Rob Green plays his last game for England

Forget what Rob Green said after the game about the light ball, forget the comforting noises from England Captain Stevie G, forget what Capello said about him being pleased with Green.

Make no mistake, this is the end for Green. His international career is over. Sure everyone makes mistakes, everyone is entitled to an off night, but what cannot be overlooked, what cannot be ignored is when a sportsman can’t hack the pressure.  And Robert Green mentally cracked last night.

You could see it right from the start when the teams lined up in the tunnel. Green stood, like a startled rabbit in headlights about to be squashed by an oncoming car, gazing forward motionless, he was either ‘in the zone’ or absolutely terrified of what lay before him.  A few minutes later we knew the answer.

When he spoke after the match Green said “you don’t prepare to make great saves, you don’t prepare to be a hero, you prepare for when things go wrong”. What book on positive visualisation has Green been reading? Why would anyone prepare for things to go wrong? That sentence shows the negative thoughts that were swirling around Green’s mind coming up to this match.

I’m betting the poor lad has been having sleepless nights, probably highly anxious and stressed about the risk of making a blunder that would be seen by the world. Well now that has happened and there is no way back from here.  You can’t solve such a deep seated psychology weakness in a few days. The only sensible decision that Capello has left is to drop Green. The tradegy for Green is that he will never get another chance again.

Cast your predictions for whether you agree with me.

Will Rob Green be dropped for the Algeria game?

Voting is closed now!

The correct prediction was: Yes

40.0% of the people predicted "Yes"
60.0% of the people predicted "No"

Closing Date: June 19, 2010 | 1 point

What people are predicting (5): TT Editor is predicting "Yes"...robg is predicting "No"...janem is predicting "Yes"...Pocketmonster is predicting "No"...paulanslow is predicting "No"...

Cast your predictions now for England vs USA. The latest odds are England to win 1\2, a draw 3\1, USA to win 6\1. Tomorrow Times is predicting that it will end in a disappointing draw but what do you think? Cast your predictions now.

World Cup 2010: England vs USA, who wins?

Voting is closed now!

The correct prediction was: Draw

80.0% of the people predicted "England win"
0.0% of the people predicted "USA win"
20.0% of the people predicted "Draw"

Closing Date: June 13, 2010 | 1 point

What people are predicting (5): TT Editor is predicting "Draw"...robg is predicting "England win"...hetty is predicting "England win"...rosiemarsland is predicting "England win"...janem is predicting "England win"...

Below are the latest odds from Paddy Power.  Tomorrow Times is putting money on Spain, but Italy and Germany have good odds right now so might be worth a few quid.  Cast your predictions now for who you think will win.

Spain 4/1
Brazil 9/2
Argentina 13/2
England 15/2
Holland 10/1
Italy 14/1
Germany 14/1
France 18/1
Portugal 25/1
Ivory Coast 50/1
New Zealand 2000/1

Who will win the 2010 world cup?

Login or Register to submit your vote.

42.9% of the people predicted "Spain"
28.6% of the people predicted "Brazil"
14.3% of the people predicted "England"
0.0% of the people predicted "Germany"
0.0% of the people predicted "Italy"
14.3% of the people predicted "None of the above"

Closing Date: July 5, 2010 | 1 point

What people are predicting (7): TT Editor is predicting "Spain"...robg is predicting "None of the above"...hetty is predicting "Brazil"...rosiemarsland is predicting "Spain"...Pocketmonster is predicting "Brazil"...paulanslow is predicting "England"...Pamela Pengelley is predicting "Spain"...

Oh crap! I have  pre-world cup belief syndrome.  A syndrome that allows my normally well centred brain to start to think that we may actually have a chance of winning the thing. But no matter, we shall know soon enough. England have the USA, Slovenia and Algeria in their group, so no problems there. But what happens next? Cast your predictions now for how far you think England will get this year.

How far will England go in the 2010 World Cup?

Login or Register to submit your vote.

14.3% of the people predicted "They will lose at the Group stage or last 16"
42.9% of the people predicted "They will lose in the quarter finals"
14.3% of the people predicted "They will lose in the semi-finals"
28.6% of the people predicted "They will lose in the final"
0.0% of the people predicted "They will win the world cup!"

Closing Date: June 14, 2010 | 1 point

What people are predicting (7): TT Editor is predicting "They will lose in the quarter finals"...robg is predicting "They will lose in the semi-finals"...rosiemarsland is predicting "They will lose at the Group stage or last 16"...hetty is predicting "They will lose in the final"...leckie online is predicting "They will lose in the quarter finals"...paulanslow is predicting "They will lose in the quarter finals"...Pocketmonster is predicting "They will lose in the final"...

Arsenal drew 2-2 tonight against Barcelona. Cast your predictions now for whether you think they can win next week.

Will Arsenal beat Barcelona next week in the Champions League?

Voting is closed now!

The correct prediction was: No

0.0% of the people predicted "Yes"
100.0% of the people predicted "No"

Closing Date: April 7, 2010 | 1 point

What people are predicting (3): TT Editor is predicting "No"...paulanslow is predicting "No"...robg is predicting "No"...

England are dull and predictable, Wales are stupid, Ireland seem bewildered, Scotland look like a bunch of boys and Italy are just rubbish. Tomorrow Times is predicting that France will walk away with this years 6 nations rugby title. But what do you think? Cast your predictions now.

Who will win the 6 nations rugby?

Voting is closed now!

The correct prediction was: France

40.0% of the people predicted "England"
0.0% of the people predicted "Wales"
0.0% of the people predicted "Scotland"
20.0% of the people predicted "Ireland"
0.0% of the people predicted "Italy"
40.0% of the people predicted "France"

Closing Date: March 31, 2010 | 1 point

What people are predicting (5): TT Editor is predicting "France"...robg is predicting "Ireland"...janem is predicting "England"...paulanslow is predicting "France"...fleur is predicting "England"...

The BBC is reporting that Portsmouth have failed to get a deal done with the HMRC today and so face administration. This could be the end for Portsmouth. They have no money and are bumping along the bottom of the Premier League.  Cast your predictions for whether you think Portsmouth will still be with us at the end of the season.

The BBC article…

“Portsmouth still face a winding-up hearing after Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs rejected a cash offer from the club, BBC Sport understands.

Pompey offered a down payment to settle debts of about £7m with HMRC.

But HMRC also wanted a schedule for the repayment of the rest of the debt, which the club could not provide.

So Portsmouth face a High Court winding-up hearing at 1130 GMT which could result in the club’s liquidation, or the club entering administration.

Portsmouth are still keen for a 28-day adjournment and their manager, Avram Grant, said: “I ask the court to think not about the situation they see on the papers, football is not just papers.”

Will Portsmouth still be with us at the end of the season?

Voting is closed now!

The correct prediction was: Yes

20.0% of the people predicted "Yes"
80.0% of the people predicted "No"

Closing Date: May 8, 2010 | 1 point

What people are predicting (5): TT Editor is predicting "No"...paulanslow is predicting "Yes"...robg is predicting "No"...janem is predicting "No"...fleur is predicting "No"...

Andy Murray wins Australian Open

Andy Murray has reached the semi finals of the Australian Open. But can the miserable Scot go on to win? He plays Cilic in the Semi’s and then most likely will face Roger Federer in the Final.

Cast your predictions now.

Will Andy Murray win the Australian Open?

Voting is closed now!

The correct prediction was: No

33.3% of the people predicted "Yes"
66.7% of the people predicted "No"

Closing Date: February 10, 2010 | 1 point

What people are predicting (3): TT Editor is predicting "No"...fleur is predicting "Yes"...paulanslow is predicting "No"...

This is a weird story. After losing to Arsenal, Stoke Manager Tony Pulis apparently has a shower, walks out butt naked and then head butts James Beattie. The big question for me is why was the manager having a shower in the first place?

The dispute was caused by Pulis reversing his decision to give his team a day off. Cast your predictions now for whether James Beattie has played his last game for Stoke.

Has James Beattie played his last game for Stoke?

Voting is closed now!

The correct prediction was: No

50.0% of the people predicted "Yes"
50.0% of the people predicted "No"

Closing Date: February 10, 2010 | 1 point

What people are predicting (4): TT Editor is predicting "Yes"...robg is predicting "Yes"...paulanslow is predicting "No"...fleur is predicting "No"...

Owen much better than Defoe?

Michael Owen scored his first hat trick for 25 years last night as Man Utd beat some German team. But the big question is will Owen make it to South Africa?

Tomorrow Times is predicting that Owen will be on the plane.  But what you think. Cast your predictions now.

Will Michael Owen go to the World Cup?

Login or Register to submit your vote.

50.0% of the people predicted "Yes"
50.0% of the people predicted "No"

Closing Date: January 28, 2010 | 1 point

What people are predicting (6): TT Editor is predicting "Yes"...robg is predicting "No"...paulanslow is predicting "Yes"...fleur is predicting "Yes"...janem is predicting "No"...mrpresident is predicting "No"...