Toyota Football Fever Show 17
What the UK papers said this week?
1) Liverpool duo Kop a Surprise
LIVERPOOL stars Luis Garcia and Xabi Alonso were left red-faced during a Christmas shopping trip earlier this week.
The Reds duo popped into the city centre's Virgin Megastore for a few presents — only to find themselves surrounded by hundreds of Everton fans.
Garcia and Alonso cut their visit short after discovering that Toffees midfielder Tim Cahill was in the store to sign copies of the club's latest DVD.
To make matters worse the new release focuses on a day the Kop pair would rather forget — Liverpool's 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park.
And the supporters were happy to point out that Cahill scored the opening goal as the Toffees humiliated their Merseyside rivals back in September.
Garcia and Alonso took the banter in good spirits and signed autographs before paying for their purchases and making a quick exit.
2) Mourinho in cheat claim
JOSE MOURINHO has claimed this week that Everton Striker Andy Johnson is a diver, and is staining the game with his antics.
Despite beating Everton in their Premiership encounter at Goodison Park, Jose Mourinho chose to focus his post match comments not on the great comeback by his own team, but on the apparent ‘diving’ of Everton striker Andy Johnson.
Toffees boss David Moyes was furious with the accusation, stating quite rightly that Johnson, who was pushed, was merely hurdling goalkeeper Hilario.
Mourinho made conflicting comments earlier in the season, when Goalkeeper Petr Cech was injured by a late challenge that strikers should do more to get out of the way of keepers.
3) Morgan forgives bruiser McCulloch
In a rare act of forgiveness in Premier League football, Sheffield United defender Chris Morgan has forgiven his ‘attacker’ Lee McCulloch for giving him a black eye when the teams met at the JJB Stadium.
McCulloch seemed to lose his cool during a corner kick near the end of the match, and punched Morgan in the face – leaving a swollen black eye.
Morgan’s responded that “it is a man’s game, and players must be able to take this kind of thing.” Quite frankly a breath of fresh air, and not something you could imagine Cristiano Ronaldo coming out with.
Morgan may have forgiven McCulloch but the FA have not and he will be suspended for 3 games.
4) Villa in Transfer Window Raids
Martin O’Neill will finally be able to spend some of new Villa Chairman Randy Lerner’s cash when the transfer window opens in January, and it seems he has his sights set on West Brom defender Curtis Davies.
Davies may cost anything up to 10 million pounds, but a figure of around 6 million seems more likely for the Championship defender.
The Villans have also been linked with Charlton striker Darren Bent, who is also wanted by new West Ham boss Alan Curbishley.
5) Reo-Coker received death threats
HAMMERS hero Nigel Reo-Coker has revealed that he received death threats last week after Alan Pardew was sacked by the East London club.
The club captain was felt by many fans to be the main cause of West Ham’s poor form, with his performances on the pitch well below his standard of last year.
Reo-Coker is still not sure that he wants to stay at Upton Park, and now it is not so hard to see why.
Quotes of the Week
"Newcastle are a good team, like Everton. At Everton there are 30,000 referees, in Newcastle there are 50,000" amazingly its Jose Mourinho, who just can’t resist having a pop at someone…
“I think the referees should protect the attackers more. Not only me, not only wingers, but strikers as well. If it's a dirty tackle or harsh tackle, the ref should give a yellow card right away without warning. But they don't” Cristiano Ronaldo, who I think meant ‘whingers’, not ‘wingers’…
Champions League Full Draw
Ties to be played February 20/21 & March 6/7
- FC Porto v Chelsea
- Celtic v AC Milan
- PSV Eindhoven v Arsenal
- Lille v Manchester United
- AS Roma v Lyon
- Barcelona v Liverpool
- Real Madrid v Bayern Munich
- Inter Milan v Valencia
Last Weeks Premiership Results
| Charlton 0 |
Liverpool 3 |
| |
Alonso (pen 3)
Bellamy (82)
Gerrard (88) |
Report: Liverpool finished with a flourish to increase Charlton's relegation worries as Craig Bellamy and Steven Gerrard produced a couple of fine late strikes at The Valley.
| Arsenal 2 |
Portsmouth 2 |
Adebayor (58)
Gilberto Silva (60) |
Pamarot (45)
Taylor (47) |
Report: Arsenal ensured their unbeaten record at the Emirates Stadium remained intact - but had to again settle for a draw after coming from 2-0 down against Portsmouth.
| Newcastle 2 |
Watford 1 |
| Martins (49, 85) |
Bouazza (57) |
Report: Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins enhanced his blossoming reputation with a superb double to kill off stubborn Watford. The 22-year-old Nigerian international snatched a 2-1 victory four minutes from time with a blistering drive from substitute Damien Duff's cross to deny the Hornets a precious point on Tyneside.
| Reading 1 |
Blackburn 2 |
| Harper (41) |
McCarthy (64)
Bentley (84) |
Report: David Bentley fired a stunning winner seven minutes from time to snatch a 2-1 victory for Blackburn at the Madejski Stadium. Reading had dominated the first half with James Harper securing a deserved interval lead with a cool finish from Stephen Hunt's defence-splitting through ball, but then Rovers took full control.
| Wigan 0 |
Sheff Utd 1 |
| |
Hulse (45) |
Report: Rob Hulse scored his fifth goal of the season to give Sheffield United their third win in four Premiership matches - a 1-0 success at Wigan - and maintain their climb away from the relegation zone.
| Aston Villa 0 |
Bolton 1 |
| |
Speed (pen 75) |
Report: Gary Speed scored the only goal to keep Bolton in contention for a Champions League spot as his second-half penalty earned Sam Allardyce's side their first win at Aston Villa for eight years.
| Everton 2 |
Chelsea 3 |
Arteta (pen 38)
Yobo (64) |
Howard (o.g. 49)
Lampard (81)
Drogba (87) |
Report: Didier Drogba produced a moment of outrageous brilliance to keep Chelsea's title hopes burning brightly with a 3-2 win at Goodison Park. Trailing twice and never at their best, it seemed Chelsea would suffer another major setback in their attempts to land a championship hat-trick. However, just as Everton seemed set to claim a draw their wholehearted efforts totally deserved, Drogba spotted his chance.
| Man City 1 |
Tottenham 2 |
| Barton (64) |
Davenport (16)
Huddlestone (24) |
Report: Tom Huddlestone scored his first Premiership goal as Tottenham survived a spirited second-half fightback to claim their first away league victory of the season by beating Manchester City 2-1. Huddlestone crashed home a 25th-minute half-volley to add to Calum Davenport's early opener and make a mockery of City's proud unbeaten home record.
| West Ham 1 |
Man Utd 0 |
| Reo-Coker (75) |
|
Report: Nigel Reo-Coker answered Alan Curbishley's call to do his talking on the pitch by grabbing the winner in the West Ham manager's first game in charge as they beat Manchester United 1-0.
| Fulham 2 |
Middlesbrough 1 |
Helguson (pen 12)
McBride (35) |
Viduka (74) |
Report: Fulham survived a late flourish to climb four places in the Premiership with a 2-1 victory that heaps further pressure on Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate. Chris Coleman's side had lost four of their last five matches heading into tonight's Craven Cottage showdown but goals from Heidar Helguson and Brian McBride stopped the rot.
Team of the Week - West Ham United
A run of three losses, with eight goals scored against and none scored has been broken – and all it took to change this was simply replacing one Alan with another! An excellent performance against the leaders Manchester United, which dents their own lead over Chelsea was a great start for Alan Curbishley at Upton Park, especially as he has never beaten them before in his management career – and now West Ham fans can look to the future with a little more confidence.
Player of the Week - Tom Huddlestone
This young lad, bought from Derby County in 2005 has been gaining admirers this season, with his committed yet fluent performances in the heart of the Tottenham midfield. Another excellent performance won his team three points away to Manchester City, orchestrating the Spurs midfield, setting up one goal, and scoring a cracker to win the game.
Donkey of the Week - Benny McCarthy
Despite the fact that he scored the winning goal against Reading last Saturday, Benni McCarthy is the Donkey of the week for his incredibly annoying habit of getting caught offside. THREE of his goals were disallowed in the Reading game because the South African had started from an advanced position, and countless other decisions went against the striker. It must annoy Mark Hughes immensely!
Upcoming Premiership Games
Arsenal v Blackburn
Suspensions ARS - Senderos, Toure
Injuries ARS - Henry, Diaby, Ljunberg, (Gallas), (Rosicky)
BLA - Emerton, Roberts, Reid, Enckelman, Nelson, Khizanishvili
Prediction 2-1
Reason: Blackburn have not been playing up to their standards of last year so far, but a good away win against Reading will have lifted confidence going into this game. Arsenal though, despite being on a poor run themselves should win this game, although it may be close.
Aston Villa v Man Utd
Suspensions
Injuries AST - Taylor, Laursen, Moore, Delaney, (Sorensen)
MAN - NONE
Prediction 1-3
Reason: Villa have not been pulling up any trees this year with their style of play, but they have been consistent, drawing ten games so far. Manchester United, despite last weeks surprise loss to West Ham, have been on great form and should find it fairly easy to turn aside Martin O’Neill’s side here.
Fulham v West Ham
Suspensions
Injuries FUL - Bullard, Elrich, Pembridge, Elliott, Pearce, Bouba Diop, Boa Morte, (Niemi)
WHM - Ashton, (Gabbidon)
Prediction 2-1
Reason: I have a feeling that it might be back down to earth with a bump for Alan Curbishley and his Hammers. They will have new found belief after beating Manchester United last week, but this game is away from home against a good Fulham side, and will be a much different test.
Liverpool v Watford
Suspensions
Injuries LIV - Zenden, Sissoko, Kewell
WAT - Foster, King, Carlisle
Prediction 3-1
Reason: On paper this game looks like a definite home win, and it is hard to find any reason to disagree with that to be honest. Watford will work hard as usual, and should present a sterner test than Charlton last week, but at Anfield it will be a mission too far.
Man City v Bolton
Suspensions MAC - Corradi
BOL - Davies
Injuries MAC - Richards, Sinclair, Mills, Logan, Jihai, (Hamann)
BOL - NONE
Prediction 2-0
Reason: Stuart Pearce will be desperate not to repeat the result of last week and lose at home again, and he will be making sure his side don’t play as poorly here. Bolton are not quite the same team away from home, and I can see them losing this one.
Middlesbrough v Charlton
Suspensions MID - Pogatetz
Injuries MID - Huth
CHA - Thomas, Lisbie, (Kishishev)
Prediction 2-0
Reason: The two in-form teams are pitted against each other here! I fancy Boro to win this as they have the better players and home advantage – and this will heap more misery onto Les Reed and his Charlton side.
Newcastle v Tottenham
Suspensions NEW - Babayaro
TOT - Zokora
Injuries NEW - Owen, Ameobi, Krul, Bernard, Moore, Bramble, N’Zogbia, Carr, Harper
TOT - Lennon, Jenas, Keane
Prediction 1-2
Reason: Tottenham have been finding some serious form of late, and last weeks away win at the City of Manchester Stadium was a great result. The team seem to have finally found a way of playing together, and I feel that they will manage to beat a Newcastle side that still has its injury problems.
Portsmouth v Sheff Utd
Suspensions
Injuries POR - Lua-Lua, Stefanovic, Cole, Mwaruwari
SHF - Shipperley, Li Tie
Prediction 2-1
Reason: Portsmouth at home are a difficult proposition for any team, and despite the fight shown by Sheffield United recently, this is a very tough game for them that I think they will narrowly lose.
Reading v Everton
Suspensions
Injuries WHM - Convey, Cox, Mate, Brown, Kitson
MAN - Turner, Cahill, Pistone, Hibbert
Prediction 1-2
Reason: Reading’s good home run of form came to an end last week against Tottenham, and they will have lost a little confidence from that. Everton on the other hand put in a great performance to take Chelsea to the wire, and I feel that they may be able to win this game at the Madjeski.
Wigan v Chelsea
Suspensions WIG - McCulloch
Injuries WIG - Camara, Taylor, (Valencia), (Teale)
CHE - Cech, Cudicini, Terry, J Cole
Prediction 0-3
Reason: Wigan Athletic are on a poor run of form at the minute, and this is a game that you don’t want to face in that situation. Chelsea were undeniably lucky last week, after a flawed performance, but I am sure Jose Mourinho will not let that happen again and the Blues will win this one comfortably.
