Had Manchester United beaten, or even drew with Liverpool on Saturday, not only could the engraver have started work on the Premier League trophy two months early, they might as well have presented the league leaders with it after the game. Two down, three to go perhaps. Perhaps not.
Not even the most optimistic of Kopites could have thought of going back home with a 4-1 victory, but it was certainly deserved. Sir Alex Ferguson was kidding himself but nobody else when he had the audacity to claim that his United side were the better team. As embarrassing as United were on Saturday, Liverpool played the big occasion perfectly, as we have come to expect. They will rightly think they still have a chance in the title race. but it is still out of their hands.
Chelsea knew the job they had to do yesterday, and a 1-0 victory over Manchester City was exactly what they needed to continue their revival. Guus Hiddink has given the team a new lease of life; no longer afraid to play both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba together, and with a fit-again Michael Essien pulling the midfield strings like a new signing. Still unbeaten since the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Londoners will still live in hope of spoiling the party. Amid all he talk of the United Quintuple, it is easy to forget that Chelsea could still win probably the most unlikely of Trebles in history.
Although there are now three teams in the hunt, I still have a feeling that the most important team in the league right now is Arsenal, a resurgent side, following not only their Champions League exploits, but their new-found belief domestically. They are on the back of two great results - even Emmanuel Eboue scored two on Saturday - and have been boosted with the return of Theo Walcott and the imminent reintroduction of Cesc Fabregas to the midfield. Not only do I think they are now shoo-ins for 4th place, it is they who could decide the destination of the league title.
They are only team left to play all of the top three; Chelsea at home, United and Liverpool away. Any points they pick up in these games could ultimately win or lose the others the race. While Chelsea and Liverpool probably have to take a perfect 27 points from the last nine games to stand a chance, neither look likely to do it given Arsenal's potential.
Of course that does not necessarily mean it's United's league already, Arsenal's visit to Old Trafford on the penultimate week of the season could be a cracker, and it could be a very nervous afternoon for the home side, especially if they fail to win all of their preceding home games against Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham, all of which are potential slip-ups.
The league table still suggests it will be a record-equalling 18th title for United - the bookmakers still quoting 1-12 - but there may now be some optimistic bets placed elsewhere. There might just be life in the title race yet, and if not, there's always the relegation scrap to excite us right to the final day.
Monday, 16 March 2009
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Regional final review
As you may have seen in my previous entry, I went to the Gala Casino on Saturday for the East Midlands regional final of the Poker Down The Pub league.
To cut a long story short, I didn't win the tournament. In fact, for the 6th consecutive time, I never really came close. Out of the 108 runners, I was eliminated in 53rd position when my all-in raise with pocket eights was insta-called by pocket Aces. So I am already a long way behind, and when the other two Aces appeared on the flop, it wrapped up what had been a frustrating couple of hours of play for me.
It was all the more frustrating because I thought I had played well and made some good moves, only to see pots go the other way after bad river cards. I was one of the more experienced players on my table, and in all honesty, one of the better players, so to see my good play not rewarded when my opponents hit draws is tough to take. Until my elimination, which to be fair I could do nothing about, I used my table image to my advantage, shoving all-in over the top no fewer than seven times uncontested before the fateful pocket eights.
My early exit means I will not be playing in the national final at Dusk Till Dawn, worth £10,000. I am really disappointed about that, but nonetheless I will be there to play some cash games on the side and offer my support to Rob and Alex, who have qualified from our pub league. I am looking forward to the big day in April where I'm sure there will be a great atmosphere.
I will take the time to thank Scott and Jeff of Poker Down The Pub, and the staff of the Gala Casino for once again putting on a great day, with good poker and a great free lunch during the break!
So the PDTP adventure is over, and thoughts now turn to Redtooth, whose league is now in full swing at the PDTP pubs. Only five players from our pub qualify instead of the ten we have been accustomed to, so it will be tough. That said, I have made a solid start, winning the most recent game this past Monday and finishing in 2nd the week before. As the defending Friar Tuck league champion, I will not give that title up without a fight!
To cut a long story short, I didn't win the tournament. In fact, for the 6th consecutive time, I never really came close. Out of the 108 runners, I was eliminated in 53rd position when my all-in raise with pocket eights was insta-called by pocket Aces. So I am already a long way behind, and when the other two Aces appeared on the flop, it wrapped up what had been a frustrating couple of hours of play for me.
It was all the more frustrating because I thought I had played well and made some good moves, only to see pots go the other way after bad river cards. I was one of the more experienced players on my table, and in all honesty, one of the better players, so to see my good play not rewarded when my opponents hit draws is tough to take. Until my elimination, which to be fair I could do nothing about, I used my table image to my advantage, shoving all-in over the top no fewer than seven times uncontested before the fateful pocket eights.
My early exit means I will not be playing in the national final at Dusk Till Dawn, worth £10,000. I am really disappointed about that, but nonetheless I will be there to play some cash games on the side and offer my support to Rob and Alex, who have qualified from our pub league. I am looking forward to the big day in April where I'm sure there will be a great atmosphere.
I will take the time to thank Scott and Jeff of Poker Down The Pub, and the staff of the Gala Casino for once again putting on a great day, with good poker and a great free lunch during the break!
So the PDTP adventure is over, and thoughts now turn to Redtooth, whose league is now in full swing at the PDTP pubs. Only five players from our pub qualify instead of the ten we have been accustomed to, so it will be tough. That said, I have made a solid start, winning the most recent game this past Monday and finishing in 2nd the week before. As the defending Friar Tuck league champion, I will not give that title up without a fight!
Friday, 20 February 2009
Shuffle up and deal for another Final
Pub Poker is now a big business in the UK, and few forms of the game give amateur players affordable opportunity to hone their skills in comfortable environments with friends, yet give the more able or ambitious a chance of playing for big money should they progress.
I write this blog ahead of the East Midlands leg of the Poker Down The Pub regional final due to be held at the Nottingham Gala Casino. For me, it will be my 6th time at these finals, which are held on a quarterly basis up and down the country. Nine players will reach the final table from the starting field of around 100 runners; these will join the players already in from the previous three events here and from around the nation at April's national final at the fantastic Dusk Till Dawn club. In total, over 100 people will play at DTD for the title of National Pub Poker Champion, and a prize pool of £10,000.
Another reason for this blog is to pay tribute to the way that Poker Down The Pub has been run over the last couple of years. Although they have been far from the market leader in the industry, the rapport between its players has been a great asset to all involved and helped to build the name from scratch. In January, the company was bought by Redtooth Poker, who will continue to run the leagues while maintaining the good reputation and respect that PDTP brought to the table, with two of its staff joining forces to boot. Therefore this will be the last regional final under the Poker Down The Pub name.
After five disappointing results in the regional finals over the last year or so - I have only one top-50 finish to my credit - I am desperate to give a better account of myself this time around. I finished top of my pub league, so I start with the maximum 5000 chips, and I am looking to make the most of that substantial advantage. Two players from our league - Rob Daxner and my brother Alex Gray - have already qualified for DTD and I would love to join them, as would the rest of the guys from the Friar Tuck, so good luck to them.
I'll be back later in the week to let you know how it went.
I write this blog ahead of the East Midlands leg of the Poker Down The Pub regional final due to be held at the Nottingham Gala Casino. For me, it will be my 6th time at these finals, which are held on a quarterly basis up and down the country. Nine players will reach the final table from the starting field of around 100 runners; these will join the players already in from the previous three events here and from around the nation at April's national final at the fantastic Dusk Till Dawn club. In total, over 100 people will play at DTD for the title of National Pub Poker Champion, and a prize pool of £10,000.
Another reason for this blog is to pay tribute to the way that Poker Down The Pub has been run over the last couple of years. Although they have been far from the market leader in the industry, the rapport between its players has been a great asset to all involved and helped to build the name from scratch. In January, the company was bought by Redtooth Poker, who will continue to run the leagues while maintaining the good reputation and respect that PDTP brought to the table, with two of its staff joining forces to boot. Therefore this will be the last regional final under the Poker Down The Pub name.
After five disappointing results in the regional finals over the last year or so - I have only one top-50 finish to my credit - I am desperate to give a better account of myself this time around. I finished top of my pub league, so I start with the maximum 5000 chips, and I am looking to make the most of that substantial advantage. Two players from our league - Rob Daxner and my brother Alex Gray - have already qualified for DTD and I would love to join them, as would the rest of the guys from the Friar Tuck, so good luck to them.
I'll be back later in the week to let you know how it went.
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