Mid-term Aussie Rules brief

Saints: Couldn't see this coming after last year's lame exit from finals but can't argue with 12-0 record. Have looked the goods. Could this finally be their year?

Cats: Another 12-0 team that's rolling nicely along. Look focused to eliminate pain of 2008 Grand Final loss. Will Ablett finally win a Charlie?

Bulldogs: Look the only real threat to the top two at this stage. If Griffen and Cooney can have a big September, they're capable of achieving what Hawthorn did in 2008. Will Minson and Murphy be fit when it matters?

Pies: Back on track after dodgy spell. Need Davis, Didak, Dick, Cloke, Medhurst, Pendlebury, Thomas and Anthony to all be fit and firing to make significant impact at business end of season. Will Malthouse remain as coach next year?

Lions: Doing absolutely brilliantly. Now, can they start winning consistently away from the 'Gabba? How good is Daniel Rich! Voss for Coach of the Year?

Crows: Never quite know where they're at. Can they start performing in non-milestone games?

Blues: Classy midfield but, despite Fevola, lack depth at either end to be serious contenders at this stage. Did Judd join the right Melbourne club?

Bombers: Plenty of exciting youngsters. Contrary to most expert opinion, I'm backing them to be better than Blues in long term. Will Paddy Ryder prove to be as good as Franklin some day?

Hawks: Not a happy team these days. Injuries can't be an excuse any more. Premiership hangover?

Port: The most under-achieving team, with the exception of the Hawks. The end of Choco's reign?

Swans: Need to start turning over ageing stars. Might be spending another year or three in the bottom half. Do they need another marquee signing from Melbourne?

Roos: Have over-achieved for years. With Laidley gone, best news this season might come if they can lure Buckley to Arden Street. Should they have taken up AFL's offer to move to Gold Coast?

Eagles: Were always going to be a tough few years after the loss of Judd and Cousins. Is Naitanui the most exciting talent since Buddy?

Tigers: Five wasted years under Wallace. Can only improve. Right? Do have Cotchin, a superstar in the making. Can they give themselves a huge boost by nabbing Bucks as coach for 2010?

Dockers: Tough to beat at home but clueless when they travel across the continent. What exactly do the hierarchy see in Harvey?

Demons: Going to be a long road back but showing the right amount of grit to keep supporters interested. Will Watts be the saviour?

Wimbledon: Can anyone stop Roger or Williams?

I've never been a Rafael Nadal fan as such but my respect and admiration for the current World No.1 has increased almost exponentially over the past two Wimbledons. Unlike the vast majority of European and South American clay-courters who suffer from grass allergy, Rafa worked extremely hard to conquer his natural aversion to the surface, reaching a final and then dethroning Roger Federer at the latter's spiritual home.

It is, therefore, a genuine disappointment that Nadal will not be defending his title at SW1 this year. Unfortunately, there have now got to be doubts about his long-term future as a top player. His hustling, retrieve-at-all-costs style of play is brutally punishing on the knees and the onset of tendonitis at such a young age is not a good sign. Let's hope those fears prove unfounded and he can get back to the ATP tour as soon as possible because his rivalry with Federer has given tennis a much-needed shot in the arm. When was the last time the sport had two such thoroughly decent, down-to-earth characters dominating discussion?

Nadal's absence appears to have opened up the top half of the men's singles draw for Andy Murray, who has, despite being Scottish, taken over from Tim Henman as the home-crowd favourite. Murray's a better player than Henman ever was and has a good chance of becoming the first Briton since Lancastrian Fred Perry to win Wimbledon. He should have a relatively untroubled route through to the second week, although Taylor Dent looms as a potentially dangerous third-round opponent if he has recovered fully from the injuries that have blighted his progress over the past couple of years. Murray could then run into Stanislas Wawrinka or Marat Safin in Round 4, either of whom he should be able to get past with relative ease. His quarter-final, probably against Mikhail Youzhny or Nicolas Kiefer, might actually prove to be easier than the previous two rounds.

The top quarter, now devoid of the defending champion, could witness a showdown between Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick, the best-credentialled grass-courters in that section of the draw, with the winner to meet Murray in one semi-final.

Nadal's injury worries put Roger Federer's amazing achievement of reaching 20 successive Grand Slam semi-finals into even sharper context. It's hard to see anyone challenging him in the bottom half. He may have a French Open Final re-match against Robin Soderling in the fourth round, although the Swede might find the serve-and-volley style of Feliciano Lopez - a highly uncommon trait for a Spaniard - too hot to handle in the third round. Federer's quarter-final could be against the exciting Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic or the much-improved Fernando Verdasco of Spain. Looking further, I doubt Novak Djokovic will be Roger's semi-final opponent. It's more likely to be Tommy Haas, James Blake or Mardy Fish.

I'm predicting a Murray v Federer final with the Swiss genius having a tad too much grass-court nous and experience for the Scot.

A few years ago, there were doubts about the commitment the Williams sisters were showing towards the WTA tour. It appeared their off-field interests such as fashion - and even acting in Serena's case - were taking up too much of their time. Instead, they've seen off the now-retired Belgian duo of Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters and have just about quelled the Eastern European uprising as well, at least on grass.

Fortunately, Venus and Serena have been drawn in opposite halves. Is there anyone who can stop their path to the final?

In the top half, Venus' most difficult encounter could be in the fourth-round against Samantha Stosur. The Aussie, with a surprising run to the semis at Roland Garros, is in the form of her life. Having decided to concentrate on her singles career for the moment, her volleying skills, honed during several doubles title wins, will keep her in good stead. If Venus has an off-day, Stosur is more than capable of an upset.

The only player who looks likely to challenge Serena in the bottom half is Maria Sharapova. The US-based Russian has, however, been afflicted with injury this year and may not even get to her projected quarter-final meeting with the World No.2.

I can't see any of the Eastern Europeans mounting a serious challenge. Dinara Safina, the top seed at Wimbledon, was beaten by Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn on grass in Holland last week. Vera Zvonareva might prove to be good enough to get to the semi-final from her quarter of the draw but is unlikely to trouble Serena if she gets there.

I'll take Venus to beat Serena in a repeat of last year's final.

The biggest surprise at this year's Wimbledon might prove to be the weather! It's forecast to be "largely fine and settled" in the first week, which will please the strawberry-and-cream vendors, not to mention the organisers, who will be happy to get through the early rounds on schedule.

Showers and even prolonged rain might dampen the second week but that might not be such bad news, as the main matches will be confined to the show courts by then.

The newly-built retractable roof on Centre Court is likely to be called into action in the latter stages. It'll be interesting to see what effect that has on proceedings.

How will Ronaldo's departure affect Manchester United?

Am I disappointed that Cristiano Ronaldo has decided to move to Madrid? Yes. Do I think it will hurt United in the short term? Ditto. Does that mean United will slip up next season? That's a completely different question but one that followers of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool appear very keen to link to the first two, leading them to deductions that don't withstand scrutiny when weighed up against the evidence of history.

At the end of the 1994-95 season, Alex Ferguson sold Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis. There was an immediate outcry amongst some of the United faithful, who hadn't quite, at that stage, cemented their belief in the manager's keen eye for talent. Elsewhere, Liverpool legend Alan Hansen went down in history for that famous jibe that went something like: "You'll never win anything with kids." We all know what happened. The kids - Scholes, Beckham, the Nevilles, Butt and even Giggs who was just 22 at the time - played no mean part as United regained the title they had lost to Blackburn a year earlier.

A few seasons later came the departure of Eric Cantona, who had been the catalyst in United's re-emergence amongst the elite after 26 seasons without the league title. The Frenchman had also been the inspiration and guiding light for Fergie's Fledglings (the ones dismissed by Hansen as 'kids'). Again, the naysayers were out in force, predicting United's demise. Not quite. After a brief season-long hiatus during which Arsenal were crowned champions, United went on to capture three Premierships in a row, the first of which formed a third of the treble that included the Champions' League and the FA Cup.

The next 'irreplaceable' player to leave The Shrine was Roy Keane, a living legend whose name continues to be sung with the same gusto as ever at the Stretford End. That was the end of the dynasty, said the doom and gloom merchants. Instead, United went on to complete another hat-trick of Premiership wins, the middle one being embellished with a second Champions' League crown under Ferguson.

Now, the current FIFA World Player of the Year and, as I've said elsewhere, potentially the best player in the world bar none, has left to fulfil the wishes of his late father, whose dream it was to see his son don the Real Madrid shirt. Once more, the ether is filled with exuberant noises from North and West London and the red half of Merseyside.

Will their optimism be justified this time around?

The speed with which United accepted Madrid's bid for Ronaldo - it took less than two hours from offer to acceptance - indicates they were prepared for it. It can also be surmised that their scouting network would've been alerted to the possibility several months earlier.

That network has plucked some gems over the past year or three. The exciting Da Silva brothers look like they'll fill the full-back roles for some time to come. Federico Macheda has looked the goods during his first-team appearances this season, as has Danny Welbeck, whose own debut goal, a thirty-yard scorcher against Stoke, was as special as Macheda's injury-time screamer against Villa. Goran Tosic, the 22-year-old Serbian winger signed in mid-season, is a free-kick specialist. His compatriot Adem Ljajic, 18 in September, is due to move to Manchester next season and is reported to be one of the most talented youngsters in Eastern Europe. Then there's the likes of Davide Petrucci, a creative midfielder signed, when 16, from Roma a year ago, and Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Possebon, who is developing well under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tutelage in the reserves.

United's defence, with Ferdinand and Vidic in the middle, is fairly solid. Jonny Evans will be a star and 17-year-old Corry is said to be more gifted than his brother. Another 17-year-old central defender, a Brazilian named Dodo, is set to sign soon. In goal, Ben Foster could well be the next long-term England No.1.

The media has, quite predictably, been speculating about which big-name player Ferguson will sign to try and replace Ronaldo but what United need most of all is a defensive midfielder of the highest pedigree, given the continuing injury problems that Owen Hargreaves is having to endure. That was the area where United were so brilliantly exposed by the magnificient Barca duo of Iniesta and Xavi in the Champions' League Final in Rome. Personally, I would gladly swap Carlos Tevez for Javier Mascherano. Perhaps Rafa Benitez could be tempted?

Further forward, Ronaldo's departure should finally convince Ferguson to build his attack around Rooney, who has always looked a natural 'No.10' to me, at his best when floating in that dangerous space between the opposing midfield and defence. That's where he has been brilliant for England lately and it's time he was given the the same role for good at United. To partner him, I'm hoping Ferguson will be able to persuade Lyon's Karim Benzema to bring forward his projected departure from Ligue 1 by a year. At 22, he is close to the finished article and has the strength and technique to be the perfect foil for Rooney.

Elsewhere on the transfer front, it's more than likely that the players Ferguson brings in will have been very low, if not nowhere, on the radar of tabloid journalists who dream up transfer tittle-tattle during what is aptly named the silly season. Who picked the capture of the likes of the Da Silva twins, Nani, Anderson, Tosic and Ljajic - or even Ronaldo himself six years ago?

This time around, Brazilian teenager Douglas Costa and Argentine Javier Pastore are reported to have been monitored closely by United's increasingly successful South American scouting network.

So, don't be surprised if Ferguson invests the Madrid money on youth once more.

I'm beginning to wonder whether someone will then be tempted to reprise Hansen's comment from fourteen summers ago.

Kobe finally earns Shaq-less ring

Even as a Clippers fan, I could see it coming a long way out. Kobe Bryant, arguably the best basketballer of the post-Jordan era, has finally won an NBA title without the aid of Shaquille O'Neal.

Congratulations to Kobe and the Lakers! While the marketing men tried to hype up the projected Bryant v LeBron James clash to an oft-ridiculous extent in the lead-up to and even during the play-offs - no wonder Orlando's Dwight Howard felt it was insulting! - there was little doubt that the Lakers were the team to beat. After several years carrying his Shaq-less side on his own, Kobe finally had some quality assistance from the likes of Spain's Pau Gasol, former Clipper Lamar Odom, ever-dependable veteran Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza.

Now, I'm no basketball connoisseur but I can, much as it pains me to say it, see the Lakers being even better next season. That's because, from what I've seen of Andrew Bynum, the 21-year-old centre has the potential to dominate the paint like no other since Shaq in his pomp.

The Lakers for a repeat in 2010? Probably - unless 'King' James can surround himself with better quality, either at the Cavs or elsewhere. There's been talk all year of him moving to the New York Knicks for mega marketing bucks. Wiser counsel might suggest that if he was to leave the Cavs, his priority should be to find a team with a roster good enough to challenge.

James is only 24 and people tend to forget that Jordan was 28 before he won his first NBA ring. So, time may be on James' side. On the other hand, he may have to start winning titles before he can usurp Bryant as the best player since MJ, something that plenty have predicted as his destiny.

How will Madrid's Galacticos Mark II fare?

Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo are already in the bag and David Villa looks like being Real Madrid's third big signing as Florentino Perez's second coming continues to send shock waves through the European transfer market.

Global Financial Crisis? Perez probably doesn't know the meaning of the term. El Mundo Deportivo, which is published in Barcelona, has reported that Real's debts have soared beyond 500m Euros. Mind you, it doesn't half help when the prospect of the city's banks calling them in is about as probable as the subject of the latest world-record transfer admitting that he is a tad over-valued.

How will the new batch of Galacticos fare? They're more than likely to do as well, if not better than Zidane, (the original) Ronaldo, Beckham, Figo & Co as far as commercial returns are concerned. The real challenge for the current batch, however, will be to make a significant improvement on the somewhat underwhelming on-field record of their predecessors.

To that end, Madrid supporters whose vision extends beyond the bling will be hoping that Perez will refrain from meddling with the make-up of the squad once the marquee signings have been sewn up.

Informed opinion suggests that it was Perez, during his first stint as Real supremo, who demanded that Claude Makelele be sold because the Frenchman didn't fit in with the Galactico image. Even without the benefit of hindsight, most would concur that was a blunder of the highest order.

Madrid's new coach, Manuel Pellegrini, is respected as a shrewd and down-to-earth character. With Jorge Valdano and Zidane himself entrenched in prominent off-field roles, it can be safely assumed that the three of them know exactly which areas they need to strengthen if Real are to mount a realistic challenge to Barca in La Liga next season.

And those areas are not where Galacticos tend to roam. If Madrid are to get the best out of Kaka, Ronaldo and Villa, they need quality 'water-carriers', the term Eric Cantona once used, as a compliment despite the negative spin put on it by the media, for Didier Deschamps.

The two Diarras - Mahamadou and Lassana - are potentially good enough to perform the role more than adequately. The question is: will they be given the time and patience that will be required?

What of the defence? Sergio Ramos and 'keeper Iker Casillas apart, it doesn't necessarily inspire confidence. A couple of high-quality signings in that area would appear to be essential, much more so than the addition of yet another Galactico. Whether Perez recognises that is the multi-million Euro question.

Food For Thought: The stark contrast between the self-effacing humility of Kaka and the look-at-me-go-on-look-again self-adulation of Cristiano Ronaldo was brought into sharp focus yesterday. The Brazilian said he was "rejoicing" at the prospect of being in the same team as the Portugese. On the other hand, Ronaldo expressed his disappointment that the two would be unveiled jointly as Real signings to the Madrid media, suggesting his own "historic" transfer decreed that he deserved centre-stage to himself. An interesting beginning to the partnership, to say the least!

Cristiano Ronaldo saga kicks off again

It's on again. It would've been a major surprise if it wasn't.

For those who, like yours truly, are mightily sick of the saga, the good news is that, one way or the other, we should get a long-term resolution this (northern) summer.

Ronaldo's current contract with United runs out in three years from now, which means he can, at this time next year, buy out the remaining two years of his contract and sign for any other club. That would leave United with around GBP 12m in the bank but without their star player come June 2010.

To shield themselves from that, United have two options this summer:
a) Sign Ronaldo to a new long-term contract
b) Sell him to Real Madrid for GBP 75m or thereabouts

As a United supporter, I'd prefer the first option because I reckon Ronaldo can still improve as a player. He's quicker than the Argentine marvel Lionel Messi, is much stronger in the air and packs a more powerful punch from long distance. Where Messi is better - and far better too! - is when it comes to the team-oriented things, such as spotting the killer pass and bringing others into play.

Potentially, Ronaldo can be a far better player than Messi. That's not as controversial as it sounds if you give it a bit of thought. It would be relatively easier for Ronaldo to improve on his shortcomings and get to Messi's level on the team-oriented aspects of the game. It would be much more difficult, if not virtually impossible, for Messi to turn into a speedster who could thump in forty-yarders or rise above defenders to head powerfully home.

Whether Ronaldo will ever become team-oriented is, of course, a different question. If Alex Ferguson hasn't been able to inculcate that into his game, I doubt that anyone else will.

Anyway, getting back to the crux of the matter, it would appear that whether or not Madrid get their man depends on one person - Ronaldo himself. He's the one who'll decide whether he'll sign a long-term contract at The Shrine (aka Old Trafford) or move on to sunnier climes.

From a United supporter's viewpoint, the sooner we get a resolution on the matter, the better for all concerned.

Background

Hi,

I live in Sydney, Australia and have been running a 'closed-circuit' bulletin board / e-mail covering sporting chatter for nigh on twenty years. Thought it was about time I ventured into cyberspace. :-)

Teams/Players I support:
Association Football: Manchester United (since 1973 - we were relegated in the first season I started following the Red Devils!), Rangers, Barcelona, Lazio, Kaiserslautern, St Etienne, Queensland Roar, FC Brugge, Ajax Amsterdam, FC Porto, Santos, Boca Juniors, East Bengal.
Australian Football: Hawthorn
Cricket: Queensland, Lancashire, Bombay.
Tennis: Roger Federer
Major League Baseball: San Francisco Giants
NBA: Los Angeles Clippers
NFL: San Francisco 49ers
Rugby Union: Queensland Reds
Golf: Sergio Garcia (since Seve retired)

I'm planning to present my views on sport and shall try and keep them as unbiased as I possibly can, while looking forward to comments from sports fans across the globe.

Cheers
Vikram

Roger conquers Roland Garros - at last!

I first saw Roger Federer play very early in the new century, when he teamed up with Martina Hingis to win the Hopman Cup in Perth. He instantly became my favourite tennis player. Not since John McEnroe in his prime had I seen anyone play with such poise, elegance and sumptuous style. Fortunately, he didn't display - and, indeed, has never displayed - any of Super Mac's infamous on-court tantrums.

I've followed Federer's exploits ever since and, as some would know, tipped him for greatness well before his first Wimbledon victory even though, back in those early days, there were question marks over his temperament and whether he had the mental fortitude to fully realise his undoubted potential.

Now that he has triumphed at Roland Garros and equalled Pete Sampras' tally of 14 major titles, can we finally hail him as the greatest tennis player of all time? I'd say so, primarily because the competition these days is far stronger than it was in the days of Rod Laver, his only real challenger for the accolade.

What next for the great man? Well, how about a 'Roger Slam', i.e. adding Wimbledon, the US Open and the 2010 Oz Open to the French Open crown? Surely then there will be no more room for argument on who the greatest of all time is.

Food for Thought: Too many people forget that Federer went through most of 2008 suffering from the after-effects of the debilitating mononucleosis disease he contracted prior to the Australian Open that year. The fact that he still managed to win the US Open after reaching the semi-final in Melbourne and the final in Paris and at Wimbledon, speaks volumes for his courage, a quality that is not often highlighted.