Wednesday 28 May 2008
Liverpool's latest signing - Phillip Degen
the only video i can find....just shows the unknown factor of this guy
Tuesday 13 May 2008
Premier League Season Report Card 1 - from whoateallthepies.tv
Arsenal (3rd)
Played some quite beautiful football at times but faded badly in the last quarter of the season, after leading the pack - Arsene Wenger should have added to his squad in January. Still, to finish just two points behind Chelsea and four behind Man Utd - both of whom have much stronger squads - is a very respectable effort.
Finest hour: Coming back from 2-0 down to beat Bolton 3-2 at the Reebok, depite being down to ten man after half an hour. Beating Everton 4-1 at Goodison also deserves a mention.
Low point: Losing Eduardo to the worst injury of the season.
Grade: B+
Aston Villa (6th)
Most of the credit for Villa's excellent year must go to Martin O'Neill, who has worked small wonders in his time at the club. O'Neill has generated confidence where before there was none. And his team now plays the brand of fast, powerful football that succeeds in the Prem - they were also involved in two of the most entertaining league games of the season, a pair of remarkable 4-4 draws, at Spurs and Chelsea.
Finest hour: Thrashing rivals Birmingham 5-1 has to rank as their sweetest result. Beating Blackburn 4-0 at Ewood follows close behind.
Low point: Losing 4-1 at home to Man Utd, against whom they always seem to underperform.
Grade: B+
Birmingham City (19th)
Yet another case of a nervous club shooting itself in the foot by changing manager mid-season. You only have to look at the solid work Steve Bruce has done since arriving at Wigan to see that Birmingham's fate was sealed when Bruce left the club. Alex McLeish is a decent enough manager, but he was not needed in the first place.
Finest hour: Doing the double over Spurs, and snatching two draws against Arsenal.
Low point: Losing 5-1 at Aston Villa in the Midlands derby.
Grade: D
Blackburn Rovers (7th)
Another solid, if unspectacular year for Sparky's Rovers. Not much else to say, is there? They rarely excite the neutral, but are hard to beat, strong and well-organised - if you like that sort of thing.
Finest hour: Consecutive away wins at Spurs and Portsmouth.
Low point: Shipping five goals in a 5-3 loss at Wigan.
Grade: B
Bolton Wanderers (16th)
All involved with the club must be very relieved to have avoided the drop, especially after the horrible start they had under Little Sammy Lee. Fair play to Gary Megson - the Ginger Mourinho chose to cash-in on Nicolas Anelka, Bolton's best player by a mile, but still did just enough to survive. That said, it's a shame that so much of the good work done by Big Sam Allardyce has been largely undone in the space of one season.
Finest hour: Picking up 11 points in their last five games.
Low point: Throwing away a two-goal lead at home against 10-man Arsenal.
Grade: C
Chelsea (2nd)
They were supposed to struggle without the special guidance of Jose Mourinho but instead did better than anyone might have expected. Full marks for keeping Man Utd honest until the final day of the season. The club also deserves credit for going about its business in a quiet, professional manner - most of the time, anyway (stand up Ashley Cole). And so let's hear it for Avram Grant, who taught us all a lesson in how to be both good-natured and humble.
Finest hour: The second half of the season, when they gained a Mourinho-like momentum that almost made them champions.
Low point: Drawing at home to Wigan, or failing to beat Spurs at White Hart Lane, despite holding the lead four times.
Grade: A-
Derby County (20th)
An astounding -69 goal difference says it all - yes, Derby will go down in the history books as the by far worst team in Prem history. Even Paul Jewell's mid-season arrival did little to change the club's status as whipping boys.
Finest hour: They took four points off Newcastle. Shame on you, NUFC!
Low point: The whole season.
Grade: F
Everton (5th)
Three cheers for David Moyes, arguably the best boss in the league. In finishing as the 'best of the rest', Moyes's team deserves huge credit. They were never going to seriously challenge Liverpool for fourth, but 65 points is a fine haul for a club with hugely inferior resources, at least compared with the big four.
Finest hour: The 7-1 demolition of Sunderland at Goodison.
Low point: Losing both league games, somewhat unluckily, to rivals Liverpool.
Grade: A-
Fulham (17th)
Christ on a bike, how did the Cottagers get out of that? Lawrie Sanchez, a truly medicore manager, did his best to put Fulham in an untenable position by Xmas, before Mo Al-Fayed realised, just in time, that he had made a terrible mistake in appointing the ex-Norther Ireland boss. Mad props to mild-mannered Woy Hodgson for engineering one of the most unlikely escape acts in the history of the top flight. God knows where they found the form to notch three away wins in a row.
Finest hour: The consecutive three away wins that effectively kept them up.
Low point: Lawrie Sanchez.
Grade: E (for Sanchez), B+ (for Hodgson)
Liverpool (4th)
An ultimately disappointing league campaign, once again. Rafa Benitez's European successes concealed the fact that Liverpool are too inconsistent in the Prem. With the squad they have, it should not be too much to ask to finish above Arsenal.
Finest hour: The acquisition of Fernando Torres. And doing the double over Everton.
Low point: Failing to beat Arsenal, Chelsea or Man Utd in the league. They must do better against their title-chasing rivals next season.
Grade: B-
Played some quite beautiful football at times but faded badly in the last quarter of the season, after leading the pack - Arsene Wenger should have added to his squad in January. Still, to finish just two points behind Chelsea and four behind Man Utd - both of whom have much stronger squads - is a very respectable effort.
Finest hour: Coming back from 2-0 down to beat Bolton 3-2 at the Reebok, depite being down to ten man after half an hour. Beating Everton 4-1 at Goodison also deserves a mention.
Low point: Losing Eduardo to the worst injury of the season.
Grade: B+
Aston Villa (6th)
Most of the credit for Villa's excellent year must go to Martin O'Neill, who has worked small wonders in his time at the club. O'Neill has generated confidence where before there was none. And his team now plays the brand of fast, powerful football that succeeds in the Prem - they were also involved in two of the most entertaining league games of the season, a pair of remarkable 4-4 draws, at Spurs and Chelsea.
Finest hour: Thrashing rivals Birmingham 5-1 has to rank as their sweetest result. Beating Blackburn 4-0 at Ewood follows close behind.
Low point: Losing 4-1 at home to Man Utd, against whom they always seem to underperform.
Grade: B+
Birmingham City (19th)
Yet another case of a nervous club shooting itself in the foot by changing manager mid-season. You only have to look at the solid work Steve Bruce has done since arriving at Wigan to see that Birmingham's fate was sealed when Bruce left the club. Alex McLeish is a decent enough manager, but he was not needed in the first place.
Finest hour: Doing the double over Spurs, and snatching two draws against Arsenal.
Low point: Losing 5-1 at Aston Villa in the Midlands derby.
Grade: D
Blackburn Rovers (7th)
Another solid, if unspectacular year for Sparky's Rovers. Not much else to say, is there? They rarely excite the neutral, but are hard to beat, strong and well-organised - if you like that sort of thing.
Finest hour: Consecutive away wins at Spurs and Portsmouth.
Low point: Shipping five goals in a 5-3 loss at Wigan.
Grade: B
Bolton Wanderers (16th)
All involved with the club must be very relieved to have avoided the drop, especially after the horrible start they had under Little Sammy Lee. Fair play to Gary Megson - the Ginger Mourinho chose to cash-in on Nicolas Anelka, Bolton's best player by a mile, but still did just enough to survive. That said, it's a shame that so much of the good work done by Big Sam Allardyce has been largely undone in the space of one season.
Finest hour: Picking up 11 points in their last five games.
Low point: Throwing away a two-goal lead at home against 10-man Arsenal.
Grade: C
Chelsea (2nd)
They were supposed to struggle without the special guidance of Jose Mourinho but instead did better than anyone might have expected. Full marks for keeping Man Utd honest until the final day of the season. The club also deserves credit for going about its business in a quiet, professional manner - most of the time, anyway (stand up Ashley Cole). And so let's hear it for Avram Grant, who taught us all a lesson in how to be both good-natured and humble.
Finest hour: The second half of the season, when they gained a Mourinho-like momentum that almost made them champions.
Low point: Drawing at home to Wigan, or failing to beat Spurs at White Hart Lane, despite holding the lead four times.
Grade: A-
Derby County (20th)
An astounding -69 goal difference says it all - yes, Derby will go down in the history books as the by far worst team in Prem history. Even Paul Jewell's mid-season arrival did little to change the club's status as whipping boys.
Finest hour: They took four points off Newcastle. Shame on you, NUFC!
Low point: The whole season.
Grade: F
Everton (5th)
Three cheers for David Moyes, arguably the best boss in the league. In finishing as the 'best of the rest', Moyes's team deserves huge credit. They were never going to seriously challenge Liverpool for fourth, but 65 points is a fine haul for a club with hugely inferior resources, at least compared with the big four.
Finest hour: The 7-1 demolition of Sunderland at Goodison.
Low point: Losing both league games, somewhat unluckily, to rivals Liverpool.
Grade: A-
Fulham (17th)
Christ on a bike, how did the Cottagers get out of that? Lawrie Sanchez, a truly medicore manager, did his best to put Fulham in an untenable position by Xmas, before Mo Al-Fayed realised, just in time, that he had made a terrible mistake in appointing the ex-Norther Ireland boss. Mad props to mild-mannered Woy Hodgson for engineering one of the most unlikely escape acts in the history of the top flight. God knows where they found the form to notch three away wins in a row.
Finest hour: The consecutive three away wins that effectively kept them up.
Low point: Lawrie Sanchez.
Grade: E (for Sanchez), B+ (for Hodgson)
Liverpool (4th)
An ultimately disappointing league campaign, once again. Rafa Benitez's European successes concealed the fact that Liverpool are too inconsistent in the Prem. With the squad they have, it should not be too much to ask to finish above Arsenal.
Finest hour: The acquisition of Fernando Torres. And doing the double over Everton.
Low point: Failing to beat Arsenal, Chelsea or Man Utd in the league. They must do better against their title-chasing rivals next season.
Grade: B-
Good players who got relegated...
Here are some players that don't really deserve to be playing in the Championship next season.
Reading
Marcus Hahnemann
James Harper
Nicky Shorey
Kevin Doyle
Birmingham
Fabrice Muamba
Sebastian Larsson
Liam Ridgewell
James Mcfadden
Mikael Forsell
Gary Mcsheffrey
Derby
Giles Barnes
Reading
Marcus Hahnemann
James Harper
Nicky Shorey
Kevin Doyle
Birmingham
Fabrice Muamba
Sebastian Larsson
Liam Ridgewell
James Mcfadden
Mikael Forsell
Gary Mcsheffrey
Derby
Giles Barnes
Monday 12 May 2008
Sunday 11 May 2008
The View Down Below
As the final round of matches is hours away now, we look at the bottom of the table first where 3 clubs are fighting it out to stay in the lucrative premier league.
Here is how they stand at the moment
17. Fulham -23 33pts
18. Reading -29 33pts
19. Birmingham -19 32 pts
Only 1 team will make it out alive...and here are the different permutations
For Fulham to survive...
1) Win thier away game against Portsmouth
2) Draw their game and hope Birmingham and Reading dont win
3) Lose thier game and hope Reading and Birmingham lost
For Reading to survive...
1) Win thier away game against Derby and hope Fulham dont win
2) Draw their game and hope Fulham lost and Birmingham lost
3) Lost their game and hope Fulham get smacked more than 7 goals(depending how much Reading lost) and Birmingham lost.
For Birmingham to survive...
1) Win thier home game against Blackburn and hope Fulham and Reading dont win
2) Draw thier game and hope Fulham and Reading lost
Here is how they stand at the moment
17. Fulham -23 33pts
18. Reading -29 33pts
19. Birmingham -19 32 pts
Only 1 team will make it out alive...and here are the different permutations
For Fulham to survive...
1) Win thier away game against Portsmouth
2) Draw their game and hope Birmingham and Reading dont win
3) Lose thier game and hope Reading and Birmingham lost
For Reading to survive...
1) Win thier away game against Derby and hope Fulham dont win
2) Draw their game and hope Fulham lost and Birmingham lost
3) Lost their game and hope Fulham get smacked more than 7 goals(depending how much Reading lost) and Birmingham lost.
For Birmingham to survive...
1) Win thier home game against Blackburn and hope Fulham and Reading dont win
2) Draw thier game and hope Fulham and Reading lost
Tuesday 6 May 2008
Monday 5 May 2008
The Famous Volley
The famous Marco Van Basten volley in the game between Holland and USSR in Euro 1988.
Champions of Spain
Real Madrid has defended thier Spanish crown to clinch thier 31st league title. They defeated Osasuna 2-1 go gain an assailable 10 points with 3 games to go in the Primera Division.
Other champions around Europe
PSV - Holland
Bayern Munich - Germany
FC Porto - Portugal
Olympiakos - Greece
Standard Liege - Belgium
Rapid Vienna -Austria
Other European Leagues
Inter are leading Roma by 3 pts with 2 games to go
Lyon are leading Bordeaux by 2 pts with 2 games to go
Celtic leading Rangers by 7 pts but Rangers have 3 games in hand
Galatasaray leads Fenerbahce by 3 pts with a game to go
Other champions around Europe
PSV - Holland
Bayern Munich - Germany
FC Porto - Portugal
Olympiakos - Greece
Standard Liege - Belgium
Rapid Vienna -Austria
Other European Leagues
Inter are leading Roma by 3 pts with 2 games to go
Lyon are leading Bordeaux by 2 pts with 2 games to go
Celtic leading Rangers by 7 pts but Rangers have 3 games in hand
Galatasaray leads Fenerbahce by 3 pts with a game to go
Top Transfer Rumors From the British Press 05-05-08
Real Madrid are planning to bid 25 million for Berbatov.
Arsenal to bid 12 million for Niko Krancjar and 15 million for Obafemi Martins. They are also keeping tabs on Marseille's Samir Nasri and Lille's Jean Makoun.
Juventus is extremely interested in Xabi Alonso
Arsenal to bid 12 million for Niko Krancjar and 15 million for Obafemi Martins. They are also keeping tabs on Marseille's Samir Nasri and Lille's Jean Makoun.
Juventus is extremely interested in Xabi Alonso
Friday 2 May 2008
Thursday 1 May 2008
Liverpool vs Chelsea...As the clock ticks
I start this entry at the 40th min. i warn you. This gonna be a long one. Why am i not concentrating on the match? Liverpool is disappoiting me and many of their fans. One even texted me and said " they are playing without soul". That sums it up i guess.
Very, very poor first half. Worst 1st half display for some time. 11 players per team but honestly i did not see any of team out there. Poor performance all round. There is an apparent lack of ideas. I even find myself channel surfing. Kuyt oh kuyt, i will never like thee. I dont think he contributes anything to the team. He doesnt add anything to the team. Hard work yeah, but its blind hard work.
Pitch was cut up due to the rain. This makes it even worse for Liverpool because they have 'heavy' players. Heavy meaning slow, not light on their feet, not athletic. For example, Kuyt and Alonso. They will struggle on the pitch. 'Light' players are the likes of Kalou, Benayoun.(Ref blew half time whistle!)
Chelsea deserved the goal. They were 1st to the ball, much more movement by the front 3. And if the defence arent careful, Liverpool might get a good ol drubbing.
2, 3 nil maybe? Anyways, a big Bart Simpson's HAHA to rafael benitez, courtesy of horse-face Drogba. Boy did he take that goal well. (wondered if reina could cover his angles better)
Now what can Liverpool do in the 2nd half. 2 subs left. Babel? Crouch? Pennant? Lucas? Most probably Babel and Crouch for me. Will It be changed to 4-4-2? Crouch must get in if by 60 mins, nothing changes in terms of performance. Torres is too isolated up front. Babel hasnt been playing games so i expect him to come on. For Kuyt maybe? sacrifice alonso (hes gonna get tired) and put gerrard in centre midfield? Many possible ways to change it. But, expect status quo for at least the 1st 15 mins of the half. HAHA. just got another text, a fellow Kopite has given up. He's going to sleep.
The stats came up. 6 shots to 1 for Chelsea. Now, who needs to win this game again?? I am not giving up....YET...but its a damn big ask. Okay i am off to the loo now...
Ref blows for the start of 2nd half. Ah great, weather has worsened. Liverpool will tire first i bet.
Two good chances but again the lack of finishing ability of Kuyt. Andy Gray mentioned left foot? I was thinking of the same thing. Will we get another chance?
Freekick to Chelsea. 50th min. Went long.
55th min. Slightly better i guess. Slightly. Lots of balls played over large distances. Yes, just a fancy phrase for the long ball. That could be a way to eliminate the poor pitch from the equation. Urgh, Kuyt again. (Poor control this time). It strikes me that Liverpool are looking better beacause Chelsea is sitting back. Lots of direct balls to Drogba to be expected now.
javier had a good run and crosses. No one in there! As i type, Andy gray comments the same thing. Aint it clear enough? Crouch!!! And maybe not even Babel. He might struggle on this pitch. Pennant for his crosses. Crouch for the extra man in the box.
Argh, again Kuyt with the nonsense control.
63/64th min. Torres!!!!!!!!. Good work by Yossi. Good finish by torres. Terry was dragged to the ball. That was the only reason torres got the space he got. Strangely enough, i didnt even celebrate. Deep inside, i know its not over. mainly, because they havent done much to show they can win. Still strongly feel Kuyt shld take his leave.
70th min. Chelsea to make the first change as gerrard shoots over. Wish gerrard takes more pot shots on goal. Kalou off, Malouda on. This guy is great on his day. Could be the ace up Avram's sleeve. But then again, there is another, Nicolas Anelka. Crap!
"Sprung away from Dirk Kuyt" How many freaking times has that happened!
1-1 on 75th min. Dont think crouchie is getting on now. Rafa will want to keep it this way and trust his players to keep it tight. Chelsea growing in dominance. Monster run by Essien. Wonder how it would be like if he was employed in central midfield.
Pennant strips off and WHAT THE FREAKING HELL!! YOSSI GOES OFF???? HOW ABOUT KUYT???!!!! breathe....breathe...let us see...
83rd min. At this point, if liverpool were to lose this one, Please let it be on penalties instead of goal in regulation/extra time. But then again, i could get to sleep. hmmmmm...hahaha
Extra time looming as Rosetti blows. Who has more legs now? Liverpool had thier rotation during the weekend. Chelsea had Man Utd. Will it or does it really come to play. I figured these players must be running on adrenaline at this stage. As i sit here knowing theres at least 30 more agonising minutes, i repeat, at least lose on penalties. 1-1 is a good result after 90 mins. If only, the first leg ended diffrently.
Anelka on for the absent Joe Cole. Crap Crap Crap for liverpool. Anelka's pace! Didnt play much against Man Utd. Former Liverpool player. It all points to tmr morning's headlines doesnt it. Here we go. I am standing all the way for this one.
Goal disallowed. Penalty. Lampard scores. Thats game over for me. Torres off????!!!!!
F rafa...hes done in my books as i have said in the past in this blog. why the f do u take off ur top scorer and put inept kuyt to lead the line. He hardly is a threat or a presence. WTF. Rafa will be skewed unless in the next 19 mins, liverpool can score.
OOOhhh...now that was a goal. 3-1 to Chelsea. Devils agst Blues for sure now in Moscow. Torres off...i am still shaking my head.
Now was that a penalty when hyppia fell by Drogba. As andy gray says it, whistle up then down. Two penalties in extra time. Unlikely.
I text 5 of my fellow liverpool fans asking, "still wanna back rafa?" 4 out of 5 said no. Okay i am gonna end this entry on the 115th min. Good try but werent good enough on the day and rafa, dont bother. Chelsea vs Man Utd. Moscow.
Very, very poor first half. Worst 1st half display for some time. 11 players per team but honestly i did not see any of team out there. Poor performance all round. There is an apparent lack of ideas. I even find myself channel surfing. Kuyt oh kuyt, i will never like thee. I dont think he contributes anything to the team. He doesnt add anything to the team. Hard work yeah, but its blind hard work.
Pitch was cut up due to the rain. This makes it even worse for Liverpool because they have 'heavy' players. Heavy meaning slow, not light on their feet, not athletic. For example, Kuyt and Alonso. They will struggle on the pitch. 'Light' players are the likes of Kalou, Benayoun.(Ref blew half time whistle!)
Chelsea deserved the goal. They were 1st to the ball, much more movement by the front 3. And if the defence arent careful, Liverpool might get a good ol drubbing.
2, 3 nil maybe? Anyways, a big Bart Simpson's HAHA to rafael benitez, courtesy of horse-face Drogba. Boy did he take that goal well. (wondered if reina could cover his angles better)
Now what can Liverpool do in the 2nd half. 2 subs left. Babel? Crouch? Pennant? Lucas? Most probably Babel and Crouch for me. Will It be changed to 4-4-2? Crouch must get in if by 60 mins, nothing changes in terms of performance. Torres is too isolated up front. Babel hasnt been playing games so i expect him to come on. For Kuyt maybe? sacrifice alonso (hes gonna get tired) and put gerrard in centre midfield? Many possible ways to change it. But, expect status quo for at least the 1st 15 mins of the half. HAHA. just got another text, a fellow Kopite has given up. He's going to sleep.
The stats came up. 6 shots to 1 for Chelsea. Now, who needs to win this game again?? I am not giving up....YET...but its a damn big ask. Okay i am off to the loo now...
Ref blows for the start of 2nd half. Ah great, weather has worsened. Liverpool will tire first i bet.
Two good chances but again the lack of finishing ability of Kuyt. Andy Gray mentioned left foot? I was thinking of the same thing. Will we get another chance?
Freekick to Chelsea. 50th min. Went long.
55th min. Slightly better i guess. Slightly. Lots of balls played over large distances. Yes, just a fancy phrase for the long ball. That could be a way to eliminate the poor pitch from the equation. Urgh, Kuyt again. (Poor control this time). It strikes me that Liverpool are looking better beacause Chelsea is sitting back. Lots of direct balls to Drogba to be expected now.
javier had a good run and crosses. No one in there! As i type, Andy gray comments the same thing. Aint it clear enough? Crouch!!! And maybe not even Babel. He might struggle on this pitch. Pennant for his crosses. Crouch for the extra man in the box.
Argh, again Kuyt with the nonsense control.
63/64th min. Torres!!!!!!!!. Good work by Yossi. Good finish by torres. Terry was dragged to the ball. That was the only reason torres got the space he got. Strangely enough, i didnt even celebrate. Deep inside, i know its not over. mainly, because they havent done much to show they can win. Still strongly feel Kuyt shld take his leave.
70th min. Chelsea to make the first change as gerrard shoots over. Wish gerrard takes more pot shots on goal. Kalou off, Malouda on. This guy is great on his day. Could be the ace up Avram's sleeve. But then again, there is another, Nicolas Anelka. Crap!
"Sprung away from Dirk Kuyt" How many freaking times has that happened!
1-1 on 75th min. Dont think crouchie is getting on now. Rafa will want to keep it this way and trust his players to keep it tight. Chelsea growing in dominance. Monster run by Essien. Wonder how it would be like if he was employed in central midfield.
Pennant strips off and WHAT THE FREAKING HELL!! YOSSI GOES OFF???? HOW ABOUT KUYT???!!!! breathe....breathe...let us see...
83rd min. At this point, if liverpool were to lose this one, Please let it be on penalties instead of goal in regulation/extra time. But then again, i could get to sleep. hmmmmm...hahaha
Extra time looming as Rosetti blows. Who has more legs now? Liverpool had thier rotation during the weekend. Chelsea had Man Utd. Will it or does it really come to play. I figured these players must be running on adrenaline at this stage. As i sit here knowing theres at least 30 more agonising minutes, i repeat, at least lose on penalties. 1-1 is a good result after 90 mins. If only, the first leg ended diffrently.
Anelka on for the absent Joe Cole. Crap Crap Crap for liverpool. Anelka's pace! Didnt play much against Man Utd. Former Liverpool player. It all points to tmr morning's headlines doesnt it. Here we go. I am standing all the way for this one.
Goal disallowed. Penalty. Lampard scores. Thats game over for me. Torres off????!!!!!
F rafa...hes done in my books as i have said in the past in this blog. why the f do u take off ur top scorer and put inept kuyt to lead the line. He hardly is a threat or a presence. WTF. Rafa will be skewed unless in the next 19 mins, liverpool can score.
OOOhhh...now that was a goal. 3-1 to Chelsea. Devils agst Blues for sure now in Moscow. Torres off...i am still shaking my head.
Now was that a penalty when hyppia fell by Drogba. As andy gray says it, whistle up then down. Two penalties in extra time. Unlikely.
I text 5 of my fellow liverpool fans asking, "still wanna back rafa?" 4 out of 5 said no. Okay i am gonna end this entry on the 115th min. Good try but werent good enough on the day and rafa, dont bother. Chelsea vs Man Utd. Moscow.
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