Toyota Football Fever Show 20
What the UK papers said this week?
1) Jose Furious at Transfer Halt
JOSE MOURINHO cast further doubt on his Chelsea
future when he claimed he cannot buy new players.
Mourinho saw his side struggle to a Carling
Cup semi-final draw at Wycombe courtesy of Wayne Bridge
— who was badly cut while scoring, and now has said
he has been denied cash by Roman Abramovich to strengthen.
Angry Mourinho said: “I’ve identified
players that I want but they will not come. “It’s
club reasons and I don’t have to tell you why.
“I have asked for players and it’s
not my choice that no one is coming. It’s not my club.
I am just a manager.
“I expect my squad to be the same at
the end of the transfer window as it was at the start. No
one out and no one in. This is our situation at the moment.
2) Blame Rafa for Reds Drubbing
JERZY DUDEK reckons Rafa Benitez must share
the blame for his Carling Cup horror. He said: “If
you play one game each two months it is really, really difficult
to show your quality.”
The Polish keeper conceded nine goals in the
space of four days as Arsenal sent Liverpool crashing from
both domestic knockout competitions.
He was blamed for two of the goals in Saturday’s
3-1 FA Cup defeat and for three in Tuesday’s 6-3 Carling
Cup mauling, The weekend game was Dudek’s first at
Anfield since a 1-0 win over the Gunners last February.
Now he has become the first man to question
publicly a selection policy which has been under the spotlight
all season. Dudek, 33, said: “After seven months,
or more than that, you have to play another game against
a good side in Arsenal.
“For a goalkeeper you can use experience
but you can’t build confidence in training.”
3) Henry chat unleashed Beast
JULIO BAPTISTA has revealed how a heart-to-heart
chat with Thierry Henry inspired him to come out fighting
for his Arsenal future.
Before The Beast’s four-goal rampage
in the 6-3 rout at Liverpool on Tuesday night, he feared
his Gunners career was slipping away.
The Brazilian’s first five months in
the Premiership left him frustrated at his lack of opportunities.
He has struggled to fit in and learn English and to convince
boss Arsene Wenger he deserves a regular starting place.
But at his lowest point skipper Henry took
him to one side for a few words of advice. Baptista, 25,
said: “He told me to have patience, that it’s
not easy and that it took him a year to adapt and he went
through difficult times.
4) New 3m deal for Wenger
ARSENAL are ready to open talks with Arsene
Wenger over a new £3million-a-year contract.
The Gunners are desperate to secure the Frenchman’s
long-term future at the club. Arsenal want him committed
to the Emirates Stadium before his current deal expires
next year.
Boss Wenger, 57, is the most successful manager
in the club’s history after taking charge in September
1996. But he believes his new crop of talent — which
includes the likes of Jeremie Aliadiere and Julio Baptista
— has the potential to become his greatest team of
all.
Wenger is in no rush to start negotiations
and has already made it clear that he will not come cheaply.
This season he admitted: “When I am
in negotiations I fight the club for every penny and when
I have signed a contract I fight to protect every penny
for the club.”
5) Spurs move in for Brown
TOTTENHAM are chasing Wes Brown and will
soon test Manchester United’s resolve with a £5million
bid.
Spurs boss Martin Jol is after a top central
defender to bolster his push for a Champions League place.
Jol has been snubbed by West Ham’s
Anton Ferdinand and Argentine Fabricio Coloccini of Deportivo
La Coruna.
Quotes of the Week
"I am under no illusions about the task
ahead, but throughout my career I have faced certain challenges
and met them all in the same way" West Ham’s
new signing Nigel Quashie, who has indeed faced challenges
in the Premiership, and has indeed met them all in the same
way… with relegation.
"We will try to forget this match as
soon as possible" Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez’s
rather obvious statement on the 6-3 mauling by Arsenal at
Anfield, fails to realise that most fans weren’t exactly
hoping the club was going to bring out a range of commemorative
mugs…
“People are talking about me costing
£6m but there's no way I'm worth that" Preston
striker David Nugent gives a dose of reality to the transfer
window.
“This season has been downright worse
than the last one" Massimo Maccarone seems a very happy
man at Middlesbrough.
"We're all desperate to have another
go at them. As a player, whenever you lose a big game you
just want to get back out there straight away" Steven
Gerrard, who perhaps spoke too soon…
Last Weeks F.A. Cup Results
| Birmingham 2 |
Newcastle 2 |
Campbell (15)
Larsson (86) |
Taylor (40)
Dyer (54) |
Report: Sebastian Larsson
earned 10-man Birmingham an FA Cup third round replay with
a late equaliser against Glenn Roeder's injury-ravaged Newcastle
at St Andrews. The on-loan Arsenal player, who is on the
verge of completing a permanent move to the club, hooked
the ball home from close range with just four minutes remaining
to secure a 2-2 draw.
| Chelsea 6 |
Macclesfield 1 |
Lampard (16, 41, pen 51)
Wright-Phillips (68)
Obi-Mikel (82)
Carvalho (86) |
Murphy (40) |
Report: Jose Mourinho was
delighted with the fighting qualities demonstrated by his
depleted Chelsea side as they overcame a first-half shock
to kill-off Macclesfield's hopes of causing one of the biggest
upsets in FA Cup history.
| Hull 1 |
Middlesbrough 1 |
| Forster (79) |
Viduka (73) |
Report: Nicky Forster came
off the bench to claim an FA Cup third round replay for
Hull as Barclays Premiership Middlesbrough were made to
pay for missed chances.
| Nottm Forest 2 |
Charlton 0 |
Agogo (28)
Holt (32)
|
|
Report: Nathan Tyson delivered
a knockout blow to Alan Pardew's hopes of FA Cup salvation
with a powerful performance to help Coca-Cola League One
Nottingham Forest sail into the FA Cup fourth round on the
back of a 2-0 home win over Barclays Premiership strugglers
Charlton
| Portsmouth 2 |
Wigan 1 |
Cole (64)
Kanu (90) |
McCulloch (83) |
Report: Kanu came up trumps
yet again for Portsmouth with a last-gasp header that took
his goal tally for the season into double figures and knocked
battling Wigan out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 home win.
| Sheff Utd 0 |
Swansea 3 |
| |
Butler (53, 59)
Britton (pen 67) |
Report: Swansea midfielder
Thomas Butler made Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock pay
the price for fielding a weakened team as the Blades crashed
out of the FA Cup 3-0.
| Liverpool 1 |
Arsenal 3 |
| Kuyt (71) |
Rosicky (37, 45)
Henry (84) |
Report: Arsenal sent FA
Cup holders Liverpool crashing out of this season's competition
with a clinical 3-1 victory at Anfield. Liverpool battered
away at the Gunners but found themselves 2-0 down at half-time
after a quickfire double from Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky.
The home side pulled a goal back through Dirk Kuyt's close-range
header, but Arsenal captain Thierry Henry killed off the
Merseysiders six minutes from time.
| Man Utd 2 |
Aston Villa 1 |
Larsson (55)
Solskjaer (90) |
Baros (74) |
Report: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
stepped off the bench to propel Manchester United into the
fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
He scored the winner in stoppage time, the striker's effort
squirming under the body of goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly
| Everton 1 |
Blackburn 4 |
| Johnson (pen 69) |
Derbyshire (5)
Pedersen (21)
Gallagher (38)
McCarthy (90) |
Report: Blackburn manager
Mark Hughes was dreaming of FA Cup glory again after his
under-strength side left Everton utterly humiliated with
a stunning 4-1 third-round win at Goodison Park.
Report: Cardiff battled
to earn a replay against Tottenham in a goalless FA Cup
third-round tie marred by crowd trouble at Ninian Park.
Riot police were needed at the away end with 12 minutes
left of the goalless draw in the Welsh capital.
Last Weeks Carling Cup Results
| Liverpool 3 |
Arsenal 6 |
Fowler (33)
Gerrard (68)
Hyypia (80) |
Aliadiere (27)
Baptista (40, 45, 60, 84)
Song (45)
Baptista pen miss 58 |
Report: Stunned Liverpool
were humbled in their own back yard by Arsene Wenger's youngsters
and sent tumbling out of the Carling Cup on the back of
a 6-3 hiding. On Saturday they had been knocked out of the
FA Cup by Arsenal's senior stars, but four days later Thierry
Henry and Co were not needed to secure a League Cup semi-final
showdown against neighbours Spurs.
| Wycombe 1 |
Chelsea 1 |
| Easter (77) |
Bridge (36) |
Report: Jermaine Easter's
late strike embarrassed Chelsea and earned Wycombe a memorable
1-1 draw in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final
at Adams Park. Easter, who has scored in every round of
the cup this season, finished coolly past Hilario with 13
minutes remaining to reward the League Two side against
the Premiership champions.
Team of the Week - Arsenal
Anfield is a tough place to go for any team,
and with the Gunners playing two games in a week there,
their fans had reason to worry. But Liverpool are not as
solid nowadays as they once were, especially with players
rested, and two comprehensive victories and nine goals later,
Arsenal are back in London and have advanced in two cups.
The Carling Cup game was a real demolition, and they may
have found a new start in ‘The Beast’ - Julio
Baptista.
Player of the Week - Julio Baptista
He has been utilized at Arsenal as a holding
midfielder mostly so far, putting his size and bulk to good
use. But it is in the front line where Julio Baptista learnt
his trade, and he showed in the 6-3 destruction of Liverpool
that he is a real prospect. The Brazilian hitman will now
be hoping to go on to partner Thierry Henry in the league,
where they could form an inspired team.
Donkey of the Week - Neil Warnock
There is great evidence to back up the claim
that a run in the FA Cup can have a positive effect on League
performances, so it is surprising that every year managers
still choose to rest most of their players for the world’s
oldest cup competition. Sheffield United proved this week
by losing to lowly Swansea 3-0 at home, that this may not
be a wise idea!!
Upcoming Premiership Games
Blackburn v Arsenal
Suspensions
Injuries BLA - Roberts, Reid, Enckelman, Nelson
ARS - Ljungberg, (Lauren), (Adebayor), (Gallas)
Prediction 1-3
Reason: Both teams have
been improving their form of late, with Blackburn adding
goals to their excellent defensive organization. But Arsenal
knocked six past Brad Friedel at Highbury less than a month
ago, and with the confidence of two wins over Liverpool,
I can see them winning this one.
Bolton v Man City
Suspensions
Injuries BOL - O’Brien, (Pedersen)
MAC - Hamann, Jihai, Mills, (Trabelsi), (Dickov), (Thatcher),
(Ireland), (Reyna), (Sinclair)
Prediction 2-0
Reason: Man City’s
away form has been getting better, after an appalling start
to the season, but Bolton at the Reebok are a team to be
feared – and now with Nicolas Anelka on fire, this
should be a routine win for Sam Allardyce’s boys.
Charlton v Middlesbrough
Suspensions
Injuries CHA - Bent, (Reid), (Young)
MID - Maccarone, (Parlour), (Huth)
Prediction 2-1
Reason: Alan Pardew will
try to impress on his players how important this game is
to Charlton’s survival in the Premiership, but they
will know this themselves. They will be up for it, but without
Darren Bent they look short of talent up front. Nevertheless,
I think they will sneak a win at The Valley, but Boro should
win the more important battle of remaining in the league.
Chelsea v Wigan
Suspensions
Injuries CHE - Boulahrouz, Robben, J Cole, Cech, (Cudicini),
(Terry), (Shevchenko)
WIG - Scharner, Camara, (Skoko)
Prediction 2-0
Reason: Chelsea are a team
that needs a win – and with Wigan currently struggling
for confidence, they should get that win here. Despite the
tightness of the game at the JJB last month, playing at
Stamford Bridge is altogether different, and I expect injury
hit Chelsea to take all three points.
Man Utd v Aston Villa
Suspensions
Injuries MAN - (Saha)
AST - Petrov, Sutton, Laursen, Taylor, Moore, Delaney, (Sorensen)
Prediction 3-1
Reason: Martin O’Neill
must be sick of the sight of the red devils by now. Two
losses in the last month, and now his team must go again
to Old Trafford. The FA Cup game was closer in score line
than their match in the League, but in all honesty United
should have won by more in that game, and should win out
easily enough in this one.
Sheff Utd v Portsmouth
Suspensions
Injuries SHF - Kenny, Leigertwood, (Li Tie)
POR - Pamarot, Stefanovic, (Lua-Lua)
Prediction 0-1
Reason: Sheffield United
will no doubt be slightly demoralized by their 3-0 home
loss to Swansea in the FA Cup, whilst Portsmouth will be
on a high after their last minute win. This will be a tight
game though, with both sides prepared to battle, but Portsmouth
have more up front, and should nick this one.
Watford v Liverpool
Suspensions
Injuries WAT - Bouazza, King, Carlisle, (Mahon), (Shittu)
LIV - Gonzalez, Sissoko, Garcia, Kewell, (Zenden)
Prediction 0-0
Reason: Rafa Benitez will
be desperate to get the Reds back on track after two poor
cup performances, and Watford would seem like a good side
to do it against. At home though Watford have been good
at grinding out results, and with Liverpool’s problems
in front of goal, they may only take a single point here.
West Ham v Fulham
Suspensions
Injuries WHM - Bowyer, Ashton
FUL - Niemi, Knight, Bullard, Elrich, Pembridge, Elliott,
(Christanval)
Prediction 3-1
Reason: This is a must win
game for the Hammers, and they have a secret weapon in ex-Fulham
forward Luis Boa-Morte. It is well noted that former players
do well against their old clubs, and Alan Curbishley will
be hoping that the Portuguese will be able to provide the
spark to ignite his team. With home advantage this time,
West Ham should be happy after this one with three points.
Everton v Reading
Suspensions
Injuries EVE - Valente, Turner, (Cahill), (Pistone), (Hibbert)
REA - Stack, Mate, (Sonko), (Murphy)
Prediction 0-0
Reason: In their opposite
match last month Everton ran out easy winners in a game
which saw a poor performance from Reading. Steve Coppell
will be telling his players that they can turn that around
at Goodison Park, and with Everton’s problems up front
they may come away with a well-earned point.
Tottenham v Newcastle
Suspensions
Injuries TOT - Keane, Dervite, (Ghaly), (Lennon), (Jenas)
NEW - Owen, Ameobi, Bernard, N’Zogbia, Ramage, Carr,
Moore, (Duff), (Bramble), (Babayaro), (Harper), (Sibierski)
Prediction 2-1
Reason: Spurs were unlucky
to lose their last home League game against Liverpool, and
usually put in an excellent performance at White Hart Lane.
Newcastle have also been playing well lately, but still
have their horrendous injury list, and that may tell against
them with Spurs the more likely winners.
FA CUP 4th ROUND DRAW
Saturday, 27 January & Sunday, 28th January
Barnet v Peterborough/Plymouth
Birmingham/Newcastle v Reading
Blackpool v Norwich
Bristol C/Coventry v Hull/Middlesbrough
Cardiff/Tottenham v Southend/Barnsley
Chester/Ipswich v Swansea
Crystal Palace v Preston
Derby v Bristol Rovers
Leicester/Fulham v Stoke
Man Utd v Portsmouth
QPR/Luton v Blackburn
Sheff W/Man City v Southampton
West Ham v Watford
Wolverhampton/Oldham v West Brom
Arsenal v Bolton
Chelsea v Nottm Forest
