Archive for November, 2006

Week 12

Published by
simon
at November 26th 2006 13:33 in Weekly update. 0 Comments

The Games

Arsenal 1 Newcastle 1
You just can’t rely on Arsenal at home against lesser opposition - Kieron Dyer (remember him) opened the scoring as part of his latest comeback (more comebacks than Status Quo). The wisdom of resting Henry for the European game midweek seemed misplaced as when he did enter the fray at half time he took the game by the scruff of the neck, scored the 2nd best free kick of the week and only a superb performance by Shay Given stopped him from winning the match.

Goals: Henry. Dyer
Assists:
YC: Fabregas, Gallas. Given, Duff, Bramble, Nzogbia, Taylor
RC:
MoM: Given

Chelsea 1 West Ham 0
With the takeover complete will West Ham now compete with Chelsea for the best players in the market - can you imagine Gerrard in claret and blue? Neither can I but their purchasing power will soon increase dramatically and as long they don’t squander their resources on players who don’t play, they should survive and prosper in the big league. They ran Chelse close here and it took a free kick from Geremi (bronze medal in free kick of the week competition) to take all 3 points.

Goals: Geremi
Assists:
YC: Lampard. Reo-Coker, Gabbidon, Tevez, Mullins
RC:
MoM: Essien

Everton 1 Bolton 0
Arteta was the architect of a dull affair with an individual goal assisted by nobody (assists thin on the ground this week). Nicolas Anelka still shows more likelihood of finding a smile than a goal and you wonder whether Bolton need to go back to basics, aka the big lump up the park.

Goals: Arteta
Assists:
YC: Anichebe, Johnson, Neville
RC:
MoM: Arteta

Man City 3 Fulham 1
Much like Anelka, Corradi had struggled badly for goals in the Premiership this season, yet helped himself to a couple here against a porous Fulham defence. Inspired by Barton throughout, City were 3 up at half time and looking like they could run up a cricket score. They relaxed in the 2nd half and allowed Collins John a consolation, but real improvement shown particularly in front of goal.

Goals: Corradi 2, Barton
Assists: Barton, Samaras, Trabelsi. Helguson
YC: Thatcher. Volz
RC:
MoM: Barton

Middlesbrough 0 Liverpool 0
There’s something about Sky’s Saturday night football that produced very few goals and real stinkers - doesn’t seem natural watching these matches (although I sometimes do). Didn’t see this one and I thank my lucky stars that it was the case.

Goals:
Assists:
YC:
RC:
MoM: Woodgate
Portsmouth 2 Watford 1
After each game this season, Boothroyd has claimed his side have been unfortunate and he encouraged by their display. It cant have always been the case, but it was in this game. Kanu and DeMerit had swapped goals before DeMerit tried to swap gear with the long legged one giving away a penalty which LuaLua put away. And so late on - how cruel

Goals: Kanu, Lua Lua. DeMerit
Assists: Kanu
YC: Thompson. Stewart, DeMerit, Priskin
RC:
MoM: Kanu

Reading 2 Charlton 0
Teams who are prmoted traditionally see Charlton as the role models for survival but with Iain Dowie now down the dole office, its Les Reed leading the Addicks. Oh of course, that famous manager. I suspect there will be another managerial change down at the Valley before O’Leary, Graham, Souness, Hoddle and the other usual culprits who are currently out of a job are linked. Reading eased to victory with goals from Seol and Doyle and continue to look comfortable at this level.

Goals: Seol, Doyle
Assists: Hunt, Sidwell, Shorey
YC: Fortune, Hreidarsson, Rommedahl
RC:
MoM: Hunt

Sheffield Utd 1 Man Utd 2
Proof if proof be needed that Rooney only scores against the wee teams. A double against the other Utd and a man of the match award. Sheff Utd had taken the lead with a goal scored by ex-Man U winger Keith Gillespie who took time out from his regular trips to the bookies to nod in Derek Geary’s cross. Is it just me or does Derek Geary sound more like a Coronation Street actor than a footballer.

Goals: Gillespie. Rooney 2
Assists: Geary. Evra, Neville
YC: Gillespie. Giggs
RC:
MoM: Rooney

Wigan 0 Aston Villa 0
Quite unbelievably this was Wigan’s first ever nil-nil draw in the Premiership. Amazing in that they have played 3 games each against Middlesbrough, Bolton and Man City, all renowned non-scorers. But when you have the potency of Camara, Heskey and McCulloch it is really no surprise - sarcasm doesn’t come across very well in text. Villa are real draw specialists - this being their 7th of the league season so this was no real surprise.
Goals:
Assists:
YC:
RC:
MoM: Skoko

Blackburn 1 Tottenham 1
The red cards shown in this game have both had unsuccessful appeals this week - for Tugay and Ghaly. They were the most involved players with Tugay volleying home a stunner and Ghaly being brought down for a penalty that Defoe converted. Martin Jol complained that Ghaly wouldn’t elbow someone in the face intentionally and you wonder how much of an impact Chelsea’s complaints had that Ghaly should have been sent off against them for a similar offence.

Goals: Tugay. Defoe
Assists: Ghaly
YC:
RC: Tugay, Ghaly
MoM: Tugay

The Points
GK
6 Cudicini, Kirkland, Hahnemann, Sorensen, Howard, Reina, Schwarzer

DEF
9 Shorey, Woodgate
6 just about every defender in the leagie…….

MID
13 Barton
10 Arteta
8 Hunt
7 Geremi, Dyer

STR
15 Rooney
13 Kanu
12 Corradi
7 Defoe, Doyle, Seol, Lua Lua

The Table
So thats us all cuaght up now, the leader is still Dude Where’s My Shoes- heading for that halfway prize.  Ken Dodd Dad’s Dog’d Dead isnt too far adrift with Hot Potato Football Club, Brahms & Lizst and Oh for an Aston Martin making up the top 5.  Big movers this week include Return of the Saints (top scorers with 56), The Sons of the Rock, West End FC and Who Wants to Swim in the Aquarium with Niall?

Look for more on time delivery nextweek and news of the cup plus a plea for the entry fees as christmas bonus time approaches

Week 11

Published by
simon
at November 23rd 2006 08:18 in Weekly update. 0 Comments

An abridged version in the interests of catching up…..

The Games
 

Blackburn 0 Man Utd 1

Goals: Saha
Assists: O’Shea, Giggs
YC: Mokoena, McCarthy, Peter, Khizanishvilli, Vidic, Rooney, Evra
RC:
MoM: Ronaldo

Chelsea 4 Watford 0

Goals: Drogba 3, Shevchenko
Assists: Shevchenko, Drogba, Geremi 2, Robben, Carvalho
YC: Ballack, Doyley
RC:
MoM: Drogba
Everton 0 Aston Villa 1

Goals: Sutton
Assists: Osbourne
YC: Stubbs, Carsley. Mellberg, Angel, McCann
RC:
MoM: McCann
Man City 0 Newcastle 0

Goals:
Assists:
YC: Sinclair, Parker. Emre, Taylor
RC:
MoM: Barton

Middlesbrough 1 West Ham 0

Goals: Maccarone
Assists: Cattermole
YC: Maccarone. Collins, Spector, Benayoun
RC:
MoM: Cattermole

Portsmouth 1 Fulham 1

Goals: A Cole. Knight
Assists: C Jensen
YC: Niemi, Knight, Queudrue
RC:
MoM: Niemi

Sheffield Utd 2 Bolton 2

Goals: Hulse, Kazim-Richards. Davies, Diouf
Assists: Leigertwood. Pedersen
YC: Morgan, Meite
RC:
MoM: Kazim-Richards

Wigan 3 Charlton 2

Goals: McCulloch, Camara, Jackson. O.G, M Bent
Assists: Kirkland, Kilbane. D Bent, Hreidarsson
YC: Scharner, Cotterill
RC:
MoM: Reid

Arsenal 3 Liverpool 0

Goals: Flamini, Gallas, Toure
Assists: Fabregas, Hleb, Van Persie
YC: Van Persie, Flamini. Carragher, Alonso, Pennant
RC:
MoM: Toure
Reading 3 Tottenham 1

Goals: Shorey, Sidwell, Doyle. Keane
Assists: Little, Lita. Ghaly
YC: Seol. Jenas
RC:
MoM: Sidwell

The Points

GK
6  Van der Sar, Cudicini, Weaver, Sorensen, Harper, Almunia, Schwarzer

DEF
14 Toure

11 Gallas
9   Carvalho

MID
10 Sidwell
8   Geremi, Cattermole

STR
23 Drogba
10 Shevchenko
9  Kazim-Richards
7  Hulse, Sutton, Keane, McCulloch, Diouf, Camara, Davies, Saha, Doyle

Week 10

Published by
simon
at November 23rd 2006 08:17 in Weekly update. 0 Comments

So the good news is that I have found my finger and I am in the process of getting it out (the finger that is).  This is FFL catch up week and once my finger is out, out it shall stay.  Working away last week explains non-delivery - but I’m not getting on any Chelsea bandwagon and blaming the ref- I’ll take it, I’m strong enough.  Look out for a vastly improved service going forward

The Games

 

Newcastle 0 Sheff Utd 1
It is the board under pressure at St James this year instead of the manager, with an angry mob gathering after this dreadful Saturday evening defeat. What have Sky got with Newcastle and Saturday matches?  The quayside will be dead these days until at least 8pm - good intelligence if you are planning a wee road trip to the north east.  If you are, don’t bother going to the football, its not worth it.

Goals: Webber
Assists: Montgomery
YC: Carr, Babayaro, Moore. Hulse, Davis
RC:
MoM: Jagielka

Bolton 0 Wigan 1
Bolton’s mini-slide continues as does Wigan’s run of wins and clean sheets.  Lee McCulloch with the winner, a drilled strike from 18 yards in a match that inspired not even the home fans - tv footage showed some leaving at 0-0 with 20 minutes remaining.  We can see you sneaking out….

Goals: McCulloch
Assists: Kilbane
YC: Davies. Landzaat, Kilbane
RC:
MoM:Boyce

Liverpool 2 Reading 0
Having been 4-3 in the Carling Cup just a couple of weeks ago, this game would have been something if it was a repeat.  Lightning didn’t strike twice although Kuyt did, pouncing within the six yard box after Crouch had caused havoc on both occasions.  Clean sheet too for all those managers loaded with Liverpool defenders.

Goals: Kuyt 2
Assists: Crouch 2, Gerrard, Pennant
YC: Sidwell, Sodje
RC:
MoM: Kuyt

Man Utd 3 Portsmouth 0
So that’s 20 years since Fergie made the long trip south from Aberdeen and turned Man Utd into a credible force again.  20 years since he got rid of the drinking squad (yet kept chief boozer Bryan Robson) and 20 years since he signed Ralph Milne - they cant all be beauties.  They celebrated in style against a team without 3 of their first choice defence - Primus, Johnson and Campbell.  Saha scored from the spot after a Rooney tumble, Ronaldo scored another swazzy free kick and Vidic nodded in a third.

Goals: Saha, Ronaldo, Vidic
Assists: Rooney, Neville
YC: Davis
RC:
MoM: Neville

Watford 2 Middlesbrough 0
Patience and positive thinking have been the key phrases at Vicarage Road, and all they needed was a Middlesbrough side shorn of backbone and resistance.  Woodgate got a wee nick on a Bouazza strike to deflect past his own keeper and Ashley Young finally finished off one of the many chances that came his way.  No more than Watford deserved.

Goals: o.g, Young
Assists: Bouazza
YC: Young. Woodgate
RC:
MoM: Bouazza

Charlton 1 Man City 0
Last season this fixture yielded 7 goals with City scoring 5 of them.  The scenario was never realistically going to be repeated this year but Darren Bent was on target again with the winner although even 3 points are not enough to lift Charlton from the foot.  An indication of Dowie’s current unpopularity was that virtually none of the supporters cheered when the manager completed his victory ‘get in there’ salute that was so popular with the fans during his time at Palace.  Perhaps Charlton fans had just forgotten what a win looked like.

Goals: D Bent
Assists: Thomas
YC: El Karkouri. Vassell, Thatcher
RC:
MoM: Carson

Fulham 1 Everton
An important and fortunate win for Fulham, with a deflected Claus Jensen strike, that at first looked impressive, looping over a stranded Tim Howard.  Andy Johnson had done his very best to win a penalty with a few falls here and there, but the referee was not in a buying mood.

Goals: Jensen
Assists:
YC: Neville
RC:
MoM:Jensen

Aston Villa 2 Blackburn 0
Blame the ref part one with Mark Hughes playing chief complainer.  Okay it wasnt a penalty, but it would still have finished 1-0 and that would still have been no points. The only people that win are those that have Gareth Barry for he fired it home. Angel scored another in a season of renaissance (penalties excepting) and left Sparky grinding his teeth.

Goals: Barry, Angel
Assists: Sutton
YC: Sutton. Ooijer, Khivanishvilli, Mokoena
RC:
MoM: Laursen

West Ham 1 Arsenal 0
Now now boys, there’s no need to get upset, its only a game after all.  Arsene’s upset at Pardew’s celebration was perhaps understandable in the heat of the moment, but then to refuse to shake hands after the game was childish and petulant. Arsene has now nt shaken hands with Ferguson, Mourinho and now Pardew - Alan you are in good company.  Marlon Harewood slotted home the  winner in the dying seconds to kick off the celebrations and stramash, and yes perhaps Arsenal should have had a penalty….

Goals: Harewood
Assists: Etherington
YC: Spector, Harewood, Benayoun. Van Persie, Clichy
RC:
MoM: Gabbidon

Tottenham 2 Chelsea 1
If every decision goes against Blackburn and Arsenal then surely cant also go against Chelsea, you would think not but it does.  Seems unfair that Terry should be sent off for nothing when he has got away with so many blatant infringements over the last couple of seasons, but it must have been the ref trying to grab the spotlight - not ‘JT’ as I never call him being upset because a call went against him and barging into a passing player.  Young England hopefuls Dawson and Lennon scored for Spurs with the latter justifying Chelsea’s interest in him, keen to replace one dimunitive young winger (SWP) on their bench with another.  Makelele fired home the rarest of all things - a goal, but it wasnt enough and all because of that pesky ref.

Goals: Dawson, Lennon. Makelele
Assists: Jenas
YC: King, Ghaly, Dawson. Ballack, Makelele, A Cole, Ferreira
RC: Terry
MoM: Lennon

 

The Points

Who gets the assist for a penalty?

Published by
iain
at November 19th 2006 23:21 in FAQ. 0 Comments

The player who is fouled for the penalty will be credited with an assist, unless they are also the player who takes the penalty, in which case only points for a goal will be awarded. In some cases, there may be no assist given for a penalty.

Week 9

Published by
simon
at November 13th 2006 20:19 in Weekly update. 0 Comments

The Games

Newcastle 0 Charlton
Saturday night, St James Park, you really had to be there.  You really had to be there if you wanted to see 2 poor teams equally distributing 0 goals.  Thrilling stuff.  Iain Dowie has tightened up Charlton’s defence and Bent is always capable of nicking one  - this could be their blueprint for survival.  Newcastle are absent up front and fragile at the back - there is only so much that Parker and Duff can do in the midfield to keep them going.  There may be trouble ahead….

Goals:
Assists:
YC: Babayaro, Faye
RC:
MoM:  El Karkouri

Arsenal 1 Everton 1
The Gunners still don’t quite feel at home at the Emirates yet, you know what its like, all your stuff is still in boxes and although you like your new place you miss the vagaries of the old place.  Arsenal thrive in bigger pitches and given Highbury was the smallest in the Premiership you suspect a move to a bigger pitch would suit.  Their tactic book “How to Defend at Corners” is clearly still in a box in the spare room, as Cahill nipped in to score at the 2nd attempt.  Gently prompted by Fabregas, Arsenal finally equalised through Van Persie but remained in coupon busting mood to record another home draw.

Goals: Van Persie. Cahill
Assists: Arteta
YC: Gallas, Fabregas. Arteta, Osman, Cahill
RC:
MoM: Fabregas

Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 1
Impressive stuff from Liverpool as they unpicked a defence that has been resolute as any this season. Sharp inter-passing was the key to the home sides success, and to have been more than 3 up would not have been unworthy.  Kuyt, Crouch and Garcia were the 3 first half scorers and while Villa improved after Sutton’s introduction, Liverpool’s resting on their laurels was the key factor in the final 3-1 scoreline - Agbonlahor with the consolation.

Goals: Kuyt, Crouch, Garcia
Assists: Carragher, Finnan, Hyypia, Crouch. Sutton
YC: Mellberg
RC:
MoM: Kuyt

Bolton 0 Man Utd 4
An even more impressive showing from Man Utd as they blew away your neighbours.  Rooney, who like James Dean was written over before he turned 21, grabbed an impressive treble to really celebrate his 21st.  Ronaldo profited from some untypically selfless play from Saha to put the seal on a sound hiding.

Goals: Rooney 3, Ronaldo
Assists: Saha, Fletcher, Carrick
YC: Ben Haim, Davies. O’Shea, Scholes
RC:
MoM: Rooney

Sheff Utd 0 Chelsea 2
An unflashy, run of the mill match for Chelsea against determined opposition normally ends in a standard win.  This was no different although there was nothing standard about Paddy Kenny’s keeping.  One minute brilliant saving from Robben and the next minute comical diving past a Lampard free kick that bounced into the net.  Maybe Paddy was waiting for the patented Lampard deflection?  Ballack climbed highest to nod in Lampard’s nice chip to confirm the destination of the points, which had looked uncertain when Sheff Utd were awarded a first half penalty.  However Webber’s trundled effort was easily saved  by Hilario and Chelsea clicked into first and maybe even second gear.

Goals: Lampard, Ballack
Assists: Robben, Lampard
YC: Montgomery, Leigertwood
RC:
MoM: Ballack

Portsmouth 3 Reading 1
Pedro Mendes was all things to all men here, goal maker with his corner that Gunnarson nodded into his own goal.  Goal scorer with a precise volley drilled beyond Hahnemann’s reach.  And finally goal saver with a cheeky handball on the goal-line late on.  No card though or penalty but it would have been unlikely to matter as they were by then 3 up.  Kanu kept up his superb start to the season and Doyle was Reading’s unimportant scorer.

Goals: Kanu, Mendes, o.g. Doyle
Assists: Campbell, Mendes
YC:
RC:
MoM: Mendes

Fulham 0 Wigan 1
Wigan built their success on solid foundations last season with a string of clean sheets that persuaded FFL managers to bring in the likes of De Zeeuw and Chimbonda.  This was their second consecutive clean sheet and perhaps you may be tempted to bring in De Zeeuw again (Chimbonda has since absconded to Spurs).  Not a bad shout, and neither would bringing in Camara, he scored the winner against Fulham’s 7 defenders. Okay, 6 plus a keeper but its still a bit dull Mr Coleman

Goals: Camara
Assists:
YC:  Knight. De Zeeuw, Scharner
RC:
MoM: Camara

Watford 0 Tottenham 0
Another match, another draw, and again perhaps Watford deserved a win.  Salvation is just around the corner with a home match against Boro marked as must and can win by Adrian Boothroyd.

Goals:
Assists:
YC: Bouazza, Demerit, Smith. Jenas
RC:
MoM: Lennon

West Ham 2 Blackburn 1
Finally, the heat is turned down a little at Upton Park and Alan Pardew can breathe easier.  With the high profile Argentinians dropped and feasibly heading off in January, the Hammers brought back old faithful Teddy to lead the line. He scored the winner and was generously awarded the man of the match award (along with an ice bath and cup of horlicks).  Never mind Teddy you’re only as old as you feel and according to the popular press, Teddy is currently feeling 22 (year old miss great britain).  Mullins increased the advantage which was just as well as Bentley scored late on and if the match had lasted much longer, capitulation may have been on the menu.

Goals: Sheringham, Mullins. Bentley
Assists: Benayoun, Zamora. McCarthy
YC: McCartney. Peter
RC:
MoM: Sheringham

Man City 1 Middlesbrough 0
The heat is also turned down on another under pressure manager with this narrow win.  Richard Dunne with the winner and three points in Pearce’s pocket.  No points for Southgate to go with no coaching license and no long term future?  The chairman has shown he is a patient man, but he’s not daft.

Goals: Dunne
Assists: Barton
YC: Barton, Dickov. Pogatetz, Boateng, Huth, Rochemback
RC:
MoM: Dunne

The Points

GK
11 Hilario
6   Robinson, Van der Sar, Carson, Kirkland

DEF
14 Dunne
9   El Karkouri

MID
13 Mendes
10 Lampard, Ballack
7   Ronaldo, Garcia, Mullins, Bentley

STR
20 Rooney
10 Kuyt, Crouch, Sheringham, Camara
7   Agbonlahor, Van Persie, Kanu, Doyle

The Table

Its Dude Where My Shoes with a strong 42 point lead over Brahms & Lizst, with Ken Dodd’s Dad’s Dogs Dead, Athletico Pathetico and A Team Less Ordinary making up the top 5.  Top of the pops for the week were Zizou’s HEadbangers with 67, followed by Dislexic United, Fermoy FC, Return of the Saints and Finnport Rovers

Manager of the Month

There can be only one winner and thankfully this month it’s a Glasgow winner – following on from the first 2 months London domination – its another new manager for this season and current leader, Dude Where’s My Shoes with 161 points in the month – congratulations to Graeme Bell.

Not far behind, as in close but no mug were Zizou’s Headbangers, Fermoy FC, Papa Dave’s Hairy XI, Jack Bauer’s Back and Better Late Than Never (just like this column!!!)

« Previous Entries