The Haye Hype?

Time to prove your not just talk?

WBA World Heavyweight Champion David Haye has come to aide of the Heavyweight division in recent years but is he just talk?

He has without doubt reignited boxing fans passion for Heavyweight boxing with some explosive displays and a charisma that the division has been missing.

Since his move up from Cruiserweight in 2008, Haye has become a household name and following his impressive points victory over the man giant Nikolai Valuev in 2009, a champion also.

Now, in one of the most eagerly anticipated mega-fights since Floyd Mayweather’s showdown with Oscar De La Hoya, David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko will fight it out for the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts.

The Londoner has the perfect mix of power and speed but is yet to be tested against a fighter with the calibre of the Klitschko brothers and his continued trash talking could prove to be his downfall.

The unification fight, which takes on July 2^nd in Hamburg’s Imtech Arena, will no doubt be his toughest to date but will he have the fire power to back up his words?  

Well renowned for his mental games outside the ring, Haye appeared to be losing the psychological fight in the media after Wladimir went on the charm offensive.  

The Brit has bombarded the brothers with a string of insults and public disrespect in the past, with the latest coming after sporting a t-shirt depicting the decapitated torsos of the pair with their heads in each of his hands.

Wladimir reacted with distaste to his latest stunt and has threatened to delay knocking out of the Briton until the final round, claiming that ‘Haye hates me because he fears me’.

It is dangerous game for the Briton to play as trash talking ahead of the super-fight could so easily come back to kick him in the teeth.

Even if he wins the fight it will be undermined by his trash talk but if he loses it he will have face serious consequences in the media.

But is Haye just talk?

Since arriving on the Heavyweight scene in 2008 he has pronounced himself the saviour of the division with his ferocious punching power and glamour-boy looks.

It is clear he possesses a speed that is unmatched in the division but the experience and potentially unstoppable right hand of Wladimir could prove too much.

The Hayemaker can threaten all day long but the Ukrainian is the longest reigning champion in Heavyweight history and his ability to hurt opponents, particularly in the later rounds, support the perception that he is the favourite.

However, the trash talk could prove to be a good tactic as he attempts to get the ‘Ice Man’ to fight with a temper that could be the vital chink in his armour.

Wladimir is an intelligent man but if he can get him to take his eye off the ball it could swing the fight in his favour.

It is dangerous game to play and right now it is too close to call, but it is a fight that puts boxing on the map and that is not a bad thing, trash talk or not. 

Will Murray Turn Potential Into Titles?

Physical Strength but what about Mental Strength?

British No.1 Andy Murray crashed out of yet another Grand Slam following semi-final defeat to Rafael Nadal at the French Open

The Scot had been plagued by a troublesome ankle injury sustained against Michael Berrer in the third round but battled on to reach the semi-finals for the first time.

Murray was eventually beaten convincingly by the ‘Clay Court King’ Nadal and yet again that allusive Grand Slam title evades the Scot.

Questions have to be raised as to whether the World No.4 has the mentality to turn his potential into titles.

There is no question that the 24 year-old possesses the weapons in his armoury to become the first Brit since Fred Perry to win a Grand Slam, but what is he missing?   

Murray first came onto the radar at the tender age of 18 following his third round success at Wimbledon in 2005 and it was clear even then he had great potential.

He played with real venom and his never say die attitude allowed for some impressive displays before eventually being defeated by former champion David Nalbandian.

The Scot was viewed as a breath of fresh air for British Tennis following the disappointment of Tim Henman but he would have to be nurtured correctly in order to fulfil his potential.

Four years later and Murray reached his highest World ranking climbing to No.2 and it was expected that Murray would push on to claim a Grand Slam.

Two years on and many injuries later the World No.2 soon slipped to No.4 in the World and although widely recognised as an almost complete player, his potential was still yet develop into Grand Slam success.

So what do the likes of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic have that Murray doesn’t?  

On paper he possess all the skills necessary to succeed at the highest level but what separates him from the rest is his poor on court mentality.

Very rarely will you see the likes of Federer or Nadal complaining to their box or screaming obscenities on the court.

Very rarely would you see these players vent their frustration and sulk on court and that is the key difference.

At an early age commentators would say that he would mature and he would eliminate these demons from his game with age but at 24 his emotions still take control of his game.

His mentality could be as a result of a career plagued by injury or the momentous pressure put on him to win a Grand Slam.

Whatever the reason, I am under the impression that in order to eradicate his emotional demons he must have the right coach behind him.

It is imperative that he obtains a coach who is not in it for the money and is willing to be firm with him to correct his current attitude on the court. 

It could be argued that few want to mess with British Tennis’ most prized possession but in order for him to take his game to the next level he needs stability and a strict coach.

If Murray is able to overcome this problem then there is no doubt that his time will come but the issue needs resolving sooner, rather than later.

With Wimbledon fast approaching, expectations will no doubt be high following his displays in Roland Garros, but will it be his time?

The Trials and Tribulations of the English Premier League

What will it take?

The curtains have closed on yet another exhilarating Premier League show but what will it take for the newly promoted sides to stay up?

2010-11 has been somewhat of a breath of fresh air for English football, with a season full of drama and unpredictability. 

This year’s newly promoted sides played a huge part in this and producing some shock results before eventually falling away towards the back end of the season.

On May 22nd 2010 Blackpool defeated Cardiff City in the Championship play-offs to earn their place in England's top flight and it’s safe to say that they have provided some top class entertainment this season.

Manager Ian Holloway vowed at the start of the year that his team would be an all out attacking side and the Tangerine army did not fail to produce the goods. 

Historic victories over Spurs and Liverpool will surely be the highlight of a turbulent year for Ollie and his men but after a promising start inexperience proved critical.

The final day of the season optimised what the Pool embodied as they dared to dream going 2-1 up against United only to be pegged back and comfortably beaten 4-2.

The result is remarkably similar to that of their season as a whole as they started off well but fell away at the end.

Defensive lapses proved fatal and just like West Brom in the 08/09 season their attacking prowess was not enough.

Newly promoted Newcastle and West Brom stayed up comfortably and the difference between them and Blackpool was experience of being in the top flight. 

QPR, Norwich and Swansea are all largely inexperienced when it comes to the modern day Premiership, so what will it take for them to stay up?

QPR are perhaps a very similar side to Blackpool in that their attacking qualities proved hugely beneficial in their promotion but if they are to stay up, Stephen Warnock will have to keep hold of star man Adel Taarrabt and spend wisely in other areas.

Defence is a clear starting point; a major issue that promoted sides have faced in the past few seasons is their lack of organisation and experience at the back.

I feel Warnock will need to invest in a new centre back partnership and attempt to find the balance of Premier League experience with pace. 

An astute signing would be West Ham's Matty Upson, the former England International would be a rock at the back and with his Premier League experience he has the potential to fit the bill. 

Warnock will have to find the right balance within his side as the majority of his players will never have faced the trials and tribulations of the Premiership.

That said Norwich and Swansea are in fairly similar positions but perhaps without the same sort of backing QPR have.

I feel Paul Lambert will have to buy a prolific striker in order to keep his side up next season.

Simeon Jackson and Grant Holt managed to score 35 goals between them this season but Norwich will have to add more fire power if they’re going to stay up.

After losing out on departing Watford forward Danny Graham to Swansea the Canaries will have to look elsewhere.

If they could prize away Reading's star striker Shane Long, he would be the perfect forward to compliment and compete with their current strikers and a signing like his could prove pivotal in their survival bid.

However, I think the quality of the Premier League could be too much for Swansea and this has meant that they are the bookies favourites to go down.

The Swans last gained promotion to the top flight in 1983 and their lack of experience combined with their little financial backing will send them back to the Championship.

Manager Brendan Rogers and his side face a mammoth challenge come August and I feel the Premiership will prove too much for them.

Next season will be one of the most exciting and hotly contested for many years to come so will I be proved right or wrong?