In the 52nd minute at St. James' Park, the inevitable happened. Arsenal scored. Not many would have banked on the rejuvenated Laurent Koscielny to break the deadlock in such a fine fashion, putting his team firmly in the driving seat after a well taken half-volley, but it was no surprise to see another Wenger team heading for the Champions League (with the qualification round in their path) for the umpteenth time in a row (16 to be exact).
James Collins scored a hat trick at the impregnable fortress, the Britannia stadium which saw
Arsenal labour to a scoreless draw over the weekend. Seven goals were scored, three in extra time,
as Stoke came back twice to level. Collins had the last answer in the 118th minute right after
Peter Crouch equalized for the Potters.
Emmanuel Adebayor of Tottenham (Wikimedia Commons)
As Chelsea secured their spot in next seasons Champions League competition, Tottenham must anxiously await to see if they too can book a spot in Europe's coveted competition. Tottenham (20-9-8, 69 points) sit in the fourth and final Champions League spot with one match left in their season however Arsenal are a mere two points behind Spurs with a game in hand.
1. Before you demonstrate a complete lack of cultural awareness, consider that biting is actually a very common gesture to signify good defending in Uruguay. 2. He might have a taste for human flesh, but Luis Suarez made the race for Champions League football very interesting with his late, late equaliser against Chelsea.
1. Arsenal's daredevil game of sluggish defenders, pacy opponents and a very high line might have been a mistake. 2. Gareth Bale's in such good goalscoring form that he's even willing to help Arsenal find the net. 3. The chairmen of the rest of the Premier League's bottom six clubs are hastily arranged for their [.
Michu of Swansea City-Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images
On Saturday, Swansea City will host Stoke City at Liberty Stadium. Swansea find themselves in ninth place with 30 points (7-6-9), while the visitors are right behind them in tenth place with 29 points (6-5-11). Last weekend, the Welsh side drew 0-0 away to Everton at Goodison Park, with the Potters having worse fortunes andlosing 4-0 at home to Chelsea.
Stoke City will look to extend their eight-game unbeaten run in the Premier League as they entertain a Liverpool side brimming with confidence. The Potters have drawn their last three games and boss Tony Pulis will be looking to build on a hard-fought draw with Tottenham, especially since the Reds are yet to win at the Britannia Stadium in the top-flight.
I'm sure Lambert would love a goal at Anfield... Image: guardian.co.uk
It's Southampton for Liverpool at Anfield tomorrow as Brendan Rodgers aims to get back to winning ways after suffering a defeat at the hands of Villas Boas' Spurs.
Doing the rounds: The Britannia... - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Upon their promotion to the Premier League, Stoke City certainly made a name for themselves. Whether it be their refreshingly medieval approach to the game, the rocket propelled wrists of Rory Delap, or the relentless thrashing they always seem to give Arsenal.
Rooney and Van Persie fire Manchester United to another hard-fought victory
Chelsea extended their lead to seven points ahead of the Manchester United match. The Red Devils surely would be keen to narrow the gap before their trip to Stamford Bridge next week. Sir Alex Ferguson started Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck with Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick as suppliers.
Ahead of the game between Manchester United and Stoke City on Saturday we at Truly Reds have invited the excellent Stoke City fans website to a session of Questions and Answers. The editor of...
We have some Peter Crouch sightings. Stoke clear the lines and hang on tight to draw Man City despite only having 4 shots and being completely out possessed. Perhaps Man City was looking ahead to CL action against Real Madrid. Either way, Stoke walks away happy. Video: BBCSports
Manchester City Bos Roberto Mancini says it is "unbelievable" that Peter Crouch's goal for Stoke in his bedside's 1-1 force was not ruled away after a patent ball by the athlete. HTTP://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image/62899000/jpg/_62899332_mmmanciniint.jpg
Champions Manchester City beat Queens Park Rangers 3-1 to continue their unbeaten start to the
season, while Andre Vilas-Boas is still waiting for his first win as Tottenham Hotspur manager
after Spurs were held to another 1-1 draw.
The Champions went ahead via a Yaya Touré first-half goal, but despite dominating the game City
were not able to add a second and QPR punished then for that when Bobby Zamora nodded in a surprise
second-half equaliser.
Second match of the new season, second draw of the new season. We are still level on the goal
difference chart because we've neither scored any goal nor have we conceded any. Not so good for
the first one but particularly pleasing for the second one.
Arsenal and Stoke City played to a scoreless draw in the English Premier League on Sunday,
August 26, 2012. It's the second draw of the season for both clubs and the Gunners have yet to
score or concede a goal this season.
Overall, Arsenal were the stronger side and dominated large stretches of the match but couldn't
finish in the final third.
Match just over at Britannia Stadium English Premier League Home Team Stoke Goals & Scorers Keeper
Asmir Begovic Midfield Jermaine Pennant; Glenn Whelan; Geoff Cameron; Michael Kightly; Forwards
Peter Crouch; Jonathan Walters; Defense Andy Wilkinson; Robert Huth; Ryan Shawcross; Marc Wilson;
Subs 81′: in Wilson [.
Match just over at Britannia Stadium English Premier League Home Team Stoke Goals & Scorers Keeper
Asmir Begovic Midfield Jermaine Pennant; Glenn Whelan; Geoff Cameron; Michael Kightly; Forwards
Peter Crouch; Jonathan Walters; Defense Andy Wilkinson; Robert Huth; Ryan Shawcross; Marc Wilson;
Subs 81′: in Wilson [.
In your weekly LCC Gossip Column, AC Milan starlet El Shaarawy throws a party, Peter Crouch's wife Abbey, reveals never-before-seen wedding photos, Pepe Reina takes his daughters out to watch Disney on Ice, Alex Gerrard pumps up the glam factor and Neymar plays with his adorable son!
AC Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy threw a party at a club this past weekend and pretended to be like his good friend, Italian rapper Emis Killa with a top hat (because he can).
Welcome to Offbeat Wednesday, your weekly dose of football gossip! This week, get inside Mario Balotelli's home in Manchester, watch the Ivory Coast squad poking fun at the 'handsome' Gervinho, congratulate the Piques on the birth of their baby son, Peter Crouch visits the dentist and Neymar poses with a bouquet of flowers!
It's time for your Weekly Gossip Special again! This week, read about Pilar Rubio and Sergio Ramos' secret reunion, Mario Balotelli's new apartment, Peter Crouch's night out, Pato and Barbara's boat ride and The Rooneys' new bundle of joy!
Finally, after weeks of 'hard work' and possible overtime from the Spanish paparazzi, new images of Sergio Ramos and TV host, Pilar Rubio, together have emerged.
It is a frustrating thing for football fans to have to watch their team struggle to rectify an issue that seems so obviously in need of work.
For supporters of Tottenham Hotspur, the way in which their side stood firm in the closing stages of their 1-0 win over Swansea City will have done much to strengthen belief in the ability of the defense to not automatically capitulate under pressure late on in games.
If things had worked out differently, Tom Huddlestone might have been battling it out at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday trying to find former Spurs man Peter Crouch in a typically dour 1-0 home win.
After that proposed loan deal had fallen through, Tom has taken his chance in the absence of Moussa Dembele and his performances have ultimately led to an England recall, albeit following several squad withdrawals over the weekend.
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Peter Crouch (L) of Stoke City celebrates scoring his second goal (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Whether dominating your league or struggling at the bottom of the table, all Fantasy Premier League managers need to be savvy with their one free weekly transfer.
Everton player Nikica Jelavic (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
PREVIEW
On Saturday, Everton head to the Britannia Stadium flying high after their heart-thumping come from behind victory over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. The win gave the Toffees all three points for the first time in five matches and injected some much needed belief into a squad that had begun to lose themselves after a bright start to the campaign.
The Movember caterpillaron Peter Crouch's upper lip couldn't protect his mouth from a flailing Fabricio Coloccini arm during Stoke's 2-1 win against Newcastle on Wednesday. Crouch, who is seven inches taller than Coloccini, was forced out of the game in the 40th minute with a mouth full of blood and mangled teeth.
The sort of game that makes you want to kick a dustbin. Fulham, so lively and so bright in recent times, stunned by the usual mess from Stoke, a team of trees that is always greater than the sum of its parts, always seems to have extra players on the pitch. Stoke seem to fill every area, and Fulham's players rarely found space until a frenetic last ten minutes when we threw the kitchen sink into proceedings.
Stoke City 2-0 Swansea City Premier League 29th September 2012
Peter Crouch was the goal-hero for Stoke on Saturday, with the gangly former England man netting a first-half brace to inflict a third straight defeat on Swansea.
Michael Laudrup's side started the season well but seem to have lost their mojo, with their backline looking particularly shaky.
Peter Crouch must have committed about five handballs before scoring but the referee failed to spot even a single one. There was nothing dodgy however about Asimir Begovic's goalkeeping. He brought off at least three spectacular saves. However, he could not keep out Javi Garcia, who made his City debut as did Maicon and Scott Sinclair.
Stoke striker Peter Crouch's toothless performances in front of goal are because he has three less teeth than at the start of the season. That's according to Potters boss Tony Pulis. He reckons the 6ft 7in striker's collision with Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini last November is the cause of his loss of form.
The arrival of the former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has made a significant difference to the fortunes of QPR in the last few weeks. Even though they still remain bottom of the table, they have collected several points since the arrival of Redknapp. Redknapp said a few weeks ago that he would like to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window by bringing in a few and selling several players.
Peter Crouch, Frederic Nimani and Sebastien Le Toux are the Union's offseason targets, sources told the Brotherly Game last week, but there's another name which should join them, according to the player himself.
Grafite.
Philadelphia Union head coach John Hackworth said today, during his last press conference of 2012, that the team was pursuing a scoring and veteran presence at striker to complement the young forwards already on the club.
MacMath to train with Everton in offseason, Hernandez with Real Sociedad. Adu he's happy to play at a place where he feels wanted, plans to return to Europe after one more season in MLS. La Salle women A-10 champs. More news.
Liverpool face Stoke City at Anfield this afternoon in the Premier League with alot at stake for both clubs.
Reds Manager Brendan Rodgers is under pressure to gain a victory for his Liverpool team before the Owners and the fans begin to start baying for his blood.
The defeat to Udinese was very hard to accept with Liverpoool bossing most of that game, yet we lost the match due to midfield and defensive errors.
We are on quite the Funny Feeling Friday roll we picked Steven Fletcher back in August and he's exploded for Sunderland, while Dimitar Berbatov also produced a massive score after his selection in the FFF column. Shane Long ... Continue reading →
