Oh dear…a non-league team at home, although York City were recently in the football league. I still haven’t got over losing to non-league Blyth Spartans at home in the FA Cup some thirty odd years ago. After last year’s poor display against Hartlepool you do fear another upset is on the cards.

Futbol Ingles

Manchester City 1-1 Hull City

 

Portsmouth 1-4 Manchester United

Everton 0-2 Liverpool

Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea

Ver Tabla de Posiciones

Ver Tabla de Goleo

Not as drab as the scoreline or Stuart Hall would have you believe as Pulis dropped Beattie for Big Mama and Lawrence started in place of Delap. Blimey two attacking wingers! Even the returning Faye started on the bench although he replaced Shawcross in the second half who as ‘feeling his groin’ to use football speak. What next Tuncay getting a start? He may well do against Arsenal away next week…

Loanee Dave Kitson bagged two for Middlesboro in their 2-2 draw, taking his season tally to date to five goals now.

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No write up last week but i got 6 results and no perfect scores, There are some tough games to predict this week but here goes anyway, Just predictions this week, more of a write up next week.

Saturday

Blackburn Rovers V Stoke City

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-1 draw

Fulham V Bolton Wanderers

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 win for Fulham

Manchester City V Hull City

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-0 win for Man City

Portsmouth V Manchester United

Mystic Jarv predicts a 0-2 win for United

West Ham United V Burnley

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 win for West ham

Wigan Athletic V Sunderland

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-2 win for Sunderland

Aston Villa V Tottenham Hotspur

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-2 win for Villa

Sunday

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Birmingham City

Mystic Jarv predicts a 0-1 win for Brum

Everton V Liverpool

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 win for Everton

Arsenal V Chelsea

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-1 draw

Written by Jarv

As Always for all your premier league discussion and Match discussion please visit Away Goals Rule Football Forum

Another player goes on loan, this time Tom Soares who has joined Sheff Wed until the end of the year.  Signed from Crystal Palace with Clint Hill going the other way, he’s never really shone in a Stoke shirt to date.

There are some good games on tap this weekend. The biggest one is probably the Arsenal/Chelsea match Sunday afternoon. Both squads have been playing well and winning. Arsenal is eight points back from first place Chelsea, but is definitely capable of knocking off the leaders. On Saturday, fourth place Tottenham plays away to fifth place Aston Villa in a game that could have major top four implications. And of course, there’s the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton, which is always a hard fought match.

Saturday, November 28
Blackburn vs. Stoke – 8:30 p.m. ET/Setanta (Delayed)
Fulham vs. Bolton – 5 p.m. ET/Setanta (Delayed)
Manchester City vs. Hull – 9:55 a.m. ET/Setanta (Live)
Portsmouth vs. Manchester United – 9:45 a.m. ET/ESPN2 (Live)
West Ham vs. Burnley – 10 a.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Live)
Wigan vs. Sunderland – 7 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Delayed)
Aston Villa vs. Tottenham – 12:30 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Live)

Sunday, November 29
Wolves vs. Birmingham – 7 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Delayed)
Everton vs. Liverpool – 8:25 a.m. ET/Setanta (Live)
Arsenal vs. Chelsea – 11 a.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Live)

Blackburn vs. Stoke City:
Stoke have been really solid in the back this season and I don’t seen them letting in a goal against a Blackburn side that is struggling for goals. Stoke have been solid on set plays or throw-ins with the weapon in Delap, expect a goal in a situation like that to decide the game.

Prediction: 0-1

—————

Fulham vs. Bolton:
The Cottagers have been really solid at home all season and are coming off a big win at Blackburn midweek.

Bolton are struggling, taking only six points from their last six fixtures. Dempsey is in form and should be good for a goal or assist.

Prediction: 2-0

—————

Man City vs. Hull City:
City are coming off a disappointing draw at Anfield last week and have drawn their last six matches. Hull are playing away from the safety of their home grounds and that doesn’t bode well for them.

Robinho is back from injury for City and will give them an extra scoring threat.

Prediction: 2-1

—————

Portsmouth vs. Manchester United:
With Portsmouth losing their manager this week and the inevitable appointment of Avram Grant, they’ll look to stop their recent skid of losses. But against a high powered Man United, I don’t think they will find their feet quickly enough.

Prediction: 0-3

—————

West Ham vs. Burnley:
The Hammers need some points and quickly to get themselves out of the bottom of the league. Burnley have been poor away from home and a game that West Ham should win.

Prediction: 1-0

—————

Wigan vs. Sunderland:
Wigan got thrashed last week at Spurs and will want to prove a point this week when their old manager Steve Bruce makes a trip back to the JJB.

I don’t see them bouncing back quite yet. Sunderland have been solid and have goal threats like Darren Bent and Jones.

Prediction: 0-1

—————

Aston Villa vs. Tottenham:

Match of the wannabes.

Aston Villa are coming of a disappointing draw last week against Burnley and Spurs are coming off a thrashing of Wigan. Aston Villa are at home and would normally give the edge to them, but Spurs are playing really good football right now.

Prediction: 2-2

—————

Wolves vs Birmingham:
Wolves will continue to fight relegation. They got beaten badly by Chelsea last week and Birmingham are coming a string of a few good results after their recent ownership change.

Prediction: 0-1

—————

Everton vs. Liverpool:
The Merseyside derby is always a good battle and I don’t anticipate this to be any different.

Liverpool will probably still be without Torres and are in a bad run of form, but grabbed a win midweek in the Champions League where they bowed out. Expect a goal from Gerrard and some sort of controversy. Besides the Arsenal-Chelsea clash, this should be one of the matches of the weekend.

Prediction: 1-2

—————

Arsenal vs. Chelsea:
Match of the weekend.

Gunners need a win to pull themselves closer to the top of the league. Both had wins midweek in the Champions League. Chelsea are in the middle of a stretch of tough away matches and Arsenal are facing a few major injuries, notablyVan Persie.

Prediction: 3-2

- Brent Lakes

Reid... Leeds boss for just 22 games.

FORMER LEEDS UNITED boss Peter Reid recently reflected on his time at Elland Road.

Reid was initially appointed as manager on 21st March 2003 with the task of keeping Leeds United in the Premiership – a task in which he succeeded.

Two remarkable away results, a 6-1 triumph over Charlton at the Valley and a thrilling 3-2 victory over Arsenal at Highbury, helped keep Leeds in the top flight as they eventually finished six points clear of the drop zone.

“We managed to stay up and I think a lot of people forget that we got some great results”, said Reid.

After minor speculation linking the then Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, Reid with the Elland Road hotseat, Reid was then given a one-year rolling contract with the club for upcoming 2003-2004 season. However with the club in financial turmoil, Leeds were forced to sell their best players Reid explains:

“Harry Kewell went and we didn’t get enough money for him. It was a very  difficult time for the football club.”

Not only did Kewell sign for Liverpool for just £5 million, £2 million of that was rumoured to have gone to his agent. Olivier Dacourt’s loan move to Roma was made permanent for £3.5 million and Paul Robinson looked set for a move to Aston Villa to join up with David O’Leary.

Reid also loaned out Danny Mills (Middlesbrough), Stephen McPhail (Nottingham Forest), Matthew Kilgallon (West Ham) and James Milner (Swindon). Replacements were lined up.

“I tried to get Paolo Di Canio off West Ham but he went to Charlton and Patrick Berger off Liverpool but he went to Portsmouth. I panicked a bit and brought about eight players in on loan because there was not substance to the club.”

Di Canio... was Leeds target.

Jermaine Pennant, Didier Domi, Lamine Sakho, Zoumana Camara, Cyril Chapuis, Salomon Olembe and Roque Junior were all brought into the club on loan deals.

However having won just two games by early November, Reid was sacked.

“I was there at the wrong time. When I went in I didn’t realise that they were going to financially implode.

“Leeds is a fantastic club and I’m delighted that they’re doing well. I just want them to go up. It’s a club with a great tradition and a great support and I hope to see them back up there.”

After a stint as manager of Thailand, Reid is now assistant manager at Premiership club Stoke City.

Lucky win for us but it is still three points as Ricardo Fuller scored his first goal of the season from an Etherington assit. Pompey missed a penalty early on but at least it wasn’t a Spurs scoreline – nine one they beat Wigan! Stoke are never likely to score nine (or even three) goals under Pulis

Meg: Predicts a good lie-in for us all on Sunday

Ding ding, round two! So with four out of six outcomes correctly predicted so far, let’s see how I get on with Sunday’s fixtures:

Blackburn vs Bolton

This week, Sky’s two course ‘Super-Sunday’ is more of a quick bite down the greasy spoon than dinner at the Savoy, and if I’m to continue the analogy, I guess this fixture is the starter. A rubbish prawn cocktail if you like.

It’s likely to be a proper mud-slinger of a match, with more aerial balls than a game of American football. I also expect the commentator to frequently remind us that [insert attacking team's name here] are ‘a threat from set pieces’, because that’s generally all they can get excited about when two teams with no interest in playing any football come up against each other.

Sleeping is almost certainly going to be more interesting than this one, so why not treat yourself to a lie-in? Just think, you may even have a dream about Megan Fox*… and do you really want to miss out on that for the sake of Blackburn vs Bolton?!

Verdict: 0-0

Stoke City vs Portsmouth

If this game is the main course, then think of it as the disappointing roast dinner you at at that pub you’ve never been back to. Cold, hard roast potatoes, slimy Yorkshire puddings, and fatty slices of cheap beef.

Mind you, unlike your starter, there will be one or two edible things on the plate to keep it from being a total disappointment. Expect Kevin Prince-Boateng and Jamie O’Hara to be the honey roasted parsnips and minted peas of this affair.

I don’t think that will be enough to save this ‘dish’ though. With a doubt surrounding medical experiment and Ivory Coast forward Aruna Dindane, Pompey will struggle to break down a resolute Stoke defence. As a result, The Potters will be in no rush to break away from their horribly unattractive and defensive style of play, and the game will suffer due to very little open football.

Verdict: 1-0

Tottenham vs Wigan

Re-scheduled to 3pm on Sunday due to Steve Bruce’s penchant for bringing South Americans to the Premier League a few years back, Sky will be kicking themselves that they aren’t serving this one up to their viewers. In stark contrast to the Boltons, Blackburns and Stokes of this world, both these teams play attractive, open football.

‘Appy ‘Arry Redknapp will be pleased to see his t’riffic winger Aaron Lennon returning to the Spurs side after a spell on the sidelines, as this should add an extra bit of zip to the right hand side. In Lennon’s absence, David Bentley demonstrated that he’s probably more interested in signing up bands for his bar on the Costa Del Sol than playing football. Oh well, England will just have to find itself another new ‘DB7′.

Wigan’s ability to deal with Lennon will be the deciding factor in this match. If they do, then they have the likes of Rodallega and N’Zogbia to exploit the space that Tottenham always leave for their opposition.

However, after a game on Wednesday and a long flight back from Honduras, Maynor Figueroa has his work cut out to contain Lennon. As so often is the case at White Hart Lane, Spurs will attempt to harness their home support and come flying out of the blocks, looking to put the game to bed before the opposition have a chance to impose themselves.

I can see this happening tomorrow.

Verdict: 4-1

* See what I did there?! After my Transformers-heavy MS Paint Story Of The Week the other day, I just thought I’d tell you what the most popular Robots-In-Disguise-based search term used to get to my site has been. And the winner is… ‘Megan Fox Naked’.

Who says the internet isn’t primarily for porn, eh?

After another international break, the Premier League is back in action this weekend. The injured stars of Liverpool will also be back on the pitch this weekend (thank goodness). The injured Reds were: Steven Gerrard, David Ngog, Daniel Agger, Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio, Albert Riera, Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun. Torres is the only one still out, so yay for that international break. Man City is one point up on Liverpool in the table, so it’s a must-win game for Liverpool if they want to work their way back into the top four. The Reds have only won one game since Sept. 26 so they need to start winning now to get things back on track.

Saturday, November 21
Liverpool vs. Manchester City – 7:30 a.m. ET/ESPN2 (Live)
Birmingham vs. Fulham – 8:30 p.m. ET/Setanta (Delayed)
Burnley vs. Aston Villa – 5 p.m. ET/Setanta (Delayed)
Chelsea vs. Wolves – 9:30 a.m. ET/Setanta (Live)
Hull vs. West Ham – 7 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Delayed)
Sunderland vs. Arsenal – 10 a.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Live)
Manchester United vs. Everton – 12:30 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Live)

Sunday, November 22
Bolton vs. Blackburn – 8:25 a.m. ET/Setanta (Live)
Tottenham vs. Wigan – 5 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Delayed)
Stoke vs. Portsmouth – 11 a.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Live)

Meg: Busy casting a spell on Thierry Henry

Poor old Ireland eh? Thierry Henry’s left hand on Wednesday night put an end to the Green Army’s dream of following their national team to the World Cup, and condemned them to yet another summer of drinking bottles of cider in picturesque countryside taverns that border acres of beautiful apple orchards. Or so Magners would have us believe…

Oh well, at least they can turn their attentions back to the Premier League this weekend, where their most cherished top flight English team will continue their fine unbeaten ru… oh… right… that’s Liverpool isn’t it? Never mind then.

I’m not really doing a very good job at cheering the Irish up, so I’ll get on with my predictions. Same form as usual. Beat me and you win a tenner*.

Birmingham vs Fulham

I was happy to see that I predicted yet another correct outcome involving Liverpool in the last round of Premier League fixtures. I haven’t got anything against Liverpool, but I saw Birmingham going to Anfield, defending for their lives (as they have done all season), and getting something. However, my prediction was probably more based on Liverpool not having a clue this season, and the fact that they still have Lucas in their midfield.

What I didn’t see coming though was The Blues scoring two goals, and Alicia Keys lookalike Cameron Jerome pinging one in from 30 yards. However, I can live with that because Jose Reina didn’t see it coming either, and I guess it was more important for him to be ready for Jerome’s strike than me.

Apart from their dancing badger, there’s not much you can say about Fulham. Whilst I was waiting for my breakfast last Sunday I was given a complimentary paper to read (presumably whilst the pub’s manager attempted to get the Gap year student to stop going for fag breaks and actually cook the full English I had ordered – he failed), and I stumbled across a quote from Roy Hodgson saying that he hoped Fulham fans realise that there is a ceiling on what the club can achieve.

Whilst he is 100% correct about that, it sort of highlights the problem with reviewing them. Yes, they’ll have a game every week. Yes, I’ll have to think of something to say. However with no ambition, there’s no real excitement. Just a freak season once in a while where they’ll either have a relegation dog fight, or they’ll break into the top seven and get a place in a competition that noone cares about, (even if it earns them a few extra quid, offers their fans a few European city breaks).

This season they’ll finish comfortably in mid-table again, which means that their recent success needs to be balanced up with a defeat this weekend. So that’s what I’ve gone for.

Verdict: 2-1

Burnley vs Aston Villa

Burnley are a Championship side punching above their weight in the Premier League. Them’s the fact ladies and gents. If they didn’t have the support of all those blokey-looking women in the home crowd scaring the opposition’s wide players, they’d be relegated already and wiping the tears away with their bingo-wings.

Anyway, they DO have that support, and their home form is why they are still afloat (although if Turf Moor was flooded, the players be able to stay afloat just by grabbing one of the massive buoyancy aids sitting in the stands).

This game therefore should be made all the more interesting by that fact. However, in spite of Villa’s pretty indifferent form of late, I think they’ll win this one easily. The wingers are the reason, and they have two of them in Ashley Young and James Milner who are bang on form right now. If they can avoid the Medusan-like effect of looking directly at the female Burnley fans whilst hugging their touchlines, then I fully expect them to tear The Clarets apart.

Verdict: 1-3

Chelsea vs Wolves

If there was ever a home-win to put your house on, this is it**.

The only way Wolves can win is if they, as previously mooted on Eddies Football Blog, put out a team of real wolves that end up killing and feasting on the entire Chelsea team. However, even if they did that they’d be more than likely to still only get a draw, as I don’t think packs of wolves care much for scoring goals.

Verdict: 3-0

Hull vs West Ham

Last week I must have sent good karma out to Phil Brown with my emotional appeal to keep him in his job at Hull. Not only did they win their game against Stoke, but the man who popped up with the winner may well have inadvertently boosted the Geordie crooner’s transfer budget for the January window.

That’s right; sales of replica shirts with Jan Vennegoor Of Hesselink printed on the back have soared following his injury time strike and, at £1 per letter, that’ll be a nice tidy sum come the end of 2009. Enough to buy Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker from Borussia Monchengladbach perhaps.

It’s a novel approach, but then so is having your half-time team-talk in the middle of the pitch. He’s a pioneer, that Brownie.

By contrast, West Ham ‘ave gone and found themselves a spot of bovva. Tree-trunk legged striker Dean Ashton is expected to retire from football imminently, which is a real shame for the club, the player, and English football in general. The person who will benefit from Ashton’s retirement is World Cup hopeful Carlton Cole, but he must be getting tired of having to do it all on his own.

As a result, The Hammers will have to get Cole to form a partnership with their suggestible Italian Allessandro Diamanti, and will therefore be hoping that the Hull fans don’t all learn the Italian for ‘miss!’ by tomorrow afternoon. Expect an entertaining dogfight though, but obviously without any real dogs (unless a plucky Hammer manages to smuggle his Staffy into the ground, and it ends up getting into a scuffle with Stephen Hunt).

Verdict: 2-2

Liverpool vs Man City

What did I say when I started this whole Premier League predictions thing? Well, I gave you all certain rules to abide by, didn’t I? Certain criteria for aiding you in your conquest, if you will. However, I also said that if you are Mark Lawrenson you must, at all costs, write an indescribably biased prediction in favour of Liverpool.

The Reds go into this weekend with the following form in the last 9 games (in all competitions) – LLLLWLLDD. Despite Gerrard’s return, they are without key striker Fernando Torres, and play a Man City side who have only lost one game in all competitions all season (against Man Utd), and sitting nicely above them in the league. This is why i find the following from ‘Lawro’ the most hilarious piece of biased piffle I have seen in a long time…

“The good news for Liverpool is that it looks like Steven Gerrard has got himself fit, although I’m not sure that Fernando Torres will make this one. Manchester City had four players starting for England last week so it’s not as if they’ve had a rest and that could be a factor.

I think Manchester City now have players capable of taking the game to Liverpool and that might suit the home side as a lot of teams go to Anfield and shut up shop. But this could be an open game and Liverpool will like that. “

So, not only has he turned the potent threat of Man City’s attacking options into an advantage for Liverpool (when, in reality, they will have haunted Jamie Carragher’s dreams this week), but he is also claiming that City’s top-class athletes will need more rest after a game they played 7 bloody days earlier!

This, my friends, is exactly what I was on about. It’s safe to say that I don’t agree with him in the slightest.

Verdict: 1-2

Man Utd vs Everton

This is traditionally a big game, and a game in which Everton I’m sure would want to give a good account of themselves. However, with 11 of their first team players either with knocks or long term injuries, it has turned into a fixture in which David Moyes’ men will just defend in numbers and hope for a point.

With captain Phil Neville absent, a player all too used to winning games at Old Trafford, Everton’s midfield will be outclassed and I can see a United getting three points. Not an easy three points. Or a pretty three points. But three points nonetheless. As Ian Holloway once put it, in gentlemen’s terms, it’ll be like going out and pulling a bird who isn’t the prettiest but, sod it, you’ll still take her home.

Verdict: 2-0

Sunderland vs Arsenal

A really interesting match-up.

Sunderland got mugged last time out against Spurs. Plain and simple. They should have won that game, but for the first time this season they showed their wastefulness in front of goal. They also missed the battering-ram presence of Kenwyne Jones.

If you were to fault Arsenal this season, you could justifiably point a finger at their inability to deal with aerial balls into the box, so they will be relieved to hear that the somersaulting powerhouse is still serving a suspension. However, it is still a weakness that Bruce will target.

That said, Cesc ‘Harry Potter’ Fabregas is in the form of his life, and he will have been rubbing his hands in anticipation after viewing the amount of space that Tom Huddlestone was allowed at White Hart Lane by Sunderland’s midfield. Expect Mackems captain Lorik Cana to return with typical hatchet-man style to remedy that, and make things difficult for the Spaniard (unless, of course, he’s still drunk, and staggering around in his pants somewhere in Algeria).

With Van Persie out for Arsenal, this one is very nicely balanced. I’ll go for a high-scoring draw.

Verdict: 2-2

* N.B. You won’t actually win a tenner. I lied in order to get you involved. I’m sorry. Here’s a tenner to compensat… Balls. I’m at it again. I better stop now before I offer you the keys to my house.

** N.B. If Chelsea don’t win, and you did end up taking my off the cuff remark as actual advice, then you’re an idiot. However, if you need to crash on my sofa for a couple of days whilst you find somewhere new to live, then fine. Just don’t try to sue me. Or drink the beer in my fridge.

Check back tomorrow for my predictions for Sunday’s games (including the weekly 0-0, if you were wondering where it was!)

The Ginger Ninja aka Dave Kitson has joined Middlesboro on loan and Michael Tonge has also go on loan to Preston. Both players must feel they have never had a real chance to shine at Stoke and Kitson in particular has shown great form earlier this seaosn only for him to be dropped. Pulis can be a hard one to call when it comes to his team choices…

Hopefully Lawrence can make his way back into the team and it maybe time to drop Delap. No Faye against Pompey on Sunday as he serves his one match ban with Huth likely to take his place and Wilko back at right back. Come on Stoke!

An often used phrase amongst fans is “we never beat them”, it certainly can feel like that sometimes. However, when Chesterfield fans say it about Stoke City they are right. In twenty matches between the sides Chesterfield are yet to win. To be clear, I’m not 100% all of these figures are correct, so feel free to offer suggestions as to which ones aren’t quite right , and which are. Manchester United are in there, they have never beaten Southend United (in their one attempt)

A full list of sides who haven’t beaten each other follow. [Team - Team they haven't beat - number of attempts]

Weaver Stadium

Breaking news…

Nantwich Town’s Weaver Stadium has been selected as a potential training venue for England’s 2018 World Cup bid.

The stadium and facilities have been chosen as a possible training camp to host one of the 32 competing football nations if England wins the bid to host the cup.

Club officials said today it was a “great honour” to be selected. It’s one of four clubs that Manchester is putting forward as part of its bid to stage games in the World Cup.

Michael Chatwin, Nantwich Town Business Manager, said: “To think that we could have the world’s best footballers from Brazil, Argentina or Germany based at the Weaver Stadium us fantastic.

“We can all be proud that Nantwich has been selected as a training base.”

Roger MacLaughlin, Northwest Regional Development Agency, said: “The facilities at Nantwich Town are very impressive.

“The pitch, the stadium and the location is likely to be of great interest to one of the participating countries if the World Cup comes to England.”

The £4 million Weaver Stadium, which opened in 2007, already has Premier League accreditation to host Stoke City reserve games.

Arthur Moran

Nantwich Town Cllr Arthur Moran added: “This is terrific news and would really put Nantwich on the map.

“The football club has worked hard to build up its facilities for the local community. And if we did host one of the competing World Cup nations, it would be a further boost to the local economy.”

Ok, it’s 6 days after the game, and I can only just gather the inspiration to jot down my thoughts and views from last Saturdays first game.

The tenant v landlord game has always sparked a highly charged atmosphere, irrespective of how good the football or the teams are. Saturdays encounter was no different. Many Brid supporters had been very excited relishing the thought of this fixture, yeah I had a tingle too, but mine didn’t really materialise until I got to the ground at 2. There were probably 150 in the ground at this point, wow.

We warmed up in our normal fashion, SAFC turned up in ones and twos and had a reasonable workout, and all the while the turnstiles were kept very busy. Our angelic choir boys were in full sing, with numbers swelled for the game. Kick off comes, and the ground is busier than that of the FC United game nearly 2 years to the day, as it turns out there were 1082 in the ground – an NCEL record.

3 o’clock comes and the whole ground is buzzing, that sort of “first game of the season” “non-league team drawn against United at Old Trafford” kind of a tingle. The early signs were good and we have the majority of play and posession. Nathan breaks the deadlock on about 6 minutes, I cheer, but there isn’t that many around me doing the same, GULP. But thankfully, everyone around me is there for the game, like me. And on that point, the spirit amongst the two sets of fans was brilliant.

Talking of brilliant, the SAFC keeper made some excellent saves in the game, and we do waste a few more of our own in the first half. However, we do go into the break 1 up. There were a couple of talkie points in the first half, but this is not the forum to discuss them – coz I can’t be bothered.

Second half and someone has sprinkled some magic dust on the “visitors” and some “play like a mongue” dust on the home team – thats a bit harsh, in fairness we just weren’t allowed to play, and when we did, the keeper was exceptional form or we just lost our composure in front of goal. They scored a well taken goal from a free kick, and not so long later, the most dubious of handballs was given and they were given a penalty. The ball was driven at goal and hit a hand down by the defenders side, 750+ people shout for a penalty and the man in the middle gives it. Its duly dispatched.

We lose 2-1, and then the next day Stoke lose to Hull in exactly the same fashion. It was such a choker, and it really pissed me off if truth be known. Hence the motivation to only now write up some old drivel.

Hot Shots Part Deux tomorrow, lets hope its not a comedy like its film namesake.

Both Paul McGuinness’ U18 side and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second string have had their upcoming games postponed.

Tomorrow’s Premier Academy League game with Stoke City has been called off after inclement weather this past week caused the pitch at the Potters’ Clayton Wood base to become waterlogged. Both teams have a free weekend at the end of this month but the short notice and probable Youth Cup considerations will likely mean the fixture will instead be re-arranged for some time in the spring. As usual, when we find out the new date, we’ll let you know.

Meanwhile the Reserves’ Manchester Senior Cup clash with Stockport County, originally scheduled for Monday night at Ashton United’s Hurst Cross ground, has been re-arranged for Thursday December 17th at County’s request. With Hull away next up on the fixture list on November 24th, Solskjaer’s side will have endured a frustrating three weeks without a game by that time.

Good to see defenders Ryan Shawcross and Danny Higginbotham along with goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen all signed new and extended contracts. Great news about Shawcross, who has signed until 2014, as he is highly rated and has been linked with Man Utd, his old club, recently.

Geçen sene, “geldikleri gibi giderler” türünden söylemlerle Premier Lig’e merhaba diyen Stoke City, debut sezonda istikrarlı bir görüntü çizince ikinci ve herkesin yorumladığı üzere en zor senede Hull City ile birlikte mercek altına alındı. Hull City kadar flaş bir ilk sezon geçirmeyen Pullis ve öğrencileri bunun verdiği rahatlıkla ikinci sezonda şu ana kadar son derece başarılı bir görüntü çiziyorlar. Görüntüyü netleştiren isimlerin belki de en başında Ferguson‘un yetiştirdiği Ryan Shawcross var.

Sezon başında Benitez stoper ararken ısrarla Ryan Shawcross‘u isteyince İspanyol‘un yine boş bir stopere tonla para vereceğini düşünmüş, sinirlenmiştim. 8 milyonluk teklifin Pullis tarafından reddedildiğini öğrenmem sinirime tuz biber olmuştu. O tarihten itibaren ön yargılı bir biçimde tek gözümü Shawcross‘a yönelttim ve bu süreç bana ne kadar yanıldığımı gösterdi. Başta Ferdinand olmak üzere neredeyse tüm İngiliz stoperlerin yerlerde süründüğü şu dönemde Shawcross kalitesini herkese gösteriyor.

Utd altyapısından yetişmesine rağmen tek bir resmi maçta bile kırmızı formayı giyemeyen Ryan kiralık olarak Antwerp ve Stoke‘da 1,5 yıl geçirdikten sonra 2 milyon karşılığı, tapusuyla Stoke‘un oyuncusu oldu. Stoper oynamasına ve genç yaşına rağmen inanılmaz bir istikrarla, giydiği formayı geri vermemeyi kendine huy edinmiş, 3,5 yıllık profesyonel futbol hayatında 15 gol atmış bir devden söz ediyorum.

Bir haftadır Stoke‘la yeni sözleşme imzalayacak, spekülasyonları bitirecek haberleri çıkıyordu. Pek inanmıyordum ama bugün resmen 4.5 yıllığına anlaşıldığı açıklandı. Pullis ve tüm camia derin bir oh çekmiştir. Benitez‘le birlikte hayal kırıklığı paydasının en büyüğü Ferguson‘un diyebilirim. 2 sene önce gönderdiği oyuncuyu geri almaya çalıştığını görmemiştim, hem de sattığının 7-8 katına ama o rakamlara bile başaramadı. Ocak ayı için ciddi ciddi Shawcross‘la ilgilenen Ferguson dev stoperi Stoke‘a satarken sözleşmesine “ilk transfer hakkı Utd‘ındır” maddesi koydurmasına rağmen Ryan‘ın Stoke‘a olan sevgisi ve İngiltere‘nin Dünya kupası kadrosunda yer almak için sürekli oynama gerekliliği yüzünden amacına ulaşamadı. Çıldırtacak derecede formsuz olan Vidic ve Ferdinand‘ı son maçta yedek bırakan İskoç hoca kime yönelecek merak ediyorum.

Bu imza ile birlikte şunu söyleyebilirim ki, her ne kadar bu hafta kaybedilen Hull City maçında Tuncay‘a yapılan tavır sebebiyle kızgın olsam da, Stoke kalıcı bir Premier Lig kulübü olma yolunda sağlam bir adım attı.

The Tango Clown lives to fight another day as we implode - Faye sent off, Beattie looking a shadow of last season and Colins & Huth all over the shop. But Etherington was a star again, Kitson looked good and Tuncay came on although at the expense of Fuller. Even a former player scored, yes Ollyfinjana.

Onwards and upwards…Pompey after the international break.

Another bad week for Mystic Jarv last weekend, here are this weekends predictions

Saturday

Aston Villa V Bolton Wanderers

Since beating Chelsea 3 weeks ago Villa haven’t won a game in the league and only won in the League cup on penalties, Their form is something Villa will want to rectify quickly if they serious want to challenge for Europe this season.

After 2 4-0 thumpings at the hand of Chelsea in their last 2 games Gary Megson will be glad to see the back of them for now at least however a trip to Villa park is not any easy away game either.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 to Villa
Aston Villa V Bolton Wanderers match discussion

Blackburn Rovers V Portsmouth

Pompey’s results have picked up a little to match their playing form and this is a massive game for them, both clubs find themselves in the bottom three and Blackburn are struggling more than i thought they would this season. They should now be over the Swine flu that hit the club and need to bounce back.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-0 to Blackburn …..just, however i could see it going the other way too
Blackburn Rovers V Portsmouth match discussion

Manchester City V Burnley

Burnley simply are not very good away from home and i can’t see them getting anything here. City are currently in the top 4 which is where they want to be and will really want to be there over the international break. There really should only be one winner in this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-0 to City
Manchester City V Burnley match discussion

Tottenham Hotspur V Sunderland

Like Villa, Sunderland have not won since their big victory on the 17th October and will want to get back on track as soon as possible, Lee Cattermole is injured and he ha been their driving force in the middle of the park and without him i believe they will struggle without him.

Spurs have had mixed fortunes from their recent matches and won’t be please by the 3-0 beating at the hands of their neighbours, if Spurs truly have designs on a Champions League place they have to win this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-1 to Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur V Sunderland match discussion

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Arsenal – 17:30

Wolves have picked up a point in each of their last 3 games, asll 3 of which i predicted them to lose, should they get something from this game they will really surprise me.

Arsenal will be pleased with the win last week against Spurs and Wenger must be delighted with their form, they’re scoring goals for fun. There is discussions about take overs going on at the moment but i don’t think it will put the team off their stride and i expect them to move into 2nd by Saturday night.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-3 to Arsenal
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal match discussion

Sunday

Hull City V Stoke City

Well phil brown is still in charge but you have to ask how much longer, the statement from the new chairman was hardly resounding and should 3 points not be forthcoming against Stoke i believe he will be gone by the time they play West Ham,  Should Brown be sacked it gives the club a couple of weeks while the internationals are on to find a New boss. The question is, is there anyone better out there that will want to goto Hull?

Stoke Captain Abdoulaye Faye says they can qualify for Europe this season, big brave words given the competition this season, if they are to then they have to win this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 0-1 to Stoke
Hull City V Stoke City match discussion

West Ham United v Everton

It was a bitter-sweet midweek for West ham, beating Villa was a top result but losing Carlton Cole was a blow to them, before that game they were struggling for form. Everton were struggling even more and are having a terrible season by their recent standards and failed to pick up a win in the whole of October.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-1 Draw
West Ham United V Everton match discussion

Wigan Athletic V Fulham

12th V 11th in the league, I didn’t see the game against Roma but i undertstand Fulham were unlucky to be down to 9 men. Still at the end of the day the Premier league is their bread and butter and this game is more important in the long term, beating Liverpool was a fantastic result for them and they will want to follow it up against Wigan.

Wigan got thumped at Portsmouth last week and have had a few mixed results since beating Chelsea, they have conceeded lots of goals too and will need to tighten up for this game.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-1 Win for Wigan

Chelsea V Manchester United

This game as a United fan worries me, United’s defence has been quite porous of late and Chelsea have been scoring lots of goals and playing great football but it’s never quite that simple is it. I believe United will be really up for this game and could just nick a win but to do that they need to cut out the defensive and keeping errors that plagued the game against CSKA on Tuesday. The normally steady Van der sar will definitely want the first and third goal back and a keeper of his stature shouldn’t have been beaten so easily.

United need to keep Drogba and Anelka quiet if they do that they have a chance, Chelsea have to nullify United’s Wingers which could be key to the game

Mystic Jarv predicts a 1-2 for United (might be being an optimistic United fan here)
Chelsea V Manchester United match discussion

Monday

Liverpool V Birmingham City

Under normal circumstances in other seasons this would be such an obvious prediction but Liverpool are struggling and with Gerrard and Torres both doubtful and both possibly needing surgery on injuries 2009/2010 could be shaping up to be Liverpool’s worst season for many a year.

A draw against City and a victory against Sunderland are 2 results that surprised me a little , I tink they will lose this game but if they can frustrate Liverpool ealry on they might, just might get something.

Mystic Jarv predicts a 2-0 win for Liverpool
Liverpool V Birmingham City match discussion

Other Stuff

Although i Know nothing about boxing Mystic Jarv predicts a win for Haye against Valuev, like i said i know nothing so don’t put your house on it

Written by Jarv

Premiership trophy

Being an analysis of the Premiership at the quarter-ish pole of the season. With 10 games down, who’s looking good and who’s looking bad? Well, read on, dear reader, for that and much more.

LOOKING GOOD

Obviously, Chelsea is looking pretty good right now. Check out their goal differential (+20) and the fact that they’re pretty much running on all cylinders. Sure, that’s a clichéd cop-out, but still. The fact is that Chelsea have looked good since their summer tour of the US and I don’t see a drop in form coming anytime soon. Perhaps it’s due to Carlo Ancelotti. Or Didier Drogba hitting the net more often than Adriano hits the clubs. Too soon?

Not to be too much of a homer, but I have to include Manchester United in this category, too. Other than the Anfield slip-up, Sir Alex has done a masterful job getting the boys ready to play. And Ryan Giggs has been nothing short of amazing; I don’t know how he does it, but the man keeps playing and playing and playing. I am truly impressed. The only downside is Rio Ferdinand’s inexplicable loss of form (well, maybe it is explicable: back injuries can be career-enders). I look for Sir Alex to go get a central defender or two in January.

Surprisingly, Spurs are doing well this season so far. I think that’s deceiving, though, because their goal differential is only +4. Perhaps a couple of reliable defenders and a keeper should be brought in because, Lord knows, they have enough firepower should they ever harness it. I’m still waiting for Giovani Dos Santos to show the form in the Premiership that he did for Mexico this summer; that’s the Gio I’ve been waiting for for what seems like ever.

LOOKING NOT SO GOOD

I know this puts me in the minority, but I’m not convinced that Arsenal have what it takes to compete. They have to beat back Manchester City’s challenge and catch Chelsea and United. I simply don’t think they have the personnel to do that.

Liverpool is cursed this season. Injured bodies are stacked like cordwood outside of Anfield and that’s not a good thing, especially when it’s the captain. Pool are a two-man team (those two men being Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard) unless Alberto Aquilani (and his stunning girlfriend) can make a difference. I do like some of their players but it’s my position that they need one or two more to truly compete. Actually, what they need is Xabi Alonso. Shame, really.

I’m hoping for the best when it comes to Sunderland and Stoke City but I’m reasonably certain that my hope is misplaced. Which is too bad. I’d love to see them cause some chaos.

And, finally, it’s too bad Aston Villa couldn’t maintain their form. Hardly unexpected but too bad nonetheless. And Hull City is well and truly forked, methinks. Phil Brown needs to go and Jozy Altidore needs to play, dammit!