Toyota Football Fever Show 12
What the UK papers said this week?
1) Dowie First to the Chop
IAIN DOWIE'S short reign at Charlton is over.
The ex-Crystal Palace boss was axed on Monday
- with the Addicks bottom after just two wins in 12 games.
Dowie led Charlton to the Carling Cup last eight, but Saturday's
3-2 Premiership loss at Wigan proved fatal.
The Addicks announced Dowie's exit on their
website and in a strange decision have since replaced the
ex-Crystal Palace man with his number 2 Les Reed.
The Former Assistant Manager Reed has not
spoken to his ex-head coach since he was axed on Monday
night, but says that the whole team is going through a “grieving
process” for Dowie.
2) Paddy’s Pal Bites off his
eyebrow
SOCCER star Paddy Kenny had his eyebrow bitten
off by a mate who confessed to an affair with his wife,
it emerged last night. Paddy started the drunken battle
after his school pal admitted bedding Karen, his wife of
two years.
The Sheffield United and Ireland goalie,
28, needed 12 stitches after Monday’s 3am scrap at
an Indian restaurant in Halifax.
One restaurant goer said: “Paddy’s
face turned purple and he jumped up with a bottle and smashed
it over his mate’s head. Waiters shouted at them to
get out so they carried on in the street. His pal took a
chunk out of Paddy’s eyebrow. There was blood all
over Paddy’s shirt.”
3) Didier: “We can win all
four”
DIDIER DROGBA insists he can fire Chelsea
to all FOUR trophies this season.
The in-form Blues striker is desperate to repay the club
for his new £90,000-a-week, four-year contract by
shooting them into the history books.
Drogba, 28, said: “After signing the
new contract I told myself this is the time to work hard.
“Then I can hopefully bring even more
glory to the club and honour to myself. “We want to
win all four trophies this season and I believe we have
the ability to do it.
4) Obi Mikel “not talking to
family”
TEMPERAMENTAL ‘wonderkid’ Jon
Obi Mikel seems to have some late teenage issues, as the
19 year old has stunned his parents – by refusing
to talk to them.
The moody Nigerian has already been warned
by manager Jose Mourinho to improve his attitude, and now
his father is alarmed by his current behaviour.
“I don’t know why he is behaving
like this. We are not happy about it.” Said dad Michael
of his star son.
5) Scholes will stay retired
STEVE McCLAREN has been told to forget about
trying to lure Paul Scholes out of international retirement.
The England coach twice tried to tempt the
midfielder, 31, to return after two years in the wilderness.
McClaren stated last month the door would
always be open, but Scholes’ close pal Nicky Butt
insists it will never happen.
Newcastle midfielder Butt has also ruled
himself out of playing for his country again despite getting
his club career back on track.
Quotes of the Week
"In the French league I had time to look
up when in possession. But the moment I get the ball over
here, an opposing midfielder or striker launches a throat-high
challenge on me" – Man Utd left-back Patrice
Evra who has mastered the art of over exaggeration.
"The food is truly catastrophic, and
it rains all the time. When there's no training or match,
it's a DVD under the quilt to keep warm" Oh, its Patrice
Evra again – who really seems to be enjoying his time
in ‘sunny’ Manchester.
"It is bad enough with the incapable
referees and linesmen we have but if you start bringing
in women, you have big problems," Luton Manager Mike
Newell, speaking about the Female Lineswoman at their last
game won’t be getting a date any time soon.
"I'm man enough to apologise" -
Mike Newell doesn’t really help the situation…
"To be honest with you, Glenn Roeder
fancies me". Stuart Pearce reveals all on his post
match hug with the Newcastle boss.
Last Weeks Premiership Results
Report: Graham Poll found
himself back in the headlines again after disallowing a
Georgios Samaras goal that would have given Manchester City
a deserved home win against Newcastle United, who held on
for a vital away draw.
| Chelsea 4 |
Watford 0 |
Drogba (27, 36, 69)
Shevchenko (52) |
|
Report: Didier Drogba struck
a superb hat-trick as Chelsea smashed four at home for the
second successive game, cruising to a comfortable 4-0 victory
over struggling newcomers Watford. The irresistible Drogba
took his tally to 14 with his second treble of the season
and set up Chelsea's other goal for strike partner Andriy
Shevchenko.
| Everton 0 |
Aston Villa 1 |
| |
Sutton (42) |
Report: Chris Sutton's first
goal for Aston Villa gave the midlands club a 1-0 win over
Everton at Goodison Park. Veteran Sutton struck with a neat
header just before the break and Villa fought gallantly
throughout the second half to hang on to the points.
| Middlesbrough 1 |
West Ham 0 |
| Maccarone (74) |
|
Report: Substitute Massimo
Maccarone gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 win over fellow-strugglers
West Ham at The Riverside. The Italian, Boro's record signing
at £8.15million, scored six minutes after coming on
when he rounded Robert Green and slotted home from a tight
angle 15 minutes from time.
| Portsmouth 1 |
Fulham 1 |
| Cole (74) |
Knight (57) |
Report: Substitute Andy
Cole's second goal of his Portsmouth career rescued a 1-1
draw for Harry Redknapp's side against Fulham at Fratton
Park. Defender Zat Knight's 56th-minute header put Fulham
in front but was totally against the run of play after Kanu
missed a sitter, former Fulham star Sean Davis headed against
a post and Finland goalkeeper Antti Niemi defied Lomana
LuaLua and Kanu.
| Sheff Utd 2 |
Bolton 2 |
Hulse (70)
Kazim-Richards (73) |
Diouf (34)
Davies (59) |
Report: Sheffield United
salvaged a remarkable 2-2 draw with two goals in 133 seconds
to leave high-flying Bolton without a win in four matches.
Sam Allardyce's side seemed poised to end their three-game
losing streak with goals either side of the interval from
El-Hadji Diouf and Kevin Davies.
| Wigan 3 |
Charlton 2 |
McCulloch (13)
Camara (41)
Jackson (78) |
de Zeuuw (o.g. 52)
Bent (90) |
Report: Henri Camara celebrated
the overnight arrival of his new baby son by firing Wigan
to a 3-2 win over rock-bottom Charlton at the JJB Stadium.
Camara, whose partner gave birth in a Paris hospital on
Friday night, crashed a superb 41st-minute strike past Scott
Carson as the home side made the most of wild and windswept
conditions.
| Blackburn 0 |
Man Utd 1 |
| |
Saha (64) |
Report: Wayne Rooney may
not have enjoyed it much, but Manchester United's hard-fought
1-0 victory over Blackburn could prove priceless. Rooney
missed two sitters and was booked for dissent in a frustrating
game for the England striker, but United will take huge
satisfaction from this result, settled thanks to Louis Saha's
64th-minute finish
| Reading 3 |
Tottenham 1 |
Shorey (38)
Sidwell (45)
Doyle (79) |
Keane (pen 24) |
Report: Reading's run of
five consecutive defeats came to an end with a 3-1 victory
over Tottenham inspired by midfielder Steve Sidwell. Another
defeat looked probable for the hosts when Robbie Keane gave
Spurs the lead from the penalty spot at the Madejski Stadium,
but Steve Coppell's side were ahead by half-time in front
of a record attendance of 24,110 at the ground.
| Arsenal 3 |
Liverpool 0 |
Flamini (41)
Toure (56)
Gallas (80) |
|
Report: Arsenal moved up
to third in the Barclays Premiership and all but ended Liverpool's
title hopes with a 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners had suffered a difficult spell of late, but
they are now back to form in style.
Team of the Week - Arsenal
What a way to come back from a poor patch
of form – a defeat against West Ham, and poor draws
against Everton and CSKA Moscow had some wondering if the
Gunners had what it took this season, but an excellent performance
against an admittedly poor Liverpool side has silenced the
critics and pushed Arsenal to the mantle of title-contenders
once again.
Player of the Week - Didier Drogba
Last season there was more focus on the negative
side of his game – the diving, the cheating and the
moaning – but this season he has been a man transformed.
With Andriy Shevchenko playing alongside him and drawing
defenders away, the Drog has been in his element, a hat
trick against Watford moving him to the top of the scoring
charts.
Donkey of the Week - Iain Dowie
As a manager, he came to Charlton with a good
record, having lifted Crystal Palace unexpectedly to the
Premiership. But after just ten games of the season he has
been sacked by the Addicks, and with only eight league points
to his name, it is not hard to see why. Back to the lower
leagues for Mr. Dowie!
Upcoming Premiership Games
Arsenal v Newcastle
Suspensions NEW - Emre
Injuries ARS - Rosicky, Diaby, Lauren, (Baptista)
NEW - Krul, Ameobi, Owen, (Martins), (Parker), (Carr), (Babayaro),
(Taylor), (Bramble)
Prediction 4-0
Reason: Newcastle United
will undoubtedly try to stifle Arsenal’s passing game
and hold out for a draw. But with the injuries they have
at the moment, and following on from Arsenal’s 3-0
win over Liverpool last week, I can only see an easy win
for Arsene Wenger’s men.
Chelsea v West Ham
Suspensions
Injuries CHE - Cech
WHM - Ashton, (Ferdinand)
Prediction 3-1
Reason: The Hammers have
refound some of their form after a dreadful start to the
season, and I expect them to put in a decent performance
here today. But a t Stamford Bridge, Chelsea are almost
unplayable, and on form at the moment, expect Drogba to
add to his total.
Everton v Bolton
Suspensions EVE - McFadden
Injuries EVE - Cahill, Wright, Van der Meyde, Hibbert, Pistone,
(Naysmith), (Valente)
BOL - Gardner, Fortune, (O’Brien)
Prediction 0-0
Reason: Everton have had
some unlucky results in the last few weeks, but will want
to put that behind them against Bolton at Goodison Park.
Expect the game to be a physical encounter, and without
Tim Cahill in midfield for the Toffee’s I can see
both teams cancel each other out for a draw.
Man City v Fulham
Suspensions
Injuries MAC - Jihai, (Beasley), (Dabo)
FUL - Bullard, Elrich, Pembridge, (Brown)
Prediction 2-1
Reason: Man City have been
threatening to win for some time now, but can’t seem
to find the right formula up front. Fulham on the other
hand have been doing very well so far this season under
Chris Coleman’s guidance. Expect this to be a close
game, but Stuart Pearce to be a happy man with a narrow
win at Eastlands.
Middlesbrough v Liverpool
Suspensions
Injuries MID - Viduka, (Downing), (Cattermole), (Davies),
(Parlour), (Parnaby), (Ehoigu), (Riggott), (Christie)
LIV - Sissoko, Kewell, (Garcia)
Prediction 1-1
Reason: This is a game that
Liverpool must win – after last week’s poor
performance against Arsenal. Middlesbrough however have
a reputation for giving the so-called ‘bigger’
sides a scare at home, and I feel that Liverpool will be
happy to come away with a point from the Riverside.
Portsmouth v Watford
Suspensions
Injuries POR - Johnson, (Primus)
WAT - King, (Carlisle)
Prediction 2-0
Reason: Watford have now
started to struggle a little in the top league, and I can
see them slipping further still down the table. Portsmouth
had a disappointing home draw last week, and will be ready
for some easier pickings against the Hornets.
Reading v Charlton
Suspensions CHA - Faye
Injuries REA - Cox, Mate, Brown, (Halls), (Convey)
CHA - Lisbie, Traore
Prediction 2-1
Reason: Will the change
at the Valley have the desired effect, as Charton go looking
for their first away win of the season? I feel that as Reading
have some confidence now after their good win against Spurs
last week, they should take three points here to make Les
Reed’s first game as Charlton Manager an unhappy one.
Sheff Utd v Man Utd
Suspensions
Injuries SHF - Armstrong, Tonge, (Kabba), (Akinbiyi)
MAN - Neville, Solskjaer, Ji-Sung, (Giggs)
Prediction 2-2
Reason: Neil Warnock’s
team will see the visit of Man Utd as their big game of
the season, and so we will see a great amount of effort
form their players. Having said that, Man Utd are topping
the league at the minute – but I can still see a slight
hiccup here for the Red Devils with two points lost to Chelsea.
Blackburn v Tottenham
Suspensions BLA - Khizanishvili
Injuries BLA - Savage, Roberts, Reid, Enckelman, Nelson,
(Neill)
TOT - Jenas, Gardner, Chimbonda, Stalteri, Davenport, Tainio,
(Malbranque), (Mido), (Lennon), (King)
Prediction 1-1
Reason: Martin Jol’s
Tottenham side have been inconsistent to say the least this
season. Blackburn have not hit the heights of last season’s
from either, and both teams will be desperate to win here
to give their seasons a boost. I expect it to be close,
with a draw the likeliest outcome.
Wigan v Aston Villa
Suspensions AST - McCann
Injuries WIG - Skoko, Taylor, (Teale), (Heskey), (Hall)
AST - Laursen, Moore, (Barry), (Delaney)
Prediction 0-1
Reason: Martin O’Neill
keeps taking Villa along nicely – last weeks win away
to Everton was a good solid performance, and I suspect it
will be more of the same against Wigan this time. Wigan
won last week against Charlton, but I think it will be tougher
for them this time, with Villa coming out on top
