[EN] Premier League 2004/05 (34 Viewers)

[JCK]

manure are losing against Norwich City

 

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[pembohong]

This got to be the best day of football. Norwich beat Manure and Milan draw.

 

[madlawyer1]

norwich 2-0 man utd. hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

[madlawyer1]

well, fungusmoan did field what was called an embarrasingly weak team. and reaped the benefits. skysports described it as a "humiliation". this is the same norwich team that was destroyed 4-1 by Arsenal just last weekend. and oh, the opener came from a cross by David Bentley, currently on loan from Arsenal.

 

[Bjerknes]

I told my friend to bet on this game, and when I saw Manure losing to Norwich 2-0 I bursted out in laughter.

My buddy lost 30 bucks because of this. :LOL:

 

[Henry]

++ [ originally posted by chxta ] ++

Next season when Liverpool emerge as Chel$ki's main rivals, I can only begin to imagine... :nervous:

I hope that happens!

 

[Febrina]

I guess so

 

[Chxta]

Villa and West Brom have started playing now...

I want West Brom to at least get a draw because it'll bring them out of the relegatin zone.

Why?

They were bottom of the table at Christmas, and it has never happened in English football that a team at the bottom of the table at Christmas survived the season, in any league.

I think it's about time that 'record' died.

Sorry Southampton or Fulham.

 

[madlawyer1]

So, did anyone catch that FA Cup semi between Arsenal and Balckburn? Now, I know that when we say these things, everyone goes yeah, yeah, conspiracy theories again, but what about the referee in that match? That was the worst (ok, second worst after Riley at Old Trafford) refereeing I have seen in England. Sure, Steve Dunn booked 4 Blackburn players, but if it was a fair minded man in the centre, at least two of them would have been sent off. Not that it is the first time he is acting in this manner when refereeing Arsenal games.

Blackburn describe their style of play as "robust", which is simply a euphemism for kicking opponents off the pitch, who, today, happened to be Arsenal, and when that wasn't looking likely, they went on to attempted murder. And the ref couldn't have encouraged them more if he'd started applauding every kick on an Arsenal player. He simply stood by and did nothing while Arsenal's players got brutalised. Dickov tried to break Senderos' leg, Dunn went over and talked to his assistant, had a long talk, then did nothing! Thompson did his best to injure Vieira and Ljunberg, again Dunn did nothing! Savage savaged Fabregas, a clearly high tackle, and showed zero remorse. What did the ref do? Again, nothing. What Todd did to van Persie at the end was just the icing on the cake. I've seen friendlier clotheslines in the WWE. van Persie scored and was turning away to celebrate, when Todd nailed him with an elbow. The replays all showed that it was clearly a deliberate act, but did the ref do anything? Of course not. Is it a crime to play good football? Is it a crime to score a spectacular goal or two? Does a striker deserve to get his jaw broken for doing his job? The logical answer to all these questions is of course a resounding NO!! But it happened today anyway.

It is high time Arsenal began to lay official complaints against bad refs.

 

[Holdon]

Todd's elbow was deliberate IMO and thugs is best way to describe Blackburn. What a shame it looks like they'll avoid being relegated.

I notice it only took Spurs 12 mins to score against Liverpool today....hmmmm.

 

[Lawnchair Bes]

liverpool - totenham, one of the few epl games i have enjoyed lately.

crazy goals. luis garcia is pretty good.

 

[Chxta]

I was unable to watch any match yesterday because I was at work, but I came across this:

You must remember the days when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was the idol of the Kop, a local hero who could do no wrong on Merseyside.

Indeed, had the man who goes by the name of 'Stevie G' toured the streets of Merseyside in one of those armoured vehicles used by the late Pope John Paul II a few months ago, the masses would have turned out acclaiming the great one, to toss flowers in his path.

However, it seems the good will he once took for granted is ebbing away. The talk among Reds fans making their way to Anfield for this game was the time may have come to offload a player who is rapidly being considered high maintenance.

This remarkable transformation in mood among the Anfield faithful is astonishing in its speed, but when you look at the facts, there is some logic behind it.

Gerrard has played in just five of Liverpool's 10 Champions League games en-route to the semi-finals, he tends to pick up injuries at key moments and despite his brilliance when in the side, the constant rumours surrounding his departure is becoming tiresome for all involved.

When last Sunday's newspapers claimed a 'prominent Premiership manager' had let it slip that Gerrard had already signed for Chelsea, the straw on the fictional camel's back may have been snapped.

By the way, Soccernet's Insider can reveal the manager in question was one Sir Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United boss is so furious with the press men who ran the story after he asked them to keep it under their hats that he has banned them from his press conferences for the rest of the season.

Wednesday night's heroic effort in seeing off Juventus in the Champions League added further weight to those who feel Gerrard is an unwanted extra an Anfield. His absence through injury wasn't felt in Turin and a couple of Kopites attending this game were clearly ready to condemn him to yesterday's man.

'I'd take the money from Chelsea, say thanks very much and let him go,' was the verdict of one fan making his way toward Anfield. This stocky little chap didn't have too many detractors shouting him down and his pal even suggested the cash coming into the club may be more beneficial for manager Rafa Benitez than an unhappy captain.

'Look at Benitez's signings,' he said. 'Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia and Fernando Morientes. If that's the sort of quality he can bring to the club for little or nothing, then I'd love to see what he could do with £35m from selling Gerrard.'

Such words against Gerrard would have been considered blasphemy after Gerrard fired Liverpool into the later stages of the Champions League with his stunning goal against Olympiakos back in December, but the tide appears to have turned.

Our chief subject was back in the Liverpool side after his midweek break for the visit of Tottenham, a fixture that meant so much to both sides. After the glories of Turin, a mundane league game could have passed the Reds by, but qualifying for next season's Champions League remains their primary target and winning this game was essential in that aim.

As for Spurs, they are looking like a side ready to achieve more than mid-table obscurity. Starting this game in seventh place, staying there could be enough to secure UEFA Cup football if Manchester United win their FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle and they are finally a side on the up.

False dawns have been plentiful at White Hart Lane in recent years, but their performance at Anfield suggested they may be able to back up their promise with tangible success this time.

Their opening goal in this game, struck with fearsome power and accuracy from all over 35 yards by Erik Edman in the 12th minute, may just go down as the best of the season and the way they passed the ball around and battled for every loose ball was good to see.

Liverpool dominated for long periods without creating too many chances, but after 44 minutes, Luis Garcia unleashed a stunning equaliser that was almost as eye-catching as Edman's opener.

The talk in the press room at the break was centred around new rumours emanating from Spain suggesting Rafa Benitez had been approached to take over at Real Madrid next season.

Losing their respected manager may be more of a blow to Liverpool than seeing the star player sold for a vast fortune, but those Benitez to the Bernabeu stories refuse to go away.

With the sun beating down on the Anfield turf, the stage was set for the 'Gerrard of old' to take hold of the game, but it was another player likely to make a move this summer who did just that as Robbie Keane restored Tottenham's lead with a 55th minute goal.

Those expressing doubts about Steven Gerrard's Liverpool future had further cause for complaint as he smashed a penalty high and wide a couple of minutes after Keane's strike, but a second equaliser wasn't far away as Sami Hyypia fired home with a solid volley in the 63rd minute.

It was Gerrard who came closest to finding a winner as his shot stuck the woodwork in the dying minutes, but Tottenham had worked hard enough to deserve a draw and coach Martin Jol was a content man as he met the press.

"The first half an hour may be our best football of the season," said the jovial Dutchman. "We silenced the crowd with our performance and the opening goal was something incredible.

'I have never seen a shot from so far out end up in the back of the net. In the end, a draw is probably a good result for us. We are still in a good position and can look to the rest of the season with confidence."

Rafa Benitez wasn't so bullish as he bemoaned his side's lack of cutting edge. "We should have won the game, that is clear," he stated. "When you look at the chances we missed, it's a real shame. The players gave their all, so I cannot criticise them, but I'm disappointed.

"We played with a high tempo, which was a good effort after our match on Wednesday in Italy, but in the end, we couldn't find the crucial goal. Still, we have to carry on trying to get fourth."

Gerrard's miserable day ended with him issuing a public apology to Liverpool supporters after his penalty miss.

"It was my fault we didn't win this game and I want to say sorry to the fans," he said in a TV interview. "Hopefully I get the chance to make up for my mistakes in the remaining games of this season."

It seems inevitable that whatever Steven Gerrard contributes to Liverpool in the next few weeks will be akin to a parting gift.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Dawson - Making his Premiership debut after his move from Nottingham Forest, Dawson looked a class act alongside Ledley King and he should prove to be a great buy for Spurs.

WHAT A GOAL: Seeing is believing when it comes to Erik Edman's stunning opening goal. It's bound to feature on goal of the season collections for years to come.

CHANT OF THE MATCH: Tottenham's vocal travelling band wasted precisely three minutes before throwing a rendition of 'Chelsea's No.8' in Steven Gerrard's direction.

GERRARD VERDICT: He may not have been 100 per cent fit, but the Liverpool captain seems to have lost the verve that made him such a special player a few months ago. Completing a move to Chelsea may just be the best solution for all concerned.

Was the match that good?

 

[Chxta]

Rio Ferdinand insists he has no intention of leaving Manchester United - and would like to replace Roy Keane as captain when the Irishman retires.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger yesterday became unusual allies as both cast aspersions over Ferdinand's 'chance meeting' with Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon in a London restaurant.

Ferguson described the meeting as 'at least ill-advised', but Ferdinand has reiterated his desire to stay at Old Trafford in the long term.

The England defender told The Sun: 'I've said everything about that meeting. It wasn't planned and I don't want to leave. In fact my big ambition is to be captain of this club. It is one of the things you dream about as a kid.

'For me it does not get bigger than leading this club, which is one of the most famous in the world. It would be the most fantastic honour.'

The Blues insisted on Tuesday night that they had no plans to make a transfer swoop for the England defender, declaring: 'Both the player and Manchester United are fully aware of the circumstances of the meeting and Chelsea's position on it.'

However, with Chelsea already under investigation following an alleged attempt to poach Ashley Cole from Arsenal, Ferguson and Wenger refused to let the issue drop.

United boss Ferguson said: 'The club has accepted Chelsea's explanation? Well, that may be someone else's view, but it's certainly not mine.

'I've not been over-encouraged by Peter Kenyon's words that he does not want to sign Rio.

'For a chief executive of a Premier League club - with the recent history they have had - to sit in a restaurant like that is amazing.

'I don't know if it's contempt or whether he is thumbing his nose at us or what. I just don't know.

'I'd say that it was, at least, ill-advised. Therefore, we will leave the matter with the football authorities.

'We're discussing it here and I think the Premier League are aware of it.

'My concern is for our supporters. I just want to let them know the club are not happy. It's an issue we are discussing.'

Arsenal manager Wenger also responded in a cynical manner when asked about the incident, declaring 'it looks like a film we've seen already'.

Wenger added: 'I don't know if it really happened like it happened with Ashley Cole. First of all, a club should not be involved in any kind of incident.

'I respect what Chelsea are doing on the pitch but I expect them to behave and respect the rules off the pitch, like everyone else.'

Ferguson is at least confident Ferdinand will soon pledge his future to United by signing an extension to his current contract, which still has over two years to run.

It is understood the England international, his agent Pini Zahavi, United chief executive David Gill and club solicitor Maurice Watkins were involved in serious discussions at the Red Devils' Carrington training ground yesterday, which appeared to have inched the possibility of a new contract slightly closer.

'I must say that I don't blame Rio. I believe what he's telling me,' said Ferguson. 'If he was enticed to that meeting, I do not know, but I believe he'll sign a contract and he'll stay here.'

 

[Holdon]

Some papers in England seem to think Rio Ferdinand is asking for 150,000 per week in a new deal!!

 

[Maher]

SO IT IS MANUTD - ARSENAL FA CUP FINAL

 

[Chxta]

Yes o!

Like the new avatar Holdon.

It'll be a "bloody" final

 

[Nicole]

He's back, He's back, He's back, van the man is back! He's gunning for the Arsenal! A season of miserable for the cocknee's topped off with defeat in the FA Cup Final!!

 

[Fred]

++ [ originally posted by Nicole ] ++
He's back, He's back, He's back, van the man is back! He's gunning for the Arsenal! A season of miserable for the cocknee's topped off with defeat in the FA Cup Final!!

Senderos will have no problem whatsoever stopping the lazy horse faced prick

 

[Nicole]

Senderos are you kidding? Surely Wenger will rely on his trusty Cygan to f**k it up?

 

[Fred]

++ [ originally posted by Nicole ] ++
Senderos are you kidding ? Surely Wenger will rely on his trusty Cygan to f**k it up?

doesnt need a rocket scientist to realise that