The talk of Sky Sports

For the best in up-to-the-minute sports analysis, look no further than skysports.com, your online home for expert opinion.

Here's a snapshot of what the skysports.com experts have been saying over the last seven days...

"The officials missed the infringement, rather than misinterpreted it, and put in those terms FIFA's ruling that the World Cup play-off cannot be replayed is understandable. I really feel for Giovanni Trapattoni and his players, though, I really do because they were the better team over the two legs and made the French look the very ordinary side they are."
After that incident, Andy Gray says Ireland will find World Cup elimination hard to, ahem, handle...
Taken from 'Standard isn't diving'

"Steven Gerrard is back after a two-week rest, so you can put the words "Football Club" on the end of Liverpool again. In my opinion he's up there with the best players in the world."
The big Premier League game this weekend sees Manchester City facing Liverpool - or Steven Gerrard+10, as Paul Merson likes to call them.
Taken from 'Stevie key'

"I've been told that even though there's been no contact about Robinho since the summer, if Barcelona were offering money plus Yaya Toure plus Xavi Hernandez then Man City would sell Robinho! It's a bit of a joke proposition..."
If Barcelona want Man City to say 'ya' to selling Robinho, then need to throw in a Yaya and a superstar, according to Guillem Balague.
Taken from 'Back from the break'

"You can never write off a champion, but I feel we won't see the very best from Rafa until Australia - and not in London next week. When he is not at his best he plays too far back behind the baseline on a hard court and his forehand especially can be hit with too much spin."
Who will be crowned ATP World Tour Finals champion next week? Barry Cowan isn't putting his money on Rafael Nadal...
Taken from 'O2 be crowned king'

"The way Jonathan Trott has started in South Africa has been nothing short of phenomenal. Scoring runs in the country of his birth was never going to be an easy task but the early signs are that, just like Kevin Pietersen nearly five years ago, he is determined to make his mark."
Nasser Hussain is pleased that England's new middle-order star opted against playing for the country of his birth.
Taken from 'Trotting along nicely'

"We are currently in the middle of one of the most exciting golf series in history: Hussain vs Lloyd. Nass beat me at the last on Tuesday and is one-up as we speak. However, I'm blaming the monkey that pinched my sausage for putting me off."
The Sky Sports cricket team have been going ape in South Africa, as Bumble pulls an unusual excuse out of the hat for his golfing defeat.
Taken from 'Monkey business'

"England are slow and static and play as if scared to death. Club men who run with gusto for club kick the ball away as if petrified of making an error. Are they scared of Martin Johnson? And why is there so little joy generated in the play?"
Stuart Barnes is sick of England's fearful and joyless performances - and asks if they can turn it around against the All Blacks.
Taken from 'Fear and failure'

"Those who do beat the All Blacks normally have to play with 'style' in order to create sufficient chances. I think we all know that if England play like they did last week against Argentina then they will lose this weekend."
Miles Harrison adds to the calls for Martin Johnson's men to introduce a bit more flair and invention into their game.
Taken from 'Style council'

"McIlroy is a true superstar in the making and if he plays as well as he did in Hong Kong last week then the others will find it extremely difficult to beat him. He gave us one of the strongest displays of iron play I have ever seen on a golf course last week and he makes swinging a golf club look so easy."
Mark Roe says Rory McIlroy would be a deserving winner of the Race to Dubai if he can finish the job in the final event of the season.
Taken from 'Dubai's sprint finish'

"As an ex-fighter sitting there watching that sort of performance, it really did light the fire in my belly again. And I don't like to use the word, but watching that I was jealous. I just kept thinking 'I wish I could do that' - he really was that good."
After Manny Pacquiao took apart Miguel Cotto, Johnny Nelson wonders if we have the complete boxing superstar on our hands.
Taken from 'Pacquiao perfection'

"What Indianapolis now have is a whole team stepping up to the plate. They will have sat in that locker room after beating New England and realised the accolades belonged to everybody."
The Colts have taken their record to 10-0, but Kevin Cadle can't pick out one individual for praise after a supreme team effort.
Taken from 'The perfect 10'

"The handball aside I thought it was a brilliant game. It was probably more important than most group games at the World Cup and it showed. There was so much excitement and I can't wait for next summer to come around."
Tubes looks on the bright side of Republic of Ireland's agony and says his appetite has been whetted ahead of next summer.
Taken from 'No luck for the Irish'