Sir Alex Ferguson does not concede that Liverpool were deserved winners in their 2-1 win over
Manchester United on Saturday and the Scot believes that the league champions should still be in
the FA Cup based on the performance at Anfield.
United fought back from a goal down as Ji-Sung Park equalized Daniel Agger's headed opening goal
at Merseyside but it was all in vain for the visitors as Dirk Kuyt scored late to ensure progress
for the hosts.
The out-Stoking of Stoke at Anfield two weeks ago, followed a week later by the utter shambles
of a performance at Bolton, set the table for a four-day stretch in which Liverpool's future, not
only in the two domestic cup competitions, had been placed in the balance by a fairly significant
portion of those who fancy themselves supporters of both Liverpool and general unrest.
Domestic cup competitions in Europe typically feature David vs. Goliath stories, but Wednesday,
it's all about the big boys.
Liverpool carries its 1-0 edge over Manchester City in the Carling Cup semifinals into the
second leg at Anfield, where the Reds will try and hold on and advance to next month's title game
against surprise finalist Cardiff City.
Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry has sent a strong message to the club's doubters,
asserting that for all the criticism over their massive spending spree and unproven title
credentials, the Citizens have delivered on the promises made to him.
Speaking ahead of the decisive leg of City's Carling Cup semifinal against Liverpool tonight,
Barry revealed that he strongly considered moving to Anfield in 2009 before choosing the Eastlands
based largely on a commitment to build for the future.
A couple of big-name matchups in 2nd legs of domestic cup competitions coming up later
today:
Carling Cup semifinal Manchester City vs Liverpool 8:45pm CET / 2:45pmET /
7:45pm GMT (USA TV: FSC): We didn't see the 1st leg of this semifinal tie earlier this month,
which somewhat surprisingly went 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield.
Warning. This picture of Erik Lamela could cause muscle spasm and/or blindness. Image: AP
Photo/Riccardo De Luca.
Domestic cup competitions dominate the Midweek Results this week, but for once, that's not a bad
thing.
Go ahead and run along now, Kickettes. It's not polite to keep these pretty footballers
waiting.
Paul Scholes made a surprise return to the Manchester United line up on Sunday. The player had
made his last appearance as a professional player for Manchester United in the Champions League
final loss of 2011 against Barcelona, where he featured as a late substitute.
The fiery midfielder, renowned for his passing, technical ability and clinical finishing, had
retired at the end of the previous season citing his lack of ability to make an impact in the
bigger matches and his deteriorating fitness as the main reasons.
Chasing after his former self, not the opponent
Carling Cup returns to the menu as the victors of tonight's game will seal their path into the
semi final of this competition. It won't be so easy to win this year's competitions, well, compared
to our run last season. Apart from Manchester City, there's still Manchester United, Chelsea and
Liverpool still in this competition.
RvP numbers shows he might crash
With the weekend's Premiership action ended, things at the top of the table remains almost
status quo. Along with us; Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle all achieved
similar 1-1 draws. The only benefactors in that section of the table are Chelsea and Tottenham who
both won their respective fixtures.
RvP numbers shows he might crash
With the weekend's Premiership action ended, things at the top of the table remains almost
status quo. Along with us; Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle all achieved
similar 1-1 draws. The only benefactors in that section of the table are Chelsea and Tottenham who
both won their respective fixtures.
Wil at the least increased the squad's average height
The business side of things started early for Arsenal this transfer window. Arsenal have
announced that we've signed Carl Jenkinson from Charlton Atlectic. The 19 year old plays
predominantly as a right back but can also double up as a left back or a centre back.
Brad Guzan wouldn't have been a name known to many outside of the United States when Martin
O'Neill first tried to acquire the keeper's services from Chivas USA in January 2008. That attempt
failed because of work permit rules, but the fact that MON went back for him (successfully) the
following summer suggested Guzan was someone worth getting to know.
Brad Guzan wouldn't have been a name known to many outside of the United States when Martin
O'Neill first tried to acquire the keeper's services from Chivas USA in January 2008. That attempt
failed because of work permit rules, but the fact that MON went back for him (successfully) the
following summer suggested Guzan was someone worth getting to know.
With all of the midweek action going on, especially in domestic cup competitions, it seems like
this is a good week to bring back the scoreboard/schedule feature. The highlights of the week all
seem to take place on Wednesday when Real Madrid and Barcelona play in the finals of the Copa del
Rey, Benfica and Porto face off in the semifinals of the Taça da Portugal and Real Salt Lake and
Monterrey begin their two-leg CONCACAF Champions League final.
With all of the midweek action going on, especially in domestic cup competitions, it seems like
this is a good week to bring back the scoreboard/schedule feature. The highlights of the week all
seem to take place on Wednesday when Real Madrid and Barcelona play in the finals of the Copa del
Rey, Benfica and Porto face off in the semifinals of the Taça da Portugal and Real Salt Lake and
Monterrey begin their two-leg CONCACAF Champions League final.
Three U.S. internationals could see action in domestic cup competitions in Europe today.
FC Twente can book a place in the Dutch Cup final today with a win against FC Utrecht. Oguchi
Onyewu was forced to leave their quarterfinal match against rivals PSV with a minor back injury,
which Twente went on to win 7-6 in penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time.
I'm reflecting on the scathing post that I put up yesterday and am wondering now if I was too
harsh in my assessment. Clearly, we put on a second rate display (at best). But is it fair and
realistic to expect the players that took the field to perform at the standard that we're used to
expecting from our first team?
If ever you needed proof that the FA Cup has lost its lustre then this week should do the
trick.
While people's attentions have been firmly on the drama of the Champions League, the fifth round
of the historic competition has arrived with almost no fanfare.
The biggest team in the country – sorry Liverpool fans – faces non-league Crawley while
Leyton Orient (fresh from their screwing-over at the hands of Newham Council, West Ham United and
the Olympic Park Legacy Company) play Arsenal, but there's a distinct lack of romance in the
air.
Jonathan Obika is the latest of our youngsters to be farmed out on loan and will now be playing
at Swindon Town for the rest of the season.
This will be his third loan club this year after spending time at Crystal Palace and
Peterborough, where he scored in his only appearance.
With Spurs out of the domestic cup competitions, which seemed a low priority, it seemed
unlikely, to say the least that Jon would feature for the first team this season, so he continues
his quest for first team football elsewhere.
note: this is presented as a "work in progress" and I am posting it
now for references purposes at the start of training camp...
Building a "Superclub"
in the 2008/9 premiership, Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson used an incredible 33 players in
the 38 League matches his team played to win the title that year.
There's been plenty more action in European domestic cup competitions this week including the
French League Cup semi-finals, Coppa Italia, English and Scottish FA Cup replays as well as the
completion of the German Cup 3rd round following the postponement of two games in December due to
bad weather.
Not everyone is in favour of a ten team SPL
In the continuing struggle to find a format to make the Scottish Premier League more interesting
it is quite astonishing that the top administrators can think of nothing more radical than to
reduce the number of teams in the top flight from twelve to ten.
