better chance - Recent posts
Viewing all posts which authors have tagged ‘better chance’.
You can also subscribe to this tag's feed.
So, you want to be a football superstar...
Maybe it's not quite as desirable as some other, less glamorous jobsTake, for example, working
the grill at a fine fast food establishment of international notoriety. No one threatens your
physical well-being there if you perform poorly because the outcome is supposed to be terrible.
West Ham United are back in the Premier League, after Carlton Cole's late strike gave them
victory over a doggedBlackpoolside. In a match that inevitably gets linked with the £90million
that the club will earn from being in the Premier League for a season (and the parachute payments
should the winning team last just one season), it was a match that the Sky hype machine almost
manage to bill as the most important game of the season, but the second most important of the
day.
So, just how did Fulham finish ninth, their first ever back-to-back top 10 finish in the top
flight?
Chances were, if we were winning at half, we'd win the game. And if we were losing, we had a
better chance than most at getting something out of the match. And that's not all:
- Never lost a single match when winning at half (10-1-0)
- Conceded just 4 goals in the second half when winning; one behind leaders Stoke City
- Finished 2nd overall in total points gained when losing at halftime with 8
- Finished 18th overall in total points gained when drawing at halftime with 13
- Tied with United overall for least amount of points dropped with just 6
- Yet, somehow, conceded 17 goals in the final 15 minutes, more than in 2007-08
How did our home record stack up with our away record?
So, just how did Fulham finish ninth, their first ever back-to-back top 10 finish in the top
flight?
Chances were, if we were winning at half, we'd win the game. And if we were losing, we had a
better chance than most at getting something out of the match. And that's not all:
- Never lost a single match when winning at half (10-1-0)
- Conceded just 4 goals in the second half when winning; one behind leaders Stoke City
- Finished 2nd overall in total points gained when losing at halftime with 8
- Finished 18th overall in total points gained when drawing at halftime with 13
- Tied with United overall for least amount of points dropped with just 6
- Yet, somehow, conceded 17 goals in the final 15 minutes, more than in 2007-08
How did our home record stack up with our away record?
Signing his professional contract in December 2006, the world was at the young Welshman's feet.
Having lightning fast pace, great stamina and positional awareness put Ribeiro's name on the radar
for the bigger clubs such as Everton. Ribeiro opted to stay at Ashton Gate stating: ''I felt I had
a better chance of playing regular football for Bristol City at the time'' Only making 14
appearances due to an injury-hit 5 seasons at Ashton Gate saw his contract finally terminated by
City this summer.
Over the past seven years Arsenal has unfortunately been labeled as chokers by supporters of
many other teams and it's becomingly increasingly hard to argue the point with them. However, the
club will have an excellent opportunity to shake the monkey off their back on Sunday when they head
to West Brom for the season finale.
The FA Cup final, sponsored by an American beer, kicking off at 5.15 on a Saturday afternoon
while other matches are being played on the same day. It is on such occasions that one is tempted
to think that it might not necessarily be the clubs or the supporters that are the most intent on
destroying the spectacle of this most enduring fixtures in the sporting calendar, but those charged
with the job of keeping this day alive, in the face of the all-encompassing grip of the Premier
League and the Champions League.
One of the arguments trotted out to defend the high transfer fees paid for some players last
summer—right after the one about how British players with Premier League experience would take
less time to settle and because of this pay back the higher fees with a better chance of returning
to the Champions League—was that the players coming in would be on lower wages than the men they
were replacing.
One of the arguments trotted out to defend the high transfer fees paid for some players last
summer—right after the one about how British players with Premier League experience would take
less time to settle and because of this pay back the higher fees with a better chance of returning
to the Champions League—was that the players coming in would be on lower wages than the men they
were replacing.
These are words I never thought I would utter, if we qualify against all odds for the Champions
League again this year I would like to see Arsène Wenger resign as Arsenal manager.
Those who know me, will think I have gone stark raving mad. This wish has nothing to do with
whether I think he can take the team further, if he is too old, that he doesn't want to spend money
or any of the other criticisms aimed at our manager.
These are words I never thought I would utter, if we qualify against all odds for the Champions
League again this year I would like to see Arsène Wenger resign as Arsenal manager.
Those who know me, will think I have gone stark raving mad. This wish has nothing to do with
whether I think he can take the team further, if he is too old, that he doesn't want to spend money
or any of the other criticisms aimed at our manager.
Against Blackburn, Liverpool's man of the match performance came from an unlikely source. The
surprise wasn't so much that it was delivered by Jordan Henderson—though even his strongest
supporters would be hard pressed to point to previous games where he would have been the clear
choice for such honours—as that it was delivered by Jordan Henderson after he was forced to play
at right back.
Kenny Dalglish is refusing to fast-track Liverpool youngster Raheem Sterling into becoming a
regular starter for the club.
Sterling, 17, made his debut in Saturday's defeat against Wigan as a late substitute and many fans
at the club believe he should have already been introduced this term.
Dalglish has played fellow Academy graduates John Flanagan and Jack Robinson this term but he
insists he will not fully unleash Sterling until he is physically ready.
Well, that went about as expected. Sporting KC are one of the strongest, if not the strongest,
team in the Eastern Conference, and return almost their entire starting lineup from last year.
Little wonder that they looked more fluid on the ball and in their movement than a United side that
is still figuring itself out and integrating new pieces.
Following Manchester United's 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, Sir Alex Ferguson was pleased to
share our latest injury news.
"The good thing is I'm getting players back," he said. "Anderson is back now,
Cleverley will be fit for next week [against West Brom on Sunday] and Chris Smalling will be back
for Thursday [against Athletic Bilbao].
Following Manchester United's 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, Sir Alex Ferguson was pleased to
share our latest injury news.
"The good thing is I'm getting players back," he said. "Anderson is back now,
Cleverley will be fit for next week [against West Brom on Sunday] and Chris Smalling will be back
for Thursday [against Athletic Bilbao].
I don't exactly know how to feel about tonights game. On one hand I can see us smashing Gold Coast
United a new one. On the other, losing 1-0 in the final minutes of a drab game of football seems
just as likely. You'd probably have a better chance of picking the winning numbers in
What a difference a week makes. A week ago I wrote about the young heart of the Sounders and
this week, two of those players are now Impactioneers. (Hey, it sounds better than Impacters.) Much
has been said in the aftermath of The Trade. But one comment in particular struck
a chord for me.
Rosicky might get pulled to the sub bench
Arsene Wenger called it the worst ever performance from his Arsenal side in the Champions
League. I may not agree entirely as there's a couple of games in this competition in the past which
I thought are far worse but that's not exactly the point. The manager is right in calling it a
shambolic performance and we will all be looking for a response tonight.
Back when I posted about my 2012 Wishes, one of the wishes was wanting to get the 2000 MLS Cup
back. For those that missed it, or don't know, the 2000 MLS Cup is not in Kansas City. The cup that
teams get to keep after winning MLS Cup is in Dallas at the Hunt Sports Group Headquarters in
Dallas.
Since that point, I've not said much about the the trophy or built off of that comment regarding
getting the trophy back.
-
- - From the Bushman Photo Archives
-
-
Follow QPR REPORT on TWITTER!-
-
QPR REPORT MESSAGEBOARD - Visit the cutting-edge, football-only, QPR Report
messageboard- Visit the truly-fascinating Bushman QPR Photo Archives - QPR's 1971-1972 Season in Photos
_____________________________________________________________________________________
- "Must Watch Video"!
It is a potentially critical weekend at the bottom of the Premier League table.
The games almost have a play-off theme to them – with the bottom six facing off against one
another. Blackburn Rovers host QPR, Bolton Wanderers entertain Wigan Athletic and West Brom travel
to Wolves in the Black Country derby.
It is now emerging that Neymar will not be leaving Santos after all. Premier League club Chelsea
have confirmed that they have ended their pursuit for the teen star after he committed his future
to Santos until 2014.
Villas-Boas revealed that his side have failed in trying to sign Neymar and that he has already
chosen his next destination which will most likely be Barcelona.
The Philadelphia Union confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Sebastien Le Toux has been traded to
Vancouver.
In return, the club receives an undisclosed amount of allocation money.
Union head coach Peter Nowak said in the announcement, "While this decision wasn't easy, we are
confident that the allocation money we receive will provide the flexibility for us to compile the
best possible roster for 2012 and beyond.
Much has been made in recent weeks of the Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey debate. The debate began as
a casual conversation while trying to design the perfect US National Team lineup. It seemed at the
time, there would be no way to pin down which player was truly better. Donovan plies his trade in
Major League Soccer whereas Dempsey produces his magic in the English Premier League.
Their Words "We just need everybody to be at the same level on and off the pitch on Saturday. If we
play like that and get the support we got, we'll give ourselves a better chance of progressing in
the FA Cup." Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish. Other Sources Tim Howard on life in the Prem - from
ESPN.
There's a whole slate of FA Cup 4th Round matches this weekend, kicked off by a match today that
is especially interesting for viewers on this side of the pond. Everton hosts Fulham, which means
it's also a faceoff of the two best American players of this generation: Landon Donovan vs. Clint
Demspey.
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes winning the Carling Cup would represent a major
step forward for the club and put the Reds "back on the map".
Kenny Dalglish's team takes a 1-0 lead into Wednesday's semi-final second leg at Anfield against
Manchester City, another of the ex-Germany international's sides.
The African Nations Cup kicks off this weekend, which provides a handy
opportunity for under performing league players to show what they're about! Unfortunately,
perennial favourites Egypt failed to qualify for this alongside Algeria,
Cameroon and Nigeria.
With Howard Webb's inconsistencies, Jamie Carragher's likely contract extension, and finally
some news about the next stages of the NextGen Series, there's plenty to talk about that probably
doesn't need to devolve into wild screeching about why three at the back against Stoke means Kenny
Dalglish should be fired.
Manchester City 0Liverpool 1 Steven Gerrard 13′ (pk)
A week after falling 3-0 to Manchester City in the league, a Liverpool side without two of their
top players returned to face a City side missing three of their best for the first leg of the
League Cup semi-finals.
Man City's Vincent Kompany is
out of the Carling Cup Semi-Final with Liverpool this
week.
The impressive defender was harshly sent-off in the FA Cup game v Man Utd yesterday.
Doesn't matter, we will take it.
We couldn't get past him the other week when we lost 3-0 to the Sky-blues, he stopped everything we
threw at Man City.
QPR have sacked manager Neil Warnock and his backroom staff have also left the club. Malaysian
owner Tony Fernandes released this statement:
"This decision has been made in the best interests of the Club and I can assure everyone that this
is not a decision that was made lightly."
"Sadly, our recent run of poor form has seen us slip alarmingly down the table and the Board
felt it was the right time to make a change.
In a major surprise Neil Warnock has been fired by Queens Park Rangers, after less than two
years in charge. Rangers currently sit 17th in the Premier League table with only 17 points from
their first 20 matches.
I called it a surprise in that we have now had two managers fired this season; Steve Bruce and
Neil Warnock, and Steve Kean still has a job!
Neil Warnock has been fired by Queens Park Rangers, after less than two years in charge. Rangers
currently sit 17th in the Premier League table with only 17 points from their first 20 matches.
A statement on the club website said:
"This decision has been made in the best interests of the Club and I can assure everyone that
this is not a decision that was made lightly," said QPR's owner Tony Fernandes.
In my debut article I'm taking on the hat trick format to discuss a needed holiday tradition in
MLS, a quick look at the revival of Italian soccer, and a couple familiar faces playing with their
respective national teams. Does anyone have any fireworks ready?
1. The holidays may have lulled most of the soccer world into a brief slumber, but the English
Premiere League is still going full speed ahead with their traditional Boxing Day matches.
Betting Preview: Robin van Persie to lead Arsenal to a win over Manchester City? - originally
posted on Soccerlens.com
Even after suffering their first defeat of the Premier League season, Manchester City still sit
atop the Premier League table, but archrivals and reigning league champions Manchester United are
only two points behind and ready to pounce, and Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal can‘t be
dismissed at this juncture.
Liverpool have been persistently linked with Belgian winger Eden Hazard this season, and after
Lille's elimination from the Champions league this week, it's conceivable that Kenny Dalglish may
have a better chance of signing the player in January. Speaking on French TV after the game, Hazard
was clearly disappointed after Lille's failure to progress from the Champions League group
stages:"It's a
ussoccer.com profiled two U-17s who made an impact at the Nike International Friendlies: Tyler
Turner and Junior Flores. Both players were part of the team's success at the tournament, helping
the USA to lift its first Nike Friendlies trophy.
Read more about Tyler Turner
Read more about Junior Flores
The on and off again story of former US International Lee Nguyen to Major League Soccer can
finally take a rest, he has signed with the league. The 25-year old midfielder declared this news
over the weekend via his Twitter feed.
Yep, you can spread the word. This upcoming season, I will be taking my talents to the MLS!
