Wahay! It's Saturday Morning!
Welcome to Saturday morning, chaps! And what a Saturday it is. We start with a key match in the case for Champions League spots - Citeh hosting WBA at the Etihad. Then there are the 10am EST kickoffs, including Liverpool v. Newcastle and Leeds away to Hull. Then we finish the day at Wemberley with the FA Cup semi-final between United and Everton. Join me for the fun and games here on the LOB.
543 Comments:
Hey Boys
I will be around for most of the day. I am going to move the computer into the family room so I can have the computer and TV in the same room
Of course, the Semi is the big one today but will Citeh and Arsenal drop some points
United are four points behind Arsenal and two points behind Citeh... of course, those two have to play each other so two or three points will be dropped by one of them
Of course, I don't want LVG to get any lifeline so who knows what the hell I want!!!
Good morning chaps . It's a great way for me to begin a three day weekend.
It'a return to the Etihad for Mark Hughes , Shay Given and former Citeh trainee , Glen Whelan. Former United trainees , Shawcross and Bardsley are in the Stoke lineup too.
Morning, chaps - how are you?
Teams coming out at the City of Manchester Stadium:
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Mangala, Kolarov, Jesus Navas, Fernando, Toure, Silva, Iheanacho, Aguero.
Subs: Sterling, Caballero, Bony, De Bruyne, Delph, Clichy, Demichelis.
Stoke City: Given, Wollscheid, Shawcross, Muniesa, Cameron, Whelan, Imbula, Bardsley, Diouf, Joselu, Arnautovic.
Subs: Adam, Teixeira, Crouch, Krkic, Haugaard, El Ouriachi, Shenton.
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Looks to me as if Citeh are resting some players for the CL match this week.
They're off from the Etihad
Citeh get us underway on what looks like a dreary day in Manchester.
Jim Proudfoot and Jim Beglin on the microphone for NBC this afternoon.
I know Citeh will probably be distracted by the CL semi.
Of course, I'd love to see Sergio Aguero score another hat-trick today. That would take him up to level with Kane on 24 goals.
A dreary day in Manchester sounds like a collector's item .
It seems that way, MUR.
Diouf is injured in a collision with Kolorov.
Could be more injury problems for Sparky, as Diouf is clattered by Kolarov.
Affelay was injured in training yesterday and has a suspected ACL problem. Could be out for six months.
It's an evil start to the day as Derby County vs Not a Big Club is about fifteen minutes in as is the local derby between the Evil Blades and Barnsley.
That may extinguish any hopes that the Potters have of qualifying for the EL.
Beglin mentions that the crowd is flat today. I honestly had thought that NBC might have turned the crowd noise down. It's like a library.
Oh - first real chance for Citeh through Ionacho. Just bent it wide.
OH!!!! Inches wide by Ihenacho after Aguero did well to get past Muniesa and put forth a superb pass.
It's Electronics Recycling Day today on the Fredonia Campus, so I may have to run out during the 10am EST matches for a bit.
Given wasn't happy with that follow through from Navas.
Hey Boys
I am here but might leave for my walk. I haven't walked much during the winter and I have to start
Five Live isn't blacked out right now so I may go for the walk now and listen to the commentary
I may be out for the first fifteen minutes of the 10 AM matches meself.
Cheers, UWS. I hear that you and Bob should enjoy great walking weather this weekend.
Got this email from brother-in-law Jon yesterday
Quite an accomplishment!!!
http://www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/supporter/LandsEndtoJohnOGroats
The sun has come out at the Etihad.
It looks to be a fair weather day in Manchester. Partly sunny is bright by Manc standards.
Shay Given is thew first 40 + player to play for Stoke since Sir Stan. He wasn't at fault for any of the goals on Monday and made a coup[le of decent saves.
Jon is riding a bike from Lands End to John O'Groats? Cor!
Hart tips over a decent free kick effort by Glen Whelan. Corner for Stoke.
Joe Hart knocks over a curling free kick from former Citeh trainee, Glen whelan
Ihenacho, the fiorst man heads out for another corner.
I wonder how many 40+ goalkeepers have played in the Premiership - can you think of any chaps?
Ah - Sparky thinks he could have done better with that volley than Ryan Shawcross did.
The next corner is headed on by Mangala and volleyed wide by former United trainee, Shawcross.
He is!
I only found out yesterday!
I guess it going to take him around two weeks
He is going with a friend and Phil is going to join him half way after he finish touring with Bryan Adams
He's bloody old!
I didn't know that you lot had Shawcross. Another that got away, eh? ;-)
David James was a 40+ keeper
Two weeks? It would take me bloody two years!
There are several: VDS,Budgey Burridge, Mark Schwarzer, and Brad Freidel. I bet I missed one or two.
Yep - any others?
Shay Given makes a routine save from Otamendi , who had a free header off a free kick from fellow Argie, Aguero.
I'm not sure that Ihenacho really has the quality to play for a side like Citeh. I suspect they'll bring in another striker this summer.
I thought David James was just shy of his 40th birthday when Pompey were relegated. He ten finished up in the Championship. Am I incorrect?
No - I think you got all of them, mate - well in!
Ihenacho is only eighteen or nineteen, but Pep may not want him. Will he develop into a player that got away?
I am off for my 3 or 5 mile walk. I'll figure out how far I go when I am out there
I'll be back
I've just checked - you're correct about David James - just shy of the 40 mark.
Enjoy your walkies, mate!
I remember John Lukic filled in for Arsenal in a match or two , but not sure if he was 40+ or in his late thirties.
Citeh racking up the corners now, but they are meat and drink for this lofty Stoke back line.
Kolorov had a shot deflected for a corner after being set up by Ihenacho then Shawcross headed out for another Citeh corner
I think Lukic was pre-Premiership era, right?
Was Jon Lukic over 40? I know he played a match or two for the Gunners during an injury crisis
He played two matches during the Prem era after he retired.
Aguero appears to be playing with one bright yellow boot and one bright orange boot. You would have gotten loads of stick for that flash attitude back in our day.
A return to Manchester for Stoke players and staff:
Sparky Hughes former United player and Citeh manager, Diouf , Shawcross , and Bardsley are former United players, and Given and Whelan are former Citeh players. A class reunion?
I don't think we would have been allowed on the bus to London Central!
Spot on, mate. I thought he was pre-Prem. But Lukic made 15 appearances for Arsenal between 1996-2001. If he made any after December 11, 2000, he would have been 40.
Agreed, mate. It was a different time.
Joselu heads over with a free header off a great cross from Arnautovic
Oh - Arnautovic teed up Joselu for a header, which he put over the top. The Austrian wasn't pleased with his strike partner, but it was a touch behind him.
I wonder if the Gooner knows about that piece of trivia.
Citeh don't appear to be that bothered about this match. And no wonder - they're almost assured CL play, even if they don't win it. It's going to be Leicester and Spurs for sure. And then two more from Arsenal, Citeh and United. Sorry, mate - but I fancy the first two before United.
I'll have to ask him. I wouldn't be surprised if he were still asleep, though. He only wakes up for the early ones if the Arse is on the telly.
I wonder if Dave Seaman and Kasper's dad were over 40. Both finished their careers at an advanced age with Citeh.
Fred says that the Arse will be on the telly tomorrow.
Bardsely does well to clear a pass from Navas for a Citeh corner.
Bardsley just nips in to clear a dangerous ball over.
GOAL! Corner over and Fernando nips in to nod home.
Citeh 1-0 up!
GOAL !!! FERNANDO SCORES WITH A NEAR POST HEADER OFF THE CORNER FROM AGUERO.
They should play that famous Abba song on the Citeh tannoy.
It's 0-0 at the half between the Rams and a Not Very Big Club
That's a key one in the Championship playoff race.
Shawcross clears for another Citeh corner.
The corner is headed away , but Citeh keep possession.
You will be interested to note that Burnley got a key 0-1 win at PNE in a Lancashire derby yesterday.
Yeah - I saw that one. Burnley are definitely going up. Sean Dyche has done an excellent job there and they were wise to hang on to him. But will they be able to stay up?
It's 0-0 at the half between the Evil Blades and Barnsley in a South Yorkshire Derby.
That Fernando goal carries Citeh above Arsenal into third again.
Burnley is not guaranteed promotion. Prior to that match, there was only two points separating first from third. Burnley, Middlesbrough, and the Seagulls are battling for two automatic promotion spots with the odd one out resigned to the playoffs.
I'm not sure that I even accept that Sheffield United are a Yorkshire side. I think they emerged from a black hole.
Oh - penalty for Citeh!
PENALTY CITEH AS SHAWCROSS IS CALLED FOR A FOUL ON IHENACHO. AN EASY DECISION FOR THE REF.
No guesses as to who gave away the pen - it's Shawcross, with a cynical tug back on Ihenacho. Sparky won't be happy - but I am.
It's Aguero to take....#22!
Let's have another couple, Sergio!
Citeh 2-0 up now.
GOAL !!!! AGUERO SCORES WITH A POWERFUL PENALTY IN THE UPPER 90. 2-0 CITEH.
Me too. I also picked Aguero.
LOL, mate. No guessing as to how you feel about the Evil Blades.
Two minutes of stoppage time.
Citeh are two up at the half.
Peep, peep!
Citeh go in with a comfortable 2-0 lead and Pellegrini will be really please by the easy outing ahead of their CL adventures in mid-week.
2-0!
Jacob Haugaard is on for a Stoke debut as he replaces Shay Given, who has a groin pull.
The second half is underway
Yaya fouls Bardsley about thirty yards out
The free kick from Bardsley is sliced horribly wide.
OH!!! A great chance for the Potters as an out stretched Joselu shoots wide off a great pass from Arnautovic, who made a great run down the left.
Haugaard tips over a long range effort from Ihenacho.
Otamendi clears a pass from Bardsley for a corner.
Diouf heads just wide at the near post from a corner taken by Glen Whelan
Bob will be pleased to see representation from the LUFC Academy as Delph is on for David Silva
Joe Hart does well to come out and slide clear a through ball intended for Anrnautovic,.
Bob will not be pleased that Not a Big Club have taken the lead at Pride Park
I'm making pancakes for Kate, mate. I'll be back in a moment.
Haugaard easily saves a side footed effort from Yaya off a corner. The Potters go straight up the other end of the pitch as Arnautovic tackled Otamendi and forced a decent near post save from Hart
Cheers, mate . Enjoy brekkies.
GOAL !!!! IHENACHO EASILY PUTS CITEH THREE UP.
Zaba was set free down the right and easily picked out Ihenacho , who side footed in from close range
Boni is on for Aguero.
Imbula is high and wide from long range as this one is pretty much done and dusted
Bob will be pleased that the Rams have tied it up vs Not a Big Club
Di Michelis is on for Fernando
Bardsley tackles Kolorov for a Citeh corner.
GOAL !!! EASY PEASEY AS IHENACHO SCORES HIS SECOND, PUTTING CITEH FOUR UP. HE WAS PUT THROUGH, ROUNDED HAUGAARD AND SLOTTED HOME INTO AN EMPTY GOAL
Charlie Adam is on for Arnautovic
I am back after a 5 mile walk in 1 h 1 m
First walk since I was able to venture outside again
Listened to 5 Live the whole time without it being blacked out
Sakho suspended for failing a drug test after the EL match at OT... non PED
The goal started with a short throw from Hart to Otamendi. Several short passes later, Boni put in a nice slide rule pass and it was poor defending by Wolscheid as Ihenacho easily skipped past him and rounded the stranded Haugaard to score.
Welcome back. I'm glad to hear you had great walking weather.
Derby and Wednesday are 1-1 on Saturday
Wednesday close to playoffs.
Only Cardiff can catch them
They mentioned on the halftime show that Sakho is under investigation of possibly being a dope for using dope. The club have suspended him while he's under investigation.
Cardiff should win as they host already relegated Bolton.
It has finished 0-0 between the Evil Blades and Barnsley in a South Yorkshire Derby
Yaya is down injured after a clash with Geoff Cameron.
I'm back with a stack of pancakes. Welcome back, UWS - how was the walkies?
Yaya is back on
I suppose you'd have to say that Pellegrini's gamble with the line-up has come off. They've rolled over Stoke quite easily.
It finishes 1-1 between the Rams and a Not Very Big Club
That's correct and Ihenacho scored a second half double
Stoke , just like your brekkies, have been flattened like pancakes and easily dispatched.
I suppose I have to take my words back about Ihenacho. He's been great today.
Boom, boom, MUR!
Mike Dean signals four minutes of stoppage time.
Cheers, mate. I thought you would get a kick out of that. Also, Ihenacho has played well today, but he's been assisted by some sluggish Stoke defending
Navas wins a Citeh corner.
Citeh easily thrash the crumbling Potters 4-0
And true to your pun, I have dispatched my pancakes with aplomb, as if it were Aguero gobbling up Glen Whelan.
BOOM BOOM, Bob.
Not a happy return for Sparky to the City of Manchester Stadium. A 4-0 drubbing. That's quite different from the roasting that Stoke gave them at the Britannia, probably the high point of Citeh's season.
Taking Shadow for walkies
MOT!
Another walkies? You'll be shagged out by the FA Cup match!
Players now gathering in the vaunted tunnel at Anfield:
Liverpool: Mignolet, Randall, Lovren, Toure, Moreno, Stewart, Allen, Milner, Firmino, Lallana, Sturridge.
Subs: Coutinho, Lucas, Ibe, Skrtel, Smith, Ward, Ojo.
Newcastle: Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Mbemba, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Townsend, Sissoko, Perez, Cisse.
Subs: Wijnaldum, De Jong, Shelvey, Aarons, Woodman, Mbabu, Mitrovic.
That earlier result in the Championship keeps things percolating for both sides in the playoff chase. We might well see a repeat performance in a month or so.
Over to Anfield now with "You'll Never Walk Alone" being belted out by the Kop faithful. Rafa will have a lot of memories of that.
And we're away.
Liverpool have an outside chance of qualifying for the Europa League through their league places, so it'll have to come through a Cup win.
GOAL! Sturrdige on the hunt straight away!
Simple goal - long ball launched at Sturridge who turned and shot into the bottom corner with his left peg. He's firing on all cylinders these days and looking for a place in the England squad.
Real problems for the Toon Army now. They come into this one in 19th on 29 points with only three matches to play after this one. They're 1 point back on Sunderland, who have a match in hand, and two points back on Norwich.
Chelsea v. Bournemouth is on USA. Not exactly a barnburner. Both sides mired in mid-table.
Moreno has got a problem, now. Needing some treatment for a knee knack.
Moreno will be able to continue then....
An early chance for Southampton is spurned by Shane Long. That's another worthless match.
Now it's Dejan Lovren with the injury problem. Elbow to the throat perhaps?
Brighton don’t take long to take the lead – Sam Baldock with a simple header.
I'm back to see Pool l is one up on Raffa's return to Anfield.
YIKES! Rayo Vallecano are two up vs Real early doors in a local derby
WAY HAY! LEEDS HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD AT THE KC.
Cisse wins a corner off of Moreno
YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris Wood with the goal
Tiote with a requisite yellow for tripping Lallana
Shane Long opens the scoring for Soton with a free header, and the party vibes at Villa Park are only set to increase.
Tiote starts on a yellow for me.
The Bees tie it up at the Fake Dons. The Evil Dons will be relegated today if the fail to defeat the bees.
That's 12 goals on the season for Wood now. Not barn burning form, but he's our top scorer.
Evil Cardiff's slim playoff hopes suffer a setback as already rock bottom Bolton take a lead in the Welsh capital.
A great season for the Kiwi
Cambridge take the lead at Notts County while already relegated Daggenham take the lead at Argyle..
Northants, who have already clinched the L2 title, trail at Yeovil while Oxford shoes takes the lead vs Jeff's team
The Already relegated Daggers go two up at Argyle. Bristol Rovers , look set to cement a playoff spot as they take the lead vs Exeter
Evil Millwall take the lead at Bury
Forest take the lead at your house. Is it the pancakes or that you can't see the Forest for the apple trees?
A win for us today would be a fourth on the trot since we got safety.
I'm afraid that the Cottagers can't see much of anything these days - they're hopeless.
GOAL! Lallana makes it 2-0 Liverpool!
Tiote is trying to buy a second yellow.
GOAL !!!!ADAM LALLANA PUTS POOL TWO UP ON RAFFA'S RETURN TO ANFIELD. IT STRTED WITH A SHORT THROW FROM MINNIE. THE TOON FAILED TO PRESS AS LOVEREN PASSED TO FIRMINO , WHO PLAYED MORENO DOWN THE LEFT . HE CUT IN AND PASSED TO LALLANA, WHO SCORED WITH A GREAT FINISH FROM THE D.
The Cottagers look safe for this season.
Wigan two up vs Southend as they look set for a return to ER next season.
Yeah - just because sides like Bolton are so hopeless, but with all the cash they've spent over the years, they should be contending.
Hazard has put Chelsea two up at dean Court
Tommy Elphick pulls one back for the Cherries a couple of minutes later.
Real pulls one back at Rayo Vallecano as they now trail 2-1
JFH's lads take the lead vs Brain McDermott's lads.
Wigan three up vs Southend.
Monkey Boy with that goal back for Real.
The Evil Lions are two up at Bury
UWS will be pleased that Pompey have taken the lead vs Wycombe wanderers
Tadic has added a second Soton goal at Villa Park. Lerner out?
L2 champs , Northants, tie it up at Yeovil
Cisse heads just wide, but was flagged offside.
I would think so. He has almost single handedly destroyed a great club
Brian McDermotts's lads tie it up at JFH's place.
Bolton are down to ten men with Niall Maher sent off for an elbow. They're hopeless.
Are you scouting the Toon? They look likely opponents at ER next season and some of those players may be playing next season
I'm not sure what happened to the Trotters to decline so rapidly..
Forest go two up at your place. Will Kate be subbed at the half. Did she burn the pancakes?
Richard Burton continues the challenge for promotion to the Championship with the lead at all but doomed Colchester
Wahay - Villa have scored! Westwood with the finish.
Notts County tie it up vs Cambridge while Daggenham go three up at Argyle.
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