Premiership Sunday
It's the first Sunday of the new season and we have three tasty morsels on offer, starting with the new-look Chelski led by Big Phil Scolari taking on an always tricky Portsmouth side. That's followed by Citeh at Villa and finally the match that Dave has been waiting for all summer - his beloved United taking on Newcastle. Who'll be the happiest manager at the end of the day - Scolari? Fergie? Martin O'Neill? Harry Redknapp? King Kev? We'll soon see.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 9:13 AM
154 Comments:
Chelsea take first blood in the 12th minute. Joe Cole races onto Michael Ballack's neat through ball and fires the ball past James from just inside the Portsmouth box. That was superb play from the Germany international to set up Luiz Felipe Scolari's first competitive goal as Chelsea boss.
Blimey! Chelsea are two up inside half an hour. Deco's looping effort drifts over the head of James and is headed home by Anelka from three yards. Chelsea lead 2-0 and they deserve their advantage.
Are you scared yet, Dave?
It's three! Distin handles in the box and Chelski are awarded a penalty right on the stroke of half-time. Frank Lampard quickly dispatches the spot kick and Scolari will be delighted by what's he's seen in his first competitive half in charge. Wow!
Half-time: Chelsea 3 Pompey 0.
365 comments: "The referee blows his whistle for half-time to bring an enjoyable opening 45 minutes to an end. Chelsea have made a massive statement about their intentions for the season."
Yikes!!
Three nil!!!
Pompey were dominated by us last week but we didn't put the ball in the net. I hope that isn't the case today.
Of course, I think Pompey will win 4-3
Welcome, mate! I'm stuck in the Atlanta airport waiting for a delayed flight, so I'm following the matches on-line. Good to have the pleasure of your company.
The second half has started with Anelka rifling a shot over the bar. Clearly Chelsea aren't done with Pompey yet.
The only bad news for Scolari in that first half might be a slight injury to Michael Ballack that saw replaced by Malouda.
I did see that but Talksport thinks it is just for precaution. They were already two up.
So, you are in Atlanta. Where are you flying to? What are your plans?
Well, I'm finally leaving Florida behind. I opted for a cheapo ticket, so I'm flying through Detroit and then on to Buffalo today. I'll get there about 4 this afternoon. An hour later I'll be in the Day's Inn in Fredonia. First day at the office tomorrow. I'm hoping my shipment, which left Gainesville on Friday will get up there soon. They said no earlier than Tuesday. The cable guys are coming Friday, so I'm hoping to be relaxing in front of FSC on Saturday morning.
The check engine light came on when I was driving to Buffalo two weeks ago, so I've got to get that checked out in the next week. I'd love to see you guys sometime soon (Labor Day weekend?) but it'll have to be contingent on a healthy car.
You already have a car in Fredonia?
Good luck with getting cable of Friday. Do they have FSC?
You'll miss the England match on live on Wednesday
Yeah, Steve and I drove it up a few weeks back with a trailer on the back. I've got a funny story for you when I talk to you soon.
Yes, Time Warner has FSC on its digital package. A few more dollars a month but I really need it.
Just checked out your Time Warner Cable line up.
Fox Soccer Channel is Channel 125
That sounds about right. Have you got Time Warner too?
On FSC right now, they have a live Skysports news on before the United match
Villa and Citeh have kicked off. Citeh lost a player during warm up. He had to be carried off
Yes, I have TWC as well
Defoe and Crouch haven't looked the part yet today. They've been totally snuffed out by Chelski's back line.
Chelski look set to throw SWP into the action. So they're settling for 3-0 obviously.
SWP came on for Deco
As for Defoe, I just don't rate him. I never wanted him to come to OT. He is a ball hog and needs lots of chances to score.
Of course, Fabio like him
Yeah, I was hugely disappointed by that England squad that you posted with Defoe in it. I'm not sure that I'll be missing much on Wednesday, but I'll surely follow it on-line.
United's team announced on Sky
VDS
Brown
Vidic
Rio
Evra
Fletcher
Carrick
Scholes
Giggs
Rooney
Campbell
Tevez isn't in squad. What's up with him?
Is Hargreaves still hurt??
Deco didn't go off because he just scored Chelski's fourth
I'll do some checking. Who on earth is Campbell?
Frazier Campbell
He came on last week. He spent the season at Hull last season
What time is your flight? Do you have to leave before Man Utd score their fifth goal?
Here's what the Guardian says: "Hargreaves will be a frustrated spectator on Sunday - after suffering a recurrence of tendinitis - as the Red Devils open the defence of their Barclays Premier League title against Newcastle."
Chelsea just won
Sky just said that Tevez is returning to Argentina for a family bereavement. We can't afford to lose him for long. COME HOME BERBA
The flight to Detroit boards at 11:50, so I should be able to get the first half in.
I can't find any indication that Carlito is injured. I don't get it. The official United website is crowing about how this is "Carlos's season."
4-0, eh? Goals from Anelka, Cole, Lampard and Deco. Chelski top of the table. That's got to put the frighteners up your back.
Meanwhile Villa and Citeh are confirming my 0-0 prediction. If they finish like that, it would be my only exactly correct prediction all weekend and only the fourth correct result. I've got you lot winning 2-0.
Did you see the Tevez reason?
Yeah, that makes sense. You'll need him in good form at the start of the season.
30 minutes til kick off
Same as last season please
We outscored the Toon ELEVEN-ONE!!
You'll be hoping for some more kamikaze Keegan tactics then?
Deco was just awarded the man of the match champagne by Lamps. Apparently, his goal was a corker
I'll look forward to seeing that on YouTube.
Villa appear to be in complete control of their match, but still no goals.
What was up with your lot yesterday? I was very surprised with that one
I can't believe that they award the MOTM bubbly after a bog standard Premiership match like it's the Cup Final or something. Typical flash West London bastids.
I was too. I don't know what got into them. They were on fire against Chester in mid-week. I'm hoping just a slight hiccup on the way to Division 1 championship glory.
SAF was at Goodison yesterday.
Does he want Santa?
Who do United need more?
I think of Berba would be like Cantona. Making others better.
Your thoughts
I think you're right. Berba's the man for you. You need a clinical finisher to supplement all of the attacking playmakers that you have. Leave Santa Cruz at Blackburn.
Is your email address going to be the same?
Yeah, I'll still keep using my Yahoo address for the non-work stuff. If you ever feel like emailing me at work it's:
Robert.Dahlgren@fredonia.edu
Looks like the Villa-Citeh is petering out into a 0-0 at half-time. Good for me.
That's original
Yeah, not my choice. The standard address that the network spits out. Easy to remember though, eh? Not like my students who are all like:
tastysprocket68790-8765@yahoo.com
Not bad, United have SIX Englishmen, a Scot and the Welsh Wizard.
You've got Dumbledore playing for you today?
Teams are coming out at OT!!
COME ON YOU DEVILS!!!(Red not blue)
Oh dear, King Kev's gone with Stephen Taylor and Habib Beye at the center of his defense. I'm doubling my original prediction then.
Good luck to your lot this season!
Talksport just mentioned the name
Tony Currie. They called him great not quality!!!
Blasphemy! Everyone knows that Tony Currie is not a mortal man.
Cheers mate, same to you
1558: News just in. Andrei Arshavin's on-off move to Spurs is, er, off. Gutted. I really, really want the Russian magic man to play in the Premier League.
Did you see that the Prem is allowing to have SEVEN subs on the bench this season.
Where are they days of one??
AND WE'RE OFF!!
But they still only use three right?
Did you know that United only conceded SEVEN goals at home all season last year?
I'd hate to see the kind of thing you see at the MLS All-Star game with one pillock after another trotting on and off the pitch all day long.
Free kick chance just inside the D in the center for United
And five of those were West Ham, right?
Giggs hits the wall.
Off a hand of the wall
Villa score after two minutes of the second half
Surely he should be able to eliminate the wall with a wave of his wand, right?
Bugger! My predictions scuppered again. I'll be lucky to win the wooden spoon at this rate.
Fletcher tries one from thirty out and stubs his toe
Replay of the free kick. Milner's arm was extended.
Martins shoots wide. Not too close
Big John Carew for Villa there.
Newcastle's new signing(with the hair of Keegan and McDermott from the 70s)has had a rough start. He gave away the free kick and he almost let in Rooney. It is too fast for him
OOOH, CAMPBELL HAS A BULLET HEADER BRILLIANTLY SAVED BY GIVEN.
He was six yards out
That should have been one nil
Who is Newcastle's new signing?
Newcastle have shown some ambition in this match so far
Bloody hell, the save was off Given's head!! He didn't know a thing about it.
Coloccini
That's the problem with Newcastle under Keegan. They don't know when to just shut up shop and try to get a draw away from home. They're always trying to play some football and then they get sliced apart.
Sounds like another wonder save from Given, this time from Paul Scholes. Again six yards out.
Great double save by Given from Rooney and Scholes
Newcastle sound really under the cosh.
This better not continue.
Where's the Chelskilad today?
Penalty for Citeh
Citeh have scored
Chelskilad's internet is down.
21 minutes gone.
OH NO
Newcastle have scored!!!
Sorry to hear that about Tone. Hope it's something he can sort out soon.
Way hay for Citeh! The draw's back on.
Bugger! Bugger! Bugger!
Who on earth was marking Martins?
Completely free header inside the six yard box in the center of the goal
How on earth could that happen?
That can't happen. He's deadly if you give him half a chance. Sorry, mate.
YES, UNITED EQUALIZE RIGHT AWAY!
FLETCHER WITH THE GOAL!!!!!!
Their first shot on target all day.
Way hay!
Villa have scored to take the lead.
Carrick is coming off limping. Bugger.
O'Shea replaces him
Carrick has gone off injured, replaced by O'Shea.
Bugger! The draw's off again.
Villa have scored another
Gabby Agbonlahor with Villa's second.
Newcastle do look good going forward
And their third too!
Who will be called up to replace Carrick in the England squad?
BBC say that Carew scored their third
Barry has scored their fourth
Henri Bergsson?
Nope, they have changed it
Ags has scored the second, third and fourth.
A seven minute hat-trick. Why isn't he in Fab's squad?
Well, that's completely torn it. So much for my 0-0. Call me Nostradamus.
Why not indeed. Fab's squad is strictly old news.
I feel sorry for Carrick. He was United's midfield star last year and was overlooked for England. He finally gets a recall and now gets hurt
Villa are second behind Chelski now.
Given saves a deflected cross
five minutes to go in the first half and still all square
Of course, last season it was nil nil at half and United won 6-0
Same again please
I'm sure that that would suit you.
I'm off to catch my flight. I'll check in with you later. Good luck, mate!
I am loving all this success that I am going through. I went many years of nothing.
The one thing I that bothers me about the popularity over here is that when I wear my shirt over here people think I bandwagon jumper
Have a safe flight.
Take care
Citeh have scored a consolation goal.
Half time at OT
Full-time at Villa Park
Villa are up to second.. Citeh, second bottom
Not a good start for Sparky
The two home teams have scored four today. Same again from the third of the day
Davey,
You must be pleased that you're running all over Toon today, without Skippy or Tevez.
I tell you, King Kev can't put together a defensive unit to save his life. Colochini is a unconstructed thug who's caused me to curse Tourette's style for years now. How anyone can give that guy chances to play a game for a living is beyond me.
Hey Steve,
if we win I will be pleased. I agree that if Newcastle get a defense they would be successful!
The second half has begun
Big Sam is in the crowd.
Does he wish he was still in charge?
1705: "Twelve goals in three matches and still another half to go in the Man U game. I'm so glad the footy is back!"
Alex via text on 81111
Great flick header to himself by Giggs. Doesn't come to anything
Still end to end stuff
Over ten minutes gone in the second half. Still all square
Great turn and shot by Campbell from about 25 yards out. Good save again
An hour gone, looks like Giggs is going to come off for Rodrigo Possebon. Whoever that is!!
Martins has another open header in exactly the same place. MISSED!!!
The change has just be made.
Giggs has played well.
Campbell just has another header saved.
Of course, United drew 0-0 at OT against Reading in the opening game of last season. They followed that with a draw at Fratton Park and loss to Citeh. I will take the same result at the end of th season!
Ball given away from Scholes and the Toon break. Great saving tackle by Vidic
United have sort of lost it here.
Come on, a lucky goal of someone's bum
Vidic hits the bar with a bouncing header. He looks hurt
Less than 20 to go
Vidic is finally back on but looks shakey
less than 15
Campbell gets the first card of the day.
Newcastle have looked good.
They could win this.
United have dominated but Keegan might feel hard done by if they lose
SAF makes a move
Raphael de Silva replaces Campbell
He looks a lot like Possebon
Three youngsters making their debuts today for United.
We need our players back!!
Brown gets a yellow but Milner shoots high, wide and orrible
Under ten to go
Five minutes plus stoppage time
COME ON UNITED!!!!(manchester)
United have run out of ideas
Not too impressive
1746: "Newcastle... rather surprisingly... are showing how to defend against Man U. Keegan deserves a lot of praise if he pulls this off."
DeleriumDon6345 on 606
Two minutes
United are just hoofing the ball in the box.
Useless
Rooney gets carded for his mouth.
Into 3 minutes of added time
Evra slices a chance.
Two minutes to go
one minute
United have one more chance for an attack and their going backwards!!
Free kick right on the edge of the box. This is the last chance saloon. Just outside the box
Rooney to take it...wide. Not too close. And that is it.
Very disappointing. Again, we did the same with Reading last season.
Take care fellas.
Welcome to the Empire State Bob
Cheers
Dave
Hey, Dave. I'm in Detroit now. Sorry about your lads. I'll be in the Empire State soon enough now. Enjoyed following your commentary. I'll talk to you again on Wednesday.
One more flight to go.
Should I be worried? United drop two points at home today. We have to play Pompey away next Monday and then it is Liverpool away followed by Chelsea away!!! We skip one week because of playing Zenit St. Petersberg Friday week.
YIKES!
I don't know. You can only get better with your best players coming back and Berba possibly joining you.
And Chelski surely can't play like that week in, week out, can they?
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