Tis the season to be 'olly

The Barclays Premier League is widely considered the best league in the world, and we certainly have a classic on our hands this season.

In the upper regions, we suddenly have a three-horse title race on our hands, following an Arsenal revival and a dip in Chelsea’s form. Carlo Ancelloti’s men also have the daunting prospect of losing several key players for the African Cup of Nations, which starts on January 10 in Angola. Man Utd don’t exactly look like settling the world alight with a distinctly average midfield by their standards. It will be interesting to see if Arsenal can keep up the pace on the front runners. It’s been impressive to see the form of Aaron Ramsey, Manuel Almunia, Abou Diaby and the rest. The problem seems to be in the forwards department, does Eduardo have what it takes to replace the goal machine Robin van Persie? Perhaps Arsenal will sign a forward in the January window, or we may see more of the young Carlos Vela in the new year.

There is an excellent contest for the much coveted fourth Champions’ League spot in the Premier League this season. Liverpool have played poorly and probably deserve the 7th position they currently occupy. Realistically it’s a wide open race, with Aston Villa, Man City, Tottenham Hotspur and dare I even add Fulham into the equation to contend with the Reds?

And at the bottom end, we’ve got all sorts going on! After the travesty of Newcastle going down last year, I’d like to see Hull get relegated, which is a realistic scenario in my humble opinion. Pompey are four points from safety but are looking much stronger since Avram Grant became manager. Only five points separate 19th placed Hull and 10th placed Sunderland; any of the teams between could go down, but my favourites for the drop are Hull, Portsmouth and Burnley. Everton, Blackburn, Stoke and Sunderland will pull well clear by May, and I think Bolton have enough about them to stay up. Wigan and Wolves are definite candidates to drop to the Championship.

And in Europe’s second best league, the Coca-Cola Championship, it looks as if Newcastle and West Brom are a cut above the rest. It would be interesting to see if Nottingham Forest can continue their good form; they look very solid indeed under Billy Davies. I think the funniest scenario would be to see the Tangerines (aka Blackpool) move into the Premier League, just to see Ian Holloway on Match of The Day.

And this is why...

Killing in the name of...

Christmas time is generally child-friendly in the UK. We have chocolate calendars, Cliff Richard’s music, Christmas tree fairies, Macaulay Culkin’s films and Santa Claus. In Carol Services, everyone loves having the kids on show doing the nativity drama.

I was thinking the other day about the real message of Christmas, which in many ways is anything but child-friendly. The nativity, although a lovely scene, isn’t the complete message of Christmas. Far from it. Christmas points to Easter for Christians, the birth of the Lord Jesus is in fact a pointer to his death. The Saviour comes into this world in the nativity. But he can only save us through his death on the cross.

Imagine an Easter ‘Nativity’ scene. There would be no baby Jesus, no manger and no smiling wise men with gifts. The baby Jesus has grown up! There’d be a full grown man with a beard, beaten and bruised, a crown of thorns, a wooden cross and an empty tomb. A brutal death instead of a cute birth.

The Bible calls this ‘good news of great joy’. Why? Because through the perfect life of Jesus, every human being who has rejected God (that’s all of us) can be forgiven and can begin a relationship with him. All of our wrong is exchanged for Jesus’ perfection, so God can see us as perfect. The relationship we were meant for can begin. And that my friends, is the greatest news in the world.

More on this good news... click here