Wow, someone at the north pole must really like Rafa Benitez as he got everything he wished for this Christmas.
An injury time winner from Fernando Torres gave Liverpool a huge 1-0 win at Aston Villa. Combined with Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Wolves on Boxing Day, Rafa’s reds find themselves only four points out from the last Champions League place as we end the year.
Consider all that has been written about Liverpool and what a disaster this season has been, Liverpool are still in 7th place, only four points behind Spurs. Does anyone think that Spurs will end the season above Liverpool? Read more... (352 words, 3 images, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)
photo credit: bobbymond
Aston Villa was trucking along (and I even complimented their aggressive style of play) and then they get drilled by Arsenal 3-0 setting them back in their chase to jump up into the 3rd position on the Premier League Table. This indicates a few things about how Arsenal and AstonVilla are approaching their matches.
Arsenal scored 3 goals in the final 25 minutes of the game and took on the aggressive style of Aston Villa to beat them at their own game. If Arsenal continues down this path they may well be able to catch up to ManU and Chelsea in the League Championship race that has yet to feature anyone besides the teams from last year’s final match. Read more... (341 words, 4 images, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)
photo credit: wonker
With Chelsea “accepting” a draw with Fulham and ManU getting blasted by West Ham I have 3 questions to ask (and yes, this goes back to the “picking the wrong team to crumble thing”.)
1. What does it say about the 2 best teams in the Premier League that they took a draw to a team that is pretty close to being relegated and losing (badly) to a team that will most likely be relegated? Read more... (387 words, 4 images, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)
photo credit: wonker
There’s something about a 3-0 win for Fulham over Manchester United that just rubs me the wrong way. Long ago I predicted that Real Madrid would be the “Super Club” to fall apart at the seams (and though I’m still waiting for that prediction to come true) I’m starting to wonder if I chose the wrong club. ManU is right there with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League table and they just gave away points to a team that really shouldn’t even be on the same field as them. Fulham is only 10 points away from being relegated and now they beat the defending Champions 3-0? Read more... (389 words, 4 images, estimated 1:33 mins reading time)
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola was over the moon after Zavon Hines’ last-gasp strike earned his Hammers their first win since the opening day of the season. England Under-21 striker Hines was the toast of Upton Park after he netted the winner in the fourth minute of injury time.
Zola said:
“This could be the turning point for us. We gave a demonstration of desire and belief and that’s what we want from our players. Everything else is there. It’s a fantastic game to win. Every time Zavon has played for us he has been good. He has character and personality and he deserves to be in the spotlight.” Read more... (385 words, 3 images, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)
Ok, so Chelsea scored 5 goals today in a shutout of Blackburn, and Tottenham lost to Stoke City. Plus, Aston Villa drew with Wolverhampton. I don’t get it…
This is the kind of league that should be easy to peg. Honestly. How hard is it for Chelsea to pick a direction? If they beat Blackburn 5-0 how come they can’t beat Aston Villa or Liverpool (other teams that aren’t as good as them)? What if you look at Tottenham? They come out of nowhere to stand at 3rd on the Premier League table and they lost to a so-so Stoke City team? Aston Villa puts themselves in very good position (tied with Man City for 5th on the table) but they draw with a, ugh, bad Wolverhampton squad. Read more... (432 words, 3 images, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)
Aston Villa have signed promising teenage midfielder Fabian Delph from Leeds United for a reported £8m.
Villa manager Martin Martin O’Neill wasted not time in saying that Delph will be able to step in an replace former Villa captain Gareth Barry who was sold to Manchester City for £12million.
“This is no gamble,’ said the Villa manager. ‘I’m excited about him, genuinely excited. There is no question he is a Premier League player. He has Premier League ability and an edge to his game. He will progress. He has done exceptionally well at Leeds. He has built a good foundation there. And I think he’s ready to go. Actually, I think he’s ready to go now.” Read more... (258 words, 2 images, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)
Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner insists he will not go down the route of Manchester United and Liverpool and plunge the West Midlands club into debt in order to fund another summer spending spree for Martin O’Neill.
Speaking to the media for the first time in 18 months, Lerner revealed that O’Neill’s transfer kitty will be reduced from the £40million he splashed in the closed season last year.
The news will come as a blow to Villa fans hopeful that American billionaire Lerner would continue to fund the pursuit of Champions League football after having had their appetites whetted by the club’s stay in the top four this season. Read more... (432 words, 2 images, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)
Couple of big injury stories ahead of next weeks Champions League semi-finals
Arsenal v Manchester United
Arsenal have received a major blow with the news that striker Robin van Persie has ruled out of the first leg at Old Trafford on Wednesday with a groin injury. Also missing the first leg will be Arsenal left-back Gaël Clichy who has a back injury.
Manchester United have their own injury worries as right-backs Gary Neville and John O’Shea will both miss the semi-final games.
Chelsea v Barcelona
Chelsea have all but ended hope of Ricardo Carvalho lining up against FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou next week after the centre-back aggravated a hamstring problem on Monday. Read more... (118 words, 3 images, estimated 28 secs reading time)
After seeing his team fight back from a two-goal deficit to get a draw against Everton, Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill has conceded that their Champions League hopes are virtually over.
After the game O’Neill said:
“This is a result that suits Arsenal. We won’t give up but Arsenal have been on a long unbeaten run and we need to win every game.”
Fifth-placed Villa are now eight points behind Arsenal with only six games to go. The problem for Villa the last month has not been scoring goals, it has been keeping them out. On Villa’s leaky defense O’Neill commented: Read more... (163 words, 3 images, estimated 39 secs reading time)
