Toyota Football Fever - SHOW 4
1) Chelsea face three point loss
CHELSEA’S title defence has been
undermined by a new tapping-up scandal which could see
them docked three points.
A British BBC Documentary programme aired
this week showed Chelsea academy director Frank Arnesen
apparently offering the agent of Middlesbrough youngster
Nathan Porrit a money deal to move to Chelsea.
That evidence will be of significant interest
to the Premier League, who have already punished Chelsea
for a similar offence – and could choose to enact
a three point deduction applicable if Chelsea were caught
again.
2) Allardyce fingered in ‘Bungs’
probe
In a report by the same BBC Documentary,
SAM ALLARDYCE was put in the dock over bungs last night
— by his own son.
Ex-agent Craig Allardyce admitted he had
received payments from Bolton for transfers which were
NOT declared to the FA and claimed his dad knew about
them.
The “Panorama” show this week
also showed three agents claiming several managers were
on the take, though Allardyce is the one who will face
the most serious questions.
3) Gerrard’s my wide boy
RAFA BENITEZ has rapped back at the snipers
who reckon Steven Gerrard is wasted as a Liverpool wide
boy. And he insists his Kop captain can expect far more
appearances on the wing than in his preferred role at
the heart of midfield this season. Boss Benitez said:
“We know he can play in the middle but, if the team
needs him to play left or right, he accepts it —
he’s the captain.
4) Ju Can Camo Get Me
PREMIERSHIP leaders Portsmouth are battling
with West Ham for Italian World Cup winner Mauro Camoranesi.
The midfielder, 29, has revealed he wants
to quit Juventus in the January transfer window and both
Pompey and West Ham are interested.
Argentinean born Camoranesi, who has 23 caps for Italy,
wants to leave Juve after growing frustrated at playing
in Serie B.
Camoranesi's agent Sergio Fortunato said:
"For now Mauro plays for Juventus, then when the
market re-opens we will see."
5) Bell tunnel ruck
CRAIG BELLAMY was involved in an ugly tunnel
bust-up with Newcastle staff on Wednesday after Liverpool’s
game at Anfield.
The Liverpool striker, who spent four years
with the Toon, had a slanging match with the Geordies
seconds after his side’s win. There were even claims
of a punch-up with Republic of Ireland full-back Stephen
Carr.
Both players had to be pulled apart by
ref Mark Halsey as they threatened to square up towards
the end of the game.
And within seconds police raced down the
tunnel as the teams left the pitch. Seems like Bellamy
is finding his old form!
Quotes of the Week
"We still get food after the game -
and maybe we will even get pizza." Arsene Wenger
hopes for a nice post-match meal at Old Trafford. He doesn’t
mention if Sir Alex has started wearing a bib though.
"Since I've been French coach, we've
lost only one game, against Slovakia this year”
Raymond Domenech, the France coach, who seems to have
forgotten that rather big match in Germany with the headbutt.
"If you were to put me on a lie detector
and ask me what my best team is, I would have a problem"
- Alan Pardew, who still hasn’t quite worked out
where the new boys fit in…
"She is the real manager of family
life. You are the star outside, here you are not a star."
Jose Mourinho shows his respect for his wife – and
his soppy side.
“I’m obviously concerned about
Titus Bramble" Newcastle Manager Glenn Roeder who
may be talking about more than Mr. Bramble’s recent
injury.
Last Weeks Premiership Results
| Charlton 0 |
Portmouth 1 |
| |
Lua-Lua (74) |
Report: Portsmouth hit
the top of the Premiership again - and kept their five-match
clean-sheet record intact - with substitute Lomana LuaLua's
73rd-minute winner against Charlton at The Valley. LuaLua,
who has not started a competitive game since damaging
an ankle in April last year, came off the bench to replace
last week's winning-goal hero Benjani Mwaruwari.
Report: Nicolas Anelka
was left frustrated once again as Jonathan Woodgate took
centre stage to ensure Middlesbrough a hard-earned goalless
draw at Bolton. Woodgate, on a season-long loan from Real
Madrid, kept Anelka in check as he calmly marshalled the
visiting defence.
Everton 2
|
Wigan 2 |
Johnson (49)
Beattie (pen 66) |
Scharner (62, 68) |
Report: A week after their
historic victory over Liverpool, Everton found themselves
hanging on to their unbeaten record as Paul Scharner's
double gave Wigan a 2-2 draw. The Austrian had the defiance
needed to twice haul Wigan back into the game.
Sheff Utd 1
|
Reading 2 |
| Hulse (61) |
Doyle (1)
Seol Ki-Hyeon (25) |
Report: One of the fastest
goals in Premier League history set Reading on their way
to a first away win in the top flight as Sheffield United's
early season woes continued with a 2-1 loss. Manager Steve
Coppell's side are now riding high in fifth - just behind
Chelsea - thanks to Kevin Doyle's strike after 16 seconds,
followed by Seol Ki-Hyeon's first for the club
Report: Aston Villa maintained
their unbeaten start to the season with a draw at Watford
- but they missed enough chances to have won the game
comfortably. Although Watford fought back in the second
half, Stilian Petrov, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Steven Davis
all squandered opportunities during the first 45 minutes
which, if taken, would have rendered the rest of the match
academic.
| Chelsea 1 |
Liverpool 0 |
| Drogba (42) |
|
Report: Didier Drogba supplied
a spectacular winner as Chelsea emerged victorious from
another stormy encounter with title rivals Liverpool,
who went down 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Drogba scored with
a left-foot volley, three minutes before half-time, but
the Blues had to play most of the second half with 10
men after Michael Ballack was sent off for stamping on
Mohamed Sissoko's knee in the 52nd minute.
| Blackburn 4 |
Man City 2 |
Sinclair (o.g. 18)
Gamst Pedersen (44)
McCarthy (66)
Gallagher (89) |
Barton (39)
Ooijer (o.g. 45) |
Report: Blackburn hauled
themselves off the foot of the Premiership with their
first victory of the season following a six-goal thriller
that ended 4-2 in their favour at Ewood Park. City have
now lost two games in a week, three this season and 12
of their last 15 overall, and the signs are appearing
ominous for manager Stuart Pearce.
Report: Tottenham's desire
to kick-start their season after a successful midweek
excursion into Europe backfired on them in a goalless
draw against stubborn Fulham at White Hart Lane. Indeed,
only injured striker Dimitar Berbatov and midfielder Jermaine
Jenas can lay claim to having scored for the club during
their worst start to a Premiership season for 11 years.
| West Ham 0 |
Newcastle 2 |
| |
Duff (50)
Martins (75) |
Report: Second-half goals
from big-money summer buys Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins
allowed Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder to make a winning
return to West Ham, the club he left three years ago.
A brain operation, relegation and an Upton Park exit were
the setbacks Roeder had to endure in 2003 and this time
he needed pitch-side protection from the wrath of angry
Hammers fans amid chants of 'You're the reason we went
down'.
| Man Utd 0 |
Arsenal 1 |
| |
Gilberto Silva (pen miss 12)
Adebayor (86) |
Report: Arsene Wenger's
Arsenal provided the best possible response to the crisis
talk swirling around north London by scoring a deserved
victory over old rivals Manchester United. The Gunners
had to wait until the 85th minute for Emmanuel Adebayor
to find the finish to hand them their first win of the
season, which also punctured United`s 100% record. But
no-one could deny them their triumph.
Team of the Week - Arsenal
Three games without a win, and a worrying
home record had left Arsenal one place above the relegation
zone before their match at Old Trafford against a Man
Utd. team holding an 100% record.
Doubts had begun to creep in about Arsene
Wenger’s team, but they replied with an excellent
performance – they should have won by more than
the one goal from Emmanuel Adebayor. And all this without
Henry!
Player of the Week - Didier Drogba
Many at the start of the season predicted
that Didier Drogba would be confined to the bench for
the majority of this season, as Andrey Shevchenko stole
the limelight, but with only one goal so far, he hasn’t
found his form, and it has been left to Drogba to impress
scoring four goals so far.
His goal against Liverpool was the best
of all of them, a fantastic strike which capped a hard-working
all-round performance.
Donkey of the Week - Stuart Pearce
When ‘Psycho’ took over the
reins at Eastlands – he was heralded as a breath
of fresh air, a manager with passion to take Manchester
City to the next level.
A terrible end to the season last year though,
followed by a dismal start this time around has started
the vultures circling around the ex-England legend.
Another loss to Blackburn this week, who
were themselves without a win so far this season didn’t
help, and going out of the League Cup to Chesterfield
only increased the pressure. Psycho needs to find his
winning touch sooner rather than later.
Upcoming Premiership Games
Liverpool v Tottenham
Suspensions
Injuries LIV - Riise, Kewell
TOT - Lennon, Malbranque, (Berbatov)
Prediction 1-0 (Actual 3-0)
Reason: Tottenham have
had a dreadful start to the season, and haven’t
scored in over 270 minutes of league football. Liverpool
have looked shaky so far, but put in a good performance
last week against Chelsea despite losing. They should
be able to outplay Spurs at Anfield, and Martin Jol’s
side will be going back to London without any points.
Arsenal v Sheff Utd
Suspensions
Injuries ARS - Clichy, Senderos, Diaby, Lauren, (Van Persie),
(Henry)
SHE - Shipperley, Montgomery, (Tonge), (Webber), (Kenny),
(Kabba)
Prediction 3-1 (Actual 3-0)
Reason: Arsenal have yet
to break their Emirates Stadium curse, but Neil Warnock’s
Sheffield United should become their first league victory
here. The Blades will put up a fight, but the Gunners
confidence is high after the win over Man Utd, so they
should take maximum points.
Aston Villa v Charlton
Suspensions
Injuries AST - Samuel, (Bouma), (Hendrie), (Cahill), (Hughes)
CHA - Reid, Diawara, Traore, Sorondo, Gibbs, Thomas, (Hughes)
Prediction 1-1 (Actual 2-0)
Reason: Charlton have
not made a great start under manager Iain Dowie, and he
will be desperate to start gaining more points. Villa
are probably favourites to win this one, but I feel that
they don’t have enough going forward, and might
get pegged back for another draw.
Fulham v Chelsea
Suspensions CHE - Ballack
Injuries FUL - Boa Morte, Christanval, Elrich, Bullard,
Pembridge, Elliott, (Diop)
CHE - Cole
Prediction 0-2 (Actual 0-2)
Reason: The West London
Derby should be a one-sided affair, as despite Fulham’s
decent start to the season, they do not seem to have enough
bite in their midfield, and should be outplayed by a superior
Chelsea side.
Man City v West Ham
Suspensions MAC - Dabo, Thatcher
Injuries MAC - Trabelsi, Isaksson, (Jihai), (Vassell)
WHM - Ashton, McCartney, (Pantsil)
Prediction 2-1 (Actual 2-0)
Reason: Man City and Stuart
Pearce desperately need to get some points on the board,
and with West Ham in a seemingly dreadful run of form,
unable to accommodate Tevez and Mascherano in the team,
I feel that City, who are usually strong at home will
beat the Hammers here.
Middlesbrough v Blackburn
Suspensions
Injuries MID - Riggott, (Arca), (Ehiogu), (Boateng), (Downing),
(Viduka)
BLA - Nelson, (Roberts), (Reid)
Prediction 0-1 (Actual 0-1)
Reason: Blackburn will
be on a high after their first win of the season last
week against Man City, and I think they will take that
confidence into this game against Middlesbrough. The Boro
seem to have shored up their defence, so it should be
a close game, but I can see Mark Hughes’ side nicking
this one.
Wigan v Watford
Suspensions
Injuries WIG - Taylor, (Todorov), (McCulloch), (Camara)
WAT - Powell
Prediction 1-0 (Actual 1-1)
Reason: Paul Jewell’s
Wigan side performed well last week away to Everton, and
seem to be building as a team. Watford have yet to fire
this season, and I think it will be a win for Wigan at
home here.
Reading v Man Utd
Suspensions
Injuries REA - Sodje, (Kitson)
MAN - Giggs, Ji-Sung Park, (Heinze), (Van der Sar)
Prediction 2-1 (Actual 1-1)
Reason: After last week’s
loss to Arsenal, Man Utd will be desperate to start a
new winning run, and despite Reading’s fine start
to the season, I think that their quality will show, and
they will take maximum points from old player Steve Coppell’s
side.
Newcastle v Everton
Suspensions
Injuries NEW - Given, Solano, Owen, (Dyer), (Bramble),
(Taylor)
EVE - Stubbs, Vaughan, McFadden, Pistone
Prediction 2-2
Reason: Glenn Roeder’s
Newcastle have had an up and down season so far and they
seem to have been more nervous at home at St. James’
Park. Without Shay Given to save them, they may have to
settle for a point against battling Everton.
Portsmouth v Bolton
Suspensions
Injuries POR - NONE
BOL - Gardner, (Davies), (Pedersen)
Prediction 2-0
Reason: Sam Allardyce’s
Bolton side always make it hard to play against them,
but Portsmouth are on such an excellent run of form at
the moment, I cant see Bolton taking anything from the
game, and Portsmouth should hold on to the top spot in
the EPL.
