The tensions between Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini came to a boil on Monday night when the
two managers squared up against each other along the touchline. The incident that sparked the war
of words was after Danny Welbeck ...
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Morning all and what better way to kick off your Saturday than a massive game of football?
Make no mistake, today's game is huge. Not just because of the opposition and the recent history
we have with them, but because of our need for points in the race for a top four finish, and
ideally a third place one.
Lionel Messi registered a record-breaking five goal haul last Wednesday, as a boisterous
Barcelona swept aside a baffled Bayern Leverkusen outfit, to march promptly into the Champions
League Quarter-Finals.
Messi once again exhibited his undeniable quality and complete understanding of the modern game,
bringing to the boil the debate that has simmered under the surface since he adopted Barcelona's
number 10 shirt from the majestic Ronaldinho in 2008.
By Chris Wright
Boom!
Mmmmmm'Vila
Seems like it's the day for it, with England rolling out their new home strip
for Euro 2012 this morning and Holland set to follow suit later tonight (we'll have photos as and
when). Sandwiched in the middle like a slice of jambon comes France's new away kit a classy,
all-white affair from top to bottom.
It's all too easy to point the finger when a striker isn't finding the net but you can be sure
that the newspapers won't shy away from targeting criticism towards a misfiring centre forward.
Step forward the Guardian who are aiming a lot of flak in the direction of Emmanuel Adebayor.
The report suggests that the Togolese has simply ‘gone off the boil' and part of the story
states,
‘Gradually, Adebayor's form has dipped – he has scored once in the past seven league
matches – and even though he found the net against Wolves only to have the goal disallowed for a
debatable offside, this was perhaps his most ineffective game of the season as he continually found
himself in the wrong place and the wrong time.
The picture here is my interpretation of the logo of Liechtenstein's national soccer federation.
Just sayin'.
Now for MLS:
As far back as November, rumors swirled about David Beckham's next move. Under the surface of
the MLS blogsphere, a small media circus simmered near a boil regarding whether Becks would stay,
or move on to Paris.
Merry tidings and whatnot. I trust you're all in good spirits? If not then I suggest you vamoose
down to your local retailer and get your hands on some as quickly as is humanly possible. If
anything it'll make reading this hogwash a darn sight easier.
To Carrow Road we head, then. A late evening kick-off with Norwich and the cold turkey leftovers
of a hectic Christmas schedule in the old Premier League.
Why I fear The Yak will fizzle out at Blackburn.. and why Nasri needs to up his
game
Yakubu might have hit 10 goals this season but David Moyes was still right to let him go,
however much Everton are struggling to put the ball in the net. The Nigerian tends to have a hot
streak when he joins a new club but quickly goes off the boil.
Jacob and I hatched a scheme for an intermittent Friday back-and-forth questionnaire on pressing
matters. With MLS playoffs roaring to a boil, we're putting the league's happenings on the block
today. For our inaugural Friday Five, we bring you our conference final edition. Marquez lovers,
progress no further.
Steven Gerrard and Stewart Downing visited Knowsley Safari Park last week. The trip, which was
organised in association with the England Footballers foundation, was an opportunity for leukaemia
sufferers Thomas McManaman, five, and Joel Hemans, nine, to meet their Liverpool heroes and spend
a bit of time chatting with the residents of the park.
If the blog of the Philippine Football Federation treasurer is to be believed the Galaxy's
post-season trip to Australia might be turning into LA's "Last Call for David Beckham" Tour*. PFF
executive bean-counter Bonnie Ladrido, erm, spilled the beans last night by mentioning on his blog
that LA Galaxy president Tom Payne will be in Manilla next week to tour facilities and all that
other executive-type stuff.
There's nothing wrong with a little bit of positive outlook when moving clubs, hoping to make
the most of one's experience, no matter the daunting task ahead.
It's also a properly good idea to know one's opponents. Diego, on a one-year loan to Atletico
Madrid, apparently does not.
"I am glad to join Atletico, I was really eager to play here because this is a great club and I
could not have arrived at a better moment," Diego said to reporters at his unveiling.
Hands up if you saw that result coming. Hey. You there are the back... put your hand down, you
little fibber!
Well, okay, Arsenal have really gone off the boil as this season has lumbered to its conclusion,
but I can't honestly claim to have expected a win today. A draw perhaps. I'd have been delighted
with the point that would have finally guaranteed our Premier League survival regardless of other
results.
Hands up if you saw that result coming. Hey. You there are the back... put your hand down, you
little fibber!
Well, okay, Arsenal have really gone off the boil as this season has lumbered to its conclusion,
but I can't honestly claim to have expected a win today. A draw perhaps. I'd have been delighted
with the point that would have finally guaranteed our Premier League survival regardless of other
results.
This one's for the supporters
So, we've come the last home game of the season. It has been another season to remember, not so
much out of any profound satisfaction but more because of the disappointment. However, let's not go
into the season review just yet. Aston Villa are the visitors for today and Arsene Wenger and his
men will look to get a victory sending off for the Grove.
1. The bad days make the good days feel so much better. As far as bad days go, this, as an
isolated event, is almost as bad as it gets. It obviously would be a lot worse if it was the final
and City had actually won something but it feels pretty fucking awful. It's not just losing, it's
losing so stupidly, without putting up enough of a fight.
For a couple of months now, it seems thing have gone a bit, for want of a better word, stale.
Blackpool and Fulham aside, results have still been good overall but we just seem to lack both
killer instinct in front of goal as well as a bit of spark. I can't quite put my finger on it
because everyone is playing well still and we are creating chances but something is lacking.
