The Chelsea team and fans are happy that they didn’t concede a goal against Barcelona at the Nou camp. Even the british press are going gaga over the 0-0 result; they somehow believe that the Chelsea team that had just one shot on target yesterday will suddenly become a world beater at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea was an embarrassment wrapped up in disappointment yesterday. One shot on target against Barcelona is poor. First half possession was 80-20 to Barcelona; reminded me of the 3rd round of the FA cup when the premiership sides take on conference teams.
One shot on target and that one shot came from a short back pass to the goal from Rafael Marquez. They probably wouldn’t have that shot on target without that mistake.
Nine defenders and the man of the match goalkeeper is not how to win the champion’s league. If Chelsea wins this competition I will stop writing this blog. Football played this way is just ugly and I can’t believe that Guus Hiddink feels he can win this tie playing this way.
Some believed that Chelsea’s only chance of scoring was from a set-piece but they only got two in the whole game so that wouldn’t have worked. Employing Michael Essien, Mikel Obi and Michael Ballack as holding midfielders was a plan to stifle the midfield which didn’t work too well but really frustrated the Barca players and the TV viewers worldwide.
Chelsea fans might think that tactical fouls to break up the flow of Barcelona’s passing was the proper thing to do but this is what is expected of teams in the championship and not a team with pretensions of being a powerhouse in Europe.
Is Chelsea playing for penalties? In a two-legged tie, can one team do that from the first leg?
Wednesday 29 April 2009
Tuesday 28 April 2009
CAN CHELSEA DO THE IMPOSSIBLE?
Will Chelsea beat Barcelona tonight? Can they knock off the favourites for the champions league over two legs and earn the right to play Manchester United again in the finals?
I believe they can; Barcelona is a force because they accept that they have weaknesses but play to their strengths which presently is attacking and continuing to attack until they have basically beaten their opponents.
They are vulnerable in defence but their defence is rarely involved in defending as the quintet of Samuel Etoo, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Xavi and Iniesta seem to keep the opposition defending instead.
Of course if you read the nonsense spouted by pundits like Tony Cascarino, you would believe that Barcelona is a pub team with one superstar with a back up group of duds. In an article this morning he has dismissed Thierry Henry and Samuel Etoo as not hard enough to hurt Chelsea. He of course believes that Chelsea is strong and brawny and can beat Barcelona by being disciplined.
How this former water carrier has descended on this assessment is unknown but it is not backed up by any facts; but we know that these pretend journalists don’t like facts getting in the way of a silly story. How does he dismiss a defence that is in the semi finals of this competition and have been on the top of their league all season as poor or a goal keeper who has already won this competition as the worst left in the semi’s (Manuel Almunia ???) as just taking poetic license to its most absurd limits.
Samuel Etoo has scored 32 goals in all competition, Thierry Henry has scored 24; but Cascarino believes that Drogba with his 12 assisted by Nicolas Anelka (21) and Solomon Kalou (9) have an edge. If you add Messi’s 34 goals there is a 48 goal gap in Cascarino’s assessment but he still believes Chelsea are better.
Chelsea’s chances of winning this tie depend on stopping a supply to the front three. Playing Michael Essien as a spoiler as he did so well against Steven Gerard and Liverpool is an option but stopping Xavi leaves Iniesta free to pull the strings and he can’t possibly stop both of them because it is footballing suicide to man mark two midfielders.
Chelsea can win but it will take super performances from every one. Frank Lampard and Michael Essien must continue as the supermen and hope that Michael Ballack stops running around being an absolute ass and feeling sorry he has lost two finals. John Terry and co in defence will have their hands (feet?) full with Henry and co so slacking or lose concentration will not be allowed.
Guus Hiddink earns his pay and status over this tie.
Monday 27 April 2009
DEJA VU & OTHER STUFF
So in the week that Tottenham Hotspur declared being top of the London league they forgot to hold on to a lead against Man Utd.
After leading Man united 2-0 at half time, Spurs capitulated and let in 5 goals in the second half. Based on their demented look at the table and results I would assume that they would say that they won the first half.
They can blame the defeat on referee Howard Webb as they have tried to; but his decision only allowed the first goal. Who let in the other four goals? There is a reason why Spurs have not beaten Man U in 8 years, they are scared of the big time.
Déjà vu? Didn’t this happen before and this time at White hart lane; lead 3-0 at half time and let 5 after the interval. But give them the London title and they will be happy.
Tottenham remain 30 points behind Chelsea and 21 behind Arsenal, 3 behind Fulham and one behind West Ham but they are happy that they remain on top of a table that is as hopeless as the hope of West brom, Middlesbrough and Newcastle surviving the drop this season.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS
Who runs the PFA? How does a reserve player win the PFA players award? Ryan Giggs has been a brilliant player for most of his 18 year career but he hasn’t been the best player in his team this year. Nemanja Vidic has been a better performer this season. Ok, I concede he had a horrible game against Liverpool at home but before and since he has been a dependable and outstanding performer.
Ryan Giggs started 12 games this season and has been as effective as Steven Gerard this season but a general consensus is to award Giggs for his career as the PFA don’t give life time awards.
Tottenham Hotspurs are rubbish
Newcastle will go down.
Hull should join them but only 3 teams go down and West Brom and Middlesbrough are nailed on favourites to drop.
How does Chris Samba look like a striker to Sam Allardyce.
Great players don’t make great managers – My argument:
Jurgen Klinsmann sacked.
Marco Van Basten should be sacked
Tony Adams was crap, so was Bryan Robson and so will Roy Keane.
Their patron saint is Kevin Keegan.
Barcelona drew against Valencia and Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-2 away. Barca’s lead is down to 4 points and the EL CLASSICO is next weekend. If Real win, the lead is down to one point. Spanish squeaky bum time has arrived.
After leading Man united 2-0 at half time, Spurs capitulated and let in 5 goals in the second half. Based on their demented look at the table and results I would assume that they would say that they won the first half.
They can blame the defeat on referee Howard Webb as they have tried to; but his decision only allowed the first goal. Who let in the other four goals? There is a reason why Spurs have not beaten Man U in 8 years, they are scared of the big time.
Déjà vu? Didn’t this happen before and this time at White hart lane; lead 3-0 at half time and let 5 after the interval. But give them the London title and they will be happy.
Tottenham remain 30 points behind Chelsea and 21 behind Arsenal, 3 behind Fulham and one behind West Ham but they are happy that they remain on top of a table that is as hopeless as the hope of West brom, Middlesbrough and Newcastle surviving the drop this season.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS
Who runs the PFA? How does a reserve player win the PFA players award? Ryan Giggs has been a brilliant player for most of his 18 year career but he hasn’t been the best player in his team this year. Nemanja Vidic has been a better performer this season. Ok, I concede he had a horrible game against Liverpool at home but before and since he has been a dependable and outstanding performer.
Ryan Giggs started 12 games this season and has been as effective as Steven Gerard this season but a general consensus is to award Giggs for his career as the PFA don’t give life time awards.
Tottenham Hotspurs are rubbish
Newcastle will go down.
Hull should join them but only 3 teams go down and West Brom and Middlesbrough are nailed on favourites to drop.
How does Chris Samba look like a striker to Sam Allardyce.
Great players don’t make great managers – My argument:
Jurgen Klinsmann sacked.
Marco Van Basten should be sacked
Tony Adams was crap, so was Bryan Robson and so will Roy Keane.
Their patron saint is Kevin Keegan.
Barcelona drew against Valencia and Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-2 away. Barca’s lead is down to 4 points and the EL CLASSICO is next weekend. If Real win, the lead is down to one point. Spanish squeaky bum time has arrived.
Friday 24 April 2009
WORLD CLASS IDIOT
There is a report that Frank Lampard called up a radio station to berate the presenter because this James O’Brien person said that Lampard was a bad father because he lived in a mansion in Chelsea leaving his kids in a small flat.
I know footballers are stupid but this idiot, Lampard takes the mickey by saying that he is a good father because the flat is in Fulham and he is in the process of buying a house for his children; a process that started in November last year. When did providing accommodation for your child become an achievement?
Now, Lampard will not be the first footballer who has kids outside wedlock, or the first footballer to abandon his kids, David Seaman did it some years ago but he is the first player to call up the radio presenter to put the record straight and then decides that he is the victim.
Lampard, take care of your kids, provide for them and shut up about it all and stop hiding behind your mother's death.
Wednesday 22 April 2009
WE SALUTE PAUL SCHOLES
Paul Scholes plays in his 600th game for Manchester United tonight. He has been a fixture for Man Utd for 15 long years and he is the model professional; a player who every professional footballer should emulate and display the humility that he personifies.
He is the one player who does not believe in hype and decided long ago to let his footballing skills do his talking for him. He doesn’t do the interview unless rarely mandated by his team and he is not one to trot out when there is a big game to spout nonsense like Rooney or loud moth Gary Neville.
When Sven Erikkson was undecided on where to play him and stuck him out on the left; rather than complain he quietly resigned without any rancour claiming he wanted to play longer for his clubside.
He doesn’t do the WAG nonsense like Wayne and Colleen Rooney who has now become a celebrity not unlike Jade or Jordan who are famous for no reason at all. Scholes eschews all kinds of private publicity that is not football related.
Scholes is a fantastic player who we never heard was leaving to join Real Madrid or Barcelona. He was content to serve Man U and unlike Cristiano ‘refs don’t protect me’ Ronaldo who believes contracts are for plebeians. He has no agent so no one is feeding him rubbish about how much more money he could be making elsewhere.
He agrees his own contracts and unlike Rio Ferdinand doesn’t believe that he should hold out for some thousand pounds more when he is already on a kings ransom for kicking a leather ball round a field.
Even when he was a kid he was never heard to fall out of night clubs or be involved any unsavoury behaviour anywhere.
He was a model professional described by the greatest footballer of our times Zinedine Zidane as the complete midfielder. His goal tally is immense and for a player who suffered from asthma to have the engine he has is remarkable.
When he is pulling the strings from midfield, he is a joy to watch and his short or long passes are always keeping his tem in motion. He can’t tackle but continues to slide in late for tackles in every game but that is the only deficiency for a player who has given us a lifetime of thunderous shots and goals to make up for that one deficiency.
Paul Scholes is a giant in this beautiful game and deserves our applause as he runs out tonight for the 600th time. Man Utd and football has become richer for having the character of Paul Scholes around.
Monday 20 April 2009
BIG SQUAD MY ARSE???
Arsene Wenger played a weakened team on Saturday against a resurgent Chelsea because his defence was hit by injuries and lost.
Alex Ferguson played a weakened team on Sunday against Everton because he could and still lost.
Wenger blames his defeat on the pitch and bad defending, fair enough.
Fergie blames his defeat on the pitch, then the referee, then the pitch again before settling of Rafa Benitez. Fergie left his big boys out of the game because he thought he could beat Everton with teenagers. This is the same Fergie who said Benitez humiliated Allardyce because he made a gesture in the game against Blackburn. What is more contemptuous: making a gesture or fielding a team of boys in a semi final against a premiership team?
Sam Allardyce was further humiliated by Stoke on Saturday but the man won’t complain because Sir Alex hasn’t targeted Tony Pulis yet so he will keep his trap shut about Pulis but Benitez is fair game. This is a pattern that Sam Allardyce follows; foreign managers are the scum so he can talk about them but never the English ones. Remember his incessant attacks on Wenger in the past.
Even the tool at Hull, Phil Brown who hasn’t managed a win in months and learnt all he doesn’t know about football from Allardyce is the same. Spit gate and no handshake gate were things he thought up to divert attention from his abject performance as a manager.
Alex Ferguson played a weakened team on Sunday against Everton because he could and still lost.
Wenger blames his defeat on the pitch and bad defending, fair enough.
Fergie blames his defeat on the pitch, then the referee, then the pitch again before settling of Rafa Benitez. Fergie left his big boys out of the game because he thought he could beat Everton with teenagers. This is the same Fergie who said Benitez humiliated Allardyce because he made a gesture in the game against Blackburn. What is more contemptuous: making a gesture or fielding a team of boys in a semi final against a premiership team?
Sam Allardyce was further humiliated by Stoke on Saturday but the man won’t complain because Sir Alex hasn’t targeted Tony Pulis yet so he will keep his trap shut about Pulis but Benitez is fair game. This is a pattern that Sam Allardyce follows; foreign managers are the scum so he can talk about them but never the English ones. Remember his incessant attacks on Wenger in the past.
Even the tool at Hull, Phil Brown who hasn’t managed a win in months and learnt all he doesn’t know about football from Allardyce is the same. Spit gate and no handshake gate were things he thought up to divert attention from his abject performance as a manager.
Thursday 16 April 2009
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE : SEMI FINAL LINE UP
Records are meant to be broken is one of those clichés that we hear every other time and wonder, what the hell?
Porto have never lost to English opposition is one of those records that never made any sense but was the theme before the quarter final match up between Porto and Man Utd yesterday. Cristiano Ronaldo erased the record in the 6th minute and Porto didn’t bother to see if they could beat or even score against a Man Utd team short on confidence and susceptible to mistakes at the back.
Rio Ferdinand being back was a good thing but Porto was just disappointing. It seems they depended more on a record than actually playing to win or even draw a game that could have eased them into the semis against Arsenal.
Now Man Utd will have to lock horns with the old enemy, Arsenal for a chance to defend their title. Now another useless record says that no team has ever won back to back Champions league titles. Let’s see if Man Utd will smash that one this year.
Arsenal already had an advantage with the away goal scored in Spain but Arsenal has never been a team that could play for a draw, well except in the 2005 FA cup, so they went all out and swarmed the Villarreal team and were rewarded with a beautiful opener from Theo Walcott after a cheeky back pass from Cesc Fabregas opened up the Villarreal’s defence. After that first goal it was all Arsenal and two more goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin Van Persie sealed the game.
The reward is a game against the champions of the world (??), Europe and England. There is no obvious advantage yet as these two teams know each other and their managers will set out the stall to win by disabling the potent threats of Rooney, Ronaldo, Walcott and Fabregas.
Both teams need healthy players to compete favourably against each other and Arsenal cannot afford to play Man Utd with just one regular from their back five, like they did yesterday. I will have a prediction later.
The game of the round was the battle at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool was down 1-3 to Chelsea from the first game and needed to win by 3 clear goals. They started well when Chelsea spotted them 2 goals in the first half.
But as it is always the case, the fool who did the most pre-match boasting was the one to let his team down. Pepe Reina’s near post idiocy let Didier Drogba’s poke into the goal and the fight back was on. Frank Lampard who hasn’t seen a deflected speculative shot he won’t take then brought them back to 2 all and Chelsea soon led 3-2 but Petr Cech was doing his best impression of a bad goalkeeper and let in 2 more Liverpool goals for a 3-4 deficit.
At this time, Liverpool need to score one more goal to go through a but team that had nailed its successes to the backside of Steven Gerrard and the Istanbul miracle just couldn’t muster one more goal. Lampard scored again and Chelsea has the unenviable task of stopping Barcelona in the semi finals.
Can Chelsea stop Barcelona and set up another all England champions league final. Normally they should but the team has now shifted 7 goals in two games. Petr Cech can’t catch a cold and their first choice left back, Cheryl Cole’s husband is not available to try and keep up with Lionel Messi in the first game.
Barcelona may be vulnerable if attacked but how do you stop Thierry Henry, Xavi, Etoo, Messi and Iniesta?
Guus Hiddink will earn a big bonus if he beats Barcelona.
Porto have never lost to English opposition is one of those records that never made any sense but was the theme before the quarter final match up between Porto and Man Utd yesterday. Cristiano Ronaldo erased the record in the 6th minute and Porto didn’t bother to see if they could beat or even score against a Man Utd team short on confidence and susceptible to mistakes at the back.
Rio Ferdinand being back was a good thing but Porto was just disappointing. It seems they depended more on a record than actually playing to win or even draw a game that could have eased them into the semis against Arsenal.
Now Man Utd will have to lock horns with the old enemy, Arsenal for a chance to defend their title. Now another useless record says that no team has ever won back to back Champions league titles. Let’s see if Man Utd will smash that one this year.
Arsenal already had an advantage with the away goal scored in Spain but Arsenal has never been a team that could play for a draw, well except in the 2005 FA cup, so they went all out and swarmed the Villarreal team and were rewarded with a beautiful opener from Theo Walcott after a cheeky back pass from Cesc Fabregas opened up the Villarreal’s defence. After that first goal it was all Arsenal and two more goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin Van Persie sealed the game.
The reward is a game against the champions of the world (??), Europe and England. There is no obvious advantage yet as these two teams know each other and their managers will set out the stall to win by disabling the potent threats of Rooney, Ronaldo, Walcott and Fabregas.
Both teams need healthy players to compete favourably against each other and Arsenal cannot afford to play Man Utd with just one regular from their back five, like they did yesterday. I will have a prediction later.
The game of the round was the battle at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool was down 1-3 to Chelsea from the first game and needed to win by 3 clear goals. They started well when Chelsea spotted them 2 goals in the first half.
But as it is always the case, the fool who did the most pre-match boasting was the one to let his team down. Pepe Reina’s near post idiocy let Didier Drogba’s poke into the goal and the fight back was on. Frank Lampard who hasn’t seen a deflected speculative shot he won’t take then brought them back to 2 all and Chelsea soon led 3-2 but Petr Cech was doing his best impression of a bad goalkeeper and let in 2 more Liverpool goals for a 3-4 deficit.
At this time, Liverpool need to score one more goal to go through a but team that had nailed its successes to the backside of Steven Gerrard and the Istanbul miracle just couldn’t muster one more goal. Lampard scored again and Chelsea has the unenviable task of stopping Barcelona in the semi finals.
Can Chelsea stop Barcelona and set up another all England champions league final. Normally they should but the team has now shifted 7 goals in two games. Petr Cech can’t catch a cold and their first choice left back, Cheryl Cole’s husband is not available to try and keep up with Lionel Messi in the first game.
Barcelona may be vulnerable if attacked but how do you stop Thierry Henry, Xavi, Etoo, Messi and Iniesta?
Guus Hiddink will earn a big bonus if he beats Barcelona.
Thursday 9 April 2009
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HEATS UP...
One half of the semi final draw for the Champions league was decided yesterday. Barcelona will play Chelsea for the chance to play Man Utd, Arsenal, Villarreal or Porto in the finals in the Stadio Olympico in Rome.
Liverpool was taught a lesson in football yesterday. Chelsea manhandled them and got a result that no one in the Liverpool colours expected. Losing 1-3 to Chelsea must be a big shock to the system and probably prevent Rafa continuing his rant against Fergie. He should find a way to get his team ready to score at least 3 goals and not concede at Stamford Bridge.
Can Liverpool qualify? Are you insane? Of course they can’t. Liverpool overturning this score line and reaching the semi finals will be on par with West Brom staying in the premiership; Tim Henman winning
Wimbledon or Eminem becoming a U.S. senator. It ain’t happening no matter what noise you might hear out of Liverpool.
So Liverpool is really a one man team; Hiddink put Michael Essien on Steven Gerard and Liverpool could barely get out of first gear. Hmmmm.
What Barcelona did to Bayern Munich is a crime in most countries; it was a mugging hiding behind an assault. It was so painful, UEFA had to warn the Barcelona team to reduce the strangle hold they had on Bayern Munich.
The attacking force that Barcelona can call on is obscene; Samuel Etoo, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry were in such imperious form yesterday, Bayern had no answer for the onslaught.
The Tuesday games were exciting but nothing decided there yet. Villarreal outplayed Arsenal in the first half but could only score once, although the Marcus Senna’s goal was a beauty. Villarreal kept the ball and passed the ball very well but couldn’t open up Arsenals defence even after they lost William Gallas and Manuel Almunia.
In the second half, Arsenal realised they were involved in a game and imposed there will more on the game. Cesc Fabregas playing in front of his country men was putting himself about and got booked but his passing continued to improve until the assist for the goal on 66 minutes.
Cesc found Adebayor in some space and lifted the ball on to the Togolese striker’s chest who while leaning backwards was able to control with his chest and volley it past the Villarreal’s goalkeepers reach.
Arsenal fans wonder how he could score a goal of such technical magnificence but hit the goalkeeper when one on one.
This game might be advantage Arsenal but I don’t believe that Arsene Wenger believes it is over yet. Villarreal is a good team with good players who can beat Arsenal at the Emirates if given the freedom of the first half they enjoyed on Tuesday.
Manchester United was tired and lucky to draw against a spirited Porto team that were beaten 4-0 the last time they were in England. The blame could be shared with the makeshift defence that forgot the positional knowledge it takes to defend or the manager’s decision to take Sky TV’s and play against Aston Villa on Sunday instead of a 3pm kick off on Saturday.
Man Utd need to play better than they have over the last 6 weeks to make the semi finals. If Porto can produce another performance like they did on Tuesday then they will be in the semis. They have never lost to English opposition at home, so Fergie knows he has a big job to defend a competition no other team has ever done.
Liverpool was taught a lesson in football yesterday. Chelsea manhandled them and got a result that no one in the Liverpool colours expected. Losing 1-3 to Chelsea must be a big shock to the system and probably prevent Rafa continuing his rant against Fergie. He should find a way to get his team ready to score at least 3 goals and not concede at Stamford Bridge.
Can Liverpool qualify? Are you insane? Of course they can’t. Liverpool overturning this score line and reaching the semi finals will be on par with West Brom staying in the premiership; Tim Henman winning
Wimbledon or Eminem becoming a U.S. senator. It ain’t happening no matter what noise you might hear out of Liverpool.
So Liverpool is really a one man team; Hiddink put Michael Essien on Steven Gerard and Liverpool could barely get out of first gear. Hmmmm.
What Barcelona did to Bayern Munich is a crime in most countries; it was a mugging hiding behind an assault. It was so painful, UEFA had to warn the Barcelona team to reduce the strangle hold they had on Bayern Munich.
The attacking force that Barcelona can call on is obscene; Samuel Etoo, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry were in such imperious form yesterday, Bayern had no answer for the onslaught.
The Tuesday games were exciting but nothing decided there yet. Villarreal outplayed Arsenal in the first half but could only score once, although the Marcus Senna’s goal was a beauty. Villarreal kept the ball and passed the ball very well but couldn’t open up Arsenals defence even after they lost William Gallas and Manuel Almunia.
In the second half, Arsenal realised they were involved in a game and imposed there will more on the game. Cesc Fabregas playing in front of his country men was putting himself about and got booked but his passing continued to improve until the assist for the goal on 66 minutes.
Cesc found Adebayor in some space and lifted the ball on to the Togolese striker’s chest who while leaning backwards was able to control with his chest and volley it past the Villarreal’s goalkeepers reach.
Arsenal fans wonder how he could score a goal of such technical magnificence but hit the goalkeeper when one on one.
This game might be advantage Arsenal but I don’t believe that Arsene Wenger believes it is over yet. Villarreal is a good team with good players who can beat Arsenal at the Emirates if given the freedom of the first half they enjoyed on Tuesday.
Manchester United was tired and lucky to draw against a spirited Porto team that were beaten 4-0 the last time they were in England. The blame could be shared with the makeshift defence that forgot the positional knowledge it takes to defend or the manager’s decision to take Sky TV’s and play against Aston Villa on Sunday instead of a 3pm kick off on Saturday.
Man Utd need to play better than they have over the last 6 weeks to make the semi finals. If Porto can produce another performance like they did on Tuesday then they will be in the semis. They have never lost to English opposition at home, so Fergie knows he has a big job to defend a competition no other team has ever done.
Friday 3 April 2009
After the break
The tedious international break is over; besides Argentina losing 6-1 to Bolivia nothing happened that we couldn’t all predict before the break started.
Wayne Rooney was going to lose his rag, whether England were winning or not. That lunge in the Ukraine game should have got him a 6-match ban but the English press act as if it didn’t happen.
After another uninspiring victory against an abjectly poor team, England is favourites to win the world cup next year. Of course, a team thoroughly beaten by Spain some weeks ago; with no creative players and lack of width, a suspect defence and goalkeeper can’t be a lock for the world cup unless you ask the English press.
France struggled to beat Lithuania and stay second in their group. They might still overtake Serbia who is leading their group seven. This is definitely more than you can say of Portugal who lay third in their group behind Denmark and Hungary. Cristiano Ronaldo will be having a good rest at the end of next season when every other superstar is basking in the African sun.
Somehow Northern Ireland is leading group three with 13 points and could be making it to the big dance. Nelson Mandela meets David Healy.
And while all this was happening Alan Shearer snuck into the manager’s seat in Newcastle for just 8 games. He has insisted that whatever happens at the en of the season, he will end his swift foray into management on the last day of the season. So if he saves Newcastle from the drop, he becomes a hero. If they go down as I feel they should he was in a bad situation to begin with. Smart arse!! And he swans back to the BBC to tell other managers how to do their jobs.
So Chelsea will beat them easily tomorrow to show him that the silly bulldog English spirit channelled through Kevin Keegan is not a substitute for skill or technique.
Other teams
Arsenal – Cesc Fabregas is off to Madrid, Barcelona and Man Utd next season. He might start tomorrow against Man City. Theo Walcott is back, good news for Arsenal fans but it is counter balanced by the bad news of the return of Emmanuel “ I am better than Henry” Adebayor. Andrei Arshavin and Cesc on the same pitch. Good.
Man Utd – Berbatov injured, Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic suspended. Against many other teams Man U will struggle, but it is just Aston Villa, so back to winning ways for Fergie’s boys.
Aston Villa – Gabby Agbonlahor can’t score, Emile Heskey won’t score. Villa visiting Old Trafford. Martin O’Neill doesn’t have the guts to beat Fergie. O’Neill made a mistake bringing in Heskey and won’t admit that Agbonlahor has suffered the most for it. Ashley Young and James Milner are improved products but suffering from fatigue after the way they pursued and harried teams earlier in the season. Martin has to know that the season is a marathon and not a sprint.
Blackburn faces Tottenham tomorrow. Two hypocritically challenged managers face each other in this game. Harry Redknapp doesn’t want Ledley “one game a week” King to play in qualifiers while he chases a European position but believes he should be in the squad to SA because Ledley is world class. What tosh? How does any one believe anything this man says any more is a mystery of Loch Ness proportions?
Liverpool should go top of the league this Saturday but Rafa Benitez ha signed a new 5 year contract, quickly followed by Steven Gerrard who signed a new two year contract extension. They just might choke and not beat Fulham. I still believe that Man Utd will respond and still pip Liverpool but stranger things have happened. So we should just wait and see what does happen.
Have a great weekend and my your team win.
Wayne Rooney was going to lose his rag, whether England were winning or not. That lunge in the Ukraine game should have got him a 6-match ban but the English press act as if it didn’t happen.
After another uninspiring victory against an abjectly poor team, England is favourites to win the world cup next year. Of course, a team thoroughly beaten by Spain some weeks ago; with no creative players and lack of width, a suspect defence and goalkeeper can’t be a lock for the world cup unless you ask the English press.
France struggled to beat Lithuania and stay second in their group. They might still overtake Serbia who is leading their group seven. This is definitely more than you can say of Portugal who lay third in their group behind Denmark and Hungary. Cristiano Ronaldo will be having a good rest at the end of next season when every other superstar is basking in the African sun.
Somehow Northern Ireland is leading group three with 13 points and could be making it to the big dance. Nelson Mandela meets David Healy.
And while all this was happening Alan Shearer snuck into the manager’s seat in Newcastle for just 8 games. He has insisted that whatever happens at the en of the season, he will end his swift foray into management on the last day of the season. So if he saves Newcastle from the drop, he becomes a hero. If they go down as I feel they should he was in a bad situation to begin with. Smart arse!! And he swans back to the BBC to tell other managers how to do their jobs.
So Chelsea will beat them easily tomorrow to show him that the silly bulldog English spirit channelled through Kevin Keegan is not a substitute for skill or technique.
Other teams
Arsenal – Cesc Fabregas is off to Madrid, Barcelona and Man Utd next season. He might start tomorrow against Man City. Theo Walcott is back, good news for Arsenal fans but it is counter balanced by the bad news of the return of Emmanuel “ I am better than Henry” Adebayor. Andrei Arshavin and Cesc on the same pitch. Good.
Man Utd – Berbatov injured, Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic suspended. Against many other teams Man U will struggle, but it is just Aston Villa, so back to winning ways for Fergie’s boys.
Aston Villa – Gabby Agbonlahor can’t score, Emile Heskey won’t score. Villa visiting Old Trafford. Martin O’Neill doesn’t have the guts to beat Fergie. O’Neill made a mistake bringing in Heskey and won’t admit that Agbonlahor has suffered the most for it. Ashley Young and James Milner are improved products but suffering from fatigue after the way they pursued and harried teams earlier in the season. Martin has to know that the season is a marathon and not a sprint.
Blackburn faces Tottenham tomorrow. Two hypocritically challenged managers face each other in this game. Harry Redknapp doesn’t want Ledley “one game a week” King to play in qualifiers while he chases a European position but believes he should be in the squad to SA because Ledley is world class. What tosh? How does any one believe anything this man says any more is a mystery of Loch Ness proportions?
Liverpool should go top of the league this Saturday but Rafa Benitez ha signed a new 5 year contract, quickly followed by Steven Gerrard who signed a new two year contract extension. They just might choke and not beat Fulham. I still believe that Man Utd will respond and still pip Liverpool but stranger things have happened. So we should just wait and see what does happen.
Have a great weekend and my your team win.
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