Power Failure Opens Up World Darts Championship

Phil Taylor crashed out of the PDC World Darts Championship at the last 32 stage last night after a 4-1 defeat against Dave “Chizzee Rascal” Chisnall. Without trying to take anything away from Chisnall’s achievement Taylor was far from his best – he uncharacteristically hit the 5 and the 1 a number of times and his finishing on double top was pretty woeful by and professionals standard, never mind the extremely high standards we have come to expect from Taylor over the years.

The departure of Taylor who was around evens to win the tournament has well and truly opened the door for a new World Champion. Of the players left in the competition only John Part and Adrian Lewis have won the world championship in the past and based on the performances of Lewis against Nigel Heydon and Robert Thornton I’m not convinced he has what it takes to retain the crown this year, if you disagree Lewis can be backed at 11/2. Part meanwhile is more of an outsider (currently best priced 40/1) and has so far beaten John Henderson and Richie Burnett en route to the last 16. Part has a tough task on his hands if he is to make the semi-final – he faces the in-form Kevin Painter in the round of 32 and then could meet James Wade in the quarter final.

Following his shock win over Phil Taylor last night Dave Chisnall has come in to 9/1 to win the championship, before the tournament began he was 66/1 – what a difference a couple of weeks can make. Chizzy will face Andy Hamilton in the third-round before a potential clash with Paul Nicholson in the quarter final, also in this half is bookies favourite Gary Anderson (4/1). In Anderson, Chisnall, Nicholson and even Simon Whitlock I believe we have four men who could genuinely win the World Championship.

My pick to win the crown from here however is James Wade. Priced at 13/1 at the start of the tournament Wade is now 5/1 – he faces Steve Farmer next before a match-up with Part or Painter, crucially I feel if he can get to the semi-final he’ll have an easier route to the final than whoever triumphs in the other half of the draw. If he makes it that far his semi-final opponent will be one of Wayne Jones, Adrian Lewis, Justin Pipe or Terry Jenkins and while these players all have ability I feel Wade on top of his game is better than any of the other players listed when they too are at their best.

Whatever happens from here we are guaranteed an exciting climax to the tournament, I for one am pleased Phil Taylor has gone out as the programming will no longer be 90% Taylor hype. A number of players will now feel this is the best chance they’ve ever had to win the title, Wade at 5/1, Painter at 22/1 and Chizzy at 9/1 are my picks from here. 

PDC World Darts Championship: Day One Preview

Let the singing and tungsten wielding begin... The PDC World Darts Championship is back!  

                                                    

Tonight marks the beginning of the 2012 PDC World Darts Championship as 2011 champion Adrian “Jackpot” Lewis begins the defence of his title.

The champion beginning his defence on the opening night has become a tradition and in Nigel Heydon Lewis is expected to have a simple route to the second round. Lewis didn’t compete in the Players Championship event in Doncaster last week and it is yet to be seen whether this time off has a positive or detrimental effect on his performance. While a lot of his rivals for the crown got some much needed competitive darts on TV under their belts Lewis did not. However the same can be said for Leamington Spa’s Nigel Heydon who isn’t expected to put up much of a challenge against Lewis. Heydon is a little known name to PDC darts fans but this isn’t the first time he has been seen on our television screens. He surprisingly reached the last 16 of the UK Open in 2010 defeating the likes of Mark Dudbridge before eventually going out to Wes Newton. Nicknamed “The Undertaker” due to his other profession Heydon also appeared in the Grand Slam of Darts earlier this year where he made something of an impact beating Gary Anderson in the group stage, unfortunately for Nigel despite that victory he failed to progress from group C. Heydon’s other notable appearance came in last year’s World Championship crashing out to Robert Thornton in round one. Tonight Lewis is priced at 1/7 with the bookmakers whilst Nigel Heydon is 6/1. In this best of five sets first round match Lewis is 11/4 to win 3-0 while Heydon to win with a +2.5 set handicap is 4/5. If you’re really expecting a shock then Heydon to win 3-0 is available at 20/1 with 3-1 9/1!

Elsewhere this evening Jamie Caven faces veteran Roland “Tripod” Scholten. It is generally agreed Scholten’s best darts are behind him. The Dutchman’s impressive history includes two Las Vegas Desert Classic semi-final appearances, a Premier League of Darts final appearance, a UK Open title and two World Championship quarter final appearances. His opponent tonight is 18^th rank Jamie Caven, Caven carries a unique story with him as he is actually blind in one eye due to a bee sting when he was young, he’s also a diabetic and requires up to four injections per day, this doesn’t stop Caven, nicknamed Jabba though as the 35-year old looks to make a career for himself in this highly competitive sport. Caven is the bookies favourite at 8/13 with Scholten best priced 11/8. The correct score market sees Caven 10/3 to win 3-0, Scholten 13/2 to win 3-0 and under 5.5 180’s to be hit an interesting 4/5.

Mark Webster faces Richie Burnett in what could be the match of the night. The welsh duo have been tipped to represent Wales in the upcoming PDC World Cup of Darts and I feel this one could be a tight contest. Earlier this week Webster reached the final of the Players Championship where he lost to Kevin “The Artist” Painter. It’ll be interesting to see if Webster takes confidence from his performance in Doncaster or if after being made the favourite to win the final his confidence has taken a hit after his defeat. Burnett has become something of a rejuvenated figure as of late reaching both the World Grand Prix semi-final and the Last 16 of the UK Open this year. Burnett also appeared at the Players Championship event earlier this month losing a tricky first round match to Wes Newton. Without discrediting the Players Championship too much I don’t feel this was the main priority of any of the players on show as the withdrawal of Lewis and the Second Round departure of Phil Taylor highlighted. Mark Webster is a 3/10 favourite for this one with Burnett 11/4. Personally I think this could be a closer match than odds would suggest but if you disagree and can see this being a rout Webster 3-0 is available at 7/2. Burnett with a +1.5 set handicap is 6/5 and I wouldn’t discourage anybody from backing that outcome.

Finally we will see Wayne Jones up against either Paul Barham or Scott MacKenzie. Barham is a PDC Youth Tour Qualifier. MacKenzie has a Scottish father and was born in Brazil but now represents Hong Kong, the country he moved to as a teenager, he is an International Qualifier. The bookmakers have this one as 11/13 Barham and evens MacKenzie but with literally no knowledge of these players I couldn’t pass a recommendation! Whichever way it goes Wolverhampton’s Wayne Jones is waiting and in the 46-year old number fifteen in the world a tough challenge awaits. Jones reached the 2006 World Darts Championship semi-final before losing to Peter Manley and will no doubt be hungry to replicate that success this year.

Schedule:
19:15: Jamie Caven vs Roland Scholten
20:15: Paul Barham vs Scott MacKenzie
21:00: Mark Webster vs Richie Burnett
22:00: Adrian Lewis vs Nigel Heydon
23:00: Wayne Jones vs Paul Barham/Scott MacKenzie 

Ten Footballers You May Have Forgotten Exist: Part One

From players once labelled as wonder kids to premier league regulars of the past a number of football players now find themselves plying their trade in the bottom two leagues of the English football league. In this post I will look at the first five of ten players who fans of premier league teams may have forgotten exist.

1. Nolberto “Nobby” Solano

Best known for: Being a Newcastle United and Premier League legend

Now playing for: Hartlepool United

Nobby Solano is an interesting character, his fame in his native Peru is so extreme that his wedding was shown live on TV. He came to England in 1998 aged 25 joining Newcastle thus becoming the first Peruvian ever to play in the Premier League. He played at St. James’ Park for six years before departing the club in 2004. At that stage he joined Aston Villa, during just one season he played 49 times for Villa in the 2004-05 campaign before returning for another two year stint at Newcastle, in total he played over 240 times for The Magpies. By his own request Solano, now aged 32 joined West Ham ahead of the 2007-08 season so that he could be closer to his family, he netted four goals in twenty-three appearances for The Hammers during the one season he spent at the club. Solano’s next step was to depart England and for a season and a half he went under the radar of most British football fans as he played in Greece for Larissa before then turning out for Universitario de Deportes in his home country of Peru. In January 2010 Solano was back, returning to England for a six month spell with Leicester City. He was on the move once again that summer re-uniting with Nigel Pearson at Hull City, he played eleven times for The Tigers during the 2010-11 season before a somewhat surprising return to the north east which saw him join League One side Hartlepool United. He has so far played eight times and score two goals for The Monkey Hangers, if you happen to find yourself in the north east on a day when Hartlepool are at home it may be a good idea to go to the game and watch one of the true midfield engines of the Premier League era in the twilight stage of his career.  

2. Steve Simonsen

Best known for: At one point being the most expensive goalkeeper in British football history

Now playing for: Sheffield United

Steve Simonsen was once believed to have the world at his feet, after forty-two appearances for Tranmere Rovers in all competitions the goalkeeper joined fellow Merseyside club Everton for £3.3 million, at that point both Everton and Tranmere were controlled by Peter Johnson making this something of a controversial transfer. Simonsen appeared four times for the England Under 21 team and was widely tipped for a great future in the game but unfortunately for Simonsen this never really materialised. After playing just thirty matches in six years at Everton the ‘keeper moved on to Stoke City for a free transfer deciding that he didn’t want to be a benchwarmer anymore. During six years at the Britannia Stadium Simonsen played one hundred and sixty six times in the league, his appearance figure slowed down after the 2007-08 season as he once again become second choice, this time to Thomas Sørensen. He rejoined Sheffield United in March 2010 on a one-month loan deal, after seven appearances Simonsen returned to parent club Stoke City. At the end of the 2009-10 season Stoke decided to release Simonsen on a free transfer which resulted in him completing a permanent transfer to Sheffield United on a two-year deal, Simonsen’s luck didn’t turn however as he suffered relegation in his first full season at Bramall Lane. He continues to play for Sheffield United now in the nPower League One where he hopes to keep as many clean sheets as possible as his side battle to achieve promotion back to the Championship.

3. Bradley Wright-Phillips

Best known for: Being regarded as a star of the future during his time in the Manchester City youth system

Now playing for: Charlton Athletic

Although never a Premier League regular Bradley Wright-Phillips was once tipped to have a brilliant career. Before the Middle Eastern billions appeared Bradley, the half-brother of Shaun Wright-Phillips played 32 times for Manchester City. His City career never really took off and in 2006 he signed for Championship club Southampton. Unfortunately for Wright-Phillips after three years with The Saints he suffered the pain of relegation as Southampton dropped to League One. At that stage he moved to Plymouth Argyle but in another turn of bad luck Plymouth hit financial problems and in January 2011 he was on the move once again this time joining Charlton Athletic who were battling for promotion back to the Championship. Although often in the shadow of brother Shaun I doubt Bradley, now 26 expected to find himself in League One at a time in his career which is often considered a footballers prime. He has been brilliant so far for Charlton hitting 22 goals in 39 matches for The Addicks. At 26 could he potentially play in the Premier League again? If he works hard and keeps up his current form then I don’t see why not.

4. James Beattie                     

Best known for: His time in the Premier League at clubs like Southampton, Everton and Stoke City
Now playing for: Sheffield United

For a fair long time James Beattie was an established Premier League name; after appearing four times for his first club Blackburn Rovers he moved on to Southampton where he eventually became an established Premier League striker. He stayed in Hampshire for seven season scoring 68 goals in his 204 appearances before a £6 million move to Merseyside and Everton, he stayed at Everton from 2005 until 2007 until he transferred to Sheffield United for a fee of £4 million, he scored 34 goals in 62 games for The Blades before another transfer, this time to Stoke City for a fee which had the potential to rise to £3.5 million. After just 9 goals in 38 matches for The Potters Beattie moved on to Rangers, unfortunately for him he failed to make an impression in Scotland as he didn’t score in any of his 7 appearances for The Gers. A loan to Blackpool followed in 2011 but once again Beattie failed to hit the net, this time in nine appearances for The Seasiders. After a short period without a club Beattie has now returned to Sheffield United where he hopes to lead The Blades back to the Championship.

5. Neil Mellor

Best known for: Two vital goals for Liverpool earlier in his career

Now playing for: Preston North End

Neil Mellor was once tipped to be a star of the future for Liverpool and England but unfortunately for him it hasn’t really worked out.  Mellor’s youth career was something special as he starred for Liverpool en route to the FA Youth Cup semi-final of the 2000-01 season, then aged 19. Mellor made his debut in the 2002-03 season and signed a 3-year contract in 2003 which would keep him at the club until 2006. Mellor’s next step was a season-long loan deal to West Ham where he scored two goals in sixteen matches. Perhaps Mellor’s most memorable moment came in November 2004 when he scored a screamer from thirty yards out to win the game 2-1 for Liverpool. However things soon went downhill for Mellow as he had to undergo surgery on both of his knees, after recovering Mellor went on loan to Wigan Athletic where he scored one goal in three matches. In August 2006 Mellor signed for Championship club Preston North End under the guidance of Paul Simpson, since that move he has played 127 times scoring 38 goals, with Preston in the Championship he went out on loan to League One side Sheffield Wednesday for the 2010-11 season where he performed reasonably scoring 13 goals in 33 matches. At the end of the 2010-11 season Mellor’s parent club Preston North End suffered relegation and so decided to hold onto him ahead of the 2011-12 campaign in the hope he can spearhead an attempt at getting back to the Championship at the first time of asking. Once a player considered a star of the future Mellor scored crucial goals for Liverpool against Arsenal and Olympiakos but since then it hasn’t really worked out for Mellor. At 29 his time is numbered and if he wants to play at a higher level than League One again in his career the fortunes of Preston this season could be vital.