Well we can stop that talk about how Liverpool had a chance to finish in the top four in the Premier League. Today's 2-0 defeat at home ended all hope of that, and probably ended any hope of even qualifying for the Europa League.
This was a game that Liverpool dominated, but as they have done in the past they could score.
Steve Clarke takes over the reins at West Bromwich Albion this week for what will be his first
permanent appointment as a club manager rather than just a number two and first team coach. The
appointment is no doubt a big gamble by the board at the Hawthorns, who saw the Baggies finish in
the top half of the table last season under Roy Hodgson.
We've finally come to this day. The final day of the Premier League season for 2011/12. In
honesty, the season could not end quick enough because Arsenal has proved to be very frustrating
and a break is needed to regroup and rebuild the squad. However, I'm sure from tomorrow onwards,
I'm going to miss the team.
Manchester City won at Newcastle, Manchester United kept pace, and Tottenham were held by Aston
Villa in the English Premier League on Sunday, May 6, 2012.
Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City
City moved within one victory of the EPL title as Yaya Toure had goals in the 69th minute and
89th minute.
Newcastle earned their 14th victory of the EPL season on Sunday behind a Cisse brace. The win
puts them level on points with 5th place Chelsea and in a very good chance to reach a Europa League
spot.
The three points were all but in hand by the 34th minute as the Magpies built a 3-0 lead. Cisse
started things off with a 6th minute goal and Hatem Ben Arfa made it 2-0 in the 12th minute.
West Brom's Chris Brunt limped off during the defeat to Everton and is likely to miss out, while
Shane Long is doubtful and Jonas Olsson will sit out with a calf strain. All these key injuries has
led to some despondent West Brom fans to describing this match as an exercise in "damage
limitation.
West Brom, then. Uncle Woy caused somewhat of a hoo-hah within the Baggies' dressing room this
week by publicly questioning the legitimacy of striker Peter Odemwingie's duff knee. I just
can't get the bugger on the pitch, said the softly-spoken Hawthorns supremo. Peter, in a move
very much a sign of the times, responded by posting an image of his knackered joints on
Twitter.
Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to five games in the Premier League and won their first in
three as they comfortably overcame West Brom at the Hawthorns. There was some frustration that the
Reds didn't fully capitalise on their superiority in the game and run up a big score, but after a
number of game this season in which their profligacy cost them points, the most important factor
was that they simply claimed all three.
Liverpool win comfortably in a match that was only made difficult by their own doing, as they
scored twice and eased to victory despite failing to convert a handful of chances that would have
made the scoreline more reflective of the performance.
West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool as it happened | Scott Murray
Liverpool won easily at West Brom, who offered nothing in attack whatsoever "Formidable." That's
what Roy Hodgson called Northampton Town ahead of Liverpool's Carling Cup tie against the Cobblers
last season.
Both parties would probably prefer to move on from the past, but there will be an inevitable degree
of focus upon another Roy Hodgson reunion with Liverpool at West Brom on Saturday evening.
It has been almost nine months since the 64-year-old was sacked at Anfield following a woefully
unsuccessful half-a-year in charge of the five-time kings of Europe and much has changed in that
time.
Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel could both notch up a century of league appearances for Liverpool if
they feature in Saturday's trip to West Brom.
Here are the rest of the facts and stats:
The Reds have drawn the last two league games (Manchester United and Norwich). The last time they
shared the spoils in three successive matches was in January 2009 while the last trio of
consecutive 1-1 league draws for Liverpool came in December 1988.
Liverpool return to league action on Saturday hoping to both extend their unbeaten run to five
games, and record a win after consecutive 1-1 draws. The Reds slipped to 6th place after last
weekend's frustrating draw against Norwich while, if extra motivation were needed, they will also
be looking to avenge last season's 2-1 defeat at the Hawthorns.
Aston Villa 1-2 West Bromwich Albion Premier League 22 October 2011
They may have benefited from an extremely harsh red card given to Villa's Chris Herd for a
rather innocuous-looking tangle with Martin Olsson, but West Brom fully deserved their victory
against their local rivals.
You might not have been alive that last time West Brom left Villa Park with three points: it was
May 11th 1979. In fairness, we've only played in the same league 12 seasons since then, which
reduces the chances of losing somewhat, but then we also didn't have to endure Phil Dowd
refereeing.
After yet another disappointing campaign under Nigel Worthington, and a continuation of the
unenviable streak that will now see Northern Ireland fail to make a major tournament for at least
32 years, the IFA will seek out a new manager to try and reverse the fortunes of the small nation
who have struggled in recent years for both talent and results on the international playing
field.
The Premier League is back and this afternoon it's the first game of the season at Stamford Bridge.
AVB takes control of his first home game and he will want to do well today.
Roberto Di Matteo also makes his return to the Bridge but in very different circumstances to when
he was last here.
Reigning champs Manchester United got their title defense off to a winning start with a 2-1 win
over West Brom at the Hawthorns on Sunday.
Wayne Rooney opened the scoring, nutmegging a shot into the far corner in the 13th minute before
Shane Long pulled one back for the Baggies on his debut with a relatively tame shot trundling past
David De Gea and nestling in the inside side netting.
Quick Reminder, Real Life The two most important words on any West Brom fan's lips last season must
surely have been: Peter Odemwingie. What a breath of fresh air in the Premier League. Odemwingie
arrived at The Hawthorns and was an instant hit. The club dismissed manager Roberto Di Matteo
half-way through the year in the thick of a relegation battle, and Roy Hodgson came in, steadied
the
The Liverpool 'goal', by the rules of the game, was a Real Goal - the overhead shot clearly shows
that, if the ball were at ground level, it would not have been in contact with the goalline due to
its spherical nature.
There are lots of markets available for people to bet on football and millions of pounds are spent
this way every week. But never before has the betting market on whether a 37-year-old man will
represent a scratch international football team in a competition that isn't particularly valued at
the upper echelons of the game [.
Bolton Wanderers 2-2 West Bromwich Albion Premier League 6th March
Poor old Owen Coyle watched as his side blew a two-goal lead which leaves them stuck in the
relegation zone with just one game left.
A Martin Petrov spot-kick in the first-half followed by a Billy Jones own-goal on 72 minutes
had put the Trotters in pole position to secure a vital three points.
West Bromwich Albion Liverpool Preview: Baggies looking for first back-to-back victories
over the Reds since 1965
Both sides are unbeaten in four games with Roy Hodgson looking to defeat his former employers
once again following last year's triumph thanks to two Chris Brunt penalties
View the full story here: Goal
A news article on 2011-10-28 07:14:00 from: Goal
This news item has been reproduced from today's media.
Sunderland were left shell shocked earlier on when West Bromwich Albion took a 2 goal lead in
the first 5 minutes. Firstly a foul was given middway through the Mackems half, It was swung in by
Chris Brunt and Scotsman James Morrison got on the end of it with a header to put the visiting side
in the lead.
Opta users now more likely to wear a manager's jacket than an anorak
Premier League clubs are increasingly relying on statistics to shape their transfer policy Here
is something you probably did not know: only 13 players across Europe's top five divisions created
more goal-scoring chances last season than Chris Brunt, with the West Bromwich Albion midfielder's
tally of 86 putting him 11 clear of Barcelona's tormentor-in-chief, Xavi.
Seeing a lot of tweets tonight about the first round of the NFL draft, it got me thinking about the
draft history for Kansas City when it comes to the Wizards/Sporting KC.
First, some honorable mentions, 1998, specifically for the drafting of Chris Klein, who appeared
200 times for the club.
Another update on former Wizards. Nothing big player news wise, but an interesting quote from
Aberdeen's coach in response to rumors of Eddie Johnson moving to the club. Basically he said that
he'd heard of the player but he hadn't scored a goal in years. Makes you want to say ouch for the
former Wizard.
Billy Jones of West Brom-Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
On Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur will travel to The Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion in an EPL clash. Spurs currently sit in fourth place in the table, just one point ahead of Everton while West Brom sit in ninth place with 35 points.
Arsenal put in a pretty solid performance at the Emirates on Dec. 8 to come away with a 2-0 win over West Brom in front of a lively crowd. Mikel Arteta scored both goals from the penalty spot in the 26th and 64th minutes to seal the victory. Although there was a lot of controversy about the first spot kick as Arteta's fellow countryman Santi Cazorla was accused of diving to the ground after a challenge by West Brom's Steven Reid.
Its been a while since I have posted anything remotely interesting so here is brief summary with
all things that are annoying me in football these days
Roberto Mancini
I have a lot of respect for Roberto for the following reasons;
1) He was a brilliant striker
2) He brought madcap Mario Balotelli to England
3) No matter what the weather or situation he looks so suave in that scarf and coat you just cant
help but admire his style (in a non homosexual way : but if you look at him that way thats no
problem)
However, his recent whinge that he would struggle to fill his subs bench for the Man Utd game was
simply laughable.
West Brom come to Villa Park in a fixture we haven't lost since 1979. Our record from the last
10 times we played the Baggies in the league is six wins and four draws.
Roy Hodgson's side picked up their second win of the season last weekend, a 2-0 home victory
against the hapless Wolves. We're trying to put a comprehensive loss at the hands of Man City
behind us, Alex McLeish threatening to drop any players who put in lacklustre defensive
displays.
