Tag Archives: Premier League

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⚽️ Four sides are up for the Premier League Title 🥅 🏟

17 Monday Mar 2014

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TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

So, in the year after the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson four sides that would have struggled had he remained manager are now bidding for the title of Premier League Champions.
Yesterday’s results that saw Liverpool humble the ageing giant that is now Manchester United,  and Arsenal grinding out a result against a Spurs side that showed plenty of energy but little else, means that the Premier League is wide open, and promises to be even more exciting this year than it was when Manchester City grabbed a winner in the dying minutes of the season to steal the title.
Only one of the top four has the distraction of Europe – though that should not be a problem for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, whose side’s shock defeat on Saturday to Aston Villa now means all bets are off.
Mourinho has the experience and steely determination to steer his side through two tough tournaments simultaneously, although his Chelsea side are not the sharpest in the Premier League – that is surely Manchester City who are now favourites to take their second title in three seasons.
Mathematically, Liverpool can’t win should Chelsea win all their games, although this remains a league where the bottom side can still inflict a defeat on the top one. And that leaves Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal who having lost to Bayern Munich despite a very encouraging performance, who are in with a shout for the FA Cup and who managed to make Tottenham look like a second league side despite their North London rivals having most of the possession.
Until yesterday’s win, most people had written off the Gunners’ chances.  But they remain contenders – whether they can make it count this season is of course another matter.

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⚽️ TEMPLATE ANALYSIS The end of Manchester United as a football force? 🥅 🏟

16 Sunday Mar 2014

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TEMPLATE ANALYSIS

When Muhammad Ali was beaten by some one called Trevor Berbick, it was clear that the world of boxing was witnessing the end of an era.
Was the same happening at Old Trafford today where Liverpool outplayed the once mighty side called Manchester United to win 3-0.
There were three penalties – two of which were converted by Steven Gerrard – and the killer blow that ensured David Moyes’ men were out of it was made by their star striker Luis Suarez, who no doubt was the reason for the appearance of Diego Maradona in the crowd.
At least two of the penalties were questionable, but Brendan Rogers’ men had numerous other opportunities against an oppostion that despite fielding Robin Van Persie and the highly paid but sadly overrated Wayne Rooney showed no sparkle.
Currently, the Premier League Champions look a pale shadow of that triumphant side which looked unstoppable for season after season under the stewardship of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Of course, they need major surgery although the haste to sign Wayne Rooney for a massive contract or some of the other additions like Fellaini have not helped David Moyes’ cause.
Whether Van Persie will remain next season despite his claims to wanting to stay is another matter given the likelihood that the current Manchester United side may not even qualify for Europe – unless they win the Champions League title.
So are we looking at the end of an era?
Well, four sides are now clearly breathing and functioning in the absence of the great man. The board at Old Trafford will of course stick with their man but if they are in the same position this time next season and the side will look as hopeless as they did today they will find it difficult to justify keeping the under pressure Moyes.
At the moment, United look a top seven side side will little chance like say Spurs of breaking into the top four. That can change for a team the size of this club with the right signings. And one other thing Aberdeen have just won Scottish Cup, their first trophy since Ferguson left their club for an up and coming one called Manchester United.  Are the Old Trafford faithful who so memorably supported their side today despite an abject performance prepared to wait that long for their next taste of success?

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Arsene Wenger (Should he stay or should he go..part two)

27 Wednesday Feb 2013

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arsene wengerTEMPLATE ANALYSIS

Arsenal are fifth in the Premiership, four points behind third placed Spurs and two behind Chelsea. Neither of these two sides are better teams than Arsene Wenger’s men – but can that be said of the Manchester sides that sit in first and second place? And there is the root of the problem, for the manager who once set the standard finds himself playing catch up by a long way.

In Europe, they were taken apart by a clinical Bayern Munich side that made it look ridiculous easy despite being away from home.

Theo Walcott who recently secured another highly lucrative contract is still a yard short when he comes up against world-class opposition.

Nothing new in seeing Premiership sides fail in the Champion’s League – all  English sides have struggled in Europe, even Chelsea’s victory last season was more down to luck than their superior football skills.

But if the board at Arsenal are serious about a replacement – then there needs to be credible alternative.

Celtic’s Neil Lennon wouldn’t be a bad choice – his Celtic team failed against AC Milan because of a lack of word class firepower up front – something a rich club like the one based at the Emirates would be happy to oblige him with.

Of course, even now with Arsenal twenty-one points behind Manchester United in the Premier League and a humiliating FA Cup defeat to Championship side Blackburn Rovers behind them, no one is seriously talking about letting go of the great man.

And that’s that.

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City are back, but United are still six points clear

17 Monday Dec 2012

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TEMPLATE COMMENTARY

Saturday, December 15, 2012 marked a turning point in Manchester City’s fortunes. You would have never guessed it, ten minutes into their game with Newcastle though. For until then, Roberto Mancini’s men – reeling from a humiliating exit from the European Champion’s League and now six points behind their rivals following that deflected goal from Robin Van Persie last Saturday – were being run around St James Park.  That is until a Aguero goal turned the game on its head. Mancini learned from his mistake in the Manchester Derby, namely not teaming Carlos Tevez with Sergio Aguero, who along with David Silva, Yaha Toure et al gelled into a world-class team – the team that should have been playing the Corinthians on Sunday for the title of World Club Champions.

At half time it was only 2-0 to the Champions – it should have been far more and although Demba Ba stole a goal early in the second half, the result was never really in doubt. City still look frail when a team gets at them, however that is more than compensated by their attacking prowess.

United’s response was a 3-1 defeat of Martin O Neil’s struggling Sunderland side, although the margin of the win flattered Alex Ferguson’s men who continue to play their old trick of being top without actually having the performances behind them to merit their position.

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Manchester City move to second, two points behind United

12 Monday Nov 2012

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TEMPLATE REPORT

So, it is a rerun of last year’s thriller, when City beat their bitter rivals on goal difference, This time though Alex Ferguson’s men are two points clear and have a greater goal difference.

Roberto Mancini is a man under pressure, his side has not played well in the Premier league, or the Champions League either and yet they still have a chance of winning both – in the Premiership they remain undefeated, whilst in Europe, they’ll need the rub of the green to get into the next round.

United haven’t looked great either – however, they have managed to carve out the results as they have done so season after season. This time, a very young Aston Villa side found out what its like to lose to United, despite taking a two goal lead and out playing them for three-quarters of the game.

Outside the rivalry between United and City, the most interesting developments are occurring at Anfield where the newly installed Brendan Rodgers is attempting to mould Liverpool into a football force to be reckoned.

It’s not going to be easy, but Luiz Suarez has stepped up to meet the challenge, something his colleagues failed to do so.

This time, he grabbed a late goal to deny third-placed Chelsea a much deserved win.

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Manchester United are top of the Premier League

03 Saturday Nov 2012

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TEMPLATE REPORT

With ten games gone, the Premier League looks very much like it did last year, with the two Manchester clubs battling it out for the top position .

And if City beat West Ham by four goals then it will be a replay of the thrilling season that made Roberto Mancini’s men champions.

After breaking Chelsea’s run last week, Manchester United completely outclassed Arsenal to win 2-1 to seize the top position, and after Chelsea were held to a 1-1 draw at Swansea were still there are as City met the newly promoted West Ham United.

City have not played well this season, and in Europe despite a very good but unlucky performance against Real Madrid, look set for an early exit out of the Champions League.

Yet, they are still hanging in there – very much like their great rivals have done season after season.

As for the battle for the fourth place – once again, Everton are making the running on equal points with Spurs and just two points ahead of Arsenal, Fulham and West Ham, who are currently holding Manchester City 0-0 at half time.

And judging by City’s dismal performance so far, United will remain top of the Premier League.

Final Result – West Ham 0 Manchester City 0. That result means United are top, Chelsea second and City third.

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