Toyota Football Fever Show 29
What the UK papers said this week?
1) Jose Starts Real ruck
JOSE MOURINHO is in trouble with his Chelsea
bosses after saying he would be ‘honoured’ to
manage Real Madrid.
The Blues boss, on a scouting trip in Spain,
said: “I would very much like to coach there but not
next season as I have a contract with Chelsea. “I
am very happy in England but I am not ruling anything out.”
Stamford Bridge officials are angry that
Mourinho spoke about Real during a trip to Spain on club
business.
He was flown on one of Roman Abramovich’s
private jets to Pamplona where he watched Champions League
quarter-final opponents Valencia play Osasuna.
Despite insisting he will honour his Chelsea contract —
which runs until 2010 — the gaffe is the latest incident
to cause friction between Mourinho and the board
2) Deal in Lamps
JOSE MOURINHO will take the Real Madrid boss
job if they agree to sign Frank Lampard.
Mourinho is resigned to leaving Chelsea this
summer and wants to build a Real side around the England
midfielder.
Lamps, 28, can buy out the last two years
of his Blues contract for £8m under FIFA rules. That
will allow him to negotiate a mega deal with the Spanish
giants. His fiancee Ellen is Spanish and would be delighted
to move home.
Mourinho has not spoken to Roman Abramovich
since December and Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes has
already established close links with Madrid.
Real fans are keen on the possibility of Mourinho taking
over. A poll of 41,000 saw 55 per cent vote ‘yes’
to the Chelsea boss replacing Fabio Capello.
3) Hammers Stars Race Hate Hell
NIGEL REO-COKER and Shaun Newton had to flee
after being targeted by a racist section of their own West
Ham supporters.
A 30-strong mob turned on the black players
during last weekend's home game against Tottenham. Reo-
Coker and Newton, who were spectators at the match, were
racially abused, physically threatened and forced to leave
their seats in the stand.
An eye witness said: "I genuinely believe
they feared for their lives and did the right thing by turning
their backs on this mob and getting away from a nasty situation.
"I have never witnessed anything like
it at a football match. I know things are difficult at the
club but this was pure evil. You could see the hatred in
the eyes of these fans, they wanted to kill the players."
Neither Reo-Coker nor Newton has made an
official complaint to the club about the incident for fear
of reprisals.
4) Saviola eyes Premiership move
JAVIER SAVIOLA has put a host of Premiership
clubs on red alert by revealing he is set to leave Barcelona
on a free. The Argentina international's contract expires
this summer and the Spanish giants are stalling on a new
deal.
Saviola, 25, has struggled to hold down a
regular spot in Frank Rijkaard's team this season and the
striker is understood to be considering a move to England
if he is not offered an extension.
Saviola said: "I think it will be difficult
for me to continue with Barca. "My first option is
to stay, but the club still hasn't made an offer to me.
"If the situation does not change it is normal that
I will leave the club."
Quotes of the Week
"I think he has become a touch more mature
as a person and a player” Stuart Pearce on City’s
Joey Barton one month before he was arrested for assault…
"Of course they were on time. More than
on time. They were so early they brought the milk in"
Roy Keane welcomes his late players back to the team.
“For the first time in my career a manager said in
public that I did not completely fit in with his plan. That's
not exactly great motivation. If he thinks that why am I
here?” Andriy Shevchenko adds to the unrest at Stamford
Bridge.
"Mutu, like a good gypsy, has tried to
be slick. Then again, all Romanians are slick, they have
it on their DNA" Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini
does his bit for Italian Romanian relations after Mutu scored
while his teams player lay injured.
"I don't feel integrated into English
life at all. We cannot speak English, we don't know the
culture and we are scared of appearing rude” Man City’s
Sun Jihai, who has been in England for SIX years!
Last Weeks F.A. Cup/Premiership Results
F.A. Cup Quarter Finals
| Middlesbrough 2 |
Man Utd. 2 |
Cattermole (45)
Boateng (47) |
Rooney (23)
Ronaldo (pen 68) |
Report: Manchester United's
treble dream survived an FA Cup rollercoaster at the Riverside
as they drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough. But, just as on their
last visit to Teesside, Sir Alex Ferguson's men were in
receipt of a debatable penalty decision, referee Rob Styles
ruling Boateng had handled Rio Ferdinand's flick-on, for
United’s penalty-spot equalizer.
| Chelsea 3 |
Tottenham 3 |
Lampard (22, 71)
Kalou (86) |
Berbatov (5)
Essien (o.g. 28)
Ghaly (36) |
Report: Chelsea produced
a sensational second-half fightback to keep their FA Cup
dreams alive in a remarkable six-goal thriller at Stamford
Bridge. Chelsea had looked down and out at half-time after
they trailed 3-1 to a vibrant Tottenham side. But second-half
goals from Frank Lampard and substitute Salomon Kalou earned
them a 3-3 draw and a replay at White Hart Lane against
the odds
| Blackburn 2 |
Man City 0 |
Mokoena (28)
Derbyshire (90) |
|
Report: Stuart Pearce heard
the Manchester City supporters turn on their team after
they exited the FA Cup with a 2-0 quarter-final defeat by
Blackburn at Ewood Park. Cries of 'you're not fit to wear
the shirt' were aimed at the players as they went to salute
the fans at the end of the game
| Plymouth 0 |
Watford 1 |
| |
Bouazza (21) |
Report: Hameur Bouazza lashed
into the roof of the net to end Plymouth's brave FA Cup
journey and send Watford into the semi-finals with a 1-0
win. Bouazza's strike at Home Park put Adrian Boothroyd's
Premiership strugglers into the hat for Monday's draw and
possibly 90 minutes away from the UEFA Cup depending on
this year's finalists.
Premiership Results
| Man City 0 |
Chelsea 1 |
| |
Lampard (pen 28) |
Report: Chelsea moved to
within six points of Premiership leaders Manchester United
as Frank Lampard's 20th goal of the season gave them a 1-0
win over Manchester City.
| Aston Villa 0 |
Arsenal 1 |
| |
Diaby (10) |
Report: Arsenal put their
treble cup heartbreak behind them to climb into the top
three of the Premiership - with a fortuitous goal from Abou
Diaby sinking Martin O'Neill's side.
Team of the Week - Chelsea
There would be few people who would argue
that Chelsea are playing better than they were last year,
but somehow the team from West London have managed to stay
in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple. Jose Mourinho
looks like he may be leaving the club, but with the League
Cup already in the bag – two matches away from the
FA Cup Final, the Quarters of the Champions League and a
big match against leaders Man. Utd. in the league, it could
be a magnificent swansong for the man from Portugal. His
teams matches this week showed the determination he has
instilled in them, coming back from 3 down to draw against
Spurs, and closing the gap on Man Utd to 6 points with a
narrow win at Man City.
Player of the Week - Frank Lampard
For all the praise that Jose Mourinho gets
for managing Chelsea to two Premier League titles, he would
be quick to identify Frank Lampard and John Terry as his
main men in the team. Lampard has had his critics, but a
midfielder who chips in with goals is invaluable to a side
hunting trophies, and Fat Frank’s three goals this
week, making it 20 for the season, saved Chelsea’s
blushes in two competitions. If Chelsea are to push Man
Utd all the way, Lampard needs to carry on his scoring form.
Upcoming Premiership/FA Cup Games
Premiership (Saturday 17th &
Sunday 18th)
Man Utd v Bolton
Suspensions BOL - Meite
MAN - Scholes
Injuries MAN - Saha, Solskjaer, Fletcher, (Evra), (van der
Sar)
BOL - O’Brien, (Davies)
Prediction 3-1
Reason: There may be a couple
of United players rested for this game, as a home match
against out of form Bolton is one of the easier ones they
will face in the title run in, but having said that, this
is a Lancashire derby and Bolton will always be up for these
kinds of games. The reds have a better cutting edge up front
though, and they should take the win.
Chelsea v Sheff Utd
Suspensions CHE - Mikel
SHF - Gillespie
Injuries CHE - J Cole
SHF - Lucketti, (Li Tie), (Kilgallon)
Prediction 2-0
Reason: Sheffield United
have one thing on their mind at the moment, and that is
staying in the Premiership. They are close to safety and
will have earmarked games where they can win points in the
run-in. This will not have been one of those games, and
this may count against the Blades, as I expect Chelsea to
win comfortably.
Middlesbrough v Man City
Suspensions
Injuries MID - (Huth)
MAC - Mills
Prediction 2-1
Reason: Stuart Pearce’s
side are in a perilous position right now, but that is nothing
that a couple of quick wins would change. City though seen
to have nobody to score their goals and this must be a worry
for their fans. Middlesbrough have hit something of a purple
patch and they will want to carry on their late season push
up the league, so should win here, which will spell trouble
for the City manager.
Reading v Portsmouth
Suspensions POR - Davis
Injuries REA - Mate, Sonko, Convey, Henry, (Brown), (Halls)
POR - Mendes, Stefanovic, (Lauren)
Prediction 2-0
Reason: Reading have just
kept going and going this season, but their form has suffered
slightly of late, with some tougher opponents. This game
should see a return to winning ways for the Royals however,
as Portsmouth’s season seems to have finished early,
and particularly away from Fratton Park they seem not to
be able to get the goals.
Tottenham v Watford
Suspensions
Injuries TOT - Assou-Ekotto, King, Dervite, Gardner, (Robinson),
(Keane), (Jenas), (Murphy)
WAT - King
Prediction 3-1
Reason: Tottenham are on
fire at the moment and with Watford well and truly sunk
now, their minds on the FA Cup, this game shouldn’t
pose too many problems for Spurs. Watford will not roll
over against their London rivals, but surely will not pose
enough problems for Martin Jol’s men, to take anything
from the game.
Wigan v Fulham
Suspensions FUL - Montella
WIG - McCulloch, Hall, Baines
Injuries WIG - Kirkland, Camara
FUL - Bullard, Christanval, Elrich, Pembridge, Elliott
Prediction 2-1
Reason: Wigan have managed
to turn the corner in their fight for survival, and now
look almost assured of a place in next seasons Premier League.
They have confidence returning to their side and a home
tie against poor travelers Fulham should bring them another
three points closer to absolute safety.
Blackburn v West Ham
Suspensions BLA - Mokoena
Injuries BLA - Savage, Ooijer, Reid, Todd
WHM - Upson, (Ashton), (Gabbidon)
Prediction 1-1
Reason: Curiously, West
Ham seem to have sometimes performed slightly better away
from the pressure of their home crowd. Blackburn are playing
some really solid football at the moment, not giving much
away at the back – but I just feel that there is something
left in the Hammers, and they may just get a point from
Ewood Park.
Charlton v Newcastle
Suspensions NEW - Butt
Injuries CHA - Gibbs, (Bougherra), (M Bent), (Hreidarsson),
(Thatcher), (Reid)
NEW - Ameobi, Owen, Babayaro, (Krul), (Ramage), (Moore)
Prediction 2-1
Reason: Both of these teams
have been playing significantly better recently –
but with home advantage I think that Charlton are slight
favourites for this one. Newcastle still haven’t quite
found their best side, and tend to have trouble away from
St. James’s sometimes. With the home fans cheering
them on, I can see Charlton sneaking this one.
Aston Villa v Liverpool
Suspensions
Injuries AST - Laursen, Sutton, Delaney, (Samuel), (Gardner)
LIV - Garcia, Kewell, (Crouch)
Prediction 0-0
Reason: Liverpool are going
very well in the Champions League once again, but will that
progress come at a cost to their League performances? They
have been overtaken in the fight for third spot by Arsenal,
who beat Villa midweek, and I can see the Reds failing to
find a way past the Villa defence in a tight game at Villa
Park.
Everton v Arsenal
Suspensions ARS - Adebayor, Eboue
Injuries EVE - Valente, McFadden, Cahill, (van der Meyde)
ARS - Henry, van Persie
Prediction 0-0
Reason: Tim Cahill got the
goal for Everton in the first game between these two sides
at the Emirates earlier in the season, but he will be missing
from the Everton side here. Arsenal are not quite their
fluent self, and may find it difficult against organized
Everton at Goodison Park. I can see a very close game here,
with a 0-0 draw the most likely result.
FA Cup Quarter Final Replays
Man Utd v Middlesbrough
Prediction 2-0
Reason: Middlesbrough did
exceptionally well at the Riverside, and were very unlucky
to be denied the win by a harsh penalty for United. Having
managed to draw the game however United should find the
going a little easier at Old Trafford, and I would think
they would win this one without too many problems.
Tottenham v Chelsea
Prediction 1-2
Reason: Man City are struggling
desperately for points all of a sudden, as they find themselves
dragged near the relegation zone. Chelsea though are a team
on a mission, and they do not want to hand the title to
United on a platter. This one will be hard fought and scrappy,
but Chelsea should win it to complete a poor week for City.
