PREMIER LEAGUE 2009/10

Arrrrrh,zidane yes your right i should of said at home , i think its 6 of the top premiership sides? i am sure you will quote me on this. i recieved this info off 4 guys who were wearing man utd shirts but spoke with a cockney tongue?

Sunday, 4 April 2010
Barclays Premier League
Birmingham 1-1 Liverpool
Everton 2-2 West Ham
Fulham 2-1 Wigan

Despite having the A side out Pool could not overcome Brum. For some strange reason Raffa decided to play Gerrard in a rather more defensive role than the normal runner from midfield when Torres is playing. As soon as he actually stepped forward (early in the second half) he scored to put Pool in front. It was not to last though & Brum equalised. That was enough for the Spanish Waiter who then decided that enough was enough for this match & took off Torres, saving him for the mid-week Europe game no doubt. He has a dismal record against Brum in the league - not having won once in his 6 years at Liverpool, so probably didn't want to blot his record. Either that or he does not fancy playing Liverpool in the European Cup with his new club next season. Anyway, without some sort of minor miracle the 4th. spot is well out of their grasp. Torres is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the world, let alone the EPL. How he has been treated this season at Liverpool has been puzzling, to say the least. A cynic might even suggest some deliberate ploy might be being used to encourage him elsewhere after South Africa.
Birmingham have been a revelation as to what a side can do with limited resources & playing to its strengths (similar to Fulham). I think this is now 17 home games on the trot, undefeated, OK a lot of draws in there, but great for home fans to see. Plus having managed to switch their previous owners to West Ham must be rated as the transfer of the decade!!

Everton couldn't put the boot in to the Liverpool disappointment by moving nearer to them in the League either though. They were playing West Ham, to whom the word 'struggling' is an understatement. Coming here on the back of a club record 6 consecutive losses & just nothing going for them. And so it looked like it would continue here after a disappointing first half. After going one down Hammers were offered the life line of a penalty - which Milo duly missed. They came out for the second half revitalised by maybe the half time orange juice & deservedly equalised, not once but twice to gain a valuable point from the game.
I guess the Toffee's are not playing for much other than to reach season end & I suppose the fans will be OK with seeing a bit of a 4 goal thriller rather than even a boring 1 goal win, but I am thinking that the chance to finish on or around Pool will still be a driving point for many!! The only bad news on the night was that Hammer's Scot Parker picked up yet another yellow to miss the next 2 games on the totting up process. He will certainly be missed on last night's showing.

To make the Hammers even happier on their return to London must have been the news that neighbours Fulham had dispatched Wigan. Wigan even went into half time a goal up & so up to 14th. & 7 points out of danger. It all went wrong in the second half though & Fulham eased out 2-1 winners and so Wigan remain only 4 points clear & their nail bitter of a season continues for a little longer especially as 3rd. from bottom Hull have a game in hand..
I feel very sorry for Wigan manager Roberto Martinez. He was doing an excellent job at lowly placed, but quickly improving Swansea. Everyone associated with that club were gutted when he took on the Wigan job, but maybe the Premiership was a step too far for someone still learning the manager's job. A look at the list of the current Premiership Managers shows just what a battle hardened bunch they are. To take them on with very few financial resources is always going to be a uphill battle...

red67 wrote: i recieved this info off 4 guys who were wearing man utd shirts but spoke with a cockney tongue?

Was it just after Chelsea were eliminated from the Champions League ? It sounds like Galee and his Chelsea golfing mates......always like to follow the top team.....they are back wearing Chelsea shirts and talking in Russian accents now!

Watched the Birmingham v Liverpool match last night.When Gerrard scored just after half time that should have been it but ten minutes later they let Ridgwell in for the equaliser.
After 65 minutes with the score 1-1 Benitez took off Torres and brought on N'gog.
N'gog is a promising young player but he missed three good chances of which you would have fancied Torres to score a couple.I know Torres wasnt having such a great game but surely you dont take off a world class striker with 25 minutes to go in a game you really have to win.
In the last 5 minutes Liverpool had several good chances to win the game.The more I see of Maxi Rodriguez the more I think he is Liverpools equivalent of Berbatov !
Very difficult for Liverpool to get that 4th Champions League spot now.They are four points behind Citeh who have a game in hand.
For sure they will have to beat Chelsea and maybe let United back in the title race.Also they will be reliant on United beating City and doing them a favour.What a dilemma for Liverpool fans.The outpatients at the Paolo Pschyciatric Ward will be full of elderly scousers asking for increased medication !
Benitez has made some amazing tactical blunders this season....not that I'm complaining !

Elsewhere in the Premiership,Fulham beat Wigan 2-1 and West Ham got a shock 2-2 draw at Everton !

Benitez has mades some amazing tactical blunders this season(think thats a understatement) one of them is to play lucas ,think 4th spot has well gone now,zidane less of the elderly scousers im 43 and three quarters

Saturday, 10 April 2010
Barclays Premier League
Hull 1-4 Burnley
West Ham 1-0 Sunderland

How times change!! I can remember when football matches ONLY took place on a Saturday at 3.00 p.m. Now that appears to be the rarity...
However it was time to put the spotlight on those struggling with relegation.
Portsmouth have been doomed for a while now, Burnley have looked resigned to their fate, the 3rd. unwanted spot has looked like a battle between Hull & West Ham - with West Ham looking more & more likely to be the ones going down.
So the probably outcome of these two matches looked like Hull might manage to edge away from danger, Burnley totally give up hope, West Ham slump to the last relegation place & Sunderland reaching 41 points & so the celebration of being safe.
Just how wrong could have that scenario have been?? The Hammers came out fighting, wanting to put on a good show at home. However as the first half progressed all the cards appeared to be with Sunderland. It went in at 0-0 & after the break West Ham managed to score. They then managed to hang on for the rest of the game & so pick up 3 points. It was a strange game. Sunderland seemed to have by far the better players on the park but never really threatened. I would like to say that West Ham out muscled them - as it would at least then look like it was a desire to win that got it for them.
I dare say Gianfranco won't care how they won it & that the 3 points are certainly all that matter. They leap up to 16th. & are 3 points clear of the drop - although there are games in hand below them.
It result probably does not matter to Sunderland this season. but Steve Bruce will examine this game closely. If Sunderland want to stay in the Premiership next year then these are just the sort of matches they need to get 3 points from. Heroic draws against the top teams might get some kudos, drab wins against the strugglers are what keep you there.

All looked like it was going to plan for Hull when, after 3 minutes Kilbane netted for them. They then contrived to let the game run away from them as Burnley scored 4 times. Admittedly the first was totally against the run of play & the next two were penalties, but 3 points is all that counts. Burnley are still in the drop zone, but have pushed Hull down a place. There chances of survival still look very, very slim - but scoring 4 goals away from home will certainly help!! I just do not know about Hull. A couple of times they have had the chance to ease away from the bottom & have muffed their lines every time. They do have a game in hand over, say, West Ham but they are now 4 points behind them. The ability to move out of danger is rapidly moving out of their hands & onto the result of others. 3 points yesterday were vital & they failed again..

I watched the two Premiership games last night,as well,Bob.
Hull had a dream start scoring after 2 minutes but that was as good as it got for them.Once Burnley scored there was only going to be one winner.Hull were appalling the second half and made Burnley look a good side,which they are not !
Both these teams to accompany Pompey to the Championship,I reckon.
On the other hand West Ham looked as if they had some good young players and played some nice football at times.That said,I think Sunderland are safe and took their foot off the gas a bit.
West Ham have a decent manager in Zola and a good no2. in Clarke.Their main problem is the owners.Apparently Gold and Sullivan were shocked to find out that only 1 of the current crop of players had a pay cut written into his contract if they were relegated.
More Premiership games to follow in the next few days.Victories vital for United,City and Liverpool.Chelsea have an easy looking match midweek against Bolton and Villa face Everton.
Villa are a neat skilful team but have no cutting edge.You have to say that 7th or 8th in the Premiership is the limit of their ability,at present.
The 3-0 cup semi final win flattered Chelsea with two of the goals coming right at the end and Villa should have had a penalty in the first half but Villa posed no threat whatsoever in the second half.Chelseas 3 goals were scored by their 3 stars of the season (Drogba,Malouda and Lampard) but Villa desperately need a top class striker to support Agbonlahor if they are to make a sustained challenge for Europe and the domestic trophies next season.

Yesterday saw a premature end to the Premiership season for both Manchester United and Liverpool.
United were held 0-0 at Blackburn not a bad result in itself but proving that without Wayne Rooney United are probably no better than Villa and Everton and very lucky he didnt get injured early on in the season.
Uniteds team was....Van Der Saar,Neville,Ferdinand,Vidic,O'Shea,Scholes,Valencia,Giggs,Nani,Berbatov,Macheda.
How many of them will still be around in 2 years time ?
Uniteds,absolute minimum,signings for next season must be two top class strikers and a creative midfielder.

Any lingering hopes Liverpool had of qualifying for the Champions League were all but extinguished when they were held by Fulham 0-0 at Anfield.Torres was out injured proving that without him Liverpool are probably not even the top team on Merseyside.
Their absolute minimum requirements for next season are similar to Uniteds....two top class strikers and a creative midfielder.
Citeh all but qualified for the Champions League now after a 5-1 win over Birmingham.

FA Cup Semi Finals

Saturday, 10 April 2010
Aston Villa 0-3 Chelsea
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Tottenham 0-2Portsmouth

Sunday, 11 April 2010
Barclays Premier League
Blackburn 0-0 Man Ut
Liverpool 0-0 Fulham
Man City 5-1 Birmingham
Wolverhampton 0-0 Stoke

So, excellent weekend on all counts for Chelsea, into the final of FA cup & both challengers in the Premiership slipping as well. Mixed for Portsmouth, the results on Saturday meant that they were finally relegated, the FA final appearance will be a real fillip for their fans. The final itself promises to be a strange affair. Chelsea will probably win the Premiership, Portsmouth will be bottom. Many of Chelsea's players will be packed & ready to go and represent their country at the World Cup. Might this mean they are a bit reticent to stretch for that ball, make that tackle?? Many of the Portmouth players will be looking at a way not to play in the Championship next year. I good performance might just get that club come calling...

I thought the Blackburn game would be difficult for United, maybe not on here, but I did say that a draw was a likely result. Blackburn's first game of the season was at home - they lost. Since then they have only lost at home, once, to Spurs. United had nearly 70% of the first half possession & managed one serious shot at goal in that time. They managed more in the second half, but a draw was a fair result.
Blackburn are not going to win any prizes for exciting football but Sam makes for a well prepared & effective team. Something like three quarters of their goals have come from 'set plays'. Blackburn's aim is to get into the opponents half, grab a foul or corner & then do what you have done on the practice field all week. They defend & defend & defend and frustrate the hell out of the opposition. Teams feel that they must win at home in order to stay in the Premiership & so go looking for a goal. Against quality opponents that leaves spaces at the back and then they concede on the break. This leads to more searching for a goal & repetition. Blackburn are happy to get the corner & then execute one of their training plans. It has been highly successful for them.

It was another one of those games for Pool. In what could (with a bit of luck) be a forerunner for the Europa Cup Final, Fulham will be very happy. The points do not really matter to them - they should have mattered seriously to Liverpool. The chances of 5th. now look in doubt, 4th., after Citi's win, must be almost impossible.

The Citi game was quiet for most of the first half. Then they converted a penalty & the game exploded from 0-0 to 3-1 within 6 minutes!! They then scored a couple in the second half to cement 4th. spot. Spurs have a game in hand, but are 4 points behind. Pool now languish in 6th. having played 1 more game than Citi (so 2 more than Spurs) & are now 6 points adrift.

Wolves would have loved 3 points, but even a draw must have had them smiling. They are now 6 points above the drop & none of those below are not exactly on a winning (or even drawing) streak.

OT's a Chelsea supporter, and they went 4 points clear last night.

OT.....

Thought you were a Scunny supporter now that you and Pienmash's gran are an item !!

I didn't bother commenting on the Chelsea game as really it was just about was was expected - maybe a few more goals expected from them.. but 3 points a game is all they need...or maybe less as 1 of the 2 who could still overhaul them had a bad night last night.

Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa 2-2 Everton
Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal
Wigan 0-0 Portsmouth

3 points for either Villa or Everton might have done something to re kick start there time till the end of the season fighting for the Europa Cup competition next year. As it was it leaves neither of them with much to play for now. Cahill scored both for Everton & showed yet again this season that if Australia expect anything like a good World Cup he must remain fit over the summer. I suspect that Toffee fans will be content after the start that they had to the season but would have liked to be pushing Pool more!! I just do not know why & when Villa lost it. For so long this season they have looked a good attractive football side but since about January they have struggled for anything like a result. Bit more head scratching for O'Neil over the summer I thing.

I had this down as a pretty easy Arsenal win. Spurs have played way better than expected this season but have been showing end of season nervousness as the possibility of a place in Europe approaches. Also history was against Spurs, they have not beaten their North London neighbours in the league since 1999 - 20 games!! Spurs 19 year old debutante Rose scored a cracker after 10 minutes & then straight at the start of the second half they scored again. Spurs have the best goals conceded home record in the Premiership this season - only 10 before this game. Ledley King and Michael Dawson are having a great time at centre halves & Gomes is inspired between the sticks. Wenger decided that he must risk van Persie in his first match for 5 months & it did improve for them, but they could only manage the 1.
So it looks like Arsenal will have to be content with 3rd. spot - unless United implode. Wenger must think that he almost has it right now & with the first 11 out he probably has. However the squad still suffers too much when a number 1 -11 cannot play. Also the World Cup will undoubtedly generate yet more interest in some of his stars & the club are still reluctant to turn down a decent offer for anyone. I will still not be surprised if Arsenal end up looking for a new manager for next season.
Spurs should have wrapped up the 5th., Europa Cup place. they are now 5 points ahead of Pool & have a game in hand. Harry must be delighted, far,far better season than anyone could have suggested & some of the Spurs players are starting to look class on a consistent basis. However you are never quite sure with him. Just when everything is going rosy is when he seems to want to press the self destruct button.

Wigan had a great chance to put some points between themselves & the drop. They managed just the 1 & must be highly disappointed while those around them must be dancing a jig. Portsmouth really had a make shift side out after the 120 minutes most of their players had worked against spurs in the Cup. Wigan were so bad they were booed off the pitch at the end by their fans. I am sure that Martinez was disappointed but thinks 1 point was far better than none. Hull still have to visit & that game could decide which one of these two actually go down.

Saturday, 17 April 2010
Barclays Premier League
Birmingham 0-0 Hull
Blackburn 2-3 Everton
Fulham 0-0 Wolverhampton
Man City 0-1 Man Utd
Stoke 1-2 Bolton
Sunderland 2-1 Burnley
Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea

Hull remain in 3rd. relegation place after the draw with Brum. Really starting to look all up for them now. 3 points below West Ham, worst goal difference & same games played. OK No one has found Brum an easy target at home this year but it is really backs to the wall time for Hull now. I must try & get a "Vennegoor of Hesselink" Hull Premiership shirt while they still exist.

Everton managed to ease past Blackburn away so still have a slight chance at the Europa Cup next year. Blackburn have been as hard to beat as Brum at home, but gifted the opening goal to the Toffees. They got it back to even twice but eventually Everton won through. Slightly lucky as Everton really should have had Arteta sent off for a quite nasty attack that is quite outside his usual character.

Fulham & Wolves battled out a 0-0 in a match that probably meant little to either of them. Wolves might only be on 34 points but I think it would take a quite remarkable series of results by those below them for them to go down.

Citi against United looked like it was going to end in a typical 0-0 derby until 30 seconds before the final whistle. Then Schole's headed home a perfect header to give United 3 rather undeserved points. Pretty passing was the order of the day from both sides, but both defenses were well on top for most of the match & it offered little in the way of goal mouth (or anywhere else) excitement. Rooney was having a rare off day so United offered little. Citi were set up pretty defensively until some late substitutions & created little as well.

Bolton took a large leap to safety with 3 points at Stoke. Stoke themselves are basking in 11th. position & really ahve little to play for.

Sunderland crept over the 40 point safety net at last with a win to lowly Burnley. Burnley must now been well & truly on their way to Championship football next year.

Spurs fans will suggest that the win over Chelsea, following the win against Arsenal, makes them the best club in London. I think that is a little strong but it does show their huge improvement this year. They were really the only side in this contest, the Chelsea goal was not even a consolation. My choosing of Terry for my FF side ensured that he had the worse game of his career & was rightly sent off.

A weekend more important for who wanted 4th. than who was going to win the Premiership I think.
Spurs now have it all in their hands & should be up for their next game against Man U. Citi have a bit of re-grouping to do & need to decide who their first team is. Ireland made them look a completely different & better side when he came on for them.
I still expect Chelsea to ease through & win the title, it is a bit harder now with Terry out & Drogba looking injured too, but I still think they have the depth.

Maybe the title race isnt over after all.Chelsea are still favourites but they have to play Liverpool away yet so who knows?
Watched the City v United match live in Sukhumvit,Bangkok last night and couldnt believe it when Scholes scored
And the Spurs v Chelsea result was the icing on the cake !
As Khun Galee would say "its very quiet on here today."

I KNOW THIS THREAD IS ENTITLED PREMIER LEAGUE - MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THE MIGHTY SCUNTHORPE UTD WON 3-1 HOME TO BRISTOL CITY , LETS HOPE SHEFF UTD DO SHEFF WED NOW. I KNOW EVERYONE REALLY WANTED TO KNOW THIS VITAL INFO.

MASH

Zidane wrote:As Khun Galee would say "its very quiet on here today."

My stepson is staying with me. He hogs the laptop, so I don't get much chance to get on line.

I would have thought you could have heard me swearing all the way in BKK when Scholes scored. As for Chelsea,?. To be honest I was glad they didn't concede more as goal difference might be vital. Thought they were very poor again, as apparently they were against Bolton.

Probably get flack for mentioning this as Chelsea have had their fair share of good luck regarding refereeing decisions, but I thought Dowd bottled it when he gave the penalty. If you look where he was standing, there was no way he could see Terry's arm. Terry's body screened his view. He reacted to the Spurs appeals and his mistake in not giving a pen a few minutes before.