May 8, 2011

EPL: Manchester United vs. Chelsea Tactical Preview


Manchester United takes on Chelsea at Old Trafford in a game that for many will decide the destination of the English Premier League title for this season.

With just three games to go, the two teams left standing after all the dust has settled are just separated by three points with an equal goal difference.

In other words, whoever wins this game should take the title and when all is said and done, this game for all intents and purposes is a final.

May 7, 2011

QPR Win "Double" By Gaining Promotion as Champions and Avoiding Points Reduction



QPR achieved something of a "double" yesterday when the won promotion to the Premier League as champions of the Championship but also avoided a points reduction despite being found guilty of breaking transfer rules by the FA.

Having found the club in the wrong in two of the seven charges brought against them, fans of the club then breathed a sigh of relief as the FA decided that an £875,000 fine was punishment enough and that a points reduction was not needed in this case.

May 4, 2011

Manchester United Beats Schalke 04 to Set Up Champions League Final With Barcelona



Manchester United beat Schalke 04 at Old Trafford to set up a mouth watering UEFA Champions League final against Barcelona in Wembley on May 28.

Sir Alex Ferguson's team dominated the 2nd leg with goals from Antonio Valencia, Darron Gibson, and a brace from Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira.

In making the final, the United boss becomes only the third manager in history to bring a team to the Champions League Final four times, joining a small but elite group of managers that include Miguel Munoz (Real Madrid - '60, '62, '64, '66) and Marcelo Lippi (Juventus - '96, '97, '98, '03) .

Apr 30, 2011

EPL: Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur: Blues Win Thanks to Gomes and Controversy


Two controversial goals from Frank Lampard and Saloman Kalou were the difference between winning and losing and seeing their title challenge end for Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Redknapp's side had taken the lead against the run of play when Sandro scored a screamer from fully 30-yards before the latest in a long line of howlers from Heurelho Gomes allowed the Pensioners back into the game.

Frank Lampard's speculative shot, right on the stroke of half time, was straight at the haphazard 'keeper who allowed the ball to squirm through his hands and between his legs to agonizingly roll towards the goal. Gomes then dived to save the ball before it rolled over the line only for the linesman to rule that a goal had been scored. Television replays then proved that the goal should not have stood as the whole of the ball did not cross the goal line.

To rub salt into Spurs' wounds, Kalou then popped up to score an offside goal to win the game, keeping up the Blues' hope of catching Manchester United but also condemning the Lilywhites who now have virtually no chance of finishing in the Champions League positions.

Apr 28, 2011

Lionel Messi: Comparing The World's Best Player to Legends Pele, Maradona, Di Stefano, and Cruyff



Lionel Messi has many devotees. The 23-year-old Barcelona forward is undoubtedly the most talented player on the planet, but how does he rank against the greats of the game?

Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho Left Embarrassed By Barcelona Champions League Defeat



Barcelona beat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu last night thanks to two sublime goals from Lionel Messi. In truth, it was all that La Blaugrana deserved after Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid thoroughly embarrassed their own great names and standing in the game.

Apr 25, 2011

Spineless Arsene Wenger is Turning Arsenal into a Version of Tottenham Hotspur


Arsenal's tilt at the title has ended yet again, although the Gunners did hang in for longer than most predicted. However, the same old questions now need to be answered, the most prominent being: Why does Arsene Wenger not see what everyone else does?

Apr 22, 2011

Scott Parker Wins Football Writers Award 2011. It Should Have Gone to Luis Nani


Scott Parker has been voted 2011 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association. The West Ham midfielder is believed to have beaten off stiff competition from the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Jack Wilshire, Luis Nani, and Gareth Bale who won this years PFA Footballer of the Year award last week.

However, while no one would begrudge the likable Hammers midfielder the award - he has been the only ray of light at Upton Park this season - one must ask how Luis Nani of Manchester United fame did not win either the FWA or PFA awards?

Apr 20, 2011

EPL: Tottenham Hotspur 3-3 Arsenal: Spurs Win North London Derby After Draw...


Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal served up yet another game of the season contender as they drew 3-3 in the North London Derby at White Hart Lane tonight. With both teams desperate for all three points a draw was the last thing either Arsene Wenger or Harry Redknapp had wanted.

However, the Spurs manager will be the happier as his team fought back from 3-1 down to draw level before dominating the rest of the game with Wojciech Szczesny coming to Arsenal's rescue as he repelled Tottenham attack after attack.

Apr 19, 2011

Stan Kroenke and Arsenal: The More Things Change The More They Stay The Same


It would seem that the old adage of "the more things change, the more they stay the same" will be most apt following Stan Kroenke's move to take control of the boardroom at Arsenal FC.

The American businessman is now in receipt of 62 percent of the club and is facing an uphill battle to take full control of it after both Alisher Usmanov (26 percent) and the Arsenal Supporters Trust (claims to own 3 percent and represent up to 15 percent) both refused to sell him their holdings within the club.

As such, the boardroom is now locked in a stalemate; on the pitch the club are more interested in finishing in the top four than winning trophies and given Stan Kroenke's past, this philosophy looks like it will be continued into the future...