SID’S COMMENTS

What Taylor and Barney have proved is that you must now be totally dedicated and focused. I think Peter Manley decided he’d prepare and play exhibition darts against Wynand Havenga, and he paid the price. Also Adie Lewis got far too flash early in his match and bit the dust.

Taylor and Barney are meticulous in planning and preparing. They might sip the odd drink in warm-up, but this is a mere nod to history and protocol. But it is the cool head of each that should be studied by the likes of Colin Lloyd. Impetus is great; it can sweep you home. But it is fickle.

Barney and Phil have the best dart brains out there by a mile. As Rembrandt said ‘Study the master though your brush may never match his greatness.’

In answer to John Lowe, I too am a big fan of Michael Van Gerwen. I’ve already got a file on him a foot thick for when he comes to the PDC.

The lad is perfect for TV. He looks like a young Gerry Lee Lewis and he rocks the board. He tries to leave the big shots and you know he won’t be far off the mark. But he goes off balance at times and must watch that.

He is an amalgam of the early Alan Evans and the early Bristow. But let’s get perspective. Eric Bristow was in the England team at 18 – with Lowe, Laz and Brown – and was winning top titles at 20.

I think Mighty Mike will grace the PDC soon, but he won’t win a major before Adrian Lewis or James Wade. Mike is Triton among the minnows at the moment.

As to Tony Green trying to do a ‘Sid’ by bringing Dickens in on the Gerwen/Robson match, it brings back the days when TG tried to be witty or apt at the Embassy. It falls as flat as a pancake.