Premier League 2009-10

I heard that Wigan have put France to shame. As their one goal was a clear example of handball from Paul Scharner, they've sportingly offered to replay their game with Spurs!

Now we know why Scharner has that two toned hair, it distracts the referees, they're busting out laughing at his ridiculous hair coloring instead of watching the match!

If nothing else yesterday's big win means Tottenham have taken a big step towards having a great goal differential! Lennon and the German winger David Odonkor have some of the fastest acceleration I have seen in recent years. Sadly both have also been troubled by injuries, Odonkor can never seem to stay healthy at Real Betis but at least it sounds as if Lennon is back to his best. I always enjoy watching players who are so quick off the mark.

scousers are ready to party

Yeah, I posted this on the CL forum last night. Certainly made me laugh.

Best Actor - David Ngog
Best Actress - Fernando

I liked what's lined up for five past ten as well - Disco - Stevie G has kindly volunteered to take on the resident DJ so that we can have our own music on.

There's more besides, of course. Such as:

LIVERPOOL SEASON REVIEW DVD - OUT NEXT WEEK:

Relive the masterful show of superiority over Manchester United at Anfield

Listen to goal commentary for the victory over Manchester United at Anfield

In-depth analysis of Lucas Leiva's breakout performance against Manchester United at Anfield

Post-match interviews after the victory over Manchester United at Anfield

YNWA musical video

YNWA instrumental version (with lyrics to sing along)

Yours for a reduced price of £5.95

Running time: 22 mins



In other news, I see robdog's old mate Avram Grant seems likely to get the Portsmouth job after they sacked Paul Hart yesterday. From the outside looking in, I thought Grant did a good job in his time at Chelsea, and famously took them within one missed penalty of being European champions. But I know Chelsea fans such as robdog weren't too keen. It'll be interesting to see what he can do with an infinitely weaker squad at Pompey.

Let's see....

Double digits behind Chelsea...check.
Out of Champions League...check. OK, I said out of Europe, but close enough.
Torres and Mascherano sold...well, the transfer window cometh....
Hicks out...Oh, please be right on this one....
Benitez doing his best Raineri at Chelsea impression...this needs a new investor first....

Contenders? The infamous interview with former New Orleans Saints manager Jim Mora keeps coming to mind....

Kieran Gibbs broke a bone in his foot last night in the Champions League and will be out for 3 months. With Gael Clichy still out for an undetermined time with a back injury, Arsenal's depth is being tested. Armand Traore will likely take over at left back, for a 3rd alternative at left back he is not bad but clearly not at the same level as either Clichy or Gibbs. Not exactly the type of news Arsenal wnated before this Sunday's match against Chelsea.

The Bumbling One!!!

Because of that miss, Chelsea was able to have Guus Hiddink as head honcho. I know you wanted Grant at Chelsea, as much as we both want Rafa to remain at Anfied

Who led Chelsea to their only Champions League Final appearance?

That was by default. Also, Tom Henning Øvrebø stopped Guss Hiddink, but we can argue about that too. Who led Chelsea to 2 EPL titles??? The only reason why Jose wasn't in the CL final, was due to a phantom goal ruled for Luis García in 2005. Again, you can have Rafa & Avram any day. I will take Guus or Jose before those two. Hell, I would take Luiz Felipe Scolari over Rafa or Avaram any day.

Saturday, 28 November 2009
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur, 17:30
Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City, 15:00
Fulham v Bolton Wanderers, 15:00
Manchester City v Hull City, 15:00
Portsmouth v Manchester United, 15:00
West Ham United v Burnley, 15:00
Wigan Athletic v Sunderland, 15:00

Sunday, 29 November 2009
Arsenal v Chelsea, 16:00
Everton v Liverpool, 13:30
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham City, 12:00

Quite a few big games this weekend. The biggest is the London derby between Arsenal (league top scorers) and Chelsea (league's meanest defence) at the Emirates Stadium. Arsene Wenger has stated, with good reason, that Arsenal can win the championship this season, and Sunday's match will be a good test. If they can win it (and their game in hand), they will be just two points behind Chelsea. But last week at Sunderland, Arsenal lost for the first time in 14 games and failed to score for the first time in 21 games. Any coincidence that Van Persie was out? Arsenal haven't won against 'big four' opposition in the last 7 attempts in league or CL, and they lost the corresponding fixture 4-1 last season. Chelsea are in commanding form, but healthy as their 5 point lead looks now, they may reflect that they were 8 points clear at this point of last season, and yet the championship was ultimately a two-horse race between United and Liverpool. Lampard may play for Chelsea while Theo Walcott is also back for Arsenal.

Also on Sunday is the 211th Merseyside derby, or 'Miseryside' derby as the media are calling it. Everton and Liverpool were respectively the 5th and 2nd best teams in the country last season and lost just 11 times between them in 76 league games. This time, after just 26 league games between them, they've already reached 11 defeats. Liverpool's woes have been well recorded on here, and predicted pretty accurately by Merlin. Meanwhile Everton's horrible injury list continues, although Stephen Pienaar may be available for this one, as might Torres. Everton have won one of their last 10 games and, to add to their gloom, the government denied them planning permission for their new stadium this week. Two of the other main CL spot contenders, Aston Villa (5th) and Spurs (4th), meet at Villa Park. Stewart Downing may finally get the chance to make his Villa debut, having been injured since his summer move from Middlesbrough. Will Harry Redknapp change anything after Spurs' 9-1 demolition of Wigan?

'Debut managers win', so the old saying goes. I hope that's not true tomorrow when Avram Grant takes charge of Portsmouth against Manchester United. Pompey have been rooted to the bottom of the table all season and keeper David James is injured. But Ferdinand and O'Shea are out and Berbatov and Evans are doubtful. United have won just 2 of their last 6 visits to Portsmouth. Manchester City may only have lost once this season, but the momentum of their brilliant start has been lost with this run of draws. A home game against Hull would appear to offer a chance to return to winning ways, but Hull's fortunes are improving with just two defeats in their last seven games. Robinho may return for City after a 3-month absence. Sunderland and Wigan had very differing results against north London opposition last weekend, now do Sunderland have to beware a Wigan backlash? Stoke boss Tony Pulis has been trying to encourage realism about his team's chances this season, but Stoke fans' increasingly high expectations are a great reflection on the job he's done. Stoke are 9th as they visit Blackburn, whose boss Sam Allardyce will be absent from the touchline after heart surgery. Fulham are in the top half of the table after beating Blackburn 3-0 in midweek, and they're visited by Bolton tomorrow. Burnley have been superb at home but they travel to West Ham looking for a first away win, and two promoted clubs, Wolves and Birmingham meet in a midlands derby with the 'R' word (relegation!) as the backdrop.

Here is the story from the Official Chelsea site. I can't imagine Lamps able to sit on the bench for this one. Massive affair. Matches like this are what you dream about playing. Amazing all of the Blues wounded have healed in time for this match. Personally, I would love to see some cantenaccio & leave emirates w/ a draw. Titles are not won in November, but the path would be set. goonies represent a very stern challenge to the Blues title hopes. See what will give.

And now Arsenal announce that Van Persie faces five months out:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...nal/8384025.stm

That's a savage blow to the Gunners.

That is a major loss for Arsenal especially with how well van Persie had been playing. Looks like he will be lucky to even return before the end of the season now and you now also have to wonder about his ability to be a contributor to the Netherlands World Cup campaign.

Looks like Avram Grant quickly found out about the reality of the situatin he faces at Portsmouth. Man U 4 Pompey 1!

Spurs should have saved a goal or two from last weekend as they only scored once in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, but considering both clubs league position not a surprising result. And it is 7 draws in a row now for Man City, 1-1 with Hull.

Actually, I felt Villa was a bit unfortunate. Dawson created his shot w/ a Hand Ball..Ala Henry. A linesman on the endline could have seen it & alerted the ref. Something has to give w/ this handballs