GrimRiffer
New member
Oh man. I hope City do us a favour by beating Arsenal!
THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2
- Thread starter fgl
- Start date
fgl
Well-known member
Man City hates the red devils more than we do ...I hope they do US a favour by allowing us a nice big fat win :-D
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Moderator
what kind of team depends on others to do them a favour?
GrimRiffer
New member
Football is football. It's times like this when you wish the lesser teams will be doing us a favor. Isn't it ironic that Man Utd has to face Tottenham and Cithai has to face Arsenal? Haha. I can't wait for the terrace chants. Should be awesome.
Febuary 6.
Febuary 6.
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Moderator
Man C vs Arsenal
at the rate City's playing, they deserve a draw at least...
at the rate City's playing, they deserve a draw at least...
fgl
Well-known member
Tottenham 1-1 Man Utd
PA
Manchester United earned a vital point deep in injury time against Tottenham but still lost top place in the Barclays Premier League following the 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.
GettyImages
Edwin Van der Sar is booked for his protests over Berbatov's opening goal.
Carlos Tevez celebrated the equaliser with the last move of the game, even though the ball appeared to come off Michael Dawson.
Earlier, United players were furious at Dimitar Berbatov's opener for Tottenham as they felt Jermaine Jenas handled in the build-up before Aaron Lennon eventually crossed.
Edwin van der Sar vented his frustration at assistant referee Mo Matadar and earned a booking, one of six yellow cards for United which means they could face action from the Football Association.
• Fergie fumes after seven booked
With Arsenal winning earlier in the day, Sir Alex Ferguson's men knew only victory would take them back to the summit, but their loss of discipline reflected a frustration at failing to break down Spurs until the death.
'These games against Sir Alex Ferguson's side are a perfect barometer of our progress,' wrote Juande Ramos in his programme notes.
The signs are positive for the Spaniard, even if they were defeated at Old Trafford last week in the FA Cup and dropped two points here.
They had a new-look defence for this clash, with Alan Hutton making his debut against a team he was linked with before his move to Spurs from Rangers.
Jonathan Woodgate, on his first home appearance, brought a calmness to the defence and Pascal Chimbonda was shifted across to left-back to look after Cristiano Ronaldo, although it was a team effort to keep the in-form winger quiet.
Ronaldo drifted into the centre to help create the opening chance, in the seventh minute, with Wes Brown eventually firing over from the edge of the penalty area - but Spurs then started to build momentum.
Their first glimpse of goal came from the left flank after a quarter of an hour when Berbatov skipped around Rio Ferdinand, but Owen Hargreaves cleared the low cross.
Tom Huddlestone then tried to play Robbie Keane behind the United defence, but Nemanja Vidic slid in to clear for a corner.
However, they were not made to wait long for the opener.
Huddlestone started a counter-attack, Keane played Jenas through and his surging run was halted in the area by Hargreaves.
The ball brushed his hand as he fell, with Lennon then taking the ball into the box and Berbatov tapping in after Van der Sar had parried the cross.
Ronaldo was also booked just before the half-hour mark for his reaction to being penalised for handball, with Mark Clattenburg showing zero-tolerance on dissent.
Lennon's corners were causing United problems, Dawson almost getting on the end of one, only for Vidic to clear, and Berbatov heading wide from another.
Berbatov also volleyed over when he met a Lennon cross first time after Huddlestone's vision had created the attack.
United were looking to move through the gears and Ronaldo headed wide when found free from a Wayne Rooney cross. Their frustration was illustrated by Brown's booking for a late tackle on Chimbonda.
Patrice Evra wanted a penalty in the final stages of the half when challenged by Lennon, but Clattenburg awarded a corner. Hargreaves was booked for handling as Spurs broke when the set-piece broke down.
Ryan Giggs got on the end of a Ronaldo free-kick before the break, but Radek Cerny did not have to move to make the save.
After the break Cerny was also required to cut out a dangerous Ronaldo cross as Tevez looked to pounce, and Vidic headed over after Spurs failed to clear a corner.
At the other end Huddlestone's long-range effort dipped wide.
Keane was also sent through by Berbatov, but his finish lacked power and Van der Sar claimed.
Ferguson responded by taking off his veterans, Paul Scholes and Giggs, for his youngsters signed in the summer. Nani and Anderson came on as United went for all-out attack.
Steed Malbranque had a shot straight at Van der Sar and Spurs also had a penalty shout when they felt Evra handled.
Cerny palmed Anderson's drive around the post, while Rooney was booked for diving.
Deep in injury-time, United rescued a point when Dawson appeared to bundle the ball into his own net from a corner under pressure from Tevez.
<LI id=quotes>Fergie fumes after seven booked
Sir Alex Ferguson rounded on referee Mark Clattenburg after Manchester United lost their place at the summit of the Barclays Premier League with a draw at Tottenham.
United face a Football Association fine for having seven players booked, including Carlos Tevez for taking his shirt off while celebrating his part in the leveller.
'For Manchester United it's not right,' said Ferguson. 'There is something wrong when Manchester United get seven bookings.'
The United boss also felt Jermaine Jenas should have been dismissed for a foul on Cristiano Ronaldo midway through the first half.
'For me, the first foul the referee should have acted on, Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half, he was hacked down and for me it was a red card,' Ferguson said.
'He's kicked him from the back. He spent 30 seconds talking to Jenas. Up to that point, up to half-time, I thought the whole game was looking like it was going to go to pieces as a football spectacle.
'The referee settled down in the second half but nonetheless, for us to get seven bookings something is wrong.'
On Rooney's caution, Ferguson added: 'If he dived and the referee deems it, he's right to book. But a few minutes later Huddlestone dived, he's already been booked, and he did nothing.
'He told the player to get up on his feet and did nothing about it. You have got to say 'is that fair?'
'Has he been fair to both teams? No he's not, because that was a dive. If Rooney's booked for it, he should be booked for it.'
'It [the point] could be massive,' Ferguson added.
'We don't stop trying and in the last 25 minutes we absolutely battered them. I think we deserved a point.
'The commentator said we've dropped two points but maybe we've gained a point.'
Despite Spurs coming so close to a first win over United since 2001, head coach Juande Ramos remained pleased, particularly with Alan Hutton's debut and Jonathan Woodgate bringing a calmness to the defence.
'When you are playing against a team as good as United, it cannot be two points dropped,' said the Spaniard.
'We were close but the game isn't over until the end: we were unlucky but that's the way it is. We've seen that it is an own goal and Michael has said that it is an own goal.
'It was a good game for Hutton, considering he had only trained for two days and he doesn't know his team-mates well. It will see him improve and he will get better as he gets to know his team-mates.
'He is covering one of the weaker areas of the team and we hope with the signings of the players that we will keep improving.'
PITY, PITY PITY .......
ARSENAL ARE NOW 2 POINTS CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!!!!!!!
PA
Manchester United earned a vital point deep in injury time against Tottenham but still lost top place in the Barclays Premier League following the 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.
GettyImages
Edwin Van der Sar is booked for his protests over Berbatov's opening goal.
Carlos Tevez celebrated the equaliser with the last move of the game, even though the ball appeared to come off Michael Dawson.
Earlier, United players were furious at Dimitar Berbatov's opener for Tottenham as they felt Jermaine Jenas handled in the build-up before Aaron Lennon eventually crossed.
Edwin van der Sar vented his frustration at assistant referee Mo Matadar and earned a booking, one of six yellow cards for United which means they could face action from the Football Association.
• Fergie fumes after seven booked
With Arsenal winning earlier in the day, Sir Alex Ferguson's men knew only victory would take them back to the summit, but their loss of discipline reflected a frustration at failing to break down Spurs until the death.
'These games against Sir Alex Ferguson's side are a perfect barometer of our progress,' wrote Juande Ramos in his programme notes.
The signs are positive for the Spaniard, even if they were defeated at Old Trafford last week in the FA Cup and dropped two points here.
They had a new-look defence for this clash, with Alan Hutton making his debut against a team he was linked with before his move to Spurs from Rangers.
Jonathan Woodgate, on his first home appearance, brought a calmness to the defence and Pascal Chimbonda was shifted across to left-back to look after Cristiano Ronaldo, although it was a team effort to keep the in-form winger quiet.
Ronaldo drifted into the centre to help create the opening chance, in the seventh minute, with Wes Brown eventually firing over from the edge of the penalty area - but Spurs then started to build momentum.
Their first glimpse of goal came from the left flank after a quarter of an hour when Berbatov skipped around Rio Ferdinand, but Owen Hargreaves cleared the low cross.
Tom Huddlestone then tried to play Robbie Keane behind the United defence, but Nemanja Vidic slid in to clear for a corner.
However, they were not made to wait long for the opener.
Huddlestone started a counter-attack, Keane played Jenas through and his surging run was halted in the area by Hargreaves.
The ball brushed his hand as he fell, with Lennon then taking the ball into the box and Berbatov tapping in after Van der Sar had parried the cross.
Ronaldo was also booked just before the half-hour mark for his reaction to being penalised for handball, with Mark Clattenburg showing zero-tolerance on dissent.
Lennon's corners were causing United problems, Dawson almost getting on the end of one, only for Vidic to clear, and Berbatov heading wide from another.
Berbatov also volleyed over when he met a Lennon cross first time after Huddlestone's vision had created the attack.
United were looking to move through the gears and Ronaldo headed wide when found free from a Wayne Rooney cross. Their frustration was illustrated by Brown's booking for a late tackle on Chimbonda.
Patrice Evra wanted a penalty in the final stages of the half when challenged by Lennon, but Clattenburg awarded a corner. Hargreaves was booked for handling as Spurs broke when the set-piece broke down.
Ryan Giggs got on the end of a Ronaldo free-kick before the break, but Radek Cerny did not have to move to make the save.
After the break Cerny was also required to cut out a dangerous Ronaldo cross as Tevez looked to pounce, and Vidic headed over after Spurs failed to clear a corner.
At the other end Huddlestone's long-range effort dipped wide.
Keane was also sent through by Berbatov, but his finish lacked power and Van der Sar claimed.
Ferguson responded by taking off his veterans, Paul Scholes and Giggs, for his youngsters signed in the summer. Nani and Anderson came on as United went for all-out attack.
Steed Malbranque had a shot straight at Van der Sar and Spurs also had a penalty shout when they felt Evra handled.
Cerny palmed Anderson's drive around the post, while Rooney was booked for diving.
Deep in injury-time, United rescued a point when Dawson appeared to bundle the ball into his own net from a corner under pressure from Tevez.
<LI id=quotes>Fergie fumes after seven booked
Sir Alex Ferguson rounded on referee Mark Clattenburg after Manchester United lost their place at the summit of the Barclays Premier League with a draw at Tottenham.
United face a Football Association fine for having seven players booked, including Carlos Tevez for taking his shirt off while celebrating his part in the leveller.
'For Manchester United it's not right,' said Ferguson. 'There is something wrong when Manchester United get seven bookings.'
The United boss also felt Jermaine Jenas should have been dismissed for a foul on Cristiano Ronaldo midway through the first half.
'For me, the first foul the referee should have acted on, Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half, he was hacked down and for me it was a red card,' Ferguson said.
'He's kicked him from the back. He spent 30 seconds talking to Jenas. Up to that point, up to half-time, I thought the whole game was looking like it was going to go to pieces as a football spectacle.
'The referee settled down in the second half but nonetheless, for us to get seven bookings something is wrong.'
On Rooney's caution, Ferguson added: 'If he dived and the referee deems it, he's right to book. But a few minutes later Huddlestone dived, he's already been booked, and he did nothing.
'He told the player to get up on his feet and did nothing about it. You have got to say 'is that fair?'
'Has he been fair to both teams? No he's not, because that was a dive. If Rooney's booked for it, he should be booked for it.'
'It [the point] could be massive,' Ferguson added.
'We don't stop trying and in the last 25 minutes we absolutely battered them. I think we deserved a point.
'The commentator said we've dropped two points but maybe we've gained a point.'
Despite Spurs coming so close to a first win over United since 2001, head coach Juande Ramos remained pleased, particularly with Alan Hutton's debut and Jonathan Woodgate bringing a calmness to the defence.
'When you are playing against a team as good as United, it cannot be two points dropped,' said the Spaniard.
'We were close but the game isn't over until the end: we were unlucky but that's the way it is. We've seen that it is an own goal and Michael has said that it is an own goal.
'It was a good game for Hutton, considering he had only trained for two days and he doesn't know his team-mates well. It will see him improve and he will get better as he gets to know his team-mates.
'He is covering one of the weaker areas of the team and we hope with the signings of the players that we will keep improving.'
PITY, PITY PITY .......
ARSENAL ARE NOW 2 POINTS CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!!!!!!!
fgl
Well-known member
Arsenal
- Jens Lehmann
- Philippe Senderos
- Gael Clichy
- William Gallas
- Bacary Sagna
- Abou Diaby
- Cesc Fabregas
- Mathieu Flamini
- Alexander Hleb
- Justin Hoyte 89
- Emmanuel Adebayor
- Eduardo
- 46,426
- Andre Marriner
Barclays Premier League
City of Manchester Stadium
Saturday, February 02, 2008, 12.45pm
Manchester City
1
Fernandes 28
Arsenal
3
Adebayor 9, 88, Eduardo 26
By Richard Clarke
Emmanuel Adebayor scored two goals and made another as Arsenal secured a crucial victory at Manchester City on Saturday.
The Togolese striker clipped home Bacary Sagna's cross in the ninth minute and Alex Hleb's cut back three minutes from time to give him 11 strikes in his last eight games.
Inbetween those efforts he also nodded down Gael Clichy's swirling cross for Eduardo to hook home Arsenal's second goal midway through the first half.
Manchester City responded immediately when Gelson Fernandes fired in after Verdan Corluka robbed Clichy. And the home side did threaten periodically after the interval.
But Arsenal always had the game under control and, in Adebayor, they have undoubtedly the best forward in the country right now.
His second at death secured the points and the final stages of the game were played out with the visiting fans singing his name.
At full time we did not know the full significance of this result as Manchester United and Chelsea were still to play.
But Arsenal - and particularly Adebayor - had done their part in style.
The 14 outfield players used at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday were, according to Wenger, the only ones he had. In all nine players were out.
Manuel Almunia (thumb) and Gilberto (back) dropped out on Friday. Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Denilson (hamstring) Johan Djourou (groin) and Robin van Persie (thigh) already had injuries while Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song were on international duty.
Apart from Almunia, Wenger's side was the same one that had beaten Newcastle in midweek. Jens Lehmann's appearance was his first in the Premier League since August 19.
There had been a snow overnight in Manchester and it was bitterly cold for this lunchtime kick-off. However, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side at Tottenham and Chelsea at Portsmouth, all three title contenders were facing tough games this afternoon.
An Arsenal victory in the early game would leave the others playing catch-up. It was no time for a cold start.
But that was so nearly how it turned out. In the sixth minute, Fernandes clipped a ball forward and Stephen Ireland beat the offside trap. Had the Manchester City midfielder shown a little more confidence he may have been able to touch the ball past the advancing Lehmann. However his indecision allowed the keeper time to gather the ball.
That was the closest the home side would come to leading this afternoon as, two minutes later, Arsenal went in front. Hleb won the ball in midfield and found Fabregas. He sent Sagna scampering into the area on the right side. The full back showed wonderful tenacity and strength to muscle past two defenders and cut the ball back to the near post. Adebayor's shot hit Micah Richards, looped over Joe Hart and dropped silently into the net.
The Arsenal fans were positioned at the other end and they did not register the goal for a couple of seconds. They soon made up for their hesitancy.
The strike was Arsenal's 50th in the Premier League this season, 17 of which had now been supplied by Adebayor.
Diaby made an important headed clearance from Martin Petrov's free-kick shortly afterwards but the visitors were starting to take control.
Midway through the half, Eduardo found space on the left but decided against a first-time shot. Instead he passed square to Adebayor who then found Hleb. Finally Fabregas saw his shot deflected out for a corner. A wasted opportunity but, overall, Arsenal were cutting through the home defence with ease and second was in the offing. It arrived in the 26th minute.
The excellent William Gallas won possession from Petrov and a sweeping move found Clichy whose high hanging cross was nodded down by Adebayor at the far post. The Togolese striker had drawn the attention of the Manchester City defence so when the ball came down Eduardo had time to chest it down and hook home. A superb team goal.
Arsenal were playing wonderfully and deserved their lead but they would not be allowed to cruise home this afternoon.
Three minutes later, Clichy tried to shepherd the ball away from Corluka on the byline but the Croat won possession. He cut the ball back to Fernandes who threaded his shot into the net through a crowded area.
However the home team failed to build on their goal. Before the break Adebayor forced a fine save from Joe Hart and Elano had to clear off the line - both from headers. Inbetween those chances, Gallas flashed an effort across the face of goal from a corner.
Petrov fired a shot wide just before the break. When the whistle blew Arsenal were in control of a disjointed Manchester City side but had yet to put them out sight.
The home side were better after the break but Lehmann was rarely troubled in the opening stages. Gradually Arsenal began to create pressure with a string of corners. Just before the hour, Hleb crossed from the right, Adebayor touched the ball on and Fabregas, leaning back, sidefooted the ball over the bar.
Five minutes later, the Spaniard sent the striker through with Richard Dunne and Richards in pursuit. All three ended up in a heap in the area but, despite protests from the away fans, referee Andre Marriner waved away penalty appeals from the crowd.
Substitute Darius Vassell then went clear, forcing the sliding Lehmann to hack clear and Elano drifted a shot over.
Manchester City had certainly made the second half a more even affair. However, when they got in promising positions they did not have the ingenuity to create a decent chance.
Arsenal might have killed game with a breakaway 15 minutes from time but Eduardo's ball was nudged off course by Michael Ball when Fabregas was waiting in anticipation at the far post.
Nine minutes from time the Spaniard did get a sight of goal but he crashed his effort a few feet wide.
But Arsenal had been threatening a second goal for some time. It arrived just before the end when Hleb broke up the right and squared the ball for Adebayor to tap a shot home.
AFC ARE TWO POINTS CLEAR AT THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!!!
fgl
Well-known member
'Adebayor is so composed now, he's a complete forward'
Manchester City 1-3 Arsenal
Barclays Premier League
City of Manchester Stadium
Sat, Feb 2, 2008, 12.45pm
On the performance...
"Overall we controlled the game and scored very good goals. We lost a fraction of concentration and it came back to 2-1. From then on it was a case of not making a mistake at the back and trying as quickly as possible to get the third goal. We got caught in the between the two.
"But we did not concede a goal and kept good control of the game. Manchester City as well wanted to wait until the last 15 minutes to bring the strikers on. The game opened up and we naturally got the third goal. I believe it is a deserved win."
On Adebayor not going to the African Nations Cup...
"At the moment I am glad in every match that he stayed at home with us."
On whether he'd swap him for Ronaldo right now...
"I don't consider the problem like that. I have a lot of respect for Ronaldo but I am happy with the players I have. They are different players. I believe that Ronaldo is more of a winger type and Adebayor is a real centre forward. But he has made big improvement this season and has been remarkably consistent. I like the fact that he not only scores goal but he had a big impact on the two centre backs today. Their two good centre backs."
On where he has improved...
"His movement off the ball, his finishing, his calmness. I don't know if some people have seen when he first came to us he was not really composed in front of goal. Now he looks really composed."
On setting targets for Adebayor...
"On the contrary I have said that for me the top scorer in the table is not important. I had seasons when we had the best striker in the Premier League and we did not win. What is important is that the team wins so I asked him to focus on his team performance."
On Adebayor's character...
"He is a generous type of guy. He has big, big stamina plus great strength and power. He loves to play."
On his potential...
"When you are a long time on the job you don't set any limits on anybody. Human beings can always surprise you. You accept that. His form is linked with his mental state. He enjoys it all. Above all there is a great understanding in the team. That makes people more comfortable and confident. That is where you see the best of the team."
fgl
Well-known member
fgl
Well-known member
fuzztremecho
New member
hallmarks of a great team
kena kick in the teeth they still come out fighting
kudos to Arsenal...
and Man United
kena kick in the teeth they still come out fighting
kudos to Arsenal...
and Man United
loldude333
New member
Impressive play by arsenal last nite, saw their first goal. To me, Spurs shoulda beat Man U. They were ripe for the picking. Nvm the signs are gd 4 spurs, they shld start winning very very soon. As for liverpool, we march on to chelsea to own them at the bridge! Rock on!
GrimRiffer
New member
Eduardo is like RVN. Not Henry. I think. haha.
fuzztremecho
New member
Senor Ramos is a very good coach.He took Sevilla from an unknown to a force within the Liga.I only remember Sevilla as the club that fat Diego signed after his suspension
Hell...given time Spurs would be on track to be among the elite.Ramos has done wonders on a small budget with Sevilla..any yes big bro fgl..its gonna be HELL of a ride till May
Actually Im disturbed at the win-loss ratio..Team Gunners lost 1 while RedDevils lost 3..
I'm a betting man (legal only) but only a fool would not put his $ against these 2 not winning the spoils of the war between them
Hell...given time Spurs would be on track to be among the elite.Ramos has done wonders on a small budget with Sevilla..any yes big bro fgl..its gonna be HELL of a ride till May
Actually Im disturbed at the win-loss ratio..Team Gunners lost 1 while RedDevils lost 3..
I'm a betting man (legal only) but only a fool would not put his $ against these 2 not winning the spoils of the war between them
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