The end of the road for Derby

The News of the World’s standard of investigative journalism in exposing to the public, the shameful acts that celebrities and persons in high profile positions (see David Beckham affair with Rebecca Loos, or Sven Goran Erikson’s dodgy financial dealings with a fake sheik) would rather remain private, continued when it released pictures of Paul Jewell involved in sexual activities with a woman who was not his wife. Admittedly his wife has a right to know what devious situations her husband is getting himself into behind her back, but on the other hand it is dishonourable that a newspaper which endorses a McDonalization of the news has the second largest amount of sales in Britain. However Paul Jewell’s extra marital affairs might not be the least of his problems, for following a 2-2 draw with Fulham they were relegated from the English Premiership.

Filed under: Derby, football, premiership, soccer, sports

Goalpost’s February player of the month: Wayne Rooney

“Remember the name; Wayne Rooney” (CliveTyldesley Goodison Park Saturday 19th October 2002 )

This was close considering the performances of Christiano Ronaldo and Fernando Torres but Goalpost’s February player of the month belongs to Wayne Rooney.

Filed under: FA Cup, football, manchester united, premiership, soccer, sports , football, manchester united, soccer, sports, Wayne Rooney

Aretha says, show referees R.E.S.P.E.C.T…just a little bit.

 Petulance towards referees is nothing new, but with the antics of Ashley Cole towards Mike Riley in Chelsea’s 4-4 draw with Tottenham and Mascherano’s act of dissent towards Steve Bennett in Liverpool’s loss to Manchester United, the issue of respect for referees has come to the furore of football topics. As a result of the actions from these two petulant players, the F.A. are planning to implement new regulations set out to protect referees, that could be introduced as early as next season.

Filed under: football, premiership, soccer, sports , football, Referees, soccer, Sport

Elderly Teddy Sheringham aims to retire at end of season.

The internet is awash with blogs, articles, pictures and news of Arsenal’s Eduardo Da Silva’s horrific injury. An important topic, which is understandably popular but overshadowed in terms of news by Theo Walcott’s brace and first goals in the premiership, and Tottenham getting one over on the “big four” in the Carling Cup Final. While our hearts lie with Eduardo, on a complete recovery and that his football career has not ended at the tender age of 25, let us remember the football players to whom have had a long and prosperous career playing what us Europeans call the beautiful game.

Filed under: Champions league, England, Millwall, Nottingham Forest, West Ham, football, manchester united, portsmouth, premiership, tottenham , football, sports, Teddy Sheringham

How do you solve a problem like Rafa?

Rafael Benitez has been a great and fantastic success for Liverpool FC. Coming after having been in charge of Valencia in Spain, he had won two La Liga titles for that team; made them Champions league regulars and won them a UEFA Cup. This was a remarkable achievement considering Valencia were not considered heavyweights before he became their manager, and notable that his first La Liga title with Valencia was their first in thirty-one years.

Filed under: Champions league, football, liverpool, premiership, soccer, sports , football, sports

Goalposts January player of the month: Christiano Ronaldo

When Alex Ferguson first brought this young kid from Madiera, I was unimpressed. The disintigration of Manchester United’s four man midfield; which was chiefly responsible for their best successes in the late 1990’s had begun with Ronaldo taking the departed David Beckham’s number 7 shirt. Soon after Roy Keane would leave to wind down his professional career at Celtic, leaving only Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in that dominating midfield. Early in the season Alex Ferguson had commented that the Manchester United squad he has at present, is the best he has ever had in a 21 year career at Old Trafford.

Filed under: England, manchester united, premiership, soccer, sports , football, sports

A Work of Art?: Arsenal 2-2 Manchester United

Before this match went underway, Arsene Wenger had claimed that both teams would produce a show, for the spectators, similar to a ‘work of art’, and dismissed that the behaviours and antics of both teams on when thyey had previously met , would not rear it’s head in this ‘top of the table’ fixture. Indeed these musings had curtailed Arsenal’s and Manchester United’s terrific form thus far, and prompted a report in the newspaper that around two billion people would be watching this game.

Although the game did not dissapoint with a total of 4 goals shared; big game stars shining, and numerous ‘increased heartbeat’ chances created, this perhaps satisfied the supposed 2 billion that watched the match, but as i thought of those people from across the globe, i also casted my mind back to those matches that were far from works of art. With all the normal hype generated from when these two giants of English football meet, in recent times it has been a tense and gritty affair. To be honest in football terms it has been less than entertaining, mainly because the both teams have been cautious in knowing how painful it would be to lose to each other. Therefore, recent games have been 0-0 draws or one team might of been lucky to snatch a 1-0 win. Tense, gritty but hardly satisfying for those 2 billion viewers, but as a piece of drama it was much better than the football being played on the pitch.

In this respect i was talking about “Pizza Gate” in October 2004, where United won 2-0 at Old Trafford bringing an end to Arsenal’s 49 match unbeaten run. In the match a fortuitous penalty was given for an apparent dive by Wayne Rooney; but the best action occurred in the tunnel where Ferguson was hit by a flying pizza by a still unknown Arsenal player. Other interesting pieces of theatre include Van Nistlerooy’s missed penalty in 2003 which prompted physical and ugly celebrations from Arsenal players in what the media called the battle of Old Trafford. Lets not forget the countless bust ups between two of the finest modern footballers of Roy Keane and Patrick Viera (Watch Youtube tunnel clash)

However this was the past and we are speaking of the present. What had been evident from previous fixtures between the two was a rivalry that had escalated into a diminishment of respect, stretching from manager to players and between both factions. Not so this time, as in this match when after coming worse off in a challenge’ Kolo Toure was helped to his feet by Wayne Rooney. Now both teams are undertaking new eras in their style of play. Arsenal have always played a form of total and attacking football but has learned to cope with and arguably improve on this in the post-Henry era. Manchester United on the other hand, returned to the attacking style of play that they had come to be known for in the 1990’s having displaced Chelsea from their league title last season. At the beginning of this season they had struggled to recapture the exploits of last season (although still getting the results needed), but in recent games they have rediscovered the know how of having to demolish teams with apparent ease. This philosophy of attacking, sexy football, had to integrate some of the new young members of the squad; such as Nani, Anderson, and Tevez, whereas last season although with players such as Ronaldo and Rooney, was based on a foundation of the old heads of Giggs and Scholes employing experience to an exciting youth side.

The hype generated before the game seemed a little premature before Wayne Rooney put Manchester United ahead. Both teams matched each other both in the attacking and defensive department. When Arsenal attacked, they were met with the defensive efficiency of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, and then Manchester United counter attacked on the break, with the same speed and one touches that were inflicted on them from Arsenal. Indeed Arsenal’s William Gallas and Kolo Toure are beginning to rival Man U’s title of having the best central defensive pairing and they were mirroring the performances of the opposition’s defence. Also especially in regards to William Gallas , they were proving pretty adept at offensive play, as when Gallas had a little word with Cesc Fabregas before he was about to execute a free kick. Their training ground practice at set pieces nearly paid off as when Fabregas floated in the free kick, Gallas was left free to aim his header at the goal, but could only see it go wide.

Mostly this fixture is met with controversial decisions, mainly because of the pressures of handling such a big game for the referee’s. Wes Brown was adjudged to of fouled Alexandr Hleb, but play was waved on and Wes Brown feeds Christiano Ronaldo who does brilliantly to put in a cross for Wayne Rooney who scuffs his shot, which deflects off of Gallas’s boot to put Manchester United 1-0 up. After the break Arsenal make sure of their intent from the off, where Hleb started off a move which saw Emmanuel Eboue chip the ball in for Adebayor, whose volley was blocked by Van Der Sar but the ball could only fall to Bancary Sagna. Picking out Fabregas who stood on the penalty spot, the Catalan maestro kept his nerves to coolly place his shot past Ferdinand on the line. Now the game was becoming interesting. Chaces at both ends were plenty and wit would of seemed fair that both teams should share the points but in the 81st minute United seemed to of snatched victory.

Substitute Loius Saha sent a delicious reverse ball to the full-back power house full back Patrice Evra , who ran into the penalty area on the left. Spotting the onrushing Almunia had left his goal free he cut the ball back for Ronaldo to easily slot the ball into the unguarded net. This at the time, seemed that Man U had had the final word but having unluckily put the ball into his own net William Gallas had other ideas. Deep into stoppage time the Manchester United goal was besieged with shots from nearly all 11 men dressed in red and white. Somewhere amongst the barrage of shots, the carrot eating assistant Darren Cann had picked out Gallas’ volley of having crossed the line before Van Der Sar clawed it out.

Man of the Match : William Gallas

A cultured left foot: match report

Sky Sports: Match report

BBC: match report

Independent: “Fuming Ferguson fears for his safety as passions spill over”

The Guardian: “Hargreaves gives short shrift to Arsenal’s beautiful game”

Filed under: arsenal, football, manchester united, premiership, soccer, sports , football, sports

Liverpool’s soul

Unfortunately for Liverpool this season has not been going the way they had forseen it. Even Goalpost expected them to be performing better this season with the quality of the players bought,  and now there is talks of Benitez’s job being on the line! Champions league honours does not seem possible at the moment and maybe this is a blessing in disguise so they can concentrate on the league. They currently languish in 6th place in the premiership, but there are only 6 points between them and the leaders, so it is still possible. However performances need to improve.

Whilst reading the papers i came across this feature in the Times sports pages titled “the soul of Liverpool in 50 moments”. Although i am not a fan, particular favourites are number 43; Robbie Fowler gets fined £900 for displaying a shirt supporting sacked Liverpool dockers, and 48; which shows a typical witty soundbite from Liverpool managerial legend Bill Shankly:

“The sound of Liverpool”(Times Online by Tony Evans) 

Filed under: liverpool, premiership, soccer, sports , football, sports