Sunday Soccer Fest
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:08 AM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Contributors
Previous Posts
- THE DRAW
- The Premiership Weekend Starts Here!
- Europa League Group Stage Wrap-up!
- Books of 2015
- Champions League Group Stage Round-up
- All Songs Considered Music of 2015
- Premiership Plus Predictions Game - Week 15 Update
- Sunday's Match of the Day
- "Top v. Bottom" day in the Premiership
- Pop Culture Trivia of the Week
295 Comments:
Lose to Dinamo Zagreb, beat Bayern Munich. Capitulate at home to Olympiakos, stuff Manchester United a few days later. Drop points at Norwich and West Brom after taking the lead in both games, travel to Greece with half a team in the treatment room ... and qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League with a 3-0 win over Olympiakos. Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Arsenal Football Club.
Good morning Bob. I expect the Gooner, dad, and Simon to be celebrating with some vanilla ice cream today.
Good morning, MUR - I hope that you had a good Saturday evening. Teams are in the tunnel now:
Aston Villa: Guzan; Hutton, Okore, Lescott, Bacuna; Veretout, Sanchez, Gueye; Sinclair, Gestede, Ayew. Subs: Bunn, Clark, Westwood, Traore, Gil, Lyden, Grealish.
Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal; Ramsey, Flamini; Walcott, Ozil, Campbell; Giroud. Subs: Opsina, Debuchy, Gabriel, Gibbs, Chambers, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi.
Referee: Kevin Friend.
This is, of course, Remi Garde's reunion of sorts with Arsene Wenger, who made him his first signing at Arsenal alongside Patrick Vieira.
There's a Sanchez on the Villa side today, but not on the Arsenal one. Hat-trick hero Giroud partners Theo up front for the Gunners.
The teams are out on the pitch . Both managers know each other all too well as Remy Garde finished his playing career , playing for the Gunners in the late 90s that were managed by none other than Arsene Wenger
You beat me to the punch. Well in. Also, the Sanchez for the vanillas is Carlos Sanchez, a Colombian international
They're off from Villa PArk.
The Gunners get us started at Villa Park wearing their gold and blue number.
Based on the handshake, it's seems like the two managers are good friends or amis.
I'm sure the Gooner would like a vanilla ice cream cone with gold and blue sprinkles.
The Gunners could end the weekend top of the pops. I wonder who lead the PPP.
With Alexis Sanchez's absence, Joel Campbell has been getting some more playing time and has been taking advantage of it.
Let's hope so - I'm the only one who picked Arsenal for the title, I think. I still won't be on top but I'll certainly rise in the table.
Sinclair collects a long ball out wide right and jinks inside to shoot straight at Cech.
Trevor Sinclair shoots straight at his former Chelsea teammate, Cech
Kevin Friend has a big decision now, with Theo bowled over by Hutton. He's given a penalty!
Giroud steps up to take....
And scores! Arsenal take the lead 0-1!
I thought that Hutton fouled Theo in the box. Yes it is as Kevin Friend pointed to the spot. It took him a while considering it was an obvious penalty.
GOAL!!! THE HAT-TRICK HERO SCORES FROM THE SPOT, SENDING GUZAN THE WRONG WAY
Pretty clear penalty there on the replay, Hutton pulling Theo back when he got the wrong side of him.
Isn't E.F. Hutton lucky to be on the pitch? Surely, that was a denial of a goal scoring opportunity.
So Arsenal are a point clear at the top. I'm celebrating along with Gooner and Dad.
I'm sure the Gooner will be none too pleased to see the former Spud still on the pitch
He is but I hate that rule. I reckon that a red card or a penalty is punishment enough. Both changes the match too much.
Carlos Sanchez made a lot of that foul from Ramsey as did Giroud from Lescott.
Villa had a bright start but now they're down in the dumps again. Bottom of the league on 7 points.
That is a good point. As is the match has changed since Villa trail early doors. They will have to dig deep to get back into this match
I blame Sherwood Forest for Villa's predicament, not the changing of the Garde.
Le Socks is belaboring the point . Get over it.
Theo is offside to the delight of the Holte End faithful.
Guzan does well to anticipate a through ball intended for Campbell's soup.
Sarcastic cheers from the home fans as Ramsey concedes a free kick
Villa have a free kick chance - wasted by Veretout.
The free kick from Veretout was intended as a cross, but goes all wrong
Oh - Guzan went walk about on that free kick and Giroud nearly scored his second. Cleared off the line by Gestede.
Guzan misjudges a free kick from Ozil and Sanchez clears a header from Giroud off the line. Kos heads wide from the resulting corner.
Bacuna volleys over after Cech misjudges a cross.
As things currently stand, it's bottom vs top at Villa Park. If the Spuds win today then United drop down to fifth place.
Arlo mentions that Villa might set a regrettable club record today with a loss.
It hasn't been a good week for Louis van Gaal's army, for sure.
Actually, a draw would do it. The longest winlees run in club history. Horrible!
Better from Villa as Ayew has a shot blocked off a long solo run.
Villa could easily beat Derby County's current record for least number of points in a Premiership season, which I think is 13 or 14.
United should cut their losses , sack LVG, and put Giggsy in charge for the rest of the season. Pep should be available in the summer and that would be a great time to bring him over to OT.
Why would Pep leave Bayern?
I think it's 11. Strange as it may seem , Villa are over halfway there. I think Derby's record is safe.
Yesterday, Neil Ashton mentioned in the pre match show that Pep is rumored is considering leaving Bayern.
Could be - that is a terrible record.
Hmmm....I wonder why.
A free kick from Ozil is just too high. Villa could easily have gone two down
Ozil nearly connects with Koz at the back post from the free kick. He's got the most number of assists in the Premiership this season.
I'm not sure. I wonder if it's just a rumor in the press.
Oh - Garner tried one from distance - that could have flown straight in but it's well wide.
Gana has that name because that shot was never Gana trouble Cech.
Gueye, that is - I'm having trouble with my auto-correct.
A cross from Ramsey is just too far for Campbell's soup to connect
Thanks for the update. The vanilla soft serves have been a bunch of nice Geuye's. No wonder why they're bottom.
GOAL! Too easy, there. Arsenal play their way through Arsenal as if they're on the training pitch. Ozil feeds Ramsey and he taps home. 0-2!
GOAL !!! EASY PEASY AS RAMSEY STARTED IT AND FINISHED IT. RAMSEY TACKLED GANA JUST OUTSIDE HIS OWN BOX. THEO LED THE BREAK WITH HIS PACE THEN OZIL GOT A PASS FROM THEO AND PASSED FOR RAMSEY TO EASILY TAP IN.
Ramsey was doing his best Magnus Magnusson impression. " I've started , so I'll finish!"
Nice one, mate! Any of three could have scored there.
Villa look more like a Swiss League team . Guess why.
Cheers mate. The Gunners are like a Swiss League team . Guess why.
Trevor Sinclair wins a corner off of Kos. Villa's first of the match?
The corner from Veretout is headed wide by E.F. Hutton at the near post. That was never going to concern any of the Gooners.
A minute of stoppage time.
Villa will just want to get into the dressing room and curl up in the fetal position. Apart from a bright first five minutes, this has been a really poor showing. I expect them to get booed off.
And there it is - boos ring Villa Park. The Villa faithful deserve better.
A superb finish by Theo, but thankfully for Villa it won't count because he's offside and that's ti for the first half as the Gunners are two up at Villa Park.
It would have been more , but the Gunners never really got into to first gear.
The second half is underway from Villa Park.
I just read on facebook that the great Gordon Banks has been diagnosed with cancer. Very sad news and hoping there is a cure.
I saw that too - our thoughts go out to the legendary England keeper.
Again - Villa have come out brightly but they have a long way back. Garde looking really grim on the bench.
High and wide by Veretout, but at least that was a sustained spell of possession from Villa.
Oh - Gestede should have done better with that header after a good move from Villa.
Gestede with a header well wide from a decent cross. Remy Garde must have given them the SAF treatment in the dressing room.
Nice curler from Sanchez, who appears to have Saran Wrap stuck on his face.
Carlos Sanchez with a long range effort that's plucked out of the air by Cech. Villa have made a decent start to the second half.
That could describe any Villa player, Nice one,mate.
Villa are the leftovers of the Premiership, eh?
Giroud worked hard to win a corner. He wanted it more than Okore and that right there typifies the lack of effort from Villa players over the course of the season.
It seems that way, but of course , it depends upon their results against the teams in the bottom half of the table. Something will need to drastically change for Villa to have any chance of avoiding a trip to ER next season..
Arsenal have really taken the foot off the gas.
At least Villa are giving a better effort this half. Remy Garde must have said something in his halftime talk to spark that
It's hard to get motivated against a much weaker opponent.
OH!!! The closest Villa have come to scoring. A nice pass to Hutton down the right and his good cross was headed inches over by Trevor Sinclair
Carles Gil is on for Gestede. I agree with Le Socks that it's tactical because Garde is going for technique in place of brute force.
Gil has a shot blocked by Kos on a Villa break.
Well over by Veretout after the Gunners failed to clear a cross from Gil.
I'm not surprised that Gestede got the hook - he looked poor.
The danger for Villa is here is that Arsenal can break with pace at any time.
And they nearly did again there.
The Gunners go on a similar break to their second goal , but it doesn't come off this time./
A nice effort from Bacuna that's inches over as he cut ion from the left
I agree with both statements even though that Villa change was tactical too.
A double substitution from Arsene as the players may be feeling the effect of the midweek CL match. it's Gibbs for Campbell's soup and the Ox for Theo.
Hutton would do well to shut his trap. He's begging for a card and the ref is not exactly his friend.
That's smart. The Ox is better at holding play than is Theo.
I agree. Also, he can run at a tired Vanilla soft serve defense.
Kos heads out a cross from Hutton for a Villa corner.
Hutton heads off a Gunner for another Villa corner.
Merte heads out for take three.
Kos heads out for take four
This time it's taken short and the cross is headed out by Kos that leads to a long range effort that was never Gana trouble Cech as it was well over.
I think you would agree with me that this is more like a Swiss League match than a BPL match. The Villa defense has more holes than Swiss cheese while the Gunners have carved them out like a Swiss Army knife. Your thoughts?
It looks like Jack Grealish is about to come on. He was banned from the Villa squad since November 21st for having an LOB night out at a Manc night club. A tad too naughty for Remy's liking.
I agree - now Sanchez is down needing a bit more Saran Wrap to patch up his injuries.
Carlos Sanchez is down from what looked an accidental elbow from Kos. He got it right on the saran wrap. Like Villa, it's not doing the job.
Gil shoots well from long range
Oh - nice take and spin and a shot just wide of the mark. He seems more positive but Villa need to get closer to the goal to beat Cech.
Naughty schoolboy Jack Grealish is on finally.
Grealish is Gana make a comeback as he's on for him in Remy Garde's final roll of the dice . It's in the west Midlands, nit Monte Carlo.
I referred to it as an LOB night out. Remy was not exactly amused.
Villa fans want a penalty for hand ball on Kos off that shot from Gil. They're grasping at straws.
What was he doing in a Manc nightclub? Brummie clubs not good enough for him?
Guzan does well to turn around a deflected effort from the Ox.
Nop. They were playing at Goodison Park and I guess the Manc night clubs were closer. However, my bruv said that Manchester is a moire happening place than Birmingham. He described the second city as a gloomy sort of city
Great tackle by Okore on the Ox on a break that resulted from Carlos Sanchez having his pocket picked.
The final roll of the dice from Arsene as Chambers is on for Ozil.
A waste as a foul is called off the corner from the Ox.
The statto has a strange one for you, mate. A two goal loss for Villa to the Gunners would represent progress as they were outscored by a combined score of a dozen to nil in three matches vs the Gunners last season. That's an aver of a 4-0 loss.
Now it's the final Monte Carlo from Remy as Traore is on for the lively Sinclair.
Scott Sinclair trots off to be replaced by Traore.
The next match at Villa is a claret and Blue Derby on Boxing Day. That makes sense as Villa could be hammered and be out for the count on a knockout punch in the first round.
Down to the last few moments of another dismal outing for Villa. Arsenal invited them on to them in the second half but they ignored the open invitation.
Four minutes of stoppage time. I'm sure both sets of fans would take the final whistle now.
A nice solo run by Adama Traore , but the shot landed into the side netting.
A bit too much trickery from Traore there.
Berlerin heads straight to Guzan off a cross from the Ox.
Bacuna slices a clearance over for a Gunner's corner. As if it matters
The final whistle blows and the Gunners win 0-2 at Villa Park.
That's it - Arsenal are temporarily top of the pops while Villa remain permanently rooted on the bottom.
Hey Boys
I have had a busy morning and just got back from walking the dog
I hope to be here for the late game
Are you guys here?
Hi there, UWS - welcome. I'm back for the late one. I reckon I'll watch Pool v. WBA rather than Spurs v. Newcastle. What about you?
The teams out on the pitch at Anfield now:
Pool: Mignolet, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Clyne, Henderson, Lucas, Can, Ibe, Lallana, Benteke.
WBA: Myhill, Olsson, McAuley, Dawson, Brunt, Fletcher, Morrison, Evans, Gardner, McClean, Rondon.
The Baggies about to get us underway, with "You'll Never Walk Alone" surging in the background.
Back for the late one.
Good morning UWS. I'm here.
Which one are you watching?
I had the strangest meteorological experience when taking Sparky walkies.
UWS seems to have buggered off again. Maybe he's gone on one of his walkies.
I'm watching the match from Anfield.
Me too; we can always monitor the Spuds from the reports on-line.
I'm looking for a link to that match
I have a link to that match at SFL. It's 0-0 in both matches.
Pool doing the Can Can as he shoots straight at Myhiill from a narrow angle.
I've just looked at the table again and this really is a must-win for Liverpool. With so many sides over performing, they're beginning to lose touch with the European slots, currently in 9th.
A timely interception by Gardener to prevent Milner from getting a shot off in the six yard box.
The draw for the knockout stage of the CL and EL is at 6 AM EDT tomorrow morning.
A snap shot from Coutinho is over as Pool are knocking on the door as the Baggies sit back inviting pressure from Pool.
Oh - great chance for Coutinho. Blazed over from 10 yards or so.
A stoppage at SFL as a Spuds player is down .
It was Danny Rose as he's limps back oin the pitch. Also, A spuds player was through on goal.
Beneteke used all his neck muscles to get at a great cross , but could not direct a header on target
Well wide by Eriksen from long range
Oh - clever flick there by Fletcher let Gardner in. Tried one at the near post but Mignolet was equal to it.
Mignolet pushes away a deflected cross from Garener for a Baggies corner on a rare attack for them
Benteke has been a real disappointment. We always wondered what he'd do at a bigger club. The answer is - not a lot.
Gardener could not connect from a cross from McLean. He would have had a free header.
United considered signing him last summer. I'm glad they did not.
GOAL !!! JORDAN HENDERSON GIVES POOL THE LEAD.
GOAL! Jordan Henderson sweeps home after a sumptuous move from Coutinho with a lovely knock-down by Lallana.
1-0 Pool!
The goal came off an extremely long possession, then the Baggies were caught out as Lallana headed down a cross from Coutinho for Henderson to easily score from close range
This goal should settle the home fans as the Baggies were threatening for the first time this match and had a couple of chances. Now the Baggies will be forced to change their game plan.
That will leapfrog Liverpool over Watford and West Ham but still behind Palace on GD in 7th. You would expect better from Pool. Are they really that big a club? Or are they living on past glories?
Do you expect LVG to make a big money purchase in the January transfer window?
Hey guys
No computer use again today. I'll try and comment on this once in a while
Pool,are not higher because of the bad form from Brendan. I don't blame Klopp because Pool have had CL form under him.
I'm watching the match from London btw
Sorry UWS. You will be missed.
Get LVG out
Show him the door...not the money
I don't know .LVG's action defy all logic.
I'm watching Mersey on the telly and London's calling on the computer.
I agree, UWS. Slam the door in his face
GOAL! Where did that come from? It's one in off the bum from Dawson.
1-1!
GOAL !!! CRAIG DAWSON TIES IT UP FOR THE BAGGIES.
Welcome back, UWS!
All my extra time channels are great EXCEPT for the first one which is always the bigger of the matches. It's not in HD and I have no idea why. I always have to extend the screen
HD Smaitch-D. I just want the footer.
The goal was a gift from Pool keeper, Minnie Mouse. He completely missed the corner from Chris Brunt and Runned on passed it to Dawson for an easy tap in.
Coutinho shoots straight at Myhill.
Coutinho has a go, but Myhill is behind it.
I don't get PLET . I would do anything to get it Hi D, low D or medium D
Spurs would go above United into 4th with a win
Still don't know why they can't win the league
Only lost once this season and that was on the opening day... It was against a crappy team wearing red in Manchester
Indian Summer came to an abrupt end while I was taking Sparky walkies. I was not exactly prepared for it.
The Spuds would be higher up, but they are drawing too many matches. I consider them a dark horse, but not the favorites.
Lamela almost puts Spurs ahead
Well saved
Lallana with a lovely cross but as usual Benteke wasn't attacking it.
Everyone talks about Villa only have 6 points from 16 games. They won at Dean Court on the opening day. That means they have 3 points from 15 points!!!
The closest the Spuds came to scoring as Rob Elliott did well to turn around a long range effort headed for the upper 90.
Benteke tries to make up for his crapness with an acrobatic effort.
Better from Beneteke as he chested down a cross and volleyed just wide.,
Another great save from Elliot from a Lamela effort
Goal
Dier scores for Spurs
Spurs are above United and into the CL spots
GOAL !!! ERIC DIER GIVES THE SPUDS THE LEAD OFF THE RESULTING CORNER.
Sorry, lads - Spurs will leapfrog United into fourth. That's nae good for my PPP scores.
A crap vid , but the near post header from Dier looks like it may have deflected off a Toon defender.
Hey
Anything bad for LVG I'm up for
Post a Comment
<< Home