This weekend saw lots of actions from the top European leagues, heartbreaks, the joys, anxious moments, and the ugly moments mixed with good, bad and ugly calls from officials. These are the things that make the game interesting and fun to watch any day and anytime.
Hope you were happy with the performance of your team over the weekend, some great results from the EPL on Sunday where United had to comeback twice in the game to get a later winner against the Saints, Madrid bounced back in wining ways, Juventus are still the team to beat in the Italian Serie A.
All the results are here:
Results from the EPL:
Manchester City 3-1 QPR
Swansea 2-2 Sunderland
Tottenham 1-1 Norwich
West Brom 2-0 Everton
Wigan 2-2 Stoke
West Ham 3-0 Fulham
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal
Southampton 2-3 Manchester United
Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa
Results from the Serie A:
Napoli 2-1 Fiorentina
Cagliari 1-1 Atalanta
Lazio 3-0 Palermo
Parma 2-0 Chievo Verona
Catania 3-2 Genoa
Sampdora 2-1 Siena
Inter Milan 1-3 AS Roma
Udinese 1-4 Juventus
Bologna 1-3 AC Milan
Torino 3-0 Pescara
Results from the Ligue1:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/results/_/league/fra.1/french-ligue-1?cc=3888
Results from the Bundesliga:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/results/_/league/ger.1/german-bundesliga?cc=3888
Results from the La Liga:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/results/_/league/esp.1/spanish-la-liga?cc=3888
Monday, 3 September 2012
Sunday, 2 September 2012
THE RODGERS VERDICT
Liverpool went into the game with full confidence and hope of
picking their first 3point of the season and Rodgers first win for the reads in
the EPL.
Proud to this game the Reds had a very good game against the league champions
at same venue a week ago and with Arsenals lack of goal scoring abilities, all
the supporters had hopes of winning this game.
Arsenal were yet to score in the new season and are yet to pick a
ball from their net either after drawing both first two games against Sunderland and Stoke City. A quick counter
attacks from the Gunners caught the defense of Liverpool wondering from the
beginning to the end.
Two goals from Podolski and Cazorla ensured an easy win for the visiting
team at Anfield,
one from each half. Arsenals were strong and more purposeful in the game, with
resolute defending as well. Liverpool had no answers on how to mark Arsenal
whenever they counter, our midfield lack the strength and mobility to pin them
down.
Rodgers must be the hottest manager at this very moment after just
picking up one point from 3games scoring just two and conceding seven in the
process. This patchy performance raises many questions about out striking
ability and defending capabilities. Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger may well reflect that he could easily
have been in the same position had Arsenal lost.
However, with Cazorla capping an excellent display by
profiting from a Jose Reina blunder after summer recruit Podolski had opened their account for the
season before half-time, he can start looking forward with confidence. Podolski's first half strike was just perfect, a
striker goal and a beautiful assist from Cazorla.
Is Rodgers the right man for Liverpool at the moment or a case of
the right man but at the wrong time? Are we are paying for the poor transfer
policies or just a case of not getting the right targets for the team. Rodgers
is introducing the tiki taka system of play at Liverpool, a system
that needs time and patience to be mastered. We have average players that need
enough time to coup with this style, the introduction of Raheem Sterling, Shelvey, Allen and Borini can help the team in the future
judging from their ages and talents.
We were awful against West Brom and Arsenal today, our defense used to be the best in the EPL under the watchful eyes of Clark the
current head coach of West Brom,
who is doing a wonderful job. He has won two games including a 3-0 win over
Liverpool and 2-0 over Everton.
They have just picked the ball ones from their net in the three games they've
played so far.
FSG, have no clue of what they are doing and how get out of this
mess, it very sad and pathetic that they've not realized how awful and mediocre team we look right
now. Wins are very hard to get for us and really defend well, coupled with
silly goalkeeping errors.
Liverpool really needs to sit up and make some drastic decisions
in the coming days. Worse start to the season in years, we had seven points
from the first three games played last season under Kenny Dalglish, we defeated
Arsenal and Bolton and drew with Sunderland.
We really need to wake up from our slumber; things are getting out of hands. Rodgers!!
Monday, 27 August 2012
DAY 2 UNDER REVIEW: EPL
The
English Premier League bounced back from the break in an uncharacteristic way,
with the newly promoted teams making all the headlines with some incredible performance and results. After an intriguing and action packed weekend in the English Premier League,
the question I am asking is, were you happy with your team's performance or you
feel there are some departments you need to strengthen.The reigning world champions in club football are on top of the league log having played a game more than the rest of the teams with 100% record in all three games.
The defending champions of the EPL are occupying the 5th position currently having won one and shared the second game points with Liverpool.
Swansea, are comfortably occupying the second position on the log with 6points after starting the season on a high notes even though they are playing under new Manager and have lost two key players already this season through transfers to Spurs and Liverpool.
Everton are tied on point with Swansea, but with goal difference after narrowly beaten Manchester United in their first league game and thrashing Aston Villa 3-1 over the weekend.
Surprisingly all the top four finishers of last season’s EPL are all currently outside the top4 zone, are we in for shocker this season or it's just a tradition that the so-called smaller teams will start well, but end struggling for survival at the end of the season. Can Arsenals get back to winning ways after going two games without a single goal. United, Spurs, Newcastle and Liverpool are all yet to find their rhythm.
What do you make of the start of the season and your team's performance so far.........
DAY 2 OF THE BARCLAYS PREMIER
LEAGUE - RESULTS
Liverpool
|
2 – 2
|
Manchester City
|
Anfield
|
Stoke City
|
0 – 0
|
Arsenal
|
Britannia
Stadium
|
Thursday, 2 August 2012
EUROPA LEAGUE PREVIEW: LIVERPOOL VS GOMEL
Liverpool manager Brendan
Rodgers takes
charge of his first competitive match with the Reds when they come up against a
little known Belarusian side, FC Gomel in the third qualifying round of this year’s
Europa League. The Reds are without Luis Suarez and Craig Bellamy who are on duty at the London Olympic Games, while striker Andy
Carroll is also out of the
first leg in Belarus due to a groin injury, despite reports claiming that the
23-year-old had decided not to travel amid transfer speculation.
Rodgers hopes rest on new signing Fabio Borini who joined
from Roma a couple of weeks ago, after admitting that his new striker could make his starting debut for the Merseyside club,
with Captain Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson and Joe Cole providing support. Liverpool
manager Brendan Rodgers is one of the few managers who love playing the tiki
taka system of football, hoping the return of midfielder Lucas can inspire the
young lads in tonight’s game in Belarus.
Meanwhile, Gomel manager Oleg Kubarev could keep
the same side that got past Renova in the second qualifying round, despite
losing 1-0 on the night at home but their impressive 2-0 away win saw them
through to this round of the completion. Their leading striker Vladim
Demidovich is expected to start up front with support from Tomasz Nowak their dangerous
midfield. Gomel captain Nikolai Kashevski says, his side are
deffinatly the underdogs are aware of the pedigree of Liverpool but all that
they need is a decent result ahead of the return leg at Anfield.
CURRENT FORM:
FC Gomel: W D W W L
Liverpool: W L D L D
POSSIBLE lineups:
FC Gomel: Bushma; Matveychik, Kirilchik, Kaveshki, Kilmovich; Vornonkov, Kozeka; Nowak, Levitski, Platonov; Demidovich
Liverpool: Reina; Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Enrique; Henderson, Gerrard, Shelvey, Adam, Cole; Borini
Monday, 16 July 2012
THE RODGERS EMPIRE
On the 30th May, 2012, Swansea City confirmed that
Brendan Rodgers has agreed to take up the vacant managers’ job at Liverpool FC.
After weeks of intense and on the whole, irritating speculation linking all the
top managers’ to the LFC hot seat, finally it is the forearm Watford, Reading
and Chelsea Youth manager who will fill Kenny Dalglish’s shoes. After an extensive two-week process where many
highly-qualified candidates were carefully considered, Liverpool's ownership
group identified Rodgers as the single outstanding candidate to implement their
long-term vision. Rodgers signed a three-year contract with the Reds while his
old club, Swansea City,
gained £5million in compensation for the loss of the highly rated young Manager.
He got the job but ended up getting many
football fans disappointed, and not just those within west Wales, was
disappointed to see the 39-year-old leave Swansea at that moment. His decision,
while perfectly understandable from almost every perspective, robs them the
chance to see what he would have made of a second season in the Premier
League with a club of meek resources.
Brendan Rodgers is a man who has an
appreciation for football perception and tradition; he’s a man who strives for
excellence in the development of the game. The strategies of ‘Tiki-Taka’ and
‘total-football’ form the basis of Brendan Rodgers’ modus operandi.
Rodgers extensive coaching background began in 1995, when
at just 22 years of age he became Academy manager for Reading. His talent and
enthusiasm drew admirers and in 2004 Jose Mourinho swooped to secure his
services for Chelsea, as they went on to dominate the Premier League for the
next two campaigns. The Northern Irishman was soon to be given the opportunity
to manage outright, being appointed manager of Watford and then subsequently
Reading, where his professional journey began. Throughout his coaching career,
Rodgers travelled Europe and visited clubs such as Valencia, Sevilla and
Barcelona as well as clubs in the Netherlands to exchange ideas on football
philosophy and to learn from some of the best teams and managers in the game.
Despite being only 39 years
of age, Brendan Rodgers has been a top class coach for the last 19 years. His
football career was ended in 1993 by injury when he was just 20 but Reading and
Mark McGhee saw something in the young Irishman and offered him a coaching job
with their youth setup. He stayed with the Royals until 2004 when Steve Clarke,
who is now the manger of West Bromwich Albion, was hugely influential in
bringing him to Chelsea under the guidance of Jose Mourinho.
Initially installed as youth
team manager, Rodgers was then promoted by Mourinho to reserve team coach in
2006, where his reputation began to soar and it was no surprise to see him step
into management with Watford in 2008 before being approached by Swansea in the Championship.
TACTICS AND STRATEGY
Brendan Rodgers, in early
2012, sketched out his strategy and explained his approach to the game for
journalist Duncan White. First, he divided the pitch into eight zones and then
plotted his formation. The division of zones is suggestive that each player
when in possession should play a particular role, including the goal keeper and
two centre backs. He has worked wonders with Swansea over the past two
seasons and has really built upon the foundation that Roberto Martinez left him
with. He believes in the
Pep Guardiola School of football rather than the Jose Mourinho School and as
such, his teams always play possession-based football and press while
defending. The big secret to Barcelona's and Swansea's success over the last
number of years is their goalkeepers, but not for the reason you may think.
Liverpool FC can expect the same tactics Rodgers used at Swansea, but he must
be given time by the fans and FSG and if he is, they could be great again.
Rodgers is not only coming
in to improve first-team prospects at Liverpool, he is also coming in to help
restructure the organization as a whole with a view to the entire club playing
the same style throughout every age group. In modern football, transfers are
not done single-handedly as was the case under Kenny Dalglish. When Rodgers
goes to buy players and when the club looks to bring players in, whatever the
age, they will be done by consensus.
CONCLUSION
Whether or not Rodgers’ methodology
is a success at Liverpool is the question. However, the success may come down
to the amount of control Rodgers is offered over the club structure: from the
academy to the first team. Liverpool have kept no secrets in their approach to
managers and directors this summer but all roads point to one single conceptual
view of football, that of Barcelona and La
Masia; the hope of becoming a successful club in infinity.
The variable of ‘time’ presents
Liverpool with the biggest challenge. Tiki-Taka football simply does not
transpire from one single season of transitional change just ask A.S. Roma and
Luis Enrique of 2011/12. Swansea were already a technically gifted side and
good in possession long before Brendan Rodgers, both P.Sousa and R.Martinez
provided the club with the foundations. The core of the Swansea side has been
with the club for many years; Tiki-Taka has become the club’s tradition.
However, Liverpool needs change,
the club needs to move away from the over reliance on two or three individuals
and a move away from the many, many wasted chances over the years. Progress and
longevity are the goals of Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers; it is this collaboration
of ideologies that may well lead Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool back to the
glory years of yesteryear, a glimpse of revolutionary realistic success.
Liverpool needs to restructure from
the ground up and no man is better suited to become Liverpool’s very own Pep
Guardiola than Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool fans should expect the unexpected if
I may put it that way, just don’t have the right word to use.
After all is said and done however, the
decisive factor for Rodgers will be the time he gets to put his own ideologies
into place. With his predecessor being one of the most popular figures in the
clubs history, many fans are still bitter about his removal from the helm. If
Rodgers does get off to a less than average start (which is very possible when
looking at Liverpool’s opening rounds of fixtures), then he could possibly feel
a bit of pressure from the Liverpool faithful. The owners must stick by
their man regardless and allow him time to grow into the job. A job of such
pedigree and history should command patient and well thought out strategy but
not to be rushed.
REASONS WHY AVB WILL SUCCEED AT TOTTENHAM
The second coming of Andre Villas-Boas’ to the
English Premier League, the Portuguese tactician arrival at White Hart Lane has
left opinions split down the middle with some focusing on the new managers all
conquering time at Porto, while others point to his ill fated spell at Stamford
Bridge as proof of his inadequacies. After having a great stint with Porto of
Portugal, he was then given probably the biggest challenge of his career by Mr.
Roman Abrahimovic, by managing the affairs of Chelsea.
After carefully studying him
for the past few years and now taking charge of the North Londoners team,
Tottenham Hotspurs, I have these three things to say about the gentleman from
Portugal and why I think White Hart Lane is the right place and choice for him.
While every Premiership dressing is
full of multi-millionaires often with egos bigger enough to match their bank
balances the Chelsea dressing room seemed to be taking player power to
previously unseen heights. John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole & co seemed to be more concerned
with team select rather than their own performance and Villas-Boas was forced
to drop experience players at times in an effort to tackle this player power in
the dressing room. Even though, Tottenham do have some senior professionals, their
unlikely to prove as obstructive to AVB’s plans as the Chelsea dressing room
did, and he would be free to implement his plans and philosophies.
Tottenham are of course a huge club
and as Harry
Redknapp’s sacking proved that their boardroom are not scared of sacking
and or changing managers. However it is long time since Tottenham were last
crowned champions of England’s top division in contrast to a Chelsea side
expected to mount a serious challenge for the league title year after year
following the injection of Roman Abromvich’s vast wealth into the club since he
acquired it. Despite bold claims from AVB of what he can achieve at White Hart
Lane, success for Tottenham is still likely to take the form of Champions
league qualification rather than the league title challenge expected at
Stamford bridge.
Villas-Boas inherited a Chelsea team
that was ageing and needed younger players to be introduced for future success
of the team. It was a very radical decision he took to sideline the senior
players all in the name of grooming the younger deneration for success. If ask,
I must say it was a bold decision to take and he did it but was let down by his
own judgement and reaction to the issue of the ageing. Roman, is the man who
wants instant success not what you’ll be able to offer him in the next future. A decision that has left AVB claiming
Chelsea’s Russian owner ”quit on him” In contrast Tottenham’s squad can
be consider to be a better mix of youth and experience meaning such a radical
overhaul is unlikely to have to be attempted.
I am really looking
forward for the coming season and hope AVB proves his critics wrong, he has the
right tactics for the EPL, good philosophy for Tottenham and with right players
he’ll take the EPL by storm. He’s the best way for Spurs to clinch their first
major trophy in year.
Monday, 13 February 2012
SUAREZ vs EVRA HANDSHAKE SAGA
 |
| Luis Suarez first trying to shake Evra's hand but was reluctant |
Liverpool
on Sunday lost to their bitter rival Manchester United at Old Trafford in an
epic encounter which saw lots of drama and talks. Build up to the game was all
about Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra saga which saw Luis missing the last eight
game of Liverpool through ban for alleged to have racially abused Evra in the
first fixture at Anfield. It was early afternoon kickoff with the atmosphere
charged and the stadium field to capacity, the drama took the centre stage of
the game after Luis Suarez refused to shake hands with Evra. The Reds went on to lose 2-1 and Suarez has been roundly criticized
for his actions since, with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson branding him 'a disgrace'.
But now Suarez has
issued a statement of regret and insisted he wants to put the whole matter
behind him.
He said: "I have spoken with the manager since
the game at Old Trafford and I realize I got things wrong. "I've not only let him down, but also the
club and what it stands for and I'm sorry. I made a mistake and I regret what
happened. "I should have shaken Patrice Evra's hand before the game and I
want to apologize for my actions. "I would like to put this whole issue
behind me and concentrate on playing football."
Liverpool’s manager,
Kenny Dalglish refused to talk to the press after the game for his post match
interview but some hours later came out with an apology to the entire
journalist for his actions. A statement on the club’s website from Dalglish
said: "Ian Ayre has made the club's position absolutely clear and it is
right that Luis Suarez has now apologized for what happened at Old Trafford.
"To be honest, I
was shocked to hear that the player had not shaken hands having been told
earlier in the week that he would do. "But as Ian said earlier, all of us
have a responsibility to represent this club in a fit and proper manner and
that applies equally to me as Liverpool manager. "When I went on TV after
yesterday's game I hadn't seen what had happened, but I did not conduct myself
in a way befitting of a Liverpool manager during that interview and I'd like to
apologize for that."
Liverpool’s Managing
Director, Ian Ayre, has labelled Luis Suarez‘s
decision not to shake hands with Manchester Utd defender Patrice
Evra before yesterday’s encounter between the two sides at Old Trafford as
“unacceptable”.
Suarez has since apologized for
the snub, saying he has let the club down. Ayre says that the club
had been assured by the Uruguayan striker that he would shake hands with Evra
before the game, and now feels the club were mislead by the 25-year-old.
“We are extremely
disappointed Luis Suarez did not shake hands with Patrice Evra
before yesterday’s game.
“The player had told us
beforehand that he would, but then chose not to do so.
“He was wrong to
mislead us and wrong not to offer his hand to Patrice Evra. He has not only let
himself down but also Kenny Dalglish,
his team-mates and the club.
“It has been made absolutely clear to Luis Suarez that his behaviour was not acceptable.
“Luis Suarez has now apologized for his actions,
which was the right thing to do.
“However, all of us
have a duty to behave in a responsible manner and we hope he now understands
what is expected of anyone representing Liverpool Football Club.”
Meanwhile, Manchester
United have released a brief statement expressing their wish to move on from
the whole matter.
It reads: “Manchester United thanks Liverpool for
the apologies issues following Saturday’s game. Everyone at Old Trafford wants
to move on from this. The history of our two great clubs is one of the success
and rivalry unparalleled in British football. That should be the focus of all
those who love the clubs.
In my opinion I think
Liverpool has acted in the best professional manner ever and has really showed
the rest of the world what the club really stands for. What has happened has
happened it time to move on both Suarez and the club, we all hope he’s really
lent his lessons and will allow himself to calm down. This should rather
motivate him and make him grow from strength to strength. The best way to
silent his critics is to keep improving and improving, score more goals and
mind his own business on the field of play.
The statement issued
from Liverpool’s MD clearly states our position on the matter and not that we
are ready to cash in on the lad, we want him to behave himself in the manner
that’s expected of him as an ambassador to the club. The time has come to move
on as we have an FA Cup game to play against Brighton on Sunday in the 5th
Round of the competition which can lead us to Wembley and also the Carling Cup
finals against Cardiff City at Wembley on 26th February, 2012.
LUIS SUAREZ: PLAYERS AND PUNDITS REACT TO HANDSHAKE
ROW- FROM BBC
Former
Liverpool defender Alan Hansen said on the BBC's Match of the Day: "The
rhetoric from both clubs before the game was restraint. Liverpool said there
would be a handshake, so for Suarez to snub Evra is totally unacceptable.
Liverpool have given Suarez total support through thick and thin and I think
he's let Kenny down, he's let the club down and he's let himself down."
Former Newcastle
and England striker Alan Shearer told the BBC's Match of the Day: "Kenny
[Dalglish] is fiercely loyal but Suarez has let him down. This should have been
the start of the end. I totally disagree with Suarez not shaking his hand. Evra
puts his hand out - and then Ferdinand chooses not to shake [Suarez's hand].
It's not a great day for football." On Evra's post-match celebration, he
added: "There was no need for Evra to do that in front of Suarez, who
keeps calm."
Former Liverpool
striker John Barnes said on ESPN: "When
I saw it live and they didn't shake hands, it just amazed me. I can't imagine
after everything that has gone on this week that this was not discussed by
Liverpool in terms of are they going to shake hands or not.
"It's a big shock and was compounded by Evra at
the end [celebrating near Suarez] and then Sir Alex Ferguson. It's not a good
day from a PR perspective for either club."
However,
Barnes also insisted too much had been made of the whole row between the
players, adding: "For me, we are making a mountain out of a molehill.
There are worse things happening in the world."
Wayne Rooney also
played down the handshake snub, insisting: "I haven't seen it. A few of
the lads were talking about it but we've got to just focus on the game. It's
between the two of them, it's nothing to do with us. We had to just focus 100%
on the game and make sure we got three points."
Former England
manager and Liverpool striker Kevin Keegan was
unimpressed by Ferguson's call for Liverpool to sell Suarez, insisting both
clubs have behaved badly over the issue: "To come out and say a player
shouldn't play for another club that you have no control of, I think is wrong.
Instead of calming this down, they've allowed it to escalate.
"They
are the two biggest clubs in this country in terms of winning things and I
think both clubs at different times have handled it badly, I think Liverpool in
the beginning very badly.
"Today
was a chance to say to the player, 'Shake his hand and get on with it', and
then there's nothing to say. Then Evra after the game, why would he want to do
that? He's won his case, the guy's got a lengthy ban, just keep quiet. You've
won the game."
BBC
pundit Steve Claridge told Final Score: "I'm
with Sir Alex here. It was a poor way to behave and he [Suarez] has made
himself out to be a villain.
"To
shake someone's hand before a game is to wipe the slate clean. To not do that
is not acceptable behaviour."
Former Liverpool
defender John Scales told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's
incredibly disappointing. We all expected a handshake - Sir Alex Ferguson did,
Kenny Dalglish did - and it took everyone by shock."
However,
Scales also insisted that Evra's behaviour helped to inflame the situation.
"There are certain players who have real control of their emotions and I
think Patrice Evra is quite a volatile character. That celebration at the end
of the game was overdone," he added.
Former Football
Association chief executive Mark Palios told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek that
the handshake was "clearly symbolic, and its symbolism has its place in
the game.
"From
a player's perspective it's very difficult to shake someone's hand if you don't
want to.
"But
players have a responsibility to their club and to the wider interests of the
game. If it can cause more problems in a particular circumstance, it's right
for the clubs to dispense with it.
"You
cannot have two of England's most famous and proud clubs at each other's
throats on an instance like this, and I think they [the FA] will have to bring
the two clubs together - it cannot carry on like this."
Former Arsenal and
FA vice-chairman David Dein told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek: "Handshakes
should be respected. Football first and foremost is a sport and sporting
conduct has to be encouraged. What happened was unfortunate and an
embarrassment.
"All
clubs sign up to Fifa's and Uefa's Fair Play and anti-racism campaigns and they
have got to be respected. Players have to respect that, they are role models to
youngsters."
Former Liverpool
manager Gerard Houllier told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek: "I
regret what happened because it would have been a good opportunity to put everything
to bed.
"It
created some tension, I was at the game and I could feel it, the atmosphere was
a bit toxic but at the same time I am a bit disappointed because it
overshadowed the quality of the game.
"It
was a good game of football between two good sides but instead we are talking
about what Suarez did or didn't do."
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