Saturday 13 February 2010

FA Cup weekend!!!

Good day to you sports fans!

So it's FA cup weekend and once again I would like to know who you think will come out on top or cause an upset.

The first game of the day Chelsea V Cardiff has started and Chelsea are 1-0 up Drogba).
So I'm going to predict a 1-0 victory here.. :) No, I can see Chelsea winning this game 3-0, their home record is from another planet, amazing stuff.

Derby V Birmingham, this could be quite a tight game and a hard one to predict. I think it could be a draw and we will see a replay here.

Man City V Stoke, I hope City are up for a battle here as I think Stoke will go to Eastlands full of confidence and try and rough City up. If City's stars are fully up for this game though I think they will come out on top.

Reading V West Brom, another hard game to call Reading have had a great cup run so far and lets not forget they beat Liverpool at Anfield. However West Brom are top of the Championship and playing good football., West Brom to nick this one for me.

Southampton V Portsmouth, I think this could be a tricky tie for Pompey against the Saints. However I would like to see Pompey win here as they are going through a terrible time at the moment and it's sad to see. Grant the Manager deserves something to go his way.

Bolton V Spurs, well this is going to be a battle I think and Spurs will want to bounce back after a woeful performance in the week against Wolves. If Spurs score the first goal they might be okay, stats back this up. But Bolton will be in Tottenham's face from the off, we know how dangerous they are from set-pieces and Spurs will need to be physically strong in this game.
Spurs to get a draw I feel and settle it back at the Lane. COYS.

Crystal Palace V Aston Villa, this is a huge game for Palace and I think they will certainly test Villa but I see the premiership outfit coming out on top. Villa defend so well as a team and are so hard to score against. If Palace score the first goal it could be interesting but I do think Villa will win.

Fulham V Notts County, well one thing is for sure Sven won't be at the cottage! I think Fulham will win this tie, they are not easy to beat at home and I think they will have to much for Notts County.

What are you thoughts folks, do you agree with any of these predictions or do you think things will turn out differently? Please let us know.....!

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Judgement day for the Gunners...

Tonights fixture at home to Liverpool will certainly signal how the season is going to pan out. With a trip to Tottenham and a home fixture vs Man City the only top 7 sides left to play this term, Arsenal can either turn it around tonight and propel themselves back into contention or lose and face a dog fight for 3rd/4th place.

Liverpool have gone under the radar recently and out of the media's glare, mainly because their form has improved (won last 7 from 9) and in part because Arsenals glittering 10 match unbeaten run has been blown out of the water by Chelsea and Man Utd. This is surely the perfect time for the Scoucers to finally win at The Emirates.

So what has gone wrong at Arsenal? Is it because Wenger didn't spend in the Jan window? Is it because the kids just simply aren't good enough to go to the next level? Whatever it is, it appears at the moment that it has gone wrong once again at the pivotal time of the season. It almost seems traditional now that the wheels fall off in Feb (remember two seasons ago when Arsenal were top and flying - Eduardo broke his leg then Arsenal went on a 4 game drawing streak and let Man Utd back into the title race..)

Lee Dixon has written an interesting article on the BBC site where he talks about the defensive frailties at Arsenal. He mentions that back in the days of the legendary back 4 of Adams, Bould, Dixon and Winterburn when Wenger first took over, he realised that those guys knew what they were doing and left them to it... I wonder if to some degree that is the case now, with Gallas being the experienced head teaching the younger ones?

Set pieces and crosses - at both ends there are issues that need addressing. How long before Arsenal realise that unless you have a target man 6ft or taller, all crosses and free kicks will be taken comfortably by the opposition. At the other end, someone needs to show the youngsters how to stick to your man, Drogba is difficult to hold on to anyway but when he's given freedom to smash it in at the back post unmarked.. Oh dear.

Arsenal have almost gone from trying to walk it in to just running to the byline then gifting possession to the opposition.

This may seem like a rant, and it probably is! It's just so frustrating to see a group of talented athletes throw it all away when they are so close to victory, long overdue victory at that! The sad truth is that without victory, the stars of the team are likely to move on, Cesc, RvP, Arshavin even Vermaelen - leaving a very bare team in which someone has to try and build on. I personally cannot see Wenger continuing as manager for much longer, he appears to be letting it all get to him now and also do the fans still believe in him? He'll go upstairs soon, or even to manage a country.. Who would take over though? Who would want to take over??

If Wenger can gain a victory tonight it'll be his 300th in the Premier League, second to reach that behind Sir Alex.

Let's get the season back on track yeah lads?

Sunday 7 February 2010

Now a 2 horse race...surely?

Well a weekend that saw some of the big guns falter - the Premiership is surely now a two horse race. Man Utd on course for a 4th crown in as many years vs a very efficient and well drilled Chelsea.

Manchester United showed their ability to destroy their rivals last weekend where they tore Arsenal apart at the Emirates Stadium and showed their ruthlessness this weekend by tormenting a wounded Portsmouth.

Chelsea have shown their grit and determination as they have been rocked by the media hype surrounding their club captain John Terry. They suffered at the hand of Hull City in the week where they were held to a 1-1 draw, priceless for the Tigers who backed that up with the defeat of Man City this weekend. Chelsea however inflicted a backlash of everything that's gone on, on Arsenal - 2-0 was the scoreline at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon piling further misery and pressure on the Gunners. True to tradition, Didier Drogba inflicted the most pain on Arsenal with two first half goals gifted to him thanks to defensive errors.. the pain continues for us Arsenal fans, surely its all over for the reds until next season. Only the Champions League left now, I bet Wenger wishes he'd taken the away day at Stoke more seriously now...

Elsewhere a very heated Merseyside derby ended in victory for the ever improving Liverpool. Dirk Kuyt once again on the scoresheet. 2 red cards and endless yellows ensured that the DA will surely be handing out a few fines to each side!

As mentioned above, Hull beat City 2-1 to drag themselves out of the relegation zone. Can Hull stay in the Premier League again this season? Phil Brown seems to have put something in his players Weetabix of late and it seems to be doing the trick! 4 points from what looked like a certain 0 vs Chelsea and City, just shows what a home crowd can do for you.

As for relegation - who is set for the drop this time? Now we enter the business end of the season its becoming increasingly more apparent that Portsmouth look destined for the PL chop. That is if they survive the financil guillotine... I was at Craven Cottage on Wednesday to see a determined display from both sides with Fulham edging the well fought game 1-0 through a Jon Greening goal. New signing Okaka made his debut and nearly got a goal but squandered from 2 yards out. Fulham failed to get on the score sheet this weekend with a goalless draw at Bolton.

All attentions are currently beyond match of the day now and on Miami, Florida where the Indianapolis Colts are taking on Super Bowl debutantes the New Orleans Saints. At time of writing the Colts are 3-0 up after a field goal from the oldest player to play in a Super Bowl. Its been a fairly even game thus far but you'd expect Peyton Manning to start showing all his experience and consistent form to steer the Colts to a win. However the Saints have played some of the best ball this season and are tipped to cause an upset tonight. Of course they have their motivation in that their stadium was used as a shelter for those left homeless during hurricane Katrina a few years back. It would be poetic if they were to win tonight.

Update!! The Colts just scored a Touchdown thanks to a pinpoint pass from Peyton Manning. He's already starting to turn the screw.. Colts lead 10-0 at the end of the first quarter.