OleOle - Football News and Opinion

Chelsea Plot To Pressure United Midfielders

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 10:25:17 +0100

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti plans to copy Liverpool blueprint in shutting down Manchester United's midfield in order to beat the Reds.

"Liverpool played a fantastic match, a strong match, and put a lot of pressure on the pitch. That's why they won. They didn't give United any possibility to play like they want to play."

"It was a good lesson for us because Manchester can suffer when there's pressure on their midfielders. I don't want to play against other team's weaknesses. We want to put our own qualities on the pitch."

"The best thing is to maintain a balance. They have a good defence but also fantastic strikers. Wayne Rooney is one of the most intelligent strikers in the world, so we have to think about him. He has the quality to play everywhere."

However, Ancelotti dismisses any talk of the clash between Chelsea and United being a title-decider, particularly when he believes Arsenal have joined what was being seen as a two-horse race for the championship.

"Psychologically, a win will not mean more. We have to play against a strong team, the second team in the Premier League, but I think it's just a game that carries three points like the others."

"It's a very important game. It's important because we play against a fantastic team, but we know very well that it will be a very difficult match but also a very interesting one."

"I think Arsenal have a good chance of finishing first. We can't think about Liverpool at this moment because they are behind, but Arsenal have a very good team and a very good chance of winning."

"We cannot win against Manchester United only thanks to Didier's work. We can only win if we play like a team. I'm very happy with the squad and it's not necessary at the moment to add new players."

Ancelotti also hails Sir Alex Ferguson's place in United history.

"Ferguson did a fantastic job with this team. For a coach to stay such a long time with one team is very difficult, not only in England but everywhere. In Italy it would be impossible, for sure."

"He's a very important man for the history of this club. United have a fantastic history and Ferguson is one of the most important men in this history."

"Sometimes against Ferguson I've won. Sometimes he's won. But it's not a match between Ancelotti and Ferguson. It's Chelsea v Manchester United."

"I have a very good relationship with Ferguson. I think that he's one of the best coaches in the world. He has won a lot of trophies and I have respect for him."

No Problem Between Kuszczak And Edwin

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 10:00:17 +0100

Sir Alex Ferguson has played down talk of a rift between goalkeepers Tomasz Kuszczak and Edwin Van Der Sar.

Kuszczak seemed to attack Van Der Sar for not offering him enough support during his time at Old Trafford.

"It is just not true. Tomasz was cracking a joke. He was laughing when he said it."

"There is no problem between him and Edwin, maybe it is just that Polish humour doesn't translate to British humour."

Despite his performance against CSKA Moscow on Tuesday being heavily criticised, Van Der Sar is virtually certain to start in goal, with either Kuszczak or Ben Foster on the bench.

On the other hand, Sir Alex believes Owen Hargreaves is close to returning to full training after a minor setback in his recovery from knee surgery.

"Owen Hargreaves is doing very well. He overdid it one of the days because he got a little calf strain and he had two or three rest days."

"He is back doing his work again and hopefully we can get him back in training within the next 10 days or so. But as I said before, it is one of those ones we are not going to force because you have to respect the amount of time he has been out."

"He is very happy within himself, which is good, and hopefully we get him back quickly."

Ronaldo Does Not Want To Play Against United

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:36:16 +0100

Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted he does not want to come face-to-face with Manchester United in the Champions League either this season or next.

"I don't want to play against Manchester. It's a strange feeling if I play against them. But you never know. In the Champions League, everything is possible but I don't want to play against Manchester."

"I still have the same friends. I speak sometimes with Rooney, Vidic, Ferdinand, Nani, Evra, Anderson. It's good to know what's going on there and the people like to know if I'm happy here."

Ronaldo also has revealed that he would like to go down in history on the same page as Pele and Diego Maradona.

"I have another seven, eight years in football, or more. If my legs give me a chance to play until 40, I want to play. But I want to be in the first page of history, the same as Maradona and Pele. I want to be there."

"I know it's very tough but I think it's possible if I carry on like that, to win things. I think it's possible. I know it's hard, but in my head, it's possible."

United Fans Make Obertan Feels Very Welcome

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:16:16 +0100

Gabriel Obertan has thanked Manchester United fans for making him feel at home since his transfer from Bordeaux and that he hopes to return the favour by putting in good performances on the pitch.

At Barnsley in the Carling Cup, fans chanted his name throughout a promising display, then warmly greeted his first outing at Old Trafford against Blackburn.

"I'm very proud of that. It gives you a huge push when you are playing and you hear the supporters singing your name. It's like you have other forces behind you."

"It's also made me feel very welcome here. If I hear the fans singing my name I want to give them something back by playing well and working hard for them."

Wolves preview + Saturday round-up

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:10:22 +0100

Good Saturday to you all. Here is the news.

It looks like Manuel Almunia is back in pole position. Or, he would be if Arsenal was a Forumula 1 team and he'd just come fastest in qualifying, but you know what I mean. A mixture of a chest infection, family tragedy and just plain old poor form meant his start to the season was a bit all over the shop, but it seems as if the manager is ready to put his faith in him again. Arsene says:

It gave him a good breather. For goalkeepers in general, the confidence is very important. Goalkeeper is a position that is guided by fear more than any other. You have only negative stress. A striker has a positive stress. He thinks, 'I can be a hero', but the goalkeeper thinks, 'I don't want to be a villain today'.

And the way he was playing there's no question that Almunia saw himself in black and white, twiddling his overgrown 'tache while cackling to himself and tying a young damsel to the railway tracks. If his return brings about more solidity, both in terms of his performances and the experience he brings to the team, then great. You still can't help but think that the keeper issue is one the boss needs to make decisions on in the near future. The Mail links us with Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris, an anagram of which is 'Hull Orgies' and that makes me think of Phil Brown and a coven of Kerry Katona looking women and it's put me right off that keeper, let me tell you.

As well as that, I think our kit has to take some of the blame. How can Almunia, or any of the others, feel like a confident non-villain if he's being asked to wear that horrible all grey thing? It's so ... insipid, isn't it? Get the goalie in a traditional all green number, he'll play better. It's a scientific fact.

Cesc has warned against complacency today at Wolves. The captain says:

I am warning against complacency today at Wolves. We will have to be at our best as usual because today there are no small teams in the Premier League, everyone makes it difficult if you are not up for it, so we will have to be motivated to beat them. And, above all, we must not be complacent. There is no room for complacency today. If we were a restaurant and complacency turned up with a rather attractive companion looking for a table I would have to say 'Sorry, we have no room for your kind, Sir', which may force him to take a case with the discrimination tribunal but that's just the way it has to be.

It's a big chance to put pressure on United and Chelsea who tomorrow will play out a 3-3 draw with 3 red cards, a number of serious injuries and a shocking incident in which Didier Drogba punches the ref in the throat whilst calling him a 'hearty bastard'. Something to look forward to.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy says Arsenal will be 'quaking in their boots', heh. Tongue in cheek it might be but we'd do well to remember last November playing a recently promoted side away from home. And I think Wolves have got a long throw bloke as well. I could be wrong though. In terms of the team I don't see it being that different to the one on Wednesday, Sagna back for Eboue, maybe a bit of rotation with Eduardo and Rosicky starting, but you have to think we've got enough to win this one given the form we're in.

In other news Arsene says Fran Merida signing a new deal for us would be 'massive'. Personally I think it would be either 'capital' or 'epic' but I can live with massive.

Alisher Usmanov has called on Stan Kroenke to make clear his intentions, knowing fine well that no such clarification will be forthcoming on the back of such callings. I suppose he just wants people to know that he too owns a big chunk of Arsenal. We haven't forgotten you, Jabba, don't worry. We're just hoping you fall off a cliff or have a stroke or fall of a cliff while having a stroke. And if, when you fell off the cliff, you could fix it so you land on top of Phil Collins who is sunbathing below then that would be massive or capital or epic.

Alex Song talks about how important family is to him. He's only 22 but he's got 2 kids already and he comes from a family of 473 brothers and 900 sisters. Or something. They must need a really big table on Christmas day.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has been singing the praises of on-loan youngster Jay Emmanuel 'Emmanuel' Thomas. Which is nice to hear, I suppose. He is, of course, as mad as a box of badgers but entertainingly so for the most part.

And that'll have to do. Late kick off this evening, fingers crossed for the three points, talk to you tomorrow.

We Are The Victims

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 08:51:33 +0100

Sonny is 41. Reports suggest that he has some of his own teeth and a healthly appetite. His workers say that he maybe ready for the job market in a few years and once his disability is sorted he is hoping to move out of his parents house.*

When stopped by a Scottish Hun reporter he thought nothing of speaking to the reporter as that paper is as British as the Poppy he wasn't wearing.

Little did he know that he would be captured by EVERY Celts favourite TV Channel- no, not Babestation - GSP Tv, confronting those nasty stewards who where shouting Celtic and other such obscenities like get back you ugly thug bastards.

GSP TV hasn't captured the despicable attack on the old fellow, a war veteran who is wheelchair bound and wanted attention as he had lost a hand going to the toilet who was set upon by these stewards.

This is the 5th time in 5 years this old fellow has been attacked.

But GSP Tv has captured these clips. If you are offended enough then send a letter to UEFA or dail 118 118 and ask for that useless French bloke and you will get Plantini's office.

I'm just satisfied of them outing themselves.

*Not true, I think.

Thanks to Sc0tsman on KDS for the GIF.

Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 08:30:00 +0100

I have yet another family wedding this afternoon as my wife's sister gets married in our local church and we head to Bray for the reception in the hotel next door to the supporters club. I hope to be able to sneak out at some stage and see a little bit of the game against Wolves which kicks off at 5.30 and is live on ESPN. I'll be wearing my red shirt and Arsenal socks as lucky omens and I'm hoping for a performance to cheer us into yet another interlull.

With Rosicky and Nasri available again the boss has a few selection headaches before the game and I'm sure Eduardo will hope that he can start too. I expect Sagna to play at right back again as Eboue seems to have that berth for the Champions league and with Almunia, Gibbs, Gallas and The Verminator he will make up our defence. Cesc and Song will play in midfield I'm sure and I would be surprised if RVP and Arshavin don't strat up front. That leaves 2 places in the team between Diaby, Nasri, Rosicky, Eduardo, Eboue and Ramsey and good luck to the boss in keeping them all happy. To be honest I don't know who will play but I suspect that Diaby will be in the team with Nasri playing too.

As long as we approach the game the right way we will be too good for a Wolves team who their manager says wil attack us because there is no point in defending against us. He will learn that it's an even bigger mistake to attack us and I see a 4-0 win for Arsenal on the horizon with RVP, Cesc, Arshavin & a centre back scoring our goals. If we get that win we go 2nd in the table for 1 day at least and Manure will need a point at Chelsea tomorrow to overtake us and they will find that very hard to come by.

Sky have chosen to show 2 of our games live in January and the the games away to Bolton on January 17th and at home to Manure on January 31st will both be shown. It looks like the Everton game I am hoping to go to is safe to be on Saturday January 9th and we just have to wait for the tickets to become available early next month now. I uppose even if ESPN take the game it will just mean it will be a later kick off so I have to say I'm delighted with that. That's all for today as I have busy day ahead.

Here's a clip of what Arshavin can do.

LINK

And to finish today's title track from Lloyd Cole which is for Mick McCarthy who is hopefully going to be heartbroken tonight.

LINK

See You Tomorrow.

Theometer

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:19:30 +0100

Faster than whatever you're driving

Weekend Preview 09/10 - Gameweek 12

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:08:48 +0100

Hi and hello Football fans, it's your old pal Roko The Football Guy, whats going down? I hope all is well wherever you are!

It's been a crazy/busy week in my life let me tell you....... Actually, despite it being busy there really was not that much of interest other than earlier today when I had to attend a disciplinary hearing at work! I'm not going to go in to details as I know a few people from work read the blog, but lets just say it was serious enough for me to have to go in a couple of hours before work started and I genuinely thought I was leaving unemployed. Actually being unemployed might have been a blessing in disguise as it would have freed up a lot of my time and let me write more......... Though I'm not sure how my bank would feel when I stopped paying them all the money I owe them....... I guess I could have sold naming rights or something?

Anyway I hope I have your understanding and forgiveness for the lateness of the post and without further delay, here are this weeks predictions -

Aston Villa v Bolton

If you can forget Bolton's last two games (both beatings by Chelsea) they have actually been in quite a good run of form. On the surface it seems like they don't score enough but it's actually at the other end were the Trotters problems lie with only Burnley, Blackburn and Hull having conceded more....... Not exactly the kind of company you want to be keeping!

Villa on the other hand have really not been setting the world on fire and are actually winless in their last four games since beating Chelsea. I think that run comes to an end on Saturday, they are due a win and Bolton I think will still be suffering from the tonkings Chelsea gave them.

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

Blackburn v Portsmouth

I think I've got a good feel for what sort of team Pompey are and that is a team that is better than what their league position suggests and would be a lot further up the table if they had a decent striker.

Now as for Blackburn, I'm still not sure. They've looked pretty poo of late, but then again they have had to play Arsenal, Chelsea and United recently. I think I'll have all the answers I need after this match.

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

Manchester City v Burnley

Check this out, Man City sit fourth in the league yet they have not won a league match since September......... How crazy is that?

OK maybe it's not that crazy, but it is quite strange you'd have to say? Anyway, City are well overdue a victory and what better team to come knocking at your door than one who might not be able to beat a pub team should it be away from home!

I think it will be a good weekend for the Blue half of Manchester.

Football Guy's verdict 3-0

Tottenham v Sunderland

Really not sure what to make of this one, Spurs generally have been good this season against teams outside the top three but then again lost last time out at home to Stoke and Sunderland are about as predictable "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus".

I think I should employ a new rule which states that if I have no idea what the result will be, go with a draw!

Football Guy's verdict 1-1

Wolves v Arsenal

Incredibly, Wolves are unbeaten in their last three games. I genuinely didn't believe they could go three games without defeat in any competition but yet they have proved me wrong!

Well done Wolves, I'd savour it for as long as you can, because that run is coming to an abrupt end Saturday evening when the "goal machine" that is Arsenal comes rocking in to town!

I expect a beating and anything less than three goals for the Gunners will be considered failure!

Football Guy's verdict 0-3

Hull v Stoke

Stoke have pissed me off in my predictions the last two weeks so I'm going to back them to lose this week out of spite!

But putting vendettas aside for just one moment, as mentioned earlier in the post, I today almost lost my job........ It was a scary thought being unemployed this close to Christmas and I'm relieved to not be on the dole line. Anyway, this experience has made me realize that I should not be rooting for Phil Brown to get sacked as that would be wrong. So Phil, I'm really sorry and hope you keep your job.......... Instead die of skin cancer you sunbed loving twat!

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

West Ham v Everton

Bleeeargh...... I'm not really high on either team at the moment, although West Ham did get a much needed win Wednesday night. It was actually their first win at home all season long and considering Everton are looking like a right mess at the moment I'm going to say The Hammers make it back to back wins.

PS, these pictures of Katy Perry also swayed my mind......... I hate Russell Brand!

Football Guy's verdict 2-1

Wigan v Fulham

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present your Gameweek 12 winner of the "Most un-interesting game of the week" award!

Football Guy's verdict 2-2

Chelsea v Manchester United

Right, I think Chelsea make a big statement this week..... A BIG STATEMENT!

This United team fully fit for me is still a pale comparison to the ones of the last few years, now throw in the problems they have at the back and your asking for trouble and this Chelsea side are not the team I'd like to meet when not at the top of my game.

Don't be shocked when you see United crushed on Sunday, just remember you heard it here fisrt!

Football Guy's verdict 3-0

Liverpool v Birmingham

Right Liverpool, you have two options -

1) Win this game and start to get your season back on track

2) Fail to win this game and be killed by the media (figuratively) and by your fans (literally).

As Master Yoda once said - "Do or do not, there is no try" and for Liverpool there can only be one result.

Football Guy's verdict 2-0

The Rest

Right, first off here are the Footy Doc's predictions -

Aston Villa 2v1 Bolton

Blackburn 2v0 Portsmouth

Man City 4v1 Burnley

Tottenham 3v1 Sunderland

Wolves 1v4 Arsenal

Hull City 1v0 Stoke City

West Ham 0v1 Everton

Wigan 2v0 Fulham

Chelsea 2v1 Man Utd

Liverpool 3v1 Birmingham

Next up we have JamrockRover -

Aston Villa 2 - 1 Bolton

Blackburn 2 - 1 Portsmouth

Man City 3 - 0 Burnley

Tottenham 2 - 2 Sunderland

Wolves 1 - 4 Arsenal

Hull City 1 - 2 Stoke City

West Ham 2 - 1 Everton

Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham

Chelsea 2 - 1 Man Utd

Liverpool 3 - 0 Birmingham

And finally, the SportBoys -

Aston Villa 1 v Bolton 1

Blackburn 2 v Portsmouth 2

Man City 3 v Burnley 0

Tottenham 2 v Sunderland 1

Wolves 0 v Arsenal 3

Hull City 1 v Stoke City 1

West Ham 2 v Everton 1

Wigan 2 v Fulham 1

Chelsea 3 v Man Utd 0

Liverpool 2 v Birmingham 0

Oh, and here are Lawro's as well - LINK

The End

Have a wonderful weekend, take care,

Football Guy

Arsenal TShirt Shop - Finally Sorted (I hope)

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 21:49:19 +0100

Rite, I think I have this shop business sorted out. I'll still be selling all the designs as transfers on eBay and a limited number of Tshirts there too, but as I'm not rich I couldn't afford to have all the designs on TShirts in stock, hence the need for a shop which will print them for me. It's a bummer that it's based in the US, but I've managed to keep the price down to under £14 and postage should only take 8-10 days.

Get yours orderd now in time for Xmas, with 40 designs to chose from, and more on the way, you're sure to find something you like http://www.arsenaltshirts.com

All being well normal blogging service shoul be resumed tomorrow. I'm still dizzy as feck, but not as bad and think I can throw some words together...

See you all then

MLS Playoff Previews: Everything to play for

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 20:12:45 +0100

Sunday's MLS playoff match-ups have potential. Not that they're locks to be the best MLS games of all time. There's plenty to pick and choose from, however, and it's certainly worth diving into ahead of time, as six teams will be reduced to three. Let's dive in.

Seattle Sounders at Houston Dynamo (0-0)

The entertaining first leg bodes well for the second. As does the fan support generated in both cities. Making the percolating situation even more fun, the mayor of Houston gets involved -- but only after the Seattle mayor declaring it "Sounders Day" prior to the opening match. Now, the Dynamo are trying to muscle their way past the Sounders and into the Conference final.

Again, the similarities between the two squads are eerily similar. Aging keepers, stout defenses, bright attacking talent, prolific finishers. Seattle has been competent away from home, especially towards the tail end of the season. With that is Houston's mental hurdle of last season's collapse at home against the Red Bulls, of all teams.

What will happen when the two defenses smash into each other? Well, it will come down to the team that finishes. Well, that's kind of obvious. Houston had problems on set pieces last game, leaving Patrick Ianni open on two occasions. It's looking like Tyrone Marshall might be in Seattle's lineup, denying Ianni another shot at his old club.

Even with the home crowd, Seattle pulling through the second leg looks like a safe bet. Fredy Montero needs to find his scoring shoes for that to happen, and quit with the dramatics. Freddie Ljungberg seems resigned to the fact that he'll be kicked and hacked up and down a football pitch, and he'll have to once again play through that.

Brian Ching could use a clutch performance for once. The towering Hawaiian, once a regular for the USMNT, has seen his role reduced dramatically this season. An effort that includes a goal or two in leading the Dynamo on a late playoff run would boost his standing. Ricardo Clark's health is another issue to be on the lookout for. If he can't go, that will surely open up some space for Seattle's attack.

New England Revolution at Chicago Fire (2-1)

Can these two surprise again? Count me among the masses expecting a dull, boring first leg up in New England. To see those two squad comes out and play something resembling attacking football was a change from past playoff meetings.

Saturday night, that could change, as it wouldn't be shocking to see New England come in and back the bus. And unlike Real Salt Lake last night, the Revolution have the ability to do this, and have nowhere as good of an attack to pressure Chicago with. Steve Nicol can't park all four of his defenders in front of Matt Reis' goal, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him try.

The Fire's response will be interesting, to say the least. Chris Rolfe might be in his last game, same for Cuautehmoc Blanco. How much gas does Blanco have in the tank? Can Rolfe score? When comparing strikers, the gap between the two sides practically spans the Grand Canyon.

But after examining Chicago's perennial underachievement at home, all things are possible for the Revolution with that one goal advantage. Bunkering in at Toyota Park shouldn't be something to be ashamed about, not with a Conference Final against Real Salt Lake on the line. Simple to leave it at this -- if the game comes downs to coaches and tactical decisions, New England is the easy favorite.

Chivas USA at Los Angeles Galaxy (2-2)

A home game for the Galaxy -- really? -- with it all hanging in the balance for the Superclasico: playoff edition moves to a second leg. Both Preki and Bruce Arena will want to put the first leg in the past, as Omar Gonzalez appeared to be making his MLS debut, while Preki's side tossed in a share of defensive howlers.

For two teams to fall apart at the back so quickly is a microcosm of the playoffs, and the second leg will be pressure-packed to the brim. One little mistake could be the difference between staying home or potentially hosting a Conference final.

Simple approaches can navigate either side through. For Chivas, speed is what kills the Galaxy. So take Maykel Galindo, start him, and tell him to run at Gonzalez and Gregg Berhalter like there's no tomorrow to play for. Gonzalez will be trying to redeem himself after a disastrous first leg, so attacking the rookie needs to be a part of Preki's game plan.

The Galaxy will need Landon Donovan and David Beckham as a one-two punch. When you have someone that few defenders in MLS can cover (Donovan) and perhaps the best deliverer of a dead ball (Beckham) those weapons needs to be utilized to full capacity. If the two play off each other successfully, Los Angeles could stroll in this one. That's why it'll be up to Preki to devise a game plan to stop them. Otherwise, he's out.

Preview: Barça - Mallorca

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 19:51:43 +0100

It's back to La Liga and back to Camp Nou tomorrow where we play hosts to fifth placed Mallorca (kick off 8pm). After two disappointing draws away from home we will certainly be hoping to win this one. For the first time this season Pep Guardiola has all 20 first team players (bar Gabi Milito) available for the game. Guardiola said today that "in many aspects we are a better team this season". While I would agree that Ibrahimovic offers us new options and Seydou Keita has been a much improved player, unfortunately there are other parts of the team that are not performing so well. Let's hope that tomorrow the team show us what they are capable of by knocking in a few goals.

Mallorca will not be easy as they proved last season in the four matches between the two sides. In the corresponding league game we had to come from behind to win a bad tempered game 3-1 (Click here for this blog's report on that game). We won the Copa del Rey semi final tie to a large extent thanks to Pinto's penalty save, and then we lost 2-1 in Mallorca at the end of the season when La Liga was already won. Mallorca are flying high this season but 15 of their 17 points so far have been won at home and they are yet to win a game on there travels. The danger from Mallorca could come from left winger Gonzalo Castro, while if he plays it will be interesting to get a look at their young right back Felipe Mattioni whose excellent debut in last week's 1-0 win over Racing earned him comparisons with Dani Alves.

We need to win this match if we are to guarantee top spot going into the next international break. Real Madrid are just a point behind and it seems like they always win their derby match away to Atletico. We are due a few goals but to get them we need an improvement in play from the likes of Leo Messi and Andres Iniesta. Thierry Henry should get a bit more than the eight minutes he played on Wednesday but he may still begin on the bench. Guardiola will have to see if anyone is showing signs of fatigue after the long journey to Kazan but if they are all ok I imagine he will start with the same team. Our next game after this is on Tuesday against Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey so it seems pointless to rest anyone tomorrow.

In 24 league encounters between the teams in Barcelona, Barça have won 15, there have been 6 draws, while Mallorca have won 3.

Possible starting XI: Valdés; Alves, Piqué, Puyol, Abidal; Xavi, Toure, Keita; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Iniesta.

My prediction: Barça 3 Mallorca 0

Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics...as Arsenal hit 50 goals.

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 18:38:26 +0100

We can say a lot about our current form and one of those things is that we seem to be rather good at creating and taking scoring opportunities this season - 50 goals do not lie. However, this site (Premier League Statistics) does a lot on the attacking side but very little on the defensive side so I'm not able to work out if we are actually better defensively than last year or not. I mean, we're told our new central defensive partnership is significantly improving our defence and scoring goals as well but I'm just not sure.

I can discover that we already have 6 players (Van Persie, Cesc, The Verminator, Diaby, Arshavin & Gallas) who have scored 3 or more PL goals and that we have 4 players with more than 4 assists too. However, I just can't help but look at how many soft goals we have conceded this year and comparing ourselves to Chelsea who have only let in 8 goals so far.

However, it's not that bad we did concede 6 in those 2 weekends in Manchester when we could and should have got a couple of points at least. Then there is the fact that last year's title winners were pretty awful in the games against the other "big 4" clubs so maybe this year we have adopted a new strategy. We just need to continue thrashing everyone at home and winning games over the so-called smaller teams away. That just means that Van Persie is right in saying that tomorrow's game is actually very important. A win before the Interlull and before United face Chelsea will send everyone off in good heart.

It won't be easy but defensively Wolves have looked like a lot of promoted clubs, open and vulnerable. That doesn't mean we can put on our "arrogant and complacent" hats on (see second half West Ham, Alkmaar(A)) and be focused "100%" - there cannot be 110% focus people please refrain from saying that! The form guide says "easy" but this year's PL has been nothing if not contradictory in many respects.

Unrating The Players: I Blame The Turnstiles For McDonalds Touch.

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 18:23:24 +0100

The men with mics on ESPN last night seemed to enjoy reiterating the fact that a creditable draw was not enough to get us through.

The intelligent amongst us knew that our Euro jaunt was done for after the first two games but in a strange twist of events the correct results in the Rapid Tel Aviv double header could have left us in with a decent fist of qualifying.

Not that we deserve it.

Looking at the Zooropa stats the shots on target columns in most groups resemble a dodgy bingo card that just has high numbers. At a paltry 16 the tag the Glasgow Galacticos is sadly misplaced.

It seems in a tournament that is a glutton for goals as the have not's of European football slog it out we are the pragmatic bunch.

How strange.

Ratings?

Zulaska 8

The 'For Sale' sign is being polished and placed on the Holy Goalie MK1. But I remember Mark Brown having a decent game in Moscow

Hinkel 5

Decent Bjork impression. Oh, so quiet.

Caldwell 7

No own goals but a stupid booking. About as good as you get.

Loovens 7

Europe makes you look good. Then your hair style suits Germany.

Fox 5

Why does the image of Michael Gray now spring to mind?

McGeady 4

Difficult night. No complaints about his subistution but it did take the Hamburg full back a while to get him out his pocket to allow it happen.

N'Guemo 8

Showed why I thought Arsene Wenger only discovered these types of players. I'm sure on Sunday he will show on Sunday why Arsene Wenger never discovered him.

Crosas 8

Simples. Pass, move, get another pass then watch the ball rebound back to you from the front men. Ask Massimo how he coped and watch for Scott Brown trying to injure you.

Robson 7

Lacks the finesse for this level. But seeing a big glaikit ginger must be amusing for those on the continent.

Skippy -1

I'm sure there is a sport somewhere that being able to knock the ball 30 yards with your shin is a skill worth having. Go and find it.

Sammy: 1

If only you put the same effort into your thinking as you put into your histrionics.

Subs

Naylor: 1

At least you weren't brought on as a winger

McGinn: 1

Struggles to make an impact at times. Pace could be useful in the future.

MAF: 1

Caught Skippyitis and struggled to hold the ball for longer than 2 seconds.

The Manager 5

You mission was akin to putting deck chairs out on a submarine. They were always going to be displaced when it went down.

Thing is. It never went down and it limped into port without ever looking in danger of submerging.

I hope by this point next year we will be able to handle European mobs and keep possession against those we should be competing with.

Your task is to ensure that Rapids and Tel Avivs of this world are at least 4 points in the bag.

VfB v. Monchengladbach | Match Preview + Tasci out + Delpierre breaks hand

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 17:57:11 +0100

First off, I would like to apologize for the lack of posts. We have all been so busy with different things, that the blog got put on the back burner.

Anyway, to the preview!

At the start of the season, the fans of Borussia Monchengladbach, who will play host to VfB Stuttgart on Saturday, November 7th, worried that the club would not be able to compensate for the departures of highly rated young midfielder Marko Marin (Werder Bremen) and Alexander Baumjohann (Bayern Munich).

Somewhat surprisingly, the fears of the fans of the ‘Fohlen' had initially no need for such negative thoughts, with new signings Raul Bobadilla (Grasshoppers Zurich) and Juan Arango (Real Mallorca) proving effective on their arrival. Both new men had an important part to play in Borussia taking seven points from their first four games. As the season progressed though, trainer Michael Frontzeck's men hit a distinctly dry patch of six consecutive games without a win - earning only one single point in that period. Then, last weekend, Gladbach something of a shock, twice coming from behind to beat Hamburger SV 3-2.

Goalkeeper Logan Bailly has become the unexpected star of the team, although he only managed to return to the team on the sixth match day. The Belgian international keeper has drawn a great deal of attention with his spectacular performances - but not even his heroics could prevent Gladbach conceding 20 goals thus far. That figure means Borussia have the third worst goals conceded rate in the league behind Freiburg and Bochum (both 23). Despite being able to create, poor finishing has let the side down and afforded them just 13 goals of their own so far as they sit in twelfth position in the table. Saturday will see a clash of two sides who have failed to meet expectations despite performing well but often leaving the pitch empty handed.

Tasci Out

It is highly likely that VfB Stuttgart will have to make do without the services of Serdar Tasci for the rest of the first half of the season. A strain reaction in his left foot has forced the defender into taking a longer break from active participation.

Serdar Tasci's injury is the same problem currently plaguing team mate Sami Khedira, who could be looking at a stress fracture if the necessary rest is not taken. Due to the injury, Serdar Tasci has had to pull out of German national team trainer Joachim Löw's squad for the up-coming friendlies against Chile and the Ivory Coast.

Delpierre Breaks Hand

VfB defender Matthieu Delpierre was involved over the full 90 minutes against Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League. During the match, the French centre half suffered an injury to his right hand.
On the squads return from Spain, VfB team doctor Raymond Best diagnosed a fracture to Delpierre's metacarpal.

A decision will be made after the final training session on Friday afternoon as to whether the Frenchman will be able to participate with a specially formed carbon splint on Saturday against Borussia Monchengladbach.

STO WAGS of the World: JoJo

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:19:55 +0100

The Beauty: JoJo (who was born Joanna Noëlle Blagden Levesque) is an American pop star. She rose to fame in the music biz at a very young age, and she parlayed her perfect pipes into a successful acting career. Now, the sky is the limit for the young starlet. She has already achieved so much, it is sometimes easy to forget that she’s only (thankfully) 18. Heck, she hasn’t even voted for president yet. But, she still gets my vote for my last WAG of the World. Read more... (261 words, 3 images, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)

This is a preview of STO WAGS of the World: JoJo. Read the full post (261 words, 3 images, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)

The Future's Bright

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:13:34 +0100

As the large, grey cloud of underachievement continues to loom ominously overhead, I thought I'd try to locate that elusive silver lining in an attempt to bring some light to your lives after what has so far been, by our own very high standards, a complete car crash of a season.

For a number of reasons, which I really don't have the will to go into, we find ourselves facing a gargantuan challenge to end the season on a high. No matter what fashion we finish up in, though, the future of this club is as bright as it's ever been.

Cast your mind back, if you will, to the Houllier days. After a succession of big money flop signings, Liverpool were teetering on the brink of losing their status as an established top 4 side. As fond as we all were of Houllier, we knew that if the club was to move forwards then a fresh approach was needed.

I remember the excitement I felt when Rafa took over. This was the man responsible for smashing through the Real Madrid / Barcelona stronghold in La Liga with his all crushing Valencia side. This was a man in demand and it was we, Liverpool, who were getting him. In my opinion, Rafa is probably the best signing this club has made in the last ten years.

Now every pundit, journalist, blogger and bin man seems to have their opinion on Rafa's transfer record. Figures are plucked out of the sky and regurgitated in pubs all across the country. Luckily, however, there are a few people with half a brain of their own who are charged with the responsibility of educating these would-be football managers on the real facts of the matter.

I'm not going to go into the stats and figures but let's just look at the difference between the team Rafa was to inherit when Houllier departed.

Liverpool squad 2003-04

Goalkeepers

Jerzy Dudek, Chris Kirkland, Patrice Luzi

Defenders

Carl Medjani, Stephane Henchoz, Jon Otsemobor, Steve Finnan, John Welsh, Djimi Traore, Sami Hyypia, Salif Diao, Jamie Carragher

Midfielders

Dietmar Hamann, John Arne Riise, Danny Murphy, Bruno Cheyrou, Steven Gerrard, Igor Biscan, Vladimir Smicer

Forwards

Michael Owen, El Hadji Diouf, Anthony Le Tallec, Milan Baros, Florent Sinama Pongolle, Harry Kewell, Emile Heskey, Richie Partridge

And here's what the current 2009-10 squad looks like:

Goalkeepers

Jose Manuel Reina, Diego Cavalieri, Martin Hansen, Peter Gulacsi, Dean Bouzanis

Defenders

Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Emiliano Insua, Jamie Carragher, Philipp Degen, Stephen Darby, Martin Kelly, Steven Irwin, Martin Skrtel, Andrea Dossena, Daniel Sanchez Ayala

Midfielders

Alberto Aquilani, Steven Gerrard, Albert Riera, Yossi Benayoun, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Leiva, Jay Spearing, Damien Plessis, Nabil El Zhar

Forwards

Fernando Torres, Andriy Voronin, Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel, David N'Gog, Nathan Eccleston

So say what you will about the mans transfers, but he has got rid of a hell of a lot of deadwood and replaced it with true quality.

It's easy to forget amidst the current injury crisis that we now have an exceptionally strong squad in comparison to what it was 5 years ago. The exciting thing for us is that a lot of our best players are still relatively young.

Reina, Agger, Mascherano, Aquilani and Torres in particular look like they could form the spine of the team in years to come and looking at that, you can't help but think that the future is safe in their hands.

Rafa has been given big money on 4 occasions quite recently, and has used it to bring in Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani. If these are the kind of players he brings in for around £20m, then there are few managers I'd trust more with Chelsea and Man City style backing.

Then there's the matter of the way he operates on a budget.

Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Emiliano Insua, Yossi Benayoun, Dirk Kuyt and David N'Gog are just a few examples of players that Rafa has brought in relatively cheaply and got them performing way above most peoples expectations. I would of liked to of added Xabi Alonso to that list but unfortunately he's moved on. Still, getting £30m for him is fantastic business if nothing else.

Benitez, then, has an uncanny ability to pluck players from mediocrity, throw them in at the highest level and get them performing. If they don't prove their worth he is also ruthelessly efficient in shipping them off right away. This is a far cry from the Houllier days where even the biggest of flops were continually entrusted with our fate as the manager let his stubborn ways get in the way of what was best for the team.

In the time he has been here, then, Rafa has taken a Liverpool squad with gaping holes throughout, and plugged them with world class talent that will ensure that the future of this club is safe for years to come. The man has already proved he can operate on a budget and given the recent big money signings has also proved he can be trusted with more significant sums.

The manager is under contract here until 2014 and I have absolute faith that he will bring home the Premier League title in that time, with many more trophies along the way. Granted, there are better squads out there than our own but that is just something a club in our financial situation has to deal with. In my opinion, our emphatic title charge last term just goes to prove that Rafa has done just about as well as anyone could do in his position, and will undoubtedly continue to do so.

The simple facts of the matter are that we have a world class manager nurturing a world class team. With a little bit of luck, we might soon get some world class investment. Whatever the outcome of this season, though, if we look at the bigger picture there is no doubt that progress is continually being made.

Today, then, I am choosing not to be overshadowed by the gloomy clouds. Today I'm letting a little sunshine into my life and I hope you will all do the same. After all, the future's bright. The future's red. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Columbus collapse as RSL comes alive on the road

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:08:17 +0100

Where to begin with this one? If you approached fans of Columbus and let them know in advance of the game, that they would take a two goal lead within the first 35 minutes at home, against the worst road team in MLS, they would have taken that in a hearbeat. And that's just what did happen, as two Guillermo Barros Schelotto goals got the Crew off to the start they needed.

From there, the beautiful start collapsed into a nightmare finish that saw the Crew knocked out of the playoffs in the first round -- and deservedly so. The approach of Jason Kreis was almost directly opposite that his counterpart Robert Warzycha took when the roles were reversed out in Sandy, Utah last week. Instead of coming in with a 1-0 lead and bunkering down, Kreis had his charges pressing the Crew, not giving them space in which to operate.

The two goals from Schelotto weren't a direct result of the aggressive gameplan, rather sloppy defending by RSL. After the second Schelotto tally, a Crew surge seemed inevitable, much less so than the collapse that soon followed. Two massive defensive blunders from the defending champs meant that RSL had the initiative heading into halftime.

First, no one marked Javier Morales on his run from the midfield, and Kyle Beckerman found him with a simply, yet accurate chip over the defense. Morales was in alone, easily beating Will Hesmer to level the aggregate. RSL wasn't done, as a Robbie Findley penalty meant the visitors seized the advantage in first half stoppage time. Baldermo Toledo pointed to the spot after Frankie Hejduk was adjudged to have hauled Fabian Espindola down in the box.

Perhaps the penalty call was a touch soft, but Hejduk's positioning and poor use of his arms -- he had them practically wrapped around the RSL attacked -- made the penalty call legitimate. Findley was even a bit fortuitous on the spot kick, as he seemed to strike the ball poorly. Fortunately, Hesmer had guessed the wrong way.

In truth, that was all she wrote, as a deflated Columbus wouldn't come all that close to an equalizer. Everything that had worked well last season, from the timely scoring, tight defending and tidy goalkeeping, wasn't working over the last month or two of the MLS season. And as a result, Andy Williams' goal in the 74th minute put the nail in the coffin of America's hardest working club.

For as much as the Crew's defense simply came apart, RSL should be credited for playing attacking football for most of the match. And with the wealth of attacking talent this club has at their disposal, the importance of attacking cannot be overstressed.

Robert Warzycha can now second guess himself all he wants at this point. While the coach deserves some of the blame for over-coaching in the first leg -- seriously, Morenjo and Schelotto could have played at least a half -- he wasn't the one committing those defensive errors out on the pitch. Columbus now becomes just another one of the clubs with plenty of questions to answer in the short MLS offseason.

As for RSL, the weapons in their arsenal are enough for a run at an MLS Cup appearance. Not that they'll make it all the way there, but when you can call on Yura Movsisyan and Clint Mathis off the bench, there's hope there.

Sunderland Home: The Curious Case of Benjamin Bent

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:07:24 +0100

Welcome to the jungle.

All eyes on Sharon Bent this weekend. After cutting the bouncy shinned striker loose in the Summer- not in altogether harmonious circumstances- Benty will no doubt be looking to prove a point. Whether it be cannoning one of his knee, face, balloon or all of the above, the Spurs defence will need to keep close tabs on a man positively seething with indignant wrath. ‘Look at me now, Harry. Look. At. Me. Now.’

As he takes one in the mug.

In all seriousness, there’s no denying the man is a threat. For all his doubters at Tottenham, it can’t be said he didn’t know his way around the penalty area; in amongst all the booing, Twitter updates, and name-calling, Bent was our top scorer last season and easily Sunderland’s this. The fact that we warmed to him like a hobo squatting in our basement, probably, from the outside, appeared a touch heartless. ‘I mean, if that’s how they treat their top scorers…’ The problem was, I guess, that he never quite won us over. For every brace against Bolton, there was a glaring miss against Portsmouth; spoons and fumbles that only helped build a reputation that we, as fans, weren’t keen on embracing. That Bent was a bit of clown. Prolific in a team that’s singular purpose is to create chances for him, too inconsistent in one that has better things to do with its afternoon.

Of course, Darren Bent probably will score tomorrow and he’ll get his chance to fist pump the air in front of Harry. Maybe even go as far as removing his shirt in wild abandon, squat thrusting on the touchline until the stewards ask him to leave. But he’ll tell them they can’t stop him because he’s a ‘goal machine’ and this is what goal machines are programmed to do. Then come the tranquiliser darts… In a strange way, I hope he gets his chance against us, if only for the simple reason that he seems like a nice enough chap who deserves a bit of closure on what was obviously a difficult crossroad in his career.

Hopefully by the time he does score, Jermain Defoe’s hat-trick will have already buried the game out recognition and the aforementioned celebrations will seem a bit silly.

Fitting, I suppose.

Forecasts then; a thumping good 3-1 win against a decent Sunderland side as absentee plagued as ourselves. Bent and Defoe to be amongst the goals, with the former’s taking a neat deflection off a low flying pigeon.

Ceermonyoooouspppuuuurs.

Atletico Madrid Vs Real Madrid | The RealmadridTalk Podcast Episode 7

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:43:45 +0100

Attention: We have a new home on Facebook, so If you are a Madridista, please go there and become a fan. Expect some awesome stuff too!

Atletico Madrid Vs Real Madrid - Matchday 10 - La Liga | 07/11/2009 - 22:00 CET | Vicente Calderon

The last time Real lost to Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon was back in 1999. Since then, we have won 29 times, drawn 20 and just lost 23. We have scored 112 goals and they scored 109. And you don't wanna bench Raul for this game, because he has always found the back of the net against the team where he started playing as a child.

However, whether Raul should play, after being benched for two consecutive games, or not, will of course be up to Pellegrini to decide. Personally speaking, I would continue with Benzema and Higuain upfront, because they deserve to have a chance and they haven't disappointed. Higuain scored two goals against Getafe and Benzema scored a historical goal against Milan in the San Siro.

With that being said, I wouldn't mind seeing Raul start as long as he gets replaced If he doesn't perform well. What I care about is our performance and it doesn't matter who starts as long as they deserve to.

The only injured player we have is Ronaldo who will be examined again in the Netherlands after 14 days. It is good to know a surgery is not needed because that would mean a three-month recovery time.

Guti will sit this one out as well. Pellegrini insists it is not a punishment and rather an injury issue. The club hasn't officially confirmed that nor has the player, so you don't know who to believe. My guess is, it is yes a punishment because I can imagine Guti disrespecting the coach and If I were Pellegrini I would exclude him for no more than three months.

The weird case is that of Albiol. He was sent off against Getafe and Real tried to appeal his suspension but they failed. Now guess what? He is in the squad list. This is either a mistake from the teach team or another try from Pellegrini to appeal his red card.

In addition to Ronaldo --Diarra, Drenthe and Adan will miss the game due to technical reasons while Metzelder and Garay are back into action.

Atletico have been having one of their worst seasons as they sit 18th on the table with just 7 points. They have also just fired their coach and installed Quique Sanchez Flores.

They have won one match so far, drawn four and lost another four, and conceded 19 goals putting them as the team who has given up most goals in the league. However, they haven't yet lost in the Vicente Calderon where their single win and three draws occurred.

They did show some good football against Chelsea the other day with Aguero being the key man. He is always dangerous and with the addition of Forlan up front they will surely cause us troubles.

As I always say, these kind of games are special. It would be wrong to assume that because we have owned them in their stadium for the last 10 years means we will surely win. They remain a great team and could turn things around, however, that gives us more motivation to do well, we just have to use that motivation and play well on the bench.

And for those who have been asking about the RealmadridTalk Podcast, It is back! I apologize for not producing the podcast in the last two weeks, as I was traveling and the other guys were busy, but we are back again!

In the 7th episode of the RealmadridTalk Podcast, Kevin and I talk about the Milan game and preview the Derby. Ignore the over use of the word "like" and my excessive passion for Real Madrid, but do pay attention to what I had to say about the team, Pellegrini, Guti, Raul and find out my preferred lineup and my prediction for the game.

As always, you can subscribe to the podcast using this feedburner link (Apple hasn't yet approved us!), or you can either download this episode or listen to it below.