Super Super Sunday

Super Sunday x2 that is.

Its the clash of the giants on the same night!

I'm talking about Liverpool vs Man Utd and Arsenal vs Chelsea, where like it or not, these are make or break games. These are the games that will get you another step closer to the title. A win here basically means 3 points for yourselves, and denying your opponents a single point. No matter how much anyone plays the situation down, there is absolutely no doubt that this are important big games at important times.

Lets look at Liverpool vs Manchester United. Liverpool are without Agger and Xabi(ok lah, recovering) but they are unlikely to start. Man Utd are without Gary Neville but Owen Hargreaves is set to return in this match. As far as form and pressure goes, Liverpool might be relieved that they made it through the Champions League, but Man Utd are doing very well in the League, besides the defeat to Bolton.

Liverpool might not have a good run of games against Man Utd in recent times, but that was before Fernando Torres wore a red shirt. He will be the difference maker tonight, if there is one.

Its fair enough to predict that tonight's game will end up in a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal vs Chelsea is another big game, where Arsenal are without plenty of important players. Chelsea are without Drogba which is also a major blow. Both teams proved worthy this season but it is also another safe bet that this one would also end up as a draw.

We'l see

Arsenal vs Man Utd

It doesnt get any bigger than this. Another match in between the big four and this one is in between the English Champions and the title pretenders.

Before the season, everyone is talking about Man Utd's signings strengthening the squad and how powerful they will be this season. Everyone is also talking about how Henry's departure will leave Arsenal to dry. Well the Young Arsenal squad did prove a lot of people wrong.

This would be a test match, a test for both teams. Arsenal might have a good run thus far, until the Liverpool Match last week, it is safe to say that Arsenal is not tested in the highest level of football just yet. Same goes to Manchester United, although they were involved in a match with a very screwed up then Chelsea.

No need to talk about the rivalry and history between the clubs, everyone knows how big this game is.

My rough predictions for this match would be another 1-1 draw.

Man Utd vs Roma

Remember that 7-1 scoreline from a few months back, in the same fixture? I remembered watching the first leg where Roma won by 2-1. I was happy enough to hope for a draw between the two in the next leg then, and when I woke up a little late and saw Man Utd with a 4 goal lead. Then they scored some more.

It doesn't reflect the quality difference between the teams really. If I could conclude on how that happened in the first place as just pure focus. Lets not forget self belief. After 2 goals, Roma was probably shivering inside, wondering what, how and why they are even alive.

This time I assure everyone it will be different. No matter what, there will be no goal fest, at least not like last season's game.

Roma will walk into this game with injuries and bad form (4-1 lost to Inter) while Man Utd will be heading to this one picking up form (even though they played badly) and with fit again players.

On paper, looks like a 2-1 or 2-0 win for United. Not too difficult.

Mickey Mouse Cup Updates

Let the first sentence of this post be about Man Utd losing to Coventry by a scoreline of 2-0. Lets forget about how unimportant this cup can be, but face it, losing at home to a team in the lower division, especially when you were the English Champions a few months back is just plain bad. What makes it worst is that the score is 2-0, not a game where Man Utd had so many chances but were unlucky and Coventry made 1 good move to steal the game with a 1-0 win.

You know what else, I can't even remember the scorers name. I have sneak into soccernet.com right now, and in a couple of seconds I won't be able to remember his name. You can write it on a sheet of paper and stick it in front of me, and I won't even be able to tell you who he is. I don't even know if I'm pronouncing it right. All I know about him is that he is from Malta.

Man Utd lost 2-0 to Coventry. Just like to point that out one more time :)

So what if its a weak team. Lets not forget Nani and Anderson are playing in this game. Both players cost as much as the whole of Coventry's squad. Simply no excuses.

Wait am I suppose to let you all know about the other scores as well, no need right? Just take a moment to cherish this Man Utd lost :)

Reds ate Rams

Premier League

Final - Anfield Attendance: 44,076

Liverpool 6 - 0 Derby

Xabi Alonso (27) Ryan Babel (45) Fernando Torres (56) Xabi Alonso (69) Andrej Voronin (76) Fernando Torres (78)

Its like having a 90 minute orgasm, unless you are actually rooting for Derby to win.
On any other day, more than half the team deserves to win man of the match award. Let me remind everyone that this is the side without Steven Gerrard or Jamie Carragher. Overall everyone played well, Finnan was consistent, Hyppia and Agger never really gave Derby a chance, Aberloa is showing how much he's matured and how he deserves to be involved in every minute of Liverpool's games so far. In midfield, Xabi was excellent, Marcherano is tackling from behind legally(best tackler I've ever seen), Pennant had a great day, Babel, I thought he was just an extra man after losing possession so many times , until he scored that brilliant goal. Kuyt was working so hard, and Torres simply proved why Liverpool paid so much for him. Hey, even the subs were good, Voronin's first touch was a goal, excellent mins per goal ratio. Lets not forget Reina who watched the match from his goal post.

Elsewhere, Fulham scored 1 fluke and 1 acrobatic bicycle kick to draw 3-3 with Tottenham. Robinson is really not doing well, I hope he is not in your fantasy football team.

Roy Keane and Dwight Yorke returns to Man Utd, and were pretty unlucky to lose to another fluke header by Saha. Man of the match was clearly Craig Gordon with his 9 million pound save(shot by saha). The game ended 1-0.

Oh and Owen scored for Newcastle's first home win.

Man Utd's first win

Argh they finally won. But against a very unlucky Tottenham side, and it could have been a disaster for United.

Nani scored a very good looking goal, but truthfully, it was pretty close to the centre just showing how bad Paul Robinson's positioning was. It was a good goal though.

I was waiting for a Man Utd defeat as they were 2nd from the bottom before the game. It could make a good conversation ice breaker to friends that enjoys football like I do.

Arsenal beaten Man City and nearly did not succeed and ended Man City's excellent start.

What is wrong with Man Utd?

Out of 3 matches, 2 draws and a loss. One would expect this start for a team battling relegation. It might be just 3 games, but this is the worst start Man Utd have in years. Some are just debating that its the early season jitters. Just a little early bump they say. 16th place as off now. Thats just bad.

The English Champions, making great signings as far as paper goes. Nani, regarded as a Cristiano Ronaldo Clone. Hey, which team wants to handle 2 Cristiano Ronaldos? Anderson is seen as another Paul Scholes, Owen Heargreaves, one of England's best in the previous World Cup, and Carlos Tevez, we all know what he did with West Ham last season.

Put all of these together with the current squad, sounds really good right?

Or so we thought.

I can tell you what is wrong with a couple of keywords.

Hype, aging, expectations.

All leads to failure.

18/8/07 EPL weekend preview

Who cares about the other matches, the spot light is on Liverpool vs Chelsea and Manchester City vs Man Utd.

About Liverpool vs Chelsea, Since Mourinho and Benitez was in charge the league record favours Chelsea, and the Cup record favours Liverpool, and this is the League. Statistics will tell us that this match is going Chelsea's way. And mind you, these 2 men I believe are not friends.

Another issue that is brought up would be the spending habits of the both clubs. Liverpool spending 40 million pounds, and Chelsea not in their usual shopping mood but gotten themselves a couple of players. Will this match be decided by the new signings, most probably. Malouda is showing that he's a hell of a player, and with Drogba out, Pizarro wants to prove more of himself, while Ben Haim is trying to prove that he is not Boulahrouz. On the Liverpool's side, I believe the strikers would like to open their EPL accounts, and All eyes will be on Fernando Torres. Will he shine?

Man City vs Man Utd, Local derby, and its not the usual Man City we know. Sven might not do well in the national level, but history is with him at club management. City might not be equipped with Trophy winning materials, but they are one of the surprise packages of the season that I believe a lot of people overlooked.

In this match, with a Rooney and Ronaldoless Man Utd playing, I would love to watch them fall. It will be a preview of Scholes, Giggs and Neville showing that their past is the only thing they can be proud of, Nani showing that he is no Cristiano Ronaldo no matter what people say, Tevez wished he was still in West Ham, O'Shea striking again(hahahahaha) Van der Sar's oily gloves, oh the pleasure!

Rooney out for 2 months

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this has to be the third time, Rooney had a foot injury. This time it is only a fracture, but it would take 2 months to heal and probably another month to get back on form.

I think a lot of people will blame it on the boot, Nike's been defending themselves about this. But seriously, 20% of the players in the EPL is wearing this boot. Half of them got a fractured foot? Broken bone?

Can blame it on pure bad luck, but 3 times in 3 years is a little too common I must say. It comes down to this. Hype. Everyone wants to tackle the player that can win games. And when they do it passionately, no body wants to be Wayne Rooney any more.

Personally I hoped that he would be injured for the rest of the season, causing striking problems for Man Utd, hence ending their title reign.

Manchester United Season Preview

The Champions are going to defend their title this time around.

I don't like Manchester United, and my reason is that A lot of United fans are not sincere, (not all) but there are a lot who just wants to support them because of glory. Same goes to Chelsea fans too. I could never understand how this person who is a Man Utd fan 4 years ago, suddenly became a Chelsea fan and finally a Man Utd fan all over again. No loyalty.

Last season, two names brought United the title, Rooney and Ronaldo. Both have a heavy burden to bear again this season. This season, new signings, Anderson, Nani, Owen Hargreaves and the not yet signed Tevez, just made the team sound so darn strong on paper. Nani's the new Ronaldo, Tevez, we know him too well, bla bla bla. Great hype comes great expectations.

And I would like to see them fail like crazy!

Haha!

I think the worst they could finish is probably a 3rd spot in the League and I hope they do. How? Screw up the first few games, injuries to strikers meant that United will be forcing the goals out of their midfield, and we will see Giggs and Scholes slowing down to grandpa's pace, plus over ambitious Ferguson starting to play midfielders as strikers, and defenders as midfielders. The Charity shield will be the only trophy they will win all season!

muahhahahah!

Manchester United wins Charity Shield

After a 1-1 draw, Man Utd won the game by penalties. 3-0 is the scoreline.

But lets look at the game first. Man Utd, having an average game, open the scoring with Ryan Giggs unmarked, blasting the top corner of the goal, leaving the defense helpless, while Malouda is showing a lot of promise with his effort that got him the goal a few minutes later.

Other players that shined includes Shaun Wright Phillips. My only concern is that this young dude does not look at where he's crossing.

With Terry out as well, we get to see Ben Haim. And he plays like Boulahrouz!

In the end, I confirmed my knowledge that Chelsea does not know how to take penalties in a shootout. 3 misses out of 3 is weak in any level.

What Chelsea can be satisfied about is the fact that the Charity Shield winner usually does not win the EPL. We'll see.

Rhain Davis

Ever since a few years back, instead of signing super stars, a lot of teams are signing potential stars. These potential stars are young and are showing promise that they can be world class players. Signing them young means that you can get them for cheap, and you get all the credit for discovering a gem.

Any football manager player would know about Freddy Adu, before he even have a glimpse of him in action. I found him in the game at 13 years of age, like a lot of others. They said he's promising, a future great, so much promise, and I think he just peaked when he was 15.

Point is, these hot prospects are getting younger and younger. A few years back, signing a 20 year old would be considered young.

And these talents get younger and younger. There are so many next (insert footballer name).. and so on.

This kid is no exception.



Watch this video.

Rhain Davis. He's only 9. And Manchester United wants to sign him. Compared to Wayne Rooney, bla bla bla..

He's bloody nine! When I was 9, I went to class and my English Teacher told us Enid Blyton is a horrible writer.

He's bloody 9! Yes, he has a great footballing gift no doubt, but if he improves his game to a level where he can play with the big boys (we always assume they get better dont we?), when will that be? Okay, lets say he starts his first team career young. How bout in 7 bloody years.

Soon, they will be signing 2 year olds who can kick a plush toy as far as 10 meters. And they will call him the next Eric Cantona.

Okay, I'm assuming you saw the video by now. That's talent! :)