Toyota Football Fever - SHOW 5
What the UK papers said this week?
1) Roo’s Dirty Rap
WAYNE ROONEY will be told by the FA: Stop
turning the air blue.
Roo is back in trouble for a foul-mouthed
tirade at referee Peter Walton.
The England ace appeared to shout ‘Ref,
that was a penalty, you f****** cheating c***’,
after being denied a penalty during Saturday’s 1-1
draw at Reading.
Now disciplinary chiefs will write to the
fiery Manchester United striker this week warning him
to improve his behaviour.
The abusive outburst was clearly seen by
viewers on TV, and the FA feel they need to crack down,
especially as Rooney has been warned before.
2) He’ll be a Shevy-Weight Hitter
ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO will not have to worry
about being axed by Jose Mourinho — even if he goes
three months without scoring.
Cynics might point to goal-shy £30million
man Shevy being one of owner Roman Abramovich’s
best mates, but Mourinho maintains the Ukrainian striker
is playing well, whether the rest of us can see it or
not.
Former European Footballer of the Year Shevchenko
has made a quiet start in a blue shirt, scoring just once
in five games, but boss Mourinho insists “Sheva
is such a top player in the world, he has nothing to prove.”
3) Tycoons West Ham warning
The Israeli businessman backing the bid
to buy West Ham says he knows nothing about football and
wants the club only for its 'real estate'.
Eli Papouchado's revelation will spark fears
among fans that he intends to sell Upton Park.
The hotel and property magnate is providing
the financial clout for the planned £100million
takeover fronted by Kia Joorabchian, who was responsible
for signing Argentine duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
"I don't even know how many players
there are in each team," said Papouchado.
.4) Frankie goes to Bollywood
CHELSEA soccer ace Frank Lampard is being
lined up for a Bollywood blockbuster. The Premiership
club has a starring role in the film Jhoom.
It features 30-year-old Bollywood heartthrob
Abhishek Bachchan, 41, as a devoted Chelsea fan called
Ricky. The film will be partially shot in London and include
footage of the players in action.
Producers are in talks to give Chelsea
stars walk-on parts, including boss Jose Mourinho, John
Terry and Frank.
Bachchan is a Chelsea fan in real life
and was recently spotted in the stands at Stamford Bridge
with former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, 33.
5) Kid Adu will do for Reading loan
READING are lining up a sensational swoop
for USA wonderkid Freddy Adu.
Steve Coppell wants Adu on a six-month loan from January
with a view to a £5million permanent deal next summer.
The 17-year-old has been in outstanding
form with Major League Soccer side DC United and he could
be tempted to join fellow Yanks Bobby Convey and Marcus
Hahnemann at Reading.
MLS owns the contracts of all their players
and see Adu’s move as a boost to their world standing
- an MLS source said: “If an offer comes in for
Freddy it will be considered”
Quotes of the Week
"I think we won that game against Liverpool,
because we scored and they didn't." Jose
Mourinho shows us all the footballing insight
that has won him the Champions League.
* "It's difficult to tell a seven-year-old,
'This is the Premiership, and I'm known as Psycho'"
- Stuart Pearce explains why a cuddly
toy horse called Beanie was positioned just in front of
the Manchester City dugout for the match with West Ham.
"A draw is a balanced result"
– Everton’s Aussie midfielder Tim
Cahill makes possibly the most obvious statement
ever heard.
* "I got close to Ronaldo's shot but
he absolutely smashed i. He was all over the place and
he's got so many moves. He doesn't need much room - give
him just half a yard and that's it. Hey, I wouldn't mind
getting booed for £120,000 a week. Boo me, please"
- Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.
* "Hey, mate, how did you miss that?
It was a bad miss, that" - A Liverpool steward
greets Tottenham's Jermaine Jenas outside the away dressing-room
following Saturday's match at Anfield in which the best
midfielder in England missed an open goal from four yards.
37 seconds later, Pool scored the first of their three
goals in a 3-0 win.
* "I was never going to play for England.
I was Ronaldinho without the skill" - Neil
Warnock recalls his playing days.
Last Weeks Premiership Results
| Liverpool 3 |
Tottenham 0 |
Gonzalez (63)
Kuyt (73)
Riise (89) |
|
Report: Two excellent
victories in four days have put Liverpool's season firmly
back on course. Second-half goals from Mark Gonzalez,
Dirk Kuyt and John Arne Riise secured a comfortable win
for Rafael Benitez's side but for Tottenham these are
worrying times.
| Arsenal 3 |
Sheff Utd. 0 |
Gallas (65)
Jagielka (o.g. 69)
Henry (80) |
|
Report: Arsenal continued
their resurgence with a 3-0 win over bottom club Sheffield
United to hand Arsene Wenger his first Premiership victory
at the Emirates Stadium.
| Aston Villa 2 |
Charlton 0 |
Agbonlahor (35)
Moore (62) |
|
Report: Young guns Gabriel
Agbonlahor and Luke Moore maintained Aston Villa's unbeaten
start to the Premiership campaign and piled on more misery
for Charlton with a 2-0 win.
| Fulham 0 |
Chelsea 2 |
| |
Lampard (pen 73, 80) |
Report: Frank Lampard
showed nerves of steel to overcome his penalty jinx and
fire Chelsea to a 2-0 victory at Fulham. Lampard had missed
three of his last four spot-kicks for club and country
and found himself ousted from penalty duty by Michael
Ballack.
| Man City 2 |
West Ham 0 |
| Samaras (50, 63) |
|
Report: Stuart Pearce's
biggest investment as a manager paid off at exactly the
right time as Georgios Samaras' brace eased the pressure
on the beleaguered Manchester City boss with a 2-0 success
over West Ham
| Middlesbrough 0 |
Blackburn 1 |
| |
Nonda (27) |
Report: Blackburn striker
Shabani Nonda claimed his first goal for the club to condemn
Middlesbrough to their second home defeat of the week.
The 29-year-old, on loan from Roma, powered home a 27th-minute
header to claim the 1-0 win as Boro were made to pay for
missed chances.
| Wigan 1 |
Watford 1 |
| Camara (29) |
Bouazza (63) |
Report: Hameur Bouazza
ended a seven-month goal famine to give Watford their
first away point since returning to the Premiership. It
was a deserved 1-1 draw for Adrian Boothroyd's side as
they were resurgent in the second period after Henri Camara's
29th-minute opener.
| Reading 1 |
Man Utd 1 |
| Doyle (pen 48) |
Ronaldo (73) |
Report: Cristiano Ronaldo's
second half equaliser enabled Manchester United to avoid
suffering defeat in their first ever league clash with
Reading. United dominated most of the evening's proceedings
but found themselves trailing to Kevin Doyle's 48th-minute
penalty.
| Newcastle 1 |
Everton 1 |
| Ameobi (14) |
Cahill (41) |
Report: Tim Cahill preserved
Everton's unbeaten run as his side came from a goal behind
at Newcastle to claim a 1-1 draw. The Australia midfielder
powered home a 40th-minute header to cancel out Shola
Ameobi's offside 14th-minute opener and ensure the Toffees
headed home with something to show for their efforts.
| Portsmouth 0 |
Bolton 1 |
| |
Nolan (22) |
Report: Portsmouth suffered
their first defeat of the season, conceded their first
goal in 472 minutes of Premiership play and saw their
flying start to the campaign pulled down to earth by Kevin
Nolan's strike and Bolton's rearguard action.
Team of the Week - Reading
Steve Coppell’s outfit have shown
good form in the early part of the season and seem the
best placed of the three promoted teams to stay in the
division this year. The visit of Manchester United was
predicted to be a tough outing for the Royals, who were
expected to lose by a few. But a good defensive performance,
coupled with some creative forward play got them a point
at the Madjeski Stadium against the Reds – one point
closer to the magic 40 point mark.
Player of the Week - Frank Lampard
The fierce criticism that Frank Lampard
has had to endure from the press and fans alike, since
England’s World Cup exit in July has been continual
- against Fulham last weekend, he was subjected to an
hour of taunts about his weight. (Never mind that he holds
the record for consecutive outfield appearances) Frank
knows how to answer his critics though, and he did that
with a brace against Chelsea’s West London rivals,
even scoring one from the penalty spot, to put his misses
for club and country behind him.
Donkey of the Week - Titus Bramble
It seems a little unfair that Titus Bramble
receives the ‘Donkey of the Week’ award for
a second time – but this player seems single-handedly
to be trying to destroy Newcastle’s season. Against
Everton last weekend, he should have conceded a penalty
– he let Tim Cahill score Everton’s goal unchallenged
– lost his man continually – missed numerous
tackles – and then got himself sent off. Well, at
least he did something right in the end I suppose…
Upcoming Premiership Games
Bolton v Liverpool
Suspensions
Injuries BOL - Gardner, (Fortune)
LIV - Kewell
Prediction 1-0 (Actual 2-0)
Reason: Bolton got a great
result away at Portsmouth on Monday, beating them 1-0
– but the performance wasn’t great and they
will have to improve if they want to register back to
back victories. Liverpool are slowly building up a head
of steam, but I think a draw is the likeliest result here.
Charlton v Arsenal
Suspensions
Injuries CHA - Reid, Diawara, Sorondo, Traore, Gibbs,
Thomas, Pouso
ARS - Clichy, Senderos, Lauren, Diaby
Prediction 1-3 (Actual 1-2)
Reason: Iain Dowie and
his Charlton team need to start getting wins, and getting
them fast. Alan Curbishley always seemed to be able to
get results at the Valley, but with Charlton now 3rd Favourites
for relegation, they need Dowie to work some magic. An
in form Arsenal side will be a tough proposition though
and I expect the Gunners to get all three points
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Suspensions CHE - Ballack
Injuries CHE - (Terry), (J Cole)
AST - Delaney, (Samuel)
Prediction 2-1 (Actual 1-1)
Reason: The game plan
at Stamford Bridge from Aston Villa will be clear, and
that is to get men behind the ball, and use their quick
forwards to try and hit Chelsea on the break. Martin O’Neill
has drilled his team well, and this could be a close game,
but Chelsea are hitting their stride now and should take
a hard-fought win here.
Everton v Man City
Suspensions EVE - Hibbert
MAC - Thatcher
Injuries EVE - Naysmith, Pistone, McFadden, (Vaughan),
(Stubbs)
MAC - Trabelsi, Vassell, Isaksson, Onuoha, (Jihai)
Prediction 2-1 (Actual 1-1)
Reason: Stuart Pearce
relieved some of the pressure on his job with a good win
against West Ham last week, but Man City are too much
of a Jekyll and Hyde team – one good performance,
one bad – and at Goodison against a hard-working
Everton team, I expect a home win.
Sheff Utd v Middlesbrough
Suspensions
Injuries SHF - Montgomery, Tonge, Shipperley, (Kenny),
(Webber), (Short)
MID - Riggott, Arca, (Ehiogu), (Downing), (Boateng)
Prediction 1-1 (Actual 2-1)
Reason: I have been surprised
by the lack of fight that Sheffield have put up in the
Premiership – they were always going to struggle,
but you would think they would go down fighting with Neil
Warnock at the helm. This is a must win game for them
to kick-start their season, but I can see them coming
up short with only a point here.
Blackburn v Wigan
Suspensions
Injuries BLA - Nelson, Enckelman, (Roberts), (Reid)
WIG - McCulloch, Taylor
Prediction 1-0 (Actual 2-1)
Reason: Blackburn are really
kicking into gear now after a poor start to the season.
They still look short up front, but with confidence flowing
through the side, I expect them to sneak a win against
a decent Wigan side.
Man Utd v Newcastle
Suspensions NEW - Babayaro, Bramble
Injuries MAN - Giggs, Park Ji-Sung
NEW - Given, Solano, Owen, (Duff), (Ameobi)
Prediction 3-0 (Actual 2-0)
Reason: On paper this
game looks like it has home win written all over it, and
in practice I don’t think the result will be any
different. Even with Titus Bramble in his best position
for the Toon – in the stands – their back
line still looks shaky, and the Reds should power past
Newcastle at Old Trafford
Tottenham v Portsmouth
Suspensions
Injuries TOT - Lennon, Malbranque, Berbatov
POR - Douala
Prediction 0-1 (Actual 2-1)
Reason: Has the bubble
burst for Portsmouth after their loss on Monday? I don’t
think it has, as their form was based on a solid back-line
with Campbell, Johnson and James playing superbly. They
were unlucky to lose to Bolton, and playing out of form
Spurs will be the best way to get back on track. I predict
an away win at White Hart Lane.
West Ham v Reading
Suspensions
Injuries WHM - Ferdinand, Ashton, McCartney, (Mears),
(Collins)
REA - Sodje, Kitson, Murty
Prediction 2-0 (Actual 0-1)
Reason: This should be
a good, flowing game of football and with West Ham seemingly
in trouble – their players fragile confidence affected
with the arrival of the Argentineans – and Reading
visiting on the back of a good result against Man Utd,
the form is definitely with Steve Coppell’s men,
but I think that home advantage will tell for the Hammers
as they take a much needed three points.
Watford v Fulham
Suspensions
Injuries WAT - Powell
FUL - Boa Morte, Christanval, Bullard, Elrich, (Pembridge)
Prediction 1-0
Reason: This is a tough
game to call, with both teams performing well so far this
season, without really taking many points. Watford will
put pressure on Fulham, and play their fast, physical
game, and I can see Aidy Boothroyd’s men getting
their first win of the season here.
