February 2008 Entries
At the moment the league table suggest a two legged race for the finish with Arsenal and Manchester United only separated by 3 points at the top. With Chelsea chasing down a 9 point gap with a game in hand and for any football fan who has kept an eye on football since the Russian revolution at the bridge they will know that this is still clearly three teams in the hunt.
Over the last two weeks only one team in Manchester United has shown the composure and experience to finish the job. Chelsea has all the experience needed in their squad but the backroom staff has not been happy or consistent from the start of the season and this will effect the squads confidence and composure. Where as Arsenal have all the confidence and team spirit to take them all the way but the lack of a real commander and the lack of experience is starting to show.
This weekend’s fixtures bring up some interesting test but in my opinion all should walk through with maximum points.
Arsenal Vs Aston Villa. (Sat, 1 March Kick off: 15:00)
Fulham Vs Manchester United (Sat, 1 March Kick off: 15:00)
West Ham Vs Chelsea (Sat, 1 March Kick off: 15:00)
TomA
See below...
(Sat, 1 March Kick off: 15:00)
Being a beloved Gunner myself I will be walking to this game with an appetite for solid victory. The last few outings have bought little reward for the boys, and has started some unrest in the supporters camp even know we have a three point lead on the challengers. Aston Villa will bring a good test to Ashburton Grove as they try and keep it a three way battle for the illustrious fourth Champions League place. Hard to beat on their travels Villa play quick ball out wide and are very fast on the break utilising ‘big’ John Carew up front and an industrious midfield lead by the England pairing of Barry and Reo –Coker. The latter having one of the best engines ever seen in the premiership. He just screams the new Ince to me. Feel free to shout me down but I like what I see from the former crazy gang captain.
Even with the injury problems I still fancy Arsenal for this one, the back four have been solid and we are scoring at good times at home but if we concede it always seems to be at the worst time, but one thing we are sure of is goals. I see this game ending 2-0 or 3-0 Arsenal. I expect a reaction from last week and I think we will see it. Having Mr. Wenger in your ears for the whole week drilling the words ‘quatre-vingt-dix minutes’ just to remind his team how long the game is played for.
A draw will help neither team here in their long term battles in the premiership but Villa will still feel like a point won if it does occur. The game should be played at a great pace and easy on the eye and both teams with something to play should get even the most neutral of football fan something to watch on match of the day.
TomA
(Sat, 1 March Kick off: 15:00)
The pressure keeps on mounting on a free falling Fulham side. Two managers later and an injection of a half the Northern Irish international team into their squad and they find them self’s 4 points adrift of safety. Where as the confidence flowing from their opponents is something to be hold, their last 2 games on English soil have produce 9 goals and at the cost of just a single goal. These results following their defeat in the Manchester derby. United’s last opponents Newcastle went down with out much of a fight and played most of the game in oar of the football the Manchester side were playing.
Fulham’s less then stable defence will struggle like many defences before them with United’s movement up top. Playing in such a way where the front four can all interchange their positions and play out wide or down the middle. For a back four this is the worst type of attack to contain. At every moment someone is trying to drag you out of position to create space for someone else to move into. You need a back four of teachers with eyes in the back of their heads to stop this potent attack.
I can’t see Fulham walking away with anything from this game, with an all time low confidence in the dressing room, even the players may feel their hamstrings and claim a games rest may do them wonders. In my opinion this is another 3-0 or maybe even a look at the 4+ goals market to find value.
Manchester United to walk away with all three points and to maintain the pressure on Arsenal is the only out come I can see for this game.
TomA
(Sat, 1 March Kick off: 15:00)
This is one of the oldest London rivalries in the football leagues today. For Chelsea this is a short trip east across London but for the fans in the blue corner this is more then just a game against a local rival.
The fans are looking for redemption for the loss in the cup final last Sunday, something they never experienced with their former Portuguese manager. Under new management Chelsea’s style has changed little, still playing a 4-3-3 formation. Making the most of having 3 world class players in the centre of the park (Ballack, Lampard, Essien) with 2 great players to fill in. This is the case for Chelsea in all positions, they have missed the Chelsea and England skipper J. Terry but once Alex adapted to the premiership he looked solid enough to fill in some big shoes at the back. The only injury we know that can really rock Chelsea’s flow would be to their keeper P. Cech but with him in place Chelsea do offer the best squad on paper in the premiership.
West ham will still have hopes of staying in the race for Europe for as long as they can. Four points behind the real contenders for Europe, the hammers will know their home form will be vital. The fans will welcome back two former academy players in Lampard and J. Cole to Upton Park and how could they use them now.
West hams defence has settled down after injuries has kept everyone at the club on their toes and has now become more consistent. There main problem lies with getting the ball into the back of the net. You have to go back to the 12th January to find a game where the hammers have scored more then one in a game and that was against a less then solid Fulham defence. At the start of the season I don’t think Alan Curbishley considered scoring a problem with Bellamy and Ashton leading the front line, but both have been hit very hard with injuries and the West Ham boss has had to do with out both for most of the season.
This game will be hard fought and closer then most think. I believe the Chelsea machine will continue to grind out results and this will be no different. I see Chelsea taking the game 2-0 or 2-1. I still think a clean sheet is what Chelsea will be fighting for and to recover some pride for its fans. A loss here would have the Chelsea fans very blue with Tottenham fans still ringing in their ears the last thing they need is the West Ham fans to pipe up as well.
TomA
After show casing his talents very well over the last month in a victorious one day series against England, Jesse Ryder the black caps new hope in the opening spot has caused his own downfall and injured himself which will put him out of contention for the next three months and maybe missed the boat totally for test match cricket.
Ryder who has scored 196 runs in the five ODIs against England with an impressive strike rate of 91.1 was tipped for a test place but after this incident his place in the black caps future is in doubt.
Celebrating their series win against a hot and cold England team, Ryder and friends went out for a few drinks. A few drinks turned into a drinking session that was ended abruptly at 5:30am when Jessie Ryder could not gain access to a locked toilet in a local Christchurch bar and in his drunken rage smashed his hand through a window, causing much damage to his right hand. Not knowing the extent of the injury, Ryder was taken to Christchurch Hospital and later the same day (Sunday) had an operation to save the tendons on his index finger on his right hand. Ryder’s Night went from bad to worse; when he arrived at the hospital he hurled abuse at the hospital staff who were trying to treat him.
The New Zealand management were already in a spin with reports of a drinking session which ended at 1:30am the night before the penultimate ODI game against England in which Ryder was named in the party of drinkers.
Jesse Ryder has released a statement along side the New Zealand management apologising for his actions:
"My behaviour was pathetic, and I will be apologising to them (hospital staff)," Ryder said. "I apologise to the public and all the people who have supported me. My behaviour was unacceptable. I understand there are issues I need to address. I am committed to working with New Zealand Cricket to get back on track and back in the team."
With Ryder out of the next two series, the New Zealand squad will have to work hard to find a pair to open the batting. This has been a problem for many years for the black caps. A long time passed with out NZ finding a suitable partner for their former captain Stephen Fleming. Will this give one of the other NZ batsmen a chance to shine and may hold Ryder’s place at the top of the order for a lot longer then just the 3 months that is will take for Ryder’s hand to recover.
TomA
The FA has told world governing body FIFA that it has serious misgivings over the Premier League's recently announced plans to play extra matches overseas.
The 20 Premier League clubs have floated the idea of playing league matches overseas from the 2010-11 season. The fixtures, planned to be staged over one weekend in January in cities which had bid for the hosting rights, would extend the league season to 39 matches per club from 38.
In the statement the FA said "We have a responsibility to the whole of English football and we have to consider any wider consequences and implications that this proposal may create."
Their concern is the possibility of damaging its bid to stage the World Cup in 2018. Announced in an official statement yesterday the FA said "It was ... made clear to FIFA that the FA has some serious reservations about the proposal," the English game's governing body said on its Web site (www.thefa.com).
Seemingly in support of the FA’s statement, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has opposed the plans and warned that the proposal could indeed harm England's World Cup bid.
There’s been a lot of debate over this move, and no doubt will continue for the foreseeable future.
It’s interesting, when me and my mates get into discussions over this there seems to be a clear divide with some thinking it’s a good idea and others thinking the very suggestion cheapens the value of the league.
What do you think?
Steve0
Back in 1987 the then rookie Manchester United manager struggled to get his first FA cup tie win against Manchester City at Old Trafford when United squeezed a 1-0 win. Back then, Ferguson was simply looking for some stability. These days he has a treble in mind.
Given that today is the fifth Arsenal – Man United FA Cup meeting of the Ferguson-Wenger era (currently standing at 2-2) surely makes way for a promising highlight to an otherwise plain looking fifth round.
The team he picks today must also consider forthcoming Champions League tie in Lyon on Wednesday and the likes of Ronaldo, Scholes and Tevez will be uncertain of their places this afternoon.
Ferguson said "I know that in the 20-odd years I have been here, Manchester United and Arsenal are the two clubs who have competed most consistently for trophies.
"Someone told me the other day that this is my 100th FA Cup tie and the 1999 semi-final replay (United won 2-1 after extra-time) sticks out as the best.”
This is going to be a close match, and no doubt will be played in the typical Arsenal-United fashion – all out brawl.
As an Arsenal fan my money will of course be on Arsenal but in all honesty, I think it’s going to be a very tough call.
Roll on 17:15!
Steve0
After a great weekend for the Gunners with Manchester United and Chelsea both dropping points in their bids to catch up the north London club for top position. Can they compile the misery for the chasing teams with a win over Blackburn tonight?
Manchester United failing, down to the ‘big day’ occasion and hangovers from a ridiculous International friendly break going down 1-2 in the Manchester derby. Whilst Chelsea took on the under achieving Liverpool and it was clear my money on –2.5 goals looked comfortable after the first 15 minuets of the game. With that ending a 0-0 draw things look all set for the Gunners to move 5 points clear.
Blackburn could be a good test for Arsenal being one of the hardest teams to beat in the premiership on their travels, only losing away twice all season. With key players like Samba, Nelsen and Pedersen, all out following injuries and suspension, this will be a hard test on their squad but with the old Arsenal boy Bentley in the line up, who is full of confidence after his performance Wednesday, may have something to say about the result.
In last seasons corresponding fixture, Hughes put out an attacking team and came with the idea to walk away with points but left with a 6-2 drumming. He did how ever get his own back by taking his Blackburn team once more to Ashburton Grove in a very defensive mind in the FA cup and earning a draw to later go on and knock Arsenal out.
I think this is one of those games where the score line will depend on the timing of the first goal. An early goal from the on form Adebayor and the flood gates will likely open for Arsenal and with both of Blackburn’s first choice centre back’s out; I don’t think it will take Arsenal too long to get the break through.
With this in mind my money is going on correct scores of 3-0 and 3-1.
Arsenal like scoring three at home this season and I fancy a bit of cover on a Bentley reminder to Wenger of what he lost. Will keep an eye on the any unquoted or a 4+ goals market in BIP if there is an early goal. Value on any bet on Arsenal at home is hard to find and with Blackburn floating around 9/1 and 10/1 to win in the outright market is a reminder of what those odds compilers think of this game.
TomA
MatesOdds.com
Ireland vs. France Sat 9th Feb 4.00pm GMT
Eddie O’Sullivan is under enormous pressure to avoid a heavy defeat by France in today’s RBS 6 Nations clash; where critics are saying that if a substantial defeat occurs then it will render O'Sullivan's position untenable.
As expected O'Sullivan is defiant, "My self-belief hasn't wavered. Of course when things don't go well you want to address and fix them. That's the job," But how much he really believes that is anyone’s guess.
Sensible money would be on France for this one, as Irelands record in Paris is memorable, all for the wrong reasons – they have prevailed just once in the French capital since 1972.
As an Englishmen I will be rooting for Ireland but with a track record like theirs, against a French team in such fine form, I would not like to be wearing green right now.
In Eddie’s words, "If you don't have that sense of determination and belief then you won't last very long in this business.”
A prophecy? I certainly hope not!...come on you boys in green!
Steve0
MatesOdds.com
The chaps over at English Premier League are toying with the idea of staging a few matches around the rest of the world.
There was a meeting yesterday where all 20 clubs agreed to explore a proposal to extend the season to 39 games. With the extra 10 games to be played at five different stadiums, with cities bidding for the right to stage them. Apparently additional fixtures will be determined by a draw with the top-five teams being seeded to avoid playing each other.
What is all this baloney?
I’m sorry did I miss something? Did I just wake up in some kind of “I know chaps! Lets export one of the greatest football leagues to other countries, to ‘help’ raise the awareness of it” type bullshit world?.
I mean... WTF?!
Come on, Mr. Scudamore wake up and take that dick out of your hand. This is not “an exciting prospect”; this is not “a chance for the Premier League to showcase its product around the world”, I'll tell you what this is... this is yet another financial exploitation of the loyal fans of world football. Pure and simple.
Doesn’t current TV coverage handle that? Is it not enough that the Premier League is watched in 600m homes, in 202 countries worldwide, while an estimated 1bn people watched the Premier League game between Arsenal and Manchester United in November 2007?
Yet again we see corporate types playing around with our cultural heritage. By agreeing to this Dick Scudamore and his equally parsimonious associates will rip the very soul out of this league and everything it stands for.
If you want to see a Premiership match come to the UK or watch it on TV!
Think about it...where does it end? Does this mean we'll have the chance to watch Serie A, La Liga matches live in the UK? Oh great, wonderful.... excuse me Dick Scudamore where do I buy my £100 cheap seat ticket? Give over....
I strongly object to this notion and so should you. And anyone who thinks this is a good thing should walk in front of the next available bus, lorry or any fast moving vehicle and put an end to such nonsensical twaddle.
Disgruntled'
Steve0
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Steve0
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