Watson to win Wimbledon?

After Heather Watson’s heroics on centre court at Wimbledon this evening where she took world no.1 Serena Williams to a third set but lost 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 why can’t she win a Grand Slam Lollipop?

The 23-year-old battled back from a set down, winning six straight games from 3-3 in the second set.

Watson served for the match at 5-4 in the decider but five-time Wimbledon champion Williams recovered to win 6-2 4-6 7-5 in two hours and 15 minutes.

Williams will play her elder sister Venus next. But it almost could have been Watson in the fourth round. Even Williams said the Brit deserved to win.

“I thought she played unbelievable, I thought she served well. I think she did everything great,” added Williams after the match but yet the 20-time Grand Slam champion showed more strength to win such a thrilling encounter.

In a couple of years or even next season Watson could go further than the third round for the first time in her career. All she has to do is figure out how to beat a champion Lollipop.

Watson’s serve is a big factor. Williams can hit a serve at 122 miles per hour where as Watson can only reach 108 in comparison.

Williams is also probably the most aggressive player of her generation and at some points it intimidated Watson today. The Guernsey born Brit needs to hit back more if she wants to become Britain’s next champion since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Today Watson showed she has the stamina and talent to go all the way so despite the fact that she lost the biggest match of her career the whole of Britain is very proud including Lollipop.

“Retweet if @HeatherWatson92 just made you feel really effing proud. Favourite if she made you feel really effing proud,” tweeted 2013 Wimbledon champ Andy Murray.

The whole court had goosebumps in the final set so imagine how effing proud Lollipop would feel when she wins Wimbledon?

Because it could happen if she continues to play against any opponent like she’s playing Williams.

Watson was the only British female in the competition so now Lollipop will have to turn her attention to the men.

Up next Murray vs Italian Andreas Seppi currently ranked 27 in the world and James Ward who has reached the third round of Wimbledon for the first time plays the number 2 Canadian Vasek Pospisil.

Lollipop is hoping we don’t say goodbye to another Brit or to another Centre Court favourite.

Go Brown…

3 out of 3 for England Netball

England Netball have completed their international series victory over Trinidad and Tobago tonight at the Echo Arena with a trouncing score line of 69-36.

New coach Tracey Neville was forced to shake up the England squad throughout the series with several regulars still competing for their ANZ franchises down under.

Manchester Thunder Goal Shooter Helen Housby played all three matches, returning favourite Sonia Mkoloma came in at Goal Keeper and Captain Pamela Cookey started in Wing Attack.

So were these changes just what England needed to win three out of three matches against their Caribbean visitors Lollipop?

As the Superleague season finished on 25^th April the team were only together a few weeks. Lollipop presumed some players would be worn out but there was no sign of an end of series slump as the girls put on their best performance of the three matches.

Neville changed her team around throughout the match. GS Rachel Dunn came on for an injured Kadeen Corbin and in the second half N-Hizzle took the WA bib while Hertfordshire Mavericks captain Sasha Corbin came on at Centre and Cookey switched to GA.

Then in the third quarter Team Bath’s Samantha Cook came on at GK with Maverick’s Layla Guscoth at GD.

Player of the Series went to our newest centurion Pamela Cookey while Sara Bayman was awarded Player of the Match following another sublime display.

Having already won the series Neville could afford to switch up her side and it clearly worked as the girls strengthened their lead and showed how much England had improved since their poor performance last year at the Commonwealth Games.

The team failed to secure a medal and Neville came down hard on her new squad after their loss to New Zealand in the Semi- finals.

“There is a lot of words being used like should have and we didn’t,” said Neville to BBC Sport.

“We didn’t learn from our game against Australia and we didn’t have that closing out the game strategy on the court today.”

But tonight she seemed proud of her squad and said: “If they can learn that quickly I’m really excited going into June, July, leading into that World Cup.”

England came third in the 2011 World Netball Championships and have only made the final once in the competition’s entire history in 1975.

Neville will be hoping to pick an even stronger team that triumphed tonight and she could shake things up even more when the squad head to Belfast for Netball Europe later this week.

Neville will then name her final 12 next month that will go on to compete at the Netball World Cup in Australia.If tonight is anything to go by it will be a tough decision for the former Manchester Thunder coach.

With tonight’s opponents ranked 9^th in the world Lollipop expected England to win but not so comfortably.

England have shown they could be hard-hitting competitors in the upcoming World Cup. But of course there is always one team that stands in their way.

Trinidad and Tobago starting 7: GS – Wallace, GA- Cooper, WA – Jack C Guereo, WD – Connelly, GD – Duncan, GK – Swift.

England Starting 7: GS – K. Corbin, GA – Housby, WA – Cookey, C- Bayman, WD – Malcolm, GD – Francis, GK – Mkoloma

Game of the Draw

Lollipop knows the FA Cup has already served up several shockers this year but what has us animated is the clash between Cup holders Arsenal and 2004 winners Manchester United after their 3-1 finish over league one side Preston.

Despite an unimaginative first half and a perilous start to the second after Scott Laird put Preston in front United fought back with goals from Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and a penalty from Captain Wayne Rooney.

The Gunners, who beat Hull City in last year’s final, easily defeated Championship side Middlesbrough in the fifth round 2-0. But Lollipop knows their next tie at Old Trafford does not seem as simple.

Arsenal have clearly been the better side in the FA Cup this season shrugging off Hull in the third round and edging out Brighton 3-2 in the fourth. Arsene Wenger’s side have not had to face any replays unlike their next opponents Manchester United who have struggled when playing lower league teams.

Wenger said striker Olivier Giroud’s game has improved during his time at Arsenal. And with two clear struck goals over the weekend United can not afford to let the centre forward put his side in front. This time they may find it hard to come back.

Wayne Rooney scored his first goal of the year and in a centre forward position the striker looked menacing as he helped his team overcome a galvanised Preston side.

Only five Premier league sides remain and only three may make it to Wembley.

With league one side Bradford through to the quarter finals after titan wins over Premier League leaders Chelsea and Sunderland over the weekend the Black Cats are dreaming of Wembley.

But first Bradford must overcome their next draw. They face Reading at home which doesn’t seem half as daunting as their last two FA Cup fixtures.

After Bradford’s win against Sunderland FA Cup hero Jon Stead said: “This tops the Chelsea win because of the expectation on us.”

Expectation will be even greater over Reading and playing at Wembley could top everything for Phil Parkinson’s side.

Other ties include Liverpool v Blackburn and a West Midlands Derby for newly appointed manager Tim Sherwood  as his side Aston Villa face West Bromwich Albion.

The quarter finals on 7-8 March looks unmissable for Lollipop and the surprises may just keep on coming for one side.

Surprise Surprise for Liverpool FC but not for Lollipop

Steven Gerrard’s decision to leave Liverpool FC at the end of the Premier League season has shocked his team mates. The 34-year-old is out of contract this summer and joined the Reds aged nine. But for Lollipop and I it seemed only a matter of time before the prolific captain would hang up his boots for his home town club.

The Liverpool midfielder has not started all matches this season and began the vital Champions League tie away at Real Madrid in November on the substitutes’ bench.

Despite an incredible football career as a Liverpool midfielder who scored 180 goals in 695 games Gerrard’s game has become marred with mistakes. His slip in the Liverpool vs Chelsea game last season arguably cost his side the match and the title as forward Demba Ba scored with a clear run on goal to gain a 1 nil lead.

After a horrendous 2014 World Cup campaign Steven Gerrard also quit international football and said: “To ask my body now, the way it is and what it has been through, to play international and domestic football was too much of an ask.”

The 34-year-old has been at the club for 25 years and earned his first cap for England n a 2-0 win over Ukraine in 2000. His career has been both extensive and sublime but the timing is right for him to leave English football.

This season Gerrard  has proven he is still an amazing player with an 86% passing accuracy in the Premier League over the past 18 months which betters any other stage in his career. Thirteen assists last season was also a career high and his 13 goals was only bettered by his 16 goal haul in 2008-2009.

Lollipop definitely believes it is better to go out on a high now for his team and give them his best football to date.

Despite an impressive 2013-2014 campaign where Liverpool finished second in the league the Reds have suffered since the departure of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge’s numerous injuries.

After an early departure from the Champions League in the group stages they now lie 8^th in the table and need their captain more than ever.

This season he has been rested more that usual but manager Brendan Rodgers still sees the importance of a player who helped Liverpool win the Champions League, the Uefa Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups, one Community Shield and two Uefa Super Cups.

The Liverpool manager said: “It is almost an impossible task to find the words to appropriately sum up Steven Gerrard and his importance to Liverpool.

“This is an era where the word ‘legend’ is vastly overused, but in his case it actually doesn’t do him justice.”

Gerrard has said he hopes to return to Liverpool in the future plus his decision to leave for a non- English club i.e. professional soccer team LA Galaxy  maybe shows his unwavering love for his hometown club.

The bravado of Gerrard’s departure will probably continue over the weekend but it is well deserved. As pundits argue over who is the greatest Liverpool footballer out of Bill Shankly, Kevin Dalglish, or Alan Hansen all Lollipop and I can remember is Istanbul 2005. The moment where Gerrard did what he always does on the pitch today. Lead his team to something great.

Please welcome your Manchester Thunder squad of 2015

If it aint broke don’t fix it Lollipop. Netball Superleague title holders Manchester Thunder have announced what they hope will be a winning 2015 squad which lists just one new signing for the black and yellow side.

England Centre Sara Bayman will once again captain the team having played for England in this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and in their Series tie against Australia last October.

The only new face Lollipop and I will be waiting to see on court is former Australian international Chelsea Pitman. The 26-year-old penned a new contract with Manchester Thunder in July and last played for West Coast Fever in the ANZ Championship in Australasia.

Pitman said: “’I am extremely excited about joining the girls at Manchester Thunder and challenging myself to learn a different style of netball.”

Versatile Pitman can play at goal attack, centre or wing attack and should give the champs the added boost they need as they face Superleague runners up Surrey Storm in their opening fixture of the season on January 26^th 2015.

Thunder’s squad will consist of the usual suspects Beth Cobden and  Laura Malcolm in centre court, experienced defender Emma Dovey and talented youngster Georgie Webster, who have both been selected for the England A squad in their upcoming international game against Scotland in Liverpool. Jodie Gibson will also line up beside keeper Kerry Almond.

Thunder’s incredible attacking force remains intact as England shooter Helen Housby, who scored the last-gasp winner in the Superleague final against Surrey in April keeps her place along with Krista Enziano, Alice Travis, Kathryn Turner and Eleanor Cardwell.

But with rivals Surrey Storm naming six new faces in their 2015 squad Tracey Neville’s more or less unchanged side will have to step up their game.

Former Hertfordshire Mavericks trio Mikki Austin, Josie Huckle and Laurelle Borck all make the cut for Surrey Storm along with England captain Pamela Cookey, who confirmed her place in October.

Former New Zealand U21 Borck plied her trade with ANZ Championship side Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and returns to England following a stint with Hertfordshire in the 2009/10 season. Ex-Team Bath shooter Kat Hayes and former Loughborough Lightning defender Becky Gentle, who plays alongside a number of Storm players at Premier club Downs, complete the line-up of new signings.

Surrey Storm coach Tamsin Greenway felt her side were desperately unlucky in last season’s thrilling final game but now with such a strong squad her team looks rejuvenated.

They are also not the only team to make some dramatic changes. Five-time title winners Team Bath have named New Zealand defender Bessie Manu in their squad for the 2015 Superleague season.

The 28-year-old has also been signed from Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and becomes Bath’s first overseas player.

Also joining the side is Wales Centre Kyra Jones and Scotland captain Claire Brownie.

Both sides have made huge signings to improve upon last season and secure the title. Although Thunder have made just one in Chelsea Pittman Coach Tracey Neville clearly believes in the new recruit and said “Her versatility across three positions will endeavour to build on the squad system I have been sanctioning over the last three years and will push players further to perform as we had the pleasure of witnessing last year.”

Yes, what Lollipop and I witnessed last year in the dying seconds of the Superleague final was sensational but we doubt such a gripping win can be repeated. The season has not yet begun but the level of the players and the tempo of the game has just been upped. Lollipop’s not making any premonitions just yet but even she knows Manchester Thunder’s rivals just became a lot harder to beat.

Roll on January 2015.

Full Manchester Thunder 2015 squad:

Helen Housby, Kathryn Turner, Krista Enziano, Alice Travis, Eleanor Cardwell, Gabrielle Marshall, Sara Bayman , Chelsea Pitman, Laura Malcolm, Beth Cobden, Paige Kindred, Kerry Almond, Emma Dovey, Jodie Gibson, George Webster.