Toyota Football Fever Show 25
What the UK papers said this week?
1) Masch’s bad day
NOT much to laugh about at West Ham these
days...apart from third-choice goalkeeper Jimmy Walker's
brilliant column in the Upton Park programme.
Saturday's effort contained a fond farewell
to Javier Mascherano, with details of the Argentinian's
worst day of so many bad days with the Hammers.
Walker wrote: "I have to tell you about
his day from hell when his interpreter Ciaran had forgotten
to tell him the team had the day off.
"Javier drove to the training ground
but broke down as he had run out of petrol so he walked
to the nearest petrol station but realised he had no money.
"He had to ring Ciaran and ask him to
speak to the petrol station manager, but they were not having
any of it and just said 'if he does not have any money he
is not getting any petrol'.
"He had to walk to the training ground
to borrow some money off Anton, who was in for treatment,
and also discovered the team were not in. He walked back,
filled the petrol can up, walked to his car put the petrol
in and set off back home. Then half a mile up the road a
taxi crashed into the back of him. When he was telling me
about it in his broken English he finished the story by
saying, 'Jimmy, I get home, I shut the curtains and I sleep'
2) Posh is the Death of Football
BAYERN MUNICH supremo Uli Hoeness has launched
a scathing attack on David Beckham's wife Victoria.
Hoeness is still fuming over Beckham's decision
to move to LA Galaxy in the summer — a switch he believes
was manufactured by Victoria.
And the ex-Germany international has described
Posh as "the death of football". Hoeness said:
"I like David Beckham very much — but not his
wife.
"Such people are the death of the football
and Beckham is a product of these people.” It's bad
that he must now go to Hollywood. He is actually a highly-gifted
player."
3) Platini proposes five refs
FOOTBALL'S governing bodies are considering
a bizarre concept of using FIVE officials for every football
match.
New UEFA president Michel Platini has suggested
that the introduction of two refs to patrol the penalty
areas would improve the game.
The idea has been proposed to rid the game
of decisions such as those that marred Arsenal's controversial
victory over Wigan on Sunday.
Ref Phil Dowd failed to award the Latics
a clear penalty when they were already leading - Mathieu
Flamini hauling down Emile Heskey.
A UEFA spokesman said: "Two more officials
would definitely help to clear up misunderstandings.
4) Sidwell: We could be top
STEVE SIDWELL insists Reading would be top
of the Premiership — if the season had started in
January.
The Royals are unbeaten in 2007 and would actually be ahead
of leaders Manchester United on points picked up since New
Year’s Day.
Sidwell, whose side visit Old Trafford in
the FA Cup on Saturday, said: “It’s an amazing
statistic and it’ll give us a lot of confidence for
Saturday’s game.
“We have had a great 2007 so far and
we want to keep it going.
“United might not field their strongest
team as they have a Champions League game on Tuesday.
5) Tim signs up for £3m
TIM HOWARD has signed a five-year contract
with Everton worth almost £8million.
The American keeper agreed the deal that will
keep him at Goodison until 2012 after the Merseyside club
finally agreed a £3m fee with Manchester United.
Howard has been on loan at Everton since the
start of the season, and talks to make the move permanent
have progressed at a slow pace.
But he has made it clear over the past few
weeks that he is keen on an extended stay with the Blues,
and manager David Moyes wrapped up the deal after talks
with the Old Trafford club at the weekend.
Quotes of the Week
"I have disconnected myself from West
Ham and signed a contract with Liverpool. I can consider
myself a Red Devil" Javier Mascherano
betrays his real thoughts on signing for Liverpool.
"Coming into this interview I was a bit
unsure whether to play it down and be sensible. But then
I thought 'no, sod it'. We've had the snow this week so
we've done very little training. We've built an igloo, and
had a snowball fight. I've built a large Danny Shittu-sized
snowman" Aidy Boothroyd on his unorthodox
training methods used to beat West Ham
“There was a moment when he was complaining
that I elbowed him in the head. I responded and said 'look
at where your head is, I can't help it if you're so short
you only come up to my elbow”. New Newcastle defender
Oguchi Onyewu meets pint-sized tearaway
Craig Bellamy.
"If we're the last club to fly the flag
of St George, we will. We're going to stay English"
Middlesbrough Chairman Steve Gibson on
all the foreigners ruining the English game. Forgetting
of course, Viduka, Schwarzer, Yakubu, Xavier, Boateng…etc…etc.
"I have some passion, you know, strange
as it might seem" Gareth Southgate
isn’t convincing anyone.
Last Weeks F.A. Premier League Results
| Reading 2 |
Aston Villa 0 |
| Sidwell (16, 90) |
|
Report Steve Sidwell's double earned Reading
their fourth successive win in the Barclays Premiership
as they stayed on course for a European spot with a 2-0
home win over Aston Villa. The midfielder struck his third
and fourth goals of the campaign to maintain the Royals'
unbeaten start to 2007 and strengthen their place in the
top six.
| Chelsea 3 |
Middlesbrough 0 |
Drogba (45, 83)
Xavier (o.g. 66) |
|
Report Chelsea are determined to push Manchester
United all the way before relinquishing their hold on the
Premiership crown and they provided further evidence of
that commitment by handing Middlesbrough their first defeat
of the year by a 3-0 marg
| Everton 1 |
Blackburn 0 |
| Johnson (10) |
|
Report Everton have Europe in their sights
after a 1-0 revenge win at Goodison Park over Blackburn.
Andy Johnson fired in the winner after only 10 minutes in
a game that the Blues largely dominated.
| Man Utd 2 |
Charlton 0 |
Park Ji-Sung (24)
Fletcher (82) |
|
Report Wayne Rooney kept his nerve when it
mattered to ease Manchester United to a unconvincing 2-0
win over Charlton. After all the swagger of recent performances,
the Red Devils were forced to grind out a result against
Alan Pardew's brave battlers, who never let their heads
drop even after Park Ji-Sung had nodded the hosts into a
first-half lead.
| Newcastle 2 |
Liverpool 1 |
Martins (26)
Solano (pen 70) |
Bellamy (6) |
Report Newcastle dashed Craig Bellamy's hopes
of a winning return to St James' Park as they fought back
to snatch a 2-1 home victory over Liverpool.
| Sheff Utd 2 |
Tottenham 1 |
Hulse (27)
Jagielka (pen 62) |
Jenas (2) |
Report Sheffield United skipper Phil Jagielka
thundered home a penalty to lift the Blades 10 points clear
of the relegation zone and pile on the away-day agony for
Spurs, who went down 2-1.
| West Ham 0 |
Watford 1 |
| Harewood (pen miss 29) |
Hendersen (pen 12) |
Report West Ham were booed off after another
disastrous defeat, this time 1-0 at home to bottom club
Watford. Darius Henderson's penalty condemned Alan Curbishley's
side to another morale-sapping reverse and the Hammers fans
let the players know exactly what they thought of an expensively-assembled
side that appears to be heading straight for the Championship.
| Portsmouth 2 |
Man City 1 |
Mendes (5)
Kanu (81) |
Corradi (62) |
Report Pedro Mendes and Kanu both scored
as Portsmouth recorded their first win in seven Premiership
matches against Manchester City at Fratton Park.
| Bolton 2 |
Fulham 1 |
Speed (pen 23)
Nolan (51) |
Knight (66) |
Report Kevin Nolan scored his third goal
in five games as Bolton continued their push for Europe.
| Arsenal 2 |
Wigan 1 |
Hall (o.g. 81)
Rosicky (85) |
Landzaat (35) |
Report Arsenal left it late to maintain their
unbeaten Emirates Stadium record when they came from behind
to see off relegation battlers Wigan 2-1. The Gunners, produced
their now customary late rally to secure victory through
an own goal from Fitz Hall and a Tomas Rosicky header six
minutes from time.
Team of the Week - Sheffield United
Despite having a squad comprised of players
that would at best be described as ‘Championship quality’,
and having little or no money to spend, Neil Warnock has
worked wonders to take Sheffield United to within a stone’s
throw of safety with this week’s excellent 2-1 home
win over Spurs. The incompetence of the teams beneath the
Blades should see them safe, and it is a just reward for
the sheer hard work and determination that the players have
put in all season.
Player of the Week - Steve Sidwell
Released by Arsenal earlier in his career,
Steve Sidwell is going some way to proving that the Gunners
made the wrong decision. The ginger-haired midfielder has
been superb for Reading this season, holding the side together
from the middle of the park, and his performance this week
against Aston Villa was more of the same. He was the heart
of the Royal’s performance not only in defence, but
also in attack – netting both goals in the two- nil
win.
Donkey of the Week - Anton Ferdinand
There are surely many reasons as to why West
Ham have failed so miserably this season to repeat last
year’s heroics, but chief among them must be the attitude
of some of their ‘star’ players. The report
of Anton Ferdinand and Nigel Reo-Coker celebrating when
Alan Pardew was sacked sums up this problem perfectly. Ferdinand
went one stage further in condemning West Ham to the drop
this week, by stupidly fouling Watford striker Darius Hendersen,
to give away the penalty to condemn the Hammers to another
defeat. Will these ‘star’ players stick around
in the Championship?
Upcoming FA Cup/Premiership/Champion’s
League Games
FA Cup Fifth Round (Saturday 17th
& Sunday 18th)
Arsenal v Blackburn
Prediction 2-0
Reason: Blackburn are a
dangerous team on a given day, as Everton – who were
thrashed at home in the 3rd round - will testify. However
since then they have lost their midfield engine, Robbie
Savage and Arsenal at home in the cup should not find this
one too difficult.
Chelsea v Norwich
Prediction 3-1
Reason: Should be more of
the same for Chelsea. After the success against Nottingham
Forest at Stamford Bridge, the Blues will be very confident
against a Norwich side not doing too well in the Championship.
One player to look out for is livewire Darren Huckerby,
but even he shouldn’t cause too many problems for
a Chelsea team very much returning to form.
Man Utd v Reading
Prediction 3-2
Reason: On paper, this looks
like it should be a good game – with both sides playing
entertaining, attacking football. Steve Coppell is sure
to send his side out to try and win the game, but at Old
Trafford against an in form Man Utd team it could prove
to be just too difficult for the Royals. One to watch though!
Middlesbrough v West Brom
Prediction 2-1
Reason: Middlesbrough have
quickly returned to their ‘win-one, lose-one’
form, but once again home advantage should tell here. The
quality that ‘Boro possess up front in Viduka and
Yakubu will mean that they should score goals, and even
though West Brom are on form in the Championship, I expect
Boro to come out on top.
Plymouth v Derby
Prediction 1-1
Reason: The battle of the
Championship teams - Derby are playing some good football
at the moment, and currently top the second tier. They should
win against Playmouth, but may well need a replay to do
it.
Watford v Ipswich
Prediction 1-0
Reason: Watford have had
a poor season so far, and are soon to be relegated, but
in the FA Cup their players see a chance to make something
of the remainder of the campaign. Against a struggling Ipswich
side at Vicarage Road, the Hornets should find themselves
in the Quarter Finals.
Fulham v Tottenham
Prediction 2-2
Reason: Spurs have been
hopeless away from home in the Premier League this season,
but it always takes the FA Cup to bring the best out in
them. Fulham will be desperate to advance themselves, so
this should be a close run affair, but I can see the Tottenham
strike force powering them to the Quarter Finals after a
replay.
Preston v Man City
Prediction 2-1
Reason: I feel that this
will be the only upset of the round, mainly because Man
City lack any kind of cutting edge up front. Preston on
the other hand are performing well in the Championship and
have free scoring striker David Nugent to bag the goals.
FA Premier League (Wednesday 21st)
Watford v Wigan
Injuries WAT - King, (Carlisle)
WIG - Kirkland, Scharner, (de Zeeuw), (Camara)
Prediction 1-1
Reason: This is quite simply
a must win game for Watford, and for Wigan it is pretty
important as well. The Hornets will want to build on their
great win last week at West Ham to give themselves a slim
chance of avoiding relegation, but Wigan are finding some
of the form of the earlier part of the season, and I think
a draw id the most likely result.
Everton v Tottenham
Injuries EVE - McFadden
TOT - King, Dervite
Prediction 2-1
Reason: A home win looks
on the cards here, as Everton have played well at Goodison
Park this season, while Tottenham have been hopeless away
from White Hart Lane. With Andy Johnson finding his shooting
boots again, and with Everton free of injuries, they should
win this one and continue their push for a UEFA Cup place.
The Champions League 2nd Round
Arsenal vs PSV (1st in Eredivisie)
Key Player: Striker Jefferson Farfan has bagged
14 goals so far this campaign
Prediction: Success in last
year’s competition will have given the Arsenal players
good experience of this competition. Despite PSV’s
good form, I expect Arsenal to progress.
Man Utd vs Lille (3rd in Ligue 1)
Key Player: Peter Odemwingie is Lille’s
top scorer in the Champion’s League
Prediction: This should be
an easier tie for Man Utd, and with Ronaldo and Rooney firing
on all cylinders, passage to the Quarter Finals should be
guaranteed.
Liverpool vs Barcelona (1st in La
Liga)
Key Player: Ronaldinho – back on form
with two goals in the last league game.
Prediction: Rumours of a
split in the Barcelona camp seem premature, and the Catalan
Giants will be a very stern test for a new Liverpool side.
The Reds have a knack for pulling off the unexpected, but
I think they will lose out in this one.
Chelsea vs FC Porto (1st in Liga)
Key Player: Ricardo Quaresma – tricky
winger and target for Chelsea
Prediction: Jose Mourinho
faces his former team hoping to repeat his Champions winning
triumph with new club Chelsea. This is the competition that
the Blues want to win more than any other, and with Drogba
firing in the goals, they should at least get past Porto.
Premiership Top-Scorers Chart
Barclays
Premier League Top 10 players
|
Drogba |
Chelsea |
17 |
Ronaldo
|
Man Utd
|
15 |
| Van Persie |
Arsenal |
11 |
| Yakubu |
Middlesbrough |
11 |
| Doyle |
Reading |
10 |
| Henry |
Arsenal |
10 |
| Kanu |
Portsmouth |
10 |
| Lampard |
Chelsea |
10 |
| Martins |
Newcastle |
10 |
| McCarthy |
Blackburn |
10 |
| Rooney |
Man Utd |
10 |
| Johnson |
Everton |
9 |
| Kuyt |
Liverpool |
9 |
