Birmingham City 1-0 West Ham
Shortly into the second half Lee Bowyer put Birmingham in the lead, which the Blues held onto until the final whistle.
Tottenham 0-1 Wolves
In the surprise result of the day the Wolves stunned Tottenham to pull themselves out of the relegation zone. The Wolves struck early and for parts of the match looked content to go into their shell and let the defense hold the result. The third minute header from Kevin Doyle denied Hotspur the chance to move to third in the table above their locals rivals, Arsenal.
Sunderland 1-1 Portsmouth
Sunderland looked to have three points wrapped up with Darren Bent’s finish from six yards on 23 minutes, but Portsmouth stole a point when Kaboul put in the equalizer on 90 minutes after Fulop parried a shot by Piquionne.
Hull City 0-0 Blackburn
A hard fought battle ended with both sides receiving a point, but no goals. The controversy of the game came after Jozy Altidore came on and looked to be clipped in the box by Samba. The penalty appeal was waived off and Altidore was booked for diving.
Chelsea 3-3 Everton
Chelsea was held at home as they could not handle set pieces. Drogba netted two and Anelka added another for the home side, while a Petr Cech own goal, Yakubu, and Saha saw it level.
Burlney 1-1 Fulham
An entertaining game that ended in a draw was highlighted by acrobatic and close chances for both sides. Clint Dempsey was close on multiple chances but was left wanting each time. Dempsey had a shot go inches over, a header cleared off the line by Clarke Carlisle, as well as an acrobatic strike blocked by Carlisle again. David Nugent had a chance to go ahead for Burnley, but his shot went straight at Schwarzer.
Bolton 3-3 Man City
Bolton started off well controlling the first 15 minutes which resulted in Klasnic putting the Wanderers ahead on a touch that looked to be an offsides play. Bolton took the lead three times in the game that saw City level each time. Tevez provided two while Micah Richards added one for City. Klasnic had two and Cahill added another for Bolton.
Stoke 2-2 Wigan
Wigan went ahead twice only to see Stoke level it both times. Tuncay and Shawcross converted for Stoke, while Boyce and Figueroa scored for Wigan. The game was in question when a spot kick was awarded to Stoke in the 90th minute, but Thomas Sorensen secured a point with a save.
Manchester United 0-1 Aston Villa
United’s defensive injuries have been much publicized, but it was their inability to finish that lead to Villa’s first win at Old Trafford since 1983. It was also United’s 2nd loss in at home in 32 league games. Gabriel Agbonlahor put home a header on a beautiful Ashley Young cross on 21 minutes. That was all Villa would need to get the result they wanted. United had several opportunities that didn’t convert, including a Rooney shot that hit the crossbar. United put pressure on the Villa defense for the last 10 minutes, but the back line stayed strong to deny an equalizer.
Filed under: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Barcelona, English Premier League, Soccer, Thierry Henry | Tags: Arsenal, EPL, Soccer, Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry would like a move back to north London to again play for Arsenal where he made a name for himself.
“I never stopped saying I love Arsenal and I will one day go back there. How? I don’t know; maybe as a water boy.“
One thing is for sure, he would be the best waterboy ever.
Arsene Wenger may change his mind about buying players after hearing Henry wants back into the Emirates. Henry scored 226 goals while playing for Arsenal and he would like to add to that total.
Need more proof that Henry wants back and still holds the Gunners close to his heart? The current Barcelona player was present for the 6-2 thrashing of Blackburn on Sunday in London.
Filed under: English Premier League, EPL, EPL Predictions, Manchester United | Tags: EPL Predictions, Soccer
Weekly Predictions by Idiots.
Week 5 is it? Seems like a pretty straightforward one to me. Here we go.
Aaron
Burnley v Sunderland (1 – 2) Bent may be out but I’m sure that someone else will stand up and shine for ol’ Sunderland this week. Lorik Cana maybe?
Arsenal v Wigan (3-0) Arsenal come back to their old ways. After the scare this week they’ll be looking to net some goals. I’ll bet we see Eduardo crack one in. Maybe we even get to see Walcott out there too.
Aston Villa v Portsmouth (1-0) What is up with Villa this year? Not very good. They still won’t lose to a poor Pompey side.
Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City (1-1) This one is a little tougher than the others because both are marginal teams. James Beattie is out so maybe Tuncay gets on and puts one through.
Hull City v Birmingham (2-1) Hull will ride the back of Stephen Hunt to victory. He’ll either net or orchestrate like he’s done thus far.
West Ham v Liverpool (1-3) Liverpool will show their dominance as they look like they’re regaining some form.
ManYoo v Man City (2-1) What’s that you’re missing? Adebayor, aye? Personally, I hope the Red Devils crush their rivals though I’m guessing they may just get by. Oops, are those my balls showing? Why yes they are and by the look of them you can tell I really don’t like Man City. Understatement of the year. Deal with it.
Wolves v Fulham (1-2) I really wish the Wolves had Ebanks-Blake. In tandem with Doyle, they could make for an entertaining attack force on any day. Who knows. Let’s see here. I like Dempsey to net one here. He’s barely existed this season so maybe this changes.
Everton v Blackburn Rovers (1-1) I’m sure Everton are ready to quit losing. So instead they draw. Baby steps fellas.
Chelsea v Tottenham (2-1) Said it last weekend and I’ll say it again. Tottenham will miss Modric. He may not score much but he makes a huge difference on the field with ball management skills. Ball management skills. I’ll probably never write those three words together again.
Ito
Burnley v Sunderland (1 – 2) Burnley will be reeling after their crushing defeat at the hands of Liverpool, but won’t be able to bounce back.
Arsenal v Wigan (3-1) Arsenal has looked good despite some disappointing results. The Gunners will be back on track after an easy game at the Emirates. Wigan get a parting gift in a late pity goal.
Aston Villa v Portsmouth (2-0) A woeful Pompey team are on the road. While Villa has looked less than spectacular, the road is a lonely place. I’m still waiting for Ashley Young to make an impact like he did last year.
Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City (1-2) My prediction is that unless you support one of these clubs you won’t care about this game.
Hull City v Birmingham (1-0) Both teams could use the points and will not look for just 1. This should be a close game with Hull coming out on top.
West Ham v Liverpool (1-2) Liverpool will continue to build their confidence.
United v City (2-1) City: Adebayor, out. Robinho, out. Roque Santa Cruz, out. Tevez, questionable. For the first time in 40 years this derby may be relevant to both sides. This is the match of the week. City have grabbed the maximum points in their four games this season. Both managers have lobbed insults the other way and it will continue after this game is over, no matter the outcome. Tevez will be booed. This is the game of money versus class.
Wolves v Fulham (1-2) Wolves may get Kightly and Ebanks-Blake back this week which would give them a nice boost to the squad, as both have played well before injuries. Even if both are back in action I still think Fulham gets the nod here.
Everton v Blackburn (2-1) Midweek signing Lucas Neil looks to make his debut for the Toffees while captain Phil Neville is out. Everton get by at home.
Chelsea v Tottenham (2-1) Chelsea has started well and have looked good throughout. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of the Blue Bullet Express. Tottenham will look to rebound from their collapse to United but in the end they are left with more questions than answers.
Filed under: Big Four, English Premier League, EPL, Everton, Lescott, Moyes, Rooney, Soccer | Tags: Big Four, Everton, Joleon Lescott, Moyes
The problem is they lack the ability to evolve with where the game is going. There are three things they have to do that they simply haven’t.
Get better results from their roster on and off the bench. The same players, the same ability, the same results. No one is performing for Everton. There’s no standout and there’s no one to worry about. Manyoo have Rooney and several others. Liverpool have Gerrard and Torres. Tottenham have Defoe. Even Aston Villa have Ashley Young. Who does Everton have now that Joleon “Commander Worf” Lescott is gone? And was anyone really even scared of him in the first place?
- Same faces except for Captain Forehead
Bring in impact players. Moyes complained about this during the transfer time, but you’d figure a team that made it near the top of the table would’ve made a move for somebody. I mean shit. Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt, Chamakh. They may not be big names but they can make an impact and they’re not expensive. Even Hull picked up Altidore. Damn, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was available. I know it’s not an easy market but you at least have to be on the short list. Instead you pick up some unknown from a 3rd division farm team in a America. No wonder real players don’t take you seriously Moyes.
Build young talent. Who’s coming up through the ranks at Everton? Yea. That’s what I thought.
The game is evolving faster than ever and it’s very apparent the teams that will at least make a run for the top. This ain’t the age of the Big Four any longer and there are teams that look threatening. And considering the look of things, Everton aren’t one of them. I like Moyes. I like Everton. But something drastic is going to have to change or they’ll be left fighting for the bottom of the table instead of fighting to break into the top.
Filed under: Berbatov, English Premier League, EPL, EPL Live Updates, Manchester United, Nani, Owen, Rooney, Wigan | Tags: Berbatov, English Premier League, EPL, Football, Man Utd, Manchester United, ManU, Nani, Owen, Rooney, Soccer, Wigan
EPL on ESPN2. Thank you, ESPN. THANK YOU!
And we are underway at DW Stadium!
Manchester United look to bounce back after their upset loss to Burnley earlier this week.
Rooney is sitting on 99 goals for the Reds, can he make it 100?
Valencia returns to his old team.
4′ – Things are looking sloppy on both sides as the home crowd sings their hearts out.
5′ – Great through ball from Berbatov into the box. Nani with the touch inside to Fletcher with a shot on goal. He should have done better.
8′ – Beutiful back hell from Berbatov to leave it wide open for Scholes, but he sends it over!
9′ – United are looking dangerous. It only seems like a matter of time before they put something together. Wigan has not been a threat and look like they are resolved to play defense all day.
10′ – Wigan with the free kick, N’Zogbia sends it in, but it is easily cleared by Neville.
17′ – Rooney with a shot from 22 yards out. It is deflected for a corner.
18′ – Rooney with a close range shot that is easily saved. He had no angle to work with there.
19′ – Scholes gets a yellow for a poor tackle on Gomez.
20′ – Rooney gets played through and is wide open. But the flag goes up. Replay shows he left just a little early on his run.
22′ – Wigan is getting more active in their offensive third of the field. No dangerous chances yet.
25′ – Wigan with a chance, but nothing comes of it and their penalty appeals go unheard.
26′ – Koumas with a curling shot that tests Foster! Out for a corner.
30′ – United must realize their midfield is weak, as they are playing a lot of balls from the back over the top for Berbatov and Rooney to run on to.
32′ – Rooney gets a ball over the top and has a rip. Nice saveby Kirkland, and we stay all level.
38′ – United’s passing is not looking as crisp as it was earlier.
39′ – Scholes to Fletcher, who has a rip. Deflected for a corner. Corner is safely cleared away.
40′ – United’s offensive struggles continue. They have just one goal on the season playing two newly promoted teams.
42′ – Free kick for Wigan in the middle of the pitch, about 30 yards out. Thomas smashes is into the wall.
43′ – Berbatov is in! But Bramble sits on the ball – literally! And the attack is smothered.
45′ – One minute of extra time. Looks like we will be nill-nill at the half. And there is the whistle.
——————————————————————————————————–
49′ – Evra gets booked for a tackle on N’Zogbia
51′ – Rooney goes down in the box, but nothing comes of it.
55′ – N’Zogbia lets one fly. Deflected by Evra.
55′ – Rooney out to Valencia. Valencia crosses back to Rooney. Rooney with the glancing header. GOAL!!! Beautiful goal. You hear the weight being lifted off United’s shoulders.
57′ – Wigan immediately gets back Rodallega with a header that Foster barely saves off the line!
58′ – Berbatov dinks one over Kirkland, gets it back and puts it in the back of the net! Great play by Berbs.
59′ – WOW! What an action packed few minutes. We’ve gone from nill-nill to 2-0 in three minutes time.
61′ – Both teams are threatening again. The United fans continue the songs.
63′ – Wigan substitution. Sinclair on for Koumas.
65′ – Rooney dances with the ball in the box and takes a hopeless shot. But it goes off a Wigan player and into the net! Kirkland didn’t have much of a chance.
70′ – Vidic shuts down Diaby in the box to stop the Wigan attack.
71′ – Both sides have subs waiting in the wings.
72′ – Owen on for Rooney. Gibson on for Scholes. O’Shea on for Evans.
73′ – Wigan subs: N’Zogbia off, Scotland on. McCarthy off, Diame on (making his Premier League debut at 18 years of age.)
75′ – Gibson with a long range strike. Kirkland makes the routine save.
76′ – Rodallega gets a card for a careless slide into Foster. It didn’t look harmful.
77′ – Rodallega with a shot from the 18. Foster doesn’t have to move for that save.
79′ – Rodallega on the ground with an apparent blow to the face. He gets up and makes a bee line towards Vidic, shouting. The referee has to hold Rodallega back. The replay shows Vidic flicked him in mouth.
85′ – Owen opens his account in the regular season! Nani plays a great through ball with Owen putting a nice chip to the far post into the net. 4-0, United.
87′ – Wigan with a great opportunity, but Foster cuts the angle off and makes the save.
90′ – Figueroa is frustrated and puts an elbow into Valencia’s back. Dangerous free kick coming up. Nani to take.
90+’ – Nani is off target. Two minutes of extra time as the Wigan faithful head for the exits.
90+’ – Scharner carded for a two handed tackle on Berbatov. Nani to get a second chance on a dangerous free kick.
90+’ – Nani redeems himself! He puts a beautiful, curling free kick into the back of the net! It looks like United have found the answer to Ronaldo’s free kick taking.
90+’ – Final whistle. United bounce back from a disaster result at Burnley and smash Wigan on the road, 5-0.
