intimidating grounds in the sport will be a buzz with a sell-out ground and Leeds will look to build a lead in advance of the second half of the playoff round at Brunton Park on Thursday. Leeds has won their last three matches and only lost once in the last ten while Carlisle is winless in their last five. The Leagues top player, Jermaine Beckford returned to practice on Thursday for Leeds and is set to play. Leeds will however be without Alan Sheehan who is suspended as is Carlisle's David Raven. Don't miss out ~

Premier League conclusion

As expected, Manchester United secured the Premier League championship with a 2-0 victory over Wigan. Fittingly as Ryan Giggs tied Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record he scored the final goal of the campaign for Man Utd.













At Stamford Bridge Chelsea and Bolton drew 1-1 on a added time goal by Bolton's Matthew Taylor. In a interesting turn of events, the poorly used and always classy, Andriy Shevchenko scored for Chelsea at the sixty-second minute.
















At the Stadium of Light, in a match without anything on the line, the finest young English player who just so happens to be the worst used player in the game, Theo Walcott scored for Arsenal to lead them to a 1-0 victory over Roy Keane's Sunderland. Where Walcott plays next season is still a mystery but hopefully it'll be within a organization that realizes his pace changes the entire tactical approach to the sport and cannot be understated. And I'll also add, promises are cheap because Walcott was ready to shine this season and if England wants to succeed internationally it needs to recognize, appreciate and develop great young talent. Sadly excluding coaches like Mr. Harry Redknapp, the man who should be coaching England, there are few who will protect and nourish the game at home and it is best for Theo to say adieu to Arsenal.





























At Fratton Park, Fulham completed the great escape (more on this later) with a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth, due in large part to the sheer will of Mr. Jimmy Bullard and the mastery of Roy Hodgson. Considered dead and buried, Fulham completed its streak of four victories in its final five matches with a Danny Murphy header off a volley by Jimmy Bullard in the seventy sixth minute.

In other matches:
Birmingham 4 - 1 Blackburn; Birmingham are relegated
Reading 4 Derby 0; Reading are relegated
Liverpool 2 Tottenham 0
Everton 3 Newcastle 1
West Ham 2 Aston Villa 2

Finally in a fitting end of the season, orchestrated by the nonsensical owner, former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Manchester City was trounced 8-1 by Middlesbrough. I have much more to say about this situation but when oh when will the Premier League and the FA learn that foreign ownership will rape you of your heritage and send the game into a downward spiral. While Man City is now a toy for a foreign billionaire to help train and develop the Thai national team, for the good people of the Greater Manchester City it is part of their heritage. This message should be loud and clear because the selling of heritage and dreams isn't something that should ever be on the auction block.

	GP	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals	Against	Total
Manchester United	38	27	6	5	80	22	87
Chelsea	38	25	10	3	65	26	85
Arsenal	38	24	11	3	74	31	83
Liverpool	38	21	13	4	67	28	76
Everton	38	19	8	11	55	33	65
Aston Villa	38	16	12	10	71	51	60
Blackburn	38	15	13	10	50	48	58
Portsmouth	38	16	9	13	48	40	57
Manchester City	38	15	10	13	45	53	55
West Ham	38	13	10	15	42	50	49
Tottenham	38	11	13	14	66	61	46
Newcastle	38	11	10	17	45	65	43
Middlesbrough	38	10	12	16	43	53	42
Wigan	38	10	10	18	34	51	40
Sunderland	38	11	6	21	36	59	39
Bolton	38	9	10	19	36	54	37
Fulham	38	8	12	18	38	60	36
Reading	38	10	6	22	41	66	36
Birmingham City	38	8	11	19	46	62	35
Derby County	38	1	8	29	20	89	11

Championship League conclusion

The Championship League concluded today with an unbelievable series of matches today. Todays results saw West Brow come out with the title and along with Stoke City they are automatically promoted to the Premier League. The playoff round begins next Sunday with Hull and Watford and on the following Tuesday, Bristol City and Crystal Palace.

At the bottom end of the table, despite mustering a game, nil draw against Stoke City, Leicester City is relegated to League One for the first time in their 124-year history because Southampton pulled-off one of the great upsets of the day by beating Sheffield United. Results from today:

West Brom 2 Queens Park Rangers 0
Leicester City 0 Stoke City 0
Ipswich Town 1 Hull City 0
Bristol City 3 Preston NE 0
Watford F.C 1 Blackpool
Watford barely scraped into the playoffs and if it wasn't for Tommy Smith's sixty-second minute goal they would dropped out of the playoff position.
Crystal Palace 5 Burnley F.C. 0
Crystal Palace is unquestionably my favorite to win the playoffs and advance to the Premier League.
Wolverhampton 1 Plymouth Argyle 0
Southampton 3 Sheffield United 2
Southampton, without question, wins the Championship League award for the great escape as this victory kept them out of relegation.
Charlton 4 Coventry 1
Cardiff City 3 Barnsley 0
Colchester 3 Scunthorpe 3
Sheffield Wednesday 4 Norwich 1

	GP	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals	Against	Total
West Brom	46	23	12	11	88	55	81
Stoke City	46	21	16	9	69	55	79
Hull	46	21	12	13	65	47	75
Bristol City	46	20	14	12	54	53	74
Crystal Palace	46	18	17	11	58	42	71
Watford	46	18	16	12	62	56	70
Wolverhampton	46	18	16	12	53	48	70
Ipswich Town	46	18	15	13	65	56	69
Sheffield United	46	17	15	14	56	51	66
Plymouth Argyle	46	17	13	16	60	50	64
Charlton Athletic	46	17	13	16	63	58	64
Cardiff City	46	16	16	14	59	55	64
Burnley	46	16	14	16	60	67	62
Queens Park Rangers	46	14	16	16	60	66	58
Preston	46	15	11	20	50	56	56
Sheffield Wednesday	46	14	13	19	54	55	55
Norwich	46	15	10	21	49	59	55
Barnsley	46	14	13	19	52	65	55
Blackpool	46	12	18	16	59	64	54
Southampton	46	13	15	18	56	72	54
Coventry City	46	14	11	21	52	64	53
Leicester City	46	12	16	18	42	45	52
Scunthorpe	46	11	13	22	46	69	46
Colchester	46	7	17	22	62	86	38

Bolton over Sunderland

The Bolton - Sunderland match in the Premier League just ended with Bolton winning 2-0. Gary Megson's squad has made an unbelievable turnaround and picked-up ten points in their last four matches. This virtually guarantees themselves staying up in the Premier League next season.

Championship League race

The Championship League race is coming down to the final weekend this Sunday with an unbelievable ending. While for some teams the matches will simply be for pride but for some it'll push them into the Premier League or relegate them into the third division of Football.

Sunday
West Brom @ Queens Park Rangers
West Brom is virtually guaranteed automatic promotion so this one is playing for the trophy. With their massive lead in goal differential even a loss, with victories by Hull and Stoke City will see them gain automatic promotion

Leicester City @ Stoke City
This one is certainly an unbelievable twisting match. While Stoke if fighting to win automatic promotion as well as the trophy, Leicester City is in its own fight to avoid relegation. Stoke is completely healthy and have recalled Chris Riggott from Middlesbrough

Hull City @ Ipswich Town
A victory for Hull City could see them into automatic promotion if Stoke loses to Leicester City. Ipswich is not going to be easy because a victory coupled with Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton losses will see them into the playoff.

Preston NE @ Bristol City
Bristol City is through to the playoffs but cannot gain automatic promotion. I expect them to use this match for final tune-ups.

Watford F.C @ Blackpool
Watford's inconsistent play has put them in a peculiar position where a Blackpool victory will quite possibly push them out of the playoff zone.

Burnley F.C. @ Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace is sitting in the final playoff spot but either Wolverhampton, Ipswich Town or Sheffield United will leap above them with a victory.

Plymouth Argyle @ Wolverhampton
A win by the Wolves will put them temporarily above Watford and Crystal Palace but to advance they will need help from either Blackpool or Burnley.

Sheffield United @ Southampton
Sheffield's chances are remote and they will need all three teams above them to lose but in their way is Southhampton which knows it will escape relegation with points, providing Stoke defeats Leicester City.

The balance of the matches will not affect the promotion or relegation situations:

Coventry @ Charlton
Barnsley @ Cardiff City
Colchester @ Scunthorpe
Norwich @ Sheffield Wednesday

	GP	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals	Against	Total
West Brom	45	22	12	11	86	55	78
Stoke City	45	21	15	9	69	55	78
Hull City	45	21	12	12	65	46	75
Bristol City	45	19	14	12	51	53	71
Watford	45	18	15	12	61	55	69
Crystal Palace	45	17	17	11	53	42	68
Wolverhampton	45	17	16	12	52	48	67
Ipswich Town	45	17	15	13	64	56	66
Sheffield United	45	17	15	13	54	48	66
Plymouth	45	17	13	15	60	49	64
Burnley	45	16	14	15	60	62	62
Charlton	45	16	13	16	59	57	61
Cardiff City	45	15	16	14	56	55	61
Queens Park Rangers	45	14	16	15	60	64	58
Preston	45	15	11	19	50	53	56
Norwich	45	15	10	20	48	55	55
Barnsley	45	14	13	18	52	62	55
Blackpool	45	12	17	16	58	63	53
Coventry	45	14	11	20	51	60	53
Sheffield Wednesday	45	13	13	19	50	54	52
Leicester City	45	12	15	18	42	45	51
Southampton	45	12	15	18	53	70	51
Scunthorpe	45	11	12	22	43	66	45
Colchester	45	7	16	22	59	83	37