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ARSENAL 0 - 3 Chelsea
The score should simply have read ‘Boys 0, Men 3’ as that was the biggest difference today. Despite having 70% of possession in the second half, Arsenal never really threatened the Chelsea goal at any point during the game, and regardless of the manager’s excuses, we need to take a long look at ourselves in the mirror today.
Losing your best player and leading scorer for 5 months prior to kick off doesn’t help, but in the 21st Century it is the squad that wins you games, not just your first eleven (as Liverpool have found to their peril this season), and you cannot allow one injury to upset your season. And that is the saddest thing. Aside from van Persie, it was only Gael Clichy (our left-back) that was missing from our first eleven and we failed to even scratch the surface of the Chelsea defence.
The game itself started tentatively, with Arsenal having most of the play without creating any clear-cut chances, and Chelsea not having much of the ball but fashioning a couple of decent chances. Most notably through the magnificent Nicolas Anelka who was denied by a last-ditch Bacary Sagna tackle.
The game was effectively decided in a 6-minute spell either side of half time. Chelsea opened the scoring with a beautifully worked goal. Pantomime Villain Ashley Cole exchanged a couple of passes with cohort in evil Anelka (the recipients of repeated booing throughout the game) before putting in a delectable cross at knee height across the six yard box (the most dangerous cross in football), finding Didier Drogba who opened his body up and diverted the ball past the Spanish waiter who watched the ball loop irresistibly into the top corner. Bad turned to worse shortly afterwards with an almost identical situation down the Arsenal right – Cole knocking in a ball at knee height and this time it was the boot of Thomas Vermaelen that diverted the ball into the roof of the net, although the positioning of the goalkeeper was questionable to say the least and exactly how much longer Wenger explores this mysterious policy of playing a useless c*nt behind ten footballers is beyond me but MUST be rectified in January.
Half-time saw the introduction of Theo Walcott, with the brilliant Alex Song the sacrificial lamb, with the intention of adding some pace and direction to the attack. Within three minutes of the restart it appeared to have immediate impacts as Arsenal bombarded the Chelsea penalty area, resulting in some penalty box pinball, Eduardo, Petr Cech and Branislav Ivanovic running into each other, and Andrey Arshavin lashing the ball home from close range... however the hapless Andre Marriner disallowed the goal for an as yet unknown reason. The replays show the three players running into each other but whichever way you look at it, there is no foul. Football, unlike Baseball, Golf and Basketball, is a contact sport – the players are allowed to run into one another and it not necessarily be a free kick. There is no way of telling who first ran into whomever, but Cech drops the ball without the necessary volition from the attacker for the decision to be a free kick. In any event, the benefit of any doubt has to go to the forward, as clearly set out in the rules of the game. If the goal was allowed to stand, I am sure that Arsenal would have gone on to equalise as we were in the ascendancy up until that point.
But the disallowed goal took the wind out of our sails and despite lots of possession and flirting around the box, Arsenal failed to create any clear-cut opportunities and Chelsea defended immaculately. The final nail in the coffin was the third goal, coming with a few minutes left. A tired and frustrated Cesc Fabregas clipped Michael Essien’s ankles on the edge of the box and Drogba rifled a free-kick past the hapless Spaniard who positioned himself and his wall poorly. Although at least he dived to try and save this one... albeit 3 seconds after the net had bulged.
Is our Title challenge over? I wouldn’t say so when looking at Liverpool, Spurs and ManYoo who are all within a few points of each other. However, Chelsea are really, REALLY good in every area of the pitch and the fact that their bench yesterday had the German captain and 4 other full internationals probably with c.200 caps between them tells a lot. This season started promisingly in terms of competitiveness but as time goes on, it is beginning to resemble Chelsea’s first two years under Mourinho where they marched to the Title virtually unchallenged.
Wenger said at the start of the season that now was the time for his young guns to step up and win the League. If they do not then his great experiment to build a team from scratch using sticky-backed plastic and wood glue will have failed and the cries of ‘Spend Some Money’ will get louder and louder.
Star man: Cesc Fabregas deserves much more than this Team. He was our Quarterback yesterday, fashioning plenty of chances, but the ineptitude and apparent apathy of those in front of him (namely Eduardo, Vela and Arshavin who were appalling in various ways yesterday) was a disservice to the Captain who was at the centre of the few good things that came out of our performance yesterday.
Worst performer: Nobody was particularly bad, in fairness – the opposition were just so much better than us. However, a word again about our goalkeeper whose positioning for the second goal, and sheer slowness in reacting to the third confirms that he is simply not good enough. If you put him on the market tomorrow who would come in for him? I can’t see any other Premier League team wanting him. Also, Andrey Arshavin – cited by Alex Song on this week’s ‘Team Mates’ on ‘Soccer AM’ as the biggest moaner in the squad, the talented and enigmatic Russian has nowhere near scaled the dizzy heights of last season’s performances and has looked lazy, complacent, and disinterested for most of this year.
Best moment: None, really.
Tactics: We may have scored the most goals in the League so far this season, but we have looked worryingly goal shy in our last two league games, with no clear-cut opportunities being fashioned in either game. There is no pace in this Arsenal team right now, which was always previously our strength (see Henry, Pires, Vieira and Ljungberg in the ‘Invincibles’) and the intricate passing is well and good against crap defenders, but when up against masters of tackling and blocking such as Terry and Carvalho, you will never be able to find a way through. Also, the lack of an organiser at the back is extremely worrying as whenever a ball comes into our penalty area, there is no guarantee as to what might happen.
Chant of the game: To the tune of ‘Sloop John B’ just ater taking out Thomas Vermaelen with a right shoulder to the face “He’s a fucking disgrace... he’s a fucking disgraaaaAAAAAaaaaace. Didier Drogba.... is a fucking disgrace”. Quite.
Oppo fans: Terrible. Sat in silence for 90 minutes until the third goal went in and they started singing that God awful ‘CFC’ song to the theme tune from ‘Only Fools & Horses’.
David Oudôt, http://www.onlinegooner.com and http://taxloser.blogspot.com
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ASTON VILLA 1 - 1 Spurs
Cold, wet and grey... and that was just the football! I've just about dried out now, oh the joys of sitting on the front row eh?!
It didn't rain for 30 mins and Villa played well in that time going one up with little argument, fair enough Spurs also had some chances but hey, if you don't put them in the back of the net, you don't get bonus points do you? That is the ongoing problem with Villa to be honest, we just don't shoot enough.
The stats on the main tv screen said at the end of the game 1 shot on target for Villa, 14 for Spurs. Fair enough, that stat doesn't matter as much as the 1-1 in goals, but if you don't shoot you don't score.
It started well enough, in fact it looked like it was going to be an entertaining game, but in synch with the rain, Villa got one up and disappeared. The Spuds dominated especially in the second half which again
calls into question, why can Villa only play one half well? Infuriating. The hoof ball just won't wash, all we did was get it up pitch as quickly as possible and that gave possession back to Spurs for another wave of attacks.
Fair enough they had to handle the ball to get their equaliser (having had another goal disallowed for Handball - Defoe in that instance) which was well taken once set up by Dawson's arm but hey, I don't think I've got too many complaints really, our midfield went too deep too early, in fact they didn't just go deep, they went missing so despite a heroic attempt by our re-jigged defence and a) some world class saves by Friedel b) two goal line clearances, both by Carlos Cuellar I think there was too much pressure on
them to hold on the entire game.
Star man: Carlos Cuellar, immense, Brad Friedel as well to be pair, yeah, I'll take both. If Maxim want to take one away from me they'll have to bloody well send one of their top (less) models round to argue the , ahem... toss?!
Worst performer: The midfield, they went missing, yeah, I know, bit of a cheat not naming just one!
Best Moment: The drinking before the game wasn't a bad effort, the drinking after the game was good also, I enjoyed my ham egg and chips after the disappointment of finding out the all day breakfast was apparently no longer all day, the pie at Villa (steak and kidney thanks for asking) was great and the ham sandwiches in the early hours of the morning filled a hole very nicely. Sorry, did you mean the best moment of football?!
Tactics: Can't comment on the tactics, I'm not sure we really had any other than to hoof the ball up front in the hit and hope effort. That won't work, it isn't fair on Gabby - not so worried about whether it is fair on
Carew as he had an off day where he was probably cold bless him. The service has to be more precise than that though. First 30 mins we passed the ball around well enough so why change?
Chant of the game: Harry Redknapp what a ..... I couldn't hear the rest of it, I think they said banker?
Oppo fans: I thought they'd won the league when they equalised, bizarre!
Jonathan 'Drying out and sobering up' Fear, www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 - 1 BIRMINGHAM CITY
Last season every Wolves fan you'd speak to would tell you that their young exciting team were vastly superior to our old, slow one. But, I used to say, your team is fine for the Championship but you need a mix of experience and youth for the Premier League Rubbish I was told. Believe me now boys!!!
Basically today Blues turned up and thoroughly dominated the majority of this match. It was only poor decision making on the break and some good saves by Hanneman that stopped us winning more emphatically. Their players who scored for fun last season had no way passed our twin rocks at the back, Johnson and Dann. Lee Bowyer is enjoying a new lease of life and scored a brilliant goal early on. Then it was just a case of sit back and hit them on the break. All a bit easy really.
The old, slow Blues are now eleventh. Happy days.
Star man: James McFadden did well but it was probably Bowyer who shaded this one. o think a lot of Blues fans didn't want us to sign him.
Worst performer: Hard to pick anyone really.
Best moment: The goal was the obvious highlight but I'd like to mention the moment when Jarvis got clear in the box, was about to shoot but was then dispossessed by Seb Larsson who had run all the way back from the halfway line to make the challenge. That epitomised our work rate today.
Tactics: Score early, keep it tight, hit them on the break. Perfect for an away game.
Chant of the game: “You're getting sacked in the morning” aimed at McCarthy.
Oppo fans: Were very loud.....when booing there team off at the end of both halves.
Mike, www.joysandsorrows.co.uk
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BLACKBURN 0 - 0 Stoke City
I'll try to be positive! We kept our unbeaten home run going and we also kept a clean sheet - that's it! Why did we play 4-5-1 against a team that has only conceded eight goals all season? You tell me.
A dire first half performance followed by a slightly better second half, and that goes for both teams. None of them deserved anything!
Apart from a bit of huffing and puffing, there did not seem much effort at all. Di Santo missed his third one-on-one of the season and Roberts was Roberts - tried hard but got nowhere.
The midfield was uncreative after Dunn went off injured early on, and both teams looked happy with a point, although both had chances to nick it. Oh well - only Chelsea and Liverpool next!
Star man: Brett Emerton - was the only player who looked like he could create something after Dunn went off.
Worst performer: Take your pick from Andrews & Diouf
Best moment: The final whistle
Tactics: 4-5-1 at home again!
Chant of the game: A muted "4-4-2" was the best we could muster all day
Oppo fans: The Stoke fans enjoyed it more than us - and it showed. I take my
hat off to them
Pete Anslow, www.4000holes.co.uk
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Fulham 1 - 1 BOLTON WANDERERS
Bolton temporarily stopped the rot at Craven Cottage by taking an unexpected point from a ground where they haven't won in the league since 1992.
With Kevin Davies picking up his fifth booking of the season, Ivan Klasnic will be hopeful of another start next week after opening the scoring with a good shot on the turn.
However, as always seems to happen with Bolton, they sat back on their lead and invited Fulham on for the entire second half. Gretar Steinsson had cleared off the line at 0-0 and Matt Taylor had to do the same before Damien Duff pulled Fulham level courtesy of a deflection off Gary Cahill's knee.
That seemed to spark Bolton into life as they went in search of that second goal. And in stoppage time, it should have come but Steinsson headed over from a Taylor free-kick with an unmarked header from close range.
Ask any Bolton fan, they would quite happily have taken a point before the game but with the position they are in, they need to finish games off if they are to push themselves up the table.
Star man: Gary Cahill - Looked back to his normal self alongside the experienced Andy O'Brien. When he plays well, Bolton usually look solid across the back four.
Worst performer: Tamir Cohen - First game back from injury and it showed. He will have better games.
Best Moment: Klasnic's goal celebration. I don't know what he was doing but it looks like his Mrs may want an explanation.
Tactics: With Davies and Klasnic in the side, many expected a 4-4-2, but instead we got another 4-5-1 with Davies on the right of midfield. It seemed to have worked in the first half, but after we decided to sit back on our lead, there was only ever going to be one outcome.
Chant of the game: Nothing out of the ordinary worth noting, but there were no chants about the manager doing the rounds for once!
Oppo fans: "Come on Fulham!" - Their only contribution of the afternoon.
Chris Mann, www.burndenaces.co.uk
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West Ham 5 - 3 BURNLEY
This may have been a great spectacle for the neutral with eight goals and plenty of incident including two penalties and a sending-off but for Clarets fans (i.e. the ones supporting the proper team in Claret & Blue not the poncey lot that blow bubbles) if was a case of a Hammer Horror show with a strange twist at the end. Burnley looked the better team by far in the first 15 minutes of this match and had we taken the lead during this period the end result could have been a different story.
It was however West Ham who against the run of play got their noses in front. Collison beat the offside trap from a quickly taken free-kick to shoot under Jensen from 12 yards out.
Burnley now seemed to disintegrate and by the 65th minute a massive tonking looked on the cards with the Clarets already 5-0 down. At this stage, my mind was wandering to the Spurs 9-1 murdering of Wigan the week before with thoughts that maybe we could be getting a refund for our tickets. I have very rarely felt like leaving a game before the final whistle but had West Ham scored another goal, I might have been legging it to Upton Park Tube station to make a quick getaway and avoid the massive queues and taunts from the smirking Hammers fans.
To our credit only a handful of Clarets fans left the ground which was a pity for them because they missed a bit of a comeback after Burnley suddenly found fourth gear and started banging them in at the other end. It was 5-2 by the 75th minute following a brace of goals by Steven Fletcher. West Ham were known for losing goal leads this season although 5-0 was asking a lot still we didn’t give up hope with the slightly happier Burnley fans now chanting ‘We are Gonna Win 6-5’
It was an impossible task of course and it might have been better for the Clarets to have lost 6-2 rather than Caldwell make a rash challenge in the last few minutes of the match to earn a straight red and get sent off. We were still determined to have the final word though and try and reduce the goal difference and it was Eagles, who had worked hard all afternoon who finally got some reward when in injury time he made it 5-3 after neatly slotting home a cross from Mears from just inside the box.
We were definitely in the ascendency at this stage with West Ham looking done-in, if we had still another 20 minutes to play after the Eagles goal we might have comeback to draw 5-5 but that was fantasy land not reality.
It was still a disappointment for Clarets fans to lose this one in the manner we did but at least we had something to cheer about in the end and did not come away from this match totally humiliated; something which looked a cast-iron certainty at 5-0 down.
Star man: Tyrone Mears again impressed at right back and it was perhaps no co-incidence that West Ham’s goals tended to come from the left where we seemed to be vulnerable all afternoon. One player though shades the ‘Star Man’ award for me and that is Chris Eagles, who played his socks off all afternoon and was one of the few players who gave the Hammers something to think about.
Worst performer: All our problems were in defence, especially down the left and Stephen Jordan was one player in particular who could have done better and been more decisive at times.
Tactics: Yes it would have been nice to have some between the 15-65th minutes of this match. Owen Coyle summed up our performance when he said:
"We were the architects of our own downfall. We gifted some soft goals, and made individual errors at the wrong time. I am loath to criticise officials, because I know how difficult the job is, but there were some big decisions which went against us, like on the second goal when Franco controlled the ball with his arm. Is the third a penalty? I don't know. On another day, maybe they will go for us."
Chant of the game: Most Clarets fans stayed to the bitter end and were buoyant in their cheering all afternoon despite the mauling we got during most of this game. I alluded to the humorous ‘We are Gonna Win 6-5’ which at 5-0 down was in response to West Ham’s ‘We Want 10’ and it was to our credit that by the time the whistle went most of the gaps in the crowd were down to Hammers fans having left early and not our fans! I was that close though to not being there after conceding the fifth goal and now feel slightly embarrassed confirming my belief even more now that you should never leave early no matter what the score.
Oppo fans: The only song I could recognise was their bloody ‘Bubbles’ anthem. Just wish we could have burst more of them and shut them up. I am sure they sang a lot of other funny songs as well. It might have been Cockney rhyming slang for all we knew but whatever they were singing none of us Northern folk had a clue what they were on about. After the Millwall problems and violence, I guess all Clarets fans were also a bit wary of potential problem down the Barking Road and surrounding areas but I have to say all the West Ham lads we met were great fun and we had some good banter. It probably helped though sharing the same colours allowing us to blend in. We were safe providing we didn’t open our mouths and speak in a broad Lancastrian accent.
Best moment: Trying my first Pie, Mash & Liquor in Duncan’s cafe before the game!
‘Turfman’ Phil Lea, www.burnley.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Arsenal 0 - 3 CHELSEA
It was men against boys in the end at the Emirates.
To be honest the game went the way most of us expected it to;Arsenal start better, zipping it around, but can’t find a away through the blue brick wall that was parked 18 yards in front of Petr Cech’s goal, before Chelsea nick a goal and hold on for the win.
Admittedly The Blues got a bit overexcited and ended up with 3, but that’s hardly a complaint, that would be saved for the rain that nearly put North London underwater.
Didier Drogba did his best Kevin Costner impression to fire Chelsea through the waterworld that engulfed them.
Huge praise must be given to Ashley Cole for his part in the first two goals, his delivery from the left was impossible to defend against, and showed Arsenal exactly the cutting edge they’re missing, along with a striker who can actually score beyond Van Persie.
Drogba’s lovely finish for his first and then Vermaelen’s own goal all but killed the game before the break, before Drogba’s stunning free kick put the ice on the cake.
The visitors, for what little they saw of the ball, probably looked more threatening when coming forward, the sheer weight of options seemed to push Arsenal back towards their own goal.
William Gallas must’ve thought he was in his own worst nightmare as Chelsea shirts poured towards him.
Wenger spent most of the game moaning, as usual, and ended up on the pitch at one point shortly after Arshavin had a goal disallowed. He couldn’t see the problem with Eduardo trying to kick Cech’s head off. Although I must give some credit to the Croat, to get his foot up there when Cech was himself in midair is worthy of Olympic gymnastics, makes a change from his other Olympic pastime, diving.
I must go back to Drogba’s second goal, the power on that free kick, considering it was hit side-footed, was terrifying. Forget Ronaldo and the laces on the valve of the ball, this is what the kids will be trying in the playground on Monday morning.
In the end, a great result, a five-point lead and another win over a fellow ‘Big Four’ side.
Say it quietly for now, but this Ancelotti chap might be better than Mourinho.
Star man: Has to be 2-goal Didier Drogba. But in truth anyone of the outfield players
could get it. The entire back four deserve to have a wall named in their own.
Worst performer: John Obi Mikel was too casual on the ball at times and nearly cost us. Still not convinced by the Nigerian.
Best moment: The Drogba freekick and the away end ‘Bouncy’ takes some beating. Especially when accompanied by the chatter of seats as Gooners headed for the exits.
Tactics: Arsene Wenger said before the game he expected Chelsea to change and match his side up with a 4-3-3. Ancelotti didn’t, the diamond stayed, and that was the first of several nasty surprises for the Arsenal boss.
Oppo fans: fairly noisy, until they all upped and left, leaving only a faint rumble as they complained about the queue to get out.
Martyn Landi, www.cfcnet.co.uk
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Man Utd 2 - 0 EVERTON
With just one win in the last ten under our belts and the half hour horror show at Hull still fresh in the mind, the visit of our loveable neightbours was probably the last fixture we needed. That or Chelsea away. Or Man United away.
Actually, when you're in the rut Everton are in, the prospect of playing Darlington would be a daunting one! The only ray of hope for the Blues was that Liverpool are shite too - a fact that even a couple of their own fans have started to realise - and, with only two wins in ten, a visit to Goodison Park was probably the last thing they wanted. Unfortunately for Everton, Liverpool had the luck on the day and that's effectively what earned them all three points.
Everton had been enjoying the majority of the play when Javier Mascherano picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and hit a speculative shot that was dragging wide to the right of Tim Howard's goal until it took a horrible deflection off Joseph Yobo and spooned into the left-hand-side of the goal.
Cue the weird little Argentine running the length of the pitch kissing his badge to the delight of the travelling Svens and Kens in the Bullens Road... so the talk of wanting to move to Barcelona was a lie then? We'll see...
But even this didn't throw the Blues out of their stride and they continued to be the side playing all the football, with Steven Pienaar showing us exactly what we've been missing in his absence whilst John Heitinga and Marouane Fellaini were winning the battle against a jaded Steven Gerrard and, the basically shit - let's be blunt - Lucas in the Liverpool midfield.
And Everton's presistance should have been rewarded in the 19th minute but Diniyar Bilyaletdinov somehow missed the target from six-yards out.
A throw-in was flicked on first by Fellaini, then by Jo and fell kindly to the Russian midfielder just yards in front of Jose - why the fuck do they call him Pepe? - Reina's goal but he dragged his shot horribly wide!
It didn't look like it was going to be Everton's day!
Bilyaletdinov had another good chance five minutes later, which he did get on target, but Reina did well to keep his volley out.
And the chances kept coming for Everton but they just couldn't get the ball past Reina and, even when they did, the linesman ruled the efforts offside.
Jo had the ball in the net twice but was correctly ruled offside on both occasions and was unlucky to not get a firmer touch on a Fellaini flick on that would have steered the ball past Reina.
And the Spanish stopper stood firm to keep out a powerful drive from Pienaar.
But even though it had been all Everton in the first half it was Liverpool that went into the break in the lead and they could've doubled their advantage just before the interval but Tim Howard pulled off a great save from an Insua header.
Everton picked up in the second half where they left off in the first and, with better anticipation, Jo would've had a celar run on Reina's goal after Pienaar fed him through with a wonderful defence splitting pass.
Then the South African hit a wonderful volley that Reina looked to have saved comfortably until the ball bounced down between his legs but he managed to turn quickly and gather the ball before it managed to dribble into the Gwladys Street goal.
Jo, having his best game of the season, was replaced by Louis Saha on 65 minutes in the hope that the Frenchman could pull his usual rabbit from the hat.
Liverpool then entered the game for five minutes as they exerted a little pressure on Everton but when Dirk Kuyt - I often wonder if he has changable heads like Worzel Gummdige coz he's a friggin ringer for the scarecrow - got his shot away Yobo was on had to delfelct it wide.
The came the game's pivotal moment and Reina, once again, denyed Everton in spectacular fashion. Tim Cahill thundered a header towards goal the the Spaniard parried out to Fellaini who prodded the ball on target only to see Reina recover and make a stunning double save... the bald-headed shit!
It was definitely not going to be Everton's day!
This was nailed home on 80 minutes when Yobo did one of his weird clearance attempts - something he's been teaching Sylvain Distin if recent performances are anything to go by - that fell straight to the ineffectual Steven Gerrard.
The Liverpool captain picked up the ball under pressure from Tony Hibbert but, unlike a couple of seasons ago, declined the invitation to go down for a penalty and prodded the ball to Albert Rieira.
The Spanish winger hit a shot across Tim howard that the American parried onto the foot of Kuyt who wrapped up the three points for the Shite.
It was an undeserved victory for Liverpool and, when Liverpool find themselves on the back of such a result they opt to either attack the opposition for their negativity or call it a 'moral victory'.
There'll be no such bleating from the Everton camp, it was a crushing defeat and one that we didn't deserve, but it was a defeat all the same and - as abject a side as this Liverpool one is - we've been beaten by worse this season and that's why we now sit three points above the drop zone.
Star man: Marouane Fellaini - another top-drawer performance from the Belgian, it was a close call between him and Steven Pienaar but the 'fro edged it.
Worst performer: Joseph Yobo - was unlucky to get a decisive touch on Mascherano's rubbish shot but looked pretty ropey all day and his attempted clearance that led to their second was dire.
Tactics: Moyes did the right thing in putting Tim Cahill back in behind the lone striker and the Australian had his best game of the season. Deserved more for his attacking mindset.
Oppo fans: Horrible gobshites!
Chant of the day: "Grand old team" purely because they hate the line about the 'red shite' - they're red and they're shite, end of!
Les Roberts, www.everton-mad.co.uk
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FULHAM 1 -1 Bolton
As a youngster, well probably around five or six, I loved that little ditty about the big bad wolf blowing the house down, it really appealed to me! Yesterday, with Fulham playing Bolton at Craven Cottage I couldn’t help but be reminded of it.
After being disappointed that, once again, Danny Murphy and Andrew Johnson were not fit enough to be included in the eighteen named by Gentleman Roy, I had to sit through the indignity of Bolton Wanderers, of all teams, scoring first.
Okay it was a good goal but come on, Bolton!
Thankfully the tide turned in the second half but the big bad Fulham wolf didn’t half have to huff and puff to blow the Bolton house down.
Those defending the straw house stood firm, Jaaskelainen produced some great saves, Steinsson produced two goal-line clearances that were exceptional and our bushes were only saved, late on, by Damien Duff scoring with a low drive.
I guess on this occasion the big bad wolf had ot concede that all the huff and puff only just about moved the straw house.
Star man: Damien Duff – I was a little concerned that we’d signed a ‘duffer’ when he arrived from Newcastle but a string of great performances have blown that myth away, Damien is class!
Worst performer: Most of the side in the first half, they just didn’t seem to get going!
Best moment: Finally breaching those Bolton defences, I thought it was never going to happen.
Tactics: The gaffer is struggling without key players but he’s still doing a fine job and we’re picking up performance wise.
Chant of the game: "Yeah, yeah, yeah!" Me when the ball finally hit that net, What a relief!
Oppo fans: A strange lot, you’d never guess that Gary Megson is supposed to be their manager from the vociferous chants coming down from the terraces!
Andrew Joyce, www.vitalfullham.co.uk
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Man City 1 - 1 HULL CITY
A penalty from Jimmy Bullard eight minutes from time at Eastlands secured The Tigers a vital point against Mark Hughes side, who have now drawn their last seven successive league fixtures.
Brown can now leave the demons of Boxing Day 2008 at the City of Manchester Stadium after Bullard celebrated his penalty by mimicking the famous on-pitch half-time team talk.
It was later revealed that the players had decided to conduct the celebration if a drawing or winning goal was scored, and it was left to the club record signing to take the role of Phil Brown.
The City manager saw the funny side, especially as his side had taken a highly creditable draw from their visit to Manchester.
The point was only City`s second of the season away from home, but continued their recent good form after picking up seven points from nine in recent home fixtures.
The draw moved City into 14th position, four points clean of the relegation zone whilst the home side endured another frustrating afternoon.
Man City were marginally the better side in the first half with Robinho at the centre of all the home sides attacks. The Brazilian saw one effort flash wide of Duke`s post whilst Shaun Wright-Phillips shot into the side netting from a free flowing move. The introduction of George Boateng freed Jimmy Bullard to play in a more advanced role and the former Fulham man started to run the midfield area. A strong run saw an effort go over the bar before City levelled from the penalty spot late on.
Star man: Jimmy Bullard – The influential midfielder has started to make the team play and the fans are starting to see the rewards.
Worst performer: It would be harsh to single anyone out after such a good performance. I don’t think anyone played badly, and the ref gave us a dodgy penalty so it can’t be him either.
Best moment: The best celebration of all time!
Tactics: Spot on by Brownie, who stuck with the 4-4-2. His decision to move Geo out wide and Garcia up-front in the second half was a pivotal moment, with the Australian instantly posing Man City problems. Boateng’s introduction, which freed up Bullard in a more advanced role, also helped City get back into the game.
Oppo fans: Pretty quiet, and clearly nervous when at 1-0 with 15 minutes left the game was still in the balance. Those nerves manifested to the pitch and gave City the opportunity to draw.
Matt Wilson, www.hull.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Everton 0 - 2 LIVERPOOL
It wasn't convincing, it wasn't pretty, it wasn't even exhilarating, but it was a derby victory. We'll take that.
For once in a recent game, we entered the match in a similar mood to our opponents. Liverpool's struggles have been well documented recently, however if you can rely on our blue brethren for anything, it is that they will still manage a way to make us look better.
Key differences going into the match included the respective focus on the managers, Moyes had been getting a relatively free ride from the press and Sky gang. No demonstrations of how far Everton have dropped this year for him. Gray and Teenwolf like to point out that Rafa is struggling to retain his position in the top 4 from last year finishing 2nd to being 7th going into this game. Everton finished 5th last year and were 15th going into this game, but not a peep about how Moyes is taking Everton backwards. No dissections of how they defend set pieces or a long opus about how they haven't replaced their big money departure from the club in the summer.
For what it is worth, I believe Moyes is doing a great job and is being hamstrung by injuries this year, masking their real position. Time and patience should be afforded to him, however similarly it should be to Rafa, but this isn't always the case.
Everton played their normal game against us yesterday, full of endeavour and commitment. They also played a large percentage of high balls to their big target men up front and not winning the 2nd balls cost us. Well they could have, they didn't really as a combination of poor finishing and exceptional goalkeeping kept us in the lead. Mascherano's early speculative effort to a wicked deflection of Yobo and gave us an early lead. The game after this was scrappy with Everton's enjoying the better possession and Liverpool soaking up the pressure and breaking. Lucas and Mascherano had good games, the same couldn't be said for Gerrard and Kuyt, late contribution to our 2nd notwithstanding. N'Gog was patchy. However, it is difficult to ask a raw player like him to turn in performances on his own up front, like only the better players in the league can. I.e Torres, Rooney and Drogba.
The most important thing yesterday was the result, especially given the fact that the teams around us all dropped points. Another couple of wins and we can alleviate some of the pressure and watch as Hughes or whoever else it is, suffers the same fate.
Last time we won in the league, it was against the mancs and we all thought that would kick us on. This time it is imperative that we do kick on, starting Blackburn on Saturday.
Worst performer: It was a toss up between Kuyt and Gerrard. Gerrard takes it i'm afraid, the worst shift I have seen him put in for a long time. Obviously, he is instantly forgiven. Got a lot of credit to live off that lad...
Best moment: The 2nd goal as I always thought Everton could get back into it and it isn't like we have been conceding a lot of late goals recently.
Tactics: Eyebrows raised at the lack of Aquaman again, however don't think this was the best match to introduce a player coming back from a dodgy ankle injury. Two defensive midfielders was the gameplan. We kept a clean sheet, which was really important. Good skills, Rafa.
Chant of the game: "F*ck off the Kirkby, the City is all ours". Even more funny considering they couldn't get permission.
Oppo fans: Normal stuff about Gerrard's family, "Murderers" etc etc. Same as every year. They need to think of new insults, the Mancs are running out.
More at http://www.liverpool.vitalfootball.co.uk/
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MAN CITY 1 - 1 Hull City
(Awaiting report)
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Portsmouth 1 - 4 MANCHESTER UNITED
The Manchester United bus left the South Coast bound for home after a storming second half performance blew away the home side in rain-swept Portsmouth. Four goals, including a hat-trick from Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs' 100th Premier League strike were enough to hand United all three points.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men arrived in pursuit of another maximum haul to maintain their challenge of Chelsea at the head of the Premier League. And controversy, which almost inevitably follows the team, reared its head once again with three penalties awarded by referee Mike Dean. Wayne Rooney dispatched two for United, while Portsmouth's Kevin Prince Boateng scored for Avram Grant's side, as the visitors reprised Ferguson's last confrontation with the new Pompey manager.
United, once again without Rio Ferdinand, Edwin van der Sar and Jonny Evans, rode out Portsmouth's early fire to take the honours. It must have been pleasant viewing for Sir Alex, forced to sit in the stands for comments made about Alan Wiley in September.
Ferguson's forwards - Rooney, Giggs and the increasingly impressive Antonio Valencia - in particular stole the show. The mesmerising interchange and dynamic play more reminiscent of United in earlier seasons than this.
It was perhaps fitting then that the reds' opening goal was fashioned by Valencia and Rooney's lightening quick break. It was far too good for former-Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown who crudely hacked down the United striker.
Pompey restored parity within minutes though and this time Ferguson had genuine cause for complaint. Stand-in 'keeper Tomasz Kuszczak punched away Jamie O'Hara's free-kick but - apparently on the advice of his assistant - Dean point once again to the spot. Nemanja Vidic punished for shirt pulling so minor it could barely have tickled Portsmouth's Fredric Piquionne.
Sir Alex, in the stands, would surely have risked a further touchline ban had the Scot been allowed within 50 yards of the official.
Portsmouth briefly threatened to make a real fist of the tie but United's second half response - led by the wonderful Giggs - was far too good for Grant's side.
The visitor's second, fashioned by the Welshman and converted by Rooney, came just moments after the restart. Giggs' perfectly weighted through-ball, converted in a single motion by Rooney, was the epitome of the winger's class on the eve of his 36th birthday.
And it was Giggs' persistence in robbing Piquionne in the Portsmouth area that led to Dean awarding United's second penalty. Giggs, hacked down by the Frenchman, offered Rooney the chance to convert United's third and his personal hat-trick.
But Giggs, star of the show, rightly took the plaudits with a stunning fourth to round off United's victory. Patrice Evra, fouled on the edge of the Portsmouth area, stepped aside - as did Rooney - for the red legend to fire the set piece low to Asmir Begovic's right.
Just wonderful from the birthday boy.
Star man: It's not often a player is upstaged when scoring a hat-trick but Giggs was awesome once again. Plaudits must go to Rooney, of course, and the excellent Valencia on the right wing.
Worst performer: It's hard to pick fault at United's performances - but Gary Neville is showing his age.
Best moment: Giggs curling in United's fourth a nice present for the great man
Tactics: In Dimitar Berbatovs absence, Rooney was alone up front but United's midfielders were dynamic and offered plenty of support.
Oppo fans: Portsmouth's supporters always make a decent racket.
Chant of the game: "12 Cantonas" nice to hear an old favourite!
Ed Barker, www.unitedrant.co.uk
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POMPEY 1 - 4 Manyoo
Ok, perhaps the right team – ultimately and overall – did win the game, but 4-1 to Manyoo was surely flattering and ANY Manyoo fan that was at the game would admit as much, right?
As has been the story of our season missed chances against came back to haunt us! If we continue to miss chances it will continue to hurt us, although at least some crumb of comfort for me was the fact that we at least worked the keeper, with Kuszczak making at least 2 or 3 very good saves. Forcing keepers into saves is not something that we have been doing much of this season.
Star man: Mike Dean, played into Manyoo's hands a treat! Oh, sorry, you meant our player. Ok, to be fair to Dean, whilst he was piss poor it was not 'entirely' his fault we lost was it. Jamie O'Hara and Kevin-Prince Boateng had fantastic games for us, so it is such a shame that I doubt neither will be around next season should we go down...
Worst performer: Freddy P! The French 'striker' is as lazy as hell and the only thing that he did was give away a needless penalty in the 2nd half. If playing with a 4-5-1, as we did for most of the game we must have learned that this should be Tommy Smith all day long on the right as he will offer us so much more than he did – and he WOULD NOT have given away that penalty!
Best moment: Seeing, taking into account that I have not seen any highlights of the game, our dodgy penalty awarded! It is not often Manyoo have penalties given against them, let alone dodgy ones.
Tactics: Different manager but just about the same old tactics. To be fair I think it worked fairly well but 10 minutes of madness, well switching off, after half time changed the game in Manyoo's favour. I still think that we need more width in the side, but then again who from the main midfield quartet would be left out?
Chant of the game: I honestly could not say I had a 'stand out' chant to be honest – plenty of the 'anti Mike Dean' ones were pretty fitting though...
Oppo fans: Credit where it is due, whilst most probably only made the short journey from Guildford, they were in good voice – as good as I can remember at Fratton from Manyoo fans I would say.
PLAY UP POMPEY!
Rug, www.portsmouth.vitalfootball.co.uk
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Blackburn 0 - 0 STOKE CITY
(Awaiting report)
Dan Buxton, www.stokecity-mad.co.uk
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Wigan 1 – SUNDERLAND 0
Well from a Sunderland fans perspective there is not an awful lot to say
about this match. We hit earth with a big bump, from beating Arsenal last
week to getting beat off Wigan.
The first half was shocking we couldn’t string two passes together, we had
no movement, when we did get the ball we where muscled off it. Our
defence was not a patch on what it was last week, De Silva drifted in and
out the game. Turner’s first game back after serving his ban, and it’s
the worst I have seen him play. The papers have reported that right back
Bardsley could be a shock choice for the England team, well he can forget
that playing the way he did! McCartney, well same old same old from him,
he’s nowhere near the player he used to be. But for me it was the
midfield that lost the game for Sunderland, Richardson was Mr Invisible
and this is starting to become a habit from him, Cana was another player
that played his worst game so far in a Sunderland shirt although he played
wasn’t bad he was nowhere near his normal outstanding self. Henderson
played reasonably well but almost gave them a second goal near the end of
the game.
Up front Bent and Campbell weren’t up to much, Bent played ok, but
Campbell although he has bags of pace he’s just not that finished striker
yet, but he’s still young and has time. Our players expected just to have
to turn up to win this one with Wigan coming off a major lesson in
football curtsey of Spurs, but they over powered us and deserved the three
points.
Our keep was had a decent show but could be blamed for Wigan’s only goal,
De Silva’s attempt to clear the ball once it had beat Fulop was woeful.
Worst performer: Richardson, very poor and probably the worst of a poor
all-round performance.
Star Man: Fulop made some great saves, but was caught a mile off his line
to give Wigan there goal.
Best moment: Nothing from a Sunderland fans point of view.
Tactics: All round very poor, Sunderland as a team thought Wigan would be
a walk over and found themselves over powered physically, lets hope Bruce
reads them the riot act.
Oppo fans: From one extreme to the other some of them where really
friendly and others where complete tossers!
Daryl Baker, www.Sunderland-Mad.co.uk
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Aston Villa 1 - 1 SPURS
You’d generally say that a point at Villa Park is a good result, but when the final whistle blew on this one, the over-riding feeling was that we really should have won this game.
We dominated for long, long periods in a fashion that would have made unfamiliar and uncomfortable viewing for Villa fans. We looked strong and confident and full of flowing football. It was really quite something to see. Maybe the legacy of the nine goal rout against Wigan last week is that this Spurs team now has a residual bank of belief in itself, that will allow it to go to places like Villa and impose a pattern of control. We’ll see as the season progresses.
Of course, for all Spurs’ mastery at Villa Park, the simple fact is that we failed to win. Villa defended really well, especially Cuellar and his goal line clearance to deny captain-for-the-day Michael Dawson in the first half. It was a frustrating day for Jermain Defoe, who saw efforts well saved, disallowed or slide narrowly wide. One week everything goes in, the next you can’t score for toffee. That’s the way it goes.
The style of some of the football we played was sumptuous. Niko Kranjcar was at the heart of most of the best stuff, and hit a couple of fantastic strikes that Brad Friedel did well to keep out. In the middle, Palacios and Huddlestone were not at their best but still won the battle hands down. Dawson was an inspiration, as usual. He must be a manager’s dream.
Villa’s early goal was scruffy and annoying. After that Gomes was pretty much left in peace to enjoy the view. Damn smart it was too, and if this continues there is a chance of a top four finish. Granted, it is a big if, but we’ve certainly got promise.
Star man: Niko Kranjcar was outstanding
Worst perfromer: Seems harsh to pick one. We didn’t quite click up front, so maybe Defoe.
Best moment: Daws's driven equaliser and joyous leap of celebration ensured we got the very least we deserved
Tactics: Same as the week before, with big man/small man up front and two wide men; Bassong replaced the injured Woodgate in defence
Oppo fans: I think we gave them plenty of food for thought
Andy Knaggs, www.spurs-web.com and www.thfctalk.com
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WEST HAM UTD 5 - 3 Burnley
Eight goals, two penalties and a sending-off ... nothing to see here then.
Only at West Ham can your team surge into a five-goal lead yet still leave you feeling a little bit disappointed come the final whistle. But that was the case at the Boleyn on Saturday when three late goals from Burnley rather took the gloss off what had been an excellent performance by the Irons. For an hour, at least.
Jack Collison, Junior Stanislas and Carlton Cole all found the net within the opening 45 minutes to put United in command at the break. That advantage was extended by (the excellent) Guillermo Franco and then Luis Jimenez, scoring his first goal for the club from the penalty spot after the cumbersome Brian Jensen had sent him tumbling.
5-0, half-an-hour left to play, and yet another team from the North West looked like leaving the capital with an eight or nine goal hiding.
But, alas, it wasn't to be as West Ham, as has been too often the case already this season, simply disintegrated at the back, allowing their rather-less-than-illustrious opponents to take a stranglehold on the game as the minutes ticked away.
Goals from Fletcher (2) and the best Burnley player by a country mile, ex-Manc Chris Eagles gave the final score a respectability the visitors hadn't really deserved. But given the late collapse, it's probably fair to say that West Ham didn't deserve to be such clear winners either.
Moans aside, the vital win - and it was most certainly that - keeps West Ham above the precipice of the relegation zone - albeit narrowly. Whilst the Irons may have conceded 13 goals in their last six games, they've scored 15 in the same period - and teams scoring that often don't usually end up in relegation trouble.
Then again teams finishing the season on 42 points never go down either, do they...
Star man: Scott Parker. A man possessed. Literally everywhere.
Worst performer: Hard to criticise any Hammer involved in a five-goal haul but Radoslav Kovac continues to fail to inspire.
Best moment: Pick one from five.
Tactics: Hard to criticise Zola when his team were 5-0 up. A darn sight easier to do so when we conceded three weak goals having collectively taken our foot off the gas.
Up the Junction, www.kumb.com
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WIGAN 1 - 0 Sunderland
Delighted with the result and the best way to respond to last week's record breaking defeat to Tottenham. The victory was made all the more sweet as Steve Bruce was powerless to inspire his average looking
expensive Sunderland side.
This was more of the Latics we are used to but if Maynor Figueroa leaves in January then a left back must be the top of bob's shopping list. He is a class above Edman and would have had Lennon in his pocket last week.
Steve Bruce proved that whilst he may now shop in Waitrose, he is very much a Tesco manager. He employed the same defensive tactics that he has done for the entirety of his career, before piling on the strikers at 1-0 down.
I guess with Jonny taxpayer helping the unemployed population of Sunderland make the trip to Wigan, they were always going to bring a good following. It's a shame they've got a manager who isn't going to take them anywhere fast.
Star man: Maynor Figueroa - His return boosted the strength of the backline and it was little coincidence to see us keep a clean sheet. Hugo Rodallega was impressive when he moved up top and Paul Scharner provided a good link to the frnt players.
Worst performer: Steve Bruce - He's spent a small fortune at Sunderland in the local Waitrose but he is a Tesco manager. Defensive from the outset before throwing on strikers at 1-0 down. He used to do that at Wigan too.
Best moment: Rodallega sealing a confidence boosting winning goal from the slightest of angles.
Tactics: For as bad as we were last week, we learnt our lessons. Defensively we were much improved (although Sunderland offered little), and we had more impetus going forward. Early on in the game we looked to be lacking in confidence which wasn't too much of a surprise, but certainly after Rodallega's goal, things improved and we could have had two or three more.
Chant of the game: "Brucey, Brucey whats the score?"
Oppo fans: A good following from the Mackems who adopt an area of the country that is supported heavily by Jonny taxpayer, so it was nice to see our money spent on football tickets at the DW as opposed to bailing
out the bankers. The unemployed have plenty of time to spare so they won't mind watching that expensive rubbish that Bruce will put out each week.
Paul Farrington, www.WIGANER.net
WOLVES 0 - 1 Birmingham City
(Awaiting report)
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