Saturday Prem Games

Necronomicon

Scholes, ya beauty! Hopefully this will unleash the real Scholes again, he's been hinting at it in the last few games.

Lemlin

A bad loss for Blackburn. Apparently Pedersen missed some sitters, which is uncharacteristic for him. I was really hoping for a win today. Ah well, back to the drawing board for West Ham next weekend.

mike65

Rooney 2-0

Mike.

whiskeyman

How much long has Mick got at Sunderland?
Next game away to Charlton next Sat.... a must win for him... if he isnt already gone by then.
Shame, as they've put some good performances in, but just cant get results.

Necronomicon

3-0 final score. Maybe a bit flattering...not because Pompey were any good, but because United weren't at their best. Ronaldo lit up the game when he came on, and I believe it would have finished 1-0 if he hadn't come on.
Great to see Scholes pop up with a goal.
2 great goals, world-class finishes from Rooney and Van Nistelrooy, who's parntership seems to become more potent with every game.
I think Van Nistelrooy has developed his overall game a bit, maybe his spell as captain (he was deputising again today) has given him a second wind. He came a lot deeper at times today, he was on the ball a lot more. Really cheeky finish, but nonetheless genius.
Back in second, take that Liverpool

The Muppet

United played reasonably well , sets them up nicely for Benfica midweek.

Lemlin

whiskeyman wrote:

How much long has Mick got at Sunderland?
Next game away to Charlton next Sat.... a must win for him... if he isnt already gone by then.
Shame, as they've put some good performances in, but just cant get results.

Can't see Sunderland sacking Mick. It was a miracle that he even got them up. I imagine if they go down, which is inevitable now, he'll get another crack at the whip. IMO he deserves it.

mike65

Sacking McCarthy would achive little or nothing, they simply don't have the calibre of players needed. Maybe some loan and freebies can be found in january...

The club has no money and won't have any until they either survive the drop (small miracle required) or find new investors which they proberly wont unless they look like avoiding the drop (see above).

Mike.

Lemlin

Just saw Todd's sending off. Can't believe it. Don't know how that could be send as a deliberate hand ball. Hopefully it'll be overturned. Blackburn's reputation really is preceeding them these days.

Defending for the first goal was dreadful though, and not much better for the second. We'll have to pull up our socks for the game against West Ham next week or we'll suffer another 3-1 beating at their hands.

Poor old Wigan. The wheels are really coming off their bandwagon. Not a great time to have Chelsea and Man Utd, both away games, in quick succession.

Thanx 4 The Fish

Liverpool played well for the win, another clean sheet and Crouch not only scored two goals but had a cracker of a game too. Wigan fought well and they did have a couple of chances but Carragher and Hyppia were both immense again. Liverpool controlled the midfield for long periods of the game and Morientes looked sharp too. Hopefully they can continue this great defensive streak and keep a clean sheet against Chelsea who had alot of trouble in front of goal against a decent Middlesborough side.

Everton are on their way back up the table and showing some of the form that got them fourth against a fairly lacklustre Blackburn side who have only managed 7 points in their last six games now. Another sending off too which I would imagine Sparky would not be too happy about.

Man U celebrated the funeral of George best in good style and moved into second place after beating a portsmouth team who are out of sorts and only second last to sunderland in the form tables with three points from six games.

Robbie Keane is starting to show what Spurs bought him for, linking up with Mido for the assist on the first goal and Mido turning provider on the second. Sunderland could have been considered unlucky not to get a point out of the game after fighting hard and saving a pen from Keane. It is a bad sign though when your manager says that you are not good enough. I beleive he said something along the lines of you can't fault our effort but we have not got the quality in the squad.

West brom failed to break down a ten man fulham side but the point keeps them out of the relegation zone reardless of Birminghams result tomorrow.

Newcastle Villa drew aswell which really did nothing for either sides aspirations of a chance in Europe, Barry missed a penalty late on too which would have meant a win.

Lemlin

Thanx 4 The Fish wrote:

Liverpool played well for the win, another clean sheet and Crouch not only scored two goals but had a cracker of a game too.

Everton are on their way back up the table and showing some of the form that got them fourth against a fairly lacklustre Blackburn side who have only managed 7 points in their last six games now. Another sending off too which I would imagine Sparky would not be too happy about.

Man U celebrated the funeral of George best in good style and moved into second place after beating a portsmouth team who are out of sorts and only second last to sunderland in the form tables with three points from six games.

Robbie Keane is starting to show what Spurs bought him for, linking up with Mido for the assist on the first goal and Mido turning provider on the second. Sunderland could have been considered unlucky not to get a point out of the game after fighting hard and saving a pen from Keane. It is a bad sign though when your manager says that you are not good enough. I beleive he said something along the lines of you can't fault our effort but we have not got the quality in the squad.

West brom failed to break down a ten man fulham side but the point keeps them out of the relegation zone reardless of Birminghams result tomorrow.

Newcastle Villa drew aswell which really did nothing for either sides aspirations of a chance in Europe, Barry missed a penalty late on too which would have meant a win.

Blackburn's last 6 PL games:

Blackburn 2 Birmingham 0
Chelsea 4 Blackburn 2
Blackburn 4 Charlton 1
Man City 0 Blackburn 0
Arsenal 3 Blackburn 0
Everton 2 Blackburn 0

We played 3 good sides away, with Chelsea and Arsenal being the best two in the PL IMO and managed two homes win and one disappointing loss. I'm happy with 7 points from those 6 games TBH.

4-1 against Charlton was a particularly good result seeing that they hadn't lost away all season. And don't forget our miraculous 3-2 cup win during the week or our 3-0 win against Leeds in the cup which came between those games.

yop

Good win for United, have hit a good run of form which is badly needed for Benfica.

Brilliant atmosphere and a fitting win. Still a long way off top spot but long way to go until end of season

Necronomicon

I was particularly happy with Ronaldo today, he lit up the game when he came on. He's had it tough this season, the death of his father and then the rape allogations which caused a slight dip in form.

mike65

Crouches opening goal has been overturned, its an OG by Pollitt.

Mike.

Thanx 4 The Fish

Did you make it to the game yop. Would have liked to be there just for the atmosphere TBH, the minutes applause sounded superb on the radio.

Crouches goal has been sent on to the dubious goals panel apparently. Will have to wait and see but Rafa has said that he was at a meeting with Fifa and they said that goals that take a dflection or that are tuoched by the keeper on the way in will go to the striker.

The Muppet

mike65 wrote:

Sacking McCarthy would achive little or nothing, they simply don't have the calibre of players needed. Maybe some loan and freebies can be found in january...

The club has no money and won't have any until they either survive the drop (small miracle required) or find new investors which they proberly wont unless they look like avoiding the drop (see above).

Mike.

Maybe he'll sign Keane and keep them up. What odds would Paddy Power give on that one?;)

Pepe LeFrits

Very poor. Cygan, Ljungberg and Gilberto were absolutely brutal. Eboue has always done well when he's been called upon, why the **** isn't he starting instead of Cygan? A midfielder or two/another defender must be brought in asap. Campbell & Senderos in CB with Toure in CM would have done much better yesterday.

What was the referee at though? He was absolutely terrible.

Roddy23

If Wenger is still naive to think that cygan is up to the standard of the Premiership after yesterday - i give up.
The chap breeds trouble. We need another anchor man in midfield as our defensive capabilites were blown apart yesterday. And that was only bolton- when we are playing Chelsea or Utd or Liverpool, things would want to improve.

theCzar

Everton now have a positive goal difference over the last 6 games, yikes. :eek:

TBH winning 2-0 nil is a complete waste of a goal, for two Everton goals i'd want at least 4 pts and probably 6 depending on the opposition.

Mikky Arteta is going to miss the Utd. game for his 5th yellow, oh well, we'll probably lose whether he plays or not so... and apparently he needs to rest his knee

yop

No Thanx4 stuck workin on the house!! , couple of the lads were there and I asked them just to ring my phone and hold it up to pick up the noise, blew the ear out of me!!!

redspider

Liverpool continue on their good run, this time running out easy winners and getting some goals for a change, and even from an unusual source: Crouch !!!!

So, was it a display that tells us whether:
a) Crouch is brilliant, or
b) Crouch is not good enough for a Liverpool side ?

My view before hand and now has not changed. Its b. Yes, it is true he got a goal or two and put in reasonable effort, but his style is not one that endears Liverpool to play with a world-beating potent attacking line.

Of course his partner up front didnt give him much help, as in Morientes, and what with the likes of Kewell putting in yet another poor display on the left and Garcia playing one of his usual games, Liverpool were only running on 3 cylinders. This, thankfully, was enough to get past Wigan.

The line-up:

---

Reina

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Finnan - Carragher - Hyypia - Warnock
Garcia - Gerrard - Alonso - Kewell

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Crouch -- Morientes

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Gerrard played in a more central role and contolled midfield, giving Kavanagh a hard time. Alonso was his usual majestic self. Along with Liverpool's strong backline, Warnock slotting in well with Riise saved for the Chelsea game perhaps, this was a game where if Liverpool took their chances, they would win it. They created several threats and only for the work of Pollit in goal for Wigan, it would have been a higher score perhaps.

However, for the first goal, he didnt help much! The debate as to whether it was a Crouch goal or not is technical. What is clear is that this was a very fortunate goal for Liverpool. A wicked deflection off De Zeuuw, and a pathetic attempt to knock it over the bar by the keeper. That goal, which Crouch clearly felt was his (and rightly so as the keeper was trying to prevent it going into the goal which it would have done so without his "attentions" and by definition it cant be a goalies og in that case) probably gave him the confidence for the rest of the match and to score his 2nd with some panache. The 1st goal was clearly helped by a poor Wigan defence. Crouch picked the ball up on the halfway line but was allowed the freedom to run at the defence unchallenged before he unleashed his half-blocked shot.

Wigans defence again let them down for the 2nd goal. Crouch got a through pass as he was left completely unmarked. As the keeper advanced, he finished it with aplomb, side footing it over the keeper, a well-taken goal. Now, if only Cisse could learn this from Crouch's book. Mind you, if only Crouch had the speed and agility and pace of Cisse. Neither player are the "finished" article.

Morientes had a poor game by all accounts. He was involved in the 3rd goal as his header went in off Garcia who did very little to deserve being awarded this goal. But overall Morientes will never be as lively as he has been in the past. Perhaps the style of the english premiership is one that wont suit him, and at some stage, Benitez is going to have to bite the bullet and off-load him.

But the game as a whole was once again ran by Gerrard, and help and abetted by Alonso.

This win puts Liverpool ahead of Arsenal, as they succumbed tamely to Bolton, even if they did hit the woodwork several times. And, Liverpool are still very much in touch with Man U. If you discount Chelsea as "bankers for the title", the race for 2nd is very much open and more interesting, and Liverpool and their fans can feel proud that they are in the position that they are and competing. I dont think Liverpool will get 2nd, but they have very strong credentials to get a top-4, and most definitely 4th.

The match against Chelsea in the CL is not so crucial for either team, but as Chelsea dont and cant play a weak team, Benitez will want a reasonable performance. But for both teams, there is no need to "bust a gut". It will be a good test for several players such as Crouch, and for the defence.

The next league matches are Home to Middlesboro and then Home to Newcastle. If 6 pts from that, which they should be getting, then it will be very hood indeed. A possible banana skin then away to Everton, a Home against West Brom should be another win followed by another banana skin match away to Bolton. Liverpool have a run of games to keep their position at the top of the table.

redspider

redspider

I'll do a proper ladder at the played-20 mark, but for those that want to see a current balanced view of the table, see the attached.

Its a view using the average points per game collected so far extrapolated to 38 games. It expands the current gaps, essentially. However, this scenario is unlikely to happen as teams dont perform consistenly throughout the season, and surely Sunderland couldnt beat their own record and end up with just 12 points! Chelsea on target to break 100 pts.

redspider