Greatest Streak of All Time?

A streak is an achievement longed for in all sports, a sort of Holy Grail for players and managers. It brings with it a satisfaction in knowing that you are dominant, a level above the other competition around you and that the hours of training and hard work are worth it.

But what is the greatest streak of all time?

Is it the New York Yankess post season streak? 11 straight post season series wins from 1998 till now.

Is it the Boston Celtics 8 consecutive NBA titles from 1959-1966? Not as many teams in the playoff but does that really matter? 8 years of domination says no.

Maybe the 1972 Miami Dolphins? The first undefeated season with the team going 17-0. No last minute loss due to a field goal, no dip in form that allowed a team to steal a win, no resting players once they were guaranteed playoff football. Just consistent domination culminating in a Super Bowl win.

But here's the thing, could it be Connecticut's women's basketball team, with a streak that got me debating the best of all time. The Huskies, as they are known (honestly) have advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) for the 8th time since 2000. Their win streak now stretches to 76 games! Yes, 76 games without losing.

That is an astonishing achievement, regardless of the level of sport. There is no sexism intended here but the level of Women's College basketball compared to the level of the other competitions in the streaks mentioned above is a mismatch. Still, 76 games is complete domination. Put that in footballing terms in the Premier League. That is a team winning every game in the league for two years straight.

The worrying thing for the other colleges around America? They don't seem to show any sign of slowing up.

Bayern Munich 2 - Man United 1

Before kick off last night, Alex Ferguson was whether he would prefer a clean sheet or scoring an away goal. "Ah definitely the goal," came the reply from a manager determined to come back to Manchester safe in the knowledge that his team had found the back of net. Sadly that away goal came far too early and at a very hefty price.

Having scored after 2 minutes, United were left shell shocked as Bayern scored twice in the last 15 minutes to secure the win and leave United still searching for that first win over the Germans since 1999. Then, the moment that all United fans had feared and if they are honest, all fans of English football, arrived. Wayne Rooney fell to the ground in agony as Sky Sports portrayed scenes that were reminiscent of four years ago, when Ronney injured his foot at Stamford Bridge before the 2006 World Cup. That time it was a broken metatasal. This time, no one is sure.

What is pretty certain though is that he won't be available for Saturday as United host Chelsea in possibly the biggest game of the year, as far as the Premier League is concerned. Rooney is to undergo a scan on his ankle and the extent of the damage caused by injury will become clear over the coming 24 hours.

Out of the three teams left vying for the Premiership, the run in for United was the hardest. The Red Devils are by no means out of it and Old Trafford will raise the roof when Bayern come to town next week to give their side every chance of making yet another Champions League semi final. United are trying to write another chapter in their remarkable history but the script is by no means finished.

Top Top Journalism

Here's the thing...Journalists take pride in bringing you their 'opinion.' And due to it being portrayed in National newspaper they get this great sense of feeling that their said opinion is the most concise and correct opinion out there.
Sometimes that works for the great writers but at times, for the many average writers out there, it doesn't.
Football365.co.uk provide highlights of this week in week out when they point out the papers and the writers who, due to pure lack of knowledge or effort in doing a little bit of good old research, fail miserably. This week......The Sun!

Big Backing
After last night's ripping good game between Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, The Sun assesses the chances of both sides should they be in the Premier League next season.

The categories are split into three categories - manager, players and resources - and the paper comes up with some slightly curious results.

While we can't argue with the thumbs down given to both sets of players, both managers get a big tick, despite Hughton losing all four of his Premier League games in charge last term, while Davies was in charge for the first half of Derby's hilarious 2006/7 top flight campaign.

Interestingly, both sides get a cross in the 'resources' column too, with the paper commenting that Forest 'do not have any big backing'.

Indeed. Apart from chairman Nigel Doughty, one half of Doughty Hanson, an equity firm with £8billion of assets and the man who ensured Forest were the biggest spenders in the Championship last summer.

Weekend Football

Another weeked of football has passed and we are still no closer to knowing who will lift the Premier League come May. It was a weekend though that saw Arsenal slightly fall off the pace with a 1-1 draw at Birmingham whilst chelsea thumped Aston Villa 7-1 and Man United put four past Bolton with another goal from their third highest scorer this season, a Mr O.W.N Goal.

It was a pivotal weekend in my eyes as Man United host Chelsea this saturday in undoubtedly the biggest game of the year. A slip up this weekend from either side would have put extreme pressure of them going into the game so taking 3 points was critical. United have a Champions League enocunter that will set the nostalgia flowing amidst its fans as they face Bayern Munich in Germamy. Whilst Chelsea fans won't look at it this way, their pre-mature Champions League exit means that they will be fresh for their biggest game of the season. Every cloud and all that......

Kevin Garnett - Boston is Brotherhood

Keving Garnett - Boston is a Brotherhood

Inter Milan progress over Chelsea

Chelsea 0 Inter Milan 1 (1-3 agg)

Chelsea were sent out of the Champions League last night by a familiar face in Jose Mourinho. For what couldn't be described as the most fluid of games of football, it grabbed every bit of attention as both sides battled and scrapped for the elusive goal that would tip the tie towards their team.

Carlo Ancelloti, in charge of Chelsea, will be left to concentrate on domestic competitions after last night's results. The man, who was brought in specifically to win the Champions League, will no doubt come under cristicism from some corners for his failures. But here's the thing, there was nothing he could do. His team weren't good enough and sadly for him, as a manager, neither was he.

Last night showed that money does indeed have a say on football and can create dominating and powerful teams, however the purist will take heart that the most important and decisive factor still is good manangement. Mourinho provided just that. He knew that playing two strikers wide, whose natural instincts would be to cut inside, would pin back Chelsea's full backs Zhirkov and Ivanovic. He knew that Drogba would start alone up front allowing both Lucio and Samuel to give him the full 'attenntion.' However most importantly, he knew that playing Sneijder high against Jon OBi Mikel would be a mismatch allowing the Dutchman to shine. And he did just that. The movement, the control, the touch and the vision displayed by Sneijder was of top class. People hail Messi, Rooney, Ronaldo when Europe's top competition comes around but even they had to be impressed with the Inter no. 10 last night.

Chelsea will look to penalty appeals, two of which they most definitely should have been awarded and say that luck is not on their side and that they are cursed. A given they were harshly treated last year and to an extent this year but great managers set up teams to frustrate and nulify other teams and also to use the misfortune of others to create fortune for themselves. Mourinho did just that.

Ellie Goulding - Lights

Ellie Goulding - Lights by tomcarling

Andy Cole's expert analysis

Here's the thing - I do enjoy greatly when 'pundits' get things so horribly wrong. Take Andy Cole for an example, writing in the Indepedent about Ryan Shawcross and the unfortuante tackle that broken Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey's leg.

'Shawcross has an exceptionally clean record for a centre-half.'

Bookings this season for Shawcross: Eight. Six of which were in the league. No other centre-half has more.

Michael Owen Out for the Season

Manchester United striker, Michael Owen has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury. Owen, whose career has been dogged by injuries, pulled up whilst chasing down a long ball in the Carling Cup Final.

Here's the thing; the debate regarding Owen and a World Cup place with England is now, thankfully, put to rest. While we can now focus on selecting a fitter, quicker and porbably more effective striker, it saddens me that we wont see him in South Africa in June. One of English football's truly great goalscorers, he provided me with some of my best footballing memories from THAT goal against Argentina, to THAT night in Germany. Even his biggest critic cant deny it is sad news.

Fact or Opinion

Heres something that got me thinking recently - Someone said.... "There is no such thing as fact anymore, there is only opinion. While the closest thing we get to fact is common opinion."

Stereo Son - Edinburgh

Here's the thing - Check out Stereo Son, an up and coming band from London. Track is called Edinburgh.

Edinburgh by tomcarling

Drake - Clip of eagerly awaited 1st Single - Over

Drake's eagerly awaited album due to be released in May. Am a big fan of this guy and have been listening for a year or so. Here's the thing though, this song to me highlights the fact he is in the early stages of his career. I think it is the chorus that gievs me that impression. That said, i cant stop pressing play?


Drake - Over by JCChase

England vs Egypt - How much have we learnt?

Here's the thing....The World Cup seems only around the corner and we (England) have only got an hour and a half of football left, with friendlies against Japan and South Korea, before the first game at South Africa.
The game against Egypt gave England opposition of a worthy note in my opinion, with Egypt being African champions for a third time and only just missing out on a place at this summer's showpiece tournament. However after watching last night's action, I dont feel we as a nation or Capello as a manager have learnt anything of great note. It proved that Gareth Barry is solid, Theo Walcott is consistently incosistent and that Wayne Rooney is our greatest hope for success. All of which we knew before a ball was kicked. Barry, for all his lack of flair, is the best we have in a holding midfielder.
Theo Walcott started brightly but that spark died and he looked more and more lost as the game went on. Then there is Wayne Rooney who creates a sense of expectation and excitement whenever he is in possesion. His partnership with Crouch seems to be the best option, with Defoe on the bench to make an impact on tiring defenders.

An interesting story line that emerged from last night's game was the midfield conundrum. As mentioned, i think Barry is a safe bet to anchor the midfield but it looks uncertain as to whether Frank Lampard will partner him. England looked lost and lacked creativity in the first half. Carrick's arrival brought an edge to Englands game and a preciseness that was missing. There are a lot of people out there that dont rate Carrick in an England shirt and say that he goes missing in big games. At times i would agree but we have to remember that this is the major playmaker of the three time English champions and two times European finalists. Whether coming on as a sub or a start, he must play for England in South Africa.

I could go on....but i wont....all i will say is that England showed all sides of their game last night. Flat and lifeless in the first half yet direct, dangerous and clinical in the second and that sits fine with me.

The Future

"The most accurate way to predict the future is to get busy creating it."

J Cole - Knock On Wood Freestyle

Rolling Start...

Heres the thing.....the modern world is incredible. Viral sharing now eclipses the spoken word. People can now witness and experience things that happened only moments ago. This is not a criticism in any way, in fact it is a sign of appreciation of the speed at which we now live in. And this is one of the reasons behind this blog - a space, an area where i can and will share anything of interest to me. There's a quote that states "Our best thoughts come from others." Maybe, just maybe, my thoughts or interests will strike a chord with you......