Jack Wilshere of Arsenal-Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images
The Stadium of Light hasn't been a particularly happy hunting ground for Arsenal in recent seasons – their patient passing has often failed them on the muddy pitch, and they've rarely seemed to have a plan B. This season, however, they do.
Steven Fletcher/Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
This weekend Sunderland will take on West Ham United at the Stadium of Lights. Fourteenth place Sunderland (5-9-7), will look to come back home and seek a win, after a 3-0 lost to Liverpool. West Ham will look to keep momentum going after a 2-1 win against Norwich last weekend.
Sunderland's experienced Ireland international defender John O'Shea has spoken of the positive
impact James McClean has had on the team since emerging on to the scene as a substitute in the 2-1
win over Blackburn on December 11.
McClean's impact has gradually increased and he has started in each of Sunderland's last three
games.
Quick Reminder, Real Life What started brightly with a forward line of DBent, Gyan, and Campbell
came closer to the relegation zone than anyone who watched the first half of the season or looked
at the final standings would ever have guessed. February, March, and the first half of April were
an unmitigated disaster with the club earning exactly 1 point between Feb 1 and April 16.
It was an end of an era for Defender's John O' Shea and Wes Brown as they both left Old Trafford
for Sunderland today to link up with former United Captain Steve Bruce.
O' Shea made 255 appearances in nearly every position including one in goals, while Brown made
361 appearances in a trophy laden Old Trafford career.
Quinn hopeful of bringing in Man Utd man Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has revealed the club are
getting closer to signing Manchester United utility man John O'Shea. This is of limited interest to
OTP and wouldn't justify a post under ordinary circumstances. But since it gives an opportunity to
feature O'Shea's shot against West Ham [.
By Dominic Vieira, writing from Lancaster, England
It's Wednesday, the 2011 Champions League Final kicks off in 4 days and it's certain that
numerous thoughts will be troubling the great minds of Alex Ferguson and
Pep Guardiola night and day. One of the greatest concerns will be United's choice
for the right-back position whilst Barcelona has a dilemma with left-backs.
Red Devils take on the woodwork Half-a-dozen Manchester United players have taken on the crossbar
challenge. Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea, Rafael, Fabio and Darron Gibson each took three
pot-shots at the bar. The result was surprising to say the least. In fact, if OTP had to pick the
players we would expect to [.
Red Devils take on the woodwork Half-a-dozen Manchester United players have taken on the crossbar
challenge. Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher, John O'Shea, Rafael, Fabio and Darron Gibson each took three
pot-shots at the bar. The result was surprising to say the least. In fact, if OTP had to pick the
players we would expect to [.
In the Europa League last night Adam Johnson was excellent; again. Ask
anyone who has watched the Prem this season what City lack and they'll say spark and creativity.
Johnson is all spark and creativity, and not only that, he tracks back and harries far more than
most wingers do.
The first installment of this season's Manchester Derby takes place on Wednesday at Eastlands.
Manchester United are coming off of a dramatic win at home where South Korean midfielder Ji-Sung
Park bagged a brace with the winner coming very late on. It was one of those weekends in the
Premier League where not only did United win, albeit not very convincingly, but also a weekend
where teams either side of the Red Devils lost.
Fantasy football is changing. Let me take you all the way back to the '90s, and my very first
venture into fantasy football. The internet as we know it was yet to be invented, and so selecting
my team involved a crumpled copy of a well known tabloid newspaper, entering player codes into a
premium rate phoneline, and a cheque sent to said tabloid newspaper's HQ in an envelope.
I was a bit bemused and slightly uncomfortable when I saw that Patrice Evra was starting at
left-wing for the Stoke game. That doesn't make much sense really, since he played as a winger in
the PSG...
The Carrington training complex was eerily quiet this week as players made a mass exodus to link up
with their national teams all over Europe. Most are helping their countries in the efforts
to...
It's Europe versus Americas Man Utd got in the Ryder Cup spirit by staging their own golf
tournament. Of sorts. Representing Europe were Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea, while
Team Americas comprised Anderson, Fabio and Rafael. Europe had a slight advantage in that it
appears that none of Team Americas can actually play [.
It's Europe versus Americas Man Utd got in the Ryder Cup spirit by staging their own golf
tournament. Of sorts. Representing Europe were Wes Brown, Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea, while
Team Americas comprised Anderson, Fabio and Rafael. Europe had a slight advantage in that it
appears that none of Team Americas can actually play [.
Competitions for places has always been high at Manchester United and has contributed greatly to
the motivation of squad players and ultimately to our success over the years.
Now though, it appears the lack of competition in the current squad could be hindering United's
chances of reclaiming the Premier League crown from Chelsea.
The devotion of the Liverpool faithful is stuff of legends. They've managed
to create a whole "You'll Never Walk Alone" myth famous for creating a fantastic atmosphere with
their singing and chanting, traveling near and far to support their team, building museums in their
home to honor the club, occasionally get out of hand with their attempts to send the current
(unpopular) ownership a message etc.
What a difference twelve months can make! It was only this time last year that calls for Sir Alex
Ferguson to show Nani and Dimitar Berbatov the Old Trafford door were growing louder. Yet apart
from...
One quality that Manchester United has an abundance of is confidence. Some rivals have often
mistaken it for arrogance but nothing can be further from the truth. The old saying that success
breeds...
Despite narrowly failing in the quest for an unprecedented fourth successive Premiership and a
record 19th League title overall, there were plenty of highlights for Manchester United fans to
remember...
I had an interesting interaction with a reporter/writer that I was not familiar with until
yesterday. His name is Tom Williams and he can be found on Twitter at @Tomwfootball). His original
Tweeted premise, on the occasion of Patrick Vieira's retirement as an active player, was spot on.
There is an entire generation of lanky midfielders - mostly French or French-speaking West African
- who have
Whilst still struggling to the cope with the loss of John O'Shea and Wes Brown to Sunderland,
we've had a chat with Collin Randall from the excellent Mackem blog, Salut Sunderland, about their
new signings.
Scott the Red: Are you pleased with the signings of Wes Brown and John
O'Shea?
"John has been an outstanding servant to the club, since he broke into the first team almost a
decade ago," Sir Alex told the official site. "His versatility, calmness under pressure and his
commitment to the cause at United means that fans will remember him with great affection. John has
won so many medals – and has deserved every one of them.
A few months in to the season, after Rafael da Silva started playing regularly at right back, I
was frustrated that the manager had started John O'Shea there for so much of the season. Rafael was
great going forward and tenacious in defence, whilst O'Shea just seemed to bumble along, doing his
job.
After Paul Scholes scored that late winner against City last season, Gary Neville did what any
proper red would, and showed his feelings in their shining glory. He grabbed Scholes by the face
and kissed him on the lips but has had to put up with some stick as a consequence.
"A few people have given me a bit of stick," said Neville.
Junior Hoilett of Queens Park Rangers (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
With Week 10 of the Premier League on the horizon here are five high-value/cost-effective transfers guaranteed to give your Fantasy squad that winning edge.
JUNIOR HOILETT (QPR) – HOME V. READING Current Cost: 5.
