League Cup

Congrats to Derby County and Burnley following their victories last night as they progress to the semi-finals.

A terrific performance from Burnley saw them beat Arsenals youngsters 2-0 whilst Derby also beat Premier League opposition in Stoke City 1-0, thanks to a Nathan Ellington penalty.

However, I can’t see any shocks in this evenings games, and i believe that the holders Tottenham Hotspur will beat Watford, and that Man United will see off Paul Ince’s Blackburn Rovers.

Just Some Quick Questions

Are Liverpool, despite being top of the league, serious contenders for the title? Another 0-0 draw at home simply won’t cut it if their to win the league, especially with Man United starting to hit form. Can they win the title 18 years after their last league win?

Congrats to Cristiano Ronaldo for winning the Ballon d’or, the award given to European footballer of the Year. However, despite his brilliance, personally I think Lionel Messi is the better player. What do u think? Is Ronaldo the best player in the world? Or is there someone else out there?

And why are Arsenal the most frustrating side in the country. A hammering at the City of Manchester Stadium followed by a fantastic win at Stamford Bridge. Can they find the consistency needed to mount a serious title assault?

Ronaldo Off As United Win, Whilst Arsenal Shock Chelsea

Manchester United emerged victorious from the Manchester derby against City by one goal to nil, despite having Cristiano Ronaldo sent off, whilst a Robin van Persie double saw Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

At Eastlands, United were in cruise control during the first half as they created chances and dominated possession against a lacklustre City side. Indeed the most fight shown by City came from a ballboy who forcefully threw the ball back to Ronaldo. With Carrick and Fletcher running midfield, and young starlet Rafael nullifying the threat of Robinho City lacked any sort of spark.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when a Wayne Rooney tap-in gave United the lead, following a shot from Michael Carrick that Joe Hart could only parry into the England forwards path.

In the second half and Ronaldo, expected to be announced as the European footballer of the year on Monday (the Ballon d’or), was sent off in strange circumstances. Having been booked for a foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips when it looked like he had played the ball, the Portugese winger handled from a corner, when had he headed the ball he would have surely scored. The United number 7 claimed he had heard a whistle from the crowd, but referee Howard Webb had no choice but to show him a second yellow card and the red.

As it was, United saw out the final twenty minutes fairly comfortably and took three points from the City of Manchester Stadium.

At Stamford Bridge Chelsea took a lead against Arsenal, lead by new captain Cesc Fabregas, thanks to an own goal by Swiss defender Johan Djourou, as he diverted a Bosingwa cross into his own net. Until that point the first half had been quite even and it continued to be so. After half time and Arsenal were dominated by Chelsea and it looked like a matter of time until the blues extended their lead.

However, cometh the hour and cometh the man as Robin van Persie, the injury-prone Dutch forward, turned the game on its head with two goals in three minutes.

Firstly, a crisp right-foot strike slammed the ball into the top right hand corner past Petr Cech, from the edge of the penalty area, despite replays showing he was in an offside position when the ball was played.

Three minutes later and he sent a sweet left foot strike low past Cech’s despairing dive into the bottom right corner of the net, inflicting on Chelsea their second home defeat of the season and giving Arsenal the slightest hope in their chase for the title.

Elsewhere this weekend and Bolton were the big winners as they destroyed Sunderland at the Stadium of Light 4-1. Djibril Cisse had given the Mack’ems the lead, but Matthew Taylor, Gary Cahill and Johan Elmander (2) sealed the win for Gary Megsons in-from side.

Everton were victorious against Harry Redknapps Spurs thanks to a deflected Steven Pienaar effort after 51 minutes. However, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, the prolific Nigerian forward, will miss the rest of the season for David Moyes side with a ruptured achilles, “A huge blow” according to Moyes.

Portsmouth threw away a two goal lead for the second time this week, only to beat Paul Ince’s Blackburn Rovers 3-2. Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe scored early in the second half, only for Matt Derbyshire and Tugay to bring Rovers level. However, ten minutes from time and a Sean Davis goal sealed the victory for Tony Adams’ side.

Bottom of the table West Brom were beaten again 2-1 at Wigan, with Emerson Boyce grabbing the winner, as Albion missed a host of chances. Stoke and Hull contested a hard fought 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium, whilst Aston Villa and Fulham, Middlesbrough and Newcastle both ended goalless.

Fantastic FA Cup Weekend

The 2nd round of the FA Cup sponsored by Eon saw some terrific games and my congratulations go out to all those sides who have progressed to round three, but especially to the giant killers of Histon, who turned over Leeds United, and to Eastwood who emerged victorious against Wycombe Wanderers, the only side in the football league still unbeaten in the league.

Great Advert For The Championship

Just thought that I’d add that the West Midlands derby between Wolves and Birmingham was a great advert for the Championship, which is still the most exciting and unpredictable league in England. An excellent match between the top two ended 1-1, goals from Cameron Jerome for Blues and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for Wolves, and was fiercely competitive, exciting and not lacking in quality. Give me an exciting game like this over one of the numerous bland and boring games the Premier League has dished up this season anyday.

Rifts and Robinho ruin Arsenals weekend

First there was the outburst from William Gallas in which he said that his team mates weren’t good enough and lacked respect. Then he told in his cryptic manner, of a player, believed to be Robin Van Persie, who was splitting the dressing room at Arsenal. Then on the eve of a big game against Mark Hughes’ Manchester City, he was stripped of his captaincy and dropped. So a bad start to the weekend for Arsene Wenger.

But my how it got worse. A lacklustre performance, showing little fight and commitment resulted in a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Eastlands. Five defeats already now for Arsenal, and surely the end of their title challenge. If Stephen Irelands third goal in a week was slightly fortuitous, then Robinho’s magnificent scooped second was anything but. A well-timed run, a defence-splitting pass from Shaun Wright-Phillips, and the mercurial Brazilian did the rest. Daniel Sturridges late penalty gave the scoreline the one-sided look it deserved, as Arsenal move from one crisis to the next, leaving a young side bereft of confidence to visit Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next weekend.

Elsewhere in the Premier League and it was possibly the most boring weekend in the history of the top flight, as Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all played out dull, 0-0 draws against Newcastle, Fulham and Aston Villa respectively.

Game of the weekend took place at Fratton Park, as Pompey and surprise-package Hull City drew 2-2, with Glen Johnsons 35-yard left volley the undoubted highlight. Elsewhere, there were wins for West Ham, Stoke, Spurs and Wigan and Bolton, meaning that no side who began the weekend in the top half emerged victorious.

101 And Counting

Congratulations to Cristiano Ronaldo, after his two goals against Stoke City in Man Utd’s 5-0 romp took him to 101 goals for the Red Devils since his move from Sporting Lisbon 5 years ago.

The question is how much more is there still to come from the Portugese forward. Also, the question remains will he move to Real Madrid in the summer? What does everyone out there think?

In salutations to Ronaldo here are some of his best goals in a United shirt.

Elsewhere this weekend and Arsenal were beaten at the Emirates by Aston Villa. A Gael Clichy own goal and a late goal from Gabby Agbonlahor giving Villa a thoroughly deserved victory. The question now is can the Midlands side pip Arsenal to a position in the top four this season?

Chelsea and Liverpool both continue to set the Premier League pace, both winning away from home to continue their good starts to the campaign. Who are favourites for the title now, as surely we must discount Arsenal after another defeat?  Personally i think Chelsea will end the season victorious, but Liverpool look much more capable of being there or thereabouts at the end of the campaign, and United’s irresistable attack will see them in the shake-up come May.

Man City continue to flatter to deceive, drawing 2-2 at the KC Stadium against Hull, with Stephen Ireland scoring twice. Who does Mark Hughes need to purchase come January to turn City into a top 6 outfit?

Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham were finally beaten by Fulham, who after 2 successive wins are into the top 10, Everton and Middlesbrough served up an entertaining 1-1draw, Wigan stole a late point at St. James’ Park thanks to a Titus Bramble header, whilst the least said about the dull clash between West Ham and Portsmouth at Upton Park the better.