The Big Thaw!
After last weekend's fixture list was decimated by the Big Chill in Britain, it's a blessing to have a full slate of the Beautiful Game today. It all starts in a moment with Liverpool visiting Stoke in a must-win match for Rafa and co. Join me, won't you?
posted by The Blue Devil @ 7:31 AM
289 Comments:
My predictions for today's matches:
Stoke 1 Pool 0
Chelski 2 Sunderland 0
United 2 Burnley 0
Spurs 4 Hull 0
Wolves 1 Wigan 1
Everton 1 Citeh 4
I'm currently second in the standings. Hoping for a good day.
Liverpool are decimated today with no Torres, Gerrard or Yossi today. So it's Kuyt and Ngog up front with the thuggish Mascherano back in midfield alongside Lucas.
Not a lot of attacking quality there.
Right - the ESPN coverage has started, the coffee is brewed, so we're off!
I wouldn't ordinarily be backing Stoke, but I've adopted an "Anyone But Pool" stance for this season.
Lovely, open match in the first minutes with a lot of cut and thrust.
The first free kick opportunity for Stoke comes to nothing but the Liverpool back four, especially Skrtel, look really rattled.
If anything, Stoke have the more potent threats up front, particularly the in-form Tuncay. That's to say nothing of the patented Delap long throws and Hugh bombing in for the set pieces. It's not going to be an easy afternoon for the Reds, for sure.
Hey Bob, I am here too
Good morning
I agree with you... any one but Pool!
Oooh, Pepe makes a meal of a cross
Little bits of decent football from Liverpool here and there...
Morning, Davey! How are you?
Is Max Rodriguez in the the squad?
I'm good. How about you?
Glad there is a three day weekend! I do have to start my college stuff on Tuesday. I have to teach two nights a week for 75 minutes instead of one for 2 hours and 45 minutes
Nope - no sign of him. And no Aquilani either. What does that lad have to do to get a game. You'd think without the services of Gerrard and Benayoun, he'd be in the side.
I've just finished my two-week January seminar. Now I've got a week off (with some scattered workshops) before the semester starts on the 25th.
Did you enjoy my Spot the Ball competition?
Sorry - I've just had a look at the Liverpool squad and Maxi is on the bench.
Abdul al Faye seems to have a problem with his thigh here and it looks like Liam Lawrence will take his place.
Nope - it's actually Rory Delap trotting off. That's a shock. Al Faye is still off the pitch getting treatment.
I just turned on a SS link on VSS. Working great
Penalty? No, yellow for diving!
Lucas goes down in the box like a sack of spuds and the ref's not having any of it. It's earned him a yellow.
No I didn't enjoy Spot the Ball!
Now it is Al Faye coming off and Andy Wilkinson coming on. Big changes for Stoke in this first half.
Who does your lot have today?
No love for Cristiano any more?
Yes but definitely not THAT way!
It's Exeter away for us today. I'll demand nothing less than three points. Norwich are getting a wee bit too close for comfort.
Rafa and Sammy Lee don't look happy.
SS are saying that Sol Campbell is a no brainer!
Isn't he really fat and couldn't hack it at Notts County. I don't get it!
I don't get the Sol Campbell move either. He walked out of Arsenal yonks ago because he had gotten too slow to compete. What is Arsene thinking?
I also don't get the Patrick Vieira move to Citeh. They don't need him.
Agreed
Just noticed
Everton 1 Citeh 4 !!!!!!!
You are a Citeh fan!
Jeff is the only one that agrees with us. Everyone on the panel are pro Sol
This game has gotten boring all of a sudden.
I'm not a fan; I just had a chance to watch them a lot in the UK and they are flying at the moment, especially Bellamy and Tevez.
I also predicted a United win today too, didn't you notice?
Did you see this vid of an Italian celebrating a couple of Milan goals against United?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2010/jan/14/youtube-sport-clips
I did... I wouldn't! We have been hopeless for a while!
Couldn't Stoke supply a red towel!
Why are they using Citeh towels?
That bloke on the video was you on Jan 3
I'm still watching the hockey fight here... good quality...
Mama Mia! What a reaction from those blokes.
Half-time... thank God!
Not too good. Long may it continue for Costa
Nearly half time now. And we need it to revive ourselves. It all started brightly enough but there hasn't been a lot of quality on display.
0-0 at the Britannia.
Off we go in the second half.
COME ON CITY, COME ON CITY
I liked the comment at half time from Robbie Mustoe that Rafa had fielded a "team of fullbacks."
Good one
Nice free kick opportunity given up by the thuggish Masch.
Free kick hit wide
STRUTH
Kenny Burns,the ex Forest player,is as big as house!
I didn't know that Burns was a striking partner of Trevor Francis at Birmingham. He was a center back at Forest.
Tuncay had a half chance there but he scuffed his shot.
Is Kenny Burns on SS? I'm waiting until 10 to switch it on.
Bugger!!
Costa have scored!!
Yes, SS is on. There are links for 3 but there was one that was at noon
Bugger - head wound Kryakos has somehow bundled the ball into the Stoke net and Pool are 0-1 up. How do they get so lucky?
Alan Smith on SS said it was a lucky award of a free kick for the goal
Oh, Tuncay should have scored there. Just couldn't keep his header down.
I agree with Smithy. That was a light foul.
Is Owen EVER going to get a game?
1415: Man Utd v Burnley line-ups:
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Brown, Jonny Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Owen, Anderson, Park, Fabio Da Silva, Rafael Da Silva, Diouf.
Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Edgar, Duff, Jordan, Alexander, McDonald, Eagles, Elliott, Nugent, Steven Fletcher.
Subs: Penny, Kalvenes, Gudjonsson, Eckersley, Blake, Thompson, Guerrero.
Nani and Scholes in the Midfield.
Not sure
I think the answer to that is "no."
ooh, free header but right at Pepe
Here comes Maxi....!
Costa take on Spurs this Wednesday
Score an OG Maxi Pad
Come on City
Come on City
Stoke really pouring it on now in the last ten minutes. Can Liverpool hang on?
On comes Aqualani
What a scramble in the box!!!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STOKE SCORE!
GOAL! Yes!!!!!!!
Huth right at the death with a priceless header and Rafa is sick as a parrot.
Sorry it was Higginbotham with the header and Huth stabbed it in at the back post.
ooh, almost a winner!!
Five minutes of added time
Five minutes of injury time to come. If Stoke were to score again here, I'd get 15 points.
Free kick chance... come on Stoke!
off the wall!
Reina picks up a yellow for time wasting. Corner to come....
another scramble in the box!
STRUTH!!
of the post by Kuyt
Oh - how did that not go in from Kuyt. Liverpool nearly grabbed the winner.
Big Phil reacts to the miss
YES
It is over... two more points gone
And that's it. "Not a classic" as the commentator puts it but plenty of full blooded action at both ends.
Does a point help Liverpool? Probably not much.
Now for United to take on Burnley
The link from VSS is not loading!
United
Three defeats in seven!
Yikes!
I hope the link starts working from OT!
COME ON SUNDERLAND
ATDHE link seems to working
No match yet but...fingers crossed
YES.. the atdhe link working strong!
COME ON MANU COME ON MANU COME ON MANU
United attacking the Stetford End in the second half
Bugger.. it just paused.... don't do this to me
vss link now working
Young Fergie is already losing for Preston
Free kick chance for United
Nani or Valencia to take... puts it in the box and Berba heads one over. It was off a defender but no corner given
Right - I'm back after a quick kip on the couch.
Come on, you Whites!
ooh, cross by Valencia was scrambled away. Roon then tries an overhead kick
MK Dons take the lead at Hartlepool
Exeter beating Leeds... oh dear
Bugger! We're 0-1 down! What's going on? Ever since Old Trafford, we've been rubbish. Did you put a hex on us?
This is their sticky patch of the season
ooh, Burnley break and almost score!
It was three against one!
Chelsea score at the Bridge... it was coming
Anelka with the goal
GOAL! Nic Anelka rounds the keeper for an easy tap in. 1-0 Chelski!
Why didn't that fall to a Sunderland man
Mangerless QPR losing at Blackpool
Hart was sacked in the week
Fergie Jr's boys are 2-0 down!
Just lost my United link
Bugger - now Charlton have taken the lead. They're on 52 points now.
Reading losing to Forest
Still no luck with United link
Exeter still in total control. What is going on? We haven't had a sniff yet!
Norwich beating Colchester
Bugger! Norwich have taken the lead. They're on 54 points now. Not good!
Got a United link... finally
Two nil to the Blues
Malouda with the goal
Nani hopeless for United
2-0 Chelski! Great goal by Malouda.
That's my prediction for the Blues - they can go to sleep right about now.
Owen stretching
Burnley are giving it a go!
United just aren't that good!
I really thought that we were better than this
We have had three good performances this season and that is it.
One of them was a loss to Chelsea. We deserved to win that one
JUST LOST THE LINK AGAIN!
Nice goal by Cashley
Three nil
Crikey! Cashley pokes in Chelski's third! They are rampant!
Burnley almost score again!
Merse is predicting a cricket score at Stamford Bridge.
United don't seem to have a clue... what is up!
Oooh, Becchio nearly equalizes with a header. Finally we're dragging ourselves back into this one.
He thinks Chelsea will score HUNDREDS?
Charlie thinks Burnley have been the better side - do you agree?
Well, they have not been second best
Sounds like Berba just missed a sitter.
ooh, Berba goes close but should have scored
Valencia has been United's dangerman
Roon is not in form again
Have you got your shirt off?
Not yet. Should I?
Chelsea almost get number four!
Wow, do they miss Drogs
Scholes could have been in the book but the Ref is being nice
Chance for Burnley to get it in the box. Comes to nothing
IT IS FOUR!!!
LAMPS
Chelski are 4-0 up! Lamps with the fourth.
United had gotten close with GD and now this!
Stevie Bruce is not happy.
Berbs with a useless header
Made by Valencia again
He is a good player
Chelsea are going to get double figures!
Now Belletti's trying to score from forty-five yards!
Just lost the link again
Leeds getting any closer
Maybe you guys should have lost at OT and concentrated on the league!
Celtic tie it up with Falkirk
Not really. We've had a couple of half chances and Exeter have taken the foot off the gas.
I actually might agree with you. I'm not sure another high profile Cup match at Shite Fart Lane next weekend is exactly what we need.
I don't know which one I am for frustrated with. The link that keeps going out and then has the ad in front of it or actually watching United's performance
I don't understand why United are playing like this.
And we've got the Johnstone's Paint Trophy match against Carlisle in midweek!
Ipswich are back in it. First goal for Stern John for the Tractor Boys.
Forest are two up against Reading
Forest fans singing "are you watching Liverpool"
Norwich are 2-0 up now and cruising it. Bugger!
The Tractor Roys tie it up with Coventry
The East Anglians have gone two up at Colchester... this is a match that would have been on Match of the Week
Wigan have got a penalty and a Wolves player has been sent off.
Oh, Rodallega has had his pen saved by Hahnemann!
Pen to Wigan and Wolves are down to ten men... saved... rebound missed
Half time at the Bridge and OT
Impressive by the Blues and NOT by the REDS
Half time at Exeter. 1-0. Not happy.
Peterboro down to nine men and one nil down
My lot STILL haven't scored against Burnley all season!
Plenty of time BDB. Good Lord, have S'land just laid down or what? That's a shockingly inept scoreline when you consider that the meat of the Chelsea team are dodging bullets in Angola.
Thanks for that link Davey. That guy validates my behavior in front of the TV week-in, week-out!
Morning Steve
My United link is acting up again!
Rafa complaining about the ref.. are you Fergie in disguise!
Morning, Gooner. Thanks for the well wishes. I've still got the lucky Leeds shirt on and hopeful for the second half.
GET IT OFF!!!!
Rafa is being a plonker!
How many people were in the stands?
27,000 people!
Chelski are back out and searching for #5. As Gooner mentioned, Sunderland have given up the ghost long ago.
Alright, alright. It's coming off.
Notts Forest fans are singing "Are you watching Liverpool?" as they stroll it against Reading today.
STill no bloody link
Anelka goes so close
Wow - Nic Anelka nearly gets his brace with a rocket off the bar!
Pictures back at OT
PLEASE STAY
Norwich are three up
They are making up for the seven on the opening day
Bollocks with Chelsea's fifth
Norwich are 0-3 up!
Ballack - free header - 5-0!
Useless from Rooney
Evra sets him up and he hits it miles over!
Cambridge losing at home
BRING ON MICHAEL OWEN!
The drums are going again at Blackpool!
Jeff is sick as a parrot - Hartlepool are 3-0 down.
Very frustrating day for the link!
Beckford's just been booked. Come on!
Where is the United onslaught?
Both Uniteds
I have waited long enough
It's LEEDS TIME!
Sunderland score.
Chelsea old boy
Zenden's got a consolation goal back for Sunderland. Cech barely moved for the shot.
And now Bradley Johnson has been booked. Come on - stop fouling and start scoring you lot!
Ipswich are in the lead now.
Berba misses another chance
Ipswich are winning
Just over half an hour to go at OT
I can't believe I predicted 4-0 Spurs. It's still 0-0 there at SFL.
Corner to United
Brown whiffs at the cross
link pauses again!!111
I am about to throw the computer out the window!
Goal at Wolves
Wigan are one up
Sunderland are actually starting to try to play. Why did they wait for sixty minutes to show up?
Now Micky Doyle has been booked at Exeter. So we're leading in yellow cards then.
I hate to keep mentioning it but my link freezes every 30 seconds or goes out completely
SIX for Chelsea
Leeds "not creating much" according to the SS reporter.
United score - now it's time for the other United to score. Come on!
Deadlock broken at OT... YES!!!!!!
Berba gets the goal... of course I missed it!!!
ABOUT BLOODY TIME!!
Now let's have the other United to get one
Well - that's good news. The guy who scored for Wycombe against us last week has pegged back Charlton this week. That helps a bit.
Okay that is the turning point of the day
United take the lead, Charlton give a goal back and now it is Leeds time
JB sticks a header just over. We've just replaced Mickey Doyle with Jon Howson. Now's the time, lads!
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