May 11, 200818 yr Author Only team to allow 8 goals in a game this season I think. I know there has been a couple games where the winning team have scored 7 (everscum v sunderland, liverpool v derby, pompey v reading).
May 11, 200818 yr Tenth triumph delights Ferguson Ferguson's United won the Premier League by two points over Chelsea Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted at winning his 10th league title and the club's 17th, after the 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic. "I said before the game that I am not bothered about records. This is what it is about, championships and trophies," said the Scot. "If we'd lost the title it would have been a great knock but we are bouncing into the Champions League final. "I am at a great club which makes it easier for me than the rest." United carved out their Premier League victory with a hard-fought victory against Steve Bruce's side, the goals coming from Cristiano Ronaldo via the penalty spot and Ryan Giggs on his club record equalling 758th appearance for United. But Ferguson admitted that Wigan had given United a difficult test. "It was a tough one all right. For most of the game we played well but there were some nervous moments," he said. "I was pleased with that second goal. It makes it 10 (title medals) today for Ryan Giggs which is fantastic." Having secured the club's 17th title, Ferguson said that Liverpool's record of 18 was now within sights. "I think it will come - this side is young. There is plenty left in them," he said. United assistant manager Carlos Quieroz paid tribute to the desire of the players, telling BBC Sport: "Our hunger comes from the feeling of achievement in what is always a very competitive environment. "We always have a challenge within the club - nothing is ever enough for us, and that is what drives us on. "The desire is always here and there are still a lot of things left to do." Giggs, meanwhile, said: "I think we have deserved to win the title this season. Trophies mean a lot to me. "It was always going to a be a bit nervous for us until we got the second goal. "I'm obviously very proud to equal the record of someone like Sir Bobby Charlton, who has been watching me develop at the club since I was 14 years old. It means a lot as he is probably the best player in the history of the club. The Welshman is now looking forward not just to the Premier League celebrations but also to a date in Moscow for the Champions league final against Chelsea on 21 May. "We have a really solid base here, starting with the likes of Edwin (van Der Sar) and Rio (Ferdinand) at the back, plus players who can damage teams and score goals. "Next week we'll be ready for Moscow. We need to make the most of the occasion as they don't come around very often and hopefully we'll win the Champions League." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7395060.stm
May 11, 200818 yr Grant gracious after title blow Grant was proud of the efforts of his team Chelsea manager Avram Grant paid tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson after Manchester United won the Premier League title on Sunday. Grant's team, with their inferior goal difference, needed to better United's result but were held by Bolton while Ferguson's team beat Wigan. "United had a great season, played very well and are champions," said Grant. "I especially want to congratulate Sir Alex Ferguson. He is a great manager and a great person." Grant took over as Chelsea boss following the departure of Jose Mourinho in September and with the team fifth in the Premier League. The Israeli guided Chelsea to the Carling Cup final, second place in the Premier league and his team will contest the Champions League final against United in Moscow on 21 May. "We did a good job," added Grant. "We came from fifth, to fourth, to third, to second and then level on points with United going into the last game. I wish we had two weeks more. "We did a good season, how we handled many situations made me proud. "We have created history in becoming the first Chelsea team to get to a Champions League final but we want to win it and will do everything to win against a great team." Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack echoed Grant's sentiments when he said: "You have to say congratulations to Manchester United. In the end it was very close. "Everybody is a little bit disappointed but in one or two days we will have switched and be looking forward to the final in Moscow." The draw ensured Bolton finished 16th in the table with 37 points. Manager Gary Megson took over at the club on 25 October with Bolton bottom of the Premier League table. And having survived relegation, Megson said: "When I took over it was about one thing - keeping Bolton in the Premier League and we have managed to do that. "There is a lot of work to do through the summer to try to give ourselves a better opportunity of having a better season." And Megson was delighted that his team's season finished with a point at Stamford Bridge. "We came down here with a way of playing that would suit us," added Megson. "We could not have the game open on the pitch massive. "To come here and get a point is a decent result - most teams have not managed that. It has been a good end to what has been a bad season for most of the time. "The way the actual game went we have to be delighted with a point because of the amount of possession and territorial advantage they had." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7395137.stm
May 11, 200818 yr a 8-1 DEFEAT a total disgrace... embarrresment.. We could have lost 100000000-0 nil today and still got into europe.. However our fans (had better ideas and thought it would be a great idea to throw there seats on to the pitch) Dunne a player who is going to be leaving the club, got himself sent off. If we do get into Europe I hope UEFA say we can not be trusted. but that one game surely shouldn't be enough to change the fans' mind. i suppose the fact that it was already kinda announced that he is gonna get sacked didn't help the team spirit either. so did fullham get into europe then? if so then wow, what a day it must have been for them.:o
May 11, 200818 yr Author http://www.uefa.com/multimediafiles/download/pressrelease/uefa/uefamedia/69/37/88/693788_download.pdf Keep an eye on this page: http://www.premierleague.com/page/FairPlayTable/0,,12306,00.html When it gets updated to include the last round of matches, the team which is highest in the league which isn't in europe though other means will get the extra spot :)
May 11, 200818 yr I think have worked it out... We have quailfied for Europe.. ! WE REALLY DONT DESERVE IT !
May 13, 200818 yr Author 1st qualifying round of the uefa cup though It's going to be a long season for you, 4 matches (2 home and 2 away) before you even get into the uefa cup proper.
May 16, 200818 yr Its been confirmed now city will be playing in Europe next year. Ironically for their first game, they have been drawn at home. However the pitch is being re laid after the Bon Jovi concert. So they are looking for other grounds to host the game. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1050065_city_in_uefa_cup
May 16, 200818 yr Author FA CUP FINAL Portsmouth v Cardiff Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Saturday, 17 May Kick-off: 1500 BST Coverage: LIVE on BBC One, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live, BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio Wales, Score on BBCi; highlights on Match of the Day. Portsmouth or Cardiff will end long waits for a second FA Cup win when they meet in Saturday's final at Wembley. Pompey's victory came in 1939, while Cardiff became the only non-English side to lift the trophy in 1927. Cardiff boss Dave Jones said: "Maybe, over the last few years, the FA Cup has lost a little bit of magic because it's been the same teams (in the final). "But Portsmouth and ourselves have broken the mould this season - we want to make our own history." Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, 61, has never previously reached an FA Cup final in a career as a player and manager spanning over 40 years. "It's great for everyone at the club," he said. "I look at where we were two years ago (almost relegated from the Premier League), or five years ago, when we were near the bottom of the Championship and now we are in the Cup final." A Pompey win will provide a memorable end to the season for Redknapp, who was arrested and bailed in November as part of a police investigation into football corruption. He vehemently denies any wrongdoing and last month began legal action over his arrest. Cardiff's rollercoaster campaign has seen them survive a potentially ruinous bid by Swiss investment bank Langston to force the club to repay £24m in loans. Like Pompey, they are planning to build a new stadium - a scheme that could only be boosted by winning the FA Cup which guarantees entry into the Uefa Cup. "We're not even thinking about that," said Jones. "What we are thinking about is trying to beat a very good side. If we do that, the rest will follow." If Portsmouth win, they will be the first team other than Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United or Liverpool to triumph in the final since 1995. Victory for the Bluebirds will be a first for a club from outside the top flight since 1980, when West Ham of the old Second Division beat Arsenal 1-0. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Reaching the Cup final is a dream - Dave Jones Pompey are favourites, however, especially with experienced campaigners Sol Campbell and David James set to play after shaking off injuries. Strikers David Nugent and Kanu should overcome niggles to boost Pompey who are without the cup-tied Jermain Defoe. Cardiff's Robbie Fowler has not played for five months since hip surgery, but the ex-England striker will have a late fitness test. Paul Parry is set to continue up-front alongside veteran Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. BIG-MATCH FACTS The 127th FA Cup has been the most unpredictable in living memory. Form counted for little as every round, from the turn of the year, provided more than its fair share of shocks and surprises, as one-by-one the giants were slain. It is the first final for 17 years in which both participants come from outside the top seven since eighth placed Nottingham Forest faced 10th placed Tottenham in 1991, when the Londoners prevailed 1-2 after extra time. Portsmouth are the sole Premier League survivors, aiming to become the first club outside the so-called 'Big Four' of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United to lift the trophy since Everton in 1995. Pompey's participation ensures the top-flight have provided at least one participant in every FA Cup final since the formation of the Football League in 1888. Cardiff City are the first non-Premier League club to reach the final since Millwall in 2004, and the 25th team from outside the top-flight to qualify for this showpiece. They could become the first non top-flight side to lift the FA Cup since West Ham in 1980, and the lowest ranked to do so since non-league Tottenham in 1901. Both clubs are aiming to win the competition for the second time in their history; Portsmouth won it in 1939, Cardiff in 1927. A place in next season's Uefa Cup awaits the winners. Portsmouth have never qualified for Europe; Cardiff have had 14 campaigns in the Cup Winners' Cup as Welsh Cup holders, making the semi-finals in 1968. The FA decided last month to allow Cardiff to represent England in the Uefa Cup should they win the FA Cup, despite their ruling that Welsh clubs can only qualify for Europe through their own national competitions. This is the second FA Cup final to be staged under the arch of the new Wembley, after six years at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Both clubs are returning to Wembley after winning their semi-finals there six weeks ago. The Welsh national anthem will be played prior to the game, along with God Save the Queen. The League ladder Portsmouth ended the league campaign in their highest ever Premier League placing of eighth; Cardiff were 12th in the Championship, some 24 places lower in the pecking order. PORTSMOUTH Current form Lost the last four of the league season, and not won in five, since defeating West Ham 0-1 at Upton Park on 8 April. Not scored in three matches or 336 minutes (five hours 36 minutes) since John Utaka got Portsmouth's goal in the 3-1 away defeat to Manchester City on 20 April. It was Pompey's only goal in a minute under eight hours soccer. Recent FA Cup performance Defeated three Championship clubs in Ipswich, Plymouth and Preston, at the outset of this march to the arch. Then knocked out Manchester United, with a Sulley Ali Muntari penalty, 12 minutes from time. They played second fiddle to West Bromwich Albion for long periods of the semi-final on 5 April, but went through courtesy of a 54th minute goal from former West Brom striker Nwankwo Kanu. The Manager Harry Redknapp never reached Wembley as a player, and is taking a club there as a manager for the first time. The 61-year-old former Bournemouth, West Ham and Southampton boss, has twice guided teams to promotion. He took Bournemouth up from Division Three in 1987, and masterminded Portsmouth's arrival in the Premier League in 2003. Redknapp's only cup success came with West Ham, when they won the Intertoto Cup in 1999. FA Cup fact Famously held the trophy for seven years after their 4-1 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1939, in front of 99,370. Bert Barlow opened Pompey's account two months after leaving the Molineux club as surplus to requirements. Jock Anderson and Cliff Parker put the south coast club three-up and Parker's second, a header, confirmed a highly unexpected victory. The competition was put in abeyance in 1939 due to the Second World War, so Portsmouth are the longest holders of the cup in the history of the oldest knock out competition in the world. Derby were the next winners in 1946. Pompey have qualified for their fourth FA Cup final; the others were in 1929 and 1934. But their last visit to Wembley was in 1942, when they lost to Brentford in the London War Cup final. CARDIFF CITY Current form Ended the league season with a 3-0 home victory over Barnsley; their first win in four outings. Scored three goals in each of the last two games, but conceded three goals in each of the three matches prior to the clean sheet against the Tykes. Not won away from home since the 1-0 triumph over Barnsley in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on 6 April. Won as many matches away from home in the FA Cup, as in the Championship (four). Recent FA Cup performance Knocked out non-league Chasetown, League Two Hereford, Championship rivals Wolves and Premier League Middlesbrough, in this cup run before the semi-final triumph over fellow Championship side Barnsley. The Manager 51 year old Liverpool born Dave Jones was a commanding centre-half in his playing days with Everton, Coventry, Seiko FC in Hong Kong, and Preston. As a manager he took Stockport to within one match of Wembley, losing to Middlesbrough in the semi-finals of the 1996-97 League Cup final. Jones had three seasons in charge at Southampton before his time at the Dell came to an end in unfortunate circumstances. He later won promotion to the Premier League with Wolves, winning the Division One play-off final 3-0 over Neil Warnock's Sheffield United at the Millennium Stadium on 26 May 2003. Now Jones will lead out a club at Wembley for the first time. FA Cup fact Famously became the first and only club from outside England to win the FA Cup in 1927. The Bluebirds are competing in their third FA Cup final. They were a top-flight club when beaten 0-1 by Sheffield United in 1925. Two years later they returned to Wembley, again as a top division outfit, and faced Arsenal. It was an unspectacular match, decided by a speculative shot from Cardiff's Scottish centre-forward Hugh Ferguson, and fumbled by Gunners Welsh international keeper Dan Lewis. HEAD to HEAD All competitions Portsmouth and Cardiff have not competed in the same division for 23 years, since Pompey won 1-2 at Ninian Park and Cardiff drew 0-0 at Fratton Park in the 1984-85 Second Division campaign. Subsequent to that they have met three times in the League Cup. Pompey prevailed over two legs in the second round of the 1990-91 Rumblelows Cup, Cardiff returned the favour over two first round legs of the Coca Cola Cup in 1995-96, and Portsmouth knocked out the Welsh side 0-2 in the fourth round of the Carling Cup on 9 November 2004, when Yakubu scored both, one from the penalty spot. FA Cup Cardiff and Portsmouth have never met before in this competition. THE REFEREE Mike Dean takes charge of the biggest match of his career. The 39 year old FIFA international match official from Cheshire began refereeing in 1985, and first controlled a game at Wembley in May 2000, when Darlington and Peterborough contested the League Two Play-Off final. He was also in charge of the 2004 FA Community Shield between Arsenal and Manchester United. Dean refereed 28 Premier League matches this season. He brandished nine red cards and 106 yellow. -------------- Our biggest game for a while, for the pride of the premiership!
May 16, 200818 yr Mike Dean....LMFAO, you are fucked now Dave. :laugh3: Come on you Bluebirds!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 16, 200818 yr Author He might just save you from going under and getting a 10 point penalty for next season
May 16, 200818 yr I DON'T LIKE RUPERT!!!!!!!!! Now how about that Cithey nutter, first sacks Sven now selling the whole team. :laugh3: http://msn.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_3572378,00.html
May 16, 200818 yr If I was a Cithey player I would afraid to travel any where with the team. The crazy bastard probably has huge life insurance policies on everyone and you never know when their plane might go down killing everyone on board. :P
May 16, 200818 yr Author Don't rule against it. The great Man City clear-out special, everything must go so the owner can replace all the players with robots
May 17, 200818 yr Live - FA Cup final Portsmouth or Cardiff will end long waits for a second FA Cup win when they meet in Saturday's final at Wembley. Pompey's victory came in 1939, while Cardiff became the only non-English side to lift the trophy in 1927. Cardiff boss Dave Jones said: "Maybe, over the last few years, the FA Cup has lost a little bit of magic because it's been the same teams (in the final). "But Portsmouth and ourselves have broken the mould this season - we want to make our own history." Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, 61, has never previously reached an FA Cup final in a career as a player and manager spanning over 40 years. "It's great for everyone at the club," he said. "I look at where we were two years ago (almost relegated from the Premier League), or five years ago, when we were near the bottom of the Championship and now we are in the Cup final." A Pompey win will provide a memorable end to the season for Redknapp, who was arrested and bailed in November as part of a police investigation into football corruption. He vehemently denies any wrongdoing and last month began legal action over his arrest. Cardiff's rollercoaster campaign has seen them survive a potentially ruinous bid by Swiss investment bank Langston to force the club to repay £24m in loans. Like Pompey, they are planning to build a new stadium - a scheme that could only be boosted by winning the FA Cup which guarantees entry into the Uefa Cup. "We're not even thinking about that," said Jones. "What we are thinking about is trying to beat a very good side. If we do that, the rest will follow." If Portsmouth win, they will be the first team other than Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United or Liverpool to triumph in the final since 1995. Victory for the Bluebirds will be a first for a club from outside the top flight since 1980, when West Ham of the old Second Division beat Arsenal 1-0. Pompey are favourites, however, especially with experienced campaigners Sol Campbell and David James set to play after shaking off injuries. Strikers David Nugent and Kanu should overcome niggles to boost Pompey who are without the cup-tied Jermain Defoe. Cardiff's Robbie Fowler has not played for five months since hip surgery, and the ex-England striker is not deemed fit enough to play. Subsequently, Paul Parry continues up-front alongside veteran Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink while highly-rated youngster Aaron Ramsey is named as a substitute. BIG-MATCH FACTS The 127th FA Cup has been the most unpredictable in living memory. Form counted for little as every round, from the turn of the year, provided more than its fair share of shocks and surprises, as one-by-one the giants were slain. It is the first final for 17 years in which both participants come from outside the top seven since eighth placed Nottingham Forest faced 10th placed Tottenham in 1991, when the Londoners prevailed 1-2 after extra time. Portsmouth are the sole Premier League survivors, aiming to become the first club outside the so-called 'Big Four' of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United to lift the trophy since Everton in 1995. Pompey's participation ensures the top-flight have provided at least one participant in every FA Cup final since the formation of the Football League in 1888. Cardiff City are the first non-Premier League club to reach the final since Millwall in 2004, and the 25th team from outside the top-flight to qualify for this showpiece. They could become the first non top-flight side to lift the FA Cup since West Ham in 1980, and the lowest ranked to do so since non-league Tottenham in 1901. Both clubs are aiming to win the competition for the second time in their history; Portsmouth won it in 1939, Cardiff in 1927. A place in next season's Uefa Cup awaits the winners. Portsmouth have never qualified for Europe; Cardiff have had 14 campaigns in the Cup Winners' Cup as Welsh Cup holders, making the semi-finals in 1968. The FA decided last month to allow Cardiff to represent England in the Uefa Cup should they win the FA Cup, despite their ruling that Welsh clubs can only qualify for Europe through their own national competitions. This is the second FA Cup final to be staged under the arch of the new Wembley, after six years at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. Both clubs are returning to Wembley after winning their semi-finals there six weeks ago. The Welsh national anthem will be played prior to the game, along with God Save the Queen. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7393770.stm
May 17, 200818 yr Kanu leads Pompey to FA Cup glory Pompey's Sylvain Distin embraces Sulley Muntari at the final whistle Kanu's first-half goal won the FA Cup for Portsmouth against Cardiff in a low-key final at Wembley. The Nigerian scrambled home the winner at the near post eight minutes before half-time after Cardiff keeper Peter Enckelman fumbled John Utaka's cross. Cardiff enjoyed possession but rarely posed a serious threat, although Glenn Loovens had a goal ruled out for handball in first-half injury time. And Portsmouth held on to claim the trophy for the first time since 1939. It was a personal triumph for emotional Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp as he enjoyed the highlight of his long managerial career when captain Sol Campbell lifted the trophy. Underdogs Cardiff played with spirit, but did not have the quality to seriously disturb the Pompey defence, in which Campbell and Sylvain Distin were outstanding. Cardiff boss Dave Jones did not gamble on Robbie Fowler, even as a substitute, after four months out with a hip problem - and his side did not feel his absence in a lively start. Joe Ledley played in Paul Parry in the 12th minute but Portsmouth keeper David James made a crucial block to deny Cardiff the lead. Kanu posted the warning signals for Cardiff as early as the 21st minute when he took a pass from Sulley Muntari in his stride and danced around keeper Enckelman, only to send his effort against the outside of the post with the goal unguarded. He made no mistake eight minutes before the interval when Enckelman could only push out Utaka's whipped cross from the right flank and Kanu pounced to score. Cardiff had more than held their own and almost provided an instant response when Parry raced clear down the left, but his cross stretched Kevin McNaughton as he arrived at the far post and the chance was gone. And Bluebirds had a goal ruled out in first-half injury time when Pompey keeper James - who has form for high-profile mistakes in FA Cup finals - missed a corner, but Loovens handled before sending a looping finish into the net. Loovens came to Cardiff's rescue after 52 minutes when Utaka set up Kanu again and he was forced to block a goal-bound shot with his chest. Cardiff failed to apply consistent pressure to Portsmouth and boss Jones made a change after 61 minutes, sending on gifted 17-year-old prodigy Aaron Ramsey for Peter Whittingham. It had been a desperately disappointing afternoon for the veteran Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, so it was no surprise when he was also hauled off with 20 minutes left and time running out for a Cardiff response. David Nugent had come on as replacement for Utaka, and he forced Enckelman into a smart near-post save from a rising drive as Portsmouth attempted to kill the final off. Loovens had proved to be a danger man for Cardiff at set-pieces and he sent a header bouncing just over the bar from Ramsey's corner after 79 minutes. Cardiff's desire to push forward for an equaliser left them open to a counter-attack and Distin almost punished them with a run from the half-way line that was only halted by a fine tackle from Roger Johnson. But it was Portsmouth's day as for once the favourites justified their tag in this season's unpredictable FA Cup. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7393770.stm
May 17, 200818 yr Author Ian, we will see you on the 10th August back in Wembley for the Community Shield/Season Opener :wink:
May 17, 200818 yr Skates win the cup, Pitchfork gives Coldplay a good review...I think the end is near. :P
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