How much longer can the pathetic footballing authorities allow this to go on? The disgraceful abuse and intimidation dished out to the match officials yesterday at Old Trafford was typical of the bully who has built his success on fear. Even Gary Lineker commented on Ferguson's disgusting behaviour yesterday, although MOTD stopped short of really dealing with the issue properly.
Rather later than planned, here are the ups and downs from the Premiership this week
Going Up... Robin Van Persie
So the glass man has entered the records books at Arsenal with a ton of goals to his name, both of
which were sublime finishes. Its a shame that his injury record is so poor or else he would be in a
position where he could play for one of the best teams in Europe (muhaha).
Extended MOTD highlights of yesterday's game between Newcastle united and Norwich at St James' Park, Newcastle. A sublime defence splitting pass from Hatem Ben Arfa, along with an excellent finish from Demba Ba in the 19th minute was the difference between the two sides. Norwich almost struck back on the counter after 27 minutes when [.
Saints be praised, for this weekend's MotD saw the long-overdue comeback of John Motson's famous
'high-pitched-when-excited' voice bought on by one Robert Snodgrass and his determined RUN THROUGH
THE MIDDLE...
Brendan Rogers will be managing a big club shortly. Liverpool when they fire Kenny Dalglish? Utd
when Sir Alex retires? Arsenal when Wenger gives up his job? The club they faced yesterday? Or the
way Swansea's playing it well might be in the top four.
The BBC have announced that along with dug-in regulars Mark Lawrenson, Alan Hansen and Alan
Shearer, the Match of the Day studio will be graced by none other than Harry Redknapp and Mick
McCarty as of this Saturday evening with the pair tasked with bringing 'their considerable
managerial expertise and experience to the country's most popular football programme.
The BBC have announced that along with dug-in regulars Mark Lawrenson, Alan Hansen and Alan
Shearer, the Match of the Day studio will be graced by none other than Harry Redknapp and Mick
McCarty as of this Saturday evening with the pair tasked with bringing 'their considerable
managerial expertise and experience to the country's most popular football programme.
Joey Barton has come along way. Where once he used to kick out at the world, frothing with
bilious, toxic rage; thrashing the living shit out of teenagers outside McDonalds at three in the
morning and using people's aqueous humour to stub out his cigars, now he actively looks at
paintings and books, each time memorizing their titles, and wears scarves indoor and out even on
the mildest of days.
The BBC have been forced into apologising for comments made by Match of the Day 2 host and
'Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2007′ Colin Murray last Sunday, after receiving several complaints
relating to Murray describing Pepe Reina's red-card offence against Newcastle as a 'lame
headbutt.
Television has had a profound influence on football: the players, agents, business models of clubs,
the relationship between league play and international football - you name it. And few television
programs are more loved by fans than highlight shows like the BBC's Match of the Day, which
has been on the air with interruptions) since 1964.
On Boxing Day, Martin O'Neill's Sunderland were a goal ahead and looking to pick up all three
points against Everton when, early in the second-half, the Toffees' diminutive schemer Leon Osman
ran into the Black Cats box with the intention of shooting on goal.
After another Christmas of not doing especially a fat lot, I decided to take my usual place on the
sofa and tune into a Boxing Day feast of football which comprised of the usual dose of Soccer
Saturday followed by Match of the Day.
Whilst this for me is pretty much a perfect Saturday and nothing can quite beat the sound of Chris
Kamara shouting "Unbelievable Jeff" or Paul Merson screeching "He's hit the Beans on Toast!
Parallax is a displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed along two
different lines of sight. The same scientific practice can be applied to Match of the Day as James
Shaw will vividly discuss. Entertainment is, and can certainly be construed, as simplistic.
As one theoretical term alludes to; entertainment is a form of escapism.
After going seven years without speaking to the BBC, Sir Alex Ferguson has now put an end to the
boycott and will replace Mike Phelan as the voice of Manchester United on MOTD.
"Sir Alex and the BBC have put behind them the difficulties which led to Sir Alex feeling
unable to appear on BBC programmes.
Season previews always seem so half empty. Not because the writers are lazy (okay, some are) but
because there's always that spectre of "well, shit can get real around the transfer deadline, so,
here's some vague material that should be read skeptically. Enjoy!"
Season previews always seem so half empty. Not because the writers are lazy (okay, some are) but
because there's always that spectre of "well, shit can get real around the transfer deadline, so,
here's some vague material that should be read skeptically. Enjoy!"
A BBC insider has revealed the lengths the corporation has gone to entrap the Match of the Day
team- into uttering something so heinous that they have an excuse to sack them immediately.
The Match of the Day team are known to have long-term contracts with a variety of cast-iron
clauses preventing them from being moved on for otherwise career-ending misdemeanours, including
traffic offences, affairs, comparing a tackle to rape or not knowing anything about Hatem Ben
Arfa.
The best striker in the world did more to help Arsenal than he did in his three years there (I
speak in jest of course) after he followed up on Fraizer Campbell's shot hitting the upright. Yes,
Nicklas Bendtner, yet another Arsenal connection piled on Liverpool's grief for the second week in
a row.
Chelsea were unimpressive even with Stoke down to 10 men. Juan Mata was their best player and it
was he who provided the outlet to Didier Drogba. The Cote D'Ivoirian using his strength and touch
scored the winner and his 100th Premiership goal. Congratulations, Didier, the first African player
to record this enviable feat.
Bebratron's note: BFZ regular Sample comes out with an open letter to
Arsene Wenger and Co a practically annual affair for Gunners if you think about it...
Dear Arsene,
I'm sure you got this, but just thought as a watching fan, I would like to make a few
observations.
With a move to Man City lingering, it seems that Samir Nasri is rapidly approaching the end of
his brief, intermittently scintillating tenure at Arsenal. However, due to a whole heap of
mithering over agent's fees, it is unlikely that a deal will be struck before Wednesday night which
just so happens to be the evening that Arsenal attempt to defend their narrow first-leg Champions
League play-off lead against Udinese in Udine.
Understandably, none of our regular authors were inclined to write a match report following
yesterday's game, so you will all have to suffer the thoughts of someone who will I'm sure, not be
expressing the mainstream opinion on this site.
I couldn't go to the game as I had to work. I followed the live commentary on BBC Sport
football, listened to the radio phone in on my way home and watched the lowlights on MotD through
the lattice of my fingers clamped to my face.
What we want for 2012: 'Make Mario Balotelli Manchester City captain'
From modernising MOTD to Liverpool ditching their persecution complex, Guardian writers offer
their new year wishlist Richard Williams Capital cities seldom win the European Cup: Madrid,
Amsterdam and, long ago, Lisbon and Belgrade are the exceptions in the history of a tournament that
has brought no joy to Rome, Paris, Berlin or, of course, London.
Jose Enrique had another display that argued his case as Liverpool's player of the season to
date, but you won't see much of that here. Lucas played over 270 minutes in less than a week and
still had the stamina to run from one end of the pitch to the other to make a match-saving tackle
in injury time, but you won't see that here.
The news that Moussa Dembele was starting last night's match was widely welcomed by Spurs fans on social media and the midfielder's performance seemed to justify that approval. Spurs have now won all four Premier League games where the Belgian has started and it seems that this Stat may more to it than mere co-incidence.
UEFA taking action against the FA? Can this be true, I thought the English were perfect specimens
of humanity? #euro2012 #'bbcsport #motd - Get your Euro 2012 Draw!
They may only be a Southern Football Premier League side, but the decision by Oxford City to
sack player Lee Steele over homophobic Twitter comments he made will have a significant influence
on the game in general.
In refering to the out-gay Welsh rugby player, Gareth Thomas, and his appearance on Celebrity
Big Brother, Steele Tweeted: "I wouldnt fancy the bed next to Gareth Thomas
#padlockeda**ehole".
I've been searching for this little gem since spotting it on MOTD on Saturday night, in which we
see a dewy-eyed Wolves fan (in a rather splendid Koala bear hat) bursting into tears after seeing
her side go two goals down to Swansea after about half-an-hour.
