Sports Category
Sports news, commentary and scores with wit and added value. We compare and contrast the best and worst sports reporting in the mainstream press, blogs, TV and online. We love the English Premier League (Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs, Manchester United and Manchester City) and all things football but we cover cricket, rugby, the Olympics, tennis, golf, F1 and highlights of the sporting year.
Football balls: Bale eyes Arsenal, RVP ‘snubs’ Di Maria at Manchester United, a Liverpool flop and a Chelsea dive
The tabloids are a hotbed of football news. Let’s look at today’s offering. We’ll kick off with the Express news that Gareth Bale has a “SHOCK admission”.
The SHOCK is that Bale has a telly and watches Arsenal and Spurs scores:
Bale has revealed he keeps a close eye on goings on in the Premier League from Spain.
The Daily Mirror wants to know about Liverpool:
We adhere to the tabloid rule: the answer to any headline questiosn is always ‘no’. So. No.
And it was 39 passes.
Robbie Savage has news – hard-hitting news – on Chelsea:
Diving, simulation – call it what you will – is not a disease exclusive to Stamford Bridge, nor is it confined to foreign players.
English players dive? Who knew?
The Daily Mail hears one shoe drop:
Well, he was pretty average at Manchester City, at the World Cup in Brazil, at AC Milan, at Inter Milan, at…
The Daily Star has a question:
No.
Also in the Star, a Manchester United ‘Snub”:
What did he do? A fight?
When asked who would play in his five-a-side team, RVP said:
“I will go for David [De Gea] in goal. I need one defender so I will go with Michael Carrick because he can play in both positions [defence and midfield], then I’ll go for strikers so Wayne [Rooney]. I’m involved as well? I’m not on the bench?! So me, David, Michael, Wayne and… this is very hard because you have Juan [Mata], you have [Angel] Di Maria and you have Falcao… I’ll go for Falcao.”
More football balls every day…
Liverpool balls: 39, 51 and 52 passes away from glory
Last night Liverpool beat Bournemouth 3-1 in the Capitol Cup. Liverpool scored one goal after a long bout of passing. But how many passes did the experts count?
Daily Mirror: “Raheem Sterling lifted the pressure on Brendan Rodgers after an astonishing 52-pass move from Liverpool’s kings of keep-ball”
The Times agrees: 52 passes.
Daily Mail: ‘There were a staggering 51 passes in the build up to Sterling’s opener”
Daily Telegraph: “A lengthy move led to the goal, comprising 39 passes”
Posted: 18th, December 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
The Blessed Hamstring: Manchester United’s Phil Jones gets spiritual to cure what ails him
INJURY-PRONE players are unfortunate. It isn’t their fault that their bodies betray them and stop them from doing their high-performance job. If a Formula One car has a misfiring engine, everyone understands because the car is in perfect balance to go really fast. When a football hurts his toe in the super-masculine world of professional football, he’s expected to shrug it off or be labelled a weakling.
Everyone remembers the various jokes about the winger of yore, Darren Anderton, who would be out for a fortnight with a broken eyelash and the like.
These days, we’ve got Manchester United’s Phil Jones.
He’s made only 5 appearances since Louis van Gaal took over at Old Trafford and, in his three seasons at Manchester United, he’s suffered 12 separate injuries, including the almost quaint complaint of shin splints.
Jones says: “I could stand here and list 10 players who are always out injured. That is just the nature of football. People don’t wake up one morning and say: ‘I fancy being injured today.’
So now, he’s focusing on getting fit and staying fit. What’s he doing about it? He’s gone toward something a little more spiritual: “It is strength work on the reformer, yoga and pilates and loads of stuff. I will do anything I can to improve myself and hopefully that will stand me in good stead for the rest of the season. Hopefully I can stay fit, look after myself in games and make sure I stay fit.”
While most people hit the gym and lift, bro Jones is going to stretch his legs, work on his core and get all that negative chi out of his legs like he’s football’s most famous Buddhist, Roberto Baggio.
And while Baggio was dubbed Il Divin Codino (translates as ‘The Divine Ponytail’), our Phil can now call himself The Blessed Hamstring, as he finds inner peace on his yoga mat, letting the troubles of Premier League football melt away to his wind-chimes tape, reinforcing the Manchester United team with his powerful chakras.
Now Manchester United have a guru in the ranks, can they win the title against all odds, thanks to Swami Jones?
Posted: 17th, December 2014 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment
Spurs Balls: Yid Army soon to be owned by Jew-hating Qatar
Can it be that Spurs – home to the ‘Yid Army’ – are to be owned by the Qatari government in a £1billion takeover?
The Sun reports:
The Arabian nation’s sports minister Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali says they want a Premier League club as the Gulf state’s next sporting investment.
But Spurs… The Yids?
Al-Ani promised any takeover would include pumping in the kind of money that helped them transform Paris Saint-Germain from chronic under-achievers to French champions and an emerging European giant.
Nice idea. Problem is that PSG play in a one-team league. The Premier League is a bit trickier.
And with Tottenham owner Joe Lewis ready to talk business if a buyer meets his asking price, the North London side could be the next under foreign ownership.
Al-Ani said: “Of course Qatar wants to own a Premier League club. One hundred per cent. Here in Qatar we are very, very good in taking something and really transforming it into something very, very good. Even if it’s good we take it to another ste.”…
Al-Ani hinted they are looking at clubs ripe for plucking — and Spurs would head that list, especially with a new 56,000- capacity stadium coming.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 17th, December 2014 | In: Sports, Spurs | Comment (1)
Middlesbrough ‘Superfan’ Julie Philips banned from every ground in England for ripping up pages of the koran
Middlesbrough ‘Superfan’Middlesbrough ‘Superfan’ Julie Philips, 51, has been banned from entering every football ground across the country after being caught tearing pages out of a Koran in the crowd during her side’s 2-2 draw away against Birmingham City last December.
Boro fan Julie Phillips, 51, was found guilty and fined for using “religiously aggravated threatening or insulting behaviour” by Birmingham Magistrates’ Court back in May, with Teesside Magistrates’ Court following up today by banning her from every single football ground in England and Wales for the next three years.
As the Birmingham Magistrates’ Court heard, Phillips was caught on stadium CCTV producing a copy of the Koran from her handbag during the game at St. Andrews before proceeding to tear up the pages and throw them into the air “like confetti” while reportedly chanting adorable little ditties about stabbing Muslims with bayonets.
In her defence, Phillips explained that football fans often tear up paper to use as confetti and that she had absolutely no idea the book she was carrying around in her handbag was the Islamic holy text.
Philips is a vicious idiot. But are her antics thought crimes?
Liverpool and Bournemouth in 75,000 sell-out
Looking to buy tickets for the Bournemouth v Liverpool game at south coast’ club’s Goldsands stadium, (capacity: 11,700) Anorak was not all that surprised to see that the Capitol One Cup quarter-final clash was sold out. More intersting is how far AFC Bournemouth have come.
Wow! It’s big enough for France:
Posted: 17th, December 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
Arsenal v Ireland: The best… and worst of Thierry Henry
EVERYONE is queueing up to pay tribute to Thierry Henry, who announced his retirement from football today.
In his time at Arsenal alone, his stats were preposterously great. For the Gunners, he bagged a whopping 175 Premier League goals, and during his time there, he found the back of the net every 122 minutes. He also landed two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two Community Shields, was part of the Invicibles, won four Golden Boots, hit 226 goals in all competitions, chipped in with over a century of assists and everyone kinda fancied him.
Not bad for a player who Arsene Wenger signed as a winger.
If you include the rest of his career, where he played for Monaco, Barcelona, Juventus and New York Red Bulls, Thierry managed to score 360 club goals in 792 games and bagged 51 goals in 123 matches for France.
His colleagues have been quick to tip praise all over him. Cesc Fabregas tweeted: “Sad to see the end to the career of one of the best players I’ve ever played with. A true legend.” Mesut Ozil said: “Once you enchanted all of us – now I can only say: Thanks for everything!”
Jamie Carragher added: “Defenders everywhere will be breathing a sigh of relief that he has hung his boots up. He was certainly the toughest opponent I ever faced and possibly the best player the Premier League has seen. I would have loved him to be on the same team as me during my playing career.”
With all that taken into account, let us look at some of the best (and worst) of Thierry Henry’s career!
Henry’s Finest Moment
For everything Henry has done, he’ll never top this photo of himself with a boombox.
Volley versus Manchester United
Possibly Henry’s most famous goal. Certainly one of the best goals ever scored on English soil.
Henry’s hat-trick against Liverpool
Henry could pretty much do everything, but his second goal in his famous hat-trick against Liverpool takes some beating.
Henry sees red
Thierry was no wimp and could throw himself around if needed. In the World Cup in 2002, he was Sent off for a late tackle against Uruguay during France’s disappointing tournament.
Barca Belter!
Henry wasn’t too shabby at Barcelona, winning the Champion’s League with them. His goal against Celtic is one of his best in the famous shirt.
Henry Stateside
When in the USofA, Thierry didn’t stop being brilliant and getting fans out of their seats. He scored a number of great goals, but our favourite is his effort against FC Dallas.
The Hand of Frog
Henry’s handball against Ireland in the World Cup play-off saw France on the plane to South Africa. The Irish were heartbroken and the thing that hurt most was the fact it was one of the most loved players on the planet who cheated an underdog out of the game.
Immortal
How much do Arsenal love Titi? So much so, that they unveiled a bronze statue of him outside the Emirates Stadium. Weeks later, Henry returned to play for The Gunners during their 125th anniversary celebrations for a couple of months.
The King of Madrid
Trying to win at Real Madrid is difficult enough, but Henry popped up to score an inspired winner for a famous Arsenal victory in Spain!
The Comeback Goal
When Henry returned to Arsenal, he knew how to make a proper comeback. Getting behind the Leeds’ defence, he smoothly knocked the ball into the back of the net and the Gooners went properly wild. Magical moment.
Va Va Voom
Most footballers do advertisements that make you want to die. Not Thierry Henry. He suavely said “Hey! Bobby! What’s the French for Va Va Voom!” and played jazz drums with Animal from The Muppets. Brilliant.
Manchester City balls: Barcelona star makes a vow in 2D
Manchester City play Barcelona in the Champions’ League and the Sun talk is of war and fighting. The paper’s headline declares:
“I’ll Mess You Up”
Antony Kastrinakis has read Lionel Messi’a Facbeook page. Be afraid, City:
“Looking forward to playing in the next round of the Champions League. It’ll be really nice to face my friend Sergio Aguero as I always beat him at FIFA. But let’s see what happens on the pitch.”
Scary stuff…
Posted: 16th, December 2014 | In: Manchester City, Sports | Comment (1)
Man United player in match-fixing investigation
EVERYONE who isn’t a Manchester United fan is currently irritated that they’re 3rd in the Premier League table as, after a long period of success, it would’ve been nice if they could’ve suffered just a bit longer.
Seeing as fans can’t mock their league position, here’s something to enjoy – one of their players has been dragged into a match-fixing scandal.
Man U midfielder Ander Herrera, along with Japan coach Javier Aguirre and Atletico Madrid captain Gabi and 38 others, have been named in a case of matchfixing involving a La Liga match in the 2010-11 season. Now, of course, everyone involved may well be innocent, which means we’ll have to say ‘allegedly’ a lot and, of course, enjoy this while it lasts.
So what’s the deal?
Well, Spain’s anti-corruption prosecutor has filed their case in a Valencia court today, following a probe into Real Zaragoza’s 2-1 win at Levante on the final day of the campaign. Fans of Spanish football will know that Zaragoza avoided relegation and that Aguirre was coach of the team at the time, which included Herrera and Gabi in the team.
Former Zaragoza president Agapito Iglesias and the club itself were also named as defendants, along with the rest of the players from both sides.
At the time of writing, a Real Zaragoza official had no comment to make, apart from the reiteration of the statement Zaragoza made on September 25th which said that they were “completely unaware” of events being investigated by the public prosecutor. Handily for them, the match occurred under a different board of directors, which means they’re probably telling the truth.
But what about the players?
In its court filing published today, the prosecutor alleged that the Levante players were paid a total of €965,000 (£766,000) in cash to deliberately lose the game.
It seems like a small amount of money for top flight football doesn’t it? It is almost quaint. You can imagine the defence in court might say: ‘Seriously though. These lads don’t need the money.’
The prosecutor added that they suspect Zaragoza first made bank transfers to its players and officials, including Aguirre, Herrera and Gabi, and they then took the money out of their accounts in cash and passed it on to the Levante players. It all sounds incredibly murky and if it is true, there could be some very damning penalties.
Of course, the team’s that were relegated instead of Zaragoza could seek compensation, just like Sheffield United did when it transpired that there were irregularities when West Ham signed Carlos Tevez, and he scored a goal that kept the Hammers in the league.
Posted: 15th, December 2014 | In: manchester united, Sports | Comment
Liverpool balls: Rodgers’ good sports defy Manchester United’s bad referee
Where do we stand on footballers surrounding the referee, getting in his fave when a decision goes against their team? Today Manchester United profited from the linesman’s flag. The referee’s assidtant declined (wrongly) to raise his flag and Juan Mata’s headed goal stood. Should Liverpool have gone nuts, harranging the referee?
Henry Winter says they should’ve:
As United celebrated, as social media devoured footage of the incident, Liverpool players did not appeal, did not vent any anger. They accepted the injustice, a worrying sign for Rodgers as he seeks fight in his players. He would also have every right to question his players’ marking of Mata too.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 14th, December 2014 | In: Liverpool, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Liverpool fans looking to abuse Manchester United boss Van Gaal will have to top this
As Manchester Unted play Liverpool in the Premier League, the Sun wonders what the most offensive thing United manager Louis Van Gaal has heard:
The Manchester United boss will be ready for anything from the stands when his side take on bitter rivals Liverpool. It would be difficult to top the Feyenoord sickos who taunted him when he was at Ajax and his first wife was dying of cancer.
Should they try to?
The ‘Iron Tulip’ was at the centre of an ugly episode with sections of supporters on his way to the title with Ajax in 1994. His wife, Fernanda, was dying of cancer and Feyenoord fans taunted LVG from the stands with a banner that translated as “cancer b****”.
After she passed away from liver and pancreatic cancer, LVG was targeted again with chant of “Louis van Gaal, he lives alone”.
At the time he said: “They were singing loud, I was the victim, that’s true. But I was able to analyse it and not let it get to me. That’s why I could bear it. It was just a group of the fans who sang.”
Over to you, Liverpool fans…
Posted: 14th, December 2014 | In: Liverpool, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Liverpool balls: Flirting with relgation
Robbie Savage is sticking up for Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers in the Daily Mirror:
Kop boss knows it’s not been good enough this season but Reds were closer to the Championship than the Champions League just three years ago
Three years ago – season 2011-2012 – Liverpool finished 8th. But, true enough, Liverpool were 17 points off a Champions’ League spot and 16 points of the relgation zone.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 12th, December 2014 | In: Liverpool, Sports | Comment
Regret the error: Sefton Hall and QPR suffer from the cuts
New Jersey’s The Record has news. It is “number one for breaking local news”:
“Nothing like 8-year-old file photos for Wichita State-Seton Hall,” tweets Wichita Eagle news editor Josh Wood.
artin Gottlieb, editor of The Record (Bergen County, NJ) apologises:
It was a deadline mistake by a remorseful night desk in sports that we’ve corrected online and run a correction about in print today. Everyone knows it should not have happened. Best, Marty
What it is lots of multi-tasking on a tourniquet-tight newsroom budget. But we have sympathy. Get this from Rupert Murdoch’s Sun:
The unnamed man just happens to be Charlie Austin, Premier League side QPR’s main striker.
Such are the facts…
College field trip to Millwall studies ‘working class culture and habits’
Millwall fans love stuffed toys
A college has been branded ‘offensive’ for arranging a trip to a Millwall football match so that students can observe ‘working class culture’.
Varndean College in Brighton says the trip will give students the chance to learn about ‘working class culture and habits’, ‘issues around sexuality, race and ethnicity’ and ‘women challenging gender norms’.
A poster displayed at the sixth form college also urges students to enjoy pies and Bovril and ‘even talk to fans’ at Brighton and Hove Albion’s American Express Community Stadium.
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Talking Balls: Manchester City never did run from Manchester United in 2012
Writing in the Sun, Martin Blackburn has news on Manchester City’s affable manager Manuel Pellegrini:
Two years ago this month, City were beaten by Borussia Dortmund on a low-key night in Germany. They knew they were out of the Champions League — but it meant their three-point total was the lowest by an English team in the competition.
True enough. But…:
From then on, it was very tough going for ex-boss Roberto Mancini, even though he won the title seven months earlier. His side’s title defence was already in ruins, with city rivals United running away with the Premier League.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 11th, December 2014 | In: Manchester City, manchester united, Sports | Comments (2)
Hereford United debacle continues as club suspended by FA
THE mess that has befallen the supporters of Hereford United took a fresh turn today, as the club have now been suspended “from all football activity” by the FA.
Hereford and club official Alan McCarthy have been punished for failure to comply with regulations under the owners’ and directors’ test and a statement from the FA said: “Having failed to comply with the orders of the Independent Regulatory Commission, both Hereford United and Alan McCarthy are suspended from all football and football activity with immediate effect.”
“The club and Mr McCarthy, Officer of Hereford United FC, were ordered to fully and correctly comply with their obligations under the Owners’ and Directors’ Test Regulations by 4pm on Thursday 4 December 2014.”
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WOOF! Watch Aaron Ramsey’s sublime stike against Galatasaray
Arsenal fans calling for Arsene Wenger’s head. The naysayers who want Wenger out. The doom merchants and plastic fans who crave only success and weep and wail when they don’t get it. Piers Morgan.
This is not for you.
For all true Gooners who know that pain is part of the journey towards elation, cop a load of this refulgent strike by the wonderful Aaron Ramsey.
The Best of Man United v Liverpool
THE Merseyside derby… the Manchester derby… the North London derby… they’re all well and good, but having a rivalry based on your postcodes is really very, very boring.
Much better is when teams hate each other because there’s a clash of culture or because of something else entirely. Manchester United and Arsenal is one such rivalry that beats the local-affairs, but just pipping it is the squabbling cousins of Manchester and Liverpool and, this Sunday, that lot from Old Trafford take on that lot from Anfield.
When asked about the difference in hatred between Man City and Liverpool, one Manchester United fan said: “City are our rivals – Liverpool are the enemy.”
And things are already heating up, with Jamie Carragher chipping in on Twitter, saying:”Question for Lfc fans- win tonight or Sunday? Tonight for me, rather qualify for the CL than beat the 7th best team in the Prem last season!”
Scouse shade there. Liverpool will travel along the M62 on Sunday, seven points off United, but as we know, form goes out of the window for games like this.
So with that, let us look at the best Man Utd-Liverpool games.
Liverpool 3-3 Manchester United 1987/88
In the Eighties, Liverpool were the kings of English football and Alex Ferguson was still pretty fresh to the United job. At Anfield, a six-goal thriller with some absolutely appalling challenges from both team, and Gordon Strachan and Peter Beardsley on fine, fine form.
Manchester United 3-1 Liverpool 1989/90
In the late ’80s, Manchester United were perennial underachievers while Liverpool were the dominant force. However, on New Year’s Day, Fergie’s Fledglings started to show their worth. Mark Robins and Lee Sharpe sparkled, while little Russell Beardsmore played the game of his life. Brian McClair scored an absolute belter too!
Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool 2009
One of Liverpool’s finest ever performances came when they turned Man Utd over 4-1 at Old Trafford, back when Fernando Torres was absolutely blistering! Andrea Dossena’s lob is one of the best goals ever scored in a match between the two sides.
Liverpool 3-3 Man United, 1994
One of the greatest matches in the Premier League’s history, Man Utd steam into a 3-0 lead after 25 minutes and on the back of a 17-game unbeaten run. Liverpool, were placed ninth. However, thanks to goals from Nigel Clough and Razor Ruddock, Liverpool completed one of the most entertaining comebacks in English football.
Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool 1995
Eric Cantona, returning from his lengthy suspension for kung-fu kicking a Crystal Palace fan, came back for another MUFC/LFC classic. Meanwhile, Liverpool were adjusting the crown of their own local legend, with Robbie Fowler grabbing two wonderful goals. Of course, Cantona managed to score the equaliser in front of a delirious Stretford End.
Liverpool 1-4 Manchester United 1969
At Anfield, a Manchester United team which featured a number of the stars that won the European Cup, basically tore Liverpool a new one. Liverpool were a team in transition, but so too were United. However, when you’ve got George Best in the side, it always helps. The fourth goal from Bobby Charlton is an absolute corker.
Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool 2010
United fans will remember this game as the afternoon when Dimitar Berbatov paid his £30m transfer fee back with a hat-trick against Liverpool. A match where Berba scored a wonderful overhead kick from the edge of the area that had the decency to whack the crossbar on the way in, just to look better.
Posted: 9th, December 2014 | In: Liverpool, manchester united, Sports | Comment
Transfer Balls: Marco Reus in the Daily Express and only Liverpoool miss out
The Daily Express continues is exercise in trust online with its latest report on footballer Marco Reus:
Marco Reus’ new hobby DENTS Chelsea, Arsenal and City hopes
What new hobby has the German footballer taken up?
Ben Jefferson says Reus has been learning Spanish.
Jefferson knows that because he read a tweet by @adnanesque, who turns out to be a Manchester United fan:
Read the rest of this entry »
Football and Fans: No-one likes us, we don’t care
BRITISH football fans are some of the most maligned people in the world.
When the press mention the fans, you know that they’re taking about the kind of people who throw garden furniture while stocked up on Super Bock. When football-haters say they hate fans, no-one ever really corrects them to point out that it is only a minority of football fans who sing loudly in the street and vote UKIP.
What with football being the most popular sport in the world, it stands to reason that the majority of people who watch it are nice, calm, considered, into films and music and invariably drink less than your average depressed middle class housewife.
But people don’t like football fans. Football fans are bad.
If you look toward clubs, they’re not keen on fans either, despite constant proclamations of love for ‘the passion’ that fans bring. That passion, in the modern game, is used solely as a marketing tool to sell the corporate hospitality boxes and work sponsors up into parting with more cash. Clubs earn money from TV rights, not season tickets. As far as television is concerned, it doesn’t matter who you support, as long as you’re watching.
This week, Nigel Pearson said Leicester fans could “stay at home” after his side were beaten by Liverpool 3-1. He said: “I had a spat with a fan towards the end. If they cannot see the players are having a proper go maybe they need to stay at home.”
Of course, the various football associations and world bodies like UEFA and FIFA notoriously couldn’t care less about the fans. A series of stadium disasters were the only thing that snapped the governing bodies out of their nonchalance. Fans have to die before the people that run the game take notice.
The media notoriously loathe football fans, only every showing them on their pages and newsreels when someone is throwing their season ticket at a manager, fighting, singing unpleasant songs or what have you. Even when an entire city – Liverpool – refuses to buy The Sun for the appalling things said about those at the awful Hillsborough disaster, people still choose to side with the press when it comes to passing judgement on fans. Even the amount fans pay to watch football on TV in England is the most expensive in the world, with the rights held so close to the companies that own them, that you either watch it on Sky or Match of the Day, or whistle (unlike most American sports who give highlights away for free online).
Even the players can’t be relied on to stick up for the supporters. Wayne Rooney famously had a pop at the England fans who booed a poor performance.
Ticket prices have gone up, fans are lambasted when their air grievances (as we’ve seen with the mocking of Arsenal fans who would like to see Arsene Wenger replaced), but also blamed for a lack of atmosphere (see The Chosen One’s comments about Chelsea). When something spontaneous happens, as we’ve seen at Tottenham with the pitch invaders or the plane-with-a-banner stunt at Manchester United, fans are further derided.
Inside the grounds, the modern football fan is a passive noise generator, asked only to pay-in and sit in a seat that is inferior to the sponsors, to politely clap, buy some merch and go home to watch the replays on television.
Outside the stadiums, they’re looked at, en-masse, like they’re all, at best, an inconvenience or, at worst, hooligans. Even thought the statistics don’t add-up – look at how trouble-free Manchester United’s Old Trafford is, despite having the equivalent of a music festival passing through the turnstyles every week – football fans are, to naysayers, stupid scumbags.
Naturally, there are some gasping idiots who like football, but such is anything that is popular. Some awful people drink wine and there’s probably a good number of racists who own a George Foreman mean, lean grillin’ machine. Ever seen someone punch someone in the face? You can guarantee that they’ve got a shower in their house.
Yet we don’t see showers, fatless pork chops and shiraz being associated with idiots.
And what’s the outcome of all this? Malaise. A great deal of people have become disenfranchised with the game, preferring to enjoy it as a whole, from afar, be it through video games or just watching it on TV because, the reality of it is that it isn’t worth the hassle. The sport loved by so many is run by corrupt arseholes, reported on by people who actively dislike or ignore supporters, inhabited by teams and managers who are ambivalent about those sat in the stands.
No-one like us… and we’re not able to muster up the same level of care as we once had.
Arsenal balls: fans who want Wenger sacked should support Spurs or godless Chelsea
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is not going to be sacked, and certainly not dismissed mid-season. Any sane Arsenal supporter with half a memory should concede that Wenger’s Arsenal are a big improvement on much of what went before. The level of expectation should tell them that.
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Chelsea Balls: it was the Arsenal supporting ball boys wot dunnit
Arsenal’s record in going a league season unbeaten is intact. Chelsea lost at Newcastle United in the Premier League.
They say a week is loing time in politics, but football tusn in a moment.
Thursday December 4:
Sunday December 7:
As for the blame, Jose Mouinho says:
“We wanted to play a lot more football but that was not possible because of things that I thought didn’t belong in top level football any more. The ball goes out, it doesn’t come back and the ball boys run away. But no complaints.”
Good. The ball boys might be the only youths in the ground who can still watch football without an adult accompanying them to the expensive seats.
Arsenal Balls: Alexis Sanchez on life, loves and being tough
Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal’s tireless Chilean, is talking to The Times’ Rory Smith. Sanchez is tough. The old story about foreigners not liking it up them is bunkum.
On the Christmas truck:
“I would run after them with all the other kids. It was people from the council on the truck. They would throw caramellos, sweets, and games. I always wished they would throw a football. That was what I wanted. I said to myself when I was young that one day, if I ever had the chance, I would do the same, but instead of sweets, I would throw footballs.”
And he does. When he returns to his native Tocopilla, he tosses out sweets and many footballs.
On fame:
“In my head, I do not feel like a famous person. I am just normal, no different to someone in the street. I am just a kid who happens to play football. Maybe one day that will change, I will mature [into something else], but at the moment that is what I am, who I am, and I like it. When I play, I don’t think about how much I cost. I just try to enjoy myself like it is the first match I ever played.”
On football:
“When I was younger, I played football on the streets, on a scrap of land, wherever I could. I had to apologise to the neighbours a few times for breaking windows, like all kids. Quite a few times, actually. We did not have a pitch or goalposts or anything like that. We would put down two rocks and that was the goal. There was just the ground and the ball. It did not bother me not to have proper boots or a good pitch. It was enough to be with my friends and to be playing. It is no different now. I do not mind where I play. I just love playing…”
Read it all.
Do referees show bias against football teams? Let’s review the data
REFEREES have one of the most unenviable jobs in football. They’re there to make sure everyone adheres to the sport’s rules, stopping football from turning into free jazz. They have to do things that penalise players and teams and the fans don’t like them, as a rule, one bit.
However, most referees and officials are alright when it comes down to it.
This doesn’t stop people from believing otherwise. In the news this week, Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has had his wrists slapped for his views on football’s match officials.
He’s been fined £5,000 for accusing referees of “bias towards other teams”.
The Stoke chairman was upset with the officiating in home games against Swansea, Southampton and West Ham. Coates contested the charge, but the Football Association ruled that his comments, made to local media, brought the game into disrepute and found him guilty of improper conduct.
That all said, statistically, it does look like some referees don’t like certain teams. Let us look at them shall we?
Mike Dean
Arsenal fans don’t like Mike Dean much, as the Gunners have a very poor record when he’s officiating their games. A few years ago, Dean refereed 17 manages against Arsenal, where they won only one match in four years. If that wasn’t enough for Gooners, there was a moment in his career when he was accused of ‘celebrating’ a goal scored by Louis Saha.
Barry Knight
In May 2000, Barry Knight wrote himself into Bolton’s history for all the wrong reasons. In a First Division play-off semi-final between Wanderers and Ipswich Town, Knight issued 12 yellow cards, two red cards and awarded three penalties against Bolton. Sam Allardyce, Gudni Bergsson and Paul Warhurst were all fined by the FA for their comments about Knight’s performance. Allardyce felt he had a point when the FA decided that Barry Knight should never officiate a game at Bolton again.
Howard Webb
In Liverpool, Horward Webb is not a favourite. Many have seen him as someone who favours Manchester United. Former Liverpool player Ryan Babel got himself a fine for a joke on Twitter which saw Webb in a United jersey.
Webb has been in charge of 22 Liverpool games since 2009/10 of which Liverpool have lost 14!
Chris Foy
At Chelsea, no-one likes Chris Foy, especially Jose Mourinho. “During the week the players were speaking about the situation and I think from now on, the next time we have Mr. Foy, I have to work my people in a different way because I don’t want this,” said Mourinho after a match. That’s because Foy has shown 8 red cards to Chelsea players in the 10 matches that he has officiated in, giving out none to the opposition.
Mark Clattenburg
A number of sides don’t like Mark Clattenburg, especially on Merseyside and in Manchester. Clattenburg’s performance in the Merseyside derby in 2007 resulted in a 6 year hiatus from Goodison Park. He’s been accused of consulting Steven Gerrard before sending off Tony Hibbert and other mistakes saw him receiving death threats from Toffeemen.
In Manchester, one thing that unifies the blue and red half of the city is a distrust and hatred of this particular ref. He’s been accused of awarding soft penalties against both teams and, in one infamous incident, sent off City’s Gareth Barry after an argument. Barry accepted his ban, but maintans that it was Clattenburg who initiated the feud.
Transfer Balls: Arsenal Get Chelsea Reject Reus, Who Agreed To Join Barcelona, Manchester United And Real Madrid
The Daily Express says Mrco Reus is heading to the Premier League. He’s coming to Liverpool. No, Arsenal. No, wait, Manchester United. He’s not going to Real Madrid.
Real Madrid have no first refusal option over Marco Reus, leaving the door wide open for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder to move to the Premier League.
Odd. Because the Express has previously told readers that…
Reus is off to Real Madrid. Arsenal and Manchester United can forget it…
Reus is off to Barcelona. Manchester United have lost out…
Reus is staying at Dortmund. Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are crushed…
But Chelsea were delighted…
Reus was then snubbed by Chelsea…
And then on December 1, the Express said the Chelsea move was on…
Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea have been handed a timely boost in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus.
And Manchester United are going to buy Reus in the summer…
Such are the fact in the Daily Express…
Posted: 3rd, December 2014 | In: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Sports | Comment
