Weekend review

Missed any footie this weekend? Yes ? Well your gonna regret it get the highlights up! What a weekend!.

To start after years and years of angry waiting.... ( HASHESKEY HAS SCORED A HATRCK!?!)Sorry we cant say heskey has scored a hat trick yet im afraid but we can say that liverpool have finally won a trophy after beating championship side Cardiff City on penalties Cardiff where superb on te day but liverpool just edged it in all honesty.

And it didnt stop there Arsenal looked poor at sunderland a week ago but today they beat Harry Rednkapps spurs 5-2 despite bieng 2-0 down at one point. Surely thats Spurs' title hopes over for one season

In other premier league games this weekend A late Ryan Giggs goal saw Man united win 2-1 at Norwich, Aston villa held wigan to a 0-0 Draw at a buzzing Dw stadium, Man city beat blackburn Rovers 3-0 at the Etihad to remain top , Fulham got a vital win at local rivals qpr , Martin Oneills Sunderland where thrashed 4-0 at a on form West brom side, and terry connors rain as Wolves Boss started with a impressive 2-2 draw at Newcastle United.

Wigan v aston villa match preview

Kick off 3pm Dw stadium
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Match Preview
Roberto Martinez's first game in charge of Latics was against Aston Villa on the opening day of the 2009/10 season when a super strike from Hugo Rodallega and a well-worked goal from Jason Koumas gave Latics the 2-0 win.
Strangely, there has been just one win for the home side in this fixture in the Premier League, that was the reverse fixture at Villa Park back in October. But this fixture almost guarantees goals with the two sides only ever having played out a goal-less draw on one occasion.
Wigan Athletic are looking to build on the fantastic win at the Reebok Stadium against fellow strugglers boltkn last time out while Aston Villa have not won in four in all competitions. With Wigans' nearest rivals all having tough fixtures this weekend could see them climb out of the bottom three for the first time for a long time.
Team News
Roberto Martinez, not for the first time this season, has a fully fit squad to choose from with Callum McManaman having shaken off a back complaint in Oman. A number of unnamed members of the squad have also recovered from a virus.

Richard Dunne will miss the game through the shoulder injury he picked up against Manchester City. Ciaran Clark is another long term absentee not expected back until late March. Barry Bannan (ankle) is rated at 50-50 and could be available after picking up his injury in the reserves.
Head to Head aston Villa have the slight edge over Wiganin terms of previous league meetings with five wins to Latics four, with four draws. Last time the two sides met at Villa Pa rk in October was the first time that the home side has won the game. When there has been a winner previously, it has always been the away side.
Hot Shots
Wigan Athletic
Franco Di Santo - 4Jordi Gomez - 4Ben Watson - 4
Aston Villa
Darren Bent - 10Gabby Agbonlahor - 6Martin Petrov - 4
Last Line ups
Wigan Athletic (v Bolton [A] W2-1): A Al Habsi, G Caldwell, E Boyce, M Figueroa, A Alcaraz, J Beausejour, V Moses, J Gomez (H Rodallega, 75), J McArthur, J McCarthy, F Di Santo (D Jones, 89).Subs not used: A Crusat, R Stam, B Watson, M Pollitt, M Diame.
Aston Villa (v Man City [H] L0-1): S Given (N Baker, 90), A Hutton, C Cuellar, R Dunne, J Collins, S Petrov yellow card, M Albrighton (S Ireland, 78), G Gardner, D Bent, R Keane, E Heskey (C N'Zogbia, 69) Subs not used: B Guzan, S Warnock, A Weimann, B Bannan.

Weekend preview!

The big game this weekend is the carling cup final at wembely stadium Liverpool v Cardiff City , both teams havent won a trophy for a few years now so expect a open game especially as both teams are in decent form in their leagues.
In the premier league this weekend expect some enthrolling encounters with teams from all parts of the table playing eachother. At the bottom Bolton take the long trip to Chelsea , Blackburn travel to Man city, roberto martinez' Wigan Athletic host Aston villa , Qpr host fulham in a local derby while Managerless wolves take a trip to newcastle.
At the top its a north london derby as 3rd place Tothenham go to struggling Arsenal.City host blackburn and Man united play Norwich city at Carrow Road. The two big games in the Championship are Leeds taking the trip to administrated Pompey in niel wornocks 1st game also its a london derby as promotion pushers west ham host Crystal Palace

League Cup Final Preview

On Saturday Liverpool take on Cardiff City in the League Cup Final. Will Liverpool finally win their first trophy since 2006 or will Cardiff surprise them?

The teams:

Liverpool have been playing well recently but off-field controversies have let them down. Their emphatic 6-1 win over Brighton will definitely be a great rehearsal for them. 

Cardiff City are the underdogs. This is the fourth time they have reached Wembley - but they have never won.

The managers:

Kenny Dalglish may not be doing as well in the league as many would have thought at the start of the season, but his great cup run has definitely let the pressure down a bit.

Malky McKay is far less experienced. But so far he has done extremely well at Cardiff. Liverpool fans call Dalglish ‘King Kenny’, however Malky is so popular in Cardiff after his work this season the way he is portrayed is closer to some form of God.

The key players:

Craig Bellamy. Last year he was one of Cardiff's key players. But now he's a Liverpool player. Suárez has just come back from an 8 match ban and Carroll isn't on form. Therefore, Bellamy has to step up and will probably be an important player in the fianl.

Tom Heaton. He was the hero against Crystal Palace after the penalty shootout. The goalkeeper is usually a benchwarmer for Cardiff after David Marshall is their top choice goalie. However Marshall is injured. Can Heaton keep the goals out against Liverpool? Or will it be a repeat of the Brighton horror show?

The outcomes:

Cardiff have to be realisic of their chances against a side that is seventh in the Premiership. It will be their toughest Wembley experience after failing against Blackpool and Portsmouth at the same stage. As well as some good ones, Liverpool have also had some dreadful performances this year. How will they play on the day? I think Liverpool will either take advantage of an unexperienced keeper and maybe repeat a similar scoreline against Brighton or not play well at all.

My prediction:

1-1 Bellamy scoring early with Kenny Miller equalizing late on. If it goes to penalties anything can happen. Liverpool are like Germany at penalties - they never lose. But Tom Heaton was the excellent in their shootout win over Crystal Palace.

Or 4-0 to Liverpool of course! :D

 

 Liverpool FC v Cardiff City FC

League Cup Final 2012

Sunday 26th February 4pm

Wembley Stadium

The team quiz week 1 this week we test your knowlege on stoke city!

What number does striker cameron jerome wear?

What is their managers name?

What was the score this season when they played liverpool at home (in the league)

What is stoke's nickname?

What color shirt do they play in?

Comment your answers please!

Monday Madness!

Kadlec and Friedrich argue over Messi shirt! 

After Barcelona's 3-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Last 16 of the Champions League. Michal Kadlec was keen to swap shirts with three time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi but a row broke out after team-mate Manuel Friedrich claimed it for himself. 

The result: Kadlec won and got the souvenier. But...sporting director Rudi Voller felt that the eagerness to get the Messi momento did not portray a good image on the club. 

'I can guarantee that Kadlec and Friedrich will auction off their Messi shirts for a good cause. What the pair did was a bit over the top,' the former Germany forward told Die Bild. 

How to attack yourself (part 2)!

Valencia midfielder Ever Banega has undergone an operation on his injured ankle after accidentally running himself over with his own car. The Argentine international managed to suffer the injury on Sunday after leaving his car's handbrake off, stepping out of the vehicle and seeing it roll backwards over his ankle. This is just days after Eren Dersiyok attacked himself with a tootbrush. (That's why it's part 2!)

Passport Plonkers!

Manchester United’s Europa League adventure got off to the worst possible start after Danny Welbeck and Nani forgot to bring their passports for the flight to Amsterdam. The duo both left their travel documents at home, and were forced to hang around Manchester Airport check-in while a member of the United security team dashed back to retrieve the IDs. 

Aston Villa's new winger: revealed!

Aston Villa desperately need a winger to help keep out the opposition at and finally they have one - but this one has feathers. Gee the harris hawk has been called in to keep the Villa Park pitch in perfect condition after magpies were seen attacking the surface and digging holes in the ground. 

Talking of holes on the ground...

Harry Redknapp was full of excuses after Spurs side came away with a goalless draw in their FA Cup fifth round clash at League One side Stevenage. He claimed the pitch was too bumpy and not suitable to play on.

Match report sunderland 2-0 arsenal

Sunderlands good run of form since martin o neil joined as boss conitinued as they beat arsenal 2-0 to put themselves into the quater finals of the fa cup with budwiser. However that result did absolutly nothing to ease pressure on gunners boss Arsene wenger.
Fourth in the premier league pretty much out of the uefa champions league due to the 4-0 defeat to ac milan in midweek arsenal look like their goinf to have a seventh consecutive trophiles season.

The game started in a end to end fasion with sunderland just about edgeing the game and creating the better of the chances . Arsenal where later in the second half punished for giving a way a free kick slopperly when Sebastian larsonn crossed to find kieron richardson who smashed a shot into the far corner.
In the second half arsenal did pressure but never really made a proper chance and eventually sunderland scored when Alex Oxlade Chamberlin turned Seb larsons shot into his own net.
The game finished 2-0 at again mr wenger is centre of attention but sunderlans performance was top class . The makems will now play everton away in the quater final

Weekend review

This weekend in england has been fa cup 5th round week, if your team is lucky enough to still be in the competition.also this weekend has but two managers under extreme pressure Andre villas boas (chlesea) ,and Arsene wenger (arsenal). Chelsea despite playing a full strenth team drew 1-1 at home to championship side Birmingham and Arsenal lost 2-0 To sunderland at the Stadium Of Light
With kieron richardson on the scoresheet. In other games this weekend in the Fa cup Stoke city despite going down to 10 men early beat League 2 crawley 2-0,also Bolton made up for last weeks horror show against wigan with a much needed 2-0 win and championship strugglers millwall.Probably of the biggest shocks of the 5th round was leicsters win at mid table premier league side norwich
At carrow road.Leicter took the lead before Norwich equalised through wes Hoolahan but in the second half david nugent finished brilliantly to secure His team won 2-1 and are in to the quater finals one game from wembley.Also stevenage v spurs will go to a replay as the game finished 0-0 but didnt lack exitement. In the other sunday game liverpool beat brighton 6-1 .In the n power championship southampton took full advantage of west ham not playing as they thrashed Derby 4-0 at Home. Also Leeds' New boss Niel Warnock was in the stand to see his new team beat Bristol city 3-2 despite bieng 2-0 down

The relegation battle 2011/12

I think there are five teams who are in seirios danger of facing the dreaded drop wigan,bolton,blackburn,qpr,and wolves. But all of those teams can get out of it if they string a decent run together

Why these teams are here

Bolton

I didnt expect them to be where they are but losing their to best players in the summer sturrige and elmander didnt help with no real replecement being brought in by owen coyle. also, this seasons defending from bolton has been below par also if they want to stay up they must improve their home form.

Wigan

Wigan always seem to be in the bottom 3 at this stage in the season ,and somehow find a way to avoid relegation. but the reason they are down here this season is because of their lack of goals and pace upfront , but saturdays 2-1 win against local rivals bolton has lifted spirits around the DW stadium there next few games are winnable with 2 home games agaknst swansea ,and villa amongst them.

Blackburn

Well again its their defending thats put them where they are ,also the protests against manager steve kean have really not helped at all and have only really put a gloomy affect around ewood park and have caused blackburn to play much worse in that particular game. However in the recent defeat at arsenal in witch they lost 7-1 they can have no complaints


Wolves

Wolves are down at the wrong end of the table for not simply converting te chances they create, aslo they struggle to keep a lead.and key players like mathew jarvis , and kevin doyle havent played up to their potential so far.

Qpr .

There is no doubt in mind that there squad has talent, but there is so many players there that team morale cant be good players like dj cambell have bearly had a sniff of action all season, also a problem is there defence but mark hughes chould sort that out.


What players can provide the spark to keep their team up

Bolton : mark davies

The midfielders driving runs from midfield are going to be needed if bolton are to survive, aslo he needs to start scoring more goals.

Wigan : victor moses

The pacy winger needs to carry on playing how he is playing, but also chould do with getting a few more assists , and goals due to wigans strikers failing to score.

Blackburn : yakubu
He is a proven goalscorer at this level, and he has been the main source of goals for rovers so far, so he needs to be firing.

Qpr : joey barton he makes the midfield tick if he is on form, And will create chances galore for the strikers if he is playing well.


Wolves : steven fletcher

Wolves create many chances, so fletcher needs to fire , also he must stay fit.


The teams ratings and where i think they will finish

Wolves 3/5

At times this season wolves have looked like they have a chance of staying up , but recent results especially at home have dampend there chances of staying in the premier league and sacking manager mick mcarthty was not a wise move.

I think they will finish 19th

Wigan 4/5

Wigan have been inconsistent this season what the pattern has been is go on a losing streek of about 7 games and then have a mini revival for about 5 games.but if wigan are to stay up they need to improve their home form and score more goals,however i think roberto martinez' men have what it takes to beat the 'dreaded drop'

Predicted finish 17th


Bolton 2/5

Bolton,Bolton,Bolton Where has it gone wrong this season?

Bolton have lacked firepower this season and there defending is a shadow of last season.On paper boltons strike force isnt to bad with players like martin petrov, David ngog , mark davies, tuncay and more all bieng proven top-flight players.
This season has been extremly poir and i cant see where it stops as tere confidence is certinetly the lowest out of all the 5 in this scrap also the january buys arent up to standered

Predicted finish 20th


Qpr 3.5/5

I really cant understand why the hoops are down in this dog fight there strikeforce is europa league quality and even since the january buys have come in results have not improved at all tey chould do with taarbat and barton creating chances now and scoring to.
I think that they will go down simply because they need to 're gell " wotch chould take months also they have a very big squad so many players will be unsetteled.



Predicted finish 18th

Blackburn 4/5

Similar to wigan inconsistent but different to each of there other relegation rivals they have a striker who will score goals, yakubu the nigerian has provided many goals at vital times for rovers this season and, if he can keep firing expect a fight from blackburn

Predicted finish 16th

Monday Madness!

Redknapp's applies for England job! 

Twitter's community of football fans have been having their fun at the expense of Harry Redknapp - mocking up a joke application for the vacant England job that's gone viral. 

Clarke Carlisle for England?

The Burnley defender, on loan at Northampton Town, revealed his shock on Twitter after finding out he was a 500/1 long shot with bookmakers to replace Fabio Capello, who resigned from his position on Wednesday afternoon.

‘Ha Ha!! Apparently I'm 500/1 for the England job!!!!! Utterly ludicrous!!,’ said the 32-year-old on his social network page. 

  

The next Suárez?

A young Aston Villa mascot showed that kids really can be influenced by Premier League stars, by seemingly refusing to shake hands with a rival one day after Luis Suárez's high-profile snub of Patrice Evra. 

It was the cat's fault!

Sergio Busquets seemed to get a serious knee injury the same night a black cat rat across the Camp Nou. It happened at Anfield in Liverpool's stalemate with Tottenham!