Happy 2013, LOBers!
A very excellent early New Year's morning to all of you in LOB land! I'm up to watch WBA v. Fulham, which starts in a few moments. At 10am, we've got a full slate of New Year's fare, including Wigan hosting ManYoo and Leeds hosting Bolton. Finally, we've got Arsenal v. Soton at the Em. Join me for all the festive footie this morning, lads!
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The Hawthorns is looking bright and sunny on this New Year's Day. The FSC coverage has started and here are the teams out on the pitch:
WBA: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Tamas, Ridgewell, Brunt, Mulumbu, Fortuné, Morrison, Gera, Lukaku.
Fulham: Stockdale; Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs; Dejagah, Sidwell, Karagouinis, Kacaniklic; Ruiz; Berbatov
West Brom start the day in 7th but could leap up to 4th with a win. Fulham are in 14th and slipping ever so close to the relegation zone. They've also got one of the worst away records in the Prem.
Poor form from FSC, pushing forward a gringo announcer who's having a 'mare this morning, pronouncing The Chunk's name "Lokuko" and saying "Nor-witch" instead of "Norridge."
Some big goalscorers on display this morning. Dracula, one of the best signings of this past summer is on half a dozen goals while Lukaku is on five.
And Fulham get us away!
Lord help us, it's David Pleat on this early New Year's morning. Let's hope he's on his best behavior.
Loving the tangerine away kit for Fulham today - my favorite color!
Watford and Charlton kick-off at the top of the hour.
Loose stuff from the Baggie so far. Fulham are zipping the ball about impressively
Apparently the Fulham team were kept awake last night by boozed-up revelers outside their hotel. You can't tell that from the lively start they've had here. Two early corners in a row.
All long balls lumped at Lukaku so far from the Baggies.
Steve Sidwell tries a pop with his unfavored left foot and scores a rugby conversion.
This is all too easy for Fulham and they really should be making more of the fact that West Brom are sleepwalking. There is very little pressure on the visitors when they have the ball and their runs are being tracked only in token fashion.
Kick-off time at Watford - I'll keep you up to date with the goings-on at Udinese West.
Again - more good pressure from Fulham without any cutting edge. They haven't managed a shot on goal.
Audible groans from the Baggies faithful now....
Free kick chance for the Baggies....Stockdale in the Fulham goal came for it but ended up in no man's land. Cleared out.
Route 1 for WBA starting with a lump from the keep up to Fortune who took it well off the chest and then had his right-footed shot deflected out for a corner.
Two quick corners in succession for the Baggies - they seem to have woken up from their New Year's hangover.
Brunt again plays a really lazy ball - he's off the boil for sure.
Happy New Year Robert!
Hope you had a good night.
I was just home with the family
Sorry for my late entrance!
Still bummed about having to go back to work tomorrow!
The Chunk receives the ball wide left and goes straight for goal. Hangeland gets back to block him.
Morning, UWS - had a great evening, thanks. Sorry to hear about your having to go back to work. Maybe you'll get a snow day?
Berba has a chance... makes a meal of it!
Oh - Drac was in on goal there for the first time and blazed over wildly.
You would have scored that one, eh UWS?
No luck... no snow for at least a week... also.. no temperature above freezing for at least a week
You can have some of our snow, Jimmy!
Pleat is giving Stockdale some fashion advice now - wants him wearing a "jockey cap."
Watford have taken the lead against Charlton through Daniel Pudl, whoever the hell he is. Udinese West up to 5th in the Championship now.
Nice interplay between Karagounis and Ruiz but he's upended by Mulumbu - not sure why the referee didn't see that - play is waved on.
Corner to the Baggies now....
Stockdale looks jittery but gets a free kick for a nudge on the back.
Steve Clark's looking particularly grumpy this afternoon.
GOAL! Drac arrives in the box to score the first Prem goal of 2013!
0-1 Fulham!
ONE NIL FULHAM!!!
Berbatov opens up the scoring in the new year
That's his 7th goal of the campaign and he salutes the traveling Cottagers support.
Time ticking down on this first half - one that the Baggies will want to forget.
Half time ends 1-0 to the visitors... the home crowd not a happy group
Half-time at the Hawthorns and the boos ring around the ground from the home support - they're not happy and neither will be Steve Clark.
Watford and Charlton are all square after 35 minutes
Gillette Soccer Special
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/161229/1/watch-gilette-soccer-special.html
Did you see the West Ham Man United cup tie is on Regular Fox
Another goal at Vicarage.... two goals in three minutes for Charlton. They take a 2-1 lead
United better have some revenge on their mind today for the visit to Wigan... it was one of the games that cost us the title... all we really needed was a point!
Thanks for the link, mate. I did notice that the West Ham v. United match is on the regular Fox network. Good stuff!
Of course this is the first day of the new transfer window. All eyes are on Demba Ba, Frank Lampard and perhaps Joe Cole or Joleon Lescott.
But I'll be keeping a close eye on Leeds to see what the indications are from the new ownership team.
United have won 14 of 15 League matches against Wigan... why did we lose that one???
We're back at the Hawthorns after the break. The Baggies will have had to wake themselves up from their hangover in the dressing room.
I don't remember - what's the answer?
Did you see the headline
SIX PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS(AND LEEDS) PASSED ON MICHU
Charlton are 1-2 up now - an own goal by Hoban. Good news for us.
Why we lost?
We suck!!
Second half underway
Ridiculous - I wonder why we passed on him!?
Fortune has trod on Drac's foot and he's down for treatment. No sympathy from the Baggies fans.
Oh - I thought there was a particular incident, like King Eric kung fu kicking a fan or summit.
GOAL... Lakaku with a tap in
GOAL! WBA are back in it - The Chunk taps in after some wonderful work down the right from Billy Jones.
That's six goals in the Prem, mostly as a substitute, for the Chunk. Wonder if Chelski are regretting loaning him out.
Hint offside says SS
The WBA fans are in full voice now.
How could it be offside if the ball was pulled back to him?
Off the post by the Chelsea loanee... WBA going straight at them!
This is the kind of the change I would like to see from United after a ho-hum first half... we usually continue to be ho-hum
Fortune did well there to beat his man and fizz a ball over toward Mulumbu.
Harry Redknapp was on Five Live last night talking about how much he hates the transfer window. I think he knows that no one good is going to want to board a sinking ship at QPR.
Oh - how did that stay out. First Lukaku and then hit the post and then Brunt's shot is cleared off the line.
Half-time at Watford - 1-2.
GOAL! Fulham are back in front! Kacaniklic!
So both matches this morning are at 1-2. Great take and turn by Kacaniklic for that goal.
Went up for a sec and miss a second
You snooze, you lose, mate.
An hour gone and there should be some changes coming soon.
Some firepower for the Baggies now - Odemwinge and Long coming on.
Fortune and Gera were the ones who made way.
Both subs straight into it. A lovely flowing move by West Brom ends in frustration when Morrison can't collect a well-weighted pass from Long.
Both announcers seem to be making a meal of goalscorer Kacaniklic's name.
The Baggies pouring on the pressure now. Corner....
Stockdale rises to claim that free kick. Twenty minutes left for the Fulham defenders to hang on to this precious lead.
Drac isn't happy about that Tamasz challenge.
Will Desmond arrive at the Hawthorns?
Oh - Odemwinge made a yard for himself in the box but was quickly shut down.
Perhaps, mate, but the Baggies need to be sharper.
Watford and Charlton have resumed - I'm liking that scoreline. 1-2.
Oh - The Chunk was nearly onto that cross from Morrison and then he heads wide. He does look dangerous, though.
Hugo Rodallega is coming on for Karagounis. Attacking move there from Jol.
Sad couple of days for the world of Cricket
Tony Greig died a few days ago and now Test Match Special commentator Christopher Martin Jenkins died today
Leeds missed man Michu is back for Swansea
Villa be aware
Inside fifteen minutes now - Rodallega fires one well over.
Did United pass on Michu as well?
Desmond has arrived at Vicarage Road
I don't think United were one of the six
Tamasz makes a mess of that clearance and Fulham have a corner.
Bottom of the league clash at Bristol Rovers
Plymouth get a goal back but still trail 2-1
Lescott starts for Citeh at home to Stoke
COME ON YOU POTTERS!!
De Jaggaer tries a pop but it doesn't trouble the WBA goal.
How did that cross not find anyone?
Interesting move from Mancini - Five Live were musing that Everton may try to buy Lescott back from Citeh.
Another 2-1 match - fascinating!
Desmond's knocking on the door but Fulham are hanging on well. And you could possibly see them extending their lead as well.
Oh - Drac should have buried his second there after a good ball over from Rodallega.
"Becchio fit to start for Leeds"
Five minutes plus stoppage for WBA now.
How about United sending Rooney, Nani and De Gea to Real Madrid for a certain C Ronaldo?
Glad to hear it - and Newcastle and Sunderland need to bugger off with their offers to buy him.
Desmond does arrive at Watford A penalty scored by Abdi to tie it up. Shame.
Shawcross comes back in the side after his suspension... # of minutes until he gets booked?
I can't see it - I could see Theo for Nani.
Announced that score long time ago
I'll go 15 minutes for Shawcross before his booking. You?
I REALLY don't want Walcott!
I know I said the same about RVP but that was because of him being injured all the time
I just don't think Walcott is that good?
Sorry - missed that score update, mate.
Interestingly, Five Live were mentioning that it wasn't until 23 that TH-14 was played as a center forward instead of a winger. Theo's age - 23!
David Pleat thinks that Drac is "exquisite." He clearly needs a cold shower right about now.
Robin van Persie returns to the Manchester United line-up for the trip to Wigan. The prolific Dutch striker's recall is one of five changes for the league leaders, with right-back Rafael coming back from a four-match absence with a hamstring injury along with Javier Hernandez, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand.
The Baggies go close
Oh - how did that not go in. Jones' effort cleared off the line, to the agony of the home support.
LINE-UPS - Wigan v Man Utd (1500 GMT)
Wigan: Al Habsi, Ramis, Caldwell, Figueroa, Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour, Di Santo, Maloney, Kone. Subs: Pollitt, Jones, Gomez, McManaman, Boselli, Stam, Golobart.
Man Utd: De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Young, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, van Persie, Hernandez. Subs: Lindegaard, Valencia, Smalling, Vidic, Welbeck, Scholes, Kagawa.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)
Into three minutes of stoppage time.
Happy with that line-up?
Where is NANI?!
He is injured... a hammy
3-3 at Vicarage Road
The host retook the lead but Charlton tie it up again within a minute
Drac comes off waving to the home crowd who are chanting "Wanker, wanker, wanker!" at him.
We'd take him - dodgy hammy or not.
Almost again from West Brom...surely that is it
Come on, Charlton - I want 3-4!
That's it... Fulham get a massive away win
I guess West Brom won't catch United!
That's that - a great and rare away win for the Cottagers at the Hawthorns.
1-2 Fulham!
Jamie Thomas on Twitter: "As a MUFC fan, I know he never lived up to his expectations for us but I do love Berbatov! Sheer quality, class above, genius!"
Tinashe M. Shoko on Twitter: "Why didn't any top Champions League chasing teams sign Berbatov?"
Your thoughts... I thought he got the shaft at OT
Will you be watching the "Being Liverpool" marathon today?
no... seen 'em all!!!
I may watch it - btw, on Christmas Day we had a marathon viewing of the Live Aid DVD - it's really good - lots of great bands and memories.
Sounds a great watch!
Team news out of Elland Road today:
Leeds: Kenny, Byram, Tate, Pearce, Peltier, Green, Norris, Austin, McCormack, Becchio, Diouf. Subs: Ashdown, Drury, Lees, Brown, Gray, Somma, Hall.
Bolton: Bogdan, Mears, Knight, Alonso, Ream, Pratley, Eagles, Spearing , Chung-Yong Lee, Andrews, Davies. Subs: Petrov, Sordell, N'Gog, Lonergan, Ricketts, Afobe, Butterfield.
Referee: P Gibbs
I've just set the dog upstairs off with my loud rendition of MOT. Marvelous!
United to get us started at the DW.
The Nations Top 10 NUMBER TWOS in the UK
TOP 10 NUMBER TWOS
1. Ultravox - Vienna, 1981 (beaten by Shaddup You Face - Joe Dolce)
2. The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York, 1987 (Always On My Mind - Pet Shop Boys)
3. Don McLean - American Pie, 1972 (Son Of My Father - Chicory Tip, Without You - Nilsson)
4. James - Sit Down, 1991 (The One And Only - Chesney Hawkes)
5. The Stranglers - Golden Brown, 1982 (Town Called Malice - The Jam)
6. The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset, 1967 (Silence Is Golden, The Tremeloes)
7. The Beatles - Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever, 1967 (Release Me, Engelbert Humperdinck)
8. Queen - We Are The Champions, 1977 (The Name Of The Game - Abba, Mull Of Kintyre/Girls' School - Wings)
9. The Beach Boys - God Only Knows, 1966 (Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles)
10. A-ha - Take On Me, 1985 (The Power Of Love, Jennifer Rush)
Away we go
COME ON MAN U
COME ON MAN U
COME ON MAN U
Wahay - it's 3-4 Charlton now!
Charlton are winning 4-3 deep in to stoppage time... it is now over
Bristol Rovers have beaten Argyle 2-1
Great list there - my favorite is "Waterloo Sunset."
Hernandez already called offside
Vienna was brilliant!
We start the day five points out of the playoffs in 9th. We need to stop the rot of two consecutive losses and get the New Year started properly.
United NEVER used to have problems with Wigan until last Spring... let's get back to norm!
Pen to West Ham... one nil
West Ham are 1-0 up - a penalty by Mark Noble!
Swansea nearly scored already - Guzan did well against Routledge.
RVP finds Hernandez but he shoots.. he should have kept it and waited for support
LUFC old boy Ian Harte lining up a free kick at Shite Fart for Reading. Hit the crossbar! And Pav Pogs finishes it up!
0-1 Reading!
GOAL TO READING!!
Ex Leeds man Harte hits the woodwork but Pav nets the rebound
GOAL!!!! 0-1 READNG AS DANNY GUTHRIE HAD A FREE KICK COME OFF THE BAR AND PAV POGS EASILY HEADED IN THE REBOUND.
Slow start by United... again!
That shock goal will put a lot of pressure on Soton in 18th. They host Arsenal late on.
Did you notice some Carrick's passes against Newcastle... not just the winning assist but he was passing ala Scholes
Happy New year lads. Good morning
Morning, MUR - how are you, mate! Recovered from last night yet?
Happy New Year MUR.. welcome
Leicester have jumped out to a lead over Huddersfield.
Come on United... start playing
de ded wide fom cle range off a coss fom UFC Academy Boy
Swansea take the lead against hopeless Villa
17 and counting
make that 16
Wayne Routledge has scored now. 1-0 Swansea. Tony Cottee reckons that they could be three nil up over Villa already!
Routledge gives Swansea the lead vs Villa. SURPRISE SURPRISE!
Spurs tie it up... Dawson
Spurs are level through a Michael Dawson header.
goal !! 1-1 as Michael dawson heads in a corner for Spurs.
Swansea have hit the post now! Crikey!
COME ON YOUNG... FIND SOME ONE!!!!!
Tony Cottee reckons Swansea could be five nil up!
Vila could be trsailing 5-0. They are that bad.
United are pedestrian... pick up the pace
Ball in the net... offside by Hernandez.... he doesn't have to make it that close
Chicha has a goal disallowed for offside . BUGGER
A goal is coming for United, I sense it. Nostrabobus has spoken.
What is your prediction for the Chelsea QPR match tomorrow?
Is United's Nine Nil record in danger?
Thanks lads. Pretty well recovered. Slept like a baby
Hope your bloody right
It could well be - I'll go 8-0 though. Conservative estimate.
Hey - who's got the illustrious LOB Shield on his wall?
to who????
Citeh 'outstanding'
United haven't been
Funny, UWS.
The Merse reckons that Citeh have been brilliant so far and should be leading. I need Aguero to score a hat-ful today.
by kicking off... United have hit the 50 point mark
Brighton have take the lead at Portman Road
no... we don't need Aguero to score for a couple of reasons!
Ipswich are trailing to Brighton early doors.
PICK UP THE PACE
Mark Noble gives the Hammers the lead from the spot.
BUGGER! BRIGHTON THE LEAD AT PORTMAN ROAD!
You don't have to worry about Citeh - United just need to keep winning. Seven points up - you can't be caught.
What kind of pass was that by Rafa?
Scrappy opening at ER
Bryn Law reckons that it's been a "scrappy opening" A couple of chances for Becchio and Austin. Come on, you Whites!
duh... but this side isn't capable of that
Not much happening at ER. I hope Aguero gets subed soon.
Michael Dawon injured for Spurs.
Beausejour shoots miles over.
Come on, Sergio, mate. We want goals!
I know United want to make money all the time but they DON'T wear a second shirt if it is not needed!
Liverpool wore black on Sunday... does read clash with blue and white
Leeds wear a different shade of blue against the blue of Millwall
It is a pet peeve of mine!
Wow - rare Billy Paynter goal.
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