Surprises all you can predict
‘IT is tough to make predictions, especially about the future”. This witty quotation that has been used over the ages is rather pertinent applied to the world of sport.
The age-old American Football adage “any given Sunday” (meaning that any team can beat any other on the day) is the underlying reasoning behind this, particularly in this day and age with sport so professional and run more like a business so that no individual or team has much of an advantage over another.
If a psychic reader had to whip out the old crystal ball (with May being the final month of the football season) to fashion some sort of prediction (or dare I say full out guess) as to how the current English Premiership is going to turn out, even they would find it extremely difficult, especially with regard to the top four.
Yes, Chelsea at one stage seemed to be running away with proceedings, but the gap has somewhat tightened with the red-hot form of London’s “almost” club (no, not Arsenal), Tottenham Hotspur.
Even their name has the word “hot” in it and mirrors their current form as they are tearing all comers apart. It is seriously going to go down to the wire, although Chelsea currently has the edge.
Just below these two is a heated four-way battle for two Champions League spots. Qualification is kind of a big deal. The prestige of mingling with Europe’s elite and the huge financial rewards that come with it are simply too good to miss out on.
Manchester City, “Drawchester” United, Liverpool and the Gunners will all be “gunning” for these spots. Of the four, the red side of Manchester seem to have the toughest run-in. With away assignments against the likes of Southampton, Spurs and Arsenal, a top four spot will be difficult to attain. Perhaps the Europa League will still provide an entry for Jose Mourinho’s men.
So here goes. With all the knowledge I can muster, I tentatively predict a top four that reads: Chelsea (winners); Spurs, City, Liverpool. I also predict that Real Madrid will beat rivals FC Barcelona for their first La Liga crown in five years despite their dramatic loss in El Clasico last week.
I also foresee an Atletico Madrid vs Juventus Champions League final with Atletico finally ending their jinx and claiming the title. The semi-final between the Turin club and Monaco, however, will simply be a case of the “unstoppable force versus the immovable object”; so look out for that.
The Europa League will also be interesting with a Manchester United vs Lyon final on the cards. This could really be anybody’s game. However, United’s semi-final opponents Celta Vigo are not to be taken lightly, having beaten both Madrid and Barca this season.
If one had to dig out the classic Tarot cards to put money on an IPL team, the task would be even tougher than in football, simply due to the finicky nature of T20 cricket. A team such as Royal Challengers Bangalore with individually brilliant players are getting embarrassed game after game and even got bundled out for the lowest score (49) in the history of the tournament. My prediction, you ask? Kolkata Knight Riders or Mumbai Indians... your guess is as good as mine.
FISHING out some good old tea leaves to try to figure out who will win this year’s Super Rugby competition? Well, let me make it easy for you.
Look no further than any of the five New Zealand teams. Our very own Stormers saw two Kiwi teams put 50 points past them over two consecutive weeks and the future looks ominous. Even non-rugby fans will tell you South African teams are so far behind that it is not even funny anymore.
However, the Lions do have some hope. If they can somehow ensure a home final, then anything is possible. It would be a fitting send-off to Johan Ackermann, who will be leaving at season’s end to coach in Europe.
SO, what are your predictions? Is it calculated, random guessing or simply the heart speaking? Try predicting golf ’s next major winner... I dare you. Not as easy as Formula 1, is it?
I recently found an online sports predictor for matches. How dare a computer predict the future with its fancy algorithms! Leave it to us human experts.