50 Biffle has been up and down this year

However, when recently departed Michael Turner scored against us, it only added insult to injury, especially because it was his absence in the middle of our defence that was the worstelement of the game. Sonko is a solid enough player but time will tell if he can fill the giant hole that has been left by Turner.There are other elements to the start of this season that should be taken into account. Anthony Gardner, who is arguably a better centre back than Turner, is on the injury list again and the energy of Dean Marney and Ian Ashbee have been sorely missed.The International break was a blessing and a curse. A well-earned break allowed the new players to gel, but Hull lost many players because of international duty, which in the case of Jozy Altidore meant he returned fatigued and jet lagged.The transfer window overlapping the start of the season and the early international break has meant that preparations for the new season have beendisjointed and irregular at times.Obviously this affects all teams but when there have been some very major changes of personnel as there have been at Hull City, it doesn't make the manager's job any easier.As it is, there are calls for Phil Brown to be replaced by members of the Tiger nation. Fans are fickle and have veryunrealistic ideas of where Hull City should be.

This is compounded by thephenomenal start to last season which continues to cloud the objectivity of many fans.Hull City are in their infancy as a Premiership club and you don't just build a dynasty overnight. Fans seem to be getting frustrated with the Tigers' transfer dealings and club chairman Duffen, but what do they expectWe may be demonstrating our ambitions with interest in the likes of Owen but would we ever have managed to get either him or Negredo to sign. The expectation of some of the Tiger nation have been very unrealistic.As a club that in its 105-year history has only had one year in the top flight it is a bit naive to think that we can be duking it out with anyone but the yo-yo teams in the Premiership. Even then it is still a tough ask when most other Premiership clubs are in London, the Midlands, and the North West.Hull City are a team out on a limb, in more ways than geographically. Players will have looked at the Tigers as a club that scraped another Premiership season by a whisker. Yes, we looked very good at the start of last season but that is now consigned to history.We are a team that has always struggled to sign players, but if we can survive for another season and notsuccumb to second season syndrome, then we have the chance to build as a club and given time can become an established Premiership team.As it stands, Turner's transfer included, we are a better equipped team this season than last.

We are better in all areas if players perform to their abilities and we can get influential players back to fitness.Bullard's return will be huge, as will Gardner's return to full fitness. Vennegoor of Hesselink, Altidore, and Ghilas will all playimportant roles for the club, but they are all better than who we had last season. Hunt is far better than either Peter Halmosi or Richard Garcia.Yes, we haven't had a great start to the season, but the start of this season has seen the Tigers in flux. The next eight games are the key to how the rest of this campaign will pan out.Games against the teams we will have to beat to stay in the Premiership all take place in the next two months. for NASCAR) The chase will start at the Magic Mile, New Hampshiremotor speedway next Sunday.? Here is what I predict the top 12 will look like come season's end at Homestead.? ? ? ? ? 12th? place: Greg Biffle? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Greg Biffle hasn't had a spectacular 2009 season.? No wins, 8 top fives, 12 top tens, and an average finish of 14.50, Biffle has been up and down this year.? Expect strong performance out of the 16 team at Dover, Auto Club, Texas and Homestead.? Otherwise they will be a 13th to 20th place car at most tracks.11th place:Brian Vickers? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Brian Vickers amazed the nation when he finished 7th at Richmond got himself into his first ever chaseappearance.? His goals this season were to win a? pole:he has 6 poles.? Another goal was to win a race: notched that at Michigan.? And to make the chase.? Complete.? With a win, a pole, 4 top fives, 13 top tens and an average finish of 14.88 everything from here is icing on the cake.? But this team in only their 3rd year ofexistence is not ready to be a true contender for a championship.? Expect strong runs out of the 83 team attrackslike Kansas, Auto Club, Lowes, Texas and Homestead but the lack of consistency at tracks like Loudon, Martinsvillie, Phoenix, and Dover.? 10th:Juan Pablo Montoya? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Juan Pablo Montoya is having a breakout cup season.? Despite no wins and only 2 top fives he has 12 top tens and an average finish of 13.81.? The driver of the 42 used a points racing mentality to make the chase and it paid off big time.? But does the 42 have what it takes to win a championship? The driver does but perhaps not the team.? Expect more top tens and even top fives from Montoya at places like Lowes, Texas, Martinsvillie, Kansas,Homestead or Talladega.? But overall lacking the consistency of a championship team.? 9th:Kasey Kahne? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Kasey has had perhaps the best finish of cup career consistency wise.? With 2 wins, 5 top tens, 10 top tens, and average finish of 13.92, Kahne has been very consistent.? But how long will this last? The 9 Kasey admits struggles at the short tracks so don't expect much from then at Loudon, Martinsvillie and Phoenix.? But do expect good runs at Texas, Lowes, Kansas, Homestead and Auto Club.? But like Montoya lacking the consistency of a championship team.? 8th:Ryan Newman? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Many people expect Ryan Newman to struggle in his first year at Stewart Haas.? I am proud to say I wasn't one of those many.? With 5 top fives, 12 top tens, an an average finish of 14.02, Newman is having his best season since the 2005 season.? This 39 team has been up and down however.? From Talladega to Pocono thy never finished lower than 10th and had 5 top fives.? They went to a little drought in the summer from Michigan to the 2nd Michigan race having only 1 top ten.? But since Bristol has finished 6th, 9th and 10th.? Newman's team is hard to read but expect strong runs at Dover, Loudon, Phoenix, Martinsvillie, Talladega and maybe even a win.? But not strong enough runs to be a serious championship contender in 2009.? 7th:Jimmie Johnson? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Yes I said it.? Jimmie Johnson the 3 time in a row defending series champion will finish 7th in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup seriespoints standings.? He has 3 wins, 9 top fives, 15 top tens, an average finish of 12.73, and has led 1,252 laps.? But they haven't shown the consistency to win a 4th championship.? In the last 6 races he has only 1 top ten and that is an 8th, no top fives and 2 finishes of 30th or worse.? Of course expect them to be strong at Martinsvillie, Phoenix, Loudon, Lowes, Dover, and Auto Club, but the consistency and dominance factor that is usually here for this team isn't there this year.? 6th:Jeff Gordon? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Jeff Gordon has had a comeback 2009 season.? With a win, 12 top fives, 18 top tens, and an average finish of 10.92, Gordon has been very strong and will be a threat for the championship.? Expect strong runs pretty much everywhere.? But places that he might not do well is Dover where s he finished in the 20s there this year, Talladega where he hasn't finished better than 21st since he won there in the fall of 2007 sweeping the 2007 races, and Phoenix where his last 2 starts there are finishes outside the top 20.? ? 5th:Kurt Busch? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Kurt Busch is the 2009 comeback driver.? After a dismal 2008 season he is back to being a championshop contender.? With a dominant win at Atlanta, 7 top fives, 14 top tens, and an average finish of 13.96 Kurt Busch will be a big threat for the championship.? There is however 2 tracks where I see weaknesses for this 2 team.? Martinsvillie where Kurt Busch haspronounced has his worst track, and Homestead where the team finished 43rd in the first ever COT race there.? And with Pat Tryson leaving the team after 2009, that could cause a distraction.? 4th:Mark Martin? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Mark Martin has had such a roller coaster season. 4 wins, 9 top top fives, 14 top ten, and an average finish of 15.58.? But he has 7 finishes of 30th or worse.? If the team and get rid of the inconsistency they will be a contender for the championship.? There seems to be noweakness for this team performance wise.? However Talladega is awild card and a place Mark Martin doesn't like.? As he finished 43rd there in the spring.

? ? 3rd:Denny Hamlin ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Denny Hamlin is NASCAR's hottest driver.? This season he has 2 wins, 9 top fives, 14 top fives, and an average finish of 12.35? In the last 6 races races he has 2 wins, 3 top fives, and 6 top tens.? No driver goes into the next 10 races with more momentum than this driver.? Denny's 11 team has ran well everywhere, which makes them such a huge contender for the championship.? Expect them to put up a big fight.? 2nd:Carl Edwards ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Carl Edwards has had a good yet quiet 2009 season.? He finished 5th in theregular season.? With 7 top fives, 11 top ten, and an average finish of 13.96 Edwards has been up and down yet consistent enough.? Expect the 99 tomake a full court press in the chase.? Though short track performances must improve.? But tracks like Auto Club, Kansas, Lowes, Texas, and Homestead.? This 99 team is more focused on just winning the championship more than ever and will be a huge factor.? 1st:Tony Stewart ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Tony Stewart has had a great season.? 3 wins, 13 top fives, 18 top tens, and an average finish of 9.12.? Smoke has been impressive this seas in his first season as a driver/owner.? This ws expected from me.? When you have a driverlike Tony Stewart with resources from Hendrick motorsports, and the people, it is a recipe forsuccess.? He's hasn't had a top ten since his win at Watkins Glen but from Dover to his win at Watkins Glen he had 3 wins, 8 top fives, and 10 top tens.? If he can duplicate that he will be the champion.? And I believe he will duplicate it.? Look for at least 3 more wins by this team , while they are on their way to a championship.? ? . It takes a lot to impress baseball fans and enthusiasts these days. From Barry Bonds’ 73 home runs to the Colorado Rockies winning 21 of their last 22 games to gain entry into the 2007 playoffs.What can someone do in an age where highlights are posted within seconds of it happening, where stats are at your fingertips, where research through books is almost non-existentHow about finishing a professional baseball season, of any kind, with an earned run average of zero. Is that unheard of It was until mid to late-round pick Paul Smyth, from the University of Kansas, took the mound.“I really didn’t have an agenda when I first got to Vancouver,” says Smyth while chatting earlier this season on the Vancouver Canadians Game Day broadcast on TEAM1040 Sports Radio.“I was just told to throw strikes and be competitive, and I think that’s what I am still trying to do.”Smyth who you can say was underrated and not, I am sure, expected to be the next big thing started the 2009 season with the Vancouver Canadians of the Northwest League, where he spent the majority of the season. He was recently promoted to the Single A Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League.“What Paul Smyth has done in his first season is wonderful I cannot believe he went the entire year. But, as composed as he is, when I look back I am not that surprised,” said Vancouver Canadians broadcaster Rob Fai, who saw every single pitch thrown by Smyth this past summer.“What I don’t think people may realize is just how rare something like this happens.