Setanta lifts FA Cup rights from BBC, Sky

Setanta Sports has signed a deal with the English FA which will give it the rights to screen the FA Cup and England’s home football internationals.

Setanta has bought the rights with ITV in a £425m (€650m) deal, snatching them away from the BBC and BSkyB.

The deal runs for four seasons from August 2008. It also includes the Community Shield and England B and Under-21 games. Setanta says it will broadcast around 25 FA Cup matches a season.

Story from RTÉ Business:
http://www.rte.ie/business/2007/0330/setanta.html

Abysmal England

About the recent England Euro qualifiers – I have never seen England play so poorly, despite watching some really bad England performances, of the running headless chickens variety. The first half against Andorra was on a different level all together. They managed to have almost all the possession and couldn’t muster an opening, that really speaks for itself (against Andorra!). Against Israel England managed over 70% of the possession and again couldn’t muster anything but half chances. The problem of materialising chances from periods of possession has been an issue from the world cup, we all remember the aimless passing from the world cup. When it comes to build up play, England have neither the speed or creativity to create openings, they’re all too predictable. The only width players were Joe Cole and Aaron Lennon. Joe Cole could whip in some very good crosses and run at defenders, and England do miss him. Aaron Lennon, on the other hand, showed sparks of brilliance against Israel in the first half, but was stifled in the second half, and his crossing needs some polishing. But he’ll develop and despite some of his shortcomings, he adds versatility that Beckham no longer has.

A narrow win

I am honestly weary about England’s game against Israel. Luke Young, of Charlton(!), has now been called up, though Phil Neville may figure in that position ahead of him. Then there’s Ashley Cole suspended and Wayne Bridge injured, so that leaves Jamie Carragher probably filling in. On the plus side Owen Hargreaves should figure and at least Crouch has finally been dropped! It’s difficult to play a player, whom every time he launches himself in the air for a header, gets penalised. I would like Defoe to play along side Rooney, as he the closest in style to a fit Michael Owen, but he hasn’t really performed at international level. There’s also Andy Johnson, but again I don’t think he can cut it for England. I am looking forward to watching Aaron Lenon, as I believe he is one of the few England players that create some form of versatility to a square shaped England team.

With all these injuries, I find myself between either predicting a draw or a difficult England win. Other teams, like France, have gone to Israel and have only come home with a draw. But I will predict a very narrow win, with some reservation. Hopefully England will get the rub of the green.

Also read: Steve McClaren’s tactical unawareness could cost England dear

Update: I know it was a drab goalless draw, and I on the hand, predicted a narrow win. But I did predict a win, with some reservation! I was really pulled between predicting a draw or a 1-0 win for England. I got it wrong, but in spirit, I was kinda right. So that would be some recompense for just getting the prediction wrong!

There’s still hope

Charlton beat Newcastle 2-0. Sheffield United lost to Chelsea 3-0. Charlton play Sheffield United in the final run in of the season, there’s a four point gap, and Sheffield United have an away match to Manchester United in their own run in. All things considered, there’s still a good chance that Charlton can survive. Let’s just hope.

It’s amazing how the relegation battle switches, first it’s Wigan, then they put up a string of good results. Then it’s Machester City (whom by the way can slip, they have a nasty run-in). But Manchester City won this weekend against Middlesborough, to ease some pressure. Then it’s Sheffield United, who lost to Chelsea. I believe both Manchester City and Sheffield United better start picking up some vital points and watch their backs. If only Charlton beat Watford the other week, things would have been so different.