Time Running Out On Ince

Time appears to be running out on Paul Ince at Blackburn after another defeat has left them as strong relegation candidates come May.

This latest defeat was a 3-1 reverse at home against high-flying Liverpool, for whom Yossi Benayoun, Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard were on target. Roque Santa Cruz, the wantaway Paraguay striker, got Blackburns consolation. Yet Ince (above) must now surely find himself under pressure and his moans about institutional racism and his old Man United connections can’t save him. He isn’t under pressure for those reasons.

He’s under pressure due to his failings as a manager.  In under six months at Ewood Park he has taken a club from relative stability (indeed the board at Ewood budgets to finish in the top 10 each season) into a relegation dogfight.

Game of the weekend unquestionably came on Sunday at Goodison as Aston Villa beat Everton 3-2. Twice Everton came from behind with goals from Joleon Lescott. Steve Sidwell, after only 34 seconds, and Ashley Young had given Villa the lead. Lescotts second equaliser came in the 93rd minute, only for Young to snatch the three points for Villa with virtually the last kick of the game.

Chelsea, Man United and Arsenal all recorded wins at the top of the table over Bolton, Sunderland and Wigan respectively.

Inconsistent Man City gained a credible point at Craven Cottage drawing 1-1 with Fulham. City, minus Robinho, took the lead through a Benjani header in the fourth minute but an excellent goal from Jimmy Bullard gave Fulham a share of the spoils. West Brom continue to be rooted to the foot of the table after a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth, Peter Crouch cancelling out Jonathan Greening’s opener.

Hull took all three points at the KC stadium beating Middlesbrough. Tuncay back-heeled Boro’ in front on 79 minutes only for them to be behind just four minutes later thanks to a Ross Turnbull own goal and a penalty from Marlon King.

Stoke came from two goals behind to gain a point at Newcastle, who lead 2-0 at half time thanks to a Michael Owen double. Will Newcastle be able to hold onto the striker (left) when the transfer window opens in January, as it seems certain he will leave of his own accord in the summer when his contract finishes. What do you think?

In Monday evenings London derby, Spurs took all three points from Upton Park thanks to goals from Ledley King and Jamie O’Hara. West Ham were unhappy about a penalty that they didn’t go but Gianfranco Zola’s shot-shy side are in desperate need of some firepower. Who should they look at in the January sales?

Champions League Wins

Chelsea and Liverpool both were victorious in Europe on Tuesday evening to secure their places in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Chelsea defeated Cluj, the Transylvannian side, 2-1 at Stamford Bridge with bad-boy Didier Drogba gettin the winner. LIverpool won 3-1 in Eindhoven against PSV with the pick of the goals a 25-yard strike from Albert Riera which flew into the top corner.

Wolves Continue To Set The Pace

Wolverhampton Wanderers continue to set the pace in the Championship returning to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Derby on Tuesday evening. Reading and Birmingham both won as the top three look like pulling away from the rest. What does everyone out there think. Will the Championship be decided by these three sides? Or can one of the chasing pack break clear and emerge in the second half of the season to take an automatic promotion place?

Germany 1-2 England

An England side devoid of regulars emerged victorious in the Olympic Stadium, Berlin against the side ranked number 2 in the world by FIFA.

12 months on from the disappointing defeat at Wembley against Croatia, costing the team a place at Euro 2008 and Steve McClaren his job, Fabio Capellos work-in-progress, as he attempts to assemble a side capable of winning the 2010 World Cup, brushed aside the challenge of Joachim Low’s Euro finalists.

With Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Emile Heskey and Theo Walcott all absent, a very-much second string England side claimed the prize scalp of Germany on home soil. Goals from Matthew Upson, the West Ham United defender winning his 12th cap, and John Terry, the captain, gave the side a deserved victory.

Prior to kick-off and Gabby Agbonlahor, the quicksilver Aston Villa forward, was the surprise inclusion in the starting eleven for his debut, which included Michael Carrick, for his first cap under Capello.

Indeed throughout the 90 minutes England were the brighter of the two sides, showing a poise in possession that was non-existent 12 months ago, prior to Capellos arrival.

Carrick and Gareth Barry at the heart of the midfield hardly sacrificed possession, whilst Stewart Downing, the much-maligned Middlesbrough winger, put in his best display in an England shirt, claiming assists for both goals and showing a conviction in every aspect of his performance, that in prior games has been redundant.

The first goal arrived after 23 minutes, when Rene Adler made a mess of an inswinging Downing corner, leaving Upson to prod into the net from no more than 2 yards. With Agbonlahor looking threatening going forward, alongside Jermain Defoe, and the side looking sound defensively, England were coasting when half-time arrived.

At the interval, Defoe was replaced by Darren Bent, the in-form Tottenham Hotspur striker, whilst James was replaced by Scott Carson, his first appearance since that fateful night 12 months ago.

And it was a mix-up between Carson and captain Terry that enabled Germany to grab an equaliser. A poor ball forward by the impish winger Piotr Trochowski, should have been easily dealt with, but a horrible mix-up enabled Patrick Helmes to nick the ball through the legs of Carson and level the scores. Terry later took responsibility for the mistake, but it will most-likely be Carson who pays for it in the long run.

Terry atoned for the error with a winner in the 83rd minute, when he rose at the far post to head a Downing free-kick into the net, Giving Capellos troops a victory.

 Those regulars who were missing now may well have a fight on their hands to regain their places, whilst the question will be asked: How many with aches and strains will be willing to risk missing the friendly against Spain in February for fear of losing their places? 

England: James (Carson,46), Johnson, Bridge, Terry, Upson, Wright-Phillips (Crouch,90), Barry, Carrick, Downing, Defoe (Bent,46), Agbonlahor (Young,77)

Impressive: Agbonlahor, Downing, Carrick

Unimpressive: Carson, Bent, Bridge

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.