Tag Archive for 'premier-league' Page 2 of 6

Away to Wigan to win the league ?

Published by
Paul
at May 11, 2008 in Previews. 3 Comments

Well, if the Premier League really is a marathon, we’ve just got to that last bit with Manchester United and Chelsea level at the front.  It has turned into a sprint at the death, and we’ll see which team has the energy left to get themselves over the line, or fall over embarrassingly 5 yards from the end.

If both teams win, we’ll need a photo finish, but luckily United would win it then.  Chelsea have to better United’s result.  The last time this happened was 40 years ago and then it was United and City.  United fell over losing to Sunderland away, but picked themselves up to win the biggest prize of all, the European Cup.  The last time the league was won on goal difference was 1989 when Arsenal beat Liverpool in the last game of the season.  I still remember the goal by Michael Thomas.  That was something else.  Arsenal needed to win by two goals and did so, but only in the 88th minute.

All, we can do now is cross our fingers and hope that United are able to do the business.  Wish them luck.

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Manchester United 4 West Ham United 1

Published by
Paul
at May 5, 2008 in Reviews. 0 Comments

Manchester United 4 (Ronaldo 3, 24, Tevez 26, Carrick 59) West Ham United 1 (Ashton 28)

A very early goal, combined with playing a team already on their summer holidays meant United moved to within 1 win of the title.   From the moment Ronaldo was allowed far too much room to take a shot and score in the third minute this was always going to be a United victory.  However, the stupid sending off of Nani threatened to change the game, and Nani will be heavily punished for his stupidity.

Whilst Ronaldo was sent off for a headbutt that was more of a eyebrow brush in the 2nd game of the season, Nani’s attempt was far more effective at hurting his opponent, and he was rightly sent off.  What was worse was the desperate attempts at play acting.  Last time he does that, one can only hope.

That black moment aside, this was a good result.  Ronaldo tucked his 2nd of the game and 40th of the season using his thigh, but a couple of minutes later Tevez scored a screamer that had his ex-fans clapping in appreciation.  Tevez has been a little underused and somewhat in the shadow of Ronaldo this season.  His performances against West Ham and Barcelona prove that he could still become a United great.

A couple of minutes later, it was the United fan’s turn to applaud an opposition goal.  A lofted ball into the box had both Dean Ashton and Rio Ferdinand backpeddling.  As Rio tried to get his head to the ball, Ashton decided he could make better use of his feet and managed to produce a magnificent overhead kick.  Unfortunately for him, he seemed to injure himself in the process.  Ashton has been tipped as a possible United signing, and whilst I don’t see it myself, he proved today was a good player he is.

Despite being down to 10 men, it was mostly cruise control for United, especially when another ex-Hammer got United’s 4th.  Carrick picked the ball up in midfield and was allowed far too much time to set himself for a shot.  There was a deflection that wrong footed the keeper, Green and the ball was in the net.  Despite conceding 4, Green was at fault for none of the goals.

The game ended 4-1 and United go to Wigan knowing that a win will see them win the league.   Wigan are clear of the relegation zone and whilst will still pose a threat, they don’t have anything to play for.  Mind you, we might still win it on Monday night when Chelsea face Newcastle.  Stranger things have happened.

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Chelsea 2 Manchester United 1

Published by
Paul
at April 28, 2008 in Reviews. 2 Comments

We’re in a bit of trouble, largely of our own doing.  People who laugh at Rafa Benitez for rotating his team too much can now look at Sir Alex Ferguson and smirk quite a bit.  What was that team that was put out?  I can understand the logic, the gamble if you will.  Fergie must have thought that given that even if we lose the title is in our own hands, it was worth resting Ronaldo and playing Fletcher and Silvestre.

Three out of the first four 1st choice defenders was probably a good move, but it was let down, firstly by Wes Brown giving the ball away in the first minute setting the tone for the rest of the half.  Then, the unfortunate loss of Vidic, providing that actually he isn’t a machine and does bleed if you knee him in the face hard enough.  He didn’t look pretty beforehand.

The goal was inevitable.  But then Chelsea decided that they’d do their own bit of imploding, gifting Rooney a goal and then fighting like children over freekicks.  I thought they were going to give us the title, but it turned the other way again.  It probably was a penalty.  Carrick had time to move his hand, I think.

So, we lose 2-1 and now need to win against West Ham and Wigan.  West Ham should be a win.  They are a bogey side, but usually at Upton Park.  Last season we lost at home, but West Ham needed the points and we didn’t care.  We should have and we could have sent them down.  We’d have more likely won away to the team they replaced, Sheffield United and have three more points and the league in the bag.

Congrats to Ronaldo for winning a meaningless personal award.  It will look very annoying if he can’t put a league winners medal next to it.

But it is the Champions League next.  Too close to call and likely to be another tense night.  No live blogging this time, I need to concentrate more on the game and not the laptop.  Come on you Reds.

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Title decider Chelsea preview

Published by
Paul
at April 25, 2008 in Previews. 2 Comments

It comes down to this game at Stamford Bridge, 12:45 BST to decide the title, more or less.  A win and the title is our (except not mathematically), a draw and we need one more victory to be sure.  A defeat would not be good news, but unless we lose 20-0, the title would still be in our hands, but we’d have to beat West Ham at home and Wigan away.

At this point, it is pointless trying to predict or demand the team that should play.  Fergie is the expert at winning close run ins.  Can you remember any season where United haven’t won the league when they have been in the position to do so with less than 3 games to play?  Except for 1995.  Because that doesn’t count.  Because of Eric Cantona and that Crystal Palace fan.  If Ronaldo had attacked a fan in February and been banned we wouldn’t be close to winning the league this season.

Let’s just say no other team deserves to win the league this season.  Arsenal fell away badly and blew it after doing so well early on.  Chelsea are no where near as strong this season and are hanging onto our coat tales this season, instead of pushing us over the line.  I think we’ll prove that tomorrow lunchtime and get the three points.

I sort of think that was the plan in Barcelona.  The performance was defensive, and we played well within ourselves, but made sure we were still in the contest.  We are still very fresh for Chelsea.  Fergie even took off Rooney, probably to rest him for this match.  Tevez started on Wednesday because he won’t be starting tomorrow.  Anderson will be.  I’m not sure about Giggs.  Will Fergie go for the experience, or send in Nani to try to blow a hole on the slower legs of the Chelsea rightback.  Ashley Cole is quick, so is Carvalho.  Terry and Ferreira are not.

Let’s see.  I’m going for a 2-1 win (Ronaldo and Rooney).

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The Title Run in

Published by
Paul
at April 21, 2008 in Manchester United. 1 Comment

The gap is back down to three points but United’s goal difference is so much better, those three points are more like four. United would have to lose to Chelsea and drop more points to either West Ham or Wigan. West Ham at Old Trafford is certainly not the same as West Ham at Upton Park. Wigan away is more of an issue, especially if Wigan are somehow dragged back into relegation trouble. So the job is to get a point or more from Chelsea.

If we win against Chelsea, only some rather freakish set of 5-0 loses for United and 5-0 wins for Chelsea would give the London side the title. Actually even then, United would win the league on goals scored, but only a statistics freak would have calculated that !

If the more likely draw occurs at Stanford Bridge, United would one need a further win (assuming an extra freakish 10-0 defeat didn’t happen ….)

But first, the small matter of a trip to the Nou Camp for a semi-final of small importance.  I’ll be live blogging again, as long as I can persuade the wife to record The Apprentice, so come back here on Wednesday night.

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