THE GURGLER’S GUIDE TO THE SECOND STATE OF ORIGIN

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June 17, 2015

The second of Australian Rugby League’s showcase series – State of Origin – kicks off on Wednesday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a ground famous for the 1956 Olympic Games, Boxing Day Cricket clashes and countless Australian Rules finals.

The game’s obsession to grow the game means a game outside of Queensland and NSW again, and despite its grandeur and the reputation as the best sporting ground in Australia, it just doesn’t seem right. I’m sure Celtic v Rangers or the Manchester derby in Football wouldn’t be moved to Wembley, nor would an Ashes Test be played in Tokyo to grow the audience, but that’s Rugby League in Australia.

It’s not that the game won’t be well supported, as Melbourne folk are amongst the keenest sports fans in the world, but for the small percentage of fans that aren’t originally from Queensland or NSW attending the game will be akin to walking past a talented street performed on their way home. Sure, the act is talented, and your interest was raised by the large crowd watching, but a day later life is back to normal and the event is long forgotten.

One person who is probably happy that the game is in Melbourne is Daly Cherry-Evans, as the MCG is likely to be the only place he won’t be booed at, after the Brisbane News Ltd papers stirred the locals to boo their own player last Friday night. He comes back into the Queensland side after missing Game One through injury.

The lead up to the game usually revolves around the opposing state’s newspapers and their claims and counter claims of dirty tricks, filthy tactics and whining about referees thrown back and forth across the border. The spiral into almost schoolyard scuffles gets tiring after a while.

Thankfully, for all those bored of the usual lead up to the State of origin clashes, Rugby League found a new way to bring in the fans on Thursday night as the Footy Show featured an arm wrestle between two former league players which ended in an arm being broken live on TV. Talk about originality. There’s footage out there to view yourself, but we’ll leave it up to you to determine your threshold of gore. The only positive out of the failed arm wrestle is that it was only just more painful than watching the Footy show.

SO, WHO’LL WIN?

It really is hard to say who’ll win. In Game 1 NSW had the best of the first 40 minutes and looked to have enough to win. Whilst in the second half Queensland had enough ball to win the entire Origin series but scored just the once. In the end it was a Cooper Cronk field goal that made the difference as NSW lost their composure and forgot how to kick one themselves.

Ulitmately at the moment it is a legendary team in maroon at the end of their winning cycle against a team in blue at the beginning of a new era, and when they will eventually meet and change is the big question. There was enough on show in Game 1 to argue it will be this year for NSW, however with Queensland likely to have a backline that hasn’t just checked out of the hospital or a physio’s office there’ll be plenty more points in them this game.

Based on a fit backline full of superstars, Queensland are the tip by 6 – 12 points.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

State of Origin clashes back in the day used to feature some of the biggest dust ups of the sporting year. These days, under the guidance of the new NRL commission, any punch thrown will result in disciplinary action. This means that players will do just about anything to throw a punch without actually landing one. So one of the things to look for is the creative ways the modern players can attempt to attack the opposition without throwing a punch.

Coincidently, one of the biggest State of Origin fights of all time was at this very ground in 1995. Take a trip down memory lane via Youtube.

CLICK HERE

The return of Paul Gallen for NSW provides an interesting side show as he and Nate Myles will no doubt go head to head again. They don’t appear to like each other very much, and there’s been plenty of niggle in the past. Even a punch thrown. Nate Myles, who appears to have the thickest forehead in Rugby League won’t be too bothered though.

A fully fit Greg Inglis will be like a new inclusion after he was well of his usual quality in the first clash, and his mighty fends are something to behold as he swats defenders like flies.

There’s also the kick off time to watch out for. The coverage may say 7:30pm, but seasoned viewers will know that a kick off before 8:00pm is highly unlikely.

We tipped 8:23 for Game 1 and fell just a minute short. Almost enough time to cook a roast from coverage start to kick off.

This game we tip 8:16pm. Pity there’s no market.

For those betting at home, choose the last tryscorer optio for maximum value for betting dollar action. First try scorer is more popular but can be over in a flash, Last tryscorer could and does happen at any time.

NEED SOME EXTRA ENTERTAINMENT WITH YOUR ORIGIN TONIGHT?

Why not join in the fund with our patented* State of Origin Drinking Game.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE FUN

* Patent not honoured

Nothing But League Reviews Queensland Cup Round 14

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admin

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June 16, 2015

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Another round of the Intrust Super Cup aka Queensland Cup played over the weekend, with the highlight being the 15,000 fans in Port Moresby to see the mighty PNG Hunters score their seventh straight victory. It was a crowd larger than any of the NRL fixtures over the weekend. Proof of two things – the PNG people love their league, and the NRL is waste of time during Origin time.

The Gurgler can’t hide the fact we’d love to see the PNG Hunters in the finals series, and have no doubt they’ll draw a crowd anywhere. May the run continue for some weeks to come.

Elsewhere there were wins for Townsville, Northern Pride, Burleigh and Mackay.

The last game was 24 all draw between Tweed and Easts. A great comeback from the Tigers playing in their first game since the passing of Grant Giess.

But this is just a taster, the entire review can be found thanks to our friends at Nothing But League.

Nothing But League preview the Queensland Cup R14

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admin

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June 13, 2015

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Better late than never, despite at least one of the games already been decided, is our friends at Nothing But League and their preview of the Intrust Super Cup aka Queensland Cup.

After a 6/6 last week, they have set a high standard this week.

Catch all the guff here at Nothing But Here.

Gurgler Crapothetical – Can you guess what the next FIFA scandal will be?

By

Matt Finish Juan Lynagh

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June 12, 2015

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With bribes to forget handballs and build stadiums, win world cups, rigged voting, paying credit cards bills, involving in illegal arms trades, there have been plenty of accusations filed at FIFA, and each day there seems to be a new one, each attempting to outdo the previous in level of illegality and audacity.

Mr Blatter in all his glory has decided to do a bit of cleaning house before he goes. You’d think he might get a start on the corruption and bribes, but thankfully he’s looking after the real issues by sacking communications director Walter De Gregorio for the following joke, which was quite good actually.

“The Fifa president, secretary general and communications director are all travelling in a car. Who’s driving? The police.”

But leaving FIFA related jokes behind we peer into our crystal ball to come up with some of the potential new scandals that could be announced in the summer break that FIFA had a hand in.

MOVE YOUR WALLET FORWARD ONE HOUR
FIFA bribed governments all around the world to install Daylight Savings Time. As research indicates people are less likely to fall asleep while watching a nil all draw earlier in the day.

TWO ALL BRIBE PATTIES
McDonalds Special Sauce. FIFA has the recipe, and McDonald’s continual sponsorship despite all the controversies is a front for extortion payments.

F.I.F.A
Well, ‘fraid to break it to the world but the acronym FIFA actually stands for Fly-In, Fly-Away.

The FIFA cognoscenti are actually aliens in human hosts, clearly demonstrated by their inability to abide by innate human custom and convention.

Under the guise of progressing world unity and peaceful relations through a shared love of football, FIFA are covertly pilfering predominantly Nepalese, Bangladeshi, African and Pacific Islander workers for slave labour on Radradros V.

HO HO NO
The lack of a North Pole Football side can be traced back to the mid 20th century when St Nick advised FIFA due to corruption that they were being placed on the naughty list. FIFA subsequently banned them for life from FIFA fined them 3 Millions Swiss Francs, and banned them from ever hosting football.

HMMMM
The Gurgler has solid, corroborated evidence* that FIFA are directly involved in the disappearance of Flight MH370.

*Evidence may not exist. Evidence may not be presented. All opinions expressed by The Gurgler may not accurately represent the opinions expressed by The Gurgler**.

**John Deeks speaking.

THE WORLD WARMS TO FIFA
FIFA has been working with governments to implement doubt in the population that climate change doesn’t exist and has worked with Middle East Oil companies in exchange for 1% of their profits and agreeing to allow Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup.

Global Warming allowed the excuse for the World Cup to be moved to Winter as part of the deal struck years ago.

LABOR PAINS
FIFA actually bankrolled Kevin Rudd’s reclaiming of the Prime Ministers job in 2013 as payback for having to endure the Australian bid for the 2022 World Cup. They also sacked the only FIFA executive who voted for them.

FINALLY…
Skim Milk. FIFA always take a bit of cream off the top

The All-Seeing Eye of FIFA penetrates all levels of government and bureaucracy.

Whilst some of our predictions may be completely false and ridiculous, they’ll probably end up being less outrageous than the real ones we’ll hear about FIFA in the coming months.

Kick to Come – The Gurgler on the NRL – Round 14

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Max Layne

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June 10, 2015

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It’s State of Origin time again, and that means plenty of origin hype, overhyped arguments back and forth between Qld and NSW and their fans, and yet another rubbish round of just four games in the NRL. Origin stars missing of course.

For the second last time this Origin period, we’re going to call for stand alone Origin period where the entire NRL takes the week off, instead of the truncated, half hearted competition that lives this week.

One last whinge, if the NRL says there’s not enough talent for another two teams, yet they are happy enough around this time of year for holes to be filled by the very players who could make an extra two teams work. Look at a case in point from recent years – Jake Granville – who plied his trade in the Qld Cup and then as a back up hooker getting a handful of minutes. When finally given the chance he has flourished for North Qld this season, and there’s no doubt there’s another 40 and more similar stories out there just waiting to be told.

The tremendous crowd in Perth also proved that they are ready for some more NRL. If they pull 20K+ for three games a year it is time to give them another go. It certainly put a few of the prestigious Sydney teams to shame.

Moving to Origin, what a wonderfully unbiased and fair publication the News Ltd paper is in Queensland. After stirring up the Brisbane fans enough to boo their own Queensland players at Lang Park last weekend, they are now questioning his merit as Qld halfback. First of all, why does the paper care – it was between Gold Coast and Manly – two clubs the paper rarely reports on. Previous crimes of the Stuart Broad aka The man who won’t be named was embarrassing and just another reason not buy or read it. The award of newspaper of the year on the front is questionable.

Now onto the action in the NRL this week.

SOUTHS v WESTS TIGERS – FRI 7:45PM
No Inglis? No Luke? No Reynolds? No worries they’ll say, especially after their first quality performance in too long. But they were taking on New Zealand who enjoy the trip to Western Australia very little with their 0 from 7 record confirming that.

The Tigers are the team who always seem close to a win, but can’t quite get over the line. They have been very competitive against Souths this season and last, so a close match may not surprise. The absence of Farah to Origin will at least give the referee an easier fixture.

The game is at the home grounds of just about all the Sydney team so home and away won’t matter too much here.

NEW ZEALAND v ROOSTERS – SAT 6:00PM
The Roosters were surprised by the Sharks again last weekend leaving the tally 0-2 for the season. New Zealand have their own zero as advised above being winless in 7 attempts in Perth.

The Roosters and the Warriors both have players missing, Mitchell Pearce being the best Origin inclusion to Queensland if you believe the press.

But the golden rule of whatever you expect from NZ tip the opposite applies here. What looks a Warriors win on paper means exactly the opposite and put your money on the Roosters. We could be wrong, and if we are, we hope it is due to a Beast hat trick.

GOLD COAST v BULLDOGS – SUN 4:00PM
Both sides were good winners last weekend, with the Bulldogs looking the most impressive of the two.

The Bulldogs don’t lose much this weekend since Hodkinson was benched anyway. They looked good with Josh Reynolds on the field. Also missing is the Titan’s Dave Taylor who has been given his annual wake up call down in the Queensland Cup. He will no doubt terrorise the local comp players enough for one week so he can go back to underachieving in the NRL.

MELBOURNE v PARRAMATTA MON 7:00PM
Somehow Parramatta lost their game on Monday despite leading 30-6 in the second half. The adage that sides that don’t know how to win can’t applies here as the Eels have now wasted three excellent consecutive performances by securing only two points.

Melbourne lose their usual big three to Origin, but as ever the Melbourne production line of names no one outside their fans and feeder system clubs would know continue to step up. No one does lesser known players like the Storm, and they’ll probably still have enough to win.

As long as Gurgler and Ray Warren favourite Semi Radradra scores who cares the result.

GURGLER NRL MULTI
TIGERS +10.5 start v Souths
ROOSTERS to win 1-12 v NZ
BULLDOGS to win v Gold Coast
SEMI RADRADRA to score anytime v Melbourne
$1 pays $17.

The Gurgler’s Sporting Weekly – Circling The Drain

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Max Layne

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June 9, 2015

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Welcome to another week of The Gurgler’s review of the sporting week. We hand pick the sporting events and happenings that take our fancy.

Including the only place on the internet that gives you a weekly Rod Pampling update.

BARCELONA END THE EUROPEAN CLUB SEASON IN STYLE
The Champions League final kicked off on Sunday morning and it was worth the loss of a little sleep. Barcelona were favourite to be the team to seal a season treble, and the 3-1 score line might confirm that, but it wasn’t all easy going.

After going ahead 1-0 Barcelona do what they do best and pass the ball multiple times without a great deal of progress. But a strong passage of play from Juventus that culminated in a goal sparked up the contest.

Barcelona suddenly looked to use the ball more effectively, and with arguably the best forward three lineup in football history, they scored the two more goals to seal their record second treble.

One thing though, that it took a Juventus equaliser to spark Barcaelona into a little more action, so why not handicap them a goal for each game and watch the fall out of their talent. It may be the only way to halt them from multiple Champions League titles in the coming years.

AUSTRALIANS WINDEASY
The West Indies confirmed their status as Test Cricketing enigma by being beaten by Australia within three days in the first test. With the lesser nations currently playing off for the chance to become a Test nation, they might well hope they draw the Windies for their chance at the top level.

For those interested, countries like Ireland, UAE etc are currently playing matches against each other and the team on top of this group then play the lowest ranked Test nation in a playoff. If they win, they are granted the next Test nation licence.

Good to see Adam Voges scoring a century on debut. Quite a reward for perseverance and a lesson for any Sheffield Shield player that the chance can be given at any time if you score the runs or take the wicket. Whilst a NSW cap helps, it can still happen and hats off to him. And to the selectors for picking on form not potential. We can only hope that reviewing the spin option to include a G.B. Hogg can happen.

PNG HUNTERS ON THE HUNT
The Gurgler’s favourite Rugby League team PNG Hunters took on the second placed Ipswich Jets in PNG on the weekend and notched up their sixth win in a row to get within two points of the competition lead.

Whilst 2015 looked to be second season syndrome, and reports of financial implosion had the Hunters on the ropes, they have turned it around of late and have beaten no less than the top two sides.

We hope they can at least make the finals as it will be some kind of end of season showdown in the Intrust Super Cup if any of the current top half teams makes the knockout stage.

YOUR OFFICIAL ROD PAMPLING UPDATE

No wins for Rod Pampling on the Web.com Tour on the weekend as he missed the cut at the Greater Dallas Open, and his ranking has dropped three to 185th.

Good news was a quick check of the players lining up for the British Open, and our man is amongst the invitees. The Gurgler can only hope for a Jiminez-Pampling grouping.

THE GURGLER’S SUPER MULTI
AUSTRALIA (Football) to beat Kyrgyzstan
DRAW – Ireland v Scotland
UNDER 2.5 goals – Slovenia v England
OVER 2.5 goals – Belgium v Wales
DRAW – Australia v West Indies
AFL – Melbourne to beat St Kilda
Pays $136 for $1

Add Chaz Mostert to win Race 1 in Darwin to boost it to $612.
Centrebet don’t allow it in a multi. Killjoys.

Nothing But League Reviews the Queensland Cup Round 13

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admin

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June 9, 2015

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The Queensland Cup aka Intrust Super Cup reached the halfway point of the season and our friends at Nothing But Leagues have all the guff you could ever need.

Gurgler favourites PNG Hunters won their sixth game in a row to be just two points off the competition lead. One can dream about an NRL Grand Final Day appearance.

On a sad note there is the news of the passing of Grant Giess from the Easts Tigers. Another young rugby league player taken way too soon. All at the Gurgler pass on their deepest condolences to the family of Grant Giess, friends and the Easts Tigers community.

Find out more on Round 13 of the Queensland Cup from Nothing But League here.

The Gurgler on F1 – Canadian GP Review – in Points

By

Kaaps Loche

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June 8, 2015

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So after our preview talking up the great race full of action, it may not have been worth the 4am waking time on a Public Holiday, maybe I should have recorded and watch it when I got up. But that’s the weak way out, the proper way is to get up to watch it live, fall asleep halfway through, and then have to watch it again at the same time I would have if I had of recorded it.

Here’s some of our best points from the race. Unfortunately the only Australian to get any out of the weekend.

– All the talk of safety cars, close walls, Mercedes failure from last year amounted to not much as a Groundhog took the prize as the most interesting thing from the race.

– Mercedes have added bulletproof reliability to their outright pace. With Lewis Hamilton driving the way he is and Rosberg appearing to be just a rung below, the championship appears to be heading in one direction.

– Kimi put on a poor race display at the wrong possible time, as one of the potential suitors Bottas took their chance. Other potential replacements like Hulkenburg and Verstappen did what they could. Ricciardo will be hoping he’s still in the mix given the Red Bull’s pace in his hands.

– Vettel can race.

– Foxtel’s coverage of F1 is the best sports coverage around. With the full preview, grid walk and post race analysis it is in a different universe to some of dross we’ve been served over the years. Sure you have to pay for it, but the race experience combined with the Practice, Qualifying and F1 Show makes it great value for money.

– All our long range tips were rubbish, but what can you do if the Mercs are that good.

The Gurgler on F1 – Canadian GP Preview

By

Kaaps Loche

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June 7, 2015

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Forget Monaco, which is the Sydney to Hobart, The Wimbledon, The Bathurst of the Grand Prix calendar – the race everyone knows and pretends to know about – the Canadian GP is regularly if not always one of the best races of the year.

It has the close proximity of the walls like Monaco, but unlike Monaco it has speed, nice long straights, and genuine overtaking places. Plus some ones that aren’t really but it doesn’t stop people.

It will be well worth the reward of the 4am start, but those lucky enough to get Liz’s big day off on Monday have zero excuse. If you don’t want to be referred to as a fair-weather friend.

Like last year after practice and qualifying, it looks a Mercedes benefit, but last year’s race ended up with a big Australian smile on the top step of the podium. While that looks unlikely to be repeated, the nature of this race means nothing should be ruled out. There appears to be little chance of rain during the race, but if there is, Lewis Hamilton’s off on Friday proves it’s all open if the track gets wet.

Leading up to the race the press conference involving Max Verstappen and Felipe Massa was good value, and if Max can back up the confidence with more results the F1 grid might be in for a tough time over the next few seasons.

Looking into this race, it is set up to be a Mercedes benefit, with Ham in front of Rosberg (unless there are more genius pit stops planned). But that’s where the boredom stops if you look down the grid.

A welcome return to best of the rest is Kimi, who was helped with Vettel’s troubles, and hopefully he can show the Ferrari’s potential around here. We’d love a Kimi winning press conference. Bottas’ appearance in fourth also excites as this track should suit the Williams better than Monaco, and Bottas has plenty to offer too.

Just a row behind could be the wild card and/or trouble. Grosjean has done a fair bit to remove his reputation of being a pain in the arse on the first lap, his team mate Maldonaldo has fairly or unfairly enhanced his of being a modern day Andrea de Cesaris. Their 5th and 6th positions will have the nerves of surrounding cars tested.

Rounding out the Top 10 is Gurgler favourite Nico Hulkenburg, a man who deserves and needs a decent performance to get either any seat or a better seat next season. And the Red Bulls, who surprised us last year, but look unlikely this year.

Right at the back will provide some more interest than usual with Vettel, Massa, Button, and Verstappen all looking to make up for some bad times earlier in the weekend, and in one case, last race. There could be fireworks going forwards and backwards in the first few laps.

GURGLERS BETS
There’s no value or point or fun in betting on Mercedes, so here are our overpriced long shots worth a few cents.

WIN
RICCIARDO/HULK/PEREZ – $501

PODIUM
ROSBERG (NO) $6
HULK $34
RICCIARDO $41
PEREZ $51

TOP 6
SAINZ $15
VERSTAPPEN $51

FIRST OUT
MALDONALDO $9
PEREZ $12

SAFETY CAR?
YES $1.44

LE GRID

Hamilton
Rosberg
Raikkonen
Bottas
Grosjean
Maldonado
Hulkenberg
Kvyat
Ricciardo
Perez
Sainz
Ericsson
Alonso
Nasr
Massa
Merhi
Stevens
Vettel
Verstappen
Button

LE TRACK

Map courtesy of Wikipedia – where else.

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE – THE BEST OF THE HISTORY

These are just a sample – there’s plenty more Canadian GP goodness out there.

The Gurgler’s Own Goal Annual – Review of the Football Year

By

Theydon Bois

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June 6, 2015

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With the last of the 2014-15 fixtures to be played at very early tomorrow morning – The Champions League Final between Juventus and Barcelona – it gives us time to reflect and think about the seasons that were across UK and Europe and get it over and done with before transfers take over as the only news in football. Well, outside of how many crimes FIFA have committed by the time they flush everyone out.

It was a season where there wasn’t any real close finish to any of the big leagues with the titles decided with a week to go in most cases, and in some of the more lop sided, well before then.

We’re too lazy to do a full league by league break down, that’s what professional journalists and people with more time on their hands can do. We’ll just pick a few things we liked from the season.

LEAGUE OF THE YEAR
CHAMPIONSHIP – with a title race, top 2, and top 6 battle that raged until the last half of the season, it was the closest and most exciting league to follow. The Top 2 changed all season, and dead certainties Derby County became just dead as they missed the playoffs all together in a choke that came with a tick of approval from Greg Norman. Although the relegation battle was sorted early, that end of the table finished off with a sit in at Blackpool as they rightly protested their owner. So interest right until the end. It was an indication of both team’s position that they just abandoned the game.

TEAM OF THE YEAR
BOURNEMOUTH – A club the size of Bournemouth who just survived in fourth division not long ago due to -17 penalty to start the season with deserve their promotion to the EPL, and it provides a feel good story for any club in the UK and hope to follow in their footsteps. One of the keys is very few manager changes – Eddie Howe was the man who saved them from demotion and was at the helm when they went up this year. His move to Burnley necessitated a change.

They scored plenty too, 98 goals with a goal difference of +53, and they’ll need every one of those with the big boys next year.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ADEBAYTO AKINFENWA – aka The Beast – is the Miguel Angel Jiminez of Football, a man who looks like and unlikely footballer, but who belies that with his skills and physicality. Looking more like a professional arm wrestling champion he terrorised Liverpool in the FA Cup, and there was always a highlight or two during the League Two bit on Soccer AM. Hopefully he stays at Wimbledon and takes them up to League One next season.

BEST FOOTBALL MEDIA
GUARDIAN FOOTBALL WEEKLY + EXTRA – perfect mix of Football news and views with interest in something other than EPL giving a budding football hipster a starting point for following football all over the world. The intro from AC Jimbo is the finest pun filled 30 seconds on internet media anywhere.

BEST FOOTBALL TV SHOW
SANTO SAM & ED’s TOTAL FOOTBALL – once again the perfect mix of football and fun. Hopefully another series next year on Fox.

BEST FOOTBALL PUNDIT
TIZIANO CRUDELI – Without the above show we may not have found this gentleman who loves his AC Milan. You couldn’t have more than one, but gotta have one. Couldn’t you go one – follow the link below.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/football/video-1084710/Is-Tiziano-Crudeli-loudest-football-commentator.html

BEST TEAM TO WATCH
BARCELONA – With a forward line like Messi, Neymar and Suarez there was plenty to see.
CRYSTAL PALACE – not sure why, maybe it was all the early kick offs, but it was enjoyable to watch their style with some of the skills on show, plus the enjoyment of seeing a Championship club doing so well in the division aboe. It gives an Ipswich Town fan hope.
ARSENAL – In the FA Cup or playing someone outside the Top 6. Hopefully they recruit well and give the punters a close season next year.

THE BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
NEWCASTLE UNITED – After demanding Pardew out for so long the fans in the Newcastle may have realised what a small % of the problem Pardew was in the north east as they slid all the way past Crystal Palace and almost to the Championship with an appalling run of form after Christmas.

THE BUGGER ME DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING
SOUTHAMPTON AND SWANSEA – given their squads and in Southampton’s case the massive summer clearance sale it was hard to see either team in the top 10, but that is exactly what happened.
IPSWICH TOWN – making the playoffs after so much mediocrity.
FIFA CRACKDOWN – it’s obvious what they’re up to and we’ll only find out more juicy details over the next few weeks, but the thing we didn’t see coming is that anyone would stand up to them.

MOMENT OF THE SEASON
IPSWICH TOWN EQUALISED IN SECOND PLAYOFF GAME V NORWICH – After having a man sent off not too long before and playing a side much better than them, somehow Ipswich pulled an equaliser out of somewhere. They lose, but nice to have some reward for a long lean time supporting Ipswich.

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR
HARTLEPOOL UNITED – The Monkey Hangers were dead and buried in the fourth division at the half way point, but somehow they saved themselves from the drop to obscurity.

ENIGMA OF THE YEAR
SHEFFIELD UNITED – how can a team that makes Wembley finals for comps involving big teams not get through the League One playoffs.

That’s about it as I need the sleep. Help yourself to add your favourite bit of the season or you could just as easily ignore this bit.